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all in a day

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

We started the day with no clear destination in mind, simply one of our adventures in learning. The minister I’m working with is from Japan, although he has lived the last six years in Argentina. Now he is in Canada. Seeing Canada through someone else’s eyes is very interesting, we are together, so he can learn English, but the reality is that I am learning so much just from sharing his experience with him.

The miles of neat farmhouses, swept past as we made our way down a secondary highway back to the city, “what is that” he exclaimed as we drove by a property that was full to brimming with objects, most who had seen better days.

Having been to Japan, I could well understand his consternation. ” Look” he said “there is the entrance, but no one can enter” Looking down the lane I could see what he meant. I was still trying to figure out what to answer him. The sign said antiques, but…. there was very little space to move between what rows there were. Every available space was taken and from where we were, it looked like the rooms inside were much like the outside. we mutually without verbalizing it, simply moved on. There was no draw, or interest for us. yet to someone else, this would be a treasure hunter’s paradise. In French there is an expression, translated says, to each his/her own.

We did find a treasure of our own, in an eating place that claimed home-made meals, and baking, it was very nice. Nothing fancy, just good, home cooking and healthy portions. The whole idea of out outings is for the minister to experience our culture, and what better way then to drive out to the country. See life in the small towns, cross over bridges that span one of our many rivers and abundance of lakes. The snow is not all gone, but spring is on its way,

Never judge a book by its cover, the inside is warm and welcoming, and the food, delicious. Lots to pick from, This little gem is outside of Perth. Perth, can you say Perth… it was a lot of fun, hearing it said by the minister, he has a great sense of humour. No matter how hard he tried, the sounds would not work for him.. It will come in time, but for me… it brought home an awareness of just how spunky he is, In less than a year, he is already able to read and carry one a conversation, it may be short sentences, and one word at a time, but he is doing it. I’m so proud of his achievement. His sincere efforts to learn and his application to learning, inspires me, to do better with my projects in life.

When we approach each day like an open page, a vista waiting for the seasons to change, and new beginnings to come into our lives, we are growing, we are taking in new sights even if we have seen them hundreds of times before, each time is different. No two days are alike, every second is different.. that makes every day an adventure, and a thrill to live,

Look the crocus are in full bloom today … they are happy and singing, with their pretty faces lifted towards the sun, life is good, it is all in a day, to laugh and play, come what may, we are here today, and loving it…..

namaste – oyashikiri

PL Precept # 1 Life is Art

he discovered Tim Bits today!!

Carleton Place,Perth. Smith Falls, Ontario

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just a little farther

There are times when you travel down a back road, that the country side beckons to travel just a little further, and even lures you down a long forgotten,overgrown dirt road. Just enough width for you to slowly inch your way, so that the brush doesn’t leave a trail on the side of the vehicle, and your muffler if you are lucky, will make it intact, till you find a place to turn around.

You see signs of previous activities, but little else, the farther you go, the land opens up, and you see nature the way it is intended to be enjoyed. No parking lots, and fast food shacks, just the outdoors.

We were able to find a place to park off the single road we’d been on, and made the time to climb the embankment and sit a spell.. The dogs loved it, even though they had to dive, they swam and played, enjoying the freedom of being in that space and time, just as we did. What is it about the human race that we all want to travel to foreign lands, and only feel that we’ve been on a holiday, if we fight the traffic to the airport, wait in airport lobbies, and sit like sardines in metal contraptions that fly us through congested skies. To arrive in an exotic place that isn’t home, (to us) rush around to try to see everything there is to see, then tired and over spent, we head home. Back into the crowded airports, stand in line to go through customs, maybe even be detained. Then on arrival back home, we still have to get to our homes.. only to be faced with a pile of mail we have to deal with, maybe a good night’s sleep, and then we are back at work, dealing with the backlog of “stuff” that was what we wanted to escape with our well-earned holiday.

When really, not very far from where you live now, just by driving off the main roads. you will find a wonderland, that is pure, unpopulated by commerce and just a little farther, down the road waiting to be discovered.

Every time we venture off the tedious road of routine, we allow our “selves” to really holiday. A holiday is when we re-energize, re-group, reconnect with the person we are. Nature is the only true balm for the “soul”

Namaste – Oyashikiri

Pictures were taken in the Province of Quebec, near Rubert and Lac Peche

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Q&A Thursday

Petrified wood, in the Arizona Petrified Forest National park (Wood Gallery) this picture shows them sewn into logs, yet supposedly man was not around? (USA)

Such wisdom has been around for a very long time, why do we have so much trouble really practicing it in our daily lives?

