I am Really Amazed!

Hi dear friends!  I went out today but realize that I really shouldn't have.  There were mountains of snow from our blizzard of two days ago.  There were snow trucks everywhere trying to clear it all up.  It is snowing again today!  There were no sidewalks at all in many, many places, and this was forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads.  Very dangerous!  

Needless to say, I am glad to be home.  I haven't seen a blizzard of this magnitude since I was a little girl.  It will take the snow crews weeks to clean this up.  It is supposed to get very cold as well.  Yikes.

I chose a beautiful, calming nature video which I hope you all enjoy.  As soon as it is safer more me to get out and about I will start taking photographs once again and sharing them here.

As far as how I am doing emotionally as in coping with the depression, I have been feeling better, thank God.  I just began taking a Vitamin B and folic acid supplement which is supposed to really help with depression.  However, according to a good pharmacist friend whom I spoke with, it takes a few weeks to see any effects.  Thanks to you all for your continued prayers and thoughts on my behalf.

Thank you all so much for visiting me here.  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Montreal Has Hit a Record!

Hi dear friends,

The blizzard that hit Montreal has dumped 43 centimeters on us...and it isn't fully done yet.  It is supposed to end tomorrow morning.  We hit a record for the largest amount of snow fallen in one day!  It will take the city at least a week...at LEAST a week to clear it all up.

Some of you mentioned that you were unable to see the photos I posted...the ones I took of our first blizzard on Saturday, 5 days ago.  Well, I have actually been able to post them.  The reason I had been uploading my photos elsewhere for a while now is because Blogger kept saying that I had reached my quota for photos.  I cannot afford to pay, so I got a free account elsewhere for photos and had been sharing them from there.

So here are my photos, which I edited my last post to add.
Blizzard Photos  Click on each photo to see an enlarged view.

Thank you all so much for visiting me here.  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Montreal's First Blizzard 2012

Hi dear friends!  The photos I am sharing here are ones I took 5 days ago, during our first blizzard.  I took all of these photos inside a bus shelter, while i was waiting for the bus.    As you can see it was a blizzard all right...however, that blizzard was much smaller than the one that is hitting us right now.  

At any rate, I am just happy to be warm and safe inside.

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I always enjoy and appreciate reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

A Blizzard is on its way to Montreal

Hi dear friends,

We had our first blizzard here four days ago.  Apparently it seemed tame compared to what is about to hit us here.  We are expected to get between 10 and 25 centimetres of snow with strong wind gusts!  There are already around 4,000 people here in Quebec that have been without power for about a week now.

I just wanted to make a quick post to share this with you, and to wish you all the best for the remainder of the Christmas holidays.

Please stay warm and safe.  Love and hugs to you all.

Merry Christmas, Dear Friends!

The video I have chosen for this very special post is from one of my favourite TV shows of all time!  Family friendly and wholesome, perfect!  The Andy Griffith Show.

I would like to wish you all a very safe and joyous Christmas!  Thank you all so much for being there all year round and for making my blog such a pleasant and enjoyable place!  Sending you all warm hugs and love from a cold Montreal!

I always enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

I Keep My Promises (my photos)

Hi dear friends!  First of all, thank you all so much for your comments on my last (and all) blog posts.  I am feeling better, I think it really does help to share my thoughts, so I am really glad I did.  

The video I have chosen for this post is a vintage television Christmas commercial for Hoover...very nice.  Hope you all enjoy it.

The reason I called this post "I keep my promises" is because I mentioned to you all in an earlier post that I would share my own photos with you all...so here they are.  Please keep in mind that I am not photogenic;  pretty camera shy I am.  :)  One of the photos was taken when I was in grade 1, you will tell which one, I had the giggles.  LOL!  Another photo was taken when I was in high school...it was a class picture.  I am the first on the left, in the front row...with the long hair and hands on my knees.  The one that is a closeup was taken around 25 years ago.  The last one where I am standing by a car (no, it isn't my car, I don't have a car), was taken in January 2011.  My Photos

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I always appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Christmas is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Hi dear friends!  It is great to "see" you all here...thank you for stopping by!  The video I have chosen for this post is quite appropriate, I think, as it is recommended for anxiety reduction and depression.  I can see how various music can help with stress, tension and anxiety, but not sure how it can deal with depression.  At any rate, I am listening to it and enjoying it as I write this post, and I hope you all enjoy it as well.  :)  The image in the video stays the same throughout, so you can listen to it in one window as you go about doing what you need to do, and as you are reading my post.  

For those of you who are my regular readers and followers, this is something you already know, so please bear with me as I repeat it for those who may not, or who haven't had to read my posts where I have mentioned it.  I was in a "special" class throughout elementary and high school for those who learn more slowly.  It really affects the way one thinks and in one's daily life, especially if you are say...in a new atmosphere or job, where you are learning new tasks and skills.  The average or above average person can pick things up rather quickly.  However, with someone like myself who has a tendency to learn at a slower pace, it can be both frustrating and embarrassing when I see others learning at a more rapid pace.  

That having been said, as I look through job offers and continually see "quick learner" in part of the job description, it can get downright discouraging.  As much as I try not to compare myself to others I must say that it can be frustrating to constantly see "quick learner" in 90% of the job offer descriptions.  No, I do not mention my learning capacity, speed, etc., to potential or current employers, but they are able to see how quickly employees pick up things.

When I first began blogging, I will be honest...I wondered to myself, "Who would be interested in what I have to say and share?"  Thanks to the many of you who continue to come here and read my blog, and your kind responses to my posts, I am happy to say that I no longer think this to myself anymore.  You are all such an encouragement and support to me, and I want you all to know how much I appreciate your friendship.

Last but not least for this long-winded post, (LOL)...I am having continual struggles with depression and have been fighting the "downs", and being able to share all this with you, particularly so close to my favourite time of year, Christmas, is a huge benefit to me.

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the "comments" link at the end of my post.

My Family and a couple of photos!

Hi dear friends!  The video I have chosen for this post is 1938 CHRISTMAS SEALS THEATRICAL COMMERCIAL.  I thought the commercial was well done and enjoyed seeing something from so long ago.  Hope you all like it.

I thought I would use the week to share my memories about my family.  My parents met after World War II here in Montreal on a blind date, as I was told.  They were introduced to one another by one of my parent's friends...and they dated and married one another a couple of years later in 1947.  I never met my father's parents.  His mother died when he was 8 years old and his father died when I was 2, I think.  I was too young when he died so I don't remember anything about him.  I never met my mother's father, either...but I remember my grandmother (mom's mother), as she died when I was 8 years old.  

My father's parents were born in Kent, England...my grandfather in Dartford, my grandmother in Dover.  My mother's parents were born here in Montreal.  I thought I would mention all this so you will know why I don't really talk about them.  I remember my grandmother as being strict, but that is really all I recall, as I didn't see her very often.  My father told me that his father was a very strict man and that his mother was very kind and loving.  My mother never really talked about her father, so I really don't have anything to say on that aspect.  

My parents never had much, but I always remember that they appreciated what they had and were happy to share it.  They gave me presents regularly, and I always enjoyed and appreciated what I got.  Mostly I received colouring books, Spirograph, Monopoly board game, dolls, crayons, things like that.  My father would often come home from work with some 12 cent comic books he purchased for me.  Archies, Little Lotta, Little Dot, (plenty from the Harvey collection).  My mother and father put up and decorated the Christmas tree. It was a vinyl tree that they took out and put up every year.  They would play Christmas music and my mother often sang along with the music.  I would be in bed by around 9:00 p.m. on Christmas eve, as we got up early on Christmas morning...usually 7 a.m. and would sit together and open our respective presents that were under the tree while listening to Christmas carols.  

When my parents first got married my mother, so she told me, didn't know how to cook....at all!  My father taught her.  My father was a great cook, he was also good at sewing and taking care of things that needed to be done.  My father would often make the breakfast on Christmas morning and he made his own no alcohol eggnog.  It was very good.  Christmas dinner was always nice, my mother always wore a Christmas apron and would set the table with a Christmas tablecloth.  We would either have chicken, turkey, ham or lamb, depending on the budget.  Whatever we had it was always good.  I especially enjoyed the turkey or lamb!
Before I forget, here are a couple more photos of my parents.  my parents  
The photo of my father was taken in 1950...the carriage belonged to my late brother, Richard.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to visit me here and for reading my memories.  It really means so much to me.  I always appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Christmas and Family

Hello dear friends!  The video I have chosen for this post is Violin music - Christmas song - Silent night instrumental - piano and violin.  You can listen to it without having to watch, as the image stays pretty much the same.  I hope you enjoy it!  There is a reason I chose Silent Night.  Interesting tradition it has in my family.  This song always drew my grandmother (my mother's mother) to tears, it drew my mother to tears and yes, you guessed it, it brings me to tears.  There is something about this Christmas carol that touches me deeply, as I hope it will touch you all.

Since I have some new blog readers and followers, and since it has been quite a while since I have talked about my family, I thought...what better time than Christmas to share about family?  My father's birthday was December 19th, and my mother's was December 24th.  I am an only child, my mother had four miscarriages before I was born, and, again, before I was born, 6 years before, my brother Richard was born in June, 1950.  Sadly, he died seven months later of bronchiole pneumonia.  I was born on October 27th, 1956, and my mother was 40 when I was born, so I was the only child.  

My parents didn't have much.  We had no car, my mother wasn't well enough to work, my father worked the best he could different jobs to support my mother and I.  He worked as a cleaner in an ice cream parlour, as an elevator operator, as the sexton of a church and as a cleaner of trains for CP Rail.  (not all at the same time, of course).  When I was 13, my father lost his last job at the Presbyterian church where he worked as a sexton.  He was a prisoner of war in WWII, and sadly had trouble forgetting the horrible experiences he had.  He did forgive his captors, though...he just never forgot the sufferings he had and ended up spending the last 14 years of his life in a military hospital.  He and I remained in close contact and I visited him often and he came to visit me a couple of times as well.

The photos I am sharing here with you all in this post are of my late mother, late father and late brother, Richard.  Unfortunately my childhood photos, with the exception of one, were all lost in a fire we had several decades ago when I was a child, so I hope you will enjoy these.  I will share one of my childhood photos (and perhaps a couple of others) in a future post.  My family photos

Thank you all so much for visiting me here, and for taking the time to read this long post about my family.

I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

A Few Museum Photos

Hi everyone!  The video I am sharing for this post is "Making Christmas Crackers (1910)".  I just love it that we can see videos from a century ago.  Hope you all enjoy it.  

The photos I am sharing in this post are some that I took in January 2011 on a visit I took to a museum.  There were several vintage items and of course I really enjoyed it, as you all know how much I love vintage.  I hope you all enjoy them as well.  Museum Photos

It was quite cold today in Montreal and it has started snowing, so the temperatures should warm up with the snow.  What I am not looking forward to is the rain and freezing rain we are supposed to get tomorrow, as I must be careful to not fall on the ice.

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Why I Blog

Hi dear friends!  It's wonderful to see you all here!  I don't believe I have ever made a post on my reason for blogging, so I thought I would share this with you all.  :)

When I began this blog in February of this year, I wanted to have an avenue where I could be myself, express myself and share my feelings, thoughts and things I love with others.  As well, I wanted to increase my circle of friends and meet other good people.  

I did a search and reading on several blogs before I jumped into it myself.  I decided that although many of the blogs I visited were beautiful and elaborate, some having contests, others giving and receiving awards, etc., although I thought all this was very nice, it wasn't for me.  For myself, the reward I get in blogging is therapeutic, for one thing, as it enables me to express myself in the way I feel comfortable...and myself!  The other reward I get in blogging is that many of you are interested in what I have to say and the things I post, and your comments are a reward to me, which is, for myself, the most important reward I can have.  It's kind of like someone buying and presenting a gift that comes from their heart as opposed to just the physical aspect of giving the gift, if you get what I mean.  

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I always appreciate reading your thoughts, which you can share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Winter Wonderland...Celebrating Winter!

Hi dear friends, I am sharing a few of my old photos that I took on January 2, 2011!  As usual, whenever I take a walk in nature, rain or shine...or snow, (LOL!), I have my own entourage of animals that I "meet", and this winter stroll was no different.  It was pretty cold, and part of the river was frozen over.  There were many (and I mean MANY ducks, as you will see, and plenty of squirrels as well).  I enjoyed the walk, cold or not, so I hope you will enjoy these old photos as much as I enjoyed taking them almost two years ago.
January 2011 photos

The video I have chosen for this post is Bing Crosby's Winter Wonderland.

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate reading your thoughts, which you can always share!  

Panpipes at Christmas

Sending you all much love and hugs and many thanks for all your responses to my posts, it is always greatly appreciated.  Thank you so much for being there!

Hope you all enjoy this mellow Christmas music.

Healing is Slow, Laughter is Good!

Hi dear friends, soon I will be sharing some photos again, hopefully by early next week. My toe (gout) is slowly healing, the swelling and redness is diminishing, and along with it, the pain.  

For today, I am sharing a hilarious gag that was done here in Montreal by the Just for Laughs group.  Hope you all enjoy this, it is one of my favourites done by them.  :)

Thank you all so much for continuing to visit me here, I really appreciate your kindness and support.  I always appreciate reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas In The Roaring Twenties

Hi everyone!  Thank you all so much for your comments on my last post in relation to the gout.  I managed to get to a doctor yesterday and have begun medication for two weeks beginning last night.  I have to take them twice per day, morning and evening, at breakfast and supper.  The pain is still quite intense and my toe is still red and swollen, but I did manage to sleep last night, thank God.  I had no sleep on Sunday night due to the pain.  I am trying to rest and keep my foot elevated as much as possible.

I hope you all enjoy this lovely video on Christmas in the Roaring Twenties.

Thanks so much for visiting me here.  I always appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

A Gout Attack

Hi everyone!  The video I have chosen for this post is Guy Lombardo's "My Blackbirds are Bluebirds Now" (1928).  Hope you all enjoy it!

I am not posting any photos this time around, I wanted to let you all know that I have been hit with a gout attack (left foot, big toe).  I have had gout before, it is extremely painful.  To be honest, since I was diagnosed with diverticulitis in August, my appetite has not been the same at all.  I am not eating much, two small meals a day, and I just don't have the same appetite for food as I used to, so this gout attack was a big surprise.  I am going to see a doctor tomorrow, there are meds that reduce the pain and swelling.  I was on medication for the prevention of gout...Allopurinol, but due to lack of funds I had stopped it over a year ago.  Big mistake, I should not have done that...and now I am paying the price for it.  I am on welfare now and thank God all medications are free for those on welfare.

For those who are unfamiliar with what gout is...it is a condition that occurs when the uric acid in your body is unable to eliminate itself, thereby forming crystals which mostly accumulate in the big toe, which causes the swelling and severe pain.

I would really appreciate your prayers and thoughts on my behalf.  

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate your responses to my posts, which you can always do by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.  Sending you all hugs and love.

Winter 2010 Photos

Hi everyone!  The video I have chosen for this post is "It's Winter Again" - Hal Kemp.  Hope you all enjoy this and my photos.

I took these photos in December 2010.  There was a blizzard then, and we had lots of snow.  I am sharing a few of the photos I took.  Winter 2010 Photos  There is no need for me to describe the photos, as they are pretty self-explanatory.

I hope you all enjoyed this post. Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Christmas 2010 Photos

Hello everyone!  The video I have chosen for this post is Ampico Lexington - Christmas Greetings (1925) - Carroll.  Hope you all enjoy it!

I am sharing some more of my Christmas 2010 photos.  I took many that year, so I hope you are enjoying them.  This time two were taken outside in downtown Montreal at night, another is of a mall Christmas display and the other one, believe it or not, is snowflakes stuck to a pane of glass.  I took this photo inside of a bus shelter in an attempt to capture the snowflakes....and managed to get it.  It was very cold and the snowflakes had frozen to the glass.
My Christmas 2010 Photos

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Some of my Old Christmas Photos!

Hi everyone, the video I have chosen for this post is Old Fashioned Christmas...Frank Sinatra.  Hope you all enjoy it. 

Several of you have mentioned that you have been missing my photos, so I took it upon myself to post some of my old ones for you.  It has been cold and windy and also rainy, so I haven't been out taking photos, but I hope you will all enjoy these...my photos from Christmas 2010.  :)  I took all these photos of store windows and shopping malls.
Christmas 2010 photos

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Christmas Shopping

Hi everyone!  The video I have chosen for this post is the Christmas Song by Shirley Temple with some rare pics. I found it great, wonderful vintage photos and great childhood memories there.

Christmas shopping is something that I have never enjoyed doing in the month of December....well, definitely not at the last minute!  I find that people can get very aggressive and nasty sometimes, especially in periods of stress, and the last few days before Christmas can sometimes bring out the worst in people when they are shopping.

I am not a fan of shopping, never have been, but purchasing gifts for others whenever I am able to gives me a feeling of joy.  I just try and do it when the stores are not too busy, as it gives me more time to browse and choose the right gift in a more peaceful setting.

How about you?

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Childhood Christmas Memories

The song I have chosen for this post is a 1956 classic Christmas carol.  God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Perry Como.  This and other classic Christmas carol take me back to a very special time in my life, when I was a little girl.  My mother sang very well and had a really good voice, and my father played the piano...by ear, quite well.  Although we never had a piano of our own, I got to hear my father play on several occasions when I was about 10 years old.  He was working as a sexton at a Presbyterian church back then, and he played the piano so well.  

My parents had pretty good taste in music, in my opinion.  They loved honky tonk piano and many classics from the 1930's and 1940's, and I think this is part of the reason that I love this type of music so much.  I have to be honest in saying that I have only been really digging into this music in the last couple of years by going on YouTube and seeing what they have there.  Since then I am really hooked on this music.

I hope you all enjoy this post.  Thank you so much for stopping by, and I always appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

The Month of December

Hi everyone, the video I have chosen for this post is SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN ~ Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra  1935.  Hope you all enjoy it.  

I have always loved the month of December, ever since I was little.  My great aunt, whose name was Rebecca and whom I always called "Aunt Beck", was born on December 3rd.  Another aunt, my mother's sister, was born on December 6th, my father was born on December 19th, and my mother was born on December 24th.  Then Christmas is December 25th.  

Perhaps it is just myself, but I have noticed that people seem to be kinder and more friendly around Christmas time. This may be due to "getting into the spirit of Christmas."  It makes me wish that Christmas was every day.  LOL!  :)  Seriously, though, I have always loved Christmas even though I don't go all out in decorating for it.  I have a small red fabric tree that is about a foot or so high that I use, and for myself, that is enough.  I must say, though, I do enjoy and appreciate seeing the Christmas decorations in stores and in homes.  I am a nostalgic person and find that I get even more nostalgic at this time of year.  

How about you?

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Christmas Plans

Hi everyone!  The song I chose for this post is really beautiful and mellow...hope you enjoy it.  It is "Alice Blue Gown" ....Joni James, 1957.  :)

Do you all have plans for Christmas?  Since I have no family,  I spend Christmas day at my friend, Linda's place.  She has a wonderful dinner usually of turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, potatoes, turnips and carrots, etc., and I always enjoy the time that I spend with her and her family.  I find Christmas the hardest time of year just because I have no family, but I count my blessings, because I have good friends and am very grateful for that.  

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

Just for Laughs Gag!

This is a short and funny video done by the Just for Laughs Festival, which is here in Montreal.  Perhaps some of you have seen these gags, perhaps some not.  However, it is a good thing that many people here in Montreal have a good sense of humour, because a huge number of the gags are done right here in Montreal.  There is no verbal communication here (at least none that we can hear), so these gags can be done anywhere in the world, and the Just for Laughs Festival does travel and do them in other parts of the world.  The beauty of these videos is that they can be shown anywhere in the world.

Hope you all enjoy this, and hopefully you all enjoy humour. Laughter is very good medicine.

No photos this time round, it was a very cold day today so I used the day to do some cleaning.

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I really appreciate and enjoy reading your thoughts, which you can always share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.