It Was All Go in Scarborough

I was listening to a bit on Radio One about the Avro Arrow that was hot stuff about a million years ago and it got me meandering down memory lane as one does when one has a fair number of years under one's belt, or hat as the case may be. The Arrow was all the rage in the late fifties and De Havilland employed a lot of people to design and build it. We were all for weapons of mass destruction back then and still are as far as I can see, so the Arrow was putting Canada on the war map and a good time was being had by all. Then Diefenbaker canned it and they are still crying in their soup over in Downsview. Get over it people! We are in the Aquarian Age!
What I wanted to tell you was that the Arrow flew over our house one afternoon and broke the sound barrier while it did. We were very impressed! The boom was a window rattler and the thing was long gone before we had even got our eyes to the sky. Lucky little me to be in Scarborough then.
The other boom I remember was the Thermos factory blowing sky high just as we were sitting down to roast beef and Yorkshire pud. The table lifted off the ground and our dinner with it. My Dad shot off outside convinced that our next door neighbour had driven his car into the side of our house. But no. The factory a mile down the road had blasted itself into oblivion taking a poor watchwoman with it. We watched the flames for ages. Yorkshire pud we could get any time!
I also met the Queen in Scarborough. She was pregnant with Prince Andrew at the time not that we knew. She came to visit us and open the Golden Mile on Eglinton. That was the second time I had seen the Queen. When I first saw her she was a Princess and her train was travelling past the end of our little country road. I sat on my Dad's shoulders and waved my tiny Union Jack at the passing train in the dead of night no less. I was very impressed! I actually saw her a third time as she was getting off the Britannia and walking among the crowds. She was tiny and still is I am sure with blue, blue eyes and beautiful skin. I don't remember anymore about that interlude but that's enough ancient history even for you my devoted followers. God bless your little hearts!

When the Moon is in the Seventh House....

That's right, it is the official age of Aquarius as of this February. Jupiter has aligned with Mars, the Moon is in the seventh house, peace will guide the planets and love will steer the stars... We will wait and see...
That was not what I had in mind when I started this blog. It sort of came out in spite of me. What I wanted to share was that spring is nearly here. The crows are cawing every morning which means the temperature is going up. The Cardinals have come out of the Bush and a pair of Red Headed Woodpeckers have been seen. This leads me to the hardware store to get myself some spiles, as this year I am sugaring! Yes indeedy! It has been a long time since I put the sap to the fire but a taste of homemade dark maple syrup got me all fired up so I have been watching the signs and the sap is starting to rise. Milder days and cold clear nights are another indication that the sap is on the up and up. I will treat myself to proper buckets this time as the lids save a bit of extra work . Only two as the tree is not in the best of shape and I don't want to stress her too much. There won't be much just a couple of mason jars if I am lucky but who cares. I get to be out in the garden doing something when everything is still a frozen mess. Me and the chickadees can celebrate the end of winter and the start of the best season of all. SPRING!!