tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71871549206329969242024-03-06T01:00:40.942-07:00the Moose Jaw Minutefrom life in a U.S. city to life on the Canadian prairieHeather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-28424528802051713662016-09-20T05:06:00.002-06:002016-09-20T05:30:32.336-06:004KM Square and Denmark<br />
It's been almost TWO MONTHS since I first arrived in Riyadh. I can't believe it.<br />
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I think part of my disbelief has to do with the fact that we were away in Denmark for Hajj for about a week and a half, so when I arrived, we were immediately getting ready to depart.<br />
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Since that first night, I've been trying to settle in and learn the ropes. Every morning, before the sun gets too high in the sky (temps during the day since I've been here have ranged from 120F/48C to 100F/37C) I go for a walk around the neighbourhood. The compound is 4KM square so I do the circuit each morning, listening to podcasts and enjoying the calm the early morning brings. There are others who take advantage of the cooler weather as well - people walk, run, and cycle... It's a little movement community out there!<br />
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As mentioned before, there are buses that take us into the city for grocery shopping and to the malls. Nice when you need a break from the heat and good to see what products you can get from all over the world!<br />
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Our break to Denmark for Hajj was lovely. We stayed in a little cottage about an hour north of Copenhagen, 500 metres from the ocean with a little pond (complete with a grumpy old heron!) in the back of our space. We cooked yummy food, enjoyed our time together, and savoured the autumn-like weather! We visited two UNESCO World Heritage Sites while there - <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1416" target="_blank">Stevns Klint</a> (an amazing geological site where you can see a layer of rock that shows when the large asteroid hit the Earth) and <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/695" target="_blank">Roskilde Cathedral</a> (a beautiful space with tons of really interesting Danish history). We spent time at the <a href="http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/" target="_blank">Viking Museum</a> in Roskilde as well learning about the design of Viking Ships, stepping aboard replicas, and enjoying a lovely lunch by the water. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at sunset at <a href="http://www.dragsholm-slot.dk/" target="_blank">Dragsholm Slot</a> where we dined in the Bistro on the most delicious cucumber soup, local fish, and vegetables from the castle's garden.<br />
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We even had the chance to connect with good friends of ours. We rode the (super fast!) ferry from Sjællands Odde to Århus to have a lovely vegetarian lunch, enjoy the city, and just catch up after a couple of years apart. The last couple of days were spent in Copenhagen, noshing on gorm's pizza, enjoying a lovely tea service, and relishing in our last couple of days in Denmark!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little colourful beach action near our cottage!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moody blues...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our dear friends with Dave</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_j07hZtWGE/V-EWlGbksrI/AAAAAAAAFZA/fTOEpPF08lwpbPyn4vzqHzyt4Vqxl4LiwCLcB/s1600/IMG_3150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_j07hZtWGE/V-EWlGbksrI/AAAAAAAAFZA/fTOEpPF08lwpbPyn4vzqHzyt4Vqxl4LiwCLcB/s640/IMG_3150.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little pond behind our cottage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx9HsQ3s2TY/V-EWkihooNI/AAAAAAAAFY8/ANogRB168BwZF4Il3oEt_avZRZigrGaYgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx9HsQ3s2TY/V-EWkihooNI/AAAAAAAAFY8/ANogRB168BwZF4Il3oEt_avZRZigrGaYgCLcB/s640/IMG_3158.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny violet bursts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSErwH6l-P0/V-EWmYxG3SI/AAAAAAAAFZE/aDUekZaxXlMMS8iDk9CIe2ggUldyaO45ACLcB/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSErwH6l-P0/V-EWmYxG3SI/AAAAAAAAFZE/aDUekZaxXlMMS8iDk9CIe2ggUldyaO45ACLcB/s640/IMG_3159.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The path to the beach or cottage...depending on which way you walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lf20Ggrxd8/V-EWoLiAhGI/AAAAAAAAFZM/5F0cmmCdi5MRdm6JlsZ5buYJOdnSLZX5ACLcB/s1600/IMG_3161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lf20Ggrxd8/V-EWoLiAhGI/AAAAAAAAFZM/5F0cmmCdi5MRdm6JlsZ5buYJOdnSLZX5ACLcB/s640/IMG_3161.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Ship</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UBcKQkSu744/V-EWmkX1KnI/AAAAAAAAFZI/MHZkt6bpN1ckVNblqAPrVJLxvMET0iyAgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UBcKQkSu744/V-EWmkX1KnI/AAAAAAAAFZI/MHZkt6bpN1ckVNblqAPrVJLxvMET0iyAgCLcB/s640/IMG_3162.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern-Day Vikings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-niY0X1NajFs/V-EWoVsKy4I/AAAAAAAAFZQ/oQ6sgl4muzUe3j-4rEVVlDUKZw92WgsKgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-niY0X1NajFs/V-EWoVsKy4I/AAAAAAAAFZQ/oQ6sgl4muzUe3j-4rEVVlDUKZw92WgsKgCLcB/s640/IMG_3163.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roskilde Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6P2QsQ9BdMY/V-EWpunfhvI/AAAAAAAAFZU/IFQ630kZmzkUpkzSMGBN9VDW5zYFC0RawCLcB/s1600/IMG_3177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6P2QsQ9BdMY/V-EWpunfhvI/AAAAAAAAFZU/IFQ630kZmzkUpkzSMGBN9VDW5zYFC0RawCLcB/s640/IMG_3177.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most adorable tiny horses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qpAXYGlEDkM/V-EWtDxeV0I/AAAAAAAAFZY/3Q6pVrI3XQ0WkxM5dON9yJU3fqkfg9iwgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qpAXYGlEDkM/V-EWtDxeV0I/AAAAAAAAFZY/3Q6pVrI3XQ0WkxM5dON9yJU3fqkfg9iwgCLcB/s640/IMG_3185.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old church at Stevns Klint</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYJYAz025hWf5gcHUoRpAsKLuOgoT5pSByWY2McrOrdoee5ROBnb-2ozUduQQWC56oEvHH74ClzjXWkxUj3Ri9RtxGDHInDpSYqwviepu9fuApdlT3UJkWMkl66ribrFrUtIYkVh7exEs/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYJYAz025hWf5gcHUoRpAsKLuOgoT5pSByWY2McrOrdoee5ROBnb-2ozUduQQWC56oEvHH74ClzjXWkxUj3Ri9RtxGDHInDpSYqwviepu9fuApdlT3UJkWMkl66ribrFrUtIYkVh7exEs/s640/IMG_3190.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Layers of history</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sPM1ShzNUDE/V-EWxIh3wwI/AAAAAAAAFZc/rffJoLtzRHwv7ovBHMrK9YICygEhEFfDwCLcB/s1600/IMG_3191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sPM1ShzNUDE/V-EWxIh3wwI/AAAAAAAAFZc/rffJoLtzRHwv7ovBHMrK9YICygEhEFfDwCLcB/s640/IMG_3191.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stevns Klint</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MfQmWrxlIJ8/V-EWzyE3x_I/AAAAAAAAFZk/yYDjih7yY9MmIQjIWgAPzsrveJyOqmEqACLcB/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MfQmWrxlIJ8/V-EWzyE3x_I/AAAAAAAAFZk/yYDjih7yY9MmIQjIWgAPzsrveJyOqmEqACLcB/s640/IMG_3200.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Dragsholm Slot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHh6MvSutnMVGlCizFaLu7Mr4FiJSCNrc42g0kONVqO9ySI9hyXiMFvMWcHUf8meWhWZ6wsNwyqZgGr-JPfZ3FNA1pY57tnPaOvAX8zETQaN9MTkZbgadci1fnugrd1pkNsDlgvAQ5o7N/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHh6MvSutnMVGlCizFaLu7Mr4FiJSCNrc42g0kONVqO9ySI9hyXiMFvMWcHUf8meWhWZ6wsNwyqZgGr-JPfZ3FNA1pY57tnPaOvAX8zETQaN9MTkZbgadci1fnugrd1pkNsDlgvAQ5o7N/s640/IMG_3204.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Study of light and shadow</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAmoEG6MbB4/V-EW4_svWhI/AAAAAAAAFZs/FBLFB9LKW8sNYTuUIIn_eoutJ9V8eOhsQCLcB/s1600/IMG_3208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAmoEG6MbB4/V-EW4_svWhI/AAAAAAAAFZs/FBLFB9LKW8sNYTuUIIn_eoutJ9V8eOhsQCLcB/s640/IMG_3208.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragsholm Slot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wN5SrSNaImI/V-EW58wYEwI/AAAAAAAAFZw/W6cWHLCSxqYAeDYzqiFYrSvDOY2H2RxGACLcB/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wN5SrSNaImI/V-EW58wYEwI/AAAAAAAAFZw/W6cWHLCSxqYAeDYzqiFYrSvDOY2H2RxGACLcB/s640/IMG_3211.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MORE sunset at Dragsholm Slot</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IhBNyIv82II/V-EW6K5hHYI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/IhK474Q-Gd8C8IMZtUbtctjPzt1EwYr5QCLcB/s1600/IMG_3216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IhBNyIv82II/V-EW6K5hHYI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/IhK474Q-Gd8C8IMZtUbtctjPzt1EwYr5QCLcB/s640/IMG_3216.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VrffWPaCLos/V-EW_CMWJmI/AAAAAAAAFaA/rBz0KUHHrkgmt2ScbpQ3g4BuhpeCvtnzQCLcB/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VrffWPaCLos/V-EW_CMWJmI/AAAAAAAAFaA/rBz0KUHHrkgmt2ScbpQ3g4BuhpeCvtnzQCLcB/s640/IMG_3222.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earth and Water</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4wK9kUZNxzM/V-EW98aH_hI/AAAAAAAAFZ4/WfNxxtLFedwU9E0AU8Q3nIEs69Ixugy4wCLcB/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4wK9kUZNxzM/V-EW98aH_hI/AAAAAAAAFZ4/WfNxxtLFedwU9E0AU8Q3nIEs69Ixugy4wCLcB/s640/IMG_3238.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gorm's...a favourite in Copenhagen for pizza</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QCN2g4EPktzmqtgVVxi85QcPjCNqMtN7jCjKbUuEBNZkUaXGNDRoNunsCJ-wG03OXx8c05VZv1fqSwuNRSiPQ8UzageDN1exeV3LKXI4EkUG87V0DfRT7lw5uhn7L1vVfrzTJSyBg84J/s1600/IMG_3246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QCN2g4EPktzmqtgVVxi85QcPjCNqMtN7jCjKbUuEBNZkUaXGNDRoNunsCJ-wG03OXx8c05VZv1fqSwuNRSiPQ8UzageDN1exeV3LKXI4EkUG87V0DfRT7lw5uhn7L1vVfrzTJSyBg84J/s640/IMG_3246.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most beautiful little tea service</td></tr>
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Now, I am off to Bali for work to teach and assist on another yoga teacher training. While I am happy to be going back to a place that always inspires and energizes me, I am also sad to be leaving Dave once again. We've been apart for far too long this year, but as we know ALL too well, distance can and does make the heart grow fonder.<br />
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ps. In addition to everything happening here, my sister, Melissa, and her husband, John, just arrived in China on Friday to adopt their little boy, David! I've had the chance to meet him on Skype and he is just the sweetest thing. So happy for their family!<br />
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Sjællands Odde</h1>
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<br />Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-74523989075596523402016-08-05T02:36:00.002-06:002016-08-05T02:36:49.484-06:00Arrival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A half hour left in the flight and I made my way to the bathroom to put on my hijab and abaya. As we descended over Riyadh, I kept tugging at my headscarf while ping-ponging between watching Hillary Clinton announce Tim Kaine as her running mate on the live feed on CNN at my seat and glancing out the tiny plane window upon the sea of lights - dimmed by the dust in the air - signalling our arrival. It was by far one of the most surreal moments of my life!<br />
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The arrival was simple...pass through customs, get my picture taken, give fingerprints, collect my luggage and greet Dave. This time, our greeting was different with just a smile and a "hello!" as opposed to our traditional hug and kiss session. Friends of ours were gracious enough to give us a ride home and as we drove along the darkened streets, I realized that I was now in my new home...<br />
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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.<br />
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If anyone would have told me two years ago that I would living full-time in the Middle East, I would have laughed. Sure, Dave and I had talked about the idea, but I really didn't think it was possible. And yet, here I am.<br />
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We live on a compound with other expats, much like the US Army bases I grew up on. There are pools and play areas, green spaces, a market, tennis courts, and a gym. I've been spending my days doing yoga, walking around, working out, and learning more about compound life. Things do work differently here and I am slowly finding my way, step by step.<br />
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It is hot. Like - take-a-hairdryer-blow-it-up-10,000-times-and-aim-the-hot-dry-air-at-your-body-all-day - kind of hot. When the wind stirs up and the dust blows hard, it's challenging to get outside. Thankfully, my walks outside from one space to another are short. Dave has assured me that when things do cool down, I will want my sweaters in the evenings. <br />
