Sacred Red

2012-02-02T00:11:00.000-08:00

The Dragon Year – 23 Jan 2012 to 09 Feb 2013

2012-01-23T00:39:00.000-08:00

Begining February 4th 2012 we will enter the year of the Black Water Dragon.

2012-01-04T14:50:00.001-08:00

2012-01-03T13:10:00.001-08:00

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T00:27:00.001-08:00

This is beautiful

2011-12-23T02:10:00.000-08:00

2011-12-23T02:05:00.000-08:00

This adorable card is from The Graphics Fairy's blog. It is circa 1922.

Things I love

2011-12-19T22:08:00.000-08:00

*the smell of freshly ground coffee in the morning *baking cookies with my kids *when it first snows and everything looks peaceful and perfect *big family dinners *late nights walking around quiet suburban streets *the deep forest *homeschooling *telephone calls with my grandmother *creating art at the kitchen table *finishing a great book *sleeping cats under the Christmas tree *fresh cut grass *playing board games with my family and laughing uncontrollably *the smell in the air right before it rains *the quiet of the house when everyone is sleeping *leaving for a road trip *my vegan chocolate cake *crackling fires *out door concerts *watching Free to Be You and Me with my kids *hot summer nights *having a beer with my dad on his porch *Christmas carols *picking anything from my garden and eating it right away *home made jam *kick boxing *the ocean *dancing all night long *thunder storms *when the kitchen counter is clear *loud rock anthems *sleeping in *camping *cool pillow tops *baby animals (human included) *peace rally's *roses

This post was inspired by Schmutzie's 400 Words About Things I Love. What do you love right now?

Be mindful of your words

2011-12-16T00:57:00.000-08:00

“Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech . . . I vow to cultivate loving speech. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering . . . I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain, and not to criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or community to break.”

Zen Teacher Thich Nhat Hahn

2011-12-13T20:39:00.001-08:00

Adele - Someone Like You

2011-12-02T00:29:00.000-08:00

I just love this song. Sometimes there is nothing like a sad song.

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,

Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"

The power of Intention

2011-11-28T14:15:00.000-08:00

Today I was reading with great interest the Intent Blog, created by Mallika Chopra, daughter of Deepak Chopra; author and spiritual leader. In her blog post The Branding of Intent she writes how her father taught her to meditate at age nine, and offered this mantra to her, I re-post it here with the purest of intention.

I am responsible for what I see.

I choose the feelings I experience,

And set the goals I will achieve.

Everything that seems to happen to me,

I ask for and receive as I have asked.

Intention took on a whole new meaning for me ten years ago when I attended a New Year's Eve party like nothing I had ever been to before. A four day retreat in the lush rain forest of British Columbia. It was called INTENTION and was the second in a subsequent dozen events hosted by an intentional dance community on the west coast of Canada called Tribal Harmonix.

To say this event changed my life is an understatement. It was at Intention that I met my husband Mark. Held on the sunshine coast, on Mount Elfinstone, I learned the sound of OM, and felt the awesome power of people joining together to create a community of love, spiritualism, art and incredible music.

Today I know the power of intention is more then I could have ever imagined. I offer this post in my gratitude for all the blessings in my life, for the privileges I live everyday and for the love I have experienced and want to share more of.

Blessings

Changing Paradigms

2011-11-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

My hands were busy

2011-11-27T01:15:00.000-08:00

I first read this poem when I was still a child. I saw it as a newspaper clipping pasted on my aunt Joyce's fridge.

I remember reading it again shortly after I became a mother, more then 13 years ago. I think it is really beautiful and I try and remember the message of this poem as the days pass so fast.

The author is Anonymous, and the title is either "To my grown up son", or "My hands were busy".

Try and hold on to those moments.

My hands were busy throughout the day

I didn't have much time to play

The little games you asked me to.

I didn't have much time for you.

I'd wash your clothes, I'd sew and cook,

But when you'd bring your picture book

And ask me please to share your fun,

I'd say: "A little later, son."

I'd tuck you in all safe at night

And hear your prayers, turn out the light,

Then tiptoe softly to the door...

I wished I'd stayed a minute more.

For time is short, the years rush past...

A little boy grows up so fast.

No longer is he at your side,

His precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away,

There are no longer games to play,

No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear...

That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, now are still.

The days are long and hard to fill.

I wish I could go back and do

The little things you asked me to.

Author Unknown

Douglas Coupland _ I think you are great!

2011-11-22T00:10:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to be back online after a brief illness and longer mishap that had our household without a computer for a week. In total I believe it was closer to nine days without computer access in total accounting for the three days I spent camping with Ava's Sparks troupe.

So in those days I didn't have a nervous breakdown, or an epiphany either. I did read more books, and finished "The Gum Thief" by Douglas Coupland. I promptly returned it to the library and took out "all families are psychotic". I have been on a huge DC binge since the summer and have to admit I have a major artistic crush on the man! I have read maybe half of his books, he has written 35 I think. I really liked "Player one" which I read before the gum thief. This summer I also read Elinore Rigby,Shampoo Planet, Life after God, Generation A, Portraits of Canada 1 & 2, and City of glass. Douglas Coupland also wrote another, pretty well known book called Generation X, which I can't say enough about, and really believe it changed my life.

His books all have an underlying theme that is somewhat dark and a bit depressing, but at the same time liberating. His characters are easy to relate to and he says things I also think about but maybe am afraid to admit.

Douglas Coupland is an amazing visual artist as well as a celebrated (and local) writer.

Recently when I was downtown Vancouver I went to see his new art installation; Terry Fox Memorial. It is nothing less then brilliant.

2011-11-06T00:04:00.000-07:00

When there's a burning in your heart. . .

2011-11-05T22:58:00.000-07:00

“There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.

There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.
You feel it, don't you?”
― Rumi

Colours, and Flavours of fall

2011-10-16T22:02:00.001-07:00

Near our house on Thanksgiving day

When I was growing up it was always a tradition to bring brightly coloured leaves inside to decorate the table at Thanksgiving.

Seven squashes with dinner.

Technically I guess it can't be called stuffing as I don't stuff anything, so it would be "dressing" but that just seems like an American term to me.

Herbs from the our garden, three types of Sage, Parsley, Time, and Rosemary

We grew the zucchini all the other squashes are from the farmers market.

Edible Vancouver's Sunny Summer Salsa, made with my neighbour Cynda - she loves to can!

Peaches, nectarines, peppers, onions, apples cider vinegar and sugar!

Thumb Print Cookies - We love to make these for Christmas, but the two delicious jams from the fall fair - Blackberry and Raspberry were too good not to enjoy in some cookies as well!

I ended up canning a dozen of these mason jars with the peaches we brought back from the Okanogan this September.

I had to make a couple of pies with some too!

I like how the bottom one looks with the hearts and stars, a delicious recipe that calls for strawberries in the middle of the peach pie. The perfect combination of sweet and tangy.

Oh summer you fade too fast! I will make this pie again this winter with the peaches I canned to remember you by :)

What is taught in school

2011-10-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

John Taylor Gatto

2011-10-13T11:55:00.001-07:00

I have read countless books on parenting, homeschooling and education in my 14 years of motherhood.

Many brilliant educators have inspired me on our home schooling journey. Along with hundreds of real life families we have met along the way. One author stands out among the many voices in the midst. John Taylor Gatto. A former New York City high school teacher of 30 years, and proponent of "school reform." I understand the school system is somewhat different in the United States then here in Canada, but many things are also the same.

Gatto has written such inspired books as Dumbing us Down, The underground History of American Education and Weapons of Mass Instruction, to name but a few.

His honest accounts of life as a school teacher, and the broken system he tried to work within are at once inspiring and alarming.

In his essay The Six Lesson School Teacher he speaks in great detail about what really happens in school.

"School" is an essential support system for a vision of social engineering that condemns most people to be subordinate stones in a pyramid that narrows to a control point as it ascends.

"School" is an artifice which makes such a pyramidal social order seem inevitable (although such a premise is a fundamental betrayal of the American Revolution).

In colonial days and through the period of the early Republic we had no schools to speak of. And yet the promise of democracy was beginning to be realized. We turned our backs on this promise by bringing to life the ancient dream of Egypt: compulsory training in subordination for everybody. Compulsory schooling was the secret Plato reluctantly transmitted in the Republic when he laid down the plans for total state control of human life.

This essay entitled Why Schools Don't Educate also calls on every person who is involved in education; be it a teacher, parent or student, to realise just what is happening to our society and how school plays a pivotal role in it.

I am for education, but not schooling. We need to find what works best for each student, and honour their paths to encourage free thinking, self determination and true meaning in their lives. Imagine if that was taught in schools - what would our world look like today?

What is a "real" homeschooler anyway?

2011-10-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

I think it is common among homeschooling parents to sometimes question and even doubt ourselves. Are we doing the right thing? Are the kids learning? Can we do this? Are we even real homeschoolers if we deal with teachers and report cards?

This is our eighth year "homeschooling". My son is now in grade eight, and although he chooses to take many classes at a number of institutions right now, including a high school, a home learning resource centre, and the local college, he is still a homeschooler.

In the home schooling community there are many labels and idea's about what it means to truly "homeschool". In British Columbia the ministry of education has gotten wise to us and offered many "carrots" to entice us to enrol our children in "alternative programs." My family fully takes advantage of everything offered.

For the first five years of homeschooling (some people will not acknowledge that what we do is actually homeschooling because "big brother' is involved, but regardless of that) we enrolled in an alternative program called Self Design at a private school in Vancouver - Wondertree. This program honours the child as a whole and encourages self direction. It offers support, online connections with educators, parents and students, and even in class time if one so chooses. This, along with many other programs, also offer a learning investment of $1000 to be used as towards materials for learning.

When my son was approaching grade six three years ago he decided he wanted to "go to school" I had to respect his wishes. We settled on a different program. New Westminster Home Learners. This program offered him the classroom environment, two days a week (more then enough time for the all mighty "socialisation" he needed/wanted) as well as the freedom to continue his learning in his own way. He faced assignments and the dreaded "report cards" in this program. We are asked to provide a portfolio of his work three times a year, and meet with the teachers (who are all homeschooling parents as well!) and have had to make some compromises, (mostly mine in the struggle to give him what he wants and needs) but overall I know this has been beneficial for all of us.

This works for our family - is the most common answer I have to why we homeschool in the first place.

As my daughter enters grade one I know she will also find her own learning style and flourish in this environment. As my son has. She is attending classes twice a week now, and this is her choice, if she wanted out she would be out, no questions asked. If she doesn't want to do the work - she doesn't do it, but for now she loves "school" it is fun for her. She is in a supportive environment, and I am right there with her. She will also get the dreaded report cards, not that either of the kids get "bad" marks but marks at all is a compromise. But really not a big deal. I could care less what the ministry thinks and how the kids are rated. Case in point - last summer when the report cards arrived in the mail, neither kids cared or asked to see them!

So what is the point of all this? Just that it is possible to work within the system. To fully take advantage of programs, classes and resources and still allow the kids to lead their own paths.

We don't need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to education, we just need to do the steering.

Some will argue, quite whole heartedly that we are the problem. We are degrading the purist intention of homeschooling, but that is a bunch of garbage. I don't care what the nay Sayers think. I will continue to use all the resources available to get my kids the education that works best for them, for each of them. No matter what they will have choices, right now, today at age 13 and 6. I honour their paths and although I have made some concessions, my kids education and happiness are what matter most.

2011-10-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Robots

2011-09-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

This video is so cheesy it is awesome!

This Moment

2011-08-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Love is the answer

2011-08-05T14:40:00.000-07:00

and you know that for sure. Love is a flower, you got to let it, you got to let it grow."

I love this video real love.

After listening to John Lennon all morning it leaves me with a really quiet feeling.
"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliché that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal."

"My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel.
Not to tell people how to feel.
Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all."

Food Security - starving people and what we can do about it.

2011-08-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

Can a photograph still change the world?
This article that appeared on Salon.com yesterday got me thinking, can it?

I know when I was growing up the media was saturated with images very similar to the one talked about in this article. It is about a story that ran yesterday on the cover of The New York Times, an image of a starving child, and the reaction from the public to the image.

It is shocking. It is sickening. It is news, and yet we still continue to ignore it here in the West.

Many of the comments on Salon are disturbing. From the questioning of why the people of Somalia are facing such an extreme situation, why the U.S.A. has a military prison there, why the CIA is there, why sanctions have been in place to exemplify the situation and what we in the West can actually do to help these poor starving people half a world away.

Being a mother my heart breaks for the mothers all over the world who are forced to watch their children die because they have no food, no water and no choices.

Putting my six year old daughter to bed last night I watched her sleep and thought about these kids far away. Why were they born into this fate? Why was my daughter born here? How much would I sacrifice to give her everything she needs? What would I do if I were faced with the hardship so many mothers around the world face each and every day? What can I do to help them?

I am a strong believer in food security issues. I am a director with our local community gardening society, I have cooked professionally in restaurants, casinos, golf and tennis clubs, soup kitchens, and even volunteered with my own children shopping for seniors.

Food has been a passion of mine as long as I can remember. Maybe because I grew up poor. Not poor like the people in Africa, but poor by North American standards. I knew hunger. I knew when it was my single mother's pay day, because we went grocery shopping. We ate crappy cheap food, we ate a lot of canned food, frozen food, convenience food, but not "fast food" because even that was out of reach of our families budget.

I spent summers at my aunt and uncles house in the country. I learned to cook, to bake and can food and make jam. I learned about zucchini, visited farms and picked strawberries. I am grateful to my aunt for taking the time to teach me these things. For taking the time to care for me and my brother and sister for the summers. It was there that I realised my passion for food and for cooking, and for compassion. My aunt is the most compassionate person I know. She is so giving and steadfast and taught me many valuable lessons about security, food security, family security, and life. I know that I am the person I am today in part because of my summers spent in Caledon East, with my extended family.

I know for many people food is just a small part of their day. Eat, move on. Since I became a vegetarian 14 years ago food has taken on an even more significant meaning. I support EarthSave, an organisation that seeks to educate people about food choices, and moving towards a plant based diet. I strongly believe that if more people choose to eat this way it would change the world and could eliminate hunger.

The droughts we can not stop. The military interventions that see food aid as a strategic pawn in their unquenchable desire for power can not be stopped. If people chose to eat more compassionately, not imprisoning animals, using valuable land to grow food for people and not livestock, the world would be a better place for all of us.

So can an image change the way people think? The way they act? I don't know.

I do know that the image I saw is a sad reminder that life is not fair and suffering continues around the world and in our own backyards everyday. We can choose to ignore it. We can skip dinning out a few times a month and send money to the World Food Program Unicef, or any of the many other Non Government Organisations (NGO's) that bring food aid to people around the world. But most importantly we can try and help people gain dignity and food security here in our own home towns, at food banks, after school programs, seniors centres, street youth drop ins, the list is endless as is the need.

If the image in the link does one thing I hope it is to highlight the humanity in each of us that is longing to be expressed. Give your money. Give your time and food to people who need it. Think about your food choices and what you can do TODAY to create a more secure food system in your town and around the world. We all can do more to help people and ourselves.

After all we are just floating around in space together here.

