Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The First Winner & More Artwork - Landscapes and Such

Last day of November that means it is time for the first draw in my


If we could have a drum roll please (yes I'm sure if I were more tech savvy, there is a emoticon or thing-a-ma-bob, out that that I could tack on that would do it).

And the winner of the Christmas CD is ...........

the
sus-
pense
builds
as we
await
the win-
ning draw
and my con-
gratulations goes
out to none other than
-- wait for it --
the one and
only

RED  at  Hiawatha House   

Remember that the November and December draws are random, but the final draw for the commissioned painting is based on cumulative points.

Of course RED  at  Hiawatha House  had his name in the draw several times, which increased his chances.  RED is a very generous commenter if you go back over my blogs.  Please take the time to check out his blog.

So RED if you can contact me with your snailmail address at the following email, I'll get the package in the mail ASAP.






                       ************************************************

Today I thought I would share some of my landscape style paintings.  In my youth I did a lot of commission work in this regard, but unfortunately didn't photograph most.  These are the few examples that I either still have or did actually photograph.

This was a joint effort commission between the Missus and me.  She did the house and background, I did the truck.
My first real oil painting - Grade 13, 1980
Oil - this is one I've kept - it was a large project, painting all those little blocks of wood.  And I like it!
Quick watercolour.

The Daily Quest

This is a new daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle: a) 2, b)  3, c) 4, d) 1

Today's Puzzle:
Word Morphs
Can you change hate into love in four steps (one letter at a time, all must be common words)?

a) H A T E
b) _ _ _ _
c) _ _ _ _
d) _ _ _ _
 e) L O V E



Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).
Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest  You still have December's draw, and the final prize in January.

And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Christmas Outside

We're not outdoor lights people.   Our Christmas decor outside is actually pretty minimal.  We did buy one string of solar lights for our conical blue juniper.  I tried to photograph them, but the lighting just didn't work (not the lights, the camera).

I think it has to do with working hard the rest of the year to make the great outdoors look nice, I just sort of lose momentum about Christmas time.  Anyway, here is what you will see if you drive by the house of the Musical Gardener.





Not This!

The Daily Quest

This is a new daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle: d) trigger (the rest all start with consecutive letters of the alphabet).

Today's Puzzle:
Mix and Match

Match the correct letters with the numbers (Carol/Composer):
a) Do You Hear What I Hear?                          1) Katherine K. Davis
b) Go Tell It On The Mountain                          2) Noel Regney
c) Good King Wencesles                                  3) John W. Work
d) Little Drummer Boy                                      4) John Mason Neale
Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).
Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Monday, November 28, 2011

First Christmas Concert Of The Season

To top off a busy weekend, my choir, Melodia Monday performed in a combined concert last night at the Caintown Presbyterian church, with the Caintown Ladies Choir and guests.

The Caintown Ladies
It was a very pleasant evening, and the first time we have performed most of the material we have been preparing all fall.  It was a rough rehearsal prior to the concert, but most of the bugs seemed to have fled by the time we performed before a full house.  And of course as with any good church gathering of this nature, there was a bountiful table of goodies in their fellowship hall, once the concert came to a close.

All in all, a very pleasant way to commence the holiday season.

Melodia Monday




Choir Master Doug putting us through our paces.





The Daily Quest

This is a new daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  c)  prophecy

Today's Puzzle:
Whose The Imposter?
 
Which word does not belong?

a) defeat
b) hijack
c) stutter
d) trigger
 
Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).
Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Crozier Christmas

Ducks all in a row - the valet did a great job.
Twenty six people eat a lot of food and dirty a lot of dishes. Twenty four adults and two babies can make quite a bit of noise.  Even in a big house, twenty six people make quite a crowd.  Twenty six family members can have a good old time together.

The newest outlaw in attendance, making his presence known.
The stockings all hung in a row (or something like that)
One sister-in-law without her V8.
Little un at the piano with Grandma.
Early snacks, already half eaten.
Sorry missed getting the food set up buffet style.
A new tradition, that is a definite keeper - carrot cake with green cream cheese icing and the maker thereof. No leftovers, darn!
The old folks at home.
Just a couple of the games that saw action.
Sipping tea and talking of old times.
The tree and gift bags before Santa's arrival.
Santa in shorts and a chimney hat.
Santa relaxin' after a hard night's work.
Fortunately the whole affair is well orchestrated by the sisters ahead of time.  Each family brings a predetermined portion of the meal.  As the gardener, my contribution was the cooked veggies.  Yes I went out and dug fresh beets and carrots from the garden in the morning.  The potatoes and onions came from the cold room.



And then it was time for gifts round the tree.  We've tackled this in a variety of ways in the past (family exchanges, Chinese auctions, donations to food banks etc).  This year, the sisters set up a bag for each attendee and each person or family was to bring a small item for each person, and drop it into the bag.  Some folks were quite creative - some unique homemade items.

After supper and gifts we all crowded into the music room and had a round of Christmas carols.  Yours truly accompanied.  I really must figure out my little digital recorder, although I'm sure it would not do the renditions justice.

