Practice Yeilds Progress

My fiddle teacher instructed me to video tape some of my at home practice sessions. This is so that I can have a chance to review my technique and posture while not distracted by trying to get notes on key and in tempo. It also gives me a chance to really listen to my playing and recognize errors in tempo and dynamics.

For the most part this is a hugely humbling experience. I will practice a song and think I have it down - until I go to video tape myself. Then my fingers and bow can't seem to get in sync and nothing goes right. It definitely reminds me that I have so far to go to reach the playing ability I aspire to.

I did however manage to capture one video where my fingers seem to co-operate and I even manage to play through some really difficult (for me) sections! I was so proud of myself and the fact that I actually got the good one on camera, that I thought I would share it with you. The song is a traditional fiddle tune called Redwing.

 

You will see that when I play I have almost no control of my facial expressions. Even though in my head I think I am smiling and enjoying myself the camera shows me I have a very serious face of concentration. In the above video I think I smirk once while playing- this is the point when I realized that things were going good and I was going to nail this one.


So it is definitely not perfect but I am certainly making progress. I continue to enjoy my fiddle lessons and am making the most of my opportunities to learn. Lately I have become a bit of a broken record about encouraging people to take music lessons if they are interested. Seriously I know so many young-adults who say they wished they could play an instrument.

What is stopping you?!?!?

You are not dead yet! Get out there, pick up a fiddle, cello, guitar, banjo, clarinet or kazoo and learn to play a tune! Better yet sign up for lessons with a local teacher. Sure you probably won't become some famous musician, make money off of your art, or even perform in front of many people. There will be squeaks and squawks and you might have to start with something more basic than Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. But there is no pressure to be great- Just enjoy music for what it is, have fun, and participate!

What My Life Sounds Like Lately

I have been spending a lot of my free time practicing my fiddle lately and having so much fun! If you were a fly on the wall of my apartment tonight here is a sampling of the songs you would hear in varying degrees of proficiency.

Started out with some classical music- good for practicing technique and challenging. I had a song running through my head and spent about 1/2 and hour trying to figure out what it was. Turns out it was Henry Purcell's Rondeau from Abdelazer. Fortunately I was able to find some sheet music for the song online (written for flute but hurray for playing a C+ instrument again!!) The song sounds beautiful as a violin solo. The notes are surprisingly easy to get but I need to work on my tone a lot to sound this good.

 Non-classical music fans might remember it from the dance scene in Pride and Prejudice.

And then some other dancing tunes. I have been enjoying learning some traditional fiddle standards. Maybe someday I will be providing music at a square dance near you!

Most of the recordings I got off Youtube were by Don Messer- a truly fantastic fiddle player! The last one (Red Wing) is actually close to the speed I play it at- lots of fun!!! Enjoy!

Summer is here and so am I

So it's been a while.... In case you were worried, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. (But seriously next time if you are worried about that drop me a message or something just in case.)

I have been busy working, worrying, living, baking, creating, skiing, running, moving, listening to music, making music,and an assortment of other activities. Circumstances as they are my original 2 month contract (Jan-Feb) has been extended repeatedly. Often with only a couple days notice before its expected end date. The month-by-month tension wasn't awesome, and the way I dealt with it (blissful ignorance and denial) wasn't the healthiest either. Finally I have the relative security of a 4 month contract but had the urgent need to find a place to stay yet again. I can't express how grateful I am to my church family here. When I express a need they repeatedly do whatever they can to fill it including inviting me into their homes, directing me towards available housing, and providing me with a bed.

Work has settled into a comfortable, if a little tedious, routine. I never expected to be working full-time in a chemistry lab. Initially it was exciting and challenging as I learned new lab protocols, but eventually this settled down into a regular rhythm to the point that I occasionally feel like just another piece of lab equipment. I have found setting goals and keeping track of my "personal bests" in regards to lab production to be effective in keeping me engaged in my work and constantly striving to do my best.

As an added challenge I have been focusing my energies and talents on some of my hobbies. I really enjoyed baking this winter especially fresh bread. I decided to stop buying store bought bread and make all of my bread myself. Which I found relaxing and enjoyable. I even developed my own recipe for a braided apple cream cheese streusel which is delicious and looks impressive to boot. I also started work on a painting for some dear friends and continued working on a painting I started earlier this fall. In addition I received a coupon for a discount on some music lessons; so I decided to get some more instruction on the violin (or fiddle.) Progress is slow but I would say I now am closer to using the violin as a musical instrument as opposed to an instrument of torture.

My music addiction is in full swing and I have enjoyed discovering some new bands as well as enjoying some old favourites. It is possible that I have been purchasing new music at too fast of a rate- you need to live with a CD for awhile to fully absorb and enjoy it. I think I need to go back and savour some CD's I had purchased awhile ago but haven't listened to that much lately. But there is so much good and interesting music out there and so little time! That and the website Noisetrade keeps me fuelled with constant new suggestions and the opportunity to legally download the music cheaply or for free. Their suggestions are consistently top notch! Recent finds include Jenny and Tyler, Josh Garrels, and Ivan & Alyosha. I have included some Youtube clips for your listening pleasure.

Until next time Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbeZwvB8BiE   - some reason can't link the actual video but this will take you to the page on YouTube for a song called Be Your Man by Ivan & Alyosha. Definitely check it out the video is a delight to the eyes and to the ears. It is a ton of fun and an excellent summery sounding song! Kick up your heels and dance!!!

Jenny and Tyler were the soundtrack to my winter Jan-Mar. They are an awesome husband and wife duo. I chose to link a few videos of theirs. I listened to their album Open Your Doors a lot this winter- it had a good mix of music both worship and music that ministered to my melancholy. Their music makes me want to make music too. Their song See the Conqueror was my song for lent- I recently found it is also in my church's hymnal but with a different tune. I like their version better and might try it out with the praise team at my church if I get the chance.

  

Finally the soft sweet and incredible sounds of Josh Garrels. I had downloaded his album Love War and the Sea In between last year sometime but didn't get around to really living with the music until recently. I am consistently astounded by what he does with his voice!! Pilot Me sings to me of the Pacific Northwest and why I want to go back to British Columbia and the Gulf islands. Sailor's Waltz and I'll Fly Away are just fantastic and make me want to go practice my fiddle. Which I think I will just go and do right now.

  

How Time Flies!

My favourite view: Snow and a ski track before me!

My, my, how time flies. 
Seems like only a few weeks ago that I was moving up here, (oh wait it was) and now I only have a few weeks remaining. 

I have been making the most of my time here and not spending much time writing about my life on this blog. (My gain and your loss.) I have enjoyed a cozy night at a friends cabin (sorry "camp" to the northerners.) I stared at the stars hanging over a frozen Lake Superior and stoked the wood fire in the morning. I have frolicked over fields and ice with my snowshoes on my feet and friend by my side. I have spent an evening with friends enjoying good beer and great live music at a local pub.I have seen movies, had excellent conversations and taken late night trips to Dairy Queen. I have enjoyed several after church/ just because potlucks or sushi lunches. I am frequently found dancing while baking in our kitchen much to the amusement of my housemates. Good friends and Great food are such a delightful combination! I have gone skating on an outdoor rink and only fell once!

Mockingbird hill- photos never do a hill justice

Also I have been making the most of my purchased ski pass and have definitely put it too good use. Even with my late start to the ski season and having to pay the full rate since I missed the early bird price; I have been able to ski more than enough to make it worthwhile. Gliding over the snow and working up a sweat even though it is below -20 C is one of my favourite things. Recently I conquered a large hill I had previously been avoiding, and have been skiing 18km/ week on average.







I hope my adventures will continue just a little longer. I hear rumours of /have made plans for such exciting activities as an evening of traditional Canadian dancing, consuming vast quantities of maple syrup, and having a wine and cheese party. And if the weather will permit I hope to get in a couple more good days of skiing. Who knows how long I, or the snow, will stay. So in the meantime lets squeeze every ounce of enjoyment or excitement our of life that we can! And when the pressures of an uncertain job future or the sadness of melting snow threaten to get me down I have a new distraction....

PRETTY SHOES!!!

PRETTY SHOES!!!!!!!

It's Snowing!

It's Snowing!

And that leaves me with an inexplicable desire to skip around the kitchen table singing jingle bells! (I used to do that!!) When I was a little kid I truly believed that singing Christmas songs/playing Christmas music would make it snow more. Since winter is my favourite season I can't wait for mountains of snow so I can take my snowshoes and x-country skis out of hibernation!

In the meantime enjoy these links to some Christmas music. The Youtube video is for the delightful pop song "Peppermint Winter" by Owl City. The second Youtube video is just for my older sister, one of her favourite Christmas songs.  For those who don't like pop music so much follow this link to a collection of Sufjan Steven's Christmas music. There you can find such delightful songs as "What Child is this Anyway" and "That was the worst Christmas Ever" alongside such Christmas classics as "O Come O Come Immanuel" and "Once in Royal David's City." His sound is unique so if you are unfamiliar with it just check it out!

Or send me a link to your favourite Christmas music so I can enjoy!

What have I been doing Lately??

Sometimes people who haven't seen me in awhile ask me what I have been up to. Often I can't really think of anything on the spot so I don't have much of an answer other than "being unemployed." This isn't all I do, I just frequently forget what all I have been busy with. So this blog post shall serve as evidence that I do in fact do things. 

Yesterday I had a blanket bee and ended up sewing a bunch of blankets.

Newly restrung violin!!

Today I bought strings for my violin to replace the ones that had broken. I learned how to restring a violin all by myself and managed to even tune it (somewhat) with the aid of an electronic tuner. Hurray for Youtube instructional videos! without which I would still be hopelessly lost and dealing with a broken violin. Now the air in our house is filled with the "sweet" sounds of a violinist who hasn't had any instruction, or practice since the age of 5 or 6. I sense alot of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in my future.

In other news I have been painting! I am working on a top secret painting commissioned by my younger sister and a few other paintings that have popped into my head. 

inspiration sketch for next painting

 The other day I went down to the beach. Fortunately I thought ahead and brought my raingear and warm clothes. The wind was howling and the waves were crashing. I walked out along the rocks and spent some time playing on the swings but soon was a little chilled and had to head for the warmth of my car. Summer clearly is gone and with it any chance of doing more kayaking this year. After experiencing a taste of winter in Calgary my snowshoes, skis, and me are anxiously anticipating that marvellous white stuff falling from the sky. (although it will probably be a few more months before any significant accumulation here.)

 So that is some of the things I have been up to lately. I'll leave you with some youtube videos of my favourite songs at the moment. The first one is by a band called Rend Collective Experiment. They are a worship band from Ireland and several of their songs currently top my favourites list.  The next song is by NeedtoBreathe. I just bought their CD and have been enjoying it immensely hope you do to!

My Favourite Sound

This week at church we celebrated communion. Which means I got to hear my favourite sound in the world- the sound of communion glasses as they are placed in the church pew. In my church the elders serve communion while everyone remains seated in their pews. After the glass communion cups have been passed out the pastor declares,

"Take, Drink, Remember and Believe that the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed for the complete forgiveness of all our sins."

we partake of the cup

and a smattering sound like raindrops occurs as the cups are placed in the pew.

I love that sound, every time we celebrate communion I wait for that sound. To me it is the sound of Grace, falling from heaven and washing away our sins- HALLELUJAH!! This song by Todd Agnew sums up my feelings quite well. 

I searched the internet wondering if I was the only one who loved this sound and came across this soundclip from NPR- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6119316 apparently someone else loves this sound too. To her the sound is that of Christian community and solidarity- which is very Biblical: Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:17.

Either way it is a comforting sound.

How Soon Hath Time

It's been awhile since I last updated my blog. Even though I do have a list of topics I want to eventually blog about I don't particularly feel like delving into any of them at the moment. Instead I shall (once again) leave you with a sonnet by John Milton which suits my current frame of mind. Ponder this and perhaps you may arrive at my thoughts without me having to actually write them out. (I love poetry!) Enjoy!

Sonnet 7- John Milton

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,

Stol'n on his wing my three and twentieth year!

My hasting days fly on with full career,

But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th.

Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth,

That I to manhood am arrived so near,

And inward ripeness doth much less appear,

That some more timely-happy spirits endu'th.

Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,

It shall be still in strictest measure even

To that same lot, however mean or high,

Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven;

All is, if I have grace to use it so,

As ever in my great Taskmaster's eye.