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And, yes, we brought sweaters. Knowing that we would be traveling from time to time to places that afford us views of ice and snow and breaths of cool, crisp air, we wanted to ensure we had what we needed. While the majority of the small amount of possessions we have are housed in a storage unit back in Canada, we did bring two <strike>large</strike> HUGE Dakine bags worth of clothing, books, photos, and other necessary pieces for our time here and abroad. <br />
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I've been off-compound a few times. The shops here are exactly as we have at home and many of the women will take the bus for some time in the malls and shops around the city. There are Burger Kings and Starbucks, Longhorn Steakhouses and Applebee's. These are nestled amongst the local shops adorned with their beautiful script and architecture that continuously remind me that I'm not in Kansas anymore, Toto. There is so much to see and do, it is just a matter of making arrangements as women are not permitted to drive here.<br />
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If anyone were to ask how I am feeling about this transition... it is odd. I am in a new home in a new land. I've been so lucky to already have met some amazing people, yet I long (already!) for some of the conveniences of home. I feel privileged to be able to have this experience, and I know it is a choice we made to be here. I'd also say that, as I get older, I do find it more and more challenging to break into community...to make new friends and start over yet again, but hey...this is my life and the path I have chosen to walk! Most of all, Dave and I are so happy to be back together again...life is better this way.<br />
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I'm excited to learn and share more, to drop into a sense of community and to re-establish myself in yet another part of the world.Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-12391777583272493492016-07-17T21:37:00.000-06:002016-07-17T21:37:13.968-06:00Life Lately<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have felt <strike>bad</strike> awful about posting. But, after reading this <a href="http://theartofsimple.net/when-life-isnt-simple/" target="_blank">oh-so-true-and-timely post</a> by Katie over at <a href="http://theartofsimple.net/" target="_blank">The Art of Simple</a>, I knew I just had to write. <br />
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Because...she articulated what I haven't been able to so well... and we are in the thick of it.<br />
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Our lives have changed radically over the past two years. We have both changed careers, moved cities and countries, packed and unpacked and packed and unpacked, been apart more than we've been together, and are generally in a.... <b><i>*funk.*</i></b><br />
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Most of the time, I avoid writing here because I don't think there is much worth going in to, but then I realize there is <i>so freaking much going on and no wonder I'm not that motivated to post on this blog</i>.<br />
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This blog gets set aside for everything else. It is the very last thing on my mind until the wee hours, when I am just about to go to bed, and all of a sudden, I get a little Moose Jaw Minute niggle in the back of my brain that says...<br />
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"You aren't in Moose Jaw anymore...is it relevant?"<br />
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"Remember when you loved updating this blog?"<br />
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"Sheesh...life seemed a lot more clear two years ago..."<br />
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"People aren't reading it, so why bother?"<br />
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And then, I bother because it's my life. Our lives. Because this is a little diary where I can type things out and they don't have to be funny or witty or warrant a response. <br />
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So, here's the truth...<br />
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I love my husband so much and that fact that we aren't together is breaking my heart. I love my family and am so grateful to them for all of the support they are providing me in the midst of transition (ahem, can you say living with mom and dad at the age of 37 for six months when they are supposed to be enjoying their retirement and each other???) and it breaks my heart to say goodbye to them again and again. I love my sister and her husband and their awesome kids and it is heartbreaking to not be around to support and see everyone grow and change and be there during their major life events. I love teaching yoga and the fact I'm not doing that on a daily basis right now breaks my heart. <br />
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I love to travel, but at the same time, I love the idea of "home" and can't wait until we have a space to call our own. I love Pinterest, but I hate that I long for other people's lives (and homes, and clothing, and camping equipment). I love my country, but I am so sad that it is so torn, and broken, and that people are hurting so, so, so very much. I love the work I do, but I miss the stability of a 9-5 and a paycheque every two weeks.<br />
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So, I think about the heartbreaks and then I also think...<br />
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My life is awesome. Truly. I have so much gratitude for all I have and the opportunities to experience so, so much, but I am struggling to balance it all.<br />
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These past two years have changed me. They have brought me closer to my truth, to my core than I ever thought I could be. They have also knocked me for a loop and left me dizzy with uncertainty.<br />
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They have been incredibly challenging, rewarding, lonely, scary, luscious, full, joyful, and everything in-between.<br />
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In that array of emotion, and especially when I'm feeling especially off-kilter, I find myself thinking about the things I wanted to do when I was a kid. Being a grown up seemed awesome. I remember I wanted to change the world in some amazing way...I wanted to be the first female President of the United States, a marine biologist who studied spinner dolphins, a social rights activist, and a paediatric oncologist. <br />
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In my tougher moments, I wonder where that superwoman is right now...that superwoman (in an eight-year-old body) who thought anything and everything was/is possible and was super-motivated to make those dreams come true.<br />
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She needs to come hang out again and let her massive freak flag fly. These are the moments and times when I need to pull out that little cape, dust it off, and try it on again. It might feel different, but I think it could help me realign to my passion, to start making things happen, to remind myself that "I have control" and that, in the end, superwomen never go it alone, but instead have sisters and brothers providing love, support, and guacamole when it is needed most (...Popeye has his spinach, I have avocados).<br />
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We will get through this tough time, and we will be different and better for it. In fact, I might even make myself a new cape...<br />
<br />Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-6189359528200662432016-01-28T12:58:00.001-07:002016-01-28T12:58:11.355-07:00JanuaryJanuary is drawing to a close and while time seems to have slipped through my fingers, this has also been one of the longest months I can remember.<br />
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The new year started off with a dance party in the den with my nephew and nieces, dinner on our traditional Spode holiday plates, and a weekend hike at High Falls with my sister and her family. Dave and I attempted to call each other at our respective midnight hours and managed to get in a few words before turning into our respective time zones.<br />
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This has been the month of letting go...of intentions, of expectations, of want-to-dos and should-dos. This is the month that has indicated what kind of year 2016 might be...one where I might need to surrender a bit more rather than control. One where the wild ride of transitions continues and I hang on to the safety bar in my roller coaster car for dear life.<br />
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This will also be the year of big shifts in terms of how I want to approach that never-ending ride of ups and downs. Last year, I spent a good deal of time steeped in the heaviness of longing for some-kind-of-unidentified-something-else. This year, I am hoping to be content in the here-and-now of what is right in front of me. To focus on maintaining precious connections over many miles via the wonders of technology and to treat myself with the gifts of love, patience, and respect...as all people deserve.<br />
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It is the year that deserves some serious thought as as things shift...personally and professionally...thoughts that demand intention, mindfulness, and lots of writing in journals.<br />
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January has been hard as in the letting go I've felt as though parts of me are slipping away. More than anything, my greatest fear has revolved around disappearing and not being seen. I've felt like a ghost in many respects as I move further from how I used to identify myself in terms of worthiness and success and into that nebulous in-between space of redefining what those two terms mean.<br />
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But, then again, maybe disappearing for a little bit isn't the worst thing in the world. Disappearing can mean giving myself the time to sort out the questions, to feel into what is coming next, and to have that quiet time necessary to prepare my body, heart, and soul for what is coming down the tracks.<br />
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In the meantime, I'm trying to recognize those tiny moments each day where sadness isn't the emotion that takes centre stage. To find comfort in the little things. To be genuinely grateful for all of the amazing things I do have. To know that nothing is permanent, even these feelings...<br />
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<br />Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-29668724551143293062015-12-09T12:39:00.000-07:002015-12-09T12:39:10.496-07:00An Update<div style="text-align: center;">
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I haven't felt like posting here at all this year...as indicated by the random blurbs that have appeared in only the first six months of the year. <br />
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This year was tough. It was exhausting. It was hard. And, I am better for it.<br />
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Winnipeg just didn't agree with us. As much as we tried to make it something awesome, we just couldn't do it. I was lonely, Dave wasn't thrilled with work, and we were on a tight budget that restricted our ability to enjoy all the city had to offer. <br />
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Don't get me wrong, Winnipeg has its gems! The Forks in the winter are lovely - skating on the river, little glühwein huts, and snow on the ground; our friends who live there are spectacular; the Canadian Museum for Human Rights; and, last but not least, I became a regular at the little coffee shop down the street - Little Sister Coffee Maker - where the friendliest baristas I've ever met made me feel like family. We took long walks at Assiniboine Park and I truly enjoyed my long runs through the city as I trained for a couple of marathons during our time there.<br />
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However, something was always just...off. <br />
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So, in mid-September, we left. <br />
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Dave left his job and I left the volunteer work I was doing with Siloam Mission. We left with a plan that involves flying, yoga, the Middle East, and travel. We left with a five-year goal in mind that will allow us to start living the life we imagine for ourselves on the West Coast of Canada. We left with sadness at what could have been and big hopes for what this next adventure will bring.<br />
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When we left Winnipeg, we sold and donated most of what we own, taking four days in a U-Haul to drive to Ontario to put our small stack of bins in a storage locker. We then criss-crossed Canada and went into the US to visit friends and family before departing on our next adventure.<br />
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The trip went a little like this: <br />
Manitoba --> Ontario --> Alberta --> Saskatchewan --> Georgia --> British Columbia<br />
