Teresa's Summer of '09 (pt. 2)

black wolf & 5 black pups along the Bow Valley Parkway ... what a treat to see these gorgeous black buddies bouncing along in the tall grasses! (20 July 2009)

Hello Dear Friends & Family,

Hoping all is well for each of you wherever you are these days, here's an update I've been meaning to share for quite awhile ... go figure, I had drafted this update last year & never finalized it so that I could post it on my blog until now ... still fun stories & some neat pic's to share nonetheless ... had trouble getting some of the remaining photos uploaded (with my limited highspeed Internet access), last year & even now, so I'll have to try to add those in the next time I am on a solid cyber connection ... ENJOY!!!

JULY 2009

How fortunate & blessed I've been this Summer, with the encounters I've had with my neighbours ... I had the great pleasure of spotting a black wolf two mornings in a row ... through the trees along the Bow Valley Parkway ... & totally loving being on alert for such wildlife viewing opportunities!!!

02 July 2009 - I got totally excited about this morning's encounter with another black wolf ... this one walked right across the Bow Valley Parkway as I came along in my car, our eyes met for a shared gaze after I stopped ... THEN, I found myself looking into the face of another gorgeous wolf, this one, a big grey wolf, stalking its way toward me on the road. Then the two wolves walked slowly along the roadside ditch before they moved into the pine forest nearby.

The more common Columbia ground squirrels, ravens, fresh mountain air have been quite marvelous as well :)

BEARS

we had front rows seats to the most spectacular encounter btwn. a wapiti (elk) & a grizzly bear ... out on the meadow in front of our staff cabin ...






... eventhough the bear initially scared off the wapiti when it clamoured across the road into the meadow, the wapiti returned & opted to continue eating grass for awhile longer before the disturbance from the many cars that had stopped along the road became too much of a threat for the wapiti to stay around the meadow.



We watched this great show for at least 15 or 20 minutes before the bear eventually did move on ... to get away from the many cars that were stopping & watching/taking pictures & as the daylight was fading.

A couple of the guys saw the bear about half an hour later in the campground beside our cabin!


WOLVES

here's one of my favourite pic's from this Summer ...

20 July - I was very honoured & excited to see another one of my black wolf neighbours ... this one was also close to the road as I returned back home to the cabin ... BUT this time, ... the black wolf I saw ... was accompanied by FIVE little pups, were truly a delight to see on my way home from only half a shift since I was not feeling very well that day :) :) :) The lovely little pack of wolves was absolutely gorgeous!!!


one of my black wolf neighbours from this Summer ... just up the Bow Valley Parkway from where I was living ... & the 5 new cubs that were added to the pack :)

25 July - I got out to Paradise Valley & the Giant Steps yesterday ... HOW GORGEOUS!!! Thanks for the recommend on this hike Kim Wallace :) I was able to join a few of the campers from our campground who needed a fourth hiker to comply with the 4 person minimum for this trail due to the bear activity in the area.

Saw a couple of marmots on the way down to the Giant Steps & even a nice little toad along the trail. The waterfall at the Giant Steps was absolutely awesome, can't wait to go back with other friends in the near future ...

(pic's fr. Trish)

Summer fun out at Island Lake not far from the cabin at Protection Mountain :)
(paddling with my driftwood paddle + Island Lake wide & zoom shots)


AUGUST 2009

I had to finally say "goodbye" to my trusty travelling companion ... my Canon Powershot camera ... it helped me capture many, many, many splendid critters & gorgeous places ... plus so many wonderful & dear friends, family, & their furry friends ... after ~18,000 pic's & a couple trips Down Unda ...
(young bear near BVP on the way to work)

07 August - here's one of my little buddies from the Bow Valley Parkway ... filling its belly with buffalo berries & not interested one bit that we were just on the other side of the road in my little car.

I am sure going to miss these gorgeous neighbours out near the cabin ... will just have to get out there often & rejuvenate my spirit :)

By far, the pic's I took that morning on the way work were the most fun I'd had with my new camera up to that point ... a few more bear (& wolf) pic's will follow in the next little while now that I am able to tap into a solid cyber link more readily ...

M-F & her boys out for a visit ... brunch, canoeing on Moraine Lake, hiking to Island Lake, cookout at the firepit by my cabin at Protection Mountain. Great food including banana boats for dessert YUM!

Lake O'Hara at the end of the month - Pam got us in on a cancellation at the Parks Canada "back country" campground. We took the shuttle bus 11 km to the campground & enjoyed tramping about the trails & taking in the totally gorgeous views from high over Lake O'Hara.


SEPTEMBER 2009

Pam & I enjoyed a GREAT week-end at Waterfowl Lakes ... got out on the Upper Lake in a canoe ... saw a moose in the water, saw an osprey overhead, & heard a couple of loons after one of them called us from the other side of the lake :)



Wrapped up my Parks job at the Lake Louise campground after the 1st week of September & enjoyed 3 great days of hiking in the Rockies with Pam, my new nature nut of a girlfriend :) ... totally gorgeous, sunny, blue sky days & the cold, clear, star-filled nights at the Little Yoho warden cabin :)

Now that I have wrapped up my campground attendant season with Parks Canada, I'll be getting into the swing of things with the healing folks at Gaia Collaborative Medicine ... this dynamic group of health & wellness practitioners in Canmore.


OCTOBER 2009

Enneagram workshop in Calgary this week-end with Eileen Head ... http://lifeequationsinc.com/ ... also, here's a link to do a free online Enneagram quiz ... http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/dis_sample_36.asp?discover ... which unconscious pattern/type do you resonate with?


NOVEMBER 2009

Victoria, British Columbia - Chilkowich clan gathering for my folks anniversary & my step-mother Cecilia's 60th birthday ... more on this & a few pic's in my next posting ... :)

I led my first Nature Reconnecting walk for a woman who brought along her lovely little dog ... this is the first such walk that I have offered through Gaia Collaborative Medicine ... all went well & the client/patient really appreciated the reconnecting time with nature and the activities we did along the way :)

Hope your 2009 was as blessed as mine has been with the spectacular wilderness experiences and reconnecting with family & friends!

Big hugs, Teresa

Teresa's Summer of '09 Adventures (pt.1)

Cougar Creek hike with Judy Stevens (April 2009)

G'daye my dear Friends & Family,

It's been quite a Summer of great adventures up near Lake Louise for me & somehow, we are already into November & I've not updated my blog to share any of my stories or pictures with you.

I am sure I'll need a couple of postings to fit everything in, so I'll recap the amazing hiking fun & wildlife encounters that I enjoyed as each month unfolded + a few of the other great things I was able to do along the way ...

MAY

In early May, Katrina, my little sister on the east coast in Maryland, got married to her beau Ronnie. It was quite the family gathering ... filled with many smiles, hugs, heaps of pictures captured by everyone, great food, and much love amid the rainy weather on their big day.

Katrina & Ronnie ... the newlyweds

Here's a few pic's from the wedding of my east coast family + a few of us from the western part of Turtle Island ...

Ronnie & Katrina's special day (May 14, 2009)

my new brother-in-law Ronnie & my brother Andrew, one of the groomsmen


Mom & Doug & their little girl ... all grown up & ready for a special horse-drawn carriage ride

Katrina Rose ... the radiant one

Katrina & all her siblings along with Mom & Doug ... what a mob :)

Ronnie with Roo, Loo, & Boo
Tammie, Jeffrey, & the girls ... Alexis, Bailey, & Carissa

dancing time ... great fun for everyone!

Katrina & Ronnie, the happy couple on their sunshiney day :)

me & my Mom ... so glad I didn't have to wear pink!!!


In the middle of May, Alberta had the tremendous pleasure & honour to host my teacher Dr. Joanna Macy for the first time ever to lead a few workshops around our fair province. The one day workshop at the U of C engaged ~100 participants who gathered for Joanna's teachings.

May 7-9, 2009 - EcoConference on Professional Helping (U of C)

panel session with Karsten Hauer, , Dr. Joanna Macy, & Dr. David Orr

beeswax sculptures that Nicholas & I made during one of the workshops ... note how uncannily similar Nick's green "koru" (fern frond) with the whale fluke looks next to my jade necklace ... that's my purple red cedar/great blue heron beside Nicholas' jade fish hook pendant

Nick had no idea of the similarity until I showed him my pendant that was hiding under my kayak shirt!!!

Mishka Lysack (U of C Faculty of Social Work) & Joanna Macy at the U of C


May 9, 2009 - Joanna then shared her teachings up in Edmonton on the evening of the 9th, along with the amazing Jennifer Berezan and her beautiful music. ~300-350 people gathered for this wonderful evening of inspiration & song :)

Jennifer, Anne, & Joanna (May 15, 2009) along the Marsh Lake trail

Joanna, Anne, & Jennifer enjoying a gorgeous day in Banff National Park (May 15, 2009)

May 15-17, 2009 - "Leading for the Great Turning" workshop - with Joanna Macy & Jennifer Berezan (with Leanne Allison & Joel Kroeker on May 15th)

How very wonderful to have Joanna sharing her teachings with folks in Alberta and to have Jennifer Berezan & Joel Kroeker share their musical gifts was truly a terrific comination! The Friday evening event at the Banff Centre brought a crowd of over 300 people out, who received the whole evening with much interest and gratitude. The workshop that carried forward on Sat./Sun. with Joanna & Jennifer
included folks from around Alberta (30 of which received scholarships to attend through the "ECO Healing & Rediscovery in the Rockies" project I was doing in Canmore) & a few other from outside the province.

Julian Norris (Outward Bound Canada), Kerry Longprè (The Calgary Foundation), Julia Lynx (Loving the Land), Mike Lickers (Ghost River Rediscovery), & Joanna Macy ... acknowledging the support from TCF for the 30 bursaries offered through the ECO Healing & Rediscovery project that I coordinated

Joanna Macy, Leanne Allison, Jennifer Berezan, & Joel Kroeker ... "Leading for the Great Turning" finale singing "Praises for the World"

What a treat to have both Joel & Jennifer share their music during the week-end workshop ... nap time with Jennifer singing her River Lullaby was one of the highlights as was Joel's acapella version of Hallelujah that he dedicated to Joanna before he left earlier on the Sunday. Here's a link to the website for this event for you to hear some of their great music ... http://www.lovingtheland.com/JoannaMacyWorkshopMay2009.html ... also you can listen to clips of Jennifer's music at: http://www.edgeofwonder.com/music-merch/ & you can hear Hallelujah on Joel's myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/joelkroeker ... ENJOY!


JUNE

Here's one of my Facebook status updates from my trip down to Waterton with Margaret ...

"Teresa is grateful for the way things turned out after this evening's incredible encounter with a couple members of the charismatic mega-fauna in SW Alberta!!!"

TRANSLATION: I am truly grateful that Margaret & I were able to complete our evening hike last Monday (June 1st), when we first arrived into Waterton National Park ... we encountered a mama bear & her cub on the Wishbone Trail ... & upon finally seeing us, the mama bear decided we were a threat & she clamoured our way & "bluff charged" us 3 times ... huffing & snorting with teeth bared, ... before finally heading off into the trees!!!

(picture to be posted soon)
Margaret holding the big aspen tree trunk that helped her/us look bigger during our unforgettable bear encounter

I am very grateful to all my relations & the ancestors for helping us walk out from that trail fully intact & totally charged up with adrenaline, wonder, amazement, & GRATITUDE :) I continue to be totally amazed by overwhelming feelings of WONDER, AWE, RESPECT, & GRATITUDE for this mama bear and the close encounter we had with her!

(picture to be posted soon)
Margaret & I ... totally amazed & grateful for the experience we just had with our bear friends on the Wishbone trail in Waterton.


Nadia's U of A graduation - B.A. Linguistics

10 June - My youngest sister Nadia returned from her European adventures from Scotland to Greece in time to participate in her commencement ceremonies at the University of Alberta.
I was really happy to be there on her big day, to see her looking so grown up, very wise, and totally tanned!!!

Nadia hangin' out after all the pomp & circumstance was over :)

Nadia & the very proud parentals ... Cecilia & Tony

Nadia & Baba Rasko


Summer of '69 b-day party

I had a very wonderful time with a bunch of my family & friends in the river valley of Edmonton to celebrate my 40th b-day :) Ross brought party favours by sharing his Natural Dawn lip balm with everyone ... yummy lime & also mandarin! Maureen helped retrieve frisbees from trees, what a talent!

I had great fun with the little people who came along for the party too ...

(pic's to follow when I have my ext. hard drive with me & I am on the Internet)

Sonja & Violet ... Sophie, Tom, Evan, & Olivia ... Mary-Frances, Gerard, Alisdair, & Finley ... plus my folks & my Aunt's family ... & of course what's a party without a few hard-core "band geeks" ... so glad that Laurelie (in spirit) & Colleen were able to join in on the fun too!

13-14 June - great 2 days at the Pachamama Alliance AtD facilitator training ... even with the sleepy, early morning start on my birthday (add link to AtD stuff)

"Wild Rose Dreamers" - the name of our lovely little group of AtD Facilitators

Teresa's "Summer of '69" dress-up birthday party - potluck picnic with friends & family at Victoria Park (Edmonton)

Hello my dear friends & family,

The wonderful month of June is coming up
... & on the 13th, ... you know what happens ...?
... I will be entering my 40th year!

Teresa's BIRTHDAY WISHES:

1. to wind down my 39th year, surrounded by dear friends & family & HEAPS of laughter, love, & yummy food

2. to have you join me & the wonderful mob who gather to help me celebrate my 40th birthday

3. sunshine & blue skies (well, at least no precipitation, tornadoes, or freezing temperatures!)

4. to hear a favourite story or see a memorable picture (or more than one) about an adventure or special moment that we've shared over the past 4 decades

5. to give everyone a chance to have some fun remembering the Summer of '69 ... come dressed as someone/something from 1969 or the '60's who has inspired you ... PEACE ... LOVE ... & RAINBOWS :)


6. to reconnect with as many of you as I can before I begin my next adventure ... with Parks Canada at the Lake Louise campground


WHEN: Sunday, June 7th

WHERE: Victoria Park - River Valley Road - 115 Street
(look for a little silver Honda Fit & likely a few signs)

WHO: all my lovely "peeps" & their families & canine friends too

WHAT WE'LL DO: potluck picnic in the park


THINGS TO BRING: your favourite potluck/picnic grub
... foods that you also may know are favourites of mine ...
... mmm potatoe salad ... fruit salad (organic strawberries, YUM) ... 7 layer salad?
...dill pickle chips ... deviled eggs
homemade anything ... that doesn't have mushrooms, olives, capers, or major garlic/onions (you know why!!!) ...
... home-canned pickles & pickled beets ...
corn on the cob YUM (not sure how that can work for a picnic but hey, it's my party!)
... hummus ... spinach dip ... white wine
raspberry anything ... banana bread (without walnuts)
... fair trade organic chocolate treats ... ICE CREAM :)

+ lawn chairs, plates, utensils ... beverages of your choice, etc.
games to play out in the park with kids & dogs & big kids like ME
(frisbee, soccer, baseball gear?)!

I am not wishing for any gifts, only your PRESENCE.
With that said, I know some of you may still beinclined to bring something.
Please know that I am trying not to collect more STUFF
... so please consider only consumables that are locally produced, eco-friendly, etc.

TIME: 2:30 p.m. into the evening
(until at least 8 p.m. or longer if it's nice out)


Here's the link to the Facebook event page I created for my party: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=526286844#/event.php?eid=82927484101&ref=mf

In true Teresa style ... I'm living on the edge & requesting lovely weather from the universe. At this point, I don't have a back-up plan ... perhaps gathering at somebody's house ... not sure whose though ... or perhaps a restaurant ...

If you are joining us later on, or if the weather looks less inviting, then give a call to my mobile: (403) 690-0504 or my folks - Tony & Ceclia at: (780) 998-7154 - to see how things are going & where we are ...

Looking forward to reconnecting with you on the 7th of JUNE :)

Hugs 'n' Bugs & heaps of love,

Teresa

p.s. I've also got plans to do a camping celebration (big birthday celebration part 2) sometime over the Summer, out near the staff cabin I'll be living in south of Lake Louise ... stay tuned ... ;)

~~~

(403) 678-2397 (Canmore until the end of May)
(403) 690-0504 (mobile)
(831) 440-8678 (SkypeIn phone #)
tchilkowich@gmail.com

Teresa's new fuel efficient, long-distance transporter ... "silver fox"

Teresa's little "silver fox" ... even got #13 on the plate!
... the new set of wheels I just acquired to help me get around this Summer


Hello my dear friends & family,

It's been about 2.5 years of carfree living for me since I headed Down Unda at the end of 2006 but alas, turns out I will need a vehicle to travel a greater distance than I can do in a manageable timeframe with my bike for this Summer. So, I just recently got this little FIT in anticipation of the new work starting in June, which will require me to travel 17 km from the wonderful staff cabin I'll be sharing with two other Parks staff, to the campground I'll be working at. (More details on my Summer work once I get the paperwork in place ... I don't want to share any more details until things are sorted out with a signed contract.)

I knew I would have to unfortunately end my dedicated carfree status sometime in the near future & since I lined up this car just yesterday, my carfree status has now changed. Of course, I will continue to be doing as much as I can on foot, with my bike, & sharing rides as much as possible. This purchase also contributes to s

The excellent part about my new little Honda Fit, is that it is very fuel efficient (5.8 - 7.3 L/100 km or 49 - 39 mpg), & it has HEAPS of cargo space ... so camping & taking my bike to & fro when I need it will be NO PROBLEM! I can even lay down in the back when the seats are down flat ... which will be handy if I am ever stuck for a place to sleep!

Teresa's little "silver fox" ... a zippy little 2007 Honda Fit - Sport model

I've decided on "silver fox" as the name for my new little auto ... the French translation is not so exciting "renard argenté" ... but the Italian "volpe d'argento" ... & the Spanish "zorro plateado" are pretty fun!

Good thing I won't be doing much city driving with this car ... cause I would likely run the risk of speeding at times because of how peppy this little Sport model is :) I'll also be able to more comfortably pass other cars on the highway with this little car ... even with my car loaded with camping gear! Something that was a bit of a challenge for my little Aubergine, the Civic hatchback I used to have :)

here's where I am living in Canmore (my room, living room, & bathroom are on the same level as the 2 windows on the main floor to the right of the front steps)
... with my new to me, long-distance transporter ... my bike & heaps more can FIT into this spunky little car! See the mountains in the background :)


Next week I will be reconnecting with my family for my younger sister Katrina's wedding to her fiancé Ronnie. I will be seeing almost all of my siblings there ... all except Nadia, my youngest sister, who is in Scotland right now, enjoying her latest adventures with a friend she made when she was in Germany in 2007. She'll return from that trip on the day of her convocation from the U of A, with her Linguistics degree. What a whiz she is! I'll also get to reconnect with Margaret for a few of the days while I am out there too, YIPPEE! :)

Then, the day after I return fr. D.C., I'll be participating in the EcoConference on Professional Helping at the U of C that Joanna Macy & David Orr will be keynotes for ... Joanna will also be offering the full day pre-conference workshop on the 7th :) http://ucalgary.ca/oikos/ecoconference
I will also be promoting the big workshop event with Joanna & Jennifer in Banff the following week-end at this conference & the evening talk in Edmonton on May 10th.

On the 10th, I will hop up to Edmonton for Joanna & Jennifer Berezan's evening talk that St. Stephen's College is hosting http://www.ualberta.ca/ST.STEPHENS/news/index.html#theplanetourselves
It will be GREAT to share in this splendid evening with my Edmonton-based friends & maybe even my folks, we'll see ...

Then, back to the Bow Valley to keep promoting the big event at the Banff Centre for May 15-17 with Dr. Macy & Jennifer Berezan ... YIPPEE!! http://www.lovingtheland.com

here's the GREAT poster that Julia Lynx has created to promote this awesome event ... how very exciting to know that Joanna & Jennifer will be coming to Alberta very soon :)

It's so wonderful that Dr. Macy will be here to share her teachings around Alberta & that Jennifer Berezan is joining Joanna to share her amazing music! If you are anywhere near Alberta, I hope you can make it for any one of these great events.

Wishing everyone a splendid start to Spring in the northern hemisphere & a pleasant transition into Autumn down in the southern hemisphere. It's so great to hear the ducks, robins, & geese who have returned & to see the dozen swans near Lac des Arcs on my way home yesterday!

