Ahhh...The Cottage Life!

This was a present for me on Friday. It had been a stormy day and I just happened to look out the window and saw this. I ran for my camera knowing how fleeting a rainbow can be. Running outside in my PJ's and bare foot I managed to get a few shots before it faded away.

Scenic Sunday

For friends, I will have a Christmas movie/potluck night! I only have a few female friends I would really want to entertain anyway, so I will get some soppy Christmas movie, like White Christmas, and ask everyone to bring a potluck plate! We can have a little dinner first and then watch the movie. I can have a nice fire going in the fireplace and with all my decorations I am going to put up it should be nice!

I am looking for ideas! If any one has some ideas for making inexpensive gifts for the family let me know! Especially for a 6 year old girl and a 14 year old girl!

 Well it seems to be the Christmas season. At least that is all I am seeing on TV commercials and hearing on the radio now. Even the Christmas Carols have started. I imagine all the stores are set up for Christmas and the Christmas muzak is playing in the elevators!
 I usually love Christmas. I don't really like the shopping, but always look forward to the season. Visiting and entertaining. Shop windows all dressed up and Salvation Army Buckets and Bells to help the poor. The big day, starting with a Christmas breakfast and the smell of the turkey cooking and the kids (now grand kids) playing with all the new things they received from family and friends!
  Unfortunately that all belongs to the Land of the Employed. I don't think I have ever been totally unemployed at Christmas before. I have been employed at jobs that were low on the pay scale or part time in my younger years but never entirely unemployed. I find this to be really depressing  when money issues are so upfront and center at Christmas time. I have been plugging along so far, pinching and scrounging, thinking I am doing the right thing by waiting to see if the funding comes through for college. Unfortunately I am unable to do the type of physical work I have done in the past. Being a paramedic and rescue personnel have destroyed my back. I am almost guaranteed the funding by the sounds of things but won't know until February. Now though I am re-thinking this.

 This waiting has put me into a huge bind. I find I can not afford Christmas. I simply don't have any cash for it. Not at all. That is, not if I want to eat for the month and try to pay bills. I am what they call "Cash Strapped".
 So I am finding that I can't "do" Christmas. I am miserable. I can't entertain so I don't want to visit. I can't shop as I don't have the money. I have to tell everyone to please not buy for me as I cannot reciprocate. I don't want to hear the Christmas Carols or see the advertisements or watch any Christmas shows. The Christmas Spirit has been taken out of my Christmas. The Grinch has once again stolen Christmas. Like it or not, Christmas costs us dearly.
So, I feel awful as I am going to disappoint the grand kids this year. I have no Christmas cheer to spread  so I already feel I am going to be lousy company. All because of our crappy economy. Caused by the greed of  money hungry individuals, institutions and banks. The ones that already had hordes of money. Modern day Grinch's! I am one of the so called "Victims of the Recession".
So this is why I am re-thinking my position.  I had worked my way up and it took years. Divorced single Mom, two children to raise but I did it and made my way up in the world to where I and my family were comfortable. All gone now.
Maybe I should give up the dream and take what ever job I can get so I can make ends meet. I don't know. Can I settle for a job instead of a career?  Again I don't know. What I do know is that if I chose that, there is no going back!

SkyWatch Friday
It was a grey rainy day. Outside the window looked damp and dull but I couldn't take it any longer. I had to get out for a walk. I went to grab my camera but wondered what I would take pictures of at this time of year with this weather? I grabbed it anyway thinking of all the beautiful blogs that show such wonderful flowers, plants and spring time on the other side of the world. Maybe, I could get something at least interesting to look at. Maybe!

 On the other side there is a reflection of the sky and the trees in the still area of water. The once colourful leaves are all on the ground making a brown carpet that crunches when you walk on it if it is dry.














 Go check out all the SkyWatch Friday posts! Bloggers sign up from all over the world!

Watery Wednesday

Scenic Sunday
Straight Out of the Camera
We have experienced unusual weather here for November. It has been ranging around 10-16 degrees Celsius for the the last three weeks with very little rain. This time last year there was snow on the ground and it was -6 Celsius. Huge difference. I thought a little walk in the forest to celebrate was in order and I wanted to check out this pond I had found before. There was about 20 Mallard ducks at the pond, I had walked in quietly and being unaware of me, all were being very communicative with each other. A cacophony of quacks and honks!

SkyWatch Friday

 I was driving into this sunset and had to stop . I couldn't keep my eyes on the road. That brilliant orb was blinding in it's last light and the colours were so intense, but different from the colours I usually see in a sunset. The land had already given up it's light and colour for the day and the contrast was stark.

Please go and visit other SkyWatch Fridays Posts from around the world!

The tail end of Fall is giving us great weather this last week in Southern Ontario. Temperatures have been above seasonal and no rain for a week. I have been taking advantage of this by getting all the things I procrastinate on and usually have to do in the cold, freezing my fingers, toes and nose.
I took a little break and scoured the property looking to see what else may need doing and took my camera "Just in case". It looks so bleak with all the leaves off the trees, the only green left is the grass. I didn't think I would find anything to photo but there was a few things.

  I ensured my children were raised with manners. Old school manners in fact. They open the door for women and the elderly. They offer a coat when their wives or girlfriend get cold. They will excuse themselves if a burp sneaks out in public. I fear though that many of the other manners I taught them have gone down hill with the rest of the world.

 I am amazed at the lack of manners in society today. Oh I can hear you, "The youngsters now-a-days  have horrible manners!". I do not mean just the young, I mean people in general! I am surprised, nay, horrified at how many people seem to have forgotten their manners. I know that in my parents era  and my era as well we were all taught to "do unto others" and politeness was a key ingredient  in that.

 On a recent trip to town, I  seemed to run into bad manners wherever I went. At the supermarket, where an elderly lady found herself trapped by shopping carts. As I arrived I could see she was looking for a way out but the other patrons were blocking her cart and not noticing. I felt badly for her so took matters into my own hands and I asked the aisle blockers if they would mind moving to the side so we could get through. I received rather dirty looks from one, an "Oh, sorry" from another, but the aisle was cleared. I too moved to the side to allow the elderly lady to go by. With out a word, just a scowl on her face, she brushed past me! If someone were to do this for me I would say a "Thank you" on the way by or at the least smile and nod an acknowledgment of their help. She saw that I meant to help her.

 Now of course this is up and foremost in my mind this day, so I notice every little breach of manners that is around me. The grocery clerk, who with his very large cart full of boxes,  I had to move out of the way for when I was standing in the checkout line. A well mannered young man would have said "Thank you.". I guess he wasn't well mannered, as he just pushed by!  The man who cut me off on purpose while I was trying to get into another lane. The women who pulled into a parking spot even though it was clear I was waiting for it. The "lady" who failed to say thank you when I held the door open at Zellers for her and her baby carriage. The rude salesclerk, that when asked where I could find a certain object, pointed and said "over there" and walked away. The man standing in line sneezing away and not one "Excuse me!" to be found.

 Now I  will say this was exceptional this particular day. I do find that for the most part people in my small town are usually helpful and have good manners, from the salesclerks to the general public. Regardless, I am seeing more and more ill mannered persons throughout my travels.

 Manners seem to be dieing away. That is reflected in the young of today as well as the elderly .It will not change me though. I will remain pleasant and mannerly. I will say ( in a loud voice) "You are welcome!" to the lady who didn't say thank you when I opened the door for her. I will refrain from giving the guy who cut me off the finger and just, instead give him and evil smile. The "I'll get you later, my pretty!" type of smile. The rude store clerk will still get an "Thanks so much for your help and concern!" reply and the sneezing man will get a "Bless you!". Does this way off responding to rudeness constitute rudeness itself.? Probably and for that I am truly sorry! (See? Manners!)

SkyWatch Friday

Go to SkyWatch Friday for all the marvelous skies of the world. Enjoy the great hosts and  posts!

My Dad passed away a few years ago but even though he is gone I still say "Thanks" to him and all the service personnel who fought for our freedom in the great Worlds Wars I and II.
My Dad was a Pilot/Navigator in the RCAF in WWII. He flew in a Liberator Plane shown below. He was stationed in Egypt, India and Ceylon with the 160 Squadron RAF. In Ceylon, they were in the jungle, the air fields cut right into the middle of it. These big planes had scarce room to land.

History of Squadron 160

• 160 Squadron was originally formed at Thurleigh in England on Jan. 16, 1942.


• The ground crew were posted to the India on February 12, 1942, arriving without their aircraft.


• The squadron's aircraft were flown to Palestine in early June, 1942, from where they carried out raids on Lybia and Crete.


• Aircraft started leaving for India in October; some aircraft remained and were absorbed into 178 Sqn.


• Initial operations in India were patrols over the Bay of Bengal.


• The squadron moved to Ceylon and was engaged in shipping protection flights, minelaying, and photographic reconnaissance over Sumatra and the Nicobar Islands.


• In June 1945 the squadron converted to special duties, dropping agents and supplies over Malaya and Sumatra.


• After VJ day the squadron carried out transport duties.


• The squadron was returned to England on June 15, 1946 where it briefly converted to Lancaster GR3's until disbandment on Sept. 30, 1946


• The squadron only flew Liberator aircraft; Mk's II, III, V, VI, and VIII during WWII.