Do You Believe in Magic?

 Have you ever arrived somewhere and had a sense that you had crossed an invisible threshold into a place with an energy that was so beyond explanation that when you tried to describe it later, all you could say was, "It felt magical"? 

I hadn't either until this past summer.  My favourite niece and her husband purchased several acres of land on which sits a hundred year old cedar shake clad home with a slate roof. There's a barn and a pond and acres of forest and nature.  None of that is particularly unusual although it is picturesque and beautiful.  But there's something more going on here that even after several visits I cannot quite identify. Each time I leave, I find myself longing to return to bask in the presence of something I cannot name.  It's a pull that not just I, but others feel too; a gentle calling that whispers and beckons.  

I doubt I will ever understand what is at play here but how lovely to know that there are places in our natural world that feel blissfully, restoratively supernatural.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

May you find a corner of bliss in your world today,

Sandra

Seeking Joy

We stood on the sidewalk chatting, it was evening and rain clouds were gathering.  Her life had not been easy in recent years.  "I used to be a joyful person."she confessed.  The sentence was brief but filled with a weight that seemed to land heavily on the sidewalk between us.  We were both quiet for a moment, this woman from my neighbourhood and I.  I spoke very quietly, "You've got to get your joy back." 
"I'm trying", she answered sincerely, "I'm trying".

I confided a painful situation from childhood, "Therapy helped finally" I said.  "How long?" she asked.  "Well it was rather like an onion" I explained, "I would have relief for a while, then realize there was another layer to deal with.  So, about twenty years in all."  She nodded, thoughtfully.

This left me thinking about happiness and joy. The roots of joy run deeper than happiness.  Happiness skims the surface of life ebbing and flowing with circumstances and mood. A small chirping bird that alights on the rooftop of my life, easily startled by a slight breeze, a fluttering leaf, a sudden movement and it may take flight.

Joy is the stray cat who sits in the garden waiting and watching, who finally trusts enough to rub against my ankle.  The soft and quiet one whose motor purrs at my arrival, who captures my heart and eventually moves in for good, curling up near me in the dark nights, whose meows greet me mornings to announce, "I'm here, you are here too."  This is joy.

My neighbour and I chatted a while longer but eventually the wind picked up, the sky darkened and we said goodbye.  Later, watching the rain drizzle down the windows, with a small cat perched on the back of the sofa beside me,  I whispered a prayer for her, that she would find the path to her joy - may we all.

Thank  you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a day of joy,

Sandra

These February Blahs

Its still early morning as I sit at my desk writing.  I've meditated, prayed, drank my share of tea and dropped off my grandchildren at school. Life is good, and yet... lately I've had that nagging, blah, mid-February sense that something is off.  Yes but what? And why can't I put a label on it and just fix it?

In this office where I pray and write I'm "wintering" my geraniums.  I'm a total novice at keeping plants over the winter but I read up a bit on the how-to's and figured I had nothing to lose and a few colourful plants to gain if I had any success.

So far I've managed to keep them alive.  This room is gloriously sunny in the afternoons (winter willing) and I water them weekly.

What I noticed this morning is that while they appear to be thriving, they are not without their own winter struggles.

See how she reaches toward the light?  All her energy seemingly poured into one stem that strains toward the warm and life-giving sun. 

Closer to her roots some of her stems and leaves are dried, withered and brown.  This is where I began to relate to Madame Geranium.  This is exactly how I'm feeling: surviving, reaching out and maintaining those good and healthy practices that keep me well; enough sleep, good food, good friends, my morning practices (yoga, prayer etc) but the hidden inner workings are a little dry and crumpled, dull, tired, blah. 

Its reassuring to remember that life is seasonal.  I look at nature and remember that this is a season of slowing down a little, allowing the rest and pockets of "hibernation" that winter calls for.
I cannot necessarily be in "full bloom" 12 months of the year.  Its ok to miss the warmth, the sun, the long days, its ok to feel a little blah and not panic, there's nothing wrong with me*.  Its just February.  I will continue to practice self-care and nurturing, I will continue to reach out to those whom I love, we will comfort and encourage one another.  Eventually the days will be longer, the huge banks of snow will melt into the sewers, the earth will smell pungent and with any luck Madame Geranium may even bloom again.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you be warmed right down to your roots today,

Sandra

* please know that in some instances winter blahs may be a more serious condition that requires the help of health care professionals.  If you suspect that you are suffering from a deeper form of anxiety and/or depression, reach out today to someone you trust to discuss your concerns.

Mayhap ....

"Mayhap", an old English word from the mid 16th century summing up in one word the phrase, "it may hap" or "may it hap" (happen).  What better time to drag out this word and dust it off than on this Victoria Day weekend? (For those not familiar this is a Canadian celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday, May 24, 1819.)

This long weekend also officially welcomes in gardening season, prior to mid-May there is often the threat of frost and so gardeners are usually advised to hold off until the May long weekend to plant.  So it was that yesterday I found myself weeding, edging and generally puttering around my gardens filled with the hope that this will be the year I manage to keep abreast of the weeds and work that will let my flower beds reach their full and beautiful potential.

Forget-Me-Knots - a virtual carpet at the back of  my garden at this time of year

lush foliage and contrasting colours

I envision gently working in the newness of summer mornings easily eliminating a few unwelcome weeds, surrounded by glorious colours, dew tipped foliage and birdsong.  Yes, this will be the year for my romantic garden vision to come to life.  Because, unlike every previous summers when I suddenly found myself knee high in weeds in the sweltering mid-day heat of August surrounded by spiders so large they threaten to carry off my garden spade and flying inspects attacking my neck and ears, this summer I will have my act together, mayhap!!

Bleeding Heart - a gift from my father's garden

What do I base this hope on? Pure whimsy, wishful thinking and day dreams coupled with home decor magazine images of manicured properties, but that is fine because gardens like life don't have to be ideal and perfect to be appreciated and enjoyed.  I can side step the giant spiders and swat at the pesky insects, I can machete my way through the neglected bits of garden until I reclaim them.  I can shuffle plants from sun to shade as I encourage them to thrive and finally I can sit on the stoop with a cup of tea and admire my garden and the garden of my life for all of its beauty and colour, for its raggedy not-so-perfectness and its wild unpredictability.  I can continue to hope and work towards my full and beautiful potential and like my English ancestors I can proclaim that all is well with my soil and well with my soul.  Mayhap!

Thank you for visiting today at My Turquoise Kettle Life.

May all you plant blossom,

Sandra

The Regret Game

Sometimes I play the "regret game" with myself to help gain clarity.  It goes like this, "If didn't have any more time here, what would I regret not having done?" This is more of a feeling exercise than a thinking one.  Thankfully there isn't too much on that list but the one thing that came up after I went hiking with my daughter in August, was the unsatisfied longing to spend more time in nature.

Sunset - Lake St. Francis

But in order to get away in nature the way I wanted to do it (alone) meant facing the fear of being away by myself and maybe not feeling safe. My wish list included a place with cell phone reception, not too remote, where I wouldn't have to socialize, but also forest, waterfront and quiet.   I  found the perfect camping spot that was relatively close, the price was reasonable and the location perfect. For three days I was able to listen to the wind in the trees, hear the waves on the shore while I slept and no one expected anything of me, I didn't have to show up anywhere at anytime, there was nothing I had to do.  I walked through the woods, I sat on rocks along the shore, I watched gulls, geese and herons, chipmunks and squirrels.  I enjoyed gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, made a campfire, read a book, napped and took photos.

Blue Heron

Morning Campfire  

My time there was precious and I was sad to leave.  I had suspected that I was craving time in nature, but I didn't realize how much so until I was able to immerse myself in it.  I plan to incorporate activities like this more regularly into my days and weeks.
Its good to take stock every now and then of what we might be wanting and needing in our lives.  Its easy to function on autopilot and do what we have always done, to surround ourselves with the same people and noise and busyness, to feel that there isn't enough time for what we really enjoy.  Its easy to  feel that our needs and wants are secondary to those of the people around us, but they're not secondary.  This life is our one chance to live without holding back out of fear; to live without regrets.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle life.

Wishing you a day full of possibilities,

Sandra

Weariness and Pressure - A Little Relief

Its  August, humidity levels are soaring, the sun is hot and the air feels thick.  The only  refreshing time of day are those wee hours of the morning between 5:00 and 6:00 am.  In the early light, before the noise, pressure and heat of the day, the air is cool and refreshing.  The world is quiet and reverent, anything louder than a whisper feels out of place.

5:30 am August Sunrise 

Sometimes our lives feel like the heat of high noon;  a scorching sun hangs over us,  humidity closes in on us, the path we walk is void of shade.  We thirst but refreshment does not come.  We grow weary.

