I had such a great time reading this book. It is a series of stories about some of the funniest, oddest and most interesting events. I was not familiar with any of the stories which I found very surprising considering the amount of reading I do.
Terry Boyle's writing is just ripe with description and you can frequently sense that his tongue is in his cheek as he tells some of the most ridiculous true stories from Ontario's history.
I loved the story about the bridge built across Rice Lake. The lake freezes every winter and all that nasty ice made the bridge so fragile that when British royalty came to visit alternate means of transportation had to be found rather than risk the royal visitor's life. When the train reached the other side of the lake, the Prince of Wales hopped back on. We had the opposite problem here in St. Thomas. We had a temporary bridge that was put in at Dalewood Dam many, many years ago and just refused to break so we could get a permanent bridge. There is a new bridge now but not because the temporary bridge broke . . . LOL.
There were a few interesting murders with very interesting endings. I rather admired the gentleman of wit who ran a huge mental health facility in Kingston for many years, and quite well, before it was discovered he had no qualifications for the job.
I'm not going to hint at anymore of the tales. Pick up the book and find out for yourself.
Recognition Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date: 1982-06-12
Event, Person, Organization: Point Peninsula culture (Organization)
Other Name(s): Serpent Mounds (Designation Name); Serpent Mounds Park (Other Name); Serpent Mounds Complex, Alderville Site, Island Centre Site, East Sugar Island Site, Corral Site and BbG M- 22 (Other Name)
Research Report Number: 1982-SUA, 2003-058, 2005-SDC/CED-036
Plaque
Existing plaque: Hiawatha First Nation Territory, Keene, Ontario
Two thousand years ago, Aboriginal people gathered nearby in large settlements in spring and summer to hunt, fish and collect freshwater mussels. Here, for over three centuries, these people built mounds to bury and revere their dead. These nine mounds and other closely related sites provide an exceptionally complete record of life at that time. The mound shaped like a serpent, the only one of its kind in Canada, is over 60 metres long and almost eight metres wide. Mississauga people of this area are now the proud stewards of these ancient sites.
Description of Historic Place
Serpent Mounds National Historic Site of Canada is located in an open oak savannah setting on Roach’s Point and East Sugar Island in Rice Lake, Peterborough County, Ontario. A burial site dating from 50 BCE to 300 CE, it is a grouping of six separate burial locations forming a serpentine shape that is approximately 60 metres long and almost 8 metres wide and 1.5 to 1.8 metres high. The site is presented to the public within the grounds of Serpent Mounds Park on the banks of Rice Lake. Official recognition refers to the burial sites and their associated landscapes located on Roach’s Point and East Sugar Island.
Heritage Value
Serpent Mounds was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1982 because: it provides an exceptionally complete record of life for a period of 350 years ending about C.E.. 300; the burial mound shaped like a serpent is the only one of its kind in Canada.
Serpent Mounds incorporates a 4.4-hectare area on Roach’s Point, as well as a 49-hectare area on East Sugar Island. The designated site comprises six distinct areas of archaeological interest, including the Serpent Mounds site, the Alderville site, the Island Centre site, the East Sugar Island site, the Corral site and an unnamed Site BbG m-22. The Serpent Mounds National Historic Site of Canada is the most completely investigated archaeological site in Canada associated with the Point Peninsula culture and contains information on both the daily and the ritual life of this culture, which dates from 50 BCE to 300 CE. The complex also incorporates evidence of Pickering or Early Ontario Iroquois, Late Iroquoian Huron and some Archaic cultures. These sites have been systematically investigated in 1897, 1910, 1955, 1960 and 1968.
Sources: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Minutes, June 1982, December 2003.