Midwinter Musings

Winter is more than halfway over and so is my job, but as of today there is still snow and I am still employed so I will rejoice.

Winter was a long time coming and still isn’t sure if it wants to stay. Here in the Sault we have had a milder than normal winter, there have been frequent mild spells which often cause my much-loved snow to melt and disappear, or settle and become hard and crusty- so unlike its original fluffy white self. But even though winter has been milder than normal at least we have had winter unlike many other parts of the country. I have been able to do a bit of X-country skiing, skating, and some snowshoeing too. So I guess there really are no complaints. All that remains to be done is to go for a sleigh ride and to go tobogganing and my winter to-do list is nearly complete.

The view from here lately has been a lot of this.

I see a lot of other things while I am out skiing but I usually see the best things when I don’t have my camera nearby; like the time I came within a meter of a gorgeous downy wood-pecker drumming on a tree as fluffy flakes of snow gently fluttered to the ground. Unless my painting skills greatly improve some things will just have to remain memories.

As my job contract nears completion I am feeling the wander bug set in again. Sadly the motivation to refresh my resumé is greatly lacking. I feel I am ready for a new place and a new adventure. I just wish I could take all my dear friends from here and bring them with me.

The snow sparkles outside my window and soon I will go out and enjoy it. But for now I am cuddled up in a blanket and sipping a large cup of magic mango mate. (It was an excellent Christmas present from my darling little sister. I would love it if she would send me some more! Hint hint) I have been enjoying it a lot lately which isn’t a bad thing. Apparently yerba mate is also called the “liquid vegetable” since it contains a pile of vitamins, nutrients and anti-oxidants (more than green tea!)

So get out and enjoy the snow then brew yourself a pot of deliciousness and settle in to some great music. This month’s discovery was a sweet band from Calgary Alberta called Lauren Mann and the fairly odd folk. I greatly enjoyed their sounds at a recent concert in Sault Ste. Marie and have subsequently been enjoying their CD. They are currently on tour so look them up and see if they will be near you- you won’t regret it! Or check them out on noisetrade where you can download some of their newest songs for free (although I am sure tips are appreciated.)

Moonbow?- A Beautiful Sight

There was a beautiful rainbow coloured ring surrounding the moon tonight. I noticed it when I came home from skating. I tried to take some photos but alas my photography skills leave much to be desired. The lack of a camera that is good in low light conditions and lack of tripod may also have had something to do with it.

This pic I found on Google images best represents what I saw, Lovely!

My favourite photo of the night wasn't a total loss. It doesn't do my night sky justice but I kinda find it  reminiscent of an impressionist painting.

Upon further review I was surprised to find one of my pictures did at least hint of the rainbow colours that were visible in the night sky. Hah! who need a fancy camera or tripod now! A steady hand and a vehicle side mirror will do in a pinch.



I really shouldn't call it a moonbow. A quick wikipedia search told me the technical term is a 22° halo or moonring. Follow the links if you want more info but the accompanying articles are a little sparse.

Interestingly enough folklore says that it is a sign of a coming winter storm and that if I counted the stars within the ring that would be the number of days before the impending storm. With the kind of winter we have been having one can only wish. Whether or not that is true time will only tell but for some reason all this talk of moons has Cat Steven's "Moonshadow" stuck in my head. This song always reminds me of a funny university memory. I had a friend who wanted to start a band. She thought this would be an excellent song to add to our repertoire which also included Amazing Grace. She played the ukelele and had found a violinist, pianist and vocalist, she wanted me to be the star clarinetist and figured we should call ourselves Death Tongue. Clearly we were destined for greatness.

Hope you enjoy the following YouTube link and your own moongazing.

p.s. I looked at a bunch of youtube vids for this song and though the sound quality isn't as good as some of the other ones I loved this clip for the fantastic 70's attire!

Just a Trifle

My Dad makes a fantastic trifle that we have every year at Christmas. I have loved helping him make this trifle since I was a little girl- especially since he let me sample some of the layers. I save his trifle recipe for Christmas time but since I love trifle so much I have come up with my own Chocolate Raspberry trifle. I love making desserts but since I normally cook only for myself I don't normally indulge unless I have someone to share it with. I made this trifle for a Church potluck where it was enjoyed immensely.  The thing I love most about trifle is that you get an awesome looking dessert that tastes awesome too and is very easy to make. Wanna know just how easy? Here are my simple instructions for chocolate raspberry trifle:

Ingredients:
- 1 box chocolate pudding
- 1 box vanilla pudding
- 1 can raspberry pie filling
- 1 pan of brownies (9x13) Quaker Oats mix is my fave but any brownies will do
- 1 box chocolate mousse
- 1 carton (500mL) whipping cream or 1 tub cool whip
- you will need milk to make all the mixes

Optional but definitely makes the trifle extra delicious as well as gorgeous:
- fresh raspberries (1 or 2 cartons)

Instructions
1. Prepare all the prepackaged mixes according to package instructions, you will need to make some room in your refrigerator for all the bowls of pudding. I also suggest you start with the brownies since they need the most time to bake and cool.
2. Grab your trifle bowl and a couple of spoons and get ready to assemble
3. Trifles have layers (like cakes, parfaits and onions) The order of the layers isn't essential but here is the order I followed to make the trifle in my picture

- brownie

- chocolate mousse

- raspberry pie filling and fresh raspberries

- vanilla pudding

- whipcream

- more brownie

- entire chocolate pudding

- more pie filling and raspberries

- more whipcream

- last of the brownie

- last of the chocolate mousse

- last of the pie filling

- last of the vanilla pudding

- final layer of whip cream

Garnish with more fresh raspberries and some shaved chocolate
(Hershey's Skor Chipits also taste really good in this)
4. After you are done admiring your creation dig out the spoons and bowls and dig in!

Margins and Sonnet XIX

Sonnet XIX: When I Consider How My Light is Spent

John Milton

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent which is death to hide,

Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest He returning chide,

"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" 

I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts: who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state 

Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed

And post o'er land and ocean without rest: 

They also serve who only stand and wait."

I have always loved this poem by John Milton. Long considered a reflection on the author's own encroaching blindness, I like the poem for the way it reminds me of the proper scale in which to view the importance of my work. Particularly I have been reminded of it because of the current sermon series my pastor is on. (If you want to listen to the podcasts of the sermon you can find them  here when they get posted) My pastor has been talking about margins- basically encouraging us to make margins (extra space) in our life, whether it is in the area of time, finance, emotions etc. This week he was focusing on time. He mentioned how so often we brag about being busy. We fill our lives with so much stuff- be it work, chores, sports events or other commitments. We stress ourselves out, then we brag about it. When I was a student I did this alot. Casual conversations frequently seemed like we were competing for who could be the busiest person. 

         

"I am so tired! I only got two hours of sleep last night, I had to pull an all-nighter to finish my paper." 

"I know what you mean I have 2 assignments, 3 lab reports, one essay and 3 midterms all due this week!"

 "Yeah, I am swamped with homework too, I have to clean the kitchen and take out the garbage, plus I am taking a group of people downtown tonight to volunteer and need to find rides for all of us."

I think often we have an inflated sense of the value of our own work. As Christians we think the only way to please God is if we have a schedule so jam packed with things we barely have time to squeeze in eating and sleeping, much less spending time in prayer. Throughout my highschool and university life I often struggled with guilt thinking I wasn't balancing school, work, relationships and leisure properly. Often I would put the most emphasis on my homework because after all, that was why I was in school. 

This poem screams a reminder at all busy workaholics and students struggling under a load of worry, stress and guilt. "God does not need either man's work or his own gifts!!" God does not need our work, things will be fine if we need to set it down, or are unable to finish. Our very ability to work was given to us by God in the first place and He has many more able to step in if needed. This was a hard lesson for this over-achieving perfectionist to learn. My current job allows me to leave work at the office when I go home. At first this was such a foreign concept to me. I felt like I needed to have some homework of some kind- perhaps reading an article or doing a calculation. But soon I came to realize that showing up to work, and doing my best, was enough! I could then leave it all at work and go home and enjoy, I didn't have to beat myself up or stress myself out. Now I can joyfully tell friends I have time to hang-out, I can spend time on hobbies, and don't feel guilty when all I want to do is watch some tv. I have to admit, I don't always use my time the best, and still find myself occasionally wishing I had more time, or staying up too late; but I have margins and it is wonderful!