We've all known weariness, grief, fear and even if we are not in the midst of that weather pattern today, we will probably experience it again at some time.  What helps me is to physically get out of the house (or office, or classroom) and look up.  That's all, just look up at the sky.  Watch the clouds, or the birds or a plane moving across the blue, watch the snow fall, feel the rain on your face or the breeze against your skin.  Look how vast the sky is.  The world is so much larger than our pressing concerns.  This realization alone begins to help me  put my fears, anxieties and heartache into perspective.  The problem doesn't disappear but with perspective I can see it more clearly for what it is.  A problem that I cannot seem to escape indoors, evaporates a little out of doors,  be it in a true natural setting, or even just the sidewalk in front of my home.  I can breathe a little more deeply, it isn't all about me or my issue.  I can look outside of myself, beyond my life.

Let the vastness of the sky help to put your concerns in perspective.

If you find yourself in the heat of a pressing concern I encourage you to take yourself outside, breathe deeply, look up and watch the clouds see if you can let the breeze carry away a little bit of the heaviness in your heart.

Thank you for stopping by today at My Turquoise Kettle Life,

Wishing you a refreshing day,

Sandra

Jam Jar Door Bouquet

The art of welcoming.  We go all out to welcome our family and friends into our homes, we want them to know that they are cherished and appreciated.  But how do we welcome ourselves home at the end of the day?
What  could be nicer than a fresh bouquet of summer flowers to greet you (and your guests) every time you walk through your front door?

Jam Jar Door Bouquet

Materials list:
small jam jar
plastic pill bottle that fits inside the jam jar
picture hanger/nail
picture hanging wire
flowers/water

• Wrap the wire around the top edge of the jam jar tight enough that it won't slip off.  
• Leave enough wire to create a loop that will hang from the nail.  
• Drop the pill bottle inside the jam jar and fill with water. (I use a pill bottle inside because the smaller diameter requires less flowers and creates a "tighter" arrangement.)  
• Arrange cut flowers and leaves inside the pill bottle. 
• Nail picture hanger into door at suitable height (wooden doors only).  
• Hang your summer bouquet and change flowers when they begin to wilt.

If you don't have a wooden door try hanging your bouquet from the  mailbox
or your civic number sign

Last week I used forget-me-knots in my arrangement and this week its daisies.  I love the idea that the bouquet will change throughout the summer according to what is blooming in my garden.  Why not practice the art of welcoming yourself home, is there anyone who deserves it more than you?

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Be good to you,

Sandra

White

My early morning walk today and all things white:

My Garden Gate

Dandelion on a bed of crab apple petals

My little white dog, Jessy

White moon in the morning sky

White apple blossoms

Bird droppings.  White and kind of artsy don't you think?

Amazing how what you focus on suddenly appears everywhere you look. Just for today try to keep your attention and focus on all things good, worthy and beautiful.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May your day be full of goodness,

Sandra

Of Sparrows and Synchronicity

I just love the synchronicity of life, the unseen web that weaves us all together.  It leaves me in awe when my very thoughts and inward questions are answered in surprising and amazing ways.

For the past two blustery and freezing days I've refilled the bird feeder that hangs on my front balcony several times.  I've watched with amusement, from the warmth of my kitchen, as dozens of sparrows flit back and forth from shrub to feeder over and over again.  Food for birds is scare in January in Canada.

I was moved by their community dining, the way they braved the plunging temperatures and fierce winds, huddling together, taking turns at the feeder and hopping on the snow covered balcony floor looking for seeds that had fallen.

Yesterday I tried taking some photos of the sparrows (an exercise in futility) and then of the patterns their feet had made in the snow (equally unsuccessful).  I had really wanted to write a post about them, but wasn't sure what.  All I knew was that I had spent a lot of time watching them, appreciating them.

Earlier today I received an e-mail from a real estate agent I'd connected with over a year ago from Prince Edward County, Ontario.  We chatted back and forth a bit, I updated her on why I was no longer looking to relocate at this time (divorced, doing work I love now...) and I mentioned my blog which would give her an idea of what had been going on.  She wrote back saying that the last blog entry reminded her of a hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow".  "That's weird", I thought, "sparrow?".  I wasn't familiar with the hymn so I listened to it on my phone as I watched the sparrows from the window; tears welled up as the words assured of how we are known, protected and provided for.  If you're not familiar with the reference, there is a line in the Bible that goes something like this, Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet God feeds them...Fear not therefore you are of more value than many sparrows.

We can all relate to the "winter seasons" of our lives, when the winds blow and we fear that what we need may be scarce.  How reassuring it is to be reminded that we are all connected and that what we require will be provided, sometimes in the most unusual and surprising ways!

