Month: July 2017

Have I told you that, “I love you!”

/ Lee Reynolds

 

“Love is the bridge to you and everything.” ~ Rumi~

We are off on our summer camping holiday tomorrow but before I go, I wanted to write a quick post to share something with my blogging friends and family.

Tomorrow will be David and my 35th wedding anniversary.

Yes,  on July 31, 1982 we started our life together.

Crazy young kids at age 23 (him) and me (22)

 

 

I can remember feeling so excited by what life would have to offer us

 

We fit from the beginning and I just knew we were meant to be life partners

I can hardly believe it.

I know this sounds silly, but I don’t even feel 35 years old and certainly don’t feel as if I have been married that long. But oh, time is an interesting thing and it marches on, even though we feel timeless.

Ever since I attended my 30th grad reunion recently, I’ve been very conscious of THIS moment in time. It’s precious. I awake feeling joyous, so happy I want to cry. Have you ever had that experience? I luxuriate with David next to me. He’s been working  really hard lately and is getting up so early to go to work that we never even have 15 minutes to be awake, lying still next to each other. It’s always, go, go, go, around here. This morning, surprisingly no little people could be heard, so I curled up against David, who was still moving in and out of sleep, and realized we still fit together perfectly after all these years. Laying my head against his chest, I could hear, the “thump, thump,”of his heart.

That beat and his breath moving in and out of his body are fragile and reminds me that life in our human form is not infinite. We only have a short time in reality to live our life and make our memories. But what are memories, but an opportunity for us to linger back to another time and often, isn’t it odd, when we look back they appear even more golden? This thought occurred to me recently and became more profound when I had some insights into my past after leaving my hometown for my high school reunion.

David at Goat River in Creston, at my recent Grad reunion

It’s too bad that we often look back with rose coloured glasses at our past and aren’t able to wear them in the moment. I want NOW, to be tinted with roses. I guess that is one of the reasons that I’ve taken the time to get back into my yoga practice and my meditation this summer; because I want to be excruciatingly conscious of this moment being perfect and light filled. But it’s not always rosy. I get frustrated and angry and sometimes the smallest thing can really irk me.

But that’s okay. That’s part of life too and recently at the end of one of my yoga classes, the teacher reminded me of a lovely affirmation, “I am perfect, just as I am!”

Thinking about it now makes me smile and bow my head.

Right now, as I type this post, David is off buying groceries and whatever camping supplies we need for our trip. I’ve been rallying the troops to gather up tents, sleeping bags, foam mattresses, etc. When I went to feed the chickens

 

though I got side tracked in the garden and realized in shock that my beans REALLY needed to be picked.Like now! And although I had a million things to do inside the house, I knew if I didn’t take the time now to pick the beans, they would be too woody when we returned and thereby useless to process.

One of my blue lake bush bean patches…thank heavens I had the knowledge to do some successive planting

So using the large bucket I had taken full of water/apple cider vinegar for the chickens, I started to pick beans. At first I was pulling them off aggressively, trying to get the chore done quickly and get back to my list, but then I brushed next to one of my lavender plants and a whiff of the fresh, woodsy scent filled my nostrils and took me back in time.

My grandma Clark was picking beans next to me. She was wearing one of her pastel, floral cotton dresses, which was covered by a light weight apron with deep side pockets, which I knew often had a stick of Wriggly’s peppermint gum inside. She was bent over with a stainless steel colander next to her and was picking beans with a light, easy rhythm.

She smiled over at me, her nose crinkling.

Up until I’d stepped into the garden, it had been a bit of a hectic morning. So much for the precious moment lying next to David listening to his heart beat. David had left and I was in charge of gathering everything for our trip….plus making some zucchini bread, some cookies, feeding the cat, the chickens, watering the gardens, my potted flower plants, plus I wanted to whip through the house and leave it nice and clean. The children were trying to help but it was a bit like herding chickens getting them to stay focused on whatever task was in front of them. Then they started hauling way too much out of their bedrooms and I had to reinforce that this was a MINIMALIST camping trip. Food, Tents, Swim suits and PJ’s, a deck of playing cards, a few books,(we love to read when camping) and yes, I said, “you can bring ONE stuffed lovie.”

So when I headed into the garden patch I was feeling a bit frazzled. Oh, so much to do and I really wanted to have everything pulled together before David returned. My to do list was rolling in my head like a whirling dervish. Breathing the lavender slowed me down and yes, it’s so true that it is a calming herb.

I need it EVERYWHERE!

 

Then Grandma said in her perfectly enunciated English, “Was it not just a few hours ago that you were feeling very happy and at peace? What happened?” as she continued her slow methodical picking of beans.

I looked over to where she had been picking and she had vanished but her question remained. I thought of her and how she had lived her life?. What were her stressful, hectic moments like and how did she react to them as she lived with my grandfather and they raised my Dad and his 3 siblings? I think I understood why she filled satchels with lavender for the linen closet and enjoyed chewing peppermint gum.

In those days there were no modern conveniences and certainly no technology to make life easier. Maybe moving at a slower pace had allowed them to be more aware of the simple things in life being very precious. Like lying next to your husband on a Sunday morning or guiding a bunch of children through some tasks. I would have loved to have had more time with her but she died when I was only seven and I will never have a first hand experience of asking her about her life.  She has been gone for 50 years now but she lives on in my memory, and in my love of gardening. She left a legacy, hopefully I can pass that on to our children.