Simple Pleasures- Winter

Got the Winter Blues? Not me! But here is some tips for those that do.

A list of Simple Pleasures for the Winter:

- a warm cup of hot chocolate, tea, or a latte

- ginger snap cookies

- blankets!

- working internet

- skype call with a good friend

- mindless tv.

- an hour long cross country ski or snowshoe

- fluffy flaked snow

- snow angels, snow men, snowforts- you are never too old!

I have been enjoying the little bit of snow we have had here. All in all the winter weather has been rather wimpy this year so I have had to make the best of the little that does exist. Enjoyed a great ski this weekend. I haven't been X-country skiing for long. I did a little when I was a child, and I was able to do a bunch last year when I borrowed a pair of skis from a friend. This year I got a pair of my own and want to get good use out of them- if only the weather will continue to cooperate. 

For those of you who have more mild weather at the moment and don't have any snow replace the snowy weather items with one of these: 

- don a pair of rubber boots and a raincoat and go puddle jumping!

- grab a pair of binoculars and see what kind of birds are in your neighbourhood

- re-engineer the water pathways that cascade down your gravel driveway by digging trenches and building dams....

                          ......... oh wait! What's that Dad?...... I'm not supposed to do that last one?- OOPS!

If you have fun with any of the above options or have any to add, feel free to leave a comment and tell me.

Advent Peace???

I can now say with (almost) certainty- “I’ll be home for Christmas!” both Kuiper Christmas and actual Christmas, barring any unforeseen circumstances of course. It will involve lots of driving, and hoping for good weather but I will be there. Hurray!

I have been really worried about the long drive by myself, especially if the weather turns nasty- I have to drive through several snowbelt regions. To top it all off I had some recent issues with my car that had me rather anxious. But the weather report looks clear enough and my car was given a clean bill of health so now I am looking forward to good food, good fun and family!

 Christmas is always an interesting time of year; so full of magic, and wonder, and excitement, and also so stressful in many ways. As people gather with their families to celebrate there is also the rush of shopping, and stress of preparing meals, and interesting family dynamics that emerge amongst family members that haven’t seen each other in awhile.

In my advent posts I haven’t been so good at following the traditional advent format (Peace, Hope, Joy, Love) but this post is about advent peace. Peace is sometimes hard to find at Christmas. Stores are busier, we are busier, and it is all too easy to forget about Peace. I frequently remember as a child my mother declaring that the only Christmas present she wanted was for us children to just get along for once. We hear about peace in Christmas songs, and read about peace in stories and on Christmas cards. But something about that version of peace is too syrupy sweet and unrealistic. It sounds nice in stories but in reality I think it might be a bit fake.

  

I remember one year I spent a lot of time and effort to cultivate that Christmas card-type “peace” in my family. I thought it meant evenings spent around a beautifully decorated tree, or advent wreath, singing songs, reading stories etc. My intentions were noble but the reality was much less idyllic. Siblings were grouchy, Christmas tree lights got tangled, and eyes strained trying to read stories by candlelight. The result brought a whole new meaning to when Jesus said he came, “ to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law…” (Matthew 10:35)

There is no magical formula for Christmas peace. But I have a feeling it might involve a bit of smiling through family photo shoots and settling for Chinese food instead of turkey. Today I bring you the song “Just for Now” by Imogen Heap. I love the way she captures both sides of the holiday experience. Enjoy!

Since Advent is also the time of anxious waiting for the (second) coming of Christ we can also anticipate the Peace that will come. For anyone who has read Revelations it is clear that kind of peace wouldn’t fit on a Christmas card either- plagues, wars, bloodshed, tears and violence abound but at the end there is a city, and a river and a tree whose leaves are for the healing of the nations, and there will no longer be any curse, and the Spirit and the Bride say “Come!”

Advent #1

Advent is one of my favourite seasons on the Christian calendar. I grew up in a church where we lit candles each week to celebrate advent. It was always a time of magic and anticipation for me. One year I made my family celebrate advent at home as well, including making my own advent wreath with candles and preparing weekly Christmas readings. When I was in university the church I attended did not celebrate advent the same way (they thought lighting candles was too catholic.) In fact they barely mentioned advent at all. Although I loved the church I went to I ended up attending another church during advent season just so I could be amongst believers who were celebrating advent too.

Advent it a wonderful season of anticipation. We prepare ourselves to celebrate Christ's coming at Christmas, remembering the anticipation and prophecies of the Old Testament. We also are reminded to eagerly anticipate and prepare for Christ's second coming. The church I currently attend doesn't do much in the way of celebrating advent either. I am a little disappointed; though this time I don't think I will find a different place to worship for the month of December. Instead I will find my own ways to celebrate advent and share it with anyone who is interested enough to read my blog posts.

For my first Advent reflection I want to share this post from Alissa Wilkinson which I found on the Cardus blog. Click the link below and enjoy! Feel free to share any comments or reflections with me- it will be like we are celebrating advent together!

Longing and restraint Cardus Blog

The Lighter Side of Work

Fundraising season is in full swing at work. Ontario Public Service Employees are actively fundraising for their United Way campaign. Some of their fundraising are definitely Fun- raising. We get very creative at OFRI including chilli cook-offs, potlucks, auctions, and even some hallway busking.

This afternoon all OPS employees at the Ontario Forest Research Institute were treated to the delightful sounds of the Great Lakes Jammers- a group of musicians from OFRI, Canadian Forest Services, Great Lakes Forestry Center and several other nearby government offices. They delighted us with a variety of folk songs including, my personal favourite, the Logdriver’s Waltz. As if the song itself wasn’t entertaining enough several researchers who had stopped by to listen and throw some cash in the guitar case broke out into a lively waltz. It was certainly interesting to see my co-workers in a different light- it is really a blessing to have a workplace where people are able to be productive and have fun at the same time.

I have included a link to the fantastic folk song- sadly I didn’t have video of the live performance but this National Film Board of Canada clip is entertaining as well. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Pt. 3

Finally the final post in the thanksgiving series. I know Thanksgiving (the Canadian one at least) has come and gone but hey- perhaps this will be a good reminder to be thankful all year round. And for all the Americans hopefully it will serve as a nice prequel to your own Thanksgiving celebrations.
 

I had a tough second year of university. Organic Chemistry can be a very humbling experience. That, combined with some other issues in my life, made it a very stressful year. It was all too easy to get sucked into a dark black hole of morose complaining and depression.

However I had a fantastic roommate. When our chaplain mentioned a story about an old Jewish man who daily made a practice of praying 100 thanksgivings, my roommate suggested we do this as well. We actually never made it to 100 a day. We started with 5 each and worked our way up to 20 each. It was a little difficult and some days I definitely didn’t feel like doing it. However my magnificent roommie always reminded and encouraged me and together we found the practice encouraging and uplifting. We recited our thankfulnesses twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays and found that we were happier on those days since the whole day we were looking for things to remember to be thankful for that night. I definitely think that is a lesson to remember and taking time to give thanks, be it scheduled or spontaneous, should be an important part of everyone’s life. So in honour of my fantastic roommie from second year and for the Thanksgiving holiday, here is a list of thankfulnesses I came up with.

1. Thankful for laughter and for good times with family

2. Thankful for good weather

3. Thankful for beautiful scenery- may I remind you that I spent most of Thanksgiving Day at Point Farms Provincial Park beach with my family.

4. Thankful for good food- yummy turkey, and stuffing, and gravy, and pumpkin pie!!!

5. Thankful for a marvelous trip to Sault Ste. Marie where I was able to reconnect with friends

6. Thankful for the fantastic things happening in my friends lives- weddings, birthdays, new relationships, new jobs, exciting opportunities, and more

7. Thankful for music- the kind I make and the kind I enjoy

8. Thankful for a supportive, loving family and a wonderful home

9. Thankful for good health and strength and the ability to do things like kayak, roll around in the sand and play Frisbee

10.Thankful for all the people that have touched my life- I may be terrible at keeping in touch but that doesn't mean I don't frequently think of them and how incredibly blessed I am to have known them.

Paddling and Pictures

I went for an evening/sunset paddle with my brother the other day.
It was gorgeous and the waves were marvelous providing us with alot of fun.
As the sun began to sink down into the lake I marveled at the beauty and wished to capture the moment with my camera.

