Spring Update

I noticed that my last update was over three months ago. I promise to bring something soon. For now, know that I am very busy, but isn't everyone at this time of year.

I live in a really beautiful place in the world and am pleased that I enjoy every day, cold and windy as many have been. In 1976, the year I moved here, it rained every day in June. I thought I'd ruined my life by moving to some Godforsaken land but July came and we had the most beautiful summer!

Soon, I will return with the requisite doting grandmother photo and a more thorough update.

Miss Happyness

It's time to do my most important and vital job as a grandmother and show you some pictures of my granddaughter. I have not seen her in person since the week she was born but her mother regularly emails me pictures, video and makes Skype calls. Isn't she adorable? She smiled and smiled in the birthing room and has been smiling ever since. Quite unusual, I think.


These shots were taken this week. She will be two months old on Saturday. She had her check up yesterday and got immunizations. She is big, tall, still very strong, and still very smiley. Her mother is incredibly lucky to have recieved such a happy child. We will see each other in the spring but not until then unless one of wins a lottery.

Until then I listen to her nursing and chatting with her mother while my daughter and I talk on the phone every day. She gurgles, talks and tells stories, an early talker like two of my kids and my other grandchildren. Most of all I love all these smiling shots that my daughter sends every day.

Thank you, my Darling for sending the beautiful smiles that brighten each day. You are doing an awesome job with the sweet, wee one. This one's for you. Share some with my granddaughter too:

Lila Downs - Besame Mucho

A New Generation

I am a bit tardy with checking in as I said I would do, but I find the decision to end regular posting was the right one for the time being. I have a grueling work schedule and am okay with that but it does make a post here next to impossible.



You may have guessed by now that I have an announcement, which is as good a reason as any to get back here with an update. I have recently had the extreme pleasure at attending the birth of my third grandchild. Though I had attended births before, this was a more amazing experience as I watched my daughter become a mother.

I stayed with my daughter's new family for a week afterward to help but ended up falling in love. This new little girl has stolen my heart. Her middle name is mine and I am so honoured and proud. I find her the perfect start to a new human being.

Dan Hicks - I'm Sayin Hello

Kate Poole - Gone But Never Forgotten

A selection of songs that remind me of Kate.

John Prine - Angel from Montgomery
Nanci Griffith - Turn Around
Martin Sexton - Amazing Grace

My Lovelies are Lovely

It Comes Full Circle

Better In the End - Changes

I telephoned my sister on Thursday night saying that by reading my blog, especially now that I update so infrequently, she would never know what was really happening in my life if I did not call her. It made me think of how little of my real self is shared in this space. I've not talked very specifically about my jobs, my arts, my everyday family, or my social life. I prefer to remain anonymous.

My aim with the blog was always to play music. Music so inspires me when I'm cre8ing! Since I practice three art forms, I was always working on something, with music generally playing in the background. I love to share the great music I find and it seemed like a good fit. Also, the blog was to eventually show my painting, glass and jewelry. In my bid to stay anonymous I realized this wouldn't be possible so have shown none of my work except for some windows.

Playing music on a blog has changed very much too since I joined the blogging world in Feb, 2006. Blogs get shut down now for copyright infringement and though I don't share the views of the powers that be, I would not want to be shut down.

Barbara Cohen and the Little Lizard - Changed

I have had a soul jarring week. On Wednesday, after extensive surgery, a good friend was told that she has a very short time to live. Another very close friend passed away on Thursday. I've just returned from her wake. This morning I talked with one of my aunts for the last time, I'm afraid. Because she was so weak, she was able to talk with me only a few moments. I feel a little stunned to tell you the truth. Three people who have long been close to me, I will never see again.

A week like this leads to evaluating our time. It can't be helped. We are reminded of the fragility of life and the short time we are here; what can suddenly appear around the corner - like a Mack truck, in some cases.

