Not much to tell. After working for 3 companies over 43+ years (38 years 7 months with my last company), I finally got that promotion I had waited my entire career for……retirement.
I have been exploring this new career for the past 7+ years and while it is not always exciting, the chance to do what I want for myself and my family instead of what my company wants has been very fulfilling. Early on, there was a long list of projects in my “to-do” hopper and I attacked these projects with a vengeance for the first 9 months of retirement. Eventually, my brain told me that this was not what retirement was about, so it took me another 5 months before my industriousness again took over and I attacked another line of projects, this time somewhat shorter and less complicated, as well as many new projects related to the family weddings in 2016. After going hard for 6 weeks and 3 weddings, my body was telling me to relax, then the flu bug hit and as soon as that was done with me, my sciatic acted up. No rest for the wicked. In 2020 and 2021, the Covid 19 pandemic changed the whole retirement gig. I was lucky to not be still working, for sure.
I enjoy photography, gardening, working with my hands, walking, cycling, skiing, travelling, reading and creating special photo and video productions obtained in my first pastime. I may never become wealthy in any of these pursuits, but I already feel I am rich in life experiences far beyond any expectation.
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22 thoughts on “Blooms”
Your garden is looking beautiful Allan. Have you lived at the house since it was built and landscaped the garden yourselves? Have a great weekend. Marion.
Thanks Marion. It is looking a bit more fall like these days. Most of my veggie garden is harvested and turned over, except for the carrots and a few tomatoes. My petunia boxes are still going strong, but there are few other blooms. When we moved in, the house had a front lawn and 2 trees. We have landscaped everything else over the last 30+ years and the layout has changed as the kids grew and we added/removed play structures. My lawn is a bit sad these days, so next year, we will need to do something. Thanks for reading and happy weekend. Allan
You have the most beautiful garden. I am sorry that you have to remove a tree. Once they die they become a danger in regard to falling. Your planters look beautiful too. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to you and yours my friend. 🤗❤️🦋
Hey Joni. Always good to hear from you. Funny story, while we removed the Toba Hawthorne and cut the stump back into the ground, it has put out 5 or 6 shoots. I am going to see if I can regrow it from these shoots. So, all is not lost. As well, we just planted a lilac in the front where we had to remove our birch tree. We like to plant one back when we have to cut one down. In the meantime, my “volunteer” showy mountain ash in the back garden is about 6 feet tall. Thank you birdie. Looks like a wet weekend here, but the day is sunny and bright right now, so all is good. Have a great weekend Joni. Hugs 🤗❤☔🌸🌸
Your yard is so beautiful. I bet you will have more than one beautiful new tree. Your flowers are gorgeous too. You both must have green thumbs. We had a bit of rain yesterday and we needed it. Filled the rain barrels. You two have an amazing weekend. Hugs 🤗 to you both. Love ❤️ Joni
So glad we have 2 mock orange shrubs. One flowers later than the other, so we have the lovely orange smell about the yard for 2-3 weeks. Glad my photos brightened your day. Hope all is well. Have a great weekend. Allan
Thanks Irene. Fall is early in our part of the world. Guess we used up some time with all the hot weather we had this year. Hope it stretches out a bit, though. Thanks for reading. Allan
We brought those shrubs from our old home 30 years ago and they have thrived. As to the poor Toba Hawthorne, it was a goner due to blight a few years back, some sort of blight transmitted from junipers. In any case, there are 5 new shoots popping out of the old trunk. I am hopeful we may grow a replacement there (fingers crossed it will be blight free. Thanks for reading Bernie. Allan
Your gardens look amazing Allan and you can probably never run out of things to photograph as the season’s shift and change. As much as I love blossoming shrubs, I am very much looking forward to dark, rich shades of orange, various shades of yellow, red, purple, and brown. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day 🙂 Aiva
It seems there is always something in bloom. The Lamb’s Ears are still blooming and the petunias seem to never stop. I expect we will get our first frost On Friday morning coming and that will be the end of that. Most of our fall leaf colours in this part of the world are gold, but we do have a bit of purple, red and orange. I am with you Aiva. I love fall colours. Thanks for reading and have a great week. Allan
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Your garden is looking beautiful Allan. Have you lived at the house since it was built and landscaped the garden yourselves? Have a great weekend. Marion.
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Thanks Marion. It is looking a bit more fall like these days. Most of my veggie garden is harvested and turned over, except for the carrots and a few tomatoes. My petunia boxes are still going strong, but there are few other blooms. When we moved in, the house had a front lawn and 2 trees. We have landscaped everything else over the last 30+ years and the layout has changed as the kids grew and we added/removed play structures. My lawn is a bit sad these days, so next year, we will need to do something. Thanks for reading and happy weekend. Allan
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You have the most beautiful garden. I am sorry that you have to remove a tree. Once they die they become a danger in regard to falling. Your planters look beautiful too. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to you and yours my friend. 🤗❤️🦋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Joni. Always good to hear from you. Funny story, while we removed the Toba Hawthorne and cut the stump back into the ground, it has put out 5 or 6 shoots. I am going to see if I can regrow it from these shoots. So, all is not lost. As well, we just planted a lilac in the front where we had to remove our birch tree. We like to plant one back when we have to cut one down. In the meantime, my “volunteer” showy mountain ash in the back garden is about 6 feet tall. Thank you birdie. Looks like a wet weekend here, but the day is sunny and bright right now, so all is good. Have a great weekend Joni. Hugs 🤗❤☔🌸🌸
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Your yard is so beautiful. I bet you will have more than one beautiful new tree. Your flowers are gorgeous too. You both must have green thumbs. We had a bit of rain yesterday and we needed it. Filled the rain barrels. You two have an amazing weekend. Hugs 🤗 to you both. Love ❤️ Joni
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🤗❤
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I absolutely love orange blossoms, even the mock ones! Thanks for the lovely photos. I needed them today 🙂
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So glad we have 2 mock orange shrubs. One flowers later than the other, so we have the lovely orange smell about the yard for 2-3 weeks. Glad my photos brightened your day. Hope all is well. Have a great weekend. Allan
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How beautiful it is!!! ❣️❣️ It’s a bliss to see this every morning to have start your day. Thanks for sharing this Allan.
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The back yard was particularly beautiful this year. Our little oasis in spring, summer and fall. Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend. Allan
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Lovely blooms. Hard to believe that fall will be here soon.
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Thanks Irene. Fall is early in our part of the world. Guess we used up some time with all the hot weather we had this year. Hope it stretches out a bit, though. Thanks for reading. Allan
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Ours is not quite as nice as that, but we do enjoy our little oasis in the backyard. Great share.
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Where would we be without the back yard? Truly a good place to spend time gardening or relaxing. Glad you have an oasis too Scott. Cheers. Allan
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Beautiful!
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Thanks Lynette. 🌸🌸🌸
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That mock orange is amazing! Sorry you had a tree loss. It’s been a tough year for trees.
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We brought those shrubs from our old home 30 years ago and they have thrived. As to the poor Toba Hawthorne, it was a goner due to blight a few years back, some sort of blight transmitted from junipers. In any case, there are 5 new shoots popping out of the old trunk. I am hopeful we may grow a replacement there (fingers crossed it will be blight free. Thanks for reading Bernie. Allan
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Blight is the worst. I would be suspicious that the shoots might also develop it but I guess only time will tell.
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Will watch what happens next spring, for sure.
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Your gardens look amazing Allan and you can probably never run out of things to photograph as the season’s shift and change. As much as I love blossoming shrubs, I am very much looking forward to dark, rich shades of orange, various shades of yellow, red, purple, and brown. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day 🙂 Aiva
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems there is always something in bloom. The Lamb’s Ears are still blooming and the petunias seem to never stop. I expect we will get our first frost On Friday morning coming and that will be the end of that. Most of our fall leaf colours in this part of the world are gold, but we do have a bit of purple, red and orange. I am with you Aiva. I love fall colours. Thanks for reading and have a great week. Allan
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