Saturday, April 29, 2006

Living Without Electricity




God, I love days like this....a mystery from the start.... Thick, thick frost....so frozen... ice in the outdoor vase of daffodils...listening to the stories of my brother's BC trip; the electricity went off across the whole Island at around 9 am.....it didn't return to the eastern regions till about 4. Left around 10 to pick up my daughter following her night of celebrating a friend's birthday.

Puttered with some outdoor chores... watched a cat fight amongst the daffodils.... went for a great walk in the woods....picked some Mayflowers on that wonderful walk and celebrate, at this moment, the women who know me and love me best. Uploading.... All Right Ok, You Win, I'm In Love With You sung by Bette Midler and Azucar Negra by Celia Cruz. We are so wise, our little group of incredible women.......no one knows for sure but we.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

For Something a Little Different.....


A departure today. Knowing how much I like them, my sister sent me a great photography link. It is supposed to show up somewhere here, possibly under the post's title. Actually, the way it's set up, you have to press the title of the post. Here it is again. At the site there are several pages for each location or category. I didn't realize at first that it was so extensive.

Also a joke a friend sent. And it was not a woman!

She was in the kitchen doing the boiled eggs for breakfast. He walks in and asks "What's for breakfast?"
She turns to him and says, "You've got to make love to me this very moment".

He, thinking it's his lucky day, lays her over the kitchen table and they have sex. Afterwards he says, "What was that all about?"

She says "The egg timer's broken!"

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Flowers For the Soul

My first daffodils bloomed yesterday. I have several bunches that flower at different times even though they are the same type. They are just in different areas with different conditions to contend with. It's a great feature because if they all bloomed at once we'd be overwhelmed.

I thought about going over to see new little Rachel this weekend but all my bills came in the mail and put a stop to that plan pretty quickly.

My son is home from university for a few days and is going back today. When I left for trivia last night I commented that it was easier to leave the bunch of boys now that they were out of the wrestling stage. The laugh was on me though, because my son turned his laptop to face me and showed me what they were watching.....wrestling. At least the house was intact when I returned.

My upload today is called These Flowers, by Martha Wainwright Also, I'm adding the Johnny Cash version of Battle of New Orleans. I absolutely love this cut as Johnny sounds like he is happy and full of fun singing it. I can just feel his happiness coming through.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

The New Addition

Little Rachel Ava. Can't you almost smell her?

Monday, April 24, 2006

A New Baby Girl


I have a new great-niece named Rachel born last evening at 7:42 and weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Congratulations go out to Christine, Jason and big sister Olivia and "Good Job, Christine."

I'm sure I'll be getting pictures soon but since I have none yet, a picture of the lovely Ms. MacKenzie will have to do.

Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple is already on my music and is dedicated to Christine and I will upload Welcome Home by Tegan and Sarah for new baby Rachel and Two Little Girls by Ani DeFranco.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Today Will Be 13 Degrees, 19 in New Brunswick



A cleaned up garden and lovely kitties....what more could you ask for.

No word yet on the little great-niece; I guess she just wasn't ready to be born. I just spoke with my sister and ther's no labour at all yet so the doctor will probably break her water and move to the heavier labour initiators. I've seen that route in a friend's birth that I attended eighteen years ago. Not a nice labour....too fast and intense with not a lot of rest time between contractions like a normal labour.

In my quest for songs, I find lots of performers I've never heard of before. I sometimes grab a few of these and delete them if I don't like them. Sometimes I find gems. The previously mentioned Sophie Milman is a prime example. I've uploaded a couple of good finds today and some of the previous ones in the category, never heard of before, are those cover versions of Tracy Chapman's songs by Damien Rice and Bettye Lavette.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Frogs in the Spring


Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana

I spent the day outside cleaning my garden and listening to the frogs in the pond. I can't wait till the windows are open and the peepers and bullfrogs sing me to sleep like nothing else can. One of the great joys of this property is the pond. It provides entertainment every day of the year, usually visual but sometimes auditory as well.

I had visitors in the early afternoon, friends my age with a twelve year old son. I'm glad I don't have a twelve year old son. My niece still is not in labour yet so may not have the baby today afterall. I managed to get some nice photos of Kenz and Clarke before running out of batteries. They're now recharged and I'll probably take the photos off the camera, ready to post tomorrow.

Only in Canada

I received this photo of a moose in a swimming pool and a few others a while back. It sure was a hot summer where ever he was. We finally have some sunshine here on PEI but I don't think I'd put out swimming pools yet. It is still windy so the temperature isn't supposed to get much above 8 while next door in New Brunswick it will be 16 or so.

