I put on a episode of Columbo (guest-starring William Shatner as a murderer-talk radio host), and got to work on a small butterfly mosaic this morning. This one features two plastic hands, some grey smalti tile and broken crockery. Columbo is great for mosaic-making. I enjoy having Peter Falk for company – I stick tesserae in place as Columbo tells the killer what’s bothering him.
I’ve known the tune Big Scoto or Big Scioty as a banjo tune, but I didn’t know there were lyrics. I’ve been learning it on the banjo and sometimes I like to listen to different versions when I’m trying to learn a tune, and I came across this one…
….from the “you learn something every day” department.
New Release has been posted at the Long Branch Garden Tour site – includes a list of all ticket locations.
I’ve been working on a garden extension out front this week, removing some grass, creating new garden area and a little flagstone and gravel area for a chair. I pretty much got it completed this afternoon, and just in time too because my back is loudly protesting this activity.
The strange light in the photo above is as a result of the afternoon sun almost directly ahead.
Here it is from the front sidewalk.
Yesterday we put up a garden gate. We started staining it yesterday, immediately causing just enough rain to get us to stop. Today I began staining it again, causing a light drizzle, which stopped as soon as I put the stain away.
I waited a while, then brought out the stain to give it another go. I set up a step-ladder, carefully placed the can of stain on the top of the ladder, climbed up and started to work. This caused a very dark cloud to appear out of nowhere, followed by a clap of thunder loud enough to make the dogs to jump and run to the door. I came down from the ladder, put everything away and made it inside just as the sky opened up.
I believe the universe was telling me to go have a nap. I will oblige.
Imagination Station #1
I did some work on Imagination Station #1 today. Gravity was beginning to win the battle with this one. I jammed some strong sticks here and there to add structural and dimensional stability. After all, how can imaginary creatures live in an imagination station which is falling down? It’s pretty strong now so I should be able to apply more stuff to it over the season without it collapsing.
Imagination Station #2
Imagination Station #2 remains structurally as sound as it ever was, but it is looking a little sparse. As I continue to clean up the garden I’ll add material to this one. I’m thinking of making a pea gravel pathway to this structure as well. One of the great features of this imagination station is that it has been invaded by my neighbour’s aggressive grape vines. At it’s peak last year, the vines totally covered the roof.
Our two teacup birdfeeders in the canoe garden didn’t fare too well over the winter. Mostly the problem was the squirrels, who learned to climb the copper pipe to get the sunflower seeds. One of the feeders was badly bent and another had a broken saucer. We had an extra one (we made a few last year), so I replaced one, and added the saucer from the bent up one to the feeder with the broken saucer, and now we have two good ones again. I like these feeders because the sunflower seeds attract cardinals to our front window and they’re a treat to watch.
I listen to a lot of old time music from south of the border, and sometimes I have to remind myself that we have an awesome old time music tradition up here in Canada. Here are fiddle master Calvin Vollrath and guitarist Clinton Pelletier tearing it up.
We sallied forth to the Cineplex this evening to see Sing Street, on the strength of 97% on the Tomatometer. I was suspicious. I read that it is a charming, even infectious film about a bunch of Irish kids who put together a band. Hmmm, that seems vaguely familiar. It’s a brother story. It’s a cheesy love story. It’s set in the 80’s and as a result, is full of 80s pop music.
Not very surprising confession: I never much liked 80s pop music. If 70s pop music like Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles sent me running to folk music, 80s glam-pop keyboard-driven music kept me firmly there. It just didn’t resonate with me, as if I were born in the wrong time and the wrong place. What I’m saying is that this is a film I was unlikely to enjoy.
The thing is that Sing Street really is charming and infectious. The cast does a great job, and the filmmaker really pulls it off. Go see this one. Toss aside your expectations and have fun.
27th Street 