Journal Prompt ~ Six Words

Six Word Journal Prompt: 

Describe your life or current situation in exactly six words.

keeping busy is keeping me sane

160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario ~ Smith Falls Two-Story Outhouse

 

The addition on the left side of the building is the two-story privy.

The building is an excellent example of Georgian architecture, popular in Canada during the 19th century. Its rectangular floor plan is symmetrical in nature, consisting of the central entryway and hall, a high gable roof, a centred gable facade with three bays and a double chimney on either side of the building. The main entrance contains sidelights and a transom, and is flanked by casement windows. Above the main door is a Palladian window with arched toppers, while beneath the gable is a typical semi-elliptical window. This front facade is mirrored exactly on the rear facade, adding significantly to its architectural value. The building is striking in its simplicity and is a study in contrasts: the white clapboard of the main building against the red ochre of the side addition; the simple lines of the wooden walls against the multi-paned windows. The use of casement windows instead of sash windows suggests that Bates may have used a French-Canadian carpenter who, at that time, would have worked for substantially lower wages than English-Canadian carpenters. (Source)

Smiths Falls' Two-Storey Outhouse. It's actually attached to the house and wide enough that the upper "facility" is not directly above the outer one. A vertical partition separates them. The door to the lower "facility" leads directly off the downstairs porch, the upper leads from a hallway in the house. (Source)

Journal Prompt ~ Compliments

Today's Prompt: Compliments

What's the best compliment you've ever received?

I hope the originator of this message doesn't mind that I'm sharing it . . . but it was the nicest thing anyone has said to me for a very long time and I treasure it . . .

Hey Pam. I wanted to take a minute today to encourage you. You're always on the go, running errands (for yourself and others), working on craft projects, doing things around the house, encouraging others, and taking care of your family. You are a real inspiration!!! And you'd rival the Energizer Bunny in terms of energy, lol! I love reading about all your adventures each day, and seeing all that you've accomplished. I like how you take care of yourself, too, by treating yourself to lunch, making sure you foster social relationships, and challenging yourself to try new things. That's something that every woman has to be reminded to do, and I'm glad I have you as an example of that. I'm glad I have you as a Facebook and real-life-although-we've-only-met-a-couple-of-times friend!

CBC's 100 Best Canadian Novels ~ A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

A Fine Balance is an excellent novel which allowed me to see inside a culture I would never have the ability to experience. When this happens, I truly believe we learn a little more about our neighbours around the world . . . allowing us to understand each other a little better.

The book was recommended as one of 100 novels that make you proud to be Canadian, compiled by CBCbooks.ca. It is also on the O Canada! The Best Canadian Books list.

The story is about four very different people, a widow, a young student, and two tailors, who come together during a turbulent time in India of the 1970s and discover friendship and love despite the extreme sadness and instability of the times they are living in.

It is a very sad and emotional book but I bet you will read it a second time.

Movie Review ~ Goodfellas 1990

Goodfellas (1990)

Apparently I love gangster movies.  Of course this one was shot back in the day when we didn't have to see all the gory details.  Most were just suggested.  They were well understood. Ray Liotta  plays Henry Hill, a quiet young boy who gets involved in the mob and works his way up through the ranks.  When drug addiction and a couple of mistakes torpedoes his career he decides to not be so quiet.

Goodfellas is a movie that typecast so many actors as mobsters for the rest of their acting careers.

Academy Awards, USA 1991

Won Oscar	Best Actor in a Supporting Role Joe Pesci
Nominated Oscar	Best Picture Irwin Winkler
	Best Actress in a Supporting Role Lorraine Bracco
	Best Director Martin Scorsese
	Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Nicholas Pileggi Martin Scorsese
	Best Film Editing Thelma Schoonmaker

Journal Prompt ~ Betrayal

Today's Prompt: Betrayal

Have you ever been betrayed by a loved one?

I think we have all been betrayed at least once in life.  I choose to put those memories in a basket labelled "history".  I have too many awesome people in my life . . . and I have a pretty good life.  Remembering those who aren't worthy of my time is a waste of my time.

Journal Prompt ~ Travel Tanka

It's time for the next installment of Tanka Tuesday!

Tanka is a form of poetry similar to haiku. It's short, and the lines don't need to rhyme. The just must have a set number of syllables: 5/7/5/7/7.

Today's tanka prompt is: travel.

