It’s hard to believe but it happened

Posted on July 26, 2014 by dfolstad58

Since I planted roots here in the Okanagan, summer holidays have without exception been the “Tourist In My Home Town” variety. I have a close friend though who has been encouraging me to briefly forgo the Okanagan for another holiday destination. This year we took my friend at his recommendation and sashayed down to the beautiful Oregon coast for a family break. We visited Depoe Bay which matched the complimentary descriptions of my good buddy, and we thoroughly enjoyed the break.

I love to sing the praises of where I live, but I have to sing the praises of this American location also. The parks, ocean air, the whales, and especially the friendly Americans we met throughout our visit. A very special memory my son and I share is from the 4th of July when we went to a pancake breakfast at the Gleneden community centre. It was hopping busy that morning and everyone was friendly and welcoming especially after we explained to our neighbours at our table that we were from Canada. What a nice community, and friendly people and the breakfast was delicious! The young girl who was our server had been volunteering for six years to help out each July 4th, and she told us that with pride. No wonder that they have their own parade, this was indeed a special spot in the USA. Gleneden is likely considered part of Lincoln City if you go for your own coffee and pancakes next year. You will love the atmosphere, but get there early like we did so you miss the line up 🙂

Back to Depoe Bay, this was also a small city and it is famous for whale watching. One night while enjoying Mexican food in Depoe Bay we just looked out on the bay and could see a whale surfacing, blowing, and re-diving. This was a special treat and one that was repeated many times during the week.

A great location, and good weather is only enhanced by special people you share it with. I was blessed to spend it with my family which was really the icing on a very special cake.
I still love my Okanagan, but now I add Depoe Bay to a list of beautiful places that I have been blessed to have seen. Click images to enlarge, and thanks for visiting!

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Take your gift with both hands!

Posted on July 24, 2014 by dfolstad58

I subscribe to just two magazines, one is Toastmasters Magazine. It arrives each month with stories, and tips from around the world with respect to the international organization that is Toastmasters. The magazine this time included information about Koala Lumpur (use link to learn more) which is the location this year for the huge international annual conference for Toastmasters.  The article explained customs, etiquette (including tipping, and gifting) in Malaysia.

The magazine is international and it discussed gifting etiquette.  In China, India and Malaysia people generally wait to open gift because opening a gift immediately “would suggest that the recipient is greedy and impatient.” In countries such as Spain and USA it is common for people to unwrap gifts as soon as they receive them. In some countries offering gifts is common business practice, and in others the practice is rare.

In Saudi Arabia proper etiquette calls for giving and receiving gifts only with the right hand, yet in Japan, you should always give and receive gifts with BOTH hands.

I like the Japanese custom best. I find choosing gifts difficult so when I give a gift I really do want to present them with my gift. I know also that when I receive a gift, I have been given something that that person has given it to me with thought and planning knowing my preferences. I want to accept their gift and acknowledge it properly.

You and I were both given today a gift of a day, a day to appreciate our family, our health and much much more.  I have found that if I approach each day with thankfulness my whole mindset, attitude, and framework is better balanced.

Today I accepted the gift of the day I have with two hands, and I hope you did too.

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be – Abraham Lincoln

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For a moment life suddenly feels lighter

Posted on July 1, 2014 by dfolstad58

singing or dancing in the rain, it’s an attitude in life. Be a happy person, anyone can grouch about the weather, but the weather won’t change – Gene Kelly laughs the weather off with style!
I love the classics.

Live & Learn's avatarLive & Learn

Gene-Kelly-1Gene-Kelly-2
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“I firmly believe in small gestures: pay for their coffee, hold the door for strangers, over tip, smile or try to be kind even when you don’t feel like it, pay compliments, chase the kid’s runaway ball down the sidewalk and throw it back to him, try to be larger than you are— particularly when it’s difficult. People do notice, people appreciate. I appreciate it when it’s done to (for) me. Small gestures can be an effort, or actually go against our grain (‘I’m not a big one for paying compliments…’), but the irony is that almost every time you make them, you feel better about yourself. For a moment life suddenly feels lighter, a bit more Gene Kelly dancing in the rain.”

~ Jonathan Carroll 

Notes:

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Happiness is a response

Posted on June 30, 2014 by dfolstad58

Happiness is a warm puppy Charles Schultz said, and in a sense he was right. But what is a warm puppy to you?

I think for most part we are all people people, meaning that we are happiest when we are with people, people that love us, and love our time and attention.

Today I looked into the eyes of my family and I felt the warm puppy happiness Charles Schultz was talking about. The feeling in your heart that your cup is full, that you are missed when you are absent, and much more that words are so poor in describing.

I hope you have a warm puppy, full heart moment today. Life is so full of little things that take our time, washing dishes, and tidying up – the stuff that needs to be done. But life also has those moments that fly by like birds on the wing, so grab them and enjoy them when they happen, they are the most important times of our lives.

Today your day will be happier than a seagull with a french fry!

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Top Ten Ways You KNOW You’re a Texan

Posted on June 25, 2014 by dfolstad58

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Texas style tacos recipes available here, and provided with the texas amount of wit and charm. Enjoy and surprise your family with breakfast tacos, for extra karma – comment to the blogger how it all turned out!

Christine Gough's avatarTexana's Kitchen

So, the top ten ways to know that you are a Texan are thus:

10.  It is February, you’re A/C is running. In fact, you’re A/C runs every day, except for 12 minutes in early January.

9.     You see a snake. Your first thought is whether it would make a better belt or hatband.

8.     The Larry Joe Taylor Music Festival is on your bucket list.

7.     You consider RC Cola and Moon Pie haute cuisine

6.     You plan your wedding for the one weekend toward the end of October between dove season and whitetail season, because you want the groom to be there too.

5.     You have memorized every rule, of every stage of the drought restrictions. You are watering at midnight. You share a beer with your neighbor whilst doing it, because he is also watering his lawn…

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Savannah’s Tiny Cottages: Total Charm in 300 Square Feet

Posted on June 24, 2014 by dfolstad58

Simple living, I think this idea needs to catch on.

gallivance.net's avatarGALLIVANCE

Gypsy Wagon

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with tiny abodes. Tree houses, gypsy wagons, log cabins, and Airstream Bambis have all sparked my imagination over the years.

When we lived in London

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