Tonferns Rhapsody (35) - Irish Folk Favourites

 

One of the many traditions of our family has been that I play some great tunes that my wife Edna loves while she cooks up her culinary delights and we chat away! Here is a playlist for you to run freely as you cook away! 

From our kitchen to yours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsy2XXbRHJc&list=PL-rv8k97NJAlsxDZlaJn34oKrFZ_3d6a_

 Wordle 277 3/6

MORE THAN WORDS

ELDROW

OR               DO            LOW

WE              WOE         LOWER

ROW           WED         DOE 

RED            OWE         ORE

ROE            LED          ROD

ODE            OLD         RODE

REDO          DOLE       ROLE

LODE          LORD       OLDER

WORD        OWED      WELD

WORLD      WORE      ROWED

DOWEL       DREW      LEWD

TONFERNS

 TONFERNS

FONT          ROTE         TEN

RENT          FONT         NET

SENT          FORT          SET

NEST          STERN        SNORE

FERNS        TERN          TORN

REST          FRET           ONE

SORT          TONE          STEN

NOTE          STONE        SNORT

SERF           NONET       SONNET

NONE          FORTE        SON

TON            FRONT        FROST

FORE          TORE           SORE

NOR            FOR            STORE

EON            NEON         TO

NO              SO              OF

ROT            NOT           ON

Worm Moon, Mississauga, Canada

The final full moon of the winter season in March, called the Worm Moon, used by the Old Farmer’s Almanac, come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not only to the full Moon. March’s full Moon goes by the name Worm Moon which refers to beetle larvae as they begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees and other winter hideouts at this time. It is also referred to the earthworms that appear as the soil warms in spring, and robins and other birds that feed on them at the onset of spring. Photographs by Tony Fernandes, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Tonferns Rhapsody (34) - Instrumental Miscellany

Here’s a special instrumental selection for you this weekend from Tonferns Rhapsody. Some of these classics will bring back memories of a bygone era when Shortwave Radio ruled the airwaves.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-rv8k97NJAksd2ugaA57Cf2JF8LDhxP_

Goan Arched Windows

 

In the pair of window leaves seen in the photograph above are small square clear glass openings set in the vertical middle panel of each leaf. These openings are in fact at an average human standing eye level on the inside of the house. They are meant to serve a clever purpose for the folks to look outside, but  hinder the vision  of anyone looking in due to the higher plinth level. These windows are hinged to the main frame and fitted with latches and metal hooks on the inside to keep them open and at the same time prevent them from slamming shut due to a sudden gust of breeze. A typical window has an arched top inset with various triangular patterns of coloured glass. There are solid wooden hinged doors on the inside with steel flat bar latches fitted to the side frames that firmly secure them horizontally when closed, but remain suspended and unseen when open.

Goa Chair

 GOA CHAIR (© Line drawing by Tony Fernandes)

Standard Wooden chair with 'fleur de lis' pattern in 'bas relief'.

INTERWOVEN CANE SEAT PATTERNS OF YESTERYEAR

Back in the olden days, people took pride in good house-keeping. Painting the exterior and interior walls of houses for Christmas, and having them repaired before the onset of monsoons were major chores. Old chairs were varnished and given a new look and their seats re-caned. This craft of 'caning' or stringing chairs using cane (and nylon in later years) particularly, belong to the men and women of the 'Mahar' tribe, who were also equally adept at other occupations like basket and mat weaving. When I was young my mother used to summon to our home a woman from another village nearby to have our chairs re-strung. It was interesting to watch this woman at her artistic ability as she rapidly and skillfully entwined a mesh of intricate patterns with her deft hands.

Splendour in the Twilight

 

SPLENDOUR IN THE TWILIGHT

The Majestic Church of Mãe de Deus (Port.) Mother of God

Saligao, Bardez, Goa - India

Chapel on the Hill - Goa

 

Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel on the hillock

Canca -  Verla - Parra Road to Anjuna

Today's Wordle

 Wordle 263 4/6

Way of the Cross

 Way of the Cross - Via Sacra - Via Dolorosa - Povitr Vatt

~  Lenten services at St. Diogo's Church of Parishes of the twin villages of Guirim and Sangolda in Goa, bring back a flood of memories of childhood. Taking part in the solemn procession winding its way around the hill-side and around the perimeter of the cemetery with life-size statues of Christ carrying the Cross, and hearing the touching notes and words of the motets sung in Konkani, sent a chill up my spine. Here's a short video of the Way of the Cross with a motet sung in Konkani. It is called Porje Moje (My People).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyAhrcd8KO8&t=28s

Moira Creek Drive in Brampton, Ontario

 

The Laat & The Fields of Cumbiem Morod

 

THE FIELDS OF CUMBIEM MOROD, GUIRIM, BARDEZ, GOA.

I remember when I was a young lad in the 1950's in Goa, my mother joined the other folks of our village community in growing vegetables like cabbage, cauli-flower, eggplant and radish, and also chilies, onions, corn, sweet potatoes and water melons in our own demarcated fields. In the center of our  vegetable patch, my father had installed what is called locally as the 'Laatt' - a unique irrigation system with the help of his inventive friends in this field! It consisted of a main wooden pole pivoted off-centre on two V-shaped uprights, with abamboo pole for the bucket on the top end, and a pre-cut round heavy laterite stone as counter-weight on the bottom.

To make this clever and proven device work, the fully adept 'operator' tactfully lowers the bucket, with its handle secured in the receptacle in the bottom end of the pole, into the square-shaped well, with little force. Once the bucket is filled with water, he gently lets go of the pole with slight ease, guiding it up through his fingers, and the weight of the laterite stone does the rest effortlessly hauling the bucket up, full of water. The process is carried on with repeated see-saw actions as required. This water is channeled to collection points at both ends of the field, or filled in clay pots to be hand-carried to other locations for watering various kinds of vegetables or fruits. The dug-out earth was heaped up on both sides of the well and a neat bed was shaped from it with a thatched hut to rest or sit under the shade from the hot afternoon sun, an ideal place sometimes to study for exams or read a novel.

Tonferns Placemats - Azulejos Pattern

 

Dining Table Placemats. Azulejo design by Tonferns Creations.

Standard size: 18” x 12”. Laminated.