Blessing a House...

I have read about blessing a house, but have never participated in a house blessing. The first time I heard of the practice was in an account by Catherine Marshall (one of my favorite authors). She felt a strong desire to have a rental property owned by her family blessed before renting it out, after several tenants living there had experienced a lot of unhappiness. She asked friends to come to the house and join her in praying that future tenants would find the house a blessing.

Interesting... I remember thinking...

More recently, in Liturgy of the Ordinary, author Tish Harrison Warren mentions how, if one of her priest friends is asked to bless a house, he doesn't leave out the bathroom! When he gets there, people gather around to hear what he'll say. 

He anoints the bathroom mirror with oil and prays that when people look into it, they would see themselves as beloved images of God [made in God's image and] that they would not relate to their bodies with the categories the world gives them...[seeing only] what is lacking or wrong about our bodies.

I really love that prayer!

Winter River Walk

After our last snowfall, Terry and I drove to a park on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, to see if sidewalks there had been cleared.

Some parks in Ottawa, like Andrew Haydon Park, close their parking lots in winter, so I've always assumed that walking paths aren't maintained either.

We were delighted to discover that the public parking lot in Quebec, as well as sidewalks next to the river had all been cleared - though access points onto the sidewalk were few and far between.

Following the footprints of others, we crossed the snow barriers made by the plows...

Last time we were here, we saw ice fishermen. This time we saw none.

This park next to the river has become my favorite place to walk!

It was so refreshing to breathe in the cold river air.

But after about an hour, we were ready to head back home!

Fresh Snow!

Several days ago, we got fresh snow...

But the good news is that the coming week is supposed to be sunny... or, at least, partly sunny!

So happy to see the promise of blue skies! It’s a real mood booster for me!

Winter Walking... In Hintonburg, Again

Terry and I have been heading to Hintonburg for weekly walks - and for weekly fresh loaves of sourdough bread.

Our latest bakery "find" is this one. It sells not only great bread, but amazing brownies. 

When we come here, we also take time to explore the neighborhood...

Since we can't walk indoors in malls, walking in different neighborhoods has become become our winter exercise... 

Usually, the sidewalks are cleared... and there aren't a lot of people milling about.

There are also interesting sights to see, including outdoor wall art...

I've taken pictures of outdoor murals in Montreal and Toronto.

I'm glad to see paintings brightening old neighborhoods in Ottawa as well...

So many different painting styles... Who creates them? 

How does one get into the business of creating this kind of art?!

Cute Sayings...

I recently walked past a store front window... Stopped, then walked back... I just had to take a few pictures!

Such a fun display!

So many cute sayings called my name...

I didn't know that "stressed" is "desserts" spelled backwards... 

Both words are connected for me: I do crave desserts when stressed...

I've never had the urge to eat ice cream for breakfast... (too cold!)  

But I can definitely identify! When I was younger, my normal breakfast was coffee and chocolate cake...

(And I think I was healthy!)

Any of these cards, pot-holders and boxes would bring a smile to a dessert-lover, like me...

It just amazes me that I'm not the only one!

Our Daily Walk: Wellington Street

On non-snowy days - when sidewalks can be trusted to be free of ice and snow, Terry and I like walk in different neighborhoods. 

I love my own neighborhood - but with very few sidewalks - and roads that slope towards the ditch, it poses an extra walking danger in winter for me. 

So off we drive... to take a walk!

One day recently, Terry and I headed to Wellington Street, between Westbo and Hintonburg, two interesting old neighborhoods. 

Two of his favorite bakeries - for sourdough bread - are located in Hintonburg...

He found the bread he wanted at a French bakery - where I bought an amazing brownie... (I'll definitely get it again!) I may try their French pastry sometime, too.

The streets and sidewalks weren't busy... 

At this time of year, with no trees and flowers to admire, I enjoy looking at murals painted on buildings...

Now that winter is here, I'm thankful for interesting neighborhoods to walk in, not all that far from home!

Steady Progress...

