Disappointment and crushing sorrow!

It is hard to write tonight. I am so disappointed In a lot of media coverage, and the words spoken by the provincial and federal so called leaders of Canada.

To even accuse the thousands and thousands of Canadians that have been supporting the run to end mandates, that violate constitutional rights of all Canadians, of being hateful racists, makes me physically ill and filled with great sorrow. A few random photos does not support their dialog.

When you get any mass of humanity in one place, there will always be some that are jerks! The majority are not.

As an aboriginal woman who is one of the masses that want the statistics corrected to reflect the reality. That with a high interest in science and a desire to keep my family safe has spent two years searching and reading reports, and asking people first hand experiences. That feels like there is no hope for myself to see my grandmother this side of heaven and hold her hand, because she is locked away like a prisoner behind a glass window, or in a fenced enclosure like a wild zoo beast, for “her safety” of course, probably feeling abandoned. Who is a sociology/psychology geek, with a Christian worldview, who watched in wide eyed awe as the masses were given panic reports, generated by computers that caused panic and fear, then separation, then mistrust, and distuction of families, and now a hateful “them and us mentality”.

That aboriginal woman proudly went to parliament hill in the brutal cold on Saturday and stood together with people from all different historical races, all Canadians together, to fight for the freedom that our forefathers guaranteed, with their very blood, sweat, tears, and prayers.

Now I, an aboriginal woman but moreso a human created by God, for God is being called a hateful, racist, because I dare to question the agenda of the “rulers of our country”.

What about the army vet who is my friend, or the airborne vet that opened his property to welcome the protestors?

What about the shikh community that was represented? Or the black lives that matter enough to stand up and show their support to end the crushing mandates? I also witnessed many people from obvious middle-east heritage, proudly being Canadian and asking for their freedom and right to their uninterrupted livelihood back.

How dare Mr Trudeau and Mr Ford accuse us all of being hateful, uneducated, racists! I am very, very offended!

I went to the hill to pray for peace!

I went to the hill to pray for truth!

I went to the hill to pray for forgiveness!

I went to the hill to pray for the end of fear!

I went to the hill to pray for the end of hate!

I went to the hill to pray for the restoration of relationships of family and friends!

Again I say HOW DARE YOU PAINT ME WITH A HATE BRUSH!

As for the few in the crowd that disgustingly climbed on the war memorial, shame on you. You were not the majority.

As for the pee, you punk, I hope they catch you and make you clean the monument with your toothbrush.

Postscript: open the washrooms back up, it’s human decency!

As for the two or three flags in photos that have been shown two or three out of thousands do not speak for the masses and you could not find them on the hill.

Don’t believe everything you are told!

Were there angry people on that hill? Absolutely! Did they encourage people to violence? No!

Do they want Mr Trudeau to answer questions about decisions he has made? Yes, me to!

I want the same thing Trudeau spoke of in his press conference today “nobody has the right to keep you from going to work”. In this we agree. Let us all have freedom to move and work without interference for all Canadians!

Brothers under God fighting for freedom!

Where did all the investigative reporters go?

I am watching history being made like the rest of the world. One thing that has become apparent, in my opinion, through the last two years is that there seems to be little integrity in the press.

I started to question, when numbers just didn’t seem to be adding up. I would listen to a story or two and then questions would flood my mind and I would search for answers.

The problem comes when it seems like a majority of people believe without question, because the news used to be factual.

The last few days with the “Convoy for Freedom 2022” is in fact a great example. With the media grossly underestimating the numbers of people involved or they blatantly ignore what the person says and twist it to involve only a small part of why they are doing this.

Do the truckers want the border opened back up so they can continue to do their job? Yes of course. They also want people to be able to operate their businesses at full capacity, serving without discrimination.

The media and the prime minister actually accused people that not so long ago were called “heros” of being terrorists. Just for wanting to continue doing their job without infringement on their human rights, and standing up for the right to do so.

If this is terrorism, there is no democracy.

I personally am tired of reading half-truths, and fear mongering articles.

Where did all the investigative reporters go? You know the people who would ask the tough questions and not just look at the dust in the air, but dig deep till they found the whole truth.

Thirty days of elimination diet

Quick Sale Asparagus & Baked Lemon Chicken

I started at the beginning of January. I eliminated gluten, all sugars and sweeteners, corn, all nightshade vegetables, dairy, soy, sunflower products, eggs, beef, and pork. Cut back to 1/2 cup of caffeine coffee a day

I eat all other fruit, veggies, chicken, turkey, fish, and most nuts. I have lost eight pounds, and I have not been left hungry.

I have learned a few tricks along the way. Never let yourself get overly hungry, eat healthy snacks. Make sure to drink water. Vary your fruits and vegetables. Do not let yourself get tired. Move around as best you can. Get outside when the weather allows.

The beginning of February I get to add items back into my diet, one at a time.

I have been asked what I am most excited about. It is really hard to say what that would be because I feel so much better now than I used to. I have no desire to feel as I did before.

I do miss cheese. An occasional glop of yogurt in my smooties would be nice. Some beef and pork would be a welcome change. Butter on my vegetables, maybe?

Some things I have no desire to bring back in to my diet. The swelling and joint pain I get from gluten and sugar make it unenticing. Sunflower oil gives me a stomach ache.

The food I do eat tastes so sweet and good now. Regular fruit tastes like candy, and vegetables are sweet without a sprinkle of sugar.

I will warn you that if you try to rid yourself of sugar, every label must be read, it’s added to everything it seems. If it says “no sugar added”, read it more carefully because they will often put sucralose or other artificial sweeteners in.

For me it was a harder addiction to break than cigarettes were. I was down-right grouchy to be around for a few days. They cravings drove me mad, the headache nagged.

The results are worth it for me, now that I can see. My friends started commenting near the end of week two as the inflammation I carried in my face disappeared, thinning it out and returning my cheekbones to me. I have ingested far fewer Advil pills for aches. I wake up in the morning and my joints aren’t stiff. I have taken short walks and haven’t had to take the next day off for foot pain. My house is neater. I have more energy, and I sleep better at night.

My daughter is thinking of joining her high-school running club. Maybe by spring I will be ready to go to.

Even a nice brisk walk would be such a joy. So I will keep going. I probably won’t add most things back into my diet on a regular bases, some not at all. I will test and watch very carefully for side effects.

Life is so good. There is much to enjoy and discover. I am thankful for my friend that encourages me to be healthy, and never gave up until I listened and started to win. I don’t want to miss out on a single experience that could be had because of bad food choices leaving me sidelined.

COLOUR-FULLY STRONG IN 2022!

Sleeping

Under a blanket of sparkling diamonds, the garden awaits the invitation to burst forth!

I look out my window and see glittering diamonds, sparkling back at me from the sunshine and snow.

My favourite herb garden laying asleep under a blanket of snow. Lying in wait for warm temperatures to grow.

And I dream and I plan with giddy delight, of flowers, and flavors, of spicy delights.

I long for the days of sunshine, and heat, and feeling the dirt squish under my feet.

My first orders of seeds await on my desk. Pencil and paper and calendar, to plan for the very best.

Maybe this year will be the one I see in my head. Not a weed in the garden, packed full of beauty and bounty instead.

But back to reality on this cold winter day, it is fun to let my imagination out to play.

Surprised!!!

Only pic I got because my glasses fogged!

-21°C with a -31 wind chill, who in their right mind goes out in this weather!

I bundled myself up, layer by layer. Thinking with every item I put on there must be an easier way, space material or something. Maybe I could test out extreme winter clothing, find a sponsor, to 0pgive me motivation? But for the moment layer by layer I continued.

As I am sure I have told you before; I am Canadian (that’s what my mom told me anyway), but I hate the cold! Which is why there is always a little doubt about my nationality lol.

I could have asked someone to drive me down to the corner, or Doug probably would have drove my van up and I could have returned him. No I need to move my body. My life depends on it!

Out the door I went, pausing to snap a photo, saying a tiny prayer that I would not get frost bite on my cheeks.

I could hear the wind through the pines. It was loud enough to leave me questioning whether it really was wind or a vehicle, it sounds so similar to a car. A quick glance back assured me of my safety. On I trod.

Sharon’s wind chimes clanged loudly as the wind tried to intimidate me with it’s fierceness. When I got around the corner into the sun I was immediately thankful the wind was to my back. The threats were empty, my layers prevailed. The sun beat onto my face and black coat, I was actually hot!

I could not see through my fogged up glasses to enjoy the sights or snap a photo. The joy of the heat of the sun warming from the outside in, while the wind was stopped by the layers upon layers of clothing is my reward today.

That and the fact I have one more kilometer under my belt. A kilometer closer to my fitness/health goal. A kilometer closer to ‘living my best life’. And hey my foot is not bothering me too much today.

The van is fixed. I will have to find a new motivator to thrust me outside into the cold clean air. For now I will sip my tea, and dream of sunny, warm, spring days.

-3°C & My Van Parts Were In

Twice in one week the van is visiting the neighbour’s, giving me opportunity to exercise and enjoy the sky and the way the fresh fallen snow clung to the branches.

The warmer winter temperatures were a pleasant treat. How I wish the warm weather would last.

We happened to meet other neighbors along the way home. Happy to catch up and see them doing so well.

The heavens seemed to be dancing with the steeple of the church. Unfortunately the speed of my walk on the unaccomidating footing and the power lines stole my best shots.

Loved having Maggy to watch out for traffic as her crazy momma tried to find the angle for the best shot.

I wonder what the route will have in store for me tomorrow, when I make my way back down to retrieve my van. I am actually looking forward to the simple adventure, and dreaming of other adventures to follow.

St Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran
Looking to the light

Cold but beautiful

The day after the first big snow storm of the winter. It is very cold, but beautifully bright.

I had to drop my van at the neighbour’s to get some work done on it. I took the chance to get my exercise on the way home.

It is only about a kilometer but in the open areas the wind was bitter on my face, and my blue jeans offered little protection from the freezing temperatures.

I paused to capture some interesting shadows, and shapes that intriqued me, no conscious reason why.

Home by the fire, sipping hot tea. Happy to have filled my lungs with the clean crisp air, happier to absorb the heat back into my bones. Life is good!

Prioritizing the checklist

Once upon a time I had it all together. Lol who am I kidding.

Funny thing about being busy, it is way too easy to forget what I did just a moment before.

Enter the dream of a checklist, again.

Yes again, because I used to have a really good checklist that when I followed it everything would go just “tickity-boo”, yes smoothly.

I wouldn’t forget 2 minutes after taking my vitamin if I took it because I would check it off as I went along.

The problem with stopping using such an awesome and easy tool for someone like me, is that I put it somewhere and now that I am getting back on track and want it, I can’t remember where I put it.

Then of course my overthinking mind wonders how important the original is when it has to be revised. …But the majority of it would be the same, so I wouldn’t have to think so much.

And around I go again!

I must say I do make new year resolutions, but I also believe in challenging myself throughout the year also. Making a new checklist is something on my shortlist to do, in fact it is a resolution.

I figure if I just focus for a moment it could be a really fun art project to.

Pretty pink