MAY COMES TO AN END

So my favourite month with all its greenery and flowering trees is coming to an end. Husband with a second hospitalization has made it too memorable in a bad way. Just wanting to get him home again and get to the next stage of life. Retirement around the corner and none too soon. The garden needs so much work. A bulldozer would help at this point!  What will June bring?? How was your May!
#Maycomingtoanend#flowers#hospitalization#Junearoundthecorner#lotsofworkinthegarden

RIDING OUT THE STORMS OF LIFE

Storms are part of nature and well part of life. Some are just loud and booming. Some cause damage that need repairs. Too many storms in a row can cause angst! Just getting over one and facing another one is too stressful at times. There needs to be some lulls to brace oneself for the next storm. How to ride the storms brings some needed strategies!! Reaching out to others! Having the support needed in life to cope!! Like the Kenny Rogers song- know when to fold them and know when to hold them!  Sometimes just stepping away and doing less to get through the day!! Or letting others take the lead!!
#ridingoutlife'sstorms#stressinlife#knowingwhentofoldthem#knowingwhentoholdthem#stormsarepartofnature#needbreakstodealwithitall

A GARDEN FULL OF PURPLE-OH CANADA

Love these onion flowers. Forget the scientific name!

Wild flowers that made their way to my garden. Well I actually planted them in some places then they spread.

Iris in many colours, but purple is the best.

Purple against green looks lovely.

Clusters over the years!

Love these flowers too!

Light purple too!
Purple is a royal colour. But for me it is healing colour. Needing healing in one's life is so important. To be optimistic but realistic too. Like life flowers grow, bloom and die only to replaced by the next ones that come along in the garden. Oh purple, do your healing piece!!
#purple#healingcolour#purpleflowersinaCanadiangarden#lovethosepurpleflowers#timetophotographmorepurpleflowers

THE IRIS IN A CANADIAN GARDEN

June around the corner and the irises are starting to bloom. A beautiful long flower in the garden, they really stand out.

A variety of colours!

And of course there are other wild flowers growing! My favourite colour purple!
#irisinthegarden#colourfulcanadianflowers#purpleinthegarden#myfavouritecolourpurple#lovethespringflowers#mycanadiangarden

OPTIMISM-IS IT A GOOD THING

Deciding to live life with optimism is a leap of faith. Sometimes let's tell it -prayer works to keep our optimism alive. But seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, rather than looking backwards at the dark tunnel takes some form of courage too. To keep going is optimistic! To keep living and doing regardless if some days it seems futile! Optimistic that the day will bring some joy! Even small joy! Putting things in place for the joy! Food often helps! So eating one's favourite foods! Cooking them together! Optimistic people put plans in place. Organize so events can happen! Seeing the opportunities everywhere! Using the positive energy that optimism brings even when storm clouds are approaching! Are you an optimistic person? What do you put in your life to try to stay positive about things?

#optimism#positiveenergy#bringingjoytolife#seeingthelightattheendofthetunnel#eatingfavouritefoods

LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

As the wife/caregiver for a loved one with a chronic illness, there are many levels and components to the role. The ups and downs of witnessing an illness progress takes it toll. Usually an emotional one. Doctors are vague about prognosis and what to do to try to reduce exacerbation of the disease. Advice given- wash your hands! Duh! Really! So living day to day becomes more of a mantra. Not a bad one! So putting many areas to give quality of life are important. For any of us having a purpose to get up in the morning is simple and basic. Stepping back and giving room for the loved one to do his/her own activities. So there will be more comments and thoughts on this subject periodically.

livedaytoday#qualityoflife#haveapurposetogetupeveryday#beingthereforalovedone#livingwithchronicillness#takingcareofthecaregiver#emotionalrideisnotpleasant#loveinsicknessandinhealth

LET THE FRESH AIR IN

Between the cold and hot weather, there is an opportunity to open all the windows and let the fresh air in the house. We breath stale air everywhere. Home! Work! Stores! Even before the hot weather arrives the air conditioner is full blast in all the places frequented by us. No bare arms, must don the sweaters. I remember as a child on hot days at school we would sit under a tree in the yard to draw or have a math lesson. Now with the little bit of heat, we must be cold again. I actually like to feel hot. Not stifling humid hot but warm. It feels good after a long Canadian winter. So are you someone who likes to be cold all year? Do you turn up the air conditioner so the house is cold? Do you like the fresh air to go through your hair?
#freshair#canada#noairconditioner#staleair#enjoyingthefreshair#daysoutsideintheschoolyard#barearmsinthesummer