A BUSY WEEK

THUR 09 FEB 2012 3:53pm  This has been quite a week or so. We went for a walk to the cliff today. Strong wind, hard to stand at the cliff top without being pushed back. Sunny though, not like February at all.

I've been critiquing the other student's scenes for the writing course. I find it really hard to do, but it's coming. Reading the others students' critiques gives me a clue to what's expected.

Yesterday I met Lori for brunch at the Harmony. Then went to Simcoe library to show her what it's like. We have an mutual affinity for the book depositories, having met at a library-tech course.

On Saturday I attended a house concert featuring the BarnKats, a great bluegrass band. Then over to Duane's Rutter's 50 hour Guitarathon. I played with him for a good space of time and really enjoyed it. Matt, my son, met me there. The next day I went back for the finale, and Duane did indeed go for the full 50 hours, collecting enough in donations to send 4 kids to camp.

On the Friday I went to visit my brother George and his wife Topi. Helen was there as well as Robin and Blaine and Melita. We had a long-overdo visit. George and I spent a good hour looking over the names and pictures in ancestry.ca; all the aunts, uncles and cousins we haven't seen for years.

The other day we went to the main beach in Port Burwell. The dunes are growing nicely behind the beach, and gaining vegetation. The pier is being fixed up for the arrival of the decommissioned submarine that's to come this summer.

The growing dunes

The old signal light

Front of light

SAT 11 FEB 2012 9:43pm  Finally got a good snow storm today. It went from bare ground to about a foot of snow over night, along with high winds that really piled up the drifts. We decided against a trip to Toronto we had planned.

Later in the day I went into town for something and all of a sudden found myself traveling sideways. I steered three times into the slide and finally got it under control. Spending time in a ditch is so inconvenient, it's best to avoid it.

Got a missive from Westie last night. She's the little port town girl who's been sending me her thoughts about life. I'm hoping she'll stay with me long enough to fill a book with her story. It is almost like automatic writing with her. When I'm calm and relaxed, sometimes almost asleep, she starts talking. And if I'm smart I listen and write it down.

Also watched Pleasantville today. It's one of my favourites. It involves going back in time to the squeaky clean 1950s and finding it's not so great. It's an allegory that never makes a misstep, a perfect film.

Now Jackie and I are both winding down, getting ready for the long mid-winter nap.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?

Duane Rutter

If you haven't seen or heard Duane Rutter don't worry. You will have lot's of opportunity this weekend as my friend from Port Rowan plays his guitar for 50 hours straight. In his last attempt he only went for a paltry 48 hours, but it was his first try, so we'll give him the benefit.
Last year he raised enough money to send four people to Camp Trillium, a Waterford, Ontario based summer retreat for children with cancer and their families.  He's hoping to help out more this year.
A steady stream of area musicians sat in with Duane last year to keep him company night and day, so if you like live music, (and who doesn't?), you owe it to yourself to get on down to support this effort with your applause and your contribution.

This all takes place at The Robot Cafe in downtown Port Dover. 
When
Friday at 2:00pm until Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 4:00pm 
Where 
Fred Eaglesmith's Robot Cafe and Hobo Store, 243 Main Street, Port Dover, Ontario

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JACKIE SURVIVES ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

MON 29 AUG 2011 3:30pm  Jackie's birthday! We just had a wonderful meal at Me & Suzie's. Thin crust pizza and the best salad I've ever had. Spinach, nuts, berries, cheese, amazing. Jackie had a cocktail and I a draft. Then if that wasn't enough we traipsed down to the Roxy and had coffee and deep-fried ice cream. Diet be damned! This was birthday fare.

Jackie enjoying her birthday cocktail

 Me & Suzie's, Port Stanley

Patio at Me & Suzie's

I'm writing this by hand because I'm lounging in the tub preparing for an early-to-bed, a long day coming up tomorrow.  I figured if I waited until I got around to it on the computer it may never get done, so here I am scribbling away. It means I'll have to type it later but that's alright. At least it's getting done.

We had a surprise visit from Tara & Mike. Haven't seen them since they got back from out west. Met Tara when she was working at the native plant nursery where I also worked for a while. At the time Mike was studying in Montreal. And when that was done they married. Great couple. It was good to see them. They both are into nature so get what we are doing here.

