Urgent Appeal - Jack Russell Terrier Rescue of Ontario NEEDS HELP!!!

I received a copy of this notice today from some of my friends at Jack Russell Rescue and thought it best to post this as many places as I can. Here's what I received;

    "The Jack Russell Terrier Resue is in an emergency situation at present. We have dogs that are in shelters and in undesirable homes. We need to get them help however we do not have enough foster homes. This week good fortune shone on our heads as a new foster came to the resue of Oliver (a young Jacj that was having a difficult time in the shelter.) This lucky jack is being resued by a new foster Dad who is not only willing to take this dog into his home but is making the long drive to Ottawa to pick him up. We have other jacks who are on our waiting list. Dameon is one such dog. The poor guy is living at a boarding kennel. He sounds very sweet and is dog, stranger and kid friendly. He is 9 years old. He should be in a loving home for Christmas.


    There are many other Jack Russells needing our care also. These rescued dogs can come with their own difficulties. As a rescue we know that good foster homes can make the difference for them.  These dogs require not just a place to live but a chance to be part of a family with schedules, structure, discipline, understanding and love. e are desperate for foster families. Please look into your heart, you life and see if you can take in another Jack Russell. If you know of anyone who would like to foster please have them contact us.
     WE ARE DESPERATE. WE NEED YOUR HELP!"

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And here's a few pointers if this is catching your attention - Please Note:

1. JRTRO operates in Ontario, Canada with dedicated volunteers, adopting families and foster homes across the province. 
2. With economic and high stress situations as those occurring at present, family pets are often the first to suffer the fate of abandonment, or worse.
3. Jack Russell Terriers are one of many particular breeds that do not respond well to animal shelter housing for any length of time. Fostering is a very effective tool in the process of an adoption as the animal can feel safe and loved, less threated when meeting a potential new family. They can get the care, attention and interaction they thrive on and find their transition to a new family a more secure and comfortable one.
4. Where ever you are in the world you can bet there's an organization near you that has the same need. Look them up on line or through your local city or town hall. You've no idea just how much your help is appreciated by these groups and the many animals who need care, love and support.
5. Besides it truly is the natural thing to do. In nature abandoned babies or youngsters are often adopted and raised by other animals - sometimes odd combinations too!
6. And then there's the love you can give to an animal - not for a long term commitment, but instead  simply to be there and help in a time of dire need, when often the only other option for an animal is euthanasia unless a permanent home can be found immediately which is too difficult to arrange.
7. The sloppy kisses of appreciation you'll receive from some lucky pup will be treasured believe me!
8. It's almost like being a foster family for kids but instead you take in an abandoned & rescued animal!

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Shine Your Light - a revisted design!

Already it's the beginning of December and we are still having a warm spell here in Southwestern Ontario! It's not all good as we're hoping the ground will freeze up soon so the dogs don't have to play in the mud! Not that they mind at all - We're the ones who mop up after them! Happy pups are usually muddy pups!

So while the dogs are busy taking a nap and it's too muddy to work in the garden I thought I'd play with some images and take some design ideas a little further. The Daisy image below is one I've enjoyed playing with and the theme intrigues me.



Click on the image above to view it at my Flickr site. When there - you can click "All sizes" above the image on the right side to view a full screen size.

The Solstice will be here before we know it and I wanted to play with some artwork that celebrates the return of the light to the Northern Hemisphere. There's something reassuring about celebrating the return of the sun right at the beginning of winter in the northern half of the globe! While it may be getting cold the days will begin to get longer and will usher in the the warmth that will eventually melt all the snow that is sure to come!

Wanted to see how this image would look on-line and hopefully get some reactions from my visitors. I'll be using it to send to friends to remind them of the Solstice. There's so much to celebrate this time of year!

If Jack Russell Terriers Had Wings...

If Jack Russell Terriers had wings, this would be a very different world!

Indeed our one year old Jack named Mia is the friskiest little alpha female I've met yet! And we swear she sits at the end of our deck, watching birds, squirrels and chipmunks skitter through the trees around and near our backyard garden just wishing she had wings to fly up to the trees and get on the hunt! She's already proved to be a good mouser with 2 notches in her collar and she loves chasing bugs and bees! Unfortunately she also managed to catch two young sparrows through the course of the summer - she does have a love for hunting!

Running, jumping (very high!) and wrestling are her next favorite activities - that and anything having to do with water, she loves water and will stay in it while she shivers. I usually have to pick her up with a towel to get her out! What a girl! Bath-time is a cinch at least! She's my first Jack Russell puppy, we have fostered several male Jack puppies since adopting Mia and we've had such great fun in the garden with them all and our other pup who'll be one year old this month; Daisy. She's a beautiful Black Lab-Doberman cross.

One thing I can say, it's a wild and crazy kinda place in the garden with a slew of puppies running around! We have had to adjust our garden to keep them away from plants that might make them sick and protect the plants from being trampled. Fences had to contain the garden and then we learned we needed to raise the height of several fences because Mia can jump 5 - 6' when she's got a good run at it! She has escaped several times on us and we've had a few good frights. Truly, it's as if Mia has wings sometimes the way she leaps and jumps - spring-loaded terrier.



