Shuswap Lake Ranch

04/24/2021

22 years ago today we celebrated the largest birthday party that the ranch had ever hosted. It was for my father's 70th. As it was April we couldn't go to nature's dining hall so instead we emptied out our living room and used that as well as the dining room for the dinner guests. Brent prepared a full course sit down dinner and friends helped to make the 7 cakes for dessert. It ended up being the last big party for my Dad as his health quickly declined that year. I am thankful we celebrated that birthday, even if it was overwhelming at the time given that we had three small children and worked on and off the farm. Let those around you feel your love, eat cake, celebrate.

02/10/2020

On the anniversary of my father's passing, 20 years ago. New blog post, "I remember....". www.bastionofwords.com

01/25/2020

New blog post at www.bastionofwords.com - The sound of Snow

01/19/2020

New blog entry at www.bastionofwords.com "I Honour You"

LIFE AND LOSS ON A FAMILY FARM

12/06/2019

New Blog entry at http://www.bastionofwords.com/ "I love you so terribly much"

07/10/2019

There will be Days like This Be still my dear, gather close, all will be well. She said this as the earth gathered her arms and fl...

05/12/2019

On this Mother's Day I am thankful to my Great Grand Mother and Grand Mother who were strong pioneer women on the farm and provided me a foundation of love.

They are there, our Mothers,
their caring arms reaching out,
healing, loving.
We are never abandoned.
They show up in our lover, daughter, grandmother.
Find them in the quiet forest spaces, the wind on your face.
Or your own heart, beating softly, life giving.
With such abundance there is no need to cling to those who hurt.
There is the story of our birth,
what comes after creates Mother.
Any moment in any day you may come across one,
the boy in the coffee shop, your sister, those long dead.
Your walk on this earth is not alone, there are no orphans.

02/11/2019

This poem is in memory of my father who passed on this day nineteen years ago.

There is no going back to what was, or what could be.
No way to attach the losses back to their homes,
as if they never happened.
Allow it all to fall away, gently, graciously.
The passage of time is beautiful with all its goodbyes.
Back to earth, to home.
I think of my father asking to be laid to rest above the farm,
grass, barns, cows all gathered below.
Perhaps he thought he could watch over it all, never ending.
That view is no more.
Practice to let go of person and place, unclench the heart.
The lost loves of life do return, not how they were, but more a gentle knowing.
Be open, welcome them back to you.

01/01/2019

Happy New Year! It has taken us a few years since leaving the farm to come back to some of our old traditions. This year seemed like a good time to bring out the old cow bells and cheese fondue. This was how we used to ring in the New Year on the farm. These bells came with the family from Switzerland. Let their ring sound out over the many miles and reach you all, with love.

04/26/2018

We have a new new name for our webpage: www.bastionofwords.com