This Moment

2011-07-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

2011-07-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Summer time jam

2011-07-09T22:09:00.001-07:00

Strawberries are ripe now!
It's great to check the garden each morning for these little beauties.

My neighbour Cynda had and abundance of rhubarb in her garden so we bought more strawberries from the farmers market last week and cooked some jam.

We used the Bernardin recipe that comes with the pectin. It calls for a lot of sugar! I remember when I was young and my aunt made jam she would cut the sugar, but I am afraid the gelling won't work. This is the recipe 2 cups crushed strawberries, 2 cups finely chopped rhubarb 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 pkg pectin 51/2 cups sugar

Nothing says Summer Like Strawberry Rhubarb Jam!

2011-07-06T01:04:00.001-07:00

It seemed like it was never going to arrive, but summer is finally here!

I've seen a lot of birds and butterflies lately!

I like this image from *The Graphics Fairy's* blog

Down By The River

2011-07-06T00:49:00.000-07:00

I had this song in my head all day. There are many versions of this song on the Internet. This one is great, even with the credits rolling - the sound is incredible! Neil Young is awesome!

"You take my hand,
I'll take your hand
Together we may get away
This much madness
is too much sorrow
It's impossible
to make it today"

2011-06-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.

Dalai Lama

2011-06-22T00:17:00.000-07:00

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”

Jim Morrison

2011-06-21T23:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Solstice

2011-06-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

“It is wrong to think that love comes from long companionship and persevering courtship.

Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations”

♡ ☮

Kahil Gibran

Koyaanisqatsi

2011-06-20T22:43:00.000-07:00

Koyaanisqatsi (pronounced koy-ah-nis-kaht-see) life out of balance.

This is the first film in a trilogy by Godfrey Reggio. It was filmed in the late 1970's and early 80's. It is hard to imagine how shocking some of this would have seemed 30 years ago, and yet it is even more reflective of the times now.

From his website;

KOYAANISQATSI is not so much about something, nor does it have a specific meaning or value.

KOYAANISQATSI is, after all, an animated object, an object in moving time, the meaning of which is up to the viewer.

Art has no intrinsic meaning. This is its power, its mystery, and hence, its attraction. Art is free.

It stimulates the viewer to insert their own meaning, their own value.

So while I might have this or that intention in creating this film,
I realize fully that any meaning or value KOYAANISQATSI might have
comes exclusively from the beholder.

The film's role is to provoke,

to raise questions that only the audience can answer.

This is the highest value of any work of art,

not predetermined meaning,
but meaning gleaned from the experience of the encounter.

The encounter is my interest, not the meaning.
If meaning is the point, then propaganda and advertising is the form.

So in the sense of art, the meaning of KOYAANISQATSI is whatever you wish to make of it.

This is its power.

2011-06-14T00:27:00.000-07:00

Crystal Moon day 16
Year of the Red Overtone Moon

kin 172: Yellow Electric Human
I Activate in order to Influence
Bonding Wisdom
I seal the Process of Free Will
With the Electric tone of Service
I am guided by the power of Intelligence

13-Moon Date: Moon 12 Day 16
Gregorian Date: June 14, 2011
Galactic Overlay: Yellow Electric Human

another date

The name game

2011-05-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about all the labels we have saturated our children with in the past decade or so. Most people have come to agree that "labelling" a child with ADHD (attention defiant hyper-activity disorder) or with ODD (oppostitial defiant disorder) could be harmful, even such innocuous things like "challenging" "spirited" and "gifted" are all part of the same problem.

I never really thought too much about this issue in the past. When my son came along I read every book I could get my hands on about parenting, parenting boys, homeschooling, education, and child development. I spent years on forums for parents, reading about others experiences and learning about all these labels. My son didn't display any of the behaviours that would be considered warning sings and so I really didn't think too much of it. I was concerned for all the children who were branded with these labels, but it was really not to interesting beyond a general sense. That was until my daughter came along.

After the birth of my second child, a beautiful healthy baby girl, and her subsequent childhood progressed did I come to realise just how harmful these labels could be, both for her and for me.

When you are the parent of a "difficult" child the world is not the most friendly place. When your child does not "go along" follow the leader or do what everyone else is doing you have to question why? Why does she act like that? Why does she cry / hit/ melt down/ when my son never did? Why can't she just get along and do what she is told?

We have chosen an alternative school for our kids, my daughter is kindergarten age and attends one day a week. One day a week of forced conformity, then the rest of the time - free wheeling freedom. At home I don't make her sit and do workbooks, practice her writing or use flash cards, for the longest time she would get upset if I tried to "teach" her anything, so we learned to play in a way that would allow her natural love of learning to develop. Well what if she doesn't learn the alphabet? Really could this happen? Could she grow up being read to, playing games, navigating the computer, and never learn the alphabet? I doubt it.

What about all the times she needs to behave; in the classroom, at the grocery store, at her Sparks meetings? Well these have been the biggest tests. How do you let your child be themselves when that self imposes on others? How can we help her to be her authentic self and not harm anyone else. She isn't overly violent and has been much better about the hitting issue, but still gets frustrated easily. She doesn't want to always do what everyone else is doing, ( I wonder where she gets this from ;) It's okay with me that she doesn't go along. It's okay with me if she doesn't want to sit in the circle at story time, or make the art project, or play the game the other kids want to play. Is it okay with her? Yes. Is it okay with the teacher - well yes, you see the teacher at her school is also a homeschooling mom, she knows that all children are different and if she needs to do her own thing that is okay.

I try and remember that I am raising a girl in the world who thinks for herself. She has the courage to be different. She has strong opinions and does what she pleases. Finding out that you have a child who does what she wants is a blessing. It is humbling to be the parent of the problem child. The way I see it she doesn't have a problem, it is other people with the problem, those who expect that a six year old should behave only one way, and that way needs to be acceptable in all situations. Maybe some people think I am irresponsible, or even a bad parent. I don't really care what anyone else thinks and that makes it easier. I know I am honouring my daughter, she teaches me what it means to really be free, to not buckle under the pressure to just get along and actually does what she wants, regardless of who says what and who may not like it.

I recently read something that said ODD is a sign of great intelligence. It takes a lot more gumption to go your own way, to be different and follow your dreams. I do not want to change this. My daughter is a marvellous, sensitive, caring person. She is determined, inquisitive and a unique spirit. I see her. I love her, and I accept that the real issue is with my own expectations of how to be in the world.

As usual children are our greatest teachers and if we are open enough we can grow into the parents they need us to be.

alter in the world

2011-05-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

This piece of public art is on Granville street in Vancouver. It always makes me think of the book An alter in the world. Like many of the books I have read, I am not sure where I first heard of it. It was really good none the less. One theme in the book talked about seeing everyday things in the world as sacred.

I am a pathological picture taker as one of the buttons on my sidebar states. I see the world, I like to take pictures. Here are some pictures I took recently.

We have needed these way to much recently. Come on summer!

That's more like it, a sunny day at the beach last week.

Low tide.

The Herons are nesting in Stanley Park again this year.

Canada geese and goslings at lost lagoon.

Lost Lagoon

Chocolate chip banana bread.
I have only bought bananas twice this year. I really have tried to eat a lot more locally, and although I do buy from Washington state and even California (need those strawberries) I have all but stopped buying fruit from anywhere but the U.S. and Canada. Then I bought bananas, they got over ripe, so I had to turn them into chocolate chip banana bread.

Blue Bells

My hand

not my feet.

Yeah!

Redemption song

2011-05-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

It was 30 years ago today that Bob Marley died. His music was influenced by social issues and the plight of the people of his homeland, Jamaica.

His music lives on today and is recognised as a peaceful demonstration.
RIP Bob Marley, a true legend.

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? Ooh!
Some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil the Book.

Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.

Tao Te Ching- Thirty-Six

2011-05-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

That which shrinks
Must first expand.
That which fails
Must first be strong.
That which is cast down
Must first be raised.
Before receiving
There must be giving.

This is called perception of the nature of things.
Soft and weak overcome hard and strong.

Fish cannot leave deep waters,
And a country's weapons should not be displayed.

a day in the life

2011-05-07T01:52:00.000-07:00

Recently this is what my life looked like. . .

The Magnolia tree on my dad's front lawn is in full bloom.

Our Sparks troupe stopped to pick some flowers during our pitch in week park clean up.

Mark is working down town again, so we are spending more time in Vancouver.

The New Westminster Community Gardening Society table
at the Seniors IMBY (in my back yard) Fair last weekend.

A trip into the forest for some camping. . .

Sasamat Lake

Peaceful

colours in the forest

family

adventures

The view atop of Sugar Mountain.

You wanna be who you'd be If you're coming with me

2011-04-27T15:33:00.000-07:00

Rock music was awesome in the 90's! When I was 22 I absolutely loved Oasis. At the height of their fame, they claimed to be the "biggest band in the world" Where they? Hell yes! They were rock Gods, if only in their minds, but they had legions of fans, an I counted myself among them. I saw them twice live in concert. Once in Molson Park in Barrie Ontario, and then again in Vancouver, B.C. a few years later. Back in the day I bought all their CD's, I recorded their videos (on VHS), bought books about them, had posters in my bedroom, and generally lusted after them! I was really into The Beatles at the time as well, and as there were many comparisons between the two bands it was only natural that I would gravitate towards them. They were so full of youth, angst, passion and just great guitar rifts.

I worshipped Liam Gallagher, he fronted the band, although his amazingly talented brother Noel Gallagher wrote all the songs lyrics and music. Liam was the eye candy, and I can tell you he did his job well! There are many videos of Noel performing solo like this one, I love this song but can not embed it here.

Liam Gallagher was my favourite, a beautiful, brooding rock star who wouldn't love him? famous for extremes, Oasis trashed hotel rooms, took tonnes of illicit drugs, and sang about it. Liam and Noel were infamous for their in fighting. Sadly Oasis is no longer together, like so much of the 90's, some things are too good to last.

You gotta roll with it
You gotta take your time
You gotta say what you say
Don't let anybody get in your way
'Cause it's all too much for me to take

Don't ever stand aside
Don't ever be denied
You wanna be who you'd be
If you're coming with me

I think I've got a feeling I've lost inside
I think I'm gonna take me away and hide
I'm thinking of things that I just can't abide

2011-04-23T23:56:00.000-07:00

Draw a bunny - from a vintage 1900's art book! Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T23:51:00.000-07:00

From the cover of a 1922 ladies magazine, via the graphics fairy.

Balance

2011-04-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

Like many woman today, I struggle with finding a balance in my life. Being a mother and wife are my top priorities. I am also a daughter, granddaughter, and step daughter, a niece, aunt, and sister. My family is very important to me and a huge part of my identity. This is not who I am though.

So many people feel like the question "What do you do?" really means who are you? I am what I do to a certain degree. As a mother I take care of my family, this includes cooking, cleaning and caring for my house. I am a volunteer. I am a gardener and director in my local community gardening society, I am a leader of my daughters girl guides troupe, as well as a member of my local residents association. I am a writer, an amateur photographer. I am an activist. I am a member of a political party. I am a friend and neighbour, a member of my kids learning centres parent advisory council, and as a homeschooling parent I am a teacher.

I am a pet owner, animal lover and defender of animals. I am vegetarian. I am a supporter of farmers markets and local businesses. I am a dancer and lover of music, both live and recorded, I even own and use record player. I am a kick-boxer, martial artist; practising Tai chi and karate for a number of years.
I am a student of life, I am Canadian. I am interested in world issues, religions and politics. I am a lover of art, I am a poet and philosopher, a traveller who has found a home. I find meaning in all of these titles, but none of them define who I am.

I am a cook, not just for my family, but I am also a trained professional. I have cooked in many venues, kitchens in four star golf courses, tennis clubs, casinos, diners and restaurants of all styles, including soup kitchens. My love of food has been with me since childhood, when I had responsibilities to my family that included helping with meals.

I am a woman; who drinks too much coffee (and beer sometimes) stays up too late most nights, watcher of Oprah and late night television. Sometimes I yell at my kids, have over due library books, need to dust and clean out my fridge. I argue with my husband, but make up with him pretty fast. I own my actions. I take on too much sometimes (you think?)

I am passionate, I am interested in people, in media, in doing things to make the world a better place, starting in my own backyard.

So when someone asks me what I do, the answer is not straight forward or really easy. Who I am depends on what I am doing that day. Who I am depends on how I feel in that moment.
I am a person alive today, April 23 2011. I am blessed with so many treasures that I could not even start to quantify them.

The next time someone asks what do you do, remember you are more then your job. So much more. What you do is part of who you are, but how you make a living, where you spend your days and how you live and love are all a part of the equation.

If you are like me you can answer I am trying to find balance, and loving life!

Sometimes

2011-04-21T00:58:00.001-07:00

It's very late at night, after a long day I have spent too much time surfing the Internet.
I am humbled and amazed by the things I read. The lives people live and write about.

I read a poem called Sometimes by Mary Oliver.

This quote struck me as simple and true, it seemed fitting today.

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention
Be astonished
Tell about it

Heart of Gold ☮

2011-04-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

I want to live,
I want to give

I've been a miner
for a heart of gold.
It's these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching
for a heart of gold
And I'm getting old.

Neil Young was the recipient of the 2011 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award At the Juno Awards tonight. Neil Youngs career has spanned decades, he was instrumental in awareness campaigns like Farm Aid, Live 8, and tears are not enough. He is also a supporter of The Bridge School which works closely with children with special needs, particularly related to communicating.

From his acceptance speech he said;
"In the world today there's so many distractions
like perfume on a dirty body
look inside yourself
and inside the eyes of your friends
and you will find the secret of how to be a humanitarian."

ॐ

Excellence

2011-04-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

Excellence can be obtained if you care more than others think is wise,
risk more than others think is safe,
dream more than others think is practical,
expect more than others think is possible.”
-Unknown

Tao Te Ching- Eight

2011-04-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

EIGHT

The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in place men reject and so it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
in ruling, be just.
In business, be competent.
In action, watch the timing.

No fight:No blame.

2011-04-02T00:39:00.000-07:00

Banksy

Forbidden love

2011-03-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about this lately. I caught the last half hour of The Bridges of Madison County the other day on T.V. This is one of my all time favourite movies. The story is of a forbidden love between a housewife and dashing photographer.
I thought I would write a post about forbidden love stories. Some may call them "chick flicks' I kind of hate that term, but still I know that many of the movies I would list would be more appealing to the sensitive type and I know some men actually do like them too. What ever the label it doesn't matter. The point is purely a fun post about my favourite girlie movies.

In no particular order here are my top ten chick flicks

#10 The Notebook

#9 Steel Magnolias
#8 The Bridges of Madison County
#7 Moonstruck
#6 Little Women
#5 Fried Green Tomatoes
#4 Gone with the wind
#3 Titanic
#2 Romeo and Juliet
#1Terms of Endearment

Ten is really not enough so I have to add an honourable mention to these as well;
Thelma and Louise
Beaches
Ghost
Legends of the Fall (how could I have this list without at least one Brad Pitt movie?)

*spoiler alert*

Romeo and Juliet is probably the most famous story of forbidden love in our modern history. I have seen it preformed in plays and movies, my favourite is the 1996 Leo DiCaprio version, beautiful!

Many of these and the best love stories do contain the element of a forbidden love; like I mentioned The Bridges of Madison County is the story of a married woman who has a passionate love affair, but in the end she remains with her family.

