Teresa's east coast adventures

SNOWSHOEING ... what a fun way to get out in the fresh snow of West Virginia (November 27, 2008)

Hello Everyone,

Thought you might like to see some pic's & hear a few stories from my time over here in Maryland where I am visiting my splendid friend Margaret and my family that live out this way ... Mom, Doug and Biskit & Misha ... Katrina, Ronnie, and Bear ... Tammie & Jeff and Roo, Boo, & Loo and Inky & Obie.

As you can see from the picture above, I enjoyed our hop out to the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia with Margaret for the U.S. Thanksgiving break. We had fun snowshoeing for a couple of days in the ~20 cm of fresh, fluffy snow :)

... what a splendid & peaceful way to enjoy such amazing wintry landscapes!

We ate all kinds of yummy food in between our explorations with the snowshoes where we had to be mindful to avoid areas that hunters might be lurking about! They are even allowed to hunt at the National Wildlife Refuge out there in the Canaan Valley!!!

More pic's from my time out here in my next post but I also wanted to share a few pic's from the fun I had with a few friends around Edmonton back in November ...

Mary-Frances & her boys with me out at my friend Maureen's near Tofield, AB (November 15, 2008)

Jilly-Peanut & Teresa-Bean :)

Maureen & her dog Abby exploring the beavers' newest exploits
... 25 poplar saplings since August!

Ethan (Peanut Jr.), Jill, & me

GOOD NEWS ... I have just set up a new phone line through Skype so that I can receive calls while I am away from Alberta ... I opted for a California area code since Skype is not set up to provide any Canadian phone numbers yet. Sooooo, the new number you can reach me at is: (831) 440-8678

I finally got to meet my Mom's new puppy & have enjoyed reconnecting with my family out this way ... I enjoyed a bunch of fun with my nieces Carissa (Roo) & Bailey (Boo) who are now 7 years young & Alexis (Schmookie Loo) who is now 9!!! ... the week-end of Doug's 60th birthday. More pic's & stories from that week-end (& all the wonderful food I have been enjoying with my family) in my next posting ... my younger sister Katrina's "puppy" Bear is quite HUGE now ... not the little guy I met back in January and my sister Tammie's new puppy Obie is heaps bigger than the beginning of the year too but likely half the size of Bear!

My Mom's new puppy is absolutely adorable & I've included a picture of her in this posting ...

Misha ... my Mom's adorable new puppy

It looks like I will be returning back to Edmonton just before or maybe just after Christmas and hope to do some more catching up with my family & friends over the upcoming holiday break.

I hope each of you are well & happy and enjoying an abundance of peace, love, gratitude, and compassion as Winter prepares to set in here in the northern hemisphere and as the Summer approaches "Down Unda."

Please know that I am sending my hugs & love to all of you dear ones wherever you are.

Hugs 'n' Bugs, love,

Teresa

Teresa is on the move soon ... & eager to see where the wind will be taking me!

the view from my solo spot overlooking the Ghost River Valley (August 23, 2008)

Hello my dear friends & family,

Alas, my contract with Ghost River Rediscovery has come to a close ...

This result was bound to happen since I had not been able to secure the funds I needed to continue forward in this new position. So, after carrying on an extra 2 months with GRR, waiting for responses to the letter of interest I had sent out, my 6 (+2) month contract has finally wound down. There's a small possibility of my hopping back into things with Ghost River Rediscovery that depends on one final proposal I am sending in next week. The results of this proposal won't likely be known until late December or early January, so I am heading full steam ahead in my job searching as well.

At any rate, I am at a fairly good place about the whole thing, knowing that I now have a chance to move toward a position that is more outdoor focused & less office-based. So I am now gearing up to hop onto my little "speck" ... we'll see which way I am meant to be carried by the wind ...

spectacular view from the Asulkan Valley hut in Glacier National Park (August 9, 2008)

All that said, I had my first job interview (via. webcam) last week. It's an exciting affirmation but I am trying to stay in the moment and just see what comes of it. I am supposed to hear back on this job sometime this week ...

This job searching thing can be quite a rollercoaster, so I know the importance of patience and being in the moment ... just the things I still need to keep working on along my journey, how convenient :) But any & all encouragement & reaching out from my family & friends will be very much appreciated :)

Indian paintbrush in full bloom (August 9, 2008)

Along with this recent change in my employment situation, I have decided to pack up my "Wombat Warren" (aka basement suite) & put my belongings back into temporary storage in my parent's garage (& the big items at a few friend's places). Once Halloween comes along, I will be on the move back up to Edmonton with my boxes & furniture packed into a small U-Haul truck. I'll be staying with a few different friends & have a chance to do some house-sitting around Edmonton. Undoubtedly, I will bounce around to connect with a few other folks out of town as I continue my job search.

In order to keep in touch with me, please note my NEW e-mail address: spiralwonder@peacemail.com
(I am no longer accessing my GRR e-mail address).

You can always check on my BLOG here at: www.sherpadoginoz.blogspot.com
... or you can also find me on Facebook to check on any updates I have added & to see where I have landed myself.

For October at least, you can still reach me on my mobile phone at: (403) 690-0504 (mobile) or you can connect with me through Skype, my Skype ID is: tchilkowich

I will add any new contact details to my BLOG here in the "contact" section once I have a more permanent address/phone number etc.

sparkling waters rushing over a gorgeous green rock along the Asulkan trail (August 9, 2008)

I look forward to seeing how things will unfold for me as this newest period of transition parallels the changing of the seasons. I am also looking forward to reconnecting with some of the wonderful people in my life who I haven't seen much of while I have been down in Cow Town :)

I wish you well in your own active lives & with all the GREAT work you are doing. It will be great to connect with you again sometime in the near future.

Be well,

Hugs 'n' Bugs, love,

Teresa

Teresa's Waterton, Rediscovery & Compassionate Communication adventures ... AWESOME!

Teresa at Waterton Lakes National Park (May 16-19, 2008)

Hello my Dear Friends & Family,

It's been a loooooooong time since my last post ... & great to finally bust out of "office mode" ... so there's heaps to update you on ...

For the May long week-end, I went down to Waterton Lakes National Park in SW Alberta with Margaret. We had most splendid weather for our Waterton adventures & it was great to finally get a chance to explore this gorgeous & very diverse part of Alberta. I had never been down & am so pleased to finally be able to explore the grandeur of Waterton! It was great to reconnect with Margaret again as well & to enjoy an extended long week-end out on the trails of this glorious part of the Canadian Rockies :) We saw deer all over & even some bighorn sheep right in the Waterton townsite ... plus a bear cub near the road through my binoculars from our hike up above the townsite :)

gorgeous sunset over Upper Lake Waterton (May 2008)

I headed out to the west coast (west of Victoria) for the 12 day Rediscovery Leadership training & then back in Calgary for 5 days before I headed off to Santa Cruz, CA for a 6 day Summer Retreat immersed in Compassionate (Nonviolent) Communication (NVC) ... both of these were quite excellent & still much to soak in & review from all that was covered in this excellent courses.

For the Rediscovery International training ... our group was a fabulous mix of folks from First Nations & Metis communities in British Columbia (B.C.), 11 students from around the world who just finished their studies at Pearson College where our training was held, & 3 of our Ghost River Rediscovery staff plus our Ex. Director Mike, along with Serena one of the other leaders, & Thom Henley, co-founder of Rediscovery.

It was great to be back out at Pedder Bay, where Pearson College is located ... this is where my friends Laura & Christie live ... Laura teaches at Pearson & Christie teaches in Victoria. It was great to visit with them & to spend almost two weeks out in this special part of Canada's west coast.

me & Serena, our Canoe instructor at the Rediscovery International training ... Serena also helped Mike teach the Wilderness 1st Aid course during the 1st week

here I am "made up" to appear like I have a broken tibia (shin bone) & an amputated finger ... the 1st Aid students were assessed on how they dealt with myself or Lisa the other "patient" who they had to offer 1st Aid to

view across the Straight of Juan de Fuca & the Olympic mountains in Washington state

Teresa enjoying the Rediscovery outing to one of the beaches near Pearson College

some of our Rediscovery group enjoying a little time for reflection & immersing in the splendour of the west coast, as Megan plays her drum

neat sand & driftwood art made by some folks in our group while we learned more Rediscovery activities & others sang & played drums around the fire

playing the "Who's Who Hoot" Rediscovery game out at the soccer field ... the "mice" had to carefully crack open peanuts & eat them without being heard by the blindfolded "owls ... what GREAT FUN!!!

