Happy New Year

Happy New Year! What a year it has been. Time to make resolutions and try to keep them. The first is to try to have something to write in the blog everyday. Saw the movie Julie/Julia yesterday. I am sure that my blog is not going to result in a book or movie offer but it will help with my writing which has slowed down since I started working full-time again. I should have time to write.
Exercise is another. I remember well the people who would start exercising when I took classes and then the number would drop off until it came to bathing-suit season. I am not exercising to fit into a bathing suit but to keep fit. Hope that it works.
Have to think about what else I would like to change. As some articles suggest, make the changes manageable. Good idea!
Enjoy and let's compare resolutions!

Christmas Day!

Well, must say that yesterday's Christmas Dinner was an event. My brother and his significant other managed to talk and during the meal, the language became so salty that there are sailors who would have wondered about the words being uttered.
I had spent the day cleaning and cooking. Personally, we enjoyed the meal but at the end just before dessert, my brother's significant other had what appeared to be an asthma attack. Now, I am sure that they are not pleasant but she did survive and in fact is home today but that was not before she was driven to emergency. That was certainly a place that we never expected to be on Christmas Day.
Time to start thinking about what to do next year. This is going to take some careful planning. Just do not want an evening quite as exciting.

Merry Christmas 2009

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Tomorrow, I start making the dinner and finishing cleaning up. Time to get ready for the big day. Cards need to be given to neighbours and at home activities will now take priority. Will get things done.
Hope that everyone is not overwhelmed with all the activity and has time to enjoy the season.
All the best to everyone.
If I log on it is to take a break.

Christmas letters

I have finished my Christmas cards and am now planning the menu for Christmas dinner. One of the interesting aspects of doing cards was sending yearly updates to people we do not see very often. What to include in the letter. A year is such a long time and what will interest people. Hard to believe that a year has passed since the last letter. People have passed away, Charlie over a year now, Ruth, who I looked after and who passed away last May. Some births which is lovely, Andria who I am replacing at school had twins which is lovely. They are 6 months old now and they are developing personalities. My tennis buddies are an ever changing group (thinking of this group since I will leave to play tennis in less than an hour), the trio which seems stable now and orchestra. Michael and I will go out with the violin duo. Lovely that they make music together.
I think that I will plan for next year's update starting January 1st. Will see what happens if I do that and how long those plans will last.

Visiting begins

Christmas begins. The concerts are done, I have performed and listened, now it is time for visiting. Today, we are off to St. Catharines to visit Mike's aunt and uncle, Eileen and Joe. We will go out for lunch which will be nice. Tomorrow, we are going to meet friends of Michael's at a restaurant for dinner. Should be a nice evening.
Need time to tidy up the house before having people over. Those visits will be later when we have had time to relax and deal with the trimming of trees etc. Will start decorating on Monday, when I go to visit Olive, the ninety year who I have been helping to look after. (Did put up outdoor decorations while the weather was pleasant.)
Tuesday, I will visit a friend downtown and also pick up some yarn at the same time. Hopefully, it will not be too crazy at the yarn store.
Sunday, I will also line some more visits. E-mails to be sent and phone calls made. My it is a busy time but it is good to have time visit with friends.

Music Education and benefits

A short while ago, Gustavo Dudamel, conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Jose Antonio Abreu, Glenn Gould Prize winner visited Toronto to promote their music education project. They suggested that a bi national orchestra will exist in the future with members from Canada and Venezuela. The orchestra would play next year!
Dudamel was a preschooler when he entered Abreu's El Sistema, the national network of music instruction and ensembles that Abreu has been cultivating in Venezuela for over three decades.
"He created this beautiful and huge program that is unique," Dudamel said. "We are his sons, we have his blood in our veins, and it's not just music, it's about building the society and creating better citizens.
Abreau explained that music education is a matter of social justice. "The distribution in the world of arts eduction is tremendously unjust. When arts education takes the place in our society that it deserves, we will have much less delinquency and violence and much more motivation towards noble achievement."
Recent articles about arts education in Toronto suggest that this philosophy is being adopted by some. Hopefully, it will spread.

Cursive Writing

Reading one of today's papers, (I read 3 a day), I noticed an article about cursive writing and the demise of writing. I have been fond of saying that it is a problem. First of all, many students are unable to write cursively. This is a problem when faced with the prospect of writing an exam which is written in essay form. In order to write cursively which does not come naturally students need to slow down and this can be a problem when trying to get down as much information as possible in the time allotted.
Another issue is that information sent on computers will not be available in years to come. Who will write the book about the many messages sent back and for between people. Who will have the technology to retrieve the messages. We can retrieve Shakespeare's thoughts, an example of his hand writing was included in the article but the thoughts of modern writers who only use the computer will be lost.
An interesting problem.

Christmas Cards

I have finished nearly all of my mailed Christmas cards. Have a couple left to do. This happened because I was away at a camp and one of the ways that I passed the time was to address Christmas cards. They were nearly all done by the time it was time to head home. Finished the last of them on Wednesday when I wrote up the Yearly update. That is always interesting to look back on the year and figure out what was important. The remaining cards are because I needed to check a partner's name or other information like that.
Now that I am done, I love receiving cards. Interesting to see how other people are doing. I actually enjoy the updates. Some peoples lives are very good but others are more honest and discuss the difficulties that they have encountered.
Received two cards today and yesterday received one from someone who usually sends her cards in the New Year. That was a surprise.

Christmas Concert

It is that time of year: time to have a Christmas concert or two-conducting the Junior Band as part of the school's Christmas concert next Monday evening. We are just about ready but always some touching up that can be done. The trio is going to perform tomorrow evening at one of the locations that we visit at least twice a year. Saturday evening, we are going to attend the Bach Children's Chorus Christmas concert. It is one of those things that gets us in the mood for Christmas. Music is certainly an important part of the celebration.
Hope that all of you are busy getting in the mood for the holidays.

Music for all of us

Right now, I am working on a presentation for a music group. It is a good challenge and I am prepared to try to meet the challenge head on but must say that the presentation will be lacking some of the bells and whistles that others have: no visuals. Power point would be good but I need to make sure that the presentation system has the same power point that I am using. I also feel that it will take too long to get that part ready.
However, did you know that playing music is very good for you? Thomas Jefferson used to play his violin when he was stymied writing the Declaration of Independence. Einstein played the violin and it helped him achieve his goals. These are just two of the many people who used music and found that it helped in ways that they could not have imagined. Scientists are busy trying to discover the benefits of music.
More on that later. Must get to work on the presentation.

"The Soloist", the book

Have you found that the movie does not do justice to the book. Must say that The Soloist is one of the few books that does do justice to the book although it does diverge slightly but the essence is there. It certainly does not sugar coat the situation between Steve Lopez, journalist and reporter and Nathaniel Ayers, schizophrenic musician. If you have not read the book or seen the movie, do. Either will give you insight into an aspect of the mental health system in one of the wealthiest nations and cities, the United States and Los Angeles. Frightening what, Steve Lopez describes. Hard to believe that the centre of the problem is just blocks from places like the Disney Theatre which hosts the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Worlds apart.
Steve Lopez does make it clear that he does not have answers to the problem of schizophrenia but more questions. He does question the closing down of mental health institutions allowing patients to be left on the streets to fend for themselves. He also discusses a few places that help, like the Lamp which is closely involved in Nathaniel Ayers situation. Some of the residents from the Lamp were in the movie making it much more relevant.
Hopefully, Steve Lopez and others will continue to investigate this situation and others like it bringing them to the attention of others.

Final Wisdom

It is amazing how much time and energy going to rehearsals takes. Monday night, I subbed for a friend at an orchestra-will be subbing one more week. The friend is in India bird watching! Wow, the birds must be amazing. Maybe, I should insist that he send me pictures of the birds.
Tuesday, I rehearsed with the trio for tonight's gig at a seniors' residence. Wednesday night was orchestra rehearsal. We were rehearsing new music since we just finished our concert on the previous Saturday. I just got back from the trio performance.
Wisdom for the day: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." Henry David Thoreau. And we must always have dreams that get us up in the morning.
Tomorrow night, I will relax and do laundry after getting a hair cut. Need to look presentable for dinner next week. A good reason for a hair cut.
Time to turn in.

