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.

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.

The Unmade Bed

I had a post three quarters completed yesterday and got called to go to work early. I couldn't use the same post today as it was about Father's Day. I didn't even get to call my Dad but will in a little while. The photo is of my Dad a long time ago - before I was born.

I'm off tomorrow and Wednesday this week. I plan to get out with my camera. I have been running out of photos for the photoblogs. The files have been depleted after a winter of not being able to take photos and I have to replenish them. I need some time to delete some photos too. I tend to keep some that I'll never use; slightly different shots of the same thing. I need to do some weeding.

I heard part of an interview with Leonard Cohen last night. He played here last month and tickets to his show sold out in two hours. I didn't hear about the concert until I heard on the news the day after the tickets were all sold. Today I'll feature one of his songs with a version by him and a live version by Rufus Wainwright. Here's Chelsea Hotel No.2.

Could I Be Hungry?

Today is a blue sky day, the first I've seen in weeks, it seems, though when we went to town last week I remember the blue skies and the blue water. If you're driving or stuck inside, it hardly matters. I had some community errands and visits to complete today but did not walk. My soul wanted to so badly but I'm being good and did not venture off on my usual speedy pace. My sister drove me around on the short jaunts and I'm feeling better for it now.

My sister decided to make a special meatloaf that she likes. We visited a friend in a nursing home and he said meatloaf had also been their dinner today. I watched Oprah when we came home and on one segment, Billy Joel's young wife made meatloaf. Amazing? What are you having for supper?

I went to a potluck yesterday and had lots of nice food. My favorite was the asparagus with hollandaise sauce and one of the desserts, the old time, Impossible Pie. I bought an bundle of asparagus earlier in the week and had forgotten about it so that's some of the other items on the dinner menu. We are also having turnip, my sister's favorite veggie. She and my son will have baked potatoes and I will have rice or maybe, I will have the baked for a change. I like baked and sour cream with meatloaf.

I also like lots of music. What can be better than food or music? Food and music? Blossom Dearie is a favorite singer and performer of mine. She does a fine job of the old song Peel Me a Grape and she has a version with Lyle Lovett. Which to choose..... Both were up previously. Today I'll choose her version with Lyle but the other will make it up again some day. Another nice food song is Patty Griffin's Making Pies. Rufus Wainwright has Crumb by Crumb in the food category and he and Didi collaborated on a food song, I Eat Dinner and that's pretty awesome.

Reflections and Deflections

Is the world still spinning? A lot of my friends and myself are going through some serious, life altering times. Just being disabled for six weeks is sending me into a tailspin but others are having more serious tremors. All we can do is help each other through these trying times and be the best support we can be for each other. We are having a bit of a storm and I can't drive so am unable to help someone who really needs me tonight. The telephone will help, I suppose.

I went to a short notice dinner party last night thanks to my daughter, who left today. We had dinner plans already but she thought connecting that with some dear old friends was more important. Bless her kind little heart. We had a delicious dinner and some great catching up conversation. Friendship is more important than any ship. I've had a trying time in the friendship department in the last year and consider that the person who didn't value my friendship to be the one who has missed out. I am a good friend.

The music today has nothing to do with friendship or trying times. I had to upload a song to fit another post and that song was In A Graveyard from the newest album by Rufus Wainwright. I love his dad, Loudon Wainwright III, so have Cardboard Boxes, a song I really like, as selection number two.

Above All, Relaxation

I've had the most gentle day off....really relaxed. I had two slight naps, went for half a walk, read in the sun twice, petted kitties who were so glad that I was home, and watched Oprah. I had planned a ton more walking with two areas up to pick for hiking...three, really. I changed my mind and opted for relaxation, not hiking. I decided to take a neighbourhood walk but the cats were out and wouldn't go in. Herding cats never works so I drove a little ways up the road and took a walk from there. They never follow the car. I think it's just what I need - a day of relaxation.

