Spring has sprung in my neighbourhood!  Crocuses, daffodils and numerous tree buds have made their debut, boldly showing their bright coloured heads as if to announce the arrival of the new season.

A cascade of colors erupts from my garden to meet the warm afternoon sun.  Inch by inch, the plants grow taller and larger, revealing a vibrant display.  Bold yellows contrast deep purples amidst a luscious carpet of greens.  The rains from prior days have nourished their magnificence.

On one particular morning, I spied jewels upon the leaves and tips of tree branches.  Perfectly formed little globes shone like gems of untold brilliance, reflecting the beauty of the world around them.  Dew drops glistening in the sun are one of my favorite treasures on early morning walks.

Yesterday afternoon, I spied a solid little white clump landing on my freshly laid soil.  I looked upwards to the sky and saw nothing, feeling thankful I was not targeted!  Moments later, hundreds and thousands more came rushing down, creating a spectacular speckled spectacle!  Apparently, Mother Nature was not ready to bid farewell to winter as she showered us with this winter sprinkling.  Just as suddenly as the hail storm arrived, so too did the wind and rain, eventually giving way to blue skies and warm sunshine before days end.  Phew!!!

This is the extra in the ordinary.  Look closer, stay a little longer, observe with world around you with new eyes and curiosity.  Maintain a sense of awe and never cease to be amazed by the most minute wonders around you.

Surprises await you when you stop and pay attention.  Utilize all of your senses in the coming weeks and observe, listen, touch, feel and smell the many joys that come from changing seasons.  Although, change forces us to say goodbye to the past, there is nothing stopping us from heralding in the new with a fresh sense of awe and wonder.  Delight awaits you as you discover the extraordinary!

“Wisdom begins in wonder.”  – Socrates

Have you ever stood on the sidelines, watching an incredulous unfolding of events?  It may only be a few seconds long but it takes your breath away and leaves you awestruck in wonder.  This is what happened when I decided to have orange juice one morning.

The orange juice was in my friend’s refrigerator.  It had been sitting there for some time as the contents had separated and settled.  I decided that it needed a good shaking, so I rhythmically turned it end over end like a skilled bartender.  Let me tell you that shaking up orange juice in a pop top container is not a good idea!

What ensued was an explosion of Orange!  I stood dumbfounded as I watch orange juice spray a wide swath that covered walls, ceiling, floor, sofa, table, chairs, counter, wall art, IPad, and books.  Miraculously, there was not a drop of Orange on me!

The only thing I could do was laugh . . . and clean up the mess!  Life is just like that sometimes.  All you can do is respond.  Respond in a way that serves you well and involves no harm to yourself or others.  Orange happens and we deal with it.  The next time I have Orange juice, I will think twice before shaking it up!  Thankfully the only orange that remains are those on Ella, the Manx cat.

Pies are like people.  Each are unique in some special way.  They may be pale or golden, short or tall, dense or airy.  Some are deep, some are shallow but most are somewhere in between.

What differentiates pies, like people, is the filling.  The ‘insides’ reveal the heart and essence of pies.  Whether sweet or rich, wholesome or decadent, pies are food for the soul!

People crave pies.  The mere thought of one can make eyes twinkle, hearts flutter and mouths salivate.  Ahhh, pies . . . glorious pies!!!  What is your favorite pie?

I recently enjoyed the mother of all pies.  Actually it was the great-grandmother of all pies . . . a 92-year-old pie!  Although the pie was not really 92 years old, the woman who made it was.  She made a traditional French tourtiere; a meat pie filled with finely minced pork and a special blend of spices.  She made it entirely from scratch, with love, just as her mother would have made it.  I am sure her mother would be 130 years old if she were still alive today.

The crust was tender and golden, the filling smooth and hearty.  It’s velvety texture melted in my mouth, enlivened my taste buds and propelled my hand to reach for another forkful, without a single thought.

My friend tells me that no two people make tourtiere the same.  To prove this, she served a second slice of pie that was prepared by another elder in her community.  She was right.  The texture, flavor and experience was totally different.  I prefer my friend’s pie, the 92-year-old pie.

