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 ...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, December 14, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, December 11, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, December 7, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, December 4, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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.
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