Lise's Ramblings

Who hasn’t become carried away by a campfire song? You know the ones best sung while donning pyjamas, a bathing suit or well-worn jeans. Maybe you sang the songs at scout, band or church camps or just hanging out with friends as a teenager. Those of you with stamina may try to sing Don MacLean’s lengthy classic "American Pie". Personally, I prefer an off-key, but spirited version of “Puff the Magic Dragon” or any of the following campfire ditties: On top of spaghetti This land is your land Bringing home my baby bumble bee In the jungle Boom, boom, ain’t it great to be crazy? John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt The ants came marching Fire’s burning Little Rabbit Foo-Foo My paddle’s keen and bright When I was young, one of my uncles used to play the guitar and we would sing along with him. I cannot recall all the songs, but a number of them included extra loud raspberry sounds and ended in giggles. Kumbaya, I mean, AWESOME ! So do any songs jog me...

There are more than enough stories about air travel hassles, so that's why it is such a treat (or a tease) when the stars seem to align. You clear security and maybe even customs without long waits. Your aircraft is already parked at the gate when you get there. The crew appears 30-45 minutes early. The gate agent is present, pleasant and organized. There's no shortage of seats in the waiting area. There doesn't seem to be any inclement weather to delay your flight. You have your boarding pass and photo I.D. Your section gets called to board first . Yes, you've lucked out, especially if it’s also a homeward flight. All signs point to you experiencing a rare, but welcome, on-time departure.   AWESOME!

Charred logs, footprints in the sand, some lingering campfire smell and no litter. Clear signs of a good time. AWESOME!

Certain places provide us with a true escape. Each of us seeks out (or is drawn to) those haunts for different reasons. Perhaps you wish to recharge, need to take a walk on the wild side or crave solitude. This week I revisited one such place – Ipperwash Beach. This beach, on the shores of Lake Huron, is a special somewhere. It sparked my early love of soft, sandy beaches and dunes. As a child and as an adult, I have been fortunate to experience many cherished moments at Ipperwash with family, great friends, my Luv and by myself. I rejoice whenever I return to Ipperwash and find it relatively unchanged. Seeing how it still transforms my mom makes it extra AWESOME!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Somehow handlebar streamers seem to cross generational, cultural and gender divides. On a sunny day in a large park, you may just find any of the following: a princess-obsessed child with pink-and-purple streamers on a Disney bike a biker with a fringed saddlebag and leather handlebar streamers on his LowRider "hog" a kid with red-and-white streamers on her little Radio Flyer scooter a hip millennial with streamers on a retro Vespa a middle-aged guy wearing a zazzle.ca hat sporting an old-school banana seat and streamers  How can you avoid smiling when your ride is pimped out with streamers? AWESOME!

Some people consider trading lapel pins to be serious business. During the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, I spotted individuals with hats, vests and lanyards covered in trading pins from around the world. Canada-Wide Science Fair students in the 2011 exhibit hall. This week, I have witnessed how pin trading can actually foster camaraderie. I’m working at Canada’s national science competition in Toronto. Hundreds of budding scientists from grades 7 to 12 won local and regional science fairs before packing up their projects to participate in the 2011 Canada-Wide Science Fair. In addition to presenting their experiments and competing for scholarships and cash prizes, these students are interacting with youth from 99 regions across Canada. Apart from all the organized activities taking place this week, the informal pin trading seems to be popular and successful in getting students to interact with one another. Everywhere I go, I see students huddled to swap pins. More o...

Originally published on May 13, 2010 Don’t you just love the day you realize that all the browns and greys of winter are now brushed with green? It is invigorating to see everything come to life. While there are many positive signs leading into the spring season, I adore the day when we reach that pinnacle and greenery takes over. AWESOME!

The only thing better than opening weekend at the drive-in movies is living in one of the few places that still has a drive-in theatre. A business trip to Toronto forced me to miss the 2011 season opener this past weekend, but here's hoping that the drizzly weather didn't dampen the spirits of other moviegoers. Here's to a fun-filled season at the Brackley Drive-In , where you can sit in your own comfy seats (possibly in your jammies), eat yummy snacks and take in summer flicks after dusk. And if you visit PEI this summer, you'll also notice that you can play mini-putt while you wait for it to get dark enough for the movie to begin. AWESOME!

Original publication date: May 13, 2011 (Apologies for online publication delay. Had to wait for Blogger to come back online.) As children, zoos and aquariums give us a glimpse into the lives of animals we are unlikely to ever see outside of enclosures. Today, the staff at respected facilities provide rehabilitation services, conduct important research and deliver outreach programs to raise awareness about conservation and respect for animals. Sure, initially most of us visit zoos and aquariums for the entertainment value and they serve as major tourist draws. I'll never forget the first time I flew to Florida with my family. As much as I like animated flicks, for me the best part wasn't Disney's Magic Kingdom, but rather Epcot's 5.7 million gallon salt water aquarium where I could see underwater life up close. When I was young, we used to trek to the Metro Toronto Zoo and drive through African Lion Safari. And as an adult, everytime I have traveled to Southern Ca...

Mothers nourish, clothe, clean, coddle, teach and make sacrifices for the sake of their children. Regardless of geography, race, age or financial status, the maternal instinct drives women to create the best possible environment in which to raise their children. Mothers are also fiercely protective of their wee ones. I recall a tense moment in Algonquin Park when my hubby and I suddenly found ourselves on a road dividing a mama moose from her two calves. (Not a good place to be when a moose fears her young may be threatened.) The spring rains we're experiencing now bring to mind another situation when I witnessed a mare shielding her newborn foal from torrential downpours. She stood right over top of her tiny, wobbly baby. Whenever the winds shifted, that mom would shuffle to buffer the rain and shelter her foal. When it comes to humans, moms safeguard their little ones from physical harm or discomfort, disturbing situations, bullies, heartbreak and so much more. Having a...

Palm trees framed by blue skies. AWESOME!

Chances are you have either sold these cookies or purchased them at some point. Cookie sales are the primary revenue source for guiding in Canada. As someone who has fond memories from Brownies, Guides and Pathfinders, thank you for helping fund those activities and positive experiences. Supporting the guiding movement is a worthwhile cause, so the only question is: Do you go for the traditional vanilla and chocolate filling cookies or do you prefer the mint chocolate ones? Let me know which way you lean by leaving a comment below this blog entry. Christina Riespman, a Dutch woman who immigrated to Saskatchewan, is credited for starting Canada’s Girl Guide cookie frenzy back in 1927. Check out her story . For my American readers, the history of your Girl Scout cookies can be traced back to 1917 in Oklahoma. AWESOME!

Wow, there are some odd ways of celebrating the start of another year in your life. Most of us have experienced birthday bumps. Ouch! And then there are the cheesy flamingo, penguin or dinosaur decorations on the front lawn. Blush . My francophone friends deliver “des coups de poing au bra” – those are birthday punches for those of you who cannot understand French – aieyoy . So yesterday, I heard the funniest yet. Here on the Island, and perhaps in other parts of Atlantic Canada, people grease your nose on your birthday. Ewwww! Yes, that’s right. They swipe some butter or Becel on your beak. I’m told it’s to help you slide right into the next year. When I looked it up online last night, I also read that it is for good luck, because the birthday boy or girl is so slippery that bad luck cannot latch on. Downright quirky traditions, but with a smattering of AWESOME! Know of any other wacky bday customs? Note them in the comments section below this blog post, so that everyo...

As I wrote yesterday's random rambling about mulch , I started thinking about other cedar products that make me smile. Well, my hope chest ranks way up there. I may not use it every day and the exterior does not match my house decor, but who cares. That special piece of furniture came from my great-uncle Arch's house. The hope chest is Canadian-made, lined with cedar and filled with personal treasures (see photo below of the quilt my sisters made for me). When I lift that lid and breathe in that cedar scent, I am instantly swept back in time. AWESOME!

Garden beds are coming to life after months of inactivity and colourlessness. To ensure that an onslaught of weeds doesn’t dominate the new growth, you try to protect the gardens by replenishing your mulch. Whether you prefer the black, red or natural mulch, those cedar chips help renew your gardens. Beyond improving the look of your gardens and suppressing weeds, that mulch also smells amazing, especially when covered in dew or right after a spring shower. AWESOME!

Yet another fabulous sign that spring is here. For me, the ferry translates into a speedier trip across to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, with the added bonus of potential porpoise or whale sightings. AWESOME!!!