Blind Willie Johnson - In My Time of Dying

I've come to the conclusion that since there is so little of me here, I really shouldn't be here, taking up cyberspace. I had big changes in my life more than a year ago when I went to occasional postings rather than the previously almost daily postings. It has been really tough to get here at all this summer with my double workload and I stressed about it. I don't need the extra stress so I think the blog has come to a natural but rather quick end. I may drop in with something from time to time and will keep the account to link to the other blogs.

Martin Sexton - Will It Go Round In Circles

I can not believe this. In a final edit, I went back to my first blog post to look for the date to add to one of the previous paragraphs. This is the first paragraph of the first blog:

It has been a very strange week. Every day last week, I heard bad news. One person was in a terrible accident after visiting her father in hospital after he had a heart attack. A friend from NYC lost her partner of many years, a friends son OD'd on pills at a party, my daughter's friend had emergency surgery, and another friend is looking after her dying cousin's child.........and to top it all off two people I know died. What a week!

I take this as a sure sign that this blog really has come full circle. This is the time to let it go.

Half Man Half Biscuit - Good Night Irene

Weathering the Weather

The weather is the main topic of conversation around the Maritimes these days. Not only are we in the midst of an intense heat wave but we are expecting to be directly hit by Hurricane Earl on Saturday. I've had two days off this week and made it a point to enjoy the summer weather because with my intense work schedule these last few months, I had basically missed the season.

Today I went to the beach and the above photo is the first thing I saw when I got out of my car. I didn't have time to get a better shot of the eagle and was happy this one turned out at all. I arrived before noon and as the sun is lower in the sky these days, the beach was actually in shade and there was a lovely breeze. I took a nice long walk as the tide was low and it wasn't really suitable for swimming. It was, in one word, glorious. I planned to go back for a swim this afternoon but did not rise to the occasion. It is really stifling with a temp of 30 degrees and high humidity.... plus I am waiting for company.

Later when it is cooler I am planning to clear off the deck in preparation for the hurricane. It is the only chance I'll have to do it. I am hoping we don't get a lot of damage. When the leaves are still on the trees like they are now, more damage can occur. Since I am surrounded bytrees, I have a concern.

Here are a couple of songs to remind you of the rainy, windy weather we may be experiencing here on the coast in a couple of days. Hurricane Earl is nearing the US east coast at the moment and so if you're down that way it is appropriate for you today. Here is Jo Dee Messina with Bring on the Rain and lovely Odetta with Blowin' In the Wind. I will accept whatever comes our way as I'll be prepared enough, I hope. Whether we are hit straight on or not we will, nonetheless, get lots of rain and wind.
Hurricanes are circular. Martin Sexton is one of the best performers I've ever seen live. The song may not be exactly weather related but it is a bonus song for today - Will It Go Round in Circles.

To Look and Listen

The harvest is work for some.
Hear it!

I'm not harvesting but I'm working too.
Too much, some would say.
Hear It!

I'm not complaining but I would like to
come by here (and there) more often.
Hear it!

I hardly have time to listen to music but manage somehow.
Hear it!


I'm taking a few moments to share it with you.
Hear it!

Enjoy the end of August, folks.
Hear it!

Mid August in PEI

What a glorious day off I am having; one that would make anyone glad to be alive! I slept in an hour this morning, getting up at 6:30. Both cats were standing over me willing me to wake up. Last time I'd had a day off they woke me when I hadn't set an alarm clock for 5:30. This morning I think they may have remembered my displeasure and tried telepathy instead of meows.

John Mayall - Wake Up Call

The weather forecast was perfect for what I wanted to do, so off I went with a plan. I left at 9:30 to go picking chanterelles. I took my camera and stopped for lots of shots along the way and on the return. I walked six kilometers on my hunt which I was so pleased to be doing though if my walking partner had been here I'm sure I could have walked much longer. Have I ever said the woods are my very favorite place to be?


The chanterelle crop is just beginning so most of the mushrooms I got were small though I did get a few big ones as well. It has been excellent weather for fungi production so I'm optimistic this will be a good season for both mushroom photos and tasty chanterelles. On the way home I dropped off some of the harvest to some friends who enjoy chanterelles.