Minions, what??? what is it about them that cracks me up, I even went to the big “arches” (McDonalds) when they were the “goodie” of the day.

Angels Landing trail, Zion National Park, Utah.

Some people love a cruise, personally this is still on my bucket list. Yuppers, I’d prefer to do it solo with no one else around, but… it looks like this is a trail that is well-known and I am not alone in wanting to experience it. Who discovered this trail and marked it for us? What a “high” that had to have been.

This awesome capture was in Zion National Park, It was taken by photographer Long Nguyen, posted in 500px. When I come across some of the amazing work of the photographers (artists) that search out their passions and capture them to share with us, I am so grateful to them for their skill at translating their experience into a visual format that I can enjoy and share in.

OK.. I want to visit here. Does anyone know where this was taken, the photographer was Petr Marek, the picture was posted on Fivehundredpx, the trail brought me to his pictures but aside from the title, Stairway to Heaven, there was no other info.??? anyway?? and yes, another for my bucket list. could take me a while though, and I wouldn’t run up./P

Let’s meet back at the camp site.. have the fire going… yawn, its been a good start to the day… loving it. while I ponder all of this, I wish you all a grand day, I’ll send you off, to take a long walk… with a smile and a hug of course. Enjoy your day.. I’m with you all the way, Love you!

Namaste – Oyashikiri

PL Precept #2 To Live is to Express One’s Self

National Park Services
Pinterest,NA
Minion on Pinterest
Utah
camp fire pic National Geographic

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incredible holiday

Never judge a book by its cover…. our room was clean, big, it had a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, big screen telly and internet. Oh and two big queen size beds. It was just off the big super highway when we turned off on to hwy 15 going into Kingston. This was our view from the balcony ..it wasn’t the time year to be sitting on the balcony but.. wanted to share this with you. The road you see there is the hwy. where you can’t see off to the left is the super one. Yes, we were constantly hearing cars, trucks etc. driving past. In the morning, we were treated to the activity of the heavy equipment being started up. It was all good, we enjoyed ity all.

The pictures were taken early morning, the day following our arrival. Kingston is a popular tourist attraction especially in the summer, and it is not only a military base, but swarming with the activity of the Universities and the buzz of student life. for more on the city you can check out this link

http://http://tourism.kingstoncanada.com/en/index.asp

As wonderful as the city is, we were there to treasure hunt and chill. Eartha (name changed to protect the innocent) and I were on an adventure, and yes we included some craft shopping (Michaels) We were in our glory, on the days we were there we encountered nothing but discount days, one store had 75% off, another 50% then the next day or was it the day before it was 40%. It is not the you spend a lot, it is the thrill of the hunt. Some of you will get this, others I know will just shake their darling heads (Hello B!)

Everything was a positive. The internet was iffy in our lodgings, but we were still able to have a giggle, and what messages I did retrieve were so appreciated. We had been told to expect snow, rain, freezing rain, but all day everywhere we were the sun shone down on us, blessing our day with warm sunshine, blue skies, friendly people, we laughed, we talked, and we ate.

We found this restaurant called the Mandarin (no it was not lost) it was just new to us. =^_^=…. Chinese New Year as most of you know by now is coming up Feb. 7 in China, 8th here. Already the celebrations have begun. It is a big restaurant (franchised) that means the different Mandarins, for example there is a big one near here in Orleans, are owned by different people. This one, was in full-blown celebration mode, with the red lanterns and the red symbols of good luck, prosperity, health and happiness festooned all over in all the rooms.

Yes, there were different rooms with different themes, on our last day we sat in the Fish room. Huge divider of tropical fish and Chinese wall mural of fish. The servers and attendants were all in smart well pressed uniforms of Chinese red, the ladies sported tops in Chinese brocade, everyone had training in how to greet guests, the special bow, the hot towels prior to eating and then another fresh hot towel after the meal. the service was 1st class excellent! The owner made the rounds, welcoming everyone, and offering the traditional red envelopes. A grand experience.

It was a wonderful time away, it wasn’t the destination, but the getting there. Once there it wasn’t our physical environment, but the sense of happiness and friendship that carried us through the various things we did. The discoveries we shared. We didn’t think about tomorrow, we lived the moments and therefore, we were constantly celebrating the “wonders ” of the day.