Patch & Saijai sharing some Thai dancing during one of our evening cultural sharing nights ... how very gentle & peaceful :)

Lucia, my very excellent paddling partner :)

"Food for Thought" activity ... 3 of our group of 27 dined on fine French cuisine while the rest of us were given a ration of cooked rice to eat & pitchers of treated water to drink ... plus a bonus of soya sauce to add to our rice

Patch & I peacefully accepting the meager bowl of rice & water to drink for our "Food for Thought" lunch

15 fortunate folks from our group that went out to visit Race Rocks where we saw some eagles, elephant seals, & harbour seals along the way ... we also went out further to see a big eagle nest in the trees & a rainbow on the return trip home to Pearson ... thanks heaps Chris & Erick :)

warming the drum head around the Rediscovery "Council Fire" ... one of our regular evening activities enjoyed by all ... thanks heaps to Charlie, Mike, Thom, Mutang, Serena & all our group for all the great songs, drumming, & sharing that we did in this special place everyone!!!

Darcy & Shaylene enjoying the canoe trip out to see the seals

new Spiritual Centre at Pearson College ... what a very special place

one of the many creative & lovely ways that folks in our group honoured their "Secret Friends" ... this special greeting was made for Charlie, the wonderful Elder who shared his west coast Indigenous teachings with us ... THANK YOU Charlie!!!

Teresa's 2nd jump into the COLD waters of Pedder Bay ... as part of canoe training & also our earlier Bronze Medallion certification

YES, I managed to successfully complete my Bronze Medallion REcertification ... many thanks to Mutang, our Life Saving instructor, what a treat to have Mutang teach us all that he shared ... YIPPEE!! :)

Darcy the "cougar" getting ready to pounce on Mica the white-tailed deer during "Deer Ears"

map of where our whole Rediscovery 2008 family hail from all over the world

Muji, Charlene, & Saijai trying to figure out the Native string game

our daily gathering place marked by coloured ribbons for the 4 directions plus Mother Earth & Father Sky in the middle

I'll share more pic's from the last few days of our Rediscovery training either later tonight or tomorrow ... gotta finally get outside for a walk & to get some more groceries now that I'll be back at my "Wombat Warren" here in Cow Town for awhile ...

I had the splendid pleasure to reconnect with some of my California mates ... Margaret, Kristin, Claudette, & Isabel, while I was in Santa Cruz, which was a very lovely treat indeed!! I've also gained a heap of new friends at the NVC Summer Retreat that I participated in

I also got to reconnect with my travelling Aussie Seed Mate kt ... FINALLY!!! She came down to Santa Cruz & we hung out during the day before I headed to the NVC retreat & the day before she headed off to San Luis Obispo the next day to visit with Linda Seeley. It was also most splendid to reconnect up with kt, who was on the west coast as part of her worldwide adventures. kt, I am sure you are having a great time on the east coast now kt & I look forward to seeing you up in Canada if you decide to return to Turtle Island (N. America) after you head over to Europe).

Cheryl, Gled, Aidan, Joan, & Linda, so sorry I missed catching up with this trip ... I trust you are well & I look forward to catching up with you hopefully later on this year or perhaps by next May (Joan & Linda) with the great activities I am planning with Joanna up this way!!!

Most recently, I just returned yesterday from my first full, Summer course with Ghost River Rediscovery ... I taught the Standard First Aid materials that make up the majority of the WIlderness First Aid course that folks were being certified for ... it went fairly well but I was quite nervous (big responsibility to teach things right so that people are fully prepared to do the things they need to do in a 1st aid situation) & feeling under prepared because there is SO MUCH material to cover.

