Milestones On Robson Street

This is the view from the table we sat down at after a gorgeous walk on the seawall at Stanley Park.

With our spinach and artichoke dip appetizer we also shared a spring salad that was still large even though it was split.

Then we shared a chicken penne asiago . . .

and as the lights came on the trees lining the street, we savored small teaspoons of an apple caramel crisp and sipped coffee.

I couldn't help but think of how unexpectedly pleasant this stage in our lives is. I still remember thinking it would never be "just the two of us" again. And now, it is here . . . with so many shared memories. Memories that make up a life that is ours - with all it's joy and pain, in the process bringing meaning to becoming one - yet stronger.

We still do what couples do when they get a babysitter, (they go out and end up talking about the kids) it's just that now there are even more to talk about. . . more smiles . . . more prayers . . . more dreams . . . more love to pass around.

I actually quite like this stage. Maybe someone needed to hear that today.

Where the Red Maple Grows

Did you know that maple trees bloom before leaves come out? There are many different varieties of maples, but our tree starts out each spring with the most delicate looking clusters of light green flowers. Going down each flower stem, you will find a cluster of winged seeds, bright red in color. On a sunny day, the color combination looks absolutely beautiful.

I’ve been observing this tree more this year than usual and noticed that bright red leaves are beginning to open up right under each flower. The flowers will fall off and the leaves will grow and change color through-out the season.
In the summer the leaves turn to a dark, silvery green. I think its late summer, when they tend to turn burgundy and in the Fall we will find an assortment of colors, ending with a lot of yellow and brown.
Sometimes, when I look at this massive 25 year old tree now, I remember how I asked the tree planter to move it further from my wash line - a spindly little nine foot sapling. I remember the funny look he gave me, but he moved it.

It’s funny how a tree can become so much a part of home. A shaded place for our summer barbeques, a father/son or husband/wife leaf raking exercise in the Fall and a place where we hang the grandkids swings from, no matter what the season.

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation:

seed-bearing plants and trees

on the land that bear fruit with seed in it,

according to their various kinds."

And it was so . . .

And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1: 11,12

More on the Brown Hassock

I came across this random shot in our Fall 1983 cube of slides. Just another practical use for the brown vinyl hassock. One could begin to wonder how we would have managed without it.

Shirtless in the Eighties

I know what you're thinking.

Yes . . . exactly what I was thinking

when I came across this slide.

I'd seen lots of skin

on shots taken at home, but . . .

On the golf course?

It seems like it was the thing to do . . .

since I noticed that his golfing buddies did the same.
Somehow it was normal and the right thing to do in order to unwind.

I'll be nice, but you get the drift . . .

at home in our family room. Daddy was home to romp on!

This photo just tells me a lot about the happiness

shared in a simple room.

Allow me to digress.

A small TV that sat on a night table. Obviously, no remote and I remember the cable was easily accessible. Benji found great delight in unplugging it to listen to his sisters screams. No such thing as renting movies, since we had not bought the latest in technology - a VHS player. Family night meant playing hide and seek or maybe snakes and ladders.

And who displays trophies on a fireplace mantle today? Would they not ruin the home decor? But at that time we proudly displayed family achievements.

The round brown vinyl hassock in the background, in front of the fireplace. Oh what fun the kids had with it, setting it on its side to lean against it with their tummy and rock back and forth with. Other times it became a stage to perform on, or maybe just to wheel or race someone around on. After many years it got tossed, looking rather like a worn out trampoline.

Okay. . . so much for the shirtless eighties . . . and blogging while scanning.

From Tulips to Hockey

For everything a season . . . while the tulips are standing at attention in the fields, the hockey season is almost over. I came home from our girls outing on Tuesday just in time to brush my teeth, put on some lipstick and hop into the truck with my H. We do this about twice a year, not because I’m a huge hockey fan, but because I love this kind of time together.

I enjoy the drive into Vancouver, the city that holds memorable childhood and sweet dating memories for us.

As soon as we got to GM Place, we picked up our usual Whitespot Burger with fries and headed to our seats. We finished them up just as the lights turned down and 18000 (minus one or two) fans went crazy while the teams skated onto the ice. Vancouver versus Colorado. I found it particularly interesting on this night, as Kristal and Shaun were in a moving truck to Colorado this week.

The starting line-up stood while both national anthems were sung.

Roberto Luongo, team captain for the Canucks and Gold winning medalist with the 2010 Olympic Team Canada, is ready in position. I read that he was inspired to become a goalie after he was cut from his peewee hockey team.

It was a game that kept us guessing to the very end, as Daniel Sedin tied up the game (3-3) during third period, forcing the game to go into overtime and finally a shoot-out.

Vancouver Canucks players Wellwood, Demitra and Kesler all missed on the shootout. Colorado's Duchane ended up scoring the wining goal.

I didn't get a winning shot either, but I had to take it, because I’m always intrigued with this huge lit up globe against the night skyline. Oh, and I think the most exciting part of hockey is just beginning, seeing the Canucks have earned themselves a favorable spot in the playoffs with the Northwest Division title.

We will be enjoying those games in the comfort of our family room.

MGCC Field Trip

Yesterday . . . those of us who could . . . left our kitchens and posting . . . to do some field work. . . or rather . . . find some other interesting things to report on. We met first thing in the morning and headed to La Conner, where we had arranged to meet with Ellen.

Ellen is the one sitting between Kathy and Lovella, here at the Seeds Bistro. Marg and Judy are across the table. This was the first time we met Ellen in person, after sharing a blog for 22 months, and it wasn't strange at all. She had driven about an hour north for this meeting and even came with a little gift for each of us. We had a great time chatting it up during a little walk in town and having lunch. After lunch she left us, since she had already been to the tulip fields last week.

We parked at Tulip Town, watching the grey skies and shivering in the cold breeze.

Lovella, in her cute wind and water resistant attire, set out as our tour guide.

I soon forgot about the cold, while Marg wondered why, on her farm, they are growing corn!

I watched the professionals to see how it's done . . .

and proceeded to take my own pictures . . .

It really wasn't hard.

Actually it was hard to stop.

The variety and the colors were breathtaking!

On our walk back, another friendly customer offered to take our picture. Poor guy, he didn't realize that meant five cameras! We made it back to safe cover just before the rainstorm hit.

The food, the flowers, the stop at the mall . . . I enjoyed it all so much . . . but I realized that what I really enjoyed the most was the sharing we could do as we walked and during our drive. It's all about relationships . . . without them the things we do would not have much meaning. Thank you my friends . . . and to those of you who could not be there, you were not forgotten. One day it will be all of us.