SFJ

From Garden to Vase

2011-09-03T08:43:00.003-04:00

Photos by Tracy Riley, 2011. I took these garden photos during the month of August at a private cutting garden near Camden East, Ontario that the owners tend to passionately and open up on Saturdays in August as a fund-raiser for local Hospice organizations (one of which a family member volunteers with, another of which a family member was the beneficiary of this year during the last weeks of

Balloon Flower 2

2011-08-07T17:22:00.001-04:00

Observed this morning:

Balloon Flower

2011-07-30T18:21:00.003-04:00

Today's feature will be the balloon flower with photos I took this morning.

Cherry tomatoes

2011-07-28T08:53:00.001-04:00

My neighbour harvested her first four cherry tomatoes of the season earlier this week. She generously shared two of them with me. I feel honoured. (Needless to say, they didn't sit on the window sill longer than for taking the photo.)

Laughter is a joy

2011-07-25T07:25:00.002-04:00

This intriguing video, "may sing like no one is listening," by silbrownfsu arrived in my inbox and made me laugh out loud. I thought I'd share it here in case it might bring a smile to you as well.

The day lily is continually changing

2011-07-24T15:01:00.003-04:00

Although I said in my last post that the day lily flower blooms for one day before beginning to curl and dry, that is not to say that the beauty of the flower is limited to one day. Embracing brief moments when the wind was at rest, I took some photos today of blooms that opened on a previous day mixed in with blooms yet to open and blooms now open on their first day. I am reminded of the

Day Lilies

2011-07-20T07:17:00.002-04:00

The day lily was given its name for a reason. It produces flowers that bloom for just one day. The petals of the flowers that I greeted yesterday are curled up this morning and have begun the process of drying up to fall to the ground and nourish the soil. I took these photos last evening in my yard.

When you do want to throw something away

2010-09-26T14:03:00.000-04:00

It is a grey Sunday afternoon in late September--the kind of day that is just calling out for me to nap. I've opted to light a few candles and write instead--or as a start. You don't have to throw yourself away, Pema Chrodron wrote. The question might arise: "what do you do though when there are parts you do want to throw away or just wish you could?" What if you have a chronic health condition

You don't have to throw yourself away

2010-09-06T19:41:00.000-04:00

Today, I finished reading the book, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, by Christopher K. Germer. I feel quiet, with inner things, and not like writing much. However, I'd like to share with you a quote that Christopher includes near the end of the book. The quote is written by Pema Chodron, in her book, The Wisdom of No Escape and The Path of Loving Kindness: ...we can still be crazy after all

How safe is the stuff you put on your skin?

2010-06-19T07:42:00.002-04:00

Here is another on-line resource I'd like to recommend: The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. If you have a skin-care, cosmetic type product in the house and you "think" it's supposed to be safe, search for it in the database and see how it fares. You might be pleasantly--or unpleasantly--surprised. For example, recently I looked up a body lotion/moisturizers I've been

Environmental Working Group's 2010 Sunscreen Guide

2010-05-28T10:25:00.000-04:00

Arrived this week in my inbox. You can check it out here: Environmental Working Group's 2010 Sunscreen Guide.

Lilacs, Sweet Woodruff, and a Sunny Day in May

2010-05-16T20:45:00.003-04:00

...heavenly... (When I walked outside this morning, I thought without thought: "this is heaven".)

Steven Heighton's poem, Constellations

2010-05-11T07:51:00.001-04:00

This is a poem that provides a beautiful image. Imagine placing glow-in-the-dark stars all over you, soaking up some light, then turning off all the lights and dancing in the dark--or watching someone else do a star dance. You can read the poem (and the specific story that goes with it) in his book, The Address Book: Poems. Thanks to my friend, S, for turning my attention toward Steven's work.

Feelings About Mother's Day (and the Cultivation of Compassion)

2010-05-09T13:50:00.007-04:00

Today is Mother's Day. For some, it is filled with warm feelings, laughter, reflection, gratitude. For others, it might include almost none of the sort, but instead feelings of anger, pain, longing, loneliness. Grief might be felt and this might be a blend of feelings related to absence and presence, what was and wasn't, what is and isn't, what was and now isn't or now is. Mothers may have a wide

A walk in the park (and the importance of green spaces)

2010-05-03T18:57:00.002-04:00

Today I went for a walk in the new park that is in development in Kingston along (a) concession between Alfred and Nelson. I came home. I thought, "Trees are the bees knees."

