I was wondering what "sack cloth and ashes" look like in today's world? I've know people who have made big changes work by changing their life style, they suddenly don't seem the same. Even if a really close friend, or family member decides to diet and really hits the behavioral stuff hard I don't know them like I used to....do we sometimes sabotage these efforts in others for our own comfort.
When my oldest dumped his awful trashy CDs I was thrilled. He has a family and from time to time they make changes in their life style (most recently canceling cable tv) my grands only watch Netflix or YouTube lol.
I have another friend who just up and quit the Thrift Shop and everyone flooded her with pleas to return and she disappeared even more. Finally in a private talk she told me the place was becoming an occasion of sin....wow there is a term I haven heard in a long time. indeed she was right, the place has a tendency to become a hen house and nasty gossip can thrive quite well.
I'm looking for what I'm being called to do for lent. I realized the other morning I get all my life from Jesus Christ. All of it so I spent the day looking at everything from that point of view. I don't know if I will change much permanently. Old bad habits die hard. But I am trying to sit less, walk more, stick to my yoga commitment ( still not doing as well there as I had hoped) I miss you friend. Have a lovely lent.
Love Cindy
Have a lovely day,
Cindy Balfour
Cindybalfour100@gmail.com
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Friday, July 4, 2014
Count my blessings
It's the Fourth of July and it's raining.
So I haven been keeping this blog up very well. I do occasionally read other blog writings but if they are eloquent and perfect I feel like I don't need to be blogging. But I read one today and realized it isn't about perfection but about voice. I just need to find mine. It isn't about writing on only one topic but a about what is the topic of my heart that day.
So lonely might be the word today. Missing people, my friends and family in Tx. I can call on the phone but it isn't really the same. So maybe learning to be with myself is my issue. So to be positive, I count my blessings.
Today I think I will update the Alaska cruising trip.
We left Ketchikan under motor Monday June 30 and went to Kasaan. We did sail some out in Clarence strait. The rest of that day we sat at the dock and went out occasionally to speak to the local fisherman ( David salivates at the chance to do this, I'm more reserved ) We walked into town Tuesday morning and were lucky to meet up with a fellow named Stormy who gave us the low down on where to go and what to look for. We didn't need a map because the place was very small and basically had a path and a street. We found things right where he told us they would be. The carving shed, the totem poles, the Chief Son-I-hat long house, also known as the Whale House. Even in the state of disrepair these things are amazing. I imagine whose hands touched them, what the carvings meant or mean, (and I am no good at figuring this out).
These people of the organized village of Kasaan mostly live off the land. They go fishing and come in and share their catch with everyone, even with us. We traded beer for fish. Then we were invited to a home where a young Haida woman showed us the foods she had put up from last year to this year. She gave us tastes of things whale blubber, and smoked coho and told us great stories about her cousins, siblings and parents. She tried to describe sea asparagus but I am not sure we could find it...so she gave us a jar she had put up along with Salmon berries and frozen fish. Her beautiful long red hair and blue eyes were a constant distraction to me as I am incorrectly indoctrinated that native Americans are all dark hair and dark eyes.
I don't know a lot about any of the tribes up here. I'm learning. It is obvious there are politics and opinions.
I haven't met a more generous group ever. If you are sailing in Alaska visit the Haida in. Kasaan
So I haven been keeping this blog up very well. I do occasionally read other blog writings but if they are eloquent and perfect I feel like I don't need to be blogging. But I read one today and realized it isn't about perfection but about voice. I just need to find mine. It isn't about writing on only one topic but a about what is the topic of my heart that day.
So lonely might be the word today. Missing people, my friends and family in Tx. I can call on the phone but it isn't really the same. So maybe learning to be with myself is my issue. So to be positive, I count my blessings.
Today I think I will update the Alaska cruising trip.
We left Ketchikan under motor Monday June 30 and went to Kasaan. We did sail some out in Clarence strait. The rest of that day we sat at the dock and went out occasionally to speak to the local fisherman ( David salivates at the chance to do this, I'm more reserved ) We walked into town Tuesday morning and were lucky to meet up with a fellow named Stormy who gave us the low down on where to go and what to look for. We didn't need a map because the place was very small and basically had a path and a street. We found things right where he told us they would be. The carving shed, the totem poles, the Chief Son-I-hat long house, also known as the Whale House. Even in the state of disrepair these things are amazing. I imagine whose hands touched them, what the carvings meant or mean, (and I am no good at figuring this out).
