Victoria Update

An Eagle parent giving life lessons to his youngster in another Tree

Any one reading this blog must have wondered if I had fallen off the face of the Earth.

It felt like I did...the move precipitated a complete upside down turn around in my life.

One of the reasons may be the amount of solitary, quiet moments I was accustomed to in the Cariboo has been curtailed, here on this busy corner. I love the busyness; I have not yet tired of the constant slice of vibrant life which occurs on this three-way corner of road. It completely obscures quiet meditative walks and thoughts with honking horns and screeching tires. But, oh! how very entertaining it is!

I have seen Dogs completely outfitted in motorcycle gear, riding on the back of the motorbike with all the ease in the World. I have watched a Rolls Royce go by with a very straight-laced Dog in the passenger seat. A black standard Poodle, that Dog could give lessons on good posture.

There is a Woman who wanders down the street singing at the top of her lungs an operatic piece, with the most perfect pitch. When Lucky and I go for walks, quite often we will hear piano music floating through the Tree tops...it seems many people practice their piano lessons during our walking times. 

It is completely magical. And so different from my last home. 

Beacon Hill Park in Victoria

I have had to come to grips with renting...I find I have a completely different mindset towards our home. I no longer have the ability to do what I want with regards to the home and garden...it's taken me aback.

At first, I thought that would be a good thing...I was tired from the move and the renovations we had done on our previous home. But as time goes on, I find I like having projects and moving plants and building garden beds.

And so, we have decided to buy a home on the Saanich Peninsula. The reasons why are varied and we may move again, in retirement, but right now, our life is here. It makes sense to put money into a home, rather than waving

Magical afternoon in the Park...

goodbye to the rental monies.

I wrote many posts during my time away, chronicling some of the stranger events  here which occurred, but when it came time to actually publishing them, events happened, over and over, in this strange place we call our World which effectively made my words seem insignificant.

I find it has become much more difficult for me to focus on my own little World, when so much is happening in the outer. And most of that is very unsettling...waking up is hard to do. I use discernment, but most of the garbage which is coming to the forefront, even in MSM, is disgusting.

Charming, flowery hillock in Beacon Hill Park

And what is even more disconcerting, to me, is the length of time humanity has allowed itself to be duped. I am having trouble accepting this ability of keeping eyes closed, thereby retaining the status quo, no matter how bad it may be. I am as guilty as anyone...

I'm trying to change that. I want to be a part of change for the betterment of all, as limited as my participation may be. 

For the second time in my life, I've become involved in the problems of the day. The first time was way back in the movement of the sixties.

Our resident Lady Hummingbird

I find my new change in direction hampers the time I have to blog. As all things cycle, this will turn back, as well, in time.

Wonderful time is spent exploring the Saanich Peninsula. I am eternally grateful we ended up here; it is possible to source all foods required for daily sustenance right here, within a few miles. From Seafood and Meat to Vegetables and Fruit, right down to the Wine...every possible food is available. It is a food-lover's dream!

There are stories to tell about the Wind Storm that took out part of the courtyard fence. Another wild Wind drove a branch through the window of my car, making it look very much like it had been stabbed through the Heart...

tiny hummingbird eggs staying warm

Then, too, there are the Animal stories. There is one about a patriarch Eagle trying to teach his youngster how to fly...and how not to be frightened to the point of complete immobility at the sight of Crows.

We have a Hummingbird nest in the Butterfly bush, right at eye level. There are two tiny Eggs within...I will follow this story as it develops. Lady Hummingbird has lined the nest with Lucky's hair...those two little Eggs look very cozy!

Stories upon stories...all very pleasurable and truly joyful. They keep me going, my Animal friends. And the Tree collective...their voices are growing ever louder, and I feel very strongly their stories are clamouring to be told.

Spring has arrived in my own little park...

For my birthday, I received the most brilliant camera ever...it zooms out so far I get quite unsteady. I have spent much time practicing with it, and have only scratched the surface of the things this amazing camera can do.

So. As life develops for me, here in Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula, I realize there was much more going on in the real World when compared to the quiet life I led further North. So many shocks and upheavals made me seek answers. I haven't found many, but I believe I have found a measure of balance to see me through these trying, difficult times. 

It is a tentative balance, to be sure. Any news story giving

Iris blooms wildly on the street corner.

updates on disastrous weather or human induced catastrophes wavers that balance. I find talking to and touching the many Trees surrounding the property helps enormously...the old Maples and Cedars and Firs here have seen many crises.

And they have never given in to fear.

We have great landlords. They understand my need to dig, to feel the black, crumbly Soil dribble between my fingers. Real dirt, not just potting Soil. And so, they have suggested I pick out the new Shrubs which will be planted in the front of our home. And I even get to plant them!! I am so grateful for kind and understanding gardeners who are also landlords...

Rhodies in full bloom everywhere in the garden

That's where I'll be, for the next while. Hugging Trees, walking the Beach, visiting nurseries and digging holes, watching Hummingbirds and Eagles, visiting family...and taking loads of photos!

And one thing I know for sure...I may be distracted for awhile, I may go off on tangents and not be seen on the blogs for months on

Awesome blooms!

end...but I will always be back.

For me, I really would have to fall off the face of the Earth to stop writing...             

Familiarization

I have lived in Victoria for almost five months. And it seems as if the move occurred just yesterday. I must admit I remember little of the ordeal; one day after another required some detail, some mundane task related to moving, that absolutely took priority over any time to myself.

Service shed across the road

The last tie to the Cariboo was broken, when we sold our home there within a couple of days of listing it. Again, I felt conflicting emotions...even as the climate attacked my body, I loved it there. I am so grateful for the opportunity I took years ago to live in that wild land of contrasts, where I learned so much. But...it is done.

And so. Now I go on.

Water everywhere...this feeds our little Stream

It is as if I have moved to a different dimension. As I write, the garden is filled with the greenery of rising Bulbs...oh! so many! It is a delight, one filled with surprises, since I am not familiar with this Garden. I greet each sprig of green with celebratory happiness...up North, Mother Earth will still be sleeping for a few months yet...and, on the Saanich peninsula, Spring is making her slow way there, by touching the land here with a fine brush first, as the consummate Artist she is.

There are Puddles everywhere on this morning's walk

Once again, I have Moss, a great companion for me from the Plant Kingdom, growing everywhere, in a glowing green that touches my heart and cracks it a bit, leaving lovely streaming green tendrils... 

It is one of the earliest of Plants to show new growth in the Spring and I have always considered Moss to be a true herald. I look out over the little garden shed roof, which is covered in Moss, from the porch and marvel at the tiny Worlds that inhabit each soft pillow of growth.

Cross fencing and Blackberries

All Winter long, Lucky and I go for our morning walks, only missing a few colder days. We do not beat any time clock, the two of us, since Lucky will insist on sniffing every Leaf, Log or 'suspicious Thing', in our path. But I don't mind. I take note of the changes each day, becoming a part of this place, knowing it.

Greening Fields and red Barns and White Fences

We greet the Horses from the training school. One, whose colouring is very similar to Lucky's, thereby establishing some sort of bond, gives a soft nicker each day when she sees us and wanders close to the electric fence. She places her nose as close as she can to the fence, her nostrils widening as she takes in our scent. She knows us now, too.

Many of the Bird species we had visiting our Bird feeder North of us have been here all Winter. Listening to the Bird song in the late afternoon takes me away to the late May days of recent years, when just this sound had my heart soaring. It still soars...it is just, joyfully, earlier in the year.

Horses next door waiting for breakfast

Speaking of soaring, Eagle has made his presence felt in many ways. I smile as I write this. 

At first, I was so entranced. Eagle would fly over at around the same time each morning and settle himself at the tip of one of the giant Firs growing right next to our home. I would watch him watching us and the surrounding World, until duties called when I'd leave him to it.

More Blackberries...closer to Home now

But then, I discovered the gifts he left behind. On the cobbled stones, the cars and even splashed against the gate were the amazing results of an Eagle's digestive system. They were all quite awesome renditions of abstract art...

I also discovered once all those splashes, a few indicating fur and tiny bones, dried...they hardened. It required some scrubbing to remove them from the gate and stones. And I imagine I can look forward to more of this exercise...just this morning I found a new 'painting'!

For those who are interested, I found a website wherein the author explains about Eagle's habits in this regard. You can find it here. I had no idea Eagles "shoot their poop", for one thing...No wonder the gate managed to be targeted!

The Camellia Bush, outside the fence, was filled with Blossoms. I had not seen so many on any Bush in years and each day, I would marvel anew...until the morning arrived when suddenly, there were hardly any. 

Deer and I have begun our association in a bad way...

It's all about who you know, I've been told. In my case, I know their larger cousins, the Mule Deer from the Cariboo very, very well...and I am not above calling for reinforcements. I warn off these tiny Island Deer, in my imagination, at any rate! 

The message will be received...and I will look forward to Camellia Blossoms next year. Ever the optimist!

Lucky begins to drag his feet...Home is just around the corner

By the little Stream, Frogs are beginning to croak and sing. I hope Water in the Stream-bed will continue to flow long enough for any  Eggs to hatch. What a treat that will be for the grandkids!

In this dimension, we visited the family in Port Alberni for lunch last week. Next week, we'll go to the twin's birthday party.

In this paradigm, Milk is delivered once a week...in glass bottles. And there are farm stands up and down the road, selling everything and anything...even bags of aged Horse manure for the garden!

When we moved North, many of the conveniences which were a matter of course were no longer available. We grew accustomed to it...and so now, I am amazed at the quality and amount of service available here, in an urban setting.

Here, there are old friends to connect with, visits to arrange. Life is busy, in a different way...a more social way, perhaps, than in previous years. 

Mossy Maples across the street from Home

Over the past five months, pain from Fibromyalgia and Arthritis has greatly diminished. The extremes of pain, the knuckle-under kind, have disappeared, and in its place, a rather benign kind of pain has surfaced. Sounds strange, I know, but whatever it is, I am intensely grateful for it!

And this is how it is. Day by day, I know more and more about this latest transition in my life and understand more and more why it has occurred.

It's time, now, to rejoin the living. Time to play, time to find out who I am and what I want to manifest further in my life. I'm careful with my thoughts now; thoughts are creation and very quickly, too! 

Life is good.       

 

Slow Down and Enjoy...

The Stone fence is well fortified

How strange it is to live in an area where there is so much traffic. It is difficult to explain the road configurations where I live...there are four stop signs on the corner where our home is situated. If a driver is not paying attention, he might miss one of those stop signs...and then, if cars are coming from one of the other roads that intersects, two of which have no stop signs...there is more honking and vile language issuing forth than I have heard in a long time.

This fence is built behind the first Rock Garden, divided by a gravel walkway

Rain, a weather anomaly which residents here should certainly be accustomed to, makes the road, covered in Leaves and Needles from the Trees everywhere, slippery. One large white truck came barrelling down the main road and tried to make the rather sharp turn to one of the feeder routes, and ended up slamming against the Rock Garden outside of our Rock-fortified fence.

There are some mighty large Boulders making up that Rock Garden. And it was a mighty large crunch I heard when the truck hit the Rocks.

So it was with some trepidation that I wandered through the gate to have a look at what had just occurred. As I did, I saw the white truck back up from the Boulders, with quite a large, new dent in the side door, and take off very quickly, down the road. I imagine he was hoping no one had seen him, since he did not want to pay for any other damage than what he had inflicted upon his truck!

