The Adventures of Manda

Quebec

2011-02-01T12:23:00.001-07:00

Last year my sister did a program through the Government of Canada called the Explorer program. It is where a student goes to another province to either learn french or english. Since my sister was adept at speaking english she went to Quebec for six weeks during the summer and studied french. She had a fabulous time!

Once she came back I went to my GM at my office and began speaking to him about what my sister had done and how she suggested that I do the same program. Now I am too old for the program through the government but I can still go and study at Laval for six weeks during the spring or summer. The GM turned to me and said to me; "Well you know...we have subsuppliers in Quebec and it would be nice to have someone else in the office that speaks french other than me!" I promptly volunteered!

I spoke french since I was small and went to a french immersion school (all the way up to high school) before entering an english high school...That in itself was a culture shock and I had to relearn my math, sciences, social studies and history in english. Math may be a universal language but when you learn it in a specific language (i.e. french) it is difficult to relearn it in english.

I am leaving on May 5th or 6th and I couldn't be more excited about it! I am taking the plane to Ottawa and then taking the train to Quebec City. I am so excited about using my french language skills...other than my dad and my grandmother I haven't really used my french with anyone else...perhaps the only other being my GM.

I hope to stay in Ottawa for a couple of days before heading to Quebec City...collecting postcards along the way for all my postcard trading friends and for myself. I have never been to Ottawa before and I can't wait to see Parliament! You know...I used to want to be a politician...but I am not a good liar or a cheater...therefore I chose a different career path.

What adventures await me? I promise to keep everyone posted...and update my blog often...more to come later! Work is calling me back to reality today.

Postcrossing

2011-01-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

I am an avid postcard collector and have been actively collecting them since my first trip to Prague in 2002.

I belong to three postcard trading communities, two located on livejournal.com and now postcrossing.com. H. introduced me to postcrossing and I can't wait until I get my first postcard. I have sent out five postcards on postcrossing with one waiting to be sent. Everytime someone get's a card from me and registers it on the website I can request another address and someone will receive my address and send me a postcard.

If I were to post every postcard I have gotten from the three communities...I would be set for a year of blog entries at least!!

Perhaps I should post some of my favourites once in awhile! I have at least one file box full of postcards, not all of them have been sent to me...a good chunk I have collected when I was in Europe.

I was going through the postcrossing.com website and I came across a story of a little girl in London, Ohio with a brain tumor. She collects 'sillybandz', her teacher asked her what she wanted to collect but hadn't started. Reagyn replied, 'postcards'. Now people around the world have sent her postcards and well wishes. Her brain tumor is wrapped around her motor nerves so the doctors cannot operate but she is undergoing radiation. The doctors think that they have a really good shot of making the tumor go away.

I found Reagyn's blog and address so I am going to send her a postcard tomorrow. Here is the webpage for any of you that would like to send her a postcard as well:

reagynsworld.weebly.com

Lush

2011-01-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

Products from LUSH have been my constant companion since Christmas in my bath tub and I would like to say that I have never been so happy with a store or its products in my life!! I have gone to a great many other stores that sells soap and other wonderful smelling products but I always seem to break out when using them...no such reaction at LUSH (unless I unknowingly buy something that contains something that I am allergic to). It hasn't happened yet since I have been so vigilant about checking for peanut and soy products in the different products. I think there are only like five or six products that I cannot use from there.

There is one product called Ocean salt. It is a face cleanser and the most amazing ALL NATURAL product I have ever used. It contains grapefruit and lime infused with vodka and coarse sea salt. It is like putting a margarita on your face. Yes, of course, drinking a margarita is better than actually putting one on your face but this product...*SIGHS* it is the best face cleanser I have ever used. My skin hasn't dried out and I have been using it every day for the past week or so.

My whole upper floor smells like a lush store too...and that is with keeping my entire haul in a very large wicker basket in the linen closet. I make sure that I have $20 in my account on payday so that I can go to lush and buy a little something for myself...especially if I have had an exceptionally hard Friday and need some retail therapy...I would rather buy something that will make my skin feel good (whether it be bubble bath or a bath bomb or cleaner) than go buy clothes. Most people would ask what is wrong with me and you know...I really don't know!

The products I use completely relax me and I couldn't be happier about that. The massage bars are great too...and the one called "Mange Too" works amazingly well on my eczema.

I will write more about my new found obsession...that is a promise!!! I hardly go a day without using a product from LUSH.

I'm a Fidget

2011-01-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

It has been forever and a day since I last wrote anything. As my darling best friend H. put it (imitating me); "Ugh! I have a blog! I don't want to write on my blog! I have written in like five million other places! Why do I want to write on my blog?!" At least to some point it is the truth. I have been really lazy about writing here but busy writing everywhere else. It doesn't help that my fibromyalgia was flaring up during the cold spell and the only thing I could think of doing was soaking in a hot bath.

I am awfully fidgety lately and I can't seem to figure out why. I am completely restless even when I am completely exhausted. I have not slept through the night in the past three years since my car wreck. With my injuries I can't simply roll over in bed...I have to sit up and then turn over and it tends to wake up my husband and the dogs when I do this so in reality I dont think the four of us have really slept in three years. That is terrible!!

