It finally looks like winter

It finally looks like winter. Its snowing, has been since around 5:00 am est and now just a few flackes are coming down. Its a wonderful blanket of white.

It may warm up and melt, but its at least the season it is suppose to be.

What a blissfull Christmas Morn,,,,,,

It was clear last night, as we attended the Christmas Eve service. It was a beautiful service, with communion, with unleven bread, something my father would have loved, since he insisted for years at the church to have this.

As we departed, the Northern cross stood in the west behind the church. Though all of Cygnus was there, only the bright stars of the cross shone through.

We came home, and I quickly went out to see Rho cass, and a meteor shot over head. I looked at M42 (Orion nebula) and marvelled at the site.

It's Christmas morn, after 5:00 am, and I came down to bring the stockings. I placed them under the tree, gave the cats an extra can of cat food, after all it is Christmas day, and made some tea for Matt and coffee for me.

I went outside to greet the morning. It was a chilly -2.3C and foggy, with frost on everthing, so since there is no snow, it is technically white out. Old Jack Frost breathed some cool air, and frosted over the ground.

Through the fog I could see the Ursa Major (the big dipper) and Vega rising in the east. There were some stars overhead, but the fog and cloud hampered their viewing. The sound of the Napanee River flowing over the falls in Yarker, was the only sound to be heard, on such a wonderful, peaceful morning.

Its December 24th,and the sun is shinning

What a wonderful day. Its December 24th, +7C, no snow (yuck) and a beautiful day.

In fact , I just pulled some onions out of the north garden and will use them tomorrow for dinner. I feed the birds, lots of red headed finches, and sparrows. There are lots of hawks around, as the mice seem to be plentyful this time of year, since it is so warm.

It is still quite windy outside, but the sun is very nice. I did do some solar observing, no groups but on the east limb, there is an area of activity, and some phlanging.

I am enjoying the time off. I made 2 pumpking pies, 1 apple pie, 9 small apple tarts, and 4 small loaves of banana bread. The turkey is sitting in the brine in the cooler, and we are ready to go for this evening's dinner, then to the Christmas Eve service at Trinity United.

Though, I am sad that Dad and Helena are not here, I am also at peace.

Watching the clouds grow in the blue sky, as they push apart and spread, is quite interesting.

Oh, I must go pull down the stockings, and get them filled......

till later, peaceful day............

A crack in my heart

There is a crack in my heart tonight, I am sure it might have been there all along, but tonight it presented itself to me.

I went for a walk, the skies opened up, and I was able to see the stars, Orion, and the cresent moon in the west, it was low, but it hung like an ornament on a tree, a golden shade of mustard.

The rapids in the village at the bridge were roaring, and white, its strength amazing. The light in the church by the river, presented a scene in stain glass, that calmed the soul. On the way to the bridge was a manger scene, that is what its all about, the celebration of the Christs birth, it has nothing to do with the problems at hand, the issues that ravage the soul or mind, but the celebration of the infants birth, the innocence and rebirth, a time of reconsideration, of looking back, of seeing what has been, and how we could make it better.

I miss my Dad, this is the first Christmas without him, and I miss him so much. We will all feel the loss, and some of us have more pain than others, but we are all in the sorrow together.

The wind is strong, you can hear the cracks in the branches of the trees, and lights glisten in the wind. There are some beautiful lights in the village. The Christmas trees shine through the windows, and the candle lights shine in all the windows giving a welcoming sign.

I am somewhat deflated on the Christmas feeling right now, at the present moment. The crack in my heart, was unexpected, but none the same it is there, and now do I patch it, or let it spread wider?

Waiting for noon

Well, its Friday December 22, and still no snow on the ground. We have cloud expecting a possibility of ice rain, rain later today. This morning we were blessed with a beautiful sun rise that kissed the clouds into a spectacular crimson colour and against the dark clouds it was breath taking.

We are off at noon a work. My shopping is done, we will go home and enjoy the afternoon, quiet, wrap presents and watch the Christmas shows. I am looking forward to the time off, to be with family and friends. A warm fire,some egg nogg and looking at the birds, waiting for the food...........lightly tapping their feet on the feeder.

