This is what the lake and surrounding hills looked like on Christmas day 2014..so much for a white Christmas And then, this was a picture from our deck yesterday, January 5th, 2015. Looks like winter is finally here And not only has winter finally arrived but yesterday and today were SNOW DAYS! I don’t …
I had many creative ideas and things I wanted to share with all of you over the holidays but once December came, an avalanche of birthday parties, Christmas affairs, concerts and basketball games over took me. There really wasn’t even time for me to do my usual monumental baking fest. All I was able to …
Cranberry Bliss Bars and Eggnog Lattés~Happy Holidays Read More »
Welcome December and my busiest month of the year. Welcome to The Spa at Orchard Ridge As if this month isn’t busy enough, we have three children who all have birthdays in the next couple of weeks. We eat a lot of cake this month. Clark our oldest son, will turn 22 on December 20th …
After a really tough week, yes another tough week, I’m so very grateful. If you have been following along with what’s going on in my life, things have been falling apart around here; zippers, dryers, furnaces, and then on the weekend I broke a tooth while eating popcorn watching a movie. Yes, I’m doing the …
Oh the blessing of free will. Some may call it a curse. Some may call it a gift. Last week, I made a number of excellent choices and then some that, in hindsight, I wished I had not made. But then even as I write these words I know, even our worst choices bring insights …
This was a shot from our deck at 7:30 this morning…our first snowfall of 2014 To put you in the mood as you read this blog post, play the following YouTube video clip. It’s from one of my favourite Christmas movie’s called, “White Christmas.” It’s called, “Snow.” (click on the hyper-link if you can’t view …
My dryer is broken. My Ruby red LG dryer–broken dryer You may remember reading last week about my belief in Murphy’s law, coinciding with D’s business trips. Something ALWAYS happens when he goes out of town. Of course, if I truly believe in the law of attraction, which I do, I will start reciting this …
Today was pajama day at the twins preschool. They have been talking about it since last week when their teachers gave them a sneak preview of the upcoming event. I kind of wish they hadn’t done that, since every night since then, before they went to bed, they asked with hopeful smiles, “is …
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. ~An excerpt from Laurence Binyon’s poem, “They Shall Grow Not Old”~ What does Remembrance day and lentil soup have …
Dearest blog readers, I’m sorry I haven’t written many posts this week but it’s been a birthday week for me. First, to celebrate my best friend T’s birthday on the 5th, and then mine yesterday. I’ve spent the whole week being introspective and reflecting on my wishes the last time I blew out a blaze …
“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart” – Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor was right on. She must have had a really good friend to inspire her to write the above quote. Does that friend still send ripples of love out into the …
This year I made a scary Farmer out of paper mache and surrounded him with pumpkin friends Over our front entrance is a large spider made out of a stuffed garbage bag It’s over for another year! Spooky memories and fun dress up moments are behind us. My camera packed with oodles of pictures …
BOO! Okay, so you’re not scared. It’s only a picture of our twins, trying on the Halloween outfit they will wear to their preschool party on Friday. I couldn’t resist though as they were so darn cute. But going back to the word,”BOO!” Was I ever a bit scared four years ago this week, when …
The Places That Scare You!~Chicken Casserole with Chocolate Cake Read More »
When you’re finally up at the moon looking back on earth, all those differences and nationalistic traits are pretty well going to blend, and you’re going to get a concept that maybe this really is one world and why the hell can’t we learn to live together like decent people. — Frank Borman, Apollo …
This is a view of the lake outside of the cafeteria A week ago today, D and I were listening attentively to all the speakers (there were 8 in total) at our local Urban Farm Symposium. The location could not have been better, as we were in the cafeteria at our local College, which is …
Food for Thought….A Day at our Urban Farm Symposium Read More »
It’s TGIF day (thank God it’s Friday)! I feel like I have to spell out that acronym since my 15 year old didn’t have a clue when I said it this morning. He is always making fun of me for my lack of social media expertise and other computer tech skills but there are still …
I’ve been holding my breath ever since Will started kindergarten a month ago. Today I exhaled. There is a lot of history here which I could never start to share completely with you but I will give you a peak into the last 6 years. Well, actually it goes farther back than that. …
Thanksgiving 2014 is behind us and while I missed two of our older children, Alyssa teaching in the U.K. and Mitchell, studying at the University of Victoria, there was still much to be thankful for. For instance, I’m very grateful that there is such a thing as Skype. When my sister J traveled …
Thanksgiving Vegetable Dishes and Liver Support with Beets Read More »
Is this a road you would like to walk? Call it synchronicity or what but have I been talking about the law of attraction lately on my blog? Well guess what? My favourite teachers, Dr. Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey, are running a FREE “Energy of Attraction” meditation challenge that begins on November 3, 2014. …
Warm sunshine, blue skies and the scent of apples fills the air as we get ready to celebrate Canada’s Thanksgiving weekend. It’s been a busy week but truly glorious. Last Saturday, was the twin’s bike a thon fundraiser for their preschool. I was at a loss how to decorate their bike, yes, singular, since our …
L Last Friday, I experienced another law of attraction experience. The day started much as it always does with a hurried scramble to deliver all the children to their various school settings. While the twins were at preschool, I spent the morning doing some birthday shopping for D, whose birthday is on October 9th. I …
Lately, most of my blog posts have been about things that inspire me and I could write from this place forever, BUT I don’t want to give you the wrong impression about my homestead. Behind every inspiring moment there is a ton of work going on. I don’t know about you but I’m a list …
My 5 year old son, Will woke up early this morning. TOO early. “Time to get up Mommy,” he sang out to me as he bounced around my bed. I cracked an eye open to peak at the clock beside my bed and groaned, “Will, it’s too early to get up.” With that he crawled …
Chocolate Quinoa Cake AND Symptoms of Inner Peace Read More »
“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”~Mother Teresa~ If we REALLY believe we are ALL connected on this earth and ripples of kindness can touch the WHOLE world, then what is stopping us from giving even a little each day. The other day when I was at our Super Store …
What does a Caesar salad and living fully, have in common? Very little, unless you look at it from my perspective. A few events and experiences in the last week have inspired this blog post and finally this morning everything is formulating clearly in my mind. If you aren’t interested in the connection, then scroll …