June is bustin' out all over ...

Oscar Hammerstein wrote the song, later included in the musical, Carousel, produced by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The film version appeared in 1956. See the  following link to relive this time (it's about a 9 minute clip of amazing costumes, and singing and dancing): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khL3AVmPj24.

Here, in my flower beds, June is also busting out all over. I spend an hour or so this morning, photographing some of the beautiful blooms and blossoms around the yard. I'll be uploading some of the images to my Flickr page over the next few days.

Happiness is ...

The May Long Weekend

Winnipeg is usually very quiet on the May Long Weekend. Those who have a cottage or camp site often leave early from work and head out of town. Obviously, the traffic is light and shopping is easier for those of us who remain in the city.

The weather this weekend looks good. Cool and partly sunny for the most part, just the way I like it! That will make some planned yard work easier. Tonight, we're off to see a show at Celebrations Dinner Theatre with members of Wow Hospitality's head office staff. The show is called "Johnny Be Goode".

Happiness is ...

Cook's Tour

As an amateur cook, I had a great afternoon today. After our usual stop at Charleswood Library, we headed over to "Scoop & Weigh" on Taylor, east of Kenaston. This store sells all the special needs a budding cook could ever want  (in addition to dozens and dozens of chocolate-coated goodies ... ever tried white chocolate-curry-coated cashews? ... to die for!). I bought various nuts and chocolates, including some sugar-free ones). I also found a citrus zester, a garlic peeler, a chopper-scraper, a cookie cutter, and pure sesame oil (not the water-downed version that you buy in supermarkets ... that stuff is diluted with soybean oil). There were dozens of other gadgets that I saw and wanted but I was satisfied with today's haul.

Next, we headed over to La Grotta Mediterranean Market, also on Taylor. Featuring meats, fish, cheeses, baked goods, vegetables, fruit, and dozens of other ethnic foods, it's a great place to shop. It was very busy today because of Mother's Day. Tortes were just flying off the bakery counter (the larger ones were $45!). We managed to avoid the cakes and pastries but did buy a couple of their loaves of bread. I also got some fresh vegetables for tonight's dinner. Our only weakness was for some of their gelato flavours, pistachio and mango. Well, I also picked up some mango ice cream that they make but the container was so small it didn't really count as a weakness.

Happiness is ...

Snow Almost Gone

The long winter is finally over. A little snow drift remains on the north side of house but it should be gone by days end when the forecast temperature reaches 26 deg. C. Just yesterday, it hit 25 C. It is so nice to be able to sit out on the deck with the dogs and bask in the sunshine.

Yard work will be easier this year. There will be lots of pruning to do but the first full clean-up (collecting leaves, road sand, lawn aeration) will be farmed out to the good folks who did our snow clearing this past winter. After the pruning, I plan to re-stain the wooden deck furniture (two tables and 8 chairs). Some summer projects will be contracted out. These projects include fence and deck repairs, new deck steps, eaves-trough and exterior window cleaning, and roof re-shingling.

Happiness is ...

Spring Fever

Ever had 'spring fever'? Mark Twin may have summed it up best when he said "It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ".

We've waited a long time for the coming forecast warmer weather. Imagine. We'll be enjoying temperatures in the low 20s next week. Seven days of sunny skies. Of course, that's assuming the forecast is accurate. Manitobans will believe it, if and when it happens.

Optimistically, I'll be going to the garden centre to pick up my seedlings. I may have to move them in and out of the heated garage every day but I want to start my garden so much that my heart just aches!

May Day

According to Wikipedia, May Day is celebrated in some parts of the Province of British Columbia. The honour of having the longest continually observed May Day in the British Commonwealth – since 1870 – is claimed by the BC city of New Westminster.

I can attest to that event during my juniour high school days.  For several weeks before, high school students were made to learn how to dance around the Maypole. The most well known symbol of May Day is the maypole. The custom of dancing around the maypole is supposedly an ancient fertility rite. Whatever. All I remember is that my rebellious friends and I tended to play hooky on those days. We considered it rather childish.

We would usually go down to a secret location on the banks of the Fraser River.  There, we had a long, thick rope which we used to swing out over the river and fly off the end. Not having our swim suits with us, we'd make do with our underwear. It was a lot of fun.

Change

Ever watched dandelions grow? They don't appear until you mow your lawn. Then, they're everywhere. My grand-kids grow fast between visits. The Kleenex box is always full until you really need a tissue. My dress-up clothes always fit until I have to look nice for a night out.  The car is always fuelled up until I'm late getting ready and I have to drive out to Carman for an appointment.

Change happens fast. It happens when we least expect it. One moment the coffee cup is full and, the next moment, it's either empty or cold.

While you're not paying attention, you've grown older and lost your elasticity. Your kids have matured, married, and now have their own kids.

