Saturday

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I saw some incredible clouds today. Here's a bit. I'm painting clouds so they came at the right time. I am going to change what I painted this morning as I was given the perfect models. Nice when it's handed to you like that.

My gardening work wasn't handed to me though and I'm feeling it already. I have to get in better shape fast. I'm not done for the day either so am again begging off a longer post because I don't have time. As the summer progresses I may cut the number of posts too, as I'm taken up with a busy work schedule. Work starts this coming week so this is advance notification that things may slow down around here....and that I have to get in better shape fast.

The fact that all my Putfile music files have disappeared saddens me so I hope the new method of bringing music to you continues uneventfully.

Did anyone see Spectacle, Elvis Costello's new TV show last night? Elton John, who is an executive producer with the show, took the interview chair for the night and interviewed the great Diana Krall. I love her. She is playing in the Maritimes at the end of the month but I will be working instead of buying a probably expensive ticket for the show. It is in Moncton which means a bridge ticket to New Brunswick too, and that raises the cost considerabally. I certainly would love to go.

I listened to her new album several times at my aunt and uncle's as they are big fans too. I don't have the album yet so you have to put up with some older ones. I love her styling and great interpretations so much! Here's Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby, as always, dedicated to my daughter and Alright, OK You Win, two favorites from my collection of favorite songs.

Back on The Island

Hello my blog friends! It's been a while. I'm not sufficiently rested for a long post. I've hardly slept. One of the cats kept me awake most of the night wanting petting and attention. I had a dental appointment at noon then had to get groceries. I'm bushed already.

My vacation was fabulous. The photo is of my grandson and I walking home from a stroll in the woods. He had gotten stuck in mud and it was better to walk home than put him in a vehicle. The dog did the same and rode in the trunk. We did not have very far to walk and it was a gorgeous day. I had such fun with the grandchildren. We baked cookies and I baby sat one night. I enjoyed a couple of grandmother chores which lots of grandparents get to do regularly. My sister gets to do those things and I'm quite jealous.

The weeks with my aunts and uncle were great as well. I completed a painting with my aunt the second week and though it was rainier the third week, being on a beach with my other aunt and uncle was fantastic! We had a family party on the last weekend so I got to see relatives without the restraints of a wedding or funeral. I think that's rare in this day and age with families spread all over. All the little ones change so much in a couple of years.

It seems as if Putfile is gone. I no longer have my files there. The site now opens to ebaumsworld. It was a good service for me while it lasted. I listened to a lot of jazz and classical the last week and here is something reminiscent. Here's Diana Krall with The Best Thing for You and Scala and Kolacny Brothers with Heartbeats. Both are beautiful.

My daffodils are beautiful too. I have the first bouquet of the year on the table and I'm off to enjoy them. See you tomorrow.

Beans, Bibs and Birds

The smell of home-made baked beans are wafting through the house. I can't safely take them out of the oven so I've turned the oven off and they can sit. I had some to try and they're very good. Before I put them in the oven, I put a couple of cups in a small casserole dish, added some leftover pork with a tikka masala curry sauce mixed in, and put it in the oven at the same time. I tried some of that too and yum - I've invented a new recipe. I have some nice crusty rolls and if you add some cold milk, you have a complete protein and a delicious, easy supper.

I'm a little clumsy/off balance eating with just my left hand and every day have food spilled on my clothes. I may have to get a bib. There's probably some left at my grandchildren's house or maybe my son could just pin a towel around my neck. Are you laughing yet at the thought of this? I am.

I have no songs about beans, napkins, or complete proteins but have a couple that are suitable for the photo. Black Crow is a Joni Mitchell song and here is Diana Krall's wonderful version. I know these are ravens I feed but Black Raven is not a song I can find anywhere. Ingrid Mickelson is leaving us with A Bird's Song.

Layering and Unlayering

I exhausted myself this morning. I went on a very fast, several kilometer hike and was dressed much too warmly. It was six degrees and I had on a very warm winter coat and wool hat. Add hot flashes and I was close to being a puddle. When I got home I had to completely undress even taking off the immobilizer until I cooled down. After lunch, I was still feeling a bit wasted and my arm was killing me so had ibuprophen and a short nap.