Wisdom

Yes, here are more: "We change the world not by what we say or do, but as a consequence of what we have become." David R. Hawkins. Not sure who Hawkins is but the thought is important. We must remember that we must accomplish things not just talk about them.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." Certainly have a few challenges to face. Hopefully, I will be able to overcome them and extend meaning in my life.

Wisdom continued

Yes, I am continuing with words of wisdom and today we start with a thought from Aesop writer of many fables, "No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted." Words to live by.
And as I am fond of saying to my students, real life is much more entertaining than fiction. Hans Christian Andersen confirms this with "Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale". I have never read about his life but maybe it is time that I did. Wonder about his life. Was it a fairy tale?
More thoughts tomorrow.

More words of Wisdom

As you know from yesterday's entry, there are words of wisdom that I have gleaned from a calendar received recently. "Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier" words from Mother Teresa who certainly lived by these words. If only the rest of could try to live by these words.
Marie Curie who is someone who does not received enough credit for her work said the following: "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." Brave words to live. Not sure that some of us are able to do this.
More tomorrow.

Words of Wisdom.

Recently, I received a calendar in the mail that was a little different than the rest. Unlike the cards and labels that I receive regularly, this one had words of wisdom that made you stop and think.
January "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much" Helen Keller.
I love March "You are braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think" Christopher Robin to Pooh. Now there are words of wisdom.
I will leave you with a thought from Confucius "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall". Words to live by.

Learn from the Past

Recently, I went back to my former school and to my disappointment found that almost all evidence that I had been at the school had been removed by the former teacher. I had met her but always made a point of staying away from the music room because I did not want students to be comparing us. It can be very difficult for some teachers to take over and I did not want to become part of a problem. Little did I know that she would remove any sign that I had ever been at the school.
This has made me think about legacies and how we do not always respect what others have done. We can learn from them and build on what they have done. We need to learn from the past and respect what has been built.
Tomorrow, I will return to the school and this time, I will be helping to build. What a lovely change. (Yes, the teacher who replaced me is gone. The new teacher wants to respect legacies.)

Friday and its time to relax

Finally, the week is over and it is time to relax before starting the next week. Working full-time after three years of part-time or no time is a change. I leave early in the morning for work and then after a full day of work (not as full as working at the elementary level), need to practise, get mail done which I have been very conscientious about-I am caught up on the mail, and try to get some computer work done. Not much time for more than that. Some nights, I have orchestra or chamber trio practise which is why I need to practise. I can not go to practices unprepared.
Tomorrow, I am taking the percussion ensemble from school to a music conference. I am their chaperon for the bus. I have nothing to do with their musical excellence. During the time between practise and performance, there is time to relax and wait which means that I will get to the library and pick up a book that I requested "The Soloist" which should be an interesting read.
I was going to do some drop offs but think that practising, computer work and some errands are the better choice.
Hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend and that the week coming up is exciting. More about that tomorrow.

East Side Players

Last night, I attended the first production of the season for East Side Players. What a treat! Since it was Halloween, attendance was low. We had plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the production. The play was Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Neil Simon. It was an interesting production which reflects Neil Simon's early days in TV with Sid Caesar and the writers Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbert. This was a touching production that revealed some of the issues of 1953 with McCarthyism, the change in peoples' taste and the drive to deal with commercials.
If you can get to the production do. Support local theatre.

Local Produce

Yes, I am catching up on my back-log. I am going to get caught on my many projects. One of which is posting my blog.
Last year, I read about Not Far from the tree which was based at Spadina House and branched out from there. There are many trees that bear fruit which is not picked and this group picks the fruit and shares it with the home owner. The concept has caught on and now has expanded to the East York and High Park areas, both of which have many older fruit trees. Hopefully, next year the project will continue to expand.
Homeowners register their trees and volunteers are dispatched to harvest the fruit, with a third going to the tree owners, a third to the volunteers and the last third distributed to community organizations in the neighbourhood that can make good use of the fruit.
Eating local is becoming increasingly popular. Farmers markets are starting to thrive and community garden plots increase in popularity and not just the ones dealt out by the city. I am sure that there will be more projects like these continuing to expand and thrive.

Autumn

After posting articles about people who are changing the world or at least having an impact, I would like to say that fall is wonderful. Some fellow tennis players remarked how stunning the trees looked. We must enjoy them now because in a weeks time, we will be raking but not admiring the trees since the leaves will be covering the ground.
Enjoy this time of year.

People's Professor

Professor turns to face his students whose eyes are directed at the great thinkers shown in his favourite painting. "Raphael was trying to capture a community engaged in the philosophy of the mind. Socrates and Plato and Aristotle and all the other great philosophers depicted here began a long tradition of street philosophy, a tradition that lives on in the streets of Harlem-the exchange of ideas, a passion for education and idealism, a community of learning and idealism, a community of learning and teaching." "If only Columbia-the school on the hill-understood the importance of it."
Professor Dalton has taught for 38 years in the political science department of Barnard, the all-women's school of Columbia, University of Harlem. Like many Ivy League schools positioned near low-income communities, Columbia has a strained relationship with its neighbours, working-class people who are not only kept out, but are threatened with displacement by the grand vision of the universities leadership. The school wants to seize property through eminent domain in its plans for a new $6.3 billion expansion into West Harlem.
Professor Dalton invites members of the community to attend his classes. He encourages residents of Harlem to encroach into Columbia and one way is to attend his classes gratis. He says that "These are my friends. You wouldn't tell any other professor that he couldn't invite his friends to sit in on his class."
Dalton has made an effort every day of his 38 years of teaching at Barnard to follow Gandhi's advice and "be the change you wish to see in the world."
What a wonderful teacher. Sad that Utne chose to print an article about professor Dalton when he retired and new students could not attend his classes. Hopefully, Dalton is enjoying time with family as the article suggests he plans to do.

Puzzling People with Mathematics

It is 1956 and there is a magazine, Humpty Dumpty with the egg as its chief editor who is assisted by a human editor, Martin Gardner, who prepared activity features and wrote a monthly short story about the adventures of the child egg, Humpty Dumpty Jr. At this point, Mr. Gardner was 42 and had never taken a math course beyond high school. He had struggled with calculus and considered himself poor at solving basic mathematical puzzles. When the publisher of Scientific American asked him if there might be enough material for a monthly column on "recreational mathematics" a term that sounded even more oxymoronic in 1956 than it does today, Mr. Gardner took a gamble.

He quit his job with Humpty Dumpty.

On Wednesday, Mr. Gardner celebrated his 95th birthday with the publication of another book-his second book of essays and mathematical puzzles to be published just his year. With more than 70 books to his name, he is the world's best-known recreational mathematician, and has probably introduced more people to the joys of math than anyone in history.

Gardner was able to collect puzzles and use them. Some like the ferrying the wolf, goat and cabbage were included in a puzzle collection prepared for the emperor Charlemagne 12 centuries ago. The puzzle has been passed down in many forms.

What a wonder that Mr. Gardner found something that he loved to do and is still at it 50 years later.

What a shame! But at the same time least artists have found a way to use the buildings until they are turned into monster homes. As you will find from the following article, a group of homes that will soon be demolished are being used for art projects. One is a monopoly piece. What fun.
(Sorry was not able to import the picture of the house, will try later.)

