Friday Frivolties

I am struggling to remember where I found the time to post here every day. I am truly finding it difficult to get here once a week or so. I have one hour till my meatloaf is cooked to post to several blogs. It's been a busy week. Thank God It's Friday and for me that's the best night of the week.

I am overjoyed to announce that I have found a new hiking partner. We hiked a little over six kilometers today; FOURTEEN yesterday. I love it!!!! I have asked her not to stop when I stop for photos so I'm constantly working hard to catch up with her which is pure perfection when walking for fitness, as I do. We went for chanterelle mushrooms today so the pace slowed down whenever we came across a patch. It's nice to find a feed of them so late in the season. I will thoroughly enjoy them sauteed in butter, salt, and pepper accompanying the meatloaf. My son doesn't like them. This is one of those times one says, "His loss; my gain." Yum yum, yum, yum, yum.

Another great part to my walks is that I'm getting more mushroom photos. I don't know why but I've been fascinated by photos of mushrooms since I saw a wonderful Japanese site years ago about mushrooms. It is no longer on the net but I still love photos of mushrooms ans am pleased to be getting some good shots. What a weird hobby, eh?

I am still listening to a lot of folk music along with other varieties, working on the perfect folk CD. Of course, Peter, Paul and Mary are there. Did they not introduce us to folk with their famous, simple -styled songs. I'll let you go to other places to hear their music being played today to commemorate the death of Mary Travers. I will take you instead to musicians they have influenced. These are the folk musicians today. Here is Endlessly by The Cracker Cats and Pastures of Plenty by Pierce Pettis.

Folk of September

Seems like forever since I checked in here. Life is busy but life is good. There have been a few adventurous outings with friends, pickling, gardening, birthday's in the family, and a recommence of my long hilly walks.

It's a wonderful time of year. The oppressing heat and humidity of August is gone and a lot of the tourist traffic as well. I took a swim last week and knew that summer was past. The water was c o l d. The day and sun were hot, thus the need for the swim, but once I got in I wasn't long getting out, very refreshed.

I started this post this morning and got busy shortly afterward. I've worked hard on some chores outdoors and in and took the last half hour to lie in the sun and finish a book. It is 23 in the shade but my deck is hot and in the sun. I feel sun-kissed. I had dinner with friends yesterday and am having dinner with friends tomorrow night so am staying home tonight feeding just the boy and me.

I've been listening to wonderful folk songs recently. I make a CD most months with a theme of sorts. This month, it's called Folk of September. It opens with the well known, Caledonia, covered wonderfully by Ruth Notman. This woman is new to me but sounds so much like Kate Rusby that I had to verify that it was indeed, not her. Here is Caledonia and the classic Blooming Heather by Kate Rusby. Compare. They sound very much alike. I love Kate's version of Blooming Heather. It has a great male harmony singer which makes it special. This song too is on the CD.

That Friday Fondness

September has been a busy month so far but this afternoon I got some beach time. It was glorious. The water was colder than the last time I swam but a swim was just what I needed to relax and refresh. My friend and I went in at different times but did the same thing - floated and watched the clouds. It was heavenly. I think we'll have some more beach days and the water may even warm up. I think the cold is from two hurricanes blowing and raining the last two weekends.

I made pickled beets this morning and have officially slid into pickle mode. I've been given cucumbers whenever I want to pick them and that will be tomorrow. I have three batches of various pickles planned. I am making beer tomorrow as well. This is a good time of year for that too with the cooler temperatures. I have apples ripe and ready for jelly, pies and/or desserts and the garden's tomatoes are perfect for putting by. It's a busy season.

I went woods walking and picked some chanterelle mushrooms this week. I enjoyed them with steak that night and have enough for two more meals. They are so incredibly delicious. I'm later than usual foraging for them so they're past their prime in amounts still pickable. They are loved by worms and slugs as well as humans so it is always a race to see who gets them first.

What a Wonderful World is the first song I think of when I remember my lovely beach afternoon with my friend today. I've got a great version of that classic by Katie Melua and Eva Cassidy. Prince Edward Island's own, Catherine MacLellan, has a perfect song for this afternoon too. Take a Break is exactly what I did after a very busy week. I love Fridays!

Unforgettable

Oh, what wonderful things I've seen and great adventures I've been on since last checking in here! I was this close to a moose and lucky for him, I shoot with a camera, not a gun. The moose was simply standing on the side of the road. My sister turned her car around, drove right up to her and I took photos which didn't seem to bother the moose at all. We left before she could change her mind.

I had made plans to meet up with my 1972 roommates on Monday and Hurricane Bill was forecast for Sunday. Knowing I would probably not want to drive in a hurricane and assuming the bridge would close, I decided to go to New Brunswick early and visit my family for the weekend. I told no one in advance, so surprised my Dad first and everyone else in turn. I had a great time with the family, spending the night at a cottage on Grand Lake that my sister in law had for the weekend and spending alone time (shopping) with my sister.

The reunion with my two girlfriends was as I imagined. Though we look quite different than we did in '72, we haven't changed a bit in how we relate to one another or have a great time together. We stayed up late, ate junk food (as well as wonderful meals), and had a lot of laughs. We went on a long car trip to keep a medical specialist's appointment for our friend who developed a medical condition since she arrived on vacation. That is quite different from '72 when we were all in our early twenties and healthy as horses. We had a blast, remembering (and sometimes not) events from the past and mourning together for a few lost friends from that time.

I regularly keep in touch with both women but it was truly wonderful to be in the same room together and witness how we all went back to the patterns of the ways we had related to one another thirty-five years ago. I thought it was very interesting. One became the mother; one the baby and one the comedienne. I could go on and on about these patterns. Broken Social Scene has a song, All My Friends. It tells a little about us but the next song is about our history. Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole sing Unforgettable. It fits for us. We all have these 'unforgettable' moments and experiences with each other in a prime time of our lives and we'll never forget their impact - which we all shared, being roommates. It was a really inspiring reunion for me. I am going to be doing lots of art now and these woman have provided the muse.

Beach Days Again and Again

This has been a great week for me. A dear friend and I have been exploring some Island beaches and loving every minute of it! The photo is of West Cape where I own some beach land. It's been five years since I visited and it certainly was about time. The beach and water were both wonderful and as great as I always imagine. I usually walk to West Point and back but my friend was only cool with walking half way. The cliffs were amazing as usual but we did not reach the dunes. The photo shows a pretty good face profile on the left.

We visited two other great beaches this week as well. Both were new to my friend and one was new to me. I'm not even sure if I could find that one again. I just took some roads that I knew would eventually reach a beach. What an amazing place this island is in the summer. The sheer beauty is one thing but the fact that you can drive to the end of so many roads and find a beach to explore is amazing. I'm a lucky woman.

It is thirty-one degrees at the moment and I would say the beaches are full again today but I need a day out of the sun. I'm listening to music, uploading tons of photos and catching up on a bunch of stuff. I have a glass project to start on Monday. Life has to be taken care of, even by beach bunnies.

The scenery has been beautiful and if you click the links to my other blogs, An Island Walk, Just Picture It, or Pictures and Pursuits (also listed on the right) you'll see, in the next while and also from the past weeks, some pretty awesome Island spots. Still Water by Daniel Lanois describes some of these shots. The Water by Feist describes most, I'd say. When talking about such Canadian beauty it's nice to extend it to the musicians, don't you think?

Beach Finds

After complaining the last couple of summers of never getting to the beach, this year I am changing my tune. Happily. I've been spending lots of time at the shore this year and it is absolutely glorious. Any kind of beach is available on PEI. The beach can be secluded or out in the open, small or huge. The bottom can be sandy or rocky, and the water warm or cold. It can be crowded or you can be the only human in sight. I've visited all kinds of beaches this summer and have experienced each aspect at one or another.

The spot I visited on Sunday had fabulous rocks because of a lot of oyster drills in the area. My companion and I are both avid rock people so were happy as could be. There were only two other people at the end we were beachcombing. The water was very warm, like a bathtub.

I'm feeling so mellow from all this beach-going, that I'm going to play music to match. Not many are more mellow than Iron and Wine. Here is Sea and the Rhythm and Naked as We Came. I love singing along with these songs. They match my voice.

The Call of the Beaches

What a hot summer this is turning out to be. I am inside for a couple of days working on some glass and it's a bit of relief. I had a trip to the beach last week and got sunburnt and a mild case of sunstroke or sun sickness. For two days I was completely drained with almost zero energy and that, my friends, is very unusual for me. My daughter's friend who was with us suffered the same fate but her skin blistered as well. We were at the beach too long basically - from before noon to after five in the sun with not a cloud in the sky and temps of 28 C.

We had an overnight rain once last week but none this week. Yesterday there were showers forecast but we recieved none - just more heat. I was wishing for rain and everyone thought I was crazy. I like the balance rain brings.

On Sunday I attended a twenty-fifth annual and final celebration of friendship, seafood and music that has been a mainstay of my summers. Our sons and daughters now have sons and daughters and three and maybe four generations were together. It was marvelous to see all the new babies and children. The oldsters played music in the early part and the youngin's took over the stage for the late night. I will miss this yearly event and tradition as I don't get to see a good many of the folks on a regular basis. I was always guaranteed a chance to catch up once a year and have a good time and wonderful food and music while doing it.

This song comes to mind every time I go swimming and I should play the real thing instead of the weird rhymes in my head. I always enjoy Loudon Wainwright III and The Swimming Song. The second song is for a friend who came over from Halifax for the party and also played a set on Sunday night. She does a GREAT version of this song, Deep River Blues done here by Janet Bean.

Why not a couple extra songs to make up for my lack of attendence here this summer. I love If It's the Beaches by The Avette Brothers and stupidity once in my life will not keep me away from the beaches. I am going down for a swim after posting as a matter of fact. Finally a request from the heavens said perfectly by Jo Dee Messina with Bring on the Rain. I'm only asking for one day or night, not a deluge.

By Boat

It's a long time since I've had such a fun day as yesterday turned out to be . Boats full of people gathered for an annual poker run to aid the Northumberland arena. Each boat called at four ports to receive five cards and the best poker hand won.

I'd estimate thirty to thirty-five boats were present at a selected site to spend the finale. Most had coolers, barbecues, stereos, water toys, and lots of happy party-goers. Children and dogs had fun, went for swims, lay on water lounges, and visited back and forth on other boats with their keepers.


Our boat had sixteen aboard and we had a ball. The brave ones got towed behind the boat on a boating tube. My daughter is in the middle of the threesome shown above. I think I was the only one not in for a swim. I may go for one at my own beach later to try and cool off after supper. It is hot and humid today, more;so than yesterday. We share good food and lots of fun times. This is what summer is meant to be. The ride back to the home port was wonderful with the setting sun and promises to meet again next year.


This calls for boat songs does it not? One of my all time favorite pieces of music is Phoebe Snow's version of the Ira Gershwin song, There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York. In my opinion it is the best version of the song out there. I also like the Holmes Brother's version of Lyle Lovett's song, If I Had a Boat. Hope you like them too and I hope you get a chance to get out on a boat this summer.

Summertime - Busytime

Just returned from a quick two day trip to Halifax, pictured above. Unbelievably, I did not use my camera once on the other side but got these quick shots from Dartmouth this morning. I accompanied my daughter and her best friend at the last minute and was so glad that I did so. I visited my friend who is in hospital there for most of yesterday and went to a Pride-sponsored one-woman play last night with my best friend who lives there and her long term (over 20 years) partner. I stayed with them and so did the girls after their accommodation plans fell through. I had a wonderful time partly for the spontaneity but mostly for the time spent with dear friends and family. There's nothing like it.

• One year - Forty seconds
• Songs You Used To Love
• Postcard.FM
• All Music - All Blogs

Also from the music pile today are a couple of songs from the outstanding Patty Griffin. A couple of songs that remind me of the trip are You Are Not Alone and Long Ride Home.

Still July

Life has been very busy. My two youngest and I have been on a road trip to visit my dad and brothers and sister and their families. It's not often we all get together without a wedding or funeral being the occasion. We had lots of fun and the kids did the driving so it was wonderful to be the passenger for a change.

Iron and Wine bring the music today. Here's Such Great Heights to reference crossing the Confederation Bridge that links PEI to the mainland and Sea and the Rhythm.

• JibJab
• Art For the Sky
• Strange Statues
• Pixdaus
• Mosaic Generator
  

Pansy and Patter

The weather has been filled with showers for the last couple of weeks but the weather has been pleasant enough otherwise. If we're not having a shower, it's warm and the sun may be peeking through. I've enjoyed it. I've been busy with company and got to play tourist a bit. I went to Cavendish, our most famous tourist area, for the first time in 19 years. I cooked huge lobster and had beer which my brother paid for so that was a nice treat. I'm now waiting for my daughter to arrive from her drive across the country. Probably more lobster and beer will be in order. I am certainly looking forward to hugging my girl.

A few new links for your ponderation:

• The Rules of Being Human
• Guidelines For Cats
• Rules of Thumb
  
• How to Get Rid of Things
• Faux Pas

I've been listening to lots of music. I know I play Bettye LaVette quite often. It's because I'm so taken with her. Here are a couple, How Am I Different and Thinkin' Bout You. They are two of my favorites.

Getting Through Summer

I've had an upset in my life that requires that I take some time for myself. I won't be posting here for a while but will continue photos on my other blogs that are listed at the right. I will be photographing and am doing some very cre8ive things in the studio. I'm enjoying it and will come back here and possibly show you when I'm ready. Check out:

• Just Picture It
  
• An Island Walk
• Pictures and Pursuits
• Photos and Pursuits
• Keep The Coffee Coming
• The Guardian
• Play Time
• When Is Your Blue Hour?
• Nelly's Garden

I'll add more and swap some from time to time. I'm perfectly ok. My life is just going through some changes. Music? Of course. A Change is Gonna Come is a favorite of mine. I have many covers of the song but will feature it's creator, Sam Cooke. One of my favorites is this live Al Green cut. I so would love to see this man live. I've heard other cuts of his concerts and he has great audience rapport and is just so fine. This is a fine example .

Summertime

I surely do love my days off. I wake when I want, eat what and when I want, do what I want all the day long and enjoy every minute. I have to go to town tomorrow so this was an at-home day. It was absolutely wonderful. I did a hundred chores and none of them seemed like work as I was able to putter and do everything with a devil may care attitude with deadlines but no particular timeline. I still have lots to do such as supper, folding laundry, visiting a shut-in, and preparing some artwork for the consignor. I'll do it all with love. The food will taste better, the visit will be sweeter and maybe some of my best pieces will be chosen for sale. Laundry - it will still and always be just laundry.

My summer calendar is filling up. My daughter is moving back to the Maritimes and we will see each other for a lot of the month of July. We have a trip away planned. I have another adventure planned in August. This one has been in the works for many years. Two old roommates and I from 1972 have planned to meet in the middle , Moncton, and have finally set a date. I so look forward to it. I've seen both women in the meantime but they haven't seen each other since ' 74 or '75. One is coming from Alberta.

Yesterday's post was entitled Summer Time and could be again today since it too is related to summer and the epitome of time, the calendar. I think this time we should play a couple of versions of the classic with the same name. Unless I had much more 'time' I could not count how many versions I have of this song in my record collection. Here are a couple of versions: The live version of Summertime by Nina Simone is a treat and wonderful for any jazz lover (she mentions Porgy) and Summertime by Janis Joplin is probably one of the most well known pop versions. Though I love both, neither are my favorites but I'll save those for another time this summer.

Summer and Time

My, it's been a long time. I've been working very hard and have not had a chance to get back to this sorryfully neglected blog. I predicted it. I can't keep up with it all. An Island Walk and Pictures and Pursuits are easy in that I only have to upload photographs. I do take photographs constantly so have lots to choose from to keep things fresh. Younger bloggers have an advantage as far as stamina goes and older bloggers who are retired have extra time to contribute. I am between two worlds and have a demanding job. I don't want to complain; it's just reality.

I got to the beach since I last was here. I went in the morning one day before work; just to say I'd been there and while I was there, snapped a few photos. I plan to get to the beach this week too if that's what it takes. I want to go to a favorite spot in a bikini (where no one sees me) rather than in business attire but I will get there when I can. I had several driving in the country errands today and have to go to town tomorrow or Wednesday. That's life for the seasonally employed in this beautiful province. 'You make hay while the sun shines' is the old adage.

My aunt and uncle who spend there lives feeding, housing, spaying and neutering and caring for their entire neighbourhood's cats are having a very sad time. They lost one of their family. They had a thirteen year old brother and sister pair of cats and lost the brother, Tommy, their beloved. I sent them special momentoes and sympathy cards etc. today. The music today is for them. They're jazz lovers so I recommend Toot's Thielemans with Over the Rainbow and to introduce them to something other than jazz is Chris Stills with When the Pain Dies Down. It's a rainy day here and this came to mind and fits their loss. Let's hope 'their dam becomes a river.'

