Earth Hour Recap

Winter Storm
March 28, 2008

It was a true blessing to be able to participate in Earth Hour this year. Word spread throughout the neighbourhood and because we are in a rural area it was quite dark. Our yard wasn't totally dark though as the solar powered lights were on. Quite a few of our neighbours have solar powered lights as well and the moon was bright in the clear skies. It was a pretty night sky! Congratulations to Toronto, Ontario for exceeding their Earth Hour goal of cutting electricity consumption by 5%. They reached 8.7%! Kitchener-Waterloo reached a 3-5% electricity reduction. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Harper is reported to have snubbed Earth Hour by leaving lights on at 24 Sussex Drive. Shame on you, Prime Minister Harper!

For those following this blog and who have noticed the little countdown ticker, another blessing will soon make his or her entrance into the world. Grandma and Grandpa are staying close to the phone to make the journey for the event. So stay tuned...

Garden Gnome
©2007

Earth Hour

Today we celebrate Earth Hour, a movement started last year in Australia. It has grown from a one city movement to a global movement. I've had the banner on this blog for a few days now. The concept is simple and meant to bring an awareness to climate change. It's easy just turn off all your lights for one hour from 8 to 9 pm tonight.

We are participating in Earth Hour. Along with all electric lights any unnecessary appliances, tv, furnace and the computers will be powered off for one hour. Outside will not be dark as our solar lights will power on. I have oil lights and candles for indoor use but somehow that seems like cheating so I'm going to be doing a bit of stargazing. At the end of Earth Hour, I will add some reflections to my going green journal. I've already run the idea of having an earth hour each week since really going for one hour without electricity per week is quite doable. For us, Earth Hour will be a way of joining millions with one common cause but at the same time finding out more about ourselves.

Garden Gnome
©2007

where's my crane time?

Sharp Shinned Hawk
March 10, 2008

It did not take long for a Sharpie (Sharp Shinned Hawk) to visit our gardens. I've had the feeders out since we moved in but still to have a Sharpie is an honour. It means I've attracted enough of a diversity of birds to the feeders that could support a Sharpie that feeds off of smaller birds. It can take a few years to attract hawks to your garden since they are looking for a particular food source. For me it was exciting because we have had a rodent problem, something the Sharpie will take care of. However, my husband is not quite as excited given his vivid memories of picking up Mourning Dove carcasses from the last time a Sharpie visited. We will have to see how this one works out. He's been visiting almost daily for the past couple of weeks.

I have suffered from severe sinus headaches for the last five years or so. A few days ago I awoke to pain and being groggy from sleep thought it was a sinus headache. Wrong! Coming to my senses I realized this was very different. I had a stye! Lord all mighty, there was no way it could be a stye since I had my tear ducts lanced years ago. During my pre-teens I would routinely get two to three styes on one eyelid at one time. So they finally lanced the ducts and by early teens styes were history. I dragged my sleepy butt to the mirror and sure enough there in all its red, irritated glory was one heck of a beauty of a stye. Just special! Just what I needed! I should mention I'm still dealing with these other health problems so I really don't need anything else. The stye took a couple of days to subside only to be replaced by two more styes. Now I'm getting just a tad on the ticked off side with this turn of events! It's deja vu...

Where the heck is my crane time?

Garden Gnome
©2007

Garden Gnome
©2007

footprints

My Footprints

Footprints are the tangible marks we leave behind. Depending on the medium they may be lasting but even if there is no lasting visible impression there is always an effect. It might be very minor and easily brushed aside but still the effect remains. I don't often talk of my childhood not even with my family. When I was growing up Easter was as now church oriented. I can always remember the excitement. It was never about chocolate or bunnies or baskets but it was about tulips. They had to be up and ready to cut for Easter Sunday at least enough to pin on a Sunday dress. Wearing a red tulip meant your mother was alive while a white meant your mother was passed on. I had the honour of wearing both. To this day the footprints of both intertwine my heart and influence me, their footprints never leaving. It's been one heck of a journey...my own and not one shared with anyone, not even those closest to me and the ones that I love the most. Two tulips, one red, one white......

Garden Gnome
©2007

frenzy

Sunset's Glow
March 14, 2008

I think I was on the green wagon long before being green was cool. Energy and the use of energy with the resulting costs of using energy has been an interest from as long as I can remember. It has always been an environmental thing with me. So I tinker with alternate power and am constantly looking at greener ways of doing things in our day to day living. If I can get the same desirable results using less energy I will. Union Gas announced the price for natural gas would be increasing April 1, 2008. That sent me into another sealing frenzy. Now anyone looking at our gas bill would scratch their head because since July 28, 2007 to the current billing our natural gas usage cost $576.67. The price increase in natural gas will add an average of $6 per month for an average family. Trust me our energy usage is well below average and I intend to keep it that way. Natural gas in our home includes: hot water, furnace, fireplace, dryer and grill. Given our location that is quite low since some will more than likely spent a good portion of that amount on heating alone for January. Our house is kept at a comfortable temperature during the winter months.

As soon as we moved in here one of the first things unpacked was my caulk gun and caulk. I scoped out possible locations for solar heating and hot water then installed solar outdoor lighting and turned my attention to sealing the house. Sealing air leaks is always the first line of defense. It is the most cost effective, easy to do, DIY project there is but it needs to be ongoing because houses settle and new air leaks can arise. Ok, so back to my frenzy. My trusty caulk gun awaits!

Garden Gnome
©2007

Garden Gnome
© 2007

Late BYBS Post

First Robin of 2008
March 7, 2008

I didn't get a chance to post a BYBS post yesterday but I really had to post a delayed one. Read on and you will see why. Sighting the first robin of the season is always a true blessing. This little fellow was scavanging food under the bird feeds on Friday. Despite the weather warnings of a nasty storm, I continued prepping food for the baby shower I was hosting Saturday afternoon. My husband was hosting his poker game Saturday evening so I was also preparing for that. The robin flitted around the yard leading me to think the weatherman was bonkers. Saturday morning I was up bright and early to finish the prep and cooking. It was clear with a nasty looking sky so as far as I was concerned everything was a full go. However, by the time I finished my cup of coffee it was white out conditions with fierce winds and drifts quickly rising. Then I got the phone call no parent wants.

Some of our kids came down the night before the storm hit so they were fine. The ones (aka expectant ones) had a get together Friday night so had called to say they would be travelling in the morning. So Saturday morning when a call came from their cell phone I immediately thought they were calling to say they were on their way. Right and wrong! They called to say they were on their way but spun their SUV out and were waiting for the OPP. Mom-to-be was driving. Preliminary assess said the SUV as a write-off, unrepairable and they've only had it about three months! Anyway, there were no injuries but she went for assessment at a nearby hospital where the did an ultra sound. The amazing blessing is they are ok without a mark, the baby is ok and no one else was involved in the accident. I ended up calling all the baby shower guests to tell them the shower was cancelled and to stay safe by staying off the roads.

Garden Gnome
©2007

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

Mallards
February 24, 2008

Last week was a rather interesting one of one step forward and two steps back. It would be easy to complain or even dwell on the frustrations or negative but there were many blessings to be thankful for. The ever changing water view had a real calming and comforting effect that was very much appreciated. One of our kids finally received the much awaited for news so there was a ripple of excitement throughout the family. Our second grandbaby's arrival is quickly approaching so that is adding to the excitement. The kitchen renovations hit a bit of a snag so we decided to finish up one accent wall on the upper level and prep the "we're not sure what we're going to use it for" but was "good livingroom" for painting. The goal is to have the room presentable for two large get togethers this weekend. My health problems are persisting so I'm hoping things improve this coming week. But the sun has been shining more and the promise of warming weather coming is enough to lift the spirits.

Garden Gnome
©2007

It's March

Sunset on Ice
February 27, 2008

Spring is just around the corner despite another bitter bite from Jack Frost. March came in like a lamb here. While the temperature is cold and there is a brisk wind, the skies are greyish blue and the sun is shining. The Weather Network is saying that if you consider the first few days of March, it really is coming in like a lion. Time will tell. There is an end to winter in sight though. It is only twenty days until March 21 aka spring! Next weekend we turn the clocks ahead and school children will be on their March Break. Gardeners everywhere are gearing up. Yep, spring is just around the corner...

Garden Gnome
©2007

Things

Taking a Ride
February 23, 2008

The past couple of days I've been dealing with things. I am by nature a bit of a clutterer even though I like the neat and tidy, clutter free look. This past week I've spent time and energy gathering up things that took time, energy and money to get in here in the first place. In fairness some of the things migrated with us during our last move but have not found a home here. Funny thing about homes, some things fit while others do not from one home to the next. So I'm going through the things that simply do not fit here. That means lots of things are making their way out the door. I briefly toyed with the idea of holding a yard sale in the spring but that would mean the things would sit in the garage giving the temptation to sneak them back into the house. So I've decided to do a clean sweep by donating whatever I can eliminating any temptation.

Why is it so hard to part with things? For me there is always the "this might come in handy sometime" and in some cases the memories attached. Even though the thing has long out lived its usefulness and even though it might be pretty tatty looking, I will still hang onto it for one or both of the two reasons mentioned. What I've started doing with some of these things is to take a couple of digital pictures then let go of the actual thing. Using Photoshop I then create a scrapbook page using the picture along with journalling as the memories attached to the thing. This way I can clear a bit of clutter while still hanging onto the memories.

Garden Gnome
©2007

Nature's Eye Candy

Ocean View
Hallandale, Florida
January 23, 2008

Nature provides all the eye candy you would ever need! Last night's lunar eclipse was amazing! It was bitter cold here forcing me to put my winter jacket on for picture taking. Now, I've been avoiding my winter jacket all winter preferring instead to take advantage of layering for ease of removal as needed when Mother Nature reminds me I'm not a spring chicken anymore. My winter jacket is just too heavy and confining! I managed a few good shots but not as good as the last lunar eclipse. The sight was worth braving the cold!

Bizarre Power Outage

Road Trip to Pick up Beef
February 16, 2008

Saturday we were on the road to pick up our beef. The weather was very cold despite the sun and the sky was a brilliant blue. I took several pictures along the way while enjoying idle chit chat with my husband in the beauty of the day. It was a busy but very enjoyable day. On the way home the sky turned cloudy hinting at the incoming storm.

We had the most bizarre power outage last night. It had been a very busy Sunday with a social event even though my husband was not feeling well. So when we got home we decided an early bedtime was in order. About 2 am one of our kids who is staying with us temporarily awoke us because the electricity was doing rather strange things. Some fixtures didn't work at all while a few worked but the light output was greatly reduced. The display panels on the stove and microwave were on but very dim. Having dealt with electrical problems just after moving in my first concern was a tree branch had hit our incoming lines. My husband decided to get dressed and to outside to see if he could see a problem where he met up with our neighbour who was also outside because of the electrical problem. He had already called HydroOne who told him to flip the main breaker because the existing problem coupled with when the power was restored could cause some appliances to be damaged. So we flipped the main breaker then waited for HydroOne to restore the power.

We live on a small secluded, dead end street off the main road. The entire road was out and then some in both directions. Apparently some 1,500 homes were without power for reasons that weren't disclosed. We heated with wood for a number of years spanning two homes. When we finally bought a house with a natural gas furnace it seemed a treat. There was no hauling wood, chopping wood or stacking wood. Wood does warm in so many ways besides the flames! Then we moved to our previous house also heated with natural gas but the electricity was so finicky it would go out if there was a cloud in the sky. Honestly, the power was out on average three times a month while we lived there bringing the problem of how to stay warm when the power was out because the furnace wouldn't work. Onto this home where we also have a natural gas furnace but the electricity is considerably more stable. Again I was concerned about a secondary heat source for power outages during the winter months. We have a lovely natural gas fireplace that was a retrofit for the existing wood fireplace. I really want to turn the fireplace back to wood. This power outage showed that the natural gas fireplace will work without electricity so we have secondary heat. This is pretty cool :)

At any rate, it was the most bizarre power outage we have ever experienced!

Punch Buggy

Punch Buggy
January 19, 2008

Several years back one of our then teenage kids introduced us to the punch buggy game. Being the sane, level headed and mature adults we are, the game caught on and still remains quite popular. The game is quite easy. A punch buggy is the Volkswagon beetle or van. The scoring is 1 point for a new style punch buggy, 2 points for an old, original style and 5 points for a VW van. The game is played while travelling by any means including walking. Simply be the first holler punch buggy with the colour and punch someone. The punch is only symbolic not meant to inflict any harm so it really is more of a tap. The person with the most points at the end of the trip is the winner. A trip is usually from point A to point B, one way not the entire trip as both of us sometimes forget our scores. A one way score makes it easier to remember. Quite often I end up losing because I'm the official picture taker and my attention span is kaputz.

I spotted the pink punch buggy while we were taking a tour around the South Beach, Florida area. This is the second neatest punch buggy because of the funky colour. The absolute neatest one is a black and white OPP punch buggy spotted up on the 400 Hwy. We usually boo when we spot a boring beige punch buggy as well. When we are walking and spot a parked punch buggy the conversation always turns to whether the trademark flowers are there as well. And there you have what goes on behind the closed doors of our vehicle and then some :)

Blog Your Blessings Sunday - Our House

Ocean View from Condo
January 21, 2008

Update: Things are going as well as to be expected here. The weather is more like March than February so we never know what to expect. The health problems that almost cancelled our vacation have not subsided and it appears from two ultra sounds that the obvious suspected causes are not the causes so I'm onto more tests this coming week and the next. We've started working on the kitchen and baths as well as adding finishing touches to the family room. This has been a nice diversion. I'll be posting about this more on my homemaking blog.

