A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/all-about-me/

Glad I’m avoiding this prompt – you really don’t need me to explain the name of my blog, do you?

Anyway, yesterday was Saturday.  I was feeling somewhat better so spent the day doing laundry and not a lot else.  I guess we did test drive a car too.  And we went downtown for supper for Kevin’s birthday.

I had made reservations at Olo (http://www.olorestaurant.com/), which used to be Ulla and our favourite restaurant.  We haven’t been back since they changed their name, and some of their style.  They say they want to be more “family style” and less “pretentious”, although I never found them pretentious before.

The decor certainly is more rustic – they have distressed the wood beams (the brick was there before, I think…)

Anyway, the meal was amazing – we both agreed it was the best meal we’ve ever had there.  I think that means we’ll be back.  Kevin is a little more worried that if we go back, they may not live up to last night.  Time will tell (we’ll be back…)

So, we had the family meal (the chef decides what you get – about a 4-course meal for 2, in our case, for a set price).  We had a couple of salads to start (one was the fennel and cucumber salad) and the pork rinds.  Then the smoked salmon (incredible!) and a terrine. Then, octopus and a mushroom salad (both to DIE for!) and finally, pork and an heirloom tomato salad. You can tell how good everything was from the following pictures – taken after I had scarfed everything down.

And, of course, we had some wonderful wine as well

Oh yes, we’ll be back

On the way home, we stopped by the night market and bought some locally made chocolate truffles.

And here are some of the sights on the way home.

What a wonderful evening!

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/festivus-for-the-rest-of-us/

Feeling a bit better today, and I did take a few pics yesterday as scenes struck me.  We are definitely back to relentless sunshine, which is good because several of our eavestroughing are off the house as we get some of the fascia board fixed in anticipation of painting – only 2 more weeks to painting (and less than that to vacation, but who’s counting?)

Elliot, a bit upset that I was on the deck for a few minutes.

Our back steps being fixed (hopefully to be finished in time for painting)

Our carpenter’s take on scaffolding…I believe the board is screwed into the actual scaffolding…

Nico napping in the sun.  Well, he was napping until he heard me come in with the iPhone.  Then it was eyes wide open to make sure I didn’t get too close.

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/fifteen-credits/

A late, and short, post today as I’m not feeling quite up to snuff.  I came home from work yesterday and fell asleep for 2 hours.  Felt like crap for the rest of the evening, and this morning have a headache and general stomach blech feeling.  Maybe it was the rain yesterday, or maybe it’s just everything catching up with me.  BTW, I am very happy it rained a bit yesterday.  It’s been a long dry stretch!

Anyway, it’s sunny again today, but yesterday when I woke up from my coma, this is what I saw:

Wet deck…

Wet deck furniture

Wet (and very unhappy) crow

Drippy trellis

It’s hard taking picture of rain when it’s not really raining that hard…just saying…

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/choose-your-adventure/

Two stories for today.

One is the story of relaxing on the front porch enjoying the sun a bit after work.

‘Nough said.

The other is the story of this morning, looking at the cherry tree in the backyard and realizing that all the movement I saw was NOT the wind.  I should mention ALSO noticing that it’s cloudy outside.  It hasn’t been cloudy outside for weeks!  Maybe it will rain.  Crap.  I shouldn’t have said that.  Now it won’t ever rain again…  But, I digress.  The tree was moving much more than the wind accounted for, which was when I realized that one of our local street raccoons was having breakfast.

I couldn’t get a great shot, being inside (my official excuse was that I didn’t want to scare little dude away.  My real excuse is that I was in my bathrobe with “just out of bed hair”, so no standing outside on the deck where neighbours can see me for me) with my iPhone, but here he is…hope he had a good munch (and I’m glad I spent some time the other day picking cherries for us!!)

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/moved-to-tears/

It must be Wednesday – it’s time for garden pictures. I don’t know if it has to be Wednesday, and I don’t remember on which days I’ve posted garden pictures in the past.  But today’s Wednesday, and for me right now, that means it’s time for garden pictures.  And that there are 10 working days left until my vacation!

And now, in no particular order…

Lamb’s ear starting to bloom

Rainier cherries from our tree

Giant falling-over delphinium

A second delphinium about the bloom

Wee gerberas (I think….)

Dahlia about to pop

Dahlia already blooming

I can’t remember now…I should probably look at the little sign I stuck in the ground so I wouldn’t forget what all these plants are…but they’re getting ready to bloom…a lot!

And now to the edible side

Beans getting into their second growth spurt

Zucchini

A couple more eggplants

Peppers.  I’m trying to be patient, but I don’t really know how long it will be before they turn colour (the Internet says to be patient…)

Butter lettuce

Beets (greens and the beets – a double edible wonder!)

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/turn-turn-turn/

I’m afraid I don’t have much of a story for you today.  The week began as expected:  sunny and warm, with work to do.  Only 11 work days left until vacation. I know, I know.  Don’t wish the old life today.  And work is feeling settled and comfortable (and enjoyable) these days, but I’m ready for a break!

So, to start the day off, here are a couple of pics from the other side (see yesterday if you’re not sure what other side…) – the other side, at kitty level.

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/in-a-crisis/

It’s Monday – I’ll keep this short.

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/the-early-years/

No words needed.

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/hear-no-evil/

Randoms shots for a Saturday morning.  The Daily Post isn’t the only thing I’m avoiding (house cleaning awaits…sigh…)

Complete trust

Friends

Dogwoods at work this week