For the Love of Snails

Early this morning I went for a run with Fernando. For some reason I was drawn to try a new trail--one I never take in the mornings. I believe this is the reason why: the most beautiful orange and yellow snails, trying to cross the trail. The snails are native to the Okanagan and have about an inch radius. They are so beautiful. I ran home and burst through the door to grab my camera and shouted "field trip!" Pip was still asleep and my two big girls in their jammies. They threw on rubber boots and piled in the van. We arrived back at the trail in time to see the beautiful snails (they are slow movers luckily).
I love nothing more than tromping through wilderness and photographing wild life! I am so looking forward to completing my thesis so I can return to painting life.
I had a great time at Zumba again. I was born to dance. I LOVE dancing, always have.
Busy night: piano x2, soccer pics, date night (yay!) and preparing for Friday night's movie/pizza party Mist is throwing for all her newly shorn friends.
 Gotta get to work...

Okanagan Thanksgiving 2009

All photos were taken today in my backyard (the wilderness park that our home backs onto).
I worked all day writing a research paper. I am always looking for a quick formula to simplify the process. So far I haven't found the quick research paper key. Mainly because each paper I write on a topic I know nothing about. Thus I have to really read each source in detail to teach myself the topic along the way.
Tonight we had Mexican feast leftovers. I must have been Mexican in my past life as it is my favorite food culture.
Peter spent the day with the girls. He took them out shopping to Orchard Park Mall--the girls enjoyed it.
Tonight a break from research writing (the agony)! I am going to rent a movie and perhaps treat myself to a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard (my personal fav). I have to do these "spoil QMJ" type of things to keep my spirits up during paper writing season. Because the last thing I want to do on a weekend is spend the day on my computer. I'd much, much rather be biking or hiking around the province.
My girls are all well and enjoying their laid back weekend at home--a lot of Playmobile and Littlest Petshop playing going on. And in Peter's case I just know he's upstairs watching his Miami Vice DVDs.

I'm in Love with a Beautiful, Beautiful Bird

Peter and I were sitting in the back yard last evening, (it is warm in Kelowna around 30 oC) and we kept hearing a tap, tap, tap...I traced it to a tree in the forest with an orange X on it--slated for removal because of the pine beetle infestation that is devastating BC'c forests! I ran inside to find the binoculars. And what I saw through those double lens was this gorgeous fella: a pileated woodpecker. Since the extinction of the Ivory-billed woodpecker, this is the largest woodpecker that exists in N. America. I believe this to be a male because its "mustache" appears to have some red in it, the female's is solid black. I ran inside and grabbed my camera, ran to the top slope of our back yard  ( in bare feet) and hopped the fence. I am never happier than creeping through he forest, studying other creatures ( I really should chuck it all in and become my teenage dream: a National Geographic photographer).  I watched this guy and he was adorable--stopping to scratch his little head with one foot as he clung to the tree with the other. I am always touched by how alike we humans are to all of earth's creatures. We only look different on the outside. My only battle wound is a gash across my right leg--presumably happened during the fence hopping.

I am off to my class today--I need to go get ready, but I was too excited about my woodpecker to ignore my blog this morning.

Yesterday, Tabs, Pip and I went to the beach--a lovely day--I love the Okanagan, it is still summer here--Mist stayed home with her friend Ashley and they had tons of fun calling up people in their classes and acting very silly.

 I am behind with my thesis work as I have been so busy with the darling children. So, I am devoting Sunday morning to finishing my thesis plan and self-directed studies class plan.

Wha...I don't want to go to school today! But I am going to get a wee break from it all at lunch when I borrow John's office to relax in--one needs to escape for a moment when spending an entire day on campus.