Over at RawFoodSooke there's a bulk food order going in Monday at noon. Email if you want anything.
In this moment I'm so glad i've been regularly consuming chlorella and spirulina, as well as those super-good-for-you sea 'vegetables', which are all said to aid the body in handling any effects of radiation exposure. Healthy, natural, dietary sources of iodine. More kelp, anyone?!
In Light and Love,
~n~
17 March 2011
16 March 2011
all's well
just a quick update: all is well here on the very wet coast. nothing much to report, other than many family conversations on natural disaster preparedness. not fear, just getting prepared.
life's a little busy... lots to do these days.
all the best,
~n~
life's a little busy... lots to do these days.
all the best,
~n~
11 March 2011
***tsunami alert/warning***
http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/
An 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Japan at around 9:45 p.m. PST, Thursday March 10, 2011 causing serious damage. It has generated a tsunami for the Pacific Ocean areas that is expected to hit the west coast of Vancouver Island and down the Washington-Oregon-California (& Alaskan) coasts between 6:30 & 8 a.m. PST.
A tsunami is not just *one* wave; it is a series of waves that can last several hours, with many minutes (up to 60 mins) between waves. Each individual wave crest can last 5 to 15 mins or more and extensively flood low-lying coastal areas. The first wave to hit may not be the largest. The height is measured from average ocean height, not crest-to-trough height. Also, due to local geological effects, tsunami wave heights can vary dramatically. I was reading on the bulletin for Hawaii that tsunami waves can 'effectively wrap around islands', so even if you're not on the 'direct' side of the incoming waves, there is still a risk.
When no major waves are observed for 2 hrs after the ETA or damaging waves haven't occurred for at least 2 hrs, then authorities can assume the threat has passed.
Even though our house is over 100 ft above sea level (we're about 500m to the beach), there are areas we drive through on our way into town that are directly at sea level. A few years ago, some official, in their infinite wisdom, thought to put up "Tsunami Hazard Zone" signs all along the road out here. You'd see an "Entering Tsunami Hazard Zone" sign, followed by a "Leaving THZ" less than half a km away as the coastal road around here has a lot of climbs and drops in elevation. I think the kids and I counted about 6 hazard zones on our way into town. People living in the designated THZs feared their housing prices would be affected and I'm not sure if that's why, but nearly all of the signs were gone within months of installation. If nothing else, the signs at least got people talking about emergency preparedness, something most of us put aside until it's too late to plan for.
An 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Japan at around 9:45 p.m. PST, Thursday March 10, 2011 causing serious damage. It has generated a tsunami for the Pacific Ocean areas that is expected to hit the west coast of Vancouver Island and down the Washington-Oregon-California (& Alaskan) coasts between 6:30 & 8 a.m. PST.
A tsunami is not just *one* wave; it is a series of waves that can last several hours, with many minutes (up to 60 mins) between waves. Each individual wave crest can last 5 to 15 mins or more and extensively flood low-lying coastal areas. The first wave to hit may not be the largest. The height is measured from average ocean height, not crest-to-trough height. Also, due to local geological effects, tsunami wave heights can vary dramatically. I was reading on the bulletin for Hawaii that tsunami waves can 'effectively wrap around islands', so even if you're not on the 'direct' side of the incoming waves, there is still a risk.
When no major waves are observed for 2 hrs after the ETA or damaging waves haven't occurred for at least 2 hrs, then authorities can assume the threat has passed.
Even though our house is over 100 ft above sea level (we're about 500m to the beach), there are areas we drive through on our way into town that are directly at sea level. A few years ago, some official, in their infinite wisdom, thought to put up "Tsunami Hazard Zone" signs all along the road out here. You'd see an "Entering Tsunami Hazard Zone" sign, followed by a "Leaving THZ" less than half a km away as the coastal road around here has a lot of climbs and drops in elevation. I think the kids and I counted about 6 hazard zones on our way into town. People living in the designated THZs feared their housing prices would be affected and I'm not sure if that's why, but nearly all of the signs were gone within months of installation. If nothing else, the signs at least got people talking about emergency preparedness, something most of us put aside until it's too late to plan for.
07 March 2011
weekend warrior
I'm a weekend warrior of the unconventional type... I'm not sore from a weekend spent exercising, I'm exhausted from travelling. :P We went to the mainland this weekend to look at a townhouse for sale. Travelling, because I'm not used to it, literally knocks my socks off. I'm exHauSteD just getting anywhere. I think it's partly the constant motion of transportation... I don't usually spend 6 hrs en route to anywhere. Also, there's the unfamiliarity of the surroundings (although I can't completely confess to that, being that I went back to where I spent the first 20 yrs of my life)... and the traffic of the city or urban environment. Totally not used to the traffic anymore. And as my son said, the people. Sooooo many more people than in our little community of 400. ha ha ha ha ha I guess it's all about sensory overload. We were only over there for one night, but wow, today I'm just wiped. Last night I was like this, too, shortly after 10 p.m. (highly unusual for me to turn the lights off before midnight).
So the townhouse? Loved it. It's a cohousing complex, meaning a few things - it's focus is on building community between the inhabitants. This is facilitated by underground parking and a pedestrian walkway joining all the homes, allowing for more face-to-face interaction as people walk to and from their cars and the common house. Oh, yes, the common house. Also not a traditional feature in your average townhouse complex. This lovely shared space is fantastic and has so much to offer - shared laundry, a lounge, a guest room, a business office space as well as meeting/board room, aerobics or dance studio with mirrored wall, art studio, woodworking shop, dining hall with stage and community kitchen, indoor play area, teen area, outdoor play areas and trampoline, garden plots and so much more. Loved all of that.
What's not to love? Well, the idea of a smaller home than we're currently living in is a little daunting. It'd mean moving from 2000 sq ft down to about 1150. That's a significant decrease in living space... and while I know *I* could handle it (and probably the kids, really), it's dh who's the packrat. He grew up on 7 acres and then moved to 12. Having 12 acres to yourself is a lot different than sharing 6 with 100 other people! Also, just the interior space. The house he grew up in was 4000 sq ft. Ours, at 2000, is a struggle for him to keep his (ahem) *stuff* contained. He just doesn't believe in 'decluttering'. So that's really a bit of an issue, because I can handle his clutter in *this* house, where he has a separate room where I can toss it if he leaves it lying out. But in 1150 sq ft, I might need some therapy if his *stuff* is going to end up spilling out all over the house.
First things first, though. We need to get our own home ready to sell and on the market. So at the moment, I'm working on a (sadly, rather lengthy) "deficiency list" of things that will need touching up before we're ready to list. I asked dh if we ought to place a self-imposed deadline for that, but the idea didn't meet a very warm reception. lol
When the timing is right, our place will sell and there will be another 4 or ideally 5 br place (1600 sq ft) for sale in this townhouse complex.... that is, *if* dh can't get a job posting over on the island before then, which would be even more ideal.
oh, and the poncho? looks AWESOME and dd *loves* it! *AND* the matching one for her Maplelea doll looks fantastic, too, 'though a tad bit long... and it's not like the doll's going to 'grow into it'. ha ha ha I finished both today... just 5 days. *that's* the kind of craft project I can do!!
So the townhouse? Loved it. It's a cohousing complex, meaning a few things - it's focus is on building community between the inhabitants. This is facilitated by underground parking and a pedestrian walkway joining all the homes, allowing for more face-to-face interaction as people walk to and from their cars and the common house. Oh, yes, the common house. Also not a traditional feature in your average townhouse complex. This lovely shared space is fantastic and has so much to offer - shared laundry, a lounge, a guest room, a business office space as well as meeting/board room, aerobics or dance studio with mirrored wall, art studio, woodworking shop, dining hall with stage and community kitchen, indoor play area, teen area, outdoor play areas and trampoline, garden plots and so much more. Loved all of that.
What's not to love? Well, the idea of a smaller home than we're currently living in is a little daunting. It'd mean moving from 2000 sq ft down to about 1150. That's a significant decrease in living space... and while I know *I* could handle it (and probably the kids, really), it's dh who's the packrat. He grew up on 7 acres and then moved to 12. Having 12 acres to yourself is a lot different than sharing 6 with 100 other people! Also, just the interior space. The house he grew up in was 4000 sq ft. Ours, at 2000, is a struggle for him to keep his (ahem) *stuff* contained. He just doesn't believe in 'decluttering'. So that's really a bit of an issue, because I can handle his clutter in *this* house, where he has a separate room where I can toss it if he leaves it lying out. But in 1150 sq ft, I might need some therapy if his *stuff* is going to end up spilling out all over the house.
First things first, though. We need to get our own home ready to sell and on the market. So at the moment, I'm working on a (sadly, rather lengthy) "deficiency list" of things that will need touching up before we're ready to list. I asked dh if we ought to place a self-imposed deadline for that, but the idea didn't meet a very warm reception. lol
When the timing is right, our place will sell and there will be another 4 or ideally 5 br place (1600 sq ft) for sale in this townhouse complex.... that is, *if* dh can't get a job posting over on the island before then, which would be even more ideal.
oh, and the poncho? looks AWESOME and dd *loves* it! *AND* the matching one for her Maplelea doll looks fantastic, too, 'though a tad bit long... and it's not like the doll's going to 'grow into it'. ha ha ha I finished both today... just 5 days. *that's* the kind of craft project I can do!!
04 March 2011
i'm a crocheting machine! LOL
poncho, anyone?! phew! dd asked if i would make her a poncho earlier this week, so we went off to buy yarn and next thing you know, i seriously spent about 10 hrs today crocheting a poncho for her. the plan is to make her 18" Maplelea doll a matching poncho (which i'm hoping dd will want to make for the doll herself). they'll both be raspberry with ice pink. so far it looks great (and i'm TOTALLY loving making it for her!), and it reminded me that my paternal grandmother crocheted me one when i was about 7, too, only i haven't a clue what colour(s) it was. i just remember wearing it... vaguely.
so my hands are cramping up after so many hours needling... and i would keep going, (LOL, how's that for OC) except i have to be out the door in about 10 hrs, and i have a lot that i need to do before then. i love that my washing machine has a delay function; i'll wake up to the alarm clock early and the load of laundry will *just* be finished... our dishwasher also has a delay and i often set it to run during the middle of the night.
i had a fantastic tai chi class last night and another one this morning, although i missed the first hour of the continuing class this morning, including the *three* sets they did! bummer! we hardly ever do three sets in a class! I still got 90 mins of tai chi in, as I did the last half hour of continuing as well as teaching an hour immediately afterwards.
In Light,
~n~
so my hands are cramping up after so many hours needling... and i would keep going, (LOL, how's that for OC) except i have to be out the door in about 10 hrs, and i have a lot that i need to do before then. i love that my washing machine has a delay function; i'll wake up to the alarm clock early and the load of laundry will *just* be finished... our dishwasher also has a delay and i often set it to run during the middle of the night.
i had a fantastic tai chi class last night and another one this morning, although i missed the first hour of the continuing class this morning, including the *three* sets they did! bummer! we hardly ever do three sets in a class! I still got 90 mins of tai chi in, as I did the last half hour of continuing as well as teaching an hour immediately afterwards.
In Light,
~n~
02 March 2011
God, help me see outside of my self.
Make me worthy of your blessings, and may I serve you for a purpose greater than that of which I can conceive of.
Ya, a lot of navel-gazing going on around here. A lot of wondering aloud about the impact on the family of moving, time spent looking at the things not finished around here and in my life in general, lamenting their incomplete state, rather than appreciating their beauty as it is. *sigh*
And so to get out of this head-space, I'll think about what went *right* today:
I had a lovely time talking with the other mamas while the children swam today. I am very grateful for their companionship and friendship.
I had a wonderful adjustment at the chiropractor after. And a great conversation with him about how we (in western society) assume that 'aging' means losing mobility and flexibility, and yet this doesn't have to be the case at all. Preventative health care is one way of extending our life expectancy, one aspect of self-care and a way of choosing health over disease.
dh came home after a week away. distance sure does make the heart grow fonder. :)
Had a great conversation with my fil about the possibility of moving. he's a wonderful sounding board, and wise, too.
The chickens are all safe and sound (we lost one to a raccoon last week) and they are all behaving very well about going to bed on time. They're very cooperative about going inside at dusk now, and I appreciate this very much, rather than waiting until well after dark before locking them in.
I am very very grateful for my tai chi practice.
Make me worthy of your blessings, and may I serve you for a purpose greater than that of which I can conceive of.
Ya, a lot of navel-gazing going on around here. A lot of wondering aloud about the impact on the family of moving, time spent looking at the things not finished around here and in my life in general, lamenting their incomplete state, rather than appreciating their beauty as it is. *sigh*
And so to get out of this head-space, I'll think about what went *right* today:
I had a lovely time talking with the other mamas while the children swam today. I am very grateful for their companionship and friendship.
I had a wonderful adjustment at the chiropractor after. And a great conversation with him about how we (in western society) assume that 'aging' means losing mobility and flexibility, and yet this doesn't have to be the case at all. Preventative health care is one way of extending our life expectancy, one aspect of self-care and a way of choosing health over disease.
dh came home after a week away. distance sure does make the heart grow fonder. :)
Had a great conversation with my fil about the possibility of moving. he's a wonderful sounding board, and wise, too.
The chickens are all safe and sound (we lost one to a raccoon last week) and they are all behaving very well about going to bed on time. They're very cooperative about going inside at dusk now, and I appreciate this very much, rather than waiting until well after dark before locking them in.
I am very very grateful for my tai chi practice.
01 March 2011
I walked through the house the other day with a piece of paper and a pen, and made note of all the possessions I'd willingly release... and there's *lots*! LOL I'll bring my list up in a family meeting, and see if others are also willing to let some of them go. The kids thought I was behaving oddly, taking 'inventory'. ha ha ha
I'm just feeling... really blah today. I want to get things *done* around here but I haven't got the skills/time/money to work on them. I'm trying to be aware of what things I am capable of doing - yesterday I moved five wheelbarrows of dirt (I've learned not to overdo it in my enthusiasm)... today I'm hoping to move a few more.
But before I go do that, I've got some paperworky type things that need to be finished inside, so I'd best stop procrastinating and get them done.
Feeling grateful for a nice warm cup of nettle tea,
~n~
I'm just feeling... really blah today. I want to get things *done* around here but I haven't got the skills/time/money to work on them. I'm trying to be aware of what things I am capable of doing - yesterday I moved five wheelbarrows of dirt (I've learned not to overdo it in my enthusiasm)... today I'm hoping to move a few more.
But before I go do that, I've got some paperworky type things that need to be finished inside, so I'd best stop procrastinating and get them done.
Feeling grateful for a nice warm cup of nettle tea,
~n~
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