V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #78: action

January 6, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

Rumination is one of my fortes. I get something stuck in my head and it will spin there nonstop if I let it, even disrupting sleep. It happened recently with one of our daughters. I took something she did personally, and blew it out of proportion, convincing myself that there was no hope for our […]

Sculpting

January 2, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

The best openings are the one’s we carve for ourselves. We spent New Year’s Eve reminiscing about eighteen years of togetherness. Stayed up past midnight, and talked about our future. Hope coloured our words. Sculpting has been on my mind – not literally, but in the sense of chipping away at the outer facade to […]

Time For Pause

December 22, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

The current struggle: keeping up with holiday festivities, fighting a stubborn cold, and caring for grandchildren, has taken its toll. I am behind in reading posts, and feeling overwhelmed by social media. Time for a pause. I will be scaling back activities till the season has passed and I’ve regained a semblance of normalcy. Not […]

Winter Hues

December 21, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Winter paints the landscape in monochrome hues – frosted blue waters reflected in iced trees, The greys and browns of goose featherscamouflaged against a buff backdrop. (for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Basically One Colour or Hue.)

Burrs

December 20, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

How many winter walksended with burrs mattedin curly Wheaton hair;how you wriggledto escape the grooming,how we laughed at yourjokester antics? Your spirit still fillsthe empty spaces,I hear the jingle of your collar, catcha whiff of terrier fluff,pull on an invisible leashwhenever I encounter burrs. (For Cee’s Flower of the Day)

Ice

December 17, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

For Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week Challenge: Ice, Ice Baby

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #77: pause

December 16, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

As the world bustles, and we rush to meet deadlines, check off to-do lists, and fulfill those party invites, find a moment to pause, look, and listen. Share a photograph, thought, or inspiration. To participate, just create a post and then link back to this one, or drop a comment or link in the comment […]

Fa La La La La…

December 15, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Soon, he’ll ramp up the Christmas tunes, my Santa-husband. I’ll be putting the last touches on the table setting, and stirring the soup pot. Even though it is daylight, our festive lights will be blazing. We are celebrating with family today. First, I will wrap up this week’s challenge, anticipating no fuel left in my […]

Colour Me Vibrant

December 14, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

We counter the Winter darkness,those of us tucked in Northern climeswith vibrancy of colour to garner cheer. Reds, and greens, to mark the holiday season,messages of goodwill and alluring treats –and light the night with magical glow. For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: vibrant colours.

Oh, Baby, I’m Nostalgic

December 11, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

There is nothing like a baby around to lift the spirits. And, they make me nostalgic. As does this video of our granddaughter’s recent carolling. Where have the years gone? (For Nancy Merrill’s A Photo A Week: babies, and Lens-Artists: nostalgic)

Imagine

If we could lift understandingto indigenous teachingsexpand our loveto earth, sky, and seaMake personal gain tabooand Ancients a weigh point If we could witness the mountainsslow floating across the skyand touch the dolphin’s soulanxiously swimmingwhere tuna are netted Would we cower at our insignificanceor move forward, learning to acceptthat all of life is deeply woveninto […]

Dear Child

I know a little girl,whose hair in ringletsfalls, unkempt from lackof brushing; who standswhen she should be sitting;who laughs with defiance whenchallenged, her dark eyes gleamingwith mischief; who holds her chin uphigh and stamps her feet, arms foldedin protest when she does not get her way. I see that little girl,have watched her play,with a […]

Re-de-fine-d

Ask me how I’m doingand I’ll say “fine”, notbecause I’m actually fine,but because “fine” is the onlysocially acceptable response. If I said that I have been lyinghere, for three hours now,willing my body to move,that would elicit unsolicitedadvice and tarnish my “fine”. I’d berate myself for breakingmy promise not to moan,knowing that complainingprovokes a compulsive […]