The Mothering Circle and Gooseberries

It feels like eons ago when I became a mother, and thus have celebrated many Mother’s Days. The early days of spaghetti necklaces, friendship bracelets and homemade cards splattered with paint are far behind me. I miss them somehow. Fast forward to yesterday and for the first time ever I celebrated Mother’s Day at my…

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What is the Meaning of Spring

Happy first day of Spring! Here she comes bringing joy and hope. Full of meaning. This past week Spring provided a teaser. We had two beautiful days of almost summer weather with temperatures as high as 20C. Suddenly, the birds emerged singing their beautiful songs, flitting from branch to branch with excitement in the season.…

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Snowstorm Adventures and Some Joy

Southern Ontario received a walloping today. We were well advised of this snowstorm and it came through as promised, not the usual weather hyperbole. With between 30 and 50 cms being dumped in just a few hours (depending on where you were) the roads were a mess, major highways were closed, and there were plenty…

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Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple: A Place of Peace

The warm sunshine and cool air mixed together under a clear blue sky setting the tone for a beautiful day spent at the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple here in Niagara Falls, Canada. It is also known as the Sarira Stupa and Chan Shan Temple. Completed in 2001, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple is a seven…

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Childhood Toys: Bloganuary Day 4

It was about 3 am when my brother whispered quietly, but excitedly, “Santa’s been here!” I crept down to the bottom edge of my bed, which gave a narrowed view of the living room in the distance, to verify his exclamation. He was right! The dim night light outlined shapes on and around the sofa…

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Finding Joy in the In-Between

Joy is that emotion defined by the Oxford dictionary as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” But it is so much more than that. While happiness is something that everyone pursues fervently, joy is that feeling of contentment that is permanently coupled with peace. You can’t have one without the other, but you can…

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Artist Antonio Merino is One in a Million

Antonio Merino sat in the dappled sunlight with his heart open for everyone to see.  Pieces of painted rocks brought together in shapes on the wooded ground under a canopy of trees, and art created from natural elements existed in a symphonic cacophony of Antonio’s love, positivity, and joy.  In my occasional search for Uli,…

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We’re Moving Out: Friday Fictioneers

It wasn’t easy, but Jenna and Steve somehow managed.  School all day, working evenings. She a waitress.  Him delivering Amazon packages.  83 year old Jim was her regular customer and neighbour. Every evening as Jenna busily waited tables, she’d always spend some time with Jim.  They learned the hardships and joyful stories of each others…

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