Category Archives: thoughts and observations

A Mother’s Day Walk

humour, thoughts and observations, Uncategorized, ,

This fantastic grafitti is there no longer . Progress took over. But I loved seeing it when I took a walk a few months ago in a different direction and felt compelled to photograph it before it disappeared forever.

Reaching into my pocket, I reached for the first of my fortune cookies I had packed for a snack. Munching away, I read my fortune and laughed out loud. Destiny or Karma really knew how to gently scold . . . .

My fortune read: Do not despair. Embrace new changes.

Karma had perfect timing. . . .

The deep pink camellia petals was so picturesque as I ambled around the corner to the Library with my bag of books.

I was anxious to see what Anthony and his Creative Team did with their Spring display at my fave stop, Gardenworks–and they didn’t disappoint. This was an outstanding display a month or so ago–always filled with eye-catching displays, Gardenworks gives its creative staff free rein and customers truly appreciate the artistic creativity.

It was hard to decide which direction I should explore as I was just beginning to use my new cell-phone camera again. I opted for a stroll along the Avenue to check for photo ops. AND as usual I found a few. . .this beautiful dogwood tree in bloom. . .

These gorgeous eye-catching towering plants called Towering Jewel, was newly installed in the centre of the Village.

Before I knew it, the camera and my feet took me through the Village and on a street I knew well. It had my fave house–a house I always felt should have a writer’s den in the tower.

There’s my den–just below the green pointy roof. . .

At least, that’s what I always think whenever I pass. . .

This beautiful Guardian of a consignment store found a new home immediately. I thought he looked quite comfortable in the midst of all the other treasures. And I’m so glad I snapped a photo when I did. . . .

This is one of the many artwork displayed along the Avenue–a family of foxes, enjoying the view.

I had to make a rest-stop and this was cleverly drawn on the inside of the door–such a cheeky looking cat and I’m sure, a cheeky artist!

Homeward bound, I marveled how life goes on–with or without you. It felt good to discover new things and rather disconcerting how progress can destroy the familiar. Reaching into my pocket, I unwrapped the last of my fortune cookies that I had brought along for a snack. Reading my last fortune, I had to laugh–Destiny or Karma really knew how to make a mere mortal laugh. . . . .How did she know?. . . .

IChanges brings positive vibes–embrace them.

I must say, Karma did recognize my mood at the beginning of my walk, but at the end–on the home stretch–I was feeling much more positive. Mother Nature, artists and things can change a person’s mood very quickly. and for the better. It was a fun walk and I had some great photos. .

I hope my Readers did too. . . . .Embrace your day with a smile—that’s Me, not the fortune cookie!

IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR

thoughts and observations, , , , , , ,

It’s that time of the year again. ..already.

Whatever happened to the rest of the year? Do you find that time zipped past so fast that the growth rate of your grandchildren are your only clues that this happened?

I was asked the other day–by a lady who is so organized that she had already set up her two fully decorated real trees and had done her massive amount of baking—“Are you ready for Christmas?”. Thank goodness, my friend had a sense of humor and had answered the question that her tree would be decorated Christmas eve by her family coming from out-of-town. As for me and my family of collectable gnomes, I asked, “Does putting a sprig of holly on Simon’s hat count?” Simon is my woodland gnome.

Norbert, Simon and Homer look ready to burst into song, especially “Rocking’ Around the Christmas Tree” (that’s not up yet). . . .

At least, one saving grace this Christmas is the lack of postal lineups and the cards sent to family and friends. But the downside of that is the time saved on this task did not spread to other tasks. I found that I liked writing personal notes on my cards to family and friends who are far away. AND if you ever received a card with just a signature, it means you’re off their list next year because they can’t remember who you are and why you rate a card. But that’s okay–I already eliminated them from my list as I couldn’t remember who and why either.

I love the Christmas lights. It’s really pretty driving home when it’s dark seeing The Village and boulevards all lit up. The workmen had been busy weeks before, stringing up lights in impossibly high places while other busy elves placed lights around all the store-fronts and doorways of the Village businesses. The lampposts at the beginning and at the end of the Village route, were also wrapped in lights .. The candy cane lights were actually three canes, each holding a lighted ornament. . .

Shop windows and indoor displays are always a favorite of mine. It’s amazing to see the creativity of the merchants’ front windows. I like to see the bits and pieces as well as the whole picture. . . .

Anthony at Gardenworks never disappoints. He is phenomenal in his annual Christmas displays. And all his other artistic and creative displays throughout the year.

My favorite Christmas camels in Nicholas Randall’s window.

This was part of a planter display shared by two clothing stores.

I loved the sight of this Holiday spirit with the holly in the basket, a “topper” with a red band and a bicycle—parked outside a Village merchant. . . .

I don’t know about you but the more Christmases I go through, I learned this one truth. Don’t panic and just go with the flow. It only took me a few decades to figure that out. When I’m organized, a number of things can go wrong like the year the power went off as the turkey was cooking. That’s when you know Murphy’s law is about to fall on your head. Now I bake for our visitors and I put up a few Holiday decorations.

Another beautiful tree decorated by Anthony from Gardenworks. . . .

Hubby and I are ready–at least as ready as can be. Meanwhile I get to wish all of my Readers, a very Joyous Holiday Season. May your homes be blessed with the laughter and love of Family and Friends. May all your dreams and wishes come true in 2025.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY HANNUKAH! and a HAPPY, HEALTHY 2025!

And oh yes, may you always have a bowl of dark chocolate cherries in brandy by your side.

Telephone Robotics

humour, thoughts and observations

Hubby and I detest AI with a passion. Hubby detests them because it upsets me so much that my baking suffers.

As for me, I do understand that AI can help sort out the mundane and lets a real person carry on with their real work, whatever that is. But in this 21st Century, why aren’t robots programmed better?

My phone company prides itself on “Customer Satisfaction.” I always visualized happy humans chatting with clients who had problems but these happy humans always knew the solution.

Really? To get to Customer Service and reach that “satisfaction” level, a human client has to first navigate past a Robot.

Robot: Hello–How may I help you today? Do you require “Home” or “Business?”

Me: Home please

Robot: Would you require assistance for Telephone, Internet or Cable?

Me: Telephone

Robot: What is the problem?

Me: Dead phone

Robot: Could you repeat that please? I do not understand.

Me: Phone has no connection.

Robot: I do not understand. Please repeat in simpler words.

Me: Phone. Died.

Robot: How may I help you?

Me: Need a real person

Robot: Please repeat

Me: Agent NOW

Robot: Sorry. Do you want Home or Business?

Me: AGENT

Robot: Perhaps I can help. What is your problem?

Me: AGENT ASAP

Robot: Please repeat

Me: AGENT YOU DUMBASS!

Robot: I believe you requested an agent. Is that for “Live Chat” or a call-back?

Me: CHAT YOU BLOCKHEAD!

Robot: I’m sorry. I do not understand. Please repeat.

(A heavy sigh from me . . .) Me: CHAT

Recently Hubby and I moved into the 21st Century with the installation of fibre optics and available Wifi in our home. The latest tuggle with AI was a message we discovered on the phone screen. We had a voice message. No problem. We accessed the voice mail with our usual access code. But we were stymied when a robot insisted on a second password to actually retrieve our message. Hubby and I looked at each other. Did we ever have a second password to hear our messages? Never.

This meant another call to our phone service. However, this time we chose the landline route and got into the right queue without the aid of a robot. Forty-five minutes later, we talked to a real human who understood our problem immediately. She set us up with access to our voice mail and with the option of changing the temporary password later to one we preferred.

By this time I was beginning to worry just how urgent this message was. If it turned out to be a marketing ploy, I was ready to stomp on the troublemaking message recorder and its artificial innards.

