Daily Quote: January 4, 2021

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Snow brings a special quality with it
—the power to stop life as you know it dead in its tracks

~ Nancy Hatch Woodward (American Writer / Born: September 11, 1954)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Sometimes the weather is just perfect such that when it snows the snow clings to everything in sight and for just a magical moment it waits there for the sun to melt it. Yesterday morning was one of those rare moments. A Sunday morning during lockdown when the wet snow fell slowly and built up on every surface it could find. A white blanket over everything and no one was in a hurry to move it. It was warm enough that you didn’t have to wear gloves, but cold enough to keep the snow in place until noon. Families were out walking along the trails in the Conservation Area and children playing on the hills with their winter toys. Yet the snow adds a layer of quiet that muffles all the sound of traffic and attenuates all the other sounds. Peace, quiet and beauty.

Daily Quote: January 3, 2021

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Not all those who wander are lost.

~ J. R. R. Tolkien (English – Novelist / January 3, 1892 – September 2, 1973)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

I dream of being able to wander again. Archie and Smokie are wondering why we haven’t left for warmer climate yet. Rickie doesn’t leave my side just in case we decide to leave him behind. With travel still limited we’ve just walking around town or the local conservation area. Friends have called to say they’ve gone for a drive, just to get out of the house, with no particular place to go and no place to stop.

So I’ve started some Bonsai seeds and looked through some seed catalogues. I’ve also started going to the dollar stores in hopes of getting my favorite seeds this year (last year they were sold out). As the days have just started to get longer I’m looking forward to signs of spring. I’ve also started to look for trips for late 2021. Greece is still one of my bucket list places. My sister says Ireland has some amazing sales, but I don’t know if my husband can fly again……

Daily Quote: January 2, 2021

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Anybody can be a great photographer
if they zoom in enough on what they love.

~ David Bailey (English – Photographer Born: January 2, 1938)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

If it’s true that what you do on the the first day of the year you will do for the rest of the year, I’ll have a good 2021 surrounded by Family. My son and his new wife and their boys came over for a coffee, stayed for supper and played cards. The sounds of the boys chasing each other around filled the house as they squealed with delight. And the older one asked to spend the night at grandma’s. ❤

Almost 100 sparrows come to feast at my bird feeders. 10 dark-eyed juncos have also become regulars and my pair of morning doves have returned (they didn’t seem to like the new metal roof on my shed).

Daily Quote: January 1, 2021

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In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.

~ Alfred Stieglitz (American – Photographer / January 1, 1864 – July 13, 1946)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Happy New Year. Welcome 2021. Hope for all. What resolutions did you make?

Looking back and looking forward the next couple of days a time of reflection and dreaming.

Before 9PM last night the internet and TV went off line. This morning my favorite radio station isn’t playing. I was certain to open all the doors last night to let the new year in. I think the entire world is ready for a change. So with another 3 1/2 weeks of lock down I’ll be finishing my course on Indigenous studies (online and free from the University of Alberta) and looking for another course to take. I couldn’t find a journal with a calendar in the front pages and blank/undated pages so this is the first year I haven’t started journaling in written copy.

Daily Quote: December 31, 2020

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How deeply seated in the human heart is the liking for gardens and gardening.

~ Alexander Smith (Scottish – Poet / December 31, 1830 – January 5, 1867)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

*The last day of 2020 and on the precipice of a new year. I wonder about the last year and what resolutions should I make for 2021. There’s the usual: loose weight, be more active, spend more time with family, keep a journal, publish my Daily Quote…..

We certainly won’t be going dancing tonight while the province remains under lockdown waiting and praying for the pandemic to come to an end.

I will be an age I never thought I would see. I always thought I would be like my mother’s family and die young. So I lived fast. I got married as soon as I was almost done university, when I was only 22. I had 3 beautiful sons by the age of 30. I worked at one place of employment for 32 years and was able to retire at 55. I’ve been married to the same man for almost 42 years. Now that I’m approaching 64 I’m glad I did things early. It’s so much joy to see my grandchildren while I can still walk, swim, camp and bicycle with them. Now I think I may live to a ripe old age like my paternal grandmother and may still have another 30 years to fill with hobbies, activities and love.

