Uncommon Beauty in Writing

Our Winnipeg Jets hockey team successfully made it to the first round of playoffs. It was a team effort and most of all, Connor Hellebuyck, the number one goalie contributed to the team’s deep success. A trainer who believes in a player and coaches that person in a summer program is imperative and as a result, Connor improved his game immensely.

What about Coach Maurice? He is effective and demonstrated the ability to work the talents of both novice and veteran players. Each player on the team succeeded in their own way. Some players scored several goals and some, not so many. There is an abundance of talent in each of the lines and Maurice tweaked those lines several times. The depth and skill on this team will provide us with excitement heading into the playoffs. Overall, the players respect each other, consistently focus on team spirit and becoming better players in each game.

What a remarkable season and that our team finished in second place with 114 points.

Meeting friends at one of our favourite restaurants named Brazen Hall was a fabulous way to launch into spring break. We exchanged several hearty laughs over stories from J & L’s recent trip to Palm Springs. The  piping hot Mac & Cheese dish topped with strips of chicken is definitely a crowd favourite and it’s so delicious!

Mundane Monday turned into an endless flurry of excitement for our seven year old niece. Bowling lanes will never be the same and neither will the trip to a familiar chocolate shop where she was introduced to the best Belgian chocolate in the city. Her little Easter basket was filled with eggs however, two little Easter bunnies were quickly wrapped for her little sister and herself. Next, a jaunt to the neighborhood library for a Lego party and an afternoon of reading and drawing mellowed all three of us.

Other days were filled with leisurely time spent reading, walking to a few speciality cafes, casually connecting with friends and taking in an evening of Cannes Best Commercials show. Oh, a couple of evenings we excitedly cheered on our True North Winnipeg Jets Hockey Team to the playoffs.

One of our best evenings was spent at a spa where we literally read for 75 minutes without any iPhones. Mindfulness was absorbed and thoroughly appreciated.

Restful and rejuvenating best describe spring break 2018.

How important is it to take responsibility for our health and well being? The goal of health and wellness is to live long, enriched, and healthy lives. Therefore, living a balanced lifestyle is imperative. To maximize a balance, we not only need to care for our mind but also body and spirit. On March 16, 2018 approximately 125 staff of KEC actively participated in a workplace wellness day.

It’s crucial to focus on small changes and to begin working toward health and fitness. Many of the activities offered to our staff included an outdoor wellness walk, hip hop lessons, ice skating, cross country skiing, winter biking, ice fishing, card making, and a tour of local art gallery. All of these activities provided opportunities for people to feel happier and more engaged in their work place. All the small changes we make can add up to one big change, resulting in connectedness. Making progress toward our goals was evident.

Our wellness day definitely promoted a strong sense of camaraderie among staff. Next year’s event will be similar with a few more options.

Last week I walked to a local boutique in our neighbourhood to buy a Christmas decoration for our home. While I was browsing, the management team owner was organizing over 150 handbags 👜 that women dropped off during the week to a campaign called Handbags of Hope. I was invited to participate in this amazing project.

The purpose is to encourage women to consider donating a gently used handbag and fill it with personal items such as socks, mitts, gloves, hat, toiletries, bus pass, gift cards, etc. for women affected by hardship in our communities.

It’s wonderful to be a part of a project where you feel that you are contributing to society in a positive way. I encourage all women to think about this mission…inspire hope and empower women.

Why planking? Planking improves our posture and stability as well as strengthens that mid core that we all strive to have. It’s imperative that your form is correct.

Started this challenge November 1st by planking the first week for one minute daily. The second week increased each plank by 30 seconds. Now third week will be two minutes. By fourth week two and a half minutes will be the challenge. Also, I include the Russian twist with a 20 pound weight. Stronger core will definitely improve my balance and summer running. Anna Kaiser, a celebrity trainer from NYC states, “ planking forces you to stabilizes you body and engages your core.” We can all do this…be committed!

I walked out with several useful ideas from a

First day of Fall arrived with a slight chill in the air however, sunshine peeked through the blue skies as I hurried off to school. It’s majestic to experience this season with leaves turning in splashes of yellow, orange and red. I was thankful that the day stayed seasonally warm enough for us to walk 12km in our neighbourhood trails.

This season also creates that warm feeling of layering up with cozy clothing. Wearing big comfy sweaters, paired with a collection of plaid wool infinity scarves and boyfriend faded jeans makes me happy. And yes, I indulged with a Pumpkin Spiced Latte and a tasty piece of chocolate.

Nothing adds a hint of fall feeling like seeing front doorsteps using pumpkins of all sizes as decorations. We know it’s Fall when we hear neighbours raking leaves and seeing little ones jumping into the raked piles. They are so excited to hear the crispy crunch of those dried brown leaves.

This is also the season to embrace as we think about Thanksgiving where we gather with our families and friends to enjoy the bountiful fall harvest and taste two of our Fall recipes: butternut squash and fresh apple crisp. Experience the magnificent Fall colours, glance to the healthy side, lace up a pair of comfy runners and hike a trail or two.

September approached quickly and a sense of sadness was in my eyes when I realized I was leaving behind beautiful summer memories. However, excitement mounted as I drove off to school September 6th to meet new groups of high school students and to discover what memories they made for themselves during the past two months. Ed Sheeran’s song Photograph (we made these memories for ourselves) was playing softly in the background when students walked into my classroom.

To begin each semester, it is imperative that we focus building rapport with our students, establish expectations and provide strategies to motivate them to learn in engaging and meaningful classrooms. Introducing myself to kids through the use of photographs taken during the summer created a sense of story for them. Later, students wrote in their writer’s notebook their story about who they are as individuals and included information about themselves as a reader and a writer. I wanted to establish the first day that reading and writing matters and through this process I would discover something about them as a learner.

The second day I read two books to my students namely: The Little Boy From Jamaica and What Do You Do With an Idea. These two children’s books include powerful messages that everyone can relate to and provides a sense of inquiry to our learning. Students engaged in meaningful conversations to me about someone who has believed in their learning and has been a positive support to them in their educational journey. These stories provide a landscape for us to be open and honest in our daily writing. A semester goal for us to work through together is to incorporate a technology-based three minute digital biography presentation which includes details about their early childhood years, hobbies, interests and future goals.

Motivating students to read daily for 20 minutes in each of my classes establishes the idea that reading is important. Students visited the library and signed out a novel of their choice. I also read a book during this time. Later in the week students share with their table group the highlights of their novel and how making connections to what they are reading is important.

One week of classes and memories were made for each of us. It was a busy, productive and fun week. I am looking forward to what the year holds.

Midway through August and the morning air is slightly cooler than our intense heat of July. However, sitting outside on our deck and relishing a cup of coffee is so divine. Some of us are still reading books while others are taking in the Back to School sales in newspapers.

The other day I was sharing my childhood story to a friend about summer holidays on the island and they were not that different from today’s kids summers. School usually closed June 23rd with a picnic and birthday invitations were given out while riding home on the school bus. I attended a few summer birthday parties where we would play outdoor games, enjoy hotdogs and cake and open each other’s gifts. Fun memories are lasting!

Other summer activities included attending one week of swimming lessons at the YMCA in Charlottetown in which we were bused to and from our lessons. Special friendships were formed while sitting with the same little friends daily on the bus.

Two weeks of my summer included attending a vacation camp where we learned how to make arts and crafts. My early childhood friend’s mom would drive us daily to the day camp. I always remembered that she had better snacks than me however, being friends we shared like sisters. The best snack was celery sticks with loads of cheese whiz and apple slices with a dash of peanut butter. We were kids and loved these healthy snacks.

I grew up on a family farm where my father would bale hay and my mom attended to the gardening of both flowers and vegetables. My cousin and I would love to hide out in the garden where we would pick the cucumbers but mostly eat them before they made it to the fridge. Also, picking apples was a favourite past time activity and making homemade apple sauce, and apple pie with my grandmother were great times.

The last two weeks of August always brought loads of excitement because time was drawing near for returning to school. This meant that I would choose a new outfit from the Sears Catalogue. Whatever the model was showcasing on the front cover was my first choice. Ordering it prior to my August 28th birthday and arriving just in time for school was the routine. School supplies were not the extensive list that I notice today. New pack of Hilroy scribblers and a few pencils were in our backpacks and ready for the first day of school.

Returning to school was exciting because we were placed in classes with a few of our friends. It was fun sharing my childhood summer holidays with a friend over coffee.

Cherish those glory days of summer.

Spending a day with one of our nieces was truly an exceptional day that both of us will remember. Amelia and I embarked on our day with an hour of quiet time at Folio Cafe where we chatted about which animals and birds we would encounter at Assiniboine Park Zoo. We explored the journey to Churchill and the polar bear tundra for an extended period of time because it was fascinating for both of us. Something new for Amelia was the touring of the horse centre. She watched closely as the owners groomed the horses. Finally, two percheron horses were hitched to a wagon and  toured us through worn down paths.

Another fascinating part of the zoo visit included Amelia’s all time favourite…exploring the Shirley Richardson butterfly garden. This exhibit included a variety of butterfly species and here, Amelia’s curiosity heightened. She concentrated on chasing and attracting beautiful butterflies to land on flowering plants. The peaceful garden features many perennial and annual flowers and many children were fascinated with the fluttering butterflies.

A transit trip downtown and to the Forks kept Amelia entertained to the point that she said, “my legs are tired.”  However, she perked up when we ordered her all time favourite…a sugary gooey cinnamon bun from Tall Grass Prairie Deli.

A full day of excitement and wonder winded down for us when we sat under a huge tree in our neighbourhood and I read one of Amelia’s favourite books. She listened intently to the story and as well practiced her gymnastic moves.