Electromagnetic radiation and health

2010-04-25T11:49:00.000-04:00

Do you have a DECT cordless phone in your home? Wireless technology? Use a cell phone regularly? Live or work where wireless abounds? Have you read much about the research in these areas looking at the effects of these devices on a cellular level and concerns that have been raised about their effects on health? Curious? If so, here are three suggestions to get you started on your search: 1)

Two 2-Minute or Less Stories

2009-09-14T20:54:00.005-04:00

1. For my cat, a call to action: the opening of the fridge door. 2. Today at lunch for a treat, I decided to purchase a tea at a local Tim Hortons. Typically, I would make my own cup of tea at work if I wanted some, but I had forgotten to bring a small amount of cream from home. I ordered a medium-sized tea with bag in and with cream. I got: a white creamy liquid with no evidence of tea colour

The Inner Life of the Cell

2009-08-11T09:07:00.002-04:00

Here is a wonderful and inspiring 3 minute trailer to an 8 minute film that was made by XVIVO, a scientific animation company located near Harford, CT. I first read about the video at studio daily's website.

Jane Siberry's City

2009-07-29T18:47:00.004-04:00

I pulled Jane Sibirrey's cd, City, off the shelf today for a listen. Perusing through the cd booklet, I came across text that touched me. I'll share a few excerpts: "For to do something with careIs the closest thing to the feeling of love that can be foundIt is all I knowThis is protectionThis is the narrow bridge And the hand that reaches out for the drink, the drugAnd it grabs a cloth

Quotable friends

2009-07-28T20:04:00.002-04:00

"There will always be tea," as said today by M.

The documentary: Blue Gold

2009-07-26T07:34:00.005-04:00

Also available at the Kingston Public Library is the documentary, Blue Gold: World Water Wars. This is a film by Sam Bozzo that also looks at issues of water--the necessity of water for life, and serious problems of freshwater depletion, pollution, corporate and corrupt government actions where profit and greed rules above people and planet. Like Flow, it is disturbing, frustrating, alarming,

The documentary: Flow

2009-07-11T16:26:00.020-04:00

I watched this documentary recently --with thanks to the Kingston Public Library for having it in their collections. For a description, visit the film's website: www.flowthefilm.com. The film raises much that is unsettling, deeply troubling, as well as things that are hopeful. I recommend it. For those of you who visit the blog regularly, you might have noticed I've added a link in the sidebar

Feeling and not feeling...

2009-06-28T08:01:00.006-04:00

Near the end of one of the chapters in Kay Redfield Jamison's book, An Unquiet Mind, and about three-quarters of the way through, she refers to a piece of music I wanted to follow-up on: "That night, waiting for my moody, intense Englishman to appear--needlepointing, watching the snow fall, listening to Chopin and Elgar--I suddenly was aware of how clear and poignant the music seemed, how

Venn diagrams and a wonderful book

2009-06-16T07:56:00.006-04:00

This morning, I awoke early. Shortly after 4 a.m., I absorbed the quiet of the early morning accompanied by the beautiful song of birds, and the beauty of a crescent moon shining brilliantly in a clear sky. How wonderful.I did, also, go back to sleep. How glad I am, however, for that early morning awakening and time.Yesterday, I finished reading An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison, subtitled

the popularity of fresh flowers

2009-05-22T17:55:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, two black birds wandered through the yard pecking for food. One flew away. The other, before departing, picked a sprig of forget-me-knots from the garden, like a small bouquet, then took to flight transporting it by beak.

Begin

2009-05-17T18:11:00.010-04:00

To write a blog post, or write, or gain increased flexibility, or start a relationship, or learn more about something, you have to begin. So I will do that here--begin--after another month away from posting, and offer you three possibly disparate things. Although, likely they also share threads of connection. If you see one, consider posting what you find. I'm interested to hear your ideas.Here

Yesterday, I pondered the question:

2009-04-15T20:18:00.001-04:00

What is the best that could happen?

how many fingers?

