Turning 57 on a Happy Note

The ole grey "Mare" might not be all that she used to be but I'm pretty darn happy with how I am now ! 57 ! Rollin right along I am and isn't it wonderful . And I have great cause to be so content in being 57 when realizing I am now ten years older than my dad was when he passed away at 47 .This ponderance on such a day puts a very clear and true perspective on my life at this point . I have much to live for to honor those I love who are not here on earth in my midst .And I do treasure every day .Even when I'm having a little pity party and I'm the only one invitedthere still is a big part of my spirit singing loudly ,"It's a beautiful life "as the background music .Now 57 isn't considered by Hallmark to  be to be a milestone birthday but as my friend and I agreed as we chatted this morning ,any number birthday is a reason to celebrate bigtime when one considers the alternative . And not that I look upon not being here to be doom and gloom as I will go "Home" at the time of my calling with a song in my heart but life is so full of wonder ,surprise ,joy and love ! And all of that is what is able to pull us through the dark times along with God's strengthening and  ever presence . So 57 . What is 57 really supposed to feel like ? At one time I may have felt that 57 was sort of getting up there .Gee it's almost 60 . But honestly I still feel like a pretty lively chick or should I say hen ? There's nothing I can't do (well that jiving thing still irks me ) if I want to do it and I feel strong ,healthy ,and ready to take on whatever might come my way . I may be single (no maybe about it ,I am ) but I have come to adopt the attitude that" I would rather be single than sorry . " (That's the name of a great book I recently read ). This chick isn't settling for anything less than I truly deserve . And we all deserve to be treated with gentleness,dignity ,respect ,honesty ,and having our feelings,interests,hopes and dreams fully supported in a loving way.So that's the name of  my tune when it comes to a possible future relationship . I still add things to my bucket list no matter how wild or big .Dreaming is so much fun and I really do believe it is good for one's well-being just like being out in the warmth of the sun. Dream big or stay home is what I say .And anything is possible ! Now there are some dreams I have come to terms with and let go just so I didn't get too depressed such as being a talk host like Oprah ,or a singing star like Roseanne Cash or the Prime Minister .And I realize that perhaps I will not pilot a plane ,be a racedar driver ,or drive a semi down the highway ,things I really would like to do but if I don't I won't let it get me down when I come to take tally of my life .Will I ever meet the Dali Lama or Nelson Mandela and tell them how they have inspired me ? Will I have a nice chat with Obama and let him know that I know he has a really good heart but others who can't see the forest for the trees  would fight his ideas anyway no matter how good they were for the everyday man,woman and child ? Will I ever learn to play the autoharp without having to look down at the chords all the time ? Will I travel the world and be able to take Oreo with me ? Oh so many things to buzz round in my head !      And I won't lie ,I do stress a bit sometimes when I feel time slippin away so fast and there's just so much left I want to experience .But I am reminded  that there is a time and a season and as long as I want to live to my highest good I will be led and what is meant for me will continue to come into my life ,happy or sad,as all is  part of our purpose on earth . So I've decided to take 57 and run with it ! Suck it all up and roll around in it as happy as a pig is muck . And tonight I'm going to Bingo ! Yes ,Bingo ! I'm going to do something I really enjoy doing but don't do very often . Don't care a lick if I win or not ......I'm just going to dob !  Happy Birthday to me !   And thanks be to God for my beautiful and absolutely wonderful family and circle of friends and Oreo and CoCo and my little red Honda that is going on 11 and still purrs like a kitten ,and my wee nest by the sea .Oh content is me !

A Soggy Soul

As my friend and I met up for lunch on yet another rainy dismal day she announced right at the get go that she had a soogy soul .And of course with all the continued wet weather we'd been having for days and days on end my first thought was ,"No wonder ,I'm sure all souls are soggy. I certainly know mine is feeling pretty spongy and damp ". And so it was really something we laughed off and carried on with our lively conversation between ourselves as well as with others who were gathered in comfy shelter from the elements and enjoying good coffee and tasty food.  Anyone there as time passed would certainly never have guessed that anything remotely near to a soggy sould would have ever been mentioned. Laughter and friendly banter prevailed and jolly farewells were extended as we departed the diner and headed off each to the remainder of our own day .  But since then my friend's words soggy soul have kept popping back in my mind .Not because she was down and all bluesey ,because she wasn't .And either was I . But amidst the going forth in life ,even in times of warm and enjoyable  fellowship with family ,friends ,acquaintances and strangers , in the midst of a thrilling or interesting book ,play ,concert ,etc. , or right slap dab in the middle of a lovely relaxing kayak paddle down a scenic river we can be experiencing a soggy soul . In the dictionary soggy is defined as spongy,wet ,damp,moist ,soft ,and heavy.   And why wouldn't we have soggy souls ? Look and hear what is around us . Fellow human beings losing everything thet possess to floods ,fires ,tornados and earthquakes . Our loved ones suffering and battling terrible diseases, no food in cupboards ,no heat in houses ,no way to purchase needed medications due to lack of money , jobs being suddenly terminated .,family members being controlled  through addictions . Any of these things could cause a soul to drown let alone just end up soggy !
And when our souls are heavy and soggy it's very difficult to even pray . Nothing that comes out seems to decribe this sogginess. We're all a mixed bag of emotions. Disappointed in ourselves that it appears we might be   lacking in trust and hope and faith  and we're just giving ourselves over to the darkness and forfeiting the promise of light , throwing in the towel so to say. We just seem to be doing a whole lot of sighing (I'm the Queen of Sigh) ,groaning ,moaning ,complaining, blaming , muttering , and a big batch of other 'ing ' verbs . But even in the midst of all the inging there is hope :  God hears what is really in all that inging .It gets ciphered through the divine airwaves and God gets the gist. All we need to remember to do is share all the gobbley goop with Him .Just get down and dirty somewhere with God whether it be while doing the dishes with your heart racing in anger ,on a park bench with a lonliness feeling like a ton of rock , under the covers and not wanting to come out and face another day of pain or grief ,looking in the refrigerator totally in angst over how to put together another meal for the children ,in a hospital room frazzled in fatigue from worrying and caring for a very ill loved one ,slumped  in the car enveloped in fear as to how to tell a spouse the job is gone , sitting in front of a tv crying tears of sadness as people we don't even know srceam in the horrors of tragedy or we mutter in anger and confusion as to the wastefullness we see going on around us in seemingly foolish projects and moneyeating ventures that do absolutely nothing to help others or our  planet that is in such dire need.  Yes such things and oh so many more need us getting down and dirty and giving God our uttering mo matter how primal or lacking in speech . It's never been about flowery or big words .In fact Jesus made it very clear that high falooten language or using all the proper nouns and verbs gets one nowhere . But it is about spilling out our guts just the way a child comes to his mother or father with sadness ,pain,anger ,hurt, or confusion looking for comfort .And we are promised comfort and strength . Psalm 23 tells us God will restore our souls by the quiet waters and that He will lighten our heavy burdens if we come to Him seeking rest from the labors of our heart,body and spirit.  Soggy isn't bad or something to try to escape from or cover up . It's a heavenly poke to spill it out to the The Great Comforter ,The Great Counselor ,The Great Helper . Squeeze out the heaviness and sogginess of the soul with a daily dose of getting  real with God . And then will everything be perfect ,solved ,go away . No not likely but at least you will know someone else is in the pain ,grief, hurt, worry ,the helplessness with you and cares !

To the Sea : My Love and Me

      Today my love and I strolled by the sea,
                  hand in hand ,
                            heart to heart ,
                                       breath to breath.

       There was no need for words between us ,
                  as the strains of the surf ,
                              slapping on the shore ,
                                            sang sweetly our heartsong .

        The dampened cool sand beneath our feet,
                   centered our souls ,
                                  holding us firm ,
                                        our footprints leaving our story.

         Only the quick shrill squawks of the gull,
                    broke the silence of walking as one ,
                               the returning quiet ,
                                      putting us back in step with time.

           The same river flows through our blood ,
                     our breath opening our heart to life,
                              tasting the salt of water's balm ,
                                    bringing us manna of Mother Earth.

            My love walks with me though he has no face ,
                     his smile and darkened eyes so deep ,
                             trusting in this place of love ,
                                    knowing God has it all in His Hands .

            We are just to walk , my love and I to the sea,
                       never doubting , being carried on the waves ,
                                 giving over to moments in time,
                                      awaiting the gift that will come on the tide .

