Apr 24 2024 - Cliffhanger Endings

 

We so enjoy great stories and we so enjoy suspense. I makes me wonder why I haven't I read any of the best cliffhangers of all time? I looked up the list of the top cliffhangers and don't seem to have read any of them:  Rose Gold by Walter Mosley One Day by David Nicholls The Maze Runner by James Dashner Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi Only a Monster by Maya Motayne Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard Oprah thinks the best one is Winter's Bone even though  it isn't on the list. It does come up in other lists.  Here's the description from the Oprah site: The Premise: In this literary page-turner, Ree Dolly's meth-cooking dad has skipped bail. If he doesn't show up for his next court date, then 16-year-old Ree, her two younger brothers and her mentally ill mother will lose their house. The search to find him involves poking into secrets that dangerous, neighboring families in the Ozarks would rather keep hidden.   Why the Ending Is a Stunner: Woodrell simultaneously resolves this heart-pounding—and heart-breaking—story and leaves you wondering what will happen next. But the real hook? Ree's acts of courage that leave you astounded by what a young girl will risk to save her family. — Dawn Raffel The summary itself doesn't have enough interest to make one want to read it. That's compared to first page first line where the writing is so compelling, one wants to read on.   A happy Camellia portrait today.

Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Mar 13 2024 - Eleven Hours left to count flowers

 

This is the 49th annual Victoria Flower Count Festival.  Only 10 hours left to get that flower count in.  The count concludes at 4:00pm Pacific time today.   How did it go in 2023 - how many blossoms did people count in one week? 2023 “Bloomingest Community”: Sidney: 7,580,503,851 2023 Community Runner Up:  North Saanich: 7,558,368,163 2023 Winning School: Hillcrest Elementary 2023 Total Municipal Blooms Counted: 33,386,900,082 There's a running count on Facebook with wonderful spring pictures - https://www.facebook.com/FlowerCount Victoria is ahead of Sydney so far with 8,153,733,174 - that's well ahead of last year.   We seem to trying to catch up to Victoria time - there are daffodils blooming in the garden.   Here are some Paperwhite Narcissus.

Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

March 31 2021 - Niagara's Blossom Trail - Apricots

 

It is time for me to track Spring in Niagara for those who want to follow the Blossom Trail. Our calendar photo today comes from May with Magnolias blooming mid-month.  But the Blossom Trail has already started with the Witch hazel and Daphne blooming now.  Lovely little Snow Drops are finishing, typically blooming in March.   Our first orchard blossoms are Apricots, and there is a lovely row of them on Jordan Road in Jordan Station/Jordan.  Just exit the QEW highway and drive up Jordan Road towards the escarpment, and they are on the west side.  I took a picture of the location last year - Pineview Orchards - (pinevieworchards.ca)  just beyond Bayview Greenhouses and before Chestnut Street.  My GPS information from the picture says the trees are between Pearl Morissette restaurant and the Jordan Arena, so just before Fourth Avenue.  I will be at that very spot on Friday - at Pearl Morissette.  Why is that?   Brian (my brother) and I are having lunch at Pearl Morissette on Friday.  It is one of Canada's most innovative restaurants.  We are amazed we are able to get seats for their first opening since Christmas time.  We were able to get in before the lockdown - a big tent had been set up for outdoor dining.  We knew it couldn't withstand winter winds in Niagara, but then the Christmas 'shutdown' happened, and everything closed. The diptych below is what you will see along Jordan Road as the Apricots bloom mid-April.  They are a delicate pinkish-white and these trees seem to be quite young, so will be bearing fruit for quite a few years.   On Jordan Road, and closer to the QEW is the Upper Canada Cheese Company, so stop in.  I am told the Guernsey Girl cows are particularly well-cared for (I am concerned about industrial milk production methods as being inhumane).  Cheese-making happens on site and you can watch through the glass wall. Of course, you can taste cheese.  Restaurants often use their Niagara Gold cheese. This area is full of outstandingly-cared for orchards.  I drive along Honsberger Avenue regularly in any season to see the farms.  Maybe it is Blossom Bakery at 2323 Honsberger Ave - the barn behind the house is the converted bakery and their creative flat bread "pizzas" are highly prized - there is always a fruit version. I am now wondering where more apricot orchards are located.  I see Cherry Avenue Farm listed - they are in Vineland, so their orchards likely stretch between Jordan and Vineland.  There are lots more that retrieve with this search, so I'll do some research for an Apricot Route. This is our last day of March, so time to turn the page and enjoy a foolish day tomorrow!   Our April Calendar image of the Apricots is followed by a diptych of the 13th Street Winery in 2012, and blossoms in the grass. 13th Street has transformed into a modernist palace - white barn and open patio that are beautiful.  What a comparison with the old-style greenhouse behind the ancient Magnolia.   Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Feb 4 2021 - Finding Sugar Sammy

Who is Sugar Sammy?  That's a noticeable name, isn't it.  It says he's at the Olympia in Montreal tonight.  No, it says cancelled.  How did Samir Khulla become Sugar Sammy? The Alumni Magazine McGill News says that they can take some credit.  He began his entertainment career as a student at McGill in the late nineties.  However, he's still one course away from a degree.   His shows are more than bilingual - English, French, Punjabi and Hindi. His "You're Going to Rire" is an AngloFranco comedy show. He's described it as 50.5% English and 49.5% French as a refence to the 1995 referendum results.  "Since it debuted at the Olympia Theatre in February, 2012, Sammy has been packing the 1,300-capacity hall on St. Catherine St. East ever since. He has sold 285,000 tickets, for the bilingual "You’re Gonna Rire" and the all-French "En français svp!"  His website is HERE.  Articles say that he relocated to France in 2016, where he lives part time.  His facebook page says he is a Comedian, shit disturber and Karen whisperer, along with a Judge on France's Got Talent.  It made me wonder how much I know/don't know about comedians. Who are Canada's top comedians? Go to Ranker.comHERE. It's that voting system website.  The number 1 comedian is no longer with us:  John Candy, and the rest are mostly over 55 years of age.  Would you consider William Shatner a comedian?  There are lots to scroll through and to enjoy. I was going to create images in the theme of red this month.  But somehow we jump to May - here's the blossom trail on Stewart Road, St. Catharines, 2020. Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

March 15 2020 - Blossom Festivals

Cherry Blossoms...in Japan.  The start times are expected to be: Tokyo on March 19 through to Sendai March 25th.  The peak day is predicted to be March 27th.  This is an early year - last year the blossom period was in April. But this year is different: Japan cherry blossom festivals cancelled Vancouver cherry blossom festival cancelled California cherry blossom festival cancelled What about California's Almond Blossom festival?  It is finished - February 20th - 23rd is typical - that was in Ripon, south of Sacramento, inland from San Francisco.  The Fresno bloom period has finished. It is more like Niagara - a blossom trail that you drive.  Here's the overview from Fresno: "How to recognize the Blossoms you see... Almond Blossoms have white petals. Two or more varieties may be planted in the same orchard for cross pollination by bees. Harvesting, usually done mechanically, runs from late Aug. to early Oct. Plum Blossoms are white. At least two varieties will be planted in an orchard for cross pollination. Over 200 varieties are grown commercially. Harvested in June to late September. Apricot Blossoms have pink petals. Fewer than 12 varieties are grown commercially. Harvest season lasts two to three weeks during mid to late May. Peach and Nectarine Blossoms feature pink to red petals and bloom at the same time. Over 100 varieties are grown commercially. Harvest runs mid-May to October. Apple Blossoms have white petals. Up to six varieties are grown commercially in Fresno County. Harvest is Aug. to Nov. Citrus Blossoms are white with a most aromatic fragrance. Navel and Valencia oranges, Mandarins, and lemons, are the most common citrus grown locally. Mandarin trees are frequently covered with a fine mesh to prevent bees from pollinating the flowers, which would cause the fruit to form seeds." Scrolling through pictures of almond orchards in California shows all of the above - white and pink.  And lots of "Almond Orchard Engagement Session" results.  That would be the engagement pictures to cherish. It is a more than a few weeks before our blossom trail is ready.  Here's a collage of what to expect in Niagara.

Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://www.blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Mar 10 2020 - Lonely Olympic Flame

The Olympic Flame lighting and handover are scheduled to start this week.  The events will be without spectators.  The reason is that the number of infections are 'surging' in Greece.  Local officials wanted to postpone the ceremony to May, but were refused by the Olympic committee.   The 'sacred flame' gets lit in Olympia, and the handover takes place in Athens, and then it makes its journey to Japan. What will happen with the journey?  It starts in Olympia and ends with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Olympic games.  Do you know how many people are involved in the torch relay?  Hundreds in Greece and around 10,000 people in Japan. One article claims that the torch is not handed between runners, but rather the flame of one lights the next, meaning limited human contact. "The Olympic torch was designed by Tokujin Yoshioka and unveiled 19 March 2019; the design is inspired by cherry blossoms, with 5 petal-shaped columns around the tip of the torch, and a rose-gold "sakura gold" color finish. Their construction will incorporate aluminium recycled from unused shelters deployed in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami." The Olympics opening ceremony is July 24th.  It seems close now, doesn't it?  What is your guess on the spread of the coronavirus - will it have slowed by then?  I wonder what will tip the Olympics being cancelled.  Late May is the deadline that has been given by Dick Pound, not the president of the organization.  He says it will not be cancelled.  There's something so add to our watch list. I was out in the garden yesterday doing work in the warm weather.  Here is the garden in early July a few years ago. This presentation is produced from my portfolio at Fine Art America.   And here's the link to the new shop display at Redbubble: marilyncornwell.redbubble.com I've also copied the full link in case the one above doesn't work:   https://www.redbubble.com/people/marilyncornwell/shop?asc=u

Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://www.blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Blossom Garden in Toronto

I went looking for pictures of my Toronto garden in the Autumn, and found a few to share with you today.

Backing onto Mimico Creek (in the first image), there was always something colourful in Autumn in the surrounding area.  In the garden itself, the Magnolias had the showy autumn foliage, with the colour peaking in October.  These images are from October 2010.