Just chillin’ out on the barbecue…
I know you may think
that I look kind of lazy
But not every day
I’m as fresh as a daisy
Precious few are so perfect
to wear halos above us
So we look past the faults
of who we love and who love us
Like where did this dog toy
come from, we inquire
When there are gorgeous kitty cats
here to admire?
But I won’t dwell on that,
just an oversight, maybe
I’ll forgive and forget
and not act like a baby
And we won’t envy Jennifer
with her life that’s just ducky
‘Cause we know of a time
when she wasn’t so lucky
So don’t be concerned
if you haven’t seen Cupid
Don’t be down on romance
because that would be stupid
Just realize your True Love
may not be that far
And besides,
you are wonderful
just as you are!
If you still find you’re sad
and alone on this day
Take a look at our cuteness
to chase troubles away
And please, pretty please,
know we love you like crazy
Happy Valentine kisses
from me and from Maisie. ❤
The Daily Post Prompt:
Cupid’s Arrow – Write an ode to someone or something you love. Bonus points for poetry!
A couple of weeks ago, we weathered yet another “lovely” ice storm. The freezing rain painted every surface with sleet, resulting in slippery walks, treacherous roads, and a thick coat of glittering rime on just about everything. Oh Joy!
If you’ve never heard about the phenomenon of “ice-fog”, this is what it looks like.
I hoped to capture some shots of sunshine on the glitter, but the forecast wasn’t cooperating. Not one to miss an opportunity, however, I headed outside to see what artistry I might find under the heavy grey overcast of gloom.
The scene is still, frozen in windless silence. I find a stalk encased in a shell of ice.
Abandoned clothespins encapsulated on our summer neighbour’s line.
Who knew they would prove useful for this shutterbug?
Fences are crusted with frost, and icicles trickle in abundance.
The fog begins to clear…
…and the clouds lift a little, allowing a few thin milky rays to shine through.
All at once, everything glows with a sparkly sheen…
…and the “batty catters” take on a cold blue tint at the ocean’s edge.
A wide band of slobby ice meanders in the water near the coastline.
So far, we’ve enjoyed countless sunny days and not too much of the white stuff.
But that may be about to change; a winter storm alert is issued for the weekend.
How are you braving the winter?
Are you longing to put this season behind you?
Or are you finding beauty in unexpected places?
Have you ever been impressed by the beauty of a door? The world is filled with doorways* and entrances, but here are several that left me either pleased by their quaintness, awed by their workmanship, or entranced by their immensity and grandeur. All before ever setting one foot inside.
For starters, a charming little one from the Barbour Heritage Village in my town:
This entrance in Bonavista with its crisp contrasting colours and symmetry:
In Montreal, the beauty and craftsmanship of this splendid doorway: 
…and how about the opulence of this entrance in Cannes? No, we didn’t stay there… 😉
We stayed here, our inviting little home away from home:
The view through our balcony doors was also appealing, beckoning us outside.
Hard to top the view of Lake Maggiore from our patio doors in Stresa:
Here’s a closer look of the northern Italian lake:
In Paris, the entrance to the Notre Dame Cathedral is imposing…
…and so elaborately adorned.
How about this golden carved door in Florence?
Gotta love the Renaissance.
I saved my personal favourite, also in Florence, for last.
*Ailsa’s Weekly Travel Theme: Doorways @ wheresmybackpack.com
I’ve followed Sue on Travel Tales of Life for some time now and love her beautiful blog. From her About Page:
“Living in Calgary, Alberta, married to my best friend Dave for over thirty years and Mom to adult children; my decades as a nurse have shown that in a moment life can change completely. Passionate about social justice, volunteerism and not letting the phrase “What would people think?” or my own fear get in the way of trying something new; the possibilities are endless.
Travel Tales of Life has been featured in-depth by More Time To Travel in speaking to cycling tourism for those over 50. My posts have been featured in The Caribbean Daily, What’s Up Tasmania and About Basque Country online magazines and the HIS Vancouver travel website.
Enjoy the tales and I hope you will be inspired to try something you have been thinking about doing.”
Check out her latest post below for some captivating photos from around the world:
Where Would You Like To Travel?
Comments are closed here in the hope you will visit Sue’s blog.
If you do, please tell her Jennifer sent you. 🙂
These days, few of us experience the old-fashioned pleasure of receiving a letter by standard mail. So imagine my joy to find, tucked inside a Christmas card from my aunt in the U.S., a handwritten note, along with a handful of photos sent to her from my father.
She writes:
“Dear Jennifer – A note to enclose with these snapshots sent to me many years ago. They are precious to me, but belong in your heart and your home. It was a great adventure that Ralph shared with me over the phone lines. – Lovingly, Irene.”
