Monday, February 24, 2014

The Real "Canadian Gold".... How sweet it is!



It is evident for a host of reasons that winter is in its final throes. The longer period of light during the day... increasing by three minutes each day, best measures the ebbing of winter's icy grip. The pristine blanket of deep winter snow has been pocked and eroded by the combination of sunlight, wind and the rain of the past week. The magical and exalting morning trill of our male cardinal...  who wintered at our feeder winter summons spring to return and his mating ritual to begin. All birds and creatures suddenly become more active in their search for food. Spring is definitely in the air!

As I watched the closing ceremony for the Olympic Games in Sochi, I couldn't help feel my heart swell as I watched the combined athletes of the world and amongst them our Canadian athletes enter for the final gathering of the athletes. The pride that I felt was not a vain pride... the kind that the feeling of nationalism usually translates, but more the kind of pride that a parent has for their child when they have performed their best... and have behaved with humility in the face of winning. It was equally touching to bear witness to the accord and harmony of the athletes together in a space other than their individual fields of competition. It was in those rare and moving moments that we come face to face with the reality... that we can indeed come together as brothers and sisters... and in Peace and Harmony.

In watching these games, I began to understand more fully that in truth that Canadians as a culture are defined by winter. We are forced by geography and climate to endure at least six months of winter... and for the most part do so simply as a matter of fact. But the term endure connotes to bear patiently... but along with this imposed acceptance is a "joie de vivre"- a passionate and proud embracing of the task of facing winter. Over two hundred plus years as an emergent nation... we have learned to do more than survive winter. We go out to it... we work and we play in it and as a result we are defined by it. We are... winter!

Lest this continue beyond my observation that Canadian winter shapes each of its citizens' lives profoundly... I will draw the post's content back into the world of work... play and painting. Beyond the pursuit of Olympic Gold... many communities and families across Ontario and Quebec and Ontario are well underway in their pursuit of another Canadian Gold...Maple Syrup.No Canadian Spring could ever arrive without this rite of spring. It signals for rural communities and farms... the return to activity after an imposed winter recess of sorts.

 The conditions of cold below zero nights and warm, sunny days has launched the sugar maples into their annual production of sugary sap. In woodland maple bushes across these areas activities have swung into the short and eagerly awaited late February and early March weeks of syrup boiling and production. There will be no down time... no sleep... except for  the "sweet dreams" and smells of a sugar shack under full steam. It quite simply... for they and myself is pure... March Magic!

Here is the first result of my own spring production. Titled "The Vigil"... it aptly records the Williams sugar house ... located on the Rockport-Escott Road not far from here. I am not at this time really sure whether or not that the shed remains in production... but I couldn't resist recording this quiet pre-run moment.

"How sweet it is..."


"The Vigil" - oil on toned panel 8x10 inches

Despite the opening "watch your glycemic level"... I will be heading out in search of some Grade #1`... fresh from the bush maple syrup for my pancakes and sausages for Sunday breakfast... and for my daily oat meal intake!

Stay tuned!... and  Sweet Dreams!... 

Good Painting to ALL!!



16 comments:

  1. yet another beautiful, thought filled post and painting my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good evening Suz!... Thank you for your visit and kind words of encouragement!

    The thought of Spring evokes an uplifting sense of renewal... and new possibility... and with it the continuance and pursuit of Happiness!

    Wishing "You"... all of these Sweet Dreams for a brighter future Suz!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the impressionism of this piece, Bruce. It is beautiful! We are not out of winter's grasp as of yet. Today and the next couple of days, we are due for temps as low as -8 Fahrenheit. Your 0 degrees is our 32 degrees so that gives you some indication of the cold we're experiencing. Even I, who would take winter over summer, am ready for a bit of spring green around here.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A chilly Good morning Sherry!. The weather has turned colder again here as well... to be expected through March and possibly into April! It is indeed an encouraging interlude from deep winter to have even a few days of moderate temperatrure as we have experienced this week in these parts. Lifts the spirits!

    We are all waiting for the robin's cheery red breast and voice to melt away the last of weather. Keep the faith... there are other signs which show that spring is coming our way again!

    Thank you for your visit and kind words.

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely painting Bruce you are very creative these days in spite of the terribly cold temperatures. Spring is on her way to you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's a beauty of a painting of the sugar shack, Bruce! Love the red in the roof and dashes of warmth throughout! Spring has about sprung!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. First and foremost , Happy Birthday to you my friend, so sorry for the late comment. And yes contrats on the the Gold. You all most be so very proud.
    Love the painting, as usual, you have captured both cold and beauty of snow.

    All the best to you,
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Bruce, this is one of your best, I think. I love the feeling of receding snow and the warm sunshine. I can almost hear the dripping water!

    All the best,
    Keith

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi there Lass!... Thanks for your visit and encouraging comments about the weather. Winter has flip-flopped yet again... and we are again in the midst of -20C temperatures all week. The sun has shown its happy face on a few days... but winter is dragging his feet! HA HA!!!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete

  10. HI Dean .... Thanks for your "sweet" comments about this s!mall piece. Just got back from three days away... a nice warm return. Thanks!

    You can fiind warmth in winter... or create it... if it's missing ! THis wee piece proves that!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Karen!... Thanks for that positive comment!

    Good Painting!

    Warm regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  12. we HI there Joan!... Thanks for all of your encouraging comments! We are proud... cold ... but painting our "sweet hearts" out! Still lots of hard cold... ice and snow about! The winds have brought with them a firce wind chill... not the best for outdoor work! I'm a-waiting though!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi there Keith!... Thank you for your bright... cheery and encouraging comments! The weather has plummeted back into the deep cold... not ideal for outdoor work... but I am keeping a vigil... patiently! HA HA!!

    Thanks for your visit Keith!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  14. wonderful colors in this painting and I love maple syrup. Glycemic index be darned ;)
    My husbands father said about Nova Scotia. "They have two seasons, July, August and winter." :D
    Heck the lilacs bloom around June 30th. But, I LOVE it!
    Happy painting friend .

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi there Mary!... Thank you for dropping in! Yep!... on all counts... the maple syrup... and the three season year. I still enjoy winter more than most... but must admit that it seems exceedingly long this year... I guess because the cold has been so continously deep and hard.

    I too await the smell of those lovely lilacs... we have a good cluster right in our backyard. There smell really denotes the onset of summer!

    Good Painting to you Mary!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete