leaves

Back east in southern Ontario I used to grow grapes in the backyard garden, well an attempt at it anyway! During the growing season one summer I decided to give the leaves a try, so I picked a few young, tender leaves and steamed them in the kitchen. Since I found them rather tasty, I continued to have some through the summer. If the Greeks use them in some of their recipes, so can we.

The photo above was taken in the backyard in the spring in the mid-1980s looking at the hollywood swing through the grapevine. The swing was one of my mother's favourite places to be when the weather was warm! - V

Putzie

Back in the late 1970s years before I left London, Ontario I bought a pair of peach-faced lovebirds that later turned out not to be so lovey-dovey at all and had to be put in separate cages. The last straw as it were was when they were let out to get some exercise and were fighting in my hand.

The one got the name of Schmutzie because it would make a mess of the cage like turn over the water tray and other stuff. The other was Putzie, the cleaner of the two. It was my mother that came up with the names. They lived just over ten years but when the one passed on the other followed soon after.

When I let them out to get exercise, the two favourite spots for them was the top of the oil painting above the fireplace or at the top of the living room drapes. They never seemed to go anywhere else and were perfectly content being there until it was time to return to their cages. When I moved into my first apartment, they had to stay behind because the new place didn't allow pets. Well, they kept my parents company, particularly my mother later! - V