Windswept Wednesday

On a wistful Wednesday weekday,
whilst wandering through the woods
we came upon windswept weeds and willows
weeping, whispering in the wind.

Wandering wishy-washy
as the wind wildly whispers,
waves of white wavering
as the walloping,westerly winds blow.

And a whimsical, whiskered wabbit

waited, wobbling, and wisely watched

the wristwatch, writing, well-versed,

wishing the whole wide world well.

Whimsically, whispering words of wisdom

as the westerly winds fell.

Wine coloured glasses

Slices white bread.

The Yellow House

The Yellow House

Have you ever wondered 
who lived in this house?
Once upon a time,
a long time ago.

When the paint was fresh,
and the structure sound.

Before the walls
of faded yellow,
had all but fallen down.

Who were they?
What would they say
if they stopped by
to see it today.

About those who
deserted their home so fine.
Was it keeping up with the Jones'
that ruled their minds?

Oh fallen house
the stories you could tell,
Squeak the mice
who live there still,
amongst the rafts, and
traveling along the broken window sill.

Behind the banks of fallen snow,

Behind the trees that in front now grow.

Remains of the yellow house

From which this poem flows.

Frozen Beaches

Words of William Shakespeare 

Blow, blow,thou winter wind,
Thou are not so unkind
As man's ingraditude:
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho: unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning,most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remembered not,
Heigh-ho: sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly

Art Gallery of Ontario

A very small selection from the 90000 works on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

I think, my very favourite artist, perhaps.

Definitely one of Canada’s greatest. I feel a personal connection to the artist after taking watercolor classes in her childhood home.

A part of the Group of Seven works of art.

A Canadian artist in front of a wall of art from our Group of Seven.

Hi, how are you? Fine, how are you? Said a chamomile ginger tea to a vanilla earl grey latte. What a perfect ending to a wonderful day!

Winter Beauty

Like needles of lace
a cone of snowflakes
gathers,light as air.
A breath of wind, and the flakes
scatter 
into nowhere.

On top of a green needle
a tiny snowflake falls.
It clings tightly
to it's resinous hull.

More flakes gather
tatting like lace,
upon the pine trees
a fascicle resting place.

A gigantic white oak 
my favourite tree,
can hold more life
than either you or me.

Looming high in the sky,
it's limbs, grey and old,
carry a strength 
for the world to behold.

Somewhere, under the snow
a tiny cedar bench
continues to glow.

A New Day, A New Year

Apples, hanging like Christmas ornaments, will become snacks for the squirrels and birds before winter’s end.

It’s a new day, a new year. The winter storm that has been ravaging our area for the past several days seems to have settled. The winds have died down and snowflakes have stopped falling from the sky.

Our road reopened early this afternoon. All area roads had been closed for the past three days. Snowmobilers rescued travelers caught in the snow drifts created by this weather event, leaving their stranded vehicles to be retrieved at a later date.

Branches, heavy laden with a blanket of snow

It’s hard to imagine spring when the earth is covered with three feet of freshly fallen snow.

Snowflake, upon snowflake, upon snowflake

It’s amazing how each snowflake, each intricate, six-sided ice crystal is different from the one beside it. No two are alike. Each snowflake has it’s own distinct pattern. Floating down from the sky to turn the world into a beautifully white winter wonderland.

Happy New Year! May every day be a new day. The beginning of a new chapter, a new story. Stories where we count our blessings and work to make the world a better place.

Ukrainian Rooster Cafe

Hidden away on a quiet street, in the small town of Alliston, Ontario, lays a quaint little Cafe called the Ukrainian Rooster Cafe.

With it’s grand opening less than one month ago, this Cafe features Ukrainian and European cuisine, making it the perfect spot to lunch with a couple of good friends.

Salmon pie, salad vinaigrette, cake napoleon

Our hostess explained the menu, then served her food on dishes that held as true to her country as the accent in which she spoke.

The rooster, a part of the cafés name, as well as a large part of the decor, is a symbol of Ukrainian resilience. The Ukrainian rooster became a global symbol of Ukrainian resilience after surviving a bombing in Borodyanka. It represents hope, strength, and defiance against invasion.