Huge, light, fluffy flakes of snow drifting down, temps minus 4
Gorgeous, perfect Quebec winter day. Not too cold, not too windy. The Middle Bear -very Canadian. Not too too anything. But very lovely.
Such fun watching the Olympics. I realize I don't really root for a country - though I naturally lean toward Canadians. But in the long track skating last night - 5,000 metres - I was dying with anxiety for the Dutch skater. Can't remember is name. Apparently the whole Netherlands stopped to watch him - all hopes and dreams riding on his slender shoulder and quite formidible thighs. I realize I have skaters thighs. And proud of 'em.
but back to Sven (yes, I think that was his first name)...young guy - first olympics. In the netherlands the power company even said it would take money off everyone's bills for every gold this young guy won! Imagine.
I'd never heard of him before, and suddenly he NEEDED to win. I was practically curled into a ball, waiting to see how the others would do...
Such fun when the broadcsters give the individual stories, so that I care about the athletes as individuals.
Canada still has not won a gold. Our female mogulist (ette) won silver behind and between two terrific american performances.
Organizers doing an amazing, titan, job keeping the hills in shape given the epic rainfall they've had. but things should clear up.
Michael and I are having a quiet day in front of the fireplace. I'm going through Air Canada Vacations book dreaming of another trip. Great escapism. The truth is, I'm terribly comfortable here.
Today I've agreed - happily - to sponsor a table at malice domestic in Washington in May, and make a donation for the auction. Have also agreed to an interview with John Barber of the Globe and Mail Tuesday morning. And tried to arrange to meet a young woman - 14 - who lives locally and is a fanatical reader and writer. Wanted to get together for a 'girls only' afternoon tea at a nearby auberge, but we can't seem to co-ordinate her schedule and mine. I'm sure we will eventually.
Speaking of young writers, I did a fun Skype chat with students at Alexander Galt High in nearby Lennoxville. Their teacher, Stephanie Brown is amazing, and really encourages these exceptional students. Indeed, she's put my books on her curriculum, which is very creative and daring of her.
One of the students I spoke with is named Melissa - and she's a poet. Well, Stephanie just emailed the poem Melissa read for me at our chat. I was deeply impressed then, and now, and wanted you to read it. It was inspired by a character, Bean, in A RULE AGAINST MURDER/THE MURDER STONE. - and below it Melissa wrote what specifically inspired her to write this poem,
Bean and the Obituaries:
I sit in silence
Listening to the rhythm
Of 20 ticks in one tock
In simultaneous motion
I sit and think
Of how many humans who die
Every second tock
And every fourth tick
I lie down and feel
My heart speak in motion
To the beacons of time
I illuminate in my room
They know when the
Conversation between
My heart and them will end
I do not
However
I read the listings
Of people’s who have
I wrote this one on inspiration of all the clocks that Bean has in his/her room. I figured, clocks tick and hearts beat, and it could end up being a sort of conversation. The somewhat annoying but so desperately needed repetition in our daily lives. I thought about how I could relate the obituaries to the ticks and tocks of a clock, (which, was amazingly realistic seeing how all young children are fascinated or terrified by death.) and I got the impression that since they were having a conversation, and if one stopped talking, the conversation would end. As for the beacons being illuminated, they stand for what stands out to Bean. I hope you enjoyed it ☺
That was by Melissa Major. Brava.
Happy Valentine's Day! Be well.
Showing posts with label St Valentine's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St Valentine's Day. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Happy Valentine's Day
Sunny, mild, temps minus 6
Didn't blog yesterday. The family arrived late Thursday night after a long drive from Toronto. Then we hit Quebec City yesterday. Had breakfast out then the kids and Doug went to the ice slide on Dufferine Terrace while Uncle Michael and Auntie Louise sat in the St Laurent bar of the Chateau Frontenac. What are the chances? Then Roslyn needed to read her book so we took her for lunch and we all read our books quietly while the guys did the Carnaval.
Then they ended the day with a horse drawn carriage ride through Old Quebec.
Brian and I played monopoly at home. He ended up with 29,000 dollars and I have 2,000. I told him the goal of the game was to end up with almost no money, so I won. He didn't believe me, the rascal.
