Social Week

Circles of Light - My best in Show image

It' s certainly been a while since I have done much, but it seems this week was the week for activities.
On Thursday night Rachael, Rob and I went to see the folk duo Breeze & Wilson at our friend Raye's Lighthouse. You may remember last year we attended the same event. We became friends with Raye after trespassing on his land and photographing his old classic cars. That's the nice thing about Nova Scotia...You can be trespassing one minute and friends with the land owner the next :o) The evening was great fun, although the weather could have been warmer. Breeze and Wilson are singer song writers from the UK who have quite the following in the Maritimes and play a selection of dates every year at house/garden parties and small hall venues. They have a lovely laid back vibe and are very witty in between their songs.

Saturday Rachael and I ventured out in search of some abandoned properties, we didn't really do very well, and to be quite honest I don't think our hearts were in it. Rachael has some family issues right now and I have a lot on my mind work-wise, so we spent most of the day talking over our problems rather than taking photos. We did however end up at Maitland where we thought we would re-visit the old church that has been crumbling for quite some time now. We were shocked to find one side and the rest of the roof which was still there a year ago no longer there. The big draw of this place for me were the gorgeous arched doors which are now completely gone. I fancy someone reclaimed them as they were rather lovely. I am so glad we photographed it last year, as it is doesn't even look like the same place now.

Saturday evening was Anne and Smiffy's Summer Solstice BBQ. As always a great do with lots of lovely food and a few drinks. They are busy renovating their place right now and we got to see their new en-suite for the first time, they did a great job on it. I believe the kitchen is next on the agenda.
Having left there late we came home and I was feeling a little queezy. I think as I have been healthy eating for so long now and I OD'd on burgers, cake, beer etc, my body just couldn't handle it. I was up all night in the loo and was pretty sick. Thankfully I think the worst of it has passed now.

Although I didn't attend camera club this week, I was thrilled to find out that I placed first in the black and category of the annual contest...Not only that I was also awarded best in show, the same image out shone every other image submitted, I won tow framed prints of the photo an award plaque and free membership for next year. I cannot remember if I mentioned of not but recently I also won the shield for digital images in at Wincanton club in the UK (of which I am still a member). So all in all a pretty good season for me on the photographic front!

What a difference a year makes! Here's the image I took
 yesterday and below how it looked last year

Praying for Time...It ran out and those lovely doors
are now long gone

Breeze and Wilson performing on Thursday night

Still Here...Just Been Busy!

Apologies for the lack of updates, life/home improvements seem to have been getting in the way of my cyber life! Robert has now finally finished painting the back deck and now has me constantly nagging him to get the front one done. I can safely say that deck painting is officially his most loathed task!

We have put up a shelf up in the laundry room, finished boxing in the bottom of the brick faux chimney wall in the family room, made and easy access panel for turning off the water and kept on top of the weeding and grass cutting...which in itself is quite an achievement. I seeded one of the bald patches out the back and thanks to all the rain we have had this week, it is coming on quite nicely. Now I just need some more for the other larger patch where the kiddies play swing used to be.

The cats are moulting like crazy right now which has heightened my OCD cleaning to insane levels. I feel like I am constantly on fluff patrol. If Robert puts any piece of clothing down for more than 5 minutes it gets washed, as does the kitchen floor randomly every few days.

I feel utterly exhausted. Things are pretty chaotic at work right now, and I feel this obsessive cleaning and tidying is definitely due in part to that and that I need to keep control somewhere.

The mixed weather has meant no photo outings, but next week things are looking up weather wise and socially, so hopefully I should have more to chunter on about.

Big Brother started in the UK...OMG I am loving it of course. I have always and will always be a Big Brother Uber Fan! They have certainly picked well again this year, there are some pretty nasty individuals in there and a couple of (genuine winners in my book). Lets hope good triumphs over evil.

Before I go I would like to wish my dad a Happy Fathers Day!!!!

And finally...I will leave you with a panoramic photo taken on my phone of the back garden...Deck was still in progress then, so things are a bit scattered on it. And some more flower pics taken at the Tangled Garden a couple of weeks ago.

Our Back Yard....Click to view Larger

Muscari...Love these photogenic flowers

Tulip Dream...Some of mine are still in bloom

Gifts and Finally Some Photography

What a week, so busy, mostly because I have now become OCD about keeping my house looking so clean and immaculate, I am actually driving myself slightly mad. Time was up until recently that work was my OCD place, but now that has switched over entirely. Every night I have been busy cleaning or tidying something that I have watched very little television...I know...Shocker! When Rob and I have finally sat down on our new comfy couch and chair, both of us have been so relaxed we have fallen asleep on them every night.
I think everyone who has been to the house now and tried the recliners are in awe of how damn comfy they are. Another note on house things, I didn't realise how much a dishwasher would change my life. Having never had one before, oh the joy of not washing up is just indescribable.

This week Pat our Realtor came round for a visit, she loved the way it looked with all our stuff in situ and also loved the sofa. She brought with her a huge gift basket of goodies, a very personal package, including a pouch and heavy duty tape measure for Rob, Cat treats, Various teas, a Coronation Street book, photo frame, an assortment of crackers and treats plus beer mugs and chocolates. I am pretty sure no Estate Agent in the UK would do that for a client! She also brought with her a handmade sign she had specially made for outside our front door, that says Welcome to the White's...How adorable. Here I think a Realtor is a friend for life not just a business transaction, assuming of course you get a good one.

The long Winter has taken a toll on both our front and back decks, Rob has been busy replacing damaged boards and has now started re staining the back, it looks so good, he is about half way across the back...and that's a lot of deck. We have also just started to put some grass seed down on some bald patches at the back to see if they will fill in. Other than the grass ad the deck, the garden is looking pretty amazing. The previous owners left a load of plants in the planters and borders that have all sprung up since we have finally had some sunny weather, our little herb garden is superb too, the chives and mint are looking and smelling fabulous. Our next door neighbour keeps chatting to Rob (the official gardener now) about things he should and  shouldn't be doing in the garden i.e when he should prune or not prune etc. Rob says he feels like he should have a note pad on him at all times now to take down notes. Anyway he (the neighbour) is going to give us some tomato plants for our vegetable patch and if we play our cards right we might be able to bag some seeds off Anne as well as she said she has some extras. Rob wants to grown corn on the cob...I think he is possibly running before walking, but we'll see.

This weekend Rachael and I headed off to Grand Pre to check out the latest art installation and wander round The Tangled Garden. It was beautifully hot and sunny that I even got a little burned. Below are some photos from that outing as well as a couple of shots from inside the house and our gifts.

Thank you to all of you that sent New Home cards, so sweet and appreciated, they are all displayed in the family room. My friend Lisa asked me if we left the deer behind, sadly we did, but we have inadvertently stumbled into the Raccoon Suburbs now. Rob and I were sat in the front room two nights ago it was dusk and we still had the curtains open, when the biggest, fattest Raccoon sauntered by the front window. He just looked like he was out for an evening stroll.

Apple Blossom Time in the Valley

'Off Key' This year's Art Installation by Nicole Evans
and Pat Farrell 

I am always blown away by the vivid Spring Greens at
 this time of year

Part of our 'Formal Living Room' - Sofa out of view,
double doors lead through to our
den/family room/other living room

Our bedroom, so big that I simply couldn't get it all in frame.
It has two full size windows, his and hers built-in
wardrobes, a door leads out to the deck at the back
and of course 50" of pure pleasure
in the form of my TV hanging on the wall

Our cute little sign and gift basket from Pat