Commenting Problems

You may have noticed I haven't been commenting for awhile.  It's all due to Google!  You all deserve a big apology but I think I've figured out a solution, and you may have started getting my comments again in the last 2 or 3 days.  It's been very frustrating because I often have something I'd like to say!

I read all your blogs in the evening, sitting with my ipad.  For some weeks now I have been unable to leave any comments, getting a range of different error messages from Google.  I've tried various remedies with no luck.

But then I tried commenting using my desktop computer, and it seems to work!  In some ways it's better because using the big keyboard for typing is a lot easier than the limited one on an ipad.  So I've started sitting down during the day and checking your comments on my blog, then going and commenting on yours (if I have anything significant to say).

I hope this will get me back to commenting regularly, and more thoughtfully too.  Rest assured I'm reading your blogs and enjoying them in any case.  Any ideas to fix this welcome.

Rollercoaster Weather - Part II

The weather rollercoaster has continued through yet another snowstorm and then further melting.  We're really experiencing a strange year for temperature.  If this is climate change I'm worried even though it makes life easier for me personally.

 

First a reminder of the 'graupel' we had on Feb. 11th.

On Feb. 14th a light dusting of snow.

A bit more snow,

until on Feb. 17ty the world was white again.  Winter had returned.

Our snowstick crane did have a bit of a winter blanket.

And on a sunny day the shadows were back.

The February Weather Rollercoaster!

This has been the strangest February in my memory for up and down weather.  And the 'ups' have ben frankly ridiculous and a little scary!  It's worrying that we have had a February so completely unlike any previous February in my life!  We need cold and snow to kill off the bugs, replenish the water table, and keep the ski hills open.

This is our front lawn on Feb. 5th!  Absolutely absurd!

It just kept on melting.  Cross-country skiers were getting frustrated!

At the low point there wasn't much snow left, and lots of green - this on Feb. 10th.

Then the rollercoaster started back the other direction with a light bit of 'graupel'.

I love ferns, so I like this Christmas Fern with a those tiny bits of white accumulating.

For comparison, here's just one picture of our snowstick from a year ago this month.

William

 

William, 1977 - 2015

Water Bomber Pilot

We think of you everyday.

Flesherton/Eugenia United Churches and the Hanley Institute

You will recall my recent (Jan. 31st) post on rural churches, in which I included the United Church building in Eugenia.  This church was part of a two-point charge with Flesherton United, but at the time I could not figure out which church was still in use, or if both were.  Well, one of my loyal and helpful blog readers here in Meaford came to my rescue, and the answer is very interesting.

This church in the village of Eugenia is now being used as the church and it's no longer a two-point charge.  That's one half of the story.

I find the double front doors interesting, but don't know the story behind that.

However, the interesting part of the story is that the church building in Flesherton is now the location of a group of youth programs under the umbrella of the Hanley Institute, started by a young woman by the name of Jenny Hanley.  As I read on their website about the Board members they have attracted, I'm really impressed.

The former St. John's United in Flesherton, now the Hanley Institute.

Sorry, even at this resolution the photo is blurred.

Only photo I could find. 

The newspaper clipping given to me refers to a small request for funding from the local council, but the group's website provides much more insight about their programs.  It offers primarily after-school and summer camp programs, and those programs are focused on building those 'soft skills' that we all know are essential for survival and employment.

As the website says, they talk openly about the 'Four Ss' - Sex, suicide, substances and self-esteem.  There is clearly a strong mental health focus and they are targetting young rural youth.  They do this by integrating themes like emotion management, self-esteem building, mental health awareness, team building and healthy life skills among others, into their programming.  All these are important for young teens in my opinion!

The direct inspiration was the death of a local youth by drug overdose, and some of the Board have tragically lost friends or family members to suicide.  They are also a talented bunch, with Jenny herself being a Certified Addiction Counsellor with 20 years experience.  (I've always said you're at your best when you're about 40).

Among all the rural churches I know of, this is the most innovative use of a former church building.  Most churches are mainly focussed on just keeping themselves open!

Sunrise!

Someplace in that sunny week there was a beautiful sunrise.  Mrs. F.G. came hurrying into my room while I was still in bed asking for my camera.  She opened the front door and got three great shots.  Enjoy.

Wheelchair rides in February!

It was last week now, but I still can't believe I was out riding around town in early February!  We had a full week of sunny days after that Saturday afternoon drive, with the temperature gradually rising to an unheard of 12 degrees!  It was actually warm!!  So here are a few pictures I took on one of my rides last week, my usual shorter ride, just to give you an idea.  Don't look at the houses; look at the sky!

Leaving home.

Let's start at the far end, 7 blocks away, just as I turn around to head home.

Then it's past the low one-story local hospital.  It may be small, but it's a godsend for local residents. That first tree on the right is where the squirrel was hiding in one of my fall pictures.

Ahead of us the street bends sharply left rather than continuing down the slope of another glacial shoreline, the ancient Nipissing shore.  You can follow it all the way through Meaford.  The tree on the left is another favourite for fall colour.

Another block and I turn back onto our own street.  For some reason it's like a wind tunnel on the prairies.  While there may be a gentle breeze on other streets, here it hits you as soon as you turn the corner!