I was so sad this morning when I visited P18 otherwise known as PIne Grove Trail. You can see the destruction of this beautiful location .. it is completely torn up. My husband and I walked the dogs there years ago.. it was such a beautiful serene area. The story I wrote about the woodland creatures was set in this location. Seeing the devastation was heart wrenching.
Times like this brings home.. nothing is forever. Forever is now.. in that moment. The trees were like cathedral walls, their canopy was magical. Now as you can see, what was, is no longer. When the crews finally do get in to start clearing away the fallen trees, the landscape will be forever changed.
Much like my world without someone I thought would be in my life “forever”.. was called away into his own “forever” – life IS. only we (me, myself and I) can make changes within our “selves”
Start today with a fresh outlook. Even though people and situations may look the same, they are constantly changing. Start each day with a fresh mind.
There is a reason the conservation staff have put up “park closed” and danger/caution tape up blocking the entrances to the trails. They are dangerous. You can see the size of the downed trees, you have to be able to climb over or walk around them. AND there are still trees leaning very precariously at an angle, so much so, a tremor or wind could topple them.
See how this tree is leaning, half of the roots have been pulled out of the ground. I am very familiar with this trail, I was very careful making my way around. I did not venture away from the areas where I knew I could easily manouver out of the way of a falling branch/limb.
All was VERY quiet. I did get to have a visit with the duck .. he was alone.. the water was devoid of other birds/ducks, On my way out I met a fellow “wanderer…’ Bev and I had met some time ago, it was nice to catch up. she had been in the parking lot talking with the conservation officer that had come by to replace the “stay out” tape that someone had removed. I had to limbo under it to get out =^_^=.
a quote from the past
We are all here for a purpose. Please reach out and share your beautiful smile today. enjoy the pictures of a paradise dealing with “change’… the birds have begun to sing again, the chipmunks, and squirrels used to visitors are searching for the handouts that are no longer there.. but… time will rebuild.. workers will get to the different trails and the tidy up will happen.. Send positive energy to all the workers who are having to work long hours to repair/clean up and the many hydro /internet problems that still need resolving.
PL Precept # 20 Live maintaining equilibrium between mind and matter.
When you face difficulties start with anything you can do. When you are able to grasp the situation, you will surely be able to notice something that you can do.
Perfect Liberty 2022. 12
Yesterday I found a dead rabbit. It was a beautiful rabbit, it looked peaceful in its eternal sleep. I couldn’t see why or how it had died, the body lay empty on the path. What to do. I could walk around it if I was careful, but it was in a place where many others would need to pass to get on the trail. the opening was only a few feet wide.. and he lay right at the narrowest part of the entry.
My concern was the young children heading for the trail would see him.. perhaps think it sleeping and curious gone over to touch or see it. Or.. the dogs that are walked there, one would get at it, and then… that wouldn’t be good for the visitors either. I had recently cleaned out my car, I had no shovel, and no garbage bags.. in the end.. I called the emergency number for the area… and had to leave it to them to come clean up.. Being a Saturday, she didn’t know if she could get anyone before Monday.
Week-ends are the busiest at this location. Because of the storm the other three trails there are roped off, there is only this one trail open, and the only access to it was this narrow opening.
Sometimes all one can do is “trust” that it will all work out.
Eyes wide and staring – mouth open in horror – what happened to the rest of me !!!!
Don’t let circumstances sway your decision. It does not help to overthink things. Sometimes we just need to make up our minds and move forward.
Perfect Liberty 2022.6
I’ve collected bits and pieces of this wonderful big old tree that was downed during the storm. I’m using some of the pieces in the storm art . (mixed media) I’m working on… so far.. I’m experimenting.. this tree had a long life, it was home to many many wildlife, insects, fungi, it will be missed.
….. when nothing is sure, everything is possible …..
These little gems are delighting the viewers by peaking up along the trails between all the many shades and hues of greens/browns/grays that are in view as I amble along the trail looking for wood to carve. I am searching out smaller pieces of wood that I can use on the “storm art ” I am visualizing and want to put on canvas.
After the storm there are twigs, branches, all kinds of debris to sort through.. the need is to slow my pace and explore each side of the trail as I make my way slowly along. Everyday I walk (sometimes the same trail) and every day it is always different.
***** Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful ****
Take action without thinking too hard. No matter how hard you try to foresee the future, you really don’t know how things will turn out. Do your best and see how it plays out.
Discover each person’s unique qualitites when we approch people with respect, we can underestand them better and see their special qualities.
Perfect Liberty 2022.2
Friends had to wait two years to finally get away on their “anniversary cruise”. To say they know me rather well would be an understatement. While most will receive a postcard, I got a door. =^_^= Perfect for my contribution to this week’s Thursday Doors. https://nofacilities.com/2022/06/02/thursday-no-doors/ nb* Dan’s not having an offical thursday Doors this week, but he has given us a landing page for those of us with a door to “show off” Please drop over and visit if you are so inclined.
The storm and the after the storm moments are still happening. It will be awhile before the world feels right again. Please be kind to one another, help others if you can.. be strong and remember how resilient you are. This is what I myself am working on.
May the stars carry your sadness away. May the flowers fill your heart with beauty. May hope forever wipe away your tears…. and…. above all, may silence make you strong.
Chief Dan George
It can be very healing to allow ourselves to feel our thoughts/sadness fully. I look for my solace in nature. Being in nature, reminds me that everything including sadness, eventually passes.
Have a prayerful mind to love yourself and others. Open up your heart fully when praying to God. It will help you sort out our feelings.
Perfect Liberty 2022.31
The power came back on for me after being off for 7 full days plus. That was the beginning. Yes it was a great relief to have power back in my house. But something had changed, not only in the structure of the house, but in my “head”… my body had only aged 7 days… but the stress and anxiety of the many hours spent in a “kind of limbo” had yet to reveal itself.
Yesterday I did what I routinely do, I headed for the woodlands. I met an entomologist who is working on a research project on biting insects.. in particular yesterday he was going to tend his tents of horse and deer flies at the research station some two miles + down one of the gated areas at one of the conservation areas that I frequent.
deer flyhorse fly
He graciously allowed me to drive with him to the research station (he was concerned and wanted to make sure I knew I would have a long walk back) I assured him I knew the distance and had done it before. For me it meant I only had to walk back,. not the distance to get there and then back. I knew it was going to be a hot muggy day…. this area is an old road, some of it is old pavement, the rest of it is overgrown dirt road Actually all of it is overgrown, the area has a gate that is kept locked with only authorized vehicle and personnel having keys.
What I have found intersting is that a fallen tree is no longer just a damanged tree, I have walked the area for a long time now, I know the trees, when I see them hurt and injured, I “feel” it. As I walked back after being shown his project, and had a brief intro into the research he is doing, I headed back, taking my time … I don’t often walk down this far during the heavy mosquito season. He did show me what he uses to ward off the little critters, he lathered the product liberally all over his neck face and head. They were in great abundance out in that field… My “Off” worked for me, but I was covered from head to toe, long sleeves, long pants, hood/ hat, gloves… as I walked the sun smiled down on me… letting the full force of the heat/humidity add to my ambiance.
No skeetos bothered me, even when the discomfort of the heat finally got to me and I took off the gloves, then the hood, then the hat.. thankfully a playful breeze dropped by to give me a bit of a break. It was draining. there were birds cheering me along, I even saw a hawk, he swooped by across my path, startled me.. he appeared out of nowhere and then vanished just as quickly.
I have a lot of angst to sort through. My thoughts/feelings are jumbled and I am bordering* on being exhausted. My wonderful long time friend who helped keep the generator going during the power .. outage.. when we talked last night.. said he too was feeling the “imbalance” in his life. He didn’t loose power … but spent his time driving back and forth to my place trying to keep my fridge cold to save my insulin. The generator we had was old and sounded loud, it was loud… how he sat working it for days on end it beyond me.. he was a real trouper.
He had to manouver past the fallen trees, accidents, (traffic lights were out in so many places) plus he had his family to worry about, (they had come in contact with covid) No one really got to sail through this disaster without being affected.
Another friend send me this picture.. I do not know what the words say… does anyone out there know?
Enough for now. I have another delivery to make for the food bank. If you are in an area that is dealing with the aftermath of this last storm… please… if you can help….. it would be greatly appreciated.
Good morning, the news and media are full of pictures of the destruction and havoc caused by the storm, I’m sure many of you have googled or seen on the news the ravage dealt the province when the storm hit.
This is the large tree that was uprooted at the church, thankfully it did not fall towards the church or the seniors residence.
insurance nightmare
What to do………… What can be done …..
PL Precept #1 – Life is Art. this is a challenge for sure. We can only go forward. We cannot rewrite the last weeks.
PL Precept # 4 Being annoyed imits your expression. Tough one, how can one not feel the stress/anxiety that this force of nature has delivered. So many people are still without power.. yes.. you read that right, especially those living in more remote areas of the province, or outside the central core of the city.
PL Precept # 18 Each moment is a turning point
What can we do. The storm has forced us to sit up and take notice. Even those of us who now have power, we are left to cleanup, clear up, face the daunting task of rebuilding .. finding our “balance” our sense of “normal” … of course nothing will ever be as it was. somethings are gone forever.
It is important to remember that while we are coping with whatever “issues/problems” that have been put in our “in” basket… there are men and women who have been working around the clock .. rebuilding, rescueing, repairing and doing their best to make the city and our homes safe again.
” Let’s have a humble mind. Once you think, “That’s good enough” you become blind to the opportunities to be more creative.” PL day 30 of 2022 calendar
While I made the many trips up the stairs with the food that was wasted .. trekking down the laneway to the recycle bin.. (today is garbage day).. I thought… “ok, you are getting exercise, this will add to your daily step count”
Then I was inspired to get a big box and fill it with staples from my over stocked kitchen cupboards to take to the foodbank this morning..
What can you do today to help someone else…
The skies seem overcast and gloomy.. have not heard the weather forecast for today…. I hope the weather holds so that the construction and hydro crews can continue to work in safety…
TAOIST Life is Art (Perfect Liberty precept #1)
contact info.- via blogs
--- there are two energies, Yin and Yang = ONE
---to have balance we must live each moment
of our lives.. with Makoto (sincerity)
The only constant in life is change. I am grounded in the reality of Living.
This is true, in all worlds. RL or virtual. I am me and only me.
