Wednesday Hodgepodge - February 11

Delighted to link up with Jackie at From This Side of the Pond for another edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. What's something recent that had you 'tickled pink'? 

I took my 17-year-old granddaughter out for some “Grandma and Makiya” time when I was in Kamloops, and was delighted when she said she feels like no time has passed at all whenever we get together. The two of us have always had a special connection, and now that we live farther away from one another, it warms my heart that we fall so easily into sync when we get together.

2. A bed of roses, everything's coming up roses, every rose has it's thorn, stop and smell the roses, rose-colored glasses, a rose among thorns...which rosy expression might currently be applied to your life in some way? 

“The bloom is off the rose” in terms of traveling anywhere anytime soon. (See yesterday’s post.)

3. What makes you feel loved and appreciated? 

Good conversation. Being heard.

4. A box of chocolates or a bouquet of fresh flowers-what's your pleasure? Any special plans for Valentine's Day? 

I’m a curmudgeon when it comes to Valentine’s Day, so neither, and we have no special plans. I always appreciate a bunch of fresh flowers when hubby brings them home out of the blue, though. 

5. Share a favourite quote, scripture, or song lyric relating to love. 

“Love is a verb. Love – the feeling – is the fruit of love the verb or our loving actions.” ~ Stephen R. Covey

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I searched in my Google Photos for “heart” to find images for this post. It was fun to look back at memories and my photography. Also remembered that I wrote a book with the word in the title! Two Hearts: An Adoptee’s Journey Through Grief to Gratitude.

I’m rebooting this blog that I left for parts known and unknown in 2010 when I combined three blogs into one on my website. I look forward to reconnecting here and making new connections. You can also find me on my website and Substack.

Travel Woes

I arrived home in the wee hours of Monday morning after another long and unpredictable travel day. At this point, I’m beyond done with traveling. 

My flight out of Kamloops on Sunday was delayed for eight hours, initially because of early morning fog preventing an incoming flight from landing, setting dominoes of flight mayhem into motion. 

My connecting flight in Calgary was rescheduled, of course, and the gate moved to the farthest possible location near the international terminal. I was a walking zombie by the time i got there.

Finally arrived in Regina at almost 2 a.m. yesterday, after a flight with turbulence like I’ve never experienced in all my years of flying. 

Gerry’s alarm didn’t go off so, I had to wait for about 45 minutes him to pick me up (as he was coming from the city where we live). 

While I waited, I filed a missing luggage report.

Finally made it home and to bed around 3:30 a.m., which is pretty darn close to the time I usually get up in the morning. 

Needless to say, yesterday was a wash. 

Oh, and while I was eating a sandwich yesterday afternoon, one of my veneers came off. 

I’ve got an early appointment with the dentist this morning, and received notification that my luggage has been found and is with a courier for delivery.

I feel as if I need a vacation after my little vacation, but there’s no way I’m going anywhere anytime soon!

I enjoyed a lovely few days with daughter and granddaughter, which made the travel woes worth all the trouble. Mostly. 😉

I’m rebooting this blog that I left for parts known and unknown in 2010 when I combined three blogs into one on my website. I look forward to reconnecting here and making new connections. You.can also find me on my website and Substack.

Friday’s Fave Five - February 6, 2026

It’s been a while since I participated in Friday’s Fave Five, and I appreciate the opportunity to pick up a habit that helps maintain a focus on gratitude and good things. 

Fresh flowers. I got out of the habit of keeping fresh flowers on the dining table, in part, because our chess board claimed the centre spot since we play most days. It’s not a big deal to put the board away and set it up at lunchtime when we usually play, so it’s been banished in favour of a vase of flowers. This week, it’s tulips. 

February 4, 2025

February 4, 2026

The weather. Things looked a little different around here last year at this time when we were in the middle of, what seemed like, a neverending winter. Today, there's barely any snow in our front yard and the temperatures are above freezing. Not sure what the lack of precipitation will mean for the farmers this year, but, at this point, I'm not complaining.