I went to see what the damage was to our Rock Garden. Three large Boulders had been displaced, but not badly. The main damage appeared to be on the truck, which came out the worse by far!

What amazes me the most about the intersection is that it has been as it is for years. There is nothing new, which might confuse drivers. The problem, as far as I can see, is that people drive far too fast on these small country roads. There are signs everywhere to slow down, take a wide turn around Horses and their riders, watch for Deer, children crossing...one would have to be blind not to see all those warning signs.

Golden Maple Leaves shine in the misty light of Dawn

There is even a sign that tells drivers to slow down and enjoy the many varied farms in the district. Slow down and enjoy...

I drive by that sign about once a week, as I drive to a pet store that has the treats Lucky can't seem to live without. And the part about slowing down and enjoying the sights, scenery and just life...well, that part has hit home with me. 

The slow down part, at least.

For the last few months, I have been going at top speed. I have ignored pain and all the rest of the goodies Fibro and Arthritis can give; sleep became elusive, and tiredness was just a part of every day.

I find I am out of energy now. I can't find any more. Most of the time, last week, I found myself sitting down often, staring into space.  

I don't have the time to do this! 

Apples from a grafted Tree in our backyard...three varieties!

There are still boxes to open, the family room still needs to be put together, doctors and dentists to find...and oh! things do have to be organized! This, on top of doing other activities I've promised myself...including writing more often, interaction on the web, visiting scores of places here in Victoria where I have not been for years, signing up for art courses, finding new plant nurseries to wander in...the list goes on and on.

Yet, I can find no inclination to do any of them.

I want someone to take my hand, open a box for me, unwrap the first innocuous item, and then tell me it goes on the third shelf in the left cupboard in the hall. My decision making is at an all-time low. 

I do recognize this feeling, though. In one way or another, I've gone through them before...after divorce, after Katrina's death, and after moving to a completely different part of the province. All very stressful times, some worse than others, of course, where one must get through the Storm using every last bit of energy one can find. 

There is a small creek somewhere under the Leaves!

And then, the clean-up begins...

But before the clean-up, before the rebuilding of self or home, there is a time where the heart and mind catch up with each other. Heart tells Mind to settle down, open up and receive the love pouring in from every corner, smile, laugh and dance.

Mind tells Heart there are things to be done. Laughing and dancing in joyful abandonment are not appropriate at this time...damn it, finish what has been begun... 

Most of the time, since all this began with our move, Mind calls the shots. Keeping my Mind on the work to be done was all I did for the last few months. Very little time was spent in feeling Heartful.

I was mostly Mindful. 

Heart, very recently, has begun to demand equal time. Time to miss our old home and friends left behind in the Cariboo, time to miss the first Snow and Cold there ( yes, even this!), time to mourn a little. Time to feel gleeful, as well, to have found a place to land that is uncanny in its familiarity. Time for spiritual practices, time to talk to the Trees and Shrubs that grow here with such abandonment, time to go visit the Beach.

The Horse Farm, seen through the back fence, on an early showery Morning

Heart, left to its own devices, would say Begone! to all the niggling, mundane things left to do, whereas Mind would say those other fanciful things will be there when the practical work is done.

Last week, I was balancing the two, along with resting my Body, which aches a little more than it did when I first arrived.

I have no schedule, really. I can do as I like. When the family room becomes too much of an irritant, I will do it...I will feel like it then. And I have decided that every day I will do something to feed my Heart's requirements. Remembering Balance is what I needed.

And today, outside with Lucky, I heard two cyclists riding by.   (There are many cyclists here. I see groups of them riding every day. The winding, narrow Tree-lined roads are perfect for them.) 

Super place for small children to play on their bikes!

One said to the leader...I have no energy at all...

And the other said...Yeah. I'm not doing the whole route today...

I'd guess that's me. I don't think I'm going to do the whole route today.

I'm going to try the first part of the title to this post...the slowing down part today.

And tomorrow...I'll begin to enjoy.