tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81445867391147165862024-02-07T23:21:01.325-07:00A Mother's Day Potted Plantchildren, child development, play, research, craft blog links, what not, flotsam & jetsomLibbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-30994807546945412202022-07-01T19:31:00.002-06:002022-07-01T19:31:47.208-06:00<p> Part 2 of the epic 2016 Road Trip</p><p>Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia. While watching the Atlantic crash against the massive rocks I realized that one must respect the ocean. It can be angry. There is a sign that states not to go onto the black parts on the rocks, and upon watching the waves sweep up and onto the rocks it is obvious that the ocean can and will take anything or anyone who stands in it's space. I absolutely loved standing in the mist, listening to the waves crash and the solitude it begat. I'm an landlocked ocean person so I relish the opportunities to stand and listen. Waves crashing on rocks is my "happy place".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPOrrfx_vrl1xmHsFW-QEj5b5e2IH0p4W_jn2zpcsMY2FrTVW_sYJCRXR4Xq4rOQd3wLG2T35U2nUb3aSkEFaV4FnAs54b9apvWIFQDV43Ap0w9IBITm9cWxIboc8oW2dbR0_kNFVRPzdGSzQRY_XLDdhQPvyv2BPQ5EmfgVApKJqdZiaJnT5wELudA/s3264/IMG_7272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPOrrfx_vrl1xmHsFW-QEj5b5e2IH0p4W_jn2zpcsMY2FrTVW_sYJCRXR4Xq4rOQd3wLG2T35U2nUb3aSkEFaV4FnAs54b9apvWIFQDV43Ap0w9IBITm9cWxIboc8oW2dbR0_kNFVRPzdGSzQRY_XLDdhQPvyv2BPQ5EmfgVApKJqdZiaJnT5wELudA/s320/IMG_7272.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStZPxM5PHmSgoGC7rwtwWOPOuXupcUl2_UyL4BZel5mbOSNn3lq-LPdmDO4WLxZ1sSxoxSeqy9m81UQNimVyfuZW0aF6eAAIKOIXke7CdgRgyK13kBI3hjtDtgOHnMiLAt9lpdZFSlFeDZjCivFeTcDPL07CntMqkU2zV0qg14Bbq3qbL76PVdXF-6A/s3264/IMG_7291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemPm2c8l-KZ5gJFnAcZVuuf0xygbAM8l4ANkT2ZvAtyMshwQR2YzezIFmYa5_TZ-5tj7QCzhVZGLgP_CFhA1t6miE4CKaZIy6AJZWbX-9yGNjpwLdj1klwGIPgDTRrUBnCBAfC_ztOZml0nW_jY0M1KdK7EeFrFFK5YGJ66wHArXV8HHhH1GCXJMPeA/s3264/P1540124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemPm2c8l-KZ5gJFnAcZVuuf0xygbAM8l4ANkT2ZvAtyMshwQR2YzezIFmYa5_TZ-5tj7QCzhVZGLgP_CFhA1t6miE4CKaZIy6AJZWbX-9yGNjpwLdj1klwGIPgDTRrUBnCBAfC_ztOZml0nW_jY0M1KdK7EeFrFFK5YGJ66wHArXV8HHhH1GCXJMPeA/s320/P1540124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p>Maine</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zoR-naXA3mpkUbTWbidV_19WPRUJAkRctWhWVLItwPY9j0TZ09pRm6ETNWt3_cxrOSHZ6iR4ay9G0hwnT_PVQnkMJp4m6NxB99t8Xt0u0GQs9_juOi1gJkbwbd2um3i-JgV3dtoVAwAIXtIcb7OIhl-xvpjUBOa_0Cc1uiQUn359ijGQzzO5mqIf5A/s3264/IMG_7397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_jPEf0urKE-Cl1yHeG8nAUiuLJjwYJZ8k6Z33w0BKe1vUZdwfBuAuYimfGde8D8cZUMNoCRjTFrVDB5dnxIRHV60TgEL0BxqZhrtRPFcBObAoVz6HDR59S7IfUz3m3j9I142nt6gXCJPVpUJMVcFGUiuq5w2BQ34H4HQoYnA4q-TN3QyHJkBfcsBjA/s3264/P1540676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_jPEf0urKE-Cl1yHeG8nAUiuLJjwYJZ8k6Z33w0BKe1vUZdwfBuAuYimfGde8D8cZUMNoCRjTFrVDB5dnxIRHV60TgEL0BxqZhrtRPFcBObAoVz6HDR59S7IfUz3m3j9I142nt6gXCJPVpUJMVcFGUiuq5w2BQ34H4HQoYnA4q-TN3QyHJkBfcsBjA/s320/P1540676.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boston & Maine engine 494 in White River Junction, VT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGmdapK8uAxtjv5AJdtFBjVCLCLfQD4_JOBgHbDXjadk6SWAGl_o1Me-Tp2kkclBMNfwIklWEoVBXxOrGrDzsd9cJpvzsAXZ8bKieTc9AKzKF5CcXMyf3Hb-MD3bA-OKau2n2V8SFDAXzrvy3lJM3xg2jkWKPGH3GPUJPugxXsMRNjz0mtV_ZrJk_aQ/s3264/P1540680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGmdapK8uAxtjv5AJdtFBjVCLCLfQD4_JOBgHbDXjadk6SWAGl_o1Me-Tp2kkclBMNfwIklWEoVBXxOrGrDzsd9cJpvzsAXZ8bKieTc9AKzKF5CcXMyf3Hb-MD3bA-OKau2n2V8SFDAXzrvy3lJM3xg2jkWKPGH3GPUJPugxXsMRNjz0mtV_ZrJk_aQ/s320/P1540680.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">White River Junction, VT</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPrm1cWklxe8Jlajmle6L8TjzCixQmZk0I_AGSadQ2RUICNGqxyRgYubE4gJfVyoZZNd5TqbpRIIFFWB-flG3_aLgM2qqzPZah6tXNhUVS8AK0LSi2eI5V9UpoJ4O2tdzdQ2_-KTbqJCNRNFyPlTVBKW6m2qjoxMk-D26v2TBqBsdxfw7oFmWrrAezQ/s4608/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPrm1cWklxe8Jlajmle6L8TjzCixQmZk0I_AGSadQ2RUICNGqxyRgYubE4gJfVyoZZNd5TqbpRIIFFWB-flG3_aLgM2qqzPZah6tXNhUVS8AK0LSi2eI5V9UpoJ4O2tdzdQ2_-KTbqJCNRNFyPlTVBKW6m2qjoxMk-D26v2TBqBsdxfw7oFmWrrAezQ/s320/IMG_0170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">On way to Sharon, VT</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYG5A2qq4jzG9D3Fa62vQ7plQk5UCQZ94jRWT874iLFQncwkUFSBL7Jyn9jYX-6yp8a_5F_BQtXgf00hSlP3rBtjocWLAKL-i91O8RoHXE6oL0hcCx21SDKEoTbTwAUuZGCr_okxwBnYEzCuMzAoraf1FdnOCLrW3Hk4MyyAssbHNV1E2KtkAagGRBg/s4608/IMG_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYG5A2qq4jzG9D3Fa62vQ7plQk5UCQZ94jRWT874iLFQncwkUFSBL7Jyn9jYX-6yp8a_5F_BQtXgf00hSlP3rBtjocWLAKL-i91O8RoHXE6oL0hcCx21SDKEoTbTwAUuZGCr_okxwBnYEzCuMzAoraf1FdnOCLrW3Hk4MyyAssbHNV1E2KtkAagGRBg/s320/IMG_0197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Somewhere in Vermont</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUWCNJN-7NkfJpuUL9ww2GEsMHM6nQB571KSfEX-G-Nxy__fNHg8QqkwQ1YCxHhsa1AOp7yl3HIOLl49wIeqoP5u29I5WtOmYfzK0iQUAEATddVyZ3y_a2_YP3osw9qkFXManSJ3_jkMjYM32DyMU_T9XL9BJfh7gjkswZZ6iWa7cbuFVmz4BG8h9ig/s4608/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUWCNJN-7NkfJpuUL9ww2GEsMHM6nQB571KSfEX-G-Nxy__fNHg8QqkwQ1YCxHhsa1AOp7yl3HIOLl49wIeqoP5u29I5WtOmYfzK0iQUAEATddVyZ3y_a2_YP3osw9qkFXManSJ3_jkMjYM32DyMU_T9XL9BJfh7gjkswZZ6iWa7cbuFVmz4BG8h9ig/s320/IMG_0108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Farm nestled in trees in Vermont</div><div><br /><p>New York</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiEyiFqTRISo_6x6E8KP5C_qhqMHncomMBymT2UP0OeMKyJhzg9eWafAzk0lFXeYTeq88aY4Aryvb5Hu17HMlhwhvpax8VMrRmPMWjsd7swkQoKT66OevQD_e5NQquE0wS6hBHhAvOAbkGIrGejTNrduN6eIh0XPOKFFr-k8so2hO881pbZws7lVZAw/s3264/P1540822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiEyiFqTRISo_6x6E8KP5C_qhqMHncomMBymT2UP0OeMKyJhzg9eWafAzk0lFXeYTeq88aY4Aryvb5Hu17HMlhwhvpax8VMrRmPMWjsd7swkQoKT66OevQD_e5NQquE0wS6hBHhAvOAbkGIrGejTNrduN6eIh0XPOKFFr-k8so2hO881pbZws7lVZAw/s320/P1540822.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Utica, NY</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ITmrZ0WCzL-UnbrQ0HSl54veVb1wtTD9M_Ihvh2LSdSZY_eCVcg3rhOz9VuT3bRsdwKnky4nteFvBsC9KqBGJGm6hscFL1dS4QCMGpz1A31CzbP7xMNg5LgGjYnPpLdlj1XNoIH1stbyvP9sfdo4QgMbB3uWiBARzVlB3px09WIfyWL7EY5C4bQHxQ/s3264/P1540861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ITmrZ0WCzL-UnbrQ0HSl54veVb1wtTD9M_Ihvh2LSdSZY_eCVcg3rhOz9VuT3bRsdwKnky4nteFvBsC9KqBGJGm6hscFL1dS4QCMGpz1A31CzbP7xMNg5LgGjYnPpLdlj1XNoIH1stbyvP9sfdo4QgMbB3uWiBARzVlB3px09WIfyWL7EY5C4bQHxQ/s320/P1540861.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A sign that could just as easily be seen in rural Canada!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqrF4IkMfY_ITZybY3Gjt5hmWYZ7zhaVhAE60yG6UUHyL8QV57qEcZMP79oZRdmTsf319lJa8OCGwuqtjk0fGzbZTDbtcBdLKQgtSvm5GnNTm-N-VqS3VfLEdvYspZQMRn3S_-vaMaJkWU5n_p_LbRGSSEHfFJARrqqI07vyoj6gexkyEou0E9NS6Sw/s3264/Utica%20NY%20P1540836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqrF4IkMfY_ITZybY3Gjt5hmWYZ7zhaVhAE60yG6UUHyL8QV57qEcZMP79oZRdmTsf319lJa8OCGwuqtjk0fGzbZTDbtcBdLKQgtSvm5GnNTm-N-VqS3VfLEdvYspZQMRn3S_-vaMaJkWU5n_p_LbRGSSEHfFJARrqqI07vyoj6gexkyEou0E9NS6Sw/s320/Utica%20NY%20P1540836.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Utica, NY</div><p><br /></p></div>Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-80843861793931119092022-07-01T15:52:00.003-06:002022-07-01T15:54:07.413-06:00It's been six years and I've been wondering what I should do with this blog. Things change frequently with blogging, some of my favourite ones are scaled down or not updated. I have noticed that "next blog" is missing from the top of my Blogger blog...I liked using it to discover new blogs but alas, I'll have to do it via a search engine.<div><br /></div><div>It was this trip that spurred our desire to hit the road with a fifth wheel & truck when I retire...as in retire in January or March 2024 and leave May 2024! I discovered on this trip (the 2016 one) that I was good for 21 days in a tent. It came to a head on part two of the trip (next instalment?) when we stopped at an Ohio rest stop and I wanted a pressure hose to clean off the table! I said I want a table and a separate bed that doesn't need to be set up each night (we were using air mattresses in our small dome tent), my hubs said he wanted to be able to stand up when dressing and also have a bathroom inside the unit. A year later, after looking at trailers that our CX-5 could pull, we adopted a "small" puppy who is now 5 and 95lbs. We are now looking at units we can live in full-time for a few years and also fit our large dog. <br />
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I like photography and I like looking at photos so I'm posting some more from a trip 3 yrs ago...we hopped in the car and headed east. We spent 32 days on the road and enjoyed each day...even the weird weather ones!</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">July 9 to July 23, 2016</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grasslands National Park sunset</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"flower pots" in the Bay of Fundy at low tide</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"flower pots" in the Bay of Fundy at low tide</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pathway to the Bay of Fundy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rural Eastern Canada</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confederation Bridge between NB and PEI</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rural Canada-PEI</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creek at Green Gables, PEI</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic Ocean, Cape Breton Island </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Bike at sunset, Cape Breton Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHDIuXZPBBX2tvuNGYI_UGLC8QX5q7144Aq6v_e8bqdYytic87Q-WvdpRvw3qagHz5S9XBmygYalp6Rg3XGhw8k93T8v6DuqOBwsUWVL1UISmTIFndM6ptQLEZhYFt_qFa1WjJgwb__rU/s1600/IMG_7127.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHDIuXZPBBX2tvuNGYI_UGLC8QX5q7144Aq6v_e8bqdYytic87Q-WvdpRvw3qagHz5S9XBmygYalp6Rg3XGhw8k93T8v6DuqOBwsUWVL1UISmTIFndM6ptQLEZhYFt_qFa1WjJgwb__rU/s320/IMG_7127.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic Ocean at sunset, Cape Breton Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surf, Atlantic Ocean, Cape Breton Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJiQ64rJJg1EqOdpH0W6R-u6-d1J6UmRYdHdwuL2G2fNeTUHDUC7aLvs5dzqG0b4KEjq7wLtKqJdr4SV3pwWWuTA4RlCL72b_qV1zQT3ON6b3QhDsWFCWvThk2km79hOVB810sT92Xnoi/s1600/IMG_7204.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJiQ64rJJg1EqOdpH0W6R-u6-d1J6UmRYdHdwuL2G2fNeTUHDUC7aLvs5dzqG0b4KEjq7wLtKqJdr4SV3pwWWuTA4RlCL72b_qV1zQT3ON6b3QhDsWFCWvThk2km79hOVB810sT92Xnoi/s320/IMG_7204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach on Cape Breton Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimmers in freezing water! PEI, Cavendish Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsM6DnwSluBIap18-YGdraP-42k6DMgU1DgvkTELrmB1jqRxaOLDMka8kHRDqSiJDLjQte3BJ2XftFJuJGyAo9M4PdOZeRgucrx7ph0qJjT9G0fY8KwZj8f73lCzrgU8A1zpsH35hV-Lvj/s1600/P1530471.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsM6DnwSluBIap18-YGdraP-42k6DMgU1DgvkTELrmB1jqRxaOLDMka8kHRDqSiJDLjQte3BJ2XftFJuJGyAo9M4PdOZeRgucrx7ph0qJjT9G0fY8KwZj8f73lCzrgU8A1zpsH35hV-Lvj/s320/P1530471.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlottetown, PEI </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random Rural PEI Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxJZg3O-7-5KyO_4CclsXHzOIqYFRFEj-kM7suRrqOIVZS3QXkypY52ETkJUO7tCPQ4fo0T87jP3JvzDRh7z9zqgehs2CBQT5l06E34IEVXdSTaBNhLFPHomqDB62dXTGPxp4O-NsN0_s/s1600/P1530532.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxJZg3O-7-5KyO_4CclsXHzOIqYFRFEj-kM7suRrqOIVZS3QXkypY52ETkJUO7tCPQ4fo0T87jP3JvzDRh7z9zqgehs2CBQT5l06E34IEVXdSTaBNhLFPHomqDB62dXTGPxp4O-NsN0_s/s320/P1530532.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee on flower, Nova Scotia<br />