Hubby and I held our collective breaths while we made it through each successful step–tapped our usual coded access to the voice-mail; punched in our new secondary code to retrieve and finally hear our voice-mail.

A robotic voice announced: “Welcome to your new voice mail. I am the robot who will guide you through the easy steps of this tutorial to set up your new system. It will take only a few minutes of your time. Let’s begin by. . .

Welcomed to AI, whether you want it or not. It’s like waking up to a sci-fi where the robots have finally taken over the planet.

JUST WALKING AND CAPTURING THE MOMENTS

thoughts and observations, Uncategorized

I seldom have any specific plans, just a vague direction where I decide to walk. Sometimes I have a yen to walk by the water, especially if I have a hankering for a warm croissant, a leisurely cup of excellent coffee and a superb sea view. Other times, I’ll feel adventurous and follow lanes or connectors to discover side streets that I didn’t realize would take me down another lane. The highlights of my jaunts would be finding stuff to photograph—often unexpected stuff.

One recent venture led me to a couple of streets that displayed some excellent utility pole art—art that only the area locals or adventurous walkers would delight in finding. According to one of the neighbors, their Community Centre had supplied the paints and the utility companies had encouraged the artwork lining the neighborhood. It was a fun walk, following the poles where one street melded into another, until I found myself temporarily “lost” in an unfamiliar area.

I eventually found myself on a familiar street, but being temporarily “lost” was worth the neighborhood art show. I heard from another neighbor that the paints were no longer supplied and the utility companies terminated the art project. However, the enterprising artists on the street ignored this and purchased their own paint to continue the pole art.

On other walks I have discovered the coincidence of a recurring theme—decorative gates or artsy fences or even bicycles—miniature, middling or normal —all recycled.

And yesterday, my walk kept encountering boats. This was unplanned and nowhere near water.

It seems no matter which direction I take , there will always be something for a walker to enjoy. And if you’re an adventurous urban walker, there’s an amazing amount of photographical treasures to be seen.

HAPPY WALKING EVERYONE!

JOYFUL SPRING

thoughts and observations

After a resting Winter, Spring is always a delight to welcome with open arms. I like to search for signs of Spring wherever I do my random walking routes. I hit a looloopalooza day yesterday, when I spotted a bountiful treasure of blooms, popping out of the ground and bursting forth from ornamental bushes as well as boulevard trees.

Daffodils, crocuses and snowdrops all vying for the attention of people passing by. . . .

This beautiful Dogwood tree, in early bloom, is BC’s provincial flower. It is definitely an early Spring surprise.

Whenever I see the simple sight of a row of yellow daffodils, lifting their heads to the warm sun, framed against a white picket fence, it makes me want to whip out my paint brushes and sketch book. . . .but I whipped open my senior cellphone’s camera instead. . . .

Magnolia trees are in various locations. My favorite has always been the deep pink, large as dinner-plate blooms. . . .

I love the sight of Spring crocuses bursting onto bare ground and a sparse lawn; it’s almost as if it couldn’t wait and just wanted to be out of the dark and into the sun.

And a rambling walker has to admire the trees too—-trees prove Spring is here. Pink camellias are in bloom. . . . .

Ornamental cherry blossoms makes the heart sing. . . . . .

Crocuses grow in the most unexpected places—rocky and bare. . . . .

Blossoming trees plus a blooming camellia bush are all positive signs that Spring has arrived in all her finery. YAY, SPRING. . . . .and that means, Summer is not far behind!

WINDOW STOPPING

thoughts and observations,

“If it stops you in your tracks, then that’s the window worth a good look.”

Sometimes I like to do a slow window stopping walking route. The variety of shops and businesses along this route often have eye-catching windows. It makes it worth-while to pause and capture whatever caught my attention with my handy-dandy senior cellphone’s camera.

These distinctive little shoemakers, in the front window of the shoe repair shop, always makes me stop. They have me smiling to see these busy shoemakers working so industriously.

A few doors down is the buy-n-sell with its ever changing hodge-podge of “treasures” –or, just a fun stop to check out all the “what-nots” previous owners considered junk. Did you spot the old Singer sewing machine?

One of my favorite stops is Gardenworks as it has such great displays in their large display windows as well as inside their fascinating store. Their current eye-stopping window display shows off these beautiful orchids.

Perhaps it was a salute to the West Coast and being on an Island, but this Gardenwork’s nautical theme appealed to my senses and captured my camera’s attention.

Sharing the other half of the Avenue Butcher’s building is a talented chef/owner. He specializes in curing and preparing meats utilizing the “whole beast,” or animal in a variety of tasty methods. The name of his business is on an amazing mural on the side of his building.

Another window makes me pause as I ponder what type of service this store provides.,

Apparently, it is the Herbal Path, a store specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Further along the street is an antique store with its front windows often capturing my attention. Sometimes the displays are large, ornately carved pieces of furniture; other times, the window display is quite simple.

Depending upon my mood, my walks are always an adventure. It could be a challenging walk with steep hills or a scenic walk along the water. Sometimes, it could be a walk through the residential side streets and laneways. But now and then, there is the leisurely fun stroll to simply window stop. . . . .

CHRISTMAS IS. . . . .

humour, thoughts and observations

“Christmas isn’t a season, it’s a feeling.” Edna Ferber

“Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” Dr. Seuss

Christmas is a gathering of family and friends; the comfort and warmth of home and hearth; the sharing of the joy and pleasures of the Holiday Season. It is the sound of excited children and laughter; the special smells of pine trees, roasting turkeys, the spicy scent of mince tarts and gingerbread; colorful holly and chrysanthemums including boisterous renditions of familiar carols are all part of the Holiday scene.

It is a kaleidoscope of Christmases past and new Christmas memories of ones yet to come.

Thank you for following my blog. I have been fortunate meeting new friends who have discovered me as well as the encouragement of old friends whose humorous and observant comments are always welcome.

One of my Christmas cards said exactly what I feel: “May this Christmas warm your heart with Hope and light your World with Love.”

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE. MAY 2023 BE A YEAR OF HAPPINESS, GOOD HEALTH AND YOUR YEAR TO SHINE AND PROSPER. . . .

MORE FENCES, GATES AND OTHER STUFF

thoughts and observations

When I take my morning walks, I have no specific routes in mind. My area has an amazing number of connectors and lanes that beckons; and I enjoy the adventure of discovering something new or unusual that captures my attention.

On one of the many lanes and connectors, there is a fence that is a delightful and whimsical display of the many “treasures” an imaginative homeowner had found at garage sales or collected over the years.

Gates are often a sight to enjoy. I came across the “Spirit Deer” gate which stopped me in my tracks.

The homeowner also had another “Spirit Deer” gate at the

front of his house. I was passing his back gate that faced a lane.

On another morning I discovered a pair of ornate gates that shielded a medical building’s parking lot. I had passed it many times and only discovered they showed a pair of hummingbirds. . . .

And what about nooks and crannies? Don’t you just love what creative homeowners do with small spaces? One homeowner made an artistic display of their short driveway fence. And, by a Rooster back gate, there is a rustic seat beneath a shady tree.

On my route homewards, a swinging cat and a vintage bike on a rusty gatepost ruled the scenery. . . .Where do people find these?

It’s amazing what a person can see. . . when a person really looks.

THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE. . . . .

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I enjoy hitting the walking route early in the morning. This is the absolute best time to see the wildlife not normally seen later in the day. For me, this is also the coolest time of the day for a lengthy walk. The walk had barely started when I finally topped this hill and spotted Mama Deer and her Twins. She was “teaching” them the joys of nibbling someone’s garden and totally ignored me, so I hauled out my senior cellphone and snapped off a quick photo before noticing “Papa” was watching curiously behind me. Continuing on my way, a family of raccoons ambled across the road and up a long winding driveway. Mama Raccoon leading her 4 babies, while “Dad” followed at the rear–all focused on their morning buffet in another tasty garden. I totally missed that photo-op as I had never seen such a large party of raccoons before. By the time I thought of my cellphone camera, the family had disappeared from view.

It is astonishing how a densely populated urban area can produce wildlife that can somehow survive and thrive. I have seen brown and gray squirrels; numerous deer, bucks and their off-springs; raccoons, a rabbit and a peacock along my various routes.

Gates never stop the wildlife. Deer could go around or jump over them while raccoons could just mosey up the winding driveway like expected guests. Gates fascinated me because some gates screamed “Private, Go Away.”

While other gates beckoned and smiled “Welcome” with a bit of floral art wrapped around the iron work. . . .

Fences and driveways can be amazingly aloof and private but can still give positive vibes with plants, ornaments or a bit of creative thought.

I enjoy the sight of pink roses that add a splash of color poking through a worn fence . . . . or a graceful ornamental crane to brighten a corner of their garden.

I love this sight –it looked so right in the garden. . . .

Splashes of brightly coloured geraniums against this fence, interspersed with bits of tiny blue flowers, grabbed my attention each time I pass. . . .

My early morning walks are a daily adventure as I never know what will be captured by my camera. All I know for sure is that it will tease the senses and make me stop, if only for a moment. . . .

LESS IS MORE. . .OR MAYBE NOT

humour, snack, thoughts and observations

Since the Covid isolation tentatively ended, I’ve noticed friends and family have looked more well-rounded, if you get my drift. Perhaps social interactions–pre-Covid–were often linked to group exercise and snacks, so the enforced self-isolation still linked to snacks, but without the closeness of social activities.

I have a theory about myself. There were no mini-donuts because the weekly Farmers’ Markets, the Arts and Crafts shows, the Collectible Car shows and all the other stuff that brings on the mini-donut carts were all cancelled for 2 long years. I should have been cured of mini-donuts and should have emerged, at least svelte, even if I was still short.

It didn’t work that way–at least, my Fairy Godmother didn’t make it happen.

You know that old saying, “If one addiction flies out the window, another will fly in”?

Well, I discovered a cookie that was so disgustingly healthy, that I can’t believe Hubby and I are devouring them. These cookies are dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan. AND, it shouldn’t have been delicious, but it was.

On one of my long walks, I had stopped to buy some fresh fruit and a bag of Rebel’s Peanut Butter cookies. The Chocolate Chip, the Cashew Butter and the Triple Chocolate with Walnuts slots were empty. There was a bag of White Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts left as well as a couple of bags of Cranberry Oatmeal, but I snagged the last bag of Peanut Butter and eternally grateful that I did. The taste buds were happily saturated with that real peanut butter flavour. And, the cookies were healthy.

Hubby tried one and declared it “O-kay,” which is equivalent to my enthusiastic “a Keeper!”

I tried to remember which store along which route that I got these scrumptious cookies from. None of the stores I returned to had any and no one recognized the brand-name.

I resorted to logical thinking. Selling a cookie that was dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan to boot would need a specific market, so I tackled the organic markets next. The first one I checked carried the Rebel brand but they were waiting for their next shipment that had been delayed by transportation problems. Having the bakery on the Mainland and living on an Island had its drawbacks. But being a resourceful person, motivated by the craving of having my cookie now, I remembered there was a second outlet enroute home. At that store, the new shipment had already been delivered so I got my bags of Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip and Triple Chocolate with Walnuts.

Hey, you didn’t think I was going to miss out on the chocolate ones, did you? I had checked the list of ingredients and all the chocolate was dark and the chocolate chips were real dark chocolate and not carob. Hubby and I unanimously voted that these were all “keepers.” The best part is I know where to get more when the cookie jar is empty. . . without turning my oven on.