An unlikely art project turns a North York bungalow into a board-game icon
Posted: October 19, 2009, 5:18 PM by Rob Roberts
This morning after breakfast, Scott Rogers, an artist, hauled off and slammed a pickaxe into the bedroom wall on the second floor of a brick bungalow in North York.
“Heeeere’s Johnny!” shouted fellow artist Justin Patterson, and it was like the scene from the Jack Nicholson horror film The Shining, with one exception: the wall barely budged.
Messrs. Roger and Patterson, along with other members of a Calgary art collective called The Arbour Lake Sghool, are breaking up No. 17 Leona Drive and using the wood and bricks to build a shantytown in its back yard.
“We’ve actually developed a name for ourselves doing stupid stuff like this,” says John Frosst, another collective member.
Welcome to Leona Drive, two blocks east of Yonge Street at Sheppard Avenue. In 1948 the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. built a neighbourhood of brick bungalows here for returning WWII soldiers and their families. Hyatt Homes, a developer, will demolish six homes here in November. In the meantime, this is The Leona Drive Project, “one extended art space.”
Deena Pantalone, a principle at Hyatt Homes, said in a statement, “We plan to build eight detached homes on the site, backing onto the ravine. With the houses sitting vacant and unused, we loved the idea of putting the land to good use and helping to support the local arts community at the same time.”
Two artists, Janine Marchessault of York University and Michael Prokopow of the Ontario College of Art and Design, are curating the show, which runs Oct. 23-31.
The artist Christine Davis is colouring every surface in the bathroom at No. 9 Leona Drive using 75 tubes of red lipstick donated by MAC. She arrived to the job yesterday wearing corduroys in a fuscia that matched the lipstick, drinking a Vitamin Water of the same alarming hue.
“During the Second World War cosmetics companies marketed lipstick colours like Victory Red, Banner Red and Furlough Red,” she says. “Women wore these to go work in the factories. Then in the 1950s women still wore lipstick and became perfect housewives.”
David Hann, another artist, has parked an Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser station wagon, complete with a fake-wood paneling paint job, in a driveway, and plans to project 1970s TV sitcoms through its windows from the inside.
No. 19 (pictured above) is my favourite. An Te Liu, who runs the graduate landscape and architecture program at the University of Toronto, stripped off its back veranda and railings and painted it entirely -- roof, walls, window panes, sills, in emerald green, transforming it into a giant Monopoly house, whose dimensions it perfectly copies. “Leona Drive with One House, rent $250.”
It is tempting to see all this as a satire and a sendup of the suburbs, but Prof. Marchessault insists this is an homage to a lovely part of town.
“We want to think about the 1940s and 1950s suburbs, which had an ideology. There’s this imagination of a better life that these houses will offer you. There isn’t that utopianism in the new suburbs.”
Houses were smaller back then; outdoor space was more prized than it is today. It’s hard to watch these jewels disappear, especially after I learned of Ruth Gillespie, who lived here at No. 9 for 40 years, before dying suddenly on the dance floor in 2003. The periwinkle and hydrangea she tended in her back garden are healthier than ever.
Next door a group of art students from Earl Haig high school began transforming a house, arranging its contents so that they appear to be bursting from the windows. Still, they seemed a little hesitant, as though wary at defiling an icon of their neighbourhood. And I can respect that.
Elsewhere on Leona Drive, there remain dozens more houses like those that are vanishing -- all sturdy, well-tended and fronted by stately trees. I wish them long life; I like them better as dwellings than as art.

Photographs: Top, artist An Te Liu has turned 19 Leona Drive into a Monopoly piece. Above, Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins were inspired by a true story to create a spectacular car-crash scene in the front of 17 Leona Drive. Photos by Aaron Lynett, National PostRead more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/10/19/an-unlikely-art-project-turns-a-north-york-bungalow-into-a-board-game-icon.aspx##ixzz0UV1VDSKf The New Financial Post Stock Market Challenge starts in October. You could WIN your share of $60,000 in prizing. Register NOW

Knit one, Purl two

Yarnbombing continues and now is a book. Those of you who don't know, Yarnbombing is knitting to cover an object outdoors. Apparently, from Houston to Vancouver, Stockholm to Mexico City, people are yarn bombing solo and in groups.
The goal? World yarn domination. Surprising strangers. Promoting an under appreciated craft. Some like Haley Waxberg say "I thought that it would be pretty" of the knitting that she did covering a telephone pole. Others question the validity of doing this as opposed to giving knitting to the homeless and others in need. The knitting does not last in northern climates and becomes a problem with the cold and rain.
In Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffitti, Vancouver authors Leanne Prain and Mandy Moore trace the practise of Yarn Bombing to a group, Knitta Please who in 2005 knit a cover for a door knob and started a revolution.
I must say that I agree with the idea of giving the knitting to those in need. Perhaps, something could be done to promote that kind of knitting instead of covering a telephone pole with knitting.
Must say that I am inspired to continue knitting but not cover public places with knitting but helping others who might need the knitting.

Britney Spears Mother of the Year!

Just read an article that says that in Britain, Britney Spears was voted Mother of the Year ,celebrity. My goodness, does that mean that other celebrity mothers are really terrible! What are the voters trying to say? Do the voters not read the news and know that Britney's children were removed from her home in 2008 and given to her ex-husband who is no gem himself but apparently a better parent than Britney.
You have got to love celebrity when things like this happen.

My 90 year old friend

Today after school, I am going to visit my 90 year old friend. Yes, you are reading correctly. 90 years old. The things she has seen! Unfortunately, she has become frail and not able to do everything she was able to do in the past.
The things that she has seen! I am always amazed that she has seen so many amazing changes. The depression which she wrote about in a book that she wrote a number of years ago was certainly a challenging period in history and for her personally. The book was about pioneering in Scarborough. Hard to believe that Scarborough was once isolated and that it was a village of its own.
Time to go and see her.

Twitter???

It is at times like when life is so quiet that I think about Twittering. You have to enter a few words. Not sure what the count is but it is limited. Think that I might have passed my limit already.
It has been quiet this week. Had orchestra rehearsal which was good. Went to the dentist at night on Tuesday. No cavities! Yeah!
Tonight is a good evening. Dinner-will make Madras chicken and then we will go for a walk. Need to wear a winter coat. Hoping that the frost does not strike so that I can get plants in before that they are destroyed. Don't want to be outside working in the cold and the dark.
Hoping that all of you are having a nice fall. Let's hope for Indian Summer. We are due after this early cold weather.

Thanksgiving weekend

Hard to believe that it is a long weekend coming up. The weather is supposed to lovely for the next two days.
This year, we are not going away since Michael will be returning from sunny California. He has been busy with twelve hours days working on multi-variate projects and other business concepts. Think that we will sleep in on Sunday and then go out later in the day. Michael will be ready for rest.
I am glad that he has found his niche. Now, I need to manage to go with him once in awhile. Think that my first objective will be to find a way to go to California and visit San Francisco with him. What a trip that would be for a weekend!
Hope that everyone enjoys the weekend.

Balancing Books

My husband is fond of saying "what goes up, comes down". It seems that has happened in Ireland. Ireland which was doing so well in the past has now reached the point that it is asking students to bring toilet paper to class. Irish parents struggling to buy schoolbooks and uniforms and now some are being asked to provide toilet paper. Students at a primary school in County Cork are being asked to bring their own rolls to help save money, one of the starkest examples yet of the death of Ireland's "Celtic Tiger" economy. "The letter was sent out just as a way of balancing books here in the school and not intended as a demand," said Catherine O'Neill, principal of St. John's Girls National School. The request was made because of cuts to government grants for books and computers. She added parents were responding well. "I've done a quick tour of the classrooms this morning and I'd say at least half the pupils have brought [toilet paper] in," she told national broadcaster.

Next Week!

In case, you are wondering why I don't always manage to write something, here is the coming week:
Monday: before school, practise with the clarinets of the Junior band. After school, I play tennis and then manage to relax after dinner.
Tuesday: trio practise right after school followed by a performance of Chinese Ballet. A former student invited me to the performance
Wednesday: orchestra in the evening after a Junior Band practise after school-quick dinner between rehearsals
Thursday: trio is off to perform. Will relax after the performance
Friday: taking an alto sax player and his piano accompanist to a seniors' residence to perform from 4-5. Drop them off at school and then it is time to head home to relax.
Saturday: going to sleep in and relax.
This is a good week but will be busy.

