...After a wee bit rest

Well how quickly a week passes. I guess the time of year seems to make the days and evenings all blend together and before you know it, December is just around the corner!  I was beginning to feel a wee bit guilty about not posting for six nights, but then I realized that I get to decide when and what I will post! LOL. That's the beauty of blog. There is no deadline and the topic is totally mine.

Part of the reason I am delayed in posting is that I had a jammed packed wonderful weekend! Friday night I had the privilege and joy of hosting five of my nieces and one of my nephews. This tradition started about 11 years ago and has now become a full weekend adventure to which I look forward to with great anticipation. It seems to grow a little bit bigger each year. This year we started with arrival on Friday evening with each of them getting mix their batch of gingerbread cookie dough. The flour was flying, the mixing spoons clanking, the ginger and cloves emitting their glorious odour! After clean up we all headed to the Town Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and fireworks. Then back home to make special Christmas crafts for moms and dads. This was followed with Arnold's Christmas movie and then the infamous made up story routine with cousin Abby. ...and what a story it was, all crafted from key words, places, numbers, names and animals provided by each of the kids. This year was a fabulous journey of Evan Blake and the special peppermint Christmas Candy. It included magic toilets, a beyond bananas amount of candies, special sleeping dust and an incredible Kangarooooooo.

This brings me to last weeks sacred space. I have to say that sitting there watching these beautiful children so captivated by my amazing daughter, and her incredible stories, was definitely spending time in a sacred space. So special and forever imprinted in my memory bank of special moments.

Story Time with Abby

Twas the night of Gingerbread Cookie day
When all the nieces and nephew in bed did lay
With teeth brushed and the movie and snacks complete
It was time for Abby's Story, unique and a very special treat.

Eyes were all focused, and lips were all sealed
As they awaited with pleasure the plot to be revealed
Each was asked for their special addition
To help bring the story to fruition.

Then Abby her magic began to spin
As each item was masterly crafted within.
As giggles and laughter filled the room
as the story emerged and continued to bloom.

Evan Blake was the hero and Christmas he saved
with magic Kangaroo pouches and Christmas dust sprayed
transporting flushing toilets and mysterious trees
all covered in peppermint candies instead of leaves.

In the end Evan Blake no more candy did he take
And nieces and nephew could no longer stay awake.
So with smiles on their faces and visions of candy peppermint dust in their heads
They all settled down nicely snuggled into their beds.

Virtue Pick for this week:

I love this Virtue! And the timeliness of it coming forward is so appropriate. As we enter the holiday season we thing a great deal about what we are truly devoted to. For me spending this past weekend with my nieces and nephew reminded me of how devoted I am to spending time with them. They bring such joy to my life and such wonder and awe as I watch them grow, and begin to express their souls and their personalities. I don't know how many times this past weekend I found myself just stepping back and feeling so grateful for their presence in my life. And when the parents joined us, and my mom and step dad, I also knew that planning special times to bring my extended family together would always be a devotion of mine. For as the final quote above states: "I am grateful for the gift of devotion. It makes me fully alive." Every year as I sit exhausted wondering if I can keep up with pace of youth and family gatherings, I know that somehow as the month of November creeps up the following year I will totally forget the messy house, the tired bones, and the complete exhaustion and with total joy and glee dive in once again with the plans for the annual gingerbread cookie party/craft time/sleepover annual event.

So what exactly are we devoted to in our lives? I am hoping that we each are devoted to things that have great meaning to us, and that bring us joy and gratitude. As the card above says, 'discernment is the first step in discovering what is worthy of our devotion. I hope that I and you will be to discern what calls to us so strongly that we cannot resist and that we know it is truly ours to do. It's interesting to think how much time in our lives we spend doing things that we must do, that we feel obligated to do, that other's expect us to do, that are just the easiest and therefore the first thing we do. I am thinking however that all of these things can eat up our precious time, and that it is very important for us to discern our true devotions so that we guard that precious time and be assured that we are fulfilling our life's purpose and not that of another. To ensure that our heart is full and bursting with gratitude rather than resentment, frustration, and regret. So tell me my friends, do you do what you love and love what you do? I am getting closer each and ever day, but it is truly a hard journey. I had an amazing conversation with my daughter the other day and I told her that I was having a very difficult time making a decision and I could not figure out why. What we discovered at the end of our conversation was that the struggle was due to the fact that this decision was totally about me, I no longer had to factor in my kids, my work, my husband, my other obligations. I was totally free to do what I wanted and that was very unknown territory to me. So entering the fabulous 50 years, there is a totally new bonus, I get to deeply discern to what I wish to be devoted and .... It's all about Me!" Oh la la, isn't that exciting.

So looking forward to the Holiday Season and thinking this is a great time to learn how to say some holiday greeting in French:

So I wish you a merry Christmas becomes Je vous souhaite un Joyeux Noël. Isn't that beautiful? And my very favorite "Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me!" becomes  et Que la paix soit sur ​​terre. Which brings me to the next song lyrics I wish to learn:

Let There be Peace on Earth: Enjoy the you tube link to Vince Gills version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPH4LRASWbo

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

So to end today's blog I am so excited about tomorrows... my Sister Tiena writes beautiful poetry and I discovered in reading her blog that she wrote one all about meaningful questions in life. So I am going to write about that poem and some of the questions she posed. Stay tuned...

...and with that I will leave you with the next book on my list of new author's to read. I am about half way through Pema Chodron's book, The Places That Scare You... fabulous and would really recommend. http://books.google.ca/books/about/The_Places_That_Scare_You.html?id=DRkSAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y

... until we meet again my friends. 

I am Woman Hear me Roar!

(Helen Reddy and Ray Burton)
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

For full lyrics go to: http://www.lyricstime.com/helen-reddy-i-am-woman-lyrics.html

What a great song! Fab 50 Ad #12 - Going to learn the words to this song. Every time I am with a group of women and that song comes on, the whole room just rocks! The spirit of woman enters the room and sisterhood stomps its way onto the scene! 

It is interesting to note that Helen Reddy wrote that song in 1975 during the international year of the woman. The idea for the song came to me after reading the famous Speech (Fab 50 Ad # 19) by Ernestine L. Rose - Address on Women's Rights written in 1812. This rather long but simply amazing and articulate, as well as incredibly courageous, speech ends with the following quote: 

"But she must do it, or she will ever remain a slave, for of all tyranny that of superstition is the greatest, and he is the most abject slave who tamely submits to its yoke. Woman, then, must east it off as her greatest enemy; and the time I trust will come when she will aid man to remove the political, civil, and religious evils that have swept over the earth like some malignant scourge to lay waste and destroy so much of the beauty, harmony, and happiness of man; and the old fable of the fall of man through a woman will be superseded by the glorious fact that she was instrumental in the elevation of the race towards a higher, nobler, and happier destiny."

Had me thinking of the photo I saw of Hillary Clinton on the news last night shaking hands with some foreign diplomat, looking very tired, on the other side of the world, trying to bring peace and positive diplomatic relations in a world of utter chaos. We have a come a long way baby since that speech of 1812. 

I love a post I found at the end of the speech by Julianna Weisgarber · University of Northern British Columbia

"You don't have to look into history to see women's strength, although it is certainly there. Ask any adult woman about her life. Women survive the most horrific things in this world and overcome a constant deluge of attitudes that tell them that they aren't moral enough, strong enough, interesting enough, attractive enough, skilled enough, and smart enough, and live in cultures and societies that repeatedly tell them they don't matter. From male brutality and violence to being less valued than their brothers (or embryos), women in all countries still live in a toxic environment. But they continue to grow, learn, push forward and achieve their goals, often changing the world in the process."

I decided to google how many political women leaders we have in the world today. There are 20 Female world leaders currently in power. Check out http://www.filibustercartoons.com/charts_rest_female-leaders.php  if you would like to see the list. But then I found myself wondering about the question posed during the recent Presidential debates. A young women asked the candidates to describe what they would do to ensure equal pay for equal work. Neither candidate answered the question! They spoke of all of the support programs they would put into place for women so that they could in fact go to work, and stay there, (all great things) and then of course Biden made his now infamous statement about the "binder full of women" he now had, but not one word was said about proposing legislation that would make it illegal to pay a man more money for the same job, if both the man and woman had the same qualifications. Hmmmm seems like us women still have some work to do. 


Well that's all for tonight, kind of a heavy topic, but chin up ladies 
remember 

We are  woman, hear us roar!
In numbers too big to ignore,
And we know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause we've heard it all before
And we''ve been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep us down again! 


I do have to say though, that if I think of all this in relation to the virtue of mindfulness, it certainly does make me grateful for the rights that I do have now as a woman, earned with great pain, hardship, and passion by all of those women who came before me. I am so happy to be able to come and go as I please, speak my mind, wear what I want, yell when I want, have relationships with whom I want, raise my children they way I want, vote and for who I want, debate in public, apply for the same jobs as a man, and heck even decide I don't need a man to survive or be loved (you go Ellen!).   

So on that note, until we meet again... 

Keeping the mind young

Dr. Oz and Miguel Ruiz both believe that a sure fired way to keep our minds young and to prevent Alzheimer's is to challenge our minds to learn new learns and to force our brain to shift the way it is used to doing routine things. So yesterday I switched my watch from my left arm to my right... lol. I can't tell you how many times today I looked at my left arm to see what time it was and then thought, geeze what did I do with my watch? Then I would remember that I put it on my right arm, have a good chuckle, and then struggle to lift the sleeve on my right arm with my left hand to see the face of my watch. I sure hope this does lead to a re-energized brain as I am was sort of feeling like I was losing my mind a few times today when I keep looking at my left arm to find the time.


The so intelligent men, Oz and Ruiz, also say that forcing your brain to learn new things helps to generate new brain cells and keep us young. So today I had the opportunity to really test this theory. I had to learn all about the multi functions of google chrome, google drive and google mail. After three hours on the phone with my tutor, I think I have finally cracked the code. It sure was a test for this middle aged menopausal brain. The real test will come tomorrow when I attempt to apply all that I learned today. Here's hoping! The good news is that I can knock off another Fab 50 Adv # 12 - learn 50 new things. So that's two on that list. I learned how to set up and populate a blog, and am now a google master (well here's hoping :-)).

So time to write a little poem for this week: (Fab 50 Ad# 9)

Middle aged Modern Social Media Momma

She's a women with a mission,
wanting to establish her social media position.
She's created a blog,
working her way through the technical smog.
Through fear, confusion and frustration,
She will get her posts to the nation.

She's floundered her way through Facebook
posting comments, links, likes and photos she took.
She's a master at searching and poaching
other's beautiful and meaningful postings.

She has boogled her way through google,
mail, calendar, drive, and links,
hoping to keep above water
treading with care to avoid a nasty sink.

A profile on Linked In is created.
Is there value, it's to be debated.
The inbox now overflowing,
with emails from those I am unknowing.

