Daily Quote: January 29, 2022

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Surprise is the greatest gift
which life can grant us.

~ Boris Pasternak (Russian – Novelist / January 29, 1890 – May 30, 1960)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Looking out my kitchen window yesterday the sparrows looked more like hummingbirds as they flew motionless around the bird feeder looking for an open space to land and eat. Fresh fluffy snow layered everything with it’s bright white and glitter. The maintenance man at the library was using a leaf blower to clear the sidewalks. I played outside for almost 2 hours blowing and shoveling the snow. Luckily the big tractor and blade of the contractor who was clearing the snow at the business beside me agreed to clear the end of my driveway where the snow plow had pushed the road snow in. I made sure to give him a small monetary tip and told him to enjoy a coffee on me.

When Boris Pasternak won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1958, he was forced to not accept it because the Russian Government had banned one of his most famous books: Doctor Zhivago1957 Censorship was aimed at keeping this away from the Russian people was fought during the Cold War as the USA tried to get as many of these books as possible into the hands of the Russian people.

Free Thinkers Day in the USA isn’t about Boris Pasternak, but celebrates the life and works of Thomas Paine (February 9, 1737-June 8, 1809). “Thomas Paine was a freethinker whose works inspired people to fight for social, political, and economic advancement.”

Bah Humbug. Why not celebrate Curmudgeons Day? Are they not a type of Free Thinker as well? or are they the opposite? So to all those cantankerous, difficult, and bad-tempered persons, who are usually also old men; here’s a day just for you. Made famous by the vaudeville star and actor W.C. Fields (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946).

So in the depths of winter if we aren’t curling up with a good book, dreaming about lofty ideas or just trying to mimic our favourite curmudgeon, we could always celebrate Puzzle Day. Get out one of those 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles and putter around the table piecing together a complicated scene, only to take it a part a few days later and return it to its box.

Unlike a year ago, the vaccines have been readily available and new mandates require proof of vaccination to enter Canada or the USA. The truckers and other essential workers were exempt until recently. So, they made a convey and headed to Ottawa to protest. What a waste of gas. Get your vaccines and provide proof like the rest of us. Let’s get over this pandemic and get back to some type of normal.

Daily Quote: January 7, 2022

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Wear the old coat
and buy the new book.

~ Austin Phelps
American – Clergyman / January 7, 1820 – October 13, 1890

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Merry Orthodox Christmas. The day after the Epiphany.

Enjoy National Bobblehead Day. Who doesn’t love those little caricatures?

Eat fried foods on National Tempura Day. Fried Fish on Friday in tempura. 😉

Daily Quote: November 27, 2021

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Miracles sometimes occur,
but one has to work terribly hard for them.

~ Chaim Weizmann
Israeli – Leader / November 27, 1874 – November 9, 1952

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Happy 4th Birthday to my youngest grandson today.

Just pausing to say that Autism has a huge spectrum.

Born prematurely and overcoming major obstacles with the shear love and determination of his mother. Adam is learning fast and wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s bright and the most important thing to him about school is he is making lots of friends. Enthusiasm is his middle name as everything he does is dramatic. One of his favorite phases: Are you excited? We are so proud to have him added to our family.

Daily Quote: August 29, 2021

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Where we love is home
– home that our feet may leave,
but not our hearts.

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
American – Writer / August 29, 1809 – October 7, 1894

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Photos

I have an engagement photo session this morning and am looking forward to meeting the happy couple. I always enjoy seeing couples before they get married. We’re meeting in Rayner Park in London ON. A favourite “walk in the Park” site for photographers. Their wedding is scheduled for early October. So the engagement shots will contrast well with the autumn colours wedding. A small wedding at the courthouse. Unfortunately due to ongoing COVID restrictions the photographer won’t be permitted at the ceremony. So I’ll take pictures outside the courthouse and in the nearby park for them to remember their special day of commitment.

Daily Quote: April 22, 2021

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Respect is what we owe;
love, what we give.

~ Philip James Bailey (English – Poet April 22, 1816 – September 6, 1902)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

April 22nd is Earth Day. With my grandson doing his on-line learning at my house, I’ve heard about Earth Day for the past week. Today is the big day. He’s learned about the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (no longer Reading, Writing and Rithmatic). Posters will be shared in the class today for Earth Day.

I think International Girls in ICT should have a day of it’s own rather than share with Earth Day. Earth Day over-shines the importance of Girls in ICT (information and communication technology). According to studies 65% of school children will go into jobs that don’t even exist yet. The field of information and communication technology is expanding.

Today is also April Showers Day. With the change in the weather and temperatures dipping below freezing, I’m afraid the only showers we’re getting will be snow showers. The tulips and early blooming spring flowers were weighed down with snow yesterday morning. Luckily most of the snow melted during the day and the flowers sprung back up to their original beauty.

Daily Quote: February 13, 2021

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The human brain starts working the moment you are born
and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.

~ George Jessel (English – Judge / February 13, 1824 – March 21, 1883)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Saturday, February 13th, the 6th day of Valentine’s Week is Kiss Day. So pucker up and kiss the one you’re with. Continue the celebrations tonight with Global Movie Night. Even though we can’t go to the theatres during the pandemic we can still watch a Movie by streaming one on Netflix, Prime or just your regular on-demand cable channel. When we were in Texas last year we enjoyed all the old westerns that played on the free to air local channel.

Based on a  2010 episode of Parks and Recreation today is also Galentine’s Day. A day to celebrate our female friendships. A Girls Day starting with champagne breakfast and an outing together. Of course like everything the gender neutral version is Palentine’s Day. So no matter who you are you can celebrate by getting together with your best pals and just hang.

Don’t forget to celebrate World Radio Day. I always have the radio playing in the background. I love free radio. The music, the commentators, the weather, and local news…..what isn’t there to like about radio. I turn it on first thing in the morning before I have breakfast and usually listen whenever I’m in my kitchen.

Daily Quote: February 9, 2021

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A sword, a spade, and a thought
should never be allowed to rust.

~ James Stephens

Holidays and Clebrations:

Porte Musings:

Stephen Covey (1932-2012) used the metaphor of sharpening an axe to explain that we need to keep our tools in good repair to achieve what we need to accomplish. It takes less time to sharpen the axe to chop down a tree than to just pick up the axe and start swinging. Likewise today’s quote reminds us to care for and constantly use our tools and thoughts. If you don’t care for and use things they rust, dry up and become useless.

To mark Safer Internet Day (US) be certain to check on your passwords and delete those cookies. Google nicely reminded me of SID as soon as I turned my computer on this morning. Sometimes the intrusion by Google is very annoying as we question whether we should even use their services. Recently their system was breached, so my passwords were shared with some unknown entity in Russia and I’ve had to change all of my passwords to ensure my banking and identity were safe. Each time Google offers a password that is so difficult the only way to remember it is to use their system. My password was safe until their system was corrupted, so I have very little confidence in their system.

It’ll be easy to celebrate Read in the Bathtub Day. When I used to work, every other morning I would look forward to reading a couple of chapters in the Bathtub. (The other days were spent showering.) It is still my favorite place to read totally undisturbed.

Looks like we’ll be ordering Pizza tonight to celebrate National Pizza Day. My husband and I love a deluxe pizza with all the exotic toppings. Whenever my grandchildren are with us they only want pepperoni. So as a compromise I have to order 2 pizzas. How I miss sharing pizza with my grandsons during this pandemic. Hopefully next week the lock-down order in Ontario is lifted so we can indulge again.

Daily Quote: February 7, 2021

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There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.

~ Charles Dickens (English – Novelist / February 7, 1812 – June 9, 1870)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

The first Sunday in February and I’m one step closer to getting my new heater installed in my garage. Once done I’ll be able to ride my exercise bike and an least get some exercise during the coldest week so far in 2021.

Rose Day is celebrated one week before Valentine’s Day. That way we can enjoy the roses for an entire week. Be certain to buy scented roses for a special treat during the week. Most roses at florists are unscented, so you’ll have to ask, or better still buy a pot of mini roses that can be planted out in the spring and continue to bloom all summer. I’ve only ever known 1 person who was allergic to roses, my Grandmother. She said her husband bought her a beautiful bouquet so she took a big smell and fainted immediately.

In preparation for Valentine’s Day get out the stationary and quills to Send a Card to a Friend. This may be very important to do during the final days of the lock down in Ontario. Cards of hope telling them how much you miss them and cherish their friendship.

If you’ve been waiting for the right time, do it now before you buy them chocolates or get Valentine’s Day gifts from them: Dump Your Significant Jerk Day.

All of the men living at my house will be sitting in front of the TV tonight with munchies as they celebrate the Super Bowl Game. None of their teams have made it this far, but they still have to watch the big game.

As I saw someone else post: the craft room is opening at 2:30PM for all of those that don’t follow football. Today my sister and I will be following a free “Paint Night” tutorial learning how to paint a couple of otters swimming on their backs together.

Have a blessed Sunday. ❤

Daily Quote: February 5, 2021

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A man’s house is his castle.

~ James Otis (American – Lawyer / February 5, 1725 – May 23, 1783)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

What a coincidence. We’re having a seasonal snow day with cold weather, blowing snow and school buses canceled. This is how everyone should celebrate National Weatherperson’s Day. With the Ontario province wide lockdown, we weren’t planning to go anywhere so this little blast of winter really won’t change anything for most people.

Although not quite a Disaster, this is also Disaster Day. A day set aside to remember all of the world’s most famous disasters ranging from the sinking of the Titanic, to terrorist attacks, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. I’ve been lucky enough not to be in any of these.

This first Friday of February is National Wear Red Day, to remind us of Heart Health. In keeping with the monthly theme of Heart Health Month. Friday’s are always wear Red Days for most legions. So be certain to wear red today. If you’re lucky enough be certain to go to a Legion and have a beer with those fish and chips.

Daily Quote: February 2, 2021

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Mistakes are the portals of discovery.

~ James Joyce (Irish – Novelist / February 2, 1882 – January 13, 1941 )

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

February 2nd has a strange range of Celebrations. The first is to celebrate World Wetlands Day. Wetlands are the filters of the world. Composed of marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps. Life thrives there before water leaves streams and rivers to go to larger bodies of water. These shallow bodies of flooded lands play an important role in sustaining life on earth.

Originating in Germany and still celebrated in North America the most associated holiday with February 2nd is Ground Hog Day. We all gather around to see if our favorite ground hog sees his shadow. If he see’s his shadow spring will arrive in 6 weeks. If he doesn’t see his shadow we’ll have an early spring (in about 6 weeks). Then of course there’s my Father’s favorite movie, Ground Hog Day, where Phil, played by Bill Murray wakes up everyday to find he is locked in a loop and must correct his misteak to move forward.

I find it a little strange that Christians celebrate Ground Hog Day on the same day as Candlemas. Celebrated as a National Holiday in Liechtenstein ,Candlemas is the day that is celebrated for the presentation of the Infant Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. At 40 days after the birth of the Savior, Mary is done her time of purification. Traditionally this is the day that the Manger scenes are put away. Let the light in and light all the candles in your house today.