Whorls and Lines

The life of the old elm

etched in whorls and lines

not unlike aged faces

beautiful and strong.

“My face carries all my memories. Why would I erase them?

~ Diane Von Furstenberg, The Woman I Wanted to Be” 2014

On an Afternoon Walk ~ Sun Bathing

 

From their privileged perch on this sun-warmed rooftop, I could only imagine them warbling and chatting about being above the noise and slush of the traffic. Maybe counting the numbers of humans out and about stepping around dirt filled snow melt. Or just enjoying the sun before they took flight.

“He imagines a necessary joy in things that must fly to eat.”

~ Wendell Berry, conservationist

Still Growing

January 29, 2024

I only wish that potato plants had tendrils so this determined guy had something to climb with! Admittedly, I feel just like this plant - still growing with heart and hands as tendrils.

January 12, 2024

“The greatest thing in this world is 

not so much where we stand as 

in what direction we are moving,”

~ Johann wolfgang von Goethe

Musical Improv Comedy Review - Citizen Hurricane

David Milchard and Ken Lawson are Citizen Hurricane and crazied me out of my comfort zone last night. In Darke Hall, they filled the evening with incredible and rapid improvisation. I’m don’t know much about audience response, but this Regina audience seemed to take most of the first set to warm up. These two comedians didn’t miss a beat though playing to and with the audience. Their improv extended to the music that they played, the songs that they made up. All of it interactive, never leaving their audience out. For two guys that have been at this for 20 years, they were impressive. Some of it was not to my liking however that didn’t stop me from laughing, clapping and at one point I almost shouted out an answer to one of their hilarious questions. I managed to restrain myself and it never left the back of my throat.                                                                              

“You’re only given one little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”

~ Robin Williams

David and Ken can be contacted at:

info@davidandken.com

davidandken.com

David and Ken on Facebook

Keepin’ On

Learning to be me is still young

even tho' seven decades have passed

Becoming my self

outside of a dedicated life

is an opportunity to explore

a differently dedicated living.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”

~ Albert Einstein

Just Right ~ A Cat's Tale

A shoe sculpture from Jason's
high school days.

When she lights the fire, I have no complaints. Resting my head on an old shoe, it’s warmth makes it perfect  She must have put it there just for me.

“Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.”

~ James Herriot,  James Herriot’s Cat Stories

Winter Magic ~ 2

I couldn’t help myself……the frosting today was more amazing than yesterday. My only concern was that the warming we’re experiencing would strip the trees of their winter finery. It saddens me that I couldn’t get photos of the trees lining the roadways. They were magnificent. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit warmer! After that deep freeze we had, this warm weather is welcome.

 

“In a few blinks you can almost see the winter fairies moving in…”             ~ Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

On an Afternoon Walk ~ A Child’s Imagination

 It caught my eye. The snowy lining on every branch, roof and fence post. The city had gone from a deep freeze to brown slush on streets and sidewalks while the trees were celebrating their frosty beauty. But that wasn’t what was so curious. It was this branch that reminded me ~ well the child in me ~ of a reindeer’s head. Antler’s pointed to the path ahead. I can see shapes in clouds, hear train whistles in the wind, sense the magic of the seasons - but a reindeer in the trees? The adult in me just snapped the picture and walked on.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, 

we grow old because we stop playing.”

~ George Bernard Shaw

Hacked!!

Beneath scattered digital images and posts and emails, a hacker - or more than one - grasped an open virtual door to spread their unpleasantness to all my friends online.

Thank you to friend that notified me of the invasion.

Almost immediately, I received two, almost identical, messages from unknown persons offering to help me with my hacking problem. I declined.

“We need to have a talk on the subject of what’s yours and what’s mine.”

~ Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

From My Kitchen Window

Victoria, B.C. 2008, 10:00 a.m.

 

My favourite funny little apartment. Windows that opened onto the back yard like wings. A school yard close enough I could hear the kids playing at recess. The sun lighting up a stately old willow tree. A beautiful memory that reminds me of my forward journey.

“Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.”

~ Oscar Wilde

On an Afternoon Walk ~ A Winter Buffet

One section of the hedge. 

Across the street, I could hear the rustling, chittering. Pulling out my camera I attempted a photo shoot. The hedge, filled with a flock of sparrows was the length of the sidewalk. Because of the busy fluttering and feasting, this flock of perfectly camouflaged sparrows were on the hunt for any dried, frozen berries. One brave and curious soul left the flock for a private lunch on the sidewalk.  

“….the winter is kind and leaves red berries 

on the boughs for hungry sparrows…..”

~ John Geddes,  A Familiar Rain

A Mood Piece

Restoring order calms me. 

out of sync, 

my surroundings show me

sometimes my head is foggy, 

flat without direction 

no up no down no sideways 

suspended in the midst of fog 

no energy to go forward or back, 

reaching through the fog 

to fold a blanket feels good

thankful that order is my balm.

“For nothing matters except life; and, of course, order.”

~ Virginia Woolf, The Common Reader

On an Afternoon Walk ~ Look Up!

Did these darling bird houses swing wildly in this last week's wind? Or were they protected by this solid old elm? Two bright spots of colour against the brown of tree and gray of sky. Their roofs dusted with frost in imitation of the big houses lining the street, their cheery façades hint of warmer days to come.

“There’s always a reason to look up.”

~ A.D.Posey, author

Wind Chill

Wind

Nature’s wild wonder

Frozen branches bow and scrape the sky

Dry snow scuds across roads

Sun dogged with iridescence 

      

Wind

Pulling

Forces coats tighter

Toques jammed on

Gloved hands in pockets

Wind

Pushing

Scarves flying like flags 

Forcing tripping running steps

Hurried race across uneven ice to vehicles.

“The wind shows us how close to the edge we are.”

~ Joan Didion

Gifts we Give Ourselves

It could be hard to move forward when temperatures dip and crash unless there were books to read offering extensive vacations to far off lands, or instant time travel to other dimensions, or photos from past travels that spin backwards

to times of joy and laughter. 

In the ease of home, 

away from the biting cold 

there is much on offer

if we breathe, see and accept

gifts we have given ourselves.

“The home should be the treasure chest of living.”

~ Le Corbusier, Swiss-French architect

(1887 - 1965)

On an Early Morning Walk - Seeds

On an Early Morning Walk
December 31, 2023

   

Late autumn seeds

draped and frosted

   await spring breezes.

“If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain 

will grow and which will not, speak then unto me.”

~ William Shakespeare

Swedish Meat Pies

My latest venture into the land of interesting foods, meat pies have never been on my menu. They are now. After eating a whole one tonight, I decided to cut them all in half before freezing them. I made a few mistakes, but they are delicious and will be a great accompaniment to my noon time salad. Or whenever I want a snack. I’ll be making some tweaks to both this recipe and to my pastry skills!

“Cooking is not a science but an art, mistakes are okay, messes are fine - 

the pleasure is in the creating and the sharing of the result.”

~ Lori Pollan, The Pollan Family Table: The Best Recipes and 

Kitchen Wisdom for Delicious, Healthy Family Meals.

Early Morning

slow movement

feathered with grace

meets morning with care.

“You can only come to the morning through the shadows.”

~ J.R.R.Tolkien

Out of the Cold

I was just on my patio clearing frost from the vent for my fireplace. An easy fix so it will burn and add an extra bit of  warmth to my home. My big warm coat, toque, and gloves on, I stood on tiptop for this simple task. A light wind scraped across my face. I shivered and recalled the many patients I’d cared for, their only shelter was hospital, jail or a community shelter with limited bed capacity. On Vancouver Island the temperatures don’t drop out of the frigid north like they do here on the prairies. The folks out here have the same needs: shelter out of the cold.

Tonight I am grateful. Grateful for my home and all that it has brought me. Grateful for the people that man the shelters, hospitals and yes, jails. Families, friend and sometimes strangers that take people in out of the cold. No one can move forward when their world freezes.

“Cold is merciless. It shows you where you are. What you are.”

~ Wim Hof, Dutch celebrity

Temperature as I write this at just after 9 p.m.: -33Centigrade

Missed the Memo!

A potato plant - I think. This plant was not paying attention to the weather as plants are known to do. About a month ago, it sprouted. I had no idea what it was, but decided to let it keep growing. Because it rose from the soil right beside the Hens and Chicks ‘mom’, I thought maybe that’s what it was. But no, the stem just kept growing. In the last week, it has leafed out ~ barely ~ but continued to grow, despite the frost on the window. And the fact that, I have not watered the soil much because of the succulents there! This is one confused potato! 

Where did it come from? I had planted some sprouted potatoes almost a year ago. When I prepared the soil for the succulents, I thought I had all the old sprouts out. Wrong. I guess I’ll just see what happens to it - whether it's a potato or not. 

“But is there no intent of an analogy 

between man’s life and the seasons?”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson