A Ducky Day

I've been cleaning my bathroom and need a break! That's not such a big job you're thinking but you'd have to see my bathroom. I have more than a hundred ducks and they're on every surface. They're on the walls, the window, the floor, several shelves, the old fashioned bathtub, the ceiling, the radiator, the towel racks and the back of the toilet. Once a year I do a thorough housecleaning and today is the day. The bathroom was all apart as I had a plumber in this morning finishing the tap installation. My friend had some problems so I had to call a plumber. It seemed like the right day for the big job.

I'm going out for dinner with my son, nephew and sister-in-law. I'm sure it will be a fun evening and the best part - I don't have to cook supper. My sister-in-law works on the north shore and experienced a snow storm/blizzard today. We have none on the south shore. Weird, eh? The last few posts on An Island Walk were from the area where she works and now those photo spots are all covered in snow.

Songs for today: Sweet Little Duck by Kathleen Edwards and Diving Duck Blues by Harry Manx and Kevin Breit. Those are already on the pages. To be replaced is the other song that I'd consider my favorite song on the pages along with Renee Olstead's version of Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby that I talked about a couple of days ago. This is Phoebe Snow's version of There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York. This has been one of my favorite songs since Never Letting Go, the album it's on, came out. I think it's from that album anyway. I have all of her albums and am a big fan. The job she does on this Gershwin song is remarkable. It stills stops me in my tracks every time I play it and that is quite often. Also today is Shirley Horne's version. If you choose only one, let Phoebe's be it. Spectacular, I say.

Favorite Songs

An early post today. I have friends coming for the afternoon who are arriving around two. Another friend was here this morning to put in a new set of bathroom taps for me. When he opened the box, there were no taps in it. He just called and has decided to come this afternoon too. He will pick up taps at another store and put them in. That's good as I have everything pulled out from under the sink and in another room so I'll have it all over with.

I have Page One cleaned up but there is a lot of music missing on Page Two as well. I hope to get to that next week. One song I found removed from Page Two, I am putting back up today. Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby is one of my all time favorite songs. I heard it first from Louis Jordan but Joe Jackson and Renee Olstead have done fabulous covers. My daughter is a great fan of the Renee Olstead version.

Her version was the first song I put on my music page along with Louis Jordan's version. When I started Page Two after the 500 songs on Page One became too ruly, the first song I put on it was Joe Jackson's version. For some reason, out of the 59 songs remaining on Page One, Renee and Louis are still there. Not so for poor Joe on Page Two. I'm linking all three versions and Jack, You Dead by Joe Jackson. This song is from the same era as Is You Is . Joe Jackson did an album of these jumpin' jive songs in the seventies as a tribute to his father. One of my all time favorite albums.

The Land of Dunes

This south shore dweller got a trip up to the north shore dunes yesterday. Went to the beach at several spots between Morell and Lakeside. There are some beautiful properties in that area and some pretty fine 'cottages'. See above photo. The day was cold, windy and grey again. It seems every time I've gone out on these jaunts with my friend, the weather has been cold, windy, and grey. The great thing is that neither of us really mind the weather but it would be nice to get some photos with a blue sky. Everyone that is not accustomed to the island will think the sun never shines.

I can say this here. The grandchildren can't read and the parents know. I just finished packing the grandkid's presents to mail. They are very large ceramic piggy banks that I bought before I thought about how to get them 1300 miles away. I personalized them with paint and have just prepared them for the mail. I'm pretty confident about the packing but you can never be sure. I packed glass for the mail for years without any breakage. The only breakage occurred with a window for Newfoundland, packed and crated by a professional packer who came good for it. I had to make the window again, which I hadn't planned when buying the glass for the first one. A pain all around!

Page One is down to fifty-nine songs - I think. Started at five hundred. It makes me realize how much is missing that I have to replace so it frees up even thinking of new - I'm just replacing old for awhile. In honour of a trip to the dunes here's There Are Places I Remember by the Beatles and for the photo trips I've had lately it's Dylan with a live version from Belgium in 1998 of Blowin In the Wind. Essential don't you think?

Mixed Up

I haven't taken the photos off my camera after today's hike so here's one that could be from today. I did the six km. in an hour and thirty-five minutes. I was alone and walk much faster without a partner - unless that partner is my sis-in-law whom I can't keep up with. I then helped out a stranded friend and got some groceries. I had no list but knew I could get anything I missed tomorrow as I have to go to that town again.

I have been invited out for supper tonight. I have to help cook but that's ok. My bro-in-law is away and when he is, sis-in-law and I eat fish at her house. He can't stand the smell of it cooked there. Maybe tomorrow there will be lobster or something.

I just looked at that photo above and realize it could not have been today because in it, the sun is shining. It was not shining today and the temp was around three. Cool but wonderful for walking. I was in a lather from all the hills when I got back but started out with a hat and gloves.

I've been working on getting rid of the listings for the songs that are gone from my music pages. It's a time consuming job. I got a hundred and seventy-five done last night. I find that a whole lot of essential songs are missing so it is my job to get them back up there. Like Lila Downs' versions of two of my favorite songs ever. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas or Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps if you're so inclined and Besame Mucho. I have twenty-three versions of Besame Mucho and this is by far the best of any. I had five or six versions up but they were all gone. Yes, these songs and an essential few others will be going back on the pages straight away.

It seems funny to see the 0 (zero) in the number of plays for Lila Downs' , Quizas,Quizas, Quizas. It was month after month a favorite song and in July, before it disappeared, had 273 hits. Goodness, I've just discovered that Lila's version of Besame Mucho hadn't disappeared so I'll put up another missing one. Andrea Bocelli's was popular so I've chosen it, but have a listen to Lila's as it is more than spectacular.

One in Five

They say that one in five women you know will get breast cancer. I have a friend who was just diagnosed with cancer in both breasts. I am in total shock. This vital, amazing woman is in for the fight of her life, literally. She is strong and she's a fighter so I'm betting she beats this and teaches all of us a whole lot in the process.

I've been painting for a couple of weeks but keep saying I feel like doing glass work. Last night I got a probable commission. That should satisfy the itch. Makes me get at the painting with earnest too because I can only do one thing in my studio at a time so will have to be done with the paint so I can put it away.

On Monday I usually look forward to tomorrow's hike but my mind is only on my friend. Today's music is for her. And The Healing Has Begun and The Healing Game both by Van Morrison come to mind first. I already have The Healing Game up so here's another Van classic, Did You Get Healed. This is from his Live In Montreaux 1990 bootleg.

Rushed

I've been watching blackbirds gathering like this all week. I've been watching them for a month but this week they are tending to their migration in a much more serious way. They've been hanging out in the pastures behind my house all week. The largest meeting I've ever seen had gathered one day this week but I haven't seen one that big again. I know where there are other big groupings in the neighbourhood and I'd say there will be only a couple more practice runs and they will be gone.

I had a nice day in town yesterday but didn't get all my errands finished so have to go in again sometime next week. I don't really like going into town so often so that's kind of a pain. And with gas prices so high......

Music: I started this blog early and am getting back to it late - busy, busy - so have not thought about music. My son will be here in an hour for supper. Yikes! I'm just going to close my eyes and grab the first thing I come to. I've never done that here before. Ok, I got Michelle Shocked doing a live song, The Quality of Mercy, and Eryka Badu with Back In the Day. That was fun but I like choosing the songs more carefully. My son is here asking me if he can turn the oven on. He's hungry and I'm rushed. Someone talk to that boy, please.

All The Way to Cardigan To Get a Little Seed

Picked up my car last night. Though I was $175.02 poorer, I had a wonderful outing today. I had errands and needed bird seed and picked up a friend who needed some too. Off to the feed store in Cardigan. This little village has a river running through it and a small marina. It was famous when I moved out to the country for being the closest liquor store. The local Cardigan area band - guys my age and friends of mine, wrote a well known PEI song called All the Way to Cardigan to Get a Case of Beer. Everyone of a certain age and their kids, who are all friends too, know this song on PEI. The photo above is from the marina. It's of the only boat not put away. Got some nice photos which will be around on the other blogs - see side bar.

We are to have one more warm 15 degree day then a cold front is coming to visit and will likely stay. I'm getting out to walk as much as possible in the next day. You can always join me on a walk. Just come to the new blog, An Island Walk. Just in case no one knows about that. Oops, read back and see I have shameless self promotion on both paragraphs. What's a girl to do?

I'd love to have a copy of the Rubber Boot Band and All the Way to Cardigan and I'll actually try to find out if anyone has one. But for now, I don't. I do have the shortest song in my music files uploaded today. That song is Dirty Old Town by Ewan MacColl. Also today, Run Myself Out of Town by the Holmes Brothers. All in honour of tomorrow being a town day.

Just realized I didn't say that my seed was not available. Every kind was present except for black oil which I use exclusively. My friend was able to get hers. Supposedly it is available but at an extremely high price of $30. per large bag. It's usually $15. The feed store is not going to order it at that high price. Time to go.

Fallen

I had a nice walk in the local woods today and did a favor for my sis-in-law at the same time. I'd say no one has walked the trail since the big winds we've had over the last couple of weeks. There was deadfall everywhere across the path. My sis-in-law skis this trail and if we'd had snow over all that, you would never be able to ski over it. The only tree I couldn't remove myself is pictured above and you can duck down and ski under it if it doesn't manage to get removed. There are several dead trees with holes where birds make their homes and nests and a lot of them managed to stay up. That's good.

I had planned to walk to the beach but the tide was in. We had a north wind which isn't the best wind for walking to the beach so when the tide managed to be in that sealed the deal.

I just called about my car and it is just being looked at now. It feels strange not to have a car in the yard. I have no where I have to go and I can get rides if I do have to go somewhere so it's not that. It just feels a little scary not to have your car available. It certainly means security and freedom to me.

I love this Ruthie Foster song and uploaded it before but....it has disappeared. really isn't about fallen trees but the title can make us pretend. Her song, To The FallenHarder Than The Fall isn't about trees either but it's by Ruthie Foster and that's reason enough to listen to it.

Snows and Woes

We are having our first wintery weather. It snowed an inch, turned to rain and it seems to have stopped with a half inch still on the ground. It was supposed to turn to freezing rain but we may have missed that step in the bad weather.

I went on a short walk today and not my usual Tuesday hike. I am having car problems once again and the car had to be taken to the shop. I had to get a ride home with a friend before the forecast freezing rain. The walk was to a lovely spot. It is a bird sanctuary with a series of pretty ponds and a dam. Very nice except that it was snowing quite hard so visibility was not great.

The car is probably going to be expensive as the mechanic thinks it is the starter and there's something specific about Toyota starters that make them so. Oh, dear! Everything is starting to break down in this car but what can you do? You Roll With the Punches. That's what Randy Newman says. You could also buy a new car. Geoff and Maria Muldaur say to get a Chevrolet but I kind of like my Toyota. Funny that I sent you to a website yesterday to hear Geoff and Maria Muldaur not knowing I would be playing them today.

