Blog | laura bachynski

3 Nature’s Quilt

March 3, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Walkway THIS IS THE SIGHT THAT GREETED ME AS I HEADED OUT TO OUR GARAGE THIS MORNING. IT WAS ALMOST TOO PRETTY TO STEP UPON.

IT GOT ME THINKING . WHAT STEPS WILL I TAKE TO MAKE TODAY A GREAT ONE? LIFE IS SUCH A PATCHWORK OF OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME , DECISIONS TO MAKE (SOME CLEAR AS BLACK AND WHITE, SOME IN THE GREY ZONE) , AND PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE WILL INTERACT.

INTER. ACT. I HOPE THAT MY INNER THOUGHTS WILL LEAD TO MANY ACTS OF KINDNESS ON MY LENTEN JOURNEY.

SO OF COURSE I DID STEP ON THIS PATHWAY. I ENTERED THE COLD BUT WITH WARM THOUGHTS OF GRATITUDE FOR THE CHANCE TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY , ANOTHER CHANCE TO BE KIND , ANOTHER CHANCE TO STEP OUT OF MYSELF AND GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN I USUALLY DO. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS FOR WHICH I AM THANKFUL.

AND YOU, DEAR READER, ARE INCLUDED !

0 You Say

March 1, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

IT IS YOUR CLASSIC SLATE SKY, COLD WINTER DAY TODAY. THE OLD SNOW ON THE SIDES OF THE ROADS IS GREY NOW AND WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ABOUT, THE CARS ARE DULL WITH DIRT AND GRIME.

I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY AFFECTED IN A NEGATIVE WAY BY DAYS LIKE TODAY. THEY NEED MORE SUN TO FEEL UP AND IT CAN DRASTICALLY AFFECT THEIR MOOD ON A DAILY BASIS.

MAYBE YOU KNOW SOMEONE LIKE THIS . MAYBE YOU ARE THAT PERSON.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO ? BESIDES THE PERHAPS OBVIOUS DECISIONS TO SIT UNDER LAMPS OR TAKE MORE VITAMIN D … I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT GOOD THINGS.

I MIGHT TAKE THE TIME ON A SATURDAY LIKE TODAY TO READ A GOOD BOOK WITH A NICE CUP OF TEA. I MIGHT TRY CHATTING WITH A GOOD FRIEND ..LIKE I DID TODAY. ( THANKS , JANE.)

DO YOU HAVE A HOBBY? TODAY I WORKED ON MY PYSANKY. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? THIS IS THE ART OF DECORATING BLOWN EGGS WITH DYES UNTIL YOU HAVE A FINISHED ‘UKRAINIAN’ EGG COVERED WITH WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM . THIS DETAILED WORK MAKES ME FEEL RELAXED AND GIVES ME A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THIS DARK BUT HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

I WILL POST SOME PHOTOS OF MY WORK AT A LATER DATE.

DO YOU FEEL LOST WHEN THE WINTER DAYS SEEM ENDLESS ? ( I HAVE THE BLESSING OF ESCAPING WINTER NOW . I AM PRETTY SURE I AM OFFICIALLY IN THE SNOWBIRD CLUB BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN TAKE THE TIME OR HAVE THE MEANS TO DO THIS I KNOW.)

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A SONG BY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ARTISTS, LAUREN DAIGLE . ENJOY !

0 The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far….

February 29, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

MY PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS INSPIRED ME AND MY SIBLINGS TO BE CREATIVE AND THEY CERTAINLY PASSED ON THE GENES.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THEM TODAY AND HOW BLESSED I AM ( WE ARE) TO HAVE THEM ALIVE AND WELL INTO THEIR MID EIGHTIES.

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG MY MUM DABBLED IN OILS AND MY DAD WAS KNOWN TO DO THE OCCASIONAL RUG HOOKING ! MY MUM PLAYS THE PIANO BY EAR AND MY DAD WAS IN AN AWARD WINNING CHOIR AS A BOY IN ENGLAND. THEY STILL SING IN THEIR CHOIR AT CHURCH.

I ALSO REMEMBER THEM TAKING A FEW ART CLASSES WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN. I REMEMBER THINKING THAT WAS SO COOL. SEVERAL YEARS AGO MY PARENTS CAME TO VISIT US HERE IN EDMONTON ( THEY LIVE IN ONTARIO) AND TERRY AND I TOOK THEM TO THE STUDIO WITH US ON A FRIDAY TO PAINT. (WE USUALLY PAINT AT THE MARIAN CENTRE DOWNTOWN ON FRIDAYS) . MUM WAS EXCITED TO GIVE IT A GO BUT DAD WAS NERVOUS ABOUT IT PARTLY BECAUSE HE SAID THAT HE IS COLOUR BLIND.

BUT THEY SEEMED TO GET INSPIRED THAT DAY AND DURING THE WEEK I GAVE DAD A COUPLE OF WEE LESSONS AND TOLD HIM THAT BEING COLOUR BLIND CAN ACTUALLY BE AN ADVANTAGE BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT STUCK IN THE RUT OF ‘THE SKY MUST BE BLUE’ . IT CAN BE A MATTER OF TONES , LIGHTS , AND DARKS AND HE DID A GREAT JOB!

NOWADAYS MY DAD PAINTS AT LEAST 2 TIMES A DAY . AND HE LOVES IT ! HE USED TO FRAME ALL OF HIS WORK BUT THEY WERE RUNNING OUT OF STORAGE SPACE SO NOW HE PUTS HIS ACRYLIC ON CANVAS PAPER PAINTINGS IN PORTFOLIO SLEEVES. I HAVE ATTACHED A COUPLE OF SAMPLES OF HIS WORK.

MY MUM IS MORE INTO WORKING ON PUZZLES THESE DAYS BUT SHE IS NOT ONLY A VERY GOOD PAINTER BUT A WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPHER AS WELL. SHE HAS A GREAT EYE AND I RECENTLY RECEIVED 2 OF HER PIECES WHICH I IMMEDIATELY FRAMED AND HUNG UP IN MY HOME ….AS SEEN IN ONE OF THE PHOTOS ABOVE.

EVERY MAY WHEN I FLY HOME THE WHOLE FAMILY ( MY PARENTS, MYSELF, TERRY, ANY SISTERS THAT ARE AROUND, EVEN MY NEICE ) USUALLY HAVE A PAINTING DAY.

WE ALL GIVE MUCH OF OUR WORK TO CHARITY TOO SO IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR ALL OF US.

I LOVE MY PARENTS SO MUCH. THEY ARE THE NICEST, MOST GIVING, MOST FUN PEOPLE …AND AS YOU CAN SEE…ALSO VERY TALENTED.

0 Ash Wednesday

February 27, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Laura with ashes

Terry and Jazz with ashes

Rehearsing for masses

YESTERDAY WAS ASH WEDNESDAY AND MARKED THE START OF THE 40 DAYS OF LENT.

LENT ACTUALLY BEGINS 46 DAYS BEFORE EASTER (THIS YEAR APRIL 12, 2020) BUT IS ONLY OBSERVED MONDAY TO SATURDAY AS SUNDAY IS VIEWED AS OUR CELEBRATION DAY. THEREFORE, LENT IS OBSERVED FOR 40 DAYS.

SO WHAT IS LENT ALL ABOUT ?

WELL THE HISTORICAL RESPONSE IS THAT FOR ABOUT 12 HUNDRED YEARS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS APPROACHED THEIR ALTARS ON THE ‘ DIES CINERUM ‘ , THE DAY OF ASHES , TO RECEIVE THE ASHES ON THEIR FOREHEADS. THE ASHES ARE ( STILL !) MADE FROM THE BURNT PALMS THAT WERE BLESSED ON ‘PALM SUNDAY’ OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THESE ASHES ARE SPRINKLED WITH HOLY WATER, AND BLESSED WITH PRAYER AND INCENSE.

THE BIBLICAL RESPONSE MIGHT BE THAT THERE ARE OVER 40 PLACES IN THE BIBLE THAT MENTION AND ASSOCIATE ASHES WITH MOURNING AND GRIEF. SOME FOLKS WOULD ROLL AROUND IN THEM , OR PUT THEM ON THEIR HEADS OR EVEN PUT THEM IN THEIR FOOD! THEY DID THIS AS A SIGN OF THEIR REPENTANCE.

THE RESPONSE I CAN RELATE TO THE MOST IS THAT I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER. ASH WEDNESDAY REMINDS ME THAT I AM ‘ ONLY DUST AND TO DUST I WILL RETURN’ . I AM NOTHING WITHOUT MY GOD WHO GAVE ME LIFE. DURING THE SEASON OF LENT I LIKE TO TRY AND GET CLOSER TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER , FASTING , AND ACTS OF KINDNESS. DURING THIS MONTH WE PREPARE FOR SOMETHING CALLED ‘ HOLY WEEK’ WHICH REMEMBERS THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

GOD IS AMAZING! HE LOVES US . HE IS THERE FOR US AND HE FORGIVES US TOO.

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EXPRESSIONS I RECENTLY HEARD IS : ” GOD KICKS ASH ! ” HA HA.

0 Promoting Peace

February 25, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

WE PASSED THIS INCREDIBLE YARD ON THE WAY OUT OF TOWN ON SUNDAY. IT WAS THE BLAST OF COLOUR IN THE DESERT THAT CAUGHT MY EYE.

UPON CLOSER INSPECTION IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE PROPRIETOR WANTED TO PROMOTE LOVE , LAUGHTER AND ART ! I DID LAUGH AT ALL THE CRAZY VIGNETTES SET UP IN EVERY PATCH OF WHAT WAS ONCE PERHAPS A LAWN.

THERE WERE BABY DOLLS LEANING ON ONE ANOTHER , A PINK TELEVISION SET , PLASTIC ‘WISEMEN’ INTERSPERSED WITH PLANTS AND PLACARDS.

AND EVEN WITH THE OWNERS’ PROMOTION OF PEACE THERE WAS A POLITICAL STATEMENT OR TWO. HA HA.

I TRY NOT TO LOOK AT THE POLITICAL NEWS IN THE STATES BECAUSE I FIND IT DISTURBING BUT I ONLY HAVE TO READ OUR CANADIAN PAPERS ABOUT OUR POLITICIANS TO READ NEWS JUST AS CRAZY IN MANY WAYS. WE SEEM TO BE LIVING IN A TIME OF VOLATILE ANGER …. THE PEOPLE MAD AT THEIR POLITICIANS, THE POLITICAL LEADERS ACTING LIKE DICTATORS, AND NEIGHBOURS MAKING MORE EYE CONTACT WITH THEIR PHONES THAN WITH EACH OTHER.

TODAY LET US MAKE A TINY EFFORT TO BE KIND. LET’S LOOK UP AND SMILE AT SOMEONE. LET’S DO AN ACT OF KINDNESS. LET’S CHANNEL PEACE TODAY IN THE WAY WE LIVE….

0 La Quinta

February 23, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

New song soon

Enjoying our back yard

Funny name!

Car booths !

Detail

Giant Big Boy

Typical street name

La Quinta

Beautiful Mountains

Stairs

Giant Road Runner

My Guy.

OUR TIME IN CALIFORNIA IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE SO WE ARE MAKING THE MOST OF EXPLORING THE AREAS NEAR PALM SPRINGS.