That speed and stealth helps Mia when she's playing with Daisy who is now three times her size and out-weighs her by 60 some odd pounds at least! Because they've been together since they were both young they love each other dearly and while they tousle and growl and grab each other by the ears they have a ball then plop down together for a good nap or a good chew on their rawhide sticks.  



I love the playfulness they've added to the garden! Once I get the lawn replanted things will look a little better but grass is something that grows fairly easily so I'm just waiting for the pups to settle down a bit before we expend all the energy to get a lawn going again! Maybe another year or two before we go to the effort of adding top soil and sod. It's the easy way and does work better then trying to re-seed a lawn with dogs running around!

Rememberance Day and Magical 11's!

It was a beautiful day in Guelph at 11:11 on 11/11/2009!  

*note: 11:11 on 11/11/2+0+0+9=11 the numbers 33 and 55 are also significant today!

Peace and a renewal of the conviction of Not Again was the mood of the crowd!
In particular re-iterating Canada's desire to assist in the maintenance of peace and the assistance in building of a solid infrastructure to support the people of war ravaged regions. That was what people I spoke with seemed focused on. It seems to me that's basically what the UN could be doing with quite a bit more authority!
some affirmations for this energized day and the times following, borrowed from a friend;

Do work with these affirmations and the energy

as you are guided...

"Every Cell of My Being Vibrates with the Energy of the Wisdom of Peace'

"I Vibrate Peace Wisdom"

"I create Peace"

"I Am Peace"

"I Create Peace"

"I Organize Peace"

(out of the particles of possibility that feels unorganized around me - I choose and I create and I organize the energy of Peace)

 I'm also working with a guided meditation that i purchased through katherine wright desai's website at http://vitability.com, designed to assist in creating and supporting vibrations of Peace. Helping even to raise the Peace vibration as much as possible on a Global scale!

I do believe Peace is possible!

I do believe People and Angels are working for Peace!

Living in the Magic

Living in the magic
I know you might not see it
but Im living in the magic
and learning how to be it

I'm living in the magic and
letting nature lend a hand
living in the magic
knowing life is grand
I love living in the magic
I have no other plan
just living in the magic
letting spirit lend it's hand.

I AM Living in the magic

and I know you might not see it

but I AM living in the magic

and I AM learning how to be it

I'm living in the magic and

letting nature lend a hand

living in the magic

knowing life is grand

I love living in the magic

I have no other plan

just living in the magic

letting spirit lend it's hand

cc 2009 Our Enchanted Garden / Cheryl Binstock

As Ever; Finding the magic, honing our skills and trusting all is well

  I've spent several years now following and watching and, when I'm lucky, capturing the magical moments that creep into life, that is if I am out of my way and when I allow my spirit and intuition to take the lead. This is where my inspiration for Our Enchanted Garden arose. Sometimes I manage to capture little moments in a digital image or video but in our most recent enchanted garden experience we are gifted with an interesting everyday life sort of story with wonderful twists and turns.
  I lost my job just recently, only to come home and find a cheque (enough to cover about a month of lost wages) in the mail - money owed to me from an insurance settlement for an injury incurred a few years back. Phew - crazy or what? While the job loss event upsets me in many ways, seeing myself at failing in the challenge, yet I find myself repeating the words; Things Happen For a Reason - because I just know it's so true. When I did that, it's as if i  unlocked some new level in the video game of our life!
  The day previous John and I had been speaking about the Law of Attraction from the perspective of breaking old patterns of behavior and we were presented with the challenge of determining what was wrong with our truck AGAIN! and if we had ourselves a *&%+#@(* lemon of a truck or what!!!! Funny thing is I suggested to John if he doesn't force the issue and he just "Goes with the flow" he might get a pleasant surprise and find the truck will be fairly easy to fix.
  Today he confirmed it when he went out to his truck (sitting lonely at the parking lot at work.) and after locating an interesting little re-set switch was able to start the truck with no trouble! He came home with such a grin on his face, it was great and we agreed it was worth not forcing the issue of trying to repair the truck immediately and just flowing through the challenge to find a solution.
It may be we have a design flaw in this truck that may be covered by a re-call so we will be working on exploring that with Ford!
  I continue to make the intent to move forward in my passion for my best and highest good and trust that opportunity will present itself to allow me to explore and express that in some manner. My passion continues to be Celebrating Nature, the Natural World and the Human Spirit immersed within it. I enjoy finding ways to share that with any who wish to explore. How I am able to express that in conjunction with my world experience seems to be some of the latest explorations spirit has taken me through.
  So in trusting that the magic will continue to unfold as I have always been able to feel confident with. I await the dawning of another new day and more magical adventures to encourage and inspire me further. This is such a joyful and productive activity I'm beginning to wonder why I would want to "operate" in any other manner! Many of us have underlying beliefs and have been programmed through generations to believe life should be hard to prove you are worthy somehow! This is something I don't really see happening in nature and it seems to me it is as un-natural for humans as it is for a lady bug!
  In the end I am ever humbled by the opportunity I have to experience such marvels. Many miss these little magical moments - they can seem so small, often they can be short-lived, and yet they can stand out like a beacon at the same time. Ever grateful, I remain;
The caretaker,
With love, ...from the garden

A trip into the city and a ride on the Go train!

