Contemplative Monday

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

GENEROSITY

"A young couple decided to deal with their ambivalence about panhandlers

by giving money to the first person who asked each day.

They were sincerely attempting to work with their confusion 

around the issue of homelessness, but they had an agenda:

they would be good, generous people and do their noble deed

and then forget about their conflicted feelings

for the rest of the day.

One morning a drunk asked the woman for money as she went into a store.

Even though he was the first panhandler of the day, his presence disgusted her

and she didn't want to give him anything.

When she came out of the store she hastily gave him a bill and rushed away.

Walking to her car, she heard a voice calling, "Ma'am, ma'am!"

She turned and there was the drunk, who said,

"I think you made a mistake! You gave me a five."

Eclectic Tastes

I listened to a lot of 'radio' back in the 90's going to and from work.

This was one of my favourites done by the Canadian 'folk-rock' group,
Crash Test Dummies
(click)

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Saturday Morning Post

I feel very confident in saying that this past week was 
the last of winter!

We started the week with a 'new' walk along the Dartmouth waterfront:

Nova Scotia Community College in Dartmouth.

 Ron and Sophie 

View looking out to the mouth of Halifax Harbour.

I like puddles.

Sophie weaving in and out.....

The tracks along the water.

 Ron at the Park in Halifax.

Ice storm in the middle of the week.....

Silhouette 

Not really....

Church in West Chezzetcook, down the shore road a bit.

Old green house.

Yesterday at MacDonald Hill......surfer on way up hill.

MAcDonald Hill looking towards Conrad's Beach to the northwest.

How's this? 'Geezsh! These guys embarrass me sometimes!!'

*****A shout out to Vicki Boster (click her name to check out her blog)
 for editing my photo on her iphone and sending a copy to me!
I used it as my new header!

The Last Remnants Of Winter....... he said crossing his fingers

My friend Sharon in Tennessee was saying yesterday that the heat there 

was starting to get a little unbearable 

and that she was looking forward to some relief over the weekend.

Just the opposite here with us. We are so looking forward to it warming up

a little today.....to 6 C or 42.8 F.

These photos were all taken on Wednesday at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax...

.it was -2 C or 28.4 F.

I am not complaining......I just think a little warmth would be nice for a change.

Winter photography is very different from the other seasons.

I find it to be more quiet, having better contrasts and cleaner images.

As we are very near to bidding this winter a fond farewell,

I will miss the fresh air and all those brisk walks,

but also look forward to the warm breezes down on the beaches.

A Nova Scotia Garden In April

You know......yes it is still chilly here, an ice storm on Monday, 

and no sign of the sun for days, but hey, there is beauty

in all this if we look for it.

I went for a stroll in the garden.......

....frozen drops on the Pine....

....frozen Pine needles....

....great bokeh....

....my collection of 'sea-tumbled bricks' waiting to be placed in walkway.....

....Copper Beech leaves contrasted with 'crystal' branches....

....a little closer....

....Kerria Japonica branches....

....Corkscrew Witch Hazel....

Oh yes, my hands were numb when I was done!!

But the garden was doing just fine.

Made My Day

On Monday I dropped by one of my favourite 'thrift stores'

to do a quick sweep of the place.

I was browsing through the framed paintings and found this gem:

Click to enlarge and see 'who was who' in 1993.

Well, there isn't too much that can 'get me going'

but Annie Leibovitz's (click) work is one that can.

Her portraits have always impressed me in how she manages

to capture the essence of her subjects. In my books,

Annie Leibovitz is a genius.

Trying to find some place to hang this now.......

Good To See You April!

April showers.....

bring May flowers.