Stenciling My Patio in the Dead of August (What Was I Thinking?)

by BJM Publishing, posted in Adventure, Art, Gardens and/or Museums

Remember when we all had endless reserves of energy and questionable ideas? Years ago, I looked at our stark, cracked back patio and thought: “You know what this concrete slab needs? A gorgeous, hand-stenciled makeover.”

Famous last words!

Here is how a simple DIY project turned into a sweat-drenched, character-building adventure.

Phase 1: The Grand Vision

  • The Prep: I ordered a stencil, picked up some cement paint and crack filler, and gave the slab a fresh base coat of grey.
  • The Plan: Map out the exact grid—how many stencils across, how many down—to create a charming border for a patio table and chairs. Picture lovely outdoor dinners on warm summer evenings. Bliss, right?

Phase 2: Reality Hits (Hard)

As usual, I completely miscalculated two minor details:

  1. Time: Everything takes twice as long as you think.
  2. Weather: Late August. Peak, scorching, melt-your-face-off summer heat.

The stenciling itself was a full-body workout. I spent hours bent double over a bumpy, pebbly concrete surface that was anything but smooth. To top it off, I had to clean the stencil after every single press to avoid messy paint bleeding—alternating a rich burgundy with crisp white.

Phase 3: Surviving to Tell the Tale

Did I feel like I was on the brink of heatstroke before the final stencil was placed? Absolutely.

Did I power through anyway, sealing it with a couple of coats of clear topcoat so the paint wouldn’t wash away in the first rain? You bet. And honestly, standing back to look at the finished product, I was genuinely proud.

The plot twist? We put the house up for sale the very next spring, so we barely had time to enjoy our hand-painted outdoor oasis. But looking back, it’s a great reminder: it really is the journey, not the destination, that makes the memories!

Ever tackle a DIY project that almost defeated you in the middle of summer? Let’s hear your stories in the comments!

Melancholy High

by BJM Publishing, posted in Art, Family and Friends, Music

The song “Fallen Angel” was written and released by Robbie Robertson in 1987 as a deeply personal tribute and prayer for his former bandmate from The Band, Richard Manuel, who tragically passed away on March 04 1986 by suicide at the age of 42. The track featured backing vocals from Peter Gabriel, while fellow The Band member Garth Hudson played keyboards on the song.

Manuel struggled with severe, long-term alcoholism and drug addiction for years and dealt with severe depression, a loss of confidence, and career struggles following the 1976 breakup of the original group (which was famously documented in The Last Waltz). Bandmates and colleagues later noted that the heavy touring schedule and demanding pace while trying to revive the group took a severe toll on his fragile state.

He was buried at the Avondale Cemetery in his hometown of Stratford, Ontario. Bandmate Rick Danko sang Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” at his memorial service. Stratford later honored him with a sidewalk star on Ontario Street and a memorial bench by the Avon River. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Band in 1994.

Possibly one of the most heartfelt tributes to a fellow musician I have ever heard. The whole album Robbie Robertson debut album is a must listen.

Note: It’s been 50 years since the Band’s 1976 farewell show that became the iconic concert film The Last Waltz, and a supergroup of Canadian artists will mark the anniversary with a Toronto tribute show. LW50: A Celebration of Bob Dylan and the Band will take place on November 25, 2026 at Massey Hall.

The Plague Doctor

by BJM Publishing, posted in Adventure, Art, Miscellaneous
photo taken during recent Cogs and Steampunk festival in Fergus, 2026

Photo above taken at the recent Cogs and Steampunk Festival in Fergus, Sept, 2026

A plague doctor was a specialized municipal physician hired by towns and cities in Europe during 17th-century plague epidemics to treat victims, especially the poor who could not pay. These physicians wore this unsettling outfit to protect themselves from the plague. It was an early version of the present-day personal protective equipment (PPE).

What They Meant and Symbolized

  • Harbingers of Death: Because they usually arrived only when an outbreak began and rarely cured anyone, seeing a plague doctor meant that severe illness or death was nearby.
  • Public Record Keepers: Beyond medical care, their role meant documenting the dead, counting infection numbers, witnessing wills, and performing autopsies for demographic and civic data.
  • A Symbol of Fear: Over time, the terrifying medical uniform transformed into a popular Carnival of Venice character, symbolizing mystery, history, and a memento mori (a reminder of mortality).

