In the dark, again

So, did you sit with the lights out last night? We did, even though we were having a birthday party for Dodie (sshhh, don't tell anyone, but the b.d.girl is six-0h!). It was not all that unusual for us to sit by candlelight, as we've had to do it lots of times at the cottage (thank you hydro one for making us so green) but as the power is seldom out in Renfrew it was probably the first time we've done that since the ice storm.
Speaking of which, there is a call for freezing rain tonight, as a prelude to the rain coming Monday and Tuesday. At least it isn't snow!

Meet Mason

Easter gives us a chance to get together with family, and we were happy to get to meet the newest addition, Mason. He was born on January 22, and Pam and James have adapted to the roles of parents admirably.
Here's my mom holding him. It was a busy day, and he was very tired, but we enjoyed meeting him!

Hiss Boo Maxim

I just finished reading that Maxim magazine has published a list of the women they consider to be the unsexiest alive (presumably among celebrities). I don't know who at the magazine thought this was a good idea, but they must have a particularly cruel streak in them. Although I don't think terribly highly of the women they chose (when I think of them at all), I feel really sorry for them, because it's just a very mean thing to say; whether it's true or not is debatable and inconsequential. Once it's said, it hurts, immediately - and it was meant to.
In the past I've always just ignored Maxim and other "girlie" magazines, because, let's face it, no man above the age of 17 with an IQ in the triple digits bothers with them, unless he is totally useless with an actual human woman, and then, of course, is more to be pitied than reviled. Perhaps they're hoping that this "list" will grab some attention for them, and increase their circulation.
Way to go, guys - you just cornered the mean-drunk misogynist readership market!

Beating the Winter Blechs.

This just about sums it up for me.

The weather report this morning called for another six weeks of wintery weather. Blech. My pal Katrina loves winter, but I think, by they end of this, even she will have had enough, already!

The important thing is to try to keep busy. Iain has been getting more and more cabin fever, especially because of his non-employed status. Having no one to talk to except cats and online message buddies all day is driving him bonkers.

Last Saturday, though, we had the chance to visit with friends in Ottawa, and it was a nice diversion. Kim and Tim have great kids and are wonderful hosts. Tim cooked up a multi-course meal - while we all sat and watched him and Iain do all the work.

Iain taste-tests the fruity soup (apple, melon, pear - it was delicious). Tim was in fine form as chef.

Margaret listens in and checks out a photo album.

Kim samples a bite and something tickles Emily's funny bone.

We spent the night with Sheila, and she treated us to a nice brunch at Milestones the next day. We also dragged Iain through Ikea (he made every effort to be patient) before heading home.

I took the day off work to go to my Aunt Rachel's funeral, and it turned out to be a good idea, as I have been feeling under the weather all day...just very tired and headachy. We took a spin into the cottage since we were in the neighbourhood, and Iain waded through the above-the-knee snow to pick up the last of the vinyl collection that I'm moving to digital. The snow was deeper in some spots: Mom's garden fence, which stands over three feet, was invisible in some places.
When we got home, Iain made me a nice hot toddy, and I snoozed on the couch until Tim Brennan called to invite us out for supper. I couldn't work up the berries to go anywhere, so I sent Iain on his own. He just called, and is planning to stay there overnight, as a bottle of wine is being uncorked, so I should be able to get to bed early and get lots of rest. Hopefully that will eliminate whatever it is I'm fighting! I also hope to finish - or close to it - 'Shake Hands With The Devil', which I've been reading for a few weeks. I'm usually a slow reader, but this book is being more difficult than some. Dallaire writes in detail about the Rwanda mission, to the point where I can't keep track of all the different people, movements and organizations (UNAMIR, RDP, RGP, Interahamwe, DKNY - wait a minute, that's not right, is it? - but you get the idea). An interesting, sad, infuriating story, which casts the UN and all the power countries in a very poor light.

Incredibly snowy day...not safe to be on the roads! This is the view from our kitchen window. You can see the white-out conditions (imagine it at 90 kph).

Sad news for my family; my Aunt Rae passed away last night, after an illness that kept her in hospital for some time. My mom's younger sister, she was always a lively lady with a good attitude, and was no doubt happy to go see her Lord in person. Her granddaughter has made a Facebook "in memory" page; below is one of the pics I uploaded to it.
We'll miss you, Auntie Rae.

Juncoyard

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but for Christmas I was given one of those squirrel-proof bird feeders. The only problem is that a lot of the birds can't really figure it out either. Apart from a couple of chickadees, I've yet to see the perch getting any use. So, once or twice a week, I go out and clean the snow out of the food trough and sprinkle seeds on the ground beneath the feeder, and am rewarded by the attendance of a few birds: in this morning's instance, several juncos.
The feeder really does seem to be squirrel proof, however; the other day I saw a black (grey) squirrel climb the pole, reach out one paw to touch the clear plastic side of the feeder (much as if he thought he could just grab the seeds) and then turn back down the pole, without making any more effort.
March is here, and it has come in like a lamb - so you know what we can expect for the end of the month.

Happy Birthday Phantom!

I know, it is silly to wish happy birthday to your cat, especially when it's a date you chose yourself, not knowing the real date - but he is four years old, and huge now, as you can see. Isn't he gorgeous?