Saturday Photo: Why the Quebec Flag Isn't Flying Chez Nous This Year

 En français, of course.  

Cette année je ne sorte pas mon drapeau de Québec pour la Fête nationale, que j'ai affiché sur mon balcon depuis 30 ans. Pour quoi ? Parce que je suis profondément déçue par le gouvernement actuel qui semble d'avoir l'appui de la grande majorité des Québécois.es

 

Par le passé, j'avais chicané avec des voisins anglophones au sujet de mon drapeau. J'ai insisté que la fête n'est pas pour seulement les « Québécois de souche. » Nous avons choisi le Québec, pour, entre autres raisons, son projet social qui accueillait le monde.

 

Mais les lois 21 et 96 ainsi que les propos sur les immigrants des ministres du gouvernement caquistes nient à ce progressisme du passé. Cette année je mangerais des bonnes fraises du Québec, je jaserais avec mes voisins et amis en français, mais rien d'autre.

Saturday Photo: In Case You Wondered about the Origin of the Word...

 The daisies were in bloom last Sunday at Montreal's Technoparc and along Highway 50 between Montreal and Gatineau. 

The English name comes from "dægesege, formerly dæges eage, meaning “day’s eye,” because the petals of some species of daisy open at dawn and close at dusk.

"For the same reason, in Medieval Latin, a common term for daisy was solis oculus, meaning “sun’s eye.”

 

They're cheerful, whatever they are called, which is a very good thing in these days of trial.

Saturday Photo: A Nap after Breakfast, You Silly Goose!

 They're kind of hard to see, but here's Mama Goose and four babies who are resting after eating what seemed to be a delicious breakfast.  Summer is here!

Saturday Photo: Talking about Against the Seas in Ottawa

 

Saturday Photo (a little late): Bridle Veil...

 

 

The glory continues.  This week it is Bridle Veil that is featured. 

 

Saturday Photo: The Morning of Maximum Beauty

 There are some springs when you hit it just right, and this is one of them.  The many crabapples in Mount Royal Cemetery were at the peak of their glory this morning.  So glad I took a walk there.

Saturday Photo: The Optimal Lawn

 Violets are taking over our neighbourhood!  Or so it looks this spring.  Fifteen years ago or so therewere hardly any: I rustled some from up the street and planted them in our front yard.  Perhaps others did similar things, because now most lawns are full of thm and one street over there are some glorious examples of what can happen when you don't cosset grass.

Undoubtedly as good for pollinators as lawns like this are good for the eye!

Saturday Photo: Spring Is on Its Way...

 Last Sunday at the Lachine Rapids, despite the rain, it looked like spring would arrive soon.  The sun is out now, and the temperature is going up, so it looks like last week's promise is being fulfilled.

Saturday Photo: Standing Room Only at Book Launch

 

Had a great turnout for the launch of Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters last Sunday.  It was raining very hard, but a very nice crowd of friends and people interested in climate change turned up!

Saturday Photo: Early April Morning

 The sun is rising about 6 a.m., so it was well up in the sky when we went out this morning.  Nevertheless the combination of tree, clouds and ghostly sun a pleasing, I think.

Going to rain soon...

Do April showers really bring May flowers?

Saturday Photo: Bixis are Back

Signs of Spring: bees in the flowers and Bixis on the corners! Such a change from a week ago when we were recovering from the ice storm.  No blog post last weekend because of the power outages...but what a difference a week makes!

 

Saturday Photo: Everybody out on a Springtime Sabbath

 Scene from Parc Outremont: the end of the snow, sunshine and walkers of all sorts out on a Saturday afternoon.  Pretty nice....

Saturday Photo: Lonely Bench Waiting for Spring

 Despite a little snow last night, it's clear that spring is on its way.  Not least is the fact that benches in parks are now appearing as snow banks melt.  This poor, lonely bench seems marooned in frozen water, not even attractive enough for someone slogging through the snowy park along a desire line to stop and rest a moment.

That will change in the next little bit.  Haven't seen any robins yet, but yesterday at the Lachine Rapids the first red winged blackbirds were chirping and buzzing to claim territory for the upcoming season of avian passion.

Saturday Photo: Snow Drops, or (more appropriately) des Perces neiges..

 Spring arrives next week, but the snow is receding and the first snowdrops (called perce-neige in French) have come up.  A sure sign of spring...

Saturday Photo: Sledding as the Winter Ends

Beautiful sunshine today, with temperature below freezing. Things are melting in the sun, nevertheless, and the days of sledding are numbered.  Winter is drawing to a close.

Saturday Photo: March 1, the Day the Sun Starts Shining in the Bedroom...

 Actually the photo was taken a couple of years ago, but I'm pleased to report that this March 1 also saw the first forray of the sun into our upstairs back bedroom.

By the solstice there will be several hours of sunshine in this room, but during the winter there is none. Instead, we have this Stonehenge-like moment on about the first day of the meterological spring.

Saturday Photo: The Flowers of Winter

 Outside snow still covers the ground, although the days are getting longer.  Inside that translates into several house plants taking a cue from lengthening daylight and setting forth blooms.

An anthurium that had been in a north window has taken the plunge and sent out blossoms.  Nice to see this time of year.

Saturday Photo: Sunburned Knees from Last Summer

  Summer evening at Sept Iles, sunshine and sunburned knees for the old guy.  A nice memory of a good trip, something to think about as the days begin to grow longer.

Saturday Photo: Desire Lines in the Snow

 

People don't walk in straight lines, even though sidewalks and roads may try to make them.  Uneven ground, small obstacles and even the vagaries on one's gait mean that the paths we take wobble a bit at the best of times.  When getting from here to there is the issue, this means that cutting across a patch of grass or snow will likely not be at right angles to anything.

Urbanists and architects call these paths "desire lines" since they show exaclty where we want to go.  Nowhere is that clearer than in snow that's been on the ground for a few days, giving folks a chance to make their own paths.  Pity the person who went first: given the depth of the snow it woud have bee a slog.  At the time the photo was taken though folks' desires had manifested themselves in a well-trodden track.

Saturday Photo: Baby, It's Cold Outside

 After a winter that so far has been warmer than usual, we are in the deep freeze.  Windows were frosted over this morning.  Glad I was inside and not out...