The Iconic Costume

  • The Beaked Mask: The mask featured a long bird-like beak stuffed with strong herbs, spices, and camphor. People believed disease spread through “miasma” (poisonous “bad air”), and the herbs were meant to filter or purify it.
  • Protective Suit: They wore a head-to-toe heavy waxed leather or canvas robe, boots, and gloves. While designed to block bad air, it accidentally offered minor protection against bodily fluids and flea bites. The hat was worn to make people aware that they were physicians. The cloak and gloves were worn to prevent skin-on-skin contact with patients.
  • The Wooden Wand: Doctors carried a cane or stick to examine and point at patients without having to touch them.

I would imagine that seeing this frightening figure morph out of a misty morning fog, even if you were near death; you’d jump up and run for cover.

Lobsters in PEI

by BJM Publishing, posted in Adventure, Family and Friends, Miscellaneous, Travel

Prince Edward Island (PEI) has two distinct lobster fishing seasons: a spring season from late April/early May to late June; this is the largest harvest, accounting for about 75% of the catch, and a fall season from mid-August to mid-October. PEI splits its lobster fishing into two distinct regional seasons to protect the lobsters during vulnerable biological cycles like molting and mating.

The lobster fishery brings in tens of millions of pounds of catch annually, accounting for about 15% of Canada’s total lobster production. It provides vital jobs for over 1,200 licensed fishers and supports processing plants, local harbors, and tourism.

Nova Scotia catches the most lobsters of any province in Canada, accounting for roughly 45% to 50% of the country’s total annual catch. Additionally, the town of Shediac, New Brunswick, is widely known and promoted as the “Lobster Capital of the World” due to its rich fishing heritage and famous 90-tonne giant lobster monument.

For a traditional lobster supper there are three main places to partake of succulent, mouth-watering lobster and though it may appear expensive when you think about how everything is included with the meal and the price of appetizers and desserts now, it isn’t that bad. A special occasion for sure.

Lobster supper
Supper LocationEstimated Price RangeKey Feature / Unlimited SidesAtmosphere
New GlasgowCAD 40–60a short drive from the city, serving a complete multi-course lobster meal with unlimited sides of mussels, chowder, and pie.Historic community hall
Fisherman’s WharfCAD 40–8060-foot salad and dessert bar & endless mussels. Expansive & nautical
Lobster on the WharfCAD 30–80À la carte platters & fresh poundScenic harbor deck

You are not limited to lobster suppers, you can go down to the local pier in most towns and get live lobster to take home or cook up, and there are plenty of places to grab a lobster roll. Some of the best places on Prince Edward Island include acclaimed spots like Richard’s Fresh Seafood in Covehead and Victoria-by-the-Sea, Blue Mussel Cafe in North Rustico, the Water Prince Corner Shop in Charlottetown, the Seafood Shack, and Point Prim Chowder House and Oyster Bar. I’m sure I have left some out but that’s what exploring on vacation is all about.

The Lovin Spoonful

by BJM Publishing, posted in Art, Music

The Lovin’ Spoonful was a popular American folk-rock band formed in Greenwich Village, New York City, in 1964 by primary songwriter John Sebastian and guitarist Zal Yanovsky.

The group took their name from a lyric in Mississippi John Hurt’s song “Coffee Blues”. Their style blended folk, blues, jug-band music, and rock and roll, which they called “good-time music”. Beginning in 1965 with “Do You Believe in Magic,” the band achieved seven consecutive Top Ten US hits in 18 months, including “Daydream,” “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?”, and their chart-topping number-one hit “Summer in the City”

Recently I started doing water color painting again and turned a photo of the result into a poster about music which I do on a regular basis. Hope you enjoy this and I will be writing something in the near future regarding the subject of the painting – Merlin in an upcoming post. So….do you believe?

The Daily Telegraph building on Fleet Street

by BJM Publishing, posted in Art, Travel

The former Daily Telegraph Building (also known as Peterborough Court or Peterborough House) was located at 135–141 Fleet Street. It features a prominent, ornate Art Deco/Art Nouveau style public clock projecting over Fleet Street. The iconic, jewel-toned clock is highly celebrated for its bright blue and gold face decorated with geometric sunburst patterns.

