When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

"Laughter is wine for the soul - laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness - the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living." Sean O'Casey

It's hard to imagine, a world without St. Patrick's Day parades and parties. The virus with the same name as a famous beer, has poured the Irish green beer down the sink this year. There'll be no pub parties, or street parties in Ireland, or anywhere. As one Manhattan Irishman mourned, it's like taking away our Christmas. You can't take away that Irish sense of humour. 

Paddy steps out of a bakery, and bumps into his buddy Mick. He says to Mick, "If you can guess how many doughnuts I have in this bag, you can have both." Mick laughs, and says, "Paddy, if it were raining soup, you'd be out here with a fork!"

If you're like me, you deal with stress through humour. In the words of Irish playwright, Sean O'Casey, the Irish (and I am half Irish), "treat a joke as something serious, and something serious, as a joke." It's not that we lack intelligence, compassion, reverence, or sensitivity, it's just that laughter helps get our breath back, after we've been punched in the gut. Being able to see things from another perspective, and being able to pull emotions out of a downward slide, are two great survival skills. 

It takes more than a couple of extra rolls of toilet paper and a cupboard filled with food, to keep nerves calm when everyone around you is talking about a worldwide pandemic. Who's really prepared for a crisis like this? Another O'Casey gem comes to mind, "all the world's a stage, and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."

Canada's Prime Minister and his wife have been in self isolation since last week, when it was confirmed that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. With schools, recreation centres, entertainment centres, movie theatres, and restaurants all closing across Canada this week, many people are self isolating, because...what else are they going to do? Well...there is talk of a mini baby boom in about nine months (and the emergence of "quaranteens" in 2033). 

My favourite Facebook quote of the day, "actually, it's only quarantine if it comes from the Quarantine region of France; otherwise, it's just sparkling isolation." What a great way of describing it! I hope by day three, of a 14-day self-isolation course, everyone still feels sparkly!

While being in quarantine means staying indoors, those who are self-isolating can get out for fresh air, sunshine and exercise. If you can't take in the sunshine, take Vitamin D (recommended by the government of Canada). I swear by Oil of Oregano. I haven't had a cold or flu in three years! Most of all, wash your hands - frequently! 

I was reading about the latest trend, which is spreading globally. Rather than scaremongering, people are caremongering. At a time of social isolation, social media is a way to keep in touch with those who are isolated, and provide friends and strangers with food and supplies to get them through the days ahead.

Paddy says to Mick, "Where were you going, when I saw you coming back? I ran after you, but by the time, I'd caught up to you, you were gone." The very definition of a Dubliner's parade! In the absence of a St. Patrick's Day parade, the Irish have started an on-line parade of photos, jokes, stories, music and song...sort of a St. Patrick's Day party around the computer screen. We in Canada, call that a kitchen party!

Did you hear about Murphy? He lost one hundred dollars on the Melbourne Cup horse race. Poor dear, also lost another hundred on the television replay!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

The Longest Day...Shortest Blogpost!

This is a short blog on the longest day...because I'm heading back outside to enjoy the Summer sun!  It's officially Summer, here in the Northern Hemisphere!  This being the Summer Solstice, the sun won't set on Toronto until 9:02 tonight.  That's 15 hours, 26 minutes and 31 seconds of daylight!  Adios!  A bientot!  

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Festival of Colour

While much of Eastern Canada and the US woke up to a blanket of fresh snow today, people in India are blanketed with vibrantly coloured powder.  It's Holi - the Indian festival of colour!

All through the streets of India's largest cities, and smallest villages, crowds of people - their faces smeared with colour - are throwing red, pink, yellow, blue, purple and green powder at one another.  They toss water balloons too! 

 

Holi is a joyful, playful equal-opportunity street festival, inwhich women and men, young and old, poor and rich drench one another in coloured powders.  It's everywhere.  The air is thick with powder.  It's all part of the fun, getting your crisp white shirt covered in yellow and pink powder...and your hair dyed bright green!  

If you think Holi is inspired by Bollywood, think again.  Bollywood's raucus crowds, and riot of colour are pure Holi-wood.  Highly-choreographed Bollywood scenes are inspired by Holi.   

To read more about Holi, and find out how to make your own Holi powder, and shop for vibrantly coloured clothes, go to:

https://widowsendorphins.blogspot.ca/2017/03/holi-indias-festival-of-colour.html

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

That Time of Winter

 

It's that time of Winter, when windows are flung open for hours at a time, and fresh air fills every room.  It's that time of Winter, when daylight lasts just a little bit longer, and the sun sets just a little bit later.  It's that time of Winter, when Spring flowers burst from florist tubs on city sidewalks.  It's that time of Winter, when droplets of thawing icicles sparkle in the sunlight.

