January Horse Auction

In the last post I wrote about our winter visit to the St. Jacob's Market, the largest year round farmers market in our region. The Ontario Stockyards are located on the premises and livestock are auctioned here several times a week. On the last Saturday of the month, a horse auction is held and many Old Order Mennonites are in attendance. In September I posted pictures here of the horse auction when the market was at its autumn peak and appeared far more colourful.


On this cold, grey day, the men were gathered to try out horses that were for sale. Mennonite children attend parochial schools until grade eight and can legally leave the educational system after this to work on the farm. One high school in the area does offer courses related to farm management for OOM teenagers, but relatively few take advantage of it. The teenaged boys are included with the men just as they were in general society a few generations ago. You are a child or you are an adult in this world.


The mini "chariot" was hitched to a number of horses and taken through the parking lot for a test drive. It was a test of the horse and not the cart and I saw the same pleasure in the men's faces as one would see when a man takes a sports car out for a drive.


This past month, a large Walmart store opened next to the market. To me, this seemed like an inappropriate intrusion in the rural atmosphere, but the OOMs were enjoying the store very much. In the picture above you can see the new covered parking space for the OOM buggies.


I seldom see a horse and buggy in the city any more as the traffic has become heavier. These people will take an intercity bus for essential visits to town. But this modern retailer is situated at the city limits and is set to attract these people who undoubtedly like a bargain as much as the rest of us.

Follow this link for more My World posts from around the globe.

Friday Flowers: At the Winter Market

The random nature quote of the day on my sidebar on Thursday said this:

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.

Luther Burbank

Our local farmers markets are open year round and we visited the largest one last weekend. It was very cold outside but several vendors bundled up and sold their wares from early morning until mid afternoon. The large, two level market building in the first picture was bustling with people who came to buy meat, cheese, baked goods and a large array of other foods and goods.


The flower displays caught my eye and were a spot of sunshine on a grey, snowy day. I received a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers the day before from my husband as a birthday gift, or I might have purchased a little bit of summer here.



I wanted to get some apples and went outside to visit a vendor who has been at this market in all seasons for over twenty years. The temperature was well below zero and a single display apple of each variety was out on the table. I selected what I wanted and my basket was filled by a person in the large heated trailer where the bulk of the apples were protected from the cold.


I had to smile as I watched these Old Order Mennonite boys admiring a display of cell phones. The vendor was demonstrating how to use them but it was unlikely that he made a sale. Many OOMs do not have telephones at all, or may have one shared line with neighbours in an outdoor shelter. They are less tempted to use the phone for personal use and gossip if it is placed in an inconvenient location. I do wonder if this generation will continue to follow the traditions of their elders.

There is something for everyone here, from flowers to food with interesting people to observe. No wonder they do not have to close for the season.

Clear and Cold, Blue and White

Each work day I walk from the parking lot toward this building. My work place is saturated with natural light and has many windows looking out on the lovely grounds. This week brought more snow followed by clear skies and very cold temperatures. Follow me on my morning commute to this familiar place.


Before I leave, our dog goes for a brief outing to a post in front of the house. The snowbanks are so high he can not find a tree or pole to mark and it is impossible for him to run across the yard as the snow is now deeper than he is. My husband spends time outdoors almost every day to keep the walk and driveway clear of new and drifting snow but it is getting harder to find a place to put it all.


This is the view from my car window as I back out the driveway. It is impossible to see the road because of the high snow banks and we inch out cautiously hoping any approaching vehicle will honk or slow down to let us out.


It is nice to arrive at work in the sunlight. When the clock changes to Daylight Savings Time next month I will be arriving at dawn again until the days lengthen further. Today the sun was climbing over the river that runs below the hospital.

Cloudless winter mornings are cold, -18 C on this day*, but the sun has enough warmth to melt the roof top snow a little, creating icicles on the eaves. We have had enough snow to damage some flatter roofs where icy accumulations have built up. But the snow and blue skies do make a lovely winter picture. The house used to be a residence for female staff in the days when this hospital was a TB sanatorium.


This is the original sanatorium, now just a wing of a much larger health care complex. The first floor window arches are unique and graceful. The old balconies where patients used to sit in all seasons to get sunshine and fresh air are no longer used except by squirrels and birds.

