Renaissance Woman

Every once in a while we get little reminders of just how good our lives are, how lucky we are, and how fragile our little human lives actually are.  Today, a cement truck was hit by a train just north of the town I live in.  The news says that it happened around 9:45 this morning.  I was driving north of our town at about 9:47 this morning and noticed the train (northbound) stopped and several vehicles parked at the side of the road.  I didn't notice the truck smashed against the front of the train.  But on my way home at about 1:15, I sure noticed it: I was quite certain that no one could have survived this crash - the main part of the truck was a good 500-600m north of the crossing it got hit at (the hood of the truck was still at the crossing).  The really good news is that the driver was okay.  Don't know if he still has a job ... but he's alive. How quickly things can change when you cross the tracks at a rural crossing and don't lo...

I love dragonflies.  Most of you have seen my dragonfly art - it's a reflection of the reverence I have for these amazing creatures: Made this in a jewellery-making course I took at ACAD (in Calgary) 8 years ago.  Just last week I dropped it on the new ceramic kitchen floor and it broke - now to try and fix it without the tools of the classroom. The dragonfly pendants that I make and sell on Etsy . Because dragonflies are so magical to me (and a lot of other, I know), I looked up their symbolic meaning on a great site .  Here's what they had to say about the symbolism of the dragonfly: Maturity and a Depth of character The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life. The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amaz...

I was at the local grocery store yesterday with a limited amount of cash in hand and a need to buy three items.  One of those was toilet paper. On the "end of the aisle" shelf, the store brand t.p. was on sale for $4.97 ($2 off regular price).  24 rolls, 140 sheets per roll.  But not recycled, not at all environmentally friendly.  In the regular aisle, the recycled (100% post-consumer fibre type) was $9.99.  Twice as much for recycled paper.  I just had enough money if I got the smaller block of cheddar.  But I just couldn't justify (yesterday - some days I can) buying the non-recyled paper.  So I sucked it up and picked up the recycled stuff. And then, as I walked past the "regular", on sale t.p., I took a closer look.  And there it was.  The stuff on sale had 140 sheets per roll.  The recycled had 280!  They were the same price (and the sheets are the same size).  Okay, the regular t.p. is probably fluffier an...

Alan Bruce Powley The leadership for the battalion was established early on.   Major Alan Bruce Powley was asked to be the commanding officer of the battalion on December 7, 1915. [1]   He was confirmed in this position by General Sam Hughes on or about the 15 th of December. [2]   Unfortunately, I don't have permission yet to use the photographs, so you'll have to live without them - even though they are the best part of the whole thing. Figure 3:   Lieutenant Colonel Alan Bruce Powley (B.C. Archives 198011-011, Box 27, File 8)  Powley was born on September 25, 1876 in Drayton, Ontario to Canadian-born father, John Brooks Powley, and Irish-born mother Eliza Jane Bruce. [3]   He married Eva Constance Cameron on September 5, 1900, in Brandon, Manitoba.   According to the 1901 census, he was a jeweller in Brandon earning $900 per year, and he was a Methodist.   Sometime between the census of 1901 and May 2, 1904 (when the paper announce...

In my post " The final leg of the journey " I mentioned that the day was magic and tragic.  Did anyone else notice that I didn't mention anything about the tragic part? Well, here's the tragedy - and it truly is.  We all have people in our lives who suffer more than others.  And we have people who think they suffer more than others.  Well, my friend, Karen, is one who has suffered too much. When she was three, Karen was diagnosed with leukemia.  Treatments included radiation, and aside from possibly stunting her growth somewhat, Karen made it through.  Successful treatment.  No more thought of it. Then, 8 years ago (in her early 30s), while driving between Lake Louise and Banff (I believe), Karen started to see double.  She'd been having pretty nasty headaches for a few months before then, but hadn't thought too much about it.  Well, her life turned upside down quite quickly.  After a trip to the optometrist, she was sent to a spec...

So, yes, Daniel and I did spend a couple of hours at Paddlewheel Park (on Okanagan Lake).  It was lovely and warm and we had a lot of fun.  He and I played, and then when I gave up he found some kids to play with: That's Daniel on the right After the beach, we drove to Kelowna and went to the Volcanic Hills winery to pick up wine for my husband and his friend.  Apparently it's very good wine if you get a chance to try any of their stuff.  The very young man who is the front end face of the place is incredibly knowledgable for his age.  And very passionate about wine.  It's great to see someone doind what they are supposed to be doing. Anyhow, after the winery, there was a stop at Booster Juice for the little man, and then off to the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm .  Daniel and I took a tour of the garden - which was great except that it was 34C and neither of us is used to that heat these days. It felt like we were in Provence! While there, Daniel...

I'm skipping ahead here - going to tell you about Saturday ... the last day of my road trip, instead of going into all the detail of the other days.  It was a bitter sweet day. I woke up relatively early, got packed, grabbed a bite to eat and said goodbye to my boy.  He was still sleeping, and apparently continued on for another 3 hours after I left.  But when I woke him up he said "see ya, Mommy.  I love you.  I'll miss you".  And the night before, when he and I went swimming, just the two of us, at the pool, he told me how much he had enjoyed our few days together - "just the two of us".  Now, tell me, what else could a mother ask for?  I love that kid.  Anyhow, the last day was magical in some ways and tragic in others.  As I drove, I saw an amazing array of wildlife.  A wild turkey, numerous gophers and hawks.  And then, when I stopped for gas in Radium, B.C., here was my view: Look at the scar on the back of the one...