A Shiny New Year - 2016!

Pop the cork on this New Year.

Drink deeply.

Let the bubbles tickle your nose.

Savour each moment.

Live!

May you be surrounded by warmth, love and light.

Happy 2016!

A Mysterious Life

Life is mysterious.

It's not straight and easy to navigate.

It's not easy to see all,

or know all.

It's full of curious characters.

Some are obvious,

while others are hidden,

 to be discovered along the way.

There are many bends in the road.

Part of life is clear and right in front of you

but who knows what lies ahead.

And that's what makes it interesting.

There are shocks and surprises

as we battle danger and adversity.

There is friendship and love

in the connections we make along the way.

We build on what we learn.

Life is fragile and precious

and that's what makes it valuable.

Cherish each moment.

Day After Day

Day after day

The lily unfurls new petals

And greets the sun

With petals of charm

And colours of joy

Content to exist

In her resilient way

For just one day

Reminding me

All ends have beginnings

All beginnings have ends

Let the lily

Be our teacher

Give each day

All you've got

Be open

Be joyous

Have faith

Shine

Know that today will end

As tomorrow begins

Be grateful

For each day

Day after day

Philosophy in a Peony

When life presents us with a big enough problem

it can feel overwhelming

Like it's taking over our whole world

We tackle it as best we can

If we're lucky we get some help

As the problem opens itself up

for our scrutiny

We find many possible

reasons

answers

solutions

questions

In viewing the problem as a whole

we may not know where to begin

or when it will ultimately end

But it's important to remember

Problems are as much a part of life

as everything else

And sometimes,

it's only in the midst of a problem

That we discover the true beauty of life

The Rings of Time

Trees are the ultimate story tellers.

Hidden between their rings of time are tales of: injury, drought, hardship, growth, peace, insect invasions and forest fires.

Dendrochronology, the study and interpretation of tree rings can tell us everything we need to know about a tree's history.

When I came across this fallen tree I couldn't help stopping to count its rings.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered it is about the same age as I am;

Middle age for me, but quite young for a tree.

Its bark,

A roadmap of life,

 Filled with light and dark, highs and lows,

Reflects a beauty that comes with time and age.

The tree's stump tells us the final part of this story.

You can see why it had to be cut down...

It remains in the ground,

a marker for a tree that held this spot for fifty-some years.

Sweet Mystery

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.

It is the source of all true art and science.

He to whom this emotion is a stranger,

Who can no longer pause to wonder

And stand rapt in

Awe,

Is as good as dead:

His eyes are closed."

Quote from: Albert Einstein