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La Gatta

Published on by J. Kelland Perry19 Comments

Check out pretty little Pippa. She was the resident cat at La Sorgente*, the bed and breakfast we called home during our visit to Baveno and Stresa in northern Italy.

Fun feline fact: the Italian name for “cat” depends on its gender. A female cat is “la gatta” while a male is “il gatto.”

La Gatta in Stresa

“In the little cat’s eye that sees my soul and stares into my heart,
there is nowhere to hide. I see my reflection.” – jenniferkellandperry.com

“Happy is the home with at least one cat.” – Italian proverb

*La Sorgente Bed and Breakfast is near the Alps and on the shore of the beautiful Lake Maggiore. I highly recommend the area as an Italian destination. 

Book Review – Encounters: Relationships in Conflict

Published on by J. Kelland Perry24 Comments

I’ve been reading various collections of short stories lately, the latest of which was written by Fred H. Rohn.
Encounters: Relationships in Conflict is a unique, insightful and entertaining read.

The preface alone is a treat, where Rohn explains how he came to create this collection from accumulated notes and short stories over the years, and how each of them exhibit relationships and the “conflict between people resulting from differing perceptions, often between men and women and between different generations.”

In his preface, he also sets forth the belief that creativity does not have to end as you age, and that many seniors like himself are productive in a variety of artistic and creative endeavors. After all, they’ve lived through some pretty tough experiences which, I surmise, affords them a better grasp and understanding of the human condition. Reading this book only further convinces me of that!

As I began each short story selection, I found myself immediately engaged by the author’s sublime writing style and smooth but compelling narrative and voice. Each piece has its own charm, but I do have my favourites. The Piano Recital, Reunion Deals, Jennifer (!), Doc Brunner (that one brought a tear) and Harry particularly resonated with me, while others, such as The Old Man, made me chuckle.

This book offers clever insight to young readers and familiar life experiences for older readers. I highly recommend this lovely collection.

Review has been published on Amazon.ca and Goodreads.

Readers: do you enjoy short story collections?
Do you have any recommendations for a short fiction fan?

The Real Thing?

Published on by J. Kelland Perry20 Comments
Coca Cola
Snapped inside a bar on our visit to Verbania, Italy

Did you know?
When Coca-Cola was first introduced in 1886, it contained cocaine as well as caffeine.

It was invented by Confederate Colonel John Pemberton, who was wounded in the U.S Civil War and became addicted to morphine. As a chemist, he began a quest to find a substitute for the drug. Coca-Cola was the result and was originally patented as a medicine.

It was promoted not only as delicious and refreshing, but as an “intellectual beverage,” a “brain tonic” and a cure-all for “sick headache, neuralgia, hysteria, and melancholy.”

– source: Wikipedia

Things go better with Coke?

It’s the Real Thing?

Hmm … not anymore!

Aqua and Azure

Published on by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments
Cape Bonavista
View from Cape Bonavista, NL – one of the gems from our travels around the province.

“I have seen the sea when it is stormy and wild;
when it is quiet and serene; when it is dark and moody.
And in all its moods, I see myself.”
― Martin Buxbaum

***

Hues of aqua, azure
dreamy summer haze 
wild rocky coastline 
exhilarating breeze  

I love that warmer days are approaching!
What are you looking forward to this summer?
Any travel/vacation plans on your horizon?

 

Pic and Word Challenge: Aqua and Azure
Photo first published here: Sea and Sky

Thanks, Mom!

Published on by J. Kelland Perry23 Comments

Mom cut my bangs

Dear Mom,

Thank you for the many, many things you’ve ever done for me. As it is for most mothers, they are far too numerous to list here.

An endless list, actually. Hey, you even took it upon yourself to trim my bangs from time to time. Why would we bother driving to the beauty parlor when you were there, eager and happy to do it? How hard could it be? And naturally, your other daughter’s bangs didn’t escape your butchery expertise either.

Now Mom, I understand we were a one-income household at the time and you liked saving money wherever possible, but don’t you think your scissors-happy ways may have been a tad aggressive, especially for a school photo, recorded for posterity?

This practice of yours was nearly as darling as your penchant for dressing up my sister and me as twins. Never mind that I was two and a half years older than her.

And yet, as I flip through this old family album, my heart swells.

I see your smile.

I hear your laughter.

I feel the love.

I see my happy childhood, personified, in all of these snaps of captured memories.

And you know what, Mom? It makes me realize I wouldn’t change a single thing.

– Love your daughter,
Jennifer

Wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all the loving moms out there!

Artist in the House

Published on by J. Kelland Perry26 Comments
Entering Newtown by Paul Perry
Entering Newtown (1983)

My husband Paul spent a lot of time working on portraits and landscapes in his younger years. His love of artistry was one of the things that first attracted me to him. That and the fact he owned a cat, of course.

These pen and ink drawings are just a few from around our house, although limited edition prints of “Entering Newtown” grace the walls of many.

Some of you may remember a Springsteen portrait mentioned in my novel Calmer Girls, which Samantha drew for her father. Paul’s drawing below is what inspired me to write it in.

Springsteen by Paul M. Perry
Springsteen in the 70’s 
Lou Reed by Paul M. Perry
Lou Reed 

Paul rarely gets time these days to draw, but I hope he picks it up again when he retires. Problem is, he says you’ll read about his retirement in his obituary!

Blogger Bouquet #52

Published on by J. Kelland Perry

wordpress blogger bouquetMiriam – aka Delphini510 – is a blogger I haven’t been following all that long, and yet she quickly became a favourite.

Her blog is My Window: Sharing my thoughts, poems, travel and art. It was chiefly her poetry that caught my attention.

From Miriam’s About page:

“It is a long way from a little island in North Sea to the British shores but I did it albeit in a circuitous route. Much will be revealed as I go along. I tried my hand at many things but the Arts have always been my love. From tender years books were never far from my side.”

Check out this beautiful, heartfelt poem by Miriam. It was difficult to choose just one!

Sorrow and Strength

Comments are closed here but you can leave a comment on the blogger’s page.

Have an inspired weekend, everyone.
❤

Beach Love

Published on by J. Kelland Perry39 Comments

Lumsden Beach, Newfoundland and Labrador

Lumsden Beach in April

“There’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.” – Sarah Kay, American poet

I love this sandy beach! Arguably the best of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador, Lumsden Beach is just a ten-minute drive away from us here on the Kittiwake Coast.
So whenever the desire arises to walk a sandy shore that’s over a mile long, this breathtaking spot is our place to go.

Yes, we recently enjoyed a fun week on Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana with its crowds of happy tourists, its tropical climate and endless sunshine, but this beach is an introvert’s dream. Even in the dead of summer, it’s never crowded. Heaven on earth!

Is there a favourite beach near where you live? Share in the comments below.

Photos taken on April 25th, 2018

Happy Maisie

Published on by J. Kelland Perry25 Comments
Our Maisie

One of the best things about a vacation?
Coming home to a face like this.

Both kitties were overjoyed at our return,
as if we were gone for a month!

“One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home.”
– Pam Brown, Australian poet

Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge: Happy

Evening Sky

Published on by J. Kelland Perry
Sunset in Newfoundland, Canada
Sunday Snap: Evening Sky

A sunset is the sun’s fiery kiss to the night.”
― Crystal Woods

“Sunset is a wonderful opportunity for us
to appreciate all the great things the sun gives us!”
― Mehmet Murat Ildan

***

I’m taking a short blogging break, friends.
Try not to do anything too earth-shattering
while I’m away – I’d hate to miss it!
Take care, and we’ll catch up in a couple of weeks.

Photo: Perry’s Point, March 2015.
First published here: Ephemeral

Comments are closed because my break has already started. 🙂