Layered Realities

We beautify the mundane,with flowers, greens and such,and for further distraction,the whimsical’s a nice touch. History holds attraction,love anything quaint –celebrate our heritage,have difficulty with restraint. (For Calmkate’s Friday Fun: layers)

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V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #55: reclaim

In July of 2013, I contracted pneumonia. After a course of treatment, I continued to experience weakness, shortness of breath, and frequent tachycardia. By January, I had seen a gamut of specialists, received no answers, and was worse. Test after test eliminated obvious possibilities. In the end, I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. The doctor […]

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V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #54: Subtle

Subtle is: 1. not loud, bright, noticeable, or obvious in any way; 2. small but important; 3. achieved in a quiet way that does not attract attention to itself and is therefore good or clever. Cambridge English Dictionary Subtlety is not my strong suit. I am outspoken, exuberant, and often joke that I have to […]

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Drama in the Woods

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 […]

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A Blaze of Tulips

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

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Big Little Blessings

A 6:15 a.m. phone call changed my life: “Hello Grandma…it’s a girl!” There is no describing the thrill. I packed a hasty bag and drove the hundred kilometres in record time, scooping up that little bundle immediately on arrival. Her little tongue moved in and out rapidly as her gazed fixed on mine. I could […]

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For the Love of Trees

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 […]

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Bits and Pieces

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 […]

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V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #53: Lottery

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 […]

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Orange Is An Anomaly

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 […]

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