Saturday Photo: Natural Trees….
This photo shows why I chose this tree for a Christmas tree: the pine cones. Of course, I wasn’t the only one doing the choosing, but nobody objected to what…
Mary Soderstrom
Saturday Photo: The Morning Rush Hour in Outremont, Version One
The photo was taken about 8 a.m. last Thursday, when folks were cutting through Parc St-Viateur near our house on their way to where ever. No crowds, but they were…
Saturday Photo: Sunny Winter Day…
Yes, I know, I’ve posted this before but it fits today perfectly–sunny, some snow, and people outside enjoying themselves. This winter has started out with a lot of energy but…
Saturday Photo: Jade Plant in Full Bloom
First let me say that I kill orchids, and can’t get African violets to bloom. Don’t know why, but after several years of trying, I’m faced with defeat on that…
Saturday Photo: Winter Biking, Bixis, and Snow
Montreal’s bike share program, Bixi, ended for the season Nov. 15, after what appeared to be a very good year. The non-profit reported a record breaking 320,000 individual users logging…
Saturday Photo: The Definition of Tenancity…
Snow on the ground, but not all the leaves off the trees. Is that perseverance, tenacity or stupidity? Don’t but it does provide some relief from a nearly monchrome palette.
Saturday Photo: Just to Remember on a Day When Snow Falls Gently
This was what it was like last summer in Mount Royal Cemetery. Blue sky and green grass. It will come again, I have every hope. Until then, keep warm.
Saturday Photo: The Book on Display…
Had a wonderful launch of Frenemy Nations: Love and Hate between Neighbo(u)ring States last Tuesday. Great crowd, good conversation and quite a few books sold. Don’t quite know what this…
Saturday Photo: Eviction Notice for Ducks?
Not sure which way the causality ran, but the family (or families, not sure if there were two) of 11 ducks which spent the summer in neighborhood parks have flown…
Saturday Photo: When You’re Forced to Take a Step Forward for the Planet
The cold weather is coming to this neck of the woods, climate change or not. Everyone knows you can’t live here without having heating, and until now we’ve relied on…
Saturday Photo: Glass Houses, and On Line Harrassment
A strange thing happened this week: an anonymous person tried to comment on this blog, writing “Dear Mary; Find a room in the glass house that you like to live…
Saturday Photo: No, This Time It’s a Video of my Walrus Talk…
“Across the River, The Height of the Land: Physical and Political Boundaries” That’s the title of the Walrus Talk I gave Sept. 23 in Gatineau. It was great fun to…
Saturday Photo: Asters, the Stars of Fall
Two sort of asters have sprung into bloom in the last couple of weeks. The first are the ones to the right which I’ve been encouraging in our little garden.…
Saturday Photo: Lesson from Spiders
Don’t know much about spiders but I think this time of year they are very busy, spinning webs, capturing prey, and setting up a cozy home for the next generation.…
Saturday Photo: Good Summer for Bees
The weather is a little wet and cool right now, but one of the advantages of our hot and dry summer is the abundance of flowers and of bees who…
Saturday Photo: The Connecticut River and Boundaries, Walrus Talk
The photo is of the Connecticut River which separate New Hampshire and Vermont. It’s just one example of how boundaries–arbitrary and otherwise–divide and influence people. In this case, the state…
Saturday Photo: More Pears Than the Squirrels Can Eat…
Well, actually I must admit that the photo was taken a few years ago, but the truth is that this year we have another bumper crop of pears. Over the…
Saturday Photo: Roman Walls at Conímbriga, Roman Concrete Lasts
This week I sent of the revisions to my next book: Rock of Ages: How Concrete Built the World as We Know It. The University of Regina Press will bring…
Saturday Photo: Pictures from the Summer of Dust
This is the Summer of Dust on our street. The work began in early June and probably won’t be finished before early September. Many things are being done: replacing lead…
Saturday Photo: Day Lilies….
The strong colours of summer are upon us. This day lily has just finished blooming, and now the golden rod is high, with native asters about to bloom. A nice…