flowers

Daily Quote: April 6, 2020

Posted on April 6, 2020April 5, 2020 by Porte Photos

Art is like a border of flowers along the course of civilization.
~ Lincoln Steffens (American – Journalist / April 6, 1866 – August 9, 1936)

A dull and overcast Sunday morning. Social distancing measures continue and there are no public gatherings of over 5 people permitted in Ontario. A walk with my dog, Rickie seems like a travel through the twilight zone as the streets are completely empty.

The number of COVID-19 total cases in Canada was 14,426 as of April 5th, 2020 with 653 cases that have been hospitalized, including 196 in intensive care. 214 have died of COVID-19 to date in Canada.

In the USA (which has about 10x the population of Canada) is now the leader in the world for reported cases and deaths. The total number of coronavirus cases rose to over 329,636, with the number of deaths at more than 9,420.

Globally, the death toll is more than 68,148.

Daily Quote: April 5, 2020

Posted on April 5, 2020April 4, 2020 by Porte Photos

There are two ways of exerting one’s strength:
one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.
~ Booker T. Washington
(American – Educator / April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915)

National Dandelion Day

Palm Sunday

Daily Quote: April 3, 2020

Posted on April 3, 2020April 2, 2020 by Porte Photos

Living well is the best revenge.
~ George Herbert
(British – Poet April 3, 1593 – March 1, 1633)

National Tweed Day

Don’t Go to Work Unless it’s Fun Day

Hospital Admitting Clerks Day

Find a Rainbow Day

Quarantine after travel Day 14 +1. Still one more day. Not that it will make much of a difference. Regulations will still limit the places I can go and who I can see with social distancing still being required.

COVID-19 is still increasing in numbers and effects. There are more than 1 million cases of coronavirus globally, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Canada is reporting 11,131 confirmed cases as of April 2nd, 2020 (the real number is much higher as testing is only being done for high risk individuals and Health Care Professionals in Ontario). 486 cases have been hospitalized, including 148 in intensive care while the number of deaths is now over 105.

Keeping in mind that the USA has more than 10 times the population of Canada,
The numbers for the USA are:

- Total cases: over 230,000
- Total deaths: over 5,600

Daily Quote: April 2, 2020

Posted on April 2, 2020April 1, 2020 by Porte Photos

Being born in a duck yard does not matter,
if only you are hatched from a swan’s egg.
~ Hans Christian Andersen
(Danish – Author April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875)

International Children’s Book Day

National Reconciliation Day

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

Day 14 of Quarantine after travel. Unfortunately our self-isolation has been increased by 2 days. My stepson had stopped in to see us on the Friday before he left for work. He now has pneumonia and probably has COVID-19, but is not qualified to be tested as testing is limited to high risk individuals and Health Care Professionals in Ontario.

Once the quarantine period is over our self-isolation won’t change much as everything except essential services is closed and social distancing is still demanded.

The numbers being reported of confirmed cases in Canada keep growing every day. The number of COVID-19 total cases in Canada was 9,613 as of April 1st, 2020 with 109 confirmed deaths. The actual number of people with COVID-19 is probably much higher. Only people at high risk and health care professionals are being tested in Ontario.

The reported numbers in the USA are much higher, even considering that Canada has about 10% of the population of the USA. President Trump said that over 240,000 Americans could die from COVID-19,

- Total cases: 186,101
- Total deaths: 3,603

Daily Quote: March 30, 2020

Posted on March 30, 2020March 29, 2020 by Porte Photos

I put my heart and my soul into my work,
and have lost my mind in the process.
~Vincent Van Gogh (Dutch – Artist March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890)

Take a Walk in the Park Day

Virtual Vacation Day

International Folding Laundry Day

COVID-19 pandemic continues and grows. Numbers confirmed in the USA are now over 139,000 with the death toll of over 2,400. Some experts are now predicting that between 100,000 and 200,000 Americans will die because of COVID-19.

Canada has fewer cases with only 6,243 confirmed cases caused by COVID-19 and 61 reported deaths. Part of the reason for the lower numbers in Canada is that Canada’s population is less than 10% of the USA.

