It’s getting late, but I can’t let this day pass without noting July 12 is the date that commemorates the Battle of the Boyne, and the victory in 1690 of a Protestant army led by William of Orange over A Roman Catholic one led by James II, the deposed English king. Continue reading
After a couple of weeks of drought keeping the garden plants down, there’s nothing like a rainy day to perk their spirits up. Just before sunset, a few hours after the rain stopped and the sky had cleared, I went for a walk in the garden and was amazed to see how quickly everything had responded with rejuvenated life-energy and new growth. Continue reading
Let’s go for a little morning walk in the garden. The sun’s out, but clouds are forming, with the prospect of some timely rain. It’s been about a week or so without – nothing too urgent just yet, a few things are in need of watering without rain today. But all in all, if I do say so myself, the garden is looking pretty good.
The cool garden is looking good
Once upon a time when I was a young fellow at loose ends I ran away to join the circus. Strictly speaking it was a travelling carnival, but why quibble over minor details? Close, enough, if you ask me.
I think it was shortly after I ran an ad in the classified section of the Toronto Daily Star. Young man looking for work was about all it said in so many words. I got one response from somebody who offered me a job as a shepherd on a large sheep ranch in Alberta. I was tempted, and maybe, now that I think of it, I should have taken the job. But I didn’t. Continue reading
I can’t let this day go by without noting it is the date, May 30, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake 585 years ago after being tried on a variety of charges, including wearing men’s clothing.
Renee Falconetti as Joan in Carl Dreyer’s great classic movie, The Passion of Joan of Ar
I have a clear memory of sitting across from the late Chief James Mason in his office at the Saugeen First Nation Band Office at Chippawa Hill more than 30 years ago. It may not have been the first time, or the last time. I had several such meetings/interviews with him. My beat as an Owen Sound Sun Times reporter at the time included Aboriginal Affairs and the various issues affecting the two First Nations in Ontario’s Grey-Bruce area, the other being the Chippewas of Nawash at Cape Croker.
Never underestimate the power, or the fragility of nature.
Life on earth exists within a relatively narrow band of temperatures; a few degrees change either way may spell disaster in some parts of the world, and eventually all parts of it.
It’s certainly not the end of the world, yet, in our part of southern Ontario, Canada; but the impact of global warming and climate change is clearly being felt, apparently in the form of an unseasonably late, cool spring and, therefore, planting season again this year.
I suppose one of the advantages of getting to a certain age is the view it offers of how dramatically things have changed, in so many ways. Whatever may be happening elsewhere in the world that is troubling and worrisome, my country, Canada, has changed and is still changing for the better. I will go so far as to say it’s surely one of the more hopeful places in the world; perhaps even the hope of the world.
Toronto, my home town, is now one of the most multicultural cities in the world
The incident with the heifer and her calf happened in the spring, down in the barnyard, out of sight from the house. It’s one of those things that remains clear in my memory after many years.
First, a warning: some people may find this too graphic and disturbing. Little House on the Prairie it is not.
Cathedral Drive, rural Ontario, another reality
I’d like to conduct a bit of a survey.
So, here are my survey questions:
Do you have an Ontario Driver’s Licence?
Do you live in an urban area with access to reasonably good taxi or public transit service, or friends and family to help you get to appointments, do your shopping, run errands, or just get out?
Do you live in a rural area without public transit, no nearby taxi service, and relatively speaking, compared to people in urban areas, not that many neighbours you might ask to drive you to the nearest small town, or Owen Sound?
Are you more than 70 years old?
Do you know that if you’re involved in a collision that results in you being charged with a Highway Traffic Act (HTA) violation, and you either plead or are found guilty, you will be required to pass a three-part re-examination of your fitness to have a driver’s licence?
That includes a written and vision tests, as well as a road test.
Finding Hope Ness 