Thought Of The Day

    My flight to England is getting closer. It's on the coming Friday. Weather is getting much better, not too hot, not too cold.  It's so perfect 16C today, amazing. I am at the lakeside, walking in just with my light jacket. No gloves, no woolen scarf. Things change, that is the beauty of time. Nothing stays forever. Water at the lake surface is sparkling like silver. With time it turns to gold as the sun starts showering its light from time to time on the water. Beautiful wild flowers of so many colors are spreading amid all the green around. Things change so quickly. Last week it was a totally different scenario. Now it has changed, all so different. Looks like Nature keeps on changing the scenes on a big movie screen. Up in the sky are the same situation. The entire sky looks like an art gallery. Masterpiece paintings of art we keep on watching on a wide canvas. Sketches with pencils and watercolors. It is so beautiful, eye -catching. Nature Is amazing....

          One week of June is already gone and we are still waiting for our summer days. This is Canada my dear. Nowadays it's not so cold and I still have to wear a jacket and sweater. It's a sunny morning, a bit windy. Wind gusts are around 48 km. I am off from work. I have to schedule some other plans for my day. I am leaving next week for England.  I have to make some calls to my friends to say goodbye. It's early morning to call. I will finish my own things. I will call them later. We call them to maintain our relationships. Calls have to be made not too early and not too late. We don't want to ruin our relationship. We have to track the right timings. It's 10.45, I think the time is right to make calls. It also depends on relationships. Some people, we are not so close. Just have a formal relationship. Keep these things in mind. Our talks have to be short. People don't have to feel trapped. We have to let them go in a reasonable time. It...

    It's one of another day, another morning to enjoy. We are lucky to be up to get brand new twenty four hours every morning. It is available right on our bed side.  We have to open it up, unwrap the bundle and it is ready to use. Just have to plan what to do with these twenty four hours.  Keep in mind this is a gift from God Almighty. We have to feel honored. We have to make good use of it. Doing nothing is like putting this precious gift into a bin. Don’t do that please. God won’t be happy. Plan beforehand so as not to waste any time. The time available is just for one time only. It won't be coming back. It will be gone for good. Keep that in mind. Value it and make full use of that. My sleep is not good nowadays. I have to go to England to  see my daughters by the end of the month. My flight is already booked for the twentieth of June.  I will be there for a couple of months. I have three of my daughters, my sister and some other family member...

    It's a cold sunny morning. I still have to wear a jacket but not a sweater underneath my jacket.  June has already started and we are not out of our jackets. Our winter is taking some extra miles this year. Not backing off. It's Tuesday, I am off from my work. I don't have to go to the library to play Darts today. On the days I am off work, I walk to Tim Hortons to enjoy my coffee and my time. To be with a cup of tea  / coffee, sitting quietly, is a novel experience. So peaceful. Coffee House is not a quiet place. There are people sitting around. So much traffic going on. People are coming and leaving most of the time. I think it all depends on the state of your mindset. You are focused on something, deeply involved, you don't get distracted from what's going on outside, around. I come here just to be with myself. I don't get disturbed from around. Sometimes we just want to do “Nothing”. No thoughts, no plans. Everything is on hold for a while. ...

    I was happy a couple of days ago, the weather was great. People were busy making plans for summer days ahead.  Not anymore. We are back in sweaters and our long coats. I think we have to wait for a bit to hang coats and jackets back in our coat closet. It's 10.30, 6 C, a cold windy morning with gusts around 50 km. I am done with my breakfast, sitting with my computer to browse Facebook messages. I think we are lucky to have these gadgets. I mean computers and cell phones. We don't have any problem passing our time. We are not dependent on people to be with us all the time. We don't need company. To be with people is good. We are social animals after all. All depends on who the people are. They don't have to be too inquisitive or too talkative. Not too quiet. It depends on the state of our mind. Sometimes we just need a good listener. Sometimes we need to be with someone to share our coffee / tea and also a little bit of chit chat. It depends on our mood...

    White Butterfly, my friend is here after a long time. I am walking by the Whites Road. She is beside me.  She is fast, I am trying to cope with her steps. She is young and full of beauty. I am old at the later stages of my life cycle. Lost my beauty, lost my touch. It happens to everyone, not only in my case. This is life, comes time for all the creatures big and small.  I am now passing by the small ravine. I see here some dead trees lying down like pieces of wood in the midst of so many greens. This is life my dear. Time comes for everyone to all creatures. We have to accept it with grace. Have to enjoy our time with full zeal and fervor.  We have to celebrate every bit of our time. The time we are allotted to be here with the permission of God Almighty. White Butterfly is taking breaks to be aligned with my steps. She is so courteous. It is nice of her. In between she keeps on enjoying her time. Talking to flowers on the way.  Flowers loo...

    It's a beautiful bright sunny morning. Sun is in full bloom, smiling from above. Yesterday it was raining all day. Everything is looking great after the shower.  My deck is neat and clean. Grass in my back garden is lush green. Beautiful view to behold to cherish your moments. My friend the Black Squirrel is busy with his exercises on the wooden fence of my garden.  The Canadian rose plant is back to life, still not any flowers not even budding. I think it will take time. I miss It's Pink flowers. David Austin, the blood red rose flower plant is a slow one. It needs extra time to revive. There is not much activity in the flower bed at the back of my garden. There are a couple of plants, not blooming.  Weather is still a bit on the cool side. Not favorable to plant. We used to get a variety of seasonal plants every year. We got some, lying in my garage, waiting for the suitable weather to plant in the flower bed. Our spring is short like our sum...

    It's Tuesday, I have my day off. I don't work on Tuesdays. Monday was a close holiday because of Victoria day.  She helped Canada to make the Charter of Democracy. We remember that and celebrate. Everything was closed and only eateries were open. I enjoyed my time in Tim Hortons. It was a very long weekend for me. I will go to work tomorrow to play Darts. I believe work is like a blessing. It helps us to organize our lifestyle. We don't have to worry about how to spend our time. It helps us to be productive and also keeps us away from negativity. Schools are the same to impart a positive change in our life. We have no issues in the earlier days of our life, how to organize ourselves and to chalk out our day programs. In the later stages, we have to find hobbies to be active. Our health issues start coming up with our age. We have to keep that in mind while choosing our activities. We don’t have to be too ambitious while making our plans. With time our ne...

    It's 10.15, I am at Petticoat Creek. Beautiful view, beautiful morning. Water at the lake is looking great, deep blue, calm and quiet. Birds are chatting under the walking bridge. Maybe having a party. I can hear them loud and clear. Via the train, that connects America and Canada, is passing, on the overhead bridge. This train always reminds me of the times of my late youngest sister. She used to live in Chicago. Time flies. Memories linger on. Lots of people are here. Some are walking with their dogs. Some are busy with fishing. Some are walking around just like myself.  I am wearing a light jacket. Silk scarf, orange with a flowery pattern. My daughter, the middle one, gifted it to me. Couple of years ago while I was visiting her place, Grimsby in England. Days go by, beautiful memories, golden moments get stuck in our mind. Somewhere inside in our memory box. Like glistening jewels. We open up our memory box whenever we want. To enjoy our time to mak...

    Today I was awake and it was too early to get out of my bed. It was 5 in the morning. Too early to start my day. I stayed in bed, gave myself some time to go back to sleep.  It was not easy, but I succeeded later on. I was happy to start my day at my usual time. When there is a will there is always a way to get a solution. In the later stages of life we have to chalk out our day time table on our own. We don't have fixed schedules. We are done with our school and work days.  Not much to get busy at home too as our kids are no more kids. They all are now grown ups and moved out to start their own life, their own family. We are sitting on an empty nest. We have two options to make ourselves miserable by doing nothing. Just watching TV or sitting beside our computer or with our cell phones. The other option is to make our time table, to organize ourselves. We don't have to be strict to follow that. We have to be flexible, not to feel stuck or tied up. ...

