tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39503082794783423742024-03-18T21:29:22.938-06:00Correspondence Quarter1. Set a timer for 15 minutes. 2. Write a letter. 3. Address an envelope and add sufficient postage. 4. Pop sealed item(s) in the mail. 5. Give a contented sigh.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-47748325194825369192011-05-20T11:25:00.001-06:002011-05-20T11:55:20.095-06:00Fond farewell to blogging (for now)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Dear occasional readers, “followers” and faithful friends</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">For several years I have been blogging rather randomly, at least according to my profile—although one of my blogs has seen more activity than others. In recent weeks I have undergone some changes in my health (and, alas, a return of that old nemesis, carpal tunnel syndrome). While I work towards using my hands less (!) to relieve the immediate symptoms of CTS, I have made the radical decision to cease and desist from blogging for the foreseeable future. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love</i> writing, and will most likely continue to do so (it’s oxygen for my soul), but I suspect I blog each week more out of habit than anything else. It seemed a good idea at the time….</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Thank you for your kind input in my life in general, and this blog in particular. I shall leave the blog active for a while, and then decide whether or not to delete it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Please stay in touch via e-mail: <a href="mailto:emph71@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">emph71@gmail.com</span></a> or FB: <a href="mailto:facebookphillips@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">facebookphillips@gmail.com</span></a>; I shall also post updates on my Web site: <a href="http://www.elainemaryphillips.com/">http://www.elainemaryphillips.com/</a> – thanks again. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-21910413401172495002011-05-15T22:33:00.002-06:002011-05-16T00:22:32.839-06:00Friends, Moments, Countryside (FMC)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">This has been a full and rich month already, to say the least. Almost each day I write down “three beautiful things” (3BT—see earlier tags), but tonight I decided to change my title to reflect the sweeping scale of recent reminiscences. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">In honour of Peter Gzowski, then, I am henceforth (re)labelling my 3BT tags “Friends, Moments, Countryside” (FMC).<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3950308279478342374#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">For years I have toyed with the idea of using Mr. Gzowski’s title somewhere in my own writings—these particular section titles (humorously adapted from Shakespeare’s “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” in Julius Caesar’s act III, scene II) have helped shaped my current anthology of letters; I was an ardent fan of Gzowski’s monthly <strong>Canadian Living</strong> column, and on Friday I bought several of his compilations at the annual CBC book sale (no doubt this beloved late author would have been pleased to learn of our support for literacy). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz975uxcvS5-ROlhfRhhwgP3uf2C7BZeTODhJRDsY5D4MuxjH8-I2fQYk47YarARfs4K6fbUrirBIdTw3oQkx6AUWYg8dyzjrROnaNblwhNA3leSGbPX82BhyphenhyphenlfuCyPSMswrrCkUGuYiru/s1600/books+1169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz975uxcvS5-ROlhfRhhwgP3uf2C7BZeTODhJRDsY5D4MuxjH8-I2fQYk47YarARfs4K6fbUrirBIdTw3oQkx6AUWYg8dyzjrROnaNblwhNA3leSGbPX82BhyphenhyphenlfuCyPSMswrrCkUGuYiru/s320/books+1169.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKPfWkSBEhLeMoZXZZHf7e2RWPXFTsywKnT0fSapI00FEBa_KUlXd0BwLsHHVEbqnUzJme43qfP2heX6N-jDjFbdMmxV9FXv5U30gF3IUdq3fuyGq88Mc53CisuAASu48kYhEux5pBay2/s1600/books+1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKPfWkSBEhLeMoZXZZHf7e2RWPXFTsywKnT0fSapI00FEBa_KUlXd0BwLsHHVEbqnUzJme43qfP2heX6N-jDjFbdMmxV9FXv5U30gF3IUdq3fuyGq88Mc53CisuAASu48kYhEux5pBay2/s320/books+1170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">With no further ado, then, see my next post for the first 3BT/FMC I wish to share….</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3950308279478342374#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Peter Gzowski, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Friends, Moments, Countryside: Selected Columns from Canadian Living, 1993–98</i> (McClelland & Stewart, 1998). </span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-37689691646927913022011-05-15T22:13:00.001-06:002011-05-16T00:25:55.407-06:00Sunday seren(dip)ity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tIfqEZzSIwS2KZjjneb_PMsq4npvOe7gwLJekWxKeyd2T6buX5aqfQ2C3dgqj3hoCWFMRJuBHUTL0iBB4uVkLOJOcujI00MIvQU4Nk4vqudPK2_2lm_PCvEeaWB8Jl8HYxzQpakSy4g3/s1600/Cochrane+1321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tIfqEZzSIwS2KZjjneb_PMsq4npvOe7gwLJekWxKeyd2T6buX5aqfQ2C3dgqj3hoCWFMRJuBHUTL0iBB4uVkLOJOcujI00MIvQU4Nk4vqudPK2_2lm_PCvEeaWB8Jl8HYxzQpakSy4g3/s200/Cochrane+1321.JPG" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[Cochrane railway]</div><br />
On this eve of late sunshine and pre-summer stillness—and the sound of a train rumbling through Cochrane—with the view of a snowless evergreen to my right [see photos] and piles of paper toppling over on the shelves and floor behind me (I share office space with my accountant hubby who has just survived his <strong>twentieth</strong> tax season), I sit before my screen and write this very long intro to a very short blog post. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRVd_6dYJZaZZ12fzLcPmSyBHP-sa87q0iHmeNJYjTVHKoi_dQGqiHFN59N8R0te26OurJQ5Kh7xTIkT5q2LINQ9XjDfi3cm3ZN8qr59ACDrrIHCHlHriDNjSwh2AHGfRT9wO5XnIEkKB/s1600/window+view+1048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRVd_6dYJZaZZ12fzLcPmSyBHP-sa87q0iHmeNJYjTVHKoi_dQGqiHFN59N8R0te26OurJQ5Kh7xTIkT5q2LINQ9XjDfi3cm3ZN8qr59ACDrrIHCHlHriDNjSwh2AHGfRT9wO5XnIEkKB/s200/window+view+1048.JPG" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[window view]</div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">All is well. My recent many-day headache (possibly exacerbated by barometric pressure changes) has lifted and “I can see clearly now the pain has gone.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Tonight I hope to capture some of the corresponding thoughts (!) that were whirling free in my foggy brain this past week. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Also please see next post for a tag change, from 3BT (“three beautiful things”) to …? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-80196855488302187182011-05-15T21:07:00.002-06:002011-05-15T21:07:42.409-06:00The View From Here: Window on Alberta<div style="margin: 1em 0px 3px;"><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thepeartree/feed/~3/JMkCNyZr1lc/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" name="12ff5b45a1c60ce9_1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;" target="_blank">The View From Here: Window on Alberta</a> </div><div style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 140%; margin: 9px 0px 3px;"><span>Posted:</span> 15 May 2011 02:07 PM PDT</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 140%; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" height="291" title="Window view of Alberta office in which I read The Pear Tree" width="432" /><br />
<span title="A"><span>A</span></span> frequent commenter on The Pear Tree site, Elaine Phillips recently sent us these snapshots of her office in Cochrane, Alberta (near Calgary), where she usually reads <em>TPT</em> and writes to us from.<br />
<a href="http://thepeartree.ca/2011/05/the-view-from-here-window-on-alberta/" target="_blank">Read more on The View From Here: Window on Alberta…</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-23355830628555573472011-05-13T11:18:00.009-06:002011-05-13T11:18:52.117-06:003BT Friday:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-91141644202512390512011-05-13T11:18:00.005-06:002011-05-13T11:18:37.486-06:003BT Thursday:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-57161633926163444662011-05-13T11:18:00.001-06:002011-05-13T11:18:22.192-06:003BT Wednesday:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-64089188347101543412011-05-10T23:08:00.000-06:002011-05-10T23:08:27.941-06:003BT: Hans; S’African treats; Lori’s 50th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>Massage</strong> with the lovely Hans (and the end of a three-day headache)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Meeting Hester and Willem at the new <strong>Cochrane Butchery</strong> and buying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">biltong</i> (similar to beef jerkey) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">droëwors </i>(also dried meat) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ouma</i> rusks and fig jam! Oh, and Mrs H.S. Balls Peach Chutney. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bobotie</i> coming up! </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Tonight was our monthly SLT meeting* at our church in Calgary. Also: Lori A’s <strong>50<sup>th</sup> birthday</strong>. Glad I was able to attend both, since LA’s (surprise!) par-tay was held at the church. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">*Spiritual Leadership Team </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-17328536617910850462011-05-10T23:00:00.000-06:002011-05-10T23:00:19.709-06:00No (e)mail on MondayUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-7089922741857845372011-05-08T23:34:00.001-06:002011-05-08T23:35:05.960-06:003BT: Mother’s Day; Hannah; R&R<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>Mother’s day</strong> phone calls (to our three moms: Beth, Lynnette and Diana)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>Hannah </strong>sermon at DCC</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Peaceful afternoon of <strong>reading and rest</strong> (and a shower of rain) </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">P.S. It’s also my parents’ 46<sup>th</sup> <strong>wedding anniversary</strong> today: CONGRATULATIONS, Mom and Dad! </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-52795053158114757902011-05-08T23:18:00.001-06:002011-05-08T23:27:10.119-06:003BT Saturday: after-gym treats; grad; farewell BBQ<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Coffee and <strong>cinnamon melts</strong> after gym</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>Graduation</strong></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>After-grad BBQ</strong> at the home of a graduate’s in-laws (and lengthy theological debates over cheesecake and coffee)</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-3837538627741664832011-05-06T22:55:00.002-06:002011-05-08T23:26:26.628-06:003BT: Sweet sixteen, King’s Fold (Day 2), celebration supper and dessert<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Beautiful memories of our <strong>wedding day</strong>, sixteen years ago: 6 May 1995. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Celebrating with the <strong>King’s Fold</strong> community—and being treated after lunch to chef Cathy’s strawberries-and-cream surprise called the “E&R trifle”! </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Supper at Smitty’s with our Fairman friends, followed by a dessert reception at seminary in <strong>celebration</strong> of our graduands. (My heart was encouraged by the words of a graduating student who honoured me in his tribute.) </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-27712165846555511942011-05-06T22:47:00.001-06:002011-05-08T23:24:49.160-06:003BT: (Thurs) Tea with LC, King’s Fold (Day 1), unexpected loft photo<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 83.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -47.25pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>On Thursday RP and I met at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tea…and Other Things</b> to say hi and bye to our student (and meet her family from Colorado). Aleta is planning on drinking her way through the selection of available teas before her graduation in a couple of years. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 83.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -47.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 83.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -47.25pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>After tea, my sweet-sixteen spouse drove me out to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">King’s Fold</b> to spend a night relaxing in the peace of one of our favourite places. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 83.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -47.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 83.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -47.25pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>When I went upstairs to read in the sunny loft, I immediately noticed a photo on the wall of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">bunch of grapes</b>…taken by RP in a Franschhoek vineyard! (I had donated the photo years earlier and it had since made its way into room 2, where we slept on Thursday.) </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 83.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -47.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 83.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -47.25pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Bonus: Meeting Jamie at the supper table who knew our neighbours (and my colleague’s family); meeting Tim at the supper table, just home from Haiti, who knew a friend of ours from Three Hills. “It’s a small, <strong>small world</strong>.” </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-73697631769694211652011-05-04T19:32:00.000-06:002011-05-04T19:32:33.967-06:003BT: A walk in the park, editing with Evie, coffee with Tammy<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>I just got home from a long <strong>walk in the park</strong> with my sweet spouse. (Gym partner WB is absent tonight, so my hubby joined me for my daily exercise.) </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Met with EGM, writing/accountability partner, to work on our <strong>book about writing</strong> (yes, in letter format). Watch this space 3 months from now. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Wednesday it is, and my weekly treat is meeting TM from the city for <strong>scintillating conversation</strong> and a cup of something delicious (tea for me, coffee for T). </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-8662240465433120862011-05-04T19:29:00.000-06:002011-05-04T19:29:55.238-06:00"Dear Letter"Earlier today, "A Year of Letters" posted the following gem; how could I not share it here?<br />
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See the original at: <a href="http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/">http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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<div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: #ccc 1px solid; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div style="max-width: 1024px; min-width: 600px;"><div style="background-color: whitesmoke; border-bottom: #ccc 1px solid; border-left: #ccc 1px solid; border-right: #ccc 1px solid; border-top: #ccc 1px solid; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 1.5em 1em 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1em; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; padding-top: 1em;"><table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="margin-right: 7px; width: 48px;" valign="top"><a href="http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/author/ayearofletters/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="48" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: #ddd 1px solid; border-left: #ddd 1px solid; border-right: #ddd 1px solid; border-top: #ddd 1px solid; margin-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px; width: 48px;" width="48" /> </a></td><td valign="top"><h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 1.6em; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/dear-letter/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dear Letter,</a> </h2><div style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 4px;"><strong><a href="http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/author/ayearofletters/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ayearofletters</a></strong> | May 4, 2011 at 11:08 AM | </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Dear Letter,<br />
I'm sorry it's taken me twenty years to reconnect with you. I'm not sure what I was thinking. A bit of me didn't know where I could send you, so few seem to be interested in letter writing anymore. But I got over that and decided to reconnect with you even if others weren't.<br />
Since we last me in person I've been emailing, skyping, blogging and talking on my cell phone. But I missed you. Your presence in my mailbox. The crinkle of paper, smudged ink, a written address on your envelope instantly revealing the sender because of the handwriting. Oh I know some of my missing you is age and sentimentalsm. But it's also getting to a point in life where I realize how important you are.<br />
I hope you're treated well. I hope people recognize your sincerity and don't think I'm a fool for reconnecting with you. Sometimes I feel a bit silly and embarrassed by my love of you. But that's my pride speaking, so I quite intend to keep loving you and not worry about man's opinion of you and I.<br />
Thanks for helping me connect with people, love people, learn of people, share of myself, and leave behind a bit of history (all knowing it could be at the bottom of some garbage dump). That's ok though, for you know what we've shared.<br />
So wonderful to talk with and through you. I look forward to many more meetings through the mail. You are part of present and part of my past!<br />
With Great Affection, A Year of Letters<br />
<div style="clear: both;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.4em;"><a href="http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/dear-letter/#respond" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Add a comment to this post</a> </div></div></div></div></blockquote></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-54149951471526643602011-05-03T20:30:00.006-06:002011-05-16T00:16:50.046-06:003BT: Pyjama day; chatting to my folks; afternoon rain<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Today I worked from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">home sweet home</b>: bliss. No need to leave to escape the noise (and fumes) of renos in the basement; no need to tiptoe around, not wishing to disturb convalescing patient downstairs (not that I’m noisy). In fact, I quietly stayed in my <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pyjamas </b>ALL day! </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Mid-morning I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">called my parents</b> in South Africa and we chatted for ages. It’s been too long (I write more often than I phone). </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">During my conversation with my mom, RP came home bearing groceries (oh, sweet spouse!) and I packed them away while talking on the phone. </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">I managed to drop half a dozen eggs—and break three—while continuing to enjoy a coherent conversation. Then I took a photo. And I cleaned up! With one hand! (I can still hear the sound of my mom’s laughter at her clumsy older daughter.) </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiBgAS_IiT4i-v0bI2NsGEl-pRUJ9T6Cb78hdjiccRp9mxwzHNEHyWPnnk3rsZ_JPM7IPDpOIT8xO2Bg6XyUXddczRgvgPIeFfx79JXuLCPFd-DyMpu_hJCluahX7Ez0Vjf6EZCWS6ltR/s1600/Oops%2521+1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiBgAS_IiT4i-v0bI2NsGEl-pRUJ9T6Cb78hdjiccRp9mxwzHNEHyWPnnk3rsZ_JPM7IPDpOIT8xO2Bg6XyUXddczRgvgPIeFfx79JXuLCPFd-DyMpu_hJCluahX7Ez0Vjf6EZCWS6ltR/s200/Oops%2521+1050.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>[Oops!]</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>Rain</strong>. Always a Beautiful Thing in dry Alberta.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;">[cloud reflection in puddle] </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-66303429803112441692011-05-02T23:20:00.003-06:002011-05-02T23:21:35.999-06:003BT: late morning; sunny day to vote; tea…and other things<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sleeping late</b>; waking up in our home knowing our company (nine weeks<span style="color: #cc0000;">’</span> worth) had left. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Driving around in the warm spring sunshine—a balmy 18 ºC!—on our way to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">vote</b> at a local school. (Living in a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">free country</b>’s also a Beautiful Thing.) </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Meeting at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tea…and Other Things</b> with sweet-Aleet, who will be leaving us on Thursday. Fresh cinnamon scones, fresh from the oven. Blueberry and mango pie. Tea: Yorkshire Gold. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-62104955631519862922011-05-02T23:13:00.000-06:002011-05-02T23:13:39.629-06:00Monday mail day<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">I’ve got mail! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">[photos]</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">And although Mondays are mostly techno-free (and sometimes people-free) until after work, I have decided to post pics of snail mail received the week before. Seems an appropriate way to start the new week. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Thank you, one and all! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-9693537499846194232011-05-01T23:59:00.003-06:002011-05-02T07:53:05.260-06:003BT Sunday: creativity, Chinese lunch, ducky cake<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Brad’s sermon on creativity (Genesis 1: “In the beginning, God created”—and we’re made in His image. Great reminder of the creativity in all of us.) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigfYrlTxmwNqUU57vIJvqCNuQhrHcnD5xqSL8YmTxhQwJKsBqCr-yrZsPPtnz1crYtrW74TSus1irCl6B8-mbbR6TPH3jbQ890Vw2pt7ZLK7XxK0x9iWgoW_Z5Hvh8ZAX5MwaQyB8p7eO/s1600/May+1+0978+Restoration+mosaic+at+DCC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigfYrlTxmwNqUU57vIJvqCNuQhrHcnD5xqSL8YmTxhQwJKsBqCr-yrZsPPtnz1crYtrW74TSus1irCl6B8-mbbR6TPH3jbQ890Vw2pt7ZLK7XxK0x9iWgoW_Z5Hvh8ZAX5MwaQyB8p7eO/s200/May+1+0978+Restoration+mosaic+at+DCC.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Lunch in the NE with client/friends.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5bL6GM-1hcNK3AYO4p0lgIwUoCsNB5SWl6zy2R8doMbbk_KADhnrO4EgBTFBjOpELN1-ECjQpQMOmhRJWuFEEiHm2KtDfjOUGOtgjDmPUXPVNiJEtLv042LMhEL54u3LUWmz3RnGZzF-/s1600/May+1+0992+GCCC+lunch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5bL6GM-1hcNK3AYO4p0lgIwUoCsNB5SWl6zy2R8doMbbk_KADhnrO4EgBTFBjOpELN1-ECjQpQMOmhRJWuFEEiHm2KtDfjOUGOtgjDmPUXPVNiJEtLv042LMhEL54u3LUWmz3RnGZzF-/s200/May+1+0992+GCCC+lunch.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Have you ever seen a cake as sweet? Even more special was sharing it with friends during afternoon tea. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36XIX6SgpJduWQHWwIi9C19pefC_y4UMs7TwyIynvVRjtr2LDDtHbo5hQGm32ZZgXB_-qk7En6kO01pxxHKwBkwEjajBXeJWew0AuAFV95oQoxNzfbDCO0bxsQgYeAHCETnlu3ZUMQkre/s1600/May+1+0983+ducky+cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36XIX6SgpJduWQHWwIi9C19pefC_y4UMs7TwyIynvVRjtr2LDDtHbo5hQGm32ZZgXB_-qk7En6kO01pxxHKwBkwEjajBXeJWew0AuAFV95oQoxNzfbDCO0bxsQgYeAHCETnlu3ZUMQkre/s200/May+1+0983+ducky+cake.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Bonus: Driving home along Hwy 1A to our sanctuary in sleepy Cochrane, admiring the snow-capped Rockies in the distance. Planning our six-month de-cluttering campaign. Reading in bed. Celebrating the end of April! </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-26829154892181649822011-04-30T22:47:00.000-06:002011-04-30T22:47:58.657-06:003BT Saturday: “You are not alone,” recycling, library (books, Lindt)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><a href="" name="7969196589181270023"></a><a href="http://elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-saturday-you-are-not-alone.html">3BT Saturday: “You are not alone,” recycling, library (books, Lindt)</a> </span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-90202342459610234552011-04-30T10:26:00.013-06:002011-04-30T11:26:09.960-06:003BT Friday: fairytale wedding, spring snow(storm), meeting a deadline<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> <br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Unintentionally I awoke early (after deciding not to!) and got up to watch the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">wedding of the year</b> (!). Glad I did: the bride was simply beautiful. (Aren’t all brides?) I <em>do</em> love a fairytale—and I think this couple has what it takes to make it last. They’re friends. They both work hard. They seem to share a similar sense of humour. I am smiling as I type. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Despite the apparent appearance of spring earlier this week, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it is snowing</b> up a wee storm this morn. The garden has been spring-cleaned, and the barren earth is white again. But it’s probably too warm for the snow to settle for long. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">[post pics]</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>I finally wrote my “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">More Glimpses</b>” feature article for my patient and longsuffering editor. It is my privilege to write a regular column, and although my due date has come and gone, I chose to focus on teaching/ grading/ editing this week. Yesterday classes ended, and today I could concentrate on the next deadline on the horizon. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="color: #cc0000; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">—<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Douglas Adams</b>, English humourist </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">& science fiction novelist (1952–2001).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">And now, to nap! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-28233467304263950892011-04-28T23:34:00.003-06:002011-04-30T10:43:35.514-06:003BT: last day of school, snail mail, fellowship with friends<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>Today I taught</strong> my dozen+ college students for the very last time. Next semester I’ll have a new set of students—for two completely different courses (two or three may return). I have enjoyed getting to know these young women and men this past year; this has been one of those semesters in which I possibly learned (even) more than my students did. Today was bittersweet: I know I won’t see some of these precious people again, since they’ll move on with their lives (some to other countries), and I’ll remain here. Ah, the transience of the teaching life. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <strong> </strong></span></span></span><strong>Snail mail</strong>! More on that in my Monday Mail post. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Tonight our sweet Women in Ministry (WIM) group of gals met for <strong>fellowship</strong> (and food), also for the last time this semester. I took photos … and will post them here soon-ish. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-68350393264957032962011-04-27T13:31:00.002-06:002011-04-30T10:48:56.474-06:003BT: overseas phone call, tea in chapel, sunroom salad (+ word gifts)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Early morning <strong>phone call</strong> from my mom-in-law in South Africa (how lovely to hear her voice; she has been in Australia, visiting RP’s brothers and all her grandkids). </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Early morning gym with my exercise accountability partner, WB, followed by the last <strong>chapel</strong> of the semester (cup of Tim’s steeped <strong>tea</strong> in hand). </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Lunch in the <strong>sunroom </strong>(strawberry-mandarin-and-spinach <strong>salad</strong>) with my kingdom colleague, KM. Peace. Stillness. Serenity after an already long week. Shalom. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Bonus of a 4<sup>th</sup>BT: </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Two unexpected word-bearing <strong>gifts </strong>from students. I’ll post more on Monday. Off to nap now and enjoy my treasures! </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-43260288198417972542011-04-26T17:21:00.000-06:002011-04-26T17:21:47.536-06:00Ode to the typewriter<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">RIP typewriters: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">This morning RP mentioned that “the last company on earth to produce the typewriter—Godrej and Boyce—has shut down its production plant in Mumbai, India, according to reports that, fittingly, are making the rounds via the Internet” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="http://mashable.com/2011/04/26/rip-typewriter/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">http://mashable.com/2011/04/26/rip-typewriter/</span></a>). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Later in the day, The Pear Tree’s Lori-Anne Poirier posted the following blog entry: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://thepeartree.ca/2011/04/old-font/">http://thepeartree.ca/2011/04/old-font/</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> (be sure to check out her adorable typewriter baby pics from a few years back). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today I’m thankful for technology (yes, you read that right). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am currently reading/editing several research papers written by my college students, and I am relieved for their sakes and mine that we can make changes and corrections instantaneously, without having to retype a whole page and/or use correction fluid. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">J</span></span></span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Techno Babe, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">signing out with a smile</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950308279478342374.post-50802108636413289792011-04-26T15:13:00.002-06:002011-04-27T13:34:24.025-06:003BT: sunshine after snow, scintillating conversation, Emph Attic mail<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">3BT (“three beautiful things”) today: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><strong>Sunshine</strong> after weeks of snow! </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">An unexpected phone call from a city friend, TM, who visits me each Wednesday night to ask if I was free a night early. (I am.) <strong>Scintillating conversation</strong> to follow! </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Several positive responses to the e-mail version of my annual “<strong>Emph Attic</strong>” Easter Epistle (really just an updated copy of my Very Long, Very Late Christmas correspondence which I chose not to send out last year, since I was going through a bit of a pre-40<sup>th</sup> b’day midlife crisis at yearend). </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">All’s well in this new season. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0