Packing

Tomorrow morning I'm heading out of the city, one last hurrah before I head back into the classrooms. The thing with going away right now is it's difficult to know what to bring. I'm sure the mornings and evenings will be on the cool side, the days might be scorchers (like today was), or we might get rain... what's a girl to do? 

Take one rather large suitcase and be ready for anything I suppose. 

See you all in a while, I'm heading back into the land of no internet...

mind you I might be in town at the library doing some pre-reading and if

I am I'll stop in and say hello. 

My-Cheryl

My Cheryl... Cheryl is my niece, she's the young lady who came to live 

with me when she was 12 years old, we lived together off and on (more on than

off) for about 5 1/2 years. We experienced a lot together in life; we've 

laughed, disagreed, had out differences, learned together and we've cried 

together. It was Cheryl's Mother, my sister, who passed 

suddenly last month. 

I often think about Cheryl and I miss her, 

her ways, her laughter and her sarcasm...

did I just say that?  ;-)

So enough was enough of missing her, she's only about 

two hours away... I got in my car and went to see her. 

During the course of living with Cheryl I would often mix her name

up with my daughters, my daughter is Michelle, and I would find

myself calling Cheryl MiCheryl, I've called Michelle the same thing

from time to time, and today I've surrendered and now

Cheryl is My Cheryl, she's not only my niece, she's like a daughter

to me... she really is My Cheryl. 

Cheryl if you ever revist my blog and read this, 

know I love you with all my heart; you're an

amazing young lady and I'm proud of you. 

I also feel compelled to share the game of fetch with the

dogs as I've never seen anything such as this before.

Cheryl would throw the stick, not any little stick neither...

All three dogs raced for the stick, and this is what amazed me...

All three dogs brought the stick back. I have to smile at this, 

only my sister could have taught three dogs to do this, how I 

have no idea, but it was amazing to watch. 

Note to Self...

If I think I can, I can

If I don't believe I can, then I can't

thus I've lost the word can't 

because to me this means

 I'm not even willing to try

and I've come too far to give up now

so actually I can. 

Perogies

Today it was a perogie making day. I've made about 12 dozen and now

 I think that it's almost time to stop all of this cooking, 

my freezer is getting full!  

It's either stop cooking or learn what m o d e r a t i o n means. 

... and what did I have for supper? Baby potatoes and two eggs.. sheesh. 

Therapy

I find after studying theory in the area of psychology, incorporating theory into practice and connecting on various levels with others that sometimes the best therapy is right at the tips of our fingers, within reach.  I've been feeling a bit out of sorts, like I'm flying with one wing damaged so today I thought some baking therapy would help me out. I love to bake, there's something about it that soothes my soul so today it was banana bread... 

When this was out of the oven I contacted my middle child, my son. I asked him if he'd like to swing by and pick up some fresh banana bread, he was here in no time at all... more good therapy, family. 

I also find it extremely therapeutic to spend time loving Abbie, she's such an awesome dog and I totally get it that dogs are man/woman's best friend... Abbie ranks right up there as one of my best friends, she's such a good listener. 

One more form of therapy I've discovered is right here, my blog. I show up here, visit with a few people when time permits, post some photos and I get to visit places in the world I've never been to.  Right and my photography is another form of therapy, taking photos and knowing I got THE shot makes my heart dance. 

So there you have it, a few ways of  how a future therapist/counselor helps herself 

when she's feeling down. I believe I'm learning what my best therapy is and what I love about it, it's free! 

It's All About Family

As I was growing up I recall hearing a few times from my Mother what family is; family is forever. Friends will come and go but your family will always be here. This was a wonderful life lesson my Mom taught her four girls, we've been here for one another through thick and thin and I hope I have passed on the same life lesson to my beautiful family.  On the happy note of family, I'm posting a photo from yesterday of my oldest son, his wife and my beautiful granddaughter as they really are forever. 

I'm posting one black and white and one color, 

I like them both but am interested in what others

think of this family photo as I may enlarge one and give

it to my son and his family as a gift, that or maybe even

get this on canvas... 

Same photo but in B&W

Yesterday was a trial run, I feel honored that my son asked

me to do family photos for him this year so next weekend

we're on and we're going to have us some fun! 

Yup it really is all about family and I'm blessed

to be surrounded by so much love and support. 

Please let me know which photo you prefer, I might also

wait until after next weekend to decide on a photo for

a gift... after all Christmas isn't too far off now. 

Little Girls and Flowers

Elyssa came over for a visit, she's spending the night and am I ever glad she is; 

I've missed her hugs and the laughter we share. Tonight we spent some time 

checking out the flowers...

Elyssa counted the flowers in bloom, we are going to check in 

the morning if there's any new buds opened up and

keep track of how quickly they bloom. 