Prime Minister Trudeau remains in self-isolation even now that his wife is now symptom free. He could still develop the virus 14 days after exposure.

We’re on Day 12 of our quarantine after travel. My step-son is trucking his way back to Ontario from Saskatchewan, but says he is sick. He’ll need to be tested to confirm if it is COVID-19, but that means our quarantine time will also need to be extended because he stopped in to see us on Friday, March 20th before he went to work trucking. That means an extra 2 days of self-isolation for us, not a major hardship because there are very few places to go. Even worse, his lady-friend is a double organ transplant recipient and could be in very serious danger from exposure.

Some of our Canadian friends have decided to shelter in place in Florida and Mexico. Others drove straight home from Florida without stopping. Some are now done their 14 day quarantine after travel, but everyone is still being told to “STAY HOME”.

Virtual tours and travel have been spreading on the internet almost as fast as the virus. Distractions and good thoughts trying to take away from the fear and terror of closed cities and states. So book a Virtual Vacation and relax today.

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Porte Photos

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I love flowers. They spread their beauty as they open and look over the world.

Symbols of love, passion, lust, desire, purity, spring, life ……………….

There is a flower for every occasion.

Perfection, imperfection, reflections, textures, colours, depths, lights, bugs, bees, butterflies…….

My favorite annual event is the Strathroy-Caradoc Horticultural Garden Tour and where Gardens are open for viewing and I can take pictures of the beautiful flowers.

Daily Quote: March 21, 2020

Posted on March 21, 2020March 20, 2020 by Porte Photos

For sleep, riches and health to be truly enjoyed, they must be interrupted.
~ Jean Paul (German – Author March 21, 1763 – November 14, 1825)

World Forestry Day

World Down Syndrome Day

World Poetry Day

For not only sleep, riches and health, but also freedom to be enjoyed, they must be interrupted.

The name of the novel coronavirus has been changed to COVID-19 but it’s effects aren’t lessening. Tight travel restrictions that have never before been invoked now limit individual freedoms. Home from Texas (USA) we are now in quarantine or self-isolation. Luckily we have family and friends who are able to help us. My lovely daughter-in-law went grocery shopping this morning and dropped of the goods to my door. She also had my young granddaughter with her and we were able to wave kisses through the open door. My youngest son went to Canadian Tire to buy potting soil and bird seed for me. Such luxuries, so I can start my greenhouse up and feed the birds.

Daily Quote: March 17, 2020

Posted on March 17, 2020March 16, 2020 by Porte Photos

The moon looks upon many night flowers;
the night flowers see but one moon.
~ Jean Ingelow (English – Poet March 17, 1820 – July 20, 1897)

Saint Patrick’s Day

Everyone claims to have a bit of Irish in them on Saint Patrick’s Day.

I guess I’m a little bit o’ Irish. My paternal Great Grandfather was an orphan who came to London Ontario from Dublin Ireland. He was a shoe cobbler by trade and fell in love with the last McCormick of the famous McCormick Spice clan. They ran away to Detroit to be married against her family wishes and she was dis-inherited by her family. They had three sons, but he died in London Ontario of Cholera and left her to raise them on her own. Her family never did welcome her back into the fold.

Recently I obtained my long form birth certificate. I was stunned to find that my mother claimed she was Irish as the time of my birth. I have no idea why she said she was Irish. Her maiden name was Heil, so she was obviously German and looking through Ancestry.ca she also had Mohawk genes, but I guess neither was as proper as being “Irish”. My husband’s mother who was Native American also claimed to be Irish, but at least her maiden name was Halpin, a proper Irish name.

The Pandemic of Coronavirus continues. We’re on our journey back to Canada and still have about 2 more days of driving. Yesterday, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that the borders will be closed to all outsiders (with some minor exceptions such as flight crews) and all Canadians should return home immediately from all countries. Everyone returning to Canada regardless of from where will need to be self quarantined for 2 weeks. Everything is shut down. Such a strange place the world has become. Everything is upside down.

International Toast Day

National Chili Day

Combine the two celebrations and have my favorite: Chili with toast.

Today is the Park Party day for Emerald Grove Travel Park in Texas. Catered BBQ, live music, door prizes, costumes. Looking forward to attending.