Tapestry Threads

Happy Birthday Bella!

2011-04-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

March 31 was Bella's birthday....a wonderful 8 years old!!! Sadly I don't have puppy pictures as we only adopted her last Sept. -she must have been a cutie!!!
It was what I refer to as my "health week". I dislike doctors and put off all the annual stuff for as long as possible...then I make all the appointments for one week...dentist, optometrist (my distance vision has actually improved and so I am trying mono contacts to see how that goes before laser surgery), mammogram, and dermatologist (mole check). Everything is good for another year!!!!
The renovations continue......stripped wallpaper in the dining room, JJ finished laying hardwood in one bedroom, purchased a new washer and dryer for the laundry room, and painted in the bathroom -still one coat to go. We still have snow so no outside work yet. I'll try to do some sorting before I move furniture back into the bedroom. I think I'd like a new dresser ...maybe red?????

Return to Reality

2011-03-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

Fantastic to be away....so relaxing....but good to be back home to the wee doggies and even work!

It is amazing to love my job so much, sometimes I almost feel guilty thinking I get paid to work with these kids. I have to say it is due to how I run my classroom- high expectations, lots of fun, encouragement, mistakes are part of learning, hands on learning. As a result...kids who follow the rules and make sure their peers follow the rules, kids who teach skills to those that don't know them and lots of praise and encouragement among the kids themselves. Disabilities....what disabilities!!!!

We traveled inland from the west coast of Florida one day to visit the Audobon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. 2.5 miles of boardwalk through 5 regions of the swamp. Fascinating!! Took tons of pictures of the birds, butterflies, animals, reptiles, trees and vegetation. Here are a few......

White Great Egret

Painted Bunting

Bald Cypress Knees

Green Anole

Brown Anole

Black Crowned Night Heron

Construction

2011-03-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Had a busy, busy week trying to get as much done in the house before we take off for Florida tomorrow. Painted the laundry room all weekend, primer, 2 coats of paint on the walls and the trim. Monday JJ and a friend, then son put together the big cupboards that will stretch across one side of the room. Tues. and Wed. nights I had to finish report cards and Individual Education Plans for all my kids before the break. Last night we had another sbowstorm, freezing rain...so lucky for me the buses were all cancelled. I couldn't go in to school as I have not had a car for the past 2 days. Yea!!! Extra work day....I'm totally exhausted, my back hurts and I know I'll be sorry tomorrow...but heck ...I'll just be sitting on a plane heading for warmth and sunshine.
Got a call today from my oldest son Ryan...he presented his Masters Thesis today at York University in Toronto....he was successful!!!! School is done with an M.A.(Anthropology) after his name. He is coming home as I write this. He'll stay at home with the wee doggies, begin the job of looking for a job, and fill in the free time doing some renovation work around home. It is payback time!!!!

Little Crooked House

2011-02-28T07:42:00.000-08:00

There was a crooked man and woman,

who walked a crooked mile.

They found a crooked willow tree

beside a crooked creek.

They bought home two crooked dogs,

who caught the crooked mice,

and they all lived together in a little crooked house.

Well......not the poem you likely remember...but it fits us. We put down our books and decided it was time, once again, to begin work again on our little crooked house. (ongoing for 30 some years) This time the upstairs laundry room. Once upon a time...oh say a hundred years ago when JJ's grandparents added the second story to the house we live today, this room was likely a bedroom. When we moved in 30 some years ago....it became a laundry room...basement is to low and yucky for a laundry room. It has had only redecorating since. So rip out old walls, cover some up, new insulation, new gyprock, level the floor....unbelievably crooked all these years...everything was jacked up to level them. Oldest son came home for the weekend to help out the crooked parents.....he sanded the old wooden plank ceiling , which we decided to leave and helped me to paint it. Actually he did most of the painting and I painted the bathroom ceiling and got the walls in there ready for repainting this week. I hope to paint the laundry room walls after work this week then wait until the hired help comes to lay down the new floor. New cupboards to be assembled and refilled with the laundry room/linen cupboard's contents stashed all over the upstairs. Of course with construction comes dust...ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE.....I am hoping my older son comes home again during my March break to paint some more in the house and look after the terriers two while we go south to bask in the warm sunshine of Florida.

The Terriers Two

2011-02-20T10:19:00.000-08:00

What a week! The temperatures here have varied from plus 11C to minus 25C, up and down, up and down. The big thaw lasted for 3 days and nights with strong winds to pick up melting moisture so that we lost about 1 1/2 feet of snow....YEA!!! It has frozen solid again so the dogs can finally run around on the top of the snow in the yard again without getting lost.

After Nellie passed last August, I was so heartbroken that another dog right away was not even considered. Funny how things happen though....it was only days after she passed that I get a phone call from a man living 400 miles away. He was a breeder and my name had been given to him by another breeder that I met at a dog show early in the summer. I told her I was not interested in a puppy but rather wanted to adaopt an older dog in need of a home whenever I was ready for another dog. (we knew at that time Nellie was not going to survive as she did not respond to any treatment or medication in the previous 4 months) Would I be interested in a Lakeland Terrier, a young dog that needed a home???. Well as it turned out he lived 20 minutes from my older sister and we going to spend the Labour Day weekend with her in Sept........ we decided it was too soon but we'd look anyway.

To make a long story short....we went , we saw several dogs that needed homes and came home with 2 Lakeland Terriers. (neither one was the dog he originally called us about) In the above picture...Bogie, is 9, (on the left) and came from an elderly lady who had been hospitalized...terminal.....and Bella, was one of the breeders own dogs, a show dog that didn't work out -she is 7. They wanted to find a home for her as they wanted to breed more dogs and didn't have the room or time to devote to all of them.

They are terriers....lively, inquisitive, alert, playful...well Bogie is, Bella only plays outside with her giant ball and inside with a squeaky toy.
They both have issues(what dog doesn't have some)....but we are dealing with them with retraining. Smart dogs, somewhat stubborn, but sweet. Bogie is a real snuggle bunny...he is on my lap as soon as I sit down...even at the computer, responds to training with treats soooo easily, comes when he is called, sleeps against me at night...in fact follows me everywhere and is somewhat anxious when I leave him to go to work but gets over it quickly. Bella is a real watch dog...alert to any comings and goings in the neighborhood and alerts us. She sleeps downstairs by one of the doors and is not a lap dog.....she prefers to lie beside my husband on the couch...not with me at all. They get along well except when Bella barks too much, which neither we nor Bogie like...so he snarls and nips at her and she stops. He is the boss after all! They are easy to groom, easy to bathe and go next week for their first haircut since we got them. NON SHEDDING DOGS...love them!!! I still get tears in my eyes and a sad heart when I think of my little Nellie but the wee doggies (15 pounds each) Bella and Bogie have found a place in my big heart already. I can't imagine life without a dog or two to share it with.

2011-02-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

In memory of Nellie 2004 -2010

You Learn

After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn...
That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong

And you really do have worth...
And you learn and learn...
With every good-bye you learn.

by Jorge Luis Borges
Translation by Veronica A. Shoffstall

It has been almost a year...what a year. There have been very good times and very, very sad times. Several friends and neighbours passed away last year ...cancer...how very sad. We lost our dear, dear little dog Nellie in August after a rare blood disorder that did not respond to anything we tried. It just broke my heart.
My health seems to be on an upswing......it is so hard having an invisible illness (M.E). Work is going well....I have a great bunch of kids this year and a fantastic assistant-we make such a good team!!!
Lots of construction done or about to get underway around the old house and the cottage...will it ever end!!!
We couldn't imagine life without pets so we have adopted not one but two Lakeland Terriers...they are a challenge!!!
....but enough for now....the sun has risen and the day is about to unfold...more later...happy to be back!!!!

Warmer weather at last!

2010-03-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

Tt seems that a warm March is upon us. The temperatures have been above zero during the days -below zero at night -perfect to start an early maple sap run!! The creeks are opening up and flowing with meltwater and we have seen the sun every day the last week!!

When I left for work the other day a sheltered bit of flower bed was still a mound of snow -but at night....the first snowdrops!!!

We are off this Saturday for our annual March Break Florida trip. It has been cool this year so I hope it warms up for next week!! I love the Matlacha area of Florida where JJ's sister has a home on the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Reserve.

Look out beach....here we come......back on March 21......hope that the Manatees are still hanging about!!!

2010-03-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

The snow just keeps falling here in my corner of the world. Nellie loves it of course...she rolls, and rolls and shoves her face itos the drifts snowplow style every few feet. It has been a mild winter, not too many days in the minus 20's or 30's. But with that....lots of flurries, snow, cloudy weather....very dreary.

Last night's flurries were heavy and wet creating this snowball bush - in winter. I envy those bloggers from around the world who have frog spawn in ponds and the first flowers up. That is still months away here. March can be dreadful or mild and quite delightful...it is shaping up to be one of the delightful March's. My fingers are crossed!

The river was frozen over only for a few weeks this year. 40 years ago it used to freeze over in late November, we skated on it at Christmas and the ice didn't usually begin to break up until mid to late March......climate change....I think so.

Proud Canadian

2010-02-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

Jeff Foxworthy’s has something to say about Canadians

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May,
You may live in Canada.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t work there,
You may live in Canada.

If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You may live in Canada.

If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number,
You may live in Canada.

If ‘Vacation’ means going anywhere south of Detroit for the weekend,
You may live in Canada.

If you measure distance in hours,
You may live in Canada.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once,
You may live in Canada.

If you have switched from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ in the same day and back again,
You may live in Canada.

If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching,
You may live in Canada.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked,
You may live in Canada.

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them,
You may live in Canada.

If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You may live in Canada.

If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km – You’re going 95 and everybody is passing you,
You may live in Canada.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You may live in Canada.

If you know all 4 seasons:
Almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction,
You may live in Canada.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car,
You may live in Canada.

If you find -5 degrees ‘a little chilly’,
You may live in Canada.

If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your friends,
you definitely are Canadian and proud to be.

...and so it begins....

2010-01-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

"She decided to free herself, dance into the wind, create a new language. And birds fluttered around her writing "Yes" in the sky. It is here where she must begin to tell her story."

....and so it begins again, my blog that is, with words from a new journal I bought in December. The journal was purchased to record events and thoughts about spending "Christmas holidays" away from home for the first time in my 55 years. Not a word was written in the journal...too busy enjoying the view, the people, the sights, sounds and smells of Dominican Republic. (not to mention the hot days, warm starry nights, warm ocean, the rejuvenating sunshine, long walks on white sand beaches, meeting new people from all over the world....Fantastic Time!!!

.......why spend Christmas away from home and family???? The main reason was that neither of my sons were coming home this year.....one is in Edmonton and it so expensive for him to fly home during peak traveling time, the other, spent Christmas with his girl friends family a 5 hour drive away. My side of the family are all over an hour away from where I live and enjoy a simpler celebration of holidays. Christmas with my husbands family is a week long event of overindulgence in every sense of the word. I just can't handle the excess ....the food, gifts, gatherings, parties etc. When we returned I had everyone over for an afternoon and dinner of exchanging small gifts, visiting and a great but simple oven dinner. It was fun, simple and over in less than a day!. I don't like the commercialization of this holiday or any other holiday. As I grow older, I find my path turning towards a simpler observance of the changing seasons -not one dictated to me by the stores and Hallmark Cards.

......and so my story begins again. In the absence of posting I have still read my favourite blogs. So much has happened.......loved ones ill or dying, beloved pets passing on. Unfortunately 'tis the same here......This past summer we have lost several neighbours and high school friends all to various forms of cancer....still others are enduring the hardships of treatment......such a hideous disease.

