Winter Whites and Blues

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Dale | 198 Comments

Frank J. Tassone hosted Haibun Monday for dVerse yesterday. He wants us to get seasonal in honour of winter. Those of us in the northern hemisphere might be just about done with the white stuff and cold but hey, it does have it’s beautiful moments. Should you want to try your hand, just click here and add your link. All jokes aside, I do love winter – not as cold as we’ve had, thank you very much!

There is something special about waking up to a fresh blanket of snow. Bleary-eyed, you crawl out of bed, not really ready to face the day (or maybe you are). You open your blinds and catch your breath. While you were sleeping, nature was laying down a gift. All is covered in pristine white and the skies are as blue as they can only be in winter.

Now energized, you check the temps and dress appropriately to go out and get a better view. Away from the noisy streets, as you make your way, you feel the silence grow louder the further you go. The crunch under your feet is now muffled by the layer of fluff, your breath comes out in plumes and your jacket crinkles as you walk. While the sun is shining brightly, it is stingy with its heat. But you don’t really mind as you’ve dressed accordingly and while slight, you do feel the lightest of ray of kisses on your exposed cheeks.

Ah! If only all of winter were so! But alas. That is the part of the gift of having four seasons. We must enjoy the best of them while we can.

Blanket of white snow

Blue skies and crisp air delight

I’m ready for spring

#Weekend Coffee Share – Mid-February Edition

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Dale | 58 Comments

Before I even start my share, thank you to Emily from Nerd in the Brain Blog for her first, of many, hosting duties! I think we are going to have much fun! If you want to join in, just click on the image above, and you will be brought over to Emily’s home, where you can join in.

If we were having coffee… oh look, it’s noon! Would you prefer something else? It is Saturday, you know, you can have whatever you’d like. I had a late start so I’m on my second coffee. This cold that has been hounding me since last Thursday makes it taste a little wonky but it’ll do. I fear I have caught that two-week bug I keep hearing about. I ended up finally going to the doctor’s on Thursday, knowing full well that it was “too soon” for her to see if there is an infection or not so I got a prescription for an x-ray for my sinuses for next week if I feel the need… yeah. Well. I’ll be fine.

If we were having coffee, you would see that I got a new ‘do on Tuesday! Yes, it was time. Valentine’s Day Present no. 1. I don’t like to keep the same hairstyle for too long (something a former hairdresser of mine told me. I asked him his opinion on women, age and length of hair and his response was: What ages a woman is keeping the same hairstyle for years on end. Somehow I got an image of Rachel from Another World and knew exactly what he meant! Thanks, Joseph. I follow your advice, though I no longer have you as coiffeur. You are downtown and I haven’t worked downtown in ohmigosh! 20 years!) So, here’s the new look. Will never obtain the same look as the hairdresser does and it will take a week before I can do anything with it (usually does after having it long for so long!) I happened to have been feeling rather well that day so I didn’t cancel my appointment (though I warned Françoise that I was still sick – she told me to come in anyway). I paid for it by feeling worse then horrible by Thursday – which is why I finally relented and went to see the doctor. Anyway.

Professionally coiffed

Short hair = more curls

Reality

Valentine’s Day present no. 2 was flowers to me from me with all my love… Then my eldest felt guilty that I had bought him some Kinder Surprise, so he picked up sushi and chocolate for me!

Light green to match my kitchen

Gift from my son

And how could I forget! There is a Tim Horton’s (THE coffee shop all over Canada – but don’t tell them, I am not in love with their coffee) beside the hairdresser and I hadn’t had my coffee yet, so I picked up a cup. Dye job lasts a good 45 minutes so…. As I left the salon, Martine, one of the hairdressers calls to me: Hey, you want me to throw out your coffee? To my “yes” she said, wait, let’s roll up the rim. Well, I’ll be darned. I got a free cup of coffee! So I brought said winning empty cup and got myself another for the drive home.

Guess what?

Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket…

On Wednesday, we got quite the snowstorm. I’d go so far as to call it a blizzard. Man oh man! Bummer for the school kids that it started after they all got to school. Buahahaha! It was over just in time for them to come home too!

View from my bedroom window

As a result from all this snow, rain, more snow, my Tempo (winter tent-like-thing for cars) is buckling under the weight. Because I have been so sick, I didn’t think of telling the boys to remove some. Too late. The damage is done. We’ll have to replace some screws – again. Like the first year after Mick passed away. This was HIS department!! Sigh.

Almost hidden

What’s left to be removed

Mountain

Undone!

Oh! And before I forget, I finished reading our very own Trent McDonald’s book of short stories, Seasons of Imagination. A most wonderful collection of short stories. Some of them really stayed with me and I almost wished they would go on (though they were complete stories in and of themselves…) Worth picking up, I tell you!

Oh. My. God! I am awful. How could I forget to thank my sister for going out of her way to buy me meds from the pharmacy, and bring me her left-over chicken noodle soup! Thank you, Lisa. You always come through in times of need! I love you, Sister! xoxoxo

I think I’ve taken up enough of your time for today. I wish for you all a most wonderful day!

Always, with lotsa love!

Dale

A Haiku For Monday

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Dale | 14 Comments

Cold weather and cooking jobs have kept me from my usual walks about my town. This morning I decided it was necessary and would probably help me be more productive in the end!

Decided to have fun with it!

Lost…. and Found

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Dale | 13 Comments

Yay!!!! It is finally snowing! While some people may not be happy with this situation; Zeke and I are eccstatic! Snow equals less cold equals more fun outside. Very simple math.

By 9:00 sharp, we are out the door….oh wait, where’s my other mitten? Bloody hell… do I have to wear gloves? I can’t wear gloves, I have Raynaud’s which means my fingers freeze at the thought of cold… No, this will not do. Working up a sweat now and not even out the door. Voilà! Sneaky bugger was hiding behind the folding door.

By 9:10 sharp….

A perfect winter morning… Some Loreena McKennitt, Snow to inspire you. (Sorry, could not embed it!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HT4dMXIr-o

Off we went towards the Industrial area so that we could go play in the woods right behind it. Finally, a chance to take some nice pictures (I hoped) and the sun was not shining so, no washed out colours… but no sparkles either…

Woooooo Hooooooo!

Grasses

Before hitting the woods, there is a row of various grasses. Quite lovely, if I say so myself!

Thistles

Indian Grass & Vinegar Tree

Wild Rye

As we went deeper into the woods where the snow was way deeper than it looked – I sunk in half-way between my knees and my thighs at a few points – we encountered various trees and thorny bushes.

Thorns

Archway

I was far from cold at this point! Lordy, what a work-out it turned out to be!

We finally get out of the woods where all we can hear is the hum of the electricity….

Electric

Patiently waiting

…when I realise, I have no leash! Argh! It was around my neck (like a scarf) but must have gotten caught on some branches. Dammit. I have to go back into the woods, retracing my steps…