Care Package Delivery

The doorbell rang just after 2:00 pm yesterday, and a package was left on my little table on the porch. Mmmmm I knew what it was. I had ordered it earlier this week from the Main Street Bake House where I often meet friends for coffee and a chat, but sadly no longer open except for deliveries. They deliver on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
I decided I deserved a cheerful reward after being in self-isolation. Gotta have something yummy to look forward to, right? Which one should I eat first?

The box contains: 2 lemon blueberry scones, 2 spicy bacon cheddar scones, 1 blueberry muffin, 1 banana chocolate chip muffin, 1 spinach and feta bistro, 1 leek and parmesan bistro.  All so delicious! 

I went for my daily walk around the pond yesterday morning, but only one male Hooded Merganser duck there, accompanied by a male Mallard. It's pouring with rain this morning so I'll be staying dry. But the rain is very welcome and soon we will see the grass turning green after the cold months of winter.

Staying Positive

I'm on Day 15 today on my own. I've been in touch with family via technology every day, and I've been out walking and chatting with my neighbours.... from a required safe distance of course. But the fact remains that we'll all be in this isolated situation for quite a while. It would be easy to get discouraged.
But there are many reasons for staying positive. Here are 4 of mine.

1: Look out of the window. The sun is shining and the sky is blue. It's still chilly out there, because after all, this is Canada, but Spring is on the way.

And as the ground warms up, last year's hyacinth bulbs are springing into life. I think they were given to me in a pot, and when the blooms died, I buried the bulbs. I'm so glad I did.

2: There are visitors to the neighbourhood pond this week, but they probably won't stay long. They are Hooded Mergansers, very handsome little birds. They are diving ducks and it's fascinating to watch them dive under water to catch fish, and then see them come to the surface a long way from where they went down. There were 5 males and 1 female, so the lady duck was getting lots of attention. Spring fever!

3: OlderSon delivered a box of groceries, fresh fruit and veg. Bananas, clementines, potatoes, broccoli, beans, fresh bread... I shall eat well for a while. Thank you!

4: Tonight and every Friday night, my neighbours will gather on front porches and driveways at 7:30pm to make some noise and to sing our National Anthem O Canada in support of the front line workers that are keeping us all going right now. Hospital staff, police, firemen, ambulance, grocery store workers, sanitation workers, government workers, many more. Thank you!
Update later this evening: The fire truck came by and flashed it's lights for us!!! The most excitement I have had all week!

Lady Day

You may recall this post from a previous year.... but I thought you'd like the reminder.
Today - March 25 - is Lady Day. 
It's one of the four Quarter Days of the old English Calendar. 

The Quarter Days are March 25 - Lady Day, also the Feast of the Annunciation in the Christian calendar; June 24 - Midsummer Day, also the Feast of St John the Baptist; September 29 - Michaelmas Day, also the Feast of St Michael and All Angels; December 25 - Christmas Day.

Quarter days were the four dates in each year when servants were hired, school terms started, and rents were due. Debts and unresolved lawsuits were not allowed to linger on, and accounts had to be settled. Leasehold payments and land rents are often still due on the old English Quarter Days. 

Just to confuse the issue, there are also four Cross-Quarter Days falling between the Quarter Days. These are February 2 - Candlemas;  May 1 - May Day;  August 1 - Lammas;  November 1 - All Hallows Day.

Lady Day was the traditional day when long-term contracts between landowners and tenant farmers would begin and end. Farming families who were changing farms would often travel to their new farm on Lady Day. It roughly coincides with the Spring Equinox, signifying a new beginning.

So have a Happy Lady Day!!

Boats

One of the subjects for our (probably not happening) art exhibition at the Town Offices was Boats, and here's my version.

This was a boat painting that I started and thought I had finished a couple of years ago, but I was never satisfied with it, so I decided to paint over my original brushwork using a palette knife. I like the texture a lot better, more interesting, and the colours are brighter. I find using the palette knife is difficult to control where the paint goes, but perhaps I just need more practice.

I've been isolated at home now for 10 days. I live alone, not even a dog or a cat to talk to, and the family are isolating themselves too, so I have been going out for walks around the neighbourhood and chatting to the neighbours.... from a safe distance of course. But I am appalled at how many people do not seem to be following the social distancing request. 
Our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the nation this morning with very strong words. He said "Enough is enough. Go home and stay home. This is what we all need to be doing, and we're going to make sure this happens, whether by educating people more on the risks, or by enforcing the rules, if that's needed. Nothing that could help is off the table." 
Canada is not in total lock down yet, but the future looks grim.

Returning to Rook's Nest

Blogland hasn't heard from me for a while.... for many reasons that I won't go into now.... but here I am, ready to share photos and opinions and whatever pops into my head. I hope you missed me.

One of the creative groups that I belong to, the AAP Collective (FYI: AAP stands for Art Ain't Pretty!), has a show scheduled at our local Town Offices in April.  Sadly, like the rest of the world, all public buildings are currently closed so it looks like our show won't be going on. And even if it does, will anyone come to see it?
When we were planning the show, we decided that each artist would provide three pieces of art. The topics are 1: water. 2: boats. 3: what inspires our creativity.
This last one about creativity was to be installed in a 12" x 12" wooden box frame. Here's mine.

This features some of the ways I have embraced creativity in the past. Sketching, quilting, lino cut and printing, painting, calligraphy, gelli printing, stained glass. 

And now I am self-isolating at home, trying to keep myself from going bonkers in this very strange and worrying time, so I have plenty of time to create more art!