Yet to come is the world of Twitter
Can she conquer it or will she be a quitter.
Then there is Pinterest, jumping ahead of the rest.
And Lord knows what will be next.

Onwards and upwards she climbs,
Knowing that its only a matter of time,
Before she's completely out of her mind!
But the whole world will be aware
and will have watched as she worked her way there!

Found a new place in Victoria Park that I had never  been before today, while Sid and I carried our sorry little behinds up several flights of stairs. After yesterdays walk we were stiff and sore, and then crazily thought it would be a good idea to do the walk again, only this time backwards, meaning that we had to walk up several hundreds steps, instead of down several hundred sets of steps. When we reached the top there was a trail we had taken before, so seeing this a way to achieve yet another Fab 50 Ad # 5 (50 places I had never been before) off we ventured. Discovered yet another beautiful part of the amazing Park.

As I made my list today of supplies I need for the annual Gingerbread Cookie party with my nieces and nephews this weekend, I found myself thinking back over the past 10 years or so of doing this fun event with them and my daughters. I was looking back through photos the other night trying to find good ones for my memory album, and I cam across the photos of the very first time we did this with our little nephew Brennan and nice Katie. I think they were just 2 and maybe six months. We took an amazing photo with the four kids on the couch with flour on their noses. Since that time we have had at least ten gingerbread cookie parties since that time growing in numbers to about 20 people and a gazillion amazing memories. Now my grown girls can't wait until it is time to start planning again. The event now includes a sleepover and a Christmas craft session, a potluck supper, and then off to the Santa Claus Parade.  One of my favorite parts of this annual memory time is listening to my oldest daughter Abby do 'made up story time' with all the little ones sitting attentively, and laughing hysterically as she places their kooky characters, places, names, etc into the story. This one will definitely be an entry in the memories scrapbook. (Fab 50 Ad #22).

Well time to sign off for tonight with a tidbit about where I came into contact with the virtue of mindfulness today. There were several posts on Facebook today about being mindful of those who are in times of trouble and worry, and taking the time to hold them in our prayers, thoughts, and intentions. These are very powerful mindful reminders of the good in our own lives, and how quickly it can all change. Watching Ellen today I realized what an incredibly mindful women she is; seeking out those who do good in the world and taking the time to thank them, and reward them. God I love that show and that woman. Also as we walked through beautiful Victoria Park, I was very mindful of how fortunate I am to live in a town where such a amazing treasure is available to me right in my back yard.

Enjoyed adding another recipe to Fav 50 Ad # 8, chicken with mushrooms in white wine sauce! (Recipe from Sobeys!). Very  yummy and not nearly as challenging as the won ton soup!

So with that I will say I love you all, whoever you are (already over 900 visits to my blog, even though I don't know who) in the next language on my Fab 50 Ad # 27 - Japanese: One of the most popular phrases in any language is probably, "I love you". In Japanese, "love" is, "ai （愛）", and the verb form "to love" is, "aisuru（愛する）". "I love you" can be literally translated as, "aishite imasu （愛しています）". "Aishiteru （愛してる）", "aishiteru yo （愛してるよ）" or "aishiteru wa (愛してるわ,female speech)" is normally used in conversation. However, the Japanese don't say "I love you" as often as people in the west do, mainly because of cultural differences. I am not surprised if someone from Japan says that they have never used this expression in their life.

To date I have ticked off at least one item for 26 different Fab 50 Adventure items. Just saying... boy is this fun! 

So until we meet again...

Cooking adventures

So last night I decided to begin 50 Fab Advent # 8 - Cook 50 recipes I have never cooked before. I pushed my way through the crammed cookbook shelf (found myself wondering why someone who cooks the same recipes over and over again has so many darn cookbooks!) I Settled on a Vegan cookbook that I bought so that I could have some recipes to feed my daughter Becky when she comes to visit. Figured for sure I would find a recipe here that I had not cooked before. The final choice was home made won ton soup.

Now one would think that taking on a soup recipe would not be too onerous a task. OMG! It started out with tracking down the ingredients. I reviewed the list, determined what I had in the house and what I needed to shop for. Wrote up a list with five items on it, won ton wrappers, grated carrots, green onions, mushrooms and soy sauce. Was thinking - great this one is not going to put me in the poor house lol.  Asked Sid I we had chicken stock in the fridge and he answered oh ya lots.

So off we went for our walk in park with the dogs. Afterwards we headed to Sobeys to pick up the five items on the list. Sid waited in the car for what he thought would be only a few minutes. Forty five minutes later I came out complaining about how no one in Sobeys knew what a won ton wrapper was. I am sure I bought them there before. I then proceeded to share with my ever so patient husband, that as usual I also picked up a dozen additional items that I just thought we needed and I might as well get while I was there. So much for the list not costing me an arm and a leg.  Then when I got to the cash lane, I realized that I did not get the won ton wrappers. So when the ever helpful cashier asked, "Did you find everything you were looking for today?", I answered, "Oh shoot I forgot the won ton wrappers!" She then proceeded to page the produce department where we were both sure they were located. No one replied. The line started to get longer, and I started to get anxious for holding everyone up.  So she paged again, and with no further results, I said I would just go run and get them. Well guess what? They were not were they normally are, and I could not find them anywhere. I will never understand why Grocery Stores feel they keep needing to move things around. I mean really who are the majority of people you see shopping in a grocery store - middle aged menopausal women! We have enough difficulty remembering where things are at home and the office, really do they need to make us work so hard at the grocery store?  So I went to the deli department because no one seemed to working the produce department. The deli staff were completely baffled and offered to call the produce manager. I waited for two minutes and then stated that I had to go back to the cash line as my order was half rung through. When I returned the cashier had thankfully suspended my order and started to process the rest of the line. Once she finished mine I went back to the deli counter to see if they had figured out where the won ton wraps were hiding. No luck the deli attendant stated, "The manager didn't know what they were and does not think we carry them".  So out to the car I go, not a happy camper. Sid suggests we go to the other grocery store (whose name I am not permitted to post as Sid works for Sobeys lol). Upon arrival at said store, I approach the produce manager and ask if they carry the won ton wrappers. Puzzled look arises on his face and I know I am not going to get lucky!  We search a few isles, then walk half way across the store to the customer service rep who states, "I am pretty sure we carry them, but not sure where they would be. Try the international foods section." So back across to the other side of the huge store just to hear, "I know I have seen them, but not in this section, try the meat department." Over to the meet department and we hit the jack pot, "Yes we do have them, they are in the frozen food Chinese section." So excitedly I make my way there only to discover they are not in fact won ton wrappers but egg roll wraps. At this point I really don't care, I have already bought the ingredients, and two rumbling tummies are now anxious for nourishment. So I purchase the box and head to the car.

