It was only a few days ago when we were complaining about the cold spring with days that felt like fall not summer. Well, summer did come and with a strong force of warm or hot temperatures and high winds. The winds actually were gale force and had a serious drying action.
The local farmers had welcomed the dry cool days when they were able to plant their crops and were just waiting for the May rains to come. The May rains did not come to this area and the crops are still waiting for the needed wet weather to start the corn growing.
Indications of just how dry it is can be seen with creeks and small streams all but dried up. Our gardens have to be watered from our taps and the grass in some places is already beginning to be stressed. The weather channel is not helping as they call for rain which we have not seen in nearly a month.
Mother nature sometimes makes us wait for the blessing of rain and we all know that you cannot replace this gift during the growing season. We welcome the warm weather and await the gift of rain as we all know that there is no substitute for that life giving element...rain.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
May 25,1945
May25,1945 stands out in the minds of people who lived through WW11. It was on this day that the war officially ended in Europe. For we who lived along the Atlantic Coast there was special meaning as the war was very close to them.
Blackout curtains were mandatory and at sunset wardens prowled the streets in our town and every town along the coast to make sure no light was showing. Wardens were ordinary citizens who worked the nights to help the war effort. German submarines were patrolling the East Coast looking for shipping that could be a target.
During the war street lights were never used and automobile lights had shields to lessen the chance they might be seen. We in public schools had gas masks under our desks and air raid drills were held. As a child I never felt the horror of the war except through our parents and neighbors when a reported war death occurred. The youngest of our uncles ,Purvis was killed in Europe and I remember the sorrow in our home and Ma Vickers' house when the news was delivered by the Army Officer.
This day was different however as the news broke out a town celebration was in order and I remember clearly our family travelling up the Lane hand in hand to be with all the people of our town to witness the turning on of the lights for the first time since the beginning of the war. I was only eight but this occasion was treated so seriously it has remained in my mind until this day.
As thousands of Sydney Miners crowded the streets in front of the Post Office the Mayor and other important people made short speeches and as the sun sunk and the town was dark there was a count down and on one the lights all over town went on to a massive cheer that could be heard for miles.
Chatter among friends and yells of joy swept the town and we again felt that we were free to live in the light and not worry. That night as we returned home after the fireworks Mom was very quiet as we passed Grandma's home because the war would never be over for her who lost her son.
Yes that was a great day and we all felt free and the country returned to rebuilding itself after the horrors of war and the loss of so many men and women who died protecting freedom.
Blackout curtains were mandatory and at sunset wardens prowled the streets in our town and every town along the coast to make sure no light was showing. Wardens were ordinary citizens who worked the nights to help the war effort. German submarines were patrolling the East Coast looking for shipping that could be a target.
During the war street lights were never used and automobile lights had shields to lessen the chance they might be seen. We in public schools had gas masks under our desks and air raid drills were held. As a child I never felt the horror of the war except through our parents and neighbors when a reported war death occurred. The youngest of our uncles ,Purvis was killed in Europe and I remember the sorrow in our home and Ma Vickers' house when the news was delivered by the Army Officer.
This day was different however as the news broke out a town celebration was in order and I remember clearly our family travelling up the Lane hand in hand to be with all the people of our town to witness the turning on of the lights for the first time since the beginning of the war. I was only eight but this occasion was treated so seriously it has remained in my mind until this day.
As thousands of Sydney Miners crowded the streets in front of the Post Office the Mayor and other important people made short speeches and as the sun sunk and the town was dark there was a count down and on one the lights all over town went on to a massive cheer that could be heard for miles.
Chatter among friends and yells of joy swept the town and we again felt that we were free to live in the light and not worry. That night as we returned home after the fireworks Mom was very quiet as we passed Grandma's home because the war would never be over for her who lost her son.
Yes that was a great day and we all felt free and the country returned to rebuilding itself after the horrors of war and the loss of so many men and women who died protecting freedom.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Gardening Condo Style
Theresa and I live in a complex made up of 286 bungalows. It is advertised as a seniors life style area and it really is. Older people living in homes with wide doors to accommodate wheel chairs, tall ceilings and wide windows make living comfortable and gives a feeling of the out of doors. People who work for the complex wash our windows, mow our grass and water our lawns. We plant flowers and try to give our homes that special touch to show we are still interested in life.
I have always been a person who planted things and loved to watch them grow. Here I made a small garden and planted cauliflower, tomatoes, Swiss chard, carrots, garlic along with the flowers left behind by the lady who lived here. I made one mistake when I planted the Swiss chard as I mixed in the cucumber seeds so we now have a mixed row of veggies.
There is always a certain pleasure when you get your hands dirty in the soil and realize that life comes from the most basic elements. Water , air and dirt is a powerful mixture and I love to see it work magic as the tiny plants pop through the soil to meet the sun to become our nourishment .
Our rabbits have been in my yard several times but are only scouting so far and waiting until the greenery is large enough to make a good snack. I have planted enough for both of us so I have little worry from my animal friends. Gardening is a great therapeutic activity.
I have always been a person who planted things and loved to watch them grow. Here I made a small garden and planted cauliflower, tomatoes, Swiss chard, carrots, garlic along with the flowers left behind by the lady who lived here. I made one mistake when I planted the Swiss chard as I mixed in the cucumber seeds so we now have a mixed row of veggies.
There is always a certain pleasure when you get your hands dirty in the soil and realize that life comes from the most basic elements. Water , air and dirt is a powerful mixture and I love to see it work magic as the tiny plants pop through the soil to meet the sun to become our nourishment .
Our rabbits have been in my yard several times but are only scouting so far and waiting until the greenery is large enough to make a good snack. I have planted enough for both of us so I have little worry from my animal friends. Gardening is a great therapeutic activity.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Golfing With a Friend
Doug and I have been friends from 1966 until this day. We have shared many experiences during these many years. Probably we shared a dozen games of golf back when we thought that we were really golfers. As time goes by our thoughts of being good at this activity change until we now realize that this game is meant to get old folks out for some meaningful exercise.
I made arrangements to play a game with Doug last week and we made many excuses as to the reason we might not be too great when we played. I arrived a little early and Doug announced that we would play at a course that he had not seen for nearly twenty years. I think that he chose this course because no one would recognize him there. Doug still has a feeling of pride and as we began the game I could realize why. He managed to hit the first drive right down the middle but he wished it to be a little longer so he hit another. It too was right down the middle but twenty yards longer.
Doug and I then played eighteen holes of golf and never kept the score but reasonable praise was given for every shot that landed on the fairway or green and we sort of forgot the game and entered into a serious discussion about politics, life and the state of our health. It was a five hour game interrupted by a short break while we ate Doug's sandwiches.
At our age this is the way golf should be played. Hit a ball and have a time for talk and hit another and have a laugh about the past. It was a couple of years since Doug and I played golf but it will not be the last as we are aging and cherish the time shared while the game is secondary to the fun of just communicating.
I made arrangements to play a game with Doug last week and we made many excuses as to the reason we might not be too great when we played. I arrived a little early and Doug announced that we would play at a course that he had not seen for nearly twenty years. I think that he chose this course because no one would recognize him there. Doug still has a feeling of pride and as we began the game I could realize why. He managed to hit the first drive right down the middle but he wished it to be a little longer so he hit another. It too was right down the middle but twenty yards longer.
Doug and I then played eighteen holes of golf and never kept the score but reasonable praise was given for every shot that landed on the fairway or green and we sort of forgot the game and entered into a serious discussion about politics, life and the state of our health. It was a five hour game interrupted by a short break while we ate Doug's sandwiches.
At our age this is the way golf should be played. Hit a ball and have a time for talk and hit another and have a laugh about the past. It was a couple of years since Doug and I played golf but it will not be the last as we are aging and cherish the time shared while the game is secondary to the fun of just communicating.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Mothers Day
Every year when Mothers Day comes along I try to express what the day means to me. I moved away from home at a young age so my picture of Mom was imbedded in my minds eye. It was only on visits that I saw my Mom grow older and more of a friend. Mom raised a large family and when I introduced her to my family and they to her it was a revelation. Two cultures clashing in a most remarkable way. Her relationship was not the person I knew as Mom but this wonderful grandmother. My children reaped the benefits of all the years of experience Mom embodied with her many grand children .
I saw a wise warm person who held a million thoughts and revealed only the very best when relating to the youngsters. It was a sad day when I realized that Mom had cancer and fought this condition silently and in such a dignified manner. Even when we would visit with all the kids she never wavered and carried on as if nothing was wrong. It was this inner strength which I have felt to be her great characteristic but it also shut the door on our ability to help ease the pain and emphasize with her during the struggle.
During the Mother Day celebrations in our home it gave we children the opportunity to show her how we felt and it was the closest we expressed our love for her by our little gifts and picked wild flowers. Some of us used to go to the woods and pick May Flowers which were the provincial flower emblem and bloomed just at Mothers day.
Mothers day still is still a happy sad day for me .
I saw a wise warm person who held a million thoughts and revealed only the very best when relating to the youngsters. It was a sad day when I realized that Mom had cancer and fought this condition silently and in such a dignified manner. Even when we would visit with all the kids she never wavered and carried on as if nothing was wrong. It was this inner strength which I have felt to be her great characteristic but it also shut the door on our ability to help ease the pain and emphasize with her during the struggle.
During the Mother Day celebrations in our home it gave we children the opportunity to show her how we felt and it was the closest we expressed our love for her by our little gifts and picked wild flowers. Some of us used to go to the woods and pick May Flowers which were the provincial flower emblem and bloomed just at Mothers day.
Mothers day still is still a happy sad day for me .
Book in Print
After what seemed like a long time my new book is in print. We received the brown box early one morning and although I knew every word and every picture contained in that script I could not wait to see it actually in print. My daughter edited the final work and checked over the 236 pages to correct spelling and make sure the syntax was acceptable.
For a person who writes for pleasure and sharing I am not concerned about the markability of the writing effort but the sheer joy of seeing it in print. This was about the tenth work I completed but many of the previous works were a compilation of blogs written over a year and make a sizable piece of work. It was writing blogs that got me started in writing larger books.
My desire is to write one more larger book and then to concentrate on my children's stories. I have written many little stories over the years in long hand and when I read them now I see merit in trying to adapt them into little books for young people. The challenge of course is the art work associated with the writing.
For a person who writes for pleasure and sharing I am not concerned about the markability of the writing effort but the sheer joy of seeing it in print. This was about the tenth work I completed but many of the previous works were a compilation of blogs written over a year and make a sizable piece of work. It was writing blogs that got me started in writing larger books.
My desire is to write one more larger book and then to concentrate on my children's stories. I have written many little stories over the years in long hand and when I read them now I see merit in trying to adapt them into little books for young people. The challenge of course is the art work associated with the writing.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Thursday at Five Is Special
Every Thursday Theresa and I have a visit from our two daughters who work in the area and come to share an evening with us. This happiness came about as a result of us moving to a new home and a little further from their normal travelling place. Actually Lynda passes our home every day and I usually phone her at 6.45 am as she passes within a mile of our home.
The girls have set a pattern for the visits and we really love the shared time to hear of their exciting work and events we might be interested in. Our daughter in Ottawa is unable to participate in these events but manages to phone often. Today was a special day for her as it was her 35th year working for Ma Bell. I wish I could have been close to celebrate with her.
The weather is really looking like summer and I have been watching my garden grow better every day. Maybe we will forget that nasty winter which caused so much trouble for many of us. I have a few projects to complete before golf days an tomorrow I begin with the shelving in the garage. Right now I can hardly see the floor but I wish to have most of the work completed by the weekend.
Cheers for Thursday and any day we have a visit from our family and friends.
The girls have set a pattern for the visits and we really love the shared time to hear of their exciting work and events we might be interested in. Our daughter in Ottawa is unable to participate in these events but manages to phone often. Today was a special day for her as it was her 35th year working for Ma Bell. I wish I could have been close to celebrate with her.
The weather is really looking like summer and I have been watching my garden grow better every day. Maybe we will forget that nasty winter which caused so much trouble for many of us. I have a few projects to complete before golf days an tomorrow I begin with the shelving in the garage. Right now I can hardly see the floor but I wish to have most of the work completed by the weekend.
Cheers for Thursday and any day we have a visit from our family and friends.
Monday, May 4, 2015
It Is Only A Creek But Brings Pleasure
Behind our new home there is a fresh water creek which runs from the moraine many miles up in the Halton Hills right down to Lake Ontario. When it rains it is a raging torrent but when there is a dry spell it is only a trickle. The creek provides a home for birds and fresh water for the thirsty animals and birds.
I watch he Mallard Ducks come every morning and evening to forage for food and the rabbits who drink from the cool water. It may just be a creek but it keeps me interested and entertained
I watch he Mallard Ducks come every morning and evening to forage for food and the rabbits who drink from the cool water. It may just be a creek but it keeps me interested and entertained
They Called Me Elanak
This title for my latest book came as a result of a fellow worker at my office in Cambridge Bay telling me what the works called me among themselves. I knew that my name meant friend and it was a compliment so I used it as the title.
I decided to write a book about my adventures because it was such an exciting part of my life for nearly five years. It was a dream of mine since I was a young person and when the opportunity came I grabbed the chance for a time of my life. The events which I have remembered and wrote about were mainly about my attempts to meld into the harsh environment and enjoy every minute I shared with the Inuit people.
I truly believe that the Inuit are a remarkable people with outstanding skills to exist let alone thrive in the harshest climate known to man. I shared much of my time with people in various communities but it was the time I lived by myself with Buck ,my Husky companion which gave me the greatest memories. I had time to build a remote cabin far from the hamlet where I spent so much of my spare time and had viewed first hand the animals and the vegetation which helped me to strengthen my philosophical base of being part of the natural order of things.
The spiritual life of the Inuit made so much sense when they explained that every living thing had value and should be respected for its place in the universe. I learned so much and came away with a great calmness about where I fitted in the natural order.
I had help with this 236 page book from my editor in chief Lynda. She has always been my helper and advisor and did much of the technical work which is way beyond my capabilities. This actually is my tenth attempt at writing as I have written many books of blogs and so on. I intend to complete two more books and then become serious about completing my real love of children's books.
I always loved to read and now I derive great pleasure from sitting down and writing stories. It is the sharing that is important and I love to share.
I decided to write a book about my adventures because it was such an exciting part of my life for nearly five years. It was a dream of mine since I was a young person and when the opportunity came I grabbed the chance for a time of my life. The events which I have remembered and wrote about were mainly about my attempts to meld into the harsh environment and enjoy every minute I shared with the Inuit people.
I truly believe that the Inuit are a remarkable people with outstanding skills to exist let alone thrive in the harshest climate known to man. I shared much of my time with people in various communities but it was the time I lived by myself with Buck ,my Husky companion which gave me the greatest memories. I had time to build a remote cabin far from the hamlet where I spent so much of my spare time and had viewed first hand the animals and the vegetation which helped me to strengthen my philosophical base of being part of the natural order of things.
The spiritual life of the Inuit made so much sense when they explained that every living thing had value and should be respected for its place in the universe. I learned so much and came away with a great calmness about where I fitted in the natural order.
I had help with this 236 page book from my editor in chief Lynda. She has always been my helper and advisor and did much of the technical work which is way beyond my capabilities. This actually is my tenth attempt at writing as I have written many books of blogs and so on. I intend to complete two more books and then become serious about completing my real love of children's books.
I always loved to read and now I derive great pleasure from sitting down and writing stories. It is the sharing that is important and I love to share.
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