A Week of Contrasts

I lay in bed for awhile after I awoke, too stiff to make the great effort to get up and reflected on the past week. A week of contrasts for sure. My two boys plus a girlfriend are here -that in itself is a contrast as it is the first time in 18 months they've all been here. It is quiet now as they are all still asleep, but when they are all up, the house rings out with voices and laughter, catching up on activities and adventures. Nellie, while loving all the extra attention is stressed as evidenced by the whining and terrible terrier behaviour of grabbing toys and shaking them. I am not a clean freak, but everywhere I look, there is evidence of kids -socks balled up and left all over, dishes in the sink, tables, computer desk, bathroom -who eats in the bathroom????? I do love them dearly but I am more used to my couple ways than I thought I was.
Christmas was not all I had hoped it would be. Christmas Eve day, I had a very bad fall. We were having our traditional family skate/hockey game that has been a tradition for 30 years now. Family/kids/grandkids, inlaws etc. from 3 to 87 participate. I'm a good skater but as I was skating along talking to a cousin, I tripped ??? and fell headlong onto the ice. Instinctively the hands went up to protect my face and as a reult I hit the ice fully on the chest. The wind was knocked out of me and I recalled the only other time in my life when the wind was completly knocked out of me was when I was a child of 9, playing baseball and the batters ball struck me in the chest. It took what seemed like forever to get even a little air in my lungs again. That was it for me. JJ helped me off the ice to the change room. I thought I should likely go to the hospital to get checked out, but knowing they don't do anything for ribs if they are cracked/broken and our small local hospital is notorious for 6 hour waits to see anyone I opted to just go home. After all I reasoned, I had 20 people coming this evening for dinner, preparations to finsh and it was going to hurt more tomorrow. I enjoyed the evening thanks in part to painkillers and 2 pomegranate martinis -couldn't do cleanup and could hardly get into bed. I am a side sleeper -that was out, but lying on my back felt like I had a truck sitting on my chest. I didn't get alot of sleep, I was so uncomfortable, could only breath very shallowly and even that hurt. JJ said I moaned all night -I don't recall. I admit, getting out of bed in the morning made me cry. Once I was up I was better, but oh was the chest wall hurting, Again I carried on with the traditional breakfast for my husbands sisters and my own family. It was simple and JJ helped a bit. Oven bacon, eggs, cinnamon buns and fruit. I stayed home while Lindsay and JJ went to pick up Ryan and his girlfriend who arrived early afternoon by train from Toronto. We went to watch my sister in laws grandchildren and family open gifts and have dinner -which I love -young children are so much fun at Christmas. With the help of pain killers I got through the day -retired early with a double dose of muscle relaxants.
I still haven't gone to get checked out but as for a self diagnosis I'm sure I have bruised ribs with possibly a few cracked ones. I checked some medical sites for descriptions. I skipped the traditional Boxing Day extended family gathering and stayed home by myself so I wouldn't have to pretend I was OK. I'm not OK but doing the typical mom thing I want my kids to eat well when they are home and enjoy themselves. When they are gone I will really be able to relax and recover before returning to work next week. I received some great books and yarn as gifts -we were hoping to go skiing but that's out for awhile......skipping the whole Christmas thing and going to a tropical island with hot sunny beaches and warm turquois water sounds really appealing....maybe next year......

Solstice Birdwatching

There were a great number of birds at the feeders today -distracting me from my tasks -I baked crescent rolls, cinnamon buns and created centerpieces -but I kept trying to take pictures of the birds through the windows. It snowed heavily all day but has almost stopped now -more shoveling!!! First picture there are Juncos, Goldfinches and Purple Finches.
Goldfinch and a female Cardinal lower left corner (blurry)

Male Cardinal


Female Cardinal

There were several female and several male cardinals together which is typical until spring -(family group???) The male is very flashy but the female is stunning in her colouration. My dad and I used to call each other all the time in the winter to brag how many Cardinals we could see at the feeders or outside in the trees. I miss that.....when the Cardinals start whistling in late Feb./early March -better weather is only about 3 weeks away. I know the habits of many birds so well that they have become indicators of seasonal/daily events. Blessings to all on this Solstice day -darkness has fallen as I post for the third time today....

