It was still chilly in March the day after St. Patricks Day. We have had some very warm and sunny days, also big scary rainstorms, and a freeze that lasted three days, and killed a lot of plants even though they were covered. My two large hibiscus bushes, perished, but subsequently was told they weren’t planted in the best location. Go figure.They are now replaced with two gardenia bushes that I watered for almost two weeks to get them started properly. Did you think you would be reading about a garden? My garden does give me pleasure, and that is the topic I want to cover in this blog. Not gardens, but pleasure and happiness.

The New York Times has started a newsletter called The Good List. Basically it talks about positive things, but one part of it I particularly like, is making a list of things that give you pleasure. I have started such a list and keep it in the Notes section of my iphone. The purpose of this list of small joys is to make me happy, and to appreciate the things that do rather than focus on the negative.

I love the tea that Charles brings me every morning. This is after I get up and do my ablutions, let the dog out, make the bed and then settle down on top of it to read the daily papers online: The NY Times,The Globe and Mail, and The Toronto Star. I sip my herbal tea, Celestial Seasonings, I like lemon zinger, and end all reading with playing Wordle. Then I get up and walk Oscar. But I just love the taste of the tea and feel very spoiled. Speaking of Oscar, I adore it when he cuddles or leans heavily into me. I get pleasure from watching him race down the hill near our place after I take him off his lead on our morning walk up a long hill.

I should mention now that I love this list and it makes me feel very positive and happy. Especially at this April time of year, the cruelest month, when my daughter was born and died. Such a list may help you as well especially if it is a sad time or you are just frustrated with what is going on in the world. In fact it might be fun to ask someone rather than say ‘How are you?’ Perhaps say, ‘What is good today?’

a pretty sunset

And now on to my list. I love a really good hamburger particularly as I hardly eat them. The best is in Florida at the hotel restaurant, El Conquistador, in our resort. I love really good meat done medium/rare and on a toasted bun with nothing but raw onions. After the hard frost and all my outdoor plants died, a little annual impatiens plant just popped back into growing. Brought a smile and delight. I love entertaining and when we have a good dinner party I feel very happy. The food works, the conversation is terrific, and people don’t want to leave, even though I often wish they would. Which reminds me of a story my friend Pam tells about a couple waiting for their guests to leave the wife says, “Honey we should go to bed and let these nice people go home.” ha ha.

the bar at newly refurbished El Conquistador

There is nothing as awesome as a beautiful sunset. Sitting with a glass of ice cold white wine and watching the sun go down, gives me pleasure. Other perfect happiness things: hugs from my grand daughters. A good book, like Theo of Golden, that is well written, and moves me to laugh or cry. I like cooking with classical music playing, setting a pretty table for guests. Noting kindness from someone, like my friend Sheila, who made me a color chart to help with my golf course management. My morning quiet swim outdoors, caviar with blini and creme fraiche and a tiny glass of iced vodka, a perfect raw oyster with a dash of green tabasco. Facetime with my BC. family. Listening to birdsong and identifying the bird with my Merlin app. A well hit golf ball, a sip of chilled Veuve champagne. My list is still being compiled, but you get the idea.

I love concerts and operas. While we are in Florida we enjoy the Howey Concert series that never fails to amaze me with it convenience across the highway and its high standards. We attended the annual Gala in support of the organization this past March. There was an art deco theme and many of us dressed appropriately, savoured a nice meal and listened to jazz. One spectacular concert was in Orlando with that city’s philharmonic which featured the incredible pianist, Yuja Wang. Not only did she play a full concert, she gave five encores. This thirty-nine year old gorgeous woman wears the most provocative evening gowns/dresses, mini sequinned outfits and Laboutin stilettos. If she were not such an extraordinary performer she couldn’t get away with these clothes. She is also very beautiful and a very committed passionate pianist. It is such fun watching her and listening to her. She radiates joy!

various pictures from Howey concerts and us dressed for deco gala

the gorgeous Yuja

I also watched the new Met opera production in HD of Tristan und Isolde starring the brilliant Soprano Lise Davidsen. Now if you know me you know that I escort people to the opera, and before we go to these performances in the movie theatre, everyone comes to my house and I give a preview. This helps folks understand what they will be seeing. It is also very good for me. Many times I know the operas we will see. I may even have sung in them, but in this instance I had no familiarity with this Wagner opera. I had to learn it so I could talk about it, and I memorize my talks as I know they are more interesting than listening to me read. I do read the official synopsis of the story that the Met puts out, but other than that, my talk is personal. I also sing something that matches sort of. In this instance I never sang any Wagner, but I did sing a great deal in German so that’s what they got. From the feedback, I know that my tour through the opera, including gossip, history, explanations of specifics like voice categories is appreciated, and my opera lovers are growing.

Lisa and Michael

The opera was spectacular if very long, but then that is Wagner. The new production by Yuval Sharon was riveting and highly innovative. And Davidsen has a voice of our time. It is huge, dramatic and lyrical at the same time. She is very very pretty and at over six feet in height towers over most everyone in the stellar cast. And an excellent cast it was, with Michael Spyres as Tristan, holding his own. The opera was thoroughly enjoyable and the seats in the Epic Theatre that recline, help with an occasional nap here and there. We always take lunches, and sweaters for the air conditioning.

As you know I love food and one of our favorite restaurants in Orlando’s Winter Park, is Soseki. We have been going there since they first opened, and this year they were celebrating their fifth anniversary with their special highlights of the previous years. They focus on seafood which pleases us. They featured a great deal of sushi and sashimi, caviar, fois gras and pork belly. We savoured every morsel. They also do a very entertaining presentation and everyone is seated at the sushi counter so we can watch much of the food preparation.

Finally a happy highlight for us was a visit from our grand daughter, June. She is now sixteen and very charming and a delight to have around. She loves shopping and my dear friend and neighbour, Sheila, is and expert at bargains. We went to TJ Max, Ross, Target, and Bealls discount. Even I got into the fun. Afterwards, we met Charles at our fave seafood joint, Tiki West, for some delicious fish chowder. When June visited years ago we went to Gatorland ,and she remembered loving it, so we planned a return visit. This time she wanted to try zip-lining over the gators. I was impressed because although she was apprehensive, she wanted to experience the thrill, and forced herself to do it. She enjoyed it. One evening we ate on our lanai, and had barbecued shrimp, and she tried a sip of cognac. We packed up the empty bottle and she took it home to Quebec. It makes a nice vase for flowers. June loved the pool and spent a great deal of time just swimming around in it with me. We look forward to a return visit next year.

June ready for zip line, what she sailed over…

So my happiness quota is filled and it is now Easter. Passover was this week as well, and we shared our Seder with 8 friends, and I delighted in preparing this feast, cooking for five days. My table is always ready a few days ahead so I can enjoy looking at it on the lanai.

Passover table waiting for ten

I wish you all joy!

Till next time,

Riki