One

July 3, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

A birthday celebration was the highlight of our weekend. One-year-old Tima could not believe we would leave her alone with a cake that size, lol. She also could not fathom why so many people crowded around to watch. A swim afterwards with her Dad brought her around to her old self.

Warbler

June 30, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

There are many species of warblers, and most I am not able to identify. Google reverse image suggests this is a Blackburnian warbler (likely a female). Most importantly, these little birds always bring such joy. Thanks to Don’t Hold Your Breath for hosting a bird of the week challenge.

For Ukraine

June 28, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Tender Stories of Motherhood

June 26, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

This week Lens-Artists challenge us to tell a story through photography. These brought back memories of motherhood.

Rosy Grosbeak

June 16, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

One of my favourites. The day my mother confirmed she was ready to die, I was tasked with calling the MAiD doctor, the funeral home, and so on. This Rosy Grosbeak with its large pink heart, stayed close by, as if to reassure me. He reappeared at my kitchen window the day we returned from […]

Re-emergence

June 11, 2023.Reading time 3 minutes.

Hard to pinpoint when it all started. Was it the night before, when I pushed myself to finish that knitting project even though my eyes were so blurry that I had to feel my way through? Was it the day before, when I noticed that my breathing was compromised? I do know that I awoke […]

The Coach Learns a Lesson (excerpt)

May 31, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Weekend Sky

May 28, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

A favourite drive. A place to breathe. Ric fell in the night again. He has been falling almost weekly since the New Year. Usually just scrapes and bruises but this time he broke two ribs. This doesn’t bode well going forward. I come to the river to catch my breath. For Weekend Sky

Art Therapy – Florals

May 26, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Leading up to my mother’s death, I locked myself away in the art room and painted with a fervour. Despite the darkness I was feeling, my paintings came out bright – a testament to her nature, I decided.

A Mother’s Day Farewell

May 14, 2023.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Moments before she passed away, I asked my Mom if she had any words of wisdom to share with the world. She bit her bottom lip, shook her head, and replied: “No. I’m not that kind of person.” I disagree. Mom was both humble and wise. What she lacked for in words, she conveyed through […]

End the Fray

This breach –this ever-widening gapfear inducedpits usagainst themas if humanitycan be dividedsalvationa selective process. We need a balmto soothe societalwounds, a tonicto calm the angstuntil clarityquells the uproarand kindnessreplaces this sin. (Poem originally appeared June 2019. Image my own)

Why We Write (tanka)

Memo to Self

Awakened by a crash just past midnight, I quickly realized my husband was not in bed and had fallen again. It’s the second time in two weeks. He couldn’t get back up. Paramedics arrived within minutes. Three strapping men had him on his feet again in no time. He was jostled but okay. I laid […]