No more chocolates

Interesting research. Children who eat candy and chocolate every day are more likely to be arrested for violent behaviour as adults, according to new research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
British experts studied more than 17,000 children born in 1970 for about four decades and found that 10-year-olds who are candy daily were significantly more likely to have been convicted for violence by age 34.
Of the children who ate candies or chocolate daily when they were 10 years old, 69 per cent were later arrested for a violent offence.
Researchers say the link between candy consumption and violence remained after controlling for other factors that trigger violence. Simon Moore of the University of Cardiff, one of the paper's authors, said parents who consistently bribe their children into good behaviour with candies and chocolates could be doing harm. That might prevent kids from learning how to defer gratification leading to impulsive behaviour and violence.
Interesting that so simple a relationship is found. There is more behind the candy giving. Will be interesting to see some followup on this.

Laszlo Biro

I just wrote about Inventor's Day in Argentina. Found that Laszlo Biro is the reason that Argentina celebrates Inventor's Day on his birthday. Who would have thought that the invention of the ball point pen would result in such an honour.

László Bíró (1899-1985)The Inventor of the Ballpoint Pen
Everybody is familiar with the ballpoint pen and all over the world this eminently useful invention has become an indispensable part of our everyday lives. But how many of us know the story behind this convenient writing implement or the name of its inventor?
The story begins in the 1880s. At that time several inventors tried to develop a ballpoint pen but it was the Hungarian, László Bíró, who created the pen with which we are familiar today László Bíró was born in Budapest on September 19th, 1899. He gained a place at the Medical School in Budapest but did not graduate. For a time he dabbled with hypnosis then he got a job with an oil company as a clerk responsible for matters relating to customs duties. He also had a go at motor racing, which provided the stimulus for his next invention - a new type of gear lever. He was also a successful painter.The need to invent something like the ballpoint pen arose when he took up journalism. He was the editor of the journal "Hongrie-Magyarország-Hungary" and when this was closed down he began working for the newspaper " Elôtte". As a journalist he was frequently irritated by the difficulties involved in using a fountain pen and began to think about how he could replace it with a more convenient writing implement.
Eventually he realised that the technique used in printing by which a rotary cylinder ensures continuous and uniform application of the ink could be adapted for use in a pen in such a way that a slender tube filled with ink with a small ball bearing at the end would be able to apply the ink continuously to the paper. It took several years of experimentation, however before the original idea could be realised in the form of the ballpoint pen, which rapidly became popular all over the world. Part of this experimentation was carried out abroad because in 1939 fears for his own and his family’s safety prompted him to flee from Hungary, firstly to Paris and then to Argentina.
Like all inventions the ballpoint pen had its precursors and required the input of numerous experts and considerable financial backing. For the ballpoint pen to work well it requires precision-made ball bearings, which finally a Swedish company was able to produce to the standard required by László Bíró. Another problem was to produce ink of suitable viscosity. Initially Bíró’s brother, György, helped to resolve this problem, but later the experimentation was continued in the workshops of the firm of Goy and Kovalszky.
Andor Goy played an important role in the development of a ballpoint pen that could be mass produced. His name is associated with the "Gopen". In 1940, in Argentina, László Bíró began experimenting independently until he finally patented his ballpoint pen there in 1943. The first ballpoint pens sold in large numbers to the public were manufactured in 1945 and were marketed in Argentina under the name of "Eterpen".
Bíró invented other things but his name will be for ever associated with the ballpoint pen, in fact in Britain a ballpoint pen is usually referred to as a "Bíró".László Bíró was so highly respected in Argentina that the Argentine Inventors’ Day is celebrated on his birthday September 29th.László Bíró died on November 24th 1985 in Buenos Aires.

Inventor's Day

Today is Inventor's Day. What a day! Celebrating Inventor's day are the Argentinians. The day corresponds to the birthday of the inventor of the ballpoint pen, Laszlo Biro, ruiner of many shirt pockets.
Found this information in a column that gives reasons to call in sick. Who would have thought that Inventor's Day would be a good enough reason. Who would have thought that it would be celebrated?
I am going to have to watch this column more closely to see what other days are available to call in sick. I am not likely to do it but nice to know that the possibility exists.

City feeds hungry

The city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil has accomplished what few have done elsewhere. It is feeding all its people. As Frances Moore Lappe has discovered hunger is not caused by a scarcity of food but a scarcity of democracy.
Belo Horizonte, a city of 2.5 million, with citizens groups has managed to feed all its citizens through democracy and careful planning. In 1993, a newly elected administration declared food a right of citizenship. The officials said, in effect: If you are too poor to buy food in the market-you are no less a citizen. I am still accountable to you.
The coalition proceeded to set up markets, restaurants and other innovations to make sure that all citizens could access food as a right. "People's Restaurants" plus a few smaller venues daily serve 12,000 or more people using mostly locally grown food for the equivalent of 50 cents a meal. People of all economic strata eat at these establishments.
"I knew we had so much hunger in the world, but what is so upsetting, what I didn't know when I started this, is it's so easy. It is so easy to end it. What a wonderful thought that hunger can be conquered.

Everbearing Strawberries

Finally, they have been noticed. Today's Star has an article about everbearing strawberries. Strawberries that grow from June until the first frost. They are not available in grocery stores but are available at farmers markets and are wonderful. Apparently, the day neutral or everbearing strawberries are sun neutral which means that the weather that we have been having has not been a problem. My only problem is that I have not been able to get to the market to get some. Hopefully, I will manage to get some of these wonderful berries in the near future.
If you are near a market that has the everbearing strawberries, try them. They are worth the effort.

Rehearsal!!!!

After spending, hours considering dates to rehearse, we are back to the original date. My goodness, what a problem. Lesson learned is that we can not practise into the regular season. I wonder how other groups manage? Or is this the reason few larger groups are formed unless they are bands, orchestras or choirs large enough to deal with the absence of some members. The good thing is that everyone managed to have their say. Even if the solution is not satisfactory all factors were considered before moving back to that date.
How do others handle situations like this?

Practise for a large group!

In case some of you are wondering what I am doing these days, one of them is trying to find a common time for a group of 10 musicians to practise. It was not too bad in the summer when we practised on Thursday evening and even then we had subs come in most of the time. There was always someone who was away. During the course of 2 1/2 months, we had one or two weeks with all the permanent members present. The group which only has two more weeks left before it disbands for the season, is desperately trying to find a time to meet. Let us start with Sunday- no that does not work because it is Yom Kippur, Monday night-one of the members is away, Tuesday and Friday-one of the members is busy coaching, Wednesday and Thursday nights-several members have orchestra rehearsal. Well, not sure what we are left with but I am going to look at a calendar and pray.
Wish me luck with this one.

Mary Travers has passed away.

Mary Travers, one-third of the hugely popular 1960's folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary has died.
Travers, 72, had battled leukemia for several years.
Travers joined forces with Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey in the early 1960's.
The trio mingled their music with liberal politics, onstage and off. Their version of "If I had a Hammer" became an anthem for racial equality.
They were vehement in their opposition to the Vietnam War, managing to stay true to their liberal beliefs while creating music that resonated in the mainstream.
They disbanded in 1971, launching solo careers-Travers released five albums-that never achieved the heights of their collaborations.
This marks the end of an era. Peter, Paul and Mary were certainly part of my teenage years and to find that Mary Travers has passed away is sad and that does not adequately express my thoughts on this event.

Shower Heads loaded with bacteria!

That first shot of hot, reviving shower water can also deliver a face full of potentially dangerous microbes each morning, new research says.
A U.S. study published today says many shower heads harbour slimy layers of tuberculosis-like bacteria that can blast out on microscopic droplets and deposit directly in your lungs.
"People ask, 'Is it dangerous to take a shower?' and the answer is no, unless your (immune system is) compromised in some way," said Norman Pace, a University of Colorado microbiologist.
"But the yuck factor is pretty high," said Pace, the senior study author.
The study was published in the journal of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The main microbe researchers detected in 45 shower heads studied across nine U.S. cities was a tuberculosis relative known as mycobacterium avium, which can cause fever, weight loss and a lingering low-grade cough, Pace said.
He said the risk of shower transmission would likely be high only for those suffering from compromised immune systems, for example, AIDS and cystic fibrosis patients or pregnant women.
"Indeed, mycobacterium avium pulmonary disease is more common in this country, at this time than is tuberculosis."
My goodness, what research is coming up with is frightening. Suggests that some of the gifts of modern society come with serious strings attached.

