Stay healthy!

It was a chilly walk this morning with the wind blowing me sideways as I increased my pace to keep warm. I passed three people in 35 minutes with the exception of customers already lined up at No Frills grocery store. A flicker was madly hammering on the top of a metal street light, squirrels scampered across the roads...seemingly aware of less traffic. I was showered in pink blossoms as the wind whipped through overhead branches.

My fitbit gives me happy results when I finish my walks. There is no need to wait for traffic lights or to worry about jaywalking. The world is quiet...in recovery...taking a deep breath...preparing for the challenge ahead when we mingle again. Meanwhile...STAY HEALTHY!

Thinking of our family on Vancouver Island and sending our love!

Also...take a couple of minutes to support our essential service and health care workers 

at 7:00pm each night. Stand outside and cheer, clap or bang a pot!!

Stay home and stay safe!

It is so challenging to describe these dystopian days. Every morning I go for a walk around the city of Langley. If I pass someone, one of us makes a wide detour around the other to ensure a safe distance. Playgrounds are closed with equipment wrapped in yellow tape. Tennis courts and pickle ball courts are empty. Shops and businesses are closed. It is a ghost town.

Grocery stores and pharmacies are taking extra precautions for customers and staff to ensure a safe distance. I cannot offer to drive an aging friend to the store for groceries because we would be too close to each other in the car...but I can offer to bring groceries to her door.

Every day we watch BC-1 at 3:00pm for an update from the Provincial Health Officer. The numbers of positive infections continues to climb in BC with Care Facilities under siege from this virus. As we are in the vulnerable age group for a more serious complication from the virus we are taking every precaution to keep safe and healthy.

I am so grateful for the ability to keep in touch with family and friends around the globe in England, Greece, Finland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Netherlands, Turkey, Thailand, Japan, India, Mexico, USA and across Canada. We share stories and memories, humorous videos, songs, photos and updates. Everyone is finding new ways to self entertain and survive. There are knitters, painters, writers, singers, gardeners, cooks and good samaritans. Some are still able to work from home while others struggle.

At 7:00pm each night we stand on our balcony and join the neighborhood in paying tribute to our healthcare workers by creating discordant music with a variety of pots and pans. We are grateful to everyone who is putting themselves at risk to help the rest of us in this viral battle!

Stay home and stay safe!

What is wrong with people?

Our BC Health Minister must have heard me yesterday because the announcement today "ordered" all salons (including nail salons, hair salons and massage facilities) to close! Bravo!!

I took advantage of the "senior hour" this morning to shop for groceries at 7:00am. There were no line-ups but unfortunately the shelves have been decimated by hoarders. I managed to find most items on my list but there were no eggs and very few canned goods.

After shopping and breakfast we drove to Ralph's Produce to buy a supply of fruit and veggies. There were no eggs left on their shelves. Then we enjoyed a quiet walk around Derek Doubleday arboretum and revisited the beautiful benches that were created by Langley elementary school students.

Two of these tiled benches sit at the west end of Langley airport.

This is a great spot to rest while watching small aircraft take off and land.

Continuing on our walk we noticed that someone 

has been depositing small surprises at the base of trees.

The arboretum is a wonderful spot to enjoy a bit of exercise while still practicing "social distancing".

The pathways are wide and we seldom see more than 5-6 people on our perimeter walk.

Enroute home we noticed a line up of customers outside our local No Frills grocery store.

The store was obviously making an attempt to ensure that customers inside 

were able to safely distance themselves from each other and from the staff.

The customers outside were not making any attempt to keep a safe distance!

What is wrong with people?!!!

Daily walk observations

We are so thankful for the many park pathways near us.

Can someone explain how it is possible for a person to have their nails done 

while maintaining a distance of two meters?

All nail salons should be closed!

Langley City centre is a ghost town with only three shops open,

a couple of take-out restaurants and several nail salons.

I repeat...all nail salons should be closed!

I guess that it is okay to play tennis?...

...the opponent is usually many meters away!

Traffic is much lighter

so it is easier to jaywalk!

Nature

Nature is undeterred by Covid-19

Skunk cabbages bloom

ducks mate

squirrels forage

as spring arrives

The fender bender

It really was not my fault! I was taking my turn at an intersection where the traffic lights were not working as a result of high winds. All of the other cars stopped to let me proceed...except the driver who did not stop!

In hindsight it could have been much worse because I was making a left turn and he went straight through the intersection scraping the passenger side of his car along the front of my vehicle as I attempted to stop. If I had been further into my turn he would have t-boned the driver side!! He acknowledged to me that he was at fault. Now we wait to see if he reports honestly to ICBC and whether ICBC thinks that our 10 year old vehicle is worth repairing! This morning we took the car to an auto body shop for assessment and they will send their estimate to ICBC.

Take deep breaths

In these chaotic days it is important to take deep breaths and remember our loved ones!

With the sun shining again today we decided to share lunch on our small balcony. The sun seeped into our souls, the birds sang, the squirrels scampered and we felt thankful for our family and friends. There is no way to know what lies ahead. Self isolation doesn't mean being deprived...it means being thoughtful and protective of ourselves and those in our community. The only thing that we can do is enjoy the time that we have...go for walks, read good books, play games, stay in touch with loved ones.

Evening light

Evening light in the studio...

...after a gorgeous day!

Trip cancellation

Sadly, we have cancelled our May trip to Greece. The risks are too great for John, during this Coronavirus epidemic, to tackle crowded airports, airplanes and transit systems. His immune system has been compromised since being hospitalized with a respiratory virus last summer. We feel more able to deal with any potential illness at home in Canada.

Meanwhile life goes on. It is a gorgeous sunny day with the aroma of spring in the air...daffodils are popping open in the garden, birds are nesting and it is time for an afternoon cup of tea!

This is my latest painting...

...with a definite look of concern on her face!

Kalo mina everyone!

(Good month)

Last night we attended our son's engagement party onboard a river paddleboat 

that set sail from a dock in New Westminster.

We were onboard for three hours of very loud music with a great group of their friends.

It was fun for the younger crowd and ear splitting for the geriatrics.

We watched and listened, conversed and laughed...in a totally different venue.

Passing under the Port Mann Bridge.