kirkville

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!

a pain

2011-12-01T18:58:00.001-08:00

i purchased a blue roller from Central Ave Physiotherapy, in town, for my muscle stiffness around my right shoulder/rotator cuff. It is back again and i have had 3 physio treatments this past week. I don't like to mask pain with too much over-the-counter relaxants but I resorted to Advil liquid gel caps. The pain was too intense.

This roller (my old one wore out from 2003) will release my tension now if i work at it twice a day, at least.

How much physio and acupuncture can i have?

the great news is that my upper cervical chiropractor in Calgary has sure cured my neck stiffness and pain. Even with this shoulder problem right now, previously, i would be dealing with neck pain, headaches, it would be the full-meal-deal. Now I just have to sruggle with this shoulder; since my boys were small, my muscle problems grew tall, and now I am in my fifties and their is no grace anymore. work hard, sit right, keep muscles loose, stretch before/after exercise. This is high maintenance (can anyone relate?)

I highly recommend the NUCCA doctor. Unfortunately we do not have them in Sask. or Manitoba.

just telling you as I have been pretty busy working on this right arm.
take care of your body and be well!

Christmas has begun

2011-11-28T07:39:00.001-08:00

I have 2 christmas presents already and it is only Nov 28!

the festivities are being celebrated already, it is too early for me to put up a tree, it seems we get crazier and earlier with Christmas, it is a time of year where one can get carried away and be creative and trip the light fantastic and shop till we drop, bake and entertain, their is no end!.

social life

2011-11-27T12:36:00.001-08:00

i am a very private person and love time at home by myself, reading, dabbling in photography , watching movies, walking outside on secondary roads and especially hugging my special friends outside, that at many times pull me over to go connect with them,

they listen, they really do and they are great healers, if you pay attention to the signs

of communication they subtlely relay back to you,

i am making an extra effort now adays to be more socially connected with community and one or two special friends in the city. I just came back from an "old fashiioned sleepover" with a girlfriend and combined that with my dept xmas due (a local Little Theatre comedy production), it made me laugh and i did get to see acquaintances that do not cross my lifestyle path anymore (that is always cool),

however, there are only a very few who i can connect with and I consider myself blessed in actually having only a very few of those "true blue" human friends (they are special).

The 4 "true blue" animal friends though, are always just a few yards away from my front door, ready to hug and listen and carry me on their back, as only friends can

a new ride

2011-11-22T16:05:00.001-08:00

this is it, my new Honda Ridgeline just brought home today. This is a 2008 model. I have wanted one of these for almost a year now. the first time i got in it i loved it. It is like a car and little truck neatly blended into an awesome ride.
Mantracker had this sitting in my parking spot at work today when I left to go home. I knew he was looking at vehicles and he knew what i wanted. He really made me feel like No 1 in his life today. thanks honey, are you making the monthly payments too??

(ps the colour looks purple, but it is actually listed as Cherry Red, but i think the manufacturers are colour blind!)

woot! woot!

all wheel drive, and just the perfect vehicle for a country girl on the road.

ride safe this winter my friends!

back to basics

2011-11-19T14:44:00.001-08:00

i like reconnecting with my husband and son, especially when all 3 of us are going different directions and we need to recompose and get back to basics and just sit and be family

today we lunched out at "kabos"

i had a greek salad, even tho i would of really liked a grilled cheese and fries, but my salad did come with garlic toast!

coffee and a little family time is what keeps the connection alive.

speaking of connecting...Mantracker and I have had 2 invitations to spend time with our friends and also Mantracker's brother who have condos booked in Mexico in Jan 2012. It has been hard..but we have turned down the vacation opportunity twice. I travelled so much last year that i want to spend more funds on the home decor and hopefully have a trip to Texas in April.

have a connecting weekend!

a hesitant singer

2011-11-17T18:10:00.001-08:00

Lethbridge College choir

hallelulia! i am singing in our Swift Current Oratorio Choir,

i joined up in September on their "hesitant" singer nights,

for those who would like to sing, but afraid to

well it has been 2 months and several weekly practices thus far and I sang with them

at our Remembrance Day community service at the high school. Oh and Premier Brad Wall was their too. The choir itself has alot of veteran singers, beautiful Sopranos, Altos, Tenor, Bass (men singing is divine)

I found out I am an Alto singer

each week my vocals get a little stronger and i get a little louder with my voice

lots of Christmas performances for us coming up

looking forward to them

i feel good when i sing with people who love to sing!

really, I am fortunate...

2011-11-15T19:07:00.001-08:00

Big Island, HI waterfall tour Jan 2011

I am pondering and wondering while i sit in my new navy blue recliner love seat (beautiful) and feeling the effects of "I really didn't have a good day," in other words it was a mediocre day...but Hey! i am a fun-loving creative woman...God is gracious to me...

this is me in NYC in April 2011

here i am under a mini waterfall at Stanley Park in Vancouver June 2011

this picture above is Graham's best friend and he lives in Prince Albert, SK he got married on July 8th and invited our family. Said it would mean alot to him if our family was present.

Tom convocated in April at Lethbridge College. He took us on a little tour of the Environmental Science lab he loved to work in. I am proud of him!

I feel better now that I have gone through some happy momentous events that I have been blessed to have a part in. This was a fun and loving year so far. There is still 6 weeks left. Who knows what wondrous things I will do and see. Yes, i am a blessed woman!

Havre MT

2011-11-14T20:32:00.001-08:00

Mantracker and I went to Havre, Montana to shop and get away for a bit

this bldg above is Murphy's Irish Pub and Grill and in the 48 hours we stayed in this city of 9600 people we ate there 3 times, yup it was good atmostphere and great food and service.

we stopped to check out Fort Assiniboine and also the well preserved historical site of Havre's buffalo jump.

We shopped at Herbergers and Big R store and Ben Franklin Crafts store (amazing gift/craft/sewing/homemade fudge place) , I liked!
I bought for myself a pair of black wash skinny jeans, Calvin Klein bed sheets and yoga pants, a light exercise hoody in an awesome green colour, new Koko floor mat for front door, ladies work gloves and trendy peak knit cap for winter,

Mantracker has new cowboy boots and leather vest and work shirt,

we stayed at the Townhouse Inn, it was good, king size bed (sweet)

we noticed driving out of Havre these wrought iron sculptures of horses and cowboys moving up the hill , what a super idea! very nifty western touch.

had fun,

relaxed

hope you all had a relaxin' weekend

which way am i going?

2011-11-08T05:41:00.000-08:00

i attended a 4 day self development seminar this last July. These seminars were created years ago by Dr. Phil and Thelma Box and it is called "Choices" Dr. Phil left to continue on in a different direction and this Thelma Box kept these seminars going as so many people developed a new change in the way they handle the conflicts and tragedies in their lives.

Mantracker, Tom and myself have now taken these seminars and I am going in the other direction now.

"I am no longer looking back"

3 siblings on their own

2011-11-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

my brother and sister and I are driving to Calgary together to see my upper cervical chiropractor Dr. Jeffrey Scholten.

It will snow here tommorrow according to the swift current forecast. Medicine Hat, Brooks, Strathmore and Calgary have good forecasts for driving.

Here is to a good visit with my siblings, which is long overdue, no children, parents, spouses along, just us 3 Trembley's.

See you next week!

something new in our kitchen

2011-11-04T05:51:00.000-07:00

our kitchen is being upgraded with a new countertop. Yes, oh yes! and I really really like it. it's black and has white cloudy swirls in it.

back splash is put on today.....

:) happiness

it is also Friday

have a good weekend all!

looking behind...

2011-11-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

this morning snow is on the ground,

summer is gone,

autumn is hanging on,

looking behind to the busy

outdoorsy days,

and hoping for a kind

blanket of snow

our memories keep us

warm now,

new season of opportunity will unfold,

but truth be told, i never get

used to cold!

get into the spirit of...

2011-10-30T11:22:00.001-07:00

October fun...
Originally uploaded by donelda11

enjoy your day!

inspirational job goals

2011-10-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

remember the movie "pay it forward"?
remember the movie "the pursuit of happyness"?

both of these movies impact my job competencies this year.

I have to write about how they impact me in my job and personal life, in order to exceed my targets in the area of impact and infuence and also adaptability-to-change

Pay It Forward

He decides to try to affect three people’s lives for the better, and in return those people would do the same for three more people, thus creating a chain of life changing events.
this is a memorable inspiring and sad movie. It gives my heart a huge pull because of my son's death almost 8 years ago. When the young boy, Trevor, at the end of the movie is being interviewed by a TV journalist at his school and then leaves the school when it is done to get on his bike and head home, he comes across a young school boy being violently bullied by an older boy. Then it all happens fast. The young boy who was being attacked has escaped and Trevor, the main character of this movie, is off his bike and fighting with the bully because he is paying it forward and the fight ends in a tragic death for Trevor..... it is about caring enough and risking enough to make a difference in just one person's life. This is what is important and sometimes tragedy prevails because we care enough. Impact! If I don't stand for something, I will fall for nothing!

Trevor McKenney: I guess it's hard for people who are so used to things the way they are - even if they're bad - to change. 'Cause they kind of give up. And when they do, everybody kind of loses. (memorable quote from the movie Pay it Forward)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Pursuit of Happyness

this movie is about "keeping and striving for and believing your dream" it isn't about poverty or homeless lifestyle to me, it is about changing beliefs that other people have pushed on you and making your own - Chris Gardner did not want to lose his son. His young son was Chris's purpose and he was going to make sure nothing stood in his way to provide financial security and happyness for him and his boy. I got from this movie that you need a deep soulful purpose in your life to keep your "happyness pursuit" as creative and inspiring as you want and to never to lose your spirit and yourself in the process.
You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.

(memorable quote from movie, actually said by Chris Gardner)

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Stand For Something and Believe In Your Purpose

I stand for "respecting others" no matter who they are

I believe in "personal power" and using it without being fearful of it

popcorn balls and jack-o-lanterns

2011-10-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

making popcorn balls,

my son will carve the pumpkin

so it can glow,

halloween is a time to change your character

and be someone else,

celebrate the colour orange,

admire the leaves in their

colorful costume of color

have fun,

share candy,

i may change into a new costume,

and pick up my broom, (cackle)

happy hallowe'en!

resting

2011-10-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

i have discovered that I need to rest. I need to have my space and a time to close my eyes. I find it annoying but necessary to check small things out and head to the doctor's office if i have a problem that is not major or requires antibiotics. I don't "suck it up" anymore.

I stop and check in with myself more than I ever used to. It is vital for me to do this.

I am off to work shortly and I take a deep breath and say "hello" to the day!

kale potato chip recipe

2011-10-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

kale instead of potatos. i am trying this recipe:

Ingredients

1 bunch kale

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Directions

1.Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a non insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2.With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt.

3.Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

i just made italian sausage potato kale soup and it is simply wonderful tasting. I was watching Rachael Ray talk/cooking show today and this was a great tip for potato chips lovers. hope it works for me!

baking halloween cakes with Buddy, Rachael was struggling working with Buddy on making the above cakes. This is a fun show!

sno geese

2011-10-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

driving to moose jaw Oct 23 we passed the highfield dam and thousands of snow geese were sitting on top of the water. I wonder "how" they actually decide to take off, lift up and fly? is it like "okay this is it, come on everyone, lets fly and remember to fly in a "V" to strengthen our flight speed" . "let's head south and catch the rays and eat fish from the oceans!

my coworkers and friends fly south too. But we spend several hundreds of dollars and soak up the warm sun and relax, then fly back after a week or two ....i say lucky birds they stay down south longer.

winter and Christmas and bad driving road conditions are ahead. It is Saskatchewan's weather, without volcanoes, tidal waves, tsunamis, hurricanes. A great province to live in when you compare.

2011-10-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

A wheelbarrow of thanks

thanks and giving ,are two words

to truly say out loud,

change your eye glasses

on the people you love,

what you see in them,

something you have not seen in them before,

like this wheelbarrow full of things that I see,

I see love in this wheelbarrow,

seeds of thought, preparing for growth,

letting things grow, and digging for abundance,

loading the leftovers to recompose for the next

phase of renewing "the dirt"

with a new vision of loved ones

their wheelbarrow of life,

their giving of themselves,

harvesting and always preparing oneself

until this wheelbarrow is needed again next time,

What's in my wheelbarrow?

well...it carries my load for me to discard and replant and start new next year!

I am thankful for walking past this wheelbarrow of life

Happy Thanksgiving!

