Brownish 'Barn Owl'

A Morning Wake-Up Vision and Inspiration

In the silence of the night

not a twig moves ~ nor a leaf curls.

The brownish 'barn owl' ~ sat

perched on the top of a sturdy pine tree.

The golden sun had gone to bed

'neath the horizon's western sky

to light the world now awakening

while perched, he was, on the top of his sturdy pine tree.

In the darkness of the night, Moon rose:

a pale yellow sphere came into view

casting shadows on the forested woods

whilst brownish 'barn owl' sat ~ atop his sturdy pine tree.

Owls in hunt are nocturnal

while other raptors are fast asleep.

(They can better see and hear than humans.)

Peering into the darkened woods

he mesmerized 'bout his evening meal.

“Will it be rodents like voles and squirrel

or will it be a rabbit or mice?”

muses the brownish 'barn owl' perched atop his sturdy pine tree.

'Twas time for a feast ~

a bird flying low ~ even a mouse

as it scurries ~ thro' the forest glades.

His eyesight keen ~ wings ready to extend,

he was ever-so-ready for his late night swoop.

Any prey moving in flight

or rodent hastily scampering,

was target for his sharpened claws ~

reasoned the brownish 'barn owl' perched atop his sturdy pine tree.

Awaiting patiently atop his perch

the brownish 'barn owl' spied a vagrant bird

who with food in mouth for her babe

was flying home to her forest glade nest.

But, brownish 'barn owl' ~ no fool was he:

On silent wing, he darted through the inky-blue sky

to this errant bird.

At full speed, grabbing his evening meal,

swiftly back he flew to his Brownish 'Barn Owl' home.

Unaware of her threatening danger ~

and innocence of her flight,

her 'babe' would not be fed that night!

Oh! What is to become of her baby bird

abandoned and all alone?

Mothers of the forest will intervene:

care for him...feed him... and love him

as a fledgling of their family flock.

He'll learn how to fly...

know and where to food-search

then be sent on flights to develop his skills.

He then must follow the well known script

“Advice From an Owl”

composed by Ilan Shamir.

“Stay focused.

Be hoo you are.

Trust in a wise friend.

Live off the land.

Glide through the dark times.

Be observant.

Life's a Hoot!”

* * * * * *

An African Proverb advises

The owl is the wisest of all birds

because the more it sees ~ the less it talks!

The owl, a Spirit Animal, offers Inspiration and Guidance

to deeply explore the Unknown and and the Magic of Life.

(Author unknown)

Did you know? If a Barn Owl's mate dies, they will go into a deep depression before losing the will to live and joining their other half ~ because 'barn owls' are nature's most die-hard lovers.

(with credit to Les Arnott ~accompanied with a photo of barn owls devotedly kissing)

Writer: Merle Baird-Kerr ~ January 14, 2019

Comments welcome: mbairkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com

Goodbyes and Hellos

Say Goodbye...to the self-doubt and the negativity, last year brought.

Say Goodbye to the times you suffered in silence.

Say goodbye to the people who have turned their backs on you.

Say goodbye to the unwanted memory you always keep playing in your head.

Say goodbye to the addictions that drew you away from what was important in life.

Say goodbye to the idealistic expectations you set for yourself.

Say goodbye to the words people told you about yourself ~

the ones that made you love yourself a little less.

Say goodbye to the times you were immature and had no common sense.

Say goodbye to the trip you didn't take ~ or the city you never went to.

Say goodbye to the wedding you missed or the opportunities you failed to take.

Say goodbye to all the flaws you keep pointing at in the mirror

and the times you really didn't like who you were looking at.

Say goodbye to the thought that 2019 will be the same ~

and that nothing will change!

Say HELLO to All the Wonderful Possibilities...Dreams...and Opportunities

that are waiting to Manifest Themselves in You!

Say HELLO to LIFE in 2019!

