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Just had to snap a few bbq in the snow shots to depict Easter in Canada, and show proof that spring really is coming. Hear the sizzle!
One upside of a long snowy winter is dynamite spring skiing at March break.
Resident GT bullet Holly snapped a few pics on at Glen Eden.
Good times.
Hey, it was warm enough for Ben to play outside long enough to hear birds on this video clip.
More evidence that spring may be on the way.
Castle crush & happy little birds
from fiddler eliz...
Greetings, all.
We are delighted to host the terrific Quebec band: Genticorum at Claude Church for two events.
There will be Saturday fiddle and guitar workshops as well as a Friday night concert.
We are very pleased indeed, to be the first concert in Canada where Genticorum will be showcasing their new CD: La Bibournoise
After their Juno nomination in 2006 for their second CD, (Malins Plaisirs), we can't wait to see how the Juno judges regard this one.
Combining the best in Quebec traditional music, the CD includes both original compositions and traditional call and response singing, with stunning three part harmonies.
This band is exceedingly entertaining ....and funny! It will be a wonderful concert, held in the intimate 160 year old hall of Claude Church.
Concert tickets ($20) can be reserved by calling 905 838 3512, or you can purchase them directly from Acoustic Traditions Music, Orangeville.
Guitar and Fiddle Workshop spaces ($30) can be reserved by sending an email to wjeg@3web.net
Here's the info:
GENTICORUM
In Concert
Friday, April 25th 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Claude Church
15175 Hurontario Street, Caledon 905 838 3512
Tickets: $20 advance/$25 at the door
Advance purchase from the church 905 838 3512, or in person from Acoustic Traditions Music, 57 Broadway, Orangeville.
http://claudechurch.comhttp://www.genticorum.com
FIDDLE WORKSHOP with Pascal Gemme. (Pascal will teach tunes from the common Quebecois fiddle repertoire - other melody instruments also welcome)
and GUITAR WORKSHOP with Yann Falquet (Yann will teach how to accompany Quebec fiddle tunes.)
Saturday, April 26th, 12 noon - 2:00 p.m.
also at Claude Church, 15175 Hurontario St. Caledon 905 838 3512
Cost: $30 - register through Elizabeth Szekeres -wjeg@3web.net
Hope to see you there!
Elizabeth
wjeg@3web.net
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Evidence that spring in its own agonizingly slow way is coming!
Neil and Ben got into a ripping game of snow diggers in the back yard during March Break.
And the shadows from the afternoon sun (yeah, sun!) were so neat that I just had to snap a few pics. Click here to see more.
Eight more sleeps to vernal equinox!
Ben and I parked on the lot off Wesleyan Street where we had seen some digger action while driving past on Main.
To the joy and delight of one little boy, there were 2 dump trucks and a loader removing snow on the narrow street.
These days I never leave home without my trusty cell-cam, so I was snapping a few pictures for Ben. (To see more pictures click here.)
While capturing a crucial loader-dumping-into-dump truck sequence, the loader driver pointed down at us. Uh oh, I thought, he's going to tell us to get out of the way.
Nope, he leaned out of his cab and asked if I wanted to lift Ben up for a picture.
Whether Ben would go was another question. But he was a brave little soul, and enthusiastically climbed up. The driver was showing him the controls, and Ben could hardly take his eyes off when I called his name to get him to face forward.
When he lifted my little man down, the driver said his name was Gord.
Gord's ride was the high point of our day, the second coming from picking some Smarties out of the cow cookie jar at McMaster Meats.
Maybe some good can come of all this snow. What a day!
Early this morning heavy rain made for icy conditions, bus cancellations and an unexpected snow day.
But wasn't the early part of the day lovely and balmy?
Too warm for the kids to wear jackets or hats.
A snow removal vehicle actually did some work on my street.
Then suppertime, and the rain began to pour down, and the kids reported a leak in basement.
Forecast for tonight - ice pellets and heavy snowfall.
Looking for a cool way to pass time till spring.
Try some courses down at the Cedarvale Cottage put on by the
Credit Valley Artisans.
Courses include painting, drawing, pottery...and much more.
Click here for pdf with links to contacts and registration form.
or Why I <3 my MBTs
I’ve been channeling Nancy Sinatra these days after a few months of wearing my MBT hiking boots. While my boots don’t look like Nancy’s, they have provided me with a gigantic bright spot of hope and joy through the long cruel winter of 07/08.
I have written before about my walking issues since having Ben in 05. In the continuing spirit of documenting what has worked to get me back on my feet again in case my findings may be helpful to others, I offer this third installment in the rehab series. (To see past articles, click here and follow links.)
As you may recall, I consulted several concerned, well qualified and kind hearted rehab professionals (see here and here), all of whom helped me make gains with therapy and exercise programs. After our family health care plan (while a not-half-bad one) ran out of money for physio and chiropractic coverage last spring, I found I made the most gains through cycling with my 30 pound assistant in tow in his bike trailer. That was fine with me – I prefer outdoor exercise anyway.
