Flower Border

When I turn onto our section of the street, I am greeted by a splendid flower border.

The trouble is that I keep driving by and forgetting to return with my camera. However, one morning I did remember and walked the short distance from our place to take a few quick photos. This was not a tripod-session or time-consuming composition but was done with some consideration. Despite it being a dull day, the photos were okay, or at least they are with a little editing.

It had been the poppies that drew me from the day that I had passed by when they were shining in the light. While they weren't as fine on this day, they were still worth shooting.

I generally concentrate on single blooms rather than groups unless
maybe when several are clustered close together.

A pink peony.

Purple peonies

I don't know how many years I have driven by and then forgotten about this little showpiece, but I finally remembered.

Caturday 63: The Wafting Puss

More than 5 years with us, Lacey has yet to do the habitual feline vomiting of a hairball. Not once have we been forced awake at night to that acking sound. There has been no jumping out of bed to grab a bit of newspaper to place under the wretched retching cat. And not making it in time.

I can't complain about that, but as I have mentioned before, she continually (or continuously?) wafts her fur. I bend down to pet her, and the fur is ready to fly off, go everywhere and get into everything.

Today, I present photographic evidence, for the camera doesn't lie. At least not in this case.

You can see it in the window light, can't you? The fur highlighted by the light is ready to depart her body and waft to the utmost reaches of the premises.

At least there is none of this ↓

Photo Play

Sue has been having fun. She downloaded a photo app that does some amazing things. She put this recent photo into the app and asked it to make some changes to the costume and theme.

She selected an Egyptian theme, and this is what it made within seconds.

She kept experimenting.

I think it got lost in this case.

Perhaps if I shaved my beard?

Although these experiments are fanciful, the app is very good for eliminating distracting objects such as wires.

The app is called, Photo Leap. She has it on a 7 day trial. It is ~$50CDN to use for a year. We shall see if she decides to splurge, but she can have fun for a few more days, regardless.

Double Doctor Day

What can Dr Specialist do what you cannot, asked I to Dr Urologist.

Replied he: that is what we are going to find out.

I had driven to Smiths Falls because he didn't want me to get lost in the system whilst we waited for Dr Specialist to contact me. Meanwhile, Dr Urologist informed me that the referral had been accepted even though I hadn't yet received a call and might not for several more months.

Specifically, Dr Specialist is expert in reconstructive surgery when normal TURP surgery doesn't take. Or at least that is my understanding.

Meanwhile, we have scheduled yet another dilation procedure for June 20, to give me some temporary relief while we wait.

The consultation was quick because there wasn't really anything new to say, but I appreciated that he called me in. I did double-check whether I had heard correctly from the previous dilation in February, that the bladder spot that he had been monitoring looked innocuous. In point of fact, I am not sure if it was still present at all. Back then, I had been so flummoxed by the news that he could could do nothing more for me and that he was sending my case on, that my brain hadn't been processing very well. I was grateful to be reassured yesterday.

We drove back to town and enjoyed a breakfast sandwich in the park before returning home.

a pano from our bench

the phone got set to portrait mode, so Sue got blurred

When I got home, my family doctor was calling to see if we could move my appointment up from Thursday to yesterday afternoon. Most certainly, replied I,  glad to get two medical consultations done in one day. (I wonder how many doctors call to move an appointment up.) 

She has decided to give me a cortisone shot in the shoulder to see if that might help my rotator cuff injury. I never had much luck with cortisone in my foot when we tried, but I live in hope.

As for the hobbling that I mentioned previously, this post has gone on long enough, so I will spare you. I'll get back to the hobbling if and when the spirit moves and if and when the flesh is willing.

Trapped and Hobbling

I came across this ↓ Getting Old graphic and just had to post it on Facebook and now here too. The truth of really hit home when I came across it on Sunday as yet another body part decided to get it on the act give me grief.

Maybe I'll get into it more some other time. For today, I am off to see my urologist at the Smiths Falls hospital. I will hobble in and out, and the hobble will be a little hobblier than usual.

Pride Lights

When the flag-raising ceremony was over, I mentioned to Sue that they might do something special with the bridge lights that night. Sue checked with the mayor, and, sure enough, he confirmed that there would be a special display all week.

As it so happened, milady was in need of a blue hour photo that very day, and so, we found our way back to the site on Saturday evening. 

It wasn't quite blue hour when we arrived, but I liked the light on town hall, so I squeezed the shutter regardless.

I like the photo even though the bridge lights hadn't fully come on. What I didn't love was the choppy water, so my next photos were all long exposures to smooth it out. This photo was from the same spot as above about 10 minutes later after I I fiddled around with a neutral density filter and various exposure times.

As it got darker, the bridge lights were showing up better, so I moved closer and took some more long exposures.

I like all of these photos well enough, but I think this next and final one was the best for colour although I do like the wider composition of the previous photo.

I guess the next special display will be in a month for Canada Day, which I guess was the first time that I photographed the lights as they were new back then in mid 2023.

Raising the Pride Flag

On the first of June, a few dozen folk gathered across from town hall to raise the Pride flag. We put on our celebratory colours and joined them.

Sue being Sue, got right into the mix.

John being John, remained on the periphery.

Linda being Linda, outdid all. Not your typical town councillor. 

The police showed their support.

The flag was raised.

Indeed, you are welcome here.

Sue and John took their required selfie.

And . . . a Sue special . . .

That's our mayor with the tee shirt — top right