Babies are so cute. . . and then they grow up!

A month ago, we went to the feed store and picked up these adorable soft, fuzzy baby chicks-4 different breeds. That way we get beautiful colorful eggs.

Now they have rapidly grown to gnarly teenagers squawking at everything! Not only that, but do you see anything wrong with this picture of hens?

Could it be that one of "the girls" seems to be masquerading as a ROOSTER!!

Love is the key that opens the doors of happiness. . .

WE'RE WAITING!27 Years

The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.

MONKEY CLIMB THE TREE POSE

I kid you not. This was a new one for me today in Pilates. I even had to ask the teacher if she made this one up!! She insisted it is a Pilates pose. Here is Joseph himself doing a pose, but if he were doing the monkey climb pose, he would be working his hands like he was climbing a tree or rope!?!?!?


This kitten says it all for me. . . WHATEVER!!!

PILATES--FRENCH FOR PAIN IN THE LEGS, ARMS, BUTT AND ESPECIALLY THE STOMACH!

That would be "THE CORE"! Since my next birthday is a major milestone. . . I had a little discussion with myself that I would get my body into better shape by the time I have my birthday next summer. So I added Pilates, Yoga and even Piloga to my exercise routine. Piloga is just a fusion of Pilates and Yoga and is just as pain producing as either one alone. I discovered muscles I never knew I had and maybe ones I didn't even want to know I had. Nor did I have a clue how uncoordinated and out of balance I could be. I am learning new poses every time I go.

One thing that amazes me is: HOW DID THEY EVER COME UP WITH THE NAMES FOR THE POSES!

Let's start out with some of the "simple" ones.
HAPPY BABY

CHILD POSE

The "TRIANGLE POSE" explains itself:


But some of the others are just plain goofy!

CAMEL POSE:

ANGRY CAT:

DOWNWARD DOG:

UPWARD DOG:

DOWNWARD CAT:

PIGEON POSE:

COBRA POSE


WARRIOR POSE


THEN THERE IS JUST THE CREEPY. . . .

CORPSE POSE

Surprisingly, that is the one I can do the best!!!! Or maybe it is the "REVERSE CORPSE"?!?!?

In fact I think it is time to practice that pose right now. . . YAWN!!

OH CANADA, GLORIOUS AND FREE!!

Yes, it just makes me want to break into,
"O beautiful, for spacious skies. . . . " even though that song was inspired by Pikes Peak in Colorado.
My annual blog for "beautiful BC" is way over due. Maybe it was cause I couldn't decide what pictures to post. But probably cause I have just been procrastinating. Why blog today, when I can wait till tomorrow, or even next week or in this case next month! I look forward to this trip every year and it seems that the time there fly's by much too fast.

So where do I begin to describe the beauty of this north land above us? I think I will just let the pictures speak for themselves!

It explains why I migrate there each summer. As I said when I started my blog 2009--"from the center of my life came a great fountain" still holds true today. BC is a great escape from the drama of family life and job. There is also plenty of help from my wild and crazy cousins. Great food and libations and reconnecting with my summer friends!

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,
places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal
and give strength to body and soul.

~John Muir

NO HIGH HEELS

"THE CLIMB IS NEVER EASY,BUT THE VIEW IS WORTH EVERY STEP"

If you follow "Cowgirltales" blog, you will notice that she blogged "WORTH IT!" This was referring to climbing Pulpit Rock across from the town of Nelson,BC. It is a short (about 1 mile or 1.6k) but steep (300 meter elevation gain) hike that rewards you with a fantastic view of the city of Nelson.
I really never had a great desire to climb it.. "Because it's there" is one of the most ludicrous quotes I have ever heard. However, those of you that are acquainted with Ms.Gina know that she has her form of "encouragement" which borders on nagging, pushing, prodding a person to get out of their comfort zone. In other words, "get off your ass!"

So it was with some reluctance that I found myself at the base of the Pulpit Rock Trail. It was raining and after I went a few meters, I was ready to turn back. I even had a story with all the excuses why I didn't reach the top. Rain! Slipping and sliding, etc. But there was also this voice in my head telling me to just do it, otherwise I would never hear the end of it from the Gina-donna. Yes, it was slippery and wet, but just kept one foot in from of the other. Not to mention all the seasoned hikers that were practically jogging up the hill around me.

The view was just incredible!

So perhaps that helps exclaims why people like to climb mountains. . . .

"BECAUSE IT'S THERE"
George Mallory

THE GUARDIAN

I am up here in the far north. . . the land of 16 hour days! I'm house-sitting for some English folk, and this magnificent beast is part of the deal. My new pal, Bailey. He's 7 mo old and just a sweet heart. The mellowest puppy I have ever met! As you might notice, he is part wolf. Timber, Arctic,Gray and then has some malamute thrown in.When instructed on the feeding of Bailey, I was told that he liked brekkie and tea. I was nonplussed that a wolf liked tea and curious how I was to fix him tea. Large pot brewing special English tea or was he more of the herbal type? So I asked exactly how would I do that? Answer: "Just give him half a can of dog food and a scoop of biscuits(kibble)!"

I had no idea that it is customary in England where "tea" refers to an evening meal.
Guess it is "tea time" for the cats,fish and birds as well!
Bon Appétit!

STOCKHOLM SYNDROME

I am writing this blog to squelch any rumors that I have disappeared off the face of the earth! I am also writing this blog under great duress. I am currently being held hostage in an undisclosed location in Nelson, BC. All the leaves are green,but the sky is grey (mamas & papas, blah, blah,blah) and it feels like a winter day!! My captivators, whom, of course I regard with much kindness and empathy, and also feel like I am falling deeply and passionately in love, have threatened to remove all my privileges, including shower, shave, and eating, etc, but HAVE promised to take me for a ride in the trunk of their car (the true Sicilian way) if I will only make some sort of effort to blog.
(that last sentence has exhausted me but I am so excited about the ride!!)
So here I am in the far north. . . Spectacular scenery along the way. And because I traveled alone, I could actually stop and take a few pics.

My captor is waiting. . . she has the collar and leash . . .
. . .OK, that is for Pony Girl.
I was worried there for a moment.