A great visit with my pal Asma

What a wonderful day it has been today!  My very close friend Asma visited me from Toronto for the day.

We have been very good friends since 1994 or 1995 and her family is my family so to speak.

It only took her 45 minutes to get here which was very good timing with hardly any traffic.

School is finished now for the Christmas holidays so she is free for a week or so.  No more teaching for a while which will give her a nice rest and time to spend with her grown up children and her grandchildren.

Asma at the table for a vegetarian meal

My dear friend Asma enjoying rice pudding

After lunch, which was chick pea loaf, noodles with breadcrumbs and peas and homemade bread, we were so stuffed that we went over to the mall to do a little shopping.

Asma and I had a good time there and then came home for our rice pudding and whipped cream desert and regular tea.   

I will be going to stay with her a few days in the summer months and she will come to Hamilton to pick me up.  Last time that happened we interviewed a wonderful professor who came to interview Asma, but I ended up doing an interview about her and her work and writing it up for the paper.  A poem even came out of this meeting.  It is called a Lick and a Promise and was published.  It happened because both of us were spiffing up Asma's home before the professor came and out of that, came the poem.

That dear professor drove me back to Hamilton which was such a kind thing to do.  She was visiting her daughter.

Here is the poem which came out of that occasion.  Hope you enjoy it.




A Lick and a Promise




Finger prints on bathroom mirror

Water marks on tiled floor

The hiss of Windex on paper towel

A wipe, a swipe – and all is right.



The old wet mop dragged from hiding

To perform its mighty job

The smell of pine now scents the air

A rub, a scrub – the task is done



Feather duster at the ready

Dust bunnies skulk and hide

Taunting me to catch them

A whoosh, a swoosh – chores are done.





© 2007WilmaSeville

Lit Chat Dec. 2010

Adam Getty was the host tonight as Jennifer was away in Morocco.   It was a very compatible group tonight with three new faces.  I hope they will come again.

This December event is strictly for writers to read their work without any critiquing and people just need to listen.  It was very relaxing.  Jean read from her book, I read my Snowflake story which was published in Perspectives Magazine, David read from his book and one new young fellow Andrew read some of his poems. 

A very pleasant evening.  I was able to deliver Jean's necklace to her this evening and she was delighted with it and put it on right away.  It looks really nice.

David and Renessa drove me home which was very nice of them.

It was worth going out in the bitter cold.

E.L.W. Christmas celebration 2010

In spite of the extremely cold weather and the biting wind, the ladies managed to get to the church hall.    It is one of the most lovely E.L.W. celebrations and one not to be missed.

This group is a very loving group, caring for one another and for shut-ins.  Cards are sent, visits are done by members both to hospitals and nursing homes, people call each other, and in general minister to each other in loving kindness.  

The congregation is mostly German speaking, but the younger generations speak English so services are held in both German and English.

Today was a lovely programme with scripture readings, seasonal poetry, prayer and many people participated to make this event happen.

A special presentation was made to Pastor Frank and Pastor Astrid, to Herbert who helps the women's group so much and to Carol-Anne, the church secretary.

To finish off this wonderful event, an array of sandwiches and sweets, fruits, coffee, tea and herbal tea was served, buffet style.

The buffet table so lovingly prepared by the women

T

The manager scene in the church basement

The downstairs smaller Christmas tree, wooden ornaments

Happy voices rose in song praising God and singing familiar carols in both languages.  Joy was present in the singing, the fellowship of the ladies, the caring shown to each other and the concern for others, as evidenced in the ladies making sandwiches tomorrow for MacSoc which is a ministry for street people.  Two hundred people are expected to come for sandwiches,goodies  and a Christmas celebration.  A collection was also taken up for the Childrens Breakfast Programme which is run thoroughout Hamilton.  Over $300 was raised for this programme alone.

Our President, Kathe welcoming everybody including the little fellow with his grandmother

A snapshot of some of the group

English tea cups donated by people

.  It certainly was a very nice affair, good food for thought, good food to feed the body and wonderful fellowship to feed the soul!

I would certainly recommend this group to anybody who would care to participate.

I need to go out again tonight as it is Lit Chat.  I shall be reading my story on the snowflake and I also need to deliver the jade necklace to one of my fellow writers.  It should be a nice event also.

Tomorrow, I hope to stay home and rest!

Jade and Lapiz necklace

I finally finished restringing a friend's gorgeous necklace.  It was a difficult job as I only had a picture to go by of the broken necklace.

However, after much fiddling around, I am finally satisfied.  I hope that my friend will be too as this necklace means a lot to her.  She bought it when she was in China at a Museum and paid a pretty penny for it I am sure.

I have made it with the finest of materials available and finished it off with crimps beads and clam shells which will make it even more secure.

It should last her the rest of her days.

I hope that she likes it.  It has not been an easy job for some reason.

Dorothy Gordon's Party instead of a funeral

I just love this concept.  Dorothy chose to have a huge party while she is alive instead of a funeral. It was held at a lovely venue, the Yacht Club at the waterfront here in Hamilton, Ontario.

The room was crowded with many generations mingling.  From little babies to teenagers to much older folk. 

