Nature

 [caption id=“attachment_3607” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] “The lilac branches are bowed under the weight of the flowers: blooming is hard, and the most important thing is - to bloom. (“A Story About The Most Important Thing”)” ― Yevgeny Zamyatin[/caption] Spring is that glorious time of year when every leaf, flower, shrub, and grass is a welcome sight. I like to think of it as the magic of spring. It doesn’t matter how beautiful and glorious last year’s spring and summer were, we relish the present year’s spring with abandon. “Every spring is the only spring — a perpetual astonishment.” - Ellis Peters. ...

We’re on the threshold of a brand New Year and as it approaches, we’re all offering good wishes to those we meet for a “Happy New Year.” One of the principal components of happy would include healthy. That’s certainly a priority for me and I’m sure for you. Good health certainly includes a healthy body but is so much more. It is this “so much more” that I’m pleased to share with you through Simply Spectacular Design’s video. I’m grateful that Ronald Janki of Simply Spectacular Designs has agreed to be my guest for this post. Nature, as we see it in this video presents us with opportunities to enjoy and to heal those deep places within us - our own sea of consciousness within. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we often don’t take the time to nurture our souls and spirits. ...

We all at one time or the other have questions about life, the natural world we live in, our inner worlds, and about existence in general. How did everything come into existence, when did this happen, who was responsible, and what part do we play in this unfolding drama? There are all kinds of theories. As long as we are conscious of our existence, which we humans are, we ask these kinds of questions. The philosopher, Socrates, is said to have uttered the words “the unexamined life is not worth living.” I wonder whether he was referring to these questions we ask in our minds and hearts and the answers we are seeking. That calls for a lot of examination. ...

[caption id=“attachment_2970” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy. Brother David Steindl-Rast[/caption] From the time we are infants, along with Mummy and Daddy, Yes and No, we are taught to say “Thank You.” Whatever the language spoken, country of origin, religious or ethnic background, or other factors of birth, the human species knows about gratefulness. We may not have been born grateful but we are certainly taught to be grateful by our parents, caregivers, and the larger society. There are many virtues, all of which are important, but according to Cicero: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Cicero, ‘Pro Plancio,’ 54 B.C. Roman author, orator, & politician (106 BC - 43 BC) Whether we agree or disagree with Cicero, we know just how important gratitude is to oil the wheels of positive social relations. We stand a better chance at making ourselves happy and bringing happiness to other people if we are grateful. ...

[caption id=“attachment_2933” align=“aligncenter” width=“5256”] “The symbolic language of the crucifixion is the death of the old paradigm; resurrection is a leap into a whole new way of thinking.” – Deepak Chopra[/caption] It’s time to celebrate Easter once again. Like Christmas, Easter is one of the big celebrations in the Christian calendar year. The crucifixion of Jesus took place on Good Friday and the resurrection followed three days later. On Good Friday, many people go to church but not quite as many as on Easter Sunday. Even people who don’t attend church the rest of the year sometimes go to church on Easter Sunday. I once heard a priest lament about the numbers that come out for Good Friday services. He said that people aren’t as much interested in the death of Jesus as in his resurrection. Below are some interesting statistics I found on the internet showing the percentages of persons of different faiths (age-of-the-sage.org). As you can see, there are many people for whom Easter is just a secular holiday. ...

[caption id=“attachment_2888” align=“aligncenter” width=“800”] God is discovered entirely through creation - the brilliance of a sunset, the powerful roar of a waterfall, the symphony of sounds you hear in the heart of the forest, or the vastness of space and its countless stars. God is the mastermind behind all matter - every earth shattering scientific discovery and mystery that is yet to be unraveled was dreamed and enacted by God. (Benjamin F Sullivan)[/caption] ...

[caption id=“attachment_2858” align=“aligncenter” width=“800”] “Sunshine cannot bleach the snow, nor time unmake what poets know.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson[/caption] It was very beautiful outside yesterday with the fresh-fallen snow. I couldn’t resist going around the building that I live in to capture some of all the white stuff. I’m used to snow now but remember vividly the first snow flurries that I saw and felt. Seeing snow for the first time was exciting! That was in 1968. Prior to that, the only snow I ever saw was on Christmas cards and in pictures. The only Christmas I had ever known was a green one. These days when there is a huge snowfall, as we have now, I’m happy to say that I relish the snow’s beauty. ...

We’re so fortunate in Toronto that we have our own Christmas Garden Show. Allan Gardens had the opening of their Christmas Flower Show last Sunday. The gardeners there did a magnificent job decorating the entire greenhouse which houses many different kinds of poinsettias and other flowering plants. The theme this year is winter and you will be able to see the skaters and the tobogganer in the collages below - all beautiful topiary creations using plant material. There were horse and wagon rides for old and young alike, carollers, and a visit from Santa himself. The hot apple cider provided was a welcome treat but the cookies were gone by the time I got there. Apparently this show was recognized as the “Garden Event of the Year” at the 2015 Canadian Garden Tourism Awards. Hope you enjoy the collages! ...

[caption id=“attachment_2569” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”] “When the sun has set, no candle can replace it.” ― George R.R. Martin[/caption] It’s nice to discover new things about oneself. I didn’t know that I was so enraptured by sunsets until I moved recently. In my old home, I rarely saw the sunset. In my new home, watching the sunset has become a nightly ritual - something I don’t like to miss. It’s a spectacular light show watching the kaleidoscope of changing colours. I’ve had to run for my camera spontaneously on so many occasions with the feeling that I couldn’t let the moment pass uncaptured. I’m not sunstruck; I’m sunset struck! It’s such a wonderful joy to see the vast array of colours and all the changes taking place so quickly before my very eyes. Twilight time has become very important for me. ...

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. ~John Steinbeck This is the time of year when it’s easy to feel “down” with the weather. Christmas is over and all the bright lights, Christmas trees, get-togethers, and festivities of the season have come to an end. The freezing winter temperatures have descended upon us and it’s only January. Winter is a challenging time for getting around especially for those of us who are Senior Citizens. We worry about slipping and falling, getting the flu, shovelling the snow, not to mention all those layers of clothing we have to put on to even go outside. ...