After some glorious sunny days, it started to rain again as is the norm in our Winter on the West Coast of Canada. It rained quite heavily on Monday. These photos were snapped earlier this week during a break from the rain.
It was nice to see the bird's nest among the bare tree branches and the bird flying against a patch of blue sky.
I hope you have all enjoyed your Valentine's Day and are ready to greet the week with joy.
I wanted to share some beautiful photos. I call it eye candy because of the beautiful water and beach scenes.
When I see sailboats on the water it gives me a sense of calm. I think they look so beautiful with their sails unfurled and the boat calmly bobbing along.
When I stroll along the beach I am always happy. I love to see the beautiful scenery and look at all the smiling people.
It was a glorious sunny day. It was a warm 18 degrees Celsius though you'd think it was colder the way some people are dressed. The temperature can drop 10 degrees once the sun goes down.
Food for the Soul
A friend shared the video I've posted.
I enjoyed the music, photos and words so much and thought it might be enjoyable to you too!
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I'm still reading the books I shared with you in earlier posts this month. I'm working on another one for a book club meeting. I hope to join a group of people over an African dinner in town to discuss it.
A book for book club meeting.
I haven't started the book yet and just picked it up from the library yesterday. I don't have much time to read it as it took a awhile to get it. The library only has 2 copies and they were both out when I put it on hold.
I've got several books "on the go" at present and hope to finish a few of them in the next week or so.
Here is a summary of the book from Goodreads.
"Like very good dark
chocolate this is a delicious novel, with a bitter-sweet flavour. Vimbai
is a hairdresser, the best in Mrs Khumalo's salon, and she knows she is
the queen on whom they all depend. Her situation is reversed when the
good-looking, smooth-talking Dumisani joins them. However, his charm and
desire to please slowly erode Vimbai's rancour and when he needs
somewhere to live, Vimbai becomes his landlady. So, when Dumisani needs
someone to accompany him to his brother's wedding to help smooth over a
family upset, Vimbai obliges. Startled to find that this smart
hairdresser is the scion of one of the wealthiest families in Harare,
she is equally surprised by the warmth of their welcome; and it is their
subsequent generosity which appears to foster the relationship between
the two young people. The ambiguity of this deepening friendship - used
or embraced by Dumisani and Vimbai with different futures in mind -
collapses in unexpected brutality when secrets and jealousies are
exposed. Written with delightful humour and a penetrating eye, The
Hairdresser of Harare is a novel that you will find hard to put down."
We little knew that morning
God was to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
You did not go alone.
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
You left us beautiful memories,
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again
~~~~
Today my aunt was laid to rest. She was a very stoic woman who had a lot of strength. She was in great pain on a constant basis but would never complain or let on that she was not well. She lived her life her way and that is what is important. Her husband passed many years ago after being ill for a very long time. She leaves behind 2 sons and 2 daughters and several grandchildren and great-children.
Sadly, another family member passed today too.
My cousin Patrick and nephew to my auntie, Florence and to my mom.
He had heart trouble and several heart attacks over the years. He had another heart attack today after they laid my auntie to rest. I don't know for sure but I think it was the stress of the long journey (for him about 1000 km one way).
Patrick was a loving and sensitive person who became closer to my mom and would visit her in the care home after losing his own mother.
Sad, sad day for his wife and young son left behind. It was only a few short years ago that their other son passed unexpectedly.. They say a parent never gets over the demise of their child. Achild dying before a parent is out of the order of things.
~~~~
In a post a short while ago I was writing how important it is to give thanks for every good thing and to enjoy the beauty that is here all around us while we can.. If we are exceptionally busy we should pause and remember to give thanks. Embrace all that is good and lovely. Always remember to tell your loved ones that they are loved. We just never know how long we will have with them on this earth.
Prayers abound for the immediate loved ones who will find it difficult in the weeks and months to follow. Much love and May God watch over you and your loved ones and keep you safe ♥♥♥.
2 Corinthians (TLB)
6 Now
we look forward with confidence to our heavenly bodies, realizing that
every moment we spend in these earthly bodies is time spent away from
our eternal home in heaven with Jesus. 7 We know these things are true by believing, not by seeing. 8 And we are not afraid but are quite content to die, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So our aim is to please him always in everything we do, whether we are here in this body or away from this body and with him in heaven
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the
lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year.
The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue
until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year.
I did my celebrating today as I was invited to join a group of seniors to celebrate Chinese New Year 2016. I had a very nice time and wanted to share the photos.
First I was greeted at the door with a name tag and someone offered to check my coat. One inside, I was given a choice of two gifts. I chose a small calendar because I liked the red packaging.
Some of the Decorations
I have always loved red paper lanterns. Actually I like all paper lanterns but red stands out.
Our smiling servers
Food
Upper right and clockwise: fried rice, rice noodles, spareribs, sweet & sour spareribs, tofu and veggie
Dessert
Warm sesame seed balls with red bean paste...so delicious. We also had an orange and some candy.
Appreciative diners
Entertainment Program
The entertainment program was very full. I was quite tired and had to leave at the last performance when the seniors did their sword dance (you'll see them below in the double ring dance).
Violinist playing a modern, electric violin & our MC who teaches drama to many of the performers.
A beautiful couple who sang a romantic song.
A group of limber seniors doing a double ring dance. They also did a sword dance but I didn't get photos.
A young champion on the left and her younger sister.
This young woman is champion Guzheng musician in both Canada and China. She also has impressive showmanship.
A Spoken Word group. The woman in black is reciting in English after the Chinese version done by the group.
These two ladies did a very nice Indian dance.
I think this is called a handkerchief dance. The woman also performed the Indian dance above in purple costume.
This group of women performed several times in beautiful costumes (different costume for each dance).
Here is the same group of women in another costume.
There are special events for Chinese New Year going on all month in my city.
There are performances and exhibits at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Pavilion in Chinatown.
The Lion Dance is performed in different locations around Vancouver though I haven't seen one for a few years.
The Lion Dance will be the culmination of many of the activities and be held in Chinatown on Sunday.
There are so many activities to choose from.
I hope you enjoyed the photos.
Are you planning to celebrate Chinese New Year where you live?
