Ever been shocked by something that someone else said?  Well, this Easter season that happened to me. To Dance or Not To Dance The spruced-up couples swayed, bobbed, and glided across the floor like classic yachts on display at sea. Smiling and quietly humming along with the familiar tune that was playing, I waited for [...]

Sometimes when animals escape they end up in the strangest place. Such as at my house!  The Escapee What? What’s a horse doing in my driveway?  A surreal air clung to the scene outside my window, with the large brown horse studying me a few feet away and the fog swirling around the evergreens in [...]

Ever felt as if Christmas had just been slugged in the jaw?  Well, here’s how it happened to me this year. Often Overlooked  It sliced through the fog like a knife through butter.  Tall and straight, white and bright atop the hillside, the large illuminated cross stood with two arms extended as if waiting for [...]

Ever driven down a road just to see where it went?  I did this April and thought you might like to hear about the surprise at the end. A Closer Look   Wonder what’s around this bend?  Bracing my body, the tree branches blurred as the RAV 4 careened to the right. The pressure against [...]

  Yea!  Those shimmering little flying jewels are back!   Sweet Nectar   My heart soared. Now I had tangible evidence that spring was back! The minute bird hovered in the weak evening light just outside the living room window, peering into the room as if questioning, “Where’s my feeder?” My amusement bubbled out in [...]

Ever feel that you could use a helping hand?  Well, here’s a bird that certainly needed one!   Trapped?    A flash of rust zipping across the back yard pulled me to the window. Towhee.  White-spotted black wings stretched, the pale-breasted bird glided through an opening in the chicken wire that surrounded the feeder. It [...]

Ever seen something so incredulous that you thought that your eyes were tricking you?  I did recently.  Highway Hazard “The back window fell out!” Allan exclaimed, swerving the SUV to miss the broken glass. My eyes snapped away from the sunny country pastures zipping by the side window. Reaching for the dash in the RAV [...]

Spring!  I’ve been working in my gardens and getting things ready to donate to a world relief fair.  This story from our no-flowers-or-frills and barely-the-basics days came to mind so thought I’d share it.  Chicken Feed? My stomach growled like an angry bear.  Then, determined to get my attention when I didn’t respond, it performed [...]

 Has a freeze-where-you-are incident ever surprised you on an ordinary day? True Essence It glided out of the foggy edge of the bush like a phantom: a dainty head followed by a white spotted brown body supported by four stick-like legs. I froze in midstride a short distance away. It hesitated, front leg still slightly [...]

 Ah February:  gloomy days warming with spring’s approach, apathetic hearts glowing with love on Valentine’s Day and Family Day.  Come. Before the business of spring begins, put up your feet and enjoy this ‘family day adventure’ from my earlier years.   All the Ice   The front tire dropped into the hole and the seatbelt [...]

 Ever had one of those just-as-soon-stab-you-in-the-back-as-look-at-you people try to spoil your Christmas?  I have.   Too Much!   “I bought them,” she said, her blue eyes watching me as if she had just stabbed me and was waiting to see the blood. My knees went weak.  “You should have one happy daughter this Christmas.” With [...]

Thinking about Christmas yet?  Thought this story from my early married days might help you to slide into the season.   Simple Gifts  Only a few minutes.  He’s coming soon. I glanced at the plastic window set into the tarpaper-covered wall and the lines of fatigue in my face deepened.  Stirring the simmering pot of [...]

Ever come across an animal that your couldn’t recognize for what it was? That’s what happened to me when I was on vacation last month.  And here’s how it happened.   Pretty Much the Same   “Hey, look at that!”  I let go of my husband’s hand and pointed to the lightening-fast critter scurrying into [...]

Come with me and find out how a simple walk can bring surprise and delight.   How Amazing Is This?   “Stop.”  Allan flung out a muscled arm. Halted by the barricade pressing against my chest, I honed in on where he was looking. The surreal sight about ten feet to my left caused my [...]

Had a bear scare in your neighbourhood lately?  We did and thought that you might like to hear about it. Don’t Do Anything Stupid  Here? My rounded eyes locked with my husband’s.  Someone on a bicycle was chased by a bear? “Yeah, I got an email from one of the neighbours.  She said it happened [...]

Ah, Spring!  Garage sales again!  Come to one with me. Pulling Up My Socks  “Wonder what we’ll find at this one?”  Glancing up from the steep driveway, I threw a lopsided grin at my husband. His blue eyes smiled back.  “You never know.” “Yeah, that’s the fun of it, isn’t it?”  The possibility of finding [...]

 Ready for a taste of West Coast Spring?  Enjoy! Spring’s Promise Two Juncos zoomed by, one chasing the other, and a smile came to my lips.  Spring. It surrounded me.  Its subtle scent of the wet season’s mould and decaying matter not yet dissipated by the sun, mixing with the faint fragrance of the earliest [...]

Had a recent event turn your thoughts to a weird thing lately?  I did. The Weirdest Thing   The sun rose above the horizon and bright light streaked through the evergreens, revealing a back yard that resembled a boa producing factory full of green feathers after an explosion.  What a mess! The papers said it [...]

 Been thinking about love this month and thought you might enjoy this story about an unusual love and its surprising result.   Bound by Love   She nuzzled its chubby tummy, swiped her rough tongue across its silky grey neck, and touched her nose to its tiny one.  A weak squeak issued from the kitten’s [...]

Come.  Join me on a wintery walk into the next year. Tracks The slender fir trees underneath the mercury-coloured sky waved a gentle greeting when I gazed through the sliding glass door.  Sitting down as close to the door as my knees would allow without touching the cold glass, I set my steaming coffee down [...]

 ‘Tis the season.  Bright lights, upbeat music, cheery people, and Christmas glitter.  But what if life has thrown you a curve ball and you don’t feel like celebrating?  Maybe reading this will help. A glow in the Darkness “You’ve had a really hard time of it these last three months,” she said in a voice [...]

Been surprised by something this past summer?  Come, discover my summer surprise. Mother of the Wind The strong wind sucked the exclamation of surprise right out of my mouth.  I braced my body against its assault. Squinting at the objects floating in the azure sky above the sparkling bay, I thought, this is cool. “Let’s [...]

Been stepping out to have fun this summer?  Here’s a story that’ll take you along on one of my stepping-out-evenings. It Only Takes One Stepping to the left in time with the music, I lost my balance. The strong arm muscles that my raised arm was resting on tensed. “You okay?” my husband asked, moving that arm sideways [...]

My son’s fortieth birthday last month reminded me of an unusual accident that occurred just before his birth. Thought you might enjoy the story. Crunch, Thud, Thwack The soft swish from my moccasins on the chipped scratched linoleum in the living room brought a song to my heart.  A real floor! Not just rough planks that I [...]

Received an unusual gift lately?  Thought you might enjoy hearing about one of mine. So Ugly It’s Cute “You need this.” My eyes widened as my friend thrust a hard object into my hands. Why would I need a gaudy ceramic frog on a Lilly pad? “Stick it in your garden.” “Oh!…Okay.” Standing on the back deck examining my friend’s gift [...]