Tap Water

I live in a rural area where the regional district is responsible (we trust) for drawing our drinking water from the lake, adding the correct chemicals in the correct amounts and in the correct order before distributing it to the residents who are on town water.
There is now a dilema developing regarding this practice - our tourist population is growing far more rapidly for what our rudimentary water filtration system is prepared.

Currently, we are on a boil water alert...
Translated, that means that any water we use must be brought to boiling tempurature and kept there for at least ten minutes before consumption.
...nothing worse than drinking hot water.
Apparently the turbidity of the water is too high.
Tubidity being a degree of cloudiness in water caused by suspended solids - in this case, due mostly to increased motor boat traffic.

So what do I drink in the stead of tap water?
Wine?
No... but I have the perfect solution!

There is a magic place where a simple hose protrudes from the ground bearing fresh, sweet spring water.
People have been collecting and drinking water from this boundless spring for more than one hundred years.
The mineral content is high (but not too high as to interfere with the taste) and the water is crystal clear.
It is a mere ten-minute scenic drive from my house, up a high mountain road that eventually leads past a gypsum mine then deep into the back country.

All I have to do is load up my water jugs and head for the hills!

The above photo is of the actual hose leading out of the ground and the bottom one is of my van loaded and ready to head home.

I do drink tap water - water tapped from the ground!

... and I have not given up drinking wine.

Just a little something to take my mind off the heat of the day...

Ghosts in the Room

No hats in the corner

No coats on the floor

No warm fire burning

They've blown through the door

And it feels like they're still here

Their laughter filling the air

I wish they had stayed now

Instead of going away

I wish I had frozen

Long enough to say...

Congratulations !

Beth, you did it!

You have graduated from high school with great marks...

and a year early, no less!

I am very proud of you.

Love

Mum

Oh Crap !

Maybe Val will feel better when she reads this.

It was Christmas of 2003 and my Mum and Dad were visiting us for the Holidays.
On Boxing Day we took a fresh-air-day trip to the ski hill, so the kids could try out their new ski equipment/clothes and show Grandma and Grandpa their "stuff".

When we arrived I opened the door to my (locked) locker and I noticed that my two pairs of newly-acquired skis weren't there (I was sure that was where I put them...).
Beth had been to the hill the day before and I asked her (calmly) if she'd moved them to the other locker (we had two, side-by-side).
She told me that she hadn't opened my locker, as her equipment was in the other one with our personal lock on it.
So I checked the other locker - no skis there...
I (somewhat less calmly) checked around the corner, along the aisles, above the lockers, below the ceiling, under the benches...
Then (on the edge of non-calmnity) I noticed my helmet and goggles were absent, as well.

I was aghast (non-calmity instantly replaced by panic) when the realisation slowly sank in.

They were gone.
Not there.
No where to be seen or found.
Disappeared.
A giant black hole in the depths of my locker...

It was then that I came to my senses, lifted my head, and noticed a bit of a buzz going on in the room.
After a moment, Martin, head of security (why was he here?) noticed and approached me (never a good thing, no matter how nice Martin is), and asked if I had had anything stolen.
Oh-oh...

By this time I was in tears and I told him, between sobs...
Yes, I thought so-maybe-but-I'm-not-too-sure-oh-I-hope-not...
HAVE YOU SEEN MY SKIS ???
...as I grabbed him by the shoulders and shook all three hundred pounds of him (in my head).

Martin (calmly) recorded all the required information - again between sobs (mine - not his).
Luckily I am an anal enough personality to make certain all the serial numbers were written down and secured safely in my wallet (how sad is that?).

Eventually, I learned that it was an inside job and one (or more) of the transient staff had acquired/STOLEN the lock combinations of the resort-issued locks.
Being the thoughtful thieves they were, they had waited until at least after Christmas, when all the new equipment had been happily tried out and stored for the next day of fun.
They had, in the dark of night, ripped through the locker room in one fell swoop, all the while opening the locks (no doubt, crowing with delight) then re-locking all the doors before loading up their loot and hot-footing/driving it outta there.
By morning all the stolen articles would have been hundreds of miles away.