AS PER USUAL I WORKED OUT IN THE POOL (I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE FOUND THIS GREAT VRBO) WHILE TERRY WENT TO THE NEARBY GYM. I THINK TODAY WAS THE WARMEST DAY YET SO THE WATER FELT WONDERFUL. THEN I WORKED ON MY MUSIC AND I COULDN’T PLAY FOR VERY LONG WHICH TELLS ME I HAVEN’T BEEN REHEARSING ENOUGH. MY CALLOUSES WERE TOO SORE !

WE HAVE BEEN ON A ‘KETO’ TYPE DIET FOR THESE TWO WEEKS AND IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL ALTHOUGH TODAY I REALLY CRAVED BREAD. I LEARNED THAT I CANNOT LEAVE MY EATING UNTIL I AM STARVING HUNGRY BUT MUST ALWAYS LEARN TO SNACK ON HEALTHY FOODS TO FIND MY WAY THROUGH THIS. I DIDN’T ‘BLOW IT’ BUT JUST READING THE WORD ‘BISCUIT’ ON THE LUNCH MENU ALMOST HAD ME DROOLING IN PUBLIC…HA HA.

WE ATE NEAR A PLACE CALLED ‘RANCHO RELAXO’ . I THOUGHT THAT WAS A FUNNY TITLE. THERE IS A MASSIVE ANTIQUE MALL HERE WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH PACKING ANYTHING BREAKABLE WHEN WE GO HOME.

THEN OFF TO EXPLORE THE CITY OF LA QUINTA WHICH HAS A MEXICAN FEEL TO IT. VERY PRETTY…LOTS OF FLOWERS AND TILE WORK ON THE BUILDINGS.

TOMORROW WE FLY HOME. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THIS PART OF THE WORLD AND VISIT WITH OUR DAUGHTER, LANA. BUT I AM EXCITED TO GET HOME AND GET BACK TO WORK. I WILL TAKE THE WARM MEMORIES WITH ME TO GET THROUGH THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF COLD AND SNOW. I LIKE BEING A ‘SNOWBIRD’ !

0 Modernism Week

February 21, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Terry In front of the Modernism Week sculpture

CLEARLY , I AM NOT A VERY ‘ MODERN’ GIRL. THE HOME DESIGNS WERE NOT MY THING … VERY MINIMALIST . I PREFER MORE OF A MIX OF THIS AND COZY FURNITURE AND WARM COLLECTIONS OF ART AND OBJECTS. THESE SAMPLE PLACES FELT COLD AND SPARE TO ME … BUT I’M SURE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE WONDERFUL.

BUT , THAT SAID , I THOUGHT THE MODULAR HOME IDEA WOULD BE SO PERFECT TO HELP HOUSE THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITIES WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE HOMELESS. WE WALKED THROUGH A 400 SQ. FT. HOME THAT HAD ALL THE EXPECTED ROOMS … BEDROOM, KITCHEN, BATHROOM, LIVING ROOM, ETC. … CLEAN DESIGN AND PERFECT FOR SOMEONE WHO JUST NEEDS A PLACE TO REST THEIR HEAD AND THEIR BODY AND MAKE IT THEIR OWN.

I DO REALLY LOVE THE RETRO DESIGNS FOR CARDS THOUGH. I LOVE THE OLD HOLLYWOOD LOOK OF THE LETTERING AND COLOUR SCHEME.

I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED THIS (ALMOST) 2 WEEKS AT HOW PREVALENT THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY IS HERE. THE PRETTY RAINBOW FLAGS ARE EVERYWHERE …ON HOTELS, IN THE CROSSWALKS, SHOP WINDOWS … I AM NOT USED TO SEEING SO MANY SAME-SEX COUPLES OPENING WALKING AROUND HOLDING HANDS AND BEING AFFECTIONATE. IT’S GOOD TO HAVE A PLACE TO BE YOURSELF.

WE FIT INTO THE ‘OTHER’ COMMUNITY… HA HA.. OLD, SEMI-RETIRED, COUPLES , GOLFERS (TERRY), SNOWBIRDS.