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We enjoyed Nova Scotia so much that as we ate our lobster in Digby we discussed how comfortable we felt there and were sad to leave it. But leave we needed to, so we took the ferry from Digby to St. John, New Brunswick. From there it was Part Two of the Great Road Trip. </td></tr>
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<br /></div>Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-57116930390697155872017-01-26T08:56:00.000-07:002017-01-26T08:56:34.899-07:00Some Photos of Western CanadaI take so many photos when travelling around Alberta and British Columbia so I'm sharing.<span id="goog_39252526"></span><br />
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Big Horn Sheep on Highway 16 east of Jasper</div>
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Old Barn</div>
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Moose Lake </div>
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Mount Robson-with the peak clear.</div>
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It's the highest point in the Canadian Rockies</div>
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Sunset just outside of Prince George, BC</div>
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Road in Pineview area of Prince George, BC</div>
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Mountain--in the Rockies</div>
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Moose Lake</div>
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A view from Alpine Drive, Pineview area, Prince George, BC<br />
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Rocky Mountains</div>
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Moose Lake, brrr! November 2013</div>
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Heading west on highway 16</div>
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Moose Lake, December 2013</div>
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Highway 16 heading west, December 2013</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Snowplow on Highway 16, December 2013</div>
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Sunset in Pineview area, Prince George, BC</div>
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Pineview, Prince George, BC</div>
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Creek in Pineview, Prince George, BC</div>
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creek in Jasper National Park</div>
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Woods in Pineview, Prince George, BC</div>
<span id="goog_39252525"></span>Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-55801167536113344592016-01-06T11:46:00.001-07:002016-01-06T12:54:39.819-07:00It matters what happens between discipline eventsThere was or is a letter circulating around asking "where you drugged by your parents?"(here is a link to it, I cannot find the original <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SoggyBottomClamCompany/posts/753183128144858" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/B937AlltheHits/photos</a><br />
<br />
Here is my response: Yet some people were 'drugged' like that and because of how it was carried out, turned to the other types of drugging in order to cope or block it out. If the child is acknowledged, positively interacted with, spoke to kindly, encouraged and supported, kept safe but also allowed to fall and fail, they have a really good chance of growing up balanced and respectful of other people, personal and community objects/property, ideas and concepts that may not align with their own values.<br />
<br />
See, it isn't that people are spanked or 'drugged' to various places that make them upstanding members of society, it is how they are treated overall that makes the difference.<br />
<br />
How children are treated between the time outs, the discussions or other violent [spanking] & non-violent parenting discipline measures is what really matters. While being 'drugged' to religious activities or family get togethers doesn't guarantee a well adjusted person, it does give them valuable experience IF those activities themselves are actually uplifting and offer positive interactions.<br />
If children are valued and feel that value (love) from parents and siblings and as a bonus, from their community, then children can grow up without needing to find an escape from adverse events or actions done to us.<br />
<br />
Mental illness is a whole different ball game that I won't go into, except to say that a supportive network of friends and family can go a long way to mitigate the negative manifestations of MH issues.Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-867762448175968612015-02-13T23:25:00.002-07:002015-02-18T07:34:45.943-07:00Spanking is punishment not discipline<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A friend posted on a social media site something
about spanking and that the argument against it is being overblown,
misunderstood and that today’s children/youth/young adults lack discipline and
could use a good swat or two to get/keep them in line. My friend used the “I
was spanked and I turned out ok” argument. This was my reply (edited for
clarity):<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes,
many (not all) children lack discipline, but spanking is punishment. These are
very different approaches to assisting our children to be productive members of
society. Not using spanking takes patience, energy and endurance, but is
doable. Working with other people’s children makes you develop other skills to
assist the wee ones to do what is required of them because you cannot hit them
to make them mind!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
was at a conference where a national advocate for abolishing the law that
allows hitting our own AND other children (Section 43 of the Canadian Criminal
Law<sup>1</sup>). I went up to her and said that when I was a young parent we
were told “don’t spank” but were never really told what to do instead! She
agreed that parents need alternatives. I maintain (& my very young children
supported this viewpoint) that “The Brady Bunch” parenting method doesn’t work
on even a few <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very young</i> children
(“Now Jan, you shouldn’t do that”).<sup> 2</sup><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><sup><br /></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Attachment
parenting has some very good concepts that work…it takes effort but I would say
it would really be a great base for parenting strong secure humans. That is,
attachment parenting as presented by Dr. Gordon Neufeld, not what we read in
small titbits in popular magazines or extreme websites. His stuff is based on
solid research and experience.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Little
wee ones CAN understand more than we ever thought/think. It just has to be
presented in ways they can understand and not overwhelm them. Picking a child
up and removing them from where you don’t want them isn’t wrong. You just might
have to repeat this often.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Time
out works for some, but it has to be used sparingly. When a child is tired,
hungry or in a disequilibrium state (you know, those times when your sweet
child behaves like they’re possessed—similar to those chocolate bar
commercials), they need <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>you</u></i>
more at that moment than being separated from you. But if you are also not in a
stable state (ie: “Mommy you’re ugly when you’re mad”), then separating yourself
mentally or physically from each other is ok. It is better to say nothing and
talk later when in control of your words. The payoff from putting forth the
effort into developing discipline in your children is a big relationship
payoff. And they won’t have to “work through things” before they have their
heads on straight (well, we’re not perfect, so substantially less things). And
that is a good thing isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
friend mentioned having to “work through things” and I’m sure that one of those
“things” was an incident when he/she<sup>3 </sup>was quite young and touched
the hot stove. Now most mothers of that era (50’s-70’s) would just slap the
hand and say sharply “don’t touch! HOT!” His/her mother chose to take his/her
hand and place it directly on the hot burner. Now when I heard this I didn’t
know much about child abuse or even thought twice about being spanked but I
knew what occurred in that kitchen was wrong. Very wrong. I said nothing not
only because I didn’t want my friend to be shamed, but because the only thing I
could think of was “that’s child abuse”. Now I don’t like to hurt my friends’
feeling (sorry if I have!) and this was a very new friendship (37 yrs. now) so
I didn’t know how that would be taken. I also figured that if this was the kind
of family my new friend came from, knowing a kind person (that would be me)
could only be a good thing in my friend’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)</span></sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Section 43 of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Criminal Code</i>(<a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0510-e.htm#endnote1">1</a>)
reads as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: 0in; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every schoolteacher, parent or person standing in the place of a
parent is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or
child, as the case may be, who is under his care, if the force does not exceed
what is reasonable under the circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: 0in; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">(2) </span></sup><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Here is a
link to someone who saw how "The Brady Bunch" parenting method could
work & tried it: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogher.com/why-read-parenting-book-when-you-can-just-watch-brady-bunch?page=0,1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.blogher.com/why-read-parenting-book-when-you-can-just-watch-brady-bunch?page=0,1</span></a></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">. Her
interpretations are similar to Dr. Neufeld's concepts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">(3)</span></sup><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">My attempt at hiding my friend’s identity as much as possible. I
don’t repeat this sad moment so I’m doing what I can to keep it a very personal
moment between us. </span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-36435351645085147442014-11-25T15:39:00.000-07:002015-02-18T07:37:49.247-07:00What is a Grandmother?I was sorting through stuff I've kept and came across a few newsletters from when I was getting diaper service with my last kiddo. The editor stated that he found it in a box of his own grandmother's papers and there wasn't a name attached to it, just "by a third-grader":<br />
<br />
A grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own.<br />
She likes other people's little girls and boys. A grandfather is a man grandmother. He goes for walks with the boys, and they talk about fishing and stuff like that.<br />
<br />
Grandmothers don't have to do anything except to be there.<br />
They're old so they shouldn't play hard or run. It is enough if they drive us to the market where the pretend horse is, and have a lot of dimes ready. Or if they take us for walks, they should slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars. They should never say "hurry up".<br />
<br />
Usually grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes. They wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take their teeth and gums off.<br />
<br />
Grandmothers don't have to be smart, only answer questions like, "Why isn't God married?" and "How come dogs chase cats?"<br />
<br />
Grandmothers don't talk baby talk like visitors do, because it is hard to understand. When they read to us they don't skip, or mind if it is the same story over again.<br />
<br />
Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have a television, because they are the only grown up who have time.<br />
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[I get a chuckle out of "enough dimes"...shows how old this is...I think those pretend horses were 10 cents in the '50's and '60's!]Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-2363743274707375502014-07-11T12:07:00.004-06:002014-07-11T12:13:28.835-06:00Seven or Eight Pieces I Wish I Knew as a Young ParentTo preface everything I'm going to say: I've raised four kids (3b1g) and lived through what you're saying. I said that no wonder our kids are screwed up, "they" say be consistant, if one thing doesn't work, try a new strategy...soooo, I was consistant in my non-consistancy. Had to go through a ton of strategies to find what worked with my kid(s). Then after a short time (too short IMO), it wouldn't work sooooo, back to the drawning board.<br />
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I went back to school and learned a ton about child development (sorta like closing the barn door after the cows got out?) and stuff I wish I had known then.<br />
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I have taken a bit from there and here and developed my own "theory"--common sense/logical that if I were to impart upon parents to enhance their parenting skills I would share them.<br />
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1. Trust your gut. Be aware though, of developmental milestones, typical age appropriate behaviours as they will enhance your gut feeling.<br />
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2. Know your child. How? Play with them, let them lead the play. Let them have the power in this situation because in pretty much all other situations, you have the final say. Set aside 20 minutes a week that hell or high water, you two will get together and play with them in charge. If you set aside toys/ objects that are only for that playtime, then it is even more special. Your relationship with them will improve because you two will create a relationship that will bind you two forever. You hate playing? Remember its only 20 minutes and if you hate playing, you may need it more than your child!<br />
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3. Use "could" instead of "should". Unless there is a safety issue most things can be used as suggestions. "You could dry your hands before eating" "You could place a larger block on the bottom of the tower" ("let's see (if)" also works, it's instead of demanding--use your gut to know when to use it).<br />
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4. "first--then". This is one I sooo would have embraced and when I learned this as a special needs assistant, I immediately thought how so few power struggles would have not happened with my own kids! "First we'll do something I want you to do then we'll do something you want to do" or, "first we'll wash our hands then we'll dance to the dinner table" type thing. Sometimes they forget about their perferred activity which you really hoped they would forget about! It is really good and works when they are waiting for something good, "first we stand in this line then we will see Santa". "First we sing then we go to class". It really helps them know what is going on in their lives. So much is not in their control (prepares them for being adults right?) and knowing can reduce their anxiety levels. You are still in charge, you are just letting them in on what the action is.<br />
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5. Nature vs. nurture. Both matter. I see nurture as altering negative nature aspects of their lives and enhancing the positives. Holding, hugging, snuggling, telling them you love them, doing things together will alter a child's 'natural' person. If they are caring, gentle amazing little humans, well, they'll just be all that confident! If they tend to be on the wild side, it'll tame them without killing their sense of wonder.<br />
I've worked with traumatized children (abuse of all types) and it is amazing when they are nutured how they grow and become aware of other's pain or joy and respond positively. A traumatized child stops growing emotionally at the age they were abused. What traumatizes one child may not affect another, it is individualized. Of course some traumas are just plain nasty and anyone would be affected by them in some way.<br />
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6. There are some good ideas to ponder in all those theories out there. Check some out, ones I like are: attachment theory by Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Montessori method, and Neurosequential development by Dr. Bruce D. Perry, an insightful approach to working with traumatized children which works with typically developing children also because it isn't a "method" or things to do but a way to see how children develop neurologically. Sounds high level stuff but at it's basic concepts, is easy to comprehend. I wrote about it in my last post.<br />
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I was at a conference concerning the early years of children (it's actually called "The Early Years" and is every 2 yrs.--an excellent value for anyone, professional or parent) and one of the speakers was talking about Canada's capital punishment law that allowed spanking. She was totally against it. She had many good points. I have one bone I just had to pick at with the anti-spanking group and she got to be their spokesperson (which she was). I started having kids in 1980 and parents were beginning to be told in the 70's not to spank/hit/swat their kids. Period. My bone? I told her that at was fine, but we weren't told what to do instead! She actually agreed. She was about my age, I think a touch older, and she said that was a grave oversight and really hampered the change.<br />
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I know some people actually believe "reasoning" with a two year old is possible...but personally I think they're delusional. Since then, I've learned some techniques that replace spanking/hit/swatting and they are effective. They take time to establish because they're preventative, relationship building techniques not 'in the heat of the moment' ones. For those moments I think both taking a time out from the issue is the best. In public? That is where knowing your child, having worked on skills and the relationship works in both of your favours. And knowing what age appropriate behaviours are. Being totally in control of yourself is a major key. And a difficult one to even almost master! Sleep deprevation is not my friend and I'm pretty sure most the same is for most people.<br />
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7. Be the parent. Guide them. Teach them. Love them. You don't have to be their friend, they have siblings or other people's chidlren for that. They need a parent who will set boundries and give a hoot what they are doing.<br />
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I guess if you're willing to consider any of these, you are already doing the eighth point: be willing to put in the time to try to do stuff right for your child(ren).Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-6870873466502031392014-06-30T10:32:00.000-06:002017-07-31T22:34:04.601-06:00How we develop, brain-wiseI was introduced to Dr. Bruce Perry's work while I was a student in Child Studies, I bought his book "The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog" accidently--it was mistakenly put down as the text for one of my classes.<br />
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What a fortunate mistake! I was enthralled with it. As it was, one of my profs. had done some work with him! She introduced us to Trauma Academy (<a href="http://childtrauma.org/">http://childtrauma.org</a>) and through that I learned (or began to learn) about neuro-sequential brain development. Basically, our brain develops from the brainstem up, not everything at once. The cortex finishes developing at about age 25. There are a lot of other things happening and can still happen after that age, but that is the raw basic of the concept.<br />
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My practicum (Spring 2008) with that degree was as a research assistant for a maternal-child study. We were collecting data from moms about their mental health & their child's development at 6mos. 12mos. and 18mos. One of the screens we used was the Brigance Parent-Child Interaction Scale (BPCIS). We were presenting (really my boss/the principle investigator and her friend were) this at a conference in Phoenix and I create a slide for it that I talked about. I took Trauma Academy's diagram and added two questions from the BPCIS and connected them with the areas of the brain they stimulated. My boss said that it was brilliant and that I didn't know how brilliant it was (she was and still is right about that-I see it as a logical connection).<br />
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Fast Forward to this semester (Winter 2014) and I'm working on my Social Work degree. My final practicum is at a school for children who have experienced a few (or more, yes, plural) forms of traumas. I get the bright idea for my learning agreement to take that diagram I created and add trauma to it! Took me 2 mos. to figure out how to do it and what it would look like and to find the information to put on it. And I believed that the information needed to be from scholarly sources to make it solid. So, here it is, all but one piece can be backed up. The part about the effects of trauma on heart rate, blood pressure and respiration is only me being logical. If alcohol and/or drugs insult/exposure can cause such damage on the brainstem that the baby dies prior to or shortly after birth, what if the amount of exposure wasn't great enough to cause that much damage? Could it cause enough damage that there are only minor problems that may not hinder the person's life until detected or it is considered "just one of those things"? I couldn't find any information that explores that line of thinking. Finding anything much beyond what the brainstem does and develops is scarce. Or I just didn't look in the right places. I'd love to know if this has been looked into.<br />
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The light blue boxes are the two Brigance questions, the far left is the approximate ages those parts of the brain develop, on the right centre is <i>some</i> of the things that those parts control and the far right is some of the consequences of trauma. That trauma could be witnessed, experienced or occurred prenatally (drugs, alcohol, physical, emotional assault...).<br />
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I suppose I should list all my references...I also should have been more diligent in keeping track of them! The most important one is that the diagram was created by Trauma Academy. Sadly, I cannot find the original anymore to accurately accredit it. It is/was titled "Sequential Neurodevelopment and Play". I have contacted them but have not heard back, so that may mean they are still searching for the source or they are really busy.<br />
<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-20518889370248232542014-01-27T14:44:00.001-07:002014-01-27T14:44:08.080-07:00I just feel like looking at photos<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm on day 4 of a 4 day bed rest order. Hopefully I'll be able to stop coughing enough to fake being healthy at my practicum tomorrow. I've completed my online school work. I think. I'll check later.</div>
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Right now I'll post some photos I've taken over the years that I really like to look at.</div>
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The Columbia Icefields are on the highway between Banff and Jasper...right smack up the centre of the Rocky Mountains.</div>
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The Columbia Icefields in 2010. I wonder if I have one from my High School Geography XII field trip there. It has shrunk considerably since I first went to it in 1976. If I took the same photo from the same position then as in 2010 the ice would be past the bottom of the frame.</div>
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That ridge/arete (accent over first e) was where some of the students climbed. I can still hear one kid calling out "I haaavvvee nooothhinng to hoold onnn toooo" as he slid down it. He was fine. The glacier wasn't at the bottom of it there. Despite being a less cautious era, we were FORBIDDEN to climb on or near the glacier. The glacier was a lot closer then than now though! We could easily see how huge it was from our vantage point at it's foot. Couldn't touch it, that would be too close.</div>
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Then there is Mt. Robson, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies at 3954m. (that's a lot of feet!). Apparently it is a great hiking mountain...I've never done it. I take photos of it when you can see the top. I've even taken a couple when you can't. It is a delight to see the top as it is not a usual sight.</div>
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Yep, Mt. Robson in it's usual state.</div>
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Just west of Mt. Robson is Moose Lake. It is a mountain lake that is cold all year! In the heat of the summer it is refreshing. In the winter, not so much.</div>
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Looking west</div>
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Shoreline looking west</div>
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Summer</div>
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Winter from the front seat of our car looking west</div>
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July from the front seat of our car looking east</div>
Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-4391932793919853662013-12-13T09:49:00.005-07:002014-07-06T21:42:06.348-06:00Procrastination Breeds Creativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: left;">I'm writing my last paper for this semester...and obviously it isn't going smoothly. Writing on social action and social justice is ok, but the references I'm to use don't relate to my experience-which is what the paper is about. Or is suppose to be about. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Now if I could figure out how creating Christmas villages and cards with my Silhouette or baking gingerbread cookies is a social action I'd be, well, still stumped. I just don't have a lot to say or at least 6-8 pages worth. Thankfully that is double spaced 6-8 pages.</span></div>
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So while I, um, mull things over I'm posting a card I made:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlou5ojr14mCTwf8Mq9C0CCB7FdVAYm0sG5ZOsrzt4fkABm8zMBNx_E7ldLyPRpcaIEtpGNr4cZaZ1OSjBNNi-IZb9nxQ5JUDDS40XNtlhzs6_3CDoSJgUEtpT2B-UgRZ04FZ1uQk75ITG/s1600/christmas+card+2013238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlou5ojr14mCTwf8Mq9C0CCB7FdVAYm0sG5ZOsrzt4fkABm8zMBNx_E7ldLyPRpcaIEtpGNr4cZaZ1OSjBNNi-IZb9nxQ5JUDDS40XNtlhzs6_3CDoSJgUEtpT2B-UgRZ04FZ1uQk75ITG/s320/christmas+card+2013238.jpg" height="280" width="320" /></a></div>
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This card is the second one I made...apparently dripping water on the printing makes it all mushy and blurry.<br />
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I find that sometimes remaking things creates a better item and sometimes it doesn't. But that is only in the creator's eye because someone else may find it the other way around.</div>
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I volunteer at the local Children's Hospital and we wear red smocks so that is what the red top represents. It isn't dirt, it's gold ink that is on it. I pressed too hard in one spot so had to repeat that elsewhere so it wasn't so obvious a oops.</div>
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I've made a paper house I believe is called a puntz house. Eaton's and Simpson's Sears used to sell them in sets of 10 and were lit up with mini-lights. I made my own as a teen so when these showed up-or I noticed them-I decided to use my trusty Silhouette to create new ones (the original are long gone). I've made two and are sitting on the mantle now. With battery operated candles now I don't have to string lights between them or have them near an outlet. They are nestled among a number of paper 3-D trees I also made...all but two trees are from white cardstock. I'll have to add a photo to this after I buy more white cardstock and make more trees.</div>
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Merry Christmas!<br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-88292154066148420462013-12-01T09:04:00.000-07:002013-12-13T09:54:52.776-07:00Laugh more than once a week!I've been idly doing some "next blog"ging and came across a couple of blogs that were aimed at a 50+ audience. They were very different, one is by a 50ish woman who needs to relax and laugh more and the other by one in her 80's who knew how to relax. Both had husbands, the former's is still living with her albeit she states he's a bit bigger than he needs be. The older lady's husband is wheelchair bound with Alzheimer's living in a care centre (she called the other residents "inmates"). I suppose I must say that the older lady recently died at 85 and her daughter wrote the last blog posts telling us this. I read some of her earlier posts and she did enjoy life, especially with her children et al and at the lake in the Green Bay area.<br />
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The younger woman seemed to be a no-nonsense type of person-I'll leave it at that because I really don't know her, but she seemed to be very critical-and vocal about her views. I do know people like that and unfortunately that can be very alienating. I do so hope she really is more uplifting in real life-though she stated that laughing once a week is more than enough. Really? Gosh, I think it's a bad day if I don't do it once a DAY! Time to stop the starching of the undershorts!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dOonV6vOc2JKB8OzQKeJQ2GKS0OgzcnJSV-uW7q9LdTtyy9UKLrjp6XiaeKY6zHJdJkRipiLcua2mBRZD-mSjDb8__ORnJRSqmf_qogOK5rBPhSOd19s1eOJEhnxyKbpxVQR9dqFMZRs/s1600/P1340658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dOonV6vOc2JKB8OzQKeJQ2GKS0OgzcnJSV-uW7q9LdTtyy9UKLrjp6XiaeKY6zHJdJkRipiLcua2mBRZD-mSjDb8__ORnJRSqmf_qogOK5rBPhSOd19s1eOJEhnxyKbpxVQR9dqFMZRs/s320/P1340658.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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Life is too short to laugh only once a week...and there are too many things that happen that could make you rip your hair out. Or the person's next to you. I prefer to hear a clerk say thanks for understanding than them thinking "she's really almost scary when she's mad".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW_ptBGezWyK0IdKV4n6F-BONOto7UL6rgCGqhQBgw29M6iejLLgBBOSlSsb7yp1xhbgzX_GysYOYfRtrxFAwipJwd_xbU7W-rhqN2Kfqsz2tGdWV-zVZiepXHGfvgxcsyEM_3ukzLHkl/s1600/P1350434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW_ptBGezWyK0IdKV4n6F-BONOto7UL6rgCGqhQBgw29M6iejLLgBBOSlSsb7yp1xhbgzX_GysYOYfRtrxFAwipJwd_xbU7W-rhqN2Kfqsz2tGdWV-zVZiepXHGfvgxcsyEM_3ukzLHkl/s320/P1350434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hubs & I are puppy sitting our 'grand-puppy' Diesel-dog (our pet name for him). He's a miniature dachshund and loves to give doggy-kisses...I've had a walk-by licking from him. He's sleeping on my lap right now. I love that. Our last pet, Alice the white Persian cat died last February (she would have been 20 in May)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEY8CPAtGcMoN4g0rOB6HHxvlJfQEpRCm9mslVUC6VSYZnvhiG8Nh_ZuGsDJ3TvguOI5-0Veqs-UAvr4qwX5dEE0Mw1_FbOXDimzmAlgKWjL0Lc1npn-nfWXR7lrzD22xKBGmlwpCCHid/s1600/P1340053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEY8CPAtGcMoN4g0rOB6HHxvlJfQEpRCm9mslVUC6VSYZnvhiG8Nh_ZuGsDJ3TvguOI5-0Veqs-UAvr4qwX5dEE0Mw1_FbOXDimzmAlgKWjL0Lc1npn-nfWXR7lrzD22xKBGmlwpCCHid/s320/P1340053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice sleeping in a random box</td></tr>
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and the year before Miranda the grey tabby (our son's cat who he chose in 1992) and Dakota the lab/shepherd/collie died about 5 years ago. So we've been pet-less for a while, there is less cat/dog hair found each month-er, day, yes, I vacuum every room every day (riiiiggghht & the North Pole is a rainforest). No taking a dog for a walk in -30C weather or vet bills. Also no enthusiastic (or indifference from the cats) welcome when we come home or purring and stretching out on the fabric I'm cutting or newspaper I'm reading. Diesel-dog gives us that injection of pure unconditional love we sometimes crave. Even the standing out in the cold icy backyard wondering if he's going to 'go' then or we'll find a treasure somewhere in the house during the upcoming week is fine.<br />
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This is Annabelle, our 'grand-hedgehog' on her co-owner's birthday...I made party hats for both of them. Just a cute photo of her...to up our weekly 'smile' quota.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIDczg5Nht4yb5SoroQ56Hq11g4Xvwjg0xIGUkylHVApuimi5Yd9nmpVX2slCENKgJdxkUIXKpTrQo4uo2YZs_hqp05si4VBtsWuvimJHnh7ngKTE2ygeurJr-xJ0jyTQBlrR97sb-1Nj/s1600/P1350430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIDczg5Nht4yb5SoroQ56Hq11g4Xvwjg0xIGUkylHVApuimi5Yd9nmpVX2slCENKgJdxkUIXKpTrQo4uo2YZs_hqp05si4VBtsWuvimJHnh7ngKTE2ygeurJr-xJ0jyTQBlrR97sb-1Nj/s320/P1350430.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-13213618020538512702013-11-13T14:02:00.001-07:002013-11-13T14:04:48.976-07:00 Yes, I actually DID ride in the Niagara Falls Gran Fondo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSK7en5S7gf8cn_EzoiQbo2F3kwEZzAst4aOet-fPxN2PkPL30pWrQg0WHEv7JE2qWY9AlHBmtvPxKJGzoPoAJOqI7A3n07zpgH1dLDyy5L-PVEes4TUxpAM8MdCeuVq_9KtY-KPbk0MN/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSK7en5S7gf8cn_EzoiQbo2F3kwEZzAst4aOet-fPxN2PkPL30pWrQg0WHEv7JE2qWY9AlHBmtvPxKJGzoPoAJOqI7A3n07zpgH1dLDyy5L-PVEes4TUxpAM8MdCeuVq_9KtY-KPbk0MN/s320/IMG_2460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is not me, just the view from the back of the pack. That is American Falls we see. It is just about 6:45am.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbHFxYC6ePdoLMRob0JmPVAdBq1o01e3ohIbv4fqB34wG8Q2X-VM4U7icUIRkUd-nQd50U1VwKcj-YatpFb6gBEcheC9q-yNwl4vrYOLeDLRFnjC20PGZ2Mb12QiTvmKFRI3k9Yf9qhk9/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbHFxYC6ePdoLMRob0JmPVAdBq1o01e3ohIbv4fqB34wG8Q2X-VM4U7icUIRkUd-nQd50U1VwKcj-YatpFb6gBEcheC9q-yNwl4vrYOLeDLRFnjC20PGZ2Mb12QiTvmKFRI3k9Yf9qhk9/s320/IMG_2456.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The front of the pack...not my category</div>
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My view of the riders in front of me.</div>
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And the riders behind me. I think the people in florescent orange are non-timed riders...official type people that did ride beside me encouraging me and just chatting before finding some other slow-poke to encourage & chat with.</div>
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My bike behind another in the St. John Ambulance mobile first aid unit. I rode about 89km out of the 124km route. At the fifth rest stop a group of us (about 15) were told we were being pulled off the course because the tunnel under the Welland Canal was opened to traffic again...it was 11:50am and we had until 3pm to cross the finish line. Sooooo not happy campers (er riders) and anarchy works its magic. We are allowed to continue but with an escort and are suppose to stay together. Yeah, that 'staying together' didn't last at all. Like maybe for 10 feet. The 'new' route had us go north of the tunnel and around. I was tired at the rest stop but someone said it was only 35km to go & I thought, "I can do 35km more"...but this new route used up that 35km and I was falling farther behind the dude in front of me who was alone. The motorcyclist escort was staying a respectful distance behind me. </div>
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I had told another rider earlier that I was going to ride until I fell over. And I did. Almost. I stopped and told the escort that there is a time when it is time to stop. I had lost the mental game. I was discouraged, the cara fina had passed me twice while I was going 20km/hr., the tunnel being inaccessible (we should've used it anyway), my wrist was hurting (the drugs had worn off), my inner thighs had tossed in the towel near the start of the ride and I was tired. I also had absolutely no idea where I was. Well, outside of the Niagara region. On the positive, I was able to get off my bike without falling over! </div>
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The St. John unit was pulling up behind the motorcycle and so they loaded up my bike along with the one that was put there at rest stop #5 (that lady knew when to stop <i>before</i> it got hairy). An icepack and a ride to the finish line. </div>
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I got out and wanted a photo with my 'first aider' (whose name escapes me). She rocked.</div>
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<tr style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="43.599998474121094px">PLACE</th><th class="left" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;" width="157.1999969482422px">NAME</th><th class="left" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;" width="110px">RESIDENCE</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="31.600000381469727px">BIB #</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="46px">TIME</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="74.80000305175781px">CATEGORY</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="78px">CAT. PLACE</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="105.19999694824219px">GENDER PLACE</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="51.599998474121094px">76.9 KM<br />
SPLIT</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="52.400001525878906px">79.0 KM<br />
SPLIT</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;" width="67.5999984741211px">KOM/QOM<br />
TIME</th></tr>
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<tr class="odd" style="background-color: #e8ebea; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-style: none none solid; height: 30px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 16px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="center" style="height: 1.4em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 275px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
905</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a class="racename_link" href="http://www.sportstats.ca/searchResults.xhtml?firstname=Elizabeth&lastname=Olson" style="color: #002d57; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Elizabeth Olson</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">Calgary, CAN</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="center" style="height: 1.4em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 275px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
2669</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="center" style="height: 1.4em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 275px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
6:36:40.3</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="center" style="height: 1.4em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 275px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
F50-59</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="center" style="height: 1.4em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 275px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
72/80</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="center" style="height: 1.4em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 275px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
211/225</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3:03:18.8</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3:19:51.8</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 275px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">00:16:33</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table class="result_table" id="resultForm:result_table" style="background-color: #f3f7f6; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 26.875px; margin: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 928px;"><thead style="background-color: #c1c1c1; border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt209" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">PLACE</a></th><th class="left" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt245" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">NAME</a></th><th class="left" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt252" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">RESIDENCE</a></th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt257" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">BIB #</a></th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt267" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">TIME</a></th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt287" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">CATEGORY</a></th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;">CAT. PLACE</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;">GENDER PLACE</th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt302" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">76.9 KM <br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />SPLIT</a></th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt306" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">79.0 KM <br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />SPLIT</a></th><th class="center" scope="col" style="border: none; color: white; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal !important; margin: 0px 1px 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayCompactResults.xhtml?racecode=105420#" id="resultForm:result_table:j_idt310" style="color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">KOM/QOM <br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />TIME</a></th></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Then I hopped on my bike and rode over the finish line with my timing chip. My split time holds, as does the KOM (king of the mountain) but the final time isn't.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-Js-tNloOLuZGDpDBRMFkD0vwVUiwlKicfmiePrdiPdtfmbl1v1vweh_D1f7jdJMgtYmwfYknuu2CxaGicVznUPCQjTRS57QWEyz2mOY7eh3XwgLjChpUNdcQwk5br1KTsccWi788yiE/s1600/P1360998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-Js-tNloOLuZGDpDBRMFkD0vwVUiwlKicfmiePrdiPdtfmbl1v1vweh_D1f7jdJMgtYmwfYknuu2CxaGicVznUPCQjTRS57QWEyz2mOY7eh3XwgLjChpUNdcQwk5br1KTsccWi788yiE/s320/P1360998.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The after ride music rocked with Barney Bental, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpMMDp6hg_x94lSokZRZtO-lbamyMX0GNDc8bYaTVH3n6bPNEMUhkKrEAEVy43lNYRGXHxL0hyQMEOiNKBGk4w6-ptKICQoLOxYTErP4zE95Vg5g7AkOP5ffB103V8gAPhGgbr142rNE6/s1600/P1360993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpMMDp6hg_x94lSokZRZtO-lbamyMX0GNDc8bYaTVH3n6bPNEMUhkKrEAEVy43lNYRGXHxL0hyQMEOiNKBGk4w6-ptKICQoLOxYTErP4zE95Vg5g7AkOP5ffB103V8gAPhGgbr142rNE6/s320/P1360993.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jim Cuddy </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
&</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WNux1UFpKPP_1YGQuwSRI9bhQ5urAUDTH2jJPuq9sV3hMiLtUUd4pxf0rEQY27l5Xi3BmGbywPiI1TKJAWRmRcWpvmoKDvxfZNkxqZ5_Yq5j1OICTexk9GkE2ZtUzV1n0_6CWhYSpt1h/s1600/P1360982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WNux1UFpKPP_1YGQuwSRI9bhQ5urAUDTH2jJPuq9sV3hMiLtUUd4pxf0rEQY27l5Xi3BmGbywPiI1TKJAWRmRcWpvmoKDvxfZNkxqZ5_Yq5j1OICTexk9GkE2ZtUzV1n0_6CWhYSpt1h/s320/P1360982.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Luke Ducette</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who all rode then sang and played for a few hours. These dudes are definitely fitter than me! (and they can sing too!) A wonderful time in the sun.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
With the exception of the politics around the need for the detour, I really enjoyed it. And I did really well for someone who was riding with a broken wrist, numerous bruises and a semi-stable knee. The landscape was amazing, so varied, unlike southern Alberta- ("oh there's a farmer's field. And another one. And I can see Saskatchewan"). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I'll post the photos I took the next day of part of the route. Effingham Hill where the KOM took place does not photograph well, it's a deceptive hill.</div>
Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-14539781608986961142013-09-08T11:09:00.002-06:002013-09-08T11:09:53.715-06:00And the Countdown Begins--Gran Fondo Niagara Falls, OntarioFive days and I ride my first Gran Fondo, in fact, my first big ride since doing the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2012. I was on track to be much fitter and prepared for this ride than that one but with a broken wrist that is gone. At least this is only one day. And I have about 8hrs. in which to ride 124km so I believe I can do it.<br />
<br />
My wrist is healing according to the latest X-ray, it feels better too. Still is painful but that could be the sprain that most likely occurred at the same time. We never discussed if it was in fact sprained, but it is the same pain & area as my left hand. The ankle is still tender but no pain unless my medical team pokes it. The bruising is gone from my chin, thigh and knee.<br />
<br />
I've only riden outside once since being told I can ride (and only once between riding immediately after the crash and being told it is broken). The other times I've used my trainer set up. The first day I set it up outside and watched "The Philadelphia Story" (with Katherine Hepburn). I then set it up in the living room facing outside. I find it boring so I don't seem to last more than a movie, which have been just under 2 hrs. That worries me. Endurance is a major need for this ride. There is also one nasty hill- Effingham. There is a jersey for the fastest time up the hill. Since it'll go to an elite cyclist, I was thinking that it should go to the person in the 6+ seed group who actually rode it up without stopping or walking!<br />
<br />
I'm to stop in at the Medical trailer and say hi to the co-ordinator. He was hired to do all three Gran Fondos by GFCanada. Hopefully it will be a friendly visit and not a "need to" visit. After viewing nasty ripped apart fingers, I'm going to wear my gloves with fingers. I can put the brace on over the glove. That is the joy of a brace and not a cast, I can remove it. Which is nice because it'll get sweaty under it during the ride.<br />
<br />
Here's to the ride! I'm still pumped even with my health concerns.<br />
<br />
Here I come Ontario! I love the Niagara region, so beautiful. So hope there are peaches left for me to eat.Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-88212465479291575602013-08-25T22:28:00.001-06:002013-08-27T11:54:57.451-06:00Banff Gran Fondo 2013--views from the first aid trailerWhile my husband rode the 144km route through Banff National Park I was at the start/finish line in the first aid trailer. I spent the first hour organizing it after the other team members filled their backpacks with supplies and the two other supply chests were taken to their locations. I had my first casualty around 9am--two hours after the first batch of riders (the elite) left. He was brought in by motorcycle.<br />
<br />
The funny part (from my point of view) was when I told him that I would have to cut his shorts to expose the road rash on his thigh. There were two rather medium sized holes (3" across) with a small seam between them right over the injury. He says ok then asks his fiancee if she could sew them! She was silent and I said, "no, they don't think so". I heard a quiet release of breath behind me. So cute.<br />
<br />
<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="http://www.nomeatathlete.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Road-Hazard-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.nomeatathlete.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Road-Hazard-200x300.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.nomeatathlete.com/cycling-rules-of-the-road/</td></tr>
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Points to give other riders: when in a tight group or just a group of cyclists, point out hazards on the road! This dude was about 6" from the guy in front & the guy in front just swerved without indicating a hazard so my cyclist hits the traffic cone & ends up in my trailer <u style="font-weight: bold;">after</u> ride! I told him that he needed to trash his helmet also since he hit his head.<br />
<br />
I had a great vantage point for when the riders came in. The trailer was beside the dismount point where the timing chips were snipped off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJTXXnJgYaX6SfM26H1or1YXUEIENhS6rwWmOqQIWnjSHTRlf8OnleieOPBMJuuFMh0jXN58np1vwO5cgdHo4_T6MIcZHyGGDbaSMiuyFyolAtPpkMkoklPNIqyVeo3H_LEPrr-76EhYc/s1600/P1360802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJTXXnJgYaX6SfM26H1or1YXUEIENhS6rwWmOqQIWnjSHTRlf8OnleieOPBMJuuFMh0jXN58np1vwO5cgdHo4_T6MIcZHyGGDbaSMiuyFyolAtPpkMkoklPNIqyVeo3H_LEPrr-76EhYc/s320/P1360802.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shawn Bunnin (left) was first at 3:29:01 with an ave. pace of 41.3km/hr.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7szz5CPNPm8-NCUFOfWvMsdCU3MGHjlvxt83cyD9LJ4pe1Uu2fs1N32icQdV6vdWQaZ61KICcn4PnlCe3kEA8GtdtosrhhGt7nxZ8WF0ZKnOgKT41vTNQZWrqAX4DGCigxyDdIPPvmQlH/s1600/P1360805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7szz5CPNPm8-NCUFOfWvMsdCU3MGHjlvxt83cyD9LJ4pe1Uu2fs1N32icQdV6vdWQaZ61KICcn4PnlCe3kEA8GtdtosrhhGt7nxZ8WF0ZKnOgKT41vTNQZWrqAX4DGCigxyDdIPPvmQlH/s320/P1360805.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mackenzie Gurvis of Calgary (left) arrived #14 with a time of 3:29:08. Ave. pace is also 41.3km/hr. Peter Wuerr of Vancouver (centre) #8 at 3:28:56</td></tr>
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Team <a href="http://teamsmartstop.com/">Smartstop </a>from North Carolina joined the timed mass ride as a training ride (!!) for the Tour of Alberta coming up September 3-8, 2013. Most of them did not have numbers so I can't match a number up with a name & time. The first rider came in at 10:29am-Shawn Bunnin of Calgary. I'm thrilled that I was actually able to catch the first batch of riders barrelling down the 'slow down' lane. Check out the time between #1 & #14! Seconds! Their average speed is amazing (for me) at 41km/hr. I only reach that speed going downhill on a smooth straight road!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D8Ofose3e-Cfo9O5HIuodH-Pc3wjaL2c77HMfVJqHqZoY9mP0wYpWuE-oDlJAcGLJsCxgzr-JWbaSgtlJ-36SaZ9FWP_xmJLRjpSqkv9Y-VesFo9KHUR2YEu0FBzXkk5Cza5Xvek3b-F/s1600/P1360809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D8Ofose3e-Cfo9O5HIuodH-Pc3wjaL2c77HMfVJqHqZoY9mP0wYpWuE-oDlJAcGLJsCxgzr-JWbaSgtlJ-36SaZ9FWP_xmJLRjpSqkv9Y-VesFo9KHUR2YEu0FBzXkk5Cza5Xvek3b-F/s320/P1360809.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19.200000762939453px;">Team Smartstop & other elite racers at timing chip removal area</td></tr>
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I was alone until about noon or 1pm...and busy! I was amazed how many of the riders crashed early in the ride only to pick themselves up and finish the ride. One crashed 40km in and had smashed his fingers pretty good. In fact with the exception of the young rider (16yrs.) who didn't see the speed bump in the slow down zone, all riders I treated after the first had crashed but finished. Hmm the one with the busted helmet...did he finish wearing a broken helmet (I'm talking almost two pieces)? I think he told me he finished the ride.<br />
<br />
I suppose I'm almost like them, my wrist has a broken bone (3mm fracture) and I want a cast that is molded such that I can grasp my hood & reach the gears/brake. I'm riding in the Niagara Falls Gran Fondo September 14 and, well, I AM planning on riding it! Other than all the money we've spent so we can go, it is the inaugural event and I want to participate. I don't want to end up being a spectator & watching my husband cross the line again. I want him to watch me (after he crosses a couple of hours before) cross the finish line.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFeUi_keNkRXQ2WwqUSyBByOhwmdmN6KCg4-FOL0ZCiBH7Aek9cSpSqX3a7J_XYvd17jXkc5aXOtu_sfMGBRrpOdtmD2muAYLh8GiwoBGJuxo4lDI1FEBtTNO0KjDwhVKRZq1Y_nSBXVa/s1600/P1360819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFeUi_keNkRXQ2WwqUSyBByOhwmdmN6KCg4-FOL0ZCiBH7Aek9cSpSqX3a7J_XYvd17jXkc5aXOtu_sfMGBRrpOdtmD2muAYLh8GiwoBGJuxo4lDI1FEBtTNO0KjDwhVKRZq1Y_nSBXVa/s320/P1360819.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the final riders at the end of the day</td></tr>
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-28838869773573949862013-07-31T10:30:00.001-06:002013-07-31T10:33:11.461-06:00When SAHMs Need a BreakThis article is insightful and gives a taste of what it is like to try to explain how it is to be home and on-call 24/7 for your children and family.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-king/stay-at-home-parent_b_2558642.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-king/stay-at-home-parent_b_2558642.html</a><br />
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The comments are telling and really tiresome. It IS different being a working mom and a SAHM. I would guess some work-at-home parents could relate more with the article than the outside-the-home parents. It is the writer's perspective, not a generalized "everyone must feel this way" article even though she does say this is what SAHM (maybe I should say SAHParent) mean when we say we need a break.<br />
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One commenter said "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" which illustrates the need for 'mama' to take care of herself.<br />
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Do I agree with everything she says? No, sometimes staring in space/zoning out for a few minutes was a break. Our family is a big believer in when you are doing things you love to do, it isn't work (though it still is employment).<br />
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Yes you are a parent even when you aren't in the home for 9 or so hours but it is different when you are 'at your paid employment' and not at home <i>with </i>the kids during those hours. It would be similar if you worked with children and never left your place of employment. Just ask anyone who spends all day with other people's children! It is exhausting, physically and mentally to work with children and at the end of the day, no matter how much fun you had that day, it is nice to 'have a break' from it.<br />
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SAHM/P moms don't leave after 7 or 12 hours. They are there and on call for every hour of every day for years on end. Even as an empty nester I'm still a mom, but the daily pressure isn't there as it is for SAHM/P.<br />
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Soooo, if you know or are a SAHM/P, give them a break. That break can be whatever you two decide on is a break, there are no fixed ideas, just kindness to someone who needs to recharge their mental batteries.Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-34757183455520196752013-07-06T11:27:00.000-06:002013-07-06T11:27:05.486-06:00"Embarrassed" by Hollie McNish-- A Spoken Word about Nursing Babies<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KiS8q_fifa0" width="480"></iframe><br />
