Christmas Update - Guest Post

I'm Lyn - Polar Bear's eldest daughter, and I've hijacked his blog for a guest post. He is back in his wintry Canadian home for the holidays ... just down the street from me and I can attest to the fact that he is suffering from severe, deep withdrawal from blogging and Internet access. He was surprised that he missed it so much. That didn't stop him from writing though ... he has been accumulating loads of material and been busy finessing the stories for his book.

As we chatted today he said how much he felt he was missing from the online community. I was updating him on some of our regular blogger buddies - Lakeviewer's post on crab season, Carrie's departure to Germany to see her young military fiancee ...

In a few days he will take the flight back to Florida and I will be back to following this blog to stay up to date with him - his ideas, worries, and memories. But right now I have him up close and personal and I don't want to waste a minute.

So stay tuned; the Polar Bear will be back in the den by Thursday! I know he would want me to extend his best for the holiday season.

Now - a return to your regular programming ...

Last Minute Jobs

Our plane takes off for home at 7.30 pm.As usual we were ready last evening and were just filling in time. This is stressful as Theresa tries to fill in every minute with little chores.We were going to just lockup and leave but with all this extra time we managed to repack, clear the deck, do a virtual housecleaning and still it is only 2.oopm.

Our bags are carefully weighed on the bathroom scales and we make the allowed limits by a few ounces.We take home some Xmas cheer and the tops of the bottles have to be taped in case of a spill.Zippers are tied with those little twist locks and everything is carted out to the driveway reasy for our ride.

A close friend drives us to and from the airport which is 45 minutes away and this is such a good blessing because airport service is practically non existent. Finally we are able to sit and have a pizza and a glass of wine.All our preparations are not in vain as a few hours from now we will be sleeping in our bed at home.I sometimes feel that the days leading up to an important event are as good as the event itself. For the past two weeks our family communication reached a fevered pitch
with facebook, e mails and phone calls addressing the Christmas family celebrations.

My wish would be to have this spirit continue throughout the year. Perhaps I will do my part to make it so.

Annual Bird Count

The annual bird count was in full swing yesterday and a friend of mine , I will call him John was counting in our area. Every year he does his best to count the numerous birds found in our particular area. They drive around and get out of their cars and take a count. Every year I tell this fellow that they miss the boat when they dont go to the golf courses.

Today when I played golf starting at 7.00am I counted over 100 birds on one hole. Eleven types and wood storks in particular. There are 27 holes on this golf course and over 25 ponds or lakes as they call them. I would estimate that about 2000 birds call The Royal Tee their home.

One of the reasons I like golf is because of the wild life found on these well watered and grassy pristine oasis. We have wild parrots, bald eagles, ospray and other rapters as well as numerous wading birds.Ducks, loons, coots and geese find golf a friendly place. This has been made better since there is no bad spraying or harmeful fertilizers in use.

People always said that golf was a game for the birds and I agree.

Heading Home

For the past 10 days we have being having uncomfortable hot days and I am happy to be heading north for a cool off.Yesterday it was 89+ and every day was in the low to high 80+. The humidity stayed high and it was downright uncomfortable.

All that will be over as we fly home to Oakville for a few days of family, friends and celebrations.We look forward to seeing real snow and wearing clothes other than shorts and a T shirt.We have been packed for some time and only the little things have to be taken care of.

Pick the ripe fruit, spray the vegetable garden with soapy water so the bugs will not feast on the tender leaves and mow the grass once more. We don't worry about a freeze up but we have to set our sprinkler system to conform to the by-laws.Take some more pictures to make the family jealous and motivate them to come down and visit.

As much as we love our Florida lifestyle there is no place like Ontario to spend the Christmas season. Our flight home is way after Doris's bedtime as we arrive home around midnight to a warm house and a tired traveller but she will come alive at 8.30 next morning ready to go.

I wonder if the driveway is shovelled? I wonder if the hot water tank is turned on and a hundred other questions flood my mind.These are the anxiety moments I get when coming back to our home. I know all will be OK but I am permitted to have thoughts and then there is the flight...I will close before I change my mind and stay put.

Dad's Skis

There was not a great deal of interest in skiing when I was a youngster as there were no commercial ski hills. We were fortunate to have a creative father who surprised us one winter. Flour used to come in bags of various sizes but sometimes flour came in barrels. These barrels were made of thin hardwood and stood about four and a half feet tall.

Dad has a work bench in our garage and for a period of time he made it out of bounds for we children. We never questioned this as Dad had special projects before and we knew he was up to something but we never knew what. After about a week of this secret project he promised to tell us after church on Sunday. We arrived home to have our Sunday meal but were anxious to see his surprise.

After dinner he told us all to get dressed warmly and come out. Mom was included and we were laughing to see her in slacks.When we came out he walked us to the garage and there was a pair of skis for each of us. Dad cut the hardwood staves to look like skis and sanded the bottoms to a smooth texture. He cut inner tubes to make foot holders and a strap on each to hold our feet in place.

We were so surprised and tried on our skis. There was a high hill down by the big pond and we all trudged off to try our new found toys. We must have looked funny as we made a small parade with Mom, Dad and 8 kids with skis over shoulder marching through the snow.

As we neared the hill we all ran to see who would be the first to mark the new fallen snow. As we stood at the top of the hill we decided that Mom would go first. She was embarrassed but was a good sport and placed her feet on the skis. Her feet flew up in the air and she fell backwards and the skis flew down the hill without Mom. We all laughed and scrambled to try to make it down to the bottom without falling.

What a day,others came and joined in and we shared our skis and everyone had a great adventure with barrel stave skis. Dad started something as other fathers were called upon to repeat his feat and make skis for their kids. For a while we were the barrel stave ski capitol of Cape Breton. This was not the only day that Dad surprised us but it was one of the best.

At supper that evening all the talk was about Mom's skiing ability and all the fun we had. This was one time when a big family really pays dividends.

Arctic Xmas Trees

In the days before 1956 Xmas in the Arctic was celebrated by only a few Christians who had some form of a church. Around this time the USA and Canada began building the DEW line to protect us from Russia during the Cold War. At this time Inuit lived in extended family groups and had their own spiritual conventions. Shamans were the main holder of spiritual power and were called to help when problems arose.

After the grouping of the Inuit into hamlets to provide education and medical care christian missionaries came to teach the Inuit about our great God who would watch over them.There were about 60 thousand pure Inuit who were forced into 40 hamlets usually near a radar base.This was often done with the use of force.

At Xmas time some trees were brought in by the air for the white people living at the Radar stationed and a few were given to the churches. Many of the decorations were made by the skilled Inuit children and adults and sometimes lights were also present. This captured the imagination of the Inuit and many converted to Christianity.Roman Catholic, United Church and Anglican Churches brought most into the fold.

Regional schools were established in various locations and the children were forced to leave their hamlets to attend these institutions.This was supposed to be a good thing but turned out to be one of the blackest marks in Canadian history in the treatment of its aboriginal peoples. The children were forced to speak English only and to cut their hair and to forget their culture. Physical abuse and sexual abuse was rampant and even today the Inuit suffer from the scars of these Christian institutions. The government contracted out these responsibilities and never monitored them properly. There has been many attempts to rectify these outrages.

At these schools Xmas traditions were taught but the memories of these schools was so bad that churches in general fell in popularity. Very few Inuit continued the church tradition after this tragic experiment.

Today with artificial trees readily available Inuit are able to have a traditional Christmas with the decorations. Christmas music is popular and I attended the Inuit tree lighting at the church and it is beautiful to hear Inuit people singing Xmas carols in their own language. There is a new tradition in the Arctic which embraces the old and the new. The scars from past wrongs are fading and the impact of TV and new ministries has brought some sense of healing. The one tradition which prevailed was the Xmas tree.

One family that I knew well used to weave Arctic Willow over a tent ridge pole and placed it in the center of their room. It was adorned by children's art and on Xmas, treats were placed in handmade bags for the children. It was priceless.