These people of the organized village of Kasaan mostly live off the land. They go fishing and come in and share their catch with everyone, even with us. We traded beer for fish. Then we were invited to a home where a young Haida woman showed us the foods she had put up from last year to this year. She gave us tastes of things whale blubber, and smoked coho and told us great stories about her cousins, siblings and parents. She tried to describe sea asparagus but I am not sure we could find it...so she gave us a jar she had put up along with Salmon berries and frozen fish. Her beautiful long red hair and blue eyes were a constant distraction to me as I am incorrectly indoctrinated that native Americans are all dark hair and dark eyes.
I don't know a lot about any of the tribes up here. I'm learning. It is obvious there are politics and opinions.
I haven't met a more generous group ever. If you are sailing in Alaska visit the Haida in. Kasaan
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
I read this today, "You probably know what you have been afraid to entrust to God". Well of course, but the real question is why am I afraid? Why do I want to hold on to anything at all.
" When we surrender our fear, we are offering it to Jesus. We are saying, “This fear is too much fear for me to bear. I give it to you because I believe you are good and worthy of my trust.” When we actively, by faith, lay down our fears at the feet of Jesus, we pick up his love in return. It is an uneven trade, a heavenly exchange…"
It is an almost unbearable lightness, a heavenly bungee jump!
"Laying down what we want to protect or are afraid of losing or are terrified we will never have is not the same thing as losing those things. It is surrendering them" .
Laying it at the feet of Jesus.
" It is opening up our clenched hand around them and allowing God access to them and to us."
Oh but first I need to identify them honestly.....that may be where the game is played, in my subconscious thoughts. First I need to ask Him what it is I am holding back. Then only after I have walked through all those piles of stuff, then only then I can surrender
"It is actually saying yes to God for them. "
Yes to my children, and the choices they make that I don't like, specifically why do they want to own guns and weapons, why a motorcycle, why keep eating ridiculous amounts of food and not even trying to exercise?
"I can sayYes to his plan. Yes to his way. It is believing that just as his ways are higher than the heavens are above the earth, so his way for the things we fear for is higher."
For my grandchildren are they watched closely enough, do they have enough freedom, are they being allowed to be creative, are they safe, are they fearful, how will I endure missing them? What if I don't see them again?
"This God of ours is a God of life, of goodness. He is the God of the Resurrection. We lay down our fear".
Face Everything And Recover.....
"We pick up Jesus. He is the only way we can live beyond fear. He is the Way."
" When we surrender our fear, we are offering it to Jesus. We are saying, “This fear is too much fear for me to bear. I give it to you because I believe you are good and worthy of my trust.” When we actively, by faith, lay down our fears at the feet of Jesus, we pick up his love in return. It is an uneven trade, a heavenly exchange…"
It is an almost unbearable lightness, a heavenly bungee jump!
"Laying down what we want to protect or are afraid of losing or are terrified we will never have is not the same thing as losing those things. It is surrendering them" .
Laying it at the feet of Jesus.
" It is opening up our clenched hand around them and allowing God access to them and to us."
Oh but first I need to identify them honestly.....that may be where the game is played, in my subconscious thoughts. First I need to ask Him what it is I am holding back. Then only after I have walked through all those piles of stuff, then only then I can surrender
"It is actually saying yes to God for them. "
Yes to my children, and the choices they make that I don't like, specifically why do they want to own guns and weapons, why a motorcycle, why keep eating ridiculous amounts of food and not even trying to exercise?
"I can sayYes to his plan. Yes to his way. It is believing that just as his ways are higher than the heavens are above the earth, so his way for the things we fear for is higher."
For my grandchildren are they watched closely enough, do they have enough freedom, are they being allowed to be creative, are they safe, are they fearful, how will I endure missing them? What if I don't see them again?
"This God of ours is a God of life, of goodness. He is the God of the Resurrection. We lay down our fear".
Face Everything And Recover.....
"We pick up Jesus. He is the only way we can live beyond fear. He is the Way."
Notes about Port McNeil and beyond
We have left Port McNeill, which I have to say is one of the nicest stops we have ever had the pleasure to make. If all marinas were this clean and nice and easy to negotiate we would make more effort to stay in them. You no doubt noticed the wifi was rockin, we all got caught up with correspondence.
Sunday May 11, This is the last leg of our journey where we will be on the east side of Vancouver Island. (Inside Straights) Tomorrow early, like 6:30 am, we head across the Queen Charlotte Straights around Cape Caution to Fury Cove off Penrose Is. This is a real calculation since waves can be high and wind can be either helpful or horrible. We will be up against the middle to upper coast of Canada and there are many barrier islands but weather wind and wildlife are much more abundant up there.