AND THE CARS HERE ! I DON’T REMEMBER SEEING SO MANY MINT CONDITION CLASSIC CARS AND OF COURSE CONVERTIBLES . IF THE OLD STYLE CARS WERE BEATEN UP I’D HAVE A CORNUCOPIA OF IDEAS FOR MY FUTURE PAINTINGS !

SECOND LAST DAY HERE. I GUESS I BETTER GET GOING AND ENJOY IT…..

0 El Paseo, February 19th,2020

February 20, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

ALTHOUGH PALM SPRINGS IS DESERT COUNTRY THERE IS STILL A LOT OF COLOUR TO BE FOUND.

WE TRIED THE ‘RUGGED ROUTE’ THE OTHER DAY SO THIS TIME WE DECIDED TO CHECK OUT SOME ‘RETAIL THERAPY’ .

I FOUND OUT ABOUT EL PASEO ON LINE AND WE TOOK A DRIVE OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS OUT THERE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY ‘UP MARKET’ TYPE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE ( SAKS FIFTH AVENUE SORT OF STORES) AND THAT IS A LITTLE TOO PRICEY FOR MY TASTES. WE NERVOUSLY LAUGHED AS WE HEARD THIS MAN JOKINGLY CHASTISE HIS WIFE SAYING, ” OH NO, HONEY, I WANT YOU TO SPEND ANOTHER $600.00 ..I’M SURE YOU COULD GET IT UP TO $1,000 IF YOU TRIED HARD ENOUGH ” . ( YIKES ! I FEEL A FIGHT COMING ON!)

WE STUMBLED UPON A SECTION CALLED ” THE GARDENS ” AND IT WAS A PRETTY, INNER COURTYARD WITH TURQUOISE POOLS, FOUNTAINS, MANY CACTI , FLOWERS , AND STATUES INTERMINGLED HERE AND THERE. ( TERRY WAS A GOOD SPORT WHEN I ASKED HIM TO POSE WITH A STATUE BUT HE SAID ONE WAS HIS LIMIT …HA HA.)

LUCKILY , THERE WERE ALSO MANY SHADED AREAS TO SIT ( IT WAS 85 DEGEES) AND WE SOON FOUND A SPOT TO HAVE A COFFEE AND PLAY SCRABBLE . ( TERRY WON BUT I FOUGHT HARD TO STAY IN IT.)

THIS BREAK FROM WINTER HAS BEEN GOOD FOR MY SOUL ….AND MY JOINTS . BECAUSE WE ARE STAYING IN THIS INCREDIBLE VRBO WITH A PRIVATE POOL I AM ABLE TO WORK OUT ( AQUAFIT) EVERY DAY. THE SUN WARMS MY BODY AND I DON’T SEEM TO HURT AS MUCH HERE. BUT ALTHOUGH I DON’T MISS THE SNOW I MISS MY HOME SO MUCH. I MISS MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS BACK IN EDMONTON – ( MY AQUASIZE FRIENDS AND MY SISTER, MY DAUGHTER ESPECIALLY) ….. AND I MISS USING MY CREATIVE ABILITIES TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.

THIS YEAR I BROUGHT MY WEE TRAVEL GUITAR SO AT LEAST I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ‘KEEP UP THE CALLOUSES ” AND I EVEN WROTE A NEW SONG HERE. BUT THIS IS ANOTHER YEAR OF TRAVEL. THE TOUR CONTINUES A SHORT 3 WEEKS AFTER WE RETURN HOME. I’M NOT COMPLAINING. LIFE IS INCREDIBLE RIGHT NOW AND I AM AWARE OF MY MANY BLESSINGS.

BUT AS DOROTHY FAMOUSLY SAID, ” THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME. ”

1 Tahquitz Canyon Success

February 18, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

YESTERDAY TERRY AND I DECIDED TO CHECK OUT TAHQUITZ CANYON.

