tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55387494834455202312024-03-04T20:21:17.617-08:00Musings of a House CatCyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.comBlogger464125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-46412807465243805172024-02-25T19:02:00.000-08:002024-02-25T19:02:18.546-08:00WARMING UP ON A COLD NIGHT<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7unF9REpyD2f1NLDh0D5gM26qfGK4RzeozubTMydQGQEAgmr3mv2J6MqzIvsJ_FJ4-ncSAtzLDIq9GDG959EXl21e_proAlAlDkMDj7p7uffVqqxMCR26GrGhpkuTBw4ZZEEb8aLgPu6lzhLulacTyFJtMDSajWx5f_8mY4BKNKempSXyHo5TiUUtbiP/s4032/IMG_7320.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="4032" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7unF9REpyD2f1NLDh0D5gM26qfGK4RzeozubTMydQGQEAgmr3mv2J6MqzIvsJ_FJ4-ncSAtzLDIq9GDG959EXl21e_proAlAlDkMDj7p7uffVqqxMCR26GrGhpkuTBw4ZZEEb8aLgPu6lzhLulacTyFJtMDSajWx5f_8mY4BKNKempSXyHo5TiUUtbiP/w400-h275/IMG_7320.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">All across Canada on Feb. 24, communities gathered to raise funds and awareness for the homeless in their community. In my little town, it was hosted by Grace Inn, our local shelter for the homeless. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have volunteered in various roles for the "Coldest Night of the Year" for almost 10 years now: a greeter and guide, working the registration table, counting all the money, standing in the snow holding a sign directing which way to go, bombing around in my Mini-cooper to be on hand should someone need a break and take a lift, and this year my role was to hand out hats, buttons and stickers. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4MpuHks_zElZHilwtWY3In8XT4ij2yB3JHeHic7wlkh4o95TecjvjhzQCCc5YFQTNCZbtiu4W7rEjmcqq4ZTNiSuslWW4L52P46wNzA_WtChY2pYfKexpOCV42o_yang8BEVgwP4zqs6lkloMjJfg2tvoEwC2-SaOv819NBsXOZE4_Y8te6mA8SokvRH/s4032/IMG_7317.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1984" data-original-width="4032" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4MpuHks_zElZHilwtWY3In8XT4ij2yB3JHeHic7wlkh4o95TecjvjhzQCCc5YFQTNCZbtiu4W7rEjmcqq4ZTNiSuslWW4L52P46wNzA_WtChY2pYfKexpOCV42o_yang8BEVgwP4zqs6lkloMjJfg2tvoEwC2-SaOv819NBsXOZE4_Y8te6mA8SokvRH/w400-h196/IMG_7317.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Some of the volunteers prepping for the crowd</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Somehow, we've always managed to have pretty decent weather for a winter walk. And this year, though it was bright and blue,</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was Cold....VERY COLD. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And yet the volunteers showed up early, set up tables and signs and did whatever was required to organize a walk for this important cause</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TbotjSaaCuEr8bIUfKPytkvPWjk4buGsif6LO1suv7hikAgHwXYCP29kSE09V0-QmP6n-1vS6I2a11WwyJtiwXl0XqG1Z8BEwEgCf_zErbo5oPeiY9RKV5tQBkajD2i8nuWCX6E2h6QWC6MwHs3hgpOkqoBwPGYGhVrwrYvj_xKyeUDSYbhAnULokmMh/s4032/IMG_7318.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2305" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TbotjSaaCuEr8bIUfKPytkvPWjk4buGsif6LO1suv7hikAgHwXYCP29kSE09V0-QmP6n-1vS6I2a11WwyJtiwXl0XqG1Z8BEwEgCf_zErbo5oPeiY9RKV5tQBkajD2i8nuWCX6E2h6QWC6MwHs3hgpOkqoBwPGYGhVrwrYvj_xKyeUDSYbhAnULokmMh/w229-h400/IMG_7318.jpeg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Then the community showed up! In Droves! Young and old, famous and important or every day Joe Blow.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMLXf60FwVuQUbMAcHMh4KAsEgrAypBz56WJJUiSmjE4YR4Jwp8q-qHPj9Bjrf9yxR6KSzjpr5X5-oVZGXp_dP3zSarTZUvuPwwoX_0uaAgjY3br5xtkpRcs6tLPf2z4kp2VpouuRrNBVQTwkMNh-VtsBPHyX-dr13heE-QnvSpdmoZ1eLBXVNgAf0l6o/s4032/IMG_7322.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMLXf60FwVuQUbMAcHMh4KAsEgrAypBz56WJJUiSmjE4YR4Jwp8q-qHPj9Bjrf9yxR6KSzjpr5X5-oVZGXp_dP3zSarTZUvuPwwoX_0uaAgjY3br5xtkpRcs6tLPf2z4kp2VpouuRrNBVQTwkMNh-VtsBPHyX-dr13heE-QnvSpdmoZ1eLBXVNgAf0l6o/w400-h300/IMG_7322.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even this big fuzzy mascot from our local hockey team made an appearance</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3YboxIccsZx2w4oYLSe85ICZ1j_P7iCbjgR9j-amUOAQR4v5u8t5QEL5SxlxFlOM9CCSm2EVFM2kqQ9jkU3ZONSGpZhyphenhyphenfSsUGuzUJgCmWimpbS5ZIVcGSxT_9rrsEMQHhAhH6L9NztU-JiEDBYs532PojMwXxayLajJAKbiai57Z45MLuirKF7P4aPOx/s4032/IMG_7319.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2598" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3YboxIccsZx2w4oYLSe85ICZ1j_P7iCbjgR9j-amUOAQR4v5u8t5QEL5SxlxFlOM9CCSm2EVFM2kqQ9jkU3ZONSGpZhyphenhyphenfSsUGuzUJgCmWimpbS5ZIVcGSxT_9rrsEMQHhAhH6L9NztU-JiEDBYs532PojMwXxayLajJAKbiai57Z45MLuirKF7P4aPOx/w258-h400/IMG_7319.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I checked my lists with frozen fingers and handed out hats nonstop along with another volunteer. My hot chocolate was ice cold along with my feet. I wrapped up in a big blanket but nothing was going to stop my shaking after a few hours in the cold. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally the speeches were made and the walkers were off!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9j0YBeAwH9Q7U0_ldKcWkatOXSahN8zRe5Q8sKLVxrXAUpa4CTdN_vmpP2DJFrPbneg3Y2fJNXH6heyFTQaPXZdO6IMdvcdJeCPjRyL2pEolsaV7ElbUcmSm48Xn3Fuzmh4jnpZWwL48rAwAnfSr-XmC1IZQSUuTun60v8x6nkrDgMi9EVGOnEAygKse/s3382/IMG_7324.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3382" data-original-width="3022" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9j0YBeAwH9Q7U0_ldKcWkatOXSahN8zRe5Q8sKLVxrXAUpa4CTdN_vmpP2DJFrPbneg3Y2fJNXH6heyFTQaPXZdO6IMdvcdJeCPjRyL2pEolsaV7ElbUcmSm48Xn3Fuzmh4jnpZWwL48rAwAnfSr-XmC1IZQSUuTun60v8x6nkrDgMi9EVGOnEAygKse/w358-h400/IMG_7324.jpeg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The local goal was $75,000 and last I heard we were up to $67,000 with monies still coming in! </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is hard to imagine anyone spending the night outdoors when the temperature plunges and a Canadian winter sets in. I'm very grateful that our community is willing to show tremendous support, opening their hearts and their wallets to help others warm up on a cold night. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I got home my husband ran a hot bubble bath for me. After a good soak and a hot cup of tea, I managed to de-ice. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, Grace Inn for being amazing hosts and organizing the walk. Thank you Belleville for your compassion and participation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And thank you Sheldon for running that bath for me! <br /><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-30025706607604532622024-02-20T06:14:00.000-08:002024-02-20T06:14:13.275-08:00FAMILY DAY IS A-OK WITH ME<p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to Family Day, I had a 3-day weekend which is always a welcome break but especially in the dead of winter. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So what to do…..well there was a lunch date with my daughter, son-in-law and perfect grand children and I spent some time in the kitchen. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve been trying out different recipes including this one:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXf5_bLtk7VN_o_apJykVWzTMXjv9MtjdRInA2pd1cGWxZcC25a8ZKarkDpyoyPHUqyQ9TNFouuWtaGmJtaQY_3gq_8Gh2wv4ARytOihWi2PrNcMz3-8LF0_2W6-YXRgiUN19zys0YBf-m1ERDc-eCzHkDgWpzACSwvXPJyBsu0EXkCrhvsW-GFd4JOG8/s3870/IMG_7303.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2427" data-original-width="3870" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXf5_bLtk7VN_o_apJykVWzTMXjv9MtjdRInA2pd1cGWxZcC25a8ZKarkDpyoyPHUqyQ9TNFouuWtaGmJtaQY_3gq_8Gh2wv4ARytOihWi2PrNcMz3-8LF0_2W6-YXRgiUN19zys0YBf-m1ERDc-eCzHkDgWpzACSwvXPJyBsu0EXkCrhvsW-GFd4JOG8/w400-h251/IMG_7303.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">A banana chia pudding topped with cashew cream and homemade granola. This was a nice protein rich treat!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And I made homemade pizza dough (had to share the sunbeam with Sasha for a warm place to proof). Everybody gets a stool!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7YeUPojBmztE4epHFWWAqFXGfqCjENSE4YPs-MQ2rd-DPQoFzxTAOx6mvNlavy_wQFee9DXlymMpdludNuaOe1dzRTUlZ8zLMpenziZy6LOTl09CVxoc5dE_DdYV2gdpdPQ7B80j_gNbtfG33jTPEHAklcNRSTHpHtic3ltB-L5cUn08hyphenhyphenCYPU1LcBaC/s3521/IMG_7302.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2771" data-original-width="3521" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7YeUPojBmztE4epHFWWAqFXGfqCjENSE4YPs-MQ2rd-DPQoFzxTAOx6mvNlavy_wQFee9DXlymMpdludNuaOe1dzRTUlZ8zLMpenziZy6LOTl09CVxoc5dE_DdYV2gdpdPQ7B80j_gNbtfG33jTPEHAklcNRSTHpHtic3ltB-L5cUn08hyphenhyphenCYPU1LcBaC/w400-h315/IMG_7302.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it was a beautiful day to spend entirely indoors</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqa2zkkLDClB2VmIoJ1svio2P0egZL1XYQf32UKUzcVx54dKw0kZwPt9opSBnPVM6Cqx7NFLCFWPrZRkF6MKjK08zkbc10xoywxp8UJ-L6_ncO1b12NJb0TzouoiMMvqj7cNpVMmH17ua0azTbhYabdYOvoU3BmL0NTh9apUHreRWyZnff9696u-c1ZlJ/s4032/IMG_7307.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqa2zkkLDClB2VmIoJ1svio2P0egZL1XYQf32UKUzcVx54dKw0kZwPt9opSBnPVM6Cqx7NFLCFWPrZRkF6MKjK08zkbc10xoywxp8UJ-L6_ncO1b12NJb0TzouoiMMvqj7cNpVMmH17ua0azTbhYabdYOvoU3BmL0NTh9apUHreRWyZnff9696u-c1ZlJ/w400-h300/IMG_7307.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Clear cerulean skies, fresh crisp air; a perfect day for a hike in the woods.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8ryS_b_4z27pPbDt4b8sYskiCS6yQeMJ6eeSFzdbn2103PhKj9uaj1VISQzbFsR_6FCLXrY5GgZ25yEbmVeZTcFJnnHdaMBoDLFyBbdB4zlis7mdO8LnOIOUnNuL0sn2dQl-ibbn-cWE3AY4zqGf1v_CfSi97fczKQ0anFoV8IyH3oQN8ZpXnW5HTwZc/s4032/IMG_7306.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8ryS_b_4z27pPbDt4b8sYskiCS6yQeMJ6eeSFzdbn2103PhKj9uaj1VISQzbFsR_6FCLXrY5GgZ25yEbmVeZTcFJnnHdaMBoDLFyBbdB4zlis7mdO8LnOIOUnNuL0sn2dQl-ibbn-cWE3AY4zqGf1v_CfSi97fczKQ0anFoV8IyH3oQN8ZpXnW5HTwZc/w300-h400/IMG_7306.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Lulu checking out the trail at Massassauga Point</h3><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA7Fhsz2UFcU9177mOPNGPwkn3nuyT4TfJ4qjczXQpBW2bGFa1JS-hM2MezCD04PQyrOzh3pgiaF0yV4kUkItuYjUvJ6y7vZ9W0buMfdl968fprJRe6heiFMM6DCvD9dHWA3Yr4pHcWkB0Ofsw6y4kcvhB_59TpxgKL3jnPQlAnr-8HgUOR1n5Nl8rpVM/s3380/IMG_7312.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="3380" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA7Fhsz2UFcU9177mOPNGPwkn3nuyT4TfJ4qjczXQpBW2bGFa1JS-hM2MezCD04PQyrOzh3pgiaF0yV4kUkItuYjUvJ6y7vZ9W0buMfdl968fprJRe6heiFMM6DCvD9dHWA3Yr4pHcWkB0Ofsw6y4kcvhB_59TpxgKL3jnPQlAnr-8HgUOR1n5Nl8rpVM/s320/IMG_7312.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">The old quarry was a warm sheltered place to hang out</div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvssr2EiJMKB-BrkVnPmn4qieYj8gu61GVE_wmLhUPTtJwbO8yCTI-vhdllMClsAmw6UK0cIyjeu0zBWisnin28xDSkUzjPSBPIyjFOAkX0lGUb7hS_x5t3kFW9Yb82PQxnGEx14bFft7rvDe28CJNKCStbUbKdZAdPBhBELyTu3emc8S6GC0DemAdEgwV/s4032/IMG_7308.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvssr2EiJMKB-BrkVnPmn4qieYj8gu61GVE_wmLhUPTtJwbO8yCTI-vhdllMClsAmw6UK0cIyjeu0zBWisnin28xDSkUzjPSBPIyjFOAkX0lGUb7hS_x5t3kFW9Yb82PQxnGEx14bFft7rvDe28CJNKCStbUbKdZAdPBhBELyTu3emc8S6GC0DemAdEgwV/s320/IMG_7308.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>With open water on the Bay, Ice fishing has been a bit of a bust this year. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCRTbE_whUlDjqEwIBg9bGVw23nnMiXIUJPbyYRRDP4y1aBWGQh0QDmX9XdTzYlGMTVPCX6focA4L4ar6zQCF5vjAB2wld6H0MyicaBtB2Ov6q1PMjkH59DMeNHBu6g4MSWWy6sPq8MxwcSuEMLXoFEwIDaOV-5O6R_sEYC6Tss35xCZ1W51j1OngDpxS/s4032/IMG_7314.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCRTbE_whUlDjqEwIBg9bGVw23nnMiXIUJPbyYRRDP4y1aBWGQh0QDmX9XdTzYlGMTVPCX6focA4L4ar6zQCF5vjAB2wld6H0MyicaBtB2Ov6q1PMjkH59DMeNHBu6g4MSWWy6sPq8MxwcSuEMLXoFEwIDaOV-5O6R_sEYC6Tss35xCZ1W51j1OngDpxS/w400-h300/IMG_7314.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Winter is not my favourite time of the year, but even I can appreciate a sunny winter day with a palette of white, grey, blue and bare black branches etched in. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Family Day is a low key holiday with no pressure to put on a big meal or buy gifts. Just enjoy the downtime with whoever you call “family”. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It’s A-OK with me.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-77299487465704951412024-01-01T06:33:00.000-08:002024-01-01T06:33:51.130-08:00THE SPACE BETWEEN<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2A6K0zt8ButnLxiErxblOL7H3Q4eZZ_bmHZC6dZWDnhU0Spn4jnJycADz2Y_-lxyUm4fwjOk9SXA-zrbPcCT1lKzlu5mZ6ht5WU5HpRTgTq1-gyz86CuZkJuaAEL24IDdTe3XYLmgdK5MYkddbrPniPOEOQBpCZ5lwMYui1jWhYe2d-bw1e9J8KHlJbp/s4029/IMG_6998.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4029" data-original-width="2784" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2A6K0zt8ButnLxiErxblOL7H3Q4eZZ_bmHZC6dZWDnhU0Spn4jnJycADz2Y_-lxyUm4fwjOk9SXA-zrbPcCT1lKzlu5mZ6ht5WU5HpRTgTq1-gyz86CuZkJuaAEL24IDdTe3XYLmgdK5MYkddbrPniPOEOQBpCZ5lwMYui1jWhYe2d-bw1e9J8KHlJbp/w276-h400/IMG_6998.jpeg" width="276" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year and welcome to 2024! Are you ready to jump in? The water might be beautiful or really cold but there is only one way to find out. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This past week between Christmas and New Years is usually a vague fuzzy time. It’s the space between the great finale of one year and the transition to a new one. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you think about space it involves time and waiting. It allows you room to move or a moment to rethink. “Just give me some space!” Space between can be a good thing. Sometimes, space is not what we want. It is a lonely place filled with waiting. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />But I think there is much to be said for the space between. It adds depth, beauty and insight. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Space in music is what makes a piece richer with perfect timing. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />“A hope deferred makes a heart sick but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life”. Proverbs 13:12</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />“The waiting is the hardest part” Tom Petty</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />2024 will surely hold times where there is space between. It may be just what I need or just what I don’t want, but I hope I can embrace them: learn from them. For I believe when the space between is closed and the desire fulfilled the fabric of my life will be richer. </span></div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-48792219230985143682023-11-26T19:17:00.000-08:002023-11-26T19:17:46.559-08:00SOME KINDA FRUITCAKE<p> <span style="font-size: large;">All right I’m putting my Christmas cards on the table. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I LIKE FRUITCAKE</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I’m one of the few left who are Fruitcake Fans. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This year November 26 is “Stir Up Sunday”. It is a reference to the last Sunday before Advent and gets its name from the book of Common Prayer “Stir up, we beseech thee O’Lord, the wills of thy Faithful People.” It’s also the traditional time to start prepping those rich English puddings and fruitcakes filled with candied fruit, nuts and raisins!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Most people consider Fruitcake the worst gift ever, better off as a brick or paperweight. But I like it so for the first time this year, I made one!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now my Mom makes a rum soaked version rich in raisins, currants, dates and nuts and goes easy on the jewelled coloured mystery fruit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But I went a different route and made an orange and almond base with all the neon fruit. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPic1tAHtDcysuknU6hZLYOFgS6JkGCEwtseFns1rggW7Gz7piFRF3xgZep5jG9NVY_0E9oc78hDp4CeGamcO_9wbW7UQcX0YQ7lA26QIpnhKIycseTSh8pydcqINoyp3FE7GHjAcTEuPeemFPfLKBBWHJqFwwYpjOLpwZJrDwEzvu1MN4L3izUAJXmxk/s4032/IMG_7133.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPic1tAHtDcysuknU6hZLYOFgS6JkGCEwtseFns1rggW7Gz7piFRF3xgZep5jG9NVY_0E9oc78hDp4CeGamcO_9wbW7UQcX0YQ7lA26QIpnhKIycseTSh8pydcqINoyp3FE7GHjAcTEuPeemFPfLKBBWHJqFwwYpjOLpwZJrDwEzvu1MN4L3izUAJXmxk/w400-h300/IMG_7133.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a bottle of Grand Mariner in the cupboard to use so I figured for my fruit cake this would be what I would use to bathe it in booze.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I mixed up the batter and stuck pretty close to the recipe as it’s risky to get bold with new recipes and better to follow instructions!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYHH4cquUPiKK70ya78NQJGvt303Ni20-upGLCSzCtmEGat2bn7EyrbdkAx80HWupUR2Ju7b8-0sBVi4ZozJdI_o5E2bM9grJRqDxIqBdcxIS1SLFHIEtkVElO_cnEIzBYuiWcbtZYg2m_9rBuBNSd5vHFHRnjadvLPp2Ywo_gt6NmdhPwkXPPuMXZMM2/s4032/IMG_7134.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYHH4cquUPiKK70ya78NQJGvt303Ni20-upGLCSzCtmEGat2bn7EyrbdkAx80HWupUR2Ju7b8-0sBVi4ZozJdI_o5E2bM9grJRqDxIqBdcxIS1SLFHIEtkVElO_cnEIzBYuiWcbtZYg2m_9rBuBNSd5vHFHRnjadvLPp2Ywo_gt6NmdhPwkXPPuMXZMM2/w300-h400/IMG_7134.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">This “brick” baked long and slow in the oven and then I wrapped it in swaddling cheesecloth and put it to rest in the cool garage. I pull it out weekly and give it a fresh soaking of Grand Mariner to keep it moist</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2htQkk-2VpUioUVXuNjgSTTTZ98VVcBXVSWQcMznz-zkMdW8aPKeD3Wmy_cbc99uIsuQHMhIKrynxIBkF2G56oAO4R-6iP1ep0cVRJTzazlAwZwV6AgQq1pC5jvOzbhVrp7vgnbwTP9KaYPYkRhx4bvv6kw_2mQr4dCkuwv80k11MxNNYeGKO2XplIuZf/s3795/IMG_7185.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3795" data-original-width="2534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2htQkk-2VpUioUVXuNjgSTTTZ98VVcBXVSWQcMznz-zkMdW8aPKeD3Wmy_cbc99uIsuQHMhIKrynxIBkF2G56oAO4R-6iP1ep0cVRJTzazlAwZwV6AgQq1pC5jvOzbhVrp7vgnbwTP9KaYPYkRhx4bvv6kw_2mQr4dCkuwv80k11MxNNYeGKO2XplIuZf/w268-h400/IMG_7185.jpeg" width="268" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, I figured it was time for a taste test</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhPkfcXL32PjY0l0J-q0ay5yW3_fS7A5vpyke5w15dLImFfZSAw3sGjAd92eBbMqKvU_xJ0yJV5dr2GyEz00iaJnVp9rBrcqbFSgWDKMiXrwJiC6OpSzz_Inkc9-Un9dN3OFNnsiGJqs18NyPRLydTgsea2N1ZrLLATU0vY75RvIsbxhJKhne3deBPwuc/s2926/IMG_7186.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2926" data-original-width="2517" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhPkfcXL32PjY0l0J-q0ay5yW3_fS7A5vpyke5w15dLImFfZSAw3sGjAd92eBbMqKvU_xJ0yJV5dr2GyEz00iaJnVp9rBrcqbFSgWDKMiXrwJiC6OpSzz_Inkc9-Un9dN3OFNnsiGJqs18NyPRLydTgsea2N1ZrLLATU0vY75RvIsbxhJKhne3deBPwuc/w344-h400/IMG_7186.jpeg" width="344" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a lovely fruitcake! Rich, orangey with lots of fruit and almonds. I’ll add it to the tray of goodies for friends and family to try. Who knows, maybe I can turn around the trend and boost the Fruitcake Fan Club!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or, I’ll keep it in the freezer and nibble away at it for the next year. It’s not a brick or a paperweight. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s some kinda fruitcake!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-20253072548649303702023-11-11T18:17:00.000-08:002023-11-11T18:17:17.442-08:00A TEN YEAR REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS96zswes10XGCIOkHJfjbI9cL66QKk025UibejgbVlXWV1nQIXHbRWoMsILgkcrng-xDUvOTXJaYXXNz13ncVXBgjlAdaXBTBOhHctedT9B7teRNOOrzua0eRwQD50Hl_UvVhimVKSAeCqk06w0wVka9iF0tp1BwlcqTtZ17WIhM0UIqIO-jjOhxAUS8s/s3300/IMG_3411.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2674" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS96zswes10XGCIOkHJfjbI9cL66QKk025UibejgbVlXWV1nQIXHbRWoMsILgkcrng-xDUvOTXJaYXXNz13ncVXBgjlAdaXBTBOhHctedT9B7teRNOOrzua0eRwQD50Hl_UvVhimVKSAeCqk06w0wVka9iF0tp1BwlcqTtZ17WIhM0UIqIO-jjOhxAUS8s/w324-h400/IMG_3411.jpeg" width="324" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">My 10th birthday, 50 years ago</h3></blockquote><p> <span style="font-size: large;">Sixty…Yup….6 0…I’ve managed to stay on this earth for 60 years. It’s a Pretty Big Number to chew on but I’m happy to say I seem to be holding up. Aches and pains? Of course, but that’s to be expected with 60 year-old-machinery (all original parts I might add). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ten years ago on my 50th many family and friends celebrated my accomplishment (read my Blog “Turning the Big 50”). This past week they again blessed me with gifts, well wishes and a surprise dinner. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wQWVm0fiAx7Pv7Ze4il7UXMvi4znFYcpvdFigmEiVXuf4GhGYwN6F62HZH0oC2UDrxHHfa5gblFzAwAFK9gYN9tOhTRP8iqncOBoPVPZXHwWhISvbdNHlQHa8lpVW5u-4ZdsOkUAM2Ez5kncCUIWcI3kbLFpRzY65_UI3F9bCOcBBbnpajPrWQCpl-20/s4032/IMG_8952.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wQWVm0fiAx7Pv7Ze4il7UXMvi4znFYcpvdFigmEiVXuf4GhGYwN6F62HZH0oC2UDrxHHfa5gblFzAwAFK9gYN9tOhTRP8iqncOBoPVPZXHwWhISvbdNHlQHa8lpVW5u-4ZdsOkUAM2Ez5kncCUIWcI3kbLFpRzY65_UI3F9bCOcBBbnpajPrWQCpl-20/w400-h300/IMG_8952.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Big 60!</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: large;">But a lot has happened in the past 10 years…A LOT! So it’s time for a 10 year review! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s start with family: In the past 10 years both my children married! Not only that they gave me grandchildren! Two little princes, a princess with another princess due in January! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuesWSwVxn1LYHrR0xxkmAorb0AymixQWzhQW34DST2jDB9FPHAPEu4jwA0LiDSfrmCj-PXR_WLvR5O-tL7oHYyiuL8aBTHnOK8aNKptjK9jmdq5xbl5bHK7Bdt7EnpkdIm1VGIq5KCeXsSO1RjAJNbIQvimUMO0fNFsWwnQgYeHKYsrZw422VhyphenhyphenfK8ap/s3670/IMG_7054.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="3670" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuesWSwVxn1LYHrR0xxkmAorb0AymixQWzhQW34DST2jDB9FPHAPEu4jwA0LiDSfrmCj-PXR_WLvR5O-tL7oHYyiuL8aBTHnOK8aNKptjK9jmdq5xbl5bHK7Bdt7EnpkdIm1VGIq5KCeXsSO1RjAJNbIQvimUMO0fNFsWwnQgYeHKYsrZw422VhyphenhyphenfK8ap/w400-h329/IMG_7054.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Legacy of Family</h3><span style="font-size: large;">If nothing else happened in the last 10 years except this, it would be enough. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But I’ve also thrown in travel: two trips to Europe - one to France and one to Prague, trips out to British Columbia and Alberta. Amazing camping trips and let’s not forget my cross country drive with my son from BC to Ontario. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOkJPtl7e17oxdink5dCWiKL3t9HuzKc6f68gfAyyugFQfrgRfPmM1yfGDnNlWzmFjuwJWx1je9x6bDQ2b1TCGKMGI4_rHKJL-KphZLT_Qm-uC3mjfAj6HLXSfJoPt28JxdPL-7XafnjiZ-pLZ8_XU16BkLjq3PkVOmcVYVOfpc6aOj_Fz3xH8M3JJqUU/s4032/IMG_5828.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOkJPtl7e17oxdink5dCWiKL3t9HuzKc6f68gfAyyugFQfrgRfPmM1yfGDnNlWzmFjuwJWx1je9x6bDQ2b1TCGKMGI4_rHKJL-KphZLT_Qm-uC3mjfAj6HLXSfJoPt28JxdPL-7XafnjiZ-pLZ8_XU16BkLjq3PkVOmcVYVOfpc6aOj_Fz3xH8M3JJqUU/w300-h400/IMG_5828.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Mother/Son Cross Country Road Trip</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There has been a share of grief and sadness as well. Goodbyes to dear ones whose memories stay with me and live on in my heart. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m very fortunate to still have both my parents with me to celebrate my 60 years with me. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8nyGEmKRTWZAP-mRoPzGHC0ExF_HnYVIckmfqzXizcTquQmti6paUW6Z5yOUgr0sN0B2Yj1h5i13fvX0j0yFJsxVwmOPfzcVexCJTuoviInuUOztqjNy4IRjYDPLXE-HAJSPPQfSmt9RxZZatH3Gx-ZQ63IJ6f222sgXPQN-oIeWbUR59VPFkbwUrHIc/s3090/IMG_7113.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2828" data-original-width="3090" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8nyGEmKRTWZAP-mRoPzGHC0ExF_HnYVIckmfqzXizcTquQmti6paUW6Z5yOUgr0sN0B2Yj1h5i13fvX0j0yFJsxVwmOPfzcVexCJTuoviInuUOztqjNy4IRjYDPLXE-HAJSPPQfSmt9RxZZatH3Gx-ZQ63IJ6f222sgXPQN-oIeWbUR59VPFkbwUrHIc/w400-h366/IMG_7113.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">These two have been with me from the Beginning!</h3><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some things have not changed: I continue to work on the cello, my garden and show up for work and church! I’m working on over 37 years of marriage!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I survived COVID. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I became and End of Life Doula </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All in all - I’ve had a very good 10 years full of many blessings. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But what about the next 10 years? Good Question! Undoubtably I will have my share wonderful moments and deep sadness. I don’t know if I will see 70 years. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But this I know beyond a doubt. I’ve lived a blessed life on this earth and I’m very grateful. Whatever time I have left I hope I use it well and faithfully until I’m called Home. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-42364915182142775592023-10-15T19:02:00.000-07:002023-10-15T19:02:54.880-07:00A SEASON FULL OF TREASURE<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Fall finally arrived. Most of our September was extremely dry and warm. My sweaters lounged in the dresser waiting to replace tanks and T-shirts. But right before Thanksgiving, Fall swooped in on a raucous north wind and rain taking her rightful place. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This beautiful, short season is full of treasure. Now is the time to explore the world full of golds, reds and oranges.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluAxHYuBu8COzRFhzCnVI6B-7wrp55efRYTAO9-32PW5afLC9LQ9086HxS4LgLMx6WuiGDXQv8ITJpwUNX-4fvK4lShaosQJ7kTBf4WVqgEprcWuc6ileGDirwGuDqDwW0lO9uhsiowv0XNuCmvDtqu5lg2Gn5yevLN-x9oSImBOY_VEShZ1N5z_JZFIC/s4032/IMG_7037.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluAxHYuBu8COzRFhzCnVI6B-7wrp55efRYTAO9-32PW5afLC9LQ9086HxS4LgLMx6WuiGDXQv8ITJpwUNX-4fvK4lShaosQJ7kTBf4WVqgEprcWuc6ileGDirwGuDqDwW0lO9uhsiowv0XNuCmvDtqu5lg2Gn5yevLN-x9oSImBOY_VEShZ1N5z_JZFIC/w300-h400/IMG_7037.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Sheldon and I were blessed to enjoy a weekend away at Lucky Lake in North Frontenac. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9L1Jdix_ZZo1OuW1QnPtlDHaPsWSnT4b2EGHYbJioIJLSVdh09Qwe5FH0qMJl6cAwgGo4fbc5SywuCs2p3fhEm7AFhxvJSarjmiNxY_8dbN-c15gSZU3zIiJTrR1gByNT8K34xOlZwDs20lMWEIm_nQK5TN-1BkK8HJ3mX62NUEUm155WnLEiff3XQ90v/s4032/IMG_6999.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9L1Jdix_ZZo1OuW1QnPtlDHaPsWSnT4b2EGHYbJioIJLSVdh09Qwe5FH0qMJl6cAwgGo4fbc5SywuCs2p3fhEm7AFhxvJSarjmiNxY_8dbN-c15gSZU3zIiJTrR1gByNT8K34xOlZwDs20lMWEIm_nQK5TN-1BkK8HJ3mX62NUEUm155WnLEiff3XQ90v/s320/IMG_6999.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The lake, now devoid of swimmers and sunbathers holds a peaceful prelude for the coming winter’s sleep.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj1b86NwAz6bYUVx064B_Ryv06uiURYwnR1CMIxP-O92ij5DZQ3I3XhsOTBGJMNKPGf7lLx-y5NWSyRU9X5MciPIu1edV4kB8KkiYfcTFGnbIRsbhh3B-MKMPMoW0Zp7_mX9WXVoW8l1bkwjnau2dH209RAKwli9opE6bJdE3UK3FMk6_ICk1XYxxHSeK/s4029/IMG_6998.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4029" data-original-width="2784" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj1b86NwAz6bYUVx064B_Ryv06uiURYwnR1CMIxP-O92ij5DZQ3I3XhsOTBGJMNKPGf7lLx-y5NWSyRU9X5MciPIu1edV4kB8KkiYfcTFGnbIRsbhh3B-MKMPMoW0Zp7_mX9WXVoW8l1bkwjnau2dH209RAKwli9opE6bJdE3UK3FMk6_ICk1XYxxHSeK/w276-h400/IMG_6998.jpeg" width="276" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Misty mornings hide the muted colors around the edge of the lake</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4vjx17pFSh2Xm_sscalQi2f4m71wHamD9OU0tDovJS6Y1Z12KPxA_VpACCRi2UzgEh6h1aD2zdV81R4WrWREceBQlWqvsCL9OgdkqUnGCrbnf2C7xPpEhyphenhyphenX0ssUMX81XvlpuHnauuWs0SWjfBFcWSkS6XITQHWb0C7yUX14iRr0Sb4PyMrDZBwrrb3oe/s4032/IMG_7036.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4vjx17pFSh2Xm_sscalQi2f4m71wHamD9OU0tDovJS6Y1Z12KPxA_VpACCRi2UzgEh6h1aD2zdV81R4WrWREceBQlWqvsCL9OgdkqUnGCrbnf2C7xPpEhyphenhyphenX0ssUMX81XvlpuHnauuWs0SWjfBFcWSkS6XITQHWb0C7yUX14iRr0Sb4PyMrDZBwrrb3oe/w400-h300/IMG_7036.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">But there were other treasures for me in this season! The garden leaves a few last parting gifts as well. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PY0ARyP6GpbXZkQO6Ar0Zh-o5lIfvKs8CzKpXFh8kN-wW8H6LJ9Swvr2sGMkldNCNpVjK5Tb4nkmqp1g4yk-OGCMzUSQBmbId31JHkpkY_t9SkEloLe73ImUSprknuergtXSBvUtqAfJYttU1E7RYIM900GalmzCR1pzasiHQPwTPwBVfOeDUgSoFQw2/s4032/IMG_7023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PY0ARyP6GpbXZkQO6Ar0Zh-o5lIfvKs8CzKpXFh8kN-wW8H6LJ9Swvr2sGMkldNCNpVjK5Tb4nkmqp1g4yk-OGCMzUSQBmbId31JHkpkY_t9SkEloLe73ImUSprknuergtXSBvUtqAfJYttU1E7RYIM900GalmzCR1pzasiHQPwTPwBVfOeDUgSoFQw2/w300-h400/IMG_7023.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rose bushes presented these jewels along with my tomato plant</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx2fC15mRkD3cAjx8yx0S3-I277xal_lKp6TxBaEqzorcK4xhx23kNn2TLsnXNYwxKQnRVVE6uFYf2HeHRj4lGImY1lza-UB2Lu8WQeRZpJT6ZSHa-ivzwMi30IOIxpLWVvVRi2TqCjLPy8t60InHxmAaPY_qJtQHgbLkBVGUjSlOMhs3cYxys086FmO-/s4032/IMG_7024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx2fC15mRkD3cAjx8yx0S3-I277xal_lKp6TxBaEqzorcK4xhx23kNn2TLsnXNYwxKQnRVVE6uFYf2HeHRj4lGImY1lza-UB2Lu8WQeRZpJT6ZSHa-ivzwMi30IOIxpLWVvVRi2TqCjLPy8t60InHxmAaPY_qJtQHgbLkBVGUjSlOMhs3cYxys086FmO-/w300-h400/IMG_7024.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">On an outing to Prince Edward county my girlfriend and I came across a curious spot that was really a hoarder’s treasure trove. We wandered around the yard and numerous little outbuildings packed full of trinkets</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsVwR0BJvHNzDVTkwrTNp8V8NZz6nj9gbOBztVTmZouaoeATMnYm4VipihyphenhyphenqYWwb8BgWybDTFO43fqVbhyphenhyphentNE-729kaHsadsmqf6_-4FtzTRb3GbitPCS2yDQxTsgEmRkhjLuM2hF6cZQoOZUEKZbOITqqZ157Z26WLIkp_br54DhwKh73rk1o93Z9oDU/s4032/IMG_7029.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsVwR0BJvHNzDVTkwrTNp8V8NZz6nj9gbOBztVTmZouaoeATMnYm4VipihyphenhyphenqYWwb8BgWybDTFO43fqVbhyphenhyphentNE-729kaHsadsmqf6_-4FtzTRb3GbitPCS2yDQxTsgEmRkhjLuM2hF6cZQoOZUEKZbOITqqZ157Z26WLIkp_br54DhwKh73rk1o93Z9oDU/w300-h400/IMG_7029.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And purchasing anything was basically on an honour system! If you could pick it up, you could take it and send an e-transfer according to the signs on the door! Treasures indeed!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb3U057545Q54v7GpZtlEVVlvLuwEvEmf0uw7Gkhiuc7HrcDKc6CbEGS8JO3I_XNUBdbPbj_9VdPx0fwNgexAGipH_aJBci9m00h5W9d1B7sA3xSPqhxOf2ZywRZHdjNYFyPdkijLvrYjvsn9YTjpi5QSUgEJtEho-mJaJEjE0zLCvNOA_yea_XoFM1hn/s3024/IMG_7030.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="3024" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb3U057545Q54v7GpZtlEVVlvLuwEvEmf0uw7Gkhiuc7HrcDKc6CbEGS8JO3I_XNUBdbPbj_9VdPx0fwNgexAGipH_aJBci9m00h5W9d1B7sA3xSPqhxOf2ZywRZHdjNYFyPdkijLvrYjvsn9YTjpi5QSUgEJtEho-mJaJEjE0zLCvNOA_yea_XoFM1hn/w400-h331/IMG_7030.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Soon the frost will come and the leaves will fall and the gardens will sleep. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy the treasure hunt!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-6243970584274664512023-09-06T19:12:00.002-07:002023-09-06T19:12:46.223-07:00SUMMER, IT’S TIME TO LEAVE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBcWzsAJACOZRGwyk_eywhSRKSo7pBthEJXSWVP2Eq3LIuNs57Iqa3DzD_pzmQJvY3Yinb-wrfV7NYFxHFGgC_ewUCnoUOZWB8j9t1xhTeN3-sjeh0ZSLmghWclGxYsrqjuT2sI5_FismsrZLI051a99n_K_LfQI9JSBr2iavcKxHA-547I3tViVeFH96/s4032/IMG_6960.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBcWzsAJACOZRGwyk_eywhSRKSo7pBthEJXSWVP2Eq3LIuNs57Iqa3DzD_pzmQJvY3Yinb-wrfV7NYFxHFGgC_ewUCnoUOZWB8j9t1xhTeN3-sjeh0ZSLmghWclGxYsrqjuT2sI5_FismsrZLI051a99n_K_LfQI9JSBr2iavcKxHA-547I3tViVeFH96/w400-h300/IMG_6960.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I like summer, I really do. It’s one of my favourite seasons. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Little dresses</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Summer salads</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Biking</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Swimming</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Roses blooming</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Not having to wear EVERYTHING just to survive outside.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Summer is easy, breezy and it warms my bones. Yeah, it’s a great time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But even the sweetest of guests can sometimes overstay their welcome and this year, summer, you missed your cue!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This is the first week of September. The littles are excitedly lining up to catch that big yellow bus and head back to school. But are they wearing their new fall sweaters and jackets? NO! It is hot, record breaking hot out there. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This is my outdoor very Canadian thermometer at 5:00 pm today:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGQxpk6b69zIpUJL1VNszaO6K1RTcCOdtqb7dWXQRpXSLFBqxOY7EU2_qcFWoO0zUdyS2sb77OBtzgngkuLJi-wwmMp47yJiK_zU55P9G5cLhxJfJVTWfrVfdq_tK-5dIKJQXkd_khX6iNLc8mO1jkQluUQeuvQgH7dMP2LseqCDIBAAvAXDawke8rkIx/s2546/IMG_6995.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="2546" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGQxpk6b69zIpUJL1VNszaO6K1RTcCOdtqb7dWXQRpXSLFBqxOY7EU2_qcFWoO0zUdyS2sb77OBtzgngkuLJi-wwmMp47yJiK_zU55P9G5cLhxJfJVTWfrVfdq_tK-5dIKJQXkd_khX6iNLc8mO1jkQluUQeuvQgH7dMP2LseqCDIBAAvAXDawke8rkIx/w400-h283/IMG_6995.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">That’s 30 degrees Celsius in the shade at 5:00 pm. In the sun, closer to 40! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Pumpkin spice anything is on the shelf; we want crisp, fresh fall air to enjoy those! I have no inclination to turn the oven on and bake a pie or roast a chicken. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Summer is short in Canada, but so is Fall and we want to enjoy all its charms too. So, Summer, it’s time to move on. You’ve had your moment and we love you, but it’s time to leave! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3g6PNn3vquEtyzpWGyVy8R49Prk54Vs2J707z44BzCgOcTxn3KxPOWj572AVkwkz4aILL_4nTkDju8nvDOCvOEvranZeectsbliBIinHuvkU8dbtXoMzuDeNwIY2SlPB4iQt9vmaQgHN-dvrAVMcJEIEIG0KXDhdxpQHVbXFFd3oyLtW6Z8aaUXlWNwq/s4032/IMG_6045.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3g6PNn3vquEtyzpWGyVy8R49Prk54Vs2J707z44BzCgOcTxn3KxPOWj572AVkwkz4aILL_4nTkDju8nvDOCvOEvranZeectsbliBIinHuvkU8dbtXoMzuDeNwIY2SlPB4iQt9vmaQgHN-dvrAVMcJEIEIG0KXDhdxpQHVbXFFd3oyLtW6Z8aaUXlWNwq/w300-h400/IMG_6045.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-82522726027049948882023-08-01T19:19:00.000-07:002023-08-01T19:19:57.862-07:00I HEAR THAT TRAIN A COMIN’<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Sometime in the early hours of the morning I woke up and heard the train coming down the track. The train whistle, lonely like the loon’s call sounded comforting and familiar in the darkness. No matter where you live in Belleville, you will always be able to hear the trains. The tracks criss-cross everywhere so that even when I lived outside of town in Foxboro, I could still hear them rumbling through! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I recently found out there is a word to describe the wind rustling through the trees: “Psithurism”. Who knew? I know a lot of words, but I did NOT know this one! Psithurism is one of my most favourite things! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpk0i-Q1KqDK1LxO4QLYQh_s1PGiDIzkDj6sK5CPUH2cztpQQ_w2yF36JDMjqtcesOxWE4KurWKdBXUETebhKNHKhdnd3Cf08IESZuy_xc5LvXNcrCvxfHPqCRkTZ6M7UnP2zsD726L-Ju_HQP3hBINruL6Kegy85q_kPeot2vUm4T5ncfNVhKdC5fkbh/s4032/IMG_6923.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpk0i-Q1KqDK1LxO4QLYQh_s1PGiDIzkDj6sK5CPUH2cztpQQ_w2yF36JDMjqtcesOxWE4KurWKdBXUETebhKNHKhdnd3Cf08IESZuy_xc5LvXNcrCvxfHPqCRkTZ6M7UnP2zsD726L-Ju_HQP3hBINruL6Kegy85q_kPeot2vUm4T5ncfNVhKdC5fkbh/w400-h300/IMG_6923.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I miss it in the winter when the trees are bare and leafless. But then there are other sounds. I don’t have to get out of bed to wonder if it snowed out once I hear that snow plow making the rounds. And how welcoming is the chickadee’s Sweet Susan call on a grey winter day. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our senses are a gift that enrich our lives. But as we grow older, they begin to fade. Eyesight dims, food becomes bland, the TV volume starts to rise to a higher setting. It is a reminder this body is a temporary shelter and not meant to last forever. It is organic and will, eventually and naturally, breakdown. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When someone is dying they are often sleeping (or seem to be) for great lengths of time. But it is important to keep talking to them. Don’t talk around them like they are not there. Tell them about your day, what the weather is like, the grandchildren’s antics. Read to them from a favourite book. Sing them a song. Get up close to their ear so they can hear you. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Like the train’s whistle at night or the wind in the trees it will be a familiar comfort as they journey out of this world and into the next. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-55593287003820923412023-07-24T19:15:00.000-07:002023-07-24T19:15:31.182-07:00COTTAGE GEMS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5f35TPkXwiVpmzaerBYPE-d1kQnSb7hI94KeHQbBaGAa8vn17zyqSLXCHj-jp9AVaKGwnda_VNP50TkBkHTia1DM3PWVJa5jZtyRIRkdwcRGdJstjTmHnJnUM9CH03M8vrV7NsKjNdlGvCV1tJbnU-q8crxLkYGSbosEr7e7UyFjw5px4yIZM9Epg-xVI/s4032/IMG_6892.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5f35TPkXwiVpmzaerBYPE-d1kQnSb7hI94KeHQbBaGAa8vn17zyqSLXCHj-jp9AVaKGwnda_VNP50TkBkHTia1DM3PWVJa5jZtyRIRkdwcRGdJstjTmHnJnUM9CH03M8vrV7NsKjNdlGvCV1tJbnU-q8crxLkYGSbosEr7e7UyFjw5px4yIZM9Epg-xVI/w400-h300/IMG_6892.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m not sure why, but the cottages I’ve been to (you know, the “rustic” type) all have this mish-mash of decor. It was like someone said “boy this dresser that Grandma left us is in pretty good shape! Anybody want it? No? OK, let’s use it at the cottage!” To me, that’s part of their charm</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We spent a week recently at a cottage full of all sort of gems. It is a 5 bedroom cottage big enough for both my kids, their spouses, the grand babies and even my DIL’s parents joined. And it was full of treasures! The couch was straight out of the 1960’s, chintzy sunfish from the 1970’s hang in the bathroom, and there are two dining sets: one a classic oak and another a more elegant dark wood affair. </span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The dishes cover all eras from the past.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7djhcj0tLH9HbmBfAllp2vH44tNIZS1ju0D7twXd8JmyN_Hw4HExB6hnAJKxiA12Y91AeTOwAqUEehGX8sABoNtZE994nuVhdiYOSdPLxM5ixgMb9Pe2lqzmosAzcaZ3FY-u9BeeN_j11CXruPh2zlXcwIY2bkfOCwAEJCErHRcsygGwQImuiCUSzly5/s3356/IMG_6904.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3356" data-original-width="2534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7djhcj0tLH9HbmBfAllp2vH44tNIZS1ju0D7twXd8JmyN_Hw4HExB6hnAJKxiA12Y91AeTOwAqUEehGX8sABoNtZE994nuVhdiYOSdPLxM5ixgMb9Pe2lqzmosAzcaZ3FY-u9BeeN_j11CXruPh2zlXcwIY2bkfOCwAEJCErHRcsygGwQImuiCUSzly5/w303-h400/IMG_6904.jpeg" width="303" /></a></div></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These delicate china cups hang in the cupboard with a cornucopia of bowls, plates and coffee mugs</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEild7VhoYkNMgaU1NbShl6nLHNtFTIjBLIypNbkTj2dg9nzxbCTjkUnnh3rC9ygsm971XCGYeBb13I93iuczYw2bVNoFlTr-bNGYIuJkugkLaTNZPmYc-756gj50AjuEMbOAAhuy0KkQL5nXJUDLFuypd8h3EETY0iiABPHRNPq4WQqhGEa11thxyrmfgzL/s4032/IMG_6909.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEild7VhoYkNMgaU1NbShl6nLHNtFTIjBLIypNbkTj2dg9nzxbCTjkUnnh3rC9ygsm971XCGYeBb13I93iuczYw2bVNoFlTr-bNGYIuJkugkLaTNZPmYc-756gj50AjuEMbOAAhuy0KkQL5nXJUDLFuypd8h3EETY0iiABPHRNPq4WQqhGEa11thxyrmfgzL/w400-h300/IMG_6909.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember BlockBuster? The place to go on a Friday night in the 1990s? A booming business now extinct thanks to Netflix. But I found the popcorn bowl! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Not to be outdone, I picked up a Paint-by-number set from the local Dollar store for the adults to dabble with. It was cheap, with cheap paint that you could still see the numbers through. In some places, there was NO number so you could take some artistic license. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most of the adults took a stab at it and here is the finished product:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2z9SQXplEQv7jYapS5veiSMOnVXDD78UaM-358o0a6MAUm2wFOIT78epjrRdtT93g63AKmPiuJEVvHZU4oFz-ShxAUUyUBOm2vuPP35jU0BSdW7W0hmj4raDemt_8rJuVFRXR0iEZXqX1b8MxdhFH4TapEaeLt-Pwlb0NfZEdBZ4Wnbyq6x4Hqkkm6w6/s4032/IMG_6912.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2z9SQXplEQv7jYapS5veiSMOnVXDD78UaM-358o0a6MAUm2wFOIT78epjrRdtT93g63AKmPiuJEVvHZU4oFz-ShxAUUyUBOm2vuPP35jU0BSdW7W0hmj4raDemt_8rJuVFRXR0iEZXqX1b8MxdhFH4TapEaeLt-Pwlb0NfZEdBZ4Wnbyq6x4Hqkkm6w6/w400-h300/IMG_6912.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fitted right into cheesy cottage decor! </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But I found a few other cottage gems -some truly precious ones:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUb_9lWS74uSiyDLxY_fjPoLKw_Jnz2f-9BM5-tIWaBduWri42Bl3Q9hZJL5DxmvdelVvS4LITlQDUfyt36bjYZUd0ErsdxNFILAoU1dw5hwpqfeGAGehuGQ4CLqDEXTuBginhRHCNBlBl6pizPtviMZvyY2CiBtwqoViA9TVhyT6JAQ8ZtUl4WcQ-waUu/s4032/IMG_6887.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUb_9lWS74uSiyDLxY_fjPoLKw_Jnz2f-9BM5-tIWaBduWri42Bl3Q9hZJL5DxmvdelVvS4LITlQDUfyt36bjYZUd0ErsdxNFILAoU1dw5hwpqfeGAGehuGQ4CLqDEXTuBginhRHCNBlBl6pizPtviMZvyY2CiBtwqoViA9TVhyT6JAQ8ZtUl4WcQ-waUu/w300-h400/IMG_6887.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like Little Prince #1 and his penchant for bugs (or in this case a frog).</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe9GiIBGtKmhX-dGIfMeVza4SBXmVQXxIi7eqe580wnSBkMvR3_45xgUIq4MZsp8LRYRa5gY8OogjcUGln34ePZXmy_0hsE4FgY9DQIcUnccnowgIEqCAVC3XNp1UDWk8_WIHGZuU4OZMUY9egVCqmHX7XPhp6beAEnV1NvQgBSEtnZrdvLl8s3Xs49AP/s4032/IMG_6864.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe9GiIBGtKmhX-dGIfMeVza4SBXmVQXxIi7eqe580wnSBkMvR3_45xgUIq4MZsp8LRYRa5gY8OogjcUGln34ePZXmy_0hsE4FgY9DQIcUnccnowgIEqCAVC3XNp1UDWk8_WIHGZuU4OZMUY9egVCqmHX7XPhp6beAEnV1NvQgBSEtnZrdvLl8s3Xs49AP/w300-h400/IMG_6864.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And Little Prince #2: One Cool Dude! </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheD5CYl_3edSJJqTNcIuU8IEMSG2RQykEWAkeaCRaH7Kv58H4aROuLUDtdGIKNzgXmDh2yWLSS3BHfNxi-FXVGrihz3cCpD6rXqOoD6c_qn7xOxDOPCRN5F8Gj0F-YPvBdLVbcDGICGB9byYLjBOhfqHFsJKdSV6lSU-FcRldS2b3SM9_nQHR95r6LgpVl/s3438/IMG_6888.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3438" data-original-width="2374" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheD5CYl_3edSJJqTNcIuU8IEMSG2RQykEWAkeaCRaH7Kv58H4aROuLUDtdGIKNzgXmDh2yWLSS3BHfNxi-FXVGrihz3cCpD6rXqOoD6c_qn7xOxDOPCRN5F8Gj0F-YPvBdLVbcDGICGB9byYLjBOhfqHFsJKdSV6lSU-FcRldS2b3SM9_nQHR95r6LgpVl/w276-h400/IMG_6888.jpeg" width="276" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Precious Princess Eva (note the mug, anyone place the year?) is worth more rubies than the world holds. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJitHeSSPqYi5-p6MaQQqTCOPbblabHqldbjlIybylbJGSL89JczLb5RHhW7P2PnOGNA-hcmkfti5t25jUHFU4ecWh6KQzSq8weWpSWXLJaJ6XR5BpPbrxdCXEXhijsKNnQNSqpgV5WNcI570sUFGNSXKb8kZoSjyA_9Q5F7R7ryuzACmNzzX5UePCUEz/s4032/IMG_6893.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJitHeSSPqYi5-p6MaQQqTCOPbblabHqldbjlIybylbJGSL89JczLb5RHhW7P2PnOGNA-hcmkfti5t25jUHFU4ecWh6KQzSq8weWpSWXLJaJ6XR5BpPbrxdCXEXhijsKNnQNSqpgV5WNcI570sUFGNSXKb8kZoSjyA_9Q5F7R7ryuzACmNzzX5UePCUEz/w400-h300/IMG_6893.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This bunch is priceless!</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were so many cottage gems all around me, I could scarcely take them all in. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBAHB6MfCZHyX55V8pOvytQhCp77lFLLl3WVY-nMNUbhkoiphmA0FdI3rke69EK9gqfPAo122bSIRekW-u4TiypMz5Lc5ahKIzSN9zdTpGJoBJGsgCNXXiXK5bBdC3-aboj_4bnTDHYZLxXAOlT0Xlc3KRU7YRBx5kVVxMlHHq49JXzt3GOPhZ9E4NpeZ/s2049/IMG_2421.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1399" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBAHB6MfCZHyX55V8pOvytQhCp77lFLLl3WVY-nMNUbhkoiphmA0FdI3rke69EK9gqfPAo122bSIRekW-u4TiypMz5Lc5ahKIzSN9zdTpGJoBJGsgCNXXiXK5bBdC3-aboj_4bnTDHYZLxXAOlT0Xlc3KRU7YRBx5kVVxMlHHq49JXzt3GOPhZ9E4NpeZ/w273-h400/IMG_2421.jpeg" width="273" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">I’ll just take a few home.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-24845280960644969502023-06-30T19:17:00.002-07:002023-07-01T04:42:50.630-07:00THE GARDEN WORLD<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2TrimKjV6KIDslpRQtkIjtjDASikr5PY6MjnEIphdZr_OHBHlrx8g6ZYD-upoFmdiN-TzSA55LI5_qo1f3KXCnEkVn6_-GcqynXpDWVjQgzxn4LmgSjOXnCepv8ywXQb5TdOAj6EA4f88egEwPKtCZ9RjQ5gc5mmDyG7DtLY7_ErdJe5yANkah7tThRX/s4032/IMG_6701.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2TrimKjV6KIDslpRQtkIjtjDASikr5PY6MjnEIphdZr_OHBHlrx8g6ZYD-upoFmdiN-TzSA55LI5_qo1f3KXCnEkVn6_-GcqynXpDWVjQgzxn4LmgSjOXnCepv8ywXQb5TdOAj6EA4f88egEwPKtCZ9RjQ5gc5mmDyG7DtLY7_ErdJe5yANkah7tThRX/w400-h300/IMG_6701.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When my children were teenagers, there go-to-escape computer game was “Sims”, especially my daughter! She loved creating the little families, building and expanding their homes, making sure everyone was fed and happy. Seems to me gardening is kind of like Sims but with plants!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I spent a lot of time this week making sure my plants were fed and happy. I evicted a lot of free-loading weeds making room for other plant families to expand.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4iNBtxwMVmJvLb9Q98bQlQPaqs_M9rm-AvxDvJ88WdC16jLRt9l2i5QomCB-yXS3RDaRf89AIaQc9NgXOiv1RmOmCpNIqPbVuzdUFy1kn_CPne6IoMlHWHV0WJynfbB9va2114vm8_LSFf0_52bYxGx66Ix7Ds35CeZPvGyEKSB4CTijPupIdx-uDJR9/s4032/IMG_6812.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4iNBtxwMVmJvLb9Q98bQlQPaqs_M9rm-AvxDvJ88WdC16jLRt9l2i5QomCB-yXS3RDaRf89AIaQc9NgXOiv1RmOmCpNIqPbVuzdUFy1kn_CPne6IoMlHWHV0WJynfbB9va2114vm8_LSFf0_52bYxGx66Ix7Ds35CeZPvGyEKSB4CTijPupIdx-uDJR9/w300-h400/IMG_6812.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> The morning primroses are growing into one big happy family. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But the Garden world is not always easy. For some reason I’ve struggled getting poppies or cosmos to grow, until this year. The poppies are snubbing me but the cosmos are finally coming along! And after</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">a fair bit of wooing lavender decided to settle into my garden world</span><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nNAeN5x6TMeFBATd3LngiISsUV7B20RvO7DUKi6GOJi8Ji2xZsQ4O28_WjkzA9T665gqA1QXzWExh-bVirI0dAKaegCMLchKrWb5Mta2MRga6je1n1ELdAhLtu2dlaT-Zx094SS1UrDA5Yn-cV9OSokYPnAkpBVdf3WOJeh4wLFDkzFU3tX0rF4QzB48/s4032/IMG_6810.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nNAeN5x6TMeFBATd3LngiISsUV7B20RvO7DUKi6GOJi8Ji2xZsQ4O28_WjkzA9T665gqA1QXzWExh-bVirI0dAKaegCMLchKrWb5Mta2MRga6je1n1ELdAhLtu2dlaT-Zx094SS1UrDA5Yn-cV9OSokYPnAkpBVdf3WOJeh4wLFDkzFU3tX0rF4QzB48/w300-h400/IMG_6810.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, there’s always divas that need extra pampering - roses!</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_kph5_jbqRfDiaVFpdV3QAhDVJXSpyOTVpBqkWogC3wafOBSSuXVKDbHU1pNAts1ochjgsdU34sbM0eqJNIpHhTbE7TKZOP9t1J0Vd1aeNb_u3BHbFpuYcA8sjuLwwlFkimv4uBiefucK5wsKRAtYvhxo7wTy8HnXtSpj9COKHnmNqftaNdsHpfmM3nw/s3136/IMG_6801.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3136" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_kph5_jbqRfDiaVFpdV3QAhDVJXSpyOTVpBqkWogC3wafOBSSuXVKDbHU1pNAts1ochjgsdU34sbM0eqJNIpHhTbE7TKZOP9t1J0Vd1aeNb_u3BHbFpuYcA8sjuLwwlFkimv4uBiefucK5wsKRAtYvhxo7wTy8HnXtSpj9COKHnmNqftaNdsHpfmM3nw/w386-h400/IMG_6801.jpeg" width="386" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And check out the nursery!</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQMAltUYmhr-gqyrodlq9eaJlPcTTRa8qMIrtpNvOXrWyuyCQ5DkfBQYd-WT6Tr1NdFcnZC4baKu0L2clawcuiIQgjXjSUsJDqX5SLoXtX9lDp_uoGTZNTTiipCuwjMnLoEBmY-KCGkzNuTcpuL9uHQPnJWxj8zCRBtxvnO6epGWaU-4-4bJ7r8nnTLyY/s4032/IMG_6814.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQMAltUYmhr-gqyrodlq9eaJlPcTTRa8qMIrtpNvOXrWyuyCQ5DkfBQYd-WT6Tr1NdFcnZC4baKu0L2clawcuiIQgjXjSUsJDqX5SLoXtX9lDp_uoGTZNTTiipCuwjMnLoEBmY-KCGkzNuTcpuL9uHQPnJWxj8zCRBtxvnO6epGWaU-4-4bJ7r8nnTLyY/w300-h400/IMG_6814.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I started these peppers from seed and transferred them into a raised bed.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCamZEIAxvrd73ZLY4I9v3ldTIQcu18Wh7fdeuM8zifkwBt1eRQr_8DfU3NtGmQpCD8q2Mjkqufyri-K_W7LWLCzJ1fpRo-oTu77vvZ3XYjIngOdd5yoENZxdCwBNDLyoZcANxxVV5xLhwtIcQYNuj31OhiakiUZuBuB1HZZg0a5Y-V9-ivHogleVP2Thr/s3675/IMG_6815.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2851" data-original-width="3675" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCamZEIAxvrd73ZLY4I9v3ldTIQcu18Wh7fdeuM8zifkwBt1eRQr_8DfU3NtGmQpCD8q2Mjkqufyri-K_W7LWLCzJ1fpRo-oTu77vvZ3XYjIngOdd5yoENZxdCwBNDLyoZcANxxVV5xLhwtIcQYNuj31OhiakiUZuBuB1HZZg0a5Y-V9-ivHogleVP2Thr/w400-h310/IMG_6815.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">And my baby lettuce, tomatoes and beans will soon be rewarding my efforts. </span></p><p>The garden world is always evolving: the plants have their moment to shine and then step into the wings for the next to take centre stage. Some I move to new areas in hopes they will establish there. Some just fade away. Others are bossy and try to take over everywhere and I need to use a firm hand of discipline. </p><p>Any gardener will tell you it’s cathartic to get your hands dirty and be rewarded for your efforts as you work with the plants, pruning and molding your own little Garden world. Beats Sims hands down!</p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><br /><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-34889322489596023022023-05-14T19:06:00.000-07:002023-05-14T19:06:27.197-07:00ARRIVING IN BOHEMIA<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88vqUheI7gZl2joAdevVAeUllYI9eWxwR66tdCl3MGTkSD5bX_Uh8PFetFa2J8prM4Uf6pqRBHeok400TPe0F6gpqdWPd0P61UKFneOBvyudlUIRy_vsSgl9eiBFdp-pl_R1XbyUWJfhpKy3MDjVjmLkXHOOQKWWlYQvIRbz0BWY40JtETw3LBJmTvw/s4032/IMG_6574.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88vqUheI7gZl2joAdevVAeUllYI9eWxwR66tdCl3MGTkSD5bX_Uh8PFetFa2J8prM4Uf6pqRBHeok400TPe0F6gpqdWPd0P61UKFneOBvyudlUIRy_vsSgl9eiBFdp-pl_R1XbyUWJfhpKy3MDjVjmLkXHOOQKWWlYQvIRbz0BWY40JtETw3LBJmTvw/w300-h400/IMG_6574.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve often thought I had a bent towards a “bohemian” lifestyle and if you were to look up the definition it would describe someone who generally does not follow the crowd, hangs out with like-minded people and has a focus on artistic, literary or spiritual pursuits. Sounds about right! But I never, EVER, considered taking a trip to the Czech Republic, the birthplace of Bohemia. So when my husband suggested I tag along while he participated in a work conference in Prague I thought….Why Not? </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Typical of Europe, Prague is ancient, full of history and culture. Everywhere is beautiful architecture leaning towards renaissance and gothic spires.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7LsyBv3K5mNWWvCfjF_hVWYBYZCHjjcugkxxrIt_Z0O6fIFDlwx-85EbN0qAIK30qjim0LhEoUYJ9xMvozeuxKoBPEsP6CxYnzhvXiH_hrD9bOeVRMg_7bMnmrfPi-86Fws-Yc6fE3mQzIv78reMOQgCvTYqlPsfFGD20LRSLqcheKUYi9kWnaCwgg/s3561/IMG_6542.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3561" data-original-width="2671" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7LsyBv3K5mNWWvCfjF_hVWYBYZCHjjcugkxxrIt_Z0O6fIFDlwx-85EbN0qAIK30qjim0LhEoUYJ9xMvozeuxKoBPEsP6CxYnzhvXiH_hrD9bOeVRMg_7bMnmrfPi-86Fws-Yc6fE3mQzIv78reMOQgCvTYqlPsfFGD20LRSLqcheKUYi9kWnaCwgg/w300-h400/IMG_6542.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The people are warm and friendly; many reminded me of gypsies with dark swarthy looks and flashing eyes. As we walked along we past musicians and artists entertaining us with their talents. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Prague Castle will take your breath away!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8c-GymnCPDh0SdPaYLhu0Cla3iGl0BdEfV1aOy7YMV8rW5s8WIdKzh2QpG1iSv-w0EGNzhtlHrkcqHwme4JM_SZ00TVRtguWSEkdwsEIdkoIyIWRPTxXfkmScDQhxCqhk5OdC_yJheBqA7axLH8ackywsppDlZMQKq9gyFblXjMcmrA2wVpsOcwW2Xg/s4032/IMG_6589.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8c-GymnCPDh0SdPaYLhu0Cla3iGl0BdEfV1aOy7YMV8rW5s8WIdKzh2QpG1iSv-w0EGNzhtlHrkcqHwme4JM_SZ00TVRtguWSEkdwsEIdkoIyIWRPTxXfkmScDQhxCqhk5OdC_yJheBqA7axLH8ackywsppDlZMQKq9gyFblXjMcmrA2wVpsOcwW2Xg/w300-h400/IMG_6589.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVztPnSSvA1Vwv2WQ3dYL2ssDZVqsnDQvqkvrW2GzyW5yB3-UJATelAHxNR-L1GOToQIt3lZv_eGIQqPbwfsXE1ehGqssOjcCgdJW6kN0_6H63BZS1jwuE5iaypZ0YexW_VKPEQrG1RdaVrJgjRLg-5XWH8Eg_fSzP0ejyEjQ_gyltT6kspaVdHUMKtg/s3551/IMG_6596.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3551" data-original-width="2733" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVztPnSSvA1Vwv2WQ3dYL2ssDZVqsnDQvqkvrW2GzyW5yB3-UJATelAHxNR-L1GOToQIt3lZv_eGIQqPbwfsXE1ehGqssOjcCgdJW6kN0_6H63BZS1jwuE5iaypZ0YexW_VKPEQrG1RdaVrJgjRLg-5XWH8Eg_fSzP0ejyEjQ_gyltT6kspaVdHUMKtg/w308-h400/IMG_6596.jpeg" width="308" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">How can you not be in awe of this incredible workmanship? </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As Sheldon was in the conference for a few days, I was on my own. Now this is dangerous business! My sense of direction is nil and the thought of heading out in a strange country alone was unsettling! But I wanted to take this challenge on and with the help of Apple Maps, I made my way to a beautiful Italian Renaissance style park about 20 minutes from our hotel. A couple of wrong turns, but I found it!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTv_QoxyMtz8mT-nbf6Ek2y8RduXvXosl3deDKP87fCC2xZxN2BbznsnWKRRDw8l4JGgItgqR2Ciq1HkkgDajPCuF2sch2hDlhKq-5dLbv8SGy3G_t9pnIOQ33Mp_1eTIOJM_YIVUJE4opZ5OTZc35leV6vvD-3FCQ6eAqWi-_voiRTxiwDLn_fTWHg/s4032/IMG_6664.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTv_QoxyMtz8mT-nbf6Ek2y8RduXvXosl3deDKP87fCC2xZxN2BbznsnWKRRDw8l4JGgItgqR2Ciq1HkkgDajPCuF2sch2hDlhKq-5dLbv8SGy3G_t9pnIOQ33Mp_1eTIOJM_YIVUJE4opZ5OTZc35leV6vvD-3FCQ6eAqWi-_voiRTxiwDLn_fTWHg/w300-h400/IMG_6664.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaFC4tFhWTunLlSJ13B1pUdeVfzjk-1R6Y0DgRqFcn5Wp6r85nDKAGyUJkv6VICufWgl-RD1cE2lKi4LQkud4cNE8zJU-fH2DhGPnL84fW7upiS7fIe3ACO6f1_cbY-2Y2s6MEW1kz8fQ_JVjggUDj8FG-cW-fQhBNOjaYStbDAuELA-UY0GoF-Ww6Q/s4032/IMG_6668.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaFC4tFhWTunLlSJ13B1pUdeVfzjk-1R6Y0DgRqFcn5Wp6r85nDKAGyUJkv6VICufWgl-RD1cE2lKi4LQkud4cNE8zJU-fH2DhGPnL84fW7upiS7fIe3ACO6f1_cbY-2Y2s6MEW1kz8fQ_JVjggUDj8FG-cW-fQhBNOjaYStbDAuELA-UY0GoF-Ww6Q/w300-h400/IMG_6668.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So, there I wandered in my best Bohemian style snapping pics, people watching and spending an hour or so reading “The Secret Garden” which is an excellent book to read in a park. I’ve discovered that pairing a book with the location you are reading it in is much like pairing wine and cheese; it is a fine art! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The next day my target was the Cafe V Zahrade. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxiQs0V2OVZk_7BsEtQ8KPTQj3j07S5_rOA01tL8OUlaZrlAHVlHENi1-FySem1aUp6yyUz2CHMBQRqWOqN9tr2wEhI1yr1JWJEqtEu_IDeKJeIaqPugh9c1TFnIEIxbRpPnL2KA6IfzO0bZZmt0UDkAk4kJMj2FBQa6RWze8JqNn4qtwcJOVm5--kQ/s4032/IMG_6686.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxiQs0V2OVZk_7BsEtQ8KPTQj3j07S5_rOA01tL8OUlaZrlAHVlHENi1-FySem1aUp6yyUz2CHMBQRqWOqN9tr2wEhI1yr1JWJEqtEu_IDeKJeIaqPugh9c1TFnIEIxbRpPnL2KA6IfzO0bZZmt0UDkAk4kJMj2FBQa6RWze8JqNn4qtwcJOVm5--kQ/w300-h400/IMG_6686.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This one was a bit closer so once I located it, I wandered the shops nearby. I found a Second Hand Clothing store which was busy with locals snapping up deals. I snapped up a deal myself: a sundress that cost $2.50 in Canadian! And I found a Bakery and bought an Apple strudel for Sheldon and Babovka (Czech local cake) for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the evenings there were Conference dinners to attend with Sheldon where the food and wine/beer flowed with abundance. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcK6X3c1essPSBl2OMOVX2Y9yTCJclb_RTZtIwvGP9Wnb67wFU7suj0gTNdN97V4OAJEUJtMTx-dGNXqhZLuUPeTVdEIOIlH2YvCHgK5QsPpbIzFlRePA0vKKYOs6lbsuwgYaLr9Z0g0NZKOjZKx_skfeLahRyr73RHkcj6XGN3P-Kr-yaPCTDPjEdXw/s4032/IMG_6654.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcK6X3c1essPSBl2OMOVX2Y9yTCJclb_RTZtIwvGP9Wnb67wFU7suj0gTNdN97V4OAJEUJtMTx-dGNXqhZLuUPeTVdEIOIlH2YvCHgK5QsPpbIzFlRePA0vKKYOs6lbsuwgYaLr9Z0g0NZKOjZKx_skfeLahRyr73RHkcj6XGN3P-Kr-yaPCTDPjEdXw/w300-h400/IMG_6654.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Prague is a beautiful city. If you ever get the chance to visit, by all means do so! Come live your best bohemian lifestyle and pursue the music, read a book in the park or be enveloped in the hushed, awe-inspiring atmosphere of their ancient churches. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg57ABK-GtFEeYkWtnNbpkC4JUGGLYKfw8x40G6FXdDriAKsMaB-kQxOmbJN6hFcHUkrwP8TB_BS5ed0KjxIdx3G1aDwMFQOANhCc1qi59f0yxNk6tW6M5cZowPDieTQr-GM675atU8G2SNzOLMqjHvZHGMGsHZqazn7tAPG-8ycpGxYTiLW8QkyjVeg/s4032/IMG_6539.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg57ABK-GtFEeYkWtnNbpkC4JUGGLYKfw8x40G6FXdDriAKsMaB-kQxOmbJN6hFcHUkrwP8TB_BS5ed0KjxIdx3G1aDwMFQOANhCc1qi59f0yxNk6tW6M5cZowPDieTQr-GM675atU8G2SNzOLMqjHvZHGMGsHZqazn7tAPG-8ycpGxYTiLW8QkyjVeg/w300-h400/IMG_6539.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-56945076623671231762023-03-20T08:04:00.004-07:002023-03-20T08:04:56.396-07:00THE HEART OF LIFE IS GOOD<p> <span style="font-size: large;">There is a very, VERY fine balance between a good avocado and a not good avocado. I play a balancing act of timing and placement to score a good avocado. First, they start rock hard hanging out in the fruit bowl to mellow with the bananas. Then with careful little pokes to check on, I move them to the fridge at just the right time: still a little overly firm but on their way to “nailed it.”</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL2RLLaZN-cy5sUFgilzqGILPMWsqAxMIKEvzkqzi6MVobbOO-TvbPWzkbWE1_seaJdTjchbJuDYlqWTN4MqDjE3IFECuCxpRwLmyxZiAQpUEjJXxU6K6yiN5XHeh1bMq_YnSEQ1J4houG_lb3e5jD9HKyICue8h1jEi_3BV-QXxSExBmk4wyc76d_A/s3033/74F71286-F026-4645-AAFB-FB6A9CB12AAB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3033" data-original-width="2677" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL2RLLaZN-cy5sUFgilzqGILPMWsqAxMIKEvzkqzi6MVobbOO-TvbPWzkbWE1_seaJdTjchbJuDYlqWTN4MqDjE3IFECuCxpRwLmyxZiAQpUEjJXxU6K6yiN5XHeh1bMq_YnSEQ1J4houG_lb3e5jD9HKyICue8h1jEi_3BV-QXxSExBmk4wyc76d_A/w353-h400/74F71286-F026-4645-AAFB-FB6A9CB12AAB.jpeg" width="353" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This avocado was timed just right and was so good with a poached egg, salt, pepper, tomato and a sprinkling of cheese.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We all have struggles. This business called Life is not easy. It throws pain, anxiety, fear and other curveballs at us. Dreams slip through our hands. People, pets, even places we love get taken away and we grieve. Oh, what is harder than a broken heart? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And yet, as we move from year to year, so many good things also come our way! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In Genesis Chapter 1: 31 after 7 days of work creating the earth, God says: <i>And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” </i>He made the light, the dry land, the animals, the winged birds and after careful review of each, deemed them “Good.” It’s a Good Foundation we have!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The weather people tell us we in Ontario have experienced the darkest winter in 80 years. Apparently the sun snubbed us. But tomorrow is the first day of spring - just be persevering, you can find The Good.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In Psalm 23:6 <i>“Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my Life.”</i> Seems you can’t even escape it, Goodness is following you around, tailing you and showing up everywhere. And he brought a friend! Mercy! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, as I look around I find the Good there with me in the midst of it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd-BWy6myMvgx2ZdSXJxAYmo11fzotvJeygsEiltuXGQjtR8ueCXXU0cahjmw94MZFQ2mFHQ9yzDzB7y_qeSGXZXcOAWcR_9NavE8Sf1BlfJc_Q_wP9W2qSvgA9TlHqCVo7Web4bSItcQ87e8CufuSS3_cGCn5OsHFfbOXOtX3AYk44791ICGbvrdNQ/s3642/C373457A-04FF-4F13-82A4-DD904883741B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3642" data-original-width="2351" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd-BWy6myMvgx2ZdSXJxAYmo11fzotvJeygsEiltuXGQjtR8ueCXXU0cahjmw94MZFQ2mFHQ9yzDzB7y_qeSGXZXcOAWcR_9NavE8Sf1BlfJc_Q_wP9W2qSvgA9TlHqCVo7Web4bSItcQ87e8CufuSS3_cGCn5OsHFfbOXOtX3AYk44791ICGbvrdNQ/w259-h400/C373457A-04FF-4F13-82A4-DD904883741B.jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Good Cup of Coffee</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4GiW1Xy1AhmZkdtoh_TH5VqMj9-DWyv7_mlxehta4h9R5XBVVAn0pRPxH5dbMQ4acIsVyBd6SQoywnQ1xl6U9qzmRXu8oBf1l6aeaWoJ7AExkmjVQPNkKH9yUvw_vB76Ht6RF16OC6KrQuOfusiaG1BA8GqwbeTDSxNXYQWGXGnYB31oekVeplHCKg/s3609/51AA9343-90D9-4E0F-844D-5144D96732F9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3609" data-original-width="2077" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4GiW1Xy1AhmZkdtoh_TH5VqMj9-DWyv7_mlxehta4h9R5XBVVAn0pRPxH5dbMQ4acIsVyBd6SQoywnQ1xl6U9qzmRXu8oBf1l6aeaWoJ7AExkmjVQPNkKH9yUvw_vB76Ht6RF16OC6KrQuOfusiaG1BA8GqwbeTDSxNXYQWGXGnYB31oekVeplHCKg/w230-h400/51AA9343-90D9-4E0F-844D-5144D96732F9.jpeg" width="230" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38sD_UV0bsluDKLDJA12WUr-sib6ZhPginEISWNYMcb7NcbTif080mdaQbOriuFcpmXbHOCac0ovY8Lnsyw7LulpYVt5h_0GEv98MliULwCaSn3-QbBleXqYKJErqZ7sj4scc4Fvi-STJdPGTsyEgIGK4htGsm7-wrahzlyiptZzxbfgT4hx0AygMlw/s3567/632ADE3F-2BEF-4F35-83BE-90FDE6ADBBD6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3567" data-original-width="1775" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38sD_UV0bsluDKLDJA12WUr-sib6ZhPginEISWNYMcb7NcbTif080mdaQbOriuFcpmXbHOCac0ovY8Lnsyw7LulpYVt5h_0GEv98MliULwCaSn3-QbBleXqYKJErqZ7sj4scc4Fvi-STJdPGTsyEgIGK4htGsm7-wrahzlyiptZzxbfgT4hx0AygMlw/w199-h400/632ADE3F-2BEF-4F35-83BE-90FDE6ADBBD6.jpeg" width="199" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwSS6Spv0OVRuZqfyBEOdiG1dtz39pInxsLkBx0l-OgOvupHJl4Rhg7YI6Y3ZBP_M3A8eIiTWWXk4edlq-KZWbtOwJad75doX6pnptU68foxv2nj1GNauCLPaDQ7FSuaASPxdYFVW9edLSb_El44V2SdIaDM98sdZzq_T9MaHGDS9YYlL8RYNrK78bg/s2798/6F6EC2C1-DEB4-4EBE-A64E-92395ADE2D0A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2798" data-original-width="2506" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwSS6Spv0OVRuZqfyBEOdiG1dtz39pInxsLkBx0l-OgOvupHJl4Rhg7YI6Y3ZBP_M3A8eIiTWWXk4edlq-KZWbtOwJad75doX6pnptU68foxv2nj1GNauCLPaDQ7FSuaASPxdYFVW9edLSb_El44V2SdIaDM98sdZzq_T9MaHGDS9YYlL8RYNrK78bg/s320/6F6EC2C1-DEB4-4EBE-A64E-92395ADE2D0A.jpeg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Grandchildren</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY-jzPLbKXmGkRIk7j9KAaeY6-sI7C6t1T0QyOCb5J4uUW1YLfhhTn4dp0mCxiwfsMyC2wEZiAptQCnWLRWNtanjNihXBZ3I2ToVwH0TcTyIo6kE8O6HyxoOZsFL2ziVzYEsEWqiPIel5eG-AliuPKIlXMY3yYAavtzmWIbATTSFvVzZK5B1zAWoRHw/s3261/6F32CA97-315C-4693-85F0-990699F98F18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3261" data-original-width="2700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY-jzPLbKXmGkRIk7j9KAaeY6-sI7C6t1T0QyOCb5J4uUW1YLfhhTn4dp0mCxiwfsMyC2wEZiAptQCnWLRWNtanjNihXBZ3I2ToVwH0TcTyIo6kE8O6HyxoOZsFL2ziVzYEsEWqiPIel5eG-AliuPKIlXMY3yYAavtzmWIbATTSFvVzZK5B1zAWoRHw/w331-h400/6F32CA97-315C-4693-85F0-990699F98F18.jpeg" width="331" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Canada is Very Good!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not to mention my children and all my family, friends and experiences I’ve had over the years. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, it’s not always good, not always easy. But in the midst of my journey, I can find goodness hanging around. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tonight I’m going to see Jon Mayer in concert and I’m hoping he plays The Heart of Life (which by the way, SOMEBODY better play at my funeral). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He knows: at the crux of it all, the Heart of Life is good.</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-63126634353677505552023-02-26T19:29:00.000-08:002023-02-26T19:29:12.522-08:00WE’VE MADE SOME PROGRESS!<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I’m not a big fan of cold. Never have been. I appreciate winter’s beauty and stillness but in truth I “endure” it more than “embrace” it. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0198afqjaDdaSrPxn72vjtozfeaUgNEcdlQ2xUtGS8U_RmTeo47wJK5mi0hz_rqSkUL6UWbC2IdGH_56-oYmRLN4aANqrwH03tkMDI42-4bNqsz-68S-KY65cf2otpZeWTQgAbipSynAJ_8bMez1XClaz-9sJZ6RVqE9WzYkDSFP679FEyhtPRv9Ovw/s3295/6A579532-25FB-45A0-A49A-EE268E4B15C3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3295" data-original-width="2246" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0198afqjaDdaSrPxn72vjtozfeaUgNEcdlQ2xUtGS8U_RmTeo47wJK5mi0hz_rqSkUL6UWbC2IdGH_56-oYmRLN4aANqrwH03tkMDI42-4bNqsz-68S-KY65cf2otpZeWTQgAbipSynAJ_8bMez1XClaz-9sJZ6RVqE9WzYkDSFP679FEyhtPRv9Ovw/w273-h400/6A579532-25FB-45A0-A49A-EE268E4B15C3.jpeg" width="273" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But for the past 9 years or so, I’ve supported a fundraiser that impacts across the nation, raising funds and awareness for homeless called “Coldest Night of the Year”. I suppose it strikes a chord with me that everyone, EVERYONE, should have a warm place to lay their heads at night. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Back in 2015 I volunteered to stand out in the cold and wet snow, holding a sign that basically directed the sponsored walkers which way the route went. Here’s a pic from way back then:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X_y-5i7PiZcWykH2AVYpdDbU8eGQo0gnHhj-N_MjojJwyoIIblevhJI4iHLf3RRD3KbNwkcjgnDXwNfSrI56EUH-XJiuBhhMZmR_fRXbQ5JnyooGcmhLyZcr8mGE82r_S7X9U3l84SpMFQxrCVJvWwwwQyjKHNU6COR9JjVJ2z37DnpTsgmRCTqxXw/s1280/BF23C8FC-3DE6-4F1F-9C4A-7BD541A37AC7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X_y-5i7PiZcWykH2AVYpdDbU8eGQo0gnHhj-N_MjojJwyoIIblevhJI4iHLf3RRD3KbNwkcjgnDXwNfSrI56EUH-XJiuBhhMZmR_fRXbQ5JnyooGcmhLyZcr8mGE82r_S7X9U3l84SpMFQxrCVJvWwwwQyjKHNU6COR9JjVJ2z37DnpTsgmRCTqxXw/w400-h300/BF23C8FC-3DE6-4F1F-9C4A-7BD541A37AC7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Last year I got to drive my little Mini Cooper around like a pace car, ensuring the walkers were doing well and not in need of anything.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcVmi5MGV4XPpmS3bel0mIMlfcb9w5NaOYcBLLTdPHUQAduFIffILBiE47VscrFKLXImMbhWG8OQmNyCk_kEOrlRFTkfjPDoESSiMXRtvSlwHg80rFu-Yg6S4Y9XzE3a6kaoDTkWzL4XCzrx3eVTIE8r-LkcrJ0GwGkuRzxwcURwZ0YX_N668KYNHTQ/s3287/88ACFA1C-864D-46A5-97EC-278DA8DA3FD2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="3287" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcVmi5MGV4XPpmS3bel0mIMlfcb9w5NaOYcBLLTdPHUQAduFIffILBiE47VscrFKLXImMbhWG8OQmNyCk_kEOrlRFTkfjPDoESSiMXRtvSlwHg80rFu-Yg6S4Y9XzE3a6kaoDTkWzL4XCzrx3eVTIE8r-LkcrJ0GwGkuRzxwcURwZ0YX_N668KYNHTQ/w400-h315/88ACFA1C-864D-46A5-97EC-278DA8DA3FD2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That was a pretty sweet gig!</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A number of times including this year, I’ve helped with registration and managing money raised. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Back in 2015, we raised a little over $20,000. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">This past year, close to $65,000 was raised! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzpam__NM3spa9WtX0irRcjGC6ef1n4KUhzeq7a_PXBuSUh9D70v0h8Xr7_jcKAoYBKKQJI2AFcBvVTgVOXcYmgWGCYEEOkI4J0NdW1DBt--8yNtHr7Yxf8sf0HZPhiF5aLOrJO1qP6WlMNB4RDAlKQXWSBLlbgN09h9Ldx1a-Q_XpmGuh1NidyDLjg/s3857/D6A4279C-C99B-4BB0-A6FD-4747D95AE54C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3857" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzpam__NM3spa9WtX0irRcjGC6ef1n4KUhzeq7a_PXBuSUh9D70v0h8Xr7_jcKAoYBKKQJI2AFcBvVTgVOXcYmgWGCYEEOkI4J0NdW1DBt--8yNtHr7Yxf8sf0HZPhiF5aLOrJO1qP6WlMNB4RDAlKQXWSBLlbgN09h9Ldx1a-Q_XpmGuh1NidyDLjg/w400-h314/D6A4279C-C99B-4BB0-A6FD-4747D95AE54C.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Not only has the amount of funds increased, but the awareness and support in our community has tripled as well. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiSBDf83v9cm_5VZ84JA0dw1xqsJCmh5KKk6Nl1PphNMYlpZgjuv-x2Tjabd751rfgq40vy6NMVUkRSeZbbIOI09IYo4NPcC1NyB2n4ytUc41NHq4Mpaez9HZXDitb4ryLJA-JpwCwGVEZzNm_xyilspYucxERODQ4E_bvS_RX5bONUKNmVuz2P0Npg/s4032/A698C6C9-A376-40FB-AA82-F758135A4A17.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiSBDf83v9cm_5VZ84JA0dw1xqsJCmh5KKk6Nl1PphNMYlpZgjuv-x2Tjabd751rfgq40vy6NMVUkRSeZbbIOI09IYo4NPcC1NyB2n4ytUc41NHq4Mpaez9HZXDitb4ryLJA-JpwCwGVEZzNm_xyilspYucxERODQ4E_bvS_RX5bONUKNmVuz2P0Npg/w400-h300/A698C6C9-A376-40FB-AA82-F758135A4A17.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I’m not sure how many actually participated in the walk this year, but I do know we were very busy checking in the registrants! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since 2015, we now have an amazing homeless shelter called “Grace Inn” and a transitional home open with eyes of continued expansion and growth, supporting the homeless in our community. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I know “Coldest Night of the Year” truly impacts and makes a difference. Way to go Quinte and thank you for getting behind this fundraiser! I can attest to the fact: We’ve made some progress!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnr8kY0l3tSkDX-CmeLdLDBW8cbUAeVqYPqIL0URXMSZPbYiEYU9XKR7fSxnEmYCU5ET0sclq9snUsBfl0NsaaYrUyEpxeDnhw5ttOHIqBBdV7DYRZcqljIh5QSUnLBOksp5PU816BjYpNboCpJ8qz1irGGgfYAbJiScshgXPZXf1iQShb0c4zFNAKA/s3100/2849D656-2403-42DC-87D1-A0129B33607B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2519" data-original-width="3100" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnr8kY0l3tSkDX-CmeLdLDBW8cbUAeVqYPqIL0URXMSZPbYiEYU9XKR7fSxnEmYCU5ET0sclq9snUsBfl0NsaaYrUyEpxeDnhw5ttOHIqBBdV7DYRZcqljIh5QSUnLBOksp5PU816BjYpNboCpJ8qz1irGGgfYAbJiScshgXPZXf1iQShb0c4zFNAKA/w400-h325/2849D656-2403-42DC-87D1-A0129B33607B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-46895422880868188052023-02-12T15:28:00.000-08:002023-02-12T15:28:13.779-08:00 PUTTER THE DAY AWAY<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy3IyuJxQ-3QsVE2D2UfsN26wV3cYTMoLEpuQx30fym4c7lYx4S-wiVYOVA6EUKQitXh4_4bve-5Y6Z-WtI8oPXaQFknMGtNPL7x57DjkSpgOvOS1YpJWSiridxQMMhM_34uucN-UDM-Qq658uNinkFDMN2Hk9IjbiOAbOaDIA3iV2J1NjDPdDb9lmQ/s3950/E919455C-CE29-48C5-814E-770A66B3AEF7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2701" data-original-width="3950" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy3IyuJxQ-3QsVE2D2UfsN26wV3cYTMoLEpuQx30fym4c7lYx4S-wiVYOVA6EUKQitXh4_4bve-5Y6Z-WtI8oPXaQFknMGtNPL7x57DjkSpgOvOS1YpJWSiridxQMMhM_34uucN-UDM-Qq658uNinkFDMN2Hk9IjbiOAbOaDIA3iV2J1NjDPdDb9lmQ/s320/E919455C-CE29-48C5-814E-770A66B3AEF7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">I’ve come to the conclusion a day of Puttering is a privilege, a gift. </div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To Putter means </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 18.24px; font-weight: bold;">to</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 18.24px; font-weight: bold;"> move </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 18.24px; font-weight: bold;">around without</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 18.24px; font-weight: bold;"> hurrying </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 18.24px; font-weight: bold;">and in a</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 18.24px; font-weight: bold;"> relaxed </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 18.24px; font-weight: bold;">and</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 18.24px; font-weight: bold;"> pleasant way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Puttering is not open to those with children underfoot! If they are young your moment to “relax” happens when they decide to nap. And usually your have a million things to do in the 2 hour nap window. So you had better hurry. If you have teenagers there are sports to get them to or a job to drop them off at or pick up. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">No Puttering is for the 55 and over group or for the 10-12 year-olds who refer to it as “I’m bored”. Little do they know the next opportunity to putter is when you are old and gray! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I very happily puttered away this past weekend! Oh sure, I did a few necessities like vacuuming and mopping but mostly I moved from one moment to another in a relaxed and unhurried pace. No pressing agenda.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I went to the market and picked up fresh eggs and homemade raisin bread.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I stopped to pick up cat food and bought myself some flowers</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9r6c-5BGcB73YukIawt8uvDxIsEpSBUpi9nZa3BS8lzbVE5-8x7E7NOJ0ea8bWr54Z8cbvKAjxhdLYw7JfDvonAd7cPdgdW6NB9jwgM6qeyFRnD9JvWBi0MGP8pMsOLpYyZnt-StAQpyn3_OGvhtHkl-zMoakuJHdvRbi28BoflJ5hLNskKf2HWGxZQ/s4032/5CA2585F-2304-44B5-8804-5296F8B2F18F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9r6c-5BGcB73YukIawt8uvDxIsEpSBUpi9nZa3BS8lzbVE5-8x7E7NOJ0ea8bWr54Z8cbvKAjxhdLYw7JfDvonAd7cPdgdW6NB9jwgM6qeyFRnD9JvWBi0MGP8pMsOLpYyZnt-StAQpyn3_OGvhtHkl-zMoakuJHdvRbi28BoflJ5hLNskKf2HWGxZQ/w300-h400/5CA2585F-2304-44B5-8804-5296F8B2F18F.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I replenished the bird feeders and enjoyed watching them have their lunch!</span></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDbPltkvXvNqgLg7gY3TIDlOqX7EQnVB_DaYzuX-sSBJzFnq7zKBd5xbSS4fOW7PkANi5e1ctIhzPQkwR6AFVWcoBZ8V7vKeaQaxYck2Kd7A6uQWCSlqAZMD83I6HVctUyUKoSWUk2bF8mG8-ALT20373dGTmehGCCUjiCJICMnSHLTtALWdbXzTnmQ/s2768/578C10B2-5270-4962-864B-74215BBB97F6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="2041" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDbPltkvXvNqgLg7gY3TIDlOqX7EQnVB_DaYzuX-sSBJzFnq7zKBd5xbSS4fOW7PkANi5e1ctIhzPQkwR6AFVWcoBZ8V7vKeaQaxYck2Kd7A6uQWCSlqAZMD83I6HVctUyUKoSWUk2bF8mG8-ALT20373dGTmehGCCUjiCJICMnSHLTtALWdbXzTnmQ/w295-h400/578C10B2-5270-4962-864B-74215BBB97F6.jpeg" width="295" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;">And yes, I know that says Squirrel Buster but who are we kidding? They gotta eat too.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;">Saturday night we went for dinner with friends at Flame & Smith for a leisurely 6 course meal. And believe me, we puttered through it for over 2 hours!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PQpGdVvmgKnNKirWC0HyNrNc6UO6yDIsUG1bfjO4XMbVizxkXROckVhnf2LfVCOCYYN0bmYnnf2FmEb_SdYbzpwHs5OlGfkD3TcjJzKn26ib42CWSnqOKv2B0wPiGyBwVBZY-kCIT3BzMktNm82vbg6OosHa3wUmgu8jTCoKqriJ7kAl7LnGVuFaSQ/s4032/CD84A12D-4D25-4BD1-AAB5-E4D27F1AE6FD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PQpGdVvmgKnNKirWC0HyNrNc6UO6yDIsUG1bfjO4XMbVizxkXROckVhnf2LfVCOCYYN0bmYnnf2FmEb_SdYbzpwHs5OlGfkD3TcjJzKn26ib42CWSnqOKv2B0wPiGyBwVBZY-kCIT3BzMktNm82vbg6OosHa3wUmgu8jTCoKqriJ7kAl7LnGVuFaSQ/w300-h400/CD84A12D-4D25-4BD1-AAB5-E4D27F1AE6FD.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">From the seafood appetizer,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFVe9HJafflJl_oJEJyEgn3P-C9VWcH7RLkyFcXhYeJ43DfC7RQcJHFA0iTSfYrsahcWhf58XBRT3w-ifzKXhu5tB2hiUhZvP-3Nmd9DRSnlXtm4qVyHEa3afKo8obgf0MMOKXOGoBDduyVWvAs13Q8xUSi_bqTlgWdFh-2LI6CBgL3Izrp7sNi2Kew/s4032/09E1D272-524C-41CB-A478-3501C5B80D7C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFVe9HJafflJl_oJEJyEgn3P-C9VWcH7RLkyFcXhYeJ43DfC7RQcJHFA0iTSfYrsahcWhf58XBRT3w-ifzKXhu5tB2hiUhZvP-3Nmd9DRSnlXtm4qVyHEa3afKo8obgf0MMOKXOGoBDduyVWvAs13Q8xUSi_bqTlgWdFh-2LI6CBgL3Izrp7sNi2Kew/w300-h400/09E1D272-524C-41CB-A478-3501C5B80D7C.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">To the death by chocolate dessert</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow it is back to the office Monday - Friday and all the pressing details that go with it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But Oh, to Putter the Day or even the Weekend Away! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-73179395683585464692022-11-19T17:38:00.000-08:002022-11-19T17:38:12.649-08:00A BLANKET INVITATION<p> <span style="font-size: large;">There is something about a blanket. They are just so dang inviting. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistUI9SQoXI_UTQZaymHJl-47leJqxSl1Ljrw4XKoPBJJzZwAEa_C26VAh7FAfW22EKZXv3YLI5wEStgRbBqi8CvI4dagFIB6TovySmyUiE6wYqQXjLzSP9RVdvQT6D9F3fH8ABKJXdtxMc2eOhGXJwfpX1pw6_hrZkWuZbc6G9X1UinBrFlmn6tDt8g/s4032/5BDEC67C-A46D-455B-9BFE-48F277160F25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistUI9SQoXI_UTQZaymHJl-47leJqxSl1Ljrw4XKoPBJJzZwAEa_C26VAh7FAfW22EKZXv3YLI5wEStgRbBqi8CvI4dagFIB6TovySmyUiE6wYqQXjLzSP9RVdvQT6D9F3fH8ABKJXdtxMc2eOhGXJwfpX1pw6_hrZkWuZbc6G9X1UinBrFlmn6tDt8g/w400-h300/5BDEC67C-A46D-455B-9BFE-48F277160F25.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As soon as I throw one on, you can bet a pet is not far behind!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“What’s this? A cosy lap complete with blanket? Count me in!”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Blankets mean welcome and warmth. They are cosy and protecting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">have a couple bargain blankets that I drag around from living room in front of the TV to back yard when the wind picks up to the cottage for coolish mornings by the lake. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8hLrX1VwWwEPO3lqSlt5CTvF3WIU2PcQHjvft-b7FNvqFoxEnHgvbtGyuXDY3L8Cubl4EE0gkjq4HTdbKhI9wiKfSMR_0w07LuvJrb5tBkXlpoLGtj7z-b77HYX-jVXtdf5vzP4w0iIejqyu8fWkZTpB8chCecxfErAmUSOcQuwz8EYKMwBwOo4LOg/s2977/B250691D-26D4-484D-8FCB-BF8CECFDA21E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2977" data-original-width="2217" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8hLrX1VwWwEPO3lqSlt5CTvF3WIU2PcQHjvft-b7FNvqFoxEnHgvbtGyuXDY3L8Cubl4EE0gkjq4HTdbKhI9wiKfSMR_0w07LuvJrb5tBkXlpoLGtj7z-b77HYX-jVXtdf5vzP4w0iIejqyu8fWkZTpB8chCecxfErAmUSOcQuwz8EYKMwBwOo4LOg/w298-h400/B250691D-26D4-484D-8FCB-BF8CECFDA21E.jpeg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Eva is partial to the yellow one with the flowers. A snuggle on Dad’s lap makes it even better!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And Soren was not going to miss out on the fun either. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEG61KFI3NChjH6KSseGb23ebW2TOJE4Bs0AJKIdN7Syvd9ZvQfoqWyYgevoRV3cwAWO22rkq-GwF2lk0BwQkwFzDhmMNYkLNpBfcEt5LOrbwfRqUt5YleRQ4YO3zxdcqrevQDlEiAMLOkgW2uylwPP6DKk2XjORRKH0BiDzIwWe1LYYg79NKz6bktg/s4032/F20DB6F1-69E8-4E04-9DC5-61D388943DA8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEG61KFI3NChjH6KSseGb23ebW2TOJE4Bs0AJKIdN7Syvd9ZvQfoqWyYgevoRV3cwAWO22rkq-GwF2lk0BwQkwFzDhmMNYkLNpBfcEt5LOrbwfRqUt5YleRQ4YO3zxdcqrevQDlEiAMLOkgW2uylwPP6DKk2XjORRKH0BiDzIwWe1LYYg79NKz6bktg/w300-h400/F20DB6F1-69E8-4E04-9DC5-61D388943DA8.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s hard to resist a blanket invitation! </span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lxeqQTYKJ_C73p8fDXdrUENvAue1Fhb0U1gwkiTg9Q4g6o45SdZ7HytPGalU7Tg3Psfd9qxKBdGeo4GMDp--0YPczM8xV6gO5js20QuoudYMQxYbFlHWrazZz71RAie4dN-y9TqBsf3IKetqCRUz5NsQM_PULzkF-CGAUxIB1GtnQu0V6gThCbOMsw/s4032/8C74D183-2916-4099-B11E-A3599059FA9B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lxeqQTYKJ_C73p8fDXdrUENvAue1Fhb0U1gwkiTg9Q4g6o45SdZ7HytPGalU7Tg3Psfd9qxKBdGeo4GMDp--0YPczM8xV6gO5js20QuoudYMQxYbFlHWrazZz71RAie4dN-y9TqBsf3IKetqCRUz5NsQM_PULzkF-CGAUxIB1GtnQu0V6gThCbOMsw/w300-h400/8C74D183-2916-4099-B11E-A3599059FA9B.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> Well, most of the time….</span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-29264376844149848332022-10-30T14:40:00.001-07:002022-10-30T14:41:48.155-07:00IT’S A PRIVILEGE<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend Sheldon and I had the privilege of staying at a cottage. The weather was beautiful; crisp, cool nights and soft goodbye summer sun during the day. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QX5oxi-veNLaZgYd8LyV_SeZS3xQxY4O1qOMujaZcsZ9m3G-YLcsVwsF5-gjif_hLA9zXPkfA42k5hknw0G242D04fI6Rzxw5DoUcRmYJ0xRQLzpNNYOsTqmTiqrmVJbhCmDJVfFuertev5IFdQhAh--MbvVXiYrDKMIbvku1T-8JBSJraZHytSf4Q/s4032/380C7131-BE33-4C71-8439-D0330DF07EA1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QX5oxi-veNLaZgYd8LyV_SeZS3xQxY4O1qOMujaZcsZ9m3G-YLcsVwsF5-gjif_hLA9zXPkfA42k5hknw0G242D04fI6Rzxw5DoUcRmYJ0xRQLzpNNYOsTqmTiqrmVJbhCmDJVfFuertev5IFdQhAh--MbvVXiYrDKMIbvku1T-8JBSJraZHytSf4Q/w300-h400/380C7131-BE33-4C71-8439-D0330DF07EA1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a privilege to share space with this much beauty! Lulu loved it!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We took walks down the country roads to take in the last of the fall colours</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2y9Nh3S7gMsYGuuCcyM_c2-vosHP8f0cUXRtJzmZLlr7vPfjd2K10biIt1usVtn407qC3zoluxpuyvTd7q9upSt6kT1VLbC7cwg7szZm7HVWUTPVNUBQ__BiZfpx0Qkj327PK7IINrD7VYI8w476D-dcoBL7KVZPo9RRc58U3mlrcKm1g0m0fxgnb6Q/s4032/00D88FD5-B0F2-4C45-B263-8A6A8FF73150.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2y9Nh3S7gMsYGuuCcyM_c2-vosHP8f0cUXRtJzmZLlr7vPfjd2K10biIt1usVtn407qC3zoluxpuyvTd7q9upSt6kT1VLbC7cwg7szZm7HVWUTPVNUBQ__BiZfpx0Qkj327PK7IINrD7VYI8w476D-dcoBL7KVZPo9RRc58U3mlrcKm1g0m0fxgnb6Q/w280-h400/00D88FD5-B0F2-4C45-B263-8A6A8FF73150.jpeg" width="280" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> With no streetlights around, the night creeps in quickly. It’s a privilege to watch a golden sunset over the lake.