December 2017

Sunday, December 31st/17 

There are only two times each year that we are stuck inside the house--summer and winter.  Ha ha.  But it is rather true--very often summers are too warm and humid in Essex County to really enjoy the outdoors, especially doing physical activity.  Sitting on a shady porch isn't so bad.  And winters--what can one say about our winters?  They are either warm and mushy, with little snow, or so severe as to often make it dangerous to be outside.  We enjoy snow shoeing, but it has been too cold so far.  Temps around 25 F are perfect for outdoor winter activities, such as skating, skiing, etc.  However, we haven't come near that temperature in over a week, and several days had strong winds.  Today was a high of 17 F, but the wind was very subdued.  So we managed to get outside for our second walk since Winter Solstice.

 A recent view out of our south window, looking southwest.  It's cold outside!

Tonight's sunset, the last one of 2017.  Same view as above. 

It was very sunny today, and the wind was pretty calm.  In addition to our long walk, we went to the Windsor riverfront.  Deb needed some footage of ice floes.  I took some stills, which does not do a very good job of capturing the bizarre sounds the ice makes as it crinkles and booms its way downstream.  We went to lunch at The Garden, an Asian veg restaurant near the university.  

Afterwards we stopped at Pet Valu for more bird seed and cat food.  The birds have been voracious lately, but so has the neighbourhood hawk, who swoops down whenever it wishes and helps itself to a nice, well-fed pigeon.  Then it was on to Fred's Farm Fresh Market for some evening snacks for us.  There will be a wood fire, some great music and food, and a very quiet, unsocial night.  While I would be more than happy to welcome friends over, my days of wishing to go "out" for NYE are long over.

It was a chilly day on the Detroit River, and very few people were on the path. 

We have a relaxing day planned for tomorrow (other than laundry).  It's also the first full moon of the new year, and the first of two for January.  Our moon cake this time will be home baked apple pie! I'm certain there will be a photo.  Also another Mozart opera is on tap, followed by a night of board games.  I'll also write up a brief summary of our year, along with some of our big plans for 2018.  Until then, have a fun and Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 28th/17 

Our cold air problem deepens, as records begin to fall.  This is turning into the longest severe early cold spell on record, and we are not due to get up near the freezing mark until Jan. 11th.  Good grief!  This time of year is usually foggy and damp.  Not this year.  We had a small snowfall, about 4", to help keep the underground water lines a bit warmer, but for this type of cold we really need much more snow, at least another 6".  None on the way.  We went out for a walk today.  It was -10C.  That was our high temp for the day, not counting the wind chill.

Yesterday we went to Windsor with Amanda and her mom.  We visited three brew pubs, with Deb driving after the first stop.  First came Walkerville Brewery, followed by Craftheads, and lastly came Sandwich Brewery.  It was a fun day, but we did not linger outside.  The snow is crunchy, the way it gets when it is very cold outside.  I am going through a lot of birdseed these days.  No doubt our gas heating bill is going to be off the scale, too.

For much of the holidays I have been sequestered at my piano, trying to memorize my pieces.  If you want to feel helpless and assured of the fact that your brain does not work properly, try to memorize something complicated.  Each time I commit a new program to memory, it hurts.  A lot.  However, by just chipping away, and usually falling back some and forgetting a lot, things get done.  I am about where I expected to be right now.  My goal is still to have the project 90% done by the time I resume teaching on January 8th.  So far so good.  But pain is involved.

Monday, December 25th/17 

Merry Christmas to one and all!  We are already into our second round of deep winter weather, and this one is much worse than the first one, which was pretty severe.  We are at the lowest limit of any winter temperatures we ever get down here, and the strong winds are making it imperative that we remain indoors.  I went out twice today to feed the birds, but I didn't even shovel the driveway from yesterday's snow.  Maybe tomorrow, but I doubt it, unless the arctic winds subside.  Temp right now is -7 C, with wind chill at -15 C.  And it is just beginning.  We are not scheduled to get anywhere near the freezing mark until January 8th.  Nice.  As bad as it ever gets here.  Our poor boiler.

Yesterday we managed to get together here with Jennifer and Amanda, the first time we've been altogether.  We tried seven different craft ales, all remarkably delicious!!  Deb provided snacks and coffee.  It snowed all day and evening, but I kept a wood fire going for the visit.  Good times!  Deb also showed her newest movie, her Alys adventure.  It is a really beautiful short film, and all of us that saw it are in awe of her ever-developing skills as an animator. 

Amanda, me, and Jennifer enjoying our afternoon beer tasting session. 

 The really important stuff!!

Saturday, December 23rd/17 

The final teaching week went well.  I received a number of memorable gifts, including a 6-pack of craft beer, a $50 gift card, a $15 gift card, and some beautifully done Christmas colouring sheets from a 9 yr. old and a 7 yr old.  I always receive something spectacular from the 3 Savoni children, which will likely arrive by personal delivery sometime tomorrow.  Anyway, I am done teaching until January 9th.  I hope to have most of my piano program memorized by that time.

This was the sunset last Wed.  I watched it with my trumpet student.  It was Solstice Eve! 

Our Winter Solstice holiday was as perfect as ever, helped along by an all-day wood fire, endless snacks, continuous music (more later), an appearance of the sun around 11:45 pm, and no internet (and thus no Trump).  We got up at 7 am, and it soon began to get light.  Sunrise was just before 8 am, and some pink was showing.  However, overcast skies kept things dark until the noon time appearance.  Sunset was dismal and grey.  

We usually feature an opera on that day, and this time it was Don Giovanni.  This opera gets my vote not only for the best thing Mozart ever wrote, and not only the best opera ever written, and not only the best piece of music ever written, but the best work of art in any category ever created.  Listen to it three times in one year and then tell me I am mistaken.  Anyway, it was a blissful day.

Tomorrow (Sunday), we are getting together with Amanda and Jennifer for a day of craft beer sampling.  We are heading off to a new brewery in Windsor, and then back to the Homestead for samplings provided by the three beer drinkers, and snacks provided by Deb.  It may seem odd that my two best beer drinking buddies are both female, and both former music students of mine from APS.  However, they are the best there is, anywhere!  Sadly one lives in Toronto and the other in Cambridge (a bit closer).  Amanda has accompanied us on a hiking trip to New Mexico.  Next September it will be Jennifer's turn, as we plan a road trip to end all road trips.  Much more on that later.  We may even make some plans tomorrow.

Today we awoke to a light coating of new snow.  I took these photos in our backyard when I went outside to feed the birds.

 Taken from our back yard this morning, after a light snowfall.

Monday, December 18th/17

Today was Detroit day.  It didn't start off so well.  We usually take the tunnel from downtown Windsor to Detroit.  It requires about ten minutes total from one downtown to the other.  Not today.  Just as we entered the mile-long tunnel we came upon stopped traffic.  It took about 10 minutes to start moving.  Slowly.  Once in Detroit, traffic was a total nightmare.  We made it with our lives intact, and went to the mailbox.  There was a HUGE lineup to mail packages.  We just wanted to pick ours up (some books), but we had to wait in line.  By the time we got free and were heading downtown, I wasn't much in the mood for more crowds, line ups, and busy streets.  However, at the last moment I continued on into downtown Detroit rather than head for home.  And guess what?  We had a really fun time!!

We finally made it inside Founders Brewery, and I enjoyed three 5 oz samples of some pretty incredible beer (they make about 28 different kinds), and we both enjoyed delicious and different vegan lunches.  Deb had a gigantic harvest sandwich, and I had a sloppy joe.

 Founders Brewery, on the outskirts of downtown Detroit.  We couldn't get in last week, but had no trouble this Monday.  I bought a tee-shirt (photo coming soon) and a bottle of barrel aged beer. 

