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Rachel Persaud - Vocalist and Composer\ “Music is the purest form of art…therefore true poets, they who are seers, seek to express the universe in terms of music…The singer has everything within him/her. The notes come out from his/her very life. They are not materials gathered from outside.” (Rabindranath Tagore) There is nothing that brightens my spirit like music. Last Saturday, I was treated to a concert experience that was uplifting for both soul and spirit and provided an avenue for healing as well. The vocalist was Rachel Persaud and her accompanists were a guitarist and an accordian player. Rachel was at peak performance as this concert was sung in memory of her grandmother who died a few weeks ago. The images in this collage were all taken at St. Matthias Church in Toronto, which was the venue for the concert. ...

 \ Synchronicity is an ever present reality for those who have eyes to see. (Jung) I’ve been finding myself very impatient with myself lately. Spring is officially here and the weather is still cold in Toronto. In addition to that, although some shoots are out in the garden, nothing is in bloom. I can’t seem to wait for the flowers to bloom. While I know that “patience is virtue” and it’s better to be patient than impatient, I can’t seem to bring myself to the possession of this virtue right now. This led me to looking at some of last year’s Spring and Summer garden photos that I had taken. The “impatiens” flowers with their bright colours caught my attention and the results of my impatience can be seen in this collage. ...

~ Pope Benedict XVI - Vatican City Audience with Pope Benedict XVI “Knowing when to walk away, is Wisdom. Being able to, is Courage. Walking away with Grace, and your head held high, is Dignity. (Ritu Ghatourey) I had the enviable experience of going to an audience with a living Pope and seeing him close-up. This Pope is Pope Benedict XVI - our newly retired Pope. During Easter Week, a few years ago, I had this historical experience. With all the furor surrounding Pope Benedict’s decision to resign from the Papacy and the election of Pope Francis, I decided to revisit that special time by looking at my Rome photos. These two collages were created as a result of that reminiscence. ...

**“Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.” (**Jawaharlal Nehru) A visit to India provides a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and tastes, that bring about a change in one’s overall sensory experiences. There are stories upon stories about India that abound everywhere – some good, some bad. Like many other countries all over the world, India has great poverty and great wealth. What is very evident on a visit to India is extremes. You can be appalled, in awe, and frustrated, in the very same hour of the same day. There are high moments and low ones as well. Scenes and scenery change rapidly. It’s all part of what’s amazing and incredible about India. ...

 Easter\ Easter is not a time for groping through dusty, musty tomes or tombs to disprove spontaneous generation or even to prove life eternal. It is a day to fan the ashes of dead hope, a day to banish doubts and seek the slopes where the sun is rising, to revel in the faith which transports us out of ourselves and the dead past into the vast and inviting unknown. (Author unknown) ...

 I hope some day to meet God, because I want to thank Him for the flowers. ~ (Robert Brault) When I visited “Canada Blooms” yesterday, my heart resonated and echoed these words. The flowers were magnificent and it was truly a taste of what we are all looking forward to seeing outdoors in the not too distant future. In my last post, as I mentioned, I had not yet started collaging or blogging. I have also never used several collages in one post. However, in this post I will share several photos that I took yesterday and made into collages. Springtime is truly not very far away. ...

 \ We can all do with seeing a few flowers in bloom here in Toronto after our last few weeks of snowy weather and cold. I noticed that the garden show called “Canada Blooms” which is now in its seventeenth year is presently on. All the images in this collage were from last year’s Canada Blooms. At that time, I hadn’t started to use my photos in the way I’m doing now. However, I was so uplifted in body, mind, and spirit, by being there that I wanted to capture lots of those special moments on my digital camera. Apparently, there is no other garden show as large as this one in Canada. It covers many different areas of gardening: (i) Flowers which come from the magnificent floral presentations of the Toronto Flower Show and innovative displays from well known professional florists and growers (ii) Education, featuring the best known garden and landscape experts from across Canada (iii) Marketplace showcasing the latest and greatest garden products and services (iv) Feature Gardens created by Ontario’s premier landscape designers (v) Special Sponsor Features ...

 \ All the images in this collage were taken at a very lovely party for a friend who turned eighty-five. It was a Sunday and everyone was in their Sunday best and more. I was fascinated with the beautiful pieces of jewelry that were worn by the women for extra adornment on this special occasion. These images are of women all over the age of seventy. There were fascinating stories and history behind some of these pieces and that is what made this time so special. We were all seated at the same table and I had been admiring how personable and beautiful these women were. They were very pleased to tell me some of the stories and were flattered that I wanted to take photos of their jewelry. ...

All the images in this collage are of my own Calico cat. Her name is Cali. She likes to be the queen here at home. Other cat owners have told me the same about their own cats. They have that superior attitude about themselves and want things their own way. I crowned her and she looks adorable and regal in these pictures. Hope you enjoy the collage and the poem. Cali is a good companion and friend to me**.** ...

 \ I wandered lonely as a Cloud I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o’er Vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd A host of dancing Daffodils; Along the Lake, beneath the trees, Ten thousand dancing in the breeze. The waves beside them danced, but they Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: – A poet could not but be gay In such a laughing company: I gaz’d–and gaz’d–but little thought What wealth the shew to me had brought: For oft when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude, And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the Daffodils. ...