Character-Defining Elements
Key elements that contribute to the heritage character of the site include: the integrity of the cultural landscape with its raised mounds in the shape of a serpent; the archaeological resources in their found form, extent and materials; the Serpent Mounds site as a group of nine earthen mounds and a shell midden on Roach’s Point, specifically: Serpent Mound, the largest mound with a winding outline; Mounds A to I respectively (E and F are known as the Serpent and the Egg); five similar mounds on East Sugar Island (these are the Alderville site, the Island Centre site, the East Sugar Island site, Coral site and unnamed site BbGm-22); the integrity and broad range of the Point Peninsula vestiges these sites contain, including: pottery of varying designs and decorative styles, clay pipes of at least four separate designs, lithic assemblages (i.e. projectile points), most commonly of corner-notched and pentagonal forms, including bone and antler artifacts, shells and food refuse remnants in the shell midden, and burial artifacts including combs and jewelry; the integrity of vestiges of other cultures found in these mounds, namely three ossuaries of the early Ontario Iroquois stage and some pottery shards of late Iroquoian origin; the found arrangement of artifacts in these mounds; the spatial relationships between the mounds; the continued association of the artifacts and knowledge gained from investigation with the site; the setting of the Serpent Mounds group on a high point of land along the edge of a grassy and nearly flat-topped drumlin hill that drops away on three sides to Rice Lake some 15 metres below; the natural setting of the other mounds on East Sugar Island; the proximity of all mounds to water.
My plan today is to start my to do list and not stop. That is my only priority.
We did a bit of shopping at Canadian Tire last night. Here's my favourite purchase. A little tricky on the first try but I think it had more to do with us than the little machine . . . LOL.
I could write a lot about this movie but I don't want to give it all away. This is the 1957 version . . . the original . . . filmed back in the day when movies actually told a story that relied solely on the abilities of the cast and crew. 12 Angry Men is the story of one not guilty vote at a murder trial and the drama and suspense that follow. Watch this movie . . . on the edge of your seat.
Not much really. I'm very relaxed but managing to accomplish things. Maybe because I'm relaxed?
I don't think I met any of my priorities yesterday . . . because an important priority popped up. Hal needed to have some tests done in nuclear imaging yesterday and he was feeling anxious sooooooo I spent the afternoon with him and then we bought chicken and salad and some snacky types of food an proceeded to spend the rest of the day snacking and day drinking.
Today's priorities are
1. clean apartment
2. work to do list
3. make togas since they didn't get done yesterday.
What's on my mind? I'm looking forward to life slowing down a bit. I just don't know when that will be. I'm okay with that. I love to be busy. And as my to do list continues to get smaller I can feel myself relaxing more. My priorities today are to: 1. start making togas for a toga party this weekend. 2. actually make it to a Sew Sisters meet up 3. Continue working my to do list. A perfect mix of getting crafty, getting out of the house, and getting things done. What's on your mind?
Everyone pays them, even if we don't like it. What's the most expensive bill you paid this past month?
My biggest payments each month are rent, groceries and car expenses. Our rent is really reasonable and utilities are included so that's not so bad. Grocery costs fluctuate depending on who's home and who's visiting and apparently the state of the economy. Right now groceries are at ridiculous prices.
Our vehicles have a voracious appetite for money lately. Along with regular maintenance, insurance, and gas, in the past month we've repaired brakes twice and exhausts twice . . . I'm thinking of starting up a Go Fund Me page just for our vehicles.
Lifting the Silence: A World War II RCAF Bomber Pilot Reunites with His Past is written by Sydney Smith with his son, David. This book tells the true story of Sydney Smith, a young bomber pilot who is shot down over the French countryside during the Second World War. With the help of the Comete Line (Belgian Resistance) he is able to get out of Occupied France by means of a grueling trek through the mountains into Spain and return to his base in England. Sydney, who later became a dentist, and made his home in Thunder Bay, never spoke of his unbelievable experiences. It wasn’t until his son David began clearing out his grandfather’s effects that he found a letter that Sydney’s father had kept since 1946 from one of the women who had assisted him. Together father and son research and write this amazing story and in the process are actually able to find some of the daring resistance heroes who helped him and many other allies to safety. Sydney was able to reunite with several of these brave souls. I love this book. It is a great story of a son learning about his father. The story is well written and flows smoothly. I was drawn into the story for many reasons, but especially because it is true and it is simply and yet completely told and there are some great family photos which help even more to make the characters real. St. Thomas is even mentioned in the story which gave me a little thrill. Give it a try.
