Mirror, mirror on the wall…
Admittedly, my friend and I are no longer spring chickens,and it has been quite some time since the mirror was our friend. The ‘un-friending’ of the looking glass began with an unforgivable deception! The incident occurred when the faces we saw reflected were not ours but were that of our aged parents! That was a fright not to be forgotten or forgiven. From then on, the mirror gets only a cursory glance when applying lipstick to our less than luscious lips or brushing our hair which is the only “Fifty Shades of Gray” in our lives. Vanity has become such a curse. The other...
Read MoreWelcome! Gabriola is my home.
I would love to share where I live with you as your REALTOR® and your friend, specializing in all things Gabriola. You can count on me. As you move through my web site, you’ll find a store-house of resources. Photos tell it all. We are a vibrant island full to the brim with just about every product and service you can imagine, and yet we’re decided to live here, a 20 minute ferry ride from downtown Nanaimo. And, you might ask why? To this I would ask you to come and find out! Gabriola will surprise you. Life on Gabriola can be as laid-back or solitary as you’d...
Read MoreBank tips you won’t get
More new mortgage rules came into effect January 1,which have made it trickier to negotiate a mortgage for many Canadians. With a little expert advice, I can help ensure you have a happy new year that keeps you on the path to prosperity for the coming year and beyond. 1. That “best” 5-year rate? It probably isn’t. Fact is, a “best rate quote” is now meaningless, because mortgage pricing is now based on multiple factors. Everything depends on your personal situation. That’s why I start with an in-depth assessment, and then review a broad range of lenders and products for the best...
Read MoreCongratulations Chris Beryl !!!
Your poem was selected to represent the Chemainus library for Vancouver Island Regional Library’s poetry anthology 150 X 39. The goal of our anthology is to celebrate Canada 150 by capturing the character and flavour of the communities we serve through poems like yours. The anthology will be printed and released at our launch party at the Harboufront Library on Saturday December 2 from 11am. You will receive a copy of the anthology (either at the launch or mailed to your home branch if you are unable to attend in person) and your poem will be displayed in your local branch. Can you...
Read MoreFacing the challenges of dementia.
Is the Person You Care for at Risk of Wandering or Getting Lost? Joe and his wife made a wonderful life for each other on a small farm in Sooke. When Joe’s wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a degenerative disease, Joe was determined to care for her in the familiar surroundings of their family home. He found it challenging but rewarding, and things went along well until one night when his wife grew confused, having lost all memory of the 40 years they had lived together. She decided to leave the house to find the childhood home she still remembered. “The coldest night of the...
Read MoreFebruary is W.I. Month
You may have heard of us…we’re famous you know! We make jams and jellies, pickles and preserves (and LOTS of it!) we bake, and bake…and bake! You love our pies and cakes and loaves! We craft, we sew, we knit…we do SO much more than this…but do you know what we REALLY do? Read on…or check out our Provincial website at www.bcwi.ca The Women’s Institute was originally founded by Adelaide Hoodless, with it’s first meeting being held in Stoney Creek, Ontario in 1897. The WI in British Columbia, was started by Miss Laura Rose, in 1909, at the request of the Department for...
Read MoreBusting Some Big Fat Myths
Most clients I work with have an uneasy relationship with fat. It’s no wonder. In my 23 years of nutrition experience, I’ve seen the pendulum swing from one extreme to the other regarding fat. I was in University training to become a dietitian during the fat-phobic years. Back when everyone ”knew” that fat was bad for you. To be healthy, you needed to eat a low-fat diet. Pasta and bagels were the king and queen. Practically every parent fed their babies yams and rice cereal as their first foods. Contrast that to the present where my social media streams are full of avocado recipes...
Read MoreThe Word Cancer Creates Fear
So much had happened in a short time and I want others to understand why it’s important to have a mammogram. I knew I was going to be okay but the word “cancer” instigates fear. Everyone is different in processing their thoughts and I have an emotional personality so I knew I had to have courage and discover a better me after cancer. A couple of weeks before my diagnosis, I was watching “The Doctors” talk about the importance of having a mammogram, no matter how old they are. In the back of my mind I remembered thinking. “It’s been awhile, so maybe I should go for one....
Read MoreB.C. to cover cost of abortion pill
Starting Jan. 15, B.C. will join five other Canadian provinces in offering the pregnancy termination drug Mifegymiso for free. According to a B.C. health ministry press release, universal, no-cost coverage for the drug, which is also known as RU-486, will be available to patients with a valid prescription at pharmacies around the province. Mifegymiso is an alternative to surgical abortion and can be used to terminate early-stage pregnancies of up to nine weeks. “It’s the gold standard in terms of health care for women,” said Dawn Fowler, executive director of the...
Read MoreCreating Christmas Spirit
Christmas … portrayed in folklore, the media and commercial hype as a time of peace, happiness and goodwill. Unfortunately, the reality is that for many people, the reverse is true; it is a time of loneliness, grief and regret. The suicide rate increases over the Christmas holiday period. Why should this be so? For some, this will be the first Christmas they will be without a spouse, a child or a loved one. For others, it triggers memories of Christmas past. For me, December 23rd brings back the pain of my father dying when I was 15 years old. The unrelenting commercial pressure at this...
Read MoreAttention-Deficit Disorder.
– the new flavor of the month diagnosis or is it one that has gone unrecognized and misdiagnosed for years? Have you ever wondered why you, your loved ones or associates seem to march to a different drum? Are not just another sheep in the fold but were/are considered a rather unique individual? Why, despite being average or above average intelligence, you or your loved one are underachievers? Or regardless best intentions, anxiety kept you or yours on the peripheral? Why emotions seem to be more intense at times and detachment seemed easier at other times? Why you more reactive than...
Read MoreSacredness Of Giving & Receiving
It is at this time of year that many heated discussions arise on the touchy subject of gift giving, gift receiving and the materialism of the season. Have you had these conversations? Which side are you on – the side which says gifts can be a fun and meaningful way of expressing your friendship, love or appreciation for someone, or the side which sees only the commercialism and materialism in giving and receiving gifts at this time of year? This is a subject dear and close to my heart, mainly because I love giving gifts. And truth be told, I love receiving them as well. I grew up in a...
Read MoreBe Santa to a Senior in Victoria
This is the time of year when many of us are busy attending holiday parties. But not everyone is so fortunate. Many of our elderly find December a lonely, isolating month. That’s why becoming Santa for a Senior can make a huge difference. Nancy Hum was looking over a small Christmas tree at Heart Pharmacy IDA Shelbourne earlier this week. The tree was decorated with paper ornaments, on which are written the name of a senior and a gift they are hoping to receive for Christmas. Hum then spied an ornament which lists “socks and slippers” and removed it from the tree. That means...
Read MoreA question from mother
Why do I still need to eat healthy? When you have an elderly parent, encouraging healthy eating may seem a bit condescending. After all, she is over 85 years old, and must have been doing something right all this time? Why shouldn’t she just eat what she wants, or skip a meal when not feeling hungry? In fact, elderly seniors need more nutrients at a time that they need less calories. So, every bite counts. Proteins are important to maintain lean muscles to keep your strength, balance, and ability to walk. Losing lean muscle mass increases risk for a fall. The current recommendation for...
Read MoreAnimals cannot say what hurts
One of my visions is that every zoo would have a Reconnective Healing® practitioner employed. Somebody who gives perhaps every three months a session before something serious shows up. Animals cannot say when they do not feel right, have a headache, pain in the chest or the back. A lot of suffering could be prevented … and also the stress of being in captivity could be reduced and they animals would be happier. The sessions I gave at the SPCA showed me that animals respond much faster to the Reconnective Healing® frequencies. It is a very different healing modality than all the energy...
Read MoreThe Magic of Gabriola
Roger Christie’s cat loves her Gabriola home – O, yes she does. And, many a story circulates the neighbourhood. Her prow, and her complete abandon to anything but pure, unadulterated relaxation. I interviewed Roger Christie, or to be more accurate, Roger gave me his preamble not knowing I would ask for the opportunity as it presented itself. With Roger’s permission, I offer the love of living on Gabriola, humans and animals, pets and the odd pest. It is why a smattering of about 4,500 persons have chosen Gabriola as their home. Most have arrived from places far the...
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