Where does the time go?!?

Seems as though I missed July completely!!

Hard to believe that the summer is flying by, but I must be enjoying it, as I haven't even thought about catching up on writing as the out of doors has kept my mind very occupied!! 

Summer in Northern Saskatchewan is pretty darned short, and living on a farm, it is the busiest time of the year as well, which makes it even shorter......  Every chance I get, I am outside...picking weeds, boots off the lawn that were drug there by the dogs, a flower or two, fresh fruits and veggies.....or maybe - just sitting and enjoying the weather.

The wardrobe for my Summer Fashion Show mainly consists of shorts, a T-shirt and a pair of flip-flops....

The cast is that of Ted, myself, a couple of casual farm hands (neighbour kids) or a student from France (last year was Pierre, this year Alban) and of course anyone who stops in for a coffee or a beer....

The real 'pièce de résistance' of Summer's Fashion Show however, is the stage!!!!  Our yard (although alot of work) is beautiful and relaxing.....the garden provides a menu for the cast that is second to none!!! 

I truly LOVE just hanging out in my yard or going for a walk down our road to watch the sky and listen to the birds and the frogs.....or maybe just listening to nothing at all.......

Here is a view from the far end of the road where I like to try and walk a couple of times a week....not sure if it is better for my body or my mind.....

Morning coffee has been being enjoyed this summer from our patio, which is very nearly completed (YAY).....only to be made better with more wonderful ideas I am sure!!  The flowers are fabulous this year with all of the heat and humidity and this is definitley one of my 'Happy Places'.  As you can see - there is a chair here just waiting for you to join me for coffee....I would love to cast you in the show!!

We have a couple of new additions to the yard, here is a Bald Eagle which I have tethered over our fruit & berries to try and keep the birds that like to eat our harvest away....he seems to be doing a pretty good job....  We also have a Peregrine Falcon on top of the Grain Bins to fight off the pigeons!!  He too is accomplishing his task.

The fruits of summer were not that great in the Saskatoon Berry patch this summer, however, our Cherry tree and raspberry bushes produced more than they ever have to make up for it...I am now waiting for the Plums to ripen, which also are very fruitful this year!!

Life is a wonderful stage of activity in the summer and it all happens so fast that sometimes we forget to stop and enjoy all that it has to offer.  Our heads are stuck looking down at the weeds in the garden and swatting mosquitos rather than looking a little higher to the beautiful pods of peas on the vines right next to them, or the wonderful berries in the trees along the road and the flight of a robin collecting food for their young.....

Try to take a few minutes each and every day to sit and reflect on something unexpected, or just plain beautiful.  Cast your eyes to the sky instead of the middle of the road and see what beauty will open up to you.....

Enjoy your Fashion Show in small moments if you are too busy or consumed to take a whole day...you will be surprised to see how rejuvenating a morning coffee on the patio can be....come join me!!

Lorna

Picking up the pieces - an Eventful Stage Show!!

A whole lot has happenned since my last (and first) Blog.  It is hard to fit it all into one production of my Fashion Show called LIFE!!!

Here I am pictured in Vancouver on Granville Island at our Jolica Conference......you may think, why is she picking up the pieces - that should have been a wonderful, festive occasion that was all smiles, giggles and excitement....which it was!!!

We had a fabulous time seeing all of the new peoducts, one of which is this fabulous briefcase made of Eco-Leather.  What is that you may ask?  Well - one of our artisans in Nepal has spent the last few years developping a tanning process that is friendly to both the environment and humans.  His wife has designed these fabulous designs (we have 3 bags and a wallet), and Consultants like myself at Jolica are super excited to be the first people to offer these amazing pieces to the North American consumer!!! 

They will be available July 1st, along with many more new items, and I can't wait to be able to show hear all of the wonderful things that people will be saying about them.

Sitting in the Calgary airport the monday after conference, I was shocked to hear the news of a dear friends' passing, so one day at home and I was off to Edmonton for another 5 days.  Speciall thanks to my sister who came along to keep me company.  Just got home and kind of ready for our French Student to arrive from France....(I am still not completely ready 1 week later), a Fundraiser, a Wedding, a Birthday and 2 days without power from a devastating storm that hit our neighborhood.  There has been more excitement around here in the past month than there was for a whole year, I am sure!!





The lightning was incredible on the evening of the 25th

Alban, our French Ag Student, certainly hasn't had time to be bored yet......he is helping the neighbor clean up what is left of his shop today.  See the picture below.

On the right is the road to one of our fields....

 We were once again blessed and are thanking the Lord for sparing our yard and possessions.  We are certainly alot more fortunate than some of our neighbors, who are trying to make headway of fallen trees and lost buildings......



The shop that Alban is helping to sort out today.



This shed was only stopped from flying
 into the neighboring cow pasture by the house....

As you can see - there is alot of clean-up to be done in the area.  And as such, the title of this edition of my Blog.  Our yard  has some extra lakes that were not there before and the garden is a little too muddy to go and pick radishes, but all of that will be cleaned up by the same mother nature that put it there in the first place.



Guess this wasn't the best place to park the Sprayer Deck....
.It is now a Sprayer Barge





This shows a bit of the water that has accumulated around our yard - we will need a tractor to move the truck out of this lake - but cannot stress enough how thankful we are that we only have to deal with a bit of extra water.

So, I would like to say a special prayer for all those people who were hit by the storm.  Some will be cleaning up for a very long time, while others (like ourselves) only had to go a couple of days without power.  Regardless of your hardship and how you  look at it, I know that it is real in your world, and is your version of reality, so I will say a prayer for all - not leaving anyone out.

Ted and I will continue to be thankful that we are able to help in any way we can and will hopefully be of some assistance to you either  in support of mind or body.

So - as you "pick up the pieces" of the latest production of your life, be it the celebration of a wedding or the remnants of a storm, know that there are always those who are having a tradgedy of their own and be thankful for what you do have rather than sad about what you don't.....and even sometimes, be happy for what you do not have.....

Happiness is determined by how we choose to look at what we are given.  I hope you choose to look at it with thankfulness and gratitude. 

Stay tuned for the next production!!

Lorna

"YOUR LIFE'" is your very own "FASHION SHOW"

You are the PERFECT Model of yourself!! 

Your home and environment are your stage.

I feel that each and every one of you can determine and mold your Fashion Show into exactly what you want it to be. 

This production is entirely up to you - you are the Director, the Producer, the Set Designer, the Casting Agent, and the Wardrobe Department.

What this means is that you are entirely in control of what happens in your life by who you choose to have in it, how you choose to react to them and your surroundings....the scenarios are limitless!!

It is - in effect - you, your life, and things that you can do to make it better.

Set the stage you want and cast the members of your show...create a life that you will look back on with happiness and contentment.

This being my first BLOG, I hope that this will spark your interest as to what I will be focussing on and trying to inspire in each one of you.

Come and join me in My Fashion Show that I call LIFE!!