Life Lessons from the Okanagan: Embracing Every Season

Posted on July 22, 2026 by dfolstad58

When I first moved to the Okanagan I moved in anticipation of enjoyment of the summers especially, and condoning the other seasons.

cherry tree in blossom in my back yard

That’s because it is a region of orchards, vineyards, lakes, and beaches. My parents had first brought me to the Okanagan as a child and we tented in provincial camp grounds north of Summerland. The trees have grown a lot since then but families still come every year to create memories and learn the lessons of too many cherries in a single day. ♥

The Okanagan became my home in 1992 when I moved with my young family from the Vancouver Lower Mainland seeking a life with more family time and less commuting time; and I found it. Very soon thereafter trading a second car for mountain bike to commute to work.

I learned that every season in the Okanagan has its own attributes to appreciate and enjoy.

After the first summer I learned the quieter seasons of autumn, winter and spring could be savoured in their own way. The coming of winter with the its days getting shorter, and vibrant autumn leaves somehow made the warm autumn days even more special to embrace.

I loved walking through the fallen golden and crimson leaves in autumn. The cooler mornings, the warm but never scorching days are always there to be relished in the dying days of summer and appreciated.

the leaves remind me of apricots

The first frost feels like teaser to winter ahead, and my mind turns to the anticipation of silent streets and yards covered with snow in the days that lead up to the closing of the calendar year.

Then “over the hump” in late December, (winter solstice) and before long I can feel the budding of my optimism in spring, like the new buds on the trees and the return of the robins.

I quickly learned that each season of the calendar year holds the promise of happy moments, special memories, and invitations to smile both inside and out.

I realized over the years that I had cultivated in myself an appreciation for the Okanagan not only in the summertime but in every season.

Perhaps that is part of life, self cultivating lessons and encouraging those parts of our life, as in a garden, the plants that need encouragement and nurturing or even removing plants of the garden that are less desirable.

Each season of my life I think now is a time to be enjoyed at it’s own pace, less inclined to compare one season to another.

Each day the best day of the year, because it’s now, each season of my life is to be enjoyed now, neither looking forward or backward.

Older, and hopefully wiser, I will try harder now to be attuned to, comfortable with, and hopefully in harmony to the season of life I am experiencing.

I am grateful to have come this far as I know many don’t get the chance, and my mind and attitude is all in life I have the actual power to influence.

Thinking out loud today, thank you sincerely for reading. ♥ David

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Canada Day 2026

Posted on July 1, 2026 by dfolstad58
Canada Day July 1, 2020

Above is the link to memories about 1967 vis-a-vis Canada Day – I was in grade 3 and cute as a bug according to my Mom. Perhaps you will enjoy the read, I hope you will. Thank you for investigating.

Photo by Hanna Pad on Pexels.com

Canada is a huge country and I am only this year really appreciating that after a trip halfway across to the Maritimes earlier this year.

What I am happy to share is the warm welcome from my east coast Canadians. Invariably they were interested in the reason for my trek there, and at all times I felt genuinely “at home”.

No country is perfect, but to me Canada must be close. The Canadian values of decency and understatement seem to be ingrained to most of us.

Home is where the heart is, and this is my home certainly and I am proud of Canada’s reputation worldwide.

I know that people are mostly the same everywhere. Each country has much to be proud of, and so it should be.

We all love our families, work hard at our jobs, and treat our fellow citizens with the respect that creates a better life for us all.

This is where I was born, in Canada, and I am glad to do my part to be a responsible and contributing part of it.

Peggy’s Cove was quiet the day we visited but the staff at the restaurant warmed us right up♥

Happy Canada Day – ♥David

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No, No – they can’t take that away from me

Posted on June 27, 2026 by dfolstad58
blue sky

 Bruce walked down the path, just plain packed earth .  The path wound through a light forest,  absorbing his steps and so he moved silently.

Sunlight patches here and there were like stepping through hot wading pools at the ocean.  All around him, birds twittering and squirrels chirps but none of this smashed the peace and calm of his surroundings.

