Home Economics.

Being an educator who worked in the years when Home Economics was a course taught to girls beginning at grade seven and continuing. Later the course was integrated and boys and girls both enjoyed taking both home economics and manual training. Since that day courses have changed names and curricula updated to reflect the needs of the present day.

I would like to see a course called home economics which would teach students the value of money, budgeting and planning. With our world in crisis because of deficit planning, deficit budgeting and sinking further and further in debt it would be prudent to teach our youth how to live without huge debt. Because our leaders are totally irresponsible when it comes to budget maybe if we as individuals could somehow influence them by example.

There is so much written and reported about our population being so far in debt the reason must be obvious. Most people spend more money than they have.If we could teach our youth to live within their means it would be such a boon to our society. There are reasons for the problem and most are right before our eyes. Credit used to be a means to have necessities which cost too much for people to purchase them with cash. Rules were established by the lending institutions which made it difficult if not impossible to buy something without a large down payment. Yesterday Hyundai Auto sales advertised on TV and in the paper the following deal. Purchase one of their vehicles with no down payment and they would give you $7,000 to pay your personal debt. How is that for helping folks to really get into debt.

This type of consumer advertising is all too common. Here are a few. Buy now and make no payments for up to three years. Bad credit or no credit at all,,come in and drive away in one of our new cars. There are dozens of these adds out there beckoning people to become slaves to the credit interest. The USA government now uses over 40% of our taxes to service the debt. Individuals  have the same problem. I worry that the crisis we narrowly escaped is not over and a larger demon is in the wings.

Everyone  wishes for fiscal responsibility  and it must be taught and the example starts at home.Education cannot be responsible for everything but it could be a marvellous tool to help develop young responsible citizens.

It's Only a Number

Recently I celebrated my birthday. I am now living in my 75th year. It's only a number some would say, but it represents in a numerical way that your life has added up to to a series of events and happenings with dates. The day you were born, your first steps or your first word are all in that list. After that memories take the place of dates. Knowing what year or month becomes secondary to that incident imprinted in your inner mind's eye.

You better remember the date you got married and the birthdays of your wife and children but the thousand other things that happened along the way get shuffled in order of memory. We have a way of bringing events into focus triggered by stimuli. Sometimes it is a piece of music, a picture or just a sound or smell which causes a rush of energy to flood your mind, and we are able to relive those precious moments. Our memories are not all pleasant as life doesn't work that way, but time does modify our perceptions and in some cases, shape an event to better serve our needs.

Some people who are not satisfied with their history according to the facts will re-write it and it will give them a better status until they meet people who know the truth. In my years of a busy life, my memories pile up in a confusion of reality and modified memories. Most of my early childhood thoughts and memories come from repeated stories and if there are different versions from different memories of our family that is fine as memories are just that, memories. While attempting to complete a book of my memories I find a certain pleasure in day dreaming about events that occurred many years ago. Somehow my reality makes a better picture than the actual true account and for this reason I have many more pleasant thoughts than negative.

Since most of my memory is about relationships, there are people who influenced me, shaped me and gave me reason to recall them and their impact on my being. Today as I write,  many thoughts rush through my mind and as I try to recall important landmarks I find that the further I go back in history, the clearer the images appear. I trust this is because these events have been cleared through countless recalls  and are actually fresh in my memory.  It might also be the reason older people are able to remember events from years ago,  but not know where to put the jar of peanut butter after using it.

I look forward to counting my future age by events and memories rather than numbers, as memories are forever - and numbers remind us of too little time left to do all the things we wish to accomplish.

Feeding Time

Although there are many birds about they don't seem to need feed from our feeders. I purchased food for wild birds but after a visit or two they never  returned. Yesterday I dumped the food and cleaned the feeders in the hope that we will be treated to some of our feathered friends. Last year we had cardinals who made a habit of tapping our tinted windows every morning at daybreak. I have seen these birds around but they changed their habits and come only for food.

The bird seed I bought this time is black sunflower seed and if that doesn't attract them nothing will. Every year or two we have an infusion of robins. They come in huge flocks and stay for only a few days and they all disappear. None of them stay for the winter. The Canada Goose which is such a nuisance in the north rarely comes this far south so it was a news item that one was sighted here last week.