I was devastated by the first snowfall around mid November last fall. That’s pretty early for greenhouse effect Georgetown of the past few years. Not only would I not be able to get out on my bike, but whatever is wrong with my gait gives me no traction in icy conditions. It was going to be a long winter.
Then I started my little ultra part-time job at the Squirts Toys in town. The hunt was on for the right shoes to give comfort while standing for 4 - 6 hours and help with moving around the store. The owner suggested some cheap posture shoes.
A small bell went off. Dr. Tom the chiropractor at ACT in Brampton, as well as kinesiologist Lisa, had suggested posture shoes with initials in the name. I had tried to find them on the internet at the time last spring, but nothing came up in a Google search.
Late last fall when I looked again, there were many more mentions of MBTs. (For more detail on MBT shoes, which started to take off around 2001, click here.)
MBTs don’t remotely qualify as CHEAP posture shoes. They come in a lot of running shoe styles, a few sandals and a boot, the sandals starting at around $295 CAN (then).
I waffled a lot – they might work, but then again it’s a lot of money…. The line in the product description that said something like, ‘works underdeveloped walking muscles’ was the one that hooked me. I felt that was what I needed. If I bought the sandals, I could wear them around the store with funky socks through the winter, and still be able to wear them in summer.
Ron White Shoes of Toronto offered free shipping within a couple of days on website orders, so I ordered from them.
Without a word of a lie, the minute I tried the sandals on in the house, I could walk again.
Who knows why. Dr. Tom had tested for an orthopedic insert, but said I really didn’t need them.
The MBTs have a negative heel (think tilting up like the old Earth shoe) with a soft swishy heel sensor at the base of the sole. So your heel is guided to drop into a soft pocket to begin each step. Then you roll up on to the harder pivot point and follow through from there to complete your step. Basically this action has been teaching my heel where to fall again, and that’s what I needed.
The sandal instantly improved things at work. But I got so depressed when I took the sandal off and put my normal boots on to walk out to the car. Suddenly I couldn’t walk again. I wanted to be able to walk better all the time.
Becky, the web contact at Ron White, had been great about offering help on my first order. So I wrote back and asked her advice on the MBT hiking boot. She wrote back that they were harder than the sandal and weren’t really a winter boot with a proper tread on the sole.
But the harder boot sounded like something that was right for me too. So I ordered the boot, a whopping $345 at the time.
They have changed my life. The pressure from the sandal straps goes away with the boots. As well the ability to tighten the laces over the ankle gives added stability.
After Christmas I could walk all the way from the back of the parking lot AND around to various stores in the mall to redeem gift cards with the kids. I haven’t been able to do that without leaning on a stroller since the little guy came along.
(In fact, we ran into Lisa the kinesiologist in the mall parking lot that day, and I was able to show off my skills. She reassured me that I probably wouldn’t experience any pulled muscles or ligaments from the boots if I hadn’t within two weeks after starting to wear them.)
Or when we go out to a movie, I can walk from the entrance where my date drops me off all the way to Cinema number 8 (or whatever).
For mainly outdoor walking, I just need to hook on the Yak Traks that I picked up at Feet in Motion in downtown Georgetown. They give excellent grip on ice and snow, and even the damp wood of the steps coming up from the garage.
The one thing they don’t help with are stairs. Because you have to plant your foot either on the depressed heel sensor or the thick pivot, that makes it hard to pull up on the weak leg.
I had such great support from Ron White that I didn’t really look into a local store for MBTs. In fact Becky from Ron White sent me an email in the new year saying the sandals I’d been sent were the wrong size, a error that showed up during inventory. There was no hassle for Stan to drop off the first pair to Ron White’s Manulife Centre store and pick up the right size that was ready and waiting for us.
The MBT website listed the shoe store chain Walking on a Cloud, which we have in the mall in Georgetown, as a shop where the shoes could be purchased.
I finally checked last week (mid-February), and our local store does have a few of the main styles of running shoes in stock, with 54 styles due to arrive any time. I noticed the price on the runners in town was down to $265, a $30 drop from standard prices before Christmas, likely due to current exchange rates. I see prices are currently the same on the Ron White site.
My walking isn’t perfect yet. But I think improvement is coming faster now that I can use gravity and my own body weight as counter resistance to accelerate strengthening of the postural muscles that needed to be dramatically reconditioned. I’m happy about the prospect of shambing around the bases of our Kinsmen Intermediate Girls softball team without a limp when Steve McVittie and I get back to coaching in the spring.
So for those out there who like me have experienced extreme deconditioning after having their kids, or who feel they are not walking properly and need help correcting posture, or who don’t qualify for orthotics, consider investing in a pair of MBTs. The restored mobility, freedom and independence are well worth the cost.
Are you ready boots…?!
Easter sizzle