I want to live in 

a motor home and travel 

so much to see and 

so much to learn and think how 

interesting my blog would be

Book Review ~ The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

I am so glad I finally read Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne portrays Hester as a woman who is strong, faithful and true. When a moment of indiscretion is made public by the birth of her daughter, Pearl, she is sentenced, first to the pillory and then to wear the letter A on her chest. Even in her shame and sorrow she remains strong and penitent. While she could have just sewn on a little A on her dress, she chose to embroider an extravagant A which she wore every day even after it was no longer required by the law.

I found myself really believing the characters even when I felt some of them were less than likable. I though Hester's long-lost husband was an evil person who played with the minds and emotions of Hester and the minister. I thought the minister was weak and shameful. He could have saved Hester by admitting he was Pearl's father or, better yet, marrying Hester. Instead he let her live in shame and sorrow for many years, never admitting his part.

It is nice to read a classic novel where the woman is the strong character. Good for you, Hester!!

I wasn't sure what the last words of the novel meant so I looked it up online: The last words of the novel—ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A GULES—describe a coat of arms on a shield. The sable field is a black background; gules means red. Thus on this shield, the coat of arms is a red letter (letter gules) appearing against a black background (sable field).

Journal Prompt ~ Amusement Parks

Today's Prompt: Amusement Parks

Did you have a favorite amusement park that you liked to visit as a child?

I don't remember ever going to an amusement park as a child.  Hubby and I took our boys to Canada's Wonderland about 30 years ago.  I think they enjoyed it.  I just thought it was a long hot day and a lot of money spent.  

Canadian Music ~ Fast Romantics

Fast Romantics formed in 2009 by former members of long-running Calgary band The Mood, initially retaining three of its original members: Matthew Angus, Matthew Kliewer, and Jeffrey Lewis. Upon reforming, the band added Alan Reain on drums and began doing a number of local shows.

The band added and lost many members in the years that followed, releasing two independent records, touring heavily, and eventually reforming in Toronto in 2014. 

Deciding to rebuild the band from scratch with Lewis, Angus added four new members in 2014, beginning with respected Toronto singer/songwriter Kirty as a multi-instrumentalist and singer. The two developed a chemistry quickly and as new songs began to form, Kevin Black (formerly of Toronto-based band Hands & Teeth) was added on guitars and vocals, Nick McKinlay was added on drums, and eventually in 2015, Lisa Lorenz was added on keyboards.

Fast Romantics won Pop Group of the Year at the Sirius XM Indies in May 2014 for "Funeral Song", after which point, Angus began work on writing new material, saying in 2015: "We’ve been writing songs like ‘Julia’ that are super upbeat and poppy, and then there's these other songs that are dark and vibe-y and really rhythmic. And we’re just sort of experimenting with everything. We'll probably come out with dozens and dozens of songs, so until it gets to a point where it's like, yeah, we’ve got an album we want to put forward and this is our sound for the next few years, we’re just going to keep doing that."

The first single released by this new version of Fast Romantics was "Julia" in March, 2015. The song reached the Top 5 on CBC Radio 2 in Canada, and found itself onto radio in America as well. They released a music video featuring Fred Astaire dancing with members of the band, which was eventually short-listed for the Prism Prize, a national prize for Music Videos in Canada.

In June 2016, Fast Romantics won the 2016 SOCAN Songwriting Prize for the song "Julia", which was voted the best song by emerging artists over the past year.[17] The rest of 2016 saw the band touring Canada and the United States while also finalizing work on their next LP with producers Gus Van Go and Werner F, who also produced "Julia".

In January 2017, the band released the first official single from their as-yet untitled new album, a political song called "Why We Fight." Released on the same day as the inauguration of Donald Trump, the video featured clips of American pop culture and protest movements, along with footage Angus found of an actor portraying Abraham Lincoln in a 1956 Greyhound-sponsored propaganda video, who was made to lip sync the lyrics of the song.

That same month, the band recorded a three-song performance of new material for alternative rock radio station Indie 88, stating in an interview portion that this was the band's true "first record" and that everything that came before was "just play-dough."

