A Morning

To fly or not to fly—that is the question

And this morning I am good as new again.
As a matter of fact, aside from it not being warm enough to sit on the step with my coffee, I've enjoyed my ideal morning: awake, propped up in bed, reading and drinking coffee before 8. Scott is still home, busy planning his day, having a bath, organizing his paperwork for taxes, doing his thing.

I’ve nowhere to go, and the sky is blue. I’ve taken four large strawberries out of the fridge to thaw for my breakfast smoothie. I’ve been reading Virginia Woolf’s diary from 1916. My hair needs washed; I’ll have a bath this morning before getting dressed. Yesterday was a write-off due to the neck thing, so I felt poorly in the morning, slept most of the afternoon, and didn’t go outside. Thus I must walk today.

Also I need to make up my mind when to go to Toronto so that airline tickets and rooms can be booked. I don’t want to go! But having the skills I'm learning there will pay off in future, so I must bite the bullet and do it. Also, there will be rewards: when I meet up with new friends made over the internet.

Think I’ll make a marinated macaroni salad today. Just gotta find an hour to do it.

Sometimes Scott has been getting up and drying dishes lately as I wash. It’s lovely; hope it continues. It’s a tiny treat to do something together for a few minutes in a day, even if it’s only working in the kitchen. Other things we do together I shan't write about.

One of Those Days

It's still pretty chilly out there; I wore my ski pants yesterday, and my winter jacket with the hood up, which tells you something.
Haven't been out yet today, at least not further than the step. Hope by the time I go walking, the clouds will have cleared off and the air will be warmer.
Alas, the neck thing is grieving me again today so I may end up lying down and sleeping while a pill works, instead. It's next to impossible to force myself out onto the road when I feel this way. There have been times when I thought getting out into the fresh air might vanquish the thing, but alas, getting a mile from home and not being sure how you'll make it back isn't healing.
I've had a lot of "neck things" already this month — six — so finally I've made an appointment for massage in town. I need to have massage regularly, and to mix the sessions up between two different therapists, one of whom (Hi Ann!) works farther away but heck, I only have to call her and I start feeling better.
I guess the trick is making a bunch of appointments in advance; that's the way to get myself going. Otherwise as soon as I'm feeling normal, I don't bother. The eternal optimist, that's me.
Tsk.
My heart goes out to people with any kind of chronically painful condition. I am only suffering a little discomfort here, and still it colours my entire day. It affects my life, even, as I don't like to commit to anything where my presence is relied upon, just in case I wake up with a migraine that day and my pill doesn't work. I've worked through the migraine before, and it was torturous; I try not to do it. I'm an escapist I guess: let me sleep!

Food, Moose, Coyotes, Snow

From my bathroom mirror

9:43 a.m.

Today’s breakfast smoothies: a banana, an apple,  a handful of spinach, blackberries, strawberries, cubes of frozen soy-almond milk, plain yogurt, skim milk. Delicious!

Naturally I had forgotten to take my camera along when it was time to drive Emil to town after supper, so couldn't take a picture of the young moose that stood only a few moments to look back at me before sticking its chin up in the air and heading for the bush.

Scott passed along the information that, as with horses, the eyes of moose don't reflect your headlights when they're in the ditch along the road.

12:51pm

Is it wrong to make smoothies a second time in one day? I was sitting here thinking it’s time to have a proper (i.e. more solid) meal, when what I really wanted was another smoothie.

So: an apple, spinach, strawberries, blueberries, frozen almond-soy milk, plain yogurt, an orange, an avocado. Looks pretty grey but tastes great. I’ll eat something heavier later; made granola yesterday so that will be quick and easy to get down.

Mmm, smoothies. I go to bed these days looking forward to my morning smoothie. (That almost sounds dirty doesn't it.)

Most of the snow is gone already, but there were a few flakes drifting down again today. I'm off for a brisk walk, shortly.

A pack of about a dozen coyotes was seen behind the barn near the calves at the other farm (a mile south) yesterday. It's unusual to see so many together, so alarm bells are ringing and perhaps a trapper will have to be called in.

Extremes

From this, taken during my walk after arriving home from Karen's yesterday evening ...

to this, taken from the back step just now:



Not that I'm complaining: I'm warm and dry and that's good enough for me.
Scott's probably not. He went out around 8 to do something with cattle — move them? Whatever it is, it won't be a pleasant job in this weather.

Virginia Woolf could at least go to the movies:

Thurs14Jan1915

I think I shall indulge in a picture palace—but why? I shall certainly come out saying to myself, “Nothing will induce me ever to go to a picture palace again.”

