Snow covers the ground a beautiful blanket of white. Holiday music is heard every where we go. You ready for the season of holiday cheer and festive gatherings? Not to be a wet blanket, but it isn’t a holiday for everyone, please be aware of the hardships others may be facing.
Sincere condolences and prayers go out to the families that are facing the loss of a family member… or having to spend time in the health care facilities who are open 24/7. The support workers who work holiday and shifts, who can’t just stop what they are doing to celebrate. Hats off to the work crews who no matter what the day, night … if the weather decides to play havoc with travel, they are out working to keep our roads safe. Its not a party for everyone…
Work happily with good rhythm
If you take on your tasks willingly, you will enjoy the task and you may even be rewarded with a more positive outcome.
You know when you have someone’s undivided attention. You know when what you are saying is being processed and listened to, If when we engage in a conversation, the other party is simply replying to your statement/comment, or they really really want to know what your saying and what it means.
And… sometimes, we are the ones who are being superficial, we call out a greeting or make a comment, but we have not really meant to engage, we are just being polite.
Spending time with Gracie, the boxer you see above, reminded me of just how different it is to interact with a dog…. versus a feline friend. I couldn’t help but draw a comparison… to interactions one gets from a dog, versus a cat. And of course, that led me to thinking how indifferent humans can be with each other as well.
PL Precept # 12 Everything has a way according to its name.
PL Precept # 13 There is a way for men and a way for women,
This is a tricky one … a good topic for a round table discussion with Rev. Hiroki .. what do you think? In PL we are open and encourage participation in the interpretation of the Precepts and Principles … If you have thoughts you’d like to share, I’d love to hear them.
Have a good day everyone, Feil is watching and you know he won’t miss a trick….
Oyashikiri
note. The church in Ottawa is open to anyone who would like to visit ..
When the dragon roars, and begins to wander across the land with a determination, there is another year looming, it is time to review the past months, and reflect on how we’ve spent the past 11 months of 2025.
running into software issues.,.. will wish you a happy Sunday, Love yourself and others. Have a prayerful mind. a Reminder… there are many around us this year who are not going to have an easy time of it in the coming weeks.
Reminder if you have someone who needs special prayers, please send me an IM (direct message)…I will get back to you. If you are close to a physical church you can arrange an in person meeting*.
Open up your heart fully when praying, it will help you sort out your feelings.
Oyashikiri
*PL consultations .. PL’s unique way of offering personal guidance. (responding to problems in our daily lives)
When the anticipation of having lobster with soba noodles gets to be too much and you have to indulge. I like to cook them and let them cool, then I simply enjoy the succulent meat with the noodles. Yummy!
How was your holiday gathering…? We have been bombarded for a week about the sales happening, in some cases, the black Friday sales have been on for almost a week!
Yesterday I ran around trying to find pumpkin pie, it was everywhere during the Canadian Thanksgiving, I finally found one so I could have A piece. yes A, meaning a single piece… As much as I love a piece of pumpkin pie smothered with whipped cream… I can only indulge in one piece. Desserts are not high on my list, but the pumpkin pie was the one memory I had of sharing time with my Mom… it was a time where we shared the guilty secret of enjoying the treat on our own… (we were both diabetics) Pies elevate sugar levels!!! Mom has been gone now for almost 10 years…. festive holidays were always so important to her. So altho’ I tend to withdraw into a a quiet laid back day … I do remember her love of sharing a meal with her family, I might be inspired to call my sister.
Simple message today, it is so simple .. it slips easily past your thought process .. after you’ve read it… and agree, yup, you need to slow down… it gets tucked away … and forgotten. Please… take a few minutes today for YOU. Really, really make time for YOU.
Oyashikiri
re. lobster. No I don’t drown it in garlic butter.. altho’ that is one dip I enjoy… lately I am eating it plain, savouring the taste of the meat on its own. It is healthier for me … no after effects.. there are some great Asian sauces that are a treat, but again.,, sauces contain sugar..
