MAY COMES TO AN END

So my favourite month with all its greenery and flowering trees is coming to an end. Husband with a second hospitalization has made it too memorable in a bad way. Just wanting to get him home again and get to the next stage of life. Retirement around the corner and none too soon. The garden needs so much work. A bulldozer would help at this point!  What will June bring?? How was your May!
#Maycomingtoanend#flowers#hospitalization#Junearoundthecorner#lotsofworkinthegarden

RIDING OUT THE STORMS OF LIFE

Storms are part of nature and well part of life. Some are just loud and booming. Some cause damage that need repairs. Too many storms in a row can cause angst! Just getting over one and facing another one is too stressful at times. There needs to be some lulls to brace oneself for the next storm. How to ride the storms brings some needed strategies!! Reaching out to others! Having the support needed in life to cope!! Like the Kenny Rogers song- know when to fold them and know when to hold them!  Sometimes just stepping away and doing less to get through the day!! Or letting others take the lead!!
#ridingoutlife'sstorms#stressinlife#knowingwhentofoldthem#knowingwhentoholdthem#stormsarepartofnature#needbreakstodealwithitall

A GARDEN FULL OF PURPLE-OH CANADA

Love these onion flowers. Forget the scientific name!

Wild flowers that made their way to my garden. Well I actually planted them in some places then they spread.

Iris in many colours, but purple is the best.

Purple against green looks lovely.

Clusters over the years!

Love these flowers too!

Light purple too!
Purple is a royal colour. But for me it is healing colour. Needing healing in one's life is so important. To be optimistic but realistic too. Like life flowers grow, bloom and die only to replaced by the next ones that come along in the garden. Oh purple, do your healing piece!!
#purple#healingcolour#purpleflowersinaCanadiangarden#lovethosepurpleflowers#timetophotographmorepurpleflowers

THE IRIS IN A CANADIAN GARDEN

June around the corner and the irises are starting to bloom. A beautiful long flower in the garden, they really stand out.

A variety of colours!

And of course there are other wild flowers growing! My favourite colour purple!
#irisinthegarden#colourfulcanadianflowers#purpleinthegarden#myfavouritecolourpurple#lovethespringflowers#mycanadiangarden

OPTIMISM-IS IT A GOOD THING

Deciding to live life with optimism is a leap of faith. Sometimes let's tell it -prayer works to keep our optimism alive. But seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, rather than looking backwards at the dark tunnel takes some form of courage too. To keep going is optimistic! To keep living and doing regardless if some days it seems futile! Optimistic that the day will bring some joy! Even small joy! Putting things in place for the joy! Food often helps! So eating one's favourite foods! Cooking them together! Optimistic people put plans in place. Organize so events can happen! Seeing the opportunities everywhere! Using the positive energy that optimism brings even when storm clouds are approaching! Are you an optimistic person? What do you put in your life to try to stay positive about things?

#optimism#positiveenergy#bringingjoytolife#seeingthelightattheendofthetunnel#eatingfavouritefoods

LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

As the wife/caregiver for a loved one with a chronic illness, there are many levels and components to the role. The ups and downs of witnessing an illness progress takes it toll. Usually an emotional one. Doctors are vague about prognosis and what to do to try to reduce exacerbation of the disease. Advice given- wash your hands! Duh! Really! So living day to day becomes more of a mantra. Not a bad one! So putting many areas to give quality of life are important. For any of us having a purpose to get up in the morning is simple and basic. Stepping back and giving room for the loved one to do his/her own activities. So there will be more comments and thoughts on this subject periodically.

livedaytoday#qualityoflife#haveapurposetogetupeveryday#beingthereforalovedone#livingwithchronicillness#takingcareofthecaregiver#emotionalrideisnotpleasant#loveinsicknessandinhealth

LET THE FRESH AIR IN

Between the cold and hot weather, there is an opportunity to open all the windows and let the fresh air in the house. We breath stale air everywhere. Home! Work! Stores! Even before the hot weather arrives the air conditioner is full blast in all the places frequented by us. No bare arms, must don the sweaters. I remember as a child on hot days at school we would sit under a tree in the yard to draw or have a math lesson. Now with the little bit of heat, we must be cold again. I actually like to feel hot. Not stifling humid hot but warm. It feels good after a long Canadian winter. So are you someone who likes to be cold all year? Do you turn up the air conditioner so the house is cold? Do you like the fresh air to go through your hair?
#freshair#canada#noairconditioner#staleair#enjoyingthefreshair#daysoutsideintheschoolyard#barearmsinthesummer

NANA SAYS TICK AND BUG SEASON-TAKE OUT THE SPRAYS

Being outside is great for all of us. But with the season comes the bugs. In our region ticks are now an issue too. Check out online information on how to deal with the bugs in your area. So lots of bug sprays. When outside stay away from the thick bush. Body checks of little ones at bath time is good. Using a lint remover to roll over clothes can help to catch any little critters. It is Canada so hard not get the odd or many mosquitoe bites. But have the appropriate after bite and antibiotic creams available. A little pharmacy at home helps.
#bugs#ticks#bugsprays#keepingsafewithoutdoorfun

MAY IS ALIVE WITH GREENERY AND FLOWERS

A slow start to spring greenery with the weather in April. Brown patches in the garden for some time then looked out one day and it is now a jungle again. So how to proceed with the work. Well I am leaving two areas- one in the front and one in the back to grow wild. I will tell people I am trying to grow a woodlot. I will concentrate on a couple of beds to keep them neat and keep the paths cleared. Maybe if I have the energy for it. The nice thing about no major summer plans is I don't have to get ready for anyone. Our May house guests have come and gone! So I will do what I feel like doing and nothing more. Back to May. Some of the flowery trees with their colours especially the pink ones make my heart sing.

I walk by this beautiful tree on my way to work.

Isn't this bush lovely??

Of course the pink tulips!

Those special 150 tulips are popping up in various places in the garden.
Oh May with its lovely colours. Just love it!
#mayflowers#maygreenery#maypink#tulipseverywhere#pinktrees#pinkbushes#somuchworkinthegarden#growingawoodlot#lettingnaturetakeitscourse

VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND- FULL OF VARIETY

A wedding! Gardening! Bringing my husband home from 2 weeks in hospital! Grass is cut. Some more weeds pulled. Adolph looked at organizing the pots on the porch. Enjoyed the fresh air after two weeks inside. It is funny. Little growing but some tulips then some rain and sunshine and it all looks like an overgrown jungle again! I am going to let one section just grown wild and pretend I really wanted a woodlot! Last year lots of butterflies and birds were attracted to " my jungle". Long weekends are best. The extra day at home helps with the mood and just relaxing as well as an afternoon nap. How was your weekend? Sorry to see the Winnipeg Jets out of the Stanley Cup running. Always root for the Canadian teams! So back to the old grind tomorrow. I could use another day or two in the garden.#garden#homefromthehospital#weedingthegarden#cuttingthegrass#porchveggiegarden#maintainingthepots#butterflieslikelotsofgreenery#

BRITS KNOW HOW TO DO WEDDINGS WELL

Congratulations Meghan and Harry! Up at 4 am. Enjoyed every moment. Regal. The bride looked classy and elegant. Prince Harry looked in love. Windsor-what a wonderful setting! Ah weddings.
#royal wedding#may19th#windsorcastel#England#britishcommonwealth#let'scelebrate

THE ROAD TO RETIREMENT IN MAY

So lots of notice given but still have not received all my pension application papers from the large pension plan. Hum. And work! Well my position has not been posted yet. There are other social workers interested in my job. I am not out of the building yet!!! Lots of congratulations. Well why congratulations when retiring. Did not win anything? But some- I will miss you. How will we cope without you? Some I can tell couldn't care Less!! Probably want someone younger than I am.
May has been an interesting month. Husband back in the hospital with a bout of pneumonia. Which for him could be fatal with his poor lungs!! Not as bad as the February hospitalization but still causes angst as it conflicts with the plans to retire and all I want to get done before I leave the work building. Plans for retirement include avenues to augment my income. Organizing those endeavors are difficult with extended time at the hospital being with the hubbie. If home, then the projects at home can be ongoing. Besides the responsibilities of managing the inside and outside of the house are mine. Just work, little pleasure with it. Like cutting the grass- boring!! If not home can not get done. Of course, Adolph keeps saying, leave things until you retire. There are too many clutter piles that need filtering as well. The more boring that is out of the way then starting with fun stuff will make it easier!
However, the more that is organized and ready to go, let's me slide into that new role. Retired person!!
I do not know how I feel about it. Sort of emotionally neutral. I have to be available for the hubbie and girls and grandkiddies!! So I will not be idle! I really think emotionally I have left the job a long time ago when the workplace changed and became more autocratic!! Perhaps I am just tired!! Sometimes going on empty! Then I think about the road in front of me. What will be there? I always liked road trips! So the hope is there will be some adventure- no matter how small!
#roadtoretirement#what'sahead#lotstodo#hubbieissickagain#boutofpneumonia#organizingthethingsinmylife#mayforplanningandadventure#poorlungs#augmentingmyincome#takingcreofmyself#projectsathome#pleasuresinlife#responsibilitiesathome#leaveboringbehind

