The Abandoned Field

Hello dearest Kindred Spirits!
I’m doing this post in honor of Melanie, who encouraged me to do a post about my morning walks in my quaint and rugged town.

I found this abandoned field (it’s not fully just a field, but that’s what I call it) not too far from my house about a year ago, near the elementary school that is in the middle of Devore, my hometown. I walked there yesterday morning with the family dog, Champ. He is my main focus when I take pictures with my iPhone on our walks — he is the absolutely best model! I don’t consider myself a photographer (maybe some day I’ll pursue it), but rather an iPhone shutterbug. And some of you know, I do use the hashtag #withalicemyiphone on my Instagram page for all my somewhat efforts in artistic capturing. This field has been a big inspiration for me! It does not yet have a name and maybe after you ladies grab some tea and soak in this beauty of creation, you could give some ideas on what I should call it?

Yesterday morning started off later than I had wished, but I decided to tell Champ that we were going for a walk and he could have cared less what time of the day it was, he was just so excited to even go. It has been awhile since I’ve last seen the abandoned field.

The shooting in San Bernardino has been in small moments a lot for me to take in, especially since I had been only ten minutes away in a library when the scene occurred. It can be so easy to let such terrible tragedy cast dark shadows on one’s spirit, but I’m learning to remind myself that God already has my days numbered and being anxious is not going to help me any, that He has a whole beautiful world ready for me still to see and enjoy no matter how crazy the world has become. So I made a choice to do just that.

I have been so sick over this summer and part of the fall, as I explained in my last post — read here. Thankfully, I’m feeling so much better and stronger. However, the setback didn’t allow me to do my walks with Champ because where we live there is huge steep hills and windy roads, plus high altitude. It’s at the most three miles to the abandoned field, but it can take a lot out of you especially if you have been sick like me for so long. It was way overdue that I gave it a visit and I have been building my strength slowly to get to this morning.

This street winds around until it takes me to the field. I love this barn on the hill — I always imagine that on Christmas baby Jesus is born here.

It was quite a windy day but it seemed to carry with it reassuring peace and encouragement, as it carried away my anxiety that I didn’t even know strongly existed. I was so rejuvenated to be out amongst my town’s trees, fences, houses and barns, dogs barking hello, and the street that always leads me without fail to my favorite field.

Getting closer to the abandoned field!

What is so wonderful about this field that when I come to visit it always keeps its purity of newness — I always see, find, and learn something new about it every time! And it’s not big at all, just a couple of acres. As we got to the field across the street, Champ was already pulling at the leash to cross. He knew exactly where we were going.

Once we got there, it felt like home. I let Champ off his leash and he trotted around happy. After breathing it all in, I got my iPhone out to capture it — part of my way in enjoying the details that I don’t always pay attention to with the naked eye. Champ always gets dragged into posing for me for a few minutes, but he’s is so good at it that I just can’t let him not do it.

Champ with a sour face, waiting for my que to model for the capture. Modeling is hard work.

The results — moments like these captured just makes me all giddy. Isn’t Champ a pro or what?

I feel like Pocahontus with Grandmotherwillow with these gorgeous trees.

 The real field part of the abandoned field is near its neighbors who grow and sell live Christmas trees. They also have a field behind it, which is the part that shares a fence with the abandoned field, that holds a pair of extremely friendly donkeys and a rude llama and alpaca.

 This was taken the day I first met these cuties. Those ears, eyes, and soft nose… Ahhhh! They melt my heart.

There are many other lovely creatures neighboring by. Since I take care of some of the town’s animals when people go on vacation, I get to meet some cuties. Just last week I took care of this lovely girl, Blueberry.

Last month I took care of this beautiful mare. I have been giving care to her and the other barn full of horses she lives with for some years. When I use to have my own horse, I use to ride over during the days I was assigned. I really enjoy this side work.

One of my favorite things is how the abandoned field always looks different! This was taken a year ago and look how orange the surroundings are! This year the colors are more a bright yellow.

So this is where I love to walk to, my lovely abandoned field. Yet, it really isn’t abandoned since I come visit and hope to do a lot more of it. On the way back, I was sure I would be exhausted. I reached home a little tired but not even close to exhaustion! It was a great feeling. Sharing with you this beautiful place and a small part of my life encourages me to take none of it for granted. I cannot wait to visit soon, with Champ excitedly by me.

~ Christiana

 

A Journey to Health

Have any of you been through a season where you felt like you were constantly ill?

That was me this past summer. It was probably because I was way too busy and never allowed myself some time of resting to recover. Also, I never took the time to see what nature had to offer in healing. I never gave health a top priority in my life.