“Life is just too short to put things off ~

and one cannot discover new oceans until he has the courage to lose sight of the shore”

“Even a blind squirrel finds a nut, now and then.”

“Life is not waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.”

“There are only so many tomorrows: Whatever you want to do ~ do it now.”

“I am not afraid of Tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday, and I love today!” (Dr. Phil)

“Life is not always a matter of holding good cards ~

but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Engage in the Magic!

“I still don't get why people are so surprised

that the turtle beat the rabbit in the long run.” (Unknown Author)

“Consistent Effort, no matter how small... sparks magic...fills sails...butters bread...turns tides...instills faith...summons friends...improves health...burns calories...creates abundance...yields clarity...builds courage...spins planets...and rewrites destiny, No Matter How Small.

Each Challenge adds to the Suspense...adds to the Mystery...adds to the Chaos...

adds to Possibilities...adds to Romance...adds to Adventure...adds to Joy!

I say, that anything that adds to the Joy should be embraced.

(the foregoing by The Universe)

Message to a University Graduating Class

“You must make a Lover's Quarrel with the World!

When you have that Lover's Quarrel, then you'll have that Level of Trust...

the Beauty...and Understanding with it.

You may dissent, if need be ~ then take your Minds and Think through them.

Take your Lips and Speak.

Take your Hearts and set them afire. Amen.”

(as delivered by Rev. Sloan Coffin from Canada)

Progression of Life

(as stated by persons of success)

Dr. Phil: “Keep people in your life that charge your battery ~ not those who will drain it.”

“Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent-free in your head.

The eyes are useless when the mind is blind.” (Anon)

Winston Churchill: “One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching,

it will reduce the danger.”

Grandmother's Advice: My grand-daughter, one day asked me, What is it like to be old?

“Put cotton in your ears and a pebble in each shoe. Pull on rubber gloves and smear vaseline on your glasses ~ and there you have it! Instant Old Age!

From One of my Ardent Readers: “Children are our 'Jewels in Life'

children are our Jury ~ we are their Role Models.

Longfellow (overlooking the Rhine) stated, “Life is like the streams of time amid the ruins of the past.”

Kenneth Bagnell: “Rivers give LIFE to the land ~

and not just because their water nourishes the soil ~

but because rivers are history's highway.

People and products have traversed rivers from the world's first day.”

Helen Rowland (journalist and humourist): “ Before marriage, a man states that he would lay down his life to serve you; after marriage, he won't even lay down his newspaper to talk to you!”

Principles to Live By

The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and endure much. (William Hazlitt)

Attitude: “No one can make you feel inferior, without your consent.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)

Chance; “Everyone thinks of 'changing the world'

but no one thinks of changing himself.” (Leo Tolstoi)

Co-operation: Coming together is a Beginning. Keeping together is Progress.

Working together is Success. (Henry Ford)

Excellence: “Do a little more each day than you think you can, possibly.” (Lowell Thomas)

Judgement: “The best judgement comes from experience. History is full of leaders that made their contributions later in life. Many current leaders are in their 60's and older.” (Author unknown)

Motivation: “Realize what you really want. It stops you from chasing butterflies and puts you to work digging gold.” (William Moulton Marston)

Parable of Life

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit asked the crow, “Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?” The crow answered, “Sure, why not?” So the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow and rested. Suddenly, a fox appeared ~ jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral: To be sitting, doing nothing ~ you must be sitting very, very high up!

Composed by Merle Baird-Kerr...January 9, 2019

To comment: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com

How Sharon Cut the Sandwiches

Nine months after my son was born, I returned to the teaching profession. A good friend and neighbour, Sharon, had a little boy, Mark, one year younger. Each day, I left my son with her...she now had twins and cared for them accordingly. She could write many stories, I am confident, about her “boys”. When he was 4, he raved about Sharon's sandwiches at lunch time. I asked him what was so special about them. “They look and taste so good!” he replied. I inquired from Sharon who told me of the fillings she used. Not to disappoint my little boy, I tried to duplicate her preparation. But to him, “they never tasted the same”. It was several years later that I discovered her secret. 

 On Friday August 20, 2010, he wrote from Calgary where he was working:

Dear Mom,

I think we've discussed this point before ~ a certain event from my early childhood.

I would like to remind you that I thoroughly enjoyed staying with Mark all day. I still remember those days very fondly.

One day, whilst Mark and I were sitting at the kitchen table, Sharon (he called her Sherno) took a whole un-sliced loaf of bread. It was a traditional cuboid shape of bread loaf, but it was un-sliced.

Sharon had something you didn't have: she had an electric knife. I had heard of an electric can opener, although we didn't have one. But I had never heard of an electric knife. So I watched in fascination.

You recall that Sharon had some counter space between the food prep area and the dinette. There were cupboards above this space, with their two and a half vertical feet of working area between the counter and the cupboard.

It was upon this counter that Sharon stood this un-sliced bread loaf vertically, upon which she used her electric knife. (It fascinates me to this day that Sharon was only about 21 at the time.)

Using her electric knife, Sharon sliced the loaf into long thin slices.

On each of these long slices, she spread toppings – peanut butter and jam, I think. Then she rolled them up into a cylindrical shape. She did not cut the cylinders into thin slices, but served the sandwich as a cylinder, about four inches long and two inches thick. (That is the size I estimate from today's perceptive recollection. It may have really been smaller than that, as my perception was relative to my own size.)

Although I had had a sandwich before, I had never seen one in such an interesting shape. Because of the unique shape, they were fun to eat.

It may have been a clever moment of ingenuity, and perhaps Sharon did not realize how intrigued I was with the shape of these sandwiches. (One tends to underestimate the mind of a four-year-old.) When I told you of these wonderful sandwiches, I must have been unsuccessful at communicating the distinctive shape and particular method of preparation. Sharon merely told you the ingredients, and when you made the sandwich at home, it had the traditional shape and therefore had no intrigue.

You therefore puzzled at how your imitation had failed to meet the specifications of the original. In discussing the matter over with Sharon you then learned that the novelty was in how it was cut. I don't recall you ever trying to recreate the original properly – after all, Sharon had an electric knife, which greatly facilitated the long, thin slicing of the bread, a critical point in the formation of this sandwich.

As I sit on a little break, I can visualize Sharon slicing that bread loaf vertically, and spreading jam on a long thin slice, using the whole blade of the knife.

I thought you would enjoy reading my testimonial account of the original.

......................................................

My thoughts at the time were that he enjoyed being with Mark and his mother. That he loved her sandwiches, was great. Let this be her “special lunch” ! Why should I “steal her thunder”?

In the past few hours, I posted “Simple Pleasures”.
This is a wonderful addition to supplement the above letter..

How Significant...the Little Things in Life!

Merle Baird-Kerr~ originally written March 27, 2011
Comments to: mbairdkerr@bell.net  or inezkate@gmail.com

My Name is ELE

the Matriarch of My Herd.

My heritage is Asia or Asiatic.

In sub-tropical regions we live today ~

also tropics of Africa and Asia

on savannas, grasslands and forests,

in deserts, swamps and in mountains.

A variety of locations we have,

needing food-source varieties to consume.

Emigrated paths we formed to follow each year.

“How is the Matriarch determined?” you may ask.

She's usually the cow closest related to the previous Matriarch.

Her eldest daughter and her calves gravitate naturally together

making her quite simply to identify.

In crisis, the herd, on her depend

to make decisions as to course of action.

Like humans, some elephants are born to be leaders.

Successful leaders can earn respect

through wisdom, confidence with other elephants.

The Matriarch needs to instill her dominance.

They need to care for for the needs of the herd

(as well as members of other herds.)

Another elephant may challenge her authority ~

'overpowering' to usurp the older cow.

Herds are usually Elephants (6 to 12).

Should the herd become too large,

some daughters with their young, break away

to form a new group, on the Matriarch's instruction.

This may happen if food and water is not sufficent.

As they travel in single file,

calves follow the mother obediently

holding onto their tails with strong little trunks.

The Matriarch teaches her oldest daughter

how to care for the young.

Once they start to bear babies, her sisters will assist

(training them for their own first calves).

The Matriarch determines what's important for that herd

and the mothers, accordingly, teach the young.

Females of the herd adhere 'herd structure'

while males tend to follow more 'regulations fluid.'

The calves require training ~ how to search water and food,

how to look for a mate

and how to fulfill specific roles within the herd.

Among the males is a hierarchy:

The oldest and largest, typically is dominate.

Free of child-raising tasks, they live the lives of 'bachelorhood'

roaming the savannas for food, water and sleep.

The guys hang out in groups ~ living nomadic and solitary lives.

Reaching puberty ('round 12 years or more)

he becomes more independent of his family 'til breaking away completely

to either roam alone ~ or find a loosely-knit group of elephants to join.

Bees, wasps and hornets, elephants dislike.

They'll send alarm systems telling the herds:

“Stay Away!” 'cause stings affect the cubs' eyes,

their trunks and their ears.

And then one day, my right ear was stung by a bee.

Oh what? Oh, what can I do?”

Phant, from the roaming males, knew just what to do!

From the fruit of a tropical palm,

he crushed in some mud (or perhaps a bird-dropping);

and with his trunk, as a plaster, he placed it upon my ear ~

rubbing it, soothing it, rubbing it: removing the blasted stinger!

Mating is basically a game of tag: females run away 'til ready to mate.

Elephant pairs don't display 'courtship.'

So Phant stopped my running with his trunk:

he rested his head upon my back ~ then mounted me

(lasting less than a minute).

Copulation is quick ~ then we parted ways.

Phant, now incited, moved quickly on ~ to romance another female.

Two years from now, I'll give birth to my cub.

Musing about my pregnancy, I pray to Ganess

(The Lord of Good Fortune) in Hindu language.

Wisdom, in human form ~ 'tis represented by the Elephant.

(From the memoirs of ELE and PHANT)

Stated the Matriarch Mother from experience:

“Being a Mother is learning about the strengths you didn't know you had; and dealing with fears you didn't know existed. If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart and I'll stay there forever.”

Today, most of the Elephants roaming in Africa, live in National Parks, offering them plenty of room to survive. Protected, it helps their population growth and here they can freely roam.

(#5 in my Regime of Animal Life)

Composed by Merle Baird-Kerr...June 17, 2018

To comment: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com

Concepts Gleaned ~ Here and There

Many thoughts, ideas and story bits pass by my desk which I keep ~ to process often in my writings. So, today, for quick reads, I publish some for your reading interest.

A Thought for Today

This is the beginning of a new day! I have been given this day to use as I will.

I will use it for good, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes ~ this day will be gone forever,

leaving in its space something I have traded for it.

I want it to be gain, and not loss; good and not evil;

success and not failure;

in order that I shall rejoice in the price that I paid for it.

Wake up! Those horrible buzzing alarm clocks make 'waking up' a dreaded part of the day, but it doesn't have to be tht way! Fisherman Call is a new service along Japan's Sanriku coast. Subscribers enjoy the voice of a fisherman, who calls at the requested wake-up-time.

They can choose which fisherman they want by reading their profiles

and listening to the voices. The service works because fishermen are up early

and don't mind having quick chats with people to help waken them for the upcoming day.

No Traffic: People commute to work by car, bus, train or subway ~ and even bicycle or skateboard. But Benjamin David of Munich, Germany, has all these methods beat! He swims to his workplace via the Isar River. He carries his dry clothes and laptop in a special waterproof backpack, which doubles as a buoy, allowing him to take a break and float if he gets tired. This unique 'commuting method' lets him avoid busy streets. He says he feels 'refreshed' rather than 'harried' when he gets to work.

Big Jump! When Englishman, Verdun Hayes,became a centenarian, he decided to have a little fun, so he jumped out of an airplane. He was attached to a parachute, of course, and had an experienced skydiver with him as a 'tandem jumper.' The 15,000 foot jump took place near Devon, England.

Hayes is a WW2 D-Day veteran who likes to support other vets,

so he used the jump to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Three generations of his family, jumped for the same cause.

Mother's Day Covenant: “On the darkest days, when I feel inadequate, unloved and unworthy, I remember whose daughter I am ~ as I straighten my crown.” (submitted by one of my readers)

“The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea ~

driven by winds blowing from all corners of heaven.”

(Martin Luther King)

Battle Between Two Wolves

An old Cherokee told his grandson, “My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all.

One is Evil: it is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego.

The other is Good: It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness,

empathy and truth.”

The boy thought about it and asked, “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee quietly replied, “The one you feed!”

(An Aborigine Parable ~ author unknown)

“With the new day, comes new strength, new thoughts...

and understanding is a 2-way street.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)

“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back,” stated Abraham Lincoln.

Mahatma Ghandi opinionates, “Anger is the envy of non-violence

and pride is a master that swallows it up.”

Mary Kay Ash's easy solution is, “People fall forward to success!

Every day is a new beginning ~ Take a deep breath! Smile! and Start Again!”

A cartoon depicts an elderly man, sitting in a rocking chair on the verandah ~ wearing nothing but a hat and shirt. Grandson, dressed with pants, shirt and tie, asks him, “What are you doing on the porch with no pants on?” Said Grandpa,, “Last week I sat here with no shirt on ~ and I got a stiff neck!

This is your Grandma's idea.”

From the cartoon, Better For Worse, Mother explained to family, “Kids, Everyone! Come Look! I spent the whole night wall-papering the kitchen!” Son remarks, “Gosh!” Still admiring it, Mother adds, “I was going to hire someone, but I said “The Heck WITH IT! AND DID IT MYSELF!” And still gazing at her decor, states, “Well, don't everyone speak at once! What do you think?”

Son, still staring at the paper, comments,

“It's really neat, Mom”...than asks her, pointing, “But don't daisies grow this way up?”

Cartoon, Between Friends: Mom, sipping a milk-shake with children at the table, Son asks, “Mom, why do you buy 'take-out'? It's not a healthy choice!” She replies, “I know...I know...it's not that I don't want to be healthy...it's not that I don't want to cook healthy...it's just that...I Don't Want to Cook!”

Cartoon, Drabble: Family inside the house, Son says,”Dad, I got a summer job!” Dad responds, “Way, to go, Norm.” Son, adds, “Yup, I'll be working in the entertainment industry!” Dad inquires how he got the job. Son states, “Let's just say, I had to pull a lot of strings!” In last frame, is son on street with numerous tied blown-up balloons in hand exclaiming, “My arm's already tired!”

From Drabble: Dad is driving, (with his wife beside him) on a busy street and yells loudly, Hey, That Guy just cut me off...Fine, I'll speed up and cut him off! Doing so, he looks in rear view mirror and shouts to his wife, There! What do you think of that? HA, HA, HA!!!

And in the last frame, he prides himself, “Sometimes, I think I'm the only sane driver on the road.!”

In the cartoon, Hi and Lois, the clock reads 12 and carrying a load of laundry, she says to big family dog, “Dawg, Go wake up Chip ~ It's almost noon! With no response, Lois goes upstairs to check ~ Chip is still asleep (Z.Z.Z) and lying beside him on top of the covers is DAWG (Z,Z,Z.)

In Hagar the Horrible, he and his wife, Helga, are dressed to go out. Hagar tips a full bottle of wine and downs the vino into his mouth fully emptying its contents. Helga, very disgrunted beside him, he says Sorry as he gulps the last drop. At the neighbour's home, they are met by a primly dressed woman. Holding the empty bottle in hand, Hagar offers it to her, stating, We brought you a vase!

Cartoons, I love, as they depict human life so brilliantly!

Composed by Merle Baird-Kerr...December 30, 2018

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com

Canada's Walk of Fame 2018 Inductees

The inductees represent the organization's 5 pilllars of recognition:

Sports and Athletics...Philanthropy and Humanities...

Arts and Entertainment...Business and Entrepreneurship...

and Science and Technology.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (Sports and Athletics) ~ The most decorated figure skaters in Olympic history. They have won the hearts and minds of people across Canada and around the world with their athleticism, artistry and chemistry on the ice.

Andrea Martin (Arts and Entertainment) ~ Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, author and comedian, known for her roles in Pippin on Broadway...My Big Fat Greek Wedding...Hedwig and the Angry Inch...The Good Fight and SCTV.

Col. Chris Hadfield (Science and Technology) ~ The first Canadian to walk in space...the first Canadian spaceship commander...a New York Times best-selling author...You Tube sensation and renowned speaker.

Leonard Cohen (Legend Inductee) ~ iconic poet...singer-songwriter...and novelist respected and loved worldwide, whose classic songs include Suzanne, Bird on a Wire and Hallelujah.

Andy Kim (Arts and Entertainment) ~ Award-winning singer-songwriter whose career has flourished for 50 years. He is best known for hits including Baby, I Love You...Sugar, Sugar...and Rock Me Gently...and has sold over 30 million records.

Dr. Joanne Liu (Philanthropy and Humanities) ~ As International President of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF/Doctors Without Borders) since October 1, 2013, Dr. Liu has provided support after the tsunami in Indonesia...assisted people affected by the earthquake and cholera epidemic in Haiti... and worked with Somali refugees in Kenya, amongst many other crises.

Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg (Arts and Entertainment) ~ These childhood friends have collaborated to bring their unique and hilarius brand of comedy to people around the world through television and boxoffice hits including Superbad and Sausage Party.

Jimmy Pattison (Business and Entrepreneurship) ~ Entrepreneur...investor...philanthropist...who rose from selling vegetable seeds to building a business empire with The Jim Pattison Group, Canada's second largest private company

.

Soon, there will be 10 new names on Canada's Walk of Fame.

“Now, more than ever, we are embracing and celebrating our unique and strong identity,”

said Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada's Walk of Fame. “Canada thrives because of its people.”

* * * * * * *

Justin Trudeau commented this past year:

We have created a society where individual rights and freedoms ~ compassion and diversity, are core to our citizenship. But underlying the idea of Canada is the promise that we all have a chance to build a better life for ourselves and our children. The fact is, Canadians understand emigration and immigration ~ that people fleeing for their lives ~ that people wanting to build a better life for themselves and their kids, is what has created Canada: it's what created North America.

Tommy Douglas stated: My dream is for people around the world to look up ~

to see Canada like a little jewel sitting at the top of the continent.

Marc Garneau's View: Canada has made a strong commitment as a partner in the International Space Station ~ and like other partners, wishes to see the assembly of this unique orbiting laboratory.

Patrick Chan Representing Canada in the Sports World, says: I was born here and my parents chose to immigrate here. There are so many things in Canada, that I don't see in other countries.

I love having the Maple Leaf behind me.

An uncle of mine immigrating to Canada was unable to bring his guitar with him.

When I found it in the attic, I'd found a friend for life!

“Sting”

Robin Williams' Wit: Canada is like a loft apartment over a really great party!

We are all familiar with O Canada ~ however few know

that this anthem (written as a prayer) is composed of 4 verses plus a chorus.

I conclude this writing with the lyrics of O Canada's second verse:

O Canada, where pines and maples grow;

Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.

How dear to us thy broad domain

From East to Western sea;

Thou land of hope fcr all who toil!

Thou True North strong and free!

Today's Writing by Merle Baird-Kerr...December 22, 2018

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com