Christmas Day In Revelstoke

Skining up through the cedar forest and cloud

And finally popped out above the cloud. Yahoo!

With a great view of the ski hill across the valley

Time to remove our skins and ski down amongst the willows.

Emma's loving it all.

Clive kissed the snow a few times

I survived.

Rob,  Emma, Clive and me enjoying a delcious Christmas dinner in
Christopher's beautifully renovated basement.

This is the latest fashion in hoodies.

Xmas Letter

OK I'm back from Mexico. It was minus twenty my first morning back and the car was making a disgusting noise. Subsequently it has a new flywheel and clutch and runs as smooth as silk panties! I was going to put on my great Mexico pictures but somehow I haven't time. So here is second best the letter I wrote over a month ago summarising my family in 2010. Still next week I will have time for Mexico pictures.


Hullo,


24th November 2010 This morning we woke up to minus thirty. Already it looks like Christmas, six inches of snow plasters the mountains. Now at midday it has warmed up to minus 20. The sun is sparkling on the new snow, the peaks chiselled like crystals in the bluebird sky. Curling mist from the central heating vents in the houses across the snow covered street, waft languidly through the air to mingle among the whispering pine trees.


Now who ever would have thought I would say minus 15 was warm? And we have an escape planned – we are leaving on 2nd Dec to Mexico for two weeks to catch up with Shona and Andrew. A wondrous change from going to the Lake Louise Downhill. I am so excited I can hardly wait.

This has been one heck of a year. It began with lots of nail biting and backcountry skiing. The two were not connected. The nail biting was watching from afar as Shona tried harder and harder to qualify for the Olympics, one tense weekend after another. Well it is all behind us now as she made it and performed well. Clive and I were super excited to be at the opening ceremonies and hear the huge roar that went up for the Canadian Team athletes. Particularly as we remembered that it was exactly 20 years since we moved to Canada. (Feb 1990). It was an unbelievable experience to feel the country unite behind all the athletes. To see not only athletes give of their best but all the other street performers and the general public. It was wonderful.

The Alpine events were dogged with bad weather and Shona’s first race was delayed. She was the only Canadian Skier to ski in four events. The Olympic Woman’s Downhill was the downhill from hell and anyone who survived it deserved more than a gold medal. Shona said it was as rough as a logging road. Shona’s best result was 12th and top Canadian, in the Supercombined, one run of super G and one run of Slalom - a huge feat of athleticism. It was a great highlight.

I thought I only had to worry about Shona, well not exactly worry but use my yogic breathing to control my anxiety. Then in September Chris’s TV episode with Salomon Freeski TV came out that they made during the Olympics and there is a video of him rag dolling down a very steep mountain! What an incredibly intrepid pair. Amazing after Clive and I are such stay at home people ha ha!

Shona thought that competing in the Olympics in your own home country was a pinnacle experience and could not be surpassed. She retired from Ski Racing. Not a young woman to think small she promptly bought a old Voltswagon Camper and is now well on her way to driving with Andrew her boyfriend, from Canmore to Yukon, Alaska, south to Vancouver, San Francisco, San Diego, the Baja peninsula, eventually Patagonia and we are going to meet them in Puerto Vallarta. I am much more familiar with the Geography of this great continent now. They have a fantastic blog. http://kumulife.blogspot.com/

After the Olympics, Chris took off to ski in Europe for 2 weeks and then in Morocco for two weeks. His Salomon ad ended up on a billboard in Quebec. Catch up with him on his blog 
http://chrisrskibum.wordpress.com/
 He also climbed Sir Donald this summer before he headed down to Chile for a week. In between all of this he renovates houses in Revelstoke and is a partner in the www.cheekybeaverchalet.com/ bed and breakfast. Just today – it is now the29th Nov there was a great video of their European trip on Salomon Freeski TV. These guys sure know how to have fun.


Not to be out done by his children Clive went for a short walk across Ellesmere Island although he does not have a blog to show off his activities. He walked with John Dunn who has done many trips up there for 8 weeks. They walked pulling a sled for 250 k over the sea ice, the second 250km pulling the sled now with wheels on it and the last 250k with backpacks. Their trip was completely unsupported through unexplored territory. They brought back great pictures, were definitely a little lighter but both in good spirits and still speaking to each other. Watch out for the up and coming article in Canadian Geographic. There are some photos on www.arcticlight.com/

Meanwhile I kept the home fires burning. I visited the Yoga Lounge most days, did lots of great hiking in our exquisite back yard. My plan was to write my memoir and while I did write a lot I had not taken into account it takes at least10,000 hours to become a master at anything particularly writing. I took several writing workshops that moved me forward. I have had thoughts of raging bonfires in the backyard, watching the flames lick up through the pine trees and my words mingle with the starry heavens, but have not yet yielded to temptation. In September I headed to the UK for my cousin’s daughter’s wedding. It was a beautiful occasions in a delightful little English church and country hotel. It felt like I was part of on of those great English movies. The weather and company were fantastic.

