Not Too Big, Not Too Small

I have always liked Halifax.

Maybe I am a bit biased since I was born here

and, except for a few years, I have lived my entire life here.

This photo was taken from the new library.

These buildings are on Morris Street in the south end of Halifax.

The building on the right was the Greek Orthodox Church

and is now condo units.

This is but one little 'snapshot' of many around this wonderful city of ours.

Taking Advantage Of A Thaw

A very short 'January Thaw' came our way on Tuesday here in Nova Scotia.

The temperature was above 0C.....around 4C, so we took full advantage of this.

We started in Dartmouth at Birch Cove Park which is on the shore of Lake Banook.

These first three photos hopefully give you an indication

 that the sun was shining in Birch Cove.

On our way for lunch in Eastern Passage (just outside Dartmouth)

we stopped at 'McCormacks Beach Provincial Park'.

There were hundreds of gulls there.

After lunch, we headed to a 'new to us' park that the owner of the restaurant

had told us about......'Flag Pond Coastal Access Park' in Cow Bay.

Cow Bay is directly across Cole Harbour from where we live.

In the photo above you can see MacDonald House to the far right on that grassy hill.

That is where my shop is located.

I Need Another Project

Having just completed a project I started in November,

I am debating about my next 'home project' to get me to springtime.

Below is a scarf I have been knitting every evening for the past few months.

I had gotten a bag full of 100% Irish wool....about 10 skeins in all....

a couple of years ago, and decided to look through a 1939

Monarch Menswear  knitting magazine that belonged to Ron's mother.

I found this 'scarf 312'.

I knew my yarn was heavier than what was recommended, 

but I went ahead anyway.

And this is what I got.....a six foot by 16 inch scarf.

I have put it down in the shop for a couple of weeks

as Amy, my 'shop neighbour', is having a Robbie Burns

themed week.....everything Scottish/woolen/knits.

Now to start something else. Playing with the idea of a small quilt.

Always wanted to make one and it does look doable......

thanks to Kathy at http://kathyinozarks.blogspot.ca/ , (click)

who knows EVERYTHING there is to know about EVERYTHING!

Kathy makes it all look so easy 

and she always has more than a few things going at once.

But I like to knit.....especially in winter.

Time will tell.

Do you like to have a project that you can do or return to anytime you want?

If so, tell us about it.

From My Perch On The Hill

Sunday was a very slow day at the shop.

It was just one of those days people had other things to do.

So to help fill in the time I took a few photos

from various windows in the building.

This shot is looking to the northeast towards Lawrencetown Beach.

And this one is looking west to Conrad's Beach.

This shot is to the north facing Lawrencetown Lake.

We live down that road on the left.

This time of year the light begins to change around 4 PM

as can be seen in this shot facing southwest.

Just before I closed the shop at 5, I noticed this family

and the dogs. How cute is that one in the wagon!?

He could hardly walk so they pulled him up the hill.

Oh, and in the woman's coat was their cat!

They had let it out and it followed for a short distance

but it was windy so it returned to the warmth of the coat.

You can see the cat's head and nose sticking out.

Seeing this family was a great way to end the day.

Contemplative Monday

The following quote is from 'The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh' (click)

published by 'Shambhala Pocket Classics'.

IMPERMANENCE

"The Buddha taught that everything is impermanent-----flowers, tables, mountains,

political regimes, bodies, feelings, perceptions,

mental formations, and consciousness.

We cannot find anything that is permanent.

Flowers decompose, but knowing this does not prevent us from loving flowers.

In fact, we are able to love them more because we know how to treasure them 

while they are still alive. 

If we learn to look at a flower in a way that impermanence is revealed to us,

when it dies, we will not suffer.

Our Tibetan prayer flags are already starting to unravel.They don't last forever either.

Impermanence is more than an idea.

It is a practice to help us touch reality."

Eclectic Tastes

Woke up yesterday morning hearing this on the radio....
it stayed with me all day.

You just can't beat the harmonies done by the McGarrigle sisters, (click) Kate and Anna.

For all us romantics out there, on this very cold winter day.

Saturday Morning Post

Early morning garden shot last week.

Yesterday's visit to the library. We found these very comfy sofa/chairs.

This way, Jim.

 The view always takes my breath away!

Happened to catch two waves meeting and crashing together.

Still the beautiful ocean.

Winter has set in this week.

Rumbling waves....

Remembering the lush green dune grass.....

A variation on the 'tree pose'?

Ron and Sophie on the 'high road'.

Let's call it a week.