Random Acts of Tulips

We've never planted tulips here.

For that matter, I've never planted tulips at all.

But in the past couple of springs, as we've loaded up the flower beds with compost,

and watered faithfully during the dry summer months,

the tulips have taken hold. 

Last spring we had a few small blooms, in red I think,

which appeared with no encouragement.

And this spring we have yellow and red blooms,

which appeared in the dry and warm early spring,

and which have continued to cheerfully proliferate through the late April blizzards.

A gentle sign of God's sense of humour, I think, 

and of the potential for life.

Butter Chicken and Self Image

While trying to find a butter chicken recipe for M I ran across this funny video on one of the recipe pages.  I think it is kinda fun.  It is worth watching right to the end.

Announcing

There are many ways that we mark the arrival of spring:

The first robin singing high in the tree tops

The prairie crocuses peaking their furry heads up

The first buds on the trees

The City of Calgary signs announcing when street cleaning will commence in our area. 

But one major sign, of which we were reminded by our friend over at Calgary Gardening Adventures, is the first signs of rhubarb growth. I had totally forgotten to look for our rhubarb's appearance--I guess I was caught up watching the tulips grow and bud in the front yard. But when I read Dan's blog about rhubarb, we rushed out to check the status of our own.

So, good news! Spring has officially arrived. Our rhubarb looks to be in fine form for the coming season. Too bad we'll be missing most of the harvesting. I hope the new residents enjoy rhubarb as much as we do!

Eggs and Dye and Such

At the instigation of a creative and organized friend of mine, our small group from church got together and decorated eggs to make "Easter trees." B and I felt a bit dorky about how much we enjoyed the project...we spent more time at it than did most of the kids in the group! We didn't get around to actually hanging our eggs on the tree until after Easter, but we thought we'd post a picture of the final product. It looks so neat and cheerfully spring-like.

Book Review

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book totally changed my perception of heaven and hell--for the better! C.S. Lewis is a classic writer who explains things very well through the use of metaphor, for adults and children.

View all my reviews >>

Birth Control

Interesting article on the birth control pill: check it out.

Classical Music

We've been anticipating tonight for weeks because we're going to see the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Calgary Philharmonic Chorus put on Bach's St. John's Passion. We know one of the tenors and one of the baritones and are somewhat familiar with the music and it's going to be GREAT.

...Just as great as the following performance by Beaker:

Spring has Sprung

While listening to one of my favorite Baroque radio stations I heard the following song, and thought it was quite fitting, as things are awakening for spring around here.  Have a listen to this classical piece by Bach, and the photos are of things dead from last fall, and things awakening.

Postcard

One of the relaxation techniques we've been practicing in prenatal classes is to picture a place where we feel utterly at peace. Here is one such place.

Waterton National Park is so peacefully beautiful it almost makes me cry.
This picture was taken from the top of a grassy hill--
prairie grass of the rolling hills just before the mountains start. 
It's early morning, the air is yet cool and the sun is shining gloriously. 
Below us we can see a bull elk grazing, aware of our presence but not threatened by it. 
The wind brushing past us smells of earth and pine 
and the air is just cool enough to keep us actively aware of our surroundings in our reverie.
In this place, 
prairies meet lakes meet mountains,
culture meets nature (that's the Prince Edward Hotel on the peninsula),
and we meet God.

Saint Patrick's Prayer

On this Saint Patrick's day, I thought I would post the venerable saint's "Breastplate Prayer," which I find very meaningful and thought-provoking:


I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan River;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the Cherubim;
The sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour;
The service of the Seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Daylight Savings

May I just say that I detest the spring switch to Daylight Savings Time.

Every year it messes with my system. And I thought it was just me until I logged on to Facebook this morning and read at least ten other people's comments on dealing with insomnia last night. At least it makes me feel better to not be alone in this frustration.

And, in case you've never experienced it (oh fortunate you!) insomnia is absolutely no fun at all. It's horrible laying in bed awake when the whole rest of the world seems far away in dreamland, leaving you behind.

It's almost enough to make a person want to move to Saskatchewan, where the smart citizens have chosen to ignore Daylight Savings and keep their morning light.

Finally, I would like to set the record straight about who is responsible for implementing this hour-changing nonsense. There is a common misconception that it is the farmers of the world who want later daylight.

Wrong. It is NOT the farmers' fault. They would get up with the daylight regardless of when it occurred. It is the white/blue collar workers who are to blame. Who want more evening hours to go golfing. Or  to spend time with their families in the daylight. I get that. But I still don't think it's enough to warrant messing with our sleep/wake schedules.

Harumph.

Learning to play makes you smart

Learning to play makes you smart

Our kids will definitely be learning to play a musical instrument...and they'll probably listen to Mozart as babies as well. :D

Quilting: Modified Log Cabin

I've started a new quilting project. It's based on the log cabin design, but with variation. It's tricky simply in that it doesn't stick to strict measurements or consistent layout over the entire quilt. It's going to be a serious challenge for me--and seriously bright and multi-coloured when all is said and done!


Today I finished cutting out all the strips and now have to sew them together in the stripey patterns required.

Little Baby Ducks...

I know I've blogged this song before, but I just can't help it. It's in my head this morning and it's such a great song.

The Insides

Again, just some preliminary designs and concepts.  The whole kitchen was enclosed, cut off from the rest of the space, and we plan on opening the whole thing up. 

Why, what nice socks you have (220 days)

 

March

It is March, and gorgeous outside already.  We noticed yesterday that we've got some green "stuff" coming up already.  Hopefully we don't get another hard frost, or we may have some very brown "stuff" later.

2010

Tulips are coming up, and some of our perennial flowers are as well. 

One thing I appreciate about taking lots of photos is going back into my archives and digging out things from exactly a year ago.  Here are the past two years.

2008

 Walking in Nose Hill Park in early March, same conditions as now.

2009

One year ago I was taking engagement photos for J&M, while they skated!

At It Again

From the makers of the "treadmill video" comes another really great one.

Just an Old-Fashioned Love Song...

Just an old fashioned love song
Playing on the radio
And wrapped around the music
Is the sound of someone promising they'll never go

You swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on
No need in bringin' 'em back
'Cause they're never really gone

Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Comin' down in three-part harmony

To weave our dreams upon and listen
To each evenin' when the lights are low
To underscore our love affair
With tenderness and feeling that we've come to know

Just an old fashioned love song
Comin' down in three-part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me

To weave our dreams upon and listen to the song

Canada's golden Games leave critics red-faced

Canada's golden Games leave critics red-faced

We're sure going to miss watching coverage of the Olympic games, but it was sure fun while it lasted. Hurray for Canadian patriotism (it does exist!) and for Canadian athletes "owning the podium" in the end after all. The Closing Ceremonies, while I definitely question some of the choice of artists (Nickelback?!) well done. Best moments: having the fourth pillar rise at last, and William Shatner and Michael J. Fox speaking (I have to admit, I had no clue who Catherine O'Hara was) made us smile. Also, when the president of IOC officially closed the Games and there was much protestation from the stands.

What fun. :)