I am at H's house right now. We decided to get together because I got off early on from work today as I didn't have my client meeting this afternoon. We both completely forgot about the snowstorm that was coming in and now I am snowed in at her place. I have actually seen snow plows like four times...(she lives out in a really small town) and seeing a snow plow four times in the span of three hours in unheard of in the city that I live in. Perhaps even with the snow drifts out here I should move here!!! At least the roads would be plowed!

I am awfully fidgety lately and I can't seem to figure out why. I am completely restless even when I am completely exhausted. I have not slept through the night in the past three years since my car wreck. With my injuries I can't simply roll over in bed...I have to sit up and then turn over and it tends to wake up my husband and the dogs when I do this so in reality I dont think the four of us have really slept in three years.

First Goal Completed

2010-12-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

As of Sunday I have completed one of my 101 things to do in 1001 days. It was to stay off Facebook for an entire week. I managed to do it but just barely, I kept wanting to go and check on my all my friends status' and well keep up with them.

On Thursday last week it seems that someone had hacked into my Facebook, nothing was done so I simply changed my password and am now hoping that all is well there.

Now on Friday I will have to put $100 into my savings as I finished the task. What am I going to do with the money? I want to go to Pax Lodge in England and Our Chalet in Switzerland. They are two of the four world guiding centres, the other two are in India and Mexico. If I can go sooner all the better but for now I will put $100 away every time I complete a goal and dream about my trip. Perhaps I will do some geocaching while I am there! I would never pass up the opportunity to go geocaching! (Unless of course I am sick).

I think (knock on wood) I am finally starting to kick this cold of mine. I have been sick for almost three weeks! Thankfully, it isn't turning into pneumonia like it did last time I got sick like this.

Off to work I go! More adventures wait for me there!

~M

Small Progress...Day 3...Only 998 Days To Go!!

2010-12-08T20:16:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning with my nasty cold returning for round 2. Needless to say I am pouty, grouchy and want to do nothing but sleep!! I wish I could stay home and get better tomorrow but we have an inspector coming tomorrow so I need to make sure he has all the necessary documents. Dear Cold....your timing sucks!!

I received four more postcards in the mail today. That makes 13 out of 101 I need to collect to finish that task.

Off to bed as I am falling asleep...

2 days in...999 more to go!

2010-12-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

Last night I got home and I wasn't feeling well. With it being cold outside my fibromyalgia is flaring up and the tramadol is making me feel...sick.

I decided to try and distract myself from the sick feeling and grapped some origami paper and my laptop to attempt to conquer something on my 101 things in 1001 days list. I managed to get almost halfway through the challenge learning for new folds.

I made:

A lantern (I love it!)
A basket (don't like it, looks like crap next to the one on the computer but at least it still looks like a basket!)
A 4 pointed star (really easy to make, may have to try an eight pointed star)
A mushroom (this one is really cute!!)

I have also started collecting 101 postcards for another one of my 'things.' I received a postcard in the mail last night from a penpal from postcardcafe so I now only have 100 left to collect. I will have to get some tac so I can make a collage on my bare living room walls of my postcards. I wonder if A. will let me?...*ponders*

I am also on day 2 of no Facebook for a week...so far so good, although I keep wanting to check it to check up on my friends! I could call them too I suppose :P .

I think that is all I have to update for now...Until my next update my next adventure awaits!!

~M

101 things to complete in 1001 Days

2010-12-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

Now I have gone and done it! I have created a list of 101 things to complete in 1001 days on dayzeroproject.com. I was at brownie camp over the weekend and one of the leaders was in charge of the geocaching. I told her on Friday night that I had set a goal of completing 365 geocaches in one year. She asked if it had to do with completing 101 things in 1001 days. I replied that it wasn't...but I was intrigued!

Yesterday afternoon when I got home I went online and found the website. I decided to create my own list of things I wanted to accomplish.

Here is my list: http://dayzeroproject.com/user/BlueFlutterby

Right now I have banished myself from Facebook for a week. It is actually harder than I thought it would be! It is how I stay in touch with a lot of my friends...how did we stay in touch before? Phone? Email? I honestly can't remember. I think before Facebook I hadn't heard or seen a lot of those friends since junior high or high school.

So instead of spending time on facebook tonight I am going to complete goal 101: I am going to learn 10 new origami folds. Perhaps I will post pictures of what I create online. I found my box of origami paper and my book a couple of weeks ago. Now I have an excuse (not that you really need one...but now I have an excuse to do some paper crafts).

I think two tasks this week is a good start. Perhaps I will be able to accomplish more next week. We shall see!!

~M

1 Conquered Fear...1 New Year's Resolution

2010-11-26T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here I am standing at the top of Sulphur Mountain. H. didn't think that we would make it up as I am absolutely terrified of heights. I can't even stand near the railing on the second storey of a mall! So this is proof to all that I made it up the Gondola!

The way up was completely scary and I had trouble looking out the windows. We weren't even half way up and I asked her if we were there yet. Once we were at the terminal at the top of the mountain I couldn't wait to get out! H. of course was laughing hysterically at me and my fear! Now I can laugh about it, I survived!!

I am hanging onto the railing for dear life! H. made me stand at it, the mountain slopes down and it doesn't look like a big drop but if you fall...you are fricking going to tumble down that mountain!

I thought the trip on the way down was going to be bad but I didn't mind it...as long as my back was against the mountain. I tried sitting next to H. and promptly went back to my seat after I looked down. Again....H. laughed at me. :P

After everything I loved it! I have promised Minne-Andy (Andy from Minnesota...this how H. and I are able to distinguish if we are talking about my husband or my best friend who happens to share the same name). Now that I have conquered my fear I know I will be able to go up the Gondola again!

We geocached our way up to Banff and again on our way home. I am now sitting at 122 caches! This included event caches, traditional caches and the virtual cache up on Sulphur Mountain. I started June 3rd, 2010. A few of my fellow geocaching friends...including H, have more caches than I do but I am really trying not to make it into a competition. lol. I hear you H! I know! I know! I am so making this into a competition!

I have decided that for my New Year's resolution I have decided that I am going to find 365 geocaches. It will be difficult during the winter as it get's bitterly cold...it was -41C with the windchill on Wednesday. Although it is not normally that cold this time of year it still way too cold to even think about geocaching! Although...I ran into my friend "Judus" (his geocaching handle) on Thursday when the chinook starting blowing through and he said, "It's warming up!...time to go geocaching!" I laughed but I really do want to go again!!

A friend of mine N. is in Malta and she has been teasing me about how warm it is there and all the interesting things that are there to see. I went to see how many geocaches there are there and there are only 80! I think that is a rather manageable number!! All of them in a 15 km radius! Totally manageable for a couple of weeks there...I promise that I want to go to Malta for more than the geocaches!

For my New Year's resolution I am going to write about every geocache I visit.

More on this later...I am falling asleep!

Ow!

2010-11-03T18:47:00.000-06:00

Ugh! A couple of weeks ago I fell on the stairs and I partially dislocated my wrist and sprained it beyond belief. I am now in a partial cast for the next four weeks and it sucks. I haven't been able to do any stitching or geocaching.

H. and I are going to Banff next weekend and I am so excited. Not sure how much stitching I am actually accomplish but I will try and do some. I can take off my cast for short periods of time.

I finally got my 100th cache! It was one that H. and I had gone to before. She found it on her fourth try and I found it on my second. Of coursse, when I knew what I was looking for I totally understood! lol .

More to write later!!

~M

Long Long Time

2010-10-12T12:18:00.000-06:00

Hello Fellow Readers and Bloggers!

It has been way too long since I have written anything here. Life has gotten away from me again and I seem to have little to no time for myself these days.

Brownies has once again commenced and I am with a new unit this year. I love the leaders I am working with (am good friends with one) and becoming friends with the other. The girls are responding to me so differently than last year it's amazing! I am with such a positive group this year I am thrilled!!

I have been on a few geocaching adventures since the last time I wrote. There was one weekend where H. and I managed to do 31 caches and we only missed finding one of them! I am currently sitting at 99 caches and I can't wait to find my 100th cache! Next goal...1000!

I will be definately taking my GPS with me when I head over to Ontario and Quebec for work. Nothing better to do on my time off (besides writing postcards to my million and a half penpals!)I will be gone for six weeks so I might as well right? I am very excited! I have been to Ontario once but I sat on the tarmac at the airport for half an hour waiting to take off again to my hometown.

It is odd for me that I will be basically traveling alone. H. is coming with me to Ontario and we will be visiting some family there but once I get to Ottawa I will be on my own...which in itself is nerve wracking! I have never travelled on my own before! Even with that said I am excited. Scared but excited!

I am hoping to get some serious caching down on Friday and Saturday before heading over to M.'s house for some stitching madness. I want to get as much in before the weather turns too cold to do it. I may love the outdoors but once it reaches -25C my lungs no longer love me and I am constantly using my inhaler because it is too cold outside.

H. and I are heading out to Canmore for a weekend in November. I am thrilled about that too. I love heading to the mountains! I will have to get A. to take me there for a weekend for us just to get away. He and I definately need it!

I can't believe how all over the place the post is and I hope that all you lovely readers aren't having troubles reading it. But all of you who know me in RL know that this is just how I think and how I talk most of the time. They have all learned to speak "Manda".

I have another hobby too that I will be adding to the blog. I belong to an online community called Postcardjunky (PCJ). There are about 133 members in the database and we send each other postcards. Not in envelopes so it makes it more fun. I came back to PCJ after a year long absence and I am so excited to be back! I couldn't remember who I actually owed postcards to so I wrote to every active and semi-active member. I will have to spread out when I send them though because some of them are international or are going to the US and that is a lot of $$!!

I will scan in the postcards and post the pictures up here as they come in.

I had better get back to work as my lunch hour is nearly over.

~M

My First Geo-caching adventure!

2010-06-04T19:32:00.000-06:00

I had no intention today to go geo-caching today but when I went on the library website it showed that there were a couple of GPS units at the library across the street from me and one at the library down near my chiropractor. I made Mr. Wonderful Husband take me to the nearest library since the card is under his name. When I returned home with my latest (rented) toy I immediately read the manual.

I packed my bag with old kinder egg toys that I have tugged away and went to search out my first cache. It was a challenge since it was my first time using the GPS. When I found the cache I nearly cried. I nearly got eaten alive by misquitoes but it was so worth it. I found a travel bug from the US that has to do with Girl Scouts...and a Geo-cache badge that was made for the 119th Girl Guide Company here in town! How cool is that? I found two Girl Guide related things in my first cache?

The next one I found I ran into some fellow cachers and luckily there weren't any muggles (non-geo-caching folk). The inside of the cache was wet and so was the logbook. I put a note on the cache's website to let the owner know.

Tomorrow I am going to go out again and find a new home for the Girl Scout TB and perhaps find some more :).

Off to bed as I have to finish a powerpoint presentation tomorrow before I even think about going out geo-caching. This is my last weekend completely free (which includes Friday)...since I GOT A JOB and I start on Monday!! I am now a document control coordinator.

~M

New Job!

2010-06-03T19:27:00.000-06:00

So since I last posted I went for a second interview at a manufacturing firm and I got the job! I am now a Document Control Coordinator and I got a $7,000 raise from my last job! Best part is I only work half a day on Fridays, I have longer days Monday through Thursday so this is possible...but I think it is definately a bonus! haha.

I got my haircut today too...I think that Tatianna took off nearly 4 inches! and I now have bangs! Ok, they aren't the normal bangs that cover your forehead...instead they are brushed off to the side so they wont get in my eyes or in my face. I hate having hair get into my face or eyes!

So after my travels today I am sore so I think I am going to go rest and take it easy for the rest of the night.

Tomorrow is going to be a day of laundry and baking cookies....mmmm....chocolate chip cookies....

Tomorrow promises more adventures.

~M

Crafty Weekend

2010-06-01T12:23:00.000-06:00

It has been once again too long since I have last written anything about my adventures, whether they are crafty in nature or exploring the city around me with Geo-caching. I have yet to go geo-caching (hopefully soon, I am anxious to go and find my first cache!) So I suppose this post is going to be about my crafty weekend I shared with my friends.

Saturday was our 12 hour stitch-in. I have been battling a double ear infection and sinus infection so I really wasn't myself. That morning it was snowing (can you believe it? It was the end of May and snowing!) My mother in law and I met my two best friends at a local restaurant for breakfast before we headed over to The Stitching Corner.

It was cold so we only ventured out a couple of times, once to go to Starbucks and to the tea shop around the corner.

I can now say that I am almost halfway through the "H" for my best friend. She had to buy another skein of thread since I only had 3 yards left and still half of it to complete. I am excited about getting it done, so is H. for that matter. lol. We did all have a great time at the stitch-in. I 't wait until the one in July!

The only downer was that the stitching retreat is on the labour day weekend in September so none of my friends are going to be able to attend....which also means that I wouldn't have a ride out there. (I am not allowed to drive standard anymore because of the injuries I received in the car accident). Well...too bad, we will just have to have our own stitching retreat.

Sunday I had planned a lazy day since I was still not feeling well. H. called me and asked me if I would like to accompany her and Miss V. (her daughter) to Heritage Park to the Quilt Festival. Even though I wanted a lazy day at home I still wanted to get out of the house for a few hours so I jumped at the chance.

I loved seeing all the quilts, something for me to aspire to. H. helped me purchase some fabric since I am still unemployed (hopefully this week I will hear if I got the position I interviewed for last week). I saw so many quilts! I wanted to stop and pet them all. :)

How come all my hobbies (and want to be hobbies) are expensive?

~M

Elizabeth (Beth) Riddoch

2010-05-23T12:22:00.000-06:00

Beth Riddoch helped bring the girl guide movement to the north part of Calgary. We have recently named our district after her. When I was at the Glenbow museum doing research on her I found the memorial address for her, dated February 25, 1971, by Ruby B. Bishop. Here it is:

Last May, and no doubt in company with many of you who are here, I attended the Burial Services for Beth Riddoch.

At the beginning of the service there was an unhappy moment, but quickly I recalled the words, "Let not your heart be troubled." Then I thought,, this out to be a service of Praise and Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for the life of Beth Riddoch.

It was in the summer of 1928 that I first met Beth. She was young, with all the hipes and aspirations for the future that is the privilege of youth.

The Movement had come to Canada in 1910 and one of the Pioneers in Calgary Guiding was Mrs. R. C. Heard who lived in South Calgary. But on the North Side was another woman who gave much to promote and develop guiding. This was Mrs. Brown and I believe it was Mrs. Brown who guided the footsteps of the young Guide, Beth Riddoch. It could well have been Mrs. Heard who enrolled Beth, yet I have always held the thought that it was Mrs. Brown. According to information given to me in 1930, I learned that Mrs. Heard had organized the first real Guide Camp and at the time (1930) only 2 of the original campers were still active. Beth and Roma Townsend. Miss Townshend still lives in Calgary. So perhaps it would be right to say that from that experience - was born Beth's great love of Camping.