I just had my surgery earlier this week, which would have never been possible unless my health had risen to the level of wellness I am today. I knew this ahead of time and was very concerned a few weeks before that I would have to cancel the long awaited appointment with my doctor. However, my friend, Jessica, invited me to stay with her and her family to attend a Young Living Essential Oils meeting and day of learning. I am so glad I went! Not only did I learn so much about the joy of being healthy and how I can receive natural nourishment through what God made in so many beautiful plants and trees, but Jessica even gave me two of my very own essential oils!! Now, I am a proud owner of Lavender and Lemon essential oils. She gave me a firm stepping stone towards a priority in my health.

Natalie’s letter to me was filled with the scent of Ylang Ylang last month, and it also grew my desire to learn about essential oils! I find it so wonderful that she is doing Aromatherapy.

Lavender and Lemon essential oils.

In a course of one week, I began to feel better than I had in a long time! After Jessica placed various oils on me to help my breathing be easier when I was staying with her, I drank three drops of lemon in water every day and used a drop of lavender on my legs and feet every night. The yucky stuff stuck down in my chest, that I wasn’t able to cough up before, finally was removed, while the lavender helped me fall right asleep with no restless leg syndrome issues — I was able to catch up on good sleep!

Lemon essential oil benefits are calming, ant-infection, detoxifying, stress reducing, and many others.

Lavender essential oil benefits are eliminating nervous tension, relieving pain, enhancing blood circulation, and many others.

Soon I began to want this lovely lavender on my skin with my coconut and almond oil. My Grandma works for Blue Diamond Almonds and gives me a constant supply of almond oil. Apparently, I have her skin type because we both use to get extremely chapped hands during the autumn season. Yet, ever since we have been using almond oil, we haven’t had a problem.

These oils have changed my health drastically in different ways.

I thought I would share with you ladies three concoctions I have perfected over time or recently for my skin! Adding the lavender recently to two of them has just made the perfect finishing touch. I went in for my surgery smelling of the beautiful scents of nature! They have made a world of difference for my skin, so I wanted to share the love.

I found these lovely glass jars at Target for $1 each! Aren’t they just charming?

Apple Cider Toner:

                         Apple Cider Toner

This one is super easy — just two ingredients!

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Water

Now, it is important that it is organic and unfiltered vinegar because you want those healthy enzymes. Just add into your bottle a small amount of vinegar and a ratio of 1:1 of water, so 50% water and 50% vinegar. Add more water if you have sensitive skin, like me.

Then apply a small amount to a cotton ball and spread it over your clean face or other spots on your skin that need some clearing from blotches. Only do this a couple times a week. Keep it at room temperature.

Coconut Face Moisturizer:

                      Coconut Face Moisturizer

I have been using this very simple recipe for some time and it seriously has done wonders with my face, and adding the lavender just blew my world. Makes me smell soooo good, too!

• Coconut oil
• Almond oil
• Lavender essential oil

I use approximately a cup and a half of coconut oil, add about three drops of almond oil and three drops of lavender oil — mix together. The main thing is not adding too much almond oil, just enough to help seal the coconut and lavender into your skin. Put on your face only a dime size — a small amount goes a very long way! This can stay in cool or warm temperatures, but is best at room temperature and will last a long time either way.

Lemon Body Butter:

               Lemon Body Butter

This is one of my most recent of recipes and I got the idea from Pinterest. In the short time I have used it, it has shrunk my scars and lightened my stretch marks! My skin also feels noticeably softer. I surprisingly did not use my lemon essential oil for this one — you just need regular lemons.

• Lemons
• Coconut oil
• Almond oil
• Lavender oil

This one is a little more tricky, because oddly every time I have made it the coconut oil amount changes. I think it has to do with the temperature. So I just start with about 1 1/2 to 2 cold lemons, juice them, and then run the juice through a fine strainer (like one you would use for tea leaves). Then I add about 1/8 cup of coconut oil for starts and then add more when I put it in the blender. My last batch called for more than a cup! Make sure the coconut oil is at its firm state before blending; if it isn’t solid, then put it in the freezer for a minute or two. Before blending, add no more than 6 drops of almond oil and about 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Make sure you have enough coconut oil to blend into the consistency of blended butter. When you are all done blending, stick it in the fridge for about half an hour.

If the room is warm, keep it in the fridge — you want to keep it as butter or it can go bad. However, during cooler days it can stay out and will last a long time when in the right temperature.

My journey to health began with a sick summer and no priority for my well-being. Now, I am going to have a healthy autumn and the highest priority for my health! Sadly, sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to finally realize you need to learn how to fly again. Even though I have altered my diet to healthier food since the beginning of summer, I am going to raise the bar higher this season. Once I recover fully from surgery, I am going to make exercise apart of my daily schedule — no more “I’m too busy.” Every day I have the beautiful choice of choosing health and I will choose it.