After lunch I went to visit a good friend who is confined to a nursing home. We went for a drive which he really enjoyed.We several times so that he could look at things that he likes to see and for photo ops for me. I picked up fresh veggies from a farm stand and will be preparing them soon along with a feed of my delicious foraged treasures.

Catie Curtis - Sweet Life

Our countryside is simply stunning these days with the grain harvest just getting underway and second growths of hay being cropped . Oats, barley, wheat, rye, and the other seed and cereal grains are turning our fields into a multi-coloured patchwork that just urges me to get out into the countryside to gaze at the beauty. Big straw bales are dotting the hills and a drive through the country is medicinal, good for what ails you.

Colin Hay - Beautiful World

The tides are not great for my weekend off but tomorrow I plan to spend some time at the beach anyway. Maybe I'll go for a swim.

Update: I wish you could smell my supper cooking. I have fresh beets, fresh chanterelles, fresh yellow beans and fresh raw cauliflower with a garlicless dip. I am yet unsure if I am going to heat up some beef sausage after the chanterelles are done. I am in heaven, am I not?

Quickly into August

Would a few photos count as a post? Would I be forgiven? I hope so because that's all the energy I have left today.

Reid Jamieson - Fields Of Gold

Though it happened completely spontaneously, I picked blueberries on Saturday morning. My whole weekend was like that - doing unplanned activities and the planned activities never happening. For some reason the photo of blueberries is showing in portrait instead of landscape. Hmmmm.

Life Can Be So Nice

I had a great time playing 'find the kitty' with Kenz in the trees. I have a much harder one if you're interested.

Josh Rouse - Summertime

My favorite flower in my garden is blooming. I don't even know the proper name of this lily but I love it like no other. Anyone else know? I know it's name ends in D'oro but can't remember the first part.

Have a good week everyone. I plan to post next Tuesday if not before, with words, not only photos.

Summer Holiday

It has been a very long time since I've been here, though it has not been through idleness. I've been very busy. First I was working long hours and had no day off. My partner broke her ankle and the doctor said she could come back in mid August . The date is now moved to September first.

My first day off was the day my son and his family arrived for a vacation. You can imagine how busy I was cleaning the whole house, doing a massive amount of laundry, putting fresh sheets on the beds and moving my sleeping quarters to another bedroom. I was exhausted by the time they arrived. After a sleep it was time to get to the beach as I had promised that to the grand-kids last vacation, when it rained their whole trip. My granddaughter had her arm in a cast which was tough but she had a wonderful time as did her brother.



At the end of the week we all went to Nova Scotia. I went a day before the rest, to help my daughter. She was graduating from her studies on Friday and planning a family barbecue to follow the ceremony. I helped her prepare food and got to spend some time in her gorgeous house on a lake. It was a beautiful spot for an event and had a great sunset to boot.


Because I had to work today, I returned to the Island last night, while everyone else had another barbecue, this time at the ex's . Still, it was wonderful to have the whole family together for a few short days and with something to celebrate to boot. It had been two years. Life is Sweet and Natalie Merchant says so too. I was a happy mother and grandmother. I worked hard and waited long for this holiday. There's a song for that too of course, Holiday by James McMurtry.

I'll try to check in again soon. I have regularly scheduled time off, not a lot, but some. Hope everyone is having a great summer. It's passing by quickly but I think it's going just swell!

Sunday Chat

I had an injury that profoundly affected my life a year and a half ago. I dislocated my shoulder in an unusual way and broke my arm, which was not discovered till six and a half weeks later - my arm not the shoulder. I was absolutely stuck. I could not move my arm at all for a good lot of it and could not drive for four months. I obviously could not work.

I now truly feel for anyone who has something suddenly happen and is out of commission. The woman who I share my job with has broken her ankle and is out for six weeks. I am again doing extra shifts. I have this afternoon off after working this morning. I also have to work this evening. I've packed a whole lot into this afternoon - three loads of laundry included. My first day off is the 17th. I may not be blogging much but heck it's summer and not many are here reading anyway.

Right before I came in, Kenz brought me a big meadow vole ( a huge mouse). That's why her photo is up today. I'm proud that she has decided that birds are off limits but mice are okay. She's lovin' summer too.

The weather is hot but delightful. Clothes dry on the line in minutes, not hours. I am celebrating summer weather with a couple of songs. Here's a chance for you to too. LOL Sing along with me, "You to too, you to too..." Here's Patty Griffin with Heavenly Day and Myra Flynn with Sunshine. Gotta love it....

Looking For Sunshine on Thursday

Hello from the new days of summer. We've had summer rains and overcast skies but what we need is some summer sunshine. Thursday is Canada Day!

Yesterday I watched clips of the Queen, who is visiting Canada, deplaning in Halifax. It was during a fierce downpour. I then remembered clips of when she was here for the 500th anniversary of Cabot's landing that took place in St. Johns, Nfld. in June, '97. It was absolutely the worst day you could imagine to have for weather. The Queen was wrapped in blankets by the end of it.

I am scheduled to slow down and return to my regular shifts at work. I can certainly use some gardening time in the evening to deal with slugs. The only thing not eaten by them in the garden are the tomato plants and a few peas. The first lettuce is gone to seed but new seeds planted were eaten by slugs too. It was too wet to replant today so I hope the holiday Thursday will work out.

After all my work the previous weeks, I finally got a new car. I chose a Nissan Versa. I hope it performs well for me and will be good in winter. It has very different (quicker) steering than my old car so I will have to get used to that for the winter roads. The funny things you have to consider when buying a car in a Northern climate.....

Here are a couple songs about the road. Odetta and Nine Hundred Miles and Snooks Eaglin with The Lonesome Road. I love how Van does this song but that would not fly here. Just noticed when making the links that Odetta and Snooks died within two months of each other

After the garden work, I want to go to the beach on Thursday, Canada Day. Can you believe I haven't been there this year?

Summertime and the Living is Easy

Life is sweet. Life is grand! I am on day three of four days off. I have six hours to work within it but am not even counting it as they are two, three-hour shifts and in the evening. I still have the days off. My daughter was home for the weekend and my portion of her visit was Saturday to Sunday afternoon. We had lots of fun and a relaxing time. Yesterday, she had Father's Day and today, a funeral. She will drop by a bit before she heads for the ferry to return home. I'm really enjoying the off time. I had worked 27 extra hours week before last and last week worked long hours again, working 34 hours in a 48 hour period. Whew!

I've spent a lot of my time gardening and have sad news about my vegetable garden. I had a whole lot of cucumber seedlings last week and not a one remains. I believe slugs are the problem though crows have been suggested as a possible culprit. There are no leaves either on the many bean seedlings of different varieties so I think that points to slugs. I will replant and go on patrol tonight with a pair of latex gloves and container. Fun, fun, yuck, yuck. At least they are not the huge slugs they get out west.

I had a great laugh (at myself) this morning. I hum and sing to myself all the time. If people are around it is very light or even just in my head. If no one is around, I let it rip. The cats are used to it but no one else ever hears. Anyway, this morning I went out on the deck and started this whole percussive thing with my foot while hand slapping and clapping. I was wailing away to the cats, changing the words of an old folk song, now with a very loud percussive beat, to lyrics about the day and the cats and this and that. All at once I heard hammering and saw someone working on the pasture fence just to my right. Let me tell you my impromptu concert ended very quickly and I came into the house (with a red face) to laugh .... and groan. That's what a couple of days off will do to you. I was singing with joy.

I played a lot of frisbee with Baxter the Beast this weekend. His mug illustrates today's post and I must say he has a face only a mama could love. I got a wicked bite on my arm from him but it was not his fault. He was jumping for the frisbee but I moved it and my arm became the spot where his teeth landed. It is very bruised and broke the skin. I had an altercation with some rose bushes as well so I am going to return to work looking like I had a very adventurous time off.

I have very different types of music for today's post. The nice percussive, Soul Drummers, by Ray Barretto has a bit of call and some clapping and lots of groove. This could be traveling through my brain at any moment right after something like this: Summertime by Pura Fe. That would probably make me think of Summertime by Ray Barretta again and I'd be off singing like no one was listening. A great big welcome to summer!

Short Update

I am on my day off and it is so windy that it is impossible to do any outside jobs. What does it mean?...inside chores. I did two loads of laundry yesterday so had my way in the cooking, cleaning, sorting, getting things organized kind of way without that distraction. I have one day off but spent a good bit of it connected to 'the office' with various things on their part or mine.

I've had a bit of a cold for the last week, feeling not quite right. Additional work hours has left me feeling tired. I seem to sleep every available moment so I am taking care of myself in that way. It just hasn't seemed enough. I'm still tired.

I started this yesterday but got interrupted many times. I'm now off to work till 9:30 tonight so it's now or never to post this short update. I will get back when I can.

Hello Sunset

I am surprised to find I've not posted in more than a week. I had Saturday off and thought I'd posted then. But Blogger doesn't lie. I've been working a lot this week with twenty-seven extra hours to fill in for someone in hospital. I can use the extra money though, as I'm shopping for a car. Car shopping is not a fun chore in my books and not having time to do it properly is most frustrating. I must buy the car before July which is when the current inspection on my car ends.

In my last post (Tuesday, the first of June) it was raining. The wet weather continued all week and on some days and nights the rain was torrential. Certain fields are still flooded but well drained ones are beginning to dry out. I was asking for rain not long ago but am glad for the break we are forecast to get this week. I managed to get seeds in the ground, finally, and hope they weren't washed out.

That made me think of Dan Hicks and his song, Garden In the Rain. I haven't featured my man Dan in a while so here is Garden in the Rain and I'm Saying Hello which is really all I have time to do tonight. I'm off to lounge on the couch and then up to bed. Five-thirty comes early and I work till nine-thirty tomorrow night. Yikes!

Cast a Wish

Even though this has been a rainy day and I'd planned to work in the garden, I am having a most marvelous day off. I am finishing up some projects, generally reorganizing, doing the ongoing day to day chores, specifically reorganizing dressers and closets, and relaxing to the max while it all occurs. It's what I need today. I slept in and even feel good about that though I mentioned to someone earlier that it felt half my day was gone.

This afternoon I picked flowers in the rain for some friends and myself. I love that the apple blossom season lasts so long with so many trees flowering at different times. Some are still just budding. Colours are saturated on rainy days and there is no shadow to compete with pure colour. Life is so beautiful visually, is it not? Moving on from visually, the lilac is in bloom too and smells really wonderful. I have them upstairs and down. I feel so lucky to have natural country views and aromas to help define my existence.


The music chosen for today is about rain. I've been telling you how badly we need rain and I'm glad for every millimeter we get. It just happens that it rains every day off and is sunny/cloudy on my work days. I still don't have seeds planted and already know that is not going to be an optimal year in my garden. Everything planted at once and late in the season is what is going to happen, not the usual well-organized garden that I've managed to maintain for years.

Bop Ensemble does a great version of one of my favorite Dylan tunes, Buckets of Rain. I have many great versions of the song and try to find an excuse to feature them every year. Dylan's song is awesome and so is rain. Here is a wonderful version from Jimmy LaFave and one from the author himself, Bob Dylan.

I need a day off when the sun is shining brightly and the wind is not blowing a gale as has been happening for a month. Saturday, please, if it's not too much to ask. Last post, I asked for someone to cook for me and that didn't happen. Maybe I should stop saying these things out loud.

