Remember when our children used a soother? Well some of our children that is. I know two of my three children did. I did as my mother did, if the soother fell out of the child's mouth and onto the floor I would pick it up put it in my mouth to rinse it off and back into the child's mouth it would go. I know "Gross", but we did it and I never thought anything of it. The way I looked at it was I would rinse it off in my mouth for my child and as far as me putting it in my mouth then the child's...well I figure I birthed the child they have part of me anyhow so what the heck. It's kinda of like one of those old wives tales. Now of course if the soother had dropped into some dirt or something I would find the closest water give it a quick rinse and back into my child's mouth it would go. No boiling or sterilizing was going on here. Again, for some of you might think that to be gross. To me it just seemed natural, and now, in hind sight I see I was helping build my child's immunity.
I find a lot of parents now days try to protect their child from the world around them. So much so that when they think they are doing their child a favour by not allowing them to explore their world they are actually doing them a disservice.
A few years ago I was diagnosed with colitis. One of the things I did when I was diagnosed was to find out as much as I could about the disease and as a result I started another blog on Crohn's and Colitis. With this I joined a Facebook group called "Badgut.org" It's the Gastrointestinal Society of Canada, which is a nonprofit organization that provides a wealth of knowledge to folks who suffer from all kinds of gastrointestinal problems like IBS, IBD, GERD,Colitis, Crohn's and the likes. Oh my look at all those acronyms. The other day I was surfing Facebook and I noticed that they had made a post about farm animals and IBD(Irritable Bowel disease). This article talked about the importance of exposing our children to farm animals and how it helps build their immunity. http://www.badgut.org/information-centre/animal-exposure-reduces-the-risk-of-developing-ibd.html The article is titled "Animal exposure reduces the risk of developing IBD". I was very curious to read this article to see what it had to say. As it turns out I wasn't far off from what I thought. I hope you give it a read.
Recently my husband and I travelled back east for our grand-daughters christening. It was a lovely visit. However, there is a but in this story. My step-daughter is very particular about NOT allowing her daughter to be exposed to germs. Case in point, you are not even allowed to hold the child unless you wash your hands, there is definitely minimal floor crawling going on as the child is not allowed to touch anything dirty. It was very interesting to observe. My husband and I discussed this and how we felt our daughter was maybe doing her daughter a disservice by not allowing her to explore her world, not allowing her to be exposed to natural allergens in order to help her build her own healthy immunity. Natural immunity is so very important, so when I saw the article that I mentioned above I posted it on my Facebook page hoping that my step-daughter would read it.
We need to allow our little one's an opportunity to explore and not keep them in a bubble. It's funny, I remember my mom telling me stories about my sister always eating dirt I didn't hear of it doing her any harm. Of course it's everything in moderation and common sense does play a role.
As Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake" I say let them "eat dirt"
Food for thought.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
To Write or Not to Write
My sister has written and published a book. This past Thursday I attended her book launching party. The book is titled "Objects in Mirror Are Closer than They Appear A Memoir". As her siblings we all knew she was writing this book, but we had no idea of it's content. It was with much eager and excited anticipation that we all attended this very auspicious occasion. We(siblings) are all so very proud of her and now we can say we have an author in the family. What I find interesting, is that although we were not privy to the content of her book, we all had our own thoughts about what she would write. Some of us thought she would write about being a child of an immigrant family and the journey to a new country or about the struggles at the beginning, or even what it was like to grow up in a family of 12 children. I wasn't prepared for what she choose to write.
Pauline or Pave as we call her is an educated woman. She's been published in educational journals and periodicals. She has been published numerous times in the local paper. Pave retired not long ago from being a school principal. Retirement has provided her the time to put all those journals she had kept over the years into use. She decided it was time to write her memoirs. In preparation for the writing of her book she took writing courses and explored the world of writing and publishing. Once she had completed those courses her journey in writing began, although she might argue she was always writing her story.
As I said we knew she was writing about the family, but what and how it would be presented we the siblings were not privy. There was quite the gathering at the book launch. Many faces I recognized and many I didn't. There were old school chums of my sisters, some university friends, and old family friends. We all waited in eager anticipation for her to read a chapter from her book.
The time came and we all sat down, her daughter who no doubt was very proud of her mother stood up and said a few words and introduced her mom and then it began. My sister spoke of her journey in writing her book and before she started to read from her book she prefaced that these memoirs are Her memories and her remembrance of the occasion or event. It was important I think for her to say that as it prepared us the listeners and participants of her life to know this.
Pave choose to read Chapter 8 which was titled " Poor is a Four letter Word". In this chapter Pave regales us with a story of when she(and us her Sib's) were on a holiday where the swimsuits were forgotten at home. She told of how my mom who I thought was very creative went and bought bras and panties and material for my elder sisters(Pave being one of the older sisters). My mother pain stakingly sat by the campfire and sewed that material to those undergarments and created the swimsuits that we will never forget. Of course Pave who must have been 14 or 15 at the time was aghast at these suits and refused to wear hers. According to my sister my mom scolded her and tried to make her feel guilty because she wouldn't wear the suit that she had made. And so that is what Pave chose to share in her book, how mom made her feel bad about not wanting to wear the suit.
I remember that camping trip like it was yesterday. I being one of the youngest got to swim in what I remember as cotton underwear. I recall being a little shy not having a top to wear but I don't remember how my sister felt. Well now I know how she felt. She felt mortified, humiliated and POOR! How sad I thought that she remembered it this way. I on the other hand recall this story as being funny and extremely creative of my mom. Why my mom never bought suits I will never know, and as an adult I never thought to ask. I am not sure how Pave could fault my mom for making those suits and or scolding her for not wearing it. That isn't what matters here, it's what made Pave feel poor and that is all she remembers of that vacation. She also spoke about this cupboard or clothes closet I called it that my father had made. This this closet was the length and width of the station wagon. It was made in order to store all of our clothing and was anchored to the top of the car. I thought is was ingenious of him. I mean really could you imagine how many suitcases you would have need in order to pack clothes for 10 children and parents? So the closet/cupboard it was. Pave speaks about how the clothes were wrinkled. Again, I don't remember that, what I remember is mom ironing those clothes and putting them lovingly on each shelf, but again it was Pave's memories not mine. She didn't have anything positive to say about our camping life and yet I remember it so differently. I wondered why she didn't remember or choose not to write about our times picking cherries in the orchards, or the the trip to Barkersville. There are ten years between Pave and I and of course she would see it differently. But I asked myself, doesn't she remember the hikes, the campfires, the story times? Didn't she remember our boating days? Cruising up and down the coast exploring little coves and inlets? Doesn't she remember dropping anchor and rowing ashore and collecting clams and oysters for dinner, and all the beachcombing? How different our recollection of those days are.
HER memoirs.
I wonder why my sister opted to write and dwell on all the difficult times. In her first chapter she wrote about her years in catholic school, about the nuns and how they "ruled by the rod". The nuns could be cruel there was no doubt about that. I wonder now if maybe that is why she opted to go into education. I am also not sure why she opted not to write about the early days in England when times were not as financially challenging for the family and ultimately her. I wonder if she remembered the time when my parents were running an Inn. This inn was an old mansion on a hill. My father had gone to sea and my mother was left to tend the Inn and care for my older siblings. I ask myself if she remembered or cared how my mother almost lost all her hair because she worked so hard to maintain that Inn and at night how terribly scared my mom was of that old mansion. Probably not, Pave never had a very good memory. In later years when we would gather as a family we would talk about the "old days" and the early beginnings, Pave would often ask if she was even there.
I am very proud of my sister for venturing out and writing her book I am saddened by what memories she choose to share with the reader. I guess that is why they call it "Memoirs". I can kind of relate to how Joan Crawford must have felt when her daughter wrote about her in her book "Mother Dearest".