The start of a new year should always be a celebration of new beginnings and the renewal of the joy in our hearts. We sweep out the old and bring in the new. According to Chinese tradition, a red envelope is a symbol of luck. When we give someone a red New Year envelope, we are wishing them good health, wealth and luck for the coming year.

We got two on our trip. yahhhhhhooooo, double luck! KUNG HEI FAT CHOY !!!

namaste – oyashikiri

PL Precept # 21 Live in Perfect LIberty

PL Principle # 12 I will get up pleasantly in the mornings

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

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raw nature

When we (a good majority of us) think of spending some time in the wilderness, we envision lush, rugged, environments, the pictures I use of sunsets and magical evenings under the stars, or calm waters on colourful fall days with the sun or moon reflecting of the crystal clear waters. Ahhhhh yes… such themes make us feel warm, fuzzy maybe, for sure they are a for of eye candy… The photographers have captured a still moment of beauty.

How about living near this location in Australia, where temperatures can be + 40 – 50 degrees centigrade (hot) and there is a lack of water. Extreme weather can happen here, it is wild country where civilisation where it does exist, has to contend with the challenges every day.

Sitting in the comfort of an air climate controlled office with my morning super tall glass of ice coffee, I can admire the artist view that the photographer, took (awanderingmemory.com). David and his wife travel all over the world visiting places they feel will enrich their lives with new experiences. Through his travels and his photography, we get to see place such as this that we wouldn’t otherwise see.

This is the endless highway that takes tourists and visitors through the Australian desert. David talks about some of what he felt was being missed by those who just drive through and not stop to explore. ” It offers silence, true silence,” +”.. endless roads, dramatic sunsets, huge salt-pans, aboriginal heritage sites, hidden wildlife and clarity… ”

Have any of the above been on one of your “want” lists. No of course we don’t have to travel over seas.. or for thousands of miles to find “true silence”… but we do have to make time to find what we want. AND to be in the moment, to always be aware of just what it is we are “seeing” hearing” and “taking in”

What can I say, there is silly in all of us… I’ve been living with a whippet far too long.. This pictures simply make me giggle and smile.. So… dearest readers.. who share these pages with me…. endure this moment with me… S M I L E

Forget everything but the warmth of a smile and enjoy a “silly”

much love to each and every one of you..

I treasure you all.

namaste – oyashikiri

LOL… how many of you will see what I see in the above picture…. gosh you guys are so special…. xxxoo

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Exotic Bali + meditation

Tropical beach, look at that water, this is the Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali. Hmmm I have a friend who is on holiday in Bali, she has been sending back the most incredible pictures. Her face beams in every picture where she is in them. Got me thinking, admittedly some of the pictures had me thinking ahhhh yes, a massage by the pool, then a lazy afternoon enjoying the tropical sunshine and breezes.

This is Huilo, Huilo in Neltume, lodges built on a biological reserve, they are environmental wonders. they are uniquely in touch with their surroundings… perfect for nature lovers, lots of hiking, exploring, totally different kind of holiday.

This is a picture found on 500px.com, of Dawn in Bali by Ko Zaw………………….. does this calm the mind or what.. Ok, today I’ll go with the calm, quiet atmosphere of the gentle waters and soothing sounds provided by the beaches and coastline of the areas shown in these pictures to colour my day.
We can’t always be where we might like to be at any given moment in time, but we can thanks to the technology today, be where our hearts take us. The destination is usually coordinated by our often busy chattering minds. In taking the time for a quiet moment, the mind will sigh with relief…. share with me a quiet moment… allow your thoughts to travel with mine in to the depth of the blues and greens, see the little white pebble like shapes, the tiny bird,… then allow you eyes to drift beyond towards the horizon, …. feel your breathing , enjoy the soft swell of your chest as you silently allow the moment to wash over you.

Take this shared moment, the soft, sweet tenderness of now… and carry it into your day…

Seriously, luxury lagoon villa, for those of you who needed a different visual.. now did that get a smile……

Carry the smile all through the day.. you’ll see it is catching.

Short meditations work, whether you want them to or not.

Namaste – Oyashikiri

last picture,roadtrippers.com

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down the road

how many times have I driven down a country road

windows down, taking in the fresh clean air on a fall day

some years past, I even road a Honda Gold Wing

and experienced the countryside in a brand new way

no matter the method of travel

the experience was always the same

I longed to explore down the unpaved roads

towards the farms and small hamlets

we discovered along the way.

sometimes I did, but often, the lure of what was around the bend

kept us on the secondary highways…, and soon that barely visible lane,

was but a memory.

