Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly,
~ Mary Kay Ash
but the bumble bee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway.
American – Businesswoman May 12, 1918 – November 22, 2001
Porte Photos’ Daily Quote: May 4th, 2023
Daily Quote: May 4, 2021
May the 4th be with you!
Happy Star Wars Day!
Holidays and Celebrations:
Porte Musings:
Today is Star Wars Day. One of our biggest cultural modern fairy tales. Once upon a time…in a galaxy far, far away,… Everyone in North America has heard of Luke Skywalker, R2D2, C3P0, and Darth Vader.
Today is also Teacher Appreciation Day. Especially during the pandemic these heroes have soldiered on online and in spirit guiding the young students to be their best. Thank you!
Inspiring young people with conservation in 1894 Bird Day was started by Charles Amanzo Babcock, superintendent of schools in Oil City, Pennsylvania. The idea quickly caught on and became one of the first Conservationist days of celebration and remembrance. Luckily, feathers lost favor in the fashion world and birds stopped being killed for their feathers. Too late for some birds, as we all know the fate of the Dodo. Passenger Pigeon populations were also severely diminished by fashion. So let’s keep the birds where they belong, don’t raid their nests to rob their eggs and don’t kill them for their feathers. Let’s refill the bird feeders and watch them as they go about their routines of living. ❤
Daily Quote: March 7, 2021
Little deeds are like little seeds,
~ Daniel D. Palmer (Canadian – Celebrity / March 7, 1845 – October 20, 1913)
they grow to flowers
or to weeds.
Holidays and Celebrations:
- Grandmother’s Day (Fête des Grands-Mères) – France
- Namesake Day
- 3rd Sunday in Lent
Porte Musings:
So I choose to celebrate Grandmother’s Day (Fête des Grands-Mères) with France. I’ve just spent 2 days with my oldest grandson and this celebration is overdue. His view always surprises and inspires me. I still remember when we were in the backyard and told me the dandelion in full bloom was a wish flower. So he gleefully grabbed them and blew off all the seeds. Now I look forward to the dandelions to make a batch of wine for the winter, then make wishes with the ones I didn’t harvest.
On Namesake Day we should reflect on where our names come from and why. My mother wanted to call me Dagmar after the German actress. Thank goodness my mother’s visiting aunt told her it was too uncommon in Canada, so I ended up with a common name of Deborah. This probably wasn’t the best choice either as I grew up with 5 Debbie’s in my elementary school class, so I never responded until the teacher called out my last name. I should have corrected the teacher with “That’s Miss Porte to you.” but I never had the courage. It was very disrespectful of the teacher to just yell out “Porte” and I still resent being called just by my last name. At any rate, that’s why I often don’t respond to just my first name.
Today is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. Take time to pray and worship whether you are Christian or not. Meditate and clear your thoughts as we seek to overcome the 2020 Pandemic. Wear your mask, wash your hands and get the vaccine as soon as you can.
Daily Quote: June 28, 2020
Plant and your spouse plants with you;
weed and you weed alone.
~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(French – Philosopher / June 28, 1712 – July 2, 1778)
Paul Bunyan Day
Daily Quote: May 5, 2020
From each according to his abilities,
to each according to his needs.
~ Karl Marx
(German – Philosopher / May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883)
Cinco de Mayo
Cartoonist Day
May temperatures change so rapidly. Sunday was sunny and 20C. Friday night we could have snow flurries. Many over anxious people were starting to plant their gardens and now will probably loose their tender plants to a deep freeze coming in from the north.
At least some of the restrictions are being loosened enough to permit communal gardens and garden centres to open. Texas had 1,000 new cases yesterday amid their lessening of restrictions. Hopefully as Ontario loosens the restrictions COVID-19 doesn’t gain in numbers again. The curve seems to be flattening and some provinces are ready to open up again.
China fights back with a short animation of the COVID-19 timeline and USA response:
China Vs USA COVID-19 short animation
Daily Quote: May 4, 2020
May the 4th be with you!
For all Star Wars Fans
Star Wars Day
Yesterday was a beautiful spring day with temperatures of over 20C and a clear sunny day. The dandelions were in full bloom, even after I had harvested the first flowers for dandelion wine. With the entire yard covered in dandelions, 2 pollen laden bees are aiming for the same flower.
Although some things will be opening today, post COVID-19 Pandemic (we hope) there is still an air of mixed feelings and fear over opening too soon or a second wave that could occur. Texas reported 1,000 new cases yesterday, but is opening back up as restrictions are being reduce. Ontario Garden Centres will be opening with curbside pickup and other social distancing restrictions. I’m anxiously awaiting the opening of Provincial Parks so I can go kayaking in my favorite body of water, the Ausable Channel.
Daily Quote: March 28, 2020
Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out.
~ Frank A. Clark (American – Politician March 28, 1860 – April 14, 1936)
National Weed Appreciation Day
National Weed Appreciation Day, not the kind you smoke. We’re talking about weeds like dandelions or wild flowers as some of us like to call them.
I’m now on day 10 of Quarantine after returning to Canada and am wondering how much different my life will be when the quarantine is done. My husband is in the the risk category due to age and being a cancer survivor with only one kidney, so we will still need to social distance and remain vigilant. It will be wonderful to see my grandchildren in person again and to be able to get my own groceries rather than write a list and send my daughter-in-law into the dangerous stores.
I’ve started some seeds from OSC, where I ordered them on line, but was very disappointed with the little number of seeds in a package. One package I received actually had no seeds, so I called and had the package replaced. The replacement package only had 10 seeds. I’d like to go to the dollar store and buy some seeds, one of my luxuries.
I’m anxious to go for a walk in the local conservation area to see the skunk cabbage starting to grow an the marsh marigolds or any other spring flowers starting.
Porte Photos 