People like myself (bookkeepers & accountants) are sometimes referred to as bean counters. The none-too-complimentary implication is that we spend hours at our desks sorting beans into little piles with no idea of what those beans represent. It isn't necessarily so. I used to work in the quality assurance department of a factory that made … Continue reading Bean counters
Whimsy
Let’s eradicate Black Friday in Canada
In the USA, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, the day that Christmas merchandise goes on sale for the first time. It's a big thing, usually the highest dollar volume of sales for the year. In Canada it obviously just a crass copy-cat attempt to pry a little more money out of shoppers' bank … Continue reading Let’s eradicate Black Friday in Canada
Thanks-living
Minimum Requirements For Farming
A wide-brimmed hat, one pair of blue jeans and $20 boots from the discount store. At least two head of livestock, preferably cattle, one male and one female. A new air-conditioned pickup with automatic transmission, power steering and a trailer hitch. A dog to ride in the bed of the pickup. A gooseneck trailer small … Continue reading Minimum Requirements For Farming
Winter’s adventure lost
Seventy years ago, when our family wanted to go somewhere in winter we used a cutter much like the one illustrated. We dressed very warmly, heated a stone or two in the oven, placed them on the floor of the cutter and draped horsehide robes over our laps and feet. Nowadays, I push a button … Continue reading Winter’s adventure lost
A rock of refuge
In 1951 the doctor told Dad he had an ulcer and needed to eat a very bland diet and find a less stressful lifestyle. Thus it happened that in October of that year we loaded all our possessions and left the land of hills and sloughs for a new home in a land of ravines … Continue reading A rock of refuge
What’s in the bottle?
Once upon a time a family was given a wonderful elixir that would cure every disease of mankind. They bottled it in plain brown bottles and offered it for sale to others. The price was very high and it didn't taste very good, but it worked. As time went on the descendants of this family … Continue reading What’s in the bottle?
Second thoughts and scattered thoughts
Upon reading my last post, about my father, after I had posted it, I realize that it is an even rougher first draft than I had thought. It does altogether too much telling and not enough showing. It needs a serious rewrite, but I won't post the rewrite. Everything I post here will need to … Continue reading Second thoughts and scattered thoughts
Succotash
Today is Thanksgiving in Canada and for some reason my mind drifted back to a meal we were served many years ago at a family reunion in Massachusetts. Succotash was served at the first Thanksgiving meal at Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was prepared by people of the Narragansett tribe, from native North American vegetables that had … Continue reading Succotash
How much do cats really know?
I took Angus to the vet this morning; Angus being the middle of our three cats, officially described as domestic short hair, but mostly Siamese in temperament. He knows what's in store when the cat carrier appears and did not enter it willingly. Once the car was moving he commenced a deep-voiced mournful wail that … Continue reading How much do cats really know?
Flatlander Faith 