One of my patients has spent most of her stay in bed, curled in a fetal position, resisting any attempts to get her involved in treatment. Today I wheeled her to a bright window overlooking the grounds and she lifted her head showing a flicker of interest in the white world and blue sky. I sat beside her and held her hand as she talked about her home and her life, the sunlight seeming to drawing her out of her shell for a few moments.

These are the best days of winter and the blue skies are appreciated even more when they appear after several days of grey dampness and snowstorms. And with this much snow, we need spring to come slowly with sunshine rather than rain to slowly melt all that white a bit at a time.

* this morning Feb 5th it is -29C at 8 AM... going to plug in the car!

Follow this link for more skies around the world.

Winter Camping Anyone?

Guelph Lake Conservation Area is a popular camping spot between May and October and is now closed for the season. The grounds are accessible though and you are welcome to sit on the bench overlooking the frozen lake. At the nature centre, three shelters are set up for the students who come here on field trips.


I posted a picture of this snow house last week, but recent snowfalls have made the walls thicker and the entrance smaller.


Behind a cedar hedge is a tent, a straw shelter and a protected fire pit. The students are asked which would be warmest in the winter;- the snow, straw or nylon tent. They are permitted to climb in and out of them in order to make a decision about the preferable accommodation.


If you were to try winter camping you could also go ice fishing on the lake. These brightly clothed fishers were trying their luck in the cold without the benefit of an ice hut or propane heater. No one here has to fish for survival or live in a small outdoor shelter. But it does make me think of the effort it took to survive our winters in centuries past.


The birds liked the straw hut best and when I approached it a number of them flew away from its surface. Seeds (or insects) were likely present in the bales of hay. I also am amazed at their ability to survive cold days and long, colder nights for so many months of winter.

Winter camping is not for me, but I do know what material to choose for a shelter if I was forced to spend a night in the cold. Which would you choose?

Postscript... The best insulated shelter is made of....STRAW! Next is the ice house and then the tent. But if you had that sub-zero rated sleeping bag, you could stay in any of them safely. I would knock on the door of the house next door that has central heating. :-)
Follow this link for more My World posts from around the world

Half Way to Spring

Our front yard, February 1, 2009

If today be sunny and bright,
Winter again will show its might.
If today be cloudy and gray,
Winter soon will pass away.

My niece, Jaspenelle wrote a very interesting post yesterday about Oimelc (or Imbolc), a festival day in Celtic culture which marks the half way point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Groundhog Day, which is today, likely has its origins in this Pagan tradition.


Christians do not attach spiritual significance to observances of nature, the seasons, or the movement of the sun and moon, but many Christian traditions, especially those to do with Christmas and Easter have pagan roots. Ancient people in northern climates anticipated seasonal changes as part of survival. February's full moon was called "the hunger moon" as man and animal faced dwindling supplies of hoarded food and had to work harder to find fresh food. It is not surprising that they would look for signs that would point to an early spring.


Yesterday was beautiful and sunny with temperatures near the freezing mark. It was a day for walking without hat or gloves, and even though the snow is very deep, the air felt like spring was possible. People were out in large numbers enjoying the day. I walked the trails with some friends and we saw a lot of bird and animal activity.


This morning is also clear and sunny. According to the proverb above that means "winter again will show its might". Living in Canada, we know there will be more snowstorms right into April. February is the month of winter festivals including Winterlude in Ottawa and the Quebec Winter Carnival or Carnaval de Québec.

Groundhog day news wire!! Just reported...

"Canada's foremost furry forecaster, Wiarton Willie, saw his shadow this morning as he emerged from his den. According to tradition, Willie's glimpsing of his shadow means there will be another six weeks of winter."

Oh well, we knew that would be the case whether he saw his shadow or not.

Passage of Time

Ruth (in foreground) aged 5 or 6 in Durban South Africa

Today I celebrate yet another year of living, not a special birthday, just another birthday. I have never thought of myself as old even though I am undeniably middle aged, and sometimes feel no different than I did when I was thirty. The women of my family have lived to good old ages and I have excellent role models for the future. Working with older people also keeps me feeling young although some of my coworkers are the age of my children. I have seen young 90 year olds and 50 year olds who seem twice their age.

What is it that keeps some people eternally young?

It is not a cosmetic cream, a face lift, a hair colour, a shape or a style of clothing.

Here is what I have noticed about people who remain youthful all their days.

Ruth (23) Mom (45) Grandma (81) and Grandma's friend
Waiting for a very overdue flight in a Mexican airport

They are interested in trying new things and never stop learning.

