I t's easy, living here, to almost forget that one lives in Canada. If one watches the news and weather reports at all, it's all wind and snow and ice all winter in the rest of Canada, while out here we are ooing and aahing over our little daffodils poking their heads up in February. In fact, it has been unseasonably warm during January and the first part of February. Well, guess what? We ARE part of Canada! We got a giant dump of snow, over several days, so much so that it came up to my thighs! And I am not short, people. No indeed. The dog seemed to think it was fun. She was hopping and jumping all through the yard and smiling to beat the band. The cat was not impressed and seemed to think it was my fault. He absolutely refuses to go outside at all. Cats are so opinionated. My friend's little dog, Maude, stayed with us for a few days of the snow and it was impossible for her to even get off the deck. Imagine a 6" tall dog and 24" of snow Yes. It could be ...

MARCH 2014 Spring is springing up in my yard - there are those little daffodils and violets and weeds and the garlic is up and we will soon have to cut the lawn again. The eagles are up every morning, calling to one another. Salt Spring Island is an amazing place. I went to something called the Gumboot Gala the other night for $20 and saw Bill Henderson (formerly of Chilliwack and the Collectors), Valdy, Derrick Milton (trumpet extraordinaire), and other amazing musicians and poets on the stage. It's a fundraiser for the local Folk Club, who brings in acts all winter long - also for the inexpensive ticket. Plus an amazing local dinner of organic foods for $20. It's an island event for sure. We all sang - Where have all the flowers gone? Bill Henderson wrote "island" words for This Land is Your Land. Shiloh told stories about the "old days" of the 70s and I learned a little bit about old local characters. The original recyclers were a couple of hippi...