I CAN FLY. . . I CAN TOUCH THE SKY!

EAGLETS ARE BOTH FLYING!!
 

I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar

Hey if I just spread my wings
I can fly
I can fly

"NO NEED TO TEACH AN EAGLE TO FLY" ----GREEK PROVERB---

 

Since March, I have been watching an eagle nest located on a bluff overlooking Boundary Bay, British Columbia by "live cam". The eggs were laid March 13 & 16 and hatched April 19 and 21. The owner of the property has named the 2 chicks Echo and Foxtrot.

This has been so amazing to watch. . .

ECH AND FOXY

One of the craziest moments, was when Mom brought home the "CATCH OF THE DAY". It was a stuffed toy. She tore into it and made a total mess of it. . . but alas, NO MEAT!

WHERE'S THE BEEF?

 The toy is still in the nest. So perhaps Ech and Foxy got attached to it and can't bare to part with it.

SLEEPING WITH TOY MAY 20

JUNE 16

 An eagle can take its first flight, some 10 to 13 weeks after hatching. Today they have been flapping onto the branch.  Both were sighted hanging out together on the branch.

"BRANCHING" JULY 8

Other watchers of this website, predict that they will fly in the next couple of days. The recovery of the bald eagle is a national success story. These eaglets have been a blast to watch grow up.  You can watch Foxy and Echo fly yourself on .http://www.hancockwildlife.org
Select "live cameras" and "White Rock".

"I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I'm free"

WHOOPS!! I DID IT AGAIN!!

HAPPY FEET!?!?

I am up in the NORTH again. In that FOREIGN COUNTRY THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY DRUGS FROM or so the media reminds me. (Wouldn't want to cut into the profits for our illustrious "big pharma"--but that is a whole nother blog.)

 I could probably just copy my blog from last year and it is pretty much a repeat this year.  RAIN,RAIN,RAIN, and more RAIN.  But everything is beautifully green and water-logged!. There have been flood warnings,shoreline disappearing, and "river rising". . . .But since I live in a  probably the biggest "River City" in California, I am sort of use to this. Just NOT at this time of year.

 I JUST DIDN'T EXPECT THIS ON MY VACATION!!!

So the sun did come out briefly and being that I was of on-sound mind by this point from the moisture,  I said to myself-"Self, let's climb the Pulpit!"  I think last year I felt I was a fool if I didn't climb it, but after climbing it, felt like I would be a fool to climb it again!!  Alas, my menopausal brain has not much short term or long term memory anymore, so I set out again to climb "THE PULPIT". Being the daughter of a preacher man, it just seemed like the right thing to do.

"LE VUE"

If you don't recall, THE PULPIT is a vertical climb of about 1 mile to the top, here in the Nelson BC vicinity. I can't seem to find out how it got the name, but basically, it is an out-cropping of rock that has a fantastic view of the city of Nelson.

As I started the ascent, I saw a couple of bear cubs in a meadow, so waited for another hiker with a dog, and began the climb.  And once again, after a rigorous hike. . . ."Le Vue" was "extraordinaire".  I probably sat around at the top for a couple hours. . . visiting with other hikers. . . meditating. . . just enjoying the moment!!  and the  

SUNSHINE!!

Life is only traveled once.

 Today's moment becomes tomorrow's memory.

 Enjoy every moment, good or bad. 

BROCHURES MAY BE DECEIVING!!

BROCHURE KITCHEN

My cuz Thom, in preparing for a major surgery in Canada-land, was perusing a lovely brochure from the University of British Columbia Okanagan for accommodations in Kalowna, BC. We all checked out the brochure and thought that the rooms looked just lovely and the "price was right". Alas, what we got, was NOT what we saw in the brochure.  I should have heeded my previous advice: BUYER, BEWARE!! As soon as I walked in to the "lovely fully equipped kitchens, private bathroom, with high-speed Internet access in the comfortable Monashee Suites" . . . . I was dismayed!! The location of the campus was on the far side of the world. . . 20 miles from the hospital destination in the middle of no where. And there was nothing sweet about the  Monashee Suite!!

"fully equipped kitchen"

The fully equipped kitchen was sparse.  There was a private bathroom . . . which needed some repair. Never got the internet to connect.  The view was of a truck parked almost under the window. No fresh air unless we turned on the noisy air-conditioner. 

Gina was a little "dismayed" as well!

And the bed. . . . you probably guessed.  Sagged all the way to the hardboard. I ended up on the floor.






We all tossed and turned and napped for a couple hours. Didn't need an alarm (which didn't work anyway) to get us up and out of there in the morning and we NEVER looked back!

I found a lovely place, Siesta Suites, walking distance from the hospital and for a few dollars more, I have a comfortable bed, equipped kitchenette, indoor or outdoor pool/jacuzzi, exercise room, Starbucks across the street, and a short stroll to the Okanagan Lake beach. Whew! SWEET!

THE BEST PART IS THAT THE PATIENT, THOM, IS DOING FINE!!

(AND IT IS NOT COSTING HIM A PENNY!)

SIGHTING OF "LITTLEFOOT"!

So we went out in the woods today and we sure got a big surprise. This little fellow scampered across the road.  We were sure there would be the MOTHER guardian close by, but evidently Junior was foraging on his own. We didn't take any chances, kept the windows rolled up and unlike the crazy tourists you might find in Yellowstone --DID NOT FEED THE BEARS. 

 I was just thrilled with the wonder and beauty of this young animal.

"If you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing for six months.

 I could deal with that.
Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid.

 I could deal with that too.
If you're a bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown, but cuddly cubs.

 I could definitely deal with that.
If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business.  You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. 
 If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.

 I could deal with that.
If you're a bear, your mate expects you to wake up growling. He expects that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.
Yup, I wanna be a bear." 

Just another day in "Beautiful BC"!

"BUYER--BEWARE!!"

GENMAICHA TEA

I was at a local farmers market today, here in BC and a woman was selling some "Brown Rice Tea" I eagerly snapped up a bag, cause I enjoy the Japanese Genmaicha very much. "Genmaicha" is a variation of Japanese green tea that incorporates toasted brown rice into the steeping process. The tea's flavor is strong and distinctly nutty, and is just as delicious cold as it is hot.The term genmaicha collectively means "brown rice tea." Gen can be interpreted as "dark", so the tea generally looks dark, like a weak coffee.

YOUR BASIC TOASTED BROWN RICE-duh!

When I got "home", I opened the package and to my surprise found. . . . TOASTED BROWN RICE! But thinking that perhaps this still had some wonderful tea properties, proceeded to brew a cup. So here you can see I ended up with a glass of weak rice water and. . . .

FLUFFY BROWN RICE!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AT A VERY INFLATED PRICE, NO LESS!!

"WEATHER FOR TONIGHT: DARK. TURNING PARTLY LIGHT BY MORNING!"

 George Carlin was correct on that one!!  When you analyze what a weather forecaster is, it is merely "ONE WHO PREDICTS THE WEATHER".  Now, I would like a job where all I have to do is PREDICT!! Wouldn't you?  Who wouldn't?  The interesting thing about a weather forecaster is, it doesn't matter if they are right or totally wrong!  They still keep their job.  I spose that wouldn't work too well in the medical profession that I am in. . . making a wrong prediction that is.

SACRAMENTO FORECAST THIS MORNING

So what got me started on this subject?  I was doing my stint at the gym in Elk Grove, which is a mere 10 miles from my home.  As I was leaving, the sun was shining and it was just a beautiful day,as was predicted by the forecaster.  Proceeding home, I saw dark clouds and then lightening.  As I drove down my driveway, it was pouring and a good thunderstorm was in progress. Now this had been "PREDICTED" for Friday, which remained sunny and warm, but not for today. Never the less, my garden welcomed the rain and the sweet smell of the rain was delightful.