It's not over yet. I have a nice dinner of Mako shark planned with fresh from a garden veggies. You can't get any better than that. I want to burn some cd's and that's pretty darned relaxing if you're not in any hurry. I didn't make it up till ten last night but tonight I'm really going to try.

When I sat here the first music that came to mind was Rufus Wainwright. I put some on and that's what I give you now. I love this live version of Leonard Cohen's, Everybody Knows. I think he does Cohen songs well enough to do an album of his songs much like Jennifer Warnes did in the eighties. Gay Messiah is the more relaxing Rufus Wainwright.

Stuck

A repeat. I've been passing by beds of them and wanted to see a red poppy close up so that's the reason last years's photo is up today. Better and safer than stopping at stranger's gardens. They're beautiful, both close up and far away.


My car saga continues. I managed to pick up my car on time after leaving work early yesterday. I was about two kilometers from home and it stalled. It had threatened to a couple of times. I walked home at a monster pace, adrenalin rushing and my favorite ex (sisiter-in-law) Toyota is closed till Tuesday. My car will start but it won't go far, I don't expect, but got me back and forth to work today. I'm pissed. I've paid for two repairs, neither of which fixed my problem. It's a long weekend and I can't go anywhere safely. I was planning to go to an awesome sounding party tonight and I'm going to stay home. Bummer!

I had a couple of songs by Loudon Wainwright a week or so ago. It's time for Rufus this week. I love all those Wainwrights, as is noticable if you've paid attention to the music featured here every day. First up is a song he and Dido performed for the soundtrack of Bridgit Jones - The Edge of Reason - I Eat dinner (when the hunger strikes) ......This while I smell my delicious dinner cooking. I'll have to check that his original, solo version isn't already up. What I'm not doing tonight is Going To a Town. That's sad, I'd have thought but not if you listen to Rufus. Why bother going to town? The second is from his newest album, Release The Stars.

Just Ducky

The ducks in this photo are, of course, mallards. They frequent my pond but this morning there were at least four greenwing teals in for a visit. There were three males and one female but there may have been more. I love having ducks living, nesting and raising their young in my pond. I raised them for a few years but it requires one to be home to feed them so that part of my life is over. It was fun though, having ducks running up to see you (actually it was the food I provided) whereas the wild ones don't come up to the house. Last year I had mallards sitting but something, probably raccoons or foxes, kept finding the nest. She'd lay and sit again only to have it robbed once more. She gave up after three robberies.

Our spring is really quite far behind. We've not had much sun and the temperatures are a bit cooler than normal thus our grass is not greening. One of the aunts I visited on my vacation told me, when she called this morning, that she was going to mow today. We are weeks behind this year. I may get out to the garden tomorrow though. Some things are better done before grass starts to grow.

Everyone's talking about the new Rufus Wainwright album, Release The Stars, that is to soon hit the shelves. I'm a big fan of Rufus. I know some people don't like him but I do. This album has been touted to be his best. I was able to find some cuts to the new album before it's release, to share of course. Here's Not Ready to Love and Rules and Regulations. It has been reccommended that the album be played from start to finish....can't help you there. You'll have to get to the record store on May 15th.

Halleluja

It's finally here...the last party of the year at my work. I have a finish up day for the year next week and then that's it. Whew! It's been a siege to say the least. S. is coming out to volunteer and have a free dinner and then we're coming back here to have a drink or two and celebrate another year finished. Did I say Whew!?

I heard from my daughter last night. They were close to entering Manitoba, making good time and there was not a blizzard. It was snowing but not too bad. Our weather is warm and sunny. People are complaining about the lack of a white Christmas. Bah!

On the radio right now is kd lang's version of Leonard Cohen's song, Halleluja. The song before that was Ray Charles', Halleluja, I Love Her So. The segment is a kind of special on the word Halleluja. I have lots of versions of Halleluja and a few up on the music page. I also have Ray's song up already. Here are a few more Hallelujas in honour of the last Christmas party. To add to Allison Crowe, kd, Jeff Buckley's versions are a powerful one by Rufus Wainwright and the original by Leonard Cohen himself.