In 2010, my husband and I left the city to escape to rural life in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and we're savoring every moment.
I update my blog with everything I love through prose and photography, as well as posts about writing. My first novel was released in March 2016 and its sequel was released in March 2017. My third novel, The Women of Wild Cove, was published in September 2025, this time of the speculative genre.
With the spotlight on ALS this past week, I am reminded of how often we take for granted the wonder of our bodies and all they do for us.
Can you imagine what it would be like to lose all of those abilities?
Misifusa’s Blog: The Presents of Presence shares the gift of living a positive life in spite of adversity. And who among us hasn’t had challenges at one time or another? Yvonne is a breast cancer survivor who celebrates all that is praiseworthy in the world, and she has been an inspiration to me and many others.
In her own words:
Don’t berate your body for being overweight, not good enough or any other negative thought you may have about it. Just breathe in and be with your essence of your body. Hug your body like you would a sweet child who needs comforting.”
I am highlighting the following post, because in spite of being at odds with our own physical afflictions, there is still so much to be grateful for.
Visit the link below, and don’t forget to tell her Jennifer sent you. 🙂
In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~ Albert Schweitzer
Nearly twenty years ago, I met my person. He came into my life at a time my “inner fire” had gone out, at a time I didn’t think I would ever be truly happy again. He gave me back my smile, made me believe in myself, and has been my best friend ever since.
Sixteen years ago today, I married him.
Thank you, Paul, for everything you do for me, everything you mean to me, and everything you are. I love you. Happy Anniversary to the man who rekindled my inner spirit and will always be the love of my life.
Do you have a special person in your life you are grateful for?
Happy Monday, everyone. Here are a few images that made me smile with affection last week:
When she can’t be in her master’s lap, Vivian will take possession of an article of clothing or anything that smells like him – even his sandal. Nice fit.
My grandchildren, captured in slumber about six years ago.
Nico before his haircut… …and after. He is like a different dog!
What endearing images have caught your attention recently?
Hey, who doesn’t love food? I know not everyone loves cooking, but Andrea of Cooking with a Wallflower sure does, and she does it with style. Her easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes are a delight. I have been following Andrea for some time now, loving her recipe ideas and the gorgeous food photography that goes with it. In her own words:
I know that it’s sometimes difficult to find time to cook when you’re balancing so many other things in your life, but my hope is that you will find that cooking can be fun and relatively simple. I want my readers to be able to have fun cooking as well as enjoy what they eat. After all, what’s the point of eating if you don’t like what you eat? So just because I have certain ingredients in my recipe does not mean that you can’t substitute in some of your favorite ingredients. Have fun and enjoy yourselves.”
Summer in my province of Newfoundland and Labrador, compared to most of North America, is short but ever so sweet. What makes it so cherished, to my mind?
The following photos were all taken in Lead Cove, the little community where I raised my children.
I love my home for its natural beauty,
its refreshing, rugged and
unspoiled charm,
for its clear and wide blue skies
without a whisper of smog.
I love the clean, sparkling water
and the glistening rocks adorning the coastline
that beg to be traced
and trod upon by eager footsteps.
I love summer in Newfoundland
for its breathtaking views
of seascapes and landscapes
when I embark on a hike.
Whether I traverse
its beaches of sand or
climb its rocky windswept hills,
I know my camera will find its aim.
I embrace it because
the bushes and shrubs,
green and lush,
are heavy with fragrance
and of wild roses in bloom…
…while in the gardens,
the planted perennials are brilliant with colour,
delighted at last
to spread their bright petals to the sun.
I love the hardy trees of Newfoundland
in summer…
…as they stretch
their ripe foliage to the sky.
Shot through with rays of sunlight,
a shimmering haze settles over the treetops
like a warm summer veil.
After a long winter and dismal spring
of cold, naked branches,
they, as I do,
breathe a sigh of gratitude
at the return of this warm and golden season.
I have been following Simon Kindt for quite a while now, consistently inspired by his talent for creating poems full of imagery and emotion. In his own words:
I suppose I’m another one of those poorly ironed white collars that got halfway up the career ladder and realised it had left something behind. For me, that ‘left behind’ was writing which I returned to at the end of 2012 after a long time focused on other things.
The difficult thing about highlighting his blog is trying to single out one poem as an example of his work. I love them all!
Last Friday, we took a trip to Lead Cove, the little outport community where my children grew up.
