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Archive for the ‘Taoist’ Category

hexagon – sometimes

Quilted flower 10.27.17Sometimes, you decide to cut out a hexagon.  You have an idea.  But before you can really get carried away, your creative self goes to work… and yes, you do hexagons, but this is what you end up with.

Quilted hexagon flower 10.27.17

There is another step or two that followed, but the picture may or may not be completed, so… I leave you with the above.  I wanted fall colours, and I’ve done a flower.  We will have to wait to see what comes next.

Sometimes, we have to know when to stop, take a step back, and wait.

Happy week-end everyone!

Oyashikiri

chop suey Thursday

IMG_4093Some times when we are travelling full speed down a Provincial highway, we admire the beauty along the sides of the road.  Same is true when we are on secondary roads.  My mind will pick up on a detail, that later brings me to another storyline.

old orchard beach taken by B

Two very different landscapes, yet each sends me images and text.  I imagine that for many this is also true.  This morning, when I opened up my mail, one of the images I saw was this one.

fantasy house Pinterest

Of course I thought immediately of Norm’s Thursday Doors.  His this  week is AWESOME Norm 2.0  For those of you who know my love of the “character” doors, you will appreciate why today he had me mesmerized..

My husband has been wanting to take me back for a visit to Newfoundland and Labrador, he worked there years ago when he was still doing radio/TV… I have also been there, but just to visit, now seeing Norm’s doors, you can bet your booties, I am going to be suggesting that YES, Let’s pack up the truck, bring the dogs, we are going exploring.

See that is what an image can do for me.  I love seeing the world through the lens of another, as well as my own.  When we focus, a whole new world opens up for us.

BE  present.  always.  listen giving full attention.  the rewards are   A MA Z I N G

I didn’t plan on a trip to the States yesterday, but there I was, having lunch in NY State, and adding to my fabric stash.

Ogdensburg,10.25.17

Life is good, life is great, being alive to see the fall colours, WOW, we are so lucky those of us lucky enough to experience Nature in  all her seasons.  Yes even winter.

Oyashikiri

PL Precept # 21 live in Perfect Liberty

a chance encounter


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shadows cast a spell

allowing me to see

 the world in your eye

when the sun moves on

you will be gone

 I won’t forget, but

your location

I won’t tell

your secret is safe

with me

Q

Susan

My long time friend,  passed away Friday – if she were here, we would likely quip that “another one bites the dust”  Susan and I were the dynamic duo who felt that we could do anything we wanted to. If others said it was impossible, Susan and I would sit down and work out how we could get it done.  I had two friends called Susan, she was known in our circle as “little Susan” cuz that is what she was, 5’2″ if that.

IMG_4120Being a Taoist, for me landscaping was all about bringing nature to my property so that it would as closely resemble natural growth, Susan shared that passion, when I bought a home with a double lot, she said, I’m going to get more land too.  She moved to a place where she had the kind of lot that she could build on.  We were off to the races, every week-end we toured miles of countryside looking for landscaping places that would offer us plants that were not the standard backyard fare.

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Susan’s passion soon outgrew her backyard, she called me one day to tell me she had decided to purchase land.  We both had full-time careers in Corporate Health Care, and were raising our “young” but that didn’t stop her.  Once her mind was made up, Susan was a very determined person.  Over the years I watched as she  took on one “project” or “passion” after another.

IMG_4126When I remarried in the late 90’s, we didn’t get to spend the time together that we did before, but anytime we did meet up, we picked up just where we left off. That was the kind of relationship we had. The bond we had created when we were younger, held like glue.  The years passed, friends in our lives changed, but still, we knew each other like one hand knows the other.

IMG_4116She is gone now, at least the human form is no longer here.  But her presence, the secrets we shared, the long evenings of simply “being” in the same space, discovering our “selves”.. that will always be.

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Rest in peace my friend, our joy in prisms will always be a reminder of how much you are part of mine.

When love is true it lasts forever, no matter what…

true friendship is not about how often you see each other,

or how long you have known each other..

but in the truth of what you were to each other.

Q

 

photos along the Tay River, Ontario,Canada

Love a Donkey

 

“Hey, come on closer, I can’t hear what you are saying”… dutifully I found my way into the ditch and up to the fence.  I knew darn well they heard what I was saying, but clever darlings, wanted me closer so I could feed them the taller greens on my side of the fence.

I learned some time ago how devious they can be.  As full of mischief, they are also softies if you are deemed a friend. Get on their bad side tho’ and I would stay way clear. If they are working, and taking care of their flock… be warned, security checks can be quick and purposeful.

My visit was obviously on their lunch break. =^_^=    I’ve been known to chatter away, wax poetically and find myself rewarded with big sloppy kisses.  Of course a carrot or two in my pocket helped.

Lately I have found myself on back roads, where I have had the pleasure of a few encounters.  Have you visited with a donkey lately?  Aren’t they a wonderful audience. You know they are listening even when they turn their backs.. scratch an ear, if you are lucky, you’ll hear the donkey sigh, =^_*=  (wink)

Enjoy every day, today, will lead you to tomorrow.

Blessings be… Oyashikiri

communication …… remember, it is not always what we say, but HOW we say it. after we speak, it is important to LISTEN

 

soyez tranquilles

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tranquility

moments pass

yet stillness

inspires

more lingering

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Make every day special, we only live it once.

Oyashikiri

 

Perth, On. Canada on the Tay trail

 

 

Stash

fabric stash 4Happiness is finding that the coloured hook and loop tape is on sale, buy 1 and get 2 free.  I had not seen coloured hook and loop before, so I was for sure, having a few. Especially they were in the fall colours I was on the hunt for.

Took me awhile but I finally found the fat quarters, and when I did, I forgave the shop for hiding way in the back.  They were all half price. I managed to find enough quarters in the colours I was wanting.

fabric stash 3I’m even going to follow the “rules” and launder the pieces first before I start to cut them up and heat bond them.  I am showing you the raw pieces, before I play with them.  Hopefully I will eventually show you the end product.  I have no idea what I will do with the tape, but the possibilities are endless.

I’ve also begun to work on the art/junk journals again .. fall is in the air, I always get a nudge from Mother Nature at this time of year, the vibrant colours she splashes all around us is enticing.  Even the rows of golden rod and mellow yellows that dot the fields along the highways call out to me.

The unbelievable thrill of seeing the  1000 shades of orange/reds that wave from the hardwood trees that line the road, exhilarates.

My stash is slowly taking on the colour theme that I will work with. Yes I am excited at the pending creativity that is awake and churning to get going… anyone else out there feeling that zing that is floating around in the ethers of the bright fall days.  Not to mention the crisp night breezes that lull us to sleep.

It has been a super great Thursday  …  hello Friday, I’m ready for you.

May the happiness of the season, float effortlessly your way. Appreciate and enjoy this season of harvest.

Oyashikiri

PL Principle # 3   I will live with a mind of appreciation towards others and things.

bee,blessed

Mickey

disnyland 10.17

I was just going to settle into bed when I heard the ping of my phone, I could have ignored it, but I wasn’t completely settled in so, I had a look.  There was Mickey smiling away while in the shadows I could see a throng of people wandering, mingling the Disneyland “Park” Even at night it is able to captivate with the charm that is Disnyland.

Where I was, on a quiet street, night time had descended, and most residents on our street anyway, were safely tucked into bed.  My sister on the other paw, visiting in Los Angeles was surrounded with activity and coloured lights, (3 hour time difference)

I love when I am reminded on how wonderful life is in 2017,  that with technology the way it is now I can share a moment in space and time with someone (in this case my sister) and be miles away, and in a totally different “place”  These are blessings friends, we experience them everyday.   We have much to be thankful.

Appreciation of life, learning to share and care as a daily part of our lives, that is important.

People who choose to be toxic, who get their “highs” on the distress or perceived failures of others, who can only malign and remember past incidents that they feed on to give them a reason  to live.  That is SAD.  we can only pray that their toxic behaviours and  “sick” fumes don’t darken our paths.  When they do, appreciate that you are not in “that place”  give thanks for your own life, and pray that their “unwell” state of mind and being will find its way to a better place. Then move on.

PL Precept #11   Always be with God.

The negativity and disease of others, need not infect your world.

GOD is LOVE

no matter what philosophy you live by, LOVE permeates all teachings.

Oyashikiri

 

photo -Valerie

stained glass

retreat 10.7.17a

Imagine the sun streaming in on a cool fall day.  Isn’t there something wonderful about the way, light is transformed when it penetrates and shines through  a stained glass panel.

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even the high ceiling is mirroring the colourful hues, giving the  room an aura of light.  When the organist plays, what divine inspiration must flow from his hands to the organ itself.  A true delight for all who are embraced by the sound,

PL Precept # 15 All is a Mirror

PL Principle # 3  I will live with a mind of appreciation towards others and things.

God is everywhere – PL Precept # 11 Always be with God

Oyashikiri

 

Pictures taken by Valerie (sister) while at her retreat

Chop Suey Monday

retreat snowberries 2

On a retreat this past week-end, my sister thought to share some pictures with me.  In one of them, I was very taken by these big white berries.  They are so plump and lush. She is in California, so her countryside where she was visiting was very different from what I have now here in the Ottawa area,

retreat snowberries 3

I thought at first to crop out the shadows, but then I realized that it lent a very human element to the picture.  the retreat took place on a large acreage owned by the diocese of the church she belongs to.  Her church and another one were holding their annual fall retreat. Before the heat of the day set  in, her group, were walking some of the pathways, exploring.

The picture isn’t perfect the wildflowers look a tad blurred, but I think the reason I liked it s much was that it was being shared with me, and it had been part of her journey that day. So often in life, we want everything to be perfect, I am guilty of cropping, removing, using photo shop at times to get what I call an artist visual of whatever it is I want to express.  My sister, was taking a picture simply to share her happy moment, the joy we all feel when we are outdoors on a sunny day, being warmed by the sun, perhaps a gentle breeze and fellowship.

Realizing that the  sharing of a special moment was more important and let’s face it precious, than a perfect picture.  Appreciation of all that comes our way, is a gift.  I like many others have to practice every day, giving thanks, and being grateful for all life has to offer. ALL, not just what I pick and choose . When we learn appreciation, only then can we truly be of service to others.

retreat snowberries 4

Look at the view ,for as far as they eye can see .  No highrise to block our view,, no constant roar of traffic.  Just open land.  I wasn’t there at the time she was, but I am sure enjoying it now.

It is Canadian Thanksgiving today, but appreciation and knowing how blessed we are, is something to give thanks for every day.

Oyashikiri

There is no such thing as true perfection, but happiness, and Love/GOD are very real…

PL Precept #11   Always be with God

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