Then Michael and I went out for this fun CBC dinner at Glenn's place. Pizza and a chance to get caught up with old friends and get to know new people.
Have a couple of Australia updates...thankfully things seem to be calming down there, though there are still areas of great concern. Here's what Elaine wrote...
The latest reports say that the remaining residents of Marysville where 1 in 5 of the population is thought to have perished (500 residents) are being taken back there today for the first time since the fires but just for a look, they won’t be allowed out of the bus as the area is still a crime scene. The devastation from the fires is worse than first thought with 1831 houses & other buildings including schools destroyed or damaged (44 schools remain closed) & 7000 people homeless. About 14 blazes are still burning out of control but due to back burning the threat has eased somewhat with the two fires that were feared would turn into one big inferno. Healesville residents are still on edge as fires are still burning there, some have been ready to evacuate six times & our main water catchment areas are still under threat as well. 52 fire fighters have arrived from NZ with cadaver dogs, & recovery specialists & others are on their way from Canada & the USA.
There is a smell of burning in the air (even inside our homes) as smoke & ash haze cover parts of Melbourne, the sun coming up this morning looked strange with an eerie red glow. I was woken in the middle of the night by the fire alarm going off at the house next-door; it was loud enough to wake the entire neighbourhood & frightened the wits out of me. I jumped out of bed in a panic thinking the bushfires had reached us which is ridiculous of course but you don’t think straight when you are half asleep. I looked out of the windows & couldn’t see anything amiss so went back to bed but couldn’t sleep as the alarm went off several more times. Apparently we were warned yesterday that the smoke haze could set off some alarms but I hadn’t heard that!
Victoria has always been known as The Garden State but not anymore. Due to the long drought, water restrictions & recent record heatwave a lot of plants have died or become badly burned. We are only allowed to water our garden with a hand held hose two set mornings a week between the hours of 6 & 8. People over 70 can water from 8 to 10 but I prefer the earlier time when it is cooler! Just this morning when watering I discovered amongst burned out ferns & sheltered under the branches of another tree a perfect little gardenia had flowered & that cheered me up immensely as apart from the big red hibiscus & white magnolia trees most of the other plants have wilted. As for my lawn –it is no more as we aren’t allowed to water grass & it is just a dead patch of ground but it will revive when (if) we get some decent rain so there is always hope.
And here's an update from Sheila,
How lucky we are.
We have a bright blue cloudless Skye, the sun is shining and there is a light breeze. For the first time in a week I have hung out washing, such a little thing, we take for granted.
Our area of the State is safe, some fires still burning but all under control and no danger to life or property.
Our friends in the hills feel secure enough today to leave the property and do some shopping in town.
Some other parts of the State still have fires burning also, but again, all seem to be under control for the time being.
The re-building is already starting in some areas, with crews clearing the awful debris. The help from everywhere is overwhelming. I don`t think there are many people not touched by this devastation I am reminded of Dorothea Mackellar`s words about Australia where Beauty and Terror go hand in hand"
I on forwarded an article about the work the wildlife organization was doing, it included the web site for donations, but in case you did not get it here it is http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au www.wildlifevictoria.org.au
I know that having covered bushfires in you work you will be aware of the awful aftermath, and the breadth of kindness that can follow, as you can imagine the daily papers, the news broadcasts and all other forms of communication are filled with both horror stories and great feats of human kindness, self sacrifice and generosity. Unfortunately human frailty shows its face also, we have had reports of individuals stealing money raised, and worse one person has already been found and charged with all that goes with the lighting of one of the fires.
A coronial enquiry is to be conducted and we hope that out of this will come some constructive help to save this happening on such a scale again.
I just had a call from Graeme to go out into the paddock, we had a new cria on the ground, a little female, should have been snow white but Mum decided to have her on a patch of dry ground (lots of those, with the drought) and of course the dry earth is still all black, so she has very large patches of black on her white coat but is well and strong, I think her name will have to be Valentine.
On those beautiful and hopeful notes I'll leave you...breakfast in old Quebec city with Doug and the kids, then more activities. Such fun seeing Quebec through the kid’s eyes...though mostly they seem to be scanning for crepes and waffles and hot chocolate. True Pennys.
Didn't blog yesterday. The family arrived late Thursday night after a long drive from Toronto. Then we hit Quebec City yesterday. Had breakfast out then the kids and Doug went to the ice slide on Dufferine Terrace while Uncle Michael and Auntie Louise sat in the St Laurent bar of the Chateau Frontenac. What are the chances? Then Roslyn needed to read her book so we took her for lunch and we all read our books quietly while the guys did the Carnaval.
Then they ended the day with a horse drawn carriage ride through Old Quebec.
Brian and I played monopoly at home. He ended up with 29,000 dollars and I have 2,000. I told him the goal of the game was to end up with almost no money, so I won. He didn't believe me, the rascal.
Then Michael and I went out for this fun CBC dinner at Glenn's place. Pizza and a chance to get caught up with old friends and get to know new people.
Have a couple of Australia updates...thankfully things seem to be calming down there, though there are still areas of great concern. Here's what Elaine wrote...
The latest reports say that the remaining residents of Marysville where 1 in 5 of the population is thought to have perished (500 residents) are being taken back there today for the first time since the fires but just for a look, they won’t be allowed out of the bus as the area is still a crime scene. The devastation from the fires is worse than first thought with 1831 houses & other buildings including schools destroyed or damaged (44 schools remain closed) & 7000 people homeless. About 14 blazes are still burning out of control but due to back burning the threat has eased somewhat with the two fires that were feared would turn into one big inferno. Healesville residents are still on edge as fires are still burning there, some have been ready to evacuate six times & our main water catchment areas are still under threat as well. 52 fire fighters have arrived from NZ with cadaver dogs, & recovery specialists & others are on their way from Canada & the USA.
There is a smell of burning in the air (even inside our homes) as smoke & ash haze cover parts of Melbourne, the sun coming up this morning looked strange with an eerie red glow. I was woken in the middle of the night by the fire alarm going off at the house next-door; it was loud enough to wake the entire neighbourhood & frightened the wits out of me. I jumped out of bed in a panic thinking the bushfires had reached us which is ridiculous of course but you don’t think straight when you are half asleep. I looked out of the windows & couldn’t see anything amiss so went back to bed but couldn’t sleep as the alarm went off several more times. Apparently we were warned yesterday that the smoke haze could set off some alarms but I hadn’t heard that!
Victoria has always been known as The Garden State but not anymore. Due to the long drought, water restrictions & recent record heatwave a lot of plants have died or become badly burned. We are only allowed to water our garden with a hand held hose two set mornings a week between the hours of 6 & 8. People over 70 can water from 8 to 10 but I prefer the earlier time when it is cooler! Just this morning when watering I discovered amongst burned out ferns & sheltered under the branches of another tree a perfect little gardenia had flowered & that cheered me up immensely as apart from the big red hibiscus & white magnolia trees most of the other plants have wilted. As for my lawn –it is no more as we aren’t allowed to water grass & it is just a dead patch of ground but it will revive when (if) we get some decent rain so there is always hope.
And here's an update from Sheila,
How lucky we are.
We have a bright blue cloudless Skye, the sun is shining and there is a light breeze. For the first time in a week I have hung out washing, such a little thing, we take for granted.
Our area of the State is safe, some fires still burning but all under control and no danger to life or property.
Our friends in the hills feel secure enough today to leave the property and do some shopping in town.
Some other parts of the State still have fires burning also, but again, all seem to be under control for the time being.
The re-building is already starting in some areas, with crews clearing the awful debris. The help from everywhere is overwhelming. I don`t think there are many people not touched by this devastation I am reminded of Dorothea Mackellar`s words about Australia where Beauty and Terror go hand in hand"
I on forwarded an article about the work the wildlife organization was doing, it included the web site for donations, but in case you did not get it here it is http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au www.wildlifevictoria.org.au
I know that having covered bushfires in you work you will be aware of the awful aftermath, and the breadth of kindness that can follow, as you can imagine the daily papers, the news broadcasts and all other forms of communication are filled with both horror stories and great feats of human kindness, self sacrifice and generosity. Unfortunately human frailty shows its face also, we have had reports of individuals stealing money raised, and worse one person has already been found and charged with all that goes with the lighting of one of the fires.
