Showing posts with label dahlia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dahlia. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Apr 30 2025 - Glamping 2025

 

The first battle is completed - it was for who would wage economic war with the U.S. And since we are now in for tough economic times, we can expect to "have to" forgo exotic vacation travel.  

But no worries, Canadians love camping.  So in this time of economic trouble we can expect camping to soar.  No, not just any camping.  The camping of the young - glamping, as in glamorous camping.  And since we say we are "staying home", there are lots of places to go glamping.  Look at us - a land of many lakes, tall pines, and big granite rocks. Point yourself north and get glamping.

Here are the top 10, according to themselves::

1. Whispering Springs Wilderness Retreat:
This resort offers a luxurious glamping experience just 90 minutes east of Toronto, with king-sized beds, mood lighting, and wine glasses instead of canteens. 

2. Alabaster Acres:
Nestled in Caledon, this glamping site provides a unique experience with various tent types. 

3. Muskoka Dome:
Offers dome camping experiences in Muskoka. 

4. Grotto Getaway Glamping:
Located in the Bruce Peninsula, this glamping site provides a great escape into nature. 

5. Algonquin Lakeview Glamping:
Located in Algonquin, this glamping spot provides stunning lake views and a chance to connect with nature. 

6. Rustic Retreat Glamping Dome:
A glamping dome in Port Colborne, offering a rustic and romantic experience. 

7. Birchwood Luxury Camping:
Situated in Port Perry, this site offers ultra-deluxe geodesic dome glamping. 

8. Back Forty Glamping:
Located in Meaford, this glamping site provides a unique and memorable experience. 

9. Riverside Oasis Farm:
A sustainable yurt farm near Toronto, offering a unique glamping experience. 

10. Glen Oro Farm:
Located in Oro-Medonte, this glamping site provides a chance to immerse in nature. 

And what can you expect?  Whispering Springs promises:

"Prepare for a new way of experiencing the great outdoors. King-sized beds instead of sleeping bags, mood lighting instead of flashlights, and a wine glass instead of a canteen – this is camping like you’ve never experienced. Escape to Ontario’s glamping resort, just 90 minutes east of Toronto.  Nature speaks in whispers…come listen"

And you can combine stunning amenities and accommodations with the beauty of the Canadian wilderness for your barefoot luxury of your most unique wedding!  

Did I tell you that it is young people who want to camp but don't really want to "camp."

"From our one-of-a-kind Treetop Tents nestled in the forest canopy to our Deluxe Safari Tents that feature all the necessities of home, we guarantee that our tents are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Each tent features unique decor & furnishings, as well as stunning vistas of the Canadian wilderness. Come experience glamping at its very finest at Whispering Springs."

This seems to prove that we can be optimistic that Canadians will find luxurious and exotic things to do in Ontario and Canada rather than looking everywhere and anywhere else for a vacation. 
 

My brother gave me a package of Dalias named Bubble Gum.  This looks like one of them.

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Apr 30 2025 - Glamping 2025

 

The first battle is completed - it was for who would wage economic war with the U.S. And since we are now in for tough economic times, we can expect to "have to" forgo exotic vacation travel.  

But no worries, Canadians love camping.  So in this time of economic trouble we can expect camping to soar.  No, not just any camping.  The camping of the young - glamping, as in glamorous camping.  And since we say we are "staying home", there are lots of places to go glamping.  Look at us - a land of many lakes, tall pines, and big granite rocks. Point yourself north and get glamping.

Here are the top 10, according to themselves::

1. Whispering Springs Wilderness Retreat:
This resort offers a luxurious glamping experience just 90 minutes east of Toronto, with king-sized beds, mood lighting, and wine glasses instead of canteens. 

2. Alabaster Acres:
Nestled in Caledon, this glamping site provides a unique experience with various tent types. 

3. Muskoka Dome:
Offers dome camping experiences in Muskoka. 

4. Grotto Getaway Glamping:
Located in the Bruce Peninsula, this glamping site provides a great escape into nature. 

5. Algonquin Lakeview Glamping:
Located in Algonquin, this glamping spot provides stunning lake views and a chance to connect with nature. 