......I have adjusted as well as anyone can to having M.E. Recently I was diagnosed with asthma and degenerative disc disease as well. I've learned to pace myself....sieze the days I feel good and do the things I enjoy the most. I love to travel and we have decided to do more of that. We spent a wonderful week in Cape Breton Island with our best friends and the dogs in August. Emile was born there and has lots of family...stories for another day......I'm off to Florida for our March break with my husbands sister....a story yet to come.....

This is the most unwinter day today....leaden grey skies...40mm of rain so far today with a big freeze coming tonight......but it was warm and misty....soft drizzly rain and snow fog when I walked Nellie this afternoon.....

It has been awhile.....

2009-06-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I've taken a break from blogland because I've had to deal with a changing health situation and a change in lifestyle, while outwardly trying to continue as if nothing has changed.
I know that I haven't been the same person that I once was for several years...it troubled me.....it frustrated me...it was depressing for me. I have sought the opinion of several doctors and naturopaths to try and come up with an explanation for all my "health" issues. Was it empty nest syndrome, was it menopause...was it something else????? It has been a long slow process, during which I have tried to be brave, tried to be cheerful, tried to be positive, tried to carry on as if nothing was wrong. On the outside ...nothing has changed...a few more gray hairs...a few more stubborn pounds. But JJ and a few close friends can attest...in the privacy of my home....I have been quite miserable and difficult to live with.
Recently, after another trip to the doctor, after months of massage therapy and chiropractic care (which did little to relieve symptoms), I was finally given a diagnosis. I have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. It is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is a serious illness that affects the whole body; predominantly the neurological, endocrine and immune systems. It is characterized by overwhelming fatigue and a vast array of other symptoms that are often debilitating. It is different for every person, different from day to day, season to season and even from hour to hour. That is why it is so difficult to diagnose and why doctors monitor a person for a long time to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms.
Research has failed as of yet to identify a specific cause or trigger -they have only come up with a list. Again, it could be one or a combination of things. There is no cure...but there are several treatment options that may or may not work. There are coping strategies which are an important part of the treatment program. Informing and educating friends, family and coworkers is one of these strategies. That is what I'm doing in this blog....informing my blog friends.
So....how does this affect me.......well......and this is very hard for me .....as I am a private person when it comes to my health, my feelings......but I have been encouraged by my doctor to start by describing my symptoms to a dozen or so people, talk about it openly and hopefully some understanding and support will follow when I need it......then talk to more people....and so on.
.......there are times that I am incredibly, overwhelmingly tired.......I've fallen asleep at the computer....during lunch time at school....in the car (as a passenger).....in the afternoons... in the evenings. I've missed alot of work this year because I was just feeling like shit! I have had to give up doing many things because I get so fatigued and in pain after the simplest of tasks....not to mention I often have difficulty concentrating...like reading a book - completing my required schoolwork took me twice or three times as long to do as it did several years ago. I actually asked my doctor last September if I was getting Alzheimer's because I had such a word retrieval problem....difficult especially when I was teaching!! Often I sleep 10, 12, 14 hours a day yet I feel like I didn't sleep at all. Other nights I can hardly sleep due to the muscle and joint pain that I have had daily for several years. Some days during this past winter I couldn't even walk around town to walk the dog...it hurt that much. My blood pressure and body temperature have been out of whack for several years...sometimes up...sometimes down......and I often have a sore throat. I get dizzy...not good driving home. I have had different headaches (not migraines from which I have had all my life)....just a dull ache that sometimes goes on for days. My joints and muscles have given me the most difficulty over the past year...I hurt ....all the time......I have had muscle weakness especially in the hands....I feel really stupid and useless when I have to ask someone to open a bottle of water for me....sometimes I can't even open a doorknob...I have to switch hands. I had several falls this winter.....I cracked ribs on a fall while skating and knocked myself out falling on the road during the winter.....I now know they were both likely due to dizzy spells and co-ordination problems I sometimes experience....sometimes I feel like a can't even walk right. I have multiple chemical sensitivities and multiple food intolerances ....both are symptoms of M.E. I often experience sensory overload....so by the time that school is over all I want to do is come home and sit (fall asleep) in a quiet house. The scariest symptom has been the depression. It isn't a symptom of M.E. but it often goes hand in hand with it as does suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Feeling like crap all the time with no answers, not being able to do the things I once did has caused me to withdraw from social activities and situations......it is hard keeping up a front. I have felt overwhelmingly sad and sorry for myself at times....
So....those are the worst symptoms....some I have learned to accept....I've made lots of changes and accommodations in my life......but have a long way to go........accepting this and making the changes has not been easy...it is ongoing..........modifying my activity levels, crucial in managing symptoms has been the most difficult.......JJ has been very supportive, generous and helpful to me and I am so thankful for Nellie who loves me no matter what I can and can't do. She makes me laugh at her antics every day. I have a few friends that have been there when I needed help and check on me when I'm sick and overwhelmed by life and try to keep me smiling. This is the real reason I started the blog several months back...to connect with people without the judgement I was getting...then for a time it became just too hard to write and read even the blogs I have so enjoyed...so I decided a bit of a break to get through to the end of school (nearly there) .
The good news is I am on some new medication that has helped relieve the constant muscle and joint pain...at least for part of the day......and as long as I don't try to do too much....no more superwoman living in this house. I have to accept weeds in my flower beds.....dust bunnies in the corners......laundry that doesn't get done, the household projects that take weeks instead of hours to get done.... On a positive note.....I take more time to notice the dew drops on the leaves, the different birds that visit my garden, the changing skies..........
In closing..... thanks for taking the time to read this.......
Take care......wish me luck that I'll reach that plateau soon that chronic illness's tend to do....pray that research finds more treatments.......thanks for allowing me to share this.....I promise not to whine about it...that isn't in my nature..........keep well yourself.......I've lots of pictures to post of the garden and the new waterfall feature.........I'm happy to be back... Eileen

May Flowers

2009-05-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

..warmth & wisdom....

2009-04-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

....on Thurs. April 23, my older son Ryan arrived home...so good to see him.....(pictures later)... Friday, Ryan, my first born turned 26...where have the years gone... he was off to Ottawa to pick up his girlfriend, Lindsay (yes, the same name as my younger son)...they are apartment hunting ...yea!!!!!moving closer for the next year......Lindsay is doing an internship at a new museum in Ottawa...Ryan, graduating with with Masters in Anthropology....?????sometime this spring?????...whenever his thesis is completed.....anyway, Sat. was perfect....warm....27C...the daffodils are in full bloom...other things in the garden bursting forth...almost before our eyes.

......we worked outside in the gardens all day....limped around and took pain medication at night.....as we were soooooo tired and sore from the unaccustomed hard physical labour...but got lots done...
...the Yellow Shafted Flickers were flying in their characteristic undulating patterns from tree top to TV antenna, to barn roofs etc. (any tall structure) drumming....calling "wick...wick...wick...wick...wick...drumming....calling -all day!!!! It is their way of looking suitable mates!!! Pretty birds...welcome harbinger of spring...but ALL DAY ...give it a break!!!

....I was beneath this one way up in the sugar maple...note the buds swelling!!!!....

....the day ended...still warm...but the weather forecaster says rain is on the way...good for the new grass seed I just sowed I guess....rest for the weary muscles too......

....an e-mail from a fellow artist....I think this advice applies to any "creative" endeavor....

The private lives of keeners
April 24, 2009

Dear Eileen,

Yesterday, Sara McManigle of Luverne, ND, asked: "How does an artist maintain the energy levels, motivation, and passion to realize her dreams? As hard as I try, I still get bogged down by others' condescension, the financial aspects, and time management. How do you keep the fire burning when you're so fizzled out?"Thanks, Sara. Artists need to be self-sustaining, private, "follow-your-bliss" islands unto themselves. Self-directed and independent, they make their own fizz. But artists need to realize that there are more than a few ways to become enthusiastic and motivated. One size does not fit all. Not surprisingly, artists with obsessive-compulsive tendencies and an addiction to work appear to be the keeners.One way to understand motivation is to look at the symbols represented by the things we do. A passion for kayaking, for example, might represent a desire for freedom or escape. That of dancing, for romance and love. Among other things, painting can represent a desire to re-order the universe or simply to fill the beauty gap. Nothing wrong with those. These passions, whether intrinsic or learned, are integral parts of our natures and need to be honoured. When we begin to understand our symbols, we can get on with the more mechanistic of the ploys--head down, focus, shutout or postponement of impedimenta, pump priming, multitasking and the wisdom of time-management.Furthermore, amateurs have a wisdom that professionals know not of. One can learn from amateurs. Successful self-motivators at any level are able to regularly return to their beginner-minds and rekindle earlier enthusiasms. Never underestimate your inner kid. Artists also need to be aware of their personal blockers--people, places and things--and be prepared to substitute positive over negative. Without trashing the wonderful mothers of our world, a frequently reported situation is the demanding, impossible-to-please mother who derails daughters and sons. Oh yeah, dads can do it to you too. Critical, failed, or bitter themselves, they are the kernel of a rolling, generational snowball that is difficult to stop. Stealthily and unwittingly a keen edge becomes dull and jaded. Artists so afflicted need to give thought to re-sharpening with alternate role models.

Best regards,Robert

PS: "If you can give your child only one gift, let it be enthusiasm." (Bruce Barton)

Esoterica: From my perspective, every situation, every human being, is unique. While the loving input of true friends is certainly valuable, more than anything, each artist needs to work out private ploys that beat back the unique bugaboos. I appreciate this is not always easy, as circumstances can run powerful interference. But if I didn't know it can be done, is being done, and will be done, I wouldn't be tapping on this laptop. The word is "character." Character is built, not granted.

Well....this came today......after a wonderful Sunday spent with my brother, his partner, Ryan & Lindsay and JJ. My brother is a wonderfully talented artist......who, # 1 is an infrequent visitor, and # 2, is that talented individual whom Robert describes... whose mother and father unwittingly (????) discouraged the "artistic" talent that my siblings and I possessed as not being "important enough, worthy enough....???? whatever......most of us have found our ways....but I feel my brother is still looking for that confirmation,.......yes.... it is good enough, yes.... he is talented...yes.... continue to follow that passion.......is he still haunted by that critisim/disinterest from our parents????

We went to a local art show this afternoon ....developing artists showing their work...maybe there was nothing there I'd buy to hang on my walls, but I like to go such local events ...to talk to the artists...to tell them what I like about their work...to ask questions of their techniques....to freely give out compliments....perhaps that is the teacher in me.....I'm not sure the others in my family felt the same.....???? not professional enough for them??????

Anyway, great day...great conversation....great shared information about computer programs....great stories...great food and wine shared.....what a lovely way to spend a Sunday.....

Earth Day Bouquet

2009-04-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Today is Earth Day, and the first Daffodils opened along the bank of the creek...how perfect!
We had a bit of sun this afternoon......still cool....but now as the sun sets, a massive front is moving in quickly....rain again overnight.........

...birds & bags

2009-04-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

......it was another cold start to the day...one that promised rain....lots of new birds this morning on our walk......I noticed more Loons out on the river (likely migrating north)....lots of female Red Winged Blackbirds (males have been back for some time), Blue Herons and Purple Martins
.....there have been 4 Merganzers hanging around for a week or more.....always together.....the male is so completely different than the female.....in the previous shot those are the Merganzers flying toward me -enlarge the picture to see them....

