aircraft

Harbour Air float plane - Victoria, B.C. 

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: FRUIT (Apples, Oranges, Pears, Fruit Drinks,...)

aging population? let's do a study!

Aging populations are on the minds of governments and social planners all over the world. Note for example:

• Aging population a challenge for Balkan nations

• Greying challenges ahead - re China

Canada is right in there with its attempt to keep on top of its aging population situation by implementing a Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).

The study's definition and purpose (as described on its website):

"The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, long-term study that will follow approximately 50,000 men and women between the ages of 45 and 85 for at least 20 years. The study will collect information on the changing biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and economic aspects of people’s lives. These factors will be studied in order to understand how, individually and in combination, they have an impact in both maintaining health and in the development of disease and disability as people age. The CLSA will be one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind undertaken to date, not only in Canada but around the world"

Locally the Simon Fraser Campus in Surrey is one of eleven Canadian sites for collecting this study's data. They held an open house with ribbon cutting and tours on October 4th. The site's lead investigator, Dr. Andrew Wister (chair of SFU's Gerontology Department) hopes the data will shed light on "'The many complex and interrelated biological, clinical, psycho-social and societal factors' that affect aging" (quoting from SFU Surrey joining long-term study into effects of aging, October 4, 2012,  The Province).

Living Lab

Sounds good. I just hope all that study doesn't take the place of action where it's already seen to be needed. In our province I often hear stories of acute care hospital beds occupied by the ill elderly until places in appropriate care homes can be found for them. It seems there's a lot  we already know about our aging population that could be acted on without 20 years' worth of study!

Footnote:

Here's a cool thing: SFU's  Dr. Tong Louie Living Lab

 Located in downtown Vancouver (7th floor of the BCIT downtown campus at 555 Seymour Street), the lab is made up of three spaces:

Experimental Space - an 800 square foot area with moveable walls and ceiling and equipped with audio, video and motion detection systems. It allows researchers to simulate real-life settings like kitchens bathrooms, apartments, nursing home settings and study how participants interact with their surroundings.

Viewing Theatre - space where the researchers watch what's going in the experimental space.

Data acquisition and Analysis centre - space where data from the video, audio, and sensors is collected and analyzed to develop and perfect new products and devices.

Happy Canada Day!

Pause for a minute to listen to our national anthem, accompanied by a moving slide show, created by photographer Mario Dimain.

celebrate Canada Day with a Canadian book

 Sunday is Canada Day! What better way to celebrate than with a book by Canadian authors? A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider is just such a book. I highly recommend it.

The book's cover description is followed by my review (first published in Faith Today earlier this year).

The much-anticipated sequel to Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stir the Heart and Warm the Soul.

Features:
• A unique collection of inspirational stories, poems and articles
• Real stories, real people, real faith
• Great writing
• Honesty and vulnerability combined with hope
• Well-known, experienced writers and passionate, new writers
• Gentle humor, warm encouragement, and stimulating challenges
• Attractive, gift book layout

My review:

Some books surprise you with their ability to take your breath away. A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider is such a book. This anthology of 51 short pieces (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and even a play) was written by 37 members of The Word Guild (a Canadian organization of writers, editors, publishers, and speakers who are Christian).

I was impressed with the honesty, transparency, and raw life portrayed, especially in the true stories. We meet a host of fellow Canadians—our neighbors—whose lives are as unpredictable as our own.  A mother of young children gets a diagnosis of cancer. A 36-year-old magazine editor has a stroke. A man who is forced to take early retirement asks, what’s next? A woman prays for patience and a few days later breaks her back. A man tries to surprise his wife with a five-day bathroom renovation. What binds all the pieces together is a cord of faith as we see how God is involved in the very real circumstances of life.

The book is wonderfully Canadian with its representation of writers from across the country. It reflects Canada’s mosaic-like population with its pieces from the First Nations perspective to the home-born Canadian to the immigrant, the young to the old, the urban to the rural. Though the writing styles are varied, the book was skillfully edited to preserve the individual voices while providing a smooth read with few technical or stylistic distractions.

The short selections makes this a perfect book for even indifferent readers. It would be a fabulous addition to an office waiting room, your beside table, briefcase, backpack, or purse.  But be sure to buy more than one, for you will probably have the urge to share this gem of a collection with others.

Find about more about this series on the Hot Apple Cider books website.

