Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada: September 2003
KODAK DC3400 Zoom digital camera :: Exposure: 1/700 sec
Aperture: f/8.0 :: Focal Length: 6.3mm

Taken at Pacific Shores Beach Resort in Beautiful British Columbia. I was nearly asleep in my lounge chair when I heard someone remark, "I can't believe I'm bathing in the sea in autumn." Obviously, she was from England. Pacific Northwesteners would have said, "I can't believe I'm swimming in the ocean in the fall." How would you have said it and whereabouts are you from?

Trent-Mersey Canal, England

Trent-Mersey Canal, North Midlands, England: June 2004
Canon PowerShot S410 :: Exposure: 1/250 sec
Aperture: f/8.0:: Focal Length: 10.8mm

Taken from our narrowboat as we toodled along the Trent-Mersey canal.

widget wednesday: blog value

Now if I could just find a buyer.

My blog is worth $55,889.46.
How much is your blog worth?

the kindness of strangers and acquaintances

Today my car had trouble on the way to take Andy to school. I pulled into the parking lot next to my coffee stand and called for help and then went and cried on the barrista's shoulder. She kindly supplied tissues and sympathy and a free latte. The latte didn't fix my car, but the sweetness of the gesture lifted my spirits

Having car trouble really spotlights the loss of 1-800-Dad. He's traded in his white horse for a purple wheelchair. Nevertheless I called him for advice and he dispatched our Uncle Denny who is staying with Mom and Dad this week. Denny came and judged the car drivable and took Andy to school and brought the sickly car home.

. . . a mouse in my engine . . .

I then took the car down to my wonderful excellent beloved mechanics who are actually super-heros doing undercover work. If you are local and need a good mechanic, or two, you want PM Automotive. Not only did they take my car right in, they replaced the whatsit that the resident mouse (did I mention that there is a mouse living in my engine?) had damaged. Thirty minutes later I was on the road again, with no charge.

Then I stopped by the pharmacy for Dad. We've been having trouble getting one of his prescriptions filled so we had to get a substitute. The pharmacist felt so badly for the run-around that he gave us the replacement at no cost. Again, it is not the value of the money saved that is such an encouragement (though it is nice); it's the gesture of support and good-will that puts the smile back on my face.

My next stop was my parent's house to greet Dandy who had been picked up at school and dropped off by a thoughtful Mom from his class.

My whole day was perked up by the kindnesses of people I hardly know. I am resolved to be that person for others.

need a laugh?

Visit the children's song lyric contest.

Peter the Great

Peter the Great, Moscow, Russia: September 2006
Canon PowerShot S410 :: Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f/4.9 :: Focal Length: 22.2mm

We took this picture during our long march in Russia. In an attempt to wear our children out so that they would sleep at night, we toured Moscow all day, mostly on foot. By afternoon we were all staggering, so we took a lovely boat ride and had a picnic. Our efforts paid off, as the children slept ten straight hours that night.

Why was sleep so important? Read the back-story: Crying and Whining! me that is, not the children.

every day in may

Over at Coffee, Cookies, and a Chat, I found a fun bloggy project for May. French Toast Girl writes about it in her April 26th post. She doesn't use post pages, so I can't link directly, but her blog is kinda fun to scroll through, so it's okay. Learned something new today and here is a direct link to every day in may.

She invites us to create something every day in May. I can't quite do that, but I will post my 30 favorite photographs and a brief accounting of where and when each one was taken.