Just One of My Favorite Things - Cineplex Odeon Classic Film Series

"The Hills are alive...with the sound of Music"...at least they were at theatre that we attended last Wednesday evening.  Cineplex Odeon has a fabulous Classic Film series wherein they showcase older movies at selected theatres and The Sound of Music was being featured on the big screen.  Some of the other movies this past year were Dr. Zhivago, Psycho, The Wizard of Oz and upcoming will be Mash and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. We saw Casablanca in the fall and I came to understand why Humphrey Bogart became such a big star and what a great actor he was-the camera angles really focused on his face and micro-expressions but all of that is lost on a smaller TV screen.  Seeing these movies on the big screen is like seeing them for the first time.

In The Sound of Music I saw for the first time the detail and beauty of the ballroom and the stately home the family lives in.  The background scenery was not just a foggy blur but you got a sense of the majesty of the Alps and when the camera zoomed in on Julie Andrews on the top of the mountain it made you feel like you were breathing fresh mountain air.  I fell in love all over again with Christopher Plummer too.  It's no wonder the audience broke out into spontaneous applause when the credits appeared.

The Sound of Music will be playing again this coming Sunday, May 29, so if you want the opportunity to sing along with Julie Andrews to My Favorite Things or get goosebumps when the Nazi's are looking for the Von Trapp family in the graveyard be sure to check out where it is playing.  Oh yes, and for those frugally minded, one of the bonuses is the cost is only $5.00 which means you can splurge on some extra goodies;  and considering the movie is three hours long, although there was a short intermission, you just might need the sustenance!

Check out Cineplex Odeon Classic Film Series Here

Salynne ©2011

Five Reasons to Live in a Cabin Up North Alone

The thought of living in a cabin up north all alone is one of those fantasies that I reserve for one of THOSE days.  Not the kind where I just want the world to stop for a short while so I can catch my breathe or when I want run away to France to for a couple of weeks.  It's one of those "if another thing happens to add to my stress and busyness I'm going to quit the world and become a hermit" days. 

Thankfully days like that don't happen that often but when they do I have to say that I envy good ole Dick Proennke of Alone in the Wilderness fame. The documentary style chronicle of how at the age of 50 he decided to go into the wilderness of Alaska, build a log cabin and live all on his own is one of my favorite night time TV spots on PBS.  It's not hard to put myself back into the emotional foray of one of those days and the reasons why I want to run away: 

1.  Going north and being by myself would get me away from irritating people, cranky people and people demanding things of me, wanting things done yesterday.  Oh...to throw away my overloaded work schedule!

2.  I could get away from sick and dying children.  I do like and sometimes love my job but there are days when seeing little kids who should be healthy and happy and who aren't is just too much to take.  Instead I could look at the healing beauty of nature, green trees and blue sky.  And I could spend my time building a cabin, making door hinges or my very own wooden spoon--quiet but contemplative work.

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3.  No traffic and no stupid rush hour....only peace, quiet and bird song...how I love to hear birds. 

4.  Going North means SNOW.  Tons and tons of snow. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers magical scenery.   Blissful, white flakes falling softly into a blanket instead of wet, slushy, half rain/half snow that soaks through everything.  And let's talk about sunshine...sunshine instead of rain which is another thing I could very easily get used to.

5.   A cabin.  What is better than a log cabin to live in?  With a log burning fireplace built of river rock.  No namby pamby gas burning or electric fake.  Real logs and a real fire to drink a glass of wine in front of (of course I'd take wine up North with  me!) and I could spend time just writing...writing to my hearts content.  No interruptions, no phone calls, just me and my journal.  The Dick Proennke website says it all: 

"To live in a pristine land unchanged by man...
to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed...
to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin...
to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available...
to be not at odds with the world, but content with one's own thoughts and company..."

Yes, lots of reasons to move up North alone.  Only problem is there would be no family dinners, no laughing at my sons jokes until my stomach hurts and tears run down my face, no TV to cuddle in front of and watch Pride & Prejudice with Keeley, no Bruce to share a glass of wine with, no morning kitty kisses, and no computer to connect with friends or blog on.  OK..so maybe moving up north all alone for good isn't realistic but just being able to think about it always makes me feel better and somehow the day turns out to be not that bad after all.

Salynne©2011

I AM Metis-An Emotional Journey

I've known for about ten years that I'm of aboriginal ancestry on my mothers side. I'm Métis and getting my & Keeley's "Métis status" is something I've wanted to do for years.  Today Keeley and I went to the Nova Métis Society in Surrey and met the lovely couple who volunteer there weekly and keep the place running.  In the past you could walk in to any Métis organization, self-identify as mixed ancestry and become a member.  That is no longer the case.

Traditional Metis Sash

In the summer of 2003 the supreme court of Canada's Powley decision provided guidance on who can claim Aboriginal rights.  Being "Métis" does not encompass just anyone who is of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry. The term  "Métis" refers to distinctive peoples of mixed ancestry who developed their own customs, practices, traditions and recognizable group identities separate from their Indian, Inuit and European ancestors.  In practical terms this means you must have proof of Métis ancestry documents to at least 1901; in the case of the Nova Métis society and the Métis National Council they want to see five generations and evidence of an ancestor who received a land grant or a scrip grant under the Manitoba Act or the Dominion Lands Act, or who was recognized as a Métis in other government, church or community records.

I was excited with anticipation but also nervous that we would not be approved.  My research, and that done by my mom and a couple of aunts, showed the names of my grandparents, great-grand parents going back more than five generations along with deep connections to the Métis homeland in the Red River Valley.   I even have a photo showing my great-grandmother at 16, her mother and her two grandmothers!  Still it all had to be confirmed by governmental archival and consensus type documents.

My Great-Grandmother Melanie at 16 on the right,
Her mother on the left and two Grandmothers in the Centre.
Her cousin front left and brother with hat off.

It took almost two hours to do research but right in hard print before our eyes we got to see confirmation that generations of my family were listed.  My mom's family names such as Parisien, Marjore & St. Denis are common and well-known names in Metis history and geneology.  As we sat at the table covered in books we talked about other things that I knew about my family-in particular my Grandmother.  She was the secretary for the Saskatchewan Métis association back in the late 1960's during the time when Métis people started a new round of political activism.  My mom left her family and did not want much to do with them after she got married so all I knew growing up was that she had been really poor and embarrased to be from the "wrong side of the tracks".  Yes, I knew I had cousins, aunts & uncles in Saskatchewan and an aunt who had married a native and lived on a reserve but as far as I was concerned my mom's family really consisted of just of my "Nanny" who came to visit a few months each year to escape the winter.   I remember knowing that she had been a social worker and had raised a couple of foster kids after her children had grown up but that really didn't mean a lot to me when all I knew was a Nan who came and baked buns, bread and pies and taught me how to play crib.

I knew that somehow I had aboriginal ancestry but had no idea what that involved.  Only two times in my life do I ever remember my Nan saying anything about our background.  The first was when I was very young and she told me a traditional Indian tale about how the Bear lost his tail.  Then when I was in my early twenties and we were in an antique store together, she told me furtively and in a very quiet voice that I should take note of some beadwork because it was the same as my great-grandmother did and that I should remember that one of my great-grandmothers had fought in the Louis Riel rebellion;  she said that they ran out of ammunition and that they put buttons into their guns and fired them at the soldiers.  She said it quickly, in a very low tone and then walked away from me--thinking back it's one of those moments when I wish I had had enough insight to realize the import of what she said; one thing is clear in my mind though--she may have said it quietly and quickly but there was a note of pride when she said that I should remember this fact about my family.  More than likely, knowing my mother did not want to have anything to do with her past, Nan was being discreet and did not want to get in trouble with her daughter.

Metis Beadwork by Artist Lisa Shepherd

It was not long after seeing my great-grandfathers name in one of the books at the office and after we had started talking about my Grandmother that I started having a shaky feeling inside.  After that we finished up the rest of the process and were told we can expect to get our Métis Nations cards some time in the next six to eight weeks.  I still have to get a couple of birth certificates as absolute proof but there is no doubt that Keeley and I are of Métis origin and we have been accepted and recognized as such.  We left the office with a book about Métis history, a Métis cookbook, Métis magazines on art and culture and the sense that we have a new-found family. 

It's been several hours since we've been home but the shaky feeling is still with me and I feel like weeping. It's a very clear sign that I have a lot of un-resolved issues about this and that I'm about to embark on a rather unexpected emotional journey.  Most of it, I feel certain, is related to my Grandmother and mother's relationship and the sorrow that I can feel just under the surface at not really knowing the dynamic woman I suspect my Grandmother was.

Salynne/Susan ©2011

UPDATE:  July 2012 - I am now also writing at a new blog:  The Métis Reconteur where I write using my real name; the focus is on sharing my Métis culture.

Favorite Films That Will Always Stick With You

The rules: Don’t take too long to think about it. Twenty films you’ve seen that will always stick with you. List the first twenty you can recall in no more than twenty minutes.  In some particular order:

1.A Year in Provence--The most watched movie in my library for when I cannot be in France.

2.French Kiss-the second most watched movie in my library.

3.Pride & Prejudice-all six hours; best with a cup of tea and a day off school with Keeley but my other favorite time watching was the six hour marathon with good friends!

4.Much Ado About Nothing--I'd always hated Shakespeare--that was probably related to the fact that when I was in Grade 8 we were doing Romeo and Juliette and the nurse came to the door and told me my Grandmother had died....but that is another story.  Much Ado About Nothing is how I fell in love with Shakespeare--"there's a double meaning in that".

5.The Man from Snowy River-I always wanted a cowboy to sweep me off my feet.

6.The Princess Bride-one of the few movies I remember quotes from! "My name is Enigo Montoya. You Killed my Father. Prepare to Die".

7.Dr. Doolittle--this was Brenna's favorite movie; we watched it pretty much every day from the time she was 18 months old until she died at 8; so maybe it is my most watched movie!  Sometimes I put it on in the middle of the night when I cannot sleep and it just makes me feel all happy inside.  I've been wanting a ride on that big Pink Sea Snail or the Lunar Moth since I was a little girl...

8.The Sound of Music-just one of my "favorite things" but only once a year or so.

9.Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-a memorable movie that's for sure.  I was so scared of this when I was a kid because of the child catcher that I wouldn’t let Keeley see it until she was 11 because I was worried she be traumatized.

10.Chocolat-what can I say...Johnny.....Chocolate......Johnny....

11.Tortilla Soup--one of my favorite food movies; food & family sitting around the dinner table, what more could you want in life.

12.The Philadephia Experiment-this was one of first sci-fi shows I ever saw...time travel...I was hooked.

13.Amelie-absolutely charming; I was so happy when Keeley was old enough to watch it with me.

14.Earthquake-another one of those that scared me to death--I think it's where my fear of bridges come from.

15.Seven Brides for Seven Brothers-this was another one that we played a lot when Brenna was alive only this was one of Keeley's favorites.  She'd put on her yellow dress and dance her heart out.  You also cannot deny this has the most majical winter scenes ever--fake but magical.

16.Beauty & the Beast-we went to the movie theatre and Brenna wore her big pink "beast" slippers.  Everyone gave her attention, she was sooo cute.  It's one of my favorite memories.

17.Bed of Roses-hmmm...pause...what can I say...a very thoughtful movie, mirrored my own life in many way.... and the garden, oh my goodness-sometimes I've watched just the garden scene to get me in the mood to get out in to my own garden.

18.Pirates of the Caribbean--Johnny....even with bad teeth; this is the ONLY movie I've dressed up for!  Keeley and I put on our pirate headbands & earrings and we went to the midnight showing.

19.Bread & Tulips--this is one of my favorite foreign films that I usually watch when I'm alone; its for those times I wish I could step off the world and slow things down.

20.Breakfast at Tiffany’s--the ultimate classic; the ultimate actress. 

Others that I just cannot leave off the list-besides I'm always an over-achiever and I'm affected a lot by movies:

1.Persuasion--I cannot leave this out; it's my all-time favorite Jane Austen book come to life; I've seen three versions and I love them all.

2.You've Got Mail-a good one for a rainy day--I want that bookshop!

3.Funny Face--I always wanted to be the girl in the black top, leggings & flats on the top of that ladder..again I think it has something to do with the books.

4.Innerspace--totally a hilariously funny movie; I nearly broke the seat in the theatre from laughing so hard the first time I saw it.

5.Peter Pan--my all time favorite story & the Disney version got even better when we went on the Peter Pan ride at DisneyLand because I was flying!

6.Mary Poppins-another Brenna favorite which I'm sure I've seen hundreds of times.  It's magical, just magical-who doesn't want to jump into a chalk picture & dance with penguins?

7.101 Dalmations-one more Brenna favorite that is burned into my brain. When I was a kid I love the  thought of two doggies getting married....and "all those little ones"-ok so maybe I can quote from three movies.

8.Pretty Woman--I still want that polka dot dress--ok...the 2011 version without the shoulder pads.

9.The Lion King--great movie but we ended up having to get rid of it because Keeley would go around biting people after she watched it--good thing she was only 3 at the time.  We still don't have it in our Library although its on our acquisition list...I'm a little worried.

10.Secondhand Lions--cannot help but think of my Grandfather and the farm in Saskatchewan.

11.A Beautiful Mind--this was riveting Russel Crowe-I was speechless and I think I held my breathe for most of the show.  It was one of those movies that I couldn't stop thinking about for days afer.

12.Walk the Line--I've always been fascinated with Johnny & Roseanne; true love and country music...the best!

13.Seducing Dr. Lewis--it sounds bad but its not what you think & its one of the sweetest "foreign" movies I've seen despite it not really being foreign but home grown French Canadian.

14.August Rush--a modern day fairytale; I love the feel of this movie and the music.  Not a great classic but I liked it enough to buy it and watch it once in a while.

15.Mostly Martha--my all time favorite German movie...mmm food--the American remake "No Reservations" was horrible.

16.Brigadoon--an all time family favorite and one we love to share with friends, especially when a certain friend happened to be dating someone Scottish-we arranged a special viewing.

17.The Village--Ok...so have you noticed a category missing from my list.  Suspense.  Suspense and I don't get along but this was so incredible.....I had to watch it and turn the channel every time I started to freak out but I was in love with the movie by the end.  I've watched it all the way through a couple of timesbut it's still freaky...ahhhhhh! what was that?

18.Footloose--totally an 80's icon movie.  I saw it at a drive-in movie in Cache Creek with Bruce after we were first married--our car was rockin cause we were hoppin in our seats to the music!

19.Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School--one of the more recent movies I've seen that left me pondering for days. Not only was the list of cast members stellar but I was touched by way they handled the topic of grief, bereavement and moving on.

20.Casablanca--I just saw it on the big screen a couple of months ago and was awestruck--I now know why women loved Humphrey Bogart!

There's a lot more that come to mind but it's been fun taking a virtual walk through my DVD cupboard and discovering the reasons why some movies will always stick with me.

Salynne

Bad Timing - Hot Chocolate, Memories and a Diet

Bad Timing.  It happens now and again. 

I started my HCG diet again. Beforehand I prepared myself mentally and have been looking forward to enjoying the bounty of spring vegetables.  For the past week things have been going well and I have been watching my weight on the scale go down each day.  I've enjoyed swiss chard, asparagus, grape tomatoes and even the celery is crisp and better tasting this time of year.  Peppermint or Apple Spice herbal teas have been my comfort treats.

And then this morning darling daughter said she'd found a new recipe and she begged me to make it.  I love cooking and don't even mind doing so for other people when I'm on HCG and its restricted diet but today's request was the ultimate test of will-power.  Now what sort of concoction should put me on the verge of throwing out weight loss, healthy eating and all self-restraint? 

Nutella Hot Chocolate
3 Tbs Nutella
1 1/3 Cup Milk

Put the Nutella and 1/3 cup milk into a small saucepan over low-medium heat.  Stir until Nutella is melted.  Add remaining milk and increase heat to medium and whisk until hot and frothy.


Keeley Greig Photography

Ever since our first trip to France, Nutella has been a staple in our home and diet.  I love chocolate and I love hazelnuts, it's a match made in culinary heaven as far as I'm concerned.  By the time the Nutella Hot Chocolate was done my mouth was salivating and I just had to have a taste.  It was oh, so creamy, and rich.  Memories of being a kid coming home after skating to find my Dad had made hot chocolate & Cheez Whiz on toast flashed before my eyes.  Then I was off to France and sitting in the cafe in Monet's garden sipping dark delicious cocoa.  And finally I saw myself sitting around the campfire with whipped cream and marshmallow topped hot chocolate in a blue & white speckled tin cup.

It's a bit of a rainy day and all I could think about was the comfort a good cup of hot chocolate brings.  I took one extra sip and handed it over.  Keeley tasted it and smiled dreamily.  Bad timing for me but I did find contentment in knowing that "the first time we had Nutella Hot Chocolate" made a very good memory for her.

Salynne ©2011

Getting Things Accomplished-A Bucket List

At Closet Writers several weeks ago the prompt I chose was "Describe one thing you feel is necessary for you to do before you die". 

My list of things I want to do before I die is comprehensive; there isn't just one thing, but 249 at last count, and I know that list will grow.  It all started when my daughter's class watched the movie The Bucket List three years ago and the required class assignment was for each student to create their own of things that they wanted to do before they kicked the bucket.  She created a beautiful little book with a list of over one hundred things she wants to accomplish such as visiting a concentration camp, see a Shakespeare play at the globe, make pasta, go to Egypt, and drink a cup of tea at the Empress Hotel.

I was completely inspired and decided that I too wanted to create my own list.  I chose a black leather journal that had the imprint of the Eiffle tower on the front, appropriate because Paris is one of my favorite cities and quite a number of the things I want to do are related to the "city of lights".  There are many travel goals, the desire to meet a couple of specific celebrities but the one outstanding thing on my list, the one that seems to jump off the page each time I look through my journals pages is "Quit work and write full-time".

In the movie, both Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson are diagnosed with terminal cancer and they pursue accomplishing one item on the list after the other because their time was so limited.  For those of us who don't have terminal illnesses, however, creating a bucket list is still a great idea because it is essentially writing down goals. About nine years ago I read a book by Brian Tracy, one of my favorite motivational gurus, and  I decided to follow his advice and write down 25 goals that I wanted to accomplish in the next five years.  Brian's encouraged reading that list every day with the understanding that our mind and subconscious will then work toward things we write down and think about.  I did look over the list I created each day for several weeks but the sheet of paper somehow got buried and I lost track of it.  Seven years later, around the time of Keeley's assignment, my list turned up from its hidden spot inside of a book.

You can imagine my surprise when I looked at the list and realized that I had actually accomplished 24 of the 25 things.  The one thing that I didn't accomplish was related to a financial goal; I was selling antiques and collectibles on the internet at the time and my goal was a certain amount in sales, which looking back was a little unrealistic.  Still, I had one outstanding month where I made 3/4 of what that goal was and that amount was nothing to sneeze at and in truth fulfilled all of my expectations.  It was shortly after all of this that I started my own bucket list.

 

There is my goal to "have dinner with Michael Buble"; that could be subjective--I could put his Michael Buble Meets Madison Gardens show in my DVD player, put on my MB t-shirt, pour a glass of wine and chow down on a salad, steak and baked potato or some strange opportunity will come up, perhaps through his and my connection with BC Children's Hospital, and I will literally have dinner with him and a few hundred other people.  Or maybe I'll win a "Have dinner with Michael Buble contest.  Regardless of how my goal actually plays out I'm going to have a nice evening.

I have every confidence that I will see the sun rise over the pyramids; that was supposed to happen this fall after Keeley's graduation but the political situation there dictates that will be delayed for now.   Perhaps I'll "create a Brother Cadfael herb garden" this spring, "go on a mountain hike" or "ride in a hot air balloon" this summer, or "book a home exchange" and a flight to Switzerland so that I can "stand on a Swiss Alp and yell out "Ricola"."   I might choose to go down to Fraser Street, spend a few dollars so that I can "wear a Sari" or that might have to wait until I stand on the shore of the ocean and "watch the sun rise in India".  This coming Saturday I might decide to "make Yale Hotel Borchst" for guests or "Finish my Raw Foods cookbook and publish it as an ebook".

What constantly amazes me is how when you actually write things down your subconscious really does start working on those items.  One of the recent things I added to my list was "Learn Archery".  It's not something I know anything about or would even know where to start looking.  Then I'm driving down a street that I always drive down and that I have driven down for at least 10 years and I suddenly noticed an Archery store.  It has been there all along but obviously wasn't a focus in my life.  Then two weeks later I'm driving down the same street and see a young man carrying a bow-no doubt walking to the archery store which I then noticed had a sign in the window "Archery Lessons".  I now know where to go and what to do, its just up to me to decide when and how I want to do it.

There are a lot of things I would like to do before I kick the bucket.  Will I accomplish everything listed in my journal?  Maybe, maybe not.  However, my goal to quit work and write full time is something that I really want to accomplish--I'm glad I've got it written down because just doing that one thing is a sure way that it will happen.  Watch the movie, make a list, get things done.

Salynne ©2011

Mr. Bingley Experiments with Drugs

Mr. Bingley, of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice fame, was spoken of as "lively and unreserved" with "unaffected manners".  He was easy going and didn't care about class differences.  Charm came naturally to him and besides being handsome he was rich and just an all around pleasant fellow.

Of course I've read the book too many times to count and my favorite film is the six hour long BBC production starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Crispin Bonham-Carter as Mr. Bingley.  The quality of the acting is outstanding in that version but I have to admit that as far as looks go I prefer the Mr. Bingley played by Simon Woods in the 2005 Keira Knightly production of Pride and Prejudice.  There is just something about that shock of orange red hair and the way that his face lights up in a smile that is charming.

So charming did we find him and his style that we couldn't help but think of this Mr. Bingley when we brought our new cat home from the SPCA several years ago.  Our cat who was originally named "Houston" had gotten out of his cage and climbed up into the duct work of the building causing staff to call the manager and explain, "Houston, we have a problem".  We saw his picture on the SPCA website and drove out to Maple Ridge to have a visit.  There were many cats to chose from but our fellow was a charmer who laid down and rolled around on the floor of the visiting room, making eyes and begging us to come and pet him.

When we brought him home I don't know if we had the movie on or if it was just seeing our new cat sit very gentlemanly on the bookshelf but both Keeley and I looked at each other and said, "Mr. Bingley" in unison.  Our Mr. Bingley has a mane of orange on his head, more orange wrapped around his shoulders and back while the rest of him is white.  When he sits, front feet together, he looks as if he's a stately gentleman in regency era breeches and a jacket.  His personality matches Jane's Mr. Bingley well.  He doesn't care about

classes, going to most people for attention  and he is definitely an all-around pleasant fellow who charms pretty much everyone who comes in

to the house.

Today, though we got to see the "unaffected manner" side of our kitty. 

He is still young and plays quite often but today he was running around the house like a wild-man goofy cat--jumping, leaping, playing with anything he could get his claws on and his eyes were huge and a little glazed.  I was beginning to wonder if there was some truth to the full moon go-crazy theory and then I walked into the bathroom.  The truth was all too evident.   Mr. Bingley had very obviously been experimenting with "drugs".  We have a number of very small narrow shelves next to our tub and he must have stood on his hind legs to reach all the way into the back and somehow drag a herbal bath bag down on to the floor.  He then proceeded to completely shred it and spread it all over the room.   Obviously the lavender mint herbal mixture had something in it, perhaps similar to cat nip, that made him go nuts.  He must have imbibed quite a bit because there was not a whole lot left and what was was not spread around the room was a soggy chewed on mess.

Thankfully, after about an hour, our calm, genial, Mr. Bingley returned and for the past few hours he's been sitting on the window seat in front of our living room window.  I'm not sure if he's still too stoned to do much or recovering from expending too much energy.   Who knows what Mr. Darcy would say about his friend trying "drugs" but hopefully Mr. Bingley has learned his lesson and no future intervention will be necessary.  And as a responsible parent I promise not to buy any more bath infusion mixtures that might be too much of a temptation for our gracious, well-mannered gentleman.  

Mr. Bingley with Jane Austen

Salynne ©2011 

I Love You a Bushel & a Peck

My apologies for not writing over the past month. Things have been busy at work but I have also been suffering from writers block. For the past month I have not been able to write because I have been mourning the loss of someone very special in my life. The following is what came out because of the encouragement I received from my Closet Writers group at work and the opportunity I had tonight at my other writing group to get this down on paper.

I Love You a Bushel & a Peck

Grandma Minnie died last month. She was ninety-two. She wasn't my relation but my husband's grandmother. All of my grandparents had died by the time I was twenty-five so that element of aged wisdom was missing from my life until she came in to it. I treasured Minnie and I loved her because she became my Grandma too.

Minnie was everything a grandmother should be; warm, inviting, ready to wrap you in a hug at a moments notice. She cooked, sewed and canned showing us younger women how it was done. Her homemaking skills were a product of a bygone era when women's rights and equality didn't have a lot of meaning. Most people today would, of course, consider her old-fashioned but I always found comfort in her domesticity and her warm, fresh from the oven cookies. Whenever Bruce and I visited, we women-folk would do the dishes after dinner while the men would go play pool in the basement. Then we would sit in the warm kitchen and play a board game or perhaps sit and chat about local goings on while her knitting needles clacked harmoniously with the sounds of the crickets and night birds.

The last time I saw Minnie she was in the lock down area of a seniors home. Diagnosed with dementia several years previously she needed a safe place and constant care. One of the nurses told me before I went in to visit her that even though she might not remember who I was she was a delightful, happily confused tenant. When I entered Grandma Minnie's room she was laying on her bed reading and re-reading a letter from her daughter, my husbands mother.

She looked up at me. "Well Hello".

"Hello Minnie. It is so good to see you. I've missed you", I said.

Confusion registered on her face and I could see her struggling to remember who I was.

"I'm Susan, your grandson's wife".

"Susan. Well, I like your face. You look like a nice person. I think I like you. Come sit beside me". I did as I was told.

Minnie started to sing, "I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck." She reached over and hugged me. Then she held my face between her hands. "Yes, I like your face. I can tell you are a nice person. I LOVE YOU. I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck."

I stayed for another twenty minutes. I tried to make small talk about her lovely room and asked her how she liked living there. She would start a sentence and then her brow would furrow because she just couldn't hold on to the thought and express what she wanted to say. She would drift off and comment on the weather or talk about her slippers and then sing a bushel and a peck and hug me again. When it was time to go I gave her a final hug and said goodbye.

Walking out of the building tears sprung up in my eyes, not because I was sad, but because I left feeling that somewhere deep down Minnie could sense that I loved her and despite her failing memory I think she felt love for me. Today I look at the photos that I took of her that day, grateful that I captured her happy and grateful that I have a visual portrait of those cherished last moments with her. Yes, I loved her a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.

