Wisdom

 

You will never reach your destination if you stop & throw stones at every dog that barks.

                    ... Winston Churchill

Me On A Monday - June 27th

Good Morning.  This side of the pond we experienced an extremely hot & humid weekend.  On Saturday our outside temperature gauges registered +33 (c) & with humidity it was +39 (c). I, several times, gave thanks for air conditioning.  We have had no rain in over 10 days!

Look At All Those Promises of New Blooms on my Clematis

Currently Reading: Deb, at Deb's World blog, had recommended Veronica Henry's recent book, The Impulse Purchase; my library's 4 copies were all signed out, so I'm on the waitlist.  The library system however recommended "while you wait" one of Veronica's earlier books, "How to Find Love In A Bookshop".  I am really enjoying it. Within the first few lines I wanted to know more & why a lead character was in the situation he was in, by page 69 I was caring about several of the main characters. I like this author's writing style, so I'll be looking for more by her.  Thanks Deb! Thanks library system 📖

Currently In The Know:  the neighbours who sold their house, confirmed who has purchased the house; a retired couple & the move in date is end of August.  😊

Current Update: Not sure if anyone noticed, I've made an update to my blog - I've added a widget on the right hand side, regarding the honouring of the ancestral lands on which I reside. After taking Univ of BC's  (Indigenous)Truth & Reconciliation course, I'm working on my personal reconciliation work & this for me is a step towards that; every meeting I attend in Zoom or in person, starts with this or a similar statement.  So many things yet to do.  🙌

Currently In The News:  so many things in the news, most of it not good, most of it upsetting ... makes me glad once again to be living in Canada, & not because we are perfect, or haven't got lots of things to fix and/or work on,  but we do have our Charter of Rights in place & there are things in it, that specifically protect my rights as a woman.  I'll say no more for now, other that on Friday, July 1st we will be celebrating Canada Day.  Let the red & white fly high with pride ... 🇨🇦

And I will leave you with this thought ... "there's no angry way to say bubbles."  

                                             

 

Wisdom

 

I hope there are days when your tea/coffee tastes like magic, your playlist makes you dance, strangers make you smile and the night sky touches your soul.  I hope you fall in love with being alive again.

                    ... The Internet

 

The Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt List

In case anyone missed the initial post for the SPSH List ...  

 Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt (SPSH) runs from June 1st to September 30th.  Photos should be taken by you or a family member, we don't want to get in trouble for copy right rules.

A list not too long; a list of finds to share; a list that works for those of us at home; a list that works for those who travel about; a list that includes some difficult to find; a list that includes some easy to find; a list that can be interpreted with our differences; a list for one find or a list for all to find ... or a list to see what everyone else finds.

I hope you have fun with what ever your level of participation is.  First link in will be Monday July 11th & the final will be Friday September 30th.  As in previous years, just let me know in the comments if you want to be part of the group & I'll list your link on July 11th.

The 2022 SPSH List:  

1. Path
2. Peek-A-Boo
3. Stairs
4. Faceless Selfie
5. Something That Looks Like A Number or Letter
6. A Corner
7. Leaf Vein
8. Sipping On
9. Changes Shape When Wet
10. OMG, The Shoes
11. Yellow & Blue Together
12. Fuzzy Wuzzy Texture
13. All Gone, Empty
14. Left Overs
15. Wind Power
16. Oh So Colourful
17. Out of Place
18. In The Distance
19. Culture, Yours Or Another
20. You Grew It, Made It
21. Invokes A Childhood Memory
22. Add, 1-2 To Change The Taste

Alt A: Recent Purchase

Alt B: Sunset

Alt C: Free Choice

Me on A Monday - June 20th

 

Clematis: Ville de Lyon

 Greetings Earthlings.

Currently Reading: about the beneficial affects/effects nature has on us & I came across this tidbit which has me thinking. It's an interesting exercise to do.

A helpful way to begin is by constructing your Nature Pyramid (from F. William’s The Nature Fix) : 

• On paper, draw a pyramid 🔺. 
  
  
  
• The bottom is your base, the nature that you see or experience every day without taking much time, yet it is enough to nurture your well-being. At this bottom level, write in your daily nature experiences (or those that you plan on beginning to do daily this month) eg.  walking to the mailbox, surveying the flowerbeds. 
  
  
  
• On the next level up, write the nature activities you engage in several times a week eg. eating at the picnic table, weeding, visiting the gardens at the Arboretum, riding your bicycle. 
  
  
  
• And on the next level up, record the nature activities you engage in a couple of times a month eg. hiking a special trail, going to the lake/waterfall, taking nature photographs.
  
  
  
• The top level of the pyramid are nature experiences that are the most restorative yet happen more rarely (eg. once or twice a year) and need to be planned because of the resources required (money, time, coordination with others, etc.),eg. camping, a special trip/vacation. 

Consciously doing this Nature Pyramid exercise may spark some aha moments about priorities, habits, the impact of the pandemic, or your connection with nature.  Having a personal pyramid is a helpful way to remember what we can do every day or every week to ensure our exposure to nature therapy and maintain our connection to the outdoors.   

