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.
