my day.....

It is my birthday today and I always take time to reflect on my life and the year that has just passed. It is interesting to sit back and think about all that has happened and maybe also those things that have not happened. This year has been a good one for me. Things have really come to a place where I am feeling both physically and emotionally the best I have in a long time. This year is also the first birthday that I will be celebrating as a 'nana' with my little grandson Brody. This is amazing and it has been a joy to say the least. I can't imagine life without him now.

Days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months and before we know it time passes very quickly. It is another reminder that I must live inside of each moment and revel in it so that it can be lived to its ultimate fullest. No one else will do that for me, so it must be something that I remain cognizant of. I truly do not feel like I have celebrated 55 birthdays in my lifetime. I guess I can say I just don't feel my age. Life continues to challenge me, but the wisdom that I have gained over all these years is allowing me to make the best decisions ever. Life this year will be just right............. smoother, simpler, satisfying and slower. I look forward to each moment.

This morning I headed out to the curb and was placing some recycling into the bins for pickup when I heard the sweet sounds overhead from a flock of birds. I looked up to see what this might be and I am expecting to see a flock of geese but instead I see a huge flock to beautiful white swans! I was shocked. I have never seen a sight like this before. It was the coolest thing ever! I then was heading to London this morning with my daughter and as we drove along Wellington Rd. there were 2 more swans flying overhead.

It occurred to me that just yesterday when I chose my Animal Spirit card, that the card I had chosen was the 'swan' card. It all made sense then......there are no coincidences in life. They are signs.....lovely signs.

My first robin ......

Well, this was the morning for me to see my first robin! It was exciting to see this ultimate sign of Spring right here in my own backyard. Spring has not officially arrived, but there are signs of it coming forth all around me. The rains have melted much of the snow that has been piled high for months and now the grass is peeking through in many places. Today a blue sky is overhead and a slight breeze is drying the ground that is heavy with all the rain of late.

I looked outside early this morning and it almost felt like the world around me was being 'bared' by the melting of the snow. The snow has been like a warm, cocooning blanket that has kept us cosy for all these months and now I feel a sense of vulnerability almost. I don't really know how to explain it. It was still just last week that we had a big blanket of snow fall and cover everything and now it has changed so quickly. Spring is a time of 'rebirth' for so many things and maybe that is where I get this sense of vulnerability. It's like starting over.....you just never know what might unfold. A time for new beginnings and a time to walk down new paths. So the robin sang its song this morning and was heralding the new season that will be upon us in a few days. Trees will be bursting forth with fresh, new foliage and my fall-planted tulips will bloom for the first time ever!

The days where we get that 'Spring' feeling and see the changes around us are few. I want to take it all in and appreciate it while it is here because it will soon be over. After those few days Spring will be here with us and it will be old news again.

I'm going to live in the moment and enjoy it right now........Happy "Robin sighting" day to you too !

my early morning tea time......

It's early yet and my favorite time of day is upon me. I love this time when the world around me is waking anew. It is sometimes still dark depending on the time of year, and it most often is quiet. Each new day is like a new beginning. It allows us to maybe reflect back on our yesterdays and choose something different if that's what is needed. Each day begins with a new sparkle and we can allow that sparkle to shine all day or possibly dull it. I must for myself let the sparkle continue to shine. I have had my years of 'dullness' and they were my lessons in life. I still might have some moments that don't shine as brightly, but I am able to learn from them and then continue to move forward. The popular saying that goes "life is too short" is something we need to stop just saying and really put meaning to. Our lives will be over before we know it and each new day needs to be lived fully. We cannot go back into our day once the sun sets on it. It is our history at that point. I need to make mine a history that I will look back fondly on and not feel regretful about.

So here I sit with my morning tea (this morning it's Milk Thistle) and I will allow my day to unfold quietly and with a new sparkle.

May your day unfold well also.

Letting go.....

I won't expand too greatly on this but today my life was involved in letting go. It has been coming to me since November and has been on my mind off and on since that time. It's not easy though. What I knew to be familiar was becoming unfamiliar and yet it was hard to release any of that. I wanted to grasp on to it and have it remain in my life the way it had been before. I wanted things to stay the same. If things remained the same then I would be OK and nothing needed to change. But as time moves on things do change. I guess for me it all happened as it was supposed to. I know I did cling to it for a long time. But it had to change so that life could move forward. I wanted to protect myself and stay safe. It was not about me though. It was about life moving forward .......it was about everyone seeing the truth.....particularly me. It is in this act of letting go that I can truly move forward now. I don't regret my recent journey of learning the lessons of how to let go. It was important for me to discover even though it was a tough one. Alas............glad that one is done.

March is my favorite month .......

Seriously, I have been blogging about all the rain of the last 3 days and this morning I wake up to a winter wonderland! There is a snowfall warning for the day and it all reminds me of just how full of personality the month of March is. You just never know what is going to happen with the weather this month! It was lucky for us that we drove to Toronto yesterday because I'm sure we would have put our trip off if we had awoken to this amount of snow.

March is for me the signaling that Spring is but around the corner! The 1st of March puts me in the mood for Spring. A warm day in November is nothing like a warm day in March. A change in the weather is the sign that good things are coming. Robins make their return and actually a friend of mine has already seen one on his farm. Miss March, as I will call her can be so ever changing with her weather delights. You can expect anything in March be it snow, rain, sleet, sunshine or an ice storm. Amazing! She will always keep you guessing.

Apparently the snow is going to continue for the day so I will look out my window and admire the beauty that has fallen from the sky. I have a big list of things to accomplish today so I had best begin.

The picture is of a large bush in my backyard. It's so beautiful with the snow on its branches. Keep warm everyone and enjoy the beauty of the snow.

A rainy day in the big city.....

Wow...today was another rainy, rainy day and yet I managed to enjoy it by heading to the big city and doing some shopping. I must admit that I could probably shop each and every day so this was not a difficult task for me. I really enjoy buying things for my home and so Williams & Sonoma and the Pottery Barn were perfect choices. I spent my money wisely and bought a few things. I now need to get my bread baking skills dusted off because I got a baguette pan that I am so excited to use! If my first attempts work out I will post pics for sure!

I also got a great ceramic lantern for out on the deck in the summer. I love, love my yard and the deck area and this will look great at night with a candle in it. It will cast an awesome light! Oh....I really do hope that the weather starts to get warmer so that I can think about putting all the deck things out again for the summer. Great times will be spent there again this year.

Ok...so I need to sign off because I have a hundred things to do tomorrow. I need to bake a cheesecake for dessert and I think a raspberry coulis to go with it would be nice. Yummy!!.....oh and so many more things....

Until next time.............

Wow....it continues to rain and the snow is melting quickly. Our side of the street always maintains the last of the snow in our front yard since it faces north so we have to wait the longest to have it all disappear. It will remind us for a while yet that we had lots of snow this winter, but the most distinctive trait of the winter was the fact that it began early. We are all awaiting Spring with such excitement and that hinges directly on the fact that our snowfall began in November and never seemed to stop. We had several large storms that reminded us frequently of the power of the winter and its snow. But as quick as it arrived, it now is slowly being melted by the rain.

We are on the road today to Toronto for some shopping, so rain as opposed to snow allows for better driving conditions......and that's a good thing ......more later.

A ducky day .......

It's been raining, raining, raining today....wow, did I mention it was raining today! It's melting the snow to reveal the grass, but it still feels cold out there to me. It's been a good day for staying cosy inside and doing some baking. Abby the cat is all curled up in her bed and I'm going to curl up on the sofa soon and watch some tv or maybe read. Maybe we just needed a rainy day to allow us to slow down and just enjoy our time inside. Thank you Mother Nature :)

A sure sign of Spring I think..........and in that case, I welcome the rain!

Community Gardening for the Soul.....

There is a small group of women who are moving forward valiantly to again this year provide the city folk with an opportunity to be involved in a Community Garden. We had our efforts somewhat driven off course last year, but this has not dampened our enthusiasm. We will keep doing what we need to do so that our town can be like most of the rest around and enjoy a Community Garden.

The garden will offer so much in so many ways. People will firsthand be able to grow their own food and learn along the way so much from other folks and their own experiences. Sharing of information will be something great to watch happen amongst the gardeners. It will be a social outlet for some and for others it might be an almost meditative experience to be able to spend time in the garden plot while the troubles of daily life can be set aside for a time. Children will be able to experience firsthand the understanding of where our food essentially comes from and what we need to do to make it grow and produce. There will also be the experience of finding out about new foods and then incorporating them into their diet. Learning about nutrition is important for all of us and the fact that we are growing food in good soil and then eating these fresh vegetables is perfect! There is also a monetary savings when you grow your own food. All in all the benefits that a community garden will bring are huge. It doesn't get much better than that!

