1. This morrel morel mushroom surprised me last Thursday, popping up just outside our garden gate. I did a bit of research to confirm that it was safely edible, and then picked it, popped it in a paper bag, and brought it to Vancouver with me to share with Paul. We soaked it to encourage any critters to evacuate, and then Paul served it up with our Saturday morning bacon ‘n’ eggs — yumm!
2. I am often mesmerized by the effect of evening light on the otherwise unattractive freighters that wait just offshore for a spot at the loading docks. Such a different beauty than the more delicate variety I find in my garden, but it uplifts me nonetheless. . .
3. Watch The Lady in Number Six, if you can find it — I watched this half-hour, Oscar-award-winning documentary on the oldest Holocaust survivor (who died at 109 years old this past February). An inspiring, if occasionally very sobering, testament to the human spirit and to the power of music. Absolutely splendid, and you’ll have something to refer back to when you’re next buffeted by an overwhelming mixture of devastation and beauty. How to respond when the world deals us both, as it so often does. How to comprehend and move through horror and sadness. How to find perspective. Too dangerously easy to say something trite in summing up my response, but do view it yourself. Let me know what you think.
4. Perhaps you remember my (very First World) complaint, last fall, that the woman who was cleaning for me cleared all the magnets off my fridge, poetry included. No? Well, one of my daughters did, and she brought me these charming new fridge buttons for a refreshing new start. Aren’t they sweet?
I love this tiny delivery of quotidian joy. . .
5. And let’s see, let’s see, so much competition for Item Number 5. But I think the spot today will go to my favourite yoga class, the Friday Rise ‘n’ Shine at Omtown Yoga, here in Nanaimo. When we’re finished — and this will be my first sustained activity since I ran the marathon last Sunday — we’ll follow our Ommmmm and our Shantis with a rather unconventional but oh-so-enthusiastic Woot-Woot, two thumbs up, and all. Pater and I will roll up our mats, thank Steph for a great class, and wonder across the street to our favourite Nanaimo cafe-bakery, Mon Petit Choux, where I will enjoy a Croque Madame. . . .almost like being in Paris (where we’ll be changing trains in about a month).
Hmm, I might just have cheated on #5, squeezing in a few favourite things after all . . .
And now, let the weekend begin. Are you looking forward to chilling? or have you some projects to start or fnish or work away at, doggedly? Whatever you’re up to, you know I’m interested — do leave a comment if you have a minute. If not, thanks for reading — I do appreciate your presence here.
Your weekend is starting off with such a relaxed vibe….yoga and a leisurely breakfast….sounds wonderful!
It was a leisurely start, although the pace is accelerating. . . .
Yoga and a croque-madame heavenly! I just visited a tin mine in Greevor, Cornwall. We went underground into the lower levels. Then we walked on the South Coast trail out of Land's End and finished with Cornish ice-cream.
Yumm! I'm betting that's not a low-fat ice-cream. . . you're still resisting the full-on cream tea?
Hi Mater, a lovely start to your weekend. I'm afraid that we are waiting for a prospective buyer's mortgage approval to come through (should have arrived by today) so things are a little stressful here. Hoping for good news on Monday or Tuesday.
The movie you mentioned is on Netflix – I didn't realise it was only half an hour long, I'll definitely have a look. Enjoy your weekend!
My fingers are tightly crossed for you. My daughter & son-in-law are on the other side of that desk, having just signed all the papers for their first mortgage. . . I know you'll be moved by The Lady (Netflix is great, isn't it?!)
For a person with little access to water, it might amuse you to know that watching big boats is a favourite, meditative pastime (one of the reasons I love staying in Quebec City). And, may I ask what kinds of critters would be in a mushroom? I know you looked this up – and obvs, you're still alive! – but that would so freak me out to eat a mushroom I found in my garden.
Tonight I'm going for ramen and Milk Bar at Momofuku (one of the pluses of big city living) followed by a show at Second City. And then, it's all sewing that wretched bridesmaid dress for my sister. It must go in the mail on Monday.
Wonder what it is about the big boats . . . they are worlds of their own and also bring parts of other worlds right into our own — Foucault talks a bit about this, actually. . . Interesting that you associate that boat-watching with Quebec City rather than Montreal. I've only visited the former once, and I have to think hard to see the big ships. Next trip . . .
