In memory

I am sad to tell you that my ALS pen pal from Victoria passed away December 23rd. Cathy was a fighter and a great help to me on my ALS journey.

Photos of her beautiful Oak Bay garden brought me joy every Spring.

My condolences to her sons, loved ones, friends and PLM family who will all miss her strong presence and sense of humour.

ALS continues to take good people. Over 1000 Canadians die every year from ALS. WE NEED TO FIND A CURE.

Baby food again

My neighbour, Sharon, picked up a babycook for me while working at Williams-Sonoma over the holidays.

It will be perfect for steaming and pureeing vegetables or fruit as my swallowing gets difficult. You can even put meat in it, but I'm not keen on mushed meat! How about you??

Listen to the falling rain

The rain beads on the window like a falling spray of silver fireworks. Wind comes in gusts and I hear various movements of a choppy symphony.

Yes, I love the rain. The photo is the picture I saw on my window glass last evening. Tonight I will snuggle beneath my comforter as the rain beats down and I'll hope for a wind from the east so once again the rain will entertain me and lull me into dreamland.

Happy New Year

Vancouver skyline in Coal Harbor

Flags on Granville

South Granville has been decked out with all the flags of countries participating in the Olympics.

They are painted on the sidewalks from the Granville Bridge to 16th and several east on Broadway.
I could not identify many of them so had to refer to a page in the Sun newspaper. The ones posted here are Great Britain, Israel and Venezuela. There are 80 flags in all and I challenge you to take the walk and identify 20 of them. I failed the test.

Every day

Gene Autry was my childhood hero

Click here for song


Composed by Benjamin Hanby

Up On The Housetop 1952

Ho, Ho, Ho! Ho, Ho, Ho!
Up on the housetop, Ho, Ho, Ho!

Up on the housetop, reindeer pause
Out jumps good ol' Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joys
Ho, Ho, Ho! Oh Who wouldn't go?
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick

First comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa, fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that will open and shut her eyes
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick

Look in the stocking of little Will
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
His is a hammer and lots of tacks
Also a ball and a whip that cracks
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick

Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick

Some things I notice while in my wheel chair

I notice cross walk buttons--are they low enough for me to reach? Is the curb too close to safely get into

position?

I find free samples in low places--the upright shoppers don't notice them--more for me.

I always stop at every flower display I can find. I'm sitting in a comfy chair so can take time to marvel at their beauty.

Roots--I now notice them for 2 reasons. One, I have to be careful not to drive over them and second, they are closer to me. I often stop alongside these twisting, gnarly sidewalk creatures to let people pass by. The bark, moss, formation, color--it's all about survival, which I understand well.

Ahh, the magic button. It still amazes me how few there are.

Pretty things on the lowest tier. How much we miss scurrying by in an upright position.

Parking metres are at eye level. Perhaps I will become the street "Good Samaritan" by popping a quarter into all those expired metres.

The street flags are wonderful--a little perk from our tax accounts. In a sitting position I look skyward while waiting for the walk signal.

And so you see--there are benefits from being chair bound.

Josh the Christmas Cat

Josh, along with his buddies Dougal and Hamish live in British Properties.

They want to wish everyone from near and far a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Click on this link to listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAFBbT_XhjE&feature=related

Watch me. It's a miracle!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/ApV83UlXqtJDIkVR

Click on link above. Please be patient and let it load.

Christmas 1947

Some children don't like Santa--I was one of them. The photo was taken in the old Woodward's department store on Hastings.
The store has been torn down and new condos, a downtown university, and Nester's groceries are in its' place.
I always remember my childhood visits to Woodward's. The windows were filled with animated reindeer, elves and Santa. Children pressed their noses against the glass to get a closer look. It was magic.

Click on picture for a close-up view of my angry face.

Yummy!

OATMEAL CRANBERRY WHITE
CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 6-ounce package Ocean Spray® Craisins® Original Dried Cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Carol Ships in Vancouver

So true