Scattershot -

Is that the term I'm looking for? I have several things to say today, and they don't actually fit together, so I'm just going to blather on in my usual fashion, hoping I don't lose you along the way.

First of all, I'll send you away. How's that for a plan? I recently discovered a blog that delights me. It's called First 50 Words. I went over there yesterday and kept playing until I got embarrassed about the post clump I was creating. Do, please, click here and check it out. It's great fun and, as I said to its author, Virginia DeBolt, it's great exercise. But don't forget to come back.

Next, I'll send you away again....hmmm. I see a pattern forming. This time, I would like you to check out something that's good for what ails you. Joshilyn Jackson of Faster Than Kudzu issued an invitation to all of us to join a program that starts on June 1. It's called BetterU and it is part of Go Red for Women. I won't try to describe the program. I'll just suggest that you go on over to Joshilyn's place and she'll tell you all about it. (That will be her May 12 post.) I told someone that I joined Joshilyn's posse because I figure I'll be laughing too hard to get hungry, so I'm bound to lose weight.

When you get back from Joshilyn's, you can check out my photos. I told you yesterday that I had found a companion for Wilson, and I have. Here he is. I found him languishing in a pile of stuffed animals at the supermarket. I thought I recognized him. "Steinbeck?" I said. "Steinbeck? Is that you?"

No, I thought, that can't be Steinbeck. He was much larger. This little guy must be.....Son of Steinbeck! I was wrong, though.

Steinbeck fixed me with his reproachful eyes and said scornfully, "Of course I look smaller. You're bigger than you used to be. It's still me, and I've been waiting for you for years, I thought you would never turn up."

Needless to say, I bought him. I brought him home and introduced him to Wilson, who welcomed him eagerly, delighted to have someone to pick on when I'm not home.

Today, the three of us took Robin out to Biggs Park, which is next to the Duke Point Ferry terminal, and we all went for a walk. The tide was very low, as you can see in this photo. You may also note that our window of opportunity for a walk was limited. The rains were coming. The rains were coming.

So while we could, we walked. The cannis was in
bloom - and that's mostly what we went to see.

The cannis comes out right after the bluebells, so for a while, each Spring, there's a whole lot of blue out here.

I took this shot of a bed of cannis on the edge of a cliff. Beyond the flowers, all that grey-whiteness is another bed - this one a bed of oysters.

We stopped to check out some wildflowers whose name I did not know, and my two little LM&TOs spent some quality time together.



Shortly after that photo was taken, it became uncomfortably wet out on the trail, so we got into the car and took a bit of a joyride before we came home to a nice cup of tea.

Altogether, a lovely day.

Living your dreams...

I visited Margaret and Helen's blog yesterday. The newest post was written by Helen's grandson, who wanted to say that his grandmother has been a bit under the weather, but that she hopes to be back soon. I hope so, too. I love her posts. She says all the things I would say if I weren't such a wuss.

Somebody had sent Helen a YouTube video to cheer her up. I watched it, and I just had to bring it back to share with you. It's right here. It's also over at Margaret and Helen's blog. If you haven't visited there, you're missing something wonderful. Helen is my idol.

I also visited Robert Frost's Banjo, which was another treat - two treats, as there were two posts in one day. John posted the April installment in Eberle’s Weiser River Pillow Book series, as well as links to the previous installments. Whenever I read this series, I feel as if I've fallen into it, like a child falling into a pile of autumn leaves. I am enthralled.

John also posted a photo taken after he performed at a seniors' centre. Peeking out from behind his guitar was Buffy the Buffalo, who accompanies John to all his performances. Poetikat commented on Buffy, and said that she, too, has a - what? a totem? - a long-horned highland "coo" named Hennessy. The exchange reminded me of Steinbeck, my one-time Literary Mentor and Transitional Object. Steinbeck was a black and white, cuddly toy rabbit. Unfortunately, there came a time when I wasn't writing anything, and obviously wasn't ever going to write anything again, and in a fit of depression I decided that Steinbeck should go to cheer up some child somewhere, so I gave him away. Very silly of me. I want him back.

I have one very fond memory of Steinbeck. A friend of mine brought her five-year-old son over to visit, and she introduced him to Steinbeck. Being five, her son didn't quite catch the name, but he thought he did. From then on, when he wanted to come over to my place, he would ask "Can we go visit Spandex?"