Leeks' progress

You win some; you lose some. The tiny leeks are still not very big. Unfortunately, there are always hungry bugs and we lost one of the three. But, over in one of the other seedling homes, a second leek has germinated and is now the same size as it's siblings. Obviously, this is one tough leek. I've unwound it from the other and it now has a new home. But not the old, cursed site - all new.



Since the leeks aren't very photogenic yet, here are the last of the spring tulips. I love the subtle yellow edges on the pink petals. I'm a sucker for that color combination and these are my favorite tulips each year. I also was intrigued by the maple leaf shadows on the tulip bloom.

Past and present

This is proof that I haven't adapted entirely to the world of high-tech gadgetry.

At a recent family gathering, I had to look up a phone number. My son's reaction to seeing the address book was: " I can't believe you still have that book!"

Now, I'm not sure whether he was aghast that I'd had it for over 40 years or whether he thought I should have embraced some other wizard way of capturing the information. But I started looking at it differently.

I saw the shabby and torn cover for the first time. I could see all the scratchings of old addresses and new ones inserted. All the different pens and pencils which had been used. Certainly not going to win me any prizes in the neatness stakes. I pictured it on a CD to give scale. It's really very tiny.



Ah! No matter. I have an archeological document: forensic anthropology right here in my hand. It shows what's been happening behind the family and friends scene since I was in university. Since I had friends who didn't live just across the road. And family was sometimes far away.

There are addresses for friends who have moved many, many times. And entries for a very few friends who have never moved at all. Some of the people listed are no longer living but all have been important in my life. All sorts of birthdays are listed on the back cover. And I've kept it current so all three grandbabies and a great-nephew are there in the continuum.

I'm very grateful to have had the addresses in the back of my mom's teenage diary as it helped when studying family history. I've known people to buy a new address book and make it all tidy again. Me? I think I'll keep mine just the way it is. And keep on adding to it. It'll be valuable to that son one day.

Getting real

We're finalizing the details of our trip to Ireland in July. All that finding of hotels and deciding which nights are spent where. The actual locations we're visiting have been worked out already.

Sometimes, it would be nice just to go without a plan and wing it. But I am the spontaneous one and travel with an organizer and it's best to let organizers get on with it. In the end, I appreciate knowing I will have a place to lay my head. It all works out.

This is my great-grandfather who came from Ireland. I think we may have better travelling conditions but just as beautiful scenery. The photo was taken in Nova Scotia.



The more concrete the plans become the more exciting it is. I'm having visions about Dublin and all the places I want to see there. And all the other towns we're scheduled to visit, too. I doubt there's enough time to do everything I dream. Isn't that always the way?

One thing that has surfaced in my mind. I will be computerless for a whole two weeks. I'm not sure I can stand not blogging and sharing the fun and photos as they happen. Just a two day road trip generated so much stuff. So, I'm researching lightweight notebooks at the moment. I figure if we carry a camera why not a computer?

Ruby Tuesday

Here are my offerings for today's Ruby Tuesday hosted by Mary/the Teach.




First, some winter 'flowers'. I love the way frost makes such beautiful patterns on glass. The red behind the frost is actually part of an antique stained glass window which hangs inside the garage.



And I have a spring flower, too. It's a tulip which is almost ready to drop its petals. This was taken in Nelson, BC. I really loved the pale blue inside. Most tulips are purple or black.