Currently Anticipating: lots of thoughts & feelings as my church takes on a new journey ... Adult Faith Formation Planning. We have our first Faith Formation Gathering this Wednesday, which is a reflection of describing our parish as it is currently. Over the next six months there are 4 meetings to attend to assess where were are, where we are headed & where would we like to go & finally how to get there.  

Currently Evaluating: the list of the SPSH.  I had high hopes & expectations that this year I'd be out & about more to really challenge myself with the finds - alas - the price of gas is keeping us close to home & certainly more on the patio!  How about you, started your search for items on the SPSH?  I have two so far, both were just happy happenstances! 

 

Currently Excited/Anxious: about the new neighbours.  It is an older couple from out of the region, that have purchased the house next door to us.  I had a brief, 10 minute conversation with them, the day they were having the house inspection done. Their grown children live in the city next to us. Not sure of their move in date.  Fingers crossed, they turn out to be nice neighbours.

 

Bearded Iris in front of Herbaceous Peonies

 

And I will leave you with this thought ... To the people who lose one shoe on the side of the highway, please tell me what the rest of your life is like.

 

Wisdom

 

Life doesn't allow us to go back and fix what we have done wrong in the past, but it does allow us to live each day better than our last.

                            ... The Internet

Me On A Monday - June 13th

 

Yellow & Purple Iris in my garden

                                    Greetings & Saluations!

Currently Reading: just finished, "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry".  It took me a bit to get into this book but I thoroughly enjoyed the story.  I kept having the feeling I had read before, but from my own reading history lists, I could not find it there.  I chuckled when  the main character, A.J. listed off books he doesn't enjoy, rather than books he does enjoy. A.J. may have started out as a bit of a "misery guts" but as the story is told, I felt A.J. changed to less of what's wrong to what's right.  Do you ever lead in a conversation things that are wrong, rather than things that are right?

I am also in the middle of "Atlas of the Heart, Mapping Meaning" another Dr Brene book.

Currently Watching: new to us, Dalgliesh, is a crime drama television series adaptation of the PD James books. While it was filmed in 2021, it is set in the 1970's. Slow to start but by the end of the first series we are hoping for more.

Currently In The Garden: over the last week we have had lots of rain; one day was an all day "woman's rain", gentle, steady & much needed.  With the cooler weather, there has been a slow reveal of many flowers, which is good because it means a longer lasting bloom time. Bud counts are high with promises of blooms for the herbaceous peonies, the poppies & clematis.

Currently Struggling: with sleep; the inability to fall asleep, and/or to stay asleep.  My GP doctor says that right now the inability to attain deep restorative sleep is epidemic in the population.  Doctors in my group feel this is a  post reaction to the last 2 1/2 years of isolation, fear & worry which effect our sleep hormones.  Was there any offer of help?  Yes. Deep breathing exercise, diligent practice of sleep hygiene (which means no TV, no computer, no exercise, no eating at least 2 hours before sleep) , reduction in caffeine in any form, reading is allowed as long as it's not too stimulating.  I think the 2 hours before is for those having difficulty with sleep, the standard recommendation is 1 hour before bed to stop all those things.  My Yoga instructor friend made the recommendation to add the exercise of legs up the wall; viparita karani,  about 10-20 minutes before bed - there are lots of uTube videos to show you how to do correctly.  We'll see if it helps, the cats think that during this yoga pose, I am nesting pillow for them! Oh yes, the doctor also said, no cats on the bed! Right.  

Are you having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking way too early?  If yes, do you think it's post reaction to the pandemic? 

And I will leave you with this thought ... "I am working on reducing the use of four lettered words, like, cook, dust, bake."

Wisdom (Or Maybe Just Wit)

 

Every loaf of bread is a tragic story of a group of grains that could have become whiskey but didn't.

Me On A Monday - June 6th

The late spring season is being very generous with many blooms.  So many of my whites are taking centre stage. The white dogwood is just beginning & the Bridal Wreath Spirea is also just starting to making a showing.  There is no where I'd rather be than in my garden during this glorious bloom time.

And speaking of centre stage & glorious times ... I, as a royalist, was thrilled to see so much of the Platinum Jubilee coverage from London, England over the 4 days of celebrations. I think the most emotional time for me was Sunday when Her Majesty, The Queen, in a gorgeous green outfit,  made a surprise appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.  I cried several tears when the crowd roared with delight & then sang "God Save The Queen"  & then cheered again.  It was a historical moment.

And now to my garden.

White Daffodils - a few late bloomers

Mini Early Iris

Solomon Seal - clumping in abundance

Lily of the Valley - strangely tall

Star of Bethlehem - small

Siberian Iris - solitary & struggling

White Bearded Iris - mid way through

White Poppies - just beginning

White Tulips - still blooming

Wisdom

 

"I think we sometimes just need unplanned adventures, the open road, with no map & some peace & quiet to cleanse the chaos from our souls." 

                            ... Brooke Hampton