One of the treats of this sabbatical has been that most days are an open slate - I sit at my table looking out at the sunrise over the Bedford Basin, and think about what I would like to do with the gift of this day. Yes - I am continuing to wake early, but often it's because I don't want to miss the spectacular sunrises!
Perhaps it is a sign of my head/heart space, but the last couple of days I have sought out some "green" spaces in the midst of the city. One of them is the Belcher's Marsh Walk that is part of the walking trail system near the Keshen Goodman Library. I am not sure why, but when I first read about it, I knew it was a place I would enjoy - birds, plants, water - how could I go wrong? So, this is how it began:
I set off down the path with anticipation of the view just up ahead. I must admit, this is not what I was expecting!
My first thought that it was a typical prairie slough - not to be negative about the prairie sloughs, but I don't often think of them as places of beauty! I watched up ahead on the trail and there was a couple of people sitting on this bench. So I decided to try it out - as you can see, I was somewhat skeptical!
I am sometimes a very slow learner!! As I sat there, I was kind of stunned to hear all the songbirds in the trees behind me. When my head was full of rather negative thoughts, I couldn't hear the birds at all. And then this guy popped up out of the water right in front of me and I burst out laughing:
And then I set off back down the trail, much more open to the beauty that was right there if only I opened my eyes and ears! Although I have been told that the fall colors are just barely beginning, you will see that the leaves are slowly beginning to change...
A good lesson in how to open my mind and heart to the beauty that is right in front of me if I but slow down a wee little bit to actually pay attention.
The other place that I wanted to explore was the Public Garden right in downtown Halifax. As with much of this city, it is steeped in history. When the City of Halifax was incorporated in 1841, these 18 acres were chosen as the site for this Victorian Public Garden. In those days it was felt to be very fashionable to be seen strolling in the Gardens, listening to the music supplied by the military bands. It was in 1890 that these ornate iron gates were installed at the main entrance to the Park:
I was there on a Friday afternoon, and there were plenty of people just strolling on the meandering paths, or enjoying one of the many park benches. This park truly is a beautiful oasis in the downtown of such a busy, noisy city.
One of the signs described how Halifax loves and values their trees. It explained that many of the trees spread throughout the city got their beginning from the trees in this park. There were indeed a wide variety of beautiful and intriguing flowers and trees:
Although it was quite a different experience than walking around Wascana Lake in Regina, it had the same general feel of people out to enjoy the water and the green space. There were even a couple of geese - but they had rather a different look than our Regina Canada Geese!
When I began this sabbatical, one of my aims was to slow the pace and truly listen to the world around me for whatever wisdom I could pick up. After wandering in the Public Gardens yesterday I went down to the Harbour Front and found one of the hammocks on the dock that was empty - I took advantage of a moment to relax!
I am thoroughly enjoying the apartment that I am living in while I am in Halifax. One of the intriguing challenges when I first got here was that there is no wifi in the apartment. It is a little stunning at how accustomed I have become to being able to surf the net whenever I want to - and a little sad at how I have forgotten how to live without easy access to the internet! During this month I have re-discovered CBC, which has been fun. I have picked up a knitting project to work on - although so far that has been more frustrating than relaxing! I will get back into the swing of it eventually - helps when I can actually get onto the internet and watch the knitting videos! And the other good thing is that it forces me to get out of the apartment and discover places that offer free wifi. I have been to several good cafes and coffee shops, but my favorite places, and where I go to write my blog, are two different libraries. The first is the Keshen Goodman Library. It was pretty funny the last time I was there and was writing my blog. I looked up from the computer and out the window and right across the street is a funeral home! Another good reminder of what a gift it is to be spending more time in libraries than funeral homes!
And the other place I go is to the downtown main branch of the library. It is an intriguing design - meant to look like a stack of books. It has 4 floors with a cafeteria on the top floor, as well as an outdoor patio. Quite lovely and relaxing.
And now I will head back to my apartment to listen to the radio, to watch the beauty of the sun going down over the harbour, and figure out what I will actually say as I am preaching at Stairs United Church tomorrow morning! I hope that wherever you are, that you can carve out some time to explore some of your favorite green places - and give thanks for the beauty of this land!
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