Don't Touch My Junk (the TSA Hustle)

Here's a light-hearted rap full of truths about the loss of freedom the USA public has accepted from the government under the guise of Protection.  It's got to stop.

Crazy Day for a Party

We had it all planned out.

Saturday we would meet Rauchelle in Nanaimo and pick Layne up at the Duke Point ferry.  We'd go for lunch and spend some family time celebrating Layne's birthday which was actually the day before (Friday).  Then Chelle would return to O's where she lives, and we'd take Layne home with us for the weekend.

Then we made the Birthday call to Layner Friday morning and sang "Happy Birthday" to her.  She announced that what she had planned for the afternoon had fallen through so now she was free and could come over today (Friday, her actual birthday).  So with some quick phone calls we changed plans for the day. 

Instead of a fairly quiet day at home preparing for Shabbat (bake bread, vacuum house and clean bathrooms) we whipped into action, got the bread rising, baked a cheesecake, did the house work, made a bed up (on the floor) for Layne, packed changes of clothes for the little guys, ate quick lunch and hit the road by 1 pm to pick Layne up at Duke Point 22 hours ahead of our original schedule ;)  and proceeded to travel up to O's for the One-Day-Late American Thanksgiving Dinner intended for an American who had to cancel coming and which turned out to be a Birthday Dinner for Layne instead!!  With fresh challah that rose beautifully in spite of getting a few chills en route, and an Oreo Cheesecake Danaka baked before leaving home, and an awesome meal put on by Lisa and Rauchelle.  It was a huge Success.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAYNE!!

Finding Farley

If you check out this interesting documentary of one young family's journey by canoe, foot and sailing from Canmore, AB to River Bourgeois, NS (where we lived for 1 year!) you arent likely to be disappointed.  As lovers of Farley Mowat s writings, they push through their challenges of rapids, too many portages, millions of bugs and achy body parts to follow the trails of Farley and experience the nature of Canada that Farley wrote about, to end up at the home of their new-found friend.

Near the end of the video when they are getting close to their destination they show Church Point, where we actually lived.  Our house was just over the hill on the other side.  As a matter of fact, the picture I have at the top of my blog here, is taken at that churchs cemetery where Layne and Rauchelle loved to go, and many of the children rolled down the hills there. 

We aren't fanatics of Farley Mowat s writings.  We ve read a few, and watched "Never Cry Wolf", and drove past his house to see where he lived. Everette even ran into him at the post office, and my friend s husband won a bid when the Farley Mowat was up For Sale (but he cancelled his bid, cuz what does one do with a big ship like that in your backyard, hey Jennifer?) but I was taken more by the fact of them doing a cross-country journey more difficult than ours, and ending up in the very same town.  I thought that was cool, and we could identify with much of the scenery that they experienced except for the up-north and Newfoundland aspects.  Obviously theirs was a much slower paced journey fraught with bugs beyond belief (right there, I'd bail) and were more fit, likely, than when they began.  I wouldn't be doing that journey with our children, that's for sure, but maybe one of our children will want to do it themselves when they are older.  They certainly enjoyed the film, and identifying with some of the scenes. They have a good taste and feel for this big land, and I'm so glad we have given that experience to them. And experienced it for ourselves too.

3 Years Ago

Three years ago today we were On The Road. 

Across Canada.

Everette in the mini-van with 5 children and stuffed to the rims with sleeping bags, blankets, clothes and books.  I was driving the station wagon with the 2.5 month old baby and one of the children (on rotation with one from the van) with all the other space taken up with tools, more books, scrapbooking supplies and more clothes.  One was risking a life or limb to open any of the vehicle doors lest something tumble out.  It was packed incredibly tight. 

And the excitement was incredibly high.

I remember as we drove down our street away from the house where our last 4 children were birthed and one tiny was buried, and we saw our neighbours waving from their front porch, I was choked.  Excitement and fear blended together and quietly they traveled slowly down my cheek.

We'd never been in such an adventure before.

We didn't really comprehend all that we were leaving behind, and neither did we know all that we were moving towards.

But we hit the road.

Minus our eldest 2 daughters.

That was pretty much the hardest part about the journey.  That 'Letting Go' that parents know they will sometime have to do.  But when that moment is staring at you, seemingly ripping your heart out, leaving your heart in BC while your wheels are taking you to Cape Breton, driving through the Fraser Valley crying out "What on earth are we doing?" and wondering if Everette and I are crazy.

Nobody could understand what we were doing.  After all, we weren't really sure what we were doing either.  But we knew in slightly-more-than-a-moment's decision that we must go when we heard that my sister's house had burned down.  We knew in our hearts.  The mind can say what it wants, but when the message is Oh So Clear in your heart, then you know what you need to do.  Follow your heart.

I am so thankful for the journey we have had these past 3 years. 

Today, I remember the beginning of this leg of the journey.  And I am Eternally Grateful. 

Thumbs Up for the House

wWe are moving to Sooke!

I heard from the landlady today and its all set for sometime next week.  Depending on how much cleaning and any fixing up she might have to do this upcoming weekend after the current tenant moves out, we will be residents in Sooke no later than Oct 1st.

Of course we are all excited.  Envisioning ourselves resident in the house isn't as cool as actually physically being there, but we'll practice patience for just another week!

Everette is excited to get his Victoria-area business going, and we'll all be working on our New Normal~ New Schedules.  So many routines get put on hold when you live in transition, and especially while we are staying with friends.  There are so many people to spend time with, more activities to do, less space, stuff unpacked, etc., so much goes by the wayside.  But in 2 weeks from now our family will be tweaking out how we want things done in our new house, and where we should store everything.  I love doing that.  And its a good thing, since Everette and I have had more than our share of moves.

Like I've mentioned before, I am excited to see what living a Minimalist lifestyle will look like for us at our new house.  It has much more floor space than I think we need, and a garage that doesn't fit our 15-passenger van and we don't own stuff to store in there (hallelujah!).  At present we don't even own couches or any living room furniture, and no kitchen table or chairs, or bar stools for the kitchen island.  So it will be sparse..... and lovely!!

And lots of places to store our books probably.  Books and games.  And we'll be setting up our infra-red sauna there too.  Everette's excited about that.

There are 2 bedrooms upstairs (besides the master bedroom) perfect for making a Boy's Room and a Girl's Room.  The obvious arrangement would be for the girls to take the pink room, and the boys get the girls room.  But those of you who know Maret know that she's going to be sleeping in the Boy's Room!!

That's it for the news about the house for now.  I can post pics when we get moved in.

Danica (she likes that spelling better than Danaka) and I had a good weekend in Vancouver area.  She joined me along with my Mom and Layne at a free event with Amega Global on Friday night, and then I spent Saturday at a training day while the 3 ladies shopped at Value Village and then Danica and Layne hit the White Rock beach for awhile.

Us girls stayed up way past my bedtime chatting which was enjoyable, and I got to sleep in Sunday morning and awoke to yummy smelling  (but absolutely not healthy) crepes suzettes made by mom.  Then Layne and I watched 'The Living Matrix' which was a fascinating documentary we had to keep pausing so we could discuss it.  Its all about energy fields, particularly about zero point energy field, and the amazing creation and functioning of our bodies.

The best part about going away is the coming home.  It's true.  I was a proud mama to find Everette brought 5 of the children to the ferry to pick D and I up.  The hugs and kisses are always so precious.  And I have such a handsome man to greet me.

I am Blessed.

More Update?.....I have a new site I'm building and will be moving some of my applicable posts from here over to there.  It's at www.crunchyminimalist.com but you'll have to give me a few days to get something up!  It's extremely minimalist (blank) at the present time (hehehe).

Much on my plate, actually.  Everette and I decided to enroll 4 of the girls for distance schooling. They are in practicality still homeschooled as they won't be attending a day school in a building, but this year we will be meeting goals of the ministry of education and being answerable to them with weekly contact and some portfolios throughout the year.  It will be more structured than we are used to, but I know that all of us can rise to the occasion, and in a weird sense I am looking forward to some accountability, not because I believe I need to answer to others about the successes/failures of my children (I do that before God) but because knowing that someone else is checking up on me might just be what I need to pull up my socks and do more of what I actually say/think I want to be doing.  I'm sure you all know how easy it is to procrastinate.  Easy as pie!!

Danica and Maret are both planning to take some online courses, and the rest will be facilitated by Yours Truly.

Give Every Day

I've added a new button over on the right sidebar, and wanted to highlight about it today.


About the Sheaffers:

"We are a family of four who are planning to travel the country with the intent purpose of giving – every day.

We are selling our house and almost all of our possessions. The next step will be to buy an RV, map our route, and give more than we’ve ever given before."

You can check out their blog and see for yourself what adventure they are beginning, and consider supporting them in prayer and financially, if your heart says to. 

I admire the journey they are beginning, and know from our own experiences that it will be greater and grander and a whole-lot different than they could imagine at the moment.  And something SO well worth it.  What a heritage/experience to give their beautiful daughters.  We would all do better to Give Every Day. 

Blessings, Sheaffers. 

Found our Missing Camera

We misplaced the camera for about a week.  But it turned out it had been placed in a kitchen cupboard to get it up and out of the way.  Alexander finally 'found it' for us, and so now I can post some of our older pics from last week!

Everette, Laars and I spent 2 days in Victoria area, looking for rentals and checking the place out.

Gotta check out the Farm Market when they advertise its the best in Victoria.  We always like to check out the markets.

Catching Raindrops

Watching the drops falling with his personal binoculars

Checked out Chinatown at lunchtime.

Followed the 'train tracks'

A Unique Market.

Must come back and see with more leisure time.

Before & After Photos

About Dec 6th, 2009 I started eating according to The Daylight Diet (by Paul Nison).  It mostly entailed eating only during daylight hours, which in the depth of winter required me to adjust gradually to not eating after 3pm.  I started by not eating anything at all after 6pm.  I found that easy, so I moved it to 5 pm.  And rapidly I wasn't eating (most days) after 2 or 3pm.  I was truly amazed that I could do that, and feel good about it.  I honestly had to start embracing the rumblings in my belly, and recognize that they were signs of a healthy digestive system and aiding in elimination.  It was a good thing, not something to throw food at to stop it.

The weight started to come off right away, and Everette and I boosted it with a 5-day Juice Feast .  Since that time, we have predominantly eaten healthy other than when we traveled and when we stay with people.  Actually, the traveling part went fairly well for us as we stayed mostly High-Raw.  But staying with people makes it more difficult, that's for sure.  And 'living' with people who eat the comfort-foods that easily entrap us....that's hard.

Anyways, here are pictures of me at my starting weight of 184 lbs, the beginning of Dec 2009.

 

My weight now is 147 lbs.  Actually I've been at this weight roughly 2 months (give or take a pound or two) while we traveled the country and been staying with people.  I am confident that as I continue to eat healthy and incorporate other health practices, the weight will melt off and I will level out at a healthy weight for my body.  I don't actually have a target weight.  I believe my body will know what is ideal if I give it healthy fuel and help it eliminate the harmful stuff.

So, here's pictures taken just yesterday morning.

To see in closer proximity so as to compare......

I was slacking off for awhile from doing my Hoe-Downs, but this week I've gotten back to doing them and I feel better for that.  I feel that they have been helpful in getting my tummy in better shape while losing the weight.  I still have more work to do, but its been a fun and easy way for me to incorporate abdominal and buttocks exercise into my day (most days).  I love the T-Tapp philosophy and highly recommend the exercises (free on YouTube or purchase thru their site.  I'm happy with my purchases.)

They Wouldn't Leave the Wagon

from Little House on the Prairie

Pa & Ma are heading to Independence, out of Indian Territory, by choice before the soldiers come to remove them.  On their travels they come upon a covered wagon without horses, but the owners are sitting on the wagon tongue.

They were a man and a woman.  They sat looking down at their feet, and they moved only their heads to look when Pet and Patty stopped in front of them.


"What's wrong? Where are your horses?" Pa asked.

"I don't know," the man said.  "I tied them to the wagon last night, and this morning they were gone.  Somebody cut the ropes and took them away in the night."

"What about your dog?" said Pa.

"Haven't got a dog," the man said......    

"Well, your horses are gone," Pa told the man.  "You'll never see them again.  Hanging's too good for horse-thieves."
"Yes," the man said.


Pa looked at Ma, and Ma barely nodded.  Then Pa said, "Come ride with us to Independence." 
"No," said the man.  "All we've got is in this wagon.  We won't leave it."
"Why, man!  What will you do?"  Pa exclaimed.  "There may be nobody along here for days, weeks.  You can't stay here."
"I don't know," the man said.

"We'll stay with our wagon," the woman said.  She was looking down at her hands clasped in her lap, and Laura couldn't see her face; she could see only the side of the sunbonnet.
"Better come," Pa told them.  "You can come back for your wagon."
"No," the woman said.


They wouldn't leave the wagon; everything they owned in the world was in it.  So at last Pa drove on, leaving them sitting on the wagon tongue, all alone on the prairie.


