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A year of solar energy
As I write this post, there’s a thick layer of snow covering everything. Trees and shrubs, roads and cars, houses and roofs, and, our solar panels. There will be no solar production today. Or for the next few days as the winter temperatures persist. Bummer. Yet expected. Fortunately we have banked credits that will cover this snowy patch. To be certain, I took this opportunity to wade through the past year’s hydro bills. Electrifying fun. Our solar panels have been operational for a full year. It’s a good time for a review. I have also received a few questions about how the system is working so I thought I would…
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Words of a father to a daughter
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. During the month, the Alzheimer’s Society encourages people to learn about dementia and the experiences of people living with dementia. Over half a million Canadians live with dementia. This is expected to almost double by 2030. 1 in 5 Canadians have experience caring for someone with dementia. Yet there is still stigma and misunderstanding. My father has Alzheimer’s. For the past two or three years I have been jotting down words and phrases he has said. It’s a long and varied list. Sad, humorous, jumbled, clear, wise, heartbreaking. I decided to turn some of these notes into an essay about our visits focusing on some…
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Trying new things
It’s a new year. I am not one to make New Years resolutions but I do like to try new things. In fact that was one motivation for setting up this blog. Trying something new can break the monotony of routine, stimulate creativity, or get me looking at things from a new perspective. Sometimes simply cooking a new dish or listening to new music can reinvigorate me. One of the new things I am so glad I tried in 2021 was forest bathing. Distinct from walking or hiking in nature, forest bathing encourages you to slow down, even sit down, and connect with the forest (see Forest bathing invitations for…
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The Optimist
It’s that time of year. The squirrels are fat. Slower. One of these days I will catch one. The white fluffy stuff comes and goes. I can curl up in front of the fireplace. It’s toasty. Other than some salt on my paws, it’s been another tail wagging year. My family was home a lot again though there were more comings and goings than last year. Oh let me tell you about one new coming and going! One of my family (the one who lets me sleep in her bed) goes somewhere new. Somewhere magical. When she comes home her shoes are all meaty smelling. A most delightful aroma. I…
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A very special night for Málaga
The joy in the unexpected is so often about the little things. A fun interaction. A quiet plaza. A new taste. Málaga held a wonderfully unexpected experience but I cannot classify it as small. It was on a grand scale. It started as I checked in to my hotel. The greeting from the hostess was unusual: “Let me explain what’s happening tonight.” By the excited tone in her voice it was clear this had nothing to do with the wi-fi password. “It’s like a mini Semana Santa.” A week earlier I was in Sevilla so I had heard a little about Semana Santa or Holy Week. Sevillanos spend the entire…
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Plazas and pebbled tapestries in Córdoba
Córdoba is jam-packed with treasures from its storied past. It was exhilarating, and overwhelming. One moment I was admiring the pretty flower pots climbing whitewashed walls and then I turned a corner to be confronted by a stretch of the massive Game of Throne-esque wall that encircled the city in Roman times. Another day I unexpectedly walked under an archway into the huge 17th century Plaza del Corredera (similar to Plaza Mayor in Madrid without the sculpture of a king on a horse and far quieter). Exiting the other side of the rectangular plaza I was soon face-to-face with the remains of a Roman temple from the 1st century. Eleven Corinthian marble…
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A simple guide to dining out in Spain
Check the time. You may be hungry or simply eager to commence your culinary adventure but don’t head out too early. It may be tempting. But don’t. Don’t attempt lunch before 1:30 pm or dinner before 8:30 pm. If the restaurant is open earlier it’s not where locals eat. Consider the later dining hours warm up for a leisurely paced meal. Ask for a table. Step inside the restaurant and try your Spanish: “Una mesa para dos, por favor”. Alternatively, hold up the appropriate number of fingers. Be ready with your drink order. Service starts with a drink. Pronto. Your server may ask what you would like to drink as…
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The beauty of ceramics in Sevilla
The glazed tiles preserved a hand written message in vibrant blue lettering. I studied the words as I ate my tangy marinated carrots at the narrow bar curving through the small space. When I needed a break from my meagre attempts to translate the message, I shifted my gaze to the huge bowls of radishes and large green olives on the upper shelf of the bar. I could only decipher a few words. Magica (magical) Taverna (tavern) Amigo (friend) Vino (wine) Alma (soul) If I had had more courage I would have asked the server about its meaning. He had already advised me to eat downstairs at the bar where…
