January first is a great time to sit down and reflect on what has gone on in the past year. Are there changes that need to be made...changes which will bring about improvements or adjustments. For example, volunteer activities, recreation, relationships, friendships, faith, personal growth? So may questions! So many different answers!
For the purpose of this post I will keep comments to blogging.
First question: do I continue with the blog? I admit that I have become somewhat obsessed with Hiawatha House! I get a kick out of it. Writing brings satisfaction. Giving and receiving comments stimulates ideas. When I started blogging I had no idea what comments were and the tremendous value of comments. I was very preoccupied with the mechanics of blogging. I thought there were thousands of people out there who were just waiting to read my blog. It was a steep learning curve.
Second question: what am I going to do with Hiawatha House this year? Last year I decided that I had to put more effort into my blog. I have written more posts, used more photos and made more use of links. I will continue and increase these strategies. I have to look closely at the topics I post on. I tend to be quite scattered. I write on a wide variety of topics. This year I will try to deal with a narrower range of topics. Time will tell how I do this and how well it works. I still have lots to work at when it comes to the mechanics of blogging. There are so many opportunities to add variety to the blog. Some old things I will do away with.
I have found more blogs to follow and will hunt for more good blogs to follow.
So at the start of a new year I've expressed some thoughts as to where I might go and why. The how I'm going to get there still has to be established.
To all my readers I look forward to more dialog with you. I look forward to your comments that make me a better blogger. I look forward to the surprises in blogging from what comes up for me to write on and from your comments.
Here's to a year of good blogging to all bloggers and followers. All the best to you in 2012.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
New Year's Eve: Triumph or Tragedy
Since New Year's Eve is a significant date we often remember things that occurred on that date. Some of the things could be ordinary and if they happened on any other day they may be forgotten. However, the winners and losers really stick out.
A New Year's Eve that occurred in 1964 stands out in my mind as the one that goes down in my history. For a young guy New Year's Eve was a time to party. Few of us had steady girlfriends so a date for New Year's Eve was important. I was living in Inuvik at the time and the community population was about 1500 people. There was lots of coming and going. We had a 100 bed hospital so there were lots of nurses. The single guys kept close tabs on new staff who came in. There was lots of socialization. It was good fun.
However, on New Year's Eve a date was important. I had met a nurse in November when she arrived to work in the hospital. I tried to phone her a number of times to ask her to the New Year's Eve party, but I was not successful. A colorful Jamaican public health nurse lived in my building. When she found out that my friend and I were in a predicament for New Year's Eve she said , "I'll find somebody for you." She knew who we had been trying to invite. So New Year's Eve came and we appeared at the nurses residence to pick up our blind dates. Sure enough the girl I had tried to contact was there all dressed up for a party! Her best friend was there for my friend. We had a great time.
After that more dates occurred and lo and behold that young lady became my wife. So we always joke that we met on a blind date.
So I can look back on that New Year's Eve as a win! As in most relationships there have been ups and downs. On some days we would say that was a tragic night and most days that it was the greatest night ever.
How about your New Year's Eves? Have they all been eventful and memorable? Have some of them been tragic?
So here's a Happy New Year to all my readers. Have a wonderful 1012!
A New Year's Eve that occurred in 1964 stands out in my mind as the one that goes down in my history. For a young guy New Year's Eve was a time to party. Few of us had steady girlfriends so a date for New Year's Eve was important. I was living in Inuvik at the time and the community population was about 1500 people. There was lots of coming and going. We had a 100 bed hospital so there were lots of nurses. The single guys kept close tabs on new staff who came in. There was lots of socialization. It was good fun.
However, on New Year's Eve a date was important. I had met a nurse in November when she arrived to work in the hospital. I tried to phone her a number of times to ask her to the New Year's Eve party, but I was not successful. A colorful Jamaican public health nurse lived in my building. When she found out that my friend and I were in a predicament for New Year's Eve she said , "I'll find somebody for you." She knew who we had been trying to invite. So New Year's Eve came and we appeared at the nurses residence to pick up our blind dates. Sure enough the girl I had tried to contact was there all dressed up for a party! Her best friend was there for my friend. We had a great time.
After that more dates occurred and lo and behold that young lady became my wife. So we always joke that we met on a blind date.
So I can look back on that New Year's Eve as a win! As in most relationships there have been ups and downs. On some days we would say that was a tragic night and most days that it was the greatest night ever.
How about your New Year's Eves? Have they all been eventful and memorable? Have some of them been tragic?
So here's a Happy New Year to all my readers. Have a wonderful 1012!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
My Scythe Becomes a Piece of Art
When it comes to art, my qualifications are pretty thin. I like art and appreciate it. However, I have no artistic skill and have never had any experience or training. All of this doesn't stop me from expressing my like of art.
A few months ago I did two posts on a scythe I had owned for many years. I made one post on my life with the scythe and another on the sale of my scythe. So a few months ago my scythe finally sold. The sale and what the scythe was to be used for was interesting. Robin Williams, the buyer, only wanted the handle. He explained to me that he was an artist and wanted a wooden scythe handle in a piece of sculpture that he was creating. He was extremely happy to find this scythe handle as he had been looking for a wooden scythe handle for a long time. Scythe handles for a long time have been made of metal. It's easy to bend the metal into the scythe handle shape. This artist had researched how wooden scythe handles were made. If it wasn't so complicated and the requirement for special tools, he would have made a scythe handle. The wooden handles were made by a process of soaking and steaming the wood. Then it was placed in a jig where it dried and retained it's shape. I found his description and ideas rather interesting.
He then went into more detail as to what his plan was for the sculpture. He described himself as a Gothic artist and he wanted to fashion a special blade with Gothic symbols and shapes. At the end he promised me he would send a picture of his sculpture because he knew I was interested to see what happened. Like many things in this aged brain I had forgotten that he would send a picture. So when the picture arrived a month ago I was pleasantly surprised.
Robin took the old blade off and cut a new piece of metal into the shape of a large blade. He then drew out a pattern on a piece of card board and probably traced it out on the blade. Then the hard work came to cut out the steel and then finish the steel.
All photos submitted by Robin Williams
It was interesting that he had taken steel and cut it for a blade with Gothic imagery. So my scythe lives on a piece of art.
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| The scythe before the handle was taken off. |
A few months ago I did two posts on a scythe I had owned for many years. I made one post on my life with the scythe and another on the sale of my scythe. So a few months ago my scythe finally sold. The sale and what the scythe was to be used for was interesting. Robin Williams, the buyer, only wanted the handle. He explained to me that he was an artist and wanted a wooden scythe handle in a piece of sculpture that he was creating. He was extremely happy to find this scythe handle as he had been looking for a wooden scythe handle for a long time. Scythe handles for a long time have been made of metal. It's easy to bend the metal into the scythe handle shape. This artist had researched how wooden scythe handles were made. If it wasn't so complicated and the requirement for special tools, he would have made a scythe handle. The wooden handles were made by a process of soaking and steaming the wood. Then it was placed in a jig where it dried and retained it's shape. I found his description and ideas rather interesting.
He then went into more detail as to what his plan was for the sculpture. He described himself as a Gothic artist and he wanted to fashion a special blade with Gothic symbols and shapes. At the end he promised me he would send a picture of his sculpture because he knew I was interested to see what happened. Like many things in this aged brain I had forgotten that he would send a picture. So when the picture arrived a month ago I was pleasantly surprised.
Robin took the old blade off and cut a new piece of metal into the shape of a large blade. He then drew out a pattern on a piece of card board and probably traced it out on the blade. Then the hard work came to cut out the steel and then finish the steel.
