It is not usual I hit my writing this early in the morning, but it is quiet and sitting in the living room is peaceful, if at least externally, because a little scattered emotionally. Actually surprised that I am doing a little more journaling this month…I shouldn’t be surprised, that is as November, is often a month of remembrances and sometime melancholy for me. It is a time of transition between seasons but what else?

 Winter has arrived with a vengeance with snow and plunging temperatures, but with the new fluffy stuff of recent days, up again to just below freezing and those clear Alberta sunny skies, spirits are lifted! Either I am out shoveling snow on walks or decks, appreciating the neighbour who has done the front city walks. The dogs seems to love being outside and get excited when I drive, knowing we are going to the “ park, bark, bark!” followed by much whining. I do swear with the right conditions I am going to get out the cross-country skis and try it on some very flat groomed trails. Warm weather may even put on some outside Christmas lights on the porch.

But it is definitely a time of transition, with Halloween and Thanksgiving over and Christmas not yet begun….although Grey Cup fever has hit Edmonton and Advent begins on Sunday with an evening Carol Service.

Definitely a creature of needing the balance of solitary and social, find that the journaling help me get perspective. So what is bugging me right now…little things that irritate and I get too wound up about them…what to hold and what to let go? My granddaughter in her yearbook had some thing to say to the effect of basically… shit happens, but we cannot change it, so need to let it go.  Not the exact wording. Oh that lovely A-A Serenity Prayer.

At the moment I have time but no money. Work and job prospects are slow, but this is not unusual when one does contract work. Want to use the time profitably to organize thin things around my house, office and kitchen.

A week from now I am sure the whole perspective will change!

Ok so here is my vent before I hit my day:

• In minus 30 oC weather, succeeded in having my car locked in the garage and automatic door opener with no way in.. Thankful for skillful and helpful neighbours... Terry from across the lane in minus 20oC cut a 1 x 2 ' hole in the partition between tool shed and garage, crawled through & re-connected power cord for garage opener.  This was also after going to McBain’s Camera to confirm the battery in the opener was still working.

• The heater for over a week on the car blew nothing but cold air, in the midst of the deep freeze. No appoint at A-1 tire and battery for at least 5 days. Was wearing my sorrels and long parka every time I drove. So where was my snow pants and long johns? Oh yeah…they were victims of the ski accident in Pangnirtung last April. Mid week in much warmer weather and a car heater that works...$227 later.

• My business phone locked me out because I entered the pass code wrong three times. Remedy… call 611 and Telus? No… 45 minutes later and half a dozen waits on hold and different numbers, finally got someone in voice mail dept to restore a default pass code.

• Swimsuit and cap lost! Yesterday left my blue and black Speedo swimsuit in white Australian cap in either shower room or mirror room? I went back to Kinsmen last night but no luck.  When I arrived home too late to go with boarder to Ikea to get extra shelving he needed.

• Feeling stymied in a client report I am writing and top of my office desk is a mess.

• Still trying to get flights booked for some trips I am taking…am thankful for AMA travel agents.

Some idea on how life has been since return from the coast… It has been a tumble since I have got back, going fairly steady, some things I have managed well and others I wonder.

·       Dogs are safely ensconced as thankful neighbour installed fence slats after I painted them. Rescued from doggie jail and day care,

Some of the good things are:

·       I finally finished getting my portfolio completed and delivered to my professional association; applied for two new jobs on line, this took a whole day in the office; worked a full day and weekend on-call for obstetrics; a setting I love despite more complex situations; had an extremely complex counseling situation in office last week: layer upon layer of trauma;

·       swam and did yoga last week and feeling stronger on left leg;

·       pulled carrots, beets and Swiss chard from beds even in the dark as will be snowing by the end of the week;

·       family situations: lunch with daughter and grand daughter wanting to come over due to fights at her house;

·       dogs run at least 3 x in west end park;

·       Remembrance Day service at Butterdome at least 5000 people, attended lecture by  Hon.Flora MacDonald on projects in Afghanistan

·       out for music Saturday night and met some new friends…

·       Enjoying our Masters swims, but swear swim coaches and physios are constantly inventing new drills. My latest is having to kick with out fins, which is good for the leg muscles but slow.

·       Tackling old files in the basement & best part will be hum of the shredder.

·       Had a delightful dinner Saturday night in Leduc with two friends on their way to work in the Arctic, followed by writer’s group.

As I said… A week from now I am sure the whole perspective will change!

From my cousin Bill Passmore reminded us of Arlo Guthrie's words,

" Now it all started two Thanksgivings ago, was on - two years ago on Thanksgiving, when my friend and I went up to visit Alice at the

restaurant, but Alice doesn't live in the restaurant, she lives in the church nearby the restaurant, in the bell-tower, with her husband Ray and

Fasha the dog....."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The sudden plunge to minus 20oC weather and snow flurries in the recent week in Alberta has pushed many of us to finding cold weather gear, boots, mitts, long johns; outdoor snow shovels, garage door openers and extension cords for plug-ins. Of course, as well, slippery roads, black ice and people forgetting how to drive, Love that learning curve every season!

Alternatively, one can spend more time inside with books or FOOD!

Done abit of experimenting this past week that ended in a lovely shared meal with grand daughter and grad student boarder. Apple and cherry pie always a favorite with Makayla and Jeffrey fills the kitchen with spicy smells of his late night food prep made tasty garlic toast. Add salad and chicken and good conversation….well!

The following is one of my recent experiments with a pumpkin squash from the market just after Halloween.

The basic recipe came from http://www.ireallylikefood.com/735398420/recipe--amazing-yellow-squash-casserole.

Additional comments are my own.

Squash Casserole

Ingredients:

Several crookneck yellow squashes ( or cut up squash )

Grated or minced onion (to taste )

Minced garlic (to taste)

Salt and pepper (to taste, above mixed and placed in placed in the crook of squash)

1 egg

3 tbsp (or more) breadcrumbs, plus extra for topping

Handful of grated cheddar and/or mozzarella cheese (I use more - much more!)

4 tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Slice crookneck yellow squash and steam in saucepan ( in oven for 20-30 minutes until soft, otherwise bits of uncooked squash turn up later ) with onion, garlic, salt and pepper. ) Use a smalll knife to remove from skins) Mash with fork (or potato masher in separate bowl ) Transfer to 8 x 8 casserole.   Mixture should be about 1 inch deep. ( Let dog help on clean up of bowls ) Mix together egg, 3 tbsp or more breadcrumbs ( rolled in plastic bag after crisping in oven is convenient ) and cheese.  Weave into squash mash and top with remaining breadcrumbs.  Dot with butter.  Cook 20-30 minutes.  Serves 4-6 with left overs.

With regret I am heading home today, this mini-holiday has been much too short.

The thing is I really love my house, dogs and yard and base in Edmonton as well.

So what has it been about the holiday…just great to get into a new climate, exploring  a marine museum. stopping for a snack and local dark beer, good to see family and friends, Amelia, Aunt Jane, Kathleen, new friend Laurel, just to be able to drive and stop for coffee, autumn colors,  laugh at new discoveries like the pumpkins in the midst old Douglas fir trees in the Cathedral Grove or cats near parked car or a pizza much larger than described, ocean and waves wish I had more time just to sit, something calming about that, my photography…took far too many pictures.

Social and solitary….there is something about both and the need for balance. What I love about good friends is that one can laugh and say anything and still be accepted. It is that atmosphere of unconditional love, maybe not be the right word, but with that base from which one draws strength, a foundation to venture out again. With the secure base, one can venture out to the “ messy” world!

For those of you who have not done this one before try the quiz below. Initially done at work in some team building sessions and not surprisingly I am a BLUE

http://www.truecolorscareer.com/quiz.asp

BLUE

These are intuitive feeling people and above all, they must be authentic.

Words and phrases that best characterize them are:

SEARCH FOR SELF*PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE*STRIVE TO BE IN HARMONY WITH INNER SELF*MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD*DEVOTED TO RELATIONSHIPS*SPIRITUAL*ROMANTICIZE THEIR EXPERIENCES*INTERESTED IN PEOPLE WATCHING*SEES POSSIBILITIES IN PEOPLE*CULTIVATES POTENTIAL IN OTHERS*SENSITIVE*EMOTIONAL*AFFECTIONATE*ETERNAL COMMITMENT TO LOVE

As much as I love the prairies where I live, the arctic where I occasionally work, there is something about the Pacific coast and Vancouver Island that can get into your soul. Ocean, wind, milder climates, and brisk autumn   bike rides in November.  On a very brief 5 day trip, spent my first day with ran aunt and uncle, who have retired to Sidney by the Sea, BC. The name says it all. A smaller, quaint community perfectly wonderful for just exploring. Never could afford to buy or rent here but on a borrowed bike …found many interesting cul-de-sacs, marked NO EXIT but perfect for viewing passing boats.  sea side views with curious gulls and cormorants, a fish market at the end of the main pier where salmon purchased for later dinner, new iron sculptures of an early explorer looking out to sea or dog walkers of which there are tons. Rain has threatened but not hit and cooler and more humid than Alberta definitely found the need to layer but still abit chilled.

Just some more experimentation with contrasts.....I like the black and white of the hoare frost on both the weeds and picnic table, as well as the 6 PM sunset from my back porch. The photos speak for themselves.

One of my favorite books is by Canadian photographer, Freeman Patterson, " Photography and the Art of Seeing". With my camera I try different angles but this batch totally different. Reminded me of when with our manual cameras would double expose a negative. Taken from the 32 floor of downtown office tower, was impressed with sunset but dealt with the reflection of the windows. See if you can view both scenes, including the office buffet.  

Front yard fire pit, Micheal, Jeffrey, Nanuq, Dysis, canine pumpkin,

30-40 tricksters and one cat on a leash made for a good evening.