Distracted

The last few weeks I have been too distracted to post. Here is the reason why ... the sunshine of my heart, Zoe.

Owlets

Owlets - that's what they are called right?  This family of owls is living in the trees near our community garden plot.  They are very cute.

Train Pull

Every year the Sunshine Foundation has a CN train pull. Teams of 20 people, from organizations in London, compete to see who can pull the train the furthest. 

Chocolate vine

This is a chocolate vine that we planted in our front yard .... I would guess about 7-8 years ago.  It bloomed for the first time last year .... just a couple of flowers, but this year it has gone crazy!  The flowers are funny - one larger bloom, then behind that a cluster of smaller - I am thinking some sort of hermaphroditic male/female thing? 

Reenactors

Every year on the first weekend in May

there is a reenactment of the Battle of Longwoods near London.  I found it really interesting and I was amazed at the level of authenticity among the participants.

Magnolias

The magnolia trees in London have been coming on strong for a week now.  I wish I had the space for one of these beauties in my garden.

tulips

these photos are not enhanced ... the colour of these tulips simply amazes me every year when they open up in my garden

Clouds

A thunderstorm was traveling north of London last evening as the sun was going down and made for some interesting skyscapes.

Greenhouse Tour

Thanks Rob, for giving me a nudge.  Been under the weather, and not liking the weather, and itching to get some photos that are green not winter grey.  Anyhow, I went to tour the Civic Gardens this weekend and here are a few shots.

The range of colours of the coleus were amazing.  As we have a semi shade garden, I think I will try and grab some of these come planting time.

Spring flowers .... again

After the snow and cold temps last week I wasn't certain my little beauties would survive ... but a couple of nice days and they are in their full glory again.

Railways

London is a railway town.  We are all too aware of the CN and CP lines which run right through the middle of town, but there is a third line that I did not know the history of.

This graffiti/art is on the side of a building not far from where we live in lovely SoHo.  I recently discovered that this building (which is now John's Fruits) was once the London Port Stanley Railway station!

The building sides on the river.  I was very brave and walked out on the bridge!  I am slowly trying to get over my fear of heights.

Here it is from the other side of the river.  I always called it the Led Zeppelin bridge, but now we know it is the LPSR bridge.  Perhaps as part of the SoHo rejuvenation project they could revive the line and we could take the train to Lake Erie!

It must be spring ...

look who we found on our walk this morning.

Carved tree

I thought I had seen all the carved trees in London, but I found another one yesterday morning when we went to the Western Fair Farmer's Market!  

Drive by shooting in Toronto

Zoomed in and out of Toronto last Saturday for my niece Emily's studio open house.  Didn't take many shots but got these as I hung out the window of the van.

Someone should tell them this building is falling over and may wipe out downtown

Spring is here!

Not the best photos, but look what I found in my garden on Tuesday when I got home from work! Every day I see more plants peaking through the ground.

Look up, look way up

After going to the yard waste depot (I'm not bragging, but it was a gorgeous day here in SWO), John and I stopped at Zubick's scrap metal so that I could get some shots of these fantastic sculptures. 

Road Trip to Arenal

Watching Wheel of Fortune the other night, a contestant won a trip to Aye-ray-nul in Costa Rica.  Took me a few seconds, but I suddenly realized hey!  I've been there ... they mean Arenal!  Above is a shot of the elusive volcano, taken from the main strip of Fortuna.

Lake Arenal is a world famous wind-surfing destination.  To get to the volcano from Joellen's house you have to drive almost all the way around this lake.  The views are spectacular!
This visit we stayed in a hotel on the strip.  It was actually very nice, our rooms faced inward, onto the hotel courtyard. Breakfast was included at this great restaurant up the road (see my coffee blog).
Fortuna is a small town at the foot of the volcano - not sure I would buy a house there - after all it is a live volcano.  As you can see it is a tourist destination.

Here is John, captain of the trusty Trooper .... at least it was trusty this trip thank goodness!