Once home, i begin the cooking procedure, merrily singing my way through the steps with great music playing in the background... when all of the sudden I get to ingredient number 6 Soy Sauce...OMG I did not get the soy sauce despite the fact that it was on my list! Then I go to the cupboard to get the chicken broth and there is none! So off I send Sid (who by this point was near fainting from famish) to Sobeys.  While he is gone I figure I will get the won ton (aka egg roll wrappers) ready. Just let me say... have you ever tried to separate frozen egg roll wrappers! Well let me tell you it is not an easy job, as when you attempt to thaw them by running under warm water they get quite sticky and then tear when you try to pull them apart. Patience was more than called for lol. Finally Sid returns, the wrappers are ready and the stuffing begins. The stock is heated up and the spices added along with some shrimp, the won tons popped into the boiling water and then rinsed and added to the stock, finish off with a few teaspoons of sesame oil and whoala.... won ton soup! Yum Yum. We thoroughly enjoyed and decided it was a new addition that would add spunk to our rather mundane dinner menu choices. Following dinner I decided to make up some extra bowls for Sid to take to work. I realized that there were not many shrimp left in the soup so I added a few additional frozen one, removed the won tons and set the soup to simmer to cook the newly added shrimp. I settled down to watch coronation street and totally forgot about the simmering pot. About half an hour later, I said to Sid, boy that soup was really good, but it sure stunk up the house! About five minutes later Sid went to the kitchen to make tea and found the simmering pot burnt to the core with absolutely no stock left and shriveled shrimp stuck to a stinky black sludge.  OMG what an adventure!

So time to pick a new virtue for this week (Fab 50 Ad # 37)

I LOVE THIS VIRTUE!

...and this is definately something that I love about myself. Ever since I can remember, even as a child, I was always mindful of what was happening in and around me. I watched, I listened, and I sensed that I was not myself, but something different than my physical self. I have always sensed the I, the true Self, the part that can hear what I am saying, step back and see what I am doing. Over the years this has been such a big part of my spiritual journey, learning to trust this Self and to listen to it. In my experience it always guides me to a better place. it has helped me to consider others, and to maintain a pace of grace. I truly am grateful for the virtue of Mindfulness as it truly does keep me present. I am going to enjoy practicing this virtue this week, and looking for opportunities to acknowledge it, or call for it when it is needed. I hope some of you will share your experiences with mindfulness as well. When has it helped you, when have you sensed the need for it's presence?

I added to Fab 50 Ad #21 by renewing my morning yoga practice. Why oh why do we ever stop doing something we love? It feels so good, and right to stretch my body, breathe deeply and meditate for those few short minutes. This is one I will try really hard to keep going. I cannot believe how much flexibility I have lost over the last year. I always prided myself on my flexibility, it was always something that i was very good at and loved. So now i have a goal, to gain it back with  early morning yoga!

Well my friends, that is all for today... I encourage you to subscribe to my blog so that you will automatically receive new posts. This way I also get to see how many different people are reading the blog.

...until we meet again...

oh and here is the recipe for the gosh darn won ton soup! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/wonton-soup/

Don't forget the soy sauce, and if you find out where they keep the won ton wrappers in the grocery store let me know will ya!

Late night ponderings

I posted this last night on my cell phone, thinking it went to my blog site, but see today that it only went to the Google+ site. I am still trying to figure this process out, but I am having fun. Enjoy and if you have any thoughts to add regarding the challenges of the over active mind, I would love to hear. 

Some days go better than others... So finding myself crawling into bed without having posted. So just a few thoughts before my weary head hits the pillow. Life is so bizarre. Just when you think you have it figured out and you feel you are beginning to get a handle on reasons for things, everything gets confusing. Life seems to be either a dull momentum of every day repetitive functions or an overwhelming surge of new possibilities which require deep discernment and a necessity to listen to your soul. Today was a day like that! I am thinking if I could invent something that would give us instant clarity about soul uncertainties I would be a millionaire. But than again maybe not. Perhaps most of us would miss the days of wondering, second guessing, lesson learning that life sends our way. There must be a reason for it. As I enter the 50 and beyond years I wonder if it will get easier? I know people that seem to know how not to get stuck in the pits of mental uncertainty. My husband is one of them. Its a skill I need to learn. Along with just staying in the moment. Today somesome posted a graphic on facebook that said hope you enjoyed how you spent your day because you just gave up a day of the rest of your life to do it. How powrful is that? Well that seems to be a good one to sleep on and ponder... Or maybe not! Perhaps I will just enjoy a good thoughtless sleep! Night night all, until we meet again.

