More VCCC 50th anniversary party

As you can see my photos of the cars did not turn out. Sorry to say. Your fun pose, did not turn out either, Ken. I needed a tripod.. which I did not have. The light was quite low and so I needed longer aperture times. But, I did not bring my tripod.

This afternoon I got more double digging done on my back garden renovation. I have just one little triangular piece left to do. I don't think I will get it done tomorrow, as I see Dr. C. in the am and we go out for dinner with Andy and Tara. But I should have all day Thursday. I hope I have my dirt delivered by then, too. On Friday we go to Saltspring with the RROC group for the week end. Next week is open with the Rock and Alpine show and sale on Saturday. So, the time is working out fairly well.... I just don't have time for Flickr. or to learn the new software Steve C. showed me, for doing slide shows. His show is fantastic.

More VCCC fashion show

This is the last of the photos from the VCCC fashion show at their 50 anniversary party. The gold dress, of course, for the golden anniversary.

Yesterday, I did some digging on the renovation of the back garden. I also dug out dandelions and other weeds at the front, cut back the bamboo, and put down a 30 litre bag of topsoil as top dressing around some of the little plants. Something has eaten holes in the buds of my fern leaf peony. I hope the buds still open. I have been seeing the rabbit around the front garden, and the squirrel as well as numerous birds. Waldo the wall lizard has been seen also. After lunch it began to rain. Pat took me to Cannor and I collected 16 rock garden perennials, 6 bags of top soil, 2 bags of washed sand and 2 bags of pea gravel. The dirt is to be delivered and I have the plants at home. I had a new person on the cash register. When I got home I found I had been charged for things I had not even mentioned... so I phoned them back and arranged to have the extra payment changed to 3 more bags of top soil and 1 more bag of sand. So, when it gets delivered I should have 9 bags of top soil and 3 bags of sand. I still have sand and mushroom manure on hand, and one bag of pea gravel.

Garden Renovation

This is another outfit from the VCCC 50th anniversary party fashion show. Not sure of the era of this one.

Yesterday I was out in the garden all afternoon, working on the renovation of the back grass area. I have the stone path finished. It goes in a curve from about the middle of what was the grass area across to the Japanese garden area. I have been double digging the area for the path. I was going to put down newspapers over the rest with sand on top, but now I am thinking of double digging all of it... not much left to do. Then I can still add the sand and mushroom manure on top, and maybe even start planting some thyme. I want this area to be mostly flat, I think. Pinks would be good for along the walk. I want to expand my primula collection. The ones I have seem to be doing very well in the damp clay area, with shade during the afternoon.

Pam and Rachel are going to be over for the week end. I really enjoy their visits. Should be fun.

More VCCC fashion show

The navy dress is truly a very blurry shot. I was amusing myself with the modern and the old in the photo. I believe the other dress is from the 1920's.

Despite rain showers off and on today (some snowballs) I managed to get quite a bit done on my renovation of the back grass area. I have 4 big flat stepping stones set and the rest of the stones laid out. So, I have yet to finish digging in the flat stones... about 6 more. Then, I can put down the newspaper and cover it with sand and the rest of the stones. I need some top soil to fill in the places where I have dug out the stones. I hope to plant more primulas in the area where the stones were removed. When we are back from our trip end of May, the area under the newspapers should be ready for planting. Maybe some good little thyme plants where there is more traffic. the area that gets no traffic could be for some rock and alpine plants, maybe. Its all yet to be determined. The rock and alpine show and sale is on the 26th of this month, so perhaps I can bring home a few choice plants. But I really need some bigger rocks to raise them up out of the soggy area in the winter time.

Tomorrow is more blood tests. I will walk home after. I am slowly losing a few pounds, but not nearly enough to fit into my little black suit for travelling.

More VCCC fashion show

This is the ocelot coat with hand bag and shoes to match. This look very classy. Lovely model.. I didn't get the girls names. I missed the first part of the show, too, as I was busy visiting. I did get an isle seat, though. Not all of the models went past my side of the seating. Some of them did better poses than others too. This girl was really rather good.

On Saturday, I did some shopping... six very nice stepping stones for my garden. A new daffodil to put among all the blue anemone nemerosa, and 6 pansies. Then, I spent a few hours checking my clothes that I think I might take on our trip. I have 4 skirts and tops/dresses, 4 pants with tops, bathing suit, 2 pairs of shoes. Since I will be wearing some of these items in the meantime, I must be sure everything is cleaned and ready to go.

Yesterday (Sunday) I read some of my book, got my Flickr comments almost caught up and did some photo processing. Of course, I am lagging behind again in comments. I skimmed the debris off the top of the pond. I took a few scoops off the bottom to see how things were. One of the scoops had a big frog in it. The frog was kinda dozy. I think it had been hibernating in the mud. I have not cleaned out the pond for a few years now. I think I will leave this mud bottom. The water seems quite clear before I stirred it up. I hope to get plants growing over the rock edging plants. The saxifragias and little campanula are slowly filling in the edges.

I was out in the garden all afternoon, today. I got soooo much done out there. The lawn mowed, the dandelions dug out of the veggie patch, the new plants transplanted and the stone walk way at the entrance to the Japanese garden widened. I moved the pink azalea, then reset the blocks by the fig tree. I have a big flat stepping stone in the middle of this flower border. I have put spare sod onto places around the apple tree where the lawn is uneven, and moved some to the front grass strip where the crocuses are growing. I plan to cover about half of the back grass area with newspaper, then sand to get rid of this grass. This area is always very soggy in the winter time. I want to be able to walk across here on my stepping stones. I don't want to be mowing it or trying to get the grass to grow. So, the next big job will be to lay out the newspapers and cover them with sand and the stepping stones. Hopefully, by the time we get back from our trip I will be able to plant some ground covers in this area. Thyme seems to work in the front. I will think about what plants to get for the area once I see how much space is left and the configuration of each space.

The pixie orchid and the andean fire are in bloom in the light garden. All the African violets have blooms. I must fertilize them all again soon.

VCCC 50th party

A few of my photos from the VCCC 50thAnniversary party. There will be more to come. The white outfit is from 1910, the green and brown from the 1930s, not sure about the navy one. The orange vest makes a strong fashion statement for 2008. :)))

Unfortunately, none of my car photos turned out... only the fashion show ones... and they are not terrific. Here is a look at the Club's website for better photos and information.

I have finished my income tax and will let it rest for a few days before sending them my payment. Its a relief to have it finished.