It was devastating.
It was a violation.
My pride and joy.
Stolen.
Blatantly - without thought or care.

It did work out in the end, though.
Panorama Mountain Village was very apologetic, gracious and accomodating.
I was also quite fortunate that my home-owner's insurance covered the loss.
The resort said that, if I purchased my replacement pairs of skis at the resort's retail outlet, they would pay my five hundred dollar deductible for me.
They also told me that I could rent skis at no charge from the rental shop until my new skis arrived.

Fortunately, and thankfully, all the practical areas were covered.
I now only had to recover from the loss and the emotions that go along with the sense of being violated and taken advantage of.

As well as deal with the inconvenience of being an obsess...er...avid skier with no skis.
At the beginning of the season, no less.

On the up side - I received brand new skis - and renewed regard for the ski resort that I hold so dear.

Off the wall ...

Hope

The wind rose

Black clouds poured overhead from the south

Dark rainfall threated the horizon.

Calmly

It bloomed from the boil of the ether.

High above

Over white-capped loch it unveiled itself.

Faint at first

Then blossoming to a full spectrum of glowing colour.

Framing the mountains

Charging the atmosphere

Echoed by its twin.

Suspended.

A blaze of hues upon the tempestuous matte of land and sky

Followed at length by rain.

It flickered

Faded

Then quietly vanished.

Exquisite beauty

Wrapped securely and cradled gently to the breast of memory.

Ooops!

Sorry, I didn't mean to lock you all out - I was playing with my settings.

Come back!

...think I'll stick to playing with my toys from now on.

Tnu R

This is our new six-week old kitty, Tnu R.

She was the runt of the litter - therefore her name.

Tnu is a funny wee thing, who makes more noise in the house than our old dog ever did...

Naked boating 2 ...

Balance

It looks like another clear, hot day in the mountains!

The sun is creeping over the crest of the Rockies to the east, and its rays are beginning to filter through the trees brightening up my kitchen.
Due to a long, cold spring, there is still a fair amount of snow resting upon the peaks and lying in the folds of the valleys.

I mentioned in a previous post, the car dealership I have been working for these past thirteen years is closing its doors...
As a result, I am starting a new business of my own and I already have two clients!
The nature of my business is Bookkeeping/Recreation where I will take on doing the books for individuals or businesses as well as teaching skiing - and, conceivably, horseback riding.

With a bit of time and dedication, the opportunities appear endless.

This evening, after work, I am going mountain biking for the first time this season.
I would have been out earlier, but I have been rather preoccupied and haven't had the time - nor maybe the inclination.

I am creating a new equilibrium in my life and I hope I am taking steps in the right direction...

I certainly don't want to fall off my bike.

Faster than a speeding bullet...

I am on my new computer - with high speed internet, to boot!
It has been a long and winding road, but here is where I am.

My life has changed - very quickly, too, I might add - and I am desperately seeking a balance.

I know that will happen in time - and maybe not so quickly - but I believe good things are worth waiting for.

...and fighting for.

i had a dream

it was about
myself
if nothing else
its about time
things took a turn
for the better

Oh deer...

I watched these deer in the neighbour's yard the other evening.

Due to the recent deep and unseasonal snowfall, they were somewhat hungry and eating from the bird feeder.

Flocks of migrating birds were flitting about in confusion, as well, knocking puffs of snow from the branches of a nearby Manitoba maple tree.

It seems odd to be listening to the cascade of birdsong while the sun sets late in the evenings - and still having all this snow about.

HAPPY EASTER !

April Fools

Yesterday morning the valley awoke to eight inches of snow on the ground and it was falling so thick and fast that I could not see across the road to the creek.

I had to dig out my van so I could drive to work on the icy and treacherous roads.

