"Canadian casualties in the Second World War topped 40,000 and hundreds more have died in the Boer War, the Korean War, in Afghanistan and in peacekeeping duties.

Today, we honour their memory. We stand in silence and we remember them.

Some say the Canadian government should make observation of two minutes of silence on Remembrance Day mandatory, but veterans say that would be against the very ideals for which the soldiers fought. They fought for freedom--whether it be freedom to stand silent or freedom to protest."

From November 11 editorial Edmonton Journal

So how has your week begun? Just a few reflections on mine…

November is never an easy month because of remembrances of losses such as my father’s death and a good friend last year, but also a time to dwell in those times of encounters with others here and be thankful….we all need to be reflective and look beyond selves and Nov.11 is a good reminder….the sacrifices of others and our own charitable giving.

As the Christmas season approaches, for heaven’s sake, watch the spending….being a consumer is not a patriotic duty!

As I approach this week I do so with much more calmer perspective than have done so in past free writing. Abit of a difference may have been that I began my day with some meditation and yoga. Hopefully a little bit more calm than angst at other times.

So this is the rapid writing of things I have to do….

The back porch got cleaned last week and extra dog kennel and accessories up for sale , so must check to see if any responses to the ad on Kijiji…

I think I have found a vehicle  a 1995 Volvo 850 wagon. Although abit more than I wanted to pay It would be a relief just to know that I have a vehicle at last that meets most of my needs: right size, able to take dogs, older but maintained well, both summer and winter tires, an automatic and hey, even heated seats! So what do I have to do around this….

I have a rental car for 2 more days and what do I need to do while I have it? What are the immediate needs?..look at your weekly schedule first before launching off says the cautionary mind. Getting some dog food, major/minor grocery shop ( I really do hate grocery shopping as it probably reminds me of the major ones I have to do before heading north) if home depot or Rona get new screens but get dimensions first, end for soaker hose, tulips, mail packages to K and for baby ( get addresses ), birthday gift for M, take lawnmower in for tuning, drop off stuff at church including invoice but that might wait until tomorrow. Stop in at dentist in NE again maybe tomorrow/

The temperature is going up to plus 8oC today and so more outside stuff to do including g dog walks…slow down as maybe I can do some of this in early afternoon…again check day timer.

My office desk is messy…I think I have clients tonight.. check day timer. And should also make a few calls or emails about feedback appointments to set up schedules. Contract for the north…last week’s call felt much too much like just social but it will come together so must make contact again before the end of the week.

So other projects…would really like to have the front gate fixed so I don’t have to wire it together and looks like some one backed into another section which needs fixing…so the need to contact a carpenter….make another call. The whole roof and insulation thing and what needs and can be done before winter…. again just get estimates.

Then there is the whole list of friend and family contacts I need to either do or catch up on…don’t know if it is avoidance as much as feeling somewhat peopled out… after a weekend of leading a marriage prep seminar, helping with coffee at church and attending an outreach committee meeting in the middle and then missing the play I wanted to see by arriving at 2:30 PM when it had stated at 2 PM. Did get to my evening meditation group but then beetled off on my own to a discount movie theatre to see “ The Proposal” at 10:50 PM

Easy to manage the compartments of my life but when they overlap

So the week has begun and what am I doing. Oh yeah… check day timer!

Instead of giving out Halloween candy, took advantage of last few days of car rental last weekend & a good 2-day road trip to sister in law's farm in Calgary and day hike in Grotto Valley Canyon, near Canmore and Ekshaw.

The dogs, were scrunched in the back, but thought they died and went to heaven running both on the farm rolling in smelly stuff, investigating the ducks and  up the canyon...

Leased together most of the time I let them go on the narrower trails.

The canyon comes to a T with waterfall on one branch and dry creek bed on the other, and I liked the 2 PM light that produced this shadow portrait.

The holds here on the side walls for rock climbing reminded me of the daughter and her many adventures

Dressing in layers was definitely the order of the day as you can see by the snow on the spruce and juniper berries where I stopped for lunch.

The valley is noted as a spiritual place and has several places of petrogliffs from the original Indian groups, 10-14,000 years ago. I could only find these rather faint red markings, but there appears to be both a person in the upper one and animal, possibly bison or elk in the lower shape.

The only down point on Sunday after my hike was an anticipated soak in Banff Hot Springs pool found closed for renovations, so went for beer and pizza at Banff Springs Hotel.

Monday morning after enjoying a leisurely breakfast and watching the pine siskas in feeder outside the window drive back was given instructions to take a new ring road that one would avoid going into Calgary...

this was fine until it suddenly ended in construction not yet connected with highway #2 north. Fortunately I was not the only one heading in that direction and ended up via some back roads just north of Calgary via a small town called Balzac.

These are some of the shots of that detour, including small church and collection of old farm items in one yard near the highway.  

The day was clear and one could see the Rockies in the distance, and those wonderful open prairie skies.

 but sometimes that is just how it has to be!

As I find myself in the middle of several projects and often frustrated because of the seeming “mess” around me I get reminded that it is the process not always the end result that is the most important.

In the midst of yard clean up now being done in less frequent dry weather patches, the frustrations may be the dogs, the mud and why am I stuffing leaves into a long skinny plastic tube that keeps splittingbut that is also the joy to be outside with the dogs, making a 3 legged spider that needs to be put outside the fence so dogs don’t think I have created NEW TOYS for them and alas doing a stir fry on the front yard fire pit with the pruned branches.

Finally a dry day of about 10oC to finish some of the yard work. Lawnmower used to gather leaves, although little lawn left with all areas dug by dogs.  Three legged spider...tedious stuffing of bags and moving so dogs would not think were toys! Sunday night end of yard clean up grilled pork chops and veggies.

Halloween…well we don’t get many kids and I may be away but still it is the journey. The granddaughter was over last night ( we do yoga on Tuesdays & it is getting better but 50’s year old body is not quite as flexible as the teenage one ) and the chore is putting together the Halloween costume. She working on the costume to look like Tinkerbell not milkmaid or Oktoberfest  bar maid ….I got  a few add ons from the dollar store but her uncle spent way too much at Micheals. His idea I think is wood nymph! I have to sew on all the additions! Here are some of the Halloween items to add to costume or outside.

Ah reminders.... IT IS THE JOURNEY!