Time spent with fun-loving family…
…on a warm summer weekend, is high on my list of favourite things to do.
Around the bay, the pace slows down where time together is savoured and enjoyed.
(Our boy fell and skinned his knee after I took this one, but let’s not talk about that.)
Nico explores with Poppy, making the most of his freedom from the leash.
Our little girl spends a pensive moment beside the sea.
Nico joins her.
Perhaps they are watching the fishing boat near the horizon.
When we return to the summer-house, our chef checks on the roast he is smoking with maple chips.
Nico finds a shady spot.
Pulled pork sandwiches with all the fixin’s. Yum!
Everyone loves it. ❤
Nico is savouring every minute.
So nice to see the kids playing and spending quality time with their mom.
Later, we light a fire and serve up spider wieners.
Happy girl.
What fire would be complete without s’mores? My first one in decades. 🙂
Seeing the above World Heritage Sites, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain while in Rome, was unforgettable. Being able to get up close had an enormous impact on me. Have you ever been inspired by a work of art that is also a relic of the past?
I found the Kindness Blog only yesterday, and am now a follower. I love the types of stories they find and share with the world. Some are heartbreaking to begin with, yes. But when you read on, you find out how someone’s kindness made a difference.
It is uplifting to know there are such compassionate souls out there!
In their own words:
Sharing media featuring kindness in all its varied forms.
Since the Kindness Blog started, the response received from you lovely folk out there has been literally overwhelming. We’re truly honored and touched by your support and encouragement. In this regard, we’re also very conscious that any congratulation received, is due solely to the kind people whose stories we share.
These are the people who freely give help, that lend a listening ear to a sad soul’s tragic tale, that share what resources they have, that tolerate, that understand another person’s plight and actively work to uplift others from poverty, oppression and loss. This blog celebrates the angels of kindness that walk among us every day.
From the simplest acts of charity through to grand, life-changing gestures of kindness, we publish images, videos, real-life-stories, personal reflections, quotes and other various media which all have one special thing in common…Kindness.
I have selected two of their posts for you to check out. The first one tells of an act of kindness to an animal.
Vivian here again, returning to guest host on Jennifer’s Journal.
Today’s update is actually in answer to the Photo Challenge: “Contrasts” over at the Daily Post. Yes, we know it’s a tad late, but Jennifer was busy blogging about other stuff.
Hmmm…which makes me wonder: what could be more important than CATS?
Particularly, Moi?
Even my sister Maisie is somewhat miffed that we were put on hold for other posts.
Never mind I was centre stage in three of the last seven journal entries; everybody would rather hear from Adorable Me than yet another post about boring writing, appreciation, and now, bouquets… blah, blah, blah. Am I right?
You’re nodding, aren’t you?
Now, on to the Challenge. Maisie and I are a study in contrasts, that is a given. Yes, we are cats, yes, we are sisters, and yes, we both love Perry’s Point. But our personalities differ greatly. I don’t like bananas, Maisie loves them. I stand on my hind legs to please my daddy master, Maisie wouldn’t dream of it. I love licking Maisie and cuddling with her, she merely tolerates me. If we were human, you would probably surmise that I’m an extrovert and Maisie is an introvert, and you would be correct.
But this is a “Photo Challenge”. I haven’t figured out how to use a camera – yet – so Jennifer took the following shots (and the shot above) and tweaked them a bit using lots of contrast in her photo editor to achieve these results.
This one shows my dreamy, romantic side.
Jennifer says she’s going to paint this one someday, since I’m her MUSE, she tells me. (rolls eyes) Whatever!
I was on the Hunt here, too preoccupied to pose prettily. “Here, Mickey…here, Tweety…wait! I think I see a flutterby!”
Maisie playing with the camera strap. Get a load of those talons, will ya? Yeesh, someone overdue for a MANI-PEDI?
Ooh, even I have to admit this one was quite a capture. Sis looks like she sees something lipsmackingly delish. Did someone peel a BANANA?
Jennifer caught me unawares in this one….zzzzzz….but she let sleeping cats lie.
Jennifer says she thinks she’s onto something with the heavy contrast. She says the greater definition may help her draw or paint images from photos done this way. I’m iffy about it, but what do you think?
That’s it for me today. Vivian here signing off, but I leave you with my favourite quote:
“Of all God’s creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash, that one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.”
Jennifer's Journal 