Strong language

You don't want to see my face. I'm sitting here - wide eyed- open mouthed - horrified- you name it. I managed to delete all my posts. 
The locals here would say "tabernac - maudite marde - calice " . Sorry, would not use this language in my mother tongue. Zum Teufel nochmal! 
Just as I was going to reply to R's last comment and suggest  Holy Water as a possible ingredient for her beer recipe.  

Le P'tit Train du Nord....mid-March

More than 100 years ago a railway line was built leading deep into the Laurentian Mountains North of Montreal. It was known as Le P'tit train du Nord.  30 years ago the train made its last passenger journey and work began to transform the line into a 230 km long linear park and 20 years ago it was inaugurated as such.  Today Le P'tit Train du Nord plays host to cyclists, skaters, cross country skiers and humble wanderers such as myself.
My walk starts here    

with Lac Raymond on my right and forestland, walls of rock and residences nestled in the hills on my left

I know that the large residence further up the path belongs to retired nuns and was surprised that the two gentlemen whose voices reached me from behind turned out to be monks as they passed me on the way back to my car.

Wilhelm Tell

This is a Swiss Hero

and this is is my Grandson Hero

Robigalia Day

A national Roman holiday. An agricultural festival celebrated with prayers and sacrifices to head off wheat rust disease and ask for protection of corn crop
                                         but                             
also a day for celebrating male sex workers.


So that's what I was doing many many years ago when I took part in a procession with banners and crosses around our small town and out into the surrounding field - I was celebrating what was then called Rogation Day
                                                          
                                        but


 male sex workers were never mentioned.

A What?

I hope Rouchswalve drops in and enlightens me.

This is a gift that Kazuko offered me when she came back from visiting her family. I understood that this is a miniature of a creature that can be found standing near entrances to eateries welcoming the clients. Does it have a name?

  

When looking at this on her first visit to my house Kazuko said "Oh, you like Japoneese art, looks like a poem at top of drawing". She did not translate it.

End of poem or signature?

Carol and the card

"loving, dear, honey-bee, who polynates my life with beauty, wonderful being, sharing of our innermost feelings, good soul, warm memories, soul-friendship" are words that have kept  Carol and I connected by way of a birthday card which travelled back and forth for 25 years past. I received the card from Carol, kept it safe and returned it to her on her birthday suggesting we keep sending it to each other until.....                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Today I need to send it off to Carol and soon it will appear in my mailbox. Carol's birthday is at the beginning of March and mine middle March. What are the chances that Carol will get stuck holding it?

Delayed in the morning

I was late for work last week. Volunteer work at the 'Rag Palace'. You know, the place where poor people come to see what the not so poor no longer want.
Why late? Well, after my shower I had to lay down again. Why? Because it helps to zip up my slacks. Oh yes!
I decided to make small sandwiches for lunch (teaspoon to show size).

Home weekend

According to himself Moselito was here for not two and a half weekend days but three nights. Always looking forward to visit with Ellena. Since everybody refers to me as Ellena he sees no need to call me Mom. I don't think it's Mom that attracts him to 'here' (I miss saying house and avoid saying apartment). It is the food and sweets that he can have as much of as he wants or the music that he can listen to all day long and late into the evening or the outing to see a movie with restaurant food as an entree or or or. Nice change to estate work, washing dishes for 12 people or more 3 times a day, pottery workshop, weaving workshop, milking the community cow early in the morning, rehearsing for a play or attending 'college lessons'. I said 'nice change'. No complaints from Moselito and none from me. I hope he is as happy as I think he is and wish autists would know how to convey their feelings - I miss being hugged by my son.     

The Ihlinger Tor

It is an eternity ago since I last walked through this tower - the Ihlinger Tor. The door on the left side leads into apartments. One of my friends lived there and gave me 'A tree grows in Broklyn' as a going away present when I left not knowing that I would eventually end up not far from New York. On the opposite side is a Gasthaus. If a flag was seen hanging out of a window it meant that someone had his lips on a beer mug and needed to get a lift home.

The steep cobblestone paved walkway passed the Gasthaus is not visible nor is the mill facing it. Sometimes a young apprentice would hang out of the window and make my heart beat fast as I was climbing up hill on the way to school. The Panorama street was a shorter way to school but nobody hung out of any window. 

Paper rolls.

The Bodhi Chicklet says that in her household the empty ones are decorating the plunger handle besides the seat, another person says that his wife stores place mats by rolling them on empty rolls and I transform them into boxes for small gifts - to each his own. 

Staying in today

because snow and freezing rain
                             because I am busy relearning what I learned many decades ago
but not because  of paraskeveethekatriaphobia     Friday 13th

Get your pencils out

A New Year is just about to begin or has just begun. A blank page is available to all of us.
Let's begin to draw in the hope that all our visions wil come through if they are good for us.

Proud of Kat

I'm so proud of my granddaughter. Kat drew Shakira by using lyrics of her songs.

Warm light to you

A Christmas Card unlike all others

A CHRISTMAS CARD UNLIKE ALL OTHERS

via Ellena's Cocologie by Ellena on 12/20/11

For Carla but not from Beethoven. 
                                                                              Du, ich zog sie aus dem Umschlag und der Fruehlingsduft der Hoffnung stieg mir in die Nase und hat mir eine Riesenfreude gabracht. I held it, sat still and allowed it to speak to me on levels more than words could express. What a way to make a change by introducing something new for Christmas. Hope, as you say, my dear Carla. I picked a bouquet and am sending it to you. Can you see the sun shining through it? Warmth to you.

Angel V

via Ellena's Cocologie by Ellena on 12/19/11

Kalinka, Kalinka, Kalinka my dear,
Your name in the whisper of pines I can hear
Green and shady pine tree
Let me linger there and dream

Angel IV

via Ellena's Cocologie by Ellena on 12/18/11

   "Offering your ear, your presence, your love, is true generosity compared to arms full of gifts".

Angel III

via Ellena's Cocologie by Ellena on 12/11/11

" Please lead the children wisely."

Angel II

" Close your eyes and look within. Dont try to control what you see but love yourself unconditionally. Now you are strong".

Angels

Let's see what my angels have to say.

"Allow positive thinking to radiate throughout your day".