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5/19/2024 0 Comments Nevada - been and done
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5/12/2024 1 Comment Let's go to Idaho! IDAHO
It doesn’t take as long to get through this state as some – depending on where you travel of course. It’s kind of shaped like a weird platform shoe (if you have an imagination.) However, even though the top is quite skinny, it’s covered with mountains, and smaller roads so takes a bit to negotiate through. If you are a city person, you probably don’t want to head to Idaho – even I was nervous traveling through and I prefer wilderness to city. However, have you ever looked at a map of Idaho? When you see names like Craters of the Moon, or Sawtooth Wilderness, or River of No Return – well, those pioneers had reasons for the names they chose! There is one interstate in the north and one in the south; otherwise prepare to take “scenic” roads, which means time and patience. However, for the hunter, camper, etc, it’s a paradise. Beauty in the mountains, waterfalls, abound. Yet besides all the mountains, Idaho is still known as the potato state!? How that happened I cannot tell you. I didn’t see much farmland on the roads I took! I guess Ex 23:16 states it well: And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field… I’m sure they don’t have fields like our prairies, but they must do well to be known for their potato harvests. My biggest issue when I pulled in to my friends’ place that night was car trouble; I had a small hole in my oil pan so was stopping for oil and checking the gas every time I found a gas station instead of vice-versa. My friends had a mechanic look at it, and he said it’d cost $1,000 to fix and the part would need to be ordered, etc. Since I had neither the money nor the time to wait, I called my brother from my friends’ house. We grew up making do when parts weren’t around or couldn’t be afforded so although my brother was an official mechanic, he was good about suggestions that he’d never give customers, only his sister. I was the ‘make-it-work-however-without-costing-money’ missionary that had faith in her father & brothers’ “outside the box” abilities. When I told these Idahoans what I planned to do, the mechanic snorted. “You’ll never make it to Illinois from Idaho with that machine. I’d bet money on it.” I planned to stop at my aunt’s in Colorado, so I told my brother I’d call him in two days when I reached her (we didn’t have cell phones in those days.) and if he didn’t hear from me in three days, I’d be stranded somewhere in the wilds of Wyoming. Now, should I tell you what the magic cure for a dripping oil pan is, or not? Hmmm. :0) Let’s just say I wish I could have found that mechanic and asked how much money he wanted to pay me. I made it both to Colorado and to Illinois – and it certainly never cost $1,000; more like $6.00 – but ooh, it was rather smelly! Let me know what you think I did! :0) 5/5/2024 1 Comment California - a diverse state!
4/28/2024 0 Comments Westward, Ho! OREGON Josh 1:4b …and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your coast. I never dreamed I’d get a chance to spend a year teaching in this little-known-to-me state. But the verse I quoted certainly applies to this western ocean coastline. Through a bizarre set of circumstances, which was in actuality a miracle (check my book Suitcases, Schools and Survival to see how this job opportunity came along!) I was invited to a small Christian school located half an hour from the coast. It took a lot of adjusting as I wasn’t used to being squashed between mountains on one side and an ocean on the other. (Of course there was also the central desert area which has a lot of empty space, but who’d want to go there? Not me!) The roads were narrow and windy, and there seemed to be a lot more people in a much smaller area than I was used to. One thing that amazed me when I first got there in mid-August was how I could be melting from the heat (I had no air conditioning), yet drive out to the coast and within the half hour you’d need a light jacket. Such a difference in temp really made the science jargon about ocean current effects and altitude, latitude, etc come to life in a real and personal way. (Science was {and still is} my worst subject!) :0( The rugged power of the Pacific fascinated me. It’s so different from the Atlantic Ocean. Naturally I never said no to an invitation to go to the coast with someone, and people were very generous to me in extending invitations. I was 20 years old the year I taught there and became quite close to several of the families of students I worked with. It was too far to go home for Christmas, so not only was it my first green Christmas I’d ever had, but the first one away from family. Yet, it turned out to be an amazing experience as one family insisted I come on their traditional annual Christmas trek. The entire family (aunt, grandparents, etc) rented a cottage at the ocean for several days. With the solid glass wall that faced the beach, we could watch the endless waves, and even a storm that rolled in once. They would take daily walks on the beach, but thought I was crazy for wading in frigid waters. But hey, how often could I ever say, “Oh, yeah, I went wading in the Pacific for Christmas?!” If you’ve never looked at a map of Oregon, do so. There are not a lot of roads, especially freeways crisscrossing this state. But there are plenty of mountains and deserty places. So you kinda have the choice of the northern route or the southern route to get across this land – unless you’re a brave, hardy soul that wants to try those deserted miles and miles winding through the mountains on small roads! I took the northern route – if you ever get a chance to stop at Baker’s City, do so. The museum there is phenomenal. They make you feel like you’re a pioneer travelling through to the west coast. They have life-size cattle that bawl when you walk past them (and scare the bejabbers out of you the first time!!!); you sit on a rock and watch a screen movie with sound effects that make you feel like you’re in the covered wagon crossing the river (don’t get seasick!) – it’s amazing! As you exit out the building you get to see what the pioneers saw having just crossed the Rockies and realizing they are on the final leg of the journey to get to the Willamette Valley. You can see some of the tire ruts the Conestoga wagon train made as they started down the hills from Baker’s Valley. If you enjoy history at all, this is certainly a must-see place.  4/21/2024 1 Comment Back to the States! WASHINGTON
Washington is a large state that borders Canada on the northwest corner to the USA. I’m sure it has many wonderful places and spots – but whenever anyone mentions Washington, all I can think of is – defying death! I’d had 2 teaching positions under my belt, so thought I was quite proficient as a 20 year old heading off to the unknowns in Oregon in my little 4-speed yellow and black Bobcat one August. I didn’t do too badly the first 3 days of driving. But I stopped overnight at a Mennonite-Your-Way place in Spokane on night #3. As I looked at the map the next morning, there weren’t a lot of options, and I’m not a city driver, so when I spotted a smaller road with green dots, I thought, “Ah, a scenic drive. That should be nice.” This prairie girl had NO idea what she’d just let herself in for. Let’s make a long story short by saying, it may have been scenic, but I was so busy gripping the steering wheel and trying to follow the twists, winds and curves, and not go off the cliff that I had no time to see anything! Sheesh! I didn’t even have time to wipe the tears from my cheeks (yes, I admit to moments of sheer terror on that drive! I had just left my teen years behind, and although I’d driven a lot on trips, Dad never had me drive in the really scary places. So this was a whole new ball game that I wanted out of, but some of the roads in this world as I learned that day – once you start, there’s no stopping until you’re through! By God’s grace somehow I managed. I guess I should have read Ezek 47:12a that morning before I made my choice of roads for the day. And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side…because later I found out had I gone south, I could have crossed into Oregon on the east side of the state and then been on the four-lane interstate #84 following the Columbia River instead of the twisting little narrow two-lane “scenic” panic drive I took along the north side of the river in Washington! So I don’t think “apples” or “Space Needle” when the word Washington is spoken – I think AAAHHHH! Columbia River Gorge! 4/14/2024 0 Comments The last Province NEWFOUNDLAND The last province – and the youngest. It didn’t become part of Canada until 1949. It also is an island, so getting to this place can be quite costly. I didn’t think I’d be able to make it; if it hadn’t been for my sister-in-law, I probably wouldn’t have. But she was determined that I’d complete my goal of getting to every state and province in North America by the time I was 30. So she flew in from Ontario while I flew in from Indiana for the long Easter weekend in 1997. It was an awesome time. First I had to get over how the family sent signed signs to celebrate, and also a world atlas to commemorate the event. Cindy booked a B&B for us in St. John’s. We spent most of the time there – the history is phenomenal and the area picturesque. But ooh, my, be prepared for aching legs. Again, this prairie girl isn’t used to the constant up and down of the rocks and hills that permeate St. John’s. The life is totally different there; fishing and water-related living is such a different concept to living in the prairies. The colorful houses almost looked like they’d fall on top of each other from a distance as each one is at a different level going up or down the hill. Naturally, I had to get photos where “Canada starts” (Trans-Canada Highway), and the easternmost part of Canada – where I wasn’t positive I’d not be blown off before Cindy finally managed to thaw her fingers enough to snap the photo! Signal Hill was a must and touring through the Cabot Tower. I did get a bit squeamish on the narrow ledge as we hiked along the one trail that you took “at your own risk”. Is 41:1a Keep silence before me, o islands; and let the people renew their strength... this verse kinda describes how I felt many times at the majestic-ness of the rugged rock features. We went for a drive out into the countryside and found frozen waterfalls. Such beauty. However, I do wonder how I’d survive living there permanently. It definitely has its own beauty, and there may be much more to it than I saw, but I do like my wide open spaces and colorful trees. Here things have to be squeezed in among the rocks. Of course, if someone offered me a trip over there I certainly wouldn’t turn it down! It was definitely worth a second visit.   Look carefully at center photo and down 3/4. That's the narrow trail and ledge we hiked - a small section had a rope to hang on to 'cause your one foot was almost hanging over the ocean below! Freaky!
4/7/2024 2 Comments Small, but important! PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND What is the first thing you think about when this province is named? If you’re a reader like me – well, Anne of Green Gables tops the chart. However, there are a number of interesting facts about this province. Although being the smallest and the only province with no land borders (although now they do have the Confederation Bridge connecting PEI to New Brunswick), they have the densest population per capita –it’s not a big island! So to get flooded with over 125,000 visitors yearly to the Anne of Green Gables site is hard on the landscape, although welcome to the pocketbooks of the Islanders, I’m sure. PEI was also first discovered by Jacques Cartier in 1534, but was never settled until the 1700s. It was also the place our Fathers of Confederation met in 1867 to create the nation of Canada! I guess a good moral lesson from this is that just because you’re small, doesn’t mean you’re not important. Now after that dump of historical facts, I’ll get into the meat of what I enjoyed. When I was 16 my parents asked me what I wanted for my graduation gift. I said “a trip to either Alaska or PEI”. (I wasn’t being greedy; we traveled most summers so I knew we’d be going somewhere.) So that spring right after grad was over, we loaded up and headed to this island I’d always wanted to see. I never dreamed about a decade later I’d be taking this trip again with my sister-in-law as a get-away trip against the loss of my brother. The first trip was the end of June and so the tourist season had started. But this trip we did on my spring/Easter break the end of March. I flew into Ontario from Alberta and we drove in Cindy’s car from there. It was a totally different atmosphere. The verse that would match this trip seems to be what Paul stated in Acts 27:26. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. When we drove onto the ferry and went on deck to look at all the ice, I was sure we wouldn’t cut through that! The sound of the crashing and breaking of huge ice floes as we steamed our way along was both fascinating and frightening! Although it was freezing cold, I stayed outside as much as I could to watch – and pray! But we made it safely over to the other side, and disembarked for a weekend of fun. Since it was Easter on Sunday Cindy asked if I wanted to go to church. (This was in the days before cell phones, google, etc) When I said yes, she wondered how we’d find a church. I looked into the sky and said, “Well, look at all the steeples here in Charlottetown. One of them must be a church.” So we hopped into the car, and proceeded on an adventure of taking whatever road seemed to lead toward a steeple. It took four tries to end up at a steeple that was attached to a Presbyterian church. As we parked and prepared to go in, Cindy looked at me. “You’ve given me a whole new meaning to the word, ‘steeplechase’.” It took me a moment to catch on that there`s a horse race by that name. After that, I got the giggles, and it took some doing to try and sober up for the church service. Naturally, I wanted to go to Cavendish to see what Anne`s house would be like outside of the tourist season. I was prepared for it to be closed, but knew we could still walk around outside. However, when we pulled up there was a car there. I turned to Cindy. “Wow – do you think someone is inside?” Without waiting for an answer I jumped out of the vehicle, picked my way through the mud and leaned up against a window to peer inside. My shock when a Japanese face stared right back at me caused me to yell – “Aaah!” I leapt back into a big mud puddle. I saw Cindy leaning against the car laughing. Then the door opened. Lo and behold, although closed for the season, a Japanese couple had pre-booked a private tour while on tour of Canada. When they learned I’d flown from Alberta, then drove, they most kindly offered to let us join their tour. We split the cost and had an amazing time touring the house with no one else around. I feel kind of spoiled that I’ve had so many opportunities to see “tourist” spots without the tourists. It makes such a difference to wander at will and spend as much time as wanted. You can visualize the realness of a place in such a fashion. Cindy thought I was a bit gloomy, but I loved stopping at the cemeteries. They were all over the island. It took me a bit to realize they were because of the shipwrecks of boats sailing to reach Canada. I just found it interesting to read the epitaphs and dates on some of the oldest graves in Canada. Again, it was great to be there – to live there year-round would be a different story weatherwise. I’d also probably get frustrated with all the tourists around; I’m selfish in that I need my space and my privacy. But it’s an interesting place to go to – nowadays you could take the ferry one way and the bridge the other way.
 They really do have red dirt!
3/31/2024 2 Comments Unique Eastern Canada NEW BRUNSWICK & NOVA SCOTIA Job 9:8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Job is talking about God and the great things He can do as he speaks these words. If you get a chance to go to the east coast, this verse is one that fits the vista there! I had the privilege of living in Nova Scotia for 3 months one summer to work in a Mennonite bakery. I had a friend in New Brunswick as well, so on my journey out, I took the time to stop over at her place. She treated me royally and took me on a great exploration of this small, but vivid province. There were so many amazing things that I could spend a month just describing – eating “real” lobster, going through the small fishing village museum – but I think my biggest thrill was going to the Bay of Fundy, and seeing the Flowerpot Rocks in person. We didn’t have all day to stay and watch both the in tide and the out tide, but I think seeing it from the top when the tide was out was more astounding to me anyway. That gave you a better perspective of how immense the tides must be to have trees growing on rocks that are standing on bare sand (when tide is out). To see pin points of people down on the beach – and to visualize that completely filled with water in about 12 hours – my! What an experience. But I have to admit I was so glad she was driving. We went round and round and round to get up there. I was busy hanging on to the door handle! I’ve also crossed the border into/from Maine to NB a couple times – if you get a chance to take #4, do so. McAdam is a lovely little town, and has an absolutely amazing historic railroad station that is worth the stop. When I first realized I had the chance to go to Nova Scotia for the summer, I was determined to sightsee every chance I got. By the time I actually reached my destination of Tatamagouche I was so traumatized by the curves and no shoulders I determined if I ever made it safely, I’d never put my car on the road again until I was leaving! This prairie girl really had some adjusting to do with those narrow curvy roads out east. I am glad to say that as I had three months, I got used to it gradually, and did start making trips out and about on my own. But I was certainly happy for the offers of rides with people going places so I didn’t have to do all the driving. Tatamagouche was so quaint and historic and I worked just yards away from the Atlantic Ocean! Many times I’d walk over to gaze out from the top of the cliff at the ocean below, or climb down the stairs to walk the beach when the tide was out. Ps 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all the waves and thy billows are gone over me. I understood better some of David’s Psalms as I watched some storms come in. It’s scary and awesome at the same time. There’s so much to do in a small area. I got to cross many times one of the dykes the Acadians put in the mid-1700s before they were forced out of their homes. (It’s sad how we never seem to learn from history.) I had known nothing about Anna Swan until I moved there – going to the museum about this lady that had been 7 ft, 11 inches tall was very interesting. Naturally I had to go to Truro to see the blowhole. (A tidal bore) It was hard for me to find as it wasn’t very publicized at the time. But there was a very large “ditch” if you want to call it that, that if you are there at the right time, you will hear a strange whistling sound and then this massively wide, dry as dirt bed suddenly starts flowing with water. It has to do with the Bay of Fundy and the tides. This blowhole has a side effect that you had better not be standing in the ditch when the water hits, or you can drown from the force and quickness with which it fills up. There was a lot to see and do in my own area, but I have to admit when a friend asked if I wanted to go with her to Halifax that was a highlight of my stay. She had to drop a couple girls off at the airport at 3:30 am, so it was a very early start, however, because of that, we were at Peggy’s cove to watch the sunrise. The beauty of that just caught at my throat. Plus there were no other people there, so I had it all to myself, which just made it so much more impressive. The day was filled with as much sightseeing as we could pack in – the citadel was interesting, but again, my biggest delight was spending time at Pier 21. The history there of the thousands of troops being sent off to war from there, as well as the thousands of immigrants and war brides that arrived on that pier just grabbed at my imagination. They have it well set up to help you feel the emotion of that time period. I thoroughly enjoyed my three months there and would go back in a flash to spend another summer there if someone asked me. However, I’m not sure I’d want to winter there. I prefer my -40C and sunny days to some of the weather the Atlantic provinces seem to get hit with every winter! But if you ever get to go to the east coast in the spring or summer, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t regret it! :0)
3/24/2024 0 Comments Two More Provinces
3/3/2024 0 Comments Manitoba is home
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CategoriesFebruary 26, 2021
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January 12, 2021
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What a week! As a teacher on a Hutterite colony for grade 5-12, life is non-stop from 9:00-3:30. This coming Friday is the end of quarter, so report cards will be due. So that always makes one extra busy.
But I had 2 highlights in this week. The first: I came home and stumbled over something on my step. When I picked it up and entered, I found out I was holding MY copy of my book! I felt like a mother receiving her first child. The awe and wonder of holding something I'd created and labored over for - yes, about nine months- well, that is quite the feeling. The second: Last night the doorbell rang. I answered and a man stood there with a floral arrangement. I was sure he'd come to the wrong house, but he had the right name. Imagine my amazement when I saw that friends from the States had arranged these lovely roses to be delivered to celebrate this milestone in my life. In today's Covid restrictions, such a thoughtful, kind gesture means SO much! I never get flowers, so I'm still just smiling over it. |
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January 5, 2021
How many of you make New Year's Resolutions? How many of you don't because you know you won't keep them?
As I look at 2021 and wonder what this year will bring, I've decided to try a couple resolutions.
A poet once said, "It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." I feel that can be applied to resolutions too. As I start this year as a new author, I'm scrambling to figure out what I'm doing! This has definitely pulled me out of my comfort zone. I've asked the Lord, "What have I done? Am I stepping off this cliff to float or fly?"
So my New Year's Resolution is to have a website and put a blog on it. Will this last? It will be interesting to look back in December 2021 to see what has happened here! Tech stuff is NOT my thing. But as a teacher, I always tell my students, "Just try. You never know what might happen." So how can I do less than I preach? I will try this. No guarantees, but I've made a start! Happy New Year to you all!
As I look at 2021 and wonder what this year will bring, I've decided to try a couple resolutions.
A poet once said, "It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." I feel that can be applied to resolutions too. As I start this year as a new author, I'm scrambling to figure out what I'm doing! This has definitely pulled me out of my comfort zone. I've asked the Lord, "What have I done? Am I stepping off this cliff to float or fly?"
So my New Year's Resolution is to have a website and put a blog on it. Will this last? It will be interesting to look back in December 2021 to see what has happened here! Tech stuff is NOT my thing. But as a teacher, I always tell my students, "Just try. You never know what might happen." So how can I do less than I preach? I will try this. No guarantees, but I've made a start! Happy New Year to you all!
