Category: Family & Friends
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Not Your Folks’ NFB, For Sure
In early elementary school I distinctly remember seeing the National Film Board (NFB) production of Nahanni on one of those days, I’m guessing, when the teacher needed a break from the usual. The black and white images of buddy chasing his dream of striking gold on the Nahanni river in the Northwest Territories stuck with… Read more
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Prairie Love
My father’s 80th birthday and a 2,200 kilometre drive brought us to a family reunion in the middle of Canada. We’ve tooted around the province and Winnipeg marks the finale. Another day of relentless blue skies and the city continues to surprise me with its ubiquitous public art, wealth of classic architecture, and intriguing tapestry… Read more
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Cottage Dreams
This province always deceives. We drive and drive, the hours pass and the odometer spins but we are in a time warp on the northern route above Lake Superior. We call the number from Nipigon, as we’re advised to do, and arrive at the cottage as dark closes in. Half the occupants are abed and… Read more
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And So the Bounty Begins
Feeling our European roots on this steaming summer day, Husband and I sat down to a very civilized midday meal. Pesto penne. Baby eggplant fritters. Parboiled green, yellow and purple beans. Mixed greens with cherry tomatoes and broccoli. A glass of red wine and a baguette. The grapes, apples and melons are ripening beautifully, the… Read more
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Picture Perfect
Patricia McCarney and I are related and unrelated at the same time. Three summers ago she knocked on my front door. “I’m Patricia McCarney,” she said. “This house was in my family for more than fifty years.” “I know,” I replied, inviting her in. “I’ve been expecting you.” She told me that she woke that… Read more
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Birthing an Opus, One Stone at a Time
I love this article from The New York Times on Clark Sanders, a former veterinarian and longtime builder in the Catskills of New York. He builds gorgeous strawbale homes and buildings and hand-built his personal residence, which resembles a fairy-tale cottage, stone by stone from materials found on his land. I challenge you not to… Read more
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Making Room(s) for Autism
Although I’m not there yet, I’m told it’s incredibly difficult to watch your kids grow up and move away from home for the first time. But for families of adult children with special needs, independent living is not a standard milestone. I came across this article from The Portland Press Herald that tells the story… Read more
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El Sicario: The Autobiography of a Mexican Assassin
When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I… Read more
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Living in the Shelter of Robots
It’s kind of like a mirror we hold up to ourselves. Whatever robots turn out to be, will largely be a function of us and the decisions we make. – Mark Rowlands, D.Phil. Professor of Philosophy, University of Miami from Honda’s Living With Robots Part of the fascination of robots is just that. It’s just… Read more
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On Go the Lights
Neighbour cruises by on his lawnmower shouting “Check your power! It’s back on!!” Sure enough, he was right. Guess I have to take that shower now. I liked the idea of spontaneous indoor camping and caffe lattes compliments of the Coleman stove out on the deck, especially on such a gorgeous day. All the kids’… Read more