It was also wonderful to see the red winged blackbirds in the wetlands & all the hawks on the fence posts on my quick trip up & back to Edmonton on Wednesday for my friend Colleen's Gido's funeral ... he was a sweet & funny centarian of 101 years. May he rest in peace. I know Colleen's family will miss Gido dearly. Big hugs to your family Colleen & your Gido & Babo too!

That's all for my update for now. More snow is in the forecast overnight tonight, so I may wake up to 10-15 cm of snow, maybe more?! How wonderful will it be when Spring is here to stay! In the meantime, I'll enjoy the peaceful, serene, snowy landscapes when they reappear & disappear as frequently as they do these days!

Hugs 'n' Bugs,

Teresa

p.s. my new address & phone number at my new place in Canmore are:

1106 - 14 Street
Canmore, Alberta T1W 1V7

(403) 678-2397 (until the end of May)
(403) 690-0504 (mobile)
(831) 440-8678 (SkypeIn phone number)

"Leading for the Great Turning" - week-end workshop with Dr. Joanna Macy & Jennifer Berezan in Banff (May 15-17, 2009)

Jennifer Berezan & Joanna Macy at the Wisdom & Action conference - Berkeley, California (Sept. 2003)

Hello again my friends!

I've been letting many of you know of the plans I was discussing with Joanna Macy & Jennifer Berezan while I was working with Ghost River Rediscovery last year. Well, it turns out that given my persisting jobless state & no grant funding coming through earlier on, I had to pass along the coordination of this May workshop to someone in a better position to move these plans forward more readily.

This event is now being coordinated by a woman named Julia Lynx in Canmore, who is also on staff at the Banff Centre. As well, Julia is a doula (birthing assistant) who is now using her event coordinating expertise to help in the final stages of bringing to life the plans that we've been making with the Banff Centre for Performing Arts to host these two amazingly gifted teachers. Julia has recently passed along a weblink with details on the workshop & an on-line registration process.

"Leading for the Great Turning" is the title for this week-end workshop (May 15-17, 2009) & you can find more details & register at: http://www.lovingtheland.com

I hope you can make it, especially since it's Dr. Macy's first ever trip to Alberta to share her teachings (she was here one time before but only on holidays many years ago). Plus, earlier in May 2009, Joanna will have celebrated her 80th birthday and also because Jennifer Berezan is accompanying Joanna to share her evocative and powerful music. Jennifer's voice & music are totally amazing!

You can learn more about Dr. Macy's "Work that Reconnects" at:
http://www.joannamacy.net

As well, you can find out more about Jennifer's gift of music and her unique, spiritually musical approach to teaching at: http://www.edgeofwonder.com

This is very much a ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY for folks here in Alberta!"Leading for the Great Turning" with Joanna Macy & Jennifer Berezan (May 15-17, 2009)

Related to this & to my own quest to share my unique gifts, I am relocating out to Canmore, Alberta for the next few months to launch the project I had been applying for funding on last year while I was still with Ghost River Rediscovery. Turns out The Calgary Foundation approved half the funding we requested & I've decided to move forward with launching the "ECO Healing & Rediscovery in the Rockies" workshop/day hike series while I continue to sort out where I will pursue my Summer seasonal outdoor work this year.

Soooooooo, TERESA'S ON THE MOVE AGAIN ...
but also heading to a comfortable spot to call "home" for awhile ...

Since I proposed to deliver this project out in the Canmore/Banff region, I will be moving out that way in the next day or two. I will offer a mix of workshops that share Dr. Macy's "Work that Reconnects" as well as the Rediscovery activities that I added to my facilitation "tool box" last year with GRR. The folks at the Canmore Community Cooperative Workshop http://www.canmorecoop.ca will be one of the main sponsoring hosts for this work & as I get things rolling in Canmore at THE COOP, I also hope to be offering activities through the Banff Volunteer Centre &/or the Banff Library and maybe even the Banff Centre, we'll see. With half the funds, there's less time to do all that I had originally proposed ...
"ECO Healing & Rediscovery in the Rockies" workshop series at the THE COOP

http://www.canmorecoop.ca/programming/workshops/314-eco-healing-a-rediscovery-in-the-rockies.html


At this point in my journey, there's heaps keeping the energy flowing, building, and recharging amid my more precarious "speck" riding state (Horton Hears a Who reference :) My family & friends (the many kind Horton's in my life) have been offering up their generosity through their love, hugs, & kindness, their comfie beds & delicious food, and their camaraderie & support.

The fragility of life on this little speck hits me every now & then, so I am doing my best to remember to BREATHE DEEPLY, ... GET OUT IN NATURE, ... and BE GENTLE with MYSELF. It's also been great to reach out to many of you splendid & beautiful beings over the phone & cyberwaves along the way. I know I am in need of connecting with a few of you in the very near future to seek your guidance and support.

I look forward to reconnecting with any & all of you along the way as you come across my BLOG postings or other notices that may inspire you to connect with me :)

For anyone in or near Alberta, it will be GREAT to reconnect with you in person out in Canmore while I am living in the Rockies over the next few months! Especially if you can make it for Joanna & Jennifer's week-end workshop of transformational teachings!

Sending all of you great big hugs & heaps of love,

Teresa & Sherpa Dog


p.s. here are my contact details for reaching me in the Rockies ... I've just relocated to a much better housing arrangement here in Canmore & am very pleased to share my new address with you:

Teresa L. Chilkowich
1106 - 14 Street
Canmore, Alberta
T1W 1V7

(403) 678-2397 (landline in Canmore)
(831) 440-8678 (SkypeIn phone number)
(403) 690-0504 (mobile phone)

spiralwonder@peacemail.com

Skype & Facebook are other options as well :)

the quest for Teresa's place in the world continues in 2009 ...

smaller falls in Great Falls National Park near Washington D.C. (January 2009)

Hello my dear friends & family,

Over the past 5 months, I've been on the rollercoaster ride that job searching often is ... experiencing the HIGHS of exploring new possibilities and getting excited about postings that call out to me and breathing through the LOWS of different options falling by the wayside. In particular the Activities Assistant position on Vancouver Island that some of you know about, that I thought I was heading toward last Nov./Dec. ... the plug was pulled on this in the 11th hour as I was waiting for the contract they said would be sent in a couple of days. Such was the impact of the big "economic downturn" on non-profit organizations relying on their endowment funds!

Many have been the opportunities for practicing PATIENCE, NON-ATTACHMENT, and COMPASSION for myself and others.

stillness & beauty of the frozen C & O Canal near Great Falls

After making as much peace as I could with myself & the situation that revealed I was not going to be working for Pearson College or on the west coast (at least at this time), I kept pushing on with my job search. A few weeks into the new year, I found myself gearing up to return to the Great White North for a few job interviews for outdoor, seasonal positions with the Alberta government. So, I prepared to return to Edmonton from my "sojourn" of a couple months out in the Washington D.C. area that was possible through the generosity and kindness that Margaret & my family on the east coast graciously shared with me in my "no-fixed-address," job-seeking, gypsy state-of-being.

sunset over the Capitol Building almost ready for Barack Obama's inauguration (January 15, 2009)

So, a few hours after watching Barack Hussein Obama be sworn in as the 44th president of the U.S. (on t.v. - we had no desire to wade through the sea of people that we knew were coming out for this historical event, especially the crowds in the Metro stations), I had to bid "adieu" to my sweet Margaret, & then board an airplane bound for Canada.

Turns out I was able to land quite softly into a house-sitting opportunity for my friend Munira, thanks for the connect on this Mary-Frances :) Munira's generosity & plans to travel around Argentina for a little over 3 weeks made this all possible. I've even been able to hang out here at Munira's cozy little house since she's returned. I was very grateful for the ability to settle into a space of my own for a while as I prepared for at least one job interview per week over the next 4 weeks.

ASIDE: this gentler landing was back to snow and Canadian Winter temperatures that dipped down to -25C for about 4 days shortly after I returned!!! I was away for the month long cold spell of -20 to -30C temp's but have endured a couple more that have appeared since I've been back.

West Virginia sunset (November 2008)

As a result of this recent & most welcome interview activity, I am now contemplating a few job offers & hoping for a few others to be coming in soon ...

Of the two offers I am contemplating, one is with the Alberta government, as a "Guardian," helping recreational users on public lands understand ways they can enjoy their activities while still playing lightly on the land and water http://www.srd.alberta.ca/aboutus/careers/guardian.aspx
(I've actually turned down this offer in light of the other prospects on the horizon)

The other is with Frost Valley YMCA, located in the Catskill Mountains (2.5 hours north of NY City). I would be leading adventure teen trips and possibly also coordinating their Counsellor in Training program for 16 year olds. Here is a link for FV YMCA & the Forstmann Castle where I could be living this summer in the shared staff accommodations that are in part of this building http://www.frostvalley.org/lodging/inn_style.htm

swirling tides of the Pacific Ocean welcome a gorgeous Assateague Island sunrise (December 2008)
morning beach walks with the rising sun inviting us to keep exloring :)


Even more exciting than this, I am doing my best to generate some really good positive energy for the prospect of working with Northern Edge Algonquin aka "The Edge" http://www.northernedgealgonquin.com to help offer their adult retreats & canoe/kayak trips and perhaps even some of the deep ecology work I am so passionate about.

Please feel free to meditate or think happy thoughts on this option to help generate more positive energy into the mix to help me move toward life at "The Edge" for this Summer and even longer.

.... another iron I have in the fire is an application with Outward Bound Canada for the courses they offer in the Rockies, where I could be helping with their mountaineering and youth asset building courses or possibly even the position they recently posted for a Recreation Instructor at the Banff Centre http://www.outwardbound.ca

I have a much greater preference for The Edge because of their overall philosophy that resonates so much for me. Their operating mantra is "Rediscover Ourselves, Empower Each Other, Restore Our Connection with the Earth" ... the founders & staff at The Edge also uphold values that are important to me such as seeking out local, organic foods as much as possible, and a mindfulness about the impact of operations on the planet. The Co-Operating Partnership arrangement among staff is also a most welcome operational relationship http://www.algonquincanada.com/blog/about/

