CBC -The Nature of Things with David Suzuki - - Smarty Plants: Uncovering the Secret World of Plant Behaviour

CBC -The Nature of Things with David Suzuki - - Smarty Plants: Uncovering the Secret World of Plant Behaviour

At Grief Hill - Sept. 2012

Carmen and Wally gave me a lift up there.  It is about a 45 minute ride from Hamilton which is not too far at all.

We were the second to arrived and others straggled in eventually.  It was a little nippy as the weather had turned cooler but I enjoyed it.

Once Gary arrived with the key, we trooped inside and some gathered kindling for the fireplace,  and others tried to figure out how to light the fire without a match!  No easy task, to be sure!

One of  the men, who must have been a Boy Scout for sure, found an ingenious way to do it.

It was very comfortable in there once the fire was lit and the lovely aroma of apple tea filled the room.  I think throughout the afternoon, I made three potfuls of this tea as it proved very popular.

I had brought coucous salad plus the apple tea.  Others had brought finger foods while others made meat dishes and salads.

We were totally spoiled in the array of delicious foods available.

The Living Room

Before the gang arrived

Carmen and Wally - the love birds

The younger folk played sports and some people went on a long hike which was pleasant for them.

We ate supper after 5 p.m. and everybody left by 7 p.m.

It was great to see Peter there.  We have such a nice relationship - always joking around together.  He visited me on a regular basis when I was hospitalized and we developed a very nice friendship.

All in all, a lovely afternoon for the church picnic at Grieff Hill.

Thanks for dropping by and please come back some other time.

The Memorial for Jen

I was so pleased to see the large turnout to remember Jen.  It was held at the Freeway Cafe at Wellington and King.  Matt did a really good job of organizing it. 

I saw many familiar faces and was touched by the good words said about Jen and how much she will be missed.

I read her prose poem about God and nature and then my poem  "My Journey"

It was a fitting poem as Jen exhibited throughout her life the qualities in that poem. 

There were three musical events as well to honour Jen.  I thoroughly enjoyed that as well.

It was not a sad occasion as Jen believed in God and now she is in a better place where she will have no more scarcity, no more pain and where she will be welcomed wholeheartedly.

Rest in peace Jen and enjoy your new life.

It's Monday and the sun is shining

How lovely to wake up to a sunlit room.

The delicate rays of the sun lightly touched my supine figure as it soothed away my cares and woes.  Instead of muttering to myself that I wanted to have a few more minutes shuteye, I swung my co-operating legs over the side of my narrow single bed and slipped my aging feet into my cozy slippers.

The sun made all the difference in my thoughts that day as I looked forward to the meeting with the elderly gentleman at my club. He had shown some interest and now we were to be formally introduced.

Perhaps there was romance in the air, even at my age?  Could it be that someone would see me for who I really am, a loving and interesting person - not just another "old person"?
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Okay folks, you who have dropped in to this blog.  I am in the writing "mood" and the above is just what my imagination came up with.  Hope you are intrigued?

It was fun writing it.  Will there be romance in the air do you think?  Do you think two older people can find happiness with each other?

Questions to leave you thinking.  Next time you see an elderly person, perhaps this little story will make you wonder about the person and who they really are.  Not the outer shell but the inner person who has contributed to society all their years.

On that note, please drop by again if you wish.  Thanks for reading and have a good day!

A good day today!

Everything looks better after a good night's rest, doesn't it?  I took valarian root last night and it helped me a lot to sleep.

Mike repaired my medic alert bracelet at his shop in Jackson's Square for which I was most thankful.  They are Armenian people who run it and very nice. 

I caught the bus to Westdale and was early for Tower Poetry meeting today.  I hate to be late so that was good.

I enjoyed the meeting although I didn't have any work prepared.  A lady I invited came for the first time and I think she enjoyed herself. 

I took the bus home and then tried a new trick to polish my silver.  Three tablespoon baking soda to 1 tablespoon water.  Made a paste, and rubbed the silver with it.  It is not perfect, but it did a pretty good job.  Very handy if you run out of silver polish.

We'll see how long it lasts.....

I thought of going to the Locke Street Festival but didn't have anybody to go with at that hour. 

It has been a very nice day today for me and I hope your day went well.

Tips for sleeping

6 Steps to Help You Fall Asleep Earlier

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Counting sheep not cutting it? If you regularly struggle to fall asleep, your lifestyle may be to blame. By making a few small tweaks to your everyday routine, you'll be able to doze off easily at night and skip that second cup of coffee tomorrow. Here's how to get more beauty rest this Spring by falling asleep earlier.

1. Prepare for the morning. By picking out your clothes, packing your lunch, and taking other steps the night before to shorten your morning routine, you'll have far less to worry about as you drift off to sleep.
2. Give yourself a bedtime. Your body has a natural rhythm, but that rhythm can get thrown off if you don't fall asleep at a fairly consistent hour. Focus on getting into bed around the same time each night — yes, that includes weekends — so that your body clock can stabilize.
3. Say no to screens. Steer clear of your laptop, iPad, ereader, and TV for at least an hour before you hope to fall asleep. Not only will it give your eyes a much-needed break, but it will also help to clear your mind and put you in a ready-to-relax state.
4. Create a wind-down routine. Replace the screen time with a few nightly relaxation rituals. Whether it's a bubble bath, a few minutes of calming yoga, or a chapter from your latest book, a regular evening pattern can be a great way to give your body the time-for-bed signal.
5. Be a tea drinker. One of the simplest ways to manage your Zs? Skip caffeine after lunchtime and sip some tea after dinner. Brew some chamomile tea or buy a blend that's created specifically for bedtime, like Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Teas.
6. Worry tomorrow. If everyday anxieties are keeping you awake, do what you can to leave those concerns for tomorrow. Can't stop mentally running through your to-do list? Try writing it out before hitting the hay and resign to deal with it in the morning.

A good rule of thumb: focus on consistency and relaxation. You won't fall asleep if your mind and body are still functioning as they do throughout the day, so make rest a priority and develop a nighttime regimen that gives you a better chance of sound shuteye.

Source: Thinkstock

 

 

Copied from Wise Bread which is an excellent site.

Lunch with Gayle, then Princess Point

What a delightful time we had together.  Lunch at the Pheasant Plucker and then Princess Point after that.  She remembers Princess Point when she was a tad younger with picnics and gatherings.

We took lots of pictures and she was quite delighted to rediscover this hidden treasure of Hamilton.

Hidden only because people don't think of going there to enjoy nature.

It is very accessible by the Aberdeen bus (No. 6) or by car.  If you are a member of the RBG it is free parking, otherwise you have to pay.  Since normally I go by bus there is no worry about parking for me and my friend has a membership with RBG so she did not have to pay.

We spent several hours down there chatting and enjoying the serenity of the place.  We met an older couple who lived on the mountain. I think it may have been their first time there.  By their accent, I believe they may be Dutch.

We met families with small dogs, families with big dogs and fathers fishing with their sons - all just enjoying the wonderful weather and the time together.

A wilder section

My pal Gayle

Myself

 I will also post a picture of Ava, the dog I dogsat for two days.  She is a real doll and we got along just fine.  We went for walks together and I explored the neighbourhood a little bit.  I really like that area.

Quiet and residential.  The only problem that I see if one lived there is that the bus only runs every half hour during the week and then every hour on the weekends.  Except for the bus service, I wouldn't mind living there at all.

I had a great day.  Thanks for dropping by.