I've uploaded Dance Me To the End of Love by it's cre8or, Leonard Cohen and by Madeleine Peyroux. I'd heard her version many times and kept searching till I found it. She reminded me of Billie Holiday with this song. Don't know much about her but she sings in French also. I have her version of En Vie En Rose, another one of my favorite songs of which I have several versions.

My niece Christine, who I link to on the right is being induced today for her new baby girl. It is also her birthday. What a great birthday gift!! She's carrying on a family tradition with family members having the same birthday. I have two kids born on the same day two years apart. one was four days early; one was two days late. I'll have to think up some cool songs for Christine and the wee one. Oh, I sure can think fast.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Jesse James

I've uploaded Jesse James from Bruce Springsteen's new album and The Ballad of Jesse James from my favorite Friday album, The Skiffle Sessions.

Years ago, I had a Sunday ritual where a read a week's worth of entries on a Van Morrison news group. There was always a lot of discussion and reviewing amongst the members whenever a new album came out. When The Skiffle Sessions was released there was an overwhelming panning of the album....everyone agreed that it was terrible. A couple of months later I was at a friend's annual outdoor seafood party and heard these great old songs with Van singing them. I was blown away. I had to go searching for the host (it's a big party) to find out what that album was and found out that it was the much-hated Skiffle Sessions. From that day on, I never read another word from that news group.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

I Need My Music Back


I've added a couple more Besame Mucho versions to my music. I still have more to come. Also, a couple of Tom Waits songs.

I have only my computer to listen to music on at the moment. The stereo is in the repair shop for an estimate. I sure hope it can be fixed because it has great sound and it's hard to find stereos these days. I had a look at Future shop a while back and they had tons of IPod/MP3 player speaker systems but only three stereos. Our only independent stereo store in Charlottetown that I dealt with for years, Hirtles, closed its doors about a year ago. Couldn't compete with Future Shop?

Anyway, I am really missing my stereo because my computer won't allow me to hear music throughout the house like I need.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Wasaga Beaching


There was a bit of ice on the Wasaga side of Georgian Bay when I arrived there but the hot sunsets pretty well broke it up and melted it in the 5 days I was there. I found it quite amazing the difference in the advancement of spring in Wasaga Beach, Barrie, Toronto and Waterloo. The grass is almost ready to be mowed in Waterloo whereas there's still snow along fields on the drive between Barrie and Wasaga Beach. That area certainly doesn't have any green grass to speak of; less than here in PEI.

Wasaga Beach was a lot of fun for me. I have an aunt and uncle who never had any children and I'm their surrogate kid. We always have a blast together. My uncle is a music lover; jazz and classical standards, showtunes and crooners, jive and swing, lots that I can provide him with. I brought him 8 cds, a good assortment of mixes and copies of cds that I have in my library I thought he's like. This aunt and uncle's mission in life since their retirement 13 years ago is to feed stray cats, raccoons and squirrels. They spend about $90.00 a week (I'd say more, they're being very modest and conservative) on food, often get cats spayed or neutered, find homes for some of the strays through their very understanding vet, and are in short their own private humane society.

They hosted a dinner party for all of the Ontario relatives on the Saturday I was there and that was really fun, getting together with aunts and uncles, cousins and their young children. The last time they were all together was when I visited three and a half years ago when my Barrie aunt hosted everyone. Seems like I should go more often so that they can get together more often.

Back at home........we won at trivia last night. We had a very funny team. My daughter and nephews had gone to an early movie and stopped in for a beer and joined us for round one. A regular player who knew she was going to be late arrived with two friends and joined the team for round two. Another regular arrived in the middle of round two and another regular arrived quite near the end. The constant movement of players didn't hurt our score apparently and was really fun too.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Good to Be Home


I had a really wonderful time away and definitely needed a break but there is no feeling like coming home.

The best things about being home in their order of occurence , not preference:
  • My daughter and her friend picking me up at the airport after a delayed flight and taking me to supper.
  • Getting to drive my car home.
  • The Kitties were sooooo happy to see me.
  • The house a perfect temperature.
  • A long drink of well water with no chlorine or bottle.
  • My own bed and pillows.
  • My computer and the 39 blogs I read and tons of e-mail.
  • My favorite brand of cereal and 1% milk.
  • Two best friends calling to welcome me home.
  • A shower without chlorine.
  • A relaxing day ( I didn't make any work calls. Tomorrow is soon enough).
  • My own cooking.
  • Trivia tonight.
It all depends on the little things, you know. I may never go away again.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

It's Grandma Here


Wasaga Beach, Barrie, and the visit to the relatives was great but now I'm in Waterloo with my grandchildren. I can't believe how cute they are. The Little Fellow won't let me give him a hug yet but I'll wait patiently. Sweetie Girl just turned 6 months and is so pretty, sweet and happy. Just a joy!

I miss my cats. I miss my daughter but I get to talk to her on the phone. I return to real life on Monday and find out when I return to work. Not too soon I hope.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Needing Sleep


It's 1:27 am and I cannot sleep. It has always happened the night before I travel for as long as I can remember. I've been told it happens to other people too. So, I'm trying some soothing music, a glass of warm milk and a boring game of solitare. I've read most of a book and my eyes are too tired to read any more. Friends from Calgary just telephoned my daughter and got her out of bed so we're both up. Ah, here's a cat to keep me company....the lovely Kenz. I'll put some of that soothing music up for my brother who is leaving on a trip to BC tomorrow to visit the other brother. Here's a couple for you Alf if you're up too. 1:36...another yawn.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Only Two More Sleeps

I don't know how I've neglected to upload a Susana Baca song until now. She is one of my favorite singers and I listen to her all of the time. A real mixed bag today with Lyle Lovett, Muddy Waters, Susana Baca and Brian Kennedy. I uploaded his version of Tupelo Honey a while back. Back to packing......

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Bad With the Good


Along with all the great music I find, I come across a lot of bad music. I won't add any of it to *****my music*****, of course; only the best for you. Today, another version of If Lovin' You is Wrong and an old gem by the Pointer Sisters that I nearly wore out when I was playing the album. Of course I still have the album....

Another photo of spring. I have nice yellow tulips in my kitchen (and on my camera) at the moment but these are pretty as well. We've had fresh, beautiful, long lasting tulips all winter from a farm down the road. They've thrilled us the last two years with huge fields of tulips that we can see driving by. You'd think you were in Holland. My next-door neighbour grew a field of sunflowers last year. I must say they weren't as nice as my own as they were all the same type and mine are mixed. Very impressive though when it's an entire field.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Sophie Milman

Just like finding out that Renee Olstead was only 15 when she released her album, I am also surprised that Sophie Milman is only 22. She handed out an award on last night's Junos and until then I had no idea she had connections to Canada. She immigrated here at 15 from Russia via Isreal. I love her singing and have uploaded another one of hers today. I put up Lonely in New York last week. If you go to her site you can listen to a couple more.

The weather has changed dramatically over the weekend. Saturday was 17 degrees, today is 1.
I am going to Ontario on Friday and my aunt in Wasaga Beach (my first stop) said the weather has been beautiful. Can't wait, folks. I want to see the grandchildren sooooo badly, my arms are twitching.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

If Lovin' You Is Wrong

You've got to hear this one. I was trying to get this old soul song, If Lovin' You is Wrong. Couldn't remember who did it back in the 70's and usually grab a few versions of most songs so chose one by Faithless, who I've never heard of. Well, I don't know if I love, hate or something in the middle with this one. It's very interesting nonetheless. What do you think?

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Keeper of the Music - literally


I can't do it!! I was going to remove some music but just can't. I added more instead. Added Come On Up To The House by Tom Waits because this song was requested by Bruce Coburn during an interview on DNTO today. Believe it or not I have all of Tom Waits songs even some unreleased ones. Good to have friends who are as into music as me; we just don't like all of the same music. We share our love of Tom Waits and Tower of Power though. He has over fifteen thousand songs on his hard drive. Unbelievable! Mine is Latin, soul, jazz vocals and a mish mash of other stuff. I love it all....the Keeper of the Songs.

Cat pictures today for Brody who is up in Arviat in the territory of Nunavut. He also told me I could use any photos from his website page but I will link to it and you can go there yourself. It's a very cool site from a very cool young man.

My daughter is home, tanned and with hair extensions and a bit of Montezuma's Revenge. She hasn't been feeling that well for a couple of days apparently. I worry if it lasts any length of time because I once contacted Giardia ( in Canada known as Beaver Fever) in Mexico though it was a different part of the country than she was in. I'll be watching her closely.

It was another beautiful spring day and I worked outside most of the afternoon. It was 16.9 degrees Celcius which is pretty darn close to 17. If the sun had been out it would have been much warmer. I Am Lovin' it!!! It is supposed to rain tomorrow but not a lot. It will be welcome to increase the water table. We had so little snow this winter, I'm sure we need rain.