And then it all circled back to David and our time together. I’m living golden moments now and don’t need time to make them shinier. I know this is it and when he comes back from all the gathering supplies, I’m going to give him and hug, a kiss and tell him how much I love him.

And after gathering all the beans, (and thank heavens for successive planting as they aren’t all ready at the same time, whew!)

 

A bucket full of beans and eggs….looks like we are having beans for dinner AND I’m blanching beans for the freezer…so thankful for the food in our garden!

I got the kids to stop all their chores and come out to the garden to enjoy a bit of this glorious summer morning. They skipped around their gardens and admired their zinnias starting to bloom, and Will realized that the corn is finally taller than him. Grandma was back with me and together we watched the kids dance around the yard, smiling, breathing. The moment was brilliant as I was extremely conscious that we are planting seeds for the future and some day, our children will pull them out of their pocket, (maybe with a stick of peppermint gum) and scatter them around the next generation of people on earth.

Wow, Will’s corn is taller than him, when did that happen?
Kate and I are happy to see that her beans are NOT ready to pick yet…still lots of flowers
Victoria’s zinnia’s are starting to flower and are so beautiful….but the quail are into her lettuce, oh no! despite the hardware cloth barrier…what to do?

 

The girls smell their flowers

Oh, David is back and here I am typing….I must go but before I do, I want to say in writing,

In June, the day of our son Harrison’s graduation, David and I…married almost 35 years!

“Happy Anniversary David! I’m so grateful to have lived a lifetime with you and I pray to have many more golden moments with you. Thank you for all our shining memories and our beautiful children. This lifetime reflection with you, and raising our children has given me a mirror unto my soul.

  I LOVE YOU!”

Before you close, I just wanted to dedicate this song to my husband David. “Have I Told you Lately that I love you,” by Van Morrison

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful. (and I hope you too take a moment to say, “I love you,” to your special people in your life. We never know when our time together will end.

Blessings from Hope

Broccoli and Three Cheese Quiche, New Chicken Run and a Family update

/ Lee Reynolds

 

Welcome to my homestead! Gates are a big things around here lately. They keep things in and they allow others to move through them with ease. I hope your summer’s gate is opening gently.

Gates allow us to enter an new experience…sometimes that experience is AHHHH! the chickens got out!

I don’t know about you, but summer is flying by in my part of the world. Before August arrives though, I thought I would give you an update on what’s been going on around here and also share what may be around the corner. If you dropped in for a piece of my Broccoli and Three Cheese Quiche, scroll down to the bottom of the page, but I hope you come back for a longer visit next time.

If you can stay….

Come, let me pour you some sun ice tea and join me for a visit.

 

After this picture was taken, David secured our wobbly front yard chairs, finally ’cause we have been eating outside a lot this summer and these are my fav chairs to sit in, the arm rest holds a glass of ice tea perfectly!

Well, back to the visit,

I have to ask you,

do you like chickens?

We love our chickens!

Sadie, (always in the middle of all the pictures) and Clara and Annie check out some lavender which I put in their nest boxes

“Sadie, (aka, Sweet Girl), Cocoa, Clara and Annie,” are a huge part of our family, much to the dismay of our Siamese Cat, “Ryukki.” Ever since they moved into our back forty last year, he doesn’t meander as often into the back garden. No, now he seems to prefers sitting on the deck, perusing their activities from above, like a king on his cushion. When he does venture passed their coop,  he haughtily holds up his head, his tail flicking, as he ignores their existence.

But, just like us, I think he finds them intriguing.

And while we love our chickens, the challenge with chickens is that they don’t co-habit well with a garden. At least in an orderly fashion.

Oh no!

Their favourite activities are digging holes and having dirt baths, scratching up worms but in the process preventing seeds from germinating, and then there is the bathroom issue, ahem, they go WHEREVER they want.

Our girls digging along our cedar hedge. In the summer time they love sleeping under these bushes

No chickens are not ideal if you are wanting a well groomed garden and certainly not a good idea if for instance you enjoy walking barefoot in your yard.

The other thing about chickens are once you get them, it’s a bit like that book I read to my kids, “If you give a mouse a cookie, he will want milk to go with it,” etc.

Once we finally decided to get chickens, we had to have a brooder box, a little water font, a small feeder, then a coop, then a larger run, a bigger feeder, then a water font, and then it’s winter and they need a heated water font, and a heat lamp, well, you get the idea.

Who would have thought that they are high maintenance critters.

ALSO,

If you have chickens, and a garden, you may need a fence, or a larger run for them.

All through winter as I kept my chickens alive in our back forty, despite our very cold, often 20 and 30 below weather, I thought about the challenges they pose as I trudged through the snow with their fresh water and food. What to do about my love of chickens and my love for a garden?

So this spring before we planted the veggie garden, I knew we had to do something to keep everyone happy. Especially after reading the book below last winter I knew we had to set things up differently.

(The book above, “Free -Range Chicken Gardens,” by Jesse Bloom, is an informative book with beautiful photos. Reading it last winter made me think chickens and gardens go together harmoniously, but setting both up takes some planning.)

You see, I wanted to let them have some freedom and exercise but knew they would mostly need to be “cooped” up so I finally came up with a plan to add an extension to their current roomy coopy cottage.

The only other big problem was that I started working at my gardening gig the day after Earth day (April 23rd) and our family was extremely busy with various family commitments and activities. Then the kids got sick, which I wrote about a few posts back, “layering faith.” Add to that, I also wanted to build additional raised beds and get my little kids involved in gardening this year.

