Childhood myths

August 27, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Decoding our childhood involves taking a second look at those things we considered norms: like my mom’s insistence that we didn’t need umbrellas. I carried that philosophy into adulthood, along with the habit of depriving myself of many common items. It took my husband’s insistence that I didn’t need to go without that helped me […]

Sunflowers

August 24, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Lesia, our Ukrainian roommate, planted five sunflowers in the garden below my bedroom window. They are now 8 feet tall and still growing! Our Ukrainian friends visit and marvel at these giant replicas of their national flower. The symbolism does not escape me.

Colours

August 20, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

There is something about summer and the full vibrancy of colours that makes me feel so alive. Haven’t had the energy to do much art, however, Summer’s artistry more than suffices.

Big Chute Marine Railroad

August 17, 2025.Reading time 1 minute.

We managed a four-day vacation, travelling north to visit friends near Muskoka. Lovely, calm days spent waterside, catching up on our lives. As a side trip, we visited Severn Falls, Big Chute Marine Railroad. A simple. yet effective, construction for moving boats from one lake to another. Amazing to watch.

Khalil Gibran

August 13, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

My father kept “The Prophet” at his bedside, but as a child I did not understand the writings. Today, this passage hits me deeply. (My image)

Floral Interlude

August 10, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Our Ukrainian roommate loves to garden. Just three pops of colour she has planted to brighten her vegetable beds.

You are brilliance

August 6, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Things I wish my younger self knew, but then again, if we knew, would we try so hard to shine? It’s the paradox of life, isn’t it? I watch my teenaged granddaughters struggle, and I want to lift them up, but I know that words aren’t enough. Letting them know I believe in them is […]

Oh Baby!

August 3, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Our sunflowers attracted a few young birds – finches, I think. This one was fascinated with the zip tie holding up the plants.

One of these butts is not like the others…

July 30, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Hey Lady, since when did this become an equal opportunity feeder?

Thinking of Ukraine

July 23, 2025.Reading time 1 minute.

Antics from our neighbour to the South have empowered Putin and the attack on Ukraine has escalated. A friend reports that family back home are unable to work as their place of employment was bombed twice in one night. Another tells me the university in her city was bombed, destroying years old history. These are […]

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 […]

Peace?

(Image my own)

Crisis

How did undocumented –a civil infraction –reduce people to ‘bodies’? And how did empathy –observation and support –merit death by gunshot? When we stretch for explanations –to fit the violent rhetoric –are we too not complicit in crime? Red, blue, it’s all intolerable –the global stage is watching –a nation in rapid decline. “He’ll burn […]