Road

This is the road to which I reside on.

I have been on the side of not wanting to be here.

Winter months are long, cold, and lonely.

oops - no Prine.

Let It Snow. . .NOT

My word, the snow continues to flake on upon us. I shovelled, seems like all I ever do is shovel. I am so tired of winter; so tired of snow. Spring is forthcoming; it seems to have got the wind knocked out of it by this harsh, harsh winter.

Restricting categories and I do not get along. Restricted is what I feel being bound up here. It is slippery to walk, even with the new cleats. I did managed to get to the mail box and return without any bones broken.

Geez, sometimes you folks must think I am nothing but a spoiled brat bitch. Trust me, I am not.

I laugh, I sing, I dance, and I Prine!

Happy Birthday

George Harrison ~ Happy Birthday

Luck was on my side, several years ago - I saw George Harrison in concert - Vancouver, B.C. He was with Stevie Wonder/Billy Preston. Delightful concert - somewhere in the mid 70's.

George would be 68 today. What fine music he made. I love to hear his guitar in My Sweet Lord; While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

George Harrison ~ The Silent Beatle.

On the Mountain Side - well, it is our wedding anniversary today. Truly, it does not mean that much. It is so cold here, but the sun is shining - blue skies.

And...continuing on that brighter note - my brother called me last night. It was so nice to speak with him, I miss him. He Prines', he is retired postman. He walked that pavement for over 30 years. ah, just to hear his voice made me think of how our strong family is. Our Mom and Dad are dead now; there is only us 55+ left in our family. As my brother worded it...that is okay...we made it here, we had the Beatles and we have John Prine! With that he said, here's a hug for you, a big one - did you get it?

I received, in spades, diamonds, clubs, and hearts! Disconnect with love you and thank you for calling. I, quietly, went to the porch, had a cigarette, and cried.

I am thankful for my family, my Prine friends. It is comforting ~ my heart continues to be warm.

Animal Farm

The mountain side, is an animal farm. Yesterday morning I went out to shovel, (I am always shovelling). Sometimes, snow I can move easily - sometimes it is so heavy. All shovelling is good exercise, I keep reminding myself of that.

I was outside, near roadside yesterday, shovelling - and a moose came on up to the road - right out the forest. I did not spot it directly, I was busy looking at the white stuff. I know better than to run with wild animals, but I panicked...I ran. I had the keys to the van so I ran to the van, unlock and stayed there until I saw her pass. I was thankful there was no youngin' of hers' - or she would have charged me up. I believe this is the same moose that arrived here on Valentines' Day. We call her Val.

This morning, I go outside - once again to shovel - geez...I spend way too much time on the shovelling side of life. I took maybe five feet and I notice fox tracks. I love foxes - I am not afraid. I start to shovel the white stuff, god it is endless. I need a break.

A computer break, Wednesday is our somewhat local paper day, I read it on line. Cougar sighting near 40 miles north. The cougar had to be put down - she was starving. She was found on the deck of a home chewing on a overshoe left outside. Her teeth were grinded down, she had nothing left in her. The Conservation Officer was called in and the Cougar was laid to rest.

Because there is much snow; animals cannot readily find food. Cougars are taken to where they smell food, anything. Snow is very deep now-all animals - have a trying time to get to a food supply. I am perfectly Prine fine with animals.

...Spring Is Just A Smile Away... John Prine

Anne Taintor

Love this woman, she brings much laughter to my time on the mountain side. I relate.

Not quite sure who 'sniff' is. but photo is mine, tissues and napkins are fine gifts.

...surely it must be five oclock somewhere...

Now... wonder - who got it first - Jimmy or Anne?

Birthday Greetings

To Portage and Main - from the mountain side.

Hope you are having a Happy Birthday!

Food Prices

I have hit my limit. A protective garden we must have this coming summer.

In Canada's North, I see food costs beyond. For 4 tomatoes - $15.00. 1 Banana -$2.00. Jug of Milk $15.00.

Granted this is not where I reside, but geez - these folks are on limited incomes and it is a cold climate, colder than the mountain side.

To read more - google - Food Costs Skyrocket in Canada's North...

Birthday Greetings

For February 19th -Happy Birthday Naj at the Naj Mahal.

Hope your day is Prine special like you.

Photo - www.jpshrine.org

Valentines Day

Noisemaker and I spent Valentines Day afternoon/evening watching a cow moose - oh to love.

Pardon my photo, not the best. I am still on the learning curve when it comes to the Nikon.

Valentine, the cow moose came to visit just before 4 p.m. on Valentines Day. We have many saskatoon bushes and willows for her to eat; she feasted. Valentine had to rest and proceeded to lay herself down between the pine trees.

She departed at sometime - late last night or early this morning. All we saw at dawn were her big tracks dancing through the snow and of course, moose poop!

I appreciate nature very much, I love the wildlife and to this plot of land - this love I share with them.

...Love has no mind - it can't spell unkind
Its' never seen a heart shaped like a Valentine...
~John Prine~

Donald Hall

Late evening of 13th February I was listening to a radio program - This American Life via CBC Radio-Canada. The program subject was love because it was the eve of Valentines Day.

One of the people on the program was Donald Hall, to whom I had never heard of. What a great writer, indeed. It was a small segment he had on the program, but his words rang so true ~ true words of love.

Related websites:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/donald-hall

http://www.loc.gov/poetry/more_hall.html

If any of you should be in a bookstore and spot anything written by Donald Hall - buy it.

His words, like the words of John Prine can bring you to tears.

Photo Credit - Library of Congress ~ Donald Hall

Happy Hearts Day

My Happy Hearts wish you all a very Happy Valentines Day.

I think Neil Young is having a very Happy Valentines Day - he won his first Grammy last night at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards. I saw a photo of him and his wife, Peggy. I have to say for what Neil has been through; he is looking very well.

How about Ray LaMontagne; he won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Yes, for the subject of Hearts Day - I can understand how some folks would find this day depressing. The way of the world figures that everyone should have a partner and I agree with that somewhat. I think everyone should be thankful their heart is still beating.

As soon as a I finish this off, I am off to have some porch time. That translates to - I am going to have a cigarette. I was thinking the other day and patting myself on the back. I figure I have not done too bad in decreasing my intake of cigarettes. Currently, I am sitting at 10/day. Somedays are 12; somedays are 6.

It is dark out on the porch and there is nothing out there but me and the stars. Sometimes I can hear animals off in the distance. Sometimes the animals are too close for comfort and that forces me to butt out quickly and hurry back into the house. Out there on the porch; it is my quiet time - I contemplate. Somedays, I go out there just to giggle, sing, and do a few dance steps and I think today come first light that is what I shall do.

Song for the Day - Be My Valentine~ Nils Lofgren

God Of Snow - Cease and Desist

Way too much snow falling. We cannot keep up with the shovelling. I was outside this morning, waiting for my plough boys to come - shovelling my heart out. My plough boys, well, it must be too much snow for them because they have not arrived yet. I am so tired of snow, it is wearing me down fast. However - on the bright side, my new cleats are outstanding!

This morning when I was outside tending to the white stuff, I sang The Missing Years - John Prine.

I added a few new words....

so gather round me all my contemporary peers (my little snowflakes)
I will tell you a story about jesus, the missing years.

Bring It On!

My new cleats arrived today - I have been burning up the pathway. Oh my, these cleats are near to godville/Prineville - take your pick. So god of snow, Bring It On - and prior to you bringing it to me - please talk to the god of lotto. I need lotto! I need lotto to get to Bayfield, Wisconsin to meet my Prine friends. *she bows her head and heavenly prays*

Lots of snow to shovel today. My plough boys - although I blew them a kiss and waved - yep, they still left me one heck of pile of snow. I do not like those new born baby size blocks of ice/snow. I cannot shovel them. I drop the shovel, hand pick those ice blocks and heave them as hard as I can - over the bank of snow that is already there.

I wait for spring, the first flower blossoms, I love those. Geez, makes me sound so dainty.

Twelve Days Of Christmas

Recently, I was attempting to complete a mega sized themed crossword puzzle. The theme of the puzzle was the Twelve Days Of Christmas.

eh, folks - I know my Twelve Days Of Christmas - since I could speak, I have always had the voice to wail on out.

The crossword puzzle had me beat; I was not getting the 'on the fourth day, my true love gave to me...

I have always sang - Four Calling Birds...

So I went to research - oh my. It was Four Colly Birds to the crossword puzzle. I never knew of a Colly Bird. A Colly Bird is your common Blackbird. Also to note, in my research I found some countries sing - Four Mockingbirds. Then, I thought of John Prine - his song Morning Train.

...Constantinople is a mighty long word - got three more letters than Mockingbird...

As for Adrian Powell who made the super crossword - well, he and I do not sing the same words to the Twelve Days of Christmas. However, for Adrian - wow - just to make those mega crossword puzzles is a realm of intelligence I do not have.

As for my twelve days of Christmas - here goes ~

12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords A Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids A Milking
7 Swans A Swimmng
6 Geese A Laying
5 Gold Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and 1 Lone Dove who listens to John Prine!

:)

Toque de la Prine

Not good with french - I think I am writing The Hat Of Prine.

John Prine Toque

Finally, a photo of the John Prine toque and I. Not a great one a that, however, it is me. I Prine, I smile - proudly.

I Do Not Have A Title

On the mountain side, each day - well, you never know what it will bring. Today, it was a moose, a cow moose - grazing. We watched until she departed and proceeded along with our day. I am in lack of exercise, I have to move today - walk, do something. I made it to the mail box and back - happy to report all the coupons came in - such a bonus! I still wanted more exercise. I am afraid to venture to far with only one cleat so I decided I could pound on the walkway and make it decorative. I walk that path, up and down, a dozen times (it is approximately 50 feet). Noisemaker, I saw him at the window (peering out - wondering what the hell is she doing)...I Paradise Wave in return. Our walkway is very decorative now, one cleat - one boot firmly planted - indented in the snow.

We had lunched, talked about supper making and then the power went off. Oh my, power off and I - well, we do not get along. Having the power off only elevates our blood pressures. :)

Luck is on our side, (not lotto), but we do have a generator, bbq, everyreadies, woodstove, that walkman thing and Prine. Noisemaker, he barbequed the smokies, I did potatoes and made a potatoe salad. Poof, then the power comes on.

Another day in Paradise.

calmly - *she does the 'paradise wave' x2*