Last weekend Matthew, Kas, and I decorated the Christmas tree. With a light dusting of snow falling over the city during the Santa parade, mugs of hot chocolate, and Charlie Brown Christmas music playing in the background, we had the perfect ambiance for tree trimming.

Our friend Jacque Sue in Texas wanted to see some pics of our ornaments so I thought I'd share some here

including the skeleton garland, 24 in all, that run throughout the length, and width of the tree

we try to really personalise our tree with decorations that are meaningful and reflect our interests, and taste

no tree would be complete without a disturbing elf

and finally with "shining guts" lighting the way on top we are all done!

I would describe myself as a voracious reader of books. At any given time I tend to be reading at least three books, devouring a few chapters of each and then switching them up until they are all finished, and of course more are introduced. This has been my habit since my early teens.

Over the past several years most of my reading has been confined to non-fiction, but over the past year I have rediscovered the joys of fiction. I'd like to blame my middle daughter who is an English major for this renewed love of fictional works. On her recommendation I have been reading both Margaret Laurence, and Margret Atwood. I have also been getting into supernatural thrillers, and gothic horror.

It started out a few months back with the fairly new release of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith, (I believe it is being made into a movie) which I found to be a lot of fun, and a perfect lazy summer day read. Since then I have read several titles of a similar genre. Just last night I finished John Harwood's The Seance, which I read in the span of two days because it was too good to put down.

Here is a snippet from Amazon:

A haunting tale of apparitions, a cursed manor house, and two generations of women determined to discover the truth, by the author of The Ghost Writer Sell the Hall unseen; burn it to the ground and plow the earth with salt, if you will; but never live there . . .” Constance Langton grows up in a household marked by death, her father distant, her mother in perpetual mourning for Constance’s sister, the child she lost.Desperate to coax her mother back to health, Constance takes her to a séance: perhaps she will find comfort from beyond the grave. But the meeting has tragic consequences. Constance is left alone, her only legacy a mysterious bequest that will blight her life. So begins The Séance, John Harwood’s brilliant second novel, a gripping, dark mystery set in late-Victorian England.

It is a world of apparitions, of disappearances and unnatural phenomena, of betrayal and blackmail and black-hearted villains—and murder. For Constance’s bequest comes in two parts: a house and a mystery. Years before, a family disappeared at Wraxford Hall, a decaying mansion in the English countryside with a sinister reputation. Now the Hall belongs to Constance. And she must descend into the darkness at the heart of the Wraxford Mystery to find the truth, even at the cost of her life.

I put this book high on my recommended reading list, particularly for those who like a good Victorian style detective story with strong supernatural undercurrent.

Very spooky!

Happy weekend, and happy photo hunting!

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Wordless Wednesday

A juicy roast

Happy weekend, and happy photo hunting!

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I personally find it very sad that the Canadian Senate killed The Climate Change Accountability Act with no debate, and no consideration despite it having been passed in the house back in May. You can read more about it here.

Layton argued Harper had no right to use his "unelected senator friends" to kill the bill, which he called the will of the House.

"He's lost his moral centre," Layton said. "He's fundamentally undemocratic, Mr. Speaker.

I agree.

I am an admirer of James Lovelock. I think he possesses one of the most brilliant minds on our planet today. This is what he has to say on climate change. I wish more people would listen to him.

The time to get serious on this issue is right now if it has not already passed us by....and I am afraid the powers that be just aren't listening to those of us who want to see action taken on climate change at least ..... those in the Canadian Senate don't seem to be.

Wordless Wednesday

Since when has ignorance become a desirable trait? In the last week alone I have learned that Matthew and I were poked fun at for being too "sciency" and "smart and stuff" and my middle daughter was called a "university hothead" for strongly stating an anti-racist belief. No, I'm not kidding, and particularly with a sense of sadness the latter.

While growing up my parents always praised intelligence, and education. Knowledge was, and is something to strive for and is limitless I was told. I guess this upbringing is why I tend to gravitate towards people who I feel will impart some sort of knowledge or wisdom on me. I desire to learn.

I used to think that most people valued gained knowledge in the same sense I do, but I'm beginning to seriously doubt this. Last week's personal examples were just the proverbially cherry atop the ice cream sundae for what I believe is a current trend.

From political movements that loudly, and negatively proclaim the educated as the "elite" (and since when has the word elite become a slur? - I'll save that for a future blog post) to the popularity of celebrities that depict ignorance as fashionable or even desirable, this notion that "dumb is good" is rampant throughout the media, and the internet. This is based on my own casual observation only, however in discussion with others I know I'm not alone in noting this.

In my opinion this "ignorant" trend is disturbing.....

This week's theme photo hunt theme is itchy, and I thought I might share a photo of my favourite pure wool sweater, which I love, but is sooo itchy. Instead, and perhaps because yesterday was Remembrance Day here in Canada I decided to feature these pics instead.

Itchy wool jackets, worn by historical military re-enactors.

Can you imagine what it might have been like for 19th century soldiers who had to wear itchy woolen jackets, throughout battles, and even in hot weather!

Happy weekend, and happy photo hunting!

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To all of those who have served, and are serving....Thank You.

Wordless Wednesday

I had a situation crop up over the weekend with a young woman that I know who was greatly upset by a series of statements that were made by someone who later claimed they were joking. The young woman was publicly accused by this person of lying to get out of a social obligation, and when she made it known how upset she was, the accuser stated that the accusation was only meant to be funny.

Huh?!

I told the young woman I've been in situations like this before. I think we all have. Someone attempts to explain away their own poor behaviour that has caused some hurt by claiming it was just a joke. Often they will then blame you for not getting their jokes, or not having a sense of humour as opposed to offering any sincere apology for the hurt they've caused.

As an example once when I took exception to what could only be taken as a very offensive blog comment, I was told by the commentator that my "funny bone was broken." And "I obviously just didn't get it."

Unfortunately we all have to deal with negative types of people in some capacity throughout our lives. You know the type I'm talking about, people who seemingly desperately need to unload their own negative feelings on someone else, and in doing so may or may not realise how much harm or hurt they cause to others.

I try to avoid people like that, particularly when they try to defend their negative actions with the guise that it was meant to be funny.

Since entering my 40s and facing an unpleasant chronic illness and a potentially life threatening situation with my hubby I've realised that life is too short to allow others who knowingly or not make me feel uncomfortable, or unhappy have any influence over my life. I just won't give them that kind of power.

If you feel you cannot be yourself or honest with someone because they may use certain information to hurt you or if people make you feel embarrassed, ashamed, sad, or angry and try to explain their actions away as it was all in good fun, you may wish to seriously assess your relationship with these types, and ask yourself is it really worth maintaining a relationship with them.

This week's theme photo hunt theme is alive, and it was not too difficult for me to find a fitting photo from my collection.

This tropical house plant came from a basket that was brought to my grandmother's funeral back in 2005. I have several plants in each room of our home, mostly ivy because they are fairly easy to care for and keep alive.

Happy weekend, and happy photo hunting!

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I'm proudly joining Mimi and many, many others by adding my peace globe to the blogsphere today!

Blog Blast For Peace