THE LOVING TREE

A few weeks ago, on our camping trip to Digby Neck, we came across an amazing, magical little place. In the forest were two old apple trees side by side, their trunks entwined. From their gnarly branches, and from the other trees in the grove, hung hundreds of multicolored hearts with names and dates of individuals who had come before us. There were hearts of all kinds scattered along the ground that had blown off in previous storms, and weathered hearts where the writing was no longer visible.

We were mesmerized as we stood reading all the different inscriptions made by lovers, families and friends. The birds in the forest were singing, adding to the magic, and we were shaded from the warm day by the old branches of the apple tree as we silently read the many names and dates on the various hearts hanging there above us.

When I read the little poem on the apple tree I was reminded how beautiful the love of two people can be, and what it can produce. My husband and I held hands under the apple tree and smiled to one another. We are like the apple trees, two but as one, entwined together our roots running deep. We weather each storm as one, holding on to one another, our love and devotion giving us strength to endure what ever life holds. And as we stood and looked at our amazing children there with us, we truly were able to see what beautiful fruit love brings.

We added our own hearts to the tree, and they now swing in the breeze under the old apple trees. Our names added to the many others before us, who walked beneath the canopy of the forest and paused to reflect on what it means to love and be loved.

The poem on the apple tree


 

And as we walked away, my son snapped a picture of us. It was of our heart between us, linking us together as one. I love you my hubby, forever and always.

 

 

 

 

 

SCHOOLS OUT

So school is out and suddenly two faces are staring at me as if to say, well, what's the plan? Now, because we are a one income family, the plan doesn't consist of a lot of high priced ideas. We really needed to brain storm and think of ways to have fun, while not spending bucket loads of money in the mean time. We do have a couple of trips planned this summer, one camping in Newfoundland and a week at a cottage, but other than that, our days stretch out before us, unplanned.

So after some discussion about what would keep us all happy and occupied we came up with Geocaching. It's something I have only tried a couple times, and had a blast, and it is something I think my kids are really going to enjoy. It's going to get us out of the house, and in to the woods. It's also going to make us even more familiar with our community and the surrounding areas, and get us exercising as well.

For those of you not familiar with Geocaching,  it is an activity where you use a GPS ( Global Positioning System ) to hide and seek containers called caches. Some of these have prizes, so you take one and replace it with something else, and they will have a notebook that you can sign. It's a really good way of getting outdoors and gives the kids a purpose, instead of just saying hey, lets go for a walk. It's like a treasure hunt, but with coordinates. When you visit the official Geocaching website, you can log in and find all the different caches in your area, or for any area you will be visiting, because Geocaches are found all over the world.

The kids are very excited about it, and so am I. I have ordered my GPS and am looking forward to its arrival next week, and then we can begin our summer journeys. Of course I will be letting you know all about our mishaps and adventures along the way, and if any of you out there enjoy this hobby as well, let me know any tips you may have to help us get started.

So other than that, I think we will be spending time at the lake swimming, going to the beach, tending the veggie garden and hanging around the house. Sounds like a pretty good summer to me. Now if only this rain would let up, we could actually get out there and enjoy some of the things we are planning to do. Hmmm, maybe I should be planning some indoor activities too.

THE EDIBLE CATTAIL

So all these years I've driven past them on the road, seen them growing in the marsh, and they are a major inhabitant of my neighbours pond, but I never knew they were edible. The all too common Cattail is apparently a wealth of nourishment and a host of many medicinal properties. When I was on Facebook this morning my favorite Chef, Chef Michael Smith posted a recipe for Cattails. I immediately thought to myself, what? Cattails? Don't they grow in the ditch on the side of the road? So I immediately turned to Google for the answer of course. And what I found was a wealth of information. Not only can you eat them, they provide a year round source of nourishment. I found a website that explains all the different uses for the Incredible Cat Tail and I was blown away by how many different uses it has.

