Bunches of bouquets for Carol...

Carol is having a medical procedure Wednesay and I had this idea of taking photos of flowers around our area and sending them to her with hugs and best wishes.  Then I thought,  well,  I know lots of people with lovely gardens so I'll ask them to send me photos too. And of course they came through….after all,  they are my friends!

So,  dear friend,  these are all especially for you.  Lots of people are thinking about you!

Well,  these first ones aren't from someone I know but they were so lovely I had to include them.  They are photos from Colin Sowa who is in a Palm Springs Neighbourhood  Facebook group that posts lots of neat photos.  These are what is currently blooming in Demuth Park... very close to where we have our condo.

And a couple of photos from Susan,  our neighbour in Victoria.

And these are from Fern,  who has the pleasure of tending to her garden while viewing  the Gorge waterway in Victoria….

And these are from my friend,  Linda,  who is always good  for a few laughs!

"We go away a lot and Cec didn't want to keep asking our neighbors to water our plants.  Instead of going to Art Knapp we went to the Dollar Store!  Too funny and I think they look great.   Better remove them in October or the neighbors will get suspicious! 

I don't have a green thumb.   Only two left ones. "

And from Patty,

Here are a very few shots in the garden, of what the deer leave alone!

The next few are from Susan and Alan's wonderful English garden in the market town of Otley, Yorkshire.  We have sat in their garden and shared a glass of wine on many occasions.  We have watched their two cats,  one a real hunter doing "real" hunting and the other a wannabe hunter who wants to be part of the game but can't really do it.  His strategy is to very proudly bring twigs and lay them by their feet.  Very amusing.  We have also been amused by watching mentally challenged doves feeding at their feeder.  Each time they seem to have to relearn how to do it!

And these from Cindy,  another Victoria neighbour.

Nothing too exciting in the garden today - Mr. Efficiency deadheaded the last still-blooming rhodo. 

And these from Carole,  another Victoria friend.

I love flowers and  I am grateful to be living in a climate that can grow so many different  kinds all year round. I always have in my garden ones that have been there for years and years and others I am planting for the first time. Each spring I love  it when the new growth comes and the surprises that come too.  Carole

 Behind the colourful lilies is the tall curly garlic.

 Rhodos were magnificent this year.  They love my shady garden.

 I have a homemade spray to deter the deer.  It may be working!  The deer have ruined  all my roses over the years but his little bush is struggling to make a difference.

This is my front garden.  It is a peaceful spot in the middle of the busy city.

And these from Donna.  She recently sold her house and their new condo has lovely grounds too but these are from the house.

Such a good idea Janice.  I attach pictures of the gardens from our home on
Wiltshire Street. 

And these from Kate.   I'm so glad she included her son Eliot (Derek and Mary's grandson) in some.

I love your idea! Admittedly, our garden on Richmond was much nicer than our current one so the final three photos are from there. The first of Eliot is in the camellia bush at his school and the maple tree is in front of a house on Island Road. Can’t wait to see your post!

And here are some photos from Susan,  my Artist Trading Card buddy and who is always inspiring me with her wonderful art.

My garden isn't looking too spectacular this year - we had a hail storm a few weeks ago that ruined many things :(  But, I've attached a few pics for you to use as you wish!

Blessings,
Susan 

And from Erna who currently has some major landscaping being done and large amounts of soil being delivered so this is a tranquil spot at a friend's home.

And now,  my gardens.  Well,  I actually don't have a single plant….being away half the year it just doesn't seem much point.  Maybe I'll go to the dollar store like Linda!  Or,  I was thinking of floral indoor/outdoor  carpet.  But I have lots of lovely flowers around me.

Many of our apartment neighbours have great balcony gardens.  This is taken from our balcony.

I went out the back to get some photos of the rhodos as there is a big park of them there but they are pretty much finished now.  But I was pleased to see California poppies growing wild.  These grew wild beside our house in Victoria and I just loved seeing them…I love "volunteers" you don't have to plant or tend…

The rhodos are magnificent when in season but most are pretty much like this now or worse.

