Early Spring

Tom asked me, while we were in Orlando, how did I feel about missing some of the early days of Spring in Vancouver? Let's just say I was glad that there were so many beautiful trees and plants blooming in Orlando to make up for the time we were not here!

Obviously I would not want to miss our son's wedding for anything in the world, but I will say that the morning following our evening arrival, I went out on a walk as soon as possible. It was ugly, but I was bound and determined to see how those hillside daffodils were doing, and it was not long before I got my answer.

At the outset, let me just say that I have seen bulbs before, but I have never watched the magic happen over time. What looked to be just an open grassy area for all of the time we've been here, suddenly is filled with bright yellow flowers. And not just daffodils either. I am seriously crazy about the Crocuses! Small, but they carry a big punch, what with scores of them, seemingly, coming from nowhere.

Because of all the rain, and in spite of having snowed, a good bit of Vancouver stays green year round. Not  all of the trees, of course, but lawns and bushes remain green and vibrant, especially so against the drab sky. I walked a long way in the rain because I don't want to miss a thing as this will be my only experience with a Northern Spring.

I traveled to Orlando with a mostly empty suitcase, returning with some new things, including a terrific coat Irene lent me. Actually I was meant to take it with me when we moved, however, I could not wrap my head around the need for such a coat, that is, until I experienced this rainy weather! Having lived in Portland for ten years, Irene knew a thing or two about what was in store for me. It is still difficult for me to imagine that I go out walking in the rain, something I would have never done in Orlando. Perhaps because of lightening, I don't know, but here it isn't too bad at all.

There are some cherry trees coming into flower along Beach Avenue, the route I take to get home. For the record, this is my bus when I choose to take it. The #23. Speaking of cherry trees, it turns out that there are over 40,000 Japanese Cherry trees in Vancouver, not to mention another 50,000 other trees that bloom. I am going to be busy!

How ugly was the weather? Pretty ugly, especially having just returned from sunny Florida!

So, here's a little photographer's trick. Sometimes you want a sunny flower photograph,

and sometimes, (more often than not), you don't.

What you do is shade the plant with your body. These adorable Crocus flowers are planted in a flower bed right next to the Granville bridge. Such an odd location for a flower bed, but that's a different story. At any rate, the colors are generally much more vibrant when not directly in the sun. Another flower photography trick is to go out when it is super cloudy; in effect, letting the clouds do the shading for you.

It was super sunny the following day, so of course I had to go back out and see what I could see. Also, having just been surrounded by family and friends, it is no fun for me to stay indoors all day by myself. With temperatures in the mid 50's,  everyone who could, was out walking.

Here is a cool plant I saw on my way into the park. Any plant people know what it is?

What is so thrilling to me is how the bulbs burst through the ground in unexpected places.

To think that I've been walking on flowers is just astonishing to me. There are some flowering plants we have in common with Vancouver, including Camellias and ferns, however, the upright flowers that are everywhere are new to me.

These, too, are new to me. Going from spikes to those little green cups, they put on quite the show.

As it turns out, Crocuses come in a variety of colors, including these vibrant one in a certain persons favorite color.

I've come across large beds of heather in a shocking pink color, as well as white and light pink. The photograph below is near the rose garden in Stanley Park which I imagine will be quite extraordinary once they come into bloom.

Snowdrops! How have I lived my whole life and never known about these little charmers?

Three full days of sunshine, including yesterday when the temperature rose to 60 degrees, has been such a blessing. This is one heck of a beautiful city when it is sunny, that's for sure!

An outstanding adventure was had by Mr. and Mrs. Peck this past Saturday which I will share in my next post. Got to get out when the getting out is good!!

yours truly,

Gail

p.s. I am seriously jealous as Bruce has gone a team building event to Squamish where they will ride the Sea to Sky gondola. There is meant to be rain again today which I'm praying does not come to fruition!

Short and Sweet

Our time spent in Orlando was seriously short, in part because it takes so darn long to get there from Vancouver. Not entirely surprising given the distance. Plus, layovers, my least favorite part of traveling by airplane. A week ago Wednesday morning, the cab dropped us off in front of the airport before 5, for our 6:15 PST flight. If you've taken an international flight out of Vancouver you know how darn far you have to walk to get to your gate! The flight took off on time, much to my relief, and we were off to Minneapolis, flying over the frozen Earth for much of the time.

I must say, it was pretty darn awesome! Eventually, after the layover, we arrived in Orlando at 5:30 PM, EST, making for a very long day. Because we'd gotten up so early, it was not all that hard to jump right into EST.

I'll tell you what, surprising as it may seem, the condo was not very dusty at all. Nevertheless, before we got going on Thursday morning, the floors were cleaned and the furniture dusted. Following that, it won't surprise some of you that I went in search of birds, specifically the owls. Sadly, nothing. A little later, however, much to my delight, I came across a small flock of Cedar Waxwings in a large oak tree just down the street from our place. What luck that was because they only come through Orlando for a few days in the Spring!

On another day, while in the parking lot of the new Marshalls on Mills Avenue, I first saw an Osprey in a tree bordering the lot, causing me to pay closer attention to my surroundings. Holy Cow--not one,

but two pairs of nesting Ospreys! I am still quite puzzled by the platforms found on some of the light poles. Could the developers have anticipated nesting Ospreys?

So very exciting to see all of the azaleas in bloom all over the city. Pam mentioned that they are especially beautiful this year, and if anyone should know, it would be Pam!

Further, the Tabebuia trees were blooming, both the pink,

and a few yellow which are my absolute favorites.

We snuck in a quick lunch with Cheryle and Catherine, eating on the patio where we have shared so many wonderful meals together. Sadly, Cheryle and David are planning a big move, perhaps before we return. Time will tell.

As promised, here is Grace Kelly, looking as adorable as can be. As some of you may recall, David and Michelle's beloved Ginger died last year and after months of deliberation, they decided to become dog owners again. Grace was surprisingly quiet, given that she is still just a puppy. Lots of ogling over her, not to mention Bruce getting some "doggie kisses."

Tom and Matt were still here, however, Jonathan and Alissa left us on Sunday afternoon. Boo hoo!

While I am fussing about flying long distances, Jon and Alissa had just returned from a trip to London on Wednesday, only to get back on a plane Friday to come to Orlando. I would be crazed as I just don't enjoy the whole flying experience. Not the actual being up in the air, but the whole airport misery. Tom and Matt fly all of the time, taking it all in stride. I wish I could be more like that! Nancy drove down from Atlanta which is not so easy either. One evening it was kind of chilly, a good opportunity to put my quilts to work!

Speaking of the weather, did I tell you how overjoyed I was, after months and months of wearing multiple layers of clothing, that I was once again just able to put on a dress and go? Heaven.

On Tuesday afternoon, as we were sitting in the living room, what to our wondering eyes should appear, but about 50 or more Cormorants landing in the lake! Plus three white Pelicans!! I can so see how we are going to enjoy living lakeside!

Mostly they were across the lake, however, at one point the whole group came flying towards us. Now that was fun! The pelicans also come but once a year, so what a treat to be in Orlando when they arrived.

One more super great thing happened during our stay; BMW came through with a $1,000 check for our trip interruption! A pleasant surprise indeed.

Another early flight to catch and we were on our way back to Vancouver, this time stopping in Salt Lake City where the airport is surrounded by mountains. There was no long layover this time as our plane arrived late and we barely had time to get to our gate!

Happily I had a window seat this time, albeit, over the wing! Still I got a view of the landscape below which reminded me of a patchwork quilt.

Hours later, Vancouver came into sight.

Whereas it was twelve hours later to our bodies, we set our watches back three hours, and went about our business.

And here we are a few days later, setting the clocks ahead an hour. Perhaps in a few more days our bodies will get back into their natural rhythm after our short and sweet trip to Orlando? I sure hope so!

yours truly,

Gail

Family, Friends, and a Wedding Too

Today is cold, gray, and wet, unlike the last week we spent in Florida where the weather was, dare I say perfect? I think I will.

After a long journey getting there, the fun began almost immediately with a visit from David, Michelle, and their darling puppy Grace Kelly. I'll show her off on another day. Instead, let's get started with the rehearsal dinner which we held at Earls because Fallon and Bill wanted to have it at a place that holds meaning for all of us.

They did not let us down! Dare I say it was perfect? I think I will. Except for the lighting to take photographs, that was a bit of a challenge. And here, my friends are the happy couple.

Fallon's Mom and Dad love Bill nearly as much as we love Fallon. Obviously her Mom and Dad in the photo below, along with our daughter-in-law Michelle.

In spite of the lighting, there were loads of photos taken including this one of Bruce and me, along with Bill and Dave.

I swore I was not wearing anything sleeveless because of my old arms, but the lesson here is, never say never! So, the rehearsal dinner was on Thursday night, thanks to Michelle's good advice, giving everyone a night to rest before the wedding. Perfect again!

Matt and Tom arrived from London too late, not to mention too tired, to attend the dinner, but they came by the next day, as did Nancy, Carol, and Maureen. When Bruce and I walked into the condo, the first thing I said was, I forgot how cute it was! Or, at least we think so. It was so good to be surrounded by all of our things. I even went into my closet for a clothes "petting" session.

Our dear friend Pam had organized a get together for us so we could see our friends. Although she told me on the phone that there would be Chinese take out, she lied. Pam, Bill and Roxanne,

doing clean up duty while the rest of us talked in the family room. It was so good to see Irene, Glen, Lynn, Bunker, Cathy, Carl and Sally again.

The only bummer is that I'd gotten the time wrong by thirty minutes so we were late to our own party! Add to that, as we were driving there, I remembered I'd put a bottle of champagne in the freezer, so we had to turn around and get that! Let me tell you, I very much enjoyed driving my MINI again. Although I'd not driven at all during the 7 1/2 months we've been gone, it was no problem. While we were at Pam and Glen's, Jonathan and Alissa arrived from Austin to stay with us. You are getting a sense of how crazy busy it was aren't you?

One thing about living in Vancouver these months is that seeing someone we know out and about is rare indeed. Nothing like Orlando where it is rare not to see someone we know while out and about. Saturday afternoon, while I was soaking my feet in the tub at home, Bruce took Jon and Alissa to lunch at Tijuana Flats where they proceeded to see, well, as Jonathan put it, "who didn't we see?" Nice.

Wedding time finally arrived, just what you've been waiting for. Although Bill wanted to get married at Rollins chapel, as his twin brother did, apparently they do not hold weddings two weekends a year, one of which was on the date that they had booked the reception venue, Winter Park Farmers Market. From what I've been told, coordinating and booking wedding venues is pretty much a nightmare. It mattered naught as the weather could not have been any nicer, and in the end, weddings are beautiful and joyous wherever they are held. I suspect you agree. People gathered in the parking lot beforehand. I will be pointing out family members and I'm warning you, there are many!

In the red is our sister-in-law, Ruth, while Jonathan is in the middle, chatting with my brother Pat. Below is my sister-in-law Judy, my sister Nancy, and Jenn, who is married to Rich, my sister's son. Got all that?

Everyone looked fantastic, but none more so than Fallon who is coming in with her Dad.

The ceremony was lovely. I was a good girl and took no photographs because that is what the mother of the groom is supposed to do, right? Afterwards, while the official photographer was setting up some formal shots, I insisted on taking one of our four sons together, looking rather dapper, if I do say so myself. From left to right, Jonathan, Bill, David, and Matt.

While I do love the above photo, I think my favorite of the whole affair might be this one of Bill standing to the side while the photographer sets Fallon up for some shot. I just love spontaneity in a photograph. It so speaks to me about how a wedding is so very much about the bride. :)

In an earlier post I mentioned it would be the first time all of my siblings were together since our Mom's death, however, that was not true. I'd totally forgotten that it had been only eight years since our baby sister turned 50. At any rate, I give you the Price family.

Matt took a bunch, which turned out to be a good thing; getting six people to look at the camera simultaneously is no easy feat. Set up in age order, Pat on the top, followed by Maureen, me, Carol, Nancy, and finally Lisa.

Bruce's sister Michelle traveled from Minnesota for the wedding, and a shot was taken of the Peck family, beginning with Cris on the top.

Lisa's family:

Well, some of them anyway. Amanda, on the left, has a four month old adorable baby girl who stayed home with her Dad, Matt. Oh how I wish there had been time to meet the newest member of the family!

Cris, Judy, Jessica, and Katie!

I never did get one of Jon and Alissa, however, I did get one of our son-in-law Tom. Love was in the air, I'll tell you that much! Sadly though, I have not one of the original lovebirds, Gail and Bruce.

On to the reception where I also did not take very many photographs. Hard to do when you are on the dance floor! The first dance, along with the bridal party.

Having walked miles and miles here in Vancouver, not to mention only wearing boots and the like for so long, my feet were not in any shape to wear heels, although I did start out that way. Not for long enough though. I'd already taken them off and was in my stocking feet when I was called to do the mother/son dance. Judy, quickly insisted I wear her shoes, thus I am wearing black shoes instead of my soft gold ones.

A highlight, at least for some of us, was David toasting his twin brother. Some laughter, along with tears were shed. I say some of us because Julliana, Fallon's maid of honor, was dying to say wonderful things about Fallon!

Maureen's son Rich, ever the clever one, is showing off the Peck sign on the bar.

Crazy fun dancing ensued following dinner. Not a one of my photographs turned out in a traditional way, but are still fun seeing everyone using these light sticks.

What's a wedding without a cake?

Last call for alcohol, along with the last dance, and Fallon and Bill went out under a shower of sparklers,

and a last kiss. Or maybe I should say, the start of many future kisses?

Dare I say it was all perfect? I think I will.

yours truly,

Gail