So as you can see it was a pretty fun day, lots of activity, lots of chatter, lots of food, friends, family and fellowship.

The Daily Quest

This is a new daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle: A bee skep

Today's Puzzle:
Speling Diktashun

 
Which is the correct spelling?




a) profecy
b) prophesy
c) prophecy
d) proficy


Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).
Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

The Original Thumbnails

Today is a busy, busy day in our household.  We host what is known as Crozier Christmas.  The Missus' family all gather here for the day, and we celebrate Christmas a month early.  Several of the clan come from the USA, and the weather is often dicey coming that far in late December, so many moons ago it was decided that the family gathering would occur on the American Thanksgiving weekend, thus freeing each family up to celebrate actual Christmas day with the outlaw side of the their families.

So today will see 26 people gather, eat, make a lot of noise, eat, play some games and probably eat some more. And then there will be the dishes and cleanup detail afterward - I know what I'm going to be doing most of the next 16 hours or so.

  **********************************************

Several years ago, I received a packet of coloured photocopies of long distance relatives from someone I had neither met or corresponded with.  However, they graciously took it upon themselves to bequeath their albums to me, albeit in a copied format.  For that I am very grateful.

One particular page caught my attention, as it is a collage of tiny portraits, all stuck on one page.  Unfortunately only a very few are identified.  As I looked at it, it hit me, I'm looking at the earliest attempts at thumbnails. Enjoy.

The Daily Quest

This is a new daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  Marigold

Today's Puzzle:
Silhouette

 
What is this picture a silhouette of? (you may have to turn your head a bit)


Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).
Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Sweaters For Christmas

Don't forget my -  
 We're within days of the November draw

For the first few years of our married life, the Missus knit me a sweater/pullover each Christmas.  Of course that was back when sweaters were in style for men (remember the nineties with those big warm woolies).  She was always most creative in her designs, and although I knew there would be a new pullover under the tree, it was always a creative surprise Christmas morning.

Looking back, I'm not sure where she found the time, when I was not home, but I did work shift work at the point, so she must have kept those knitting needles spinning on the nights that I was gone.

It is kind of a shame, that these are not really in style anymore, but I thought as the yuletide season approaches I would show you some of her handiwork.  Christmas is a time of great nostalgia for me anyway, as you will see in the next few weeks.




The Daily Quest

Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle: a-2, b-4, c-1, d-3

Today's Puzzle:
Whatzit


 What word or phrase does this whatzit represent?

                                                                                                                                                    MARY

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).

 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Clara's Rib, A Riveting Read

I finished a book a few weeks back entitled Clara's Rib.  It was a journaling composition by the late Clara Raina Flannigan, a tuberculosis survivor from Kemptville, Ontario.   Of course being a local book it immediately caught my attention, but it was the content that kept me particularly enthralled.


Clara comes from a family of ten, seven of whom contacted TB during the 1940's and 50's.  Two brothers and her father eventually succumbed to the dreaded disease.  Clara herself spent most of her teens and twenties in  the Royal Ontario Sanitorium in Ottawa, isolated from her loved ones.  Here she endured many grueling treatments, cutting edge technology in the treatment of the disease for that time period.  The most macabre of these was the systematic removal of ribs, to collapse the lungs, in hopes of allowing the diseased sections to heal.  One of the ribs was actually saved as an artifact and then buried with Clara upon her death in 1998, hence the name of the book.

What really makes this story personal,  is the connection to one of my family lines, where five out of ten children in one family all died from tubercular complications in their teens and twenties.  However my family dates back to the late 1800's, when there was little hope of survival, if you contracted TB or consumption as it was known at that time.  To read this particular story click on the following link:  An earlier blog about the Patterson family.

I found this particularly poignant that such an extensive family case study existed as recently as that of the Raina family. The story has been edited and added to Clara's younger sister, Anne. Watch her in the Youtube video below as she promotes the book and tells of the stigma of growing up in a family whose medical history isolated them from the rest of the world.

The Daily Quest

This is a new daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle: Dave Berry

Today's Puzzle:
Mix And Match

Match the right numbers up with the appropriate letters:

 a) Mulch Espouser                       1) Gregor Mendel
 b) Lawnmower Inventor               2) Ruth Stout
 c) Plant Geneticist                        3) Robert Rodale
 d) Organic Gardening                   4) Edward Budding

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).
Don't forget my contest - Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

First Snow of Fall 2011

You knew it had to come sooner or later.  But I'm not sure we needed the full spectrum, sleet, hail, rain and snow all in one fell swoop.  Wonder of wonders though, it is not a snow day for schools.



The mycanthus paying homage to winter.

The Daily Quest

This is a new daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle: c)   resuscitate

Today's Puzzle:

Gardening Quote


Who is responsible for the following gardening quote:


Your first job is to prepare the soil.
The best tool for this is your neighbor's garden tiller.
If your neighbor does not own a garden tiller, suggest that he buy one.


a) Tim The Toolman
b) The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener
c) Dave Barry
d) Mark Cullen


Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).
Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest

And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.