A few days ago I took Lily somewhere she had never been: a wide open field at the top of a hill.  It was a gorgeous sunny day with  no wind.

There were many new things to smell and see.  This is Lily watching a  lonely bus roll up the hill.

The sky was big, blue and wide.

The rocks were big too.

This was a surprise and I can't help wondering who did it.

On another day, this week, the sky was not blue at all.



On a dark day, it's  hard to keep standing upright.  Sometimes I feel all alone, but I know that's just the pain talking.  I take a deep breath, and my eyes are able to see colours again.

One morning this week was chilly and rainy.  A new friend appeared at my feet and followed me all the way home.

This random event that made me happy on a wet, dark day.  I guess you just have to stop and breathe sometimes so that joy can find its way back to you.  I hope you make a new friend today, too.

Could be...Who knows...

It's hard to even think about, but something's coming. 

Every morning, no matter what temperature, wind or precipitation is out there, Lily is ready to go exploring.

Things are looking a little different in the neighbourhood these days.

This red is new.

The flower beds in the park are nearly all empty.

I know what's coming.  It's something cold and windy and...beautiful.  I know what to expect but there are so many things that I won't see coming at all.  The only thing I can really be sure of is that there will be  surprises. Some will be spectacular and wonderful and some will not.

I do know that love will always be there, and for that I am very grateful.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, everyone!

Have a look around

Mornings have been chilly this week. Lily always waits patiently as I put on more layers before we step outside.  Here are some of the things we saw:

 Perhaps it's just my own state of mind these days, but this flower looks like a stubborn survivor to me.

Lately I have been making choices to make my life simpler. 

 There are so many moments of each day that are meaningful, and I am doing my best to notice them.   

 Maybe I was too busy to see things clearly before.

I saw two feathers this week.  One black...

 and one gold!

Hope is in the ones you love. 

I wish you a day filled with happy moments.

Up and Down

This week the temperature has been high and low.  My own days have been up and down. As Lily and I walked this week I tried to pay attention to things that were both high and low.  Here is what I saw when I looked down...

Can you believe how RED this leaf is?

I really do love dandelions.  They look very simple at first: stem plus sphere.  I think the symmetry within the seed puff is beautiful.

I hope the owner comes back for this.  Lily and I will check on it today.

Here's what I saw when I looked up...

On a cool gray morning, it's nice to have this yellow greet you.

This day felt pretty dark.

Days are up and days are down.  Keep going.  Keep reaching...

Repair

It has begun.  Leaves are fluttering down to the ground, and blossoms are dying off.  The vibrant summer colours are slowly being replaced by dull browns and grays.

We pass this bench almost every day. This morning I noticed that the backboard is in need of repair.

I decided to take a closer look.  This is what I saw...

My own back is in need of some repair, and while I know I am slowly healing, sometimes I get a little discouraged. 

At times, the pain pierces right through my happy day.

I remind myself that repair takes time and work, and that repair is a hopeful act. 

I am not alone,

and there is fun wherever I decide to find it.

Lily is pretty good at reminding me about having fun!

Be well and have some fun today!

This week we saw a lot of beautiful and unexpected things.

This giant bud was so thick and shiny, it looked like plastic.  Eventually it will look like this...

One morning at the park, while Lily was busy gathering information...

I found Waldo!

The next day, Lily, my daughter and I went for a walk in my parent's neighbourhoood.  I love it there!

These little flowers had just opened up...

We were making our way down the road when all of a sudden something thumped and crashed through the brush on our right.  Can you see it here?

The deer stood there staring at us for about a minute.  Lily wanted to play with it.

Yesterday was all about change.  It was much cooler and the wind was very strong.  One of the first things I noticed was this...

I tried to convince myself that I was imagining things, but then we passed by this coneflower...

It's not so purple anymore! 

Cloudy or sunny, Lily always makes the best of the day.

The weather may be changing, but the fairies are still dancing in the garden.

Have a wonderful day!

P.S. Sometimes different is perfect.