6. Rustic Retreat Glamping Dome:
A glamping dome in Port Colborne, offering a rustic and romantic experience. 

7. Birchwood Luxury Camping:
Situated in Port Perry, this site offers ultra-deluxe geodesic dome glamping. 

8. Back Forty Glamping:
Located in Meaford, this glamping site provides a unique and memorable experience. 

9. Riverside Oasis Farm:
A sustainable yurt farm near Toronto, offering a unique glamping experience. 

10. Glen Oro Farm:
Located in Oro-Medonte, this glamping site provides a chance to immerse in nature. 

And what can you expect?  Whispering Springs promises:

"Prepare for a new way of experiencing the great outdoors. King-sized beds instead of sleeping bags, mood lighting instead of flashlights, and a wine glass instead of a canteen – this is camping like you’ve never experienced. Escape to Ontario’s glamping resort, just 90 minutes east of Toronto.  Nature speaks in whispers…come listen"

And you can combine stunning amenities and accommodations with the beauty of the Canadian wilderness for your barefoot luxury of your most unique wedding!  

Did I tell you that it is young people who want to camp but don't really want to "camp."

"From our one-of-a-kind Treetop Tents nestled in the forest canopy to our Deluxe Safari Tents that feature all the necessities of home, we guarantee that our tents are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Each tent features unique decor & furnishings, as well as stunning vistas of the Canadian wilderness. Come experience glamping at its very finest at Whispering Springs."

This seems to prove that we can be optimistic that Canadians will find luxurious and exotic things to do in Ontario and Canada rather than looking everywhere and anywhere else for a vacation. 
 

My brother gave me a package of Dalias named Bubble Gum.  This looks like one of them.

Read more daily posts here:
marilyncornwellblogspot.com

Purchase works here:
Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com
Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

 

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

June 6 2023 - Trump News

 

There are Trump headlines in the news but not like when he was president.  But  he is still news.  He's got the media's attention in the same way as the Royal Family.  

For example, Politico has "Trump News" - News, Analysis and Opinion from POLITICO.  There are a lot of items - not necessarily news - as one scrolls down the page and then across pages.  Are there really 3,683 pages of Trump news on POLITICO?  There are.  The oldest piece is from 2009:

"Trump on Prejean:  Same as Obama".  

At a press conference addressing Carrie Prejean’s disputed title in the Miss USA competition, pageant owner Donald Trump compared Prejean’s stated views on gay marriage to Obama’s. 

And it continues for almost 4,000 pages of 9 news items each.  Some of the articles indicate how many stupid or dumb things that Donald Trump did or said. 28, 75, 82, or 1,000 are the numbers given to the "stupidest".  That's the top number not the full catalogue of stupid things.  

I've paged through the various lists.  There is much agreement that he is ignorant and stupid.  However, it seems that the quotes reveal obnoxiousness more than anything.  Here are a few examples:
 

On immigration
"We're rounding 'em up in a very humane way, in a very nice way. And they're going to be happy because they want to be legalized. And, by the way, I know it doesn't sound nice. But not everything is nice."

Opinions on people:
George Will is a “moron.” (Twitter, April 17, 2015) 
Chuck Todd is a “moron.” (Twitter, Aug. 9, 2013) 
Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel: “Obvious moron.” (Twitter, Aug. 23, 2014) 
Megyn Kelly is a “bimbo.” (Twitter, Aug. 7, 2015) 
Michelle Malkin is a “dummy.” (Twitter, Oct. 25, 2012) 
Brian Williams is a “dummy.” (Twitter, March 6, 2013) 
Graydon Carter? “Dummy.” (Twitter, Dec. 19, 2012)

On having a family:
“I want five children, like in my own family, because with five, then I will know that one will be guaranteed to turn out like me.” (Vanity Fair, September 1990)

"I've said if Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her."

Rather than going through the 3,600 pages of POLITICO, here's an organized list here. Sorting the stupid from the obnoxious could be a new hobby. There are so many to go through. 

Here's a quote for the day.

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Monday, February 6, 2023

Feb 6 2023 - Official State Aroma

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The sweet smell of green chile roasting on an open flame permeates New Mexico every fall, wafting from roadside stands and grocery store parking lots and inducing mouth-watering visions of culinary wonders.

Sen. Bill Soules’ visit with fifth grade students in his southern district sparked a conversation about the savory hot peppers and the potential for New Mexico to become the first state in the nation to proudly have an official state aroma, a proposal now being considered by lawmakers.

For New Mexico, chile is more than a key ingredient for every meal. It’s life. It’s at the center of the official state question — “Red or green?” — and is one of the state’s official vegetables.

Read more about it HERE

An update on Groundhog Day: consider this for your next vacation:
"In real life, like in the movie, the Victorian is actually a bed and breakfast, and you can stay there still! The Cherry Tree Inn bed and breakfast sits in Woodstock, Illinois not Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The spectacular house is worth a stay if you find yourself in that suburb of Chicago.  344 Fremont St, Woodstock, IL 60098"

If you'd prefer Home Alone, it is located at 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL 60093

Here's a favourite Dahlia picture from a few years ago.

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Monday, January 9, 2023

Jan 9 2023 - Silk Journeys On

 

I have a continuing complaint about the poor quality of fabric used in clothes today, so thought I would find out about the timeline of these significant changes in 50 years.  I started with silk.

Excerpts from retinkdisruption.com Dropping Silk Stockings Created an Oral Health Revolution from June 30, 2022 by Bradd Libby HERE:

"The leading export from Japan and China from 1850 to 1930 was silk. 

"According to Debin Ma of Hitotsubashi University, scientifically produced hybrid silkworm varieties, which accounted for less than 10% of Japanese silk production in 1914, were more than 80% just eight years later and over 90% of production by 1924. The Lower Yangtze region of China saw a similarly dramatic change in silkworm varieties, albeit about thirteen years after Japan’s transformation, going from less than 10% hybrid in 1928 to more than 90% in 1937.

"Japan’s lead in both the mechanization of silk reeling and in the adoption of hybrid worm varieties gave it the edge to outcompete China. In 1873, China was exporting three times as much raw silk as Japan. By 1930, the situation had completely reversed, with Japanese exports tripling those of China.

"The is another part of the ‘pattern of disruption’ we have seen: new technologies are often adopted by outsiders, and the winners from one era of technology can become the losers in the next. Japan adopted machine-reeling of silk fiber before China, and led the development of scientifically bred varieties of silkworms, and so dominated the silk market by the early 1930s.

"But this new era would not last long. DuPont first brought Carother’s nylon fiber to market in 1938. DuPont’s nylon stockings first went on sale in May 1940.

"But the attack on Pearl Harbor brought Asian exports of silk to a sudden halt. Soon after the introduction of nylon stockings, the sales of all women’s stockings collapsed as both the supply of Japanese silk abruptly ended and as DuPont diverted all nylon production to the manufacture of parachutes, rope, aircraft fuel tanks, flak jackets, hammocks, mosquito netting, and other products.

"Nylon became known as “the fiber that won the war.” For four years American women had to ‘make do’ the best they could with substitutes like leg make-up, a cosmetic painted onto the legs to make it look like the user was wearing stockings.

"When the war ended, there was such a rush to buy nylon stockings again that fights broke out over the limited supply, the so-called ‘Nylon Riots’. The sales of silk stockings never recovered."

And silk today?  

"Several companies, including the San Francisco Bay Area’s Bolt Threads, are attempting to use genetically modified microorganisms to produce silk proteins.

According to Virginia Postrel, “if the endeavor succeeds, silk won’t need to come from insects. It will be brewed in giant fermentation vats like beer. And the process has implications beyond silk. Wool, too, is a protein polymer. So is cashmere. So are countless other fibers we can barely imagine.”

And that's just silk!



Perhaps it is the silky petals of Dahlias that make them so beautiful.
 
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Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Jan 4 2023 - Unidentified Flying Lights - a Record!

