Sunday, March 16, 2014

Tulips - indoors

Tulips 3

I tend the flowers at home
bursts of colour
to bring the sun indoors
Blue skies are here
but still no sign of spring.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Magic in Winter

Outlined in White

Winter has decorated the city
Fresh snow dresses the trees
Each one is outfitted
in fresh clean white garb
as if for a wedding
Even the winter weary 
marvel at the beauty of the morning


In all its glory

Monday, January 27, 2014

Fading Light

IMG_1388 - Version 2

Light is fading
A little later each day
A hint we are on the upward swing
Arcing to spring
Snow falls
Temperatures drop
But light brings hope


Sunday, January 26, 2014

Introspection

Looking in New Ways

I'm looking at things in new ways
Reflecting and discovering
Exploring possibilities
As I grow older 
I sift through priorities
Re-ordering
Choosing those which come
from the core of my being
Casting off the shoulds 
Keeping the passions
That add fire to my life

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Fading

Last Hurrah

These flowers grow in fast forward
A short burst of splendour
Soon followed by release
To everything a time

This flower has been photographed
As I watched its daily progress
Its bright red demanded attention
Its short life to be cherished
But now its last hurrah
And then it fades 


Fading


Thursday, January 23, 2014

Skyward

Skyward

We always seem to want to reach great heights
Climb the tallest mountain
build the highest skyscraper
Fly higher than anyone has before

With our eyes to the sky
We don't focus on the ground
The footprints we leave
as we harvest materials with which to build
or leave behind debris needed for our endeavours

We can't live in the past
But let's think before we steal the future
for those who come next



Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Sculpture by Robert Lorrain

Detail Sculpture

Face to the sun
Rays feel warm 
even in the icy air
While we wear layers
to protect us
These bronze beings
suffer the ravages
of weather and pollution


Sculpture by Robert Lorrain

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Cold

Winter Attire

When I was young
I knew winter was cold
There was  the cold snap
of January
The frigid February
but with bright blue skies
We bundled up
And played outside
just adding layers as needed

But lately we have learned
a whole new vocabulary
Temperature seems to plummet
when wind chill is reported
Our polar vortex
brings arctic temperatures
And -23C sounds colder
than -9F the scale I grew up with
Has the climate changed
Or has the media changed the way we see it
Perception

I bundle up
just adding layers as needed
And venture out
In the cold snap of January

Monday, January 20, 2014

A Gift

Just Opened

I got a gift today
My orchid showed its face
I've been watching
waiting
The stems first 
seeming to come out of nowhere
Snaking their way towards the light
Then bumps turned to buds
promises of beauty

More to come
Today was but the first gift

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Recorders

A Few Recorders

Bach peeks at the recorders
just a part of the collection
Playing feeds the soul
Keeps the brain flexible
and challenges
Always more to learn

What delight to play sonatas
with my spouse
to spend an evening
playing with others
to spend time just practising
I can't imagine life
without music

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Patterns

Patterns

Sometimes nature feels orderly
spirals, lines
follow a pattern
even to a microscopic level
repetition

But even nature
has its anomalies
what is normal anyway
if not a pattern to be changed
and evolve

Reading Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon - it sure makes you think about what is normal and should we even use the word normal.


Friday, January 17, 2014

Secret Bench

Secret Bench

I've passed this sculpture many times, 
even photographed it before. 
These two young people sit outside in any weather.
 Today I looked a little closer, 
noticing their expressions.


Detail of Secret Bench

While he (who holds the apple) 
seems to be coaxing her 
whispering sweet nothings perhaps 
she seems more reticent. 
Playing hard to get? 
Or does she know what happens 
to those who taste the apple? 
They sit here, 
suspended in time 
between youth and adulthood.

More information on the sculpture: http://www.leavivot.com/secret_bench.htm

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Benches

Stop and Sit

Warmer weather
stop and sit
watching 
sun glinting off the snow
squirrels cavorting, chasing
dogs walking, sniffing the air
False Spring
Before the next onslaught 
of winter

Eating Well

Salad

Why is it that January seems to remind us to eat well? It's the month when fresh produce comes from afar as winter envelops this part of the world. It's hard to eat well and be mindful of the Earth. Most of our fruit and vegetables come from afar. I try to minimize both my carbon and ethical footprints, but this is not always easy, particularly in winter.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Carbohydrates Galore

Bread

So sad that excess carbs are not a healthy choice.This bakery entices. Bringing home just one bread
requires the utmost in self-control. I admire the pastries from afar and select "One ancient grains bread, please" and escape, will power intact.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Loss


January 12, 2014

I spent part of the day helping to empty my late cousin's apartment. She passed away in late November. It is hard to see a person's life picked over. Some furniture went to young relatives; other to a place that resells it at a low price. And then the place was empty. 

Loss is hard no matter what age the person is. We experience it again and again through dates on a calendar, through acts that remind us of people and through further losses. Peculiar that we can feel at the same time empty at the thought of the loss and full at the thought of the many ways that person has enriched our lives.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Unfolding

Untitled

Unfolding
I'm watching each step
Growth can't be rushed
but this flower seems to change
before my eyes
It's in a hurry to spread its petals
and display its full glory
Any day now

Friday, January 10, 2014

Stretch and Strength


Yogalates
mix yoga and pilates
I stretch
I hold the pose
Human pretzels around the room
Calmness
And a sense of power

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Tea with Memories

Mug

Hand crafted mug
my favourite spot
music, friendship, nature
Twenty years have passed
I sip my tea and think back
Memories

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Searching for Flowers


There is a conservatory near where I live. 
It is an oasis of colour and growth. 
I wandered in today to enjoy the winter display. 


Bursts of colour dazzled my white-weary eyes. 
I wandered from one bloom to another


Next time I'll bring a book and stay a while.


Ephemeral Art

IMG_1319

A moment to enjoy before the sun erases Jack Frost's work. He may be back tonight to paint again. How frustrated he must feel to have to start again each day. Or maybe he appreciates always having a blank canvas.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Reading Shakespeare


Last night I joined a group of people who get together about once a month to read through one of Shakespeare's plays (in chronological order). Last night, fittingly, we read Twelfth Night. A friend who has been a member of the group recommended the app, Shakespeare Pro, which contains all the plays and more.

I don't tend to read plays, but reading in a group made it fun.

Pleasure in company
in doing something together
in sharing a passion, an interest
creates links

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Emerging


Slowly emerging
Promises of splendour
Patience needed
To await the reward

Saturday, January 4, 2014

What We Take For Granted


Water - it flows from our taps in abundance. We expect it to be there. Early yesterday morning a pipe burst outside my building. Work crews dug and repaired. We were without water. As they repaired, a leak sprang further on the pipe. That's what happens with old infrastructure. So overnight they provided us with a trickle of water. We are now into leak #3. But this time we managed to fill a couple of buckets so we could flush toilets.

We expect our toilets to flush, to have water to drink. We are caught unawares when that is not the case. Yet so much of the world lives without running water. They cope. It is an inconvenience for us - and a reminder to appreciate the comforts of our modern world.

Friday, January 3, 2014

In the Wok



Chopping up a colourful collection of vegetables
Delightful aromas waft from the kitchen
Dinner

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Mindful Writing Challenge - orchid

A moment to contemplate the complexity of an orchid
Its beauty comes from within
Reminding us that ours too is not just on the surface.