Stuart McLean

Last evening, Paul and I saw Stuart McLean at the Imperial Theatre. The last time we saw him, he was at Harbour Station, but as far as I am concerned, the Imperial is a much better venue. Touring with him is a local singer, Matt Andersen, from none other than Perth-Andover. Emma and Jack had heard him at the ECMA's last year. Meaghan Smith is the other singer. She is from London , Ont. and following this show, she will be touring with Katie Lang. Meaghan writes her own songs and is sort of on the jazz side of music. It was a wonderful show, but I'm rather a fan of Stuart McLeans.

New Wine

While in Halifax, Paul and I ate at The Keg. It's a steak house and the food was great. I had a new wine and really liked it; it was called "Fetzer Gerwurztramiher". Now I'm not a wine expert and I don't know wine terminology but it was sweet, fruity and smooth. I wondered if either Anne or Natalie have tasted this wine. The waiter only knew of two places in the Halifax area that had it, Bishops and NSLC in Cole harbour. I haven't inquired about it in this area but it certainly has made it onto my "favorite wine list".

A Hint of Color in the White of Winter

I don't like to toot my horn, but today I'm going to. Our local paper "River Valley News", has a photo contest each week sponsored by Subway. I have been submitting pictures for the last couple of weeks. In this weeks edition mine was chosen as "picture of the week" because of "the beautiful use of color contrast". I won a "foot long meal deal"....maybe now I should go out and buy a lottery ticket.

Pier 21

Paul had meetings in Dartmouth on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I took the days off and went with him. We arrived in Datrmouth around noon on Tuesday, so he dropped me off at the ferry and over I went to Halifax. It was a good 15 min. walk to Pier 21 and thankfully it wasn't too cold. Above is a picture of the front entrance....it certainly didn't look that way 56 years ago when Dad immigrated to Canada. Notice the train on the left....this is how most continued their journey to their host families.

This is a picture of the ship "Rhydam", the one Dad came over on. He left holland on March 13th and arrived on March 25th, 1953.

This is the upper level that some would have entered through. They would have walked up a gangway to get from ship to building. Now it is all glassed in. To the left of the picture just above the bench you see a gray slab on the wall. On that slab are small green plaques with names of soldiers who came through Pier 21 during the war.

This is the original door that immigrants would have walked through. Inside is where their luggage would have been checked as well as their papers.

This is a view of the lower level. Now it's a gift shop and cafe.

Immigrants have donated the luggage they came with. It's all over the museum.

Cages that would have housed their luggage until they were cleared to continue their voyage.

During Pier 21 (1928-1971) Dutch Immigrants were the 5th largest ethnic group to arrive in Canada. Pre WWII most settled in Ontario....15,000 between 1918 and 1939. It largely halted with the onset of WWII and peaked again in the late 1940's and 1950's. One Dutch family did indeed bring the kitchen sink and another the rock that held their front door open, because the mother didn't know if such a thing was available in Canada. Brenna is the same age Dad was when he immigrated to Canada.

When you enter the museum, to your right and left are silver plaques with names of immigrants. We purchased one for Dad a number of years ago. I had seen pictures of it but this was the first time I had visited the museum.

11th Winter Storm...It Has to be More!

This morning "Cindy Day", said this was our 11th storm this winter. Personally it feels like a whole lot more. I was talking to Brenna this morning and she was wondering how much snow we had, so while Paul and I spent 2hours and 50 minutes cleaning the yard, I took some pictures so the girls could see what their home yard looks like. ( we will probably have to go back out this evening)

Three years ago on March 25th, I was hanging my first load of clothes on the line.....this year I don't think that will be happening.

Due to all the shovelling the snow is up to the deck on both sides.

I gave up trying to keep the back steps cleaned and now the bank is getting to high to throw the snow off the deck.

The result of todays storm. Notice the snow is up to the railing of the deck.

Weekend Fun

Saturday gave us another hint that spring is actually coming. Friends from work and I went snow shoeing on Saturday afternoon. Paul was out cross country skiing and met us on the trail......that's who took our picture.

Today, Paul and I are going out skiing again and this evening we are headed over the hill to Longwoods for supper....yummy!!!! Then we bunker down for another winter storm of 25-35 cm of snow.

Spring is in the air :-)

I was home today and spring was definitely in the air. It was mild and there was more bird activity. I captured some pictures from the back deck. Our local squirrel came right up onto the deck....possibly looking for food. It was a tease today because we are right back into nasty winter weather on Thursday with a predicted 10-15 cm of snow. The only consolation is we know there are more nice spring days ahead.

Our local squirrel.

Pine Siskin

Downy Woodpecker

Hermans 75th Birthday

Provided by Gisele, enjoyed by all.

Despite the horrible weather, people were able to join in the celebration.

Lots of laughter.

No, there were not 75 candles.

Dad reading his cards.

Australia's worst fires in decades

WANDONG, Australia (Reuters) - Australia's deadliest bushfire killed 84 people, as the inferno engulfed entire towns, destroying hundreds of homes and killing people as they tried to flee in cars or huddled in their homes, police said on Sunday.

Witnesses described seeing trees exploding and skies raining ash as temperatures hit a record 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47 C) on Saturday in Victoria state and combined with raging winds to create perfect conditions for uncontrollable blazes.
"Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters Sunday as he toured the fire zone.
Police said they believed the deaths included groups of people whose charred bodies were found in cars — suggesting families or groups of friends were engulfed in flames as they tried to flee. One official said an entire town had been razed save for one building, though no deaths were reported there.

The fires were so massive they were visible from space Saturday. NASA released satellite photographs showing a white cloud of smoke across southeastern Australia.

Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. Government research shows that about half of the roughly 60,000 fires each year are deliberately lit or suspicious. Lightning and people using machinery near dry brush are other causes.
Australia's deadliest fires were in 1983, when blazes killed 75 people and razed more than 3,000 homes in Victoria and South Australia.

Enjoying Saturday Afternoon

We dusted off the cross country skis and headed out this afternoon to the local golf club. We had been skiing there "before children" and never been back.....until today. We timed it just right, because once we returned to the club house it had clouded. I was timid (after all I'm not getting any younger) and I did just great until the last 2 minutes of skiing and down I went. Of course Paul had to take a picture to make sure it was documented. Notice there are no pictures of Paul....he monopolized the camera. What a great outing. Now I'd like to try snow shoes!!!

This is as close as I will come to skiing in Banff!!!!

Adele, I thought you would be proud of Brenna....she donated blood for the first time this week. They had a clinic on campus. She said the screnning process was quick but unfortunately she was in line for about an hour waiting for a cot. Afterwards she climbed 3 flights of stairs to get to class and said how "exhausted" she was. She is real keen to donate and it sounds like she wants to do it on a regular basis.

Running out of room for the $#@&*% snow

Snow bank at the end of the back stairs.

Front walk

Maybe as I age I forget, but in the 8 years we have had the pool, I don't recall the snow being up to the top of the pool.

Ducks, Ducks and More Ducks

I took Longwoods advice and went to Lily Lake after work on Monday. After a day at work it was refreshing to go and spend time among the ducks. It was somewhat entertaining to listen and watch the birds.