I hope my story encourages you and my concoctions are beneficial. Thank you to all of my Kindred Spirits for all the kind words and prayers for my recovery!!! Also, a very special thanks to my friend Jessica, who not only gave me two essential oils but also doctored me with various essential oils. ❤

I choose health today and always.

~ Christiana

Get Well Soon!

For all my dear friends…

feeling under the weather…and/or

recovering from surgery…rest, heal and wait patiently. This, too, shall pass.

Until then, add to your life only the essentials: Cozy Pillows,

(A.B. Photography)

Read lots of good books…

(A.M. Photography)

Cozy up with your loved ones with lots of blankets!

(L.J. Photography)

Drink lots of warm drinks…

(L.J. Photography)

Laugh…if you have to start by fake laughing (this will make you laugh; haha!!)

“God bless the days that are coming for you my dear.” L.M. Montgomery

(L.J. Photography)

Watch the Sunset…

EAT your GREENS!!

and Veggies!

(L.J. Photography)

HOPE for Spring. This Season will Pass. “That is one good thing about this world…there are always sure to be more Springs.” L.M. Montgomery

(L.J. Photography)

Imagine all the delightful picnics and outings you will have when you are better! Remember, “It’s really a beautiful world.” -L.M. Montgomery

(A.M. Photography)

Play with flowers while drinking tea and eating homemade cookies 🙂

Watch the rain. Try to think…”Nothing but beautiful thoughts.” -L.M. Montgomery

Put a blanket around your shoulder and go outside. You will believe and live again…”Life is Golden & splendidly rainbowed.” L.M. Montgomery

Eat up; your strength will return. (or drink your smoothie!) Enjoy Pumpkin in EVERYTHING -LOL! (like these Pumpkin Pancakes).

“It will come sometime. Some beautiful morning she will just wake up and find it is Tomorrow. Not Today but Tomorrow. And then things will happen … wonderful things.” -L.M. Montgomery

“Never feel alone…I’ll always be with you…

you’ll always have a home inside of me.”

(a couple of the song lyrics in the music video; so sweet)

All photography my own except when noted: Andrea Michelle Photography, Annnetta Bosakova Photography, Lana Jenae Photography

Prayers for all my friends not feeling well today; You are not alone.

-Melanie

Country Cottage Living

 

Sunset Walk on Willie’s Lake Road

“…all the little sweetnesses of life sprinkling the road.” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Ingleside.

I want to share my walk with you…At Sunset I walk toward the Sun -toward the West on Willie’s Lake Road. I pass by houses, fences, fields, trees, ditches, barns, cows and even some garbage and unpleasantness. But here I will just share the lovelies that caught my eye.

A walk is very pleasant experience and a blessing (as some folks are unable to walk due to physical disabilities or unsafe areas to walk). I am thankful for walking.

The evening light is ever-changing and the sun hides and then re-emerges. There are signs of Fall -like these ferns and signs of Summer: Mini daisies below…

On my walk I breathe in deep the fresh outdoorsy cooler air. I smell the scents of evergreens, freshly cut grass and composting apples.

I dream of lovely dreams and often get my greatest ideas. I pick a wildflower or two. Today I stick them in my pocket:

I count my blessings when I am tempted to count my woes.

I dream of a Kindred Friends Picnic here in this field (where I am now trespassing!)

I want to frolic in this field of puffs and dreams…

Time to turn around and go home. The light is dimming out of doors and shining ever so brightly and warmly indoors.

My walk was a tonic but home looks ever so warm and beckoning.

Thanks for joining me on my walk. (some other time, I’ll share my sunrise walk with you past Willie’s Lake)

-Melanie

Country Cottage Living

A Tea Party Picnic

I meant to share this weeks ago, I just keep forgetting that I now have 2 blogs I can share things on! I share everything on my personal blog & have been doing a lot of travel blogging on it, so I was feeling like a real proper blog author… then I remember this blog. *heehee*

So here I am! Ready to share some pictures from the Tea Party Picnic I took my Mom on.

It was windy. The sun made it almost impossible to get good shots. And it was difficult to keep napkins from flying away or cupcakes melting. All in all, it looks a lot more romantic than it was. At least next time, I have an idea of what to bring, what not to bring, and what sort of weather to watch for!

The castle like building in the background is the Delta Bessborough Hotel & it has been featured in many of my past photo shoots. The parks around it are gorgeous & the South Saskatchewan River runs through the city.

I have a few other posts I am working on collecting images for or thoughts as to what to write to go along with images… I hope it won’t be too long before I post, but as some of you know, I have a big 4000+miles-each-way trip out to the east coast, specifically Newfoundland, coming up, along with work, 2 other road trips, and then getting caught up on just the things I do every day… so could be a while!

But the intentions are there! *grins*