...this afternoon was very windy and I noticed bags...wretched plastic bags.....caught in trees, along the fence lines, in the creek, along the river bank....just recently several major grocery store chains announced they will start charging 5 cents per bag at their stores...all I can say ..."it is about time!!!"....perhaps soon they will eliminate them altogether.....I do use them as dog pooper scoopers however when walking Nellie on the local streets or in the park, etc....but they are recycled plastic and tiny hand size bags...

......it rained this afternoon...we do need it to green things up......cleared somewhat....clouded over again after sunset and is raining heavily right now with temperatures dropping to freezing later.......love the pastels of the sunset this evening......makes me think of the Northern Lights.......

Spring

2009-04-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Quite a delightful morning -still cold in the morning (near freezing), but calm, with the promise of a warm day. The birds are everywhere.....ducks.....

.....migrant snow geese that spent the night on the island.....

.....seconds away from sunrise, a Common Loon has flown up the river calling, for several days now. I heard and saw him in the evening as well. Years ago we never saw Loons on the river, now they nest somewhere close by and can be heard calling every morning and evening.
Amazingly - the previous 3 pictures were taken just minutes apart -just in different directions.

This afternoon, more crocus had opened......

...the Hazelnut bushes were full of bees on the catkins.....

...Chinodoxia carpet the ground....love that colour!!!!!

Finding Beauty

2009-04-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

Nellie was a trifle dirty after our walk in the woods today. The sun was shining, but the wind made it too cold to work in the garden today so we went for a walk in the woods. This is the result....big mistake....no...I'm not bothered by dirty dogs or kids....I used to have to hose my kids off after playing outside in the spring...in the mud, in the water, in the creek, in the woods....they had FUN so what if they got filthy.... Nellie...I just sloshed her legs around in a bucket of warm water and pulled out all the leaves and twigs, toweled her off, then told her to stay on the sunny porch for awhile till she dried......she had fun too.
The woods are so dreary this time of the year....mostly grey/brown....until you look closely for signs of life...like this moss...

....woods at first glance.....treasures waiting to be found......

Wood Ducks are quite common in our area -if you frequent wooded swamps!!! Otherwise they are not commonly seen. As we walked along the creek today, I spied a male Wood Duck.....didn't see the female.....he was beautiful......he dove beneath the water when he heard Nellie then flew up the creek. What a beautiful jewel we found in the dreary woods today!!!!

Atmospheric Moisture

2009-04-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

The atmosphere has been laden with moisture since the last week of March around here. We've had rain or snow almost every day for weeks. The temperatures have remained low with just teasing glimpses of the sun's increasing warmth. The sunrises and sunsets have been spectacular most days however.......a few glimpses......

......pink morning skies reflected in a puddle in the garden.....

......sunrise seen from the lane through the hedgerow.....

......sunset mountains in the mist......(actually just clouds).....

....finally some clearing evening skies......

.....Easter Sunday promises to be sunny....not warm....still below freezing or slightly above.......the long range forecast is for increasing sun, increasing temperatures this week...finally hoping to begin more clean up in the gardens....daffodils are progressing nicely...perhaps some in sheltered areas might even bloom this week......wishing.......

WARNING!!

2009-04-10T03:32:00.001-07:00

Warning!! Strange long eared creatures have invaded my world!!! They are everywhere!
Some of them have 2 legs, some of them have 4 legs!!!

They come in many colour variations and seem friendly....actually very friendly....they kept following me around as I was trying out a borrowed camera. Perhaps they hatched in all the water we have lying around after days and days and days of rain, then snow, then more rain?????? Lucky for me (????) they only seem to be in my neighbors yard although some time after this picture was taken the white creature seemed to molt, then with a shake of her body "the ears fell off!!!" ...and then the creature followed me home???? She is awfully cute ...the long ears seemed to have been replaced with shorter floppier ones. Have you ever seen anything like it????

Sunshiny Morning

2009-04-03T03:24:00.000-07:00

I was cutting some pussy willows from our "Curly Willow" yesterday, turned around and the yard was bathed in this glowing yellow misty light, with sunbeams shining through some Pine and Yew trees -luckily I had my camera (I always have my camera) and took two pictures before it faded. How sad for the people who aren't up and about as the sun rises each day and miss some of the most most magical moments that mother nature gives to us .....

Red Skies

2009-04-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

As the red skies promised, the rain soon started again....it has been raining for 4 days now. On the brighter side -it is not snowing! Actually, the rain melted the last snowdrift today......poor Nellie, she will miss the snow...but now she has water puddles and a swollen creek to play in. The east wind was very cold this morning so I was glad I still had ear muffs tucked into a pocket for our morning walk -I soon needed them!
On the way to school I saw the first ship sail by....the Seaway system officially opened as of midnight last night so I suspect that this ship has left port in Montreal in the night.

Green things are appearing everywhere, even the mosses are beginning to green up but it has been too wet and cold to do any gardening .

It was muffin mania at school today as my "crew" made about 170 Banana Muffins. The Grade 10 students must write a half day Literacy test tomorrow. It is very important, as schools are judged on the results. Anyway, since I run the Breakfast Program for the school, we were asked to prepare something special for these students writing tomorrow, for their break -muffins, cheddar cheese and fruit juice. They are all ready and waiting for tomorrow -the kids did an excellent job!!! (and they didn't mind not doing math or geography today to bake all day!)

Crocus & the Bees

2009-03-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

The Sun Returns

2009-03-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

At long last, we had 16 degree C temperatures, with sun, with only tiny little breezes and blue, blue skies. I spent the day yesterday in the garden doing a variety of chores; raking, picking up branches beneath the Maple trees that winter ice and winds brought down, on hands and knees cutting back perennials, tidying up around shrubs, some pruning of shrubs, lots of admiring and contemplation about what needs to be done around the yard and garden and watching the honeybees from a neighbours hives search out the first blossoms -tiny crocus and snowdrops. After 5 or 6 hours I was exhausted.......but very satisfied with what I had accomplished. JJ spent the day with the chainsaw and pruning saws cleaning up some of the extensive damage done to our trees this past winter with the heavy wet snow and ice. We had a fire going all day to burn any debris that was dry enough to burn, the wet stuff was piled along the creek banks to rot down, firewood stacked in the barn to dry and larger branches hauled off to the town compost site. We sometimes burn the branches but the dry grass around the burn pile wasn't cut back last fall making the fire hazard too great right now.

We took our friends out to dinner last evening (the ones who looked after Nellie) as a thank you gesture. After walking the dogs when we returned home, we lit candles all around the house after turning everything electrical off, and enjoyed their company while sharing dessert and a bottle of Pelee Island Rouge (a Canadian Merlot). It was a great way to spend Earth Hour evening!

Too bad today was cold and rainy -on the bright side, it isn't snowing and it will green things up even more. So I spent most of today on the computer doing reports and lesson planning for school.

Enlarge the pictures and look closely to see all the bees on the tiny blossoms!

Beach Birds

2009-03-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

White Ibis strolling down the beach......
....the Black Skimmers (by the hundreds) were great fun to watch as they swooped and wheeled about.... sometimes in perfect unison..... sometimes shattering into many directions only to regroup again to continue up and down the beach....

Western Sandpipers dodged the wave edges alone or in small groups....

Willets were in pairs or in flocks of 30 or more but rarely alone......

Some people love crows and hate gulls....I happen to hate crows and love gulls......these Laughing Gulls could be a family of many ages judging by all the colour variations.

SEA GULL

I rise on spirit wings.

Like the sea gull, I soar over the waters of life.

I glide to Otherworlds where the powers of the Old Ones are strong.

I open my heart and mind to the gods.Their messages are clear to me.

Spiritual Messengers
Sea Gulls are messengers from the gods, especially ancient Celtic deities. They bridge the gap between the living world and the spirit world. Opening yourself to their energy enables you to communicate with the other side.
Sea Gull can also give you the ability to soar above your problems and see things from above. Seeing all the different viewpoints.

It was so lovely to sit on warm white sand to watch the birds on the beach -Boca Grande Beach this day. The skies were blue, the Gulf of Mexico waters were multiple hues of blue, turquoise and green......I can go back there any time just by looking at some of the images I captured on that warm March afternoon..........

Connecting

2009-03-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

Our vacation to Matlacha Florida was just short of "absolutely perfect in every way." I'll share some of my most favourite photos -not always technically the best photos but the most meaningful. Tonight, just an overview. My husbands sisters house is on the water, but Matlacha Pass (which is a mixture of fresh water and sea water) is between the barrier islands -Pine Island, Captiva, Sanibel, Cayo Costa etc. and the mainland of Florida (southwest coast). Stunning view of Mangrove islands and water on 3 sides. But, a trip to the beach at least once is must -I love the beach, the seashore, the sand, the waves etc. We choose beaches that are not crowded -except by wildlife. This year I was fascinated by these 2 kids playing -especially the little girl. I took lots of pictures of them (with their parents permission but promised not to post any that showed their faces to the world). One of my trip highlights was watching this little girl strolling up the beach in the gentle waves towards me, grinning from ear to ear, oblivious to the world, singing in a delightful high little girl voice..."I love it, I love it, I love it...." When she reached me and we had a little chat, I asked her.... what is it that she loves? She stopped.... looking very serious....looked all around her....smiled....then exclaimed with a shrug and wide open arms...."I just love it all!' ....out of the mouths of babes....summed up my feelings for the day as well! It became my mantra for the week........"I love it, I love it".......I found myself humming under my breath......

The southwest coast of Florida has become known as the "Creative Coast" It is a mecca for artists, musicians and people who love that sort of stuff!! Matlacha is one of the "last" true fishing villages and tiny little art galleries. I think there are something like 17 galleries within a couple of miles. They are all totally unique, many local artists that have moved to this area from ALL OVER and lots who simply visit and display their work either seasonally or all year. You can take classes all year from artists in every medium and style -from drumming to watercolour, goldsmithing to pottery. I have favourite artists and look forward to seeing their new works each year -I get so inspired!!! The people in this area are so down to earth, so friendly and eager to share -stories, ideas, techniques....awesome people!

As a lover of sunrises and sunsets, sky watching and watching the light change on the water -it is the perfect spot. Temperatures were in the low 80's F during the day (the pool warmed up with the solar blanket to 90F -loved that) I was in the water as soon as I got up, during the day and then watched the stars while floating on my back before I went to bed -what can get better than that! On it, in it or just watching it -I love water.

Birdwatching, another of my pastimes it amazing in Matlacha. This year I photographed 36 different types of birds -about 8 that I'd never seen before in Florida. These Skimmers were especially fun to watch and photograph. John agrees I need a better camera to capture them .

It was a lovely lazy, relaxing, warm, fun, inspiring holiday that I spent with my dear husband. No TV, no radio, no phone, no computer, no work.......just the 2 of us doing things we love to do -together. We lead busy lives at home and love to get away to reconnect. It was like a honeymoon only better!!

Florida Bound!

2009-03-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Crazy busy at home and school this week, so I'm extra thankful that our March Break has officially started. JJ and I have to leave home in the middle of the night to drive to the airport to catch our flight which leaves at 6 a.m. I haven't even started to pack!!! Not like me, usually I'm so organized when it comes to traveling...just too darn busy! So, we are off to Matlacha Florida for a lovely lazy holiday by the ocean. The weather has been cooler than normal both here and there but the temperature is bound to be better than below freezing here -STILL!! Nellie will be staying with her doggy friend Abbey and 3 cats-she'll love that!! I may post pictures if the computer works at the house we are staying at....if not see everyone next weekend...blessings to everyone! I really have to go and pack now -I travel very light so it won't take me long...................

....living simply...simply living....

2009-03-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing. Agatha Christie

After several months of sometimes bitterly cold temperatures, too much ice and snow, long miserably dark days, great pain from some rather unfortunate injuries this winter........all seemed right this morning as we walked along the river (now open) under a leaden sky, when the sun magnificently broke through the clouds to shine all around. Soon the clouds disappeared, the birds started to sing, the newly arrived geese and ducks took to the skies to seek out food left over in the farmers fields from last falls harvest.........yes... I felt good...it is good to be alive ......."tis a grand day to be alive", as my Irish dad used to say,..."a grand day indeed!".

Ice & Snow -Departing Shots!

2009-03-06T03:49:00.000-08:00

After another deep freeze last week and this, the gulf stream has shifted northward allowing warmer weather to invade the area. Temperatures today are rising above zero and predicted to last for the next week. YEA! I snuck away from school after a few parent teacher interviews (had to go back from 5:30 -8:00 for more interviews) and took some shots of the snow drifts in the yard which likely won't be the same after a few days melt.

Snowdrifts along the creek's north side....

Ice chunks along the rivers edge this morning.....

Caught the sunrise in a patch of clear sky -the rest of the sky is cloudy -expecting drizzle all day......really looking forward to the weekend...it has been a very exhausting week at school...way too much going on.....need rest......

Moments..

2009-03-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

A time honoured winter tradition in Canada -ice fishing -in this bay there have been dozens of huts since January but on the weekend many were removed due to the river beginning to break up.
After a thaw for 2 days last week, the bitter cold has returned - -30C wind chill this morning, still at -18C this afternoon with a biting north wind. Nellie and I headed for the evergreen woods for our afternoon walk to get out of the wind. It was beautiful, silent, with tracks galore in the snow -yes, the ground is still completely covered in snow and ice!!!. I heard some liquid sounding peeeet sounds behind me and turned to look for the source...way up just for a moment in the tree tops I spied some White Winged Crossbills -females by the colour. I was looking into the sun so could barely focus and snap before they disappeared.

Nellie raced off and as I rounded a corner in the trail I spied a large black object up in a tree ahead -just the neighbours cat, but my heart jumped when I saw the black object up in the tree -all I could first think of was the Marten whose tracks I've seen lately in the forest.

The only thing worthy of note (other than reading all 3 of the Stonewylde books that I got last week) that I accomplished this weekend was to make a large batch of dog bones. I gave my friend half for her dog -she'll make the next batch and share with me!

Ranch Style Beef Bones

(makes about 80 small bones)

1 pound (500g) lean ground beef

2 eggs, beaten

3 cups (750ml) whole grain flour

1 cup(250 ml) quick cooking rolled oats

1 cup (250 ml)water

1.In a blender or food processor, combine meat and eggs.

2.In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and oats. Add beef mixture, blending with your hands until well mixed.

3.Add water to form a sticky dough.

4.Knead mixture on a well floured surface (about 2 min), adding flour until it is no longer sticky.

5.Roll dough to about 1/4 - 1/2 thickness, cut with dog bone cookie cutter (or just cut with knife into squares or rectangles).

6.Place close together onto parchment paper or lightly greased cookie sheets.

7. Bake 1 hour at 350F, cool on rack.

(I usually leave mine in oven to cool after 1 hour with door slightly open as Nellie likes then hard and crunchy. I store mine in a container in the fridge , but the book said they can be stored at room temp. in a container with a loose lid).

Loved the Stonewylde books -read them in rapid succession, Thurs., Fri. nights after work, and on Sat. until they were done -now I can't wait for the next book(s). My husband poked fun at me ...now he is half way through the second one.

Up, Down, All Around

2009-02-27T13:50:00.000-08:00

No matter where I looked for about 10 minutes this morning it was simply breathtaking.

The sky glowed, the sun on the river ice shone and sparkled and the sea gulls were once again swooping and floating all over!

The river has opened up dramatically over night. It is quite jammed up in the narrows to the east, but the main channel is open for miles looking to the west. Of course it will open up, jam up many more times before it stays clear. It wasn't too thick this year judging from the broken pieces sticking up....I cringe thinking of the fool hardy snowmobilers who risked their lives for a joy ride across this ice only a few weeks ago....

This past week the river has been quite vocal...loud booming cracks in the still night air, burbling and blurping sounds coming from the moving water beneath the thin ice.....we have sat beside the rivers edge every day this week to listen.......spring may be weeks away...but it is coming!!!!

Snowballs and New Books

2009-02-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

Soft, new snow and a silly Wheaten Terrier who has to shove her face into EVERY snowdrift on a long walk this afternoon resulted in "Nellie the Snowball "-really...there IS a dog under all that snow...really there is......as I've said before she makes me laugh every day!!!
After reading many bloggers from the British Isles going on and on about Kit Berry's Stonewylde series ....well, I just had to order it....they came today...I'm so excited .....they aren't available in stores yet in Canada.....these came via Amazon (Britain via U.S.A.)...I started to read the first one while sitting in the car waiting for a prescription to be filled at the pharmacy.....although I have Interim Report Cards to complete tonight......the rest of the evening will be for reading. Good thing I finished my last book "Devil Bones" by Kathy Reichs (10 th in a series about a forensic anthropologist) I love them, interesting details and quick to read before bed last night.

My Baby's Birthday

2009-02-22T14:26:00.000-08:00

The one in the middle with the big grin is my baby. Today he is 24! That is hard to believe!!!!

He'll hate me for posting these but.......I want the world to see my adventurous, smiling, talented son...my baby for always. He lives, works and plays 1000's of miles from me and I miss him every day..... Lindsay is a welder by day, drummer by night and outdoor adventurist whenever possible -he camps in the wilderness, climbs mountains, canoes, hikes. He loves the outdoors and animals and his drums.

He takes courses on ice climbing, rock climbing, mountain climbing....he is fearless!

He loves to be on top of the world! Right now, he is thinking of going back to school or traveling the world -I have encouraged him to travel the world as he is young, healthy and not tied down! He may join a friend in Australia this spring...wish I could go with him.....love that smile. Happy Birthday baby!!!

Mommy, I need a haircut!

2009-02-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

When Nellie's hair is this long I put a barrette in her forelock to keep it out of her eyes -I love to see her big brown eyes -isn't she a giant puffball!!

Living Snowflakes

2009-02-20T12:39:00.000-08:00

Nellie in a snowbank this morning! Snow the past 2 days and flurries for the weekend...no gardening for us yet! It is a snowball dog!!

I did not take this picture of a Snow Bunting close up. I've admired the huge flocks of them that we see on the roadsides and roadside fields but always at a distance....until today! I came out one of the front doors of the school to head to the parking lot this afternoon and to my surprise I saw this lovely little tan and white bird sitting all by itself along the sidewalk. I stopped, moved closer, (why was the camera in the car!!!) then closer, so I could observe it very closely...I was bewildered, what is it????.....then I remembered that Snow Buntings are about the only "almost white" small songbird. Could it be????? The little bird watched me too, moving his head from side to side...his eyes never leaving me.......I was within 1.5 m when several other birds flew over and off he flew -seeing him fly I knew it was a Bunting. Then, on the drive home I saw 3 different flocks of them on the roadsides! Two very large flocks and one small flock. So now I am wondering if they are on route back to their Arctic nesting grounds????

I'll look for them tomorrow along the roads as we drive Nellie to the groomers. Her long hair is due for a clip.....it takes about 3 hours ....I have no desire to learn how to do that....I brush her, de matt, bathe, hose down, play, walk, feed etc Nellie....but dog grooming has never appealed to me. I'll leave that to the experts! Besides, Nellie is stuck at home every day while JJ and I are at work -she deserves a little pampering and the undivided attention of her groomer for an afternoon -whom she LOVES. I guess if I couldn't afford to have it done, I wouldn't own a dog that has to have it done every few months. I do love the fact that she does not shed all year, everywhere. Had lots of dogs that have and I don't miss the hair!

Coconut Key Lime Pie

2009-02-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

Coconut Key Lime Pie

Key Lime pie is one of my husband's favorite deserts, (that and Coconut Cream Pie) and key limes were on sale this week , soooo I decided to attempt an egg and dairy free Coconut & Key Lime pie from The Allergy Free Kid website . The pie a little sweeter than traditional Key Lime pie, since I'm not able to use either whipped cream or a meringue topping to counteract the tartness.

Crust:16 graham crackers (equal to 1 3/4C after crushed)

2 Tbs turbinado sugar (use brown sugar if not available)

1/2 C dairy free margarine, melted

Filling:2 13.5oz cans coconut milk

3/4 C sugar

1/2 C key lime juice

1/4 C Ener-G Egg Replacer

Preheat oven to 350°F. Crush graham crackers in a food processor, then add sugar and margarine. Give the food processor another spin, then press the mixture into a 9" pie pan with the bottom of a round glass or measuring cup. Press up along the sides with the side of the glass, using your fingers to even it out and keep it from going over the side of the pie pan. Once the crust mixture is evenly distributed, bake the crust for 8 minutes.
Set the crust aside, then pour both cans of coconut milk and the sugar into a small or medium heavy bottomed pot. Bring to a low boil, stirring continuously. Reduce to a simmer, then continue to stir as the coconut reduces for thirty minutes. (Yes, that's a long time to hover over a pot but it did tend to clump up a bit when I stopped stirring.)
Remove the pot from the heat, then stir in the key lime juice.(I did not have the proper tool to "juice" the little green limes and it took a looonnng time to squeeze enough juice for 1/2 cup -.."next time "YOU" have to help me", -I told JJ later) Remove roughly half a cup of the mixture from the pot. That Pyrex measuring cup you just used to pour in the lime juice is about perfect for the job, just have a saucer or small plate ready to catch the drips. With a small whisk, stir the egg replacer into the half Cup of coconut mixture until smooth, then pour it back into your pot, and continue to stir together until completely incorporated and nice and smooth. Return pot to the heat, and stir continuously while it cooks for another five minutes. You may need to use the whisk again to prevent clumps.
Pour the coconut mixture into the crust, then allow to cool until room temperature before covering and refrigerating overnight. If you need the pie ready sooner rather than later, just place it in the freezer, as it is also wonderful frozen, just allow a little time to warm up before slicing. We tend to like it frozen the best -perhaps it has more flavour as it warms but I can't wait that long.

It is "Delicious", not quite as good as Key Lime Pie from "down south" , but a good alternative for me

I love the Muppets and this song has always been so much fun....
Kermit the Frog - Lime in the Coconut

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

A Safari of Self and Spirit

2009-02-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

The woods were made for the hunters of dreams

The brooks for the fisher of song

To the hunters who hunt for the gunless game

The streams and the woods belong.

-Sam Walter Foss

--these are the places I go in my mind's eye when I'm tired of everything around me

-our summer cottage at Lac Simon, Quebec

Crossbills

2009-02-16T13:40:00.000-08:00

The afternoon turned out to be quite lovely, so Nellie and I went for a walk in the evergreen forest hoping to see some birds. Nellie loved racing around the trails. The telltail smell of fox urine was evident here and there much to her delight!
Heard some soft "peeeet sounds", looked up to see some "White Winged Crossbills". I had heard they were around in large flocks but I had yet to see any. The male was beautiful in his rose pink feathers but he fly away too fast.

Managed to get a few pictures of the females

Note the distinctive cross mandibles and forked tail.

Wild turkey tracks.

Retreating Ice

2009-02-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's drive took us to the shores of the Ottawa River, west of our nations capital city. The hills across the river are the beginning of the Gatineau Hills in the province of Quebec. Unlike the St. Lawrence, it is frozen solid with lots of skaters, cars, trucks and snowmobilers and of course ice fishing huts.
I was disappointed this morning as the weatherman promised blue skies and temperatures near 0.....not so...overcast, breezy and well below 0. So I went looking for signs of retreating snow and ice to cheer myself ......

This is a section of the creek that is frozen over but you can see the trapped air beneath the ice from the moving water........Nellie fell through just after I took this picture and had frozen fur by the time we got back to the house.....she had so many little icicles she almost tinkled!

Frozen River

2009-02-14T14:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day from the land of ice & snow!

Midwinter Thaw

2009-02-12T13:15:00.000-08:00

The midwinter thaw we are currently experiencing is reducing the snow, but it has nowhere to go...the ground is still frozen solid.....my front walkway under 4 inches of water....when that freezes later tonight you can be sure I won't be using it!!!
The creek behind the barn, has never frozen solid, even in the minus 35C weather we've had. It is completely open and running in it's meandering pathway to the river (looking east).

The creek to the west of the bridge has a steeper grade the closer to the river it gets -the faster it flows.. Drops of rain from the studio roof fall into a huge wooden barrel (summer rainwater to water plants with) ...but it is still frozen....

It is too bad this milder weather will come to an end tonight....forecast for the next week is -5C - -15C ...but SUNNY....we haven't seen the sun for awhile.....didn't even catch a glimpse of the full moon this month...only snow, rain, clouds and thick ice fog.....

2009-02-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

I'd love to jump up and down or do a little dance or yell out loud and yell"Yahoo!", but I'm not that kind of person.....I'm more of the grin from ear to ear and exclaim ..."...yeeesss!" Why ....it is above freezing.......will stay above freezing until Friday (I hope) and as I type this it is raining!!! Rain melts the snow faster...right..."yeeesss!!!"
All this grinning I'm doing is in response to the newest chapter of this wretched winter we've been having....Mon, about 6:40 in the morning, I was walking along the street with Nellie, thinking that the temperature was quite tolerable, the snow that fell Sun night and that was still falling would look beautiful and sparkly if we ever had some sun again, when in a flash I went from upright walking to opening my eyes, flat on my back staring into Nellie's face and the darkness beyond. What happened was I slipped and fell on ice that was hidden by the night's snowfall! I hit my head on the pavement and had blacked out for a few seconds I think. Very carefully I felt for blood...none , thank goodness...carefully got up and went home. I was very shaken and upset by the whole event, by myself at home and felt very strange. I was in slight shock, disoriented, dizzy, and shaking. To make a long story short...my dear friends were called, they took me to the doctors a few hours later. The worst happened later as the whiplash I suffered as a result of the fall set in -very painful neck. It is day 3, the neck is still stiff and sore and I've had a headache since Mon. Hard head I guess -the brain was only rattled and bruised up a bit -no lasting effects...I hope. Very scary however....I've never hit my head so hard and I don't want any more encounters with ICE this season!!! The wet muddy spring with it's delightful soft squishyness can't come soon enough....

Nellie & Friends

2009-02-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

I read of the passing of one of my blogging friend's pet hen today, and was thinking how wonderful having animals to share our life with, really is. Yes they make messes, pee on our carpets, eat holes in walls, cost us a lot of money and so on - but look what we get in return! Another friend e-mailed me this today -how appropriate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rooyt3ptNco
Pictures are of some of Nellie's summer cottage doggy friends......so much nicer looking at summer pictures today rather than outside - snow flurries, windy....and still cold!

So Much, So Little.....So Tired

2009-02-08T00:16:00.000-08:00

The first week of a new school term typically leaves me feeling exhausted at the best of times. This has not been the best of times as I am still fighting that lingering cold virus. In spite of various "over the counter drugs" which I have had to resort to, to control the stuffy head, the constant runny nose and sore throat, this virus has decided to invade my lungs as well...I think it may have morphed into bronchitus.......whatever...it has left me drained by the end of the school day! I actually came home last Wed., took Nellie for a short walk -(still very cold outside)and sat down at the computer to read some blogs and to catch up on mine and" fell asleep"...sitting...at the computer...OK ..... that is something I've never done before....needless to say, no blogs were read - I was so tired I didn't even eat supper that night or the next.....I just came home and crashed!!! The "so much to do this week" just didn't get done.

Added to the "not being able to breathe" symptoms I experienced a flare up of menopausal night sweats and insomnia this week adding to the "I'm so tired" complaints -I really do try not to complain to JJ or anyone else but they all "know" by my actions or "non actions". Those menopausal symptoms come and go -annoying while I have them but usually tolerable more or less unless they go on for weeks at a time. I'm not a candidate for any hormonal treatment for that as I am in the high risk for cancer category (many family members having had it).

...and then there has been the "other" contributing factor to my sleeplessness..and .inability to quickly recover from this virus.....stress.....Brought on by the very real discovery last week that my long time "position" with our school board was/is in jeopardy. Times are changing....student enrolment in our board is in decline, our school is switching from a Grade 9 -12 school to a grade 7 -12 school next year, major renovations planned within the school and a change in philosophy in regards to providing for students with intellectual disabilities within the schools. Things always change in the education system but this is a lot of changes in one year. I still don't know, but it is very likely that my position is going to be eliminated. I love my job so it is very sad...I don't know what that means for me...I've put forth a number of ideas and concerns and at least my principal and special education superintendent are listening to me, have met with me and will meet with me again soon after some more decisions have been made. Stress...yea...a little......are they are related...definitely....I'm not concerned about having a job...I will.....I have lots of seniority....... it is just what job. ??????

I have sought escape from everything by reading -finished 2 books that I had started s few weeks ago -1 upstairs, 1 downstairs and read another book that was a Christmas gift. None of them was "great'...just OK......started "Three Cups of Tea", which was recommended by a co-worker....interesting so far......it is 4 o'clock in the morning right now...I really should try to get some more sleep.......

February Thoughts

2009-02-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

"February arrives cold, wet and gray, her gifts disguised for only the most discerning spirits to see. Gratitude is the thread we weave into the fabric of our daily lives this month, giving thanks for our simply abundant lives and asking for the gift of one thing more:grateful hearts." by Sarah Ban Breathnach book Simple Abundance A Daybook of Comfort and Joy-
February's chapter introduction.
I read this book each day last year, before bed, just one or two pages. Much of what Sarah wrote rang very true for me...not all, but enough that it it made me think long and hard about many of the things I did on a daily basis...some little, some very big. It gave me the courage and conviction to act differently....for the better...for me as a person and for those I come in contact with. So, I decided that I would read it again this year to see how it will change my thinking even more.
It was a blue weekend.....not only was I still not feeling well with a bad cold but I learned that the husband of a long time friend passed away at the age of 52. He passed away at home, as were his wishes, with his family close at hand. His wife and I started our first "real" jobs together, had babies together, shared many hobbies, many good times. He spent years of winter weekends with my husband out in the bush cutting trees to keep us warm all winter in our wood heated homes, and so on. As our kids grew, jobs changed and so on, we grew apart but could always get together and pick up as if no time had passed. I am shocked at how quickly he went downhill after radiation therapy that did not work. Everyone thought he was handling his battle with cancer so well. I was glad the sun was shining and the day warmed up considerably -the kind of winter day he would have loved. I am sad that a good man had to leave this earth too soon. Cancer is such an insidious disease -I've lost both parents, friends and relatives to it and it has changed the lives so completely of my sister, a survivor, and again so many others. Today I am grateful to have known my friend, to have shared so much. I am so grateful that I still have my soul mate with me...I can't imagine life without him.

...still snowing....

2009-01-30T10:17:00.000-08:00

.......still snowing.......snowed off and on for 3 days now.....at the moment, it has been snowing for ...going on 16 hours.....off and on...no wind....snow falling gently to earth, often in large clumps as the temperature has crept up to a quite pleasant -7 C. The wind picks up now and again....the sun tries valiantly to peek through now and again.....but it continues to snow.......Nellie has to stick to trails JJ has blown out with the snow blower, or playng under the big evergreens as the depth of snow everywhere else is too deep -she gets lost, buried ...very funny to see ......forecast....flurries...for the next five days.....perhaps if my cold subsides a little ....we might get some skiing in this weekend.......

Wild Turkeys

2009-01-29T12:25:00.000-08:00

I see the wild turkeys almost every day, but they are almost always too far away to photograph (I don't have a telephoto lenses just a zoom). After yesterdays big dump of 25 cm of snow I didn't expect to see them far from the trees...but there were several grouping of them out in the corn field -I counted 13 in total. These were the closest so I took a few pictures -they have been close to the house before, early, early in the morning but they have very keen eyesight and incredible hearing so I've never been able to sneak up on them at all to photograph them. So, I consider this ....good enough for now....shopping for that telephoto lenses.....saving the dollars......soon....
I have a very bad cold so need to go lie down...........

Winter Poem

2009-01-27T13:06:00.000-08:00

***this just in from a friend...telling me the storm front is already approaching them where they live farther to the west.....had to share......

It's winter in Canada
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At thirty-five below.
Oh, how I love Canada
When the snows' up to your butt
You can take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Canada
Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

....another day, another storm...

2009-01-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

It is so great to have light again before 7 in the morning! Nellie and I can walk back our lane way before I leave for work, something I don't care to do in the dark. Heading back, I could see the colour coming into the sky -the forecast was for a mostly sunny day with milder temperatures. I am a weather /sky watcher...always have been...I like talking and hearing about the weather around the world...I think in another lifetime, that is what I'd like to be ...a meteorologist. I like maps, I like weather, I like collecting data, most of all I like observation....
Everything turned golden as I was leaving...a little later than normal....no kids at school today....exams are over.....we have 2 PD days before the second semester begins. I had to attend an intake meeting first thing...new student to my class. It was very sad to see this mom, obviously a very caring, supportive mom to her son, trying to make light of her husband's obvious discomfort......dad unfortunately, even after 14 years does not seem to want to accept the fact that "his " son has an intellectual disability. I sensed all he saw were the things he couldn't do rather than all the wonderful things this boy can do and will do in the future! I hope I am wrong...but if I am not, it will become part of my job to mentor the parents as well as the child. Another major snowstorm on the way for tomorrow...like we need more!!! On a positive note -the temperature is always milder when we have snow and after the -20's --30's C we've had lately....bring on the snow!!!!

Avoiding Work

2009-01-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

I spent a good part of the afternoon and evening yesterday, adding some embellishment to the felted bag I finished last weekend. It all started with the old brooch (from my departed mother in law's stash). I wore it for a number of years, then noticed a few of the stones were missing, so I added it to my embellishment stash.....I thought the colours went well with the pink and green of the felted bag. Then, I needle felted (the bag was wet felted), bits and pieces of wool roving, old yarn etc. I wanted some texture, but overall quite flat so as not to catch on things. Then, I added some seed beads of various colours and textures -to bring out the fawn colours in the bag and complement the brooch. I'm going to hang it up for awhile and look at it from time to time to see if I want to change some or add to it. I already know I want to replace the bigger iridescent beads -have to hit the bead shop to find replacements....then I have to decide which niece is going to get this one....I leaning towards the niece that might recognize her grandmother's pin...........she does like pink too.......??????

