Stone Soup

The question of the day on CHFI this morning was what is the one thing women can do on February 29 that they can't do any other time. Guesses were...pick up the tab on a date,ask a man to dance and #3 was ask a man to marry them. #3 was the correct answer.

The tradition started in L'il Abner cartoon comic strip in November 1937. Does anyone remember this comic strip? I used to love it as a child (1950's and '60's) It became an annual event in the comic strip but I have no idea how it became associated with Leap Year, February 29.

Sadie Hawkins was "the homeliest gal in the hills" who grew tired of waiting for the fellows to come a courtin'. Her father, Hekzebiah Hawkins, a prominent resident of Dogpatch, was even more worried about Sadie living at home for the rest of his life, so he decreed the first annual Sadie Hawkins Day, a foot race in which the unmarried gals pursued the town's bachelors, with matrimony the consequence.

I remember annual Sadie Hawkins dances in High School and the thought of such a thing today makes me shiver! We weren't chasing the fellows for matrimony, though. The girls merely were allowed to ask the boys to dance. I am showing my age aren't I. I think attitudes have changed, more than a little!

Happy Sadie Hawkins Day, everyone!

I took these shots from my hotel window at the Westin Prince in Toronto where we did a large meeting last week. Preparations for the meeting were very demanding, I had worked late every night for two weeks before the meeting, so it was good to be able to kick back at a hotel and relax.

The view was so pretty, especially at night, I didn't draw the curtains. Just turned the lights out and enjoyed it! The view above looks south towards Lake Ontario.

Below is the view looking east, towards Scarborough and Pickering. I had a corner window in my room...quite nice.

So the big meeting is done for another year and I am almost caught up again at the office.

Sunday was such a nice day, I went for a drive, didn't know where when I set out but ended up in St Jacobs Ontario. Browsing through a local paper while drinking my coffee in Tim's I noticed an article on a local covered bridge. It is the only covered bridge in the province of Ontario and I was within minutes of it, well maybe 20 minutes. It wasn't difficult to find the bridge, the first person I asked told me how to get there.
I drove up to and through the bridge, parked near these old sheds and walked back. I know they are just old sheds but I found them interesting and the light was good, I was already loving the feel of the place and got my camera out. The air was cold, my fingers were freezing as I held the camera.

The sun was strong but it didn't warm the air as I walked toward Ontario's last remaining covered bridge. It stretches almost 200 feet across the Grand River.

This bridge is still standing after more than 100 years because of the roof that has protected the huge timbers and trusses. Uncovered wooden bridges have a life span of only 10 to 15 years.

The bridge was built in 1881 and underwent major repairs in 1999. Light traffic still crosses the bridge daily and many horse and buggies cross on Sundays. This is Mennonite country.

I am told horses fear rushing water and often become spooked as they approach bridges. A horse will trot up to the opening of a covered bridge and clip-clop through, reassured by the side walls and the light at the end of the tunnel.

The blue sign to the right of the bridge opening reads:

This structure, the only remaining covered bridge in Ontario was designed by John Bear in 1880, on the authority of Woolwich Township Council, to replace an earlier bridge over the Grand River. Built a year later by John and his brother, Benjamin, the 198-foot bridge was covered to protect the wooden flooring and frame against the elements. Known locally as the Kissing Bridge, it later came under the jurisdiction of Waterloo County. In 1937 the province assumed responsibility for the Guelph-Elmira Road, including the West Montrose Bridge, and its floor and sub-structure were subsequently rebuilt and reinforced.

The bridge is often referred to as "The Kissing Bridge" because it is enclosed and the soft light provides a feeling of intimacy for the romantic.

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I bought my new laptop at FutureShop last night. When it is configured, they will call me to pick it up, later today. It is an hp, pretty fast, and best of all, it is wireless!!! Woo Hoo! I can check email in bed or while I watch television. I can look up recipes online from the kitchen. I will be able to load Photoshop on this one. I am rubbing my hands together, looking forward to it all.

Here is where I am having a little problem and would like your advice:

The salesman offered me an extended service plan (including 3 years warranty on parts and labour)for $329.00 and I told him I would think about it. Since I am still not sure if it is worth the extra money, I thought I would get the opinion of you guys at Multiply. Without the plan, I will have 1 year parts & labour plus 90 days accessory coverage. They tell me even the keyboard on a laptop is an accessory! He pointed at a little wire and said people are in here for that one all the time, it costs $120. Is he ;just trying to sell me another $300 worth of coverage I do not need? I don't think I ever spent $300 on my old laptop (a Toshiba Satellite Pro).

Would you buy the extra coverage or not?

We are not used to a lot of snow in Toronto and sometimes the rest of the country finds humour in how we, in Toronto, panic when more than a few centimeters fall. During a winter storm some years ago the mayor called in the army and to the rest of the country (who were hit by much harder storms) we have never lived it down.

Down the highway, in Montreal, ploughs and salt trucks are out on the job at the beginning of the storm but in this city they wait until the last flake has fallen.

I stayed indoors most of the weekend because we got 20 centimeters of snow on Friday, beginning in the wee hours of the morning and ending after midnight. Accidents were happening at the rate of 200 per hour on Friday afternoon--it wasn't snow and slippery roads I feared on the drive home Friday, it was other drivers.

Driving onto Highway 401 Toronto 7:00 AM.

Traffic moving slowly but at least it is moving!

Average speed 50 km per hour but no accidents.

Off the highway, on to city streets. Same thing, traffic moving very slowly but it is moving.

I arrive in the parking lot, plenty of places to park. Many have decided to work from home today.

The drive home, 3:00 PM. Plows have passed once during the day. No salt on the roads, traffic moving vey slowly. Many accidents on the roads but I don't pass any. We are being super cautious. One false move and it will be "BANG!"

I am home and resolve to stay home for the weekend. Here is the view from my bedroom window.

Later in the evening, it is still snowing. It is very quiet outside, sounds are muffled by the snow.

Early Saturday morning, this the view I woke up to.

Pine trees outside my bedroom window

Another window