Mystery Photo #79

Wow, I can’t believe I haven’t posted anything since last week’s mystery photo!  I’m a baaaaaad girl!!  As I mentioned then, it was a long weekend for us, and I have to say it was absolutely perfect in every way.  I haven’t felt so relaxed and happy after a weekend in a long time.

We decided to take the plunge and plant all of our gardens, so on Saturday I spent the morning at a garden centre picking out some annuals to plant around my perennials in my front gardens and to fill my planters on the deck.  Now you have to understand something – I am not really into gardening, so I basically find flowers that I think look pretty, and then I ask the experts at the store if they will withstand the direct sunlight that my gardens get.  I found everything that I needed, and after leaving the store I decided that I couldn’t head home without visiting the Chapters bookstore that was close by.  Ahhhh heaven .  I wandered around to my heart’s content checking out all of the new books without ever having to hear “can we leave yet?”.  I had a gift card leftover from Mother’s Day, so I picked out a book I had been reading great reviews about and headed to Tim Horton’s for lunch and a little reading before heading home.

Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday we worked on the gardens.  I reshaped them because the lawn had encroached over the winter, planted all of my flowers, and spread mulch so that I don’t have to spend my entire summer weeding LOL!  Meanwhile Mikey planted his whole veggie garden and his pumpkin patch.  It was hot and sunny, and we enjoyed every moment of being outside after being cooped up all winter.  After the grass was cut and fertilized we decided it was time for some fun, so we all hopped in the car and went to see the movie Star Trek Into Darkness which was awesome!

Monday was the best day of all because after getting so much work done, I didn’t feel at all guilty about reading all day long in the sunshine, and I actually read an entire novel without a break.  As my blogging friend LouAnn would say, it was total bliss .  Unfortunately, the weather has gone downhill since then and we actually have a little snow this morning (cross your fingers for our tomato and green pepper plants) , but I look forward to many more wonderful weekends like that throughout the summer.

Now on to our Friday fun.  It’s mystery photo time, and after how smart everyone was last week, I can’t wait to hear what answers you come up with this time.  Maybe we’ll even have some new vistors join in the fun this week.  Don’t be shy everyone – give it your best shot!

Mystery Photo #78

The long weekend is upon us (Victoria Day weekend for those of you not from Canada), and it actually looks like Mother Nature might play nice for once.  I sure hope so because I have tons of things I need to get done outside.  My car needs its “after the nasty winter” cleanout, my gardens need some tender loving care, and Mikey wants to plant his veggies. Add to this the fact that I don’t have to go to work for three whole days and can read to my heart’s content means a weekend with the perfect combination of work and play.  Whether it’s a regular weekend or a long weekend for you, I hope that you get to do everything on your “I need to/I want to” list too.  Enjoy everyone .

Now, what you’ve all been waiting for – the mystery photo!  This is one of those weeks where I don’t think the photo is all that difficult, but I just thought it was a really cool capture.  So, put on your thinking caps and make me proud.  I know you can do it!!  Ok, ready, set, go…..

The Moose Whisperer

Tonight I present to you the story of my hubby, the moose whisperer.  Yes my friends, I found out today that Mikey has another woman.

Mike’s job involves driving all across Ontario installing Florida rooms, mostly on trailers in private campgrounds.  Today he ended up in the Bala area, which is west of Gravenhurst, Ontario.  As he left his job site, he turned onto the main road, only to find Miranda Moose meandering across the road.  He slowed down hoping to be able to grab his camera and snap a picture, but to his utter disappointment she continued across the road and into the bush before he got his hands on his camera.

This is when his new found skills decided to make their appearance.  Mikey put the window down and began speaking in fluent mooseneese, grunting seductively, hoping that Miranda would hear him from within the woods.  To his utter amazement, Miranda slowly came out of the bush, stood on the side of the road, and looked intently into his deep brown eyes, a look of unbridled passion on her face.  When she noticed the camera in his hands, she dutifully posed for her portrait, and Mikey obliged.  Unfortunately, another car approached  soon after and Miranda took off once again, leaving Mikey feeling lost and alone.  It was a very special moment that I’m sure neither of them will ever forget, and the bond they developed was very strong.  Maybe one day they will meet again!

You’ve got to be kidding me!!!

It’s Mother’s Day, and I have had a fabulous weekend!  Yesterday I spent the whole day with my best friend, and we met Susanna Kearsley, an amazing author that I only recently discovered.  This morning I had a nice chat with my Mommy by phone since she lives 4 hours away.  Then my hubby, the kids, and I went out for lunch, visited Mike’s mom for Mother’s Day, and then went to see the movie, Iron Man 3, which was fantastic .  Plus my boys gave me gift cards for Chapters (a book store), so I can get some new books (you can never have too many right?).  Now Mike and I are relaxing and watching the Survivor finale on TV.  What an amazing day with the ones I love!

However, there was one thing that put a damper on my Mother’s Day.  We knew it was going to be quite cold and rainy this weekend, but I really didn’t expect to wake up to snow on May 12th!!  Yes, I really did say the “S” word.  I must say, Mother Nature is not my favourite mother today.  I had put my hanging baskets in the garage in case there was frost and had covered my geranium baskets with towels, but we drove home from the movies today in blowing snow, and when we got home we ran around putting the geraniums in the shed and covering the few flowers that I had planted already.

Here are a few pictures of what we had to face today, including one of Mikey defying Mother Nature, if only for a split second LOL!

Brave or crazy??

Poor geraniums

I hope Bryan didn’t put away his snow brush yet!

I hope that all of you mothers out there had a fabulous Mother’s Day full of love and laughter .

Mystery Photo #77

It was nice while it lasted – the sunshine and warm temperatures – but it looks like a cold and rainy weekend is on its way.  That’s ok though because I wasn’t planning on being outside anyway.  As long as it’s good weather for driving I’m happy because my bff and I are going on a road trip.  I was recently introduced to the novels of Susanna Kearsley, and she will be appearing at the public library in Port Elgin, Ontario on Saturday to promote her latest book, The Firebird, which I read recently and loved!  I can’t wait to meet her and have her autograph a copy of her book for me.  I really enjoy hearing authors speak because it allows you to discover who they really are and what makes them tick.  Afterwards we are going to hit the mall in Owen Sound for lunch and some retail therapy.  Now that’s what I call an awesome girl’s day out .

Now, before you get into weekend relax mode, it’s time to work your brain just a little bit more.  It’s mystery photo time!  Let’s see how smart you are this week.  Ok, ready, set, go……

New Life

What a wonderful day!  It has been warm and sunny for a few days in a row now, and it’s incredible what a difference that has made.  What was dead and brown last week has sprung to life all around us, and it is beautiful to see and fills me with happiness.  The grass is green and lush, flowers are poking their sleepy heads out from underneath the soil, and the buds on our maple tree, which only appeared a couple of weeks ago, are actually beginning to open.

I went outside this afternoon intending to relax on our deck and read, but that had to wait because when I saw all of the new life around me I discovered that my inspiration had awoken after a long winter’s sleep, and I went back inside to grab my camera.  I spent the next hour experimenting with closeups of the buds on our maple tree.  I even got out my tripod and my new extension tubes that I’ve only tried a couple of times and set up on the front lawn where I proceeded to get poked by branches and stared at by the neighbours.  All I can hope is that they thought I looked like I knew what I was doing LOL!

Here are a couple of my favourites.   What do you think?

Mystery Photo #76

I feel so refreshed, rejuvenated, revived, revitalized, exhilarated, and renewed (thanks thesaurus.com ).  Why am I feeling so amazing?  Because Mother Nature finally settled down, took her meds, and brought Spring to Southern Ontario.  It was beautiful and warm all week, and I have finally been reacquainted with Mr. Sun which makes me happy, happy, happy (yup, I watch Duck Dynasty LOL).  Yesterday I came home from work, said the heck with everything that needed to be done, and headed outside to the deck with the awesome book that I am currently reading.  I settled into my zero gravity chair, turned my face up to the sun, and sighed out loud.  A grin spread across my face as I felt the warmth sink into my bones.  Ahhhhhh .

Now, on to the matter at hand.  It’s Friday and therefore time for the mystery photo!!  I’m pretty sure that nobody is going to guess this week’s mystery photo exactly, but anything in the ballpark will be deemed a winner this time around.  Why you ask?  Well, you see I just had to use this photo because, even though it’s blue in colour, it reminds me of my new best friend – Mr. Sun.  I know I don’t usually give any clues, but I will tell you that I bought this at one of the first ever Target stores to open in Ontario, and now that Summer is on its way, they can’t keep them in the store.

I’m really curious to see what kind of guesses I get this week.  Ok, ready, set, go…