......avoiding work...well that refers to the massive amounts of school work I have to do this week...this weekend I completed report card comments....completed I.E.P. (individual education plan) program pages on each subject, for every student (20 pages worth), did some research on the Internet, reviewed 2 textbooks for ideas (I don't use texts with my kids)....and then I'd had enough!! I didn't want to do any more!! I kept looking out the windows as I wandered from place to place in the house yesterday to watch the birds....thank goodness for that....JJ was feeling poorly with a cold and followed my advice and stayed stretched out with a book all day.....I tend to wander around when I have work to do but would really rather be doing other things.....

I had to make a detour before arriving to school to take a few pictures of the sun rising through the mist from the open water on the river (very cold again this morning -22C) I was standing by my car just gazing at the beauty of it all, when a man and woman drove by and slowed to a stop. They inquired, "Are you alright??? Is it car trouble?" I really was taken aback....did they not see the sunrise????? I told them all was well with the world, I was just admiring the sky......I knew what they were thinking as they drove off, exchanging looks and words I couldn't hear...she must be daft...freezing cold and she's standing outside admiring the sky!!!! Then when I got home there was an e-mail from a friend....so appropriate......

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the case and without stopping continued to walk.A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

I'm glad I am one of the ones who would stop to hear the music and admire the view!!! Are you???

Birds of Prey

2009-01-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

This has been quite the morning around here!! Yesterday afternoon I was watching the many birds at the feeder when all of a sudden they all took off -and didn't return for the rest of the day. Around here that means one thing -raptors - not the dinosaur kind -the large birds of prey. I looked and looked but couldn't see any...but I knew they were there. The first picture was taken in the summer at a Raptor Show in a park in Quebec. Pictured is a Red Shouldered Hawk. First thing this morning (still no birds at the feeders) I saw one fly over-up high -just searching.
This is a Red Tailed Hawk covering it's just captured lure at the show.

Red Tailed Hawk just before takeoff!

About 8 this morning I looked out to see an American Kestral (Sparrow Hawk) sitting high up in a maple tree. That was why there were no birds -he took off as some crows flew in to investigate him. About an hour later I saw a number of song birds had returned to the feeder behind the kitchen window and was admiring them and then right before my eyes, the Kestral swooped in and snatched one in mid air, just feet from my eyes!!! I jumped back and the other birds dove for cover. I saw it land in a pine tree close to house so grabbed the camera, shoved feet into the first pair of boots by the back door and in my nightgown and housecoat ran out in the snow to see if I could get a picture...but he saw me and flew off leaving only a few little brown feathers floating in the air.....poor little bird, but the bigger birds must survive too.
JJ and I went out for breakfast today and on our way back from the village, I spotted a Kestral in a tree by the road, did a u-turn but he had flown away. As we turned onto the road along the river to head home JJ spotted another bird flying along the rivers edge...large, very large, flying with great speed.....we pursued it but couldn't catch up to it. I jumped out of the car near our local park and tried to find it in the sky , took a few pictures but could hardly focus before it was way down the river. An eagle no doubt.....

Although not clear, the pictures were clear enough for positive id -a mature American Bald Eagle. Uncommon for this area, but we have seen one from time to time. They are about 36 inches tall with a wingspan of 7 feet. Huge!!! Both JJ and I have seen one in the past few weeks at dusk while walking Nellie but couldn't make a positive id. We have Golden Eagles from time to time as well. This one's beak looks huge so it could be a female. Exciting birding day to be sure!!!!!

Rare Winter Bird

2009-01-23T16:47:00.000-08:00

The usual Cardinals, Goldfinches, Chickadees, Purple and House Finches were in abundance at the feeders when I returned home from school. Nellie and I set off through the snowdrifts to see if I could capture some Mourning Doves along the creek. But to my surprise I heard a call that is definitely unusual for this time of year -An American Robin!
There he was however, up in a tree by the creek! He looked in good condition so I presume he is surviving on berries -there are lots around.

In the summer they are very common, waking us up with their Cheer Up, Cheerily, Cheer Up at 4 o'clock!!! They quite often nest very close to houses so it is easy to observe the developing young from Robin's Egg Blue eggs.

Trudging back through the deep snow I saw a flock of little birds wheeling and swooping in this undulating flight pattern through the air ???? What were they -in such large numbers -uncommon this time of year??

As I got close to the house I could hear a distinct happy twittering and tit-i-tit sounds...ahhh....and then, there they were in great numbers at the feeders -Pine Siskins. We've had the odd one around for some time with the other finches but not in the great numbers as today. I counted about 30 on one tree before they took off so likely a flock of 50-60. They are very comical to watch on the feeders -showing off by hanging upside down, arguing constantly over who sits on what perch. They consume great quantities of Niger Seed -their favourite! No Juncos today but later I saw 2 Nuthatches at the suet feeder. A very good day for birding!!!

Old is Beautiful Again

2009-01-22T13:53:00.000-08:00

I was so thrilled today to receive the call from my dear talented friend that, he had finally finished our new "old" coffee table!! You might want to click on the first picture to enlarge it to see a corner of our kitchen, gutted down several layers to the original studs. Our house is approximately 180 years old. Even at that time the relatives were a thrifty lot -building much of the house from a reclaimed barn. Who knows how old some of the wood is. The wide horizontal boards were mirrored on the inside of the studs (already removed) with another layer of wide horizontal boards. Some of those one inch plus thick boards, measured 18 inches wide! Much of it was in bad shape and we just burned it , but we saved what looked sound. We gave some to our friend who fashioned a stunning harvest table for his daughter (copied off our own). I jokingly said to him that I would give him more wood in exchange for a mini harvest table to match ours, that we could use as a coffee table in our living room-that was six years ago. He had no projects on the go this winter so built our table -well I did say there was no hurry!!

Isn't it just divine!!! Most of the furniture in our house is antique or reproduction antique -made from reclaimed wood. The colour and patina is just amazing -the pictures don't do it justice at all.....I am just thrilled!

The living room has hand hewn exposed beams the exact colour of lighter red pine pieces (on the left in the picture). I love my friends!

Mother Nature's Artistry

2009-01-21T17:47:00.000-08:00

After days and days of not seeing the sunrise, I was rewarded with this site as I walked Nellie before school this morning.....
Mother Nature is the artist I aspire to be....

Frozen St. Lawrence River looking towards an island on the American side....sometimes we see fox and even the occasional deer crossing the ice......sometimes they don't make it ...the ice is dangerously unstable.....

When admiring these views and taking pictures, I tend to forget about the cold and arrive at school with very frozen fingers...but another sunrise is worth it....

Personality Collage

2009-01-20T17:32:00.000-08:00

We cleaned our room at school today in preparation for the new semester. Down came all the art work, projects etc. displayed there. This little collage, done on an 8 X 10 inch canvas, was an "example" I did at the beginning of the school year. The purpose was to get the kids to think about themselves, describe themselves to others through pictures, painting, drawings, photos and other treasures that could be mounted. Can you tell some of the things that are near and dear to my heart????

The Colour Purple

2009-01-19T04:05:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure that I have a favourite colour, but purple -lavender, lilac, violet, aubergine -whatever you want to call i,t is very high on the list! So when JJ came home last week with a pot of somewhat misshapen, somewhat scrawny hyacinths and I kind of gave the pot that look ....."...but they were the only ones that were purple!!," he exclaimed -"..oh well.....in that case -they are beautiful honey!!!!", is what I replied. They have opened nicely, their perfume wafts through the house and all the freezing weather, cars that didn't start, then stalled, more snow that had to be shoveled, more freezing temperature to deal with -it's all forgotten and in the past -I have flowers again. Hyacinths I love, but purple hyacinths I adore -I carry the pot around just to be near that intoxicating aroma. I don't use any scented products in my house, at all, no perfume, or even scented candles, but scented flowers I can tolerate and can't get enough of them -so I do miss them in the winter.
I finished another felted purse on Fri. night so it was off to the wool shop to buy more wool on Sat. -fell in love with these colours and thought they would be perfect together for another felted project -hubby commented on my selection -oh, nice, more purple I see -I hadn't noticed.......did get me to thinking however........I don't keep much of the stained glass I do, but almost all the pieces I have kept over the years have....guess what -blues and purples....

....my flower gardens are filled with....blues and purples.......

......I've planted purple cauliflower, purple potatoes, purple beans, even eggplant (I don't like eggplant, but I love seeing it in the garden and my excuse is it attracts potato beetles away from the potato plants. I grow lavender by the back door and surrounding the patio, and keep a bundle tied to my bedpost in case I need to put some inside my pillow to calm my mind before sleep. I even have been known to wear purple -in every season.

Put some purple in your life when you want:
-to use your imagination to its fullest -to re-balance your life
-to remove obstacles
-to calm over activity or to energize from depression

Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter. I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells And run my stick along the public railings And make up for the sobriety of my youth. I shall go out in my slippers in the rain And pick flowers in other people's gardens And learn to spit. You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat And eat three pounds of sausages at a go Or only bread and pickle for a week And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes. But now we must have clothes that keep us dry And pay our rent and not swear in the street And set a good example for the children. We must have friends to dinner and read the papers. But maybe I ought to practice a little now? So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Jenny Joseph

....love this, I'm not a poet but my friend and I have written our own versions which are hilarious and suit each other....another post.....another time.......I think the official colour of February is purple...perhaps then......

Horse Running Free

2009-01-15T13:12:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has pastured horses outside in all kinds of weather can tell you they act like weathervanes. Years ago when we had horses all I'd have to do to see what the weather was like was look out my kitchen window to their paddock ,to see where they were. In the summer if it was terribly hot, they would be in their run in shelter away from the heat and flies, if "scary" weather was approaching you'd see them nervously trotting back and forth or running full tilt as if demons were chasing them, if the wind was from the east (a sure sign of some form of precipitation) they would be over in the east corner of the field, bums to the wind......perhaps that is why horses have been so popular as weather vanes???? I was saddened today to see my copper trotting horse weather vane atop the cupola on the studio, has been broken by the recent winds. He is now "stuck" running into the prevailing north west winter winds. I hope it is fixable, but that will have to wait until spring.

The cold continues, but it was a beautiful sunny day -just no warmth from the sun . The kids at school today worked hard on completing the hand sewing on their wall quilt -it is quite unique!!! Their hand sewing leaves a lot to be desired but not their enthusiasm -one of the things I love about kids with an intellectual disability -most have this zest for life that we could all borrow from -and I do......

Deep Freeze

2009-01-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

Central Canada is in a deep freeze - all kinds of warnings etc. -the wind howled last night turning the soft crystally snow into drifts of hard packed, more granular snow --very squeally underfoot! Wind chill was -33 here this morning -dropping further tonight! However, if you are dressed right, keep moving, walk "with" the wicked wind not into it -it isn't that bad. I do worry about the more delicate plants -will they survive this deep freeze???? Busy at school -only 5 teaching days left to the first semester -then exams, report cards etc., then "new subjects" YEA! I love the turn around......we've been busy with culminating projects, assessments, reviews etc. Too busy at night to do much else -haven't begun to plan for next semester yet......patience.....it will all happen in good time........

Thankful for the Birds

2009-01-12T16:03:00.000-08:00

I almost didn't recognize this Song Sparrow today, as he was so puffed out to trap a layer of insulating air between his feathers. Most Song Sparrows fly farther south to winter but there are always a few that hang around.