One could say there could be twelve different interpretations or recollections of the events that Pave wrote about. We would all write the story our own way. I guess that is what she has done. I am proud of my sister. I am sad that she had such cold and dark memories of her early years and chose to share those memories instead of sharing in her accomplishments. Pave in my eyes was and is theatrical. I can remember when she performed in a play at our local theater and her doing stand up comedy at a local venue. She was and continues to be so funny. Pave certainly was the person who could turn your frown upside down. One of my fondest memories of Pave was when I was a little girl, it was her wedding day. I thought my big sister was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I wished she remembered that, but those are my memories now aren't they.
Pauline or Pave as we call her is an educated woman. She's been published in educational journals and periodicals. She has been published numerous times in the local paper. Pave retired not long ago from being a school principal. Retirement has provided her the time to put all those journals she had kept over the years into use. She decided it was time to write her memoirs. In preparation for the writing of her book she took writing courses and explored the world of writing and publishing. Once she had completed those courses her journey in writing began, although she might argue she was always writing her story.
As I said we knew she was writing about the family, but what and how it would be presented we the siblings were not privy. There was quite the gathering at the book launch. Many faces I recognized and many I didn't. There were old school chums of my sisters, some university friends, and old family friends. We all waited in eager anticipation for her to read a chapter from her book.
The time came and we all sat down, her daughter who no doubt was very proud of her mother stood up and said a few words and introduced her mom and then it began. My sister spoke of her journey in writing her book and before she started to read from her book she prefaced that these memoirs are Her memories and her remembrance of the occasion or event. It was important I think for her to say that as it prepared us the listeners and participants of her life to know this.
Pave choose to read Chapter 8 which was titled " Poor is a Four letter Word". In this chapter Pave regales us with a story of when she(and us her Sib's) were on a holiday where the swimsuits were forgotten at home. She told of how my mom who I thought was very creative went and bought bras and panties and material for my elder sisters(Pave being one of the older sisters). My mother pain stakingly sat by the campfire and sewed that material to those undergarments and created the swimsuits that we will never forget. Of course Pave who must have been 14 or 15 at the time was aghast at these suits and refused to wear hers. According to my sister my mom scolded her and tried to make her feel guilty because she wouldn't wear the suit that she had made. And so that is what Pave chose to share in her book, how mom made her feel bad about not wanting to wear the suit.
I remember that camping trip like it was yesterday. I being one of the youngest got to swim in what I remember as cotton underwear. I recall being a little shy not having a top to wear but I don't remember how my sister felt. Well now I know how she felt. She felt mortified, humiliated and POOR! How sad I thought that she remembered it this way. I on the other hand recall this story as being funny and extremely creative of my mom. Why my mom never bought suits I will never know, and as an adult I never thought to ask. I am not sure how Pave could fault my mom for making those suits and or scolding her for not wearing it. That isn't what matters here, it's what made Pave feel poor and that is all she remembers of that vacation. She also spoke about this cupboard or clothes closet I called it that my father had made. This this closet was the length and width of the station wagon. It was made in order to store all of our clothing and was anchored to the top of the car. I thought is was ingenious of him. I mean really could you imagine how many suitcases you would have need in order to pack clothes for 10 children and parents? So the closet/cupboard it was. Pave speaks about how the clothes were wrinkled. Again, I don't remember that, what I remember is mom ironing those clothes and putting them lovingly on each shelf, but again it was Pave's memories not mine. She didn't have anything positive to say about our camping life and yet I remember it so differently. I wondered why she didn't remember or choose not to write about our times picking cherries in the orchards, or the the trip to Barkersville. There are ten years between Pave and I and of course she would see it differently. But I asked myself, doesn't she remember the hikes, the campfires, the story times? Didn't she remember our boating days? Cruising up and down the coast exploring little coves and inlets? Doesn't she remember dropping anchor and rowing ashore and collecting clams and oysters for dinner, and all the beachcombing? How different our recollection of those days are.
HER memoirs.
I wonder why my sister opted to write and dwell on all the difficult times. In her first chapter she wrote about her years in catholic school, about the nuns and how they "ruled by the rod". The nuns could be cruel there was no doubt about that. I wonder now if maybe that is why she opted to go into education. I am also not sure why she opted not to write about the early days in England when times were not as financially challenging for the family and ultimately her. I wonder if she remembered the time when my parents were running an Inn. This inn was an old mansion on a hill. My father had gone to sea and my mother was left to tend the Inn and care for my older siblings. I ask myself if she remembered or cared how my mother almost lost all her hair because she worked so hard to maintain that Inn and at night how terribly scared my mom was of that old mansion. Probably not, Pave never had a very good memory. In later years when we would gather as a family we would talk about the "old days" and the early beginnings, Pave would often ask if she was even there.
I am very proud of my sister for venturing out and writing her book I am saddened by what memories she choose to share with the reader. I guess that is why they call it "Memoirs". I can kind of relate to how Joan Crawford must have felt when her daughter wrote about her in her book "Mother Dearest".
One could say there could be twelve different interpretations or recollections of the events that Pave wrote about. We would all write the story our own way. I guess that is what she has done. I am proud of my sister. I am sad that she had such cold and dark memories of her early years and chose to share those memories instead of sharing in her accomplishments. Pave in my eyes was and is theatrical. I can remember when she performed in a play at our local theater and her doing stand up comedy at a local venue. She was and continues to be so funny. Pave certainly was the person who could turn your frown upside down. One of my fondest memories of Pave was when I was a little girl, it was her wedding day. I thought my big sister was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I wished she remembered that, but those are my memories now aren't they.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Road Trippin.....
It's road tripping time again. Finally hubby and I had a few days off together and there is nothing we love to do more than to just randomly go on a road trip.
Before I tell and show you where our travels took us yesterday, let me provide you with a little background.
Last spring hubby and his brother bought a boat...what they like to call their "baby".
It's a pretty scukum boat...it has a ton of power and when we are out of the open seas I am truly thankful for that. Anyhow, the purpose of the boat was of course to go out fishing on the wild west coast, and fishing we did.
My first day out we caught some great tasting salmon. The seas were a bit rough that day, but we had a great time all the same. Those were beginning of season spring salmon, they got much bigger as the season progressed. I also caught my first Halibut that year. There were many sights to behold out on the wild seas whales being the primary feature. There were days that there we so many whales you could walk across them. There were Grey's, Humpbacks and Killer whales aka Orca's. Here are a couple of photos my brother in law captured....considering the sea conditions were not ideal on this day and by that I mean there were 6 - 8 foot swells with a 2 foot chop on the water, so I was suitably impress by how well these photos turned out simply amazing!
That was such a spectacular sight! Needless to say we were pretty darn happy in Ucluelet last year!
In order that we would be able to enjoy the fishing and the sights we decided that we were going to move our camper up to the campground next to the docks. That campsite was our home base for almost 5 months. It was a great fishing season and as a result we are going back for more.
So this brings me to our road trip yesterday. This spring hubby and I purchased a new to us 30 foot 5th wheel. As much as I enjoyed the camper(she says with tongue in cheek) it was a bit small and we recognized we needed something a little larger. Hubby searched Craiglist and lo and behold he came across this smokin deal on the 5th wheel....here's My new to me baby....
This will be our home away from home this summer. This now brings us to our road trip. Of course we could have made our reservations online but what fun would that be. Hubby and I decided that we needed to go out to Ucluelet and see what they had to accommodate us and to just make a day of it. So we packed a picnic lunch got Bert into the truck and off we went. Our journey took us through some mountain passes and I was shocked to see how much snow was still on the ground at certain spots. We made it to Ucluelet in just over 2 hours. We went to the office and got the map of sites that they thought we would like, and off we went in search of the site we were going to call home for the next 4 months. After much humming we decided on our spot. In our travel we came across one of the campers who was there last year. He told us he had been there for a month already...and by the looks of things he certainly had set up home. We had a lovely chat and told him we would see him in a month and looked forward to another season. We picked our spot made our reservations and off we went.
We were not far out of Ucluelet when I asked my hubby to make a turn as I wanted to check out another campground just out of curiosity. After about 16 or so kilometers on a logging road we figured we missed a turn somewhere but came across the road to Toquart Bay and what a treat this ended up being.
I had often wanted to go and see Toquart Bay as it is a favourite spot for kayakers heading out to the Broken Island group. I wasn't disappointed once we arrived at our destination.
Toquaht (aboriginal pronounced)Bay is situated between Ucluelet and Bamfield just in off of Barkley sound
http://www.toquartbay.com/history.html It's a beautiful place. We had our first black bear sighting on the road into Toquart. It actually came right in front of truck and santered into the woods. It happened so quickly that I wasn't able to get a photo of it, but it was a mighty big black bear. I must say I was thankful to be in my truck.
Upon arrival the site was pretty empty except for some vehicles for people who were out kayaking. We came across the caretaker/owner who told us that in just a few short weeks the park will be full and based on what I saw I can see why.
My photos don't do the place justice, you should check out the link I provided about Toquart the photos they have on their site are amazing!
After our visit to Toquart we decided it was time to start heading home. We never did end up having our picnic, but I was full from all the beautiful sights that I had the opportunity to behold!
Before I tell and show you where our travels took us yesterday, let me provide you with a little background.
Last spring hubby and his brother bought a boat...what they like to call their "baby".
It's a pretty scukum boat...it has a ton of power and when we are out of the open seas I am truly thankful for that. Anyhow, the purpose of the boat was of course to go out fishing on the wild west coast, and fishing we did.
In order that we would be able to enjoy the fishing and the sights we decided that we were going to move our camper up to the campground next to the docks. That campsite was our home base for almost 5 months. It was a great fishing season and as a result we are going back for more.
So this brings me to our road trip yesterday. This spring hubby and I purchased a new to us 30 foot 5th wheel. As much as I enjoyed the camper(she says with tongue in cheek) it was a bit small and we recognized we needed something a little larger. Hubby searched Craiglist and lo and behold he came across this smokin deal on the 5th wheel....here's My new to me baby....
We were not far out of Ucluelet when I asked my hubby to make a turn as I wanted to check out another campground just out of curiosity. After about 16 or so kilometers on a logging road we figured we missed a turn somewhere but came across the road to Toquart Bay and what a treat this ended up being.
I had often wanted to go and see Toquart Bay as it is a favourite spot for kayakers heading out to the Broken Island group. I wasn't disappointed once we arrived at our destination.
Toquaht (aboriginal pronounced)Bay is situated between Ucluelet and Bamfield just in off of Barkley sound
http://www.toquartbay.com/history.html It's a beautiful place. We had our first black bear sighting on the road into Toquart. It actually came right in front of truck and santered into the woods. It happened so quickly that I wasn't able to get a photo of it, but it was a mighty big black bear. I must say I was thankful to be in my truck.
Upon arrival the site was pretty empty except for some vehicles for people who were out kayaking. We came across the caretaker/owner who told us that in just a few short weeks the park will be full and based on what I saw I can see why.
After our visit to Toquart we decided it was time to start heading home. We never did end up having our picnic, but I was full from all the beautiful sights that I had the opportunity to behold!
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Sky Watch Friday
If you would like to join in on the fun please check out Sky Watch Friday
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The monster
You know what I am talking about. That uninvited guest who stays at your place for what seems like an eternity. That 7 or so days this monster takes over. You don't know it by it knows you intimately. It enters your home and runs havoc with your life. You know that monster is going to pay you a visit. You try to prepare for it like you would prepare for an earthquake. You've got all your supplies ready, the chocolate, the sodas, the sappy movies, the supplements and herbal teas. Yes, you know the drill, you've been through it a number of times already. You prepare the family(especially your husband) but even with all your preparation this nasty crazed monster enter your life and you lose it.
When I think about it's visit, it kinda of reminds me of Jekyll and Hyde. I just wonder did Hyde really know about Jekyll? When the monster enters the home you know, you know it's there, you do your best to keep it at bay. You give it a valiant effort, and yet even with all your preparation, you know it's going to take over.
Mayhem ensues, rage and tears flow you're thinking you should have shares in Kleenex. You try going to your quiet place, or going for walks, yoga but nothing...nothing stops this monster.
Then out of nowhere the floods reside, the sun comes out, calm returns the birds start to sing and you hear a course of Alleluia.....the quake is over, the monster has left. For now.
Monday, March 07, 2011
A Celebration......
I've never liked funerals. It's not that I mind attending, it's just that they are so morose and well just darn right depressing.
I have always said that when my time comes, that I don't want people to morn me....I want people to rejoice in the life that I led. Hence is way I really appreciate and enjoy the more modern day services, commonly known as a "Celebration of Life". I think the Irish had the right idea of a "wake". Yes of course there is morning and sorrow...but I love and enjoy how they toast and cheer their dearly departed. Their songs or ballads can be quite cheerful and uplifting.
I know when my mother passed she "DID NOT" want a traditional funeral. She wanted a good ol Irish wake, with songs of remembrance and it was imperative to her that every one who attended had a toast of Irish whiskey. Ah mom.
My mother in law passed away just over a month ago. She too was of the same mind set as my mom. Don't morn for me she would say, celebrate, have fun...I can just hear my mother in law saying that now. So that is what I hope we will do.
My father in law has decided to do a "Celebration of Life". There will be a few prayers and an opportunity for those who would like to share something about her to do so. My brother in law is organizing a power point that will run continuously sharing pictures of my mother in law and with the background music coming from "her" play list on her iPod. That will be interesting as I know she loved country music and Patsy Cline. So I am looking forward to that.
Of course it will be a difficult time regardless, but I truly want to celebrate the life she lead, the joy she brought to so many, the family she created and the spirit and vitality that she had almost right up to the end. She was a fighter...she wasn't going to let the "beast" as she called it get a hold of her. In the end it did, but not without a fight from her.
She will and is sorely missed by her husband of 57 years, her children, grandchildren and great grandchild and all those whose lives she has touched. In her remembrance I smile and I thank her for what she brought to this world.
Rest in peace Marilynn.
I have always said that when my time comes, that I don't want people to morn me....I want people to rejoice in the life that I led. Hence is way I really appreciate and enjoy the more modern day services, commonly known as a "Celebration of Life". I think the Irish had the right idea of a "wake". Yes of course there is morning and sorrow...but I love and enjoy how they toast and cheer their dearly departed. Their songs or ballads can be quite cheerful and uplifting.
I know when my mother passed she "DID NOT" want a traditional funeral. She wanted a good ol Irish wake, with songs of remembrance and it was imperative to her that every one who attended had a toast of Irish whiskey. Ah mom.
My mother in law passed away just over a month ago. She too was of the same mind set as my mom. Don't morn for me she would say, celebrate, have fun...I can just hear my mother in law saying that now. So that is what I hope we will do.
My father in law has decided to do a "Celebration of Life". There will be a few prayers and an opportunity for those who would like to share something about her to do so. My brother in law is organizing a power point that will run continuously sharing pictures of my mother in law and with the background music coming from "her" play list on her iPod. That will be interesting as I know she loved country music and Patsy Cline. So I am looking forward to that.
Of course it will be a difficult time regardless, but I truly want to celebrate the life she lead, the joy she brought to so many, the family she created and the spirit and vitality that she had almost right up to the end. She was a fighter...she wasn't going to let the "beast" as she called it get a hold of her. In the end it did, but not without a fight from her.
She will and is sorely missed by her husband of 57 years, her children, grandchildren and great grandchild and all those whose lives she has touched. In her remembrance I smile and I thank her for what she brought to this world.
Rest in peace Marilynn.
Marilynn April 1934 - January 2011
Sunday, March 06, 2011
A chance encounter....
I have shared with you on many occasions the wonders of nature that surrounds me. Coming from the big city I feel so blessed and fortunate to be able to call the island home.
My story begins on a cool and crisp December morning, hubby and I were sitting in our office working on our computers, when we heard a thud, like something had hit one of our windows. Now the average person most probably would have jumped to see what it was all about, but because this is a regular occurrence at our place, we didn't hurry to investigate.
As most of you know I live in a rural area. I have shared pictures of birds that frequent our property. Birds of varying breeds shapes and sizes. One of the unfortunate things( I guess it depends on how you look at it) is that we have a lot of windows on our home, very high "A frame" windows in some parts. The unfortunate part is that on a nice clear day the birds can get misdirected and head straight for our windows. On all to many occasions I have gone out to investigate only to find a poor bird laying there dead.
On this particular morning we heard such a sound and as I said we did not go and investigate. It was about an hour or so later I was sitting in the truck waiting for my hubby when I noticed something move in the grass. What's that I ask myself....I haven't seen anything like that before.....I go over to take a closer look......this is what I found......
It would appear it was a Cooper's Hawk that had hit our window. It also appeared that he might have broken his neck. Hubby went into the house and called the Wild Life Rescue to see if we could bring it in and see if there was anything they could do. They agreed and so I went and got a Rubbermaid container and hubby put the bird into the container. The Wildlife center is about 25mins drive from us. It being a Saturday and close to Christmas we were so thankful they were open. We rushed over, but got lost...I kept looking in the back to check on the bird to see if it was alive and indeed it was. But due to us taking a wrong turn and hence delaying our arrival the bird succumbed to his injuries before we could make it to the center. When we arrived at the center they were expecting us, unfortunately we had to tell them the bird had died. They came out and inspected the bird and confirmed it was indeed a Cooper's Hawk. We asked if it was ok if we took it home. My hubby wanted to bury it in our yard as he figures that would have been more home to the bird. And so that is what we did.
He was a magnificent bird, one I may not have been able to see unless it was for it's misfortune of hitting our window.
I learnt a lesson that day. If you hear a thud....go check it out. I feel a bit guilty, we didn't investigate things earlier. I can't help but wonder had we investigate earlier would the bird had a chance to live. We'll never know.
My story begins on a cool and crisp December morning, hubby and I were sitting in our office working on our computers, when we heard a thud, like something had hit one of our windows. Now the average person most probably would have jumped to see what it was all about, but because this is a regular occurrence at our place, we didn't hurry to investigate.
As most of you know I live in a rural area. I have shared pictures of birds that frequent our property. Birds of varying breeds shapes and sizes. One of the unfortunate things( I guess it depends on how you look at it) is that we have a lot of windows on our home, very high "A frame" windows in some parts. The unfortunate part is that on a nice clear day the birds can get misdirected and head straight for our windows. On all to many occasions I have gone out to investigate only to find a poor bird laying there dead.
On this particular morning we heard such a sound and as I said we did not go and investigate. It was about an hour or so later I was sitting in the truck waiting for my hubby when I noticed something move in the grass. What's that I ask myself....I haven't seen anything like that before.....I go over to take a closer look......this is what I found......
It would appear it was a Cooper's Hawk that had hit our window. It also appeared that he might have broken his neck. Hubby went into the house and called the Wild Life Rescue to see if we could bring it in and see if there was anything they could do. They agreed and so I went and got a Rubbermaid container and hubby put the bird into the container. The Wildlife center is about 25mins drive from us. It being a Saturday and close to Christmas we were so thankful they were open. We rushed over, but got lost...I kept looking in the back to check on the bird to see if it was alive and indeed it was. But due to us taking a wrong turn and hence delaying our arrival the bird succumbed to his injuries before we could make it to the center. When we arrived at the center they were expecting us, unfortunately we had to tell them the bird had died. They came out and inspected the bird and confirmed it was indeed a Cooper's Hawk. We asked if it was ok if we took it home. My hubby wanted to bury it in our yard as he figures that would have been more home to the bird. And so that is what we did.
He was a magnificent bird, one I may not have been able to see unless it was for it's misfortune of hitting our window.
I learnt a lesson that day. If you hear a thud....go check it out. I feel a bit guilty, we didn't investigate things earlier. I can't help but wonder had we investigate earlier would the bird had a chance to live. We'll never know.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Criminal Minds
I just read about a repeat sex offender who is on the lamb. It would appear that this person is considered extremely dangerous and at risk of offending again. Vancouver Police warns of high risk sex offender on the loose
This is one area of our criminal justice system that I just don't understand. This particular individual has a long violent and deviant history, why on earth should he ever be released especially when they fear he is at a high risk for re-offending. I personally don't think that individuals who perform these kind of crimes can be rehabilitated.
Why does our system put others at risk? I just don't get it. Being a mother of three daughters you can imagine my concern. My girls use the public transit system to get around. They all work late shifts and have been known to have to take transit home after a shift. I have tried to instill in my girls about being ever vigilant about their personal safety and to be on the alert for anything peculiar. Reminding them to stay in well lit areas and again taking all the necessary precautions. But even with all of that, you just never know. If a deviant such as this James Patrick Benson wants to harm someone he will.
There is something wrong with a system who gives more rights to a criminal such as this and my girls have to travel with the fear that he is out there....possibly tracking and preying on his next victim.
He has NO rights as far as I am concerned. He lost all his rights when he murdered that woman back in 1997. What I find even more disturbing is that he was only 17 at the time. He is a very sick individual, I pray they catch him soon, lock him up and throw away the key.
This is one area of our criminal justice system that I just don't understand. This particular individual has a long violent and deviant history, why on earth should he ever be released especially when they fear he is at a high risk for re-offending. I personally don't think that individuals who perform these kind of crimes can be rehabilitated.
Why does our system put others at risk? I just don't get it. Being a mother of three daughters you can imagine my concern. My girls use the public transit system to get around. They all work late shifts and have been known to have to take transit home after a shift. I have tried to instill in my girls about being ever vigilant about their personal safety and to be on the alert for anything peculiar. Reminding them to stay in well lit areas and again taking all the necessary precautions. But even with all of that, you just never know. If a deviant such as this James Patrick Benson wants to harm someone he will.
There is something wrong with a system who gives more rights to a criminal such as this and my girls have to travel with the fear that he is out there....possibly tracking and preying on his next victim.
He has NO rights as far as I am concerned. He lost all his rights when he murdered that woman back in 1997. What I find even more disturbing is that he was only 17 at the time. He is a very sick individual, I pray they catch him soon, lock him up and throw away the key.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Ripple Effect.....
I was watching the news last evening and I found myself getting frustrated. Frustrated with the state of the world economy and how the media are feeding us all the doom and gloom.
The news this evening was telling us that we have to prepared for higher gas prices due to the unrest in the middle east. They say that the increased gas prices will filter down and basically affect food prices and everything that you and I need to sustain ourselves. They also were telling us that this will all happen around summer time.... well fancy that. Summer time, a time when most families like to travel. Some of us have taken to driving as we can't afford the already high air fares. But now they tell us that we will be hit at the pumps. These higher gas prices will also affect ferry rates, all this at a time when those who are making the decisions know they will capitalize on the increase travel.
So how does this affect our economy. For starters, when money gets tight folks don't travel...and if they don't travel, tourism suffers and so on. If toursim suffers, businesses suffer and are forced to close their doors or lay of staff. The laying off of staff impacts the local economies. If you don't have people working in your town your town and it's infrastructure suffers.
This is exactly what has happened in fishing towns, mining town, forestry towns. The ripple effect. I see it first hand where I live.
Case in point. Our provincial government were hoping that the Olympics would have a lasting effect on our economy. It didn't really materialize the way they had hoped. Partially due to our strong dollar. The economists tell us that our friends south of the border aren't visiting as much. They aren't getting the deals they use to and hence they aren't coming. And now with gas prices people aren't travelling as much and our local economies suffer because of this.
So back to the news media. I have read so much about the oil and who owns what and how it's moved. There are a small few who control the oil market. It is those few who set the market price, but it is the masses who suffers for it. The media's job(who I might add are supported directly and indirectly by the oil barons)is to convince the public that we have to brace ourselves for higher oil prices. That it is inevitable that it will happen and that it is a given that it will happen around summer vacation. Well I'm sorry I don't buy it.
I don't buy what the media are trying to sell me. Can I do anything about it most probably not. But I will try to do what I can in my own little way. I can conserve energy...make my trips to the store more efficient rather than making two trips try and make one. Use my push mower rather than the gas mower....cut my hedges by hand rather than using the gas trimmer.....learn to grow my own produce....build a greenhouse....can more produce.
After listening about the oil situation and how it will have the ripple effect...the news anchor went on to tell me that my hydro prices will go up again. I just had a 15% increase in my hydro bill this winter, I was shocked at my hydro bill, it was outrageous! I don't see myself getting a 15% increase, so with the gas, food, and hydro going up what is left? Not much! Entertainment is last on my list.....ripple effect once again.
This ripple effect touches all aspects of our lives. From the basics of food, health,keeping a roof over our head, to education, job loss, and the impact on local economies....nothing will go unscathed.
There's a part of me that just wants to put my head in the sand and hope this will all go away. Then there's the other part of me that is thinking in 10 years I want to retire ...but the way things are going I don't see that happening.....I think I will be nursing myself into the grave.
The news this evening was telling us that we have to prepared for higher gas prices due to the unrest in the middle east. They say that the increased gas prices will filter down and basically affect food prices and everything that you and I need to sustain ourselves. They also were telling us that this will all happen around summer time.... well fancy that. Summer time, a time when most families like to travel. Some of us have taken to driving as we can't afford the already high air fares. But now they tell us that we will be hit at the pumps. These higher gas prices will also affect ferry rates, all this at a time when those who are making the decisions know they will capitalize on the increase travel.
So how does this affect our economy. For starters, when money gets tight folks don't travel...and if they don't travel, tourism suffers and so on. If toursim suffers, businesses suffer and are forced to close their doors or lay of staff. The laying off of staff impacts the local economies. If you don't have people working in your town your town and it's infrastructure suffers.
This is exactly what has happened in fishing towns, mining town, forestry towns. The ripple effect. I see it first hand where I live.
Case in point. Our provincial government were hoping that the Olympics would have a lasting effect on our economy. It didn't really materialize the way they had hoped. Partially due to our strong dollar. The economists tell us that our friends south of the border aren't visiting as much. They aren't getting the deals they use to and hence they aren't coming. And now with gas prices people aren't travelling as much and our local economies suffer because of this.
So back to the news media. I have read so much about the oil and who owns what and how it's moved. There are a small few who control the oil market. It is those few who set the market price, but it is the masses who suffers for it. The media's job(who I might add are supported directly and indirectly by the oil barons)is to convince the public that we have to brace ourselves for higher oil prices. That it is inevitable that it will happen and that it is a given that it will happen around summer vacation. Well I'm sorry I don't buy it.
I don't buy what the media are trying to sell me. Can I do anything about it most probably not. But I will try to do what I can in my own little way. I can conserve energy...make my trips to the store more efficient rather than making two trips try and make one. Use my push mower rather than the gas mower....cut my hedges by hand rather than using the gas trimmer.....learn to grow my own produce....build a greenhouse....can more produce.
After listening about the oil situation and how it will have the ripple effect...the news anchor went on to tell me that my hydro prices will go up again. I just had a 15% increase in my hydro bill this winter, I was shocked at my hydro bill, it was outrageous! I don't see myself getting a 15% increase, so with the gas, food, and hydro going up what is left? Not much! Entertainment is last on my list.....ripple effect once again.
This ripple effect touches all aspects of our lives. From the basics of food, health,keeping a roof over our head, to education, job loss, and the impact on local economies....nothing will go unscathed.
There's a part of me that just wants to put my head in the sand and hope this will all go away. Then there's the other part of me that is thinking in 10 years I want to retire ...but the way things are going I don't see that happening.....I think I will be nursing myself into the grave.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Teachers and Our Children......
I will share with you what I posted. I've edited my comment and added a few more thoughts. I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this topic.
Like any profession you have your good and your not so good and unfortunately sometimes your bad. As for teachers overall I think they do an amazing job. Not only are teachers responsible for teaching our children but they have to deal with so much diversity and adversity. Sometimes they are forced to wear many hats. They have to be parent, social worker, and student advocate. At times children come to school in their pajama's because their parents either can't afford clothes or couldn't be bothered to ensure their children were properly dressed. Sometimes, those poor children go to school with empty stomachs...how well do you think a child can learn when they are troubled by their grumbling stomachs. Or what about those truly unfortunate children who live in homes where parents are addicts or where abuse occurs. How well do you think a child can learn. Teachers have to deal with all of this and more. It's not just about teaching them the ABC's. They spend a large portion of their time dealing with social issues. Why, because a good teachers sees the child as a WHOLE....not just as someone filling a space. In order for the child to learn they have to be open and ready to learn.
I have seen teachers time and again dip into their own pockets to get supplies for their classroom...I have seen teachers go above and beyond for their students to give them the extra bit they need.
I have heard many parents say they use the school as a daycare...what does that say about the parents and how do they respect their own children.
Teachers play a HUGE role in our children's lives. I have heard of stories about that one special teacher who went the extra mile for a student. I am one of those stories. I was privileged to have 3 teachers who did that for me....three teachers that made the world of difference for me. Teachers that believed in me and what I could do.....they pushed me...they challenged me....they made me think outside of the box....I was so close to dropping out of high school, had it not been for the kindness of a teacher I don't think I would have graduated.
Yes teachers are only in the classroom 10 months of the year...but they do not get paid for the summers when the children aren't in class. Many teachers due to the poor salaries have to take extra jobs in the summer to make ends meet.
While we are on about salaries...what kind of society are we when we will pay a football, basketball, baseball, hockey player millions of dollars to throw a ball around and do some tackling. What DO we as a society value.....please don't tell me that a professional player is more valuable than someone who we entrust to educate our children. Do you not see that OUR children are OUR future!
Here is a link to Meredith's comment about teacher's on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/note.php?note_id=666995678863&id=71209634
Thursday, November 25, 2010
GERD and things I didn't know.....
I am sure most of you have heard of an ENT (ear, nose and throat)doctor. These doc's specialize in issues dealing with said parts of our bodies. What I didn't realize is that these doctor's can specialize even further in this field. Case in point. Last week I went to the mainland to see a specialist, his specialty was dealing with medical issues of the larynx.
It's a long story which I will try and make short. It all started last year when I was at work and the cleaning staff at the hospital were using a cleaning agent which caused me to almost immediately lose my voice. I ended up in ER and had to be given a variety of medications. The ER doctor told me I had Reactive airway. By the next day I could barely speak...and when I did speak it was only a whisper.
Since that time I have suffered intermittent episodes of hoarse voice, cough(mostly at night which I thought was related to my asthma or allergies), constant clearing of my throat, a sore throat and a feeling that there is something in the back of my throat. When I went to see the specialist last week he asked me a ton of questions and performed an examination with a scope and took lots of pictures. After the examination he told me that my vocal cords were slightly inflamed but that my larynx was severely inflamed and that it had most probably been like that for sometime. He told me that the symptoms I was experiencing was a result of
laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR). Who would have known....not me of course. All this time I thought I was just experiencing bad allergies and that my asthma was acting up causing me to cough and hence lose my voice and get a sore throat. I asked him if there was anything I could do to repair this and the first thing he said was that I needed to be put on a medication that would help decrease the gastric secretions which was causing my larynx to become inflamed. I told him that only once had I experience any heartburn and that was only recently. He said with LPR you don't feel the heartburn but rather you have the symptoms as I listed above. Very interesting I thought.
I belong to website called badgut. It's focus is gastrointestinal disorders. Today's topic was GERD(gastroesophgeal reflux disease). Needless to say my curiosity was piqued and so I checked it out Yes this specialist was indeed correct.
What I don't understand is why when back in the fall of 2009 when I went to go see an ENT doctor why he didn't see or say anything, especially seeing as he scoped me as well. Things that make you go hmmmmm.
Anyhow, I have now started on the medication and I really hope this helps settle things down for me.
I'd like to make this my public service announcement. If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms I have, please check out this web site badgut.org there you will all the information you would like on GERD and LPR. Don't stay in the dark. Information is power. If you find you have similar symptoms as mentioned in information might I suggest you go see your family physician and talk about it.
I have given you a condensed version on all what has gone on with me, so please don't use my explanation of things, check it out for yourself.
It's a long story which I will try and make short. It all started last year when I was at work and the cleaning staff at the hospital were using a cleaning agent which caused me to almost immediately lose my voice. I ended up in ER and had to be given a variety of medications. The ER doctor told me I had Reactive airway. By the next day I could barely speak...and when I did speak it was only a whisper.
Since that time I have suffered intermittent episodes of hoarse voice, cough(mostly at night which I thought was related to my asthma or allergies), constant clearing of my throat, a sore throat and a feeling that there is something in the back of my throat. When I went to see the specialist last week he asked me a ton of questions and performed an examination with a scope and took lots of pictures. After the examination he told me that my vocal cords were slightly inflamed but that my larynx was severely inflamed and that it had most probably been like that for sometime. He told me that the symptoms I was experiencing was a result of
laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR). Who would have known....not me of course. All this time I thought I was just experiencing bad allergies and that my asthma was acting up causing me to cough and hence lose my voice and get a sore throat. I asked him if there was anything I could do to repair this and the first thing he said was that I needed to be put on a medication that would help decrease the gastric secretions which was causing my larynx to become inflamed. I told him that only once had I experience any heartburn and that was only recently. He said with LPR you don't feel the heartburn but rather you have the symptoms as I listed above. Very interesting I thought.
I belong to website called badgut. It's focus is gastrointestinal disorders. Today's topic was GERD(gastroesophgeal reflux disease). Needless to say my curiosity was piqued and so I checked it out Yes this specialist was indeed correct.
What I don't understand is why when back in the fall of 2009 when I went to go see an ENT doctor why he didn't see or say anything, especially seeing as he scoped me as well. Things that make you go hmmmmm.
Anyhow, I have now started on the medication and I really hope this helps settle things down for me.
I'd like to make this my public service announcement. If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms I have, please check out this web site badgut.org there you will all the information you would like on GERD and LPR. Don't stay in the dark. Information is power. If you find you have similar symptoms as mentioned in information might I suggest you go see your family physician and talk about it.
I have given you a condensed version on all what has gone on with me, so please don't use my explanation of things, check it out for yourself.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Something to Ponder
A very good blogging friend of mine sent me a link the other day on Facebook. She said she thought I would enjoy the photos as she says she thought of me and how I love to post photos of my surroundings and places I have been, which I do. Attached to the photos were religious quotes and excerpts from the bible. As I said I enjoyed the photos but I found the religious attachment to them a little hard to grasps and distracted me from the flashcard presentation.
I questioned myself as to why I should feel that way and many thoughts entered my head but I think the prominent one was that I felt religion was being pushed on me. Why couldn't I have just viewed those photos with some wonderful classical music playing in the background. Why did the author have to attach religion to the presentation....I guess of course that was her intent. The author must feel strongly enough about her faith that she wants to share it. And you know what...that is ok, it's just not for me.
I wrote my friend and thanked her for sending me the link and gave her my views after I had viewed it. Confession time here....I didn't watch them all, actually I only watched one....and that was enough for me...it was to religious for me. Did you notice how I used the word "confession". That is my catholic conscience for you...."guilt'. Catholicism is built on guilt.
I was raised in a staunch catholic household. I went to catholic school my whole life, I went to church every Sunday and during Christmas week and Easter week it was more frequent. There were things about my faith that I strongly believed. Primarily that there is a force much greater than ourselves out there. As a child I believed in the Virgin Mary, the Holy trinity and that Jesus was God and that he died on the cross to save our souls, well I believed it to a point. And then I read the bible, and that changed everything for me.
When I was in elementary school I can remember getting kicked out of class because I challenged my teacher who was a nun about Adam and Eve and asked her why we couldn't believe in Darwin's theory of the evolution of man. Yes, I did ask that....and you can thank the National Geographic for that one.
In school we never studied the bible. Yes we read excerpts from the bible. Every Sunday at mass the priest would read the Gospel According to one of the Apostle's...and of course there were two other readings that took place. After the priest read the gospel we sat down and listened to him for 20 to 30 mins go on about something that was suppose to be related to the readings that day...most of the time I didn't understand....most of the time I fidgeted in my seat, or fell asleep.
That was how it was for many years, I blindly believed or well thought I believed. I believed because that was all I knew...that was the faith of my parents and the environment in which I was raised. It wasn't until I went to high school and I had the most amazing Religion teacher. She actually talked about religion in terms that we as teenagers could understand. She introduced us to Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism and Protestant faiths. I was intrigued. I think I enjoyed learning about Buddhism the most, it seemed to fit my philosophy more...not that I realized thought that I had any philosophy when it came to religion. The last confession I went to was when I was in Grade 12 and we had to go to confession before we could go to our Graduation mass.
I rarely went to church after graduation and yet when my daughters were born I had them all baptised in the catholic faith. Looking back again I think it was a guilt thing again....I was taught that a baby was born with original sin....yes a baby was born with sin....and they had to be baptised to relieve them of this sin and if they weren't baptised and died then their souls would go to purgatory and would stay there until someone said enough Hail Mary's and Our Father's to set the poor little souls free and send them to Heaven. Now how awful is that, and yet as I said I had my daughters all baptised and for some reason I believed.
I have long put my birth faith behind me, but I still believe I am a christian. I still believe in the goodness of man, I still believe that we must not harm each other, that we need to have more patience and tolerance for others differences. We must learn to debate and dialogue without judgement but rather to get a clearer understanding of the person and their position.
So I would like to close this post with some of the photos that I have taken over the summer. These photos make me know there is something greater than I, and every day I give thanks for the opportunity for being able to enjoy all that I have been given!
I am but a simple flower, spreading my arms to reach out and grasp the sun and it's warmth to help make me grow and to be strong and to flourish.
I questioned myself as to why I should feel that way and many thoughts entered my head but I think the prominent one was that I felt religion was being pushed on me. Why couldn't I have just viewed those photos with some wonderful classical music playing in the background. Why did the author have to attach religion to the presentation....I guess of course that was her intent. The author must feel strongly enough about her faith that she wants to share it. And you know what...that is ok, it's just not for me.
I wrote my friend and thanked her for sending me the link and gave her my views after I had viewed it. Confession time here....I didn't watch them all, actually I only watched one....and that was enough for me...it was to religious for me. Did you notice how I used the word "confession". That is my catholic conscience for you...."guilt'. Catholicism is built on guilt.
I was raised in a staunch catholic household. I went to catholic school my whole life, I went to church every Sunday and during Christmas week and Easter week it was more frequent. There were things about my faith that I strongly believed. Primarily that there is a force much greater than ourselves out there. As a child I believed in the Virgin Mary, the Holy trinity and that Jesus was God and that he died on the cross to save our souls, well I believed it to a point. And then I read the bible, and that changed everything for me.
When I was in elementary school I can remember getting kicked out of class because I challenged my teacher who was a nun about Adam and Eve and asked her why we couldn't believe in Darwin's theory of the evolution of man. Yes, I did ask that....and you can thank the National Geographic for that one.
In school we never studied the bible. Yes we read excerpts from the bible. Every Sunday at mass the priest would read the Gospel According to one of the Apostle's...and of course there were two other readings that took place. After the priest read the gospel we sat down and listened to him for 20 to 30 mins go on about something that was suppose to be related to the readings that day...most of the time I didn't understand....most of the time I fidgeted in my seat, or fell asleep.
That was how it was for many years, I blindly believed or well thought I believed. I believed because that was all I knew...that was the faith of my parents and the environment in which I was raised. It wasn't until I went to high school and I had the most amazing Religion teacher. She actually talked about religion in terms that we as teenagers could understand. She introduced us to Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism and Protestant faiths. I was intrigued. I think I enjoyed learning about Buddhism the most, it seemed to fit my philosophy more...not that I realized thought that I had any philosophy when it came to religion. The last confession I went to was when I was in Grade 12 and we had to go to confession before we could go to our Graduation mass.
I rarely went to church after graduation and yet when my daughters were born I had them all baptised in the catholic faith. Looking back again I think it was a guilt thing again....I was taught that a baby was born with original sin....yes a baby was born with sin....and they had to be baptised to relieve them of this sin and if they weren't baptised and died then their souls would go to purgatory and would stay there until someone said enough Hail Mary's and Our Father's to set the poor little souls free and send them to Heaven. Now how awful is that, and yet as I said I had my daughters all baptised and for some reason I believed.
I have long put my birth faith behind me, but I still believe I am a christian. I still believe in the goodness of man, I still believe that we must not harm each other, that we need to have more patience and tolerance for others differences. We must learn to debate and dialogue without judgement but rather to get a clearer understanding of the person and their position.
So I would like to close this post with some of the photos that I have taken over the summer. These photos make me know there is something greater than I, and every day I give thanks for the opportunity for being able to enjoy all that I have been given!
The power,drama, and elegance of the mighty ocean
The ruggedness of the coastline
Some creative and strong resourceful individual managed to carry this couch to the rock, so they could sit and enjoy all the beauty that lay before them....
and nature can still grow and flourish on the craggy slopes and shores
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Reunion
The baby is due in 10 days. Actually, baby will be born on November 25th. And how do I know this....well a planned C-section might explain that, not only that but we know they will be having a little girl.....modern technology is something isn't it.
After 10 years. finally my hubby and his daughter reconnect. It's a long story, one I might share one day. Regardless of the reasons for the separation they are now reunited.
Back in the spring she made contact with her father. She wrote him on facebook saying she was going to be out our way in June and she would like to come see him and introduce him to her husband.
Needless to say my hubby was a little taken aback, but excited all the same. They sent emails back and forth, and the planning and preparations began.
There were huge jobs which needed to be done between the spring and her visit in June. We had already decided to get our roof replaced so we got that project going, then it was the building of a new deck. Now that was a project. In order to help defray the cost hubby helped with construction of the deck and we paid for most of our own supplies. I had the great privilege of digging holes for the foundations and shoveling and spreading of the gravel. It was a lot of work but so worth it in the end.
Of course we had to wait for the finer weather to begin the deck project. Well wouldn't you know it, it was the beginning of June by the time we got started. His daughter's visit was the 2nd week of June. One would think that building the deck would suffice, but no, my hubby rented a backhoe and started pulling up old shrubs, more dirt and moved land from one spot to another. As you can imagine one project just led to another.
A day and half before her visit I decide to do something really stupid. I was clearing up the deck area of lumber and nails. I was getting rid of the old boards, when wouldn't you know it I stepped on a nail. I remember it as if it was going it in slow motion. I saw the nail and yet my foot still kept going towards it....I knew it wasn't good when I felt it go through my runner. I quickly pulled off my shoe and sure enough I was bleeding. Hubby went and got the peroxide and we cleaned my foot well. Or though we thought. That evening when I went to bed my foot was hurting but I didn't think it was that bad. In the middle of the night I woke up with the most excruciating pain in my foot. It hurt for the sheet to even touch my foot. I attempted to get out of bed and go downstairs. No such luck. I couldnt' even step on my foot, I couldn't hop as that made it hurt as well. So down on my hands and knees I go. I make my way to our staircase and get onto my bum and get myself down the stairs step by step, bump by bump. Hubby has fallen asleep with the TV blaring I try to get his attention...but there was no waking him. So once again I got onto my knees....now this is a time I wouldn't recommend slate flooring...it's really hard on your knees. Anyhow, I make my way to the living room where he is sleeping, somehow I manage to wake him. He helps me up and I explain what is happening.
Bless his heart he went to the kitchen to make me a bread poultice and then with a tensor bandage wrapped it around my foot. By this time my foot is swollen, I elevate it on a few pillows. I take a couple of Tylenol and eventually I am able to fall asleep with my leg up high as I lay on the couch.
The next morning it still hurts. So on with another bread poultice. Yes I know what you are going to say or ask....was my tetanus up to date....well that thought had entered my head but I had no idea. I watched for any signs of poisoning...but I thought I was home free. I didn' have time to spend in the ER I had a reunion party to plan for. Hubbies daughter was going to be here and there was still so much for me to do.
Well I hobbled around and somehow managed to get things organized. The big day arrives and let me tell you when she got out of her car and gave her dad a hug...there wasn't a dry eye in the house! As she hugged him she whispered in his ear "Hi Grandpa!" Yes she had come all that way to tell him in person that he was going to be a grandpa. Oh what a double bonus.
We spent a couple of wonderful days with them before they had to go back to the mainland to go see her husbands family.
So as I started my post out...in 10 days we will be blessed with little sweet Paetyn! Our first grandchild.
Hubby and I, daughter and her husband, grandma and grandpa(oops soon to be great-grandparents)!
After 10 years. finally my hubby and his daughter reconnect. It's a long story, one I might share one day. Regardless of the reasons for the separation they are now reunited.
Back in the spring she made contact with her father. She wrote him on facebook saying she was going to be out our way in June and she would like to come see him and introduce him to her husband.
Needless to say my hubby was a little taken aback, but excited all the same. They sent emails back and forth, and the planning and preparations began.
There were huge jobs which needed to be done between the spring and her visit in June. We had already decided to get our roof replaced so we got that project going, then it was the building of a new deck. Now that was a project. In order to help defray the cost hubby helped with construction of the deck and we paid for most of our own supplies. I had the great privilege of digging holes for the foundations and shoveling and spreading of the gravel. It was a lot of work but so worth it in the end.
Of course we had to wait for the finer weather to begin the deck project. Well wouldn't you know it, it was the beginning of June by the time we got started. His daughter's visit was the 2nd week of June. One would think that building the deck would suffice, but no, my hubby rented a backhoe and started pulling up old shrubs, more dirt and moved land from one spot to another. As you can imagine one project just led to another.
A day and half before her visit I decide to do something really stupid. I was clearing up the deck area of lumber and nails. I was getting rid of the old boards, when wouldn't you know it I stepped on a nail. I remember it as if it was going it in slow motion. I saw the nail and yet my foot still kept going towards it....I knew it wasn't good when I felt it go through my runner. I quickly pulled off my shoe and sure enough I was bleeding. Hubby went and got the peroxide and we cleaned my foot well. Or though we thought. That evening when I went to bed my foot was hurting but I didn't think it was that bad. In the middle of the night I woke up with the most excruciating pain in my foot. It hurt for the sheet to even touch my foot. I attempted to get out of bed and go downstairs. No such luck. I couldnt' even step on my foot, I couldn't hop as that made it hurt as well. So down on my hands and knees I go. I make my way to our staircase and get onto my bum and get myself down the stairs step by step, bump by bump. Hubby has fallen asleep with the TV blaring I try to get his attention...but there was no waking him. So once again I got onto my knees....now this is a time I wouldn't recommend slate flooring...it's really hard on your knees. Anyhow, I make my way to the living room where he is sleeping, somehow I manage to wake him. He helps me up and I explain what is happening.
Bless his heart he went to the kitchen to make me a bread poultice and then with a tensor bandage wrapped it around my foot. By this time my foot is swollen, I elevate it on a few pillows. I take a couple of Tylenol and eventually I am able to fall asleep with my leg up high as I lay on the couch.
The next morning it still hurts. So on with another bread poultice. Yes I know what you are going to say or ask....was my tetanus up to date....well that thought had entered my head but I had no idea. I watched for any signs of poisoning...but I thought I was home free. I didn' have time to spend in the ER I had a reunion party to plan for. Hubbies daughter was going to be here and there was still so much for me to do.
Well I hobbled around and somehow managed to get things organized. The big day arrives and let me tell you when she got out of her car and gave her dad a hug...there wasn't a dry eye in the house! As she hugged him she whispered in his ear "Hi Grandpa!" Yes she had come all that way to tell him in person that he was going to be a grandpa. Oh what a double bonus.
We spent a couple of wonderful days with them before they had to go back to the mainland to go see her husbands family.
So as I started my post out...in 10 days we will be blessed with little sweet Paetyn! Our first grandchild.
The new deck it's about 540 sq.ft
The embrace!
Father, daughter and son-in-law
Hubby and I, daughter and her husband, grandma and grandpa(oops soon to be great-grandparents)!
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Saturday Photo Hunt
This weeks theme is "Alive"
There are so many things to be thankful for that make you feel "Alive" The other morning my husband and I were driving north and the sun was rising behind us. It was a glorious morning something I felt so thankful for being able to witness such beauty, it made me feel thankful to be "Alive"
If you would like to join in on the fun please check out http://tnchick.com/ for all the fun.
Happy Hunting all!
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
A Love Story......
They met in their senior year in high school. It was almost love at first sight. Something told them it was more than just a friendship. Graduation came, and they were a couple, they couldn't imagine life getting any better.
Life changed quickly for them. He got transferred to the far north, she still wanted to start nursing school but nature was taking it's tole on her body. A baby was soon on it's way. While their friends were all out partying and doing what it is the average 18 year old does they were living the life of our parents. Their days were full of how they would pay bills, the rent and the extra mouth to feed was what in store for the two of them. However, they ventured forward.
The baby came one warm summer morning. Although they were struggling, life was looking good and the future bright. Unfortunately, things took a turn, and life threw them a curve ball. The bills started to pile up the electrical company took no mercy and cut off their heat. They did their best to put on a cheerful face and faced the storm that life as a young couple with a child would deal them.
A few years passed and they decided it was time to marry and make good on their promise to each other. It wasn't long after that the second child arrived. She was well into working double shifts, and going to school. She was determined to become the nurse she had dreamed she would be. He worked at odd jobs to put food on the table. They struggled but remained happy, well as happy as they could be.
Years later they looked back on their life, their children now grown and left the nest. They wonder what their lives now held. The struggles that kept them strong and bonded, their children's school and community involvement now a thing of the past. They looked at each other as though they were strangers. They asked themselves "who is this person I have shared my bed with all these years. Do I really know them"? Life continued and eventually they both wondered off doing their own thing, he playing golf, fishing and work, she playing softball interspersed with her work. Little time was left for each other. They began to grow apart. These two people who had known each other for over 2 decades no longer knew each other and drifted apart.
One day they realized that they didn't share the same ideas for the future. After almost 30 years together they decided to go their separate ways. It wasn't because of infidelity on either part, no it was simple, they realized they just weren't blending and maybe it best they lead separate lives. So the decision was made and they sold the family home and went their separate ways.
Time passed, he moved into a few different apartments attempting to make them home. She filled her time with extra overtime and lots more softball, and yet they managed to stay friends and communicate.
He moved and took a job 4 hours away, she continued to work in the city. She missed him, he missed her, they missed the simple things that made their relationship what is was for all those years. She came to visit him on what would be their 28th anniversary.
They connected, they found the love that was always there but temporarily got lost. He is looking for a home for them to share in the new town and she is excited for the move and the new life.
Love reunited....it doesn't get any better.
Life changed quickly for them. He got transferred to the far north, she still wanted to start nursing school but nature was taking it's tole on her body. A baby was soon on it's way. While their friends were all out partying and doing what it is the average 18 year old does they were living the life of our parents. Their days were full of how they would pay bills, the rent and the extra mouth to feed was what in store for the two of them. However, they ventured forward.
The baby came one warm summer morning. Although they were struggling, life was looking good and the future bright. Unfortunately, things took a turn, and life threw them a curve ball. The bills started to pile up the electrical company took no mercy and cut off their heat. They did their best to put on a cheerful face and faced the storm that life as a young couple with a child would deal them.
A few years passed and they decided it was time to marry and make good on their promise to each other. It wasn't long after that the second child arrived. She was well into working double shifts, and going to school. She was determined to become the nurse she had dreamed she would be. He worked at odd jobs to put food on the table. They struggled but remained happy, well as happy as they could be.
Years later they looked back on their life, their children now grown and left the nest. They wonder what their lives now held. The struggles that kept them strong and bonded, their children's school and community involvement now a thing of the past. They looked at each other as though they were strangers. They asked themselves "who is this person I have shared my bed with all these years. Do I really know them"? Life continued and eventually they both wondered off doing their own thing, he playing golf, fishing and work, she playing softball interspersed with her work. Little time was left for each other. They began to grow apart. These two people who had known each other for over 2 decades no longer knew each other and drifted apart.
One day they realized that they didn't share the same ideas for the future. After almost 30 years together they decided to go their separate ways. It wasn't because of infidelity on either part, no it was simple, they realized they just weren't blending and maybe it best they lead separate lives. So the decision was made and they sold the family home and went their separate ways.
Time passed, he moved into a few different apartments attempting to make them home. She filled her time with extra overtime and lots more softball, and yet they managed to stay friends and communicate.
He moved and took a job 4 hours away, she continued to work in the city. She missed him, he missed her, they missed the simple things that made their relationship what is was for all those years. She came to visit him on what would be their 28th anniversary.
They connected, they found the love that was always there but temporarily got lost. He is looking for a home for them to share in the new town and she is excited for the move and the new life.
Love reunited....it doesn't get any better.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween
Tonight is the night
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.
Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.
Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghouls and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.
Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.
Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghouls and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.
~ HALLOWEEN ~
By Harry Behn 
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday Photo Hunt
This week's theme is "Dark"
A couple of years ago there was a large fire on the property just up the road from us. It started in the late afternoon and went into the "Dark" of the night. I was so impressed with the forestry fire fighters, they did an amazing job and were so calm!
if you would like to join in on the fun please check out tnchick
A couple of years ago there was a large fire on the property just up the road from us. It started in the late afternoon and went into the "Dark" of the night. I was so impressed with the forestry fire fighters, they did an amazing job and were so calm!
if you would like to join in on the fun please check out tnchick
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