The Worm is Turning

America's largest bank borrowed $50,000,000,000.00 as a bailout during the 2007 financial crises. Yesterday it was announced that the entire amount will be returned to the USA Treasury. This event signals that the economy is about to change and other borrowers should return the bailout money as well. It is strange for people like us to see these huge amounts being tossed around like Monopoly money. There are other trends that show hope and we look forward to an increased upward trend.

Theresa and I were encouraged to get involved in international finance and to become lenders to those in need. With a few $25 gift certificates we started our journey in becoming world class financiers. We joined a non profit group called Kiva who help out individuals or groups who present a plan and need small amounts of money to start or grow their businesses. These people are from every country and often need only a few hundred dollars to begin their dream for financial stability.

We along with others lent $25 dollars to individual women from Bolivia, India and other countries. The funds are grouped together to lend small sums to begin the projects.No one person is lending the total amount needed and the borrower promises to pay back the money on a schedule. We have only made 5 loans so far but today we will be making three more with the money payed back from the loans. It is remarkable that almost 100% of the loans are repaid on time and in full.

The need might be as small as $100 to buy chickens or goats, or seeds for a crop. This represents wealth in these developing countries. We are enjoying this new found freedom to help people who wish to help themselves. Their shared success will amaze you and encourage you to become a Kiva lender. Check it out at Kiva.org and see the real meaning of giving. For these people the worm will turn and you can help it happen.

Incidentally Kiva now manages hundreds of millions of money across the world with outstanding success.

Universal Health Care

Since I have been living in Florida for six months each year I feel in tune with the politics of the region.Other than the war issues and partisan politics the one hot button is health care reform.For all my years in and out of politics I am daily amazed at the tone of this debate.

Since I grew up in a country where universal health has been a reality and accepted standard for all, this American debate staggers my sensibility.Such an issue should be above party politics but a line has been drawn in th sand and I am afraid that the end result will be far from acceptable. Besides the Republican and Democrat rhetoric there is an ugly intervention by vested interests in a billion dollar industry. These corporations are the health services providers who give service for profit.

Make no mistake that there are huge amounts of wealth to be gleaned on the backs of the sick and needy.These corporations stand to lose a large share of these profits if health care as presented by the president is incorporated in a new health reform bill. These firms are investing large amounts of money trying to scare the public about reform. There are so many outright lies and misrepresentations about this issue it will be impossible for the ordinary citizen to arrive at a good decision.

Those people fortunate enough to have halth care paid by their employer feel no need for reform. Those people who are rich enough to buy good health care do not wish change. The poor and uninsured are the 30 or 40 percent who need to be included in some form of universal coverage.

Money is an issue as welthy people do not wish to pay for the coverage of the uninsured. Selfish, yes but a strong force against reform. Canadians have had this health care for generations and it is not perfect and it is expensive. Canadians have a collective feeling that everyone has the right to health care no matter what station in life he finds himself in. There are no waiting lines that are life threatening.Personally I and my family have been the recipents of the national health system and it has never failed us or any family member.

Lets hope the powers that be are able to rise above this ugly mess when it comes to providing what I call a right. Universal Health Care.

Terrace Bay Ontario

Living away far from home at Xmas is not too good so we decided to drive the thousand miles through a deserted road to have Xmas with Roma's family. We were living in Dorion, a little village in Northern Ontario and at the last minute decided to go home to Magnetawan. School was out at 3 pm and I decided to leave immediately and drive right through the night.

We had our young daughter with us and she was only one year old. we packed the car and had Lynda in a bed seat in the back seat of the car. It wa not a good weather forcast and I wanted to get ahead of the storm.

We left Dorion at 4.30 pm and charged down highway 17 and headed east. After travelling for a few hours we had to nake sure we had enough gas as there were only a few stations open and they all closed at 9 pm.Something was not quite right with the car and it seemed to lose power going up the long hills north of Lake Superior.We never met a car and began to worry about the action of our Dodge Vicount. I knew the road well and stopped at a little gas station and checked the car. There was a lot of smoke or steam coming from the exhaust and the engine began to overheat. The next town was Terrace Bay and by the time we reached there our car was wasted. I stopped at a Husky garage and there happened to be a late worker finishing a job on a truck. Quickly he told us we had blown a head gasket and he could fix it in the morning.

He was kind enough to take us to the only motel and helped us get a room. It was closed but opened for us. Seeing our young daughter the lady made us comfortable and gave us the service of the small kitchen. She left and we had the motel to ourselves.

Early the next day I went to the garage and the kind man said he had to order the new gasket from Fort William and it would come on the bus. Later he said it had to come from Winnipeg so stay at the motel and he would get to work as soon as it arrived. News spread that we were stranded and help came from all sides. We were invited to lunch at the garage restaurant and no charge. The day was long but we had visitors and one family I knew from playing hockey with the dad invited us for supper.

Lake trout caught through the ice was delicious and a drive back to our room ended our day. Next morning our car was ready and we left. Before leaving I went to pay the bill and he charged only for the parts. We were so happy and thankful as we were on a short budget. "Merry Christmas" he shouted as we left the friendly town to complete our journey.

We travelled all the next day through snow covered roads and never saw a car. The road was closed at Saulte St. Marie and when we arrived there the OPP was surprised to see us. Eventually we arrived at Magnetawan to a happy and worried family. We had such a good Xmas that year and felt the spirit of Xmas through the folks who made it possible for us to be with family.

Selling Xmas Trees

My Father was a coal miner in Cape Breton and after many years underground he was elected by the miners union to be the coal delivery man for ward 4 in sydney mines.This transition caused Dad to buy horses, enlarge our stable and basically start a business.It was hard work in those days with all the work being done by hand. The coal cars were pushed to a siding and the lower doors opened. Dad had to shovel the coal from the ground to a dumpcart in summer and a sleigh in winter.

We boys helped on Saturday or school holidays.This business placed Dad in a situation wher other work was requested like hauling ashes from homes using coal stoves and provided me with a means to earn money. We also sold shore coal and picked coal from the hihg ball.Every Christmas people in Dads ward requested him to bring them a Xmax tree.

We simply took our horse and sleigh out of town and when you saw a tree you cut it and went on until you had your load. This was crown land or company land and there were no legal problems drom cutting these trees...One year we had many orders for trees and Dad did not keep a very good account of the trees needed. We cut what we thought was enough with a few extra and delivered them to our happy customers. The normal price was $2 for a small one and $3 for a large one. I delivered what I thought was the last one and kept a good one for our home.

Dad discovered that he missed one order and of course we had to give the good tree to Mrs. Forrest.Mom got involved when she saw nothing but Charlie Brown Trees left.Dad smiled and said he would take care of it. Dad took the last squaggy trees to the garage and stood the tree with the best stem and put it on the stand. With his brace and bit he drilled holes in the bare spots and with a little work designed and built a perfect tree.

When Dad brought the tree into the house everyone was amazed at the perfect tree.Mom was so pleased and as we decorated this tree we continuallymade comments about its perfection. The tree served the purpose but a day after Xmas we had a two toned tree. The branches dad had attached to the tree dropped their needles. We usually kept our tree untilNew Years but that year it was taken outside a few days earlier.

Dad made sure that the trees for us were the very best he cut and Mom made sure of that. We still talk of the two toned tree from that year and have a good laugh at Dad expense.

CORN PALMS

CORN PALMS ARE A SMALL PALM TREE WHICH GROWS EVERYWHERE IN Florida AND LOOK EXACTLY LIKE A LARGE CORN PLANT. I HAVE GROWN THEM FOR YEARS BUT AFTER THREE DAYS OF RAIN THEY BLOSSOMED. I NEVER SAW A BLOSSOM On THIS LOWELY PLANT BUT THEY ARE QUITE UNIQUE - A LARGE SPIRALING STRING OF FLOWERS THAT EMERGE ON A CENTRAL STEM. THEY START OUT A DULL YELLOW AND TURN PINK.

I ASSUME THE FLOWERS WILL FORM SEEDS AND THEN WATCH OUT AS OUR YARD WILL RESEMBLE A CORN FIELD. I WILL CUT SOME OF THEM AND HOPE THE SEEDS DON'T SPREAD. NATURE IS WONDERFUL.

Christmas Tree and Our Cat

We as a family of only four lived on an Air force Base at Falconbridge for nearly four years. Two children made us a small family but we were just getting started as two more were soon to be added to complete our family circle. Our little story and a half house was perfect for us and we lived in a controlled environment within the gates of the station. We felt very safe and our two children took advantage of the amenities not offered in civilian life.

Those years were special and Christmas was celebrated in fine fashion. One particular year was noteworthy as we had our visitors from Magnetawan. The Smiths came and helped to make the Xmas even better. Roma's parents and their youngest daughter arrived and we had a good visit. Our Xmas tree was decorated with some of the old ornaments given to us by friends. One decoration was an angel which sat on the very top of the tree and was one which had a history. My mother in law gave us this ornament and we still have it today despite its ragged condition.

Our little cat also celebrated Xmas as Lynda and Margie played with her as she ran freely throughout the house.In the evening we turned on the tree lights and our cat immediately jumped on the tree and climbed to the very top and down came the tree.The cat ran but not before the tree toppled over to hit the fish tank and the decorations flew.

We all tried to save the tree but it happened so quickly that all we could do was clean up the mess. There was no real damage but it did add some excitement.It was one time that the animal world was truly part of our Xmas and I often think about the incident as Christmas approaches. Christmas is a time of remembering and we are able to relive those special moments from the past and savour them once again.

Santa Claus

Everyone has a favourite Xmas story from their youth and I seem to have many. Christmas was the one time of the year when everyone in our home made a special effort to behave well and become somewhat more helpful.In our home we were crowded to say the least and to have privacy, well it was a relative term. There was a particular area of our house that made eavesdropping easy. Above our kitchen stove was a register which enabled the heat to rise to the rooms above but also one could hear the conversations from people talking downstairs.

Late one night I could not sleep as I was thinking about Christmas and Santa Claus. Yes I did believe in the jolly old fellow and it gave us a way to believe and hope for miracles.I heard Mom and Dad talking in the kitchen below and I crept over and listened to their conversation. I could see them sitting by the stove with Mom having a cup of tea in her hand and Dad in his chair smoking his pipe. The smoke wafted up through the register and smelled so good. To this day it is the tobacco smoke that defines the smell of my Dad.

My mother was serious looking and they were talking about Christmas and what to get for the kids.It was about 1942 and Dad was working in the coal pit and things were tough during those days but everyone had a job. The thought that they were thinking about our gifts shocked me or at least confused me because we already asked Santa for what we wanted.

It was only two nights ago we wrote on a paper and put it in the flames of the coal stove so Santa would get it on time. Why were they worried? For the first time I started to have doubts but I did not want to as the myth was so good or to good to be true.I went back to bed and slept thinking about this mystery.

Next day I confronted m Mom and asked her if there was a Santa. She looked at me with that motherly look and said in the most convincing way that indeed there was a Santa. Why was I asking her and did someone tell me there was not a Santa? I told her I just wondered and I was truly assured and never brought it up again for several years. That year Santa did come and I got my home made sleigh and hockey stick and my faith was renewed.

Today young people lose that wonder and mystery only too quickly. Growing up and having to face reality sure was a bummer.I liked that feeling of the supernatural and never recovered completely until I became a Father and became the holder of the secrets of Christmas for my children.

Christmas Shopping

Christmas comes but once a year and that is a good thing when it comes to shopping. Theresa and I arrive at our list of people for whom we wish to buy Xmas gifts. We keep a book or rather Theresa keeps a book with a list of all the gifts we gave and to whom over the past years.

We discuss the appropriate gifts for this year with the info we had in the book and away we or mostly Theresa goes. She has to be sure of the exact size and colour for each and with twenty in the same room at Christmas morning we better be right.

Here there is a large selection of stores and with the economy down there are sales in every store. The adds come with the newspaper and you could not believe the paper used for shopping promotions. Last Thursday the weight of the ads was nearly ten pounds and this is repeated nearly every day from now to Christmas. It is a good thing we have a active recycling program.

I play golf every Tuesday and Theresa goes shopping and has nearly every gift ready for wrapping. I look at the pile of gifts and I wonder how we will get them in our travelling cases and through customs. Flying today does not leave anything over the weight limit to travel without a penalty. That is my worry.

We realize that the real joy is in the giving and we have a certain happiness in the whole Xmas spirit as we look over our purchases before wrapping and again when the gifts are opened. Theresa tries to make every gift special and wraps them with the same care.

We realize that gifts are not the real meaning of Christmas but an expression of sharing with those we love.With so many this year experiencing difficult times we try to make contributions to worthy causes to help bring joy to the needy. As our Christmas shopping comes to an end I am thankful that I have a partner who loves to shop and I can help here and there with good ideas for gifts for the hard to serve. Next year I wish to take a more active role in the joy of Christmas shopping.

West Point

President Obama chose to make his announcement about the war plans from one of Americas most respected Military Colleges. It was a beautiful setting for Obama to make his important speech. The speech was delivered in a simple but effective format. The president is long on presentation but brings us further into a conflict that seems to be necessary.

I observed the faces of the military personal and there were stern , tight clenched jaws as the President announced the need for another 30,000 bodies to be deployed in Afghanistan immediately.

We as a people, and I as an individual do not have all the facts but the President took three months to make this determination. Surely he knows of the tragic end for many more of the military who will come home in body bags or mained for life. The weight of this decision will define his term of office and we must respect his ability to make such decisions.

As I made my way up the beautiful Hudson River a year ago ferrying my son-in law's boat home to Oakville, I was impressed with this institution called West Point. It is situated on the south bank of the Hudson River about thirty five miles upstream from the City of New York.

It is a most peaceful sit with castle like structures rising among the hills and you could hardly connect this monument as the site where men and women learn how to wage war. I hope that their training makes them good officers and helps them make their charges safe for their mission far away in that foreign land.

This decision will impact all of us and my desire is that the mission will be worth the blood to be spilled over the next years.

Inverter Board

Arthritis is a condition that effects over half the population over the age of sixty.I have had this condition for a few years and like many others have tried many cures. There is some relief from the nagging pain with pain killers but you pay the price for the collateral damage to your body.

My doctor recommended I use an inversion board and I finally purchased one. It is a funny contraption and when you turn nearly upside down it causes you to get dizzy. You get used to it and after a while you see the benefits.

From the position of hanging by your feet , gravity pulls you down and stretches your spine and opens up the space between your bones. This permits blood to flow freely in this space and revitalizes the material that cushions your bones.

I was a doubter but gave this a try and found some relief after even a few sessions. It takes some getting used to and for a while I experienced some fear during the process. Once I got all the way down and could not get back up and had to call to Theresa.

After making some adjustments I finally have it balanced and am quite capable of looking after myself. With time I might actually like the contraption and feel better to boot.

Schools of Merit

In Florida and other states there is a rating system which designates certain schools to be worthy of special recognition. These schools end up with special grants and typically exhibit a banner over the entrance with the award clearly flaunted. This appears to be a good way of rewarding exceptional schools.

In the county where I live a charge has been levied against a school which had such a designation. This school was awarded top marks and was called the best school in this neck of the woods for the past four or five years. This fall a number of parents accused the school principal with unethical practises to receive this award.

These parents had children who were not quite as sharp as the administration wished and pressured the parents to find another school which would better serve their needs. One parent might be a crank or two might be a little problem but many posed a problem for the administration.

It was discovered that many children not presently attending this school were advised to move to another area school. Here in this county a parent has the right to send their children to any school of their choice as long as they can be accommodated. This leaves the system in a rather chaotic situation when schools are labeled as to their performance.