Sunday Monday

I'm listening to some great music on another blog right now so should give it a shout out. I've pointed you here before, to Keep the Coffee Coming, where like here, there are two songs a day. Not like me, a slacker, Kat has four songs on the weekends, she doesn't miss a day, and she's a great writer. I've checked in every day for a couple of years. It's like an old friend. Here's the post of the song I'm listening to and here's a link to the blog. When I fix up my sidebar.....

The weather is not nice today so I didn't walk. Didn't dance either. I'm always tired on Monday after Sunday's shift. Cooked, cleaned, did laundry - Monday stuff. These are the cold, windy days of November. It's too sudden after the wonderful unseasonable weather we've had. Brrr.

I'm going to have a four song day today after all. I was looking for a certain song with Sunday in the title. I found it and three others. Two were up on Page One previously, but have been removed. They were popular too, as both artists do a great job of this song. Here's Sunday Morning Coming Down by Johnny Cash and by Kris Kristofferson & Steve Earl. Also, Working Sunday, by Dorado which is what I was looking for for this post and Sunday Morning by K-os.

Weathery Weekend

Blueberry Field in November

Here it is another Saturday and we're awaiting a storm. Last week it was post hurricane Noel and today a Nor-easter is expected. I will get some water ready in case we lose the power again and I have food and a stove so I'm all set. It's just a bit of weather.

I've been trying to get rid of some files. The photos are easy enough but the music is darned near impossible. I am strict enough when I first get music that if I don't like it I don't keep it which means I like everything I have. Once in a great while after several listens to something I can let it go but this doesn't happen all that often. I backup every month or so on an external hard drive so they're safe but it seems things are slowing down when I have multiple windows open so it would be nice to have some more something. I'm not sure if it's room on the hard drive.

For music I have cuts from Atlantic Canada to share. Shaye is a group of three women. Tara MacLean is from PEI and is Brody's (who is linked on the side) cousin. Kim Stockwood and Damhnait Doyle are Newfoundlanders. They formed a group and made their debut album in 2003. Sinead Lohen's song, No Mermaid was a cover on that first release. Here is Shay's version and Sinead's which was already up. Jenn Grant is another Prince Edward Islander with a song or two. Here is Rainy Day for the expected weather.

Lost

Well, I have a tale to tell. I was lost in the woods yesterday with a friend. We were on her land so she knew that we would come out eventually somewhere recognizable but it was scary. My friend has a serious heart condition and she was very, very tired - extremely tired. I was never so glad to come out of the woods. We had walked through swamps so our feet were soaked and I thought that pretty soon she wouldn't be able to go any further. We did get to see her beaver pond of which a beaver run is pictured above.

This is the same friend who went into quicksand last week. She always has adventures like that she says. Hard for someone like me who does not like unplanned events to take place to that extreme. Lost in the woods!

I had planned a walk to the beach today but needed a day at home. I have a beef stew cooking and it smells wonderful. I was invited to a dinner and an overnight at a friend's but have bowed out gracefully. Don't feel like having a tired day tomorrow. I want to take that walk to the beach. It is forecast that Sunday is bringing another severe storm.

A song I really like and have already put up is Walk Around the Lake by the band Lost In the Trees. Out of the Woods by Sinead Lohan is a song already have in the music pages as well. They both have appropriate titles for today's post. For new ones today it's Martha Wainwright with Whither Must I Wander and good old Tom Waits with A Sight For Sore Eyes from his 2001 album, Used Songs 1973 - 1990. Tom always has an appropriate song.

Wearing Out the Shoe Leather

The pasture at my friend's house has sustained hurricane damage. The apple tree has been toppled. My friend said they were certainly wishing for a camera the next day. A large number of cows were gathered all around in a circle looking at it and assessing the damage. Photo worthy indeed!

I figured out the pedometer/mileage question. It is five miles not kilometers that 10,000 steps measures. That is equal to eight kilometers and that makes sense. In sixty-one steps I'll have reached that magic number for today. I did serious housework and laundry this morning and some serious walking in the afternoon. Endorphens are swirling around. I have another outing planned for one day this week to hike new trails that are promised to be fabulous.

For walking you need shoes. You can find shoes in music. Patty Griffin brings us Burgundy Shoes and Lori McKenna has Ruby's Shoes. Both very, very nice songs. Cool that both shoe songs have shades of the colour red in their titles too.

I Play Myself

I didn't realize I had passed the milestone of 500 posts on this blog. This is 504. It would have been the same time as my one year on Shutterchance last week. Blogger has been experiencing problems in the photo upload department for the last couple of weeks. It seems I can't upload one now. There is a scheduled outage tonight and perhaps it will be fixed. Until then I'll try again, hopefully not in vain.

While on our hike today, we encountered a few trees down from the wind on the weekend. Nothing we couldn't get by or over. It was a really beautiful morning for walking. Even though the walk is 5.4 km it is only 8000 steps with the pedometer I'm using. I had understood 10,000 steps was 5 km. I'm not sure how to determine whether I should change the stride length. I would assume I have a medium stride and that's what it's set for. What other reason would 5.4 km. equal only 8000 steps? No matter how many steps, the hills we climb are a great workout.

I haven't given a lot of thought to the music today. I've written nothing about movies but that's the theme for the music today. Here art the Great Lake Swimmers with Moving Pictures Silent Film and Tim Seely with On Film I Play Myself from his album Funeral Music.

Aftermath

I had an appointment in town today and forgot my camera at home so didn't get any storm photos. There were trees down here and there but not as many as after Hurricane Juan. There was part of a roof and part of a wall blown off a barn that looked as though they were ready to blow off anyway. One poplar about 6 -7 inches in diameter broke here on my property and there are a few small branches about but that's it. Came through fine.