Busier Than ......

Everything is sparkling and shiny in my house. I've had a real spring cleaning day. Every surface has been wiped, cleaned or scrubbed. My hands have that dried out feeling that only a liter of Mr. Clean can bring and I am quite pooped. Not pooped enough to stop mind you. I will have this break and continue the assault on the house in a bit. I am expecting the sis-in-law to drop by so may get another break. I was outside very little today so getting outdoors is my plan for tomorrow. Balance is always the aim.

I bought a gorgeous piece of antique furniture yesterday in my travels. The store called a while ago to say that a mistake had been made and that the item had been sold previously and the sign taken off. I'm very disappointed. I planned to out my whole collection of CD's in this wonderful cupboard. He said, I'll give you a credit and I told him that it would be cash only for a refund. He did agree to that.

Today's music is 'music to clean by'. Usually the faster and more fun, the better but it's not a rule. I used to have a favorite double album, cassette tape of James Brown that I played for cleaning. I still use it sometimes but today I chose a bunch of songs in just a few minutes and these stand out. Working in a Coalmine by Lee Dorsey easily fits the theme but is not fast. Funky music is rhythmic and this song, A Funk I Won't Forget by Lauren Ianuzzi says a lot, is fast, and thus works really well for the housecleaning genre.

I hope I am more rested tomorrow when I'm here than I am right now.

Freed

I've had the most unexpected and fantastic day! I was perturbed to discover I had to 'go into town' for an errand before ten. It was totally unexpected and I'd had my day planned for other things. I quickly decided I would make the best of it. It turned out to be a great adventure of meeting friends, shopping, lunching and shopping again with another friend, and beating the traffic both times. Having to be in town by ten is better than having to be in by nine. The day was beautiful. Every clerk, teller, or operator had a smile as did I. I had enough chuckles, photo opportunities, wonderful moments and experiences to call this a fantastic day.

Three days off this week seems like a dream come true when I think of having two more days off right now. I need this time to get a whole lot of things done. I've been gardening each previous day off and a lot of chores have built up. The weather is forecast to be beautiful - Yeah!

Bettye LaVette is providing the music tonight. She is so unbelievably, wonderfully, incredibly, superbly, awesome. No one expresses emotion like her. First, Talking Old Soldiers, a song I'm absolutely smitten with and that describes a good part of my day and Joy, a song I was unbelievably, wonderfully...... smitten with for more than a year a couple of years ago. What an incredible talent this woman is.

Three days off in a row is like a long weekend eh?

End of the Week

This is my last day at work this week then I have three glorious days off. I need the break because I need time outdoors. I hope the weather is nice. There is laundry to be hung on the clothesline and some minor gardening to be done. Four mornings in a row the deck pots looked like this then on Friday even the raccoons stayed under cover because to torrential downpours. The plants are battered and bruised and need some help.

I'm looking forward to wonderful dinners too. Since I work though the dinner hour, I have dinner at home only on my days off. I plan ribs, lasagna, and roast chicken. I'll make the lasagna on the same day as the ribs but eat it the next day. That gives me a day off from the kitchen with only a salad to make before the meal. My son appreciates my days off too. He's a good cook but works long hours and doesn't really feel like cooking when he gets home.

Since Putfile disappeared along with all the music files, some essential songs have to played again. This is ok because these good tunes deserve another listen. One of my favorites is Kate Rusby's cover of Iris Dement's, Our Town. I love this version so much! Dan Hicks is featured quite often here and any chance to do so makes me happy. Here he is with, I'm Saying Hello. Now I'm saying goodbye.

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.

Lupins and Lobster

I've been waiting for a friend who said she was going to be here between three and four. It's now five-thirty and she's not been here yet. I need a break though so I've come inside and can do a post.

I'm sure by now that I'm sounding like a broken record when I say I've been doing intensive gardening. It is supposed to rain tomorrow so this is the perfect day to get seeds into the ground. I've got my beds almost finished and will plant seeds after dinner. I got thirteen packets of seeds and want to plant tomatoes too so everything will be planted closely and perhaps there will be no room for weeds.

I've had some wonderful bouquets in the last couple of weeks. My tulips and black irises are finished for the season. Lupins are in bloom already. The first ones are always a bit small but it's nice to see them. The lilacs are heavenly and apple blossoms are still perfect on the later trees. I washed a ton of vases this morning and will fill more in a bit. It's busy, busy, busy on my days off.

A couple of songs by great musicians today. There is no one quite like Leon Russell though he didn't get as much fame as he deserved. He has gotten a lot of recognition from other musicians as his songs have been recorded by many, especially his Singin' This Song For You. I saw him in concert twice; once in Toronto in rain in a muddy field and one at UMass. He's fabulous! My daughter told me today that she is moving back east so this song, Back to the Island, is for her. I love his raspy voice and simple piano. Harry Manx is another favorite of mine and it's time to post his Only Then will Your House Be Blessed.

My friend has arrived in the middle of this and brought me a whole bag of lobster. I have to go now. Yum, yum!!!!

A Detour

I think I should have vegged out. I just wrote a whole post for this blog. It took over two hours as I had several interruptions. Problem is, I was signed into An Island Walk. Please go there for today's post. No, this is not April first.

Swimmin' As Fast As I Can

It's an early post today or none at all. I need a break from couch root removal and I am going to work in a bit to fill in for someone, so this is the only time I have. I am back working full time now so posts will be less often anyway. I just can't keep up with everything.

We are having wonderful weather so I've happily been outside in the gardens. The birds singing, the ducks quacking, and the frogs trilling are wonderful music to work by. The cats help as best they can coming by to get little rubs against my legs and dirty gloved hands. Yesterday a friend and I saw a very lively courting ritual; between three herons in the pond. I think it was probably two males competing for a female. They were fascinating to watch. I did not get photos for I knew that if I opened the kitchen door they would have flown off.

Some music is as wonderful as bird song. Here are a couple of songs that fit for me; Aretha Franklin with Nessun Dorma . When she filled in for Pavarotti at last minute on The Grammys with this song it blew people away. One that blows me is Lila Downs with the best ever version of Besame Mucho. There's nothing else even close.

Back and Forth

I have been in the garden all day today and am exhausted. I seem to have said that here last week and maybe the week before. I am about a quarter of the way through removing the couch grass from the vegetable garden. It's a long and painful process. I have to keep telling myself that it will be worth it for completely organic vegetables. I can get fresh veggies all summer but they are not organic and that makes a difference to me.

Yesterday was extremely windy so I did not garden. I went adventuring with a friend and had a marvelous day. He found a VHS copy of an old movie I had been looking for for years so we made an evening out of our adventure too and watched it. The movie was The Egg and I which is the precursor to the Ma and Pa Kettle movies from my youth. I had the book, lost it, this friend found one for me and now the movie. I was thrilled to see it again.

For music: Tim Seely with On Film I Play Myself and Great Lake Swimmers - with Moving Pictures Silent Films .

Brown Thumbs?

My day is not nearly done in the garden. Everything takes longer than I plan it seems. I don't know if I'm slower, more careful or what. It took me longer than usual to select the plants this morning and the afternoon to plant them. The photo is a sampling of the terra cotta pots I planted today. They have a bit of transplant shock but will be fine in a couple of days. I spent $82. and did not buy tomato plants as planned. I still have so much work to do before planting them so I'll let someone else worry about watering the seedlings. I'll buy them when it's time.

I keep saying this but driving in the countryside at this time of the year is so beautiful and gives one such an uplifting feeling. Spring! By far my favorite season. It just makes everyone and everything wake up and I sure do take notice, being the visually stimulated person I am.

I had music to accompany my planting of course and was groovin' to Gotta Serve Somebody by Mavis Staples. It made my mind wander to the late seventies when the song was first released by Bob Dylan on Long Train Comin' and I was playing it non-stop. To me it's one of his best albums but for lots of people it signified that Dylan had 'gone religious' and thus did not like this period. I love this song and the whole album.

Just a thought. I wonder why planting and gardening is called having a green thumb. As far as I can tell it adds up to brown fingers and thumbs. Could I be doing something wrong?


Back to work tomorrow so I won't be here till Monday unless it turns out I don't have to work on Saturday then - no excuse.

The Life

I am bushed, played out and completely tuckered. I've been outside all day gardening intensively and that is the plan for tomorrow as well. I've had my old vegetable garden tilled and am trying to remove couch (or cooch) grass that had completely taken over the spot. If you know this grass you know how hard it is. I got all my terra cotta pots ready for plants as well. I blended soil, peat moss and compost in a wheel barrow and filled the twenty-six pots with the mixture. I am going to a garden center tomorrow for plants and will need a wheel barrow full of money. It takes a lot of plants to fill that many pots and they're expensive! I'll buy the tomato plants for the garden at the same time.


I had an organic vegetable garden for my whole adult life and fed my children with it throughout their lives but gave it up for the last five years for a good reason. That reason is now no longer a factor so I am very happy anticipating fresh vegetables at my back door again. This work is worth it. I'm hoping I can convince my son of this too as I'd like him to give me a hand this evening. When I mention tomato sauces made with fresh tomatoes, he may succumb more easily.

The music today is varied. Winter's Come and Gone is by Gillian Welsh and is of the country/bluegrass style. It's a wonderful song for spring and what I'm experiencing in my yard with the blackbirds and blue birds all around. I still have three resident mallard drakes in the pond but I think I saw a duck this morning. I was upstairs and needed my binoculars to be sure. Scotland's Amy MacDonald brings the music variety I mentioned with the very poppy This Is the Life. It's how I feel being able to have all the gardens I'd ever want or need. Some don't have this luxury.

Country Colour

Prince Edward Island is a beautiful place to be in the spring, during dandelion season specifically. I know that hoards of people consider dandelions to be weeds but I think they are beautiful and fill the countryside with an awe-inspiring bright yellow colour that contrasts with the red soil perfectly. Add to that the subtle green colour changes in the stands of trees in the forests. There are numerous shades of green, several shades of pink and red, and all colours in between.


I felt blessed to drive through this yesterday on my way to town. I hadn't been to town since a dental appointment forced me the day after I arrived home from Ontario a month ago. There is not much to draw me in, away from my home and community. The beauty of the countryside holds more for me. Since I had a Town List a month long, my day in the city was busy. I was successful in all endeavours so can probably stay away for another month.

I am going to be doing lots of gardening for the next while. The garden provides some pretty intense exercise as you get older. The intense gardening I did years ago would not be possible for me these days. It all works out, I suppose. I no longer have a big family to feed.

For years I wanted to know the identity of the singer of this song that I had heard on the radio years before. I loved it immediately but did not catch the nameof the song or singer. A couple of years ago, Kat from Keep the Coffee Coming had the song on her blog and I was so happy to find it and have my questions answered. I have it for you today - The Garden Song by David Mallett. Another to celebrate the beauty I see around PEI's countryside is Dandelion Rain by Dean Fields. I love spring the best

A Dreaming Day

I've had the best kind of day. I felt I needed a day doing nothing in particular but changing my bed and doing laundry. I hung out sheets and blankety things, did all the folding outside, and spent the day doing just light chores but always outside. I only came in for meals and Oprah. What a glorious day! I took photos of dandelions, though they are still in the camera. I made a tiny bouquets of tiny flowers, violets and forget-me-nots, a bleeding heart. I invited a friend for supper but by voicemail. Told her she could come even if she got this at five to six. I always have lots. It's been a perfect day so far.

This song just came to mind - Happy by Martin Sexsmith. He is one of the best performers I've ever seen live so I have a soft spot for him. He was peforming solo and sounded like a whole band. I will never forget him. He has this really telling song, I Thought I Knew You. Happens to us all, eh?

Just got off the phone with my aunt. She and my uncle have just put her beautiful beach home on the market, and are looking for something with one floor. Darn, some of these age related health matters can reduce you to tears. They want to stay in their dream house forever but living on three levels is just too tough for them to manage.

Maybe if they find a lucky feather on the beach...

Any Questions?

I got a card and photos from my grandchildren today. It brought back memories of my visit at Easter thus the photo today of the walk in the woods I took with the grandkids and my son. I had asked my son to take some photos suitable for framing of me and the kids to put in empty frames I had brought to the kids. He got excellent shots. I think he's a born photographer now that I've seen those and the ones he took of my grandson and me that are gracing the masthead of this blog. This is his photo as I'm the subject (along with my grandson).

I took my friend who is in his nineties for a ride today. I had banking to do an a couple of other short stops and insisted he come along though I had some urging to do. It's good for him. I gave him his belated birthday gift, a pint of whiskey, and he was very pleased about that. He gets in a rut and doesn't want to move. Much like the person I had visiting yesterday. I'm trying to do my part in getting people moving.

I had my lawn professionally mowed today. Too long a story. I traded my wonderful roto tiller a few years ago for a summer's professional mowing. It is a wonderful thing to not have to deal with but pricey. My son is paying for it this time as he has been in Chicago since Friday and didn't take care of the lawn so agreed to pay to have it done. It looks great!

Ha, I just did a search on my blog for the song, As Long As I'm Movin'. I had it here not long ago by Ruth Brown but have it by someone else but can't remember who. Anyway, My friend's 92nd birthday that was two years ago came up. It deserves a link just for the picture of him.

"Where Have You Been?" was the first question asked me today when I showed up at his nursing home. Andrea Marcovecci answered.

"Are You Lonely?", I asked. Denison Witmer answered.

Stages and Layers

This is a canvas of my aunt's as promised. It hangs in an entryway above a bench. You get lost in the cool green and blues. It's amazing. Again, you have to click to embiggen.

This afternoon I entertained a friend who is feeling very down. I thought I could cheer her up and maybe get into some painting and crafty things with a lot of ideas and an open stocked studio but she's feeling uninspired. Depression is a terrible thing. We both heard a radio program this afternoon on CBC about coming to terms with health problems and problems in general. Just get out there and do it she says. I feel that way now too and I kind of bugged my friend with that 'you can do it' rap. She wasn't buying it. I'm expecting more company any minute so will probably be choosing music late. I will probably publish whenever she comes and add music later.

Oh, definitely more Dan Hicks. How can I not, with a clean slate. We've had a few days of rain which ended today. My friend and I sat outside all afternoon, with sweaters. Garden in the Rain is a fitting song as I was visiting the garden, showing it off and pulling an occasional weed. The afternoon had gorgeous clouds of which I got several photos. Tomorrow, you'll see them.

Back to the music after another visitor. I love Dan Hicks for the right mood. Here's Hummin' to Myself by Dan, a fit as always.

Groovin' and Movin'

It has been a wet Monday and a good excuse to stay in today to do housework. You'd swear a couple of Neanderthals lived here with the mess the house gets in sometimes. A rainy day is just the excuse you need to sort it out.

I just finished making a bouquet with the dregs of last week's flower sale purchases, the last of the daffodils and some forsythia branches. As I was turning the vase to see which side to face out on the table I noticed a hornet crawling around on one of the daffodils. I had brought it in without knowing - for the umpteenth time. I must remember to check more carefully.

Today I am showing another painting by my aunt. This too is done on porcelain. I'll show a canvas next time. I love this. It's not that the girl looks like me but in my grade one photo, my hair is cut much the same and my eyes have the same look so I've always had a soft spot for it. You can see from last week's painting that my aunt does grapes excellently and this week portraits as well. I wish I had half the talent. You have to click to enlarge to give the work justice.

Doing housework today I had some groovin' music blasting to hurry the jobs along and make them more pleasant as well. Here's It Don't Mean a Thing by Club des Belugas. An old favorite that I play so, so often - C'mon a My House by the no one else like him, one of my heros, Mr. Dan Hicks. Thanks, Dan.

Down But Not Out

I had a bit of a lazy day today. The photo is taken while lying on the lawn. I'm not feeling A1 as I ate garlic and cheese last night, a double whammy on my sensitive system. I knew what I was getting into but I always hope for a chance that I won''t be affected but that never happens. I needed a quiet day anyway after the intense gardening yesterday. I was exhausted as I thought I might be but got a lot done.

The tulips are blooming now. I lost a lot of them to mice over the winter. It is easy to find the damage. There were tunnels in the garden and many, many empty tulip bulb husks. It worked out well actually. There was a tulip disease in the garden and I was supposed to pull the affected tulips. I really didn't have the heart to do it but I see no sign of the disease this year. The mice possibly ate all the diseased bulbs.

Lay Down ( Candles In the Rain) was an old favorite from the early seventies by Melanie Safka, generally known as Melanie. It was up there on the charts. Hit The Ground by Lizz Wright is not as old but it's as good.

Back to work tomorrow so I'll see you Monday.

Floral Heights

My house holds a riot of colour today. Like after Valentines day, the store where I grocery shop had their flowers at half price. I got three bouquets - red carnations, purple mums and dyed green chrysanthemums. I picked marsh marigolds on the way home and have all those vases of daffodils in the house already. You can imagine all the displays I've made. I also have branches from my forsythia in the bouquets.