Floral on Friday

Would anyone like to cook supper for me? I have two chicken breasts thawed and a hundred things in the fridge and cupboards to go with them. It's Friday and I have never felt like cooking on a Friday evening. I would much rather have a couple of beers and wind down from the work week. I'm doing that now and have no desire to cook but am hungry. Oh well, I'll get to it in a second!

It has been a beautiful week to be commuting. The apple blossoms and some of the cherries are in bloom across the land while hedgerows and edges of fields are at their most beautiful. My house is filled with bouquets of apple blossoms and lilacs and I am picking bouquets of both in a few minutes (before getting dinner) to carry to some friends tomorrow. How beautiful this season is!

We received much needed rain but not a lot of it. I can finally plant seeds but only if the wind slows down. We've had an awful lot of wind this spring but it's not that unusual here, really. Seed will blow away if their cover of soil won't stay on. I would go now but I have to cut flowers and make dinner. I'd better get away from here.

Music, sweet sweet music: It Might As Well Be Spring by Johnny Mathis and Henry Mancini
Romek Ouchowski - Come On In My Kitchen -Please

Asking For Rain?

We have nice weather for this long holiday weekend and I am enjoying it to the fullest. I wore myself out gardening on Tuesday, doing house cleaning on Thursday and yesterday on my day off, I did a bit of both but mostly took it easy and enjoyed the beautiful day.

I have to work today so missed an impromptu family reunion at my Dad's in a neighbouring province. All of Dad's grandchildren except for my oldest son got together yesterday for a barbecue. One of my daughter 's greatest skills is getting people together and she pulled this off in less than a week. If I'd had more time I could have asked someone to work for me later today but it did not seem fair to do that at the last minute on a holiday weekend. I got several phone calls during and after the event and they all said they missed me.

I've not planted seeds in my garden yet as we have had no rain and lots of wind. The seeds would blow away in these conditions. Having an early spring did not translate to an early garden. I do have lettuces coming up from last year's crop so that will bode well for early salads. My asparagus is not as productive as usual but I think that is due to the dryness. I am still getting 6 to 8 spears a day and I am the only one in the house eating it so it is adequate. My nephew was just here and said he doesn't leave the watering up to God and planted his yesterday.

I don't have much to report except for the wonderful weather so I will get to the music. Gardening and rain are covered today. Freedy Johnston has a lovely song called Evie's Garden and Fred Neil has a song that is my wish for this coming week, A Little Bit of Rain.

Magic Moments

There are so many beautiful spring landscapes to gaze upon on my drives to and from work that it is difficult to choose one to show you. I will limit it to a couple but please go to An Island Walk to see what I saw (gazed upon) on the way home from work tonight. It was an incredible experience. I got to share it too though I was alone. A man who was passing the other way pulled around in his van and parked on the side of the road behind me.

We saw the eagle at the same moment. A young raccoon was lying dead in the middle of my lane and an eagle and a crow were scavenging. They flew up from the road and into a hay field on my left. I got my camera, got a few shots, looked around and saw another male eagle sitting in a planted field to my right. I got a few shots of him before he flew in front of me to sit with the other fellow across the road. All the while crows were dive-bombing the eagles in their usual way.

Just as one eagle flew up to a spruce tree in the field, a female landed beside the remaining one. I got a few more photos then both birds left the ground, the male flying to the same branch as the other male and the female landing in another tree nearby.

I spoke with the driver of the other vehicle. He too had a big grin of amazement at what he had seen. It was a pretty cool experience. Twenty minutes earlier had been rush hour at that section of road. I was a bit later than usual as I had attended a wake after work. This was merely a case of being in the right place at the right time.


For music I've chosen something with a title that describes how I felt. Passing Stranger by Scott Matthews tells of the situation. The being in the right place at the right time aspect; sharing it with the stranger who was going the other way and most of all coming upon three bald eagles in the first place. Keep on Looking by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings is advice I'd give anyone on their commute. It's what I normally do when driving and today it paid off. As I've said many times here, It's a Wonderful Life which I bring courtesy of The Felice Brothers.