Solstice II

At 7am, this is what it looks like from the back door -storm warning predicts 20 -30 cm of blowing snow, high winds. It will make the traditional Solstice gathering of greens for the house difficult, but not impossible. I know the trees I'm harvesting from, having scouted them out before -some pine, fir and spruce -they are all in a protected edge of the bush which is close the house -and Nellie will love being out in the snow. I use artificial greenery in the house but always bring in lots of real greenery on the Winter Solstice Day. The traditional Balsam wreath is made and ready to be hung inside. With our heated houses it is just too difficult to use entirely fresh greens to decorate. They quickly dry out and become a fire hazard. I mist the wreath a couple of times a day and keep the other greenery well watered and misted and it will be OK until the new year. The living greenery for me, is symbolic of the survival of life against the odds -the lack of light and the deep cold of winter. The boughs, that I fill crocks and pitchers with, make arrangements out of and the living wreath all represent hope and new life in the coming months.

Lindsay arrived home safely yesterday, several hours late but home. Nellie quickly bonded and now follows this lovely new person everywhere looking for attention -which she gets, because she is irresistibly cute.

Solstice Blessings

SOLSTICE

dawn creeps in
crystal clear
intrepid
yet
calm
endings
become
beginnings
savor this juncture
for the road ahead
is long
and arduous
but in this moment
all things
are possible

© 1997 Judy Anne

Winter Lights

I use themes to structure my lessons around for my class of intellectually disabled kids. Our theme for the month of December has been "Winter Lights". The delightful book by Anna Grossnickle Hines (http://www.aghines.com/ by the same name was my starting point as we studied Kwanzaa, Hannukkah, Los Posados, and the Winter Solstice. The kids read, researched, made posters, cards, we cooked food typical of each celebration, we studied candles, firelight, built a bonfire outside, made rolled beeswax candles, ice candles and lanterns made from tin cans. The candles and lanterns were decorated and wrapped as gifts for their families. They were very enthusiastic about the whole theme and loved making the gifts. I am very glad however that school is out for a 2 week break -I need a break from the routine and the intense demands and assistance they require. Lindsay as I write this is still stuck in Toronto airport waiting on a flight to bring him to Ottawa. There is quite a storm going on there and here -I'm trying to keep busy!!!!!
Milk, juice and/or other square or cylindrical containers are saved and filled with ice around a taper candle. New or wax from old burned down candles is melted and poured over the ice. Wait for a day and pour off melted water and tear off the container. An ice candle!

I love using recycled items for crafts -look what old tin cans can become . Tops are removed and the cans are filled with water and frozen -then, on an old towel, holes are punched into the sides from the top down (the ice breaks) in patterns or just randomly. Put a tea light in and voila a lantern. You can decorate the outside bottom and/or add a handle if you wish to hang them.

Baby's coming home!

Lindsay, my beautiful, funny, adventurous, risk taking younger son is supposed to arrive home this afternoon from Edmonton, Alberta -way across this big country of ours -that is if his flight doesn't get cancelled due to the BIG snowstorm in Toronto area (he lands in Toronto deplanes and takes another plane to Ottawa, where we pick him up). He has not been home the past 2 Christmas's and I haven't seen him for 18 months -do I ever miss his laughter , smiles and those hugs!! Can't wait!!! In the picture he is on a climb in the Rockies on Mount Athabasca -nice scenery-he doesn't tell me until after his adventures so I won't worry about him -he tells his dad but he doesn't tell me either....men, they don't realize that is part of our job! Have a great day.

Sunset Quakers

The sky was so dark with flurries this afternoon I didn't think there would be any sunset worth seeing - wrong -I glanced out the window a short time ago as I was making a cup of hot chocolate -saw the gorgeous colours ....jumped into boots and threw on a coat and ran down to the rivers edge.