Then I headed to Edinburgh, brilliant fireworks to celebrate the end of the Festival against a backdrop of the castle. I visited with my fun nieces Sarah, Emma, Catriona, Jane and her little boy Ethan. Managed to fit in a little walk in the Scottish mountains with Fred and Alison. We hiked up a couple of those roundish hills covered with heather, sheep and rain. Sorry I have forgotten their names.

Then the highlight of my trip to see the latest addition to the family; my niece Amy delivered a adorable little girl Kirsten. At nine pounds she was not quite so little. She is sister to Daniel aged 2. For a week He and I had a great time baking cookies, reading books, going to the park while his parents got used to the nighttime demands of two children.

When I returned to Canada I taught several Conflict Resolution for the workplace workshops and Life Writing which I find truly exciting. I have a grand group of women in Canmore who keep returning to my class and inspire me to find new exercises. They are amazing. Clive has been working a couple of day a week in Calgary. So we are now ready for a holiday.



For 2011 I wish you health, wellness, vigour, friendship and enough money to enjoy it all.

Ye shall have a song

Early morning the raucous roosters calling to one another around the Pueblo wake us up. Barking dogs like percussion add interest to the soft coo of doves. During the day birds chatter, humming birds click as they hover sucking nectar from yellow, red, white, blue and magenta tropical flowers.
Each evening while in Sayulita, flares that sound like gunshot announce the procession celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe. We think the terrorists are attacking. Each evening a different segment of the town has a procession, led by three young girls in white party dresses. They carry a basket of fruit celebrating the bounty of the earth. They are followed by a brass band of drums, trumpets, trombones, and tuba like instrument that is wound around the player’s body. A truck follows decorated with the lit up statue of the virgin surrounded by roses. Women and children walk behind and carried candles. The procession proceeds to the flower decorated church by the town square for a prolonged service while children and people hang out in the square. The songs from the church interspersed with bangs from firecrackers.


Later in the evening maybe about nine pm – Mexican time – the big band assembles on the stage to make music, noise and song well into the night, as the intergeneration crowd danced and hang out. Meanwhile half a block away up on the rooftop bar reggae band belt out their particular song into the night sky.

On the beach the surf crashes drumming out all other sounds and complaints of the monkey mind. This morning Clive and Shona are lucky and to watch huge whales breaching and crashing back into the ocean. Are they trying to escape the ocean or are they trying to fly?

Today snorkeling I follow white and black polka dot puffer fish, electric blue, yellow striped, and sandy colored pipefish as the water crackles in my ears. Police with machine guns guard us tourists. The deserted beach a police state. Photos forbidden. Later the Internet told us a 20 year property dispute was resolved last August by the riot police. I was unsure if I felt protected or a target.
Across the road for the house we are staying in there is music school or at very least the practice zone for the ra-ta-tat of drums, trumpet and guitar. Now at twilight the nighttime chorus of circadas begins with short staccato tweets from small yellow birds.

Far away in Canmore my choir the Valley Winds lighten the winter night and the silence of the snows with their melodic voices singing "Ye shall have a voice."

The hills are alive

Friday 26th Nov
It has warmed up. Minus seven is feeling warm, balmy and manageable. Clive and I went for our first cross country ski of the season, came back with flushed cheeks and taut muscles. The hum of swishing skis, squawking ravens and the distant rumble of a long Canadian train reminded me that the hills are alive, well maybe not music but definately sounds. It was good to glide through the vast mountains and remind ourselves what a glorious place this is to live.



Clive enjoying the ambiance of cross country scaly skis

Sat 27th Nov

Well we liked it so much we took our backcountry gear and slogged up to

Burstall pass and even managed and few turns. However you can tell

my children do not get their ski prowess from their mother. Even although

tomorrow I will have completed the 30 day yoga challenge. Yoga every day

for the entire month of November. I had to rush back after the ski trip to fit

in my yoga class at 5 pm. I must say that I went in thinking I could hardly

move a limb and came out feeling like a new woman. Nicole our incredible

teacher choose all the exercises that stretched out my sore points.

I love yoga.   This is a picture looking up the Robertson Glacier and the
one below is me seeing if I can remember how to ski Ha ha!

 



Angel in the snow or snow angel!

Angel in the snow?

Snow angel

Dressed for minus twenty complete with olympic gloves and boots

Crystal chiselled mountains a place of exquisite beauty

Winter IS here.

