Oh Canada

 

 

Oh Canada…I am Canadian and I stand by my country. I love being Canadian and I love this country. It is huge to say at the very least. We have great lakes and rivers galore. We have mountains, and lowlands, foothills and beaches. We have polar bears, lynx, otters, seals, bird of many variety and we have people. We like all other countries of the world have good people, strong people and we have very bad people.

It is not unbelievable to me that this has occurred. These perverted, twisted and cowardly actions clearly show us what we are up against in our war against terror. Remember it was just a short time ago that our Prime Minister, the honorable Steven Harper and his cabinet declared war on ISIS. Now I hate people killing each other I think it is something that we as a race of humans could live without. But I know that will never be the way as it is the nature of man and not the nurture so much. So as far as I am concerned this militant group has taken the first shot and on our turf.

                                                      Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

This act against an unarmed man guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier is nothing but a cowardly attack against the Canadian people. The victim Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a father, and a man just starting his life did not deserve to have it ended by another for doing his duty. We stop for a moment and recognize our Sargent at Arms who ended the rampage quickly. Thank you Kevin Vickers it must be something awful to take a life no matter what that life is and what unhonourable tasks that individual is performing. It is because of men like you and Cpl. Cirillo that this country is the true north strong and free.

                                                                Cpl. Nathan Cirillo

                                                      Sargent at Arms Kevin Vickers

We are Canadian and we will stand together against adversity no matter what that maybe. We will come out of the ashes as the survivors, the victors and the victorious. We will strive to overcome our loss and become stronger from it’s grief. We will hold to our nation as one and we as one will fight for what we believe in as a people…freedom.

Oh Canada we stand on guard for thee…

 

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Boredom

There are very few days in my life I can say I am bored. I constantly have something to do. Today for that matter I am over run with a list of thirty plus activities that I must take care of, but not one of them has any appeal. I have no motivation.

It has always amazed me that human beings can be bored. We have created so many activities for entertainment and yet we still bore ourselves in some way. What is boredom? Well according to Wikipedia, I know you say do not trust it, boredom is an emotional state that occurs when an individual has nothing to do and becomes not interested in their surroundings. I think that sums up today quite nicely.

So what is one to do about being bored? Well it has been suggested that going for a walk or getting fresh air would be of great benefit. I have already done that this morning and I was not bored during the exercise it took a hold of me after shopping and picking up a few items for the house. So again I ask what is one to do about being bored?

I guess I time the emotion has and will wear off as something more exciting comes along but what underlies boredom? Is it being tired and the lack of concentration or could it be just an inability to be clear minded and focus on a task? Well I must say that writing about boredom has alleviated my boredom but what about you? Are you able to change course during the day to not be bored at your job or go for a walk during lunch (if you get one)?

The mundane, the repetitive, the boring. We can all find ways to occupy time that entertain us remember your parents saying “Go outside and find something to do.” and you would. Well maybe we should all go and play like we were children again that might do the trick. I know it would for me. There is one huge pile of leaves in our back yard right now…

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The Fall Season

 

Have you ever noticed how beautiful the fall season is? I know what your thinking “It is the beginning of winter and I hate winter.” Well I am not so fond of the those days between the Christmas holidays and the end of March either. But I am very fond of the fall.  

The fall has so many wonderful aspects about it. First the colours. I could not imagine living in a place where the colours of the leaves do not change. The deciduous trees that change into the bright reds, golden yellows, deep oranges and the soft browns take my breath away every year that I see it. To be surrounded by the beauty is just awe inspiring. At times I wish I was more of a visual artist and could capture these colours on canvas. The camera, although a great tool for this imagery just does not do it justice to my liking. Maybe I need a better camera, but nonetheless, I am in a glory of colour and enjoying every moment.

 

The next best thing is cool crisp air mixed with warm days and cool nights. I love the combination of temperatures over the days of fall. It is something I reminisce about from childhood, those mornings walking to school when the air was chilly and would make your nose cold and the tips of your fingers would chill even through the gloves, and the next thing you know it is recess and you are peeling off the layers because you are too hot with the sun warming everything around you and you. And then into the cool nights where you pull out grandpa’s chucky knit sweater that grandma made and you and your family sit by the fire in the back yard and roast marshmallows and hot dogs and again your nose gets chilly and the tips of your fingers are aware of the chill in the air.

 

But the food…oh…the food. I love fall cooking and eating. Not only do I spend hours at a time in the kitchen preserving and creating all kinds of wonderful canned goods I love the fall veggies and fruits. Fresh apples by the bushel, pears, squash of varieties upon varieties, cauliflower and broccoli and of course the Thanksgiving turkey. One of my two favorite meals of the year that includes a stuffed turkey with all the trimmings including a pumpkin pie with whipped cream. I am making myself hungry… Of course this is all repeated two months later at Christmas and we must have two turkeys every year. It seems to throw me off if I do not get my two turkeys in a year. But the fall food seems to bring in a warmth the no other season can do with the soup stocks brewed and the best ingredients to add how can one go wrong?

 

So go out this weekend and enjoy the fall. Bundle up, drink hot apple cider, go on a wagon ride at a local farm. Buy pumpkins and gourds to decorate your home and enjoy the fall. Embrace it with zing and zeal and a zaniness and always remember when you are out in nature please, please, please take only photos and leave only foot prints.

 

ENJOY!!!

Check out this link it has some information about the area and what to do and where to go including local farm markets.

 

 City of Barrie

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