newwaytowrite

Things are okay. Just not much happening. More things are flowering in the flower beds. Still more to come if the buds on other plants come to life.  Bobbex is doing a pretty good job. Speaking of deer I saw a momma dear and her twin fawns about two days ago. Not in the neighbourhood just when we were driving home from a run to the bakery to get bread and a wheel. I think I spotted to buds on our very new clematis plant. I hope the plant to can handle to large flowers. It has been hot the last couple of days. Not a fan. It will likely help the crop of strawberries from a local-ish farm. 

365

June

6.    Can you swim?  If so, what age were you when you had lessons? 

We lived a half a block from the river and there was no way us kids were going to not know how to swim. I started learning around 5 or 6. We all had to take at least to the seniors badge and survival swim badge. 

7.    Have you ever made pastry from scratch? 

Yes. Not often that is for sure.

8.    If you could share your life with any kind of animal (assume for a moment that the animal is tame and wouldn’t kill you, and you had the space and resources to care for it *g*), what kind of animal would be your dream companion (real or imaginary)?

A beaver. No question. 

9.    Do you like wearing hats?

I do. I only seem to where one hat these days. 

10.    Have you ever been to a horse race?

May 365

26.    When you look up into the sky, can you identify any of the cloud formations, such as Cumulonimbus, Cirrus or Stratus?

Nope. I just like looking at clouds.

27.    Have you ever tried box breathing? It is an effective way to calm yourself if you are feeling panicky or overwhelmed.  You can find the instructions on this page.

Have no tried this action

28.    Do you have a favourite cologne or perfume?

I loved Channel 22. It is no longer made. It is not something I use any longer as Sweetie used to get migraines and a friend who suffers from being exposed to strong smells. It is a serious problem for her. I am heartened when I see public spaces that post notices to visitors and regular uses of the space asking them to refrain from dousing themselves in cologne or perfume so others can enjoy the space.

29.    When was the last time it rained where you live? 

A few lousy drops. We did get 7mm back around the 29th of May. That was the entire rainfall for May. Not good. 

30.    What is your favourite way to eat vegetables?

Mostly I would say I love raw veggies. I do like them steamed or roasted. 

31.    Have you ever been in a self-driving car?  Would you want to try it?

No thanks.

June

1.    Is anything (minor or major) irritating you at the moment? 

The state of many things in the world. I think we are all in this moment in time together. 

2.    Have you ever used a photobooth? Are they still around where you live (where’s the nearest one?)

Food May 29

1. In an average week, how many nights do you eat home-cooked dinners?

We often have our main meal for lunch. Wednesday when we do our weekly errands and grocery run we come home with some take out. 

2. Do you plan your meals out in advance, or just wing it?

We have no set in stone plan. Often it is a rough guide based on what we bought on Wednesday and maybe what strikes our fancy to pull from the freezer as a protein. 

3. How many nights per week do you eat out or order food delivered?

We live semi rural so delivery is not going to happen. As stated above in question one we tend to get a take out meal. 

4. Do you keep a stock of nonperishable foods from which you could whip up a meal or two if you needed to? 

We tend to have canned tuna so that can go in many directions. We have beans of many varieties. Pasta and couscous are fine to create something and a few things in the freezer. 

5. Have you ever tried preparing meals for the week all at once, say, on the weekend?

Ummm no as I have never had a reason to be that prepared. 

Books June 5

1. Do you enjoy reading?

Yes. 

2. What is the first book you remember reading?

Likely like some Golden Books from childhood. I also remember as book about a girl who brings home animals and wants to grow up to be a vet.

3. Who is your favourite author?

I don't believe I have a favourite author.

4. What is your favourite book?

I have about 5 top books. Some non fiction and some fiction. 

In the world of the garden I finally planted the Geum Firestorm and  Verbena Purple Top. The flowers on the geum seem to have been a bit shocked by being planted. I hope they will perk up again. 

Friday we went to the bakery to get bread and such and Sweetie tricked me as we had discussed not wanting to the feature pizza this week. I was also shocked because not only did we get a wheel and it was an artichoke, green and black olive slices, chèvre, asiago and feta on a base of the most fantastic pesto. Totally terrific surprise. 

I have become a huge fan of using olive oil and balsamic vinegar on our salad greens. Everyone should try it. I am jonesing for some local romaine lettuce so I can make a Caesar salad.  

We stayed home the entire weekend. Big fan of that experience. 

It was suppose to be raining yesterday and today. In the end nothing happened until after midnight today. I think we will end up with maybe 10 mm. Not nearly enough. We did get enough to fill up our three rain barrels which is way better than nothing. 

Not much else to report.

365

May

21.    It’s International Tea Day – do you like a cup of tea every now and again? What type of tea do you drink?

365

April

25.  When’s the last time you had to use a plumber?

I would say it was when we were had our septic system and the plumbing chases inspected. It was years ago now. I can't remember if it was 3 or 5 years ago. 

26.  Do you still have a landline, or do you only use your mobile phone/cellphone?

Landline only. 

27.  What sweets/candies do you remember from your childhood? When was the last time you ate some? 

I remember Lifesavers, mojos, Double Bubble Gum and likely more if I thought hard about it. Of those I have listen not since maybe my 20's.

28.  In 2004, Shrek the sheep from Tarras, Central Otago, New Zealand, was finally shorn live on TV after 6 years of avoidance; the fleece weighed 27 kg (60 lb).  Do you own, or have you made anything from sheep’s wool?

I think a blanket in the trunk of the car is sheep's wool. 

29.  When was the last time you received a letter (not junk mail)?

I got a letters in two Christmas cards last December.

30.  In 2018, Sweden's official Twitter account confirmed that Swedish meatballs actually originated in Turkey. Do you like Swedish meatballs?  Ever had them in IKEA?

I think I have had something posing as Swedish meatballs at a potluck luncheon in the last half of the 90's. I had one didn't return to the table to get more. I have never eaten food at IKEA. 

May

1.    Have you ever contributed to something being crowdfunded? Was there an incentive to do so?

I have not.

Happy to report mid last week we got our new glasses. To be fair it was both of my pairs and the regular glasses only. It would be last Friday he got his sunglasses and had our glasses adjusted or refitted again on the same Friday. It has been nothing short of a triumph. Both of us are completely pleased with our choices and the detention to detail with making our fittings personal to our needs. 

I am sure some other things happened. Oh wait I had a birthday. Two days before said birthday we got take out Chinese food to eat that day and the next. On the day I got four cards and my STS mazeppagirl sent me an array of books and I am thrilled with the execution of a curated theme in gift giving. Top marks!!! The day before my birthday Sweetie paid for my choices of herbs and perennials at the garden centre and he also got himself a clematis. I sprayed it with Bobbex so hopefully the deer will be deterred. On my birthday Sweetie gave me a book and a hilarious card. I have been pulling weeds (my hips are complaining)  in our sun/shade space and the mostly sun space to plant my perennials. Why I haven't potted up my herbs yet is beyond me.  I have made some final location choices for at least two plants. Sweetie also removed two shrubs who for some reason died. We think one got crushed when a deer used it as a sleeping spot.  

1. How often do you hear live music?

Nothing since just before 2020.

2. What was your favorite live musical performance ever?

Many of years of attending International Guitar Night.

3. Do you play an instrument, or sing?

Flute and saxophone. 

4. Have you ever performed music onstage?

see above school band from grade five and up and then a couple of community bands as an adult

5. Who is your favourite musician?

I don’t have one. 

Hello. Here we are all gathered together to read this post. On the 22nd Sweetie said we should just go to ...and book an eye exam. I enthusiastically said yes.  We were able to secure 2 spots back to back. The receptionist offered up morning appointment or afternoon. The morning were too early for my brain to be fully awake (based on the distance we have to travel to get to the clinic.*  Anyway this past Tuesday (28th) we had our appointments. So serious changes to the machinery   used for the tests the technician administers before you see the eye doctor. For instance the peripheral vision is now done wearing virtual reality headset and hold a device to click when you see the dots that appear randomly. I was asking the tech all the questions. I was the same with the eye doctor. I found the eye doctor to be fantastic. I had used this facility back around 2011 when I got my eyes tested. He knew the doctor I was tested by and we discussed him at the point when the pupil enlargement drops need a bit more time to work their magic. I also was telling him jokes. He was super personable, answered all my questions,  gave my eyes a clean bill of health with a slight alteration in my prescription and agreed to continue a balance lens approach with my lazy eye.  Off I went to look at frames well Sweetie had his tests and eye exam. I was totally not able to seriously look at frames. Every time I lifted my head to look above my eye level it was wonky woo woo. I kept trying periodically as Sweetie** was looking at frames and doing the order for his new glasses.  It was no use. I couldn't focus. The tech who helped Sweetie look at frames was awesome and super knowledgeable.  She tried to help me and we did get one frame and she put a note on my file. 

For those not seeing the LJ Friday Five post it is available on LJ Friday Five on DW.

1. Do you like to spend time outdoors?

I am okay outdoors when it is less than 25C  and cloudy with a slight breeze. For the cooler temperatures than 0C  and white stuff falling from the sky I am not a huge fan. 

2. What is your favourite flower?

I do like Cosmos although I don't have a fave.

3. Any favourite warm weather activities?

Being in the shade drinking iced tea. 

4. Have you ever kept a garden? If so, what did you grow?

I started growing tomatoes and herbs on the balcony of my first non rental. 

Then when I moved into house I still grew both. We also planted roses and vines.

We have been now attempting to plant flowers and shrubs that the resident deer population don't like. This is my first go at a flowers. The herbs are still being grown and tomatoes hated our green house. When we tried  tomatoes outside on the deck the deer quite enjoyed the plants. We set up barriers and did end up with some tomatoes. Not worth it though. I gave away my tomato guidebook years ago to someone in the neighbourhood who had a greenhouse. 

5. Do you know how to swim?

Yes. Because we grew up half a block away from the river it was the rule in our house all us kids had to take swimming lessons (Red Cross) and pass the Senior Level at the very least. 

LJ Friday Five

1. What decade did you attend/are you attending high school or college?

Graduated high school in 1979. 

2. What clothing fashion from that time are you glad/do you wish went out of style?

I think every fashion trend rolls around and gets reinserted into different eras. 

I derive what height I have from my long torso and finding shirt with enough length was difficult. Also I had a very short inseam and all my jeans had to be hemmed. My mom did the hemming and the pants never hung right. 

3. Do you still listen to the music from your high school/college years on a regular basis?

Not on a regular basis. When I do hear something from back then it reminds me of that time.  I do like to watch YT videos of people discovering music that was the soundtrack for my life. 

4. What hairstyle/hair colour did/do you wear during high school/college?

Curly hair that was short.  The colour was the same and untouched. 

5. What was/is "the cool thing to do" while in high school/college?

I have no idea what the cool kids were doing to make them feel cool. I was not cool apparently. I forged my own relationships on my own terms. I wasn't looking to walk the edge or look for trouble. 

365

April

19.  In 1934, Shirley Temple starred in her first film. Have you ever seen any of her films?

I have not seen her work. I admire her for doing ambassador. From wiki