One of our daily pastimes is watching the changes occurring across the street...

In August 2020, this was our view...

In September, the old house came down...

The basements were built in October...

In November, two houses were framed...

In December there was a rush to put on roofs and install windows...

Now in January 2021, they're working indoors...

Before we know it, they'll be done!

Creating a Tiny "Book of Hours"

I'm currently reading a book about expressing oneself spiritually through art and poetry...

The book is full of exercises.

I was surprised to come across one recently that suggested dividing the day into "divine hours" - like monastics did, when they prayed five, six or even seven times a day.

Make a little "Book of Hours" by folding a strip of paper into pages, accordion style. Then write a haiku (3 line) prayer for these different prayer times: dawn, mid-morning, noon, mid- afternoon, suppertime, evening and bedtime... Those were the instructions...

I was surprised because I remembered that I had done this exercise before... quite a few years ago at an art workshop.

I still had my little "Book of Hours"... 

The leader had also suggested we paint a color on each page - a color that reflected our mood or energy level at each time of the day...

Did I the workshop leader used a copy of this book to give her ideas?!

Such a co-incidence!

Enjoying a Walk Downtown

A year ago - before the COVID 19 pandemic arrived in Canada, several times a week Terry and I would head to a large shopping center near our home so that I could "mall walk." Leaving my winter coat and boots with Terry, I'd head off. He enjoyed reading the newspaper and drinking coffee while I tried to reach 10,000 steps on my pedometer. Going around all three floors twice would give me the steps I wanted. Occasionally I'd meet someone I knew - but not very often.

Bayshore Shopping Centre was a lovely, warm place to walk...

We do miss those days of indoor walking - and occasional shopping - while winter winds howled outside.

That all stopped last March...

This year we've been trying to walk outdoors - weather permitting - several times a week. Coffee shops are closed, so Terry can't sit and read. He has to walk with me!

Our walks may be cooler - but they're equally interesting. 

One day last week we headed downtown - again with the idea of walking - and possibly buying fresh bread.  

We parked on a side street near the market.

The weather was brisk as we wandered around By-Ward Market, which was unusually quiet. 

We managed to find a bakery that was open - and buy bread. Then we headed towards the National Gallery - which also looked quite desolate.

The cathedral across the street is always beautiful.

After taking a few pictures of statues commemorating Canadian soldiers from early days until now...

Also Canadian  UN peacekeepers...

Then we continued down Wellington Street.

We paused on the bridge overlooking the Rideau Canal.

Then we headed up towards Parliament Hill - where construction is continuing...

Apart from the construction workers, there were very few people around. Not many tourists... I wonder if MP's and their staff are working from home, like so many others...

A quick look at the eternal flame - then back to the car. I did manage to get in my 10,000 steps that day.

Memories of "Winterlude" 1990

Ottawa's annual winter festival is called "Winterlude." It usually occurs mid to late January - but I don't think we'll be celebrating it this year, due to the pandemic...

I recently came across three photographs from Winterlude 1990...

Ice carvers in the ice-carving competition. Their sculptures are so impressive...

Skaters on the canal...

Children lining up at large snow slides... (Parents sometimes accompany them as they go down!)

Such great memories! Such fun!

Hopefully next year...

Walking... Closer to Home

Ontario residents are currently being discouraged from going far from home (due to the COVID pandemic).

So one day recently, we decided to head over to a nearby park to walk there. 

The park is in the middle of a neighborhood called "Centrepointe." When we first moved to this community, Centrepointe was just a forested area. 

When it was developed and became part of our city, we were then called Nepean. 

Nepean was later annexed to be part of Ottawa.

Back when this neighborhood was newly developed, a deer once jumped across the road in front of my car at night. I was so shocked! That had never happened before - and it hasn't happened since.

I don't know if any deer still live in the meager woods that are left..

As Terry and I were wandering around the well-kept paths, someone stopped and commented on Terry's hat, which had a team logo on it... And of course, we stopped to talk!

That sometimes happens on a neighborhood walk!