What I thought would be an easy feat is not. It was my intent to blog every night. However, we have been pushing our days a little hard and not getting a motel and supper until 8 and 9 pm. It is 10:43 here in Killarney on our 3rd night and because of the time change it is 11:43 our time.
My plan to write a blog each night has not panned out. All days have blended in to one. Although tiring, the longer stretch has given us extra time. I would rather be driving, gaining time, then sitting in a motel room blogging. Our second day we left the Sault. The scenery was magnificent. I can not wait to go back. We made a lot of stops along the way. One beautiful place called The voyageurs' Lodge where we stopped to fuel up. The gentleman who pumped our gas use to be a High School Teacher in St. Thomas, On and he and his wife now own this place. Gas bar, restaurant, general store and motel. Going to stay there on our way home. There is a lake across the road with spectacular views. Shortly after leaving here, my sister spots a black bear in the ditch to my right (I was the passenger). I tried getting picture of it, but not very successful as you will see from the picture. We spoke a lot about seeing moose. Didn't we ever would and then we see one. Dead. On the shoulder of the road. Sad. But not to worry. It wasn't soon after seeing it that we finally saw a live one. And awhile later saw a few more. they were altogether grazing on the side of the road. Except one lone one standing knee deep in water set a little back in. What an amazing sight. One comical thing I would like to add is about the big ass crows they have in these parts. We assumed they are ravens and the girl at the information centre in Wawa confirmed this. I would watch these birds on the side of the road and desriptions of their walks would run through my head. The first one walking like it was taking a Sunday stroll. The second one was just strutting his stuff. The third one was walking like I am getting the heck out of here. I must have been tired! Before we got to Kakabeka Falls we stopped to eat in a town called Marathon. A&W. The nicest one I have ever been in. The colour theme and decorating was very stylish. Refreshing to see. We also stopped to see the Canadian Goose at Wawa and we visited the little town. Always stop for the goose but never go in to the town. Glad we did. A little hick town but, also on a lake. From here we headed to Kakabeka Falls. By-passed Thunder Bay. We stayed at The Carriage Inn there. In the morning after filling up on pancakes and ham, we headed to the Falls. That also being magnificent. I think magnificent is a theme for this part of the country. The scenery changes from trees, water and rocks to just trees, then trees and water, then trees and rocks. Forever changing, never knowing what was around the bend. Literally! On the eve of day 3 I will close again with, stay tuned for day 3. #Ontario #Wawagoose #KakabekaFalls #Thunderbay #MarathonOntario
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So, the thing we were most concerned about, (would they have the car we wanted) turned out to be an interesting experience. They handed us keys for a Durango, who wouldn't want one of those? US! Lol. My sister said, "Don't you have the Sant Fe?" "Yes, they say but, not the model you sat in before." "Well, can't we see it and try both of them out?s" my sister asked. The 2 guys from Hertz in London, ON were so amazing. They both came out back and showed us all the feature each vehicle had. Gave us their opinions as to which ones they would drive and for different reasons. In the end we chose the Santa Fe. It has more room than we expected and it has been very comfortable for the three of us. The ride is excellent. It handles so well. OKAY, enough of that! We originally had a specific route planned out but, due to some things changing we decided to go a different way. We started off heading to Highway 23 which goes through a few towns. Mitchell, Listowel, etc. As we were heading North with plans to eventually hit the 400 highway, I brought up a small town I had heard about. While watching HGTV I have fallen in love with a show called Sarah Off the Grid. She recently purchased a house in her 'favourite' little town in Ontario. A place called Creemore. It is now one of 'MY' favourites.
The road that took us into Creemore was so beautiful! It was a winding road with lots of trees and a creek that ran along side the road. And then the town itself, so quaint. It just sucks you right in and doesn't want you to leave. At least I felt like it didn't as I wanted to stay. Maybe permanently! Definitely a night stay or 2 is now on my bucket list. The house was on the main street. I recognized it right away. I bet you the town was buzzing when that was all taking place. We got on the 400 which changed to 69 and headed to Sudbury. We took a detour and stopped in Port Severn (up in the Muskokas). We topped the tank off. Had a picnic lunch and hit the road once more. Once in Sudbury we searched for the apartment building my Dad's Uncle John and Aunt Yvonne lived in. It took us a bit of looking and trying to figure roads and tracks out. Tracks were an important piece of the puzzle. Finally found it. It looks a lot smaller than I remember it from when I was 12. (The last time I was there). Mind you, my Dad says half of it is gone so, that could explain a few things. We left Sudbury for Sault St. Marie, taking a couple breaks to stretch and make pit stops. The scenery started changing the closer we got to the Sault. And then became pretty spectacular after there. We did hole up for the night in a Howard Johnsons. Shady looking place from the outside but, nicely renovated and very clean on the inside. Keep tuned for day 2! #roadtrip #Ontariotourism #Ontario #PortSevern #Sudbury #Creemore #Sarahoffthegrid #SaultSt.Marie #family FIRST BLOG FOR OUR SASKATCHEWAN TRIP Wow, where to start! After months of discussing how great it would be to travel to Saskatchewan to visit my Dad’s Uncle Rudy, we are officially going! During our very many conversations, it was usually my Dad saying that was too far a drive for him. (Note-he WON’T fly). Then, one day, out of the blue I over ear a telephone conversation he is having. I hear him say, “The girls want to take me out West, so I guess we’re going”. What?!?! Seriously? Yes! So on with the planning. My sister and I scattering to figure out time off work and could I get it. What will we drive? None of us have big enough vehicles for the three of us to take that intense of a journey. We're going for approximately 12 days. Due to health insurance costs going through the states, it was decided we would do the long drive up through Northwestern Ontario. Renting a mid sized SUV wasn’t as easy as one would of thought. Not all SUV’s will accommodate 6’ plus people sharing the back seat. And reserving one for the trip would not guarantee the one of choice. So, off my sister and I went to ‘sit’ in them to see how we would fare. The only model on the lot was the Santa Fe. Of all the options, this one was the one I was most concerned about as I have been in a couple for short trips and let me tell you, those short trips were way too long! Thankfully this one was a different model and a 2019. My sister and I sat in the front passenger seat and behind, taking turns to make sure we would both be comfortable. Yay! Success. Now, if only, when she calls Monday (a little less than a week before we leave) we can then have this particular vehicle reserved. Fingers crossed. Next, trying to figure out our route, stops, how long we want to drive for in total. I look at google maps from one destination to the other. Find what we think would work for us. First day, stop in Bracebridge for lunch. Head to Powassan to visit a cousin of my Dad’s and then on to North Bay and to Sudbury for the final destination of our first day. Of course, there are always road bumps in one’s plans. Unfortunately, my dad got a phone call regarding the husband of the cousin we were to visit along the way. He got a diagnosis that needed immediate surgery and for understandable reasons are not wanting us to visit at this time. So, here I am, back at it again. Seeing how much further we can drive now that we have an extra few hours. All this planning also included looking at towns in between certain major cities along our way to see what, if any, accommodations they would have. Looking at the different motel websites. Seeing what there was to see in these towns. Restaurants, etc. There was a lot of time and effort put into it. Made a list of things I want to pack. Clothes, medicine, toiletries, food/snacks…seems like a never-ending list. May look to some like I am moving out there. After everything is said and done, I know there will be things I will forget to take, itinerary not followed. Expectations, well, I’ll try not to have any. I just want to enjoy the journey. So, I’ll take lots of pictures and videos. Write as much about our adventure as I can and most importantly, know I am making memories that will last a lifetime. ORGANIC VEGAN GREENS What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you read this? Eeewww! Right?! WRONG!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!! The best words to describe this bar I am going to quote from the movie “Everafter’. ‘Sinfully delightful’. Who would have thought that a green bar would taste so, so, savoury! Available at - http://milcoeur.webflow.io/ 22443 Adelaide Road Mount Brydges, ON Canada Right beside Vern's Variety. Welcome to Milcoeur! milcoeur.webflow.io/services This is a gorgeous little centre in the hub of Mt. Brydges, ON. A community space where one can come and explore some alternative modalities such as Reiki, Access Bars, Qi Gong, Therapeutic touch, just to name a few. Also being offered are cooking classes. This is a plant based facility which will be teaching raw cooking classes, to how to transition to vegan. You will also find essential oils. Vitamins and supplements along with a small array of other products. Such as those 'Organic Green Vegan Bars' I mentioned earlier. I am honoured to be affiliated with such an integral part of our community. I look forward to sharing my gifts with others. Come and visit when you get the chance. We would be honoured to have your presence. #vegan #reiki #chakradance #nutritionist #plantbased #healthyeating #vegancooking #access #bars #therapeutic #touch #healing #energy #poet Niagara Falls Road Trip I love the synchronicities of life. A few weeks ago my friend Lorna and I became aware that an acquaintance of ours moved to Niagara Falls and opened a business. During our conversation in regards to this I asked if she wanted to do a road trip. Oh, how I ‘LOVE’ a road trip. And so does she. The very next weekend we were in Niagara Falls. We stayed at the Holiday Inn on Murray Street. We knew we were close to Charlie’s store but low and behold he was in our back yard. The parking lot directly behind the Holiday Inn’s is the Imax Theatre. Right beside the Imax is a building, ‘Thunder Gallery’. This is where Charlie’s Trading Post is. A beautiful array of authentic indigenous Arts and Crafts. Representing First Nations, Metis and Inuit arts. He has quite the collection there. It’s one of those places that you need to visit a few times to be able to take everything in. I know as I have been there a total of four days and still feel I am missing things. The four days was not done in one trip. In three weeks we have gone twice to Niagara Falls. Let me explain. My other friend Kay is a writer. She has her first book in editing and it will be published next year. She has the second book to the series finished and is about to start her third. The series is about faes, witches, and supernaturals. And guess where it takes place? In an invisible town called ‘Harlow’s Rock’ and it’s in Niagara Falls. So, you can imagine her envy when she found out Lorna and I were going to Niagara Falls. Upon our return Kay and I did our usual Friday evening talks which we have been doing for a few years now. Kay lives in Ottawa. During our conversation, she brought up how she had been thinking earlier that she wondered if on one of her trips down would I consider going there. I said that it’s too bad she couldn’t make it down before the snow flies as I would love to go back. She had her train ticket booked for that Tuesday and we went the weekend coming up. Which was this past weekend. And while on the phone discussing plans, a post on Facebook popped up from Charlie’s Trading Post about a Shaker making class. Let me back up a bit. Also during our planning, I mentioned that Lorna should come along as well. As I was on Facebook I shot Lorna a PM and asked her if she would like to come along and of course she was all in. When I saw Charlie’s post about the shaker making class and Kay and I decided to do it I got on the PM box again to tell Lorna we were doing it. This is where the synchronicities really came into play. At the time that Charlie’s post popped up Lorna was reading a monthly newsletter from Sandra Ingerman who is a Shaman. The article was about rattles. Here is the link to the newsletter. http://www.sandraingerman.com/tnnovember2016.html Please read as it does tie in to the rest of the story. So, as we were coming into Niagara Falls from Lyons Creek Street we turned onto Stanley where we stopped so Kay could take a picture of where Harlow’s Rock is located. And our fun began. We headed then to Robinson Street where Thunder Gallery is. Located inside is Charlie’s Trading Post. The first part of the lesson was the introduction to the main material we were going to be using. Moose hide. Charlie had it soaking in a pail of water and had started that the day before. Moose hide is fairly thick unlike deer that is thin. Moose hide is also very hard when dry hence the need to soak it for a long period of time. During the process of cutting it and then punching holes in it for the sewing part we needed to soak the hide quite often to keep it soft and pliable. Once the sewing part was done we wound the twine around the bottom (after we inserted the stick) and let it dry overnight. The following morning we headed back to finish it off. We first unwrapped the twine and filled the shaker with dried corn. Then we retied the twine and added decorations. You can see the finished product in the illustration below. Upon our arrival back to Lorna’s place that evening we decided to do a little shaking before Kay and I headed back to my home. Lorna brought up the Sandra Ingerman newsletter to read to us so we could see how fitting it was. We then sat in a circle and started our shaking. I asked that while doing this we have the intent of giving thanks for the community of the three of us, the community we shared at Charlie’s Trading Post and Lorna added that we put it out to the world. With that we started. We came up with a few different rhythms and continued until we all seemed to feel it was time to stop. It was a great finish to an awesome weekend. What a great adventure. Please share. Your comments and stories are welcome.
