Today is our provincial election. The antics leading up to this one have been interesting. We went out to vote during the lunch hour. Our polling station was pretty quiet. 

Why is this beautiful?
I really haven't like the direction of this election or politics in Alberta but we live in a democracy and by voting we have our say. I am so grateful that we can vote.

We had an absolutely gorgeous day today. I was able to sit outside and enjoy the blue sky and fresh air. 

Why is this beautiful?
We take fresh air for granted but when we don't have it, we notice. Last weekend, the air was so full of smoke from the wildfires burning in Northern Alberta you could not sit outside. It was really bad and I can't imagine what it was like in the communities closer to the fires. 

I was so grateful to be able to be outside and breathe in the fresh air today.

I abandoned this "what is beautiful today" project almost a year ago and I'm not really sure why. So much has changed for me in the past four-five months and it is really easy to get caught up in self pity and sadness. So...I have decided to make more of an effort to record gratitude and specifically to bring back what is beautiful today.

Today I'm excited to share these stunning tulips. James purchased a subscription from a local grower so we will have fresh bouquets every two weeks until frost. This is our first bouquet of the season. 

Why is this beautiful?
I love tulips, they are such a happy flower! They announce the arrival of spring and a sense renewal. 

Seeing massive displays of tulips makes my heart happy. Butchart Gardens (Victoria, BC) is spectacular in the spring (you can see some flowers in this post from 2019) with so many colours and varieties of spring bulbs. In April 2016 we had the pleasure of visiting Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands. It was a magical (albeit freezing) day with family and friends - one that I am so grateful I have the memories of. 

These tulips are so unique in size, texture and colour. They make me smile every time I look at them.