Thursday, February 21, 2019
Where have I been??
Saturday, April 01, 2017
History Book
As most of you that read this, I am passionate about family history. Well at least passionate about mine.. not so excited about John Smith's. I was looking up something in one of my grandparents history book the other week and realized that although the book was less then 10 years old, so much information had changed. People had married, died, given birth, moved etc.
A thought had been niggling at my brain cells for some time now but I kept piling other stuff on top of it pretending like it wasn't existing. But just as I never stop talking in real time, my brain never shuts up either even when I am sleeping so this thought just kept cropping up and getting stronger. I gave myself excuses after excuses most of which began with "I do NOT have any more spare time" but that didn't deter me.
After looking through the book I knew in my heart of hearts what I needed to do. I need to write a new history book of my father's line. I have done so much genealogy on both his parents I am knee deep most days. It isn't that I want to do this book to show others see what I have done... it's because of something my grandmother told me before she died. Her greatest concern was that our family would stop getting together after she was gone. She knew we would all be busy with our lives, jobs, children, and for some of us grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She knew that the only time we would get together if at all would be at funerals and weddings.
My mom told me once when I was whining about why we had to be poor and why people made fun of us when we were growing up, that all you really have in life is your name and your family. She also said to never do anything that would put a tarnish on your name.
I value my heritage. I work hard at keeping traditions that belong to our family. The first thing that attracted me to my church was the focus on families. I was hooked.
A thought had been niggling at my brain cells for some time now but I kept piling other stuff on top of it pretending like it wasn't existing. But just as I never stop talking in real time, my brain never shuts up either even when I am sleeping so this thought just kept cropping up and getting stronger. I gave myself excuses after excuses most of which began with "I do NOT have any more spare time" but that didn't deter me.
After looking through the book I knew in my heart of hearts what I needed to do. I need to write a new history book of my father's line. I have done so much genealogy on both his parents I am knee deep most days. It isn't that I want to do this book to show others see what I have done... it's because of something my grandmother told me before she died. Her greatest concern was that our family would stop getting together after she was gone. She knew we would all be busy with our lives, jobs, children, and for some of us grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She knew that the only time we would get together if at all would be at funerals and weddings.
My mom told me once when I was whining about why we had to be poor and why people made fun of us when we were growing up, that all you really have in life is your name and your family. She also said to never do anything that would put a tarnish on your name.
I value my heritage. I work hard at keeping traditions that belong to our family. The first thing that attracted me to my church was the focus on families. I was hooked.
End of Projects
I finally completed 3 projects I had on the go for the last month and a bit and I am so happy. Even though they were projects I REALLY enjoyed doing, it still took a lot of time in preparation (yeah I know that OCD perfectionism thing again). Because I had different ones on the go I never seemed to get one completely done before I started another one as they were all running concurrent. This morning I came into my office to clean up, took one look at all the stuff NOT in their proper place, took some pictures to post on here and I am going to back out of the room very quietly, close the door and go find something chocolate to eat!
Projects
I have been working on some projects here for gifts and for some classes I have been teaching. I don't have a "crafty" bone in my body, that was my sister Adele's talent, but I like doing it even if they do tend to come out a tad lop-sided at times. But what the heck...at least I can say they are one of a kind and unique hehehe. So here are a couple of pictures of my new front door wreath that I made a couple of weeks ago as well as photo albums that you make with card stock and scrapbooking papers. This class I taught on Saturday as well as one on one plus making them for presents. Now if only I could learn how to take pictures!!
Pros and Cons of Children
The Price of Children
Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 to be $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year, or
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is if you want to be 'rich', don't have children. Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up.
You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading "The Adventures of Piglet and Pooh" ,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* go to Disney movies,
And
* wish upon a star.
You also get to:
* frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets, And collect:
* spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,
* hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and
* cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no bigger bang for your buck.
You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and
* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to witness history:
* her first step,
* his first word,
* her first bra,
* his first date, and
* their first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildren and great grandchildren in your obituary
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, andhuman sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.
You have the power to:
* heal a boo-boo,
* scare away the monsters under the bed,
* patch a broken heart,
* police a slumber party,
* ground them forever, and
* love them without limits...
So that one day they, like you, will love without counting the cost.
That is quite a deal for the price!
Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!
Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 to be $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year, or
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is if you want to be 'rich', don't have children. Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up.
You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading "The Adventures of Piglet and Pooh" ,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* go to Disney movies,
And
* wish upon a star.
You also get to:
* frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets, And collect:
* spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,
* hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and
* cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no bigger bang for your buck.
You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and
* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to witness history:
* her first step,
* his first word,
* her first bra,
* his first date, and
* their first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildren and great grandchildren in your obituary
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, andhuman sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.
You have the power to:
* heal a boo-boo,
* scare away the monsters under the bed,
* patch a broken heart,
* police a slumber party,
* ground them forever, and
* love them without limits...
So that one day they, like you, will love without counting the cost.
That is quite a deal for the price!
Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!
Back Up To Speed
Well hello everyone,
Have you all missed me? It has been a very very long past 3 \weeks., There were several times I didn't want to make it as the pain was astromonical I have had to deal it ongoing pain with my FM and De generative Disc Disease so I am used to it but this blows all that out of the water/ Nothing compares to things kind of pain/ But I am working through it all and trying to keep a stiff upper lip.
Have you all missed me? It has been a very very long past 3 \weeks., There were several times I didn't want to make it as the pain was astromonical I have had to deal it ongoing pain with my FM and De generative Disc Disease so I am used to it but this blows all that out of the water/ Nothing compares to things kind of pain/ But I am working through it all and trying to keep a stiff upper lip.
My Saving Grace
About a year and a half ago I started getting "feelings" about one of our granddaughters. Feeling that I needed to be watching her and not her day care. I couldn't understand why I was feeling like this. This went on for a couple of months and so I talked to Keith as the feelings were getting stronger and stronger. He told me to go with my gut instinct as that has always led me down the right path. So I nonchalantly asked the kids if they had been having problems with their day care but they said no she loved going there etc.
But it still weighed on me that I needed to get her out of day care and here with me so we talked to the kids and told them I would be able to watch her now and they were quite happy and last September I started watching her. Nothing ordinary happened. Then 3 months after she came into our house I was diagnosed with the cancer and then had subsequent surgeries. She has gone with me on these surgeon visits, she has been here when the public health nurse came to change the draining bags etc. She was fascinated about everything they were doing.
Tonight just before Mommy got here to pick her up I was watching her play in the back yard collecting caterpillars and putting them in her collection box and listening to her rattling about crustal us stage and cocoons and butterflies and I listened Io her babbling away in her lone little world and it hit me like a tom of bricks. I was having those feelings for real but they weren't about me saving her it was about her saving me.
The Lord knew what was coming up and he knew that I would need motivation to get out from under my quilt every morning. He knew I would need a reason to get dressed and get outside ever day. he knew that every morning come rain or shine there was a little 4 year old girl at my door.
I get it now. She has saved me on days when all I wanted to do these past 6 months is climb in bed and hide from the world; she was there when I knew she had to get out to get some fresh air and so I got dressed and went for my walks for exercise. I believed her sole purpose in life was to save me. Save me from myself and save me from my pity party.
I wrote her a letter tonight and it is tucked safe in my cedar chest for one day when she is older and will understand who she really was in my eye and how she became my saving grace.
This is Rosaleen. If I didn't know better I wouldn't think that those ties behind her were actual wings. Making her a very beautiful angel sent from my Father in Heaven to help me get back on my feet and off my butt. thanks Sweetheart Nana loves you with all her heart!
But it still weighed on me that I needed to get her out of day care and here with me so we talked to the kids and told them I would be able to watch her now and they were quite happy and last September I started watching her. Nothing ordinary happened. Then 3 months after she came into our house I was diagnosed with the cancer and then had subsequent surgeries. She has gone with me on these surgeon visits, she has been here when the public health nurse came to change the draining bags etc. She was fascinated about everything they were doing.
Tonight just before Mommy got here to pick her up I was watching her play in the back yard collecting caterpillars and putting them in her collection box and listening to her rattling about crustal us stage and cocoons and butterflies and I listened Io her babbling away in her lone little world and it hit me like a tom of bricks. I was having those feelings for real but they weren't about me saving her it was about her saving me.
The Lord knew what was coming up and he knew that I would need motivation to get out from under my quilt every morning. He knew I would need a reason to get dressed and get outside ever day. he knew that every morning come rain or shine there was a little 4 year old girl at my door.
I get it now. She has saved me on days when all I wanted to do these past 6 months is climb in bed and hide from the world; she was there when I knew she had to get out to get some fresh air and so I got dressed and went for my walks for exercise. I believed her sole purpose in life was to save me. Save me from myself and save me from my pity party.
I wrote her a letter tonight and it is tucked safe in my cedar chest for one day when she is older and will understand who she really was in my eye and how she became my saving grace.
This is Rosaleen. If I didn't know better I wouldn't think that those ties behind her were actual wings. Making her a very beautiful angel sent from my Father in Heaven to help me get back on my feet and off my butt. thanks Sweetheart Nana loves you with all her heart!
My week
How is YOUR day going?
Sounds like the days I have been having lately
First you had trouble getting out of bed
You had a stiff neck.
You washed your hair and couldn't do a thing with it.
You felt like you had a hangover and you weren't even drinking last night.
Your new diet really doesn't seem to be working out.
You pulled a muscle when you tried to exercise.?
Your new hat looked better on you at the store.
You keep losing things.
The boss chewed you out at work.
You got caught in the rain at lunchtime.
Then the lunch you had didn't seem to agree with you.
You feel trapped.
Uninvited guests showed up at dinnertime.
On top of that you think you're coming down with the flu.
And finally, you're alone in the house at night when you think you hear a noise in the basement.
MAYBE TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER?
Thought for the Day
Handle every stressful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or play with it, Just pee on it and walk away.
Sounds like the days I have been having lately
First you had trouble getting out of bed
You had a stiff neck.
You washed your hair and couldn't do a thing with it.
You felt like you had a hangover and you weren't even drinking last night.
Your new diet really doesn't seem to be working out.
You pulled a muscle when you tried to exercise.?
Your new hat looked better on you at the store.
You keep losing things.
The boss chewed you out at work.
You got caught in the rain at lunchtime.
Then the lunch you had didn't seem to agree with you.
You feel trapped.
Uninvited guests showed up at dinnertime.
On top of that you think you're coming down with the flu.
And finally, you're alone in the house at night when you think you hear a noise in the basement.
MAYBE TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER?
Thought for the Day
Handle every stressful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or play with it, Just pee on it and walk away.
Testament
one day after our brand new temple has been dedicated, I have never been so thankful for the sacrifices of the Prophet Joseph Smith and all the pioneers,,,,,for what they have done so that we may worship without fear of persecution ...My heart, mind and soul is overflowed with emotion and love for all those who gave up their lives so that we, today, are able to give of ourselves freely...... My prayer is that we never take our membership for granted, that we always remember
Thursday, January 01, 2015
Happy New Year and Letting it Go!
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!! Man it has been such a long time since I have been on here..,,,, that's what you get for having Facebook :). It has been a roller coaster of a year so many bad things happened in our family! 4 deaths starting with my godfather who was one of my uncles, my older brother, a month later my stepfather then a couple of months later one of my nephews. Add to that my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers and had to move her from her house to a city into an apartment... everything was changing so fast for her and it pushed her into irrational thinking and a lot of emotional upheaval.
I went from being able to speak to my mom every 2-3 days to now I go a couple of weeks with no contact. This 2 hour zone time difference really hurts.. We would always talk for over an hour just chit chatting about everything and nothing and a couple hours later talk some more. Now when I do connect with her I am lucky if I can get a 10 minute conversation. My brain tells me it is all part of Alzheimer but my heart just grieves on top of all the grief it has had to already deal with this year.
I stopped making new year resolutions years ago usually just trying to better myself into being a better person. But this year I am going to do things differently. Having a lot of young grandchildren we have watched the movie Frozen numerous times this past year. I have loved watching them do the dance moves to the songs and sing them even the littlest ones who just say GOOOO and stamp their foot. Even when we opened our Christmas presents on the 20th at our oldest son's home Elsa made an appearance and it was priceless to watch the faces of the little kids!! I would have liked to have seen my face!
And so this past week while we were in Alberta at our other son's home I thought of that song and how it "clicked" that was what I was going to try and live my life by this coming year..by letting things go....
"Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know"
I will let go of the feelings of always having to be in control and not letting anyone see (other than a VERY VERY few) the real me, the me that hurts, that suffers
"My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back,
The past is in the past!"
I am going to let go of the grief that has been holding me prisoner for a long time. I will never be able to bring them back. They would not want me or anyone else feeling like this. I will let it go. I will remember the good parts of their lives that I shared with them. I will laugh at the memories and smile at the silliness of things we did. I will still miss them But I need to let it go. By being so wrapped up in it, I have let my sisters in law and other brother down by not being more involved with helping them with their grief. I was being so selfish.But no more. I will miss them all very much but will let go of the grief.
"Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone!"
I will let go of the need to be perfect all the time..in my personal life, in my career, in my projects etc.. all of it.. I don't need to be perfect in any aspect of my life. Too much energy and focus has been spent trying to always be perfect. It has affected my body and my health greatly.
" The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I'm the queen."
Having a snowfall makes everything white outside before cars and people traipse all over. I see this as a rebirth.. a newness where I can start over.
I am so thankful for the years I have spent with my family. The good parts and the not so good parts; for everything we have shared for every chance we had to grow; I will take the best of them with me and take them wherever I go; Keith told me to always be honest so here it goes. This isn't what I want but I will take the high road..maybe it is because I always look at things as lessons, or because I don't want to walk around angry anymore or maybe it's because I finally understand. There are things that have happened that we did not want to have happened but have to accept. Things we don't want to know but have to learn. And people we can't live without but have to let go.
It will be a very difficult year working on letting it go.. it has been my security blanket for many years; but I will continue to take baby steps each and every day. May 2015 be YLUR year to be the person YOU want it to be. May all wishes come true and dreams come alive
Let it go!!
Sally
I went from being able to speak to my mom every 2-3 days to now I go a couple of weeks with no contact. This 2 hour zone time difference really hurts.. We would always talk for over an hour just chit chatting about everything and nothing and a couple hours later talk some more. Now when I do connect with her I am lucky if I can get a 10 minute conversation. My brain tells me it is all part of Alzheimer but my heart just grieves on top of all the grief it has had to already deal with this year.
I stopped making new year resolutions years ago usually just trying to better myself into being a better person. But this year I am going to do things differently. Having a lot of young grandchildren we have watched the movie Frozen numerous times this past year. I have loved watching them do the dance moves to the songs and sing them even the littlest ones who just say GOOOO and stamp their foot. Even when we opened our Christmas presents on the 20th at our oldest son's home Elsa made an appearance and it was priceless to watch the faces of the little kids!! I would have liked to have seen my face!
And so this past week while we were in Alberta at our other son's home I thought of that song and how it "clicked" that was what I was going to try and live my life by this coming year..by letting things go....
"Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know"
I will let go of the feelings of always having to be in control and not letting anyone see (other than a VERY VERY few) the real me, the me that hurts, that suffers
"My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back,
The past is in the past!"
I am going to let go of the grief that has been holding me prisoner for a long time. I will never be able to bring them back. They would not want me or anyone else feeling like this. I will let it go. I will remember the good parts of their lives that I shared with them. I will laugh at the memories and smile at the silliness of things we did. I will still miss them But I need to let it go. By being so wrapped up in it, I have let my sisters in law and other brother down by not being more involved with helping them with their grief. I was being so selfish.But no more. I will miss them all very much but will let go of the grief.
"Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone!"
I will let go of the need to be perfect all the time..in my personal life, in my career, in my projects etc.. all of it.. I don't need to be perfect in any aspect of my life. Too much energy and focus has been spent trying to always be perfect. It has affected my body and my health greatly.
" The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I'm the queen."
Having a snowfall makes everything white outside before cars and people traipse all over. I see this as a rebirth.. a newness where I can start over.
I am so thankful for the years I have spent with my family. The good parts and the not so good parts; for everything we have shared for every chance we had to grow; I will take the best of them with me and take them wherever I go; Keith told me to always be honest so here it goes. This isn't what I want but I will take the high road..maybe it is because I always look at things as lessons, or because I don't want to walk around angry anymore or maybe it's because I finally understand. There are things that have happened that we did not want to have happened but have to accept. Things we don't want to know but have to learn. And people we can't live without but have to let go.
It will be a very difficult year working on letting it go.. it has been my security blanket for many years; but I will continue to take baby steps each and every day. May 2015 be YLUR year to be the person YOU want it to be. May all wishes come true and dreams come alive
Let it go!!
Sally
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Slowing Down
For a very long time, but more so more now than ever, I am being told basically the same thing... that I need to slow down.... slow down from what? Slow down and do what? Lay around on the couch watching tv all day??? I also have had a couple of conversations from well meaning people telling me that the reason I do not have another calling at church is because I "am too busy". Really? I thought callings were given by the Lord not from local leaders. If that was the case I would not be getting the thought from the Lord that there is a different job waiting for me and that perhaps I should be asking for it (even though I do not know what it is) because it is obvious the calling will not come otherwise.
I keep busy for several reasons and I thought I would try and explain it to all of you so that perhaps you can understand where I am coming from. And why it upsets me when I hear this. Compared to the life I lived in Sask right up to the time I move here over 25 years ago, I was in the Ward AND Stake Primary Presidency (which encompassed the entire province), I worked full time as a nurse at one of our hospitals and also worked at 3 different part time jobs to put Keith through school all the while raising 5 teens. I also was a visiting teacher and trying to work my schedule along my companion and the women we visited was a feat deserving medals but I never missed. Once. So compared to that I HAVE slowed down a lot.
Another reason I do what I do with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is because they saved me after my bilateral mastectomies from my breast cancer. If it had not been for my familial support and the CBCF and my family I would have had a nervous breakdown. I am as sure of that as if I was standing here breathing. They were there for my first run with my family. They have been there every year since when I did my run. Two years ago I knew I could no longer do the actual run physically so started being on the executive planning committee to plan the Run for the Cure Surrey location.
Seeing the looks on the faces of the survivors, the hugs from their families thanking us for doing this event for them makes all the lack of sleep worth every minute. While I am busy helping other survivors regain their equilibrium I can forget that I still have cancer cells floating around in my body. In the middle of the night when all is quiet for me and everything that needed to be done that day is done my mind takes over and then all my fears come to the front of my brain and all of the negative aspect of cancer and my other health issues comes out of hiding to freak me out.
I REFUSE to give in to my fears. I REFUSE to ever give up. I REFUSE to ever stop trying to better myself. It is interesting that my Lord was also focused on compassionate service as he neared his mortal ministry. At one point he even took off his garment to wash the feet of his servants rather than the other way around. It was a natural thing and appropriate that his last instructions to his disciples was to love and serve one another. This was a task for the servants He a Lord but He went about this task.
In John 13:12-17 it states:
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
I keep busy for several reasons and I thought I would try and explain it to all of you so that perhaps you can understand where I am coming from. And why it upsets me when I hear this. Compared to the life I lived in Sask right up to the time I move here over 25 years ago, I was in the Ward AND Stake Primary Presidency (which encompassed the entire province), I worked full time as a nurse at one of our hospitals and also worked at 3 different part time jobs to put Keith through school all the while raising 5 teens. I also was a visiting teacher and trying to work my schedule along my companion and the women we visited was a feat deserving medals but I never missed. Once. So compared to that I HAVE slowed down a lot.
Another reason I do what I do with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is because they saved me after my bilateral mastectomies from my breast cancer. If it had not been for my familial support and the CBCF and my family I would have had a nervous breakdown. I am as sure of that as if I was standing here breathing. They were there for my first run with my family. They have been there every year since when I did my run. Two years ago I knew I could no longer do the actual run physically so started being on the executive planning committee to plan the Run for the Cure Surrey location.
Seeing the looks on the faces of the survivors, the hugs from their families thanking us for doing this event for them makes all the lack of sleep worth every minute. While I am busy helping other survivors regain their equilibrium I can forget that I still have cancer cells floating around in my body. In the middle of the night when all is quiet for me and everything that needed to be done that day is done my mind takes over and then all my fears come to the front of my brain and all of the negative aspect of cancer and my other health issues comes out of hiding to freak me out.
I REFUSE to give in to my fears. I REFUSE to ever give up. I REFUSE to ever stop trying to better myself. It is interesting that my Lord was also focused on compassionate service as he neared his mortal ministry. At one point he even took off his garment to wash the feet of his servants rather than the other way around. It was a natural thing and appropriate that his last instructions to his disciples was to love and serve one another. This was a task for the servants He a Lord but He went about this task.
In John 13:12-17 it states:
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him..
I can't help to think that if this service task was important for the Lord to do then who on earth am I to not help others? The Lord taught that if He could spend His last precious moments teaching compassionate service to this disciples then it must be of equal importance for us to continue serving Him.
I have a degenerative spine which 10 years ago had me in a wheelchair. I knew I had to lose weight before I was permanently paralyzed. Which I did to the tune of 150 pounds in two years. People kept telling me then as well to slow down that I did not have to walk 5K every day. But it was being fit healthily and it saved me when I was diagnosed with cancer. Had I not done all that work I would not have survived 10 surgeries in 4 years.
So the next time you think of telling me to slow down or to not do so much please do not. The Lord and I are in tune. When the pain gets too much Keith and other Priesthood holders in my family and circle come and help Keith give me a blessing with the laying on of hands and I am instantly better. Whenever I have a huge project coming up I break down all my tasks so there is no procrastination and I am not left at the end with so much work to do. I know my limits. I know I do not sleep for more than 3 hours in any given night. I have learned to lay down a couple of times a day for 15 minute catnaps. I have learned to stop when the pain gets too strained and I am unable to handle. You just never see me like that. Ever. Very few people ever get to outside of my family. But I do know my limits.
So please believe me when I say I have my life under control and that I wished people would just let me live it. I would also wish people would stop NOT asking me to do things because they think they know whats better for me than I do. If I know I can't do it I will tell you I cannot. I promise.
Ok off my soapbox now. Just wanted to let you know what was going on with me
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Being thankful
As we go about our preparations for our Thanksgiving weekend celebrations it has made me think of this past year, all the things I wished I had changed, the things I did change and the things I let go completely. 17 months ago one of my brothers who is just barely a year older then me was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer that had metastases to his brain. I was with them the day the oncologist came to his room and told him he had about 2 weeks with no treatment or 2 months with treatment. I watched this man fight for his every breath and has never given up. It has been a year since I went back home for Thanksgiving and now here we are still watching him keep on going!! It has given me great courage. Courage to fight my own battles, . So today I thought I would
write down what I was thankful this year:
1.The Kids table
2. Movies on demand
3. Instagram
4.Someone else putting food away with clean up instead of having every one trying to get out the door
5.girls night out
6.sleeping in
7-3 day weekends
8.free refills
9.an empty airline overhead compartment just above me
10.Family Photo albums
11.I am thankful for brothers who take such good care of my mom while I am out here
I2. am thankful for their attention that they give to each other.
13. Last but not least Keith who never stops loving me unconditionally
Some of our grandchildren apparently do not feel the need to come visit or spend time with us according to a little birdie and I so miss seeing them nearly every day. But each family has to do what is right for their own just as I am doing what is right for Keith and I We both had strong bonding relationships with our grandparents till the day they both died of old age. You never ever forget those memories.
I am thankful to having the Lord in my life, for prayer and for the Priesthood in my home. I am thankful for my friends who drop their lives at the drop of their hat to come help me when needed. I am thankful for our Home Teacher who is in constant contact with us to touch base on how we are doing.
And so for all of you that are such an intricate part of my life and are there for me when I need you thank you. This is for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxy0uBbHLCw
write down what I was thankful this year:
1.The Kids table
2. Movies on demand
3. Instagram
4.Someone else putting food away with clean up instead of having every one trying to get out the door
5.girls night out
6.sleeping in
7-3 day weekends
8.free refills
9.an empty airline overhead compartment just above me
10.Family Photo albums
11.I am thankful for brothers who take such good care of my mom while I am out here
I2. am thankful for their attention that they give to each other.
13. Last but not least Keith who never stops loving me unconditionally
Some of our grandchildren apparently do not feel the need to come visit or spend time with us according to a little birdie and I so miss seeing them nearly every day. But each family has to do what is right for their own just as I am doing what is right for Keith and I We both had strong bonding relationships with our grandparents till the day they both died of old age. You never ever forget those memories.
I am thankful to having the Lord in my life, for prayer and for the Priesthood in my home. I am thankful for my friends who drop their lives at the drop of their hat to come help me when needed. I am thankful for our Home Teacher who is in constant contact with us to touch base on how we are doing.
And so for all of you that are such an intricate part of my life and are there for me when I need you thank you. This is for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxy0uBbHLCw
Monday, September 30, 2013
Flat land versus mountain view
Tonight I sit in a hotel room for my last night of a crazy emotionally charged 10 day trip back home to Sask and Alberta. Three airports, 5 cities, 3 towns, 3 hotels, too numerous to count hugs and it is almost time to go home. This trip in a way was no different then the many others I have taken in the last 23 years since I moved to BC. When I get driving on the prairies I always always comment on how flat the land is and how much I miss my mountains. I miss everything about the mountains. I never get sick of seeing them, going to the tops of them, climbing them in some way, just stare at them. Whenever we come back here to the prairies when we head back on our return trip the second I see my BC mountains I smile and get so excited!
I don't know why things were different this trip. But it was. As I was driving from Regina to my mom's the one day I was watching the combines in the fields working overtime as the farmers desperately tried getting their crops in before the first frost hit. If you are not a farmer you have no idea how hard they work, how an entire year's work can be lost simply by a single frost, grasshoppers, gophers, drought etc. Most people think that farmers are rich people living in these huge Sough Fork ranches and drive trucks that cost the same as small countries. And there very well could be some farmers like that. But none that I know. The ones that I know are very hard workers, literally from sun up to sun down and every thing in between. Calves don't get to pick when they are born; sloughs don't get filled by magic rain that falls every other day; crops don't get seeded or harvested by the farm elves. It is a hard life. A life that both sides of my family has worked at since both sets of my great grandparents came across from Quebec.
But as I drove past fields and fields of combines, hay stacks, trucks being filled, and elevators I found a beauty, a new beauty that had escaped me in 57 years. I was determined at that point that I would search every single day to find something positive (besides my family) about how flat the prairies are. As I went from point a to point b, I would stop and take pictures of different things that caught my eye. So I would like to share my discovery adventure here and perhaps explain even to myself why this change.
If this land was covered in mountains I would not be able to see my hometown from the highway
If this land was covered by mountain range I would not know when I was this close to my hometown
Nor would I be able to see the church where my family has been baptized, married and been buried
These farm buildings have been sitting like this for YEARS!!! Now they usually make me think of eyesores but this trip what I saw was a foundation that is securely rooted in the ground. No matter how strong the winds are, and trust me you don't know blowing wind unless you live on the prairies, these buildings have remained standing. It reminded me of my great grandparents and how they came to this land with nothing, finding nothing but rocks and dirt, having to dig and claw their way into the land that lays there now. These buildings remind me of how strong my family's roots are, that like these buildings, they will remain deeply rooted
If this land was covered with mountains I would not have seen this small grove of trees in the middle of prairie land, trees that were determined to grow and push their way through rocks and dirt
I had been driving for a long time at this particular instant. I was tired and hurting. A three hour trip had turned into almost 5 by this point with all the frequent stops to ease my back. I was standing there on the side of the road by my car just walking back and forth trying to remain positive trying to find something great about this spot. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a small light. I thought it was a car coming around but then realized it couldn't have been as there are no curves on that stretch. I stood there and stood there for the longest time trying to figure out what the heck it was when all of a sudden my face turned into a huge grin as I recognized the light!!! I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was the light that stands on the top of one of my cousin's barn. Whenever I have driven home for years and years I know that when I see that farm I am only 5 miles away from home. Whenever I see that light in the past the strain on my shoulders would always ease up almost as if to say it's ok life is good here. This farm has been in our family since my great grandfather came there from Quebec. My cousin is the 4th generation on that farm, he and his wife and three little boys
As I stood there with my backside on the top of the hood I watched the sunlight disappear. But no matter how I turned around I could still see that light, that beacon letting me know I was almost home. Home where I am always safe, always surrounded by family and with love
If this land was surrounded by mountains I would not have seen these rows of bales of grain.. this was certainly a year;s worth of work well done
If this land was covered in mountain ranges I would not have seen field and fields of combines working hard at bringing home the bread
As I came into my hometown the last day before I left I sat at this spot for awhile thinking of all the memories that have made me who I am, all the memories that came from this small farm town, living in small town farm life. I will always be a city girl in love with her mountains but this trip has made me appreciate the flat lands with a new appreciation for those that toil their lives here each and every day. It has been an emotional journey to say the least.
I don't know why things were different this trip. But it was. As I was driving from Regina to my mom's the one day I was watching the combines in the fields working overtime as the farmers desperately tried getting their crops in before the first frost hit. If you are not a farmer you have no idea how hard they work, how an entire year's work can be lost simply by a single frost, grasshoppers, gophers, drought etc. Most people think that farmers are rich people living in these huge Sough Fork ranches and drive trucks that cost the same as small countries. And there very well could be some farmers like that. But none that I know. The ones that I know are very hard workers, literally from sun up to sun down and every thing in between. Calves don't get to pick when they are born; sloughs don't get filled by magic rain that falls every other day; crops don't get seeded or harvested by the farm elves. It is a hard life. A life that both sides of my family has worked at since both sets of my great grandparents came across from Quebec.
But as I drove past fields and fields of combines, hay stacks, trucks being filled, and elevators I found a beauty, a new beauty that had escaped me in 57 years. I was determined at that point that I would search every single day to find something positive (besides my family) about how flat the prairies are. As I went from point a to point b, I would stop and take pictures of different things that caught my eye. So I would like to share my discovery adventure here and perhaps explain even to myself why this change.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Story Tellers of old and new
I can hardly believe I have not posted in here since end of December!! Oh my goodness where have I been??? Will have to catch up later but for now I wanted to talk about the art of story telling in our families. No matter what happens in our family-our lineage continues to live on. We have hope. A story needs to be told by everyone. The only part of history that is for certainty is that small part we own for ourselves. We can't forget...we are like a wagon wheel - the hub, the spokes, the rim - you break one part of that and you break the entire wheel.
When you tell your stories of your life to your children, your grandchildren and so on, you tell the grandmothers and the grandfathers and all of your ancestors who walked before them and when others ask where you know these things from you can say from their spirits so I can tell you their story.
Remember the stories so when your time comes you can tell them It's important for people to know where they came from and what others have been through. Be proud of who you are. Your story belongs to you. Share it.
When you tell your stories of your life to your children, your grandchildren and so on, you tell the grandmothers and the grandfathers and all of your ancestors who walked before them and when others ask where you know these things from you can say from their spirits so I can tell you their story.
Remember the stories so when your time comes you can tell them It's important for people to know where they came from and what others have been through. Be proud of who you are. Your story belongs to you. Share it.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Letter To Jesus
As I wind down in my preparations for Christmas I thought I would take a moment to reflect on my year. It has been a rough one in many ways...new firsts that I do not want to ever go through again. But through all the rough stuff I knew that I was never alone. And because at this time we are celebrating the birth of Christ, I thought I would put my thoughts into a letter to Him. I certainly do not mean any disrespect in my letter or what I say. These are just my thoughts.
Christ, you look different now then in the way I normally see you or think of you as being. This is Sally...but you already knew that. I guess no one can really hear me in my prayers except you and that is ok by me. Thank you for everything you have done for me this year. As long as I can remember you have been by my side. I will never forget how you stood by me this year when we thought we had lost Keith three times.
I have always been able to count on you when I have felt so dark inside you were there with me every time - even when I didn't feel good about myself I knew that you cared enough for me that you made me feel better. Like that time I got so mad at the world when my brother was diagnosed with cancer. I hollered, I hollered really loud in my head but then I got to thinking you love my brother just as much as I do.
I know I have talked to you about this many times this year - about losing my father in law, about Keith being so sick, being in and out of the hospitals, my brother so ill with his cancer - I continued to talk to you honestly - the way it seemed at times that I couldn't talk to anyone else. All our middle of the nights ramblings when no one else was around to talk to, you were always there willing and able to listen. I always came to you with a problem even sometimes knowing the answer, I still asked the questions just in case you had a different answer for me.
I love you - you are my closest and finest friend and that means I can always hold my head up high wherever I go and whatever I will need to face in the coming year. I may not like the circumstances that I will be in but I know that if I keep my faith in You and continue to believe in You that I will truly never be alone.
I cannot even begin to imagine what my life would be like without You by my side and I am so thankful each and every day to have that fulness inside of me. I know it may sound weird but I am thankful for the trials I face because it means I am growing even if no one else sees it. My prayer this Christmas is not for all the gifts I can hold, or for trips, vacations, new grandchildren etc. It is that each member of my family immediate and extended, know that you are there for them as well, that no matter what anyone has done with their lives or what trials they may face, that they may know that you died for us that we might live. I pray that we all remember why we celebrate this holiday and that through it all - you are never more then a prayer or a thought away.
Christ, you look different now then in the way I normally see you or think of you as being. This is Sally...but you already knew that. I guess no one can really hear me in my prayers except you and that is ok by me. Thank you for everything you have done for me this year. As long as I can remember you have been by my side. I will never forget how you stood by me this year when we thought we had lost Keith three times.
I have always been able to count on you when I have felt so dark inside you were there with me every time - even when I didn't feel good about myself I knew that you cared enough for me that you made me feel better. Like that time I got so mad at the world when my brother was diagnosed with cancer. I hollered, I hollered really loud in my head but then I got to thinking you love my brother just as much as I do.
I know I have talked to you about this many times this year - about losing my father in law, about Keith being so sick, being in and out of the hospitals, my brother so ill with his cancer - I continued to talk to you honestly - the way it seemed at times that I couldn't talk to anyone else. All our middle of the nights ramblings when no one else was around to talk to, you were always there willing and able to listen. I always came to you with a problem even sometimes knowing the answer, I still asked the questions just in case you had a different answer for me.
I love you - you are my closest and finest friend and that means I can always hold my head up high wherever I go and whatever I will need to face in the coming year. I may not like the circumstances that I will be in but I know that if I keep my faith in You and continue to believe in You that I will truly never be alone.
I cannot even begin to imagine what my life would be like without You by my side and I am so thankful each and every day to have that fulness inside of me. I know it may sound weird but I am thankful for the trials I face because it means I am growing even if no one else sees it. My prayer this Christmas is not for all the gifts I can hold, or for trips, vacations, new grandchildren etc. It is that each member of my family immediate and extended, know that you are there for them as well, that no matter what anyone has done with their lives or what trials they may face, that they may know that you died for us that we might live. I pray that we all remember why we celebrate this holiday and that through it all - you are never more then a prayer or a thought away.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Easy as Epicure!
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!
I have re-entered the work field...but on my terms. I have been away from work for about 12 or so years because of my health but it has always been niggling at the back of my head that I could find a way to go back. I miss working. Well ok I miss money hehehe. I knew if I was patient I would be able to find a way to do both, work, make money yet take care of my health so I didn't over extend.
So I did find it or rather it found me. About 4 years ago on one of my many trips back home I was visiting with one of my cousins and noticed this beautiful spice shelf on her wall with these very unique spice jars that I had never seen before. I asked her about it and she was surprised I had never heard of the company as it is based out here. She opened up the spice jars so I could smell them.....oh man...you know when you first smell tomatoes you just picked from the garden? Or when you shell fresh peas and eat them before they even hit the pot, eat the first crop of corn on the cob with butter dripping down your chin and you think "oh yahhh this is what food IS supposed to taste like. These spice jars I was smelling had the same effect. The jar of basil smelled like my pot of basil on my window sill for example.
She talked to me about them about how there are no fillers, the products are all grown locally, no preservatives, no chemicals added, just the herb period. I came home, contacted the company and said I want to hold a show. I don't think they get too many calls like this hehehe. That same day a woman called me to say the company called her about me. We met, I booked a show in my home, held it, got all this product for free, got to taste all these new ideas (now where else do you actually get to taste the stuff that has just been demonstrated??) and started my love with my purchases. My consultant moved away after a bit then found the wife of one of my old school friends sold it so I stocked up again but then after a while she had to leave the company so I was out of luck again.
Then my cousin comes to my rescue once again as she had become a consultant by this time so every time I went back home I would stock up. This past May when I went back she talked to me about being a consultant and it grew from a planted seed in my brain (no pun intended) into a reality. As all of my friends and family know I work really hard at eating only healthy foods for the most part since I had lost all my weight and survived cancer. They also know I am a fanatic of sorts about the farm to table idea....buying foods locally as much as possible or at least within the 100 mile mark (except for bananas and avocadoes because you know there is always ONE exception to every rule hehehe) so for me this was a no brainer. What is the point of using fresh foods and then ruining it by using seasonings that are mostly filler and really have no taste?
I have 2 gardens that I stock with vegetables that I grow all year even in the dead of winter (one of the advantages of living on the west coast) and I love to be able to season these vegetables and the food that makes up the rest of the meal. I cannot even begin to describe the difference in taste when you use fresh products and seasonings.
But it took me several months after I had told my cousin I wanted to sign up till I actually signed up. I wanted this to be different.. I wanted to revolutionize the concept of "home shows". First of all I don't want to do these unless it is going to be very beneficial for me and for the people that would become my customers. I always feel that when a friend/family get that call of "Hey I booked a show with.... and would love for you to come. Don't worry about buying anything just come for a night of visiting". Yes I can see you nodding your head on that one! So you go over because you really do need something from them and then at the end of the evening when you hear the sales person say " Ok I am just going to go over to the table so anyone that is ready to order you can come on by." You just know you are going to get hit with" so when can I mark you down for your show?" ughhh I hated that part. I just hate doing shows in my home... I just hate having to call people and start the whole process all over again. And I know I am not alone in this.
Thus putting me in my dilemma. Until I came across a unique way of bypassing all that!! I am going to NOT do home shows, I will be doing my business almost completely online and once every quarter or so I will be doing my OWN home show to showcase the new products coming up for that next season. In my own life I like cooking by the seasons. We all know that you eat a lot of basic salads in the summer accompanied with whatever meat you happen to be barbecuing.. But what do you do with produce the rest of the year that are in season. Cabbage adds to coleslaw or cabbage rolls..but what else can you do with the cabbage...how do you benefit with fresh green beans or asparagus in the spring? I could go on for pages on this topic. Well now I can show you how.
We are linked to food much like our DNA. When we come together with family and friends we share not only conversation over the table but an enjoyment of the food that is before us. How many of our fond memories are tied to occasions where food was involved and are of helping put a meal together? To me what has made eating together even more special is the journey from idea to reality. It isn't about opening the fridge door and wondering for the bazillionth time what you are going to make for supper although I do have those days as well...but it is also the process of getting delicious creations to the table. I get very excited about planning a meal for guests that I know they will love and spending the time in my kitchen creating and cooking.
I try and capture that magic by using what is available that season. It is about cooking with fresh ingredients. It is the way our parents and grandparents before us cooked before modern conveniences made supper come from cartons and cans To cook with the seasons makes menu building simple since food that grows together goes together. When you buy food that is grown locally means buying food at its best meant to be eating right away without the need to add preservatives to keep it "fresh" while trucks drive thousands of miles at times to get it to you.
Where ever you live there are opportunities to source out local and seasonal ingredients. It isn't just about farmers markets. I hope to teach you how to use this knowledge of farm to table along with using the right seasonings to make. This is my "new" concept of home shows. It will take something I love to do, cooking, with something I am good at, talking, and combining them with a FANTASTIC product, Epicure Seasonings and together we will make it happen for each and everyone of you.
You can check out my website at http://sallyhaysom.myepicure.com/. Now this is a new venture for me so you will have to forgive me as I work with the website to make it better and easier for you to maneuver through it. If you have any questions please just ask away. I will be starting a new blog about my new venture so you can ask me questions about me, get recipe ideas, suggestions etc. I will be placing an order at the beginning of each month and will give everyone a heads up of when it is so if there is anything you are wanting to get you can let me know.
I also will let everyone know when I do my first big WELCOME TO MY WORLD show that you will all be invited to. And again you have no worry about being cornered at the sales table to be asked when you would like to book your show :)
If you live out of town you will still have the opportunity to "attend" each of these shows that I host and I will give you more information about that at a later date. Unfortunately though the people in actual attendance will have to eat your share of the food!!! Sorry :)
Enjoy yourselves and thank you very much for being a part of this new chapter in my life.
Sally
I have re-entered the work field...but on my terms. I have been away from work for about 12 or so years because of my health but it has always been niggling at the back of my head that I could find a way to go back. I miss working. Well ok I miss money hehehe. I knew if I was patient I would be able to find a way to do both, work, make money yet take care of my health so I didn't over extend.
So I did find it or rather it found me. About 4 years ago on one of my many trips back home I was visiting with one of my cousins and noticed this beautiful spice shelf on her wall with these very unique spice jars that I had never seen before. I asked her about it and she was surprised I had never heard of the company as it is based out here. She opened up the spice jars so I could smell them.....oh man...you know when you first smell tomatoes you just picked from the garden? Or when you shell fresh peas and eat them before they even hit the pot, eat the first crop of corn on the cob with butter dripping down your chin and you think "oh yahhh this is what food IS supposed to taste like. These spice jars I was smelling had the same effect. The jar of basil smelled like my pot of basil on my window sill for example.
She talked to me about them about how there are no fillers, the products are all grown locally, no preservatives, no chemicals added, just the herb period. I came home, contacted the company and said I want to hold a show. I don't think they get too many calls like this hehehe. That same day a woman called me to say the company called her about me. We met, I booked a show in my home, held it, got all this product for free, got to taste all these new ideas (now where else do you actually get to taste the stuff that has just been demonstrated??) and started my love with my purchases. My consultant moved away after a bit then found the wife of one of my old school friends sold it so I stocked up again but then after a while she had to leave the company so I was out of luck again.
Then my cousin comes to my rescue once again as she had become a consultant by this time so every time I went back home I would stock up. This past May when I went back she talked to me about being a consultant and it grew from a planted seed in my brain (no pun intended) into a reality. As all of my friends and family know I work really hard at eating only healthy foods for the most part since I had lost all my weight and survived cancer. They also know I am a fanatic of sorts about the farm to table idea....buying foods locally as much as possible or at least within the 100 mile mark (except for bananas and avocadoes because you know there is always ONE exception to every rule hehehe) so for me this was a no brainer. What is the point of using fresh foods and then ruining it by using seasonings that are mostly filler and really have no taste?
I have 2 gardens that I stock with vegetables that I grow all year even in the dead of winter (one of the advantages of living on the west coast) and I love to be able to season these vegetables and the food that makes up the rest of the meal. I cannot even begin to describe the difference in taste when you use fresh products and seasonings.
But it took me several months after I had told my cousin I wanted to sign up till I actually signed up. I wanted this to be different.. I wanted to revolutionize the concept of "home shows". First of all I don't want to do these unless it is going to be very beneficial for me and for the people that would become my customers. I always feel that when a friend/family get that call of "Hey I booked a show with.... and would love for you to come. Don't worry about buying anything just come for a night of visiting". Yes I can see you nodding your head on that one! So you go over because you really do need something from them and then at the end of the evening when you hear the sales person say " Ok I am just going to go over to the table so anyone that is ready to order you can come on by." You just know you are going to get hit with" so when can I mark you down for your show?" ughhh I hated that part. I just hate doing shows in my home... I just hate having to call people and start the whole process all over again. And I know I am not alone in this.
Thus putting me in my dilemma. Until I came across a unique way of bypassing all that!! I am going to NOT do home shows, I will be doing my business almost completely online and once every quarter or so I will be doing my OWN home show to showcase the new products coming up for that next season. In my own life I like cooking by the seasons. We all know that you eat a lot of basic salads in the summer accompanied with whatever meat you happen to be barbecuing.. But what do you do with produce the rest of the year that are in season. Cabbage adds to coleslaw or cabbage rolls..but what else can you do with the cabbage...how do you benefit with fresh green beans or asparagus in the spring? I could go on for pages on this topic. Well now I can show you how.
We are linked to food much like our DNA. When we come together with family and friends we share not only conversation over the table but an enjoyment of the food that is before us. How many of our fond memories are tied to occasions where food was involved and are of helping put a meal together? To me what has made eating together even more special is the journey from idea to reality. It isn't about opening the fridge door and wondering for the bazillionth time what you are going to make for supper although I do have those days as well...but it is also the process of getting delicious creations to the table. I get very excited about planning a meal for guests that I know they will love and spending the time in my kitchen creating and cooking.
I try and capture that magic by using what is available that season. It is about cooking with fresh ingredients. It is the way our parents and grandparents before us cooked before modern conveniences made supper come from cartons and cans To cook with the seasons makes menu building simple since food that grows together goes together. When you buy food that is grown locally means buying food at its best meant to be eating right away without the need to add preservatives to keep it "fresh" while trucks drive thousands of miles at times to get it to you.
Where ever you live there are opportunities to source out local and seasonal ingredients. It isn't just about farmers markets. I hope to teach you how to use this knowledge of farm to table along with using the right seasonings to make. This is my "new" concept of home shows. It will take something I love to do, cooking, with something I am good at, talking, and combining them with a FANTASTIC product, Epicure Seasonings and together we will make it happen for each and everyone of you.
You can check out my website at http://sallyhaysom.myepicure.com/. Now this is a new venture for me so you will have to forgive me as I work with the website to make it better and easier for you to maneuver through it. If you have any questions please just ask away. I will be starting a new blog about my new venture so you can ask me questions about me, get recipe ideas, suggestions etc. I will be placing an order at the beginning of each month and will give everyone a heads up of when it is so if there is anything you are wanting to get you can let me know.
I also will let everyone know when I do my first big WELCOME TO MY WORLD show that you will all be invited to. And again you have no worry about being cornered at the sales table to be asked when you would like to book your show :)
If you live out of town you will still have the opportunity to "attend" each of these shows that I host and I will give you more information about that at a later date. Unfortunately though the people in actual attendance will have to eat your share of the food!!! Sorry :)
Enjoy yourselves and thank you very much for being a part of this new chapter in my life.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Canning Tomatoes
I have been canning fruits and vegetables as long as I can remember.
Even before I left home I worked at it side by side with my mom. People
always tell me it is too hard and too time consuming. I don't think it
is hard at all. And the joy you get when you open up a jar of garden
tomatoes that you canned over the summer... well your palate and your
family will love you!. I have given a step by step direction that anyone
can follow :) Ready? Let's go can some tomatoes!
First you get your tomatoes and make sure they are free from blemishes. And even if you got them from a herbal market still wash them in cold water.
Next get your station ready so everything is in it's place. Once you get started is not the time to go running around looking for your tomato knife!! You will need a large canner or pot to boil water in. No we are not delivering any babies! You will then need another large pot or bowl and fill it with ice water. Last you will need a bowl or container for your skins that you will peel off. Have your jars open, clean and ready to fill
Make sure you pick tomatoes that are still a bit orangey red. If too red they are too ripe and will turn into mush in the jars. Keep the soft over ripe ones for the tomato sauce.
Get your first pot boiling
Add only a few tomatoes at a time otherwise the tomatoes will start the cooking process! Leave them in the boiling water for a count of 60...
Then immediately plunge them in the ice water to prevent them from continuing to cook. The skins will come off very easily. If they do not it is because they did not stay in the boiling water long enough.
Start people those babies!!
Who says you can't have fun canning? it is easier then peeling an orange!Make sure you take the stem part out of the tomatoes
This is a canning funnel!. No you cannot just use your husband's funnel that he uses in the shop. You can get this particular set at Zellers, Walmart and most department stores. It is made for canning jars and fits all of them
1/2 tsp salt in each jar then boiling water up to 1/2" from the top Wipe the lid off then place the ring and sealer on each jar and almost on the home stretch now!
Here is the 2nd of the 3 doodads that I was telling you that come in the set. The top one is a air releaser. You place it in the side of the jar to release bubbles :)
Last of the 3 items.. this is a jar lifter out of the canner. And kudos to you if you can lift the jars out without using it and without burning your fingers on the boiling water!!!
Get the canner going as soon as you can enjoy dinner! You want to can in the water boil method which is to make sure they jars are covered with boiling water.
Place jars on lifter. All canners come equipped with one. You do not want to put the jars directly on the bottom of the pot as they will break. It also helps when you want to get the jars out.
10 little jars sitting in a row, all canned stewed tomatoes!
Last of the 3 items.. this is a jar lifter out of the canner. And kudos to you if you can lift the jars out without using it and without burning your fingers on the boiling water!!!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Canning and Gardening
Lately I have getting a lot of "flack" (although most were done with love).. there were some that came my way that when I post my accomplishments online it is to toot my own horn and to make others feel bad that I do more then they do and that I am making them feel quilt. Well first of all no one can make anyone else feel anything else. We are all in control of our own emotions and can change them at our will. No one can make you FEEL guilty. You and you alone are in control of how you feel.
Having said that, I just want to go onto my defense. There are three things that I love to do in my role as a homemaker. These things calm me, they zen me, when I do these things I go to a calm place in my mind... when I am stressed I will go to one or more of these three things to calm down.
These three things are ironing clothes, sewing clothes, canning and gardening. I love going into my closet and seeing our clothes all nicely ironed and hanging neatly, seeing things I have made; I love going into our pantry and seeing jars and jars of preserved foods. Our church leaders have always encouraged us to have a year's food storage in place for times of needs. I have been doing this since I can remember. and believe me when I tell you...in over 30 years of being together we have had those time of need several times!
Most people do things that love when they want to relax....read a book...have a bubblebath, watch tv, sit in their hot tub, play games, etc etc..for me when I want to relax I iron, or I garden or I deal with the stuff from my garden and if it is in mid season, I work on planning my garden as I companion plant so I know which vegetables grow best with what vegetable.
When I can or preserve my food it gives me a sense of peace, a sense that I am helping provide for my family even if it is just Keith and I here. It gives me a great sense of pride when I see our pantry shelves filled with food I grew. Is it a lot of work right now? Yup of course it is. That is because food grown all tend to be ready to be picked at the same time. Because of all the rain we had this spring the fruit is really late in being harvested so fruit I normally would have canned in July I am having to do now with the vegetables. But I don't care. When it is January and everyone is having to pay an arm and a leg to eat peaches I can open a jar and just sail away in the aroma of fresh Okanagan peaches.
I have been canning so long that I can do it in my sleep. I can do it with one hand tied behind my back. When I work on it I don't think of how tired I am, I don't think of how sore my back or my hips are, I don't think of Keith and his claim with the government or the fact that he has been off of work for over 2 years. I can vegetate (no pun intended) on what I am doing. I can't be worrying about what is going on in our lives because I have to concentrate on that I am doing...each canner has to be timed, jars have to come out at the exact moment or the food gets processed too long....if I am multitasking such as doing cucumbers in the sink and have peaches on the stove, and beets in the pressure canner I have to be able to concentrate on what I am doing so nothing gets wasted.
So you see....doing this really does relax me, it has a calming effect on me. If after reading my explanations here and still feel I am posting my accomplishments to show you how much more I do with my day then you do and you still feel guilty please feel free to take me off your friends list so I no longer have the power to annoy you.
Having said that, I just want to go onto my defense. There are three things that I love to do in my role as a homemaker. These things calm me, they zen me, when I do these things I go to a calm place in my mind... when I am stressed I will go to one or more of these three things to calm down.
These three things are ironing clothes, sewing clothes, canning and gardening. I love going into my closet and seeing our clothes all nicely ironed and hanging neatly, seeing things I have made; I love going into our pantry and seeing jars and jars of preserved foods. Our church leaders have always encouraged us to have a year's food storage in place for times of needs. I have been doing this since I can remember. and believe me when I tell you...in over 30 years of being together we have had those time of need several times!
Most people do things that love when they want to relax....read a book...have a bubblebath, watch tv, sit in their hot tub, play games, etc etc..for me when I want to relax I iron, or I garden or I deal with the stuff from my garden and if it is in mid season, I work on planning my garden as I companion plant so I know which vegetables grow best with what vegetable.
When I can or preserve my food it gives me a sense of peace, a sense that I am helping provide for my family even if it is just Keith and I here. It gives me a great sense of pride when I see our pantry shelves filled with food I grew. Is it a lot of work right now? Yup of course it is. That is because food grown all tend to be ready to be picked at the same time. Because of all the rain we had this spring the fruit is really late in being harvested so fruit I normally would have canned in July I am having to do now with the vegetables. But I don't care. When it is January and everyone is having to pay an arm and a leg to eat peaches I can open a jar and just sail away in the aroma of fresh Okanagan peaches.
I have been canning so long that I can do it in my sleep. I can do it with one hand tied behind my back. When I work on it I don't think of how tired I am, I don't think of how sore my back or my hips are, I don't think of Keith and his claim with the government or the fact that he has been off of work for over 2 years. I can vegetate (no pun intended) on what I am doing. I can't be worrying about what is going on in our lives because I have to concentrate on that I am doing...each canner has to be timed, jars have to come out at the exact moment or the food gets processed too long....if I am multitasking such as doing cucumbers in the sink and have peaches on the stove, and beets in the pressure canner I have to be able to concentrate on what I am doing so nothing gets wasted.
So you see....doing this really does relax me, it has a calming effect on me. If after reading my explanations here and still feel I am posting my accomplishments to show you how much more I do with my day then you do and you still feel guilty please feel free to take me off your friends list so I no longer have the power to annoy you.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Run for the Cure 2013, Surrey, Me and Sadness
Everyone knows that Vancouver hosts the Run for the Cure each year and has done so since day 1. What you may not know is that starting next year Surrey (where I live) will be hosting its own run as well. How exciting!!!! 4-6 weeks ago an email went out to all runners letting them know of this new chapter and that they were looking for Co-Directors. My first thought was YES but then I thought of everything else on my plate and thought nah better not.. Then I got an email from them personally asking if I would be interested. I figured what the heck...it must be in the cards...so I said yes that I would send them my resume and an interview was set up weeks ago.
A couple of days before my interview Keith had his accident so I postponed it till this morning. This whole week that still small voice kept niggling at the back of my brain telling me to rethink this but my inside voice kept saying shuuuushhh. This would be such an accomplishment!! Talk about groundbreaking processes. It is just as important of a job to be the Director of the Vancouver one (it is a 2 year position) but anyone stepping into the job already has half the work done although it is still such a huge undertaking...the site is already in place, the Vancouver sponsors are in place etc etc... to have it in Surrey means everything has to be started from scratch. You would co chair with another Director. One would be for logistics- finding the site, sponsors, security, equipment, tents, tables etc etc, the other would be for Fundraising and Staffing.With my experience of doing the Yard Sale for the Cure last year it was right up my alley
I love being creative. I love taking challenges and turning them into a finished product where I can look at it and think I did that. Even if it is just canning my fruits and vegetables that I am surrounded with now..I like looking at my full shelves and know all my hard work paid off. I hate it when people tell me to slow down. Slow down to do what?Become a couch potato? Play computer games? Read books all day long? That may be ok for some people and I am not in any way pointing fingers at anyone who does this...this is about me and I choose not to be that way. I live with 2 disabilities and I know my limits. I know if I sit still my muscles seize, my spine seizes and then I am laid up for days. I know by remaining active I am living a comfortable life with my pain.
All week as my interview got closer and closer (this morning) that still small voice got louder and more frequent. Last night I became physically sick in the middle of the night and I didn't even question it. I got online and emailed the person that I had been communicating with. I told her what had been going on with my husband and that right now my focus needed to be with him 100% and that if I took this job on I would not be able to do it. I asked that she forgive me for the lateness of letting them know and told her that I would love to help out in smaller ways.
I thought for sure they would be angry with me, that they would think that they could have had someone else in place for the last month but she emailed me back this morning with a beautifully touching letter. She said she totally understood, that she had been one of the Vancouver Directors before and knows how time consuming it was and that she thanked me for telling her now and not next year when I became overwhelmed and had to back out at the last minute.
She asked if it was ok if they put me on one of the committee's that would still be a part of the day to day detailing but to not the extent of the Director's position!! I was very happy with that. When I look back at my husband I think of all he has sacrificed for me over the years and it shouldn't even have been an issue in my head. I am thankful for that still small voice that guided me to make the right decision. I have family back home that are not doing well and when Keith is finally settled I want to go back and spend some time with them and I would not have been able to do that right now with this new job.
So although I am sad somewhat about it, I am happy that I did listen (although it would be nice if that still small voice could be as loud as my inside voice!!). Keith is my whole life. Without him I have nothing. I will be crossing that finish line in Surrey in 2013 though and am looking forward to being a part of this huge excitement!!!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Conversation with a 2 year old
One of our sons was over with his family today and his family comes equipped with a very vocal 2 year old. I just happened to ask him how his day was and if he went to Nursery (where children from 18 months to 3 years of age go at our church kind of like pre-school sort of). And this was his answer..sometimes it's just better to not ask heehee
Hey Pumpkin how was your day did you go to Nursery today?
Yup but Auntie Lala no there (his Auntie Lareta is one of the nursery leaders) I sad but I had treats
What did you have for treats?
uh uh uh messy berries uh uh uh lots of them (Strawberries Mommy tells me according to the red stains on his white shirt)
Did you have play time in Nursery?
Yup but no Auntie Lala I sad
Did you have story time and singing time in Nursery?
Yup but no Auntie Lala I sad ( I think I figured that already )
So what did you do yesterday?
I go baseball game and had big BOOM BOOM and La Lean scared but I no scared I big boy and BOOM BOOM (said quite emphatically in case I didn't hear how loud it was the other time he told me)and big slide and Dadda no picture big slide Nana and cucumber man and apples and I throw apples but Mama said no but Dadda throw apples but Momma said no then cucumber man then Nana I got beet Nana a beet I got a beet
Did you get some beets in the garden yesterday?
Yes a beet and a cucumber man and big BOOMBOOM but I no scared I get you an apple no bugs on apples Nana I get apples and big BOOMBOOM (as he gets me an apple from the bag they brought over for me)
Do you want me to cut an apple for you Conall?
Yup but no bugs on apple Nana..ok no bugs Conall
I hep Nana I need chair I hep Nana
No it's ok Sweetheart Nana is all done peeling your apple
I get nudder apple Nana (as he hurries to the bag and brings me another one for me)
Nana no bugs in apples (Obviously parents must have been talking about making sure they did not pick apples that had worm holes through them)
So what else did you do yesterday? (as we munch on the apples)
I go baseball game and go down the slide and big BOOMBOOM (fireworks)
It was dark and I go nite nite then go to church and sing song and have bread and water and play with cars then I go to Nursery with Nana but Auntie Lala not there I sad..Auntee Lala all gone!
She'll be back soon she is gone camping in a tent..
yeaaaa we camping...
uhhhh no just Auntie Lareta went camping
and Kloie and baby Jazymm?
Yes and Senthia and Britnee and latitia and Darien and Miranda and Uncle Curt
but not Conall and Lelean? (Rosaleen)
No just Auntie Lareta's family
Auntie Lala not there I sad
I think he misses his Auntie Lareta :-D
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