Before it’s too late, and the snow has covered up the trails

I’d like to go and explore, to rediscover

the smell of freshly turned earth, hay being harvested

even the spreading of manure.

Not all the leaves are on the ground yet,

there is still a myriad of colour

for the artist to discover

best of all, the trees will be showing their form

their bark, their broken torn or twisted limbs

sculptures like no other. no longer

will their dramatic shapes be hidden or concealed

by their cover of showy summer foliage.

when we cross the bridge, should we turn left or right

let’s take the road, that has no end in sight

this is our moment, our time

let us make it sublime

namaste – oyashikiri

photos-Pinterest

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simplify

living on the beach man

oh that’s where I wanna be

hmmm the sun, the surf

and fishing, that is something else

I could have fresh fish everyday

prawns and simple fare

oh man but does that sound so fab

sunny days with clear blue skies

even scuba diving and water adventures

I’ve never done before…

that said, my reality is simple

while I would like ro explore for a week or so

a place totally different from my own

I’m a proud Canadian who loves being home

We have four glorious seasons

each one giving us different reasons

to go out and explore the great Canadian experience

I do love to travel

but more and more, I want to be home

where life is simple, and its my own’

The holiday season is fast approaching

the lights, the cool invigorating frosty air

wood fire crackling in the fireplace, home baking

and evergreens everywhere

AND AND AND

now it is pumpkin season,

there are so many different squashes

and fall vegetables everywhere

LOL and it can be spooky and fun

you never know what you will see while being out and about

there are just too many creative people out there

so, yes, I love love reading about David’s* travels

and his photography showing us all

where he has been, delights and teases me

David I watch for your reads

now lets eat..

Smile everyone,

It’s Friday!

Namaste – Oyashikiri

*David photographer,blogger -A wandering memory- WordPress

*pinterest

*DIY Heidi Rew (Parties for Pennies)

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road blocked, road closed

Stop… the road is closed

hmmm yes so it appears to be…

Wow, what a sight, nature’s work of art

the results of a volcanic eruption

the passion of the Universe unleashed

in a river of hot molten lava, the spectacular

spewing forth of the internal heat and combustion

that could no longer be contained

the fire’s lust for expression

and the results of its ardour

is this also what our pent-up emotions

would look like if we were to see

them expressed in physical form

heartburn, heart-break, ulcers and indigestion

oh the pain, the discomfort when we block our true feelings

when we ignore or try to push away what is really happening

in our minds, our hearts and our reality

we can’t relive the past, nor can we live tomorrow, today

yes, we can come across a detour, an impasse

but, if we stop to take it all in .. there is always a way

another mountain to climb, another valley to explore

roads are man-made, when one is closed

take yourself in another direction, enjoy every new discovery

the paths we cut/make are our own

Namaste – Oyashikiri

pictures from blog A wandering memory on WordPress

check out
http://awanderingmemory.com/2015/06/09/the-wandering-betts/

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Gananoque gateway to 1000 Islands

That was our destination, we headed for majestic shores of the St. Lawrence and the 1000 Islands in the Township of Leeds. When we take to the road it is about relaxation, meeting new people and making friends and memories. We are incredibly fortunate to live in a country where we can enjoy nature, big cities and small communities in practically any direction we decide to travel.

Whether you are into Arts and Culture, taking in a theatre production, and free outdoor concert in the park Gananoque has it all. We spent time in the town park, where its serene ambiance, the light summer breeze and the good company made for a most enjoyable way to spend the time.

Often we are finding ourselves, on the move.we are setting off in one direction or another, and time passes us by, and is gone before we know it. In the truck when the miles speed by, the world around us is like a movie of our own making. Being the passenger, my world is certainly different then my husbands. He is focused on the road, and the vistas and thoughts that crowd his awareness.. Sometimes we see the same things, sometimes we don’t. We are in the same vehicle, going the same direction, both in front seats…But we are not seeing the same things.

And that dear friends is true in all we experience say and do….=^_^= On the way back, we were driving into a real whopper of an electrical storm.. Spoiled wife, was nodding on her side of the car, while hubby got to experience the real highlights of the spectacular event.

We had gotten me a warm fleece throw to wrap around myself on the way home… and i was snuggled in for the night-time drive.. =^_^= oh, I heard his exclamations of wonder and awe…. he was enjoying his movie, and I mine. We shared every moment of our journey, together in our own way.

Life is good when we appreciate each others differences. When we learn to live in harmony with the uniqueness of the world around us….. the everything exists in relativity.

namaste – oyashikiri