And another thing that grew wild in our back lane were hollyhocks.  They are beside the poppies.

And of course,  Barbara Lowy's wonderful garden beside our apartment is always great to look at.  Jim and I and many other people who grew up in Vancouver and who visited Stanley Park and English Bay a lot have admired this house standing alone  among the apartments all our lives..

A son of the folks who own all the apartments that Hollyburn owns across Canada moved into the Penthouse a few years ago and insisted on a tropical garden being put in.  We love it!  There is often lots of floral but seems an in-between tim at the moment.

This year they added six hanging baskets and they look great.

Now,  I made a real discovery by taking photos and looking more closely at this garden.  All these bushes in the foreground here are actually rosemary!  I have been meaning to buy a rosemary plant but never seem to be where they are being sold.  Now I have rosemary a go-go.

And of course the Sylvia Hotel and its ivy….our local that we get so much pleasure out of.

The Sylvia's patio.

And now the "Garden of the Laughing Men".

It's unbelievable how many people from all over the world enjoy this installation.  I defy anyone not to smile.

This tree has been a part of this building for a long time…love it!

These are blackberry bushes which will be bearing blackberries around August.  There are loads of them along the seawall.

And of course,  I would have to include a photo of seeweed!

Thanks again for everyone who participated!

A beautiful day...

We are both well enough to enjoy this fabulous weather and we are cooled by a sea breeze so "the big heat wave"  has been comfortable so far.  However,  we did get the portable AC  hooked up in our bedroom and fans in place around the rest of the apartment.

We had a great lunch sitting outside at the Red Lion Grill in West Van yesterday.  It was great to be able to actually taste food,  not be coughing,  and I could even talk and have a conversation.  My voice isn't completely back so will probably rest my vocal chords today for the most part.

 I had the shrimp and scallop crepe in a white wine sauce…excellent!

 Jim had a burger…how dull but I did steal steal a couple of fries.


This is the inside of the Red Lion.  We always come here to sit out on the patio and we always reflect that this inside would be a cosy place to have lunch on a rainy day and then we always forget about it.  Maybe we'll remember this year.

Cats bring luck, of course…!

Elaine gave Richard and Jim some special ties of Don's. The one Richard chose was based on this famous image.   Jim has worn his to dinners at Le Crocodile  and to his job interview at Columbia College which he got  and this was in an email from Richard yesterday:

"BTW, I wore Don's tie today. Had to give a big presentation in Seattle. I think it brought me some good luck."

Elaine,  always so thoughtful.  Thanks again,  dear friend!

Well,  cats bring luck and I'm posting a few photos of Oscar to bring Grace luck on winning the Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence.  She is short listed for the award this year.  Just being nominated is a real honour and will grow her editing business.  Congratulations,  Grace,  and good luck!

They are both going to the conference in Toronto this coming week.  Richard's company is paying his way.  With his presentations,  course development,  manual writing,  proposal writing,  etc.  his job has a lot of writing in it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto, May 11, 2015—The Editors' Association of Canada (EAC) has announced the finalists for the 2014 Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence.

The Tom Fairley Award recognizes an editor's outstanding contribution to a work published in Canada in English or French in the award year. The $2,000 grand prize will be presented at the awards banquet of the international Editing Goes Global conference in Toronto on June 13. EAC is also pleased to announce that the two other finalists will each receive a cash prize of $500 in recognition of their exceptional editorial performance.

SHORT LIST

Sue MacLeod of Toronto, Ontario, for Mending Hearts, Building Bridges: The Story of Save a Child's Heart by Bernard Goldman (Save a Child's Heart Foundation) MacLeod is an editor who clearly has the confidence and trust of her clients. "She did a superlative job of finding the gold in a mountain of text and shaping it into a cohesive and powerful book, while keeping her client's aims and preferences steadily in view," said one judge. The judges were impressed with her work on the manuscript, as well as her ability to negotiate tricky political and ideological waters, collaborate with the book's designer and keep the project on schedule. "Overall, a stellar editing job."
Suzanne Rent of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for Our Children (Metro Guide Publishing) In her two and a half years as editor of Our Children, Rent has transformed the magazine from a service publication to one that engages parents, teachers and students. Her enthusiasm for her role is obvious. She meets with the editorial board, assigns stories, writes sections herself, and, within a small budget, manages all aspects of producing this very attractive and interesting magazine. She extends herself beyond "mere" editorial duties to being a mentor who encourages young talent. "She shows us a side of editors that we often forget," said one judge. "We are caring, involved and creative people within our local communities as much as we are line-tamers and grammar gurus."
Grace Yaginuma of Vancouver, British Columbia, for A Discerning Eye: The Walter C. Koerner Collection of European Ceramics by Carol E. Mayer (Figure 1 Publishing) Art books are notoriously complicated to edit because of the many elements they contain (text, multiple illustrations, captions, photo credits and reference notes) and the particular conventions they follow. This project was hindered by several delays and a tight schedule, but Yaginuma edited the manuscript expertly at all levels, performing structural, stylistic and copy editing for the project. She was always professional, positive and patient in her written communications with everyone involved on the project. "This very fine publication would not have been possible without [her] excellent editorial work and file management."

* * *

The judges for the 2014 Tom Fairley Award are respected Canadian editors. Peter Midgley is the author of a travel memoir, Counting Teeth: A Namibian Story, and was the recipient of the 2013 Tom Fairley Award. He is also the senior editor (acquisitions) at the University of Alberta Press. Rosemary Shipton was the founding coordinator of the Publishing Program at Ryerson University. She has taught all levels of editing. In 2007 Trinity College, University of Toronto, granted her an honorary doctorate for her contribution to publishing in Canada. Sandy Newton is a freelance writer, editor and consultant. She co-authored Birds of Newfoundland (winner of a 201

"They better give you that prize or else!"

A beautiful morning and looks like it's going to be a great weekend.

And I'm well enough to keep my appointment with my retinal specialist today.  I had to cancel last week.  So,  I better enjoy the view because it will be a day of eyes dilated.   Well,  I guess that's life as a senior….feeling good about being well enough to keep a medical appointment.  I think there might be a stand up comedy routine in that….

For me, the first day of summer in Vancouver is always the return of the English Bay slide.   Wednesday,  Jim and I were having a drink on the balcony and commenting that the slide seemed late this year.  I called Stephos to order a roast lamb dinner for pick up.  When Jim came back the slide had miraculously appeared.   I think the actual slide is a new one….seems a bit smaller and a bit lighter looking.

Batting 1000

I have written three letters to the editor in my entire life and all three have been published…the most recent one today in the Vancouver Sun.  And for once they didn't edit out anything.  Later,  I wish I mentioned that the Jericho lands would provide a perfect setting.  This is a large tract of extremely valuable land that partly formerly housed the Jericho School for the Deaf and Blind….a residential school where abuse was rampant so that also makes it an appropriate setting.  I believe it is currently slated for million dollar condos and multi million dollar houses.

I see First Nations are claiming the land as well so that makes it even more appropriate.  Estimates are it's worth around three billion.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/billion+debate+over+Vancouver+Jericho+Lands/9456829/story.html

re:  Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The city of Vancouver seems like an ideal location for a memorial museum to the cultural genocide on aboriginal people and to the forced internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War and other racist atrocities.  Such a project could provide employment for aboriginal youth and  volunteer opportunities for non aboriginals.   The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in New York and the Auschwitz Museum in Poland would provide excellent models.  These memorials educate people and provide them with a very deep emotional experience.

Sincerely,

Janice Sexton

Note to my blog readers outside Canada.   The Truth and Reconciliation Report has been released:

http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=3

and newspapers across Canada have major reportage on this story.

An excellent article in The Globe and Mail by John Ralston Saul:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/truth-and-reconciliation-is-canadas-last-chance-to-get-it-right/article24826036/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Referrer%3A+Social+Network+%2F+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links&fb_ref=Default

Jim brought in these lovely carnations and lilies today….merci!

Well,  he gave me this wretched cold….