Jul 27, 2016

YOU | "Shhhhh! Here He Comes"


PETS | Even Covered in Kitten Drool, Maggie Simpson Refuses to Talk



DIY IDEA | Turn a Large Box into a Playhouse



PETS |



We'll catch up with Joe Friday again in Sept. 


FAB PHOTO | Corner of the Pumpkin Patch


Even though my garden has become one third cucumber and one third pumpkin patch, there have been beans, parsley and tomatoes to enjoy.

Here's a peek at part of the "pumpkin patch" area and it will be your last chance seeing my garden until September (which I'm ok if some of you are doing a happy dance about that news)



KIDS | Sam, I am


INSPIRING

Old Farts are easy to spot at sporting events; during the playing of the National Anthem,
Old Farts remove their caps and stand at attention and sing without embarrassment.
They know the words and believe in them.

Old Farts remember World War II, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Normandy and Hitler.
They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and
the Moon Landing.
They remember the 50 plus Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005, not to mention Vietnam.

If you bump into an Old Fart on the sidewalk, he will apologize. If you pass
an Old Fart on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady.  Old Farts trust strangers and are
polite, particularly to women.

Old Farts hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is
on the inside for protection.

Old Farts get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they don't like any
filth or dirty language on TV or in movies. Old Farts have moral courage and personal integrity.

They seldom brag unless it's about their children or grandchildren.
It's the Old Farts who know our great country is protected, not by politicians, but by the young men
and women in the Air Force, Army, Navy and RCMP, serving their country.

This country needs Old Farts with their work ethic, sense of responsibility, pride in their country and
decent values. We need them now more than ever.


Thank Goodness for Old Farts! 

Jul 25, 2016

KIDS | Graham's Visit was a Splash!


YOU | Jumping for Joy


Wow, look at our pal Rebekah Eckert go. She's become a fierce champion of long jumping and her future seems to be set to hit new heights.

Rebekah's moms Ginny & Michelle are long time Scribbles pals and were thrilled to share this post on facebook, after Rebekah appeared on the cover of The Winnipeg Free Press.

CLICK HERE TO READ COMPLETE STORY

Jul 21, 2016

PETS | Kitty Gets Cozy


HELPFUL HINT | How To Properly Charge Your Cellphone

by Angela Mulholland - CTV NEWS
Charging a cellphone sounds simple, right? When it runs out of power, you plug it in until it’s charged back up. 
But according to the battery experts at BatteryUniversity.com, a website created by Cadex Electronics, that's the wrong way to do it if you want to extend your phone's battery life.
Here are their tips along with a few from the big phone makers.
Forget about battery memory
Most cellphones these days (as well as most tablets, cameras, golf carts and a ton of other devices) use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, otherwise known as Li-ion. Unlike the old nickel cadmium batteries, Li-ions are not prone to the “memory effect” in which the battery “forgets” how to hold a full charge unless it is “taught” how by regularly draining it completely, before recharging it back up to 100 per cent.
That means your phone doesn’t need to be fully drained before you plug it in. In fact...
Don’t let it run dry
Fully draining your phone’s battery is never a good idea, because it causes high stress on the battery when it’s time to recharge it. In fact, the experts at Battery University say it’s really best to not let the battery run down below 25 per cent.
The worst thing of all is to drain the battery completely and then charge it back up to 100 per cent in one go. That causes “undue stress,” say the experts, and will eventually shorten the battery’s lifespan.
But don’t leave it fully charged either
Strangely, our phone batteries don’t like to sit idle when they’re charged to 100 per cent, either. In fact, the experts at Battery University say a Li-ion’s “sweet spot” is a charge of somewhere between 30 and 80 per cent.
So, unplug the charger before the battery is fully charged, and definitely don’t leave it charging all day or night, since that will leave it at 100 per cent for too long. Of course, you won’t kill the battery by doing this from time to time, but we’re talking about the ideal way to get the longest life from it.
Keeping the battery in the “sweet spot” might mean plugging it in a couple of times a day, especially if you use the device compulsively. But when you do charge it up, Blackberry says to make sure it’s a long charge, since they recommend against “small increment” boosts of 15 minutes or less.
Keep it cool
Cellphones perform best at room temperature. As any Canadian who has used a phone in the winter knows, the battery drains quickly in the cold.
But what’s even worse for the battery is heat. Never leave a phone (or any electronic device) where temperatures could go higher than 35° Celsius, such as in a hot car. Doing so can permanently damage the battery, making it less able to hold onto a charge afterward.
Keep it updated
Apple, BlackBerry and Android all recommend users have the latest version of their operating systems, since these updates often include “advanced energy-saving technologies.”
Keep it partially charged when storing
If you’re planning to put your phone away for a while, instead of draining the battery, charge it to 50 per cent and then turn it off. Apple says if you run out the battery before storing the device, the battery could fall into “a deep discharge state,” which would make it then unable to take a charge at all.
Tips for extending battery life
Closing all the running apps on your phone probably won’t do much to save the battery, but here are a few things that will:
• Use Wi-Fi instead of a cell network whenever possible
• Keep your screen as dim as possible
• Avoid animated or live wallpaper
• Turn off your phone’s keyboard sounds and vibrations in settings
• Set your screen’s Timeout or Sleep mode to turn off the screen after 30 or even 15 seconds of no use
• Turn off Bluetooth when not in use.

