Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Posted by Dawn-Ann on June 27, 2009
It’s been a hectic spring so far and I haven’t had the time I would like to work in my gardens. They need weeding badly, especially my potatoes. But the perennials are still blooming their little hearts out and that makes me happy.
Here is a little video of springtime in Calgary.
Posted by Dawn-Ann on June 6, 2009
It’s snowing today in Calgary. Yes, in June. And while it’s true Calgary has seen snow in each month of the year (sometimes all 12 months of a single year), it took me by surprise and got me thinking.
My poor little tomatoes. Temps didn't get to freezing so I'm hoping they'll be okay.
I’d heard rumours about a coming ice age and the last couple of winters and springs have definitely reminded me more of the ones I experienced growing up in northern British Columbia. So I performed a quick Google search and did find that folks are talking about it.
Climate and temperatures go through long cycles of heating and cooling (with or without man’s CO2 emissions) and ice ages are more the norm. Between ice ages the planet often experiences brief periods of “interglacial” time, where temperatures are balmy and warm. They are usually relatively short-lived and have been known to get much warmer than what we have recently been experiencing. Then the cold and snow starts to settle back in.
Five hundred million years ago, carbon dioxide concentrations were over 13 times current levels; and not until about 20 million years ago did carbon dioxide levels dropped to a little less than twice what they are today.
It is possible that moderately increased carbon dioxide concentrations could extend the current interglacial period. But we have not reached the level required yet, nor do we know the optimum level to reach.
[Source: The Coming of a New Ice Age]
The question is not if we’ll be plunged into another ice age, but when. Thankfully, these long cycles take tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years to run their course. No point in migrating to warmer climes just yet. Well, unless you want to.
Posted by Dawn-Ann on May 31, 2009
This spring is reminding me of the ones we had back home in Dawson Creek. Windy and bright – just wish we’d get a bit more rain.
The willow we planted eight years ago or so is now big enough to give us shade on hot, sunny afternoons and I think the new currant bushes are going to like that. They don’t like a lot of direct sunlight.
But speaking of currants – look at this! I’m so excited that I’m getting a ton of little blossoms and berries already! They’re just baby bushes but they’re obviously happy. I’m thinking of black currant jam and maybe even some wine?
Blossoms hanging in clusters on currant bush
A closeup of the wee berries beginning to form
Posted by Dawn-Ann on May 27, 2009
Is this the guy that's been digging holes in my front yard? Looks like he also likes the birdfeeder!
Posted by Dawn-Ann on May 23, 2009
It’s the first real, sunny, gorgeous day of the year so far and I’ve been out in the gardens, watering and weeding. Seems we have a bumper crop of weeds this year, so I may have to get out a hoe rather than try to pick ‘em all by hand.
Just had to share, though. I came home from work the other day and saw that some digging had been going on in the front yard, but not by me or Tom. SOMEONE had been trying to hide a peanut and must have left abruptly, as the peanut was still lying by the hole, next to a wee mound of dirt. Hee hee…
Poor little guy never got to finish his job. The next day there were more holes around this one, but for some reason our little beastie (most likely a squirrel) never did finish burying this one.
Posted by Dawn-Ann on April 5, 2009
This brave little guy and his brother are just fresh out from under the snow. They look a little bedraggled, don't they? I don't recall ever seeing pansies bloom this early.
Spring is gathering steam here in Calgary. The mounds of snow we received this year are slowly starting to recede and the sun is getting warmer and higher in the sky.
I got excited and went out in the back yard to see what’s up back there. Look what I found!
Posted by Dawn-Ann on February 19, 2009
My daily commute to and from work is starting to look like a huge, wonderful classroom experience for me. Let me explain.
My travels through life have often been solitary. I generally avoided contact with others, even if it was eye contact in a crowd of strangers. Aside from my kids and Tom, there was nothing I loved more than being completely by myself. Lately, though, I have been trying to really look at people and understand them. I’ve been making eye contact, cracking jokes to get conversations going and generally giving people a chance. As a result, I have been privy to some amazing interactions. You have read about some of them here. These experiences have taught me so much and I think they are actually helping me to become a better person.
Yesterday, for example.
I was standing on the train and a woman moved up from the seats behind me to stand between me and the door. I was gazing out the window at the passing scenery when I noticed her fuzzy-blue-gloved hand come up, flipping the bird to someone in the seats behind me. I looked at her face, wondering if I should be alarmed. She was muttering something under her breath about “stupid bitch,” but her eyes didn’t look scary. I somehow sensed that she was very angry, but behind the anger was fear. I wondered if I should reach out somehow but something inside me said, “Just observe.”
So I did. After a little bit more mumbling and muttering, she turned her head to gaze out the window. Her large brown eyes were sad. From the corner of my eye I caught her fuzzy gloves swiping at her eyes from time to time when she thought no one was looking. I was right. I had no idea what had happened in the seats behind me but she was hurting. When she started using her glove as a kleenex I took it as an opportunity to step in. I rummaged in my purse and found a napkin and offered it to her. She looked at me gratefully and said something about a “cold” she was battling.
A couple of stops later, as I was preparing to leave the train, I almost didn’t hear her quiet, “Thank you.” I looked up and there was no denying the huge tears standing in her eyes, not quite wanting to drop. I touched her blue glove gently. “You’re welcome,” I said, and left.
What I learned from this is something I already knew but needed to be reminded of. Sometimes a person’s anger is really only her hurt being manifested in a way that is easier to deal with. Look behind any angry face and you’ll see eyes of fear and pain.
Someone I love dearly is hiding behind her own shield of anger right now. Unfortunately, it is me she is angry with and she rebuffs my overtures at communication, but I know our immense love for each other will allow us to work it out eventually.
Posted by Dawn-Ann on February 1, 2009
Although winters in Canada are characteristically long, here in Calgary we have milder ones than most other areas besides the left coast. Still, it’s nice to see the first hints of spring appearing, even though we likely have several more weeks of cold.
This morning my heart was warmed by the sight of a flock of little sparrows playing and scavenging for food in the back yard. While it’s true sparrows don’t go anywhere in the winter, you rarely see them all flocked together like this in the dead of winter, so I was tickled.
Little sparrows on the back walk
Posted by Dawn-Ann on December 29, 2008
Sorry for the long absence. First, my host changed my site over to a new server, which caused some headaches. Then Christmas happened and I didn’t have time to fix the site and its woeful little error messages and stuff. Still, it was a fabulous Christmas and New Years looks like it will be even better.
I hope everyone had as marvelous a holiday as I did (I’m still ON holidays, truth be told) and I’ll be posting some real stuff soon. In the mean time, here’s what’s been going on in our neck of the woods!
Granddaughter Odessa's beautiful smile.
Grandson Ashton helps distribute gifts.
Posted by Dawn-Ann on December 6, 2008
I should be adding to my Adventures page more often. I’ve gone to L.A. and Scotland, but just haven’t written about them yet. Oh, and how could I forget Isaac’s and my road trip across Canada and the U.S.? Anyway, if you haven’t had a look at what I have written yet, please do. Follow this link to get there. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll be inspired! ;)