  I thought this might be of interest to people who are considering greener alternatives to travel but have little experience with mass transit and are intimidated by the prospects of venturing into the big city and trying to coordinate with buses, subways, street cars and trains. The whole experience seems daunting if not bewildering. In this story, the city I'm referring to is Toronto, Ontario and we are traveling from the Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph region. 

  I've often traveled by bus within cities, between cities and across countries, since I was quite young if I include the school buses I've ridden in! It's always seemed a practical mode of transportation to me and almost always I've felt quite safe and comfortable on my travels. On a rainy day in September John and I planned to venture to Toronto to attend a birthday party for our 5 year old grand daughter. The location of the party was near Exhibition Place, a well known landmark near the lake shore.

I learned we could hop on the Lakeshore West line of the Go train from Union Station, on Front Street downtown right to Exhibition Station, near the entrance to the grounds. This seemed a fun opportunity to hop on the Go train and experience what it's like to ride the train in Toronto. We even got to find seats on the top level of the train. From Exhibition Station we had to walk the equivalent of several blocks to arrive at Medieval Times where 12 seats were reserved for our family to cheer on the Red Knight!

This turned out to be a fun adventure for John and I and it gave me the chance to see what the trains where like. How the connections worked and if it was easy to board, etc. I have worked as a ticket agent and I've always wondered what the Go trains were like. Over the years I've  been on Via through parts of Canada, plus trains and Metros in Denver, Montreal and New York City. I'd ridden the subway in Toronto and love taking the streetcars when I have the excuse, but hadn't ever tried or needed GO to get anywhere I guess.

Our ride into Toronto was via Greyhound and was a very pleasant, uneventful ride. Traffic was good the weather was fair and we arrived at the front doors of The Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto, right on schedule. This first stop, on Front Street is across from Union Station where we connected with our train to Exhibition. Union Station is a hustling, bustling place and it's been years since I'd been there, pre-Go years I think...I found the Go extension to the building and the construction around Union Station difficult to maneuver around. I also discovered there where lots of stairs to climb and descend. As a result I don't recommend this route to anyone with a physical limitation making walking or climbing difficult.

Our return trip was almost the opposite except that we had to make our way to the terminal at Bay Street. We decided to take our time and walk from Union Station up Bay Street to Dundas where we'd be able to catch our return Greyhound bus.  It's a great walk if you're able or have the time. There are many interesting and historic buildings along the way, bringing you right near the Eaton Centre and Nathan Philips Square, Toronto's City Hall. The ride home was rainy outside, warm and sleepy inside and John and I both agreed it was a great idea that we decided to take mass transit to make our trip stress free. It worked well for us and helped us reduce our impact on our environment at the same time.

Fall Colors, views are "Painting Perfect"

  

I've been having some fun taking some shots of the fall colors in our area. Some of them turned out looking like paintings I remember from my childhood. Gave me a good laugh! I may even try adapting some of the shots I've taken with some editing to give them texture so they look more painting like.

Fall colors are great subjects for photography they are free to view and never complain about the camera though will often disappear without much warning!

The second shot is my favorite of these two I think. I wonder if, because the water is so shiny, this may look more like a pathway than a stream. :)

Testing to see how well twitterfeed works... another app I tried became way too repetitive, I may not like this one either but will see!

Billy, our latest foster boy; Here's his page on PetFinder

Highlighted portion copied from Petfinder.com site.;

Billy Jack Russell Terrier Size: Small Age: Baby Sex: Male ID: Notes: This is Billy, he is about one year old and came to us from a shelter. Mr Billy is a happy go lucky high energy jack,  he has the sweetest face and is very nicely marked, he  does have long legs and stands about 15 1/2 inches tall at  the shoulder and is 18 lbs. He is very smart and knows sit,  shake, gives 5 with the other paw and can roll over! He is  very vocal but is learning Not to bark in the house,, he has  had no accidents and runs to the door when he needs to go  out,, he sleeps very nicely in his kennel and stays in the  kennel quietly when I put him in for quiet times. He does  need lots of exercise and would be a great dog to do fly ball  with or Jack Russell trials,, he is very fixated on toys or  balls. He loves my teenage son and seems to love kids,  but might be too rough with very young children.  He likes other dogs and wants to play all the time! This pet is up to date with routine shots. This pet is already house trained. This pet has been altered. Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario (JRTRO) Toronto, ON adoptions@russellrescue.org 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Billy, our latest foster boy. He's been with us only a couple of weeks.Can't believe he may already get adopted. Lucky boy is sweet and deserves a great forever home. He's still just a pup and has a whole lifetime of loving to give to his people, and he'll be happy to be their puppy. Billy loves to fetch, though he doesn't deliver too well! He drops things nearby. He hasn't learned to "give" or release. Though he does understand leave it! He adores having his tummy rubbed once he's come to trust you he'll be quite loving and submissive. Billy is a very vocal fellow. Patience and gentle persistence will be needed to help him learn to bark appropriately. He communicates his desires through various barks; I have to go out, ball is stuck somewhere - help please!, Toss the ball please, let's play, hey, she stole the ball, my chew stick, my toy... oh yeah - he's such a little boy still, he does whine and yelp with a squeak!! I think once he settles down and learns how to communicate nicely with his family they'll find him to be quite a little talker in the group. He's enjoyed the safety of playing freely in a fully fenced large yard frolicking with two female dogs Mia, a 1 yr old Jack Russell Terrier and Daisy a 10 month old black Labrador pup. They run obstacle  courses and fly off the end of the deck when playing hide and seek with each other. Though sometimes Mia will get too grumpy, often the three of them will eat and drink from the same bowl. This is one special little pup. He needs lots of attention, lots of exercise and structure plus plenty of chew time. Best kenneled when alone for his own safety. Billy will often go into a kennel on his own when he wants to take a nap or a little rest or to chew his rawhide stick. Once he warms up to a person and feels he can trust them he's very cuddly and happy to curl up on a lap or beside someone on the couch to be scratched and stroked or to quietly chew his rawhide. Likes to tear things apart, stuffed toys, socks and what have you. Best toy though is a squeaky ball - will keep him thrilled for hours - though will keep you busy too. Controlling barking with spray bottle of water works very well with Billy. Used just when barking is excessive. I'm very happy with the technique.                              Hi I'm Billy!

Warm & Sunny Thoughts Flower!

Picnik'd Sun Flower, originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden.

It 's Thanksgiving in Canada today.

I give thanks that I have family to share it with still, even if we do it over the phone or the net... Just glad we're here, glad we can enjoy another harvest and celebrate the abundance of our world.

I'm grateful to be a witness in a changing world. Hopeful for the future and the wonders yet to be discovered!

The Omo People

This is just the coolest collection of photographs. The Omo's are very creative and expressive! A friend had marked this link elsewhere (twitter i think) and I couldn't resist passing it forward so others might see it too!

Synchronicity Slides In with Ease!

I opened this message in my e-mail after posting my last post. (follows below) Had a few similar messages from others along the same lines, none had seen my post before sending theirs... am thankful for reminders of what I can do and many like minded people who participate in such groups.


I have been a member with the Global Coherence Initiative for about a year. We often focus on specific issues in the world around us as well as general focuses like "Children of the World".
Here's a sample of one of their messages when there's a need for a focus on a specific subject or region.




Dear Cheryl,

Several natural disasters have taken place recently affecting many thousands of people.

Two powerful earthquakes, one in Samoa and the other in Indonesia have created mass devastation in these areas. Many lives have been lost and tens of thousands of people are now homeless. Roads and bridges have been destroyed hampering rescue and aid efforts.

Severe flooding from Typhoon Ketsana has crippled the Philippines and a new Super Typhoon, Parma, is bearing down on this nation and is expected to hit Saturday. Additionally, floods in Spain have created loss of life and significant challenges for many thousands of people.

We respectfully ask you as part of the GCI community to send heart-focused care through whatever methods you choose for the next few days to help ease the emotional pain, fear, insecurity and loss these people are experiencing.

Thank you for your participation,

The Global Coherence Steering Committee


GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR GCI CARE FOCUS
As the Global Shift is playing out, there are a growing number of situations that unfold continuously around the world that could benefit from focused care. This makes it difficult to choose a GCI focus that would suit everyone at any given time. With GCI members from many different countries and cultures, it’s understandable that this would influence personal feelings of what would be most appropriate for a GCI care focus.

At times when a global issue is more important to you than the GCI care focus selected, we suggest this: Spend a little time on the GCI care focus, then spend most of your time sending love and compassion to whatever situation you feel is most important. Some of you may choose to hold a vision of the planet in a state of perfection, which can help manifest how we would want it to be. The most important thing is for us all to love, accept, and respect without judgment each others expressions of care.

The techniques suggested by the GCI team won’t always feel appropriate for everyone because of our many cultural backgrounds and personal belief systems. This is very understandable. When this is an issue, we invite you to use your own heart’s choice of technique, prayer, meditation, affirmation, visualization, etc., when sending love and compassion to the planet and its inhabitants. It’s our genuine coherent love and care that make a difference, much more so than method or technique.

Our common link with each other is that we all care. By honoring our differences, we multiply the strength of connection and effectiveness in our care for the planet and each other. This is what the planetary shift is about - differences coming together in the heart to co-create a greater wholeness.
You can use the Introductory Coherence Technique or whatever method you choose that’s comfortable to you that engages your heart’s care and compassion. Visit the new Global Care Room and join in with others from around the world in this Care Focus. Click here to learn more.

Global Coherence Initiative – 14700 West Park Ave – Boulder Creek, California 95006 – 831-338-8500

Sorting out feelings of anguish

I read a piece recently by a woman who suffered through years of Chronic pain and depression with drug therapy and now deals with her situation completely drug free.

She claimed her biggest success came with learning to stop trying to be what she wasn't. If she felt depressed she would allow herself to truly feel that depression, to become it, to embrace it. She realized that otherwise she was simply in denial of her true feelings.

Pain, depression, heartache, devastation - they aren't things most people actively choose to experience, yet they can be a part of anyone's life at some point in time. As all things do, the episodes of depression or pain or suffering will pass and be replaced with all sorts of other human emotions and expressions and episodes.

I am trying to work with this, not really doing the best at it... The past few days really seemed to put my thoughts in dark, scary, painful and angry places.

My passion is to share my sense of joy in creation. To celebrate nature, the natural world and the human spirit immersed within it. To encourage others to do the same. Yet i know that today in the world as a whole it may be difficult to maintain a celebratory stance. I have such confused and mixed feelings about the devastation of the lives of so many through several powerful natural events; tsunamis, earthquakes and a typhoon.

Nature, in this story will heal and what has changed will move on in a new direction as the laws of nature see fit. People's lives and families are another matter altogether. I pray for their safety and comfort and sense of peace. I am thankful that there are many on their way to assist as best they can. I feel such unfathomable grief for all that is lost through such calamity and hope for swift healing and recovery for all.

Then there's the Roman Polanski story which I guess I've allowed to get under my skin... no need, perhaps old wounds are being poked or what have you... it just makes me wonder about the whole "other world" the Hollywood society seems to live in.
Then again, who am I, I've no right to be judgmental... I don't wish to be, i'm trying to understand something, realizing it's futile and completely unnecessary anyway... I have to laugh at myself... yup - there's an old wound there that feels it's being prodded. Something that needs working from me... okay, perhaps I can work with that and find my way back out of the dark hole!

I guess that is the point of feeling through it all. hmmm I'm sure I'm not done yet... but maybe now it won't feel so fierce! May peace and love be a pillow to the world tonight.

With love, ...from the garden. ;-)

A Slideshow Celebrating Autumn

The colorful beauty of the beginning of autumn in South-Western Ontario is something people celebrate each year. We Canadians track the color change and map it out for tourists and "Sunday drivers" encouraging them to get out and view the countryside.

Sometimes that's not possible, I find themed slide-shows help me when I can't get out and about. Enjoy!

Hopefully this Flickr slideshow will work, at least until I manage a better one using my Picassa or Photoshop software. Think I'll try both and compare them! (subject of next blog perhaps!)

Windows Marketplace - What Is Microsoft Thinking?

I clicked the selection link to check out the site and lo and behold, no Canada selection and no english language selection either... I think the proof reading went wrong before publishing! Windows Marketplace and their Microsoft store are off to a rocky start!

At the Heart of Peace: International Day of Peace movie

Happy to share this short video from HeartMath2. Being promoted by the Global Coherence Initiative, a group I've been following for about a year. The International Day of Peace is described as a holiday in some circles, and could reach that state worldwide some day! That's the hope I hold in my heart and the joy of that thought lifts my spirits! When we share a world where we celebrate each other, our natural world and our natural place within it. When we honor all life and embrace our far ranging diversity we will find the peace within that will create peace in our world. Mark your calendar and find some way to celebrate a peaceful world view on September 21. Your intention will create an energy wave that will connect with all others on that day, raising the vibrations of peace around the planet, even if only for a brief moment. Hold peace in your heart and radiate peace outward from your heart to the world around you. May Peace Be with You.

A Handsome Gentleman

A Handsome Gentleman, originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden.

Meet our most recent foster boy. He came to us as Tweedle, a name that was given to him by the shelter that picked him up as a stray quite a while ago. Our grand daughters tried to help us find a new name for him and we discovered he didn't seem to have preference for any that we tried. The best they came up with was "Mister Sir" - he is such a gentleman and Buddy - because he is a real Buddy!
Tweedle-Bud might be too cutesie but it does sometimes suit him!

This fellow plays well with others; including dogs, the elderly and children. Very well mannered, he even barks quietly! Mind you he can bellow out a good loud bark too but usually he's quiet when guarding the back yard from marauding squirrels and birds with just a little "woof" under his breath. Very nice for the neighbors!

He knows to sit, though stay does't last long. He hasn't tried to find a way out of the yard yet; warning; he's a very independent guy and will take off if left to his own, he is very adventurous, not shy or timid. We're fairly sure he hasn't experienced any abusive treatment, he seems to have come from a loving home and settles in well where he knows he's safe and appreciated.

We've helped him heal a sore paw that is now good as new and knowing all his tests came back with flying colors we're hoping a happy, loving family will be coming to take him to his new forever home soon. Mind you, he's welcomed to stay as long as it takes but we're certain there's a family out there looking for a fellow just like this Handsome Gentleman.

Have been working with a trial version of an updated Photoshop application. Enjoying it muchly... missed the sale date and am fretting now over what I'll have to pay to aquire it... well not fretting as much as feeling regret and remorse over losing track of the time like that! I'm not surprised as it's something I do often - time seems much more flexible to me, until it's past and then I begin to wonder where it went, he he!

Oh well!

still, I enjoyed the exercise and think it's worthwhile to purchase just for the ease in which I can perfrom tasks that took hours of concentrated effort to achieve previously. Really simple tasks too, you wouldn' t think it would be a big deal to add copyright notices and other details but I have found it to be a very time consuming process in the past. Okay - I can hear me justifying... yeah...

Just check this out...

I was playing with a pretty image of some lavender blooms

I managed to apply an effect to the backgound of the image and found the effect very pleasing;

Then I tried comparing the enhanced image, with the regular for in use as a greeting card type of layout that emphasises the lovely lavender hues;

Thinking it'll be worth the investment in the long run, I've used my older version for almost 5 years now!

Images of The Newest Arrivals

Snapped a couple of early morning shots of the new plants we'd introduced a couple of weeks ago. Early morning light adds extra dimension to these images and enhances the colors making them come through with more intensity.

Such a luscious & soft golden color .

The cone-head center of these golden beauties will provide food to small songbirds this fall and winter. As they select their free lunch they will inevitably scatter seeds on the ground. Some of those seeds will sprout and expand the black-eyed susan plantings! Nature plays an active hand in our garden.

And below, this profile view of one Hollyhock bloom highlights the contrasting textures between paper thin petals of the flower and the knobby, bulbous center where all the magical action happens.

We pick and scatter the seed pods these plants produce along our fence line each autumn to guarantee a future crop of colorful hollyhocks. They are bi-annuals and with a little help from us grow into the prettiest privacy screen every summer!

I am pleased that these shots turned out so well. Sure hope you've enjoyed the view!

Lovely Lavender

Lovely Lavender, originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden.

Another favorite in the garden, with spikes of tiny purple fleurettes , here still mainly in bud state. Walk by them and they release an earthy calming fragrance. Leaves and dried flowers are becoming popular in some novel recipes. They are also fun additions to miniature bouquets.
I enjoy adding them to wreaths made for special occasions and to make scented scrubbers for use in the bath.
This is one plant that is very hardy and makes a nice landscaping specimen or mass planting that is tolerant of lower water levels. Take care in it's application in areas where the general public may come into contact with them. Their volatile oils can irritate sensitive skin causing a dry patchy rash.

Branding My Work

Violet Rose Of Sharon
Originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden

Took this sweet image of a Rose Of Sharon blossom and played a bit to achieve this soothing look. I'm liking the feel of this one.

Delphiniums have returned to our garden!

Introducing some new plant specimens to the garden this year. Replaced my old fashioned favorite, a purple-blue beauty with a bit of a white face; the delphinium. This young plant could live for years in it's new garden bed, they get very large and last for decades like peony plants do. A friend of mine saw her plants grow 7 feet tall or more last year. The light was too low to do a macro shot when I took this one. I'm thinking early morning light might give me my best image of this pretty flower, so I'll be trying more later!

Also added a new variety of black eyed susan - another of my favorites!

These sweet daisy like flowers produce cones of seeds that various finches and the chicadees love! I try to grow a variety of seed producing plants, shrubs and trees that help feed the creatures that come to visit here.

Another old fashioned flower that is becoming well established along one of the fence lines right near our little barn! It's such a perfect setting for them! (they were often grown to hide small farm buildings or fences.)

Well that's one quick tour of the garden today, more to follow as things keep growing! ;-)

The Wheat is coming off in Brant County!

The Wheat is coming off in Brant County!
Originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden

We've finally had enough heat and dry-ish weather for farmers at this location, to harvest their wheat.
It has been an odd year for vacationers, farmers and even our own garden, cool damp weather had stunted some growth in crops in our area, though they seem to be springing back with this past week of warmer temperatures. Molds and fungi could be a real concern for everyone this year.

The shadows were so pretty crossing the field of view where Brant county farmers were harvesting wheat. We just had to stop so I could play with my camera a bit! I got a nice range of shots and love the color. It seems it was just the right time of day to capture the beauty and tapestry-like impression of the images.

Birdsongs in the garden!

Broadcasting Live from Our Enchanted Garden

Here we go!

A trial run this morning in the garden to see how well the technology works and wether I'll need help to run the show! Or wether the weather will help me with the show by encouraging the birds to sing to alll our guests in a sort of impromptu garden party!

Fostering really is the Natural Way

Lately a lot of the posts here for the garden have focused on adopting abandoned animals, fostering and the challenges of training puppies and keeping them safe in the garden. It wasn't really my intention to see our blog be centered on pet issues and yet what has come through from these experiences has been the discovery of more of nature's magic. There it was; plain as the nose on my face!

Fostering really is Nature's way. You see birds and dogs and cats do it. This points to me of how very important it is that people who are drawn to helping other creatures, including humans, follow through on their feelings and their inspirations. This is a natural instinct among living beings.

My thoughts drift to 2005, when I was freshly inspired by my calling to the garden and the wisdom it spoke to me. This came to be just weeks before Katrina bore down on the Gulf Coast of the US. At that time people came together to help each other. Multiple levels of government and specialists in safety and rescue with almost unlimited funds at their disposal seemed unable to step up to help without tripping over red tape and politics.

Fostering is what was arranged for people who had nowhere to go after government assistance ended and there were still no homes available for those left homeless in Louisianna and elsewhere! It might not be what people call it but it works out to the same sort of thing.

Right now in the United States and Canada there are countless living beings who need your help. One of the easiest ways to help is fostering. If you have the room in your home, foster children or even families. If you don't have that sort of room but still have that space in your hearts and your yards; foster dogs, cats, rabbits, pot bellied pigs, horses or other animals in need. Seek out local shelter and animal rescue groups and learn what's needed in your area. Offer those groups your administrative or fundraising skills if you can't possibly foster people or animals.

In these hard times many families and their pets will suffer without some sort of assistance. As a foster mother for Jack Russell Terriers I can attest to the needs out there that arise out of family break ups, the loss of a family bread-winner, and sudden life changes that prevent some people from being able to continue to care for family pets. None of these situations can be controlled by the pet and they come to their neediness out of no fault of their own. Animals require attention and love, exercise and socialization and these needs don't end as changes occurr in their lives.

If you've ever had the inclination to help - consider it again and make a few enquiries, someone will be happy to learn you're interested in helping. You might get a big sloppy kiss from some loveable pup for your efforts, but heck, it could be a lot worse!

Back to the Jack!

Jack met his new family a couple of weeks ago, this is a shot of his new sister Maggie.

His new owners thought it might be fun to change his name slightly to Mack. It's so close to his earlier name and he's still so young and eager that a name change likely won't cause him any stress! Maggie and John Mack, sporting a muzzle

for safety and showing

off his heart!

"Getting to know you..." This family is now having loads of fun romping together in their own garden! Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? But then that's the little bit of magic that happens when a dog is in need and a family wants to add to their pack. Like radar, they often seem to seek out and find each other.

Miller defends Toronto's cleanliness on CNN

Wow! Poor Toronto is having some woes and worries! Miller defends Toronto's cleanliness on CNN Shared via AddThis

I can't imagine our parks and other green spaces being used as dump sites. However our little city, Guelph has a large section of parkland that was once a riverside dump site and reclaimed in the seventies for naturalization and recreational use! How ironic would that be?

Jack of Hearts!

Jack of Hearts!
Originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden

I just had to play with this shot a bit, he's such a sweet fellow and this little heart shaped bit of dog hair is amazing!

There's a happy family that's looking forward to meeting Jack and he may be going to a new forever home soon! Lucky boy is sure to give his new family years of love and entertainment.

We surely will miss him when he does find a family. The whole point of fostering is to be there for the dog at their most vulnerable, to help them settle and re-gain their confidence and then help them become part of a new family.

By fostering any family can potentially help hundreds of Jack Russell Terriers, or any other breed for that matter, rather than just one! Any person with the room in their yards, their lives and their hearts should strongly consider becoming a foster home for animals. Look on the net for info in your area, Province or State - many are breed specific, and arrange to speak with one of their volunteers.

Jack's Heart isn't on his sleeve!

Jack's Heart isn't on his sleeve!
Originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden

Yipppeeee!
So glad I finally managed to get a shot of the heart on Jack's forehead. Far more visible when his brows aren't raised or furrowed!
It's a very subtle contrast between two shades of brown hairs but there's a heart there without a doubt.

Jack is such an interesting character, has been with us for two weeks now and has shown himself to be an incredible companion. Mia has loved his romantic attention (they're both fixed! crazy pups!) and Daisy has loved his robust playfulness!

Jack's most endearing traits are that sweet heart he wears between his ears and his amazing collection of barks! When he is being brave and playing sentry of the back yard he has a deep bark that belies his size - sounds like a big hound dog! When Jack is playing with Daisy and Mia he'll sometimes use short sharp barks, and other times he squeaks rather than barks - it is the cutest sound and always gets us giggling!

Rescuing Jack

Meet Jack

When I recently told a friend I was considering rescuing a young dog and giving him a foster home until a suitable forever home can be found for him, she wondered out loud - "what are you thinking?" Okay sure, with two dogs of our own it may seem like a wild idea to bring another dog home, but this little Jack needed some TLC and attention. He was suffering emotionally from separation anxiety and the poor little fellow had no idea or control over what happened to his owners.

He's just a pup, at 10 months old and really just wants to be loved, be safe and get to play his heart out. That's all most Jack Russells want, a safe loving home (safe, as in JRT proof!) with lots of play and stimulation plus room to run, hunt and explore! I enjoy the breed and their happy, energetic personalities. They have a reputation for being troublemakers but usually the dogs are less responsible than their owners for lack of training! Jack Russell Terriers do require a bit more attention than many other breeds and new owners often learn that the hard way.

Our family are now the proud rescuers of a total of three Jack Russells; Keisha whom we lost last winter to cancer, Mia we adopted near the end of winter when she was 6 months old, and now Jack. Our other dog, Daisy is a large black Labrador-Doberman cross, she's the youngest and yet she plays babysitter with the other dogs. We adopted Daisy when she was a tiny 6 wk old pup. We brought her home to meet Keisha during her last days with us. Meeting Keisha helped Daisy learn some respect for an older sick animal and other important socializing skills. Not long after Keisha died we began looking into adopting another Jack Russell and that's when Mia came to stay with us. Mia and Daisy have grown together like litter-mates and now Mia doesn't seem to notice Daisy is three times her size, they play and fight and romp together and then curl up and snooze together too!

Three dogs, does it seem too much? Nah! But, if I help JRTRO by rescuing and adopting Jack but then have no more room for dogs then JRTRO would lose me as a contact, other than for referrals. Instead my partner and I felt we could help get little Jack settled and more comfortable here while volunteers with Jack Russell Terrier Rescue of Ontario work to find him a suitable home. Then Jack can be paired with a loving family and our family, including our two babysitting puppies can move forward to help another stranded and frightened Jack Russell. Our two dogs, Daisy is 7 months old and Mia is 9 months or so. They never cease to amaze me and I'm thrilled to help them help others of their species. They are becoming fabulous hostesses!

So while people may wonder where my senses have gone, bringing in a foster puppy keeps our two puppies well occupied, gives them a sense of purpose and provides a wonderful gift to an animal in dire straights through no fault of his or her own. Our house is really too small for foster kids but our yard and hearts are certainly big enough to foster unfortunate animals!

HA HA; Hope Always Helps, Actually!

Depression is one of the strangest states of imbalance in a person's mental health. Getting a handle on how it affects my day to day experiences is a constant learning endeavor. I know laughter helps me cope considerably and that got me thinking. "Ha Ha, there's hope...", and then I realized; Hope Always Helps Actually! Perhaps this is why people search so for answers to the questions; why are we here, what's the point of this human existence. It's why organized religions, despite their shortcomings, have had such a hold on the human psyche. Hope seems to be an elixir for us all in our day to day lives, helping us see beyond challenges and pitfalls to the potential that is inherent in our life experiences. Hope says we have the potential to realize our dreams and to grow beyond any current situation. People who feel life is hopeless, or believe there is no hope of overcoming something negative or unpleasant in their lives can find themselves dissatisfied and disenchanted with the life they are living. The sensations, if prolonged and unaddressed can become dibilitating and can even lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, obesity and premature aging. Laughing in the face of perceived danger may seem foolhardy and yet if a danger is only perceived but not an actual threat then it may be the very best remedy by far! Laughter releases chemicals that help the body relieve stress, fear, even pain. Laughter puts us on a different playing field, where anything just might be possible or where our imagination can ahke up new ideas and connections. Laughter even makes a person more approachable, as everyone knows a good belly laugh is infectious! We all enjoy laughter, at least everyone I know does. I use laughter where I work to help diffuse tense situations and to assist my customers by uplifting their moods, at 5:30 in the morning I think my customers appreciate the fact I have a smile on my face and a pleasant greeting for them! Well I'm hope-full this is help-full to anyone else in a similar situation!

A Pretty Magic Wand

A lucky shot with a magical feel!

Mother nature sweeps her magic wand around the garden and the trees and plants respond with their most beautiful show of growth and color. The life cycle begins in earnest as the northern hemisphere of earth awakens with vibrant life. The peach blossoms are such a delight! Delicate, intricate and colorful; five petaled, star-like beauties doing their best to attract the bees and insects that will help create some luscious fruit! Their fragrance is light, fruity and sweet! There are four families of sparrows living beside the garden. With chirping, hungry babies the parents will be a big help in keeping harmful bugs from our fruit trees. In exchange we provide a safe environment, abundant food, a fresh water supply and some of the prettiest perches in the neighborhood! Co-creation with nature, living a life enchanted; my joys and the source of my passion!

Plants, creatures and colors grow so intense in Spring!

Plants, creatures and colors grow so intense in Spring! Originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden

Loved the colors in this shot. Wished the bumble bee had posed a bit better but there are still some interesting aspects, angles and texture in the image. (click for larger view) Hooray for the bees and other critters that hang out in our garden! Signs that our family attempt to allow nature to have its' own balance here in Our Enchanted Garden is of some success! Generations of birds, toads, squirrels, beetles, spiders, bats, lady bugs, chipmunks, and others live in and around the immediate area where we live. We hope to eventually build a waterfall and pond with a pool area for the dogs to enjoy. Just a small setup with a "pond" for the dogs, maybe a 6' diameter kiddie pool. That might be inviting to some frogs and fireflies adding to the backyard wildlife! Most of these critters eat bugs that otherwise might damage the fruits and flowers we're growing. They help us keep the garden in good shape naturally! Natural wildlife also play a role in helping the property reclaim its biodiversity, their excrement spreading seeds of locally native plants. Some plants are allowed to survive in the garden depending on where they show up and if they are a desirable addition to the eco-environment.. Such Intense Color, such is life in spring; Intense and poised and ready to expand into its full potential and expression. What all life forms innately crave in the bowels of their being - each displaying the desire in their own ways. Life is just so Beauty Full, so said my grandma years ago and another very good friend recently! I've been convinced of the same for years and hope to remind others of the simple wonderful treasures in life we all often overlook. We move so fast, think so hard, we forget to hear our inner knowing. There can be too much distraction and static and drama in a person's focus to hear any intuitive or sub-conscious nudging. Pause a moment and celebrate the colors of the season around you and the diversity of life and nature that abound everywhere! Drink it in, breathe it in deeply while remembering to be grateful for your many blessings!

Merry Cherry Maker!

So very glad to see the honey bees in the garden busy pollinating our fruit trees, planted this time last year. What a pleasure to watch the development of fresh fruits in the back yard! Nature's spontaneity and abundant synchronicity are the "magic" that is the very fabric of existence. Here is that magic in action; the ant and the bee and a mass of flowers to explore with random, wild abandon. Yet most of the flowers seem to be successfully transformed into tiny cherries, despite the lack of any apparent plan! We humans can learn so much from that!