Friday, June 30, 2017

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






14 comments:

  1. Oh that was funny...many things worse than a husband...hahahahaha...

    This post was just plain fun and a wonderful tribute to Canada and a celebration of 150 years! 🇨🇦

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  2. As always, a beautiful post. I can just about smell the flowers through the page. Mr. Dressup sounds like a fun program, and thank you for explaining what beaver tails are (I was hoping you didn't mean the real thing, LOL). Speaking of Anne of GG -- have you ever been able to visit PEI? I go there often in my day dreaming.

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  3. That line about many things worse than a husband made me smile. Love seeing your list of all the wonderful things that speak Canada - hope you have a wonderful celebration for the 150 years. Hugs!

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  4. Happy Birthday to Canada! I love Anne! Great quotes!

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  5. Your posts make me feel good!
    Plan and simple!
    Happy Canada Day!

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  6. Happy Canada Day, Brenda! Loved reading your list.

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  7. How true that simple pleasures make for the sweetest days. Your mock orange looks spectacular. I enjoyed reading your list.

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  8. Brenda: I so enjoyed reading your list. I have wonderful memories of our visit to Canada many years ago. The white birch trees will be forever with me. We are blessed beyond measure to have Canada as our friend and our neighbor !

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  9. I enjoyed reading your list of Canadian favorites. I also enjoyed reading the Anne quotes. What a lovely way to describe the gift of simple pleasures! And what a comical way to describe the gift of a husband! :)

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  10. So much to love about Canada, Brenda! I loved the 'Anne of Green Gables' books and especially the PBS mini-series that I watched with my daughters. My Irish Grandfather's family emigrated to Nova Scotia where they remain to this day, and I've always lived close to the Canadian border - first growing up in New England, and now in Washington state. Travels across the border are always a special treat. Love the Anne quotes and the onion relish. xo Karen

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  11. Happy Canada Day, Brenda! I enjoyed your list of Canadian favourites--many are my favourites too, especially Mr. Dress-Up and his tickle trunk too!

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  12. Anne was my hero growing up and I still adore her. Someone told me that there is a new TV series out, based on the books. Happy Canada Day, Brenda!
    Amalia
    xo

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  13. Happy birthday to Canada! I loved reading all your favorites! I confess I didn't read the Anne books until I was an adult, but when I finally did I devoured them! Such wit and charm... Montgomery could write a blue streak. Too bad we don't have more from her pen. And then those movies... just the perfect screen adaptation! Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst could not have been more perfect for those parts (and Jonathan Crombie... was sad to read of his passing.) Amazing cast, scenery, and filming! Lovely post.

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo