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Hanne on the Channel Pathway

Okanagan River by the Pathway in Penticton

Saskatoons

? Ornamental Crab (next to our house)

Today's blog is about "home." Two fellow-bloggers touched on the topic yesterday, Alan Burnett and "Tabor". I think the main definition is " our place of origin,"  so ours is England and Denmark. But we have created between us many other homes along the way, in Sheffield, Clayworth, Cambridge, Montreal, Winnipeg, Huddersfield, Holland, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Calgary, Edmonton, Pigeon Lake, Nanaimo, Armstrong, and Penticton. ( You may rightly comment "a rolling stone gathers no moss"). These are places we called home for a while, "a place where you could open the door and throw your hat in"; "a place where the heart is"; " a place where I want to be"; "a place where they have to take you in ( Tabor)"; or, " home is wherever I'm with you" etc. etc.
Here are a few photos from yesterday, in our present home surroundings. I wonder where Kate and William will call home? Where do you call home?

Quotations:-
" A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it"
Harold B Lee 1899-1973

"Life's a voyage that's homeward bound"
Herman Melville 1819-1891

"There's no place like home"
John Howard Payne 1791-1852

Events

Too many events now seem to be gathering together in close succession, and on top of this:- anniversaries; the news reader may get confused. The fall-out from Osama's death brings out memories and inquests of 7/7, 9/11, and submerges news of sunamis, earthquakes, and floods. Then we have the political changes in Scotland, Canada, North Africa, and the Middle East to cope with. Time for a rest. Back to the drawing board. Or perhaps the monitor screen for a new digital painting. Hope you like the colors!  The Lost Moose Restaurant has this old horse-carriage outside. You can see Okanagan Lake way down below in the distance...( A long time ago our Sam (Golden Retriever/Lab cross) met a lost moose in the woods at Pigeon Lake Alberta. He ran up to it and barked. The moose looked down his long nose at Sam with utter contempt. Sam ran back to us for help!.....)

PS don't forget Chelsea are playing Manchester United this week-end!....

Kaleden

The Old Commercial Hotel, Kaleden

Skaha Lake

Blossom on Alder Avenue. The Lilac is just starting in bloom.

Cherry Orchard, Kaleden

Kaleden is a small village nestled in the western hills above, and on the shoreline of, the middle part of Skaha Lake. It was started around the beginning of the 20th Century as a fruit growing area. We often go there for walks, and to enjoy the trails leading in and out, built over the old railway bed, and enjoy the restaurants, winery, and gardens. Today we have a photo showing part of the old Commercial Hotel, which is now a mere concrete shell, built in 1911. The other photos are of the lake; a garden on Alder avenue, and a cherry orchard on the hill. Rumor has it that the village was started by a fellow from Manitoba who could no longer stand the winters there...he did well with his apples, peaches, and pears, and shipped them off to market by boat using Skaha Lake. It seems to be often cloudy over the Lake, but sunny in the West...
PS You can now see more of Linden Gardens in Kaleden here.

Linden Gardens

"Our Cherry Tree" Linden Gardens, Kaleden.

Red Blossom and Hyacinths

A Delicious Pink Blossom

Back to Linden Gardens again to see and photograph the Spring flowers, wander around to see "Our Cherry Tree", the one that has red cherries on one side and black ones on the other. It seems to be doing well, we just have to hope the bees come and pollinate it. We call it "Ours" because we seemed last year to be the only ones eating the cherries! The whole garden area was a cherry orchard some years ago, and taking the idea of converting it to a garden from Minter Gardens, and Butchart Gardens, the owners took the plunge some years ago and removed all the cherry trees . There is a cherry orchard however still going next door. (Unfortunately I can't give you a link to Linden Gardens at the moment; maybe their website is under reconstruction.) More photos from yesterday can be seen here. We enjoy Linden Gardens as a substitute for our own garden which we don't have any more as we live in a Lodge....

Elected

The Green Field

"Bee on a Lilac"

The Adobe House

We now have elected a Conservative majority government, after several go-rounds over the last few years with minority ones. The Liberals and Bloc Quebecois collapsed, so we now have a Socialist NDP opposition for the first time,( the New Democratic Party.) Now we can get on with preparations for Mother's Day on Sunday. I already sent my cards. They are electronic and are delivered at one a.m. on the Big Day! Here are a few images from May last year...better put your sunglasses on the colors are a bit bright!

Bin Laden

Downtown Penticton

Looking East by the Hooded Merganser

The Hooded Merganser looking West

Finally. He was found. And disposed of. We turn a corner of history today. Here in Canada, we are turning another corner, it is Canada's Federal Election Day. At nine a.m. I have to go and vote. Today being cloudy, I will post a few pictures from yesterday's sunshine, to show how nice downtown Penticton is in the Spring. Thank you for your May Day greetings, and compliments. Cheers!

May Day

Waterfront view near the Restaurant

Outdoor Patio at the Hooded Merganser

Jogger going by the SS Sicamous Stern-wheeler's Reflection

Once round the Maypole is enough at our age. Then off to the Hooded Merganser for breakfast. I bet you don't know what I had. It was a BLETCH! That stands for (a sandwich with) Bread, Lettuce, Egg, Tomato, Cheese, and Ham! It was decorated with strawberries, pineapple chunks, orange segments, apple slices, and melon....
We are blessed today with a high pressure system above us, the warmest day of the year. Spent the afternoon wandering the beach, soaking in the sun, and taking photos of blossoms, folk sunbathing, picnicking, walking the dog, sailing, playing baseball, etc. then home for tea on the deck....