~~~SUCH A BUSY WEEK!!!
Here are a couple of pix of the the Pool and fish pond at the Lamplighter Inn Best Western in London where I stayed following a lovely evening with an old friend. We had dinner and then attended a concert of Debussy a classical composer which I really enjoyed.


Today, Friday I'm off to the AGO, the art gallery of Ontario with another dear friend and today is her birthday...my how time flies.
Then Saturday a visit with still another old friend from my "teen years"...it should be a blast!

Till next time...

~~~~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HUSBAND!!!!

Today Doug would have celebrated his 70th birthday.

"Thank you sweetheart for all the wonderful memories"!

Till next time...

~~~To all my dear readers....
I want to thank L'll Sis and all of my many friends who have encouraged me along the way of realizing the beginning of my dream of becoming a "fitness instructor"!

One of the main instructors, Nancy ask if I was ready to do the "warm up" for the Functional Fitness class and I jumped at the chance to do it.

Now the time length is just five to seven minutes however it does take time and preparation to pull it off
correctly.
So last evening I practiced and then again at 3:30AM.
and it was so worth it..."Practice makes, well almost perfect"!

The class started with an introduction from Nancy that I would start the warm up and another trainee, Alison would do another 10 minutes and then Nancy would complete the class which involves cardio, weight training and balance techniques.

At the conclusion of the class Nancy was very impressed with my effort especially being able to project my voice which was a challenge for me as I was fighting with the butterflies in my stomach.(I guess I have been out of teaching too long.)

So there will be several times I will do the warm up until I am comfortable to move on to the next phase and I will keep you posted as to the progress. I hope you won't get too bored, just hang in there with me will ya?

Till next time...

~~~WELL FINALLY! The roses have decided to bloom!
Enjoy!

Till next time....

~~~~OK LILLY LADY...THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!
And how do you like it...let me know!

Till next time...

~~~Greetings!
Just wanted to let y'all know that I am doing just fine!

Life kinda got in my way! Like keeping up with the landscaping and my indoor duties and of course the all important "workout" sessions.

Brenda the instructor of the "Strength and Stretch" class that I attend twice a week had asked me to fill in for her while she went on holiday. Without hesitation I accepted. That was two weeks ago and she will return to class next Monday.
I have really enjoyed the planning and instructing of the class. I know how hard I have been on the class when I can feel those lazy muscles the next day!

Our weather here has been more like Sept. instead of July...does anyone know where summer is hiding? Please let me know....

Till next time...

"Alice" by the Avon!

~~~AAAAH STRATFORD ONTARIO....
As many of you know Friday is my day off. I found that I really need that day to recoup from the previous "workout" days.

On this particular Fri. June 26th my friend Alice invited me to join her and hubby and some other of her friends from Toronto to see the play "West Side Story" and to enjoy a picnic in the park. Following a day of storms and much needed rain this day the sky was cloudless and the temps...comfortably warm.

Well, I jumped at the offer.

We found a lovely spot to have our picnic right at the river's edge. Following a walk around the beautiful grounds and finding the Toronto gang we proceeded to enjoy our lovely meal and really good conversation.

That performance of "West Side Story" was one of the best I have ever seen...and of course it brought me to tears.
The costumes, dancing and the fantastic singing will stay in my memory for a long time. The whole theme of that play is ageless and so pertinant to our "time"!

Following the performance we decided to head up town for a drink and a chance for the two teenagers in the group from Toronto to check out the unique shopping in Stratford.
We found a lovely spot where there were tables and chairs on the sidewalk. You guessed it...more delicious food and wonderful conversation.


It will be a day I will long remember!
Many thanks to my dear friend Alice and hubby Brian for inviting me!

Till next time...

It just isn't Stratford without the Swans!




This is a memorial to the beginning of the Stratford Festival back in 1958.
It shows two workers pulling on the ropes to raise the centre pole of the tent under which the first performance at the theatre was enjoyed.


This rose garden is just outside the main entrance of the building.
And again, it wouldn't be the Festival without the roses!

~~~I mentioned some time ago that I ordered my tickets to view Curling at the 2010 Olympics well, today I booked my flight.

Can you imagine...going Business Class (OOOOOOOOh I couldn't eat another pea) out to Vancouver and back how lucky can I get and it is all on my Aeroplan Points.
Ya think I am doing something right these days?

Till next time...

~~~This is as far north that the sun will travel
north as taken from my living room.
The longest day is on Sun. June 21 and the days start to
get shorter...

Till next time...

~~~Looks like the Amish are heading for Walgreens...LOL!

~~~I was having a fantastic drive around and away from Chicago earlier this morning and I couldn't figure out why I didn't come across any toll roads. I did remember several while going into the the city.

Then it hit me...I didn't follow the directions given my by my darling GPS as I call her and I was heading south and onto Memphis...yeks! I was ready to continue my adventure by not that far south...not today. Any way I was able to make the correction and darling GPS isn't speaking to me any more...I turned her off.

I knew that I had to head east so I spotted Fort Wayne Ind. The highway was two lanes for some time then it broke into 4 and what a beautiful roadway and not much "dancing" with trucks either.

I went over the Wabash river twice and past Kokomo...yup you guessed it the singing began...thank you Perry Como and I don't know who wrote "The Wabash Cannonball" but I do remember Johnny and June Carter Cash sang it.

I also spotted at a very busy intersection an Amish family in their buggy.

I'll be heading home tomorrow...I think...this has been a wonderful trip.

Enjoy the pix...

till next time....

~~~Yup, went past KOKOMO....

~~~Another excellent day this time it was Frank L. Wright's house in Oak Park. This was the beginning of his illustrious career.

Till next time...

~~~Here is one of Wright's favorite style of statues in the garden.

~~~"What a FANTASTIC CITY CHICAGO IS!"
I took the 1/2hr train ride into the city on Wed. and then got to see and ride on the Chicago River while riding in a water taxi. I decided to get the all day pass which was very useful.

Then I wanted to walk Michigan Ave. for a while till I needed a rest. Now it was time get a "Hop On Hop Off" ticket on the double Decker and was I in for a real treat.
Chicago is a very beautiful city and I wasn't expecting that. The city is trying to get their bit in for the 2016 Summer Olympics well they sure have my vote!
Enjoy the pix that follow!

Till next time...

Here is a view from a Water Taxi!

~~~Clouds and Skyscrapers!

~~~AMERICAN GOTHIC AND ME!

~~~A pic as promised....more to come!
As you know I travel alone and it is difficult to capture some good pix!

Till next time...

~~~"HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS SHE'S DONE IT AGAIN"!

The old adventure "bug" has hit me again...I am in CHICAGO as I type this. Yes, I knew that I needed a holiday so off I went. It was a wonderful drive into the city although there was a lot of smog you could still see the buildings.
I am in a small community just north of the city called Glencoe...so very quaint
Hey Charlene it reminds me of the area that your shop is in Grosse Pointe.

Cousin Mike get that map out and check out Kalamazoo...been there!
You would have loved the area...I thought of driving around Birmingham as I approached Chicago.

Barry thanks for your kind words wishing me well.

I hope to head into the city tomorrow and maybe I'll have pix to post...
keep your fingers crossed.

Till next time....

~~~"WHOO...HOOOO"!
As some of you know I really love the game of Curling and now I am the proud owner of tickets to see the wonderful sport in action at the highest caliber of play in the world...2010 Winter Olympics.

Dear nephew who lives in Vancouver BC emailed me last fall and asked if I was interested in seeing the Curling and he invited me to stay with he and his family...well, I jumped at the chance.

Memories came gushing back of the day in the winter of 1988 when I carried the Olympic Torch with an old colleague who has since died. Sorry for digressing...

Back to the story...Nephew pointed out to me that the Curling Venue is just down the street from where he lives and so easy to get to. I have never been to Vancouver so you can bet I will be doing a lot of sight seeing while I'm away from the rink...that is if I can tear myself away from the TV and their fabulous coverage.

Today I was able to order three of the tickets for the Curling events and I am so happy....
Now I wonder if I will be able to confront a "Torch Bearer" and catch a little of the excitement I experienced in"88"...

Till next time...

~~~So sorry for the delay...internet was spottie over the weekend!

I forgot to mention that as we drove into the Park memories of that wonderful National Park in AZ aka The Grand Canyon came to mind. The road at Geneva Park is not paved but the small and large out buildings were painted similar to the GC and the way that the buildings were placed about the property was so similar.

I do have to apologise for no pix...(maybe I can blame it on having too many "senior moments") but I always forgot to take my camera with me. Anyway we were really busy and every class was so interesting...Gee I learned SO much!

Thank you so much "YMCA"...perhaps I can repay the organization some day by sharing my new acquired knowledge...

Till next time...

~~~Here you have just 3 of the staff members at my "boot camp" and aren't they just so perky?
More later from Geneva Park Fitness Fever Weekend....

~~~Here's the Bride and Groom....50 YEARS AGO....
Old Bro #1 and his darling bride celebrated their 50th Anniversary on Sat. at the home of their youngest child in Oakville and what a beautiful home it is. It was so good seeing many old relatives and friends.

I did admire Grandson for being so patient and joining us for the day. He commented that "I have never been hugged and kissed by so many people that I don't even know before"! He so funny!

It was the most beautiful sunny day and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Congratulation to the "life long honeymooners"!


Till next time...

~~~# 2 Son is enlarging his garden and I got to supervise...LOL
I stayed at #2 Son's overnight and had a lovely visit with the family following the celebrations in Oakville the previous day.
I had a very good workout early in the morning before he started on his garden.
"Thank you Harley Lady and hubby for all the advice you gave #2 Son!

Let me tell you about my workout...OK?
I started at the north end of Soper Park and walk and jogged along the beautiful path ways through the park until I reach the photo taking site.

Now the City has built this area especially for wedding photo opts. I spotted an arbour which was loaded with a magnificent blooming wisteria. It brought back memories of the wisteria that "L'll Sis and I enjoyed at the home of William Shakespeare in the south of England last May.

Anyway back to the adventure....I proceeded alone Shade St. to McNaughton and then the old workout part of my brain kicked in and I jogged UP McNaughton St. hill....yes, I jogged up the hill....what was I thinking...quite surprised myself and when I got to the top I wasn't even breathing heavy...It sure is a wonderful feeling to be in good condition.
I continued along many streets that I hadn't been on in many, many years. I had a good cool down and a real stretching session and then joined Son in the garden.

~~~There's Grandson on the left with some of his "ball hockey" team members. Ball hockey follows the same rules as ice hockey. What I found lacking was the speed of ice hockey...this was the first time I have watched ball hockey. Those kids sure do a lot of running and wearing the same equipment as ice hockey except for the skates and it sure is hot and sweaty on the floor as they play the game. By the way the score was 8 to 6 for Grandson's team...they were very happy!

~~~What a difference a day makes...no I'm not going to break into song however I sure feel like it...The apple tree is in full bloom today ...Enjoy!

Till next time...

~~~These are Giant tulips which have grown to almost 3&1/2ft. Amazing to think these beauties were sleeping under all that snow just two months ago!

~~~~Well, here is the apple tree in bloom and it is wonderful to see. Last year it didn't produce any apples...I figured it out...this beauty functions on a 7 year cycle so I think I am in for a bumper crop....we'll see...

~~~~Can you guess what this is???....NO, it's not a burial plot...LOL. This pic is what's left of the 3 yards of topsoil I had delivered. Now it is half that size since I have been hauling wheelbarrow loads to the flower beds. This is the first time that the beds have been topped up since we have been here and that is nine years...hard to believe it has been that long.
Gee, time really flies when you are following your "Bliss"!

Till next time...

~~~Here is dear Grandson doing the "hyperextension"! Now I know that y'all are going to howl when I tell you that this is one of the stretches that I want to do and I have put it on my "Bucket List"....

Go on and have your howling laugh but stranger things have happened... LOL

Till next time...

~~~I am always amazed as to how a garden bed looks so finished once this gardener does some edging...and I have just a little more to do on the front beds.
Did I just refer to myself as a gardener...LOL! I can hear dear husband giggling!

Till next time...

~~~SPRING IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE!

Enjoy the pix!



Till next time...

~~~"AND NOW THE GOOD NEWS"!
After all that studying I managed to get an over all mark of 78%...now that's not too bad! Thank goodness for the wonderful Omega 3. They really do a number on this old brain.

OK, the next phase of my fitness adventure will happen at the end of May for the entire weekend and it will be a real "boot camp" YEKS!
Should I give myself a slap up the side of the head????

Till next time....

~~~I am posting these especially for my viewers
in the Listowel area...I was reminded how much
you enjoy the pix. Well, these will get you
excited to open the cottage....


These two shots were taken on Fri. Apr. 24
following a very quick trip to the city...I was so
tired and glad to be home then these views welcomed
me.

Till next time...

~~~OK, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND...
imagine me doing the "HAPPY DANCE", no, no, no, I didn't win the lottery but what did happen was...
I FINISHED ALL MY EXAMS! HOORAY!
Now back to the land of the living and FUN, FUN, FUN!

Till next time...

~~~~HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

I have had a very, very happy Easter with a visit from a dear and special friend!

Till next time...

~~~~WELL, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IN WASHINGTON....AND ABOUT TIME TOO!

~~~~OBAMA BOUND!
Yup, tomorrow my friend Linda and I are hopping onto a tour bus and heading to Washington DC.
This will be my first bus tour with seniors...had my fill of school class trips!

Unfortunately the Obama's are unavailable to visit with us because they are having "tea" with the Queen in London England...LOL!

Our tour is just five days in length but it is during the Cherry Blossom Festival which I am looking so forward to!

Till next time...