Salynne ©2010

Poetry - Fifty Years Gone

Insomnia strikes me from time to time and last month was no exception. During these times I sometimes don't remember what I write and like today, I come across a file and wonder how it got there. The following was obviously inspired by my in-laws approaching 50th wedding anniversary, which was beautiful, by the way.

Fifty years gone
Promises and vows of long ago
Not remembered but lived
Youthful dreams relinquished
Family grows and pales
Youthful vigor slides away
Leaving only fraility
And two hearts sitting close
Moving to and fro on their own
But on the same path
Till death do us part

Salynne ©2010

Book Review - Wanted Words

I've discovered that I am a Herbicidal Maniac who often puts things in my Cacheblanca and I suffer regularly from Aneurythms, Namenesia, and Interangst. My husband suffers from Powernoia and Napsnaps and my daughter often wakes in the morning Sheetfaced.

Confused? You will be until you become familiar with some of the words, all created by fellow Canadians, to express things in our society that don't have a name. While perusing a small thrift store in my neighbourhood I came across a small book entitled "Wanted Words From Amalgamots to Undercarments. Starting in mid-2000 CBC Radio One's "This Morning" program put out a call for things and processes that didn't have a name. Listeners wrote emails, sent faxes and phoned in words that filled gaps in the English language.

The book is not only entertaining but I am definitely going to be using and introducing you to some of the the words that somehow really capture those unnamed niches.

Herbacidal Maniac
-noun
a person who kills plants; the opposite of a green thumb. (Jeff Daniels, Kitakami-shi, Japan)
Totally me; I don't think I've had a living houseplant for at least 10 years. Someone brought me a plant recently and it's sitting on my counter. I'm trying to take care of it, really I am, yet I'm watching it slowly die....

Cacheblanca
-noun
a place for safekeeping; valuables, once stored there, are irretrievable because its location cannot be recalled. (Raymond Gallant, Neguac, NB)
The latest thing to go into my Cacheblanca? One of my flash drives; and I should also mention this is often the place I put my glasses whenever I get into the shower.

Anuerythm
-noun
the term for a song that sticks in your head, usually against your will. (Rick Spanjer, Moose Jaw, SK)
They list a number of songs that listeners felt were the greatest anuerythms of all time: Monday, Monday; Stayin' Alive; New York New York; Pink Panther Theme; Beethoven's Fifth Symphony; Goldfinger; I will Survive; Feelings, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head; Hotel California; Don't Worry, Be Happy; Muskrat Love; and anything by ABBA. I bet you are really thanking me about now for listing off all those songs......
Happy Humming!

Namenesia
-noun
the inability to recall the name of someone, even though you know his or her face. (Pat Brown, Sidney, BC)
My biggest fear when I'm at conference, assemblies or meetings.

Interangst
-noun
the waiting period between swiping your credit or debit card and getting approved or denied by the bank. (Joanna McGarvie, Ucluelet, BC)
I never used to suffer this angst until my debit card got cancelled & the bank hadn't had a chance to contact me yet. I had to borrow money from an acquaintance & I could tell that they thought I didn't have enough money in my bank account for a $3.00 coffee!
Powernoia
-noun
an irrational fear of authority, of "getting caught," when you have done absolutely nothing wrong. (Noel Griffin, Vancouver, BC)
My husband suffers from this every time we got through the US/Canadian Border. The guard asks "What city are you all from?" He answers Canada. "What's your country of birth?" He answers Vancouver. "Where are you going?" He answers Orlando (FL) when we're going to Ontario (CA) or San Diego when we're going to San Bernadino. Now I drive until we get to Bellingham.

Napsnaps
-noun
the full body twitch and jerk that often snaps a person out of a sleep just as he or she is drifting off. Sometimes accompanied by a dream of falling or colliding with something. (Ludvick Prevec, Burlington, ON)
The bane of my bedtime existence and the cause of many sleepless hours. I also like some of the other words submitted such as slumberjolt and I think my favorite, slumberjerk!

Sheetfaced
-adjective
having lines on one's face made by pillows and sheets. (Ron Boyle, Careleton Place, ON & Paul Sullivan, Victoria, BC)
My worst experience with this was when we had a layover in an airport and I decided to catch a cat nap. I lay down and used my purse for a pillow. Of course I was awakened during the last call and we ran to the gate. The attendants and Bruce started killing themselves laughing; the lattice pattern of my purse was deeply entrenched on one side of my face.

Wanted Words is a definitely a keeper as far as I'm concerned and a must have for any word lover. After doing an Internet search it appears that this book was a bestseller along with its 2001 sequel, Wanted Words 2-Armajello to Yawncore and they are both sold out at Chapters/Indigo. I have been left hungering for more of these language gap words so I'll be watching at my thrift store and checking out some used book haunts. Oh, and and if you wouldn't mind, can you all check out your Cacheblanca's to see if you might happen to have an extra volume hanging around? Then again, never mind. You'll never be able to find it anyway.

Salynne ©2010

Pictorial Websters - The Making of a Book

John Carerra discovered his grandfather's old tattered copy of the Webster's Pictorial Dictionary under a chair and decided to reprint it. See what this fascinating ten year labour of love involved.
Pictorial Websters-Inspiration to Completion Video

The Leather & Deluxe Leather Bound 100 edition books run between $3500.00 and $4600.00 US dollars at the creators website, Quercus Press. Fortunately for us mortals there is a more realistic Trade Edition that is on sale for $26.33 on Amazon.ca . I also saw these last week at one of our favorite haunts, a fabulous little store on West Broadway called Stepback; although since they were closed I don't have any clue as to the price.