It has been an event filled week with more good than bad. I'm not negating the bad but rather choose to dwell on the positive. I think that in itself is a real blessing. I'm really lucky to live in a country where medical treatment is easily available. I'm sure with persistence the problem will be resolved so just having that faith is a blessing as well.

As many of you know we moved here last June. We did a full month of get go to get the house presentable for a large family event. After that we were tired and honestly we really didn't have a good feel as to how we wanted to decorate. The lower level (main level) is mainly tongue and groove wood with the exception of the field stone fireplace and about a 5' height of wall from wainscotting to tongue and groove wood with large beam ceiling. This room is open to the kitchen that has cabinets in the same wood with the same wood ceiling. It is quite impressive and was the selling feature that sold us! I do have to stress what a blessing it was for us to find and be able to buy this house!

I have made several comments over the house to the effect that "it will be a matter of being at the right place and the right time" and "when we see it we will know it will work". I've been searching for a mural for an upper level accent wall but just couldn't find what I wanted. Friday we stopped at Home Hardware and here was this gorgeous wallpaper border so I mentioned to my husband that we could buy the 10 feet needed since they sold it by the foot, paint the wall and at least that would be one more thing done. Well we bought it, then discovered it matched perfectly to the lower level family room. Talk about a real fluke! So Saturday, we picked up more of the border along with fixtures for the upper bathroom and kitchen. Then we went shopping for ideas and tile for all three rooms. This is a bit different as I normally make most of the decorating decisions but my husband is actually giving input this time so that is really a nice change. We had a very enjoyable shopping trip and while we didn't buy a lot, we learned a lot. It really was a lovely day spent with a loved one.

The blessings this past week were many. Some were very subtle and others quite obvious but all were blessings!

US 1

US 1
January 17, 2008

The first thing that pops into my mind about US 1, the only route between Miami and Key West, is all the negative comments we heard even before we arrived in Florida. Much of the drive down US 1 to Key West was done in the dark so we didn't get to see a lot. There are several areas along the highway where the speed is greatly reduced that does make the traveling time longer. We left Key West Thursday (January 17) morning heading north towards No Name Key where we planned on stopping for a short visit with my husband's aunt and uncle. It was a beautiful, sunny day so we had the top down on the car. It really was a pretty drive, well worth slowing down to enjoy.

Goodbye Key West

God Bless America by Steward Johnson Jr.
Key West Museum of Art and History
January 17, 2008

During our trip to Mallory Square I noticed the workers putting up a statue God Bless America by J. Seward Johnson Jr. statue that pays homage to the painting American Gothic by Grant Wood. This statue stands twenty-five feet tall in front of the Key West Museum of Art and History. It was being installed as we wandered Mallory Square so I couldn't get a good picture because the lift and workers were in the way. We took a drive by the following morning so I managed to get a couple of shots of the statue. It is obvious from both that they were still working on the statue but still it was impressive. I really would have liked the time to view the exhibit in the museum but we were on a schedule to arrive in No Name Key by lunch time. So with a bit of a tear we bid good-bye to Key West heading north on US 1.

Key West was amazing to visit! We had a wonderful but too short time there. We are already planning our next visit there. This is a must visit location filled with a lot of beautiful scenery and beautiful people. You certainly won't regret the journey.

Coral Reef Mural

Coral Reef Mural
Key West
January 16, 2007

Wall art has always fascinated me right from the time I can remember. I am rather partial to old advertising on brick facades that more and more are being restored for historical value. However, any kind of wall art will get my attention including graffetti. This type of art as with any art is always conveying something from the artist that they want to share with others. It can be a message, a feeling, an advertisement or anything thing in between. I will go out of my way to get pictures of these gems so was quite excited to discover an original mural by Wyland on the Waterfront Market/Reef Relief in Key West. The building sits on the corner of William Street and the mural wraps around two sides of it (not shown). Artist Guy Harvey contributed to the painting in the later stages. This mural replaces a mural Wyland completed at the same location in 1993. The new mural was unveiled on September 29, 2003. The photo is of one side of the mural only. As you can see the colours are stunning and so appropriate for the Key West landscape!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday - Vacation Memories