I begin the New Year with deep gratitude for mothers and pies; for friendships and gifts from ancestors long past.  Our cultural heritage and traditions are significant pieces of who we are today.  Although I am not French or a devout Catholic (as my 92-year-old friend is), our differences unite us in a beautiful way.  We come together to celebrate heritage, history, food and love for all things greater than ourselves.  Globalization and multicultural societies offer immense richness for us to explore and enjoy.  Let us all unite and enjoy a slice of pie together!

It’s funny how “Ha ha ha” brings visions of humour and “Ho ho ho” brings visions of a jolly pot-bellied man dressed in red, as if only pot-bellied men could produce the deep resonating sounds of long ‘ohs’.  We all know that isn’t true since we witness it every time we pass by a Yoga class.  The walls reverberate with this sound as scores of pretzelled people, of all body shapes and sizes, sit cross-legged in elf-tights on the floor (where did all the furniture go??!), chanting ‘Ohmmm.mmm.mmmm’ in unison.  The sheer sound of this brings tingles to my skin as I walk by.

Whether tingles or tickles, humour is no farther than the tip of your nose!  That’s right!  A recent walk around my neighbourhood confirmed this as I found Santa’s in a variety of precarious situations and wild animals cavorting on front lawns.  No more than two blocks from my home, I stumble across Santa hanging haphazardly from a roof and then another few blocks further, I spy a totally defeated Santa laying face down and spread eagle across a lawn.  Did I say defeated?  I meant to say deflated, totally deflated!  Next to him was a very smug looking Snoopy, all aglow and grinning ear to ear as if he had outsmarted Santa somehow.  It seems that shenanigans are alive and well in my neighbourhood whilst we humans slumber the night away!  Another few houses further, I happened to spot reindeer co-mingling with garden pigs.  Can you believe it??! The pigs were rolling happily in the mud while the reindeer looked on with great amusement.  The baby reindeer seemed particularly amused as they nodded their heads in laughter and not at all interested in joining them.  Rather they looked quite content grazing on clumps of frozen grass!  On my way back home, I spotted a license plate that summed it all up very well:

Humour and laughter are only a thought away.  Focus on what you want to bring into your life and as sure as the sun rises every morning, it will magically appear!  Find humour in your surroundings this holiday season and you will surely have laughter in your day!  Visions of sugar plums dancing will magically appear in your dreams as merry little mischief-making elves prepare to sprinkle your tomorrows with humour and laughter!  Ha Ha Ha!  Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

There is much joy to simplicity.  Add a twist to simplicity and what do you get?  Joy with added delight!  This is the feeling I get when riding a bike and I find it especially fun when the weather and setting is right.  Now consider the twist; a twist to your bicycle.  Add another seat and another rider!  Yes, a bicycle built for two!  If you have ever experienced a tandem bicycle before, I am sure that you have stories to tell as I do now!

Riding tandem is serious fun and requires some skills in coordinating your ride with another.  Similar to a relationship, each person contributes something important.  The person in the front, known as the captain, must announce any hazards ahead as well as control the steering, shifting and braking.  The person in the rear, known as the stoker, must pedal in unison with the captain and help to maintain balance.  Just like anything else in life, communication is key to ensuring a positive experience, free of spills and filled with endless thrills!

Communicating verbally and non-verbally are essential for an enjoyable ride.  If you are the stoker, as I was, it is extremely important to be aware of the shenanigans your captain may engage in.  If you notice ‘him’ steering towards a slalom course, hold on!  If you notice him gearing up with immense speed, hold on!  If you notice him riding hands-free, HOLD ON!!!  Now this doesn’t mean that you are at the mercy of your captain.  No, not at all.  The stoker has some advantages as well.

The word ‘stoker’ originates from the mid-17th century Dutch, meaning to push or poke.  Stokers are generally known as the people who tend to the fire and that is where the balance in power lies.  The stoker can talk mercilessly into the ear of the captain and command the ride from behind!  The stoker can also secretly enjoy free uphill rides and engage in picture-taking in motion.  Most of all, the stoker can poke and prod the captain from behind, just like the real stokers on steamships!  You see, it all balances out!

Life is measured by the moments that take your breath away.  Make life’s moments count and seek meaningful experiences with others that bring joy and memories for a lifetime.  Live your life with no regrets and commit to making the most out of each day!