We lost our power during the night and it remained out till ten after one in the afternoon. I went to work then. Luckily I have a propane campstove so could boil water for coffee and sponge bathing. I learned during Hurricane Juan to have a day's coffee already ground and stored in the freezer. It's very frustrating to be able to make coffee and have nothing but unground beans.

Tomorrow is hiking day and I'm quite anxious to get out. The weather is to be cooler this week so it's wonderful for fast walking. The photo above is the one I had taken just before my friend fell into the sinkhole. I had passed by the spot where she got sucked in before she came down so am very lucky it didn't happen to me. I might have cried rather than laugh like she did. She has property with beaver ponds so I'm going to walk her property with her later in the week.

I haven't put up any Gotan Project for a while. Here's Una Musica Brutal from the album La Revancha Del Tango and from the album Lunatico, here's Amor Porteno which also features Calexico, another band I love. Every playlist should have one of Gotan Project's songs.

Tropical Storm Watch

We are on tropical storm watch as we have been downgrades from a hurricane. Parts of the Maritimes will be getting winds of 150 km per hour. Those are some pretty fierce winds. My deck is naked and looks so strange. My sis-in-law helped me move the trays of rocks off to the barn and my son is here now to help me with the rest. The barbecue is next. I usually only clear the deck at the first sign of snow so it's a bit early to be staring at a bare deck.

I have a staff meeting in a while and don't know how long it will last so am posting early. When I come back, I'll be cooking supper for the boy and I. He likes his mama's cooking.

I don't know how many versions of Stormy Weather I have. It's an old American standard that I really like. I can not believe there are none up thus far but I'll remedy that. Here's a girl version and a boy version. Dinah Washington or Willie Nelson. I believe Leon Russell is playing piano in Willie's version.Which one do you like? If neither appeal to you I have many more.
I just discovered I have uploaded both of these versions to Page One. I must investigate if they are still reachable through the page.

A November Hurricane

Hurricane Noel is heading to the east coast. Cape Breton, the western part of Nova Scotia that we see from our eastern shores is getting the brunt but we have just a narrow strait between us so we are going to get hit with a wallop. I was out stripping the deck this afternoon. There are hundreds of rocks on the deck and they can make pretty deadly missiles when the winds are over 100 km per hour. That is what is predicted. I would say we will lose our electricity so I must remember to unplug the electronics. I find we often get some vicious storms in November though not usually hurricanes.

I took my elderly friend to see the rescued horses today. He loves horses and these ones are beauts so it was time he saw them. I also took him up and down the hills that I walk in an attempt to show him why I go there. It is kind of an issue with him. He can't imagine why I drive 50 km in a round trip to walk in the woods when there are perfectly good woods around here. My sister-in-law stirs it all up with him. She said to him one day, "I've just come from the woods with Cuidado. I wanted to show her that she doesn't have to drive to find woods. We have perfectly good ones around here." Ha Ha Ha. He was then convinced he was right and that I should stay here so has been bugging me about it. Now after the drive today he is ok. He couldn't believe we had hills that steep on PEI. It's all so funny to sis-in-law and I. She actually has been out to those woods with me but she loves to have a good time so is getting it through lighting that fire under my old friend.

He had quite a laugh when I told him about the sinkhole incident yesterday. He is a relative of the woman who got sucked into the mud so could picture it all quite well.

Today for music is the very nice instrumental, I've Always Loved the Fall by the band, Lost In the Trees. I love the cello in the beginning. I say let's bring this weather on. Here's Hurricane by Alicia Wiley. Ha! An Alicia two days in a row.

Quicksand

The woman pictured above is walking into the Morell river to wash her feet, legs, pants, arms and shoes after a freak incident. We were walking on a beach and one of her legs fell into a sinkhole of quicksand. It was up to her thigh. She had a really hard time getting her leg out and once she did, her shoe stayed in so she had to reach in as far as her arms could go to retrieve the shoe. You can imagine what a mess she was. She washed first in the river then we went to a restaurant where she washed more thoroughly in a bathroom.

She has a wonderful sense of humour, luckily, and she and I and the other friend with us would burst into spontaneous laughter every time we would think of it. She was very lucky to have not gotten hurt as a similar incident happened with my mother-in-law a few years ago and she severely injured her knee. She was in a cast for months. We're also lucky that on November first, the weather was warm enough for someone to be able to wash off in a river.

We drove to the St. Peters/Morell area for a day of sightseeing and shopping at a big yearly craft blow-out sale. We had lots of fun with so much fun and laughter. We caused smiles wherever we went because due to the dirt on her clothing, my friend felt she had to explain. The laughter would begin anew.

Fallin' by Alicia Keys is my first pick for a song today. An old Dylan song sung by the Byrds, You Ain't Goin' Nowhere, is song number two. Both come to mind when I think of my friend in the quicksand. I'm just so glad she wasn't hurt; only her pride was a bit bruised.

Happy Halloween 2007

I love this photo of Kenz taken two years ago. It was scanned in low resolution so is not great from that respect but the pose is pure Kenz.

I had a regular sized pumpkin on my Shutterchance blog today and some commented that they'd never seen pumpkins so big. It was smaller than the one behind Kenz. I happened to have taken some photos of a giant pumpkin this afternoon in front of a grocery store. I made a post on a blog I use for photo challenges and linked to it for the people who had never seen a big pumpkin. This pumpkin is on a standard pallet and I asked a man who was walking into the grocery store to pose to further show scale. It's not the biggest one I've seen but it's pretty big. Here's the link.

It's been an incredibly busy day in that I'm just getting to this now. I've run lots of errands and completed lots of jobs. That's a good feeling. I had a problem with my car checked out and have to listen for this and that tomorrow. Oh, oh...I'm not very good at car diagnosis or even listening for errant sounds.

There is so much great music on Lonely Girls. I'm not finished with it yet. Today it's Norah Jones with Don't Miss You At All. Harry Manx is contributing too, with Don't Forget to Miss Me. Love that Harry Manx!

A New Blog

I'm cured as I thought I would be. I have a super immune system and can fight most bugs off very quickly. Several people now have told me of these various bugs going around and I hope they stay away from me as I'm certainly going to try to stay away from them.

I started a new blog today called An Island Walk. I wanted A Walk in the Woods but it was taken. An Island Walk gives me more options too. I can use beach photos. It will be three photos and three songs a day...... another reason to keep walking. Today's hike was only an hour as my walking partner had an appointment to keep. I canceled my afternoon walk as we had a little shower at the end of the morning and I thought they would continue. There is always tomorrow.

More music from the Lonely Days playlist. I have it down to over five hours now from the original over seven. Today is Beck with Go It Alone and How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away by the always wonderful, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. The subject of lonely certainly did not limit me to sad songs. These two are lively and full of great rhythms Have a listen.

Death or Cure?

I'm a little under the weather. Right after I came home from work last night I felt a sore throat and this morning have an earache and a gastro-intestinal bug. Work with the public....oh, joy! I'm healthy and fight most bugs off. I think that's what will happen here.

The weather is cold suddenly. It's four degrees. It was expected but it's still a shock after such warm weather. I didn't wear my sweater home last night it was so warm. The furnace is on and I haven't been out. I had plans to go on a hike but we canceled because of my illness. We scheduled it for the afternoon as I have another one planned for ten....the big, every week hike. I'll be tired tomorrow night I'm sure but it will get that required amount of exercise in.

Today, I read nearly a whole book. I lay on the couch, wrapped in a blanket with the cats coming by for occasional pats. I'm sure it will work. If I need medicine I'll get it in the form of Old Crow Medicine Show. Here's I Hear Them All and the little and live, God's Got It. Yes, that's good medicine. Note to my sister: It's country of some kind. I'm never good at classifying. You might like it. I really love this one that I put up in August. I play it a lot.

Horsing Around

My son just left in a quandry. He is going to a Halloween party and has no costume. He's been to the stores, his friend got something but he just couldn't find anything. I gave him one suggestion and the props to go with it but that didn't satisfy him so they've just had supper and are off to try to figure something out.

My daughter in Calgary is going to a party too and was out buying costumes last night. I didn't talk to her after she got one. Maybe when I'm finished here I'll give her a call its just the afternoon there.

I had a friend over for the afternoon. We did some gardening things - dividing plants, planting this year's spent mums and things like that. I have a lot more to do yet.

I've been listening to the Lonely Days playlist every time I'm on the computer since I made it the other day. I keep playing one song at least twice per session.. It is such a truthful, brave song for the writer to write. I love it. I like emotional ballads, you've probably figured out by now. Here's Colin Hay with I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You. Amazing song! How long has it been since I played a Bob Dylan song? Too long. Here's one of the best - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight. Ha. I just looked. I last put up a Dylan song on the 16th.

TGIF

I didn't post yesterday as I was invited to a dinner party, then a 40th birthday party and had to run a few errands and voila, not home at posting time.

Even after I posted the day before that I had taken a break from walking, I ended up doing a one km. walk after supper but took a real break yesterday and didn't walk other than parties and errands. I worked a couple of hours today and will walk tomorrow - maybe.

Saw a friend's five month old baby girl last night and my daughter's friend's three month old today. It's fun seeing new babies. I didn't get to hold either but the one today was contented, smiling and gurgling and being passed around to family members quite happily. Little Bella (named after my cat I say) last night was almost asleep, then asleep, then hungrily awake.

Music today is for how I feel. I'm just glad I have chowder left for tonight's supper. Here's Lazy Bones by Leon Redbone. To stress how lazy feeling I am I'll stick with the band, Redbone, for the next song. Here' s the old seventies hit, The Witch Queen of New Orleans.

Leisurely Day

A day off has been just what the doctor ordered. I've had a great time. The only chores I did were folding a basket of laundry, washing dishes, paying bills, and making a seafood chowder for dinner. Easy! Coincidentally, I had a chat on the phone with a friend and she was going to be making seafood chowder for dinner too.

I made a seven hour playlist on the theme of Loneliness. Who knew there were so many songs with lonely or missing in the title. I started out making an October playlist and the first three songs had lonely or loneliness in the title. It grew from there.

It's cloudy and cooler today - ten degrees, and it's the first day that it's truly felt like autumn. It had to come sooner or later and it's not bad weather or anything; it's seasonable.

With over seven hours of songs chosen for the Lonely Days playlist, I should have no trouble coming up with a couple of songs. First let me refer you to the post of 07 April '07 as it features "lonely" songs too. Since I've never put up a song by the wonderful songstress, Maria Muldaur, here's, You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. Also there's Dr. John with an appropriate song, Those Lonely Lonely Nights.

Running Out Of Steam

We did the two and a half hour hike today in three hours. After yesterday's same hike that followed an eight hour shift on Sunday where I didn't sit down and Saturday's hour and a half, I've done enough for this week. This route is incredibly hilly so you get a tremendous workout and I can certainly feel overuse in a few joints. The steep hills are good leg and butt toners so we're happy about that but my hip needs rest. Someone has promised me a pedometer and will bring it someday soon. I'd be interested in finding the mileage on this hike. We went back through the woods as it is shorter and a bit less hilly than yesterday's route. Yep, taking a bit of a break from the hills.

I injured my eye today. I'm sure I scratched the cornea or something like that. It may be scratched or stabbed. I bent down to pick some clover for the horses and went eye-first into a stalk of something very sharp. I should rest my eye too.

