Another Old Business Card

Alf Arnson was the insurance agent in Hay Lakes, Alberta, when my parents lived there. He was also a family friend. Over the years, he and his wife visited my parents in Red Deer, Alberta, and in Kelowna, B.C.

Last time I was in Hay Lakes, his old office was still intact, just as he left it when he shut the door for the last time. It looked exactly as I remember it, although I was seven when we finally moved away.

His abandoned office could now be a museum of earlier times!

Going through my mother's things, I came across his business card. It must be very old - his original telephone number only has 3 digits! (My mother wrote his new number next to it.) I wonder when Alberta's phone system changed from three digits to ten!

(Another historic business card I don't want to throw away!)

Happy Pottery Accident

Potters regularly talk about "happy accidents" - things that turn out better than planned.

I haven't tried making lids in pottery class yet. Wet clay shrinks about 10%, so making lids is tricky.












 

So it was a "happy accident" for me when three of my latest pottery creations - small bowls - fit neatly one on top of the other.

I couldn't have made them stack so perfectly if I'd tried! (This should make storing them a little easier!)

Art Inspiration in Hawaii

I took a lot of "art inspiration" pictures in Hawaii.

Clay pots like these - with bottom designs cut out... (Perhaps I could try to make a smaller version.)









 

These framed seashell and insect collections remind me that simple designs (like a 9-patch)...

... and a motif repeated in a circle are very beautiful, even the motif is (ugh!) a beetle!

Lovely flowers made me wish I had taken my water colors along... (They never look as realistic in my photos.)

Dramatic sunsets inspired me, as well.

Will I sit down with my photos and try to paint the scenes sometime?

Maybe ... But probably not!

But if I do feel inspired, I have lots of pictures to use as references!

Memories of Sunday in Honolulu

We spent one Sunday, a few weeks ago, in Honolulu...

We checked out a weekend art-in-the-park exhibit...

A little further along, we noticed families enjoying Sunday picnics and games at a public beach...

Walking still further, we discovered some older hotels. I wonder if "snow birds" choose these for longer stays...

Near the beach, we noticed a fire engine. Part of the emergency equipment: a surf board!

I guess emergency medical help is needed in the water, too!

That reminded me of the fire station we passed earlier in the week - and the sign offering to do free blood pressure tests, if the firemen were in the station... and if it wasn't mealtime!

(I wonder how many tourists wander in!)

Ukulele Lessons

I started ukulele lessons this past week... together with a dozen adult beginners. (A few came with friends, including a mother-daughter pair and a father-daughter duo.)

Most said they had friends who played ukuleles - and they'd heard it was easy to learn. A few mentioned wanting to learn after someone pulled out a ukulele at a party and led in an old-fashioned singalong.

Some had been inspired by this Hawaiian ukulele player's rendition of "Over the Rainbow."

I'm not sure exactly what drew me in to start. That very first free lesson in Hawaii definitely did it. It was fun. Now I'm looking forward to playing this very portable instrument... so unlike the piano, which is too big to take anywhere!

I've been wanting to learn something new in the musical vein. Ukuleles play only chords, so part of playing involves singing.

Haven't done that much in years... but now I'm practicing daily! 

More Winter?!

I've been waiting for spring for a long time!

So it was disappointing to wake up yesterday to fresh snow on the ground! I'm looking for early flowers, not for more snow!











One consolation: winter may finally be over once this snow melts.














 



In Fahrenheit (below) or Celsius (above) - it looks as if day and night temperatures should finally be above freezing!

Loose Clothing

Loose clothing is so... comfortable - especially in hot weather.


But in Mindless Eating, the book I recently read (or rather, listened to on my e-reader) food psychologist Brian Wansink claims that it also causes people to gain weight!

It appears that clothing that starts to feel tight is an important indicator of weight gain.

Does this mean I should stop wearing all my lovely, loose Hawaiian dresses that are so comfortable in summer?!... Maybe a compromise: I'll wear them, just not every day.

(...If warm weather ever arrives! It snowed again last night!)