The Portland stone facade is heavily framed by massive, stylized fluted columns (pillars) with stepped capitals. The building’s monumental facade stretches across the upper storeys; giving the structure its powerful, temple-like presence on the street.

Daily Telegraph

Directly above the main metalwork entrance doors sits a beautiful bas-relief panel carved by Alfred James Oakley depicting two stylized, wing-footed figures of Mercury (the Roman god of communication and messages) back to back and flying over a stylized globe – symbolizing the global transmission of news (Fitting for a newspaper company.)

Designed by architect Charles Ernest Elcock in consultation with Thomas S. Tait, the Daily Telegraph building was constructed between 1927 and 1928. It represents monumental Art Deco blended with Neo-Egyptian and Greco-Roman revival motifs. with top-floor winged mask sculptures (The Past and The Future) by Samuel Rabin, and an entryway bas-relief depicting the winged god Mercury by Alfred James Oakley. Served as the long-time headquarters for The Daily Telegraph from 1928-1980. The building was also referred to as Peterborough Court, referencing the medieval residence of the Bishop of Peterborough on Fleet Street. After the newspaper migrated away, the building was adapted as the European headquarters for Goldman Sachs.

Underwent a major multi-million-pound restoration and structural refurbishment through January 2023 to 2025 to modernize the interior spaces. Nearly 300,000 square feet of former investment banking space were remodeled into Grade A commercial office space, multi-functional courtyards, and ground-floor retail/restaurants. Designed as a green refit, retaining existing structural elements while converting the building into a 100% all-electric, low-carbon facility.

Cogs and Clockwork Festival in Fergus

by BJM Publishing, posted in Adventure, Art, Events and Festivals, Family and Friends

The 4th annual Festival hosted by Fergus, Ontario this past weekend, and my first visit. It will certainly not be the last. The costumes, the people, the incredible creativity and the friendliness of the occasion was off the charts.

Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction and a lifestyle movement that imagines an alternate world where 19th-century steam power and clockwork machinery kept advancing instead of being replaced by electricity and electronics. Machines run on steam, gears, cogs, brass pipes, and dials rather than digital microchips.

Stories and styles typically take place during the 19th-century Industrial Revolution or an imaginary Victorian/Edwardian era. While it borrows from the 1980s cyberpunk naming convention, the “punk” in steampunk represents a DIY crafting ethic, independence, and a rebellion against modern disposable consumer culture but pretty much anything goes. Goth, Victorian, the Mandalorian, explorers, plague doctors, Poe, fairies, Around the world in 80 days, and numerous other influences from Jules Verne to H.G. Wells.

The main aspect is having fun with whatever you choose to create and making friends and having a good time. People often wear top hats, corsets, leather goggles, and brass accessories. Most people start out with an elaborate hat and accessorize as they attend more events as there are booths full of great ideas. Gathering a mood board and collecting small hardware items like springs, old keys, and gears is a good way to start any steampunk crafting session.

Key Clothing Pieces


Corsets and Waist Cinchers: Worn over blouses or shirts to create a classic Victorian silhouette.

Vests and Waistcoats: Structured layers in velvet, brocade, or tweed for both men and women.

Shirts and Blouses: High-neck ruffled blouses or crisp collared button-downs.

Skirts and Trousers: High-waisted, tiered, or asymmetrical skirts (often shorter in the front and longer in the back) paired with tailored or striped trousers.

Essential Accessories

Goggles and Spectacles: Often worn perched on a top hat or across the forehead.

Hats: Top hats, bowler hats, or feathered mini-pillbox hats and fascinators.

Gear and Timepieces: Pocket watches on chains, brass jewelry, and decorative cogs.

Footwear and Gear Bags: Sturdy leather lace-up boots and utility belts with pouches or satchels

vendor
birdman

The Steampunk Capital of the world is in Oamaru, New Zealand.

Steampunk HQ was founded in 2011 by a group of creative minds (Don Patterson, Jac Grenfell and Brian de Geest), who were passionate about Steampunk, and showcasing it to the public. They are constantly working with talented individuals to collaborate on projects and expand their collection.

​Steampunk HQ promotes sustainability and recycling; it features an interesting collection of retro-futuristic sci-fi art, movies, sculpture and sound.

​Oamaru’s Victorian precinct (historical building) is the perfect setting for steampunk, as the architecture is a great backdrop for this alternative version of 19th century England.

