Intentional living
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Whole-hearted Caramel
I love to go for walks. The scent of squirrel in the air, grass to tickle my paws, sticks to pick up. So many things get me excited to bounce out the front door. There’s also a practical necessity for a walk but we don’t need to go there. TMI. Do you know one big reason I love walks? If you have ever met me on the street, you do. I LOVE people. My tail wags vigorously when I see a nice two legged person. My tail does not lie. This is not pretend joy. It comes from my heart. Tail wagging lets them know I am happy. Friendly. It’s…
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Wildlife encounters at the cottage
Four hummingbirds were fighting over the last dredges of sugar syrup this morning. When the battle was over I refilled the red plastic feeder. Third time this week. A steady stream of tiny shimmering birds have been zipping over for a snack. It’s so popular they knock each other out of the way. Even without any sweet enticement I have been fortunate this summer to spot plenty of wildlife at our Little Straggle cottage. On a walk in the woods, I had a staring contest with a lone fox. He spotted me and stood utterly still in the forest. I admired his lustrous red coat and full bushy tail before…
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The sage owl
I spotted this owl on my walk the other day. Someone had carefully shaped pieces of bark to form a body, wings and tufts of feathers above the head. Two acorn shells mimicked the distinctive round eyes of an owl. The woodsy owl blended in with its environment. It’s easy to miss. As I looked into its acorn eyes for the first time I imagined the owl thinking “Well, it’s about time you saw me.” You see, I have walked this trail many times and never noticed it before. I only spotted the owl because I had stopped to sit on a stump. Refreshed, I stood up and turned around.…
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Happiness in a good book
It’s International Day of Happiness today, March 20. This UN designated day aims to raise awareness of the importance of happiness within people’s lives. This year’s theme is be mindful, be grateful, be kind (follow the link for 3 simple steps you can use anytime). One activity that makes me happy is writing (thank you for reading!). Another is reading a great book. Lately I have been enjoying murder mysteries. If you are familiar with the book series by Donna Leon or Louise Penny then you will be well acquainted with Commissario Guido Brunetti and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. What makes these mystery novels so appealing are these noble characters.…
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Holiday traditions
My living room is decked out for the holidays all Hyggelig (remember the Danish concept of cosy contentedness?). Many of the same ornaments adorn our home year after year, including my retro 1970s reindeers, one of my grandmother’s hand-stitched stockings and my daughter’s crafts from when she was little. I enjoy these familiar traditions. Though it’s also fun to learn new ones. Which brings me to a popular Spanish tradition. La Lotería de Navidad or the Christmas Lottery. I happened upon this tradition in Madrid this October. I noticed a long line of people winding around a block in the Puerta del Sol area. They were waiting patiently, not for…
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A look at year 3
It is coming up on three years since my first post. I am inclined to review or reflect on another passing year. Unlike any performance review I had to conduct at work, my “reviews” don’t take any set form. The first year marked highlights and the second marked 100 posts. Looking back on this third year, a clear theme emerges. I have been fortunate to travel and it’s been all about Spain. As I do like creating lists (like delightful things about winter), the list in my notebook that has become longer and longer this year is “Things I love about Spain”. There could be many sub-categories, be it architecture,…
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Look behind
I went for a walk after dinner last week. The air was wonderfully warm. Tranquil. The crickets chirped. So lovely was the evening I was actually telling myself to be present and savour it. I wanted to imprint the end of summer feeling in my memory bank so that I could recall it on a cold wintery day. (As you can see, it does not come naturally for me to be present so I need to remind myself!) In front of me fairy lights twinkled in the distance. I stopped and admired the pretty view. I was about to take another step forward. Instead, I paused. I turned and looked…
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Uncovering messages
Not being ok is also ok No estar bien tambien está bien I had a hunch these signs conveyed positive messages when I spotted them in Spain. I did not understand every word. I got the gist. I took photos so I could translate them later. Inspirational, encouraging and reassuring quotes can be found most everywhere I suppose: coffee shops, waiting rooms, painted rocks, wall art. The extra step of studying the Spanish words to uncover their meaning makes these all the more special. Whether you read them in Spanish or English, the messages are clear. And ones I want to remember. Life is not waiting for the storm to pass,…
