Beneath My Feet

  The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...  Or, is it?  Apparently, the original saying dates back to the Roman poet Ovid's:  The harvest is always richer in another man's field . The expression is an observation on perspective -- how people often believe others have things better than they do, even when it isn't actually true. We may think our situation is ordinary or more challenging than others'.  And, it certainly might be, but we shouldn't let comparison be the thief of our joy.  I prefer the modern twist, which is to say "The grass is always greener where you water it." Because, we choose where or how it is important to invest our energy. P.S. All the best for our farmer friends for a safe and abundant harvest this year! P.P.S. Thanks for the many positive comments and feedback. I so appreciate it. Even if you don't hear back from me, it means a lot.  Photo of me watering the grass.

  Photo: The smiling face of a city drain once cleared of debris. Saskatoon Sept. 2026 I set out in the pouring rain determined to clear a city storm drain that was flooding the street behind our place. Fortunately, water didn't overflow my boot tops and I was able to locate the drain with my rake. When the water started to rapidly swirl and move down the drain, it gave me an immense feeling of  satisfaction. Such a simple thing... a letting go. Perhaps like a sudden clearing away of debris that collects in our minds. We can carry thoughts, worries, old stories, expectations and little things without realizing how much space and time they consume. We might not be able to control all the twigs and leaves that enter our mind until the resistance -- a jumble of thoughts and emotions seem to have nowhere to go. But, we can choose what we continue to hold onto. Once the congestion gives way, everything begins to flow. The heaviness lifts, the water clears and there is room to breat...

I'm attempting to avoid the topic of weather, but my app seems to forget it has more than one option, even if check it 10x a day. It has been gray, soggy, rain-gauge overflowing, sometimes flooding, for the past month in most parts of Western Canada. It is tough to plan outdoor activities -- even many Canada Day festivities were cancelled. Undaunted, with umbrella in hand (for insurance), we venture out for walks. I'll be the first to admit that the air smells so fresh, while the grass and trees have never been greener. We happened across wild rose bushes that were laden with bright blossoms and a fragrance sweet. Yes, I literally "stopped to smell the roses".  There is something reassuring about roses, when, unbothered by weeks of dreary skies, they show up. Perhaps, every thorn has its rose ... a reminder that rough seasons don't last forever -- that sometimes life rewards patience with a carpet of rose petals instead of puddles.  Photos: Meewasin Park, July 1, ...

  When your favourite slippers look up at you with a face that says "gee, give me a break already", yep, it's time to let them go. I know, it is almost summer, but spring cleaning doesn't really have a timeline. I recently moved from my clay studio to create a smaller home studio, hence, decisions had to be made about the necessities and what I should purge or pass along.  The trick to actually getting rid of stuff is to stop treating every object like it has a future career ahead of it. Creative folks know this is especially difficult.  Every item suddenly has irreplaceable potential.  If you haven’t used it or worn it in years, chances are you won't need it. A good strategy is to put things in a donation box out of eye view, otherwise rescuing them becomes too easy. I remind my hubby that our home is not a retirement community for old cords and “just in case” containers and boxes. He knows that I get great pleasure from recycling all of the mystery lids and plas...

  Feeling confident about our late stay in the tropics this April, we expected to avoid final blasts of winter that were being thrown at 'all the folks back home'. Just when the weather app promised sunny shorts-weather and you’ve made eye contact with a patch of green grass, boom—everything is frosted like a cupcake again. Yep, nature dusts everything in a suspiciously cheerful layer of sparkle, but I'm not buying it!  The optimistic will try to remind you not to worry because "spring is just around the corner". Let me remind you that winter's 5x encore performances were -- unrequested. (No mas!) However, let's look on the bright side of all the benefits: You get to experience all four seasons in a single week! A budget-friendly climate sampler. Fashion rules totally collapse, because no one knows how to dress anymore. The earth needs the moisture. (And so do my feet, apparently.) Procrastination was a good thing because you didn't put away your boots...

  Primavera tree blossoms - Primavera is the beautiful Spanish word for spring!  The Primavera trees in Mexico magically herald spring with their timely yellow trumpet blossoms. After weeks of a muted landscape in the dry season, suddenly the trees burst into colour. Their blooms are bright notes that dance across the blue canvas of sky. They are a reminder that life has a way of returning -- a signpost of renewal and resilience  after a natural cycle of dormancy.  One can't help but pause, look upwards into the towering branches and admire their bloom. Then, look down to see how they gently shed their fleeting brilliance at your feet.  Primavera  Golden trumpets sing out. Hummingbirds' gossip hovers Among yellow bells swaying high. Spring spills their secrets as Petals softly kiss the ground. Moments bloom, then fade.  (My poetic attempt at a Haiku. Haha. I think the Japanese are flexible on the syllable and line count. Right?) Me standing next to a P...

Reflection of my feet. I love the story of the guy with the tattoo spelled "No Ragrets". I walk around thinking I don't have regrets, but after listening to a podcast with interviewee Daniel Pink... ya, I do. He talked about his book  Power of Regret - How Looking Backward, Moves us Forward.  His books are interesting and always backed with solid research. This time he collected 26,000 regrets from people from 130 countries. He discovered that people will talk about regrets, but most, like me, want to ignore them. This denial is likely due to believing that reflecting on regrets isn't good because "positivity is the only way" plus you've moved on. Others wallow in regret, which isn't good either. But he says we all have regrets -- the remorse or uneasy feeling about things we wish we had done differently.  In Pink's study, most regrets were about things not done, rather than what was done. It might be as simple as wishing you'd been kinder, m...

