How I love my Hubby. Let me count the ways. He is driving me insane these last few days. the other night he came home in a flap about an article he read in Macleans on the food shortages coming up and how beef is going to be at $23.00 a pound in in Canada. According to the article places like Australia are already in a crisis. One of the reasons is because China is demanding the North American Diet.
Okay, now I remember the same scare in the nineties and eighties. My mother said it was also in the seventies. My problem with the article is this; They splash theis huge alarmist promo on the front cover then you have to hunt for the article of five pages which is all doomsay. What ticked me off was the fact the articles surrounding this huge feature (that you have to find) are on the Oscars, a broke Canadian Actor and of course children who are taught a blood sport as a means of fighting. The article that really slayed me was on the coffee beans of Brazil. In the event of a food shortage you would think that how Brazil makes lousy coffee and grows the finest would be moot point.
So in light of this we are putting in a garden. farmer Brown that I married has never done a lick of gardening in his life. How to I know this, because growing up, Hubby spent his time with his Dad in the sawmill. I have the added advantage of listening to his mother who commented that she never had help with the garden with the exception of the odd daughter. So with this in mind we trudge along planning out everything. Of course I have no storgae, my freezer is only the top foot and a half of my fridge and no cold room or storage but hey, we are to grow a garden. this is of course, surmising that we will actually grow something.
The results will be interesting to say the least. That is if our marriage survives the forray into gardening. Or the blog as he sits and reads it.
It will make for an interesting summer. They way I look at it, I will providing my mother and other gardeners with plenty of entertainment. I'm looking forward to that one tomatoe and leaf of spinach. but hey, at least I will be able to say, look what I grew.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Morning Reflections
Hubby is sleeping in and I find I have a few moments this morning to myself. The phone didn't ring demanding my attention nor did the dogs nag at me pushing me out of bed. The sun is shining promising to rid us of the white blanket outside and even the sounds of birds are reaching my ears. As I stare at the keyboard the Beagle is snoring quietly beside me in his basket. This is the type of morning that I live for.
And yet for some reason the creative juices that usually flow on these type on mornings is just not flowing. I feel more reflective. Lately I have been anticipating Spring's arrival more than any other year. Hubby and I have the back yard planned out but I just want to get my hands in dirt. Its like I need to feel that connection with the ground again. Playing in my little potted plants of herbs really isn't cutting it.
Monday, I walked down to Artist's. Her trees among the oldest if not the oldest in our town, was covered with birds. Normally they would fly in away as someone approaches. These birds didn't. I looked up and said "Hi Kyle." (Birds are sometimes the messengers for our loved ones on the other side.) The birds chatter became louder as I entered Artist's house. Kyle was around to listen to our conversations. He used to join us very quietly and sit and listen in on Artist and I as we coffee'd. Its something small but I miss it. Kyle's questions had the ability to make you stop and think. It was even more fun to make him blush or laugh.
We stayed the night at friends this weekend who lost their son two and half years ago. Their son was shot and killed. I knew this boy from the time he was three and may I say in his short life he did more experiencing than anyone I knew. He was a cool kid. I miss him too. Mitchell had a way of making you laugh with a mere grin.
My friend commented that we have all changed. Her family and my family. My answer was how could we we not change. Personally I have witnessed two very precious people in my life walk through a mother's nightmare that I can not even begin to fathom. I would have been a very shallow person and a selfish one not to. And personally I felt I did not have a right to continue to hold on to the baggage of the past as an excuse or for whatever reason's I held on to it. In the scheme of life, that crap was trivial. All of it.
It must be the time of year. In some religions Spring is the time of year where the energies spark growth and rebirth. It is also the time of year we let go of things, to make room for the new I guess as with Spring cleaning. Spring is the time of change and new thoughts. I'll just be happy when I can put my fingers into the earth and feel the dirt beneath my fingers. Its an odd thing for someone like me who really is more of a brown thumb than green. But I am working on it.
And speaking of rebirth, I planted apple seeds. I was grating an organic apple for the Beagle's food when the seeds fell from the apple core. My thought was if it was an organic apple the seeds would grow, so I planted them. I have two apple tress that sprouted. Its so cool to look down in my pot of dirt to see these little trees grow. If they don't make it, I'll just plant more and fumble my way through the learning process but if they do, I'll plant them in our backyard. I'm finding a new joy in my life, and hopefully it will lead to a garden with fruit trees.
If not, there is always the farmer's market and we will have a lovely new cement patio.
And yet for some reason the creative juices that usually flow on these type on mornings is just not flowing. I feel more reflective. Lately I have been anticipating Spring's arrival more than any other year. Hubby and I have the back yard planned out but I just want to get my hands in dirt. Its like I need to feel that connection with the ground again. Playing in my little potted plants of herbs really isn't cutting it.
Monday, I walked down to Artist's. Her trees among the oldest if not the oldest in our town, was covered with birds. Normally they would fly in away as someone approaches. These birds didn't. I looked up and said "Hi Kyle." (Birds are sometimes the messengers for our loved ones on the other side.) The birds chatter became louder as I entered Artist's house. Kyle was around to listen to our conversations. He used to join us very quietly and sit and listen in on Artist and I as we coffee'd. Its something small but I miss it. Kyle's questions had the ability to make you stop and think. It was even more fun to make him blush or laugh.
We stayed the night at friends this weekend who lost their son two and half years ago. Their son was shot and killed. I knew this boy from the time he was three and may I say in his short life he did more experiencing than anyone I knew. He was a cool kid. I miss him too. Mitchell had a way of making you laugh with a mere grin.
My friend commented that we have all changed. Her family and my family. My answer was how could we we not change. Personally I have witnessed two very precious people in my life walk through a mother's nightmare that I can not even begin to fathom. I would have been a very shallow person and a selfish one not to. And personally I felt I did not have a right to continue to hold on to the baggage of the past as an excuse or for whatever reason's I held on to it. In the scheme of life, that crap was trivial. All of it.
It must be the time of year. In some religions Spring is the time of year where the energies spark growth and rebirth. It is also the time of year we let go of things, to make room for the new I guess as with Spring cleaning. Spring is the time of change and new thoughts. I'll just be happy when I can put my fingers into the earth and feel the dirt beneath my fingers. Its an odd thing for someone like me who really is more of a brown thumb than green. But I am working on it.
And speaking of rebirth, I planted apple seeds. I was grating an organic apple for the Beagle's food when the seeds fell from the apple core. My thought was if it was an organic apple the seeds would grow, so I planted them. I have two apple tress that sprouted. Its so cool to look down in my pot of dirt to see these little trees grow. If they don't make it, I'll just plant more and fumble my way through the learning process but if they do, I'll plant them in our backyard. I'm finding a new joy in my life, and hopefully it will lead to a garden with fruit trees.
If not, there is always the farmer's market and we will have a lovely new cement patio.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Have a joyful day
Today is Valentine's day. I'm not sure about Australia or the UK, but I know here in Canada and the US it is. I'm not a big fan of hearts to begin with and seeing as I dumped somebody on this day, it has always taken something away from the whole romance thing. He was a good man and an absolute sweetheart but I wasn't old enough to know what a great guy I had. Thinking back, I had made some really stupid decisions that now I wonder what was in my head. Oh yeah, I remember now, stupid youth.
I know that Valentine's day is supposed to be for love. In High School (Catholic) we were taught the religous signifigance of the day but its shelved somewhere with the cobwebs in the back of my mind. I would rather use this day and just celebrate living a joyful life. Isn't that what love is all about? Bringing joy to your heart?
Here's the part where I copy Scribble. She made a list of things that bring joy to her life and I thought it was a great idea so I'll share mine.
Joyful things in my life
Family
Friends
My best friend
My dogs
Writing
The fishpond
Just being involved in the theatre
When a recipe turns out despite the fact I'm not using a cook book
A really good cup of coffee
The last one brings a lot of joy especially when I have the cream. I'm out and I'm using milk. At least I have coffee but I will break down, raid the piggy bank and go buy the stuff. Or I could wait until Artist is home from work and go down the treacherous walk of five houses to her coffee pot and raid it.
That would bring lots of joy, especially if its a full pot.
Sending everyone warm coffee wishes and a joyful day
I know that Valentine's day is supposed to be for love. In High School (Catholic) we were taught the religous signifigance of the day but its shelved somewhere with the cobwebs in the back of my mind. I would rather use this day and just celebrate living a joyful life. Isn't that what love is all about? Bringing joy to your heart?
Here's the part where I copy Scribble. She made a list of things that bring joy to her life and I thought it was a great idea so I'll share mine.
Joyful things in my life
Family
Friends
My best friend
My dogs
Writing
The fishpond
Just being involved in the theatre
When a recipe turns out despite the fact I'm not using a cook book
A really good cup of coffee
The last one brings a lot of joy especially when I have the cream. I'm out and I'm using milk. At least I have coffee but I will break down, raid the piggy bank and go buy the stuff. Or I could wait until Artist is home from work and go down the treacherous walk of five houses to her coffee pot and raid it.
That would bring lots of joy, especially if its a full pot.
