Wisdom

 

Drive carefully on the road of life, because

people will switch lanes on you, without

signaling.

Me On A Monday - December 12th

 Good Morning Everyone.  Less than 2 weeks until Christmas. It's coming on fast.  

We had a major power outage on Sunday from 3:45am until 11:30am which really impacted a lot of planned activities. 

Our little village had our Farmer's Parade of Lights last Thursday.  The farmers & their elves go all out to make it fun & spectacular. There were 30 floats for the 30th anniversary of the parade.

Here are a few of my favourite floats - photos posted from the community F/B page.

 

And now that I know that the big guy is in town, I need to be extra good.  Happy week to all.

Wisdom

 

A Possible Holiday Wish List

Less Gifts, More Memories

Less Busyness, More Peace

Less Stress, More Joy

Less Chaos, More Calm

Less Excess, More Gratitude

                                                                     ... The Simplicity Habit 

Me On A Monday - December 5th

  

SOURCE: Internet

Good Morning.  Oh such a week of stories & drama.  I often feel like we are being driven by the " distraction news".  But that's not why you are reading here today ... 

Currently Reading:  I'm enjoying the slow read of Christmas Days; 12 Stories, 12 Feasts for 12 days.  I'm not sure if, when I originally read this passage last year, it resonated with me as it does this year.   "because ritual has an anticipatory relevance - we prepare for it, practically & psychologically, that's part of its benefit. It's about making your own raft of time, our own doorway into Christmas. Ritual isn't about multitasking.  Ritual is time cut out of time."

And speaking to that, I started Louise Penny's latest book "A World of Curiosities"  POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT, but not.... on page 25 at the top of the page is written a date, December 6th, 1989.  It was at that point until the end of page 31 that I cried, I sobbed.  This book's story isn't about what happened on this date, it's a piece of a backdrop.You can read more here: December 6th 1989 Polytechnique.  I do mark the day every year with the reading of  & saying their names aloud. Remembering & ritual do have a reverence. 

I also got from the library Jamie Oliver's Christmas Cookbook, which was suggested by another Ontario blogger, Sarah in Toronto.  I have copied down several vegetable recipes which include 4 new to me, ways to prepare brussel sprouts - a must have for us at Christmas.

Currently More Vaccine Jabs:  Mr Man & I were able to get our latest Covid Omicron specific booster jab.  Mr Man had a rough couple of days with the jab, very achy all over.  Surprisingly this time for me, it was & still is, a really tender sore spot at the needle sight, but not the days of stiffness I had previously experienced. 

Currently Decorating:  Both Christmas trees are done.  Our main tree is in the opening between the living (lounge) room & dining room. I decorate the living room side with a theme of angels & love,  the  dining room side has a this is our life theme. Haven't decided on a special ornament for 2022.  Of course, in the family room is the other tree, devoted to horses.  Your tree decorating all done?

This year, against my own policy of NO MORE Christmas decorations, I added to our decorations with two glass table top Christmas trees that light up with twinkly lights inside & when I first saw them, immediately a dining room table display appeared in my mind. I like even more because I got them as a sale item because the packaging was damaged. Lots of glass or crystal & silver candle holders are included in my vision.  Years ago when I was doing ceramics, I made a large white twig sleigh - this features as the centre piece & everything else is around it.  The sleigh is filled with little decorative presents.  Once we get some sunny or bright days, I will take a photo of it.  This is a photo of the glass trees from the Internet, not my table decoration.

SOURCE: Internet

 Currently Watching: We kicked off our Christmas movie watching with "Love Actually"  this movie still holds its own & I always have a little tear near the end.  If you haven't watched this movie - I do suggest it.  I think one of my favourite bits in the movie is Hugh Grant's dance. 

And I'll leave you with this thought ... "think how much more interesting the news coverage would be if a liar's pants really did catch on fire!"

Wisdom

 

Please remember:

your job is the dream of the unemployed

your home is the dream of the homeless

your smile is the dream of the depressed

your health is the dream of those that are sick

beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from the negative, find something to be grateful for.

Me On A Monday - November 28th

  

Source: Internet

Good Morning. We are now in the season of Advent, the waiting has begun.  

Currently Reading:  I've started my Christmas reading a little earlier than originally intended, mainly because the books I requested from the library arrived earlier than I expected.  I started with book 1 of a 4 book series; Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand .  It was a simple easy read & one I quite enjoyed after reading some topic heavy manuals earlier in the week.  I have book two on order, Winter Storms.  In the finishing the first book, I have started to be interested in the family the story centres around.  I am not totally connected to them all yet, but maybe by book 4 I will be. I'm rooting for love that conquers past hurts & lost love .  Also, for me, it's not too sweet as to make my back teeth ache. 

I have also started to read a favourite discovery from last year, Christmas Days, 12 Stories and  12 Feasts for 12 days by Jeanette Winterson.  What I liked about this book, was the sense of whimsy, a sense of possible magic & definitely some sense of miracles, along with a splash of reality.  This is the perfect season to get a good helping of believing in the miracles & the magic. I am reading this one slowly, a chapter a night, hoping to make it linger in my run up to Christmas.

Currently Watching: On Sunday, being the first Sunday in Advent, I watched via uTube (thank you technology) the service from Canterbury Cathedral.  What a choir!

Currently Enjoying: the ease & quiet of a new washer & dryer. And it only took 3 days to catch up on the accumulated laundry in the 10 days I was without washer/dryer.  I call that a life win!

Currently Decorating: I've started the slow process of decorating. It is earlier than my normal start date of December 1st.  I was feeling that trying to get everything done, including decorating both trees, was too much to expect of myself on the first of December.  Starting on first Advent Sunday was, I thought, not too early & it keeps pressure of doing it all in 24 hours off my shoulders.  Horse tree in the family is done. 

And I will leave you with this thought ... " it is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us, memories of goodness and thus to open the doors of hope "... Pope Benedict XVI

Wisdom

 Respectful Ways To Offer Advice

"are you open to advice or are you just wanting to vent? I can follow you down either road"

"you probably already tried this, but what about ...?"

"it's not like I'm an expert, but I'm thinking out loud, what about ....?"

"I don't know all the details, so I might be missing an important piece, but have you tried ..."

"stop me if what I'm saying isn't resonating with you because I want you to feel heard, but one time I was in a similar predicament & I tried ..."

                    ... from the Secure Relationship