Hello and welcome to Weekend Coffee Share #65! I’m glad you’re here. Please come on in, help yourself to a cup of coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate at my coffee station and let’s chat.
Week 15/ 52
It was a week of sunny days, periods of showers, and above normal temperatures that reached 18C (64F) on Wednesday afternoon. I’m thinking of good things that happened this week.
1. Friendship
One of my longtime friends lives in the suburbs, about an hour drive from me. She had appointments downtown yesterday so we arranged to meet for coffee. It was a happy reunion because even though we’ve been in touch, we haven’t seen each other for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Garden walks
I took several lovely garden walks this week. In any garden, especially in spring, a walk is a sensory and therapeutic experience. At least, I see flowers, hear bird songs, smell the freshly churned soil, and feel the coolness in the air and the warmth of sunlight.
My neighbourhood looks more and more beautiful every day as we get further into spring. Sunlight, rain, and warmer temperatures have sped up plant growth. I enjoy looking out for early spring flowers in gardens. They are emerging and showing off their cheerful colours.
3. Birding
I saw beautiful red cardinals, American robins, European starlings, and red-winged blackbirds. They were all singing their wonderful bird songs. Toronto is on one of the major bird migration paths so we have many bird species year-round. I feel fortunate to hear the sounds of nature so clearly while living in a big city. I also found four new cute birdhouses.
4. Photography
I went through my pictures taken at Allan Gardens Conservatory and had fun creating an Orchid slideshow. I’ve seen most of these orchid varieties in stores, except the Bell orchid tree from tropical Africa. Their beauty brightens my day and transports me to faraway places. Click on the arrows or swipe to see the images.
5. Books
Three e-books that I requested from the library arrived. They were new releases in January and February 2022. Two of the books are from familiar authors, and one is a debut novel from a new-to-me author. I’m excited to read new books and discover new authors. I love my library’s digital services and the convenience of e-books. I keep track of what I’ve read here.
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That wraps up Week 15 of 2022. In spite of mixed weather, it was a lovely week. Trees are in bloom, birds are singing, good coffee and new books are waiting. I look forward to a relaxing weekend with my family and Week 16 coming up. I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend.
How has your week been?
Shared with #CellpicSunday, #Lens-Artist Challenge, #PPAC, #SpringFestival, #ThursdayDoors.
Copyright © 2023 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
Hi Natalie, it has been a good week here too. We have been planning our Easter menu and are looking forward to a visit from our daughter on Sunday. I love your orchid slideshow. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Suzanne, Your weekend plan sounds great. Have a wonderful time!
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Hi Natalie – how lovely that you could catch up with your friend face to face after such a long time apart. It’s so nice to get back to doing more normal stuff again isn’t it? Those little birdhouses are really cute – do birds actually use them or are they just for colour and decoration?
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Hi Leanne, It was a great catch-up with my friend. I found the cute birdhouses in areas with high bird traffic so I think they’re both for bird use and decoration. I found a few bird nests, too.
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I’m glad you had a nice week. The photos are lovely. I hope you have a great weekend.
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Thank you, Dan. I’m pleased you like my photos. Have a great weekend!
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Your week sounds perfect. I especially like the photo of the dwarf irises. I’ve never seen them around here. As for my week, it is finally getting sunny and warm outside so I won’t complain.
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Yes to sunny skies and warmer temperatures after winter season. Have a great weekend, Ally!
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Happy Easter 🌷
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Thank you for your visit. Happy Easter!
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What a lovely post!
Thanks so much for linking up.
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Thank you, Dawn. Spring has brought beautiful blooms and colours.
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This post had a nice Easter feel to it. Must be the flowers and their colours as well as the bird houses. It snowed here earlier this week so I welcome this post a little bit more.
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I’m pleased you like the nice Easter feel of my post. Have a great weekend!
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Happy Easter!
I love those orchids.
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Happy Easter, Susan! Glad you love the orchids.
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Spring surely arrived for you! It sounds like a wonderful week. Nothing compares to old friends. Happy Easter!
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Longtime friendships are treasures. Happy Easter, Maria!
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Love your pics this time (well, OK, I love your pics all the time). Those birdhouses are adorable! And gardens truly are a sensory and therapeutic experience. I love observing how they change through the seasons and the little bits of magic hidden throughout.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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Janet, The birdhouses are delightful to see. I love to observe gardens through the four seasons, too. Have a great weekend!
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It looks like you had a lovely week. Those bird houses are adorable. Are they a “thing” where you live… do you see a lot of them?
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I see birdhouses in areas with high traffic of birds e.g. wetlands, public gardens, bird sanctuary. They get ‘refreshed’ every few months. I must have seen at least twenty in the past year.
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Your week looks good – and so many signs of spring too. Bird watching is always fun, and how nice to meet an old friend too.
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Spring has sprung here for sure. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Happy Easter to you all too~
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Thank you.
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Such beautiful flowers!! I love orchids in all their forms. We have only recently begun to spot red wing blackbirds around too and I just love their cheery little chirps.
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The red-winged blackbirds here become aggressive once they start nesting.
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Wishing you a Happy Easter and a Happy Spring. I’m jealous of your sunny skies. Vancouver Island has been uncharacteristically cold!
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Thank you, Donna, for your warm wishes. I hope VI weather improves soon. It’s cool and sunny in Toronto this weekend, with rain in the forecast for Monday.
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Love the Spring flowers 🙂
Thanks for the colorful Party – have a great weekend!
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Thank you Valeria for your visit and comment. Have a great weekend!
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You too!
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Again you paint Toronto in such beautiful, vivid colors. The birdhouses are adorable, the flowers gorgeous, and the weather perfect for walking. What could be better?
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Marsha, Spring has sprung over here. It’s cool and sunny today and tomorrow. I’m loving all the fresh colours, birds and flowers on my walks. Have a wonderful weekend!
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You too.
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Sounds like a great week full of flowers friends and photography. I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend.
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Thank you, Trent. Have a great weekend!
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Wishing you a happy Easter. I love warmer weather and spring flowers.
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Thank you, Anne. I love warmer weather and spring flowers, too. Have a great weekend!
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It looks like you had a great week. Garden walks are my favourites too. These photos are beautiful. Pretty to see the birdhouses.
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Thank you, Amila. Spring has brought beautiful things with the season.
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Hi Natalie,
Reunions with old friends and orchids both were pleasant images you shared.
Reunions with old friends are always pleasant, moving experiences and those orchids. . . .
My father, a tough old hunter, truck driver who loved family, friends, and oddly, collecting orchids so I grew up with them around the back yard where he could care for them.
Great memories. Thanks for bringing both to mind.
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Thank you Gary for sharing your memories. How wonderful that your father collected and cared for orchids. They’re not easy to grow here in cold climate. I appreciate seeing them in florists’ shops or Allan Gardens Conservatory.
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Very pretty flowers and birdhouses.
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Thank you, Deborah. I’m pleased you like them.
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Natalie, those are such beautiful flowers! My dog would love that walk. 🙂 I’ve been noticing lovely birds around here too but never seem to have a camera handy when that happens. Maybe someday!
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Pam, Your dog would have so much fun chasing the birds and squirrels on this walk.
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Indeed!
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Love the bird boxes. They are so cute.
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They made me smile. I’m pleased you love them.
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I also love Toronto’s e-library services!
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It’s the best.
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Your warm temps sound wonderful, Natalie! Beautiful flowers! Happy Easter to you and your family!
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Thank you, Terri. Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful trip. Happy Easter to you and your family, too.
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It’s not quite Spring yet here in North Dakota! Impatiently waiting here. 🙂
Happy Easter!!
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John, There was a big snow storm that hit Manitoba and Saskatchewan, north of North Dakota, a few days ago. I hope you were not affected by it. Happy Easter!
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It went through North Dakota like a freight train, but fortunately for us, it missed the south east corner where we live.
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Such a nice post that screams spring. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a Happy Easter.
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Thank you, Patrick. I saw new spring flowers today while I was out for a walk. Have a wonderful weekend!
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I completely agree walking in a garden is sensory bliss! I also love hearing the birdsong. Glad you got some new books from the library.
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I took another lovely walk today. I hope you’re also enjoying spring.
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Hi Natalie,
Happy Easter. Thanks for sharing your orchid photos. They’re stunning. I also loved the bird boxes and am thinking of setting some up at home. Hope you have a great week ahead.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Hi Rowena, I’d love to see the birdhouses when you set them up in your yard. I’m pleased you liked my orchid photos. Have a wonderful week!
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Such beautiful flowers. I love spring!
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It’s lovely to see spring flowers after winter.
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Those Glory of the snow are beautiful! I just love spring flowers. I want to hit our local tulip fields, but it’s supposed to rain all week. I love the bird feeders as well and there’s nothing better than coffee with a friend.
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I hope you get to go to your local tulip fields. Daffodils and tulips have started blooming here and should last through May.
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Spring must be your favorite season, Natalie! The colors and smells and promise of new life, the days warming up, outdoor activities picking up… We had a nice Easter week, trying to stay off the beaches, because Semana Santa is very popular with Mexicans who then have a week off and camp and party the entire time! 🙂
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Hi Liesbet, It makes sense to stay off the beaches during Semana Santa. Over here Spring brings longer daylight hours, nice colours, more greenery, bird songs, and gradually warmer temperatures. They’re all good for my outdoor activities 🙂
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Love the birdhouses!!! My favourite is the red-roofed one – so fairy-like.
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The red-roofed birdhouse is one of my favourites, too.
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Those birdhouses are so cute! We have lots of birds that pass by our yard. We don’t have a birdhouse, but I’d been putting away my organic scraps (fruit seeds, fruit peel) in the yard so they’ve been feasting themselves!
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It’s nesting time in spring so the birds would appreciate your organic scraps to feed themselves and their young ones. I thought about getting pre-made plain birdhouses and paint them but I haven’t decided yet.
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Natalie, this post is perfect for the colorful expressions challenge. It is so full of color and a story to go with it.
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Thank you, Anne, for hosting. When I saw your challenge topic, I wanted to enter the challenge as Spring brings many beautiful colours.
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I’m so glad you entered and I hope you keep posting to the LAPC challenges.
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I’ll try to participate more often.
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Great selections and variety. superb.
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Thank you, John, for your visit and comment. Spring flowers are blooming here so it’s easy for me to photograph a variety of flowers and colours.
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