Our bald eagles are under attack again with construction firms wishing to change the rules set out to aid the eagles raise their young. At the present time the operation of construction equipment and building is prohibited within 1100 feet of a nest. They want to change it to 660 feet but biologists say that is too close. Council votes on this on Tuesday and there will be a big turnout . Local residents love their Eagles. Our pair of eagles are on the nest again and we hope for another couple of eaglets to be born soon. We visit the sight nearly every day. So far this pair have added to the eagle population by 15. The female had an accident nine years ago and had a broken wing. It was repaired and she flies fine. We hope the vote goes the right way.

Various individuals take care of certain populations of birds but the best one is a man who lives near Sarasota and nurtures Sand Hill Cranes. Every day a large population of these birds visit at feeding time. He buys chicken necks and backs from a local butcher and feeds them at the same time every day. I don't think the neighbours are very happy with these huge birds hanging around the neighbourhood but he continues the feeding anyway.

Our favourite bird at the present time is a yellow bellied sapsucker who feeds on our white bird of paradise trees.They have a ritual whereby they peck holes in the soft portion of the trees and when these holes fill with sap he eats to his hearts content. We all enjoy feeding time and so do the birds.

Out With the Old, In With the New

At this time of the year I start my second crop of beans, cauliflower, lettuce and carrots. This year in spite of the frost we had 100%  success with the cauliflower, beans and lettuce. The colder weather was good for the cauliflower as it was the best yet. Our tomatoes are coming in great numbers and should produce until we leave in May. I am not used to having two crops and it is a pleasure to have fresh beans and so forth during the winter months.

What amazes me is why more people do not have a kitchen garden. With little effort we get good results and we know what goes into the produce. Our citrus is the same, as we do not spray harmful chemicals and fertilizers and the product is green. My friend who sells citrus fruit trees at the market said that this because of the frost the product would be sweeter and so it is. Our trees are a little stressed and have not yet been in full bloom for next years crop so we could have trouble next year.

Local people here are called crackers and are proud of the name as many people who live here now are from all over the states. Their knowledge is invaluable and they are anxious to share. I love my time at the market and mingling with the locals who make their living from the land.

When I buy beets, I really buy them for the beet tops. The locals are wise to this and sell the beet tops for $.50. This is a good deal as greens cost $2.00. With the second crop in safely I can now water, feed and wait  55 days before I can once again eat our own fresh grown produce. Until then we buy at the local market.

Lazy Friday

This morning started off much like all Florida mornings with the temperature around 70 and bright sunshine. With my cup of green tea I made my way to my favourite reading area on the lanai and searched the sports news to see how Mike Weir was doing in the Bob Hope Classic. Much to my surprise his name stood fourth last in the group of 120. Next I checked to see how Detroit Red Wings made out and they won. My morning was better already.Most of the news after that was about shootings, crime and the housing market which is improving.

Theresa joined me and on this quiet morning a Ra-ta-ta from a woodpecker hammering on the eave trough made any conversation impossible. We have two wood peckers living close by and they love to wake everyone up by pecking on metal surfaces. We both got up and observed the bird which was joined by its partner. Double the pleasure. With nesting in full force we suddenly have the mocking birds coming forth with a variety of melodies all day long. We usually are lucky to have at least one pair nest in our trees. Without a doubt they take the prize for the best songs. They have this habit of sitting on our fence watching for their food to appear. Any flying bug or insect becomes their prey. They have the ability to spot and catch nearly every time. They never eat off our feeder but take regular baths in our bird bath.

In the dry season our bird bath becomes the watering hole for a variety of birds and feral cats. We keep it clean and full of water. So on this lazy Friday morning we are entertained by the creatures who share our little spot in paradise.With no warning heavy fog rolls in and in a matter of minutes the sun disappears and we are blanketed in a surreal environment. If this keeps up I shall be forced to do the list of little jobs posted on the refrigerator. So much for my Lazy Friday.

Dogs, Dogs and More Dogs

I never thought that I would ever complain about dogs as I have a deep appreciation and love for these furry creatures. However, there comes a time where enough is enough and this week was that time. One neighbour had two large Heinz 57 dogs. Quickly there was a litter and seven dogs filled their backyard. They tried to sell these mongrels with little success and kept five. They grew and grew and barked and barked. The final straw was that they learned to open the gate and suddenly these dogs would appear in a rather threatening manner.

Our other neighbour moved in to a four bedroom house across the road and he had an old yellow lab who never barked but roamed loose and did his business on my lawn. Mowing the grass became a dangerous occupation. This good neighbour had a girl friend who moved in with three children and four more dogs. These people let their dogs run loose and suddenly the neighbourhood became upset. All our other neighbours have one small dog each except us, we are dog less at this time.

What proper steps should be taken to correct this situation without being an ogre. As we planned to talk to the neighbours a white truck with a large officer suddenly appeared on the scene . He was forceful and persistent as he arrived two days in a row. He came as one of our other neighbours complained formally. Within 24 hours our neighbourhood returned to a comfort zone. The barking stopped and the dogs are restrained either in a fenced area or on leashes.

For a few weeks we were held hostage by dogs and with a little help it was restored. People who keep dogs have a responsibility to care for them in a reasonable manner. A recent article in the local paper showed a financial breakdown for dog ownership and it was shocking. The costs came to almost as much for two dogs as a child. Pet food companies sell more product than companies sell baby food. Medical attention for pets rival the costs for humans and still mans best friends outnumber children in many areas of the country.

Dogs have always been mans best friend and it probably will always be so as their loyalty and acceptance is unparalleled. Our responsibility is clear and as long as it is carried out there should be no problem with co-existence.

Woodstorks and Brown Pelicans

Golfing is just a game to give me the opportunity to observe wildlife. Our area in Florida is home to several large colonies of wood storks. Our golf course was home to a couple of hundred of these birds today. It is mating time and this year there is enough rainfall to support the fishery which feeds these birds after hatching. An endangered species which is ugly while wading in the shallow waters but absolutely marvelous while soaring high in the sky. They can soar like eagles and during their aerial mating dance in the sky they perform acrobatic maneuvers unlike no others.

Brown pelicans were badly damaged during the oil spill crisis in the gulf and it was a treat to see a pair on the fourth hole today. They do not frequent our golf course often but are a treat when they do. Wild parrots were out in numbers as were all the Florida wading birds. Our golf course takes precautions to make sure the birds are not harmed by dangerous chemicals.

When we hear of the recent bird kills during the migration this year it makes you wonder. At least four massive kill were reported and the numbers of dead birds numbered in the thousands.The exact cause of death was not determined but you can bet is chemical in nature. Many of the golf courses are given special tax considerations if they qualify as conservation  areas.

My friends on the golf course accept me now as a environmental nut and some even comment about the natural beauty as we engage in competition. It is the main reason I golf in Florida.

Time to Think

Waking up this morning I was greeted to the  prospect of a good rain. There has been over a month since we had any amount of warm rain and the trees and grass show signs of stress. With no prospect of outside work Theresa and I shopped to fill up our freezer with necessities.We no longer completed our shopping when the wind came up and the rain poured down. Tornado warnings were posted for our area for several hours but after some thunder and lightening the sky cleared.

It is good to have days like this as I was able to watch some of the festivities honouring Martin Luther King. To hear that famous speech again brought back memories. Playing the tapes from the years he struggled made me think of how much has changed and yet so much remains unchanged. To experience the brutality employed against the marchers and the bombings brought back the reality of America fifty years ago. It was a time for thinking and seeing the needs of our first nations people in Canada still unfulfilled. Drinking water, health care and housing are but a few of the many needs our people need.

Watching U  Tube and hearing a child from British Columbia addressing an international conference on environment and world needs brought everything into focus. This conference being held in Brazil gave her the opportunity to speak of the hopes of the youth of the world., to leaders who could make a difference. Time to think why we as Canadians promise so much at the photo ops but fail to deliver a fair share on the ground. I was so proud to be able to identify with this child as she made point after point to a somber audience who were baffled by her eloquence.

On a happier note the day ended with a beautiful sunset and brought beauty and hope to an otherwise somber day. My family had a get together for my grand daughter on Sunday and we were not able to attend. Perhaps that is one reason I was in a pensive mood.

Martin Luther King Day

The celebration of MLK day marks an important aspect of American History. After years of strife the African American people found a leader to champion their cause to gain equality. Their leader was not without faults but bravery and the ability to lead was not one of them. He fought to empower his people talking through the church and later marches in the most bigoted and dangerous cities to make his point.

He stayed the course through peaceful disobedience and marched in the front row of the marches walking with his head held high while being subjected to the most violent rhetoric and physical abuse. He built a team who moved through the south and mobilized millions of people both white and of African heritage to bring their cause to the doorsteps of Capitol Hill in Washington. For many of us who lived through these wild years remember that great gathering on the Hill when countless people assembled to hear that great speech by Martin Luther King.

That speech changed forever the way people perceived the social changes sweeping across America. He became a living legend and the rest of his life became history. Like so many American leaders he too was killed. It was a sadness that gripped the nation and leaders asked for calmness to save the nation form further bloodshed. His funeral was an event which placed his contribution to American History forever remembered..

The American People saw the need to have a day set aside for the nation to build on his work in gaining freedom and equality for a large segment of the population. Martin Luther Day stands right there with other American National Holidays in order of importance. He was a great American.

Climate Change

Much has been written and talked about the effects on our life from climate change.While I was reading the morning paper and half listening to the news on TV I was amazed how the weather was the big news. Every continent was mentioned. The big freeze in the north east USA, the tragic floods in Brazil and Australia, the freeze up in much of China and of course the horrific weather in Europe. We have to be aware of the climate changes over the past few years but particularly this year.

A smaller story about horoscopes showed or reported that the gravitation of the moon changed the alignment of the stars so there will be  changes in your sign. I will no longer be a Capricorn and so on. Although these events probably are unrelated you only have to use your imagination to see startling ramifications if ever there were changes to the solar system and who is to say it could not occur. Science can only observe, report and try to predict the important changes that might come about as a result of events in space.

Sun spots were observed years ago before our communication systems were in place but look at their effect when they are acting up. Everyone talks about the weather but only a few really understand how dependent we are on reporting and using scientific data in our daily lives. This morning I can only say that the sun is shining and it is a perfect day to garden or better still, play golf.

TUCSON

THIS WILL BE A NAME NOT EASILY FORGOTTEN.The tragic events that transpired over the few minutes will be analyzed and be subject to careful scrutiny to try to prevent such a event taking place again. American history has been built on tragic events and there will be more in the future.The freedoms that make the USA a great country also allows individual freedom to commit such acts.

There will be the usual call for more and closer gun control, closer security for government officials and a number of other measures that will make life safer and better for all. The whole country wept when hearing of this tragic event and the leaders came together to praise the dead and lift the spirits of the living. I would give these same people a week before they are back to the same reckless, demeaning rhetoric which poisons the minds of nearly everyone towards political leaders and the youth of the country close their ears and minds to the political process.

In this free society where every day there are radio programs dedicated to the destruction of the political party in power and spew half truths over the airways to bring down the system , how can we expect respect for the institutions which oversee this country.I read editorials every day calling for servility and co-operation to try to make the system work but within weeks of elections the newly elected members become part of the old system with devastating results.

Tucson will be used by many to further their causes but this tragic event was the result of one deranged person capable of bringing down Innocent people and he did just that. We do not have to have long memories to count similar happenings and recalling the attempts at harming our leaders reads like the history of American Politics. For we who abhor violence and prefer rhetoric to guns feel sad for America today but we also realize that as long as we wish to honour our freedoms,  events like Tucson will occur again.We must change the tone of or rhetoric to offer a calmer and more wholesome environment to show the world that we live in a great nation.

Comfort Food

There is nothing better to do on a cold day than prepare some warm comfort food. Corn bread, home made beans and cabbage rolls would rank high in our home.  Monday was such a day and after a visit to the market on Saturday we came away with a 10 pound cabbage. It was a little too big as the outside leaves made two rolls. We follow the traditional preparation by freezing the cabbage and imersing it in very hot water to remove the leaves. The cabbage skin is translucent and wraps without breaking.

After stuffing the two dozen cabbage rolls I cover the whole thing with home made spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes and tomato juice. For the last few years I have added a generous amount of ginger and this gives the end product a warm taste.We make this comfort food several times a year and one of the reasons is that they freeze so well. You can keep them for a lunch over a period of several months without any loss of taste or texture.

So on the next cold day when you have nothing to do,  try cooking cabbage rolls or some other comfort food, it is amazing how the aroma which fills the kitchen will fill your mind in a positive way. Think about the smell of home made bread or apple pie, I feel better already.

Fishing Again

Through golf I have met a friend who loves to offshore fish. His problem is that not many people like to go out 30 miles on the Gulf to catch Grouper and other large fish. I assured him that I would be happy to accommodate him and as I love the water and am without a boat it could be a good thing for both of us. Deep sea fishing here is some of the best in the world but it takes time to get out where the fishing is good.

There are reefs out there which are in about 160 feet of water and hold large Groupers and other reef fish. The GPS has made finding these reefs easier and more realible. Since there is quite a time factor in fishing so far from shore few people participate. You must have a boat capable of dealing with rough water and someone knowledgeable enough to navigate in trying conditions.

I am looking forward to this new activity and will report when I make a special catch. Supplementing my diet with fresh fish sounds real good so I feel lucky to be part of the process.

Help From Afar

Having spent several hours trying to figure out a new setup on my computer I received help from afar to get me going. What may be simple to some computer literate hackers can be very difficult for folks like me. When I recently purchased a new computer the store people fired it up with all the bells and whistles. The only thing missing was that I was not involved and new programs were installed and new search engines integrated so I was left with a wide knowledge gap.

I did my best to try to figure out the changes and actually managed to get some positive results but with my blogging experience quickly becoming useless with the new stuff I had to appeal for help. My oldest daughter walked me through the new process and after some frustrating moments on both sides I was happy to walk away with a new point of view about technology.

I am determined to read the instructions on every piece of equipment from now on. I know it is a man thing about asking for help or directions when lost but with our need to meld into the technical era we old folks have to get with it. I see four and five year old children in Walmart playing with the latest models of telephones and computers and I wonder why we are so hesitant to join the world out there.

We are surrounded with children and grandchildren who would find it near impossible to exist for an hour without texting and they do it so with little regard for the people around them. It was this fact that I asked my youngest grandson to put away his Blackberry while playing pool. He did not mind but only had to be reminded of this habit. The reality of it that we almost have to have rules to make sure we can have a conversation without one or more of these devices ringing in our ears and interrupting the flow of the conversation.

I must say that over Xmas four of my grand children had a two hour debate among themselves and myself without one interruption. It was so good. Perhaps all will be well in the future....remember in the old days we were not permitted to talk when watching TV. WHY?  Because it interrupted the TV show.

Night and Day

How quickly the weather can change here in Florida. After a month without a drop of moisture our weather man warned of a few sprinkles could be possible .In the morning the sun was shining and it appeared that a great day was in store for we who love the sun. Within an hour the sky darkened and the wind blew to Gail force and we had up to two or three inches of rain. It stayed dark for several hours and as the evening approached we had this magnificent sunset. It was as different as night and day.

Back To Normal

After a few days in the sun I feel so much better and the arthritis which plagues me during the wet and cold winters becomes a memory.Things get back to normal after trimming several barrels of frozen and brown foliage and trimming the damaged vegetables. Although the bananas were totally frozen they will in a matter of a few months be back ready to provide a new crop.

One of the happy surprises was our papaya tree which lost all its leaves or so I thought but in a matter of three days new, small healthy leaves appeared. It was almost like magic as the new leaves appeared and another row shows signs of being OK. Since most tropical plants grow from within the core, what appears to be a total loss often results in a comeback stage several days later or even longer.

With Xmas a memory I miss the visits from family and friends but we will be in the active stage for seniors from now on. Golf, dinner dances and numerous other social activities crop up daily and we shall be busy from now until we get back home in the spring. With spring training for the big leagues baseball teams only a short time away many folks from the north schedule their holidays around this activity. We have the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins here in our community and we get a chance to see them up close and at a reasonable cost.

