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please, a smile for you?

Good morning, I picked these just for you

How are you today? Is it sunny down your way?

Oh dear, what is a shower or two

After all, we are getting to share a moment

Before I have to say adieu..

Yesterday was a wonderful day

I’m sorry I missed my time with you

I knew you would understand

Friends and I, were out on a drive exploring

and simply enjoying the day

Seeing the sights and getting to know each other more

Life would be such a bore,

if we didn’t make time to play

The beauty and wonder of it all

Is that my friends are from Japan,

I got to show them a small part of Canada

and experience their delight in viewing my homeland

We got as far as the St. Lawrence River,

where we could stand, and they could see

our closest neighbour, the United States of America

Farmer’s fields were newly sewn, some early crops were to be seen

Everything was green, as far as the eyes could see

Language barriers vanished when the sharing

was the visual all around us

In Perfect LIberty, we truly believe that Life is for Living

and that Life is Art

Rev. Atsushi, Rev. Mamoru and I had a exquisite day yesterday

we put our full Makoto (heart/sincerity) into what we did

the day will be a memory that will last for a very long time

In sharing it with you, we hope that it

will bring a smile to your day.

Namaste – Oyashikiri

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What a wonderful adventure my friend and I enjoyed yesterday, we spent the whole day living each moment to the fullest. At the end of the day we were laughing so hard that not only did we have tears in our eyes, my sides ached from all the full body laughs.

My husband bless his heart had to listen to the two of us recount our adventures when we got in. From his expression, I think our outpouring mirth and chortling was, an experience for him of ” hmmm guess you had to have been there.”

yesterday’s PL lesson, was “Handle things that come your way one by one” I can honestly say, my friend and I did just that. Not only did the weather cooperate, the people we encountered were wonderful. To the men at the border that had to spend time with us explaining what they were doing and why, we offer our heartfelt thanks, it was a quiet time at the border,, so we were fortunate to have experienced their “sunny” dispositions. Perhaps quizzical at our having wandered into their domain…. they were gracious all the same.

We saw a lot of these badges, being worn by young men in navy uniforms The many many times I have crossed into the States, I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing so many uniformed personnel. Yesterday we got to see where they worked inside the building that is there. Now I know what is inside the building. There is always something new to learn. =^_^= Having never seen this area of the border crossing, we were both rather curious and looked around us much like we would have enjoyed a stroll through a museum, or a first time visit with a friend. (which we also did yesterday)

Ok so the decor was rather severe, and the colour scheme was not meant to be welcoming. It was a no-nonsense environment, the metal seating in the waiting area gave us a clue that not all visitors to this area enjoyed the visit, nor was their any indication that tea and crumpets would be offered. However, the staff, the men we interacted with, were cordial and did their best to make sure we were at ease.

As a Canadian living near the border into the States, we travel there a lot and we love discovering the vast array of geographical countryside they affer.

The people we meet along the way have always been welcoming and happy to share their country with us.

Be aware, that even though we are neighbours, they have their own rules, laws and ways of enforcing them.

I think that what made the days so special for my friend and I was that everyone we met was so special, each in their own way.

Best of all each encounter we had with a challenging opportunity, we saw the humour and the fun side of the experience.

It was a long day,and each moment was lived to the fullest, it certainly will be a day that will have lasting memories for us, and our friendship has taken on even more sparkle.

We should live each day with enthusiasm, after a good night’s sleep, wake up refreshed and ready for whatever comes your way. One of my frist thoughts for today was that perhaps, since we travel so much into the States, we should look into the Nexus card. =^_^=

Life is good! I’m happy happy happy….. how about you? You ready for a “boss” day, May each and everyone of you feel the love I send out your way, may your day be blessed with sunshine and the making of happy memories.

Namaste – Oyashikiri

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laat lets van je horen! Keep in touch!

What a wonderful holiday, what views, what excitement with each new place we “discovered”, it was one “wow”! after another, the fresh air, the under travelled roads, hidden treasures. wow, wow,wow!

Whether we are driving the coast of Italy, or rounding a bend on the island of Cape Breton, Canada,Mother Nature never fails to amaze us with her awesome natural sculptures that have been long in the making.