Anitbiotics curbed

The practice of routinely presribed antibiotics to kids suffering from an ear infection is coming to a formal end.
The Canadian Paediatric Society today instructed doctors to watch and wait for 48 hours before using antibiotics to treat most ear infections in healthy children over six months of age.
About 95 per cent of the time, an acetaminophen like Tylenol alone works just as well to treat the kind of ear infecti9on that preschoolers with a cold are prone to, said specialist Dr. Joan Robinson in a statement.
She said the main reason for the treatment change is concern about increasing resistance to antibiotics by over-presribing them.
I remember family using herbs for ear aches when I was young. Never thought about getting antibiotics for ear aches.

Crystal Lee Sutton

Crystal Lee Sutton whose fight to unionize Southern textile plants with low pay and poor conditions was dramatized in the film Norma Rae, has died.
Sutton, 68, died Friday after a long battle with brain cancer.
In 1973, Sutton was a mother of three earning $2.68 an hour folding towels at J. P. Stevens when a manager fired her for pro-union activity. In a final act of defiance before police hauled her out, Sutton, who had worked there for 16 years, wrote "UNION" on a piece of cardboard and climbed on a table on the plant floor. Employees responded by shutting down their machines.
In 1974, a union won the right to represent workers at seven plants in northeastern North Carolina.
"Crystal was an amazing symbol of workers standing up in the South against overwhelming odds," said Bruce Raynor, president of Workers United, who worked with Sutton to organize the Stevens plants.
Despite what many people think, Lee got little profit from the movie or an earlier book written about her, said her son, Jay Jordan.
"When they find out she lived very, very modestly, even poorly, in Burlington, (N.C.), they're suprised," Jordan said.
Hopefully, we can all learn from Sutton and help right some of the wrongs that we see around us.

Monarchs not multiplying!

I know that many people loved this summer's temperatures. It was lovely, rarely putting on the air conditioning, not needing to shower several times a day to cool down, being able to eat indoors and not sweat buckets. Unfortunately, as I am fond of saying there is always a yin and ying to things. Monarch butterflies did not do so well in this weather.
The summer's cool temperatures have had monarch butterflies giving each other the cold shoulder and that means far fewer of them passing through the GTA this week on their annual migration to Mexico.
In fact, some researchers say the number overwintering in Mexico this year could be the lowest since 2004. Cool and rainy periods in most of the breeding areas this summer slowed down their metabolism and reproduction.
Experts who track monarchs say the number being seen in Tommy Thompson Park, at the foot of Leslie Street are far fewer in number.
Monarch butterflies usually live six to eight weeks. The ones that leave Canada in the fall are two or three generations removed from those that first arrive in Canada. In March, they'll start north again, following a trail of milkweed-the sole food source for monarch caterpillars.
Who knew-milkweed. Much like Pandas but migratory!
We need to make sure that milkweed thrives in order for the Monarchs to continue their annual migrations.

US Open further posts

My goodness, what is the biggest news about the US Open! Not the fantastic shot that Roger Federer managed through the legs. He shot, not looking since his back was to the net. The ball was still in. Wow, that was a shot to behold and close to the end of his semi-final match.
No, the talk of the games is Serena Williams behaviour at the end of her match with Kim Clisters. Okay, lines people are not supposed to call foot faults at the end of a match, an unspoken rule but how does the lines person know that it is the end of the match or near the end? To threaten an official in such a way is no longer sportsman like. The penalty of $10,000 is meaningless to her and she still played her final ladies doubles with her sister.
Hopefully, the tennis federation will take time to consider the situation carefully and exact a punishment that fits the situation.

Continuing US Open

Yup, you guessed it, I am watching the US Open when I am not at school teaching. Yes, you read correctly, I am back teaching. I will retire, I promise but not this year. Going to take another year before, I finally put the chalk on the ledge and hang up my baton.
In the meantime, it is time to watch the US Open, the last of the majors of the year. Looking forward to hearing how Kim Clijisters played against Serena Williams. Each has her virtues and I will not be disappointed with either one of them winning.
The men are not as exciting this time. Federer will probably win, he is playing so well.
Time to get back to photocopying. Break is over.

US Open

Was wondering what took up my time lately and it came to me. The US Open tennis tournament. I am not a great tennis player but I do have fun. There are a few times a year that I watch faithfully to see if my favourite players win or if they go down to defeat. Still waiting to see if Nadal won his match against Mon-Fils (think that I spelled it correctly). It was tight and I was watching during the tie-break at the end of the first set. Mon-Fils won that but there were many sets to go. I had to go to sleep. This working is hard!
Today, I will watch some more tennis hopefully it will be as exciting as yesterday. Might learn something. The most important is that a point is not over until it is really over. Too often, I stop after a good shot and my opponent gets the shot back. Must watch and learn.

I survived!

Well, I made it through my first day. I will make it through the year. It was a test! Could I survive after retiring, working part-time and then not working for months at a time.
I must admit that working full time at the high school level is very different from elementary. There is no comparison and I am not sure why elementary does not complain. I have a feeling that there is very little communication that occurs between the two levels.
Time to go and relax and get ready for the next day which is even easier.
Wow, not sure that I can make it.

Labour Day Approaches

As Labour Day approaches, I am torn this year. I am heading back to school full-time. Do I really want to do this? After three years of working part-time and for many months not at all, I am returning to work full-time. This year because Labour Day is so late we going to work tomorrow and the next. This will help me get into the rhythm of getting up early. Must admit that I have become used to sleeping late and working at the computer once I get up. However, one day a week, I do get up and play tennis.
Nearly two weeks ago, I hurt myself playing tennis during a lesson so I am still trying to decide if I will go out today and play social tennis. My arm is better but after Sunday and not being able to serve well, I am thinking that I will do better just staying at home and getting work done. The house cleaned, that would be nice after all this time.
I think that I will tie up loose ends, clean and get organized for the coming year- let's start with the weekend.

Dandelions

Did you know that dandelions did not originate in North America? What a surprise! They came as a source of food for people and bees, but for centuries they have been a popular medicinal herb. Diane Kent is president of the Ontario Herbalist Association and has been a professional medical herbalist for the last 10 years. Kent freely admits to her love affair with dandelions and describes them a beautiful and cheerful flower.
She says that dandelions are not only beautiful, but one of the most versatile herbs out there. She adds that dandelions contain high levels of vitamin A, B, C and trace minerals such as zinc, iron and boron. "There is an enormous amount of nutritional value in dandelions," says Kent. "The dandelion probably has just about more potassium than anything else in the world. Most of the nutritional value is in the leaves, the root I generally use it for a cleansing format."
Dandelion tonics and tinctures help cleanse the live, regulate blood sugar, and soothe gallbladder inflammation and chronic constipation.
All of this information will help me look at dandelions with more respect.

Red Hatt-itudes

Over the years, I have come across many red hat accessories, people at red hat gatherings and even gifts. Recently, a friend gave me a sun catcher and it came with the following thought:
"If a woman's work is never done, why even start!" Something to think about before you lift that broom.
Unfortunately, I need to lift that broom, dust mop and right now get the dishes done.

Nora the cat

I have many friends and acquaintances who are talented and studied for many years to be able to perform as well as they do. Sometimes, I am sure that when they find sites like this: http://www.catcerto.com/ they must work very hard to control their emotions. I love animals but to have a cat receive this much attention is beyond my understanding.

Nora is a lovely cat and certainly she loves the piano but talented? She has been on numerous television shows with her owners interviewed (congratulations to her owners for their work getting publicity for the cat). When you check the sites that she is on I hope that you will understand my confusion as to why she is receiving so much attention.

What a strange world we live in!