Pa notifies the soldiers at Independence to send help out for the couple.

 ****************************
I chuckled when I saw the store name Nood: New Objects of Desire
Sad commentary on our society.  Wanting more and more.  And yet usually less and less happy.

Give me the simplified life, Thank You.

Choose the Positive

from Little House on the Prairie

Pa has just had a conversation with Mr. Edwards and Mr. Scott about the soldiers coming out to force the homesteaders to move because they supposedly are 6 miles within Indian Territory.  Pa quickly decides to move his family on his own accord, rather than waiting it out to be physically escorted off the land.

After a feast of potatoes for supper because "We've been going without potatoes, saving them for seed.  Now we'll eat 'em up!" 

Everyone was quiet that night.  Even Jack felt that something was wrong, and he lay down close to Laura when she went to bed.

It was now too warm for a fire, but Pa and Ma sat looking at the ashes in the fireplace.

Ma sighed gently and said, "A whole year gone, Charles."  But Pa answered, cheerfully:  "What's a year amount to?  We have all the time there is." 



Pa and Ma and the 3 girls (and Jack, the dog) are now traveling to Independence to set up a new homestead.  Ma was disappointed about the sudden move, and the abandonment of their house with real glass windows, and the fields that Pa had worked so diligently on, and the plow that he had just traded furs to acquire.

They set up camp, chained the livestock to the feed-box at the end of the wagon and fed everybody their supper.  The girls are tucked into their beds, and Ma sits down by the fire alongside Pa who begins to play his fiddle.  Pa stopped singing "Oh, Susanna, don't you cry for me," to comment "Do you know, Caroline, I've been thinking what fun the rabbits will have, eating that garden we planted."

"Don't, Charles," Ma said.

"Never mind, Caroline!" Pa told her.  "We'll make a better garden.  Anyways, we're taking more out of Indian Territory than we took in."

"I don't know what," Ma said, and Pa answered, "Why, there's the mule!"  Then Ma laughed, and Pa and the fiddle sang again.



That's the kind of attitude I want to have.  Although undesirable things happen to all of us, can we focus on the good in the situation, rather than wallowing in the bad?  Can we even say that it is 'bad'?  It might just be the thing that moves us, motivates us, propels us toward something we would not normally choose but might be a true blessing in disguise.

Because of them or in spite of them I am not sure.  Does it matter?

Fallen Behind

Ok, I've been busy and I've fallen behind on writing posts.  But I'm not under obligation, so that's just the way it is.  But I admit, I enjoy posting irregardless to whether anybody reads it.  I write because I enjoy it, and at present while I'm not scrapbooking I like to post some pictures.  It's a bit of a release on my artistic side.

So, we packed up our belongings (and ditched a bunch, and stored some, and are hopeful of selling some of the bigger stuff) and stuffed the van full and are now in White Rock staying at my mom's empty condo while she's away till early next month.

We came today, spent some hours with Layne at Point Grey and the UBC endowment lands.  And we are settling in for the next few weeks, this leg of our 'adventure'.  I'll tell you more about it as it unfolds.

Foreign Lands

~by Robert Louis Stevenson

Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.

I saw the next door garden lie,

Adorned with flowers before my eye,

And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.

I saw the dimpling river pass

And be the sky's blue looking-glass;
The dusty roads go up and down
With people tramping in to town.

If I could find a higher tree,
Farther and farther I should see,
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships.

To where the roads on either hand
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.

Botanical Beach & Cuts

Yesterday we drove out to the west coast of the westcoast.  That's the west side of Vancouver Island.  Everette's mom, sister & her dh were supposed to meet us out there in the afternoon, but they weren't able to find us until the end of the afternoon when we returned to our van which they had parked right behind.  So, at that point we stood around the parking lot eating wraps, oranges and corn chips with salsa  while visiting.

Below are some pics from our family's day at the beach.  It was a couple of km walk down to the beach from the parking lot.

We missed these big rain forests.

Laars with his walking stick.

Loads of tidal pools to observe.

Unfortunately this baby octopus was dead.  We found him/her just on wet sand, probably where a small pool of water used to be.

smokin' an orange segment.

Sights on the drive home......

So, that's what we did yesterday (Sunday). 

Today was Victoria Day, what we usually call May Long Weekend.  We decided to spend an extra night at Hales, get another visit in with Mom Johnson this morning, hang-out and get some hairs cut. 

this is the pile of hair cut from my own head.

      And............

you'll have to come back tomorrow to see.........