    Bright sunny morning with 16 C. We don't need any jackets, not even light ones. Our winter was a bit longer this time. Yesterday I had to wear a sweater underneath my jacket. Anyway, it is done. Winter days are now history for a while. We are all set to enjoy our spring. Getting plants and pots from green houses, from nurseries to give color to our gardens. My Magnolia tree is full of beige flowers with a pinkish hue.  Lush green grass and the trees around started blooming with new leaves. This all looks like the atmosphere is full of life. Loaded with all sorts of aroma and fragrances. It's 11.30, I  am getting ready for my walk. Not much to wear. I don’t have to bundle up. Just a light shirt and pants, not my warm one and a light scarf. I have to get my tablet to write my Blog, while enjoying my coffee at Tim Hortons. I also don't have to forget my cell and headphones. My daughters can call me. They know my time table, and used to call me at this ...

    Things change, life goes on. Every day, every moment there's a totally different scenario. To observe, to enjoy, to make our days.  Life is like an open book to write on the blank pages. I think it is like a combo with all the bitter and sweet. We come across so much on the way while passing through our stages of life.   It is like a roller coaster. We have to filter out our difficult moments۔ Keep on compiling our beautiful moments in the book of life.  Past is done. It won't be coming back. We can lock up our beautiful memories Inside our memory box. To open it up to have a feel, to brighten our day. Good memories are like stars, like jewels. Keep on glistening in the dark. Lock it up, we need them so many times to elevate our mood. To keep ourselves going.  We especially need them in the later stage of our life. We have lots of time. We can enjoy our memorable moments. I believe that we can name life, like a change. Change of weather, ch...

  We are still waiting for summer in Canada. Still have to dig out our coat closets to bundle up. Rain usually comes late at night or early mornings to brighten our gardens. Grass is now turned into lush green with no brown patches in between. My front garden is looking great. The Magnolia tree on the left is loaded with beautiful peach color flowers with a pinkish hue. Red wooden bench is shining under the tree, adding up the beauty of my garden.  Skeleton trees look happy. Green already started running through their bodies. Looks like soon they will be back on the track. Twin Towers, the two tall trees in the front garden of my next door neighbor, started renovating their apartments to rent out. So much has changed in the past few weeks. It already started looking like a festive atmosphere. People are now in a festive mood. My back garden is a bit slow. Not so much activity there. I am waiting for my beautiful pink Canadian roses. It comes early, not like my bloo...

Great morning 21 C, a bit gusty with wind 54 km. Weather is like a roller coaster. Yesterday was cold. I needed so many things to bundle up for my walk. Today I am wearing a light jacket, not even my long light coat.  Summertime is not long here for us Canadians. We know that, so we enjoy it with full fervor. We start right away getting ready to get out to hit roads, trails and waters. It is a totally different scenario. Birds chirping around. Skeleton trees are back to life. Look happy with green tinge running through their bodies.  Squirrels are busy collecting food. I think they are having parties. Guests must be coming for a get together. Everyone looks in a festive mood, enjoying their time in their own style. Every season is unique with its own beauty. I remember the winter time. People were busy playing ice hockey and fishing in the middle of the frozen lake. They used to enjoy their walks in trails with long heavy coats, snow boots and gloves. We Humans ...

    April 26th 2025 It's a beautiful bright sunny morning, 5 C feels like zero. Sun is shining up and above, smiling to make our day brighter. He is here most of the days even in cold wintry times. So nice of him. It helps so much to handle our Canadian winter. At the later stages of our life, so many issues come up. Every morning is like Christmas. We don't know what we are getting to deal with. It always comes up with a surprise to handle whichever part of our body is not in a good shape. We have no idea beforehand. Same is with most of the nights. We go to bed with good intentions. After a while something comes up to take our sleep away. We keep on waiting for a good sleep. That looks like a dream not to come true any time soon. Every stage of the cycle of our life is unique and quite different from one another. We have to keep on adjusting to that. Not only at the later stages of our life. It goes on happening at every stage, every day. We have to be patient, fl...