After David and the boys ripped up the plants above the pool this spring, since the retaining wall is falling apart and has to be rebuilt, he got working on building new raised garden beds. While he did this, I prepared the garden spaces I did have, I moved my strawberries to two of the new raised garden beds and then I planted my garden.

 

DAvid putting his new chainsaw to good use

 

Some of the stumps weighed several hundred pounds

 

And this project is NEXT now that the chickens have their new run

 

The little kids and their garden beds

 

Sadie likes to get into every photo…it’s uncanny how she creeps into pictures!

 

Early July, the raised beds are just starting to grow

The whole time we were out doing projects in the yard our girls/chicks were looking out through their hardware cloth walls and saying, “Bok, Bok, Bok.” I would let them out for short stints to run around the yard, nibble grass and dig where they were allowed. I always had the garden hose, with a dynamite spray head on hand if they got into my newly planted garden.

I let my green onions return for the 2nd year and as you can see  in the foreground they are turning to seed….I love collecting seeds. This is a picture of the garden next to the pool in early July…things are just coming up

Did you know chickens are smart! They knew exactly where they were allowed to roam and quickly caught on that mom’s garden beds were OFF LIMITS. And yet, they could be found glancing at me to see if the rules had changed as they tried to casually wander, “pluck, pluck, pluck,” into garden territory, only to be shocked and offended when a spray of water hit them. I would be standing there, garden hose in hand, yelling in my mom voice, “No chickens in the garden!” They are just like my kids, I don’t know how many times I’ve told them to close the gate after themselves so the chickens don’t get out! and they always act like they never heard this request before as we are madly chasing the chickens around our side and front yard.

Finally, most of the projects were completed and David bought some framing lumber, some hardware cloth and got down to framing. But it was slow going. (THE cool thing is that Harrison, our 18 year old has been working at Home Depot so we are there a lot dropping him off and picking him up)

 

The plan was to build another 6′ by 6′ run at the end of their current coop and you would think, no big deal.

I didn’t think it would take long but it took forever to find a few free days to get the framing done.

This spring….

We had birthday parties.

On May 20th the twins turned 6 years old

And we had concerts….

Victoria and Kathryn playing at their year end concert
The theme for the Country Fair was Fiesta so Will wore a Canadian flag and a Sombrero…since we are celebrating Canada’s 150 year old birthday this year…and well a Sombrero says…party like nothing else…the little girls had Mardi Gras beads and fancy glasses for their Fiesta costume…Grace went as a teenager…enough said

And then there was the Country Fair at our cool historic music school. Will played cello, the little girls played piano and Grace sang beautifully with her choir.

Then there were…..

Visits from family. Auntie B and Uncle J…and puppy, Dugan. Wish you were closer~

Soccer games, this is Harrison’s last year playing with the North Okanagan soccer group

And more soccer….

Victoria hamming it up for the camera

All the little kids played soccer this year.

Oh, then there was a graduation. Our son Harrison completed grade 12 and is off to University in September.

Alyssa and Mitchell (our older kids on the Island) sent their best wishes and our oldest son Clark was working on this day but the rest of the gang was here, David and I with Harrison,Grace, Will, Kate and Tori

Congratulations Harrison!

And as if this weren’t enough, we had more birthday parties….William turned eight!

And wanted to go and climb some walls for his birthday experience

Oh and then there was the year end ballet recital….

Victoria and Kathryn danced to the song, “It’s a Small World.” (Year two of dance)

Then there were the final year end school activities….

At the beach…I relented and bought them a ice drink with vanilla ice cream in it

 

Bittersweet…the year end wrap up for the kindergarten class. Welcome Summer! When they return to school they will be big grade one kids

And around this time was also Grace’s grade 8, RCM piano exam, my gardening gig wrap up, somewhere in all there was Mother’s day and Father’s day and at the beginning of July, my grad reunion back in my hometown of Creston and FINALLY, a BIG 150 birthday celebration for Canada.

Happy 150th Birthday Canada….our flag on our deck

.

It was a activity rich spring and early summer, hence my lack of blogging. I find it hard to live life fully, and blog about it. I would REALLY like to meet real life bloggers who are actively writing. I would ask, “Where in the heck do you find time to write?”…and then live the life you are blogging about?”

Did I mention that during this entire time I was also writing with a group of lovely women at the historic old Caetani house…which is a mecca for the arts?

Yep! but hold your breath for my memoir or first novel.

FIRST…..

We need to build a chicken run.

Throughout all the activities and projects we had on the go, our beautiful chickens were patient.

Of course they ARE spoiled chickens, even if they are mostly cooped up. I bring them treats from the garden; kale, lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, lemon balm, and now that we are into berry season they are eating luscious strawberries and raspberries.  Then every night they get a bedtime snack which varies but their fav is sunflower, pumpkin seeds, and Cocoa LOVES raisins.

When David and I returned from Creston, and my grad reunion, he finally got down to business. Once he starts rolling with a project, he puts every waking hour into it and recently he was able to attach their addition, which he mostly built and painted in the garage.

It would have been easier had our property been level but everything is on a slope and he had to build up the area with landscape ties before securing the addition.

Okay, drum roll please…..

And here is how it turned out….