Let me know if you have attended a similar festival and what you liked most about it!

A visit to the Whistling Gardens

by BJM Publishing, posted in Adventure, Art, Gardens and/or Museums

Whistling Gardens in Wilsonville, Ontario was established in 2012 by founders Darren and Wanda Heimbecker, who transformed a former 20-acre cornfield into an award-winning botanical landscape. Not very old by garden standards but they have incorporated the right mixture of splendour and delight to keep you looking forward to what is around the next bend. You can see the entirety of the garden in about two hours but you can linger at several places and really take in the gardens in an afternoon or evening. Total cost for our visit was $37.95 (two adults) which might feel steep to some but strolling around here was almost magical and very peaceful. There are 4 km of walking paths that are wheelchair accessible. You can find Pheasants, Peacocks, Swans, Egyptian Geese, Serama (the smallest breed of chicken) in the aviary.

We arrived shortly before noon and caught the one o’clock water fountain show which lasts about 11 minutes and is choreographed to two pieces of music. Owner Darren Heimbecker engineered a massive computerized water theater featuring over 100 water jets set across three 90-foot staircases and a stage floor. The show that they feature at night is much more colourful and lasts almost an hour…so I guess we will have to go back sometime and see the gardens at night.

The lady at the front said the best time to see the Gardens is in June when the peonies are blooming so I may note that on my calendar for next year. We went on Labour Day Sunday and though there wasn’t an abundance of flowers, it was worth the time and money. They have an aviary with some pheasants and a peacock and a very loud rooster, two ponds, a rock garden, a temple garden for weddings and a cactus garden. They also have flush toilets as well as the usual porta potties.

Hydrangea

The site houses one of the world’s largest public conifer collections with roughly 2,500 varieties, species, and hybrids—including rare specimens like the critically endangered Baishan fir and Canada’s only foxtail pine. Starting with major donations beginning around 2013, the public peony collection expanded to roughly 1,300 varieties, making it the largest collection of its kind in North America. The gardens display upwards of 4,500 total plant types. The property is expansive, thoughtfully designed, and full of distinct garden areas that each feel like their own little world. You’ll find formal gardens, winding woodland paths, colourful perennial borders, and beautifully maintained themed sections that showcase rare and unusual plants.

The spring brings the Peony season that opens May 15th until about June 30th. There are displays that offer 400 varieties of iris in May, along with magnolia, red bud, and other flowering trees. During the summer months from July to mid-August there are summer blooms of Lilies, Echinacea, Red Hot Pokers, Gaillardia and lots more. As the season changes to Autumn, fall perennials and Ornamental Grasses are features. Streams, ponds, cascades, as well as cottage garden strolls, magnificent formal gardens and European influenced architecture all await you. It’s a perfect place for exploring, relaxing, and enjoying a peaceful day outdoors. Whether you love horticulture or simply want a serene escape, Whistling Gardens is a must-visit.

Note: There are many benches for a short rest strategically placed in the Gardens, mostly memorial benches for a family member, and a picnic area where you can bring in a lunch. All in all, a great way to spend the day.

The Ed Sullivan Show: Sunday Nights that Bound a Nation

by BJM Publishing, posted in Family and Friends, Music

Long before glowing smartphones and endless streaming algorithms fractured our evenings, Sunday nights belonged to a single living room ritual: turning on CBS at 8:00 PM to see what Ed Sullivan had brought into the living room.

For twenty-three years, from 1948 to 1971, Sullivan served as America’s grand master of ceremonies. Unlikely as it seemed—with his stiff posture, trademark hunch, and famously dry delivery—he possessed an incomparable knack for giving everyone in the house a reason to gather around the tube.

Ed Sullivan was popular because his Sunday night variety show offered a unique “window to the world” with something for every family member. On any given Sunday, 30 to 40 million viewers tuning in might witness: Opera singers belting a classic aria followed immediately by graceful ballet dancers, plate-spinners, acrobat troupes, ventriloquists, and trained animals doing backflips. Fiery rock ‘n’ roll legends, soothing folk singers, and soulful Motown hitmakers sharing the same stage. It was a delightful, eclectic mix where a teenager waiting for a pop star had to sit politely through a classical violinist, and a grandparent tuning in for a big band tune might just end up tapping their foot to rock ‘n’ roll.

