When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind. - C.S. Lewis
Life is a gift so I want to make the most of it, capturing the sights along my way. At the same time, I am not numb to these historic moments and the odd fact that there's a willingness by some to drift into
fascism. This and the
Poets and Storytellers United prompt to "focus on a letter of the alphabet" resulted in the prose below.
Both lemmings and bushy tailed squirrels are rodents with a sense of self-preservation.
I've seen none of the former to my knowledge in person but plenty of the latter.
Replacements will be planted for the trees (above) cut down. Local creatures are now deprived of these nesting places but the logs will become human homes and all manner of other useful things that spring from the imagination.
I recently received the lovely postcard (above) depicting a crow by artist
Paul Windsor.
They say crows are highly intelligent birds and that their survival instincts are strong.
Crows and ducks have replaced seagulls at the beach this past while.
One stone by the shore reminded me of the pyramid at the
Louvre Museum.
I had the good fortune to explore the museum years ago. You can see my visit
HERE.
A mallard pair swam gracefully along the shore.
The water changed hues from moment to moment.
At times it captured the underlying ocean greenery.
At times it reflected the sky.
Like the mirroring sea, our thoughts, passions, fears and goals are manifested in everyday surroundings and across the globe the way leaves fill the trees.
Imagine and dream wisely.
Explore more at
Poets and Storytellers United,
SKYWATCH and
Saturday's Critters.
The creative interpretation you see shimmering from behind the glass represents the pride, love and loyalty Canadians feel for their country, particularly in turbulent times. I saw this framed version (above) in a shop a few years back. Canada's earlier flag was the Canadian Red Ensign, designed to include the Union Jack and Canada's coat of arms. In 1965, the unifying maples seen from coast to coast helped inspire a re-imagining so that our current flag is fashioned with a single leaf.
National Flag of Canada Day is on February 15th, following Valentine's Day on February 14th.
In my neck of the woods, the leaves have yet to return, branches are bare and a dusting of snow lingers. When the sun appears, it seems to cast thousands of sequins out onto the ocean waters. My photo and added animation do not adequately convey the mesmerizing dancing sparkles that truly are a magical sight.
Explore more at
SKYWATCH,
WEEKEND REFLECTIONS and
IMAGE-IN-ING.
Detached but inseparable from the destructive whims of human behavior within nature, the yearning and the careless exist as interchangeable travelers in space together.
At differing times, in varying degrees, many of us have played the roles of both Lily (poetic prose below) and the one who picked her up briefly along the way.
Too early for lilies, I nonetheless searched for some hope of spring among the trees.
The air was crisp. Birds flitted from branch to branch. People walked with their pets.
For one sun flashing moment all seemed right in my speck of the world.
Walkers and paddlers seemed headed in bright directions at a harmonious pace.
But not so fast, a little bird seemed to say. Life rife with tragedies dealt Canada a recent blow that will bring great economic destruction. The
US is threatening its best trading partner and most reliable friend with extreme tariffs, betraying Canadians with bogus arguments, amid other bonds tossed in the trash like leftover summer flowers.
Sometimes when spring seems near, snow appears and we're left out in the cold.
Mount St. Helens in Washington State in the US is an active volcano some 300 miles from White Rock in B.C., Canada. Peaceful at a distance, it can erupt as it did in 1980 killing many. Now in Los Angeles, an eruption of fires brought ruin to a community that largely rejected the man who speaks of Canada becoming the 51st US state. The vengeful hostile nature of Trump's vibes by chance came alive in apocalyptic ways in LA. Some, who likely love the escapism movies provide but despise "Hollywood", seem almost gleeful in response to the horror unfolding, some want to withhold aid even as others risk their lives to help. Amid new snapshots along worn paths, a few words inspired by heroic actions and reactions that harbour the pungent whiff of retribution.
At home we've seen stunning red skies some mornings and nights but no fires.
In the evenings, street lamps glow mysteriously as if they are moons.
Some mornings are soaked in moisture and mist.
I see familiar messages along my usual walks.
They are hopeful signs so maybe, maybe ... someday?
Luckily, there is joy to find in little things no matter what others say.
However, there is something very, very big afoot we pretend not to see. Those "crazy environmentalists" and others who dare to explore climate change solutions such as a rebated carbon tax are often attacked mercilessly on the internet full of intentional misinformation. Truth is also there. Perhaps you'll recognize a bit of it
HERE.
