Monday, November 30, 2015

Contemplative Monday


The following was written by Thich Nhat Hanh (click).

"The cosmos is filled with precious gems.
I want to offer a handful of them to you this morning.
Each moment you are alive is a gem,
shining through and containing earth and sky,
water and clouds."



Sunday, November 29, 2015

Eclectic Tastes


The world is embracing Adele.
I am no exception to this.
I like her groundedness.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Saturday Morning Post


Things that caught my eye this week
and a Happy Birthday......


A foggy, windy walk for Ron and Sophie.


Early morning sun hitting painting in kitchen.


'Like a walk in the park'.....


Fall dune grass....


Setting sun...


At a fortress in Point Pleasant Park in Halifax.


Long-fallen/uprooted tree in the park....


Reflections in a pond....


This pond will soon be frozen. But when?


Nom nom nom.......


My mother would have been 95 years old today.
She LOVED being near the ocean.
Must be where I get that from.
Happy Birthday Mom.




Friday, November 27, 2015

Nice Day For A Wedding


We walked to the tip of the park yesterday in Halifax.
This area actually juts out into the mouth of the harbour
facing the Atlantic Ocean.

The bandstand/gazebo here was built during the Victorian era 
and today is used mainly for picnics and the occasional wedding.
What an impressive backdrop for a wedding.

We got married in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court building in Halifax.
The backdrop there was a 'flag display' of the province, country and city.

If you could/wanted to remarry, where would you pick to do so?
And why?



Thursday, November 26, 2015

From My Perch


A couple of shots 'from my perch' at the shop yesterday.
A very bright sunny day it was.
Shooting into the sun can be tricky.
Need more practice.

The scenery changes daily here and one never tires of it.


 Looking out into the Atlantic in a southerly direction.

The Lawrencetown River (top) at low tide looking in northwesterly direction.




Wednesday, November 25, 2015

What A Difference A Day Makes


A late walk yesterday at dusk on the boardwalk
had us bundled up against the cold northwest wind.
Monday it was +16C and today was -2C.

What a way to wake up!!



Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Stormy Weather


In 2003 we here in the Halifax area got a direct hit from Hurricane Juan. (click)
It was late September (thank God!) and we lost power for over a week.

The park we visited quite often (and still do), Point Pleasant Park which is in the 
southern most part of the peninsular Halifax, was turned into a 
a pile of rubble. Over 10,000 trees were knocked down by Juan's force.

One of those trees you can see below ...... at least the trunk part of that tree.
It was turned into this animal sculpture.
Seals are abundant in the waters off the park's shore.

Has your area ever been hit by a big storm that caused everything to be shut down
for a few days?


Monday, November 23, 2015

Contemplative Monday


" This---the immediate, everyday, and present experience---is IT,
the entire and ultimate point for the existence of the universe."
---Alan Watts (click)


Any thoughts on this?


Sunday, November 22, 2015

Eclectic Tastes


As it has been raining here for the past 36 hours with no end in sight,
I thought this 'blast from the past' would be appropriate.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Saturday Morning Post



Finding some colour and light this week.....


From my perch at work on Wednesday....


Dang! We forgot our rakes!! lol


Nature knows how to brighten up a dark November day.


Sophie, in front, is always thought to be a Griffen
and today we finally met one and I can see why.


Sophie LOVES grass....not only to eat but to rest as well.


So good to see Ron once again walking through the park and keeping up with us.


Yesterday at Fort Needham Park in northend Halifax (my childhood stomping grounds)
Sophie met up with these two very energetic Boston Terriors.


"OK, who took down the tennis nets?"



Friday, November 20, 2015

Moody Skies


November is unique from other months I feel.
It has a dual personality.....in that it wants to be more 'fall-like' whenever possible
and at the same time threatens us all with winter behavior.
I guess it has a split identity.

Maybe that is why I always feel being pulled in opposite directions
 during this gloomy and moody month.

