After several years of being in "off mode", I've decided to re-open my blog as it's a great way for me to recall dates and events, etc. If you're the first person who figures this out, please leave me a comment so I'll know if there was still any interest left in checking it out once in awhile.

Freedom 58.5

Well, today is the official date of my retirement from the Public Service after 37 years of full time work. I've spend the morning trying to think of what to say on my blog to mark this occasion and feel so many emotions. I've been dreaming of this day for years and today it doesn't feel like I thought it would. I have many fond memories of my time with the Department of Social Services for the Province of Nova Scotia as well as my time with the Department of Attorney General. In 1984, I left Nova Scotia for a job with Foreign Affairs in Ottawa. They came to Halifax to interview me, offered to pay my moving expenses to Ottawa - I was so excited! I was one of only ten people chosen out of over 1,000 job applicants so I made the move to Ottawa for a new career adventure. In some ways, it did not turn out to be as good a career decision as I had hoped but I did travel and I have met many wonderful people including Doug. I have also enjoyed 20 years of being actively involved with two public service unions (PSAC and CAPE), serving as an elected director on the National Executive of CAPE, being a member of the CAPE Collective Bargaining Team for negotiations of the past two collective agreements, serving on various committees and helping members handle stressful and unfair workplace situations. I now look forward to being able to move on to life's next adventures and carry forward the special memories of the past 37 years of my working life.

Perennial mums,asters and sedum are such a colour blast in the late autumn

Eastern White Pine gets ready for winter

The pine at the corner of our house lost numerous large branches during a week of freezing rain last Christmas so in preparation for the coming winter, a very large branch (12" diameter) hanging over the roof was removed today. Better safe than sorry.

Recycling

The other day, after a particularly heavy, blowing rain, I had to clean out my Squirrel Buster bird feeder as the seeds got wet, stuck together and got mouldy. Then I came up with this idea for Wylie's E-collar from his surgery. (E-collars are used on pets to stop them from licking wounds, stitches, etc.) The e-collar is now on the bird feeder and hopefully will help keep the rain and snow out of the feeder holes this winter. Is this worth patenting?

Splish, Splash, SPLURGE!

The new bird bath in our backyard weighs in at 250 pounds, is made from natural granite and will be enjoyed by all of the birds and animals who visit.

Winter is soon blowing in...

As summer winds down and gardening season is almost over, its time to take on a new winter project. I've signed up as a beginner with the New Horizons Band and all told, there are 32 adults all starting to play an instrument for the first time - should be fun!

History repeats itself...

In 1991, Doug bought our 1986 Chev Astro van from Harald, our neighbour, at the time. Harold had never driven it in the winter and since buying it, we have not driven it in the winter so it is virtually salt free. Today Doug sold the van, now 24 years old, back to Harald, who plans to do some work on it and go camping again in it. The mileage today when it went back to Harold was 179,000 kms. Good luck Harold and enjoy!

Good old-fashioned service - A scene from the past

Once or twice a year Carlo comes down our street with a little bell ringing (sounds like an ice-cream truck) and offers to sharpen tools, knives, etc. This time we were lucky - he came by as Doug was doing the lawn and our mulching mower (which hasn't been mulching all the well) got it's blade sharpened. What a difference it made too!

Monarch Butterfly Teachers Network Workshop 2010

I had the opportunity to attend a two day workshop offered by the Monarch Teachers Network where over 50 elementary school teachers attended as well as three gardeners, myself included. We had a great time learning how to raise Monarchs in captivity from a small egg on a milkweed leaf to a full adult butterfly. During the two day workshop we learned how to feed the adult Monarchs (and the caterpillars) and tag them for release. As the photos show below , the release was a fun experience.

Trombone Solo

We were out jazz jamming yesterday and got this opportunity to take a photo of a painting with Doug in it (hanging on the back wall) with Mary, the artist, sitting below it (in white). The painting is called "Trombone Solo".

and the Red Emperor came to the Pollinator's Pub too!

Pollinator's Pub is the name I used to register my Monarch Waystation garden with the Monarch Watch project.

Arrival of the first Monarch to my garden

My pollinator garden is now finished and official

Doug had fun playing with the musicians at Kelly's Bar in Montreal