Wilderness Wonders

Going through photos of past backpacking trips....came across some of my favorite trails and views.

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the river by morning

true and vivid green

part of laughing falls- and they really do laugh

look how far we've come

that waterfall "across the way" is actually very large when you're underneath it

rule of the trail:

don't always look down~for up has a lot to offer

hidden gem

Planning a few summer backpack trips already....one being from my Bucket List- 

the West Coast Trail.

I have ants-in-my-pants to get out there!!

march to the time~

2 weeks ago I boarded this ship:

In 2 more weeks we will be half way through yet another month.

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Earlier today I ate Birthday cake

to celebrate the 9 years I've been blessed with this guy:

{Happy Birthday Ben}

In about 9 more years, he may be leaving home and living out his own moments.

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In approximately 7 hours I will go to sleep.

If I'm blessed with one more day, I will wake up 7 hours later to begin yet another one and fill it with moments.

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It's something how time marches on.

And we have to march along with it regardless if we like the idea or not.

(just like I had to leave that ship ---even though i would have been quite 

content to cruise around on it one more week:)

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Love these lyrics......

This time around is the only time you get
Like an hour glass that can't never be turned again
Once it's done, all you are is who you've been
So sink or swim
I'm diving in
This time around
This time around
Gonna love with all my heart
Do my best not to finish where I start
No regrets
Set my coarse among the stars
No looking back
No pointing back
This time around
Each waking moment's what you make it
Don't let a minute pass you by
This is the only chance
So take it
All you have to do is spread your wings and fly
This time around

                                                                  ~Paul Brandt "This Time Around" 

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I DiD IT!!!!!

Remember this? From ....my bucket list?

Well guess what?! 
I DID it!!!!!!
I actually hit enter and am officially signed up for a real live Olympic Distance Triathlon.
It's not the one in the mountains....but it's close, and the same distance!






I can't really believe I did it....
but for some reason I felt fearless tonight:)

Let the training begin!

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PerSPecTiVe

Perspective.

It's a tricky thing in certain situations.

Lately I seem to be going through a particular "perspective issue"....and try as I might, I cannot seem to wrap my head around the "other perspective".

My own is the only one that seems logical.

So where do you draw a line? Or do you?

~~~

Same situation- but a different take on the matter.

We all are individuals with different methods of reasoning.

Why should my perspective be better than any one else's?

{It shouldn't be.}

I am just looking forward to the day when BOTH perspectives can be appreciated.

I'm not saying I will get to the point of embracing the other view-but I sure hope to understand it to a degree!

That must be the key.....and a tricky one at that.

Each has a right to their own perspective - yet respecting the others take on it is most important regardless of perspective.

Respect.

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P-{erspect}-ive.

(a little word scramble brings it to light:)

Needed: Color

Being away made me realize something....
I don't think it's the lack of sunlight that makes one feel down during winter months.
It's more the lack of color.
I can handle cloudy days....but when all one sees is white?
Craziness settles inside of me.

You can't be at the pole and the equator at the same time.

You must choose your own line, as I hope to do, and it will probably be color.

~Vincent van Gogh

~~~

"and if i had to choose where to be right now....

the equator would win over this 'north pole' for sure!"

~me

Finally home from a Get-Away.....

now trying to return to daily life, schedules, and routines.

Looking forward to getting caught up with all of you.

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Who are YOU??

Someone asked me once how you know who you are.

I find that a frustrating question because there seems to be no definite answer.

I can be a label...a mother, daughter, friend, teacher...but does that make me ME???

I think it's all those little pieces put together- that make you who you are.

Or, at least it begins to outline the person you are.

Because after all these years of living, I'm still trying to figure out just who I am.

{Outline of Me}

1) I love water sports - this includes laying on the beach.
2) I love chocolate. Of course.
3) I plant my garden in my bare feet.
4) I wish I could be a photographer and spend all my days looking for outside things to capture on film.
5) I wish I could live outside. 
6) I don't like feeling surrounded by lots of people....claustraphobic.
7) I would rather eat salty than sweet.
8) I have always wanted to go to Italy. 
9) One day I want to bike across Canada. And I will.
10) Coming back from a trip...I cannot go to bed until my suitcase is unpacked- even if it is 3 in the morning.
11) I HATE a messy house...especially when it is mine!
12) I would rather clean a bathroom than cook or bake:)
13) I am very indecisive...and I hate that about me.
14) I wish I was 2 inches taller.
15) My favorite candy are Bottle Caps.
16) If I could live anywhere it would be on a mountain overlooking the ocean.
17) I am absolutely terrified of flying. TERRIFIED.
18) I've had 4 c-sections...NOT by choice.
19) I can feel very, very alone- even surrounded by people.
20) My favorite color is blue. Every single shade of blue.
21) I wish I could stay 27 forever;)
22) One day I'll run a marathon and do a Half-Ironman. Okay, maybe an actual Ironman would be fun too:)
23) I go to bed late and wake up early. I don't sleep much At All.
24) My favorite food is Mexican. And Thai. And Chinese. Oh...and I love my pizza.
25) I wrote a book 10 years ago and sent it away to get published. It's still sitting in my closet unpublished.

