Long Live Hibiscus

It will almost be time to bring in the Hibiscus plant/tree.

The botanical name is Malvaceae which is part of the mallow family.
The genus includes both annual and perennial plants. Ours being the annual type, it has to come in before the first frost. Otherwise....trouble!

We've had this one for about 18 years. At first it had pale yellow blossoms. As it aged and has many a summer in full sun, it is this peachy colour . One fall the blossoms we're mostly a deep maroon. Very versatile this plant!

Three years ago it got 'bitten' really hard by the frost. As a consequence every leaf fell off and did it feel sorry for itself ! Thought we lost it for sure.

The next spring we put it back outdoors and it slowly came back producing the tiniest of leaves and no blossoms that summer.

Back in 1995 we spent Christmas in Bermuda (which I highly recommend by the way). Everywhere we went there were hedges of Hibiscus....in full bloom. I figure they must grow like a 'weed' down there. But what wouldn't ?

Looking Up

Most of us are going through life looking straight ahead and 'getting on' with our daily routine. 

We hardly ever look around and notice the life that is going on everywhere.

It's good sometimes to just stop what we are doing. Take a look up. 

You may be surprised what you see.

And it was there all along.

Going about what it does everyday.

Sometimes it's the little things that we forget to 'see'.

But most of the time it's the things that we pass without even a notice.

It's a good habit to get into. Just stop. Look up. Look down. Look around you.

And begin to notice what the universe has given you.

Time For This To Stop

In the news lately, here in North America anyway, there has been a lot of talk about the deaths of three young men who had committed suicide. Two were 13 years old and the other 18.

They killed themselves because they couldn't cope with the bullying they had to endure because they were gay.

A lot of gay, lesbian and trans-gendered kids have a very difficult time trying to come to terms with their sexuality. Add bullying to the mix and you can get one very confused and desperate individual.

A lot of 'gay' organizations  have spoken out that something has to be done to stop the bullies from getting away with it . This goes for all bullying to all kids that are different from the 'norm'.

Their has been a lot of discussion about the frustration with the heads of governments both in the US and here in Canada as far as 'dragging their feet' when it comes to equal rights for homosexuals in our society. 

It is a lot better here in Canada as far as having the laws in place for our rights and freedoms. The States have a way to go but it is coming. But not fast enough!

I was very fortunate growing up that I managed to mostly stay 'under the radar' as far as being 'detected'. It was a different time back in the sixties than it is today.  However, it is just as difficult for kids to 'come out' to their parents and friends today. It can be very frightening. We all want to be accepted.

Just because there are a few gay and lesbian characters on TV, doesn't mean that everything is peachy and acceptable to everyone. It is not.

Kids can be cruel. Having seen this first hand in schools, and having worked with kids that were 'different' from the norm, I can attest that bullying is alive and well. And generally being swept under the rug as far as being recognized and dealt with.

Suicide is very devastating on a family regardless of the cause. When someone is pushed to such extreme measures, it tells us about the state of mind in which these individuals found themselves.

My brother committed suicide when he was 19 years old in 1972. He was not gay. It was a very difficult time for my family.

When kids are pushed to such extreme measures that they would take their life, it should tell us all that something has to be done. Now! 


Kids are suffering. Families are suffering. What more has to happen before we address  this bullying of  not just gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered kids, but all kids.

Contemplative Monday

While at brunch yesterday at a Jane's On the Common, I noticed this quote on the wall:

William Blake was always one of my favourite poets. I remember doing an essay in university on one of his poems.....I think it was 'The Fly'. He was a really 'heady' guy and I loved his work.

Lost On the Beach

It's not unusual to find a buoy on one of our beaches here in Nova Scotia. They 'get away' from some fishing boat or lobster trap and wash ashore.

Retro Saturday

You can't get any more 'retro', as this post will tell, than taking a look at the 1970's.


A few of my 'peeps' (followers) wanted to see a few pics of me with my 'Afro' from back in the 70's.


Now, I wouldn't usually do this for anybody you know, 'cause I have a reputation to uphold! lol


Here goes.


Let me first tell you that my hair was ALL NATURAL. Some people, my aunt in particular, was convinced it was a perm. NOT! Three of us in the family of nine kids had curly, I mean really curly, hair. A couple had wavy hair, and the rest had 'poker straight' hair ( the bas-----!) 

My younger brother, Bernard, had lovely long, straight, silky hair. Wish I had a picture. Hair was very important back then in expressing 'where' you were on things at the time. In fact, they made a musical about it ....'Hair'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzSFReaf4T4


For those of you too young to remember, and for those of you wanting to forget, the late 60's was a period when 'free expression' was everywhere. Some wanted things to remain the same (like my Dad), while others wanted to, let's say, be 'natural'.

It was quite a time to live through. I, for one, loved it! It was a time to explore, disagree with the status quo, and also try to make things a little better. In other words, improve on the culture in which we found ourselves and in which we had no say whatsoever.


Part of this 'rebellion' was to let your hair grow...thank you Beatles!!!

My friends and I did our best in this endeavor and this pic shows me in 1971. I guess I really was a 'freak'.

A year or so later I found myself in Freeport, Bahamas. It was June 1972 and I had bought myself a graduation gift. I just graduated from St.Mary's University.

While there, the hostess of the hotel approached me on the first day and said: "Brother, you have the nicest hair!" She was a black woman and was convinced that I was black as well. I tried to convince her that I wasn't but she would hear nothing of it!


A couple years later, after I had just met Ron, my husband, we went to Nassau, Bahamas.

Boy, was I at my skinniest !!


I was attending Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, at the time, taking my degree in 'special' education. A year later in 1974 I got my first teaching job in the Annapolis Valley of N.S. And still had my hair.

I kept my hair 'natural' up to around the mid 80's, I guess when it was no longer in style.


This last photo was taken when I had taken my first class to a 'camp' for a few days.

It feels like all of this was so very long ago but also just like yesterday at the same time. 


I enjoyed doing this actually and I hope it brings back good memories for some and was an education for those who only heard of the 60's and 70's. It was a very exciting time to start the 'growing up' process.


Peace man! Power to the people!! Right on!!!