I've been eagerly awaiting my Christmas gift to myself; a pair of earrings from the talented Jillian at The Noisy Plume. The earrings arrived in yesterday's mail, wonderfully packaged and with a nice little surprise of Zen tea inside.
Today I am feeling tired after non-stop cleaning and organizing for the past two days. I can only do a little bit and then I must rest and so what should take a short while stretches into a long period of time. I haven't even had a shower yet but I wanted to show off my earrings (made of green quartz) and say a big "thank you" to Jillian for the thoughtful touches with the parcel.
Receiving my parcel, wrapped up all nice and pretty & with such attention to detail, really made my day.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Treacle Cookies
Today it looks like this outside.
Yesterday, we had our first snowfall on the mountains to the north though it was a glorious, sunny day. Today, the black clouds are menacing and it is windy. I decide I want some Treacle cookies with tea, to stay warm and cosy.
I haven't said so before but I am not the world's great cook so I really love recipes that are simple and quick. This recipe was simple to put together after I learned that treacle is actually blackstrap molasses or a golden syrup. I opted to use the molasses so my treacle cookies are darker than the ones in the photo at the link above. Also, I'm always busy doing something else rather than fully attending to my cooking and I overdid the first batch of cookies, he he. I will eat them anyway as they are for dunking in my tea.
Here I am in front of the television learning about why you should not feed a raccoon. I've always thought that raccoons are such cute little creatures and we have so many in this city so it is good to be reminded not to feed them! They are after all, wild creatures.
Now I am feeling toasty and beginning to think about things like tidying and cleaning. The work of re-piping is feverishly going on in the hallways here in my building. In a few days the workers will need access to all the units to do the re-piping that is required in each unit. I will be so glad when it is all over with. Now, where do I put the Christmas tree so I don't have to take it down again when the re-piping work is ready to be done in the unit?
Yesterday, we had our first snowfall on the mountains to the north though it was a glorious, sunny day. Today, the black clouds are menacing and it is windy. I decide I want some Treacle cookies with tea, to stay warm and cosy.
I haven't said so before but I am not the world's great cook so I really love recipes that are simple and quick. This recipe was simple to put together after I learned that treacle is actually blackstrap molasses or a golden syrup. I opted to use the molasses so my treacle cookies are darker than the ones in the photo at the link above. Also, I'm always busy doing something else rather than fully attending to my cooking and I overdid the first batch of cookies, he he. I will eat them anyway as they are for dunking in my tea.
Here I am in front of the television learning about why you should not feed a raccoon. I've always thought that raccoons are such cute little creatures and we have so many in this city so it is good to be reminded not to feed them! They are after all, wild creatures.
Now I am feeling toasty and beginning to think about things like tidying and cleaning. The work of re-piping is feverishly going on in the hallways here in my building. In a few days the workers will need access to all the units to do the re-piping that is required in each unit. I will be so glad when it is all over with. Now, where do I put the Christmas tree so I don't have to take it down again when the re-piping work is ready to be done in the unit?
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Gift
In the chill of the evening I stopped off at my doctor's office to pay a small bill. A task that has been lingering in the background for some time. I thought it was good to stop and pay the bill while I was in the neighbourhood, rather than mail a cheque. At last, I can strike this errand off of the "to do" list.
Outside the office I met up with two trees, one more barren then the other. I take delight in how the tree with bare branches nonetheless looks like it is dressed for an evening out. The moon is in another direction but the street lamp's glowing ember shines through the naked branches, as if to say, "I will give you warmth and light tonight." How romantic!
The other tree is still clothed in leaves; arrayed in all her golden splendour. She stands firm against the rough winds and sleeting rain of the past few months, defiant in giving up her leaves for another season. I admire her strength.
And me? I stand at my doctor's office ready to depart and head into the night. So happy for the gift of a royal purple scarf. Hand made by God's poetic hand maiden, Destiny Diadem. Even her name is poetic. She unexpectedly gifted me with this lovely and long scarf and it was utterly PERFECT for the night. A delightful surprise.
Outside the office I met up with two trees, one more barren then the other. I take delight in how the tree with bare branches nonetheless looks like it is dressed for an evening out. The moon is in another direction but the street lamp's glowing ember shines through the naked branches, as if to say, "I will give you warmth and light tonight." How romantic!
The other tree is still clothed in leaves; arrayed in all her golden splendour. She stands firm against the rough winds and sleeting rain of the past few months, defiant in giving up her leaves for another season. I admire her strength.
And me? I stand at my doctor's office ready to depart and head into the night. So happy for the gift of a royal purple scarf. Hand made by God's poetic hand maiden, Destiny Diadem. Even her name is poetic. She unexpectedly gifted me with this lovely and long scarf and it was utterly PERFECT for the night. A delightful surprise.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Fire in the Morning
It is 5:20 a.m. and there is a knock at my door to tell me there is a huge fire down the street. I go outside on the patio and try and get photos. I don't have a good camera for night photos but these will show you just how big the fire is. Swirling, billowing black smoke turns to gray, then shades of crimson.
I can hear several sets of sirens for the past 25 minutes but I don't know what is burning. I will have to go out and see or check the news later this morning. I pray no one died or got hurt. 25 minutes later and I find a report on the city's breaking news. There is a 3 alarm fire ripping through several businesses. It is sad. So much waste but I am hopeful no residences were affected and I am hopeful the small business owners had insurance.
I can hear several sets of sirens for the past 25 minutes but I don't know what is burning. I will have to go out and see or check the news later this morning. I pray no one died or got hurt. 25 minutes later and I find a report on the city's breaking news. There is a 3 alarm fire ripping through several businesses. It is sad. So much waste but I am hopeful no residences were affected and I am hopeful the small business owners had insurance.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
In Flander's Fields
In Flander's Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
A descendant of Scottish immigrants, Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae was born in Guelph, Ontario on November 30, 1872. He was a physician and an author, but is best known for "In Flander's Field." During the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium he served as a surgeon with the Canadian artillery in a field hospital.
Throughout the hellish battle in the Ypres Salient, McCrae treated many injured soldiers and on May 2, 1915, he witnessed the death of a close friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer. The next day, after performing the funeral service for his friend in the absence of a chaplain, McCrae sat near the cemetery and, as he watched the poppies blowing between the gravestones, he penned this poem to express his sadness at the devastation. The poem was later published in Punch magazine on December 8, 1915.
I am grateful I have these memories and grateful that some people still take the time to remember those who sacrificed everything for our freedoms. Most of all, I am grateful to those who went to battle; those who returned, and those who rest in a place far from home and loved ones. May God rest their souls.
November 11 is Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day is of course, the anniversary of the end of World War I 91 years ago, and it is a day for remembering those who died in the wars.
On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, please remember the war heroes.
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