2009-03-26T20:25:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I went for a long walk in the amazing spring weather Kingston was enjoying. It was not a fancy walk to an exotic location. Rather a simple walk a number of times around a dirt track near where I live. That was just fine: to walk along at a leisurely pace and reflect and enjoy the sun and take in the scenes around me. These were scenes that included many people out walking their dogs--

On my second attempt...

2009-03-22T13:51:00.009-04:00

This is the second whole chicken I have cooked in my life. The first, I cooked about a year ago. It turned out in such a way that it left lots of room for improvement. Today's, however, turned out great. I suspect I would have made my great-grandmother proud--although she might have wondered what took me so long.Roasting this bird brought me a lot of satisfaction and I wondered why. I enjoy

last day of winter

2009-03-19T12:21:00.003-04:00

I heard on the radio this morning that today is the last day of winter. What will you do today to celebrate (or to mark the occasion)?

Tree Canada

2009-02-15T18:55:00.008-05:00

Today, I have savoured what could be described by all accounts as a very relaxed, lazy sort of day. It has included in part reading gardening magazines with legs outstretched and tea nearby, thinking about what I might plant this year to continue developing a welcoming outdoor space for birds, insects, butterflies, and people alike. Percolating in the background were issues related to work,

Many Paths

2009-02-15T15:08:00.007-05:00

While an undergraduate student, I attended a presentation by a visual artist who was speaking about some of his work. A member of the audience commented to him that he noticed there were a lot of star images in his paintings and he wondered if there was any significance to them. The artist commented that he liked stars including how all the points lead to the same centre when drawn figuratively

Finding Your Own Rhythm

2009-02-11T18:28:00.010-05:00

This morning, I went lane swimming alongside a feisty aqua-fit class. Really, the class was inspiring. There was potentially a wide range of ages in attendance although my quick scan indicated seniors heavily dominated the class and rocked, I might add, with their earnest and energetic participation. Of course, mostly I observed the class from underwater out of the corner of my eyes. I saw a

Idea-byte No. 4

2009-02-05T20:36:00.006-05:00

There is a book I read half of a while ago, likely within the past year or so: The Mindful Way through Depressionby Williams and others (2007). For those who live in Kingston, it is in the public library's collection so you may explore it free of charge. It comes with a cd with short guided mindfulness-type practices, which is another good reason to know about it. On another 5 x 7 cue card from

Idea-byte No. 3

2009-02-01T08:36:00.013-05:00

I'll stick to the same cue card as from the last post, which features jots taken from What Is Your Life's Work? by Bill Jensen. Today's idea-byte (in this instance a question to ponder):"What is the legacy of your choices?"Building on this, I might add:"What do you want the legacy of your choices to be?"Consider your vision for that and do something today that supports that vision--something that

Idea-byte No. 2

2009-01-30T17:17:00.006-05:00

Today's idea-byte is taken from a white cue card, 5" x 7" in size, with text written on the lined side:"What deserves your precious 1440 minutes every day?""What doesn't?"from What Is Your Life's Work? by Bill Jensen.

Sticky-notes and cue cards: Introducing Idea-Bytes...

2009-01-29T19:56:00.017-05:00

I've been spring cleaning this January. One of my goals--an on-going one--was to make headway with the papers that have been collecting on my desk. As I was saying to a friend this evening, I really enjoy having a clear desk yet in my home office of sorts I find this difficult to accomplish, and even more difficult to maintain.I did make progress today on the organization front, which is great,

My cat circles the coffee table counter-clockwise...

2009-01-18T14:59:00.013-05:00

For at least a few months now, my beautiful, loving, aging white cat has developed a new peculiarity. In my home, the main daytime living area aside from my workspace is a medium to large sized rectangular room divided into two by function. Approximately one half of the room (the south) is dedicated to the kitchen and the other half of the room (the north) is dedicated to the living room. It is

December Greetings

2008-12-23T13:44:00.020-05:00

The portion of the days that is filled with light is getting larger. I take comfort in this.After a few years' hiatus, this year I decided to write a letter of December greetings to send to friends. Here it is for you in nearly unabridged form complete with a few extras. I greet you today, this minute as you visit here, with kindness. While greeting you, the soft light of a candle gently glows

"Casimir Pulaski Day" by Sufjan Stevens

2008-12-23T13:00:00.002-05:00

Here is a video for the song, Casimir Pulaski Day, by Sufjan Stevens. I find watching the video makes me feel a bit dizzy so I prefer to simply close my eyes or look away and listen. I wanted to provide this, however, to give those who haven't heard the song, an easy and free way to hear it. Having said this, you could purchase the song from itunes for 99 cents and support Sufjan, or you could

As seen on an urban street in Ontario...

2008-11-22T15:17:00.006-05:00

Here we have a little bit of colour as we enter into a season of less colour in the visual landscape. We also have what seems to me to represent an intriguing story. Any ideas?

Upcoming Lecture in Kingston (free): Self-Compassion and Reactions to Negative Life Events

2008-11-01T10:49:00.002-04:00

The Department of Psychology at Queen's University in Kingston is hosting a presentation on Friday, November 14th at 2:30 p.m. that is free to attend and looks quite interesting. It is by Mark R. Leary from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University. Here is the description from the website:"Ironically, people often treat others who experience negative events more kindly and

Not For The Faint of Heart

2008-10-26T09:20:00.012-04:00

"It's not for the faint of heart, is it?"is the exact line someone experienced with such matters said to me recently with respect to being a landlord in the province of Ontario. My response? A compact: "No, it isn't." In that brief exchange and dealing with the near tail-end of the latest challenging situation as a small-scale landlord, did I leap across some chasm into the "people who are not

A New Address & A New Opportunity

2008-10-19T09:03:00.004-04:00

Sustenance for the journey is a blog I began on wordpress in November, 2007 (www.sustenanceforthejourney.wordpress.com). During its first year of life, the most popular post by far was Beauty and Grief, which you may find by clicking here. I decided to migrate the blog, including the contents of the previous' months posts, to blogger, a move I made this weekend, so that I could gain some options

On the Chalkboard September 1, 2008

2008-09-01T21:29:00.001-04:00

When Pablo Casals, the cellist, was ninety-one years old, he was approached by a student who asked, “Master, why do you continue to practice?” Casals replied, “Because I am making progress.” –Norman Doidge, The Brain that Changes Itself, p. 257 (A fascinating, easy to read book concerning neuroplasticity.)

Staying In Your Own Lane

2008-08-21T21:27:00.002-04:00

Over the week and perhaps especially today, I have observed myself drawing on scenes and interviews I’ve taken in of the Olympics and using them as grist for the reflective and metaphoric mill. The ideas of “focusing on your own game,” “running your own race,” and “staying in your own lane” were popular ones from my reflections over the past 24 hours and seemed to weave themselves into

Ebb and ____

2008-07-13T21:24:00.002-04:00

Here we have a quick photo from today–strategically angled not for artistic merit but to avoid getting the dead squirrel into the shot–although coming to the end of writing the post and reading back through, I am wondering now if maybe I should have aimed to leave it in, to embrace that, too. I share the photo here with thoughts in mind about cycle, rhythm, season, change, ebb, flow, swell,

On the Chalkboard June 17, 2008

2008-06-17T21:22:00.003-04:00

Everyone you meet comes with a story… You might never know when you walk into a room whether someone has had an invasive procedure, bad news or good news. You must just arrive open–to the situation and the individual before you. That is presence. That stance allows [a person] to be heard. –Suzanne Darley from: The Expressive Art Activity Book: A Resource for Professionals, p. 44, by S.

A Mini Holiday

2008-06-08T21:21:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending time in a toy store. I was on a mission to find an adult-sized hula hoop and had been told this was the place to go. Mission accomplished. I was also looking to find a badminton racquet or two and birdies to supplement my collection. This took me wandering throughout the store. I loved the outdoor games and toys section. This made me miss working at an

Olive Oil, Fizzy Pop

2008-06-08T21:20:00.001-04:00

While purchasing groceries yesterday, there was an older gentleman standing in line behind me. He had grey hair, a grey moustache that curved up at the ends and a combination of grocery cart items that intrigued me. His purchase consisted of approximately half a dozen 2 litre bottles of pop (something like sprite with lemon flavour) and approximately half a dozen 750 mL to 1 L bottles of

Welcome June!

2008-06-01T21:19:00.002-04:00

Today is the first day of June. We are now well into spring and will arrive in summer before the month is through. I have found myself drawn outside repeatedly over the past month, wanting to be outside sitting sipping tea in the sun, eating meals outside, playing, hanging out laundry, or working in the garden. Some days have been so beautiful, they have felt intoxicating–in the delightful,

Five Breaths

2008-05-19T21:18:00.002-04:00

My invitation to you today is this: Pause.In this moment, where you are, as you are.Notice the sound and feel of your own breath breathing.Tune in. What sounds do you hear right now? What colours do you see around you? What shapes? What textures? Notice the feel of air on your skin. Take 5 breaths here while still, while listening, while tuning in…

Sitting in Spaces

2008-05-11T21:17:00.002-04:00

For those of you who follow the blog semi-regularly, you may have noticed my lack of activity on the site: no chalkboard quotes or writing for a few weeks. I was away for a week taking an expressive arts course, and since, have been sitting in all the silence, sounds, and spaces that have followed. Yesterday, I began re-reading one of David Whyte’s books. Today, I’ll share the following

The Blanket Song

2008-04-26T20:51:00.001-04:00

This week, I had the pleasure of listening to a recently posted concert of Canadian singer-song writer, Karla Anderson, which you can find on the CBC Concerts-on-Demand website by clicking here. While listening to the beautiful song, “What else can I do?” I thought, with caring, of my friend who is sick and my friends who are both excited and anxious in the face of current changes. What

Bloom

2008-04-20T21:14:00.001-04:00

Sometime between when I went to bed last night and when I awoke this morning, these daffodil blooms opened in my yard. I wondered: did they open during the cool and dark of night, or this morning, when the first sliver of sunlight reached out in to the day?

Be Like My Cat...Or Not: Picking and Choosing

2008-04-20T21:12:00.002-04:00

A friend listed for me what was in her lexicon of memories of my cat based on stories I have told her over the past year that she has been collecting. It was not the most flattering list. Near the top: Sadie trying to squirm her way up into the housing of the left front tire of my car with me trying to accomplish the opposite, hands firmly attached to her torso, pulling and coaxing…pleading

On the Chalkboard April 13, 2008

2008-04-13T21:11:00.001-04:00

In conviction let me be kind;In anger let me…burn bright;In surrender let me be rekindled by pure love. –Judy Collinsfrom a preface page in her book, The Seven T’s: Finding Hope and Healing in the Wake of Tragedy, (c) 2007.

Why Black Umbrellas?

2008-04-13T21:09:00.001-04:00

This is a question I ponder from time to time. How has it come to be that on dark, grey, or otherwise overcast, rainy days, so many people are in the habit of pulling out their black umbrellas? Why not red, or purple, or yellow, turquoise, sunny orange, or that gorgeous spring green? I wonder, what might be the impact of adding more drab to all the drab that already exists on such grey days

You Make A Difference

2008-04-06T21:08:00.003-04:00

A colleague sent me the following link today. It is to a short movie well worth watching. I offer thanks to my colleague for thinking of me and sending this along, thanks to the creators of the film–and to each of you, I offer a blue ribbon. http://www.BlueRibbonMovie.com

Turning Points

2008-04-06T21:07:00.002-04:00

A initial title idea for this week’s post, “The Snow Is Melting!” came to me earlier in the week as a lot of snow transformed and receded from view (and my sump pump worked over time in response). This morning, though, after rereading the quote now on the chalkboard, the idea of “turning points” settled in, such that that is what the title (and theme) of this week’s post

On the Chalkboard April 5, 2008

2008-04-05T21:06:00.001-04:00

“Training in loving-kindness helps us remember it when we most need it. And sometimes, just to remember it is enough to create a turning point within us.” –Bill Scheffel, Loving Kindness Meditation, (c) 2003, p10.

El Camino

2008-03-30T21:03:00.001-04:00

For those of you who have not yet heard of the musician or the album, I would like to use today’s post to introduce you to Camino by Oliver Schroer, an album which I highly recommend. The cd comes out of a pilgrimage that Oliver, his wife, and some friends went on in 2004. As explained on his website, they walked 1000 km of an eleven hundred year old pilgrim trail through France and Spain

Today, on the second day of spring...

2008-03-21T20:54:00.001-04:00

Today, on the second day of spring, I visited the tree from last week’s post and took a photograph. According to the forecast, the wind chill made it feel like about -7 degrees Celsius today. With my face in the wind, I’d say it felt colder. With my face out of the wind, the sun felt warm. I thought of the transformations happening and the transformations to come. I also met a lovely

On the Chalkboard March 17, 2008

2008-03-17T20:53:00.001-04:00

While browsing the book of poetry, The Gift, the other evening, I came across the following: I weave light into words so thatWhen your mind holds them Your eyes will relinquish their sadness,Turn bright, a little brighter, giving to usThe way a candles doesTo the dark. Hafiz, from the poem, I Rain

From A Severed Trunk

2008-03-16T20:50:00.001-04:00

Today, I went for a walk at a nearby conservation area. I walked amid mid-March and mid-afternoon sun, tall trees, and atop a few feet of well packed and gently melting snow. For a little while, I sat on a bench overlooking a frozen but melting river. I observed a tall tree along the riverbank in front of me, how its trunk was

Trying Something New

2008-03-09T20:49:00.002-04:00

While lightly pondering what I might write about this week, more stories and reflections involving snow came to mind. Then I wondered, in the very short life of this blog, how many times exactly have I made references to snow? I don’t know the definitive count but it seems to me “a lot” would be an appropriate summary. Of course, there is good reason for this: snow has been front and center

On the Chalkboard March 1, 2008

2008-03-01T20:47:00.001-05:00

Beauty and Grief

2008-02-24T20:43:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, I went on some snow-shoeing walks. The landscape was beautiful, though at times also somewhat bleak. The weather in my heart was also variable and included some cloudy spots–what I will summarize as grief or grieving–as well as scattered sun–being touched by beauty and feeling fully enlivened by the fresh cool air touching my skin. Early on my first walk, I saw a white rabbit–a hare

On the Chalkboard February 10, 2008

2008-02-10T20:43:00.001-05:00

The beauty of a thing is its depth and meaning being revealed. To perceive that beauty, you need an eye for both appearances and for the invisible radiance of a thing. You also need the capacity to be affected. ~Thomas Moore , from Dark Nights of the Soul, (c) 2004, p. 223

Penny Whistle Love

2008-02-10T20:41:00.001-05:00

One late afternoon last weekend, I went for a short, meandering walk through the neighbourhood before the sun quietly tucked below the horizon tugging along with it the light of day. Nearing a few blocks before my home, I heard the sweet sound of a wind instrument floating though the air. The source was a man standing on top of a very tall pile of snow playing a cheerful tune on what

Snow Days

2008-02-09T20:40:00.001-05:00

It has snowed a lot in Kingston over the past week as in many other places. I love the snow. I love how it makes indoor spaces brighter on gray days (and we have had many of those with gray days far outnumbering sunny ones). I love how snow can seem to make everything quieter, especially during those days and times of days when there are already not so many people driving cars around. I

Now there is a fire where there once was a spark...

2008-02-03T20:38:00.001-05:00

Do you ever find yourself feeling full, alive with much, touched by many things, yet unsure how to capture any of it with words? I have been finding myself in this space off and on lately–full of much, moved and enlivened by much but unsure how to express all that it stirs, what to say. Here, I might offer my recommendation of a concert that was recorded last February (2006) in honour of

On the Chalkboard January 27, 2008

2008-01-27T20:37:00.002-05:00

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” –Ambrose Redmoon What is something in your life right now that feels important to aim for, strive for, fight for, face, or gently let in even though there may be fear?

Little Cup of Joy

2008-01-26T20:35:00.001-05:00

That is what is accompanying me today as I write: a hot cup of a tea called, Joy. It is one of the Tazo teas and is a current favourite of mine. I love how it’s blend of flavours tastes and how it smells. Today’s cup will also be my last for a while–at least, until I can find a place to purchase more. I have looked but I haven’t found. Apparently, it is a seasonal product, usually released for

On Overcoming Troubles

2008-01-19T20:34:00.002-05:00

Some people drop their kids off at school on their way to work; others drop a mouse off at the park. Today, we arrive nineteen days into the New Year. I wonder how these past 19 days have been for you? Thus far, I have had some lovely days and faced a few challenges, one of which will provide fabric for this post. If you had been in my neighbourhood on the evening of the 9th day into the

On the Chalkboard January 13, 2008

2008-01-13T20:32:00.001-05:00

“Let us concern ourselves first and foremost with what it is within us that is struggling to be born.” This comes from Julia Cameron in her excellent book, The Artist’s Way, page 173. Do you have a sense that there is something in you that is currently struggling to be born? How would you describe it? Do you have a sense of what it is or of what it might be?

A Great Question

2008-01-10T20:31:00.002-05:00

Tell me the most important thing that’s going on in your life right now. I heard this quasi-question posed on the radio last weekend and I thought to myself, “what a great question”. The source was Stuart MacLean in an unexpected phone conversation he had with a 15 year old man one day when Stuart dialed a wrong number while recording his radio show. You can hear the conversation that

On the Chalkboard January 3, 2008

2008-01-03T20:25:00.001-05:00

Make Small Resolutions (And Dream Big)

2008-01-03T20:22:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! For those of you celebrating New Year’s at this time, perhaps your thoughts have drifted to the topic of new year’s resolutions or things you would like to change or continue to work toward. Perhaps your reflections have looked forward and back like Janus, the mythical king of early Rome who had two faces–one on the front of his head that looked forward and one on the back

And so, at this time, I greet you...

2007-12-23T20:20:00.002-05:00

This week, on the chalkboard, written four-hundred, ninety-four years ago: And so, at this time, I greet you, not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away. ~Fra Giovanni, Christmas Eve, 1513

Even People Who Impress Us Need Care. (What About the Others?)

2007-12-22T20:19:00.002-05:00

The first portion of this title arrived in full form after visiting with my neighbour recently, a woman I described in last week’s post as someone who impresses me regularly. She impresses me, is impressive, and also is needing (and deserving) of care–just as we all are. From the visit and the title it evoked, I was reminded once again how everyone needs caring and how even those who

"We may not be big, but we're small."

2007-12-13T20:15:00.002-05:00

That’s this week’s chalkboard post: We may not be big, but we’re small. It’s by STUART MCLEAN, Canadian story-teller extraordinaire. I highly recommend you check out his work. Here is a link: www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/.

Previously on the Chalkboard: Doing What Is Possible, Creating Possibility

2007-12-11T20:08:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine and her housemate have a chalkboard outside on their front porch that is situated near the street. The chalkboard is mounted roughly at eye-level to any average-adult-height people walking by. The words written on the board change from week to week and usually include an excerpt from a poem or other writing. I love the idea of this chalkboard and how it brings a bit of

Slow and Steady

2007-12-07T20:05:00.001-05:00

Over the past few weeks, winter unofficially arrived in Kingston bringing with it much beauty and many moments to savour. I think here of: gorgeous flakes of snow falling, settling on lawns and open fields, glitteringcrisp, fresh air that feels amazing and contains a kind of vitalityfreezing rain that wrapped itself around and attached to, well, just about everything, which includes

Sing Your Song

2007-12-01T19:58:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to listen with full and complete attention to the music album, Sing Your Song, by Canadian musician, Kat Goldman. I must say, I think the album is wonderful. For me, it fell into the category of right thing at the right time and I felt deeply moved by it. On the first listen through, I wept, at times, in response. The music imbues beauty and the kind of

Remembering Maple

2007-11-29T19:56:00.002-05:00

I want to tell you a story about a relative of mine now deceased. The story is as I understand it thus far based on what I have been told. Her name what Bessie Comer. She lived in a home her father had built in Kingston, Ontario that was known as Maple House or The Maple Family Home. I am not sure exactly how this name came about except that there was a maple tree in the front yard and the

Little Morsels

2007-11-27T22:52:00.002-05:00

For over a year or so now, I’ve thought I might enjoy having a blog–or certainly the idea has intrigued me and I’ve felt that familiar inner tug or spark of life that indicated interest. I’ve wondered, though, what exactly would I write about, and struggled to hone in on some focused topic. Constellation is a steady theme in my life when it comes to my interests: that is they are varied and

About This Blog

2007-11-27T08:46:00.000-05:00

Sustenance, as defined at www.thefreedictionary.com, refers to: the act of sustainingthe condition of being sustainedthe supporting of life or health; maintenance [of these]something that sustains life or health, especially foodmeans of livelihood It is my belief that there are multiple things that support life and health. While I hadn’t thought about it quite this way before, it occurs to