Growing with gratitude for life's challenges
Westwood Lake, situated in the foothills of Mt. Benson, Nanaimo, is an unexpected surprise. Pulling into the parking lot, I am eager to get out and explore. The parking lot fronts a beach area and there are trails leading in either direction – over 5 km of walking trails, as well as mountain biking trails […]
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“I’ll take you for lunch if you like.” Of course, I’d like. “Can I bring my camera?” “Sure.” So we head downtown with no particular destination in mind, other than to find a place near the water. At the harbour front we find a park with manicured gardens, concrete walkways, and plenty of parking. “Let’s […]
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Highway 4 cuts across the interior of Vancouver Island, twisting through the mountains. It’s been twenty years since I’ve passed this way and yet, when the endless rows of trees open to reveal the stillness of Cameron Lake, with mountains in her backdrop, my reaction is the same: the sheer beauty brings tears to my […]
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The prompt for this week is to consider the vulnerability of new growth and what it takes to protect it, tying it into nature. Here is the edited version, after the instructor’s suggestions. Rebirthing It came in the peak of summer that most optimistic time, when sunshine equates with health and bodies glow with exertion […]
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(The prompt for this week is surroundings and we were encouraged to focus on one aspect of nature as it relates to the story. I chose sparrows.) Out the back gate, across the farmer’s field and into the woods I go in search of the child, knowing that she comes here frequently, alone, despite the […]
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I envy the people who dedicate their lives to nature and spend their days immersed in the beauty of places such as Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Located on Hwy 60, next to the old mining town of Superior, AZ, this is a lovely way to spend the day. Naturally, we came to see the birds. Ric, […]
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We’ve come back to Coon’s Bluff in hopes of seeing the wild horses. The day is crystal blue, without a cloud in the sky. My heart is heavy. I woke up in the middle of the night, with the lines of a poem running through my head. Without turning on the light, I reached for […]
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Lured by the promise of a rewarding birding experience, Ric and I decided to take the drive to McCallen and check out Quinta Mazatlan. As usual, I worry about the amount of walking involved when visiting a new locale, but we were reassured by those in the know that there is a house on the […]
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We came away with the expectation of adventure. We freed ourselves of material anchors and set sail into the unknown with openness, excitement, and a modicum of healthy trepidation. I knew we would encounter new landscapes, experience different foods and cultures, but I did not anticipate how travel would effect my experience of self. It […]
Read MoreThe tiny crayfish slowly made it’s way over the rocky water bed, climbing in and out of crevices, antennae constantly moving. Perched on my haunches, trying valiantly not to move and startle the small creature, I watched in fascination. His translucent body moved with such tenacity over what must surely be a challenging terrain for […]
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One Woman's Quest II 