#poetry #reiki #chakradance #AmWriting #stories #story #reikishare #healing #love #poet #poem #blogger #CharlieFife #indigenous #FirstNation #Meti #Inuit #dreamcatcher #nativeart #crafters #NiagaraFalls #Ontario #Ontariotourism #Canada #fantasy #Witchonparole Writing continued In my first blog titled ‘Writing’ I wrote about blocks. The path since has been rocky but intermittently has been a little smoother. Until just a couple of years ago. A very good friend of mine would always speak enthusiastically about a site she was on. It’s a Linda Goodman forum called Conscious Evolution where writers and such have a place to share. I decided to join and the energy that started moving because of it was nothing short of miraculous. Between my friend and I feeding off one another’s posts and a little from others as well, I became a conduit for some poet. Because I sure don’t believe it is me. Albeit most artists feel this way at the best of times. Even though I know I can write to some degree this was different. Typically, while speaking I have an uncanny knack to rhyme. Like the old adage goes, “I’m a poet and don’t even know it”. This Linda Goodman site seemed to stir something more from me. In the middle of the night I would wake up with a few things going through me head, of course sentences that would rhyme, so I would write them down. In a journal I started keeping in bed with me. Little flash light to go along with it. In the morning I would tweak what I had written and there before my eyes would be a poem. Almost every night for weeks this would happen. Then a dry spell. My same friend and I started getting out and around in the spring visiting different places in unique little towns. In one such town I became very inspired. There’s a lovely place in Sparta which is a small town in Southwestern Ontario. Said place is called Winter Wheat. I will share a poem I wrote about Winter Wheat at the end. My journey since this started has been life changing. I am in a dry spell once again as far as poetry goes but I am full of short stories so I have started blogging for a friend who is an author. She just got her first publishing contract and her publication date for her first book (of a series) is Oct. 19th of this year. She has inspired me to see about having my poetry published. I have approximately 25 poems and I would love to see them in a book. Until then, I will continue to blog and when the energy strikes, write a poem or two. Or three… Enjoy my poem about Winter Wheat --à Spring is here. Summer's near. Come visit the place Where time stands still. Sit inside, out of the chill. Enjoy some complimentary coffee or tea. We're talking of course About Winter Wheat. Come see where the pixies, fae and fairies play. While looking forward to the summer's heat. A place where like minded souls meet To indulge in the quiet of a lazy day. Start now in the month of May. Bring your family and friends to celebrate Mother's Day. Shop or wander 'til your hearts content. Buy someone special, maybe even yourself, a unique present. There's lots to choose from, but don't be dismayed. Save some things for another day. Each time you come, enjoy your stay! http://winter-wheat.com/#page Please share. Your comments and stories are welcome. #poetry #reiki #chakradance #AmWriting #stories #story #reikishare #healing #love #poet #poem #blogger My cousin and I at Winter Wheat. October 2014. ‘Writing’ When I was younger I enjoyed writing. Short stories. Poems. Interestingly enough, like most, we encounter blocks. Usually in the form of other people and their opinions. In grade eight we were asked to write a short story. We were given a subject and told to write our view on it. So I did. My mark wasn’t bad although not great and the teacher wrote something to the affect that my opinion wasn’t correct. In grade nine English once again was to write a story, about dog’s instincts. I wrote about that also adding that I believe there was something deeper to animals than just instinct. As I believe they are smarter in ways we don’t give them credit for. I got a 6 out of 10 which was very low for me. On the paper was a note that said I would have been graded higher. And something to the effect like I was wrong in my thoughts about there being more than just instinct. In Girl Guides I wanted to get my writers badge. Again writing a short story. I remember going to a lady’s house for her to judge my stuff so I could receive my badge. Twice she had me come back again. One example which I vaguely remember is where I had written a sentence referring to a big balloon. She encouraged me to use bigger words like huge, gigantic, enormous. But as a young girl this was criticism and not encouragement. I would have understood had I been writing about a hot air balloon and not a party balloon. So I took all this to heart and stopped writing. Like so many of us do we let other’s opinions discourage us from doing what we most love. Some figure out sooner than later that others thoughts and opinions are only that. Thoughts and opinions. They in no way are in relation to what we are doing. It has just come to be in the past two years that I no longer care what others think of how I write. It has been an awesome journey so far. One I will share with you in my next blog. Feel free to share your stories on how you may have been affected in a similar way. Cheers! Please share. Your comments and stories are welcome. #poetry #reiki #chakradance #AmWriting #stories #story #reikishare #healing #love #poet #poem #blogger |
AuthorSandra MacLean -> Poet, Reiki Master/Teacher, Access Bars, Chakradance Facilitator. Archives
June 2019
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