We had parked the car behind Orchestra Hall and were able to walk to all three of today's Detroit destinations.  After lunch we went to  New Order Coffee Roasters.  I had a fabulous organic Timor brew, and Deb had Burundi.  After coffee we walked to Whole Foods, and eventually back to our vehicle.  Two hours parking for $2.  Not bad for a big city!  Read and weep, Toronto and London!

 View from New Order Coffee, towards Woodward.  The snow is mostly gone now.

My cup of incredibly good organic Timor coffee.  They were roasting right in front of us as we sat and sipped.

The temps were much milder today than expected.  As a result the snow is almost gone.  Tonight the temp will remain above freezing, with another very mild day expected tomorrow.  We have been able to walk three days in a row so far.

We had to be home today by 4 pm.  I had to switch my Thursday lessons to Monday, as Thursday is Solstice, our biggest annual holiday.  All the firewood has been laid in, and the snackies are awaiting.  Good times ahead.  11 more students and I will be done till January 9th! 

Saturday, December 16th/17 

For the past two winters the Town of Amherstburg has provided a sidewalk plowing and salting service for all town sidewalks.  As a result, barely three days after our snowstorm, we were able to get out and walk today on bare sidewalks.  In winters past, we would be done walking outside until the snow melted in the spring.  It was cold.  The temp has not been above freezing for over a week now.  It should get above freezing for the next three days at least, and perhaps a lot of the snow will melt.  Then we can start over again.

Friday was my final Iaido class until Spring.  I reviewed all of my major techniques, and will try to do some work at home during the winter months.  If not, I'll be a near beginner again in a few months.  It has been good to get back into training, which I resumed last July.

In piano news, I am now officially attempting to memorize my program.  I would like to have 90% of that job complete by the time I resume teaching lessons, which next year will be January 9th.  I still have three more nights of teaching, but without the two Iaido nights I now have a lot more time on my hands.  The program should be easy to memorize.  I only have one large piece, and it is one I recently learned again and brought up to concert standard (Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody #7).  It hasn't been played for a wider audience, though, at least since 1979.  The other pieces are all small scale (for me), and do not pose any big problems.  One of the reasons I have backed away from larger works lately is to allow my elbows time to heal, which they are doing.  Another reason is that I truly enjoy playing so many of the smaller pieces, ones that are seldom heard in the concert hall.  My love of the early Haydn Sonatas is an example of this.  Next time I have two major pieces planned.

Sunday we will put up the Solstice decorations, in preparation for this week's big astronomical event.  Thursday will feature all day snacks, music, and an indoor wood fire, as we welcome the Sun back, and wish it all speed as it heads north for longer days and shorter nights.

Friday, December 15th/17  

This week early winter weather delivered us a quick one-two punch, leaving us half-buried in snow, and watching the gas heating bill rise alarmingly.  Tuesday we received a few inches of snow.  That was easily cleared away, but the frigid temps and blowing winds made it very uncomfortable to be outside shovelling.  Wednesday we got hit harder, enough to shut down the county school buses, giving most kids a holiday.  It snowed most of Wednesday, and it was cold.  The combination is actually a good one, as cold air means fluffier snow, and the roads are not as slippery.

Wednesday was also Deb's infusion day.  In addition, the Tiguan went to VW for its annual service.  Though it snowed all day, we were back home before the heavier stuff arrived.  Only one of my students cancelled due to weather that afternoon, despite pretty bad county driving conditions.  Thursday dawned clear, very cold, but with no wind it was actually a pleasant day.  We have someone who clears our driveway, but I had to go out and unbury our vehicle, shovel the steps, and then tackle the heavy, chunky mess left at the foot of our driveway by the overnight snowplow passes.  Still, it was a beautiful day, though not exactly autumnal.  With still a week to go before winter officially arrives....

I met my newest student this week, and his dad.  Januda will be my most advanced student in many years.  It's rare to get someone at the Gr. 10 piano level, but it also means I get to work with very advanced pieces.  I have two adults studying in Gr. 9 at the moment, too.  One girl in Gr. 7 piano, and the rest are Gr. 5 and under.

Tonight will be my final Iaido attendance until most of winter has passed by.  I will not return until March, unless, like last year, winter pulls a sudden vanishing act.  Tonight will be my 70th class since my last test.  I need 250 classes total before my next test.  Long way to go.

Tuesday, December 12th/17  

Another new piano student has arrived on scene, a boy (Januda) in Gr. 11 at school and in Gr. 10 piano.   He will study with me on Tuesday evenings beginning in January, for one hour per week.  Please, no more student requests.  I only took this one because he is so advanced.  I certainly do not want any more beginners.  But after wanting only 10 students overall, I now have 16.

Winter weather has been in full swing now since last Thursday.  I had to shovel snow today in a biting cold wind, and more snow and much colder weather is arriving tomorrow morning.  That is also the morning we have to drive across the county for Deb's infusion.  Perfect timing.  The VW Tiguan is also due for its annual service, and we are hoping to get both done.  It looks as if my afternoon teaching will have to be cancelled, if the expected storm arrives as predicted.  It was so cold today that the snow that fell was light and fluffy, and thus easy to shovel.  I hope tomorrow's is similar.  There may be enough snow by Friday for us to snowshoe. 

Piano practice goes well, and I am at the beginning stages of memorizing the program.  Whether or not I will perform some pieces using the music, everything will first be memorized.  This is excellent brain exercise, for one thing.  For another, communication with the music of certain pieces is greatly enhanced when the work is memorized.  However, if it becomes apparent that insecure memory is guaranteed, then I will perform a piece with the music.  Last time I played the whole program from memory, but there were some slips.  These are impossible to predict until a performance is given.  It's kind of a Catch-22.

Sunday, December 10th/17 

We managed a short walk today, but it was treacherous.  While the main roads are clear, the sidewalks and secondary roads are sheets of ice.  We will not go above freezing until next Saturday (it was last Thursday that all this began, so it will be over a week), so that is it for walking.  I went to Iaido tonight, but will be wrapping up that project in a few days until winter is over. 

As promised, here are a few photos from our weekend...

 Deb, Sandi (Jenn's mom), and Jenn.  Jennifer is a former APS student, and now a drinking buddy.  She recently moved back from B.C., where she ran a small but busy motel at a ski resort.  She's now working at Chapters Books in Cambridge, ON.  This is Atwater Brewery in Detroit.  Deb and I arrived first, so my samples are nearly done.  This was Jenn's first visit to Atwater.

 One of many new breweries opening in Detroit recently, this was a first visit for all of us.

 Street view from inside Eastern Markert Brewing Co.  They had several good beer choices, and a favourite of mine was Chai!

 Also in Eastern Market is German Coffee Roasters, where we went next for some high quality caffeine.  It was Ethiopian Harrar pour overs all the way around the table.

 This is 8 Degrees Plato, a taproom with about a dozen kinds of ever-changing beer on tap, as well as the best beer shop in Detroit.

 Kresge Court Cafe at the DIA.

Saturday, December 9th/17 

We are back from a busy and fun overnight trip to Detroit.  We went over on Friday morning, first heading to our Dearborn mailbox.  Deb had a new winter coat awaiting, and winter boots.  I had gloves waiting for me.  There were also 3 SF books I had ordered from Amazon.  Next we filled up the SUV gas tank and took it through a car wash.  Then we went downtown and browsed John King.  I was looking for some books by E.C. Tubb (I found three), Jack Williamson (I found over a dozen!), and I picked up two by P.G. Wodehouse.  Deb and I have been enjoying a silly BBC series called Blandings, based on his humourous novels.

Next we met up with Jennifer G. and her mom Sandy.  They had come from Cambridge, ON, to see the Frederic Church exhibit at the DIA (see my November entry).  But first, it was time for some Detroit craft beer!  We met at Atwater Brewery, where we (not Deb) enjoyed a sample tray each, called a flight, of 5 ales of our choosing.  We also ate some lunch here, including vegan buffalo wings (made from cauliflower) and falafel sliders.

Our second stop was a new one for all of us (Jenn had never been to Atwater yet).  Eastern Market Brewery is a new spot, and it already seems to have a loyal following.   Again we took small servings of several of their brews, and had a very enjoyable stop.  Nearby is Germac Coffee Roasters, and we walked over there for coffee.  It was sunset when we headed off to the next pub.  Founders Brewery (Detroit) opened last Monday, and we got in the door, but couldn't get a table or anywhere near the bar.  We even tried again later in the night, with no luck.  This is a huge place, too, with room for a couple of hundred people.  And Detroit has 10 other breweries nearby.  Didn't matter.  I'll have to try here on our next Monday visit.  Fridays are going to be impossible.  Instead, we popped around the corner to 8 Degrees Plato and had some very enjoyable samples there.

I took some photos of that day, which I will hopefully upload to here tomorrow.  And more details of the incredible variety and flavours of beer sampled will also be forthcoming.

Next, we drove up to New Center to our hotel.  Deb and I checked in, parked the vehicle, then took a ride with Jennifer back to the DIA.  While she and her mom went to the exhibit, Deb and I had some dinner and then walked around the museum.  It's open till 10 pm every Friday evening.  The Canadian pianist performing there turned out to be not so very interesting (she was performing electronic music accompanied by live piano sounds).  We all met up later, and then went to TJs so they could eat, and then finished up with a few more small beer samples at Jolly Pumpkin, right next door.

We got dropped off at our hotel around 11 pm, and then Jenn and her mom headed back to Canada.  We spent a comfortable night at the St. Regis Hotel.  We awoke to some snow Saturday morning, but easily made our way back to the DIA for 10 am.  We were attending a day of illustrated lectures by top scholars in their field on the painting of Frederick Church.  We heard all six lectures, sneaking out for coffee and some Asian food across the street on the hour-long lunch break.  We were done by 1:45 pm and heading home, through a very busy Detroit.  All in all a very fun time!  Some photos tomorrow.

Thursday, December 7th/17 

Winter has arrived, in all of its dubious glory.  Temps for the next 12 days are cold, with the mercury barely rising to freezing, and on many days not even coming near it.  I hate those days, especially if strong wind is involved.  We had our first dusting of snow today, too, the latest that I can ever remember.  But the next few weeks promise January-like weather.

We have two more weeks of teaching before our two-week holiday break.  All of my students showed up this week, except for one adult off for foot surgery till January.  Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings are busy times, with student after student arriving for lessons.  I often forget who is next, and am surprised by who shows up.  The kids are aged 6-14, plus three adults.  Deb's harp student is in first year college.

We are heading to Detroit Friday for an overnight stay.  Tomorrow we are going to our mailbox to pick up a lot of parcels, including books, gloves for me, winter coat for Deb, and winter boots for Deb.  Next comes John King  Books.  We will also seek out two new micro-breweries.  A total of 7 new ones are scheduled to open in Detroit by next Spring.  Our friend Jennifer is also coming over on Friday.  Friday night we will hang out at the art museum (open till 10 pm) before heading to our hotel.  Saturday we are attending a series of lectures at the museum related to the Frederic Church painting exhibit, before heading home around 5 pm.

We heard more good news from Randy today.  Not only are Anita's tumours shrinking, but she is gaining weight.  Since beginning her chemo treatments she has been making good progress with a disease that at first looked certain to greatly shorten her life.  If the tumours continue to shrink it may be possible to remove them through surgery.  A modern miracle, to be sure!  Congratulations, Anita!!  We are cheering for you and your team!

Monday, December 4th/17  

Today was medical appointment day.  Last week Deb saw her family doctor regarding her shoulder (right), the final link in her epic journey vs. pain.  X-rays followed, and today she had an ultrasound.  Results soon.  In the meantime she has begun home physio.  We believe this may be an old injury caused by cutting practice with a heavy sword, which she needed to do for her Nidan test in Iaido.  Next she had to go elsewhere for her bi-monthly blood work, as next week is her bi-monthly RA drug infusion.  Also today was my routine checkup, which is way overdue.  So now I have to go for my bloodwork soon.

Last night at Iaido practice, as I reached for the staircase railing as I headed downstairs after class to change, I took a very nasty wooden splinter into my 4th finger, right hand.  I was able to yank part of it out, but a long part remained buried beneath the finger nail.  Ouch.  I tried to dig it out when I got home, but no luck.  Luckily I happened to go see my doctor today for my routine check up.  He dug it out for me.  It only really hurt when the damned thing came out.  It was very thin but almost half an inch long.  Needless to say I am unable to practice piano today, but the finger does feel so much better!

Today we got the garden hose put away, as our first real winter weather arrives in less than 24 hours.  We have enjoyed temps way above average for several weeks now, so much so that my allergies are still quite bad, and Deb has been happily roasting coffee out of doors.  Tomorrow I will set up the winter heater for the bird bath, and we will shut off the outside water taps till spring.  We are due for a very nasty awakening to what life in Canada, even in the far south, has in store for people who live here during the winter.

Sunday, December 3rd/17  

It sounds from her recent e-mails that Caroline had a great time in Chile and especially on Easter Island.  I'm sure the trip will resonate with her for a long time.  Our Vienna trip in Sept. is still very much on our minds.

I have begun to memorize my next piano program.  I have no time line; when it's ready it's ready.  Long way to go.  I'm learning three Venetian Gondola Songs by Mendelssohn, among other works by various composers.  Even though these three songs are small scale masterpieces about being in Venice, there is something Homeric and epic about them, as if we are hearing of some of Ulysses' lesser known adventures that kept him from returning to Ithaca.  I'm certain they will be a big hit at the concert.

November and early December weather has been very kind to us.  Very mild weather has really set us up for a bad time come Wednesday.  January-type weather will be arriving, and it looks as if it will stick around.  We have been out walking every day, enjoying the last hurrah of a beautiful autumn.  I do not yet have winter tires for the new car--they are very expensive, though necessary.  Probably later this week will force me into buying some.

For the past four or five nights in a row I have been having and remembering many very long, involved, and detailed dreams, within wonderful architectural spaces and very colourful environments.  It's like I'm watching and involved in movies all night.  Very weird.

November 2017

Monday, Nov. 27th/17 

The much-feared month of December is nearly upon us.  Even in the most southern part of Canada, this is a month to dread.  Snow, sleet, slush, cold, wind, and, of course, darkness, it is a month to endure.  Then comes January.  Ugh.  So far, November has been a peach.  Today we made it up to 54 F, and tomorrow 60 F is promised.  Many of the days have also reached the much cooler normal highs for the day, so it's hard to complain.  We'll see what next week has in store.

This morning we went for a walk in Ojibway Forest, a preserve on the south edge of Windsor, and not far from our Amherstburg home.  The woods were lovely, but not too dark or deep.  It's eerie being in the woods in late autumn, when you can see into them so far.  I remember days long gone when autumn walks at Lake Penage held so much mystery and awe.  I miss them terribly.

After our walk we went to a new brewery in Windsor.  Sandwich Brewing Company opened about two weeks ago, after about two years of renovations and licensing issues.  They had four beer on today, and I tried three of them.  They also have a vegan cheese board on offer, which was truly wonderful!  The beers were good; quite above average.  Their most tempting one was sold out, and will not be replenished for about ten days.  I'll be there when it is!

 I skipped Big Investment, but tried the other 3 on offer.  Looking forward to Hash Brown in about 10 days.