In the school I am referring to there was a shift of many children leaving and coming over the past few years. Those leaving had some special needs and lower grades and those coming were generally above average. This in itself pushed the academic reports to show exceptional improvement.

I don't know what the outcome will be in this case but it points out a great error in our thinking when we award gifts in the form of grants to schools who score high on those state tests.It would appear to be a mistake to make the good better on the backs of the needy. The analysis of a school will show that if you are serving the needs of needy and poor academic scholars that the scores are going to reflect this situation.

Everyone respects and admires a winner and we should reward good schools but we should put our resources in the places where the most need requires fixing. Rewarding individual teachers who take a class of students and bring them ahead during a year in spite of low academic levels might reflect greater growth than a teacher with all brilliant students merely covering the curriculum.

Some of the best teachers I have observed over many years inspire even the poorest learner to do his best and might never meet the states standard. These teachers are rewarded by knowing that they are helping students to maximize their potential and might even get a golden apple. This should not impede that school from being recognized as a school of merit but should enhance the schools standard.

If there is one way to judge a school surely it is the manner in which it reaches its goals by meeting the needs of all students regardless of ability by meeting the needs of the individual student.

Arctic Craft Day

The Inuit are known for their ability to sew and carve. Every year the hamlets throughout Nunavut Territory hold a craft day on the last Saturday of November. This day permits the artists and crafty people to display and sell their wares.

Women were judged in past years by her ability to sew. Inuit women guarded their needles as precious objects and were able to provide her family with everything they wore. Outer clothing made out of caribou hides, polar bear pants for the hunters, sealskin boots which were waterproof and mitts which were made of wolf pelts. Their skill was not limited to clothes as they sewed the sealskin hides so tightly that they were used for the skin of the kayaks.

With the need for this skill being lessened with store bought clothes the women turned to making luxury and decorative items. Wolf mitts now cost up to $500 and Mukluk's over that amount.

The young girls make hand made needle work for decorations on the amouts and other clothes. The men not to be outdone carve beautiful pieces of art out of soap stone and bone of the caribou and whale. Ulu's are made from old saw blades. In any case the show is a wonderful place to be on the last Saturday of the month.

In addition to the goods , food is supplied in the traditional way and various sausages and burgers are produced from Muskoxen and caribou. Mipkou (dried meat from Muskoxen and Caribou) and biffy ( dried fish ) are sold.

The doors open at 9am and everything is sold by 10 am. Money exchanges hands and there is no bartering about the price. The value of the items presented are judged by how quickly they are sold so the prices are attractive. Immediately after the last item is sold and it will be the music and people share in the showing of their prized purchases. By the end of the sale some people are very happy but others are disappointed because their offerings were purchased by family to save face.

I purchased many Xmas gifts at these fairs and loved the interaction of the people. Elders with no money roamed around the area and were given items freely in a show of respect. Inuit really believe that that they personally own very little as they feel they are Stewart's of monetary and physical things and should be shared with the ones who are less fortunate.

Years ago it was an honour to have more than you needed so you could share. This practise gave status to the hunters and women who could make more clothing than they needed.

I received a good feeling about the craft fairs and the pride shown for realized skills. This does not occur when you go to a big box store and stare at numerous items all turned out by people from third world countries who are being exploited by our companies.

Black Friday

The biggest shopping day of the year in the USA is black Friday.This day falls on the day after thanksgiving and traditionally stores give the best sales for the occasion. About 20% of the years shopping dollars are realized at this time.

Stores open as early as midnight and every hour after that. This year I was shopping for a external hard drive to back up our computers. The choice was attractive but the store opening for my choice of store was six am. I quickly dragged myself out of bed and arrived just at opening time. There was a long lineup and I had to patiently wait for my turn to get in the store.

It was a mad rush to the display case where hard drives were displayed. There was not one that was advertised at the sale price. A mob of people were giving the sales clerk a hard time as he explained that they had a limited supply at that price but there were hundreds at a higher price. Unhappy customers grumbled but there was no violence.

I had a backup plan to go to Target which was also in the mall area and get the item I wished. This parking lot was jammed and the store likewise. I managed to get to the display counter and again I was disappointed as none of the sale items were available.I searched the area and finally found the hard drive I came for. It was $10 more but still a great price.

I arrived home just before 7am with my prize. Every year I say I will not get involved in Black Friday shopping but the lure of a bargain gets me motivated.Usually my partner comes with me as she is the greatest bargain hunter but this year she decided to stay in bed. She did her early shopping during the week and decided to pass on this outing.

My wish this year is for the merchants to do well so they can stay in business and stimulate the economy. By the looks of our malls and the activity there it will occur.

American Thanksgiving

We are so fortunate to have not one but two thanksgivings. For most Americans this is the most important holiday in the year. This year we were asked to join a family to be with friends and to have good reason to be thankful.

I was asked to bring the dressing and under ordinary circumstances it would be no problem. However I watched several cooking shows and this day I was impressed with Mr. Food and his idea for perfect dressing. My traditional dressing is very good and has had good reports over fifty years but I wanted to impress so I mixed the old with the new and an hour before leaving I opened the oven to see what looked like oat meal porage. I really went into a mode of controlled damage.

I took out the mess and scooped the contents around and shoved it back in the oven uncovered and hoped it would dry out quickly and I could escape with something edible. In the meantime I showered and shaved , dressed in the appropriate manner and rushed to the kitchen to see the mess in the pan.

I pulled it out and again turned it over and exposed the wet contents and shoved it back in the oven. I don't believe in praying for something like dressing but I hoped for a miraculous conversion of this culinary disaster. Fifteen minutes later I surveyed the contents of the roast pan and what was once a full pan was now a quarter full mess. I dried it out for sure and the result meant I had to transfer it to a smaller dish. I did and now it looked too small for the 21 person, hungry , turkey eating people who would comment on my effort.

I made one more attempt to make this dressing presentable and covered it with tin foil and hoped for the best. I kept well away from the lineup when everyone filled their plates and prepared to sit for this special meal.I ate second to last and when I got to the dressing there was little left. Maybe I escaped that horrible fate of not making a good dressing.

I crept to my place at the table and my long time friend Doreen said, Henry this dressing is wonderful.. I was relieved and Theresa says I worry too much about food preparation. I do as I always wish to make everything good for company and this time I escaped the bullet. From now on I will do everything in my traditional way and be safe rather than sorry.

Rain

We talk about it, complain about it,pray for it but we cannot do without it. It is rain and today we are having a great rainfall which is well needed and appreciated. Florida has its rainy season in the summer when it rains nearly every day.The rainy season lasts to about the end of September and after that time we are lucky to have any significant amount. Our yearly average is around the 55 inch level but this can change with the big events like a hurricane or tropical storm which can dump up yo 10 inches in a big event.

We have not had a drop for 5 weeks and everything turns a brownish colour and begs for even a heavy dew. I have a well system and a sprinkler system working off of the well. The water is smelly before it goes through the reverse osmosis and water softener. The garden flourishes with any water but when it rains it almost exploded into a growth frenzy.

Water is everywhere in Florida but we have a problem with providing enough potable water for all our needs. Most of the surface water is polluted or unsuitable for human needs. Here the water resources people control all the water in the state. We are controlled by regulation even for our private well uses. Strict rules as to when you are able to water your lawns and breaking the rules results in stiff penalties.

My well is 180 feet deep and taps into a underground water reserve which is closely monitored. Over use will cause salt water from the gulf to penetrate the coral rock and cause problems with its use. With all the water around us it is interesting that desalination facilities dot the state since much of the under ground water is salty.

The Florida Keys is a 125 mile line of coral keys or islands stretching out into the gulf and has no fresh water. One above ground water pipeline provides the only source of fresh water. Water is collected from rooftops for some uses but with the exploding population it is insignificant.

