At liberty

Had to do a little sleuthing to find this blouse that I tried on at the Waldorf vintage sale, but didn't buy. On an off chance I contacted the Waldorf who passed along my request. So, like some kind of clandestine exchange, I met the vendor, handed over the cash and fled with my Liberty of London silk blouse.

One wedding and a funeral

Reports indicate that all kinds of people were up at 2:00 am to watch the royal wedding. I was not among them, but I did do a little online voyeurism when I got up. The bride was lovely, the groom was handsome, and I wish them well.

On more of a personal, local level, there was a funeral to attend. A women who lived to the age of 84, had four children and always maintained a strong interest in the things around her. Her funeral was a celebration, really, in a true sense, because it brought together so many of the people in her life, from all corners. Though, she'll be missed, I know that she would be happy seeing all the people who came to pay tribute to her and all the affection they have for her and for each other. It was a funeral that left me with a warm heart - in much the way a wedding can do.

Spot the asparagus

Well, so far, three little asparagus spears poking through. I was hoping for a large and hearty crop. Yet to come, maybe?

Said the whale

Nevermore


















I paid a visit to the gift shop at the aquarium today. They used to have lovely souvenirs there. But no more. The whale, however, is as impressive as ever.

Alley cat

Todays run was dedicated to alley ways. They never dissapoint:














Do you see Betty Boop in this ceramic thing or is it me?

A while puffy skirt

After seeing Dress me up in your love and Bill Cunningham New York my mind seems to be focused on clothing. When I saw these flouncy flowers I thought of silk blouses or full rustling skirts, fresh green scarves....

Bill

You'd think on a day when I saw Bill Cunningham New York I'd be able to come up with an inspired picture - not the case.

Time got away from me. First an early morning run in the endowment lands followed by the usual stellar strudel.

Then some serious weed warfare - don't worry, no chemical weapons used - just a shovel.

The afternoon sped by with the usual laundry sorting, writing attempts, emails, and I'm ashamed to admit social media.

But the highlight today - even greater than the greatest strudel on earth - was a movie about the most important man on earth, Bill Cunningham. 80 years old and still in love with fashion, cycling around New York snapping photos of stylish women on the street. I think I'm inspired to add a little more individuality in my own style that I try so hard to keep to muted tastefulness. Muted no more! (now and then, perhaps)

Sunny days are meant for 80s music

I'm glad I wore my gloves this morning as I rode my bike to salsa class - a little nip in the air, sort of like sharp, little puppy teeth biting at my skin.

Future salad

Arugula and two types of lettuce. Looking forward to some home-grown greens.

Bringing home the barrel

With Spring in full swing, we took the hound down to New Brighton where we found another sign of warmer weather: New Brighton pool drained and ready for another coat of paint. Swimmers get your goggles ready.



Then off to the garden centre to purchase lettuce for the summer and a big beamy barrel for water storage.

An urn of tulips

If only all parking lots could be festooned with such colourful curvaceous containers.

FEZ

Busy, busy, driving, driving. Our foreign exchange student has arrived and so have my insecurities about providing meals for a 17-year old kid who's been brought up in a home with French and Italian cuisine. I hope he doesn't starve.

Tonight: potluck dinner - a hodgepodge of unappealing food. Down with potlucks.

Seedlings

It's so exciting to see little seeds grow. These will be cilantro - fresh salsa here we come.

Boy makes BLT

Day is done

It's the end of the day and what started out as maybe not such a good one, turned out fine.

A long visit with a friend helped me put a few things in perspective.

Yellow

I would like a yellow house.

Fresh

That's the word that comes to mind today: windy, cool and sunny. Made my way out to UBC today to hear a lecture I was really looking forward to - and guess what - I arrived just as it was winding up. How did I manage that?

Dickensian day

Misty rain and cold - perfect day for the moors of Jane Eyre.

Twenty-three

Twenty three years: that's how long I've been married - and very lucky am I.

This little out-of-focus purple bouquet (my goal is to take a picture a day - not an award-winning picture a day), to me, looks suspended in a drop of orange jelly.

The base of boulliabase

Today as I was sautéeing onions, chopping fish, puréeing tomatoes, it occurred to me that the kitchen is one of the places where I'm happiest. If only I could entertain people without a major anxiety attack.

Spring swing

Ah, it's one of those spring days that makes everyone happy: pink blossoms, blue sky, white mountains.

On a mission

Today is Vancouver's 125th birthday and it's the day I chose to head down to the archives - to find out a little about swimming pool history.

Oddly the archives - an underground bunker with a view- was quiet - not even a birthday cupcake in sight.

Ready to wear

Tonight I caught a showing of Robert Altman's Pret a Porter at the Van East Cultural Centre, or The Cultch as hipsters like to call it. A girly evening of fashion and silliness - you need one of those now and then.

Oh and I picked up a few things at Ming Wo. A cake ring and a big stainless steel mixing bowl all in readiness for the Friday night crowd.

A couple of days ago I saw Certified Copy and left very confused. Today while I was at salsa class my mind was still on it - and I came to a conclusion. The movie was about sadness - about the dissolution of a relationship - and perhaps a resolution. But like a broken vase, it can be repaired, but the cracks will never go away.

Birthday pancakes

Started the day with two pancakes and a birthday celebration. Ended the day with some 5 spice choc chip cookies. Every day should be book-ended with sweets.

Rising up

Today we spread wood chips around to make the garden seem more tended, to smother the weeds, to feed to soil. Here we have the Pasque flower, named after Pasque, French for Easter. Right on time these fuzzy little Easter flowers are poking their heads through last years dried stems.

40 years later

With the tune to Paul Simon's "Graceland" playing in my head, I made my way to Royal Columbian on some sort of weird pilgrimage to visit a teacher from way back. I have so many vivid memories of him - a big bear of a man with a dark thick whiskers. Now, he's frail, but it turns out he also has vivid memories and he's a sharp as ever. I'm sorry his body has turned against him.