Patterns

So today its a crisp -25c and we are feeling it! That is frost from my breath on my jacket from doing chicken chores this am….my jacket is black!

Was looking out the window and it made me realize we see activity due to the snow we don’t usually know about because there are tracks left behind in the snow by the critters!

Outside the Kitchen window is this pattern made by a mouse possibly or another small critter. The snow is drifted there probably deeper than my boot height so I am not going to figure out what. But it is sure interesting to see the randomness of their movement.

I also spotted outside the milk shed which is now a chicken coop the patterns of the small birds who choose to remain during winter. Most likely looking for food or perhaps a touch of warmth from the inside of the building.

Then there is the drip pattern from the icicles as they drip during the day.

And the drift patterns from the wind on the once smooth snow layer.

How many patterns in nature do we see but not observe???

The ongoing saga of ED-19

We here in our little township are fighting against the sale of a property that was designated as a waste disposal site 20 years ago. It was never utilised as the costs to do so were quite high and the need was not there for the dump.

Now, 20 years later the Counties wants to sell the property, which is now a wetlands, to a private investor known for the creation of mega dumps and we have been fighting against it.

The Counties feel they know better than the 7,000 people in our township and that we need to shut up and let the dump site be sold for development.

Buy it isn’t in my interest to shut up as I purchased my property to return it to a family farm and to invest in my new home with all the reasons I fell in love with this area 5 years ago while visiting it on our Silver Wedding Anniversary!

So as the holiday season comes upon us I sent a poem to the editor of our local paper to let the Counties know in prose just how unhappy I and many of our neighbours are!

Twas the Night before Christmas (ED-19 edition)

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Counties,
Not a soul to be seen, not even some Mounties!

The Mayors were hiding in the Chambers with care,
For the protesters outside knew they were there!

For the Council had gotten it into their heads,
That a dump in our Township was just for the best!

They quivered in fear at the bright Yellow Shirts,
Who stood tall and proud and shouted their words

“Down with the Dump! We don’t want it here
What about the Species at Risk that are near?

The Herons who live not snug in their nests?
Afraid of the stink that will ruin the drink!

The turtles will die for no reason but money!
Our farms wil turn barren! We don’t think its funny!”

The signs have stood firm dotting the Land,
And The people of Cardinal have a line in the sand,

The dump is not needed and the people stand strong,
Why is it the Council doesn’t get that it’s wrong?

Cardinal doesn’t have much but some prime pike fishing,
The Galop Canal and a lot of folks wishing

That Santa would bring some sense that is common,
To those Mayors who feel that there is a big War on.

But let it be known as we sit here and fight,
About Ed19 and who has the right,

To ruin the future for those kids that we love,
For the animals, the water, and the bees as they buzz?

We just want to stay in this place we have built,
It might not be much to those who think its just silt

But those waters that flow bring us together,
We may be small but we’re mighty together.

We just want our homes to be quiet and clean
With nature around and fit to be seen.

So Honour this Land and its bones deep beneath
Leave it intact, the Ancesters beseech.

So Mayors, Pray Tell, this money you seek
Beware what you sow, And that which you Reep!

The Natives are restless, and not easily fooled
Despite that you think “They’ve been properly schooled”

They’re waiting and watching, from not far in the Distance,
You can’t sneak this sale, despite your insistance.

So give us a break and let it all be
I think this is Canada -“Land of the Free?”

Local Tourist Attraction

In 2012 and 2013 my family spent much time looking for a place to plant our feet and grow some roots. We developed in that time a list of criteria and during the investigation of a property for sale which had a retail shop we ended up expanding that list to consider a property for a store or something similar. That sale unfortunately fell thru and we began to cast around for another property.

In the next go around we looked more south than we had before and found this property which excited both my husband and I, as we had spent our 25th Anniversary in Morrisburg camping and had fallen on love with the area then. We had first camped several years ago on the St Lawrence on the American side and decided to slip away to celebrate our Silver Anniversaty alone rather than have a party.

Since we had already planned on moving to Canada and had enjoyed the opposite side of the River we parked ourselves in the Morrisburg campsite at a spot where we could watch the Lakers go by. We discovered the different attractions and I introduced my Hubby to the wonder of Upper Canada Village which was unlike any back-in-time experience he had ever seen. My childhood experiences had been with Black Creek Pioneer Village in the GTA. We enjoyed the many different tourist locales during our week long trip and we consider the tourist attractions a plus for our new home.

Just recently we explored the recently opened Brockville Railway tunnel to see what it was like. We came back 2 days later to do some photos for the new phot business’ portfolio and they sure turned out grand! For many who prefer the business of a place like Toronto a unique little Railroad tunnel probably isn’t exciting to them but I love to explore local history and this tunnel definately has a story to tell! http://www.brockvillerailwaytunnel.com

The last shot is my Hubby taking his photos. We now have a web page for the new photo biz http://www.arcadianphoto.ca and they should be loaded up on the gallery soon!

Amazingly as I retire from the world of dog grooming that has been my life since I was 18 years old I am filling in the time with new ventures and many things to do! I swear at times I have more things to do than ever before! I love exploring our new home and canot wait for the next visit to Upper Canada Village for the Alight at Night!!

Farewell Dear Friend

There are times in your life when pain is so intense you need time to let it ease before you speak of it. In early September I had a radical total hysterectormy with ovary removal. This surgery was done for multiple reasons however this post is not about that. It is about a friend who was very dear to my heart.

This story began several years before he came into my life…with a split second change that radically altered my life. In July 2000 we were rear ended by a car and my life was never to be the same again. The MVA left me with a brain injury but it was to be months before we had a proper diagnosis and during this adventure I developed PTSD. While all this was going on we decided to move and take me away from all that were reminders of a past life and during that time period I studded my male Std Poodle to a local female owned by a breeder I knew.

This breeding resulted in my pick puppy Joker. We picked him up at the age of 8 weeks and brought him to our new home several hours away where he became my constant companion. He went everywhere with me and was a naturally trained dog- I never trained him to heel but he was always there! We began to notice he was naturally alerting to my PTSD and I worked on developing that skill as we noticed my panic attacks were decreasing.

His “thing” was to stick his head between my thighs to distract me and allow me to calm down- this was a cue he did to anyone he felt was stressed and it always surprised people when he did it. We also realised he would walk beside me coming down stairs as I cannot look down when walking or I fall down especially on stairs.

I was still suffering from a lot of residual physical issues when he came into my life and things began to improve radically with Joker by my side. He was a total natural and my life and susequently my familys began to improve with him giuding on the road to being healthier.

As he grew I was able to resume my life in a simlar fashion to before the accident and I began grooming professionally again as I gained confidence. Stress will always be my enemy though and eventually the stress of working in a retail working environment led me to opening my own salon where I made the rules and did not have to deal with the idiosyncrasies of a corporate enviroment plus he could come to work with me every day as well as his sire, Dodger!

Not long after opening my salon we ended up on the front page of the local paper leading out the Holiday parade with Poodles in Blazing colour! This was an incredible moment for me as my Dad was ill with Cancer and he was able to view the paper from his hospital bed and share it with his caretakers A few months later I did a groom for the St Patricks Parade amd it was this groom that helped me really redefine my life. About 1.5 years later I get a call from someone identifying herself as from People magazine. I told her it wasnt polite to crank call and hung up. A few minutes later I get an email from this same person..and yeap! She really was from People!! An interview later and sent off that St Pats clip and Joker was part of a pictorial feature on an article on extreme grooming….the only non competitive owner/dog team mentioned! It is still a viral photo to be found all over the Internet.

Years went by and we eventually moved to Canada..Joker long since officially retired. Then a week after my operation and a cyst he had had for years showed signs of massive infection. This happened in one day as I had been looking him over the night before! He was stumbling and confused and couldn’t do the stairs. Hubby carried him up to bed where we tried to make him comfortable and see if any of the treatments I gave him would work. Next morning he rallied a bit but as the day went on I knew he was going down fast. Called the vet and set up an appt.

It was not good news, the only reccomendation at that point was palliative care. I have seen too many owners keep their pets clinging to life so on Friday September 15, Joker was sent to the Dog Door in St Peter’s Gate. I write this with tears on my face as it still hurts that he is no longer in this room watching me; my constant companion has gone on before me- much loved and greatly missed.

Rest Well Dear Friend!

Mumpitz the Joke’s on You “Joker” March 30 2002-September 15 2017

The Dog Door

There is a dog door in St Peter’s Gate

Dogs who go to Heaven just don’t have to wait

In thru the door they may pass

No line, no wait, it’s just that fast.

In the Kingdom of Heaven there is a saying

You’re in Hell if you don’t hear dogs baying

They bark and howl at the smallest cloud,

Barking all you want is just allowed.

If you ever fret at what you left below

A dog’s furry paw lets you know

You aren’t alone and you are loved

Not only from below, but also above

For who put the dog door in St Peter’s Gate?

So the dogs who go to Heaven don’t have to wait?

By the Lord Himself, whose wisdom knew

That dogs can cure what He cannot do.