Jan 23 2025 - Fun Countries

 

Canadian advice on how to respond to tariffs at the individual level is starting to gear up.  One is buy Canadian bourbon not U.S. Another is travel somewhere other than the U.S. - for warm winter weather choose Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala, costa Rica, panama, and Ecuador.  Where will Canadians travel to for spring, summer and autumn vacations?  That's assuming a full depression hasn't started. What are the countries with the best "Fun Rating?"  It turns out Spain, Brazil, Thailand rate as the top 3 by US News.   Other services rate Canada as one of the top countries.  Maybe we should travel in Canada as the year progresses.  Canada is considered a desirable destination for adventure.  I assume you'll go west for that.  Then there's wildlife and nature. British Columbia is highlighted.  Toronto and Vancouver are considered top places. Wanderlust named Canada the second most desirable country after Australia.  What makes us fun?  We seem to have "very specific Canadian habits" that other countries don't understand and find funny.  What are they?  Here are a few. The rest are HERE.  "My favourite one is when people come across a mitten, hat, or scarf, and place it on the nearest pole so the owner can easily retrieve it, and everyone respects it." "Switching between metric and imperial depending on the situation..." "...or ignoring both altogether when it comes to driving distance, and just using time instead." "Our lack of standardization when it comes to dates. We use all three formats, anytime." "I thought 'shit disturber' was a universal term. Apparently it’s quite Canadian." "Calling electricity 'hydro.'"  "Using the barbecue in winter. I can't think it's a purely Canadian thing, but we had some Swiss people here, and they audibly gasped when it became known I was going to BBQ burgers and chicken in the backyard." "Backing into parking spots."     I found this puppy picture of Millie and turned it into a watercolour.

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Aug 24 2024 - the Friday Boy and Girl

 

You know where the term "boy Friday" came from - Robinson Crusoe's companion and servant was named Friday as that the day he was rescued.  That's the expression "Man Friday".  Why he became "the servant" etc probably has to do with it being written in 1719 and he was an "indigenous character".   What about Boy Friday and Girl Friday?   These are meant to describe "go to" workers.  They are an indispensable assistant - a secreatary, valet, chauffeur, maid-of-all-work, etc.  Why a Boy Friday would be a man, that's  interesting. Girl Friday had the same connotation of being indispensable - and it became a well-known phrase  based on the 1940 comedy adaptation of "The Front Page" into "His Girl Friday".  Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell were the actors.  That was a satire of news media and politics.  Maybe not what was originally planned for the expression. Boy Friday seems like an indulgent sort of phrase to me.  One that could easily be used online. Yet I don't see that anyone has taken up Boy Friday as a pop group or website - you can buy it from HugeDomains for $5,695.   The closest thing I found is a Boy Friday Store online.  It has new things, wrist bits, neck fancies, finger jazz, other goods.  That's what Boy Friday should be about.  I consider Millie to be the office girl.  She is good at some of the tasks - she is the receptionist - she lets us know people have arrived with barking.  She lets us know to have lunch at 11:55 - again with barking, just a different sort of bark.  She empties the garbage by attempting to eat the kleenexes and paper in it.  She has done data entry as long as you don't mind that any actual words be included.    We are at her favourite time of year, when the leaves start to fall.  This cartoon explains the situation.   And there she is on kitchen duty, or would that be patrol.

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Jan 2 2024 - East and Be "Prosperity"

 

Food to bring in a new year - what would it be? One could choose a dish to bring good luck.  That's one of the New Year's Traditions:  in Germany and Eastern Europe it is some form of cabbage - such as sauerkraut - supposedly the strands of cabbage in sauerkraut symbolize long life, and can represent money.  No one in my German family ever mentioned these reasons to eat sauerkraut. If one is in the American South, it is eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day.  Supposedly during the Civil War when Union soldiers raided the Confederate army's food supply, they left behind only these beans.  How is that part of New Year's?  Another story is that a when newly-freed enslaved people celebrated the January 1863 Emancipation Proclamation this was one of the few foods available to them.  And then other theories say it is Ancient Egypt was a way to show humility to the gods.   Supposedly, though, one serves black-eyed peas and collard greens.  Collard greens symbolize money and prosperity - being green.  Black-eyed peas are round so represent coins. And add cornbread to that.  Why?  Because it is the colour of gold.  Rich dinner all around. That's why lentils are part of the Italian household tradition - the round legumes look like coins.  And in China, Japan and other Asian countries - noodles are the thing to serve - their length symbolizes longevity.  Oranges are served in various countries- because they are gold.  Dumplings are served because they resemble money bags.  Scandinavian countries consider silver-scaled fish to resemble money - hence herring is considered good fortune.  Bring in a New Year by eating your way to prosperity.

Yesterday's Globe cartoons had a cartoon about a dog's New Year's resolution.  This perfectly describes our Millie, so here it is.   Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Dec 16 2023 - Those Gifts

 

Christmas is very close.  Some now is the time to buy the rest of those gifts.  What are the "perfect gifts?" Or just a good gift to have on hand for an anyone.  Buy it now, figure out who later.   I think that would be chocolates. What about this gift for dog owners? Dexas MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Cleaner "Tracking mud into the house will be a ghost of Christmas past, thanks to this portable paw washer. All pet parents have to do is fill the cup with warm water and dip and twist their dog’s paws for an easy wash on the go. It's a gift they're sure to love you for." And this one for travellers and people who lose their car keys or house keys? Apple AirTag "If you're really having trouble thinking of a gift and want something you know they'll use, get them an Apple AirTag. This nifty device is especially helpful for keeping track of luggage and backpacks, and once it's synced with someone's phone, all they have to do is drop it in their bag and never think about it. The next time an airline loses their suitcase, they'll know exactly where it is (and they'll know exactly who to thank)." There is something for those who think they are handy with tools or for someone who needs to get handy with tools Geekey Multi-Tool "Essentially a handyman in your pocket, this TSA-friendly tool does it all. It fits on your keychain and has more than 16 functions, including a bottle opener, screwdriver, ruler, wrench, bit driver, file, and bike spoke key." The rest of the products are not what I would call gifts for anyone/everyone?  Would you give  CUISINART SM-50 mixer at $250 US to someone you don't know.  I'd go for the Geek Multi-Tool or a box of chocolates.

This is a 2023 mid-March picture of Millie in the garden.  I am expecting to take another one like this somewhere around Christmas. We are making bets on when the snow will descend upon us. I should buy me the paw cleaner. Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Dec 6 2023 - Hat Trick

 

All of the tributes to Christine Sinclair talk about the "hat trick" in the Manchester game of 2012.  There's no definition of hat trick by the authors.  Everybody knows what hat trick is.  I guess that's 8.1 billion people minus 1.  It is easy to look up: it is when a player scores three goals in a single game.  Two goals in a single match is called a brace. Where does the expression come from?  It just seems like a magician sort of activity.  Not at all.  The expression hat trick originated in cricket.  A bowler who retired three batsmen with three consecutive balls was entitled to a new hat at the expense of the club to commemorate this feat.   I wonder if everyone knows that? And is it hat trick, hat-trick, or hattrick?  No one seems to agree on that one. And what did the referee in that game make?  Two banana calls, according to Cathal Kelly.  I don't know what they are either.  And no easy look-up answers so far.   This picture of Millie came up and she looks like she's making some sort of Banana call.

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Sep 5 2023 - New School New Smell!

 

It is a new school year and for students in Grimsby, Beamsville and Smithville a new high school.  It opens today.  It has been accumulating on the landscape for a few years.  Now is the moment!  The school is at the boundary of Grimsby and Beamsville.  It actually has a Beamsville designation. It is on the site of the brick factory from more than a century ago. Grimsby Brick and Tile Company Ltd. was initially founded by William Tallman around 1875, and was known as Beamsville Brick and Terracotta.  It was an area of clay so it was mined on the site of more than 70 acres of land.  The buildings and kilns  were torn down in 1978 and much waste was dumped into the site.  So you can imagine the remediation that had to happen before the school was built.     So new school, new smell - that's what I can remember going to Laura Secord Secondary School in St. Catharines - brand new when I went.  And when I went to Brock, there were newly built sections there too - the student residences. I remember "new school" smell. Grimsby's has a 750-seat theatre - that isn't quite ready yet.  That was the case with Laura Secord as well.  I remember the workers being there. As for the old Grimsby Secondary School?  It is empty.  What will become of that site?  Huge fields behind it for sports so it could be a big development.  And what about the Beamsville District Secondary School with its historical columns out front?  Questions without answers so far.  Here's the news article's picture of the new school.   Is this cute?  Here's Millie at Nelles Manor on the bench with the owner of this antique bicycle.  She created it herself.  This was the Antique Car Show a few weeks ago.