Breakable is the first very appropriate song today. Have to remind myself sometimes not to overdo. It's by Ingrid Mickelson. Second song is by Feist - I Feel It All.

October Daisies

This is a photo from today's hike. I saw a whole lot of daisies two weeks ago but didn't get a picture. Daisies are usually gone by this time of year but this year we are in the twenties temperature wise in late October. Amazing! It's wonderful. You don't expect each hike in October to have to wear tank tops or else sweat to death. That's what it's been like though. Did I say amazing! ?! I did two and a half hours today. It was almost the same route as last week's hike in the rain. There was a real difference, in one week, of the number of trees with leaves. We had very strong winds this weekend and a lot of leaves were blown off. Still pretty though as there are even trees with green leaves that haven't changed yet. The colour season is extended this year.

I should be outside giving a last mowing and if I can talk myself into it, I'll do it after supper. We're expecting rain for a couple of days and lower temps after that so not mowing weather and it definitely has to be mowed again. Oh, strength! I have to get some gardening done after the rain too but that won't be a pain in the a$$ like mowing is.

For music I have a couple of songs by Eilen Jewell. I had her song Too Hot to Sleep up in August. Today, for wondering how long this great autumn is going to las, is How Long and for today's wonderful hike it's Walking Down the Line.

Keep Walking

Just returned from an hour and a half in the woods. It is twenty degrees and quite humid so it was a very hot and sweaty hike. A beer tastes good right now.

I just got a dinner invitation for tomorrow that I can't attend because of work. I think it was just yesterday I was talking of Sunday dinners. Oh, well. What can you do?

My daughter pointed out that the song I played for her yesterday was the link to Serena Ryder's website. I was obviously not paying close enough attention. I got her song from Page One and announced that all the songs were back. There is nothing further from the truth. Most are still missing. Not paying close enough attention.

I just finished listening to part of a concert on radio of Mary Gauthier. It was great. I'd seen her a few years back at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival and found out from the radio show that her biggest hit was written while attending that concert. I have only one song of hers on my hard drive and here it is, A Different Kind of Gone. Keep Walking by Emily McGuire is my other pick today because that's what I plan to do. Like listening to Mary Gauthier, it feels good. I love the lyrics of this. They fit to a tee.

What's Your Favorite Day?

Friday! My favorite day of the week. It always has been since school days when we went out on Friday nights and our parents went out on Saturday nights, while we babysat. I'm not going out tonight though other, than a couple of little neighbourhood visits after dinner.

Each day of the week seems to have it's own feel to it. Just yesterday a friend said that she could never work on Sundays as it just wouldn't feel right. It doesn't bother me at all. If I had family around Sunday dinners would be nice but since I don't. I have one son here but he's as happy to come on Saturdays.

I feel lighter. I got my hair cut today and it actually does make your head feel lighter. It's a great feeling, eh? I bought some gel soles for my new running shoes too so I've taken care of myself from head to toe.


Just writing of the days of the week reminded me of a couple of songs from Serena Ryder. Just Another Day and Some of These Days are a couple of her songs from her album, If Your Memory Serves You Well. Very appropriate for today. I also have a song for my daughter. This one's for you. Many Kisses. Choosing that song has just given me the best news. All of my songs on Page One are back. I stupidly some so there are a few missing but it is 498 more that I can choose from for my Shutterchance Blog. Out of almost 400 it's hard to find the right one some times. Thank you Putfile!!!

For My Listening Pleasure

I've had one of those days where you do something in the morning that affects your whole day. I went to town and forgot my list.

I don't use lists for many things but I have a town list where I jot things down and don't really look at again till I pick it up and take it to town. As a result I don't really know what's on it. It could be weeks old and things as scattered as shampoo, hose clamp, birthday card, and a toilet bowl brush. Nothing related and not things you can easily think of out of their context. Anyway it was a pain but not earth shattering. I had plenty of other things to do and enjoyed being outside on this stunning day.

The forecast is another great day tomorrow then rain for Saturday which is our planned hiking day. I hope my friend is willing to hike in the rain again. I need to get out there while it's still nice. Speaking of which, I should be outside right now.

I forgot to mention that at last night's dinner with friends we cooked that fresh fish outside on an open fire . It was really nice. When I took my clothes off at bedtime it all came back too, as they smelled of smoke from the fire.

There seems to be a problem putting a photo up again today. It worked yesterday when I put it up later in the evening so I may have to do that again.

What do you feel like listening to? I'd take suggestions. I feel like some Latin. Son Para Ti (Tune For You) by Sierra Maestro is a lovely ballad and that's what I'm a sucker for in any language. Toro Mata is a well known Latin song and also the name of a movie. I have other versions of the song but Toro Mata by Peru Negro is done with a very rhythmic Peruvian folk sound that I love. She's a little reminiscent of my favorite, Susana Baca. They sing the same type of working class folk style that makes Peruvian music so popular. It's popular on my dance tapes and playlists anyway.

Back Again Later

Just returned from supper where I had trout caught in this lake this morning. I actually saw my friend fishing there when I drove by. Oh, oh. Maybe I'll have to put the photo up later. Blogger is having a problem and they're working on it.

I found out that the man I took my elderly friend to see last week is in a nursing home. That is why he was not at home when we went to his house. We visited him at his new residence today and had a great visit. I had errands to run deep in the country, wanted to stop at a site for some photos and generally, we had a wonderful day driving through the gorgeous autumn landscape. Tis good for the soul, this kind of weather. Then I had a dinner where I was not the cook. Fabulous!

Just tried the photo again - no go. There is a scheduled outage about an hour from now. Probably after that.....

