My knee that I injured over the Christmas holidays finally is healed enough that I can get back into regular yoga sessions. Over the years I have found that yoga not only keeps me in good physical shape, but greatly helps with my anxiety issues, and I highly recommend it to everyone looking for a gentle workout.

I think it is kinda funny that in 1989 the Vatican declared that Eastern meditation practices such as Zen and yoga can "degenerate into a cult of the body" particularly when they are obviously a very troubled religion themselves, and in no place to judge others beliefs or practices. I actually attribute my own overall good health, and sanity over the years to yoga, and meditation, and I'm fairly certain the same would not be true (at least for me) had I been a practicing Catholic.

Image Credit: Wiki

Occasionally Matthew will surprise me.........

......by bringing home fresh-cut flowers.

I've taken a very long break from TNChick's photo hunt, and it is good to be back. Looking forward to next week's theme: Sweet

PhotoHunt

Photo Hunters

Twenty three years ago today Spring was ushered in by the birth of Little Sue. The fact that my birth name was Demeter, and I had a little girl on the First Day of Spring was not lost on me, and I will always associate that day with legends, and goddesses. I am certain she is quite happy though that I did not take it to the next logical step, and name her Persephone....but I was tempted!

Little Sue was a very mild mannered, and easy going type baby.....she would not have had two younger siblings if she wasn't.

That is not to say she was not up for adventures....but precisely because she was such a good natured kid we had many adventures as I could take her anywhere, and people were enchanted with her.

Growing up she LOVED the Wizard of Oz, and would occasionally introduce herself as Dorothy! Here she is dressed up as the Good Witch for Halloween circa 1990 in a costume Nanny Toni, my mother, handmade for her.

Little Sue, and my Mom's cat Jinx. She was always very gentle with both dogs, and cats, and to this day is very concerned with the rights, and welfare of animals.

Little Sue played T-ball, and won a trophy that year....ok all the kids won trophies that year...but she was really chuffed!

Growing up Little Sue did very well at school in most subjects, and by the time it was Grade Eight graduation she was an honours student. She always got nice comments from her teachers because she remained a very easy going child.

As a teenager Little Sue became a lot less easy going (like the majority of us) and started to push boundaries, but still maintained her kindness, and was a very loving big sister who helped take care for her two younger siblings.

Some of the fun things I remember about Little Sue during the teen years is our shared love of horror movies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and her appreciation for art, including singing, and sketching.

And here is my Little Sue 23 years old....with a promising career in the non-profit, charitable sector, and a very bright future indeed!

Happy Birthday Little Sue! I love you dearly, and I am very proud of the woman you have become!

Wordless Wednesday

It is another beautiful day in Toronto as we have managed to dodge the rain that is being predicted for at least one more day.

Everyday this week I have been taking advantage of the mild temps, and glorious sunshine by taking lengthy walks. Finally, my busted knee feels much better, and I can handle a decent walk again.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm really not that certain which is more frightening?

This past week an international research team led by University of Alaska-Fairbanks scientists Natalia Shakhova and Igor Semiletov released their findings from a five year study that examined the waters of the East Siberian Arctic Shelf, which covers more than 772,200 square miles (two million square kilometers) of seafloor in the Arctic Ocean. The team found that methane is leaking into the atmosphere from unstable permafrost in the Arctic Ocean faster than scientists had originally thought and could worsen global warming. You can read more on this disturbing discovery here.

Or.........

The fact that there are people including some world leaders who still outright deny climate change is occurring, and its effects on our planet or refuse to believe that humans have been contributing to it.

Scary.