Colleen’s Corner

Today is day two of my three week vacation.. and the livin’ is easy. :-)

Tomorrow I am boarding a plane and traveling to Victoria, B.C. I will be spending a week with my sister, Dia, and I am sooo excited. She and her hubby recently moved into a new home and this past March they celebrated the arrival of their first grandbaby.. so there is much to see and catch up on.

Victoria, located on Vancouver Island, is one of my favourite Canadian cities. I lived there myself many years ago. As a matter of fact, Dia came to live with me when she was only 16. I was the older sister, being all of 21 at the time.

I eventually moved back to Winnipeg but Dia stayed on, got married and raised two boys. She is a true Victorianite (new word?).

I am very much looking forward to once more taking a stroll down the city streets, many of them lined with lights adorned with hanging flower baskets. At night the lite up parliament buildings across from the inner harbour lends a mystical feel. The downtown is busy and bustling, but no matter where you are in this city, a short walk has you gazing out at the Pacific ocean and feeling small. Nature, in all her lush beauty, is only steps away.

Victoria is a lovely place but the real joy in this trip is that I get to spend time with my sister. She and her hubby made the long drive to Winnipeg last summer to attend Paul and BJ’s wedding ( has it been a year already). Now it is my turn to visit her.

So, as you may have surmised , I doubt that I will be spending much time at the computer for the next week… but you can be sure that once I get back home I will have many many photos to share. I kind of debated on which camera to take with me.. the DSLR or the point and shoot. In the end I decided to bring both. :-)

Sadie and I have been very busy lately, doing all kinds of big dog things. We recently attended the Paws In Motion walk-a-thon and once a week we do Rally Obedience. Poor little Coco seems to be left home alone much of the time.

But all that is about to change. While doing some dog related web surfing the other day, I came across a Winnipeg small dog play group.

Now.. how perfect is that!

Of course I sent off an email right away and this morning we attended our first get together with said group.

As luck would have it the get together/walk was planned to take place at our favourite dog park which is only minutes from our home. Sometimes things just seem to unfold as they should. :-)

click to enlarge

It was a beautiful morning for a walk. Nothing but blue skies and plenty of sunshine. But not all was dry. Last Friday we had quite the thunderstorm and down pour. Much of the ground remained wet and occasionally quite large puddles blocked the path.

But no way was a little water going to stop this group. Completely undaunted we carried on.. some around.. some through.

Coco and I had a grand time and we are both looking forward to our next small dog adventure.

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post note: When I mentioned the small dog play group to one of the girls at work, she laughed out loud.

“Colleen”, she said, “what are you going to be like with your new grandbabies?”

I ‘m not exactly sure what she meant by that. :-)

Tags: canine-events, Coco

As the end of June fast approaches, my garden is finally taking hold.

The veggie patch, with its good start and then stall, is now displaying real growth. Soon the lettuce, swiss chard, and peas will be ready for the pickin’.

The pea patch is small but looked forward to with much anticipation. These pods are meant for in-garden snacking only. And not just by me. Coco and Sadie love nothing more than chowing down on a few fresh pea pods. Once the season begins.. I am unable to enter the garden without them sticking their noses through the rungs of the lattice-like wooden fence, clamoring for their crisp little green treat.

My little lilac bush is in its glory right now. We planted this little bush so many years ago that I have forgotten what kind it is. I only remember that it is some kind of miniature and the word “French” keeps popping into my mind. The blossoms arrive later in the season than the more common purple lilacs and the colour is more pinkish. This year it has put on the most fantastic display. My entire yard is filled with its fragrance.

In our front we have a Scotch Pine that was planted by my husband the first summer we were in our house. It has done very well and now dominates the front yard. Nothing much will grow under its branches but these hostas seem to thrive in the pine cone bed.

Then there is the rose bush beside our front door. This too found its home soon after we did. It is a lovely Mordon pink rose (again.. can’t remember its correct title). In early summer it is absolutely full of the most beautiful pink roses. The sad part is that by late summer something attacks the leaves (not sure if it is a mold or fungus or what) leaving them tattered and lifeless.

Twice I have dug deep with my shovel to get rid of this bush. Twice .. like the proverbial cat.. it has come back. I have finally come to accept it as being permanent. I enjoy its beauty will it flourishes and am coming to terms with its tattered look come the fall.

There is probably some symbolism in all of this.. but right now I am not in the mind set. :-)

I think one of my favourite flowers has come to be the African Daisy. I just love its happy delicate flowers, the best part being that they bloom all summer and into the fall.

A ramble about my garden would not be complete without mention of my two gardening buds. The joy is always doubled when it is shared.

“I talk to her when I’m lonesome; and I’m sure she understands. When she looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then she rubs her nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught there at. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that.”
~ W. Dayton Wedgefarth

Tags: Sadie

woof, woof, woof, woof

Today was the day of the “Paws In Motion” walk-a-thon and with narry a cloud in the sky and plenty of sunshine, it was promising to be perfect.

Sadie and I were out the door and on our way to Assinibione park by 8:45 am. I was so excited that I actually had a hard time sleeping the night before.

By the time we arrived at the park, the clearing near the duck pond had been transformed into a canine happening. Inside the perimeter of vender’s tents there was a large open area with many picnic tables and wading pools scattered about… a place for gathering and mingling.

Sadie seemed a little overwhelmed at first and I can’t say that I blamed her. Dogs and people numbered in the hundreds. The Winnipeg Free Press later estimated the crowd at over 2,000.

Finding a cup of coffee for me and then a dip in one of the wading pools for Sadie helped us both settle down. Together we then found a free bench at one of the picnic tables. Mesmerized by the sights and sounds around us, I sipped my coffee while Sadie fidgeted beside me.

At 10:30 the band playing on the stage was interrupted with the announcement that the walk was soon to begin. Everyone, four-legged and two-legged, set off for the starting point by the duck pond. And then, with the beating of the drums, we were off.

What fun!

I guess I am just overly emotional when it comes to critters, but the magnitude of walkers and the out pouring of support initially had me choke up. I was glad to be wearing sunglasses as I felt tears burning the back of my eyes.

But this was no day for sappy tears and in no time I was back in sink and totally immersed in the festive atmosphere and all things dog.

Who could ask for more. A picturesque walk through a lovely park with my four-legged best friend at my side … multiplied by 2000. :-)

The walk stretched for 3 km. Several pit stops lined the route, all with large water dishes to drink from and wading pools to cool off in.

At the end of the walk, a clapping and cheering contingent passed out doggy treats to those crossing the finish line. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as Sadie and I passed by the clapping hands and we were given our little gift bag.

After the walk, Sadie and I met with the other owners and dogs that were participating in the Parade of Breeds. With the others, we lined up in the display ring and waited for our turn. Our names were called and Sadie and I walked to the center of the ring. A quick blurb was given on the English Springer Spaniel and then, unexpectedly, the mic was pointed towards my face and I was asked “what made Sadie special to me”.

This request and the mic where a surprise but I was quickly able to find a few words to describe the lovely girl at the end of the leash.. a gentle soul who lives to love and asks for nothing more than a ball to fetch and a bit of water to play in.

I still had to work that afternoon so soon after that it was time for us to head on home. What a wonderful morning it had been. I was so thankful that we had been able to take part.

After months or researching and thinking about it.. I finally bought myself a DSLR camera.. a Canon Rebel Xsi. I am in awe of it.. almost intimidated. My hands shook as I carefully unbundled it from its packaging.

Not quite knowing where to begin, I nervously read the first few pages of the manual. One step, one page at a time would probably work best.

“So .. this must a lens… wonder how it goes on. Oh.. I guess I have to take this cover off first. Lots of baby steps.. but the battery pack is safely in and so is the memory stick.

That was yesterday. Today I have already taken some practice shots (in auto mode) and am slowly navigating my way, playing with the buttons and settings as I go. I figure I should get acquainted with the camera and get comfortable with the basics before I jump into the more creative modes.

