Christmas Day With Family

The greatest gift I receive at Christmas is being with my family. Theresa and I often say that we are fortunate in having the most beautiful Family. Every time we get together our feelings are proven to be accurate as we observe the deep bond and love each member has for each other.This get together was no different as we converged n Lynda's and Peters country home and shared great food, conversation and bonding. The noise level rises when some of the younger ones try to join the circle and tell of their latest exploits in the education field.

We have several now either teaching or completing their studies and as teachers are, the subject comes around to their work. The leader of the pack is Glenda who has many years in the special ed field and Harmony and Darcy join in and away we go. They are passionate about their work and it makes me very happy to see the young people involving themselves in the social continuum. The others are just as involved in their field of interest and manage to make their case.

It was a great day with Doris managing to share her time with all present and to astonish them with her great looks and ability at age 98. This Xmas is over but the good will and joy will remain with us until we get together in the near future.

Planting Garlic on Xmas Eve

The temperature is hovering near the plus twenty when I decided to plant some more garlic. I had already planted my regular amount and it is growing so I had some more cloves and planted some more. This hot weather is playing havoc with our trees as they are budding and even opening .I fear for the fruit trees as one other year we had a similar situation and the crop was a failour.

This December the Xmas cactus is blooming right on time for the holidays. They like the hot weather.

Tortiere Baking with Theresa and Doris

The baking of tortiere was a custom at our home for years. We used to make many in the past but now we settle for five. This year Doris was home to help with the top crust as no one can roll out crust like Doris. This year was no different as she rolled the top crust thin and smooth and placed it carefully on the top of the pie and made perfect pinches along the edge.

It was good to have her help as it brings her back to her younger days when she baked up a storm at Xmas time. Now I have a partner to make the Xmas buns for the family dinner.

Back Home

Theresa and I have been away for a months holiday in Florida. Of course the weather was perfect but a little too hot during the first week where the temp soared .It was a homecoming of sorts as we joined our old friends in many activities. Eating at get together dinners seemed to be a favourite as we once again socialized with our American { Cuban ] neighbors.  I played golf with my old partners every Tuesday and enjoyed the news about their life for the past couple of years.

We played for a pot of money collected over the past fifteen years from the new comers club. We each donated a dollar for a hole in one and over that time we never had one. With a $148 at stake we played for the pot. We were the last members of the club so we had a tournament. We shared the winnings and drank to the wealth we just acquired.

Theresa and friends did a great job of shopping and every day after our adventures we used the pool to cool off and gossip about our day. There was something soothing about being away and not having the usual contact with family as we had restricted communication as our accommodation had no phone or WY-FY It did cause us to miss our family.

Our trip by car was super both ways and the time shared during the drive gave us a great personal time . We had a good time but were happy to

be back home with family and friends.

Tricky Weather

Today on November the 2 rd the temp came up to 28. We are leaving for Florida tomorrow and I feel cheated as it should be snowing or miserable but not beautiful. I should stay and enjoy this gift from our Indian Breathern who in their wisdom and need for some good weather declared that every year we should have Indian Summer. One week of sunny, warm days to give us something to think of when it turns to snow and 30 below.

All of a sudden the place is swarming with hornets, wasps and other flying creatures which make it impossible to enjoy a drink on the balcony. There is a strange change in our weather patterns lately as we just witnessed the windiest week in my memory and now this.We better get used to the unusual because that is the way it will be from now on, tricky.

Daylight Saving Time

I do not see the reason behind this tradition anymore. It seems to me that there once was a reason when energy was at a premium and the clock change was supposed to help with the cost of energy. Today it just seems to be part of Halloween. What ever the reason it has little affect on we older folks who do not keep  or worry about the time except when it is our medication times or doctor appointments.

November 1 also causes a rumbling in the minds of we seniors and like the birds feel it is time to go south to avoid the cold weather.People in Florida brace themselves for the influx of Northerners and make all kinds of ignorant references to the problems we cause. They do not complain about the money we spend and the jobs we create. There seems to be a quiet truce lately as the population of about twenty million becomes home to nearly three million snow birds for six months. We are the prime mover in the economic health of Florida and other sun belt states.

Getting back to daylight saving time. I got up at my regular time but did not change the clock so I had an extra hour of daylight. Everything was quiet in our neighbourhood for an extra hour and that was a bonus. Guess I will need a nap this afternoon to catch up with the new time

A Friend

Yesterday I saw a dear friend pass away from this life. For some it might become the end of a very active and endearing friendship.For me it was anything but as her memory will stay with me forever as a person who shared and enhanced my life for over a quarter of a century. We became a working team which from the very beginning was one sided as her knowledge and willingness to share it enabled me to mesh into Pembroke with relative ease.