The Notebook is the classic poor boy rich girl, along with Titanic which also happens to have a story about a ship that sinks in it as well.

Moonstruck stars Cher, a traditional middle aged Italian woman who is about to get married to someone who she doesn't love, but then meets his brother and the passion is so palpable you can feel it! I love Nick Cage as well so this is a double bonus movie.
In case you were wondering no, Cher does not sing in this movie.

Steel Magnolias boasts an all star cast of some of the most recognisable female stars of the 20th century. Julia Roberts heads the group. I am not a particular fan of Julia Roberts, but this movie gets me every time.

Little Women is a classic, there is a love story, but so much more. I am a sucker for period pieces and the remade version starring Winona Ryder doesn't disappoint.

A true silver screen classic is Gone with the Wind. I can't even count how many times I have seen this movie. Again an amazing period piece, and the love story of Brett Butler and Scarlet O'Hara is timeless!

Fried Green Tomatoes breaks the mould. Kathy Bates is perfect as a board housewife who befriends an older lady who tells her stories of the deep south and secrets that are hidden in the past.

Terms of Endearment Stars Shirley Maclaine, who is also in my pick Steel Magnolias. In Terms of Endearment there is a love story or two, one including the awesome Jack Nicholson, but it is also a love story between a mother and daughter. It is a real tear jerker.

2011-03-30T01:21:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist posting this beautiful bird print.
Happy Spring!

Baking bread

2011-03-30T01:17:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at a sour dough batch!
This is a recipe another homeschooling mom gave me; I loved how when she told me about it she said it only had "wild yeast" in it!
Can you tell she is from California!

2011-03-30T01:11:00.001-07:00

I just love this Vintage graphic of two girls with a Cat.
This is from the Graphics Fairy's blog :)
This image is from a childrens book circa 1872!

Right Now

2011-03-30T00:31:00.000-07:00

Taking my inspiration from Soulmama's blog

Right Now, I am ...

:: planning to start my seeds this week.

:: anticipating growing a big garden this year.

:: feeling grateful.

:: enjoying the longer spring days and the blooming plum tree in my backyard.

:: remembering hours spent in my Grandmothers backyard as a child.

:: hoping Mark is happy with his new job.

:: appreciating a few minutes in a quiet house while everyone sleeps.

:: noticing that no matter how much I would like to control life, it will not let me, and I am okay with that.

:: deciding that there is so much beauty in this world. It is truly magical.

Blooming

2011-03-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Watching the news lately has been hard. I usually read the news on the Internet, when the devastating story about Japan broke it was my mother who told me, calling to wake me up as I live on the west coast of Canada in the tsunami warning area. In the "ring of fire" so to speak. It was also coincidentally my mother who called me the morning of 9/11 as well, she is an early riser and also an avid news watcher. No tsunami hit us, Vancouver island protects the mainland pretty handily here. The threat however was real for many of us here in North America.

My heart goes out to all the people of Japan who have lost family and so much more a world away. The devastation not ending with the earthquake and subsequent tsunami there, the ongoing nuclear disaster is being followed by the world. We hold our breath and hope that somehow this will not affect us over here, an ocean separates us after all. We still share this planet and there is no where else for the subsequent fall out to go except into our environment.

It was an article I read today I could not ignore, Japan pauses to notice cherry blossoms.
The west coast has a similar climate, we also have an abundance of cherry trees here as well, the first of which are bursting into full pink flowery bloom as I write.

Like with other natural and man made disasters, world calamity seems to be increasing, and documented like never before, and yet the world spins on. People still get up and go to work, buy more colour TVs and fast food. How can we stop? Unless the horrid situation is directly happening in our city we can not really do anything, so should we (or can we) just ignore it? It is depressing to hear the stories, but there are few rays of light that emerge: grandmother and teenage grandson found alive nine days later, elderly man found out at sea, ON TOP of his house, these stories are few and far between and yet still give me shivers of hope.

Life does continue, it must. We all have to live, eat, raise our children and pay our bills. We can donate our time and money to try and make the suffering less for people who can not help themselves right now. If you do pray, or meditate send healing thoughts to our brothers and sisters who are suffering, but don't forget about the ones here in our own backyards who also suffer. They may not have had the same devastating circumstances occur, but are just as much in need of compassion and help.

Yes the people of Japan may notice the blooming cherry trees, they may count themselves lucky to have survived the big one; this time. They will move forward too, they have no other option.

When you are out this week notice the blooming cherry trees too. Be grateful that we are blessed with little reminders of life renewing itself; and think of the people who may not notice them, and offer a thought of healing and peace to the people of the world who are hurting right now.

Math; Calvin and Hobbes style

2011-03-18T17:43:00.003-07:00

My son is a huge Calvin and Hobbes fan. I think this is a perfect excuse to avoid math!

2011-03-08T23:23:00.000-08:00

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style"

"Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!"

"Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently."
Maya Angelou

Abundance

2011-03-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

From last summers Farmers Market

The last of the snow is finally melting! This Sunday The New Westminster Community Gardening Society is hosting the first Seedy Sunday. A seed swap! As we are now into the third month of this year (already!) it is time to start planning our gardens for the summer!

The word Abundance is defined may ways;

–noun

1. an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply: an abundance of grain.

2. overflowing fullness: abundance of the heart

3. affluence; wealth: the enjoyment of abundance.

When speaking of Abundance I was thinking of the many ways in which I am blessed with it in my life. Growing food is one way to experience abundance in a tangible way.

Living in a family is another way. I am blessed with many forms of abundance in my life; the overflowing fullness; the abundance of my heart.

May you relish the abundance in your own life.

Lucky man

2011-02-26T09:27:00.000-08:00

Sexperiment 2011

2011-02-24T22:23:00.000-08:00

I found this great blog by an American woman named Christine. I was drawn there by a comment she left on another blog. Christine is also a mother, very funny and candid. I couldn't help but love her writing, now I read her blog whenever I can.

Earlier this month I read a post by her about The Great Sexperiment 2011.
Based on a challenge issued by Revered Ed Young, a Texan Pastor. During the month of February he encouraged his married congregates to have sex for seven days in a row! Christine has taken up the challenge three years running!

Feeling inspired I decided to run this challenge by my husband. Lo and behold he thought this was a brilliant idea! When you are newly weds or at the beginning of most mature relationships that involve sex, there is usually a lot of sex! If you're like me, married for a decade with a couple of children (and all the excuses that go along with it), you may not have as much sex as in the free wheeling honeymooner days.
Enter the Sexperiment - have sex with your loved one for seven straight days. As February is the month for LOVERS I think it is a wonderful fitting challenge. So far my darling husband and I have not reached the seven day mark. We did however not learn about the challenge until well into the month, but none the less, we have made a really good effort. So far we have a four and three day record going! If you ask most married couples (with children), and they were being honest, I think they would agree that our record so far is not too shabby!

I think it is great to read things that are so sex positive. In our western culture we are inundated with sexual innuendo and bombarded with messages about sex at every turn. It is affirming to read about a Church Pastor who encourages a dialogue about sex, in a context of a loving committed relationship.

This is the first post I have ever written about Sex! I named this blog Sacred Red and I think it's fitting that I write about it here. Sex is sacred, it can also be fun and exciting, adventurous, loving and fulfilling. It is a completely vital component to a marriage. We are sexual beings, and besides the obvious reproductive consequences of sex, a deeply satisfying sex life is something that we all would like to have.

Thanks to you Christine, (and of course my dh) I am loving February even more then usual!

The Peace Club

2011-02-20T21:50:00.000-08:00

The Peace Club was a real club I joined in highschool.
I started highscool when I was living in the east end of Toronto , Monarch Park Collegiate. It was a pretty diverse school near the beaches, I had been living there for four years, a record number of years spent in one neighbourhood for my family at the time.

Still finding my way around, being in grade 9 the first year of highschool, I was eager to join clubs and teams in school. I loved track and field, baseball and basketball in junior high, but by highschool the competition was stiff, and my interests changed.

I remember hearing about The Peace Club over the intercom in class one day, and not knowing I was destined to be a "joiner" of many future organisations for peace and justice, my introduction was no less then brilliant.

The club consisted of a number of older students informing us about world issues and social injustice. It was in the Peace Club that I first learned about Apartheid, Nelson Mandela and Amnesty International. We were given copies of letters we were to use as templates to write to foreign governments and ask for better treatment of political prisoners and prisoners of conscious.

We were told our letters were important, because sometimes when you shine a light on something people are forced to"see" I feel it is serendipitous that Nelson Mandela was actually released from prison less then a year after I first found out about him and started writing letters.

Since then many years, wars and peace rallies have passed. I am acutely aware of the injustices that are rampant today. From the horrific treatment of the Monks of Tibet, the Falun Dafa and Falun Gong practitioners imprisoned in China, to the incomprehensible Guantanamo Bay, the rights of prisoners around the world is still a desperate situation in need of attention.

Education and awareness are the first steps to bringing justice to people who have no voice. Just how to proceed will be different for each person. But to a person of conscious the fact remains - until everyone is free - no one is free.

To the people of the Middle East, and all around the world who are fighting and dying in the streets, I send them strength, peace and love.
I will read their stories and bear witness to this time in history, when the ones who want change are the ones who will bring it to everyone.

2011-02-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Ava and I went to the children's theatre next to the kids market on Granville island, The Waterfront Theatre. We have seen a couple of productions there over the years. Two years in a row we have seen Seussical the Musical, which was really great!

This week we saw a new play called Bird Brain. It was a simple story with only three actors, minimal sets, and a some funny bits. It's about a man who rescues a nest full of birds and finds himself in some trouble after agreeing to keep them under his hat!

Ava is a great audience member, her first time in a movie theatre she was barely three and saw Bee movie. Since then she has been a very patient and attentive viewer of live and filmed productions.

As a family we try and see at least one live production a year, and more if possible. Our first year here in New Westminster The Massey Theatre put on a great show called Winter Spectacular It was so West Coast! I believe the opening song was no rain by Blind Melon - "All I can say is that my life is pretty plain, I like watching the puddles gather rain. "

I have always loved live theatre. I remember going on a class trip to the young peoples theatre in Toronto and seeing The Miracle Worker, the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. It was moving, and the whole experience left a deep impression on me.

When Ava goes to a theatre I hope she can experience the same kind of wonder I did, and do. You immerse yourself in the imaginary world of the stage. Experiencing something that is at once magical, transformational, dramatic, funny, sad or even horrifying. The hope is that you think, feel or take away something of value from a show. You are experiencing something intrinsic to human nature, story telling is a universal experience. What a time to experience such talented and amazing artist!

message from the universe

2011-02-10T21:49:00.000-08:00

Love is in the air

2011-02-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

2011-02-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

Bob Marley

“Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold...”

that's how the light gets in

2011-02-03T12:18:00.001-08:00

2011-01-30T19:23:00.000-08:00

Thoughts of PEACE for the people of the world who are fighting for their freedom.

perfect kids?

2011-01-29T12:28:00.000-08:00

Recently an article called "Tiger Mothers" came out, and not a hotter topic could exist in the mom blogging world. Just when I thought I had heard it all; AP, helicopter parents, mommy wars, stay at home v. working moms, enter the "perfect mother" or perfect maker.

The basic theme is this, "Tiger Mothers" usually of Asian decent, push their children to the extreme. Accepting no less then "perfection" from their brood. Nothing less then an "A" in every class in school, save drama and gym (? because those classes have no inherit value). No sleepovers, hours of homework drills and piano and violin practices, and yelling, calling the children "garbage" if they dare to talk back, blah, blah, blah.

Is this just another parenting choice? How we choose to birth, feed, diaper and school our children has never been more scrutinised. Never before have there been so many books, magazines, T.V. shows, both reality and otherwise telling parents how to raise the perfect child.

In this age of the mommy bloggers, one fact remains true. None of us have the perfect parenting regime. No matter how stylised the blogs look, how many bake sales and fund-raisers you host, the facts remain our kids may still turn out screwed up and they will, no doubt, point the finger in our direction anyway, so why sweat it?

I have recently found a number of awesome blogs by mothers living lives with real problems. One is a homeless mother, widowed mothers, single mothers, mothers with anxiety, overcoming unthinkable obstacles, and just trying to make it from one day to another.
I admit, I still love the perfect idealised blogs featuring homesteading, sewing and baking moms, with perfect looking kids, beautiful do it yourself (DIY) projects always on the go, plaid clad lumberjack looking husbands who can whip up a chicken coup, refinish the wood floors, bring home a decent pay cheque, and then whisk said mom away on a ski vacation while the ever doting Mother in law jumps up and down to stay with the kiddos!

In reality, I am home with my two kids, trying to get my five year old not to strangle the cat, and the twelve year old off his ipod long enough to wash some dishes.
I read other blogs for inspiration, for escapism, and to feel like I am not the only one out here up to my eyeballs in dust bunnies, burnt toast and laundry piles that rival the local ski hills in height.

After 12 years I realise that parenting is fluid. There is no end point, no matter what I do my kids still have their own ideas, interests, challenges and abilities. I try to encourage them the best I can. I will try and yell less and dance more with them. I will not demand perfection from them, because they already are perfect. No school reports, or piano recitals could make me more proud.

2011-01-28T23:10:00.000-08:00

I just saw this beautiful vintage bird card on The Graphics Fairy's blog.
I just love it! I think they are Blue Jays, and having grown up in T.O. they bring back happy memories! Here on the west coast I see Stellar Jays in my backyard occasionally.My dad's house near by and up in the mountains both seem to always have blue birds around. I know it has a lot to do with the peanuts they feed them! Those birds do love peanuts!

still

2011-01-25T12:19:00.000-08:00

This is an awesome Canadian band called Great Lake Swimmers
I love the lyrics for this song, I'm still, it's pure poetry ~
Having grown up near the great lakes and also called Toronto home for some time I feel a connection to this band. The song is so beautiful and tranquil, so not Toronto!

I'm still tuning myself to the great key, I'm still, I'm still
I'm still mining for light in the dark well, I'm still, I'm still
I'm still a frequency swaying, a leaf in the wind, I'm still, I'm still
I'm still searching for whispers in between yells, I'm still, I'm still

{This Moment}

2011-01-24T14:56:00.000-08:00

realise that life goes fast . . .

2011-01-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

I love this song; Do you Realize by the Flaming Lips. I first heard it years ago and have loved it ever since. The words are beautiful and so true.

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die -

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize

the road not taken. . .

2011-01-12T21:51:00.000-08:00

As we enter back into our routine for our second "school" term I wanted to link to a few essays I have read that are worth bookmarking and re reading. Sometimes I am questioned about why I choose to homeschool my two children. These two articles are not written by me, but the ideas are thought provoking and undeniable. The real question should be to other people and why they choose to school their children?

This first essay is called Against Schoo l and was written by John Taylor Gallo. He was a public school teacher in New York City for 30 years.
I have read and reviewed many of his books, "Dumbing us Down" "The underground History of American Education" and "Weapons of Mass Instruction" are all excellent reads.

I am not "against' education, but the schooling system, as it currently runs, is not something I am willing to participate in .

Another great article I read was on the website Ishmael.org. The subject; The Hidden Agenda of Schooling This article is significantly longer then the Gatto one but absolutely worth reading and reflecting on.

After visiting my teenage nephew over the holidays I wanted to impart to him that there are choices in education, and that sometimes the roads may be different.

In the words of the very famous poet Robert Frost;

The road not taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

one love

2011-01-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve 2010.

My camera has been giving me trouble, sometimes not focusing when in auto focus, sometimes not picking up all the colours, which has actually left me with some really cool looking pictures! This photo was from New Years Eve, my beautiful cousin Julie and her husband Bill's wedding! Here they are playing the drums in front of the D.J.

I think weddings are the most romantic and amazing acts of love, public declarations of love, families joining together, honest celebration. While this was the first New Years Eve wedding I have attended, it was also a wondrous new beginning to a new year and decade.

I travelled alone to Toronto to witness this joyous occasion. Staying with my lovely sister and her family, joining together to celebrate love, what better way to begin a new year!
While the main event was this rather large family wedding, 180 guests, the opportunity to see my 87 year old grandmother, along with my mother, sister, aunts, uncles and cousins was not something I could, or would miss.

I have flown alone a number of times, but not since having a family of my own. I do seek out and spend time alone regularly. I think it has something to do with homeschooling and spending the majority of my time with my family that makes the alone time so much sweeter for me. I honestly love to spend my days with my kids, my husband also works from home so I spend an incredible amount of time with him too. Some evening I attend meetings for the community garden or the parent advisory council on which I sit at the learning centre my kids attend one day a week. I may also go to the library, or art gallery or just a coffee shop to read or write alone. I may walk by the river, or even go down to the ocean and listen to the tides.

On my trip this month I read,(Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance) walked a little, rode the skytrain, subway and buses, flew, was driven (in a limo one day) and visited with a lot of people who where instrumental in my life, who helped me become the person I am today, my family.

While I was travelling I also spent a lot of time listening to my new mp3 player, a gift from my son! I loaded it up with many songs, and found myself listening to the same ones many times. I had this song on it and thought it was fitting for the trip.

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other

One...life

One

2011-01-06T20:56:00.000-08:00

Affirmations

2011-01-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

Late the other night Mark and I were up flipping through T.V. channels. I stopped on an infomercial for a book by Dr. Wayne Dyer. He is an author, lecturer and spiritual leader. I don't believe in paying for "enlightenment" and would never consider ordering his program, but his words resonate with me deeply and I think he has a great message. I found this quote by him;

There is a voice in the Universe
urging us to remember our purpose for being on this great Earth.
This is the voice of inspiration, which is within each and every one of us.
I found a copy of the 18 excuses and affirmations he was talking about in the lecture, I am reproducing them here.

18 Excuses/Affirmations - Dr. Wayne Dyer

Excuse 1: It will be difficult.
Affirmation: I have the ability to accomplish any task I set my mind to with ease and comfort.

Excuse 2: It's going to be risky.
Affirmation: Being myself involves no risks. It is my ultimate truth and I live fearlessly.

Excuse 3: It will take a long time.
Affirmation: I have infinite patience when it comes to fulfilling my own destiny.

Excuse 4: There will be family drama.
Affirmation: I would rather be loathed for who I am then loved for who I am not.

Excuse 5: I don't deserve it.
Affirmation: I am a divine creation, a piece of god. How could I be undeserving?

Excuse 6: It's not my nature.
Affirmation: My essential nature is perfect and faultless. It is to this nature that I return.

Excuse 7: I cannot afford it.
Affirmation: I am connected to an unlimited source of abundance.

Excuse 8: No one will help me.
Affirmation: The right circumstances and the right people are already here and will show up on time.

Excuse 9: It's never happened before.
Affirmation: I am open and willing to attract all I desire beginning here and now.

Excuse 10: I am not strong enough.
Affirmation: I have access to unlimited assistance. My strength comes from my connection to my source.

Excuse 11: I am not smart enough.
Affirmation: I am a creation of the divine mind, all is perfect and I am a genius in my own right.

Excuse 12: I am too old or I'm not old enough.
Affirmation: I am an infinite being. The age of my body has no bearing on what I do or who I am.

Excuse 13: The rules won't let me.
Affirmation: I live my life according to divine rules.

Excuse 14: It's too big.
Affirmation: I think only about what I can do now. By thinking small, I accomplish great things.

Excuse 15: I don't have the energy.
Affirmation: I feel passionately about my life and this passion fills me with excitement and energy.

Excuse 16: It's my personal family history.
Affirmation: I live in the present moment by being grateful for all of my life experiences as a child.

Excuse 17: I am too busy.
Affirmation: As I unclutter my life I free myself to answer the callings of my soul.

Excuse 18: I'm too scared.
Affirmation: I can accomplish anything I put my mind to because I know I am never alone.

Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.

2010-12-23T23:18:00.001-08:00

All you need is LOVE - The Beatles

I was looking on youtube for a nice version of this song. I love how this turns into colour like The Wizard of Oz. John, Paul, Ringo and George all look so young!. Mick Jagger is even in the audience! One of the comments on youtube points out when Paul says "Everybody' John Lennon turns to him and smiles the most beautiful smile.
There is few seconds at the end of John Lennon's voice, and then George Harrison in an interview obviously referring to the recoding " and it was for LOVE, it was for LOVE and bloody PEACE again, you know"

Lennon/McCartney

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time - It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

2010-12-23T00:58:00.000-08:00

The Dog Days are Over

2010-12-22T10:13:00.000-08:00

This is a band called Florence and the Machine this song is The Dog Days are over.
It seems fitting for the end of this decade. A kind of warning. . .
This song came out in 2008 but I only heard it this year, the radio station I listen to, or one of them actually as I am a huge radio listener, plays it often.
This is the first band with a woman lead singer I have posted on here, I usually post rock music, and old stuff at that. Sometimes I actually listen to modern music too, when I am not listening to CBC radio one ;) As a side note this is a live version on David Letterman, probably my favourite show on televison.

happiness, hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with a drink
and washed it away down the kitchen sink

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming so you better run

Run fast for your mother run fast for your father
Run for your children and your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your loving behind you
Can’t carry it with you if you want to survive

{This Moment}

2010-12-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Cactus is blooming

2010-12-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

(click to enlarge)

Both my kids are diligently working on writing and printing. We sometimes also do Calligraphy for fun. I think this diagram is really pretty. I always appreciate beautiful penmanship!

He's making a list . . .

2010-12-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

I found this clip art on The Graphic Fairy's blog.
I love this old time Santa.
Very cool old names on the list; Nelly, Henry. Mabel and Flo. . .
(click to enlarge)

2010-12-18T10:37:00.000-08:00

I am a huge Neil Young fan. I have seen him perform live in concert three times, and I hope to see him again. The first time I saw him was with my sister at Molson Park in Barrie Ontario when I was 21.

There is nothing like outdoor concerts. My first "real" concert was also outside, it was The Steve Miller Band! It was the beginning of a love affair with outdoor concerts, I even attended an infamous La La Palooza concert in the 90's, an Epic outdoor live music event! That time was SoundGarden and Metallica - It Rocked!

The last time I saw Neil Young was here in Vancouver, we had floor tickets and it was just incredible!
I love everything he has done, I remember when my oldest son Justin was small he would always sing "Keep on rockin' in the free world"

It's a dream
Only a dream
And it's fading now
Fading away

moonlight drive

2010-12-15T18:45:00.001-08:00

I listed to a lot of The Doors when I was growing up.
When the movie The Doors came out in theatres I was thrilled.
Val Kilmer played the lead role of Jim Morrison.
For a teenage girl nothing could have been better then a rock star, rebel poet.

. . . Let's swim to the moon

Let's climb through the tide
You reach your hand to hold me
But I can't be your guide

Easy, I love you
As I watch you glide
Falling through wet forests
On our moonlight drive, baby
Moonlight drive

Good morning starshine. . .

2010-12-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

Just after I became a mother a friend of mine, and an amazing artist named Parker gave us a mixed tape, or maybe it was a CD? and the first song was this one!
Good morning Starshine - by Oliver. I think I probably had heard it before, but since then every time I hear it I think about when Justin was a baby.
Time sure flies - he will be 13 in 2011! I know it's sentimental, some songs just make you happy and sometimes you have to sing along.

Sing sing a song sing a song
yah, you can sing sing song sing a song
Sing sing a song, sing a song

Sing

Highschool

2010-12-06T11:53:00.000-08:00

I completely love this song!

Ahh high-school, was it just a dream? I know so many adults who have very negative memories of high-school, and I know for me it was not so negative. Even though I quit in grade 11! I eventually went back, and even graduated on the honour roll. For me high-school was not about classes and preparing for university and the "rest of my life" but for living my life right then and there.

My high-school friends were some of the best people I have ever known and probably ever will. I woke up today from a dream and a bunch of my high-school friends were in it! I moved thousands of miles away from where I went to high-school almost right after graduation. I am still in contact with some of the old gang, and of course facebook has allowed me to glimpse into the lives of people I knew from way back in elementary and middle school too.

I have a very clear memory of being in school and my aunt Joyce was picking me up to go over and baby-sit her kids, we were walking past my high school and she told me to really look around and enjoy it as this time was special and fleeting.

What do you know when you are a teenager? Living in the moment, even as a young child I was in the moment and aware of just being there. Luckily I must have had a number of guardian angels as well to make it through the many, many chances I took as a teenager. If my kids did half the stuff I did when I was young, my goodness, they better have a guardian angel too!

I see these chain emails, messages that say things like "some people come into your life for a reason or season or a lifetime. .. " it is true, some people are important in our lives and teach us things that we could not learn any other way. I hope my own kids can have such a great group of friends to grow up with as I did. I won't say those were the "best days of my life" because honestly every day is. It just gets better, and if it sucks in high-school then it has nowhere to go but better!

2010-11-29T23:26:00.000-08:00

This image is from the Sacred Mirrors, by Alex Grey. It is a series of twenty-one artworks examining the body, mind and spirit in rich detail. The Sacred Mirrors have been displayed throughout the world and the book Sacred Mirrors: The Visionary Art of Alex Grey,

Imagine no possessions...

2010-11-29T23:07:00.000-08:00

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

This video combines two of my all time favourite artists.
I have been lucky enough to see Neil Young live three times!
Here he is performing the inspirational John Lennon's Imagine.

2010-11-22T23:26:00.000-08:00

This weekend we saw our first snowfall of the season!

{This Moment}

2010-11-20T00:52:00.000-08:00

. . . there is a season - turn, turn, turn

live free

2010-11-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

This seagull landed on the balcony of our hotel room Monday morning. I actually love seagulls, partially because of the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a short book of 127 pages written in 1970. The story is one of a Seagull who wants to fly, really fly, not just hang around fishing boats and pick garbage.

"Poor Fletch. Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly"
from Jonathan Livingston Seagull- A story

page 41 " he no longer needed fishing boats and stale bread for survival. He learned to sleep in air, setting a course at night across the offshore wind, covering a hundred miles from sunset to sunrise. With the same inner control, he flew through heavy sea-fogs and climbed above them into dazzling clear skies. . . in the very times when every other gull stood on the ground, knowing nothing but mist and rain. He learned to ride the high winds far inland, to dine on delicate insects.
What he had once hoped for the Flock, he now gained for himself alone; he learned to fly, and was not sorry for the price he had paid. Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a gull's life is short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine life indeed. "

{This Moment}

2010-11-13T21:19:00.000-08:00

Say Hey

2010-11-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

I just LOVE this song!

This Moment ~Harvest time~

2010-11-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

ONE NAME, TWO FATES

2010-11-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a great book called "The Other Wes Moore" written by an American man named Wes Moore. It chronicles the life of himself and another Wes Moore, the coincidence of their shared name as well as many other events that lead them to different places in life.

I saw Wes Moore on Oprah last month and found his book in the library two weeks ago. I know it was two weeks ago as it is a new book and due back today. I have at least a half dozen new books on my bed side table. I want to read them too, but sometimes a book comes along that I just have to read. This one was a new book at the library and only available for two weeks. This became my high priority read this week!

I was intrigued by the stories of these two young black men growing up poor and fatherless in Baltimore. The stakes were high for both of them. The "right" choices were not always clear, and in the end one ends up a convicted felon in jail for life and the other a Rhodes Scholar, War veteran, and White house fellow.

The point of this book is not that everyone could make something of his life, even under extremely trying conditions. Rather, I think it is that we are given choices everyday, some will lead to good things some will not. With hard work and dedication it doesn't really matter where one "comes from" but what you do with what you are given. There is also some focus on the need for accepting personal responsibility for the choices we make. It is a sad story, but also an inspiring one. Wes Moore, the author, is a shining example of what can be - if you really want something and are willing to work for it.

In the end Wes Moore ends up with the life he created for himself, sadly so does the other Wes Moore. I think of how some decisions I've made in my life could have lead to a different conclusion. I am grateful for the experiences I have had, and some luck too! I know I am blessed to have the life I do now, but also I know that this is the life I have created.

I believe anything really is possible! The other Wes Moore is an inspiring story for sure, and a cautionary tail as well. Choices make the difference.

Gimme some truth

2010-10-24T15:07:00.000-07:00

I was really lucky a few weeks back! While I was cooking our thanksgiving dinner I won a radio contest by calling in when I heard John Lennon! I won the new remastered John Lennon Power to the People "The Hits" double CD/DVD!

Give me some truth is the second track on the disk. Along with the likes of Instant Karma, Power to the People, Jealous Boy, Imagine, Give Peace a Chance... well, you get the idea- the hits! Along with this amazing CD, I also won tickets to a sneak preview of the movie of John Lennon's teenage life- Nowhere Boy. It was really good! As if that wasn't cool enough I also won a door prize at the movie, a FOUR CD set called John Lennon - Gimme Some Truth- Amazing!!!

I have loved the music of John Lennon since childhood. I was a child of the 70's, but most of my memories start in the 80's. One of the earliest being the day John Lennon was shot and killed in 1980. We always watched the news in my house so even though I was only six I felt the impact of it. This one event affected so many people. I remember seeing the coverage on T.V, the sings and candles and people crying. I knew who John Lennon was, I knew of The Beatles, I have clear memories of sitting in the orange vinyl chairs at the library with those huge headphones on listening to HELP, among other albums when I was a kid.

I spent many hazy days of my teenage years and young adulthood rediscovering The Beatles in a different way. When I became an adult John Lennon and Yoko Ono still inspired the activist in me. War is over - if you want it!! I carried this sign for Halloween 2001-just weeks after 911. I went as a "flower child" but the message I was carrying was no costume. I was, and am eternally inspired by the music, art and activism of John Lennon.

The topic of this post is Gimme some truth. I read about it in the blogisphere; we are all looking for some truth. I write a lot of blogs and have a website too. I read blogs by mothers, homeschoolers, artists, music lovers, the one theme that runs through all of them is the quest for authenticity, to live in it and reflect it back to the world. I write for the love of it- to work for peace, to share things with people, to add my voice to the millions out here already.

John Lennon said "Whatever you do, do it for Peace." I will give you my truth.

Bohemian Butterflies

2010-10-21T22:18:00.000-07:00

This print is circa 1880

lovely 1870's French Butterfly print

These beautiful butterflies are from The Graphics Fairy's blog.

just breathe

2010-10-18T21:39:00.000-07:00