Cynthia Reyes's Blog, page 21

Rabbits, Principles and Thomas Markle

It’s retribution, I tell you. You instil certain principles in your children.  And then they grow up and use those very principles against you. ~~ Take the case of the rabbit. We raised our children to be kind to animals. We forgot to mention that kindness might have limits — when the wild rabbit ignores… Continue reading Rabbits, Principles and Thomas Markle

No-One Is An Island

“In our view, An Honest House should be required reading for everyone.”   Isabel Bassett, former government minister and CEO of TV Ontario and Ernie Eves, former premier of Ontario, wrote those words about my second book, An Honest House.  I’m sharing their moving words here. For one thing, it allows me to salute Isabel and Ernie… Continue reading No-One Is An Island

I’d Never Seen My Garden…

… from certain viewpoints.  You could call it: The Paths Not Taken. It’s such a lovely place. But I didn’t venture far enough, and always saw the same things from the same points of view. Until today! Today,  I took a ‘daycation’ ( if that isn’t a word, it should be).  The day had started out badly… Continue reading I’d Never Seen My Garden…

How to use Goodreads to Promote your Book

Originally posted on Lauren Reyes-Grange, Digital Marketer:
As every author knows, finishing your book and having it published is only the beginning of another challenge in the book writing business. Now you have to get your book in the hands of readers. This part of the process can be tough (no matter how wonderful your…

Exterior Design – Gardening for Impact

  I’m an amateur gardener. Many of you know more about gardening than I do. But I’ve learned a few things over the years and I shared some in my previous post on affordable gardening.  This post is about creating impact. The first thing I’ve learned is that you can create impactful garden scenes with… Continue reading Exterior Design – Gardening for Impact

8 Tips for Lovely, Low-Cost Gardens

Our gardens are usually lovely because my husband and I take good care of them.  But there’s another reason we’re pleased: nothing we add costs us much. Some gardening tips to share: Look for end-of-season sales. Many plants in our garden were bought in late June or early July. Remember: water generously that first summer.… Continue reading 8 Tips for Lovely, Low-Cost Gardens

Back to the Birdies

PHOTOS BY HAMLIN GRANGE A parent dove sees everything. Including us, spying on him as he sat on the nest.  (Dove mothers sit on the nest at night, father during the day. ) Hamlin set up his camera and tripod just inside the window. Timing was everything.  He said, one day: “Do you know how… Continue reading Back to the Birdies

Blind Trust

My friend Kaye gave me a shock. We were in the middle of a conversation some years ago when I casually said something about “being a black woman” and Kaye asked: “You’re black?” “Of course!” I replied. Then: “Wait …. You didn’t know that I’m black, Kaye? How is that possible? We’ve known each other for… Continue reading Blind Trust

Garden Porn – ish

Well, it would be garden porn but we’re at that in-between stage right now. Flowering plants are still budding up… Vines are twining up… And if it weren’t for the Jack In The Pulpits, cuddling up to an overwhelmingly tall hosta… And these sweet little flowers cozying up against the stone wall ….. And the… Continue reading Garden Porn – ish

Port Granby’s March Cottage

On Saturday, June 9, it will be Doors Open in Port Granby and Newtonville, east of Toronto.  If you’ve never heard of Port Granby, you’re not alone. Once a thriving village and busy port, Port Granby is now a quiet hamlet on the shores of Lake Ontario. It’s home to several families. Three of those… Continue reading Port Granby’s March Cottage