Since I collect vases I have lots of choices, just not enough surfaces to set them. Quite often I have tall vases on floors, like today. They cover every surface. I sometimes have new vases like the one my sister, Cath, gave me this year. It is egg shaped. I've taken photo of it's first year and can see many years of more cre8ive arrangements for the future. I'm keeping it outside on the deck's very old, on it's last legs, lobster box coffee table. I'll show a photo 0f it soon.

The house with the flowers all through it is like bliss to me. I love the complicated beauty, complicated music and art as well. Could that perhaps indicate I'm a complicated person? I am easily stimulated visually, and with photography, painting, flower arranging, jewelry-making, stained glass and building beaches, allowing me to fulfill my ideas, I feel quite balanced.

Tomorrow I'm gardening so you may not hear from me. It depends on how exhausted I am. It takes so much more out of me now than in the olden days. Even though gardening is a lot of work, gorgeous flowers to make into bouquets for my house are very well worth it.

It's The Waifs today with Sun Dirt Water for even thinking about gardening. It will help me get through all the heavy work. I'll be sure to play it while I'm outside. House By The Sea too, by Iron and Wine will be quick and keep me working at a good pace. I will groan now if I'm not able to come tomorrow. That will be my post - just a long groan for every time I try to move by tomorrow night.

A Post From a Great Girl

Ah, Monday. The sun is shining at last after a weekend of rain . Yesterday was downright nasty with fierce winds and a temperature that dipped to zero. On a clear night this would have meant frost but with the wind and rain we were at least spared that. I worked the weekend while it rained and will be off in the sunshine. It worked out pretty good, I must say.

I found out today my car is to cost only $635.00 instead of the $1000.00 I'd expected. It is because the mechanic did not do one of the repairs as it was not deemed vital at this time . It will be vital in a while but for now he said I could skip it.

Yesterday I spoke to my son and grandchildren. My grand-daughter who is three and a half said, "I love you Grandma C cause you're a great girl." How cute is that? My son who lives at home brought lobster that I had last night after work with a nice cold beer. Heaven!

Today's photo is of a china painting done by my aunt. I will show her work from time to time. She's fantastic and I photographed all her work that is hung in her home. Of course, you must click the photo to see the true artistry.

I'm glad to be back at work. I get in great physical shape over the summer which is a great benefit. I miss doing my various art projects but there is always a long winter ahead. In it I satisfy my cre8ive and my gastronomical urges. Summer is better for my body; winter for my cre8ivity.

Everything will Work Out Fine says Joel Plaskett. It's a perfect life, eh? I think A Wonderful Life by The Felice Brothers says it all. This was one of my favorite songs of last year and here it is again. Since all the Putfile files have disappeared, a lot of the favorites have to be replaced.

How was your weekend?

Just Breathe

What a day! I found out my car needs a whole lot of expensive work. I had to bum a drive home as my car is unsafe to drive. I have no way to get to work tomorrow.

In the two drives my car took while I was away, I received two serious car issues. I took it to the airport on Tuesday. My daughter drove it home from the airport on Thursday, the day she arrived from the west. My son delivered it to the airport for me the night before I was to come home three weeks later. He inadvertently opened the trunk hatch while he was getting gas and forgot to close it. There was a wind storm that night and the trunk slammed and slammed into the back window. The body shop guys showed me two spots on the window where the trunk had hit repeatedly and told me it was a miracle that it had not broken.

From the minute I picked up the car at the airport I knew there was something wrong underneath. My mechanic had just told me of an imminent problem before I went away so I thought it was that. No, a spring has been broken and two struts are leaking. It was another strut I'd had replaced just before I went away and these two weren't leaking then. I have to have all that replaced and the sway bar that he'd already mentioned. It is not safe to drive as the broken spring could blow out the tire if I hit a pothole.

My kids (or one of them) drive like maniacs it seems. Mr. Mechanic said it must have been a hard hit to break all three things. Life costs too darn much I say. It's hard to survive it with an old vehicle.

I had very good news just moments ago. One of my oldest friend had a double mastectomy today and she just called me to tell me she was alright. She said she was returning the favor because I has surprised her so much when I called her personally from my hospital bed after my kidney removal. She was expecting one of the kids and I really surprised her when I called myself. She's great and feeling lighter.

I have four songs or more I'd like to put up now in honour of my breastless and cancer-free friend. I normally do only two a day but will do all of them because I won't be here for a few days. Some extra music to see you through.

I think it will be very difficult to go to morning blogging as I had to do last year when I worked so will only blog here when I have time off or feel like it in the morning. I will still keep up the other blogs as best I can. This one takes the longest and most committment. I like to read blogs in the morning not write them so I'll still be here reading and listening.

Here's more music for Pam who is still frozen and on pain relief drugs for a time. I'm glad she's Breathin'.

• Breathe by Women In Docs
• Breathe by Alexi Murdoch
• Breathe by Sia
• Every Breath You Take by The Police
• Breathin' by The Camilo Project
  

A Rainy Day

Just realized this photo was snapped three years ago today.

I don't know if this is universal but it is something I've talked to women about from time to time. You wake up with no energy but you will not give yourself permission to take the day off. Even if you have nothing pressing you make an effort at your jobs because you feel guilty for slacking off. You have to get something accomplished, not lie around all day. That's the kind of day I'm having today. I feel exhausted but carried on with chores even though I should have taken a 10 AM nap instead. Even though it is not often I wake up with no energy, I still can't let go of that sense of responsibility for accomplishment in my day.

We've had lovely gentle rain all day. spring is advancing my the minute. The grass is growing and at the next moment of sunshine is going to burst into the stage where it has to be mowed. Oh, joy! For those who know me, I don't tend to swear but mowing adds %&#$'s to my Oh, joy! I will ask my son to take care of it and hope he responds well. Heck he goes to a place called a golf course and worships the grass there.

Wonderful daffodils are filling my house. They bring such pleasure and beauty, I can hardly stand it. I haven't delivered as many bouquets as I usually do each spring. I always give my friend who had the fiftieth birthday a big bouquet and intended to give her fifty yesterday but she had other plans and we didn't make arrangements. I love spreading cheer with them.

You could say daffodils are Sunshine on a Rainy Day. Singer Zoe thinks so too. I have quite a collection of rain songs. Here is one by Dr. John, Come Rain or Come Shine.

Outdoor Work Progresses

I thought I was sore and tired yesterday. Today I'm swollen, sore and tired and had to take Ibuprofen to get back outside after lunch. No one told me middle age hurt this much. Even one of the cats is limping today. They were pretty wild in the trees yesterday and again today, jumping from tree to tree and onto the ground from on high. Kenz went upstairs one foot at a time. I still haven't had a hot bath but opted for showering for the shorter time it required. Tonight for sure!

I got a lot done in these two days but not everything. I haven't even touched one garden. A property this size and established has a lot of upkeep and it's too much alone. My son is not into garden and yard chores so I get no help at all. There is way too much for one person. I love my house and property but would like to find something a lot easier to maintain.

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors and I enjoyed that aspect of today. We are expecting a couple of days of rain and drizzle so taking advantage of perfect weather is golden. The rain can do it's job on the gardens now that I've done mine.

A good friend of mine turns fifty today. The music is for her. My friend's name is Heather so Blooming Heather by Kate Rusby is especially for her and Enjoy Yourself by Todd Snider is good advice for your birthday no matter the age.

Springing Golightly on Mother Earth

You have a tired woman at the moment. I have been gardening all day and yesterday walked for about three hours. My body needs immediate rest (and a hot bath) but there is still much to do before I rest. I'm still in the middle of some garden chores that have to be finished before dark, I have to make supper and am expecting company.

The day has been glorious and downright beautiful. I was driving deep in the country this morning getting beautiful shots and accomplishing much on the spring chore list. It is a beautiful season and a photographer's delight.

Mother Earth by Holly Golightly is perfect music for this gorgeous day that I spent working in the soil. Great song and even greater experience. She has yesterday rounded up too with Walk a Mile.

Saturday

Click to Enlarge

I saw some incredible clouds today. Here's a bit. I'm painting clouds so they came at the right time. I am going to change what I painted this morning as I was given the perfect models. Nice when it's handed to you like that.

My gardening work wasn't handed to me though and I'm feeling it already. I have to get in better shape fast. I'm not done for the day either so am again begging off a longer post because I don't have time. As the summer progresses I may cut the number of posts too, as I'm taken up with a busy work schedule. Work starts this coming week so this is advance notification that things may slow down around here....and that I have to get in better shape fast.

The fact that all my Putfile music files have disappeared saddens me so I hope the new method of bringing music to you continues uneventfully.

Did anyone see Spectacle, Elvis Costello's new TV show last night? Elton John, who is an executive producer with the show, took the interview chair for the night and interviewed the great Diana Krall. I love her. She is playing in the Maritimes at the end of the month but I will be working instead of buying a probably expensive ticket for the show. It is in Moncton which means a bridge ticket to New Brunswick too, and that raises the cost considerabally. I certainly would love to go.

I listened to her new album several times at my aunt and uncle's as they are big fans too. I don't have the album yet so you have to put up with some older ones. I love her styling and great interpretations so much! Here's Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby, as always, dedicated to my daughter and Alright, OK You Win, two favorites from my collection of favorite songs.

Spring Chores

Spring chores are happening everywhere on the Island. Tractors were out in most fields yesterday and the day before. Today has been cloudy with a mist of light rain now and then but not enough to keep farmers off the fields.

I've been cleaning and organizing myself, finishing up the studio from it's glass project month before last. I took the window to it's site last night and tried it in for size. It was perfect for fit and will be installed this weekend. I have some painting to finish so am setting the studio up for paint again. The uncle who I stayed with last week is also an artist and made a suggestion for the painting I painted with my aunt the week before and I want to implement his suggestion. I also want to finish the sunflower that I did in February. The next nice day will be spent in the yard and garden. Rainy days are for inside.

Jann Arden sings the song Looks Like Rain for this weekend's forecast so I'm hoping to get lots of work done inside. There's always so much to do that it's sometimes overwhelming. I am three weeks behind. It's been such a busy winter.

For something a bit more upbeat to help get some of these jobs taken care of, I need something a bit more lively. Here's Ruth Brown with As Long As I'm Movin. It makes me move, anyway.

Friends for Life

I have to make it short again. My supper preparations aren't finished. I went from beginning to make cannelloni to making a vegetarian lasagna. The whole wheat lasagna noodles are cooking now. I ruined one batch of cannelloni filling too. After I had everything in the bowl, I threw in a container of cottage cheese that had gone bad so through out the old mixture and started again, to find I didn't have enough cannelloni shells. Luckily the tomato sauce I made can be used for either.

I had a busy day with car repairs and errands. I brought a sick friend some cheery daffodils. I got the terrible news yesterday, that another friend, my long time, very close friend and room mate from the early seventies has breast cancer. Im in a kind of shock. I talked to her yesterday and again today. She is having surgery on the 7th. My dad talked about this age where we or our friends are having surgeries and illnesses, and we're attending lots of funerals too. No one is immune to the dreadful disease and it seems to be so widespread now.

Today's music is for my old friend Pam, now living in Alberta. We sang this James Taylor song together at a friend's wedding many years ago. Here is the classic You've Got a Friend. Tired Skin by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes kind of fits the mortal situation she is feeling.