SNAP THAT

Hello friends, I hope this week is treating you fine.  I am still nursing the knee and doing a lot of knitting. I'm making up a big stash of dishcloths and washcloths so I can use up my knitting cotton and make a bit of room.  It's all part of my big decluttering project which I thought I pretty much finished. But in this first month of the new year as I've been doing a lot of sitting and trying to re-arrange just a few things brought from mom's place, I realize there is still more to do as far as decluttering is concerned.  I've identified a lot more things that can "go" and I think I've found a few more workable storage solutions to get rid of clutter in the living room and kitchen.  But more about that later. For now I have a question. I want to know if any of you have experience with cranial sacral therapy (CST)? I've actually done some research on it and began taking a couple of treatments with some local students of this therapy. I did

After weeks and weeks of rain, gray skies and even snow, the skies parted and shed a little light and colour. These sky photos were taken several days ago. It started raining heavily again yesterday.  It was also cold and windy last night on my way home from a spa treatment. Rather than stop for coffee which I often do when I go out, I came directly home preferring to warm up in the comfort of my own home. Today the temperature was quite warm. I even left my patio doors open for a long time and let in some much needed fresh air. I haven't done that for awhile!  I  remember well how (before) I never could go a day without letting in the fresh air. However, these days I can't handle the chill and mostly keep the doors and windows closed. After being cooped up so much this month, I managed to make it to my knitting group tonight. It is a group of ladies that get together and chit chat and have tea while they work on knitting and crochet projects. I signed up long

It is late night and I feel thirsty and in need of a sweet drink. I indulged yesterday in something not good for me so today I had to make up for it. I decided to make a wonderful, refreshing, tasty and healthy drink that is also filling. Ingredients 8 to 10 medium size strawberries 1/2 cup of plain yogurt 1/2 cup of milk 1 tsp. of vanilla extract 1/4 cup of frozen berries or 4-6 crushed ice cubes 2 tsp. of ground flax seeds Method Wash and chop or quarter the strawberries.  Add strawberries, plain yogurt, milk, vanilla extract, frozen berries or ice cubes and flax seeds to the blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with a fresh strawberry or other berries. You can omit the vanilla extract and flax seeds if you like. The extract is for added flavour and the flax seeds are for health benefits. This seed is filled with B vitamins, Omega 3 EFAs (good for fighting inflammation) and fiber (good for lowering cholesterol, blood sugar and for promoting regularity). I add g

 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people —  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior… ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-3 Lovely to see so many people at the Obama inauguration in Washington today. Of course I wasn't there myself. This image is from the AP Photo Credit : Rob Carr-PoolGetty Images I pray a better time ahead for the American Nation. I pray the same for the people around the world. May God bless, protect and inspire the leaders of the free world and speak to those leaders who do not currently rule under a democracy.

The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts: and the great art of life is to have as many of them as possible.~ Montaigne I don't think I wrote on my blog that both knees started bothering me this week. Fortunately when I awoke on Friday the pain in my right knee had gone away and the pain in the left knee was considerably reduced. I am still not back to "normal" but I am much better. I am hoping and praying for complete recovery soon as I already know the healing process is cyclical; at least where my knees are concerned. In any case, I was very grateful today! I stayed up very late last night (early Friday morning) and finished reading "Appetite for Life", a biography of Julia Child. I would have finished sooner but the last two days have been rather busy with lots of phone calls and interruptions. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. What most impressed me was just what a tremendous work horse, Mrs. Child was. She worked tirelessly to bring

“Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from what you can do.” ~ John Wooden How are you my friends? I'm doing okay. My left knee is still a bit sore and believe it or not my right knee started acting up too. But overall I am walking much better than a week ago. I've decided to use a cane now and then too just so I don't over stress my joints when I have to walk a bit further. I'm just so thankful that I can still move around and that there have been improvements. I guess I should have gone to the doctor but really what can they do for me besides give me painkillers? I will try to schedule an appointment for next week and get it looked at as well as deal with my blood sugar test results. I really did not have the energy this week to deal with the doctor, testing for sugars and leg and all of the things that come with it....so I wait awhile. Around the house, I've been contemplating how to move things around. It seems a never ending job around here. I&#

It's been cold over here. Since Thursday until today, we've had mostly clear skies,sunshine and a decided chill in the air.  It is always colder here when it isn't raining. Last night I felt the deep chill despite having the central heating on. When I woke up this morning, there was a sprinkling of snow on the ground. Enough to cause a lot of havoc on our streets because at a certain dewpoint (in this case zero degrees) we get fog cover and icy streets. The city workers weren't ready for the snow fall this morning for some reason but they should be ready now.  The meteorologist says this weather is expected to continue for a few days. In other news I've been slowly making my way through two books "Where White Mean Fear to Tread", the autobiography of Russell Means and "Appetite for Life", the biography of Julia Childs. I have completed the chapters devoted to Russell Meanses' early life and work history and am now in the early days of h

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.   Ralph Waldo Emerson I returned home from my Christmas travels on December 27, 2012. Part 1 of my journey photos can be viewed here .  Part 2 can be viewed here . This is the last installment of this series.  I hope you enjoyed the peek into the scenery around these parts. We are at Herrling Island just before you get to the City of Chilliwack.   I think I was just taking photo of the traffic sign and the red barn to the right of the photo. Chilliwack is a farming community and in this photo you see row upon row of greenhouses. A photo for my international readers so you can see what is on the side of the road. I think KFC is now in many countries including Kenya. It is a fried chicken fast food outlet.   A scene from the freeway toward one of the many suburbs outside Vancouver. I think this is par t of Port Coquitla m. We are fast approaching the new Port Mann Bridge. You can

Hello friends, From time to time I've blogged about Kipngeno  and his need for sponsorship to attend medical school. Kipngeno is a very bright high school graduate from the highlands of Kenya.  Though it was a huge struggle financially with not knowing where his funds were coming from, he managed to finish first year medical studies and sustain his desire to continue medical studies. My efforts to find him a sponsor have gone in vain but I am thanking God because now Kipngeno has finally received a loan from his government to pay for his tuition.  Praise God!! Kipngeno still needs some modest support to pay for transport from his home to his university each new term and to pay for his room and board.  The costs are a lot less than in America and if you are able to help at all it would be gratefully appreciated. Kipn geno on the far right with his classmate in the middle and Jonah on the far left. Please send any donations to me and I will send them on to him in Kenya.

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7 This is an encouraging word from the Bible. It encourages me to be diligent in all things and to keep moving forward despite the challenges that come and go and some that drag on longer than I'd like.  The verse is a promise to me (and to all who believe) that eventually (perhaps sooner, perhaps later), my efforts will be rewarded. The process of goal setting, which I started a few years ago, and the process of reflecting on progress at the end of each year, helps me to see what it is I am moving forward to each year, and whether my efforts are being rewarded with all my goals, not just the spiritual ones though those are very important too. Of course other things may arise which impacts on what I am doing at any given time. New things may take priority, like the Swahili class I enrolled in in 2012.  I had not planned on taking the course in a formal way, and that is

  I haven't participated in this meme for awhile. Thanks to Rachel for inspiring me to join in today. FOR TODAY... Monday 7th January, 2013 Outside my window ...the sky is grey and overcast and wet! I am thinking ...that tonight is the start of my new language class at the university. I really don't want to leave the house due to inclement weather and a bad leg but I will. I'll be "testing" the leg this week and see how it goes. I am thankful ...that even though my leg is not yet 100% and is more sore than yesterday, I can walk better than I did a few days ago. In the kitchen ...Nothing is happening today. I had cold cereal for breakfast and will have some cold chicken and hot soup for lunch. I am wearing ...pajamas. I'm feeling lazy today but I really do need to get dressed. I am creating ...nothing at the moment but am very excited as I have a new sewing machine to work with soon. More about that later. I am going ...to eat, have my

It was a Sunday afternoon, wet and cheerless; and a duller spectacle this earth of ours has not to show than a rainy Sunday in London. Thomas De Quincey When I read this quote I thought it was made just for my city on a cold, wet afternoon. It is often like this in winter on a weekend when one would like to get out and see something.  A lot of people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (depression from lack of sunlight over the dark, winter months) as a result and it is easy to see why. I find it helps to get out when you can despite the weather and to also have things that you look forward to doing, whether it be inside or outside (having my list of annual goals really helps me with ensuring I have useful things to do and things I want to do). However I've been indoors a lot since I returned home from my Christmas visit.  I am nursing my left leg which gave out before Christmas (another knee problem in my good leg). It has been too painful to walk and I

The first few days after the holiday are always busy. Busy trying to take down Christmas decor, unpack from travels, reflect on last year's goals and set new ones and generally trying to be organized for the new year. I'm off to a good start. I've been busily researching courses and workshops in my local neighbourhood and at my Alma Mater which is quite a bit farther. I've re-enrolled as a student at my Alma Mater and I'm possibly taking a course next week.  It will require several evenings of my time each week for the next several months . Next week I'll know more fully whether I will take the class. If I do take it,  my nephew and I will be classmates. This is hilarious as I haven't been to uni. in decades. Over the holidays, I purchased several appliances and dealt with all my technical needs (television, speakers, laptop and new operating system for my PC).  All appliances are stainless steel and all were purchased at excellent seasonal discounts.

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.    Ralph Waldo Emerson I returned home from my Christmas travels on December 27, 2012. This is part 2 of the series of photos on the road. Part 1 can be viewed here .  There will be one more installment of photos in this series. I hope you enjoy them.   I'm linking up with Skywatch Friday today. Please have a look at all the other marvellous skies around the globe.  Happy New Year! May you all have a wonderful 2013.