On Saturday Lori and her daughter Logan came for another rare visit. Logan came armed with her fiddle and amazed us with her playing. She's 13 and already making money busking with her friends. (See Reel Young Fiddlers here). We went to Pt. Bruce for lunch and a walk on the beach.

Saturday night it was back to Duane Rutter presents at Neighbors to see him and Judi Rideout and the X Husbands. It was the last show of the series and they were swingin'!

Also on Sunday we had a long walk on the beach and got a lot of good glass. Found a nice yellow one and a grey one, both quite rare these days. I found an old Castoria bottle in perfect shape.

Much cooler now, feeling like Autumn. We've had a lot of rain this month so everything is growing like crazy. Grass, bushes, trees, vines. If I didn't keep cutting them back we would be trapped in an impenetrable woodland. They would only find us in the late fall when all the leaves depart. Our house (is a very very very fine house) is close to the road, but you can't see it from there (two cats in the yard; life used to be so hard).

I downloaded an e-book on photography. I've only read a bit but it looks good. It's probably much the same info I have in a dozen other places but there's always that urge to hear it in a new way. And the photos, all taken in travels around the world are great. It's a book for travelers, of course, but the techniques work well anywhere. And it's good to be like a tourist in your own area. Even if you're not taking photos or writing stories it's always good to look with fresh eyes on even the most common and mundane things. There really is a beauty in everything when combined with the right light or the right sound. A rusty piece of metal can become a work of art with the right light and shadow interplay. You don't have to be a photographer to see this, just have to want to see it.

31 AUG 2011 4:45pm  Everyone tried to ruin my day yesterday but today I'm risen above it. Went for breakfast, enjoyed every morsel.

OF BLUES AND BEACHES

TUES 26 JULY 2011 2:48pm Sitting in McD's using the Wi-Fi to watch a couple of videos. It's such a change from home where they buffer out after a few seconds.

Saturday night we went to Neighbours restaurant in Port Rowan to take in one of Duane Rutter's on-going series of singers and players. It was a great show featuring bluesman Brian Cober from Toronto, master of the double slide. Really well-crafted and fun original songs and his spot-on cover of Robert Johnson's Crossroads was downright spooky with sheet lightning in the windows behind him providing the light show. We bought his CD Real Far Gone, and it's smokin'. Find it here.

After a set he and Duane played off each other for a truly special treat for guitar lovers. 

Duane has just released his new CD Never Bet The Devil Your Head. It's literally home-grown, recorded in a tiny room in his house with the equipment at hand. All instruments and vocals are by Duane. The full story is in the liner notes.  And it's great! Check it out for sure, here.

Sunday was hot and humid again and we took full advantage of it. It was one of the laziest days in memory. Usually one of us cracks and gets up to do something, but not this time. As J says that's what people do when they go on holidays, sit around, read, drink beer, and just relax to the max. She didn't say the last part, that's me. So, once I got the concept I was able to really relax. And it was great. Lot's of reading. People talk about their summer reading and that's what they mean. Not a few lines before falling asleep like usual, but all day long. I like this.

Yesterday I went to our beach. There hasn't been much of one this year, but I found there was a fair amount of beach showing after you walked around a bit of a point and through the water.  I found some nice glass. Not a lot but enough to keep me interested. Since I hadn't been down for a while the trip up the cliff just about did me in. But, in all, a good time.

Later we went to the beach in Burwell, the main beach, which is now cut off from the general public by the Provincial Park. You can still get onto it but there is a No Trespassing sign. Jackie walked for a ways and I, having already had a big walk today, stayed behind to take some pics, having remembered to bring my camera.    

I have to confess I did a real Mr.Bean today. I was in the Home buying among other things a toilet plunger. We lost ours. So, having to choose among a few I picked one and stuck it to the floor. Very good suction – I couldn't pull it up. A large biker type was ambling down the aisle and I'm pulling on this handle. Finally I gave it a swift kick to break the suction and it gave. I picked it up and said “It works.” He sort of smiled.



Here's some photos from our walk on Port Burwell main beach.

Jackie's leaving me behind. A real fast mama.

Vegetation left to aid in building the dunes.

Swing around the other way and there's the break-wall.

Getting close up and personal with the break-wall

Even closer.

OK, back off a bit.

Ye olde beacon.

Heading out to the hungry fish.