    We Humans are amazing creatures. Everything around us affects our mood and our behaviors.  The surrounding, the people, the atmosphere. We can get flared up or be happy. All depends on the surroundings. Sometimes everything is fine but our body is not in a mood to cooperate. We feel low, don't want to move ahead to make our day. Our mind gets blank. Not in a shape to direct our body. Our mind is key like a commander. Controls all of our body actions. We have to take action at that time. Have to skip that stagnant moment in some way to save our day. We have to push ourselves, to get out of that situation. Try to change your place, your scenery. It will resolve the issue. We will be able to overcome that situation to save our day. Change of place works most of the time. It helps to change our attitude. Attitude is key. It controls our thought process. Body movements help to distract ourselves from thinking negatively. Try to get out of the stagnant situation....

    Happy Easter to all my friends who celebrate Easter It's a beautiful morning. Sunny with 13C. It was raining last night so everything looks great after taking a shower. My deck is all washed and clean. Grass is green in my back and front garden. Trees around look Happy back to life with green tinge in their bodies. The Magnolia tree at the left side of my front garden, started budding. Winter days are over. Spring jumped in to give colors to yards and gardens. Atmosphere is already loaded with the fragrance of a variety of colorful wildflowers. Birds are back from South of the Border. Apartments in the Twin Towers are already rented out. I mean, the two tall trees in the front garden of my next door neighbor are back to life with Birds around. I can see them busy with chit chat, enjoying time with their neighbors. I am getting ready for my walk. Don't have to bundle up after a long time. I picked my light long raincoat. There are chances of showers. I have to take measures...

    April 15th 2025 It's a cloudy windy day. Rain is about to start any time soon. It is early morning, I am just done with my breakfast.  Have to get ready for my walk before the rain starts. It's a windy day with gusts of 64 km. I have to be careful to pick what to wear, how to dress up. I am all set with my warm pants, long winter coat with sweater underneath. My woolen cap stole and gloves. We have to be aware of the weather before taking any step to get out. Our purpose is to enjoy our time. Not properly dressed, we can't enjoy ourselves. We have to foresee things before it is too late to be mended. Never forget to check the weather before leaving home for any outing. Walks, going to someone's place, gatherings. Take measures before you leave. Overdressing as well as whenever we are under dressed, won’t be a good option. It will ruin your day. We won't enjoy our time out. Anyway, I am all set for my walk.  No worries rain or shine doesn't matt...

    April 12th 2025 Life is too short. We have to avail every moment to make our days. Not just try to make your own days.  Try to make the days of other people brighter too. We are here for a limited time. All are waiting for our calls to leave. Try to leave with good memories for the people behind. It's a beautiful sunny cold day. Sun is up and above smiling to make our day brighter. Everyone feels good to be with the company of Sun. Same is with the Moon and stars. They all come  smiling with happy faces.  Happiness is contagious. We all start to be indulged in happiness. Start keeping our bad moments aside. Our life has to be like them. Ready to make others happy. I am at Tim Hortons. Life is all good. No complaints. Thanks to God Almighty to keep watching over we people all the time. It's a festive atmosphere at the Coffee House. I enjoyed my time. Time to go home now. I am walking by the Whites Road. Skeleton trees started to come back to life...

    It's cold and windy today. Weather is like a roller coaster nowadays. Couple of days ago we were so sure that summer will be here anytime soon. Now it looks like it is not anymore. We have to wait for a while.  It is 11.30 feels like 16C below zero and wind gusts 65 km. Sun is shining in full bloom. It's the beauty of Canada that the sun is there most of the time to make our days brighter even in cold wintry days.  Cleaning lady is busy working at my place. I have to wait for her to leave.  After that I will go for my walk. Today I have to be extra careful, and have to bundle up in layers.  We have to manage with whatever the circumstances are. Things change and so does the weather. It won't be the same cozy and comfortable all the time. Some days too hot and some days too cold. Rain, snow, we have to manage whatever is there. Same are the people around. Some friendly, some straightforward and some blunt and sort of rude.  We humans ar...

    Today is the 5th of April. Time flies so quickly. April just started and nearly one week has gone by now. New year is also not new anymore. Quarter of the New year is gone. Shower started in the morning. It is not heavy rain, just drizzling. I love to walk in the drizzle. You feel cozy, with a very unique feeling. Looks like It is washing all your stray thoughts away.  Stops you from thinking anything else.  Your mind is just focused on the beauty around. Wonderful aroma of the earth. Rain drops hanging on the trees like pearls. Atmosphere starts looking great, loaded with all sorts of fragrances. You start to feel that you are also part of nature, part of the universe. Your focus gets diverted on the scattered beauty. It's 11.30, I am getting ready for my walk to Tim Hortons.  I will enjoy my walk in the drizzle and also the coffee after over there. It will be a treat for my body. She is a great listener. Always cooperates with my plans to make...

     Yesterday the weather was cold and windy with gusts 54 km. Walk was a bit challenging for me. I made it anyway. Today it is much calmer and not so windy, just38 km. Sunny with 2 C, first time not below zero after a long time. It's Tuesday everyone left for work. Today is garbage pick up day in our neighborhood. Grey, green and blue all sorts are lined up by the side of driveways. It is a working day so not many cars are here. Just a couple of cars are beside the front doors, waiting for order to proceed. I am done with my breakfast and with making some calls. My younger brother is not well, going through his difficult times. With age so many things start coming up. Our body becomes weak, same with our nerves and other powers. It becomes hard to tackle the circumstances. This is the cycle of life. We have to face it with patience. Patience is a virtue, helps to handle things every time. We have to distract ourselves. The more we will be focused we get depressed. Thing...

    March 29th 2025 It's a cloudy rainy day. Rain just started and will be for the whole day. March will be done and in a couple of days April will start. April showers May flowers. It is great news that Spring will be here shortly. Flower beds will be back to life. Birds will start nesting. The Magnolia tree in my front garden, started budding already. The Magnolia tree is always the first one to let me know that Spring is just around the corner. My friend the Black Squirrel will be here for his workouts on the wooden fence of my back garden. The Canadian rose plant will be loaded with beautiful pink flowers all around. I can't wait to see all that. Atmosphere will be loaded with aroma and all kinds of fragrances. Skeleton trees will no longer be Skeletons. They all will be back to life. There will be so much green around. It will be a totally different scenario. We will start planning to hit the roads, trails and waters. People will be busy outdoors, going fish...

  March 25th 2025 It was a busy day for me. Internet guy was coming around noon to fix it. In the morning I had to make some calls. My younger brother had surgery a couple of days ago. It is not serious, still it will take some time to get back on track for him. It's important to let the people know that we are there for you in your difficult moments. Especially for our loved ones, we have to make it a priority to contact them. Our calls will work like a lifeline at times of distress. It will boost their will power to handle their difficult days. Time flies, nothing is there forever. Kids are growing up. We are getting older. Same is for the time of distress. It won't stay for long. Those who are now dealing with the difficult period of their life won't need you later on. Everything matters at the time when needed. It devalues afterwards. Our days here, in this world, are numbered. We have to keep that in mind. Calendar goes on flipping. Mornings keep on chang...

     March 22nd 2025 Weather is tricky, too windy, 56 km gusts. I see some flurries too from my window. I am done with my breakfast, planning to go for my walk. I think it is not safe for walks.  At our age we have to be more careful with our body. We can’t afford falls. It will be done for the rest of the days of our life. Our body is not so strong to handle any such thing. Safety is important at any age. It has to be top priority at our age. My son has to go with his wife. He offered to give me a ride. Lucky me. It's 11.15, I am at Tim Hortons. This is like my second home. I am working three days a week, going to the library to play Darts.  I take library like my work place, my office. After we are retired, we have to trick ourselves. It works well to keep our mind on the right track. Helps to keep ourselves away from thinking negatives. Mind and body are interconnected, like two in one. We take care of one of them, the other one will work well t...

  March 17th 2025 Open letter to my Friends It's already mid of March and we still have to wear coats. It is Monday morning with 4C below zero feels like 11C below zero. We had lots of snow this year, especially in the month of February. We had two back to back big storms dumping more than seventy eight centimeters of snow. We were stuck for about a day otherwise life was going on. Roads were all cleared and traffic was normal. Walkways and side roads took some time to be back on track. Thanks to the city workers. Toronto was not the same. It was a different scenario with heaps of snow by road sides. To open car doors was not easy on a double driveway due to the big snow dump at the side. Our city looked like Ottawa. It reminded me of the time thirty years ago. The time when I used to live in Ottawa. Things in Toronto looked the same in February. Snow all around. Anyway, the snow is gone. Not here anymore. Thanks to the sun shining in full bloom. Summer is getting closer day by da...

   March 15th 2025 It's 10 in the morning cloudy hazy day. Sun is not awake, still hiding under his grey blanket. I won't blame him.  It is weekend. Let him enjoy. I am getting ready to leave with my son. He is going to pick his son, the youngest one from uni. He has his exams today from 8 to 10 am. Universities have their own programs, own time tables. Exams even on weekends and at nights too sometimes. So much has changed from the things from our times. Zoom lectures online classes. Not in person like we used to do in our days. My eldest grandson just used to change his shirt for customer meetings. He is managing the sales department. Things are getting easier day by day. I think there's a cost to all this. We go on losing human touch. Family values are already at stake. Younger generation doesn't want to mix up with distant family members. They don't even know them. No time and no need for such extra matters.  To them this is all irrelevant. Waste o...

  It is the month of March and the weather is a bit tricky. Charles Dickens was right to mention in one of his beautiful writings.  “ One of those days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade “. Amazing description so close to reality. Weather is getting better day by day. Snow is melting away. Sun looks much brighter in full bloom. Smiling from up and above. Summer looks just around the corner. Everyone is waiting eagerly making plans for partying outside. In Canada every season is intense and comes in full bloom. We Canadians have a feel of all and learned to enjoy every season. Winter comes with twenty to twenty five C below zero Piles of snow dumping around. Spring comes bringing everything back to life. Flower beds with all kinds of beautiful flowers. Skeleton trees now loaded with leaves around. Grass in gardens, is lush green. We see so much green all around. Autumn comes, bringing a totally dif...

      It's a beautiful cold morning windy day gusts around 44 km. Weather is getting better, still 8 C below zero. Some people started their walks wearing winter coats with gloves and everything on. Snow is still around, melting down a bit. Walkways are patchy with small water puddles here and there. Sun is smiling from up and above. He is there most of the time to make our days brighter. This is the beauty of Canada that we have bright days even at times of 20 C below zero. Our gloomy cloudy days are not so many in comparison to our sunny mornings. Every city and every country is unique, differs with its own climate with its own scenario and beauty. While visiting various cities we get different flavors everywhere to enjoy our time. I had visitors early this morning today. My late husband's younger brother’s wife is here from back home visiting her daughter. She is leaving next week, she came to see me with her daughter from Mississauga. It's forty minutes a...

    March 4th 2025 Beautiful morning after days it is not snowing today. Chances of rain are 80% for all day. Let's see. Our weather channel's predictions are usually correct.  We Canadians rely on it. We start our day checking the forecast first thing in the morning to plan our day schedule. Our life is all around this channel. It plays a key part in our day to day life here in Canada. Today is my dentist appointment in the afternoon. Cars are out of the question as my daughter in law works in person. My grandson, the eldest one, works online. He is having an in-person meeting today.  He offered to change his schedule for my appointment. I was happy and thankful to him for his kind gesture. I told him that I can make it on my own. I know that sometimes we need support to streamline our things in life. I believe we have to try to handle it on our own until it's unavoidable.  It gives strength to ourselves and boosts our will power too. This is esp...

  March 1st 2025 March has already started, spring is just around the corner and we are still under the grip of cold. Winter is not done for us in Canada. It's 16 C below zero feels like 24 C below.  Heaps of snow are all around due to last week's two back to back snow storms. We are having light snow every day but not as much as last week. We had thirty five centimeters of snow in just two or three days. Snow is no problem here in Canada, especially in Toronto. City is equipped to deal with that. Streets and walkways all cleared right away. I live by the curly roadside still it is done in a couple of hours later on. Some provinces in Canada on the North side have issues as there is too much snow not easy to handle so it takes time to clear the mess. My eldest daughter in Edmonton has to wear cleats to get mail from the mailbox just across her house.  Winter is long over there for more than six months. I won't blame the city people. It's tough to deal with...

