Eclectic Tastes

Just couldn't resist this song from the 'classic' Easter movie.

Happy Easter to you all. Enjoy.

Saturday Morning Post

The week in pictures:

Lunch by Ron....open-face chicken/cranberry sandwich.

The last snow event......we think.

I wonder what is in these containers?

Spring moss on rock.

Chandeliers in lobby at Dad's Veterans Home.

Jim, are you coming? 

Ron and Sophie heading down towards the shore (Halifax Harbour).

Sophie and I on way to see Dad in Halifax. She is very good at crosswalks now.

We found this very old Hudson's Bay Point Blanket packed away.

It was a wedding gift that Ron's parents got back in 1944!

Ron and Sophie heading back to the car after visit with Dad.

Four days later now and the snow is almost entirely gone.

Chocolate Anyone?

I know, you thought that since it was Easter......

These adorable dogs were parked next to us last week at the park.

I asked their owner if I could get a photo of them before they left.

I was glad she obliged as you don't often see 

so much chocolate in one place at the same time.

I didn't get their names but here they are from left to right:

a young Chocolate Labrador Retriever, a Chocolate Boston Terrier 

and an older Chocolate Labrador Retriever.

There! That ought to fix your CHOCOLATE cravings for a while!!

Met The Cutest Couple At The Beach The Other Day

Let me introduce this 'Sandpiper' (click) couple to you

and I am pretty sure they are of the Semipalmated variety.

They are either on their 'spring migration' to the Arctic

 or may stay around here for the summer.

Either way, it was good to see them the other day

as they were scooting around the shoreline

looking for their 'lunch'.

Who's Around The Corner?

Ron and Sophie and of course the ever-present Mr. Orangie!

The Dancing Lady

Image from www.oil-paintings-art.com

Two Saturdays ago Sophie and I visited Dad . 
We got to his room at the veterans hospital and he wasn't there. 
A note was on his table saying that he was at a St. Patrick's Day fiddle concert.

Of course he was!

We headed back downstairs to the auditorium. 
It was packed with a lot of people. How was I to find Dad? 
Then I spotted him towards the front sitting in his wheelchair. 
The concert was under way, so Sophie and I were as quiet as we could be. 

I had grabbed an empty chair from the back and took it up front with us.

Soph was so happy to find Dad! She immediately gave him a big LICK!  
He yelped out loud! LOL He doesn't like being licked!

 Sophie had to get her bearings, her first concert you see. 
She settled quickly once she knew Dad was there.

Then we focused on the music.....and the dancing.

Image from www.rubylane.com

You see, one of the veterans was up front 
dancing/floating around like nobody's business.

She, yes one of the few female patients there,
 was in her own world....in a good way.

She literally was floating as if on a cloud.
She must have been all of ninety pounds.
She was moving very gracefully in front of the band 
and would slow down and stop at individual audience members 
smiling and dancing gently away onto the next.

Image from www.antiquesnavigator.com

It was quite lovely to see. 
Dad informed me that she does this at all the concerts.

Sophie was holding it together as best she could.
You see she loves to dance too....at home!

So what happens? 
Well, the 'dancer' spots Sophie in the centre aisle, 
and down she comes to meet her.......
all along keeping time to some Irish jig!!

Image from www.serbagunamarine.com

Sophie was on a leash (rules, and a good one) 
and she remained in a 'sit' position till the woman was near her. 
At that point Sophie was giving her all the licks she could give. 
And the woman was very receptive and appreciative.

It was at this point that the woman spoke to me and Sophie. 
She had a very soft and gentle voice

and said hello to Sophie by name (I had told her Sophie's name).

After a few more licks by Sophie and more pats on the head by the dancer, 
the 'dancing lady' was heading back up front

keeping perfect time to the music and not missing a beat.

Image from www.rubylane.com

She was gliding back to her seat where she was sitting with what looked like her daughter.  
I realized what an wonderful moment this was to witness.

Here was a woman who was at least 90 years old 'living' out her last days.

And I mean living them. 
She was so 'in the moment' and enjoying every second.

Image from www.antiques.com

Being the 'teacher' most of my life, 
I couldn't help but see the 'lesson' here.

We, most humans, spend so much of our lives doing this and doing that 
and never really taking the time to stop, pause, 
and just focus on what is happening now; 
instead, living in the past and worrying about the future.

The 'dancing lady' was not a bit self-conscious 

and looked as if she did not have a care in the world,
which I am sure she didn't.

She heard music which she liked 
and she did what she felt was the only
 logical thing to do in this situation.....
dance.


Image taken from www.easyvectors.com

Contemplative Monday

The following is a quote from 'Heart Advice, Weekly Quotes from Pema Chodron'.

Continuing from last week's 'hope and fear' theme:

WE JUST CAN'T JUMP OVER OURSELVES

"Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something; 

they come from a sense of poverty.

We can't simply relax with ourselves. We hold on to hope, 

and hope robs us from the present moment.

We feel that someone else knows what is going on, 

but that there's something missing in us,

and therefore something is lacking in our world.

Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now

we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.

That's the compassionate thing to do. That's the brave thing to do. 

We just can't jump over ourselves as if we were not there. 

It's better to take a straight look at all our hopes and fears.

Then some kind of confidence in our basic sanity arises."

Eclectic Tastes

Erik Satie was a French composer. I have listened to his music 

since I was introduced to it when taking a dance appreciation course

at Dalhousie University back in the early '70's.

He was a very interesting character and if you wish to read a little

 about him you can by clicking here.

This is a very calming way to start your day. Enjoy.

Saturday Morning Post

The week in photos:

Time for the leash Sophie.

A new trail to take.....

Somebody's very happy....

Yippee!! Sophie's first real dip since last fall!

Which would you choose? I have my eye on the chocolate Brownie Gelato!
(Click image to enlarge so you can read the flavours.)

Sophie taking/dragging Ron to Three Dog Bakery.

That's better!