Emerging from a Covid Fog
I guess it was my turn. But the Covid bug hit hard, and I’m still recovering. I know I’m not alone. The worst, after the first tough days is feeling so depleted. I have not felt like writing, painting, drawing. I look at my messy house and my bed calls me. I have a...
A long week
This week I was reminded that our best laid plans and schedules can change suddenly. It was my turn I guess and Covid came knocking at my door. It’s been a rough few days, but feeling better. I’ve enjoyed creating a photo journal of my summer and garden. But the...
September muses
My blog this summer has been different as I’ve recorded photos, mostly of my garden but other special events. This first week of September always brings memories of back to school, new beginnings, freshly sharpened pencils and clean empty paper waiting to be filled....
Welcome to my home, photo journal #7
There are ups and downs in life. Some of my sunflowers are way up, so fun. Yesterday I fell down in the garden, careless for a moment and down I went. It reminded me of that funny story where you know you are getting old when you fall, and the immediate response is...
Every day Living in Challenging times – photo journal #6
I am waking up to a day washed with rain, passed now with cloudy skies, less smoke. It is a relief. While we were never in danger, our hearts have been moved, our prayers fervent for so many around us affected by forest fire. I am again amazed by the generous...
Nighttime Intruders and Photo memories -photo journal #5
Last night in the wee hours of the morning, I heard noises from my back yard. We couldn’t see anything and tried to go back to sleep. But the noises persisted, and I finally saw a large creature on the railing of my deck - a raccoon! My hubby tried to scare it, and...
Moments of Summer – photo journal #4
Summer is sailing by. I say that every year, but it seems to go by even faster. Perhaps it is because there is so much to do, so much one CAN do, and I can’t do it all. So I pick and choose, savour the moments, and allow time for naps. Talking about savouring, I did...
Alaska tails and July memories -Photo Journal 3
I missed last week, but I had a good reason. We were on an epic holiday to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Our trip was bookended by lovely visits with family. So here is a photo journal for the last two weeks of July 2023. We didn’t get any photos of...
The Gift of an Orchid and other photos of the week
Two years ago my brother-in-law died, after a difficult journey with throat cancer. Some dear friends dropped by later that week bearing gifts of food and a beautiful orchid. I’ve had a number of orchids over the years and never been able to keep them alive after they...
Photo Journal Take 1
It is a beautiful sunny day in July and I’ve decided to create a photo journal for the rest of the summer. I thought it would be good to document my world in pictures, even as I enjoy viewing others and catch a glimpse of their world. So here goes, Photo Journal for...
The Death of a Dahlia
The death of a dahlia was a blow to me, this ugly tuber I had nursed and planted, watered and encouraged had finally made it to a decent size plant which I replanted, from a pot into the garden bed. I watered it every day. I imagined beautiful blooms I’d pick and...
Uplifted
I was thinking about the word uplift this week; it is a unique word. The two words that make up this word both point in an upwards direction. When I think of uplifting, I think of encouragement, support, hopefulness, positivity. Do you ever look up into the sky and...
The Long and Short of it
Today, as I write this, is Wednesday, June 21. The longest day of the year. Or perhaps, more accurately, in our hemisphere, the day of longest light, of shortest night. I love long summer evenings. Going for late day walks, enjoying a drink on my deck, walking in ....
A week of remembering and honouring
On Saturday, June 17, we will mark the 10th anniversary of my moms graduation to heaven. I’ve thought of her often as of late, I find it fascinating how our inner clocks hold those memories, especially at significant anniversary times. Grief is a interesting...
Uniquely Made
The gift of life is a precious thing. the fragility of a seed, broken, bearing its own uniqueness which only reveals itself in time and can be marred by circumstance. by environment by neglect and flourish with nourishment and care and resilience. No life alike....
Where the wild flowers grow
On a recent walk in my town of Vernon, I enjoyed observing the many varieties of wild flowers. Some of them I could identify, others not. In this small section of town, an old race track, near our arena, there is a whole ego system of flowers, trees, and birds. I...
Garden therapy
I have to admit, I wasn’t sure I was going to blog this week. There have been a number of things weighing heavily in my mind, my life. And I know, all too well, that I’m not alone. Sometimes though, it compounds and I know it is time for a mental health check. I often...
Living with Fragility
You are probably familiar with the scenario, life piles up, things go wrong, and you start to wonder… what next? It is like that bad story, when you are on that train, going through the tunnel, and finally see the light… only to discover it’s a train heading your way....
The Miracle of Seeds
The Miracle of seeds This week has been planting time. I am ever in awe that I can hold in my hand dozens of seeds, each holding the miracle of life, and the promise of more seeds. I spent a day recently with my 9 year old granddaughter and delighted in planting...
May I?
May I? Thinking about this month, I could dwell in the month of May all year long. Although perhaps we appreciate it more if it comes once a year. It reminds me though, to savour the moments to take time to smell the flowers to fully enjoy the world come alive with...
When Grief Comes Knocking at Your Door
When Grief Comes Knocking at Your Door It’s the call we never want, the knock on the door. We hear it on the news, watch it on movies, we hear the sirens on their way to someone, but we are removed. Until it happens to us. We are not immune. And no one gets out of...
Defiant Hope
These words came up in our book study, a conversation we were having about the book we were reading. Defiant hope. Hope in the face of challenges, difficulty, unknowns. Hope that is persistent, determined, a constant reminder to look for the light, especially when we...
Give me Ears to Listen
Give me Ears to Listen I’ve been practicing, pondering, how to listen with the ears of my heart. Sitting still is one thing, to still the mind is another all together. It helps me to remember that our holy God is compassionate and infinitely patient. And when I think...
The week before Easter
The week before Easter I’ve been trying to intentionally sit with the stories of Jesus, in the week before he died. It is easy to jump to Easter Sunday, and we know the joy of the resurrection, the gift of God with us, an alive God who desires to enter our lives,...
What Art Teaches me about Life
What Art teaches me about Life I’ve been taking an online art class, several, actually, to broaden my thinking and learn new things. It is good for my brain, but perhaps even more importantly, creativity is good for the soul. I’ve long believed that art is a spiritual...
Spring has Sprung
Spring has sprung Sky blue Temperatures climbing the taste of warmth on my skin. Sweater weather, I ditch my coat and savour this beautiful day. The ground is breaking up Green shoots: tulip, crocus, garlic force their entrance into the world, green shoots bursting...
65 Reasons to Give Thanks
65 reasons to give Thanks Another birthday coming, it is a time for reflection and a reason to give thanks. So this weeks blog will record my thankfulness, in no particular order. 1. The gift of breath. To breathe deeply is a beautiful gift. 2. The gift of a new day....
A Day to Celebrate Women
A day to celebrate women, March 8 is also a day I remember a special woman in my life, my Grandma Anne. It is her birthday today, it is 114 years since the year of her birth and 40 years since her graduation into heaven. (I hope I have those dates right!) She always...
Welcoming March
March Marching into lighter days The earth is waking up This in-between of thawing and freezing sun and sleet Temperamental. I’m sentimental This doorway to spring The possibilities of seeds, of dreams cracking open to surprise me all over again to the beauty the...
Ash Wednesday Lament
Ash Wednesday lament I walked in the cold mist grey as ash And wore my sorrow Like a cloak heavy. There is a time for mourning to feel the loss acknowledge pain You don’t have to like it or ignore it Sackcloth and ashes Are a poor fit Yet fitting for mourning Ash,...
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