The Simple Things

Its taken awhile to get to the new blog, but I have done it. So many things have happened over the last week. Its been a time of stress, joy, sorrow, wonder, and smiles.

From sun dogs, aurora, deer in the front yard, the warmth of the sun on your face in the middle of the afternoon. These are the simple things that make you smile and give thanks.

I wrote my gardening exam last week on Wednesday after work. I think I did rather well. We got the Christmas tree up and decorated. It is drinking water like crazy and has fallen so the area it sits takes up all the room, no room for presents, now what do you do, take them back : )

My brother is still working on his house(Dad's old house) and coming along. My daughter is working and doing Operation Red Nose this year, what a wonderful thing to do.

Kevin is working on a bunch of electronic projects, webcams, computers, robo dome , and me well, I am getting back into the projects I want to do for me. Gardening, seed saving, learning the ropes on doing it right, and what to look for in the seed if they are infested, or diseased. Thinking of the spring garden, and of course doing Astronomy.

Its been so warm here in the Yarker area, yesterday +8c-way too warm for December 18th, we should be in the -10 C range, and with some snow, not green grass and iris's that are pushing there way up through the soil, this has really been a strange fall/winter season.

Observing has been dreadful, the skies have been so cloudy and raining alot. I am very worried about my garlic this year, wondering if it will come up, or will it be mush from the water.

We did manage to see some aurora on December 14th, which was spawned from the X6 flare from the sun on December 12th, here is a picture to show you. It was nice to see some sort of aurora and there was some clear sky over the house, here is another picture, it is Orion over the house, clouds in the sky, and the dreaded light pollution coming from Kingston.

In the coming week, it will be busy, getting ready for the Christmas dinner, Christmas Eve, and hoping that nothing was forgotten. If I don't get back to post, Happy Holiday Season everyone!

Still Raining

Well, we didn't win the plastic pepper pot prize at the Chili-feast in Newburgh. But it was fun. Kevin ranked our chili the lowest, so it went into the freezer when we got home, and I will slowly consume it over the next several months.

Though some wanted the recipe, I am not so sure they may have been just being nice.

I think I am in a blue funk, or with all this rain a grey funk.

I am finding these days that I am giving more out of myself than I can re-energize, and I am running on empty......just dragging. I can't seem to get happy, I smile, I hear myself laugh , but the moment is fleeitng.

There is always so much to do, and never anytime to enjoy what you want to do.

more later......

Rain Rain go away

Its been raining all day now, and expected to continue tomorrow. Its cold (7C) grey, wet, and windy.

Did some dishes at the church bazaar, and caught up reading on my Horticultural class, with two cats who came to help.

Tonight we will be in Newburgh for the Annual Chilifest. Will we defend our title, and re-win the plastic pepper pot so it can adorn on top of the fridge? Who knows, but the Malox is packed.

Today's Journey

Today's Journey

Well, its been awhile, since I wrote here, but I have wrote my thoughts elsewhere. 2006 has been a bitter sweet year so far. In February my father passed away. A month later, my stepmother passed away. We have cleaned out the house and have readied it forsale, but my brother is moving down, and has expressed interest in purchasing it. We are so excited that he is coming home.

In April Kevin surprized me with an 8" telescope, and it is wonderful, we still have not named her, but we will find the perfect name.

We have had some holidays, some bad days of hurt and good days with friends. We are going on a trip out west, doing things we want to do, and to visit Kevin's Grandmother, and Dad, which will be fun to see the family homestead.

Well, just an update on the situation for last 8 months, the pain is still there, and will be for quite awhile, but with family and friends, it helps to heal the wounds.

January 29,2006

Its cloudy today, with rain expected today and the rest of the week. The temperatures will lower and get cool again.

Yesterday, we were at +12C blue sky and sunshine all day long. There were no spots on the sun, it was bare.

We sat outside on the deck, and drank strawberry daiquiris, longing for the later spring days and summer nights.

The greenhouse was 24C inside, and wonderfully warm and cozy, a wonderful feeling on a January day, which is suppose to be winter.

till later , clear skies and keep looking up.