A mingling of threads

Out with the bad...

I'm sure there may have been some good things about the year 2004, however none come to mind. There's no doubt that this has been a particularly difficult year for me and my family, and I am relieved that it is coming to an end.

Get Me Through December

How pale is the sky that brings forth the rain
As the changing of seasons prepares me again
For the long bitter nights and the wild Winter day
My heart has grown cold my love stored away
My heart has grown cold my love stored away

I've been to the mountain left my tracks in the snow
Where souls have been lost and the walking wounded go
I've taken the pain no girl should endure
But faith can move mountains of that I am sure
Faith can move mountains of that I am sure

Get me through December
A promise I'll remember
Just get me through December
So I can start again

No divine purpose brings freedom from sin
And peace is a gift that must come from within
I've looked for the love that will bring me to rest
Feeding this hunger beating strong in my chest
Feeding this hunger beating strong in my chest

Get me through December
A promise I'll remember
Just get me through December
So I can start again

From the Natalie MacMaster CD IN MY HANDS
Fiddle: Natalie MacMaster
Vocals: Alison Krauss
Lyrics: Gordie Sampson & Fred Lavery

In no way do I wish to imply my personal sorrow is greater than the horror which is happening in other areas of the world.
I still have family, friends and a home. I will survive.
Many of the people in South East Asia, Haiti, Africa, and Iraq who are suffering so terribly will not unless we do something to help.

My hope for 2005 is respect for other cultures.
I think the Queen's Christmas message for 2004 sums this up very well.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Reflecting on the East Coast.

We can help.

***Update December 30th***

Government of Canada to match donations from Canadians to tsunami disaster.

"The Government will match donations made by individual Canadians to Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) already involved in responding to the disaster. These include the Canadian Red Cross, CARE Canada, OXFAM, World Vision, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children. Donations will be matched retroactive to December 26, 2004, the date of the earthquake and tsunamis."

Just one more reason why Canada is the greatest place to live.

The following non-profit organizations are among those collecting donations to help survivors of the  Dec. 26 tsunami in South East Asia. CBC News Indepth: Asia Earthquake there are a number of EARTHQUAKE/TSUNAMI BLOGS shown on the right hand column some with first hand information.

Click the links  below to donate on line or you can also donate through your local office of the organizations.

Canadian Red Cross The Red Cross appeals for cash donations to support relief efforts following the earthquake and tidal wave in South East Asia.

UNICEF Canada  UNICEF latest news.

Oxfam Canada   Oxfam news on the devastating earthquake and floods.

World Vision Canada World Vision news and request.

Médecins Sans Frontières  Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders, Canada: programs & projects.

What is a tsunami? 
There is a BLOG set up with news and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts.
The Command Post is updated regularly.

Horrified and saddened on the East Coast.

Holy Crow we're havin' a blow...

Christmas was pink

Christmas was white

My Mom hooked this rug a few years ago. It is in the Cheticamp style of rug hooking, which is done with very fine strands of wool fabric.

Santa gave me a Nova Scotia weather button...

Good thing too as we awoke today to this.

         

I checked my NS weather button - it was all white and had swayed so much it had fallen on to the deck. With this valuable information I was able to figure out it was snowing and windy!
So much clearer than the Environment Canada's Official Weather Warnings

"This is a warning that blizzard conditions are expected in these Regions. Monitor weather conditions. Listen for updated statements. Currently snow and whiteout conditions driven by very strong northerly winds associated with the storm are being reported throughout Nova Scotia."

The only creatures stirring today were a charm of Goldfinches.

And to think on Christmas day it was 12°C and they were playing golf.
Today 50-60 cm of snow has fallen, it is -15°C ~ a cold wind chill minus 25 , and with the 120km nor'easterly winds it is making for a bit of a blow - as we say here on the East Coast.

Happy Holidays

May all your wishes come true.

Mine did when I was 2½ and my beloved grandmother gave ME one of her Best in Show West Highland Terrier puppies! To me. All for myself. Her name was Peggy. I loved her. The anxious Momma you see in front was Heather.
Soon to be Christmas Eve on the East Coast.

A week of reading

On the first week of my Christmas vacation I did a bit of reading. Four of the books I read have been added to my reading BLOG. I'll add the others as I have time...

Click the above button or the link under Books & Music on the left-hand column or click here to get to my reading BLOG.

Reading - on the East Coast.

A week at a glance

I've been super busy however don’t seem have a lot to show for my time. Work has been very overwhelming since I decide to accept the ERIP. I feel like my brain is being picked clean, every scrap of knowledge I’ve learned during my career being sucked from my body and transferred to willing and some un-willing recipients. Funny though, as I’ve never hid my knowledge about work related issues. I'm the kind of person who shares information rather than hoards it, I see no advantage to keeping the knowledge to yourself - well other than - I guess it makes some people feel superior to do so.  Not me. I’ve even gone so far as to do up process documents, and mini summaries for my group . Yet, everyone still always finds it easier to come and ask me rather than look the information up on his or her own. Now they panic - because I'm leaving. I'm literally weak with fatigue by the time I get home from work.
Today we spent all day outside putting pine boughs on the front veranda railing. We then wrapped the boughs with strings of lights. I bought new LED lights this year however my neighbourhood Canadian Tire was out of red lights and I had to settle for white. I’m going downtown tomorrow for a  dentist appointment, on the way home I'll check another Canadian Tire location to see they have any red lights. I put a small pine tree in the cast iron urn by the front door. I'd show you how pretty everything looks however the lights don't photograph well at night. The wreath is hung on the front door; this year I did a big, sparkly, filmy, and silver bow. I always buy a plain fir wreath and decorate it with my own bow.

Even though we haven't yet had a hard frost we covered the front gardens with fir boughs. It makes everything look so tidy. We just put down a thin layer of boughs and will add more once the ground is frozen.

I still have pansies blooming - even with the November snow storm and the freezing rain last week. In December. Two weeks before Christmas. Pansies bloom.

This week the sun rose

         

and the sun set on the East Coast

We will remember you.

Tonight there was a candlelight service at the Memory Garden where my brother's ashes are buried. It was a clear, starlight, windy, and bitter cold night. The gardens are on a hill overlooking the community where my parents live. We could see the Christmas lights. The service was for all who lost someone this year and years past. Held on the lawn outside the chapel, it was beautiful, moving and touching service. A piper played Amazing Grace as the candles were lit.
I’m glad I went.

December 6th, 1989, marks a somber day for women and women’s groups. What happened on that horrible day 15 years ago at l’Ecole Polytechnique is now known as the Montreal Massacre Following this event, December 6th was then named National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

December 6, 1917 dawned clear and sunny in Halifax. Before darkness fell, Halifax would be devastated by the biggest man-made explosion the world had ever seen. In the days after there were over 1500 people dead, and more dying. 9000 injured. More than 13,000 homes and businesses damaged or wrecked; 6000 people completely homeless.

With in hours medical teams, rescue workers, and aid began to come from all over Canada. Forty-eight hours after the Explosion, the first medical teams and supplies arrived from the Boston States, mainly Massachusetts. Governor Samuel W. McCall sent doctors, nurses, railroad and media people, Red Cross teams and medical supplies. Nova Scotia now sends a Christmas tree to Boston each year as thanks for their assistance.

December 6th, 2004 is the 87th Memorial Day of the Halifax Explosion.

So many memories on the East Coast.