Title: A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stimulate the Mind and Delight the Spirit

Editors: N. J. Lindquist and Wendy Elaine Nelles

That’s Life! Communications, 2011

336 pages

$19.99 (paper)

This  book is submitted to Semicolon Blog Saturday Review of Books, June 30, 2012 where links to many more book reviews are available.

Happy Canada Day!

Today is Canada Day. It's a day I've celebrated as far back as I can remember. My mom was a Canadian patriot through and through. She made sure Canada Day always held something special when we were kids — even if it meant just a picnic at the Log Cabin Bush on the farm, which it did the year Daddy was in hospital with a broken leg and she was heavily pregnant with her seventh child.

Perhaps it's appropriate that five years ago, she departed this life on June 30th, the eve of Canada Day. We had fun fantasizing how she would bring a distinctly Canadian flavour to heaven on her first day there.

In honour of the day, I've made a collage of some of my recent memorable Canada Days.

 HAPPY CANADA DAY!

'other food' in best canadian blog finals

As I have mentioned before, I write other blogs. One is a blog of devotions (Other Food: daily devos) based on the daily Bible readings from the Canadian Bible Society.

Some kind reader has nominated it as Best Canadian blog in the "Religion and Philosophy" category. 

Listen, I don't expect it to win... but it would be nice if it got a few votes.

Want to see what Other Food: daily devos is about? It's here.

Want to vote for it? It's in the "Best Religion and Philosophy Blogs 2010 category (third from bottom) on this page.

Thanks to any and all who take the time to do this!

Happy Canada Day!

Today we celebrate Canada and her 143rd birthday. There will be festivities in cities and towns around the country. Our town has an all-day event at McLeod Park with ongoing entertainment, monster truck rides, a Lego demonstration and of course it will end with a bang (fireworks). Check it out.

We're relatively new to the community of Langley (moved here only three years ago). A couple of weeks ago (June 19th), we took in our first Langley City parade. The many colourful floats are an indication of what a vibrant community this is… one of the many that make up this great country of ours!

However you celebrate it, Happy Canada Day to you too!

(Hover mouse over the bottom of photos to see captions.)

urban

Vancouver, BC

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: METALLIC (Metal, Shiny, Mirror, Clothes, Cars, Jewelry,...)

environment

"The Hulks" - recycling on a grand scale

According to the tourist sign:

"'The Hulks,' Powell River's floating breakwater of ships have been part of the waterfront since 1930. Over the years, 10 ships built of wood, and reinforced concrete have been brought to Powell River for use in the breakwater. The concrete ships that made up the breakwater were built for use in the First and Second World Wars.

Concrete ships were built when there was a shortage of plate steel for ship construction. They were found to be too heavy in relation to their cargo-carrying capacity to compete with steel cargo vessels during peacetime."

More "environment" photos: Thursday Challenge

Next week: SMALL ANIMALS (Pets, Insects, Birds,...)

curling blues (call them silver)

Cheryl Bernard delivers a rock in the second end - yesterday's game. 

(Global TV photo)

The Canadian women's loss to Sweden yesterday in the gold medal women's curling game bothered me way more than I thought it would. What's wrong with silver, I kept asking myself. Nothing, except that it's not gold.

However, I think more than even that they didn't get their gold, was the way that game was lost. The whole match was a roller coaster ride for Canadian fans, and just when the gold was within Bernard's grasp it slipped away - twice!

I prefer endings where my team wins with authority, or comes from behind and triumphs, or if they have to lose, the game has a 'predestined' feeling of loss to it from the beginning. This business of having what felt like an inevitable win slip through your fingers, not so much. (Maybe another reason I'm feeling so bummed out is because the ending to that game is a lot like life. Sometimes victory, or success or whatever we want most slips away just as we can taste it.)

But do I fault the Canadian women? Not for a minute. They gave us hours of wonderful entertainment and fabulous shot-making. What a classy foursome. When I think back on these Olympics, the focused look on Bernard's face as she settled herself in the hack in preparation for her throw will be one of my most vivid memories. Congratulations on a well-deserved Silver Medal, Canadian women's curling team!!

Now to get ready for another rock-fest! Kevin Martin plays for gold at 3:00 this afternoon.

Update: 
Kevin Martin won the gold Saturday afternoon! So did the Canadian men's hockey team a few hours ago. Canada broke the records for most gold medals won by any country at a Winter Olympic Games (with the final gold medal count at 14), and most gold medals won by a host country (previously held by Norway and the U.S. at 10).  Canadian pride is running high today. How sweet it is!!

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Psst - notice the little headings ("Home" "About" and "Index") at the top of this page? I've discovered Blogger's stand-alone pages, and posted an 'about' page in my own style, as well as an index to some of my frequent subjects here at promptings. Keep tuned for more pages. A compilation of favorite quotes is in the works, and I have some other ideas too...

the newest Beatle

Prime Minister Harper performs at the National Arts Centre Gala on Saturday. Here's CTV's take on it. What do you think?

book review: The Best of Wilfred Grenfell - William Pope editor

Title: The Best of Wilfred Grenfell
Author: Wilfred Grenfell, edited by William Pope
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing, May 2006, Paperback, 179 pages 
ISBN-10: 1551095815 
ISBN-13: 978-1551095813

“’To believe is to do,’ Wilfred Grenfell said, and his 40 years as a medical missionary along the rugged Labrador coast amply illustrated his words. He was a prolific writer, fundraiser and traveler but it was his faith that empowered his life and gave it meaning; it enabled him to accomplish great tasks to the amazement of others and made him a legend even during his lifetime.”

Thus editor William Pope sums up the life of Sir Wilfred Grenfell. It opens the introduction to The Best of Wilfred Grenfell, a collection of eleven short pieces by this British medical doctor and missionary to Labrador and Newfoundland from 1892 to 1934.

Grenfell was born in Parkgate England in 1865. Though his father was a clergyman, Grenfell had no religious leanings until one evening when he was 20. Returning from a sick call (he was already training to be a doctor) he happened upon a large tent where Dwight Moody was holding meetings. He sat down to listen and as a result of the message that night he decided to commit himself to Christ. That decision changed the course of his life. He eventually became involved in the North Sea Mission to Fishermen but when he heard of the need for medical services along the Labrador coast, he volunteered to work there.

Along the rugged coastlines of Newfoundland and Labrador he traveled by boat, kayak, canoe or dog sled to wherever he was needed. He loved Labrador’s majestic beauty and considered the cold, primitive conditions, and rugged landscape a challenge and adventure. During his 40+ years of work he attended to the medical needs the people by traveling to them and building village hospitals. His efforts soon branched into other areas such as establishing schools, orphanages, and doing whatever he could to improve the life of the people.  

From the hundreds of articles and 33 books he wrote, the eleven pieces collected here give us a taste of his range. The stories, authored from 1909 to 1932, are not in date order. The collection begins with adventure stories like Grenfell’s horrendous experience of drifting out to sea with his dogs on an ice pan. Other incidents involving Grenfell and local characters include tales of storms at sea, a starving trapper and a fisherman guilty of insurance fraud. Reflective essays on marriage, the importance of stewarding one’s body and his manifesto of faith “What Christ Means To Me” conclude the book.

Grenfell is a wonderful storyteller. He writes with a natural sense of timing and incredible detail and specificity, speaking of oilskins, komatiks, pan, sish and slob ice with the ease and familiarity we talk of jackets, cars, and road conditions. In many places he writes conversations in dialect, giving the tales extra color and realism. Though his English in some pieces may seem complex, his archaic style reminds us that these writings are up to 100 years old. Even the bits of clay prose are worth the slog, however, for Grenfell was a remarkable man with important things to say. 

He downplays his own role in many of these incidents but the way the people respond to him show that he was loved and trusted as a leader and example in the community. Grenfell comes across as an idealist, but one who believed in working, not just dreaming. He articulates his moral and spiritual ideals especially clearly in the essays about marriage, the human body and what Christ means to him. Note these quotables from that selection:

“Christ has become to me to mean more and more doing something, anything well.” p. 156

“God’s challenge to us is only to do whatever we can. Christ’s religion is as natural as the flowers in spring, and relates to the everyday things around us.” p. 156

“A lesson much needed and one which true loved calls for, is always to be optimistic. Never again will I be pessimistic because I cannot see the Christ bringing in His Kingdom in my way. If my boy promises me that he will not smoke, and I find a used pipe in his coat pocket, I do not say anything, I just trust him.” p. 158

Black and white photo reproductions showing Grenfell in his various roles are sprinkled throughout the text. There is a map of the area where he worked and a list of his publications at the back of the book.

