Busy preparing for a big night

I've been busy preparing for another big Dialogue with Spirit Guides event.  We're putting it on tomorrow at the Belfry Theatre here in Victoria and although we're less stressed about it because we've done it before, there's been a lot to organize.  This time we're also working with a filmmaker, Krista Loughton, who is going to use some footage as part of a documentary on Jane's work with the spirit guides.  This is our poster for the event designed by a talented volunteer Sacha.

Both Sacha and Krista plus a number of other people are volunteering to help us because they believe in this way of bringing spirit wisdom through to the world.  Any profit from the event will go towards developing the documentary film.  If you want to learn more,  you can go to our website circleswithincircles.com to see what it's about.  We're looking forward to a fascinating evening with the spirit guides tomorrow night.  I'll let you know how it all goes.

Ruby Tuesday Choir Performance

On the weekend we took in a performance of the Gettin' Higher Choir here in Victoria.  I'm posting this photo for Ruby Tuesday because of all the red that the singers are wearing.  I used to be a member of this choir and I love to go and listen to them sing.  It's a "non-audition" choir, which means that anybody who wants to sing can take part--even if you think you can't sing.  I loved that aspect of it because it allowed me (whose voice is less than perfect) to take part in group singing.

The concert was to raise funds for a village in Mozambique that this choir has been supporting for a number of years.  Fundraising has enabled the village to build a school, a medical clinic, a well and many other things to make the lives of the people who live there better. You can read about it here.  It's a wonderful cause, I think. 

Plus the music is terrific.  This is just before their very first song--and you can see how focused everyone is.  The songs they choose are so full of spirit and love, it makes me want to find the time to take part again.  Maybe in the fall....?

Drops of sweetness

I’ve always noticed those tiny ants that crawl around on peony buds. But for some reason I’ve never before seen the little drops of syrup that attract them.  Until today when I cut a few flopped over buds and brought them into the kitchen.  Later looking at them I could clearly see the little drops of sweetness the peonies exude.

They’re like little jewels and I can attest that they taste very sweet in a flowery way.  Imagine being able to taste the nectar of this gorgeous flower!  The peony flower has expanded my day in a beautiful way--and it hasn't even opened up to its full loveliness yet.

Blog buddies and Leaf Shadows

I’m back on line, just in time to post a leaf shadow shot for Shadow Shot Sunday.  My dear husband managed to get the modem hooked up today so my life can return to normal.  I had a lovely birthday learning how to use a mat cutter to make mats for the water colour paintings I did in Mexico.  My stepson Ben helped me and we are going to build white wood frames for them too. 

Another sweet surprise on my birthday was a special post from my blogging buddy, Angry Parsnip.  She sent me a birthday photo and some music via her blog, Two Little Square Black Dogs .  The world of blog friends just gets wider and wider.  It’s a special connection.  I loved getting bloggy birthday greetings also from Ches at Alt. Build Blog and from Kathleen at Easy for Me to Say.   

We actually had some sun today but I was too busy planting and raking to remember to take some shadow shots.  This image from my archive shows the shadow from the Akebia leaves on the back fence.  I like the way the shadow of string shows its wound-up effect.  I hope your weekend is productive and fun as well.

Computer woes

All I wanted to do was move my modem from one room to another.  Somehow in doing so everything got messed up and it can't be fixed until Monday.  So no blogging for me today or all weekend.  I think I'll be in serious withdrawal.  Not to speak of all the emails that will be piling up.  This is posted from a coffee shop but I think I'll try to take a little computer break this weekend since it's my birthday.  See you next week.

Dockside Green

These pictures are just a small part of a very cool development that's been built on an unused part of Victoria's harbour, just across a bridge from downtown.  The design has qualified as a LEED project: a Canadian program based on principles of smart growth, green building and sustainable design.  I've been hearing about Dockside Green for a couple of years but haven't really seen it until recently.  Our Tai Chi class takes place just behind here and we've been stopping in for coffee after at a little place that's tucked into Dockside Green.



Just the other day I took a walk along the greenway and was very impressed the small part of it I saw.  I was drawn to the canal with wooden bridges that connected to the condo dwellers deck areas.


I really like the feeling of "new urbanism" in this complex.















It's a combination of contemporary architecture designed to promote community with beautiful natural features that also have a purpose.  This waterway, besides being beautiful, is part of a waste water cleansing system.

I am so pleased to to see builders beginning to take sustainable green building principles seriously.  What do you think of this approach?  Would you like to live here?