The Florida everglades is one of the worlds most interesting examples of a water course that originated in the central part of Florida and slowly moves southward to water the grasslands and provide home to numerous plant and animal life. The everglades is actually a slow moving river. The whole state is covered with a system of canals and pumping stations to make sure the flow is not interrupted. Statewide highways and farming projects have really put pressure on the water resources people to monitor and aid the natural flow.

All this is possible because of the ample rainfall in the summer. No matter how we look at our natural resources the greatest of all is clean water. Canada has a strangle hold on much of the worlds fresh water and as we speak it sells for about the same price as gasoline.

So we should be careful in how we use our water. We can be good stewards of our great resource by learning about our impact on the water we use and sometimes abuse. So let it rain, rain and rain some more to provide natures great gift...water.

AGolfing Friend

Gerry is a special kind of friend.I only see him on Tuesdays when we play golf with the old masters of Oakville.Jerry is creeping up on eighty but you would never know it as he has the smoothest swing of all our group.

It is not the golf that sets him apart from the gang but his rock solid personality.His wife was having some health issues like most of us and when I inquire about her it is the manner in which he describes her that is significant. His voice and words carry a very caring feeling and although I have never met his wife I feel like I know her.

When you relate with Jerry over the time it takes to pay a game of golf and communicate ideas and concerns you always feel that you are better when you leave him than before. He has that friendly confidence which comes from a life well lived and all of us who know him respect him for his ability to be calm and objective.

With my golfing buddies here in Florida I have fun and enjoy the socialization but I miss that special old fellow in Oak ville. I hope all is well with him and I shall get in touch at Xmas just to keep that connection alive and well.

No Dance

Theresa and I planned to go dancing last night.We made our preparations and had an early supper so we could get there on time. Dances here are from 6.30 -9.30. Seniors you know. Years ago we would just be going at the time our dances end. At any rate we arrived to find the dance was a no show.
We decided to go to the Cape Coral Marina and community park on the river. It was a beautiful eve with a new moon and temp around 78. We walked out on the 1000 foot fishing pier and saw some good fish being caught. Many fishermen were enjoying the fresh air and warm temperatures.

After our walk we decided to go to another beautiful area called Coral Harbour. We did not realize it but an event was taking place here and there were thousands of families with children and dogs lining up to see Santa. We walked and sat for a while people watching and enjoying the live country music. I was not impressed with the bar room choice of songs which offended or should have, the young in the crowd.

There was a holiday atmosphere as a group called Hands Up were raising money to restore the hearing of a 1 year old child. Food, drinks ,raffles and just socializing was evident. We got in the mood and actually stayed until after ten to feel the good mood of the people. The children were the main attraction all dressed to have their picture taken with Santa. They also danced to the music and the boys chased each other through the crowd playing tag.

What turned out to be a failed evening turned out to be a fun night. You never know what you will find when you keep your eyes and ears open to the world.

Christmas

Suddenly you enter a store and you hear Xmas music.We still have to celebrate Thanksgiving but we have to endure the constant advertising and sounds of Xmas.For many Thanksgiving is the main fall holiday and families plan their travel and family reunions like none other.

The economy is such that the business world is afraid this year of not getting their share of the wealth. They must make it in such a short period of time that they cannot afford a miss. This is is going to be a crucial year for many as it is the third year of this recession. I predict that there will be many business failures right after the Xmas season.

Small business is the engine that drives the economic future of the USA.Small business must feel secure and show confidence before they will hire. We wish for a breakthrough in this years sales to jump start the business economy and get America moving again.

At any rate we must be prepared to be bombarded by all sectors from every media for the next six weeks. We will endure if not enjoy.

Back on Track

After a serious talk with my editor ( Daughter ) I am embarking on the long awaited surge to the finish to complete my stories this season. I had been awaiting for some good direction and some defined layouts and we talked and I listened and we are able to continue with the project.

Sometimes I look at the body of written work and wonder how I will come out in the end with a product that will meet my objective. My main object is to leave a written record of my life and family through my eyes.I will of course not be the memories of the other members of our family as their experiences and perceptions were quite different.

A blogger follower gave me some good advice to get restarted and that helped motivate me in a direction which was helpful. Blogging enables you to meet many people through writing and enables you to share styles, views and techniques you would not otherwise acquire. I thank all the bloggers for their comments and support, specially the followers of my blog.

Today is a typical day in paradise with the Temp 84+ and not a cloud. We are all thankful to live here in such a beautiful setting. If you cannot be inspired and satisfied here you never will be.

Twenty One Day Old Garden In Florida

Everything grows quickly in Florida. After you plant maintaince is important as weeds grow quickly as well. Here are a few pics of our small garden here in Florida.

Completion

I have decided to go back over my written stories and to clean them up and broaden their interest. I have been awaiting instructions for the final,I hope, version of my work. It seems that the longer I await help the more anxious I am to finish my task as it has been very long in the making.

Blog writing has given me a new interest and an opportunity to meet new people who have encouraged me and provided examples of their own work. I now have a better view of topics that interest people and have developed a style that is both comfortable and reflective of my ability or lack of the same.

I took the time to read the hundreds of pages of anecdotes and remembrances that are important to me and see them in a fresher light. I suppose it is good sometimes to just stand back and let the inspiration filter through. Doubts crowd my mind and frustration at not getting started is taking its toll and action must result during the next short while.

Gathering pictures presents a difficulty that I never though would present itself. All these mounting thoughts call me to account and I must get on with the task.

Frorida Spring

It seems to me that Florida spring begins in November. So much of the Flora begins to perk up and grow during this time. I plant vegetables and they flourish because the weather is perfect.The days are in the low 80's and the nights are in the 60's. The trees which must grow at a rapid pace during the summer rains have another growth spurt during this time.

Our orange and grapefruit trees begin to grow and flower from now to late February and many of the flowering trees and shrubs burst out in full bloom . Whatever the reason we feel like it is spring and count November and December the most pleasant months for Snow birds.

Tonight the sky will be filled with up to 500 meteorites per hour as we have our yearly cosmic show. Maybe this is the beginning of spring after all. We who seek the south for a multitude of reasons cherish the variety of colour and diversity which becomes a showcase for all who seek it.

Theresa and I use these months for biking and outdoor activities which are uncomfortable in the extreme heat.

Birthdays

This week my oldest grandchild is having her 27 Th B'day. Birthdays have always been a reason for celebration in our family. A time when we all got together and shared our collective love for one and another.

When I was a child my B'day came shortly after Xmas so there was not much fuss. One birthday when I was nine years old I really wanted to have a special recognition or something or maybe I just craved attention. There were nine children and Mom and Dad living in our house.

and plenty of activity and you could easily be missed when attention was handed out.

This particular year my good friend and I had constructed a livable fort down in the Pond Woods. We had everything we needed to have comfortable stay here but be only had slingshots and bows and arrows for hunting. We did snare sometimes but other than the fish we caught there was little action. We roasted potatoes on the fire and they tasted great once you got through the blackened outer shell. What I needed was a Red Ryder bb gun.

Mom was against such things but I was making a good case saying I could shoot rats that were in our stable and so on. I might as well talk to the wall. There was no way. As Jan.5 came and went I received the traditional cake and that was all.

Unknown to Mom and Dad my comrade and I knew a fellow who owned a single shot 22. He used to see us down by the pond and he would be shooting shorts into the water. I had money from my paper route and offered four dollars for the gun and ammo. He gladly gave it up and we kept in in our hut. Let me tell you that everything was safe because that gun shot more crocked than the hind leg of a dog.

I made up my mind that when I had children every B'day would be special and mostly they were. For my part my family always made my B'day special and I have been spoiled by family and friends over the years. I now measure my years by the age of my children and grand children. I love birthdays, every one even if it tells me I am growing old.

Spiders

Today I chose to spray my lanai for spiders. A couple of days ago we had a few visitors that were unwelcome.A Wolf spider along with its family wandered into our kitchen. I quickly checked the computer to ascertain the kind and characteristics of same. These large spiders are harmless and avoid people mostly. This female had her family on her back. There were about fifty tiny ones all crawling away after we dispensed with the adult.

Yesterday when I was gardening I noticed an egg sack which was most unusual in its composition. Light brown in colour and with raised points made it a first for me. Again I went to the computer and there at the top of the list was the Brown Widow. The pictures matched the egg sack so I set out to find the adult before it found me. Twice as dangerous as the famous Black Widow but rarely seen. I usually lives in cracks and small holes and rarely comes in contact with people.

When it bites it emits a large amount of fluid and is deadly for some people.The venom attacks the kidneys and flesh near the bite and causes pain and worse. I searched and found the hiding place near the back doorway to our pool. I decided that relocating them was not an option so I will have to destroy the nest and also the inhabitants.

The various insects, bugs and spiders found here in Florida are so different than at home I could make a hobby of studying them. The most interesting one so far has been a Tarantella with a ball of young. It was in my banana tree so I removed it and relocated it in the tree area on the spare lot. It was as large as my hand with large hairy legs and eyes on stalks. I had gloves on and it walked freely on my glove and I was able to relocate without difficulty.

I really hate to kill anything but sometimes you must so I have to attend to business while Theresa and Doris are shopping.

My 92 Year Old Helper

Doris likes to keep busy and she does just that. I sometimes tell her that work stops after lunch and she agrees. Washing dishes, keeping the kitchen floor clean, baking pies and hanging out clothes are just a few of the things she does to keep busy. Sometimes Doris crosses the line and tries to help me with the outside chores.

I planted a coconut in the side yard and a few chestnuts in a pot which I placed in the front alcove so it could be watered by the nearby sprinkler. At supper time I pointed out these new happenings and to be sure I emphasized where they were and not to even touch them. I was really trying to avoid her cleaning things up outside.

Today when Theresa and I were trimming our Ficus trees I had to stand on a ten foot step ladder and I needed her to anchor the base. I observed from my perch that the coconut was missing and the hole where it was planted was filled with nice black earth. After we completed our job I checked to see where my newly planted Chestnuts were and there they were ... gone.

I told Theresa that Doris must have been helping me with the yard work. I went inside and approached her kindly and asked if she might have removed my plantings. Doris explained that she removed what she thought was a rock that would hurt the lawnmower and filled in the hole with an empty pot of black soil. Was there something wrong ?

Doris assured me that the pot had nothing in it but soil so I dug up the soil and found the nuts intact and ready for replanting. Being such a good helper I told Doris that her main contribution was really in the confines of the house and that any time you see an empty pot with soil in it it not empty but a planting that is not yet growing.

Doris is a great helper but these things will happen as she approaches a hundred so I better get used to it. I wonder what I will be doing when I am 92.

A Fatherly Surprise

In 1956, I had the good fortune to live in a small town in Quebec named Temiscaming. I was the Principal of a school operated by the International Pulp and Paper Company. It was a rather small school with an enrolment of 580 students from K-13. My responsibility was for the K-8 classes.80 % of the students spoke French and there were only 4 classes of English speaking students. My other job was playing hockey for the town team in the Northern Quebec Hockey League. It was classified as Senior and had a good following among the Northern towns.

When I tried out for the team I was a newcomer to the area and had a very difficult time making an impression on the coach until one day a regular with the team slashed me about the neck and I retaliated and did a good number on him. The coach called me aside and told me I would be assigned to the third line which was a checking line and specialty squad.

We practised often and hard and I was slowly given a chance to play a few shifts per game. With an injury to one of our regulars my chance came to play on the second line on right wing. I loved the game and the intensity of the schedule and my school director told me I could take off Friday afternoon and Monday mornings when we travelled on road trips.

We never travelled during the week as all our players worked at the mill. I seldom scored but played regularly until I was shifted to center and played between two brothers. We became quite good on offence. The coach called a meeting before this particular roadtrip and told us of the need to win both games to make the playoffs.

We travelled to Noranda and played in their new arena. It was beautiful in comparison to ours.The one attraction this team had was they had a priest playing for them. His name was Father Costello and he turned down a professional contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs to do Gods work. I was warned about him and rightly so. He was the dirtiest player I ever encountered. He was known as a stick man and carved up many a player. Small and fast as he was he could match the biggest and roughest players. Father was also a leading scorer for the league.

The first time I played against him everyone warned me about going in the corner with him and to be careful The warning meant little to me at that time but two minutes later I was led over to the bench with a large gash to the face. In those days we never wore helmets or face guards and this type of injury was ordinary. Just before he hit me he yelled ,welcome to Noranda kid. He never even got a penalty. My wing man Laurent made an effort to even the score by driving him into the boards but that was all.

I never had much respect for clergy of any stripe but I learned too late to respect this Father . After the game we met as two teams and had a few drinks. I was too young so I had to do with a Pepsi. I talked to Father that day and he examined my cut and said I was OK.

Years later when I lived in Pembroke and playing old timers hockey I played against Father Costello and after the game we shared stories and a few laughs. I showed him my scar and he blessed it for a joke. He played for and organized the Flying Fathers Hockey Team and they have raised thousands of dollars for charity. He was a different person thirty five years later but I would still watch my back when going into the corner knowing he was lurking near by.

November 11

The 11 of Nov. is over and this year was a particularly difficult time in our history.All the services I saw on TV carried a message of urgency that America get back on tract and solve her international commitments .There is dire need to address the unemployment which has reached over 10%. This figure is only for those registered but the actual number is much higher.

On Remembrance day we basically look back at past heroic deeds and the toll it took in human life and suffering. Everyone leaves these services feeling proud and determined to be a better citizen.It is a report card on past performance and causes us to look forward to new and better times. America has a challenge to employ the millions because many of the lost jobs are not coming back. New and innovative programs are going to be needed to retrain and regroup our people to find a niche where they are able to be productive.

Unemployment is like a cancer that causes a domino effect where special strains are put on families, children become isolated in this materialistic world and many feel worthless and abandoned and turn to drugs and alcohol. It is not a pretty scene.

Statistics show a slow recovery but it will take time. America always rises to the top when things seem beyond and this time will be no different. We only hope that the recovery will not be bought by the huge bailout money which could be a burden for future generations. My wish is that the recovery will be generated by small business adding a person at a time not depending on the help of government. Our last recession in Canada a policy of encouraging small business to hire resulted in a fantastic recovery. One job at time.

Fort Hood

I have rarely seen a more appropriate ceremony to honour the fallen while in the service of their country. The circumstances surrounding the tragedy were such that everyone was shocked to see such blatant disrespect for fellow souls but fellow comrades made it even more bizarre.

People who act irrationally in the name of causes that are supposedly religion motivated makes events like this even more tragic. Here in America we have people who kill Doctors who perform abortions in the name of God.The ultra religious right have a perspective that cannot be understood nor tolerated. Whatever your feelings are about an issue, the taking of a human life to achieve what you perceive to be right is dangerous thinking.

There appears to be more radical groups springing up in the world with agendas that boggle the mind of rational people. There probably always has been but the media give these individuals and groups the platform they seek, publicity.

Anyway I personally felt that the President stood up to the issue yesterday and gave a strong message which should do much to make sure people will not paint the picture of Islam as a radical group but just some members who do bad things and happen to be Islamic.

Live Like There Is No Heaven

I recently heard this catchy little phrase and was interested in the concept. For anyone waiting to get their great final reward by going to heaven I am sure they are in for a real shock. Living consciously every day seems to me the best way to receive your reward. So many people hold back their ability to receive great joy by taking the opportunity to live every day as if it were your last.

I have known many people who are told by doctors that they have so long to live. With this knowledge they begin to live every day like it was their last and grasp time like valuable seconds to use each one to the fullest. In doing so they fill their lives doing what is really important to them.

We often squander our precious time with toxic behaviour and negative thoughts. How sad to realize too late that you missed the opportunity to make that call, missed a family celebration or just didn't bother to make the effort to make a difference. I always think that we rarely miss a funeral but put off making a visit to someone that is in need of your company or help.