Shortly after the appearance, in February 2017, the band officially announced that they had signed to Light Organ Records and would be releasing their long-awaited LP on April 28, 2017, titled "American Love." The press release described songs that were originally intended as love songs, but eventually became infused with the political uncertainty and social unrest occurring during the making of the album, a reference to the rise of Donald Trump throughout the 2016 election campaign in the USA. Frontman and lyricist Matthew Angus was quoted as saying: "I was falling pretty hard in love when we started the record. But the songs ended up being paintings of what it felt like to fall in love while the rest of the world went mad. The American election went bizarre and took over the Canadian one, everybody's obsession with social media hit some kind of peak, and suddenly everyone — everywhere — was talking about America. Smartphones were going off like bombs everywhere I went. It started seeping into the songwriting, and now I'm not even sure how to describe it. Is it a collection of love songs about politics or is it a collection of political songs about love?"

Shortly after announcing a release date and record label for "American Love," the band went on whirlwind tour as the opening act for Said the Whale, playing 15 shows in 19 days. That was followed by an American tour in support of Air Traffic Controller.

In 2020, Fast Romantics released the album Pick It Up. On August 20, 2020, Fast Romantics gathered a small group of people at The Dakota Tavern in Toronto, and performed a full Pick It Up concert. In July 2021, the filmed concert was posted on YouTube.

Canadian Films ~ Bon Cop Bad Cop (2006)

I remember watching Bon Cop Bad Cop many many years ago. I just finished watching it again. This humour is so Canadian. I really loved watching it.

Two Canadian detectives, one from Ontario and the other from Quebec, must work together when a murdered victim is found on the Ontario-Quebec border . . . literally!

Colm Feore plays Martin Ward and Patrick Huard in David Bouchard. They are as opposite as day and night and this is a basis for most of the story. 

I know I'm making a big deal about the humour but there is more to this movie. It is thrilling, action packed, full of quick turns and big surprises.

I never knew their was a Bon Cop Bad Cop 2 so that is now on my list to watch.

Journal Prompt ~ Welcome Spring

Today's Prompt: Welcome Spring

What does spring look like in your neighborhood? Is it spring where you live, still winter, or already into summer?

It is spring.  It is dreary, 0 C, overcast with the sun fighting to shine through. 

160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario ~ The Pakenham Bridge

“Anyone who’s been to Pakenham will tell you that the awesome sight of this mighty river swelling and surging under the historic five-span bridge will remain forever etched in your memory. “

The Pakenham Bridge is a stone bridge with five arches that crosses the Mississippi River at the town of Pakenham within Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada. The bridge measures 268 feet (82 m) long, 22 feet (6.7 m) high, and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide. It is the only one of this type in North America.

The bridge was built in 1903 by O'Toole & Keating, Scottish masons from Ottawa, for a cost of $14,500. The stones, the largest of which weighs 5 tons, came from a local quarry. As a result of local pressure to preserve it, the bridge was never replaced with a newer one and restored in 1984. At that time, the bridge was also strengthened with reinforced concrete to accommodate car and truck traffic.

With a parking lot and rapids right at the bridge, it is a popular picnic spot. Here the Mississippi River drops a few meters over a wide cascade with exposed bedrock, but below the rapids there is a strong undertow that has claimed several lives. --Wikipedia 

Journal Prompt ~ Phobias

Today's Prompt: Phobias

What's worse:  Spiders, snakes, or rats?

The only thing worse than spiders, snakes, and rats are BIG spiders, snakes, and rats.  They are all disgusting . . . ewwwwwww!!!!!!

CBC's 100 Best Canadian Novels ~ A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche

This novel centres around Bernard Valcourt, a Canadian journalist who came to Rwanda to establish a television network for education purposes. While he waits for all the red tape to clear, he spends much of his time sitting at the pool at the Mille-Collines hotel. The context of this love story (for that is how I see it) is during the Rwanda genocide and AIDS crisis. The story is brutal and often difficult to read. But we never lose hope that his love for Gentille will overcome the evil and ugliness around them. I'm not going to tell you how it ends. Read the book.

Journal Prompt ~ Six Words

Describe your life or current situation using exactly six words.

Playing AND working on the computer.

Tanka Tuesday ~ Kids

Tanka is a form of poetry similar to haiku. It's short, and the lines don't need to rhyme. The just must have a set number of syllables: 5/7/5/7/7.

Today's tanka prompt is: children.

children are a source

of greatest joy innocent

trusting loving sweet

bedtime stories and good night

kisses hugs teddies held tight

Book Review ~ A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

You may have determined by now that when I review a book I write mostly about how I liked it and why. I will leave the details of themes and plots and other mysteries to those more qualified than I. I write only as a person who loves to read.

I now know where two quotes I've often heard actually come from . . . A Tale of Two Cities. What quotes? See if you recognize them.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--

and

It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known. 

I never read this book in school or any other time. I don't know why. It was always on my to do list and now it is done. I read this book in installments through DailyLit.com which is a great way to receive novels through your email a bit at a time.  I really enjoyed it. Enjoy isn't really the appropriate word but a better word escapes me right now.

Charles Dickens is a master at blending stories with twists and turns and amazing surprises. There is intrigue, danger and adventure. There is love and romance and trust and family. This book has everything and it is so masterfully written that you are constantly on tenterhooks, wondering what will happen next. The plot is very complex and includes several characters with hidden pasts that come back to haunt them in the shadow of Madame Guillotine during the French Revolution. Dickens also has a habit of commenting on the times in which he was writing and offers many comparisons between the the horror of the Revolution and the peoples involved in Paris with the suffering and intrigues of the people in London England . . . in this way it is truly a tale of two cities.

Don't be nervous. Pick up this classic novel and thrill to the adventures within.

Journal Prompt ~ Flirt

Today's Writing Prompt: Flirt

Do you like to flirt, or are you shy?

I could be wrong so you should probably double-check with my husband, but I don't believe I flirt.  I am far too shy for that and I have a bad habit of tripping over my words and forgetting my nouns when I am nervous.

Canadian Films ~ C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)

This movie is crazy. It is also French Canadian and in French with English subtitles. I thought this might bother me, but it really didn't. The movie was just that good.

C.R.A.Z.Y. is the store of a sexually confused young man and his totally dysfunctional family. The setting is in Montreal during the 1960s and 70s. There are many funny moments and some really sad moments; the best moments were the ones with real insight into the lives of these very different people.

The director makes excellent use of music to set the passage of time through the decades. The characters are well developed. I think it is definitely worth seeing.

This movie swept the Genie awards in 2006 -- Best Motion Picture, Best Performance of an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Achievement in Direction, Best Screenplay Original, Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design, Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Overall Sound, Best Achievement in Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Editing and Golden Reel Award. It also won Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto Film Festival and Audience Award at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. 

Hmmmmm . . . I guess I'm not the only one to think this is a good movie worth seeing . . . and yet I wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't read 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen.

Canadian Music ~ Fancey

 

Todd George Fancey is a Canadian guitarist, keyboardist, and solo artist. He is the guitarist for Vancouver-based indie rock band The New Pornographers and the bassist for the band Limblifter. Fancey is originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. 

Fancey released his first solo album, Fancey on March Records in 2004. His second solo album, Schmancey, was released November 13, 2007 on What Are Records?. Fancey released his third solo album Love Mirage on January 27, 2017. His fourth album release is "County Fair" a collection of cover songs on January 26, 2018. His third and fourth albums were self-released on Stoner Disco Records.

Journal Prompt ~ Rain

Today's Prompt: Rain

I've rarely been bothered by the rain in spring, summer or fall. On the other hand, I hate rain in the winter because it makes me feel miserable and I am anxious for my friends and family who have to be out in it. I also am terrified of thunderstorms.

This is a fun photo from our Hewson family reunion July 2014. Our wienie roast was very quick as we were racing a rainstorm that we could see on the horizon. I'd been looking forward to toasting marshmallows all day and I was going to get one if I had to stand over the campfire with an umbrella . . . LOL

Book Review: Marching As to War by Pierre Berton

“I have called this period Canada’s Turbulent Years – turbulent not only because of the battles we fought on the African veldt, the ravaged meadows of Flanders, the forbidding spine of Italy, and the conical hills of Korea, but turbulent in other ways. These were Canada’s formative years, when she resembled an adolescent, grappling with the problems of puberty, often at odds with her parents, craving to be treated as an adult, hungry for the acclaim of her peers, and wary of the dominating presence of a more sophisticated neighbour.” – From the Introduction

Marching As to War is "only" 632 pages in paperback but Pierre Berton's writing held my interest to the very last page.  I've always been interested in history.  I even took history of WWI and WWII in university.  I wonder if they would consider swapping out the texts from that course for Marching As to War?

Here is a little biography:

Pierre Berton was one of Canada’s most popular and prolific authors. From narrative histories and popular culture, to picture and coffee table books to anthologies, to stories for children to readable, historical works for youth, many of his fifty books are now Canadian classics.