This collection is a treasure for many reasons. It accounts rare early 1900s stories of life on the Labrador and Newfoundland coasts.  It provides history from one of Canada’s little-known mission fields. But most of all, it introduces us to a pioneer hero whose example in character and lived-out faith are needed as much today as ever.

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More on Grenfell:

Grenfell Historic Properties

Many of the local projects that Dr. Grenfell established continue:

• Grenfell Handicrafts

• Hooked rugs

• Clothing and Accessories

October 21, 1940 Time Magazine article commemorating the life and death of Wilfred Grenfell

Wikipedia on Sir Wilfred Grenfell

power

Niagra Falls
(People on the right of the falls in yellow rain ponchos are about to experience an even closer encounter with the power of water as they go behind the falls)

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Thursday Challenge

Next week: HOT (Day, Sun, Desert, Fire, Oven, Stove, Food, Peppers, Hot-Air Balloon,...)

Happy 142nd - Canada!!

Today is Canada Day - the celebration of Canada's 142nd birthday. This scenic version of our national anthem comes from the Mother Corp.




"O Canada" is actually a hymn with the second verse a prayer.

Speaking of prayer, Rev. Rob Parker of Canada's National House of Prayer spoke in our church last Sunday. He told of the beautiful former Ottawa convent that now houses this prayer movement's headquarters. As a result of the National House of Prayer initiatives there are now people praying in the gallery of the House of Commons every time the House is in session. How encouraging is that!

(Information about sending a delegation to Ottawa to participate in National House of Prayer activities here.)

toronto vacation

After the Writers Conference, hubby and I spent a few days holidaying in the Toronto area. From our motel in Mississauga we were within easy motoring distance of Lakeshore Drive and the Waterfront Trail. We took many walks along the waterfront. This is the wrecked boat seen from Port Credit.



During our time there the weather was hot and muggy and the sweet smell of roses and clover hung heavy in the air.



This family of swans was out almost every day.


On Monday we met with nephew T. That's our rented PT Cruiser. I always wanted to drive around in one of those!


We also drove to Newmarket where cousin J. served us dinner in her pretty back yard.


Tuesday we drove to Niagra Falls. Wow!


I'd seen the falls one other time - on our honeymoon - but had forgotten the raw power of this natural phenomenon. This is a short video I took.

Wednesday saw us in hot and garbage-plagued Toronto (garbage-workers on strike). Along the way, we stopped at another park for a walk.We crossed the Humber River on this pedestrian and cycling bridge.



On the other side a very nice woman volunteered to take our photo. We chatted for a bit and discovered she was a teacher on her first day of holidays with summer plans to take a trip to Israel with her kids (lucky kids!).


Thursday it was back home after a long day killing time in the gigantic Sherway Gardens mall and then in the the airport lounge, waiting for our evening flight home.

HRC plot about to thicken?

Some news raises my BP. Such was the case when I read the post "The Scary Liberal agenda to expand CHRC" on Deborah Gyapong's blog last night. These are the HRCs I wrote about here.

But the Federal Liberals are obviously planning to expand HRC powers if they get in power. Here's the skinny straight from their 2009 policy book (page 26):

(click on image to enlarge)

dark-light

Calgary at night

Two 4 Tuesday photo meme

writing news

1. Deadline extended:

The 2009 Utmost Christian Writers Poetry Contest deadline has been extended to March 7th. This means you must get your prize-winning poems in the mail on or before March 7th.

The number of entries is down and this is an excellent year to enter this rich contest! Open to Christian writers worldwide. Details here.

2. Spring Wordshop in Calgary, Alberta - April 17-18

In store:
Keynote speaker Lisa Samson (two-time Christy Award winner!)

Workshops including:

• Poetry - Jan Wood
• Devotional - Marcia Laycock
• Fiction: Betty Jane Hegerat (the author of this fine novel)
  

More info. If you're in the Calgary area - plan to attend!!

3. Write! Canada in Guelph, Ontario - June 18-20
For information and to register go to the Write Canada site.

• Schedule

• Continuing Classes

• Workshops (Includng a workshop by moi - A3 "Writing for the Children's & Young Adult Christian Market"- so I'll be there)
  

many

Steller Sea Lions
(seen on Telegraph Cove whale watch trip
off Vancouver Island, BC)

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: EXPERIMENTAL (Interesting Photographic Effects, Failed/Strange Photos, Blurry, Overexposed,...)

path

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: