When I’m not writing freelance articles like this one: http://familyshare.com/the-nitty-gritty-on-how-to-survive-a-flight-with-young-children?Itemid=631 –I am writing fiction. I’m finishing the final edit of the second novel in my middle years’ fiction series. All the books in the series take place in BC and … Read More
Sometimes a mom needs a taste of Disney, a small taste–five minutes worth. My daughter gave me a Lush bath bomb for Christmas. I usually put nothing in my bath (save a few drops of essential lavender oil) as I … Read More
The seasons are changing again. As a Canadian, this means a lot to me. My entire life style changes with the seasons. This is especially true as I live in the Okanagan region of Canada. Our summers are very hot, … Read More
Why does an artist keep at it? It is the obsessive need to create along with the acknowledgement that one has deeply suffered–living outside the “normal” society model of working 9-5 for an institution and receiving a paycheck. To stop … Read More
Playing with your kids is important: their games, their rules. The time they actually really want you to play with them is fleeting. So let your inner coolness vanish, jump in with both feet and be the dork you’re meant … Read More
Children as young as age six practice and use meditation techniques–on their own–to deal with everyday life situations. At a recent parent teacher interview, I was taken by surprise (and thrilled) that Pip’s grade one teacher said Pip is very … Read More
An amazing weekend of non-stop winter sports! This has been the very best long winter weekend ever: skating on Friday and Sunday night, skiing all day Saturday and Monday. It has been my kind of dream winter weekend… Skiing in the … Read More
Some days are tough on a mom. It’s those precious moments, creating something with your children, that bring sunshine kisses into your life again. Sometimes the days in a week are difficult, many little things add up and make one … Read More
I reinvented an existing recipe for cheesecake brownies by adding raspberry jam and using whole grain spelt flour instead of regular all purpose wheat flour. I changed a few other minor things about the recipe and the results are nothing … Read More
Pippi’s Birthday party was yesterday– a penguin themed party! The party included many thrilling events and activities: sliding down icebergs, making balloon penguin buddies, playing penguin huddle (Twister), eating pizza, cake and ice cream and each guest headed home with … Read More
The pictures are of this morning at the ski resort Sunpeaks. I hadn’t skied with my dad since I was a teenager. My dad was the one who taught me how to alpine ski (my mom’s field was nordic). … Read More
PIP AS SECRET AGENT: 00PIP My 6 year old has been going through an early morning panic phase. She awakens well before dawn (often 2 a.m.), dresses herself and crawls back into bed and sleeps until she hears Mom up … Read More
My hero, Fernando. *(You can see his protective gaze in this pic) This morning I walked my dogs as usual: through the forest before dawn. We never see human beings at that hour in the dark forest. Our friends have … Read More
Sometimes the most difficult things in life surprise you with the greatest rewards. I have blogged in the past about my pup Pablo and his special needs. Pablo’s breed comes from dog-fighting stock and he has a brain that makes … Read More
My dad asked me to paint a graphic for a poster advertising his speech supporting the Northern Gateway Pipeline. I am an activist against the pipeline. What to do? This is the graphic image I produced last night after blood, … Read More