Call Me

I finally joined the 21st century.
Yep. I got myself a cell phone. Try not to let your jaw hit the floor too hard when you read this. I know I must be one of the last on the planet to take the plunge into cellphonedom, but I suppose it was inevitable. I fought it really hard for a really long time. I didn't want to be chained to my phone every hour of every day, but eventually something in me shifted. And now I am like a child with a shiny sparkly new bike. I've been happily chained to it for two days now, and have discovered a wonderful new creative tool for my photography. I took these two today and edited them in instagram. It's a challenge for me not to pull them into photoshop and really work them over, but you know... it's so freeing NOT to do that!
The way I see it, I will have a lightweight camera tied to me at all hours of the day more than a phone.
And that is exciting!
The less heavy gear to drag around the better....which leads to many many more pictures!

In the Clear!

This little pumpkin stayed the night with me last night... and it was so good to see her! As some of you might remember, my niece, Ivy was dealing with a tumour on her kidney this past summer when she was only seven weeks old. I wrote about it in this post.

She spent the last few days in Vancouver doing follow up tests, and everything is normal! She's a healthy happy little baby. I didn't want to let her go this morning. It will be summertime before I see her again and she will be walking. Why can't babies stay babies for much longer?

Just wanted to share the happy update.

Shayne and Carly, it was so good to see you. I love you, and I miss you already. Give Sarai a big hug and a kiss for me. xo

Sproutz

They are a happy little vegetable. I mean, look at them all spilling out of the container like they know they've got to live it up while the going's good. That kind of youthful energy must be good for the body. Baby broccoli sprouts are not my favourite veggie... to me they taste a little like dirt. But I eat them anyway because I know how incredibly full of nutrients these little guys are.

And they are kind of adorable too. Some of them are even shaped like little hearts. That alone has got to do something good to the body, right?

Hurry Up and Slow Down

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's a life lesson that keeps presenting me with opportunities to become more aware and grow. I think I have had more trouble with patience than almost anything. It's part of who I am... I am eternally patient when I am teaching, when I am supporting a friend, when I am focussed outward... but when it comes to my own needs or wants, my resolve flies out the window like a trapped bird. If I want something to happen, if I want to accomplish something or learn something new, as soon as I decide that I want this thing, whatever it is, it needs to happen yesterday.

For eight months now, I have been trying to recover from a nerve injury in my arm. Progress has been excruciatingly slow. It feels as though I take a couple of steps forward and then I push myself a little too far and stumble backward.. again and again. I can't do the full body exercises that I want to do... I can't restore my strength, I can't do physical activities that I really want to do... until. Until my body decides to heal completely. Until I stop the battle within myself, surrender to the situation and allow my body the space to heal. 

I wonder what it is within me that has decided that I am on rush time? What's the hurry? The trees don't bud until their limbs feel the gradual warmth of the sun. And the blossoms don't open up to the world until the time is right and they are confident they can flourish. Spring doesn't happen overnight. Most essential things don't. Everything evolves with its own particular flow.

Perhaps I need to absorb more fully what I see through my lens. Each beautiful thing I observe has brought itself into fullness at a slow and gentle pace. Even decay has its own unhurried process. Nature is providing me with an answer, if I would just slow down and take her seriously.

Feel it in Your Wings

It is the spirit that knows Beauty, that has music in its soul 

and the color of sunsets in its headkerchiefs;

that can dance on a flaming world and make the world dance, too.

~ W.E.B. Du Bois

Windows

We've all heard the phrase the eyes are windows to the soul.
Well, could windows be eyes for the soul?

I was on my way home from a friend's house yesterday when I saw an elderly man standing in front of an antique shop window. He was wearing beige trousers that were rolled at the ankle, a long trench coat and a black hat... he looked so distinguished and gentlemanly. He was leaning on his cane, peering into the window at one of the items on display. I wondered what held his attention... Was it a trinket that reminded him of a boyhood possession? A nostalgic object that caused his heart to skip over his long lost love? Whatever it was, it had a hold on him... he moved ever so slightly as though he was going to walk away, and then turned back again into the window, bending over a little to get a closer look at the object of his affection.
Clearly something in that window stirred his soul.

I felt that very same stirring when I woke up to sunlight surging through my bedroom window after days and weeks of cloud and grey. It was enough to make me tumble out of bed and reach for my camera. And after a few quick shots, and a moment to pause and bathe in the beautiful light, I fell back into bed... and closed my eyes.


ps... if you are craving the light, visit the Four and soak up the beauty there.

My Little Taro Beans

He looks kind of disapproving, doesn't he? But really, he's just as fuzzy on the inside as he is on the outside. Ummm... sort of.

Except when he's mad at me. He lets me know with a swift thump to the floor with his back foot. Any number of things could cause him to do this. If he gets under my bed, for instance. He's not allowed in that room, and he knows it, so if opportunity knocks and he does make a run for it, he will hide under the bed and thump and thump as though he is telling me haha, you were too slow to catch me...now back off, lady!

He will also thump at me if I pick him up to give him a kiss on the cheek. I do this a lot... I can't resist. He hates being picked up, which is only natural...in the wild he would be a prey animal, so confinement of any kind is not comfy for him. So he tolerates me, but soon after I put him down, I get thumped.

But, if all four feet are on the floor he's a cuddly as can be. He loves to be rubbed under the chin and around the ears and will push his nose into my hand in demand ... but he rewards me by licking my hands or my forehead if I snuggle up to him on the floor.

Despite his little grudges, I love him. I adore him. I could gobble him right up I love him so much.

I am a Storm Chaser at Heart

Winter finally arrived. It was like a thick and pillowy duvet blew off the clothesline and settled right over the island. But it only lasted 2 days before torrential rains washed away any evidence of white and left everything green again. Which is just about perfect. I love being snow stranded... it provides automatic permission to do nothing but cozy up with a blanket, hot tea and a good read. I love those kinds of days. And because they come so rarely in this little part of the world, it makes them even more delicious.

And just when we thought everything was returning to normal, the winds came today. Powerful 110 km/hr gusts that knocked down trees (I grieve for those that fall) and power lines (including mine) and made the ocean roar with rage. It was quite spectacular. In the eleven years I have lived here, I don't think I have ever seen winds that strong.

So I am wondering... what is coming next? Some pretty lightning? That would be nice. We don't get nearly enough thunder and lightning here.

I LOVE storms. It doesn't matter what kind. I love them even better than sun-in-your-eyes days. Better than hazy blue skies. Better than unrippled waters and swayless trees. They shake up the ordinary. They make our eyes grow wide and our hearts beat stronger. They wake up the spirit and make us feel oh so very small.

I will be scanning the skies for the next thrill ride.

What Holds the Light

The sunlight is painfully shy these days... hiding behind Old Man Winter's knees, sneaking a peak every now and then... not wanting to be forgotten.

But if you are patient, she can be coaxed. You might find her wrapped snug around twigs and branches like a spool of golden thread. She may be filtering herself through the papery shell of a hydrangea, offering it one last day of grace. Or perhaps you will find her sweet talking the baby buds, making them appear to glow from the inside. Perhaps that is what they need... a little bit of a pep talk to encourage them to open when the air is still bitter cold. Poor things. I hope they know it is much too early to wake up. I want to whisper to them... go ahead. sleep in. take your time.

That timid sun. I know she has her days, whole seasons even, when she's bold and demanding of attention. But not now. The heavy clouds are intimidating, threatening snowfall, pushing her aside as they steal center stage. No doubt, the tiny snowflake is deserving of love and attention too. As much as we love the sunshine, who doesn't love a good snow day?

White Out

I think I am detoxing. I am coloured out.

I love the clean slate feel of January. As wonderful as the holiday season is, when it is over, I am ready for it to be over. Funny.... that happens at the end of each season, too. So here I am, beginning again ... resurfacing after a long blogging slumber. Hoping to be more present with you this year. But I am not going to make it a resolution. Because, you know what happens to most resolutions.

No, I am thinking in terms of intention. To find more beauty... to share it with you ... to get more of that goosebumpy feeling when I see the beauty that you create in whatever form it is that stirs your soul.

I wasn't around a whole lot last year. I think I found it all too overwhelming. I found myself feeling very guilty much of the time because I wasn't keeping up with the goings on in the blogging world. It's a busy place, this beautiful universe we have all created with our art, and words, and pictures. And I am so happy that I found a little place within it. But, I'd like to try a different approach... little bite size pieces at a time, and less marathoning when it comes to trying to keep up with my favourite blogs. Do you know what I mean?

And yes... I also intend to take breaks when I need them. Long ones if I need them. I think I am getting better at honouring my own needs without judging myself for them. Makes me a happier being.

I am actually smiling right now. :)

Starry Nights and Feeling the Love

Where did the last three weeks go? Looking back, I can't remember the details, the millions of little things that had to get done... but sprinkled here and there were wonderful gatherings with friends that are so near and dear to me.

One sweet friend has this Love mug. Every time I go to her house for a cup of chai, I ask for the Love mug. I think it makes the tea taste better. I think it makes me feel better. I think that even if it is all in my imagination, I still get all the benefits.

Last night I spent the evening with three of my favourite people. We went to a Christmas magical wonderland of gardens and lights in the theme of the Twelve Days of Christmas. We rode the carousel and went ice skating under the stars while soft celtic Christmas carols played in the background. A sparkly silver ball hovered above us, sending swirling twirling globes of light all over the ice rink. It couldn't have been a more perfect night.

And now I can take a deep deep breath, and I can drop my shoulders and relax, knowing that the busy part is over. And as I make my way to my family tomorrow, everything is going to slow down... and get quiet. I look forward to doing a whole lot of nothing over the next two weeks.

Wishing all of you a most beautiful Christmas. I love you all, and I will come around to visit and send you a warm holiday hug. xoxoxo

A History of Love

There is a wonderful old bookstore downtown that sells mostly used books. I especially love to go upstairs and wander along the creaky wooden floors through the many tall shelves, eyes and heart open to whatever quietly beckons my attention. All this place is missing is a resident cat.

There is one small shelf that contains really old books. Some of them have the most beautiful covers. Like this one. I had to have it... I'm known to judge books by their covers, and I really only bought this one because of the cover. I had no idea what was inside until I brought it home.

The very first page, the very first few lines brought a smile to my face...

It is the fairy forest old,

With lime-tree blossoms scented!

The moonshine had with its mystic light

My soul and sense enchanted.

Yes. I was hopelessly enchanted. This little gem is full of beautiful phrases. 

And that wasn't the only gift I found within its pages. In four different places, I found four leaf clovers, pressed within the pages oh so very long ago.

It makes me wonder who owned this book.  No doubt, she loved it.  Did she carry it with her everywhere? Did she lay in a field on a warm summer day, reading out loud the phrases that moved her, plucking clovers and tucking them into her favourite pages? Perhaps she was stowing away her good fortune for a less than perfect day. Was she in love? With one precious someone? With the world?

One clover was on a page containing this...

Immovable, unchanging,

The stars stand in the skies,

Upon each other gazing

With sad and loving eyes.

And it doesn't matter really, what page I turn to... each page is adorned with beautiful lyrics... this book of songs. I will devour it slowly. One page at a time. Perhaps there are other things hidden within these pages that I have yet to find.


ps.
If you would like to see the the critter I captured today in all her adorableness, head over here.