Turning a Corner

With February just about behind us, I take heart in the notion that spring can't be that far off. Yes, I know...as I look out my window I can see nothing but snow, both on the ground and falling from the sky. But no matter! In my house there are definite signs that spring is beginning to stir.

Mrs. Thaw, sweeping the snow away on the nature table

Seeds from Veseys in Prince Edward Island! The table they are on, by the way, was my week-end project. I dug out from the garage the butcher block top that was in my old kitchen, added legs from a discarded table, and voila! The perfect surface on which to start my seeds. The table sits in our family room, which in the spring gets the most sunlight of any room in our house. Some of these I will plant in a few weeks, keeping the faith that by May I'll have a greenhouse in which to transplant them. The rest, of course, will go directly into the garden in late May/early June.

Travel Plans

I have been playing travel agent today. First, a flight for myself to Victoria in late March/early April. I'm taking a one week course at the University of Victoria on how to create museum displays (this to help me with my job of running the fishladder). Next, Iris' flight home in early April. She told me she wanted to get home 'as soon as possible'. That of course won't stop her from running out the door as soon as she gets here, but nevertheless...

Then a flight for Lucca to come visit me in early May (a birthday present that's almost a year late!). And finally (I haven't booked this one but only checked into prices) I have promised to fly down to Vancouver with Jamie in mid-May so he can go see a rock concert he's been begging to attend, IF he shows Joe and I that he's putting in real effort at school this term. So far so good. Alan and his friends are also going to be there, so they can look after him at the concert itself, but I didn't think it was fair to put Alan in sole charge of Jamie for the whole week-end.

I'll just get back from that and it will be time to fly to Nova Scotia to scatter my dad's ashes.

Thank goodness for travel points and seat sales!

Contributions

I love it when other people send me contributions for my blog. It makes me feel a bit like a managing editor. Here is one from my friend Ted about a new beauty treatment. No doubt it will put the producers of Botox out of business in short order.

Soiree Re-cap, Or What Comes With Being Older

Last night's party at Glenn and Jo's house was a lot of fun. The food was great, and the company enjoyable. It was a real mix of people, with ages ranging from the 20s to the 50s.

I was struck by how people behaved when it came to the 'entertainment' portion of the evening. It was the older crowd that got up and performed: Doug played his guitar, Linda did a belly dance, Joe told a hilarious story in English and Gwitchin, I played the piano, and Glenn and Jo recited poems. The younger people, with the exception of one who recited some Dr. Suess, all said they were too shy. Even people who are normally out-going and appear self-assured in any other circumstance I've seen them in, suddenly became uncomforable in front of what was a friendly and supportive crowd.

Talking about this with Joe after we got home, we figure there are two possible explanations: one, as we become older we just become more comfortable in our own skins. This is one of those times when I'm grateful to be 'of a certain age'. While I would like to have my 25-year old body back, I'm very happy to have shed the angst and self-doubt of earlier years.

Our second theory is that the people in their 40s, 50s and beyond still come from a time when house parties often included some kind of self-entertainment. It was pretty natural for someone to pull out a guitar, fiddle or harmonica, sit down at the piano, or launch into their repertoire of 'party' songs. While I'm sure this is still done in some households, I don't think it's nearly as common nowadays. Perhaps this is a disappearing art that comes with the advent of computers, video games and the like. If so, it's a very sad loss.

Loonie

All yesterday afternoon I kept glancing at the sky, hoping that the clouds would go away so I could catch the lunar eclipse. At around seven o'clock last night, right on cue, they parted, giving us a great view of the event. Seeing it with the naked eye was one thing, but using Joe's binoculars, it was spectacular! So beautiful. Here is a photo that I found on Flickr, not having a decent enough camera to take a good shot myself.

Soiree

Our family has been invited to an old fashioned soiree on Saturday night. A neighbour is having a potluck, and then we will take turns performing in whatever way we can: some may recite poems, some may play a musical instrument or sing, some might do a dance, etc.

Luckily the neighbour has a piano, so I'll play Piazzolla's Milonga del Angel. It's easy but very beautiful. I also have a little Oscar Peterson waltz up my sleeve if my endearing audience calls for an encore!

Camino Planning

Saturday evening was Spanish night at our house. Friends came over who had walked the Camino de Santiago: one took the traditional Camino Frances and then she went back with her husband several years later and they walked the Camino del Norte. All routes lead to Santiago de Compostela, where the apostle St. James is supposedly buried.

We of course had a Northern Spanish meal, starting with various tapas: tortilla espanola (spanish omelette), gambas a la plancha (garlic fried shrimp), unas aceitunas (olives), and a dish of dried tomatoes in olive oil (don't know the Spanish name). We also had fresh lake trout that Joe had caught earlier that day - not Spanish, but very tasty nonetheless. Then came a version of caldo verde (a soup with chorizo sausage, potatoes, kale, and chicken) along with una ensalada. Finally we had tarta de Santiago (St. James' cake, which is served along the camino).

The two of them shared stories and advice about the trails, and left me with several books and articles to read. I have pulled out my Spanish textbook and have started studying a bit every day, aided by an on-line course offered by the BBC, and I am starting to investigate the best gear to buy. No, I have no firm departure date, but I'm hoping it will be within the next two years.

Love Waits Half Naked on the Bed

How's that for a Valentine's Day title? I read it in a poem not too long ago, and it stuck in my head. And while this posting has nothing to do with being half naked or in bed (at least not directly), I couldn't resist the temptation to grab your attention...and I did, didn't I?

By the way, St. Valentine was not some chubby cupid who flew around shooting arrows into people's hearts. St. Valentine was apparently a priest. Here's what history.com says about him:

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

Who's to know how much, if any of this, is true. But no matter. My wish for you today is that you find love fluttering in the air. If you do, grab it, hold it close, breathe it in, roll around in it and wrap yourself in it. It is the most precious thing you will ever have in your possession.

The First Kiss - Kim Anderson (art.com)

Escape to Zimbabwe, Mexico, or Anywhere Else Warm

On Saturday, we hit rock bottom in terms of this cold snap. Our cold water line into the kitchen froze - it was only with today's moderating temperatures that it thawed.

To escape the cold, I took in a performance by Black Umfolosi, a singing and dancing group from Zimbabwe. They were great fun, and their beautifully textured voices transported me away from this frigid place.

Joe and I were checking out warm destinations on the internet over the week-end. Mexico looks pretty appealing right about now. However Jamie still doesn't have his passport, so we can't go anywhere until that happens. By then, maybe it will have warmed up to the point that we won't feel the desperate need to get out of here!

So Cold It's Hot

Minus 50

Cold that feels hot;

the sensation of searing skin

too close to a fire.

Exposed fingers become

castanets;

a flamenco dancer

frozen in frame.

Minus 50,

where pain and pleasure

collide.

My First Cartoon Appearance

Courtesy of the Yukon News.

The Advantages of a Deep Freeze

In spite of my recent grumbling (I'm not doing so well on my 21 Day No-Complaining Challenge), there are definitely some good things about this prolonged cold snap. Yesterday, I admitted defeat and cancelled all my piano classes. That meant I had a whole day to do whatever I pleased. Jamie and I made donuts. I haven't made donuts since I was a kid and I had forgotten how delicious fresh warm donuts are. Then I spent a big chunk of the day reading. I finished "Fall On Your Knees" by Ann-Marie MacDonald. I picked it up because it was set in Cape Breton, but I have to say I didn't enjoy it one bit. It was one big depression fest. I ended up getting angry with the author because there was absolutely no break in the horrible things that happened. Not on my recommended list for sure, even if it is on Oprah's. Then I moved on to "What the Psychic Told the Pilgrim" by Jane Christmas. It's the true story of her pilgrimage along Spain's Camino de Santiago de Compostela. This is a trek I hope to do myself at some point in my life. The book, while not an award winner, was enjoyable at least, and it sent me to the Internet wanting to know more about the Camino. I have a friend who has walked it twice; apparently it is a bit addicting and some people return again and again to do it. Here is a wonderful account of the pilgrimage, should you like to know more.

New Product Line

I just got an email from my friend Lucca telling me about a new product line. I'm sure she wouldn't mind me sharing part of her note, which made my day:

I have word that there are several new products in the Binger/Patterson freezer line. In addition to the very tasty Janet-cicle, we now have the Jamie-frozen-pop-tart, the Singlemalt-on-Joe with a splash of water if you can find any, and the Cool-Alan and his new band ANTIFREEZE.

Watch for discount coupons after the thaw.

Pas de Change

C'est plus change, c'est plus que la meme chose.

Translation: it's still cold.