The Black Capped Chickadee is one of my favourites. I am enduring the cold near the feeders each day to hopefully tame them enough to eat out of my hand -it is so thrilling when they accept you to do that. Black oil sunflower seeds are their favourite. I will make up some bird balls for extra treats as the weatherman says the temperatures are going to drop into the -30's C this week. We have 4 feeders, but this year this is the one they prefer. The Goldfinches of course prefer the Niger seed.

I was startled by a little Goldfinch that flew up from below my back door as I arrived home today -unusual ... then I looked down to see what had attracted him so close to the house and saw this perfect imprint in the snow.....I felt badly for the poor fellow as I realized he had likely flown into the 3/4 glass door by mistake....but happy that he had recovered enough to fly away leaving only his imprint and 1 tiny little feather.

The ducks are still hanging around the open water spots on the river. I love to see them but fear for them. A few people I know put corn out along their shorelines for feed, but I think they should fly to warmer climates where they can find food naturally. The birds I feed can and do forage on their own quite nicely -I just make it easier and do it for the selfish reason of wanting them close so I can watch their bird antics. They make me smile and give me something to talk about with all the others who also like to seek out and watch birds.....

Sparkly Weekend

2009-01-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

So far, this weekend the only glimpse of the moon was early Fri. evening as she was rising with the sun not yet set. The clouds or mist have come and gone all weekend.....
The snow was so sparkly Fri. afternoon ......I hoped to get out on Sat. to take more pictures before the texture changed...still lots of ducks and geese around.....

It was -25C and very foggy Sat. morning -ice fog they call it-this picture was taken from the bathroom window as the fog was lifting in mid morning -cold, but the day turned out sunny...as the fog cleared the air became positively magical -filled with shining ice crystals -impossible to photograph -I guess the moisture from the fog was freezing, then floating earthward combined with the frost from the trees falling -everything was sparkling in the sun...

Nellie and I just had to go out in spite of the intense cold -we went to check out the creek to see who has been visiting -saw a flock of Mourning Doves, and lots of fox tracks along the banks...looks like our fox have discovered the spots that stay open.....

The hoar frost was thick and beautiful all along the edges of the water -some amazing crystal formations....

I had to keep a close eye on Nellie -she loves water and would have gone into the creek if I didn't keep telling her "NO!" This is where the fox stopped to drink before continuing on his way.....

This reminded me of waves washing up on the shore of a beach.....nice thought at -25C!!! Love the sparkly snow!!!

Patience and lots of shots beneath a Highbush Cranberry ....finally one of the Chickadees stopped for longer than a second ......love how you can see all his little feathers puffed out in an effort to stay warm.....the birds were at the feeder all day Sat. in an effort to stay warm.....

.......another one caught leaving......

......all it takes is a couple of very cold days and nights and the river freezes over...there are always open spots however.......

......less than 48 hours ago......blue water..now sparkly ice ......

Seeking More Orange

2009-01-09T18:34:00.000-08:00

...seeking orange to stimulate my enthusiasm for life and my creativity during these short days of winter, I found it many places today.....the setting sun through my tangled garden.....
......the glowing warmth of the sun rewarded me several minutes later.....

.....frozen from being outside I turned on my ice lights that turn the old wooden armoir a soft glowing orange...

...finally I lit beeswax candles in my favourite mosaic candle holders....

Add ORANGE color gemstones when you want:
to spice things up when time is dragging
to become more involved in just living life
to increase creativity and enthusiasm
relief from boredom
Too little ORANGE and we lose our motivation, our self esteem suffers, and we have a tendency to isolate

...I needed the orange today.......

Suffering in Silence

2009-01-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

I love snowstorms, as long as I can observe them through a window . I'm very nervous driving in them so today's storm allowed me to stay home from school again and sleep. I slept the day away again in my very quiet house -due in large part to the new medication I'm on for pain....and then there is the Gravol I took for the terrible nausea the pain medication gave me. It has been a crappy way to start the new year but to look for a positive I have been able to sleep the past 3 days, something I haven't done much of since I fell on Dec. 24. For someone who is active all the time it has been very discouraging to not even be able to walk the dog. Yesterday, I did go to school -not a good idea -I felt dizzy and disorientated in the morning, nauseous all afternoon with a terrible headache. When I got home I walked with Nellie about 30 feet into the backyard and had to empty my stomach contents into the garbage can in the shed. That was it -came in and went to bed and have just got up now -it is about 3:30 pm. on Wed. Buses were cancelled in our school board today due to the storm so I didn't miss another day with the kids. I'm taking myself off the latest pain med. as I cannot tolerate the way it makes me feel. I think the pain in the ribs is more tolerable than this. I joined a Creative Every Day challenge and so far all I've managed are some doodles with both left and right hands, 2 knitted dish clothes and several inches on what will be another knitted purse. Really just busy work ,but I have managed to take some photos.... that does involve a little more creativity. I have to think positively...next week will be better.

In Memory of Phantom

2009-01-05T14:14:00.000-08:00

After 19 years of sharing our lives, Phantom peacefully passed away 2 years ago today. She has lived up to her name and still visits us - usually at night, we feel her walking across the bed. Both my husband and I have felt her presence. She came to us as a stray with her 4 kittens, and of course we kept them all (later we gave 2 of the kittens to my sister) They all lived long and happy lives with us but sadly all the kittens died before their sweet little mom. Everybody loved Phantom...we miss her still....

Cat Poem
They will not go quietly,the cats who've shared our lives.In subtle ways they let us knowtheir spirit still survives.Old habits still make us thinkwe hear a meow at the door.Or step back when we dropa tasty morsel on the floor.Our feet still go around the placethe food dish used to be,And, sometimes, coming home at night,we miss them terribly.And although time may bring new friendsand a new food dish to fill,That one place in our heartsbelongs to them. . . and always will.
- Linda Barnes
This metal kitty marks her gave beneath the pine trees where she liked to spend the hot part of the day during summer

Wildlife

2009-01-04T02:50:00.000-08:00

Fox watching has always been an exciting part of living here on the farm. This picture was taken through a window last year by my neighbour Emile. Freddy, visited Emile's bird feeder often last year, in late afternoon as he was heading out for his evening hunt. He was beautiful - sleek, healthy glowing red coat with a big bushy tail. He had a well worn path that led across our backyards. He lived beneath an abandoned farm building on the property to our west. He would stop to drink from our creek, which is behind our barn, and runs all year no matter what the temperature, perhaps do a little hunting for mice along the edge of the field, run along the edge of The Throwaway Forest, visit the birdfeeder of my neighbour, then head off east or north to the neighbouring fields or forested areas for the night. We often saw him, in fact he often watched us, unafraid. I am always wary of the wild animals here as rabies is common, but we knew this fellow's habits. Sometimes JJ would see him following the tractor and mower in the summer if he was mowing laneways on the farm -the mowing disturbed the mice and sent them scurring for new cover making it easy for Freddy to catch his dinner. In the winter, I like to look for tracks to see what animals and birds have been visiting overnight and we would often comment on his activities based on the tracks.

For many years a female fox occupied the same den, and we got to see the young foxes come out to play in the early evenings - if the wind was blowing in the right direction so we could hide undetected. Any sightings were always reported to the family even if it was daily. One year, I was weeding my flower beds after a rainy stretch to discover a very tiny fox cub, just meters away from my back door, cowering in the flower bed. I knew right away he was sick so I grabbed a heavier pair of work gloves and a rabbit cage with a flip top, cautiously came up behind the little cub, picked him up by the scruff and put him in the cage. Poor little thing was frightened but really too sick from exposure to put up any fight. He may have been a runt or simply got lost......the boys wanted to adopt him and make him better - but he died that night. My friend, who is a vet, had taken him to keep an eye on him before we decided what to do with him. He was sent away for rabies testing, but he was clear.

Last spring the neighbours on both sides and ourselves all noted Freddy's absence -perhaps he had moved on????? Then sadly we learned the truth. It seemed, not all the neighbours in our area shared our fascination with watching the wildlife from afar. One thought there were too many fox in our area and decided to get rid of them all -he found the new den of the female and watched for the male along his pathway and shot them -seven in total. So sad. But yesterday we were delighted to see another young male bounding through the snow.....perhaps looking for a new home......

A Cold New Year's Blanket

2009-01-03T01:34:00.002-08:00

New Year's Day dawned with clear blue skies , a dazzling sun and bitterly cold temperatures. After being couped up in the house for a few days giving my body the rest it needed, I just had to get out. Bundled up against the -25 C wind chill, Nellie and I ventured first into The Throwaway Forest. It is an area of about 3 acres that once was the paddock for my horses, but over the past 30 years has been tranformed into my own little forest close to home. The name came from the first trees and shrubs planted there, that were all given to us by relatives, friends neighbours, even strangers -"I have these trees that I want to get rid of...." they'd say. "Sure, we'll take them..." and thus a forest was born. The horses were sold as increasing demands on our time with 2 young boys took precidence over time with my beauties -I could have kept them to look at but they were too good to do that -horses like dogs need to be worked -alot. Trees can be be watched from afar when you get too busy and I love trees too. We still plant trees every year and in the summer I mow winding pathways among the trees and wildflower meadows that Nellie and I walk every day. It is the first place that all the kids that come to visit want to go -any time of the year -I feel good passing that love of the trees on to the little ones......

After warming up in the house, Nellie and I went down along the river to get a closer look at the ice covered rocks and the freezing river. The patterns that the river ice take on are quite spectacular when viewed up close. It won't take long at these temperatures for all the little bays to freeze over, then the main channels will jam up with floating bits of ice then the real freezing will begin. The main channels will always be changing -the ice comes and goes due to the strong currents. It can be very dangerous for foolish people and the innocent animals that unknowingly venture out on it. Nellie is leased at all times near the river from now until breakup in the spring.

Only 2 days into the new year and I've already got a few dishcloths knitted (for gifts during the coming year)and another bag to be felted on the needles. The largest fabric store within an hours drive is having a close out sale -everything is 50% off. While I am loath to spend money this time of year, I am going to venture into the city today to stock up on threads and some quilting cotton for some new pillows. I decided mine in the living room were in need of replacement over the holidays.....

A Cold New Year

2009-01-03T01:34:00.001-08:00

A Week of Contrasts

2008-12-28T03:35:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-21T13:16:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-21T04:57:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-21T03:52:00.000-08:00

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

Winter Lights

2008-12-19T13:23:00.001-08:00

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!

2008-12-19T03:45:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-16T13:05:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-11T00:47:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-10T05:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-04T03:53:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-29T23:45:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T12:43:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-23T15:38:00.000-08:00

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......

Treats for Anytime

2008-11-22T03:45:00.000-08:00

Rice Pudding With Lemon

Scanning my new favourite cookbook (Finally Foods I Can Eat), I settled on trying this recipe yesterday afternoon when I got home from school - after a very cold minus 14 C. wind chill walk with Nellie. I was up early today so decided to have some for breakfast -LOVE IT!! It would be a great dish to serve anytime -if you like coconut , rice and lemon. Here's the recipe:

1 cup coconut milk 250ml 1 cup water 250ml

1/2 cup organic long grain white rice 125ml 1 Tbsp. honey 15ml

1/4 tsp sea salt 1ml 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 5 ml

juice & zest from 1/2 - whole lemon (I used a whole because it was small)

In a pot, combine coconut milk, water, rice, sea salt & vanilla . Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook approx. 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add honey at the end of cooking. Remove from heat and stir in lemon and zest. Place in a bowl in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. Top with toasted coconut or fresh fruit if desired.