A coronial enquiry is to be conducted and we hope that out of this will come some constructive help to save this happening on such a scale again.
I just had a call from Graeme to go out into the paddock, we had a new cria on the ground, a little female, should have been snow white but Mum decided to have her on a patch of dry ground (lots of those, with the drought) and of course the dry earth is still all black, so she has very large patches of black on her white coat but is well and strong, I think her name will have to be Valentine.
On those beautiful and hopeful notes I'll leave you...breakfast in old Quebec city with Doug and the kids, then more activities. Such fun seeing Quebec through the kid’s eyes...though mostly they seem to be scanning for crepes and waffles and hot chocolate. True Pennys.
Thursday, 14 February 2008
A kiss and a hug
brilliant, clear day, fresh snow on the trees, picture postcard stuff, highs -6
Happy Valentine's Day! And a warm, deep hug.
While I agree with St Paul's letter to the Corinthians (wonderful excerpt - like most people we had it read at our wedding) that love is paramount, I'm not so sure about St Valentine's Day. I'm not at all cynical - in fact I don't have much patience for cynics. So it's not about the commercialism on this day - it's just that Valentine's Day doesn't mean that much to me or to Michael. I think, at the risk of being just too soppy, it's because he shows me his love every hour of every day - and I hope I show him how much I love him. We give each other cards all the time, just saying 'Thank you', or 'Well done', or 'I love you'. So it seems sort of redundant to do it on Valentine's day.
having said that, if we weren't on a diet I'd buy him a huge heart filled with soft centred chocolates, then eat half.
I suppose, to be honest, my celebration of this day is situational.
We're doing the NutriSystem plan. Michael just got on the scales and has already lost 3 pounds in less than a week! I don't use scales - I use my clothes. Fat clothing, regular and slim. I'm wearing sweats at the moments.
Writing went well yesterday. This is the first time I've tried to write a book and be on a diet. Normally, as many of you know, my books are fueled by food. in fact, I received quite a few emails from readers begging me to stop the descriptions since they're gaining weights just reading about dinners at Clara's and peter's and the Bistro.
Well, I;m sorry to report that dieting has only increased the luscious meals in the book! On ever page it seems they're eating something else mouth-watering.
Actually, it's been suggested that at some stage I might want to put out a Three Pines Cook Book, with recipes from the Bistro. What do you think?
We'll be celebrating St Valentine's Day tongith with NutriSystem's finest. The best way I can think to do it...lose weight, live longer, love longer. Perfect.
Happy Valentine's Day! And a warm, deep hug.
While I agree with St Paul's letter to the Corinthians (wonderful excerpt - like most people we had it read at our wedding) that love is paramount, I'm not so sure about St Valentine's Day. I'm not at all cynical - in fact I don't have much patience for cynics. So it's not about the commercialism on this day - it's just that Valentine's Day doesn't mean that much to me or to Michael. I think, at the risk of being just too soppy, it's because he shows me his love every hour of every day - and I hope I show him how much I love him. We give each other cards all the time, just saying 'Thank you', or 'Well done', or 'I love you'. So it seems sort of redundant to do it on Valentine's day.
having said that, if we weren't on a diet I'd buy him a huge heart filled with soft centred chocolates, then eat half.
I suppose, to be honest, my celebration of this day is situational.
We're doing the NutriSystem plan. Michael just got on the scales and has already lost 3 pounds in less than a week! I don't use scales - I use my clothes. Fat clothing, regular and slim. I'm wearing sweats at the moments.
Writing went well yesterday. This is the first time I've tried to write a book and be on a diet. Normally, as many of you know, my books are fueled by food. in fact, I received quite a few emails from readers begging me to stop the descriptions since they're gaining weights just reading about dinners at Clara's and peter's and the Bistro.
Well, I;m sorry to report that dieting has only increased the luscious meals in the book! On ever page it seems they're eating something else mouth-watering.
Actually, it's been suggested that at some stage I might want to put out a Three Pines Cook Book, with recipes from the Bistro. What do you think?
We'll be celebrating St Valentine's Day tongith with NutriSystem's finest. The best way I can think to do it...lose weight, live longer, love longer. Perfect.
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