PHELANLAND PERSPECTIVE

Practice with Settings in New Blog Program June 2010

2010-06-21T06:43:00.001-07:00

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This is Dayyan's visit in May. He loved riding with Grandpa on the lawnmower.

It was a warm weekend so he had fun with his aunts in the pool. What joy!!

NIFTY 60'S PARTY FOR OLD HIPPIES

2010-05-15T13:47:00.001-07:00

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY 2010

Click to view: Flickr photos of the 60th Group Birthday Party Westlake Weekend

I organized a party to celebrate the birthdays of several of my friends who are turning 60 this year. It was held at the Liz McIntyre's holiday home in Westlake near Isaiah Tubbs resort and Sandbanks Provincial Park in Prince Edward County south of Belleville.

The invitation read as follows: You are invited to a WOMEN’S WEEKEND AWAY to the home of Liz McIntyre Krompcamp in Wellington, Prince Edward County.

When I realized that so many of my old friends were turning 60 this year I decided to organize a party to celebrate our friendship over the years. My sister Gaye, so sadly taken from us, would also have been turning 60 this year so I would like to do this in her memory too. I have also included a few friends who turned 60 before me!!! Many of you know each other .

This is certainly a milestone in our lives. When I turned 60 myself last year I realized how grateful I was to just be on this side of the grass!! I hope you can make it as we party on, play bridge, watch movies, eat out, munch, drink wine, reminisce and laugh together.

Date: Friday, April 30th to Sunday May 2nd, 2010

We could not have had a more wonderful weekend.

The ladies arrived............................................................................................................................
On a Friday night coming from Ottawa, Tweed, Brockville, Toronto and Elmira bringing food, libation, bedding, memorabilia and a zest for comraderie and adventure. I did not arrive until 11:00 pm at which time Liz gave me a tour of her place and I sorted people into various bedrooms, working around each other's snores, personalities and disabilities!!!

The sun smiled.................................................................................................................................
Nature was bountiful. It was unseasonably warm and sunny. The lake was glassy and gorgeous. We were awakened with shrieks of laughter coming from the deck by the lake where early birds had gathered in their PJ's to share stories and watch the sun rise. Breakfast was served outside at the picnic tables complete with champagne orange juice, fruit Costco quiche and delicious coffee from Liz's yuppie machine.

The scenery was fantastic..................................................................................................................
We set off cross country to several beach places of interest. The closest beach was surrounded by Sand Dunes and we waded into the water. Then we stopped at a place I'd not seen before, where years ago there had been a lodge that was destroyed by fire. The shorelines there were rocky and the trees cragged. Outlet beach was next and it was strange being there this early in the year. The snow fence was still strung across the beach and those of us who were not nursing bodily injuries and aged bones had a zesty walk along the beach. It was strange to find it covered in zebra muscles.

The flowers bloomed............................................................................................................................
The rest of the afternoon was spent leisurely on the deck by the water visiting, playing bridge, looking at old photos, laughing and sharing stories from years gone by. Our green thumb ladies, Joanne and Liz headed off to do some work in the gorgeous flower gardens. Of interest was the two trees that had died at the front. Liz and John have had a local artist carve them into two imposing figures. Everyone who comes gets to pick names for them to add to the list of suggestions........ you can imagine......

The birds chirped..................................................................................................................................
Birdsong arose with the sun. Literally, the setting on Westlake was pretty as a picture book. The house is nestled amongst some huge evergreen's and enhanced by tiered gardens. There are craggy trees at the waterfront and civilized lawns. We were surrounded by beauty as the birds flitted around, thrilling us with their joyful sounds of spring..... and since this was so early in the season, there was naught a mosquito to be found.

The meal was scrumptious.................................................................................................................
We ate in style round an elegant table with a lovely centrepiece made from fresh cut daffodils. Joanne treated us to steak and chicken deliciously sauced and BBQ'd as well as a type of scalloped potatoes. Janet brought salads and Gail brought some home made baked beans and a delicious gluten free cake complete with a 60th candle as we blew it out and sang happy birthday to ourselves.

The bridge was fun...............................................................................................................................
Imagine, we were all bridge players even though a few were somewhat rusty. Well it was fun but it wasn't about the bridge. It was hard to keep the chatter down enough to concentrate on the cards.... and some of us had imbibbed too much. I won't mention any names!!!

The home and hospitality was supercalifragilisticexpealidocious ...........................................
Liz was a most generous hostess. She promptly told us where everything was and after making us our first cup of coffee, left us to our own devices to make shift in her modern and fully equipped kitchen!!! We enjoyed the fireplace both evenings and sat in comfy furniture and slept in comfy beds. The art work on the walls and rustic home with huge windows facing the lake made us feel quite pampered in this wonderful home away from home. We invaded but also cleaned up our messes and the group gave Liz a stained glass window that I had made for the occasion. It was kind of a unique surprise as Liz had conferred with me about having a window made for her newly renovated bathroom in her Toronto home, over a year ago but never got around to ordering it. I was very happy to discover that I had accidentally chosen just the right colours and she was very pleased!!!

The memories were haunting and humourous .............................................................................
Some of us knew each other from high school but had not seen each other for years. Several of us had lived together in Toronto on Garnock Ave. in a party abode in our early twenties. What wonderful memories we had from those experiences. Of course none of us had aged or put on any weight over the years and we were all still virgins!!! Why we even had a wee visit from Mary Jane.... you may find her in one of the photos where we're looking at old albums. And yep, someone couldn't handle her and had to go lie down.

The laughter ensued and the healing began ..................................................................................
I was so uplifted to see how well all my friends got along with each other inspite of being a very diverse group. We shared our joys and sorrows, relaxed and just let it all hang out. It was interesting to see the differing paths of our lives and yet somehow we all have gotten to this point, damaged but uplifted, wiser and just damned glad to still be here. Where will we be in another 10 years? Will we get back together for another reunion? Liz has invited us back. She always was a bit sardonic!!! er should I say sarcastic!! It was a happy, healing, peaceful weekend, a precious gift for us all that is now a treasured memory.

These are some of the wonderful girls in my circle:

Nanci, Liz, Janet, Gail, Marilyn, Cathie, Joanne, Marie, Inez

GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE

When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man. Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom. Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be. One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'
Another , 'Let's fight together,'
Another , 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .
Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,

But for many, it's wrapped up in several.

One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
A couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.

You are the women who have come into my life
To make a difference. No greater gift there be.

Stained Glass Pieces Made in 2010

2010-05-13T17:54:00.001-07:00

Select various pieces via links from the index below:

Letters for Steph's Grandchildren

Hanging Victorian Light for Jockie

2010 Olympic Logo and Inukshuk Design

Geometric Celtic Circle for Paula

Geometric Eggplant for Liz

Work By Students

Muir Front Hallway Window

Muir Bevelled Family Room Windows

Muir Crane and Water Viking Windows for Resort Living Room

Emily Carr Window

LETTERS FOR STEPH'S GRANDCHILDREN

I was given the two J's not in a circle with the request that I make up similar letters, G, R, C, M and B for her collection that she plans on giving to her grandchildren down the road as each letter represents the first one in their names. In good conscience I could not make the letters stand alone as they would just be too fragile. Hooks to hang stained glass need to go into joints as otherwise the foil will pull away etc... so I decided to put the letters into circles. I used a font from the Word selection and then enlarged it to get the basic letter shape that most closely matched the J's and then added some freehand curves etc. I used various types of iridescent clear glass for the back ground circles. Steph was quite pleased. They hang in a window that has 8 small panels separated by wood and make a happy collection.

HANGING VICTORIAN LIGHT FOR JOCKIE

Jockie is a collector of historical artifacts and fanciful treats from the past. She presented me with this old pewter light in which the glass was long gone. I had to do a lot of work sanding off the corrosion inside in order to make the solder stick to the foiled glass pieces. I decided to tie in with the lacy look of the light by using glue chip glass which is no longer being made. I used cobalt blue because she has a blue glass collection amongst her treasures. Aren't the cupids cute.

2010 OLYMPIC LOGO & INUKSHUK DESIGN

Meaning of the Olympic Rings Symbol

As can be read in the Olympic Charter, the Olympic symbol represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. However, no continent is represented by any specific ring. Prior to 1951, the official handbook stated that each colour corresponded to a particular continent: blue for Europe, yellow for Asia, black for Africa, green for Australia and red for North and South America but this has been removed. The current view of the International Olympic Committee is that the symbol "reinforces the idea" that the Olympic Movement is international and welcomes all countries of the world to join.

While we were enjoying the Olympics that were hosted in our very own Vancouver this winter, I got the idea to create a piece of stained glass that would be a memory piece for this awesome event. I had just the use for this piece as I was wanting to make a donation to a silent auction fundraiser being held at our curling club this month.

I tracked down the logo and inukshuk photos online and then put the pattern into Microsoft Publisher so I could enlarge them before drawing up the design. It was quite a challenge grinding out the inside of the circles, impossible to do without a seam as glass needs to go to the edge of the glass when you make a cut. I tried to match the colours closely with those in the actual logos and then found an interesting abstract fused glass circle that contained similar colours to use at the bottom of the design and add interest. The background was done in various textured clears rather than white so the light would play through the piece as it suits the medium better. Retail value for this piece would be $300.00 as it is a fairly large circle. This was great fun to create. Check out this lovely night light photo taken at the Olympic site in Vancouver as well as this link to an article that my brother Kevin has written about the Olympics.http://kevinpammett.blogspot.com/2010/03/olympics-proudly-hosted-by-mycanada.html

GEOMETRIC CELTIC CIRCLE FOR PAULA

This celtic circle window was a thankyou gift for Paula from the bridge ladies who have wonderful weekend outings to her home in Port Elgin. The furnishings of the home are kind of 70's retro so the loud orange and blues fit in nicely. The unusual lime green blue glass in the swirls was the workaround colour that is picked up by the blue rondel in the centre and the blue gluechip border on the outside. Choosing colours for geometric pieces is very challenging. The vibrant orange water glass was the final choice for this piece and yep, it's loud!!!

GEOMETRIC EGGPLANT FOR LIZ

I organized a gathering to celebrate the birthday's of several of my friends who were turning 60 this year. We had a wonderful weekend at the Westlake holiday home of our old high school friend, Liz McIntyre. Ten of us met for a weekend of fun and bridge, restorative laughter and comraderie, not to mention great munchies. We presented Liz with this geometric piece as a thankyou for her wonderful hospitality. I chose this design because it was one that I had worked up for Liz over a year ago when she was doing renovations on her house and she had not gotten back to me to actually place the order. She was surprised and delighted as the I accidentally chose the right colours to match her new bathroom.

The rectangular opalescent glass was the workaround colour for this geometric. Originally the piece was to have two faceted eggplant colour jewels where you see the two turquoise circles. When I got to the final stage there was just too much mauve and the piece needed a third colour. Turquoise worked but because it had not been used anywhere else in the piece I decided to have Arthur paint the wooden frame he made in turquoise to tie in with the design.

WORK BY STUDENTS

I have a great time teaching bridge in my studio and often offer day classes as part of the silent auction at our church. We often make a small hear design to learn the process and then the students choose a second piece, always picking something that is a lot more challenging than they really should be doing. The ladies below were quite thrilled with their pieces and seemed to appreciate my "magic touch" of stepping in when the going gets tough.

Jessica's second piece was a colourful modern waterlily with some gorgeous pink glass in the centre.

Lee's second piece was a very large Dove and came back twice to complete the project. Doesn't she look thrilled!!!

MUIR INSCRIBED FRONT HALLWAY WINDOW

Coming soon..... The bevels seen below will be incorporated into swirls with stylized flowers coming out of them. The oval in the centre will have the MUIR name sandblasted onto the surface. This is my own design.

MUIR BEVELLED FAMILY ROOM WINDOWS

Coming soon.... These 4 windows will tie in with the theme of 8 other windows I have already made for this client.... using the birth colours of family members within the piece. The bevels chose for this piece are very elaborate and will be enhanced by coloured faceted jewels in the birth month colours.

MUIR CRANE AND WATER TRAPEZOID WINDOWS FOR RESORT LIVING ROOM

I am very excited about making these two windows for Muirs living room at their family resort in Haliburton. It was quite a challenge to come up with a design that worked for a trapezoid that is 82 inches long; 4 inches high on one end and 20 inches high on the other. The design needed to flow. I spent several days mulling over different ideas and designs that might tie in with the wonderful view of lake and trees outside their huge living room wall of windows. I have come up with a modern crane surrounded by a flower ribbon and glob design that suggests flowing water. It will be fun to choose the colours and textures for this piece. The large circles will be rondels.

EMILY CARR WINDOW

Also in the works is an exciting opportunity to come up with a window based on one of Emily Carr's famous paintings... not sure if it will be wild trees or totem poles. Stay tuned.

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Stained Glass Pieces Made in 2009

2009-07-22T06:33:00.001-07:00

FACELIFT PIECES

The following three pieces of glass I had made were returned to me this year for various reasons, so I decided to give them a facelift.

Marilyn Munroe from "Seven Year Itch"

In this scene Marilyn's skirt was blown up by a blast from a New York subway. This piece was made for my brother Johnny several years ago as he was a great fan of movie icon, Marily Munroe, one of the most famous movie stars on earth. I brought the glass back from New Brunswick in 2008 after my brother passed away. The clerks in the air port check through were calling everyone over to see her on the scanner.

I loved the red in this piece but always felt the background was too dark, so I gave the piece a facelift by turning the background into an oval and then adding a clear border with faceted jewels in red and blue to pull the piece together.