Invented word

Golden bungee,n: A lucrative severance package that pays the executive to step down from his or her current position, but then pays them to continue with the company in another role. (Buzzwhack.com)

Tennis tournament

As some of you may know, I love tennis. Right now, I am trying to recover from a bad fall. My left elbow will have a scar that matches my right elbow. Do not remember what cased the scar on the right elbow because it has been a long time since I fell and hit this elbow. This time, I hit my left elbow and my hip. Not moving well right now. The first night, I slept with pillows on both sides of me so that I could keep my arm up. Could not type for any length of time which is why I have not posted entries for a couple days. Yesterday, when I walked to the to store ( I am trying to walk a short distance every hour to keep my muscles loose) I could just get across the crosswalk before the light changed. Wow, what a shock! I was happy to get home and rest and relax again. Today feels a little better.
Now, the point of today's entry, the Rogers Cup Ladies Day which was Tuesday. I went with a friend who I play tennis with. We have been playing together for over 15 years. Lost track of the exact number, a few years ago. We started the day off with the breakfast presentation. Part of the presentation is a bag of goodies. In the past, we have been given dishes for pates, last year, lovely mugs, this year is was toilet paper. Granted it is environmental but what a surprise to receive toilet paper! Oh did mention the mascara? Have to figure out who I know that uses mascara. Most of us are not big on makeup. Not sure why but it is not part of our list of priorities. Despite the disappointment of toilet paper, we did see many excellent matches and did not leave the tournament until 8:30 p.m. What an wonderful day and evening. I am ready for next year.

Cobourg

I must visit friends more often. Amazing the number of topics that come up after visiting. Today, I am driving to Cobourg to visit friends who moved there a few years ago. The husband loves his garden which is half an acre and is filled with flourishing plants. I am always inspired after visiting his plantings. I might even do some gardening tonight when I get home if the insects are not too eager to take a bite out of me.

Looking forward to sometime to browse, have lunch at the lovely Buttermilk Cafe or another establishment of my friend's choice. She is better at choosing since she knows the town. We will also visit a hosta garden and I am going to pack up some pots for the gardener. Good way to continue my clean up. It is slowly starting to progress.

Looking forward to logging off and hitting the road.

Happy trails to those people who are going to travel.

5 Cents a ride!

Yesterday, I visited St. Catharines with a friend. Went to see my aunt and uncle who have been living in St. Catharines for a few years. For a break, three of us went to Port Dalhousie to see the beach and the carousel. What a wonderful treasure. The Lakeside Park Carousel in Port Dalhousie is a Charles I. D Looff original carved between 1898 and 1905 in Brooklyn, New York. Animals carved by Marcus Charles Illions, an employee in Looff's company, are also featured on the Carousel. Relocated in 1921, the Carousel came to St. Catharines from its earlier home at an amusement park in Scarborough, Ontario. It was purchased to be part of the amusement park flourishing in Port Dalhousie and was one of 58 attractions. In those days, more than a quarter million people crossed the lake in steamships to visit Port Dalhouse on weekends.
What a bustling place Port Dalhousie must have been ! The carousel costs 5 cents for a ride. What a bargain! Worth the visit to St. Catharines.

National Hobo Convention

I don't usually read USA today but was given a copy on the weekend. I can not help myself, I read nearly everything that crosses my path! Well, here is interesting news. The National Hobo Convention, held annually since 1900 in Britt, Iowa, population 2,052 held its 110 convention this past weekend. www.brittiowa.com/hobo/index.htm is certainly a record to be noted.
Britt, Iowa has defined Hobos as migratory persons willing to work any task for the daily goal of "three hots and a cot" (three meals and a place to sleep). Tramps beg for handouts and Bums are too lazy to roam and never work.
Hobos generally are traced to the post-Civil War years. Many veterans hopped cars on freight trains to try to find work. Railroad companies discouraged this, but most were tolerant.
Now fewer hobos rider the rails. Some hitchhike. Some make long bike rides. Some even have their own wheels.
Britt's Hobo Foundation offers shelter with showers. Fun and games. Free food and drink. Mulligan stew is a staple.
On Saturday, the annual Hobo King and Queen were crowned.
Interesting that this culture has survived so long.

Leaside Garden Court

I find the Art Deco style fascinating and certainly beautiful in its simplicity. Recently, an article in one of the many city papers that I pick up on my travels (doing drops offs and just exploring the city) mentioned the Leaside Garden Court apartments and their wonderful Art Deco Style. I have always found these apartments fascinating. Apparently, unlike modern apartments that have long corridors joining the many units in the building these units are approached by front doors at the front of each section. The apartments were mentioned in a book by Tim Morawetz, who studied Art Deco style while at Carleton University. He now gives tours and has written a book about Toronto and the Art Deco style. We have not torn down all the Art Deco buildings. I suggest that people find out more about Tim Morawetz's tours and also his book: Art Deco Architecture in Toronto: A Guide to the City's Buildings from the Roaring Twenties and the Depression. I must find a copy.

Explore your city and find out what treasures you have.

Buckingham Palace

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you sent a letter to Buckingham Palace? Well, it will be answered. I went shopping this afternoon and one of the stores that I stopped in had a letter from Buckingham Palace. When I suggested that it was a fake, it was explained to me that all letters sent to the palace are answered. In case you are wondering, the store had sent a letter to Buckingham Palace inviting the Queen to the store's opening. No, this store is not like a Harrods or in our case another Hudson Bay Company store. The store is a relatively small dress shop and the second one of the chain of two stores.
I have to think carefully about the topic for my letter but I will send one.
Oh yes, the address:
Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

Happy letter writing.

Hammer Band

Moshe Hammer is helping at-risk kids change their tune.

The classical violinist runs the Hammer Band, a non-profit organization that helps turn elementary students away from violence by engaging them in music.

"We teach them twice a week with free violins and music lesssons," Hammer said. "The idea is we want them to come in to practise so it gives the kids something to do after school and many of them do it."

Moshe Hammer has a web-site for his organization: www.thehammerband.com

What a wonderful venture and hopefully others will give and help change the lives of children.

Dahso Chocolat et Cafe

It seems that different things come and go and chocolate cafes are the newest rage. Was going through a newspaper and looking for ideas for my blog and found an ad for Dahso Chocolat and Cafe which features Praline Chocolates ( do not remember pralines having a great deal of chocolates when I was in New Orleans but I guess that there are variations on a theme), sugar-free chocolates and Belgium waffles. I love waffles and the thought of having a Belgium waffles is mouthwatering. I just might take myself over to the cafe one day and try some. What a lovely thought!

Hope that you are able to find a chocolat cafe in your neighbourhood. I picked up a Where Ottawa booklet on the weekend, will check if there are chocolate cafes there.

The website for the cafe: www.dahsochocolat.com (it is underconstruction). Will check next week. Love looking at mouthwatering photos.

Weddings

Just finished unpacking and sorting after returning from a wedding in Ottawa. Drove there and back by myself, I know that is hard to believe but I did it. People who know me know that I do not enjoy driving on major highways. Have been known to do some driving on the major highways but prefer quieter back roads. That is what I did today and I am glad that I did because a couple times, I hit some very heavy rain and would not have wanted to be driving full speed and barely able to see.
After putting things away and dealing with paper work, it is time to reflect on the wedding. The bride was lovely, her dress very tasteful and the groom of course handsome.
I know that there are customs associated with weddings but one I think that I would like to see changed is having the friends of the bride on one side and the groom's family on the other. Why not mix them up and then there is some chance that they will get together at the reception. Just a thought.
There are things that I find fascinating about weddings such as relationships between the two families. Most often it is a challenge integrating the two but it can be done.
I wish this married couple all the best and look forward to the next wedding.

Hospice Care

Time has passed and I finally have time to reflect on the passing of a number of older friends. One of aspect of care that I learned about was hospice care at home. Hospice care sounds wonderful until you become involved. Volunteers and staff provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support in collaboration with family caregivers, health care providers and community support agencies. This sounds wonderful . Hospice volunteers give an average of 4 hours care a week. How many hours of hospice care is a patient allowed? A question, I would love to have answered by various Hospice associations. In a week, I don't think that the hours amount to very many. I have a feeling that all the other agencies mentioned in the list are expected to come to the table and provide the majority of care. Someone or some agency is still expected to provide coordination. In many cases, the coordinators will be the family. In the situation that I was involved in, it was a team of care givers. Three of us coordinated care on a 24 hour basis. What a learning experience. After a period of time, we had a greater appreciation of what agencies are able to offer and how much must be paid for.