Gardening, traveling, visiting, reading, cooking, eating, reading, kayaking, walking, biking, knitting, camping, photographing and all the other “ings” still to do and enjoy.

So in keeping with Irish tradition, tonight I’ll open all the doors to usher out the old year and let the new one in. Looking forward to life returning to normal. And I’ll put coins over the doors to ensure another year of wealth and good luck.

Daily Quote: December 30, 2020

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Photography is a small voice, at best,
but sometimes one photograph, or a group of them,
can lure our sense of awareness.

~ W. Eugene Smith (American – Photographer / December 30, 1918 – 1978)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Only 2 more days left of 2020. Perhaps by celebrating Enormous Changes at the Last Minute the year 2020 can be saved. Or by re-phasing the events of the year we can give it a new spin.

Here are some better ways to remember 2020:

  • 2020 was the year that a vaccine was developed for COVID-19 in record time and a world-wide pandemic was brought to a screeching halt.
  • 2020 was the year we got to spend time with our loved ones.
  • 2020 was the year that air pollution levels dramatically decreased.
  • 2020 was the year companies switch production to hand sanitizer and PPE.
  • 2020 was the year volunteers made PPE for front line workers.
  • 2020 was the year that neighbours celebrated by dancing in the streets (separately but together).
  • 2020 was the year the Canadian Government paid people to stay home.
  • 2020 was the year Churches broadcast their services.
  • 2020 was the year that everyone started gardening, all the local stores sold out of seeds.
  • 2020 was the year so many people started baking that we ran out of yeast and flour in many of the stores.
  • 2020 was the year people learned new at home hobbies.
  • 2020 was the year that on-line learning was made available to everyone.
  • 2020 was they year all the animal shelters were emptied as people decided to adopt pets.
  • 2020 was the year we went to Texas (before we were told to come home).
  • 2020 was the year everyone got out walking.
  • 2020 was the year that the Provincial Parks had to close because too many people went there.
  • 2020 was the beginning of on-line access to Doctors in Ontario
  • 2020 was the year AMAZON really became popular.
  • 2020 was the year we all wore masks into banks and stores.
  • 2020 was they year stores started curb-side pick-up.
  • 2020 was the year of shields, plexiglass shields.
  • 2020 was the year we learned to keep our distance.
  • 2020 was the year when cash almost became obsolete.
  • 2020 was the year my youngest son got married.
  • 2020 was the year I posted daily quotes.
  • 2020 was the year…….

Daily Quote: December 29, 2020

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Good laws make it easier to do right and harder to do wrong.

~ William E. Gladstone (British – Leader / December 29, 1809 – May 19, 1898)

Holidays and Celebrations:

*As the end of 2020 is getting closer it’s time to review the year and finish our 2020 goals. Since I’ve been retired I’ve made a habit of not making any goals for the next year, but I think I’ll review that habit and try to make some goals for 2021. Some should be the SMART ones (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time) and some should be just general or yet to be defined. My financial one always is to have less debt than the year before. I’ve managed to achieve that one this year due to travel being restricted by COVID-19. I’ve stayed in my budget for gift giving and paid all my bills on time. Now to continue my financial goals for 2021. I always ensure that I go into the new year without any bills outstanding or due. It’s my own superstition that if I start the year not owing, I’ll end the year not owing. It’s a SMART goal and a self-fulfilling prophecy that I hope to continue every year.

Daily Quote: December 28, 2020

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We live in a diverse society
– in fact, a diverse world
– and we must learn to live in peace
and with respect for each other.

~ Stan Lee (American – Writer / December 28, 1922 – December 12, 2018)

Holidays and Celebrations:

*Happy Birthday to my youngest son. When he was in elementary school I always had a party for him. Because it was after Christmas during school break it was always well attended. (Except one friend who couldn’t be there due to hockey) and just after boxing day sales so he always got wonderful gifts. This year he is turning 35, celebrating with his new wife and sons.

Daily Quote: December 27, 2020

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I love quotations
because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have,
beautifully expressed with much authority
by someone recognized wiser than oneself.

~ Marlene Dietrich (German-American  Actress / December 27, 1901 – May 6, 1992)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Continue reading Daily Quote: December 27, 2020