I can smell spring in the air. The daffodils, wet grass, and fresh. It's hard to tell you what fresh smells like but, I love that smell! It gets me going! I to get out there and play. When I smell spring I feel everything is alive. Get out there and do something terrific!
   
     5 easy trails to conquer:

1. Deer Lake Trail. 3.4 miles, a little steep at times but, pretty easy.A    
    great little bridge to start and eventually a better view of the lake.
2. Derby Reach Regional Trail. 5 miles, fairly flat near Fort Langley. Lots  
    of birds.
3. Bunzen Lake. 6.5 miles, another flat trail and some bridges. Beautiful.
4. Campbell Valley Regional Park. Hike as long as you want, there are
    several  trails to choose from. In later spring you can smell fireweed and
     blackberry blossoms. Flat and full of birds.
5. Othello Tunnels. 4 in all flat easy walking. Wonderful history and a chance for some great photo opportunety.
 
       GET OUT THERE!!

Adult tag

I have never in my life played Lazer Tag but, thats me holding a lazer gun! I had a blast! My technique was poor in the begining. After 3 rounds I was a regular Jane Bond! Some tips if you ever try lazer tag.
1- crouch, nobody looks down.
2- gun infront of chest easier to cover targets.
3- point gun forward, I held the gun backwards and didn't rack up points.
4- run, a moving target is harder to shoot!
5- if afterwards you feel like a martini, have one!

Bridges of Wayne

 While on our road trip, we explored the valley floor of Drumheller. Lots to see in 4 days! We went to Wayne, an odd name for a town. Wayne is in the guinness book of records for the most bridges in the shortest distance. 11 bridges in 6 kilometres. Population 27. Too fun!




First bridge a bit more than I expected.








On a sunny day this bridge seemed so, happy!

 


Always ready to carry you!






Don't paint this one. It has such character!

 




Everyone had its own personality.

 




Small or large, everyone important.

 









When you have so many bridges, who you going to call?
Bridge busters!

 



Trust me to carry your load!







 




Someday I'll go to Madison County.

 





Crossing a bridge always takes me to a new adventure.

 

Road Trip!!!! Off to Drumheller! YEEHA! I used to be free, full of spontaneity and fun. I've become an old-stuck-in-a-rut- boring-mother!! Or at least that's how I feel! I'm invisable! Not this week! I'm packing! Alberta here we come! More to follow!

Great Death!

We just said goodbye to a great friend. I met met him 27 years ago and I don't have a bad thing to say about him. Always happy always smiling. Always agreeable. I'm know sometimes after a death we tend to remember people in a better light than true but, he was that easy going and happy.   So to honour him, his wife planned a party that was spectacular. We toasted Carl with Margaritas and wore bright flowered shirts, and lei s of course. It was fabulous! We even danced!! I felt as

               good about saying goodbye as I did saying Hello! He was in party mode his whole life and it  only seemed fitting to party in the end!

Cheers to you Carl!!

I will remember you everytime I have a Margarita!!!!

Give credit where credit is due...

Today something wonderful happened. Today my grade 8 English teacher walked into our store and I said "Did you teach English 35 years ago?" " Yes , were you one of my students?" he said. (I hope that this is correct grammar, being English and all). I told him he was one of my most influencial teachers ever. I remember that class fondly. We learn Shakespear and read Lord of the flies. We got our desks in a circle  and voiced our opinions. We attended  play in Vancouver, Sophocles' Oedipus, then we compare this play to Macbeth. I felt mature and important, someone to be listened to, I think mostly because he show us respect for our thoughts. I was so glad I could tell him what I thought of him. People need recognition and to know they've left an impact. I have many people who have impacted me, probably the most important has been my part Sophocles' Oedipusner. He has alowed me to voice my own opinion. He has also taught question and find out why things happen. Never be afraid to ask questions or have a independent thought.. I looked for that in a partner. An intellegent mind, but also someone who I felt inspired by. Even though I might be not stand up everytime and say what I think, I'm not afraid. My husband can get me thinking about the other side of things, he tends to see things in a different light. He makes me ask the question and not take things at face value. I'm thankful for that and I proud of what we've become in 25 years of marriage. I look at him like a great teacher.I might not be able to tell each person how they have affected me in this possitive way, but if I get the chance, I will. Who influenced you? Which teacher inspired you to go out and do your best? What are you doing now because of that inspiration? And did you ever get a chance to tell them? Maybe one day you will find the venue to express it, if you haven't already. Here's your start.

Getting out there

Top Five Easy Hikes Around The Chilliwack Valley: from easiest to harder

1- Blue Herron Reserve -4 trails in all covering 9km this hike can show you red wing black birds, cedar wax wing, blue herron,turtles and even merganser. There are salmon spawning channels and an observation deck to spy the 90 or more nests. Mostly flat.

2- Cheam Wetlands- another not so long walk about 2km of trail system. What you see is awsome; Martins Cootes, Meadow Larks,Neuts, Buffle Heads and Scaups, maybe even a beaver or two.Flat.

3-Rotary Trail- it can be as long as you like, flat and clean. Eagles own this domain. Always inspiring to me.No elevation.

4- Seven Sisters-This trail, named after Pleiades Mythology is on the East side of Cultas Lake.Seven Giant Douglas Fir awit you on this trail. A few have fallen due to lightning.At 4km long you gain 120 elevation and it's about 1.5 hr return time.

5-Gibson Grind- Starting on the west side of Cultas Lake, a little tougher but, if you're heading to the west coast trail in your life this is leading to the next level.

There you have it, now get moving and enjoy the senery!

Inspire me

Inspiration  can come from anything or anywhere; I was inspired watching Alexander Bilodeau win the 1st gold for Canada.  Likewise, a speach starting with "I have a dream",  or even something as simple as the determination of a crow cracking open a walnut inspires me. I've gathered my spark from a place that comes unexpected to me: my Mom. She is currently struggling with demetia. This lady has suffered through The Depression, child abuse, lack of education, and poverty. She has triumped over the death of her soul mate, the loss of all her siblings, and a battle with breast cancer. Between raising 4 children, 3900 hours of volunteer time and  a mountain of obligations, she has manage to enjoy life to it's fullest. Even now in her hole ridden brain she always has a smile. She's loving and generous with all she possesses. Looking after her is a proud moment in my life. I only hope I'll leave my children feeling the same.

Top 5 thrilling feats without risking my life...

1-Walking on the glass floor of the Toronto C.N. Tower - I literally felt a shiver in my loins! - Wow!

2-Wooden Roller Coaster at the Vancouver PNE, Ya Baby! Rush central!

3-Driving the Almalfi Coast : Okay, it was a little risky, but James Bond did it and if you take it slow, you'll be fine.

4-Gatheralls puffin/ whale watching in Newfoundland, on the catamaran - Stand at the front and ride those waves!

5-Zip line anywhere...my first time was with Scouts on the one they built, however, the higher the better.

WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS......

I own a vehicle , as do 76.56% of  Canadians, and there are about 36 million Canadians in Canada, give or take a few. The numbers are kind of daunting. And to my amazement, at  $1.15.9 a litre, we travel everywhere by any old junker we can afford. Environment isn't even in the equation. Yesterday I  had the befalling for travel by foot. My 16 year old son and I went in search of the Stanley Cup, it was wonderful. We went out for a walk into freezing tempatures and the conversation we had was a treasure. If you ever have a chance to just walk and talk with your children...do it! During our jaunt,we  discussed politics, relationships, bus routes, global warming, and how to have fun. We enjoyed dreams of what we would  do if we won money, where we would go if we could go anywhere, and some of our funniest experiences. You only get these opportunities once in awhile, so take full advantage of them when they come around. Sure we could have drove, but I wouldn't have missed this for the world .

the begining

I'm on the edge of 50, hence the large font, and I feel I've been a wall flower for too long. There are some experience out there calling me, in an extremely loud voice, that I just can not ignore any longer. So here I go......