But once it has had its 'fun' and we move into December, 
things begin to brighten up somewhat as we head towards
the lighter months of the spring.

Do you think that certain months of the year affect us humans?

Or is it all in my head?

A November sky.


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Tea, Anyone?



Since I have opened my shop, Mid-Century Maniac, almost two years ago now,
lately I have been contacted by a couple of people every week
to inquire if I was interested in buying items they don't want or need any longer.

Most are older couples and are downsizing from their house to an apartment or condo.
They just can't take everything with them.
So I usually go and see what they have
an invariably I leave with a few things..........
anything from old beer steins to glassware to small vintage furniture.

I will have to learn to say no very soon as I am running out of storage space at the shop
or I have to become more selective in what I bring back.
I am learning 'the business' slowly but surely.
And, I might add, enjoying every second of it.

Below you will see a silver plate tea/coffee set that I am trying to find a buyer for.
It belongs to the 'tea room ladies' downstairs from the shop.
I don't want it as they are very difficult to move....as in sell.
(Mind you if it was sterling it would be another matter!)
So many are on the market and I feel people just don't want
to have to clean it all the time. 
Plus, who really uses these on a regular basis anymore?

So, I am lucky to be doing something in my retirement for which I have an interest
and a passion. I don't see it as 'work' at all.

Question time......what would you like to be doing now or later in life
if you had the opportunity to do so?


Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Pushing My Luck


Got a few things done around the garden....finally.
Had to put a 'new' door on the shed before the snow flies,
which is just around the corner.

I had a door I had purchased a few years ago to use in the basement
but ended up not using it.
Funny thing is that it was almost the exact size needed for the shed.
Except for a small gap at the top and at the bottom
which wouldn't mean anything in the spring and summer,
these gaps have to be 'filled in' SOON!

I've tried a number of DIY things....like adding wood strips,
buying weather stripping to stop the snow from getting in,
to finally deciding what I used a few years ago.....
a couple of bales of straw and place them in front of shed door.
We can't usually use the shed in winter anyway
due to it being snowed in in that part of the garden.
So straw it will be.

Next is to get the snow tires on the car.
That will be done very early tomorrow morning
at a car dealer we like to support.
And then we ought to be ready for whatever comes.

How about you? Even you Jean in New Zealand during your winter time,
what things do you have to consider when hunkering down for the winter?

Oh yes, I need to find one more thing.....winter boots!!
Been looking everywhere but nothing was wide enough (my feet are flat and wide lol)
and light enough. My old ones have bit the dust.....I loved them!
But want a pair that is lighter.
Oh these 'first world' problems!! Eh?


A very typical November sky here......dark and cloudy.



Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Opinions


So much discussion over the past few months about the refugee crises.

Since the ISIS-IL attack on Paris Friday, this discussion has taken
on an accelerated pace, especially here in Canada.
The reason for this is that the new Liberal government had promised
to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees before the end of December.
They got elected partially on this issue.....a lot of support in Canada for this.

I was one of those supporters and I still do support this idea.
A lot of people now feel that the government ought to put
their acceptance of 25,000 refugees on hold for a couple of reasons.
One being that some fear that terrorists may be hiding amongst them.

I trust that the government will take the appropriate steps/measures
 and do what is best for Canada to keep us all safe.

Thinking how we would feel if we were the ones in the 'camps' 
looking/hoping/waiting for countries to accept them.
These people are escaping terrorism and asking for a safe haven.

If you are comfortable in sharing your views on this crises,
I would love to hear your opinions and  absolutely no judgments will be made.



Monday, November 16, 2015

Contemplative Monday




There are the 'Five Recollections' which are foundational Buddhist
thought which have been recited by all dharma communities.

I was intrigued by the fifth one:

'My deeds are my closest companions.
I am the beneficiary of my deeds.
My deeds are the ground on which I stand.'