It has been a long and at times difficult journey for us in the garden group, but this summer will see two gardens come to fruition. I look forward to the growing season and all that it will bring. I will post more as the growing season unfolds.......

Tasty food, good company.......

I had to have a medical test this morning and wasn'tallowed to have anything to eat for several hours......12 in fact! It always seems like such an effort to stay away from any food or drink and it is the only thing you can think about. For me its that cup of herbal tea that simply goes with my morning routine. So even before the test I decide this morning needs to be a treat since I have woefully(at least thats what I think)abstained from food all night! I sent Megan and text and asked if she wanted to go to the New Sarum Diner with me for breakfast. Great idea and following the test off we went......with Brody of course too! It was only several weeks ago that I went there with Jim and I was smitten with it. Its just a bit of nostalgia in our modern world. The staff are friendly and the food is good. You can escape back to an easier and earlier time and just enjoy. Even the music takes you back.......It's my new favorite place to go for breakfast! Try it out....

Walking Meditation

Over the last 4 days there have been 4 different instances where "walking meditation" has been a part of a conversation that I have had with people and another was a posting on FB. When these circumstances come at me with such frequency it makes me sit up and listen to what is trying to tell me.

I was at a Reiki retreat several years ago where we were taught the art of a walking meditation. I truly loved the experience and yet did not maintain it for myself. I'm not sure why that was, but as we know we let life get in the way of so much. The meditation allows us an opportunity to be mindful of so much and yet this is not done with any great difficulty. The simplicity of it is the most beautiful part of the meditation. Just being in the moment of the process of each and every step and all that occurs with each lifting and placing of each foot. It really allows us to clear everything else from our minds and simply and purely focus on 'walking'....something we take so for granted.

The labyrinth that I spoke of in a post the other day is a perfect place to walk, but its not necessary for a walking meditation. A walking meditation can be done in your home or yard or down the street on the sidewalk. I hope that the weather warms up soon so that I can maybe head to the park or the beach and meditate on my walking. Obviously all of these references lately are telling me something and I need to listen.

My power walking is good for me, but a walking meditation is good too. Taking care of both the physical and the spiritual self is important to keep a balance for myself.

Blessings everyone.......

In honor of Beth........

I just came home from a wonderful evening that was spent in honor of a co-worker who is retiring from her long time career as a Registered Nurse. I have had the priviledge of working alongside Beth for the past 20 years and have been able to see first hand her true dedication as a nurse. Her patients were her first and foremost concern and this was evident each and every day she worked. I have never seen anyone with the dedication that she displayed and will more than likely not see this again in my career.

I truly wish for Beth the retirement that she so very much deserves. I will look back on her career as I saw it and know that I worked alongside a one-of-a-kind nurse. There will never be another Beth. Best wishes to you in your retirement and enjoy each and every day!!

A Gift

I was given a gift the other day. It was a copy of the pattern of the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France and a piece of plexiglass that this copy will be traced onto with a paint. When finished it will allow me to do a finger meditation by following the pattern. I was flattered that she had thought of me in regards to this giving of a gift. I felt very honored. In her words she said " It's not often you find a kindred spirit". What a blessing......

Early morning songbird ......

I awoke this morning to the most wonderful song outside of my window. It turned out to be a cardinal and not only the male, but the female also! It was so lovely to have them both in my back yard! A sure sign of Spring for me! ......at least I can hope for that !

Btw....this picture is from last year, but who knows maybe its the same one....

Where am I ?

It's so interesting that at each and every point in our lives we feel and believe as though we have a full grip on it and are doing and living exactly the way we should be. I know that for me that has usually been the case. And if we look carefully we can see that given where we were 'at', at the time it makes total sense. But when we have moved on from that time and space for whatever reason we can then look back and see just how mistaken we were. But then again, I guess for that time.....it was right so there are no mistakes. It gets pretty deep and introspective, because I have come a long way on my journey and today I feel the most grounded I have ever felt and yet I have thought this before. There is a difference though. There were times in the past that I was convincing myself to believe this and now it feels the most real that it ever has. There is no urgency and there is no convincing that needs to happen. It just 'is' and it feels the best yet. It is somewhat difficult to explain. More later..............

Changes.....

I have been away from here for a year and a half.......So much has changed that I barely know where to begin. Alas, this blog is for myself so I can begin where needed. I will return soon to share with whomever all that has gone on and how I am now living my life.

Until then.........