Here is their new addition…the roof is a lovely lattice work top which allows the sun to shine on our chickens….and offers a bit of shade too (the wood parts are white washed so they are protected and the top was a sage green stain)

Now they have extra space and  yes I wish I had pictures of their expression when they checked out the expanded real estate. Did you know chickens can smile? “Bok, Bok, Bok.” In the mornings I find them enjoying the first rays of the sun and digging their beloved holes in the dirt.

One of my raspberry bushes hedges is beside them and then I’m also growing some pumpkins next to their run.
Here’s a peek through the plum trees at the new run. In time the trees with give them more shade which will be lovely on a hot day

Well, now that the run is built, our next project is to take down the old landscape tie walls above the pool. Since we have chosen to build a river bed rock retaining walls, like many of the other walls throughout our yard, it’s going to be a big project. When it’s done, I can see herbs, perennials, and vegetables all growing lushly. I even have a day dream of watermelon and cantaloupe growing in this bed, since it gets full sun and there is good irrigation. Wouldn’t it be cool to be down at the pool and have guests over and ask them if they wanted some watermelon and then just going and picking one off the vine?

I will keep you in the loop on our progress. It’s going to take the rest of the season to accomplish this wall and probably well into fall too.

But getting back to summer and chickens. We have been really lucky to have such great layers and what to do with all those nutritious eggs? Well, vegetable quiche of course.

 

Every day we usually get 3 or 4 eggs which is not tons…but keeps us in eggs for baking and the occasional quiche

I have made several quiche over the last few months and they are delicious. The texture is beautiful and I find the combination of broccoli and cheese perfect. Who doesn’t like cheese with broccoli? Also, they are such an easy thing to make the night before and you can easily warm them up for dinner the next day. Perfect for summer. Just add a salad, some fruit and you have a wonderful meal. But here is my warning. Don’t expect……

ANY

leftovers!

Wahhhhhhh!

But it’s all good, since everyone is smiling before dinner and it’s a light meal when it’s boiling hot outside, like today and you want something but nothing too heavy.

The only thing a bit time consuming is making homemade pie crust but I have found a no fail, always flaky recipe for pie crust.

Come on….

Want to join me in the kitchen and we will make some pastry? I use the Tenderflake lard and the recipe is on the box.

It’s perfect every time!

Pastry for two pies (You can always freeze one of the quiche if you want to as well)

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 pound of Tenderflake lard
1 egg, stirred slightly
1/2 tbsp of vinegar
A bit under 1/2 cup of cold water

Directions

1.  Mix the flour and salt
2.  Cut the lard in with a pastry blender until the shortening is pea size pieces
3. Crack an egg in a measuring cup, stir, add the vinegar
4. Add cold water to make 1/2 cup
5. Stir the liquid into the flour mixture, but mix until the dough is forming a ball, don’t over mix
6. Take ball and break into 2 portions. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour
7  Pull it out and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, being mindful not to use too much
flour, sprinkle it on a flat surface and roll the dough evenly. When rolled out transfer to your pie
pie plates

 

Broccoli and Three Cheese Quiche

Ingredients (double for 2 pies)

2 tbsp of olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 chopped onion
3 – 4 cups of broccoli
4 eggs
1 cup of half and half or whole milk
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp of dried dill
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Saute garlic and onions in oil in a frying pan. Add broccoli, salt and pepper and cook for a few minutes

While broccoli is cooking, stir eggs and half and half together in a bowl

Once broccoli is lightly tender, place it in the bottom of your prepared unbaked pie crust.

Add the egg and half and half mixture to the broccoli, then sprinkle with the cheese. I put the cheddar down first, then the mozzarella, and finally the Parmesan on the very top….add then sprinkle the dill and you are ready to bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.

Ta Da!

That was easy hey? And it’s a good thing as it gets eaten in a blink of an eye around here.

Dig in!

Well that wraps up my update. Before you go, want to hear an old song that I remember being played on the radio when I was a child? Warning, it may linger with you…. It reminds me of long days, warm sun and lemonade. I hope you enjoy listening to “A Theme from a Summer’s Place by Percy Faith.” Click the hyper-link if you can click below.

Until we meet again, may you be well, peaceful and happy.

Happy Summer!

Blessings from Hope

 

 

 

Peaceful Piggies

/ Lee Reynolds

Have you heard of the toys called, “Fidget Spinners?” If you are not in the kid realm, I’ll clue you in. “Fidget spinners” are small, ball-bearing devices that the user can rotate between his or her fingers. The momentum of the toy provides a pleasing sensory experience  Originally the spinners were marketed as an aide for individuals with anxiety, autism or ADHD, which is basically everyone. I don’t know about you, but few people I know are free from anxiety these days.

What a GREAT marketing strategy~!

My son William, who just turned 8 years old at the end of June, desperately wanted a spinner. “ALL,” the kids at school have them he said, and besides he thought they looked so cool. I resisted buying him one for the longest time. Ever since our last BIG garage sale two years ago, when we did a mass de-clutter, and I started on a more minimalist path, I’ve been REALLY trying to be mindful of what we purchase.

Another thing that influenced me/us, was that we had walked this path with our older children. I remember the Bay blade craze and the mad scramble one Christmas for one type of Lego, Bionicle figure. I knew that it was only a matter of weeks that this toy too would start collecting dust in the corner of a closet and I would be the one to unearth it and in time, decide it’s value and where it was to go after my son stopped playing with it.

What made me cave was my son William. When his birthday drew near we had a conversation about what he wanted to do on his special day and what he would really like for a gift. He looked at me with his clear blue eyes, his blonde curls circling his sweet face and he said, “mom, whatever you get me, I will love.”

Ahhhhhhhhh!

That was it, I was going to make his dreams come true. I was going to find him a fidget spinner.

William’s face as he unwrapped his fidget spinner (and we bought him the fidget cube too) was ecstatic For the next two weeks, that red, spinning toy was always at the end of his finger. I would try to talk with him and he would be totally absorbed in the activity of flicking his finger so his spinner would move faster.

We choose experiences over a big party with friends and he wanted to go climbing walls with his sisters

 

Our son is always reaching new heights

 

After the climbing party, it was a dip in the pool,

 

And now for his strawberry shortbread birthday cake…Will LOVES strawberries!!!
“This was the BEST day EVER!!!” said Will at the end of his 8th birthday

One night I came into his bedroom after he had been tucked away for the night and a brilliant spinning rainbow filled light was floating in the dark. Rats, I knew we shouldn’t have bought the one with a LED light inside so not only was he obsessed during the day, the fidget spinner was keeping him from sleeping at night.

Now for some children this toy may be fine but I found it was a distraction in our home and instead of helping him focus, he seemed more scattered. and even restless, moving his body, as he spun. When we were talking to him, he would be flicking his spinner and there would be no eye contact. Also, I found he was getting annoyed more often, especially if he was directed to do something and he had to put the spinner down.

I decided to sit down and have a talk with him. He was surprised to hear that I thought the spinner had negative effects on him. Reluctantly, he agreed to take a break from it for awhile. He put it in one of the drawers in his room and agreed to spend more time playing his cello, reading, playing basketball,  board games and card games with his sisters, swimming in the pool, riding bikes and his new scooter, which was the other gift we gave him for his birthday.

Shortly after that, we picked up a wonderful book at the library that we had read last winter but I never acted on it. It always surprises me how things and people are put on our path,exactly when they are needed. “Peaceful Piggy”, by Kerry Lee Mclean, is a lovely story about little pigs who find life sometimes too busy and stressful.  When the little piggies starts to sit and focus on their breathing, they suddenly find they are more relaxed and feel calmer.

They are smiling.

The kids loved the book and also wanted to try the experiment suggested at the end of the book. We got a big pickle jar and filled it with water. We watched how clear and clean it was in the jar.

Looking at the clear water, I got them to think of it as their mind, during a quiet moment.
Then I had them add a bit of sand from their sandbox. Each tiny grain is one of our thoughts. Some are happy, some are sad, some are exciting, and some are dark and angry thoughts. They all effect how we feel.
Then we put a lid on the jar and shook it up and watched everything swirling around faster and faster. I told them that this was their mind in a hurry. It doesn’t look too good; muddy and cloudy. Then we let everything settle to the bottom of the jar. This is our mind during meditation.
We watched the thoughts settle to the bottom, leaving the jar, (our mind) look lighter and clearer. I told them that when we settle our thoughts during meditation, all the yucky parts of our day fall to the bottom and we can move through our days with clearer thinking and feeling lighter. Feeling lighter helps us move through our days more peacefully and we are able to flow through our challenging times and adjust to life’s changes easier.
After that exercise, we practiced meditating together. It was fun. We lit a candle and I put a soft CD on and rang a little bell. I asked the kids to focus on their breath, in and out, slowly, s l o w l y. When thoughts come to the surface I suggested the kids shift them out of the way by saying a mantra; the one I suggested is “So Hum,”  which means “I am,” in Sanskrit.

At the end of the session, I had the children join together in making a wish and at the count of three, blow out the candle together. The next day after lunch they asked, “is it time to meditate?”

Since then there have been wonderful spin offs, no pun intended after talking about the fidget spinner, but when my children have a frustrating moment, or get angry about something, all I have to do is say, “So Hum,” and they stop and take a deep, slow breathe. When they slow down they are able to look at the situation and how they are reacting to it. What an amazing gift! Also, the look on William’s face AFTER his first meditation sessions, relaxed and serene was the answer I had been looking for.

Now I don’t want to bash the fidget spinner, used for short sessions, it’s fun and teaches kids about physics etc, but what I discovered was that instead of us filling our kids lives with a kaleidoscope of  spinning activities, maybe just sitting and breathing is one of the best activities we can encourage them to do this summer.

Be still,

And know,

I AM.

I think teaching children that they are powerful beings, (So hum) is sustainable and that is really what this blog is about.(Helping Our Planet Earth) I want my kids to feel like they have total control over how they view their world and their choices they make on their path.

The quote I started this blog post with is, “If every eight year old is taught meditation in the world, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.” ~Dalai Lama~

Well I have an eight year old, AND my greatest wish FOR HIM, is that there is peace in the world.

While I want my children well educated, and to develop talents and gifts that will build their self confidence, I think the most important thing I could ever give them is a light illuminating a path to themselves. The bread crumbs to their soul is their breath. So I don’t know about you, but that fidget spinner is staying in the drawer this summer, and the kids and the kids and I am going to be still together and breathe.

 

The benefits of meditation for children are HUGE. And this quote from an article called, “Five Reasons Children need to meditate.” says it all. “Did you know that regular practice of meditation has several beneficial effects on our children’s emotional, mental and intellectual development? Yes, it helps children tune into themselves, sleep better and develop better social interactions.”  

What is funny to me about this is, if it cost something, maybe we would put more value in it. If we had to stand in line to get it, we would desire it more and if it was hard to find, we would all want it. But, the amazing thing is it is free for all of us. It’s easy, obtainable, and something we all have access to. I don’t know about you, but I want THAT for my kids;

Peace of mind, peace in the world.

Thankfully summer is the perfect time to introduce such a practice.

Want to join us?

If you would like to listen to the “Peaceful Piggy,” story I found a Youtube video which I have linked below. If you have a little one in your life, watch it with them and ask them to sit with you for a few minutes, focus on their breath and find a mantra that works for you. .

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and be a peaceful piggy too.

Blessings from
Hope

 

Feels like Coming Home

/ Lee Reynolds

Have you ever lived in a place, or has there ever been a time in your life when you felt totally grounded? You know that feeling of belonging, when everything is humming YOUR tune? Everyone is supportive, and even if there are those who aren’t singing your song, you are strong enough to carry the main chorus line and belt out the words, even if you are a bit off key?

Isn’t it a great place to be?

It’s feels like coming home.

It’s like knowing this was the place you were meant to be.

I recently was fortunate to be able to return to what I call my home town. It wasn’t a place where I was born, nor was it a place where I lived for many years. And in the scope of my life, I was only there for a brief moment in time. Those five years, from when I was twelve to almost eighteen, were long enough for me to know I had found my place in the world.

After my father was killed in a company truck accident on the Hope/Princeton highway when I was five years old, life as I knew it was shattered. The next year my mother moved my next oldest sister and I to the nearby, larger community of Chilliwack. We left behind my other two older sisters. One was finishing high school and the oldest, was starting her banking career with the Bank of Montreal in Hope.

My memories of our time in Chilliwack were dark and lonely. I felt lost and was desperately trying to find my footing in the world. Nothing about my new community or the people in it made me feel safe or secure. I tried to fit in by joining our church choir and making some neighbourhood friends, but it never felt like home. Thankfully, that depressing time of my childhood ended six years later, when my mom married my step dad, “Bud,” (John Ray Finch who was a Customs Officer) and we started our new life together in the small town of Creston, where Bud had been transferred with the Federal Government.

Creston, is a small, quaint town (at the time the population was well under 5,000 people) located in the South Eastern corner of British Columbia in the Kootenay region, nestled between the towering Purcell and Selkirk mountain ranges. When we moved there, I’m sure there were only a few traffic lights through main street and everyone stopped to visit at the downtown post office to catch up on the latest happenings. It was the kind of place that when you moved into a neighbourhood in the morning, by dinner time, most of the town folk knew your story better than you did yourself.

The thing I loved about it best, was when there was a tragedy, the whole town came together to deal with whatever crisis was afoot. This coming together was the strong backbone of Creston. Early in it’s history, as the town’s economy grew, the criminal element  arrived, but in October 1925, when two men attempted to rob the Imperial Bank of Canada, the entire community, including school children, banded together to capture the robbers and half of the stolen money.

 

Capturing a bit of the farm land as we drove into town….see the blue flax flowers next to the cement barrier

That kind of strong community caring was the heart of Creston then and now.

When a new baby was born, the whole town rejoiced and when one of Creston’s own passed away, the whole town grieved. It was a place where everyone was connected (many were related!) and each person made a difference in the lives of others.

What made everything even more perfect, at least for me, was the historic old character home we purchased at the top of the hill on 11th Avenue. As soon as I walked around the beautifully landscaped 1/2 acre property, with curving driveway, I knew I had found my place in the world. Swinging high on the large wooden swing,  centered between two tall elm trees at the back of the property, it felt like the house was welcoming me home.

The house had been built around 1910 and retained the charm of formality and distinction of the era. After having shared a small house with my mom and older sister J in Chilliwack, I  happily settled into this grand house and luxuriated in my huge upstairs bedroom that had views out to the garden from two sides. My mom decorated my room in cool floral purple and greens, popular in the 70’s and. I covered my walls with posters that would light up above my glowing black light. My favourite poster was one of the cartoonist’s, Charles Schulz’s dog, “Snoopy,”  dancing with his nose in the air, surrounded by flowers and the sentiment under his feet was, “Feeling Groovy.”

This idyllic time in my life was shared by my contented, newlywed parents, who settled easily into this small town life and quickly became a piece of the fabric, in the old fashion quilt that made up Creston. Our home was always a social hub full of friends and visiting family, who shared in our joy and laughter. My step dad Bud used to look at me with twinkling eyes, wiggling his ears and say, “making memories,” when we were in the midst of a fun occasion.

Sadly, after 5 brief years, my step dad decided to apply for a position in the Okanagan Valley, (he had commuted to the border at Kingsgate crossing for us to live in Creston all that time and was tired of spending so much time on the road) and we sold our beautiful old home.Mom and I cried as we were packing as she too knew it had been a healing gift in our lives. My parents moved and started the next chapter of their lives with an empty nest and I stayed back in Creston to complete the latter half of grade 12. After that, since there were few opportunities for work, I moved with my girl friend Karen in her little Volkswagon bug, and we planned to seek our fortune in Calgary. It was there, that I met my husband David, and well, that is a total other story all together.

David and I have lived in many locations since then but I have never found a community or experienced a time in my life when I felt like I was living in a Norman Rockwell painting. Or at least that was my perspective, BEFORE returning to Creston. Deciding to attend my 40th grad reunion was mixed with varying emotions. The main one was that we still have young children and had to make arrangements for their care but we also had many big family events leading right up to the first long weekend in July and I didn’t know if I was going to be up to leaving the family.

Our son Harrison graduated from his high school in mid June and then there were year end music concerts, a grade 8 piano exam for our fourteen year old daughter Grace Elizabeth, a ballet recital for our youngest daughters, Kathryn and Victoria and our youngest son, William, turned eight years old on June 25th, the weekend before the reunion. Life was really busy right up until the end of the month. Add to all of this, my cool gardening gig  didn’t end until mid month and I had a ton to do in my own garden….notice I haven’t blogged for ages! I went back and forth whether I would attend, then one day my husband David said, “Lee, you are going to regret it if you don’t go so contact them and tell them your coming.” With that support I made a commitment to attend the reunion.

You never know when you are going to walk through another door/gate, what you will find and what insights will be yours.

This is a picture of the gate house at the back of our old home in Creston….a wrought iron fence circles the whole property now with big stone pillars.

So with tearful goodbyes from our little ones, we headed out early on June 30th for Creston. As soon as we arrived in my little hometown and I saw the two large, now paint faded grain elevators, I knew I was home. Memories of poignant times and the people I shared those experiences with came flooding back to me as we slowly drove down main street, almost as if no time had transpired since I had left 40 years earlier.

David and I spent a bit of time driving around town seeing the new sights but really not much had changed. I was thrilled to find the Ramada hotel where we had booked was new and modern. It was on the outskirts of town where we used to board our horses and while looking out the hotel window I was thinking back to a time that I would come home from school, grab my leather bridle and putting it over my shoulder, would ride my bike out to our horse’s pasture. I’d give my big Thouroughbred/Quarter horse a handful of oats and jump on her bare back and we would head up the mountain or out along the flats.

David and I settled easily into the large hotel room with pillows turned at fancy angles and the toilet paper’s edges folded neatly. This was a nice change from our last experience at the Hacienda motel back in 1987 for our class’s ten year reunion. We freshened up for the Friday night meet and greet, which was at Jimmy’s pub downtown Creston. My palms were sweaty and I was nervous as I moved into the dimly lit banquet room and I was shocked to discover that I hardly recognized anyone. When did we get so OLD! But I guess after 30 years a lot of life had occurred for many of us. Thankfully I spotted Cheryl, who was on the grad committee. She was checking in everyone and giving the grads their name tags, which believe me, WE NEEDED! She had been so lovely welcoming me to come to the reunion even though I had missed the registration deadline by months!

 

Cheryl and Cindy on the Friday night meet and greet..one of the things we chatted about were “kids these days!”

David and I mulled around the room, nervously eyeing name tags but what worked best for me was looking into my classmates eyes, since I believe eyes are the windows to the soul and the soul is ageless. We had a few meaningful conversations and big hugs when I found my peeps but it had been such a long day so David and I left the pub by 10:30 and headed back to the hotel with my head reeling over the fact that I probably have aged as much as my classmates. Having young children keeps one too busy to think about aging but it was hitting me in the face….I was 57! Huh…when had that happened!

After a good sleep in the cool hotel room, it felt strange waking up on my own accord and not being slammed by three little bodies all asking whether it was a pancake or waffle Saturday. I was missing the little ones, and the big ones already but I knew I was going to be back in the throes of everyday life soon, so we got up, had breakfast and headed to Creston’s Saturday Farmer’s Market.

David picked up a freshly roasted coffee and a few fragrant baked cinnamon buns. We strolled along looking at the various vendors wares and finally stopped to admire an artist’s tent. We were fortunate to be able to have a chat with the very talented and personable, Bruce Paterson. Since the bell was just being rung for the 9 am start, we had caught Bruce still setting up and as he did, I walked around his tent while he shared a bit of his background and history. Before we left I chose one of his etchings of Creston’s famous grain elevators which you can see in the background of the picture above.

Here is the etching I picked up from Bruce’s tent….looks like a photo hey?

After that we drove up 11 Ave, to my old house on top of the hill. I had tears in my eyes as we drove around the side and the front which still has a no through road in front of it. It was still so private. David stopped the car and turned off the engine and I went down memory lane seeing my mom cutting flowers to put in her favourite crystal vase on our antique dining room table. She went in the house and my gaze went to my step dad Bud who was peacefully weeding our vegetable garden. I hadn’t realized that coming home was going to open a window of grief for my step dad who died 32 years ago, and for my mom who passed away just five years ago. She would have loved to have seen our  old home again. It felt good to know someone must love the house as much as we did, since the house and grounds were well cared for.

My bedroom was the upstairs one on the left of the house with a view over the front and side yard
It was nice to see that the owners had retained the driveway that wrapped around the house
The little playhouse beside the raised beds was the scene for some great sleepover parties in the summer
This is the view from the side of the yard from 11th Ave….the trees have grown tall and broad
Mom would have loved this lush clematis and flowers in the front yard
The tall elm trees that used to ring the drive way are long gone due to the Dutch Elm disease but it’s nice to see that other trees were planted. I love the gate house…makes it feel like a manor

Still reeling from memories, we drove down to Goat River where I used to ride my horse Blondie on a hot summer’s day. My horse friends would join me and we would swim with our horses and spend the entire day cooling off in the deep pools and slow moving river. Relaxing on a log, David and I ate our cinnamon buns and drank our tea/coffee. My beautiful Palomino has been gone for years now but she lived again in my memories while visiting the river.

David scouring the river side beach, looking for small boulders for my garden

 

David and I at Goat River…isn’t this what teens do now….selfie shots?

Then we headed into town and grabbed sandwiches and drinks and headed up to Kootenay Lake where as a teen, I used to congregate with the rest of my class. While I couldn’t find our old beach turn off at, “Twin Bays,”instead we drove far up the lake and found a great Provincial park We ate our lunch beside a creek, which was tree-lined and dappled by the sun shining through the branches.

After that we found a almost deserted beach and spent most of the afternoon talking about our childhoods and I shared many more Creston memories with David. Everywhere I went the memories kept flooding back. Being on that beach reminded me of a time that I went across the lake with some friends and we spent the weekend camping in our own summer commune. We played music using a generator, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and for the first time I started to feel what it would be like to be an adult since I had recently graduated and my days were my own.

David at a beach on Kootenay lake…do you think those rocks in the foreground are too big to bring back to the Okanagan?

 

David and I stop at a tourist spot up at Kootenay Lake

When we returned to town, we toured around the countryside and inhaled the farm and agriculture life, which is still the main force in the area’s economy. For instance, the area produces the largest crop of cherries in the Northern hemisphere, which surprised me since I thought the area I live in, (the Okanagan Valley) was leading the cherry production. It was nice to see quaint Organic farms and cottage- like industries established all over the rural area. Obviously people had discovered the charm of Creston and with some creativity, were creating a sustainable lifestyle. It made me smile to see Creston thriving.

We returned to our hotel rather tired after a hot day touring but more than that, surprisingly there was a lot of emotion swirling around my head. It was nice to walk into our air-conditioned hotel room and after having a warm bath, we slipped under the white sheets and had a late afternoon siesta. When was the last time we napped? It felt like pure luxury! Waking up rather late and a bit groggy, we hurriedly dressed for the evening event and headed for the Creston Golf and Country Club. It was a lovely venue along another beautiful country road, even if the mosquitos were bad but hey, where can you go this summer to escape their invasion?

I was hungry after a day of touring around, so it was really nice to be seated in an area that was first up to eat. The food was delicious but I was more interested in hearing about everyone’s lives who were seated at our table. We talked about our communities, children, grand children, work life, retired life, and of course high school memories.

As the evening unfolded it was lovely to catch up with my classmates. It was interesting discovering where they now called home, whether they had found a partner in life, if they had had families, what they had chosen to do for a living and what their dreams were now. I looked into the beautiful, expressive eyes of one of my dear friends and asked, “Loren, are you happy?” and her smile said it all before she nodded and said, “oh yeah.”

That is all I truly wished for my classmates; for them to be happy; for them to have come home to themselves.

Our grad coordinating committee were amazing!…here playing a few trivial games during dinner….Cheryl and Ellen are those types of people who like great wine, just get better with time. Thanks for all your hard work!

 

“Loren, are you happy?” I asked. “Oh yeah!” she said with a huge smile while nodding her head. (Loren with partner Randall)

 

Alanna, it was lovely to “BEE” with you again. Seriously, you have inspired me to take a course on bee keeping for my homestead
Karen, next time we will play golf with you at the lovely Creston Golf course….I may need a few years to improve my drive

 

(From l to r…Bev, Jo Ellen, Loren and me…aka Hope/Lee/Debbie) I’ve known these wonderful people since grade 7….I’ll never forget when Loren asked if I wanted some of her recess snack in grade 7….you know you have found good people when they are willing to share their food!

 

My husband David (on the left) actually pretended jokingly that he was a fellow grad…he had convinced a few people he actually was in the class of 77 with us in Creston…such a joker! (Randall and Dave…my grad friend’s partners)
|”When twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with a star, know you have a friend somewhere, though she may wander far”…..twilight with the girls
Terry Mah and his beautiful wife, Wince Chau-Mah…life’s good!

 

It was lovely chatting with Debbie and her husband Gary over dinner.
Cheryl and Shirley with their beautiful smiles and sweet spirits

On the long Sunday drive back to the Okanagan, I reflected on my experience going home and realized that I hadn’t ever really left Creston. I carried a piece of Creston deep inside of me and it had been there ever since I left.You see, while I was there, it healed that little girl who was floundering to find her place in the world. It gave me a sense of belonging; gave me the courage and strength to head out on my own and create a life of my own design, with the belief that no matter where I went, I would find goodness.

Along my life’s journey I discovered that home is inside each of us and as we move through the world with a secure, loving feeling, we can help others feel that they belong too. Small town caring can change the WHOLE world and make it a better place. Who knew?

~Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere; and           sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself.~

Isn’t it good to be home?

Wilgress lake

On the drive back to the Okanagan, returning to our family, we stopped at the most peaceful spot; Wilgress Lake. There were two white resin chairs on the dock just calling our name. While watching the iridescent wings of the dragon flies flit around, I reflected on how great life was; there was always something incredible around the next corner. All you have to do is LET GO and sometimes you have to say, “goodbye” knowing you take a piece of everything with you.

You are always home!

Before you close, I hope you join me in listening to a song that reminds me of Creston. This is dedicated to my old hometown and the people in it. My heart says, “thank you!”

If you can’t click on the link below, hit the hyper-link to connect to Chantal Kreviazuk’s song, “Feels like Home.”

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope (aka by my fellow grads as “Deb Clark””