Jul 19, 2016

REVIEW | Guns n' Roses 'Lifetime' Tour Rolls into Toronto & Blows Fans Away

PAST SHOWS

Sat. July 16th marked my third time enjoying a concert by Guns n’ Roses. Each time I have seen them, my pal Becky Lee has been there (in fact without her, I would have probably seen the band exactly zero times, so thanks Beck!) 

Each show has been memorable for several reasons. For my first time seeing GnR (in 1993) I’ll never forget seeing Axl & Slash give it their all for hits like ‘November Rain’ nor shall I forget the very long ride home which was filled with a dead car battery, fear, fibs and an all night convenience store. Good times!

My second time around in 2011, the show was at the same place in Hamilton as the first show and although that part was the same, the band’s lineup was not.  With Slash and other originals out, it was Axl and his new guys and we had extremely good seats.

THIS CONCERT

This time around was big. First and foremost, it was big because the original GnR lineup were performing, meaning we’d once again get to hear Slash’s wicked guitar riffs compliment Axl’s piano and vocals. It was also big because the venue took place at Roger’s Centre which holds thousands of loud and happy fans.

I had told Becky I was looking for a black rubber GnR bracelet as a souvenir of the show. Neither of us had seen these at past concerts, so it felt like wishful thinking. But at one of the vendors lo and behold, there were rubber bracelets with GUNS N ROSES written on them. $5....Sold!  I was a happy camper. Becky seemed shocked...I don’t know if it was because there really were rubber bracelets or because I wanted to wear the bracelet so badly.

The GnR ‘Not in this Lifetime’ tour combined many of the groups mega hits with some cover songs for a show that lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes (making us feel we got our money’s worth, even if we weren’t close to the stage) But it’s not about the seats, it’s about being in the same room, breathing in the same air as GnR, that’s my motto.

Two mammoth screens flanked either side of the stage giving you a close up of what the little specks on stage were actually doing. LOL

GOING HOME

Instead of getting stuck in traffic, Becky drove to Burlington, where we switched to Go Train into Toronto. It was a good plan going there but because we did not want to miss the last Go Train back, we skipped out on the last two songs.

We were not alone, many people were rushing to get to the Go Train. Once on the train, our “Ambassador” Howard informed us the train would be leaving later so they could get as many concert goers home as possible.  “Later” would be about 45 minutes later. 

It was about 3 am when Becky was dropping me off at my place and my body was sore to the max. But it was all worth it.


I had shared oxygen with GnR, I was now in pain, but I shared oxygen with GnFnR!  And that’s all that mattered.  

