One very cool lady

Once again, our Governor-General, Michaelle Jean has demonstrated just how classy she is. This morning's Globe and Mail contains picks for great reads from a number of prominent people. Her picks? Poetry. The winners of this year's G-G Awards, in both French and English.

M.J., you rock.

Merry Christmas to all

... and to all a good night.

It's a sign

of Christmas.

Whatever it is you celebrate, enjoy!

Solsticey greetings

And how's this for a sign of hope?
Hyacinth bulbs sprouting -- spring can't be far...

This is what I do

I make butter tarts and banana breads and chocolate-covered brandied apricots, row on crazy row.

But it sure beats going to the mall for gifts for family and friends!

And still more . . .

This flower still isn't ready to quit. After putting out eight blooms, there's yet another bud poking its head out.
More to come from this guy!

Miraculous amaryllis

Okay, not really a miracle, but. For someone with such an anything-but-green thumb, I'm impressed by how it's thrived, despite me.

It sure started out as an ugly duckling.

But with just the barest amounts of water and light, look how gorgeous it's become!

Feed the people

What a fun fundraiser!

Last night the White Rock Blues Society brought a lot of people out of their Sunday night cocoon mode. The event managed to raise a heap of money for the local food bank. The photo at the top is Brandon Isaak, fronting a band made up mostly of his band, The Twisters. The pic at the bottom is a fairly surreal shot (sans flash) of the Mud Bay Blues Band. Their trumpet player alone is worth going to hear them play.

Terrific event and a very worthy cause. Let's hope all of us do something for others during this season of sharing.

I'm stumped

...as to why Robert Latimer was denied parole. Okay, they claim he hasn't shown enough remorse. But really, it isn't as if he has another severely disabled child whose suffering he might end. What harm do the powers-that-be expect him to inflict? This sounds like a case of sour grapes, of 'power-over' in one of its ugliest forms.

Guess it must really be December

. . . because I've been making cards. Now it's just a matter of figuring out who gets which one, signing them, and getting them into the mail -- and in time for Christmas! Still, this feels like a great start.