Path of Least Resistance

How often do you become stuck in the same pattern or travelling the same route? Just as water flows along the path of least resistance, all too often we choose the easiest way before us, leaving talents untapped, possibilities not pursued, and goals unfulfilled. And in the process, these well-worn paths become deeply etched, like the lines on this rock face, making it more difficult to take an alternate route.

Featuring Blue #3

Sometimes patterns come in the most surprising places, like the patterns in the water that I came across while walking along the river. Something in the water had been churned up to make these intriguing patterns.

Perky Polka Dots

Half the fun of giving a gift, for me anyway, is in the presentation. I usually start with a theme, perhaps a colour, and go from there. In this particular case, it all started with some red and white gift wrap that I bought knowing that my dear friend R. is partial to red. Next I remembered some black and white polka dot ribbon I already had squirreled away. A trip to my local crafts shop turned up the perfect polka dot boxes as well as some wee red paper bags. A quick trip down another aisle yielded some red and white gingham ribbon. Once home I punched a few star-shaped breathing holes in the red bags destined to hold flower bulbs.

Put it all together, tie a ribbon onto the Spanish garden tub, and what have you got? A very cheery gift! R. tells me she had as much fun undoing this gift as I had assembling it!

Ribbons by the Foot

One of the great things about visiting another city is discovering unique shops that you don't have in your own area. Finding myself with a little time before an appointment on one of my trips to Montreal, I took a short walk down a street where I don’t normally go. I was rewarded by coming across a shop I'd never found before, filled with beautiful papers, stationery and ribbons. And oh, what gorgeous ribbons they had for sale by the foot. I couldn’t resist and bought the ones pictured here to bring home with me. What gorgeous colours. Eventually I’ll find a purpose for them, but for now it’s enough just to look at them.

The Primrose Wall

For many, April heralds gardens filled with spring blooms. Not so where I live. Every year at this time, the horticultural students from the local college put on a spring garden show. I visited this year’s display this past Saturday. I wandered about inside, breathing the moist scented air, along with fellow gardeners who were also slightly giddy at the sight of so many blooms after months of serious garden deprivation. Yellow parrot tulips striped with red, luscious blue lace cap hydrangeas, stands of daffodils and hyacinths. The sight I was most taken with, though, was the primrose wall. Potted primroses had been turned sideways and guided into the open spaces in a section of brick wall. It was a very effective and pretty way of displaying blooms.