not much snow...

....but....lots of wind!

so... no photos of my poor daffs bending under the weight..although I bet they got whacked flat with the wind.  It's rotten out there...so I didn't bother to go out and climb up to peer over the top of the patio wall.  They are on the other side.  Maybe later...the sun is trying to poke through....but, the wind is still about 60 kph.  It's been wild all night and half a day now... some slushy snow...and frozen water in spots.  Wear a helmet if you go out Yvonne!  (She fell two days ago and whacked her head) ... ouch.  Knowing what I know about concussions.... and my poor sister's plight after her fall all those years ago ... I worry about us all.  It's dangerous out there people!

So, hanging out inside is the order of the day.  And...for some reason I managed to get a decent night's sleep, so I'm getting a few things done.  Got up at 6:30... unheard of for me.  I'm more the 8 to 9 o'clock person... cuz I don't get to sleep before 2 a.m. most nights...even if I go to bed at 10:00 ...which is more frustrating than I can tell you.  Well, more frustrating than I can tell without some very colourful language!

I've been working on this little guy...

I've had his eyes in and out several times.... just couldn't get them looking quite the way I wanted...

Close...but, not quite.....

Finally.... today.... 3rd time lucky....

Otis  ..... 

Otis and Frikkles ....

a storm is coming...

... a phrase in a romance novel?... of course.  A line from a new movie...yup ....  that too...

But... today.... it's really and truly just our weather.  The day began dark and dreary... I thought it was much earlier than it was when I got up.  Turned on all the lights.... then went outside to take some pics of the lichen on this Mayday.  I only really noticed it from the window because the tree was so dark and wet from the rain that has been falling all night.  Not complaining about it either...we NEED moisture.  We've had so little snow...and no rain.

This one is absolutely for you Serena.  Knowing your love of trees and bark.

Our day began about +4C...but, has dropped to only 1C... and there is now a wind coming directly from the north.  A weather or storm warning... can't remember which now... is out for the area.  It was raining earlier...but, the drops are becoming big, fat and sleety.  Splat ... as they hit the pavement.  No accumulation yet..., but, I'm keeping an eye out for snow beginning to crown the heads of my daffodils.  Yes!!  they bloomed when I wasn't looking!

Can you believe I was complaining and commenting just a day ago (on somebody's blog) about us not having anything except some sweet little violets...

...and then, two days ago, I checked to my left for cars as I drove out of the yard.. and lo and behold! there they were.  Lovely, creamy yellow ... nodding in the slight breeze... what the??   It was May 17th last year.  Some wonderful weeks of unseasonably warm weather must have had an effect on them for sure.  They've never been this early.  I wasn't expecting to see colour for weeks yet.  Weird.

Mine are not the usual shade of bright yellow... more soft creams and peachy yellow...I have no clue what they really are.  Maybe they are not really daffodils?

I'm at the ready...with my camera.... looking out the window.... waiting for snow.....

photo a week....

Textures ....today's theme.  I love things with texture... I like to touch everything to feel it.  If you go shopping with me...you'll probably be embarrassed.  I touch it all.  It takes a long time to go through the shops.

I love the smooth, the nubby, the crinkly... the velvety...the ... well, MY list is endless...

Even our walls have texture.  Suede paint.... have you seen it?  It is done in two coats.  One coat with a roller ... and then... when dry.. a second coat with a big brush ... doing big X's...   It ends up looking like it has two different colours..but, it is just the optical illusion created by paint going in different directions.  It looks like you could run a hand over it and smooth it one way and then the other.  Of course, you can't... and it is hard, with a very slightly rough texture close up......but, it's one of the things I don't run my hands over...I just admire it with my eyes. 

Silk..... mmmmm .......love slubby silk.......

Velvety tapestry..... glorious smooth wood....a bumpy row of little smmoooth tacks.....  how I love running my fingers over it all..... just gotta touch it...

And.... this....well, this is the best texture of all...

Cleo..... Vikki's sweetie..... no cats live at my house, so I get my fill of smooooth soft fur at her house.  Three indoor cats and two that live in the shop... all with lovely soft fur to touch.  And...then....two horses .... purrrrfect.....

The hookers must have hats!

So, we made hats. For the hookers.