It was moments like these that Bruce recharged upon. The serene peace in the forest somehow lifting his spirits effortlessly, calming his thoughts. As he moved along mindfully, he felt content and felt no urge to rush as he filled his lungs with the rich moist forest air.

It had been three years since the funeral, all the stages of grief just speed bumps in his past. The memories of moments shared now had no sting, or not much.

Isn’t it nice that we have the moments tucked away inside us, like an unlocked drawer of candy to slide open and indulge in.

Life only has one direction but even while moving ahead, he could still taste the sweetness of those days.   Bruce felt deeply thankful for the memories, secure locked in his heart.

Funny the little moments that tweaked his face into a grin. When they had a flat tire in the rain and she defused the situation with a song and dance while he changed the tire.

Then there was the one time she came to his work in a gorilla suit and delivered flowers and sang “Dancing in the Rain” for his birthday.  

He was completely embarrassed, but inside his heart sang, he was proud and he loved her for it. He felt his heart swell that she would do so much to show her love for him, and only him.

The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No, no they can’t take that away from me

The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No, no they can’t take that away from me

Bruce left the path and sat down on a beach log to watch the waves, and ducks, always in pairs. With a deep sigh, after peeking around to check he was alone – he sang the well known song of Frank Sinatra named ” Can’t Take that Away from Me.”

The lyrics seemed to be saying exactly what he was thinking and exactly how he felt.

Recharged he rose and headed back to the car,  feeling refreshed and smiling.

A little laugh on his lips. She loved the oldies, and let him sing in the car, no matter how flat and off key he was. He knew she was a prejudiced audience and praised his voice however he knew that outside of the car, and possibly the shower, that he should only sing for his own enjoyment.

Photo by Roxanne Earley

But now it was time to mosey on, and so with a sigh, Bruce stood and paused to take a few breathes, and squared his shoulders. One last long slow breath.

He knew he can float through memory land again anytime because she is always right there,

Always just a breath away,  

No, no he won’t forget the way she smiled just so.

No, no, They can’t take that away from me, 

Thanks for reading♥♥♥

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A story that makes me smile to remember

Posted on June 25, 2026 by dfolstad58

The journey of life I am following, and that is similar to us all, has me at the stage where I have gained some perspective, and possibly a grain of experience that is earned via mistakes and grey hairs.

Unfortunately that means losses and gains. I have, as all of us have, lost people close to me and that I will not forget and I enjoy them still in my memories.

Gains are worth celebrating also, as today I celebrated a first. I celebrated picking cherries with my grandchildren from the tree I planted decades ago in our backyard.

Yesterday I smiled as I remembered this story…………….

Photo by AI25.Studio Studio on Pexels.com

In the early 1980’s I had the singular pleasure of working with my Dad every day for twelve years.

We were in different departments but the same building.

I was on the 11th floor, he was on the 6th floor and we could commute together to work and enjoy our coffee and lunch breaks together.

It enabled us to enjoy a lot of laughs and quality time for nearly 12 years despite him getting me to always use the stairs.

Looking back together we realize it was a gift of memories we were given.

Yesterday this story came to life from this time period came to me as I related it to my son.

THE GIFT

During the early 1980’s, my Dad and I worked in downtown Vancouver which is tall buildings, and concrete but also some shopping underneath some of buildings nearby.

One of the stores we would visit occasionally was a store that sold ties.

My office attire required a tie and so I did develop a collection of ties, as did my Dad.

This lead to the gift, which didn’t turn out the way I expected, not at all.

Something to know about my parents. My parents enjoyed humor, jokes, pranks and family dinners could lead to jokes that lead to rib holding, tear invoking laughter. (A special pleasure indeed).

One year leading up to my Dad’s birthday in the autumn, I happened upon a grotesque tie, hideous because it’s colour and patterns. The tie was completely, and entirely unwearable with any sort of suit or shirt. It was in a class by itself, possibly a sin to wear.

So, of course I bought it.

Then I purchased a silk tie from the tie store in downtown Vancouver, and obtained a gift box and bow. (play the suspenseful lead up music from Jaws)

My plan was to wrap up the ugly tie in the box, and add the bow and present it to my Dad. I couldn’t wait for the reaction from my Dad.