THE CANYON IS RIGHT NEAR OUR V.R.B.O. IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY AND IT HAS BEEN HOME TO THE CAHUILLA TRIBE OF NATIVE AMERICANS FOR AT LEAST 2,000 YEARS.

WE TOOK OUR WATER BOTTLES AND I GRABBED MY CANE INCASE OUR WALK AROUND THE CANYON HAD SOME UPHILL ELEVATION. LITTLE DID I IMAGINE WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO ACCOMPLISH /ENDURE FOR THE AFTERNOON.

WE SOON DISCOVERED AFTER WE PAID OUR ENTRANCE DUES AND ENTERED THE CANYON THAT THE SANDY PATH WAS INDEED AN UPHILL CLIMB… THE ENTIRE TRAIL IS A TWO MILE LOOP GAINING A TOTAL OF 350 FEET ELEVATION AND COVERED IN STONES, ROCKS AND ROCKY STEPS TO CLIMB .

WE CONSIDERED OUR OPTIONS ( TURNING BACK OR TAKING OUR TIME AND FORGING ON) AND WE DECIDED ON THE SECOND ONE. I WOULD GO SLOWLY AND IF I FELT I WAS ‘DONE’ THEN WE WOULD JUST STOP. THE TRAIL BECAME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT AS WE CONTINUED. I FOOLISHLY THOUGHT THAT THE PATH WOULD BE MOSTLY ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE I SAW HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS OUTSIDE THE INTERPRETIVE CENTRE . BUT THIS WAS NOT ACTUALLY THE CASE.

TERRY HAD TO CONSTANTLY GO AHEAD OF ME TO GIVE ME HIS HAND AS I MANEUVERED ROCKY STAIR AFTER STAIR AFTER STAIR. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T KNOW ME…MY KNEE CAPS ARE ‘BONE ON BONE’ SO THIS WAS LITERALLY A ‘GRIND’ FOR ME.

I NEVER CONSIDERED HOW HOT IT WOULD BE EITHER. OF COURSE I KNEW WE WERE IN THE DESERT BUT EVEN STOPPING TO REST MEANT SITTING IN THE GLARING SUN . THIS PROVIDED LITTLE RELIEF. THE VIEWS WERE AMAZING THOUGH. WE SAW A SNAKE ON THE PATH AND TERRY SAW A COOL GECKO. THE PHOTOS DON’T ACCURATELY REFLECT HOW MASSIVE THE ROCKS WERE THAT WE PASSED. THE WILDFLOWERS WERE BEAUTIFUL AND SO WERE THE MOUNTAIN AND STREAMS.

FINALLY , JUST OVER HALF OF THE WAY TO THE TOP WHERE WE WERE TO REACH A WATERFALL WE CAME UPON A SHADY SPOT WITH A SLIGHT BREEZE AND A ROCK TO REST UPON. I TOLD TERRY THAT I WOULD BE FOOLISH TO CONTINUE AS I STILL HAD TO CLIMB ALMOST A MILE BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN BUT THAT HE SHOULD CONTINUE ON AND TAKE PHOTOS OF THE WATERFALL. HE AGREED AND OFF HE WENT. ( THERE IS AN ATTACHED PHOTO OF TERRY POINTING AT OUR MAP WHICH SHOWS EXACTLY WHERE I HAD TO STOP ON THE JOURNEY UPWARDS. THE STARTING POINT BEING THE BOTTOM LEFT. )

I MUST ADMIT THAT I HAD A LITTLE CRY. AT FIRST I FELT SO SORE, SO TIRED , SO UPSET THAT I HAD COME ALL THAT WAY AND COULDN’T FINISH THE ‘JOB’.

