Visitor # 5300 that is, thanks for stopping California, we'll chat next week!

Departure delayed by a day in getting off for a week trip to BC. Uncertain of weather this time of year packed food, bike and skis! It was a 7 hr drive over the Rockies and certainly didn't like driving through fog or on mountain twisty roads being followed by large trucks, so glad when that drive was done!

Outside my unit when finally arrived and unpacked.       

Biking  was definitely the right choice, here on old highway and encountered historic barn and stables.

Today I did an initial bike ride before afternoon hike just to make sure I wouldn’t get lost. Mid-November and perfect bike riding weather. Spirit River Looking down Columbia valley Interesting old tree roots stopped for a snack

Later driving up the road encountered family of mountain sheep on road. Babies would have been born in Feb, now about 9 months old.
Hiking  initially near field with mobile irrigation I had to play catch up to the group as had left camera in car and             thankfully this direction arrow left         

Loved the different terrain Dried grasses and young spruce Dried flowers Looking down valley as climbing in hike, almost a postcard

  Broader view of end of trail aboriginal petrogliffs probably about 10 –14,000 years old.

Heading down on sun dappled trail. Contemplating next hike across the valley on Thursday. Rec center for much appreciated soak in outside hot pool.            

The following is one of my pieces that came from my writing circle at our last meeting.....

November Dialogue with Hope

Hope, in the midst of dark days of November, where do I find you?

You find me in the bright red poppy, pinned on the lapel of the grey haired veteran, stooped over standing in the cold wind of the ceremony of remembrance at the downtown cenotaph.

You find me in the soft brown eyes of the teen cadet, in her blues with peaked cap, ramrod position and salute as the wreaths are laid at this same ceremony.
 
Where else in this bleak November weather with dried crumpled leaves, bitter winds on barren, broken trees, dull overcast gray of this in- between season?

You find me in sunny blue Edmonton skies, after the first snow fall, when the wet, fluffy white coats the branches, where summer green once lingered and the ravine becomes a magic fairyland of delicate blacks and white and the first ice pans begin to form gathering crystalline in the North Saskatchewan River.

You find me in the promise of the changing seasons, the peacefulness of a land covered, sleeping and waiting.

Where else in November I ask?

You find me burning bright in the flame of the first Advent candle lit by the smallest child in the church congregation.

Advent “ to come “ hope, I am found in the waiting of promises to be fulfilled in the Christ Child.

November, for me personally. is a month of remembrances of births, deaths and anniversaries: birth of my first son and first grandchild; but also memory of my parents’ 25th anniversary and losses of a grandfather at 97 and a father at age 50. It has been 30 years since that northern plane crash that took Dad and three other lives on their departure from High Level.

Where is the hope in these?

Now I also face the illness and death of a close friend.

Hope, where are you?

In your heart, my dear, in all that you hold dear and give to others. His hope is greater than yours. Rest in Him, as the word says, “ I know whom I have believeth and am convinced that He is able”.

With many elections just complete in both United States and Canada, some readers might be interested in the different voting method used in both of the two Canadian arctic territories, NWT and Nunavut. I have not been in the legislative assembly in Iqaluit but in Yellowknife. The building design is modeled after after an igloo and the government representatives meets in a circular formation.  There are no political parties but each MLA is elected from his or her own region.Once elected and upon initial meeting,  The MLAs nominate and then elect a Speaker. Both the premier and cabinet or caucus members are further chosen from among the group by secret ballad, but consensus vote Their portfolios are chosen by the Premier.

Nunavut now has a Madam Premier, just elected their first woman premier, Eva Aariak and you might want to follow the story on the CBC link below.

http://www.cbc.ca/nunavutvotes2008/story/2008/11/14/nunavut-forum.html

NOT a total technological luddite, aka the expression of several young sales clerks, as I toted around two cordless phones this week, needing to get them functioning again. I DID finally figure out how to register the headset to the base on new "used" cordless  Motorola phone after a search on line to the company site and got batteries for the V-tech one at Radio Shack ( now the Source in Canada ). previous stops had included Staples, London drugs, a Telus repair store, and related to the ibook, the Mac store ( where I spent $250 on new battery and connector cord ).

my facebook status was "missing her dogs, pondering north vs. here for Xmas & wondering why certain phone & computer parts are obsolete, not fixable or replaceable!" ..so that pretty much sums up why no blogging last few days...oh yeah...last night went to take some photos and had left memory card at home.

it will be here to stay! this is what greeted me on the back porch and yard. a quick check to see if all the down spouts from the roof were attached as I think will probably melt in the next day or so. Heavy, wet and fluffy all the trees were coated, but snow shovel and broom needed for the porches. Dogs not quite certain about finding a dry spot, but enjoyed a ravine run.

With Amelia here, I could take one dog, Dysis and the bike to the ravine. Immensely beautiful and peaceful, many others were out both walking and building snow structures. Amelia later came with Nanuq and took a walk before her departure back to Vancouver this afternoon. She decided that perhaps that training run could wait for Vancouver weather. i.e. no slushy snow! So here is her Vancouver blog http://www.dreamingovertheocean.blogspot.com/ I rode the bike back and stopped at one of my favorite slookout spots.        

  November seems to be marching quickly as I reflect on this all the first few flakes of snow are coming down this evening!

My daughter Amelia has been visiting for just a few days from Vancouver, much to my delight but a quick only few days stay. Arrived Sunday night with laundry and all!

 She, Makayla, Katherine, Patrick and Christopher had spent the day driving down to the Canmore area to do some caving in the Rat's nest caves about 5 hrs. underground with a guide but also grubby wet clothes afterwards....I am not sure if this appeals to me but it was a new experience for the younger girls.

Dinner, gift opening including musical cards, a photo album, T shirts, gift cards and scented bath and candles.  Amelia and Katherine engaged in a string game of cat's cradle and these are some photos of my two lovely girls!

  Frequently multi tasking or wandering into to room with no idea of my purpose or staring blankly in the fridge wondering what snack or drink I was seeking, I have learned to pay attention to details and do those quick memory tricks are often needed once one reaches middle age, i.e. hanging the keys in the same place, mental check list before departure...are the doors locked? do I have my cell? sunglasses on dash? 

However add a new item to the regular routine and with out conscious effort to remember it, trouble can arise. Such was was the situation about 3 months ago when I LOST my new dental appliance/mouth guard, all $2500 of it! What even made it worse is that I had just had a conversation with the dentist, about how with one of our daughters as a teen, shifting through garbage bags of a local restaurant with lettuce etc, to retrieve her mouth guard. Well, after much searching for mine last month, I had to conclude suffered the same fate...probably got wrapped in the serviette after the coffee and blueberry fritter at Tims before the dog walk!

Well now there is a replacement, several hundred dollars and some insurance later I have a new grin and you better believe this one is on the memory check list!

Dogs now in the inescapable yard due to the new fence obviously have been up to other mischief as this is the note I found attached to the mail the other morning! I actually had been aware as finding some tattered remnants in the yard and amazed how Nanuq would know to destroy only  the newsletter from the Humane society.

The snow has not hit yet and trees are that barren November look...but at least in the ravine easier to keep track of both dogs
shown here sniffing out a squirrel or pigeon and resting on the back porch after baths.          

That is not to say last night, that as with the rest of this country, I was not following the results of the American elections....did so over the CBC live feeds and alot of status updates being exchanged in facebook with friends who were also watching.....9:07 PM when Obama was declared. Impressed with John McCain's speech conceding the election and very historic moment with the the election of  Barak Obama and hopefully a change of direction from the last 8 years.

But my focus this morning is on the " to do " list and some of my writing and insights around it....probably a little more personal sharing than I normally do, but if this is useful to any of the others of you in your own process, well there it is!

November 4, 2008
Same principles as yesterday worked well, in that I was able to get things done but also maintain my own centerness and energy level.

November is a month of remembrances for me as it marks both the deaths  and births of significant others in my family, & also have two friends that are seriously ill so how do I respond positively in all this!

• Do the higher priority items first so that I will not feel rushed later when there is less time
• Be aware of energy levels & physical needs e.g. sleep, so nap, massage, do not overbook time.
• Be aware of need to be quiet, calm the thoughts, emotions and mind
• In the calmness respond to, do not create extra.

So some of the items I will do today are:

• Be patient with dogs but walk them in ravine
• MP weekend: Call, confirm #s, workshop choices & notifying club & leaders
• Call HT…info re: memorial bouquets…make decision
• Do some sorting of desk and kitchen table
• What bills can be paid?
• Balance cheque books
• Buy stamps
• Some yard clean up
• Houseplant in blue pot
• Other things re: friends, family
   
November 5, 2008
Same principles as yesterday BUT the 45 minutes on the yard turned into 4 hours of yard clean up including fire pit, compost and garage sort.

The positives in this are that snow is predicted for today; it is not likely a task the would be done until spring, space available, skis and shovels located

BUT negatives were time....time involved not doing other tasks.…did I really need to spray wash the garage floor only to track it up again! and so on to the list again with my first clients arriving at 1 PM.