Looks like the adoptee's are livin' the good life!
If you missed this story, you can read about it here.
...here
...and here
...here
...and here
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Song for Friday...for the campers...
This weekend is a long weekend for some...
Here it's Victoria Day...parades, people heading out with trailers and tents...
...bbq's, cider on the porch...
The official start to summer.
And it's a glorious day!
Here's an old Bruce Cockburn song done by a pretty little lady from Newfoundland...
Have a great weekend all!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Bees...
Bee keeper Bob and his helper were out the other day trying to
take advantage of a non-rainy day.
The grass had gotten really high around the hives, so
he came out to do some maintenance. They don't like the sound
of weed eaters, so Bob and helper were in full regalia...
I stayed back a bit sans bee suit.
They're also taking some hygiene measures and using a synthetic
form of oxalic acid (naturally occurring in rhubarb leaves),
fumigating the hives for mites.
The oxalic acid doesn't harm the bees.
Mites have been the bane of the bee keepers existence and
have been responsible for huge mortality rates in bees.
Some honey farmers have been devastated and have lost 90% of their stock.
Bob was also explaining to me about the dangers of a cool, wet spring.
In particular, apple blossoms need a certain temperature to
produce nectar...a.k.a bee food.
No warmth = no nectar = no food = no bees.
No bees = no pollination = no food for us.
Remember, 30 % or more of the food we eat is from honeybees pollinating flowers.
Think about that.
Almost everything on your dinner plate is there because of a little bee.
And don't forget that gorgeous amber honey they provide us with...
So not only are we hoping for the weather to warm our skin and soil,
but also to keep our bee population up.
Seen here in happier days last summer...
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Book review...
If you've ever sat and wondered what your dog is thinking, then this book will
grab you from the start.
I see so much of my dog Griffin in this story.
I will let Harper Collins give the review...
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoƫ at his side.
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Song for Friday...for Aja
My daughter loves Patrick Watson and I love this song and I love her!
So without further or due...
Have a sweet weekend all!
(p.s...Watch his percussionist on 'glasses'... so great!)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
What the?!
This morning, the sun was shining...(cue: birds chirping and happy piano music)
I opened the curtains by the bed and rejoiced.
Amen!
We've had the coldest, wettest 2 months of spring ever and when the sun does
come out, believe my I am overjoyed.
I slip on the slippers by the bedside and my mind is already
busy with plans outside in the garden...
As I come around the foot of the bed WITHOUT MY GLASSES,
I see a little cat toy and give the 'ball' a little kick...
(cue: screeching tires to a halt sound)
WAIT A SECOND!
That's not a cat toy!
Well not MY kind of cat toy.
Not a ball.
But this..
WARNING! NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!
Yup. That's a mouse head.
Just the head.
All body parts are unaccountable for.
I've looked in all the regular hiding spots but just this...
Time to round up The Usual Suspects.
Which amounts to 1.
"Yeah! You! In the black and white! Get down here!"
"Who me? I'm just an innocent house cat!"
"Yeah, but what about that mouse head you left, conveniently in my footpath?!"
"That? That was a gift to let you know how much I love you!"
"Oh...yeah...right...um thanks."
"Just doin' my job mam."
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Project: Part 2...
As mentioned in this previous post , Norene and I have been working
with the local grade 5 class on a mosaic project.
We didn't know it, but it was also school picture day.
Not individual pictures, but the ENTIRE school picture.
So I figured I would get in on the action, since my nieces go there as well...
Have you ever heard the actors rule "never work with children or animals"?
It was quite the orchestration to say the least...
The photographer was on the roof, so they all got squinty eyed looking up.
Anyway, after the grand picture taking it was down to the dirty work of getting the grout on...
First to mix it to the right consistency...
Grout dust is very fine, so we had them wear masks...they thought this was pretty cool...
There's nothing like getting your hands in slurpy, sludgy, mud-like goop!
...time to spread it on...
You have to work fairly fast with this stuff as it dries quite quickly...
The kids did a really good job getting into all the nooks and crannies...
Then we had to brush and polish before the grout sets completely...
Only two more panels to go this week and the mosaic will be ready to hang outside the school entrance.
I think the kids are super proud of this project and can't wait to see it finished...
Norene has taught them so much about this ancient art form, perspective, colour and using
multi dimensional art materials...
...and how fun it is to break dishes and get dirty!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)