Though there is much more snow than in the above example (from a late winter storm) our fierce blizzard today is forming some pretty neat snow sculptures. Ones that were there this morning have long been covered over and new ones, differently shaped, have appeared. There is no snow at all on the main part of my deck but my door is completely buried under a snowdrift. My son will have to shovel to come in. I can exit through another door in an emergency.

Luckily our power is still on. I got up early to turn on the heat thinking that if the power did go out at least the house would be warm. Plows have not been out on the Island yet. That's how extreme this blizzard that began overnight is today. I've plenty to eat and drink, electricity and a telephone. It's all I need today.

Those who've been reading here for a while know that one of my all-time favorite songs is Don't Fence Me In. Here's my favorite version, by Ella. In honour of the snow barring in my back door today, you get to hear another version or two or three. Here's Roy Rogers and The Sons of the Pioneers and one by Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton, my second favorite. It has that humourous, fun-singing that certain jazz singers did in those days which I love so much. When you need a more country mood Willie Nelson and Leon Russell can't be beat. Love that song!

Happy New Year again. I guess I said it a little prematurely yesterday.

Summer Perfection

I thought it was strange that my pedometer was recording an average of 34,000 steps for the last week instead of the average 25,000 steps that a work shift had usually entailed. I discovered I had the mode on calories all week. Whew! Still, I walk about 20 km. per shift but it's a bit more sane that 28.

A cool front arrived a few days ago taking the humidity away. Since then, sleeping has been wonderful. I swear that when it was so hot and humid I was averaging four or five hours of sleep in total per night. With no humidity the clear blue skies with big fluffy clouds show the bright red and green colours of our landscape at it's best.

Three more weeks till my family comes home. A friend is getting married that day too but I won't be attending any weddings or partied. I'll be hugging my kids and grandkids. Having four days off work in a row will be great too.

I've long been a fan of the great songwriter Leon Russell. I saw him live in '70 in Massachusetts and in Toronto in '71. I've featured him a few times. I was reminded of him yesterday by another blogger mentioning that Russell wrote This Masquerade that he had up with George Benson singing. This link is from my post in April. I too love this version by Benson. Leon Russell's most famous song that has been covered by so, so many is Singin' This Song For You. Here's the original by him and another version where he is the pianist and gets some help from Willie Nelson and Ray Charles.

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.

Stormy Weather

I have a 45 minute break then back to work for the evening. I get to attend a concert and get paid for it. Not bad...

My car was looked at and tested by another mechanic and he is 99 percent sure that I don't need a distributor, the $332. part that Toyota wants to put on. He cleaned the intake today and is going to fix me up on Monday. Mechanics are very busy around here, that's for sure. I just hope this guy can make it all work.

It's pouring out right now, a few hours earlier than forecasted, and very cold too. More rain and storm music would be appropriate, I'd say. I already have Dinah Washington's version of Stormy Weather up. Today I'm adding Willie Nelson and Leon Russell's version, as well as, the wonderful, Sarah Vaughan's.

Now for something to eat.....

Holy Hangover!

I had a little mini party for Canada Day! It was pretty impromptu but a load of fun. I actually stayed up till two-thirty in the morning which is very, very, very late for me. I am paying for it now and now is not a load of fun. We danced and danced all night so all the extra calories from the drinks got burned off. That's a good thing.

I think I'll walk to the beach in a while to clear out the cobwebs but it may not be the brisk, fast walk that I usually do. I'm feeling a little weakened.....for some reason. I would say I'll never drink again but I don't lie. I will do it again but hopefully not that much again.

For music today a little bit of country cause who knows drunk better. Two versions of I Gotta Get Drunk; Norah Jones and the Little Willies' version is nice with it's great stand up bass. The big Willie (Nelson) does his live version with a happy audience in the background. Willie's song was already up somewhere on page one but I'm too tired to look for it so I've uploaded it again.

Super Women

My, my, it's been a whirl wind around here. I've been invaded with twenty-somethings and it's been fabulous. I've been having a blast. I've had my own friends here for the weekend as well, so we've been partying pretty heartily amogst us all. We've been very physically active along with the festivities with a bocce ball game last night and the above display of athletics this afternoon. My friend and I spent the afternoon at the beach. Again, that was glorious. Everyone has had a wonderful weekend. We leave for Halifax tomorrow for the convocation ceremony. Exciting times!

A big bonus to spring this year and quite early actually is that we have day old ducklings in the pond. I only discovered them this afternoon when the light was not good for photos. I hope to get a couple of shots of them soon. There are one day old teal I think, though they could be mallards. Last year we had a Mama who finally gave up after several attempts at sitting with a raccoon or fox, probably, always getting her nests. This is a great treat.

Music: Drinkin' songs: Well, about drinkin' anyway. This is a very old one from when I was a teenager. Spill The Wine from Eric Burden and War was a popular song in about '69 or '70. Willie Nelson's got a song for the country lovers.........Cath.....Willie's doing I Gotta Get Drunk. A Jockey Full Of Bourbon from Tom Waits is a third selection and my favorite of the three. It's from Beautiful Maladies from 1998.

Worry Mode Approaching

Three more days of party hosting then I'm free.....!!!! Free at last.......!!!!

My daughter is leaving on Saturday to drive across the country....in winter. I will be a mess until she arrives home. She could have flown but wants the adventure of driving across the country with her friends. I asked her why she didn't choose the summer to do that. It's a long ride in cold, snowy weather. We've not had the snow or cold in the east but western and central Canada has. We're back up to 8 degrees - very springlike and much appreciated by me.

Music today: It Takes a Worried (Wo)Man from my favorite Friday album, The Skiffle Sessions and You Are Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson.