March 6

Creating a Toy Box

Respect the power of play and the importance of fun! You're supposed to find another wicker basket or fabric covered box and be sure it has a lid, because what goes in is your business and your business only. Or not if you do want to share but it is important to get down to the business of play and fill your toy box with what ever you want. Go on an excursion to the dollar store and fill it with what ever tickles your fancy. Find things that will remind you to lighten up and take time to set aside seriousness and have some fun.

I have a hand made wooden toy box that was in my childhood home. I was the only sister that wanted it after we moved out and I feel lucky to have it but it's actually sitting in storage in the woodworking shed behind the house. It is still filled with all the Disney VHS movies my kids grew up on. I still have a VHS player so there is no need to sell any movies but I am going to have to bring the toy box back into the house. Not to be my toy box but for Ray's 3 year old grand daughter when she comes to visit. I can see us cuddled on the couch under a hand made blanket watching Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin or Snow White. And of course The Sound of Music. I first saw the movie at the Avalon Theatre when I was a kid and it's been my number one favourite ever since. I will have to introduce Monroe to the movie when she is old enough to appreciate it. That could actually be already! I was 5 when the movie premiered and I still watch it when it airs on TV every year. I absolutely love it! Why do you think I play the guitar and never became a nun!

March 5

Creating a Hope Chest

"Hope" is the thing with feathers--that perches in the soul...~Emily Dickinson

Sarah didn't have a hope chest when she got married. Neither did I but then again I eloped. You might think that ship has sailed. Not hope, just the hope chest but it's never too late. My mother's hope chest was cedar lined and smelled wonderful. I'm sure the contents changed over the years and were quite different from when it was started to what's in it now. When I left home for university, it held her prom dress, wedding dress, baby clothes from each of her 4 daughters and more. Even though it probably started out as filled with items to create a new life, it ended up being filled with memories of the life she created. Years ago I bought a huge blue chest to store my life's memories from high school jackets, baby clothes, blankets and handmade sweaters. Now instead of a young woman's hope for a new life it's a grown woman's hope for grandchildren.

But Sarah wants you to start a different kind of hope chest for yourself. As simple as a small wicker basket filled with little projects for the future. Unique yarn for mittens, fabric for recovering chairs, books to read or what ever you want until you can set aside time to tend to them. You can make one for yourself and if you have a daughter, make one for her too and put in your favourite books by your favourite authors inside for her to read. It's never too late to start. Hopes and dreams are always in the making.

March 4th

Priming The Pump For Inspiration The well of Providence is deep. It's the buckets we bring to it that are small ~Mary Webb

Apparently creating an atmosphere to write is necessary to activate the right brain and to do what it takes to get the creative juices flowing. Some people need to do a ritual and do the same thing each time to get them into their place. Me? I can write anywhere, anytime and anything. Like now on the couch while Ray is watching hockey (Dallas & Flames tied at 2 with 2 minutes left in the game, not that I care). I don't need mood music, lit candles and a cup of green tea to get me in the mood to write. I'm always in the mood. Maybe I could be more creative if I did create a reassuring ritual and a ceremony of comfort that inspired the spirit of my authentic self, but until I suffer from writers block, I think I'm good to go for now. This may not be a bright and shining moment in literature, but it's me, it's mine and it's... oh wait, yesterday's chapter spoke of hubris..an "exaggerated sense of self confidence". Well it's not a matter of confidence but complacency I guess. I am what I am what I am....that usually comes before a humbling. A heart attack is certainly very humbling, and it does not surprise me in the least that heart disease is now the leading killer of women.

My friend Lana had a heart attack at the age of 50 and at that moment, smoked her last cigarette. A month later Ray & I followed suit. My Grandma Laval had a heart attack when I was attending University of Winnipeg just before I turned 20. You would think I would have taken better care of myself since then but I only quit for 3 years in 2000 and have now quit since Sept 21st. Hopefully it's not too little too late.

Time Smoke-Free: 165 days, 2 hours, 6 minutes 49 seconds
Cigarettes not smoke: 2476
Money Saved: $1089.00
Lifetime Saved: 18 Days, 21 Hours

Look at that. I have now gained more time to write in my daily blog/journal. Lucky me! Lucky you! NOT! lol


I've been writing since I was 12. From songs to Davy Jones to essays about rabbits in Grade 3. From romance novels on my Dad's old typewriter to blogs on the computer. My parents were both musician, and my Mum was an English teacher and my Dad taught French. I got corrected no matter what language I spoke! Pretty much the only French I know is the first page of the Grade 7 French text book that I memorized. I regret not learning my family's native tongue. Mind you it's not really French but Waloon as my Father's family was from Belgium (my Mother's family was from England and Scotland.)

Family roots are the ties that bind and the fabric that weaves your past and future. My family fostered creativity from day one and I am thankful for my upbringing that appreciated the arts and encouraged creativity and authenticity.

March 3

Setting Aside a Personal Sabbath Anybody can observe the Sabbath but making it holy surely takes the rest of the week. ~Alice Walker

It's been far too many years since I've been to church. I think the last time was Father's Day 2003 when I was living far away from home in Ontario and figured if I couldn't spend it with my Daddy, then I may as well spend it with the Big Daddy of all time. But making a day sabbath does not necessarily mean going to church, or temple, mosque or synagogue. It can simply mean taking a day of rest. A day of staying in pajamas and doing as little work as possible. No finishing undone projects from the past week or starting new ones getting ready for the next. It is for reverence, rest, renewal, rejuvenation, reassuring, rituals, recreation, rejoicing, revelation and remembering. Forget R&R, that's R to the 10! What matters is that you do something special that speaks to you soul. I don't think that painting truly speaks to my soul, as much as I do love redecorating and seeing the beautiful fruits of my labours. I will skip it today, but only because a trip to Edmonton to pick up a new vehicle has gotten in the way of any R&R, but my Sabbath will be Sundays. My Sabbath will be a do nothing day, not even to "putter" as I call it, when I clean house in what ever haphazard order, ADHD schematic that overcomes me. I will walk in the outdoors, take pictures of the landscape and be grateful and say thank you to the universe for all that I have been blessed with. If this is not what the Great Creator intended when She created the Sabbath, then I have no idea what is sacred. ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

March 2nd

There is no access to the elliptical tonight and after indulging in wayyy too much at Szechuan Village at dinner tonight, I really need to get moving and will have to go for a quick walk to wear it off. Even though I chose chicken & beef with veggies, the Szechuan Chicken Ray chose was far too tempting. So much for the 17 day diet rules.

Today's chapter of "Simple Abundance" is Meditation: Many Paths to the Present Moment. Apparently, sitting cross legged with thumbs and middle fingers touching and chanting ohmmm is not the only one way to meditate. There are actually many ways and it's what you make of it. It's just a matter of making a time and a place to relax. To close yours eyes, breathe slow and steady, and get in touch with the silence within. Sarah asks to consider 20 minutes a day to do so... just merely consider. My 20 minutes will be at bedtime. Lights out, in bed, no reading, no writing, no iphone, ipad, ipod. No need to say no tv because I don't believe in a tv in the bedroom so no distractions but silence. More than likely instead of listening to my breathing, I'll have to listen to Maggie breathing... loudly, sometimes grunting, or snoring, or Ray;s to make it in stereo, but their loud night noises are quiet compared to the usual noise in my head and I am thankful in knowing that their path and mine are deeply intertwined and thankful they are in my life.    

Simple Abundance

"March arrives, the last hurrah of winter and the first whisper of spring. Slowly our spirits reawaken, along with the natural world, bare, now blossom with new growth. Deep within we feel stirrings of hope. Turn over the earth in the inner garden. This month we plan the seed of the second Simple Abundance Principle. Simplicity - in the fertile soil of our souls."

Each year I start the book, Simple Abundance, A Day Book of Comfort & Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach and each year I stop reading the book around this time. It's like a new year's resolution to exercise and it putters out when spring weather arrives. In the 3 years I borrowed it from Tellisa and then got my own (thank you Leann & Jeff) I always find something else to do rather than give myself the gift of time to enjoy the special 10th Anniversary Edition. Well, this year, it's going to change. I will set aside my knitting, painting, decorating, riding, visiting, partying, tv watching and computer surfing... for just 10 minutes to read a chapter a day. The other 10 minutes will be devoted to the elliptical..and if I get lazy, then I can combine the two, but this is my vow. I WILL read every word in this book. I WILL use the elliptical for more than a clothes hanger. I WILL TAKE TIME FOR MYSELF! (and then take another 10 minutes to share it :)

MARCH 1

Day 1, 10 minutes on the elliptical and I'm beat! Stage 1, level 5 and my legs are already sore, but my back feels better and I actually feel energized. Now I need to unwind before bed and the perfect way to do that is to READ!!!! Rather than continue where I left off in "Angelina: An unauthorized biography", "Simple Abundance" it is! I love the fact that the chapters are just over a page long!

Today's chapter, "Restoring Serenity to your Daily Endeavors". Sarah says to dramatically change the quality of our lives, we can restore serenity "when women stop behaving as if they were whirling dervishes". I was quite offended...but then I googled dervish. Yeah, a spinning top, going in circles could be said of the same. Or ADHD. Start one project and mid stream you see something else that needs doing so you do it, then something else and so on. Squirrel! While multitasking is something that I tend to take pride in, apparently "Serene women do not become sidetracked.". In order to "recover our sanity" is to "concentrate slowing on completing one task at a time", all day, every day (just like Grace Kelly.)

So if concentrating fully on one thing at a time, maybe I won't have to retrace my steps as often. Like when I forget what I walked into a room for, or where I left my keys, put my cell phone or what chapter I was on. Oh wait, this is going to be easy.. tomorrow's chapter title is March 2nd! It's subtitle is meditation. That's going to be a tough one. How can I sit still for that long if I'm just learning how to be serene?

Life Path Number

Watching Dr. Phil today and a numerologist is on... thought I would search mine

1 (10/1, 19/1)


The Life Path 1 suggests that you entered this plane with skills allowing you to become a leader type rather easily. Your nature is charged with individualistic desires, a demand for independence, and the need for personal attainment. Many of our military generals, corporate leaders, and political leaders are men and women having the Life Path 1. When you display positive 1 traits your mind is capable of significant creative inspiration, and it possesses the enthusiasm and drive to accomplish a great deal. You are very good at getting the ball rolling; initiating new projects is your forte. You are at your best when confronted with obstacles and challenges, as you combat these with strength and daring. This is both the physical and inner varieties of strength. With this strength comes utter determination and the capability to lead. As a natural leader you have a flair for taking charge of any situation. You have a tendency to do this, even if, at times, it is not appropriate for you to do so.

Highly original, you may have talents as an inventor or innovator of some sort. In any work that you choose, your independent attitude can show through. You have very strong personal needs and desires, and you feel it is always necessary to follow your own convictions. You tire of routine and highly detailed tasks rather quickly.

You are ambitious and assertive in promoting yourself. Although you may hide the fact for social reasons, you can be self-centered and demand to have your way in many circumstances. That said, for the most part, you are considered very good company, friendly, good-natured, and a wonderful conversationalist. People like you and are drawn to you. It is a good thing they are, because you are very sensitive to disapproval and you don't handle it very well.


There are several ways that the negative side of the 1 can show up. The 1 always has the potential for greatness as a leader, but they may fail as a follower. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to follow for a while before you are allowed to lead and this can be a difficult time. When the 1 Life Path person is not fully developed and expressing the negative side of this number, the demeanor may appear very dependent rather than independent, particularly in the early years. If you are expressing this negative trait of the number 1, you are likely to be very dissatisfied with your circumstances, and long for self-sufficiency. This might be defined as the weak or dependent side of the negative 1 Life Path. On the strong side of this negative curve, the 1 energy can become too self-serving, selfish and egotistical. Avoid being too bossy and demanding.

Find out your Life Path Number at http://www.astrology-numerology.com/num-lifepath.html

Jaye Albright's Breakfast Blog: For WHAT? Go To WHERE?

Jaye Albright's Breakfast Blog: For WHAT? Go To WHERE?: Resolve to stop using "dated" radio phrases, like "for more details, go to our website." Why? 1. "For more" = more what? 2. "Details" =...

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November was a busy month for medicals with MRI and Ultrasound and now just the wait til next month for the results with hopefully no back surgery in the forecast but I sure hope the narrowing discs slow down or else it's me that will be doing a lot of slowing down.

Not this month though. An impromptu trip to Edmonton for my nephew and God son's 3rd birthday party turned into more than just that. A Bay City Rollers concert at Stoney Nakoda Resort outside Kaninaskis on Friday, CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo) in Edmonton Saturday and his birthday party Sunday.

Last weekend at the last minute we went to Havre for their Thanksgiving weekend just to party on the Friday night with friends and ended up partying with two other couples from near Seven Persons, Saturday was spent in Maple Creek playing music for a birthday party. Still need to nail down a name for our band. Either "Nuts & Bolt" or "Once In A Blue Moon" because we really only get together then... How about "Blue Moon" for short?

After staying the night in the Redmond B & B, a beautiful house built in 1913, we headed to Seven Persons for a Grey Cup Party. Never did see my niece Kesley, cheerleader on the Blue Lightning Dance Team for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but our sales manager did manage to run across her and get his picture taken with her AND bring me back an autographed calendar. I don't follow football at all, but I'm happy to report I do not hold it against him that he's a rider fan... nor did she :)

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Oct 2nd Ray's youngest turned 18 so now all his kids are officially grown ups, well, adults now. On the 5th we were entertained by the Beach Boys at the Esplanade. Last time we saw them was in Penticton last May when we were registering Derek for training camp but all we saw was the sound check. It was great to see and hear the entire show!

Thanksgiving was celebrated at his parents with the rest of the family, and mid month we hosted a party for our social club from work at the farm. Turn out wasn't that great but it certainly turned out great. The dinner was awesome (Ray is such a great cook) and the bonfire was humungous, though next year, I think we'll have to get waivers signed, either that or hide the quad keys to avoid that foolishness again.

This month we bought a little 4x4 Ford Ranger to get me to work when it storms in the winter. Watch it be the mildest winter on record or something. lol

We also had 2 Halloween parties to attend and I can only party one night in a row these days so the birthday pub crawl in the Hat was full out fun, though as much as I drank, didn't get drunk and ended up making sure everyone was on the bus after our original counter bailed. The next night we hauled the trailer to Bow Island to host karaoke at the Tavern. I was not a happy camper that night, and not because we were camping in the parking lot, I'm used to that.. I'm just not used to the screaming drunks who abuse the equipment and don't care about anyone but them selves. Oh that headache had me cranky and 2 am couldn't come soon enough but everyone else had fun and Ray's brother & sister inlaw won prize for best couples costume. My Stevie Nicks costume went over like a lead balloon... maybe that's what I should be next year... a lead balloon.