New photo book!
This one is of the home renovations started waaaay back in July 2012. Finally got around to the book making part!
3.25.2014
3.24.2014
Coming Alive
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman
Thank you "Art of Simple" for this post and the above quote.
This weekend I was lucky enough to experience one of the things that I love MOST in the world. It's a simple activity that is in line with my personal values and totally free... a walk in the woods with my family.
In my area, there are loads of trails -- the land used to be a coal mining camp of some sort and is on the (now quiet) railway. The trees may not be first growth giants, but the woods are filled with forgotten relics, and mysterious holes and mounds. The local modern neighbours to these woods have built networks of trails for everything from walking dogs, jogging, ATVs and mountain bikes. It's technically private land, but undeveloped/left to go wild for the last hundred or so years. We are not discouraged from enjoying it.
That is the single feature that drew me to this particular neighbourhood and this particular house. It backs onto this vast network of trails that loop and twist all up and down the ridge, between wetlands, farmlands, suburbs and a highway. I can walk for hours and hours with no chance of getting lost, and always some exciting scenery from panoramic valley views to a beaver dam to deep mossy woods to rusty relics. It's a perfect hiking place to me, and it lifts my spirits like nothing else can to walk in the woods!
The kids throw sticks, and climb trees, the dog charges through the undergrowth and dives into the marsh, my husband and I quietly chat while we walk, and I am often taking pictures or collecting edible wilds along the way.
We bond.
We exercise.
We connect with nature.
We connect with the world immediately near our home.
On these walks we have seen a black bear, owl, swans, hawk, ducks (and other waterfowl), great blue herons, deer, woodpeckers, squirrel, bunnies, dozens of different varieties of songbirds, and massive evidence of the local beaver population and we've startled tiny rodents too. The flora is stunning anytime of year, and the wetland's ebb and flow with the rain is always fascinating to me. We are a part of nature, not separate, no matter how hard we try to disconnect from the dirt and the weather. I love that intimate reminder that the woods give me. I come home muddy and tired and really, truly happy to my core.
It beats watching TV for me any day.
But back to "Art of Simple"'s message. I may not be able to make money doing this activity that makes me come alive, but I recognize it for what it is. I savour each walk and let the experience fill me up with joy that carries through for days. I am so thankful for it.
What makes YOU come alive? Is it exciting or quiet? Is it alone or social? Is it flamboyant or internal?
(As a post script, I should mention, my wonderful walking trails are slated for development, the plans have been approved by the city already. It is just a matter of time before they are gone, and I will have to get my forest fix elsewhere. I will not cry. It hasn't happened yet.)
Thank you "Art of Simple" for this post and the above quote.
This weekend I was lucky enough to experience one of the things that I love MOST in the world. It's a simple activity that is in line with my personal values and totally free... a walk in the woods with my family.
In my area, there are loads of trails -- the land used to be a coal mining camp of some sort and is on the (now quiet) railway. The trees may not be first growth giants, but the woods are filled with forgotten relics, and mysterious holes and mounds. The local modern neighbours to these woods have built networks of trails for everything from walking dogs, jogging, ATVs and mountain bikes. It's technically private land, but undeveloped/left to go wild for the last hundred or so years. We are not discouraged from enjoying it.
We bond.
We exercise.
We connect with nature.
We connect with the world immediately near our home.
But back to "Art of Simple"'s message. I may not be able to make money doing this activity that makes me come alive, but I recognize it for what it is. I savour each walk and let the experience fill me up with joy that carries through for days. I am so thankful for it.
What makes YOU come alive? Is it exciting or quiet? Is it alone or social? Is it flamboyant or internal?
(As a post script, I should mention, my wonderful walking trails are slated for development, the plans have been approved by the city already. It is just a matter of time before they are gone, and I will have to get my forest fix elsewhere. I will not cry. It hasn't happened yet.)
3.08.2014
Sweet Tooth
When I was battling the cold from hell, I lost 6 pounds. Other than endless ab exercises from coughing and sneezing, I got ZERO exercise. And, I completely lost my sense of taste. As a result, my texture-only motivated meal choices were mostly raw vegetables, fruits and copious amounts of clear liquids. Dairy, bread and sugar had no appeal at all... apparently the smooth texture of chocolate is not possible with the cold since I couldn't suck it slowly (too stuffed up to suck at all).
That was good news from an otherwise miserable month. Healthy foods, lost weight.
However as soon as my sense of taste returned, so did the sugar cravings -- with a vengeance!
The weight came back as quickly as it was lost. boohoo for me.
Here is the takeaway from the experience:
SUGAR - all by itself - causes me about 6 pounds of excess weight.
I am not alone in this revelation. My husband has cut out sugar since January - only sugar - and has lost almost 10 pounds! No increase in exercise, no decrease in wheat products or anything else.
My darling friend Spider told me of her extraordinary health transformation more than a year ago after she gave up the sweet stuff, her results are lasting and truly incredible! I have to admit, though I respect and admire her life choice, I must not have TRULY believed it was for me, because I didn't embrace it for myself. Maybe I don't think I have the strength of will.... I am ridiculous about sweets, I crave them and ALWAYS have... sneaking baking chocolate to my room as a kid, eating more dessert than dinner at special occasions... Perhaps when faced with the idea of a change I talked myself into thinking I am different (after all isn't everyone's metabolisms slightly unique?).
Maybe the sugar has brainwashed me!
Today I stood naked in front of the mirror under the harsh bright bathroom lights and resolved not to eat ANY refined sugar product unless I was willing to eat it in front of a mirror. It's a bizarre idea, but not without precedence. That's why there are mirrors at safe injection sights, because facing yourself doing something destructive is very hard to do if you have any will to live. If it works for drug addicts, it should work for sugar addicts too, right?!
And I don't have to feel the panic that it is forbidden to me forever. If I follow the rules, I can eat sugar. But it will be inconvenient and ugly so I will likely leave it alone voluntarily.
It cannot be mindless consumption anymore. I deserve better than that, my kids deserve a happy, healthy mom and my husband deserves a wife that feels pretty.
The only reason I am sharing this publicly is because I want it to work.
***************
UPDATE: March 12, since posting this on the 8th, I have only twice gone to eat a treat, and I honoured my own rules and ate in front of a mirror. That really sucks to be honest. Inconvenient and unpleasant. There were other moments when I wanted a treat, but the idea of going through the hassle kept me from the sweet stuff. It's too early to tell if this will continue to work, but so far so good.
That was good news from an otherwise miserable month. Healthy foods, lost weight.
However as soon as my sense of taste returned, so did the sugar cravings -- with a vengeance!
The weight came back as quickly as it was lost. boohoo for me.
Here is the takeaway from the experience:
SUGAR - all by itself - causes me about 6 pounds of excess weight.
I am not alone in this revelation. My husband has cut out sugar since January - only sugar - and has lost almost 10 pounds! No increase in exercise, no decrease in wheat products or anything else.
My darling friend Spider told me of her extraordinary health transformation more than a year ago after she gave up the sweet stuff, her results are lasting and truly incredible! I have to admit, though I respect and admire her life choice, I must not have TRULY believed it was for me, because I didn't embrace it for myself. Maybe I don't think I have the strength of will.... I am ridiculous about sweets, I crave them and ALWAYS have... sneaking baking chocolate to my room as a kid, eating more dessert than dinner at special occasions... Perhaps when faced with the idea of a change I talked myself into thinking I am different (after all isn't everyone's metabolisms slightly unique?).
Maybe the sugar has brainwashed me!
Today I stood naked in front of the mirror under the harsh bright bathroom lights and resolved not to eat ANY refined sugar product unless I was willing to eat it in front of a mirror. It's a bizarre idea, but not without precedence. That's why there are mirrors at safe injection sights, because facing yourself doing something destructive is very hard to do if you have any will to live. If it works for drug addicts, it should work for sugar addicts too, right?!
And I don't have to feel the panic that it is forbidden to me forever. If I follow the rules, I can eat sugar. But it will be inconvenient and ugly so I will likely leave it alone voluntarily.
It cannot be mindless consumption anymore. I deserve better than that, my kids deserve a happy, healthy mom and my husband deserves a wife that feels pretty.
The only reason I am sharing this publicly is because I want it to work.
***************
UPDATE: March 12, since posting this on the 8th, I have only twice gone to eat a treat, and I honoured my own rules and ate in front of a mirror. That really sucks to be honest. Inconvenient and unpleasant. There were other moments when I wanted a treat, but the idea of going through the hassle kept me from the sweet stuff. It's too early to tell if this will continue to work, but so far so good.
3.01.2014
42
42 is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything.
(according to the brilliant writings of Douglas Adams)
Well, we'll see about that! Officially today that is my age.
I'm coming into it with a 2nd round of antibiotics to try to annihilate this endless sinus cold and extremely sore ribs, but otherwise I am positive it will be a good year !
(according to the brilliant writings of Douglas Adams)
Well, we'll see about that! Officially today that is my age.
I'm coming into it with a 2nd round of antibiotics to try to annihilate this endless sinus cold and extremely sore ribs, but otherwise I am positive it will be a good year !
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