A few small flocks of geese are still hanging around but today there were flocks of Black Ducks everywhere - "quackers" as we affectionately call them. Most of them took off as I came floundering close to the rivers edge but I managed to capture some of them and the setting sun - so many pretty colours on the snow -but it faded so quickly. Lots of ocean going ships passing by, one after the other trying to get out of the Seaway system before it closes for the season on Sunday. Some were decked out in Christmas lights last night but I didn't have my camera with me at 9 at night - tonight I will!!!

Treats

Christmas Cashew Balls

-free of dairy, wheat, yeast, corn, sugar, eggs, soy, nightshades and gluten-

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted roasted cashew pieces (250ml)

1/8 tsp ground cardamon(.5ml)

1 cup dates, finely chopped (250ml)

Zest of 1 orange

1 Tbsp. orange juice (15ml)

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (125ml)

1.Grind cashews, in a food processor (not too fine). Add in cardamon, dates, orange peel, and orange juice and mix.

2.Roll into small balls, then roll in coconut. Eat and enjoy! No baking.( I keep mine in the fridge)

Easy, easy easy and so tasty and naturally sweet! I made these last night for our Chinese gift exchange after school tonight -none left -that's a good sign!!

This is one of my tall, skinny"Father Christmas's" that I make -I have made many for family and friends as keepsakes. I use recycled coats or other clothing bits, (including the bits of fur), beards of Angora goat hair from my neighbour, old bits of jewelery or other memento's that are given to me by the person who wishes one. The base is a slice of log, with wooden body, wire armature (my friend is an electrician and he saves me electrical wire scraps from jobs, which I strip to reveal the lovely bendable heavy copper wire. The heads and hands and some of the toys in the sack are purchased, sometimes I use what ever people give me as memento's they want included. They come in blue, browns, greens, old fur, white but I don't think I've ever made a red one or a fat one -I prefer the tall, even exceptionally tall regal looking Father Christmas. I have one I still hope to make this year, but time is getting short so it may not be ready before Christmas -need to scavenge some more bits and pieces as well.......there has been some discussion on a few blogs I visit about Santa's other than red....I definitely vote for browns and greens -my favourite!!! Happy night to all....

Snowmen

My kitchen is decorated for the season with "snowmen". I don't love the snow all the time but I love snowmen -I like looking at snowmen decorations, I like making snowmen, and I make an awesome "real" snowman! Most of these decorations stay up for the winter -I find them cheerful during our long , cold , dark winter here in Ontario. I use little white lights over the doorways, hutch and counter top -some of them remain all year -I love the ambient light they give off. Many of the snowflakes are crocheted gifts from talented friends -I've never learned -maybe this year????

My skinny kitchen tree has snow folk of all descriptions that I've collected over the past 30 years. A treasured few are from my childhood. After mom & dad died dividing up the ornaments that my 3 siblings and I grew up with ,was one of the harder tasks -everyone had their favourites and sometimes they were the same!

My friend Dorothy is a full time artist -"Father Frost" was a gift a few years ago when she played with Fimo clay. My kids think he's creepy, but he lives at the top of the skinny tree each winter, doing his frosting from there.

I've made most of the wooden, painted and fabric snowmen over the years and am always on the lookout for snowmen cookie jars -these ones are filled with chocolate chip cookies, JJ's favourite.

Frosty Full Moon

Well, I actually missed the moon at her fullest this month due to cloud cover, snowstorms etc. The skies cleared enough early this morning as the moon was setting to get a few pictures.

It was very cold as I let Nellie out this morning so I checked the thermometer -"-25C"!!!

With the slight breeze the wind chill was much greater -great clouds of mist rolled off the river but I didn't feel much like venturing out -so I took some pictures from the back door and out the kitchen window -it worked!

I did venture out to the village later, to do what I call gather -with list in hand, I visited shops to gather a bit of this and a bit of that from the various establishments. I was very pleased with the efforts -not only did I run into lots of lovely people I haven't seen for ages, but managed to gather all the ingredients I need for some Christmas baking, several gifts for family members and mail the last of the holiday letters and gifts. I finished wrapping gifts when I got home and phoned one son and older sister. To my surprise she informed me she fell a few days ago on ice and broke her right arm in 2 places! Luckily she has wonderful friends who have helped her out driving her to appointments and doing the chores (she has 2 Arabians) Her girls are due home over the next week so they can help out for a few weeks.

Tonight I hope to finish some knitting and perhaps just snuggle in front of a fire and watch a movie with JJ -we've both been a little under the weather so that sounds like a good plan.

Collections

My older son claims I'm a collector of wierd things, my younger son calls them my stiffs, and my husband...well he has his own collections, so never says much. I enjoy getting out my horse collection this time of year. I have rocking horses from 2cm - 35cm, mostly wooden, but some glass, china, brass and other metal s.

In my computer room I have a mini "Horse" tree. When my nieces were young they loved playing with the ornaments and still give me ornaments every year. I have no idea why I have a horse tree - some of my non animal loving relatives just chalk it up to the fact that I'm the animal lover...then shudder ....I just don't get people that don't love animals the way I do???? The tree top running horse was made by me over 30 years ago to top my very first "tree"......

Ice Covered World

The setting sun yesterday turned the world into a landscape of glittering trees -better than any display of Christmas lights. The skies cleared about 3p.m. after 48 hours of snow/ice rain off and on. It was breathtaking (pictures just can't capture the glitter) and yet I worried -definitely a bad trait of mine -I worry that the sun came too late to melt the ice weighing heavily on the evergreens, I worry a wind will come up and we'll have more broken branches -I worry....

As the sun went down, the glittering diamonds in the trees turned to sparkling yellow gold coated branches.....

...as I took this last picture from my side door......a loud crack.....downed branches....not from our trees but from our closest neighbours......I worry -that is why I'm posting this in the middle of the night -not sleeping again.......too much on my mind.

Winter storms and Juncos

Snowed all day yesterday which has brought out more birds to the feeders....Cardinals, Goldfinches, Dark-Eyed Juncos, House Sparrows were seen -I love to watch them inside the Bristlecone Pine behind the red feeder -they get a seed go back inside the tree, visit with their friends, hop up and down the tree -then out to get more food....
We woke up this morning to a real mess -we've had about 25cm of snow, a few hours of ice rain and it is still snowing!!!

Ice coated Rosa Rubifolia -the school buses were cancelled all over Eastern Ontario today -it will take me hour an hour to clean the snow and ice off my car so I'm not rushing in to school -no kids but we are still expected to show up -late is OK however so I'm not rushing.

Coldest Day Yet

After hours of combing out every little knot in Nellie's long coat, she was ready for a bath and haircut yesterday. She always looks like a different dog -she's white, with black skin that makes her look gray on top because it is clipped so close! It was soooo cold out this morning - -21C with a windchill of -27C -I put her coat on -most of the time I don't think she cares -she loves the snow and cold -but it makes me feel better -I had on the heavy boots, snow pants, hat and long scarf wrapped around my face for our morning walk -the wind was from the east -cold and damp blowing over the water.
Finished some snowflakes this weekend, and I always hang them up for a day or two to see if any adjustments are needed after looking at them awhile -I wish the sun would come out so I can see them sparkle!

We went to a Christmas Farmers Market in a local village on Saturday, got some Octoberfest Sausage, some locally made wine and a dark fruitcake made by some delightful senior ladies. I love dark fruitcake -my mom used to always make it, but I'm the only one in my family who likes it so I usually buy a small loaf from local ladies raising funds for something or other now
instead of making my own. On our way home we drove a different route and discovered a new art gallery in the country. We had a great visit with the owner in the dog friendly gallery and I fell in love with a number of paintings -turned out the owners father painted them. We left but went back -JJ, the dear husband that he is let me buy one! I have a frame that fits it with a few adjustments will take a picture of it once I have framed it -love it -an impressionist landscape with my favourites -rocks, trees, fall colours and sky!!! I love it!!!

Studio Day

Friday at last -especially fabulous when it looks to be like a mostly sunny day! After days and days of such dreary gray weather, it is nice to see a golden sunrise.....
I consider myself lucky to have a large bright studio to play in ....it is a very multipurpose place depending on what I feel like doing...stained glass, sewing, quilting, painting, scrapbooking......with lots of storage space...I have a lot to store....not a magazine quality studio....but it works for me......currently, trying to finish up several glass mosaic windows and cut glass snowflakes for birthday and Christmas gifts....

...stored on the shelves are fabric, glass, unfinished projects on bottom shelves......on the walls, bits and pieces, experiments, some trial paintings, etc

...snowflake in progress

...I'll post a pic of this completed snowflake... I'll finish this one tonight.....

...on the way home from school today the sun was still trying hard to shine ...this was about 3 p.m.....I love the little sunbeams......

Recovering

The days have continued to be dark and dreary here lately -with only a peek of sun now and again. I do miss the sun even though the sun and I are enemies -well at least my skin and the sun are....I had some minor surgery on my shoulder this week -that is the skin....to remove 5 moles and the area around them -just to be sure. I have very fair -very freckly skin with lots of moles on certain parts of my body. The moles have decided to grow and multiply -something they aren't suppose to do. My doctors have always told me to stay out of the sun and wear sunblock -which I do-but being such an outdoor person staying out of the sun has not been an option. I hope none turn out to be malignant -next week I have more removed from the other side....just slightly uncomfortable -removing the bandages to change them hurt the most! I have been worried about them for some time which probably accounts for the sleepless nights lately. JJ's birthday is today -we are going out for Chinese food with friends -JJ and Ellen share the same birth date so we always celebratwe together...it is 7am -time to leave for school...in the dark...

Canada Geese

For a few weeks each year our property is like a bird sanctuary for the migrating Canadian Geese. The flocks, typically spend the days inland on corn fields foraging, then at dusk take off by the thousands and head to the islands in the St. Lawrence River.
From our backdoor on Friday, looking skyward as some flocks fly over mid afternoon. It was a dreary, rainy day but the sky turned this beautiful soft, dove gray as the flocks began to arrive on the river.

Honking geese fills the air until 10 - 11 at night, then presumably they sleep because it is usually quiet until daylight when they start honking morning greetings before taking off again. Thousands stay in the area until the first big cold snap occurs then most of them head farther south. Some will stay all winter unless the river freezes completely -something it did up to 10 years ago, now rarely does. I was 10, when my family moved to this area of the province. At that time the river was frozen solid enough to skate on by December each year. If the river freezes over now, it rarely happens until the coldest part of winter here in late January, early February. It usually breaks up by mid to late March as the weather warms again.

Josh, my niece's 5 year son, stayed with us Friday night and yesterday. He was fascinated by the geese and watching the flocks. Of course, I told him all about the "lessons" we can learn from geese. He claimed there must be at least 142 geese in the big field......"Eileen........" he said with his face all screwed up in thought........."I think there is more.....maybe 143"........I agreed there must be at least that number, maybe a lot more even. "Ya....... tell me again how the geese stay and look after a sick goose?" He was most impressed at the fact that if a goose from a flock becomes sick or injured that 2 other geese will drop out and stay behind with it until it either dies or is well enough to go on. We've seen that happen almost every year on the river.

Florida Bound

Booked tickets for Florida for JJ and myself last night -it is a surprise for his birthday next week -we've been debating it for several weeks now, and since I've been feeling blue all week (SAD seems to kick in earlier every year) I needed something to look forward to and a birthday gift - we don't go till March, but knowing we're going somewhere I love, helps me get through the months of cold and darkness ahead. We're lucky that JJ's sister has a beautiful winter home in Matlacha, that we can stay at. Last year there 11 of us (all family) - it was a tad crowded but great fun with the 4 little kids. We'll be there alone this year -which is nice too. Matlacha is a small, fishing /artist village off the coast of Fort Myers Florida. There are dozens of art galleries, studios, great fresh seafood, great bargain shopping, great little bars with great local bands - I don't drink but it is fun to go out and mix with the natives and listen to the music, beaches, wildlife and birds -did I mention I love bird watching and photographing birds??? This is one of a pair of wood storks that have a huge nest on top of a monkey puzzle tree on the corner of the property.

