Monday, June 28, 2010

My Song for the Week ~ Wild Life

This song is one of my favourites to play the drum to. It is sometimes performed at the Sundday Jam, and whenever it is, I am the drummer for it. In particular, I love the song and the message. my hope is that you do too, and so, with that I give you.....


'Wild Life' by Paul McCartney & Wings...





The word "wild" applies to the words "you" and "me".
While taking a walk thru an African park one day,
I saw a sign say, "The animals have the right of way".

Wild life, whatever happened to,
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?

We're breedng a lot,
a lot of political nonsense in the air.

You're making it hard for the people who live in there.
You're moving so fast, but, baby, you know not where.
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?

You'd better stop, there's animals ev'rywhere,
And man is the top, an animal too,
And, man, you just got to care.

Wild life, what's gonna happen to,
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?

You're breathing a lot of polical nonsense in the air.

Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
(what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
(what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, what ever happened to?

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Aw Nuts!

*****BEWARE NUT PHOBES!!!! *****
*****THIS POST CONTAINS NUT RELATED INFORMATION!!!!*****

Recently, a family member turned me onto the benefits of eating raw, unsalted nuts. They're quite enjoyable, but sometimes I just tire of plain old raw, unsalted nuts. So creativity took over, and I began to experiment with different seasonings to give them a sweet taste. Voila, pictured is a jar of sweet nuts, nuts, flavoured with my special coating and baked.

Eventually, I will probably experiment with a semi-spicy version of these nuts, but for now this sweet concoction has captured my interest.

Who knows, maybe these nuts will be famous one day!!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Daddy



Today my Dad would have been 89 years old. This picture was taken in 1995, the Christmas before he passed away.

Dad was a quiet man. At 18, he went to fight in WWII, and for a period carried messages to and from the front line by motorcycle, the motorcycle named Matilda. When he returned home, he went to work at a large pharmaceutical company, and would retire from there 45 years later. He met, dated, and married my Mom.....and they had me.

My Dad never talked much, about anything. Only once can I remember him recalling some war stories, but it was a short recount. He loved his cars. He loved his budgie birds. He loved his beer. And he loved me....of this I am sure.

When I think of him on his birthday or Father's Day or any other day, a flood of memories engulfs me. Some good. Some mediocre.....but that is what I have now ...memories.

Happy Birthday, Daddy. I hope the angels are taking good care of you. I know that I was always your angel. You are still mine.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Tuesday Tea ~ A Letter To Mr. Raccoon

Dear Mr. Raccoon,

I see you, though you don't know that I do. You caught my eye as you were prowling around in my neighbour's backyard, probably stealing away to your hiding place somewhere.

You're a pretty big boy, and assume you are well fed by nibbling on the cherries that fall from the tree. If so, you have good taste. Maybe you're the one who has been going through the food recycle bins, mine being one of them. I don't suppose that you have a fellow raccoon to come and clean up the mess. No, didn't think so.

My camera is waiting for you to visit again, Mr. Raccoon, at which time I will get you, you know. Yes, I will capture you and post you on my blog. Yes, capture you forever.

By the way, shouldn't you be sleeping right now?

Monday, June 21, 2010

My Music for this Week ~ Mystify

'Mystify' by INXS...




All veils and misty
Streets of blue
Almond looks
That chill devine
Some silken moment
Goes on forever
And we're leaving
Broken hearts behind

Mystify
Mystify me
Mystify
Mystify me

I need perfection
Some twisted selection
That tangles me
To keep me alive
In all that exists
Well, none has your beauty
I see your face
and I will survive

Mystify
Mystify me
Mystify
Mystify me

Eternally wild with the power
To make every moment come alive
All those stars that shine upon you
Will kiss you every night

All veils and misty
Streets of blue
Almond looks
That chill devine
Some silken moment
Goes on forever
And we're leaving
Yeah we're leaving broken hearts behind


Mystify
Mystify me
Mystify
Mystify me

You're eternally wild with the power
To make every moment come alive
All those stars that shine upon you
And they'll kiss you every night

Mystify
Mystify me
Mystify
Mystify me
Mystify
Mystify me
Mystify

Sunday, June 20, 2010

The Backyard

The backyard, for me, is a wonderland of sights, sounds and scents. Depending on the time of day, the variations of this are seemingly endless. If I am motionless and quiet, I am privy to these treasures.

The old trees which tower and sway are my private gazebo. There is no need for a man-made gazebo, because privacy is always present. Some of these trees have been here for a very long time, and they house the various birds and wildlife that enjoy a life hidden away from view.

During the day, the birds make their appearance. Blue jays, cardinals, and robins flutter by from tree to tree, branch to branch. A family of baby blue jays can be heard from within one of the trees. I await their appearance one day soon. A resident chipmunk skitters by every now and then, stopping to sit on a tree stump, and eat a morsel of gathered food. The squirrels race by, sometimes in singles, other times in pairs, chasing each other along the fence.

At night, a whole new world unveils, most of the animals find their homes, and disappear, but three local felines skulk around. One of these is a tortoise shell, very reminiscent of my Cleo. Another is a black cat, who sometimes musters up enough bravery to visit the back screen and stare into my world. A newest addition is an orange tabby, who the other night, stared at me from the furthest part of my backyard, in the hopes that I would retire and allow him to exit my yard. At some point, the noise of traffic dies, and still quiet can be enjoyed.

Sometimes when one lives in total quiet, it is not always appreciated. It is moments like this which make me appreciate the quiet. On a clear night, stars are clearly visible.

Sometimes we just need to sit back and appreciate the treasures of one's backyard, treasures which are priceless but always memorable.