97.11 miles

My blog will be three years old tomorrow so I decided that it’s time to give it a new look! WordPress offers over 100 different themes. I previewed lots of them before finally settling on this one. I love the colour, it has all the features I was looking for and the print is easy to read. Please let me know what you think.

I originally started the blog as a means of sharing our year in Japan with friends and family back home hence the Bible verse at the top and the header, a photo taken while touring the Imperial Palace gardens in Kyoto during our first visit to Japan in 2005. I didn’t actually plan to keep the blog going after our year was up but I’ve always loved writing and I enjoyed blogging so much that I decided to continue. The things I write about are a bit more random these days but there will lots more overseas content in the coming year. We’ll be spending the month of February back in Japan and then June/July as short term missionaries on the island of Saipan! Hope you’ll follow along!

86.98 miles

It’s that time of year again. Santa’s making his list and checking it twice. I’m a list maker too. In fact, my friends tease me about all my lists but I don’t think I could live without them! I’ve always enjoyed being super organized and it’s the lists that help keep me that way.

In my kitchen alone, there’s my daily to do list which I refer to many times throughout the day, a general list of things I need to do over the next little while, and a grocery list. There are lists in the living room too; the BBC Top 100 Book List (I’ve checked off 26 of them), a list of books to look for at the library, and a list of the contestants in my favourite TV show, Amazing Race, so that I can keep track of who’s eliminated each week. In my purse I carry a little notebook that’s chock full of lists. There’s a shopping list for my next trip to Camrose or Edmonton and a separate grocery list for items that I can’t get in our local Coop. Then there are the Christmas lists; lists of all the people I need to buy gifts for and ideas for each of them, a separate list of those I need to buy stocking stuffers for, and a list of suggested items to include in the shoebox that I send to our sponsored child in Haiti. Those lists are in my purse year round in hopes that I might actually shop for gifts throughout the year.

I love crossing things off my lists. It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment. There are some activities that appear on my to do list every day just so I can cross them off! I doubt I’d forget to make the bed or check my email but if they’re on the list, I can cross them off when they’re done. I’ve even been known to add something that I’ve already done to the list just so I can cross it off! I know, that’s a little over the top, maybe even a little bit crazy but hey, it makes me happy!

With Christmas only a month away, I’ve just printed off my Christmas to do list and posted it on the front of the fridge. Like Santa, I’ve got lots of getting ready to do. After all, all the kids and grandkids will be home this year so I don’t want to forget anything!

81.32 miles

What would it be like to wake up and find an RCMP officer standing in your bedroom in the middle of the night? Apparently, according to my father, it wasn’t as disconcerting as I would have thought.

Yesterday was my parents’ 62nd wedding anniversary. Early in the evening, I phoned to extend our congratulations. When no one answered, I was delighted. Mom rarely leaves the apartment and I thought that Dad must have convinced her to go out for a celebratory dinner. As the evening wore on, however, and call after call went unanswered, delight turned to concern. When you live a province away, you can’t simply jump in the car and truck on over to make sure that everything’s okay. What can you do in a situation like this? What should you do? I’d never really thought about it before.

I tried calling my sister and brother, who also live in Alberta, to see if either of them had talked to Mom and Dad but neither had. Now I had them worried too! The only place we could think of that Mom might have agreed to go for a full evening was the home that our older brother shares with two other disabled gentlemen so I phoned there. Now I had the caregiver who has known our family for many, many years worrying too! Unable to leave the men in her care to set off across the city and check on Mom and Dad, she urged me to check their local hospital and to phone the police if I had to. Don’t be afraid to create a scene, she told me.

Not wanting to overreact and realizing that their phone might be out of order, I tried to contact Telus to see if there was any way to find that out. Their automated speech recognition system which is annoying at the best of times was even more so as my frustration mounted. No, I didn’t want to check my account balance or make a payment. I wanted to know if my parents were okay! After pushing numerous keys and trying out various verbal responses, I finally got a recording telling me that all offices were closed and that I should try calling back during business hours! I finally found a real person by calling directory assistance but he wasn’t able to help me either. I learned today when I did call the business office that privacy issues prevent the company from releasing any information about another customer’s phone line. It seems to me that they’re carrying privacy a little too far when lives could be at stake.

Directory assistance did give me the phone number for the Burnaby Hospital and the receptionist there was kind, efficient and very helpful. After a very quick check, she was able to assure me that neither parent had been admitted to the hospital or seen in emergency. I supposed that that was good news but it still didn’t tell me why no one was answering their phone.

The hour was getting late. I could have called our oldest son who lives about half an hour away but I realized that the entry intercom is tied into the phone line and without a fob and a key, he wouldn’t be able to get into the building or up to the 25th storey apartment.

That’s when I decided to phone the police. I really didn’t know what to expect but the receptionist assured me that my concern was valid and told me that she’d have an officer swing by the apartment then phone me to let me know what he found. Thus began the long wait. Finally, at 2:00 a.m. the phone rang and a very kind officer gave me the good news that I’d been praying for! Everything was okay! Everything except the phone, that is. It’s supposed to be fixed tomorrow.

