To peer through curtains of dreams as if awake

Hello all,

What an interesting past month it has been. Lots of new opportunities have risen, including having the chance to work at the Palaeontology Department at the Royal Ontario Museum this summer. Strolling around the city while everything is bursting into life certainly creates an extraordinary landscape, particularly on the St. George campus ground at U of T and on the Toronto Islands. There are places I escape to around these parts and they have become more enlightened as of late- probably because of the weather I dare say!

(Photo: Em34)

At night, the world takes on a different mood and atmosphere- especially now we can tolerate the warmer evenings- which means more conversations out on the patio, and interesting events to look forward to and take part of. I myself have found engagements that had a wonderful conclusive ending which turned into fond memories as I look back.

Perhaps it is because I have been reading and seeing a lot more of things Oxfordian lately that I find myself yearning to visit the Oxford grounds and who knows, pursue a degree in Fine Arts, one day. One can always dream and pursue.

I have also as of late, founded a book club- the Matchbook Book Club that is. So far, there's been warm reception when it comes to membership- around 14 and counting.

I have many great ideas for this book club. The books, being read on a monthly basis, needs to provide an open door of a deepening understanding with our world, capture imaginative opportunities, and are enthralling at every page.

It has a wide flexibility when it comes to genre as I believe there should be no restriction in order to expand interests that may have been neglected earlier.

There will be fun outings, going to heritage places around the city, or botanical gardens, or any landscape that would coincide with what the book club aspires to be: inspirational, and to define what we think and imagine in a old world sense within a modern time. In the words of John Keats: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty- that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know."

I have also managed to walk to places I have not gone in quite some time.

I was fortunate to observe the Japanese cherry blossoms out at High Park. It was beautiful the way its petals carved out a line against the edge of a small road. There was a light scent walking underneath them, it's colours ever so pleasing to the human eye.

One weekend my friend and I took the ferry to go to the Toronto Islands. There, a wide expanse of space provided the ample opportunity to rent a bicycle, and rode all along the island. At first I wasn't quite so sure if I was fine riding it, as it's been some years since I last rode one. However, the first few seconds I instantaneously picked up the pace and soon began to glide. How exhilarating it was, the wide open space, the view of the lake, the beaches, and the pier, oh the pier!

The best hidden surprise of all was a lighthouse as we were biking by. I just had to stop and take a photo of it. I have a love of lighthouses, and plan to visit as many as I can in my lifetime- the stories behind them have such a romantic feel in my eyes.

I felt all of my stress slipping away, trailing behind me, never to return. This sense of release felt wonderful and was refreshing. I could go on biking for hours in such a landscape. All we needed was a picnic basket for an afternoon lounge.

On the island, they have a small farm known as the "Far Enough" farm. There were horses, roosters, pigs, and other farm animals there. What captured my attention was a peacock, who stretched its immense work of art for all to see. Capturing this photo brought me to the closest proximity I ever had with a peacock.

I have a feeling that June would bring more lovely days to come, stay tuned!

Joie de vivre,

Joanne