Sunday, Nov. 26th/17 

Wow, where does a whole week go!  Not to Hallam Observatory for astronomy.  Not around here.  What a miserable session it was.  December can only be better, one would think.  We have both been busy as Ma and Pa Beaver.  I've been teaching (way too much), reading (a lot), attending Iaido (photo below), and practicing piano.  Deb has been hard at work on her newest short animated film, which might be mostly done by the New Year.

 From the Iaido afternoon workshop, Sat. Nov. 18th.  My Sensei is front, kneeling, 2nd from right.  The big boss is 3rd from right.  Roger Jarrett is head of all Iaido dojos in North America.  His son is beside him, also a master swordsman.  The little cutie on the far left came with her family from Ohio today.  She is 8.  Don't mess with her!

Last week I had 2 new students come for piano lessons.  Jayne had studied with me before, since she was 5.  At 11 she stopped coming.  Her family had moved farther away.  But she's back, only taller (though still 11).  And April also came for her first lesson, though she, too, has studied (elsewhere) since she was little.  She is 13 and in Gr. 8 at school, and seems like a very pleasant girl to work with.  Combined with the three new students who began in September, there is no end in sight for me actually retiring.  Still, the bank account grows (teaching money goes into a travel fund), and we recently booked ourselves flights to London for late April.

Caroline should be back from Chile and Easter Island tomorrow or Tuesday.  Looking forward to eventually hearing about her adventures.

Sunday, Nov. 19th/17 

And so a lovely week off from teaching comes to an end.  It's not so bad, as I only have one adult student Monday mornings.  Of my Tuesday students, one adult is off till January with foot surgery, and one of my leading young students is on vacation.  So this Tuesday will be a bit lighter, with 4 students instead of 6.  Wednesday will bring 4 as well, including a former student returning, one I haven't seen since June.  Thursday I will again have 4 students, including a brand new one (for me).  She is 13 and has studied before.  When everyone does eventually show up, I will have 15 students.  Only one of them studies for an hour.  6 of them study with me for 45 minutes, and the rest for 30 minutes.  I will survive.  Besides, there are only five lessons until the Christmas break.

I am trying to put a strong finish to my Iaido classes before the cold and snow hit.  Yesterday I attended a 4-hour workshop with Sensei Jarret and his son Chris, both of them at the very top of the Iaido pyramid.  I always feel like a near-beginner when watching them demonstrate.  Though I have some apparent stiffness in the old body today, it's not as bad as I was expecting, and I will likely attend class tonight.

We have booked flights to London for late April.  In addition to furthering our hiking progress on the London Loop, we hope to visit one other city for a few days and nights.  For now, York or Birmingham are in the running.  Spring seems like such a long way away.

This astronomy session has turned into the very worst it can be.  With only one clear night so far (Wed. the 8th), it has been a disaster.  It might clear later tonight, and it might be clear tomorrow night, but the winds are howling so strongly that it would be impossible to use a telescope.  Sigh.

Wednesday, Nov. 15th/17 

Vacation week has been great so far.  You don't realize how much stress goes into evening teaching until you stop doing it.  At the beginning of this year I lost a pair of sisters who were withdrawn by overworked parents.  Now one of the girls is coming back, bringing my studio up to 15.  Where will it end?  While I am thrilled to have Jayne back on the piano bench, I finally have to admit that I am full.  No more.

My practicing has been going very well.  My new program will have some familiar elements to it:  3 Bach Little Preludes, an early Haydn sonata (F+), 3 pieces related to the solar system (one of Mars and two of the Moon), 3 Songs Without Words by Mendelssohn, and a Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt.  It will be a good concert, when it is ready.  I want everything playable by Jan. 1st.

Meanwhile, Iaido is going great.  I will be attending 4 times this week, including a 4-hour seminar on Saturday.  I will likely break off for January and February, due to driving conditions that time of year.  But I am beginning to feel like a black belt again!

We went to the Lasalle Medical Clinic today for our flu shots.  In and out in five minutes!  There was a crisis occurring on our visit.  An ambulance arrived while we were getting injected.  As we left, Lasalle Fire Service was arriving to assist.  Then, as we drove away, three police cars roared in.  Very strange.

Tonight we are putting together a new bed for the downstairs room.  Some assembly definitely required. 

Anita is off to London again tomorrow, for her second of three chemo weeks.  After next week she will be reassessed, with hopefully more positive results following on the heels of her last good report card.

And finally on tonight's news, Caroline is in Chile for a week, before jetting of to Easter Island to see some stone heads.  Wishing her a fantastic journey!

Sunday, Nov. 12th/17

I am enjoying my first weekend of vacation.  Usually we are travelling at this time, often to London.  For the past two years we have travelled in October (2016 to climb Wheeler Peak, and September 2017 to visit Vienna).  Next year at this time we hope to visit Vienna again, mainly to take in a Bruegel exhibit.  Anyway, I'm home all week.  It is also the time of month for astronomy, but no clear nights are predicted at all.  I had an early night last Wednesday, and a good thing, because it looks like the only one I will get this time.  I hate having to rush out right after teaching and set up in the dark, so of course it would have been nice to get out to the observatory in good time this week.  Alas, it is not to be.

I have an intense week of piano practice planned, and the same with Iaido.  I attended class tonight, and will do so again on Monday and Thursday.  Saturday there is a 4-hour workshop with the head of our organization.  Looking forward to a productive week! 

Philip's Beethoven recital is still resonating with me, and definitely affecting the way I have been practicing since Friday.  Tomorrow I will message him with some thoughts on the concert, and then try to arrange a lesson or two before Christmas.

It has been a very miserable day, with the temperature just above freezing and rain falling all day.  Looking at the current weather map, there is snow and sleet all around us.  My drive to Windsor and back tonight was uneventful.  I will not drive to Iaido in January and February, waiting till Spring to resume my training. 

Our current weather map--we live right beside the "N" of Trenton, underneath Detroit and Wyandotte.

Saturday, Nov. 11th/17

It's a chilly day for outdoor Remembrance Day ceremonies.  We have been locked into a brief but extreme cold front for two days, though relief is on the way.  Thank you to Uncle Jack, who gave his life in WW11, and to all the other veterans (and police and firefighters) who frequently put their lives in danger to protect civilians and their freedom.  You are never forgotten, yet seldom celebrated.  Thank you.

Last evening was Philip Adamson's 3rd piano recital in the Beethoven Sonata series.  Dr. Adamson also retired from the University of Windsor (40 years!), and was celebrated afterwards with a small reception and some lovely speeches.  The good news is that Philip announced he is continuing with the Beethoven cycle, and has six more concerts planned!  Last night he again played four of the sonatas, including two that I had studied and performed (there are 32 altogether--I have learnt 10, I think, spread out over many years).  The performance was utterly amazing, with Philip at the peak of his substantial interpretive and technical powers.  Randy and Anita were present, as well as a very good turnout from ORMTA, the professional teaching organization to which I belong.  Philip, whether teaching me in a lesson or by performing one of his recitals, always inspires me to push myself harder.  I've had a pretty good practice session so far today, with more to come.  I hope to get together with him for a lesson soon.

And finally, I have put up some blog photos and a bit of blab regarding our recent trip to Marshal, MI.  Look in the left column for a link to American Midwest.  I am on a week-long break from teaching, and hoping for some clear skies, lots of piano practice, lots of reading and writing, and perhaps a craft beer or three.

Tuesday, Nov. 7th/17

We got back this afternoon from a two-night vacation to Michigan.  We stayed at an historic Inn in Marshall on Sunday night and Monday night.  As I had to teach today, we had to be back by 4 pm. We left Sunday morning, spending time at the DIA visiting three special exhibits.  More on these later, when we return.  There was a Monet painting exhibit based on his flower paintings in his own garden.  Then there was a spectacular painting exhibit on Frederic Church's archaeology works, with some pretty major paintings on display!  We can't wait to get back here and see this again.  I purchased the catalogue, and we hope to attend an all-day symposium in early December.  The final exhibit was the annual Offrenda one, tied in the Day of the Dead.  There were some (as usual) outstanding creations for this exhibit.

We had lunch Sunday in Detroit, then headed west.  I will detail the trip on my Midwest blog.  The photos are edited and I will likely get it all done tomorrow.

I picked up another student today, bringing me to 14 (about 10 too many).  Next week is an off week, so we may take a day trip to the Toledo Museum of Art mid-week.  Other plans involve astronomy, though it is beginning to get mighty cold.  The November session begins tomorrow night.  This Friday, my piano instructor is performing an all-Beethoven program at the university.  I am really looking forward to this!  Hopefully my practicing resumes tomorrow.

Thursday, Nov. 2nd/17 

Even though November is here, hardly any leaves are on the ground.  Many are still green.  We haven't had the cold weather to get them to turn bright colours, though I guess there is still time.  We are one night away from the next full moon, and it's been cloudy now for well over a week.  It's not looking too good for next week, either.  Despite some rainy days and cold, blustery weather, we have managed to kick start the walking program again.  That, combined with my twice-weekly visits to the dojo, pass for my exercise program.

We enjoyed a quiet Samhain holiday, with great food, a wood fire, and fun music.  As per usual, we had no kids come door to door this year.  We always give out stuff to our music students at their lessons that week.  We still decorated, but all that will come down tomorrow, getting put back in the box until next year.

We are off to Michigan for 2 nights later this weekend.  In addition to staying at an historic inn and visiting some smaller towns, I will be able to restock my beer supply for the cold winter nights ahead.  We are allowed 48 bottles if we stay 48 hours.  Saturday night is the end of the much-despised Daylight Savings Time for this year.  It will be dark earlier in the evening (great for astronomy, if it is ever clear again) and lighter in the mornings, at least for a while.

Deb is working on her newest film project, a short film starring Alice in Wonderland, and a lamp post.  If that doesn't grab you, then I don't know what would.  Her little films have so far garnered 3 first prizes, along with being screened all over the world.  Pretty amazing stuff!

My reading project continues.  I just finished a novel by Robert Silverberg, and am now reading a book of short stories by Norman Spinrad.  I'm also preparing a new winter constellation, getting observing sheets ready for Orion, a major multi-year project.

News Flash!  We are currently experiencing heavy rain and some thunder, so I am shutting this contraption down for now.  Good night! 

Mapman Mike

October 2017

Saturday, October 28th/17 

The Vienna blog is now complete and on-line.  There are 3 parts, so watch for the other two links along the right side.  Preliminary plans are going ahead for Frankfurt in the Spring, and possibly adding in Cologne, too.  The two cities are only an hour apart by high speed train.

We went looking for a new wood stove today, but the good ones proved too expensive.  Our old one is having difficulties.  Someone will come out near the end of November to have a look.  It's very hard to get a wood stove person in this county.

We have resumed walking, following a pretty long hiatus after returning from Vienna.  I have also returned to Iaido training, though I will have to scale back my ambitious plans to reach 75 classes by Christmas.  Maybe 65.  Piano practice has also resumed, and the new pieces are coming along.  Actually, very few pieces are totally new to me.  Many I have learned before, though most of these I have never performed.  I used to just learn pieces and record them.

Today's artwork from the DIA is another Dutch painting.  The Dutch and Flemish collections are so rich that I could easily pull all 10 or 12 of the museum's "greatest paintings" from these galleries.  Here is Detroit's Rembrandt masterpiece, "The Visitation."  This painting is so good that when Detroit was visited by Rembrandt scholars from the Netherlands a few years ago to reappraise the works, one of them remarked "There is only one thing wrong with this painting; it is not in the Rijksmuseum."

 Rembrandt's Visitation, Detroit

Thursday, October 26th/17  

The teaching week is over at last!  It seemed longer this week as I had to be chairperson at a student recital downtown last Sunday.  So it was, in some ways, a 5-day work week.  Now I'm off until next Tuesday!  Deb got back last night from Lindsay, where she spent two nights and a day visiting with her Mom.  They played cards and watched DVDs, while I stayed home and worked.  Something is wrong with my retirement plan.

I have completed two parts of the Vienna website--look to the left on this page for the link to Travels Abroad: London and Europe.  I am already working on the 3rd part, which will have the most photos, and the best ones.  Though we have been back for nearly a month, the excitement of the trip has not worn off.  We are both looking forward to returning next autumn.

I began introducing some of the top DIA paintings a few weeks ago, and I want to continue.  It is pretty amazing how many great painters have their best and most famous painting hanging in the Detroit galleries.  At least half a dozen examples pop into my head.  So this time around I will show one of those painting.  Jacob van Ruisdael is one of the most famous landscape painters in European history.  He painted in the 17thC and was Dutch.  He has a lot of very dramatic paintings to his credit, as well as more sedate ones.  The Detroit version of The Jewish Cemetery is one of the most famous paintings in the world, and considered Ruisdael's chief masterpiece.  There is a different version of the work in Dresden Germany, considered to be inferior (it has darkened, it has been cut down).  This painting also sums up our weather here in Essex County, Ontario, on Monday through Wednesday of this past week.

 This is a very large painting, and it is quite awe-inspiring to stand before it.

The Jewish Cemetery, by Jacob van Ruisdael.

Collection Detroit Institute of Arts

Sunday, October 22nd/17 

Astronomy season is done for October.  The notes are done, too.  Some summary work remains for later in the week.  Today was the ORMTA recital at the university, which I chaired.  There were only 9 students in it, but most of the pieces were very advanced and quite long.  It turned into a pretty great concert!  Afterwards, it was home to roast some coffee, do laundry, and get Deb packed for her visit to Lindsay tomorrow.  I will be on my own till Wednesday night.  I plan to do a large amount of piano work, as well as work on the Vienna website.  So it is possible that I will having something ready to publish later tomorrow evening (Monday).

Amanda paid a visit Saturday evening, sharing some photos and short movies from her visit to Barcelona in June.  I was very tired from a week of late-night observing, and ended up having too much caffeine.  I didn't fall asleep until after 2 am.  So I am still pretty much run down.  Up very early Monday morning to get Deb to the train station.  Looking forward to a long autumn nap that afternoon.

Speaking of Deb, she has just won her third 1st Place award for one of her films!  This time it was Voyage of the Golden Hinder's turn, which won the short film category in a festival in Anglesey, Wales.  Her short coffee film has won two prizes so far, in a festival in Toronto, and one in Brighton, England.  Not too shabby!

Friday, October 20th/17 

If I haven't been blogging much, don't assume it's because nothing is happening.  Usually it is just the opposite.  After 5 cloudy nights in a row to begin the October observing session, we are now wrapping up a week of clear nights.  I have also returned to Iaido.  So my time has been spent observing, writing up notes, and sleeping in late.  Tonight I leave early to go to Iaido, then I will head back out to the observatory, which is becoming like a second home.  On Sunday I am the chairperson for the first ORMTA student piano recital of the new season.  Deb has helped me get the program set up, and I have to stop off on my way to Iaido tonight to get it printed.  Practicing my new piano pieces has more or less been abandoned until cloudy skies return, possibly Saturday.  I have also had no time to work on my Vienna blog.  Hopefully soon.  Perhaps Sunday.  At least the book got written.

Deb is going off to Lindsay to visit her mom on Monday until Wednesday.  She will take the train to Toronto and then a bus to Lindsay on Monday, then return the same way Wednesday.  I, along with our two male cats and male tortoise, will be bachelors for three days.  I still have three more weeks of teaching until our next break, which will happily coincide with the next observing session.  More writing here as time permits.  Check back often!

Friday, October 13th/17   

I've just finished reading my 150th book since June 2016 related to the Avon Equinox SF series.  The last book was another great one by Edgar Pangborn, called "Davy."  Check out the review on my Avon page, or better yet grab a copy of the book and enjoy.  I give it a high recommendation, as I do most of his novels.  I read four novels on the Vienna trip, non related to the Avon series.  I thought I needed a break, but I really didn't.  Still, I have a huge backlog of reading to do not related to my project, so I guess these will get read on long trips, especially involving 9-hr. flights.

I have just finished writing the Vienna journal, with about 60 photos included, along with maps and such.  Perhaps tomorrow I can begin selecting images for the website version, which will include less chatter and be more focussed on the images.  When updates are ready, you will read about it here first.  It won't be long.

I completed my new week of a revised and slightly lengthened teaching schedule.  Instead of two days a week I now have to teach four days, though three of those are pretty light.  I have one adult student Monday morning, after which we usually head to Detroit for some R & R.  Tuesday I have seven students, then two on Wed., and three on Thursday.  I haven't had this many students in a long time.  So far all is good.  I like the fact that all day Friday I keep thinking it is Saturday.  It seems to give me a longer weekend. 

During my last entry I began a new feature, showcasing a favourite painting from the collection in Detroit.  Today's offering is a real prize, Bruegel's Wedding Dance.  Even people I talked to in Vienna did not believe that Detroit had an original Pieter the Elder--they just assumed it was a copy.  And so the folks in England thought when the museum director at that time, a very shrewd man by the name of Valentiner, bought the Wedding Dance in 1930 from a private collector.  He paid around $30,000.00 for it, and it turned out to be a pretty big bargain.  After it was cleaned up it became obvious to one and all what it was.  Painted in 1565, it is the earliest of Bruegel's now legendary peasant painting.  Even after innumerable visits to see this great painting, there is always something new to discover--some clothing, a facial expression, a pose...it is a truly great painting.  It also goes really well with a piano piece by Bela Bartok, namely the first movement of his Sonatina, entitled "Bagpipers."

 The Wedding Dance, by Bruegel the Elder, painted in 1565.  It is a large canvas.  The artist may have painted himself into the picture, right, foreground, in yellow and brown and wearing a black cap.

Collection of Detroit Institute of Arts

Wednesday, October 11th/17 

Sometimes I look at this blog and cannot believe how long it's been since my last entry! Time moves way too fast.  Well, it's astronomy time once again.  It rained all day, our first good rain in over a month, and it looks to be cloudy all through the weekend.  Nice to know there are some constants in the universe.  Tomorrow is report card day for Anita G.  She and Randy will be in London for her 3rd cycle of chemo, as well as her first assessment since it began two months ago.  Tomorrow should tell us a lot, and we all desperately hope the news is highly positive!!

I have been working steadily on the written journal of our stay in Vienna.  I am just about to write up the final day spent there, and then talk briefly about the flights home.  The last entry will be a summary of the entire trip, our first new European destination in many years.  Next Spring Frankfurt is looking very possible, and then back to Vienna in November.  Hopefully I will begin work on the website version of Vienna this weekend, more likely if it remains cloudy.

The main reason for our visit was to see the paintings in the Kunsthistoriches.  With about 1/4 of the painting galleries closed due to an upcoming special exhibition, we needed only two long visits to see what we wanted.  The museum is so rich in treasures and masterpieces that it is pretty hard to get a grip on things.  Every room has something breath-taking and world famous.  It got me thinking about the Detroit collection, also extremely rich in rare treasures, especially paintings, and not nearly so well patronized.  Over the next several blog entries I am going to highlight some of the best works in the museum, any one of which would make a visit there worthwhile.  Here is my first choice, a tiny jewel that we have loved since we first saw it back in the 1970s.  Deb also did a very cool comic book story about the painting.

 St. Jerome in His Study, Detroit Institute of Arts.  Variously given to Jan Van Eyck or Petrus Christus, or the workshop of one of them.  Whomever did this remarkable painting (it's tiny, at 8" x 5") did a remarkable job.  Filled with religious symbolism, it provides a veritable course of study in early Flemish painting.  Flemish art doesn't get any better than this.  Once owned by the Medici family, and the Duke of Mantua, it is a justly famous work.  I love the sleepy expression on the Saint--I feel exactly the same way when I read too long!

Thursday, Oct. 7th/17 

Anita had a break from chemo this week.  She has completed two cycles now, with three weeks of chemo and a week off between.  Yesterday she went for tests that will tell if she is making progress, but results won't be known till mid-week next.  Fingers crossed!  We will visit tomorrow and drop off some small gifts we purchased for her and Randy in Vienna.

Speaking of Vienna, I am hard at work on the written journal.  I printed 59 of the 300 photos I took.  Many more should make it on-line over the next few weeks.  Our head is still filled with the sights of that city.   Despite the hordes of tourists in places, it is a remarkably quiet city.  We often found ourselves in inner courtyards without hearing any sounds coming from beyond.  There were many places for quiet contemplation, reading, or just sitting and thinking.  My kind of city.  Vienna marks the 5th major European city we have visited, though one could almost count Mexico City, as much of it is European in design.

We discovered that the major Rubens exhibit opening in Vienna in a few weeks will travel to Frankfurt in the Spring.  There is a very good chance we will be in Frankfurt to see it.  Then back to Vienna next November for the Bruegel exhibit.  I still can't believe that this momentous event is happening.  There is no info about it as yet.  I only heard about it from a shop girl in the Kunsthistoriches book shop, who seemed to have her finger on the pulse of the whole museum.  She had the look of an art student.  I wanted to purchase the Rubens catalogue, but it was not yet available.  We did come home with a giant Bruegel calendar for 2018, though, with the Kunst's collection featured.  And the catalogue of a very unique artist we stumbled across in an exhibit at the Albertina.  More about him later.

I have resumed piano practice once again, as of yesterday.  I had a little accident in Vienna and broke the 4th finger of my right hand.  It appears to be healing nicely.  We also resumed our walking program today.  We walked ourselves to distraction in Vienna, six days in a row.  We needed a long break from walking, but we are back to it.  The weather here continues to be abnormally warm, with virtually no rain in weeks (1/10" yesterday).  It has been too warm to have our first indoor autumn fire, which we always used to do on Sept. 22nd.  Lately not so much, but this is the longest period we have ever waited before having it.  Possibly next weekend.

One of the many quiet plazas in the back streets of Vienna, away from the hordes of tourists.

Wednesday, Oct. 4th/17 

I have enjoyed my final Wednesday off from teaching.  Another new student has arrived, so I have to open up Wednesdays again, beginning next week.  I will likely transfer two of my Tuesday students there as well, to make that day a bit easier to survive.  So far this year I have acquired a new adult student for one hour, and two new school girls for half an hour each.  Other students have increased their time for a further 30 minute increase.  My most recent new student is the young daughter of a former Amherstburg Public School student I taught many years back.  Jen was in my advanced recorder group and traveled with us across Ontario on tour.  Anyway, as long as my piano teaching career continues we will be able to travel anywhere we wish at will.

We are mostly back on track here at the Homestead, after having been physically tired on Monday and Tuesday.  We pushed ourselves to our limit exploring Vienna, and were on our feet for six days straight, walking and exploring.  It is mostly flat in the old town, but our day out in the Vienna  Woods featured a very big hill climb.  I am still editing photos, and preparing some for printing, hopefully on Friday.  Then I can work seriously on the written journal, and afterwards create the on-line version.  I have several days available for this, as the new astronomy session does not begin until next Wednesday.

Tomorrow is Detroit day, following Deb's check up and teeth cleaning at the dentist.  Then back home for more after school teaching, followed by a bit of full moon celebration.  We have yet to have our Equinox indoor fire, as it has been too warm.  Friday is supposed to be coolish and rainy, so perhaps we can have it then.  The weekend is supposed to be very warm.  It is Canadian Thanksgiving.  We are prepared to make vegan pumpkin pie, but not if it is hot.  Turning on the oven is not recommended in such weather.  Someday Autumn will truly arrive.  Until then, we continue to enjoy above average temps.

Monday, October 2nd/17 

We are just back from a fabulous 6-day visit to Vienna!  The weather was sunny and warm each day, and we had a most enjoyable time.  The main purpose of the visit was to explore the many fine works of art in the main art museum, especially the paintings by Bruegel the Elder.  Out of 14 works I hoped to encounter, 10 were hanging on our visit.  However, the Albertina Museum had a major Bruegel graphic arts exhibit on, with loans from all over the world.  Virtually all of his actual drawings were on display, and many prints and etchings.  We were thrilled to hit this exhibit right on time!  Even better, we found out that next year they will have a major Bruegel painting exhibition at the Kunsthistoriche Museum.  Many of his paintings will be exhibited together for the very first time!  So we are returning to Vienna in November of next year!!

I will be posting an entire blog on our journey soon, on the London and Europe page.  In the meantime, here are a few photos to help contain your excitement until that happy day.

 Photography was allowed everywhere.  My detail from "Hunters in the Snow" by Bruegel the Elder.  I will have much more to say about this painting and the artist in my Europe blog.

 We encountered not only Brahms, but Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and other great composers on our visit.

 Greenland from 40,000 feet, from our journey home.

Thus endeth our travels for 2017, except for a weekend in Michigan sometime in November.  2017 took us to Chicago, London, Columbus Ohio, Sudbury, and Vienna, not to mention about 25 trips to Detroit.  Next year might see us in Brussels, New Mexico, and Vienna once again.  For now, it's back to teaching, practicing, reading, writing, astronomy, and iaido.

Speaking of Columbus, Deb's little films continue to be accepted in many festivals worldwide.  She even won a first place recently in a festival in Brighton, England, with her coffee music video!  Cash prize and a bottle of craft gin!!  Now we're getting someplace!

September 2017

Friday, Sept. 22nd/17 

Laundry and packing are the order of the day, though we had some last minute running around to do in town this morning as well.  No cake, no party, though I will enjoy my final summer martini and M*A*S*H episode very soon!  And going to Vienna is a pretty cool birthday present.  We need three flights to get there, and three back.  We ended up with a 7 hour layover in Toronto tomorrow, so we are going to leave the airport and go into Toronto for a few hours later in the afternoon.  Then at 10 pm we fly to Warsaw, then Sunday afternoon on to Vienna.  We should get to our hotel around 6 pm Sunday.  I should be able to blog here a few times from Vienna, if there is time and if I have the energy.

We are having the hottest and most extended heat wave of 2017.  Hotter than July, and way hotter than August.  Oh, and Happy Autumn.  Traditionally this is the evening of our first wood fire of the season.  Not this year.  It's supposed to remain hot thru Wed.  Vienna will be cooler, getting to the mid-60s during the day.

Here is this year's birthday card from Deb...

 

 Not only do I share Frodo and Bilbo's birthday, but it is also the anniversary of The Hobbit.  I can't decide which book I like better...

A few friends also sent me cards via e-mail, but they required Adobe Flash, which we do not have on the new computer.  So thanks for sending, but I am unable to view them!

Wednesday was Detroit day, our final one until October.  Batch Brewing was getting set up for this weekend's Octoberfest, and their German and Austrian beers were on tap!  I got to try three of them, including the Vienna Mild, the Berliner Weisse, and Old Witty.  They were all quite stupendous!  I also got to try three other beers at Hopcat, and one more at TJs, where we had lunch.  All in all, it was another great day! 

The German half of Batch Brewing's beer board!  Yummy!! 

Sunday, Sept. 17th/17

Today was Mom and Dad's 65th wedding anniversary!  I spoke to them both earlier today.  They were going out for dinner this evening.  They first met at Loblaws in Sudbury, a chain grocery store where they both worked.  Wednesdays the store was closed, and they got married at 9 am Wed. morning, Sept. 17th 1952.  The reception (family and store employee friends) was that afternoon from 2 pm till 6 pm.  It was back to work Thursday.  I came along one year and five days later!  So Happy Anniversary!!

I am just coming off a 3-night binge of astronomy.  Though clear, the skies were extremely humid and I was forced to shut down early all three nights because of heavy dewing on the secondary mirror.  Last night was the astronomy club group picnic.  I would have attended, except that I did not receive an invitation.  I only found out about it the night before, by accident.  I have been off the mailing list for some time now, for whatever reason.  Must have done something wrong.  So I went elsewhere and had a good time observing with another member at a new location.

A week from today we will be in Vienna.  Getting a little excited! 

It's been sunny and hot for about a week now, ever since Irma dragged up warm, moist air from the Gulf .  It really is summer again.  The cats have been enjoying it, too.

 Mogollon snoozes happily in a very warm house this week.

 Gustav and Mogi enjoying some sunshine.  It's been a very warm late summer, thanks to Irma.  The wood stove stands loaded and ready in the background.

Tuesday, Sept. 12th/17 

Week two of teaching is passing by.  Things are considerably different this year.  I have three adults now, and one comes Monday morning.  Tuesday I have the other two adults, along with 6 kids aged 7 to 15.  I am off on Wednesdays, unless I get another student.  Thursday I have three kids.  So 12 students.  Two favourites did not return this fall, but two students increased their time, and I got two new ones.  So my total teaching time is actually up 45 minutes over last year.

Monday was Detroit day, after I finished teaching in the morning.  It was sunny and mild, and we had planned a long city walk, which concluded our 4th week of the walking program.  Week 5 begins tomorrow; we will be repeating Weeks 2 & 3, though extending them a bit.  In Detroit we went first to our suburban mailbox.  I had four novels awaiting me.  Then we got gas, which is more expensive still, but actually not bad at all.  In Canada the prices are still way too high because of Harvey, or so they tell us.  We had lunch in Midtown at Seva Veg, then walked to 8 Degrees Plato, Detroit's premier beer purchasing  store and tap room.  Then we went to our newest fav cafe, New Order Coffee.  Next came Whole Foods, then Avalon Bakery, and then home.

 New Order Coffee, Detroit 

Outside and inside at Avalon Bakery, Detroit.

Last night clouds from Irma arrived, and today we have seen the outer spirals gradually clouding us out for the beginning of our new astronomy session.  The rain is not far south of us, too.  It's been an interesting couple of weeks watching what happens on our continent, including the terrible rain and floods in Windsor and Essex County. 

 
Saturday, Sept. 9th/17 
The September 8th concert is history!  I performed a number of piano solos, Deb performed two recorder solos, then we did three recorder duets, then Paula and I performed a piano duet by Rachmaninoff, and then I played several more solos.  As usual, a number of invited people could not make it, but the show goes on with a smaller but appreciated audience.  There were 9 of us in the house last night, with everyone staying afterwards for snacks, beer, wine and conversation.  Randy G. took some photos and they are displayed below.

 Yours truly, at the piano.  I performed works by Bach, Haydn, 

Cramer, Louie, Debussy, and MacDowell.

Recorder duet time.

Paula at the harpsichord.

Rachmaninoff duet with Paula

 

I had originally hoped to run through the program earlier in Sept. in front of a friend or two, but that never happened.  As a result, there were more mistakes in my solos than I would have liked, though some of the works were nearly flawless.   All of the duets and ensembles went very well.  On to some new pieces now, though not too seriously until after Vienna. 
 

Wednesday, Sept. 6th/17 

Lately Scotland has been in the travel news, selected as the world's most beautiful country in a very unscientific poll of Rough Guide users.  We hope to make it there someday, and see some of the local sights, hopefully with a certain Scottish person alongside us!  However, my first choice would not be Scotland.  I will leave out the larger countries such as Canada and the USA, which could be said to have unfair advantages due to extremely varied environments and some of the best cities in the world.  So I will limit myself to "smaller" countries.  My nomination?  If you have ever read any fiction by Lord Dunsany, or others writing about the Middle East in a fantasy vein, then my choice will not seem so far fetched.  Here is a 20 minute, totally spellbinding video of Algeria that convinces me that it is not only the world's most beautiful country, but the one that I would most like to visit, long term if possible.   So grab a glass of wine or a coffee or tea, and enjoy!  And have a very happy full moon!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKFF2fCbKNE

Tuesday, September 5th/17

Today my teaching duties resumed, which seem lighter than last year.  Tuesdays will be a pretty full day, but I have only 1 student on Wed. and 3 on Thurs.  So once Tuesday is gone, the rest should be a breeze.  I am now available for astronomy 6 days a week, instead of just 4 like last year.  That is good news, especially as our skies have been so poor this year.  I will resume Iaido on Thursday night, though the dojo is still not fully recovered from the recent flood.

Yesterday we made our annual pilgrimmage to Colchester Beach and Harbour, on Lake Erie.  We used to picnic here on our last day of summer vacation when we were both teaching school, and we have mostly maintained the tradition, weather permitting.  Lake Erie is the closest thing we have to an ocean or inland sea, and it does the trick rather well.  It is the 4th largest of the five Great Lakes, and the 13th largest in the world by surface area (it is not very deep).  It is 241 miles long, and at its widest 57 miles across.  Being so close, we still don't visit very often.  I have a dark sky site along the lake which I use occasionally, and it's fun to be observing the stars and hearing the waves hitting the shore.

 Colchester Beach on a windy visit yesterday.

Lake Erie, from Colchester Beach.

 There are nice bluffs here, with benches up on top to sit and look out.  There is also a large harbour for small craft, a giant play area for children, and a restaurant/ice-cream shop.  We ate lunch on the deck of the restaurant, overlooking the lake.  It was a warm and humid day, though a stiff breeze kept things comfy.  Earlier we had concluded our 3rd week of walking with a long hike on a newer portion of the county hike/bike trail.  Sadly the beach was closed to swimming because of high bacteria, something that is all too common in our area.

Later that evening our area got whacked again by large thunderstorms.  We picked up another badly needed half inch of rain here at the Homestead, though I'm certain that areas that did not need any more rain got more than we did, again.  Things are nice and green here, and I cut the lawn Sunday for the first time in over a month.

Sunday, September 3rd/17

Harvey overtook us yesterday, showing some interesting clouds and bringing a sprinkle of rain to parts of our county.  It is long gone today, dissipating as it moves eastward.  Good riddance.  We paid a short visit to Randy and Anita yesterday, and they seem to be coping well with their hardships.  At least their power stayed on during their flooding ordeal.  They will find out the verdict later this week regarding their furnace and clothes dryer.  Anita has now completed three chemo treatments.  She has a week off, and then resumes for three more weeks.  After this her condition will be assessed, to see how much the chemo is helping.  By the time we are back from Vienna we should know more.

Speaking of Vienna, here are the remaining four paintings I have seen by Bruegel the Elder.  All four were seen in London: 1 of them at the National Gallery, 2 at the Courthauld Gallery, and 1 was on loan for a small exhibit at the National Gallery.

 Adoration of the Magi, National Gallery, London.  I have seen this one several times.

Death of the Virgin, Upton House, Banbury, Warwickshire.  I lucked into seeing this canvas on 

a solo trip to London.  There was a small one-room exhibit based on the painting, and I got to look closely as long as I wished--it was not busy at all.  It is a stunning grisaille painting, quite unfor-

gettable.  Upton House also has a version of Bruegel's Massacre of the Innocents, so a visit there

someday is imperative.

 Landscape With The Flight In to Egypt.  One of two pictures by Bruegel in the Courthauld 

Gallery, London.  On our visit it was not busy, and I returned to the paintings several times for long looks.

Christ and The Woman Taken In Adultery is also in the Courthauld Gallery.  This marks my 7th and final painting by Bruegel I have seen in person.  After Vienna will come Belgium, where there are 5 or 6 more.  I doubt I will live to see them all, but there are still three at least in the USA I have not seen (New York, Washington, San Diego).

 On the subject of Bucket Lists, I became enamoured with the small city of Tamanrasset, Algeria.  I was exploring an old map of Africa when I came across this place in southern Algeria several months ago.  It has several things going for it.  First, it is in the middle of the Sahara Desert, surrounded by desolate landscapes.  Second, there is a national park nearby, with the highest peak in Algeria just north of town.  Third, it can be climbed.  Fourth, this city is well off the beaten tourist track.  Fifth, it is the chief city of the Tuareg.  How cool is that?  In 5th Grade social studies we learned all about the Tuareg.  I always had a fascination with those people, and would love to see and meet some, and visit their cultural museum in the city.  Perhaps.  You can fly there from Algiers, or drive the Trans-Saharan Highway (25 hours of driving!).  It's always fun to dream.

Mt. Tahat, north of Tamanrasset, is the highest in Algeria.

Friday, September 1st/17

The remnants of Harvey reached central Ohio this afternoon, coming within about 50 miles of us.  The rains are persisting, and were predicted to hit here, too, but we were saved by a strong front moving in from the west.  We did get some interesting clouds, though.  We first noticed them as we drove into A'burg this morning for pet food and bird seed (we could afford a third car if we didn't have cats and didn't feed the outside birds). There were vast, curving grey clouds in concentric rings.  They were even more evident on my late afternoon walk today, making for a striking sight.  It is not unusual for us to get hurricane remnants this far north, especially from east coast Atlantic storms, though also sometimes from the Gulf (which is till an Atlantic storm).  In September of 2008, Ike made its way up here and drenched us, breaking a month-long drought we had been suffering.  Meanwhile in Asia things are far worse, especially in Mumbai.  It is getting gradually worse everywhere, and most of us know why.  Some, however, refuse to see the evidence.  People will accept all manner of religious nonsense based on faith alone, but will not accept scientific evidence of climate change no matter how it is presented.

Happy September!  It will be a busy month for the Homesteaders.  Recital next Friday; birthday and Equinox celebration coming up; and a trip to Vienna thrown in there for good measure.  Deb's neck is improving, after becoming nearly unbearable for her again.  She has been busily painting the side entrance, the one students always use, and should have it all done by Tuesday, which is my first teaching day of the year.  My friend and colleague Paula M. was over today to rehearse the Rachmaninoff duet for my concert next week.  She has retired from private teaching after many years.  With 30-40 students each week, she is extremely happy not to have to psyche herself up for another year.  She and Nick will spend this coming winter in Florida.  Anyway, this month will be a busy one as I try to keep our walking program going, get in some astronomy time after the full moon, continue with Iaido, and, of course, practice piano.  No word on when the dojo will reopen.

As to Randy and Anita, their basement rooms are now bare and dry.  The panelling will all have to come off, and they won't know until next week if their furnace is salvageable.  I spoke again with Anita tonight.  She endured a 12-hr day yesterday to get her 3rd chemo treatment in London.  Left home at 9 am, got home at 9 pm, with 4 hours driving in there and hours of sitting and waiting around at the hospital.  No way to treat a lady, never mind a cancer patient.  Someday I will be put in charge of the world, and things will run really well.  Until then, we all have to suffer.