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We ate good food and connected with amazing people along the way. Friends and family made room for us in their homes and lives and gave us the support we needed in the forms of hugs and words of encouragement.<br />
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Then, it was off to Bali. After four weeks on the road and constant movement, we were happy to land on the island and have some time to reconnect with each other. We had two weeks together of naps, yummy Indonesian food, and long walks. After two weeks, I was into my advanced yoga teacher training and Dave was off to England to do some on-boarding with the new company he is working for. He was there for two weeks before heading off to the Middle East to begin his work in earnest.<br />
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I completed my teacher training and am now back in Georgia staying with family while I wait for my visa to come through so I can join Dave. It means another long separation in a marriage that has already seen its fair share of distance, but we know it is worth it. We know it is all part of the grander plan we are creating for ourselves and keeping that thought at the forefront is key.<br />
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It is really hard to write this and try to encapsulate what this year has been like. I feel disconnected from parts of it, yet fully immersed and appreciative of every experience because I know that we are better for it. This year has taught me so much about myself and has invited me to dig deeper, leaving me raw, open, and ready for whatever is to come next.<br />
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Whatever kind of year you've had, I wish you all the best as we move into 2016. As this year comes to close, I want to send you the following:<br />
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"This whole year has been about becoming who we are, so that we can finally live the life we are meant to.<br /><br />A life that doesn’t just appeal to others from the outside, but one that sets our soul on fire from the inside.<br /><br />It’s about giving up the belief that we have to color within the lines and realizing that the most beautiful masterpieces are those that drip off the canvas in glorious passion." <div>
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- Kate Rose</div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-14100076468841650752015-06-30T10:10:00.003-06:002015-06-30T10:10:27.591-06:00JuneJune was awesome. It was one of those months that you wish would hang on a little longer. While May lasted forever and day plus eternity, June went by in a flash.<div>
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A few weeks ago, Dave and I decided to have a go at the <a href="https://www.fortwhyte.org/event/twilightrun/">Fort Whyte Alive Twilight Run 10K</a>. Aside from swallowing a few bugs along the way, we really enjoyed running the trails in this spectacular place. There were tons of people participating in either the 5K or 10K and every participant received a cool new headlamp to light the way as the sun began to set. Afterwards, we enjoyed some s'mores by the fire and then made our way back home.</div>
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That same week, we ventured over to a nearby neighbourhood to check out <a href="http://humboldtslegacy.com/">Humboldt's Legacy</a>, an eco-store that is chock-a-block full of eco-products and clothing for you and your home. It was awesome inside! We browsed through racks of Patagonia gear, checked out some of the nibbles on hand and marvelled at the gorgeous textiles displayed on some of the shelves. If you are ever in Winnipeg, this is a don't-miss!</div>
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Over the past two weeks, I've been out on Vancouver Island visiting our friend, A. Her husband recently deployed and it presented the perfect opportunity for some time together. We watched their son play each morning in the backyard, we browsed through shops, took walks, made awesome dinners each night, and even managed to fit in a bit of rock climbing. </div>
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We ventured over to <a href="http://www.penderislandchamber.com/">Pender Island</a> and drove around, stopped for a fantastic little lunch at just-opened <a href="http://woodsonpender.com/">Woods on Pender</a>, and then into the <a href="http://seastarvineyards.ca/">Sea Star Vineyards</a> show room where we sipped some fantastic white wines. We also headed in Victoria to make our way (very slowly!) down the street for <a href="http://downtownvictoria.ca/carfree2015">Car Free Victoria</a> day where we took in the music and looked at all the awesome wares on sale from a variety of vendors. I also got to see Victoria's <a href="http://www.patagoniaelements.ca/store/content/28/Victoria/">Patagonia</a> store and discovered the Sitka store as well. Gear-a-go-go! Being on the island reminded me just how much I love it there and it was so hard to say goodbye!</div>
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From Vancouver Island, I made my way to meet Dave in Toronto. We were going to a friend's wedding and this was going to provide me the opportunity to meet his college buddies, as well as to see his mom and wander around the places he grew up. The wedding was fabulous - one of the best ceremonies I've ever seen! We danced and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed the poutine bar that was set up toward the end of the night. </div>
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The next day, we ventured to Orillia to meet his mom for lunch before she headed off to work. It was so great to see her and I loved our chat over our toast and coffee. We toured around Coldwater and Orillia and I even got to meet one of Dave's friends from preschool. The towns are lovely and I can see why Dave talks about the area he grew up in the way he does. Everything was super green and there were trees everywhere! We stopped in for a tour of <a href="http://www.mariposamarket.ca/">Mariposa Market</a> and grabbed a quick bite and a pint at <a href="http://www.brewerybay.ca/">Brewery Bay Food Company</a>.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">As we move into July, I want to wish you all a very Happy Canada Day and Happy Fourth of July! </span></div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-27840537978104987122015-06-10T12:14:00.002-06:002015-06-10T12:14:43.251-06:00A Homesteading WeekendI have no pictures from this past weekend...only words.<br />
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Dave and I volunteered to help out at the <a href="http://homesteaderfest.ca/">DIY Homesteader Festival</a>, an amazing just-out-of-town experience where people can learn fermenting basics, how to raise chickens, permaculture techniques, and how to mend clothing. There were vendors and farm-to-table food along with one of the best bunches of people I've seen gather in one space in a long time.<br />
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I stumbled upon <a href="http://nourishedroots.ca/">Nourished Roots</a> when I was looking for space for Dave and I to garden in this summer (alas, those plans have gone unfulfilled). It's a lovely little homestead with over 300 acres of farmland. The brains behind Nourished Roots are Trevor and Adrienne Pearcy...a lovely and dynamic duo who are living the dream. According to their site,<br />
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Adrienne</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> and Trevor traded in fancy shoes and power lunches for galoshes and preserves years ago. Now you’ll find them and the kids building compost bins, hauling wood, turning soil and building bush trails most days. That is of course when they’re not in the kitchen cooking up delicious recipes made using traditional food prep methods…</span></blockquote>
um. How cool is THAT?!?!<br />
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Adrienne hosts workshops around traditional foods and when she and Kris Antonious met at a networking event a while back...things took off, friendships were forged, and the DIY Homesteader Fest was born. <br />
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The Festival is a labour of love by Trevor, Adrienne, Kris Anotonius (of <a href="http://tinypeasant.com/category/blog/">Tiny Peasant</a> fame!) and Mike Berg who <a href="http://weheartgames.com/">does game design</a>. Together, Kris and Mike own <a href="http://cityfolkcreative.ca/">Cityfolk Creative</a> - the graphic design force behind the Festival. These four are dynamic, talented, and among some of the most friendly and engaging people I've ever met. With their brains combined, they have created a collaborative sharing space for homesteaders of all property shapes, sizes, and geographic locations to come together and celebrate what this type of lifestyle is all about!<br />
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The day of the Festival, Saturday, began with rain. Not the nice-gentle-spring-misting kind of rain, but the torrential-downpour-there-is-no-way-you-will-not-get-soaked kind of rain. Our arrival to the grounds was delayed as a result of the flood being released from the skies above. Mike was the first one we met and (have I mentioned friendly) he directed us to enjoy the morning on site. We had the opportunity to attend two workshops before starting our afternoon volunteer shift.<br />
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We decided to attend "Intro to Fermentation" and then "Permaculture Food Forests." Both presenting topics of interest for Dave and I. We sampled some amazing kraut and salsa, enjoyed hot (and very soul warming) beverages from <a href="http://www.pilotcoffeeroasters.com/">Pilot Coffee</a>, stood by the fire where campfire cooking demonstrations where taking place, and walked around the marketplace drooling over the selection of local wares and food on hand.<br />
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The deluge finally broke just before lunch allowing the crowd to enjoy their meals and snacks outside while Dave and I wandered off to find out how we could help!<br />
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The majority of the afternoon was spent helping to set up for a "Natural Playscapes" session that was occurring. We shovelled, dumped, and spread mulch for a good part of the afternoon...meeting other volunteers along the way. We re-stocked toilet paper in the Port-O-Johns (someone's gotta do it!) and then helped to set up one of the larger tents for the highlight event of the evening - a Land & Lake Farm Dinner with a menu to rival any four-star restaurant. We moved tables, set up chairs, draped tablecloths, laid out plates, folded napkins, and generally made the space as welcoming as we possibly could! The team putting this particular piece of the day together was just lovely and we did a lot of laughing as we ran around getting everything for the guests that would be streaming in very soon.<br />
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On our way home, we gave two other volunteers a lift back into the city and enjoyed talking about relationships, homesteading, budgets, and life. It was wonderful connecting with people who share the same vision for their lives and our planet.<br />
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I wish I had taken a before and after picture from our day. At the beginning we were a little cold, VERY wet, and unsure of what we would find...by the end of the day, we were sore, grinning from ear to ear, and a ton happier for dipping our toes into this awesome community.Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-81649030541163679462015-06-04T11:55:00.000-06:002015-06-04T11:55:05.667-06:00Life Decisions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dave and I are wanderers. At the end of the day, while we like the comfort of a warm bed and food in our bellies, we don't really care where or how it happens. In truth, I feel that as long as he is by my side, we are good to go (insert sappy sigh here). <br />
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We've had a wanderers' relationship from the start. We met across the miles, dated across the miles, were married across the miles. We've supported each other from afar and when we are together, we try to remember all of the time we spent apart and how we longed for these moments of being able to hold hands and talk to one another face-to-face over the dinner table. Being together, however, didn't mean that we - as a unit - wanted to settle down, buy a house, and stay in the same place all our lives. <br />
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I don't think that is what resonates with either of our souls.<br />
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So, instead we are looking at options. Options for where our next adventure in life is going to take us. I know, I know...we only just moved to Winnipeg a few short months ago, but we came knowing that we didn't want to be here for very long. We know our hearts are elsewhere and we know that "home" for us (in the most loose sense of the word), is on Vancouver Island.<br />
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That being said, to live our dream on Vancouver Island requires many steps to get there (at least for the way in which we want to manifest it). And that is where the previously mentioned "options" come in. <br />