Not far from the tree

Last year, I found an article about the organization "Not Far from the tree". www.notfarfromthetree.org. This started as a volunteer gig for Laura Resinborough as the article in the paper said with Laura and others picking fruit at Spadina House and other gardens and then selling the fruit at Green Barns in Wychwood. The crop has grown to the tune of 3,000 pounds of fruit. Reinsborough and friends would gather each Saturday morning during the harvest season, collecting apples in the morning for sale that afternoon.
Reinsborough found Not Far from the Tree to pick neighbourhood fruit in Ward 21 area of Toronto. In the first year, they had interest from more than 100 homes across the city and it has grown.
What a wonderful venture. Wonder how many can be started and how many exist but they just don't have the publicity?

Beads

On Friday, when I went out to find a yarn shop, I passed an area that was fascinating;there were at least 5 bead shops if not more. I lost count. Each of the shops had its own specialty. One of the shops was the Beadery. www.thebeadery.ca. A friend of ours who lives in Florida loves beading and even teaches courses. She would love these shops.
In addition to the yarn shops, fabric shops were situated in between them. Again, I took time to go into one of them and discovered exotic fabric that would make a wonderful jacket or some special outfit. Wonderful to discover that these shops exist since fabric departments are no longer part of department stores. I still remember in my teens being able to go to the department store and hunt for a pattern, fabric, and accessories in the department store. One stop shopping at its best. This is no longer the case. Good to know that there are still people sewing and creating interesting things.

Romni Wools

As you might know, I love knitting scarves. I might branch into hats next. A friend showed me a hat that she had knit and it looked like fun.

Yesterday, I went exploring and discovered Romni Wools. It has taken me a long time to get to this part of the city which seems to be undergoing gentrification. A mixture of new and old stores coexist on Queen Street. I suspect that this is like Cabbagetown which two economic groups try to co-exist. I hope that they manage.

Now back to my main point, Romni Wools was a revelation. There was wool from floor to ceiling. I was glad that what I wanted Ribbon Yarns tended to be on the lower levels and there was plenty of it. I will be busy for quite awhile. I managed to find a number of manufacturers and colours. Now, that I am going to be knitting with the intention of selling my work, it is time to be more systematic about what I am doing.

Those of you who love knitting, Romni is a great source of yarn and knitting supplies.

Plastic Shoes

For years, I have maintained that if you keep something it will come back in style. Styles are recycled. The recycle time is getting shorter as we have greater media coverage. What used to take years and at one point decades now just takes years.

I have friend who is a vegan, so she is going to be ecstatic about this fashion statement. Apparently plastic shoes are in! Wow, whoever decided that does not live in a hot country. Plastic does not breath. Apparently, the Brazilian shoe company Melissa has been designing and manufacturing plastic shoes for the past 25 years and is their products are sold in over 80 countries. This eco-friendly company believes that plastic is the best medium to communicate technology and renewal. (My mistake-Brazil qualifies as a hot country.)

An interesting trend, I will watch to see if it catches on. I try to be eco-friendly but plastic shoes are a problem. Will check them out when I buy my next pair of shoes but must admit that there are issues. I think that there is a deodorant for feet? Hopefully the quality is better than it appears in the pictures that I looked at and posted since the prices shout quality!

Sewing Club

We all know that many people have turned to vegetable gardens to expand their groceries but how many people have noticed that children at least are starting to sew again. What a wonderful skill! How many people can not even mend their clothes because they were not taught how to use a sewing machine and then second factor do not own a sewing machine. (There is a shop in Toronto that offers use of sewing machines and also classes in sewing.)

Dixon Grove Middle Grove under the leadership of a grandmother offers sewing to students after school, 10 at a time and many have to be turned away. These students are learning how to alter clothes, remodel and hopefully even make new clothes from patterns. 10 years ago Design and Tech shops and Family Studies were closed down in most schools. Administrators decided that it was more important for students to learn science and computer skills. Please understand, I believe that they are important- I am using a computer to enter this blog and have been at this computer since 7 a.m. Time for a serious break. This is just one tool that we can use. We also need life skills. Sad that sewing now is taught as an after thought and by an volunteer. I am sure that she is doing a wonderful job but why did we end up in this situation?

http://www.thestar.com/article/625378

Work? Projects?

Wow, I could not believe that I have not posted anything since Sunday. Time does move too fast.

It is at times like this that I wonder how I get anything done when at work. Summer holidays are wonderful but I am still very busy. Now I admit tennis a couple times a week does eat into my time but I need the exercise. I also organize my Sunday group. Just sent out requests for players for the long weekend. (Going to a wedding on the long weekend and I will not be able to play Sunday morning.) This Sunday is done!

Gardening when I get to it also gobbles up major chunks of time but I love the results. Going to try to get out later this afternoon. There was a chance of rain so I decided to do work indoors and not do any drop offs today. Will do a driving drop off tomorrow.

Getting a lot of computing done- finished an article and I am working on a couple more-I am in the editing phase- I have not done much writing lately- just on my blog. Unfortunately, unless I find a fantastic theme like "Julie Julia" and get a movie deal, the blog is for my own amusement and those people who are loyal friends and check what I am up to or others who happen to find the blog when a topic that they are interested in finds my entry when they google the topic.

You would think that I would be spending time cleaning but no that is low on my list of priorities. That will get done starting today: I am going to take a box of things to Crippled Civilians- the aim will be a box a week until I get things cleaned up. As I mentioned many entries ago, I will not take a photograph of the pile things that are crying out for attention.

Time to clean, knit, read,practise. Oh the list goes on. Life is exciting.

Walter Cronkite

On the eve of celebrating man's landing on the moon, a man who was ecstatic about this event and who loved every moment of reporting about it, passed away. Walter Cronkite, a man trusted by all, passed away at the age of 92. He was an icon who told us about some of the most important events in recent years: the death of John F. Kennedy, death of Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy and numerous other events. A respected journalist and anchor, Cronkite will be missed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cronkite

Gatehouse

For years, Michael has said that there is a particular house that he would like to see as part of Doors Open. Today, the Toronto Star had an article about what was once a gatehouse and was redesigned as a private residence by architect Frederick Fletcher. The house was once part of a large estate on Concession 2, Lot 4 . The house was part of a vast farming estate that was farmed for 90 years. Hard to believe that this was once farm country when you see all the homes in the area. However, some of the area was only developed in the late 1950's when E.P. Taylor sold some of his land and developed Don Mills.

One of these days, I must site down and research the area more thorough. Until then enjoy the Gatehouse. http://www.thestar.com/Comment/article/666906

Gardens

I love gardening but sometimes it helps to have an inspiration to get back to work on weeding, planting, dividing and the many fun tasks that gardening offers. Today, Martha Stewart did it. What a wonderful inspiration just looking at some of the photos of gardens and ideas. Must check if she has a magazine with the photos. Would be worth it. I am heading out as soon as I finish this entry.

If these pictures do not inspire you, you are not a gardener or you might be like some gardeners I know who want everything tidy. Personally, I love these. Time to head out.
Here for those of you who want to check out the site: http://www.marthastewart.com/summer-relaxing?lnc=b25f452be04c1210VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=slideshow_holiday_relaxing&contentid=3892f76e9c3f0210VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD#slide_7

Toronto City Hall Art Show artists

I know that the Toronto City Hall Art Show is finished and that is a relief to the many artists who display and sell their work at the show. As usual there was a spot of rain but not as bad as some years. I sincerely hope that all the artists met their artistic goals and hopefully financial as well. I am not sure how you can do well with so many artists; this was a much smaller show when I first went. Michael and I bought small pig figurines at the time, I did not see anything like that. Mugs are the only item that is economical and still one of a kind.