CONCERT PHOTOS



GUNS N’ROSES ‘NOT IN THIS LIFETIME’ SONG LIST

It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Chinese Democracy
Welcome to the Jungle
Double Talkin’ Jive
Estranged
Live and Let Die
Rocket Queen
You Could Be Mine
You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory/Attitude
This I Love
Civil War
Coma
Band intros into Slash solo – Speak Softly Love (Love Theme From The Godfather)
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Sorry
Better
Out Ta Get Me
Jam (Wish You Were Here/Layla)
November Rain
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Nightrain
Encore:
Jam/Patience
The Seeker
Paradise City

Jul 17, 2016

SUN-SATIONAL ENCORE | Evening at the Cottage

This photo appeared last summer on Scribbles and we thought it was appropriate to feature it again, since she is sure to have more mystical moments at the cottage this summer.


SUN-SATIONAL ENCORE | Fun on the Beach

This post first appeared on Scribbles last summer, 









PHOTOS & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES


Jul 16, 2016

ME | Things Look a Bit Sketchy

So I prepared to sit in the backyard on this fine afternoon, usually I bring my ipad to play my Simpsons game and read the news, but today I grabbed a sketch pad and pencil instead. I had no idea what I would draw, but once I got all comfie in my lounge chair with Timmi by my side, I decided to draw what I was looking at.

Here's my view of the back of my yard. There's a very large tree on the other side of several wooden fences. There's the back of the other neighbour's home and there's lots of leaves rustling everywhere.

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FULL SCREEN


Jul 14, 2016

SUN-SATIONAL FLASHBACK | 'Recipee's' Predates Scribbles

We've told the story of how Scribbles began way back in 1979...but did you know that 5 years earlier in 1974 -at age 14 - I created a magazine for my Grandma. I called it 'Recipees' (deliberately misspelled, the extra "e" was for excitement)

Every month or two I would mail a new edition to Grandma. Each issue contained recipes copied from other magazines like Family Circle and Women's Day.

What makes Recipees so memorable to me are the ads. I was trying to be like a legit magazine, so I drew my versions of the ads that were featured in real recipe magazines.

With that in mind, I present to you a collection of hand drawn ads from Recipees magazine, 1974...

I cheated a bit on some of these, with tracing, others are hand drawn based upon the real ads.


In the forest fire ad below I see a promo box for a contest. WOW! Even back then we had contests!


Here's a page with a recipe on it. They were copied from other magazines. 





I believe the ad below is supposed to read "Tired of SCRAPING a dirty oven" not SCAPING it as is written.  


SUN-SATIONAL FLASHBACK | Art Imitates Art?


When we were a small single copy magazine, we went by the name of Sunny Digest. My sister Jane Storie was who the magazines were for primarily and to show her appreciation, for a brief time she returned the favour with magazines for me called Sunrise Digest. It was always fun seeing what she would come up with.

Sunrise Digest were created in the early 1980's making Jane about 10-13 years old. Here's a couple of ads Jane featured in Sunrise Digest.

I love the Coke bottle Jane, it must be from their classic bottle designs collection. And just check out that tooth in the Crest Gel ad.... it even has dimension to it.... WOW!


Jul 13, 2016

IN MEMORIAM | Theresa Convery


Theresa's Obituary

CONVERY, Theresa - Peacefully passed away July 12th 2016 after a short struggle with Cancer at the age of 64. Sister to Becky Lee, Michael, Jim (Patty). Special Aunt to Tyson, Shannon, Shawn and Jody. She is predeceased by her sister's Susan Edwards , Debbie and her parents Margaret & Hugh. As per Theresa's request cremation has taken place.

YOU | A Double Dose of Brotherly Love


SCRIBBLES VIDEO | Ken's Not-So-Secret Garden

It started as a rectangular mound of soil that I put some seeds and plants in around the May 2-4 weekend and now it looks totally different. It's been a few years since I last gardened and seeing how things are growing reminds me that I may have put too much stuff in one spot.

And if every orange flower I've seen in the pumpkin patch becomes an actual pumpkin, I'll have Halloween covered for many of you. LOL.

Here's a brief look at what the garden looks like right now


Jul 11, 2016

PETS |

PHOTO & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  |  LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES