kirkville

Words

2012-02-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

put words together and leave out the excess and see how it inspires your thinking

(this is on my wall at home)

here is a word that i wonder how it was created because someone was able to move the letters around

What does it feel like when you know you are really being heard?

what if you were to first seek to understand and then to be understood?

When you take the word "Listen" and change the letters around you get the word "Silent" and then if you change the words around you get "Tinsel" like in the silver lining.

I am listenening to what people are saying to me. Sometimes it will be with words and sometimes it will be their body language.

what words put together inspire you to act?

spring violet

2012-02-17T05:21:00.000-08:00

this is the main wall colour....updates will be forthwith

fun and work

2012-02-15T16:51:00.000-08:00

here i am in Vancouver last June 2011

I was just finishing up my 3rd vacation in 6 months and I had been tanning since November 2010,(I am looking a little "over-baked" on my face here) but...

yes, i am happy in this pic, I had been to NYC, Hawaii and now I am just coming down on the gondola on Grouse Mountain as I left my vacation party and had hiked up to the "eye of the wind" windmill and now i was riding down the mountain. I am in a summer shirt and there is snow all around me. It was quite a "ride" .

back to present day, Feb 2012, busy working every day at a desk job and at home we are doing a complete gutted renovation of our main bathroom

actually Mantracker is doing most of the work and I am making the colour decisions. New toilet, painting over oak vanity and bathroom cupboards new floor, new new new....

so, I am not tanned or packing a suitcase to go anywhere this winter, i am liking just staying around home.

keep you posted on the "powder room" renos.

Purple Valentine

2012-02-12T08:22:00.003-08:00

of course a purple flower for this week!

this sweet petunia was in my friend's flower beds a couple of years ago

Peach Petunia for Valentines

2012-02-12T08:22:00.001-08:00

i took this pic a couple of years ago...

it is Valentines week

above all else

2012-02-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

"Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed.

I was here... I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad.

I had an idea and I had a good purpose,

and that is why I made works of art."

- Felix Gonzalez-Torres

i just happen to like these words, it did something for me. I have no idea who this "Felix" is tho.

{my soft pliable red plushy mascot, he goes everywhere with me

do you have a little friend that goes with you everywhere?}

all that does not glitter

2012-02-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

this is a real "light" post

i bought this "sundance" neck chain/pendant at a 5th Ave Jewellery party a couple of years ago. I spent $100 on it. The chain has broken off the saudered ends once and a jewel stone that was GLUED on (excuse me?)

has come off because it dropped on the floor accidentally last night and it is just a cheap flat fake blue little glass mirrored stone, i can glue it back on but it is not worth it.

I was fooled by "all that glitters" and it doesn't feel right when I wear it (which has only been twice)

this bracelet below, I bought in Calgary at 'In Gear' in January. I spent $20.00 on it. It is a solid metal with chunks of silver daisies all around it and thread by a strong silk brown thread with adjusting pull strings that hold well. I have worn it several times. I received value with this bracelet.

I hope you have a solid day and know that you have value and do not let the glitter blind you!

praying for a friend

2012-02-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

update: i shared my feelings with my friend yesterday and i am so glad i did. We talked on the phone for a long time; and I understand now where she is at. {happy}

ever thought you were losing a friend because of a choice she made that you didn't agree with and you don't know how long the disconnection to that friend will last or if it ever will return to the way it used to be?

yes, i am losing a dear friend and i don't know how to get her back.

(help)

i need to go back to this little country church and pray and sing for an hour

Mantracker and I sure needed this hour, it was a special country church service.

i am sad for my friend and i will have to tell her that i miss her

(i have to share because it is important to share...}

Heart Opening for February

2012-02-01T05:55:00.000-08:00

"your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work

and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. if you haven't found it yet keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

"Almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarasssment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

"so follow your Heart and enjoy the ride"

Steve Jobs

{oh..my beating heart}

my son with hair

2012-01-29T04:20:00.000-08:00

my boy

he has never had this much hair in his lifetime

he has been growing it out since November

his hair always stood up straight when it got long

henceforth he would just get a "butch" cut

i think it looks awesome now

he does not plan on cutting his hair and will keep it growing. It has finally

laid flat and it looks great!

speaking of hair, we have two foxes living in our yard, i have never seen a fox that close

our dog likes to think it can catch them and chases them,

i am trying to get a photo {tricky}

be blessed today

I have landed

2012-01-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

I came back yesterday from Regina - good to sleep in my "sealy posturpedic"!

it was a very sucessful time in Regina and then Calgary, Choices Seminar my final weekend!

I am just going to share some photos....

Choices friends..this is Ursula we all loved her, she had a great laugh

more Choices friends, Caroline and Brittany, wonderful young ladies

having breakfast at Smitty's in Regina with my niece and my sister; my niece skipped high school that morning to see me as it has been a year since we saw each other in person, she is so sweet

and my mom (she is 82 years old) probably would not like me mentioning her age....

my dad (82 years)

it was five nights away and I stayed with my brother's family two nights,

two nights at the Radisson Hotel, Calgary

one night at hubby's business condo

Nucca appt Monday

then flew back to Regina

drove home Tuesday

back at work today!

enjoy each day this week everyone!

leaving on a jet plane..

2012-01-17T16:45:00.000-08:00

i am flying to Calgary on Friday, to finish up a Choices Seminar session and then pop in to see my neck doctor. It is cold out so I am glad I decided to fly with my air miles this time and free up the travel time. I am nervous and excited!

see ya when I return!

Big Island, Quotes and January 15

2012-01-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

here are some photos of one year ago, the Big Island of Hawaii,

yes, will go back to this island some day

{sigh) tommorrow is January 15,

for those who know of my loss

understand that grief never ends;

it is just the beginning of more beautiful things to happen

"you are the last dream of my soul"

{Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities}

photo taken by my son Tommy

"We love: That's why life is full of so many wonderful gifts"

Rumi

photo taken by my son Tommy

"to be, or not to be, that is the question"

{Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1}

"be occupied, then, with what you really value and let the thief take something else"

Rumi

"Hang in there, it is astonishing how short a time it can take for wonderful things to happen"

{Frances Hodgson Burnett}

to my heroes, Tommy, my son

Brian, my husband

Graham, who I have lost,

my wise companion and guide has told me this:

my spirit and my love for Graham is for me to keep forever

Graham has work to do, and he is doing it!

so be kind to my spirit, left life in more, sing about it! He and all of us will hear it then!

new in the kitchen...

2012-01-07T08:02:00.000-08:00

my Christmas gifts were interesting this year and I haven't even used this one yet (Kitchen Aid Mixer) in the background of this photo, but my hubby sure has; that is why I still keep him around. He does not mind cooking/baking and their is alot this mixer can do!
My new coffee press from my brother is cool and I am getting good at making an excellent pressed cup of coffee

French Coffee Press

(one tablespoon of course ground coffee (suitable for presses) for each cup of coffee you want place into glass pot. Note for stronger tasting coffee simply use more grounds.Pour hot water (not boiling) into pot. Leave a 25 mm (1 inch) minimum space at top of pot. Place the press into the coffee pot (do not press down yet) and let the coffee brew for at least four minutes. Now, slowly press on the top of unit until you have touched the bottom of the coffee pot. voila! it is now ready to pour.)

On New Years Day we had some kitchen helpers; my kitchen is open to anyone who wants to bake or help with meals. It seems that my family Tom, Brian like to cook and bake and our nieces are taking an interest too.

{love the long blue feather in her hair}

making "grainola bars" a new Loonyspoons recipe by Greta and Janet

Our New Years Eve celebration was watching the timeless classic movie "The Princess Bride" {love}

now for hopefully more of this fabulous WARM winter weather!

Winter Wednesday

2012-01-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

I went back to work yesterday and then my Wed off was today, so here is what I did with my day off. I was at the hairdressers for a cut and colour this afternoon. I was playing around with my new iphone 4, while my colour was saturating my hair. It is so amazing and easy to use, i can google, check e-mails, take pictures, check weather updates, use google maps, telephone, text message, facebook, but I do not blog on it, (yet). I am liking this new "toy"!

Mantracker attempted some photos with the iphone so it is a bit faraway, but that is me riding Ben, in both photos.

Yes, Summer is still with us and is doing quite well, he doesn't come into the house anymore because the steps are a problem for his hip, even tho we made the new deck steps with him in mind, so we now have a heat lamp set up over his bed in the barn to help with his hip pain along with the vet medicine he takes twice a week.

we rode an easy 4 miles today and Ben still does not like that little click over his head that my iphone makes so he is blurry in this picture. It was such a nice warm January day.

true spirits

2012-01-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

babe, it is cold and windy out here on New Years Eve, but no matter, they ride anyway

our nieces' celebrated the end of 2011 at Kirkville

"i love the spirit of Christmas" character who drove up to Kirkville in this on Dec 23rd..... just having fun!

i have a new "word" this year that is going to keep my true spirit strong and

that is 'power'. This word is not to encourage my power over others; but to keep

my spirit fearless while pursuing my passions and joys in 2012.

Happy New Year to all!

blogging away...

2011-12-30T05:17:00.000-08:00

hey?

you have noticed I am putting up blog posts again, as I did retire this practice back in July 2010 with a final post; this was because I was feeling lots of competition to make this website more appealing and to write more interesting and fun posts; and you know what? it got to me and I felt I really didn't know what to say.... that is silly of course because we all have something to say, I just slipped into some 'old tapes" about myself and they were rewinding in my head back to "I am not enough" to do this anymore.

I slowly slipped in a couple of posts here and there just for myself after July 2010 and thinking no one was checking this blog anymore and the pressure was off and then I just went at it again.

This is alot of fun taking pictures and writing short little entries of "nothing much".

...it is the day to day living, not the spectacular amazing heroic and award winning events

that I like to read about, it is a person's feelings, thoughts, opinions and funny perceptions of getting through 'the days of our lives' that intrigues me.

silver and leather

2011-12-22T14:26:00.000-08:00

i finally got out for a ride today and my horse Ben had a bit of silver and leather going on

for a holiday ride.

It was a cool winter wind

we rode for only about 1/2 hour and did some circle trots in our arena.

i took this picture below, but Ben startled a bit and i shifted to the right in the saddle

didn't quite get the shot I wanted...

It felt good to sit in a saddle and after my NUCCA adjustment on Monday i can sit so relaxed and balanced...

Christmas is almost here, so put on your silver and leather (or whatever spins your ponytail!)

Choices

2011-12-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

i just received this photo on my facebook page from my Choices buddy. This is Carissa, she is 23 years old and expecting her 2nd baby. She is also a Youth worker in Red Deer, Alberta. We became buddies at the Choices Seminar in July. A 4 1/2 day Seminar that has lifted me out of my "life sentence" about my guilt and painful past. She is a beautiful young lady who as an aboriginal, has had to come to terms with a sordid past and she is working on forgiving her parents and receiving 'tools' to keep moving forward in life in a more positive way.

i pray that Santa spoils her and her baby as she is due to have it anytime this month.

speaking of this fella above; I believe in the idea of Santa Claus,

picked this Santa out at our local Pharmasave and marched right over to the till .. just because I like him! (could hardly wait to put him outside - such fun!)

i need exercise!

2011-12-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

i am on holidays now until Dec 29 and the SC Oratorio Christmas performances are done! whew...that is a committment, but it is also rewarding. We get a break now until Jan 9 and start working on the Easter extravaganza!

I need to get my body outside walking and play with a horse or two. I am looking forward to a quiet Christmas and reading some books, maybe have some Christmas cheer with a friend or two. But, right now I need to get out my physio blue foam roller and do my NUCCA stretches, then head outside and walk.

However, I am still in my chair in the living room with stretch pants on and my pyjamas and an old sweater, with a coffee and toast. (this is also part of the "body, mind-soul" exercise regime! oh ya!)

How is your next week shaping up?

comfort and joy......

2011-12-14T11:13:00.000-08:00

i bought lots of new decorations on sale a couple of January's ago....

and purged the old favourites from years past. Decorations have for me always been homemade by my boys during their school years; treasures they are. I have saved a few but for me it is a sad time as memories surface and it is not that joyous to see some decorations hang for 2 weeks.

so bought pink, girlie decorations and some homemade leather cowboy ornaments and lots of pink balls.

i find that less is more when decorating and with a real tree it is a shame to hide the trees last few days of glory.

comfort to me is new decorations to feel renewed

joy is waiting for the tree lights to be plugged in after the adornment of these precious objects are complete

"let their be light"

as that is my tide of comfort and joy!

be blessed everyone, treasure your memories, and know

things can be "bright and beautiful"

25 ways...

2011-12-10T08:04:00.001-08:00

I wear a long scarf everyday with my winter coat and sometimes with other outfits and feel great wearing them.

i am in the thick of it..

2011-12-06T16:27:00.001-08:00

yes, for the 1st time in 7 years I am back in the Christmas giving and rejoicing. I think I have it down as to how busy I will be.....

1. buy toy and food item for financial strategies dept at work as they are serving breakfast to the staff tommorrow at 8:00 a.m. (check)

2. drop off Tom's tree and some ornaments for his apartment (check)

3. squeeze haircut in tommorrow at 12:30

4. Choir rehearsal at Zion Thursday 7 - 10 p.m.

5. stay in town Thursday night (pack)

6. credit union carolng choir practice at noon Friday

7. Saturday buy and make Peanut Graham Bark for Sunday

8. choir rehearsal 1:30 - 4 p.m. and then performance/festival at Zion Mennonite Church Sunday Dec 11 at 7:00 - 11:00 p.m.

9. Monday perform with credit union choir/Swift Current Broncos at 9:00 a.m. in main foyer.

10. Monday night caroling at the Swift Current library 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. then scoot on over to 1st United Church and rehearsal

11. Wednesday Dec 14 Melodies of Christmas rehearsal at 1st United Church at 7:00 p.m.

12. finally - be at first united church at 6:45 p.m. Thurs Dec 15 and perform and have fun at the Melodies of Christmas event!

oh, and i do not have my tree up yet, because it is always a REAL tree. So after Dec 15 we will get it up and decorate.

i have only a small amount of shopping at Christmas so thankful
my rotator cuff pain at my right shoulder is pretty good at the moment
(hands in prayer)

our tree Dec 2009

rock on with your fav...

2011-12-03T20:27:00.001-08:00

here are some fun shots of my annual December credit union party

except there were no Christmas decorations, just a party to dress

up as your favourite rocker

things change and i am still back in the day when

you get an outfit and dress up and go to your office Christmas party with

seasonal decor. This year they came up with a theme called the "Rock of Ages"

and my coworkers "rocked" with their costumes.....

Cher and Janis Joplin

Sonny Bono and Cher

Elvis (actually this is our CEO)

some people really got into it

this "rocker" well he was just waiting for the DJ to start to play 'Name That Tune'

that was my Christmas party this year, very different and fun!

still no tree...

2011-12-02T17:54:00.001-08:00

but I have more presents.....

these were on my floor in the living area room
when I came home tonight,
my sweet son has the Christmas bug, as he usually
does every year
we need lots of presents this year, just fun ones,
nothing elaborate, because when you wrap
or bag each one, it looks so festive!