Van Morrison, Stephen Hawking and a Goat!
May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.
Today is St. Patrick's Day. While I won't be partaking in any green beer (I prefer green tea, thanks!) I will be listening to my favourite Irish singer-songwriter, Van Morrison.
Wednesday (3/14) was International Pi Day. Any excuse to eat a slice of pie is excellent by me. The Preserve Company has become famous for our raspberry pie. If you've ever tried it, you know why. I love homemade pie!
This summer we hope to offer a wider variety. We are also building a separate bakery in the building just for gluten-free products. Take home and restaurant service. More about this as time goes on.
The world-renowned physicist, with an amazing mind Dr. Stephen Hawking, passed away this past week, interestingly enough on International Pi Day. He had a limitless mind which impacted the course of modern physics. One of his quotes truly resonates with me.
"Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious."
Here is a song and video with Van Morrison and Sir Cliff Richards performing, Whenever God Shines His Light.
I think curiosity is one of the best qualities a person can have. How dull would life be if we weren't curious?
Keeping with the Irish sense of curiosity, here is one for Saturdays Silly.
Murphy and O'Brien go out into the woods, they come to a clearing and see an abandoned well.
Murphy said 'I wonder how deep that well is?'
O'Brien said, 'There's one way we could figure it out'.
Murphy says, 'What's that?'
O'Brien says, 'We drop something down it, we time how long it takes to hit the bottom, you multiply that time 32 feet per second squared, the rate at which objects fall in a vacuum, subtract a little for wind resistance and we've got the depth of the well'.
Murphy says, ' What are you going to drop down it?' Then O'Brien looked all around and he saw this big heavy log lying on the ground.
Next he squats down by the log and, using his legs correctly, he gets it up onto his shoulders and staggers over to the edge of the well, tips it up, drops it into the well and they start to count, 'One hippopotamus, two hippopotamus, three ..........
SPLASH!!!!
Murphy said, 'Three seconds!'
O'Brien said, 'Quick, multiply that time 32 feet per second squared!'
'288 feet!', Murphy said. 'Subtract a little for wind resistance, let's say 18 feet. The depth of that well is 270 feet deep'.
As he finished the calculation Murphy shouts, 'LOOK OUT!!' and he pushed O'Brien backwards and a goat ran between them and jumped head first down the well.
Murphy said, 'My God, I've never seen anything like that'.
Just then a farmer walks into the clearing and said, 'What's going on here boys?'
O'Brien says, 'We just figured out the depth of this well to be about 270 feet deep and then the strangest thing happened. A goat ran between the two of us and jumped headfirst down into the well.'
The farmer says, 'Thank heaven it wasn't one of my goats.'
Murphy says, 'How do you know it wasn't?'
And the farmer says, 'Because all of my goats are tethered to big heavy logs.'
Ok, I thought it was funny.
I write this sitting in the Montreal Airport on my way to see our daughter in Vancouver. This song just seems to speak to me when I think of our dear Lauren. Another one by Van Morrison.
Moving along, again I'm thinking about pie, and I am curious… what's your favourite pie? Do you have a pie story to share?
Have a great week ahead and all the best to you.
With love from Prince Edward Island.
Sincerely,
Bruce
Comments
Margo MacDonald said:
Blueberry pie is # 1 !!!!! When I lived in Ontario (now back in NS), some of my friends called me ‘Blueberry’! Fresh rhubarb pie is a fairly close second.
March 23, 2018
Almira said:
I’m still laughing. I personally like any kind of pie – apple, strawberry/rhubarb, coconut cream, lemon but I think my favorite may be a good old fashion warm sweet potato pie with homemade cream whip. If it is homemade, I will eat. Love me some pie! Have a great week and travel.
March 20, 2018
Roshelle said:
Blueberry pie is my favorite. My grandparents, aunt, parents, brother and I picked all day on a site on top of a hill in the sunshine where the berries grow. Anyway, the air in Minnesota often had a nip to it in the shade, so a day in the fresh air and sunshine was cherished. We picked for what seemed to my young self the whole day for a couple coffee cans full of itty bitty wild berries. I used up one of my lives rolling down that same hill on the way home, but avoided all the old growth trees and landed in a pile made of many years of leaves. My grandmother made a pie and let me make a mini kid size one in a tin. It was the little things like the egg wash and the sprinkle of sugar on top that made it magical, and any fruit pie is made better served with a little pour of heavy cream while it is warm. The berries from the grocer are not the same, and I have never tasted one that holds up to that memory, though I keep searching.
March 18, 2018
tania said:
Very pleased to hear there will be a gluten free bakery on the premises. Will be dropping by for our summer pick up!! Thank you, looking forward to it.
March 18, 2018
Isabelle said:
What a wonderful surprise to read that you will have a gluten-free bakery starting this Summer! My husband and I are both gluten-free and this will surely be a value-add to our Summer visits to the Preserve Co. A huge THANK YOU!