Donna

last trail ride of 2011

2011-10-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

cosmos

2011-09-05T11:36:00.001-07:00

i found out recently that these wildflower seeds that i planted in the spring are called Cosmos and they are fantastic for blooming and very hearty. September blooms and they are purple and white!

labour day ride

2011-09-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

i can still do it! i can still ride through the fields and trot and walk and lope a horse. I am 55 and sometimes i don't feel like i can get my foot up in a stirrup and head out for a while down a road with a horse. But I can and there is nothing that builds up my confidence that doing just that.

look at this view as we stopped to oversee from the top of a coulee all that is below. Blue sky and a partner to ride with (and saddle my horse because i can't it adds stress to my back and shoulders) it was a beautiful morning. I am getting ready to ride for next weekends trail ride, which is an all day ride at Grasslands National Park. woot! woot!

trust

2011-07-31T09:57:00.000-07:00

it is not always easy to trust a large animal, and nor is it easy to trust people. Here is a great practice on trust.

sweet riding

2011-07-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

Jaida and Kaitlyn on here right now with Brian and I. No mom and dad, the girls are now 9 1/2 and 11 1/2 years. We had them over a couple of years ago when they were 6 and 8 and it was more work and hard to keep up to their demands; they are now more fun and easier to be around and so interesting to have all to ourselves. They are beautiful girls!

choices

2011-07-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

Tom was accepted to attend a "Marine Semester" at the University of New Brunswick this fall. He has been talking about Marine Biology for over a year now at least. He told us that he was googling and found this university program. The plan was that if he was going back to school that it would be in the fall of 2012.

However, this University at St John NB, accepted his application and liked his diploma at Lethbridge College. Tom applied not realizing for some reason, that if you put an application in July and are accepted that means you start in the fall of that same year. He was not expecting to get accepted and he was ecstatic, as he should be.

This short period of time from now, July 16 to starting a University semester on Sept 6 was starting to become a bit overwhelming for me, even though, I would do it and help him with the financing. Brian and I were not real clear on what he would receive after he completed this hands-on "Marine Semester" 12 week program. Tom was told that he would get a letter of reference from the University describing how he did in the program. If you were going to University for your degree, full time, it would be 20 credits and considered a full semester program.

As parents, of course we want him to do this. After further discussion with Tommy we advised him that he should apply to attend University full time in 2012 instead and if NB is accepting his diploma as a prerequisite then it would be financially more beneficial to do it that way, and leave with a degree not a "letter of reference". The hands-on 12 week marine biology semester would be awesome experience for him; it's just that he doesn't know what he would do after that, if he would find work in St. John or ?.

Tom, last night, declined the acceptance, and will work for a year, get some finances in place and live independently for awhile.

I am so overjoyed that he is considering strongly on returning to school and that he has a goal ahead of him. His diploma has not sent him on a career path as yet and he is presently working full time at REM Enterprises in Swift Current. Right now it is as a 'Assembly Line worker" painting equipment springs. His employment with WestCountry Oilfield Services, as a Herbicide Applicator, lasted 2 months only and was a great job, great pay, but he was laid off along with many others as the heavy flooding on job sites and properties were not enabling anyone to get in for any spraying, henceforth, no properties to attend to.

Choices are tough, and when you are only 24, a year is not long. I think Tommy was okay with this as he is still too dependent on us for financing as we would have to guarantee a loan for him.

The job market in Saskatchewan is very minimal for environmental resource positions and apparently Alberta is even more minimal.

I pray he finds eventually a job that suits his personality along with his school training. Eventually this will happen, just bumpy potholes along the way.

a parade along the waters

2011-01-30T13:02:00.001-08:00

IMG_2109-1
Originally uploaded by freelancer1982
who needs any other companion than a horse?

it's not your fault

2011-01-01T13:55:00.000-08:00

friends and family flowers 2010

2010-08-12T13:48:00.001-07:00

August Blooms

2010-08-12T08:05:00.001-07:00

blooms in the City of SC

the end and the beginning

2010-07-11T18:36:00.000-07:00

I have been blogging for 2 1/2 years now.
When I sat down to write my first post, I was excited about the picture I was uploading and sharing my fun in "cyberspace".

I had started reading a couple of blogs that my coworkers had implemented, and after some tips and ideas from them as to what this blogging was about, and how to start one, I decided to try it.
I have gotten so many great ideas and fun inspiration, and I needed to write a bit about my son Graham's passing in 2004 and the feelings, thoughts and family doings and interests that had developed from that incident. All my blog posts were a therapeutic way for me to "talk" and "express".
I hope I have left you the readers some insights and little stories of my little family of 3.
My life is a little different now than it was then.
My interest in sharing myself has changed and I want to do more with horses and healing energy work.
I loved blogging and this decision was not without trepidation, but leaving something that I know has done for me what it needed to do, also must end.
I really, really want you to know that I have loved your comments and e-mails and verbal praises that you have given me over the last 2 1/2 years.

what was my "bestest" thing to do?

2010-06-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

The word "bestest" I know is not really a word but I do like to summarize and pinpoint the absolute best of any day and especially vacations away from home. So the word "bestest" works perfect for me. I asked Mantracker what was his "bestest" part of our vacation. He said "it was just relaxing".

All in all I would have to say that the real highlight is always listening to Buck and watching the improvement in the riders in the clinic on the last day.

look at that sky and the mountains in the background!

she looks a little bit like I did when I was her age? ya right...something about long blonde hair and a tan and riding a horse (big sigh..whoa is me..) she was a good little rider though.

Buck telling his stories and providing tips to the audience

other "BESTEST" things to do in Bozeman:
shopping at Coldwater Creek
shopping at Macys dept store
dining at Applebees Bar & Grill - great food and great atmosphere
sitting outside downtown Bozeman college bar patio on a warm Montana evening
whitewater rafting on the Gallatin River (we rode the "mad mile"!!)
the scenery of the Montana Big Sky and the peaceful mountains

stepping out in Montana

2010-06-27T06:49:00.001-07:00

by mikebaird

I am on a little vacation where I can learn more about people and horsemanship. Buck Brannaman is a world renowned horseman and trained and worked with Robert Redford in "The Horse Whisperer" movie. He trained and worked with the main horse that was traumatized after a truck accident on a highway crossing. Buck was the guy who worked with Robert Redford.

I was at this clinic yesterday watching Buck work with 21 riders. It is what he talks about that makes me take notes. Here are his riding tips:

Don't ride your horse (especially) on a trail ride with "air between your ears"

Riding is all about balance, if you are not balanced with your legs even in your stirrups with the ball of the foot pressing on the stirrup.... you will be in for some problems. It does not matter how long your legs are or how short, you can stay balanced and even when riding. MOST IMPORTANT!

Horses are SUBTLE.. Don't nag your horse! keep one hand higher with the reins for elevation and the other lower for softness while reining.

It's all about the soft feel with your horse. This means ...can you feel and watch for the horses subtle cues with his mouth, ears and tail? Those 3 things are the horses instrumentation. Just like a vehicle.

If your horse doesn't do what you were trying to get him to do, turn it into an opportunity to switch it up and correct without abuse (do not need a stick, whip, or bashing with a spur) just gentle correction

Make sure you know where your horses feet are before you leave the ground or take off.

make sure you train YOURSELF well so you can learn to be a partner with him and correct him subtlely and consistently if he doesn't get your cues the first few times.

good tips to remember. Now I just have to remember them when I am actually on my horse!

why oh why do we?

2010-06-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

“ it's your thoughts and your spirit and your

creativity and your flair and your heart

and your sparkle and your passion and your

loves and your courage that make up the

incredible mix of who you are...

why oh why do we let others tell us what

our mix should be?? ”

~terri st. cloud

flying

2010-06-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

Windscape Festival

Tom volunteered as a Kite flyer's assistant

and loved it!

a summer day in 1980

2010-06-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I promised a few blog posts ago that I would reveal my wedding dress and open the preserved and heirloomed box that it lay in for 30 years. How simple the veil and dress were. I felt a little bit like "Scarlet O'hara" when I wore this on my wedding day. I loved the flow of the skirt.

our attendants Morley, Gail, Ilona and Brian's brother Trev (still wonderful strong friend connections today with all of them). This picture makes me laugh! crazy fun!

The 'love contract' signed and sealed 30 years ago. We have had great times and learned hard lessons and understand now what it takes to keep our marriage going (it's hardwork but rewarding). We know we are ENOUGH and are surging forward with a more purposeful life in front of us.

Cheers!

high speed and photo review

2010-06-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

just for fun and to celebrate the end of my hiatus at home AND ALSO THAT I HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET as of last night and I can actually post these pictures without taking a week off work to do it.. (was frustrating) .. I have some chosen photos that never got posted to this blog since I started Kirkville 2 1/2 years ago. I have picked out very randomly photos that have caught my eye now.

skii lodge at Castle Mountain (father and son)

bird banding project science fair

me, mom and my sister

not a great photo but it was my first year riding in the equestrian clinics

oh my gosh look at "Summer" on the left...

Tom was a pirate at the Swift Current Library when he did his magic show for story time

some of my family in the kitchen

Tom packing up dorm to come home for the summer (2008)

Brian visiting Morley at their acreage by Spy Hill

Brian visitng Holland with his dad a few years ago and was comparing the size of the policeman's horses to himself.

ahh..miss my Snowball..

coworkers Hallowe'en costumes at work

Eastside Marios in Lethbridge

Rocky's famous roll when he gets an itchy back (kind of gross looking)

Tom with fellow Saskatchewan winners of the Future Leadership Conservation Award in 2007 at the Delta Inn in Regina

pathologist diagnosis of the bimp

2010-06-15T18:07:00.000-07:00

I returned to MH to have my stitches pulled out today. Dr. Bering had the report back from the pathological testing on my bimp. It is not a tumor and it is not a ganglion. It is a rheumatoid inflammatory bump (nodule). I have to think about this and I googled it and I guess it could be worse.

I know my healing touch energy training has been beneficial and will continue to be an alternative medicine that will work well with traditional doctor care. It is a good team.

But, sometimes you are given information and it takes time to ponder the message or words that were used to inform. I am like that right now. It is not a ganglion and ganglion's most usually come back, a tumor is something no one wants.

My foot feels great now that the stitches are out and the Dr. told me to start with all my regular activities and to just take the medication when it becomes painful. So I will do just that.

This is the end of my "bump under my foot journey" and it will explain mainly other things going on with my neck and shoulders as well. Lots of information is good but I will not dwell on it and carry on with my daily power walking and wearing orthotics. Life is becoming enjoyable and I don't want to miss out on anything.

thanks for listening..

speaking of itchy

2010-06-14T06:39:00.000-07:00

when animals itch they get right to it. Summer gets his paw up and scratches until the itch is gone and Ben goes into the bushes and moves his body back and forth to keep the pesky bugs off his legs and back. I think that is pretty smart!

progressing favorably

2010-06-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

stitches will be out on Tuesday..it's getting itchy...

Carol's watercolours

2010-06-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

I was watercolour painting yesterday and I came across an amazing surprise. My sister-in-law Carol, who left us almost 2 years ago, due to Cancer, was a very creative and artistic person. Her husband, my brother-in-law Trevor, didn't know what to do with the huge supply of art supplies she had stored away. These supplies were top of the line art equipment, paint brushes, watercolour papers, watercolour pencils and paint, oil paints and brushes and possibly more. Trevor donated these to her friend Shirley who in turn gave me her watercolour supply as she knew I was trying my hand at it. So....when I opened up the paper pad, out flopped these sketches that Carol must have been working on. Well needless to say, my feeble attempts were put to shame.

I would like to put these small pieces of art together in a frame and I don't know if any of her 3 grown children would like them but it was a very inspiring gift she presented to me. I love when things like this happen...it takes you back and helps you remember the beauty of the person who is no longer in our visual sight but very much a part of our lives.

birds and dog food

2010-06-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

I have noticed a morning routine around the dog house lately. I put food in Summer's dish outside the front door of his house every morning. He doesn't eat it right away. See the bird flying away from the dog and the food dish below? ...take a good look as my camera and shutter speed isn't as good with birds in flight...

Here is Summer standing and waiting for the next bird to get close to his dish.

he checks his food dish regularly in the morning while chasing the birds away from it. I don't know why he just doesn't chow down and eat. I think it must be a fun game of "bird and dog" instead of "cat and mouse"!

Once he tires of this chase he eventually chows down. It is a good way for him to get his exercise daily as I can't go for walks with him just yet.

it's only natural

2010-06-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

to smile when I catch a bit of a rainbow. Even when I was little and someone would say "look a rainbow"; I would run out and try real hard to see all the colours and how big it is and feel the glory of this large colourful ribbon displayed just for me! so cool!

yellow uprising

2010-06-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

the lush green grass, which by the way was cut on Friday and has grown back again, and the green freshness of new tomato plants and yellow marigolds and then this darn weed - "the dandilion"....urrrrgh

up close it is quite an attractive plant, but beauty is only skin deep!

I think the lawnmower with the weed bar behind it needs to come out again. Anyway that's what Summer and I discussed this morning in the nice warm sun. I have been busy watching my two little "slaves" working around the yard the last couple of days but as Supervisor of the "honey-do" list; one of them will need to be advised of the yellow uprising still under attack. Yup, it is my job to assess the situation daily and report. I wonder when my 2nd pot of tea is coming?

TGIF and "bimpless"

2010-06-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

trusting
my foot will heal quickly but only if I rest it alot and keep it elevated.
grateful
for wonderful fun and joyful nursing staff who love their jobs. Oh my...! I had great nurses on the day surgery ward at MH hospital.
inspired
by women who are not afraid to speak openly. One nurse told me that her favourite surgeon was the one I had to do my foot excisement. Dr. Michael Bering. She winked at me and said I am not supposed to say this but Dr. Bering is my favourite. He saved my right leg 12 years ago and I am walking quite well today because of his excellent work. Well that made me feel good. A couple of nurses were teasing Mantracker terribly about how he should be going to a jewelery store or flower shop while he was waiting for me. Mantracker said he was going to pick up a pair of wranglers for me. They looked at him and said "if you come up with a pair of wranglers for your wife.. we will not let you back in". "We will confiscate the bag"!.... anyway all in good fun and Mantracker came back with a nice pair of blue jean capris with a blue and white striped belt around it. It was a very tasteful choice and they fit me perfectly. (story: i had spilled a bottle of lysol disinfectant on my black capris in the car yesterday and it literally burned holes in them).
Friday
I am home with my foot up and doing well. I had my "bimp" removed yesterday and all is well. The only problem I had was after my general anesthesia I got very nauseous and woozy. I was literally "bringing it all forward" into a hospital "ralph" pan for 2 hours after. The nurses gave me a barf bag and a shot of gravol in the butt and wheelchaired me to the car because it was 7 p.m. and day surgery was closing. Mantracker thought the ride home was going well until I proceeded to use "the bag"! oh my! after that one session which happened just outside of MH I henceforth crashed and slept all the way. The gravol must of finally kicked in.

The good news is my surgeon stated just before the little operation that he strongly believes it is a ganglion.
So I looked up on google about ganglion's on the foot. It just totally fits what I have had going on under my foot for a few years. Glad it is removed. Hope it never comes back!

the "bimp" (only for the non-squeamish and fearless)

2010-06-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

I am heading to Medicine Hat tommorrow to get a bump excised from under the ball of my right foot. I don't mean to gross anyone out but this is my therapy blog after all, and only because we all thought it was a bunion for the last 3 years and until a year ago I was advised to have it removed to find out what it is. A cyst? A ganglion (sp)? A calcium depost? I have had 2 x rays and 1 ultrasound and 2 MRI's done. The radiologists and surgeon can't put their finger on what exactly it is..so it is being drawn out and then sent away for diagnosis. Brian and I have been joking about this thing under my foot for a couple of years now and we have nicknamed this thing "the bimp" when my foot aches or I needed someone to massage it (yup that is what Mantracker does because he is a loving husband and I appreciate that)!

I like to talk straight here. Is it a cancerous bump? I doubt it..but whatever it is I am glad it is being removed. Henceforth the picture below. I am really making you queasy and grossing you out right now, aren't I? Sorry...my fingers just type and my mind just writes what I am thinking.

I will not be up walking and playing around for 2 or 3 weeks possibly, so I will just have to watch the "equines" run and play around.

My foot will be up resting for awhile and I may do alot of posting on this blog or I may not.

See you on June 21st for my wedding dress reveal pictures of 30 years ago!!

preserved & heirloomed

2010-05-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

I keep this boxed wedding dress of mine in my closet in our bedroom now. It used to be in the basement hidden on a shelf. Every time we moved to different locations since I have been married to Mr. Mantracker, it has been exactly 4 times, well I mean 4 times since we have moved to different cities (I didn't mean married 4 times to Mantracker); this box keeps getting shuffled around by me as I don't want the movers to damage it or push it into the back of a moving truck or worse yet puncture a hole in the protected clear plastic window and ruin the original state of the dress. Well now I have been thinking that maybe it is time for this dress to come out of the box and display it.

On June 21st it will be our 30th wedding anniversary!

I will reveal the dress then and I will be modeling this dress myself, (when I was 24 years old that is). To think that I could even fit into this dress is disheartening, but, there are some women who probably still can after 3o years. Not this "good wife".

Do you have something you need to bring out to celebrate or need to reopen for going down memory lane?

Carefree Adventures

2010-05-26T06:24:00.000-07:00

Tom showing me how to take "macro" shots of flowers

I ended up at Lac Pelletier on Monday because I was looking for the kayak rental spot by Duncairn Dam. I discovered later that day that I had to go through the town of Simmie and then North a bit to get to "Carefree Park". I never heard of this place but now I do know where it is. Tom and I had our cameras in the car just in case we felt like taking a photo or two. It ended up that it was the majority of our afternoon spent taking photos as the kayak rental business is only open weekends Friday 8:00 p.m. to Sunday 5:00 p.m.

Check out the map and prices and hours by clicking here "Carefree Adventures" if you ever want to take relatives, friends out for a kayak, canoe ride this summer.

Here are some of my photos while at Lac Pelletier.....

my favourite view

seeded crocus

golden bean flower (some call it the buffalo bean plant)

the bluebeard flower

boys at the lake

Have a great Wednesday as the sun is shining brightly this morning with no wind. I better get outside and enjoy.

some things come faster than others

2010-05-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

Here is our house with the new windows and siding (completed late last summer). A deck is promising to take place in the next month or two. We are extending the roof on the south side so we can have protection from that hot sun in the afternoon. That little pile of gravel in front of Tom's car has been there since last October. "Rome was not built in a day" and this deck will happen in 2010.

I wear these words

2010-05-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

I AM ENOUGH necklace

there is a blogging collaborative going around with some worldly photographers and writers who are deep thinkers and are sharing their inspirations with photography and writing. I have been a keen part of this collaborative and the most amazing 3 words have struck me like lightning, just recently; these 3 little words are "I AM ENOUGH".

I have been searching for answers, exploring self-help, empowerment, and true authenticity for myself for the last 6 years
.

...this is a spurring reminder of my place in this universe, when at times I feel I need to strive to be better, to be more efficient and feel the constant warning flags of my errors and adjustments that I feel I need to make in my career and personal life. I have done the "perfection" impression lifestyle, acting as if all is good and trying to be the best mom, best wife, best listening parent, best employee........Since I am at an age (54 now) where certain past events have left me vulnerable to the outside world and have forced me to be true to myself in hoping to receive a plan for making things right for me in order to move to a place in this world where I can feel that I make a difference.

Tracey Clarke who is the creator of Shutter Sisters and the I Am Enough collaborative, and Brene Brown (with her book "I thought it was Just Me"), and Jen Lee (her "Take Me With You - A Journal for the Journey) . Just 3 women who have somehow poured a new fresh mixture of sand into a hole I did not think could be replaced within me.

you are enough.

painting strokes

2010-05-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am so still trying and I am enjoying the process of doing this, the end result isn't as important as "the doing".

I am thinking that the one on the right is better than the left. I painted this outside on the patio table this morning before the rain. It is great fun and as soon as I become too critical of what I have done, then I quit.

panorama pond view

2010-05-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

I tried the panorama option on my camera of our pond this evening. It produced a double mirage.

a window view

2010-05-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

our yard is so fresh and green and dripping with moisture

my kind of 'cowgirl up' ridin'

2010-05-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the trail ride on Sunday at the Sask. Landing.

a mid-day lunch break

up on a hill...a very very short video and poem

2010-05-16T18:27:00.000-07:00

a great ride,
thank you Rocky, you calmly walked thru
all the little creeks and deep crevices
and rocky narrow cow trails,
while I was looking down from the edge,

a diverse range of cowfolk
young and 'seasoned',
walking, trotting, sometimes loping
along the river at 'the Landing'
I loved the sunshine and blue sky and water
close by

Amen

if I don't write...

2010-05-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

(Prairie Rose wildflower on Kirkville)

If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad. - Lord Byron
Sometimes we can get bogged down in the thoughts circling round and round in our heads. This week, allow all those thoughts to flow out onto paper, without judgment --- empty your mind to create space for silence and possibility.

"Longing" a horse (pronounced LUNJING)

2010-05-09T14:09:00.008-07:00

Rocky tends to be a bit stubborn and will slow down his trotting while I am longing him. He slows down to a walk without me cueing him to do so. I am giving him a slap on the hindquarter and cue with my rope to keep trotting.

connecting with body talk

2010-05-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

Rocky is thinking about moving his right hind quarter away from me which is what I want. He has to be able to move his hind quarters freely and give me space to walk towards him.

bareback

2010-05-09T13:28:00.003-07:00

I never thought I would see myself doing this but I tried it out a couple of years ago with someone leading me and then I let myself go with just me and the horse. It is an empowering way to ride.

groundwork

2010-05-09T13:00:00.005-07:00

Rocky and I are doing groundwork. He has to move his big horse-body with my direction by watching my cues with my rope and hand signals, and also verbal cues. This has taken me years to learn and it is so rewarding to be able to go into the arena and work with him. I have learned to relax and be "calm-assertive" (quote from Ceasar Milan the dog whisperer).

speak to me beautiful crocus!

2010-05-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

(taken around Fort Qu'Appelle on April 15, 2010 just click photo for photographer credit)

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen-don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.
(Matthew 6:30-31 The Message)

Have a great Friday!

the 4 purpose room

2010-05-05T14:31:00.001-07:00

On dreary weather days like today,I take refuge in this room. This is my room. It is the only room that is mine in this house. It now has four purposes. I don't think I can squeeze in another function for it. The latest addition to this room is the infra-red sauna. It is great for my neck and weight loss. I can read and play my ipod thru the stereo system. I just connect my CD walkman or my Ipod and the music pipes thru the sauna (while I am profusely sweating of course).

The piano (just a peak of it on the far left of the room) doesn't get used that often but at Christmas time it does; the massage table does get set up for family and friends who want a treatment. The excercise mat and foam spinal roller gets used just about everyday. If I don't exercise and stretch my body regularly it will just say "okay let's give up and just die"! (dramatic statement I know but sometimes.....??)

Do you have a special room - just for you?

4 more watercolour attempts

2010-05-02T16:17:00.000-07:00

I just finished practicing 4 watercolour prints. I did two of the ocean and sky and beach and decided I needed to work on something I can visually see. I did these four this afternoon from my dining room window. The barn, the big tree, driveway and sky. I now believe I need to work on this for awhile because of how relaxed and totally at peace I feel. Wow, creativity is a kicker for me right now.

I am just blogging these to see my progress. The tree and barn get a bit better in each picture. But watercolour is meant to look at from a distance. So detailing is not important when you are close up painting.

hmmmm..interesting.

natural health expo

2010-05-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Swift Current has a natural health expo on this weekend. I was there today and so loved my visits at some of the booths.

I know the lady at this booth; we attended a quantum touch training clinic a few years back and I discussed a weekend at her "cottage" in Cypress Hills to learn about Animal Access and Horse Awareness training. Her name just happens to be Donna too!

Jacqui and I both received a half hour palm reading from Alice Kelly. Wow! got so much info from that. Will be staying in touch with her, me thinks...

This Organo Gold coffee is pure organic black coffee and healthy for you. The Reishi mushroom spore powder extract is the secret and after I drank a large cup of it I did not have the urge to use the washroom or get stomach cramps. I have been off coffee for quite a while now and bought myself a box of this healthy alternative coffee.

I have been encouraged and told that my watercolour painting is needing attention as it is my creative side of me that is so strong but not being used and it is not that I will become a painter but it is the journey and process of doing this painting that I need to pay attention to! So I am going to the barn to paint tommorrow as the weather is not cooperative for outside painting.

The stroke of my brush will encourage my wellbeing and bring joy (as it has the last couple of times I have tried to paint)

Hope you can all bring some inspiring "to-do-ness" to this wet and wild weekend!

beautiful women

2010-04-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

left to right: Jan, Christine, Diana, Joy and me
missing: Jacqui and Shirley

When you have women with "spirit" and "beauty" providing healing touch treatments to our community, everyone benefits. This is our group picture taken at the 1st United Church in our Burnham room. It was our last night together and as we folded up the massage tables and packed up our supplies to take home for the summer we were glad we committed to this but happy for our spring and summer break too. We all provided healing energy treatments to the community, weekly, from October to the end of this April. It was a great journey for all of us. We had coordinated this last fall with the support of the church and we had a Wellness day one Saturday in Dec from 10 - 5 p.m. There were eight therapists and 4 tables set up and we took people in on a "first come first serve" basis. Alot of people were open to this and donated generously to our church. I looked forward to this each week.

I love it when a plan comes together, it makes me a happier person having done this and we will hopefully continue on in the fall.

Blessings!

practicing english riding in 2007

2010-04-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

This is me in 2007 trying to get the trott and canter position for English riding perfected. The video/movie would not upload for me at all so this is what I got (a headless freeze frame) oh well. I found some pictures (rare ones at that) of me actually riding Rocky. I am always the photographer and so I got Tom to shoot some videos/photos of me.

I came across these videos this weekend as FCC staff were looking for some old photos for Brian's retirement party in June, so I was going down memory lane. I talk alot about how I {recreationally) enjoy riding and I was at my peak here for perfection but the instructor always made me feel like nothing was working for me. But I talked about that issue a couple of posts previously.

It seems gone are the days when you can get on a horse and just learn to sit and relax and hold the reins loosely and enjoy. Now their is so much coaching and different ways and techniques to steering and guiding and communicating with your horse. I have found that alot of groundwork before I even get on the horse is the best way to connect with the horse and to just relax and trust yourself and let the horse do the work. That was not easy for me (trying to control too much) and of course horse and rider have to be a team. I have said it before, a relationship with a horse, is great training to becoming a parent and I so would of liked to of been doing this 20 years ago, because it teaches me to watch and listen for horse cues and to know when to be assertive and when to cue on problems and also to realize when the horse is with you, as one!

"You will never learn as much from any horse as you will from your first one!"

Chef d' Tom - fine dining at Kirkville

2010-04-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

1st entree: white wine and seasoned crusty loaf
2nd entree: salad greens with cold beets and hickory sticks
3rd entree: sweet potato yam soup with yellow peppers
4th entree: palette taster - rasperry shorbert with frozen lime koolaid iced cubes
5th entree: main dish was salmon filets, vegetables baby corn/water chestnuts/asparagus stirfry; potato stack
6th entree: vanilla bean creme bule'

THEN A TCBY PINK AND CHOCOLATE YOGURT CAKE! (courtesy of Mantracker)

Tom, I am impressed with this delightful fine dining night and I really feel this was an extra blessed birthday because I have you, and I have Mantracker!

Good night...(feeling a bit full)

Happy Earth-Birth Day

2010-04-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

my birthday for another year has arrived, but don't tell anyone (that is why I have it on my blog so we can keep it quiet..ha!)

I am having a fine dining 5 course meal tonite in my own home, catered by Thomas Kirk. I can hardly wait.

To celebrate earth day Tom also transplanted several crocus plants into my "depressed" flower garden in front of our house. Cool Idea! Crocus's are not an endangered plant species so you can remove them and transplant elsewhere.

I may be getting older but I am learning how to enjoy life better!

he would be 25 today

2010-04-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

"Turn off the lights or keep them on.

Either way, I will see you,

call me back or do not call me back,

Either way I will hear you,

Tell me yes or tell me no.

Either way, I will love you."

{by Marion Williamson}

The bond between most parents and their children is without preconditions. Love simply is----from the moment of birth to the grave. There is no, "I will only love you if..." between parent and child. We will move mountains to help them if they are in trouble and will fight their battles for them, if they will allow it.

I like to ride too..but

2010-04-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

, p

The equestrian riding club had it's first clinic of the year yesterday. Mantracker took his colt "Leroy" for the training and experience. Heather S. who is talking by the fence in the above photo, is a level 3 certified Equestrian trainer and coach and she comes in from Regina to put on these clinics for the club.
I love to ride and I used to take Rocky and learn how to turn and guide and establish a good strong "seat" in the saddle. English riding is an exacting and fine tuned techniquing on trotting, cantering and jumping. Unfortunately, I was no longer having fun taking lessons as it became too intense and exacting for me and I only want to ride for recreational purposes and to make sure I can handle the horse when things go wrong. I have learned and feel confident now when I ride. So I got out of it what I wanted. And once things are no longer fun I move onto something else. Just the way I am. So Mantracker goes to these clinics on his own now and I sometimes go and just sit and watch.

so now, I have turned into a more creatvie woman now and I am practicing my water colour painting techniques that I learned in Kauai in February. Here is my first "private clinic" attempt at painting. It is supposed to be the sky, mountains, a beach and the ocean. The water and beach really are terrible but I am to try this same scene 20 times. So 19 more pictures of this same scene and it should improve.

I am a woman and can change interests and try different things!

guess what we did today?

2010-04-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

a thoughtful pause...

2010-04-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

With kindness, the difficult

becomes easy...

life assumes a

charm and its

miseries are softened.

Charles Wagner

tgif and some Yahoo news!

2010-04-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

yahoo I am trusting that our sponsored 11 year old boy will keep corresponding with us. We have had 2 letters and 2 pictures from him. He writes his letters in Romanian and then it is retyped in English for us. This hole in my heart is completely filled when I hear from George.

Grateful for Tom passing his difficult classses this last semester and grateful for him receiving a job in his field of study this summer. Another yahoo!

Thankful that Mantracker has decided to retire in June and he has already received another job that he can start in October. He will be busy training colts and building our deck and just soaking up the summer off before then!

I am also thankful that this summer I can pursue the joy of some Kayaking at Duncairn Dam. I found out about this last fall. They have rentals of kayaks their and I want to check that out.

I am also so very thankful for my chiropractor who has turned my neck problems into a new painfree lifestyle. I finally found something that works. Another yahoo!

Yahoo! it's Friday!

this bag has history ..

2010-04-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

NO not me ......this punching bag. It was purchased a few years ago when things were rough all round and we knew their were issues we couldn't help Tom with. I am sure if this punching bag could talk it would be interesting. If you take a good look at the bag it has special tape on it from tears and rips. He just fills the bottom with water and attaches the bag on top and every spring it is now his full body workout! So if you need to get rid of some crap here is one way to do it.

it started out as a gift to him a few years ago and now it is an enjoyable strength builder for the body.

If I tried this I would end up at the chiropractors or somewhere clincial as this is very demanding on the body.

How do you get rid of crap in your head?

I guess it's time (sniff) for them to enter another phase...

2010-04-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

Easter weekend was spent at Madge Lake visiting my parents. I left the men behind and travelled on my own and had quality time with both mom and dad.

They just put up a 4-sale sign in front of their home at the lake. They said it was time to move closer to family and the friends and lake activities and upkeep to the home was at times overwhelming. The winter's are long for Mom and they have a couple of places that have opened up in Regina for them. Lots of decisions for them especially at the age of 80 years old. But, better now when they are still in good health and clear mind.

here is my black car and my parents white car. (ha I think they always thought I was the black sheep of the family...hmmmm could be!)

my cousins in Pelly, SK provide Bison meat for many people and Mantracker and I are one of them. (such good lean meat). The bull as you can see is the one with the large head and big hump, verry verry, big, big fella.

Mom wanted me to take a picture of her showing the trees in their front yard.

Here they are outside Duck Mountain Provincial Park Lodge. This is where mom swims in the pool every day and the have coffee and eat out alot at this place. I spent alot of time walking and jogging by the still frozen lake and all the hiking trails. I will miss the visits but I know Mom and Dad will be closer to medical care and family once this move has transpired. Love the lake and love Mom and Dad who lived their for 25 years. What great memories and what a great retirement they had here and still have to come!

solid foundation

2010-03-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

{St. Andrews United Church - MJ}

The world is full of suffering.

It is also full of the overcoming of it.

Helen Keller

Sending Easter Blessings to all of you!

a simplistic weekend

2010-03-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

We had a simple and rustic weekend with our friends from the South East.

We are enjoying the weather, horses, our photography fun, and great friends...

Mantracker and Morley {his "sidekick") ..I think they could have their own TV show (ha!)

an early birthday gift to me...love, love, this stone plaque! Thank you Shirley.

Spring Bathing

2010-03-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

You have to look for the joy,
Look for the light of God
that is hitting your life, and
you will find sparkles you didn't know were there.

Barbara Johnson

I have laughed and felt excitement watching our four horses play in our melted marsh pond and I have many more snapshots of them splashing in the water trying to get rid of the itch of their winter fur shedding from their bodies, or possibly, they just want to have some fun!

see more delightful amazing unedited photos today (straight out of the camera) shots over at Melody's . Her blog has a great story and wonderful inspiring and calming inspirational poems and pics. A professional in every aspect of her life.

March 17

2010-03-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

May you have warm words on a cold evening,

a full moon on a dark night,

and the road downhill all the way to your door

Irish Blessing

we all "got along" famously I would say,,,

2010-03-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

The people you vacation with are your vacation. Trevor's family (my brother-in-law) and his extended family were my vacation. Tania the young lady in our group e-mailed these pictures to me and I really like them. I was so pleased that each and every one of us had sarcasm, humour and quick wit. Conversation and laughs were effortless. Thanks Tania, Robert, Bob, Trevor and Lisa for making our vacation a great memory.

Spanish Bosal

2010-03-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

Mantracker is training our 2 1/2 year colt and he is doing it the way the Spaniards do, with a Bosal(pronounced /boʊˈsɑːl/, /boʊˈsæl/, or sometimes /ˈboʊsəl/) is a type of noseband used on the classic hackamore of the vaquero (spanish cowboy) tradition. When he pulls on the reins the knob under the horses chin moves and taps him in a key spot under the chin.

Here is Leroy going for a training walk this afternoon and learning to walk through water and crusty snow and muddy fields with his Spanish Bosal! Ole!

It is refreshing to be talking about horses again and riding outside in the sunshine. I so want this weather to hold and stay.

SOOC Saturday- Powered Up

2010-03-12T20:04:00.000-08:00

I bought an Ipod (nano) ...Tom helped me with my purchase and I have been busy learning about "itunes" and loading music and photos as well as checking into my favourite blogs inbetween just like using a remote for TV. (it's crazy!) The candle beside my laptop makes me laugh as many generations ago that is all the pioneers had for "power".

The Ipod struck my interest one night when one of the Healing Touch therapists came in with this little doc station and her little ipod and she plugged it into the wall plug and the music burst out of that little thing so clearly it amazed me, it was so small!. That was a few months ago and now I have one. The sound on these ipods (you can see my little flat blue ipod just beside the candle on the table) is superb! what would make this perfect is if I actually had high speed internet. Whoa.. is me for I am exisitng on a little better internet speed connection than dial up called xplornet. It is the only choice we have out here in the coulees.

What is your connection? Do you enjoy the surge of technology or does it frustrate you? I am sure you savvy bloggers out there have challenges from time to time, but we know it is worth the frustration and learning curve.... for it is never ending. Time goes by so fast when on the "technology highway" and I lose a good part of my day blogging and uploading and writing; but it is so worth it for me. When I post a photo and write something under it.... my heart speaks authentically.

Enjoy the photos this SOOC Saturday!

cockle doodle do! snipit set #3

2010-03-09T18:08:00.000-08:00

just a quick collage of the most unpopular animal on the island. Roosters and chickens.

Roosters and chickens are rampant in Kauai (the most westerly native quiet island of Hawaii). The reason for this is in 1992 a Hurricane began and lasted days and when it ended a chicken coop was blown in and they have been multiplying ever since. We woke up early every morning to the sound of "cockle doodle doo"! too funny!

Kauai snipits #2 set

2010-03-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

lots of ocean waves, I am very awed by them....

Kauai snipits #1 set

2010-03-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

I have selected some snapshots of my holiday and I don't have them in any real order. The "shuffle shots" are below. I wish I could keep my tan and shoulder's bare forever, but not to be. Hope you enjoy them!

"Red Canyon"

I zoomed in on this surfer..LOVE IT!

Strawberry Daqauri

our condo deck view we were right over the ocean shore - noisy waves at night but beautiful during the day.