The Ottawa Evening Citizen bore a headline that still echoes through history: ""FRANCE SEEKING PEACE: BRITAIN TO FIGHT ALONE."" The date was Monday, June 17, 1940. The subheadings painted a bleak picture of France's defeat: "Great Maginot Fortress Gone, Nazi Hordes Sweep Southward."
The way to bear strife is by maintaining balance. We must visit beauty in order to endure the conflict. A taste of sweet to tolerate the bitterness. The beauty feeds our hope and ability to continue. Thank you for helping us keep harmony.
The history you’ve described is fascinating and 83 years later parallels our own in many ways. Those who built and lived in this lodge amidst pristine nature wouldn’t believe how we’ve lost so much of our wonderful planet through greed and neglect.
I’m happy you found an escape from the heartbreaking news that batters our souls. It fills us all with guilt, anger and sadness. Writings like this are a valuable contribution to your readers, reminding us of past history so similar to what we see today. Your voice is important. It’s part of what you give back. I hope that lessens any guilt you may feel.
Thank you for a great read and extraordinary photos!
The world doesn't stop turning. And we have to do our part. We have to keep the balance. We need forest trails. We need to breathe with the pulsing heart of will. We are tireless walkers.
Article excellent and much appreciated, virtual nature is a bonus for me. Can write no more as dear 😽 Sophie returned from hospital today having had surgery, meds, tune up! Checking out the house to be sure it’s hers, astonishingly frisky, actually eating, purring so very loudly wish I could record! Grabbing my Apple Pencil so very playful. Believe she’s been gifted another nine lives at 14 years! We are happy today. 😘😂🤣
Your narration, so well written, touches me a lot, Alex! In my childhood, I heard a lot about this terrible war from my grandparents. So, I would just like to add a few lines on this conflict...
It was in September 1939 that the German army invaded Poland, starting World War II. In response to this aggression, the “allied bloc” will be formed with the France, the United Kingdom, the Canada and the United States.
In June 1940, Germany, long prepared for this conflict, had already gained a lot of ground. In France, the Maréchal Pétain then announced to the French that he had requested an armistice from the German leaders, believing that the fighting must stop: too much massive destruction and human losses.
For his part, the Général de Gaulle launched a powerful public appeal to continue the fight: defeat was not acceptable. The resistants groups are multiplying in France. In Europe, the fighting rages.
The fight against the enemy was then organized between the Allies.
It was in fact a fight for democracy against nazism, fascism...
France will finally be liberated between 1944 and 1945 by the French armed forces and the Allies, but unfortunately Canada will lose many men in these battles🙏Today, after all these years, tributes are still regularly paid to the many Canadian soldiers who died during their landing on our beaches in Normandie, or during other assaults.
I hope that at the time of this war, in Canada, these collective places of relaxation and exchange, in the middle of nature, contributed to the appeasement in the face of the difficult uncertainty of these men.
And for us today, how can we deal with all the ongoing conflicts in the world of which we are the powerless witnesses?
For many, we live far from true nature... from the well-being and peace it can bring us. What a pity … In nature, life is everywhere, fascinating, dynamic, abundant... and life leads to life!
Dialogue, exchanges, listening also allow us not to feel alone in the face of this news. One person alone can’t carry the weight of all these misfortunes.
So thank you Alex👌, for giving us your very personal thoughts, for this privileged place where we can listen to you and also express ourselves... and for all your pics with these superb autumn colors
Thank you, Danièle. The present mess in global politics and security shows the importance of knowing our history, including remembering all those who gave their lives for our freedom. From my viewpoint here in Canada, and with my family history of those dark times, I'm particularly grateful for all those young Canadians who went overseas to that faraway continent that had plunged into the second world war just 20 years after ending the first one. In France, there is, of course, also the memory of the Dieppe Raid, with the massive loss of lives of mainly Canadian infantry, two years before D-Day.
The way to bear strife is by maintaining balance. We must visit beauty in order to endure the conflict. A taste of sweet to tolerate the bitterness. The beauty feeds our hope and ability to continue. Thank you for helping us keep harmony.
Beautifully said 🙏
Came on here to say this. Well said, Rena.
A wonderful story beautifully constructed.
The history you’ve described is fascinating and 83 years later parallels our own in many ways. Those who built and lived in this lodge amidst pristine nature wouldn’t believe how we’ve lost so much of our wonderful planet through greed and neglect.
I’m happy you found an escape from the heartbreaking news that batters our souls. It fills us all with guilt, anger and sadness. Writings like this are a valuable contribution to your readers, reminding us of past history so similar to what we see today. Your voice is important. It’s part of what you give back. I hope that lessens any guilt you may feel.
Thank you for a great read and extraordinary photos!
Thank you, Lizzie. I will post some more photos on Patreon later.
The world doesn't stop turning. And we have to do our part. We have to keep the balance. We need forest trails. We need to breathe with the pulsing heart of will. We are tireless walkers.
Walking, and sharing the beauty encountered, to remind a confused world of all we risk losing.
Article excellent and much appreciated, virtual nature is a bonus for me. Can write no more as dear 😽 Sophie returned from hospital today having had surgery, meds, tune up! Checking out the house to be sure it’s hers, astonishingly frisky, actually eating, purring so very loudly wish I could record! Grabbing my Apple Pencil so very playful. Believe she’s been gifted another nine lives at 14 years! We are happy today. 😘😂🤣
Nice to hear. 🐱
Your narration, so well written, touches me a lot, Alex! In my childhood, I heard a lot about this terrible war from my grandparents. So, I would just like to add a few lines on this conflict...
It was in September 1939 that the German army invaded Poland, starting World War II. In response to this aggression, the “allied bloc” will be formed with the France, the United Kingdom, the Canada and the United States.
In June 1940, Germany, long prepared for this conflict, had already gained a lot of ground. In France, the Maréchal Pétain then announced to the French that he had requested an armistice from the German leaders, believing that the fighting must stop: too much massive destruction and human losses.
For his part, the Général de Gaulle launched a powerful public appeal to continue the fight: defeat was not acceptable. The resistants groups are multiplying in France. In Europe, the fighting rages.
The fight against the enemy was then organized between the Allies.
It was in fact a fight for democracy against nazism, fascism...
France will finally be liberated between 1944 and 1945 by the French armed forces and the Allies, but unfortunately Canada will lose many men in these battles🙏Today, after all these years, tributes are still regularly paid to the many Canadian soldiers who died during their landing on our beaches in Normandie, or during other assaults.
I hope that at the time of this war, in Canada, these collective places of relaxation and exchange, in the middle of nature, contributed to the appeasement in the face of the difficult uncertainty of these men.
And for us today, how can we deal with all the ongoing conflicts in the world of which we are the powerless witnesses?
For many, we live far from true nature... from the well-being and peace it can bring us. What a pity … In nature, life is everywhere, fascinating, dynamic, abundant... and life leads to life!
Dialogue, exchanges, listening also allow us not to feel alone in the face of this news. One person alone can’t carry the weight of all these misfortunes.
So thank you Alex👌, for giving us your very personal thoughts, for this privileged place where we can listen to you and also express ourselves... and for all your pics with these superb autumn colors
🧡🌟🍁🐿️🪵 !!
Thank you, Danièle. The present mess in global politics and security shows the importance of knowing our history, including remembering all those who gave their lives for our freedom. From my viewpoint here in Canada, and with my family history of those dark times, I'm particularly grateful for all those young Canadians who went overseas to that faraway continent that had plunged into the second world war just 20 years after ending the first one. In France, there is, of course, also the memory of the Dieppe Raid, with the massive loss of lives of mainly Canadian infantry, two years before D-Day.
Thanks you, Alex.
Yes, knowing our history connects us to a whole, gives hope.
The example of these young Canadians who came from so far away and died to give a future to Europe has always deeply moved me.
Sorry... after sending it, I realize that my comment is perhaps a little long... but the subject is so vast! 🙋♀️
10/26/2023; 13:12pm; Thursday; would enjoy more photos of Luna, precious girl!