Ocean View from Condo
January 18, 2008

I'm sitting here taking a brief breather before getting the final touches going for the Superbowl party we are hosting today. Last night some 30 people gathered here for my husband's monthly poker game. We host the majority of these events and surprisingly I look forward to them. They are always a lot of fun even if the other wives complain, tongue in cheek, about me spoiling the guys. And to some degree they are spoiled but you know what better way to show someone you appreciate them and their company than to spoil them just a bit? Some of them decided to play cards until breakfast so I fed them a nice, hot breakfast then set about getting things ready for this afternoon and evening of which some 30 to 40 people will be entertained. So that leads me into my many blessings over the past couple of weeks.

As you know we vacationed in sunny Florida of which I'm still sharing tid bits of our vacation with you. I was very blessed to even be able to go as traveling was almost cancelled a couple of days before the flight. We had uneventful flights with really nice crew members each way. The weather for the most part co-operated while we were there and we had a lovely, relaxing yet event filled vacation full of amazing sights and food. How much better could that get? We arrived home to a snow storm and it took us almost twice as long to drive home. Angels above ensured our safe journey so all was well. Health follow-ups have been tentative with complications but I have every faith that all will be well even if it takes a little time. This weekend the angels again watched over our kids as they traveled home safely. The house has been filled with a lot of love and laughter that promises to continue into the late evening hours tonight.

Grandbaby, always our delight snuggled up to me last night, gave me baby kisses then finally drifted off to sleep. Aside from walking and refining many actions, the little one is giving hugs and oh they are so, so precious! Grapes are a tasty snack but blueberries after one taste were hastily shoved into Daddy's mouth. I really had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing! This little one has already learned anything deemed not edible is fair game for anyone's mouth other than the intended one. Grandpa has grown quite fond of soggy Cheerios. Grandma's cookie jar has taken on a whole new meaning. Soon this little one will be teaching the ropes to the new grandbaby who is doing quite well while awaiting his or her's entrance into the grand scheme of things. And life is good :) So many, many blessings!

So our blessings have been overflowing.

Ghosts

Hanging Tree
Captain Tony's Saloon
January 15, 2008

We had pre-arranged a Jimmy Buffet walking tour before we left home. We met our tour guides at Captain Tony's Saloon on Greene Street, Key West. We arrived before they did so had a chance to look around the saloon. The first thing that strikes you about the bar is the decor. Almost every conceivable surface is covered with business cards! My husband promptly added his to the collection. The second notable is a pirate skeleton behind the bar, eerily greeting patrons. The third notable is the tree trunk but this is easy to pass by as part of the decor as it could easily be camouflage for building support. This bar was so rustic looking I just had to check it out. The main floor bar has a rough paved stone flooring. It opens onto Greene Street. To the left of the main floor is a smaller room sporting rock walls, a brick fireplace with glass bottle ends showing, a pool table and a tombstone laid in the floor are the features. Next to it furthest away from the road is another small room about two feet lower than the main level, rimmed with rock walls and housing a pool table.

This bar has a rich history including being the oldest bar in Key West, the first morgue, the original Sloppy Joe's for Ernest Hemingway. Apparently because of a rent increase dispute the bar owner at that time (Josie Russell) moved the entire bar and fixtures to it's third and final location of the current Sloppy Joe's. There are still graves (16 bodies) under the floors. What is more interesting is the hanging tree that was the city's hanging tree for criminals and pirates. Captain Tony's Saloon is built around the old hanging and on top of the old morgue! Seventy-five people were hanged from the tree that. The saloon is reported to be haunted by . Captain Tony (Captain Tony Tarracino) placed bottles filled with holy water to bring peace to the haunting spirits. Rumour quotes him as saying he often stayed by himself in the saloon but was never alone. Orbs and apparitions mysteriously appear in photos taken in and around the saloon. I took nine photos inside the saloon and unfortunately did not capture any orbs however there is what could be a ghostly apparition in one photo. It looks surprising similar to a photo that reports to show the ghost of lady in the blue dress.

The unique decor of the saloon originated by folks trying to get messages to Captain Tony while he was out on his boat so they hung the messages on the door. When he arrived back he would get in touch with those folk. The practice was seen as being unsightly and a fire hazard so Captain Tony told them to hang the notices inside the saloon instead of on the door. It caught on so now the decor is business cards galore along with anything else that can be pinned to the walls or ceiling including feminine garments. This really is a must visit saloon in Key West!