Local Tourist

So we decided today that we needed to enjoy where we live.  On our way to work we pass by 24 wineries, numerous hops and fruit farms. 

However, we also have a wonderful backcountry to experience.  Fishing, hiking hunting, and camping are just a few to mention. 

These photos are from our walk to the falls on Naramata Creek.  This is a great short walk and is accessible to all ages.  Take the chance to get outside and enjoy yourself.  The positive endorphins will do you good.

Remember, one good deed starts with you!

KB

Smoke On the Water

It’s amazing that after a long cold winter, that weather can change so quickly from flooding conditions to smoke filled skies and extreme fire danger ratings. 

Living in the Okanagan, we have the potential for microclimate extremes. Our mountain ski hills can have some of the best winter conditions found anywhere, with snowpacks over 200cm. This year we had a snowpack in our watershed that reached over 200% of the average annual.  

So many people worried about a reoccurrence of last years tragic flooding. However, the rain on snow events never materialized, and we escaped relatively unharmed. Not so lucky to the south of us... 

Now we have 40 days and Nights with no rain, and the occasional dry lightning. Fun, fun, fun. This has caused numerous fires.  Now homes are threatened and people, and pets are required to move.  

In the end, I always find it amazing when you see communities band together.  The horse/equestrian community is a great example of this. People who would otherwise never meet come to together to move these majestic animals. Many of these 1000 pound plus animals are scared/nervous, and now strangers are trying to load them into a trailer.  Personal injury is not uncommon. However, each owner knows at some point, they may need to make this call for help. TDM

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That feeling...

There are days when you wake up with the feeling that you can take on the world,  and then there are days like today...

Being positive takes work. I can remember watching "City Slickers" for the first time and Curly saying the "secret to life is one thing".  Curly, pointing his finger, and Billy Cristal enquiring what that could be.

There are alot of times when I wonder why this is such hard work.  The daily grind... and then you go to the mailbox and there's a wonderful surprise.  When you have children, you want the best for them.  You nurture them, help them, teach them, but in the end, they have to go out and make their own world. 

This a short story about watching your kid apply for University.   It's about the stress of helping him create his application, and then meeting the timelines. Throw in a bad case of the flu during exam week. Then add the stress of getting his marks and transcripts to the registrar(s).  Once he's met all those requirements, he waits and waits...

After a period of time, his friends start receiving acceptance letters. He waits and waits.  He even asks did he do everything right?  He waits and waits. 

This is the story of the one day that the stars align. Time has passed, and finally, the acceptance letter arrives.  The great sense of pride.  The appreciation of the hard work that paid off. The vision of happiness so strong it brings a tear.   That one thing is simply LOVE.