Dear Beautiful Friends,
Hello from sunny Alberta.
Popping in to say I am well and trust things are fine with you.
Spring has finally arrived - it seemed to take such a long time
for it to green out this year. It's very dry. May Day trees are now in bloom,
and I wait to catch their fragrance on the breeze—hopefully today.
Not quite feeling the usual exuberant gleefulness of spring;
our province is experiencing unusual hot weather. It feels like
April flipped straight into mid-July. The heat
as well as the lack of moisture and lots of wind have created
conditions for wildfires. And they are springing up in many places.
Our provincial emergency alert app goes off several times a day
as a new fire starts.
Eerie...
So many communities on evacuation alert, with many families
scrambling to evacuate their homes. Some have already lost their homes.
So heartbreaking! It all creates an unease in the atmosphere
even though personally we aren't involved at this time.
Although we did bring up suitcases last week when one fire
sprung up not too far from us. Yikes! Thankfully it was contained
and hopefully it's now out. We think about what to grab
if we had to go in a hurry. To be a little prepared.
We try to keep calm and carry on.
Deep breath.
In the midst, we had the delight to watch the Royal Coronation
in the UK last weekend. An awe-spiring service with all the
historical pomp and ceremony. Rick and I had the opportunity to visit
Westminster Abbey during our trip to England in 2016.
What fun to recognize certain spots because we'd been there in person.
Enjoyed watching guests arriving at the Abbey. Such a
lovely parade of stately regalia and elegant ensembles... and hats.
Great fun when cameras captured little Prince Louie—his older sister,
Princess Charlotte, appeared to keep an eye on him; wasn't it sweet
when they held hands as they came in!
We relish the moments we have.
Birds are nesting - yesterday I saw a female robin slip through the branches
of the neighbour's cedar tree by the garage. What a perfect spot
for a nest. Will keep our eyes on her comings and goings.
A book I've enjoyed this week is Letter from New York
by Helene Hanff (author of 84, Charing Cross Road). It was first published
in 1992. It's a delightsome collection of what originally had been monthly
five-minute radio scripts for the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Broadcasts from
1978 to 1984. Miss Hanff entertained her listeners with a lively
glimpse of history, culture, and daily life in New York City where she lived
during the mid-20th century. I found it gently distracting, and soothing,
in the midst of what is going on these days.
❦
I miss you and think of you often.
The break away has been good. It has
allowed my mind to think about other needful things.
Spring is always a busy time, don't you find?
Don't know when I'll be back on a regular basis. In the meantime,
I'll drop an occasional postcard to let you know I'm still here. Still well.
Still reasonably happy and staying grateful.
Sending you love and heart wishes for a beautiful day.
Happy Mother's Day!
Brenda
Photo credits:
Top: Katya-Guseva from Pixabay
So good to see you today. It must be a huge worry to know that at any moment you might have to leave a home with only a suitcase. It makes one realise how transient life is.
ReplyDeleteLife certainly has its seasons when we're reminded just how transient and fragile life is. We live them moment by moment. Grateful for His grace through it all. Hope you are doing alright, Barbara. xo
DeleteLife can be so unsettling. I am glad that The Lord knows we are but dust. Did not realize how harrowing things are just. now in your corner with the dry conditions. Will pray for gentle rains to fall.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you, Vee, for your prayers for gentle rains. That is my prayer as well. None of that torrential stuff, which would exchange one disaster for another. Moment by moment. Today has dawned beautifully here in my corner of the world - blue skies and birds singing and gentle breezes.
DeleteI love reading your writing, Brenda. It's soothing. My daughter will be visiting her school roommate in Northern Alberta this summer and helping with a camp. Then she'll be in her roommate's wedding. I hope the fires don't affect any of that area.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deanna, for your lovely thoughts. The fires are mostly in northern Alberta. I sure hope they don't affect your daughter and her roommate's summer plans, especially the wedding.
DeleteBrenda, I miss you out here in cyber world. But I'm so glad you are well and benefitting from the break. Yes, Spring is a busy busy time!
ReplyDeleteI think we have at least 3 robin couples on our acreage. I love listening to their sweet trills in the mornings and evenings. I think I even heard one call at 3 in the morning the other day, as if to say "Is anybody up yet?"
You've mentioned a book by Helene Hanff before. I'll have to find her writings ... easy to remember Hanff if I think of Banff haha.
My favourite line ... "We relish the moments we have." Oh yes! I needed that reminder. I wish you many moments to relish as you continue your break from cyberworld. :)
Joy, I'm so glad to hear from you! Oh, do look for some of Helene Hanff's books. 84, Charing Cross Road is my favourite, but they are all charming. Yes, let's relish the moments we have. Thanks for your note.
DeleteHello Dear Brenda!!!!🌸🌷
ReplyDeleteThis is Ann from Ohio. It was wonderful to see your lovely postcard pop up!☺️
I sadly,have not been aware of these fires and your VERY hot weather near you. It must seem very eerie to have to be “ready” to leave; hearing alerts throughout a day; perhaps knowing others who have had to evacuate.😔 Eerie and frightening. I will start praying for RAIN and cooler temperatures.🙏
Acknowledging the need to “put some things aside,” allowing yourself to “sit” where you need to be sitting is SO important. We each need to honor “where” we need to be. I Will say prayers for you and “this place.”
I have loved the “birds of the morning!” I am an early riser and LOVE the sounds of the birdsongs before the “other” noises of the day begin!☺️
In June I am going to Charleston, S. Carolina for a wedding and I will so enjoy checking out a garden or two there.
Praying for you and your “reasonably happy.” I share that place with you.
Much, much love.💖🌷🌸🧚♀️
~ Ann
It is so good to hear from you. I am so sorry to hear about the fires. I hope everyone stays safe. The photograph of the flower tree looks so beautiful. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteOh, my, I don't like to hear about the hot wind and wildfires... May God protect you all!
ReplyDeleteYour postcard at top is so beautiful. I'm sure I've never received a more spring-y and hopeful one. <3
I enjoyed catching up with you, Brenda, but sorry to hear wild fires are already threatening. I hope you stay safe, and enjoy the beauty of spring. Your flowery postcard is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see your post as I check on certain bloggers to see what's current in their lives : )
I hope you are safe - it's been a week since you posted.
I smiled when you mentioned how fun it is to recognize something because you'd seen it in person while watching the coronation. While I did not see the inside of Westminster Abbey, we walked by it while in London on a tour (we only had so much time and SO many things to choose from!), but I thought the same thing as I watched the coronation. The ceremony meant so much more having 'been there'.
And speaking of the coronation, what a ceremony! The depth of meaning of each part. The blessings that were said! Oh, my heart! I found myself weeping from the emotion of it all.
God bless you and keep you, Brenda,
Carolyn Stutz
Brenda thank you for the lovely postcard. Your posts always are filled with the joy of life even in the midst of troubles. It seems like having a good outlook even when things are concerning helps one to get through the hard times. Your posts are such a pleasure to read. Enjoy your time away. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteDear Brenda,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely postcard. I'm catching up on posts as I've been away from blogging for a bit, too. The longer I'm away the harder getting back into the rhythm seems. The fires up north are dreadful, and so early. It doesn't bode well for the summer ahead. But we know where our confidence and trust lies, and He is ever faithful.
Brenda, thinking about you and worried about those fires. May God hold you close to His Sacred Heart and keep you and your loved ones safe.
ReplyDeleteHi Brenda. I had a blog break while vacationing throughout May. It was therapeutic but I missed all my blog peeps a lot. In both California and Colorado we experienced smoke from the fires. I hope you and all your friends and family are safe from any harm. Your blog is one of my absolute favorites so I hope you will eventually be back. In the meantime, take care and be safe.
ReplyDeleteP.S. That anonymous above was me, Brenda. I thought when I signed in with Google, my name would come up but it still came out anonymous. This is Susan from Writing Straight from the Heart.
ReplyDelete