Free of dairy, wheat, yeast, corn, gluten, sugar, eggs, soy, nuts & nightshades

Of course I had mine this morning with one of favourite teas -Tetley's Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea -have a long list of chores for JJ & I to work on today -mostly inside as it is quite cold out this morning.

Meet Nellie

2008-11-21T13:06:00.001-08:00

Nellie as puppy.....absolutely adorable ....
.....Nellie with Dain (nephew's son)...

......Nellie is "wet" all summer.....and full of snowballs all winter....the rest of the year she's just a dirty farm dog....

...Nellie & Seamus - another Wheaten pal at the cottage....Nellie has lots of dog friends, cat friends, horse friends and of course people friends -everybody loves Nellie...

...when kids are around...so is Nellie - she loves to play with them... they come to get her to play....when kids come to my door to ask if Nellie can come out to play - you know you have a wonderful dog!!!!
-OK -I'm the guilty person who gave them chocolate then took pictures without cleaning faces -precious!!!

....Nellie needs a haircut every 3 months......but she doesn't shed!!!!

She Is Your Friend, Your Partner, Your Defender, Your Dog ...

You Are Her Life, Her Love, Her Leader, She Will Be Yours, Faithful & True ...To The Last Beat Of Her Heart,

You Owe It To Her, To Be Worthy Of Such Devotion...

I don't know who wrote this but the original was about a male - I changed to the feminine..

......Nellie is a 5 year old Soft Wheaten Terrier.....we love her.....

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2008-11-20T15:35:00.000-08:00

Busy, stressful week is over - we were pet sitters again last weekend, a dog and 3 cats - but our animals all get along thankfully - it was the dreadful cold rain/snow last weekend combined with fighting off a throat infection that got the better of me. I didn't feel well again until Wed. Now the much cooler temperatures have arrived - it has been minus 8 - 10 degrees with the wind chill all week. Today the winds died down and the morning was better -snapped a few this morning of the eastern tip of the island with the mist rising off the water - it looks so cold though - not so cold to stop Nellie from wading into the river to get a drink -she is such a "hot" dog!!

Nellie is in need of a hair cut but with all the wet last week and little attention from me -she had lots of new matts that I'll have to spend this weekend getting out!! I was so happy last night to learn that my youngest son is coming home from Edmonton for Christmas. I have to get busy and finish up Christmas gifts. He arrives home on the 19, then we're heading to Toronto to visit my other son, then on to my older sister's farm -where a reunion of sorts will take place as all her girls will be home this year too - it will be CRAZY -hearing about adventures, schools, new boyfriends etc., then back home on the 23 to get ready for all the other side of the family to descend - I can't wait....... I love all the family events at Christmas.......

Beautiful Starts

2008-11-15T04:25:00.000-08:00

How can a day go wrong with such a beautiful start........

...several days this week the sunrises were so so stunning I was almost late for school...couldn't stop taking pictures...

....full moon this week ...but only caught glimpses due to clouds.....

A Pittance of Time

2008-11-11T03:51:00.000-08:00

A moving tribute to all those who fought in wars by Terry Kelly, a blind singer/songwriter from Nova Scotia -"A Pittance of Time" can be found on You Tube -I haven't figured out how to post it to Blogger....worth 2 minutes of your time.....happy day.......

Lest We Forget.....

2008-11-11T03:40:00.000-08:00

Report Cards

2008-11-10T17:07:00.000-08:00

It is mid term reporting time once again -starting last night and likely most evenings this week, I'll be reviewing each student's progress and assessments, to come up with appropriate comments for the report cards and writing evaluations for each student's Individual Education Plan (IEP for short) It is quite cold this week, forecast is hovering around 0. I am crossing my fingers that the night is clear to see the full moon rise in a few days - always an impressive sight over the water......

Rainy Day Baking

2008-11-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

Cranberry Loaf

Since it was such a dreary, rainy day today, I decided to try a few recipes from Shirley Plant's cookbook for those with food intolerances, "Finally...Food I Can Eat! Looks nice but tastes best when warmed with a nice cup of tea - I invited a friend (cat lover too) over for a taste testing party and a visit by the fire......

Cranberry Loaf

2 cups spelt flour (I used a gluten free all purpose mix) (500ml)

1/4 cup maple syrup(50ml)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder(7ml)

1/2 tsp baking soda(2ml)

1 tsp sea salt(5ml)

1/2 cup margarine(125ml) (lactose free)

1 egg (used 1 tsp. egg replacer plus 2 tsp water)

1 - 2 tsp grated orange rind(5 -10ml)

1/2 tsp grated lemon zest(2ml)

3/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (1 large orange)

1 cup raisins(250ml) I omitted these and added a handful of chopped

walnuts

1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries(250ml)

Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl, then cut in margarine until mixture is crumbly. Add in egg, peel and juice all at once. Stir until moist. Fold in cranberries and raisins.

Spoon into a greased 8 1/2 inch (1.5L) loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

**Free of dairy, wheat, yeast, corn, sugar, eggs, soy, and nightshades**

Fabulous Friday

2008-11-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

A thick fog this morning almost prevented us from driving to Ottawa to visit the Canadian War Museum - but it cleared enough by 8 o'clock for us to head out. The kids, while not understanding alot of what they saw, enjoyed themselves immensely anyway! My mom, from Estonia, was separated from her family when Russia invaded that country. She eventually made her way to Canada after WWII ended and met my dad , also a recent immigrant from Ireland...the rest is history. Seeing lots of the artifacts today and pictures gave me the creeps and brought back memories of my mom. Mom never told us much about the war she experienced -too disturbing and frightening for her -and I've always abhorred violence of any kind -perhaps because of her influence. She was a gentle, quiet sole who loved to create things and coax life from the earth. She passed away far too soon...(17 years ago). My Irish dad passed on the love of all things Irish, story telling, faeries, folklore, love of history and of life long learning. Whenever I visit my numerous relatives in Ireland I always feel like I've gone home, like I belong ....in fact, it only takes me a few days in Ireland to begin to talk like them -the same intonation, using their words etc. -something my husband finds amusing. My dad never lost his accent -I suppose that had something to do with it. Alas, he too left this earth too early.......sunrises and sunsets always make me think of my parents, especially my dad as we used to go outside often to watch the miracle........so.... a beautiful Indian summer day....but one touched with a little sadness as I remembered both my deceased parents........but a fabulous day overall......

2008-11-07T02:09:00.000-08:00

Environmentalist James Gustave Speth @ McGill
Rampant consumerism must be checked, Speth saysBy Neale McDevittOctober 21, 2008McGill ReporterFlu season may be just around the corner, but environmental activist James Gustave Speth says we have a new scourge to watch for: “afluenza,” a virulent strain of consumerism that, if left unchecked, may prove fatal to our planet.Delivering his 2008 Beatty Memorial Lecture to a full house at the Centre Mount Royal Auditorium on Oct. 18, the Dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University said rampant capitalism is the chief culprit behind the degradation of the environment to the point where the planet’s ability to sustain life has been seriously undermined.But the wheels of capitalism don’t churn by themselves. Speth listed a variety of accomplices to this ongoing environmental crime:
Powerful corporate entities whose overriding objective is to grow profits regardless of the effect on the natural world;
continual investment in technologies originally designed with little or no thought to the environment;
markets that systematically fail to recognize environmental costs unless they are legislated to do so by government;
governments that are subservient to corporate entities;
and run-away consumerism spurred by sophisticated advertising and marketing – all have had a hand in ramping up capitalism and consumption to frenzied, and dangerous, levels.“It took all of history to grow the $7-trillion world economy that we had when I was a little boy in 1950,” he said. “But how long does it take to add another $7-trillion to world economic activity today? Less than a decade.“We have created a huge economic machine that is profoundly committed to profits and growth and almost totally indifferent to nature and society,” he continued. “Left unchecked it is both ruthless and rapacious.”But, according to Speth, to cage the ruthless beast will require nothing short of a revolution.First, he said, people must challenge the “growth fetish.” The heedless accumulation of goods and property must be tempered by newly conceived markets in which prices are driven upward to reflect the true environmental impact of products. “Polluters must pay,” Speth said.Second, we must move toward a kinder, gentler “post-growth life” of improved health care for everyone, better education, shorter work weeks and longer vacations. Citing philosopher John Stuart Mill, Speth said we must go back to the future and re-devote ourselves to “improve the art of living.”“Materialism is toxic to happiness,” he said. “We must look forward to the day we can get off the treadmill of this hyperventilating lifestyle.”While Speth was quick to admit he doesn’t have the answers to the question how do we get from here to there, he did suggest it would probably take a series of events to serve as a catalyst for change. We will need a powerful grassroots movement or a proliferation of mold-breaking movements that would galvanize people. We will need a crisis or the semblance of an imminent crisis, and we will need leaders who aren’t afraid to talk about sacrifice and giving up luxuries, leaders who are able to “articulate a new story.” When asked if such a leader exists, Speth tipped his electoral hand and said: “Wait ’til November.”“Our best hope for real change is a fusion of those concerned about the environment, of those concerned about justice and fairness, and those concerned about building strong political democracy,” he said. “The fusion of these things will create one powerful, progressive force. We’ve got to remember that we are all in a community of shared faith. We are all in the same boat and we will rise or fall together.”At the end of his lecture Speth spoke directly to the students in the audience to step forward and take action.“This is your world. Get active before it is too late. If there is a period to look for guidance, it is the 1960s and the Civil Rights movement. People struggled, people took risks and after 40 years I think it is time we followed in the footsteps of Dr. King.“There is too much at stake to sit on the sidelines.”

Foggy Morning

2008-11-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

Misty garden...looks peaceful but it was actually very noisy this morning...hundreds of unseen migrating geese resting on the waters filled the still air with their honking....Nellie kept looking for them as we walked but we couldn't see them because of the fog.....

Foggy reflection on the river... Sunrise on the St. Lawrence ...photographed out the car window on the way to school.

Negative ions

2008-11-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

A short "Indian Summer" has descended upon us. After an unusually cold and wet spell, the air here has suddenly warmed. For the first time in a long time the air has warmed since sun down. I just got back from taking Nellie out for her final walk for the day and I feel alive again. Cold makes me want to hibernate under my wool duvet -for the winter ! But with the warming temperatures also came increased humidity - it is about 11 degrees C - and that wonderful fresh invigorating smell in the air -the negative ions hubby likes to point out -whatever -I love it! The darkness felt...soft, the setting sliver of moon glowed orange in the hazy sky, the leaves crunched underfoot and that wonderful smell in the air.......all is right with my world tonight..........

2008-11-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

Currently on my needles...what will become a large shopping tote.....knitted on circular needles, then "felted." A Christmas gift for a niece.....I'll make long knitted handles as she likes to carry her bags over a shoulder. Patons SWS is a wool/soy mix - a little slippery especially when knitting as a passenger in the car -one of my favourite places to knit.....

What a crazy day at school today! I teach 9 Intellectually Disabled adolescents between the ages of 15 - 19 yrs. They are a super group - usually, but some of them decided today was a good day to push ALL my buttons. My E.A. (educational assistant) was away today too - perhaps that is why they decided to gang up on me......I just (in good humour) told them they were all rotten kids and that I was going to quit, then walked out - they of course panicked and begged me to come back......I really love yanking their chain too.

My kids, as I affectionately call them when telling my hubby about their latest antics, take up way too much of my thoughts, interfere with my sleep and I spend way too much money on projects for them. We started our annual wall quilt today -using completely recycled fabric from old clothes - it should be fun!!