Category: Heart and Soul

A new house….plus SO much more

April 13th marked one year since Derryl and I moved into our new house. We’re in our seventies: I think this is our last house, albeit I’ve said that before – including the house before this one – which I loved; where I was… Continue Reading “A new house….plus SO much more”

A late review – our twelve days of Christmas

Except for a few deck lights and red balls with mini lights wrapped around my bamboo tree, Christmas decor is stashed away in storage. The poinsettia and some shortbread, fruitcake, nuts and cereal snack mix are reminders of the Sanctuary’s 12-day Christmas celebration. Coordinating… Continue Reading “A late review – our twelve days of Christmas”

Foto-fest: 4 months with family, friends and nature

What a ride my “summer-autumn” season has been. Gardening, visiting, cooking and accommodating guests, not willing to miss the glories of wonderful weather, being in and feeling nature…..interspersed with trips to the airport picking up or dropping off travellers. Not a roller coaster,  more… Continue Reading “Foto-fest: 4 months with family, friends and nature”

Home is ….

I am now ready to write the next instalment of a story that began about 12 years ago while hiking in the woods with our daughter Renee. The recap: Renee shared the intention she and her husband Damien wanted to move to live near… Continue Reading “Home is ….”

Final Farewell to My Father Toews

I’ve been privileged to have had two fathers. My biological Dad – Eric Forsberg: my loving, quiet-spoken, stable rock – and a pastor from my childhood who became my father-in-law: Jacob B Toews, who personally inserted the B because he wanted a middle name… Continue Reading “Final Farewell to My Father Toews”

Feeling the Distance, Missing my People

When we moved to Nova Scotia in 2007, other than our realtor and the neighbours next door, everyone was a stranger. This was going to be home; intent on meeting people, I’d strike up a conversation with practically anyone: at the grocery store, on… Continue Reading “Feeling the Distance, Missing my People”

A December getaway, without breaking the bank

October was a hustle: a wonderful time of family and anniversary partying. November’s schedule, planning ahead for December’s holiday season, was no less busy. But there was no questioning or negotiating with the task logged in my daytimer for November 28th. “Plan a getaway”. Soon:… Continue Reading “A December getaway, without breaking the bank”

Celebrating 50 years … a family weekend

Our wedding photo tells the truth: Derryl and I were mere children when we vowed “I do, I will”. Fifty years later, thinking about this ‘crazy-big-number ‘milestone, I’m excited to share a photo-story of our celebration with family, and community friends who have become… Continue Reading “Celebrating 50 years … a family weekend”

End-of-Summer, Photo-Visit Blitz

My late summer’s pilgrimage to western Canada was two-fold: first in British Columbia with my husband’s family, then visiting my kin in Alberta. We travelled by air to the furthest south-west part of British Columbia – Abbotsford – for a Toews reunion: delicious in… Continue Reading “End-of-Summer, Photo-Visit Blitz”

Photo-blog: Cape Breton pulls out the stops for Mom and Son hiking

“Hey Mom, I have a two-week window to come see you and Dad: end of June into July.” Yahoo! Our son Brad was coming to see us. I love these calls from our kids – other family too for that matter, as everybody lives… Continue Reading “Photo-blog: Cape Breton pulls out the stops for Mom and Son hiking”