Holidays, happen, they come and go, but the memories live on, the intoxications of the moment, the moments when words fail you, where you simply have no choice but to look out in wonder at what your eyes, mind,body, and soul are feeling. These moments are real, and will always be a part of you.

PL quote” Everything that happens to you is Material for Growth ” Keep in touch with yourSelf, your desires, your memories that resonate within you. They will keep you balanced, connected to God, grounded in nature….Keep in touch!

Namaste – Oyashikiri

2nd & last photo Italy

last photo,Cristallo,Dolomites of Trentino

title,Dutch & English

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Canadien eh!

Good morning dear reader, when traveling we often hear about our money system here in Canada. I found this picture that shows you are coinage, however please note, we no longer use the penny. It was a real change for us when they said, no more printing of dollar bills, and we had to adapt to the loonie. But, we did and the thought of having one more coin to drag down our wallets passed. Then they (government) announced no more two dollar bills, we were going to be using another coin, which in Canada we have nicknamed the toonie. Again the grumbling, what a pain, we’d need change purses the size of makeup bags!

Even telling the time, what seemed to be the way to tell time, when traveling I found out that not everyone knew what I was talking about, and yes we were in an English-speaking country. In French, we also use the above when speaking of or indicating time. (Canada is bilingual, English/French)

True, we no longer can say, “A Penny for your thoughts?” we could, but the younger generation, may not know what a penny is since it is no longer used. At the moment there are still some in piggy banks I’m sure, but the day will come…… In my research this morning I found a whole page of “canadian-problem” #’d fun sayings. If you are so inclined you can check them out. For my purposes, #318 will do

In PL, the PL Principle #2 is.. I will not have complaint about others, matters,nor the weather, Rather I will always be creative and will look for shortcomings in my own thinking and actions.

Let me tell you, when the changes with the money came along, I did my share of grumbling. Then during recent trips to the States, when I had to pay for things, I found myself longing for my loonies and toonies. How much simpler it is using coins, and not having to deal with pennies. I found myself appreciating the changes that were made, that I had wasted so much time being negative about them.. was a “light bulb” an “ah ha!” moment.

PL Precept #4 – Being annoyed limits your expression, and it does. Sometimes there is distance between the lesson being offered, and our realization of same.

Examples used were Canadian “eh”…. but the lesson universal

no longer can I send a penny and say

a penny for your thoughts, remember I love you

somehow

a nickel for your thoughts just doesn’t have the same sentiment

it took 5 pennies to make 1 nickel

the one in the penny symbolized that you and I are ONE

Sorry but a nickel

sounds fickle

but, all said and done

I do .. love you…

You are the only ONE…

namaste – oyashikiri

*the canadguide.com

**** mortgagebrokersoshawa.wwordpress.com

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sounds of snow

There is something to be said about the sounds on waking during or after a fresh snow fall. It is a muffled silence that wraps the house in a cozy ambiance.. .I lay for almost an hour today visiting the many postings of friends on Facebook. Never would I do such a thing on another day. Somehow the quiet of the morning allowed the lazy side of me to enjoy the moment. I got to see videos that I otherwise would probably not have seen because I would have been up out of bed and right into my morning routine.

When I did get up, it was to grab the iPhone and head for the back door to take some pictures to share with you on the wonders of the new fresh fallen snow. Suet and bird feed are put in the feeders in the front where active dogs can’t get at the dropped seeds. First line of attack for birds is the feeders themselves, only when they can’t get at the feeder or the feeder is bare waiting for a refill do they pick up after themselves. OK ok that is not quite true, the smarter ones are happy to get the fresh seed slopped by the type A birds that are busy trying to outdo themselves by being first on the small ledge of the feeders.

While we think of decorating trees and our homes, Mother Nature has been busy putting her own signature on the look of the holiday season. “Life is Art” (PL Precept 1) Yesterday this same scene would have been drab and weary from the cold winters day. Today with the artistic touches of nature, it is vibrant and alive, giving us a totally different side of its many “faces”..

In every little nook and cranny of our “inner selves” is a story to be told, a “golden moment” we have lived and will relive in another season. Some lessons come back too many times to count, others come along, and we never see them again, why, because we captured and retained the essence of the first visit.

