I hope my readers will forgive me as I go off on another rant. I promise to soon get back to more normal posts. (Normal for this blog, at least.) Today is the second Monday in October – Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Thanksgiving is not quite as big a deal in Canada as it is … Continue reading What on earth is a “Canadian Black Friday” sale?
Whimsy
Tips for newcomers to Canada – No. 1
Listen carefully when Canadians talk about the weather and you will discover there is a protocol that we all follow. For instance, here where I live, we just had an early snowstorm. When we get together with neighbours, the first thing one does is to complain about the weather: “It’s not fit for man nor … Continue reading Tips for newcomers to Canada – No. 1
Did Moses speak with a stutter?
We know the story. Moses was an Israelite child raised by an Egyptian princess. After he had lived as a prince for 40 years. He fled Egypt after an unfortunate incident and spent the next 40 years as a Midianite shepherd. Now God was asking him to go back to the Israelite people, speak to … Continue reading Did Moses speak with a stutter?
The folly of fashion
Fashion is something barbarous, for it produces innovation without reason and imitation without benefit. -George Santayana
Dementia
My mother wasn't able to look after herself anymore and had come to live with us. One day a conversation with a visitor went like this: —How old are you? —What year is it? —Two thousand and four —Then I am ninety-six. That was my mother; she couldn't remember how old she was, but she … Continue reading Dementia
Summer hibernation
Two weeks ago, we still occasionally ran the air conditioner to make the house comfortable. Now we use heaters in the morning to make it comfortable. We haven't seen hummingbirds at our feeder for four days now. Blackbirds are gathering by the hundreds, sometimes perched all along the wires of the power lines. We hear … Continue reading Summer hibernation
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables
Old wives' fables really are the words that the Apostle wrote. I thought perhaps this was some colourful turn of phrase courtesy of the translators. But no, this is an accurate translation of the Greek. Why do we associate old women and questionable stories? I have a theory. Older women tend to think of themselves … Continue reading But refuse profane and old wives’ fables
My way is the best
I grew up in rural Saskatchewan. My mother had a huge garden, producing enough potatoes, carrots, peas, beans and other veggies to last all year. The potatoes and carrots went into large bins in our cool cellar. Other veggies, fruits and meats were canned in glass jars. She bought flour in 100 lb bags and … Continue reading My way is the best
Two shall become one
– But it's easier said than done. On Sunday, before God and 500 witnesses in our country church, a young man and a young woman said their vows, joined hands and were declared husband and wife. Our little church could not possibly hold 500 people, even with chairs in the aisles and all the way … Continue reading Two shall become one
Scrambled thoughts on a Monday morning
I woke up some time after 7:00 am and found I was alone in bed. I wondered how long that had been. Through the closed bedroom door I could hear the muffled sound of the washing machine. What was that about? I thought she did all the laundry on Saturday. After stumbling around groggily for … Continue reading Scrambled thoughts on a Monday morning
Flatlander Faith 