WILTON WEATHER IN "REAL"TIME

HERE'S A PROFOUND QUOTE!!!

 "The best thing one can do when it's raining---

is to let it rain."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

NOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA!!

I believe I shall!!

"WHILE I WAS SLEEPING!!"

The garden is coming along and I have been nursing my basil back from almost total annihilation by the slugs and sow bugs. Harvesting Arugala daily for my lunches. Yum. 

 But I just figured that the squash had a ways to go.  After all, wasn't it just yesterday that it was planted? Then Ernie mentioned today that I had some "baby" zucchinis and I had better take a look. YOW!!  There were already some "adults" waiting for harvest.  

 INVASION OF THE  ZUCCHINI MONSTERS.

 One day you have an innocent looking squash blossom, then seemingly, overnight it morphs into a 2 pound, foot long zucchini that you can barely carry to the kitchen.

Time to get out my recipe book:

 1000 WAYS TO FIX ZUCCHINI

IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS!?!?!?

"I am going to clean the house for you tomorrow and wash your car," Kevin said to me last night as I was about to go to bed. Wow, I thought that sounded just great. 

 

BREAKFAST IN BED!

 I woke up to my boys boisterously bantering in the kitchen and warned to STAY IN BED!  Shortly after, I was served a home-cooked breakfast and the Sunday paper. El had prepared the waffles from scratch and served an excellent cup of coffee. I also got a lesson how to properly make a great cup of joe, which I hadn't a clue. 

EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

 I had to try it myself and found it was even good without the cream and sugar.  Here is how: Use a cone with filter.  Hot water(not boiling) is poured directly over the coffee grinds which then drips into the cup. 

"This makes a very true cup of coffee, bringing out the full flavor of the coffee bean without compromise!"

  The morning was quite enjoyable, hanging out with the boys.  Never a dull moment!!

 Then Kevin and I spent a couple hours at the gym working our butts off!!. . . Now I am just relaxing, reminiscing about all those "mother moments" through the years!! The thrill of victory, the pain, the agony of the feet!?!?

 And the clean house and car shampoo. . . . Maybe next year!?!?!?
 It was a great idea at the time. . . . .  And after all it is the thought that counts.

FLO

FLO

It is NURSES WEEK. . . and I just thought we should give Flo a few kudo's for all she did to lay the foundation for nursing as we know it today. . . 

BABY FLO

When I was in nursing, I sort of resented her cause she was held in such high esteem and  "what would Flo have done?"  was reverberating in my head as I did 'unlike Flo' things.  But now as I have learned more about her. . . She was a pretty incredible woman.  I would have loved her maverick, no-nonsense attitude. I can just see her stepping into a hospital unit, opening the curtains, and throwing open the windows, splashing the room with color from her magic wand.

"I use the word nursing 
for want of a better.
 It has been limited to signify little more than the administration of medicines and the application of poultices. 

It ought to signify the proper use of fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness, quiet, and the proper selection and administration of diet."

She was one empowered woman!! And way ahead of the times!! One of the first woman activists to making the world a better place!! 

She had a voice and she used it!!

"The very first requirement in a Hospital that 
 it should do the sick no harm. 

"Women never have a half-hour in all their lives that they can call their own, without fear of offending or of hurting someone." [1852] 

WOW--Not much has changed in 2012!!!!!!!!

"The object and color in the materials around us 

actually have a physical effect on us, on how we feel.” 

“I am of certain convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.”  

 

" How very little can be done under the spirit of fear."

"Nursing is an art: 
and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation,
 as any painter's or sculptor's work; 
for what is the have to do with dead canvas or dead marble,
 compared with having to do with the living body?
 It is one of the Fine Arts:

 THE FINEST OF FINE ARTS."

Retired nurse