Maggie's Market, Calgary

01/10/2026

Cookbooks for sale, The Beautiful Cookbook Series. $10.00 each.. Like new! Recipes I have made were very good, especially the ones in China book.

11/21/2025

Montgomery Festive Market is Satuday starting at 10 AM until 5PM!
Maggie will be there! Hope you will come to do some early Christmas shopping!

05/24/2025

05/09/2025

So Canadians are going to pay over a million dollars for a by-election so a guy who lost his seat fair and square, and who hasn't lived in Alberta for over 25 years, can be guaranteed an easy win in a riding he'll never even live in, either.

So he can keep getting paid by us, keep padding the largest pension in Parliament, and keep living in a mansion that we're footing the bill for. And all of this after he spent years - YEARS - whining about government spending.

And all while his supporters complain with a straight face about Mark Carney being "parachuted" in as Liberal leader and PM.

"Axe The Tax" my ass. More like "Feed The Greed."

04/19/2025

04/07/2025

"Hope is the thing with feathers"
By Emily Dickinson.

"Hope is the thing with feathers"is one of Emily Dickinson’s most famous poems, capturing the essence of hope in metaphorical terms. Written in 1861, the poem is structured in three quatrains and follows an ABCB rhyme scheme, which is common in Dickinson’s work.

Stanza One
The poem opens with a metaphor that likens hope to a bird:
"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops - at all"

In this stanza, Dickinson describes hope as a bird that resides within the human soul. The bird's continuous song symbolizes the persistent and enduring nature of hope. It sings "without the words," suggesting that hope exists beyond verbal expression and is an innate, universal feeling that transcends language.

Stanza Two
Dickinson continues to develop the metaphor of hope as a bird:
"And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm"

Here, she asserts that hope is most comforting and pronounced during difficult times ("in the Gale"). The use of "Gale" (a strong wind) signifies challenges or hardships. Despite these adversities, the hope-bird continues to sing. The storm must be extremely severe to "abash" or dishearten this resilient bird. This implies that hope is robust and can withstand significant trials, offering warmth and solace to individuals in distress.

Stanza Three
In the final stanza, Dickinson reflects on the nature of hope:
"I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest Sea
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me."

Dickinson personifies hope as self-sustaining and altruistic. She has encountered hope in the "chillest land" and "strangest Sea," which metaphorically represent the most challenging and unfamiliar situations. Despite being present in the most adverse circumstances, hope never demands anything in return. It exists to support and uplift without expecting recompense, highlighting its selflessness.

Dickinson’s use of extended metaphor is central to the poem's thematic construction. By portraying hope as a bird, she encapsulates its lightness, fragility, and perseverance. The bird's incessant song represents hope's enduring presence in the human spirit, even when unacknowledged or underappreciated.

The poem also explores the relationship between hope and adversity. The presence of hope is most vital in moments of despair, suggesting that it is an inherent and indispensable part of the human condition. Dickinson’s language emphasizes the contrast between the delicate bird and the severe storm, underscoring hope's resilience.

The poem's structure, with its rhythmic and rhyme patterns, contributes to its lyrical quality. The simplicity of the language belies the profundity of its message, a hallmark of Dickinson’s poetic style.

"Hope is the thing with feathers" is a poignant meditation on the nature of hope. Through vivid metaphor and evocative imagery, Emily Dickinson illustrates hope's omnipresence and unwavering support in the face of life’s challenges. The poem remains a timeless reflection on the power of hope and its fundamental role in the human experience.

03/28/2025

Please do not reply to any emails you receive from me without first checking that it has come from my personal email address,.

03/17/2025

Here are 15 interesting facts about Canada:

1. Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area.
2. Canada has the longest coastline in the world, with over 243,000 kilometers of shoreline.
3. Canada has more lakes than any other country, with over 2 million lakes covering about 8% of its land area.
4. The country's name comes from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word "kanata," meaning "village" or "settlement."
5. Canada is home to the world's oldest known rock, the Acasta Gneiss, which is approximately 4.01 billion years old.
6. The country has six time zones: Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, Atlantic, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
7. Canada is home to the world's longest street, the Trans-Canada Highway, which spans over 7,800 kilometers.
8. The country has a vast array of wildlife, including bears, moose, wolves, and beavers.
9. Canada is the world's largest producer of maple syrup, accounting for over 70% of global production.
10. The country has a diverse population, with over 20% of Canadians being foreign-born.
11. Canada has two official languages: English and French.
12. The country is home to the world's largest freshwater island, Manitoulin Island, located in Lake Huron.
13. Canada has a strong reputation for its natural beauty, with many famous attractions like Niagara Falls, Banff National Park, and the Canadian Rockies.
14. The country has a thriving arts and culture scene, with numerous museums, galleries, and festivals.
15. Canada is known for its friendly and welcoming people, with a high standard of living and a strong social safety net.

03/06/2025

HEART OF EVERY FARM

“THE BARN was very large. It was very old. It smelled of hay and it smelled of manure. It smelled of the perspiration of tired horses and the wonderful sweet breath of patient cows. It often had a sort of peaceful smell – as though nothing bad could happen ever again in the world.”
— E.B. White

Photo taken with permission. Chasing yesterday near Canora, Saskatchewan.