By critters, I just meant any bugs that might have wandered into the many cavities in a morrel's surface — nothing showed up in the water we soaked it in. . . I'm not ready to eat most mushrooms I'd find in the garden, but the morrel seemed a safe bet and I had a number of woods-experienced friends chime in. . .
Your Friday night sounds so very urban, hip, cool, all those adjectives that don't describe my life at all — have fun! And then the wretched dress. . . but isn't it the littlest bit cool that you're now the go-to when someone needs a bridesmaid dress whipped up? And you weren't, even four years go?
Rain in the forecast this weekend so maybe a late lunch out on Saturday, shopping or a matinee. The there is the Sunday evening dinner with a group of John's grad students hosted at the apartment of one of the students. We will be the only locals (and old folks) in a room of international energy. Love the magnets! Have a great weekend…
That sounds like a very pleasant weekend — I love that kind of energy. Enjoy!
Off for our regular walk/run and coffee catch up with my girlfriends this morning. Ten years on it's more walking than running but just as much chatting. But I am so inspired by your marathon success that maybe I'll reverse that trend… Not today though – the dark clouds are gathering so we may just have to go straight for coffee
Yup – and I no sooner wrote it and then the rain began. Reminds me of a delightful and very sporty woman I met who said that she never had to worry about the rain as she has waterproof skin.
Ha! You've got me chuckling in recognition. Where I live, often jokingly called the Wet Coast of Canada rather than the West Coast, one needs waterproof skin indeed. I can't miss a run, just because of rain, but when those dark clouds open to a serious drenching, I've been known to postpone. I think "straight for coffee" is a good choice.
Very cool that you've been doing this run/walk & coffee with girlfriends for ten years.
Morel's do often seem to have little critters in them, but it's always nice when they don't.
I used to love watching the big ships going up and down the Hudson. Probably not as big as you get, but we still got some good sized ships as the channel is deep. I liked the small boats too, the sailboats in summer, and we were on the training route for the crew team as well, so something was always going on. But it was the big boats we really loved. Our house was just a wee bit north of the place where boats would stop if they needed an overnight change, right at the point where they would change pilots. It was always fun, and I particularly liked seeing the ship lit up at night, as well as watching them turn and head up-river in the morning.
I seem to remember us "chatting" about this once before, perhaps when you posted a photo. Marine traffic is wonderfully romantic to watch, isn't it? Neither cars nor even trains carry that same evocative heft, imo. Def. not planes either. . .
You had me at morels! When I lived in northern Ontario we'd pick hats full; I was astounded at the cost when I finally had to pay for them.
Really? Hats full? Yes, you would have been astounded at the cost! In my small town, they don't show up anywhere one could buy them — I know they do in Vancouver but only in select markets where they'd be very pricey indeed.
Your good example made me return to my five-things-friday-book after a long break. It was quite hard to find five positive memories of a week that was marked by an extended virus infection which made me take the usual decisions: go to work but cancel all the nice things. Not to mention a series of rainstroms following each other closely, all watched from a flat which is still without heating, hot water and a decent oven/stove. But after whining for a while I did find my five moments of breauty, acts of friendship or reasons for satisfaction. So thanks for making me think twice.
This weekend it is still windy and quite cold outside and there is a huge pile of history papers to be marked, but last night I indulged myself and watched the "Eurovision Song Contest" . Once a year I enjoy wallowing in bad music, kitsch and sob stuff. There was fresh asparagus for dinner (this is the season for it, and it's a meal you can prepare in two pots only…) and this afternoon I'll get together with the neighbours for coffee and we'll discuss how to continue our struggle against a greedy and ruthless landlord.
It's tough to find the good stuff when you're facing so much bad, but when you can, it somehow gives some sense of control, somehow, I think. I wouldn't want to suggest that there is always something to be grateful for because I know some people face lives that makes that an insulting claim, but no matter how dire mine might seem, there is generally something good surprisingly nearby. I'm impressed you could find some of that good in the middle of so much nasty stuff — take care!
I awoke early this morning, but refreshed, after a busy day yesterday beginning with breakfast out followed by an afternoon bridal shower and ending with dinner with two of our children and the three grandchildren. Today will be more leisurely. Love reading your five (plus) things. The morel looks delicious. Hope today is equally lovely for you.
Sounds like a wonderful celebration of mother's day at your place and then throwing in a bridal shower — always smiles there!