Helen's Home World: June 2020

Friday, June 26, 2020

Flavourful Friday

It's a Flavourful Friday post of Thursday night's supper. I had been planning on just having bacon and eggs for supper last night, when I noticed that I had asparagus that was getting a little limp in the fridge. So I went on the internet and searched egg and asparagus recipes and found this: Bacon, Egg and Asparagus Pizza.

I used a pre-made whole grain pizza crust. I didn't have shallots so I finely chopped some onion and added some red pepper. I think next time I would add some spices to the egg mixture, maybe cayenne pepper or a mild or medium curry or toss the vegetables in balsamic vinegar as I found the pizza rather bland. I put some hot sauce on mine after it was cooked and that tasted great.

But it was a quick easy, somewhat healthy meal, so I'll likely make it again sometime.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Behind the Scenes

Choir! Choir! Choir!

So here's a little behind the scenes look at a virtual choir. The link above is to a video explaining about the summer music festival and Choir! Choir! Choir!'s participation. Daveed also talked about another song Across the Universe we recorded as a virtual choir. It's another Beetles song that has a chorus that goes: "Nothing's Going to Change My World". We have already recorded that song but it has not yet been released, so I might be in another upcoming video. It was recorded before the tragic events surrounding George Floyd. Daveed and Nobu decided that when what we need right now is change that it might not be the right time for this song.

To be part of the virtual choir, you need to rehearse and then video yourself singing. Daveed and Nobu put out guide tracks and instructions. The link to the instructions are below but you don't have to read them unless you really want to. I rehearsed a couple hours total before I recorded my video submission. My set up was my cell phone on a tripod recording my video submission and a tablet paired with Bluetooth wireless headphones so I could watch, listen and sing with the guide track. This way the only audio on my video submission is just me singing.

Instructions for With a Little Help from My Friends

I sang to the Part A Guide track, there is a Part B which is higher but I found it was a little more difficult and I had problems reaching a few of the notes. You also download the lyrics although this time they had them on screen in the guide tracks as well. Kostis Maraveyas sang the left hand side. We, the choir, sang the right hand side and everyone sang the lyrics in the middle.

Part A Guide Track

I recorded my video about a half dozen times; every time either I messed up the words or my breathing was off. I still wasn't really happy with my video but my voice was getting a little raspy so I just selected the best one of those I had done. You'll see in my submission that I count in and clap; the clap, in particular, helps them to align the tracks as the clap creates a sharp spike on the audio track.

My Video Submission

If you watched my submission, you've heard that I'm not a great singer so it's a good thing I'm part of a larger choir. The link below is bookmarked to our video of the Choir! Choir! Choir! virtual choir.

C!C!C! With a Little Help From My Friends

Finally, I've also added a zoom video with Daveed, Nobu and Kostis. Kostis says "when we're together, there is no worst singer".

Kostis, Daveed and Nobu

Monday, June 22, 2020

With a Little Help from My Friends

Well, I posted before about singing with Choir! Choir! Choir!. Last weekend they invited you to sing with a guide track and submit your video to be part of a virtual choir. The video was live streamed on Sunday as part of a virtual music festival held in Athens, Greece. How cool is that!

I missed the live stream but now you can watch the festival on the internet. It includes recorded portions from previous years and virtual performances. You can watch the whole festival at the link below. Our virtual performance is at 1:30:00 after Mamma Mia and then the hosts speaking in Greek and introducing the virtual performance of With a Little Help from My Friends.

Summer Nostos Festival

Or you can watch it here at the link below, recorded off of my TV. Look for me, I'm in a purple shirt.

C!C!C! With a Little Help from My Friends

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Happy Father's Day

My Dad, he loved airplanes, babies and dogs; not necessarily in that order. Happy Father's Day, Dad!

"I love my father and I love him well. A mind filled with memories weigh me down like gold!"

Father's Day Video

Video Music - Someday Soon by Alexi Murdoch

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Beckett Remembered

Yesterday was Beckett's first birthday at the Bridge. He would have been 11 but I guess he never ages now. He'll always be my baby boy.

I took a drive out to pick-up a picture that a friend had drawn of Beckett. She also drew one of Teddy and Keltic. I had a few tears when I picked it up. I've posted the original photos. My friend said Keltic just didn't turn out in the first drawing with Beckett so that is why I got two drawings.

Drawings

Beckett and Keltic

Teddy and Keltic

10th Birthday

I was so sure when Beckett reached 10 that we would have a few more years together. I knew though that the worst thing about ten is that you have less time left than what you've already had with them. We didn't even get another year; we barely had another six months.

Beckett Memories

Happy Birthday, Beckett Boy!

I miss you!

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Five Hundred

This is my 500th blog post! I've been trying to think about what to write about to mark this auspicious moment but I couldn't think of one "single" thing. Well, I could write about the pandemic but I think we've all heard enough about that.

So I decided that I'll write about changes that have happened since I started this blog.

Since beginning this blog, I've lost three of my dogs. Ceilidh, my bi-black female, at only 7 years 4 months to mast cell cancer, Tucker, my second sable male to age and likely Cushings Disease and most recently Beckett, who was 10 and half, unexpectedly to hemangiosarcoma.

Ceilidh

Ceilidh, Tucker and Beckett

Tucker

Beckett

I've also lost both of my parents. My Dad in May 2011 to prostate cancer and my Mum in Feb 2018 to the end stages of Parkinson's. Funny, that they both passed so close to their next birthday. Dad passed away on 31 May and his 80th birthday would have been on 19 June. Mum passed away on 12 Feb and her 84th birthday would have been on 28 Feb.

Dad - Apr 2011

Mum at Monarch Hall (2010)

So that you don't think it's all been losses, since I started this blog all of my nieces and nephews have married and all except my oldest nephew and his wife have had families. I now have ten great nieces and nephews. The boys out number the girls - eight to two.

Thexan

Marcus

Adrian

Emma

Kieran

Haig

Julie

Rhys

Bradley

Robbie

I've also added more dogs. Keltic, who is now 8 and, recently, Teddy, who is three. Who knows, there may even be a puppy in the future.

Keltic

Teddy

I retired from the military in 2007 to take a civilian position with the Department of Defence. That civilian position led to me becoming Canada's representative to NATO for explosives safety. The job was quite interesting and gave me a great opportunity to travel. While in that role, I went to Brussels, Rome, Berlin, Granada, Spain and London. One of my sisters often traveled with me and on occasion another of my sisters came as well. Most times, I was able to extend my trip so as to make them into a little vacation. I retired completely in June 2019.

Retirement

Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Greenwich, England

Berlin, Germany

Rome, Italy

The same two sisters, a brother-in-law and I also went on a Danube River cruise with AmaWaterways. Once we can travel internationally again, I highly recommend a river cruise, far more intimate than an ocean cruise but I really have no way to compare as I haven't yet been on an ocean cruise.

Amacerto on the Danube

A couple years ago, I bought used travel trailer, hoping to travel more after retirement. Last summer, I did a 25 day trip down to New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. I had a trip out to Alberta planned this summer, going through the States. That trip has had to be called off but I do hope to get out and camp this year.

Summer 2019 Camping Trip

Travel was supposed to be a big life change now that I'm retired. This year in addition to the trip out West, my sister and I were going to Florence and Pisa followed by a Mediterrean cruise, those plans have all been cancelled. Next year in 2021, we were planning a trip to Thailand and the long term plan was to go to Scotland the year afterwards. Hopefully, the new normal after this pandemic is over won't make all those plans unobtainable.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Wordless Wednesday

Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother