A Path

Looking across the Northwest Arm this week

 I noticed this snow / ice

covered road leading up into the forest.

How Cold Was It?

Last week on the boardwalk I noticed footprints........frozen.

I believe these are formed when after a snowfall 

someone walks through the snow which compacts

under their weight.

Then the footprints freeze and the rest of the snow blows away

leaving the footprints intact.

Just another one of those interesting phenomenons that 

happens here in the Northern Hemisphere in winter.

These remind me of fossils which have been petrified.

Life's A.........

Have you ever noticed how life can be filled with 'prickly' situations?

Granted, it does get easier as we age and as we learn to react 

more appropriately to these 'thorns' .

I have found that these 'pricklies' become part and parcel 

to this package we call life.

What would we do without them? 

I think we'd lose sight of the important things.

Contemplative Monday

The following quote is taken from: 'Heart Advice, Weekly Quotes from Pema Chodron'

THE SENSATION OF BLISS

"A few years ago I was overwhelmed by deep anxiety, a fundamental, 

intense anxiety with no storyline attached.

I felt very vulnerable, afraid and raw.

While I sat and breathed with it, relaxed into it, stayed with it,

the terror did not abate.

It was unrelenting even after many days, and I didn't know what to do.

I went to see my teacher, Dzigar Kongtrul, and he said, "Oh, I know that place."

That was reassuring. He told me about times in his life when he had been 

caught in the same way.

He said it had been an important part of his journey

and had been a great teacher for him.

Then he did something that shifted how I practice.

He asked me to describe what I was experiencing.

He asked me where I felt it. He asked me if it hurt physically

and if it were hot or cold.

He asked me to describe the quality of the sensation as precisely as I could.

This detailed exploration continued for a while and then he brightened up and said,

"Ani Pema...That's a high level of spiritual bliss."

I almost fell off my chair. I thought,"Wow, this is great!" 

And I couldn't wait to feel that intensity again.

And do you know what happened?

When I eagerly sat down to practice, of course, 

since the resistance was gone,

so was the anxiety."

Eclectic Tastes

We have a few of  Steven Halpern's CD's and find them to be not only

very relaxing but great background music as well.

Here he teams up with the legendary  Paul Horn

and the result is quite nice I think.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday Morning Post....A Man And His Keyboard

This is my father, Jim Sr.

I had a great visit with him yesterday. I noticed a keyboard

in the corner and hauled it out.

I played a few tunes and then turned it over to Dad.

He started to play all the tunes he played

years ago.

He got 'lost', in a good way.........

in his own world there for a few minutes.

It was lovely to see.

A Very Short Walk In The Cold

Two days ago we thought we'd take Sophie to Fort Needham.

Since it is in the north end of the city and we just happened to be there anyway, we parked

the car and headed up the hill. We knew it was going to be windy and cold but we headed up

nonetheless. And let me tell you, IT WAS COLD!!! I can usually withstand the cold

but this was bitter. I was fine from the waist up, not so from waist to toes!! 

And I had on long-johns too. Luckily Sophie met another dog

and they entertained themselves running in circles after each other.

It didn't last for long however and we very quickly headed 

back down the hill to the car. Time for pizza!!
Heard later on the radio that is was a balmy -22C with windchill.

Back To The Hood

Yesterday we decided that we needed a pizza! 

In case you didn't know, pizza helps to ward off

the cold!

We knew where to go and what to order at our favourite pizza Trattoria.

It is called Salvatore's and is found in the Hydrostone in North End Halifax.

And since we had Sophie with us, we had 'take-out'. 

It was too cold to leave her in the car unattended.

I placed our order....'Original' with portobello mushrooms and spinach......

it was a half hour wait but always worth it!!

I mentioned one other time (at least) that this area is my childhood neighbourhood.

What was once a string of  basic shops every neighbourhood needed 

back in the late 50's and early 60's is now a trendy area to shop.

When I was a kid there was a drugstore, laundramat, 

dry cleaners, grocery store, and a photographer's studio.

The past couple of years Ron and I have found that we like this area 

and we find ourselves here on a regular basis when we are in town,

mostly for our favourite coffee at a Starbucks across the street.

Oh yes, we get seasonal tune-ups throughout the year

at Kachina, where our massage therapist, Kelly, works.

Come to think of it, we are due for one soon.

 I'll be giving him a call soon.

This cold arctic air is taking its toll!!!