Then again, sometimes she spent a quiet day in:

Fri15Jan1915

I began today to treat my corn. It had to be done for a week.

Karen's New Pad

My little sister Karen welcomes us to her new home.

She's still trying to decide what to buy for living room furniture. The front window overlooks Margo Lake. (She and her husband have developed their lakefront property into lots that are for sale, if you're looking ....)

The loft has a tin ceiling.

Dad's girlfriend Grace made a special piece of glass for the staircase wall.

I'm getting a tour because last time I was here the house wasn't finished; this is the upstairs bathroom.

Karen calls this her "antiques" room. Let me tell you, even when you're expecting the volume, that bell still shocks when it's rung even once. It's an old churchbell.

I made her play me a tune on the organ that belonged to our great-grandmother. Guess what she played? The theme to the modern Titanic movie. Fitting for today ... in case anyone the world over doesn't know it's the 100th anniversary of the great sinking. Sure I sang; but I don't know many of the words.

All my photos didn't turn out, so I'll take the camera out next time for pictures of the snazzy kitchen.
She was baking bread when we arrived, so the frozen loaf I took went into her freezer and we snacked on hot buttered bread and apple pudding.

Keepin' Dry & Warm

When you've just baked six loaves of bread and they're fresh out of the oven, tell me: why wouldn't you cut the crusts from both ends of the first loaf and slather them with butter? Especially if you're the baker; then you can get away with it.

Anyway, there's lots more.

Now that Everett's not home and Emil's only here on the weekends, a batch lasts several weeks.

That was yesterday morning.
Late this afternoon I made my weekly trip to town to pick Emil up and get groceries.
It's been raining all day so there's not much snow left, but the grid road is very mushy and slippery. I drove like a little old lady (not the one from "past Wadena," that no one can keep up with).
The train could be heard from our yard, which means that the weather is going to change.
Oh oh. Snow again?

Recycling Hell

Can't say as I find recycling convenient in the least. Everything has to be sorted before they'll take it: tin cans, glass, plastic, newsprint, office paper, magazines, cardboard, refundables; all separate. What you see above is what I prepared yesterday to take out for dropoff at the recycling depot in town; had to make three trips to the driveway to get it all loaded up. It's a pain in the butt, and it ain't pretty in the porch, either. And this is only a couple months worth of stuff!

Here's the sorting system as it looks after the backbreaking labour has been done:

My request is that when Scott gets around to renovating the porch, he will incorporate a closet with doors that can be closed so we don't have to look at this eyesore, which is usually overflowing. Drives me nuts. Still I shall carry on, ugly as it is, because when I see that pile of "garbage" up there and realize how much waste from my home was going into the landfill, before ... well, shame on me if I don't set my esthetic preferences aside and do the responsible thing.

One of Scott's clients gave him this boot-dryer. He came in at the end of the day, all pleased, and I expected the thing to be simply a boot rack that could be set over a heat register. But no! It actually plugs in and heats up. Who knew? I continue to learn something new every day, even at my ripe old age.

Beloved Companion

You might think that Ducky is not a favoured entity in our house due to some of Scott’s nicknames for him: Shitstick. Fartlick. Tickbait.

But this little dog is adored. Scott pets him and croons, “Oh, you.”

When Scott comes in the door after work, he looks for Ducky. 

When he sits on the couch, he calls for Ducky. 

When he leaves for work in the morning, he kisses Ducky and pats me on the head.

Fine Day

Yep. Lots of snow. But it's melting. I could see spots of green grass appearing around the yard today.
When I finally got out onto the road, it was still necessary to wear a winter jacket but I did NOT wear my ski pants!
Wished I had, though, for the first few minutes. Still had to keep my hood up most of the way. Spring wind and all.

While talking to Aunt Reta on the phone this afternoon — she thought our heavy snowfall was humorous for some reason — probably because she doesn't often have to deal with snow anymore, down there in the desert heat of Arizona — she can afford to chuckle — I noticed a northern flicker in the yard. Gorgeous bird. First one I've seen this year. It didn't come to the feeders at the oaks but since the snowy weekend, the feeders are popular once again. Lots of colourful purple finches are back, too. Busy in the trees alongside juncos and redpolls and chickadees and woodpeckers and redwinged blackbirds. Yes, even redwinged blackbirds are eating outside my front window. It's so exciting. I am a hundred years old. Now you know.

