Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Census/Senses/Sense


Free me from talk of the national census! I want to discuss senses.
On my morning walk this day, I was conscious of a whiff of damp cedar; it evoked an instant memory of girl guide camp some - oh, it can't be that many!! - years ago. A visit to that camp site in the Boreal forest of the Laurentian Mountains (or should that read the Laurentan Mountains of the Boreal forest? please do not hesitate to correct me, gentle reader, if need be) - but I digress, a visit there by my Pater led him to purchase the family summer cottage in that same general geographic area. One olfactory memory leads to another, from damp cedar to damp bathing suits, the damper on the smoky fireplace at the cottage, roasted marshmallows - you get my drift. This leads to thoughts of both the late parents, thus to thoughts of humans' mortality. Leaving that area: on to the sense of sight. The photo above is of one of the things I see on my short, daily voyage in the 'hood. I am far from Oz, but these whimsical sculptures please the visual sense.
You may have an opinion to share on the current 'hot' topic of the Canadian long-form census questionnaire.
As for common sense, you may have some valuable insights. My thought on that is: there does not seem to be an abundance of common sense floating about. What say you?

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Blogging Technology


Some days this technology seems beyond my limited abilities - note I said 'some' days, not all days - but on this day I must thank my brilliant sister-in-law for her kind assistance in sorting out some 'blips' I was experiencing. Thanks to the lovely and multi-talented Sue, my blogspot has been efficiently re-vamped in ways that can be seen (and some that cannot be seen)!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Hot days in Toronto - Ice Cream Saves Lives


No profound thought: simply this - hot weather bad, water good, ice cream good, eat it.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

How I spent my summer vacation



Last week I visited Highlands, North Carolina, a gem-like little town set in the mountains, with a small year-round population whose numbers swell in summer. And for good reasons: great air and scenery draw visitors from surrounding states and further afield. This photo was taken yesterday on the drive from the town back to the Atlanta, Ga. airport, leaving Highlands this site overlooks Blue Valley in the Nantahala National Forest - breathtaking. The region boasts countless waterfalls, rivers, gorges, hiking trails, but no mountain climbing as hooks cannot sink into the granite...if you go, the town is about 150 miles from the Atlanta airport...and if you are lucky you will be hosted by a Southern belle as graciously as we were. Mountain lodges, art galleries, theatre, all are on offer. A 2-hr drive from Highlands to Asheville takes you to the Biltmore Estate - truly worth a visit - while there you may be tempted to just hunker down in one of the 250 elegant rooms - believe me the thought crossed my mind...do you think anyone would have noticed?

Friday, July 2, 2010

Can-Am Weekend

It's the weekend when both countries in North America which straddle the 49th parallel celebrate their national holidays - Canada Day is July 1st and the U.S. has 'The Glorious Fourth" of July. Having had one parent who was originally from the U.S., and because I am travelling south of the border tomorrow, I feel that I am covering both sides this year - and fireworks are among my favorite delights!