October Ends

Happy Halloween, Spooks and Goblins. For the second year in a row it will be light when the kids go out trick or treating. I actually like that the return to Standard Time was two weeks later for the last two years but Halloween night really suffers. To me as a little kid, being out in the darkness was part of the eerieness and excitement. I have such great Halloween memories with my brother and friends and then again with my own kids. My sis-in-law, who doesn't like Halloween, has asked me to pass out treats for her but she won't let me scare the kids. I've begged but she is adamant. I have only one mask that isn't frightening (???) so will use it perhaps.

That sentence begged a photo so I found the mash and took a few shots. It's scary but not frightening to children. I don't think...

We've had an absolutely wonderful hiking week. We turned things around and have done wood trails instead of dirt roads and this morning went exploring. We went through farmer's fields to go to a spot where there was once a bridge and the mouth of the stream where my pond feeds into the bay. It was so great. The habitat was wonderful but very dirty. My walking partner and I are amazed at the amount of trash we find out in natural areas. I could go on for hours about this but I won't.

I had quite a week with my computer trying to figure out and resort all the little pathways that my songs and photos took last weekend during my daughter's major overhaul of my C drive. Just today I got everything placed where it should be though I'll always have some photos popping up in two or more files. I defragmented this afternoon too and everything should now be right as rain.

On Sunday after lovely daughter erased my C drive I felt ill - weak, dizzy and very strange, like I might faint. I wasn't that extreme the rest of the week but the job was quite stressful. This Irving Berlin song came to mind several times - What'll I Do. Here's an excellent version from the Wainwrights, Loudon, Rufus and Martha. After hours of moving and deleting photos and music and moving one playlist at a time over to the Media Player, I thought of another song - The Thrill is Gone by B B King. The experience was quite a siege but it's over now.

I'm glad the thrill is not gone from Halloween for me. I'm going to dig out some hair and clothing to go with the mask.

Flowers and Music Go Together

This is what this grouping of flowers looked like last evening. It is not what it looked like this morning. A raccoon attack changed all that. All the pots were strewn about with the plant out of them, trampled and torn. I've replanted everything using this photo as a guide but some of the plants are very bedraggled looking and some broken off entirely. They knocked over two pots from another grouping but did no damage to them. I love having wildlife around but, like the foxes, would like them to stay off my deck.

I have planted all of my garden except for squash and cucumbers. I will do that in a little while and then my gardening is over except for maintenance. Maintenance is time consuming but enjoyable. The digging and removal of couch grass was not so enjoyable but it's over for now.

A couple more bouquets have entered the house this morning. The perennial bachelor buttons (larger than the real ones and comes only in purple) looks great with the golden mound bush in a clear vase and I have bouquets of sweet lily of the valley in both bathrooms. One is especially pretty mixed with the end of the forget-me-nots. Bouquet has two meanings when it comes to lily of the valley. Oh what a great scent!

Flowerparts by Bob Schneider is one song for the day. The other is These Flowers by Martha Wainwright. Enjoy the flowers and the flower music.

Halleluja

I am so upset. My friends from Australia and Summerside, PEI were here for a visit this afternoon and I didn't get a photo. Two of the women were taking photos and I was being photographed but forgot to pick up my own camera. I'm thinking of calling the house where they are having dinner and arranging to meet for a late night photo. I can easily drop in and make it happen. There were five of us women all chatting at once and time got away so quickly.

They had a tour of my studio which currently is set up for painting, and had a look at my glass portfolio. One of the women was new to me. She is from Colorado and met the other three here after their vacation in Provence. We had tea and a nice visit. I've been home, a working girl. The other four have been traveling the world.

I had my last shift at work yesterday and I'm a free woman for the time being. That's what I want to celebrate, with music. It can only be done with this song. Two more versions of Halleluja. Here is a 'Live at Glastonbury' song from Rufus and Martha Wainwright. I really mean I want a celebration so here's another version from Allison Crowe. You can Bloggersearch on the top left for other versions on the blog.

Perfection

I am having a perfect day. It is 20 degrees, there are a few wispy clouds floating by now and then, the birds are at the peak of their spring symphony and I've spent nearly the whole day outside. I'm going to the beach after supper. The lowest tide of the year was yesterday and today too is very, very low with dead low at 7:31. I'll be there and stay till sunset. I hope those occasional wispy clouds are still there then.

The cats have been brushed for the first time this spring and they're as happy about this day as I am. I was pruning trees and they were climbing them to the top, leaping from branch to branch and feeling in top form. I'm thinking of asking some friends along to the beach versus going by myself. I haven't decided. I'd like both.

Martha Wainwright has a brand new album, I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too. You know already how much I like her. I got these songs from another blog a couple of weeks ago but can't remember which so sadly can't credit. Visit her linked site. It's quite cool. The whole album plays too. I heard the first part of her interview on Jian Ghomeshi's CBC show, Q, this afternooon. Bleeding All Over You is the song that the album title is from and is fabulous and here's So Many Friends, also from the new album.

Early?

I will be working at my regular blogging time some days. I'll post in the morning on those days.
It's going to bee cool and rainy for a few days so I won't be missing being outdoors so much. Bella was enjoying herself in the above photo. I love how cats pretend they're hiding when they are in plain view.

I had Rufus a couple of days ago and now it's sister Martha Wainwright's turn. I like her so much. I like her father, Loudon, as anyone who reads this blog knows, and she reminds me of him in her voice tone though it is a girl's voice. I think she's a great talent. She has a new album coming out soon too. Today I will replace her essential song These Flowers and add Who Was I Kidding. This good for a listen too: Whither Must I Wonder. I'll put some Loudon up soon.

My son just called to say he'd made reservations for Mother's Day brunch. He didn't realize I was working. He's pretty disappointed and trying to find someone to replace his mother as this brunch is something to look forward to. I'll be bringing home the bacon rather than eating it this year.

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.

Respect

You knew I'd have a bird picture up today. The cats are enthralled with the birdfeeders. They usually sleep away most of the day but were on window duty all morning.

The endorphens were roiling through my body after my walk today. I think the faster I go, the more that are released. It could be all in the head but the smile on my face is welcome no matter the source. Yesterday I didn't make it to the beach but had a two hour dance workout. That will make your endorphens smile too.

I had a meeting scheduled here for ten this morning. The person couldn't make it but didn't bother to call till quarter to twelve. That pisses me off more than almost anything. My time wasn't my own all morning and the person who neglected to call just doesn't recognize the importance of that.

Still working on playlists for the Festival. Respect Yourself by The Staple Singers is on one you can be assured and is on the music page today. Bloody Motherfucking Asshole is a strong sentiment to the person who didn't call beforehand to cancel the meeting but as a song by Martha Wainwright, it's a great choice.

For a link: On 09 October, the link was Rules For Being Human. Today, Guidelines For Cats. I'm not sure if my cats have read this but they certainly follow many of the guidelines listed.