They are able to accept change gracefully and without complaint. They are comfortable with themselves.

They are sincerely interested in other people and are good listeners. Nothing ages a person more than rambling on and on about the good old days.

They have a positive attitude about the future even if the present is troubled. They do not talk about how bad the world is getting which discourages and alienates those in younger generations. They are not overly critical of children, teenagers and young adults and are accepting of youthful ways, even if they do things differently. They mix well with all age groups.

Four generations: Grandma, Mom, me and our three daughters

They can be trusted to keep a confidence and share the wisdom that comes with experience without judgement or a superior attitude.

They do not put unrealistic expectations on others or feel they are owed service or affection from those closest to them. They do not put others on guilt trips or play family members against each other.

Even if their physical bodies break down, they focus on what they can do rather than what they cannot do.

Their faces wrinkle in smile lines, not frown lines. They never forget how to laugh or love.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to know what The Becka thinks about my advancing years check this out...My Reckless Mother

She starts by saying, "As I get..."older", I've noticed how lately I've been monitoring my parents more and more...as if they were children.

Sky Watch at 1630 h

January 9, 2009 at 1630 h

I drive by this hill every day at 1630 h on the way home from work. This old landfill site, locally known as Mount Trashmore has been graded and fixed up as a sledding hill. It is the highest point of land, albeit man-made, at our end of the city and has been a reference for the position of the sun at this time of day.

January 13, 2009 at 1630 h

Our days are gradually lengthening and sunset has moved from 1652 h to 1725 h over the month of January, a gain of 33 minutes at the end of the day. Each day is a little brighter on my journey home. Even though the air temperatures have remained very cold, the sun is stronger and warmer.

January 26, 2009 at 1630 h
Sun dog and high clouds

These three pictures show the progression of light over the past three weeks with all photos taken at the same time of day over Mount Trashmore.

Spring is on a slow march, coming our way!

Follow this link for more SkyWatch posts from around the world.

Big January Wrap Up...Three!

A young student at the Nature Centre feeders

I have visited these feeders at Guelph Ontario twice in the past week and stayed until my feet and fingers were numb with cold. There was plenty of action both times, from the seed eating birds and their predators. This area in the country and is surrounded with farms. There were at least three feral cats prowling around. What a perilous place for the many smaller birds hanging out in the area.

I studied the placement of the feeders and the plantings around them. If you look at the picture above and to the left, you can see heavy brush as well as a stand of cedars adjacent to the feeder. Other than the Chickadees, most of the birds rested in the thickets and darted back and forth to the feeders. I did not see a single House Sparrow or Starling in the area.

The first day I was there, a young Sharp-shinned Hawk made three passes at the feeders in an effort to get a meal. While it looks much like a Coopers Hawk, especially when mature, this hawk is smaller, about the size of a dove. In fact, I wondered why a dove was flying so quickly toward the feeders until I realized it really was a hawk.

Young Sharp-shinned Hawk, bird #60

I felt sorry for this young bird as it needed a meal too, but was hoping it did not target the lone Eastern Towhee or the Red-bellied Woodpecker. However, the Towhee never came out of the brush and has likely survived this far into the winter because of its caution. The placement of feeders and plantings around them do need to be carefully considered to provide safety for the birds. I think we often put feeders out for our enjoyment and viewing rather than considering what is best for the birds.

White-crowned Sparrow, bird #61

I went back yesterday hoping to get a better view of the Towhee. There were about 50 students visiting from a local school who were involved in outdoor winter activities. They were trying to find items on a list and had been assigned little binoculars. I loved watching them interact with nature. One 6th grade girl shouted, "Look at the red bird!!" She didn't even recognize a Northern Cardinal but will remember that now. Other children seemed to have a better knowledge of the environment around them. They had an outdoor campfire lunch of hot dogs, hot chocolate and marshmallows in the minus 10C temperatures.


I was happy to find my 61st bird in spite of the activity. There was one White-crowned Sparrow and a couple of White-throated Sparrows, birds I usually don't see until May.

Another local birder, a college student named Josh, has counted 89 birds in Ontario this month. He is a avid and skilled naturalist and a contributor to our local birding forum. I know he will have more birds by the end of the month. He has scouted the Niagara River for gulls and water birds and also found more owls and raptors than I did. So I will have to set my goal higher for January 2010 and maybe brave the Niagara area. We will see!