This weekend we had the pleasure of spending a few days with son Dan and his family – Amanda, Gabby, Lucas and Cason – celebrating my 65th birthday.
All in all, it was a lovely few days away. I came back a year older but that was to be expected. 🙄
Nature makes peace and harmony and tranquility appear so easy. When I look at a bed of ferns and and clover, I see peace. When I see trees, I see peace. When I look up to a crystal blue sky and watch fluffy white clouds drift by, I see peace. When I see gentle ripples on a body of water, I see peace. When I see a perfect blossom, I see peace. I can hear and see and feel peace throughout nature. More than anything, I want to look within my mind and body and soul and find peace. I am a part of nature. It should be so easy. 🤦
I hope that today, whether you look without or within, you find what you are looking for. 🕊️
Dan was working days this weekend so I spent a lot of time relaxing and wandering around with Kat. I wish summer would last forever!
I hope everyone had a nice weekend!
Now that I have my grandson every Wednesday, I am on the search for nearby playgrounds. The one we went to this Wednesday had an abundance of great equipment for him to enjoy. The only problem was that the walk was a bit much for Dom. On the way there he asked me twice if we were still in Regina and on the way back he asked if we were still in Canada. 🙄
I do not think the park I went to this morning even had a name but it was a relatively short walk with a few points of interest for Dom along the way.
I think this walk is worth a shot with Dom. The worst he can do is clutch his heart, drop to his knees and tell me he is not going to make it. That is a whole other story. 🤦
Have a great day. I hope you our enjoying the same beautiful weather we have today!
Probably the most iconic landmark in Regina is the Albert Street Bridge. The Albert Street Bridge is the longest bridge over the shortest span of water in the world. It is situated off the entrance of our beautiful Wascana Park and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building grounds.
I hope you have a beautiful day to get out and do some sight seeing today. In these days, when travel is discouraged, there are sights worth exploring close to home.
Dan took Kat and I down to the south end of the city for our walk today. There is still nature to be shared and we had a lovely time but it is sad what is happening to our greenspace in this city.
Hope you are having a beautiful day🦋
Another Monday morning to count my blessings and enjoy nature.
Have a beautiful day💐
I know there is real struggle in the world today. Poverty, illness, violence, racial inequality, political incompetence – I know it is there and I know that there are families and individuals struggling to survive right now. My heart goes out to them.
I also believe in hope and faith, kindness, peace and positive energy. In my blog, I try to focus on the positive. I try to use bright, cheery or calming photos. I try to make it personal – I am a real person and I do care. If someone reads my blog, I hope that I have made a moment in their day better or easier.
Today, I am going off the rails. Today I cannot stick to the positive, feel good attitude that I prefer to put forth. If you are going through a tough time, you should not read this. I am so sorry. This will not help you feel better.
Today I awoke to the news of the lifeless bodies of two beautiful innocent little girls being found. Two little girls who’s lives were taken by the one man who should have done anything and everything to protect them.
In Canada, and most notably in Saskatchewan, when there is a domestic homicide in the news, the reaction is typical. It must be poverty related, it must be race related. If it is neither, people are shocked and the excuses pour forth. There was mental illness, there were drugs or alcohol involved, there was no warning, it was someone else’s fault.
The perpetrators of many, many domestic homicides in Canada are white, priviledged, educated and well employed. These stone sober, cold blooded domestic homicides (and much domestic violence) are a result of arrogance, contempt, lack of personal responsibility, selfishness and control.
We can once again feign shock and sorrow or we can get our heads out of our lily white butts and start dealing with these horrific homicides that are occurring more and more regularly.
We need to stop looking over there for the problem and start looking here for potential problems – at our families, and our friends, and our neighbours. Look for signs of contempt or control. Look for signs of fear and abuse. The signs are there – and they are obvious.
We need to start raising our children to take personal responsibility. We need to start teaching them that they are here to serve others – not to be served.
We need to start teaching our children real values – kindness, respect, humility, and dignity.
We need to stop making lame excuses for ourselves and our children – it was just a joke (some things are not funny), boys will be boys, well tempers will flare, it was just an accident …
We need to stop teaching our children to blame their victims. That does not teach them self control or personal responsibility.
We need to start training professionals – law enforcement, judges, lawyers, teachers, doctors, etc. to tell the difference between abusers and victims. Victims often sound irrational, irate, upset, dramatic. Violent, sadistic, cruel abusers and murderers often sound calm, cool, rational and responsible. Sometimes you have to look deeper.
Like many social issues of our time, domestic violence and homicide is not going to be eradicated overnight. In cultures and societies where this issue is not acknowledged and addressed it will never be eradicated.
How many more innocent lives need to be taken or destroyed before we realize we have a problem?
There is something special about Saturdays even if I am retired and even when Dan has to work weekends – although night shifts are never easy for him or me.
I have had my lunch so it is time to head outside to putter around the yard in my unflattering jumper. 🐿️🐦🌲🌻
Have a great rest of the weekend!
Yesterday morning, Kat and I finally made it to and around PATRICIA Park (not Princess Park as I mentioned in an earlier post🤦).
I love this little park. It is not particularly noteworthy. It is just a couple of acres of greenspace – grass, trees, a meandering gravel path, a rustic little bridge and one ball diamond. I seem to be one of very few people who loves it, as I am typically alone there with my dog.
I was so excited to make it to, and around, our little park. When I stopped working at the end of March, I would walk to the end of our block and back. I would return home gasping for air, heart pounding and exhausted. Yesterday (and again today) we went for a brisk hour long walk and I am good to go yet. I can not believe the difference three months has made!
Wishing all a very good day and a special weekend! 🌳
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 