Art Deco Lady

The naked lady in this pattern strikes a delightful pose as she dons her red hat and ear ring. A tantalizing blue lipstick colour matches the exquisite baroque swirled background glass. I made this for my cousin Steven who later returned the piece to me when he had new windows put in his house. Turns out he wasn't too fond of naked ladies!!! It was such fun to make this piece. Since it no longer needed to fit exactly into a window, I decided to frame it in bevels with a strong zinc border so it made a more attractive stand alone piece.

Red Cardinal in Circle

I actually purchased this cardinal from the store in Bloomfield before I did glass and gave it to my aunt Glenora who was an avid bird watcher. When I bought the cardinal I was very impressed by the delicate quality of the work, hoping I would some day measure up myself. After my aunt died in 2007 the piece came back to me. Since the piece had some cracks I decided to make the repair and also perk it up with a bright green border. It holds some precious memories for me.

PINWHEEL CHIMES

It was great fun making this piece and choosing colours that worked together in this geometric pattern. The bevels and faceted jewel will bring rainbows into the room when the sun passes through. The unusual blue spotted glass is called spirit glass. It was a challenge to drill through the multi coloured chimes that hang below to give the piece kind of a Chinese feel.

I was hired to make the piece as a thankyou gift from our Waterloo Region Newcomers club for our outgoing President, Cecilia Gilbert. She has recently had a new grand child and we wanted to make something colourful for the grandchildren to enjoy when they came to her house.

RIVER OF LIFE

This piece was made as a wedding gift for Alex and Shaila, July 11, 2009. I made the stained glass and my husband Arthur and daughter Amber made the frame.

My second cousin Alex, was brought up in a Christian environment but converted to the Muslim faith in order to marry Shaila. When contemplating what to make for them I came across this pattern entitled River of Life. It was originally designed for the Tampa Ronald McDonald house, a place where families can stay when their children are undergoing difficult treatments away from home. They call it the house that love built. The window was commissioned in memory of Sheila Savage who loved water and lived a life immersed in the lives of others.

I wanted to make a piece that would symbolize their journey through life as well as the merging of their two faiths. Following is my wish for them:

May your River of Life also flow continuously in a house that is built and sustained by love and immersed in each other.

In this modern symbolic piece the sun is a central focus. I thought the sun would be very fitting since it emanates warmth which is the cherished feeling of love. From a religious perspective I thought it could stand for the merging of your faiths. I know that Christianity is in your background Alex, though you have converted to the Muslim faith. Christianity focuses on the saving grace of Jesus the SON of God, while the Muslim faith is sometimes symbolized by similar celestial bodies, the star and the crescent moon. The crescent symbol has a long spiritual history. It suggests an empire stretching from one end of the earth to another, or perhaps an all embracing faith which is the kind of love I hope you will know as the years go by. I see that the 5 pointed star represents the 5 pillars of Islam, but isn’t it interesting that the star is also a symbol of the birth of Christ, the coming of a message of love that would change the world.

The turquoise ribbons flow through the centre of this piece passing through our lives like an unending stream. Water is life giving and restorative. It nurtures all that we are and all that we may become. Perhaps the golden globs sprinkled amongst the ribbons represent light (another essential ingredient for life) epiphanies in your lives, or incredible moments like the birth of children, the realization of dreams or spiritual awakenings. Some of these ribbons are textured as a reminder that life will always have rough spots and the colours will change as our lives ebb and flow and eventually carry us into another dimension.

Pencil bevels simulate down pouring rain and evaporation in the water cycle, which sustains life. You will notice that these bevels come together at midpoint to create one continuous cycle. Today you are joining your lives together into a similar cycle. May you continue to grow and flow together while embracing each other’s uniqueness. These bevels should bring rainbows into your room when the sun passes through and as the rays bend and become many colours, may you appreciate the colour in your lives. There is so much beauty to behold, so much hope in each day. The rainbow is a symbol of this hope and brings such joy in the morning!!!

The clear baroque background glass adds a swirling dimension of time to the River of Life. May your love be timeless and eternal and may your time together be blessed beyond measure.

CELTIC STAR IN CIRCLE

This intricate Celtic Star piece was created as a wedding gift for Laura and Mark Beasley, August 8, 2009.

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Geometric pieces are hard to do because there is no forgiveness for lines that are not perfect and the colour choices are critical. I agonized for hours holding up different sheets of glass trying to choose the right colours. I was told that Laura had light green walls and liked orange. The 4 piece flower bevel in the centre is unique and the clear glass has footprints in it, if you look closely. This is also the first time that I was able to use zinc for an outside circle. The people at the store in Breslau let me use their tools to bend the zinc and I was thrilled as this gives the piece, which is 25" wide, a lot more strength and allows it to be hung without a frame.

TEQUILA WORM ON MARGARITA GLASS

Merle Hadlow approached me about making a piece of something to do with alcohol for her daughter's new bar in her Calgary home. I came up with this unique, cutesy Tequila worm wearing a sombrero wrapped around a Margarita glass. It was quite a challenge grinding the eyes out in a coated piece of black glass so the etching shows up as the eyeball. I had to grind half way through the glass and the pieces were quite small. The background is done in an irridescent clear glass that has a bubble like texture. The piece was carefully taken to Calagary on the plane at Christmas and her daughter was thrilled.

When I was trying to choose the colour for the small circle for the first piece, my friend Evelyn was here and she was excited about the piece because she had a daughter named Margarite. In the end we made a deal to exchange the repeat piece for her sewing me PJ's to give Arthur for Christmas. With the second piece I decided to tackle making the eyes white with black centres. It was very tricky as I had to grind right through each small eyeball to create the space for the pupil. While holding this tiny piece of glass I managed to grind right through the top of my finger nail and didn't feel it because of all the vibrations until it was too late. Well OUCH!!!! It is still growing out. This time I changed the sombrero colours to pinks and mauves to go better with the background glass. Since price was not an issue this time, I decided to put in numerous globs to imitate bubbles rising up around the scene and I made the circle larger. The winey mauve faceted jewel brings the shades of purple together. These were fun, whimsical pieces to create.

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Wasting Away in Margaritaville

2009-04-09T11:56:00.001-07:00

For those who do not want to read any further, photos can be seen at my Flickr site link.

Click on photos to enlarge. Hover mouse over top of photos to elicit description.

WHERE IS MARGARITAVILLE ??

"It's in the tropics somewhere between the Port of Indecision and Southwest of Disorder, but no parallels of latitude or longitude mark the spot exactly. You don't have to be a navigator to get there. Palm trees provide the camouflage. Ocean breezes bring the seaplanes and sailboats, tourists and travelers. Passports are not required. Island music rules. No waiting lines for anything. There is a beach and a thatched roof bar perched on the edge of the turquoise sea where you can always find a bar stool. There are lots of lies and loads of stories. It's a comical concoction that blends together like tequila, salt and limes. Where is Margaritaville? It's in your mind. When you are there, you will know it."

What a fitting prologue to my blog about our recent trip to The Grand Mayan Resort in the Riviera Maya, on the Yucatan Peninsula close to the little town of Playa Del Carmen.

When Arthur lost his job last fall he wanted to go on a destress trip but we had been wafting in indecision. Being somewhat parsimonious and certainly NOT seasoned travellers, we had done nothing, when lo and behold my dear friend Joanne, became our navigator. She invited us to spend a week in her own little Shangri la time share in Mexico and made this a special 60th birthday gift to me. She handled all the arrangements and kept us apprised of the "way things are done" in good old Mexico. Unfortunately her husband Gary was hospitalized the day before the trip and could not go so she became our lone guide and companion and did so in her inimitable plush style..... never leaving a thought unspoken or a glass not refilled!!!!

Since we had different flights Arthur and I had the first day together until Joanne's flight arrived. We rented a car and explored Cancun, one of the most popular tourist areas in Mexico, expecially for the young people.... and this being March break.... glasses were overflowing all down the beach where the above photo was taken. However this beach had been de-sanded in a hurricane a few years back so it was very steep and full of undertows ...... a good place to visit but not a place I would want to stay.

I felt like a princess when we arrived at the Grand Mayan Resort. From the stunning open air lobby to the unbelieveable 32 acres of swimming pools, this was a top class five star resort with all of the amenities and then some.

The rooms were gorgeous, spacious, comfortable and ours had privacy, a beautiful granite kitchen, marble floors, jet tubs, luxuary showers, a private dipping pool on the balcony and a lovely view of the pristine tropical landscape. The service was excellent, the restaurants fantastic and the staff most helpful and pleasant. This was a true oasis unto itself and if Arthur had his way we would have just vegged here all week. It had the palm trees, thatched rooves, ocean breezes, island music, turquoise waters, sailboats, para sailors and unlimited underwater bars dreamed of in the Margaritaville of the mind above.

We accomplished a lot in just one week. The village of Playa Del Carmen was just a 20 minute drive away and what a charmer. This could be considered the New York of the Yuckatan. Once you survive the speed bumps and get parked beside a chicken "farm" in the heart of town, you can enjoy several miles of shopping along the picturesque, tourist hounding 5th Avenue. I was blown away by all the silver stores and since I can rarely get past a jewellry store I only covered about 1/4 of the shopping district!! The guys got shopped out pretty quickly so we joined them later on the public beach where we enjoyed cerveza and a few topless beauties!!! Hounding is putting it mildly. It was great fun buying presents for everyone and if there were two words for Mexico I would say they would be "colour" and "pestering" to buy. I actually found it quite intimidating and would have bought a whole lot more if they would have left me alone to reconnoitre!!!

Arthur's favourite part of the trip was our outing to the world heritage site of the Mayan ruins at Chitzen Itza. Due to our inexperience with the language and dotted roads, we ended up on a two hour detour en route to this famous site so after 5 hours we were very happy to arrive. It was amazing to think that this site was first established in 600 AD and was the thriving religious centre for Mayan culture for over 800 years. It was eerie seeing the cenote where worthy sacrifices such as silver, gold and humans had been made. When wandering through the town square with it's 1000 columns, or the ball arena where the losing side had to sacrifice one of it's members, or gazing at the central 9 tiered pyramid you felt another sort of Margaritaville, a place lost in time with its own story to tell. We wished we had been able to go there a few days later at the spring equinox as we would have been able to see the sunlight reflecting diamonds onto the pyramid in a way that was called the descent of the serpent. Suffice it to say that when you clapped your hands 50 feet from the pyramid, you heard a resounding unearthy echo that made you marvel at the ingenuity of long ago.

We had two other adventures worth mentioning. Joanne and I took a 40 minute ferry ride one day across from Playa Del Carmen to the island of Cozumel, which is famous for it's lovely beaches and amazing diving sites. Joanne and Gary have dived there several times but this time Joanne and I just enjoyed the shopping ambiance in the town of San Miguel where cruise ships harbour and did I mention hounding!!!! I had one man want to charge me a dollar for taking a picture of him standing there with a parrot and someone else wanted to trade some piece of tourist crap for my lovely rainbow watch!!!

Puerto Aventuras is a lovely condo community where people go to enjoy the restaurant ambiance and swim with the dolphins. We spent a lovely afternoon there watching people ride dolphins, and viewing seals, seal lions and legendary herbaceous sea cows called manatees. This lovely harbour was home to pelicans and other colourful birds and iguanas were everywhere!!!

During our last night at the Grand Mayan we attended a special Mexican show and buffet. This included a very entertaining dance and musical extravaganza featuring rope shows, acrobatic feats, toe tapping music and elaborate, sometimes racey costumes and hilarious head dresses. Note the delightful watermelon costume below. In the end the audience was invited up on the stage for a grand finale.

And speaking of grand finale...... I had heart burn for a week.... what with the delicious but spicy mexican food and free flowing wine and margaritas. Ah to return to Mexico one day is in my heart. I can't say I exactly wasted away, having not had the courage yet to get on my scale, but what a great place to relax and retreat to another world, to bask in the sun, to become one with the azure sea, to let your mind be at peace with itself.... for that is the stuff dreams are made of and this trip was indeed a fantasy come true.

Thanks so much to my long time friend Joanne who has been there for my family and I for as long as I can remember.

Follow this link to my Flickr site to see additional photos or check out Jimmy Buffet singing Wasting Away in Margaritaville if you'd like to sign off with a tune in your head. Here's a toast to you all!!!!

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Newcomers Got Talent

2009-03-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

Creativity on Display was the theme for our March 4th KW Newcomers monthly social meeting. Members were encouraged to share their talents by bringing in their creative works for display and conversation. It was a wonderful evening for friendly conversation and getting to know those presenting members in more ways than one!!!!

Who would have thought that Sandy Clyne was such a great Watercolour artist? She told us that "she paints because he has to and the flowers that speak to her in her gardens must find their way to her canvas."

Anne Gilchrist wowed us with her wonderful knitting, mostly done out of love for family members. Her sweaters were unique and made with interesting yarn. You will never find Anne sitting idle as she will either have cards or knitting needles in her hands.

Shirley Dorton is also an amazing knitter and crocheter who sells her wares far too cheaply!! Jockie could not resist trying on one of her brilliant red hats. She loves making colourful slippers as well. Shirley claims that knitting keeps her calm and is the best manicure going. She will be found either with knitting or her dog Candi in her arms.

Carmen Eick claims to not be a creative person, but has found a fun outlet for her imagination by making Sand Art. She finds various shaped glass containers and fills them with coloured sand and found objects such as sea shells or paper tequila umbrellas. The container on the left is in the shape of a Christmas stocking!!!

Joan Ellis's creativity knows no bounds. Her display featured quilts, cross stitching and scrap booking. Joan brought in her very first quilt as well as one that was made from a sampler course. She recommends getting a few instructions!! You may not know but Joan belongs to the writer's group and is cateloguing stories to go along with photos from her life experiences to leave for her children and grandchildren.

Now you get to see our club president in a new light!!! Cecilia Gilbert has a family tradition of making Ginger Bread Houses at Christmas time and later sharing them with other children in the neighbourhood when it comes time to partake. What a unique way to let those creative juices flow. Nothing pre fab here. She bakes and carves the walls and makes a special builders icing to attach the candies. Well with the recent birth of a new grandchild, Cecilia will be doing this for years to come.

Jockie Loomer-Kruger, who never lets any little treasure pass her by, brought in a display of rug hooking, writing and whimsical folk art. Most of us had never heard the term "Naive Art". This is the genre in which Jockie has painted for years. She calls it "art by and adult through the eyes of a child" and yep, Jockie is a big kid!! You could not go to see her current art show at the Kitchener Library without smiling and recalling your own childhood memories. Although most of her naive pieces were at the Library show, Jockie showed us a collection of naive art calendars produced in Quebec that featured her work for many years. Each of her pieces tells a story and gladdens the heart.

You could not imagine the wonderful collection of quilting and rug hooking produced by Lynda Cunningham. She is one prolific lady and yes, another big kid amongst us. Like Jockie, Lynda loves to incorporate found objects and a huge variety of fabrics into her work, and many of her quilts also have a whimsical, naive quality to them. Each piece has a story to tell and Lynda says she never has idle hands either as there are many more stories just waiting to be told!!! Lynda quilts for family and friends but also volunteers a tremendous amoung of her time making lap quilts for community groups. Lynda is indeed a skilled needleworker with an amazing imagination and a big heart!!!

Did you know that we have an incredible weaver and seamstress in our club? Sandy Hostetter brought in several articles of clothing that she had made, some weaving and a photo album full of pictures of her work along with sampler illustrative pieces. She has worked with a huge variety of yarns and fabrics over the years and is self taught. Sandy has been a member of the Weaver's Guild as well. Her clothing shows a huge amount of patience, labour, love and creativity, not to mention the signs of a skilled craftswoman. Did I say hippe??? Well take a look at her picture, which I had to implore from her I might add, and you can imagine how unique her pieces are.

This where I get to toot my own horn!!! Stained Glass has been a huge passion in my life for over 27 years. I have made pieces for Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian Woman Astronaut and Governor General Lincoln Alexander. It is a joy to think of my pieces spreading to many different countries in the world. In getting ready to particate in this event, I decided to make a book of all my work over the years. It ended up being a 150 page full colour book with over 450 photos and took me more hours than I care to remember. I made a similar book for our family of my mom's quilting and rug hooking after she passed away, so with that experience behind me I decided to produce this book for my own children down the road!! It was great fun writing the stories that went with the pieces. I also had fun developing a slide show of all the photos, which you will see in the above photo running in the background on a lap top computer. My business is called Hooked On Glass because once I started doing glass it became a huge passion. Out went the photos of my kids from my wallet and in went the photos of my glass pieces. One of my greatest joys is seeing the expression on my client's faces when they receive their unique orders. I rest on the pleasure I know people feel watching the light play on their glass as the suns rays pass through it at different times of the day. Click here view the complete slideshow photos of my stained glass pieces to date.

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I think this was one of the most interesting and rewarding programs I have experienced at Newcomers during the three years I have been a member. Thanks so much to Jockie and Sandy Hostetter for organizing the event. There was a lot of work going on behind the scenes and also with set up the night of the event. Thanks to all those members who put out such an extra effort to lug in all their work and share their stories with everyone. We are a friendship club welcoming new people into the area and opening our hearts and our doors to each other as we laugh and share the joys and sorrows in our lives. Celebrating creativity is one of life's greatest pleasures. This was indeed and evening to be remembered.

Stained Glass Pieces Made in 2008

2009-01-15T21:17:00.000-08:00

Crazy Bog Frog - December 2008

My girlfriend Joanne had purchased the stained glass "frog on the log" at a craft show several years ago. It was a freestanding suncatcher which can be very unstable. I offered to set it into a circle for her as a Christmas present. It was tricky to find leaf and leg glass and also fit in some of the tiny, tiny pieces. The bottom part of the right leg was non existant. I added some leaves and tucked the leg in behind the leaves as toes are very tricky to do. I added the two rondels to bring some character into the work and enhance the darker glass background. It is a bit of a find as these rondels are no longer available.

Transformed Bevelled Dove Window - Nov 2008

I made the above window to go over two sliding doors in our Tweed house. The window was a doorway to our pool. When we sold the house in 199, Arthur removed the window but he cracked some of the outside green crackle glass pieces in the process. I had hoped to rebuild this window in a subsequent home but with all of our moves the window ended up being carted around for 12 years.

I got the idea of trying to used the outside ends of the Tweed window for the side panels above in our current home. I was not able to get the green crackle glass anymore, but was able to match up the colour. I removed the outside border so the panels would fit and added the top and bottom sections.

I then reduced the pink circle around the dove and created the centre bevelled window for the door. I picked up some of the design elements and new green glass from the side windows to balance out the pattern.

Overall this brings a lovely soft glow into our hallway and I am pleased with my ingenuity. Just after I got this done my husband lost his job..... but now that I've remade the window we CAN NOT move again so keep your fingers crossed for us!!!

Karina's Bevelled Side Windows - Nov 2008

My niece Karina had a new house built and ordered a lovely bevelled front door. (see photo on the right before installation) However she was not able to get matching side panels for the size of openings that had been left. I was able to locate matching glass and bevels and custom make these windows. The work was done in lead came so the putty that goes under the lead made quite a mess - very hard to clean off on clear glass. This was quite a challenge without being able to see the actual glass or measure installation sizes for the door and existing windows. Another challenge was figuring out how to ship them. My husband made a very tight plywood box with a screwed down lid, total weight with the windows inside was 47 pounds. I was able to ship this via Greyhound Courier Express for $100 and was happy that they arrived safe and sound.

Apple Blossom Repair for Merle - Nov 2008

Client designed this window over 20 years ago but it had been dropped and the background was full of cracked pieces. She had been living with them crazy glued together. Getting the window out of the lovely oak frame was quite a challenge. Arthur had to cut carefully through the mitered joint. I was able to get a pattern of the existing window by placing a large piece of paper over it, then colouring back and forth with the side of a pencil, over the raised part of the design - like we used to do to get leaf patterns with crayons when we were children. Luckily I was able to match the antique clear background glass and end up with the correct sized window to put back in the frame.

Stylized Crane for Marie Northey - Oct 2008

This is one of the most complex designs I've ever worked with. There are almost 300 pieces in the work, some so small you could hardly hold them and most of them need fitting. There are 9 different shades of green in the work. The irridescent baroque and droplet background glass add an airy lightness to the piece which centres on the turquoise jewel focal point. It is a delicate work, not for a beginning stained glass artist.

Baha'i Nine Pointed Star - June 2008

This piece is my own design. Have you ever tried to divide a circle into 9 pieces? It is much easier with an even number. The background spirit glass suggests rays of light emanating from the star. This star and the number nine is is associated with perfection, unity and the numerical value of the word Bahá'. It was a wedding present Shamim and Stecha, my sons brother in law and wife who are both members of the Baha'i faith. We had a lovely time at their wedding in Orillia last June. They are currently renting the apartment in Aaron and Nagmeh's house.

Window #1: Grads of 94 - completed Mar 1, 2008

The windows below represent the prototye for a reconstruction project I am currently working on. For a more detailed description of this work in progress go to my Coming Soon article.

.............................Before....................................................After................................

Unicorn and Fairy Fantasy - Feb 24, 2008

The fairy and unicorn that were made for Inez many years ago, when her children were little, have been incorporated into this fantasy piece. Globs and Rondels float around a sun motif introducing coloured bubbles that match the room decor. The background glass features a rather rare piece of spaced out clear glue chip glass. The rondels which are no longer made, were a "find" from A. J. Artistic Stained Glass Supply Store in Toronto.

sample line

sample table two cells

put text here

sample table one cell

put text here

Welcome Baby Dayyán

2008-06-23T09:15:00.001-07:00

On June 20th I pulled out photo album #11 and drifted backwards in time - back to the first year of life, of our first child, Aaron David. I looked at the rapture in those young faces and once again relived the incomparable beauty of that first birth experience. I looked at my children’s grandparents and marvelled at how young they were, but somehow they too had that magical expression of joy on their faces. I remember being secretly thrilled that our son was such a perfect miracle - being in awe at his ten fingers and ten toes, and peaceful lovely face. I remember also being overwhelmed by the task that lay before us, the trauma of trying to nurse a baby, the fear of him not getting enough milk, the hope for a healthy life and wonderful future for this innocent one and the scary responsibility of caring for this child, a responsibility that now stretched on in an endless line.

Now that was yesterday, the day after I was placed in my own grandmother’s lap, and this is today when I became a grandmother for the first time myself. Ann Morse put it well when she said: “The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children. It is into us that the lives of grandparents have gone. It is in us that their history becomes a future.”

Our daughter in law, Nagmeh, went into labour three weeks early, much to everyone’s surprise. Her labour was about 18 hours long with several stops and starts in the process. The baby was born at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto at 12:56 am on June 20th, 2008 and is healthy and peaceful. He was 6 pounds 10 ounces in weight and 52 cm (20.47 inches) long. Nagmeh’s mother Freshteh and Aaron, were present at the birth.

We travelled to Toronto later that day to meet our grandson for the first time. Amber arrived at the hospital just before us so we were able to greet him as a family. We spoke with Miranda earlier in the day too in order to share our news, and I think she was more excited than the rest of us. Arthur and I kept pinching ourselves as this realization hit home.

The child has been named Dayyán Sutherland Phelan. Dayyán is a Persian name, that of a Baha'i hero who was martyred for written arguments in defence of the Faith, during the trying period of Baha'i history between the ministry of the Báb and that of Bahá'u'lláh. Sutherland is a Canadian Bahai, an architect who designed the famous Shrine of the Bab. Arthur thinks the name will get short formed to David and I’m thinking Daannn ...... Dan the Man!!! In any case it is guaranteed that he will get tired of telling people how to spell his name, but it does look nice, kind of artistic, in print!!! I guess this is a deja vu as I remember how weird people thought our name for “Miranda” was. They just shook their heads. I had to have Aaron practice saying it for a few weeks in order to convince Arthur to agree to let me use it for her.

Well it is going to take awhile before I get used to being called Grandma Nanci. It makes me feel so old and I’m trying not to go there. Someone once said that “Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old” so I am delighted that I will have the opportunity to experience the many blessings that being a grandparent holds. It felt strange to hold our wee babe, to look into his peaceful face, so brand new to this world, his skin so soft and untouched, his little lower lip quivering as he reacted to hidden stimuli. It was kind of funny as he likes to put his hand over his face. Someone said that he was not ready for pictures yet!!! The look on Arthur and Amber’s faces when they held Dayyán, was quite wonderful, topped only by that of Aaron and Nagmeh as they were united with this offspring from their womb.

My deepest sorrow is that my own parents and Arthur’s mother are not here to share this joy with everyone. They would have been so enthralled. Life has a way of going forward when we least expect it. But we are thrilled that Miranda has chosen this time to visit Canada and are really looking forward to seeing her soon and sharing our joy. Alex Haley says that “Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” They hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever. Would that Arthur and I can live up to this expectation. Meanwhile, after a year of so many sad deaths in our family, I am humbled by this birth and filled with the miracle of his tender new life with so many dreams ahead. Already we are drawn into his web of hope and love.

YOU ARE INVITED TO A SUMMER PARTY:

To meet Dayyán and

Greet Miranda and Ralph before

they return to Australia

Sunday, July 20th, 2008

We are at home all day.

R.S.V.P.

CVI Windows

2008-06-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

Reconstruction of 13 windows for a high school in Guelph.

One day last fall our neighbour, who has a business installing windows, approached me with an interesting and very challenging project. Apparently he had just replaced a whole hallway of windows for CVI Centennial Vocational High School in Guelph, and because of differing sized openings in the brick, the 14 lower stained glass windows needed to be rebuilt in order to fit into the new spaces.

Since the existing stained glass windows had been designed as a school project, by graduating students over the past 14 years, they present a colourful array of unique designs using the traditional lead kame construction process, as follows:

strips of lead must be cut to size, fitted around each piece of glass and then soldered at the joints only
after all lead pieces are in place, putty is forced under each strip using a putty knife
chalk dust is applied to the entire surface, then rubbed in with a brush in a circular motion
care is taken to keep the putty under the edges of the lead strips, while the chalk begins to cure the putty and burnish the strips
the window is left to harden for at least 48 hours
excess putty is scraped off around every piece of glass
the window is vacuumed to remove all the loosened putty and dust, then cleaned with windex

This differs from the more modern foil process (my usual mode of work), in which each glass piece is wrapped in foil and soldered along the entire length of the glass.

Window #1: Grads of 94 - completed Mar 1, 2008

Before

After

With this prototype window, I approached the job with trepidation because of the many challenges bulleted below. It would actually be almost easier to redo the entire window, and just about as cost efficient, but the client wants to maintain as much of the original window as possible. My goal is to make the changes seamless and incorporate them into the design so they do not look like "add ons."

when removing the old lead, the hardened putty must be scraped out carefully as the glass can easily break
it is difficulty tracking down the original glass or finding compatible substitute glass
challenge of deciding which parts of the glass to replace relative to glass availability, structural issues and design considerations
need to keep design integrity and flow, within the constraints of a very small border around the outside needing to be replaced
there is not much area to work with and the window can become weakened structurally
after deconstruction there is no longer an obvious pattern to follow, so new pieces must be created one at a time, using paper templates and fitting each carefully
as the project evolves, it is always difficult to keep the window within the proper outside dimensions
difficulty handling the weakened window after deconstruction; sometimes I have to hold the entire wobbling window while trying to grind off parts of pieces that are still puttied in place

For Grads of 94, I discovered that the turquoise background glass is no longer made. With this I made the design decision to replace the gold rippled glass on three sides, leaving the top edge intact. Borders needed to be created at each end and extra leaves had to be inserted into the water-bed to stretch out the design. Pieces of glass that were wider at the top edge had to be broken before removal and then new paper pattern pieces created. The window took 11 hours to complete and to my delight, maintained design integrity and strength.

The window was delivered to the client in March and approval was given for me to complete the job. I was thrilled that I was able to actually accomplish the job and am looking forward to the challenge ahead. As you will see in the ensuing windows; each is a unique puzzle to be solved. Oh yes, I do like challenges.

Window #2: Grads of 95

Before

After

a small purple border was on the top part of the side ends to tie in with the sky
then the pieces from the bottom row of water were removed and blended together with another shade of blue to create an additional row of water, thus increasing the height of the window

Window #3: Grads of 96

Before

After

since there were several cracks around the word "of" the name panel needed to be removed, as well as the large bottom piece on the right hand side which was also cracked

the cost to refire the word "of" would have been $50.00 so I decided to elminiate the word and shorten the name panel

lucikily I was able to track down the same clear hammered background glass

additional leaves and a flower were created to balance the design out so the panel could be widened

all glass from across the top and on the right hand side was removed and replaced

Window #4: Grads of 97

Before

After

the narrow rust coloured border which was created around the outside of this piece frames the island scene nicely and enhances the original design
I was able to find one small piece of blue hammered glass, just enought to tie in the corners

Window #5: Grads of 98

Before

After

this was the last window I completed as it was the most challenging
it was one of the two windows that had been done in foil rather than lead work so was much harder to take apart
the original window had several large cracks so the centre sky panel and the moon had to be removed as well
the antique seedy blue sky glass that had stars etched on it, was impossible to replace
luckily I was able to locate a small piece of glass that matched the ground on the left, so I created rocks in the cracked area
the cracked moon was replaced but in a milky rather than a solid white glass
a purple border was added, in an attempt to pick up some of the purple hues throughout this rather eclectic piece
since I was concerned that the narrow foil border might not be structurally sound, I added in some green blobs as an overlap betweent the border and the inside part
if you look carefully you will see a little bug on the ground and the painted and kiln fired angel was designed by a grad student from an earlier year

Window #6: Grads of 99

Before
After

if you enlarge this window you will notice dancing figures in the background
a second border was added to enlarge this window and I found a lovely piece of turquoise green stripped glass that ties in with some of the internal pieces
when the outside lead was removed from this piece, the window was a very crooked rectangle so it was very difficult to hold the original window up the grinder and try to even it up before adding the border

Window #7: Grads of 2000

Before
After

modelling from the original geometric bar design, I was able to enlarge this window by putting borders on the bottom and both ends; so in essence I only had to replace 3 sides
found a German antique glass that is almost the same colour as the glass behind the writing

Window #8: Grads of 2001

Before
After

this is the only other window that was done in foil rather than lead
the zinc metal around the outside was very difficult to remove
I was able to locate several pieces of glass that were the same colours as the original pieces, but not the same texture, though some of the textures were the same but just occurring in different colours
created a new border of various sized rectangles along the top and the right hand side only
Grad year writing is on a mirror which is now slightly off centre, but not noticeable because of the way colours were chosen for the new rectangular pieces

Window #9: Grads of 2002

Before
After

added a solid white border all around the outside
this simple addition seems to really enhance the original design and picks up from the crested wave theme
once the original lead was removed from the outside, the rectangle was very crooked; this required a double seam in the upper right corner area

Window #10: Grads of 2003

Before
After

since there were no cracks in this window and since the background pieces were too large to remove, without redoing the whole window, I found a solid mauve glass that blended well into the design and created a simple, narrow border around the entire outside of the window
adding corner pieces made the window stronger and making them a clear mauve, almost the same as the large swirls, tied the work together
it was a challenge to make the rough edges from under the lead border balance, especially on the left side
I was nervous that the narrow border would not be strong enough since the line is continuous with no overlapping pieces of glass which normally add structural strength
however the piece remained sound and the new border added character
this piece should be handled with care because of the long seams

Window #11: Grads of 2004

Before
After

there were bad cracks in the white band across the centre but not on the name panel, so this necessitated removing that band
I was able to find a clear antique mauve glass, almost the same as the backgroung glass
I added a band to the right hand side to widen the piece, then a second band below the white band to increase the height
the glass used in the new band was an interesting fractures and streamers glass containing green and mauve chips
I felt this gave the window more interest and character as there was already too much mauve and white; a third colour was needed
then I replaced the lower border with the same mauve glass as that used in the right corner band
the wing tip on the bird also needed to be redone and extended

Window #12: Grads of 2005

Before
After

a solid orange border was added around the outside, making a tie in as well as a contrast to the interior orange colours
since the original outside lead was very wide, there was a half inch area at each seam that did not have any lead there, so each of these seams had to have small pieces of lead added in before attaching the border

Window #13: Grads of 2006

Before

After

added a border all the way around in greens and yellows
this enhanced and framed the design effectively
the bottom centre brown rippled piece of glass had a crack so a seam was created where the crack was

Closing Comments

The windows were completed by June 17, 2008 and it took 125 hours of labour and about $600 in materials. It was quite a process handling these large windows and juggling them around choosing colours to match and trying to hold up entire windows to the grinder. Normally you just grind piece at time before they are soldered or leaded together. Each window had to be puddied and then left to dry for three days while the whiting helped the setting process. The dust was vacuumed off the window and the puddie was scraped off several times to remove the overflow that was adherring to the glass. The windows also needed to be washed and windexed and polished. I worked on four at a time so our neighbour could deliver finished windows to the school regularly and there was less to work around in my studio.

It was a fun project and I feel that I accomplished my goal of rebuilding windows in a way that integrated the orignal design without compromises.

Newcomer's Got Hattitude

2008-06-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Waterloo Region Newcomers Club closing party for 2008 was held at my home on Wednesday, June 4th. I was hoping, up until the last minute, that we would be able to visit around the pool and eat outside as planned but it was one of those too darned cold "bad weather days". With the late spring and having been away several weekends in May it was a challenge to get the yard and pool cleaned up. I found myself planting outside pots in the dark the night before. Since this is the first large gathering held in my home since moving here, it took awhile to get the logistics worked out for 46 people.

In the end we did manage to stay outside for the ceremonial part of the event. Ladies had been asked to wear funny hats for a hat parade and competition. This seemed like a tall order for me but I managed to put together a family hat, with photo buttons of my kids and a nylon face thing Aaron had made me years ago when he was in public school. I thought the whole thing was kind of silly, but you will see from the photos on Flickr that many ladies rose to the occasion. Those of us with "hattitude" marched around the pool singing "In Your Newcomer's Bonnet, With all the frills upon it"..... in tune to the Easter Parade song. It was a hoot.

Our offbeat artist, Jockie Loomer-Kruger won for the funniest hat in her rendition of being chief consultant to the Easter Bunny.

Carole Russell must have stolen from her children to come up with a prize for the most original hat.

Betty Caron who works at Paderno, wore a hat featuring products from her store and won the prize for the most creative hat.

Cecilia and Nanci were given hanging baskets as thankyou presents.

The pot luck meal was delicious. People were seated all over the house, even 18 people upstairs in the glass studio.

A great time was had by all - lots of laughter - and one lady even stayed for a sauna under the stars. It will be interesting to see what the club can come up with for next years happy closing!!!

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

2008-05-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, May 24th at Sandy Lake Cemetery in Lakehurst, Ontario our family gathered to bury my brother Johnny. There were about 40 people present and Mabel Henderson, a friend who was the minister at our old Presbyterian Church in Tweed, conducted the service.

Perhaps listening to this wonderful version of Amazing Grace by Nana Mouskouri will give you a feeling for the beauty of our sacred goodbye.

Tribute was paid to Johnny in many ways:
Our brother Kevin shared his memories taking comfort from his sense that Johnny's spirit is in the wind. At one time Johnny had made a special wooden box for Lorraines "relic family bible." When mom died in August of 2000 we were very touched that he offered this box for her ashes. Subsequently he made Lorraine another bible box which Lorraine brought today containing Johnny's ashes. Later in the service Kevin kneeled and lowered this lovingly made urn into the grave and I placed a rose on top of it.

Steven Carter, Johnny's cousin, read the 23rd psalm.

Karina spoke with grace and love, giving a chronology of Johnny's life, referencing the people Johnny loved, and relating his treasured memories of them that had withstood the test of time.

Johnny's grandson Keegan read the following poem by Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918):

All Is Well

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.

Later in the service Keegan and Johnny's nephew, Aaron, planted a dwarf burning bush. Apparently this bush takes on a gorgeous flaming hue in the autumn. Johnny had planted several of them at their home in New Brunswick, but had one that was not flourishing, so Lorraine dug it up and brought it to Lakehurst to mark the occasion.

The presence of Kersti, Johnny's other daughter, added a dimension of healing to our sorrow. How wonderful that the family was able to meet her for the first time and she was able to say both hello and goodbye to her birth father.

Amber took courage and sang (click to hear UTube version) the following beautiful Baha'i' prayer from Baha'u'allah's "Hidden Words":

O MY SERVANT!
Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy Soul from the prison of self.
Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.

O SON OF MY HANDMAID!
Didst thou behold immortal sovereignty, thou wouldst strive to pass from this fleeting world.
But to conceal the one from thee and toreveal the other is a mystery which none but the pure in heart can comprehend.

As our good friend, Don Gordon played the euphonium our voices were raised to the wonderful words of Abide With Me and Amazing Grace, while the birds chirped in the background and the breezes ushered his spirit home.

Our aunt, Marion Pollard held a wonderful reception for everyone back at her home in Peterborough. It was also the occasion for a family reunion as many people stayed over at the Holiday Inn which is on the picturesque Little Lake in the centre of town.

Kevin and Karina with Nanci's good friends Joanne and Inez

Nanci with cousins Julie and Janice

I delivered the following eulogy and also distributed a hand out containing the words to Amazing Grace, photos, the obituary notice and a collection of Johnny's "Letters to the Editor" that were published in the Perth and Bathurst newspapers.

Nanci's Eulogy - Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

It has been hard for me to come to terms with the death of my brother Johnny. I want to shout out with the immortal words of Dylan Thomas:

Do not go gentle into that good night
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

There was rage. There was a good fight. The courage Johnny showed in the face of his devastating throat cancer was remarkable. He did not complain. He did not cry. He did not blame. He faced his surgery and fears with equanimity, humour and a positive attitude. Even on the day he died, he was still jesting with the nurses. When he found out that his cancer had returned, and his time was short, his first thought was that he was going to get to see his sister and mother again soon.

Dr Martin Luther King Jr once said in a speech: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and adversity.” Anyone can be positive, polite and kind when things are going well. What distinguishes people with an extraordinary character from the rest of us is how they respond when life sends one of its inevitable curves. They don’t crumble or surrender. They reach deeply into themselves and present even more of their highest nature to the world.”

I am sad that Johnny chose to keep his illness from his family. I would have been there for him in his darkest hour, but I am also very grateful that Lorraine was there, with his head cradled in her lap when he passed away. He suffered in silence for months but did not die alone. I am sure he felt at peace with her loving touch. My grief is softened, knowing that death set him free from the physical pain he was facing, and I know that he felt that that was no way to live. He left this world with unresolved hurts and wrongs but I will accept them as doors into Life’s deeper understandings. Perhaps this was Johnny’s way of leaving with dignity, and trying to protect those he loved.

A human life is sacred.
It is sacred in its being born.
It is sacred in its living.
And it is sacred in its dying.

Before the wonder of living and dying we are humbled. Though we live with the abstract knowledge that death is inevitable, in the end, death brings us face to face with life. And in spite of death, the scheme of Life is ultimately good.

My good memories of Johnny abound. I remember playing hide and seek in our old war time frame house, lying behind the curtain on the linen shelf, thinking he’d never find me. I remember him doing magic tricks with us kids, and playing with his walkie talkie and morse code device in the cubby hole upstairs. He was such a tease.

My trepidation turned to terror on my first trip to the dentist, because we passed a man jack hammering the sidewalk on the way there, and Johnny told me that was what the dentist’s drill was like. He told me that Chinese food was worms and snakes, that ghosts were out to get me, that Santa was skipping our house one Christmas.

He was my handsome older brother and boy was he cool! He could dance up a storm and tantalize the ladies. He was not a great scholar but I remember thinking he was very bold, drawing pictures of “Willy The Hair” all over his Shakespeare text books, and drawing pictures of cars and planes, when Dad thought he was in his room doing homework every night. He loved cars and was especially proud of a red Porsche he once owned. We won’t talk about his joy riding adventure and how Dad made him sweat it out in jail overnight!!!

Johnny was a neat freak….. he could wrap a mean present and his gifts were always well thought out and special. He took great joy in getting everyone just the right something for Christmas. I can still hear that black Chinese music box he gave me one year, and the King Sized beach towel that actually went all the way around me!!! Last Christmas he gave Karina the most unusual ice cream cone shaped cookie jar for her new house. Like Dad he loved his toys, and how great that he was able to enjoy many of them during the past eight years. Sometimes I envy the way he could spend money….. no conscience……. just do it!!! He had a ball developing a train hobby and collecting interesting antiques. In fact he had a great curiosity about the world around him, and an insight into politics that kept the Bathurst paper well supplied with clever editorial comments for several recent years. Shakespeare would be proud!

Johnny was a mechanical whiz. I remember the story about Dad coming home with our first lawn mower and Johnny immediately took it apart and put it right back together again. He was good at his job, loved the problem solving aspect of fixing type writers and photo copiers. We spend so much of our time working for a living that it is a real blessing when that work is enjoyable. Many times he would tell me how much he enjoyed his work.

I had a friend who said that cancer was the best thing that ever happened to him. It can become the burnishing forge for the heart of our lives. After his cancer in 2000, Johnny bought into life in a way he had never done before. He made more time for the people in his life, bought a used RV and travelled out west to see many historical sights he wanted to visit and moved out to the East Coast for some new experiences.

The thing I remember most about my big brother is the twinkle in his eye, that little inward chuckle he often had over life’s incongruencies. He loved animals and would stop the car to let a caterpillar cross the road. His sarcasm was kindly and his nature was generous. He understood and was there for me when I was going through cancer a few years ago. It surprised me at the time, as we had never really been close and sharing about our lives.

Johnny, Lorraine, Cocoa, Miranda

Caroline, Lorraine,Keegan and Lorraines son Peter

It is love, life’s purest expression, which survives even death, that brings us together today. Each of us loves in our own way and our own time and according to how we are loved in return. We do the best we can with what life dishes out to us, leaving a piece of ourselves with everyone we touch. Johnny touched more people in his life than we realize because he did it quietly. He has taught me humility and acceptance and appreciation for a different perspective than my own.

There is nobility in his spirit, healing in his pain. I know that he is at peace in a sacred place and I pray that his spirit is free to love again and be loved and mingle with an energy that is divine, perfect and alive. I am grateful for the part of me that was shaped by having Johnny for a brother and our unspoken sibling love. There is healing in my missing him and thanksgiving for his presence in my life.

When Kevin, Arthur and I attended the Peterborough Unitarian Church Sunday morning, we noticed the artistic statue above. How wonderfully it encompasses the Unitarian flame emblem, but in this version the lamp has become two hands, connecting and sending forth light. What an exquisite reminder of Johnny and the light he brought to my life. We have been blessed with a plethora of healing symbols this weekend. So I shall end this writing as I began, with the amazing freedom hymn born from John Newton's transformation..... this time by the renowned boy's choir, Libera. May we live to love and embrace our own transformations as they hearken.

Amazing Grace Version by Libera

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
We have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
And Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
As long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
Then when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

by John Newton

After lunch on Sunday we held hands in a circle and listened to Libera's lovely hymm, Far Away for our final goodbye to each other as we went back to our far away homes, and to Johnny, knowing he was in a place of beauty and peace.

Front Row: Lynn, Jillian, Jeannie, Keegan, Karina
Back Row: Aaron, Amber, Kevin, Alex, Nanci, Arthur, Kyle

My Trip to Bathurst, New Brunswick - March 2008

2008-04-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a trip to Bathurst, New Brunswick to spend 4 days with my brother's friend, Lorraine. When my brother Johnny passed away last month, my dear friend Maureen insisted I use up her air miles so this enncouraged me to set up the trip. This is the first time I have ever used air miles and was pleased with how easily it worked. I was able to book online, change seats and arrive at the air port with my boarding pass in hand.

Flying from Hamilton rather than the stressful Toronto Airport turned out to be a breeze. Getting there was a pleasant drive through countryide that took the same time; about an hour and a half. I am NOT a frequent flyer, so this was my first experience with small airports and small planes. My first surprise was having to walk out on the runway (no covered hallway) to get on the plane. Since I was sitting in seat 13C I thought I'd be part way down the plane, but I ended up right against the back wall. I was a tad nervous in a plane that seated only 48 people but everything went quite smoothly. When we arrived in Montreal I was worried about finding the next flight but it ended up being on the same floor just down the hall. I had studied the Trudeau air port floor plan on the internet the night before!!! When I got on the second plane, my seat was 5C so I figured I'd be up near the front, but this plane was even smaller. I ended up sitting in about the middle and was able to see the huge propellers out my window. Did I mention the noise!!!

Total flying time from Hamilton to Bathurst was only 2.5 hours but the whole process from door to door took about 8 hours. The cost was $650.00 but a third of that was because of the additional link into the small airport in Bathurst that will accept only Air Canada planes - those being twice a day!!! This is such a boon to the town that they are talking about building a larger air port that would be open to additional air lines. When I came back there were about 30 people on the plane and it took 10 people to admit us in the air port!!! Good old government staffing..... seemed like there was a person about every 5 feet. Some poor old lady in a wheel chair practically got a strip search. Well I was proud of myself for handling the flight alone, having done that only once before when I went to Europe in my early twenties.

When I stepped off the plane I was immersed in a winter wonderland of snow. Lorraine wasn't kidding when she said I was coming to the North Pole. Bathurst has had a record of over 15 feet of snow this winter. It was quite amazing, the most snow I've ever seen. It sure took me back to my childhood days of walking to school along the highway snow banks almost touching the telephone wires. With snow reaching to the eaves you could barely see out her kitchen window. Notice the picture from the garage door to the back yard; Lorraine had to kind of dig into the hill of snow so their dog, Cocoa could climb up into the back yard for a pee!!!

It was wonderful to have 4 days away from home with no responsibilities. Lorriane and I just vegged and visited and watched movies. One night we watched the entire Thornbirds series (4 VCR tapes, 8 hours) and ended up staying up til 5:30 am!!! It was quite funny. We kept saying, "well maybe we'll just start the next tape". I finally found a worthy night hawk match.

It brought a tear to my eye to step inside the front door and see my brother's dwarf slippers, as if he was just out for a few minutes. It was kind of healing and sad to go through the house seeing his train set up and workshop, war collections and many little treasures. I felt his personality and presence and was comforted to see that he had a full and happy life there inspite of his health issues.

Lorraine talked a lot about their wonderful trips and excursions. Johnny had set himself a goal to see certain things and accomplished that goal. This map on their fridge shows most of the states they had been in over the years.

It was so nice to spend some time in their home and meet their friends, Pierre and Jeannine who will accompany Lorraine up to the funeral May 24th. It was great to see that Lorriane is in good hands and handling things OK. She's a real fighter and quite independent. It was also nice to meet her son Timmy and his family. The kids were quite loving and Timmy is a great help to his mom. I saw this first hand as the roof developed a leak while I was there and Timmy crawled up through a small hole and lots of insulation to assess the situation and mop up the water.

I'll be glad when the burial is over, May 24th at Lakehurst Sanday Lake Cemetery. I've pretty much gotten over my anger with Johnny for not telling us of his illness..... something I just have to accept. Johnny will be finally put to rest with his much loved mother, father and sister in a peaceful place, in a wooden box he had made himself. It is comforting to know that he will rest in a place of his choosing in a box he'd made, conquering his battle in the end. I miss this brother of mine but am grateful for his presence in my life and find comfort in the memories that remain.

Goodbye to My Uncle Gord - The Quintessential "God's Good Man"

2008-03-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, March 22nd at 1:30 am, my dear Uncle Gordon Harvey Pammett passed away - just a few hours after Good Friday. He has been a huge part of my life for many years so I joyfully delivered his eulogy, yesterday, March 26th at the Comstock Funeral Home in Peterborough. This was a wonderful opportunity for the healing process to begin.

My brother Kevin posted a lovely tribute as well.

Yesterday dawned with this glorious sunrise as we prepared to leave for Peterborough.

Aaron made made a video of the service for those who could not attend. If you'd like to hear me delivering the Eulogy, click this You Tube link.

My eulogy commenced with this Ecclesiastes video presentation that Amber helped me lift from the web. We were able to get sufficient technical support to view it on a very large drop down screen at the front of the room, over the Urn site.

Eulogy for Gord Pammett
The Quintessential, “God’s Good Man” by Nanci Phelan

To speak of my uncle, Gord Pammett is to speak of the quintessential “God’s Good Man.” If there was nothing else to say about Gord, that would be it. He was a gentle man, and a gentleman of the highest calibre. He was to this world a wonderful blessing and we remain better people for having had him in our lives.

This has been a year of sad losses for our family. Not only did we lose Gord’s wife, Glenora, last July, but my brother Johnny died unexpectedly last month as well. My dear friend Bunty, who lives in Brockville, sent me the following condolence message last month after his death.

“I hope you have a chance to heal a little bit and recover from the shock of Johnny's death. We all react to loss in different ways, and since it will soon be my time to bow out, I have been telling my family to react positively when the time comes. Of course, death coming at the end of a long, happy, productive life, is very different from a younger person being untimely cut off, but, as I have said before, death is the ultimate healing from all the vicissitudes of life, whether it be simply old age, ill health, or emotional anguish. In that belief we must take comfort. No one ever said life would be easy.”

Then in response to an email I’d sent her about Gord, last weekend, she commented:

“I am sorry to hear that your Uncle has gone from this earth and from your sight, but at least you know, without the least shadow of doubt, that he is at peace. Obviously he was much loved and respected by everyone who knew him, in the course of his long sojourn here. When my Father died in 1964 someone remarked that he had been the quintessential "God's Good Man." From the little I know of your Uncle, I believe this would be an appropriate tribute to him as well. Would that we all might be remembered so kindly and lovingly when our turn comes!”

So I have stolen her theme, for goodness followed Gord throughout the many seasons of his long, happy and productive life.

Gord’s time to be born was March 4th, 1917 in Peterborough, Ontario. He was my Grandmother Eason’s firstborn son with her first husband, Melville Pammett, who died when Gord was quite young. This lovely old picture of Gord on the tricycle was taken in 1922 when Gord was 5 with my father, Dutch Pammett who was 2. From their body language, and the expression on their faces I can see that Gord was a protective older brother and my father really of looked up to him then and throughout his life. Since Grandma was left alone to raise the two boys she had to go out to work, and was able to persuade the school to let my father enrol at a younger age, because big brother Gord was there to look out for him. Though times were tough, I know they had lots of fun playing sports, and getting into mischief and I’m sure they ate well for Grandma was a wonderful cook!

During the planting time of Gord’s childhood and high school years, the seeds for success were sewn in abundance. While in high school Gord worked delivering papers for the Peterborough Examiner, and as a mail boy, then as an evening shift corn mill operator, for the Quaker Oats, so he could earn enough money to put himself through university. My father went the opposite direction, dropping out of high school to go to work, but I’m sure the example of his older brother finishing university, made him push for his own children to obtain their university degrees. Gord developed a wonderful work ethic and a love of learning that resulted in him earning a degree in Chemistry and Biology from Queen’s University in 1947, graduating not only cum laude, but in the final year of University, he did two years in one!!!

With the advent of World War II, there was a time of war, a time of hate and a time to kill. In 1943 Gord joined the navy on an officers training course, but was discharged because of faulty colour vision. Duty beckoned however, as Gord was called into the Governors General Footguards and was sent to England and Hilverson, in Holland, where he taught mathematics and physics to Canadian soldiers awaiting their return to Canada. When Marion and I were finding homes for the contents of Gord’s house, we discovered that the Dutch-Master-like painting that was hanging over the fireplace, was brought back from the war by Gord, rolled up into a tube as evidenced by some cracked paint. Although Gord learned grief when his father died, I’m sure his experiences in the war provided a time to mourn, perhaps the beginnings of the teary-eyed, sensitivity that coloured his later years. The older I get, the more I appreciate the valuable service those of Gord’s generation gave to our country, the sacrifices they made, and the immense contribution they gave so the world could know a time of peace.

There was a time to love and a time to embrace. During his early twenties Gord met the love of his life, Glenora Henry, while working for the National Research Council in Ottawa. They met at a dance in 1942 and were married, just a few months later, spending their early years in Renfrew where Gord was Laboratory Manager for Dominion Magnesium. It must have been love at first sight!!!!! Word has it that Mrs Henry had her heart set on her daughter marrying a senator and becoming part of the upper crust. She was not too pleased with this match but boy was she mistaken. With Gord as a husband, Glenora got a lot more than upward mobility….. she had a husband who adored her and provided a lucrative lifestyle, in which her every fancy was indulged.

Gord is to Glenora, as Prince Albert is the Queen Victoria, as Anthony is to Cleopatra, as Richard Burton is to Elizabeth Taylor. They became an inseparable couple, wrapped in a love that would last almost 65 years. Having the privilege of seeing how good Gord was to Glenora, when she was going through the last few years of her life, gave me a glimpse into the real meaning of “loving each other til death do us part”. He put her needs ahead of his own, even to the point of living in a locked alzheimer’s ward with her, and foregoing his own personal life in order to be there in case she needed him. He bent over backwards to bring whatever amount of joy he could to her final days, going without sleep and pushing himself beyond his limits, patiently, even in the face of her stroke induced criticism. It broke his heart to leave London against Glenora’s will and move to Peterborough but he knew it was best for them both. In this age of broken marriages and selfish acquisitions, their marriage stands as a source of inspiration and hope.

When Glenora died last summer, the sparkle went out of Gord’s eyes. His heart was rent in two. It was indeed a time to break down and a time to weep. For the last eight months we have watched Gord decline bit by bit, sleeping away the time until he could become one again with his love. Today my heart leaps for joy because if there is a God out there, they are together again in their own time for peace.

There was a time to build up and a time to plant. From 1948 to 1982, Gord worked in the field of veterinary sales with several different companies, starting with Pitman Moore in Port Hope, then Stevenson, Turner & Boyce in Peterborough, and finally Pfizer in London, where they moved in 1965 and stayed for over 40 years. One of his most interesting jobs was opening a branch in Reading, England in 1961 where their wonderful friendship with Maureen Dowling was born.

Gord had many executive positions throughout the years and met a lot of interesting people while working as a salesman. The companies he worked for prospered. Glenora was employed as a legal secretary during the working season of their lives and they both exhibited great zeal and dedication, showing a utilitarian work ethic that I would love to bottle and sell.

But all work and no play would make Gord a dull boy!!!! There was also time for dancing and laughter. The Pammetts spent many happy hours at their family cottage near Ottawa and attended countless plays at the London Little Theatre and the Toronto’s Royal Alexander Theatre. People were welcomed to their home with open arms, feasting first on Glenora’s delicious home cooked meals, then on Gord’s fabulous slide shows. The many friends they built up over the years added a layer of richness to their lives.

Gord also kept his mind active - taking courses from Western and investing in the stock market. He was a money manager par excellence. This love of stocks was his second passion in life and one that kept him involved and challenged. Just a few months ago we knew Gord was on his final journey because he quit asking about the stock market and given the status of stocks recently, this made Hugh sigh with relief!!!

Although they were not blessed with children, Gord and Glenora became mentors for their nieces and nephews, taking me into their home and into their hearts when I was at University in London. No special occasion went unmarked with words of praise or special gifts, not only for me and my family, but also for the families of all their relatives and many friends. Gord was the Lord of the Dance. He always had a listening ear and words of wisdom to impart.

There was a time to pluck that which is planted – the golden years of retirement, starting in 1982. Check out Gord in this snazzy, bright, red track suit posing on a beach in Portugal…... camera in tow!! They travelled extensively in Europe, with Royal Tours out of Mississauga, and wintered for many years in Spain and Arizona. Gord embraced life as he never had before, making the most of every day.

He joined the Middlesex Kiwanis Club, holding offices as chairman of, Membership, Program, and the Bequest and Endowment Fund committees. This organization was very active in providing funds for the local Kiwanis Music Festival, and I remember many a year when Gord would be tied up for several weeks administering the competitions, though music was not his forte. How he looked forward to their weekly meetings, even attending one last meeting at Princess Gardens before he got sick. Although this is primarily a men’s organization, Glenora would join in for the couples events and she managed to get Gord to play, reluctantly I might add, with their bridge group. He wasn’t very fond of card games or crossword puzzles but always had unique mind testing mechanical puzzles around his house to pique the curiosity of visiting children.

Gord was also very active in the University health club, known as the Retirement Research Association and was chairman of the group for a few years……. even getting Glenora out exercising (and that was not her forte) during their last few years in London. He participated in fund raising for the Salvation Army and was active in their Baptist Church. “No” was not in his vocabulary.

Gord never stopped learning. He stepped into the computer age with aplomb….. sneaking off to track his finances on Excel spreadsheets and even learned to download and forward attachments, all the while typing with two fingers!!! I had great fun showing him some of the joys and frustrations of this technological wonder, and was always proud to tell my friends that my 80 plus year old Uncle was quite adept on his computer. Indeed this is the only possession he didn’t give up after his final move to Princess Gardens. It was had been his companion and friend and network to the outside world.

How Gord loved life and loved the people in his life…… especially the children, and they loved him back. One of the great joys of those retirement years was working in the schools, listening to children read as a volunteer teacher. I’m sure he was very patient and positive with the children, taking great pride in their accomplishments. He knew the time to keep silent and the time to speak and if he happened to slip up Glenora would promptly put him in his place!!! He was a man of few words, more a listener….. gentle, sweet, curious and interested in the world around him. His generosity in both time and money knew no bounds. He aged gracefully, ever growing in wisdom. He knew when to gather up stones of compassion and love, and when to cast away stones of prejudice and hatred. An unkind word never crossed his lips.

Gord’s mother found joy for many years in a second marriage to my grandfather, Bill Eason. From this union Gord was blessed with another sister Marion and a brother Ken, who unfortunately died in his 50’s. Gord was away from home during most of Marion’s growing up years but became very close to her and Hugh during his golden years. When they moved back to Peterborough last May their lives could not have been in more loving hands.

It was a time to sew together the last pieces of the quilt, a time to prepare for the final healing. Marion was the best sister anyone could ask for. She took on the endless jobs of organizing the moves, arranging appointments, nurturing and administering all the details that become so difficult when life is getting away from us. Thoughtfulness must run in their family for Marion was there anticipating every need, from washing bedspreads to brushing false teeth. It is through family that we know the love of God within. The past few months have been difficult for both Gord and Marion, but from adversity comes strength. Marion’s whole family pitched in to help and spend some cherished time with Gord this past year. Theirs was a labour of love that knows the rewards of love. I am so grateful that they were there when I couldn’t be.

Then came Gord’s time to die. It seems like he has been asleep for the past eight months as his body got weaker and weaker. Like a sleeping prince, my sleeping Prince, Glenora’s sleeping prince. How she used to complain when he snoozed too much. I hope his dreams were pleasant. His demeanour certainly was. The care givers from all five homes he was in during the past two years commented on his wonderful disposition, his sweetness. He was gracious to the last, never complaining though his hours were long and his quality of life so distilled. His mind was sharp til his life ebbed away to the ultimate mercy and healing of death. His time for every purpose under heaven has come full circle.

For some reason the song you have just listened to (click to hear song: Turn, Turn, Turn), which hails from Ecclesiastes 3: verses 1-8 and was made famous by the Byrds in the seventies, popped into my head when I was thinking about my novegenarian uncle.

I will forever be grateful for Gord in my life – his love and support, his listening ear, his kindly advice, his fatherly way of caring, his work ethic, his moral stance, his generosity, his gentle spirit, his inspiration as a husband, his wonderful community mindedness, his quintessential example of God’s Good Man. We were walking through a mall one day and he just decided to buy me this pretty red jacket, for no reason, just because he was who he was. This is a man who gave me away when I got married, when my own father refused. He wrote me the most eloquent toast to the bride. This is a man who helped us finance the building of our dream house. This is a man who remembered all the special moments in my families’ lives. This is a man I can never forget, a man whose love knows no bounds.

In his memory I would like to close with the following poem, author unknown.

Remembering My Uncle Gord (Uncles Who Are No Longer Among Us)

In tears we saw you sinking
And watched you pass away
Our hearts were almost broken
We wanted you to stay

But when we saw you sleeping
So peaceful free from pain
How could we wish you back with us
To suffer that again

It broke our hearts to lose you
But you did not go alone
For part of us went with you
The day God took you home

If roses grow in Heaven
Lord please pick a bunch for me
Place them in my Uncle’s arms
And tell him they’re from me

Tell him I love him and miss him
And when he turns to smile
Place a kiss upon his cheek
And hold him for awhile

Because remembering him is easy
I do it every day
But there’s an ache within my heart
That will never go away

Don’t think of him as gone away
His journey’s just begun
Life holds so many facets
This earth is only one

Just think of him as resting
From the sorrows and the tears
In a place of warmth and comfort
Where there are no days and years

Think how he must be wishing
That we could know today
How nothing but our sadness
Can really pass away

And think of him as living
In the hearts of those he touched
For nothing loved is ever lost
And he is loved so very much

Practicing with html and tables

2008-03-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

Before

After

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I am learning how to make tables and work with html code. I will treat this blog article as my web page on which to work with the code.

this is a line that can be made different widths, lengths and alignments

This is a single cell table with the border showing and made wider.

text or photo goes here

This is a table with three rows but only one column.

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This is a table with two columns and two rows.

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This is a table with two columns and two rows and cellpadding to ensure that the contents are a certain distance from the borders.

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In this table I am specifying the width of the columns.

text or photo goes here	text or photo goes here
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In this table 123 I am making the cells merge to span columns.

Canada
Australia	Australia

In this table 1234 I am making the cells merge to span rows.

Canada	Canada	Canada
Australia	Australia	Australia
Australia	Australia	Australia

In this table I am making the cells merge to span columns and rows.

Canada
Australia	Australia	Australia
Australia	Australia	Australia

In this table I am adding column headings and a Title Caption at the bottom above the table.

**Whoopie A Caption**
text or photo goes here	text or photo goes here
text or photo goes here	text or photo goes here
text or photo goes here	text or photo goes here

In this table I am adding colour and a fixed width and height. You go to the hex code link to get different colour codes.

text or photo goes here

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When I put the sample code in here it did turn the background black but don't know how to get the code for any other colours.

text or photo goes here

put text here

The Story of Sadako

2008-03-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

In Memory of my dear friend, Dorothea Dryden: 1925 - 2004

Today I came across an interesting Gimundo story that reminded me of a piece of stained glass that I made a few years ago. I had a friend, Dorothea Dryden. She moved to Ottawa in the late 90's and started going to Orleans United Church. She had moved there from my friend Marie's church, in Thomasburg, and Marie had given her my name so I could help her make connections in a big new city. So of course I took Dorothea under my wing and we had some great times together. She was a kind lady who loved quilting and doing work for her church. She looked a bit like my Grandma Chapman!! We had her over for several Sunday dinners with the family as I remembered my mom telling me how lonely the weekend was when you're a widow. When my mom was dying in my home in the summer of 2000 Dorothea came by to lend her support.

But Dorothea had her own story. She was facing a very rare disease called amyliodosis. Her move to Ottawa happened so she could be near her daughter in her time of need. Dorothea lived with this disease for several years, but did all she could to make every day count and help others. In February of 2004, after we had moved to Brockville, I learned that Dorothea was hospitalized and not well. The amyloidosis had progressed causing most of her organs to be smothered by the protein deposits, while huge amounts of fluid were congesting the body. She left the hospital go to her daughter's home to spend her final weeks. When I visited Dorothea there the room was full of paper cranes that ladies from her old church in Thomasburg had sent her along with their prayers. She then told me the moving story of Sadako Sasaki as related in the children's book, Sadako and The Thousand Cranes, to explain to me more about why her church friends were sending her the paper folded cranes.

Dorothea asked me to make a piece of stained glass for her to give Sandra as a thankyou for helping through this dying journey. When I tried to think of what to make, the story of Sadako came to mind, and I found a crane design then added in some Hibiscus flowers to go along with it and made them blue as this was Dorothea's favourite colour. It turned out that her daughter, Sandra also loved birds so the idea was very fitting. I showed Dorothea the pattern and she loved it but she died before I got the piece completed. Sandra was very touched when she received the stained glass a few days after the funeral. Sandra has a gorgeous home and a dining room with vibrant pink walls, so I used a gorgoeus baroque swirled pink glass for the background of the piece. Unfortunately the pictures I got below were not the best but will give you a feel for the piece.

I read the complete story today in the Gimundo article and learned about the real Sadako and her tragic fight with leukemia which she contacted as a result of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima when she was just a baby. She was a vibrant, loving child who died at the age of 12. Before she died she started folding paper cranes to try and live as she had heard that if she folded a thousand of them then her health issues would be resolved. Sadly she did not complete the cranes but they were put in her coffin to accompany her to the next world and many were also given to her school mates.

Since then, paper cranes have become a symbol for world peace and a atomic peace statue of a child holding a paper crane has been erected in Sadako's memory.

Photo on the left was taken at a goodbye party held for me in Oct, 2002 when we moved away from Ottawa. The other person besides Dorothea, is Mary Ann Pocock, another dear friend who came by to do Reiki with my mom when she was dying from cancer in my home. At this time Mary Ann was getting chemo for breast cancer and has since passed away.

So today I remember Dorothea.... her humility, her quaint farm ways, her community spirit, her generosity, her joie de vivre as she quilted lovely gifts for each of her grand children, her sense of humour and her accepting faith and courage in the face of death....... just like that wee Sadako, a child I'll never know but one whose voice will now ring through the ages, transcending time as she flies with the cranes.

Stained Glass Pieces Made in 2007

2008-02-27T17:44:00.001-08:00

Adapted United Church Cross Logo - Dec 14, 2007

The cross on the right was made in 1999 for our minister, Tom Sherwood when he left Orleans United Church in Ottawa, and was done using the actual logo colours.

The new orange cross on the left is the second United Church Logo that I have adapted. It was made for my friend Ruth to give her son Robb, who is currently a missionary in Africa. I prefer to work with very translucent glass and it is difficult to find background glass that has variegated colours. The streaks in the background piece to the left are reflected in the vibrant colours chosen for the cross.

It was wonderful fun making this lovely pattern from Chantal's free patterns and choosing complimentary colours and textures. Alas the first piece I made for Inez was 1/8 inch too wide for the window opening. It is almost impossible to change the dimensions on a completed piece of glass.Then a solution appeared since we were going to Edmonton to spend Christmas with my niece Karina who was having a new house made. Karina loves stained glass flowers so I took the original piece as a gift for their new house. During the remake of this piece I was able to incorporate all the "wish I had done certain things differently" changes an artist always feels at the end of each project. Both were beautiful. In this piece the pinks dance in vibrant colour around the turquoise English muffled circle and the sparkling irridescent background glass.

Asiatic Lily - December 14, 2007

Elegant Bevelled Cardinal - October 21, 2007

This Cardinal came from a free Chantal Pattern. I enlarged the bird and extended the tail and added a bevel border for a more elegant look. It is pretty impossible to do spruce branches in glass so I used green plastic electricians wire for the needles and peeled off each end of the plastic to solder the needles into the seams. The background is a unique fractures and streamers glass that adds a forest like background to the ephusion of red. This mixed media piece was a surprise present for my friend Joanne for her 6Oth birthday and I had great fun making it.

Stained Glass Artist at Large

2008-02-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

Hooked On Glass

One of my greatest joys is working with clients on their stained glass dreams.

Browse to view some of my Stained Glass pieces online.

This Flickr site has a complete collection of my works - over 450 photos arranged thematically.

The Webshots site shows some selected sets.

More recent projects can be viewed at:

Stained Glass Pieces made in 2007

Stained Glass Pieces made in 2008

CVI Guelph Reconstruction Windows - special project

Stained Glass Pieces made in 2009

See additional Free Stained Glass Patterns.

I have always loved the play of light in the world around me. Nothing captures my imagination like the dancing rainbows produced by the myriad of crystal prisms that adorn my windows. Perhaps it was Pollyanna and "the glad game" or maybe it was my aunt Glenora who gave me my first cut glass piece. When my children were little one of our favourite games was winding up the music boxes and then twirling all the prisms in our kitchen window. Our smiles would then light up the room.

So it is not surprising that in 1982 just after my third child was born, I happened to take a stained glass night school interest course in Tweed. It was just one of those cathartic moments. I had always loved stained glass windows and sun catchers and suddenly there was a course in our local school and I really needed a night out. Since the course was only 10 weeks I pushed our teacher to the limits by pressing her for help in replicating all the flat pieces I already had in my house as well as learning how to do three dimensional boxes and flower pots. I managed to find a lady who would let me use her facilities during the week, so could bring in lots of projects for the teacher's inspection and advice.

This course changed my life forever. The seeds had been planted and a stained glass artist was born!!!! Somehow my creative instincts took flight and I discovered the joys of working in glass. I would like to thank my mother for giving me the gift of working with my hands. I began knitting when I was 5 years old and grew up using my hands to create. The hand eye co-ordination that came from this upbringing enabled me to develop the mechanical skills needed to produce quality stained glass pieces.

Once I started doing glass I needed money to pay for supplies so I took figure skating pieces into the arena where my kids were having lessons and hung them up for sale. Pretty soon I had my picture windows full of sun catchers and a list of orders up on the bulletin board. Then I found stores to take my work on consigment and started taking out booths at art shows. At one point I considered buying a stained glass business in Belleville.

Now 25 years later, my passion for glass is alive and well. It has given me a raison d'etre and an amazing feeling of joy when I see the pleasure my pieces bring to my clients. Every piece has a "personal" story to tell. I did a piece for Dr Roberta Bondar, first Canadian woman astronaut, one for our 24th Lieutenant Gouvernor Lincoln Alexander, one for a private eye firm in Toronto, one for a law firm, one for a woman who was dying in her daughters home as a gift from her to thank her daughter after she was gone. It is no wonder that I call my business Hooked on Glass. The projects never end and the ideas are constantly brewing in my subconscious.

One of the not so great "joys of glass" is moving studios!!! I have had that pleasure 5 different times in the past 25 years, most recently moving from Brockville to Elmira. During the past year my husband built me a funky studio in a big room over our garage. It is wonderful to have such a bright cheery place to work. In April 2008 my daughter Amber and husband Arthur made me some wonderful stained glass shelves to store the glass on and I am ecstatic - no more slicing fingers, can easily find and access the glass when choosing for projects. Don't know how I lived without this for the past 25 years. The wood cost almost $500 and they created four units for easier moving etc. It is amazng how heavy they are. I am very grateful.

My brother Kevin who lives near Boston, has written a nice article about my work.

I can be contacted at nanci.phelan@sympatico.ca if you want to get glassed!!!!

An Unexpected Goodbye to My Brother Johnny....

2008-02-04T14:15:00.000-08:00

An early morning phone call on Feb 2, 2008 awoke me to the sudden passing of my brother Johnny just a few days after he finally agreed to go to the hospital. With his head cradled in Lorraine’s lap he was comforted throughout the long dark night. I am grateful that his suffering is over, that he did not die alone, that he kept his wit and sense of humour to the end and that his death came quickly, much to the surprise of the Doctors and everyone who loved him.

I am deeply saddened by my final loss of him, though I have been saddened even more by the reflection that he was lost to me most of my life, and in the end I was denied the opportunity to say goodbye and tell him how much he was loved. We had no idea that his cancer had returned. As early as two weeks ago he assured me that he was feeling fine, keeping his weight up and enjoying reading and looking forward to coming to Ontario in the summertime…… when in reality he was in bed in great pain and totally exhausted all the time. In the end he was not able to keep food down for two weeks, and refused to seek medical help or let his family know that he was in this state. I am trying to figure out the reasons for this but whatever they are, it is a great tragedy and I am left with many conflicting emotions.

I am touched by the words of Mother Theresa in her summation of what Life is.

LIFE IS

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

There is more wisdom here than meets the eye. I like to think that Johnny was able to experience this great diversity of life as he passed through the many seasons. I know he saw much beauty in nature and animals and was able to see the funny side of life. He dealt with more sorrow than most and was an honourable man who would stop the car to let a caterpillar cross the road. He was so brave in his time of trial. Johnny leaves behind a wonderful daughter, Karina, who is caring, loving, thoughtful and kind beyond measure.

Since our family is so small and live in different parts of the country, there will be no service or burial until later in the year. My brother Kevin was able to have his own celebration of Johnny’s life around a bonfire on Saturday. I had a rye and ginger ale and a winter sauna in memory of our fun times at Pigeon Lake. He loved grandfather clocks so I turned ours on to chime and offered prayers and lit a candle at church on Sunday. Memories and old tapes play through my mind, over and over as is wont when someone we love dies.

When we heard that Johnny had been hospitalized Kevin and I wrote the following blog articles:

He's My Brother — John William Hickey
http://kevinpammett.blogspot.com/2008/01/hes-my-brother-john-william-hickey.html

Insurer’s have quite a thing going
http://nanciphelan.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

After Johnny died Kevin wrote two other lovely blog articles:

Farewell to My Brother "Johnny" — July 1941 - Feb 2008 http://kevinpammett.blogspot.com/2008/02/farewell-to-my-brother-johnny-july-1941.html

The Morning After — Johnny's Spirit Lives On http://kevinpammett.blogspot.com/2008/02/morning-after-johnnys-spirit-lives-on.html

Kevin also made the following wonderful slideshow

http://kevinpammett.blogspot.com/2008/02/treasured-memories-of-uncle-johnny.html

I have made a photo collage to pay tribute to my brother, as he was in various seasons of his life. The naked reality of someone no longer in our lives takes time to heal. The ache will lessen but the hole will always remain. When he found out his diagnosis on Tuesday, he said to Lorraine that he would be seeing his Mom and Gaye again soon…… I pray for the graceful realization of this hope.

I have found great solace in the following Libera songs. Their voices are pure and heavenly as they echo what is in our hearts and touch the divine.

Far Away (click link to hear Libera song on You Tube)

Whereever I go
Far away and anywhere

Time after time you always shine
through dark of night calling after me

And wherever I climb
Far away and anywhere

You raise me high beyond the sky
through stormy night lifting me above

Venite Spiritu et emitte caelittus
Venite Spiritu et emitte caelittus
Venite Spiritu Venite Spiri tus

Whenever I cry
Far away and anywhere

You hear me call when shadows fall
your light of hope showing me the way.

Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep (click link to hear Libera song on You Tube)

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.

By Mary Frye

Insurers have quite a thing going ......

2008-01-31T00:27:00.000-08:00

My brother Johnny has quite a wit. He stands up for injustices in this world and has a unique way of eliciting a smile from others in the process.

I got some very sad news yesterday about my brother. He is in the hospital in Bathurst, New Brunswick with a diagnosis of liver and kidney cancer, metastasized from the throat cancer he had in 2000, at the same time as our mom was dying from stomach cancer.

Inspite of being terrified of all things medical, especially doctors and needles, his courage in the face of radiation, commando surgery and a life threatening illness, has been a great inspiration to me. His quality of life has been deeply affected. He lost his teeth, taste buds, appetite and boyish good looks. Since then the journey has been up and down, but he bought into life and carried on with chin held high and sense of humour intact. As his 6 foot 2 frame dwindled to 110 pounds (not much fun living on boost), he would joke about wishing I could give him some of my excess poundage. Oh I wish!!!!

In 2003 he moved to Bathurst and became the conscience for their local newspaper. One of his letters to the editor read like this:

__________________________________________________________________

"Insurers have quite a thing going

Can you imagine working for a company where, if your customers “dare” to ask for financial restitution for an accident and have paid for this coverage, they are either penalized by larger rates or cancellation of their coverage – as if they had insulted your rules.

If I ever come back to this earth in the after-life I would like to be a CEO of an insurance company. I would have financial security, and what a pension! To heck with the customers, the poor beggars. "
__________________________________________________________________
During the past eight years he has been there for me, particularly when I was facing chemo and radiation treatments for Breast Cancer. During those days he called me often, listened to what I was going through, sent me copies of his articles and shared old photos. I was so touched by his love and support, understanding and balmy outlook on life. I feel very helpless now living so far away from him at this poignant time in his life. I pray that I will have the right words to say to him when I go there next week with my brother Kevin, and the courage to love him enough to say goodbye.

I plan on reading him George Constanza’s words of wisdom:

__________________________________________________________________

The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of it? A death. What’s that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backwards.

You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you go live in an old age home. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, then, when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day. You work for forty years until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement. You drink alcohol, you party, and you get ready for high school. You go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a little baby, you go back, you spend the next 9 months floating with luxuries like central heating, spa, room service on tap. Then you finish off as an orgasm!!!!! Amen.

___________________________________________________________________

I’m sure Johnny would take out that insurance policy inspite of the high premiums if he could just live his Life in Reverse. Maybe he will put this on his CEO “to do” list and get the last laugh first.

Gifts of Grace

2008-01-10T21:38:00.000-08:00

A Fabulous New Year!!!!!!

(Please note that in Flickr album photo links below: you can double click on the photos to enlarge them and read descriptive text, use the back button to get to next photo and view them as a slideshow.)

I recently had the opportunity to listen to a remarkable dissertation by Elea, the minister at my brother's Unitarian Church, on the topic of "Grace...... an ineffable loveliness...... the breath of something incomprehensible." She felt that grace could not be controlled or defined or fully comprehended but if we float in the creative embrace of life and pay attention and open ourselves up to grace it can be tasted and felt and lived. She urged that we practice the habit of acknowledging moments of grace and this made me poignantly aware of how truly blessed I have been over this Christmas season. Thus I pen this post in a state of gratitude for the many Gifts of Love and Grace, the gifts behind the gifts that I received this year.

I was blessed with the gift of Laughter. We are closest to other people when we laugh together. It is a universal language that holds us in a flow of connectedness. There was a pearl amongst the email jabberwocky this year. It was an Elf Yourself animation that allowed me to insert faces of my friends into figures of dancing elves. I spent many hours passing on this gift of humour to others. Sadly to say they have gone north leaving just an empty hat.

I also attended a wonderful Newcomers Christmas Party with Amber and the entertainer was an Elvis Impersonator. Sexy he was not but his humour was contagious and before the evening was out he managed to elicit a kiss from everyone. The season got off to a great start. I am grateful to have met so many nice people at this club and great peals of laughter can be heard whenever we gather.

I was blessed with the gift of Hospitality as many people welcomed us to their homes. We enjoyed pre-Christmas visits with friends and family in Toronto, Lindsay and Peterborough. How great that I now live close enough to share Yuletide comaraderie (and a hot tub) with my old and dear friends, Joanne, Inez and Cathie who came all the way from Ottawa. We had a wonderful brunch with my cousin Steven and Caroline and enjoyed seeing the recent renovations on their house. We also managed to visit Marion and Hugh and my uncle Gord who has been quite ill. I was so happy to hear that he was able to make it to Pollards on Christmas Day, his first outing since last July.

I hosted a bridge party and gift exchange for my four groups of students followed by a festive lunch out at Crossr oads, our famous Elmira Mennonite restaurant. This has been a terrific year getting to know our new neighbours Walter and Joyce and the day we left for the airport we were invited to some toasts and munchies around their tree.

I was blessed with the gift of Music. We rarely get to see my brothers or their families at Christmas because of distance but this year, Kevin sent me a unique present (click on the uTube video with Kevin's picture on the screen for sound) and one quite in tune with his talents and passions. Every year he participates in a local choir with his daughter and this year they had a special young Jewish friend visiting who had never experienced Christmas. They took her along for their a wonderful traditional cutting the Christmas Tree outing.

Sadly were were not able to visit with Arthur’s family or my brother Johnny this year but we did get snowed in with Ernie and his boarders the weekend before Christmas. He had his crèche out and was in great spirits looking forward to spending Christmas Day with the Connolly family in Lindsay. I do have happy memories of seeing my brother Johnny last Christmas. On one of our outings this year to a Kitchener event called Christlkind, I took some photos of a train collection that I thought Johnny would like as he is also a train enthusiast.

I was blessed with the gift of Family and Love as we travelled to Edmonton to spend the holiday with my niece Karina and her family. We have never been with them for Christmas and rarely travel outside the province at this time of year. Our children Aaron and his wife Nagmeh and our daughter Amber went there too so it was a unique and special holiday.

Though our own decorations were slim we enjoyed Karina's home in Christmas attire and also made several visits to the new home they are having built. This home is situated in a upscale subdivision in Sherwood Park with huge lots. While there we saw our first white hare. Karina and Kyle have had quite the year working through the details of house construction and are quite excited about moving in by the end of January. One of the unique features of their home is an upstairs media room with speakers installed in the ceilings and all the high tech components efficiently placed. You can look out from this room into the vaulted living room. The kitchen will be amazing - spacious, a fireplace, granite counter tops, lots of elegant cupboards and a pantry to die for. We are so happy for them in this dream come true.

We had several fun outings while in Edmonton; the Edmonton Mall, bowling with Kyle's family (I was so sore the next day that I could not lower myself to the toilet seat), a hockey game with the Oilers, a fabulous dinner theatre of the sixties and seventies Rock Music and light tours of Candy Cane Lane and the Legislature Building. There was also a display at a private residence called Maizies House, in which her son was continuing to celebrate his mom's love for Christmas lights, by offering their incredibly decorated house on tour to the public for the season and this year they had raised over $30,000 in donations for diabetes.

It was such fun participating in their Christmas traditions. Christmas Eve was a time for old movies and we watched "Bishops Wife" starring Cary Grant. We had a leisurely Christmas breakfast after picking up Aaron and Nagmeh at the airport and once Keegan returned from his time with the Hoculaks, we opened presents around the tree. Later in the day we joined the Stokowski family for an awesome Christmas dinner at Kyle's parents place. Marlene and Fred were wonderful hosts and we experienced a genuine home cooked traditional "Turkey" and Polish meal, sang carols (that was quite a racket), played charades and exchanged a few gifts. We went to bed stuffed and happy and speaking of bed, I must comment how grateful we were to Keegan for giving up his wonderful King Sized bed to us. I had 10 days of excellent sleep!!!

I was blessed with the gift of Surprises. Before we left for Edmondon, I came down to breakfast one morning and there was Amber with a wonderful unenxpected Christmas gift for us. She had been working hard all term at school but we had not yet seen her creations. I never expected to be receiving furniture made by my daughter. The table is exquisite - perfect joints, solid, lovely finish. I was so proud of her.

Not to be outdone, her brother gave us another joyful surprise. The first gift I was given on Christmas morning came from my son Aaron and his wife Nagmeh, and it was a little photo book entitled"Grandma's Brag Book". You can only imagine our surprise and delight at such great news. We have been very envious of our friends having grandchildren and now it is our turn.

It sure is an amazing feeling to think of ourselves as grand parents..... so many trips down memory lane to our own parents, when we told them the news and the many ways they helped us through the years with our own children. Did I mention how old this makes me fee l??? Did I mention how inept I feel, yikes, I don't know how to be a grandparent!!! Humm .... is this a chance for us to have the revenge of the cradle. An extra bonus is the baby's due date, July 3rd, as our daughter Miranda will be visiting from Australia for a month at that time so she will be part of the celebration. Well nothing in life is quite like the miracle of your first baby and we thrilled that Aaron and Nagmeh will be blessed in this way. The Phelan name will continue on!

Speaking of Miranda and Ralph, we had our first visit webcam skype date with them on Christmas Eve and were able to watch them open the presents we'd sent. Various theatrical antics were performed on both sides as we played with the technology. It was wonderful to see them after a year. Miranda proudly showed us the Chocolate Chip Cookies and Nanaimo bars she had made for the Belton Christmas celebration. It kind of tugged at my heartstrings to be so close and yet so far away and it was hard to say goodbye.

I am so grateful for our family, that we are able to keep in touch across the globe, that we are able to make the effort at Christmas to spend time together in laughter and love. Being with Karina's family made me look back in awe at the circumstances that brought us together so many years ago. It was the momentous and unselfish decision by her father that placed her in our lives as a daughter and sister and how I cherish her love and support. This was a gift that keeps on giving and will be there for my children and grand children long after I'm gone.

I am blessed with the gift of a Happy Marriage - the one I take most for granted. Although my husband find's Christmas difficult because I am so absorbed with all the preparations, this year we made an extra effort to spend time together. I am thankful for my sensitive, helpful, thoughtful husband who puts up with my foibles and always puts his family first. He worked all year finishing up projects around the house, made a frame for my stained glass gift to Karina at the last minute and even managed to keep in a positive and upbeat frame of mind throughout the holiday. It seems that his work never ends and I'm so glad we had such a lovely, restful holiday. He was able to return to work refreshed.

So on this note I end, thanking everyone for your lovely Christmas presents and most importantly, the Love and Time you've put into preparing gifts for us and being with us this year. We are blessed beyond measure. Life is good as we live in God's amazing grace.

Seasons of Our Lives.....

2007-12-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas Greetings from Phelanland 2007

WINTER

Whose woods these are I think I know
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

· a sad goodbye to Mir & Ralph at the TO airport after lovely visit
· Art & Amber strip floors & move door as a surprise for Nagmeh while they’re away on pilgrimage to Haifa (orchestrated by our romantic son)
· Amber liked it so much, she decided to become a fine woodworker
· Arthur finishes work on my stained glass studio & I teach Walter SG
· I make several stained glass pieces, including a surprise hummingbird window for Aaron & Nagmeh
· I teach my 1st bridge course in Elmira & make several new friends
· Arthur enjoys his meetings with the Bonsai & the Rotary club
· I join Newcomer’s & CFUW & participate in their book, bridge, movie, wine, luncheon & new members clubs
· see Steven Lewis at Sir Wil; most incredible speaker I’ve ever heard
· I visit my aunt Glenora & Uncle Gord in London every few weeks & help them through some tough times

SUMMER

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.

· we visit old friends in Kingston & then spend a weekend in Tweed; what a trip down memory lane & a great start for the summer
· on a sad summer’s day, July 4, my dear aunt Glenora passed away; she has been like a mother to me for over 40 years; I played original Judy Garland “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” song & wrote a eulogy for the funeral; she & Gord had 64 wonderful years together
· with Stratford being just an hour away, we enjoy 3 wonderful peformances; one was with A&N to celebrate our mutual anniversaries
· we experience the Elora Music festival & wonderful Mill restaurant with my cousin Steven & Caroline; partied with the organizers
· we attend the Kitchener Blues Festival & antique car show
· Arthur finds Nirvana when we go to the Ford Truck show in Arthur
· we explore the beaches of Lake Huron, from Grand Bend to Sauble & were very impressed with their unique beauty; fun in the sun!!!

SPRING

Sweet April showers
Do spring May flowers.

· sauna is installed & operational by March; quite a challenge
· we have a wonderful surprise birthday party for Gord (90) & Glenora (86) on April 1st & they see many friends for the last time
· we undertake a huge yard project; remove old wooden fence around the pool opening up view to the back field & horses; install wire fence around the area; extend gardens; create an opening through the stone wall & create a new path, remove trees, work up & plant gardens
· Arthur has fun setting up his Bonsai collection; this involved digging holes to fill with gravel for cement block posts; covering the area in lawn fabric & cleaning up old pool fence boards & installing them behind the bonsai area as a wind break
· we find 3 other compatible couples to play bridge with
· Bunny invasion begins; set up a canvas shade structure beside pool
· attend an excellent TO performance of Amber’s “Voices” choir
· I move Gord & Glenora to Peterborough so Gord’s sister Marion can help them out & this was in the nick of time
· we went to Hamilton Lilac festival & held a Bonsai open house here

FALL

No spring, nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face

· Amber moves home after being away 5 years; she is studying Woodworking at Conestoga college, doing well & enjoying it; I am trying not to overparent; we have quite a time juggling cars as her school is 30 minutes away & we’re learning about each other again
· she & her Dad have had a lot of fun working together; they finished the garage dry wall, wiring, insulation, built shelves & installed window sills on the first floor of the house; their next project is to build a work shop in the basement so Amber can develop her expertise
· I’m thrilled to have two “handy helpers” in the house & have no trouble coming up with exciting projects for them; Amber painted her bedroom & the sun room a lovely turquoise
· I hosted a surprise 60th birthday party for my friend Joanne & several friends visited, including Ruth from Vancouver not seen for 20 years
· I taught 3 bridge classes & joined a Probus club with 175 women
· we are really looking forward to Xmas & New Years with our neice Karina & Kyle in Edmonton; along with Amber, Aaron & Nagmeh
· good news: Miranda & Ralph coming home for a month next summer

Remembrance Day 2007

2007-11-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyrCm5e32qc

This is the Terry Kelly Pittance Remembrance Day video from You Tube. Sing along with the words below. It's a beautiful tribute to those who have lost a loved one in war.

It's A Pittance of Time

They fought and some died for their homeland,
They fought and some died now it's our land.
Look at his little child there's no fear in her eyes.
Could he not show respect for other Dads who have died?

Take 2 minutes — would you mind? — it's a pittance of time.
For the boys and the girls who went over.
In peace may they rest; may we never forget why they died.
It's A Pittance of Time.

God forgive me for wanting to strike him.
Give me strength so as not to be like him.
My heart pounds in my breast, fingers pressed to my lips.
My throat wants to call out. My tongue barely resists.

But 2 minutes I will bide; it's a Pittance of time.
For the boys and the girls who went over.
In peace may they rest may we never forget why they died.
It's A Pittance of Time.

Read the letters and poems of the heroes at home.
They have casualties, battles, and fears of their own.
There's a price to be paid if you go if you stay.
Freedom's fought for and won in numerous ways.

Take 2 minutes — would you mind? — it's a pittance of time.
For the boys and the girls all over
May we never forget our young become vets, at the end of the line
It's A Pittance of Time.

It takes courage to fight in your own war.
It takes courage to fight someone else's war.
Our peace-keepers tell of their own living hell
They bring hope to foreign lands that hate mongers can't kill.

Take 2 minutes — would you mind? — it's a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who go over.
In peace time our best still don battle dress
and lay their lives on the line
It's A Pittance of Time.

In peace may they rest; Lest we forget why they died.
Take A Pittance of Time.

Why Terry Made This Video

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Terry later recorded "A Pittance of Time" and included it on his full-length music CD, "The Power of the Dream".

In the interest of creating a greater awareness of the sacrifices that have been made and are still being made on our behalf, "A Pittance of Time" has been adapted to the French language and titled "C'est si peu de temps". Music videos for both audio tracks too were produced in support of the campaign and a musical/theatrical concert production, "Two Minutes of Silence -- A Pittance of Time", was written for the stage.

"Two Minutes of Silence - A Pittance of Time" combines music and theatre in an emotional production that looks at the folly of war. The inspirational songs and dramatic monologues evoke memories both tinged with sadness and joy that ultimately underscore the need for hope and faith in the goodness of humankind.

A relationship - set in World War One -- unfolds as a young Canadian soldier fighting in the trenches attempts to bring some sanity to his horrific situation by corresponding with his new bride back home.

Singer/songwriter Terry Kelly features many of his own compositions such as "In My Father's House", "Moment To Moment", "We Can Do Anything", Safe Home, "A Pittance of Time" (and more) plus a few familiar songs from war times - "Pack Up Your Troubles", "It's a Long Way to Tipperary", "Over There"

....This self-contained production includes three musicians, two actors, and a technical crew. - Terry Kellyelement enterprises uploaded this video to pay respect to the veterans of the Canadian Forces.

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My brother Kevin has used this as a Tribute to our Father who fought in the war and died on Remembrance Day when I was still pregnant with my last child. I remember getting the phone call when I was curled up on the couch watching the Remembrance Day service on the TV with the kids, enjoying a lovely fall view out our wall sized window on a sunshiny autumn day.

I also remember the mystical moment a few days later when we buried my father in our Lakehurst country cemetery, beside my sister who was buried there the previous year when she was only 30 years old. It was such a sad day but as we drove across the the bridge over Buckhorn Lake a loon popped up out of the water on one side of the crossing and then popped up again at the other side of the crossing. My father loved wild life and was an avid duck hunter..... so this loon was a real sign of his love and presence with us on that day.

If you read my brother's Tribute you will notice that my father was stationed on a famous destroyer called the Restigouche. I came across this article referring to it recently.

Another Remebrance Day memory occurred in 1999 when I participated in the Remembrance Day Service at Parliament Hill with my friend Louise McArthur. We were inveigled to lay a wreath on the Cenotaph in Ottawa for our CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women) club. Thus we got passes to get up close.

It was a wonderful and exhilarating service on a crisp but sunny morning with a cloudless blue sky and great throngs of people on parliament hill. Due to the construction work being done around the WAR MEMORIAL area the service was moved to the hill, in front of the Peace Tower and a new LEST WE FORGET Tomb of The Unknown Soldier memorial addition.

Louise and I got chatting so arrived breathless just in time to duck under the fence and get into the press area where all the private wreath layers were gathered. To my right was a sickly and aging man in an electronic scooter outfitted with a Canadian Flag. I jockeyed for position and was wishing I had my old stilts so I could take better pictures.

I thought of my Dad who died on Remembrance Day in 1981 and chastised myself for not showing more interest in his war time experiences, for not seeing the meaning or understanding the impact that this must have had on his life.

So along with many others who have lost loved ones either through war or in other ways I stood there on that day and was moved. I thought of lots of words to describe the experience and then settled on writing a poem for it can contain so much emotion in the seeds of small words.

Perhaps this will bring some meaning to your Remembrance Day too. It was indeed an honour to be in Ottawa and be able to be part of such a huge, poignant and venerable celebration. In this we live and die and cry for life and freedom and the many blessings we so eagerly take for granted.

Marching

Marching, marching,
Pipe band, Colour party, Veterans,
Canadian Forces, RCMP, Cadets and Guns
Came up the centre path
Marching, marching
While their medals danced in the sun.

Clarkson, Clarkson
Our new Governor's General arrived
Dignity in black with a flourish of gray
Awakening hearts in your special way
Clarkson, Clarkson
We're proud you're a woman today.

We are ready, ready
In mournful array, the lone figures
Dressed in their military clothes
Revere the monument in stuatuesque pose
We are ready, ready
To honour those past with a joy that's morose.

Haunting, haunting
Our children in red sing of freedom and pride
Last Post, The Silence, Lament and Reveille
With a three-plane salute and guns on the side
Haunting, haunting
Our souls are disturbed for a war so denied.

Praying. praying
O Lord hear our angst, for those lost all these years
Who went to their sleep with dreams unfulfilled
And left behind loved ones so safe but in tears
Praying, praying
Our souls are united for God gave us love.

The wreaths are placed upon the stones
We file past one by one
Poppies more poppies
Tears and berets
Remember ..... their
Bones.

Marching, marching
Where did those years go? Why do the tears flow?
Look at them aged, crippled and lame
So few stand for many, they came, they came
Marching, marching
Our hearts burst with sadness and pride and shame.

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And finally we need a child's perspective. How many years in our little school house, did we have a special Red Cross Remembrance Day program. It seemed so long ago. Well now many of us have grand children of our own and one of my friends sent me this Remembrance Day poem her daughter wrote.

Red Poppy By Jasmine Rach (Mavis Moore's grand daughter)

Red poppy, red poppy,
is what everyone wears,
Red poppy, red poppy,
for everyone who cares,
for those whoe died in
that terrible war,
for those who survived
in that terrible war.
Red poppy, red poppy,
is with us today,
Red poppy, red poppy,
is here to stay.