Quiet as Horses

Anyone who knows about horses, knows that is definitely not true. During the winter, our neighbour houses two horses in his barn which is really his garage. Lately, the horses when inside, have been kicking and kicking. I think they feel spring in the air and want to get out and kick up their heels.

Today is P's 59th birthday and on this auspicious day, she is in St. John's and meeting with the heart surgeon who will perform a miracle on her defective heart valve.

Do you ever wonder about the people you trust with your life. What kind of year have they had? Do they have any health issues? And the obvious, how much they drink the night before the big day?

Many times per day, we trust our lives in the hands of perfect strangers and never give them a second thought. The truck driver in front of you, the bus driver, the pilot, the mechanic, and yes, the surgeon.

A little Distracted!

John Lennon once said, Life is what happens, when you are busy doing other things. And so, I have been a little distracted with some of life's curves.

I decided with my little rug hooking group to do a little table mat along with them and here it is. I am doing abit now and then, and will go back to Hearts and Flowers later on.

Still haven't seen a robin but I think I heard one yesterday.

Spring?

While we have had very mild weather, my search for our first robin of spring has proven fruitless.

On seeing the first robin of the year, I have been known to recite the spring poem. You know the one; spring is sprung etc. It is bad luck to chant it before seeing the first robin of the year, so I won't finish it for now.

A couple of chickadees have taken up residence in one of the birdhouses and are busy nest building. But a spring storm is looming on our horizon for the next two days so I hope, if any eggs have been laid, that they will survive the blast.

Dear Julie,

Shape up. Long walks. Small meals.

Please see an optometrist... for goodness sake... thread-repaired glasses from 2004 are wrong. Leave your partner's t-shirts in the closet.
And one more thing, and please don't take this the wrong way,
but maybe you don't need to share *everything* in hOOkwOrm.


Just saying.


Love, Your Inner Voice

If you want to be Happy,

BE HAPPY.



I heard this quote yesterday which was attributed to the Dalai Lama. So simple and so true.

Often, we look for complex answers to complex questions but could Ockham's Razor be the truth.

'Frustra fit per plura, quod fieri potest per pauciora'. ('It is vain to do with more what can be done with less.')

I tried to carry this theme into yesterday's hooking group. Rug hooking was a simple and inexpensive chore of necessity and yet, is it in danger of becoming large, expensive and elitist?

It was a small but enthusiastic group. Next week, we will work on a small project and transferring the design onto the backing.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

As an person of Irish descent on both sides, I am tipping the hat to all the lads and colleens today.

In NL, there was a time when the island was 90% Irish and you can see and hear the remnants of this influence everywhere you go. It is in the language, the accent and even, the look of the geography is so similar to the emerald isle.

We are so Irish in NL, that it is a provincial holiday. Monday, most offices, schools and stores were closed because of the St. Patrick's Day holiday. They took the Monday instead of today.

Today, is the first meeting of our at-work rug hooking group lunch bunch. I will let you know how it goes!

Alpacas of Newfoundland

Along the Port a Port Peninsula, there is unusual wildlife not native to the province. The Alpacas of NL were out as we took our road trip on the weekend, and I could not resist taking a picture to share.

A couple, who were former OPP officers, retired to the province several years ago and decided to raise alpacas. They opened a craft shop complete with alpaca fibre, alpaca knitted goods etc.

The shop wasn't open as it is abit early in the season for travellers but these beautiful creatures were willing to pose for me.

Weekend Trip

St George's Bay














Three Rock Cove













Red Island, Gulf of St. Lawrence















West Bay








The weather was so beautiful that it called for a road trip. The weather has been very unusual for the island and that was clearly evident. We headed for the Port a Port Peninsula which is approximately 80 kms away from Corner Brook and took the French Ancestors Route around the Peninsula.

As NL was settled by a variety of fishermen from many countries over 500 years ago, many of the names and influences remain. French, Irish, English to name a few. The scenery along the way always amazes me in its rugged beauty.

At this time of year, the ice usually moves in and surrounds the island with its icy arms of white. The only ice in any bay was at the end of the French Ancestors's Route, West Bay and it was only frazzle ice; not the usual thick pans of ice.

Progress on Mat

Kim must have been reading my mind and I was thinking too, it is about time to update the progress on Hearts and Flowers. It is coming along but I am not sure about my chosen colours at this point.

But I will persist as I am not going to do any reverse hooking. It is going in a small room and I wanted it to have some light shades to brighten the room. We shall see.

Going ahead with the rug hooking group at work and have set a date for next week. So far, there are five of us and there would be more but some employees have a different lunch time and a shorter one. But there is quite a bit of enthusiasm within the group.

the hOOkwOrms

This picture was sent to me of a beautiful albino moose in the woods in Nova Scotia. If you look carefully, there is also a bird (I think a whiskey jack) in the shrub!

Well, I will be starting a small group of hOOkwOrms at lunch time at the Day job. After my infamous article in the Western Star, I have had lots of interested coworkers suggesting that we start up a lunch time group.

With all the upheaval in the work environment, there is nothing like a distraction for our mental health.

Women's Day-March 8th

First of all, it is International Women's Day today and I have been taking the time to think of a list of 50 women who changed the world. Back in the 70s when I first moved to Toronto, I was a part of the Women's Liberation organization in that community.

Where have all the "libbers" gone as we were called in the day. Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, Kate Millett, Germaine Greer all aging as I am. Has the movement aged into oblivion? What happened to the passion for change that fueled the consciousness raising of forty years ago?

Who knows but are we all toddering in our gardens, muttering to ourselves?

I am hoping that the spirit of the movement will continue to inspire us all. The struggle remains, sadly.

The Tax Time Blues

Well, with longer days and thoughts of Springtime in the air, tax time rolls around once again.

Don't get me wrong, I live in a wonderful country and understand that the social services we enjoy must be paid for by those who can enjoy them.

But why does tax time tax us so much?

With Glowing Hearts!

I am not such a fan of the Olympics but when it comes to hockey, both men's and women's teams, that's another story.

To say the least, for the men's hockey team to win four straight after the defeat to Team USA was unbelievable.

To my dear American friends, we are brothers and sisters in arms, great neighbours and close to each other in many ways, but not when it comes to hockey!

Donation Update!

This is the heading from the Bay of Islands SPCA website. I received an update from Evelyn Hancock and they are selling tickets on the Icons of Newfoundland like hotcakes.

One lady ordered 100 tickets which are being sent to Ontario! Imagine my delight this morning to get this information and the response my project!

Change is Good?

Change is good for the most part; however, change can be frighteningly uncomfortable. Yesterday, fifteen more non union employees were terminated and there were quite a few of these employees whom I call my friends.

I am keeping grounded for the most part and find that change is good but that without routines in our lives, we can feel lost and yet, maybe even free. What did those people feel like this morning when they woke up and didn't have their Day Job to worry about/complain about or look forward to?

It is kind of like having a sandwich without the usual condiments. It is interesting but certainly, not the same.

Spring has sprung?

The first picture was looking east in my garden February 2009 and the second picture roughly, the same shot but one year later.

Needless to say, we on the snow capital of NL, haven't had any snow to speak of this year. One February about four years ago, it snowed at least 5 cm or more, for 26 days straight in February! There was alot of snow shovelling that year for sure considering there was only 28 days in the month!

I was out at lunch today and it is beautiful, sunny and warm. Birds are chirping, trees are starting to awaken and I bet that under the scant bit of snow on the garden, life is being again.

Could it be that spring has sprung?

Communal Project

While in St. John's, I was able to participate in a community rug hooking project. Here is a picture of Bobbi and I working on the Penny Rug.

I am not sure of the actual dimensions but as you can see, it is quite large. The primary colour of the rug is green with a rust/brown background. I completed two circles and left my comments in the rug diary.

It is uncertain what the destiny of this rug is but I am sure it will find an appropriate home.

Back from the Capital City!

Well, we arrived back without any weather related travelling glitches, safe and sound. In between medical appointments, we were able to enjoy some of the sights and sounds of NL's capital city.

In some ways, it is just a city but down by the waterfront, it is a snapshot of days gone by. The colourful wooden homes, the tiny streets and the absolutely gorgeous Victorian homes of the fishocracy. For those of you who took the latest NL Quiz, you will already know what this word means.

Answers to the NL Quiz.

Well, Cathy and Kim, thanks for the definitions and of course, the great chuckle. I think I enjoy these quiz's more than you do.

Okay,

1) Mauzey: A damp, warm misty or foggy day.

2) Hipper: A bent nail used to as a makeshift button for your suspenders or pants.

3) Adikey: This is the Inuk parka or outer coat.

4) Fishocracy: The mercantiles of St. John's engaged in the export of codfish.

5) Komatik: A long sled used in Labrador.

Thanks again! I will be off to St. John's for awhile so hopefully, won't be gone too long before another post. I won't forget to take my camera for some pictures along the way.

I may even attend a rug hooking group, you never know.

NL Quiz Day!

I am digging hard now, for more NL words and of course, can't wait for some of the responses. (Especially, Kim and Cathy)

Here we go.

1) Mauzey

2) Hipper

3) Adikey

4) Fishocracy

5) Komatik


Good Luck!