On the way to the Tsawwassen Ferry, as I inspect the trees at the base of the hill, I feel transported to a world where pterodactyls still fly in the skies: a colony of great blue herons live there. It’s hard to look at a heron without thinking of ancient times: their gangly legs, their … Continue reading A Siege of Herons: Connie Sobchak ponders the similarities between a heronry and a shopping mall
I was walking the dog towards One Mile, in the snow, on a slushy trail, under branches threatening to fall on us when the words not only but also popped into my head. Trying to trace the origin of these random words proved fruitless though it seemed like they were prompted by the snowfall-a producer … Continue reading Not Only But Also: Connie Sobchak meditates on a reluctant spring that she’s altogether ready for
Yes…I like it…but what is it? I’ve heard these words several times with regard to scenes I’ve photographed or painted and I push myself to remember a favourite quote from Alfred North Whitehead whenever they are spoken. He said, “Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of … Continue reading Patterns
As the sun filtered through the blustery snowfall the other day, we pressed ourselves to get out of the house for a walk with the dog. "Winter has lasted too long," we lamented, "It’s time for spring." Our wish was granted. Over by Arn Canal, piileated woodpeckers drilled hole after hole in the cottonwoods and … Continue reading The Birds Know
Mom was an awesome cook. When she first moved to Pemberton, there were not many supplies so she figured out what to do with the basics. Her dad sent her a book with a title like, “101 Things to Do With Eggs.” It was there she learned that freezing eggs was possible. One night after … Continue reading Mom’s Baking
Dad’s head was nestled in close to Bossy’s flank as he sat at his milking stool, listing slightly because Bossy had kicked the legs off at one time and they’d been hastily replaced. I listened to the soft squelching of the milk as it hit the pail and its sweet smell and the heat of … Continue reading Barn Memories
When I saw the little yellow dress in the window, I smiled. The burst of colour on a gloomy day and the absolute frivolity of the creation were a visual treat. I thought about entering just to fondle the material but instead passed by for more practical purposes: My dad had resorted to using the … Continue reading Retail Therapy
Surely most people can compile a humbling list of things they do not know. My inventory is mind numbing and often capable of deflating my motivation. For example, I might discover some tiny fact about a subject and offer it up as conversation fodder only to find that ten other people already knew ten times … Continue reading Things I Do Not Know
As I ran that day, I considered the odds of all the maple seed heads landing with the head facing north. It sure seemed like the majority of these helicopter like pods had ended up pointing north. (No picture, as I kept waiting for a good sunny shot but never got one.) Considering the concept … Continue reading Searching for patterns in randomness, and finding magic
As I listened to Kristi Gordon of Global News report that there was "point six of a degree standing in the way of fog formation," I was suddenly struck by the concept that prediction of fog could be that precise. Really? Is it that certain that fog will form? Apparently “fog forms when the difference … Continue reading In a Fog
The Wellness Almanac 