Walpurgis Night

On the evening of April 30th we light bonfires to welcome spring. There is usually a choir singing, some kids throwing penny-crackers, pony-riding, coffee and pop sold…and around here a giant floodlight in the sky that kind of ruins it all. Now, don’t go thinking I don’t like the sun – it just sort of takes away the wonder of the bonfire. So instead of pictures of a roaring fire, I ended up with this one – slightly out of focus, but taken especially for Tina. She had great fun over the name of birds last fall…  May I present Mr & Mrs Blue Tit.

I will return to the bonfire later on tonight and see if I can get some decent shots once it gets dark – around 10 PM or so.

From Boulder Ridge

Wednesday is supposed to be a day off for me, but in preparation for my new job (which starts August 1 or thereabouts) I spend time with the person whoholds the position now. After 4 hours of getting acquainted with various reports, programs on the computer and files galore, my head was spinning.

I went out to Boulder Ridge to see check on how the paths look by now. It’s still way too early to make it all the way along the ridge – but soon!

Canine Friends

The weather changed enoguh today that I could collect my four-legged friends from the neighbourhood and take them all for a run.

After Easter, the owner realized this little lady (Speja) had managed to have an illicit meeting with someone of the opposite sex… It wasn’t just pigging out at my house over the holidays that had given her a belly…

This guy can run! His long legs makes for some giant steps (leaps?) but since he often is looking over his shoulder he also trips over his own paws at regular intervals.

My special friend. Because of his light brown eyes, he looks slightly hysterical all the time, but you can’t find a sweeter dog.

Someone Is Teasing Us!

We’ve had sleet all day…

As if it wouldn’t be enough that it’s Monday!

Sawmill Creek Revisited

I went to visit my ex-MIL  (technically my Ex’s grandmother) yesterday. This is only the second time I’ve been to see her since last August, but listening to our conversation you could think we see each other every week. I really enjoy her company and if it weren’t for the 100 km round-trip, I’d visit her more often. God willing I may get the opportunity to do so, if she moves into town which she is talking about. Only 4 days away from her 91st birthday and with a long winter behind her, who can blame her? She’s been able to remain in her own home thanks to the support from her family, but this winter she’s found it hard just walking to the road to collect her mail.She is well aware that living in town won’t be the same as living where she is now, but I think she wants to move while it is still her own decision to do so – as the proud and independent person she is.

I am so lucky to know her!

Spring run-off hasn’t really started yet, so the creek looks pretty sedate.

Two weeks from now I’d be chest-deep in water standing in the same spot.

Baby Picture

I’ve had my printer and scanner for over a year now, but never really put my mind to learning the scanning part. I’ve tried scanning pictures a few times, but usually given up because the result was so dismal. Or… my patience didn’t last long enough for me to find out what I was doing wrong. So I decided to do the sensible thing – read the instructions and take it step by step…. The picture needs a bit of work – but so far so good!

Yes, that’s me in a dress with bat wings my mother had sewn. The material was pink with lovely little flowers. Later on that summer I ruined it with juice from dandelions that made little tiny, greyish rings all over where I had pressed my bouquet aginst my stomach. I can’t remember if Mom was more happy over the flowers than upset over the ruined dress…

Twilight

Yesterday evening I took a walk around town, trying to capture some of the sights. This is what I came up with in the turquoise twilight around 8.30 PM.

I couldn’t get the very tip of the spire in the picture without getting into the water…that would’ve been wet and cold.

These two geese were standing there as if ready to take on any one who would question their right to be there. Moments later some teengers came down the path and the birds took off, honking loudly. It was almost as if they felt they couldn’t be bothered competing about being noisiest…

Those knots of branches are called Witch Brooms in Swedish. Did you know – by the way – there were hundreds of women (and some men) burned or otherwise killed, for being witches during the 17th Century? One test went like this: If a suspected witch was submerged under water and drowned, she was innocent – if she did not drown, she was a confirmed witch and then burnt to death.

Sounds familiar? No???

Don’t we have the same kind of witch hunts today ? They just have different names and are carefully disguised.

Friday Fill-Ins

I was too tired to do anything much more than cruise around the Reader after work today and found this over at bad mom, Stephanie’s witty blog. She in her turn got it from a site aptly called “Friday Fill-Ins” – which I fear will be added to my reader before the day is done.

And…here we go!

1. Apparently there’s some sort of custom involving weekly house-cleaning. I’m trying to ignore it.

2. I’ll clean the house eventually, but not on a sunny day.

3. 2009 has been a good year so far.

4. Come on! I can’t find anything that’ll fit here and that was it.

5. For too long I’ve been putting off making plans for the summer. What am I waiting for???.

6. I am not obsessed with mango ice cream topped with passion fruit. I am not!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a bottle of [yellow tail] Cabernet – Merlot, tomorrow my plans include visiting my ex-MIL and Sunday, I want to try and photograph the roe deer living in the bushes a mere 300 m from my apartment!

This was a great find on an evening when my brain was running on just the fumes… I need to re-fill all tanks over the weekend!

Playing Hooky

My blogging friend kcinnova commented on my admission that I was skipping school the other day – or rather that I have been known to encourage students to do the same on occasion. From what I understand about the school system in most American states, this could be reason for dismissal (or at least a severe reprimand)  – Canadian school boards would surely take a dim view of a teacher who undermined the authority of the system in such a manner!

At the beginning of my career I would have wholeheartedly agreed – of course students need to be in school every lesson, every day! Since then my views have become reality adjusted in more ways than one, but for now I’ll stay with the skipping classes part.

I would of course never encourage all of my students to take it upon themselves to decide what classes to attend. I will however tell some of my students to slow down, take a weekend off, allow themselves to be teenagers, chill, not chase after 100% on every single test -  and skip an occasional English class, just because!

What type of student is it we’re talking about?

Highly ambitious, burdened with high expectations from home, active in sports and/or other organisations… and most often girls. They are often seen packing down their books on a Friday, “just in case” they will feel like revising something or other during the weekend. They crumble over a result less than 95% in Grade 7, they turn pale when their essay in Grade 8 doesn’t garner them accolades and by Grade 9 they’re all too often stressed out – if not stopped along the way. I often talk to these girls about the need to pace yourself, to not burn all of your reserves in grade school, but sometimes you need to be more drastic than that. I’m quite sure the students I’ve had over the years have benefitted from my unorthodox approach – even if they felt guilty as all get out when they snuck out the entrance as their classmates entered the classroom.For some it was enough just knowing they COULD skip a class – they never did – but they knew the possibility existed and that was enough for them to relax and thus improve their results.

So, what do you all say? Am I wrong, or is there some merit in what I do?

Chasing After

After a few hours at a meeting this morning, I decided to head towards the higher mountains and check things out. This time of year everything changes very fast and you practically have to be out there every day if there’s something in particular you want to see. Today I was lucky – but not once I got to the mountains. These are taken just outside town.

There must have been close to 100 swans gathered between the rapids where the water is shallow enough that they can feed from the bottom. They were all announcing their plans for the day very loudly by honking and almost screeching. 4-5 hours later there wasn’t a single one left. I also came across somenone else who told the world about his/their whereabouts.

I’m almost certain it was the male Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) who didn’t shut his beak until he saw me walk away from the stream.

The drive into the mountains was lovely in the sense that I got to clear my head (and put the pedal to the floor) but I came back sans pictures. I met clouds and drizzle on the way there and when I turned around the weather chased me. Oh well, better luck another time!