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Christmas 2017 is over!

“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.”

Just a couple more sleeps ’til Christmas! So here’s one more revisited story from the twinkling colored lights of a golden Christmas past …

The cool evening air rolled over the hillside making the small fire flutter as if trying to extinguish it. The old man sitting beside it pulled his cloak tighter and also used it to cover the newborn lamb that was lying on his lap. Stroking the small fuzzy frame, he raised his eyes to look out as the sun sank lower and lower to its nightly resting place. It would be another long, cold but hopefully quiet night.

Eighty five-year-old Dan lives alone in Calgary in the family home he built near the lake. Ever since his wife Julianne died, his health has been poor, and he has been very depressed. His only daughter Annie who lives in US with her family, has repeatedly suggested that he move in with her or to move into a local retirement residence of his choice.

In the 80s Chia seed pets were in stores every Christmas. The instructions said to soak the clay figure and spread the seeds over the wet clay. The dry Prairie air tended to dry out the clay shape before the seeds had sprouted giving the animal lush green seedling hair. For the most part, Chia Pets were not successful.

I have spent a few interesting hours over the past weeks watching and photographing birds on mountain-ash trees. Although I’ve known about these ornamental trees for decades, it wasn’t until these photo sessions that I really appreciated how much they brighten up our winter landscape and support biodiversity.

Psssssttt…. Christmas is literally four sleeps away! You may have already planned the big meal already, but have you put any thought into all the other gathering days around and in between now and New Year’s? It can be stressful trying to figure out how to feed everyone that’s coming in and out during this time, but I think I have something will save you a ton of time this holiday “brunch” season.

The planet’s scientific community is continually focusing on global warming and the effects of greenhouse gases. This “focus” pervades our daily news, is a major topic of discussion around many a cup of coffee each day, and unless you have been lost in some jungle or remote Arctic location, it has probably invaded your conversations as well.

“Human behaviour flows from three main sources: desire, emotion and knowledge.”