ROYAL WEDDINGS ARE HAPPY NEWS

Weddings especially family weddings can have so much drama or not. Royal weddings have lots of hype too. And for William and Megan drama! About the Dad! Eh it's your daughter! Why would you not want to be there? Back to Royal Weddings! Happy news! Takes us away from the tragedies of the world for awhile. Seeing two modern people in love getting married. Already living together which makes them more modern. Although in my time- the hippie and the living together thing was already around. What will the dress be like? How will her hair be done- up or down! How about the Canadian connection? Mulroney's kids in the wedding party! How cute! And he kept the secret well! Well he and his wife are well connected! Old Canadian money! The big question- who is getting up for the big event! Well I am. Watched so many Royal weddings. Anne's. Diana and Charles. Sarah and Andrew's. Got up for the Royal funeral! Happy events and all the hoopla. I like weddings. They are optimistic. Fun. So we will see how the next few days evolve. Get some strong coffee for the big morning!
#royalweddings#canadianconnection#mulroneykids#oldcanadianmoney#lovethehoopla#whatwillthedresslooklike#yesIwillbegettingupforthebigevent#areyougettingupforthebigevent

MARRIAGE AND ANNIVERSARIES

Tomorrow will mark the 47th anniversary for Adolph and me. In the hospital, so not much to worry about where or what to eat. When a marriage oath is taken, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, life helps us honour all of that. Caring for a sicked loved one brings out the best in all of us. My daughters have been so supportive and attentive of all that is happening. Sometimes it can bring out the worst but not for our family. I know people in my family system coast to coast and in Italy have my back. Reflecting on the life brings many happy and joyful memories. Sometimes not so joyful but we made it through those times. Making it to 47 years is a privilege! Many couples do not last- divorce or a mate dies! So I was asked recently what made our marriage last. Well perseverance of course. But laughter. Laugh at ourselves, laugh together, laugh at a joke. Remember to enjoy the good times. Get through the hard. But loving in sickness is not so hard. Loving someone makes it doable.
So how about you? What makes your marriage last? What are your good times?

                                                   He loves me. He loves me not.
#marriage#anniversaries#loveinallthetimes#helovesmehelovesmenot#marriageoath#insicknessandhealth#supportivefamilysystem#couples

FAMILY VISITS BRING JOY

Adolph's close cousins from Italy visited. He needed the talk and the company. The memories of his mother discussed. Poignant as it was so close to Mother's Day. Lots of eating and laughter. Tired him due to his chronic issues. The social aspect of people with health problems is important. Medicine only works to a point. Need to be near and around people. So is there someone you can call, text, visit today. Every little bit helps.
#familyvisitsaregoodforthesoul#socializationhelpsthehealing#chronicillnessisolatespeople#visitalovedonetoday

PINK IN MAY IN CANADA

Th Magnolia trees are so beautiful and pink. The trees are turning green by the day. The song birds, well, are singing.

My neighbourhood!

Tulips in all shapes and sizes coming to life.

Lovely, lovely!

Of course, now that the ground is dry. A trip to " Granpa's Park ".
The Spring in Canada is so welcoming after the brown and dull! Time to take more photos! How is your area looking?
#pinkinspringinMay#Canadawelcomesspringflowers#granpa'spark#lovethecoloursofMay#pinktulips#barblovesspringcolours#timetotakemorephotos

MAY IN CANADA- MY FAVOURITE MONTH

Yes I am a May groupie. Love the excitement of 4 months of nice weather- hopefully and longer days. So nights outside on the porch or patio can be enjoyed. Those barbecues. Of course, bug spray- it is Canada! As the spring bulbs continue to emerge from the earth, colour becomes the norm. Remember the Tulip Festival in Ottawa. One of my favourite trips- my 40th anniversary in 2011.

Gardens all across the country will have tulips.

Of course a taste of what will come!
The flowering trees on streets.

I love my neighbour's tree with all the pink. Did a pink post with this picture a few years ago.

Granpa's park where I take the grandchildren. A nice walk from the house.
Maybe there will be a farmer's market trip or two on the agenda. But usually not in May.
So my month of renewal and hope.
#may#flowersinmay#Canadian#enjoyingtheoutdoors#takingphotosinMay#usingoldphotosonmyblog#pinkflowersinMay#tulips#TulipFestivalinOttawa