Where is the NDP When It Comes to Extrabilling?
What is happening in Quebec under the Couillard Liberals is extremely discouraging. Step by step, under the banner of fiscal rigor, the government is privatizing the supply of all services…
Mary Soderstrom
Saturday Photo: Now We’re Deep into Spring
Perhaps because winter closes down so many things, the odors of spring are particularly poignant here. Oh, there are days when people say “it smells like snow” and there are…
Beauty out of Disaster: And the Birds Rained Down
Last night my bookies in Kirkland discussed Jocelyn Saucier’s Il pleuvait des oiseaux—And the Birds Rained Down in English translation by Rhonda Mullins- The story has haunted me all day.This…
Saturday Photo: Columbine Time
The season progresses, and the wisdom of certain gardening decisions becomes more evident. At one point I bought a few columbine plants. They most delightfully have seeded themselves so now,…
Saturday Photo: Bees
Lots of bees in the garden these days of lilacs and bird song. Do hope this means that the bees around here are surviving the plague that seems to be…
The Morning after…
Time to get back to writing and ranting: last night my novel River Music was officially launched. It’s now available at good bookstores, and on line in Kobo and Kindle…
To Each Thing There Is a Season….
And now is the time when people in these climes begin gardening. The average date for the last freeze in Montreal is May 10, it seems. Last week I brought…
Saturday Photo: Mellow Yellow
Went to the garden centre this week, and came home with a few new plants. But nowhere did I find anything as fabulous as the display of dandelions on lawns…
What’s Not to Like: Food, History and Leftish Causes
Breakfast is just over, but as usual I’m thinking about food. Came across this great story about Thunder Bay, its Finnish connection and Labour strife there. The centre is a…
The May Holiday: Journée des Patriotes
This weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer in Canada. In the Rest of Canada it is called Victoria Day, but in Quebec it’s now called la Journée des Patriotes.…
Saturday Photo: Mystery Plant
My friends and family know I love plants, so frequently I receive flowers or houseplants as gifts on special occasions. Last week was Mother’s Day and Elin and Jeanne arrived…
Saturday Photo, a Little Late: Green Rain
I think I’ve posted this photo before, but it is very appropriate right now. The maples are in flower–yes, they flower–and the ground is covered with the blossoms. Extremely pretty,…
First We Take Alberta,Then We Take the Hill…
When the NDP swept into Quebec four years ago almost to the day, I was flabbergasted. Long a stalwart, I knew there was support for progressive candidates, but nothing prepared…
Saturday Photo: To Ope Their Trunks The Tree Are Never Seen…
How then to they put on their robes of green? Those are the words of a song I learned in fourth grade. Can’t find where it comes from, but I…
Good News Today: No Rant…
All right, it looks like everything’s a go. Monday I signed off on the copy for the cover of my new novel River Music, and Alessandra Ferrari, Cormorant’s publicity director,…
Saturday Photo: Forsythia, a First Sighting
One of the most spectacular flowers of spring around here is forsythia, whose flowers burst forth on bare branches. Saw the first ones this week, growing along a sunny wall…
Reading Some Context for the Armenian Genocide
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians by Turks, as the Ottoman Empire entered its death throes. There are a number of articles…
Why Didn’t Joe Oliver Buy Canadian Shoes?
So the federal government is going to aim for more industrial growth? What does it mean when Finance Minister Joe Oliver buys New Balance shoes for his big speech? Much…
Saturday Photo: And Next up, Scylla
The progression of spring flowers is upon us. Last week the snowdrops came up, this week it’s the turn of scylla. Tulip leaves have emerged also and my neighbor’s crocuses…