Salynne ©2010

Spring Cleaning - A Dream Come True

Over the past couple of weeks we have been busy doing some of the physical spring cleaning that needs to be done. Last year when we thought we would be moving I started packing up boxes of items that we wanted to keep but didn't need for home staging. Now it's a year later, we're not going anywhere and we have had to decide what we're going to do with these packed treasures.

To get myself in the mood I watched part of the "Hoarders" marathon last weekend--it's that show that tells the stories of people who have serious collecting issues, to the point that their children will be taken away or they'll be evicted from their homes. My family hates when I watch these shows because they know that as soon as its over I go into "Super Susan" cleaning mode; I throw things out and simplify anything my eye lights on and that usually means that I want them to go through their spaces too. Fortunately, the spring cleaning bug has hit them too because they actually watched several shows with me and didn't roll their eyes when I said that we needed to get busy!

After the shows we turned our attention to the myriad of boxes that have been sitting for the better part of a year. Now it is true that some of the things that have sentimental value I have missed, but to tell the truth, probably 80% of what I thought was important was not. If I can live without seeing something for a year chances are it wasn't that valuable in the first place. Ten years ago I read about this technique for people who have trouble getting rid of things and they use it on Hoarders too--you place items into a box, tape it shut and put a date six months in the future. If you haven't gone into the box to retrieve something during that time and the date arrives, you take the box, lock, stock and barrel to charity. I have practiced this in the past but had gotten out of the habit because I thought I was good at getting rid of things. Wrong. The number of boxes of "stuff" that I packed was much bigger than I thought and now that I've been going through them it's surprising that there is so little that really means anything to me. Over the weekend we filled several large boxes and bags with items that someone else should be able to use. We quite obviously will not miss them.

What's been most interesting about this process however is the type of items that I found I really do treasure. There is the odd trinket from someone special or that I picked up in a special place; what I missed the most was my books. Getting back my Cadfael series, a number of self-help books that made an impact over the years on my life and favorite novels was like having a visit with long-lost friends. These are the books that I have and will read over and over again.

The second part of this yearly springtime ritual has been facing some of the storage issues we didn't deal with when we renovated with a view to selling the house. Everything was a quick fix and the reality of getting it ready for show versus living in it means we are reviewing the space we have and making it more practical and useful for our needs. We have taken stock of our boxes of books, culled whatever was not that necessary and have now created an entire library for our spiritual resources in the basement. We also put a bookshelf in our guest room to house less-read but favorite books and its our hope visitors will thank us for having something to read. Near future plans include increasing shelving in our office space for business items but I'm most looking forward to another upcoming project on our list. We're going to start by painting and installing more shelving in our boudoir/closet area and then it will be searching for that just-right, comfy lounge chair. Having my dream of a luxurious and private reading nook where we can curl up and devour our literary treasures come true, is probably going to be one of the best end products of spring cleaning that I'll ever receive!


Salynne©2010

A Woman of a Certain Age

For over a year I have subscribed to a blog, Paris Breakfasts , by photographer & water colour artist Carol Gillot, that caters to my love of both France and New York. She lives in the Big Apple but stalks the streets of Paris three or four times a year; her trips are usually related to food and her love of french macarons. Carol's photography and artwork gives us a glimpse of the everyday, somewhat quirky things that make up the rich culture of the romantic city of lights. Yesterday her posting focused on Older French Women (OFW) or those elegant "Women of a Certain Age". Très bon!

(Photo by Carol Gillot-Paris Breakfasts Blog)

The discussion of older french women reminds me of the comments of Anne Barone in her book (one of my favorite "how to live french" books), Chic & Slim Encore-More About How French Women Dress Chic Stay Slim-and How You Can too. The subheading Women of a Certain Age (page 106) provides an interesting perspective which is very different from our youth obsessed Canadian and American societies. "In France, they don't say a middle-aged woman; they say a "femme d'un certain age," a woman of a certain age. No one need be too certain precisely what that age is. The French are not so youth focused as the Americans......The French are comfortable with obvious signs of age." "The French revere fine old wines....In France, la femme mure, the "ripe" mature woman too is revered." French culture is certainly different in its view of older women and it is clear these women themselves have a certain grace that older North American women do not have.

(photo by Carol Gillot-Paris Breakfasts Blog)

I agree with Anne's further comments that it is perhaps that French women have better role models in this age group than we do; in looking into my history I know this is certainly the case. My grandparents on my father's side were immigrants so my Grandmother was a farm wife with no more than one or two practical cotton dresses in her closet. Spending time on herself was relegated to washing her hair once a week in rain water. My maternal grandmother was Métis and living below the poverty line, so as a single parent, just getting any hand-me-down clothes on the backs of her children was a challenge. She continued to work until she was past sixty-five and during her retirement years she would buy new things for her children & grandchildren but felt that any type of thrift store clothing was good enough for her. Once my mom left home she worked to leave the first nation stigma and poverty behind and "passed for white". From the time she dated my father until after my brother and I were born, photos show she followed in the style footsteps of Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn & Chanel. I rather doubt though that she did anything to really take care of herself or establish regular beauty routines. Unfortunately she got very sick around the time I was eight or nine so all I really knew was a mother who spent the rest of the majority of her life in a housecoat in a house with the curtains drawn.

During my tween years my mom’s best friend entered into our lives and Angele became my second mom. Her grandmother and mother raised her in what I would consider more of a French or at least European style and she had opportunity to learn from them, especially as they became women of a certain age. Angele was the one who took me to the store to buy perfume for the first time and discussed the idea of having a signature fragrance. She continued helping me in the early years of my marriage by teaching me how to iron properly, how to wash fine china & crystal, and how to spend more money on fewer, but quality clothes. My life then got derailed during the eight years that my daughter was alive; she needed 24 hour care so it was difficult to get more than 4 hours of sleep at night, style had no place in my washable, stretchy pants wardrobe, ironing anything went out the window & there was absolutely no time for anything personal.

When we took our first trip to France in 1999 I learned about the mysterious personal style & elegance that these women seem to come by so naturally and I’ve been working since then to adopt ever more French sensibilities, culture and style. Old habits die hard though, especially eating habits, but I am continually searching to find the originality and chic style that the women in Carol’s photos have. If as the poster above indicates, older French women are forty years old and up, then that means I’m already in this age group and I still have a lot of work to do. Perhaps by the time I’m in my eighties, like Carol’s OFW, cousine second, I’ll have the self-knowledge and acceptance that I see so clearly in her beautiful aged and lined face. For those of us who don't have French mom's as mentors it was very refreshing yesterday to have some guidance and a vision of what my future can hold; above all else it reinforced for me all that I want to pass on to my own daughter.

(Photo by Carol Gillot-Paris Breakfasts Blog)

Thanks to Carol for the use of her photos today!

Salynne ©2010

An Eye Opening Email

"Have I got a TV show for you!" That was the opening line to an email sent by a friend recently. It was also an eye opener into an aspect of my life that I hadn't really considered before. My friend said that she loves all things British and suspected that we had "a similar leaning too......*wink." A "Love of all things British", whatever could've given her that idea? And was it true?

I took a quick survey of my bookshelves which tended to reveal a love of British authors like Jane Austen, Ellis Peters, PJ Wodehouse, & Agatha Christie. It was also interesting to see that my love seems to extend from historical times; Cadfael in the 1300's, Anne Elliot's early nineteenth century, Amelia Peabody in the enlightened Victorian age, Poirot's mystery cases in the 1920's & 1930's, on to Juliet Ashton's letters written just after the second world war and ending finally with the cases of Inspector Morse, Lynley and Barnaby of the 1980's, 90's and present day.

My DVD cupboard tells the same story with theatrical renditions of my favorite books: Cadfael, Jeeves & Wooster, House of Elliot, Poirot, and Midsomer Murders. On a side note-although I so obviously love England & the countryside I really would not want to live in the (fictional) county of Midsomer-its not a safe place, just too many murders!

Next I wandered over to my tea cupboard and there were no big surprises there either; Twinings Earl Grey, Harrods loose leaf Rose Petal Tea, and Whittard of Chelsea Chocolate Chai. Tea is generally the drink of choice next to water in this household, we hold after school tea time sacred and frequent the very English, Secret Garden Tea Company at least once a month.

(The Jane Austen Tea we held last summer)

Then in one of those AH HA moments, it occurred to me that, next to Victoria, I live in one of THE most British cities in all of Canada. New Westminster, "The Royal City" is oldest city in Western Canada, established of course by the very English Royal City Engineers and personally named by Queen Victoria herself. I live on and walk through my neighbourhood on streets that are all named in honor of English towns and areas. The biggest celebration of the year, held since 1870 is Queen Victoria's birthday combined with May Day celebrations. The primary schools here spend several months and a final two weeks in preparing their children to dance around the Maypole; which I certainly do not think is a good way to spend their time especially when you consider Beltane & Walpurgis Night, the original celebrations it's based on & the May pole dance which was enacted generally to ensure fertility for humans, animals and crops. However, as the city's website states "Our community isn’t just another suburb of a larger city – New Westminster’s heritage, traditions and character sets us apart with a unique identity." I have to admit that the "small town" feel is one of the reasons why we moved back here. I've often bragged that it is one of the only areas in the lower mainland that is considered a small town in the a big city wherein the front page of the local newspaper will feature the fiftieth anniversary of well-known couple who've more than likely lived their entire life here.

Last but not least I looked at my own signature. My married name "Greig" comes from the Scottish McGregor Clan; my husband's mother was a "Little", definitely an English/Scottish name and to cement the fact, her family participates in the yearly provincial Scottish games. We even blessed both our daughter's with Irish Gaelic names- Keeley and Brenna Colleen! So, despite the fact that I have an extreme love affair with France, as also evidenced by my bookshelves, DVD's, decor and food in my cupboard & fridge, I'm surrounded by all things British.

So in the spirit of recognizing this new found truth I want to share with you what my friend shared with me: The BCC television shows called "The Supersizers Go......" and "The Supersizers eat....". As I have learned on doing research, the shows are based on the concept of the documentary "Supersize Me" wherein the filmmaker documents his 30 days of eating only McDonalds. In the TV shows, British restaurant critic, Giles Coran and broadcaster & comedian Sue Perkins "eat" and enjoy a typical lifestyle thru various ages of British history. Before each week of eating and living for whichever time period has been chosen they visit a doctor and return later to find out the effects the diet had on their bodies.

Via Youtube I have already watched all of the "parts" of the Supersizers go Victorian and the food channel featured The Supersizers Go Restoration last Saturday morning. I'm already a confirmed fan and have set up my PVR to record other episodes on the Food Channel. Besides getting a glimpse into British history it's completely entertaining to see this modern day couples reaction to some of the horrendous foods and items that were eaten and the sometimes ridiculous lifestyles that were consider de rigueur during those days. Be sure to check them out!

Salynne ©2010