Beneath My Feet

Photo of my feet in the sawdust, next to the cut saw and a can of paint. July, 2025. We've done many rounds of home renovations over the years, so as we age, we think "we are good at this". Won't it be fun to walk down memory lane, or, imagine we're starting our own episode of Fixer Upper? E xcept instead of a TV crew, it's just you and your weary spouse. Home renovations on HGTV look so effortless: a couple knocks down a wall, picks out some throw pillows, and voila instant dream home, all while wearing shiny designer heels. In reality, the only reveal you're getting is your bank account balance, and it's scarier than anything on a demolition day. Home renovations start with "we'll keep it simple and stay on budget." Until, what we've come to call the "might-as-well syndrome" kicks in. Flash forward three months and you are seriously considering a GoFundMe to pay for quartz countertops. Every trip to the hardware store add...

"Just like the trees in autumn, it's time to shed what's weighing you down so your energy can return to balance. This is a moment of recovery before a new season of renewal begins... Growth often asks for surrender." ~ Kyle Grey I'm loving our new home next to the river and walking its many paths and trails. The trees burst with colour as they prepare for the long winter ahead. They don't resist the change or cling to their leaves -- they simply let go. Perhaps there are times we have to release an aspect of ourselves, a story, a dream,  or even a relationship we've outgrown,  that's no longer aligned.  When we cling, we try to control reality.  When we let go, we invite flow; we make space for possibility -- something new to take root and  flourish.  Trust the turning of the seasons.  Time for this classic earworm! Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds Recent photo by Julian Miller, Angus Ontario. Oct 2025

Your heart -- since before you were born, that miraculous machine has been beating steadily, with the sole purpose of keeping you alive. 💓 We knew this spring and summer were going to be hectic with renovations and the move to our new place. Amidst the productivity and packing, we didn't foresee the added stressors that were to come. Rich is one of those rare people who was born with a bicuspid heart valve rather than tricuspid. Bicuspids are known to more rapidly deteriorate and close off as one ages. Although he was feeling well, his cardiologists, who have monitored him for years, surprised us when they said it was time for a replacement. Like when? Like, next week ... is never a good time. Undergoing open-heart surgery is one of life's most daunting challenges -- a moment where everything slows down, and the strength you didn't know you had begins to rise. It's natural to feel anxiety, fear, and uncertainty about the fact that an ever-beating heart will be exposed ...

Remember this story? Chicken Little (or Henny Penny) is hit on the head by an acorn. She runs about shouting, "The sky is falling!" and convinces other animals of this, causing them to panic and follow her. They encounter the FOX, who also leads them astray. (Hmm?) The moral, especially apt for these times, is that one should not believe everything they hear or see -- avoid hasty conclusions. It is important to verify facts before spreading them.The story is a reminder to think critically and seek the truth, rather than blindly accepting claims or spreading misinformation. Wishing you a spring filled with renewed hope, energy and life.  Photo: Some spring chicks at what we call our "chicken corner" in Bucerias, Mexico. March 2025. I couldn't get my feet in this photo, as mama hen and her adorable chicks didn't want me too near.

  Special thank you to dear friend Tressa Marie Gagne for her photo -- taking a moment to sink her toes into a cool bed of soft green clover... ahhh!  Fun fact: Approximately 1 in 5000 is a 4 leaf clover, so you are lucky to find one!  Ina Gartner says "Be ready when the luck happens." It might seem difficult to cultivate luck or optimism in a rapidly changing world. This uncertainty makes it important to gift ourselves some tech-free periods each day to regain energy, creativity and a sense of clarity.  I need to remind myself that I'm already very lucky... I have a loving family and wonderful friends. I was born in Canada, where we live freely and do our best to welcome the stranger, help the sick and ease suffering around the world. It is a place where valuing diversity and empathy are still seen as strengths and not weaknesses.  Wishing you a day filled with space for thoughts about your own good fortune. 🍀

  "I always choose the wrong line," I fumed in my head.   Here we go... "Price Check!" Dang. W ith only a few items in my cart, I regretted having  forgone the self-checkout, even if it required translating the Spanish. Finally,10 minutes later another clerk came to examine their receipt. I couldn't believe what I saw next.  The folks in front of me removed items from their overflowing cart of already-bagged groceries and put them back on the conveyor belt.  They started ringing in every item, again.   "Holy guacamole, they've got to be kidding!" I thought. " Should I stay or should I go? Why didn't they let me go through first?" My frustration level wasn't helping as my  mind encouraged me to believe I was in an urgent hurry, when I wasn't. Switch lanes, or  stay in my lane?  No decision was also a decision. I urged myself to take a few deep breaths, and muster some patience and presence... I could: listen to the sounds of th...