In other news, my sister Karen has gotten moved into her new house on the shore of Margo Lake. I had emailed, offering to help her pack and move her kitchen over when she was ready ... but she didn't get my email. We blame her husband, who probably flipped past the email and forgot to mention it to her. Whew—I dodged a bullet there! That would've been a huge job, that kitchen. Karen has every appliance and every dish known to every culinary expert in the world, I'm sure. All crammed into a kitchen with loads of cupboards. If Karen isn't exhausted by now, she should be.

Another day of sunshine and the ice should be melted off the ravine again.
One of my favourite parts of walking is when a bird accompanies me and the dogs, and yaks at us. Today it was the northern flicker.
The geese are plain standoffish and won't stay put when I stroll by.

Poor trees, eh? The snow is so heavy, so wet.

Now, why in the hell does my browser (Chrome) all of a sudden decide not to allow popups? Out of the blue? Like it's got a mind of its own?
This is how computers are going to drive humankind crazy. Little shit like that. Did I change a setting? No. I'm hornswoggled.

Oh well, it isn't the first time.
That's it for me tonight. Over and out.

But first, Virginia Woolf:

Tues12Jan1915
The West End of London fills me with aversion: I look into motor cars & see the fat grandees inside, like portly jewels in satin cases.

Old Vase

One of Grandma's vases; click to enlarge & admire

No Sunrise Breakfast Around Here

Are pancakes the order of the day for Easter breakfasts? I had forgotten that until reading Joanne's entry just now. But apparently my subconscious remembered, because guess what I made this morning?

Sucre à Crème, or Caramel Sauce

Simple and quick to make, this sauce popular in Canada’s francophone provinces is delicious on ice cream and pancakes or poured over a piece of chocolate cake that hasn’t been iced.

1 c cream
1 c brown sugar
dash salt

Bring to boil over medium heat. Boil two or three minutes. Remove from heat.
Cool. Add

1 tsp vanilla
1 drop mapeline (or any maple flavouring).

Refrigerate.



Of course, I had to make pancakes to go with it.

Ms Virginia Woolf went about making breakfast in quite another way:

13Jan1915

I caused some slight argument (with L.) this morning by trying to cook my breakfast in bed. I believe, however, that the good sense of the proceeding will make it prevail; that is, if I can dispose of the eggshells.

Spring Storm

The only snow left last week was on the north side of treelines.

After a storm blew up last night, there is more snow in the yard than there's been all winter.

The geese seemed to carry on as usual, taking it all in stride.

This snowdrift in front of the house contains a glacier-blue cave.

The electricity went off before I got out of bed this morning, though Scott had time to drink a pot of coffee. A power pole had been knocked down, in the bush somewhere, and because the snow was so deep and wet it was difficult for the workers to get to it. It's been back on for an hour now; maybe it's a bit late in the day to be drinking coffee, but I might brew up a couple cups anyway.

The sky's blue again. It's been a lazy day; lots of sleeping and reading. Was tempted to complain helplessly, but Emil did it for us; his expected routine was altered and he was most unhappy about that. Especially since his dad was going to drive out from Edmonton today and, due to the local roads and poor visibility, did not. Scott wasn't able to get out of the yard with the half-ton; his brother had to drive over with a tractor and pick him up so they could put bedding straw out for the cattle.

I'm being called to the phone. Au revoir ....

Virginia Woolf:

"Fri8Jan1915

His fat pink body always seems to me boneless & hairless like that of a gigantic child; & his mind is the same. But there is a charm about him."

Uncle Bob's Hospital Visit

Came across this today while searching out National Film Board videos for work.
Enjoy! Besides, if you live in Saskatchewan, as I do, you don't want to be outside today anyway. Snow, sleet, rain ... we've got it all. The gravel roads are slippery; Scott almost went in the ditch a couple miles from home, and turned around and came back.

Two Dogs Dining - posted on Facebook

Yep, All Darn Day

Mom's cherished family collection of mottoware

8:19a.m.
Scott comes into the bedroom to get dressed while I sit propped against “the cow,” reading Virginia’s diary. (The cow is Scott's name for a large wedge-shaped pillow covered by a fabric that looks like suede but isn't.)
I tease him a little. “Don’t make a mess,” I say, since I’ve recently shoved his piles of papers into binders and then into drawers. “You’re the laziest man I’ve ever seen,” I say, to the busiest guy I know. “Come and sit down a minute,” I say, patting the bed beside me. “I’ve got something important to tell you.” He perches there and I touch his arm and say, very gently, “It’s Thursday today. All day.”

And Virginia, on a Thursday?