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| New blade and pattern plotted out on cardboard. |
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| New blade and pattern. |
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| Blade against a straw bale. |
It was interesting that he had taken steel and cut it for a blade with Gothic imagery. So my scythe lives on a piece of art.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Christmas at Hiawatha House
Christmas is a pretty laid back affair around Hiawatha House. Nobody gets up at 4 AM and sneaks downstairs to see if Santa had been there. On the other hand nobody sleeps in. We get up at the usual time and have breakfast and get on with the first chores of the day.
Our daughter Skyped us from Chicago. We shared some Christmas chatter and showed various things we hadn't seen before. WE saw a Christmas present that we hadn't opened yet. She got the same thing we got although we hadn't opened it yet.
After the daughter's call we opened gifts.
The standard lunch was had by all!
Skyped with the grand kids in the afternoon.
Very good Christmas dinner. We had turkey breast. After we had eaten we noticed that a single neighbor was home alone so took a plate of our dinner over to him.
From 7-8 PM I went cross country skiing. I really needed to burn of those extra calories.
Our daughter Skyped us from Chicago. We shared some Christmas chatter and showed various things we hadn't seen before. WE saw a Christmas present that we hadn't opened yet. She got the same thing we got although we hadn't opened it yet.
After the daughter's call we opened gifts.
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| I did get my stocking hung up! |
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| The grand kids gifts |
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| Goofy grandpa with the grand kids gifts. |
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| Surprise! Surprise! I got a sweater for Christmas. |
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| A really silly self done photo. |
The standard lunch was had by all!
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| Had a nice two km walk around bower Ponds. Lots of skaters on this well kept outdoor pond. I was sorry I didn't take my skates. |
Skyped with the grand kids in the afternoon.
Very good Christmas dinner. We had turkey breast. After we had eaten we noticed that a single neighbor was home alone so took a plate of our dinner over to him.
From 7-8 PM I went cross country skiing. I really needed to burn of those extra calories.
Friday, December 23, 2011
LUCKY STREAK
I've been on a lucky streak recently! I've won two things in the last month. That's along streak of luck for me!
First I won a CD that the Musical Gardener was giving for a prize when he drew names from commenters on his blog. The CD was Susan Boyle doing mostly Christmas songs.
Yesterday I won a book when they drew my name. I was at an appreciation lunch for Kerry Wood nature Center volunteers. I received the book " The Sanctuary" written by Kerry Wood. Kerry Wood was a local Red Deer author who specialized in Natural history. Kerry Wood was prolific author as he wrote numerous books and radio clips when these were popular in the 40' and 50's Kerry Wood knew his subject from having hands on experience. These days we think we're awesome when we go off grid. Wood built a cabin and pretty well left society for a year when he lived off the land with little bought from stores. He made his own furniture. He collected plants and animals for food. Since I always liked Kerry wood I was happy to win a book of his.
So I consider myself fortunate in the lucky department for the last few weeks. Maybe I should buy a few lottery tickets since I'm on such a hot streak!
First I won a CD that the Musical Gardener was giving for a prize when he drew names from commenters on his blog. The CD was Susan Boyle doing mostly Christmas songs.
Yesterday I won a book when they drew my name. I was at an appreciation lunch for Kerry Wood nature Center volunteers. I received the book " The Sanctuary" written by Kerry Wood. Kerry Wood was a local Red Deer author who specialized in Natural history. Kerry Wood was prolific author as he wrote numerous books and radio clips when these were popular in the 40' and 50's Kerry Wood knew his subject from having hands on experience. These days we think we're awesome when we go off grid. Wood built a cabin and pretty well left society for a year when he lived off the land with little bought from stores. He made his own furniture. He collected plants and animals for food. Since I always liked Kerry wood I was happy to win a book of his.
So I consider myself fortunate in the lucky department for the last few weeks. Maybe I should buy a few lottery tickets since I'm on such a hot streak!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Dec. 18 was the appointed day for the Christmas Bird Count(CBC) in my area. Out of the last 42 years I have missed the CBC maybe five times. It's a high light of the year for me.