March 18, 2018
ljhiltz said:
Have safe travels, and enjoy the visit with your daughter. Loved the Saturday silly, very funny.
March 17, 2018
Robin Petty said:
My favourite pie story is from one of the many summers of my childhood – spent with my GrandParents – my Granny picked 6 cups of blueberries on her Island in Pointe au Baril, ON (Georgian Bay), and made a pie from scratch, pastry and all. When the time came for dessert, my GrandFather counted the heads at the table, and cut the pie in FOUR!! The only time in my life I was allowed to be a bit of a glutton was that day :)
March 17, 2018
Candy Crone said:
Pie….. always reminds me of my Grandma. She made it look so easy rolling out that pie crust & flopping it in to the pie pan, trimming & edging easily. She often made several at a time – and gave many away. My favorite as a child -" blue" pie (blueberry), now I like to make mixed fruit pies, but the pie crust making – not as effortless as Gram!
March 17, 2018
Dorothy Lecky said:
I too laughed out loud at the joke. Thank you for making my day brighter!
March 17, 2018
George James said:
We are so much going to miss seeing you this summer while leading a Fantasy RV Tour. We’ll be back one day! What an inspiration you are.
March 17, 2018
Elizabeth Pease said:
March 14th was also Albert Einstein’s birthday. He would be 139 this year, and also the date Galileo died. Dr. Hawking was in good company.
March 17, 2018
Carol McFarlane said:
My son (now a graduated cardiologist) has travelled and studied all over the world. One time when he was home again -always briefly – we prepared (for his leaving) a full course meal roast beef all the trimmings and my apple pie (every boy says his mums is the best). Something came up the sit down meal never happened but he insisted on taking the full meal deal on the plane. He was en route to Trinidad and told him his meal would be confiscated along the way but he got it all the way through – probably my best travelled apple pie.
March 17, 2018
Brenda Macleod Raham said:
As usual ‘delightful’
March 17, 2018
Cathy Markham said:
March 17, 2018
Carla Underhill said:
You should put your blogs into a book
March 17, 2018
Lynda Feierabend said:
That was beautiful. Love the music and video. Thanks for the St. Patrick’s Day treat. Now I must go and have my tea and listen again to the music……………..thanks a bunch.
March 17, 2018
Karen Doherty said:
my favourite pie is graham wafer . I only make it at Christmas time . It is a custard pie in a Graham Wafer crust with whipped egg white cooked until brown . My mother made it when my brother & I were growing up . I made it for my 3 children when they were growing up and I still make it for them at Christmas and it is my daughters ‘’ birthday cake / pie ’’ She loves getting the pie instead of cake .
My favourite Van Morrison song is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj_BG_C29cQ We loved the jams and jellies , cups / mugs we got from you last year . Some we gave away as gifts and everyone loved them .
March 17, 2018
Anonymus said:
last sentence should read: Your Blog reminds me that “life is sweet”.
March 17, 2018
Anonymus said:
The joke was hilarious! I laughed out loud for a while after reading it because the ending was so unexpected. The sentiment of the music and your statement is so endearing. Be safe and enjoy your beautiful daughter. Thank you Bruce for the good head space your blog brings each time I read it. Your Bog make life sweet…
March 17, 2018
Corinda GallantC said:
I so always enjoy your mailings…..Gotta love Van and may Mr. Hawking’s rest in peace……two great men recognized by another great man…you Bruce!
March 17, 2018
John Dawes said:
Enjoying quiet time early on Saturday morning. A time for reflection. I look forward each week to reading your blog The title of this blog certainly had me intrigued. You also have interesting choices in music each week. Speaking off Stephen Hawking this is a my favourite quote:
“Be curious and however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.” – Stephen Hawking
That very much reflects my attitude living with Parkinson’s Disesse while keeping active and giving back as a volunteer with Rotary (33 years), ShekplterBox Canada Board since 2010 and Parkinson Canada Regina Support Group.
Hard to believe we have been in Regina for 25 years after moving from Charlottetown. Will never forget the winter day when Valerie and I drove out to New Glasgow so you could show us the empty building while listening as you shared your vision.
Enjoyed our friendship with you and Shirley. Very memorable time. We have great memories of our years living in PEI.
Life is good since we get to spend time and watch our grand kids grow up here in a Regina.
Wishing you and Shirley continuing success.
John and Valerie Dawes
Regina, SK
March 17, 2018
Jane Hoeksema said:
Thank you so much! We love Van Morrison! Have a wonderful day!
March 17, 2018
Robin Canova said:
I love Van Morrison always played Brown eyed girl for my daughter. Had a teen crush on Cliff Richards. Stephen Hawking was a genius his beliefs and mine differ but his greatness cannot be denied. His tenacity to live thru ALS is great in itself. Thanks for the great memories in song. Will be back on The Island in July for our annual visit for lunch and of course dessert.
March 17, 2018
Jennifer Sarkkinen said:
Thank you. Loved this and the song that I had never heard! Love the lyrics!
God Bless you! He is always with us! Rejoice!!
March 17, 2018