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May 21 2023 - Dog Zoomies

 

What are these things called dog zoomies?  "Pooch pals running frantic laps with a look of sheer glee in their eyes - it’s a case of the dog zoomies! Technically known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs), dog zoomies are sudden bursts of energy which cause pups to go from zero to 100 in a matter of seconds." "How often do dogs get zoomies? Some dogs have zoomies every day whilst others might only have them once in a blue moon. Keep an eye on your pooch if they start to go bonkers more often because there’s a chance they’re trying to tell you something.  You’ve finally got your mucky pup all clean and furry fresh, but then they dash around the house like they’ve escaped from the zoo! Bath time is particularly stressful for our pooch pals, and those post-tub zoomies are the stress reliever that we definitely don’t need! Does it have something to do with all that time sitting still? Is it because of the water? Maybe they’re just trying to dry off and get warm? Whatever the reason, you know it’s coming, so clear the way for your fur baby to let off steam safely! " And pooch pals - I hadn't thought of that as something to call Millie.

Millie having a snow zoomie

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Apr 30 2023 - The Coronation Quiche

 

It was all over the news - the "Coronation Big Lunch" was announced.   "A deep quiche with a crisp pastry case, and delicate flavours of spinach, broad beans and fresh tarragon. The pastry includes lard, but you can swap this for butter to make it vegetarian. Eat hot or cold with a green salad and boiled new potatoes - perfect for a Coronation Big Lunch!" Source: royal.uk   "The Coronation Big Lunch aims to brings neighbours and communities together to celebrate the Coronation and share friendship, food and fun. Her Majesty The Queen Consort has been Patron of the initiative since 2013 and has attended Big Lunches all across the UK and the world, including in Ghana and Barbados. Last year, The Queen Consort hosted a special Big Lunch at The Oval cricket ground to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee." The surprise ingredient everyone is talking about is broad beans in the quiche.  This has a bit of a yuk element to me.  Maybe it gives an interesting texture.   Did you know that King Charles Spaniels eat free at Bill's from the 6th to the 8th of May.  Head over to England for the celebration: "Calling all King Charles Spaniels HEAR-YE! HEAR-YE! The high court of Bill’s summons the King Charles Spaniels of Britain to its establishment this Coronation weekend! Yes, you heard that right, we believe all King Charles – including the four-legged friends of the nation – should receive royal treatment. So, from Saturday 6th – Monday 8th May, King Charles canines will be able to enjoy premium dog treats, “fit for royalty”. In celebration of their namesake’s Coronation, high value treats from Denzel’s premium Rewards range will be gifted to deserving dogs when owners enjoy a main during either breakfast, lunch or dinner.   Royal treatment for a loyal companion…" In addition you can purchase the King Charles III Coronation Mug featuring the King Charles Spaniel.  There is a Coronation Doggy Bandana available at Cavalier Matters. At the Westminster Abbey Shop there is a King Charles Spaniel with Crown toy.     Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Apr 29 2023 - King Charles - The Spaniel

 

Here we are with a King Charles about to be crowned, and little Millie is named after the previous King Charles.  What is that history?  The Charles is Charles II so that's 1630 - 1685. The other names they've had are English Toy Spaniel, Toy Spaniel, Prince Charles Spaniel, Ruby Spaniel and Blenheim Spaniel.  Actually these were separate breeds that were merged in the twentieth century in association with the American Kennel Association. I hadn't realized that the colour combinations also have "Charles" names: King Charles (black and tan), Prince Charles (white with black and tan patches), Blenheim (white with red patches), Ruby (red).  Wikipedia says: "King Charles II of England was very fond of the toy spaniel, which is why the dogs now carry his name, although there is no evidence that the modern breeds are descended from his particular dogs. He is credited with causing an increase in popularity of the breed during this period." The breed continued to be popular with Royalty.  Consider this history fact: In 1896, Otto von Bismarck purchased a King Charles Spaniel from an American kennel for $1,000 (the average price was between $50 and $200 for a Blenheim).  Wow!  What's that value now? That's $40,000 today.  And there is a dog worth that today: "Selling for $40,000, this adorable puppy just became the words most expensive sheep dog. A puppy has recently bagged the title for the most expensive sheepdog in the world after being sold for a grand $39,980." That was Feb 8, 2021  I could never make up these facts - they seem more like fantasy. There's a King Charles Spaniel urban legend or two:  An urban legend claims that Charles II issued a special decree granting King Charles Spaniels permission to enter any establishment in the UK, overriding "no dog except guide dogs" rules. A variant of this myth relates specifically to the Houses of Parliament. This myth is sometimes instead applied to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.   And that brings one back to Millie - she appears to be a King Charles Spaniel with her signature snubbed nose vs Dezi who had the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel elongated nose.   Here's Millie as a puppy! Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Apr 16 2023 - Snubbed from the List

 