On Sunday we were skiing in plus ten degrees C in the sunshine wearing only our shirtsleeves!

Yesterday I wore my heavy jacket and big Sorels to work!

My boss played hooky from work yesterday afternoon in order to hit the slopes.

I had hoped I could go skiing, but she beat me to it!

This morning she called me at home as I was getting the kids ready to go out the door to school.

She said the skiing was awesome yesterday and half the town was up there taking advantage of the freshies - and it would be even better today in the sunshine!

My response was something along the lines of "So you're going skiing again today?"

Her answer to that was "No - you are!"

Apparently everyone on my husband's crew at work is going skiing today, too.

That includes my husband.

So, off we go - April fools that we are!

out from under

I have been sick with the flu.

Not fun.

I had a fever of painful proportions and was out for a couple of days.

Thank goodness life appears to have reasserted itself and I think I am on the mend.

I just watched Gypsy's video and it has helped rescue me from the abyss!

Thanks to all my cyber friends for your get-well wishes!

this business of retirement...

Two weeks ago I received the unexpected - although not entirely surprising - news that the long-time family-owned Ford dealership where I have worked for the past thirteen years will be closing down.
My position is in Administration where I do the accounting, as well as working closely with the service department and processing warranty claims.
It is a tiny dealership in a small community, therefore it has been difficult over the past several years dealing with a large corporation where the stress is on volume of sales and the resulting bottom line.

Presently the business is owned and operated by three siblings, each of whom I consider good friends as well as employers.
Their parents opened the business some forty-odd years ago and the trio took over the dealership during the nineteen eighties.
This family business has contributed to the economy of the valley in a great and unique way - we will All miss them!

As I wish my three friends good luck in wherever their new endeavours take them, I too, have to look at a change in my own career.
Living in a small town does have its advantages and I have already had several offers of employment.
These circumstances did lead to an excellent example of irony - and luck as the case may be - as I was looking to speak with a certain individual regarding work, he approached me asking me to work for him!

In the interim, I have tentatively decided what I want to do, although there are a couple of different options in the wings.
I would like to work at mowing lawns in the summer - and do the books for said lawn maintenance company - and I'd love to teach skiing in the winter.
The ski school at the hill has, over the years, encouraged me to take my Level I Instructor course so I can teach for them, but I was never in a position to be able to commit - now I can!
In the fall I plan to take my Level I and teach all winter, then I would like to continue on to take my Level II course next spring.
Hopefully, I should be able to complete those couple of levels without too much difficulty.
My challenge to myself then will be to attempt the completion of the much tougher Level III Instructor course...

I am very exited about the possiblities!

...working outdoors in the sun, wind and rain.
...and snow.
...getting into decent physical shape.
...I hear a change is as good as a holiday.
...starting my own bookkeeping business.
...the opportunity to earn more money.

A door closes and a window opens!

Maybe I should begin with my own yard...

Windmills?

I chuckled when I read Val's current post about the traditional windmills of Holland, as I had just saved these photos for an upcoming post of my own!

These windmills are located in southern Alberta, where the wind blows and blows...and blows...
A couple of weeks ago, as I was driving through the area, I found myself smitten by these curious structures dancing and spinning their ballet against the skyline.

I was so impressed - and curious - that I approached a lone dancer in order to photograph it.
The shed at the foot of this wind-catcher gives some perspective as to the immense size of these ingenious power-generators.


Windmills - Canadian style?

Crossover Season

Daylight savings time is traditionally the date when we bring out the mountain bikes. It's rather early this year and there is still snow on the tracks and trails. The roads are clear for now, but it could dump again at any time - March is known as the month of large snowfalls around here...

So, for the next six weeks we'll be wheeling in the valleys while still sliding on the slopes.

It's the season of wet trails and corn snow, of pedaling and puffing up steep grades and sitting back in the sun and drinking beer on the resort patio.

It's a mix of two entirely different sports that wind up complimenting each other in the end.

It's time to welcome Spring!