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While some of the word choices wouldn't be ones I'd choose, they effectively point out the double standards and the crassness that nursing mothers endure from other people and when hiding in public toilet cubicles. They also illustrate the vulgarity of commercial ads and dressing choices made by women every day.<br />
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She also brings up points that is not often brought up, the sanitation conditions that we expose our babies to when we are seated in restroom cubicles (which are NOT restful at anytime). If bacteria/germs can spread up to how many feet? three or more? when a toilet is flushed, what is landing on a newborn? I'm no germ-a-phobe but that is disgusting.<br />
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I nursed my four babies...often in public, even in church! It was week two of my first born's life that changed me from sitting in cubicles, balanced on lid-less seats to feeding in public. Not that people would know that is what was happening under the receiving blanket.<br />
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It was at the Calgary Stampede, July 1980. My newborn (b. June 25/80) needed to be fed. I walked into the public restroom, well, eventually I was able to walk into the main part, took one look around at the toilet paper & paper towel strewn on the floor, the general feel of unclean in there and turned and walked out. "Stuff this!" I said somewhat silently to myself. "What I'm doing is natural and healthy. Just try to stop me!" (I can be really feisty). I sat in front of the displayed quilts and quietly fed my baby. It wasn't in a main aisle or in a high traffic area, but I definitely had something better to look at than the graffiti of a toilet stall. Two older women (70's?) walked by and smiled at me, saying something supportive and positive about what I was doing. That was all I needed...support from other mothers that I was ok doing this. I knew what I was doing was ok, but the support in a time where nursing wasn't common enough, and definitely not in public, helped to relax me. I could take on the world! Well, my world anyways. Thanks to those two older mothers, you rocked my world!<br />
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BTW, I would sit in the back corner of the chapel with my two older children and only nursed enough to quieten the little baby. I'm not a large person so it only looked like I had a blanket (strategically) thrown over my shoulder. If hubbens wasn't there to be with the older two I stayed because they would follow me, they wouldn't stay with anyone else (I tried & got tired of trying to convince them to stay). It actually was less disruptive that way. In Sunday School it was more challenging because I didn't have the pews hiding me...metal chairs and all and I was self-conscious of the other men in the room even though I was quite well covered. Since my babies fed every 2-3 hours and church was 3 hours it wasn't often because I fed just before leaving for church (at that time a 3min. drive or 10 min. walk). After the newborn stage they lasted longer.<br />
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My eldest nursed for 18mos. the next two for less (12ish mos) and the last I said I'd wean when she could verbally ask for milk. Which of course happened in public! I'm sure she didn't get to nurse right then. When people hear that children are nursed to 3 or later, and think the mother is nuts, what they don't understand is that the nursing by that time is sporadic <u>usually</u> when the child is hurt or tired or just needs reassurance. Sometimes it was days between nursing moments.<br />
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Nursing is normal and gosh, a great & easy way to feed a baby! (I was six and washing my baby sister's bottles when I thought to myself that there must be a better way to feed babies. So I was all over nursing when I discovered that is what breasts are useful for).<br />
<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-13223343250126650412013-07-02T09:45:00.000-06:002013-07-02T09:47:48.961-06:00The Calgary Stampede 2013 will go on-- "Hell of High Water"Calgary Stampede CEO Vern Kimball said that despite the devastation the flooding has caused, Calgary will party for 10 days, come "hell or high water". The Stampede grounds were completely flooded, in the Saddledome (our arena where the Flames play) the water was up to I believe the 8th row.<br />
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So this wasn't a flippant decision since there was a ton or two of water AND muck to remove. There are some cancellations and changes of venues for some of the events but overall the show will go on, come "hell or high water".<br />
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<a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.1337416!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_960/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.1337416!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_960/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Marc Martel, a Nashville based singer wrote & recorded a song about the show, flood and resiliency of Southern Albertans. The Young Canadians were called in to back it and here is a link to the free download:<br />
http://cs.calgarystampede.com/music/hell-or-high-water.html<br />
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The Young Canadians is a group of youth who perform every year at the Stampede (44yrs!). Every year there are new members who join, so it is a fluid group. They were able to rehearse & record it in 48 hrs. while also preparing for their annual Main-stage performance that starts this Friday!<br />
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<a href="http://storage.canoe.ca/v1/dynamic_resize/sws_path/suns-prod-images/1297436448734_ORIGINAL.jpg?quality=80&size=420x" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://storage.canoe.ca/v1/dynamic_resize/sws_path/suns-prod-images/1297436448734_ORIGINAL.jpg?quality=80&size=420x" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's a cool song. Quite a good anthem. Canada rocks! (That's because people from outside of southern Alberta have come here to help with clean up).<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos gathered from Googling "The Calgary Stampede 2013 will go on "Hell of High Water".</span></div>
<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-1110008860948058802013-06-26T08:34:00.000-06:002013-06-26T08:37:45.090-06:00Calgary Flood 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fish Creek Provincial Park</div>
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Fish Creek flows west-east in the deep SW/SE part of Calgary. It may not be as affected by the flooding as it was in 2005, possibly because of better bridge building after that flood. </div>
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<span style="color: black;">Above is a log that was shooting down the creek Thursday afternoon. Below is the same or near the same spot as above, note how there isn't a shoreline anymore! And the current is still fast of course.</span></div>
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This is the train bridge just west of the previous photos, you can see the pedestrian/bike bridge just past it. It was also taken Thursday afternoon.</div>
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This is directly beside the <span style="text-align: center;">pedestrian/bike bridge (the one in the above photo) on Saturday afternoon. The sign states that the path that <i>was</i> there</span> is closed so that the vegetation can regrow. (As of yesterday it is now gone as well).<br />
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Elbow Park</div>
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Below is Elbow Park, an upscale neighbourhood of older homes. This particular street is not on the Elbow River, but is two streets over from the river, one of those streets being 4 lanes. There is a strip parkland between the river and the wide street (Elbow Dr.). The river is the small patch of murky water in the top & left of centre.</div>
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This is the pedestrian pathway under Elbow Dr. I think just beyond the black garbage bin is an garden owl. The blue beside the black bin is a recycling bin--wonder if they still have their addresses on them.</div>
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This is what is left of the suspension bridge that spanned the Elbow River. It was part of our route to downtown and up to SAIT and the UofC. It is laid out, deckless, along the bank. This bridge is to the left of the flooded Elbow Park neighbourhood pictured above.</div>
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An oddity and a moment of peace and tranquility amid the mucky mess. This is a garden along the banks of the Elbow River, it looks like the water hadn't touched it. It is still clean. The gazebo is gone, and no sight of it, yet this place is clean. Did someone spend hours cleaning it up or somehow it escaped the damaging waters as the gazebo was swept away?</div>
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The sidewalk is even clean!</div>
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The Glenmore Reservoir Dam releasing Elbow River (chocolate) water. I don't really understand the mechanics of dam usage but apparently if it weren't there the flooding would be worst.<br />
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The clean-up has begun. Few human lives where lost but vegetation and wildlife (in the zoo and in their natural habitat) were lost and will take about a decade to recover says the ones in the know. Calgary was fortunate, this flood didn't directly affect a large footprint of the city, but what infrastructure that was damaged, affects a tremendous amount of people. I have photos of the aftermath because my husband & I were looking for a new way for us to ride up to the post-secondary institutions we work/attend. Our leg of the LRT will be out of service for at least 3 weeks...no tracks in one section and two tunnels were flooded. I'm adversed to letting my husband & daughter travel in an underwater tunnel in an electric train!</div>
Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0Rocky View County, AB, Canada50.83786068503975 -114.22485351562550.197190185039751 -115.515747015625 51.478531185039749 -112.933960015625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-78284689490028721002013-06-06T22:18:00.000-06:002013-06-06T22:46:23.453-06:00A Day to be AwesomeI'm rather swamped right now but I spent time to create for the Silhouette weekly challenge. I need goals in order to really motivate me. I cut out the vinyl after the new challenge was announced and let it sit awhile. Today I finally decided to use the cookie sheet I had sprayed silver instead of cutting down the plywood piece that is painted black. A couple of months ago I had bought a new silver paint that was more sterling so this morning I sprayed the sheet again. Mid-afternoon I put the vinyl on and sprayed the stencil green. I then set it out in the sun to set/dry. Just before I left for tonight I peeled off the mask and discovered that some of the new silver paint came off also. And I had missed a spot that was now green. That is the lesson, the paint hadn't cured.<br />
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I think that having it hang in the backyard will be just fine and the blemishes won't be noticeable until someone goes right up to it. Which is highly unlikely since the backyard doesn't have a lot of traffic anyways. Well, not until my daughter's wedding this summer. The green matches the faded green trim on the house and compliments the green plants and trees in the yard. I want something unusual in the backyard and this is a good start. It'll weather and blemishes will become 'weathered'. Now I have to figure out how and where to hang it. Until then I think I'll lean it up against the fence by the table in the back corner.Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-83474693266581916862013-05-29T09:45:00.000-06:002013-05-29T09:51:49.906-06:00Silhouette Challenge- condolence cardsSomeone close to me just lost his "Grandbear" who was a very important person in helping him have a 'normal' life growing up. I really like the phrase that circulating around the Sil Facebook sites and so combined it with the shape of the week challenge. I needed to elongate it to fit the phrase but the shield shape needed no alterations. His Grandfather had dachshunds & I couldn't think/create fast enough on my feet how to incorporate them into the same item so made them as separate cards. I was going to frame them but I'll let him decide what to do with them. He loved them and apparently he showed them to everyone at the memorial open house.<br />
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A link to the home page http://blog.silhouetteamerica.com/. The link to the actual challenge is on the right column.<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-89713801172075531802013-05-24T00:04:00.002-06:002013-05-24T00:07:38.247-06:00Silhouette Challenge--Key West visit in 2009For this week's Silhouette Challenge I created a layout for our overnight visit to Key West Florida in 2009. We wanted to visit it even though we only had one night before heading straight up to Orlando to catch our flight home. We fell in love with the creative atmosphere that permeates Old Town. My husband was writing his doctoral dissertation on that trip and in one evening did an amazing amount of work. He said he was inspired by the atmosphere.<br />
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I welded the zig-zags together to create a lattice which I felt suited the ambiance of Key West. </div>
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-69041113876776181112013-05-17T09:42:00.004-06:002013-05-17T09:44:52.175-06:00Silhouette Whale picture sound cardsThe Silhouette blog has a weekly challenge where people can use the popular shape they chose or the free shape of the week. I used the free shape of the week to create picture sound cards for speech therapy use. I only created two for examples as I don't have a client at the moment so don't need all 20. I used the "w" sound and "l" sound because whale has both sounds in the word. I would laminate them to make them endure the repetitive handling by preschoolers (and me).<br />
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I'm late on posting for the giveaway but I wanted to show a different way that can make speech interesting for the child.</div>
Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-1033258636569827752013-05-09T09:38:00.001-06:002013-05-09T09:44:20.718-06:00Mother's Day and Gardening--Both can be rewarding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mother's Day is this Sunday...a short video about us mothers.</div>
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I know that not all mothers are always like the ones depicted in this video, some just never figured out what they need to do to nurture their children. Some never even tried to figure it out, which is sad because they sure missed out on some great times.<br />
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We don't rake or remove dead plants in the fall so that our earth can be protected during the freeze/melt cycles we have as our winter so there is a lot of work to prepare our yards for planting and the 'not snowy winter' season we are entering. I was weeding/cleaning up yesterday, and as I was pulling the green grass (nice to see green again) out of the veggie garden I thought how it was like parenting.<br />
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If a lot of effort is put in from the start the rewards are great later on. For the most part because even the most diligent gardener cannot predict accurately how the environment will impact the seeds and plants. You just do the best you can with the skills you have. If your skills are lacking, you seek out those who have those skills and learn from them.<br />
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As it is with parenting, if a parent so chooses, they can spend a lot of time with their child(ren), teaching them the values and concepts that the parent believe are important.<br />
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Some parents believe that the child should decide for themselves about religion, values and other core concepts so they don't bias their child with their own beliefs and values. I don't understand how that is advantageous because how is the child to decide if they don't have anything to compare to? And how is teaching your child indoctrinating them when it YOUR belief? I do understand why some parents don't want to "indoctrinate" their child about values and beliefs, as there are some very damaging philosophies being taught. But be assured that the "my way or the highway" philosophy of child raising is not compatible with teaching and guiding.<br />
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Like a garden, a child needs to be nurtured, to be guided in learning about themselves and the world in which she/he lives. And to be taught to think. If they can do the 5 W's and How they will have a firm foundation to decide things. But to decide is to have a knowledge from which to compare new information. Pass onto your child your values and beliefs! If you don't, who will? Do you really want to leave it up to chance?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3pYNkQpQ4UT-q9k7hTPFK6kemE_Ls0wQ9fKcEDVt4NKK3f9G6km_LcsXSZjJR74XSGBJSfljIGl6hsN5ft9ux2uX46Y6VebGDRg2F4-OLXr1o-dY8SSuYtcrN7OhQyiVg_GltZ-_XO6X/s1600/P1220471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3pYNkQpQ4UT-q9k7hTPFK6kemE_Ls0wQ9fKcEDVt4NKK3f9G6km_LcsXSZjJR74XSGBJSfljIGl6hsN5ft9ux2uX46Y6VebGDRg2F4-OLXr1o-dY8SSuYtcrN7OhQyiVg_GltZ-_XO6X/s320/P1220471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3neVgaYdYvNbuWK5st7HOtRBRDak4wKNv-_-aCuPJGL-6yVwB2uLh4I1uKTijZD7TY1SnCdnXdJG3E97KOQHkMiru8U9Z9kuhHgGpWC1zHTGmEPWAz1q7CduKfG7RCCQxEFGNUCpGLx4h/s1600/P1180934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3neVgaYdYvNbuWK5st7HOtRBRDak4wKNv-_-aCuPJGL-6yVwB2uLh4I1uKTijZD7TY1SnCdnXdJG3E97KOQHkMiru8U9Z9kuhHgGpWC1zHTGmEPWAz1q7CduKfG7RCCQxEFGNUCpGLx4h/s200/P1180934.jpg" width="150" /></a>Most children are really forgiving of parental mistakes, if there have been some positive interactions and efforts of some type of love towards the child. And children love their parents, even severely abusive parents (that bond is deep!).<br />
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It's a balancing act, but with practice (& lots of trial and error!) and love there are rewards to parenting and gardening.<br />
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Soooo, Happy Mother's Day...let's celebrate our good practices and forgive ourselves for our missteps & the "oops, I hope nobody saw/heard that" moments.<br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-57944102000030833412013-04-11T16:14:00.001-06:002013-04-11T16:23:09.335-06:00It's Red So It's FastI picked up my new road bike on Tuesday and toodled around the block before I froze.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQmGoID3dP_Gn1_DAIhQafwIRHKeIybSKNvKJ9HuffuoRGv_UqC4WuGnjbxdHsNbAiZRynjtOgBpH812hjkYMud0J3y0pkkK9vpQ38AnYw39IbBjzG-h40_uDyeNT2dFxy6aNM7Q4-j0H/s1600/P1350136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQmGoID3dP_Gn1_DAIhQafwIRHKeIybSKNvKJ9HuffuoRGv_UqC4WuGnjbxdHsNbAiZRynjtOgBpH812hjkYMud0J3y0pkkK9vpQ38AnYw39IbBjzG-h40_uDyeNT2dFxy6aNM7Q4-j0H/s320/P1350136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I look forward to riding it every day without winter woolies on. I took this photo yesterday when some strange orb in the sky was glowing. I rode for about 9km in my community before I had to hustle off to my last university classes for the year.<br />
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Thanks to Ryan at <i>Bow Cycle</i> for fitting me on my Specialized Roubaix. It isn't a women's specific bike (that one is a Ruby), they just didn't feel right. I sat on this and it was like going home to my 10-speed BRC (which as my husband pointed out...was red also). I can't feel the bike when I'm on it. Hopefully after 3 hours in the seat I'll feel the same way!<br />
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Due to the weather (it snowed/slushed today), tonight I'll cycle indoors on my Trek hybrid and watch American Idol or something that is set in a warm part of the world.<br />
<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144586739114716586.post-90641889871939570722013-03-22T09:57:00.001-06:002013-03-22T10:04:12.396-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've just read a wonderful recounting of an event about chivalry occurring "along the flat, head windy, hot, highway of West Maui". Picture this, a moped being pushed by a sprite of a girl being rescued by a road biker. No, not the biker clad in black leather with a skull-cap helmet but one dressed in white lycra with a bike helmet. Read the story here (she tells it so well):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 23.200000762939453px; line-height: 36px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://womenincycling.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/a-knights-tale/#more-1019">http://womenincycling.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/a-knights-tale/#more-1019</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23.200000762939453px; line-height: 36px;">I'm going to be riding the GranFondo Niagara Falls (Ontario) this September. GranFondo means "big ride" in Italian, and it <b><i>is</i></b> a big ride. For me anyways. Maybe not for those Tour de Francers or Milan to San Remo types. It's about 122km or 76 miles. Kilometers sounds longer! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23.200000762939453px; line-height: 36px;">I've started training...wheeze wheeze. For my birthday DH gave me a Kinetic Flow rider (fluid? I could go down to check it out but that takes energy. Yes I see the contradiction). It is really boring to cycle in my basement and I hope that the snow that is melting will continue and stay melted! I wanna ride outside! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23.200000762939453px; line-height: 36px;"><br /></span></span>Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09274573439351833726noreply@blogger.com0