               Again and again my love and I ,
                             will once more stroll to the sea ,
                                 heart to heart ,hand in hand ,breath to breath,
                           and in God's Time ,each other's face we will see .

                      
                                         

                  

Charging My Batteries

As I read along in scripture the days proceeding Easter I sense the longing and need of the people for a change....a refreshing .....a promise of something better to come .And I feel the same as I wait for spring to come in all it's glory and stay ! I'm longing to shed the dregs of a too long winter ,to feel the warm earth beneath my bare toes ,and the kiss of the sun not sabatoged by the relentlessness of the north wind. Not dribs and drabs of something but the whole deal .  At this time in the Bible ,I also believe the citizens of that time and place were also seeking the whole deal.Not just a shot in the arm or a quick fix but a whole new life of something good to believe in .....something to light the dark path.....something to hold onto ......something solid . One day their hopes are high after witnessing miracles of restored sight and walking on legs that once would not stand . Then they would listen to Jesus speak and what He would impart was very confusing ,beyond their earthly comprehension. So many hows? And no clear answers. And I have to admit that had been part of the crowd at that time not knowing what I thankfully know now I would have struggled bigtime trying to make one plus one equal two. I would compare it to being on a rollercoaster ride with the highs and lows. And there are many times as I read Jesus's words that I mumble to myself and ask of God why Jesus couldn't have spoken more plainly .  You don't go into a crowd of mes and thems and orate as Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. And where Jesus said He came from and where He was going and what others would need to do if they wanted the same to me was pretty darn headscratching . Sure if you're really desparate and are willing to just grab onto the first one or thing that comes along or if something very Godly has entered your heart and makes it very clear of the direction you are to go as seemed to have happened to the twelve and other disciples of the time then following would be an thing to do but then again we know that even those closest to Jesus had their moments of headscratching. Sadly I feel that the people never had a chance .....they were set up to fail . They did not  have the advantage of hindsight . Just as I long for spring's embrace it does  me no good to hear someone booked in weather wax on regarding this layer of atmosphere,that wind current , this or that system .I know what I see and I know what I feel . One day I'm in a sweatshirt working outside even sweating somewhat in a sheltered area and the next day I'm digging like a dog burying a bone in the bag of gloves and hats. I just need to keep my batteries charging so everytime the sun shines I plug in just the way those of scripture kept plugging in looking for the plain truth ,something to grasp that made sense . Thanks be to God, I can read Jesus's words and understand because I have the whole story in front of me with my Bible  and I also have my winterwear still hanging close by fot the days that just don't make sense.

Where Would I go ?

   Another promise of a glorious day ! Hurry snow and melt away  !

My devotions this morning found me in the Book of John where Jesus is losing many of his followers as they just can't get their head around how this man who is the son of local folk that many know can be talking about coming from Heaven and being the only one that can provide them with the bread of life and all the talk about having to eat of the flesh and blood just is way too much to comprehend . But perhaps the real problem is they are using their heads instead of what their hearts are telling them. They had seen all the miracles He had performed and most of what He said stirred up deep feelings within but accepting the Heaven Jesus and the Earth Jesus was the straw that broke the camel's back and I'm sure broke Jesus's heart.
Later on Jesus asks His band of twelve disciples if they are planning to best the feet also and I just love Simon Peter's response :"Lord ,to whom shall we go ?"

Peter's answer led me to write :
   
    "To whom shall I go to find a love so complete ?
      A total understanding and all my needs will meet ?
      Who will walk beside me when the path becomes too hard ,
      And pick me up and carry me if I cannot go another step?
       Only to You Jesus ,My Savior and My God."

     "  Where would I go but to the stable dark?
          And climb to the hill to the cross heavy and stark ?
         Where would I go but to the empty tomb
         And see that Jesus rose and won over death's doom?
          Only to You Jesus ,My Savior and My God ."

      "  There is nowhere else for me to go
         When fears and hurt descend .
         Only to your  comforting arms
         And  a love that will never end ."
         

Lenten Reflection : A Sea of Praise

                               A Sea of Praise
Early morning time and the sun has kissed the sea
I look out in awe and wonder and can only think on Thee.
It didn't just willy-nilly happen without a Master plan
So perfect ,so fitting , a blueprint oh so grand !
Man You made in your image and in love bestowed a will
But knowing  without obeying You ,the Great Design would
Never be fullfilled.
As still today we get caught up in what the world can give
And then find out we're still not content , it happens every time.
The pleasure lasts just a minute,a day , a month or a year
Then we're off again on another quest to get something more
Knowing full well it isn't out there ,but maybe this time we'll win the war.
Gracious Lord ,You sent us Your Son Jesus to teach light from dark
To walk in love and gratitude ,and not spinning in want and worry
But trusting what we truly need will be given in time and Heavenly manner.
From the first day to the end there has and will be pain and trials to live,
But we have a God who came to earth to feel and suffer all that is
And He's always right beside us as He has felt the pain we feel ,
Our tears He cried , our pleas He made ,our sorrows He felt deep down
All human pain He went through ,but that we forget so often it seems .
We get drowned in all our own tragic Good Fridays and wrestle with the darkness
That the Easter Saturdays bring , Forgetting  the grace and victory of Easter Sunday
When the darkness once again turned to light .
Sin was dealt a final blow on a cross of simple wood .
Blood was shed ,a life was given , all in the name of love
Love and a future of promise for me ,little me .
Just love Me and know Me , Trust and Believe.
Do what's right ,know My heart , see Me in all people .
He's still on earth and He lives in what we do and say
God is as close as our breath and our heartbeat
He's in the sun that kissed the sea this morning
And He'll be in the stars and moon tonight
He'll be in the deer in the fields and the eagle that soars
The birds that fly and the buds that open.
Heaven and earth are full of His glory .Amen. Amem Amen !

A New Insight

It truly amazes me how one can read a certain passage of scripture dozens of times and then all of a sudden one day see something or get an insight you never got before .Such a thing happened this morning as I was reading in the Book of John where Jesus barrels into the temple in Jerusalem and goes on what I would consider a major purge or de-cluttering (my spring-flinging sprees wouldn't even come close ) of all the tables and selling that's going on at this House Of God Farmer's Market. Now I know there are church sales ,suppers ,flea markets and such that take place in our community churches but I'm sure I've never shopped in the sanctuary or dug through a box beside the pulpit .  This big sale was in the Holy Place .Animals and birds everywhere . Feathers and dung soiling sacred griund!  Dishonest moneychangers taking advantage of the poor .I'm pretty sure had I been there I would have been right beside Jesus upending tables and letting myself myself be heard . I might have landed myself in the clink but it would have been worth it . There's no doubt in my mind that Jesus's mother and His disciples were hoping Jesus would settle Himself down and get a grip as most likely wild actions of this sort would definitely not be appreciated no matter how Holy based they were . And as would be expected ,it was demanded of Jesus to inform some sort of miracle sign to prove He possessed the authority to go on such a rampage . But quite honestly I would have expected Him to be thrown in a dank old cell  for such shananigans .So Jesus gives them something to chew on when He tells them to destroy the temple and He would raise it back up in three days. Of course this goes right over their heads as they have no clue that He is talking of what will happen soon on the Cross   so they just go on thinking He is quite deranged .Now this next part is where I see something I had never paid attention to before . After the Temple -Tantrum ,Jesus continues performing miracles and He's racking up a fair number of followers . But in verse 24 and 25 of John 2 it says,But Jesus would not entrust himself to them ,for he knew all men .He did not need man's testimony about man .for he knew what was in man .   Wow ! Up to this point I had always just assumed in my own pea-brain that Jesus being a humble and plainJane would be uncomfortable with heaps of praise being showered upon Him and he certainly never appeared to let His Greatness go to his head .But Jesus had no need for the approval or any accolades from people as all of His trust and confidence came from God .Everything he did was for the glory of His Father .There's nothing man could do to puff up His ego or even to keep Him on a roll of  miracles because none of what he did or said was about Jesus ,it was all about God . What a revelation for me today ! My life is not about me .My life and all I say and do  has nothing to do with me  but is to be  for the glory of my Lord . Oh boy ,does this give ME something to chew on !

The Whole Picture

Can't sleep . Been awake since 6. Counting sheep isn't working. Might as well get up ,make a cup of tea and put down some thoughts . I've been thinking of the symbols of the manger ,the cross and the empty tomb and it isn't any surprise that I would consider them to be the unfolding  of  everything  I believe  Godwise and Jesuswise. I'm sure many would say these three symbols are what's it's all about ,only they would say it much more Biblically or religiously. But I can only say it my way (gee I sound a bit like Ole Blue Eyes ). Yes, these symbols sum it all up for me . They're the whole enchilada ,the full-meal deal ,the full house in forty-fives, the 29 hand in crib, t.he seven letter word with highest point tiles in scrabble, a zero in dominoes,a ten in competive sports , afive star hotel.....you get the picture .They go together ,the manger ,the cross and the empty tomb. The winning combination for me . There is no way I can lose if I believe how they tie together ,if I believe I can't just go with one ,it's all three or nothing !   Now should I or do I put more value on one or the other or are they equal ? That's just come to my mind for the first time ever and it's going to have to be something I ponder and investigate for myself . But "What I do know for sure "as Oprah says, is Jesus came to the musty strawstrewn  manger ,offered Himself to the excruciating violence  of the cross ,and came back from death to fullfill His purpose on Earth for me (and the world).It was all for me .....little ole me who has fallen more times than stood innocent and doing right,has tried so many many times to take control of my life and has blew things bigtime,  has returned time after time to ask forgiveness and make promises that God knows I will never be able to keep mostly because I'm human and if I don't live my life spiritually versus worldly seeking His guidance and becoming closer to Him in relationship  I'm definitely up the creek without a paddle and I've experienced firsthand what it's like to be in a kayak that just goes all willy-nilly and doesn't get me anywhere and all I end up with is a back that's killing me and arms so tired and stiff they can barely move when what I was really hoping for was a beautiful ride on a scenic river in the warmth of the sun and the eagles soaring overhead.
I see now where this particular lenten reflection is going to take more days and more journaling .
                                                      The Muse

Lenten Relection: Thankful for the Psalms

These days of Lent for me have been filled with the overwhelming thoughts of  Japan and it's people  . Our brothers and sisters across the world reeling in such deep despair and pain that to me there isn't a word to be found that would come close to describing it's intensity. Before the days of CNN and internet we heard of such horrific events and we could only imagine ....but now we see the faces and we hear the voices and the words .We see beyond the faces and the voices and the words. WE see the hopelessness ,the crushed hearts and spirits, and we FEEL.  I'm grateful I feel .I'm thankful I cry out to God for those I do not know and will nevr meet . For if I didn't it would mean I am a dead woman walking. It would mean a heart of stone . I thank God for compassion as it leads to action even something as small as a bow of the head , a loving thought or a five dollar donation. But an action doesn't free me from feeling helpless . No matter the things I might do to do my part the feeling of helplessness will remain. But there's a place I can go where others have gone gone before me and have recorded feelings and times of great trial and tribulation ,where one has felt forsaken, crushed ,afraid to the point of death,betrayed ,rejected . I go to the Psalms and here I find words to describe what I cannot describe , phrases in which I can feel the groaning and pleading ,the confusion ,bewilderment ,hopelessness,fear ,anger,lonliness.Lashing out,crying out,silence of not being able to form any words. And all these things are directed at God. And no,lightning does not come down to strike them . There's a safeness in getting real with the Lord.  And as one comes to the end of a Psalm there is always the acknowledgement that refuge and rescue can only come from God ,that we can take shelter under His wings, the One who will sustain us,the Only one who can deliver us from the enemy ,whatever the enemy may be. So I am thankful I can go to the Psalms and find the words of despair that I cannot find myself and pray that my fellow man ,woman and child in Japan and elsewhere will somehow even in a moment find refuge and the gentleness of wings .

Day Three Lent Reflections

I feel I am being urged to journal some of my Lenten thoughts as I go along each day to share with anyone who may also feel being led to read them .  As I bring to God those around me who are facing heavy burdens such as serious illnesses , grief ,feeling completely helpless to help our loved ones ,worrying how the bills are going to get paid, wondering how much longer the family vehicle is going to continue to go ,facing the prospects of no employment to provide for the family, or how one might live through another day of utter despair and lonliness I am reminded again and again ,over and over how our Lord  promised many times that we would never be left alone to face any trial or tribulation. We are not promised however  that all will be forever well,fair ,easy,painfree by loving and trusting God but we will never have to face anything alone.That is enough for me . That's what allows me to get back  up after I fall in times of hopelessness,helplessness,lonliness,guilt, worry,anger, unforgiveness,sadness.  I'm human and no matter how much or how long I have loved and trusted my Lord I still fall and will always fall because that is what being human is all about. But I know I will get up again. It might take an hour ,a day ,aweek ,a month or years but I will rise from the ashes with more strength than what I had when I fell.  But I must also accept God's help by giving Him my best shot at trying to be strong and brave . God cannot work in or with me if I don't open the window to my heart al least even a crack. Just that crack is all God needs to do a big work as I inch my way back to life . But I have learned how imperative it is that I trust,if nothing else that I trust and believe that I give an inch God will take the mile.  And that inch might just be opening the blinds every morning and saying Thank You God .Three mighty words. I just realized this morning that it has been a morning ritual for me to open the livingroom blinds that I only close at night because Oreo sees his reflection in the windows and barks at himself ,and each morning as the blinds open I scan the sky ,look out to the sea and take in what I see around me in nature ,God's creation and I offer up the simple words ,Thank You God. For  that minute or so I am a little lamb of the Loving and Caring Shepherd so grateful to be able to frolic and feast from the green pasture knowing I am safe under the Shepherd's watch and I know if I become lost ,He will come and find me .Yes He will leave the other sheep and lambs and come and find His little lamb that has strayed away and is bleating to come back to the fold. And He gently picks me up without yelling at me and tells me He is so happy to have found me ,that I am part of the flock just as important as all the rest and loved just the same amount and He lovingly reminds me how important it is  that I stay close and not repeat my choice to wander off .  Such a happy lamb I am !

Lenten Reflection

 For Lent I have made the choice to keep the tv and computer off till 12:00 so I have much time to choose to sit down ,go outside ,walk, sing, kneel, curl up, read or journal or all of the above as I spend more time acknowledging God's Presence in my day and practising gratitude for Him never giving up on me or forsaking me for even a second. It is me who goes AWOL and then wonders why I don't seem to feel  Him by my side.  May this time of Lent and focus on my love and relationship with My Heavenly Father provide me with a very much needed fresh and deep reminder that only God can truly give me what I need and knows better than I what I need.    I shudder to think or even for a minute wonder how I would have ever reached this age and stage in my life without God's Love  and Strength.
                                                                 The Muse

Thanks Be to God

This morning as I opened the blinds and was greeted so divinely by the exquisite scene outside the window my very first thoughts were ,"Thanks be to God" and I knew there was something that needed to be put down on paper .So as I sipped my tea this is what came from my heart .

         Thanks Be To God
Thanks be to God for rhe sun in the sky,
The snow on the trees
And the bed where I lie.

Thanks be to God for the food that I eat,
For the clothes that I wear
And the shoes on my feet.

Thanks be to God for the hot cup of tea,
For the fires that warms
And the dog on my knee.

Thanks be to God for the soft paw on my face,
For the one who calls me mama
For my not deserving but given free grace .

Thanks be to God for the wood in the box,
The books by my side
The door that hears knocks.

Thanks be to God for a hand that can write,
For a heart that still hopes
For the stars that shine in the night.

Thanks be to God for the beauty I see,
Every season .every day
And especially knowing that Jesus loves me . 



P.S.  As I write I should be at the curling club throwing rocks but Old Mother Nature had other plans and I'm snowed in on the NGT.  

Longing for the Sand and Sun

My neighbor has just left the NGT for a week in the surf and sun in Cuba. Soon she will be soaring high heading for the freedom of hot days and balmy nights and the swaying of the palms . Just love palm trees.  Soon she will be feeling the warm sand between her toes and frolicing in the gorgeous waves . Reclining by the pool with a good book ,sipping on any icy cold Cuban drrink you can imagine.  No meals to cook ,just drop in on one of many buffets or snack bars and eat to your hearts content.              Cuba........beautiful people.......... beautiful spirits......  giving their all to make Canadians feel at home and enjoy every minute of their vacation!     I have a longing......

The Muse

Let's Talk

Today is Let's Talk about mental illness day. So I will have my say here.   We still have far to go when it comes to taking mental illnesses seriously and there are still many out there ,some right in our own families or circles of friends who still carry the attitude that one who struggles mentally should be able to just get a grip or suck things up . Sure ,there are things that happen every day or often which we don't like and it is a matter of sucking something up and keep on going forward but then there are the life happenings that completely bowl us over, change our lives in an extreme and very painful way that no amount of grip getting or sucking up can ever touch the way we have been broken.   There are still those who associate having trouble moving ahead with weakness,almost a character flaw perhaps. I feel sorry for those people and know at any time something may happen which is going to blow their ignorance right out of the water. I just hope for their sakes the same friends or family members who have not received genuine emotional support from them will not turn themselves away when the rubber hits the road.  

I have been down the road of mental illness for  along time .I have heard firsthand comments regarding how others would never stoop to taking medication or going to a therapist .And I have also seen where those same people have been dealt a hard blow and because of their pride they have not sought help other than through a liquor bottle, partying, bad-mouthing others ,isolating themselves, blaming others ,or cursing God .So tell me : who is really the stronger person ?The one who admits they need help or the one who won't ?    

MENTAL ILLNESS is difficult because it can't always be seen unless a person is looking really bad .Mental illness doesn't require a cast ,a pacemaker, there's no limping around or going in a wheelchair ,using crutches etc.Probably anyone who met up with me would never have known how
much I was struggling  and still struggle and will struggle the rest of my life. I have no difficulty letting others know I have low times and now I recognize the signs and invite them to stay as I work through them and not try to pretend they're not there and push to bury them. But I understand totally and sadly how some are so hesitant to let the cat out of the Mental Illness Bag as what might the boss think ,what might the community think, what will my friends think is a justified question. Families must make sure their children know it's ok ,in fact they must be encouraged to talk about what's troubling them . They must see their parents coping with serious issues in a healthy way and not through ways of avoidance. Friends must be a safe place for friends to share . Employers must made it clear to employes that mental health is just as important an issue as physical  health. Communities must put in place resources for mental health for their citizens.     We must not feel we have to keep it a secret . The time has come to dig our heads out of the sand and open our eyes and hearts to those we suspect or know are struggling with putting one foot ahead of each other every day .     The Muse

A Blizzard in the Blink of an Eye

Well,what a difference a few seconds make. Out I went in the calm after the snow to clean off the car and move it closer to the trail road which only took a very few minutes and then all of a sudden and I really do mean all of a sudden a blizzard blew up and the dogs and I were engulfed in a squall. Amazing !  And since we were already covered in wet snow I decided to go for  a jaunt now and get it over with while I could still see the road in front of us. Don't these boys enjoy romping in the snow!  They had a blast and  it must have been an alright workout as they are now down for the count .Can't see a thing out over the Strait, just a wall of white. So perhaps what we received during the night wasn't the snowfall at all and this is it.  With this wind that has kicked up I hope there are not very many people out navigating the roads.    The Muse

And it Just Keeps on Coming!

What's with all this snow?  Are we making up for all the snow we didn't get the past 3 or 4 years?  Teachers and students I know you're lovin it because I remember how much I adored snow days even if there's still schoolwork to be done at least you're cozy at home doing it. And if you're a skier .................get to the hill.This will be a fabulous day on the slopes. I'll be happy just to get in a nice long jaunt with Oreo and Sunny. Yes,I still have Sunny and I love him to death but oh how he needs  a family with kids who would love to play with him in the house or out in the snow or wouldn't he just love being able to hang out in the yard or in the shed or the garage with someone who is puttering away outside . Not that he's any problem here at the cottage as he is so well-behaved and quiet but the cottage is pretty small and is more geared for a lapdog like Oreo. In order to be closer to me as I chill in my favourite chair Sunny is willing to climb into CoCo the cat's cardboard box  bednext to my chair and tie himself up in a knot jsut to be part of the group. He's so funny and such a character. I know there's someone or someones out there wanting or needing a great dog such as Sunny. Come and visit and see how special he is. It's a shame that I am the only one being loved by and receiving so much joy from this awesome pooch. The Muse

A Beautiful Day After

What a wonderful day after a storm !  The Strait is absolutely gorgeous as I peer out to the horizon. All white with a ribbon of deep blue .  Awesome!   With all the news of chaos in the streets of so many places round the world  it is indeed a blessing of peace to look out over this winter masterpiece of land  water and sky. How lucky we are in this part of the world. Take time to enjoy the view .     The Muse

Ice On The Strait!

Winter is really here .There's ice in the Strait. Not as far as the eye can see but a very big part . Better enjoy it today as it will likely be gone on Thursday with the rain coming.Yuk!  Ice I like on the water and in my rum  but not on the NGT , the driveway or the sidewalks. Rain and winter just don't really seem to go together but I guess in the Maritimes anything goes and sometimes it sucks.  Cheers all .   The Muse

Lazy Bunch on a Bone-Chilling day

Oh my nerves ! It's a cold one today. Not enough blankets to plug the draughts . CoCo is hunkered down in his cardboard box bed ,Sunny is stretched out on the sofa and Oreo is curled in a ball on the back of the couch. and mama is still in her jammies and a nice cozy sweater. Listening to CBC radio  and the gusting gales outside . Just a hanging out day ,doing whatever comes to mind as the day unravels.   It's days like this that I so appreciate a snuggly nest to envelope me .How I take safe and warm shelter for granted.  On days like this all I need is warmth and a pot of tea to feel I'm one of the luckiest women in the world. The Muse

Working at the Cafe

Had a great day today helping out at the Chatterbox while Noreen is off on a little adventure of her own. Always enjoy working with Greg and seeing all the Friday gang . Time passed quickly as we were quite busy . Other than leaving one of the pans of cookies in the oven  too long and giving them rather dark bottoms ( just the way I prefer them ) things went really well.   I have to admit that helping out at the cafe is one of my favourite things to do from time to time  as  I have always had thoughts of  having my own cafe over the years  .But now that I'm retired I'm not willing to give up so much of my life and time . But so glad Noreen and Greg have done so for as long as they have but certainly understand why they are now to move on to something else if all goes well .

I see the snow is changing as I peer from the window and expect it will rain soon . I'm just going to stay nestled in for the night by the fire.    The Muse

A Romp in the Snow

The boys and I just got in from a morning romp in the newly fallen snow. The drifts are quite deep and poor Oreo  had so many snowballs attached to his body that he got stuck and couldn't go one paw farther. I ended up carrying him home and Sunny happily led the way. In a pan of warm water Oreo went to get the balls off and now he's curled on my lap as I type. I just knew by the look of the sky that more something was coming and sure enough there's the snow coming down again.Big flakes this time. As much as I really wouldn't be too  sad if the snow never came at all there's no doubt that it creates an awesome masterpiece  . I know Barb is itching to get to the slopes  so hopefully we'll get plowed out soon but I'm very content to stay bt the fire and read .The romp must have been too much for Sunny as he's stretched out full on the couch and snoring bigtime.

Planning to attend   the benefit dance in Collingwood Saturday night .Wish of course there was no reason to have such an event as it means a family is hurting so deeply and that is so sad but at sad times such as this this is one way we who feel so helpless can help in some way.

Enjoy your snow day everyone.   The Muse

Let's try Again!

Sorry about the blank blog last sent .The computer went kafluey and published before I had a chance to type one word. So here I go again . I am now on FaceBook and don't have a clue what I'm doing. And I won't lie. It was middle age peer pressure. You surely could pass a lot of time looking at everything but I am pretty good at limiting my time .With dial-up uploading photos is painful so don't expect to see many from me of me. I'm excitedly waiting to see if someone I haven't seen for eons gets in touch with me . Patience Marilyn ! 

Sunny , Oreo and I have had the greatest winter walks on the shore and today was no exception. Fierce wind was blowing off the water and spray was stinging my face. Even the boys were complaining and were glad to get up the bank and back on the road.I insist on taking the trails of most resistence so the dogs have more drifts to climb over .Sunny even got stuck a few times and he looked so comical. They keep me laughing with their frolics and it's good knowing they will need a sleep when we return. Just like kids it's nice when they go down for a nap and mama has a few minutes to herself.


My little red Honda has not left the beach since last Thursday evening and I haven't found the time long or come down with one minute  of  cabin fever.But I will be getting on the move tomorrow as I need to take my humungus load of laundry up to Sunset Industries to have it all washed,dried and folded. What a great job the client staff do and I'm thrilled to have this service available to me especially in the winter.

Well I'm now heading to FaceBook for a bit so goodnight to all. Take care. The Muse

FaceBook Newbie !