V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #29: Transition

December 31, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

Setting New Year’s resolutions is not my thing. I do, however, honour the passage of one year to another by reviewing what the passing year has entailed and consciously deciding where I would like to focus for the next. For example, as a young mother of three, having returned to work, I learned to prioritize […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #28: Recipe

December 17, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

This time of the year, I find myself perusing recipes – looking for the perfect gluten-free dessert, or a new appetizer to take to a potluck, or maybe an easy way to use up leftovers. I am also concocting a recipe for the perfect get together – imagining the ingredients and timing for holiday […]

Unintentional

December 16, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

The excitement of travel, friends visiting, and the overabundance of photo opportunities has left me exhausted. Yesterday was the first day in four that I ventured outside briefly. So much for intentionally practicing peace. I feel a bit like a dog chasing its own tail – so much I want to do and see, yet […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #26: Titles

December 3, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

In the late 1980’s, I began to study the psychology of dream interpretation as offered by our local university. One of the exercises our professor recommended when doing dream work, was to give each recorded dream a title, and then periodically list those titles, in order, to elicit new understanding. The assumption behind the exercise […]

A Healing Place

November 27, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

“Take her to Arizona,” doctors advised first my parents and then my husband, as if going to the desert was some magic remedy for all that ailed me. Might as well have told me to go to the moon, the possibility of such a journey always just beyond our reach. Until my husband found a way, deciding […]

Deviating from the norm:

November 25, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

Typically, this is where I tie up the week’s challenge with an anecdote, then a link to all the participants. However, this time I’ve decided to do something different. Using the title of each post, and borrowing a line, I’ve created a collaborative poem. Links to the originals are highlighted. Glass Casketsauthenticity oppressed Deviation becoming the […]

He Who Talks To God

November 21, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

“What do you see?” The child stood before his mother, eyes wide and staring as if through her. His small body trembled. It was just past midnight, and he’d risen from his bed in a panic, disoriented by the darkness. “God” he answered, breathlessly, the urgency in him rising. “What does he look like?” “I […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #24: Deviation

November 19, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. – Frank Zappa For several years running, I was invited to speak to the Sociology of Deviancy class at our local university. Each visit, I opened by joking that I was never quite sure whether the invitation was a good thing or not. Truthfully, though, I […]

Places People Live (CFFC)

November 1, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

Some people prefer the solitude and live in island retreats – While others like things modern and enjoy big city beats – In Portland, there is Nob Hill, with houses built up high California has homes with ocean views, which must cost a pretty penny to buy… I like the look of adobe-style, would love to […]

Ready for Hallowe’en

October 29, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Garden shadows paint a Halloween scene – yellow blooms soften the scare. For Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Monday Mood: Abundance

We held a garage sale this past Saturday – no small feat for two gimpy old folks. Fortunately, we had help, and as it was a town-wide event, there were many people out. Still exhausted two days later, but feeling like this squirrel with his treasure – blessed by abundance. (photo mine)

Colouring Lessons

Favourite colour?Black, says shewithout hesitation; I falter, stumblemind reaching –who likes black? Is that a colour?It’s all colours,she’s nonchalant intent on task –carefully keepingwithin the lines Of course it is,ill equipped am Ito disagree, images of dark sombercorners, sorrowand death crows – Why black? ask I –composure forced –had anticipated pink equate childhoodwith primary shadessplotches of […]