This is a pic of the kiddo's cat, Maya when she was a wee baby.

She ain't so wee anymore!

Next week the theme is: Mother/Mom

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Lately I've been dreaming a lot about my Mom. The dreams are very vivid, but I do not think they are anything more than my subconscious working out my grief. For instance this morning I awoke from a dream where my Mom was smoking a cigarette, and when in the dream state I registered my shock knowing that she had quit smoking long before, she stated "what's the use, I'm going to die of cancer anyway." Last week I awoke in a cold sweat from a dream where she said "no one ever asks if I'm lonely."

As stated above I do not believe these are some sort of communications from the beyond, but coming from my wish that I could speak with her about some current things I'm going through, and perhaps because of all those Mother's Day ads, and store displays that have popped up over the last month. This year especially Mother's Day will be a tough one.

Image Credit:

Graffiti art. Photo by Paul Armstrong, who says he took the photo in Minneapolis, Minnesota at an abandoned wheat grain elevator near the University of Minnesota, and he believes it has since been removed.

Wordless Wednesday

Powdered sugar gently sprinkled over fresh, home-made, strawberry tarts is my addiction.

Next week the theme is: Black

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Every day should be Earth Day! I still have vivid memories of the very first Earth Day that was celebrated here in Toronto way back in 1990. My sister, some friends and I took Little Sue (then aged 3) and her baby sister aged 2 months to celebrate in Earth Day festivities. We painted our faces to look like Earth spirits, and it was so much fun! I wish I had some photos to share from that day, but for whatever reason none of the pics I tried to take worked out.

This morning I woke up to find a lovely meditation in my inbox sent to me by my friend Waseema:

"Earth teach me caring as the mother who serves her young

Earth teach me stillness as the grass are stilled with light

Earth teach me suffering as old stones suffer with memory

Earth teach me humility as blossoms are humble with beginning

Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands alone

Earth teach me limitation as the ant which crawls on the ground

Earth teach me freedom as the eagle soars into the sky

Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall

Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring

Earth teach me to forget ourselves as melted snow forgets it’s life

Earth teach me to remember kindness as dry fields weep in the rain."

The Earth is our Mother we must take care of her!

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I have talked with a few people who feel discouraged about our environment because world leaders are seemingly not taking it seriously, but I personally try to remain positive, and control what I can which is my own family's use of our Earth's resources. Every little bit helps, and you do feel very good by making greener choices every day, and incorporating them into you lifestyle.

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day Image Credit

I decided to go with something a little different, and perhaps a little less obvious for our photo hunt theme this week.

I should explain that I have no idea who this bride is. I bought her wedding portrait at an estate sale for $5.00 bux a couple of years ago. The sale was held in the home of a lady who had passed on in her early 90s and did not have any close relatives. When I inquired about the photo the only information the sellers had is that it probably was either the parents or grandparents of the deceased, and that they most likely were Irish.

Here is a scan of the complete version. Covered in her wedding veil, she does not appear to be a very happy bride. Something about her or them called out to me, and that is why I bought the photo. I have a collection of random photos that I've picked up here, and there, and all for some reason just had to come home with me. Hope that makes sense. Happy photo hunting!

Next week the theme is: Addiction

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I'm not actually rethinking Afghanistan. To be honest I have been against the Canadian Afghanistan mission for a while now. It's not that I'm anti-Canadian military. I just cannot as an ordinary citizen support this particular mission, and would hope that as more information comes out my fellow Canadians who have supported this may take the time to revisit or rethink their stance.

Young Canadian men, and women are dying, and facing serious injuries, and for what? In 8 years Osama Bin Laden is still at large, probably sipping a mai-tai at home in Saudi Arabia, not a single drug/warlord has been brought to justice, and the region is still a dangerous, and insecure place.

Are the Afghani people really better off for our being there? Are we Canadians better off for our being there?

Ottawa seems to be doing everything it can to divert the average citzen's attention away from controversy surrounding our military participation in Afghanistan. In recent months we've seen parliament prorogued (a halt to the democratic process) at a time when allegations of the torture of Afghani detainees were brought forth for investigation, a false controversy over our national anthem, and now some other nonsense involving an MP that was kicked out by the PMO, and is reportedly being investigated by the RCMP, but we are told nothing as to why. And meanwhile, Afghanistan again takes a backseat in the media, and in the minds of the average Canadian.

However, the truth does have a way of coming out. I was horrified this morning to read that "former Canadian Forces translator Ahmadshah Malgarai testified this past Wednesday in Ottawa about an alleged fatal shooting in Afghanistan, saying a member of the military personally described it to him as "murder." He also insisted he passed his allegations that the Canadian military was "subcontracting torture" to the NDS (secret police) up the chain of command. He also said he "cannot believe" Defence Minister Peter MacKay doesn't know about his allegations.

"I want him to sit across from me look me in the eyes and say he doesn't know," the former translator said."

This troubles me greatly. And I cannot support anything that lends itself to the torture, and murder of my fellow human beings, particularly the average citizen who by no other crime than a quirk of the Universe just happens to be living over there, and not here.

My mother was a child refugee behind "enemy" lines during WWII, and grew up in part in a DP or Displaced Person camp. She taught me that it is the innocent, and the poor who always suffer the greatest during times of conflict, and war. WII was a war that had to be fought....even she knew that, despite the American, and British bombs that were being dropped while she as a young child huddled with her sister, and brothers in a bomb shelter. However, I greatly question as did she this current mission in Afghanistan, and the affects it has had on the children, women, and poor working souls that must live there. We would have long talks about it while she was still alive, and from the beginning she doubted the reasons for our involvement over there.

This allegation of the shooting death of an unarmed, innocent Afghanistan citizen made me recall the Somalia affair and wonder how effective is our military in insuring that no racists or people who hate Muslims in general are not sent over there? I hate to say it, but with an accused serial killer running the Trenton base, is it that far-fetched to think that some with a very tainted view of Afghanistan people as a whole have not been shipped over there? The very thought is both horrifying, and disgusting, and yet we must not be so naive as to think it could not happen.

I sincerely hope these allegations are vigorously investigated, and if proven true, all of those involved face serious consequences.

Image Credit: Peace Sign

I spent some time wandering about Roncesvalles Village this morning. For those who may not be familiar with it, it is a colourful neighbourhood in west Toronto with a strong Polish immigrant history, and artsy vibe.

I love checking out the cute one-of-a-kind boutiques, and other shops including Eastern European bakeries, and delis that line the east side of Roncesvalles Avenue.

The neighbourhood underwent a lot of disruption this past year with the streetcar tracks being ripped up.

The construction, and upheaval was supposed to be completed by January 2010, but as you can see it is still ongoing in certain sections.

I was saddened to see the Queen Of Tarts has closed down.

A few years back I was able to purchase two gingerbread grooms for a couple I knew that were getting married. Same sex marriage was still very new then, and no one in the city had a cake topper of two grooms so I thought this would be a fun option. The Queen Of Tarts were even able to decorate one groom with blonde hair, and the the other brunette as resembling the happy couple for me.

I'll miss them, and wish their new projects all the best.....granted since I've worked so hard to banish the fat fairy perhaps it is for the best that one of my favourite sweet shops in the city has closed.

Power plant smoke stack. Taken at Queen's Quay Toronto outside of the Enwave Theatre. I thought this would be a good example of this week's theme.

Next week the theme is: Covered

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Since today is a rather dreary rainy kinda day in T.O I've decide to do a bit of indoor Spring cleaning. My first project is to clear out the bedroom closet, and finally rid myself of much of my "fat clothes."

I had gained a horrific amount of extra weight while battling thyroid disease. It was very depressing, and I my self esteem took a beating.

Since July of last year when my thyroid condition was finally stabilized I have managed to lose just over 50lbs, and I finally feel like my old self again. The weight loss came from eating healthy, moderate exercise (yoga, walking) and my metabolism evening out (it is controlled with synthyroid).

I still have another 15lbs I would like to lose along with some muscle toning, so I'm in no rush to buy new clothes, but I have treated myself to a sexy black Spring jacket, and my daughter gave me a couple of pairs of her jeans, which fit really nice. Finally after three years I'm starting to feel like my old self again.

So today, I banish the "fat fairy" hopefully forever, and will donate the clothes that are now 5 sizes too big! Its a good feeling.

Fat Fairy Image credit

Was a sunny, and warm Easter long weekend here in Toronto. Lots of critters out & about including this fellow who we spied quite high up in a tree.

Probably taking a snooze or maybe sunning himself. And very cute to see that he or she had a buddy not quite so high up in the tree.

We watched them stretch and go back to napping, and after a few hours came back to see if they were still there. This time they appeared to be grooming each other, much in the same way our cats will do. Very cute, but I would not want to get too close to them. Nice to see some nature thriving in the big smoke.

My boy Kipling.....

ain't he sweet! And yes, he is as adorable in personality as he is in looks.

Playing a bit early this week because I have a busy weekend ahead, but if you drop by and leave a comment with your link I'll stop by and check out your photo hunt entry at some point in the next couple of days too. Cheers!

Next week the theme is: Vertical

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