Hydrangeas in the Garden

With my camera in hand I walked around our garden at home and took the opportunity to take some photos of the hydrangeas ... we have several different varieties and colours.

They are beautiful this year. 

Curious about the name I did a little research.

The fruit that follows the hydrangea's showy blossoms is cup shaped and looks like little water pails.

The name "hydrangea" is derived from two Greek words.

Hydro - meaning water.  Angeion - meaning vessel

                

                 

  

                            

It made me reminisce about our day spent Biarritz... 

                

In the next few days before the blooms are past their best, I plan to cut some to dry and use for decoration in our home.

A good dose of hairspray and they will keep their colour and shape for many months.

Counting Steps!

I have bought two new pedometers since we arrived home a month ago.

The first one was a "supposed" bargain at only $10.00 with a built in radio... but it didn't work properly from the get go. 

This week I purchased another one... 

the "Smart Health Step Tracker" and it actually is the same one I took with me to France ...the only difference is the colour.

I now have a fluorescent orange one whereas the previous one was also fluorescent but in key lime-green.

Funny thing was that I clearly hadn't read the instructions the first time around. 

In bold, black type it clearly warns and advises...  

IMPORTANT : Do not put the Step Tracker in water.

Had I not fallen into Monsieur Honey's and I believe like most men's habits of trying to do something first before reading the instructions ...  I would have avoided the "French" drowning accident of my trusted pedometer in the washing machine at Beaucaillou.

So now I have my accountability factor.

Even without it, I have been trying to walk everyday.

Yesterday, I walked to our local Farmer's Market that is held on Saturday mornings downtown. 

I purchased some fresh fruits and vegetables and Monsieur Honey arrived at the appointed time to retrieve the shopping.

I continued walking and did some more Saturday shopping at the downtown stores. 

My criteria for any purchases was that the items would have to be minimal in quantity and light weight because I had to walk home carrying these items. 

The weather was perfect for walking ... although warm there was a breeze that provided some cool relief.

So with one foot in front of the other, I will keep on counting ...

The Doors

During our three months in France I took many photographs. 

Sometimes there would be a theme to what I was going to photograph. 

 

Most of the time I was looking for photos for "postcards" that as Monsieur Honey would say "tells a story" and there were times when I would just shoot and click.

One day on one of my "bla bla" walks with my friend Madame M  (generally we walked in silence but on occassion we would discuss family, friends and the world) she told me about a "Belgian saying" ...

"Veranderen van voordeur!" 

Literal translation is "change the front door"!

This saying is used when you celebrate a milestone birthday i.e. your personal odometer flips from one decade into another decade.

Next year this will be happening to me and I'm changing my front door... I 'll let you guess what the new number will be!

So I have been thinking about this quite a lot as I was looking at all "My French Door" postcards. 

Some very old and in need of repair, others more modern and colourful.

For me though I don't think it has anything to do with external appearances.

Oh yes I could fight the natural aging process by buying into all the hype of cosmetic surgery such as "face and boob lifts, tummy tucks", Botox  and the other treatments with their "Fountain of Youth" promises made by the plethora of beauty products on the market; but I think I'll save my pennies/dollars/euros and add then to my adventure piggy bank!

Age is where your heart is!

For those of you who know me well... I will still do some maintenance... I'm not ready to wear "Gray" hair and I will continue to put on my face everyday... In other words put myself together.

It's not that I'm so vain as in the lyrics of Carly Simon's song "You're So Vain"  rather I've always believed that you never know who you might run into... your next employer, a new best friend, etc...

                                  

                                               

      

                             

 

So the changing of my "Front" door next year will be about fulfilling a personal commitment to try something new ... 

I plan on walking part of the Pilgramage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Anyone else up for the challenge?