Now, those damned dandelions are back, thicker than ever, and you're seriously considering hiring a lawn care company.

I'm learning to welcome change with an open wallet ...

Winter Wonderland

Imagine, if you can, waking up to a white yard on May 1st. Yes, we had freezing rain and snow overnight. Not much snow really but too much for this time of year.

Fortunately, according to the long range forecast, warmer weather is on the way with temperatures in the low teens on the weekend and in the low 20's after that.

Living where we are, we will get long summer days with up to 16.5 hours of day-length that will make up for the long winter and spring.

We do have crocuses in bloom already with daffodils and tulips on the way. They should flourish when the warm temperatures return. I can hardly wait!

A Pain in the ...

... back. Nasty times when you walk like a duck, your lower back in pain. I've tried various medications with limited relief. Time and rest seem to be the best medicines. Usually, it takes a week or so before I start to walk with ease again.

I rarely get back aches. I haven't had the problem for years but, this year, I've had it twice. I blame it on my relative inactivity over the winter months. My health problems really started with a severe cold/flu, just after Christmas. Many Manitobans suffered this ailment this winter.

Now, I've started walking outdoors again. Short walks to be sure but I've started. Soon, I hope to get out to some of my favourite photography locations and resume using my camera. Maybe this weekend when the temperatures are supposed to reach the high teens. The end of the longest winter I've ever experienced seems to have come to an end.

Happiness is ...

Lucky Me

My cousin Barb just posted on her blog about 'luck'.  See her blog at http://reflectivethoughtsbybarbara.blogspot.ca/.  The post was entitled 'What is luck?  Are you lucky or just hard working?'  Like most of her posts, it made me think of things and events in my own life.

Four years ago this month, I started this blog with a favourite quote:  "don't push the river … it flows on by itself … happiness is letting the happenings happen".  That was when the longest relationship in my life had recently ended.

One of the most important happenings that happened was the beginning of my friendship with Margaret, a woman who worked for me in the Research Section when I was City Entomologist.  Was it 'luck' that I moved into Winnipeg, less than a block from where Margaret lived?  Was it 'luck' that we both were walkers and dog lovers and met walking our mutts on a nearby trail in early March, 2010?  Was it 'luck' that we eventually married on 3 December 2011?

No, I don't think I was 'lucky'.  I think we were blessed.  The night before we were married, I included a quote in my blog post: "True love stories never have endings" (Richard Bach).

Happiness is ...

Just Desserts

Everyone loves to have a special dessert after their meal.  Too often, though, by the time we've finished our meal, we're too full for dessert.  One way around this, if you're with your significant other, is to share a dessert.

If you're diabetic, just make sure you choose a dessert with lots of nuts in it.  It'll be a little easier on your blood sugar levels.

One of my favourite desserts at home is part of a Russell Stover 'no sugar added' bar of milk chocolate with almonds.  It contains a couple of artificial sweeteners.  Be sure to read the fine print where it warns that these sweeteners can have a laxative effect on you!

And, remember, they're just desserts ...

Spring Forward

Daylight Saving Time (DST) resumes at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2013 in Canada.  It will end on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 2 a.m.  The phrase "Spring forward, Fall back" helps people remember how DST affects their clocks.  "Spring Forward" affects us as individuals also.

Some people complain that DST affects their health, mood, and body clocks, and that their sleeping patterns are out of synchronization with natural photoperiods.  Studies into these effects have been contradictory and confusing.  Fortunately, most people adjust to the time change after a few days or within a week or so.  I just like the fact that it is another sign of our coming spring.

Seems to me that this is also a good excuse for having an extra cup of coffee on Monday morning, before trundling off to work.

International Women's Day

On March 8th, we will celebrate International Women's Day.  Many countries across the world will honour women for their contributions to our society.  The focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

In some countries, the theme follows that suggest by the United Nations.  This year, the UN theme follows the idea of "a promise is a promise: time for action to end violence against women".  Men and boys are encouraged to stop violence against women and girls.  We can only hope for the best.

At the very least, we, as men, should take time this Friday to express our love and appreciation to that special woman in our lives.

Happiness is a Choice

The words in the title of this post are often quoted.  They have been attributed to many people but their true source is not really known.

Certainly, Aeschylus (the ancient Greek dramatist and playwright known as the founder of Greek tragedy, 525 BC-456 BC) was correct when he said "happiness is a choice that requires effort at times”.

Many times, I've researched the meaning of happiness.  Almost every wise person that has ever lived has tried to explain what happiness means to him or her.  I ended up being more confused than ever in this research topic until I realized happiness is like a multi-faceted gem stone.  It appears slightly different to each person, depending on their point-of-view, the time of their life, and their situation.

Happiness just is ...