Walk in the Park - Leo Mol Sculpture Garden

Just as the fall colours were starting, I took some time and went to
the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden at Assiniboine Park in my home
town of Winnipeg MB Canada.  Below are just a few pictures I
took on my walk.  Not many; I got caught up in just looking around.

Standing Wide Angle Forward Bend - with pictures

I have posted Prasarita Padottanasana before.  I'm just taking the 

opportunity to post pictures my teacher, Susan, took of me in the pose.  

This is a great forward bend if you have tight hamstrings and have 

difficulty bending forward with your feet together.

Feet apart, bend forward till you hands reach the floor or blocks.  At 

this point your back is straight and you are facing the floor.  Hold for 

a few seconds and then release forward bring your hands between your 

feet, bend elbows, and let your head drop. 

Philippa Gregory - Cousins' War series

I've always enjoyed history.  Sometimes stories of real people and events can
seem more fantastical than any fiction.  One author I've become quite fond of
is Philippa Gregory and her series on the War of the Roses.  So far she has
written four books: The White Queen is the story of Elizabeth Woodville,
wife of Edward IV and mother of the "princes of the tower".  The Red Queen
follows the life of Margaret Beaufort, mother to the future Henry VII.
The Lady of the Rivers is the story of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother to
Elizabeth Woodville.  Her latest book is The Kingmaker's Daughter about
Anne Neville, older daughter to Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and wife
of Richard, Duke of Gloucester the future Richard III.

The stories are about the women who were the daughters, wives and mothers
to incredibly powerful men during a period of great turmoil in British
history. Each woman has her own "energy" that propels her through
extraordinary events of history.  Jacquetta has mystical powers to see into
the future.  Elizabeth is a great beauty and has considerable charm.
Margaret is of royal blood and truly believes in her divine destiny.
Anne and her sister are used as pawns by their father.

For read the story lines on these books go to www.philippagregory.com
To order any of these books, use the Amazon link to the right.
 

Warwick Castle

Entrance to the Tower of London

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving in Canada!
View of autumn colours from my condo window.
Skyline of Winnipeg, MB Canada

Chocolate-Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

This is an easy Kraft recipe cookie.  If you do not want raspberry
jam for the filling, use another flavour or try a whole almond or
hazelnut instead.

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
4 squares Baker's unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup butter
1 pkg (250 gr/ /8oz) brick cream cheese, softened      
1 - 1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup raspberry jam

Mix flour, baking soda and salt in one bowl.
Melt chocolate and butter together.  Whisk in cream cheese.
Add one cup sugar, egg and vanilla.  Mix well.
Stir in flour mixture to form dough.  Refrigerate 15 minutes.

Roll dough into 1" balls.  Coat with remaining sugar.
Place on prepared cookie sheets and press thumb into centre
of each ball.  Fill each indentation with about 1/4 tsp jam.

Bake at 375F for 8 to 10 minutes.  Cool on baking sheet for
one minute then transfer cookies onto cooling racks.

Chatsworth, Great Britain

September of 2011, I was on a tour of the UK from London to Edinburgh.  One
of our stops was Chatsworth House and its gardens.  Chatsworth is in the
heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire and is home to the Duke and Duchess
of Devonshire. The whole of Chatsworth includes the house with gardens,
park and farm.  My group got a tour of the house and a walk through parts
of the garden. The garden is extensive with flower beds, trees and shrubbery,
sculptures and art installations. Being it was September, the dahlias were
particularly lovely. For more information, go to www.chatsworth.org

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Triangle Pose - Trikonasana

Triangle pose is a classic standing pose and is one of the first poses taught.

Remember you are bending to the side not forward.  If you cannot get your

hand to the floor, use a block (as in the video below) or a wood block on

stack of foam blocks or a chair seat.  As you progress in the pose, work on

turning the torso into a twist.

   

Below is a YouTube video of Geeta Iyengar teaching triangle pose at at

Conventia Italiana a Montecatini in 2002.