STAYCATION OR WHAT YOU CAN DO AT HOME ON A WEEK OFF

May is a good time to take a break form work. This week also coincides with my anniversary. So let's me be more relaxed.  Changing the normal routine is as good as a rest. I still rise at 5:50 a.m. I like to go on my weekend power walk every day. Observations of my world at that time can be made. As I walk by the Central Library in Richmond Hill, at Yonge and Major Mackenzie, I noticed the traffic is quite busy as well as the number of people heading to work. It makes me realize how lucky I am to be within walking distance of work and do not have any real commute as most people do in my area. There are lots of chirping birds that make it seem as if I am really in the country instead of a suburb of Toronto. I can blog a little later in the day. Well it is only an hour or two later but seems much later!! I have aready completed some minor projects- new curtains for the kitchen. Plans for a couple of dinners out at restauarants and a movie. Hopefully a day trip or two to be back in time to pick up the little grandsons from Day Care! Sitting on my back porch and reading or jotting down some ideas for this blog. Puttering in the garden, pulling weeds and just stopping to look at the world around me. Okay, I really would rather be spending Springtime in Paris, but there is a always a French channel on TV or French music to pretend my bucket list wish is true. Perhaps, next May I will be in France! I was lucky one May to be spending my anniversary in Rome! Do you enjoy Staycations? It is a little bit of preparation for retirement!

ROAD TRIP FEVER

As the weather is becoming consistently warmer, I have the urge to plan some road trips for the next few months. Here in Ontario there are many quaint and interesting communities to explore for a few hours, have a lunch and come home. Of course, take lots of photographs to use in my blog!! Lately with everything that has been happening, I feel a little "boxed in". The call of the road, a little adventure, to see something new. Really I would love to see Paris in the springtime- on my bucket list- but can not afford a big trip anywhere so the road trips- a day jaunt or an overnight to spend in a hotel, are my priority right now. I should just take a map and draw a circle of places within an hour or two from home. And go! There are still some country roads near home that are easy to drive but I can do that anytime. There are other interesting roads to explore with rock formations making the drive picturesque.  If you are the passenger and with a high speed setting on your camera you can take picutres as you "fly" along the road! Do you have the urge to travel? Do you have favourite places to visit close to home? Pack a picnic lunch or visit your usual cafe!

A POSTCARD FROM BELGUIM

My folks received many postcards from friends over the years. I found this one postmarked from Belguim but is actually from the Moulin Rouge- a painting by Jean-Denis Malcles.

It was dated Feb. 5, 1999- Oostkamp, Belguim. " Dear Mae &Elli: Well here it is Feb. and we are still in Europe. Have been to many beautiful cities. Paris & Vienna being 2 of our favorites. We have spent a lot of our time in Belguim, everyone here has been so kind & generous. We have been taken is like we where family, not the 2 complete strangers that we where when we arrived on the doorstep of the cousin of Ava who is looking after the practice at home. We have seen the Louve and Mona Lisa amongest other masterpieces and Vatican City in Rome were I think God must live. So many good people, good food, good wine. We are both well as we hope this finds you. Love Linda * P.S. how was the cruise, did you see my friend the waiter?"

Don't postcards give a little snapshot of a person's life? If you want a postcard featured here, email me at abdm@rogers.com and I will send you my address so you can send me a postcard.

A CANADIAN ROAD TRIP

Returning from several days to Montreal then Ottawa reminds me of the many road trips I have taken. Canadians coast to coast take road trips. Some a few hours away to a favourite campground. Others to see family in other parts of the country or in the United States. Some to see areas of Canada that are so beautiful. Why did we chose Montreal and Ottawa? It is on my bucket list to see Paris in the Springtime. Could not afford it this year so Montreal has French speaking people and a certain- je ne sa quoi! Want to see the tulips in the Netherlands one day. Love to visit nation's capitals. Well there was the Tulip Festival in Ottawa and it is our nation capital. It was a region of Canada that Adolph and I have not seen together so a short trip- 6 hours to Montreal and 5 hours to Ottawa was manageable for a few days. Besides we could use Canadian money and knew all the Canadian places to eat- Tim Hortons, Swiss Chalet, but in Montreal there is the smoked meat. Ate at a famous place- Reubens on Rue St. Catherine. Adolph had his smoked meat! Me- I had the Reubens, what else! There will be more tales on our trip. Now after putting the main accessories and clothes from the trip away, the conculsion of any road trip is to enjoy one's own bed again! Tell me your tales of your road trips. What are your favourite places? Do you have something planned for the summer?