Backyard shot of the pool, seawall and some mangrove islands off to the west of the house. We can kayak everyday to see nesting sites in the mangroves, watch the dolphins swim by everyday at high tide, see great sunsets and fish off the seawall - although I hate cleaning them -it is easier to walk to the fish market every night.

The house is typical of southwest Florida - on a large property with lots of palm trees, sea grape and other exotics (to me anyway) on a point of land surrounded by water on 2 sides - no close neighbours......it makes me so happy just thinking about it.....want to go back to the everglades again this year -to see the gators of course!!

Morning Romp

Nellie and I met our neighbour dog "Yukon" early this morning. He is a large (read -overweight) affectionate Pointer. Both dogs love to run and play so I let Nellie off leash on Yukon's property ( he will not leave it -so I know Nellie was safe). They ran and played for 20 minutes -getting completely wet and muddy -that's what towels are for...right. Yukon's owner came out and called me over to introduce me to Yukon's early Christmas present -an adorable little orange and white kitten -who freaked when he saw Nellie come tearing up. I'll get a picture next time. I came home lamenting yet again to JJ that Nellie needs a kitty too -but I don't think he's going to budge on that....anytime soon .

anyway...

Some days school is difficult or frustrating, but then there are days like today when everything goes better than planned and the kids are wonderful, engaged, creative and today -especially funny. I have 2 autistic teens in my care and both have these amazingly funny sides to them which we don't see too often. Today we started a new unit in Language/Life Skills celebrating the Lights of Winter. I hope to explore with them how people around the world use lights in winter celebrations. Something about the way I introduced the topic hit a chord with them both and they were off -the often uncommunicative ones were spouting information and ideas faster than we could record them. Some of these ideas were so funny we all laughed until we had tears in our eyes. In order to engage these kids, my plans always include the ideas they find most exciting and/or slightly different paths than I originally have planned -keeps life exciting. We should have lots of fun during the next few weeks before our holiday break....

Redheads Have All The Fun

Pileated Woodpeckers used to be rare in this part of Ontario, but we've had several nesting pairs in the area for several years now. Beautiful, easy to spot due to the racket they make, their large size (40-45cm/14-16in)and distinctive call, but very destructive to the large trees that they fill with their holes. I love to watch them hop backwards down trees -Nellie and I followed this guy (the males have that red line from beak to throat) from tree to tree in the nearby park this afternoon -I forgot all about how cold and gray it is today!

Cold Day

Cold, but sunny day (-17 C wind chill), did some outdoor decorating -cutting boughs and branches for pots, window boxes -until my hands were frozen. This afternoon I began to design some stained glass snowflakes I want to make for gifts and was pleasantly interrupted by my dear friend Ellen, who arrived WITH a pot of fresh coffee -delighted, we went inside (I was in my studio), lit a fire, poured our coffee ,added some vanilla flavoured milk substitute and "Rye Whiskey" Delightful!!! I am not much of a drinker and never the hard stuff but I enjoyed this concoction!!! We spent the next hour looking at recent photos I've taken and discussing Christmas plans in a very cozy room....great way to spend a Sunday....JJ hovered a bit, then decided to go watch football with a neighbour.....

Nellie loved the frozen grass and had to roll around in on our morning walk...

......the farmer who rents this 20 acre field from us finally cut the corn on Friday leaving the stubble quite high -not sure why?...he'll plant soybeans next year right into the stubble in an effort to conserve topsoil from being lost by
ploughing ..all the extra plant material also acts like a mulch to cut down on weed growth without resorting to herbicides...which I'm happy about......