BUT THEN I REALIZED THAT I ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED SOME GREAT THINGS TOO! 2 SUMMERS AGO I HAD MY FOOT AND ANKLE COMPLETELY REBUILT AND WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR. WITH TERRY’S HELP THIS YEAR… I JUST MANAGED A HUGE CLIMB AND HIKE THROUGH ROCKY TERRAIN! AND THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW AMAZING THIS IS ( MY HIPS ARE REPLACED AND I WILL NEED KNEE REPLACEMENTS…) I FELT REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF.

AND .. TERRY DID BRING BACK PHOTOS OF THE WATERFALL ,HE TOLD ME THE CLIMB GOT EVEN WORSE FOR BIGGER ROCK STEPS, AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY I COULD HAVE MADE IT ANYWAY! I MADE IT ALL THE WAY BACK WITH NO INJURIES TOO.

SO , YES! I WILL CALL MY TAHQUITZ CANYON HIKE A SUCCESS !

0 Orange in Orange

February 17, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Walkin’ around this cute town

Proud proprietor

Hats !

So nice to see flowers in February

I like this shop front

Our destination

Oh boy !

Amazing lunch

WE HAD A LOVELY DAY YESTERDAY IN THE SWEET TOWN OF ” ORANGE ” IN ORANGE COUNTY.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY ANTIQUE STORES IN ONE PLACE. I THINK AT LAST COUNT I SAW 7 WITH 2 FULL ANTIQUE MALLS AS WELL.

OUR DAUGHTER, LANA, HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN HERE WITH HER BOYFRIEND, JEFF, AND THOUGHT WE WOULD LOVE THE CUTE TOWN AND GREAT TEAHOUSE THERE. SHE WAS RIGHT ! ( MY BESTIE, BARB, WOULD UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY THAT IT WAS VERY MUCH LIKE ‘ ANNABELLE’S ‘ IN KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO.)

AFTER WALKING AROUND THE TOWN AND CHECKING OUT THE VARIOUS SHOPS ( TERRY SCORED A COUPLE OF NICE VINTAGE SKINNY TIES) WE ENDED UP IN THE PARISIAN THEMED TEAHOUSE , ” PARIS IN A CUP CAFÉ AND TEA SALON “ .

I LOVED THE DECOR AND WE DECIDED TO CHOOSE THE HIGH TEA OPTION CALLED “MARIE ANTOINETTE ” I BELIEVE. THE FINGER SANDWICHES WERE DELICIOUS. MY FAVOURITE WAS THE CHICKEN SALAD CROISSANT. OH! BEFORE THE TRAYS EVEN ARRIVED WE WERE GIVEN A CHOICE OF 3 HOMEMADE SOUPS …WHICH ARRIVED IN A CUP AND THERE WAS A VERY TASTY SALAD ON THE PLATE BESIDE IT AS WELL. I CHOSE THE BROCCOLI /CHEESE SOUP AND WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED .

I COULD ONLY FINISH ONE OF THE 2 WEE SCONES ( THAT INCLUDED HOMEMADE JAM, LEMON CURD AND/OR WHIPPED CREAM ) AND I COULDN’T EVEN THINK ABOUT DIVING INTO THE TOP TRAY OF DELECTABLE SWEETS LIKE A MINI CHEESECAKE AND LEMON TART…. ( BOXED UP FOR LATER OF COURSE… ;) )

AND OF COURSE WE EACH HAD OUR OWN POT OF TEA TO ACCOMPANY THIS WHOLE GUSTATORY ADVENTURE. ALL OF US HAVE BEEN ON ‘DIET TYPE’ EATING PROGRAMS SO WE DEFINITELY TOOK AN AFTERNOON OFF FOR THIS ADVENTURE.

GETTING TOGETHER WITH OUR FAMILY ALWAYS MEANS LOTS OF GREAT STORIES AND LAUGHS SO IT WAS TOUGH TO SAY OUR GOOD-BYES UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. AND BACK HOME IT IS FAMILY DAY. SO HAPPY FAMILY DAY TO OUR CANADIAN FRIENDS AND HAPPY PRESIDENT’S DAY TO OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS !

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