More Flowers

   And I promise (I think) that this will be the last post on the topic of gardening. at least  until next year. Followers will know my wife is a gardening enthusiast, who rightly takes a great deal of pride in her accomplishments. You will have seen previous posts about her garden this year, but what you did not see was probably her crowning glory: Her lilies.

   Those are her Tango Lilies, and if they look a little bedraggled, I can explain why. She asked me to bring some in to the office for a co-worker last week, which I did. And they lasted a good long time. In fact, there were 2 new blooms just coming out as of Monday. This same co-worker wanted pictures of her other lilies as well:

   Sorry, I have no idea what variety they are, but they sure look good! In fact, I'm thinking of entering next year's garden in the Yorkton in Bloom competition, even though she says "wait another year". We'll see, even though she's already started planning for 2017.

TTFN

Another Smashing Success

   The Secret Gardens Tour 2016 was a big hit with my wife and her friend this past weekend. I'm not "in" to gardening, but even I was impressed with some of them. I've posted a few pictures from the weekend, but (needless to say) won't post them all.
   The very first garden we saw rated the highest possible praise from my wife and her friend Shannon. "Shut Up!" I don't know (or care to) where they got that, but it's the highest they offer. I've included 2 shots of that garden.

   The next couple are in Wascana View, a ritzy area of Regina. They had a fireplace in their yard, and one helluva great view.

    I've also included a few random shots of other gardens.

   Finally, our "passport", which you get stamped at each venue. They had 19 stops to celebrate their 19th year as a fundraiser for a dance academy. We got to 16 of them, and skipped the 3 commercial ones. Not a bad day's work!

    Not only is my wife looking forward to next year's tour, but she's already got some ideas from this years to incorporate in her garden.

TTFN

A Big Day For My Wife

   Tomorrow is one of the marquee days of the year for my wife. It's the annual Secret Gardens Tour in Regina, and this year is one of the biggest ever. They've got 16 gardens people are opening up to the public as a fundraiser for a dance academy, with one north of the Queen City. Will we get to them all? No. so we're going to have to pick and choose carefully.
   We'll be picking up one of her friends, and in addition to being chauffeur, I'll likely spring for lunch.
   While it's true I'm not a huge fan of gardens or gardening, my wife is. And I don't really mind it, either. Pictures next week.

TTFN

How Does Her Garden Grow?

   Anyone who's followed this blog will know my wife is a huge gardening fan, and comes up with some great gardens for our home. She also looks forward every year to the Secret Garden Tour, put on as a fundraiser by a Regina dance academy.
   Quite often she'll get ideas for her own garden, and incorporate them the following year. This is the 3rd year we've had our home in Yorkton, and here's a few samples of what she's done for 2016.
   No, I do not know the names of the plants:

   Again, the garden tour is next Saturday, and I'll likely post something the week after.

TTFN

Happy 4th

   To my American viewers: A Happy Independence Day! I hope you all have a glorious 4th!

TTFN

Happy Canada Day

   Tomorrow will mark the 149th anniversary of Canada getting dominion over it's own affairs from England. It used to be called "Dominion Day" in recognition of that event, but it was changed years ago to "Canada Day".
   But whatever you call it, there will be plenty of parties across this land celebrating, with music and (of course) firework displays.
   And since it is recognized as a statutory holiday, I will not be in the office this Friday, July 1. I actually get the long weekend, and will be back at it July 4th, which is Independence Day in the U.S.

TTFN

More Musical Moments

   I've had this finger piano for quite a few years now. I bought if from an African import store when we lived in Regina. Sadly, they closed several years ago, but not before we made several purchases there.
   Basically, it's just some steel flattened at one end, with a different pitch for each. The bottle caps were added (I'm guessing here) to add a reverb to the sound. I brought it in to work today after talking with some of my co-workers about music and instruments.
   Can I play it? Lets just say I can make noises on it, but nothing identifiable as a tune.
   And during the search for it yesterday, it occurred to me that I actually have quite a few musical instruments crammed into my man-room.
   In addition to the finger piano, there's my kiddie bagpipes, 3 guitars, my didgeridoo and a set of African bongo drums. The guitars are about the only instrument I can actually play, albeit poorly.
   The question begs to be asked: If I can barely play an instrument, why buy it at all? In the case of the guitars, I blogged a while back that I could actually play some 3 decades ago, and can still do so to a limited degree now. The didgeridoo I bought 'cause I liked it. And I learned how to play it, to a minimal skill, in 6 weeks ahead of Halloween a few years back. The bagpipes I got for Robbie Burns Day, and truthfully, I don't think I'll ever get more than squeaking noises from them. The finger (or more properly thumb) piano I got, again, 'cause I liked it. Same with the African drums. No other reasons than these.

TTFN