Music: Calexico always amazes me. Most bands have a sound. Calexico has two. They have their folky side and their Latin side and they're hardly related. They amaze, I say. Here's Deep Down from their folky side and Guero Canelo from their Latin side. I add their latin sounds to dance cd's that I make. Good dance rhythms.

Buckets of Rain - Miles of Roads

I was too tired for my hike yesterday so did it today. I didn't really listen to the weather forecast so got caught in a few rain showers. We were out for two and a half hours and it was absolutely great. You could ring out our socks when we got in. Today's route was new to me in that we were on a road that vehicles can travel on as well. That's not usual for us but this route took us to our regular woods roads and afforded some really great views of wet, curvy, red dirt roads with gorgeously coloured trees.


We plan to go again on Saturday but I just hear that rain is expected for that day. My friend can't go tomorrow and I can't go Thursday or Friday so, we'll see what Saturday brings. We were both willing to walk in the rain today so we maybe will do that again. It certainly was a great workout today and I want more!

I've got some rain songs in honour of today's soaking wet footwear. One of my favorite Dylan songs is Buckets of Rain. I put up this one by Jimmy LaFave in June on the first day of summer. Here is Bob's version and one by Beth Orton and M. Ward. Love that song!

My Environment

Ah, I was just reminded that I was to post something about the environment for the Blog Action Day On the Environment. I'd forgotten. I was instead going to come on and complain of being tired. I could kill several birds with one stone here. Photos and music can say a lot. No one will have to listen to my complaining, it will take less time, and we'll save precious energy. Productive all the way around.

Spring

A Walk Around the Lake


Shady Grove


Butterfly


The Red Earth


The Sky Is Crying

Versions and Varieties

Just had a nice little tour of a local apple orchard where the growers usually have my favorite variety, Gravensteins. The only ones they had left were in their fridge as they were small, end of season leftovers. Some other people drove in after me looking for the same thing. Luckily they had ten pounds, enough for both of us. It was a nice outing as they also grow roses and there are several still in bloom.....in mid-October. The apples above are from my trees. Lots of good ones but no Gravensteins.

My work schedule has changed to noon tomorrow rather than three. That's wonderful, as I like my dinner at home, in the evening, with good food. I was tired after work today and lied down for a half nap. The sun is not shining. I think it makes a difference in my energy level, which is normally very high.

The music today is Nina Simone. I listened to her version of yesterday's song and got playing some other songs and am, as always, enthralled by her emotion. I think she is the most emotional singer there ever was. I have a YouTube video bookmarked that I watch quite often and linked here last year. I Loves You Porgy is one of my favorite all time songs and I love her version the best. Here's the video. Nina Simone versions of almost any song are often the best versions. Yesterday? I keeping with fruit and seasonal affective disorder - here's Strange Fruit and Mood Indigo. Nina.

Three

Just signed up for a blog action day on the environment. Participants post something on the environment on Monday. My photos are primarily of our environment and I should be able to write something that fits.......if I remember.

I'm sleepy right now. I got up at three, went back to bed at four-thirty but never got back to sleep so rose again, at the usual five-thirty, to start the day. I had been on a normal schedule for about a week so am disappointed that this is starting again. I have to be to work very early tomorrow morning so will get to bed early and sleep. Even if I wake early tomorrow, I'll be well rested.

Any chance to put up Randy Newman is one I'll grab. This was already up at one time but is gone. I Think It's Going To Rain Today is a wonderful song that describes the day here and we have three versions. Randy Newman, Nina Simone and Madeleine Peyroux. Which one do you like?

Like A Fish Out of Water

We've had a fabulous day today. The two frosts of the last week have nudged the leaves into responding with gorgeous colour. I was out and about and driving through the countryside was pure pleasure. It's heaven here in spring, summer and the fall. Hell in winter although there are some good days even then.

I hurt my ankle by stretching it in bed this morning. I have it diagnosed from the internet and will also find there, I hope, the proper exercises to heal it. It doesn't really hurt to walk, thank goodness, as I have to work the next three days. This aging disease or condition is no fun whatsoever!!!! I do all I can to stay in good condition, specifically walking, hiking or dancing and my ankle has to pop in bed while I'm stretching. My feet are my sole providers of exercise.

My kids may be impressed with one of my musical selections today. Can I Kick it Like That by Pharrell vs A Tribe Called Quest is more their style than mine but hey, I actually had it up already in February and it's been removed. It's good on dance mixes but mostly asks a question that today I'd have to answer no. I'll do no kicking. Jay Gilday has something softer with Only Way To Raise It Up. Again that would be a no.

Sated

Went on my day out with my friend. We didn't have luck on our side with his friends being at home but the drive was wonderful. I had suggested calling one of his fellows last night but he wanted to surprise him. I'm going to call tonight and get a firm time. I had a camera and hardly any battery power and there are several photos I want to take.

I got sidetracked. Have had company and am starting again. I have had a monkey on my back for the last while and just haven't said anything. I'm addicted to my digital camera and I left my one hour battery charger at my dad's when I was there the weekend of the 22nd. I've been having to really pick and choose which photos to take. It was hard. Today's trip was a good example as I drove all over the countryside but was able to take a couple of photos. When I returned home, said battery charger was in the mail. Yeah and Whew! Monkey still there but sated again.

Music: I was putting only old sixties and seventies music up on the playlist that I started when I sat down. Here's one: Don't Be Cruel by Elvis the Pelvis - love the rhythm in this soooo much! For someone with more modern tastes Harry Manx is up again with A Little Cruel. On the playlist is also Dusty Springfield with The Look of Love. A bit of nostalgia today. Spending time with a ninety something year old person will do that to you.

