Life on Late Blooms

Life Lessons of 2016

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

This year has gone by very quickly. It feels like it was just the other day I was preparing for Christmas 2015. “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Well, to tell the truth, it wasn’t all fun. Life has its challenges and there are always valuable lessons to learn as we spend our days here on Earth. For anyone thinking that lessons stop when you leave school, I have news for you. They begin on the day you are born and continue until the day you take your last breath. I am 67 and learning many valuable lessons at this stage of my life. As the saying goes: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

Buechner Quotes

Fri, 16 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

There are always names we have heard of in connection with one thing or the other but never get to find out what they have said or done - until it seems, the time is right. I was familiar with the name “Frederick Buechner” but never read anything he said. Just today I was reading a blog post on the internet in which the blogger referenced a quote by Frederick Buechner that resonated with what I was feeling at that particular moment in time. As one who seems to have been groomed for the “rescuer” role, the quote resonated with me.

Summer's Gone!

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Fall has already officially begun. I was reminded of this when my September newsletter arrived in my Inbox this morning from Gratefulness.org - a network for grateful living.

It referenced this beautiful poem called “Equinox” which I’m going to share with you. There are many insightful thoughts here about what our gardens give to us and about life in its raw elements. In so many ways, life is like a garden - sowing, reaping, growth, decay, changing seasons, and changing crops. What a good summer it’s been and this poem lights the way to let go of it - the right way. Enjoy!

Treasures from the Sea

Sun, 13 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

“I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” (Isaac Newton)

Life has a wonderful way of bringing us back to the basics sometimes. It was fun to turn my shells and coral out on the kitchen table and examine and play with them. Fifteen years ago when I visited Fiji, I wasn’t into taking too many pictures or into blogging. In fact, I had not even heard the term. In the above collage, the two images of the resort are postcards I bought there.

Live Good

Sun, 05 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_1568” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] Live Good[/caption]

All the epithets in this collage were of interest to me since they were Christmas ornaments I saw in a year-round Christmas tree store. They are the kind of ornaments one buys for the wine-lover on your Christmas list. The addition of “Live Good” is my own idea. This image was on the cover of a journal in a bookstore.

It’s funny how certain images and sayings can act as triggers for past events or ideas one may have held at a certain time of life. This is what these sayings about wine did for me. There was a time in my life when I thought that I was Epicurean - a much younger age. I didn’t know much about Epicurus though. It was the “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry” stage. Life was about having a good time.

To A Pink Peony

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_1356” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“To A Pink Peony”][/caption]

My Dad passed on thirteen years ago this week. He loved all the flowers in the garden but was particularly devoted to the peonies. On this anniversary of the heart, I’m sharing this poem he wrote in 1998 which was two years before his death.

To A Pink Peony

Unrivalled, the pink peony outshone

the other colorful flowers in the garden.

Green Pastures

Sun, 14 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Maid with the Flaxen Hair (Background Music - click to listen)

[caption id=“attachment_1109” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Cows in Barbados”][/caption]

On my recent visit to Barbados, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the home in which I would be staying was in a pastoral setting. From the moment I saw the cows grazing in the green pastures, a certain peaceful feeling descended upon me.

My excitement was palpable. I hadn’t seen cows this close for many years and had no idea that my thoughts would turn to Thoreau and his experience at Walden Pond. He was deliberate in his experiment but the Universe smiled on me by allowing me this peaceful adventure and time with the cows. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.”

Tapestry

Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_201” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] Tapestry[/caption]

A few weeks ago, my friend and I visited a fabulous fabric store in Toronto. She likes to sew and was looking for some fabric. The photos in this collage were taken there. It was delightful to admire all the tapestries with their beautiful colours and diversity of patterns. Quite suddenly, I thought of the weavers who had spent countless hours to produce these priceless works of art.

Nirvana

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_65” align=“alignleft” width=“300”] Nirvana[/caption]

This collage is called Nirvana because if you look carefully, you can see a little Buddha head there.

After a visit to Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Thailand three years ago, my interest in Buddhism was peaked. Although I had visited Hong Kong and Thailand before, I hadn’t witnessed so many images and statues of the Buddha, as on this visit. In these cultures, there are many followers of Buddha. In addition, Buddhism is very popular now in all parts of the world.

Spring Blossoms

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Spring comes to us bringing its own magic every year. Nowhere is this more evident than in the earth coming to life and producing a spectacular showcase of colorful, fresh blooms to make our hearts joyful. Spring is truly the Earth’s Birthday.

[caption id=“attachment_59” align=“alignleft” width=“300”] To everything there is a Season[/caption]

As I went about the garden and neighborhood taking the photos that are in this collage, I was mindful of the seasons that have passed in my own life and of the old verse, “To everything there is a season.” These kinds of thoughts were remote to me when I was in the springtime of my own life as I’m sure they don’t come to many people at that time of life. We tend to take life for granted.

"Cali" the Calico Cat

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_30” align=“alignleft” width=“300”] Cali - Unconditional Love[/caption]

“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” (Anatole France)

All pet owners know how these four-footed creatures can worm their way into your heart. Four years ago, I started to have a great longing to have a pet. I thought a puppy would be nice. However, after much thought and deliberation, it became clear to me that walking a dog in winter might not be that easy for me. So it was that Cali was adopted from a family who were not able to keep her anymore.