Quick ... Before June is Over

ONE

Checking in ... all is well. Enjoying summer days and long evenings, even the cool, rainy ones. Peonies blossom at last. Purple petunias send out their spicy perfume on a breeze. The mock orange seems bent on filling the backyard with a crazy sweetness. Add the indescribable aroma emanating from the evening scented stock in the cool of the day ... and one imagines she must be standing in a patch of paradise.

"The beauty of that June day was almost staggering. After the wet spring, everything that could turn green had outdone itself in greenness and everything that could even dream of blooming or blossoming was in bloom and blossom. The sunlight was a benediction." ~ Dan Simmons, Drood

 TWO

With Canada's 150th birthday almost here, I created a list of a few of my own Canadian favourites. I started the list on Facebook the other day and wanted to share it with you here.

Author/book: L.M. Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables; Stephen Leacock, humorist 

Poem: In Flanders Field, by Canadian physician John McCrae

Childhood Holiday Spot: Banff National Park and Radium Hot Springs

Music: Postcards from the Sky by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich.

Animated Film: The Log Driver's Waltz by the National Film Board

Musician: Tommy Banks (Pianist) and Angela Hewitt (Classical Pianist)

Music Group: Sultans of String

Male Singer: Ben Heppner, Canadian Tenor

Female Singer: Anne Murray (loved her singing when I was a girl, especially loved her 1970 hit Snowbird

Song: Harvest Moon by Canadian singer-song writer Neil Young

Favourite City to Visit: Victoria, BC and Montreal, QC

Children's TV Program: Mr. Dressup is another iconic Canadian favourite. I can still hear his voice in my mind even all these years later, and I loved his Tickle Trunk full of play clothes and costumes.

The Famous Five: Emily Murphy. Nellie McClung. Henrietta Muir Edwards. Louise McKinney. Irene Parlby (Champions of the rights and welfare of women and children in early 20th century in Canada). Grateful for the paths they paved for us.

Foods: Maple syrup, Canadian bacon, beaver tails (flat doughnut without the hole), Butter tarts, Nanaimo Bars, Canadian split pea soup, Tourtière (meat pie), saskatoon berries (native to Alberta)

Childhood Favourite Gum: Thrills, the purple gum in the yellow box that tasted like soap (really), made in London, Ontario

Childhood Favourite Chocolate Bar: Coffee Crisp, made by Nestle Canada

Sport: Hockey, Edmonton Oilers especially during the Wayne Gretzky era; he is my favourite all time player.

Figure Skating Figures: Elvis Stojko, Kurt Browning, Elizabeth Manley (Canada's sweetheart Silver Medallist in Figure Skating at Winter Olympics '88)

Favourite Sights: Wheat fields across the prairies, majestic Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls, Lake Louise... Home

Our Canadian Anthem: I am always deeply stirred when I hear Oh Canada sung. Love it and am proud of it.

Canada is my country ... it's my favourite.
Alberta is my home province ... it's my favourite.

 THREE

My sister reminded me of a post I wrote a few years ago about summer, hot dogs, and a very nice fried onion relish we used to make years ago when we'd come back from swimming on a hot summer afternoon with the kids. 

If you are looking for something to jazz up your next wiener roast, here is the link to Hotdogs, Relish, and Remembering which includes the recipe for Fried Onion Relish. It really is delicious.

FOUR

Who can get through summer without reading something to match the mood of the season. Sometimes I want something I've never read before, but more likely, I tend to reach for a book that's an old friend. Even though I have my own copy, when I saw L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Avonlea sitting on the summer recommended shelf at the library, I checked it out. Haven't read it in years. A nicely bound pocketbook, it holds well in one's hand; it also easily slips in a carry all bag... or even in a pocket.

So far, here are a few favourite lines from the book:

“After all," Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”

“She seemed to walk in an atmosphere of things about to happen.”

“Oh, of course there's a risk in marrying anybody, but, when it's all said and done, there's many a worse thing than a husband." (This one made me hoot with laughter!)

* * *

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend and a

Happy 150 Canada Day to my fellow Canadians,

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

A Few Canada Day Favourites 2016