So........Who Are You?
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Simply Real

Maybe this is too simple of a thought.

But sometimes....

....sometimes the beauty of this world takes my breath away.

I wish I could hold it all in my hand if only for one moment.

At times it's hard to believe it's real.

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Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.

"Pooh!" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."

~Winnie the Pooh Quotes

letting go

I have always thought that holding on 

will make you strong.

But maybe it's the letting go that 

makes you stronger.

Hoping you Share

~Sharing is always a good thing~

Unknown Trail...

An unknown trail lures me in.

I want to know what's around every turn.

But don't you wish you could know each turn before you take it?

Then you would never make a wrong decision.

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Lamenting this thought, but then I found this quote:

{{The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.}}

~George Eliot

~~wrong decisions can be our growing places~~

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Running Me

Remember this post?

{Dog Run}

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Well.....things have changed.

The leash is loved- for not all the right reasons.

~~~

We don't just walk and run anymore....

...it's a tug-of-war.

And guess who always seems to win?

happy birthday~sister

To my best friend....

The girl who knows my secrets, fears, and dreams....

Who walks this 'mom-thing' with me, shares her creativity...

And makes me laugh harder than anyone else in the world.

~Have a wonderful Birthday ~

xxoo

Eyes Wide Open

Beauty can be found in the most unexpected of places.
~~~~~~~~
Just keep your eyes wide open
************
(Yoho National Park~
found just under the Ice Line)


(Just wanted you to know my posting and comments on your blogs may be a bit sporadic over the next couple of weeks. (And many of my posts will be scheduled to show up when I'm not:))
I will still come by to visit, but you may not always here from me until things "calm" down around her a tad:))  I'm hoping I will catch up on all of you soon.
~Blog-On, dear friends!)

My flight over the Arctic Plain

So I flew over my field the other day.

It took me to some magnificent scenery:

glaciers, 

windswept plains, 

a beautiful and brilliant landscape....

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All was well until my ski hit a drift and I came crashing back to earth in a tangle of skis and poles.

And a mouthful of snow.

My winter flight was over.

:)

You're welcome to.....

~Come on over and have a seat.

I'll make us something hot to drink.~

{If you dare.}

~~~~~~~~~

Defying The White

 

I have been trying to defy each new winter day that shows up here.
This is my favorite method.


I walk out my back door,
don my skis,
and slide away as fast as possible...hoping to put winter behind me.


Don't get me wrong.
I love seasons- all of them.
But it does seem as though our winter tops them all.
For length.
And darkness.
And cold.
And that white stuff which is never-ending.

When your "colored pictures look like this:

       And your "black & white" like this:

Well....it's sometimes hard to think that my world isn't just black and white.
(If we were talking about moral issues.....black and white is the way to go.)
But when it's my "walk-out-the-door" world.....sometimes black and white gets old.


And it doesn't seem like I'm alone out there.
A wonderful person, Heather~~~(from Bellarosabikes), who I've met through blog~land, 
is somewhere out there trying to defy these winter months as I. 
And her, if "you can't beat it~~~join in" attitude is one I hold on to.


So for the next, oh.....3 or 4 months.....
(***given Alberta's past record on winter-longevity, 
  **the looks of the piles of snow out my door, 
    *oh- and the 40km winds that are to begin this morning bringing more snow       
      and a cold front through....)
we have this white stuff to defy.


Bring on the ice skating......

  









Good hockey games down at the lake.

{Let's defy another

long winter of white.}

Mile runs down my gravel road, 

watching yet another winter day make its appearance.....

Each day can be a beautiful thing.

{Regardless of never-ending white.....}

(sigh)

Guarding the Sunset

This tall spruce is in my front yard.

He guards every sunset there is.

A ladder is propped against his trunk, and those who dare to, 

climb his branches.

I planted small spruce trees around him a few summers ago.

I am hoping that one day those little ones will follow in his footsteps. 

For this reason, he must stand on guard and watch his step.

Those who are coming behind, may be watching closely to see how it's done.

~~~