It's that time of Winter, when the morning sun disappears behind a grey curtain, and only reappears for a final bow at the end of the day.  It's that time of Winter, when the iphone weather app shows two sun icons in a week of clouds and snowflakes - and everyone rejoices in anticipation of those two days of sunshine! 

  

It's that time of Winter, when Spring is so near, yet so far.  It's that time of Winter, when we can almost reach out and touch the new season...almost!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

We Don't Take Light Lightly!

Yesterday's blue skies, sunshine and fresh snow, made for a perfect Winter day in Toronto.  The clarity of light, and purity of the cold air were refreshing and restorative, giving us an energy boost to take into today's dull, grey and snowy day.  We briefly made peace with Winter...and Winter made a promise.  It won't be here much longer!  

Spring has already made an early appearance on Vancouver Island, where daffodils are blooming in sunny gardens!  I've seen the amazing photographic evidence!  

Here, in snow-covered Toronto, florists import Spring flowers to fill our homes and workspaces with colour.  Vibrant, sunny yellow forsythia, yellow-tipped coral parrot tulips, orange tulips with stripes of green, and fluffy pussywillows liven up a room, and brighten our spirits.  A happy bouquet of Spring flowers on your desk is welcomed by co-workers and clients!

Light and colour help us survive the dull, grey days and long, dark nights of Winter.  Seriously.  Survival is not an exaggeration.  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a recognized mental health disorder, related to depression.  We don't take light lightly!  

Sunlight and darkness trigger the release of hormones.  Sunlight passes through the retinas of our eyes, sending a cue to the brain, to release serotonin.  Serotonin is a hormone which lifts our mood, and helps us stay calm and focused.  Melatonin is a hormone which makes us sleepy.  At night, when it gets dark, serotonin is converted to melatonin.  It gets dark early in Winter.  Not enough sunshine, and too much darkness can bring on moodiness, irritation, and fatigue.

Phototherapy, or light box therapy each morning, has proven to help alleviate the symptoms of SAD.  Sitting near a special light box in the morning, sends a signal to the brain to stop producing melatonin, and increase the body's serotonin levels.   

It is important to protect our eyes from harsh sunlight bouncing off snow, however, removing sunglasses for just ten to fifteen minutes, will give the retinas enough time to send a signal to the brain to release serotonin.  Let the light in!

No animals were harmed in the making of this blogpost, however, the forsythia is a goner!  It did not survive the freezing temperatures, and its delicate yellow petals did not appreciate posing against the snow.  The more resilient tulips and pussywillows are now enjoying a little apres ski relaxation. 

  

Orange for the Winter Blues

I hab a code...a runny node, and Kleenex up my sleebs.  I've been taking so much Oil of Oregano, I smell like a Greek restaurant.  But wait, there's more to my Winter misery...Christmas Day, I slipped on a patch of black ice on a downtown Toronto street, and fractured my arm.  Arm and I recovered quickly, however the deep freeze which Torontonians have been enduring (-30C /-22F) since before Christmas, has only just let up.  The city streets are now filled with enormous, slushy, brown puddles of melting snow, and dirt, which made today's trip to the Fracture Clinic an obstacle course.

This is the time of year when Torontonians are overheard on cellphones asking, "what have you got that's hot?"  They're not talking to their stockbrokers.  They're calling travel agents.  They just want the sunniest, hottest beach resort - and they want it now!

Orange is the colour of playful energy, warmth and sunshine, joy and creativity.  The ideal colour to bring into your home, or office on a dreary Winter day. 

These Kalanchoes are tiny perfect plants to sit next to your computer, at the kitchen table, or windowsill.  They're succulents from Madagascar, and love sunlight (although not direct, harsh sun).  They store water in their rubbery leaves, so they don't need to be watered more than once a week.

I bought these Italian-made orange juice glasses at a Buddhist temple yard sale, several years ago.  They're my happy glasses.  Drinking pure, fresh orange juice from them, is one of life's simple pleasures.  Just looking at these tiny, colourful flowers, in happy little glasses, makes me feel much brighter, more energized, and even healthier - and that's nothing to sneeze at! 

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Scottish Shortbread!

Gibson House in North York, Toronto, is one of the city's living museums.  It's filled with sights, sounds, smells and tastes of rural life in the 19th Century.  Throughout the year, you'll find costumed historical interpretors baking and serving scones for tea, making jam, baked apples, gingerbread men, even ice cream.  At Christmas time, they bake delicious Scottish shortbread, in honour of Scottish-born land surveyor, farmer, two time elected provincial politician, and rebel, David Gibson. 