Now am I going to give it a try? I don't know. I wonder what my neighbours will think when they see me in rubber boots, stealing the Cattails out of their pond. Well in all honesty, they probably won't think much, they know me well enough to know I have some pretty wild ideas. But whether or not I will get up the nerve to cook it and try it, I'm not sure.

But what this new little piece of knowledge has done for me, is raised an interest in what different plants are edible in the environment around us. I would love to go through the forest with someone that has knowledge about different plants and how to eat them. It would be so interesting and I would be so excited to find out what different things around me I could utilize. Not just in everyday life, but also in an emergency situation, if one should find themselves lost or stranded in the woods for any period of time.

Once again, nature has surprised me, as it does everyday. I can only imagine what other things are out there just waiting for me to discover.

As for trying the Cattails, if I do get up the nerve to give it a go, you will be the first to know. And if anyone out there has ever tried them, please comment or email me. I would be really curious to find out the best way to eat them, prepare them, and utilize them to the best of their potential. And to my neighbours, if you see someone in your pond, with knee high rubber boots and knife, don't be afraid, its just crazy old me. And don't worry I'll invite you for supper if you dare.

FLOWERS IN THE GARDEN

How I love the different varieties of flowers that grow around this area, whether they were planted or grow wild, I adore them all. From the Lupins that line the curvy country roadsides, their blue and pink spires nodding in the wind, to the Begonia's in my hanging baskets, flowers bring joy and happiness in to ones life.

When I walk through the garden or in to the forest it always amazes me how nature has a plan. As one type of flower dies off, another grows and blossoms giving us a tremendous display of beauty. It's as if nature is putting on a show. Their many different blossoms provide sweet nectar for the all the creatures that need it, and each plant has a purpose to its place here on earth. Just like people. We all have a purpose here on earth as well. And just as in the plant world, as one dies off another is born.

And for me, I see beauty in the weeds as well. They also blossom,grow flowers and serve a purpose. What some may find a nuisance and pull from the ground, I let them abound, surrounding my yard with beauty. We can take lessons in life from nature. In our world some of us see some people as weeds, and try to remove them from our existence, declaring them a nuisance,  when they only long to have their beauty and worth appreciated as well.

 

I truly believe that if we, as a society looked to nature, and listened and followed what it has to teach us, our lives would be richer and fuller, and we could live in more harmony than we do today. There will always be bad people, and bad things happening, I'm not that naïve, but I do believe that if we took a gentler approach to life, it would be more peaceful and happy, compared to the way a lot of the world is living today. Now I know what you're thinking. I should get out my flowered dress, my sandals, my colored glasses and call it a day. But honestly, if you think about it, this planet creates miracles every day. And nature even has a way of dealing with itself. It creates storms, forest fires and earthquakes to name a few. And as devastating as these things are, when it is all said and done there is a resurgence and regrowth and change that occurs after these events take place.

This planet has had it figured out from the start. We should really take notice and follow its example to the best of our ability. We should stop and listen and watch as nature take its course. The lessons it holds for us, are priceless.

 

 

 

WHAT IS DANGER?

Well the weekend is over and it's back to reality.

I spent the weekend at a SAREX for CASARA. SAREX stands for Search and Rescue Exercise and CASARA is Civil Air Search and Rescue. What an amazing time. I met so many like minded individuals and learned so much about the process of how Search and Rescue works, and how it is co ordinated should a real search occur. I also received some amazing spotter training, and am starting to feel a little more confident should a real search occur.

The great thing about the weekend is that I was able to log a lot of time in the aircraft, and every hour counts towards becoming certified. I love being in the air in a small plane. To me there is nothing better than gazing down below and seeing the beautiful landscapes and scenery whip by. For me, everything in my mind disappears and I can just take in all the beauty that the earth holds for us.

Now there are a lot of people that tell me what I'm doing is dangerous. And yes, they are right, it is somewhat dangerous. Flying 500 ft off the ground in a search holds an element of danger because there isn't a lot of room for recovery should you experience an engine failure. But the thing is, life is dangerous. I mean, no one is getting out alive right?

 And last night something happened that put it all in to perspective for me. We had arrived back home and were eating our supper. It was a lovely meal of Beef Tenderloin, Salad and Sweet Potato. Yummy. As I was eating I inhaled and was suddenly choking. I could barely breathe. And it was scary. My husband was very calm and was able to help me and I got it out and all was ok. But what struck me was that after all that "Dangerous" flying we did all weekend, I came home and choked on a piece of meat, and that could have been the end for me. No dramatic plane crash. Nope, just good old fashioned choking to death. And it really made a big impact on me. We all know life is fatal, and we never know how or when it is going to happen. It could be today, tomorrow, fifty years from now. I really don't know. But what I do know is that I am going to do the things that make me happy and give me personal satisfaction. I'm not going to miss out on life because something holds an element of danger.

Now I'm not saying it's ok to go out and be reckless and take silly chances. That's not what I mean. But I do think we need to be happy as human beings. So if you have always wanted to go skydiving, do it. If you've always wanted to go scuba diving, do it. Find what makes you feel satisfied, what makes you happy, what makes you feel alive, and go for it.  We aren't all the same and we don't all want to go flying or skydive. But the point is, life is so short, it can be erased at any moment, so don't miss out on something you want to do out of fear. Because in the end, all it could be is a little piece of meat that takes you down.

So I'm going to continue to fly. I may even renew my pilot's license again ( don't tell my Mom ) and I'm going to experience all the joy that it brings me. And the best part of it all, is that my husband and best friend shares my passion for flight. We were able to enjoy our time learning together as a couple. And as we flew home yesterday in the back of a Cessna 172, he put his arm around me and I snuggled against his chest as the world passed beneath us. And for a little while all was perfect in my world.

Below are some pictures of our amazing weekend.

 

STAY AT HOME MOM

This morning I am sitting here gazing out the window at the trees, sipping tea, and now writing the blog post for the day. It is so quiet in the house. I don't have any music playing or dishwasher going, or anything that would interrupt the silence. All I hear is my fingers tapping the keys on the keyboard and my dog snoring at my feet. It is a blissful feeling.

Being a stay at home Mom has so many great qualities, and I love it. But it isn't always easy. Sometimes, when my husband leaves in the car to go to work, and my kids hop on the school bus I can feel a little left out. They are living life "out there" and I'm here at home. Everyone comes home at the end of the day full of stories and things that happened that day, and I talk about my garden, my chickens and something funny the dog did. But having been both a working Mom and a Stay at Home parent, I know which one I would choose hands down.

Being home and taking care of my family is a very rewarding experience. I have had many jobs in life that have drained me of energy, taken me away from my family and exhausted me to the core.  I have the utmost respect for any parent out there who works and has a family. There is nothing harder than commuting home after a long day, picking up the kids from daycare, going home exhausted and still having to make a meal, do the laundry, go to ballet, go to soccer, do the homework, and maybe have some time for your husband, before falling in to an exhausted slumber, only to wake up in the middle of the night, with a list a mile long racing through your head of what you need to get done the next day. Did that project get done? Did I sign that permission form for my son? How I am going to fit in that dentist appointment?

I remember one very pivotal moment for me. It was the usual crazy start to the work day. We had rushed out of the house that morning and then had to sit in traffic because there was an accident on the bridge. This of course made us late, so when I arrived at daycare to drop off my daughter, I was rushing. I kept telling my daughter to hurry up, Mommy's late. Why are you being so slow? Now at this daycare they had a little window and your child would stand in it on a little stool before you left and wave and blow kisses to say goodbye. But this day I forgot because I was so rushed. And I know she must have cried. I felt terrible. Later on that same day, I was at work and happened to glance out the window. There I saw walking down the sidewalk in the city, my daughter with her day care class. One teacher in front, the other behind, the line of little ones holding on to the rope that connected them all as they made their way. And my heart broke in to a million pieces all at once. I saw her little face and her little hands clutching the rope and I wanted to be the one holding her hand. I didn't want to forget to wave goodbye in the window. Well as you can imagine I pounded on the window at my work, and sure enough she looked up, saw me, and blew me a kiss. The funny thing is, she was so small, and she still remembers that. She remembers seeing me in the window at work, having no idea that I was falling apart right there.

Now this moment sparked my need for change. It certainly didn't happen right away. In fact it got worse for a couple years. But because I knew we needed to do something different, I put all of my energy in to making that happen. And it did. I really feel with all my heart that if something isn't right or you are unhappy with your situation, you need to do everything in your power to change it. It may not happen right away, and it may seem like it never will, but if you keep focusing and working towards what it is you really want, you will get there.

As for not working anymore? Well sure I miss it. I miss the social aspect of being with my co workers and having my own identity. I miss the rewards that having a job brings, like personal satisfaction and growth, financial gain, and adult conversation. But I have taken some steps in my life to make sure I don't lose all that. I volunteer with seniors and Civil Air Search and Rescue. I've started writing again and I make sure I get out of the house and interact with others and spend time with good friends. But now, when that big yellow bus pulls up to the house, I'm there. Now, when the school calls to say that one of my kids is sick, I can go get them. And now, I'm the one in the window waving goodbye and blowing kisses as they go off to school.

So when they all go off in to the real world, and I'm here at home and I feel that little pang of wanting to go too, I stop and remind myself to appreciate it for everything it is. Because when I feel left out and down,  I just go back to that day and I hold that picture in my heart of my little girl gazing up at me in the window and blowing me a kiss.

PATRIOTISM

I am very proud to be Canadian, and with Canada Day coming up in a few weeks I thought it would be appropriate to write something about this great country I call home. I know a lot of my readers reside all around the world and I appreciate so much that you take time to visit me here everyday. So I thought I would tell you a little bit about my country and what I think makes this nation great. In return I would love to hear about where you come from, and what you love about where you make your home.

Canada is a vast land that is unique and diverse. We have mountains, prairies, tundra, the arctic, 3 coasts ( the east, the west, and the arctic ) metropolitan cities and small outposts.There are deserts and places packed with ice and snow. There are green valleys and harsh landscapes. We are a nation filled with lakes and rivers, oceans, bays and inlets. We are made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories and we have a population of approximately 35 million people. In fact there are more people in the state of California alone than the amount of people living in Canada. This is amazing in the fact that Canada is approximately 10 000 000 square km. That is a lot of land! 

When we drove across Canada a few years ago I was struck by how diverse this nation is. Not just geographically, but also amongst our citizens. There are so many different cultures in Canada and our country's multiculturalism is something I love the most. People have settled here from all over the world. There are Europeans, Asian, Indians, Australians and Americans just to name a few. And it's wonderful. We are exposed to different languages, cultures, food and clothing. We live side by side in peace, free to have our own religions, and our own cultures. We all live in a world where war is a reality, freedom is not a guarantee, nor is equality. So to live in a nation where we live together peacefully and in harmony is truly a gift that should not be taken for granted or forgotten.

In Canada we also have 2 national languages. French and English. The province of Quebec is where French is most dominant but there are other provinces that have areas that are predominately French as well. Here in Yarmouth and the surrounding areas there are many Acadian communities where French is still the language of choice. I love it.


I  truly feel very lucky and blessed to live in this country. We are a free nation and a peaceful one. We believe in equality and the right to love whom we choose. Each citizen has the right to an education and healthcare. We are known for our politeness and our willingness to help others in times of need.

Now I'm not saying we are perfect by any means and there are a lot of things we can improve on. But all in all, this is a great country. It is beautiful, it is welcoming and it is my home. I love you Canada, our true north strong and free!