A Ukrainian/Canadian Christmas Celebration

January 9, 2023.Reading time 1 minute.

More than 150 people gathered yesterday in our local Presbyterian Church to celebrate Ukrainian Christmas. I am too tired to say much more than I am warmed to my core and so grateful for all these people, who have come into our lives since our decision to host a Ukrainian family. The photos capture it […]

Last on the Card for 2022

January 1, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

One last sunset and a year end doodle for Bushboy’s Last on the card challenge.

Holiday Gold

December 30, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Holiday colours

Photo Shy

December 9, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Mom, we need photo with you!” This from my emotionally adopted Ukrainian daughter. Her words strike a chord. While I love to be behind the camera lens, I detest having my picture taken. This is unfair to my children, I recently realized. When I’m gone, they’ll have nothing to remember me by. Another Ukrainian family […]

Last of November

December 2, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

For Bushboy’s Last on the Card challenge. Featured image is an iPhone capture. Below is last on my camera:

Chilly Reflections

November 18, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

Although my body is healing, my heart is aching still. The requests for help from Ukraine keep pouring in, and the response on our end is drying up. Three families arrive in the next month, and one is already here, with nowhere to go. Three more have reached out. I have no answers. Just ache. […]

Changes

November 14, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

After 7 weeks of respiratory illness, I think I’m finally on the mend. The family of refugees we’ve been hosting signed their first lease yesterday, and will be moving December 1st. Although hubby and I agreed that we wouldn’t host another family, we have committed to a single woman, my age, who we’ll take in […]

Golden Moment

November 11, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Golden eagles migrate through here in October/ November. Spotting them is rare, but when I turned the corner and came upon this scene, I knew this bird was not a local. Sorry about the quality. I daren’t roll down the window for fear he would flee, which he did when another car came by.

Leafy Frames

November 4, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

It’s November already, and before I bid adieu to Autumn, I wanted to share these two photos, highlighting the seasonal hooray.

Clothing

I would befriend hesitation,take her shopping with me,invest the time, but impulseis my constant companion. Hesitation,born of shared trauma,labours over pain-filled decisions My need is palpable,throbbing,must suffocate it,weighted beneathlayers of numbing fabric Afraid to show myself,afraid that she will find me, block any progress,or worse make my pay for these layersof stolen moments…encounter crazy reflected […]

Green

Chickadees in the House

A friend from my poetry circle honoured me with a birdhouse painted with Ukrainian colours. John has since passed away, and this summer we were finally able to give the birdhouse a home in our garden. Happy to say, John, that the chickadees have settled in and I am joyfully reminded of you everyday.