Photo courtesy of Garden Safari

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you experience the joy of synchronicity,
Sandra

When Life Hurts

Ow.  Life sometimes hurts:pain, fear, uncertainly, loss.  Sometimes it is true that we need to soldier on, one foot in front of the other; through our numbness.  Evenutally though a time comes when we should tip toe away to our safe place; a place where we can cry our tears, nurse our wounds, pray our prayers, write our words of pain.  Whether we visit a trusted friend, a place in nature or just a tub brimming with warm water and fragrance, we need to give ourselves permission to go as often and for as long as we need.




Let me find a hide-a-way.

A shelter where I feel safe and secure

so that when life's flood waters rise and threaten to swamp me,
 

and when I feel lost and alone,

 

I may look around and see that I am in fact surrounded by family and friends and sheltered in their love.

 

 

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

 

May you be sheltered in love always,

 

Sandra

Observations

The other morning as the sun was peeking over the tree tops and casting long shadows on dewy lawns; I grabbed  my camera and headed out just after six a.m. for a quick walk.  I got some nice shots but this is the only one I really wanted to share with you.

Close up of a wild rose
S. King-Allikas

Sometimes I am in awe of the intricacies of a simple flower, the colours, textures, the way the light filters through the petals. 

How often I look without seeing, without taking the time to really notice.  How often I listen with divided attention and miss really hearing... birds..... the wind in the branches.... people speaking from their hearts.  It is only a moment but then the moment is gone. 

It is a challenge to be open, to see, to feel, to listen, to be present.  My mind wanders, it grumbles and finds fault, it makes judgments and creates worries.  As some wise person has said, "The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master." 

As this new week begins, may I be better able to still the chatter of my mind.  May I be able to listen to the quiet beneath the noisy surface and to see more deeply than what my eyes alone observe.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

Wishing you a peace filled day,

Sandra

Prince Edward County - Ontario

Prince Edward County Sunset
S. King-Allikas

Not to be confused with Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward County is located south of Belleville, Ontario.  "The County" as it is referred to by locals, is a home to dozens of wineries, farms, quaint towns and huge sand dune beaches (Sandbanks Provincial Park).  Although it is only a four hour drive from Montreal, it is a very well kept secret and few people from this province have ever heard of it.  Shhh...  

My husband and I spent a week there recently.  We rented a private waterfront cottage (actually a lovely home with all the ammenities one could want -Cottage Rental ) and spent a week touring the county's back roads, cycling, kayaking, soaking up the sunshine, scenery and peacefulness of this idealic location tucked away along the shores of Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte.

If you haven't already decided on a vacation destination for this summer perhaps these photos will inspire you. 



Once a hops farm, this is one of the barns on the property of Gilead 66, a local micro-distillery
S. King-Allikas 

Stroll along the sand dunes that tower over the waters of Lake Ontario
Sandbanks Provincial Park, S. King-Allikas

Enjoy gorgeous sunsets from a waterside deck
Prince Edward County - S. King-Allikas

Prince Edward County Sunset
S. King-Allikas

 

Why not consider a long weekend or a week away this summer.  Escaping our daily surroundings and routines allows us to come back refreshed and more appreciative of all our blessings. 

 

Thank you for stopping by at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

 

Wishing you a lovely day,

 

Sandra



White Tulips

As I sat savouring my morning tea, the sun rose above the neighbourhood trees and streamed in through our kitchen windows, nearly blinding, the way Spring light often is, creating beautiful shadows and light on a small vase of white tulips.

White Tulip
S. King-Allikas

White Tulip
S.King-Allikas

 

 

 

White Tulips
S. King-Allikas

 

 When I am still it is easy to see and appreciate beauty.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life.

 

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

 

Sandra

A Morning Frost

 

The beauty of a morning frost may not be appreciated on your car windshield, but it does make for some interesting effects on fallen leaves and shrubs.    

 

Maple leaf in frost
Sandra King-Allikas

Maple leaf in frost
Sandra King-Allikas



Maple leaf in frost
Sandra King-Allikas

I saw this seed pod with a few seeds still inside and covered in frost.  It reminded me of a miniature landscape with a two trees on rolling hills with storm clouds in the background.

Seed Pod Miniature Landscape
Sandra King-Allikas

Seed Pod Landscape
Sandra King-Allikas

Here is what the pod looked like before zooming in for a close-up.
Sandra King-Allikas

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you find the beauty in today,

Sandra