Lottery for Life

June 23, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Lottery has been the focus this week. In Canada, our LottoMax now has two draws a week – the dream is apparently alive and flourishing. My mind has turned to the immigration process, part of which is a lottery program. Although, I am not fully versed in this process, I remember hearing the story of […]

Drama in the Woods

June 22, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

A high-pitched chirp caught my attention the moment we entered the park. We’d come to Stratford for a meal out and decided to check up on the swans. Ric found a bench by the river, while I wandered in search of the source of the incessant note. It seemed to be coming from a clump […]

A Blaze of Tulips

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

Earth, nurtured by sun,celebrates her glory, growsa blaze of tulips. (For Cee’s Flower of the Day)

For the Love of Trees

June 19, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

I haven’t met a tree that didn’t have a story to tell, or at very least an invitation, as the trees featured, whose proffered shade entices. This lone tree speaks to me of isolation and perseverance in times of strife. Oh, the tales this old trunk could relate. I know my inner child stirs at […]

Bits and Pieces

June 18, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Our first summer in the house and he’s putting in a new garden at the front. We’ve been scouting local nurseries and while he pretends that my preferences matter, he really is just humouring me. Ric has very specific tastes in flowers and most diametrically opposed to me. The viburnum featured, for example, will sit […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #53: Lottery

June 17, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

A psychic told Ric that he would win $33 million in a lottery. “Good,” he responded, “because I have no retirement plan.” Always the joker. Still, it’s something we love to fantasize about: what would we do? Ric felt as if he’d won the lottery when diagnosed with Stage III cancer. Six months later, the […]

Orange Is An Anomaly

June 16, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

ArtisticallyNaturedOccasionallyMadAlwaysLearningYearning… According to the True Colours system of analyzing personalities, I am flaming orange, with the least amount of gold, and a balance between green and blue. What that means is that I dislike structure, am highly creative (and a risk-taker) and in equal measure crave order, and feel inadequate. In other words, finding balance […]

Sparrow Study

June 15, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

As common as these little birds are, did you know there are about thirty-five different sparrow species in North America? Personally, I love sparrows: their happy chirps, and perky presence always makes me smile. The featured bird and this younger version above nest in a creeping vine on a nearby carwash. Although, I am in […]

Extended Blessings

June 13, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Children grow up, establish new lives, and if we’re really lucky they bring home new members to add to the family. I have been doubly blessed with the addition of a son and a daughter-in-law. I can’t say enough about them, and I’m sure they’d kill me for posting their photographs, but it’s my blog […]

Country Roads Bliss

June 12, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Every road leading out of our small town offers a view of rural Ontario. Exploring them, one by one, has been my bliss. We are never far from water, with two rivers nearby, and many ponds, creeks, and other features. Wildlife is abundant, and with every new outing, we discover something different. Above is an […]

Is This War?

“War is hell. You can’t photograph a flying bullet, but you can capture genuine fear.”– unknown The bomb has droppedcontrol slips from our grasp We pray for a parachutefor someone to pull the cord numbers escalate,lives plummet We offer encouragementisolated voices faltering moment of impact imminentthe implosion inevitable impact reverberatesresponsibility moot. ( Image my own.)

Promises

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 […]