The original Gibson House was burned to the ground, as punishment for Gibson's part in the rebellion of 1837.  Gibson and about 400 rebels, who supported William Lyon MacKenzie's call for democratic reforms, marched down Yonge Street all the way into Toronto, where, on December 7th, they fought the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern.  Armed with only pikes, and duck hunting rifles, they were up against 1,000 soldiers (and one cannon), and the battle was over in less than an hour.

When Sir Francis Bond Head gave the order to burn the house down, Mrs. Gibson managed to save a very large, and heavy grandfather clock.  Almost everything else was destroyed.  

She was lucky.  Many other wives' husbands were hanged for their part in the rebellion.  David Gibson fled (or was banished, depending on what your read), across the border to Lockport, New York, where he worked as an engineer on the Erie Canal.  Mrs. Gibson was able to freely come and go between New York,  and North York, to collect the rent on the land which her husband still owned.  When Queen Victoria learned the facts about the uprising, she pardoned the rebels, including David Gibson, who returned to North York in 1848.  

The present-day red brick Georgian Revival farmhouse was built in 1851, and is steps from the subway line, and Yonge Street (the world's longest street).  Step inside the house, and you will be transported 166 years back in time...    

It's been a mild beginning to Winter, here in Toronto.  Nevertheless, it is December, and the old farmhouse fireplace is warm and inviting.  The smell of wood smoke wafts through the house.  Although some food is prepared on the hearth, today's shortbread will be baked in ovens in the modern kitchen downstairs, so that the wood smoke doesn't overpower the buttery, sweet taste of the shortbread.    

I have the not-so-secret recipe for delicious Gibson House Shortbread.  It's been modified for our modern ovens, and measuring cups.  The Gibson household would likely have used teacups and teaspoons to measure all of the ingredients.  Our precise measuring spoons and pyrex measuring glass (in standard and metric) came about much later.  As in nearly all shortbread recipes, much of the final blending is done with your hands, including pressing the dough into a deep dish.

 

I love living museums for the way they bring history to life.  While Christmas at Gibson House is a simple affair, the big event is Hogmanay, the traditional ringing in of the New Year!  There'll be plenty of food, and great live music!  Leave room for shortbread.

Whether you explore a museum alone, or with the family, it's a great way to create memories, and perhaps start a tradition.  This holiday season, head out to a museum in your town or city, and make a little history of your own!  

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Adding Soul to the Chicken Soup

Divas of the flower world, Coral Peonies are loved for their large, showy, vivid coral pink coloured blossoms.  They're found in elegant, sophisticated bridal bouquets, and sweeping hotel centre pieces.  In the true diva spirit, these peonies are fine dramatic performers, playing leading roles in Asian, Californian or French inspired floral arrangements.  So powerful, so show stopping, you often need only one in an arrangement.

You'd think they'd be arrogrant.  On the contrary, Coral Peonies don't take themselves seriously at all!  They laugh at themselves.  They're comedians!

At the centre of each bowl shaped blossom of peony petals, are hot pink tipped stigmas, surrounded by golden stamens, heavy with pollen.  They look like five chickens in a nest!  Once you've seen it, you can't unsee it.  It's the private joke between you, and the diva...the lowering of the sunglasses, to give you a secret wink!  I love this flower for that alone!

I made my own chicken stock the other night.  It's something I've done for decades.  As I boiled the bones of what had been a roast chicken, the heady fragrance of what would soon be chicken soup, filled my home.  That night, I drained the flavourful stock, chilled it, and the next morning, I skimmed off the fat.  Then, I put it back in the fridge, where it sat for a week.  I ditched it on Saturday.

This ridiculous ritual has gone on many times over the past three years.  Widowhood seems to have claimed my joy of cooking - and I don't mean my dog eared and smudged cookbook.  I've lost my mojo.  I need to add soul to my chicken soup.

There was a time when I would have made my Christmas cakes by now, and had them doused in rum or brandy, wrapped in cheesecloth, and stored away in a cupboard.   Late November and December nights would see me baking shortbread cookies, gingersnaps, double chocolate cookies, and desert moons (cream cheese pastry filled with a date, orange and walnut mixture).  This year, I haven't even started.

"Whatsamatta?  You chicken, or somethin'?", my inner voice asks.

I'm not chicken!  It takes a lot of pluck to go back into the kitchen after a culinary disaster.  This year, there've been plenty.  I baked a superb cheesecake for twenty-five guests at one event, and when I tried to replicate it for a special birthday a few months later, it was overbaked and grainy.  It left me with egg on my face!

With Christmas just weeks away, I've promised myself that my home will once again be filled with the sweet scent of cinnamon, oranges and chocolate.  It will be filled with the sound of Christmas music, and the laughter of friends.  My kitchen is getting its soul back!

I've been channeling the vibrant, powerful, and joyful Coral Peony, and my heart shouts, "this chick can bake"!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.