One thing is sure - the seeds sown on this fertile ground - by Mrs. Heard and Mrs. Brown brought forth fruit in due season - and these 2 women had built better than they knew! Guiding quietly moved on - new - not only in Calgary - but comparatively so in Canada. We were all learning and there was so much to learn. Beth had become Captain of 10th Company and her picture win 1930 shows five Service Stars. The Provincial Council was formed in 1929 - quite a milestone 0 and the future looked bright. In 1930 they came from Edmonton for their Annual Meeting. We were in session all day and I can assure you it was quite a meeting. Incidentally Mrs. Riddoch was made a memeber of the Executive Committee.

We were building - up and up - Beth went along with her work - which was not up to this time terribly exciting but the foundations she laid down were like the footings for a great building that would stand the test of time. The depression was with us in full force. I can tell you it was bad when it reached its low ebb in 1932. THere, perhaps she came into her own - displaying qualities of leadership under unhappy conditions. Everywhere there was fear, anxiety, insecurity and frustration. Yet even at her youthfl age she seemed to inspire hope and courage.

The Scout Guide Toy Shop had of necessity come into being. Long hours she spent repairing and dressing dolls and toys to be sire that some small girl was not forgotten by Santa.

So during these years she developed and again - possibly made plans to better or improve training and camping. The regulations for such were to become firmly entrenched in Guide handbooks. This is a good moment to say that will all of this, she was engaged in earning her living from 9am to 5 pm plus Saturdays! Yet with these combined activities she still found the energy and time to become a memeber of Knox Church choir - and raise her voice to the Glory of God - not once but twice each Sunday.

You see, people did attend Sunday evening services at that time. Churches were crowded with young people. It all seems so long ago and so far away.

Time was passing - her name and her work had become known.

Mre or less out of the depression years we reach 1939 - and the 2nd Word War. Many of our leaders were lost to the armed forces.

Did she long, I wonder, to join the others in some branch of the women's services? Perhaps, but for reasons best known to herself she served on the home front - as usual.

It was a long time before we were at peace again. Beth had done a magnificent job with the Camps. Whatever she decided was necessary for a good camp, became law and Alberta stood high on its Camping record. She was regarded as one who spoke with authority.

Her Ranger work had started. I have wondered too, if it was not here in this Branch of Guiding that she found companionship with those nearer her own age. She had given up choirs, concerts, sports and other phases of a social life.

As in my own case, I have said over the years, the higher up you go the more lonely you become.

Rather she, in a world of Broken Promises kept her Guide Promise - unbroken and untarnished! Then added to that was her Ranger Promise to move out into a wider world. In her own serene way, she moved to that end with infinite patience.

The years of 1940's and 1950's were perplexing years for everyone and once during the 50's I recall a not of nostalgia in her conversation relative to changed within the Movement. And there were more changes to come. She wondered what lay ahead. Little did anyone know ho the world was to behave.

Even then, I wondered, fascinated that she had chosen this as her life's work. It was as though she asked 'only to serve'. At this point, I am reminded of the lines written by Robert Frost : - "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep." The easy life could not tempt her. She had miles to go before she slept! So much to be done. By this time (1940's) expansion in the Province had reached the proportions that made it necessary to emply a full time trainer and Camp Advisor. As Divison Commissioner, I had asked Beth to become District Commissioner of her District which she did.

It was so soon after I hardly realised what had happened. The Provincial Commissioner, Mrs. E. C. Pardee from Edmonton, came down and during dinner she said to me, "I'm taking Beth away from you." I was startled and disappointed while it was explained that a new office had been created, that of Provincial Field Secretary and it was a full time job. How often we have to put aside our own desires for the good of others.

For Beth a new life opened up and a great challeenge. By car, she travelled to remote corners of the Province, only to serve, and in so doing she helped the young find their roots as she had done here. She helped the young and not so young, search for new horizons and accept each new challege as it presented itself.

Discipline was to her a beautiful word and she used it knowning that her charges had to be prepared to meet the demands they would most certainly encounter. She was gifted. Maeterlink wrote a very delightful narrative dealing with the Kingdom of the Future.

He tells of a host of bowed little figures covered with the veils of blue gauze. In the distance could be heard the earthly mothers calling to their unborn children. Then Father Time arrived and gently as he called, one little figure after another came forward to start on its earthly journey. Yet as each one prepared to leave, Father Time gave him a gift, his own special talent which he was to carry to the earth and use for the benefit of mankind.

One might say that some were treated more generously than others, or did some not use to the full of his gift. But the idea was that each could make some special contribution to the life of the world.

Unfortunately as we well know, some fell by the wayside. But look to the millions, named and un-named, who have given so much - artists, writers, missionaries, scientists, the great musicians, doctors, exploreer - the millions who humble and nameless have been dedicated, compassionate men and women.

And so, from those to whom much is given much is required. She had a heart which knew how to give love and expect nothing in return. From another source, with giving in mind I would like to quite "the world can only be at peace when men will come to realise that the thing of real value to give is - - the gift of oneself".

Other Provincces became aware of the quality of her efforts and from time to time she would be loaned out by Alberta for Training. It was a wonderful thing that Alberta could produce from the ranks as it were - one so talented, so much to give.

But perhaps to me, one of her great achievements was her visits to N.W.T., where she met and instructed Eskimos and the far North Indian children. I'm sure the mothers were fascinated by this teacher - yet so young in heart.

At this point a personal note. It would be difficult to estimate the thousands of miles she covered by car.

Many times I wondered in the course of her long, weary hours of driving alone, what her thoughts must have been.

Did she think of her parents to whom she was devoted - her life as a child - the growing years - her only brother - her years of Guiding - her friends past and present - had she chosen well or had she missed something? Did she think of God- Yes- of He who created the nature she loved in all its glory. What of the future - only Father Time who bestowed the talents upon her couple reply.

In the latter years of her work the future looked uncertain and world conditions were bleak. Granted a certain prosperity was there but with the cahgned that had taken place, the signs for the future were almost beyond the comprehension of those who had come into the world in more pleasant and quiet times. It reminds one of England's green and pleasant land - only for Beth and myself - it was the land of the heather!

Mention must be made here of one more thing - dear to her heart - the formation of the the Trefoil Guild. This Group was formed by original members of 10th Rangers and they still meet.

As to all of us, there comes a time to lay down the tools and rest - Beth retired - that must have been quite a wrench for one so dedicted. Could it be that she was ready? For years she had seen the long procession of leaders and Commissioners come and go - new faces on one hand 0 on the other - new pages in the Book of Rules. Yet she stood out alone - always there 0 considerate and kind.

Semper Fidelis -

She obtained employment in the city and it was my pleasure to visit with her from time to time. We would be proud that she lived in our time and she udnerstood, as a person of superior understanding would, that there were many ways of serving God.

Some seek greatness in this life - she sought and possessed humility - only to serve.

In the Gospels there is the story of the woman who poured costly oil on the head of our Lord as He sat in the house of Simon, the leper. One of the disciples present was annoyed and said " this oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor."
Jesus replied - "the poor ye shall always have with you - Me ye shall not." To comfort the woman who had only wished to do Him honour, He said "this will be talked about, because wherever in all the world this gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will - be her Memorial"

To Beth Riddoch - the things you did - are your Memorial.

Have I , I wonder missed some points in Beth's Guide life. I could have dealt with the Provincial Camp sites, the Rallies, the Parties, Sports, visits of the Beloved FOunder and of Lady Baden Powell.

It was the woman I knew, the real Beth Riddoch I've had to tell you about. In 1966 she became ill and was aware that for her - "the shadows would lengthen, the evening would come, the busy world would be hushed, the fever of life would be over - and her work would be done."

These things came to pass in May of 1970, met with the same quiet dignity I have seen in the past.

My husband and I talked with her very shortly before her call came to Higher Service.

Among other things we spoke of Guiding - then said "Goodnight''.

Rangers - its never goodbye.

We shall not see her like again

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beth was married to the Movement of Guiding and her children were the girls in Brownies all the way through the ranks to Rangers. Beth has come to inspire me to be the best Girl Guide leader I can be.

~M

Flying Up

2010-05-17T20:40:00.000-06:00

I must apologise for not posting as oftern as I have started. I have been busy working on getting a new job and working on a database for my dad's business.

I haven't picked up any stitching in the last week! I have been neglecting my stash! (How that could be taken in more than one way! lol)

Tonight it was "Fly Up" or the Advancement ceremony for the girls in all branches of guiding (that have completed either their program or going into the next age group) to move to the next branch of guiding. All my Sparks (5-6 yr olds) except for one went up to Brownies.

I was also presented with an award! I received the New Leader Appreciation Pin/Award. It a 10K gold pin with the trefoil and four stars on it. I will post a picture of my guiding pins when I get my pin sache.

I am exhausted from tonight's events. I will post more later...perhaps start a guiding blog tomorrow too.

~M

100 years of Guiding in Canada

2010-05-15T16:37:00.000-06:00

Oh my! I had so much fun today! I (along with two other leaders) took some of our girls to the 100 years of Guiding rally here in Calgary. There were over 2000 girls ranging from Sparks (the five and six year olds) to leaders well into their 60s.

The opening ceremonies took us through the decades of guiding here in Canada with Joanne (from Don, Joanne and the Coach radio crew) as the MC. Then it was round robin time. There was a station where the girls sent morse code messages and the messages went the furthest were ones received in Russia and Siberia!

We all ate our bagged lunches then it was onto the afternoon round robins. The last station was learning the new song that was written for the 100 years and the actions. The girls made all the leaders go up on stage and sing the song afterwards. (Of course that will be the part that the girls remember) lol.

We had our 'campfire' sing song and the closing ceremonies. We lucked out and had a gorgeous day! We all had so much fun!

Our guiding year is wrapping up and I can't wait for next year!

Here is to another 100 years of Guiding and empowering girls and women in Canada!

~M

Sensory Overload

2010-05-08T18:41:00.001-06:00

It has been a couple of days since I have last written anything, for that I must apologise.

Wednesday I went to the Glenbow Museum (I could spend hours there!)...Actually I did but I was in the Archives researching Beth Riddoch. She sounds like she was an amazing woman! I saw the letters that Lady B-P wrote to her and well...Lady B-P was amazing as well! Very enthusiastic! I think one day this week (if I am not too terribly busy) I will post the memorial letter written about Beth Riddoch.

Thursday...I went for an interview that was the weirdest thing that I have ever experienced. The woman asked me a couple of questions and we sat there and gabbed the rest of the time. Friday she sent me an email saying that they had chosen someone that had more bookkeeping experience. Ok w/e.

Yesterday, I went to one of my best friend's house with my MIL. H. gave me a crash course on quilting. Still having issues trying to use the rotary cutter but hey I am still learning. I am also doing an easier pattern than what I had previously chosen because the one I wanted to do is full of triangles. :S

Today mami and daddy took me and hubby for lunch at a local irish pub. (Even drank a whole beer which is unusual for me), the food was really good and dad kept stealing my fries. :)
After lunch, hubby had stuff to do so mami and dad took me to one of the quilt stores and bought me a rotary cutter, 6.5 by 24.5 ruler, a cutting mat and I also go a 6.5 squared ruler free because I had a coupon from the Mark Lipinski lecture! We stopped at one more quilting shop (can't remember the name) and the store I swear was twice, if not three times, as big as 'a long came quilting'. I definately experienced sensory overload while I was there.

~M

Has the snow finally stopped?

2010-05-06T09:12:00.001-06:00

The snow came Tuesday afternoon and it didn't stop until sometime this morning. Even with the snow it seemed that I was too busy to do any stitching, although I did get some done. I need get four small ones done before Sunday to make cards for mother's day.

I have a job interview today at three and I hope I get it. It is with an archaeological society as an admin assistant and I hope I get it! It would mean that I could start paying people back and I would be able to replenish my stitching stash...but not only my stitching stash now...but my quilting stash as well.

My dad called me last night and told me that I had two choices for my birthday, a kobo (like the kindle) or quilting supplies. The e-book (whether I got the kobo or kindle) would be great because it hurts my hands when I have to continuously hold a book open. I will need to buy the green cutting mat and the rotary cutter for my quilting eventually. I have decided to go with the quilting stuff instead (after polling my friends because I couldn't make up my mind).

I am very excited now! I hope to get my quilting stuff (including my mami's sewing machine) on Saturday!

Well I am off to do a couple of things...including stitching before my interview.

~M

Are ye stitch worthy?

2010-05-03T21:25:00.000-06:00

The CHA sistas have had this discussion, whether one is stitch, knit or quilt worthy. What does this mean? It means that the one we either stitch, knit or quilt for will appreciate the craft that we have completed and take care of it.

It could be something that one has cross stitched and it is proudly hung on the wall or used (i.e. breadcloth), a pair of socks that are worn and used (especially in this weather...another winterstorm warning and blizzard passing through), or a quilt hung on the back of the couch or folded on the end of the bed that will be well used.

This is part of the criteria for becoming stitch, knit or quilt worthy. We also have to like the person we are being crafty for!

There are a few people that I consider stitch worthy...and to avoid causing fights and arguments I will refrain from naming names but you know who you are my stitch worthy people! Mwah! Love yas!

~M

Sunday coffee and stitching day

2010-05-02T20:53:00.001-06:00

Today was a great stitching day! Not only did my wonderful husband drive me across town to one of my best friends house but I got to stitch with my two best friends and another mutual friend of ours. :) I haven't seen J. in a very long time so it was great seeing her again! I have named (with the help of H.) our little trio as the CHA Sistas. lol. CHA standing for our first initials. CHA was better than HAC, lol!!

Back to today, we all met at C.'s house. I was the first to arrive, then J. and then H.

C. has four cats whom I seem very allergic too. I took benadryl and my inhaler before I arrived. Usually I only last a couple of hours but today I arrived around 11am and didn't leave until about 820pm. So hooray for my allergy medication and my inhaler!

We sat around stitching, drinking coffee, talking and working on english paper piecing...oh and eating goodies that isn't good for you! haha.

Losing all track of time I was working on one of the projects for H. which just happens to be the letter 'H' using variegated silk thread. The pattern itself isn't difficult but it has caused me some difficulty and frustration with which direction to go with the thread. I sit and look at the chart and map my way on which section I am going to do...am I making sense? Hopefully I am...I did make some serious progress on the project and I can't wait to finish it and hand it over to H.

After I finish that project then I will have to learn how to do applique so that I am ready for the class in September. H. said that I will have to put my stitching away for probably a month so I can sit and concentrate on how to do applique. Not stitch for a month?...is that even possible? It is like asking someone not to eat chocolate for a month. I will try though, I want to make sure that I enjoy doing applique so that when I have to pay $150 for the class I know I will be able to enjoy myself rather than feel frustrated and not enjoy myself. I hope that I will be able to go and be able to pay the money since I am still unemployed.

H., C., J. and I all went to dinner at Swiss Chalet and I am still so full!

H. and I went to Chapters after and C. dropped J. off at the train station. H. got me a couple of magazines while we were there and now I have a whole ton more cross stitch patterns to fill my thoughts and dreams. All of the patterns except for a couple (including two large patterns) are all small and are meant to be made into cards. (Everyone knows how much I love making cards!!)....Yes I actually like stitching cards....too bad there isn't money in it.

I am seriously wired right now, 2 benadryls, 2 HUGE cups of coffee, 2-3 puffs of my inhaler and some pop...yes...seriously wired...Before I really start rambling I am going to end this with the following:

I had such a great time with the girls today and it was something that I really needed. I love our stitchy days! Thank you C!!

~M

Quilty post today

2010-05-01T09:40:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I had some things that I absolutely needed to accomplish. I do my dad's books so that he can give them to the accountant and it makes everyone's life a whole lot easier. My dad's accountant liked and was impressed with the work that I did so she wanted some of my business cards (I have recently started up a bookkeeping business). I also had to pick something up from his accountant and drop it off at his work.

H. called me and asked me what I had planned for the day. I told her and we decided to get together. After we did my errands (since I had to have everything done by 1145) we had lunch at this really good cafe, the name seems to have slipped my mind and then we went to Traditional Pastimes. I was in heaven! I kept thinking about how desperately I now need to buy my quilting tools. I just need the money!! hahahaha!

I signed up for an applique class taught by a quilting celebrity, Elly...don't know her last name. The class is complicated so I have to learn how to do applique before I go to the class! I still have a few months before the class...not a lot but a few, at least the whole summer!

When H. dropped me off she handed me one of the kits she bought...she bought two of the same and when she handed it to me she said 'Happy Birthday!!' I was (and still am) beyond excited! It is called Teeny Tiny Lady Medallion. I can't wait to do it!

Since I don't have any of the tools to currently work on it, I will put it in my work basket and return to my stitching. Perhaps I will win the lotto? lol!

~M

An unproductive stitching day but productive never the less.

2010-04-28T21:05:00.000-06:00

I didn't get around to any stitching today. I had to attempt to do some cleaning as my financial planner is coming over tomorrow afternoon. A. also took me to my dedo's house because he had some homemade bread for me, some ground venison and some homemade sausage...*yum*!

I got a call from one of the guiders that I work with at Sparks and Brownies and she needed me to come and respresent my spark unit because she couldn't. Ok, normally this wouldn't be a problem but! Southern Alberta is under a storm warning and well...it has been blizzarding most of the day, when it isn't raining and the wind is howling, it is snowing and the wind is howling. Anyways! We changed the name of our District to Beth Riddoch (who was responsible for starting guiding in the north end of the city). Sandy (the leader who called me) said that she was going to go to search through the local museum's archives about Beth. I know that she is busier than me, so I volunteered to find out the information and put it into a presentation for our end of district meeting June 10. I am very excited about this...perhaps I should also start a blog about guiding?...my other passion.

I know I haven't really been a good leader this year because of my fibromyalgia but I am determined to be a good one in the next following weeks and next year. I love guiding and have truly missed it when it was absent from my life for eight years.

Back to stitching for the moment. I have kept track of the projects that I have completed since 2007.

Here is the list:

1. Popcorn Bear with daisy 2007
2. Lighthouse 2007
3. Oriental Fan 2007
4. Tulip Bookmark 2007
5. Condolence card 2008
6. Scissor Fob 2008
7. Baby Sampler 2009
8. Birthday Card 2009
9. Buzz 2009
10. Bread cloth 2009
11. Birthday Card 2009
12. Christmas Card 2009
13. Turtles 2009
14. Winter Gusts 2010
15. Christmas Bird 2010

I had/have (haven't quite decided if I want to stick with this goal) a goal to finish 300 projects by the time I am 50...as of yesterday I have 22 years to complete this goal. Of course, I could finish it quite easily if I took the easy way out and continued to simply make cards and do little projects...but I have some big ones, like my Spring Queen, on the go. Perhaps I should stick with it.

Thoughts?....Anyone?....

~M

Living the dream

2010-04-27T18:59:00.000-06:00

Something that I remember Mark saying last night about buying supplies for quilting, mind, it doesn't necessarily have to do with quilting but with anything you are passionate about. It doesn't matter if you keep buying matter how much fabric or supplies that you buy, as long as you can see the finished project who gives a fuck if you actually finish the project.

I have a habit of buying new kits, patterns, fabric, threads all the time. I suppose it is a sort of addiction with me. I always feel better after I have gone to the Stitching Corner and I have bought something new or I have gone to the 12 hour stitch and bitch. I probably have more patterns and kits than I could do in a year but like Mark said, I see the end result.

I would rather buy something regarding stitching than clothes. Don't get me wrong! I love buying clothes and my mother has said that if shopping was an olympic sport I would win gold. *But* I do not feel productive or feel as if I have accomplished something after buying clothes. I feel accomplished when I come home with a new kit or pattern and I have finished it.

Cross stitching is something that I am really good at. It took my two best friends telling me how good I am and H. telling her mother that I am a really good stitcher for me to believe that I was. All of it is thanks to my babi who taught me when I was little.

Thank God I have this hobby that I am good at and that I enjoy doing! I am living the dream!!