That's what I did while I was visiting my sister a week ago.  What fun!  Well, it was for me...she was just happy to have an extra pair of hands willing to wield a red hot glue gun.  Only one small burn on my thumb too.  I'm pretty good with a glue gun (if I do say so myself...and I do!)

She has somehow "become" the costume mistress for a production of Les Miserables.  She had no idea what she was in for when she raised her hand to offer assistance.  She just wanted to help with some of the costumes...to be involved... but.... when the woman who originally was going to head up the enterprise decided she couldn't do it after all... well, you know how it goes.  Somebody else had to step up...and all of a sudden..it was she.  The costumes for the project needed to be researched, pictures found, designs made, some costumes and pieces rented, extra hands enlisted, fabrics and pieces purchased, "almost" costumes refitted and refurbished to match the period, fittings and alterations, ..... all the while keeping volumes of endless notes and references... along with trying to keep things and people organized.  I would have torn out my last three hairs by a month into the proceedings... and it's been ongoing since November.... but, she is still plodding forward and dragging all her help along by the bootstraps... she is amazing.  This is a gal who 8 years ago was brain injured due to a major concussion suffered in a simple fall on an icy parking lot.  For almost a year she could hardly get off her couch due to vertigo and extreme nausea.... who could not walk to the end of her driveway, who could not return to her job ... who couldn't drive for a few years... who couldn't even look at fabrics and patterns for years because it made her nauseous.. who, through sheer stubbornness and determination has brought herself back from a necessary and physician drug induced, almost comatose state, in order to "cope", as the brain injury society puts it.  She's bloody amazing to me!  How she copes is beyond me too.... because she still has ongoing problems... but it ain't stopping her!

okay, that put a lump in my throat when I think of how much she has had to do, and mostly on her own, fighting with doctors all the way, just to get back what she has now ... Anyway... back to our hats ..

The production is a bit different in several ways... there will not be huge props and staging... it is more of a concert style ..but, the costumes will be focal and have to be "of the period" as they are calling them. ...However, the decision was to take some artistic licence with the hooker costumes...and use some modern day fabrics... add some colour and pizzazz to the hooker scene.  There will be about a dozen hookers... and we were making some fancy hats for them ... considering that they may have "found" items and some bits and pieces from trash tossed by the wealthy.  Perhaps they added them to some hat they had come across......etc....  so, we used any hat form that we found... and began our fun....

Think of them onstage now..with some great lighting..... and wild and wonderful costumes...  bloomers under some skirts, ... their little chemise tops under bodices and bustier type tops.... they weren't as risque as modern gals... even with a bit of glamour they covered up some things!  I wish some of the modern girls would cover up something...anything!  I sound like a prude..but, honestly...have you seen what is walking around a schoolyard these days? even the grade schools? ... looks like hooker central.....

and this.....
the original hat was our Dad's from the centennial celebration of our small town where we lived back in the 60's.  He had it made for the barbershop quartet he sang with...

This hat has seen many a high time..as part of many different costumes over the years.

This day..it has become a top hat.  Vikki used felt over buckram to make the high stovepipe, ....then more felt to cover the brim in two separate pieces (kind of like a pita bread pocket).. then handstitched them where they slightly overlap at the centre of the brim...and put the stovepipe over it...and added a felt oval to the top.. all by handstitching once again... a piece of grosgrain ribbon..... and... well, like I said..this thing has taken on a life of it's own.  She has tried to rent top hats..and there are virtually none to be had in the area... so decided to make some of her own.

Voila....one top hat.....

dainty follows funny ...

Well, sometimes it does.... and today is that day.

While at my sister's place...we shopped the thrift stores in the small town near where she lives ... who can believe there are several?  It's just a tiny town.

And.... in the midst of all the trash and treasures... I found this beauty.  Only $5.00.  Well, had to have it didn't I?   How I love a dainty, prettily coloured teacup.  I only have 3... so when this one beckoned...

It is in pristine condition too..

photo a week....

Odd, strange or funny....that's this week's theme.  Welllll .... that could be me!  hahahha...but, nope, not a pic of me today...

I call this my Russian.  He just looks like some pics of Russians I have seen...as a matter of fact, he looks kind of like a Russian I knew.  A bit scary, but very nice really.... a blind date once upon a time in my other life.

This guy I bought 30+ years ago... not the date, the mug! I used it for coffee quite regularly.  Then, for some reason... I began using another little mug I had and this one got relegated to "display" status.  Now...I only use it occasionally.... but, always with a smile when I look at this face......

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We're back and trying to get back into the swing of things.  Funny how only a week away can totally  mess with your head.  Using another kitchen for a week makes it seem odd to be back in my own.  Passwords elude me.... phone calls must be made... laundry to do, tax stuff to pick up and organize... whew.... need a nap already.

Mr. BV's Dad is organized too... he's moved into the rehab area of the hospital..and has now begun therapy on three different fronts and although he has no speech yet... is now able to print his name and address ..which he couldn't do a few days ago.  He just doodled with the pencil the first time they tried it.  This time he can actually make letters... huge progress from my perspective...

He is walking ... albeit a bit weaker on the right side... but, hey... he is moving!  It's a good sign.

wow... Thursday already....

Thanks everybody for your concern regarding Mr. BV's Dad..... he seems to be doing as well as can be expected.  Can actually get back and forth to the washroom although his balance is off, of course.  He will be assessed by his assigned physiotherapist this morning and is beginning treatment already.  They've done MRI and dye to check the blood flow in the neck... more info and decisions later today.  Much as we sometimes complain about our system...once a person is in the hospital... they are fast tracked into the various programs and treatments and off they go.

He will be staying in the rehab center of the hospital as soon as they find a spot for him in there...for the present he has a bed .... in a room with a few others guys...and is resting comfortably. I'm not actually there with Mr. BV and the family.....  my info is second hand.  I don't have any contact with his parents.. one of those "family" things that happened years ago..... so I'm staying with my sister in another town entirely.

I am "helping" where I can ... with some sewing and playing with fabrics making hats...today..."hooker's hats" .... for a production of Les Mis.  Vikki's son and DIL are opera singers and music teachers...it is their spring production ... a huge undertaking and my poor sister felt obliged to "put up her hand"  when it came to helping with costumes.  Well over 100 of them!!.....  Because, the main person who was supposed to organize it... has never been seen...and my sis became the one to research, organize and sew costumes... to try to find some assistants... and the whole thing has taken on a life of its own of course.  Costumes and fabrics now fill all of her closets and her husband's...and are hanging all over the house.  Today some will go for trying on... and while she is gone...I will continue with a few hats... yikes.!!  Good thing I can wield a glue gun!  Although, I did get a slight burn yesterday... I touched the glue too soon.....ooooweeee  !! I'm not much of a seamstress, but, I did make a couple of ascots or cravats... that was fun.  Oh...I hear muttering and iron slamming...guess I better get in the "sewing room"... and help if I can....... .

Oh....and.... talk about too much on her plate... poor Vikki.  Yesterday...I was having some weird thing happening with my eyes...it has happened before and is kind of scary... I was seeing bright jagged semi circular lines.... even with my eyes closed.  No, it was not the bright garish clothes of the hookers..   So, then she had to drop everything and take me to the eye doctor.  We have eye problems in the family...so have to be vigilant...and this is similar to signs of retinal tearing.  Her doctor got me in right away and checked everything ...and decided it was an ocular migraine.  No headache though... and apparently, it is not even really the eye...but, in the brain processing area. It subsided after about an hour...and sems fine now.   Hopefully today I can be helpful and not a hindrance.... I can feed the horses... do some tidying and make snacks.... oh, and make hats...what fun. 

Maybe I can find her camera and take some pics... mine isn't compatible with her USB port...and mine is at home.....

photo a week

Okay....this not what I had in mind when I decided on the word "reflections" ....  but, life got in the way.  I am not working from my own computer ...and .. can't get at my photos from here.  So.... I stole one of my sister's pics for today...

However, some day...I am definitely going to post the pics I had in mind for today.  Remember back when we had "shadows" for our theme word...it seemed I was finding so many great reflection shots instead...so that was my inspiration for the theme word.  And..now... darn it ... can't get at 'em.

Oh, well... that's the way it goes.  I can still get to your blogs and admire your shots and posts....

Mr. BV's Dad had a stroke early yesterday and we had to jump ship and make waves to his hospital.... so far so good...he seems alright even though he is voiceless at the moment.   Not a lot of info yet as to the prognosis or the treatment  .... they are still running tests...

He seems to be able to move all his limbs.. can actually walk to the washroom by himself...but, is on a bed beside the nursing station because they have no room at the "Inn" so to speak.  No beds in the stupid hospital.  We'll see what transpires today.  Everybody envies us our health system...but, .... it's the same as anywhere else.  If it was Russia...at least we could bribe ourselves into a bed... that would probably be pretty acceptable ....

Incommunicado...

... for the past few days......
A much more interesting word than "offline" don'tcha think?  I would like to blame it alllll on Mother Nature...but, in reality, it's our own fault because we didn't turn things off soon enough.

Thursday began so beautifully, but by noon the wind was picking up considerably.... and by late afternoon it was gusting 60 to 80 kph... the trees were really flapping around and the robins were hunkered down in the patio.

The clouds rolled in and by 5:30 it began to snow.... luckily the soup I was making for supper was pretty much done and just simmering....because soon there would be no heat.  Three minutes after it began snowing it looked like this.   We turned on lights... they began to flicker and dim....

 I should have been down here already turning the computer off.  But, was I clever?  No...I didn't bother.  I sliced some bread and made toast to go with our soup.  Then... blam...off went everything.  15 minutes later... it came back on... then... poof....off again...for a few hours.  Soup and toast by candlelight....how romantic... no truly, it was.

Somebody was struggling to read something by candlelight.  How did people manage it in the "olden" days?

I do love me some candlelight though....

It was a bit tricky to find the toilet with just this little tiny flame....

Friday dawned clear, blue and sunny.  Oh, yeh... there was snow too.   It's still there in the shaded areas.  The south and west parts of the yard are bare once again.

BUT.... the computer wouldn't connect after having blown itself out of the water. .. instead of being turned off properly.
So Friday was strange with no connection to the outside world..... hahahha.... oh, well, all the more time for a good hard workout!

And...it was only this morning that we got it sorted out.  Mr. BV is stubborn and always wants to know what and why....so he puzzled at it 'til he got it..... yaaaay.  He was muttering about little old grannies knowing more than he does ... huh?  I don't think so!  They call the Geek Squad the minute things go awry.  Which, I would do too if I didn't have "somebody" doing it all for me.....

He's Mr. Lonely....

Mr. Hoya....who has not grown any long stems before... or even many leaves for that matter....for about 20 years... ever since I put him outside one very hot day....and he got reeeelly "sunburnt"... has decided to put out a long trailing stem...with leaf buds on it.  It was standing straight up from the plant about a foot in the air; seemed to be heading for the overhead light fixture.  But, then I put the tulips on the table near it...and lo and behold....it trailed over to have a look what they were.  Then...it wrapped it's arm around the nearest flower.....

I better find some stakes or something to plant in the Hoya pot.... because the tulips will soon be gone.

One has already lost its petals and was binned..... what's he gonna do for a friend then?.... 

Remember the edible bowls? ....

I almost forgot to photo one before it got 'eated'! (as little Miss Daisy would say).   Whew.... thanks to Mr. BV for asking "where's the camera"?...after he carefully constructed HIS salad in HIS bowl.  He knows what blog nuts we've become. Or maybe that's just wingnuts.  How my camera has become almost a mutant appendage.  It's there on walks or drives or when baking or doing crafts...and even, gulp, at the table........ as a matter of fact it's usually sitting right there on the table or the counter right next to it.

Chicken Chick Pea salad never looked better!  I looked back through lots of postings on my food blog and can't find the salad anywhere.  Can't believe I haven't posted it before...but, I guess not.  It's a great salad and I add and subtract items all the time...depending, of course, upon what's in the house.  Don't forget... a recipe is not really a code...it's more like yer guideline, ye see? ....

Here is the original simple recipe from Bon Appetit ....


