To Briefly Escape Winter

Sue Ellis • January 7, 2014

Allan Gardens is one of those beautiful public spaces in down town Toronto. Trees, grass, benches and off leash dog park on the outside and a 16,000 sq ft conservatory where tropical plants live, water falls, turtles and gold fish swim and seasonal flowering plants are constantly, lovingly, changed.

My last visit was in June 2013 to see the end of the life of the agave Americana, the century plant. Today I was back to see the Christmas arrangement. One year the centrepiece was a model train; another year plants were laid out to make a Victoria living room. This year there was a flower arranged grand piano and mannequins in formal, living, evening dress.

As always I go to look at the countless varieties of poinsettias. By this time, they are starting to expose the floral part of their structure, not just their coloured leaves.

I am always drawn to the display of cyclamen, the colours of these plants are magic to me. This year so many more fruit were in evidence. I don't think I have noticed the "Buddha's hand" citrus fruit before. I took time to examine the decorative kale plants.

In the cactus house, so many of the Jade Plants were in flower again something I have never been aware of before

This winter has already brought us much snow and ice causing damage to many of our trees. Just for a short while it was a relief to be surrounded by nature thriving.

Health care videos give more tools to stressed caregivers!

By Sue Ellis • March 19, 2018
The stress of care giving is not diminishing.

Long Before The Dementia Diagnosis Is Made

By Sue Ellis • May 30, 2016
Reaching a diagnosis for many diseases takes a long time. Symptoms appear and there are tests. Symptoms are often denied by the individual or at first minimized by the professional. Symptoms may make past activity and work impossible causing great strain on family resources. In some situation changes in behaviour or memory are insidiously destroying relationships before they can be identified as symptoms of something being wrong.

Always Bad Timing?

By Sue Ellis • May 30, 2016
When the diagnosis comes and roles have to change, a caregiver is needed and is assigned. When it is a parent who gets sick it is usually the daughter or daughter in law who must take up the responsibility. A spouse is expected to care for a spouse. With the changed role comes a changed life. The goals and dreams, the expectation of what was to come next, get dashed. When taking on the caregiver role, what were your plans for life? Were you looking to get promoted in your job, further your education, retire and start traveling, focus on bringing up the teenage children?

5 Ways To Harness The Magic Of Spring

By Sue Ellis • May 9, 2016
Here we are, in the beginning of yet another beautiful spring. Something is rumbling beneath the soil, a thing of beauty waiting to burst from its cocoon, a promise made long ago that is about to be kept. This is a ripe time of year to reshuffle the deck, shed skins of the past, and give yourself a fresh start.

There Can Be Consciousness In Business

By Sue Ellis • May 9, 2016
“We Are One with humanity and all of life. Business and all institutions of the human community are integral parts of a single reality — interrelated, interconnected and interdependent.” from the Conscious Business Declaration

Bearing Witness in Care Giving

By Sue Ellis • May 9, 2016
In recent years attitudes towards care giving have changed. One sees more media coverage of the subject and a growing industry for those offering fee for service. There is a great deal of “taking care of,” but not so much “providing support for” the emotional strains of care giving.

What Comes After Care Giving?

By Sue Ellis • May 6, 2016
When the care giving role has finished, the individual usually experiences a loss of identity. Here are ten ways of transitioning successfully from being a caregiver to creating a new life

Peace Begins at Home

By Sue Ellis • May 6, 2016
Just back from almost 2 weeks in my favourite part of the country, kind of my spiritual home away from home – Canada’s east coast and PEI in particular. When I spend any time along our Atlantic seaboard (Nova Scotia in particular), I invariably find myself asking “How can I live and work here”? And I feel I am getting closer to having an answer to that question.

How Can I Take Better Care of My Loved Ones Experiencing Incontinence

By Sue Ellis • May 6, 2016
How Can I Take Better Care of My Loved Ones Experiencing Incontinence Written by: Jenn Weesies Each February everyone puts a lot of effort into demonstrating their feelings towards their loved ones. They make or buy gifts, plan special excursions and recommit their lives to each other.

25 Bad Habits 

By Sue Ellis • May 6, 2016
A habit is a constant, often unconscious inclination to perform some act, acquired through its frequent repetition. If the habit is objectionable, we call it a “bad habit”.
Show More