Sunday, November 15, 2015

Eclectic Tastes



Sending this out to Debra, from 'She Who Seeks' blog fame.

Heard this on the way home yesterday on CBC radio's DNTO......
Definitely Not The Opera (fantastic show with a great host).

Have a wonderful Sunday one and all.


Saturday, November 14, 2015

Saturday Morning Post


What winter?


From 'my perch' at the shop on Wednesday......cyclists taking a scenic ride along the shore.


Just had to stop and park the car to get a better look at this tree 
which is at the foot of Citadel Hill in Halifax.


Bench by Lake Banook in Dartmouth.


Man and his dog heading up MacDonald Hill.....'from my perch' at the shop.


'3 crows a letter'.....


A drive-by 'shooting' in Halifax yesterday.


As far as the eye can see.....


Heading down Young Avenue towards the park in Halifax.


Hey Captain !


Our JApanese Bloodgood Maple in the back garden is spilling it's colour.


The Three Amigos at the beach this week.


Just want to acknowledge the tragedy that occurred in Paris last night......
sending healing thoughts and healing energy to the people of France.



Friday, November 13, 2015

Time Is On Our Side, Oh Yes It Is


It's amazing to me how quickly the weeks go by.
Here we are mid-November and heading into winter pretty soon.

Where has the summer gone? We still have some fading remnants
of it in the garden as can be seen by this 'Burning Bush'.

Is it just me or do you also find that the older one gets,
 the more quickly time appears to fly by?


Thursday, November 12, 2015

What Day Is It Anyway


Having Remembrance Day yesterday really confused things.......
feels like a Monday today.

Is it just me? Or do you guys also get the days of the week mixed up 
after a mid-week holiday?

I do know its still fall here as can be seen by all of our trees
and all their leaves ready to drop off very soon.


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

A Toad Went Walking On A Summer's Day........


So there we were, the three amigos enjoying a beautiful 'springlike' 15C afternoon
at the park yesterday walking up the shore road,
and out jumped this toad!

And up jumped Sophie! Straight up from all fours!
We hooted when we saw her do this!
She is a dog that will confront any, I mean any, dog no matter the size.

And when this gentle unassuming toad started to hop from a stream
to the other side of the road, Sophie got spooked!

This is when you wish you had the video working.




Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Blending In



Enjoying all the good weather lately.
The dune grasses were like fields of wheat in the summertime
yesterday afternoon at the beach.
A bit cooler of course but otherwise spectacular.


Sophie leading the way through her favourite dune grass trail.



Monday, November 9, 2015

Contemplative Monday



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

BIG SKY

"Sometimes we're going to find ourselves completely caught up in a drama.
We're going to be just as angry as if someone had just walked into the room
and slapped us in the face.

Then it might occur to us: "Wait a minute---what's going on here?"
We look into it and are able to see that, out of nowhere,
we feel that we have lost something or been insulted.


Where this thought came from we don't know, but here we are,
hooked again by the eight worldly dharmas (click here).

Right then, we can feel that energy, do our best to let the thoughts dissolve,
and give ourselves a break.
Beyond all that fuss and bother is a big sky.
Right there in the middle of the tempest,
we can drop it and relax."



Sunday, November 8, 2015

Eclectic Tastes


Time for a little Yo-Yo Ma.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Saturday Morning Post


Absorbing the colour while it lasts....


Ron and Sophie waiting patiently for me to leave the shop on Wednesday.


Mild temperature (15C) and fog equals bright colours.


Lake Banook colour....


Great tree at the park.....


Sophie calmly waiting while Ron 'adjusts his spine'........
she wants Mr. Orangie back!!


Sophie meeting up a 'dog-walkers pack',
they all must inspect her at first.
She passed with flying colours!


House to rent for the winter months.......


A 'nursing stump' at the park.....
going back from whence it came.


Having fun with camera yesterday at park.
Ron showed me how to create different images
by swirling the camera around while clicking.


Not for the motionly-challenged. lol




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