Last week I was slightly off kilter as I am no longer accustomed to Bruce being away from home for multiple days. Then too, I was worried about my sister, so there was that. Anyone who knows me, undoubtedly also knows that when I am in a bit of a funk, I do my best to stay busy and not dwell on my feelings because I live by the motto, "this too shall pass." And while that may not work for some folks, to date, it has for me.
I was thrilled with an invitation from Beth to an impromptu dinner party at her cute apartment off Broadway, across the water from us. After distributing the salmon Bruce caught to others in their department, she saved some to grill for the seven of us. While I told here I would be delighted for the company, I am not a salmon eater. No worries, come anyway and I'll fix you something. I took the #10 bus across the Granville bridge and after getting off, walked the five or so blocks to her place which is part of an old home that has been converted into apartments. Very cute indeed. Speaking of walking, I am now slightly obsessed with that phone app that tells me how far I walk every day. Whether it is accurate or not, I'm not entirely sure, but I like it nonetheless. From Monday to Saturday, according to that, I walked 29 miles which pretty much is shocking to me.
The above is but a fraction of the sixty pounds of fish Bruce caught. How exciting that so many people were able to enjoy it. Taking my leave a little after 9PM, it was still quite light for my walk back to the bus stop. I continue to be amazed at how the mountains are visible from so many parts of the city.
Some readers will recognize the, under construction, Vancouver House which is just across the street from the condo.
Tuesday morning, first thing, I walked to Stanley Park to check on the rose garden as our trip had kept me away for nearly a week. Poor baby is what you are probably thinking right about now! The weather was warm enough, or at least warm enough that all I needed was a windbreaker, and the day was somewhat sunny. In fact, way too sunny for nice photographs of my subject matter.
Boy, I've got this post all out of sync because on my walk to the park, I came across this curious sight,
and there were loads of them blowing in the wind as well.
This young woman was recording a weather report alongside English Bay, and you will note all of the feathers in the grass behind the cameraman. Very curious indeed.
Back to the return journey from the park when I was super thrilled to come across this fantastic dragonfly!
According to
this, it is a male eight-spotted skimmer. While that blogger claims they are common, they are uncommon to me.
As I really wanted to record those gorgeous roses at Stanley Park, I was more than happy to return the following day when the skies were gray. Because the forecast was for later sunshine, I went early, just after 8, delighted that I could finally get a pretty shot of a beautiful garden in the West End that had eluded me previously because of the harsh light.
Friends, it is just lovely with flowers one on top of another, reminding me of Jane's English garden. That is really why I wanted the photograph because I always lean toward connections with a subject. Then too, for the first time in my life, I have no personal access to dirt, so seeing what others are doing with it brings me great joy.
Here is yet another blue flower I've come across in my wanderings. So many blue flowers here!
I guess you could call it a flower, although unlike any I've seen before!!
Good grief, arriving at the garden and removing my camera from my backpack, I put it to my eye and the screen was
nothing but black. Now what? I changed lenses, turned it on and off multiple times, yet nothing changed. Upon further examination, I discovered it was blocked by the lens curtain, making the camera inoperable. I promptly took off walking to London Drugs camera department on Georgia Street. Except, there was a problem once I was there. Not a soul in the area and despite having three different employees look for someone who worked in the camera department, no one ever materialized. Discouraged, but not defeated, I walked down Granville until I came to Leo's, a camera store that has been in business since the 50's, that I've visited before. After an examination of the camera it was determined that fixing it was not an option.
Because they don't carry Olympus cameras, the fellow worked hard to convince me to switch to Fujifilm that with two lenses was going to set me back around $2,000. Well now. Leaving the store confused, I was going to call Bruce in Winnipeg when the phone rang and it was Matthew. What timing! Surely you can find somewhere that carries Olympus so you don't have to spend quite so much, he wisely advised. And so it was that, following a little lunch, I walked back to London Drugs, this time finding a very nice Croatian man to assist me.
Not only does he own the same camera, he put the strap on the camera, (something that is harder to do than it looks) and helped me with some of the settings. Having just purchased the
Olympus in August, 2015, I hope I did not make a mistake buying the new one that is not nearly as attractive, I might add. Time will tell, I suppose, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do and going without a camera, even for a day, is not really an option for this girl.
Granville Street is full of photographic opportunities which I took advantage of while familiarizing myself with the new camera. BTW, one of the reasons for buying the same camera is because I already have two batteries that fit it perfectly. Surprisingly, at least to me, had I purchased the Fuji, the batteries are $100 each!
Unfortunately, Granville is way too full of this sort of thing.
Looking at the photo below on my computer, I am marveling at this photo showing how very much men have changed during my lifetime. (photographer reflected in glass)
One day, a few weeks ago, a woman saw me photographing something on the streets and began chatting up a storm. Becoming very animated, this Australian, who was here on holiday, was telling me how she was
"traumatized", after walking on East Hastings and seeing the throngs of homeless people who've set up camp on the sidewalks. She went on and on, never having seen the likes of something like that before. Neither had I before I came here, and indeed, I am still traumatized myself when I see this sort of thing, which is all too common.
A complicate problem to solve, people seem to accept it as part of city life. Increasingly, I am guilty of the same.
Once home, I studied the camera along with some online suggestions and when the light began fading, I went back out to practice. Practice? Oh yes, I always need practice.
Very puzzling that this giant Swallowtail stayed put long enough for a photograph as they usually fly around like mad. Oh yeah and the Hydrangeas are coming into bloom and are as big as softballs!
Rarely do I go out in the evening for many reasons, one of which is that is when my darling Bruce comes home for the day, however, because he still was gone, I took a walk to Sunset Beach which is only a few blocks away, something I wish I'd know last summer when the big fireworks show happened. Sadly, we are leaving before it comes again, but I digress.
Lots to see any time of day in Vancouver.
Well, anyplace really....
Folks of all ages take walking very seriously,
as they do sunset watching.
Although not pictured, the logs on the beach were filled with people awaiting the evening show in the sky. I guess when you live through so many months of gray skies, having an actual sunset becomes way more meaningful.
Around 9:30, once the sun fell below the mountaintops, I walked home a happy girl with a brand new camera and the assurance Bruce would be home any minute.
Life is good.
yours truly,
Gail
As I roamed around, my wanderings took me to a crazy plant I've been following, wondering what the bloom will be like. Much to my delight there were ladybugs roaming around, undoubtedly to eat those black bugs.
So, not only roaming, but it sure looks like mating to me! Making my way around Lost Lagoon to get to the rose garden, I was delighted to come across a, well, whole gaggle of geese, growing up rapidly.
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