I guess if we have problems working out a wedding invitation list, then we couldn't expect the Royals to work out a Coronation invitation list.  Those who have not been invited and those who have been and have declined.  I haven't found a comprehensive list with the ins and the outs.  2,000 guests have been invited.  That is said to be slightly under the capacity of Westminster Abbey.   How many were invited to Queen Elizabeth's - - 8,000 guests attended (another article says that 5,000 attended).  There was special scaffolding set up to accommodate so many people.  That makes this coronation a much reduced version.  I wonder why that is. The report says Charles is looking to keep the palace budget as low as possible.   I would like to weigh in that this is NOT the occasion to be concerned about budget - this is a once in a life time.  I wonder if he realized that he will get crowned only once.   The dilemma of how big the royal family circle is now makes everything intense:  "What’s causing even more stress is that the invitations are being sent out in a two-stage process: a save-the-date email and then a paper invitation via snail mail. The recipients will have to acknowledge the email before they get that coveted invitation with the source calling it “a practical arrangement” for the palace. We at least know that Harry and Meghan have passed the first stage with flying colors, but it’s unknown whether they will choose to be in attendance for Charles’ big day." How "excruciating" the wait would be in March - finding out whether one was accepted or snubbed - that moment of whether one is "truly a part of the royal family's inner circle."   Who is out?  ... Fergie did not get invited to the coronation.  Her former and disgraced husband Andrew is expected to go. Here's her story on coronation day. "The Duchess of York previously acknowledged that she likely would not be asked to attend the event because she is no longer with her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. However, she still plans on celebrating the big day. “I personally will be having a little tea room and coronation chicken sandwich and putting out the bunting,” she said on ITV’s “Loose Women.”   So our weeping cherry tree was blossoming yesterday in Niagara and I took Millie to the park and got a few pictures of her.  She seems to have two expressions - a grumpy accusing look straight at me, and a noble look into the distance.  She's in the blooming blue Scillas.   Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Feb 18 2023 - The Wiggly Border

 

Today's Bing has the Eben Ice Caves in Upper Michigan and as I looked at the map I noice a lot of wiggling in the border line at Rainy River.  See it below.    It is fine to be straight in the water, but what about on land.  Isn't that messy for the inhabitants? The current shape came about on April 11, 1908 with the Treaty of 1908.  You can imagine all the disputes along the way.  These have been between Great Britain (U.K.) and the U.S.   There has been so much surveying since then that I guess all these wiggles are well marked.   Things seem to me to be clear in terms of borders. There is one land dispute active today.  It is over Machias Seal Island (off the coast of Maine).  There are four maritime disputes in the Arctic and Pacific.   The current disputes are listed HERE. The Alaskan Panhandle dispute still causes grief today with nearly 800,000 sockeye salmon caught in Alaskan territory, but of Canadian origin. And then there are pink salmon, steelhead, and chum, and so on.  Canadian fisheries were shut down to protect the diminishing number of salmon and steelhead returning to Canada.  So it seems that boundary disputes that are resolved politically - which is the acknowledged case in the Alaska Boundary case - can have long and lingering issues.   But what about that wiggly part of the border at Rainy River?  I haven't found any issues identified there.  That's because the border is the Rainy River. I guess paddling there could be an international experience.   Today's picture is a little Millie moment.   Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Dec 20 2022 - And Thus Spake Charlie Brown

 

“What if, today, we were grateful for everything?”—Charlie Brown Don't think this morsel of wisdom stands alone.  Charlie and his crew were witty and wise beyond measure. They are particularly quotable at Christmas time, so we've included some today. I wondered if Charles Shultz himself is quoted.  It is hard to tell as there are  quotes with his name but they were in the cartoon strip as Charlie.  I did think this might be one of his own: "Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong'. Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night." These are all from "The Peanuts" cartoon series. 1. “In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back.”- Charlie Brown 2. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it sure makes the rest of you lonely.”- Charlie Brown,  3. “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.”- Charlie Brown  4. “Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.”- Charlie Brown,  5. “No problem is so big or so complicated that it can’t be run away from!”- Charlie Brown 6. "Lucy: Do you think you have Pantophobia, Charlie Brown? ~ Charlie: I don’t know, what is pantophobia? Lucy: The fear of Everything. Charlie: That's It!" 7. “Who, but a grownup, would ruin a beautiful holiday season for himself by suddenly attempting to correspond with four hundred people he doesn’t see all year?”- Charlie Brow 8. “I fall in love with any girl who smells of library paste.”- Charlie Brown 9. “I’ve developed a new philosophy. I only dread one day at a time.”- Charlie Brown 10. “I think I’ve discovered the secret of life – you just hang around until you get used to it.”- Charlie Brown There are a lot more HERE.  I think the final one applies to The True North: Lucy Van Pelt: It's too early. I never eat December snowflakes. I always wait until January. Linus Van Pelt: They sure look ripe to me. Here's Millie in December 2020 - her first snowfall.

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