It is a bright sunny day here in Alberta. I wondered what had happened to all the alcohol in the thermometer. Was there a leak? This morning it read minus thirty but my mid afternoon it has risen to a balmy minus twenty. We are under the spell of an Artic High. In fact it is the second coldest place on the planet, second to Antartica! I'll strike it off my bucket list. In Safeway's everyone is dressed up as if they are on an Everest Expedition, puffy jackets, hats, thick snow pants, and a variety of sheepskin boots. We all look like michelin men! Thank God for fleece, central heating and other modern inventions.

A great opportunity to hide inside and catch up on my writing! Except that the muse never seems to want to cooperate with me. Still I have been fueling the fires of my creative inspiration re-reading my wise thoughts and at least putting a few words together on my blog.

It may be cold outside but it is majestic.



Clumps of ice on the river



Our mountains



Our Wild Valley

Yesterday I breathed grace, confidence and precision into my downward dogs, warrior poses and back bends following the instructions of our dynamic yoga instructor Erin. Oh yes and I mustn't forget the postive attitude as she instructed us to be present with ourselves and any intensity these poses incurred.

Afterwards I sipped coffee in the Bagel Company still tired from my weekend activities. Time to admire an exquisite 10 week old baby and think of little Kirsten, my great neice in Scotland - oh so far away.

Saturday evening we danced the night away up in Silvertip Golf Course with the Valley Winds Big Band. Sunday with the Gateway Literary Guild and Strawberry Shortcake Society, 7 wild valley women laughed, cried, shared our creative stories, paintings and poetry. A wonderous evening of support, encouragement and inspiration.

Mary Jane told of her weekend skating on Carrot Creek Pond and without further ado we set off for a couple of hours fun gliding over the ice, with the warm chinnook in our hair. I was definately concerned about the ominous cracks around the edge however once out in the middle fear was forgotten as we chased foot long shimmering blue trout swim over the sandy bottom. All was well until we sat on a log and changed back into our shoes to walk back through the forest to the car. MJ stepped out over the log, fell and dripped out of the shallow water, laughing.

Carrot Creek Pond

Perfect Autumn Day

Natural Artistry

Mary Jane

Meanwhile the internet gave us of advance warning of the big winter storm that was sweeping over southern alberta and we woke up this AM to find our world changed to a winter wonderland.










My fantastic Christmas Cactus shelter the babies Daniel, Ethan, Noah and
soon there will be a picture of the latest baby Kirsten
and just for good measure emphasizing the family lineage
is my father`s gold fob watch.
All part of this great mystery of life.



Visiting with Kumu, Shona and Andrew

Looking across to the Coast Mountains from Blackholm.

Nice signs on the tourist walk. Sure won't get lost!

Nice Whistler weather at the top of the gondola.

Happy father and daughter mountain bike team.




Oops - we nearly forgot to take a picture of our intrepid travellers and their
trusty van Kumu. With 10,000 kms under the belt since mid July all three
Shona, Andrew and Kumu are more than ready for the next stretch,
A few weeks in the US of A, peacefully through Mexico, on to central
America and eventually Southern Argentina. These guys don't think small.
Good luch and god-speed.

 

Clive and I head back to Alberta. A quick stop at Nairn Falls to centre
ourselves in the natural world.

A reminder of the beauties of fall and the cyclical nature
of live, that seems to be rushing past all too fast.

Fall at Healy Pass, the Rockies

The top of Wa Wa - Sunshine Village

Clive surrounded by golden larches

Monarch Ramparts

Mule Deer

Is this the heart of the Rockies with these lakes all arranged in a star -
It must mean something! Or it is just plain beautiful.

Back Home in the Rockies

Sunshine Meadows on the 24th Sept 2010

The intrepid Marg and Wilma dreaming of sking - well not quite me
I was feeling a little intimdated that winter had come so early.




Still our autumn and winter in one was beautiful.

These three photos are the following day up on Wind Ridge that lived
up to its name. Still it was t-shirt weather and snow rapidly departed.
All part of living in the mountains.



Home of Famous Scottish Writer Walter Scott



The house is situated in the country by the side of the River Tweed.



Theo in a meditative mood in the garden.

The gardens at Melrose Abbey. This is a dried flower garden.

Harvest time.

Pardon me - the order is a little mixed up and too change it is too difficult! Pardon me - the order is a little mixed up and to change it will be to challenging.




It was here the muse visited him and he wrote is novels.
The Waverley Novels, as Scott’s 26 novels came to be called
were the world’s first real historical novels and the world’s first best-sellers.
They paved the way for the great popular novels of the Victorian age,
influenced Puskin and Tolstoy as well as George Elliot and Dickens,
and earned him the money to buy land, to plant trees and to build Abbotsford.



These are the beautiful bay windows in his library,
overlooking his beloved Tweed River.