Over a pot of tea … flying solo
The cell phone jangled. It was Deirdre, my daughter in law. “Well?”, I breathlessly answered, “how did it go?”. “We’re home!”, she chortled. “Easy peasy!”. She had met the biggest challenge of her motherhood so far, other than her labour of course, and travelled solo beyond Victoria’s city limits with Cedar, my grandson. Her mission? To visit her family in Chilliwack. Hers was a simple excursion really, a morning ferry from Victoria to Tsawwassen and some hours tootling along the Trans Canada through the Fraser Valley. But I had imagined every dreadful possibility. In my...
Read MoreDo or Dye?
So, this is going to sound completely vain, and not the usual food related topic, but please bear with me. I have been wavering back and forth for months now on a probably silly decision. Do I dye my hair or embrace the grey? Here are my pro and con arguments for this debate. Dying my hair: I work in service-related industries. Unfortunately, appearance is important. When I am doing my day job of cleaning houses, I need to have a neat and pleasant appearance so clients will trust that I will take equal care of their homes. When I am selling at Farmers Markets, my appearance also inspires...
Read MoreCruising with the Fur Kids
Taking your dog or cat on the road this summer? It consists mainly of preparation, but add in a little common sense and you’ve got all you need for a great trip. Here are some thoughts on what to include. If you are crossing the border into the United States, they need to see a valid rabies certificate. This is all you need. Health certificates are only (rarely) required by airlines when you fly with them. If vaccines need updating, do them at least a week before you travel in case of any reaction. If your pet has special medical issues, get a copy of his medical history just in case you...
Read MoreIs Ice Cream Good For You?
July is National Ice Cream month and “Yes” Ice Cream is good for you! Despite the ingredients; cream, milk, eggs, sugar, and flavorings, it isn’t the worst thing you can eat. Nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and B vitamins can be found in ice cream. Recently researchers found that when eaten as part of a healthy diet, ice cream can aid weight loss… within moderation. This may be due to ice cream contains calcium, which is needed for fat metabolism, and ice cream satisfies food cravings better than most foods. This summer, ask a friend out for an ice cream and...
Read MoreAnatomy of a Kitchen Reno
Kris was ready to gut her kitchen and couldn’t come to an agreement with her husband on the “Plan of Action”. So, as with many other couples, the solution was simple – call me. As an Interior Designer, a large part of my job is “listening” to the needs and desires of homeowners and creating a solution that everyone using each space can feel comfortable in – and most importantly, feel like the space is a reflection of them. It is my job to interpret the wants and desires of my clients – it is not my job to impose my taste in their space. It is also my job to know what is...
Read MoreA Woman Should Have …
Today I found an email that was sent to me by my dear friend Kate Switniki in 2007. At that time it was alleged to been written by the amazing Maya Angelou, but on her web site she disclaims that. It was written by Pamela Redman Satran. This poem is timeless and I was in the process of emailing it to my granddaughter when I felt I should share it with all Island women. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE… enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to… something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see...
Read MoreCelebrating Aging
You know what’s really amazing? It’s something that we all share! Aging. Ok, I’m being a bit facetious here … but isn’t it about time we started celebrating aging more? I mean, we’re all doing it at an alarming rate (especially over the age of 25 when time seems to speed up)! I’m not talking about a STAT day or anything (although June IS the only lonely month without a STAT…) – but celebrating aging with fun, every day! Well, as it turns out, one great new foundation is celebrating aging. The Dream On Seniors’ Wish Foundation aims to celebrate aging and make the dreams of...
Read MoreOver a pot of tea …
So what is grandmother Love, anyway? I’ve left the part of my life journey called “the world I know” and am fumbling to find the trail head of a new path through a brand new territory, called Ama-land. Ama. That’s my grandmother name. I spent a long time dreaming it up, and part of the challenge was overcoming identity-shift aversion. I made sure my label came from me rather than anyone else’s imposition. I looked for meaning but also wanted a mellow sounding word. I insisted on something unique. Ama works. I notice that people don’t look at me weirdly when they call me that,...
Read MorePolitics of Pet Sterilization
Pet sterilization is controversial, almost as much as the debate on nutrition. There is the debate on trap-neuter-release (TNR) in cats. There is the no-kill controversy and the need for low-cost sterilization. All are minefields for stating your opinion. However, the newest one is the wisdom and methodology of the emerging canine neuter conundrum. First, I’ll give you a bit of history. When I began practicing (yes, over 30 years ago), I was told to believe in the age-old recommendation of sterilization at six months of age. The reasons seemed obvious. First, it was anesthetic safety. The...
Read MoreThe Gen-Y Perspective
I’d like to suggest 50 ways to defy your comfort zone … Over time we acquire habits (formed from our fears, social constructions, etc.) that are done frequently, automatically, and become extremely difficult to discontinue. Some can be good (e.g. eating clean), some can be bad (e.g. smoking), but regardless of their state, they share one thing in common: they inhibit us from change (for better or for worse). In an era marked with ever-evolving technologies and seemingly unlimited opportunities, it is surprising, and yet not uncommon, for many of us to create habits that keep us...
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