One Part Inspiration...

 On the way up to our Anniversary destination, I busied myself by looking at the scenery.  It wasn't very hard.  The scenery is just stunning.  The Sea-to-Sky Highway had been redone in time for the Olympics last year, and the road was a pleasure to drive.  The surface was smooth and the curves were manageable.  We had bought some lunchables before we departed, so we decided to stop at this small lake to have a picnic.  It turned out to be a very popular destination.  We were amused by a group of day campers who came down to the beach while we were there.  There were the typical reactions - the kids who jumped into the water and exclaimed how warm it was, which in turn enticed others to jump in too.  There were the beach dolls who laid out their towels and loudly declared that they would only sunbathe.  There was the lone child who filled up his bucket with lake water and carried it 100 meters, then sat down and then proceeded to ...

I doubt very many of the 500+ people who went up the mountain this morning,  actually read this sign, posted outside every ticket window. Most of them might have looked at the writing in the red briefly, and then looked away. Basically, it was a 'sign your life away' notice.  If anything happens to you, you are on your own.  The line up was very long and most people just wanted to get their tickets, so they could stand in another long lineup to get onto the gondola which would take them up to the next level, which was only a quick stop to take them up to the next level after that.  As for me, I read the small print.  And I admit, I was nervous.  I would not be a good astronaut.  I don't want to go where no man has gone before.  Even if there are lots of men who have gone there.  But it didn't make a lot of sense to travel to the mountain and stay at the base. This was a once-in-a-lifetime possibility.  So I had to gather...

In two days, my husband and I will celebrate our anniversary.  It seems like just a blink of an eye that we were driving toward our future in the car my husband had been restoring. What a ride it has been.  There is no way I could have predicted the twists and turns along the way.  Now, lest I wax eloquent and become a little sappy, I will just share with you what we are going to do to celebrate this auspicious occasion.  He is taking me away to Whistler.  This is the first time I will see this world-class destination since I have lived in this beautiful province  It has become somewhat of a joke between us, that we have never gone there. I have suggested it more than once, but he is more inclined to head east.  So this weekend, we will be travelling the Sea-to-Sky highway, making our way to discover this beautiful place. The first question is always, where to stay.  He wanted to know which hotel package I wanted.  A standard one?  A...

It is very hard to be physically far away when significant events are happening in the family. As I write this post, many of my relatives are attending the funeral of my aunt.  Last week, I got word that she 'didn't have much time'.  Saturday, the word came that she had 'graduated to heaven' (a term a friend of mine uses).  She has been such a special aunt in every way, and I wished so much that I could hop on a plane and surround myself with all who knew and loved her.  Time, money, and practicality would not allow it.  But I have been deep in thought and reflection of all that my aunt meant to me and many others.  I wrote a tribute to her, and I am sharing some of it here - for you who did not know her, but would have loved her, if you'd met her.   When we came back from Ethiopia, our family went through a lot of turmoil.  My aunt, who is three years younger than my mom,  came down for several weeks, to help take care of me and my sis...

"SHOTS day".   I wasn't really looking forward to it.  I didn't like taking my kids to get shots, and I felt no different about taking the puppies.  I asked my daughter to accompany me - that way she could hold my hand while they got innoculated. The appointment was for noon.  There was much discussion about how to transport them.  I phoned the neighbour to see if she had a cage, but she didn't.  So I cleaned out the plumbing supplies my husband had left behind a large Rubbermaid box, placed the puppies in it, and we were on our way.  When the doctor said it was our turn, I pretended to go into the examining room.  But when my daughter turned around, there I was, gone.  I stayed out in the waiting room, and browsed the brochures and pamphlets on all the diseases and conditions that animals carry.  I came to the conclusion that a veternarian clinic is a dangerous place to come.  There are so many dangers lurkin...

Recently we were invited to one of the young cousin's bridal shower.  I was honoured to be invited.  She made it easy on us, by registering at several different places.  So my mother-in-law and I set off to find the 'perfect gift' for her.  We looked at the list and narrowed down what we would buy. Eventually we decided on serving spoons/forks and placemats.  She bought the spoons and I bought the placemats.  I said that I would take care of wrapping them up.  On my way home, I decided to drop into the dollar store and see if there might be some pretty boxes - and I found this one.  I picked out the ribbon to co-ordinate with some of the colours I saw in the box.    I am not a terribly precise person when it comes to making gifts come alive in the wrapping.  This may surprise some, because I actually had a job as a wrapper for Birk's Jewellers when I was, just out of high school.  I look back on that ex...

I realize I haven't posted in a while.  Did anyone miss me?  Well, just in case, I should give a little explanation about my long(ish) absence.   I've been a little d.i.s.t.r.a.c.t.e.d. with s.u.m.m.e.r...... Plants to plant, hedges to trim, walks to go on, puppies to chase, weeds to pull, BBQ's to host, back decks to enjoy...trips to camp to make...it's been a tough job, but someone's had to do it.  ....M.o.r.e.   s.o.o.n.  ....

And now, boys an girls, we present life lessons in a minute and a half.   There are times in life when things are not working. At those times, it might be worth turning things over, to see if there is a reason for it.  You might need to replace a non-working-busted-up part with a new one.  You will have more success with the job, and less frustration with the process.

Sometimes, its a good idea to take some time to evaluate an idea. Like the one about becoming something you're not. The year I turned forty, my husband arranged to take me away for a little holiday. Some very kind relatives allowed us to us a pop-up trailer they had, and away we went. It was a wonderful time. We were relaxed and well-fed. We had a warm place to sleep. And best of all, we were self-contained and off the ground. Fast forward to the next garage sale, where there were two pop-up trailers for sale. One was clearly out of our price range. And then there was this one. I thought back to the great holdiay we had enjoyed and mistakenly identified us as "Camper-Bobs". I began imagining all the wonderful weekends we would enjoy, if we only bought this pop-up. The kids would have a blast. We would be comfortable. I almost could taste the S'mores around the campfire. I hurried home to tell my husband about my find. The garage sale was now over, b...