Indoor Garden

   It's snowing again and no possibility of getting out in the garden for several weeks yet. Most of my borders are under at least a foot (30 cms.) of snow. No exaggeration! As a result I am more and more reliant on my indoor plants to keep me cheerful.
   
    One of my successes this winter was to preserve a small Rosemary bush which I brought inside in the Fall. I have tried this before, digging up a plant before the first frost. However, this one was grown in a pot so didn't need replanting. It's getting a trifle tall and stringy but I am hopeful it will survive until I can put it outside again.

   Can't believe we have to move the clocks forward an hour this weekend! This usually heralds the start of Spring but we are far from there yet. Another plant I move indoors in the Fall has continued to flower beautifully but unfortunately I don't know its name Can anyone help me? 

    Worked this morning in a Kindergarten class - beautiful kids, I will gladly go back there, if asked. Spent this afternoon at Chapters looking for a birthday present for Elliot, who will be 7 on Saturday, and finally settled on a Science kit made by Green Science. Hope he likes it! It has a small solar panel which will allow him to convert a used pop can into a "Solar Rover". His dad will have to help him build it - let's hope it works. Seven year olds can be mighty disappointed when their plans fall through.

  

On the Slopes

    Had a great day skiing yesterday but forgot to take my camera so you will just have to trust me on this one. Despite being time for Spring skiing, the conditions were still wintry. Nicely groomed hills made for easy skiing under a brilliantly blue sky - no slush and mush yet, although the parking lot was decidedly muddy! We had some light cloud cover blow in just before noon but, by the time we came back out after lunch, this had blown away and the sun was brilliant again. My knees began to give out around two p.m. but I concluded the day by sitting in the sun at the foot of the hill for another hour - came home with a hot face but definitely got a good shot of Vitamin D.

    Just a regular day with James today. We went to the "Sing, Play, Learn" playgroup in the morning, had sausage, egg and soup for lunch (he polished everything off including a kiwi, his favourite fruit) and followed this up with yogurt and a granola bar after his nap. He seems to be making up for when he was off his food while sick.

    Time to have a quick bite before going to Scottish Country Dancing class. I found some orange beets at the store last week so am making a roasted beet salad with arugula, walnuts and goat cheese. I'll let you know how it turns out. I can smell the beets roasting as I type!

A Late Burns' Night

Let kings and courtiers rise and fa',

This world has mony turns.

But brightly beams aboon them a'

The star of Rabbie Burns.

 

 

    The immortal Rabbie Burns is usually celebrated around the time of his birth date, January 29th. However, many of the Petronella dancers were entertaining at other Burns' suppers at that time. These events took place in Retirement Homes, church halls, and recreation centres around the GTA and sometimes we joined the audience for the ceremony and sometimes not. So it seemed fitting that we celebrate  in our own way - with food and dance!

     A great time was had by one and all at the 2nd. annual Burn's Supper at the Petronella Scottish Country Dance group this Saturday. Once everyone had assembled, the haggis was piped in and Donald, accompanied by Graeme, David and Muriel gave the "Address to the Haggis".

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,

That jaups in luggies;

But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer

Gie her a Haggis!

 

Duncan led us in the Selkirk Grace:           Some hae meat but canna eat

   and some wad eat that want it .

      But we hae meat and we can eat, 
So may the laird be thankit.

 

 

    Then followed the meal and much jollity, followed by the Toast the the Immortal Memory (Duncan again), Address to the Lassies (Ian), Address to the Laddies (Jenn) and then, now that we were all stuffed with good food and drink, what we had all come for ..... the dancing!

    Maureen led us through the dances in admirable fashion and although we may not have burned off all the calories acquired during the meal, we were well heated and puffing by the end of the evening. Some of my favourites:   

 The Frisky,    The Rakish Highlandman,     The De'l Amang the Tailors,    Mairi's Wedding
The Dundee Whaler        Bonnie Stronshiray       Maxwell's Rant     Eternal Friendship.



 

 

 

    Near midnight a tired but happy crew wended its way homeward with sore feet but happy hearts, having participated in the fellowship that comes from taking part in the community that is Scottish Country Dancing.

 

In the words of the Immortal Bard:

 

Adieu, dear amiable youth!

Your heart can ne'er be wanting!

May prudence, fortitude and truth,

Erect your brow undaunting!

In ploughman phrase, 'God send you speed',

Still daily to grow wiser;

And may ye better reck the rede,

Than ever did th'adviser!

 

 

 

 



 



Machu Picchu

    Time for another update on my travels as I have little to report from yesterday. Even though it was the 1st of March, the weather continues wintery, with much snow and ice underfoot. I ventured out in the evening with only shoes (can't wait to tuck my boots at the back of the hall closet!) as I only had a few steps from the car to the subway entrance. Thence to "Milestones" where I was meeting friends - all in the same building. How to beat winter Canadian style!

   This photo is of the ruins at Machu Picchu in Peru. I travelled there in 2008, just a year after I retired.The ruins are up in the Andes and, after a few days in Lima (beautiful city, I would love to go back and see more of it), we flew to Cuzco, a small town in the mountains and the closest centre to the ruins. You can either hike to the ruins or take the train which we did. The high elevation was a challenge and we needed a few days of acclimatization. It is one of the most impressive sights I have seen and can only imagine the effects on the explorers who discovered it. The Incas only occupied the fortress for a few hundred years before being obliterated by the Conquistadors in the 16th century. The place was swarming with llamas who were quite tame, and a few other tourists like ourselves. A mist covered the area in the morning as it is in a basin between the two peaks, but this burned off by midday and we were able to climb to the highest point to take some magnificent photos. If you would like to know more about the history of the sight, post a comment.