Amazing Growth ...

 

These plants are exploding with tomatoes ...
and to think there are only 2 plants here ...
there are more of a different variety ...
in the other beds ...
Looks like it will be a busy season for canning ... !!!

Oh My Deer ...

 

Looking out my kitchen window...

saw deer roaming around the yard ...

these two eventually came close to the deck ...

enabling me to capture this picture ...

they were not fazed at all ...

that I was standing there on the deck ...

loved how they posed for their photo shot ...

I think they were headed closer ... to have a taste of my roses ... !!!!

Dragonfly In My Garden ...

 

I was blessed to see this dragonfly on my gate going into the garden ...

this one even allowed me to touch him ...

and place him on my finger ... 

I have many dragonflies around the house and yard ...

here are some of the meanings I found of ... seeing a dragonfly .... 

1.  The meaning of the dragonfly signifies happiness, speed and purity. Purity because the dragonfly eats from the wind itself. The dragonfly also represents transformation and life’s ongoing process of change.

2.  The dragonfly is able to show itself in different colors depending on the angle and polarization of light falling on it. This magical ability is associated with the discovery of one’s own abilities by unmasking the real self and removing the doubts one casts on his/her own sense of identity.

3.  In Japanese culture dragonflies represent joy and new light. When you see a dragonfly, enjoy its presence and be content knowing it represents good things.

4.  In China, people associate the dragonfly with prosperity, harmony and as a good luck charm.

5.  Dragonflies come in varied colors; their bodies often blue, green, purple, and even bronze. Their wings seem to shimmer as if made of silver, especially when under the moonlight. These bright colors take time to develop, expressing the idea that with maturity our own true colors come forth.  They represent moving past self-created illusions that limit growth and change in the perspective of self-realization with an understanding of the deeper meaning of life.

6.  Dragonflies live only for a few months. The short life span symbolizes the virtue of living in the moment and living life to the fullest. This ability lets you live your life without regrets like the great dragonfly.

Hope you have the chance to see a dragonfly ...!!! 

Farewell Tante Pauli ...

 

It's hard to believe a month has already gone by ...

Tante Pauli is going home today ...

back to Austria ...

We have had some wonderful times together ...

and the two of them have been enjoying 

lots of adventure ... parties ... visiting ... making new friends ...

and just too much FUN & LAUGHTER ... !!!

Travel safe .... Ich Liebe Dich .. !!!

Shell the Peas ...

This was my first time ...

after many years of being without a garden ...

to be growing peas ...

I was thrilled to be able to harvest them ...

eating them fresh ...

and packaging some up for the freezer ... 

A great season of produce ...!!!! 

Fresh Baked This Morning ...

An abundance of zucchinis in the garden ...

meant it was time to get baking ...

and start using them up ...

It was a cool morning ...

so it was perfect for warming up the kitchen ... 

oohhh ... !!!!  

and the aroma  .... MMMMMMMM 

Life is good ...

The kids having a tough day in Mexico ...!!! 

 

 

New Plants ...

 

Lucky me ... not only did I bring peaches home ...

I acquired some new plants ...

while visiting Dagmar ...

she was gracious enough to start a few for me ...

Lavender ... Basil ... and Mint ...

I was also given a Fern plant and a few Hosta plants ...

from the neighbours across the street ...

Many Thanks ... !!!

Giddy up ...

The kids got to visit at the home of a Mexican family that they met having breakfast at the hotel.  Nathan thought it was a bad parenting move by mom ...
but ... it turned out to be a fun day for the kids!

 

I'll have to ask them how their adventure was ...

the next time I get in touch with them ...

Looks like a fun time to me ... !!!

Peaches ... Peaches ... Peaches ...

For information on Paynters Fruit Market click here ...

I could not leave Kelowna without bringing back some fruit ...
Jim and I went to the fresh market ...
he helped me load the 80lbs of peaches into the vehicle ...
then we enjoyed a delicious ice cream cone ...
while sitting down at a picnic table ... looking out at the orchard around us ...
A beautiful place ... !!!



My day was spent canning almost 40 lbs of peaches ... the rest were eaten ...
shared and a cake was baked ...
ended up with 32 pint jars ...
to be stored in the cold room ... for our enjoyment thru the cooler months ...
when we are needing a taste of summer ...

The other 40 lbs were for my friend Tammy ...
she came for a visit and to pick up her peaches for canning ...
bringing me a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her garden ...

We had a lovely time chatting and sipping on freshly made peach iced tea ... !!!

Personal Tour Guide ...

Aug. 12 & 13, 2013

What a special treat to be driven around in Jim's souped up golf cart ...
my own personal tour guide ...
never realized from looking out over the deck ...
how large this golf course really was ...
absolutely beautiful ...
Dagmar out in the yard ... delivering Jim his water bottle ...
as he drives up on his way to the next green ...
We had many meals out on the deck ...
perfect way to spend our evening ...
with food ... dear friends...
and lots of chattering and laughter ...

Here we are ... the two of us ...
amongst the beautiful flowers ...
in Dagmar's terrace garden ...
A friendship that is truly special ...
we had a wonderful time together ...
and hope that we can arrange to visit more often ...
in the future ...

Hanging Around ...

 

Here are the bunnies all finished ...

and waiting to be delivered ...

to the Grandchildren...

They have already met their bunny ...

while we were visiting on Skype ...

and they are really excited to receive them ...

when we meet in September ...

(the names were given to them using the first initial of their own names)

Thank you again Dagmar for helping me ... 

I can tell you that Grandma can hardly wait to see the children ... 

Miss and love all of them ... !!!

Crafting with Dagmar ...

Aug. 11-14, 2013

Let the creating begin ...
decided to go visit Dagmar ...
bringing my gifted package of supplies to make a bunny ...
it wasn't long before we started working on them ...
being guided and directed by Dagmar on the procedures ...
thankful that she helped me out on one as well ...

Wasn't long before all the stitching was completed ...
on all five bunnies ...
(were multiplying like crazy) ... (think Dagmar is up to 15 now) ...
next was to sew up all the clothes to dress them ...
only two were completed this day ...
What a blast we had ... !!!
It was a joy to watch them evolve ... 

Bring The Steaks ...

Aug. 8, 2013

Oma and Tante Paula ... were coming for dinner ...
they were hungry for T-bone steaks ...
so I provided the fixings ... most of the vegetable were  from the garden ...
and Oma brought the meat ...

It was a delicious meal ...
our steaks were large enough for all of us to have leftovers ...
it was definitely finger licking good ...
Coffee and Rhubarb Pie with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream ...
were served for dessert ...
MMMMMMM

 

We decided to go for a hike ...

 up to visit dad's favourite place ...

watching the sun set over the lake ...

He'll be in our thoughts ...

and

Forever in our hearts ... !!!

More Gifts ... For Me ...

Aug. 5, 2013

Finally made a trip to Bull River ...
to pick up gifts ...
that Dagmar had brought back from Arizona ... a few months ago ...
it just seemed I couldn't find time to get there ...
I was just thrilled to see all the goodies in my package ....
for me it was Christmas in August ...
Thank you so much Dagmar for everything ...
maybe now I will finally have some time to start crafting again ... !!!

 

While I was picking up Dagmar's gift ... at Mud Frog's Studio ...

check it out here

I was given this lovely Drain Plate for my plants ...

I had a great visit with Evelyne and Caroline ...

I enjoyed watching them working on their pottery pieces ...

They're two very talented ladies ...

Thank you ladies ... !!!

What A View ...

Enjoying my morning ... sitting out on the deck ... with dear friend Dagmar ... having coffee ...

Life Is Tuff ...

Aug. 5, 2013
 

Ian, Kendall and the boys ...

finally arrived in Houston, Texas ...

it was quite a trip for them ...

having truck issues along their journey ...

Grateful they made it to their destination safely ...

This was the first picture I received from Ian ...

I think they deserved to sit back and chill ... !!!

Travelling In Style ...

Aug. 2, 2013

The Limo arrived early in the morning ...
to take them to the airport ...
Grandchildren were impressed that it had a bar ...
looks like they are enjoying themselves ...
sitting back and relaxing ... 

On route to Mexico ... first class ....

 

Finally arriving in Mexico ...

it was a long day for the family ...

wow ... you think that they were staying for awhile ...

look at all that luggage ...

Where's the kitchen sink ... ???

Thank you for sharing your pictures ...

Storm Rolled In ...

Aug. 5, 2013

On Aug. 5th ...
two massive storms rolled into the valley ...
each with torrential rain pouring down ...
with bouts of hail ...
I was so worried that my garden was ruined ...

There was nothing I could do to stop the washout on the road ...
my concern was to divert the water ...
away from the house ...
so it did not flood the basement ...
so I dug a small trench to move the water ...

The beauty of the sky ... after a vicious storm ... !!!