Simplicity

Douglas Horton (1891- 1968) was an American Protestant clergyman and academic leader who was noted for his work in ecumenical relations.  He said "The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity". Although referring to church matters, this quote also applies to seemingly simple flowers. There are many flower blooms that look like simple designs to most people until one looks at that them closely.

Examples of "simple" flower designs include petunias and geraniums.

These petunia blooms on the right look simple until you closely examine them.










Similarly, these geranium blooms below look simple. But, when you look at the petals of these two flowers, they look like fingerprints.

Old Books

Vincent Starrett, in Books Alive, said “Old books, yes! They are the true comforters; and principally because they are old and familiar. Many excellent new tales and poems and dramas are added yearly to the catalogues, and some of these in time will stand beside the great companions under discussion; but only Time (and you and I and all other lovers of good books) will bring about their survival.”

 As Mason Cooley (1927 – July 25, 2002), an American author, said “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”

Start Where You Are

Arthur Ashe, was a famous black tennis player and author who said: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can". This great quotation has inspired countless numbers of people seeking personal contentment and happiness.

He died from AIDS contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. His life was reviewed in the New York Times in 1993: http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0710.html

His life was simply amazing.  Although he died 35 years ago, his legacy lives on.

Are You Successful?

Everyone seems to have something to say about success. Quotations about success abound in the literature and on the Web.  Albert Einstein said "if A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z ... (where) work is x ... y is play ... and z is keeping your mouth shut". Einstein often said he wished that he'd never talked about some of his theories.

Herbert Bayard Swope, a Pulitzer Prize laureate said "I can't give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time".  I'll end this post with another quote.  This one of Henry David Thoreau: "success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it".

We Are the World, We Are The Children

In 2009, this was one of the best songs sung by a group of singers, some now deceased (e.g., Michael Jackson).  It's a very moving song.  It makes me think of my children and their children.  We are so blessed to live where we do, here in Canada.

We're fortunate, too, to be able to get together  as a family.  For example, we attended the recent showing of the Big Boom Theory at Celebrations Dinner Theatre.



We also got together for my granddaughter, Jillian's, 5th birthday party in LaSalle, Manitoba.

I hope you enjoy being with your family as much as I enjoy being with mine.

Let Them Eat Cake

My grand-son Matt recently made a birthday cheesecake for himself and his family.  He got the recipe for it from a book called Geronimo Stilton.

The holes in the chocolate top are from the ten candles that were inserted.  Once the candles were blown out and removed, the cake was cut up and shared with all the cheesecake lovers.

Leave it all behind

This zen saying means a lot to me. It gives me peace to know that I can leave my past behind and just breathe. Over my many years, I did and said a lot of things in my relationships with others that I now regret. But, I've gradually learned to forgive myself and move on. I hope the people I affected will do the same. We all need peace in our souls.

“What day is it?”
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh.

Leave it all behind in Japanese zen characters is 後にする

Cutbacks

Due to recent cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. Thank you, Mr. Harper. Maybe things will change with the Liberals. Maybe not.

Margaret and I celebrated our 4th anniversary on the 3rd of December remotely, using Facetime. She is going on a Disney cruise with Sara, her niece. Right about now, they're boarding the ship in Miami for a week in the Caribbean. She's going to miss my grand-son Alex's 8th birthday tomorrow. I'll take pictures to show her when she comes home late in the evening on December 12th.

It should be an interesting week, with me home alone with Mollie and Gus, our dogs. They're pals.

Gus, our golden retriever puppy, is growing bigger so fast. He's full of energy and mischief.

A Game of Chess

There's a Chinese proverb that says "Life is like a game of chess, changing with every move".  I've tried playing chess numerous times over my many years.  I've never been good at it.  I've even played chess on my computer, choosing the lowest novice level.  The computer always won, no matter how many times I tried.  I suppose I never understood the logic of making moves.  Oh, well, the game at least makes you think and keeps your grey cells moving.  It also reminds me to live in the moment.

Go Someplace New

"Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before" (Dalai Lama).  This is just one of 21 rules for good living stated by the Dalai Lama's Rules for Living.  See http://www.highexistence.com/rules-for-living/

He really shows his wisdom in these "rules".  This is a very thought-provoking summary of good living.  I keep reading through them and find myself thinking about something new for each one.

Everyone Seems Sick of Winter

As I look at the top pf this page and see my Escape parked in the driveway, I long for spring. I see the new leaves on the trees and shrubs and pots full of plants in front of the garage door, soaking up the sun's heat.

I think of the flower leaves and buds breaking the soil's surface in our flower beds.

Happiness will be the arrival of spring ...

So tired of the cold weather ...

It's 6:00 a.m. CST, Thursday 19 February 2015. The temperature is -30 C; the windchill is -40 C. As if we didn't know, Environment Canada has issued another extreme cold warning.

My garage/man-cave is steady at about 17 C. That's with the garage heater going full blast. Thank goodness, I have thermal driwear and a fleece from Cabela's and a coffee hot plate to keep off the chill. The dogs had to be fed and given their morning treats before I could enter my retreat.

Unfortunately, they won't get their morning walk today. It's simply too frigging cold for them (and the walker). They'll have to be satisfied with a quick dash out in the backyard this morning again.

I feel sorry for anyone having to work outdoors today. Even the guys emptying our garbage and recycle bins. At least it's from the cabs of their special trucks. The garbage bins on our bay our now being emptied, complete with lots of beeping as they maneuver their truck around the sharp end of our bay. Life goes on, even in the extreme cold.

Life is what you make of it ...

... Harry Gordon Selfridge. Famous of course, for Selfridges and Co., of London. He also was famous for the Chicago department store, Marshall Wells. He coined the phrase, 'only so many days left before Christmas', encouraging people to shop early.

Much later, after losing his fortune because of a fondness for fashionable women and a related gambling addiction, he died penniless.

Yet, Selfridges is now back, thanks to the Westons of Canada. Selfridges continues on.

Many members of the wealthy Weston family are famous. The most recognizable family member to the average Canadian today is Galen Weston Jr. He frequently appears in commercials for Loblaw grocery stores and President's Choice label foods.

Our Dogs

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole" (Roger Caras).

If you want to get Mollie's attention, all you have to do is say "Treat!".

Holly is about the same. She loves what we call "golf balls", actually they are named "t/d oral health" balls.

They both love "sticks" (Denti-Sticks) as an after dinner treat. Chewing on the sticks helps to keep their teeth clean.

All you have to do, really, is give them affection and they return it in kind.