Thurs7Jan1915
On the way I walked through one of the worst downpours I have ever been in. It was more like a shower bath than natural rain. My shoes squeaked so with wet as I walked up the Library that I was ashamed.

Flowers to Migrate North of House

Kurt called yesterday to say he could spend the afternoon digging a new flower bed (actually he is extending the one he dug in the fall to save my plants from the septic tank installation) in the front lawn for me. So he spent 7 hours here and got the sod half dug out and carted away; I hope he’ll come back Sunday and finish.

I went out for a few minutes after every hour of my work here at the desk and took him a pop or carried water to the tractor shed for the cats (so they aren’t forced to go to a slough where they might be caught by a fox or coyote) or just to say hello and see what progress was being made.

 

A robin spent much of the day perched on top of the power pole in the yard, gaily chirping his “territorial song.” Click HERE to hear it. What a pleasure to open the kitchen window and listen while making supper; it begins to seem even more like spring is here to stay, although snow is forecast for the weekend. 

Today the wind is cold, but the sun's shining. 

And what was Virginia Woolf up to on a Wednesday, you say?

Virginia with her husband Leonard

"Wed6Jan1915

L. went off at 10 a.m. to give his second lecture at Hampstead. The first was a great success, as I knew it would be. He finds the women much more intelligent than the men; in some ways too intelligent, & apt on that account, not to see the real point.

Now I have to decide whether I shall go up again, to a party at Gordon Sqre, where the Aranyis are playing. On the one hand, I shirk the dressing & the journey; on the other I know that with the first chink of light in the hall & chatter of voices I should become intoxicated, & determine that life held nothing comparable to a party."

Reading Virginia's Diaries Again

Dipping into the first Virginia Woolf diary takes me back to my earlier reading of it, in the large and bright master bedroom of the house we rented in Kelowna during Mom’s last months alive in 2005. I remember the painful clarity of the time, and the numbness or frozenness in the days following her death. 

On Tues5Jan1915, Virginia writes:

"I dislike the sight of women shopping. They take it so seriously."

Want to know something more about Virginia Woolf? I'll be posting snippets from her diaries along with my own on this page, and of course much has been written about her work and her life so information is easy to find. But I like this: http://flavorwire.com/143610/59-things-you-didnt-know-about-virginia-woolf?all=1

Blecchhhh!!!

But doesn't it LOOK great??
I did say I wanted to find some smoothie recipes to help get more vegetables down my neck, didn't I? Well, here's my first attempt. It's a bit gagworthy ... er, I mean perhaps it will take some time to acquire a taste for it, and I don't think I'm going to take that time. It's not that bad ... I'll finish the rest of this glassful (maybe), but what's left in the blender ... doubt it. It's actually very flavourful and oh so GOOD for you!

Spinach and Carrot Supreme Smoothie Recipe

(found somewhere on the internet)

(serves 2)

2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup apple juice
4 ice cubes

Pour the apple juice into a blender, add the chopped spinach and process until blended. Next add the chopped carrots and mix well, then add the ice cubes and more juice if necessary. Mix until a 'smoothish' consistency. 

Saskatchewan Sunday

Beginning of the Day: Mr Sleepyhead

End of the Day: Dinner with Friends

Night Night

Saskatchewan Films

Seen on Main Street: lower frame covers up Saskatchewan's descriptive "Land of Living Skies"

In recent days there has been a lot of media coverage about the provincial government's new budget, which will cut out the Saskatchewan Film tax credit and effectively cripple a growing local industry that as a resident of this province I've been rather proud of.

Way to go, provincial government!

If you follow this link, you can watch clips from a number of films that have been made here in Saskatchewan:

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150758433769136

You may be surprised at the quantity — and quality, for a relatively fledgling industry.

And if you follow this next one, you will be given reasons to consider why the film industry here has and should continue to be publicly subsidized, just as it is in every other province in this country: click here.

Want to see the whole picture? The Canadian film industry has been fighting to survive in the shadow of the Goliath that is the American film industry ever since the dawn of Hollywood. "The History of Film in Canada," an article at The Canadian Encyclopedia, explains how American film has edged out Canadian-made movies and television for such a long time. It's not that Americans make better films; it's that American interests have dictated the terms of distribution and they've had the money to put behind the marketing of their products. Click here.

The Quebec portion of the article, which comes at the end, is not quite up to date (that's in progress), but Quebecers support their film industry by going to see movies made in Quebec: films made in the mostly francophone province, due to their language, have a built-in audience with a lot less competition for viewers.