The Soba noodles I drain, and cool them down under the cold water tap, then toss them in a very light seasoning.. depending on my taste wants of that moment. sprinkled with black or white sesame seeds is fun. I found a Vietnamese sauce with a tang that hits the spot too.
Sometimes there are no explanations, life is simply what it is. No more, no less.
Put your whole heart into whatever you do, no matter when or where you are. Don’t try to cut corners or be careless about things. Be fully responsible, completing whatever you set out to do.
Ohhhh love is in the air, holidays are around the corner, there is an excitement in the air, shops are all a glitter with holiday lights, and decorated Christmas trees. Are you ready?
Pay careful attention without overly straining yourself or taking things too lightly
Having the right amount of tension in your life allows you to notice many things, and that will help you to better express yourself.
PL2019.25
Not everyone is blessed with happiness and joy at this time, be aware of what is happening around you… share your happiness, listen with an open heart… Smile. A smile goes a long way.
The soft flakes fell ..,each a delicate masterpiece of beauty… with gentle precision they landed on the extended arms of the trees. The forest was covered in a blanket of sparkling organic gems. Some translucent and others the purest of white.
I was surrounded by scenes that were surreal ,the world had become a winter wonderland. Suddenly I’d get a flash of black as a frisky squirrel would scamper towards the “cafe”… then I would catch the rusty red of a smaller squirrel rushing to get a place at the “table”.
The blue jays were already poised to shop for the biggest peanut they could find… and since reopening, the woodpeckers were gathering higher up … waiting for the suet and butter bark to be distributed.
The chickadees,, nuthatch and a group of “gray” birds were busy grabbing would they could from the buffet tables. Chirping and chattering all the while as they flew back for second and third helpings
Here we are at the beginning of new week. I hope you have a beautiful start to your day/week.
Have clear goals and take appropriate actions
Always begin with a clear idea of what your goals are. Once you have pinpointed the target for your actions, things will move forward much more smoothly.
PL2019.17
Oyashikiri
The next day after the snow.. the cafe floor was filled with tiny and mid size paw prints. There wasn’t a crumb left.. all the tables/platters were empty.
It was Q’s rez day yesterday (birthday)… I got the notice and realized that I had totally forgotten. I made time to go in to SL (Second Life) (virtual platform) to spend some time with her. Wow she first appeared in my life in 2007.. She was an adventure into a virtual world, there were a lot of lessons to learn. I had to learn to walk, sit, build, communicate with others. Basically exist in/on a virtual platform… I did it … over the years I have progressed and managed to move around and adjust to the many changes one faces in a virtual environment. Photography of course is one of my greatest loves and challenges. I have over 6000 photos on flickr documenting the many changes over the years. I am definitely someone who has learned to live conducting and using my creativity as an avatar to navigate part of my life. The big buzz these days is Ai … which has filtered into “today” world in/on all platforms.
Listening to my lessons, studies, I am getting to know just how much Ai is out there. My visits to the woodlands are more frequent with the changing of the weather, There is something very humbling about being a human standing alone in the middle of acres of land … where a young moose can wander past, or the a call of a patrolling wolf warning you of his/her presence…. joins the chatter of the critters coming to greet you … looking for the treats you’ve brought for them to enjoy. I am finding a balance… outdoors with nature, and indoors with a computerized world…. both take the need to be “present” as an important factor in balancing one’s waking hours.
You will notice that while Q was out, she saw a lot of Christmas decorations in shops she visited.. So yes, Xmas has arrived in her “personal” space. I noted looking out my window last night, that there was a fully decorated tree, with lovely lights on the balcony across the courtyard. Might be time I changed my fall bouquet (on my patio) to something more Xmasy…I won’t want to be out there trying to do something when the weather changes and we are in a full blown “winter” season.
Today’s calendar
Avoid being careless or overconfident
Even though you may have put your best effort into doing something you still may have made some mistakes, that is why it is important to always work with a prayerful mind.
PL2019.16
Happy Sunday everyone,
Oyashikiri
Q isn’t one who smiles much (like me) but she is happy and content in her world…. (like me) =^_^= contentment is a beautiful state of BEING.
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.