Time for some humour

 Do you know what this is?

Tobacco Smoke Enema Kit (circa the 1750s - 1810s)

 The tobacco enema was used to infuse tobacco smoke into a patient's rectum for various medical purposes, but primarily the resuscitation of drowning victims.

 

A rectal tube inserted into the anus was connected to a fumigator and bellows that forced the smoke into the rectum. The warmth of the smoke was thought to promote respiration.

 

Doubts about the credibility of tobacco enemas led to the popular phrase "blowing smoke up your ass."

              

This old tool is still heavily used by some politicians and governments today.

The following is in honour of my wife's family who came from Newfoundland to Canada in the early 1900s/

The Newfie Millionaire Jarge, from Newfoundland,, appeared on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' And towards the end of the program had already won 500,000 dollars. "You've done very well so far," said Chris Tarrant, The show's presenter, "but for a million dollars You've only got one lifeline left � phone a friend. Everything is riding on this question.....will you go for it?" "Yes, Buy," said Jarge. "I'll have a go Aye!" "Which of the following birds does NOT build its own nest?   a) Sparrow b) Thrush, c) Magpie, d) Cuckoo?" "I ain't gatta a clue." said Jarge,   ''so I'll use one-a dem dare loif-loins and phone my friend Charlie back home in Carner Brook." Jarge called up his mate, told him the circumstances and repeated the question to him.  "Fookin hell, Jarge!" cried Charlie. "Dat's simple...... It's a cuckoo." "Are you sure?" "Lard Je'sus Buy I'm fookin sure." Jarge hung up the phone and told Chris, "I'll go wit Cuckoo as my answer Aye cause Charlie gots a grade eight dee-ploma." "Is that your final answer?" asked Chris. "Yes  it is, Buy" There was a long - long pause, and then the presenter screamed, "Cuckoo is the correct answer! Jarge, you've won 1 million Dollars!" The next night, Jarge invited Charlie to their local pub to buy him a drink. "Tell me, Charlie ole cock? How in da Lards name did you know it was da Cuckoo that don't build its own nest?" "Because he lives in a Fookin clock!"

Happy Canada Day

Every community in Canada is celebrating Canada Day in its own unique way. In my community here is what we are doing.  I hope you get a chance to join in the celebrations in your community.

Canada Day Activities

Lions Park 8 to 11 a.m.

– Lions Club Pancake Breakfast

– Fishing Derby, sponsored by Meridian RV. Free for kids under 10!

Castle Park 3pm to dusk

– Food vendors and beverage garden

– Live entertainment, including headliner Barney Bentall and son Dustin Bentall from 9:15-10:15pm

– Spray park on site

– Bring a blanket to enjoy the music acts leading up to the fireworks

– Dusk: Grande finale pyro-musical

– Water bottle station on site

We encourage you to explore our city's parks and outdoor spaces. Visit local businesses and the Farmers Market vendors for special promotions, including supplies and take-out picnics that can be enjoyed in the park.

2022 Live Entertainment

Barney Bentall & Dustin Bentall

JUNO award-winner artist Barney Bentall, pop/rock singer-songwriter who is most well-known for his 1990s-era band, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts, will take the stage alongside his son Dustin Bentall – a rustic troubadour, counter-culture cowboy, and a purveyor in the finest of cosmic Canadiana.Performance time: 9:15 – 10:15PM

Rumba Calzada

Rumba Calzada sets a standard for authentic Latin Jazz and Salsa music. Originally formed in 1991 by Boying Geronimo and now headed by his son, Raphael Geronimo, the band has recorded four albums with an array of nominations, including a Juno Award (2002 World Music Album of the Year), Westcoast Music Awards (2002 Outstanding World Recording of the Year) and Canadian Independent Music Awards (2002 Best Global Album). Performance time: TBA

There will be food and drink along with vendors and displays 

Indigenous Educational Resources

This Canada Day, we encourage local residents and families to learn and reflect on the history of Indigenous people in Canada. There is much work to do to address and repair the intergenerational trauma caused by the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada, including but not limited to, the residential school system. Educating yourself is one way we can all build toward reconciliation.

Learn about and view resources from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, a place of learning and dialogue about residential schools.

Read about the first stage of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada about residential schools that concluded in 2015.

Read about the history of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation) in this area.