This all kind of reminds me of how I felt when we got our first computer. We knew nothing but at the same time we knew this was going to be big. I am filled with excitement and anticipation.

Lucky for me I have two very willing (well.. kind of) leading models to practice on. They will undoubtedly be sporting sunglasses soon as it’s not easy constantly being in the limelight. Sigh.. the cost of stardom. :-)

“Here Coco, Here Sadie”.. now where did they go!

The clouds have parted and the sun now rules the sky.
What a difference a day can make.

The walk about the yard this morning had me smiling.

My little lilac bush is finally showing blooms. The first have just popped. I am not certain of the name of this little bush but it is smaller than most and its pinkish blooms arrive a little later.

Another surprise awaited me in the shaded spot behind the garage.
Enticed by the warm south breeze, little pink bleeding hearts danced delicately, suddenly on display just beside my multiplying ferns who happily waved in time.

Gotta love this time of year. And best of all.. it’s just beginning.

This is the coolest and wettest June in my memory. Where oh where is summer.

After a long winter I must say that I still feel much gratitude with its passing and truth be told, my tolerance for the heat has deceased over the years, but this wet in-between stage has been lingering for far too long. At least let there be sun. Please.

After a good start in my garden with all of the seeds sprouting, they now seem to be in stand still mode. Lots of little green shoots.. but very little growth. Sigh.

With all the grey and all the rain there have been few picture taking opportunities but here is a small sampling from one of our rare sun filled days.

click to enlarge

The forecast is calling for both warmth and sun starting tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

and in happy news:

Two weeks from today I will be starting my holidays.. yay!! The first week will be spent in Victoria, B.C. visiting with my sister. She has a new home that I have yet to see and a new grandbaby that I have yet to meet. I am so excited. :-)

The guy from Floform is here to put in our kitchen counter.. the last big job in our mini renovation. The counter looks great but it is taking awhile to put in. This guy is a TALKER!! Mix in my ever-friendly husband.. and there is a whole lot of conversing going on, and not much working. +sigh+

None-the-less I finally see a light at the end of this reno experience. Thank goodness for that. After today we will just have one more wall to paint and a few finishing touches to complete.

Through it all I have come to realize a couple of things about myself… not really positive things at that.

1) I am not a person who likes change.

2) I like my home to be in order and everything to have its place.

Now .. just how realistic is that!

Intellectually I acknowledge the concept that the only certainty in this life is change.. so I guess I had better loosen up some in that regard. And as far as expecting every thing to have a slot … yup.. have to get a little real there too.

Time to learn to bend I guess.

I think I am finished. I think all of my bedding plants and seedlings are now in the ground. Of course one can never be sure.. a spur of the moment turn of the stirring wheel as I pass the garden center might produce a few more. But I think I am done.

Now the fun begins. Every morning and often a couple of times a day, I do a walk around just to see what is happening… Sadie and Coco at my heels. Every day there is growth and change.

The little bejeweled garden frog is back on his perch.

The clematis against the fence appears to have over wintered very well and is growing at such a rate that I kind of gasp when ever I walk by. This, I think, may be its best year ever.

Where I once had one little fern in the shaded spot behind the garage.. I now have four. How did that happen.. a miracle I am sure.

Where I planted seeds in the veggie patch.. there are now pea, lettuce, beet, swiss chard, and onion sprouts. More miracles.

My Iris patch is in flower. The bleeding heart has once more appeared from nothing and is growing almost as much as the clematis but is still a ways away from blooms.

I remember the first year we bought our house, about 18 years ago.. and the first year I planted a vegetable garden. Every night after I got home from working my evening shift I would grab the flash light and tear out into the back yard to see what marvels had happened since I was last witness. I can still remember Roland calling after me, “Colleen, it’s the middle of the night!!”

I suppose I have gotten a little more laid back about it over the years.. but not much. :-)

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And now, for your viewing pleasure… Sadie playing ball. :-)