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Right now, a multitude of choices are on the table. Seriously. It's like one big giant buffet where you want a bit of everything but you are only allowed to take a plate of one delicious item. I wish I could share all of the options with you...and, some of you know what they are and what we are grappling with, but I am hesitant to put them on the blog right now as we are in the thick of *BIG DECISION TIME.*<br />
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Maybe it's me and the idea that if I write them down then none of them will happen. I've always had this crazy notion around saying something out loud or writing things down. If I say or write it, then it can't happen (maybe that's why I've never been a big fan of vision boards??). <br />
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Let's just say that all of the options are a little daring. Whether it is in regards to the location, the finances involved, the job, or the duration of time we are looking at being in our next spot, all of them have a little bit of an edge. <br />
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This is why it is taking so long to decide. This is why I haven't really felt like blogging. <br />
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This is why I feel a little lost and nervous and excited all at once.<br />
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I'm used to change. It's always been a part of my life and I am now at a point in my life where I celebrate my nomadic spirit instead of thinking there might actually be a little defect going on in my heart, brain, soul. I've enjoyed all of the adventures I've experienced and the way it brings me closer to my true self, both as an individual and as a part of this wanderer duo.<br />
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I want to start writing more. Dave has been encouraging me to do this. I know it is good for the brain and the soul to get things out, to make things known. To wrangle them out on paper or the Internet and maybe, just maybe have another soul out there connect with what you are saying.<br />
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So yeah...some big life decisions. I'll keep you posted. ;-)<br />
<br />Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-29717895233188249932015-04-28T10:12:00.004-06:002015-04-28T10:12:55.514-06:00A Journey We Will HaveThis past month took me from Winnipeg in the middle of the country, to Salt Spring Island on the West Coast, and then off to Portugal. There were planes, trains, and automobiles, awesome weather, new sites to see, and amazing people to get to know.<br />
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At the end of March, I hosted my first yoga and meditation retreat under my company name, Journeys on the Mat! The retreat took us to Stowel Lake Farm on Salt Spring Island where we practiced yoga, meditated, and ate our fair share of delicious and amazing food! The people who gathered for this retreat were incredible and I feel so fortunate to have had this experience. I'll be posting more pictures from that experience on the JOTM website soon!<br />
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When I returned from the retreat, I had less than 24 hours to get ready for our next adventure! Dave and I were heading to Portugal to have an early celebration of our fifth anniversary. <br />
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Some people have asked us, "Why Portugal?" We chose it after scouting out Airbnb spaces in Japan. A little cottage popped up on the site randomly and we saw it was in Portugal. A little more digging and a few more quaint cottages later and we were sold! Three solid weeks of being in the country allowed us to savour the culture and our time together. <br />
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We started our journey in the Esperança region of the country, staying in an idyllic little cottage surrounded by farmland, goats, and chickens. Getting there was a journey unto itself. We traveled from Winnipeg to Edmonton to London to Lisbon. All good (even with slight delays). We had landed in the afternoon and picked up our rental car. All good. We jump in the car and begin driving as Dave re-familiarized himself with a standard. All good. Next thing we know, as we are making our way around a roundabout, the car starts acting weird and the left front wheel begin smoking something awful! All not so good! We quickly made our way back to the airport and had to get another car issued to us. As a result, we got on the road much later than expected and ended up trying to find our space in the dark with no cell phone reception or GPS navigation! We eventually pulled up in the pitch black of night, shutting off the engine, and suddenly becoming enraptured by the blanket of stars that greeted us overhead. We tumbled into bed that night...<br />
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In the Esperança region, we were only 12km away from the border with Spain. We took time to decompress, take in the surroundings, and enjoy being in a remote location to kick off our adventure. We visited Arronches, Portalegre, Elvas, and other small villages and even took on a <strike>16km</strike> 20km hike that took us through pasture, forest, and highway, over the the Spanish border and then back again. We loved going to the local supermarket and discovering the plethora of amazing breads, cheeses, and wines the country has to offer. Our five days there were magical and I would recommend our space and that region to anyone traveling to the country.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange and lemon trees were in abundance, along with cork trees!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The border with Spain</td></tr>
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Our next stop was Óbidos, a very old walled city located near the coast of Portugal in the West. The town and area are absolutely gorgeous and there was so much to do and see! We walked the wall around the city, took time to peek into shops offering a variety of wares, and then made time each day to go visit a different place. We visited Fatima (location of the apparitions of Mary to three young shepherd children), Batalha (the site of one of three gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage sites - a large monastery), Nazaré (the site of some of the world's largest waves and where Steve McNamara holds the record for the largest wave ever surfed), Tomar (the site of another of the UNESCO WH site monasteries), Peniche and Buddha Eden (a wild and crazy space where a huge number of Buddhas and other sculptures are being kept), Alcobaça (the site of the THIRD UNESCO WH site monastery, and my favourite for the stories it told of love, loss, and jealousy). We also took time to hike around the Lagoa de Óbidos. A gorgeous bay that has tons of walking, hiking, and biking trails around it that all lead to the sea where you can catch fisherman casting their lines, hoping for something to bite. We had incredible weather the entire time we were there and our little cottage just outside the walled city provided just the space we needed to recharge after each day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the coast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of the many Buddhas at Buddha Eden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monastery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fatima</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monastery views</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cobblestone that can turn any ankle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoping for a bite</td></tr>
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Our third stop was in Porto, supposedly one of the most romantic cities in Portugal. We did a lot of walking around town along the waterfront. The space we stayed in was absolutely incredible with views of the bridge and of Gaia just across. One evening, we walked across the (very!) tall bridge and into Gaia where old Port houses still remain standing. In Porto, we enjoyed exploring the pedestrian mall, popping into shops selling local goods, and having dinner along the water. Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worse during our time in Porto and our last day was filled with rain. The skies mirrored the emotions of fans of the Bayern Munich football club who had just lost to the local team. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portugal is known for the tile work. This building was no exception.</td></tr>
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Finally, we made our final stop in Lisbon. We drove back to the airport, dropped off the car, and then made our way by train into the city. More specifically, we were staying in the Alfama district (the oldest) of Lisbon. We were greeted at our little apartment by the owner and then set off to see what we could find. We popped into shops, did our laundry (which we had to hang just outside the apartment windows to dry! I loved it!), and toured the cobblestone streets that made up the district. At night, you could hear Fado music pouring from the restaurants and one evening we dined outside. On our last day, we took time to wander some more, enjoying our last day in country and packing up for our long journey home.<br />
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<br />Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-54429945575629601252015-02-09T14:23:00.000-07:002015-02-09T14:23:12.294-07:00Winnipeg These Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I realize I haven't blogged much since everything came down to us moving to Winnipeg this summer. There never seems to be time - or inspiration - to get a blog going. Or at least a blog post that I feel would be at all interesting for me to read in ten years (because let's be honest...that's who these words are really for...the "in-ten-years-from-now-Heather" who will want to reminisce on those long days forgotten).</div>
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So, I'm ready to make another concerted effort at blogging here. If anything, to leave my mark on this little space of the web and on the story of my own life.</div>
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To be fair, Winnipeg has been a challenge, but in a good way (at least I like to think so!).</div>
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Part of that challenge is that I don't really feel like I arrived here until the end of January (I was on the road in November and then we were gone for a good part of December and then was gone for almost two weeks in January). That made it difficult to settle in and get to know the city a little better.</div>
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Another piece at play is our finances. Dave and I successfully managed to erase our consumer debt when we first got married in just under 18 months. To say that is something we are immensely proud of is an understatement. However, we also have big plans moving forward and, as such, we don't give ourselves a lot of "fun money." When you live in a city, "fun money" is part of the equation when it comes to seeing all there is to offer - museums, art galleries, restaurants, concerts, etc. Instead, we choose to save our money for what we know is to come in the future and therefore feel a touch of the cabin fever, especially during this dark and cold time of year (there are only so many walks one can take when the windchill is -40 out, okay?). </div>
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It has meant however, that we've explored some lovely spaces like <a href="http://www.assiniboinepark.ca/">Assiniboine Park</a> and <a href="http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/popular_parks/central/birds.html">Bird Hill.</a> When we do get outside, we like it to be a bit unique and not just continue tromping the same path through the same neighbourhood night after night.</div>
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It's been difficult to get connected here...in part of what I mentioned above, but also because the work I am doing currently is all online. I recently started as the Communications Director for the <a href="http://www.schoolofsacredarts.net/">School of Sacred Arts</a> and am focusing on my business, <a href="http://journeysonthemat.com/">Journeys on the Mat</a>. However, because all of that is online, the face-to-face interaction has been a bit...well, lacking. As a result, my rare day working from the coffee shop results in an almost lengthy conversation with the baristas as they have been my only source of conversation during the day. Thanks to the baristas at <a href="http://www.littlesistercoffeemaker.ca/">Little Sister Coffee Maker</a> and <a href="http://www.thombargen.com/">Thom Bargen</a> over the past week. They probably don't remember me, but I remember them because they made me feel as though I was a part of something bigger than myself. </div>
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Ah, that pesky need for community and connection! :-)</div>
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On the flip side of that, we have amazing friends here - both old and new - that have made the transition here much easier. It's meant homes to visit, meals to be shared and conversations to be had. We are incredibly fortunate to have the friends we do have here and it's made our days brighter because of it. </div>
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The weather. Ah, how could I post about Winnipeg and not post about the weather. After a slight warm up in January, we are back to good, old-fashioned winter. It's been snowy and cold and my morning yoga routines find me with woolly socks, a touque, and three layers on top. Luckily, the sun is coming up earlier and setting later, so the lengthened daylight is bringing up our spirits. The cold here has affected my <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/basics/definition/con-20022916">Raynauds</a> to a point where my "dead" fingers and toes are a regular occurrence...even in our little abode.</div>
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Speaking of abodes...our little home is one of the best parts of being here. We knew we wanted something smaller than what we had in Moose Jaw...and we got it. 585 square feet of nesting goodness. It made us pare down (a practice we continue) and determine what was essential...especially as we move closer to our goal of building and owning a tiny home on wheels. Our space is minimalist, clean, calming, and forces us (in a good way!) to work more closely with one another. Living here has made us even more anxious for the transition to be in a tiny home!</div>
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All things considered, there is so much good stuff on the horizon...</div>
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Dave and I are adventuring in Portugal soon!</div>
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I'll begin teaching yoga and meditation in Winnipeg at the Dragon Arts Collective space in April.</div>
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The first Journeys on the Mat yoga and meditation retreat is taking place at the end of March on Salt Spring Island!</div>
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Dave will be getting back to Moose Jaw - to fly and see our awesome friends.</div>
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We have big plans for cheap camping excursions this summer!</div>
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Until next time...stay warm!</div>
<br />Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-65516484895664852742015-02-05T15:47:00.002-07:002015-02-05T15:49:24.290-07:00And...January Came to an End<div style="text-align: center;">
And, then there was January...</div>
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It's amazing how quickly time seems to be going these days.</div>
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January was a whirlwind of travel, illness, family, and warm(ish) temperatures here at home. </div>
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Dave and I returned home from a wonderful trip to Vancouver Island over the holidays. We visited Comox, Tofino and Courtenay. We saw friends, ate amazing food, enjoyed the sunshine, walked along the beach and just tuned out so we could tune into each other...much needed after a busy year. </div>
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We went snowshoeing and even got to know Salt Spring Island. A gorgeous little island off the coast of Vancouver Island. I'll be hosting a <a href="http://journeysonthemat.com/">yoga and meditation retreat</a> there this March and wanted to do a site visit to <a href="http://www.stowellakefarm.com/">Stowel Lake Farm</a>, the gorgeous and magical space the retreat will be held.<br />
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We returned home and right away I was on another flight down to the States to see family and to run my second <a href="http://rundisney.com/">Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge</a> (39.3 miles over two days). I was still feeling run down from my time in Bali, but I managed to crank it out with the support of Mom and Dad. Thank goodness they were there to keep me fed, warm, and well-motivated! We enjoyed time in Florida together, visiting the Magic Kingdom, riding new rides, and just hanging out! </div>
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I also got quality time with Melissa as we enjoyed some tea at the awesome <a href="http://queenbeecoffee.com/">Queen Bee Coffee Company</a>. We talked and laughed and just savoured the moment, enjoying our down time in that quiet little corner of McDonough, Georgia. Go visit the cafe if you are in that neck of the woods!</div>
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From Georgia I went up to Pennsylvania to spend quality time with my grandmother and godmother. We toured the shops, had a lovely lunch, and my grandma and I even made soup together! It was fun getting some alone time with each of them without the hustle and bustle of a holiday surrounding us. My aunt and I just chilled out, watching Top Chef and eating takeout food! Perfect ways to spend cold days in PA!</div>
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And now...Winnipeg. I've been busy serving as the new Communications Coordinator for the School of Sacred Arts (the team that I earned my yoga teacher certification from back in April of 2014) and continuing to build my own business, Journeys on the Mat. I'm getting excited for my retreat and can't wait to start teaching yoga and meditation here in Winnipeg beginning in April!</div>
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So...just a quick re-cap, but that's the news from the Moose Jaw Minute!</div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-3845475972658789712014-12-18T10:50:00.000-07:002014-12-18T16:00:31.371-07:00Happy Holidays and A Reflection on this Amazing Year<div style="text-align: center;">
I love this time of year...it's no secret...I am such a fan of the twinkling lights, the music, movies like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/">Elf</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3">It's Wonderful Life</a> and <a href="http://www.universalstudiosentertainment.com/love-actually/">Love Actually</a>, catching up with friends old and new, the mugs of hot cocoa I make <strike>three times</strike> <strike>two times</strike> once per day, and the general belief that the world really does get better this time of year. Call me a sucker...I'll take it all...with bunting and bows on the side.</div>
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I spent the first part of this holiday season in Bali with Ganesh, serving as an assistant with the <a href="http://www.schoolofsacredarts.net/">School of Sacred Arts</a> on their 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Ubud. It was an awesome and exhausting month that was finished off with the grande finale of watching 28 students graduate and enter the yoga community as teachers! I had the chance to reconnect with my amazing teachers - Simone MacKay, Cat Kabira, Bex Tyrer, Randall O'Leary, Tina Nance, Dr. Brown, Eka Sabeh - and friends. I ate delicious vegan food every day, sipped nut milk lattes under the blazing sun and monsoon downpours, enjoyed immersing myself in yoga culture again and re-igniting my passion for the love, unity and understanding this practice fosters. </div>
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It was a little odd beginning the holidays with palm trees and temperatures in the upper 20s (80s) and tons of humidity, but I now realize it was the perfect way as it stoked my inner gratitude fire.</div>
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In retrospect, this has been a year of immense growth and change for me.</div>
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January kicked off and it was the first time since the age of thirteen that I didn't have some semblance of a paycheque coming my way! I had left my job as the National Manager of Diversity & Inclusion at the YMCA of the USA's headquarters in Chicago at the end of December 2013 after much deliberation. As such, January meant I found myself at The Yoga Loft in Moose Jaw day in and day out, working out my time off on the mat and pondering what my next steps in life were going to be. I knew I had my 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Bali coming up in April, but that was really the next thing on my radar. Dave and I had time to get re-acquainted with each other living under the same roof (finally!) and we spent time taking walks (yes, even when it was -40 out!), cooking dinners together and just enjoying being with one another.</div>
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February brought more of the same and we took a little vacation to the magical land of Canmore. We enjoyed our mini-break by snowshoeing, hiking in the snow and I even tried my hand at cross-country skiing (read: FAIL). We spent many a night by the fire, watching the 2014 Winter Olympics unfold, cheering on both the US and Canadian teams (the women's hockey match was devastating for me and a joyous occasion for Dave) and sampling as many dark and luscious craft beers we could find!</div>
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By March, we were both tired from the winter weather and ready for some respite. I was beginning to get things in gear for my Bali adventure and Dave was looking forward to the end of April and the beginning of May when he would join me for a week in Indonesia. We spent Dave's birthday weekend (the coldest weekend of the winter) in Saskatoon at the beginning of the month and spent another weekend visiting friends in Winnipeg (little did we know what was in store for us later this year!). </div>
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In April, I boarded several flights taking me from Regina to <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Ubud">Ubud, Bali</a> where my yoga teacher training unfolded at <a href="http://www.theyogabarn.com/">The Yoga Barn</a>. I've written enough about the adventure, but suffice it to say, this training has such a profound impact on me - emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. I made new friends, learned so much and experienced a space I never imagined I would ever visit in my life. Ubud has crawled its way into my heart and I was so excited at the end of the training when the co-Founder and one of my teachers, Simone, asked if I would be interested in coming back to assist during the November training. As you well know, the answer was yes and I knew when I departed that it wouldn't be for very long. At the end of the training, Dave joined me and we ventured into the more mountainous region of Bali to stay at a lovely little spot called <a href="http://www.heaveninbali.com/">Heaven in Bali</a>. It truly was. Every morning involved breakfast looking out over a ravine and every night ended on our little porch sipping wine and reflecting on our adventures. It was a great opportunity for us to share and reconnect after yet another month apart.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotus Studio at The Yoga Barn.</td></tr>
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At the beginning of May, we returned to Moose Jaw and I then quickly took off again for a US tour to see family and friends. The trip took me to Illinois, Oregon, Arizona, Georgia and DC where I got to catch up with and hang out with my amazing family and friends. It was a whirlwind, but one worth being caught up in! At the end of the month, I began teaching at <a href="http://www.myyogaloft.ca/">The Yoga Loft </a>in Moose Jaw (thanks to Robyn Cunningham, the amazing founder and owner). I love teaching and enjoyed every class and every interaction with the students. I felt so grounded and so excited to start sharing what I learned and was even more excited to continue my role as a student, learning from the other instructors there and learning from every person who walked in the door of the studio. As winter turned to spring, Dave and I took more walks and spent more time in Moose Jaw as conversations about where we would be going next heated up. It was at that point we discovered that we wouldn't be going anywhere but would be remaining in Moose Jaw for the foreseeable future.</div>
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June heralded warmer temperatures and yet another opportunity for us to tackle another adventure. At the end of the month, we made our way to hike up to <a href="http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/huts/abbot-pass-hut/">Abbott's Pass</a>, a climb Dave had done the previous summer with a group of friends, but one I hadn't yet experienced. It was major! The weather was quite fierce for that time of year and while the bottom of the climb was sunny and warm, by the time we reached the hut, it was blowing and snowing like it was the middle of winter! We had a great time there, chatting with fellow climbers, drinking hot chocolate (who doesn't like that?!) and watching the snow swirl outside. We made it down in one piece and celebrated our adventure in high style by making our way to Canmore to enjoy a "hero beer" and a hearty meal.</div>
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July brought major changes as the military opted to send us to Winnipeg! At the end of the month, we took a week-long venture to the city to determine where we wanted to live and to begin the process of securing our housing for when we arrived at the end of August. In addition, that meant cleaning up our place in Moose Jaw and getting it ready to put on the market! Whew! Our house in the Jaw sold after it's second showing and we found a lovely little spot in Osborne Village in a converted church that we now call home. </div>
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August was moving month and we packed everything up and loaded it on to the U-Haul. After many goodbye dinners and outdoor picnics, it was time to say goodbye to the place Dave had called home for over 10 years. There were tears, hugs and lots of laughter as we reminisced with our military family. We drove out of Moose Jaw on the 28th of August heading East toward the bigger city life that awaited us in Winnipeg. Bittersweet, to be sure...but, new adventures are always fun.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving day...UHaul Fun!</td></tr>
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September brought yet another change for both of us as Dave began his new position and I found myself minus work again. We quickly set up our new place together and I began working on starting my own business, <a href="http://journeysonthemat.com/">Journeys on the Mat</a>. Throughout September, my training for the <a href="http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/">Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge</a> (happening in January) ramped up and I was able to explore Winnipeg on foot logging many 30+ miles on the weekends with Dave as my pit crew! I jogged, ran and weaved over trails and pavement exploring parks, rivers and neighbourhoods. We spent many nights walking the streets, getting familiar with the city and adjusting to our new surroundings. Moving is always a challenge and it can cause quite the strain on relationships, but by always keeping priorities in order, anyone can make it through!</div>
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October was a quiet month for us. I continued getting things set up for Journeys on the Mat and was officially registered in Manitoba as a business! We made new friends and spent time at our local pub as well as with our military family here in the Peg. I was getting myself ready to return to Bali and Dave continued to settle into work, taking a trip or two to the Jaw to get some flying under his belt. </div>
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And there we have it! The year in review! As you know, November had me back in Bali and December is winding down. For the holidays we are heading out to Vancouver Island (Sidney, Victoria, Tofino and Comox) to spend time with friends and with each other in the place we love the most. We are looking forward to long walks on the beach, hiking awesome ocean-side trails and taking in the sights, smells and sounds of the season. </div>
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I'll end with this...</div>
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Yoga means "union" and I fully understand how important this concept is as our lives continue to move faster and we can feel less connected. This union is what helps us all remember where we have come from, where we are now and all the things we have yet to understand and experience. I wish you "union" for the New Year - with connection to yourself, connection to family and friends, and connection to those experiences that feed your soul and fuel your inner fire. Thank you all for your support and love this year...</div>
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I wish you nothing but joy, love and peace during this time of year and even more so as we move into 2015. </div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-12159549850756232002014-11-23T20:17:00.000-07:002014-11-23T20:17:28.499-07:00A Little Love Note from Bali<div style="text-align: center;">
'Tis the season for tinsel, mashed potatoes, hot chocolate and...</div>
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young coconuts, tank tops and flip-flops.</div>
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I'm back in Bali! While I am sorely and deeply missing the snow and cold of Winnipeg (seriously, I'm not kidding), it is a certain kind of wonderful to not be freezing constantly and having to wear five layers all day (and that is while I am in the house). </div>
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I am living in Ubud for another month while I assist on a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with the School of Sacred Arts. It is a fantastic gig and so great to be back in this town, diving back into my old haunts and reconnecting with this beautiful and mystical island. I've already been here two weeks and I have two more to go...</div>
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The days are full with asana (physical yoga practices), lectures, coordination of students and supplies and meditation. I am so fortunate to be connected to his yoga community and am looking forward to remaining invested and involved. I'm a lucky gal!</div>
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My hearts go out to those in New York who are sitting under all the snow...I am sending warmer vibes (minus the flooding) your way.</div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-35552417167514412752014-11-03T09:01:00.003-07:002014-11-03T09:01:37.883-07:00Nature Wonderland <div style="text-align: center;">
Dave and I love getting out of the city when we can. Over the past weekend, we met some awesome people in our building and one of them mentioned that we might enjoy <a href="http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/popular_parks/central/birds.html">Birds Hill Provincial Park</a>, just outside of Winnipeg.</div>
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So, we went and it was fabulous! I can tell this will be our new escape plan when we need a little respite from the hustle and bustle of the cars, buses, trucks, buildings and other things the city offers up on a daily basis. </div>
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We walked, talked and held hands. </div>
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We watched little birds swoop around us and took in the setting sun. </div>
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We appreciated the big prairie sky we found ourselves under. </div>
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We appreciated having this little space of nature to enjoy whenever we desire. </div>
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And...most of all...we appreciated how lucky we are.</div>
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Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-40386947458351095742014-10-17T07:54:00.004-06:002014-10-17T07:54:45.444-06:00Our Little Neighbourhood<div style="text-align: center;">
Dave and I are a little over a month into our new home of Winnipeg and I'm excited to report that we couldn't have found a lovelier part of the city to live in.</div>
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Our home is in Osborne Village and, as Winnipeg Tourism put it..."Boho and artsy meet kitsch and cool in the community of Osborne Village—recently named ‘Canada’s Greatest Neighbourhood’ by the Canadian Institute of Planners."</div>
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We live in "Canada's Greatest Neighbourhood!" Too cool. </div>
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We have bakeries, mom and pop shops, pubs, restaurants, parks, the Assiniboine River, Legislature, and events galore, all within walking distance.</div>
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Here are few places we've checked out over the past month....</div>
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<b>Munson Park</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKK52mEnkgE/VEEfWhh_esI/AAAAAAAADhM/MpHUP4bWerU/s1600/munsonpark1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKK52mEnkgE/VEEfWhh_esI/AAAAAAAADhM/MpHUP4bWerU/s1600/munsonpark1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/munsonpark.shtml">[source]</a></td></tr>
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A gorgeous little gem that hugs the river and speaks to my heart. We often go for walks in the evening and it has become a staple that we walk through it. We saw it in the summer when we came for our house-hunting trip and I fell in love with its towering trees, dazzling flowers and cozy little pathways. As summer turned to fall, it delivered an array of reds and yellows that stunned and lured you into the next season.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.carlosandmurphys.com/">Carlos & Murphy's</a></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154954-d702957-Reviews-Carlos_Murphy_s-Winnipeg_Manitoba.html">[source]</a></td></tr>
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We just went to this neighbourhood pub the other night. Awesome space with incredible woodwork inside, the friendliest bartender I've ever met and just an overall awesome vibe. They have special on until 7 and Dave and I quickly realized we would be coming back much more often!</div>
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<b><a href="http://segoviatapasbar.com/">Segovia</a></b></div>
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A hidden little tapas joint off the main road of Osborne. We celebrated our anniversary with dinner here a few weeks ago, noshing on patatas bravas, a cheese plate and some absolutely incredible fried beets. The wait was long, so if you are planning on heading over - get there early! The atmosphere is dark and cozy, perfect for long winter's nights when snow is blanketing the ground outside.<br />
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So, if you come to visit, just know there will be plenty of things and places for us to do and see!</div>
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<br />Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-68138976701967947912014-10-13T08:36:00.004-06:002014-10-16T17:09:43.141-06:00Happy Thanksgiving...Love, Canada<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.polishclassiccooking.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-dinner-itll-be-cheat-day.html">Source</a></i></td></tr>
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Ah, yes...it's that time of year when most of the leaves are off the trees, the weather is turning much cooler and school is back in session for the majority of the students in the area. That also means it's time for one of my favourite holidays...Thanksgiving!</div>
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As an American living in Canada, I feel lucky that I get to celebrate not one, but TWO Thanksgiving holidays in a year. I just love it...the gathering of people you love, some great food you don't make every day of the year and just time to reflect on how lucky we truly are in this life.</div>
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This Thanksgiving, we were fortunate enough to be invited over to the home of our friends, K and M. We had a good time catching up, playing games (I finally learned what all the hype over the game <a href="http://www.catan.com/">Settlers </a>is about) and noshing on some great food! We brought over a salad, this fantastic <a href="http://natalieparamore.com/vegan-pumpkin-bread-made-with-whole-wheat-flour/">vegan pumpkin loaf</a> and a vegan stuffing inspired by <a href="http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/vegan-stuffing.php">this recipe</a>. </div>
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In addition, Dave and I took some time this weekend to volunteer over at <a href="http://winnipegharvest.org/">Winnipeg Harvest</a> for their annual Share the Thanks event. We sorted cans and boxes of food and bagged up "food kits" for distribution. We met some great people and it was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday.</div>
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Because I will be in Bali for the U.S. Thanksgiving, I really wanted to make the most of the holiday here in Canada...and we did!</div>
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Here are a few observations about Canadian and U.S. Thanksgivings...</div>
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<b>Canada </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Thanksgiving in French is <i>L'Action de grâce. </i></li>
<li>There are four provinces where Thanksgiving is an optional holiday, not a statutory one...New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador</li>
<li>There are parades</li>
<li>The first Thanksgiving can be traced back to 1578 with Sir Martin Frobisher's voyage to the Northwest Passage</li>
<li>It wasn't until 1957 that Thanksgiving was given an official day of the second Monday in October. Prior to that, the day for Thanksgiving was flexible</li>
<li>There is turkey, squash, pumpkin and all the fixings that go along with the Thanksgiving dinner</li>
<li>There doesn't seem to be a strong connection between Thanksgiving and the kick-off of the "holiday season" as there is in the United States</li>
<li>There is football</li>
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<b>United States</b></div>
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<li>Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November</li>
<li>In 1863, it became a federal holiday</li>
<li>The first Thanksgiving can be traced back to 1621 after the first harvest of Pilgrims in the New World</li>
<li>There are parades</li>
<li>There is football</li>
<li>It wasn't until 1939, with pressure from the President and department stores (including Macy's) that Thanksgiving was officially moved to the fourth Thursday of November in order to expand the Christmas shopping season</li>
<li>There is turkey, squash, pumpkin and all the fixings that go along with the Thanksgiving dinner</li>
<li>A turkey is pardoned by the President</li>
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If you are in Canada or in the United States...or anywhere in the world for that matter, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. </div>
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Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-63871874608692222692014-09-12T07:44:00.003-06:002014-10-16T17:16:20.959-06:00First Weekend in Winnipeg<div style="text-align: center;">
Last weekend was our first "official" weekend in Winnipeg (I don't count the weekend before of unpacking and moving). We had a great time!</div>
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On Saturday, we went with friends of ours to a festival downtown near Legislature called <a href="http://www.manyfest.ca/">ManyFest</a>. It was chock-a-block full of people, food trucks and performances. They had tons of great things for kids to do and they even featured a couple of runs over the course of the weekend.</div>
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It was a gorgeous night for it...the sky was blue and everyone was soaking in the final weekend of summer!<br />
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On Sunday, I traveled to <a href="http://www.fortwhyte.org/">Fort Whyte Alive</a> for <a href="http://www.prairieyogimagazine.com/">Prairie Yogi Magazine's</a> Prairie Love Festival. I was volunteering my time and met some amazing yogis while I was there! I also had the chance to catch up with a few yogis from Moose Jaw who made the trip to Winnipeg for the Festival. There were DJs, yoga venues, a speakers venue and lots of gorgeous scenery as well. <br />
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Fort Whyte Alive is an outdoor paradise just on the edge of Winnipeg. They hold classes to teach you about canning and preserving, talks to educate folks on nature-related topics, harvest meals to celebrate the Farm they have on site, canoeing in the summer and much more! I can't wait for Dave and I to explore this little gem further!<br />
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Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-40377235161453512682014-09-05T10:29:00.000-06:002014-10-16T17:11:33.273-06:00Dear Winnipeg...<div style="text-align: center;">
Dear Winnipeg:</div>
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So, it's no surprise to you that you weren't really our first choice for our next moving destination (I'm sure you've overheard us). If anything, we wanted to drive our U-Haul in the opposite direction...toward the ocean and mountains and general awesomeness of the West.</div>
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That being said, I fully expect to enjoy you, Winnipeg. I'm going to take advantage and celebrate all that you have to offer. Every street festival, every outdoor adventure, every snowflake and raindrop and ray of sunshine.</div>
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Because...here's the thing. We make the place. I learned that growing up - moving from one place to the next. A lot of people might laugh (or shudder) at the thought of you Winnipeg, but I'm walking into you with open arms and a big goofy grin on my face because you are where I am and I am where you are. </div>
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So, instead of locking my door and closing the curtains on my window, I am going to embrace you like a long-lost family member and make the absolute best of things here. I am going to love on our little living space and take long walks along the Assiniboine River. I am going to meet new people and explore the different neighbourhoods. I am going to approach you like I want to approach every new adventure..with excitement and energy and an adventurous spirit.</div>
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Because...you deserve it, Winnipeg. </div>
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Hi, Winnipeg. I'm Heather...I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.</div>
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With adventure in my heart...</div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-81551846396169551732014-09-02T10:56:00.002-06:002014-10-16T17:13:41.286-06:00Au revoir, Moose Jaw! Bonjour, Winnipeg!<div style="text-align: center;">
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So, remember all those plans I had to take on Moose Jaw like a tourist before Dave and I headed out across the Prairies to our new home in Winnipeg.</div>
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Yeah...that didn't happen. Taking pictures of murals didn't happen. The Western Development Museum didn't happen. A dinner at The Little Red Market Cafe didn't happen. </div>
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*sigh*</div>
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What DID happen was awesome. Time spent with friends that are family to us in Moose Jaw. And, lots of it. A swim and soak in the mineral waters at Temple Gardens, long walks under the big sky and a continuation of our minimizing in preparation for our move to our tiny little abode.</div>
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It was wonderful and sad and lovely and just perfect. We really couldn't have asked for anything more. </div>
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That is kind of the wonderful thing about "see you laters" as opposed to straight-up "goodbyes." There doesn't have to be the last-minute cramming for your departure. You KNOW you will return and there is something ultimately comforting in that.</div>
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<b>Things I am going to miss most about living in Moose Jaw:</b></div>
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Having our wonderful friends nearby.</div>
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That sky. Seriously...they don't call it "The Land of the Living Skies" for no reason.</div>
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Quiet.</div>
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The yoga community.</div>
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Walks and runs through <a href="http://www.wakamow.ca/">Wakamow Valley</a>.</div>
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The first snowfall (usually in October).</div>
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Main Street during the holidays.</div>
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Coffee at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/twentythreemainstreet">23 Main Street</a>.</div>
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Walks through <a href="http://www.moosejaw.ca/?service=crescent-park">Crescent Park</a>.</div>
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Hikes at <a href="http://www.saskparks.net/buffalopound">Buffalo Pound</a>.</div>
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Being only 7 hours from the Canadian Rockies by car.</div>
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The big tree that I could see from our upstairs office window in the house.</div>
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Our garage - for those cold winter mornings.</div>
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<b>Things I am looking forward to while living in Winnipeg:</b></div>
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Exploring Manitoba!</div>
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A new yoga community to discover.</div>
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Long runs along the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assiniboine_River">Assiniboine River</a>.</div>
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Our <a href="http://osbornevillage.com/">new neighbourhood</a>.</div>
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Walking everywhere and not always needing a car to get to something exciting.</div>
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Exploring a new city.</div>
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There is a <a href="http://www.mec.ca//Main/home.jsp">MEC</a> within walking distance of our place!</div>
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<a href="http://www.littlesistercoffeemaker.ca/">Little Sister Coffee Maker</a></div>
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Having amazing friends nearby.</div>
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Having a parking spot in the city with electricity so our battery doesn't die in the cold winter.</div>
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<a href="http://www.theforks.com/">The Forks</a>.</div>
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City Farmer's Markets.</div>
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Living in a 585 sq. ft. space with my love and seeing if tiny home living is for us.</div>
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We are jumping in...both feet...ready to go!</div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-8817663846169378192014-08-24T11:32:00.000-06:002014-10-16T17:19:50.452-06:00A Moose Jaw Gem: Wakamow Valley<div style="text-align: center;">
So much happened in Wakamow Valley while we lived here. Long walks, longer runs, <a href="http://moosejawminute.blogspot.ca/2010/11/moose-jaw-minute-13-newold-traditions.html">winter picnics</a>, and play-dates with friends. It's been cold, it's flooded, the colours explode in the fall and the humidity sticks to the foliage in the summer. </div>
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It's where we go to calm our senses and take in the changing of the seasons. </div>
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I'm really going to miss Wakamow Valley...it's such a gem in Moose Jaw.</div>
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Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-30385725173717478582014-08-22T08:12:00.001-06:002014-10-16T17:20:33.147-06:00Moose Jaw Main Street<div style="text-align: center;">
Few things were as striking to me as Moose Jaw's Main Street when I first moved to town. I mean, really! There is the cobbler, the coffee shops, the Mae Wilson Theatre. At Christmas they string lights across the road (think "It's a Wonderful Life" come to life) and in the summer they shut it down for Sidewalk Days and small town parades. While some things have changed, much has stayed the same for a number of years.</div>
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Main Street in Moose Jaw is where you see the tourists pop in for the Underground Tunnel tours and where locals sit out on benches to watch the world go by. You see more people meeting and greeting on Main Street than anywhere else in the Jaw. In the winter you might see someone skiing down the middle of the road and in the summer, people strolling by shop windows.</div>
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My good friend Daniel visited a few weeks ago and he marvelled at how many people were walking from place to place. That's the thing about a small town with a Main Street like this...you can walk and talk and slow down and breathe and notice things you just don't when you are whizzing by the miles of strip malls prevalent in so many cities these days.</div>
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At one end, Main Street is flanked by the old Train Station, now a Saskatachewan Liquor store, but still maintaining its grace and stature at the end of the road. The other way leads up, up and away toward Diefenbaker Lake or Saskatoon, depending on your mood.</div>
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Main Streets are passing fancies in most places...relics of times gone by. I'm happy to know that Moose Jaw's continues to thrive and create spaces for the people who live and visit to enjoy their town just that much more.<br />
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Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-62389616651028735362014-08-11T10:11:00.003-06:002014-10-16T17:21:34.366-06:00Moving Time!<div style="text-align: center;">
Friends, it's been a hectic summer. No lie.</div>
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Dave and I were in the midst of decision making. At the beginning of the summer, we were deciding what direction we were going to move in next and then the military, during the first week of July, made that decision for us...</div>
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Winnipeg, here we come!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/visitors">[source]</a></td></tr>
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The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of cleaning our condo in Moose Jaw, putting it on the market, selling it (including all furniture), visiting Winnipeg for a week for a house-hunting trip, finding a condo there, squaring away paperwork, hosting a friend of our from the States who came to visit...and...just keeping up with life!</div>
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We will be moving to our new home at the end of this month.</div>
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The change of scenery will be good and lucky for us, we have amazing <strike>friends</strike> family in Winnipeg that will help make our transition that much easier.</div>
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One of the benefits of being in the military...you have friends <b><i>everywhere!</i></b></div>
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We are savouring our last couple of weeks here in the Jaw. We will be doing some things we've always wanted to do...camping at <a href="http://www.saskparks.net/buffalopound">Buffalo Pound Provincial Park</a>, visiting the <a href="http://www.wdm.ca/mj.html">Western Development Museum</a>, taking pictures of murals and enjoying the last little bit of summer with our <strike>friends</strike> family here in Moose Jaw.</div>
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It is a bittersweet time as Dave has been here for almost a decade and this is where we began our life as a married couple. While we are excited for the change, we are sad to be leaving such incredible people and this friendly community. </div>
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Stay tuned. Lots of updates over the next few weeks. I plan on being a tourist in this little prairie city...will you join me?</div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-9782324917960304142014-07-02T17:04:00.003-06:002014-10-16T17:22:06.599-06:00Canada Day Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy belated Canada Day!</div>
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Dave and I took off for the Canadian Rockies to enjoy some time in the great outdoors. For this trip, we decided to make our way up to <a href="http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/huts/abbot-pass-hut/">Abbot Pass Hut</a>, Canada's second oldest mountaineering hut (and location of Canada's supposed highest outhouse!).</div>
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I knew going into the trip that the ascent would be fine; however, I was (and always have been) a bit nervy about the descent. Let's just say I don't like the second half of the saying, "What goes up..."</div>
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We drove out on Friday afternoon following my yoga class. We drove 8 hours, listening to Canada Day special broadcasts on CBC Radio, chatting and noshing on snacks we packed up before we headed out of Moose Jaw. Our destination was just over the Alberta border, near Field, British Columbia to <a href="http://www.thegreatdividelodge.com/">The Great Divide Lodge</a> where we hoped to catch a few hours of sleep before catching the 8:30 AM bus to Lake O'Hara, where we would begin our hike up to Abbot Pass and hut.</div>
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We arrived at the lodge at 2:00 AM, just before they closed the registration desk for the night and quickly made our way to our room to jump in bed and get some shut-eye. We woke the next morning feeling groggy and chowed down on some tortilla wraps full of bananas and almond butter to fuel us for our ascent.</div>
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The nice thing about the Lodge is that it was literally a three-minute drive from where we needed to catch the bus. We drove over, parked our car and queued up with other hikers to jump on the school bus that would drive us the 20 minutes up to <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/yoho/natcul/ohara.aspx">Lake O'Hara</a>. Some on the bus were doing the same climb as we were while others were just going to up to O'Hara to enjoy the day trails that are there.</div>
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The bus rattled and rolled over the rocky road and people were in good spirits as we headed up. Dave and I chatted and yawned attempting to wake ourselves up. When we reached the lake, we off-loaded our packs and prepared ourselves for the day ahead. We had asked about the conditions on the climb and were told that there were a number of snowy sections and that novice hikers had been turned around by the amount of snow that remained at higher altitudes. Dave and I were determined not to turn around!</div>
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The climb begins with a gorgeous trail that hugs the shore of Lake O'Hara. You are surrounded by pines and can ogle the <a href="http://www.lakeohara.com/">cabins</a> that rent out there for between $300-$400 per night (much more gucci than the hut we would be calling home for the next two nights!). We continued on the well-marked trail that would take us to the halfway point - <a href="http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Lake-O-Hara-and-Lake-Oesa-near-Banff-AB-2613">Lake Oesa</a>. We passed through forest and hugged a river rich with water from melting snow. We climbed through rocks and boulders left by glaciers long gone and finally saw the icy surface of Oesa in front of us. We took a brief pause to have a little bite to eat, put on our gaiters and helmets and assess the ascent route up to the hut.</div>
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It was clear spring has been slow in coming. Snow covered the majority of the route and we knew it would be slow going as the snow surface seemed to crumble around our feet with every step. The snow surface covered slippery scree underfoot and each step had to be made with careful consideration. I discovered that quickly when, at one point, I placed my right foot, only to have it keep going. I slid a good body length and when I finally stopped, looked up the slope with tears in my eyes at Dave - scared out of my mind! </div>
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After my slip and slide, we continued up - slowly picking our steps and assessing our path along the way. We followed in the footsteps of those who went before us, relying on their toe holds and matching their ascent plan. When we finally summited, it was the biggest feeling of relief!</div>
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We made our way into the hut which is just...awesome. There are two large communal tables, a kitchen stocked with pots and pans, a wood-burning stove and an upstairs bunk area that sleeps 24. The hut itself is made out of huge stones...all of this was brought up by both horse and man and provides mountaineers a wonderful space to get warm, grab a bite and put their feet up. </div>
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When we summited, the weather was fairly good, but it quickly turned wintry as blizzard-like conditions set in. Horizontal snow, cold temperatures and howling winds surrounded the hut for the next two days. None of the mountaineers who came to summit the two peaks on either side of the hut - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lefroy">Mount Lefroy</a> and <a href="http://www.peakfinder.com/peakfinder.ASP?PeakName=mount+victoria">Mount Victoria</a>, were able to make their ascents due to the conditions. Dave and I prepared the food we brought up, enjoyed nips of Scotch and kept the fire burning to keep us warm and dry. We kept our fingers crossed for better conditions on Monday when we would be making our descent.</div>
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Monday dawned and we rose at 3:45 AM with a group of gentlemen who were hoping to summit Lefroy. Unfortunately, while it didn't work out for them, the weather improved and we all began picking our way down from the hut around 7:00 AM. While it took us five hours to summit, the downhill only took us two! We slid our way down and carefully heel-stepped ensuring we weren't going too fast to be unsafe. I am terrified of going downhill, so Dave's guidance and reassurance were much needed and appreciated during this time! </div>
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We made it down and marvelled at how gorgeous the weather was...sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted us as we once again boarded the school bus to take us back to the car. That night, we celebrated our achievement with pizza at <a href="http://rockymountainflatbread.ca/">Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company</a> in Canmore and a couple of pints of <a href="http://www.thegrizzlypaw.com/">Grizzly Paw Brewing Company's</a> best brews.</div>
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These trips are needed. They give us time to reconnect...to ourselves, to each other and to nature. Now, on to our next adventure!</div>
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For a little taste, check out this video below!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZLNOFLNvvmg" width="640"></iframe></div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-46402350385895965662014-06-23T12:48:00.004-06:002014-10-16T17:22:13.415-06:00Today's Letter (inspired by...)<div style="text-align: center;">
Every day, I send Dave a little love via email in the form of a photo or quote or story. It's my way of letting him know that I am thinking about him as he starts his day.</div>
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While that is OUR thing, I'm pretty excited about the inspiration I find over at <a href="http://www.todaysletters.com/">Today's Letters</a>. </div>
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I mean...seriously. Have you ever seen anything so awesome?!?! </div>
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And all because it's true. </div>
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A few words can change a person's day. </div>
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I know a few words have changed mine.</div>
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So, here is my go at a letter...</div>
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<i>Dear Dave</i>...thanks for thinking so much about our future together. It means everything to me that you think through each step thoroughly and strive for success with every thought, word and deed. </div>
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<i>Dear Mother Nature</i>...thanks for bringing out the heat and sun yesterday afternoon to provide sunshine for a little impromptu barbecue. Your rays are the best. </div>
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<i>Dear Port-o-John</i>...thanks for being by the baseball diamond at just the right time on my run yesterday. Home run. </div>
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<i>Dear patience</i>...thanks for all the lessons you are teaching me these days. I know we aren't always the best of friends, but you are there when tough decisions are being made and for that, I am grateful. </div>
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<i>Dear Mr. S</i>...we cleaned a lot yesterday and I know it isn't the most fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but look at all we got accomplished! Clean house for the win!</div>
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How do send your love to those you love?<br />
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Go check out Today's Letters...just click on the link below!</div>
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<a href="http://www.todaysletters.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Today's Letters" border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5287377248_0abcfce036_o.jpg" /></a></div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187154920632996924.post-48215173620899663372014-06-13T09:10:00.004-06:002014-10-16T17:22:22.737-06:00A Friday Virtual Vacation<div style="text-align: center;">
Friends of mine are currently in Europe.</div>
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They enjoyed Paris and Normandy and now they are soaking in the lovely German atmosphere.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>M+P...have a little brötchen for me!</i></span></div>
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In honour of their trip (and because I am always ready for a little travel myself),<br />
I am sharing a little Friday Virtual Vacation.</div>
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For your viewing pleasure...a little Paris.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/62959319" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/62959319">The Quiet City: Winter in Paris</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/andrewjulian">Andrew Julian</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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This weekend will be full of gardening, running, yoga, biking and dreaming of baguettes.</div>
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Happy Weekend!</div>
Heather in the Jawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173552010799918725noreply@blogger.com0