Discussing this with my aunt recently, she was unable to nail down the year they were taken, but she believes Dad made the trip to Labrador in the mid to late fifties. That would make him, at the youngest, twenty-one, and still single.
An added bonus: his familiar handwriting scrawled on the back of each snapshot. ♥
I have captioned each one with his words.
A closer look:
I love his outfit. Lots of layers, warm boots, yet he is wearing a jacket, shirt and tie, and his hair is perfect.
This begs more questions: why did he fly out of Gander and not St. John’s? Who was he with and who took the pictures? Why did he make this trip to Labrador? Unfortunately, we are fuzzy on all the details.
No surprise to me at all that Dad would love the little animals!
If only he and I could sit down and have a chat together about his adventure in “The Big Land.” In any case, I cannot put into words how good it feels to see my father’s young face again. ♥
Have you ever gotten mail that made your day?
Is there someone you love and miss with all your heart?
Further Reading: Labrador, the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador
It’s a blue winter day on Perry’s Point.
It isn’t a sad and lonely day, but one painted with the hues of a brilliant blue sky and a blanket of sunshine, the kind of day where the sun and snow merge to design graceful shadows in the hollows of the landscape.
Sun on the newly fallen and drifted snow creates a tapestry of shadowy forms,
from the palest baby blue to the deepest of indigo.
The slanting afternoon rays of sunlight hold little heat,
but warm the heart of this nature-lover nonetheless.
The surface of the snow waves and crests,
while most of the bay lies still under a layer of slush and ice.
Dunes of scalloped white surround me…
…and the only hint of sound is the faint exhale of a frigid breeze.
Certain feathered creatures have already been here.
At the end of the Point I reach the icy blue coastline…
…where the water is still full of movement in spite of the sub-zero air.
Cold, but fluid…
…clear and beautiful.
Other shadows dapple a weather-worn barn…
…and sun-bleached fences.
Hidden in shade, a bird house waits for spring, and a new tenant…
…while our neighbour’s fishing boat awaits a new summer.
Ben Perry’s shed is called a “store” around these parts.
Still more shadows hide in furrows of snow and last summer’s grasses. I wade in.
My toes are like ice cubes inside my boots at this point. I hop over the fence to home.
Time to put the kettle on…
…and thaw myself out with a cup of tea.
And my world changes from blue to green.
How is your January going? What is the colour of your winter?
Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadowed
Happy 2015, lovely readers, bloggers, and my feline friends and fans. ♥
Vivian’s the name, for you newbies who haven’t had the pleasure of my sparkling company as of yet. I’ve returned to brighten things up in the blogosphere with another guest-host spot on Jennifer’s Journal. So take a break from struggling with your (ugh) resolutions for a few moments, and join me, won’t you?
My sister Maisie and I agreed to help show what is new and different in our world, specifically a nifty new camera to pose for since St. Nick dropped by last month. Jennifer hasn’t had time to learn all its functions yet, so she took these photos with the autofocus feature, just for a little test run.
Maisie hogged the limelight most of the time…
…but she did pose admirably and didn’t shy away, as she is wont to do.
Okay already! Now, what about moi??
Scenery? Is that necessary? Granted, the new camera does take nice shots – even through the kitchen window…
And naturally, Jennifer wants to show off her granddaughter’s new artwork, another of her treasured Christmas gifts.
(Yes, it’s her grandgirl’s birthday today too, so Happy Birthday, young lady! xox)
But what about me, and my joie de “Viv”?
Oh, come on, woman!
In what universe are a couple of ol’ ducks more photogenic than two purry Perrys?
Finally! { sigh} That’s a bit of an improvement.
But I know we can do better…
There! That’s it. Pixel Perfection.
Toodles, my darlings. Until we meet again…meow!
~This has been Vivian’s entry for The Daily Post Photo Challenge: “New”~
What’s “new” in your little corner of the world? Maisie and Viv are all ears!
“Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose.
Anything else is a form of slavery.” ~ Wayne Dyer
How do you picture freedom?
One sunny afternoon last month, we accompanied friends aboard the Virtue, their Beneteau 400 sailing vessel.
We were only too happy to share in the enjoyment of the October sea and sky.
“Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
“I never get tired of the blue sky.” – Vincent Van Gogh
“Roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll… Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops with the shore.” – Lord Byron
“Long may your big jib draw.” – legendary Newfoundland saying meaning good wishes for the future
“I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.” – Alaine Gerbault
“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.”
– Arthur C. Clarke
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
– William Arthur Ward
“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” – Buddha
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau
“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and sky; and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” – John Masefield
Have you ever gone sailing on a beautiful day such as this?
Jennifer's Journal 