On the Verge of 2016

What have you done in the past year? Seemingly many are looking at their year, questioning themselves if they have done enough, done well, done better, etc, etc. Have no regrets though, regrets are just things you haven't done yet! At any time you can shape life in whatever way you would like. Yes, you will be thrown a "curve ball" -something that is unexpected, surprising or disruptive-  from time to time, but you can maneuver around it or take it and run! Life is YOURS, and what a wonder it is. Some days are DIP days, but there is so much out there to give you hope, to give you inspiration, to give you joy. DIP days are inevitable, there is so much pain, so much ignorance, so much emptiness, how could we not suffer from time to time? But look at THIS! I came across some Nature Magic the other day and discovering something beautiful and new always puts a smile on my face.

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Fascinating, aren't they? All of these shots, were taken with an Iphone4. I am amazed at how great they turned out, but this is nature folks, and FREE entertainment, all you have to do is venture outside into the woods. Hoping to find out what these are, and how they are made, I went on over to Wikipedia and found "Hair Ice." Certainly I had never seen anything like it, but there you go, learning something new every day.  Mostly,  I try to learn a new word every day. My husband comes from Switzerland and they speak Swiss-German. If you speak German, you will not understand Schweizer Deutsch. Actually, some Swiss folks can't even understand what their Swiss German speaking neighbours are saying because of the different dialects. It sure gets confusing! Yesterday, I learned a new word, "Abenteuer"... which is actually the same in Hoch Deutsch or High German. Sometimes they do use the same words.

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  Switzerland is pretty beautiful but so is Canada. I think the best thing I did in 2015 was to tour across Canada in the Summer. We drove from Wakefield, Quebec to Vancouver, Island and back. I could (and SHOULD) dedicate an entire blog about that journey, there are so many photos and memories to share! I will never forget that epic Abenteur!! I toured my newest record "Chameleon" over the course of eight weeks. It was pretty incredible, and every kilometer was driven in a 1997 Toyota Tercel. We call her "White Pearl" or "Perla" for short. If one this is for sure, you can do it too. There are inexpensive ways to make it happen, too. When we weren't "put up* by a venue, we pitched a tent. The costs vary, but are anywhere between 18$-30$ a night. So. Totally. Worth. It!!! Pork chops over an open fire and cards by candle-light... ahhh... the memories.

Lindsay_and_Doug_in_Catherdral_Grove

Lately, I have taken to PODCASTING. I try to post one or two a week. Here is my latest one, should you like a LISTEN??

I wonder what 2016 will bring?? Let's make it awesome!!! 

Happy New Year,

Love, Lindsay xoxo

Come People

There is a river rushing outside my window. You can hear it and it runs pretty quickly especially after a long rain, which is happening right now. The river here is not one for diving into, as it is mostly shallow, but it is crystal clear and you can bend down to drink it's glorious cold right from your hand.

I also hear the harmony of bells from the sheep and miniature ponies, grazing on the long green grasses in our fields around this old farm house.

I Love to open all the windows and just revel in all the sounds that are flowing in. The days and nights are getting colder though, and this unique soundtrack will be missed. Living here in Switzerland is different from our Canadian life, but similarities balance both. The food may taste a little different, friends and family have different ways and faces and the hills around here may be a little steeper than those in the Gatineau.

Bottom line though, I have learned through travel and massive change, that you will be who you are wherever you live. You will find things that piss you off and you will find ways to bring joy into your life. You live with yourself your entire life and the way to get through it is not running away hoping for a deep, profound change from within. This ideal/new “solution” will last until the newness rubs off, and then it's back to you again. You with all your fear, strength, insecurities, happiness, anger; over all mood swings (that may or may not be a part of your life.)

Some folks look at me with stars and dreams in their eyes when I talk about living between two countries. For the most part, I do not see it that way. I used to, when I first came here forever ago, it was so new and I was given a fresh perspective for awhile, but me and my life will follow me wherever I go, there is no escape! There is only will. Will to keep going, will to better oneself, will to face fear, will to accept fear, will to conquer fear, will to eat better, will to be better, will to make art (in some form) a part of your life (cinema, art exhibits, baking, reading, music, whatever, there is so much choice in artful ways!!)

Finding the will to teach and to learn is also fundamental. Finding that balance between hearing and being heard...There is no simple way to blast through this cosmos, we are all one in this case, and we can all do it. I suppose accepting that there will be days filled with frown and days filled with smile, and sometimes the two shall meet. Wherever we are in this world, one foot in front of the other, trying to find our way through this beautiful and sad place, knowing we are not alone in the battle but rather we are one. Now HERE is a profound and beautiful heart lifting song that might just hammer that last nail in about what I am going on about... Music speaks louder after all! Introducing Xavier Rudd's COME PEOPLE.