Chickpea Salad with Parsley, Lemon, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

1/4 cup olive oil
1  TBSP. cumin seeds (mostly, I used dried cumin powder)
2  15 oz. cans garbanzo beans (chick peas) rinsed and drained (one is plenty for us)
1  cucumber, seeded and chopped (I use long English so I don't have to seed!)
1/2  cup chopped fresh parsley (or to taste)
1/3  cup drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced (I just use fresh Roma or vine tomatoes)
1/4  cup lemon juice
1  garlic clove, crushed in a garlic press
1/4  tsp. dried crushed red pepper

Combine oil and cumin seeds in heavy small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat 5 minutes to blend flavours, stirring occasionally.  Cool completely.  (I don't bother with this...just use dried herbs)

Combine remaining ingredients in large bowl.  Add cumin oil and toss to blend.  Season salad to taste with salt and pepper.  Make at least an hour ahead to let flavour develop...

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If I want to  make it a bit more exciting....I add some Balsamic vinegar to the lemon juice, or perhaps a little drop of honey.... things like black olives, finely diced red onions, (or slice some for the Mr. to use on his...they don't like me some days)...    how about some crumbled Feta cheese??, maybe chunks of cooked chicken...and this day..I had a perfect avocado just waiting to be eaten..... we topped it off with a dollop of plain yogurt and a sprinkle of paprika just to make it look nice for the camera.  And, we almost got started polishing it off before I even picci'd it!  thank goodness I got a shot of it....this was the best one yet!      

The cumin in this salad (whether it be the whole seeds or the ground dried version) really adds that little something extra.

Poor guy....I was still at it with the camera...even when we got to the end.....and, may I just say?... there were not even crumbs left for the birds.

He's still at it...

.... okay, probably it's me that's still at it.  Playing with my crazy little hairy bunny as Maureen called him...well, he is kind of a crazy little guy... and such fun to play with.  It'll be a week or so before I tire of taking his picture. Then, I guess I should put him away somewhere safe... "Bearister" Bookcase? ...  

He decided to ditch his little faux chocolate egg in favour of double chocolate espresso biscotti dipped in more chocolate.....

He was seriously thinking about seconds.... but, then... decided one was plenty....and after all, he didn't want to compromise his slim, young dude waistline...trust me...that is all hair!  he is really slim....

I want to share the recipe for the biscotti.. really I do, but it needs some more testing.  It came from a food blogger who got it from another blog...but, I think something was lost in conversion or in translation somewhere along the line.  It was the softest biscotti dough I've ever worked with .. something not quite right.  Had to tweak things to get it to hold its shape in baking ..etc..etc... so... don't want anybody to try it before I get it working properly.   It won't elude me for too long... and you'll definitely want to try this one....it's yummy even if it isn't quite perfected yet.....

photo a week....

I knew I wouldn't be busy posting much on Sunday.... mostly, I just don't get around to it.  So... seeing as it is my month to choose themes this time around...I picked "Something Easter-y" for today instead of yesterday...and besides..on my calendar..it does say Easter Monday ... cheeky I know, but there you have it. Looking out for number one.

The Easter Bunny did not come to my house...and thank goodness because usually she leaves me baby bunnies in the backyard to look after instead of tasty eggs.... I bought my own small bit of dark chocolate last week along with my pretty flowers...

And, for photo purposes...I have my standby basket of lovely real looking faux chocolates... Eddy is still holding his favourite.

... and refusing to share......

Although, when he decided to hop up into the tulips...I think the other guys hid his prize egg....

He was outta there like a shot...found it ...and brought a flower along so he didn't have to leave the egg again just to sniff a flower.....

Mostly it was a great day with pinks and whites and pretty eggs....

What the? .....

You can't take your eyes off them... even for a few minutes..... there they are, hijacking my blog!

Oh, look....they were right...I do love pink.

Found them whilst running errands and had to have them.... such a beautiful spring colour.

More pink! Had to use up some leftover strawberries... and why is it that strawberries stink up a 'fridge like they do?  Peeeuwww... I kept looking for something rotting or spoiled hiding in there... but, that's impossible at our house.  I cook and bake all the time!

Mmmmm.... they are yummy indeed....

Also, decided it was time to do something to save these tortillas because they were "due"... .... some had a crack or two ..  chicken enchiladas were out of the question... cut them and toast them... voila...

home made tortilla chips... sans the massive amount of salt on store-bought.... bring on the Salsa.

Toasted a couple in a bowl too... for salad tonight.... a fun little edible salad bowl....