What if there is no heaven? What for arguments sake would make a difference if we like all of nature had a time on this earth to do as we should and reap our rewards from our noble efforts.I feel that the world would probably be a better and more civil culture if we daily loved and lived life as if there was no heaven.

Tai Chi

For the last thirty years of my life I wanted to do Tai Chi. Tonight I did that. I enrolled in a course for the winter hoping that this discipline would help my flexibility and agility. I saw a detraction in these phases of my otherwise perfect ability to do almost anything.

I attended the first session of my new life saving course and arrived on time. There were two people there as I was early and I sort of moved into the area and assessed the situation. Six was the time that we were told that the course would start and I was surprised that only three people moved into the area of operation.

The instructor called the class to order and I entered. A middle aged man was in charge and two elderly ladies made up the group. I introduced myself and moved to the far end of the room away from the mirrors.

Mister began the group session with some unusual movements which I thought were intended to get someones attention. It did and he stood in front of me and asked me of my experience in Tai Chi. I put up my hands and said I was a virgin and he addressed me as such and the session was in order.

Try to do something with your feet and arms when looking at a mirror and oh so embarrassing. I asked for help and he did give me some individual help and I worried about his intentions because he showed me moves that were really quite interesting.

The hour went quickly and I did get through two forms and I felt I did well but the master said I should practise often during the week and come back with an open mind and a desire to really be a Tai Chi person.

I missed supper for this lesson as it was given at 6 pm and as I returned home and I opened a can of beans and told Theresa I would go back for the second lesson. Those mirrors made me feel very much the outsider but I also felt better after the 75 minute workout.

I may never become a Tai Chi expert but I will have a great experience doing something I thought about for thirty years. Getting old is difficult but fighting it is really an experience you should never regret and take as a challenge.

Hurricane Ida

We are all subject to the changes in the weather and nowhere is it more important than to people living in the Caribbean and Gulf region. Southern USA borders that huge water mass known as the Gulf of Mexico and is captive to the huge weather shifts brought on by the world convection currents. The geography of the coastal regions makes all the states bordering on the water particularly venerable to rising tides and wind driving water surges inland. The flat shoreline along a thousand of miles permits the almost yearly floods and massive destruction.

For the past four years, we in Cape Coral have been spared from any real weather issues and we are thankful. It is not uncommon to go through a season without a hurricane but tropical storms are almost a necessity to stabilize the water table. This year we are 20 inches short on our rainfall. Hurricane Ida is charging up the Gulf and will make landfall some time tonight . The gulf states will get many inches of rain on already soaked landscape and will cause flooding. We in Florida could use this storm to help replenish our water table.

All we can expect is maybe a few days of thunder storms and some small rains. Whatever we get will be welcome and for those areas of flooding we only hope that it is minimal and not too destructive. This type of weather is another price we pay for living in paradise.

In our northern regions we have a nice balance of four distinct seasons and the beautiful winters with snow and Ice to provide a paradise of its own. I love the warm climate as it make my arthritis go away or at least make it bearable but I do miss the late fall and winter. As we live in eternal spring and summer it is a holiday to go home and experience the winter for a few weeks at Christmas. Yesterday amid a 86+ weather day I was watching TV and saw the folks skiing on the slopes of western mountains and I was quickly brought back to those activities that Theresa and I made so much a part of our lives in past years.

Cats

Florida is home to thousands of feral cats. Where we live there were many cats of all colours and breeds when we arrived. These cats were either abandoned by their owners or ran away to be free. The weather here is friendly all year for animals living in the wild.As the city developed much of the vacant land was developed and the area for wild creatures became less.

These cats are not friendly and run when you approach them. We have fed them but you rarely saw them until a pattern was established. Theresa started to place food on tin foil plates in the driveway each evening. The wild cats would come and eat and we were able to observe them. For the most part they are well groomed and quite beautiful but live a dangerous life.

Local kids would harass these Little creatures and we even had to stop young adults from using pellet guns on these cats. One day a grown man was allowing his dogs to chase them and he appeared to enjoy this activity.Today we have only a dozen cats in our area and they are looked after every day by our neighbour. Every morning and evening before and after work she places food by her driveway and all the cats come for food. These cats are friendly to her and she knows all about them.

This lady Susie is very compassionate and the cats love her. If she is late coming home from work the cats will be seen sitting together on her sidewalk or sitting on top of the cars. We have some that chose to have their babies in our yard and we have seen the mother cat moving her young brood from one place to another in her mouth. She moves them nearly every day.

The center of the cat population is in the vacant lot next to us. This lot has a magnificent pine tree in the middle and Jamaican Pepper grows at its base. This thicket is impossible to penetrate and became home to the feral cats in our area.

There is no end to the animal and bird population in Florida and provides entertainment for people who love nature.

Library Book Sale

Twice a year there is a book sale at the local library. Our local library is one of several situated around the city and is the hub of activity.This is a huge building with all the services expected in a full service facility and amazes me at the general use it gets. Every possible electronic or hard copy information is available to the citizens free. Borrowing of every piece of music or movie is at hand and any newspaper or other material you wish will be ordered for you.

People in the area who buy books and donate them for the sale after reading are helping to support the library.Today and every sale Theresa and I attend and purchase items like books, Cd's or related material and add to the money for the library. With huge cuts in budgets here during the last few years the library was one facility which was left pretty well untouched. There was a small cut in the hours they were open but otherwise the library was valued for what it was, the entertainment center of the city.

With the downturn in the economy a large segment of the population use this resource center as their entertainment palace and families go to the library together. The last report showed the number of people using the facility way up and that is rewarding to the strong support given at budget time.

There are some positives when we have to tighten our belts and do with less. In this case less is more as the overall good in using a library is strengthening the family and the individual, specially the young, when people turn to books and explore the universe much like we did before television.

Ask for Help

Ever since I returned to Florida I had problems with my sprinkler system. I was responsible for constructing this six zone system with a timer so I could meet the requirements of the City Watering Policy.There are always problems like a few sprinkler heads being cut off by grass mowers but this year it was more.

I use Orbit products out of Salt Lake City and have been really pleased with the service.This year I planned to replace three valves to my central manifold and after installing I was unable to get the system working through my central timer. For longer than I can count I tore the system apart and put it together. I want to Lowe's where I bought the product and their expert was of no help.

I enrolled Theresa to go over the wiring to the timer and she completely re-programmed the system.Nothing worked. I am a very patient person,I believe but some would differ, and was ready to call in an expert to help. I saw the $125 bill and waited for a day. This am I went out again and looked at the box the valves came in and there was a phone number from Salt Lake City.. I ran into the house and told Theresa I was going to phone the Mormon and get Devinne guidance. I took the phone, my bag of tools and a chair outside to work beside my system.

I dialed the number and after six options I punched in the section called help. A man answered and he quickly realized I called before three years ago. After a joke about Mormons and small talk he got me on track and asked what the problem was. In so many words I told him the problem and he asked if I saw the little arrows on the new valves. I went cold and thanked him for the help.I just realized that I installed the valves upside down. Five minutes later I had the system on line.

Men don't ask directions nor in this case seek help from experts until the last desperate minute.I just realized that I fit into that ordinary slot of men who are afraid to ask directions. That will never happen again and feel so silly for the previous 70 + years.

People Speak Again

Municipal elections were held here in Cape Coral and the total number of voters would make you sick.Out of 120,000 possible voters only about 20,000 came out to use their franchise. There was so much acrimony during the past year that I personally thought that the turnout would be very high.

Big issues and a falling economy made the platform ready for a shootout. There was a watchdog who attended council every meeting for the past two years and spoke at every available occasion. He was the watch dog and he ran a campaign on, have you had enough yet.

His incumbent was so sure he would win because he was sponsored by the local media that he relaxed. He spoke in the future and he was so confident that he appeared arrogant to say the least. The many debates were reported as a sure thing for this man. Today the news said that he was a loser and the new man won by a 63% winner. Why? The new man gave a story of hope and he engaged the people to think about the future.Now he has to perform.

All around this state the same thing happened. People are Fed up and the economy is driving everyone nuts so they take it out on the elected officials. Perhaps the future will be better and people will vote because of issues instead of the blind thought of get rid of the incumbent because they caused the problem

I love politics but I am distressed with the situation which makes good men into evil and people with short sighted plans heroes. Politics and solutions are a slow process and we find that people of value understand this. Voters get what they vote for but not necessarily what they deserve..

Away From Family and Friends.

Years ago when I left home to move to Temiskaming to be principal of a school and play hockey I felt very much alone. I lived in the White Oaks Inn which was a staff house for employees of the International Pulp and Paper Co. I was 19 and felt that I could take on the world but something was missing. Family. The only communication that I had with my family was through letters and the occasional telephone call.




To say the least I was lonely at times. Today Theresa and I choose to live in Florida for half the year. We miss the almost daily contact with family and friends we have when living in Ontario. We do have some good friends here and socialize with nice people but this never takes the place of your own family.




Today we have great telephone plans so we are able to talk for hours. We have face book and see and read of activities almost as they are happening. Visits from the family and friends help to keep us in the loop but it is not the same. The great benefit derived from living here in Paradise is the weather and the downside is the reduced interaction with those who mean the most to you.




Flying home at Xmas is our next big trip and already we are thinking about it. There is a sadness to life for people who have no family or real friends. We are double blessed because we have both, a loving family and great friends.

One Small Boy

Harry Potter made an unscheduled visit to our home on Halloween. This small boy has been coming to our house every Halloween since we moved here in 2004. He was a very small boy, almost fragile when we first met him with his mother. They came all happy and excited as we were practically the only people who had a lit pumpkin at our door. He was a cute Little fellow and as I amused myself with him, Theresa heard the sad story of their home. His mother's father was sick and she lived with her parents.

Her father died and this little fellow now lives with his mother and grandmother. There are no children in the neighbourhood so he is nurtured by female family members. We took a liking for this boy and I collected some very nice toys for him. Last year we never had the proper opportunity to give them to him so we decided to make this Halloween special for him.

We put out our lit pumpkin this year and waited for him to come. After a long wait Harry Potter came to see us and he was a perfect picture of the real Harry. So articulate and polite and grown up in so many ways but meek and only a child in other ways. We talked to him and asked about his school and so on and then asked if he might be interested in some toys.

He responded with a smile and when we opened the large box he examined all the cars and little trucks with enthusiasm. I had this front-end loader, large and battery operated and showed him how to manually operate the remote. His eyes lit up and he was happy. He took all the toys and thanked us many times. When he left I was a little sad that his grandfather was not around to enjoy this special child.

Harry Potter was the only child to darken our door this year but he gave us more joy than a hundred children who were just there for the candy. I hope to take him fishing some day and to give he a chance to be Tom Sawyer - and me the opportunity to experience this little fellow once more.

Baby Bananas

For all the years we lived here in Florida we have had limited success with growing bananas.We are either not here when the fruit was available or we had a hurricane or something. This year we are going to have a treat as one of our bananas is in the process of having a bunch of fruit.

For those who never witnessed the process of banana growing it is quite remarkable. One day you will see a different type of leaf appearing as they do from the top center of the plant. After one day you realize that it is not a leaf but an immature bunch of bananas.

A thick stock with a purple sheath at the end will suddenly appear and within two days the process begins. The stock is sturdy because a full bunch of bananas will weigh up to 40 pounds and contain a couple of hundred bananas. The bananas will develop one row at a time and groups or hands of bananas will show as small immature fruit. Every few days another row will appear and the process goes on until you have a fully developed bunch of fruit.

Five to six months are required to have fruit ready to eat. Our bananas are known as apple bananas as they look like regular fruit but taste like apples. Small, a third the size of regular fruit but sweeter and very delicious. Taken off the bunch in hands the fruit will ripen in a number of days depending on the heat index.

We have had the great experience several times but this year we will be here for the whole process. I have already staked the banana tree up and will give it some extra water and food. In April we will be giving these tiny succulent fruit to friends and neighbours. It is good to share.

Fleamasters

Florida is known for its flea markets and no trip to this state would be complete without a visit to one of many such interesting places.Our flea market brags about its size and ability to satisfy even the most difficult client. How things have changed.This several thousand booth enterprise has deteriorated into a shadow of its former self. Theresa and I were amazed at the change.

The 3000 car parking lot was not half full and the active selling stands were all but empty. Many of the high end full time players in this market were nowhere to be seen. The numerous citrus and vegetable vendors were represented by a measly few. The most prolific vendor was the dollar store variety which lacked the intrigue of the booths that called you in to discover your treasure.

Yes there were twenty slots set aside for selling three dollar watches, comic shirts and baseball caps were still available. The fifteen golf shops which offered full service services for the most hard to please person were now a handful. Ladies could buy shoes and clothing items or jewellery but the place lost its vitality, glitz and its beckoning call to leave happy and come again.

We know it is all about the economy and it really showed. In the outdoor section of the market many poor families parked their trucks and cars side by side and tried to sell their second hand wares with little success. I felt sorry for these people represented by a whole family trying to interest people walking by to look at their offerings. While Theresa was looking for something special I walked through this area and was approached by many young children trying to interest me in buying small items. I was there to find a bird feeder and one young man went helter skelter to fill my need with no avail.

Meeting Theresa at the fruit stand where we buy oranges by the half bu for juicing I felt a little depressed about the market and the country which in my estimation has sunk to a low level. The economy will return in time and all will be rosy some day but in the interim I see the very poor becoming more like the pictures we saw during the great depression.

This is a negative blog but that is how I felt and on the upside we did buy a clock for the kitchen, watch batteries, a set of wrenches and a bag of oranges. We spent fourteen dollars and no tax and had a two hour time mostly together so all in all it was a good day.

Collecting

There is a new culture of recycling. For years people have been putting out used items in their garbage never thinking that anyone would bother to look through it and maybe pick up some items of interest. Today this practice is not only common but encouraged. Many towns and cities have special days for cleaning up the large items in your home or garage and setting them out for collection and eventually the landfill site. On these occasions people often drive around to look for treasures. It iIs remarkable to discover some of the great usable items to be found.

Many people will label specific things to show their value and to tell the finder that it is serviceable or needs repair. I for one have been a collector for longer than I would like to admit. Furniture, appliances, garden tools and numerous items are no longer needed or wanted and they can be recycled. I have found many good things which ended up being refinished and put to use. Most of the valuable items were given to friends and service organizations for fund raising or general use. Some of most prized possessions were castaways from someone but were perfect for me.

Here in Florida where homes have been foreclosed or abandoned there are whole households of furnishings thrown to the curb. Good pieces can and are salvaged for reuse. I recently saw a documentary about well to do ladies in New York who started a groug called the Dumpster divers. These bored ladies regularly looked through dumpsters near their homes and salvaged goods which were restored and sold to raise money for charity. This group encouraged others to do the same and now it has become fashionable to become a collector.

How foolish to see an item ready to fill our landfill sites when they could be made useful. So get your gloves and get ready to become a Green person and share in the joy of recycling. You might be surprised with the people you will meet at that pile of treasures on the side of the road.

Much of the fun here is in the reclaiming of goods and with a little paint or cleaning placing them back where they can be of use. I would encourage you to place good items out a little early so they may be salvaged by your neighbour or just a collector. In our city it is estimated that these programs of reuse have saved thousands of tons being placed in our landfill sites and gave years added to their continued ability to receive necessary garbage.

Years ago when I was a collector sometimes my grand children would like to come with me. They were excited to find things but were a little embarrassed if I wished to stop beside a house where their friends lived. Today this may still be true but I am sure there is a change in attitude and your rewards are worth the little embarrassing moments.