Contemplative Monday

"Becoming awake

involves seeing our confusion

more clearly."

                                  .....Chogyam Trungpa (click)

Eclectic Tastes

Last week the local surfing community lost a fellow member due to illness.
There was a memorial 'paddle out' down at the beach.
His name is Steve Armbruster and he turned the coffee/cafe business in the city on it's heels back in the 90's.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday Morning Post

Out n' about  and a busy January in Nova Scotia......

So mild this month that it was not uncommon to see fog come and go.

My 'winter project' this year........a knitted bed spread made of different patterned squares...

I have 400 more to go!! 

At a trail at the park with Sophie.....

Remains of a British fortress in the park.....see, no snow yet this year.

Walking through the heather field at the park on Thursday....

The fog moving in on Wednesday at dusk.....

The entrance to Halifax Harbour.....

Got these 'Asian Peg Dolls' at an auction this week.....

This is one big crane and one of three that moves quite freely

back and forth along this pier......albeit slowly.

These cats looking for a 'forever home' at the shop......

I just acquired this original painting of 'harness racing'.......

love the movement and the colours.

It's called 'Horses of a Different Color'.

OK! I am a 'tree hugger!!

Keeping watch over MacDonald House....at the shop.

This is Steve. Steve is a dog walker in the city and we often meet up with him

and his dogs.....up to 10 at a time.

He is incredible with them. 

They are all off lead and all get along.....or else they will hear from his firm

deep voice.

Sophie respects him. 

She goes up to him when he calls her name and he pats her.

Then she waits for him to throw the ball

and usually gets it first!!

That is important in the dog world, you know! lol

Contemplative Monday

"Have good trust in yourself: not the one you think you should be,

but the one that you are."

.....Taizan Maezumi Roshi  (click)

Eclectic Tastes

Kate and Anna McGarrigle are two sisters from Quebec who were part of
the music hierarchy/royalty here in Canada since the 70's.
Kate's son is Rufus Wainwright and he and his sister, Martha,
continue the family tradition today each in their own musical way.

This is one of those songs that may turn into an 'ear worm' for you.

Have a wonderful Sunday every one.

Saturday Morning Post

Must be winter....mostly indoor shots this week.

We did however have a good hike around Conrad's Beach area this week.

Sophie was beyond happy as this was her fav 'puppy beach'!

Now let's go indoors for a bit......here are a few wood-carvings and a couple

of very old dolls at the shop.

Also at the shop is this vintage wood round cheese box.

Someone liked it so much they painted these ducks on it.

Outside for a second.....here is a view of one side of this beach.

At the end there is another beach of equal length which

takes you to the river and where it empties into the Atlantic.

I like this little nook created by a brass lamp base and this print

done by an indigenous artist.

The top of the brass lamp and this very old photo print of a boy.......

if any of you recognize him let me know.

I have a feeling he is either George V or George VI as a young child.

Quite the eclectic grouping here!!

Standing alone in the middle of all this crystal is a 'depression glass'

yellow water goblet called 'Wide Panel'.

Close-up....

Looking outside but staying inside.....

a view to the west from the shop.

Pretty certain the original of this print was once

 on a magazine cover back in the 30's.

Contemplative Monday

"To have the mind fixed on a single point,

that is concentration."

....Majjhima Nikaya  (click)

Eclectic Tastes

My sister, Mary, sent me this on Friday night and thought we'd like it.
She was right! We did!!
Hope you do as well.
Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Just a few pics this week....

We have had our annual 'January thaw' this past week.

Whenever the rhododendron leaves are broad and lush

it tells us that it is above 0C.

This bush was planted by my parents  back in the 80's

when they lived here.

Passing by the salt marsh one evening this week....

I have always liked vintage labels.....here is one on a vintage 'duffle coat'

I bought this week.

Bridge going over divide between Lake Banook and Lake Charles in Dartmouth...

My 'body guard'......

Contemplative Monday

"He who masters both life and death

is free from fear of any kind

to the extent that he is no longer

capable of experiencing what fear feels like."

....Eugen Herrigel  (click to learn more)

Lake Banook in process of freezing.......

Eclectic Tastes

In the past couple of weeks Ron and I have become fans

 of the BBC Sherlock Holmes series on TV .

It is so cleverly done and keeps us guessing.

Here is a violin musical medley of the series.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Saturday Morning Post

Moving into the year 2017.......

I remember as a kid thinking how old I'd be in the year 2000.

Now it is 2017.

Embracing this new year.......

These metal butterflies were to rage for some back in the 1980's

and the bane of their existence for others.

They flew into the shop last week. 

I think they'd be great in a garden in a that special place...

A beautiful 'springlike day' at the park last week.....

Looking at clouds through a wire-mesh fence.....

One corner at the shop.....

As I indicated above we have had really nice/warmish weather so far

as can be seen by the tricycle at the park. 

Rest assured as I look out a window here at home (Friday afternoon) 

everything is white! Hello winter!!

A Coastguard patrol vessel returning to base in Halifax Harbour...

Would you believe that this glass building is in another city across a harbour?

It is in Dartmouth which is across the harbour

 from where this shot was taken in Halifax's north end.

Her Majesty Sophie Cuvelier Troke.

In 1917 there was a huge explosion in Halifax Harbour.

Two ships filled with ammunition collided and exploded.

The whole of Halifax's north end was wiped out.

To the rescue comes the city of Boston who funded the building

of a housing project known as the Hydrostone.

This is but one of the nine streets, Livingstone Place.

Each, with the exception of one, has a boulevard with trees.

I grew up just outside this area.

Tennis anyone?

Imagine Having a Birthday This Time of Year.........

Well, my husband is one of those lucky individuals!

Today is Ron's birthday.

It is/was usually the day his family waited for

to take down Christmas decorations and 'called it another year'.

Our little Christmas tree will be put away this evening for another year.

But not before celebrating this wonderful man's life.

I am a very fortunate guy to have met this caring and protective fella.

All I know is that I am happy I trusted my instincts back in 1973.

I/we were in the right spot at the right time and we both knew it immediately.

So this is a big THANK YOU Ron for sharing your life with me!

Oh....and a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!!!

May this year take you up and down many adventurous roads.

And that your infectious enthusiasm for life remains your sole elixir.