There is beauty all around us, we have opportunities every day to wonder at the world we live in. It is hard at times to remember that life is good, and that there are new discoveries to be made very day. Stay positive!
PL Precept #1 Life is Art
PL Precept # 2 To live is to express One’s Self
PL Precept # 3 God appears through One’s Self
3 of the 21 Precepts of PL.
I think the Precept that we should all keep in mind these days, is
PL Precept # 14 World Peace is Everything.
There are 21 Precepts, each one will help guide us through our day to day lives.
In Ottawa we will now be able to resume Services on Sundays. This Sunday the 21st. we will hold service at 10 a.m. It will be the service/ceremony of Appreciation.
Please keep in mind, we ask that you come prepared with a mask, we have the necessary sanitizing washes which will be at the door, social distancing will be observed. Seating will be spaced accordingly.
Rev. Eugene or one of the Hokyoshi are always available to meet with you for personal consultations, by appointment please.
I was delighted by these two sweethearts Thursday morning.
both photos by Num Ottawa (Instagram)
It’s Okay! God is watching over you. Things turn out for the best. Don’t be captured by momentary troubles but continue doing everything with sincerity.
Brace yourself, snow on the way, heavy snowfall late afternoon early evening, and into tomorrow. Hearing that I went out to the feeders to ensure they were topped up. I was about 15 minutes late getting to the crows. Surprise there was a line up .. they were waiting for me to show up. Now the pressure will be on… Snow or not tomorrow morning, I will have to do my best to get to the parking lot where the crows gather. By the time I go through the drive thru and McD. for my ice coffee and come back to where I feed them. They have cleaned up the area, tidy as you please.’
With the city opening up tomorrow, the lock down ends at midnight tonight, I thought to drive by the local Value Village, which if you are in the States is like a Goodwill, only its for profit. (they do give to the local charities, but they are for profit).. I wanted to see if they were open for donations, and they were. I drove home, loaded the car with the boxes and bags I’d collected over the last month plus… and drove back to unload them. This pleased me, I won’t have to do it tomorrow if there is a snow storm. Feels good to declutter, and even better when you totally rid yourself of the excess by delivering it to the Goodwill or Salvation Army.
If you are going to do it, give it your best effort. Your actions will be dulled if you worry too much about the outcome. Once you decide on a course of action, don’t hesitate to complete your task.
happy happy. I started out (left) and she let me get closer and closer!
She let me get so close that I kept waiting for her to take off. I heard footsteps of someone coming along the trail, they stopped. but she stayed. I was an arms length from her. I only had my cell phone today, so it wasn’t a big object in my hands.. I tried to coax her to look my way… I know.. asking too much .. too soon.. but the fact she didn’t take off till more people came up to where we were, thrilled me. When she took off, I followed suit. I took over 2 doz. pictures, most were just repetitions…
Happiness is .. being able to share a moment of quiet with another species. LOL I was quiet, she was busy eating.
Todays calendar was about expressing ourselves freely within the rules…
Consider rules as a canvas on which to express your specialty artistically
Perfect Liberty 2021.9
Todays experience reminds me of
Discover the joy of transforming yourself. When you realize how much you have changed for the better, it fills you with true happiness. Strive each day to improve yourself.
Perfect Liberty 2014.8
I have changed over the years, I have accepted the changes that happened over the years of living and experiencing life challenges/opportunities. It wasn’t always easy, but living with the firm belief that God is always with me.. allows for a more open and adventurous journey. I’ve learned that I can be “still” .. I can allow new ideas and possibilities to infiltrate my thought process.
A year ago, I would not have sought a meaningful moment with a woodpecker (bird).. today, after weeks and months of spending time being closer to the “outdoor environment” in a personal way, (not driving by or through a park, but actually making the woodland part of my day/Being… I experienced the “high” of being accepted albeit limited, but never-the-less accepted at close range by a bird of the wild.
Num had posted other pictures of this, or similar owl, but when I saw this one, it stopped me from scrolling further .. If you haven’t had occasion to check out Num’s photos, he is on Instagram, NumOttawa.
Here we are at the start of another work week, hopefully there will be news today on what is has been decided for our area. Both dogs are in serious need of nail trimming, the grooming of a dog is an important part of their “health maintence”.. especially for senior dogs who are hounds and do a lot of running. WE all need to be steady on our feet.. during winters here, it is not always without its challenges. (icy, slippery, uneven ground, even on pavement)… Let’s be aware, and stay Safe.
We are also aware that many in the community have been finding it even harder this year, with the on and off isolation rules/regulations etc. This week I had occasion to hunt up a UV light for someone, I had been told of the benefits these lights provide, and wanted one for someone who has moved into a new apartment which lacks the bright sunlight they had before in their previous location. Until doing the research and trying to locate one in the area, I had not realized they were as popular as they are. The pharmacy (drugstore) shelves were limited in product range, or sold out completely. I did find one thank you.. but I would be interested if any one out there has had experience with such therapy, if you would share how effective it was for you.
With a prayerful mind, put your heart into everything you do. Even when you’ve put in your best effort, you may have overlooked something. With a humble mind, take a second look to check for mistakes or oversights.
Perfect Liberty 2014.7
Tell yourself “things Happen”. Even if something is inconvenient, once you accept it, you will be able to move onto the next step.
Kindness – Yesterday I was blown away by the kindness of friends who wanted to “touch base”, and came by. With the Chinese New year soon to be at our doorstep, I was surprised by a visit from one of my cherished friends that I have not seen much of because of the pandemic .. yes we can chat on the phone, but to get to actually see her and experience her smile and vibrant personality at close range was a true JOY for me. I feel a silent tear slipping down my cheek, but I assure you it is one of happiness.
As you know, I left home with out my cell yesterday, it happens, I am focused on getting the food ready for the crows, feeding the dogs etc. before I leave.. and the cell is not on my mind. This of course means, not only was it not there for me to use when I wanted it, but friends calling me, could not reach me. Knowing I had not had my phone with me, didn’t mean much to me except the inconvenience of not being able to use the camera when I wanted to.
What I didn’t think of, was that family, friends trying to reach me were unable to …. that is not a problem in itself, but eventually one sees the messages and calls back. However, I am of a generation where a phone was not in my life at all, and then when it was, it was attached to the building, and the one setting on it .. was a loud ring if someone called your number. So of course I came home and went about doing my “business” unaware that I had had calls and that there were messages I should be addressing.
I was therefore surprised and delighted early evening to find my niece and nephew at the door with my wild and wonderful dog niece Lily… again there had been a message and I had not responded. Their thoughtfulness, kindness was doubled when Lily came barging in (she is almost 5 months now and probably 50 pounds of furry energy) and took no listen to her “parents” as she charged in wanting to ensure that all was well. Both my dogs, one more senior than the other I think were taken back by such highly charged activity. It was a fun delightful 15- 20 minutes of chasing, hugging and kissing (the puppy and I )
Kindness should never be under estimated or taken for granted. My visitors and callers yesterday, made my day a truly sensational event. I am filled with gratitude that I have family and friends who are such genuine delights. I truly am blessed.
My friend Shirley (whose pictures I often share with you)… lives in NZ, altho’ we have never met in person, we have been in each others lives since very early days. Probably over 50 years. We began as penpals. Yes before internet, when people communicated by writing letters and using stamps. You would wait impatiently for mail to arrive from distant places, to hear news from friends who you corresponded with .. then when the letter arrived you read about what your friend had been doing and saw pictures (yes, black and white or colour) taken with cameras where you had to wait to finish a roll, get the film developed.. and then wait for that service to be provided to get your pictures..) Our friendship has endured. She takes wonderful pictures of her hometown, and her interests, I am blessed with her kindness, she gives me permission to share her world with you (my friends).
Experience the JOY of being KIND to others. The Joy of expressing kindness to others is much greater than when someone does something kind for you. Always strive to be a person who can be kind to others.
Pileated wood pecker, this was the profile I saw today.
My reward today was getting to see this beauty at one of the feeders. (Mer Bleue) I have heard one and seen one in the distance at Dewberry Trail, and of course I see the results of their woodworking skills tap tap on the trees they love to peck away at. But today, one flew up to the feeder I had just filled and settled in to feast. I was struck with awe. I stood in the swirling snow and just watched, transfixed at his/her beauty and size. When I got my initial awe struck mind to register that it was happy snacking and not going anywhere, I quickly sought out my cell, both cameras were not with me. Guess who didn’t have her phone with her, it was still plugged in beside the bed. (the above picture is from good old Wikipedia)
To say that seeing one so close to me, and so amazingly unfazed by my being there, was truly an experience I will treasure, is fact. I noticed when reading the info on the Wikipedia site, that the picture I am using indicates its a female, however the male doesn’t look that different.
this one is identified as a male
Interestingly there are usually other woodpeckers around when I am there, the mid size one and a smaller one. Neither was around when my “star” arrived. The other birds paid her no mind, but then they were interested in the peanuts and sunflower seeds I had put out in the other feeders. My beauty, was after the suet. Interestingly I have noted freshly chipped out rectangular holes in the big tree that is in the clearing, but I had yet to see the “artist”. It seems they are looking for insects, especially ant colonies, they even eat poison ivy berries. I am smitten, but fear not, I am not about to embark on a search and find mission for insects to put out for her. I will however, make sure the flavour of the suet she likes is made available for her.
Thank goodness she is far away from my murder of crows… This must be what a cheating heart feels like.
Don’t think “I Can’t” from the start. Begin by taking the first step, then you’ll be able to see what comes next and a path will open.
Perfect Liberty 2021.6
Everything that happens to you is material for growth. Approach everything with a firm belief that “it will turn out for the best”. Anything can be used as material for progress and development.
I have been going often enough now.. they don’t fly away when I am working around the feeders, they don’t get chummy, but they do stay where I can get a good look at them. I’m close enough that I can see that each one of them has its own unique colour pattern, subtle, never-the-less some have more brilliant yellow, some more mustard colour, there is even softer shades of the golden hues. The contrasting black can be like an ebony while a few have more of a charcoal black, then of course there is the blinding white that stands out so dramatically.
This was my morning visit. After I pruned back broken twigs and branches that were in the way, and filled the feeders that needed tending to. I just stood there, letting them come and go, fly by, settle and eat. It was fascinating to see them at such a close range. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I’ve been able to gain their trust enough that they allow me to be so close.
The forest floor is covered in an array of shapes of all sizes, the snow that blankets the fallen timber and dead branches makes for natural abstract visuals. I come away feeling very pampered that I have been able to enjoy not only the fresh air, and clear blue skies, but the company of active birds, squirrels and ….. the odd human that wanders past .. heading out on one of the trails.
I must ask next time I see one of the photographers, where all the cawing and squawking is coming from that I hear off in the distance. Or… maybe.. just maybe, one day I’ll take the walking poles and head out for a stroll. So much to look forward to.
Listen carefully and speak clearly. A good relationship starts from truly understanding each other.
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.
dymoonblog 