  February 25th 2025 Today I walked to Tim Hortons after weeks. My walking was on hold due to the back to back couple of snow storms. It was muddy and water on the walkway still I was able to handle.  I was walking slowly, not taking big steps. Snow now became ice, hanging with trees around. White Snow banks by the sides of the walkway, looking beautiful, giving a scenic view to the path. I was wearing joggers. It helped me to walk through. It was sort of a muddy path I made to get to the Coffee House safely. We have to look around for the conditions to be careful with our health and safety.  Health varies to everyone. Depending on our health we can take measures to make decisions taking that aspect into account. Safety is a priority for everyone at any age. As we are getting older we are entering into the later stages of the cycle of life. We have to take added precautions. Our body becomes older and fragile and needs extra care and extra safety. We have to...

  Clearing the paths and walkways is a long process, and will take weeks to put the city back on track. Bunkers of snow, all lined up by the roads and walkways.  Driveways are under the same situation. It's not easy to enter your car. You can not open the door if two cars are parked on the driveway. Door gets stuck by the pile of snow at the side. It's sunny today, we will be getting some help to soften up the density of the snow. It will be slightly softer to clear off. Still it is a lot, not a day or two days job. It will take a while.  It's 9 C below zero feeling like 17 C below. Weather channel always portrays the windchill factor to give the actual cold intensity. It helps to get ready to be prepared to face the cold outside. We don't get any surprises. It's early morning, 8.15, I am done with my breakfast. I am getting ready to go with my son to drop my grandson, the youngest one to his Uni. He has exams at 9 am. We grandparents experience a uniq...

    Happy St Patrick day to all my Irish friends We in Toronto are in the middle of a couple of snow storms. There were two back to back with twenty five centimeters of snow. Thirty years ago I used to live in Ottawa. There we experienced heaps of snow. Winter days were tough. long for more than six months over there. People used to walk on the frozen lake surface. Snowflakes were floating on the lake water even in the month of May. Roads used to be cleared thanks to the city still snow used to be like hillocks around. Nowadays it's the same situation here in Toronto. City expects that it will take three weeks to clear all that mess. My walks are on hold for now. I try to go to the Coffee house to change my scenery whenever I can. My grandson goes to the gym. I coordinate with his schedule. My son was going to get groceries yesterday, He dropped me at Tim Hortons. Even the coffee house entrance was not safe. I was taking my steps very carefully. We try to get out...

    It's mid of February and two big snow storms are on the way. Snow is already all around. February is usually a tough month here in Canada. Same for the parts in America closer to the Canadian borders. I called my brother yesterday. It was the same story over there. He was stuck at home and walks were out of question for nowadays. He lives in Whitby with his daughter, twenty minutes away from my place Pickering in Canada. He is visiting his other daughter in Chicago. He was thinking that he will be away from the tough freezing cold days over here. Not anymore. I am worried about him. He is not in good shape, facing Parkinson problems. He is about my age, just a couple of years younger than me. In his good days, he was a very active and outgoing person. We have to value our moments in hand. You never know what is going to come in later days ahead. God forbid anything can happen at any stage of our life, still the last leg of the cycle of our life is a bit tricky...

     Sometimes things look good all in your favor and suddenly you figure out that you have to take a back. Today the same happened to me. It was 10 C below zero and also not too windy, and looked good to walk.  I planned to get out to get some fresh air and to top up my steps. Winter days you won't get many chances to add up your steps. We live in Canada, it's snowy and cold. We are used to it still, going for a walk is like a challenge for us. We have to bundle up in layers with so many things on and it becomes tough to walk around to enjoy the outdoors. Anyway I got ready with everything, sweater, gloves, woolen cap, stole and with my heavy winter coat. There are from light to heavy ones, all varieties of coats in our coat closet. We pick and choose depending on the weather conditions.  It is good to have safety as your priority all the time. Not good to have any surprises on the way. It is better to think before taking any action. Think through, ...