Although age is a privilege that many poor souls are denied, age is certainly not kind in numerous ways. Pain, critical health issues, and loss of loved ones come along, uninvited, to hinder our lives and deny us peace — so much so, that … Read more

Snow and ice covered the roads as well as sidewalks. I chose to visit a friend, whom I had not seen for many months. There was a fair amount of ice on her driveway, which I managed to manoeuvre without any problem. However, leaving … Read more

I am perturbed. No, I am not perturbed; I am very frustrated. My Internet connection keeps breaking, and each time this happens, I lose communication with my Facebook, Outlook, Twitter, Linkedin, and blog friends. Not only is it … Read more

Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire is reported to be the largest privately-owned house in Great Britain. It boasts over 100,000 square feet of opulent space in more than three hundred rooms and, of course, a maze of corridors.

In days gone … Read more

Yesterday, I waited patiently for my husband to call me and say that he was ready to be picked up. Actually, I should correct that — and say that I waited impatiently! I took him to hospital as he was … Read more

The power of the sun beating down on the earth is oppressive. Every living thing wilts as dehydration begins. Leaves and flowers dip their heads as moisture evaporates. Animals seek shade in an effort to find relief. Human movements and … Read more

Thud! Something hit the glass, and I guessed it had to be a bird. Looking outside, sure enough, there on the ground was a goldfinch, lying on its back — stunned! Not wanting to leave it there, I immediately went … Read more

A very dear friend of mine married recently. She had suffered the gauntlet of loneliness and uncertainty, but during that time, she had totally relied on God's grace and trusted in His will for her life. She had desolate times … Read more

Our words can hurt others, often unintentionally, but they hurt nevertheless. Some years ago, I returned to live for a while in my parental home in England. My mother and I had always had a close relationship, but there were … Read more

Earlier today, I was trying very hard to concentrate on reading my Bible passages for the day. But there was a black squirrel outside in the garden, racing up and down the trees, loudly admonishing and directing protest at some … Read more

We are a one-car family, and so, when I need the use of our car, I have to get my body out of bed early enough to travel with my husband into town and deposit him at his workplace. At … Read more

There is a major house renovation going on close to where we live. Actually, it has been in progress for weeks and weeks — new roof, insulation, siding, windows, doors, sunroom, and storage addition — a complete overhaul! I don't … Read more

My coffee maker is winking at me! Honestly: on and off, on and off goes the little red light. It's actually telling me that the machine needs cleaning, but what it isn't recognizing is that I have cleaned it — … Read more

The bird bath, in our backyard, attracts a lot of wildlife. Sitting outside on a warm fall day, I watched in fascination as a wasp gently landed on the edge of the birdbath and began drinking the water. I'd never … Read more

When I collected my mail today, I found a greeting card that I had mailed weeks ago, returned to me marked "Return to Sender". It surprised me because the address I had mailed it to was the address given to … Read more

The quiet of early morning was broken suddenly by numerous loud distress calls from robins at the back of our house. The usual calm of their early morning routine — feeding, bathing, and teaching their young — had been disturbed … Read more

The two enormous poplars that we have tolerated in our backyard since we moved here late last year are gone! All that remains are the stumps and roots that have been exposed. These have caused the patio and part of … Read more

A recent series of severe storms left our backyard and green areas littered with debris that had been torn from two very large poplar trees. There are large pieces of broken limbs many feet in length, small twigs just a … Read more

We have two really large poplar trees in our backyard. Apparently, they are twenty-five years old. They are not particularly attractive trees, as they are constantly pruning themselves — shedding boughs, twigs, and leaves with the slightest breeze. Messy trees, … Read more

We had chickadees nesting at the side of our home, making use of a nesting box in a small stand of evergreens, protected from attack and the elements. It was delightful to hear and watch their comings and goings during … Read more

Ants scurry along their pathways, busy working, collecting, and storing. They're so tiny as to be insignificant to us, and yet beyond the frantic busyness that we human beings see, we tend to overlook that their one main purpose in … Read more

I began my day, as I always do, reading my Bible, praying for family and friends, enjoying the view from my sunroom, and watching the birds at the feeders. All of a sudden, my eye caught a bright flash of … Read more

In the park where we live, there is excellent garbage pickup service. Every other Friday, we can put out any items, large or small, that we need to get rid of. It is so liberating to be able simply to … Read more

Morning light is just visible — but the birds are way ahead of it; their song is already erupting into the skies and into my ears. Oh, what absolute joy their voices bring to my heart! I have to open … Read more

Last year, we bought a new house, and this spring, we discovered that there are daffodils in our lawn! "So what?" you might ask. Yes, I do enjoy their colour and beauty — they provide splashes of sunshine wherever they … Read more

Whenever I check my e-mail, I see that there are numerous messages of indeterminate nature in the junk box! No matter how often I sweep them away or block them, there are still more to replace them the next time … Read more

Ever watched a yo-yo? Up and down — up and down. Round and round! Excuse me — round and round? A skilful player can direct the yo-yo up and down the string with incredible accuracy. The player's dexterity can bring … Read more

Life can feel like a thrilling roller-coaster ride. A day can be filled with "scream-provoking" or "fear-filled" moments that overwhelm us by their intensity, or they can be mere side-show distractions that draw our attention and keep our mind focused … Read more

The directions on the blue and yellow spray can promise us that it: – Lubricates (helps things to run more smoothly) – Cleans (removes dirt, adhesives, and much more) – Protects (against rust and corrosion) – Penetrates (infiltrates) – Displaces … Read more

One summer morning, I was enjoying the warmth and sunshine of a new day. Conscious of the insect activity around me, I was suddenly aware of a spider coming close. I noticed it travelling through the air on the breeze, heading into the … Read more

The white feather floated before my eyes, and slowly, ever so slowly, drifted and landed on the seat beside me. There was nothing so strange in that, except that I was driving my car, and for the life of me, I could not determine where … Read more

As I write this, I am seated by a window, overlooking my garden; sadly, it is now too cool to sit outside. I am attempting to read my daily devotional and Bible. (This practice "grounds" me, before the demands of the day begin!) A sudden … Read more

Ah! Christmas! Time to buy gifts for those we love. Decisions, decisions, and more decisions! What to give your spouse! What to give the children in your life! What to give your sons, your daughters! What to give your friends … Read more