All in all, I survived & I was in participant mode the rest of the time ... the highlight for me was my 24 hour solo at a spot that looked west over the whole Ghost River valley that is surrounded by the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies. Our camp is about 300m east of the Banff National Park boundary, not far from Lake Minnewanka). My solo spot was less than 100m from the park boundary & in one of the areas near our camp that could potentially have some activity of the bigger creatures ... "O zhin zha" - black bear & "Watanga" - grizzly bear. If any were nearby, they did not come through my little camp ... it was me & the big gusting winds, the wildflowers blooming around me, the butterflies, moths, ants, & spiders, & the little song birds that chirped their songs on occasion.

More pictures of the NVC Retreat & the Rediscovery Wilderness Guide Training to follow ... once I am reunited with my camera in August (or perhaps sooner, if I can figure out a way to get access to my pictures from afar. I unfortunately left it behind in Santa Cruz after the NVC Summer retreat ... the first time I've ever done that with my most important travelling gear!!! ... & once I get access to the pic's that folks took over the past 11 days out at the Ghost.

For any of you that may be interested in the work we are doing at Ghost River Rediscovery, we have a few positions for employment that are either just recently became available or will be in the Autumn. If you are having any itches to come my way, perhaps you may want to follow this up ... www.ghostriverrediscovery.com

I would LOVE to connect with any of you on Skype sometime soon ... my Skype ID is tchilkowich ... it would be great to see you, hear you laugh, & hear your stories of what you have been up to lately. Feel free to try me if you see I am on Skype or send me a note & we can set a time to connect.

Looking forward to talking with you soon & reconnecting on many levels.

Big hugs & heaps of love to all of you,

Teresa ... & SHERPA DOG!!

~~~

p.s. guess who was on my doorstep yesterday to greet me back from 11 days out in the mountains ...?

...

my little Sherpa Dog has returned back to me ... Noel (one of my dear Seed Mates from Australia) sent me a little parcel to reunite her with me ... Noel sensed that she's been missing me ... rightly so ... amid this very excellent connection & good fit for me here with Ghost River Rediscovery, I sure do wish I had more of my friends & family from up around Edmonton & my close friends & Seed Mates& their sweet heart connections closer in proximity to me here in Canada ...

do reconnect when you can, I'd love to hear from all of you & find out how you are these days :)

(403) 690-0504 (mobile)

424 - 6th Street N.E. (bsmt.)
Calgary, Alberta
T2E 3Y4

grateful to be riding my bike again & grateful for warmer weather!

gorgeous Westcliff sunset before the "big storm" hit Santa Cruz, CA

Hello my dear friends & family,

It's been awhile since my last posting about the first half of my great train adventures ... been trying to continue my transition "back from Oz" in as gentle & peaceful a way possible. I haven't been as on top of these BLOG updates so much but now I finally have the chance to post another one. So far, my transitioning has been okay, although I really ache to be further removed from "all things urban" and more closely connected to tour beloved Earth, in its more natural state.

On that note, I am TRULY GRATEFUL that I have been able to be riding my bike to work for the past month! The warmer temperatures melted away the ice & snow from my bike route. Any snow that has more recently fallen hasn't stuck around longer than a day and my route has still been passable on my bike, no major icy patches to catch me 'off guard.' My bike is providing me with a certain amount of freedom by enabling me to ride in places where vehicles don't go and along less travelled streets. My bike rides are also giving me some of my much needed outside time, to enjoy the sunshine, blue skies & brief views of the Canadian Rockies (on clear days), bird calls & sightings, plus being out as Spring is arriving with all its many splendid signs of the Earth's new beginnings.

Two days ago, we had a MASSIVE dump of wet snow ... over the space of 4 - 10 or 11 a.m. ... much of which has melted away from the roads & sidewalks & is quickly seeping back into the soil but taking longer to do so if it has been undisturbed by passers by. Amazingly, this week-end looks like sunshine & 20 degree Celsius temperatures are in the forecast :) It will be great to get outside heaps over the next couple of days ...

I am planning to go exploring with my bike on Sunday by taking the train to the last stop at the south end of Calgary & then riding to the Cross Conservation Area where I am taking the groups that gather next week-end for the "EARTH DAY, Every Day" activities & hikes that I have planned :) www.ghostriverrediscovery.com/forms/11_EARTH_DAY.pdf

Here's a few more pic's from my time in California back in January ...

a very splendid waterfall near the school at Sebastopol, CA

Joan "red toed salamander" & me "banana slug"

another view of one of many monarch butterflies in Santa Cruz during their big migration

Over the week-end, I will add a few final stories from my great train adventures back in January ... plus a few pic's from a couple of trips out to the Rockies to enjoy the snow & ice plus the sunshine and some great hikes!

I have a home phone # finally, ... well, it's actually a mobile phone ... the number is: (403) 690-0504. Please give me a call, send me a note, or post a comment on my BLOG here to let me know "how you are going" (as they say Down Unda).

Be well & enjoy the coming of Spring here in the northern hemisphere ... & the coming of cooler temperatures "Down Unda."

Hugs 'n' Bugs, love,

Teresa

Teresa's landing down in Cow Town & Teresa's train adventures (pt. 2)

near Mount Shasta during the road trip part of my travels with my dear friend Antonia & her little red car

Hello Everyone,

It's been quite a "full on" ride this past month, winding down my big train trip over to the east coast & then bouncing back up to Calgary (Cow Town) to find a place to live & then get a good chunk of my stuff moved out of my folks' garage & from a few friends' places, who were so very kind to store my particles and/or use the big items for awhile.

As you know from my earlier note, I found a very comfortable basement suite to move into & it is working well so far. I get about 30 minutes of walking to get to the LRT (train) station & then from the LRT to work and another 30 minutes for my return home. My walks to work have often been highlighted by the spotting of snow shoe hares in a big field near the LRT station that I walk past to head to the office.

One morning I saw a total of 9 white, very large snow shoe hares!! The next day, I saw 8 of them resting in a few spots of the big field. On my way home, which I now call "goose time" instead of home time, ... the Canada geese have been greeting me & drawing my attention skyward, where I have enjoyed the splendid sights of the moon in full view (including last week's lunar eclipse!), as well as some fairly awesome sunsets over & behind the downtown skyscrapers.

I am finding myself feeling somewhat cramped & closed in at times, if I am hanging about inside for too long, especially if it is a small or very warm space. My twice daily walking routine is helping balance this a little but the smaller windows in the basement of my new "digs" are adding to this challenge at times.

In line with all things "new" ... I have given my BLOG a new look to spruce things up, I hope you like it :)

All in all, my transition back from Land of Oz has been immensely helped by the time I took to bounce about down south of the 49th parallel. Not only for the temporal (slower pace) side of things, but also the climate, & the reconnecting with such dear friends & the members of my family scattered further afield than Alberta.

Here's a few more pic's from my big train trek across the U.S. ... where winter travel conditions & snow storms caused significant delays and each station stop I made along the way provided new opportunities to reconnect with many splendid people & pets in my life. Thanks again to all of you that welcomed me so warmly and made my visits so absolutely enjoyable :) You are splendid!!

Winston, my sister Xenia's pride & joy

Antonia, me, & Joan when we met up briefly north of San Francisco

Joan looking out over the big "community" garden/farm near her lovely home in Sebastopol

Joan, Me, & Judith enjoying a sunny day at "the farm"

one of the many monarch butterflies in Santa Cruz ... heaps of them hanging in the trees!

Kristin & Gabriel enjoying some of the big storm winds that were building out along the coast ... we ended up with a power outage for 10 hours that day because of a fallen branch from a Sequoia tree.

big waves crashing ashore through the rock arch on "Dog Beach"

two terrific Tiggers having heaps of FUN!

Karly, the 18-20 year old kitty enjoying the warmth of the fireplace during the big storm

Kristin, Claudette, Isabel, & me in Santa Cruz

Visiting with my Dharma friends Cheryl, Gleb, & their son Aidan was also very splendid!!

Aidan posing as a shark after we put this awesome floor puzzle together

Aidan & I having heaps of fun :)

ARRRGH ... it's pirate Aidan decked out in his very excellent Halloween costume

it was great to reconnect with Cheryl in her new California home

Gleb & Cheryl in Palo Alto, CA

Thanks heaps for having my dear friends & family, it was great to reconnect with you again & see how you are!!!

More pic's & stories on my train trek in my next posting ... that's enough for this segment.

Be well & keep doing what you do to contribute your uniqueness to this world we call home!

Teresa