A friend brought me flowers today. We have locally grown tulips in the winter from a farm down the road. I told them that this year I would work for them and be paid in tulips. They're probably waiting for me to drop in. I guess that gets put on hold too.

Some very good friends are having a party tonight and I'm not going. I can get a ride in but not a ride home. My son doesn't usually work weekend but is putting in a full day today. His group of friends never drink and drive, so if he goes into town, he stays at a friend's apartment. Several things have been put on hold.

I'm listening, on radio, to a national tribute to Oscar Peterson who died just before Christmas. I'll add my two cents with the classic, S'wonderful, by Oscar and Anita O'Day. Here's a version by Diana Krall, another great Canadian, who I've read had chosen Oscar Peterson as a mentor. Full circle.

I Smell a Bird

Isn't yesterday's photo of Kenz a funny one? It looks like she has just caught a whiff of something really horrid. Today's shows a bird sitting on her tail.

We are having a really beautiful day today at last. It is sunny and 22 degrees which is just about perfect. Tomorrow will have to be a beach day for me. I have errands to run in the morning but for the afternoon, I've booked the beach. Beach days can be few and far between even if it is in your backyard.

I brought some cd's to work that I had a bit of Daina Krall on and now I want to hear more. I'm listening to her as I type. I've been a big fan of hers from the beginning. I bought her first cd in Halifax because there were none in the record stores on the island. The first song on both of my music pages is Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby. I have Louis Jordon's, Joe Jackson's and Renee Olstead's versions. Here's Diana's. Also up today is Diana with Mark Oster with Detroit Blues.

Putfile has changed things up a bit and it took a long time to dao anything there today. I hope it won't take long for you when you press the link.

What's Good For the Soul

No Squirrels!

Took a friend to the hospital today for a medical procedure that required anaesthetic thus she couldn't drive. Her appointment was 12:30 and she got in around 3:00. I'm up on current events now thanks to Time, MacLeans, Reader's Digest and Chatelaine. Usually waiting rooms have very old magazines but this waiting room had current ones. Waiting rooms are the only time I read magazines. I don't think I've bought one since I was a pre-teen though for years I had a subscription to National Geographic.

Books are another story but I won't get started on that other than it is absolutely impossible for me to fall asleep unless I read. I remember camping a few years ago and I'd forgotten to bring a flashlight or lantern. I laid there all night, then had to drive all the next day, then laid there all night the next night. I was completely wrecked....all because I couldn't read.

We are having very cold temperatures and wind for the next few days then moderating, above freezing temperatures for the weekend.

Music will be links again. With all that I've been reading on the music blogs, the music page may have to go. It is a wait and see situation. I don't have much new music, only old nostalgic songs, so it may not be as important to the forces that be. You Don't Know Me by Ray and Diana ( I can shorten it because I've introduced it properly before) and Maria Lando by Susana Baca - for your soul (or mine, anyway).

Purple Haze

Kenz won't let me type; she wants some love. Let me get rid of her. I certainly don't deny the kitties, just have to change the time to suit my needs sometimes. There! The photo above is of last night's sky or just a moment of it. I got some other shots that look nothing like this. The colors changed dramatically over the short period of time. A perfect end to a perfect day.

Today has not been perfect. I woke up with a cold. A half a box of Kleenex kind of cold. It will probably be gone in a few days because I have a great immune system and care for it daily. PEI has been reporting the worst cold and flu season in several years and I know lots of people who have been sticken. I've been very careful. I have strong feelings about not spreading these things but have to go to town on Thursday for a very important medical appointment that has been scheduled for a long time. With our long wait times for tests and procedures, you don't simply reschedule for a little cold. I can ask for a mask.

The other day I talked about covers sometimes not being able to stand up to the writer's version of a song. Today I have an example of the opposite. Sometimes a cover is soooo great. Diana Krall and Ray Charles' version of You Don't Know Me is a real favorite of mine. It is the 8th song I uploaded in the 490 that are on the music page. I don't know if the original version is by Eddy Arnold but it's the version that brings me right back to my parents and life in the 50's or 60's, whenever it was popular; probably early 60's. It was definitely from one the albums my parents played. I've put that up today and have linked Diana and Ray's version.

Bad Squirrel

About fifteen minutes ago there was a squirrel in my basement. It could still be there. I'm going to lock the cats down there directly after posting and hope to know soon after that. I have no idea how it got into my basement. They chew holes in facia boards and places like that to gain entry, I know from my workplace. I opened the outside basement door to entice it out by itself. Bella was in the basement with the dirty, ugly, birdseed stealing, rodent, at the time. The squirrel was being very noisy but it's all quiet now.

It is finally above zero and it is to remain so over the weekend. Hurrah for walking weather. I walked to the beach today but did it at a reasonable pace for a change. It was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Joni Mitchell's, A Case of You, is one of my favorite songs. Today I have it here by four Canadian ladies. Diana Krall's version was already up so here's the link for that. New up today are versions by kd lang, Alison Crowe and of course, Joni herself. Would you believe I just deleted Alison's version by mistake and am now uploading it again. I have too many things going on at once but that's usually the way. May be time for a reboot.

Crowing

I've been watching the crows this afternoon. They're puffed up against the cold and are enjoying the fallen apples under the trees out my window. I have my share here but in Charlottetown they are everywhere. I was able to get some pretty cool photos of them during my walks there. I saw an eagle coming up from Orwell Bay on Monday and I saw a large hawk (one of the hovering types) over a field today.

My property has always been a birdwatcher's delight. I have a pond with fish, a forest, farmer's fields, wild fields, lots of fruit trees, large coniferous and deciduous trees, and small bushes so I get all types that prefer specific habitats. I have all those habitats. I even, some winters, get salt water ducks like cormorants, goldeneye and mergansers. Not yet this year though. Right now I have about a dozen blacks and mallards and the heron.

My camera is a bottom of the line Canon with not much telephoto ability so I rarely get good photos of birds. I've been trying with the digital zoom in addition to the optical and have a problem with camera shake/bluriness. Oh well, I visit some fabulous photography sites that specialize in birds on a regular basis and that will have to do.

Music: Joni's Black Crow by Diana Krall and Joni's Blue by Sarah McLachlan. Joni Mitchell was inducted into the Cdn. Songwriters Hall of Fame this week. I love her songs and I'd say the two Canadian women singing her songs here would probably say they've been influenced by her. Here's a link from the music page of Joni's version of Blue. I'm doing the work today.

A Day Fit For Dogs

Ulu, Another Dog Friend

We're having our first snow. It started late this afternoon and there have already been fender benders between here an Ch'town. My favorite ex (sister-in-law) was just here and her sister and nephew had a near miss avoiding a big truck that ended up in the ditch. The snow season always starts this way and continues until people slow down, realizing that it's winter. I have an appointment for Friday to have my tires changed over, being like the herd and waiting till the last minute. I have an excuse of course. The only day I go to town is Tuesday and my car is full from work related stuff so I can't fit tires in the car and I don't want to go in any other day so I am .......joining the herd and waiting till the last minute.

I've actually started Christmas things. I am right now working on my fourth cd for my aunt and uncle. They like and appreciate the music I burn for them and I have fun getting songs together just for them. They like jazz and latin and there's a whole lot I have and like that they don't like at all so it's a challenge too. Last year they said, "No more Ray Charles." OK!

Music: Something from CD1 and 3 for my aunt and uncle, jazz then latin. Diana Krall's version of A Case of You is the extra track from the great album, Live in Paris, that they gave me for Christmas a few years ago. They will love Chevala Vargas. I've sent them some over the years and more now....Piensa En Mi. I love the beginning of this song as I always think it's Besame Mucho. It sounds so much like it at the start.....then there's her laugh.