Sunday May 11, This is the last leg of our journey where we will be on the east side of Vancouver Island. (Inside Straights) Tomorrow early, like 6:30 am, we head across the Queen Charlotte Straights around Cape Caution to Fury Cove off Penrose Is. This is a real calculation since waves can be high and wind can be either helpful or horrible. We will be up against the middle to upper coast of Canada and there are many barrier islands but weather wind and wildlife are much more abundant up there.
Mid way along the sun has come out and while it is really cold on the front of the boat it is just wonderful on the back porch area. We have been putting the jib sail up, off and on to see if it helps us move faster. The guys really like doing this....see picture!
It is neat how fast a leg of the journey can pass when there is sunshine. As we approached Port Alexander, 3 Dalls porpoises joined us and were swimming and playing ahead of us when suddenly they were diving in front of the hulls and jumping out of the water like they were saying hi! They were zig zagging all over...then as quickly as they came they were gone.
Once we had anchored in Alexander Harbor It was time to re organize the charts and guide books, put away those from Vancouver Is, desolation Sound and The Broughtons, and to take out the ones that will move us beyond 50' 53.374" north bound for Rivers Inlet, Fitzhugh Sound and Calvert Island.
Now we are anchored and resting. No phone service no surprise. And yes I know all the anchorages are starting to look alike.... Lol I'll take a sunset shot tonight.
Oh!
Just a note, we were visited by a bald eagle around 6:00 p.m. as we were preparing dinner, he came and sat and posed in a tree about 200 yards away. We might not have noticed except he did a fly by first and the screech they make is becoming recognizable. We have seen many of them this year so far. Hopefully they dignify blessings.
We are now waiting for a weather report on waves and wind for tomorrow.
Monday morning bright and early, the sun starts it's day around 5:40 so at 5:30 there is light...
Anyway we got a favorable weather report, light winds fairly calm seas and favorable currents with an ebb that would push us up away from Vancouver Island...so we grabbed a cup o coffee pulled anchor and headed out.
It has been raining but the seas are only 1-2 feet. That said it was enough to disguise a flotsam of logs until we were right up on it. A few bumps , nothing too serious. Thank the good Lord!
We basically set a course ( for those who like to google) from Pine Is BC. WNW to Cape Caution then a slight turn to Egg island BC we passed storm islands to the west and came only within 3 miles of Cape Caution.
By 10:30 am the ebb has started turning to flood and we are hoping it will push us N NE into Fitzhugh Sound. Lots of water moves during the tidal changes so it is imperative to have a tide and current reference for this area.
Port McNeill IGA was great for provisioning, lots of goodies for this passage. Crackers, hummus, cream cheese, peanut butter.
Remember every day of the trip
Wednesday April 30 left Port Angelis Wa check in with Customs in Sidney,
Some shopping for fruit and veggies and dinner at a Greek restaurant .
Thursday May 1 Sidney to Princess cove anchorage. Beautiful spot and we took a nice walk.
Friday May 2 Nanaimo beautiful sunset did laundry. Harbor ok lots of sea gulls facilities far apart require loonies and tokens. Beautiful sunset after afternoon shower. Great pictures.
Saturday May 3 ballet cove. Very small private rain
Sunday May 4 Lund hotel. Arrived at 3 sat around only to find things were closed by 5. Got up early for breakfast at Nancy's gf muffin. Dinner sat night Lund hotel fish and chips.
Monday May 5 Tuesday May 6 desolation sound. Very pretty, crisp clean looking. Totally alone first day. Two other boats arrived Tuesday really enjoyed dinghy rides to other islands. We didn't get out to walk we found out Tuesday there was a walking trail on the land on side of Melody cove.
Wednesday May 6 headed north and stopped on Cortes island at Squirrel cove. Bought fish and some veggies. Beautiful stopover.
Thursday May 7 the first round of narrows going north through desolation sound into the Broughtons. Stopped in Cordero cove.
Friday May 8 passed second Narrows and did a marathon run to Port Hardy. We stayed two nights beautiful weather. Nice marina. David bought way too much fishing gear.
Sunday May 11 weather reports had us heading out to stage at Port Alexander for crossing Queen Charlotte Straight on Monday. This is the last leg of our journey that will be on the east side of Vancouver Island. Tomorrow early like 6:30 am we head across the queen Charlotte Straights around Cape Caution to Fury Cove off Penrose Is. This is a real calculation since waves can be high and wind can be either helpful or horrible.
Right now the sun has come out and while it is really cold on the front of the boat it is just wonderful on the back porch area. We have been putting the jib sail up, off and on to see if it helps us move faster. The guys really like doing this....
Monday May 12 crossed Queen Charlotte straight. Went north around cape caution...Rainy 2-3 ft seas not terrible. We were glad when it was over and we anchored in Fury cove.
We arrived about 1:00 pm we started at 6:00 am. It wasn't a bad crossing. Seas never went above 3feet but we did get a period of about an hour with cross chop. That meant you braced yourself well and held on tight and walked around only when necessary.
Fury Cove really is beautiful, and at least 5 other boats agree. This is the first time this year we have seen this many boats at anchor at the same place.
It is 51' and raining. In honor of a great successful crossing we had Tomato soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches.
Now unfortunately Dave has to perform yet another open head surgery. We went 7 days without a clog. That is a huge improvement.
Tuesday May 13. Overcast and nearly 60' but no rain. Big smile!
We have been enjoying the flood pushing us up they Fitzhugh sound, radio on as required, and listening in on a group of boats about a mile or so west of us who are traveling in the same general direction. One skipper is quite knowledgable and gives interesting tid bits. One of which is to keep an eye out for humpback whales. So far we have only seen a small Holland America cruise ship "Volendam". Even though it looked like it was hardly moving, It kicked up quite a wake.
Some shopping for fruit and veggies and dinner at a Greek restaurant .
Thursday May 1 Sidney to Princess cove anchorage. Beautiful spot and we took a nice walk.
Friday May 2 Nanaimo beautiful sunset did laundry. Harbor ok lots of sea gulls facilities far apart require loonies and tokens. Beautiful sunset after afternoon shower. Great pictures.
Saturday May 3 ballet cove. Very small private rain
Sunday May 4 Lund hotel. Arrived at 3 sat around only to find things were closed by 5. Got up early for breakfast at Nancy's gf muffin. Dinner sat night Lund hotel fish and chips.
Monday May 5 Tuesday May 6 desolation sound. Very pretty, crisp clean looking. Totally alone first day. Two other boats arrived Tuesday really enjoyed dinghy rides to other islands. We didn't get out to walk we found out Tuesday there was a walking trail on the land on side of Melody cove.
Wednesday May 6 headed north and stopped on Cortes island at Squirrel cove. Bought fish and some veggies. Beautiful stopover.
Thursday May 7 the first round of narrows going north through desolation sound into the Broughtons. Stopped in Cordero cove.
Friday May 8 passed second Narrows and did a marathon run to Port Hardy. We stayed two nights beautiful weather. Nice marina. David bought way too much fishing gear.
Sunday May 11 weather reports had us heading out to stage at Port Alexander for crossing Queen Charlotte Straight on Monday. This is the last leg of our journey that will be on the east side of Vancouver Island. Tomorrow early like 6:30 am we head across the queen Charlotte Straights around Cape Caution to Fury Cove off Penrose Is. This is a real calculation since waves can be high and wind can be either helpful or horrible.
Right now the sun has come out and while it is really cold on the front of the boat it is just wonderful on the back porch area. We have been putting the jib sail up, off and on to see if it helps us move faster. The guys really like doing this....
Monday May 12 crossed Queen Charlotte straight. Went north around cape caution...Rainy 2-3 ft seas not terrible. We were glad when it was over and we anchored in Fury cove.
We arrived about 1:00 pm we started at 6:00 am. It wasn't a bad crossing. Seas never went above 3feet but we did get a period of about an hour with cross chop. That meant you braced yourself well and held on tight and walked around only when necessary.
Fury Cove really is beautiful, and at least 5 other boats agree. This is the first time this year we have seen this many boats at anchor at the same place.
It is 51' and raining. In honor of a great successful crossing we had Tomato soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches.
Now unfortunately Dave has to perform yet another open head surgery. We went 7 days without a clog. That is a huge improvement.
Tuesday May 13. Overcast and nearly 60' but no rain. Big smile!
We have been enjoying the flood pushing us up they Fitzhugh sound, radio on as required, and listening in on a group of boats about a mile or so west of us who are traveling in the same general direction. One skipper is quite knowledgable and gives interesting tid bits. One of which is to keep an eye out for humpback whales. So far we have only seen a small Holland America cruise ship "Volendam". Even though it looked like it was hardly moving, It kicked up quite a wake.
