THE RECYCLE IN REUSE, REDUCE

IMG_6262My live-in has a passion for building new things out of old and has given a whole new meaning to recycle.  He feels he has a mission to rescue discarded bikes out of landfills, back alleys and wherever else they might be.  It explains why our backyard looks like this at times.

Some he revitalizes, retunes and re-tweaks.  Others becomes parts and they end up looking like this:

We had fun for a couple of years with the Sunshine Cruiser and made use of the Cargo shopping for groceries.  They have found new homes since.  We are happy that they and their young children are enjoying the bikes.  There are still many parts for more building!

IMG_9646_2His latest project is Lemon and Grapes with a custom paint job.

 

RE-FRAMING

27097_321356195886_8251743_nWhat a difference a day makes!

I almost bounced out of bed this morning and if I could whistle, I would have.  And what was that difference?  It really wasn’t the weather, though it was sunny and the temperature was still on the minus side.  There was no wind though.  Maybe that was it.

But perhaps it could be that I reframed how I saw my world.  It was a conscious effort on my part.  It really wasn’t much fun being restless, quirky and anxious like I was.  I wasted energy I could not afford.  But I accepted that which I could not change at the time.  I stored and catalogued my experience for future reference.

I found that tiger and put it in my tank and headed out with Sheba for our walk before 9 am.  The morning sunlight IMG_0625warmed our faces.   The trees stood proud and magnificent, stretching out their bare arms to greet the day. What joy it was to see their naked beauty.  And I am reminded again to change the lens I see through from time to time.  There is beauty all around us – all the time.

Energized and inspired, I took advantage of the space and time I found myself and tended to my yard and garden, one little area at a time.  There was pleasure in each moment, the clearing of leaves and winter’s debris.

The rose bush got pruned, one flower bed cleaned and the garden dug.

IMG_0632The rest of the yard still looks like hell, as my neighbour was fond of saying.  Who cares and whose yard was it anyways?  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Sheba thinks it looks just fine.  And that’s what counts!

 

 

WHO HAS SEEN THE WIND

IMG_0611Today is one of those incredibly beautiful looking days with the sky so blue and the sun so bright.  Even though it is windy, cool and no green visible, you JUST know that spring is around the corner.

IMG_0616Today is also one of those hair-raising days.  There is really nothing wrong, but then you feel that nothing is right either.  I can’t even take a proper ‘selfie’ where I come out looking dead gorgeous.  I look like myself.  It’s what one wants, right?  Yea, right!

Maybe it is just the wind making me restless.  We are famous for that, the wind, that is.  There’s a book written about the wind on the prairies, W. O. Mitchell’s Who Has Seen the Wind.  There’s even a movie made based on the book.  The wind certainly can unsettle me.  There’s nothing to do except bear with this restlessness and remember that, this, too shall pass.

IMG_0617In the meantime I have put this restless energy into motion.  I transplanted the kohlrabi seedings into bigger pots and fertilized the other bedding plants.  I will be ready when the weather warms up.  I will not be behind.  Then I took myself for a walk.  Sheba watched me leave.  Her expression said:  What’s happening?  Just time out, that’s all.

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THE EXTRAS IN THE ORDINAIRE

This morning the sun was a little brighter and the temperature a little warmer.  Still it took some recalled oomph to get out of bed.  I guess by now you’ve guessed that I’m not a bouncy morning type of gal.

I always need that little extra push to get going – anywhere.  Are there really people who bounces out of bed, whistling and IMG_0055ready to wrestle a tiger and bring it home?  Well, good for them, whoever they are!  I’m just going to mosey along like the tortoise that I am, one slow step at a time.

I stretch and I breathe in the qi of life.  I flow through the motions of qigong, feeling stronger and more awakened with each movement of the routine. My inertia and languidness are vanishing with the breath.  It is necessary to bite the bullet –  get up, dress up and show up to face the day.  No matter what, we have to greet it.

IMG_0044So I am not Speedy Gonzales and I don’t have a tiger in my tank.  I am living life at my own speed.  I am not in a hurry.  I have time to smell the coffee.  I will see the flowers growing along the road.  I will not miss their sweet scent in the air.  I will not miss the extras in the ordinaire.  How wonderful is that?

BITING THE BULLET

IMG_6381I am afraid today is another  Day – waking up to the same grey and cool morning.  No snow though, thank the lord for small – no big mercies.  I’m starting to feel like Bill Murray. Desperation is nibbling on my edges.  I cannot afford to let it all hang out.

I am hanging in/on or whatever.  I’ll put on my Wonder Woman IMG_0515outfit and let it do the magic.  Today I have my tiara AND my lasso.  Look out!  I have magic and power.

I can bite the bullet and do all those hard to do things that I’ve been putting off.  What better time to do them than on a grey and cold day?  I do not need to move mountains, only piles – and piles.  I only have to move one of them at a time.

And at the end or in the middle, there’s those sweet buns I made yesterday and IMG_0608a cup of sweet spicy hot chocolate.  I am feeling energized and ready to tackle IMG_0587anything .  And Sheba is poised to help.

 

NO TIME FOR WORDS

Today feels like one of those days that I have no time for words.  I’m feeling squished and breathless.  My body is tensed, my mind closed.  No ease is flowing through me.

IMG_0598I close my eyes and take a slow deep breath.  I see the blue sky of yesterday in my mind.  The white clouds drift pass me, taking my frown away.  I feel soothed, smoothed, cuddled and fluffed.  Ahhh!  It feels good.  I’m human again.

The day is still here in the twilight.  I am finding the words.  They are coming one by one as I am tap, tapping on my keyboard.  There is no need to rush. There is no need to worry.   There is time.  Everything comes in good time when we are ready.

THINKING WARM

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Just because it is a new month and you are filled with resolve, it doesn’t mean you are going to win over inertia and sloth.  I do try but I let go some of my routine this morning.  Let’s see if I recover from this lapse.

But I still got up, dressed up and showed up at the table.  Fixing my bed-head was the mehardest thing.  I fought the urge against walking around the whole day looking broken and with my hair all awry.  I fought the war and I won.   I should get points for that!

The day is cold.  I am not feeling warm and fuzzy inside but I am thinking warm – to those days when the living was easy and I didn’t have to try so hard.  I’m wishing that I hadn’t pack my mitts away so quickly.  Oh well!  That is life.

But the sun is out and the sky is so blue. I pack up Sheba in the car and off we go to the IMG_0606park.  The crisp air and open space does wonder for our spirits.  I open my heart and breathe in the goodness.  It is paradise gained, not lost.

Soon we are greeted by other revellers of the park.  Round and round we walk.  Sometimes we climb the hill to the top and watch the panorama below us.  The inertia is blown away on top of that hill.

Sheba found a playmate or two.  We are both happy and rejuvenated once more.

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RESTING ON MY LAURELS

UBC-completedNow that April and the Challenge is over, I am resting on my laurels for a little while.  Some of the habits have taken root though, and no matter what, I am still getting up, dressing up and showing up.  It’s a good thing.  Good habits saves time and make life easier.  The energy saved is channelled towards other challenges.  And life flows like a river.  I will be ready when the water gets turbulent.

The snow and rain has gone.  The sun has come out to warm our hearts and souls.  My winter apparel, the hats, scarves and mitts has finally been put away.  Time to celebrate the season of new beginnings and growth.

Cruise DinnerLife is sweet.   It is time to eat, drink and be merry.  Let us begin.