I remember it was autumn and I visited my Dad at his home and Mom was peering over his shoulder to watch. It was all a surprise for her also.

Dad opened the box, and never blinked ! But my Mom did! She didn’t get it was a joke and was pointing at the tie, laughing and then trying to pretend she wasn’t laughing.

Dad got it right away I think, but kept a straight face and played along. He was admiring the tie, and complimenting me on my good taste, my excellent choice, my keen eye for style!

“Is it silk or bamboo?”

Mom, meanwhile, was bursting, because she thought Dad liked the tie, and she thought I had picked it seriously. But the tie was almost repulsive ! She didn’t know what to do, and was pointing at the tie –

“look at it! Look at it!”

It was like it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

It was so ugly it would make a freight train take a dirt road!

You get the picture (smile).

Finally, having ainw sympathy for Mom who was stifling her laughter, I presented Dad with the real gift tie. (A nice tie, but completely forgotten now.)

My dear friends, and readers; I told you all that to remind you to enjoy the moments, the stories that life leaves us.

It will be the ordinary times, the times of laughter and not fine dining that will live on, and be remembered and passed on.

Google picture – sometimes you have to dive in

My Mom passed in June 2018 but I remember her well, her laughter and her huge love for her family stand out.

I am grateful for the stories that survive and that I can pass on about her ability to laugh, and the gift I had to be her son.

Cherish the memories!

Thank you for reading.

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Living Organ Donor – Discover how it happens

Posted on June 9, 2026 by dfolstad58
The answer to “What is the Process?”
Posted in Just being creative | Leave a comment

Windy day –

Posted on June 5, 2026 by dfolstad58

Today was a beautiful day, too nice of a spring day to stay indoors and so my son and I headed out for a bike ride. The clouds ominously hung on the edge of valley, hinting they held rain and it was a few minutes away.

Regardless of the threat of rain, we headed out on a short ride to the south end of town. A mere ten minute lazy ride away was the lakeshore, benches and the wind would be behind us as we went there. Who can resist the wind at their back?

It was too tempting to resist, clouds or not – so we went. The wind was gusty but behind us so, of course, no wind noise but we knew that on the return (the flip flop as the CB radio truckers would say) we would face the wind, and the noise would be in our ears.

Sudbury beach @ Skaha lake

We arrived at the lake, and it was like glass, similar to the photo above.

Wind direction effects the waves on the lake. Today at the north end of town and the other lake, the Okanagan, it was probably choppy but at Skaha where we were; it was calm and beautiful.

We put the bikes on their stands, and dismounted. Time to relax and sit on a bench – maybe it’s always time to sit by a lake on a bench. Maybe it should be prescribed.

Soon the clouds passed, the rain at the south end of the lake seemed to dissipate and the tree branches high along the lakeshore stopped swaying.

Change was literally, in the wind and it reversed direction.

Once again I was blessed to have the wind at my back but now on the return trip.

As I rode home though I had to smile to myself. A fairly typical valley day today because my city is in a valley that runs north and south. First the wind is from the north during the first half of the day, and then about 3 pm the wind shift and the wind from the south.

Before my retirement, it was a joke but also true that nearly daily that I faced the wind coming and going when I rode my bike to work. My work was at the north end of the city AND SO in the morning I rode against the wind to work, and then when I got off work at 4:30 the wind had shifted and I rode facing the wind on the way home.

I am not complaining, I am smiling as I write this. Riding to work was a treat I felt privileged to do.

a little cold air never stops us
W

As I rode home today I contemplated how the wind, like much of life is uncontrollable. Sometimes it at our back, sometimes it shifts in our favour and sometimes not.

In life, you and I both have learned sometimes to do what sailors do, and that is to tack against the wind; doing the best we can under uncontrollable circumstances.

One thing about facing the wind that I appreciate, and that is how alive I feel.

I imagine you have felt the feeling of the wind in your face. Going fast outside on a bike, or skiing. The wind pushes at you and yet you overcome and it can’t hold you back.

No matter which way the wind blows for you this weekend, I hope you can adjust your sails and enjoy the ride.

Hugs, David

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