Sending everyone warm coffee wishes and a joyful day
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Rhode
It only took me an hour and a day but I got another favorite added. This one is for my friend Rhode. We have known each other since...um...er its been well over ten years now and we have never met face to face. We met through a FM support site (turns out I do not have), which we both quit and became a support for each other. We were a little more positive than the rest and could only handle so much negativity. In a time in my life when I felt so utterly alone and miserable Rhode was a voice in the dark that gave me a life-line.
Thinking back on it, I'm not sure Rhode realizes how much of a rope she was for me. I had just lost my job due to political bullcrap, I was in pain, Hubby and I were just starting out (So we know whats that like) and I was living in a town I hated. It was not a good scene any way you looked at it. Rhode was like a breath of intelligent fresh air. Our conversations on Chocolate and cooking (I know your hubby cooked but you can too)(this an age old discussion between the two of us), kept me at least sane. We discussed ways of keeping it cheap and of course cats. Rhode's help was invaluable at that point with three cats and one who was hostile. Rhode was one of the first to suggest I try getting some of my work published and said I should look at it seriously. (She is still a voice in my head over it at times)
Rhode won't tell you but I will, she did this amazing web-site. It had a little house that when you clicked on the door it brought you to another page and all kinds of things like it. For me who knows where the on button is, what she did was something my brain still has a hard time wrapping around. Hubby the computer technician and all that other stuff with puters guy was impressed. If he was impressed then I know Rhode did one hell of a job. And honestly Rhode any suggestions to help mine out would be greatly appreciated. She has hidden talents that she is very humble about. Personally I think there is an artist of some kind lurking beneath her shadow just waiting to explode.
Rhode was also the first person on the face of this earth to take me as I was. She never judged me. In a point in my life when that's all I faced doubled with criticism (I will add at this point some of it was my own stupidity but I take only a small part and not the entire thing) Rhode didn't care. She took me and all my quirks, called me friend without judgement.
We have never met face to face, I have heard her voice over the phone and we even tried the Christmas card thing but people move and life happens. We lapse in time in between contact, that's when life is happening, but then a little note or an email and the time doesn't matter. None of it does. You don't need to be sitting beside someone to feel their hand on yours or a hug. We send each other lots. The life-line throughout the years became a ribbon between the two of us. Gently tied yet strong enough to be holding together a package called life. We will always be interwoven, its what happened through chocolate talks and cups of coffee. Well...at least on my end. Oh yeah, I had my coffee addiction even then.
Welcome aboard Rhode. You'll find your groove and when you do, I may need your help on one of my stories.
Thinking back on it, I'm not sure Rhode realizes how much of a rope she was for me. I had just lost my job due to political bullcrap, I was in pain, Hubby and I were just starting out (So we know whats that like) and I was living in a town I hated. It was not a good scene any way you looked at it. Rhode was like a breath of intelligent fresh air. Our conversations on Chocolate and cooking (I know your hubby cooked but you can too)(this an age old discussion between the two of us), kept me at least sane. We discussed ways of keeping it cheap and of course cats. Rhode's help was invaluable at that point with three cats and one who was hostile. Rhode was one of the first to suggest I try getting some of my work published and said I should look at it seriously. (She is still a voice in my head over it at times)
Rhode won't tell you but I will, she did this amazing web-site. It had a little house that when you clicked on the door it brought you to another page and all kinds of things like it. For me who knows where the on button is, what she did was something my brain still has a hard time wrapping around. Hubby the computer technician and all that other stuff with puters guy was impressed. If he was impressed then I know Rhode did one hell of a job. And honestly Rhode any suggestions to help mine out would be greatly appreciated. She has hidden talents that she is very humble about. Personally I think there is an artist of some kind lurking beneath her shadow just waiting to explode.
Rhode was also the first person on the face of this earth to take me as I was. She never judged me. In a point in my life when that's all I faced doubled with criticism (I will add at this point some of it was my own stupidity but I take only a small part and not the entire thing) Rhode didn't care. She took me and all my quirks, called me friend without judgement.
We have never met face to face, I have heard her voice over the phone and we even tried the Christmas card thing but people move and life happens. We lapse in time in between contact, that's when life is happening, but then a little note or an email and the time doesn't matter. None of it does. You don't need to be sitting beside someone to feel their hand on yours or a hug. We send each other lots. The life-line throughout the years became a ribbon between the two of us. Gently tied yet strong enough to be holding together a package called life. We will always be interwoven, its what happened through chocolate talks and cups of coffee. Well...at least on my end. Oh yeah, I had my coffee addiction even then.
Welcome aboard Rhode. You'll find your groove and when you do, I may need your help on one of my stories.
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