I have done the same area for about 35 years. I know about what I'll find every year. So why do the same area? It's the surprises you get when you see something different. The last two years have been dismal as far as the species I've found and the number of birds counted. Last year was bitterly cold. This year we had an overnight snow fall and the birds weren't moving. Five species I expected to count, I didn't see. Ordinarily we see blue jays, white breasted nuthatches, pigeons and red breasted nuthatches every day. Usually I would see hairy woodpeckers and pileated woodpeckers but not Dec. 18.
The area I count is a fairly wide ravine with a variety of habitat. There can be old growth spruce,poplar willow and a variety of shrubs. It was used as pasture land until about 25 years ago. It has a wide variety of excellent habitat.
Our day was mild and calm. It was pleasant to be outside all day. In the evening we had a great potluck supper.
What was unusual on Dec. 18 was the number of little difficulties I encountered. I slipped on the side of a ravine and fell a few feet down the side. I got out and found my pant pretty muddy. Ten minutes later when I wanted to record some birds I found that my recording card was gone. So guess what? I lost it when I fell. Later I wanted to use my field glasses and hurriedly went into my back pack. The field glasses were not here. I was sure I had put them in but thought I left them by my back door. A little while later I wanted to record an bird and found that I had lost my pencil. So the comedy of errors is piling up.
I got home and no the field glasses were not in the doorway. I checked the computer room and bedroom...nothing! I rechecked everything again...nothing! So I was ready to drive back to where I fell. So one more look in the back pack. There they were. Had gone in the wrong pouch in my excitement to see the bird. Of course I caught it from the clothes washer person for getting my pants muddy.
So if the birds don't make your day, being a bumbling idiot will make for some excitement.
I have done the same area for about 35 years. I know about what I'll find every year. So why do the same area? It's the surprises you get when you see something different. The last two years have been dismal as far as the species I've found and the number of birds counted. Last year was bitterly cold. This year we had an overnight snow fall and the birds weren't moving. Five species I expected to count, I didn't see. Ordinarily we see blue jays, white breasted nuthatches, pigeons and red breasted nuthatches every day. Usually I would see hairy woodpeckers and pileated woodpeckers but not Dec. 18.
The area I count is a fairly wide ravine with a variety of habitat. There can be old growth spruce,poplar willow and a variety of shrubs. It was used as pasture land until about 25 years ago. It has a wide variety of excellent habitat.
Large old growth spruce
Our day was mild and calm. It was pleasant to be outside all day. In the evening we had a great potluck supper.
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| Mixed poplar and spruce |
What was unusual on Dec. 18 was the number of little difficulties I encountered. I slipped on the side of a ravine and fell a few feet down the side. I got out and found my pant pretty muddy. Ten minutes later when I wanted to record some birds I found that my recording card was gone. So guess what? I lost it when I fell. Later I wanted to use my field glasses and hurriedly went into my back pack. The field glasses were not here. I was sure I had put them in but thought I left them by my back door. A little while later I wanted to record an bird and found that I had lost my pencil. So the comedy of errors is piling up.
I got home and no the field glasses were not in the doorway. I checked the computer room and bedroom...nothing! I rechecked everything again...nothing! So I was ready to drive back to where I fell. So one more look in the back pack. There they were. Had gone in the wrong pouch in my excitement to see the bird. Of course I caught it from the clothes washer person for getting my pants muddy.
So if the birds don't make your day, being a bumbling idiot will make for some excitement.
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Other Shoe Has Dropped.
A couple of posts ago I told of raising the Christmas tree at our house. It's my job to put up the old artificial tree. It's my wife's job to decorate the tree. I was telling you that sometimes we don't get to putting up a tree.
Well, this year the tree is up and it's also decorated! How about that?
Well, this year the tree is up and it's also decorated! How about that?
So my wife's decorating job does wonders to my little old artificial tree!
To all readers, have a joyous Christmas season.!
I will be posting during the holiday period as there is so much going on.
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