Endings and new beginnings

The leaves on the maple trees are changing from green to red, yellow, and orange here in the Rideau Valley, and as another summer transitions to autumn, endings and new beginnings are much on my mind. English Rose started high school this week, a major life milestone...

Hitting the “pause” button

For the past few years and, much like the dogs in one of my favourite early childhood stories, my life has been on “fast forward.” Between moving from England to Canada, launching my career as a published author, managing several family estates, and...

Making a joyful noise

As some of you know, I joined a choir last year. Every Thursday night, I gather with friends and neighbours at my church to sing together and prepare to lead the congregation in the musical part of the Sunday worship service. During that practice time, I’m not...

Thank you…

The week between Christmas and New Year is a punctuation mark at the end of the year. For me, it’s a lull before launching headlong into the blank calendar pages to come. In a year that’s been more surreal (dictionary company Merriam-Webster’s word for...

Gratitude and new beginnings

My small town has recently welcomed a Syrian refugee family. Soon after their arrival, the newspaper ran a picture of the mom, dad and their three young children playing in the local park. It was an ordinary, yet also extraordinary scene. Our new neighbours have spent...