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...

  Long Time Sun The long time sun follows us. We follow the long sand  on a long walk. Blocking the source, shadows fall long -- and meet  at the feet of three long time friends. We giggle over Gumby legs that carry us home. ~Cecile "Embrace your shadows" ~ Paulo Coelho Enjoy one of my favourite meditative songs:   Long Time Sun   Close your eyes and have listen to calm yourself, especially in turbulent times.  Lyrics and song by Snatam Kaur May the long time sun shine upon you. All love surround you. And the pure light within, guide your way on. Photo: by me, that I call "Three Amigas" on Playa Destiladeras MX. 2025

Photo of me about to weigh in, before the New Year.  When is the most auspicious day to start a new habit or project? The first day of the week? The start of the school year? The New Year? For me, I'm likely to be looking at sometime in 'tomorrowland'. Now is usually an unpopular time. Things will surely be easier at some unspecified time in the future, no? The problem with 'tomorrow logic' is that the future eventually arrives... or does it? Each tomorrow that passes makes it harder, or in some cases, too late.  Thoughts of diving in can be overwhelming, but some people get a surge of energy and focus by being bold. Others prefer the buddy system or another form of accountability. There is no one right way for everyone, but it seems to me that a blast start is unsustainable over the long term. And stopping, only to have to start all over... well.  I've heard that taking small steps to start are the best. Make one call; start with 3 yoga poses; write a few sent...

No surprise that I saw this message beneath Jenn's feet! Thanks Jenn.  Books are a uniquely portable magic . ~Stephen King Imagine unlocking a secret superpower that sharpens our minds, expands vocabulary, and imagination. A good book can  knock our socks off  -- all from the comfort of a favourite chair  by taking us on a fantastical journey.  Whether flipping through fiction, diving into a biography, or exploring new ideas in a self-help guide, every page turned has the potential to transform us in unexpected ways. Engaging deeply will naturally boost our memory by remembering the plot, characters and important details that keep the story alive. We're likely not even aware of the new information and knowledge gained until it comes up later in a conversation, or, how reading enhances our creativity. Reading traditional books or listening to audio books (which I've come to love) allow us to slow down, relax from our fast-paced, screen-heavy lives and ignore the ...

Stairs in Mount Tolmie Park in Victoria, BC 2024 You've likely heard of Blue Zones --  5 specific areas in Greece, Japan, Costa Rica, Italy, and California.  They are places where people live happily with extreme longevity and few health conditions. They do many things 'right' without even trying, through their diet, exercise, and often gardening.  After living for 3 1/2 weeks on an extremely rugged island in the Aegean sea in Greece, without a vehicle,  I've come to believe one of the most effective* forms of exercise is to climb stairs (or hills). Our accommodations were perched high on a steep hill, requiring us to walk down into town and back up at least once a day. Huff-puffing our way up with hearts pounding, we thought we might keel over, lest we stop for breaks at least 3 times. We lost count of how many actual steps  -- 300+. Some days it felt a little easier, but it was always a challenging leg and cardio workout.  STAIR STATS reveal they are less...

 Guadalajara, Mexico 2024, Instituto Cultural Cabanas - Gallery Exhibition "Text" "The first draft of anything is shit."   ~ Ernest Hemingway Remember the beloved typewriter? Or, even putting pen to paper? Flash back to crumpled wads of paper piling up at 2 o'clock in the morning. The scribbled research note cards scrambled your brain, or perhaps it was the strong coffee, as you attempted to hammer out the essay that was due in seven hours.  We've all been there -- racking our brain over what to write and finding just the right words. Professional writers will admit that it is rarely easy for them... "you just have to pour it all out and get started." Worrying about being judged or trying to get it perfect the first try won't help. So let's show any uninvited voices in our heads the door. Aside from writing, I believe this goes for any type of endeavour or artistic process. Just start from the heart. “ The solution is never to sit down and ...

Photo: Rippling wave designs on a narrow street in Guadalajara, Mexico. Each street in this Tlaquepaque area has distinctly patterned paving stones. February, 2024. "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." ~Jon Kabat-Zinn heat waves                                                tidal waves         ocean waves|                       microwaves        seismic waves                         hand waves                light waves           brain waves                          emotional waves      heart waves             ...

  The maple leaf, with its distinct shape and vibrant colours, holds a special place in the hearts of nature enthusiasts and Canadians alike. I remember sewing one on my backpack for my first trip abroad. Along our way, we handed out mini-flag pins like candy. I believe that we Canadians are represented by one of the most striking and easily recognizable symbols. Apparently, after considering over 1000 submitted flag concepts, the government didn’t ‘leaf’ well enough alone, and selected the new replacement version. It seems like yesterday to me, but that was 1965… almost 60 years ago. Check out the  red and white motifs that will be adorning our athletes at the upcoming Olympics. Just like back bacon, maple syrup is celebrated as a truly Canadian product. Before European settlers arrived, for centuries, Indigenous peoples tapped the maple trees for this “sweet water”. They also revered the resilient tree for its medicinal properties. Like all trees, it holds a valuable place ...