Autumn's Child

My sweet little granddaughter turns two today. Her grandfather, my ex, was seeing her and her nearly four year old brother for the first time this weekend. I could never have waited that long. Never! How could I have not had a look at that sweet face?

Believe it or not, I'm not sick of turkey yet. It's on the menu tonight, as a matter of fact. Dinner at my friend's was wonderful. The turkey was really great. Yesterday's meal was better in the sense that I didn't prepare it or have to clean up afterward. I brought homemade pie , pickles and cranberry sauce, a new cd and bells on my toes.

I did my walking this morning and had plans for the afternoon but then said the heck with it, relaxed instead and read a bunch of medical literature that I'd been putting off as I never had time. Today, I had time. Tomorrow I'm taking my elderly friend visiting and helping him with some errands. We're starting at 9:30 and I'll be wanting a nap by afternoon, not him. He had a lot of energy for someone in his nineties.

I made a cd for Thanksgiving. I picked out songs about autumn, food, thanks, harvests, fields and crops. It turned out that a good percentage of the songs are country or bluegrass or have a folk/country feel to them. Not surprising, I guess, but it certainly the most country cd I've ever made. Here is Patty Griffin with Making Pies because that's what I did for two days and still have to make one more. The Field Behind The Plow by Stan Rogers is because well, it's Stan Rogers and Golden Autumn Day is for my sweet little granddaughter. Happy birthday, Little One.

My son is downloading stuff on his laptop using my wireless so this is taking a long time and of course, this is a day when I planned three songs. I'll be back....

Oh what fun! A friend just called and is on his way over with an incredible story with which he needs my help and won't tell me any more. I'm intrigued. I hope it doesn't require money or spiked heels.

Only one post has taken this long. It was when my son was downloading something else a while back. He doesn't have high-speed, you seed. I started around three-thirty and it's now 6:o1. My friend should soon be here!!!

Cooling Down

The weather has turned to autumn this weekend. We went from the mid twenties last week to nine degrees today. The leaves will really turn this week I'd say. The walking tomorrow should be really great with the cooler temps. Friday was way too warm, especially when we were walking so fast.

I saw theses horses on Friday for the first time in a long time. When I was there on Monday they were further away in their pasture and I couldn't see them. On Friday this is as close as they got and would come no further. They are in beautiful shape for rescued horses.

Guess what I had for lunch. If you guessed leftover turkey you'd be correct. It's just as good the second day.

For music today I've put up some kd lang from her Canadian songwriter tribute from a few years ago, hymns of the 49th parallel. This is how much I love this album. I had the cd, but saw one at a secondhand cd store and bought another one just to give it away. I can't even remember who I gave it to. Love Is Everything is my favorite song on the album. kd does it even better than Jane Siberry, the songwriter. It makes me melt. She does a nice version of Neil Young's Helpless, which I'm putting up today and her rendition of Leonard Cohen's, Halleluja is the favorite version of many, including my sister-in-law. Some days are just kd lang days ........ Canada's finest voice, in my opinion.

Only Room For Liquid

I am so stuffed! I just had a little sliver of pumpkin pie as I was cutting it for my guests to take home. I couldn't eat any more nor could anyone else; that's why there were doggie bags. Everything was really delicious and everything came together perfectly with no mishaps. I thought the turkey was overcooked but it wasn't at all, just well browned.

My son mowed my lawn!!! I had to bribe him a bit. I told him that I'd be really THANKFUL and that I'd give him a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner afterward. One of my guests brought me a bottle of Baileys. I'm going to relax for the first time today and sit back and sip some of that wonderful elixer.

I've got a couple of songs that would fit the Thanksgiving Dinner theme. The Canadian band, Great Lake Swimmers, has a great song, Put There By The Land. Sounds like they could be talking about the array of vegetables and even the turkey that graced the table today. It's All Over But The Smoke by Jules Shear (with Ron Sexsmith) reminds me of a conversation tonight. There was only one smoker among us. It's always a topic of conversation with current smokers, ex smokers and all concerned having an opinion.

It's a Whew!

It's been a busy but wonderful day. I went turkey shopping and errand running this morning and walked a two hour hike this afternoon. At twenty-one degrees, it was warmer for hiking than my usual morning time but there was a nice breeze at certain parts. I walked a part that I'm a bit unfamiliar with and got us lost twice but knew I wasn't really lost. After a hundred feet or so I would realize that this just wasn't the right road, so would turn around. I had a very trusting walking partner who knew I'd get us out alive. LOL

I'll sleep well tonight. My walking partner is a very fast walker and in really good shape. I was out of breath a few times but soldiered on. I could have a nap now but won't because I'm cooking a curry for supper and then making pies this evening. A couple of pumpkin and maybe an apple are on the list though I may bake the apple tomorrow because I can't really pick apples in the dark and I need to rest right now. I also have to make cranberry sauce and get things prepared for dressing. It's a little overwhelming that I have to organize and get all these things done with such little notice. I should pay more attention to things like the calendar sometimes. I pay close attention to other things but can't do it all. I wanted to make a special cd for tomorrow's dinner too. We'll see. Food first.

Music: Bettye LaVette is so darned fabulous! I listen to her a lot. She is so, so soulful. I think all of her songs are covers and most, she does a better job than the writer of the song, An example is Lucinda Williams' Joy. Here's Bettye with a cover of Tracey Chapman's Down to Zero and I Can't Stop. Those songs seem to fit with Thanksgiving dinner on short notice prep.

Just realized there is more hacking/fooling around with the music pages host. Now it seems the name of the file is unable to be saved. I tried twice. My pages information is back online. Who knows?