Living Sky

The thing about living in the outskirts

of small town Saskatchewan is

you can't beat the sunrises in the dead of winter.

Every morning it happens.

The darkness gives way to light.

The blackness makes room for

flaming reds and oranges.

The skies open up as the sun slowly

turns night time into day.



And though the days are short

and the trees and fields are bare,

there is no shortage of beauty here

in the Land of the Living Sky.

A Tiger Can't Change Its Stripes

My mother often tells the story of when I was a little girl. It was the dead of winter and although I have heard it many times, I cannot remember how old I was. Three? Maybe four? She tells the story of how she was outside with me for hours and she was chilled to the bone and yet I never wanted to come inside. After she could stay out no longer she brought me in where I would cry my little heart out, still dressed in my snow suit, and lie in the back porch, just wishing to be back outside in the snow. Skip ahead forty years later and the same story can still be told except now I can stay out longer if I want to.

I am a winter person. Always have been, always will be. I love it when the temperatures drift below freezing. I check the weather forecast and hope for snow.

How else can you tell which little animals have visited your yard as you slumbered? Did a coyote run nearby or a deer walk past the driveway? I recall, when I lived in Northern Alberta for one winter, the wonder I felt walking to the post box following in the footsteps of a mule deer who had passed this very way just a few hours ago. Or did a squirrel try to steal seed from the bird feeder even though you left hazelnuts out in a pile in the back yard?

These familiar mouse tracks leading up to the pile of seeds that someone left behind (shh!) and then leading into the garage door. Oops. We won't tell Daddy.

Recently we have been doing a lot more hiking. The snow has been minimal but the temperatures are well above normal. This makes for warm windy days and much more time outside in the natural world.

We are fortunate enough to live on the outskirts of a small prairie town. Just a few steps to the open fields and tree stands. We live a short 15 minute drive to a Provincial Park with nature trails, a beach and some nice canoeing waters. Its the getting dressed and getting out there which is the hardest part but when we do... its just the best!

We do things we've never done. We see things we've never seen. We experience the joy of the natural world. In the book I have been reading for months now (Meditations from the Mat) the author, who is now a Christian Yogi says that if the God of your childhood doesn't work for you anymore, find a new God. In my time communing with Nature I have found my god.

And this year my intention for communing with my god is to visit often, even when I don't feel like making the effort. It is always worth it and I am always glad I went out. My hope is to pass this spiritual experience on to my little girl. I want to show her the wonder of a beautiful sunrise. I want her to hear the melody of birdsong and wonder at the way the seasons change. So far I think it is working. She can find joy in the simple things.

In contrast to this overstimulated, over consuming, over everything world we live in, I choose to honor this love of the outdoors that lives inside me. I will notice the little things. I will be attentive to the subtle shift of light that changes with the seasons. I intend to appreciate that which is right in front of me if I will just be still and notice.

And here is a cow. Just because I thought her cute.

A Blank Page

(google images)

2012.

Looking at that date seems almost futuristic to me somehow.

2012.

Time flies, it really does.

I love new beginnings.

Blank slates.

Clean lined loose leaf just waiting for words to be written on.

2012.

I have always made resolutions.

Some have been successful.

Some... not so much.

Still I make them.

This year I learned a new word.

Intentions.

Sounds much more attainable.

Intensions.

Not so much pressure.

Much less guilt.

Kind of zen-like.

Intentions.

So many areas of focus.

Lifestyle, health, spirit, relationship.

Work, education.

Yoga, meditation, nature.

So many things worthy of my attention.

Limited amount of time in a day.

Limited physical and emotional resources.

Priorities.

Much to share on my new journey.

A path towards a goal.

A goal of balance, well being, peace, health.

Love, above all.

Of Monsters and Other Things.

I don't remember exactly when it happened. I suspect it was a gradual growth process. I don't know if she even knows she did it but...

My Mother created a Christmas Monster!
(no disrespect intended Mom)

Perhaps it is because she loves us all so much that she did it. Perhaps it is she wants to be loved. I hope it isn't because she thinks that gifts are how we show love. More gifts=more love. No, that can't be it. Nevertheless, she created it and passed the monster on to me.

But this year, I am giving it back.

I don't know when it happened for me either. (Keep in mind my monster is not anywhere as big as my Mom's monster, nor as expensive) In the past several years there have been many additions to my gift list. A son-in-law, three granddaughters and now two other men in the family. Add in my 4 girls, my husband and family members and that is a whole lot of gifts! As luck would have it, all four daughters birthdays are in November to January too.

Back to my story, I don't know when I went from a gift for each person to more gifts and more expensive gifts and $$$. You understand. Each year we spent more and more and more. I would usually ask them all for a list of what they wanted and tried my best to get a good part of the gifts. Silly when you think of it. Here is my list, please buy these things. Not really my idea of giving a gift to someone you love. (Note also, my girls are not the "get this or else" type of girls. In fact, they would be satisfied with whatever I got them. Well, most of them would. ;) )  It was all me. All my doing. My husband is absolved as he has no idea what we get  and for whom.  So like I said, this year I am giving the monster back.

Without going into the details much so as not to give anything away, this year I chose the gifts that I wanted them to have. Carefully chose. I am hoping it will mean more to them than checking things of their list.  I am sure it will. I am taking all expectations out of the equation. I am giving them their chosen gift because I love them and I think they will love the gift. Pure heart, best intentions.

And from this holiday on I will have released myself from unrealistic expectations. The very expectations that only I put on myself.


(PS My mother buys gifts for around 30 people and spends thousands of dollars! On a retired persons income. I don't know how she does it?)

Books by Covers

I don't think you can judge a book by its cover, but...
I think you can get a glimpse of someone by several things. Namely... their grocery cart contents, their magazine subscriptions and their library card printouts.

For example: My monthly magazine subscriptions are:

Chatelaine

Canadian Living

Martha Stewart Living

Everyday Food

Country Living

Real Simple

Yoga Journal

Food and Wine

Maclean's

National Geographic

Canadian History

So what does that say about me? I like to practice yoga, keep it simple, decorate, parent and partner. I like to learn history, Canadian and otherwise. I like to keep on top of current events and long for country life.

By the magazines I don't subscribe to you can know I am not into sports. I don't like beauty and fashion and fancy schmancy  stuff. Plain Jane outdoorsy, simple yogini who likes good food and  cheap  good wine.

And my library books for the week, homeschooling books not included:
Well I won't reprint the titles but I think you get the idea.
Same sort of theme only in hardcover.

We are all so unique aren't we? Yet somehow we are all the same. We want to love and be loved. We want to know and be known. We want to learn and to teach, give and receive.

So I wonder, what magazines and books are in your home, waiting to be read? Do you think they paint a portrait of who you are? I'd like to meet you. :)