when the spotlight is on you and you are not sure just what to do or say – it happens –
Today, I’m told about conversations on Zoom, Skype, and other media venues… There is no need to leave the house, you sit down, open up your technology and visit. It has been a year, and many have changed their way of living in this vibrant world. They leave home, get in a car, drive to a shop, store, or retail pick up destination, maybe a medical/dental appointment, but … the social world they had has all but disappeared.
Ottawa.Canada
Photo – Bonnie (Spain)
photo – Ian Mitchell
guess what, the world outside is still there, and it continues to evolve and change with the seasons.
Photo Chris O’Keefe
Each Person’s Peace leads to World Peace.First of all, you have to be happy. that happiness will spread and be the foundation of World Peace.
Perfect Liberty 2021.1
DAY OF PEACE service today @ 10 a.m.
this little bird comes to see me almost every day. I miss him/her when I don’t get to have that wee visit.
snow is pristine and beautiful against the contrasting bark on the trees
I wrote this back in the late 70’s… found it today while looking for something else.
Freedom is – a state of mind
Through each moment of the day
We experience, joy, happiness, sadness, anticipation and frustrations.
Emotions, are part of our core
With each breath comes an emotion
How we cope and accept, encounters and interactions with others…
is how much freedom we allow ourselves …
in our journey through life.
To see fragments of life shatter before you
in a glittering array – transcending joy
a new dawning.
thoughts taken from a page of a book I’d stored visual artwork and thoughts such as the above.
It is interesting to see how I captured my thoughts then, & to reflect on them, I think I still see life much the same way… will have to give it more thought though,
I like the contrast of the snow and the quiet moment of reflection in my beach house .. in the virtual world, the weather is always comfortable no matter where we visit, or the terrain we travel. In this world of constant change, we are gifted with new adventures and back drops for our “stories” and “travels”… the newness, the constant discoveries of what IS… makes for a world of wonder. Ours to discover !!!
“Stop the car I would holler”.. however now, I am driving alone, so there was no one to alert. I checked my rear view mirror, pulled over, put my hazard lights on, and got out to capture this moment. Gosh snow can be so beautiful, alluring, and captivating. Never mind that just minutes prior to this scene, I had passed a car that had driven off the road into a scene similar to this one, how the driver had managed that I don’t know.. the side road had been plowed. The car had taken a nose dive into the ditch on the opposite side of the road that it had been headed in.
It was a beautiful day, you can see the sky is a lovely shade of blue. Earlier on my way out to the woodlands, I had passed a long stretch of road where all the vegetation was covered in snow and ice. The lighting was such that it looked like silver and gold encrusted on all the shrubs .. but I couldn’t stop, so I told myself I would get it on my way back. We all know that was not going to happen, the hour or so that had elapsed, meant the lighting would be all different, and I would be on the other side of the road. However…. I did get the above capture, and that pleased me.
My crows were not around today, well not all of them, usually they are in the multiple dozens, today there were only about a dozen, and they were quiet, there was none of the hooting and hollering that I am usually greeted with. It was a sunny day, and milder, they obviously had something else to do and were dining elsewhere. It was also quieter in the glen when I got there. There were just too many people, being such a beautiful day, and the lock down lifted, people were itching to be out on their X-country skies and snow shoes.
At Mer Bleue my second stop, it too was quiet, but it has been so, since I think Dewberry draws the enthusiasts that want to have longer trails. Here I got to stand and bask in the sunlight, while the Blue Jays, Evening Grose beaks, nuthatches, and little chickadees happily went about their business. I felt rooted to the spot where I was standing, a couple of times I was used as a spring board .. I didn’t mind.. in fact, secretly I love it. even the squirrel came over to run across my foot.. just because. =^_^=
Express your appreciation with enthusiasm. Appreciation is the driving force for progress and development.
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.
Big fluffy white snow sculptures.just posted this on Q’s Story Telling site. (thru windshield)
I admit to at first letting my lazy mind nudge me deeper under the covers when I saw how much snow had fallen. but the call of the wild, the fresh air and the bird chatter got me up. The side roads were in dreadful condition, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Anderson Road was well plowed and clear. However, when I got to the road that leads down to the parking lot of the woodlands, I saw only tire tracks in the DEEP snow. Having come this far, I turned and carefully made my way down the road, following the tracks ahead of me.
Needless to say, I was greeted with a lot of chatter from both the birds and squirrels when I alighted from the car. The parking lot might have been plowed sometime late last night, cuz, it was not in great shape. However, there were a few other cars in the lot, with no sign of people, so obviously they belonged to the early X-cross country skiers/snowshoe enthusiasts Most of the feeders (seed/nut mixtures) were empty, no one had been down the path leading to the feeders so it was a good exercise for me to tromp through the deep snow (Yes I got my exercise)
.As soon as the peanuts and sunflower seeds were put out, the Blue Jays arrived to grab their share. Happily for me I got to spent time with the Evening Grosbeaks who were enjoying the fresh serving of the big seeds they like and of course the side dishes of shelled nuts and sunflower seeds.. what a beautiful bird they are, their colours contrast so much with the blue and white of the Jays.. Maybe its because this is my first year of knowing them, but I love looking at them, their yolk coloured feathers, their sculptured beaks.. I find them very sophisticated looking.
Because of the road conditions, I did not attempt to go down the road to Mer Bleue, when I saw the state it was in, I turned and returned to the city. Stopping only for more birdseed and food supplies for my charges. It was a good day. I very much enjoy the fresh air during my outings. With all the exercise tho’ the shovelling and the walking.. I was ready for an afternoon nap. 🐱
Make today a different day. Instead of doing the same old thing be creative and do things to improve your day.
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.
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.
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