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I6RSHRGmGTd4t2iemWk1Vfqa4dUIKzVE9vlJRUun3oZ5dhrQ_Bw7xzKDN_ud_q-t9o_qfCvF62rBrztKZ9X714ThzJXDGv9-3fV1AbyDHdZg2TbcfGyvpj88Cm0bGDvdYZ-rgUQK22-GulESZ7_iJ_PFhPRL94Xd2WsusgVRGZaA9Pz57eH86p6g_w/s4032/32F8F42E-C44A-4818-931D-00F6823193AD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I6RSHRGmGTd4t2iemWk1Vfqa4dUIKzVE9vlJRUun3oZ5dhrQ_Bw7xzKDN_ud_q-t9o_qfCvF62rBrztKZ9X714ThzJXDGv9-3fV1AbyDHdZg2TbcfGyvpj88Cm0bGDvdYZ-rgUQK22-GulESZ7_iJ_PFhPRL94Xd2WsusgVRGZaA9Pz57eH86p6g_w/w300-h400/32F8F42E-C44A-4818-931D-00F6823193AD.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-size: large;">And in the morning (my favourite time), the Adirondack chairs called me back to sip hot coffee wrapped in a blanket</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYk2UnJ2WpvrKppqkZlrSagfgjKoD3d7zYHBuyurTZcu-6w8IQEjXcEIu2q17rEkbQONhIfTdw-1NZBTjJXl-1dbsm35PUmz1301iAtVQuMz82N7FY_6n-kqdXQRtmfdk1Bqdqw_V88W0y8zHu1C85woHxdxO1j_9bZBoxRYPsp2-cXU71XnZIj_CElg/s4032/72A71F6D-9036-4151-88E8-06ABD879301B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYk2UnJ2WpvrKppqkZlrSagfgjKoD3d7zYHBuyurTZcu-6w8IQEjXcEIu2q17rEkbQONhIfTdw-1NZBTjJXl-1dbsm35PUmz1301iAtVQuMz82N7FY_6n-kqdXQRtmfdk1Bqdqw_V88W0y8zHu1C85woHxdxO1j_9bZBoxRYPsp2-cXU71XnZIj_CElg/w300-h400/72A71F6D-9036-4151-88E8-06ABD879301B.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><p><span style="font-size: large;">On a hike in the woods, Red maples, yellow oaks and beech trees with copper leaves scattered all around us and covered the ground</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rmtYrZuTA1_U_d1KPb9q9tpR3PmnXmr470oPNTiuS5Dd9oqh_GjrswAMFKXTylG4mmVCwhrNTV5FsSagqJc7TSclITq7IGT2LGoOYD0SMDE7rmMp8BDa9qDCNlyueEEjb0-zfIJjhuPHQHrt5jc_1qxTHISd3CD4cFH-rwclxnOUvWIIny0Pkk-PIg/s4032/A2BC73DC-0B97-4228-8E83-F470F7D39CF2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rmtYrZuTA1_U_d1KPb9q9tpR3PmnXmr470oPNTiuS5Dd9oqh_GjrswAMFKXTylG4mmVCwhrNTV5FsSagqJc7TSclITq7IGT2LGoOYD0SMDE7rmMp8BDa9qDCNlyueEEjb0-zfIJjhuPHQHrt5jc_1qxTHISd3CD4cFH-rwclxnOUvWIIny0Pkk-PIg/w300-h400/A2BC73DC-0B97-4228-8E83-F470F7D39CF2.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Back at the cottage, I washed up the dinner dishes and stared at this view, so much better than the 1980’s ceramic tile under a fluorescent tube I have at home!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5Hh5-mRNXgKI0b9Q4Z4zCSo28VF0qQAMG6M-5uZqFCuyOCYazz6_13RnKAwD2IyDiRXCE8Mqp7lwvfgLhGbybO6Z6cVLQkRmocbqj_AAcBLLx2nQJFmGHPaJqARJrrxeKao0gHGKPR1WuZffy8Xc3byU9bJOAWZrGx7W2cn9pX0vnj7qt4u6D3R9ew/s3613/8C95364C-3DE6-415C-80C3-73910D17D5B0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3613" data-original-width="2710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5Hh5-mRNXgKI0b9Q4Z4zCSo28VF0qQAMG6M-5uZqFCuyOCYazz6_13RnKAwD2IyDiRXCE8Mqp7lwvfgLhGbybO6Z6cVLQkRmocbqj_AAcBLLx2nQJFmGHPaJqARJrrxeKao0gHGKPR1WuZffy8Xc3byU9bJOAWZrGx7W2cn9pX0vnj7qt4u6D3R9ew/w300-h400/8C95364C-3DE6-415C-80C3-73910D17D5B0.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p>It occurred to me there were only a handful of people around me on this little spit of land. All this beauty, all this space for us to enjoy. Many of us live in noise, chaos, crowds. Many of us rarely have a moment to ourselves! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This weekend at a cottage in the woods was a privilege and I did not take it for granted and sent up my Thanks and appreciation. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope and pray for the little gifts you can enjoy for strength and refreshing. I know it’s a privilege, but you are worth it. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvEoPhXoHULEBpktiiSe2RzotOc0SnXhxIRJM6284N-fT-Vt9mlIqbDtEefGFnuNw8t8MxfXIZhsNO3ar_otIJTxb4S_E-CpCmd4qW5CjpgcaeFPtVouEZ_1DqM73NtgNYjY1ZQbLEqxPiFYyWPEXs49LGG1R8pDnydgjWIng1wqQA57zUrz2BgE0wA/s4032/E7D18BCF-BB8A-4F0D-898E-FB12E998E770.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvEoPhXoHULEBpktiiSe2RzotOc0SnXhxIRJM6284N-fT-Vt9mlIqbDtEefGFnuNw8t8MxfXIZhsNO3ar_otIJTxb4S_E-CpCmd4qW5CjpgcaeFPtVouEZ_1DqM73NtgNYjY1ZQbLEqxPiFYyWPEXs49LGG1R8pDnydgjWIng1wqQA57zUrz2BgE0wA/w300-h400/E7D18BCF-BB8A-4F0D-898E-FB12E998E770.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-52615982542614274772022-09-11T19:19:00.000-07:002022-09-11T19:19:18.953-07:00THE WHIRLWIND CROSS COUNTRY TOUR<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Every now and then, a one-of-a-kind opportunity shows up. Recently I had the opportunity to drive across Canada in a whirlwind tour with my son. Adrian and Carolyn decided to move back to Ontario (yippee!) from Vancouver and as Carolyn and Prince Caleb were flying back Adrian would have to drive. The Mama in me did not want him doing such a trek alone so I flew out and met him in Kelowna for the drive back together. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Gmu4IfOzpbtX80fT2n7W6OqTdcFFv-curh43H7agG1VCo4r6eycAQYl_Q6iRPwVtTe-3Gc2U8F6-B2oDJ_9Q0Y-wA51115y1zgNZfRP1eYFC8UArsaQ09lJCBW0Cu9Jc43no5Xi8iW0Flk2uHQbulJkWgSSceRwhXaL1dM1_rQlMoYxjo9t_r6yNJQ/s4032/D1ED0B34-0C5B-4DE1-9648-CEFA1567A34A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Gmu4IfOzpbtX80fT2n7W6OqTdcFFv-curh43H7agG1VCo4r6eycAQYl_Q6iRPwVtTe-3Gc2U8F6-B2oDJ_9Q0Y-wA51115y1zgNZfRP1eYFC8UArsaQ09lJCBW0Cu9Jc43no5Xi8iW0Flk2uHQbulJkWgSSceRwhXaL1dM1_rQlMoYxjo9t_r6yNJQ/w400-h300/D1ED0B34-0C5B-4DE1-9648-CEFA1567A34A.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The 5 day whirlwind mother/son tour involved stops in Calgary, Brandon Manitoba, Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. We drove anywhere from 7 hours to 13 hours a day! </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhmz2i4dzrbD_5ZNBSXCI7ztR5TD23HUsfLCSfYj81QTWudx8kMxcBt9GweziA0oWMMwBvMg1nKuGrfUOAiCshBF0Mzl27ppRY07C2oOYlbb5p1YMy2rbVnI0aT_amZXhh-h7ddx1zXC7n2ZSzVPFD8k3xufvH-ocg2fQJCFkqpKiACMnx3D98LecIQ/s3558/AC2421A2-8483-42E4-A28F-D79234BA5E0B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3558" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhmz2i4dzrbD_5ZNBSXCI7ztR5TD23HUsfLCSfYj81QTWudx8kMxcBt9GweziA0oWMMwBvMg1nKuGrfUOAiCshBF0Mzl27ppRY07C2oOYlbb5p1YMy2rbVnI0aT_amZXhh-h7ddx1zXC7n2ZSzVPFD8k3xufvH-ocg2fQJCFkqpKiACMnx3D98LecIQ/w340-h400/AC2421A2-8483-42E4-A28F-D79234BA5E0B.jpeg" width="340" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But Oh, Canada! What a beautiful country you are! The Rockies will take your breath away. Lunches consisted of crackers, cheeses, apples, blueberries and sugar snap peas. Revelstoke was our first lunch stop and a local snapped a pic for us!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMGxT40tVoLE7AN33ZYmcwdF-wxmCaK5omtZ3DZMwSo2DzyfA4up6Z3lWllC2Pw5D4UUYE6hHORnRBlDf1DJgwbuTFtJwIQgD2mZBLSfg1uObmIkLQohcfoHpiutp_Ae9MRznN5Y01Uv123wexXo47bsHD5gDptjKD9NtwKJ_5E08Fum4kVFIrg27AA/s4032/3E1B2665-D712-438C-AE36-33800C36551B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMGxT40tVoLE7AN33ZYmcwdF-wxmCaK5omtZ3DZMwSo2DzyfA4up6Z3lWllC2Pw5D4UUYE6hHORnRBlDf1DJgwbuTFtJwIQgD2mZBLSfg1uObmIkLQohcfoHpiutp_Ae9MRznN5Y01Uv123wexXo47bsHD5gDptjKD9NtwKJ_5E08Fum4kVFIrg27AA/w300-h400/3E1B2665-D712-438C-AE36-33800C36551B.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Carolyn brother Joel and his wife Adrienne put us up for the first night in Calgary and Adrienne made a fresh pecan pie with and crisp oat crust. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZCwmiCiX4XO2aWH1dX-zJV9UDO3uvvvXIKdUcJzcfv2lGqGAs5Nh_kQeSbMZHb7IKbG5pPUpxYdPAUrLUKLpH21B8_8XezlpRovqq5GCTnvAKppOSqk9rNi0OVRjoVcn_7YB_u2yP3r-5kdhMPI0isBEwbYlWvNMZnj2hDa40eB3LzJ1vBPc9zO7Ig/s4032/9FDF8A0D-945D-4913-A7D3-D0695CDD07AE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZCwmiCiX4XO2aWH1dX-zJV9UDO3uvvvXIKdUcJzcfv2lGqGAs5Nh_kQeSbMZHb7IKbG5pPUpxYdPAUrLUKLpH21B8_8XezlpRovqq5GCTnvAKppOSqk9rNi0OVRjoVcn_7YB_u2yP3r-5kdhMPI0isBEwbYlWvNMZnj2hDa40eB3LzJ1vBPc9zO7Ig/w300-h400/9FDF8A0D-945D-4913-A7D3-D0695CDD07AE.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div> We took some of this bad boy on the road with us!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The prairies gave us a cloud free endless sky the entire way through Manitoba and Saskatchewan</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmRSbBAc82SNd83M9TZWy1i23B9UdeXqlwhUlcVanCqY4WwXOQZ-46nCfh2WBbopgJjPnO-eqq34tXetGce3nGsHlWDmzUmw7MEqB1vaYDi2ZB9oNb15xCjhA8qCkEnF54nsWiWOfBZkUXwjlio99KPywplMB6wPGltqT_Qx_uvnphau3k09zApJ0mg/s4032/6FF8959F-5D7D-4C19-AAFD-9C921F924FEB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmRSbBAc82SNd83M9TZWy1i23B9UdeXqlwhUlcVanCqY4WwXOQZ-46nCfh2WBbopgJjPnO-eqq34tXetGce3nGsHlWDmzUmw7MEqB1vaYDi2ZB9oNb15xCjhA8qCkEnF54nsWiWOfBZkUXwjlio99KPywplMB6wPGltqT_Qx_uvnphau3k09zApJ0mg/w400-h300/6FF8959F-5D7D-4C19-AAFD-9C921F924FEB.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Ontario has it’s own charms too, including quick connections with old friends! In Thunder Bay, my friend Michelle met us in the morning with Starbucks for the road! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTjPChg3mGs5Z2VxGtQb-VNLbg-sOoyS6mX6-fPjPi9KRpgMwBDFn-XKeeL6MMFR7luiYWwhJWBGior-eDG6nn6m40JGbgfPQwqrKYBLXrLwnbJBoz-au-cnmcken4to5AYq1-CK-qMCg110mMCILH-jFhJH8aK4YbWjOdpiwIYyJXNOJjPnFEyX-OQ/s2560/21FC7847-EBC6-4B78-B182-24E4DE01A677.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="2316" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTjPChg3mGs5Z2VxGtQb-VNLbg-sOoyS6mX6-fPjPi9KRpgMwBDFn-XKeeL6MMFR7luiYWwhJWBGior-eDG6nn6m40JGbgfPQwqrKYBLXrLwnbJBoz-au-cnmcken4to5AYq1-CK-qMCg110mMCILH-jFhJH8aK4YbWjOdpiwIYyJXNOJjPnFEyX-OQ/w363-h400/21FC7847-EBC6-4B78-B182-24E4DE01A677.jpeg" width="363" /></a></div>It was a brisk morning in northern Canada and a hot bevy and warm smile were greatly appreciated! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then, a quick stop in Massey Ontario for a hug from my sweet friend Jocelyn! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigv8mkZyXdlODGiqOaEGHNNeS2urtwuS_YJvO7PXQkT3DoSEanyy-cCWdXWCcj57_jr94oyYISLsKY7vzbF6QXHKD-PFp5CDjIh25_mMJ8vG_GqXbH47ODQ-r98x7rk3BKiG9no0jNqWZ-Q-E0DSZA-p74rlNQHhLcATI3XPZzl_WnS3rdnwh9wgTJQ/s2414/5645E66D-6B16-4B50-B68A-12DED4464D62.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2414" data-original-width="2316" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigv8mkZyXdlODGiqOaEGHNNeS2urtwuS_YJvO7PXQkT3DoSEanyy-cCWdXWCcj57_jr94oyYISLsKY7vzbF6QXHKD-PFp5CDjIh25_mMJ8vG_GqXbH47ODQ-r98x7rk3BKiG9no0jNqWZ-Q-E0DSZA-p74rlNQHhLcATI3XPZzl_WnS3rdnwh9wgTJQ/w384-h400/5645E66D-6B16-4B50-B68A-12DED4464D62.jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The Rockies are incredible but Ontario has it’s charms as well</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI_5F_b8fKQ916P7am_rb5qEBJouYZ9-SrXKJrCY5ne3qzdY3JMaVPZEpPwHTDCrKVqcW9lY5MLfUZo1QO5q1vw5vhGvBaErNilRbmgVSOz0EdivWUGjpE6tKhswyqimx8J0Y24RAHCt7whQWjQksGkcKCHnBNaU-4aRhfCImnmUcWtAjAQsitbgRig/s4032/C38C6E20-668E-41A6-BD7A-6AF878B6711C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI_5F_b8fKQ916P7am_rb5qEBJouYZ9-SrXKJrCY5ne3qzdY3JMaVPZEpPwHTDCrKVqcW9lY5MLfUZo1QO5q1vw5vhGvBaErNilRbmgVSOz0EdivWUGjpE6tKhswyqimx8J0Y24RAHCt7whQWjQksGkcKCHnBNaU-4aRhfCImnmUcWtAjAQsitbgRig/w300-h400/C38C6E20-668E-41A6-BD7A-6AF878B6711C.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> I stuck my toes into Lake Superior. It is C.O.L.D.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nQVHTLprTQ9ljV2qNFNmcjbDwmu_Ha6T0MEgZY7q8qSEvvlFbstV7bBYM2tPlPpu-lRvTEhqV0fRBxMWJrN1A7uakZz_JjQzWvKjpdjJ7GRIQNwnfmdCGhXWpUBtiZryCR32zmTLHEa2wPV0ACa3cA-tEoeKJ-71c7PVewAyl-P-Bey3skS9QPKFhg/s4032/DB56D6E6-6A1E-4AFA-957F-A12406414D19.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nQVHTLprTQ9ljV2qNFNmcjbDwmu_Ha6T0MEgZY7q8qSEvvlFbstV7bBYM2tPlPpu-lRvTEhqV0fRBxMWJrN1A7uakZz_JjQzWvKjpdjJ7GRIQNwnfmdCGhXWpUBtiZryCR32zmTLHEa2wPV0ACa3cA-tEoeKJ-71c7PVewAyl-P-Bey3skS9QPKFhg/w400-h300/DB56D6E6-6A1E-4AFA-957F-A12406414D19.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Neither Adrian and I are big talkers so we enjoyed a mixed Spotify playlist: John Mayer, Coldplay, City and Colour, The Arkells, Black Pumas, Jamiroquoi, Pink Floyd and Queen, Night at the Opera. We also worked our way through an Audio story about a group of Immortals dodging bad guys from Tibet to Alaska!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After 5 days, we arrived in Peterborough where we met Carolyn and Caleb at her parents and Sheldon drove up to join for supper before taking me home. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This was the most one-on-one time I’ve had with my son since he was a baby. I know it was a gift of time together. Thanks to Sid and Cheryl, Marc and Sarah, Amanda, Joel and Adrienne, Michelle and Jocelyn who fed us, gave us a place to sleep and/or loved on us. And Thanks Adrian for taking your Old Mom on a whirlwind cross-Canada road tour! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-47204159115024851542022-08-21T16:41:00.000-07:002022-08-21T16:41:43.569-07:00MORNINGS ARE MY FAVOURITE!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a9lqKaMyyWzRju4tELtyg27e9ktQwjTc-ObQ8cp3RBsxTHR2OU2TrSmDS6j21vLWkVkdEB3L01a2H3MOvYx7ftQxy-XwhIHe709qAEdA7VgjCyMhvLUX8MrG93jHy0-5QZH6Oywxq-iDOcDiPBCBs_XQgHkiYUu5xP4xJI8PtiFB_5iHsvkuV0Lorw/s4032/1C9FF25F-7775-49E6-9C2C-0899287CCC33.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a9lqKaMyyWzRju4tELtyg27e9ktQwjTc-ObQ8cp3RBsxTHR2OU2TrSmDS6j21vLWkVkdEB3L01a2H3MOvYx7ftQxy-XwhIHe709qAEdA7VgjCyMhvLUX8MrG93jHy0-5QZH6Oywxq-iDOcDiPBCBs_XQgHkiYUu5xP4xJI8PtiFB_5iHsvkuV0Lorw/w400-h300/1C9FF25F-7775-49E6-9C2C-0899287CCC33.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How has your summer been? We who live in the northern hemisphere (in my case, Canada), treasure and savour summer, trying to make the most of the longer, warm days. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mornings are my favourite any time of the year and summer mornings have their own warmth and charm. This summer, I’ve had the chance to enjoy not one but two different cottages. In the mornings with a steaming cup of coffee, Lulu and I, sit by the water, listening to the simple sounds of loons, the occasional low rumble of a motor boat and water gently lapping up to the shore. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4epB9nmCIBE-Rfslbzyo6miAXOh4xEiSpbkHDmOaz_zLadhDI8bBnBTLrcPFOyaUGAsrQwWaNh266e0dxLMDO5YZbikV5nr3uTvYZSwr6A6smwytheSu9cadiPqsWhtiZuzEOUg9yQjm2tUKA-OR-j0DUeSiNVlGzTLg8u6YNa8oadVdXHiIQVvmUg/s4032/7D4F6B83-7798-4B5C-B61D-19013B5E45A1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4epB9nmCIBE-Rfslbzyo6miAXOh4xEiSpbkHDmOaz_zLadhDI8bBnBTLrcPFOyaUGAsrQwWaNh266e0dxLMDO5YZbikV5nr3uTvYZSwr6A6smwytheSu9cadiPqsWhtiZuzEOUg9yQjm2tUKA-OR-j0DUeSiNVlGzTLg8u6YNa8oadVdXHiIQVvmUg/w300-h400/7D4F6B83-7798-4B5C-B61D-19013B5E45A1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Ah….the serene quiet life I live….</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But mornings as an empty nester have been a little different this summer. My daughter and her family are in the midst of building their first home which has a way to go before it’s finished…and they are trying to make do with a trailer on the lot. Which also means they spend a fair bit of time at our house showering and enjoying such luxuries as space, laundry and a TV!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So now my mornings often include grand babies and tired parents. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Some things remain the same. I still have DandyLion, my water obsessed cat hanging around the bathroom waiting for me to turn on the faucet.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VnrkZhoBq36rSoLu47J9fXic22Ol_FYlyNNbCDbna7gwe5lfWEXlpktkjBG_A5UApxYDq5rVFHJywtF9TzR7r5X9x0mc0t-UeEY9iH6-1CwuTSZNFT_GbBzYJa2fNkobtQgynmYHTznxTki_7VSkCRBScTX97R9-sGCfUn0iqeAoEDSJHrA7dWeXuQ/s4032/3F65097B-5A89-47F5-A0C6-61EC21E3440B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VnrkZhoBq36rSoLu47J9fXic22Ol_FYlyNNbCDbna7gwe5lfWEXlpktkjBG_A5UApxYDq5rVFHJywtF9TzR7r5X9x0mc0t-UeEY9iH6-1CwuTSZNFT_GbBzYJa2fNkobtQgynmYHTznxTki_7VSkCRBScTX97R9-sGCfUn0iqeAoEDSJHrA7dWeXuQ/w300-h400/3F65097B-5A89-47F5-A0C6-61EC21E3440B.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I’m quite used to looking at this furry butt first thing in the morning.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But now there is a 4-year-old and a baby causing all sorts of bittersweet moments as well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One morning both were up and about. Soren managed to step in something Lulu had thrown up, and that sent him into a downward spiral. We managed to get his foot cleaned up and calmed him down enough to start his breakfast. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7SHZ6gIyvNdcK9JJjuB4NUAjsNYEbnTD4pMGYpYy4DUp9W1OyHKNzICOjwmjf3EwtCgE1plJt0lXwu5VWS9gP6gKRxqWlU9NH9Uw9WH8Yc2K7qkBq4jyNql2URYEM1-T8yCrpUFkVgHvNfAvZoFJgBS1CQwqpziCORWp58LY0aHZgP9yzTtm82zk7g/s3297/85A9C251-126D-47B3-9807-04F08EE0F617.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3297" data-original-width="2529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7SHZ6gIyvNdcK9JJjuB4NUAjsNYEbnTD4pMGYpYy4DUp9W1OyHKNzICOjwmjf3EwtCgE1plJt0lXwu5VWS9gP6gKRxqWlU9NH9Uw9WH8Yc2K7qkBq4jyNql2URYEM1-T8yCrpUFkVgHvNfAvZoFJgBS1CQwqpziCORWp58LY0aHZgP9yzTtm82zk7g/w306-h400/85A9C251-126D-47B3-9807-04F08EE0F617.jpeg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">He very quickly managed to knock his cereal bowl and spill milk all over. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Baby Eva sits in her high chair singing “Hot Cross Buns” that sounds more like “Haw, cos uns…haw, cos uns!” </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDdw_pZDncy2E_6r2w6kXcK5hnEYOHuOUEVA8ta09CRfcDrmb6nKDJjdLmhTbWpTkUeplYzVNJ2v13mHu6_WBwxNFTVlx8g7JRvRDdOi1dax58k-ogk1oCxF6ve8wTB9WoVZmus0_KGZZGrfQmJMwfA8VUkYvFgf-sG38qK6UdAjuqc2HnSaTezKTJQ/s4030/775918AB-9DB7-411B-9C06-4635DA5F36DA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4030" data-original-width="2581" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDdw_pZDncy2E_6r2w6kXcK5hnEYOHuOUEVA8ta09CRfcDrmb6nKDJjdLmhTbWpTkUeplYzVNJ2v13mHu6_WBwxNFTVlx8g7JRvRDdOi1dax58k-ogk1oCxF6ve8wTB9WoVZmus0_KGZZGrfQmJMwfA8VUkYvFgf-sG38qK6UdAjuqc2HnSaTezKTJQ/w256-h400/775918AB-9DB7-411B-9C06-4635DA5F36DA.jpeg" width="256" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">It’s chaos and wonder, a bittersweet mix of joy and frustration all in one. It is NOT serene, quiet and peaceful!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Still, Mornings are my favourite! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-21468668567857782782022-07-24T05:42:00.001-07:002022-07-24T05:42:47.806-07:00ENCOUNTERS WITH A HUMMINGBIRD<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncr54wgCSqEzcMuFvWpuEMoTWtPrqK1BntLZVGxehvEYojFxZdIgl7rSxLdPSJ9YArpBzEKr7pOElBgl2Rt9R5uLZ4S4dCBUeRwlJ0h-L3finSwPbFl-fCDroDZtbTUgmfx0zf9aZ9-aq85VgmrvcJAUY37QpvZEMyvebx0yn0YvCGa1L_kq1vweaRw/s4030/141628FD-8348-48C8-85DE-5E619EFFCB0F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2620" data-original-width="4030" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncr54wgCSqEzcMuFvWpuEMoTWtPrqK1BntLZVGxehvEYojFxZdIgl7rSxLdPSJ9YArpBzEKr7pOElBgl2Rt9R5uLZ4S4dCBUeRwlJ0h-L3finSwPbFl-fCDroDZtbTUgmfx0zf9aZ9-aq85VgmrvcJAUY37QpvZEMyvebx0yn0YvCGa1L_kq1vweaRw/w400-h260/141628FD-8348-48C8-85DE-5E619EFFCB0F.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Last week, as I sat in the garden enjoying my coffee a little hummingbird stopped by to visit the flowers. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was so close to me I could have touched it! I watched it hover and dart tasting each of the rain drenched offerings. It’s little wings a blur and it’s back a beautiful iridescent sheen. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I found myself staying perfectly still, barely breathing and amazed at this little bird in wondrous flight. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, when you observe something so beautiful you “make space” for the sacred moment, without even realizing it. It could be a sunrise or sunset, a baby sleeping, the woman/man of your dreams walks into your life, a hummingbird visit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve supported many people who are grieving and many need you to make space for them. Stop talking. Listen. Stay still. Let their grief flow, it needs room to expand. You might have nothing to say to make things better and that’s OK.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This morning I’m at a cottage, overlooking a serene lake on a grey day. As I sip my coffee, listening to the wind sigh in the pines and the birdsong, who should come along but a little hummingbird! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Life throws us a lot of frustrations and pain. I appreciate these sacred encounters! </span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-70959751346346909022022-07-03T05:55:00.001-07:002022-08-25T17:42:29.152-07:00HAVING THE OPPOSITE EFFECT<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Our cat DandyLion is a fluffy fella. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77umNWEIMNRnze_QUyl40uS5mR1Z2oDwwbiCNoeOJQSFFZzYv-lySwZayIGr1UL1xqd-vCTamdake2dk2utPmp4MPN3DjJSkIFM82asZOI6KFF5EWUCXW3Walk2YBedbGnLUPZgfM4tCurGrOV03E8nWWhr2yXceAYLqzTJjVu0gFu-8ZXmICPwFKfA/s2482/4213C9E9-5911-45B4-8D8E-3B93DD82CE20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2482" data-original-width="2356" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77umNWEIMNRnze_QUyl40uS5mR1Z2oDwwbiCNoeOJQSFFZzYv-lySwZayIGr1UL1xqd-vCTamdake2dk2utPmp4MPN3DjJSkIFM82asZOI6KFF5EWUCXW3Walk2YBedbGnLUPZgfM4tCurGrOV03E8nWWhr2yXceAYLqzTJjVu0gFu-8ZXmICPwFKfA/w380-h400/4213C9E9-5911-45B4-8D8E-3B93DD82CE20.jpeg" width="380" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you can see! </div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">With a plume of a tail that sails behind him. Unfortunately, he also became very matted. Dandy’s cleaning abilities fall into the category of a classic teenager and their bedroom. Try as I might to keep up with brushing and taking scissors to cut out the worst of them, he reached a point where a full on shave was necessary. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The vet suggested a “Lion” cut. Now I’ve had cats all my life but never have I had to take a cat to the groomers for a Lion cut. So this was new to me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My husband took Dandy Boy in last week and here are the results:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PT7hgxJHFsJBtTdl4noH6jSanPoP4m3wD900QE3kecR60G-_qjQJcwzt9U_IiqOc7xX20IgaQVPDD1BXQoISCtqrJNlV3lvMyvHjjuMBj9cfjytU5eDkC6O4LolgNyhIMM4MG9Ttgvag5LQ8FR0K8eI7LFmhPr4huzu4BqV1ymR13xmQorXcD3k6mw/s2711/DCB99C0B-4A8F-43D7-8357-921535CD4D12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1820" data-original-width="2711" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PT7hgxJHFsJBtTdl4noH6jSanPoP4m3wD900QE3kecR60G-_qjQJcwzt9U_IiqOc7xX20IgaQVPDD1BXQoISCtqrJNlV3lvMyvHjjuMBj9cfjytU5eDkC6O4LolgNyhIMM4MG9Ttgvag5LQ8FR0K8eI7LFmhPr4huzu4BqV1ymR13xmQorXcD3k6mw/w400-h269/DCB99C0B-4A8F-43D7-8357-921535CD4D12.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just look at that little lion!</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaD1vrBOvebukjHmyUDdWtQQXXsGLzvOufsSZrs4V88eta7Q8G9n2lS8gOLdtud88GtJ-wMnEzzpCSxAoPK1naXiaTDX7d0zjRIH6jNgh-crvEi-Xi2VWJY2ED2qYUvcs4VcXOKNuHy4PXDKGzhuUVF1GuKBq8PtIkU-Y5fHbonulhf4w_9eNovvo5Ng/s1997/DF641323-081E-479D-B61E-0FE0BA661292.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1967" data-original-width="1997" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaD1vrBOvebukjHmyUDdWtQQXXsGLzvOufsSZrs4V88eta7Q8G9n2lS8gOLdtud88GtJ-wMnEzzpCSxAoPK1naXiaTDX7d0zjRIH6jNgh-crvEi-Xi2VWJY2ED2qYUvcs4VcXOKNuHy4PXDKGzhuUVF1GuKBq8PtIkU-Y5fHbonulhf4w_9eNovvo5Ng/w400-h394/DF641323-081E-479D-B61E-0FE0BA661292.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We thought he would be all embarrassed and humiliated. But in fact his new trim had the opposite effect. He’s proud and flicks that tail with all the arrogance of one of his big cat ancestors. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, we don’t know how great something is without a comparison. We need the opposite effect. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After a day or work what feels better than slipping into comfy clothes? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After a weekend of back country camping, a hot shower is enough to make one swoon. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You don’t really know how much you love and appreciate something or someone until it’s gone! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes I grumble and complain, but I’m aiming for the opposite effect. One where I learn to recognize and value. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when desire is fulfilled it is a tree of life.” </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-36259423491547523502022-06-12T06:09:00.003-07:002022-06-12T06:09:22.912-07:00A GOOD RAIN<div class="separator"></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0HkuJyndFfZ1KT9FUw3Gt7NUJcxFqVFQeI4UL8-OGKj8hIQlaW5ITi5quZ_VrgrkHLlqkzmlS4JPwWRMTn5UuzgzkIwrxXxNQVVZcmq1Hlp-yc6hsCPHWQltDEgKD-UjTBXTsZLsjcup3-O7n_t3zeptOo7L8closazb2jXOZclhqFdlbH0dTU60gg/s4032/8338E6D1-FF3A-4672-95CB-368F345E215A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0HkuJyndFfZ1KT9FUw3Gt7NUJcxFqVFQeI4UL8-OGKj8hIQlaW5ITi5quZ_VrgrkHLlqkzmlS4JPwWRMTn5UuzgzkIwrxXxNQVVZcmq1Hlp-yc6hsCPHWQltDEgKD-UjTBXTsZLsjcup3-O7n_t3zeptOo7L8closazb2jXOZclhqFdlbH0dTU60gg/w300-h400/8338E6D1-FF3A-4672-95CB-368F345E215A.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, we had a storm past through Ontario. It was a doozy called a “Derecho”. A derecho is a hopped up thunderstorm that can bring hurricane force winds, tornados, and heavy rain. It comes in like wrecking ball, so to speak.</span><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When people hear the words “palliative care” they associate this to the type of care required for those dying. Like a last ditch effort, throw all the surgery or medications at the beast and hope for the best. They see the derecho approaching. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Over two decades ago, the World Health Organization actually changed the definition of palliative care to a much broader scope! The focus was on improving the quality of life for those facing chronic and life threatening illnesses through <i><b>early</b></i> identification and a <b><i>proactive </i></b>approach involving physical, psychosocial and spiritual concerns. It focuses on the whole patient, body, soul and spirit. The oncologist or specialist have their role, but so does professional, like social worker or an End of Life Doula! It involves our community supporting the family with practical needs like a good meal or giving them a break in caregiving. It involves exploring and supporting spiritual discussions. A good palliative care approach identifies the patients goals and includes some proactive discussions (advance care planning) about the what ifs and how they can be handled. It is a “Good Rain” - gentle, soft, preparatory and not a Derecho for the patient and caregivers to find themselves in, full of fear and crisis and surprises. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The sooner palliative care is started, the better the outcomes for the patient and, in fact, stats show they live longer. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had a very dear friend who was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. I encouraged her to ensure she got good palliative care. She said “Oh, I don’t need that.” She felt that was for someone really at the end, the last ditch derecho time. She passed within 6 weeks of her diagnosis, with no time for her or her family to really prepare. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t expect we will yet get past the bias of the word “palliative” for some time yet. We are going on 20 years now with only a little progress on the benefits! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Still, I hope if you find yourself facing a life-threatening or chronic illness like COPD or congestive heart failure, you will explore the palliative care approach. You will find yourself in a Good Rain.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.24px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-35031022117187275262022-05-18T07:32:00.001-07:002022-05-18T07:32:49.845-07:00CHECKING ONE OFF THE BUCKET LIST<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I’m sitting on a little balcony, overlooking a leaf covered square. Below me, in the late afternoon heat the locals and the occasional lost tourist who stumble across this little piece of paradise are sheltering under the massive tree in the shade. They sit in companionable groups sipping drinks as I listen to their musical lilted French amidst the clink of classes and occasional rumble of tiny cars or bicycles. Students, phones in hand, are the same everywhere! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_H5tVnfCNnJ7iDNYmXNrsHs7eX8PjlSfJEotLB18cVG9QbkWl05qubykE7ZA6lrqCno4xHvUk29w0WorPEny98pq2aEXe_FJQbGepA8vFMaaWd8jQkGM2nMYNQ8WDBT7NGg5Z1FF96hwT5jRFVfgpoNKQTy_6bUmRawLZ1Zp8TYtYpopYPsbbgGHgQ/s4032/3B16E1E8-1B90-4C23-8CCD-49817F505EEA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_H5tVnfCNnJ7iDNYmXNrsHs7eX8PjlSfJEotLB18cVG9QbkWl05qubykE7ZA6lrqCno4xHvUk29w0WorPEny98pq2aEXe_FJQbGepA8vFMaaWd8jQkGM2nMYNQ8WDBT7NGg5Z1FF96hwT5jRFVfgpoNKQTy_6bUmRawLZ1Zp8TYtYpopYPsbbgGHgQ/w300-h400/3B16E1E8-1B90-4C23-8CCD-49817F505EEA.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I’m on a Bucket List trip in France! We spent a few days in Paris then made our way by train to Avignon in the Provence region. Tomorrow, it is back to Paris for one more day before we fly home. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is all so beautiful!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueVXXMgxpWuE-aQu4JxD5SIL02cEqb1Ds4Xqzeecom_g2svyukTeA1sQNYL43SDK9_3mm3kWVaBpjxbMY99AhhrEb9r1X5j-DG6bckPufllXgS4HPp3bI-QWsAEYQk9lwKgRZSpAhkyYYdjN-zllHORgLcO-lkYFvnXF-mA9xsAsxtFtofI19WdBAJw/s4032/55B94923-0AD8-4D92-89CC-646CBC607526.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueVXXMgxpWuE-aQu4JxD5SIL02cEqb1Ds4Xqzeecom_g2svyukTeA1sQNYL43SDK9_3mm3kWVaBpjxbMY99AhhrEb9r1X5j-DG6bckPufllXgS4HPp3bI-QWsAEYQk9lwKgRZSpAhkyYYdjN-zllHORgLcO-lkYFvnXF-mA9xsAsxtFtofI19WdBAJw/w300-h400/55B94923-0AD8-4D92-89CC-646CBC607526.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14tvggK6oeeEowzcB_FcBvumy954va8a63CejgbnFQuBoX2mkpxXTqDr6x9sPeC7ZuxtPPtJjepS72i3aQL-vJqdtCRW6UpmCLbl22x04VLWh2Ci8Ww4FyqzGxlO3vMZCqAFTeJEZ7meUBq0b_VnzFChbinnL7G2CQRux81sYisYvQMlS3oJQ9-ElLg/s4031/1E5BE52B-8E56-4209-9479-889A8AD0B4B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4031" data-original-width="2583" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14tvggK6oeeEowzcB_FcBvumy954va8a63CejgbnFQuBoX2mkpxXTqDr6x9sPeC7ZuxtPPtJjepS72i3aQL-vJqdtCRW6UpmCLbl22x04VLWh2Ci8Ww4FyqzGxlO3vMZCqAFTeJEZ7meUBq0b_VnzFChbinnL7G2CQRux81sYisYvQMlS3oJQ9-ElLg/w256-h400/1E5BE52B-8E56-4209-9479-889A8AD0B4B2.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div>And Ancient!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgpMGuh30eXmmBsk8_LNXHIxzMRKxetjxrbjaBE5yHlhHlJByUe818Kj-LNLS2rLzOAM54NSryqg0eydJR5N-zLCGAjchRD7kdI9JPUT_JH3AFNCaJQBkofM19lWdWTjC-50h76R79stLt_6grudv5Ocr7o9zMbs7YKkXxy72I5I9LdINUn8VQzvN0w/s4032/53C60364-1220-4DB7-94BF-18F8B4EDD848.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgpMGuh30eXmmBsk8_LNXHIxzMRKxetjxrbjaBE5yHlhHlJByUe818Kj-LNLS2rLzOAM54NSryqg0eydJR5N-zLCGAjchRD7kdI9JPUT_JH3AFNCaJQBkofM19lWdWTjC-50h76R79stLt_6grudv5Ocr7o9zMbs7YKkXxy72I5I9LdINUn8VQzvN0w/w400-h300/53C60364-1220-4DB7-94BF-18F8B4EDD848.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkKVb1u1cWOPahiMb1PLQvfloxZdiIEONsNuD6EbWKbBpSuvxqtfndg9kO66GMSgbyTZbqOoe-afNU93lu1SM1rL5ScT6XzYxigozqfBb80ys8mRA4lR2r14oYLIaKHIt63QFEgXaCgItWA0haxzcGciPbyTKfbdugtt-tMOrKHp_LgUtzdn_idxhJQ/s4032/C6B96D7D-F947-4F39-BD49-CF894B620900.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkKVb1u1cWOPahiMb1PLQvfloxZdiIEONsNuD6EbWKbBpSuvxqtfndg9kO66GMSgbyTZbqOoe-afNU93lu1SM1rL5ScT6XzYxigozqfBb80ys8mRA4lR2r14oYLIaKHIt63QFEgXaCgItWA0haxzcGciPbyTKfbdugtt-tMOrKHp_LgUtzdn_idxhJQ/w300-h400/C6B96D7D-F947-4F39-BD49-CF894B620900.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It is Timeless here. The rhythm includes, cafes, bikes, smoking and cafe au laits. Paris is truly a noisy cacophony day and night with lights and action. But Avignon is soft, sleepy and I would even be inclined to rent a bicycle! </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6uCdxwlHb1LCLV0F7xVr8KG_dVhZZeUjb7j2-DYnG4IMhwTSn2Lw1qePO4m4Ot3Mjd7YZGLag1aatz75CE_2RcddWMzSui2jhMsUUxJIEwQLWLt870T9ZwpauDaFrSkv-mXRixB45sR1YycmvtakABYMgxvrpKdLpp-UXielqaT9hITV1aSLjroyyQ/s3561/3A14AB48-82B4-40C2-8BD5-3E72B3F6D552.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3561" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6uCdxwlHb1LCLV0F7xVr8KG_dVhZZeUjb7j2-DYnG4IMhwTSn2Lw1qePO4m4Ot3Mjd7YZGLag1aatz75CE_2RcddWMzSui2jhMsUUxJIEwQLWLt870T9ZwpauDaFrSkv-mXRixB45sR1YycmvtakABYMgxvrpKdLpp-UXielqaT9hITV1aSLjroyyQ/w400-h340/3A14AB48-82B4-40C2-8BD5-3E72B3F6D552.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bHNa-uGPDPC5w9qJFfOHaWAJYKkZUpS6Wn4rBfiBn_U6zlBRaXguqA5XGHhCCrhNoQuBjYmrhWhvHEOQKgmGQP_vKZ8yx7lAChvmbdppGeNQ1lK6wI3XVc-eHn2TLKSkeaXDxv3bPShIwvE_kBDbp-A8j-cYCtQmFzYci-F58sP82UcdDfuWGxbD9Q/s4032/4D91FA74-C320-45F0-B3A4-1491F7579CB9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bHNa-uGPDPC5w9qJFfOHaWAJYKkZUpS6Wn4rBfiBn_U6zlBRaXguqA5XGHhCCrhNoQuBjYmrhWhvHEOQKgmGQP_vKZ8yx7lAChvmbdppGeNQ1lK6wI3XVc-eHn2TLKSkeaXDxv3bPShIwvE_kBDbp-A8j-cYCtQmFzYci-F58sP82UcdDfuWGxbD9Q/w400-h300/4D91FA74-C320-45F0-B3A4-1491F7579CB9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabJRmDkXqFyLzERH0jzmbLuiee4vqg5j8O1TD2NrbFKEXzPPKp45pbIekdStDGzB12xAURDDP8X5-X6_R7XoygBkwFBeS2si_50BnRpKU6Kd4uEbtVG68nYic4YPxHU5kHRyJAXaSwWMdYA76cWzGREKTs6gtq_llHa6r27mCy_sR-SPZuj1YA2e0wA/s3521/49F99FE5-28F1-4850-BC51-2B3FEA0FF69B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3521" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabJRmDkXqFyLzERH0jzmbLuiee4vqg5j8O1TD2NrbFKEXzPPKp45pbIekdStDGzB12xAURDDP8X5-X6_R7XoygBkwFBeS2si_50BnRpKU6Kd4uEbtVG68nYic4YPxHU5kHRyJAXaSwWMdYA76cWzGREKTs6gtq_llHa6r27mCy_sR-SPZuj1YA2e0wA/w400-h344/49F99FE5-28F1-4850-BC51-2B3FEA0FF69B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqgBh5Wy2g7qje3Wuq8GsBXBrULijzz3eWPeQXIBHr6Scmmr3N1Y2k4-6VY4x8AmD8tXW_qeEQ50nIWvzcfCM9SVcZQTOf4Q9T2YUTDbvc-OXG7feP-2UkFUG2B4eAOWBW4RJjSTy2MSDrSS_59f3bR--tlK-hbWdCBpJOlY8M67MkaQuBjpEW_nRdg/s3089/F60BD0F7-8079-47CF-ADAF-8402E798002D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3089" data-original-width="2569" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqgBh5Wy2g7qje3Wuq8GsBXBrULijzz3eWPeQXIBHr6Scmmr3N1Y2k4-6VY4x8AmD8tXW_qeEQ50nIWvzcfCM9SVcZQTOf4Q9T2YUTDbvc-OXG7feP-2UkFUG2B4eAOWBW4RJjSTy2MSDrSS_59f3bR--tlK-hbWdCBpJOlY8M67MkaQuBjpEW_nRdg/w333-h400/F60BD0F7-8079-47CF-ADAF-8402E798002D.jpeg" width="333" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And the Food!! On Mon Dieu!! Don’t get me started!!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ok, maybe just a few pics…</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmEM-_RT3Wo2lUJRUhm5YzGUfhqfp1fltjlrHjPk-qNH_M_594Y705_RrudSqjMQ0z-_9CnwTiBuqvkKPOMUGO8SI37UtuXfVM5OkjBpqA9MR0jh58H257yddHXdLTwHpcnsPgzRYOeczD-liZiT7Yi8OTKnsmJ0MOj5q6NZuuPlYkf-MYgECqVR9Mw/s4032/5B164B6A-1F19-452D-BC6A-C6C900AF0128.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmEM-_RT3Wo2lUJRUhm5YzGUfhqfp1fltjlrHjPk-qNH_M_594Y705_RrudSqjMQ0z-_9CnwTiBuqvkKPOMUGO8SI37UtuXfVM5OkjBpqA9MR0jh58H257yddHXdLTwHpcnsPgzRYOeczD-liZiT7Yi8OTKnsmJ0MOj5q6NZuuPlYkf-MYgECqVR9Mw/w300-h400/5B164B6A-1F19-452D-BC6A-C6C900AF0128.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviPZNDXC_ScU40vgBhiqK4J5mbZR7XJ37p61DcTSoY14LBu5qYLcbXb4IQoQ95ETydkqmwSTG6whvNRLFUzWBpwh9KlREpJoPr9kN0xiHtdVySHMuEF_XP5Y8kwpUy0TvIn2LhzG1qkRkKigsvfm1ao4qlZHGDxJ9WwPZkSENrtT-KN59FPq68Sz1dw/s4032/6CFC49B1-7B69-4103-A73E-ADC1600CDF84.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviPZNDXC_ScU40vgBhiqK4J5mbZR7XJ37p61DcTSoY14LBu5qYLcbXb4IQoQ95ETydkqmwSTG6whvNRLFUzWBpwh9KlREpJoPr9kN0xiHtdVySHMuEF_XP5Y8kwpUy0TvIn2LhzG1qkRkKigsvfm1ao4qlZHGDxJ9WwPZkSENrtT-KN59FPq68Sz1dw/w300-h400/6CFC49B1-7B69-4103-A73E-ADC1600CDF84.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZrgNNJQ3nixXzB_P0DcUC1qQjljZu3XqcCp8tMsV5m3-BpMiEWf9pk0YAPPSTYDKY3YQ0xZIb0ptMb6jhNH7I94HK5905U1-ibojYbybMQQ-ETQgBH7z5uaUmF7Z3B6um3wef4VHKjI324yr9DLU4YGVT4MgPlmRBhc2z4LqmeFOB2KhbeOuP8GQww/s4032/998AE32C-9880-4749-B4F2-BBA13671773C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZrgNNJQ3nixXzB_P0DcUC1qQjljZu3XqcCp8tMsV5m3-BpMiEWf9pk0YAPPSTYDKY3YQ0xZIb0ptMb6jhNH7I94HK5905U1-ibojYbybMQQ-ETQgBH7z5uaUmF7Z3B6um3wef4VHKjI324yr9DLU4YGVT4MgPlmRBhc2z4LqmeFOB2KhbeOuP8GQww/w300-h400/998AE32C-9880-4749-B4F2-BBA13671773C.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SYALuFKwiJVXfBZRNs4OE1qmzbzxUgiHfW7CqDOybkgMVbWAglLrICfurJhPS8-ezvSxE0ebnvDMUQYD2uQlFpdV97B7K1pgdnv8QIMJVd3rbgwBY5yCvelOjl6Svwcuy9B5TRf7Z7O1dQh7vnPwnvqD5Sbkew4JyahK0P4jOAgpiw516jo8QmtiRA/s4032/C4CBFEEF-75A6-4652-99FA-F637303E6F41.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SYALuFKwiJVXfBZRNs4OE1qmzbzxUgiHfW7CqDOybkgMVbWAglLrICfurJhPS8-ezvSxE0ebnvDMUQYD2uQlFpdV97B7K1pgdnv8QIMJVd3rbgwBY5yCvelOjl6Svwcuy9B5TRf7Z7O1dQh7vnPwnvqD5Sbkew4JyahK0P4jOAgpiw516jo8QmtiRA/w400-h300/C4CBFEEF-75A6-4652-99FA-F637303E6F41.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I’m so grateful and humbled to have this opportunity of a lifetime. I have so many more pics (all taken with my iPhone 13 BTW!) that I suppose I will have to create a book. In a couple of days we fly back to Canada, to routine, and familiar sounds and smells. I’m very routine oriented so this will be a good thing.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Still…..France….you truly are a special place on this earth.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSJxlrpz11waWmOxtFiRP88fOnrMW7N9Nbyer4JQcfnkmRT3W39xvl_f6M1PUUIDLF4Zz-OK5Zg5tkJ-lE95Xgx0BUgWDiVgGa64fUwNm_QhRzx5CxsEFx71emhR20ZV7a6rf1EVGP6VirKnJoWYImxbZiRUvdhETtn3AsSVreib_YD9ZLRY8j9405Q/s3557/08AC1959-64D1-426D-81B1-FE4022BF2E64.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3018" data-original-width="3557" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSJxlrpz11waWmOxtFiRP88fOnrMW7N9Nbyer4JQcfnkmRT3W39xvl_f6M1PUUIDLF4Zz-OK5Zg5tkJ-lE95Xgx0BUgWDiVgGa64fUwNm_QhRzx5CxsEFx71emhR20ZV7a6rf1EVGP6VirKnJoWYImxbZiRUvdhETtn3AsSVreib_YD9ZLRY8j9405Q/w400-h340/08AC1959-64D1-426D-81B1-FE4022BF2E64.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOke5lAtSza-T2OioQykXfABmtSh-FRQk3s_dO8hh9bSTAQD5tXkoR-E9pWyMumod44YwNJAlhd_qjoqXsf_dK_a8RsOKIyFPUi-BYSSX18LdFebVsIDT9Q6XdePwvI6FjZCX5GXoS1oCCesM0IC-0VDb60zg6mCB3NLO9wKN0al-rdR7FpnSVCpJTQ/s4028/B2631F80-B59A-4E7B-968B-259D295E0156.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4028" data-original-width="2800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOke5lAtSza-T2OioQykXfABmtSh-FRQk3s_dO8hh9bSTAQD5tXkoR-E9pWyMumod44YwNJAlhd_qjoqXsf_dK_a8RsOKIyFPUi-BYSSX18LdFebVsIDT9Q6XdePwvI6FjZCX5GXoS1oCCesM0IC-0VDb60zg6mCB3NLO9wKN0al-rdR7FpnSVCpJTQ/w278-h400/B2631F80-B59A-4E7B-968B-259D295E0156.jpeg" width="278" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-40119847059197776312022-02-27T06:04:00.001-08:002022-02-27T06:09:55.142-08:00TAKING A BIG BREATH OF COMMUNITY<p> <span style="font-size: large;">This past Saturday was a breathe of fresh air. A breathe of community.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Downtown Belleville hosted the “Savour The Chill” Soup Contest. The Family-fun event brought our community together with spoons on hand. It was great to see so many enjoying a crisp but sunny day! There were fires to warm up around, marshmallows to toast and even the Snow Queen and Princess made an appearance! By the way, did I mention the soups? Cheeseburger soup, Split pea, broccoli with bacon and cheese, roasted tomato basil to name a few. The Winner was Chilangos with their Caldo Tlalpeno, a traditional Mexican soup of chicken and vegetables. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I conversed with strangers on the soups to be checked out, listened to the chatter of family and friends, patted the heads of happy dogs and took in a big breathe of community. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But there was more to come! In the evening I volunteered for Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), a fundraiser for local charities that support the homeless, hurting and hungry. The funds raised would be directed to our local Shelter, Grace Inn. This was the first time Grace Inn has acted as host and they did an amazing job. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now I’m not new to this rodeo, having been involved with CNOY in a variety of roles over the years. But I hit the Gold Ticket this time. My job was to drive around in MiCkey, my Mini Cooper all warm and cosy with the tunes playing and a hot chocolate on hand. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivIkdFrnRraqlFz2fUa5jwLtpJUGgxGxa5S-t2mrI6B-u4byBFE1ujviFngidsRb1RPTHHXQoS4m-U_XYIbz-tVxCgvDMShIYFtRoMp04nlI6cFnICZ_S2hm_9w6XoYyS9qFUJ4D_NIQ4XQfkVbbPHzshVtD5vJ4DczJ19mp7TR28jj_i_Q2LXQlS4GA=s3287" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="3287" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivIkdFrnRraqlFz2fUa5jwLtpJUGgxGxa5S-t2mrI6B-u4byBFE1ujviFngidsRb1RPTHHXQoS4m-U_XYIbz-tVxCgvDMShIYFtRoMp04nlI6cFnICZ_S2hm_9w6XoYyS9qFUJ4D_NIQ4XQfkVbbPHzshVtD5vJ4DczJ19mp7TR28jj_i_Q2LXQlS4GA=w400-h315" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So with flags flying I zipped around the route feeling like a pace car honking and waving at all those Yellow hats bobbing along ensuring everyone was having a good, safe walk. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You Go Yellow Hats! You Go My Community! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9RqB6WKjWxLtk7_DT1chtsTPaCApwJSJ-euG3FP3-G-VpOaweAL327kn60Y-JpJhfpcMCU90F1PrGq3i6IRsPSIYY6BRw8JbK8GrkSW6S7-W3C8oP4tcs3OoYGsEfW5yOjiycrDnyYXnF3iAm49MPNlQb5p5jpnmWvkSfD3cH5-jHJJYR61UYnt00rg=s3415" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3415" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9RqB6WKjWxLtk7_DT1chtsTPaCApwJSJ-euG3FP3-G-VpOaweAL327kn60Y-JpJhfpcMCU90F1PrGq3i6IRsPSIYY6BRw8JbK8GrkSW6S7-W3C8oP4tcs3OoYGsEfW5yOjiycrDnyYXnF3iAm49MPNlQb5p5jpnmWvkSfD3cH5-jHJJYR61UYnt00rg=w400-h354" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In all there were 34 teams made up of 165 walkers and $61,000 was raised in support of Grace Inn! How amazing was that! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When a unified body of people, a Community, get together to support and connect with one another the world can be changed. Now, more than ever, the world needs Community and connection. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you Downtown Belleville. Thank you Grace Inn. For letting me breathe fresh air today. </span></p><p><br /></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-4154725162235235892022-01-23T14:09:00.000-08:002022-01-23T14:09:03.847-08:00MUSICAL TRIGGERS<p> <span style="font-size: large;">One thing I find that makes humans so quirky is how we can be deeply affected by triggers. You see someone or something that hops you right back into your memory banks and relive the moment. Emotional triggers can be tricky to navigate. Smells can trigger all sorts of layers, good and bad! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But I want to focus on musical triggers. Those songs or even a snippet of a song that sticks in your head and can send your thoughts on all sorts of tangents! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s a couple of examples: sometimes when I’m riding my bike at a nice clip, the theme comes into my head from Wizard of Oz and I can see the Wicked Witch Miss Gulch herself pumping her bike along hellbent on putting an end to Toto.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgURpitGKhPz_Q0dJExVuBIVTt5ULwvnR5A7LRORUWf0csvAJZJYGeg-bw7-silfcPudRHL6Ramcd4vjIHwfhu6Eg0OT7lwS8OIXvMGOI9-FMNR93mdSce7CZHZf2rFAGsNct096_oLln6DMfiy3YWbZb8xtnwEtOUv_QNNhnPUTS2ODq6S2Uq-O3FoGg=s275" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgURpitGKhPz_Q0dJExVuBIVTt5ULwvnR5A7LRORUWf0csvAJZJYGeg-bw7-silfcPudRHL6Ramcd4vjIHwfhu6Eg0OT7lwS8OIXvMGOI9-FMNR93mdSce7CZHZf2rFAGsNct096_oLln6DMfiy3YWbZb8xtnwEtOUv_QNNhnPUTS2ODq6S2Uq-O3FoGg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Not that I think I’m the Wicked Witch, but the song is a perfect biking rhythm!<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of Toto, once as I was riding through town there was construction going on and just as I passed a couple of workers one of them yelled “99” over the noise and boom the song “99” from Toto was in my head! Like from ummm almost 50 years ago!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://youtu.be/qhw-XlTMB5I">https://youtu.be/qhw-XlTMB5I </a> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A bird flys by and suddenly “Free Bird”</span><a href="https://youtu.be/QxIWDmmqZzY">https://youtu.be/QxIWDmmqZzY </a> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Which makes me think managing these triggers is like corralling cats which triggers “The Cat Came Back”. </span><a href="https://youtu.be/LjMffHG1V_Q">https://youtu.be/LjMffHG1V_Q</a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A couple are bickering - “Why Can’t We Be Friends” </span><a href="https://youtu.be/sH0Qda32IKM">https://youtu.be/sH0Qda32IKM</a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hey, it’s Saturday night! “S.A.TUR.DAY…NIGHT!” </span><a href="https://youtu.be/7BKKaKT_dtM">https://youtu.be/7BKKaKT_dtM </a></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lord help me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Someday, I’m going to start at the beginning of a day and write down all the songs and what triggered them to go off in my head. I mean it is not just me, right? I think not. All you music buffs have the same jukebox going on triggered at the drop of a coin. I’m sure of it! </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538749483445520231.post-11691633279859651472021-12-19T06:59:00.001-08:002021-12-19T06:59:40.568-08:00TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY<p> <span style="font-size: large;">We are winding another year down: 6 days till Christmas, 12 days till 2022! With the Big day within our grasp, the pandemic raises it’s ugly head again - snarling, snapping, spreading anxiety and fear. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tidings of comfort and joy seem far, far away. For some of us, Joy is not the emotion that comes to mind. We have had to let go of so much: freedom, hugs, social interaction without a care, connection and community, big raucous parties and concerts. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We lost dear ones too. My good friend April passed away this summer. In our community we have lost generous and kind hearted people. I’m providing grief and bereavement support to a man who lost his wife of 60 years. 60 YEARS. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the midst of this I believe comfort and joy can still be found. You may have to look deep and focus. You may find it only lasts for a brief second, but there, in the midst of the darkness the light shines, the comfort comes.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Find comfort and joy in the littlest of things:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfAafVWcFVPv8OWTd1BJZiwUX33_3WyaBSSx8nout7Omu8Knrd80ScZouC-orsQXDWK5X42cuPZD5wZfInm0uDyHH8a60tdV0YBM4uAqm0JjHlw2iMO5R7mkXFVxPbV1VFM2Bik2pXZBbhlGF-CFBva2_fz_co4xovtnVs_XllbE4eRp-7rnZ-9vjGSA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfAafVWcFVPv8OWTd1BJZiwUX33_3WyaBSSx8nout7Omu8Knrd80ScZouC-orsQXDWK5X42cuPZD5wZfInm0uDyHH8a60tdV0YBM4uAqm0JjHlw2iMO5R7mkXFVxPbV1VFM2Bik2pXZBbhlGF-CFBva2_fz_co4xovtnVs_XllbE4eRp-7rnZ-9vjGSA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">The beauty of a fresh snow fall, sparkling in the winter sun</div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOpnXiCTFhqINrUSD04wCwbJPjywuxe2delbuJdgP7HqQCziEqKBW8uxq4ASfk2y1MfYoQHs8RoKw0g5Yvdb2eOC_J4iCTGxhmRMlAhODv2OLpR8qHoTjkzmqyJE0l80kMlKknBhLO9HvWXibsMNxIIEZm5EppSgCVQmzyMpsMDP629teIxGrN1xSh6w=s4030" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4030" data-original-width="2833" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOpnXiCTFhqINrUSD04wCwbJPjywuxe2delbuJdgP7HqQCziEqKBW8uxq4ASfk2y1MfYoQHs8RoKw0g5Yvdb2eOC_J4iCTGxhmRMlAhODv2OLpR8qHoTjkzmqyJE0l80kMlKknBhLO9HvWXibsMNxIIEZm5EppSgCVQmzyMpsMDP629teIxGrN1xSh6w=w281-h400" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The delicate wonder of light and colour</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTAnfG0Aip0A86p-iovoKlkhJvFHSogDx63UlfBzXt8J08EfcE_YiutuxXP9CYO93_cSQBwN6xoHaBzwz62lirs5hRuOu_WLJ2P9XKRrJnVD_Z2D5dWfXa7OpVmnlfR0YBCLDJOfqP8ImN0rZ6VnvRwdNF_dcRBp168Kd-GxtrJ_JpOaMBnuPNxnkTSA=s3224" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3224" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTAnfG0Aip0A86p-iovoKlkhJvFHSogDx63UlfBzXt8J08EfcE_YiutuxXP9CYO93_cSQBwN6xoHaBzwz62lirs5hRuOu_WLJ2P9XKRrJnVD_Z2D5dWfXa7OpVmnlfR0YBCLDJOfqP8ImN0rZ6VnvRwdNF_dcRBp168Kd-GxtrJ_JpOaMBnuPNxnkTSA=w300-h320" width="300" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take comfort in a moment: a sip of fresh hot coffee, the gentle sigh of a dog or a cat’s purr. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take joy in that moment when your child smiles or a baby’s laughter. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There is great joy in giving: give your time, your love, your patience.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On Dec. 22, the earth tilts and the days will begin to get longer. That’s a comforting thought! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the midst of the aching loss, you can, without guilt, find these small offerings of comfort and joy. This is my wish for you this season and in the coming year.</span></p><br /> <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415182460769534529noreply@blogger.com0