Balance Challenges

I’ve blogged lots about balance as it  relates to mental challenges. I’ve blogged about cancer and mental health. I’ve never blogged about MS but I have donated to it. It’s one of those diseases that isn’t obvious when you look at someone so unless you get to know them you don’t even realize what struggles they go through. 

I went to Haiti with a young nurse and mother of 3 who lives with MS. A young friend, Breanne, who went to high school with my son so that’s how young, has MS. She balances her work as a primary years teacher with physical and mental health. She doesn’t let it slow her down and travels extensively despite the fact that MS sometimes makes it tricky to work around. She also regularly goes kayaking and hiking! I’ve also seen the other side of this process when it ravished one of our OR nurses in the prime of her life. 

The story below is of a biking friend who speaks frankly with the MS Society about what it’s really like to live with this disease. So here is  Kate’s Story.

I’m doing a 75 km bike ride up in Waskesiu in September. I’m riding on Kate’s team and am honoured to have been asked to join such an inspiring group. The ride will fun and maybe a bit painful (old tailbone injury) but more important will be the funds raised by team will go to research and treatment for MS. 

This is the link to my Donation Page.

Take care and reflect today on your blessings. I know I am.

Bernie 

Jasper National Park – Take 1

I am quite excited that I know so many people and that means we are going to see Jasper National Park twice. Tonight’s guest blog post has been submitted by a young woman whom I have known for her entire life.

Inspirational Riders

Last night’s rain preempted a gravel bike ride, that would have pushed me hard, with two friends who have inspired me. They have been, in turn, inspired by two friends.

Let me set the scene for you. It’s full of people with inspiration, courage, energy, sadness and hope. 

Summer Sunday Snap Chat

The calendar reminds me that the days are getting shorter. This wheat field is a visual that reinforces that. 

The sunshine hours are so precious and I’m always happy when I’m outside “puttering”. Both the veggie and the flower garden are a source of food and beauty. 

When I’m not puttering I’m usually beside the mason working on the rock wall. I have a love hate relationship with rocks because after three years of back and arm  strengthening work I’m like so “over it” but I can still see the beauty in the rocks. 

The beauty in the next picture is more than skin deep which is good because the skin is messy! First encounter with an Arrowroot  biscuit and while she really enjoyed it the result ensured a bath at Gran’s house.Whether it’s with the camera or your memory it’s good to focus on the positives and the beauty in life. It’s far too easy to get weighted down with all the negatives and the “busy”. 

Bernie 

Ps I know this isn’t snap chat but that’s what I called my little chat that went with the snapped pictures! 

Grasslands Take 2

 

Jot notes in a well worn diary of a self confessed Canadian junkie. One who has been to at least one

Grasslands National Park

I am extremely excited to bring you the first GUEST BLOG POST about our National Parks. For me it’s like a triple win; a Saskatchewan park, the wide open prairies (my spiritual space) and written by an inspiring young woman who is a mover and a shaker. Someone I am lucky enough to call my friend and who, with only a tiny bit of encouragement dove into writing about her Parks Canada experience.

Preempted Post

Tonight’s post about life in the raspberry patch was preempted by the storm that blew in. After a day with a crazy hot temperature it wasn’t a big surprise. The bonus was that this one actually hit us and we got some RAIN! 

  A small part of the evening was spent opening windows to allow the breeze in. Storm side ones were not quite closed quickly enough and so those window sills were then wiped down. The storm then swung around and hit us from the other side while we weren’t watching which now means that 90% of the window sills in the house are clean. Bonus areas cleaned included the floors under the radiators. On the down side there are no windows open because it is raining and it’s like mega hot in our house. Raspberry lemonade to the rescue! 

Tomorrow evening perhaps you will read the musings of a raspberry picker. I hope you enjoy all the pictures. 

Bernie 

Definitely Not

I am most definitely not having a staycation. By it’s very definition it doesn’t describe what I’ve done in my week “off”.

This first week off is always spent balancing between full on construction work (more on that later in the other blog)  and gardening. The peas, beans and raspberries are all ready so I’m squeezing in picking and processing around loads of mortar mixed and rocks set. Add some laundry, house cleaning (well only a tiny tiny tiny little bit of that to be honest) and some financial catch up and hat has filled almost every moment of my first 7 days off.

Obviously I have yet to weed the garden!

I did make time to go to Lathey Pool with my baby and her baby. Outdoor swimming, followed by an ice cream   sundae at the 8th street DQ, was a summer tradition for well over a decade at our house. My friend discovered Spencer’s first tooth at George Ward Pool. Alyssa’s first set of swimming lessons was at Lathey pool — apparently it looks a lot smaller as an adult than as a child! We had a lovely time introducing Baby A to swimming. She likes it a lot better than the tub apparently. 

Soccer and biking (last official ride of the season) have both put in an appearance this week and a couple of evenings by the fire pit were lovely. But no other staycation type activities as it always seems like there is a lot of work to catch up on. 

BUT before you give me the gears about not slowing down to smell the roses know that a)I love time in the garden and the kitchen, b)time spent at home, to me, is quality time cause I’m pretty darn lucky with where I live and c)we have something else planned for next week and d)I find beauty where I look. 

So stay tuned for the big reveal on The Home Page of 1918 Eaton’s Eager Blog . Exciting times!!

Bernie 

Canada 150 Series Continues in Style

Stay tuned for more Parks Canada Red Chairs!! I’m so excited to have a spot to showcase the

Preserved

I digressed quite significantly this morning when I broke a jar in the cold storage room.  Which turned what was a quick trip for jars into a