We have been experiencing extremely hot and dry temperatures over the past week and wild fires have broken out in several places around the province. Wild fires are also raging in northern Alberta and now into the province of Saskatchewan.
I stayed in as much as possible and only went out late in the afternoon.
The first few photos were taken earlier this week at sunrise followed by a few photos taken at the park where I have my garden allotment.
I was out for a long walk on one evening and stopped to rest at a bench outside of a coffee shop. This beautiful planter box was net to me. Isn't it a lovely sight on a busy street? That's what I love about my city. You'll find greenery and plants everywhere. Even on busy streets we often have small gardens planted by guerrilla gardeners.
I hope you are staying safe and cool wherever you are.
Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. It's so nice to have you here.
Let's talk about you this week. Let others know your feelings and convictions. Give some advice and some wisdom. And remember to visit the other contributors to get to know them and find out their opinions too!
1. What do you believe the purpose of life is?
When one is a Christian the purpose of life comes into clarity. We have a very brief time on earth. Our eternal home will come after our physical body dies, therefore the purpose of life is to make sure you know you are headed where you want to spend eternity and to live your life accordingly. I want to spend eternity with God and his Son, Jesus Christ and the multitudes of heavenly hosts and the saints who lived and died throughout all the ages, including mybown loved ones. I also believe we have a duty to share our faith with others so that they too can learn about the salvation plan.
2. How do you handle stress ? What do you recommend to others who are stressed out?
We all face stress on a daily basis whether we realize it or not. It affects us whether we are conscious of it or not. As a result, I have learned many ways of dealing with stress and I employ them as and when needed. For example, I pray and read my Bible, listen to uplifting music or read inspirational and motivational writings. I also go for a walk, speak to a friend, ask for prayer, do something with my hands, read a book or focus on breathing. When we are stressed we tend to hold onto our breath and our breathing can become very shallow or difficult. Stretching exercises are also good for someone who experiences tension in the muscles due to high stress levels or physical ailments like fibromyalgia or arthritis.
3. What enjoyable things do you wish you could do more often? How would it improve your life?
I enjoy so many things but one thing I wish I could do far more often is travel. I love to travel far and wide to distant places and it can require more stamina, energy and resources than I currently have. Many of my relatives live far from me and I would love to take some long road trips to visit them too. Travel would improve my life because it makes me happy and happiness is good for one's health. The bible says that "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones". Proverbs 17:22
4. Do you believe in God? Why or why not?
I do believe in God. When we hear the gospel preached we have a choice to accept or reject what we hear as truth or fiction. I choose to accept the Bible as the true and inspired word of God and moreover to accept that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died on the cross and shed his blood to save me and all of mankind from sin and eternal damnation. I accept and believe in God and his Word through faith.
Living a life of faith doesn't always mean things go smoothly and easily in life. But even when going through difficulties and trials there are many scriptures that give comfort and hope.
Two of the scriptures that have helped me countless times are the promises of God in Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" and Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, who can be against us".
In the middle of April or so we had the first wave of cherry blossoms. But it had been quite cold and rainy so not all the tree blossomed. This week we are experiencing a second wave of blossoms. Most of these are the double flowered cherry blossoms.
They aren't blooming as prolifically as normal but they are beautiful nonetheless. Daily temperatures have been very hot this week but once the sun goes down it is still a bit chilly. I've been wearing sandals all week and the lightest clothing I have. It's a huge change from a week ago.
Thank you for stopping by. I hope you aren't getting tired of my posts about blossoms. Soon they will be finished for the year once more.
I'm linking up with Skywatch Friday today. Enjoy your weekend.
Another week has flown by and we are already staring a new week in the face. Time for Toni's Tuesday 4.
Everyone loves a party. Imagine you are arranging a party or an affair for a friend. Perhaps a home wedding or a milestone birthday. Share with us your best ideas please. Money is not a concern.
1. a. What is the occasion?
The occasion is a wedding.
b. Will there be a theme to the party?
There will be a spring theme, assuming the wedding is in the spring season. Colours for the theme will be in pastel shades of rose, pink, lavender, creams and whites.
2. Will there be music in the background or perhaps a hired band or DJ? What music will play?
There will be beautiful classical music in the background selected for the ability to create a sense of elegance, grace and calm. Perhaps there will be some other music that is prepared for weddings and receptions.
The music of Pachelbel Canon in D will be played as the bride makes her way to the floral arch to meet her groom.
3. Describe how you will decorate the house for the party/wedding.
The wedding will be held on the patio and the entire home will be festooned with tall, elegant and extravagant floral bouquets. Some will be selected for fragrance but nothing too overpowering as some people have allergies. On the patio itself there will be bountiful flowers all around the perimeter. There will be a floral arbor under which the bride and groom will stand for the ceremony. The arbor or arch will be something like in the photo below minus the bouquets at the bottom on each side. Instead those lower arrangements will be arranged all around the patio and indoors.
4. What kind of foods will you serve and will it be finger foods or a sit down meal? Catered or home style? What kind of cake?
In keeping with the simple, yet elegant nature of the wedding we will have finger foods catered by a company known for healthy and elegant finger foods (click the link for some examples). There will be a variety of both hot and cold foods to ensure people have what they would like. There will be wedding punch to drink and toast. There will also be a beautiful yet simple cake with ivory frosting and more flowers all in white and off-white such as in the examples below. I like the first cake but the floral arrangement in the 2nd photo.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about the wedding plans. Please be sure to RSVP.
These photos were taken a week or so ago. The day was overcast but warm enough as you can see by the people sitting on the lawn. Since then we've had a mixed bag of weather and today was very hot. Tomorrow we are anticipating another hot day. The park was so crowded today in every area. People, including me, have been waiting for the warmer days.
I'm joining in with Skywatch Friday today. Enjoy your weekend.
It continues to rain and be quite cool here but every now and then we have a break in the sky and the weather. I haven't been out for a specific time of capturing cherry blossoms due to the inclement weather and being otherwise busy. But I've been fortunate to get some decent photos on some of my errand days. I hope you enjoy them.
I'm also adding a few photos from a rainy day.
I've also been enjoying some reading. Some of the recent books of note include the following:
A fictional account, based on facts, of a governess to the late Queen and her sister Margaret.
The Valley of the Birdtail is a non-fictional account of a small Indian reservation and an adjacent town in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. It's an extremely interesting and well done account of the situation of Indigenous people in Canada, some of the historical problems and injustices, race relations with the 'white' population and some of the current reconciliation issues and potential ways of relating to one another. The book was co-authored by an Indigenous law professor and a non-Indigenous lawyer who was a former student of the professor.
Cottage by the Sea is an easy read by Christian author, Debbie Macomber who is a number 1 New York Times best-selling author. In this story, the protagonist, Annie Marlowe, goes to spend time at a cottage rented by her family for summer holiday when she was a teen. She goes there to get away from family tragedy and to seek healing. She finds healing and more.
I'm currently reading the two books in the photo below, starting with The Summer I Met Jack. It's a great read so far. It's a fictional account of how a beautiful Polish refugee (Alicia Darr) met, dated, got engaged (and unengaged) to John F. Kennedy in the 1950s while he was a Senator. It's based on fact but obviously the author wasn't privy to all the intimate details of the relationship so it is fictionalized. Similar to the book above, In Royal Service to the Queen.
Last, but not least, I completed a wonderful book called, The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny, Canadian murder mystery writer extraordinaire. In this story, a stranger is murdered and found in the Three Pines bistro and antique shop. Olivier, owner of the bistro is immediately a suspect but the novel unfolds in a very intelligent way before the final conclusion is revealed. Chief Inspector Gamache begins the search for the murderer. His investigation ultimately leads him across the continent from the Province of Quebec to the Province of British Columbia. There in the former Queen Charlotte Islands (now known as Haida Gwaii) we finally learn what the brutal telling is and it's connection to the world renowned painter, Emily Carr. Believe it or not, this is the first book I've read by Louise Penny. I tried last year to read one of her books and I wasn't able to dig into it before it needed to be returned to the library. I purchased a thrifted copy of The Brutal Telling and will gift it away to someone locally as I now do with most of the novels I buy.
I'm joining in with Skywatch Friday today. Have a wonderful weekend.
How are you doing? It's great to be back at Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.
Music is something most people truly enjoy but some find it annoying at times. Some listen at home, some in cars, and music is played in restaurants, shops, you name it, music provides a background for many activities.
1.What kind of music appeals to you? What kind can you do without?
I love all kinds of music but my favourites are Christian music, mostly hymns and contemporary gospel, folk music/world music, some rock n roll, traditional country music and classical music. At the end of the day, I have very eclectic tastes in not only music, but also in decor, in books and foods.
I don't like heavy metal or a lot of what passes today as popular music. So much of it is vulgar, filled with cursing, degrading to women and downright nasty. But if one is a bit open minded there are good selections of music in almost any genre. I don’t actually listen to music a lot because there are so many things to fill my time. When I do listen, it is mostly worship music I like to listen to at home.
2.Do you consider music an important part of life? Why or why not?
Music is an important part of my life.Gospel music lifts me up and enriches me.
When I want to enliven my physical being, I listen to some rock n roll and dance in my chair as I work on the computer. When I want to relax and enjoy some moments, I listen to any of the other music I like but mostly folk music and world music, and less often to country music and rock n roll.
Music in general is important to society. It brings people together in a good way or a bad way. It depends on the music, the lyrics, the beats. Music has a very powerful effect on people, for good or for bad. I know music can be used therapeutically with the elderly or the suffering and that’s a good thing.
3. What's on the radio as you drive or what is on at home and do you find music in restaurants and shops soothing or off putting?
I don't tend to listen to the radio at home much. Now and then I’ll listen to a local news program or try to tune into a Christian radio station.But when I'm on a road trip I listen to whatever my fellow travellers listen want to hear.Usually they have a personal playlist. I don't mind music in restaurants and shops. In fact when I go to buy groceries, I will often dance in the aisles if no one is around, lol. I'm sure they get a laugh if anyone is watching the video cams.
4. Would you tell us some of your favorite songs and singers please?
I have so many gospel musicians I like: Don Moen, The Goodmans, The Isaacs, The Hoppers, Charity Gayle, Chris Tomlin, Tara Smith, Darlene Zschech, Tasha Cobbs, Sinach (Nigeria), Emmy Kosgei (Kenya-Nigeria), Soweto Gospel Choir (South Africa),and many others.
In the folk world my favs are: Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Buffy Ste. Marie, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Johnny Clegg (South Africa). Though it probably isn't technically correct, I classify World Music as Folk Music and I love a lot of World musicians. I especially like the music of many groups and individual artists. Examples include: Tinariwen, Ali Farka Toure, Sona Jobarteh, Fatoumata Diawara, Mdou Moctar, Bombino and many others. I often research the artists that come to town and though I don't usually go to their concerts I'll check out their music on You Tube videos.
Most of these World artists are men and women from many different countries in Africa and they are all absolutely incredible. Finding them and listening to them here and there, makes me feel a kinship with people all around the world and gives me joy to know that they are passionate about their music. I like some oldies but goodies in rock n roll. Too many to count really. I seldom listen but I do enjoy from time to time: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Eagles and many others I can’t remember off the top of my head because I so seldom listen. When I do want to listen to some rock n roll, I simply google “70s hits” and rediscover the music of the decade and other decades.
I almost forgot that I also like a lot of country music artists. I had to come back here and update the post when I realized that. But again I so seldom listen. I mostly get to hear the artists on award shows when they perform. I enjoy the country performers of old and newer artists who perform the old style: Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris, Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris to name a few. I saw Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Alan Jackson in concert over the years and they were all incredible. Oh my, I almost forgot too that I also love classical music. I find it very relaxing. I usually listen when I go to the symphony or opera but I haven't been for a long time. I enjoy Mozart best in terms of classical pieces and Giuseppe Verdi for the opera music. I will often listen to classical music on You Tube, especially in the Fall and around the Christmas season.
I close with two videos of my favourite gospel singers from the African continent. I hope you enjoy them.