Beyond the glitz, Sullivan was a quiet pioneer with a big heart. During a time of deep segregation, he routinely defied racist sponsor pressures and southern station resistance, insisted on booking prominent Black performers, and championed talents like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, and The Supremes on prime-time national television.

He also had a uncanny pulse on youth culture:

The Colbert Show was broadcast live from the Ed Sullivan Theatre till 2026.

Elvis Presley’s 1956 appearances popularized rock and roll globally, despite network censors famously filming him only from the waist up to hide his provocative dancing. The Beatles made their legendary U.S. television debut on the show in February 1964, watched by an estimated 73 million people, which instantly ignited nationwide fandom.

The stage hosted breakthrough performances from foundational acts like the Rolling Stones, the Doors, and the Supremes. Young or counter-cultural comedians—including George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Woody Allen—gained mainstream viability after performing on the program.

By the time the curtain finally fell in March 1971(after 23 years on the air) as networks shifted toward modern, youth-focused programming, The Ed Sullivan Show had left an indelible mark on history—a charming relic of a time when the whole family, and indeed the whole country, shared the very same front-row seat.

Kite festival

Hopeville Kite Festival

by BJM Publishing, posted in Adventure, Events and Festivals, Family and Friends

Many years ago, I took my nephews to a kite festival and they were just as enchanted as I to see all the various kites flying above them.  Today there are much more elaborate kites available, and on show in abundance this past weekend. Kite flying apparently originated in ancient China over 2,000 years ago. (some say South Pacific)

A quaint little Ontario town by the name of Hopeville located just west of Dundalk held the largest kite festival in the province Saturday, Aug 29 through Sunday, Aug 30th., which turned out to be “a magical weekend of flight, music, food and more.”

Although it is a free event, organizers welcome donations to help put on the festival year after year. The festival address is 125849 Southgate Rd. 12 in Dundalk, Ontario and if you missed it this year, you will likely be able to catch it next August as it is an annual event. The Hopeville Kite Festival is proudly funded by the Government of Ontario. The Family Fun Zone is made possible by a grant from Community Foundation Grey Bruce.

Attendees could bring their own kites or purchase one at the venue — the festival welcomes flyers of every skill level.  There was a designated fly zone for the public and many people brought their own lawn chairs just to sit and marvel at all the kites soaring above and around them.  Where else would you be able to see an ice cream cone flying about.  Not to mention an astronaut, a sea horse, a tall ship, octopi, fish, and dragons.  You could get dizzy just from having to swivel your head around to catch them all.

Dragon
Gone fishing
Octopus
Racing
spiky collar
Octopus

Tip: The ultimate trick to flying a kite is maintaining tension on the string. Always stand with your back to the wind, let the kite catch the breeze, and pull gently on the line when it dips or feed it line when it climbs. Never let the line go completely slack.

Some interesting facts regarding kites:

The smallest kite in the world which actually flies is 5mm high.

The largest number of kites flown on a single line is 11,284. This record is held by a Japanese kite maker.

The longest kite in the world is 7,700 metres in length.

The largest kite in the world is the Megabite 55 x 22 metres (630sq metres).

The fastest recorded speed of a kite is over 120 mph. (193 km/h).

The record for the highest single kite flown is 3801 metres (12,471ft).

Some Japanese kites weigh over 2 tons. And some of the longest Chinese Dragon kites are over 600 metres long.

You do not need wind to fly a kite.

Kite flying is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.

More adults in the world fly kites than children.

People were flying kites 1,000 years before paper was invented.

The first powered aircraft were large box kites with motors fitted to them.

Kites have been used for fishing, bird scaring, delivering mail and papers, forecasting the weather and frightening evil spirits away.

Benjamin Franklin used a kite to prove that lightning was electricity.

What began as a community kite festival has grown into an event that attracts professional kite flyers from across North America and visitors from Ontario and beyond. Now in its fourth year, the Hopeville Kite Festival continues to combine the excitement of a major kite display with the welcoming atmosphere of a rural Ontario community.

If you have never had the opportunity to experience a kite flying festival, let your inner child emerge and attend one. 

Upcoming 2026 Kite Festivals in Ontario

New Park Unveiling (Newmarket): September 19–20, 2026

Kites in the Field (Lucknow): September 26–27, 2026

Eau To Joy on the Beach (Erieau): October 17–18, 2026