Born in 1920 and raised in the Yukon, Pierre Berton worked in Klondike mining camps during his university years. He spent four years in the army, rising from private to captain/instructor at the Royal Military College in Kingston. He spent his early newspaper career in Vancouver, where at 21 he was the youngest city editor on any Canadian daily. He wrote columns for and was editor of Maclean’s magazine, appeared on CBC’s public affairs program “Close-Up” and was a permanent fixture on “Front Page Challenge” for 39 years. He was a columnist and editor for the Toronto Star and was a writer and host of a series of CBC programs.

Pierre Berton received over 30 literary awards including the Governor-General’s Award for Creative Non-Fiction (three times), the Stephen Leacock Medal of Humour, and the Gabrielle Leger National Heritage Award. He received two Nellies for his work in broadcasting, two National Newspaper awards, and the National History Society’s first award for “distinguished achievement in popularizing Canadian history.” For his immense contribution to Canadian literature and history, he was awarded more than a dozen honourary degrees, is a member of the Newsman’s Hall of Fame, and is a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Pierre Berton passed away in Toronto on November 30, 2004.

Here's a review of this book:

Canada's twentieth century can be divided roughly into two halves. All the wars and all the unnecessary battles in which Canadian youth was squandered belong to the first — from the autumn of 1899 to the summer of 1953. From the mid-1950s on, Canada has concerned itself not with war but with peace.

The first war of the century, which took Canadian soldiers to South Africa, and the last, which sent them to Korea, bracket the bookends on the shelf of history. They have a good deal in common with, these two minor conflicts, whose chronicles pale when compared to the bloodbaths of the two world wars.

Canada's wartime days are long past, and for many, the scars of war have healed. Vimy has been manicured clean, its pockmarked slopes softened by a green mantle of Canadian pines. Dieppe has reverted to a resort town, its beaches long since washed free of Canadian blood. Nowadays, Canadians are proud of their role as Peacekeepers, from which they have gained a modicum of international acclaim the nation has always craved, with precious little blood wasted in the process.

In this monumental work, Pierre Berton brings Canadian history to life once again, relying on a host of sources, including newspaper accounts and first-hand reports, to tell the story of these four wars through the eyes of the privates in the trenches, the generals at the front, and the politicians and families back home. By profiling the interwar years, Berton traces how one war led to the next, and how the country was changed in the process. Illustrated with maps and line drawings, Marching as to War describes how the experience of war helped to bind Canada together as a nation and chronicles the transformation of Canada's dependence upon Great Britain and its slow emergence as an independent nation caught in a love-hate relationship with the United States.

http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385258197&view=print

Journal Prompt ~ Rainbow Bridge

Today's Prompt: Rainbow Bridge

Have you ever had the rotten experience of having to put a pet down?

I had to do it once. We had a kitten who wasn't breathing when it was born. I actually did kitty CPR. I probably shouldn't have. Poor little thing was never right. I took him to the vet in Aylmer to be put to sleep. I will never do that again. 

160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario ~ Rockingham Church

The Rockingham Church, located at 513 Rockingham Rd, Combermere, ON, formerly called St. Leonard’s Anglican Church, was built about 1875, when the hamlet of Rockingham was a thriving community. The last regular service was held in 1924, and the church had no minister from then until 1944. A Rev. Leon B.G. Adams was minister from 1944-47, but the church was apparently closed in 1941. The pews, font and bell were removed in 1945-46, to churches in Quadeville, Barry’s Bay and Killaloe respectively. On May 14, 1967, Bishop Ernest Reed of Ottawa performed the Act of Secularization on the church.

The building had deteriorated significantly by the mid-‘90s despite various earlier repair efforts. In 1995, the Friends of the Rockingham Church formed to save the building from destruction. Major repairs were carried out in 1999 and 2000. In 1999, the Townships of Brudenell, Lyndoch & Raglan designated the church a heritage site under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Set among tall pines, the weathered wooden church is known for its simple but appealing architectural details: the round-headed windows and graceful steeple, its warm interior paneling and the original pump organ and curved pews. Surrounding gravestones mark the lives of early settlers, including John S.J. Watson, Rockingham’s founder and an early Warden of Renfrew County.

Open daily spring, summer and fall, daylight hours only. Admission is free — donations are welcome.

Journal Prompt ~ Cruel or Offensive

Today's Prompt: Cruel or Offensive

What's the most offensive thing you've ever heard anyone say?

Any time I hear "If the ____ (enter any non-British nationality here) don't want to follow our Canadian traditions they should pack up and move back to ____ (wherever they lived before moving to Canada)" it takes every bit of willpower I have not to offer to help the annoying speaker pack his or her bags.

One of our "traditions" is the Canadian Bill of Rights. Hey, annoying speaker, have you ever read it? Here's just a little piece of it:

Recognition and declaration of rights and freedoms
1. It is hereby recognized and declared that in Canada there have existed and shall continue to exist without discrimination by reason of race, national origin, colour, religion or sex, the following human rights and fundamental freedoms, namely,
(a) the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property, and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law;
(b) the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law;
(c) freedom of religion;
(d) freedom of speech;
(e) freedom of assembly and association; and
(f) freedom of the press.

While we are at it, here is the Oath of Citizenship . . . which by the way Canadians don't have to swear . . . but new Canadians do . . . 

"I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.”

photo taken at Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

I'm jumping off my soap box now.

CBC's 100 Best Canadian Novels ~ The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I cannot believe I have never written about The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood before.  I am a huge Atwood fan and I've read the book several times.  

It is the story of a dystopian future where governments have become theocracies and women have no rights.  The centre of the story is Offred who is forced to be a reproductive surrogate to a powerful commander and his wife.  Offred remembers the time before the theocracy when she had a husband, a daughter, a job, a life . . . and dreams of escape.

There is now a television series but I only watched a few episodes before I became bored.  (Of course the same thing happened when I tried to watch the television version of Alias Grace.)  I may try to watch it again some day . . . but not yet.  

There is also a The Handmaid's Tale movie.  It was okay.  Not sure I would ever watch it again.

I am sure I will be reading the book again soon.  

Journal Prompt ~ The Beach

Tanka Tuesday: the Beach

It's time for the next installment of Tanka Tuesday!

Tanka is a form of poetry similar to haiku. It's short, and the lines don't need to rhyme. The just must have a set number of syllables: 5/7/5/7/7.

Today's tanka Tuesday prompt is The Beach.

a day at the beach

is not my idea of fun

sand caked everywhere

sunburnt smelling like dead fish

Unless I can get Mackie's

Journal Prompt ~ Challenges

Today's Prompt: Challenges

What challenges are you facing right now?

Canadian Films ~ Mambo Italiano (2003)

Let me begin by admitting my deep dark secret . . . I love "quirky" movies . . . and Mambo Italiano is definitely that.

Angelo Barberini (Luke Kirby) lives at home and harbors a secret from his Italian parents, Gino (Paul Sorvino) and Maria (Ginette Reno). He's gay. At 30-years-old, Angelo's decision to move out surprises Gino and Maria and his entire community because they believe that Angelo should only leave home if he's getting married. The trusted few who know the truth are Angelo's older sister, Anna (Claudia Ferri), and his secret crush, Nino (Peter Miller). As Angelo and Nino grow closer, their families get more and more confused.

Angelo falls in love with and the two move in together. They try to keep their sexuality a secret, while their families worry, suspect and scheme to set them up with nice Italian girls. It’s not easy being Italian and gay, and when the pressures of his double life begin to overwhelm Angelo, his reactions set off an explosively funny chain of surprise revelations, comic reversals and unexpected outcomes.

Mambo Italiano was nominated for six Canadian Comedy Awards.

Canadian Music ~ Faber Drive

Faber Drive is a four-piece Juno Award-nominated Canadian pop punk band from Mission, British Columbia, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Dave Faber, lead guitarist Jordan Pritchett, bass guitarist Jeremy "Krikit" Liddle and drummer Seamus O'Neill. Their biggest influences are U2, The Police, Def Leppard, Jimmy Eat World, Stryper and Winger. They have toured with bands such as Hedley, Stereos, Marianas Trench, Simple Plan and Metro Station.

Journal Prompt ~ Music is Forever

Today's Prompt: Music is Forever

Who was your favorite band or singer when you were young?

I had many many favourite bands when I was young.

160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario ~ 2 ~Bonnechere Caves

The Bonnechere Caves are located in the town of Renfrew, in eastern Ontario. The caves are open to the public for tours from mid-May to mid-October.

The caves were formed over millions of years by the erosion of limestone by an underground river. The caves are home to a variety of wildlife, including bats and cave crickets.

The temperature inside the caves is a constant 7 degrees Celsius, so be sure to bring a jacket! The tour takes about an hour and includes a short film about the history of the caves.

The Bonnechere Caves are a network of caves which are home to a variety of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as other mineral deposits.

The first recorded exploration of the Bonnechere Caves was in 1856 by a group of local farmers. The caves were not open to the public until 1930, when they were developed into a tourist attraction. Today, the Bonnechere Caves are a popular destination for both tourists and cavers alike.

The Bonnechere Caves are located in the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben, a large geological rift in the earth's crust. The Graben extends from Ottawa to Timmins and is one of the largest such rifts in North America. The Caves themselves were formed over millions of years by water erosion.

They are home to many unique features that make them a must-see destination in Ontario. From the world’s largest cave painting to rare mineral formations, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

One of the most popular attractions at the Bonnechere Caves is the world’s largest cave painting. This massive mural is over 10,000 years old and depicts a hunting scene. It is an incredible example of early human art and is a must-see for any visitor to the caves.

Whether you’re interested in history, art, or geology, the Bonnechere Caves have something for everyone to enjoy. So be sure to add them to your list of must-see destinations in Ontario!

There is a surprising amount of wildlife that can be found living in the Bonnechere Caves. The most common animals are bats, which roost in the caves during the day and emerge at night to hunt for insects. Several species of bats can be found in the caves, including the little brown bat and the big brown bat.

Other animals that call the Bonnechere Caves home include snakes, frogs, salamanders, and spiders. These creatures can all be found in or around the cave entrance. While they may not be as exciting to see as bats, they are still interesting animals to observe.

Snakes are also common in the Bonnechere Caves. There are several different species of snakes that live in the caves, including garter snakes and rat snakes. Snakes help to keep the cave ecosystem balanced by eating rodents and other small animals.

Spiders are also found in the Bonnechere Caves. There are several different species of spiders that live in the caves, including tarantulas and wolf spiders. Spiders help to keep the cave ecosystem balanced by eating insects and other small animals.

The Bonnechere Caves are a great place to explore and learn about geology and the history of the area. There are many different activities to do while at the caves, such as:

-Take a guided tour of the cave system

-Hike around the property

-Explore the on-site museum

-Visit the gift shop

-Picnic in the picnic area

Here are some tips on visiting the caves:

1. Dress appropriately. The caves are cool year-round, so be sure to bring a jacket or sweater. Wear comfortable shoes as well, as you'll be doing a lot of walking.

2. Don't forget your camera! The Bonnechere Caves are full of amazing rock formations and stalactites and stalagmites. You'll want to capture some of these natural wonders on film.

3. Take a tour. A guided tour is the best way to see the caves and learn about their history and geology. Tours typically last about an hour and are offered several times daily.

4. Explore on your own. If you're feeling adventurous, you can rent a flashlight and explore the caves on your own (although we don't recommend this for young children). Be sure to stick to the marked trails and watch your step!

Note: If you regularly read my blog you may have noticed that this post does not really seem to be written in my style. You are right. I used an IT program to write the post (Although I did do some editing because it was rather repetitive). It was an interesting experiment but I think I'll go back to writing my own way.

Journal Prompt ~ Six Words

Describe your life or current situation in exactly six words.

almost caught up and moving forward

CBC's 100 Best Canadian Novels ~ 3 ~ Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood B

I loved it.  More twists and turns than a mountain road.  

Alias Grace is a historical fiction based on the true life case of Grace Marks, a young maid who murdered her employer and possibly the housekeeper.  Atwood fleshes out the story and takes the reader on quite the ride while trying to decide on Grace's guilt or innocence.  Grace's life including her time in an asylum and prison is well told.  

I recommend this book highly.

Journal Prompt ~ Politics

Today's Writing Prompt: Politics

It's not an election year, so I feel safe talking about politics!  What one issue is the most important to you when it comes to voting for your representatives?

I have to say my biggest concern or issue is lower voter turnouts.  People seem to bitch and complain about governments and politicians but when they have the opportunity to voice their concerns and effect change they just don't.  They just don't vote.  I cannot understand it.  I think all active voters should get a pin that says "I voted so I can complain.  Where's your pin?"  The turnout for a recent and very boisterously and sometimes viciously debated municipal election was 35%. 

SERIOUSLY!?!?!?

Tanka Tuesday: Spring

Tanka Tuesday: Spring

Tanka is a form of Japanese poetry thousands of years old, very similar to haiku. The 5 unrhymed lines go in syllables of 5/7/5/7/7.

new buds on the trees
brave sprouts search out the sun
new life has returned
to proclaim the new season
welcomes us out into light

Journal Prompt ~ Animal

What species would you most like to be reincarnated as and why?

I'm pretty sure I want to be a very spoiled kitty, loved and fed and taken care of without a care in the world.  Plus, my people would even think I'm cute when I am misbehaving.

New Year 2023 Craft Space Organization Challenge ~ The Final Challenge!

The Final Challenge . . .

Preparing for a Crop

Crops can be a wonderful chance for you to get caught up on pages, catch up with friends, and enjoy your hobby with other Scrapbookers who understand your obsession. But planning ahead is very important to your success – it is a proven fact that the less you bring to a crop, the more you’ll actually get done. Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

Mission Statement: A crop is a rare chunk of time to spend on yourself. How long will the crop last? What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to socialize? Do you want to set a goal for completed pages? Would you like to complete a mini-album? Do you want to try to master a new technique? Do you want to organize your photos? Knowing what you want to get out of it and how much time you’ll have to do it is crucial to your planning, and helps to avoid frustration at the end of the day if you don’t achieve what you set out to do.

Gather your Blueprint: If you’re planning to get a certain number of pages done, having a blueprint for each page, whether a sketch, a rough drawing, or inspiration from a print ad or a layout you’d like to borrow, is an important step in the planning process. If these points of inspiration are in a book or magazine, consider copying them or cutting them out of the book so you can place it directly with your photos and papers.

Match Photos to the Blueprint: Once you have your sketches in mind, find photos that will coordinate with them. Then for each set of sketch and photos, do the following steps:

Journal: You know from your sketches where the journaling will go and how big it should be, so now is the perfect time to write it. Once you have your papers together, you can print it out – that way, your pages will be completely finished at the crop!

Coordinate Papers with your Photos and Journaling: Match the papers to the colors in your photos and the mood of your journaling.

Choose your embellishments: Whether your title will be printed on paper, created with stickers, or some other type of embellishment, gather the supplies for that, and then think about your finishing touches and include those. You may want to bring more than one option so you can decide exactly how you like it when you have everything else in place.

Place your supplies in a large ziploc bag: Store each set of blueprints, photos, papers, journaling and embellishments (otherwise known as a page kit) separately . Bring a few of these and your basic supplies & you can get pages done at the crop!!

Bring a Small Sticky-note Pad to the Crop: If you forget to bring something for your page, or decide it needs just one more thing, you can write it on the sticky note and attach it to your page. Now you have a perfect reminder when you get home!

Packing for crops does not need to be a huge chore the day before you go – consider pairing the above items together as page kits from time to time and filing them away – that way, if you get a last minute invitation to a crop, you’ll be able to grab and go! You’ll have fun, get more done, and be proud of your accomplishments!

Canadian Films ~ Angry Inuk (2016)

I recently watched this "movie" which is actually a documentary. I'm okay with that. I learned a lot about the Inuit peoples and how they live. 

Angry Inuk was written and directed by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril to defend the Inuit seal hunt which is a vital means for Inuit to sustain themselves. The documentary was shot in the filmmaker's home community of Iqaluit, as well as Kimmirut and Pangnirtung, where seal hunting is essential for survival.

The film follows a group of Inuit to Europe where they hope to have the EU Ban on Seal Products overturned. They were unsuccessful.

The film very critical of NGOs such as Greenpeace and the International Fund for Animal Welfare for ignoring the needs of vulnerable northern communities who depend on hunting for their livelihoods by drawing a false distinction between subsistence-driven Inuit hunters and profit-driven commercial hunters.

Angry Inuk is very eye-opening. It is also a very well produced film.

Canadian Music ~ Eric's Trip

 

Eric's Trip is a Canadian indie rock band from Moncton, New Brunswick that achieved prominence as the first Canadian band to be signed to Seattle's flagship grunge label Sub Pop in the early 1990s. Eric's Trip formed in 1990 when musicians Rick White and Chris Thompson joined Julie Doiron and Ed Vaughan (who was later replaced by Mark Gaudet). They took their name from a Sonic Youth song and developed a unique sound which fused elements of the distorted guitar of Dinosaur Jr., vocal elements of My Bloody Valentine, the folk leanings of Neil Young, and the lo-fi aesthetic of Sebadoh. White described their sound as "sappy melodic pop music on top of thick distortion." Gaudet's description was more succinct: "dreamy punk". Eric's Trip went on indefinite hiatus in 1996, reunited in 2001, and again in 2006-present.