Dorothy has had a very interesting life and has achieved a great deal and done a lot of good in this world.

Many groups were represented there from the Agencies she has worked in and the various committees. 

Dorothy in the Air Force during the Second World War

The yummy cake celebrating her life

Several people told some wonderful stories of her and one man led a sing song.  I particularly enjoyed the Scottish lady who told stories about the Gordon Clan in her very Scottish voice.  She had everybody laughing.

Dorothy has worked on so many committees, taught at Mohawk College, and worked for the betterment of human life.  Through her work, an agency for families with children was started which is still going strong after 23 years if I am not mistaken.

Through it all, she has been a wife and mother, a teacher, a friend, a councillor, a grandmother, a great grandmother, an advocate for justice and the list could go on and on.

Portraits and snapshsots of Dorothy when she was younger

Part of the lovely refreshments

Dorothy's life in pictures

Thelma, Dorothy and Chris

I was fortunate enough to sit with two of these ladies and we had a lovely time chatting.  Both had lived in Toronto at one time so we were able to make conversation about that as we had never met before.

Barbara, Dorothy's daughter talking about her Mom

Dorothy replying

Thelma, Dorothy and Wilma

Many of her fellow Mohawk College teachers came as well as her buddies from the Air Force.  The teacher sang a halarious song about Dorothy which I enjoyed tremendously.

Mohawk College fellow teachers singing for Dorothy

A scene from the window of the water

Quite a different scene from my last visit - Andrew & Rahel's Wedding in the late Spring

It was a thoroughly enjoyable event and I was so touched to have been invited.  Thelma offered to bring me home.  I had gotten lost getting there, walking in the wrong direction, towards the Haida ship.  It was not too pleasant as it was pouring rain.  I finally saw somebody else walking and they pointed me in the right direction which was a long way away.  I was very glad to finally arrive at the Yacht Club. 

I had only been by car before but had decided to go by the #4 Bayfront bus.  It was quite a hike from the bus stop but at least it was not cold!

I was due at another party in the building but this one went on till after 5 so missed that party. 

Tomorrow I plan to have a restful day, work on one of my stories and finish the necklace I am doing for a friend.

Thanks for reading my blog about this wonderful human being, my friend Dorothy. 

Tower Poetry Society Christmas Party 2010

Today our annual Christmas party was held at Rhoda's lovely home.  Quite a few people attended, although not all.

It was a potluck and one of the poets brought a bought cake with "Poets Rock" on it.  My poor pound cake was lost in the shadow of that wonderful cake.

The wonderful bought cake

Stella picked me up and we arrived a little early at Rhoda's place but she was ready for us in any event.  There is so much construction around that I almost hate to let people pick me up as it is such a trial getting through.

It was a very cozy event and we did something different this time.  People could read some of their work at the end of the party and several people did.  I particularly loved the children's story that Kay told us.  It was so great! 

Paul, our guest poet from England

Part of the group

Part of the group

Jeff holding up his latest publication about cats.

Valerie, our president, cutting the store bought cake

It was a very nice party and Rhoda was a great hostess.  Jeff brought me home as I didn't want Stella to have to go out of her way again, through all the construction going on. 

A great time!

Church of the Ascension - Christmas Dinner

I was invited for a very festive occasion by a friend who goes to the Anglican Church.  It was quite a pleasant surprise when she suggested this idea and we were lucky to get tickets at the last moment.

The event started off with a Mix and Mingle from 5 p.m. where they had various nibbles and non-alcoholic punch as well as the other.  The interesting thing is that I recognized several people who attend the concerts at Whitehern in the group. This congregation was very welcoming and my friend Jennifer and I chatted with others while nibbling on the delicious  tidbits.

At 6 p.m., a turkey dinner was served with all the trimmings.  I was delighted to see turnip as well as mashed potatoes, peas cooked to perfection, cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls and butter.  It was served buffet style which was a good idea.  Apparently they had cooked three big turkeys for this occasion and there was plenty to go around.

Dessert was home made cookies and squares.  A birthday celebration with a huge cake was celebrated at this time for one of their members so this group had cake instead of cookies.  Everybody sang happy birthday to the birthday girl.  Very nice.

Coffee and tea followed.  We had very compatible people at our table and it was so nice to sit with them and enjoy their company. 

To me, the highlight was the children from the Suzuki School of Music and their performance.  These little ones (the youngest being five years of age) performed extremely well and were very serious musicians.  I see a bright future for them if they continue learning the violin.

They played many delightful Christmas carols and the audience showed their appreciation with loud applause.  I admire the patience of their two teachers.

To me, it was a very touching moment.  Here are several pictures of the  young children playing.  My friend Jennifer took these pictures.

The Suzuki School of Music

Another shot of the young children playing their violins - the smallest child is the little guy sitting down on the chair. He is just five years of age and learning to play the violin. 

Near the end of the event, those who had bought tickets for $1.00 received their prizes.  I was very fortunate and received two prizes, one a wooden tray and the other a beautiful glass serving plate.  Both will come in extremely handy for my parties.

This surprise evening was a delightful time, spent with nice people and what a joy to hear the children play so beautifully. 

Thanks for reading my blog.