Has anyone else out there had problems with Google Reader? First I had a few days when it wouldn’t show me my subscriptions. Now it won’t mark anything as read. Grrr.
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This Afternoon
The crisp clear afternoon has coaxed a lot of people in the neighbourhood outdoors. The toboggan hill at the filtration plant has hardly been in use this season for lack of snow, but enough came down the other day to create a marginal base. Marginal or not, there are several kids on the hill sliding on toboggans, sleds, and assorted chunks of plastic and cardboard. It’s great to hear the sounds of kids having a great time on the hill.
From the toboggan hill, you can see skaters on the figure 8 skate park across the field and across the road, in Sam Smith Park proper. I don’t know whose idea the skate park was, but it has turned out to be a very popular attraction to the park and to the Long Branch/New Toronto communities. I hear of people coming from across the city to skate there.
This winter, many of the regulars at the dog park on the filtration plant lands have turned to the new dog park at Marie Curtis Park for a better experience. The Marie Curtis dog park is on higher land and has a deep sand surface. Even after a rain, it is not muddy. Today the weather is perfect for the dog park at the R.L. Clark Filtration plant. That is, the ground is frozen and covered with a layer of snow – and it isn’t windy. As a result, there were a dozen dogs in there playing when I took Memphis and Ellie Mae out for some play and exercise. In the next day or two it’s expected to warm up and any thaw will turn the dog park into a muck-pit. Unfortunately, no plan was made to mitigate the muck when the dog park was conceived, even though the sogginess of the field was well known to all in the community.
Stompers
Somebody searched the internet for “Sligo Creek Stompers” and came up with this blog. Now I don’t think I’ve heard that name before and a quick search of 27th Street tells me that I’ve never posted anything by them on this blog. I did once post a jig called the Tar Road to Sligo, but that’s something else altogether.
So, I did a little search on YouTube and sure enough the Sligo Creek Stompers are a band and they’re right up my alley too.
Etta James RIP
Singer Etta James has died at 73.
RIP
Coyote Attack in Oakville
There have been lots of coyote sightings this winter closer to home too, over in Sam Smith Park. So far nobody has been hurt, but I’m often in the park at night with my dogs and I always keep a careful eye out.
Kalinka
Image via Wikipedia
I’ve never featured the Red Army Choir before on this blog but I guess there’s a first time for everything. Check out this awesome version of Kalinka. I’m sending this one out to Elliot. This song was written in 1860 by the composer and folklorist Ivan Larionov.
The Days
The days, in the words of Mr. Bukowski, run away like wild horses over the hill. That was today. I blinked and then Memphis gave me that look that can only mean get off your butt and dole out the kibble. I suppose I should invoke Burns as well:
But little Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!
In other words, I didn’t manage to get any of the things done I had planned to do on this day off work.
The least I can do today is offer up a Daily Dose. I feel like hearing some Hammond Organ this evening, so let’s listen to B3 master Jimmy Smith and his trio performing Organ Grinder’s Swing, and featuring some tasty guitar picking from Eddie McFadden.
Of course Jimmy wasn’t the only organist named Smith. Here’s Ethel Smith performing her big number, Tico Tico. It’s a goofy video but worth a listen.
Concertina Time
For your Daily Dose today, I’m prescribing a double shot of Chemnitzer Concertina.
I don’t know anything at all about this pair of players. The video was uploaded by a fellow who goes by the handle fleetingdays. He also has quite a number of videos up featuring his own playing, which I really enjoy listening to.
One day when I grow up, I’d like to get my hands on one of these boxes and figure out how to play it.
Tuffy P’s Animal Crackers
In this photo, Jack Shadbolt examines the book, The Art of Emily Carr, written by Doris Shadbolt. Little Jack Shadbolt was named after the painter, Jack Shadbolt, who was married to writer and curator Doris Shadbolt. All that being said, I don’t think the shot was exactly planned.
And here’s that handsome rogue, Jacques (we call him Joxy)
Finally, as the old saying goes, let sleeping dogs lie. Here’s Memphis, staying out of the spotlight. In this shot, she reveals a secret – the fur under her paws is brown. She has a little bit of bronze on her neck as well.
Can you see?
Image via Wikipedia
Haha, I stumbled across this delightful interview with the Ramones (at 27th Street, we like all kinds of folk music)…
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- Pataskala gallery combines art, folk music (dispatch.com)
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