Monday, May 20, 2013

Celebrating Dandelions


Fields of yellow, green and blue.   

Dandelions. Who doesn't love them?


Okay.  Okay.  The perfectionist groundskeepers and landscapers don't love them. They are always looking for ways to get rid of them or prevent them altogether.

There are people who celebrate the yellow weed on an annual basis.  The Dandelion Festival is this coming weekend.  It promises to be a "2-day celebration of art, music, food and fun for the whole family!

If transportation accommodations work out, I hope to get in a short road trip with family and friends. 

During last weekend's train trip to Toronto, I caught some beautiful shots of dandelion fields.  I thought about one of my favourite summertime books by Ray Bradbury, "Dandelion Wine". 




Early this morning, as I was making laundry trips up and down the back stairs I spotted a furry brown fella in our backyard.  He was nibbling on dandelions.
 
  
Follow the rabbit. 


  Follow the rabbit. 


Caught you!  

Permit me to segue to my novel, "The Year of the Rabbit".  

Alas, the only rabbit spotted in the story was within a native boy's dream.  Otherwise, it's just a novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness. The main characters are a priest, a little girl and a retired exotic dancer.  

Follow this link to nibble on some short excerpts.  I hope you will like them. 

Thanks for dropping by.

T



Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day 2013


Well, it's Mother's Day and I'm awake before the kids.  

A couple of young folk offered to prepare me a breakfast of ham, eggs and fruit.  

All the family was together last night for an early celebration since I will be travelling for work over the next few days.  One thoughtful young person got me a bouquet of tulips on Thursday evening.  I'm looking at them, admiring them now as I type this entry.  

 

Other than gifts of flowers, chocolate or scented candles, my children know better than to purchase me "things" for Mother's Day or other celebrations.  I prefer the offer of time and labour or new experiences.  

It's the gift of time spent together, sharing experiences that I appreciate most. 

Since work schedules and the weather didn't cooperate, we didn't get out to the Tulip Festival or a restaurant dinner yesterday.  We settled for pizza delivery and a viewing of Super 8 on NetflixThat movie will likely become another family favourite, first viewed on the big screen in 2011.  It's like ET meets The Goonies. 

Movies are less scary when viewed on a 20 inch screen and you get to control the noise level.  

I also like being able to pause the movie when people need to use the washroom or blow their runny noses due to allergies. 

I wanted to take this moment to express my love and appreciation for my beautiful children.   I have hope for them as they deal with past hurts, looking forward as they navigate individual, meandering paths in this confusing yet beautiful world.  Heck, at times it feels like I'm renegotiating my own

On this day I also think about my relationship with my own Mother who passed away almost 30 years ago.  Despite her self-imposed martyrdom, she was a good Mother.  She meant well, being dealt the hand she had with living in near-poverty and raising eleven children.  Being a good Catholic, one of her frequent mantras was, "God looks after the Mothers.".  She was a woman of deep faith.  

Sometimes, all we have to live on are faith - and hope.  

Here's to the mothers, real and imagined.   

Before I pack and while I wait for that breakfast, I think I'll have another cup of instant coffee and a serving of toast with jam.  This could take a while...
 
Thanks for dropping by.

T