Apparently, by the time the officer arrived at the apartment, Mom and Dad were sound asleep and didn’t hear him knocking. He had to get someone from building security to let him in. I’m sure he was as relieved as I was to find that the occupants were okay. As a family, we’re very impressed by the concern shown by the RCMP and their willingness to take our fears seriously.

Needless to say, it was an anniversary to remember! I wonder what they’ll do for their 63rd?

62.73 miles

Last Halloween I blogged about the ‘haunted house‘ across the street from us. One year later, there it sits a little worse for the weather but otherwise unchanged. I don’t like to be a complainer but I’m tired of looking at this eyesore day in, day out.

Back in early February, I wrote a letter to the town asking for “a reduction in our property taxes for the current year due to loss of property value resulting from the unsightly construction across the street from our home.” I quoted section 35.2 of Land Use Bylaw #461 which states that “The exterior finish of a building in all residential districts shall be completed by October 31st of the year following the year  in which the development permit is issued unless otherwise stipulated in the development permit.” In spite of the fact that the deadline had long since passed, I didn’t really expect our taxes to be lowered. I simply wanted to lodge a complaint in a way that might be paid attention to.

It took the town almost two months to respond and when they did we were told that “the detrimental appearance of a neighbouring property is classed as a non-permanent situation and cannot be taken into account for the calculation of the annual assessment value.” We were also assured that the town was working with the property owners and was confident that the problems would soon be resolved.

Five months passed and nothing changed. Then we received written notice from the town that the property owners had applied for a new building permit. Apparently adjacent property owners were being notified because the proposed construction would be built closer to the property line than is normally allowed. We were given 30 days to comment and responded by visiting the town office. We told them that we thought it was ludicrous for them to send out a notice that ignored the fact that the building in question was already half built but also assured them that we just wanted to see the house finished.

According to the new permit application, the proposed completion date was Dec. 31, 2010. We were hopeful, almost excited. Perhaps finally something was about to happen! That was early in September and other than a bit of leveling of the ground around the house, not one thing has changed! The wood continues to deteriorate and the pigeons that have been living in the house for well over a year continue to come and go.

I really don’t want to spend another year looking out on such an ugly view but what choice do I have? According to the bylaw, it would appear that they have until one year from today to finish the exterior!

56.51 miles

Remember Jami-Lee’s “weewalls”

and the matching headband that I made awhile ago?

Well she’s grown into them now and I think she likes them!

Today I made the rest of the ensemble. Aren’t they just the cutest? I can’t wait to take them to Calgary next time we go.

I love baby shoes and often buy them as gifts for newborns. When I came across a pattern and discovered that I could make them myself, I was delighted! Now that I’ve made the first pair and found out how easy it was, I’m sure there will be many more.

49.85 miles

We finished harvesting yesterday! It’s always a bittersweet time for me. The goal is to finish, of course, but I love the process so much that I always hate to see it come to an end.

Beating winter was a challenge this year and I don’t think we won by much. The snow geese flew over last week on their way to warmer climes and the weasel that peeked out of his hole the day before yesterday was pure white. The forecast calls for mixed precipitation on Monday. There are still a few farmers out in the fields so I hope the rain and snow hold off until they too are done. As we look across the countryside, however, most of the land is at rest.

The results this year were varied. The canola was the best crop Louis has seen in his more than 60 years of farming. Combining it was slow going as the swaths were so heavy. Forty bushels an acre is considered a very good yield and we took off about 47, all top grade.

The wheat didn’t fare as well. The early killing frost was hard on it so the quality is low. Much of it will only be good for feed. There was also quite a bit of ergot in this year’s crop. Ergot is a fungus that infects cereal grains, replacing the kernels with small black masses that look like burnt seeds. It seriously lowers the value of the crop.

As I put my farming jeans and my John Deere pocket knife away for another season, I’ll hang onto memories of beautiful sunsets, golden stubble, wildlife sightings and many hours of solitude on the combine. I’ll also cherish the great visits that Louis and I enjoyed as we traveled the swaths together.

47.04 miles

I made my fifth loan as a micro-financier yesterday and it didn’t cost me a cent. That’s the beauty of Kiva!

I first learned about Kiva last March when I read the eye opening book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Kiva is a non-profit organization that allows a person to lend as little as $25 to a specific low-income entrepreneur across the globe. Though Kiva provides loans to both men and women, I choose to lend to women who are borrowing money to purchase specific items that they will use to generate income that will help them support their families and educate their children.

My first two loans of $25 each went to Rann Sar, a Cambodian villager who wished to purchase two cows to begin a breeding program and Pascuala, a Bolivian who needed a bigger stove to use in preparing the meals that she sells at her food stall. But how can $25 purchase a cow or a stove? It can’t. Many lenders pool their resources to fund each loan.

Rann Sar

Pascuala

Shortly after making these first two loans and after receiving my first repayments, I decided to double my investment and loaned $50 to Alina, another Bolivian who wanted to purchase a dairy cow to add to her small herd of four cows. Alina, her husband and their four school age children live with her mother because they can’t afford a house of their own.

Alina

But how can I make a loan without it costing me anything at all? Easy! As each of these women makes a monthly payment on her loan, my share of that payment is deposited in my Kiva account and I receive an email notifying me of my updated balance. I could withdraw the money at any time but instead, as soon as my balance reaches $25, I search the Kiva database and choose another woman to lend to. By August, just five months after making my initial loans, I was able to make my first “free” loan and I chose Jacqueline, a 32 year old mother of four in Rwanda who wanted to buy a refrigerator for her small restaurant. After all, can you imagine trying to run a restaurant without a refrigerator? So many of the things that we take for granted are out of reach for many people around the world and by sharing just a bit of what we’ve been blessed with, we can make such a difference!

Jacqueline

Yesterday’s borrower especially touched my heart. An adolescent bride, at just 23 years of age she is already the mother of  three children and since her meagre income helps with household expenses and school fees, it’s obvious that some of those children are already school age! Two years ago, she started a hairdressing business in her home. Wanting to purchase better hairdressing equipment and to prepare a corner in her home where she can display products to sell to her customers, she applied for a loan. She hopes to earn enough to eventually open her own salon. She lives in Lebanon and for security reasons, her name cannot be published nor her face shown.

As these loans are repaid, I will continue lending the money again and again. For as little as $25, you can do the same. To get started or to learn more, just click on the Kiva banner in the margin.

39.12 miles

This weekend we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. Across the nation families gather around turkey laden tables to celebrate and give thanks for our many blessings. Traditionally, this was a time to give thanks for the harvest but much of this year’s crop is still in the field. Since we were harvesting all day yesterday and, weather permitting, we’ll be back at it tomorrow we weren’t able to get away to spend today with family. Only one of our children lives close enough to come home for a day and he’s exploring Costa Rica at the moment, so there were only two of us at our Thanksgiving table.

In some homes, the Thanksgiving turkey weighs as much or more than the youngest child at the table. Obviously, I couldn’t cook such a beast for just the two of us! Instead, we enjoyed rock cornish game hens. At the opposite end of the size spectrum, they each weighed a little over a pound and with all the traditional trimmings, they made a fantastic mini Thanksgiving! Of course, no Thanksgiving meal would be complete without pumpkin pie but by the time we finished the main course, we were so full that we decided to go for a walk before indulging in dessert!

Of course, Thanksgiving is about much more than food. In church this morning, we were reminded again just how blessed we are. Did you know that if you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the people on earth? We were also encouraged to finish the sentence “I am thankful for…” with five words. There are so many things that I could have said but the five words that immediately came to my mind were the names of my grandchildren (including the two “adopted” ones in Japan): Andrew, Jami-Lee, Sam, Ayumu and Michiru. How they have enriched my life! When harvest is over, we’ll be going to Calgary for a late Thanksgiving celebration with two of them and I suspect that we’ll have turkey!

31.32 miles

I wore a skirt to church this morning. I’m sure millions of other women did too so on a world scale, it’s really not all that momentous but for me it’s a rare enough occurrence that people wonder what the special occasion is! Though yesterday was our anniversary, that’s not the reason for the skirt.

In North America, at least, I’m one of a dying breed. We are the women who had to wear skirts to school every day while we were growing up. I think that’s why so many of us don’t really like wearing them now! I do enjoy dressing up once in awhile and, like a little girl, I love the swirl of a skirt when I dance but most of the time I’m a blue jeans kind of girl.

Right now it’s harvest time and I spend every day except Sunday on a combine. I wear my farming clothes; old jeans and a t-shirt. Though I show up clean every morning, getting dirty doesn’t bother me. My farmer worried about that at first but I’ve assured him that I’m washable often enough that he doesn’t fret about it anymore.

I learned how to replace broken teeth on the combine this week. Sure, I got my hands dirty and may have chipped a nail or two but it was fun!  After all, I’m the girl who wanted to take shop in school. Unfortunately, in addition to having to wear skirts, girls were required to take sewing and cooking instead even if their mothers had already taught them these skills at home. Only boys took shop. Somehow, in those days, pants and tools must have gone together!

As much as I love wearing my farming clothes, I do find that after six days of coming home dirty and tired I like to clean up and be a little bit girly on Sunday. That’s why, during seeding and harvest, I’m more likely to show up for church wearing a skirt than at any other time of year!

Some say we should always dress up for church, that we should only wear our best into the presence of God. I don’t buy that. Of course, I never wear my dirty farming jeans to church but I sometimes wear my dressier ones. After all, I am just as much in His presence in my dirty jeans on the combine as I was in my skirt in church this morning!