Lise's Ramblings

Major grocery, hardware and department stores stack bags of mulch and top soil near entrances to signal that gardening season is upon us. But, those stores mainly carry the mass-market essentials. For me, the season arrives when the local nurseries and garden centres open their greenhouse doors. Wander indoors to see delicate flowers, fragrant herbs and colourful annuals, or brave the elements and step outside to see hardy perennials, award-winning plants, trees and rare shrubs.  If you don't have hours to spend researching info online, but you want to track down a botanical oddity, graft a tree or nurture seedlings, then consult the experts. Fortunately for me, I can visit knowledgeable folks at places like Van Kampen's Greenhouses, Island Pride Garden Co. and Jewell's Country Market. They can answer my questions and recommend new finds. Even if you aren't a gardening fan, you can enjoy a trip to a green...

In winter months, firefighters rely on guide markers to help them locate fire hydrants buried beneath snow. Boaters count on navigation markers to steer cruisers and sailboats through narrow or rocky channels. We all use guide markers from time to time. Perhaps you install temporary markers at your lawn’s edge to make sure you don’t mangle your grass as you rid your driveway of snow and ice.  Or, maybe you’ve hiked remote trails and relied on guide markers to lead you through dense forest.  When the usual doesn’t suffice At least trees, driveways and fire hydrants stay put. In Canada’s Far North, the landscape changes, so guide markers are a matter of survival. Inuit cope with extreme winds and cold, shifting ice, near-zero visibility, extensive periods of darkness and other challenges. Mere flags, sticks and posts cannot withstand or be seen in such harsh conditions. That’s where a rock inuksuk (pronounced ee-nook-sook) comes in. Towering up to a metre or more in...

Which do you suppose came first, the burning bushes or the fire hydrant? Even if you aren't into gardening, these fiery Euonymus alatus (burning bushes) would have drawn your attention last week.  I spotted them on my way to work. And sure, I appreciated the splash of fall colour , but I also giggled. Perhaps the homeowner intentionally juxtaposed the plants with the fire hydrant. I would like to think that this is merely inadvertent humour to dabble my day with       AWESOME!

When you spot a few ornamental gourds, you may write them off as nothing more than misshapen, colourful fruit. But, seen en masse , those hordes of gourds will strike you as       AWESOME! Gourds at Balderston's Farm Market , Prince Edward Island

Statistics Canada reports that Canadian commuters spend an average of 52 minutes daily traveling roundtrip to work. In major centres such as Montreal and Toronto, more than a quarter of Canadians spend at least 1.5 hours commuting back and forth every weekday. Ugh. Commute times grow when you add one or more of the following: construction, bad weather, police spot-checks, a sinkhole, an accident or long-weekend crowds.  Any wonder the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rates shorter commute times as a key variable in studies of health and quality of life.  There just aren't many upsides to long commutes, apart from time to listen to podcasts, music or audio books. Sure, dozing, reading, writing and other activities are possible when public transportation is available, but still you aren't spared from delays and lengthy travel times.  I'm grateful for my short d...

Studying in Montr é al gave me the chance to visit the Forum repeatedly and to walk where hockey heroes made NHL and bleu-blanc-et-rouge history (e.g., Maurice Richard, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, Toe Blake, Jean B é liveau, Guy Lafleur, Jacques Plante, Yvan Cournoyer). Here on PEI , hockey players and golfers are used to seeing Sidney Crosby out and about, but this week, two hockey legends and national treasures graced our shores: Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr. I was fortunate to co-organize the event that drew the latter to PEI . Even as a longtime Habs fan, I must confess that I was awestruck by the celebrated Bruins defenceman. Bobby Orr earned so many important titles during his career, and it was refreshing to witness that he’s still a class act and inspires others to this day. Brushing shoulders with the real deal …       AWESOME! (Although admittedly, I will always associate #4 with 10-time Stanley Cup champion Jean B éliveau.) ...

The Daniel Brenan Brickhouse , a Charlottetown-based restaurant, presents your bill in simple terms: the damage. How refreshing to see a direct, honest message.       AWESOME!

It's easy to lose track of time in the aisles at Chapters/Indigo stores, spend hours surfing Amazon, or disappear for a day in a library, but I encourage you, whenever possible, to choose to support independent bookstores too. Chances are high that inside you'll discover well-informed staff who are passionate about books. Many independents differentiate themselves from discounters and the competition through specialization and quality, rather than quantity of sales. You can find independents with outstanding collections of children's literature, works by regional or local authors, comics, poetry, spiritual texts, gallery-worthy art books and even rare books.  My favourites: The Bookmark : Maritimers recognize this independent bookstore. After opening in Charlottetown in 1972, the owners expanded to open a Halifax store. Book signings, local content and much more. My source for Moleskin notebooks and bibliomania novelties. Nicholas Hoare : Be...

Dr. William Glasser, a famous psychiatrist, asserts that people are “driven by genetics to satisfy five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom and fun.” His math adds up to five, because he counts love and belonging as a single need. Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche and son of a former Governor General of Canada, disagrees. He contends that that need to belong runs far “deeper than the need to be loved.” As children, one of the worst threats a classmate could fling at you ran something along these lines: “Oh yeah, well you’re not invited to my birthday party.” The danger wasn’t that you’d miss out on cake. No, it was that you’d be excluded. Inclusion was important then and the same holds true for us as adults. Grown ups may not lose sleep about birthday parties, but we go to great lengths to feel accepted by members of social clubs, families, professional associations, sports teams, churches, unions, classes, sororities/fraternities, volunteer groups, guil...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... In most Canadian cities, children and adults alike consider the annual Santa Claus parade as a sign that the Christmas season is here. Everyone gets bundled up and huddles along the parade route with family and friends to: watch excited children catch candy canes listen to marching bands, bagpipers and carols blasting from floats sip hot drinks don a Santa hat, festive headbands and other Christmas accessories ooooh and ahhhhh at all the lights wave to mascots and people on passing floats donate canned goods to food banks hum along to Christmas songs  cheer on all the firefighters in their decked out trucks spot the bearded guy ho-ho-ho'ing at the end of the parade It's official, the season is upon us, so here's a tidbit of Christmas parade trivia for you: In 1913, thanks to the Eaton family and the citizens of Labrador, the14th annual Toronto Santa Claus Parade featured real reindeer pu...

Perhaps you've met one or two of these hospital volunteers and they've made a difference for you or someone you love. Beyond the traditional candy stripers, there are the generous souls who crochet hats and knit blankets or booties for newborns and preemies. Or, how about the women's auxilliary running the gift shop? What about those who visit and read to patients in palliative wards?  In Charlottetown, some talented volunteers used their sewing supplies, skills and time to make a visit to the breast health centre a little less clinical. Check out these handmade gowns...johnny shirts with floral flair.       AWESOME!

Life is good when you live and work close to the beach. Here on Prince Edward Island, you’re never more than 15 to 20 minutes from the shore. It's funny how proximity to sand and water can shift your habits and attitudes. Need a few examples? Colleagues strap sea kayaks and paddle boards to their car roofs, because they never know when they may want to head straight from the office to the beach.  Women carry flip-flops in their purses, just in case the urge to kick off dress shoes proves to be too strong.   Pool noodles and sunscreen bottles roll around in the back of most mini-vans and SUVs.  People wear sunglasses as headbands and fashion accessories.  And the best part of all: the short travel time means you don’t need to wait for a perfect beach day to fall on a weekend . That's right, don't go home for dinner. If the sun comes out on a weekday afternoon, then simply pack a snack and head beachward. AWESOME! National Research Coun...