Some Statements Ring True

"We marry at the level of our self-esteem".

This phrase has haunted me since I heard it on Oprah a few weeks ago.  It has a ring of truth about and it may explain so many things that happen in some marriages.

Then, there is the idea behind the Law of Attraction.   If we attract to ourselves people who will move us along in our journey through life, often painfully, and if we attract people who reinforce our subconscious thoughts about ourselves, then what does this say about the situations that have dominated our past lives.

Add to this, the idea that we are products of our environment and often, like a fish in water,  may have no concept of how our environment is affecting us.  Until we can recognize, understand, envision or verbalize a concept, we cannot really process or address it properly.   Until we can step outside of our current situation, we cannot always conceptualize the best solution for ourselves.  And, I think we need to do this if we want to make positive and lasting changes in our lives.

What if we, on top of all of this, are living in denial.  Do we have clues that we ignore, or is denial such a force in our lives, that what is real and true and honest cannot penetrate the forces of denial.   Denial is a survival mechanism.  When we no longer need to use this tool, how can we work through to resolve and dissolve it when we don't even accept the fact that we even might be in denial.

In the past few weeks, since I have been attending classes of Mindful Meditation, these thoughts have been swirling around in my head.  At least they swirl when I am not actively trying to get away from the incessant chatter in my brain through practicing meditation.

Maybe, once I can weed out some of my useless repetitive thought processes, I will find enough brain space to understand why I married who I married. And, maybe, eventually figure out who, exactly, I am.  Then, I can move on to be who I want to be.

Happy Thanksgiving America

The festive season begins....

"The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth" (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe

Click to see whole picture.

Winter in Canada

In view of our freezing temperatures the last few days, I thought I would share this poem which I just received as an email.....

WINTER  Poem  
 It's winter  in Canada  
And  the gentle breezes blow 
Seventy  miles an hour 
At  thirty-five  below.  
 Oh, how I  love Canada   
When the  snow's up to your butt 
You take a  breath of winter 
And your  nose gets frozen  shut.  
 Yes, the  weather here is  wonderful  
 So I guess  I'll hang around
I could  never leave Canada
Cuz I'm frozen to  the ground!

      

 98% OF CANADIANS SAY "OH  SHIT" BEFORE GOING IN THE DITCH ON A  SLIPPERY   ROAD.THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM   NEWFOUNDLAND AND THEY SAY, "HOLD MY BEER AND  WATCH THIS."   

Opening Day

Another year of cross country skiing has begun.  Conditions were excellent at Cypress yesterday afternoon on opening day.  

Didn't get much skiing in last year due to the Olympics and a very mild year.

We are told that this year will be especially cold and snowy.

We watched a few people with camera and tripod setting up for this year's Christmas Card photo.  Here is the back drop I would like to use for mine.  Now, if I only knew how to use photoshop...

First Snow

We are supposed to have a week of below freezing weather.   This is our first snowfall of the season.

Snow Overnight Nov. 20

Marigolds in the snow

My rooftop ....

Deck Gardens Nov. 16/2010

My annuals are on their last legs but marigolds are far too cheery to pull just yet.

Seeding cat grass for winter on a sunny, warm Tuesday in November. 

Cat Grass Planted Nov 16/10

My deck garden trees are ready for winter.  The three smaller ones at the bottom of this photo got sun-burnt this summer.  I am hoping they will recover and begin to grow again next Spring. 

Triple Divide (where the Laurentian & Great Divide meet)

Growing up in northern Ontario, it was an event, when we were on summer vacation, to stop at the sign for the height of land on Highway 101.  This was where the highway crossed the Laurentian Divide (this was the height of land that started in Labrador and meandered across the continent to Montana, just below Alberta).  Up to this point in our drive, all waters and rivers we had encountered flowed north to the Arctic Ocean.  Once we started driving again, all waters flowed south and eventually flowed into the Atlantic Ocean.  It meant we were leaving the north behind for awhile.  We almost always stopped and took photos of the sign.

Watershed sign on Hwy 101

Since then, I have always taken note of watersheds.



This year, I was able to drive down a portion the Great Divide (which runs north and south down the western side of the continent) between Alberta and Wyoming.  The rivers for the most part flow east or west depending upon the side of the mountain.  However, at one particular point, in Glacier National Park, the two Divides meet.  At this place, rainfall might flow in any direction. "A hand width can determine whether a raindrop becomes part of the Columbia, Mississippi or Saskatchewan river systems".  That raindrop might end up in the Pacific Ocean, the gulf of Mexico or Hudson's Bay.  I believe it is the only place in the world where rainwater falling in virtually the same spot can end up in either the Pacific, Atlantic or Arctic Oceans.

Triple Divide Peak
(where Laurentian & Great Divide meet)

Waterton Lakes National Park

This is the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park.  If you choose not to stay overnight, you can always go for afternoon tea (English style).  

Constructed between 1926–1927, the hotel was built by the American Great Northern Railway to lure American tourists during the prohibition-era north of the border.


We spent an hour or so here at this hotel to avoid a little rain.  Here are some photos of the area and some of the animals.  This would be a great place to stay and explore for a few days.  There are regular campgrounds as well.      

Looking toward Waterton Village

Waterton Lake from the hotel

Road Signs

This sign is from Waterton Lakes National Park on the Alberta/Montana border.

There is a whole new refreshing mentality that is now part of the National Park System.  Years ago, park rangers would eliminate animals that were hazardous to people who visited the national or provincial  parks.  Now they give us warnings and show us how to live with nature.  When we are in their territory, we need to respect their wishes just as they must do in our territory.