Contemplative Monday

Pema Chodron is a very wise human being. One feels this sense of well-being when in the same room as her.

We were very fortunate  to  have attended  one of her teachings last year in Halifax.

She has a great sense of humour and yet has this profound, yet simple, outlook on what life is....... while looking at it 'square in the face'.

“It isn’t what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it’s what we say to ourselves about what happens.” ~Pema Chodron

Sunday's Selection

I have admired Yo Yo Ma's work for some time now. No matter what he does, be it classical or contemporary, he always shows just how good a musician he is.


Let's just let his playing speak for itself.


Enjoy.

Retro Saturday

Way back when I started 'collecting' things from the past, one of the first items I noticed at an auction was Carnival glass.

It triggered something in me.....this glass seemed familiar. Possibly I remember it when I was a child.

Or it could be that I liked the colours and patterns. There are hundreds of patterns.

So I began to collect it. From bowls to vases and anything in between.

We visited antiques and collectibles shops and attended lots of auctions.

I used to have quite a few vases but a few years ago I sold a number of them by consignment at our local antiques shop.

But I still have a few left....the ones from which I didn't want to part.

These pieces were not expensive at all back in the 30's and 40's. But like everything else they are valued today. 
I find it amazing that so much of this glass has survived at all.

These vases were just a few pieces of what I have. I will feature other Carnival patterns as soon as I locate them! lol

It Gets Better.......the Canadian Version

My niece, Jami, sent me this today and asked for my opinion.


She is a guidance counselor in high school and works with kids that are struggling with their sexuality.


I hadn't seen this video. It is made up of Canadian personalities from the political, entertainment, business and sports realms.


I have already referenced Dan Savage's video in a past post, so thought I would give it a Canadian perspective..........which of course is much the same. This is a universal tragedy that is happening with our kids.


But it does get better. I know. Click on the link below.


http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/george-feed/news/it-gets-better-canada.html

Shubie Park

Yesterday we decided to try out an 'off leash' dog park in Dartmouth.

Dartmouth is the twin city of Halifax and is basically where most people who work in Halifax live.

So off we went to Shubie Park. Shubie is an abbreviated form of the word Shubenacadie which is a native Mi'kmaq word.

We have never taken Sophie here before but have heard great things about it....very dog friendly and lots of room for them to play and interact.

The park is situated on Lake Micmac (Mi'kmaq) and has walking trails for non-dog people as well as for us dog people.

Ron, I'm sure, will tell you all about the dogs we met and the fun that Sophie had. 


As you can see it dates back to the 1800's and was a major transportation link to other places in Nova Scotia.

In the 1970's the government provided funds to restore and clean up this area and 'bring it back' to what it looked like in the past. My brother, Dennis, worked here during that time and I remember some of his stories about what a messy job it was!

Shubie is a very popular park and well-used by the local community. There is a beach on Lake Micmac as well.......but not for people! It is a dog beach! You got to love it.

It is a very beautiful place with lots of areas to stop and breathe in the surroundings. Lots of trees, water and of course the locks.

Needless to say, if Sophie's reaction was any indication of the fun she had, we will be returning to Shubie on a regular basis from now on. 

First Sign of Snow

While taking Dad to the barber's today we drove through a couple of little snow squalls. Nothing serious but surely an indication of what's ahead.......since it is November now!!

Just got in from a walk at the beach. It is overcast and sprinkling this snow-like hail every now and then. It was refreshing along the trail and beach. Not too bad at all. I figure as long as we are wearing appropriate clothing for the conditions, then 'bring it on', I say.

Since we are out every day, our bodies get acclimatised as the seasons change right before our eyes.

I don't, or won't,  resist or complain about the cold. I promise. Looking forward to all the great pictures that will be out there.

Guess the colour will disappear very quickly after today. Will have to get used to muted grey, browns, the green evergreens and of course white. But there is beauty in those as well.

All photos taken same day, different time of Moon Japanese Maple.

Contemplative Monday

"Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? 

At a practical level, anthropology has answered the first two:  

we now know (through fossil evidence), that we are the remote descendants of apes who lived in  

Africa about 5 million years ago. Modern apes, which are also descended from the same original 

stock, are kin, not ancestors. Our main difference from chimps  

 and gorillas is that over the last 3 million years or so, we have been shaped less and  

less by nature, and more and more by culture. We have become experimental creatures of our own 

making."

Above quote by Robert Wright in his book : A Short History of Progress.