I failed miserably. Although my photos are still nice they don't even come close to the dramatic beauty I encountered. I wanted to get a photo that fully captured the turquoise and mauve of the water along with the fuschia, pinks and purples of the setting sun, preferably with the flock of herring gulls flying across the view. In theory this would have been possible, and perhaps if I was a better photographer, or if I had a different camera.... however it is incredibly difficult to fiddle with settings on your camera while continuing to stay afloat in your kayak. As I was taking pictures every now and then a wave would decide to crest right into my kayak as if to remind me that I was indeed on a large lake with 0.5-1m swells. (I only had a 1/2 skirt on the kayak so yes, I got wet.) I tried to snap a few photos between paddling but eventually gave up, a pic couldn't adequately capture the moment anyways.

My bro paddling

They say a picture is worth a thousand words but even a thousand pictures can't adequately sum up a memory.

Experiment #1: Dancing in the Rain= Fun!!

So I realize my last blog post was perhaps a bit morose.
I really am not that depressed, just sometimes I need to get something off my chest.
I did that once in highschool and kind of scared one of my teachers. It was in Bible class and we were supposed to write a psalm- similar to the psalms found in the book of psalms. Whereas most of the class chose to write praise psalms and strung together a bunch of syrupy sweet Hallelujah's and thank-yous until they reached the required length; I chose to write a gut wrenching psalm of lament that was approx twice the required length. When I received my assignment back there were several comments from my teacher and a lengthy note telling me that if I ever needed to talk to someone he was there. I had no more angst than the average teenager (actually probably a little less) but I think my psalm made my teacher think I was perhaps depressed or suicidal. Ooops!

I don't want you to worry like my teacher did so I thought today I would share something more lighthearted- my most recent experiment. I decided to write it up like a pseudo lab report because.... I can. :) Enjoy!

Raincoat Test in Summer Rainstorm

Introduction: Raincoats are coats made of water repellent materials. They are frequently warn when a person has reason to believe it may rain or is already raining as a precaution against getting too wet. Alternatively they can be used by the wearer as an outer-shell layer to prevent heat loss from strong winds. Raincoats come in a variety of colours and styles. Recently this brilliant scientist purchased a fantastically bright lime green raincoat. The raincoat looks super stunning on the intelligent scientist in question however its efficacy in repelling water has yet to be determined. The following experiment seeks to correct this oversight.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of my new raincoat and thoroughly explore its waterproof capabilities during a summer rainstorm.

Materials: 

• raincoat (Northface, women's size large, lime green)
• torrential downpour
• barefeet
• grassy field

Procedure:

1. Look out window and observe precipitation
2. Don raincoat and exit the door
3. Run around like a crazy madwoman  jumping, dancing spinning and frolicking in the rain
4. Record results (options: have sister/bystander videotape/take a picture, use your senses, be creative)

Results: 

Fig. 1 Stunningly dry me (photo courtesy of Karina)

I found the raincoat to be most effective at keeping my upper body warm and dry. There was a small amount of moisture that came in through the cuffs, perhaps wicked in by the long sleeves of my cardigan. I found the hood remained in place nicely and had a good brim, however a strong wind might knock the hood off. The zipper was thoroughly waterproof and draftproof and I found the jacket kept me warm, but not too warm during this late summer shower. (See fig. 1)

Fig. 2 Jeans got very wet (photo courtesy of Karina)

My feet were able to enjoy the softness of the grass and the warmth of the ground. They also enjoyed splashing in puddles and wading through rivulets of water as they streamed down our washed out gravel driveway.

The raincoat failed to keep my bottom half dry and drenched skinny jeans are not comfortable. (See fig. 2)





Conclusion and Discussion: The raincoat was found to provide adequate protection from torrential rain for the upper half of the wearer's body. It did this while also being stylish and comfortable. One concern may be that when facing towards strong winds the hood may have a tendency to fall off. In this case it is recommended that the user cinches the drawstring around the hood. Another issue is that the raincoat does not provide adequate protection from torrential rain for the lower half of the body. If the user prefers to avoid a drenched lower half they should investigate further options. Water repellent rain pants similar to the raincoat do exist, however this brilliant scientist has yet to put them to the test and recommends further study in this area.