Gino Vannelli (born June 16, 1952) is a Canadian rock singer and songwriter who had several hit songs in the 1970s and 1980s. His best-known singles include "People Gotta Move" (1974), "I Just Wanna Stop" (1978), "Living Inside Myself" (1981) and "Wild Horses" (1987).
Vannelli was born to an Italian family in Montreal, Quebec. His early ambition was to be a drummer. He admired Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, and he played drums in a pop band while he was in high school. In 1969, at the age of seventeen, he signed a contract with RCA Records, using the name Vann Elli. He studied music theory at McGill University in Montreal.
Vannelli and his brother, Joe, moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Desperate and broke, they waited for hours in the parking lot outside A&M Studios, hoping to get a record deal. When Herb Alpert, the co-owner of A&M Records, finally emerged, Vannelli ran toward him and gave him a demo tape while being chased by security guards. Alpert signed Vannelli and released his debut album, Crazy Life, in the summer of 1973.
Vannelli released an album, Gist of the Gemini, in 1976 through A&M Records. His 1978 album Brother to Brother, also with A&M, produced the single "I Just Wanna Stop", which reached No. 4 on the Billboard magazine chart, No. 1 in Canada, and received a Grammy Award nomination. His next album, Nightwalker, also produced a top ten hit, "Living Inside Myself".
He received the Juno Awards for the most promising male vocalist of the year in 1975. In 1976, and again 1979, he received Juno Awards for the best male vocalist. He and his brother Joe, his musical partner during those years, shared the Juno for Best Production for Brother to Brother in 1979.
Despite the success of singles "Black Cars" and "Hurts to Be in Love" (1985), as well as "Wild Horses" (1987), after his 1979 world tour, Vannelli appeared live only sporadically throughout the 1980s.
Departing from the jazz-pop idiom, Vannelli released two largely-acoustic jazz discs, Yonder Tree (1995) and Slow Love (1997). Subsequent to producing the album Hitek Hiku for Danish jazz pianist Niels Lan Doky, Vannelli revisited his interest in western classical music with the song "Parole Per Mio Padre" (Words For My Father), dedicated to his late father, and composed in the style and tradition of Schubert.[citation needed] The recording came to the attention of Pope John Paul II who requested a performance of the song at the Vatican. Televised in Europe, the event caught the attention of the head of BMG Records who subsequently asked Vannelli to record a contemporary classical disc in the style of "Parole per Mio Padre". Canto, released by BMG in 2003, features songs sung in English, Italian, Spanish, and French (Tracklist: Canto, Parole Per Mio Padre, The Last Dance, Dea Speranza, Una Sola Voce, Wayward Lover, Mala Luna, Joli Cœur, Una Rosa A Dicembre, Il Viaggio, The Last Days Of Summer), as is considered by fans and Vannelli himself to be one of his strongest musical accomplishments.
On May 13, 2014, Vannelli's Live in L.A. CD/DVD compilation was released by the Sono Recording Group. The presentation was recorded live onstage at the historic Saban Theater in Los Angeles on November 8, 2013, which represented Vannelli's first performance in Los Angeles in more than 15 years. The recording also marks the first on-stage collaboration in many years between the three Vannelli brothers (including Ross Vannelli as producer, editor, and mixer).
Vannelli resides in Troutdale, Oregon, where he is active as a music teacher. He continues to perform throughout North America.
I don't usually journal on the weekends but I'd already finished writing this before I realized it was the weekend . . . LOL!
What's on my mind?
Still smiling after last night. Hal actually took me to Plaza Sushi and I stuffed myself with the Poke Bowl. And then we met my favourite children Greg & Katie and Tim & Krissy at Pinafore Park to watch Princess Bride. When they were young we had this movie on VHS and watched it over and over again so that we still have all the dialogue embedded in our brains.