It's quiet on our boat, David is taking engine temps and checking amp readings constantly on the batteries trying to decide if things are calibrated the way he was told. Larry is writing his notes on the journey, I have been on and off watch a few times, and marking times we passed waypoints. These are usually little concrete light house shaped things painted white and red and often they have a blinking light that is hard to see in the daytime.
The winds are starting to come up on our nose making it hard to keep up speed and too direct to get help from the sails; and the tide has shifted so the current will soon be trying to push us backwards. Must be time to find a cove and anchor, the one we have picked out is called Kisameet. Tomorrow we head past "Evan's" inlet to Ocean Falls where it is rumored they have internet.
May 14
Ocean Falls is just charming. It is an old cannery town abandoned when the cannery business pulled out. There is no road to Ocean Falls, cruise ships will occasionally stop here. They have a huge hydro electric dam and make the power for the central island area.
May 15-16-17 shearwater Bella Bella leaving early the 17th.
Sometimes we forget! Nature is Gods paintbrush His illustration, not a wish for our genie in a bottle.
We enjoyed 4days of drenching rain from Shearwater to Prince Rupert. Fortunately it is sunny now. We may be leaving in the morning to go to Dundas is to get ready to cross Dixon Entrance ( another of those crossings with a view of Canada on one side and Japan on the other) on Monday morning.
May 24 2014
While in Prince Rupert we checked out the British Columbia museum and went to a Salmon Feast being put on by the local Indian tribes. It was excellent eating. We learn from them every time we get to do this.
Turns out we went left Prince Rupert early on Sunday and passed up Dundas island and went straight to Foggy Bay. What a pretty little anchorage.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is an interesting place, it's called Alaska's first city because it is the customs check in for anyone arriving from Canada. It is a fishing boat dominated town, located in a rainforest but also heavy with cruise shop traffic which is confined mostly on the south end of town. There are a few hidden treasures for folks who don't salivate at the opportunity to walk endlessly through souvenir shops. The SE Alaska museum is wonderful as is the Tongass museum.The Rain Bird rainforest walk maintained by SE Alaska Univ, is excellent, with grand views of Tongass Narrows...fortunately we had on good walking shoes and charged phones for pictures. The Water Street trestle walk was also worthwhile.
We made this trek starting from our north end location at Bar Harbor Marina with our goal being the Totem museum ( time well spent). We started all this walking down Tongass avenue but got tired of the traffic so we cut uphill at Elliott street to walk the water street trestle where we saw neighborhood living with a view. Once in town near the cruise ship docks we did a quick twist to get us over to Creek Street where we lingered and shopped awhile. We walked a short way along Tongass ave. again heading south out of town before making the turn uphill to the Totem Museum, Fish hatchery and city park. We grabbed food at the IGA and made an urban picnic in Ketchikan city park. After eating and seeing the museum we walked along the creek as far as we could before heading off Schoenbar Road to the RainBird Forrest walk. We ended up right back at our harbor, dirty and tired but happy.
The local people are friendly, happy, and very polite. Everyone works hard and there is a sense of adventure in most everyone eyes. You meet lots of folks at the laundromat....The people who love being here stay.
We made this trek starting from our north end location at Bar Harbor Marina with our goal being the Totem museum ( time well spent). We started all this walking down Tongass avenue but got tired of the traffic so we cut uphill at Elliott street to walk the water street trestle where we saw neighborhood living with a view. Once in town near the cruise ship docks we did a quick twist to get us over to Creek Street where we lingered and shopped awhile. We walked a short way along Tongass ave. again heading south out of town before making the turn uphill to the Totem Museum, Fish hatchery and city park. We grabbed food at the IGA and made an urban picnic in Ketchikan city park. After eating and seeing the museum we walked along the creek as far as we could before heading off Schoenbar Road to the RainBird Forrest walk. We ended up right back at our harbor, dirty and tired but happy.
The local people are friendly, happy, and very polite. Everyone works hard and there is a sense of adventure in most everyone eyes. You meet lots of folks at the laundromat....The people who love being here stay.
Monday, April 14, 2014
to see spring
There is nothing more tentative than Spring in Central Texas.
It slides into our calendar on dotted lines, sometimes as early as January.
February and March are littered with reminders that we need all manner of clothing handy at a moments notice.
Then there is the lull of April, some rain, some sun , a string of very warm muggy days and away go the heavy coats and long pants , hello shorts, and tank tops.
As usual there needs to be one more reminder that we are never certain. A possible freeze the week before Easter, and a very late Easter at that...
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