Rolling! Rolling down the River!

So I had an amazing opportunity to add to Fabulous Fifty adventures # 14 and #15 on Friday evening past. The new artists are Theresa Malenfant and Katy Day, the amazing band behind them the Instigators! Road Side Willies in Truro was the place to be. My best friend Suzanne and I, along with my husband Sid, danced the night away! I sing at the top of my lungs! It was night I will remember for a long time! It was a night to remember how much good music hits the soul, and how good it feels to shake your bootie! This evening also counts towards Fabulous Fifty Adventure # 21 - 50 ways to practice self care! Check out some of Theresa's and Katy's tunes at:

http://www.myspace.com/theresamalenfanttheinstigators/shows
http://youtu.be/gl51AdmhG-E

During the night I was reminded of some incredible songs that are so fun to sing. So adding Rolling on the River and You make me feel like a natural women to my list.

Rolling on the River seems to be a good theme song for starting the second half of life. Big wheel keep on turning, proud Eva keeps on burning! Wow I like the sound of that. Definitely have to commit to dancing more in the second half of life! 

Moving towards fabulous fifty adventure #39 I watched an incredible short film last night while wrapping Christmas presents. It was called A Finger, Two Dots, Then Me, performed by poet Derrick Brown. It is a reflection on life and love. The visuals and words were so beautiful! (not really a documentary but I am going to include shorts). The Poets rant about what is really Holy is out of this world. Made me stop and realize that the moments are so important! The times we laugh, the times we cry, the times we find ourselves asking why? Check out this poem on U Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ww4-d5FTvk

Which brings me to my first item for Fabulous Fifty Adventures # 41 - 50 meaningful questions in life. Following the amazing evening at Road Side Willies the band announced that the owner of the pub was not going to bring blues bands anymore because the crowds were just not coming out. The singers told of struggles to keep venues where they could perform. They jokingly talked about busking on the streets to pay the bills.  So my first meaningful question is this: "Why will people pay money to go violence, murders, pay for view fights, etc but not be willing to put out $12.00 for four hours of amazing entertainment. Why is it that the performing arts have to live a life of struggle? This should simply not be. When someone has the kind of talent that they two women have, they should never have to worry about money. When I think of the instant stardom those performing on American Idol, the X Factor, the Voice, and the fact that many cannot even sing, yet are making millions of dollars as a puppet behind a production machine. It makes my heart weep. 

So moving on to Fabulous Fifty Adventure #27 I wish to say I love you in German to all those performing artists who bring such joy to our lives, music to our souls, and rhythm to our bodies: Ich liebe dich.

I took a very special lady to lunch today. Nanny Eileen, the wonderful women who provided child care for my daughters for over 10 years. What a blessing this woman was and continues to be in my life. I remember the day I interviewed her for the job. I was a nervous wreck, I was so frightened about leaving my new baby with someone I did not know. I actually had another lady lined up, but she canceled at the last moment. I remember how calm Eileen was during the interview. Over the next ten years she shared the calmness with my family. She was never late, don't think she missed more than one day a year if even that, she cleaned my house, she loved my girls, and she became my dogs best friend.  They still get so excited when she comes for a visit. The dogs and the girls! My life has been busy, ups and downs, so much to do, and so many friends that get lost in the shuffle. But Eileen always finds the time to call to see how we are all doing, even if I forget to call her back. So today I took my special friend to lunch. It was lovely. I got to deliver her very late birthday present. We shared stories about our friends, and reminisced. We questioned why some people have such a hard life, and we laughed alot. It was a sacred space, my time with her today. She is truly an amazing women. 

Spent a very nice afternoon with Sid and the dogs. We visited a place we had never had been before. (Fab 50 Ad # 5) and revisted another sacred space (Fab 50 Ad #17) the beautiful watershed lake at the top of Victoria Park. We are so blessed in our little town to have such an amazing treasure. Victoria Park has provided a place of adventure, solitude, a bench to plan our honeymoon, trails to walk our dogs, waterfall pools to cool off in, mushrooms to hunt and draw, woods to play Man Hunt, sprinklers to run through, swings to reach for the sky on, concerts to listen to, beautiful scenery to photograph, trails to ride bikes on, and squirrels to chase. We have spent a great deal of time in this park as a family but I had never been on the trail that Sid and I and the dogs took today. When we reached the lake at the watershed I glanced across and had wonderful memories of walking the trails around that lake with my girls, tossing rocks into the water, eating our little picnics, and all of the great photos of my girls and their friends. The lake was quiet today, not a soul in site. We held hands and laughed as we recalled the how quickly time has passed. 

Tonight I listened to Martin Luther Kings "I have a dream!" speech. I had no idea which speech would be the first that I review (Fab 50 Ad # 19). As I read I realized that this speech is so tied to my Virtue of the Week - Respect. Up to tonight I only a few occasions where the virtue came up. A few times in movies or on TV when someone was demanding respect from someone else. I had a couple of situations where I had to respect other peoples decisions even though I wished they had made different choices. But tonight as I listened to this speech, the power of respect was so present. Respect for the rights of every human being is probably the most sacred level of respect there is. This speech is also very memorable to me as when I was a young girl we had a record album with a song on it, in which key phrases from this speech were included. My Dad loved that song, and it was one of only a few times I ever saw my Dad cry. He asked me to play that song over and over again. I remember thinking about how moved he was by the words and music. I cannot remember the song right now. But I will find it, as I am now sure it will be one I want to learn the words too. 

Well, tonight's post has been a bit all over the place but I hope you have enjoyed. If you have any comments please feel free to post, or to address the "important life question". I would love to hear your thoughts. Also if you have a special sacred space that you would like to share, or an example of where you have seen the virtue of respect in action, or called for. Jump in, it's kind of fun! 

Until tomorrow.... just keep moving on. 

One week down!

So another sleepless night! What is up with that? So tired you are practically sleep walking from 3:00 pm until bedtime, then all snuggled in, awaiting sweet dreams, and someone turns the brain switch on and the body will not fall asleep. At 4:00 am I decided to just stop fighting it and got up and read a good book; which by the way moved adventure #11 one more step ahead lol.

So yesterday I had the opportunity to send a thank-you note to a couple that live on my street. I was preparing a care package of some homemade oatcakes, as I know it happens to be a favourite of the husbands. I took this opportunity to stick in  the package, a card telling them how grateful I am for the time they took over the years to comment on our girls as they were growing up. This couple had raised two children of their own, and on many occasions, would stop and ask how are girls were doing. They still ask even though the girls are off to university now. They would often tell us what a wonderful job they thought my husband and I were doing raising our daughters. We would have great conversations about the challenges and joys of bringing up a healthy happy family in today's society. I really appreciated their generous comments, and would often seek advice and enjoy swapping stories. So in my little card I thanked them for the time they took to show an interest and to support a young couple with their parenting journey.

I attended a Lia Sophia Jewelry party last night! OMG, do I love jewelry! This is a new found passion in my second half of life. I love browsing the jewelry section of the store, I love trying it on, I am definitely doing something that scares me as well. I have always only worn small pieces. Now I am so into the big and bold! Look at me go with my oversized rings, chunky necklaces, and super matching sets! I am having so much fun!

I have been enjoying the 10 second passionate kisses. Just wondering however, why do ever stop kissing the man we love. I remember those days when we were teenagers, and the hours spent yearning to connect in this way. Discovering kissing again is highly recommended. So come on ladies, find your man/woman and bring it on. And make sure you insist that it lasts the full ten seconds.

Sid and I discussed today the how of adventure related to visiting 50 places we have never been before. I am looking forward to having one day a week where we just take a drive and go somewhere we have not seen before.  Most of these trips will be short ventures to discover places in our own community. We may add some furthur distant spots on weekends when there will be more time to meander.

I was sitting in the mall the other day people watching, which is something I have always enjoyed doing. I began to think of places where I could go and meet people I have never met before. I am thinking that combining the interviewing 50 people over 50 with the meeting 50 new people, might be a way to shorten up the time requirement of accomplishing both of these adventures. As usual I have been over ambitious with my list! Never a simple approach from this lady! LOL.

Was thinking today that is important to identify the first of 50 reasons why I love myself... gotta go here... whether I want to do or not.... lol. I want these reasons to be meaningful and reflective; not just a dump of the typical things one would expect to find on such a list.  So after some though I have the first thing that I love about myself to be my virtue of openness... I have always been open to new adventures, positive possibilities, to receiving love, to new beginnings after repetitive failures, to life's mysteries, and to second chances. ...There I did it! It wasn't really so hard... and I kind of like the way it came out. I am a women of openness.

So my weekend adventures shall include visiting a place I have never been before, meeting a women over 50, taking a meaning photograph, meditating on a very meaningful question in life, and looking up a list of famous speeches to read?

Until next time my friends.

Gratitude Attitude

So today I thinking about the 50 gratitude letters I will write over the next year. It's pretty amazing when you begin to make a list of the people in your life that you want to thank with a gratitude note. I am realizing just how blessed my life has been because this task was so simple. In a matter of minutes I was able to take a walk down memory lane and write a list of some pretty amazing people who have helped to shape my life, been there for me during times of celebration, times of challenge, times of doubt, and times of uncertainty. Each of these amazing people gave me a piece of their heart, the gift of their company, the wisdom of their advice, the silence of a listening ear, the joy of their laughter, the tenderness of their hugs, and the gentle push of their encouragement. I just know I am going to love completing this adventure! I am hoping to design a gratitude card with my scrap booking supplies, and thinking this is a great self care idea as well, as I love creating beautiful things to share with people I care about.

Began researching animals on the near to extinction list today as well. I found myself wondering why I put this on my list. Is there something I can do about the possible extinction of these beautiful creatures? I am not sure about that, but I was sensing that there is a purpose in just being aware of the potential loss of each amazing creature here on our beautiful planet. I came to a wonderful inner soul acknowledgement as well, as I was surfing through the pages of potentially extinct animals. My dad loved watching television shows about animals. I remember spending time in front of the television with him and how amazed he was with the photography and adventures that animal lovers would go on to capture the beautiful images. My Dad passed along this love of nature and the animal kingdom to me and now I know that this adventure is a way to honor the memory of my Dad who passed away almost 7.5 years ago. I sense that my Dad and I will spend time together as I pick a different animal each week to learn about. I was also thinking I could link my adventure of supporting 50 different not for profit entities with a financial contribution to the animal adventure as well! And that is just what I did. I went online and found this amazing organization dedicated to awareness of the extinction of some of these amazing creatures and to supporting efforts to ensure that we continue to be graced by their presence on the planet. I found this one: The Alliance for Zero Extinction: http://www.zeroextinction.org/

Formed in 2000 and launched globally in 2005, the Alliance for Zero Extinction(AZE) engages 83 non-governmental biodiversity conservation organizations working to prevent species extinctions by identifying and safeguarding the places where species evaluated to be Endangered or Critically Endangered under IUCN-World Conservation Union criteria are restricted to single remaining sites. 

From this site I discovered that right now in Canada there is just one AZE site and it is a summer range for the Whooping Crane. Very interesting to find out the following information: 

Whooping Crane

Recovering from a low of only 21 birds in the wild in the 1940s to around 599 birds today, the Whooping Crane's recovery is one of conservation's most inspiring success stories. Scientific Name: Grus americana Height: 5 ft; Wingspan: 7-8 ft Field Marks: Adults - red patch on forehead, black mustache and legs, black wing tips visible in flight; juveniles - cinnamon-brown feathers Population: ~ 599 (captive and wild)  View table of historic Whooping Crane numbers Download FREE Whooping Crane images Status: Endangered, but population increasing So in memory of my Dad today I made a financial contribution to the ICF to support work to save the Whooping Crane. This just goes to show that one never really knows why something ends up on your list of 50 fabulous adventures! I never would have thought that it would provide me with a way of connecting weekly with the memory of my Dad. Mailed off my first care package to my two beautiful daughters today as well. I just know I am going to enjoy the ongoing search for little treasurers to tuck into envelopes and send off weekly, all to remind them how much I love them and how important they are in my life. Now it's time to work on that first gratitude letter and get it sent off to the first person on my list of 50. Until next time, my you all have a wonder-filled day.

Time to sing!

So what song do I want to learn the lyrics to? There are so many to choose from. I love so many different kinds of music, where does one begin? So I was thinking how can I combine the adventure of learning a new song with my adventure of writing a love letter to my husband and a bit of self care. Then it came to me:

Passionate Kisses by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Is it too much to ask
I want a comfortable bed that won't hurt my back
Food to fill me up
And warm clothes and all that stuff
Shouldn't I have this
Shouldn't I have this
Shouldn't I have all of this, and

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses, whoa oh oh
Passionate kisses from you

Is it too much to demand
I want a full house and a rock and roll band
Pens that won't run out of ink
And cool quiet and time to think
Shouldn't I have this
Shouldn't I have this
Shouldn't I have all of this, and

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses, whoa oh oh
Passionate kisses from you 

Do I want too much
Am I going overboard to want that touch
I shout it out to the night
"Give me what I deserve, 'cause it's my right"
Shouldn't I have this (shouldn't I)
Shouldn't I have this (shouldn't I)
Shouldn't I have all of this, and

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses, whoa oh oh
Passionate kisses from you
Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses, whoa oh oh
Passionate kisses from you

Okay i am liking this song! Especially the line about wanting a comfortable bed. Turning 50 seemed to be like flipping a switch, no more comfortable sleeps for you my dear! Tossing and turning, waking and yearning for one night of uninterrupted slumber. Ah 50 and peri-menopausal! Gotta love. So if I can't have a restful night, then I guess passionate kisses will have to do. LOL. 

So today's adventure will be to learn the words, sing the song as a love letter to my husband and then reap the benefits of some self care passionate kisses. i remember one time Oprah had a guest on her show that said you should kiss your spouse for 10 seconds non stop, every day! Heres to Passionate Kisses! What an adventure! Who knows maybe it will lead to one of my other adventure goals! LOL. 

Until tomorrow my friends. 

Wonder in the Leaves!

Funny how you never really know how your day is going to go. I woke up this morning and the sun was shining. It was a beautiful November day and a whole yard full of fall leaves was waiting for me to  venture out and begin the annual chore of bagging them. I really do not enjoy this task but one must take care of one's yard, especially when not doing so results in the neighbours receiving an unwanted gift of golden colour.

Tackling the leaves was not something I anticipated to be an awe-filled adventure, but with my work boots and garden gloves I headed outside with my two daily companions following close behind. Where did the joy go in raking leaves. Not even the dogs were looking forward to this hour. But as I raked my mind wandered. I began to remember many hours of raking huge piles of leaves so that my two daughters could run and jump with glee into the golden hills. I recalled photos of my daughters playing with the puppies, jumping, digging, and frolicking. As I continued to remember beautiful fall days, laughter, anticipation the hour passed quickly and to my amazement I had filled five large garbage bags. Where did the time go? My girls are now in university, and my puppies are 13 years old, and would prefer to watch as I rake and scoop rather than jump and frolic :-)

As I ventured down into my office to write todays blog, I wondered if I would be able to find something to write about. Now thinking about the dreaded chore I realize that it actually provided a great opportunity for me to tick off several of my adventure requirements.

I realized that the memory of days playing in the leaves will definitely be a page in my favorite memories scrap book I will do for my daughters. Time to dig out some great photos of sunny fall afternoons jumping in the leaves.

Also in between each bag of leaves I rested on the front porch and talked to my dogs, petting and enjoying them in the warm morning sunlight. I recalled the number of times over the past 20 years that I had sat on this porch enjoying the silence of the early morning. The moments were golden and the exercise felt good. This definitely meets my adventure of spending time in a sacred space. I just never would have thought that the first one on my list would be my own front porch! I am pretty sure that this time of sitting in silence enjoying the sun and getting some outdoor exercise qualifies as self care. So I can check off that one as well. Way to go Eva!!! I feel better already.

My Front Porch - a sacred space.

Sitting silently upon the stair
Thinking of moments spent right there
How many times did I sit and think
How many times sipping a drink
It has been a resting spot for me
Hosting mini breaks after gardening on my knees
Enjoying the life up and down my street
Greeting the children as they trick or treat.
How many guest has this porch greeted over the years?
How many times my husband sat and sipped beer.
It was the place for childhood games, a place to sort treasures and work on a craft.
I fondly recall the hours spent searching for flowers and decorations to dress it all up
preparing for thanksgiving.
It has been the spot where my dogs sit and watch,
and the stoop from which I watched my girls play hopscotch.

Discovering this sacred space at my front door,
Has been an awe filled moment that's for sure!

...and thus is poem number one!

Now it's time to brainstorm a special gift package for my girls this week, and to begin to work on my first love letter to my husband :-).

I think I am going to enjoy this adventure.

My virtue pick for week one is:

Oh now isn't that a wonder-filled coincidence. I randomly picked this virtue for this week and low and behold the golden fall leaf is the image on the card. That is just plain awe-full. I love the quote on this virtue card. "There is a longing among all people and creatures to have a sense of purpose and worth. To satsfy that common longing in all of us we must all respect each other."  It will be interesting this week to see where I hear this word, where I will have the opportunity to acknowledge it and when i will have to call for it. I would love to hear from blog readers their personal experience with this virtue as well.  Until tomorrow...I'll just keep moving on. LOL.

I figured it out !

Was chatting with my daughter Becky and discovered that I successfully posted my first blog! Yeah for me! So a fifty year old can do this! Looking forward to posting each day! I am on my way to enjoying a year of Fabulous Fifty Adventures! Yeehaw!!!

Can I really pull this off?

I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with my dear friend on my birthday. I was telling her that I was thinking about writing this blog. She asked, "What would you write about?" I told her I had made a list of 50 things that I think I would like to do during my 50th year. I thought it might be kind of fun to write a blog about my progress with achieving these 50 projects. My biggest challenge was going to be getting started, as I simply could not remember where I put the list! LOL.  Welcome to the world of a pre-menopausal 50 year old who thinks that this journey might be interesting to others, and that I just might learn something about myself during the process.

So to start off this adventure I thought I would share the list of 50 items, which I eventually did find!

1. Lose 50 pounds. This one has actually been on my list of things to do for several years. Being a breast cancer survivor, (three years now) I am thinking I would like to have breast reconstructive surgery. My doctor says that I am a very good candidate but he would like to see me lose 35 pounds before he would be comfortable doing the surgery. More about this journey in later blogs. But I figured if I could set the goal of one pound per week, while completing this 52 week blog adventure, that would be awesome.
2.  Financially support 50 different volunteer organizations while learning about their mission and the difference they make in the world.
3.  Write 50 thank you letters to people who have made a difference in my life.
4. Write and publish my book - 52 Great Family Fun Day Ideas
5. Visit 50 places I have never been before
6.  Get a Tattoo with my friend Suzanne
7. Eat 50 different foods I have never tasted before
8. Cook 50 different recipies I have never tried before
9.Write 50 poems
10. Meet 50 new people
11. Read 50 authors I have not read before
12. Learn 50 new things I do not know how to do
13. Contribute 50 hours of volunteer service
14. memorize the words to 50 songs (more about this one in later blogs)
15. Listen to 50 musicians I have not heard before
16. Review 50 paintings and learn who painted them and why
17. Spend 50 minutes in fifty different sacred spaces
18. Learn about 50 animals on the extinction list
19. Learn about fifty flowers
20. Take 50 meaningful photos and create a special photo album reflecting my 50th year
21. Practice 50 self care methods, a new one each week
22. Create a photo album of 50 favorite memories and photos for both of my girls
23. interview 50 amazing everyday women and write a book about it
24. Do 50 things that scare me
25. Watch 50 of the greatest movies every made
26. Learn more about 50 countries in the world (more about this one in future blogs)
27. Learn how to say I love You in 50 different languages
28. Learn the name of 50 different birds
29. Interview 50 people over 50 and talk to them about their transition to the second half of life
30. Visit 50 different museums (either in person or virtually)
31. Take 50 self portraits and add to the album of my 50th year
32. Write 50 love letters to my husband
33. Make love to my husband 50 times in 50 different places (I promise to keep this part of the blog very discrete lol)
34. Dance behind 50 people just to please Ellen Degeneris
35. Walk on 50 different beaches ( this one might be challenging considering where I live!)
36. Interview 50 companies about what virtues keep their company strong and vibrant
37. Live with a different virtue for a whole week for 50 weeks; seeking out that virtue, calling for that virtue, and writing about how I feel that virtues changes the world.
38. Invent 50 new things, even if they never get made
39. Watch 50 documentary films and share the virtue I see in the film
40. Study the works of 50 different artists
41. Write a book about the 50 most meaningful questions in life
42. Learn 50 useful phrases in French
43. Develop 50 titles for books I wish I wrote
44. Write 50 things I love about myself
45. Write 50 cards to my mother telling her 50 different ways she has shaped my life
46. Learn 50 songs on my guitar
47. Throw/give away 50 things I don't need/want
48. Complete 50 things that will bring me 50 steps closer to producing my documentary film on the Virtues Project
49. Send 50 care packages to my daughters
50. Write a blog about my 50 adventures at 50.

So in order to accomplish this list there are about 50 things I must do each week, and then capture the interesting points in this blog on a daily basis for all to enjoy. I have never written a blog before so this will be a first!

I hope you will enjoy my daily reflection of the journey and that you will comment and share the blog address with others. Let me know if it is needs tweeking, I am always open for suggestions for improvement.

Now I just have to figure out how the world of blogging works. LOL.