The area deems it important to have these teams stay in our community to the extent that a new facility for the Boston team is being built at a cost of nearly $100,000,000 to exactly replicate the Boston facility back home.It seems there is little money for hospitals, schools and housing for the poor but when it comes to sports the sky is the limit.

Back at the Saturday Market there were huge crowds buying their produce for the week and with forecasts for large increases in prices due to the frost baskets were filled and every table had a smiling face behind it as the farmers counted their money. It is good to deal directly with the producers of your food and to talk with their helpers every week. You sort of get a little bonding with this very important segment of our population

It feels good to be back to normal again and thankful for the life we have here during the winter.

Surveying the Damage

Leaving the airport and beginning our short journey to our home in Florida filled my mind with thoughts of the last devastation caused by frost. The day we left for our three week Xmas at home, Florida was given an Arctic blast of cold air which caused horrific damage to the food producers of the state. All during my stay at home I worried about my little garden and the trees ready to bear fruit. I took all reasonable measures to protect my yard but still I had reservations.

As we pulled up to our home our driver John was helpful in getting our luggage out and moved to the house while I was looking for signs of damage. Minutes after arriving I grabbed my flashlight and made for the back yard and the garden. Immediately I saw the poor banana tree brown and frost bitten followed by the lack of leaves on the orange and grapefruit trees. The vegetable portion of our yard had been spared and the tomatoes, carrots, peppers, beans and cauliflower survived. Although it was 10 pm and dark I felt better but as I looked at the pool my heart sunk as it was a ugly green with gobs of algae on the bottom.

I felt better as the sun came up and I immediately vacuumed the pool and added two gallons of chlorine. Almost like a commercial on TV there became a clearing and by the end of day all was OK. We were spared while others suffered, life was restored to our yard and really the long term damage was minimal. Old Mother Nature has a way of teaching humility and does so in such an even handed way. It rains on the rich and the poor and does not discriminate.

So we are back to our routines after a wonderful three weeks at home with family and friends and begin our connection with our Florida family of friends. We have the best of two worlds and appreciate the gift of being able to manage both. After surveying the damage I wonder why I even gave it a second thought, guess I am too attached to my natural roots. The minister in Pembroke called me a damm pantheist; maybe he was right.

Perfect Ending

As we prepare to fly away I have a feeling of contentment because of a wonderful three weeks. Time shared with family and friends make us realize what is missing when we are away. This year was special as family gatherings were many and rewarding. On my last evening here I was invited to attend a NHL game with my friend and son-in-law John. The ride to Toronto was filled with chatter about all things as we have not been in touch for a few months. The game was predictable as THE LEAFS lost but the game was well played. The real drama was in Buffalo where Canada was playing the USA and every goal posted on the game clock gave the Toronto fans something to cheer about.

With the final countdown already in motion I get the feeling that we are people in motion and constantly packing and unpacking. It is a routine I am used to and there are advantages as you have many opportunities to discard unwanted items and declutter.


It is snowing today and as the flaked slowly drifts to the ground we are treated to some semblance of a Canadian Winter. Yesterday I was raking leaves forgotten in the fall and checking the buds on the fruit trees. Today if I have time I will spray the sulfur and oil to prevent the bugs from damaging the trees in the spring.

My neighbour from across the street just came to say so long and that he would take care of our place. He is the watchdog for our block and is experiencing medical challenges that would overwhelm most but he plods along. I shall regret not being here for some support to help him along the way.

Our next blog will be from the sunny south and I trust the weather will bring comfort to my bones which suffer from a little arthritis.

Recognition

To the many followers of my rambling blog posts, I wish to offer a thank you. Your interest and support of my contributions are not the reason I write practically every day, but are flattering and give me a feeling of well being thinking someone takes the time to read my work. I do not write to a specific audience but get satisfaction from expressing my feelings through print. I would like to meet every one of you but that is impossible but accept my sincere best wishes for a healthy and productive 2011. When on occasion some of you follow your comments with an email I try to answer in a timely fashion. Happy New Year. Polar Bear