Esa Noche

I watched the fox last night at dusk again. That is the usual time that he makes his rounds though as we know, dropping by at four in the afternoon is not unheard of. He was running through the pasture, tail flying. He would suddenly stop, pounce to get a mouse, then run off again. When he reached my neighbour's decorative fence (it doesn't keep anything out) he lifted his leg and marked his territory then went toward their back door where I lost sight of him. This was all seen through binoculars. Just watching the way he was running made me think he seemed very happy. I don't know if that's so but he seemed almost joyful.

The temperature didn't warm up today like it did on the mainland. I went for a walk and wished I'd taken gloves and a hat. Maybe tomorrow afternoon I'll get in the garden. I still have all the tulips to plant that my friend took out. I got the daffodils back in but ran out of time. They're in a mud slurry so are ok but I believe they will be set back. I guess that's ok as they will bloom later, when the others are finished.

I'm listening to Latin music trying to build up some heat. Truthfully Latin is a genre I listen to a lot, when I'm hot or cold. I love to move and what better music to move to! I also love slow ballads and Latin ballads have a special appeal. I don't know the language enough to get all the lyrics so get lost in the feeling. I explain in a previous post about a favorite song and not understanding the lyrics:

Dos Gardenias is my favorite song from Buena Vista Social Club's first groundbreaking album, Buena Vista Social Club. I'm not fluent in Spanish but can get by after a few days of immersion. I can usually figure out the written word even easier.

This song I loved so much, but just couldn't figure out. It didn't make sense. These were the days before I knew about Babelfish. Turned out I had it figured out correctly. A few years later, in Mexico, I asked a friend for a translation and the jist is this: A man gives his lover two gardenias. If they die it means she is cheating on him and does not love him. Of course, being flowers, they did what flowers do, and died.

I have so much music to choose from. Most days what I'm writing about dictates the music but since I'm challenged with the language and lyrics, I'll just choose some favorites. These were removed and are from the essentials that I'm trying to bring back to the pages. Hearing this song about ten years ago from the Putumayo album, Music From the Coffee Lands sent me on a search for MORE from this artist Susana Baca. It was difficult as we don't have any great record stores here but I was able to order some cd's. Here's Maria Lando, the song that introduced me to a really fine Peruvian singer. Here is Cafe Tacuba from the same album with Esa Noche. I can not tell you how many copies of this album I've bought to give to friends. I even bought one in Australia for a friend there.

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).

First Day of Autumn?

I've been bugged all day about why I couldn't upload on this blog. The other two blogs are having no problem. Well, all seems to be working now.

Weird day. I was trying to make apple jelly and the amount of apples was supposed to give me seven cups of juice. I got three. My cook told me that her mother said that this is the norm for the year...things are less juicy. Is that not odd? I should be out there picking more now but am wiped from the antibiotics and will do it in the morning.

We are getting ready for the 70 Mile Yard Sale that happens in Eastern PEI this weekend.....our busiest days of the year and we don't even have a yard sale. We have bathrooms and excellent food specials and there are 10's of thousands of people on the roads. One year S. and I were out grabbing the deals and were almost in accidents three times in 15 minutes. People are just thinking about the next stop on the map and pull out on the highway without even looking behind them. Defensive driving skills have never been as important as during PEI's 70 Mile Yard Sale.

Music today: An easy listening Brazilian beat though I don't know if the singer or band is Brazillian. It just reminds me of Brazilllian music. O Bonde Do Dom by Marisa Monte. With all the activity around I need relaxing. One of my favorite singers, Susana Baca, from Peru, has some relaxing music. Today's upload is La Macorina. A favorite from her is Maria Lando, not relaxing, but one of my favorite songs of the decade. It's a song about work....working alone. It's been listened to quite a bit on the music page. When I opened it to get the link, I see twenty-five hits. It should have double that because it is such a great song but again I say, it's all a matter of taste.