My lazy mind appreciated the morning lie in, so did the dogs who never stirred from my side, we were swaddled under warm blankets and the quilt I made a couple of years ago. We were content. Enjoy such moments when they come to you. The many “sounds of snow”… just one of the pleasures of winter.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of my winter garden. Love you all, each and every one of you. =^_^=

Namaste – Oyashikiri

PS .. contrary to popular belief, Canadian winters are spectacular and brilliant like a well cut diamond!

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Bom dia, hello everyone

Fall is in the air, the perky nip of cooler weather is there to greet me in the morning when I let the dog out. 16 degrees C, ( 45 F). The fall has to be my favourite season of all.. I enjoy each one of our very different seasons, but fall weather has a special place in my heart. Every year around this time the leaves start to work their magic on the landscapes. The lazy hazy days of summer disappear, there is a quicker and snappier mood to our walk. The fall clothes come out, the warm sweaters, closed in shoes, and wonderful combinations of casual fashion.

It is true, in the fall you are more likely able to draw me out into nature, the bugs and insects are not around, and where I would love a night in this cabin, I really feel the we would have problems taking the dogs out at night. The next picture is of a “pond” in a secluded area of Nova Scotia, Canada where someone camps. We have been to such locations in our travels, believe me, the exhilaration of such moments is beyond words.

In my personal journey to become a better person, I enjoy my time away as much as my time in the city. Life is wherever I am. It is when we stop moving forward in our lives that we grow stagnant. One one personal card I had printed, read, Discover a new you…. explore active meditation…. Step outside the box. What is active meditation, active meditation is when you live each moment of your day with Makoto (sincerity) with a focus on being a better person in all you say and do. Like the world we live in (nature) our moods and self expression changes. When we accept that the only constant in life is change, then we are well on our path to living with a peaceful heart.

May your day be blessed with an abundance of happiness and joy!

Namste – Oyashikiri

* nature.desktopnexus.com

**tacktoit.com

*** Pinterest, T Werner Abel camping area

**** fs.usda.gov Lake Conasauga,North Georgia camping area.

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The good the bad and the ugly

Beautiful isn’t it, the Laurentian Mountains, Quebec, Canada. The National Geographic posted this picture of the Laurentian Mountains, you can read more about this cottage mecca on travel.nationalgeographic.com. This is where the family cottage is, so this was our destination yesterday. We looked forward to the trip, it had been awhile since we had made the journey even though it is only about a 2 hour drive from where we live.

This is the kind of view that we have from the deck of the cottage, however, there is no other cottage in front of us, it is a drop over a cliff to the water’s edge. The only way to the cottage is to boat across or to walk around the bay. The car has to be parked along a road that soon will be barred from any vehicles, and then one crosses over and enters dense bush and forested area where a trail has been made over the years that is really only a foot path. A footpath that has eroded over time leaving pockets of mud, wet slippery rocks, and the need for a rope to help guide you up the steep incline of the mountain that has over the years, become less stable, and requires a mountain goat’s instinct to maneuver.

This looks more appealing, at least there are no bugs in your face, no tree branches hitting you, or mud pockets that will suck your shoes off if you land in one. I should mention, that some kind person had laid down the odd 2×4 to use, a la tight rope walking so you could move balancing one foot in front of the other, as you move across some of the very wet areas.

The rope was kind of like this one, except there was no one to guide or help you if you slipped. The actual rope that was there, my husband later informed me that when it had initially appeared, they had to use gloves to haul themselves up on it. No I had not been prepared for this, I had to use my bare hands.

Ok so I have exaggerated somewhat, maybe more than a bit, but to me that 10- 15 minutes in the bush, was not my cup of tea. the drive up was super fantastic, the visit with “family” at the cottage was excellent. The fresh air and the quiet exhilarating. Seeing little chipmunks up close and hearing the loons, loved it., My thoughtful sister in law rowing me back across the river with one of the dogs, a god’send. Got to experience it all.. the good, the bad and the ugly.. Quebec is a beautiful Province. I loved the adventure, I slept like a baby!

Namaste – Oyashikiri

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The gift of sharing

Downtown is a busy place. At this time of year the boaters arrive to tour the capital. From my vantage point on the bridge I’m spending a few lazy moments watching the world drift by. Behind me is a huge shopping mecca for tourists and locals alike. And across the street from the shopping center is a quaint marketplace where the trendy come to shop and sit in outdoor cafes. Tourists enjoy the Designer shops, and the Farmers Market all blended in one big “Happening” environment.

Ottawa is laid out like a patchwork quilt, with different sections of the city offering it’s own style and colour. Chinatown, Little Italy, Westboro, The Glebe, each has it’s very own flavour to tempt and delight the visitors eager for an authentic adventure.

Friendships are like our own version of a quilt. I’ve learned to appreciate each and every friend in my life for the gifts they bring to my “world”. In a recent conversation, a friend I’ve not seen in some time, was asking me about another friend who I probably have not seen in a couple of years. I was talking about the special qualities and the love I have for the person when my friend interrupted and exclaimed,”but you aren’t currently in touch! And that was years ago?”

Hmmm I found that an interesting reaction, if I love someone today, I will love them tomorrow, love is an opening of one’s heart to another, and involves genuine caring. If that person, leaves or moves along a different path, or for whatever reason, there is a parting. Love does not cease and become past tense. Friendships that are genuine and true, last a life time. Sharing love, caring, & affection is not a commodity, it is a gift and should always be freely given. Not for what you want in return, but because you truly care, unconditionally.

Good Morning Everyone – May your have a sunshine day. Be Happy. I love & appreciate you all.

Namaste – Oyashikiri

nb* the bridge is behind the Rideau Centre the waterway is the Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario,Canada

Flowers taken at the Experimental Farm, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

text and photographs – Q

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Tarantula nebula

This is Tarantula nebula, it is 170,000 light years away nestled within the Large Magellanic Cloud, which be seen in the Southern Sky just above the centre of this image there is a huge cluster of very hot stars called R136. According to the post where I found this picture, these stars are among the massive known. Impressive, at last I find such photos from the heavens fascinating, I marvel at all that is out there that I cannot see with my naked eye. Astronomy has always been a subject that can keep me glued to the telly, especially when well done and documented..

Landscapes like this one are just a drive away, they might not fill me with unknown wonder, but they do draw and instill in me a quiet joyfulness that comes from the serene moment of being outdoors surrounded by nature. We can not see the life that lives and moves under the water, but it is there. We may hear the birds and the activities of the birds and animals who live int he woodlands, but they are there.

This colourful border didn’t happen on its own, people were involved in the planning and shaping of the beautiful presentation, what we saw during our visit to the farm,(prev. blog) was the results of a lot of “love”. Weeding is a task performed with a focused mind. Take pleasure in the simple joys of today, step out side and listen to the world around you. There is so much for us to observe, if only we open our “eyes” and hearts to the experience.

Namaste – Oyashikiri

source of astronomy photo BabaMail

landscape photographs – Q

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over and over!

Day after day, time after time, we get to do some tasks over and over, or hear the same complaints, thoughts, musings from friends, family, co-workers, its a daily grind, getting up going to work, sigh… there are days when the mind just won’t stop babbling away. Then we take a walk, go hiking, or drive by a something new, something we haven’t experienced before. Do we take the time to stop and explore or do we keep on going? When I saw this picture, I stopped! what a WOW factor. Arizona is on my bucket list. My husband surprised me one year by allowing me to think we were going on a trip maybe 10 days) down into the States to see a friend who lives in Montana. What he didn’t tell me was he had mapped out a way to get there showing me a number of States I’d never been to, and then coming back from the west coast so that we traveled back to Ontario,Canada through the Provinces. Now that was an amazing time for me, we didn’t get to Arizona yet, seeing this picture has increased my anticipation. =^_^= ( 9 States and 5 Provinces later we got back home) See the pond that looks like a footprint. Reminds me of the poem Footprints. Put your heart into all you say and do. When we do something over and over, it can get boring, revisit how you do it, put a smile into it. Thanks for sharing this moment with me.. Blessings be…… Namaste ……. Oyashikiri ……..