Monday, May 24, 2004
Jamie has discovered the word "no". Oh boy...
Friday, May 21, 2004
Back in Brooklyn catching my breath after a whirlwind in Toronto. The closing date on the house is creeping up, and there was a lot (and actually there remains a lot) to do. I've packed up a fair lot of the stuff, though the kitchen needs a good day's work with bubble wrap or something. The piano has gone to a good foster home for the time being, and I've given away some of the duplicate baby stuff and some bits of furniture. Still have to line up some movers for the furniture that's coming here...in a few days.
At a year-end barbecue last weekend, Exultate gave me a fabulous farewell gift: a Palm Zire 71. It has a colour screen, a 256 MB memory card and a built-in digital camera -- very exciting. I'm already making arrangements for the disposal of my old Visor Deluxe and its accessories, and have picked up a supplementary power module for the new machine on eBay. I plan to take it when I'm travelling, instead of our larger digital camera. The quality is fine for the sort of little snapshot I'm likely to want to take!
During the last few busy days in Toronto, when Exultate had its final concert of the season and I had a Canada Council grant deadline, Jamie went with his Grandma to Kemptville. Photographic evidence indicates he had a really great time! He ate outdoors, ran wild in the back yard, and helped Grandpa to garden and build things. I suspect the moodiness I've been experiencing since we drove back to Brooklyn on Tuesday is at least partly owing to his disappointment at the change in lifestyle. Small boys were made for country living! (Not that Kemptville is really country, but to Jamie free run of my parents' large property with the yard, orchard, gardens and creek must seem like the freedom of the realm!) Check out his photo gallery (link to the left) for a number of great outdoors shots taken on Aunt Tracy's little camera.
Speaking of pictures, I just got some new ones taken. Check them out here and here.
At a year-end barbecue last weekend, Exultate gave me a fabulous farewell gift: a Palm Zire 71. It has a colour screen, a 256 MB memory card and a built-in digital camera -- very exciting. I'm already making arrangements for the disposal of my old Visor Deluxe and its accessories, and have picked up a supplementary power module for the new machine on eBay. I plan to take it when I'm travelling, instead of our larger digital camera. The quality is fine for the sort of little snapshot I'm likely to want to take!
During the last few busy days in Toronto, when Exultate had its final concert of the season and I had a Canada Council grant deadline, Jamie went with his Grandma to Kemptville. Photographic evidence indicates he had a really great time! He ate outdoors, ran wild in the back yard, and helped Grandpa to garden and build things. I suspect the moodiness I've been experiencing since we drove back to Brooklyn on Tuesday is at least partly owing to his disappointment at the change in lifestyle. Small boys were made for country living! (Not that Kemptville is really country, but to Jamie free run of my parents' large property with the yard, orchard, gardens and creek must seem like the freedom of the realm!) Check out his photo gallery (link to the left) for a number of great outdoors shots taken on Aunt Tracy's little camera.
Speaking of pictures, I just got some new ones taken. Check them out here and here.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Another very busy time! My brother Thom moved out yesterday, more or less; he'll be back in the next couple of days for a few things (including the cat!), but his room is bare. Bare...but not vacant. Ian, Ruth and Ariana arrived last night from Moose Jaw, and are sleeping there. Ian and Paul have gone up to the cabin on the Bruce Peninsula to empty it out and clean it; they're probably going to list the property for sale. Ariana and Jamie have been getting re-acquainted - very amusing to watch! And I'm continuing to pack up the house in Toronto, bit by bit.
Ian Bell and Joyce Tan were married this weekend - a fine ceremony at Trinity College Chapel, at which it was my privilege to sing, and an equally fine reception up in darkest Markham at a Hilton. The flowers at this wedding were particularly of note, as were Joyce's many dresses and the little tiny dog that attended the ceremony in the rhinestone-studded handbag of one of the wedding guests. Mama Jane had arrived earlier in the week, and kept Jamie during the festivities; Maddy and Carolin were both there, but they both have a year on Jamie and are able to keep quiet a little better. A little better.
Last Wednesday Exultate won the CBC Competition for Amateur Choirs 2004 in the Chamber Choirs category, and also received the Canada Council for the Arts Healey Willan Grand Prize. It was a tremendously exciting evening! And now we continue to prepare for our concert on May 14 - business as usual for a little longer.
Jamie's having lunch, and I think he's about due for another course. More ruminations another time.
Ian Bell and Joyce Tan were married this weekend - a fine ceremony at Trinity College Chapel, at which it was my privilege to sing, and an equally fine reception up in darkest Markham at a Hilton. The flowers at this wedding were particularly of note, as were Joyce's many dresses and the little tiny dog that attended the ceremony in the rhinestone-studded handbag of one of the wedding guests. Mama Jane had arrived earlier in the week, and kept Jamie during the festivities; Maddy and Carolin were both there, but they both have a year on Jamie and are able to keep quiet a little better. A little better.
Last Wednesday Exultate won the CBC Competition for Amateur Choirs 2004 in the Chamber Choirs category, and also received the Canada Council for the Arts Healey Willan Grand Prize. It was a tremendously exciting evening! And now we continue to prepare for our concert on May 14 - business as usual for a little longer.
Jamie's having lunch, and I think he's about due for another course. More ruminations another time.