Over the next nearly 30 years she became a wonderful friend to our family as well as work partner.Betty was one of the feistiest ladies I ever had the good luck to know and spoke her mind and never backed away from a controversial situation. More times than I wish to count she steered me away from a path which could have resulted in problematic situations not only in educational matters but in political ones as well.

Betty was athletic and only a few saw her make a move that was pretty dynamic when she could clear the main office desk which only the vice principal Doug could manage at a much younger age. She was fit and for her size mighty and as I was reading an older year book found out she was a track and field star when she attended Pembroke Collegiate. Betty loved the students and at the front line she managed to keep a stern face but had an understanding heart and a good sense of humour.

Betty shared her respect and admiration for her father who returned from the war with physical disabilities. Betty received a gift from her Dad that she held lifelong and that was of the beauty and value of reading. Betty said there was nothing written that her father wouldst read an passed this gift on to her. Betty took care of her Mom and her shared wish to become a nurse was interrupted but this did not stop Betty from becoming the best at everything she attempted.

All of our staff at PSPS loved and respected her for the valuable person she was  and will dearly miss her. For me there will be a warm place in my hearts treasury for Betty (Mac)Burgess, she was a friend.

The Emergence of Democracy

After ten long years Canada threw off the shackles of a sour,toxic regime and emerged with a fresh young democratic and positive leader and a new Liberal majority government.It came about in a dramatic fashion with the Atlantic provinces painting the map red in every riding. The rest of the country went the same way with a surge of new people being elected to bring about change.

Most people realized that new blood and new ideas had to be presented and positive leadership was the answer. Harper served the country for ten years and should be given credit and thanks for his dedication to Canada. For any leader to serve like that contributions were made but in this case the old ideas became tired and the leader became toxic so the people spoke.

The future seems to be bright and the leader energetic but there is much to do and so many expectations will be demanded after all the promises. If the democratic process is revived and all members have a stake in the process our country will flourish and people will have new faith in our system. There must be patience as everything cannot be done in a short time but there must be perceived and seen progress on the promised programs.

I love the excitement of an election and the energy of all the candidates, not only the winners as I think of every person who dares and puts up his name to be judged by fellow citizens is a winner.One statement that sticks with me from Justin's remarks resonates with me. Justin said said that the opposition are not our enemies but they are our neighbors. That makes sense and my wish is that everyone in Canada comes together and works to make this country the best that it can be. The election is over and we have to contribute in so many ways to become a true citizen of the best country in the world.

A Hint Of Coolness In The Air

My friend Don Root came out with this expression one day and took us all by surprise with his poetic excellence. Now every time it turns cooler or colder Theresa and I have a silent chuckle remembering our poet Don..

The air is cooler and fall is upon us. Yesterday I closed out my small garden and we turned in our ripe and over ripe tomatoes into 15 jars of spaghetti sauce. This caused us to clean out our freezer and as one thing turns into another we were faced with fall cleanup of freezer and basement. We do not wish to think of winter but fall does have its benefits. Doris came out to our house and we took a drive up into the Halton Hills where we experienced a beautiful sight as only Mother Nature can paint when the trees put on their annual blaze of colour.

Doris loves trees of any size, shape or colour and she expressed many times just how much she appreciated this little treat.Doris also loved the view from our small balcony overlooking a small stream. The array of vegetation and trees here makes for a beautiful picture and with the sunset in the background she had her fill of all that is beautiful in nature.

Thanksgiving Family Day

Thanksgiving in Canada is really family day as it ranks as the most important and popular for most people who enjoy time with their family. We in our family have traditionally shared this day with the hope that every member will be able to attend. On this past weekend we were blessed with perfect weather and 100 percent attendance

A special occasion like this also became the first open house of Lynda and Peter at their new country estate. A beautiful old stone schoolhouse with added rooms and living quarters and a new swimming pond made this the perfect manner to christen this home. There were 25 members of the family and friends exploring the four acres of landscaped gardens and wooded area. Mature trees surrounded the property and a new garden plot was established for future development.

Turkeys and ham along with a wide selection of vegetables made this event traditional but it was the variety of desserts brought by the guests that made the meal complete.  All the food and goodies became secondary to the fun that was had by the three generations of this crew who talked, shouted, argued and just had a great time with all our family in one room.

I always say that the most important gift we have is each other and as I always do sit back and wonder how I could be so fortunate to have such a wonderful family. The added benefit is that our grandchildren have attracted such a great new group of people which strengthens and diversify's our family .On a more somber note I wish that my Mother and Father could have lived long enough to see what a great family they started with a solid foundation of good moral bringing up.

The Big Trade Deal

The announcement about the huge trade deal with the dozen countries coming together to forge some rules about trading in a more open manner is a giant first step. Trade pacts like this will take years to actually become law as every separate country must get the legislation passed through their parliament . This will be a huge problem in places like the USA because of the lobbying directed at the house will cause at least years of work.