I did enjoy the show and here are a few of the many artists that I did manage to see:

I love fibre art although I am not very good at it, not enough hours in the day. Stephanie Ford Forrester creates wonderful tapestries and if I had the room and money, I would consider purchasing one of her works.

Alice Vander Vennen' s work appealed to me because she had a musical theme. Not sure if I would buy a piece but it was interesting to see where she was going with her ideas. Can you guess what musical idea she is trying to express here?

Adriana McNeely creates wonderful elegant jewellery and I wish that I had a great deal of extra money to spend on her creations. Oh well, another lifetime.

Anthony Bourdain

A couple years ago, we had the opportunity to hear and see Anthony Bourdain at a local bookstore. He was talking about a new cookbook that he had completed and obviously hoped that people would purchase.
Bourdain is an interesting character and now with food celebrities like Gordon Ramsay, it is not so hard to believe the interesting language that he uses. Anthony Bourdain does not yell at his staff but he does express his displeasure with some events in his life with expletives.
One of the book purchases that I made in the past year was No Reservations by Bourdain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=3415409 It is the background to his television show which was presented on the Travel Channel since it focused on travel more than food itself. I enjoyed many of the pictures in the but also he revealed that it was not always comfortable and glamourous filming a show about food in remote parts and not so remote parts of the world. He described the plight of the crew in Beirut when the bombing started a few years ago and their efforts to escape. Bourdain, who also wrote the Nasty Bits which I will check for in the library and Kitchen Confidential which started his writing career, is quite a character and not a pretentious cook. Worth a read.

Piano Lesson

One of my missions right now in addition to clearing up the many objects that we have collected from several estates is to clear up my back log of reading. One of the books that I just finished is Note by Note a celebration of the piano lesson by Tricia Tunstall. I never had a chance to take piano lessons until I had the funds to pay myself which meant that I did not take lessons until I was a working adult. It is fascinating to read about Tricia's students most of whom are very young. Also interesting that she does not teach her students with Royal Conservatory exams or exams of any kind in mind. She is American and only briefly mentions the possibility of some exams. I am sure that there must be some kind of exams system but Tunstall has opted out of that exercise. If you find a copy of the book, it is definitely worth a read; especially for those who are studying music, have children who take lessons or teach music.

Toronto City Hall Art Show

If you are wondering what to do this weekend, may I suggest the Toronto City Hall Art Show. Despite the civic workers strike, the show is on. Yesterday, I helped my friend, Line Dufour who is a fibre artist who weaves and knits. Her work is quite wonderful and worth a go see as well as purchase.

Hope that you have a chance to get down to see the show and support the artists who suffered through a thunder storm this morning.

Work of one of the many artists whose work I managed to see. With 500 artists exhibiting, I did not manage to see and enjoy everyone's work.

Article:
The show will go on!
Despite the ongoing city strike by CUPE Local 79 and Local 416, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition will be taking place at Nathan Phillips Square, from July 10 to 12, as planned. TOAE is not a city run initiative - it is entirely self-sufficient, run independently of the City of Toronto. TOAE is also a charitable, non-profit organization that has been planning this exhibition for a year in advance and we look forward to another great event in July!

As the largest outdoor art exhibiion in Canada, the TOAE offers a fresh-air alternative to conventional art shows and galleries. Approximately 500 artists participate and over 100,000 visitors attend the exhibition every year. Side by side, established artists, undiscovered talents and innovative students sell their work directly to the public and make lasting connections with art dealers and collectors. We welcome applications from artists working in a wide range of traditional and experimental art forms.
The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is a charitable non-profit organization supported by a group of volunteers active in the art and corporate communities. The exhibition is financed through registration fees, and by government, corporate and individual sponsors, enabling the TOAE to charge one of the lowest registration fees in North America. No percentage of the artists' sales is taken by the organizers.

The TOAE gratefully acknowledges the support of the many sponsors and award donors that made the 2008 exhibition a success.
Now in its 48th year, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition [TOAE] is a juried showcase featuring contemporary fine art and craft that takes place on Nathan Phillips Square every July.

Galbraith and The Great Crash 1929

In addition to the many mystery novels that I indulge in, I do read some books with depth. Usually they are not of great interest to others. This week, I finished reading The Great Crash of 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kenneth_GalbraithI read it hoping that Galbraith would provide insight into that challenging time and insight into how it happened and what could be done to prevent a second or third event like this. Sadly, after reading the book, all that I found out was that there was a moment when peoples' aspirations financially took a turn for the worst and there did not seem to be any way of turning the tide. It took nearly ten years for the things to return to pre-crash times. Wow, I guess that offers insight into what we might expect at this time. The only positive is that governments seem to have stemmed the tide and the financial disaster is not as great as 1929 but news continues to be bad and maybe we are still in for more challenging times.
Let us hope not.

Space Station

After last night, I know that it is time to get really good binoculars. We went outside to an open field and in this case it was a baseball field to watch for the space station. Luckily, Michael knew what time the space station was supposed to fly over. Right on time, it flew over and in the correct path. We could tell what it was because it was slight larger than the stars and also because it moved in a very defined path.
Apparently, it does fly by most nights but usually flies across the horizon and as a result we are not able to see it. Not sure why the flight path changed but it was certainly exciting for Michael.
I will be checking for those binoculars.
Fascinating. Wonder how long this station is supposed to continue flying. Just tried goggling for pictures and information but was not very successful. Will try again.

Hostas

(Someone remind me to publish before moving on to another page to get pictures to insert!)

For those of you who love gardening and visiting garden centres, I would like to recommend the following places.

Yesterday, I went to garden centres with a friend and one of the places we made a point of visiting is Giboshihill Hostas which is run by Kevin and Olga Elchuk. A wonderful private garden full of hostas of all sizes, shapes and various greens. Kevin and Olga sell some of the specimens and the prices are wonderful worth checking out k.o.giboshill@airnet.ca.

Another place that we did not have a chance to visit yesterday but will catch next time is Gardens Plus which is another boutique type centre which is just outside of Peterborough. Will worth the visit if you like hostas, daylilies or irises. http://www.gardensplus.ca/. Also check out this page to see the many wonderful spots in the garden at Gardens Plus. http://www.gardensplus.ca/Tourthegardens.htm

So many wonderful places to visit and check out plants. I need to do some gardening today and then will allow myself to visit more places.

Blueberry Lemon Loaf

Some of you may realize that I love fruit and blueberry season is one of my favourites. This summer, I am trying some new recipes. Today's was Blueberry Lemon Loaf and it is definitely a keeper.
Here it is for those of you who love trying recipes as much as I do.

Blueberry Lemon Loaf

Preparation Time: 15 minutes (I found that it took me a little longer)
Baking Time: 70-75 minutes
Makes: One 8.5” x 4.5” loaf
Freezing: excellent

Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened 135 mL
1 cup granulated sugar 250 mL
2 eggs 2
2 tsp vanilla 10 mL
2 cups all purpose flour 500 mL
2 tsp baking powder 10 mL
½ tsp salt 2 mL
2 tbsp finely grated lemon rind 30 mL
2/3 cup milk 150 mL
1 cup blueberries 250 mL

Streusel topping:
2 tbsp granulated sugar 30 mL
2 tbsp packed brown sugar 30 mL
¼ cup all purpose flour 50 mL
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened 30 mL

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350o F, (160oC). Line an 8.5” x 4.5” (1.5 L) loaf pan with parchment paper.

Streusel Topping:
In bowl, combine granulated and brown sugars and flour. Cut in butter until mixture is very crumbly; set aside.

Using electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and lemon rind. Using wooden spoon, alternately stir dry ingredients and milk into butter mixture, making three addition of dry and two of milk. Gently fold in blueberries. Transfer to prepared pan. Sprinkle with streusel.

Bake in centre of preheated oven for 70 to 75 minutes or until topping is golden and cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean.

Tips:
If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw. Toss gently into 1 tbsp (15 mL ) all purpose flour before folding into batter, to prevent the blueberries from “bleeding”.

The streusel doubles and triples well. Use on top of muffins, open faced pies and other quick breads.

First baked, July 5, 2009.
Excellent