Click here for a variety of resources and information on National Indigenous History Month each June, which recognizes the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in Canada.

Butterflies

 Every spring the butterflies come back to my garden, not in droves but enough to make me stop what I am doing and watch them flying around the garden. I and I believe many others delight in the beauty of the butterfly/ They are gorgeous creatures, and they can capture your imagination. However, we rarely think about or consider the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. In fact, many of us use the Butterfly emoji when we text or post. The butterfly emoji represents the butterfly, as well as the symbolism associated with it: positive transformations, hope during a dark time, and new beginnings. Here are some fascinating facts to consider next time you cross a butterfly’s path:

There are more than 17,500 recorded butterfly species around the world, 750 of which can be found in the U.S.

Butterflies and moths are part of the class of insects in the order Lepidoptera. Butterflies are flying insects with large scaly wings. Like all insects, they have six jointed legs and three body parts: the head, the thorax and the abdomen. The wings are attached to the thorax, and they also have a pair of antennae, compound eyes and an exoskeleton.

Monarch butterflies migrate to get away from the cold. However, they are the only insect that migrates an average of 2,500 miles to find a warmer climate. The iconic North American Monarch has been greatly affected by extreme weather events, going through drastic dips and spikes in numbers over the past several decades. The overall pattern continues to point downward, with a 95 percent population decline over the last 20 years, but conservation efforts are helping:

Monarchs are not the only butterfly that migrates. The Painted Lady, American Lady, Red Admiral, Cloudless Sulphur, Skipper, Sachem, Question Mark, Clouded Skipper, Fiery Skipper and Mourning Cloak are among the other butterflies that also migrate, but not as far as the Monarchs.

The Common Buckeye Butterfly is one of the most striking butterflies, with its bold multicoloured eyespots and thick upper-wing bars, all designed to frighten away any birds that might be tempted to chomp on them. If you look under its wings, you’ll find a more abstract profusion of brown, orange and beige. These insects are pretty common all over North and Central America, although you won’t find them in the Pacific Northwest or in the far north of Canada.

The Orange Barred Sulphur Butterfly is one that you can find all over the Americas and the Caribbean. It’s very distinctive, being bright yellow with patches of orange marking both forewings and hindwings. Females tend to be bigger and darker than their male counterparts and unusually, just like the adult butterflies, the caterpillars also have bright yellow bodies segmented by dark stripes.

Speaking of caterpillars, how much do you know about the life cycle of a butterfly? The butterfly starts its life as an egg, laid on a leaf. The caterpillar (larva) hatches from the egg and eats leaves or flowers. It loses its skin many times as it grows, increasing greatly in size. Eventually, it turns into a pupa or chrysalis and finally, a beautiful adult butterfly emerges, and the cycle continues.

An adult butterfly has a very short life: just three to four weeks. However, the entire life cycle of a butterfly can range between 2 and 8 months, depending on the species. Some migratory butterflies, such as the North American Monarch, can live as long as 7 to 8 months in one generation.

The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly, as its name implies, is one of the biggest butterflies, with a wing spread of four to seven inches. The female is once again bigger than the male. It too is found throughout North America and sometimes as far south as South America. These butterflies are called “swallows” because they have long tails on their hind wings that resemble the long, pointed tails of the birds known as swallows.

Be sure to get outside this summer and look around for butterflies and other wildlife in your backyard. If you see a butterfly but aren’t sure about the species, you can consult this handy identification guide

 

 

Gifts of love

 When I was talking to a distant cousin, she told me about her mother-in-law and how her mother-in-law made each birthday and holiday special for my cousin's three children. According to my cousin, her mother-in-law took the time to write each child on every special day and relate a story or a family anecdote about the child. The card contained family history, and each child looked forward to receiving the card.

Special days and events are made more memorable by the use of personal family stories. What a gift she is giving to her grandchildren. Our involvement in our grandchildren's lives does not need to be a series of major events. Taking the time to listen, and to tell stories some with morals, some for fun should endear yourself to your grandchildren.

The best gift that you can give your grandchildren and your children is your time, your love and your respect.  The stories and the time will be remembered while the latest and greatest toy you buy will soon be forgotten. Write your stories or record your stories so that when you are no longer around they can be listened to again.

But, as my cousin said, she had to tell her mother-in-law not to write the stories in cursive writing because the children could not read cursive writing.