Monday, August 18, 2008

~And So I'm Home????

(View from our campsite, Mirror Lake B.C.)


We had an absolutely beautiful ten days. I drank in so many shades of green and blue to the point of intoxication...There were so many wonderful times, I'm not sure where to begin...

In Idaho we met up with Jon's brother, Dan, and my sister-in-law Jane. They had rented an incredible house on lake Cocolalla...and brought quite a brood with them....My two little nieces...Jane's teenage niece and nephew...and two of the most wonderful women you could ever hope to share a glass (or two,or three...)of wine with. Anne (Jane's 77 year old mom) and Evelyn(Anne's older sister who is over visiting from Ireland). These two ladies...(Sorry, they prefer to be called 'recycled teenagers' :) are so full of love and life. I honestly can't remember when I'd laughed so hard...and at the same time been deeply moved. Evelyn at one point said we should all be so lucky to be as healthy and vital as she is at her age. I couldn't agree more...

The kids got in lots of boating with Uncle Dan...we hiked 2.5 miles to a secluded swimming hole...fished...picniced...napped...rode rollercoasters...and celebrated this little cutie's 11th birthday.

(Happy Birthday my little Sunshine Superman!)


I canoed for the first time in my life. I fell in love with it the minute my paddle cut through the water. On our last night there, Dylan and I took a moonlit canoe ride out across the lake. It was so beautiful...and a little surreal...certainly one of those magical moments that will stay with me.

(My parent's roundhouse near Balfour B.C.)


B.C. was as enchanting as ever... There are so many things that make the Kootenay's my favorite area. The mountains...lush green forests...the heat of the sun (we had 40 degrees celcius everyday.) and the cool of the lakes and streams...The quirky little homes perched upon seemingly impossible hills...historic towns preserved with such pride...bursting with colourful art and music...the people. My ever-so-hip sixteen year old rolled his eyes, and dubbed Kaslo 'Hippyville'...I will simply reiterate myself, and say that every molecule of me calls it home.

In the past I've felt pretty blue leaving here...but now I am just taking comfort in the fact that somewhere...out there right now there is a little patch of paradise waiting for me and my bearded 'mountain man'. :)



(secluded stream in Sandon B.C.)


So now I have a week home to settle in, and get ready for school. The kids start in a couple of weeks...and my yoga program starts in less than a month...

I'm going to take a little while to catch up on all of your wonderful blogs too...:)
xo

9 comments:

daisies said...

a couple of summers ago, duke had a gig at little fest in slocan valley and i was completely taken aback by the beauty of the kootenay's ... the lushness, the cute little towns, the nature ... i do hope to get back there one of these summers :)

it sounds like you had such a beautiful refreshing time and am so glad to hear that you went canoeing for the first time ... it is pure heaven i think. i have been canoeing since i have been a small girl and love it! there is a lovely trip down the north saskatchewan that i like to do every year and duke and i really want to canoe milk river as i've heard its breathtakingly beautiful :)

welcome home! xox

daisies said...

a couple of summers ago, duke had a gig at little fest in slocan valley and i was completely taken aback by the beauty of the kootenay's ... the lushness, the cute little towns, the nature ... i do hope to get back there one of these summers :)

it sounds like you had such a beautiful refreshing time and am so glad to hear that you went canoeing for the first time ... it is pure heaven i think. i have been canoeing since i have been a small girl and love it! there is a lovely trip down the north saskatchewan that i like to do every year and duke and i really want to canoe milk river as i've heard its breathtakingly beautiful :)

welcome home! xox

pERiWinKle said...

Welcome home! i missed you!

10 years ago M3 and I went paddling on the river in Cambridge. He could not paddle for his life! eventually we changed places and I paddled...for all women alive! I paddled for independence, for the love of men who sometimes have to admit they cannot do it, I paddled for my love, taking him home safely! (heehee)

it was sooo funny!!!!

Missed you! Welcome back. Enjoy the last week to get everything settled! xx

Brandi Reynolds said...

*sigh* how gorgeous. I'm so jealous!! And also so happy for you that you got to have that magical time-I can almost feel the peace and rest your cells received.

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhh!!!! I want to LIVE there!
What gorgeous photos, and that is the coolest house I've ever seen!
I've never canoed, but it sounds absolutely wonderful, especially the moonlight ride.
Yay for you, what a way to recharge those inner batteries. You must be so re-freshed and re-energized.
xo

Suzie Ridler said...

You give me hope that one day my heart won't be crushed when I look on photos from BC and that I will be at peace again. What a beautiful trip! I can't believe you haven't canoed before, it's wonderful isn't it? I'm more a kayaker but still, to be on the water like that is wonderful. I have never seen a roundhouse like that before!

Thanks for seeing the shimmer in me. :) I see it in you too!

d smith kaich jones said...

I ma now in love with the idea of nighttime canoeing. I have a friend who who kayaks in very early morning hours while the sky is still dark & she says it is magical. Your trip sounded quite wonderful. And that HOUSE! Oh my. This whole place sounds like a place you'd make up in your head as the perfect place to visit.

:) Debi

Jaime said...

Ooohhhh...canoeing by moonlight on lakes that look like mirrors. What a dream!
I was supposed to get out to the Kootenays this summer too, as my brother lives in Nelson (absolute hippieville) but I will have to enjoy your lovely images of it instead.
Maybe next summer :)
Welcome home
xo

julochka said...

wow, i love that round house! it looks like you had a beautiful holiday!