Family, and a trip away. I arrived in Kamloops late (so, so, very late) yesterday to visit our daughter and granddaughter for a few days. What a joy. I’m staying in a hotel, as they don’t have room for an overnight guest at this time, so it’s also a bit of a retreat time for me. Double the blessing. I’m sure the events of the next few days will make it onto next weeks fave five list. 😊 (The trip itself with a late first flight, resulting in a missed connection, and 10 1/2 hour layover in Calgary was something of a nightmare, but all’s well that ends well.)

A good night’s sleep. Call it seasonal depression, an overactive mind, or succumbing to the stresses of life, I’ve spent too many nights laying awake with my mind racing lately. I think I’ve turned the corner, at least I enjoyed sleeping through the night enough times this week that it’s no longer a surprise when I wake up in the morning.

DIY skincare. I’ve used a face moisturizing product I order from the U.S. for quite some time. It lasts a long time—I purchased the container of product that’s about to run out in April 2024. It’s 100% natural, but expensive and not available to purchase in Canada (and we’re all about spending our money at home these days). Shipping and the exchange rate would add to the cost, too. I did some investigating and found I can make something with most of the same ingredients (shea butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil) for a fraction of what I would pay for this product. I made a batch, and think it’ll do the trick!

I’m rebooting this blog that I left for parts known and unknown in 2010 when I combined three blogs into one on my website. I look forward to reconnecting here and making new connections. You.can also find me on my website and Substack.

Throwback Thursday - Fourteen Years Ago

I’m spending less time on Facebook these days, but I do like to pop in and check out my memories now and then. February 4, 2012 in Washington State felt like spring! Here’s what I posted to go with these photos.

What a wonderful day! Sunshine, time weeding the flowerbeds. Yes, weeding. It's been such a mild winter (well except for that crazy ice storm) that weeds have been growing. Bulbs are up, bees are buzzing, life is good.

We were both still working and life was busy. February 4 must have fallen on a weekend for us to be out puttering in the yard, because there was no time during the week. Thinking back on this day makes me remember the simple joy of caring for our yard and home, and serves as a reminder to be grateful for the slower-paced life we have now in retirement. It also makes me long for spring, but that will come in good time. In fact, when I got up this morning it was 5C outside! 

I’m rebooting this blog that I left for parts known and unknown in 2010, and look forward to reconnecting with bloggers I lost track of and making new connections. These days, you can also find me on my website and Substack.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Fun to be back and participating in linkups again. Thanks to Joyce at From This Side Of the Pond for hosting the Wednesday Hodgepodge questions. 

1. The Winter Olympics kick off on Friday, February 6th...on a scale of 1-10 how excited are you? (1= eh and 10=watching every event all day every day). What's your favorite Winter Olympic sporting event? 

It's a 1 for me. Hubby might tune in for some events and I might catch a tiny bit of the bug from him, but sports in general really aren’t my thing. Except the World Series when the Jays are in it or some Canadian hockey. 

2. In other sporting news, the Superbowl (American football's championship game) will be played on Sunday, February 8th. So tell us...what's your superpower?

I’m a die-hard introvert and unapologetic homebody. My superpower is the ability to remain content and creative at home for days upon days. I never get bored—there's always something to write or read or paint or create or, in a different season, to putter with in the garden. 

3. Are you a romantic? 

I wouldn't say so. As a rule, I’m far more practical. That said, when it comes to the glasses through which I view the world, I tend to don a rose-coloured most often. It’s still a beautiful world. 

4. Blue cheese-yay or nay? How about feta? If you said yes to one or both, what's a dish you like that calls for one of these? 

Yes and yes! I haven't had blue cheese for ages, but I'd enjoy it on a charcuterie board. We like feta on our salads and, I know it sounds strange, but a bit crumbled on top of a plate of spaghetti is delicious too.

5. What's more important-doing what you love or loving what you do? 

Hmmm....good question. Loving what you do can be largely a choice, don't you think? We choose our mindset and all that, right? So, I think my answer is that it's more important to do what you love when you have the opportunity. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'll just say that I've enjoyed hopping around blog land and visiting some nice folks lately, so thank you to all who write and share snippets of your day in these spaces.