 

The news that got swallowed up by Christmas Cheer was the mystery objects lighting up Dubai's skies.  Captures of them are posted on social media.  

The UAE News says the story is this:

"For those hoping for an extraordinary celestial event or even an alien invasion, the answer may be a little disappointing but is far from mundane.

It turns out that Skydive Dubai has soared into the record books with the highest altitude skydiving firework display, from a staggering 5,150 metres above ground.

"Over the last few weeks, highly skilled skydivers shot across Dubai's night sky, enthralling onlookers with scintillating pyrotechnic skydiving displays," Dubai Media Office said on Twitter.

There will be a whole host of stunning firework displays to come as the UAE prepares to ring in the New Year.

But this fantastic feat will be tough to eclipse."

The sponsor is a property company - here's their announcement:

"DAMAC, in association with Skydive Dubai, achieved the grand feat by setting the mark at 5,130m (16,830 ft 27 in), breaking the existing record of 4,907.28m (16,000 ft 100in). The record-breaking attempt was made on 7 December, as part of the celebrations to honour a milestone in DAMAC's journey."


 

Today is a Dahlia Day.
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Thursday, October 21, 2021

Oct 21 2021 - Last Suppers

 

Can you imagine this?  Painting blue-on-white ceramic kiln-fired dishwater with images of US prison inmates' final dinner requests?  What I can't imagine is that over 21 years, 1,000 plates illuminated "the complex emotional decisions of those facing imminent death, as well as the racial and historic implications of capital punishment in the United States."

This was done by artist Julie Green who died last week at the age of 60.  

"Menus provide clues on region, race, and economic background," Green said in the statement. "A family history becomes apparent when (the) Indiana Department of Correction adds, 'He told us he never had a birthday cake so we ordered a birthday cake for him.'"

The last execution in Canada was in 1962.  In the US, the death penalty is still legal punishment in 27 states, including the US military. Trump resumed federal executions in 2019 after a 17 year hiatus.  The juvenile death penalty in the US was only abolished in 2005.  

Wikipedia shows the US execution statistics by year, which means the death penalty has been exercised every year since 1981.  Since 1976, 1,516 men have been executed and 17 women. 

There seems to be great enthusiasm for the death penalty in the US - the total number of prisoners on Death Row has been exponentially climbing over the decades.  It looks like there are over 3,000 people on death row now.  

In comparison to Canada, this is catastrophic.  What do other countries do? Amnesty International recorded at least 2,307 death sentences in 56 countries in 2019.  China is the world's most active country on executions.  The number is considered a state secret, but is estimated to be between 400 to 2,400 a year.  The top executing countries after China are Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the US.

Julie Green must have been courageous to carry out her project.  Her  plates can be seen here:  The Last Supper - Final Meals of U.S. Death Row Inmates.  They are listed by state.

I've been checking through Dahlia pictures, and liked this one. 

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Oct 7 2021 - Lightning hits the world records

 

The Weather Channel showed a picture of a tree in flames and had a short headline on what lightning can do.  

Looking up world records on lightning, I find that the world record lightning strike happened in October 2018 and was confirmed in 2020. 


"A new world record lightning strike of 440 miles has been confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, according to a Thursday announcement. The "megaflash" traveled that distance over parts of southern Brazil on Oct. 31, 2018, the WMO said. This is equivalent to the distance between Washington, DC, and Boston.

In addition to the longest flash in terms of distance, a world record for longest lightning strike in terms of time was also announced: A single flash lasted 16.73 seconds over northern Argentina on March 4, 2019."

We think of people being hit by lightning.  Here's an article on peoples being hit by lightning.

Roy Sullivan seems to be the official record-holder. He lived from 1912-1983 and was a park ranger in Virginia.  He was hit by lightning on seven occasions between 1942 and 1977.  In one strike it was reported that he saw a cloud, thought that it was following him, tried to run away, but was struck anyway.  That was in 1976, and his hair caught fire.  His seven strikes are described in Wikipedia 
HERE.  He's the current Guinness World Record holder, although one can find Melvin Roberts whose claim is having been hit 10 (or 11) times.  He looks in rough shape in the pictures.  

I came upon an amazing Dahlia display in a Grimsby garden this week, and took the opportunity to photograph the flowers yesterday.  They are growing along a walkway to Centennial Park.

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Feb 27 2021 - Snow Moon

 

There are lots of full moons in each year - I wonder what makes the Snow Moon so noteworthy and newsworthy.  Is February typically a slow month for news so we focus on the full moon?  It is likely because it appears so large when close to the horizon, known as the moon illusion. 

There's a total lunar eclipse coming on May 26th - we'll be able to see a partial eclipse here. Following that on June 10th is an annular solar eclipse - that happens two weeks after a "blood moon".  This eclipse is good news for us in Canada as we'll be able to see it.  It is where there's a circle of the sun's light - a "ring of fire" surrounding the moon's shadow. Then fast forward to November, on the 19th, is another partial lunar eclipse.  It will be visible to viewers across the United States.  

We're cloudy right now, so I don't think we'll be seeing the Snow Moon illusion this morning.  There's one every month to look forward to. 

Q: Did you hear about the great new restaurant on the moon?
A: The food is excellent, but there's no atmosphere. 

Q: How does a man on a moon get his haircut?
A: Eclipse it. 

Q: What do you get when you take green cheese and divide its circumferenceby its diameter?
A: Moon pi. 


We walked around the garden yesterday, and the Snow Drops are peaking up with their white flowers starting to show.  There's a Primula with a few flowers unfurling.  Of course, the Hellebore flower buds are tucked tightly against the soil, waiting for some warm days.  We're on track for Spring tomorrow - that is, meteorological Spring!

Our Full Moon Chart from the Weather Channel.

    I made this card with the Marilyn Monroe quote a few years ago. 

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      Friday, February 12, 2021

      Feb 12 21021 - There's One Chinese New Year's Joke

       

      It is Chinese New Year.  How is  the date determined? First new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February  I know so little about how it works.  Here's an impact - figuring out your Chinese birth-year:


      "Many people inaccurately calculate their Chinese birth-year by converting it from their Gregorian birth-year. As the Chinese New Year starts in late January to mid-February, the previous Chinese year dates through 1 January until that day in the new Gregorian year, remaining unchanged from the previous Gregorian year. For example, the 2018 year of the Dog began on 16 February 2018. The year 2018 is generally aligned with the year of the Dog. However, the 2017 year of the Rooster officially ended on 15 February 2018. This means that anyone born from 28 January 2017 to 15 February 2018 was actually born in the year of the Rooster rather than the year of the Dog. Many online Chinese Sign calculators do not account for the non-alignment of the two calendars, using Gregorian-calendar years rather than official Chinese New Year dates."


      There are lots of charts in the Wikipedia entry as the Chinese calendar is not continuous but cyclical.  That just seems so strange to me now that we've become an arithmetic-based, linear society. 

      The headline promises easy but funny Chinese New Year Jokes 2021 For Everyone.  But there aren't many jokes.  Here's one:

      If you celebrated Chinese New Year in America do you celebrated American Years in China?

      Summer images are so full of colour compared to our current landscape. The statue is in the Powell Garden in Kansas City.

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        Monday, March 9, 2015

        BetterPhoto - My Blue Flash Places 2nd in January contest

        BetterPhoto Winners

        2nd Place Digital Darkroom

        Staff Favourite

        Finalist in Flowers


        BetterPhoto Winners   

        One of my favourite pictures won second place in the BetterPhoto January contest.  It's 'My Blue Flash' - I turned one of the lilies from Brian's Lilycrest Gardens Field into a blue lily, using software filters.  It placed second in the digital darkroom category. 

        Two more images placed in the contest - the pink dahlia placed as a staff favourite, and the Lotus image placed as a Finalist. I keep thinking the dahlia should place higher in the contest, and every month, I do some work on it and resubmit it.  It has to be that the judges don't like it as much as I do.  Never mind.