Yup, my heart sure dances when my wee Princess is

over, I am blessed to no end without a doubt...

Backing Up

I'll back up a bit in time here, after the Celebration of Life I was finding myself utterly and completely unbalanced. I knew I had to get away, to go back home to find my balance; I followed my heart. While I was back home I experienced a cascade of emotions; I sat around a few fires and laughed til my rib cage hurt...

 I danced the night away at the rodeo, not one but two nights...

I connected with nature...

reminisced...

I revisited places I knew as a child; this was where I worked, 
my first job when I was 12 years old. By the time I was 13 I was 
cooking, flipping burgers, and my sister was the waitress...
the stories I could tell! 

I prayed...

I went to the lake when I felt like jumping in the lake, never quite got 
that far as the lake I learned to swim in is now covered in algae...must 
be good for fishing though, that's what these two gentlemen
were up to and using Cheese Whiz as bait, hmmm...

The scenery throughout this entire journey was magnificent! 
This was taken at Stout's Dam which isn't far from the old home
farm where we all started out our lives as babes...

I visited family, this is my Mom's sister, my Auntie who sure 
looks a lot like my Mother did. 

 I analyzed, theorized, and found the best therapists ever...

As I was watching the setting sun my final night away my
 heart told me I was okay to come home...

... and I've followed my heart. I'm so grateful I took time out, 
I did what I had to do for myself and now I'm able to give back
and be here for others once again. 

The fire burned out, and I hit the dusty trail and headed for home in the city. 
 I know it's time to get some kindling and start this fire up all over again,
in a new location though and I feel I brought a bit of the spark 
back home with me.

After a few days home I realized I got back just in time to help
 out my younger sister, she had to get her deck up on her new 
house and after she lost two people she loved within the span of a week
and her husband had to get back to work (he works out
of town) I recognized it was time for this big sister to kick it into 
high gear...

I sent out a message to a dear friend, he contacted one of his friends,
my nephew came with us and there was my niece's husband and their son
already working when we showed up on Monday night. 

After a few short hours it was time to call it a night, we went indoors, had a bite to eat and visited for a bit. The following day all that was left to do was screw off the deck boards... nothing my nephew, myself and my DeWalt couldn't handle. 

Yup that would be me on the right, and was it ever hot out. I believe it was about 28c so the work got done quickly so I could get into the shade; about two and half hours after I arrived I was putting my drills away. 

With a total of about 20 man hours the deck is near completion;
just the stairs and rails and it's a done deal... I LOVE power tools but what
I especially LOVE is the friends and family who kicked in and helped out.

So there you have it folks, this is what I've been up to and why 
I've put my blog on hold. Sometimes in life a girls gotta do what 
a girls gotta do even if it means backing up a bit to move
forward in life. 

Back to the Beginning

 Before I even begin my blogging again I want to thank each one of you for the kind words, the prayers, the love, positive energies and the support I've received throughout this difficult time. My sisters sudden passing has been difficult and it sure threw me for a loop, hence the break from my blog and my escape from the city. I needed to reconnect with nature, with the old farmland and with the fresh air and stars, I connected with the animals and old friends. I've cried, laughed til my rib cage hurt, and felt an entire cascade of emotions. Heck, I even went out to a rodeo dance, not one, but two nights. I did what I had to do to find my balance in life again and I've found what I was in search of... and then some. 

And the story continues...

So here I am, I'm back in the city safe and sound even though it took me an entire day to drive the 4 1/2 hours to get home; I made a few stops. I found what I needed to find while I was out in the country, in nature, and odd how it works, but I've also let go of what needed letting go of. 

In my absence I've been snapping photos, I'll see if I can make some time tomorrow to share some of my pictures, if not tomorrow then sometime this week. 

This is the photo I'm choosing to share tonight, the one I feel compelled to share as this is the letting go photo, one final glimpse as I pulled out of the driveway ... 

This is an ending, the last time I'll see the farm and I almost feel relieved after learning what I've learned. Four years ago I opened up a book which remained dormant for three years, for some reason I thought that the ending may have changed, but wouldn't you just know it,  the ending was still the same. It seems the only thing that changed was me.  It's time to get out the paper and start writing new chapters, I love new paper and new words... the world really is my oyster (I finally get what this means after hearing it only about a billion times.)

So now as of yesterday it's fare the well to the farm, to that life and to that story, the ending isn't a happy one anyways. Now it's onward and upward. I still have hope that my prince charming will show up one day, no I don't hope, I know he will and it's going to happen when I least expect it... something tells me it's going to be in the most unexpected place.  Bring it on world, I'm ready for almost anything! 

The end... or is it the beginning? ;-)