Today is going to be tough. I still have so much to accomplish for tomorrow afternoon's Lemonade Party https://www.facebook.com/events/837560871218071 . I would really appreciate everyone, near and far, supporting me in this.
Priorities for today are
1. to update my calendar and get the September newsletter ready. If you would like to receive my monthly event newsletter please let me know.
2. finish cleaning the house and start party set up for Sunday.
3. go to Dan and Terra Matthews' 30th anniversary party.
It's going to be a busy day but at least it ends at a party!
Well, I am having a very late start to my day thanks to all the storms last night.
Mom and I went grocery shopping which I believe is her first outing since she broke her shoulder/arm that didn't involve a doctor. Came home, put groceries away, had lunch, watched a tv show . . . and now I am ready to begin.
My priorities today are . . . none. It is our 40th wedding anniversary and I'm planning on taking the day off.
I really enjoyed chatting in In My World Online with friends while I worked on an art journal page and organized some genealogy files.
No one had to force me to run away from home and enjoy Bella Jack's with a friend. Mole is really yummy! We even did a little window shopping before heading home.
My priorities for this afternoon are to continue working my to do list, prep for my Lemons to Lemonade event this Sunday, and prepping for Sketch Club which is on Monday night.
The Alderville War Monument was unveiled on Sunday September 25, 1927 to a large crowd (some 3000 people) of community members, neighbouring communities, and dignitaries who had gathered for the commemoration of those who gave so much in the Great War, 1914-1918.
The first sod was turned on Sunday August 21st and within just over a month some 468 tons of concrete had been poured raising this unique design almost 50 feet. Clarence and Alf McKeel were the two Campbellford, Ontario men who contributed the design and technical advice on its construction, while the local men and women supplied the labour and hospitality.
Originally built to honour the 33 Alderville men who enlisted for service during the Great War including the 9 who gave up their lives, it now also commemorates the contributions made by Alderville during WW11, Korea, and peacetime. But it was the Great War, ‘the war to end all wars’ that could have only been in the minds of the people that day in 1927.
Described as “one of the most remarkable monuments in the whole of Canada” this beautiful structure “was the first erected in Canada to commemorate the service of Indians in the First World War.” 2007 marked the 80th anniversary of the construction of this “astounding” and purposely imposing memorial to the warriors of Alderville First Nation.
There are two plaques on the cenotaph, the first commemorating those who fought in World War I. Later another plaque was added to commemorate soldiers that served and died in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
The monument has several symbolic features. The cube on top symbolizes the four directions of the earth. The three globes beneath signify the Holy Trinity. The three large pillars supporting the above represent the three holy virtues; faith, hope and charity. The square base on which the monument stands represents the four fundamental freedoms. The chain that encircles the entire monument symbolizes eternity, and the links that make up this chain represents each person who served during the wars. Lastly, the nine cubes which connect this chain together represent the nine men who lost their lives during the First World War.
The monument was with the hard physical labour of many volunteers. The men used hand shovels and muscle to stir the cement which makes up the monument. The women spent hours cooking and supplying meals for the hard-working volunteers.
The Alderville Cenotaph was honoured as the British dirigible. the R-100, passed overhead during its visit to Canada. The R-100 dipped its nose in tribute to Alderville’s heroic war record.
Today, the Cenotaph is still cherished by the members of the community. Ever year on November 11, the community gathers at the Cenotaph to pay their respects to the men and women who participated in the wars. Alderville First Nation will always remember those who died for our freedom.
American Graffiti is a coming of age story set in 1962 and starring an amazing cast and an amazing soundtrack. My dear hubby is going to have a fit when he reads this post. He looooooooves this movie. Me, not so much. It was okay.
Sooooo many things but all in an organized manner . . . LOL.
Slept in this morning so I had to run and throw some pants on when my sister Nancy called and said she was in our parking lot. A really fun visit with her and my great-niece Brooklyn. And Brooklyn really enjoyed meeting Uncle H and McGee and Jazzy (the neighbour's little dog).
My list remains long but short at the same time. Long because of the number of days on it but short because there are only a couple of items on each date.
Planning a big fun sales event to divest myself of the huge amount of product I ordered in for an event last week. Yes, it has finally arrived.
Wishing my a/c was working. I'm hoping Hal can fix it because I really don't want to buy another one this late in the season. Thank goodness its not too hot out today.
I'm feeling pretty relaxed today. I meandered through Walmart to pick up a few groceries, office supplies, and inexpensive white sheets to make togas out of for a party in a couple of weeks. Had a snuggle with my great-nephew Hunter who was there with his parents.
It only took a couple of evenings to read and enjoy Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales: A Knitter's Stash of Wit and Wisdom edited by Kari Cornell. A very enjoyable read for the crafty person, it shares the personal stories and thoughts of knitters and crocheters. If you love to knit this book is a must-read for you.
Many happy memories of our anniversary party on Sunday. And I forgot to take a single photo. Believe it or not, we finally took the cover off the bbq for the first time this year! I bbq!!!
Today is Open Studio so I'm hoping to get tons of crafting done.
COAX Records artist Geoff Berner (pronouns: He/him) is a Jewish singer/songwriter/accordion player/novelist/political activist living in Vancouver on the unceded lands of the Musqueum, Squamish and Tsleil-Watouth peoples.
Over the last 25 years, he’s garnered a sizable, enthusiastic international cult following, having toured in 17 countries and played live on national radio in 7 of them. He’s opened for rock stars in stadiums, led 1000s in rude sing-a-longs from festival mainstages, and played nearly every dirty little cafe bar in Western Europe. He’s toured Scandinavia, extensively and often.
He’s spent much of his career playing klezmer music, the folk music of Eastern European Jews, but he also plays and writes folk songs in English, often of a lefty, satirical political nature. Those songs have been covered by a long of other artists, including: The Be Good Tanyas (“Light Enough to Travel”), Corb Lund (“That’s What Keeps the Rent Down, Baby”) Kaizers Orchestra (“Whiskey Rabbi”), Rae Spoon (“Unlistenable Song”) and Ben Caplan (“Traveller’s Curse).
His latest album, “7 Plague Songs” is his Covid Folk Songs album. During this ongoing, definitely-not-over pandemic, Berner has chosen to stay off the road and out of the bars. “I refuse to be a Pied Piper of mass infection,” he says. With the release of the new album, he’s beginning to play outdoor shows with strict Covid safety protocols, to ensure safety and accessibility for everyone.
“7 Plague Songs” is intended to perform the traditional role of satire: afflicting those who are comfortable with the avalanche of death and disability that Covid is bringing, and comforting those afflicted by Long Covid, mourning the loss of loved ones who died because of governments’ scandalous neglect of public health, or coping with the gaslighting of a dominant political culture determined to deal with overlapping crises by simply pretending they are over.
“My message to you, if you know the pandemic isn’t over, is: ‘You are not alone.’”
7 Plague Songs comes out on Coax Records via all the usual platforms, July 28th,2023.
My mind is a babbling mess. Vendoring outside my comfort zone for the first time in forever and I don't know if I'm going to have any stock. I may be making a road trip to Milton on a FRIDAY! Yikes! That is if anyone besides a machine ever answers the phone.
Other than that everything is fine . . . well except for the fact that (I might have mentioned this before) Hal is walking with a brace and cane since he's mangled the muscles in his knee. Sigh.
I probably should erase this mess of worries but who else can I tell them to? Fingers crossed the day gets better from here on . . .
Photos are what Hal thinks he looks like vs what he really looks like. Just kidding!!!
The Roseneath Fairgrounds in Roseneath, Ontario, is home to a historic C. W. Parker Carousel; one of only two in Canada, and eight in total in North America.
Built in 1906 by the C. W. Parker Carousel Company in Abliene, Kansas, known as the king in the manufacturing of amusement park rides, it’s been owned by the Roseneath Agricultural Society since 1932.
The carousel consists of 40 basswood horses, 3 abreast , and 2 metal boats. The centre row features Herschell/Spillman or Armitage/Herschell horses, with the inside and outside rows featuring Parker Jumper Horses, with the platform balanced from a centre post.
Powered by a 5 horsepower electric motor, riders travel at approximately 4 miles per hour to the music of a 25 Wurlitzer military band organ, built in 1934.
It’s all contained within a 16 sided wooden building, which protects the carousel from the harsh Canadian winters.
The carousel was forced to shut down in 1985, as it no longer met current safety standards. A major restoration of the carousel was undertaken in 1987 by a group of volunteers. Everything from the mechanical to the cosmetic was carefully refurbished. Elements that couldn’t be restored, like the 16 paintings for the gear screen panels and the rounding boards on the Carousel, reproductions were produced by local artists, Herma Seppanen and Avril Bull Jones.
The Roseneath Carousel held an official grand re-opening of the restored carousel on 17 July 1993, and has been in operation ever since.
The Carousel is operated by a group of volunteers each Sunday from 1-3 p.m. from Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving weekend, as well as for the annual Roseneath Fair and the Roseneath Agricultural Society’s annual Car/Truck/Tractor Show. The cost to ride is $4 per rider.
The Roseneath Fairgrounds are located at 9109 County Road 45, in Roseneath.
When I saw this book at the library I just had to pick it up. Seriously, who can resist this amazing title? When the owner of Woefield Farm passes on, the farm is left to his niece, a truly naive and urban young lady who is determined to make the farm pay for itself using environmentally and organically sound farming principles. She can't accept that the farm has never been successful and the only things that grow are rocks. She is assisted in her vision by the old farm hand that comes with the place, a young girl who raises chickens and a boy who has avoided town since an embarrassing incident involving the drama teacher. I laughed out loud so many times as I read. The characters are wonderful misfits who come together whether they want to or not. Each chapter is told by a different character which seems rather tricky, but it really works. . . . and the things they do to that poor sheep . . .
Planning. Lots and lots of planning. I will be at Vendorfest on Saturday and I am working on creating a stunning table so everyone will want to come and buy all of the Watkins products. Also planning how to have my kitchen ready for Cooking with Watkins tonight online. And I can't forget I need to get a final guest count for our Ruby Anniversary Party on Sunday so I will be sure to have enough food.
These are the deadlines I've been worrying about for weeks. And they are so close. I'm really looking forward to all these events but also looking forward to Monday when they are done and I can return to my nice quiet life.
This is the week of a dozen deadlines. I am making steady progress but I'll feel much better when all the deadlines are met.
Today's priorities are ~
1. Clean the apartment. Its care and maintenance have been neglected badly this week.
2. Keeping out of Hal's way. He's blown out a muscle in his knee AGAIN. Still refuses to do R.I.C.E. to heal it. Lying around and taking Tylenol is his answer. Make an appointment with physio is also being filed under "nope".
3. Meeting my prep deadlines for my next two events.
I'm feeling a little more positive each day . . . Wish me luck.
Well first I must apologize to FB for ignoring its question yesterday. Lunch with the ladies was my priority for the day.
Today is all about prepping for several upcoming events, classes, fun stuff, chores. I even have to miss my quilt club meeting again today but the deadlines I've been worrying about are all this week. Yikes!!! This is going to be a very busy rest of the week.
Here's my calendar:
Today / I was supposed to meeting with fellow quilters. Sigh!
Wednesday / Teaching art journal classes ( 1 & 7 pm) that still need a bit of prep and missing a book club meet up because of said classes
Thursday / In My World Online meetup (10 - 12:30) which is the perfect chance to chat with friends while finishing up a bunch of plans.
Friday / I'll being doing a FB Live cooking demo using Watkins wonderful spices and seasonings (7 pm).
Saturday / Bringing Watkins to Vendorfest (9 am) at First United Church.
Sunday / Family BBQ to celebrate our Ruby Anniversary (40th).
It is all going to be a lot of fun . . . but feels a little daunting at the moment.
