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.

Daily Quote: January 30, 2021

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Study is the bane of childhood,
the oil of youth,
the indulgence of adulthood,
and a restorative in old age.

~ Walter Savage Landor (English – Poet / January 30, 1775 – September 17, 1864)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

We may have some problems celebrating National Escape Day today while we’re still under lockdown. Almost 1 year into the pandemic and the airlines have finally decided to cancel all vacation flights from Canada to tropical destinations (including Florida). But I’m looking forward to taking my Grandson to the high school to play on the hill in the snow. I’ll be doing childcare (which is permitted) while his new brother, who has autism, will be accessed by a team of experts to determine the best ways to help him learn and develop to his best possible self.

I’ll be on line this morning celebrating National Seed Swap day and looking for people to share my seeds with. Although there are many commercial sites to buy seeds, nothing can compare to the joy of trading treasures with others for their treasures. Heritage and organic seeds collected and shared by true devotes of the religion of gardening, are amazing treasures and ensure that there is a large variety of cultivars still available. This is another tradition I’m missing where the Strathroy-Caradoc Horticultural Society meets monthly to share our gardening passions, exchange plants & seeds, and learn from our guest speaker. A big “Good Job” to our leaders who have kept some elements still going on line during the pandemic.

I might make a trip to Tim Horton’s this morning to celebrate National Croissant Day. I haven’t had a croissant in so long I can almost taste the buttery treat just thinking about one. An egg salad sandwich with lettuce on a croissant sounds like a wonderful lunch.

I just finished a free 12 week Indigenous Studies Course from the University of Alberta. It was an excellent course and I strongly recommend it to all Canadians. It helps to understand the history and current world views of our Indigenous peoples and neighbours as well as a bit of insight into the history of my husband’s heritage and that which we’ve passed down to our sons.

Learning at any age is so important. I’m glad I’ve picked up a paint brush and started to paint on line lessons.

Daily Quote: January 29, 2021

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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 was banned in Russia. 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.

The good news is the Elementary Schools will be re-opened on Monday in our area. Some parents did a little celebration dance while others decided just to continue home schooling their children. At least we are seeing a drop in numbers of COVID-19 in the province of Ontario, although the numbers are still far too high.

Pfizer isn’t providing any vaccines for the next two weeks, while they revamp their factory. Pfizer is also recommending that the current doses be changed to 5 per vial instead of the 4 that was originally prescribed. The European community is debating if any vaccines should be exported until all their citizens are vaccinated and the USA is also threatening to put limits on Exports as their new President is ramping up their vaccination program.

So much for politics. I just pray that the vaccines are administered throughout the world and we can get back to some type of normal where the restrictions are lifted, we can freely hug each other and go to church or other public gatherings.

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

Daily Quote: October 16, 2020

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The artist’s world is limitless.
It can be found anywhere,
far from where he lives
or a few feet away.
It is always on his doorstep.

~ Paul Strand (American – Photographer / October 16, 1890 – March 31, 1976)

Holidays and Celebrations:

World Food Day

Angela Lansbury’s Birthday:

My favorite actress with her long running series: Murder She Wrote.

Angela is now turning 95. A special Happy Birthday and wishes for a love filled year.

American – Actress Born: October 16, 1925
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/murder-wrotes-dame-angela-lansbury-22847159