There will be some discussion in Canada's parliament as well if the Liberals win the election but with the secrecy shown so far by the Tories we will have to see. The trade accord is just that up to now and with so many different interests a good public debate should bring about a good democratic result.

Over the past ten years we as a country has shown a negative trade balance and this new trade deal could bring us to a positive black line if our industry can manage to out perform the other members of the deal. We as a country have been at a disadvantage because of our high dollar but now with our dollar at the 70 plus level we should do better.

Being a resource trader we always shadow the productive countries because they buy our raw materials. When they slow down so do we and that has to change. We must have an added value to our raw materials and become producers of product instead of just providing product to the productive countries.

Canada has lost over 400,000 jobs in Ontario alone in the manufacturing sector as company after company left to resettle in Mexico or some place where labor is cheap and human rights are ignored. This too has to change as we can no longer put dollars ahead of our moral obligation to trade with countries who are trying to promote human rights for their workers and protection of the environment.

In the years to come this trade deal could be a great boon for Canada but do not look for the benefit in the near future.

Federal Election

After ten years of an ultra right wing conservative government we live in a far different world than before Harper. Our country is more divided, more fearful, less respected in the world, less democratic and I could go on and on. Our safety net organizations and departments have been gutted, Water safety, environmental concerns. social structures, global warming and pure science institutes have been ignored and in many cases muted if their findings do not promote the Harper way.

How sad to see one of the great small country's status being dragged down by ideological rather than scientifically factual decisions. We as a country will have to work at years of undoing this tragic design of a conservative government rather than a healthy democracy standing tall in the world and standing for a peaceful force rather than a military puppet .

This extremely long election call has made all of us weary of the placates and tired rhetoric of fear mongering instead of the real issues . The issues of return to democracy, jobs and protection of our Canadian way of life should be addressed and sincere interest in real change so we will return to a more prosperous and gentler Canada.

The Real Rangers of the North

The rangers who help protect our North are having a difficult time. Some 49 have died in the past few years and this is out of a total force of 4,500. These volunteers are given a second world war rifle,a handful of bullets, a ranger cap and a sweat shirt in red with their crest. When on patrol they receive gas for their snow machines and food. They train often in winter and are dedicated to their task.

I worked with these rangers for five years and they would be the ones I would wish to be along side of if there was trouble in the North. These junior and senior Rangers are dedicated and take their role seriously. Our Prime Minister uses them for a photo Op and makes promises but they never see him again.

If that many soldiers died down here in lower Canada there would  be a task force to find the cause but these Rangers are not even classed as reserve soldiers so receive no money or special perks if they are hurt or die in the line of duty.

The Rangers are proud of their role and continue to be our first line of defense in the North and deserve better.This yer I heard that they are going to receive the standard FN C1 7.64 rifle used by our NATO forces.This will replace the old Lee Infield which was used during the second world war.

Bravo to the Rangers and lets hope that whoever gets elected they are better looked after than they have been in the past.

St. Louis Du Ha ! Ha !

For years Theresa and I have looked at a golf course along the highway in Quebec. It was in the town of Louis de Ha Ha and looked inviting. This year on our way to Cape Breton we decided to stop and enjoy a game of golf. We stayed at a Motel on Lake Cobano. This is truly one of the most beautiful areas in Quebec with over twenty miles of pristine lake and mountains in the background.

We booked a game of golf and when arriving at the course were quite surprised at just how advanced this course appeared. Great care of the fairways and greens and particular care of the cart paths. We were told of the dangerous rides from one hole to another but was not prepared at just how dangerous they were, Electric switches when entering the path from one hole to another and another electric switch to use when you left the hole. Steep hills with dangerous grades and mirrors on the turns. It was spectular

Theresa held on for dear life on nearly every hole. As we passed from one hole to another we enjoyed vista after vista as the course wandered through very hilly countryside. The game became secondary to the course itself and as we completed the course decided that we would have to pass this way again.

Playing With Marbles is For Children

I have been taking therapy for a condition involving my leg. There has been some nerve damage and the result is limited strength and agility. I have been getting help for some time now with little progress. A new program was designed by my helper and I received many useful sessions dealing with proper procedures in correcting with my problem.

The last week took a turn for getting help in improving my balance. The therapist assigned me a room for the treatment I was about to receive. I was surprised to see him enter the session with a small box and a small bucket. I was asked to remove my brace, shoe and socks. Next came the surprise activity. In the box were a dozen or so marbles and some clothes pins.

Much to my surprise he placed the marbles neatly in a line on the floor. He then asked me to pick up the marbles with my bare foot and place them in the bucket. After laughing and thinking this was some kind of joke I was quickly brought back to reality with a firm request to follow the instruction. In order to assist me the therapist demonstrated the procedure I was to follow. He had no difficulty in performing the task to perfection. Me on the other hand could not even grasp the marble and every time I tried I sent the marble flying across the floor.

I asked him what was the sense behind this activity and he gave me a long but thoughtful reason. In essence it was to get some life into that foot which was frozen and to loosen up the bones in my foot to aid me in my balance. For the next half hour I tried and tried to perform the exercise and was unsuccessful I thought. At the end of the session he said I had done well as I had caused some movement in my toes and that was the first step in gaining better balance.

We left as friends and as I looked around I never saw anyone laughing or staring in my direction at seeing an older man playing with marbles . Playing marbles is a game for children is it not ?

The Cabot Trail

One of the most scenic drives in the world is found in Cape Breton and is named after one of the earliest explorers in Canada. The Cabot trail has been a favourite drive for Canadians and world travelers as well and remains as a key to tourism in Nova Scotia.

I have driven the trail many times over the last 75 years but never cease to marvel at the still unspoiled beauty of this natural wonder. Theresa and I have been over the trail several times but this time the weather was perfect and we enjoyed the magic of this journey once again. Words fail me to describe the vistas that appear around every curve of the road,

I imagine that I will make the effort a few more times in the future to make the trip but if not I have some great pictures in my minds eye of one of the greatest visual treats

available to man.

Bluenose ll

I have sailed on the Bluenose ll several times when it was attached to Halifax as a public relation ship. This time we were staying in Sydney and with our good luck he ship was in port. This sailing ship is an icon among sailing ships and the envy of the American sailing association because of the record of wins over many years in international competition.

Early one morning we realized that the Bluenose was leaving harbor at 9 o'clock sharp. We hurried down to dockside at 8 o'clock and watched the crew scurry about in preparation for the departure. Finally he horn blew and the cannon sounded and the ship moved slowly from its slip to move on to Pictou. Theresa and I took many pictures and it was a challenge to get the whole ship into frame as the main mast is 125 feet in height.

As the bluenose pointed into the wind she looked so graceful and the beautiful lines made her look like a bird taking flight. Canadians can be proud of the history of the Bluenose and if you can have an opportunity to visit this ship do so for a trip down a heritage giant. I loved the sight so much that Theresa and I followed her progress as she sailed around Cape Breton . Every open ocean sight we found brought us a perfect picture of the Bluenose. What a wonderful way to share our day around the Cabot Trail with the Bluenose.

The Store is Open

During the past five days the conservative store has been open and over $1,000,000,000 of our taxpayers money has been distributed to riding's faithful to the conservatives or ones that they think they can win.This is a lot of money and if used for the good of the country it could help our Vets, bring drinking water to the First Nations, help cure cancer, keep our research experts working and a dozen other things.

This reminds me of the early times when parties bought votes and men received a mickey and women nylons for their vote.This is going to be an interesting election and we will see some good men come to the rescue of Canada and defeat this corrupt and tired tyrannical government.

There are many more good people than bad running and even the conservatives have some excellent people who have been blocked from voicing their opinion but did not have the guts to stand up and be counted as the dictator had supreme power. These people will have to be accountable to ordinary folks who are fed up with the Harper way and we will see a new beginning from the bottom up.

Election Time

Most red blooded Canadians get excited when they hear that is going to be a call for the writ to began the fall election. This year there will be a huge groan and many expletives when our dysfunctional PM actuates the process as it will punish all of us because we will have to listen to the rhetoric for double the normal election time. This is very unusual and shows just how desperate he has become to hold on to power.

I suspect that most Canadians have already set their mind as to whom they wish to lead the country and we should not have to share the huge cost for so long. Many people do not understand the potential cost of an extended election but it could cost many millions of dollars and the sitting rich party will benefit most as the government matches funds raised by the parties by donations from faithful party members.

Whatever occurs during the next months I will predict that there will be a Liberal-NDP coalition government occupying the right benches come the day after the election.

Tomato Time

Our first red tomato came on July 9th and they were slow in producing more than one or two every other day. Today is near the end of the month and we find ourselves with a problem. as we are going to the Maritimes for a couple of weeks and our tomatoes decided to ripen in numbers that usually cause us to freeze bags for the spaghetti sauce later.

We eat them every day and try to give as many away as we can but when we are away we have to depend on our faithful children to take care of business. With all the hot weather at hand we really should be here to do our own work. With such a small garden this year we are surprised to see two plants with 49 tomatoes and they all seem to be healthy and unblemished. This is the first year for vegetables to be grown in this location so there is no contamination.

Our cucumbers are growing among the tomatoes and will soon take over as the tomatoes diminish but provide good support for the vertical growing cukes..I may try to take home some tomatoes for my family as their season in later than ours.I love tomato season and am already planning for next year by enlarging my small garden.