Birds Of A Feather

A RECENT GIFT from a thoughtful friend made me smile. I love the idea of flight and the cedar eagle feather carved and painted by Vancouver Salish artist, Len McKay, reminds me of how easily my imagination can take wing.

A creative thought floats like a feather ... light, free and minus the baggage. It can lift me up over city streets, rolling hills, wind tossed seas and into the billowy clouds. My flights of fancy know no bounds.

Beautiful moments don't last forever, however. Even the camouflaging bird (above) came down to earth to forage for food.

Although I've yet to see birds in the bath (above) during my Crescent Beach walks, I suspect they do land there because we all enjoy bathing and sometimes singing in the showers.

From the busy bird below (painted by my daughter when she was small) to the cedar feather and thoughts about flying, ideas are free flowing and life is incrementally changing so never as wooden or stuck in a frame as it appears.

Later in the week I joined my daughter in Vancouver for a mother/daughter hair day. I've always loved the differing shades and flow of her hair which was the major inspiration for Penelope Puddle's unruly locks.

On our way to lunch we saw the unique representation of Nike the ancient Greek Goddess of Victory (below) by Pavlos Angelos Kougioumtzis.

Presented to the City of Vancouver to commemorate the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the winged statue regally stands amid skyscrapers.

We also peeked into a high-end furniture store and saw ornamental peacocks (above) sporting feathers that I hoped were synthetic.

When we returned to my daughter's apartment it was clear to me that we both love antique artifacts, pretty flowers and lights brimming with extra sparkle.

People around the globe have more in common than not. Everyone wants to feel safe and cozy in their homes and treated with respect during their travels.

We are all birds of a feather, indeed, especially my daughter and I since we both agree there's something quite magical about a reliable and resilient umbrella.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

Snowy Backdrop For Sochi Winter Olympics

SNOW MADE another rare appearance in southwest BC this weekend as if to lend atmosphere to the Winter Olympics in faraway Russia. It was a fairly mild winter and spring seemed just around the corner until Saturday when a mix of icy rain and flakes fell.

Since I drove into Vancouver that day, it was nice to know that the wet snow would melt as soon as it hit the ground.

My daughter and I huddled under a big umbrella as we walked to a restaurant in the city for brunch. It was near a heritage structure that caught my eye.

Spaces in this building on Main Street have been filled over the years with celebratory laughter and the happier moments in life. The Heritage Hall was originally built as a Post Office in 1916. But nowadays it is a popular choice for weddings and community events. It also houses various social services.

The clock in the tower was manufactured in England and set into motion in 1915. It is carefully maintained by The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.

By the time Sunday (and more snow) rolled around my husband and I were definitely feeling the "wintry" theme of the Olympics. Like many neighbors we woke at four in the morning to watch the Canadian men's hockey team play Sweden live on television and were thrilled when Canada won the gold.

Our excitement was no doubt mild compared to the explosive highs and lows felt by every daring Olympian. From the cozy comforts of home, I captured images being televised across the globe.

Outside our window a white curtain of sparkly billowy snow fluttered downward, as if ceremoniously in close of winter and the Olympics.

The games, however, are not over and I look forward to the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics that run March 7th to March 16th.

Afterthoughts March 1, 2014

Although recent events show this troubled world needs more cooperation and less competition between countries and people in general, the Olympic games inspire me and I hope the upcoming Paralympics go well.

The flag waving and pride arrives from dedicated people working incredibly hard to achieve their personal best. Athletes who rise to the top respecting their opponents deserve a prize. And in the end it takes award-winning cooperation and a lot of local volunteers to act as ambassadors and bring people together with shared Olympic goals.

Now with Olympic values of fair play fresh in our minds the world will judge Russia on how it responds to the current turbulent times in the Ukraine.

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words still ring true today when he said, “Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is a thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off."

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

Paralympics: Dreams Are Portals

DREAMS ARE THE PORTALS from which great achievements are made. But although that is how it all begins for athletes, it took dedication and an “umbrella” effort from thousands of supporters for the 17-day whale-of-a-ride Olympics to become reality and lift us up as a nation. Joy rang in the streets and we held our collective breath as events culminated in a hockey cliffhanger and storybook ending for Canada.

Now that we’ve exhaled, the Paralympics are here to carry on the excitement in Whistler from March 12 to 21. Over 1300 champions from 44 countries will participate in the first Paralympic games on Canadian soil. Team Canada will consist of some 55 embodiments of the Olympic spirit.

Seeing people fulfill dreams, overcome challenges and compete with excellence is thrilling and inspiring. We live in uncertain times of heady losses and there is much to overcome. We saw skater Joannie lose her mom and Georgian parents lose their son. An unfathomable number of parents and children were lost in Haiti and now there is devastation in Chile. From losing loved ones to losing the use of a limb, humanity does not allow itself to lose heart for long.

Whether through chance or by fate people throughout the globe have something to conquer. The inspiration we gain from the successes of others helps us weave dreams of our own. Whether to fulfill a goal and excel in a sport, master a physical challenge or simply get out of bed to face a fear, the Paralympians light our way with their can-do attitude, toughness and drive to win.

We crave their inspiration. But as 2010 shows it is a symbiotic relationship. Spectators and athletes need one another to feel the power. The Paralympic flame has now been ignited in Ottawa. It will make its way across country to first appear in Vancouver Island, BC, on Saturday, March 6th, when we will be watching.