Feels cold, looks beautiful!

10:55 a.m. Jan. 14th

Clear, cold and sunny!

OK. I thought yesterday morning was cold.

How much colder could it get?

It was bitterly cold using the snowblower.  I started to use the shovel, but changed me mind.
The wind had scattered the snow across my freshly done driveway. After doing the back deck, I couldn't feel my baby fingers! Back indoors, I double-gloved, well, gloved underneath my heavy mitts. That helped. It's different than walking, as your hands are frozen to the snowblower handle!

8 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012

This morning was a bit more frosty. I'm planning a walkabout. I think the snowshoes will be important. Double-gloves and face protection.

We have about a foot of snow.

It's not so bad if you keep moving.
Poor JB went out to feed frozen deer and fetch the paper.

Nice snow cover protects the plants

Trees are still droopy with the ice pellets that froze on their branches.

 

At our favourite pub they were worried.
Hope they managed a Tebow!

Yes, late lunch in the pub after a failed attempt to take photos at the Habitat Build. (Long story involving lack of steel-toed boots!)

One server at O'Reilly's was trying to duct tape brooms to long-handled implements in order to clear off the satellite receiver. He wouldn't let me take a photo! He was atop a ladder. (Been there done that– photo to prove it!)
What else can one do in subzero temps but watch TV?!

BTW
I had a question about ice pellets. Don't know the difference between that and freezing rain. But the pellets were not rounded like frozen rain, but squared off and angular!

Occupy Ottawa comes to Perth's O'Reilly's Pub

'Occupy' (Ottawa) cost city $39,000  December 08, 2011

Responding to the Occupy Ottawa protest in Confederation Park cost the city about $39,000, staff say. The city's emergency and protective services...

22_Minutes ThisHourHas22Minutes 

The cost to repair a park after Occupy Toronto could reach $60,000. Said 1 protestor: “I think they got our message about wasteful spending”

Joe Cowen

I was surprised to hear the OCCUPY Ottawa was coming to Perth.

We are a small town of 6,000. Well, I say 'we', I don't live in town, but Greater Perth, Lanark County, is about 18,000. Many of us travel into the big town to shop, eat, or go to the various entertainment venues.

One of my regular pubs, O'Reilly's, was the location for this event. They are big supporters of local musicians.

From the event's facilitator, and Occupy Ottawa activist, Joe Cowen, we heard from an articulate number of young people. Joe is from Perth, and is concerned about the corporate media’s negative portrayal of the Occupy movement.

Point of order

Well-spoken, he made a number of great points, and explained the rules of engagement, hand signals perhaps better meant for a deaf community gathering, and I have attended a few. I love to clap, laugh, and express myself aloud –but that's just me!

"Mike check", doesn't mean check out the dude beside you... it means, am I talking loudly enough, as in microphone. You can learn something new every day!

The pub was full, as you can see. Staff were run off their feet fetching coffee and water. Some were eating, but not many.

'Twas a full pub! 

There was much talk about the Occupy Ottawa group who welcomed the homeless, those with addictions, and those abusing alcohol, into their camp. The group organised and found some resources to help these people.

Lots of agreement here!

Although, Ottawa has had a strong history of assisting those on the street, from homeless shelters, to emergency housing (e.g., Shepherds of Good Hope, The Ottawa Mission, The Elizabeth Fry Society, to name a few),  Occupy Ottawa members spoke of their work helping the poor and homeless .



  

Charlotte spoke eloquently about herself,
and her activist family.

About Obert Madondo

Founder and editor of the Canadian Progressive World (CPW) blog. Canadian Blogger. Editor. Writer. Social/political activist. Zimbabwe-born. Ottawa-based. Progressive. Global citizen. Globally-conscious. Survivor. Anti-status quo. Unapologetic.

The Guardian

1. The Occupy movement: how did we get here?
   

   
   

   There was a time at the start of all this where it seemed the protesters’ concern was simple: they were demonstrating against aspects of the capitalist system.

   Many of those who sympathized with the movement were on board because of what happened as a result of the 2008 financial collapse.

   They felt a few investors brought about the crisis by playing fast and loose with rules in order to make a few extra bucks. 

Canadian musicians

I am woman
hear me roar!

Women have choices!

I read the CTV news report: Did you read the big news?
'Older Canadians are embracing social media'
News? And they needed a poll. We're the ones who have integrated technology in our jobs from when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
In my husband's day, they thought that 3 employees could share a computer. Honest.
I digress...
Grandparents have picked up on the advantages of social media, and are keeping in touch with family, at the very least. I like trolling for news on Twitter, then reading the full stories with my morning coffee. I like weighing in on political issues. I figure I've seen it all, as an educator in multi-cultural schools, having taught refugees like the Vietnamese Boat People, Gulf War, and many special needs students. Myself, being divorced, as a single parent, feminist, remarried mother of 3, grandmother of 2, it gives one a particular  perspective.

The joys of being retired means that we can go out on a Tuesday night, I can play with technology, and I can post photos the next day.

Keith Glass really knows how to play!

A new friend phoned me up and suggested we go out on a double-date!
Keith Glass, with a recording studio in Perth, Ontario, was the perfect fit to replace the regular Tuesday man – Brock Zeman, who is on tour! Keith has mentored Brock, another Lanark County musician.

We like supporting local folks, whether they be artisans, farmers, business owners or musicians!
I quite enjoy O'Reilly's pub. When we first moved here, our silverware was left back in Muskoka. We were eating out, many times at the pub –several weeks in a row, for some fine salads, and entertainment!

She's a great boss
-on her feet all night!

What is cool in Perth, are the house concerts, a terrific trend. Affordable, intimate settings. I loathe the large venues, with loud obnoxious people, cell phones, –haven't been to a film since 2001!

Steve and Sue Tennant organize these concerts. This month's 'house party' was at the pub, where Steve could celebrate his birthday.

They smiled after I took the photo!

Back-up band

The birthday boy!
Steve Tennant

Guest artist

There are two kinds of truth: the truth that lights the way and the truth that warms the heart. The first of these is science, and the second is art. Neither is independent of the other or more important than the other. Without art science would be as useless as a pair of high forceps in the hands of a plumber. Without science art would become a crude mess of folklore and emotional quackery. The truth of art keeps science from becoming inhuman, and the truth of science keeps art from becoming ridiculous. -Raymond Thornton Chandler, writer (1888-1959)