The Yoga Game, yoga for children

I am so happy to send my congratulations to my friend Kathy Beliveau on her upcoming book launch of the children's yoga book, The Yoga Game.

Kathy loves life, nature, and is the person that you want to sit beside so you can draw in  her warmth and positive energy.  I have not seen her book yet but know it will be full of many lifelong gifts.

Years ago Kathy told me that one of the things she was teaching her children was to always have things in your life that you love to do, and that don't cost anything.  At that time a couple of the things she was teaching them was yoga and taking them to swim in the ocean.

I have since kept that message with me to remind myself to always have things in my life to enjoy.   I can do yoga anywhere, hum a song, do some reiki healing, watch the sunset, go for a walk, browse the books at the library, visit a friend, or just rest and breathe. I'm sure we all have things at home or close by that we can do to make us feel refreshed, nurtured, and renewed.   Maybe, the best things in life are free!

Check out Kathy's website 
http://www.kathybeliveau.ca/

Christmas Show

While it is snowing this morning, it reminds me to post that I will be at the Christmas show, A Touch of Saltspring, Dec 3-5.  Location is the Panorama Recreation Center, 1885 Forest Park Drive, North Saanich.
So if you know anyone in the Victoria area or for those who go to this show let them know this is my first time there.  Always nice to have some new items to look at for the Christmas season, and also the books and cards are for any occasion or none at all.  The wonderful personal gift to yourself just because.
http://www.atouchofsaltspring.com/

A view from here!

It is so beautiful this morning to sit at my desk up here on the second floor and look out the window to see the mountains against a beautiful blue sky.  Yesterday it was raining all day so when the sky is blue and the mountains have a fresh dusting of snow on the top it is a beautiful sight.  I am so lucky to have this view.  The trumpeter swans are also back now for the winter, they are white and often talk to you when they fly over.  My view from here is picture perfect.

I had a great day yesterday.  Our choir in the morning was visited by the Afrigrand Caravan. We got to share a few songs with them and then last night we sang at the evening event to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation.  It was great to hear there are 240 grandmother groups across Canada commited to raising funds and awareness to support the grandmothers in Africa through this foundation.  The Caravan started in St John's Newfoundland and ends today in Victoria.  I am so glad I was a small part of this event and journey. They shared with us a song and then spoke of family, love, hope, education, dreams, changing roles, caring for others, sharing whatever they have, and being thankful.   I was amazed at how someone could cope with so many hardships and still have a positive and loving view of life.  It was shown in the picture perfect smile on their face.

How many is enough ?

This year in our gardens it has been the year of the hydrangea, and I love hydrangeas.  Last year will be remembered for a great crop of basil and the many salads and pasta suppers with homemade pesto we enjoyed throughout the winter!

This year we didn't cut back the hydrangea bushes so we could see just how big they'd get.  The two at the front of the house grew to a huge wonderful fullness about my height, so about 5 and half feet, and just as wide with hundreds and hundreds of blossoms.  Since we live on a corner lot, they have been on display to all who pass by.  So far I have cut at least a couple of hundred and you'd never know, also a few neighbors have gone home with their arms or bags full.  They are so wonderful to dry and fill the house with flowers for another year. There are 26 in one container on the dining room table !  I just love the mix and shades of burgundy, green, blue, pink, and turquoise.  I have never seen a flower where the colors didn't match and Mother Nature has done it again this year.

The fall rains and winds are starting to damage the flowers so I am so happy to be able to display and enjoy the ones I've picked.  I think I have enough now, but went out again today in search of just a couple more of those special ones just in case..... 

Last weekend

Last Friday night I went to hear a storyteller.  Her name is Hazel Lennox and she spoke at the Women's Resource Centre in Courtenay.  I really enjoyed it and loved how each story took you to another place and time.  I will definitely look for more of this type of entertainment to go to.   

I also enjoyed a music workshop last Saturday with Su Hart.  I went to her workshop last year and went again eager to sing more songs from Africa and share the joy of singing with a group of some familiar and a lot of unfamiliar faces.  It is so nice to go to activities where strangers can come together so quickly and be part of a whole.  We became a new choir for a day, singing harmonies, rounds, and different parts.

It was a great weekend!

Travelling Book Update

Twelve more books left home this week.  Six were mailed off to Saskatchewan and 6 given out here.

The books arrived in the other places they were sent to and have started to be given out.  Still a few more to be given out here over the next month or so.

Love the Sunshine

Enjoying this beautiful sunny day.

We delivered 10 of the travelling books to the Okanagan last week, and another 10 are on the way to Ontario today.

This is fun!

Passing out the books is so much fun, I'm glad I'm not finished yet.

People are so excited to hear about this idea of a travelling book and right away they are thinking about who they will pass it on to.  The excitement in their face is wonderful.

So far several will be going to other places in BC, and others to Ontario, Alberta, and maybe Mexico.

It's started!

So 24 of the books went into the mail yesterday.  Some to Alberta and mainland BC.

We'll get to hand deliver to other locations, and I have started to give some books out here.

People are most surprised to hear about this and think it is a wonderful idea.  Hope to keep the good reactions coming. 

I want to share a message that always brings me good memories.  I don't know where it came from but it has always stayed with me and I love to share it when I can.  So I guess this is a great place to share it.

It goes like this - You may be only one person in the world, but you may be the world to one person!