I'll need to respond to the offers that have come my way before St. Patrick's Day & am persevering in my contact on the hottest irons I have in the fire now so that I can make decisions that factors these possible opportunities in as well.

the pastels of sunrise over the Pacific Ocean from the beach of Assateague Island (December 2008)

I am eager, yet patiently waiting, to see what will unfold for me in my quest to share my gifts and skills with others and in ways that benefit the natural world and all beings.

I'll be in touch as this clarity for my path forward is revealed ...

Hugs 'n' Bugs & heaps of love,

Teresa

Teresa's 2008 Highlights & New Year's Wishes ...

amazing french toast & fresh berries ... brekkie in Santa Cruz (January 2008)

Happy New Year Dear Ones!

Thought I'd jot down some of my reflections on this past year of 2008 ... & send out a few wishes to you for the new year ahead ... so here goes ...

2008

JANUARY - reconnecting with friends & family & rekindling loving long-distance connections

my dear friends Claudette & Kristin & their amazing daughter Isabel aka "little Tigger"

Margaret & me reconnecting in Santa Cruz, California

T's North American train trek from Edmonton to Santa Cruz, ... through Colorado & Utah

Utah's big skies & red rocks covered over with snow, how gorgeous!

... & as far as Lincoln, Nebraska
refurbished locomotive where I finally switched from rail to air after another couple hours delay sitting here in Lincoln, Nebraska

... en route to D.C. where I got to reconnect with Margaret this time on the east coast & with my east family that includes my three nieces Carissa "Roo," Bailey "Boo," & Alexis "Lexie Loo," & my sister Tammie & her husband Jeff & my Mom, Doug, ... and Katrina, & Ronnie ... plus the 5 dogs (3 of them puppies, one in each of these 3 households!)

Roo, Boo, & Loo finishing up breakfast before heading to school (January 2008)

Chuchi "Auntie" Teresa with her 3 special "bugs"

my sister Katrina & her beau (now fiance) Ronnie (January 2008)

"Bear" Katrina & Ronnie puppy (January 2008)

Margaret & me enjoying our sunset/full moon walk near the Jefferson Memorial (January 2008)
Jefferson Memorial under a full moon reflecting in the nearby Tidal Basin

my sister Tammie & me out on a little hike with her dogs

Tammie with "Inky" & their new puppy "Obie"

sunset along the Potomac River where Margaret walks regularly not too far from her house

... & beyond to Syracuse

my NY Seed Mates Cindy & Rebekah (who had her lovely little baby later on in the Spring), & me near Ithaca, in "upstate" New York

... then landing into Cow Town for -35 Celsius temperatures to search for housing

FEBRUARY - next chapter in T's outdoor education adventures begins, this time with Ghost River Rediscovery plus facing the reality of returning to an office environment

MARCH - still surviving Winter temp's again after my year Down Unda

APRIL - amid my grand plans to get some "work that Reconnects" activities going outside ... the big blizzard conditions led to the postponement of my Earth Day dayhike at the Cross Cons'n Area ... but I did manage to finally get out to try ice climbing with one of my OBA mates, Teddy the following week-end ... how AWESOME!

Teddy showing me how it's done, thanks heaps mate!!!

ice climbing at "The Grotto" with my OBA mate Teddy ...
getting higher & higher up this ice waterfall ... :)

Bow River valley not far from "The Grotto" (April 26, 2008)

MAY - rescheduled day hike at the Cross on Mother's Day

Mother's Day hike out at the Cross Conservation Area (SW of Calgary)

... fabulous May long week-end in Waterton with my girlfriend Margaret
two terrific tramping mates enjoying the tracks out in Waterton National Park (May long week-end)
the splendour of Waterton Lakes National Park in May 2008

half way along one of our longer hikes in Waterton, it was a pleasant surprise to come across my dharma friend Liz & her beau Tom!

...& Rediscovery Leadership training & Bronze Medallion recertification at Pearson College, what a splendid group, thanks Mike, Serena, Mutang, & Thom!

Mutang, my Bronze Medallion swim instructor & me (May - June 2008)
enjoying the Rediscovery fun & celebrations at Pearson College with Mutang's adorable little guy :)

JUNE - birthday fun with family & friends ...



enjoying a great dinner at The Lingnan with family & friends in Edmonton for my birthday (June 13, 2008)

How splendid to reconnect with my California friends again in Santa Cruz ... Margaret, Kristin, Claudette, & Isabel, ... sorry we missed each other this time Cheryl Gleb, & Aidan.

Kristin, Karly cat, Margaret, Claudette, & me ... Isabel the photographer
Isabel & her best friend Gabriel eagerly looking forward to the decadent
chocolate/raspberry b-day cake, YUM!

Reconnecting with my sweetie ...

Margaret & me enjoying our beach hike out at Greyhound Rock north of Santa Cruz

... & one of my Aussie Seed Mates kt on the CA coast ...

having fun at the beach with my Seed Mate kt while we were both in Santa Cruz :)
Margaret & her sister-in-law & "Jake" the great dog

... plus new friends made at the NVC Retreat near Santa Cruz, CA ... thanks Kristin & Jean I hope I can make it again in 2009!

my splendid new friends from the NVC Santa Cruz Retreat (June 2008)

tramping about under the coastal redwood canopy at the Quaker Centre near Santa Cruz during the NVC Retreat


JULY - participating in the Rediscovery Wilderness Guide Training camp (finally meets Kim W. :) & teaching the Stnd. 1st Aid session too,
... participating in my 1st sweat lodge & having a great solo overlooking the Ghost River valley
... challenges in office mode return/continue.
... PATIENCE is a must!

AUGUST - Glacier N.P. camping trip & an amazing hike up to the Asulkan hut with my sweetie amid predominantly sunny skies along with a scary thunder & lightning show in the final 40 minutes of the climb!
... 2 amazing sweat lodges & my splendid 2 day solo during the Wolf Dreamers Rediscovery adult camp

SEPTEMBER - "no go" for funding on Letters of Interest I sent out to help me continue on with GRR except for one Foundation who did invite a full proposal ... dealing with the hoop jumping challenges of seeking funding has been quite a "shoe on the other foot" experience, yet one that I had not intended to seek out
... ironically, T's final day with GRR was the day after I got this news

OCTOBER - half-day deep ecology workshop at the U of C, job interview (via. Skype) with an outdoor education organization out on Vanc. Isl. ... movie & a speaker session at the Canmore Co-Op ... we watched Earth, Spirit, Action www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6jCpChUxOw & The Awakening Universe www.awakeninguniverse.com/ (related clip at http://awakeningthedreamer.org/ )
... wrote up & sent in funding proposal to The Calgary Foundation for "Rediscovery in the Rockies" project ... packing up my "Wombat Warren" basement suite in Calgary & shuffled my particles back into storage up Edmonton way

NOVEMBER - interview for TCF funding process went well, I "breathed life" into the proposal with this in-person meeting ... thanks to my Aunt Evelyn & Uncle Jerrold for their generous hospitality for extra week down in Cow Town after I moved out
... Barack Obama wins the U.S. election, AWESOME!!
... gypsy mode in full swing as I bounce about staying with a few different friends in Edmonton ... thanks heaps to Laurelie, Jill & Ethan, Sophie & Tom, & my family near Edm. :)
... reconnecting with my sweetie & some of my family near Washington D.C. while continuing the job search in cyberspace
... job interview for an exciting outdoor education position just outside of Victoria
... snowshoeing in deep, fresh snow in West Virginia over the U.S. Thanksgiving break with my sweetie

DECEMBER - regrouping after the BIG blow when the Pearson opportunity fell through :(
... oh, the ups & downs of seeking gainful employment ... what a test & work-out for the ego & the tender heart that sometimes arises along the journey!

This month, I also had to bid "farewell" to my sweet cat You-Jean ... she was definitely the best "depot find" that I ever brought home from my recycling depot attendant days!!!
my faithful feline friend "You-Jean" who had to leave us after 16+ years of companionship while sharing her loud purring and peaceful ways with me & my best bud Laurelie & Y-J's best bud Lucky ... we'll miss you little girl ... xoxo

... Dr. David Swann wins the Alberta Liberal Leadership race, congratulations David :)
meeting up with Seed Mate Rob and OBA mate Ruth in D.C., how fun!

my OBA Mate Ruth who now lives in D.C. teaching kindergarten at one of OB's Expeditionary Learning Schools, what a cool assignment :)

... reconnecting with my Seed Mate Rob for a few visits was a real treat as well! Thanks for the great hikes & tour of D.C. Rob :)

my Seed Mate Rob & me at Great Fall N. P. near D.C.

amazing light near sunset along the Billy Goat trail at Great Falls N.P. near D.C. (Dec. 2008)
Great Falls N. P. near D.C.

... news that the TCF funding proposal was approved BUT for only half the amount ... & trying to figure out how things might look with only half the funds.

It was really nice to be able to connect with my east coast family on a number of occasions while I was in the D.C. area ... Alexis is now 10 & the twins are 7!

bear hugs for everyone ... me & my little nieces Roo, Boo, & Loo and my sister Tammie & brother-in-law Jeff

my Mom's X-mas baking, very yummy!

.. one week of sunset & sunrise walks along the beaches & around the marshes at the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island with my sweetie ... how splendid to see the wild ponies and the little deer/elk plus ALL the shore birds ... great blue herons, egrets, geese, ducks, owls, tree swallows, etc.
... scramble/hike along the billy goat trail at Great Falls N.P. with Margaret before a mighty fine NY's eve. dinner, thanks sweet M !!!


Teresa's wishes for 2009 ...

* a wish to embrace the comings & goings in my life, especially given the gypsy-like nature of my ways & my current state of flux (as well as the global transitions that affect us wherever we may be) ... so that I can more readily feel as if I am "Always Coming Home"

* a wish to seek out "my place in this world" & to find employment that feeds my being & my body & the same for others who are on similar quests,

* a wish to ride the winds of change as gracefully as I can,

* a wish to continue learning new ways to navigate these winds by understanding & communicating my needs & the needs of others along the way.


I am ever grateful for the abundance of GENEROSITY and LOVE in my life that is enabling me to keep moving through this latest transition. The generous welcomes & hospitality of my sweet Margaret & my family here on the east coast.

I am also truly grateful for the abundance of beautiful people & beings in my life and for my ability to explore the bounty of amazing places, critters, and ecosystems that invite me to seek out new adventures & feed my "shutter happy" ways! Especially for the little people & faithful companions with whom I love to reconnect with as well!

Most of all, I am sending heartfelt wishes to each & every one of you,

... to my family & friends around Canada & the U.S., to my Seed Mates, the great mob at OBA, the Rediscovery clan here in Canada, my NVC giraffe friends fr. the Santa Cruz Retreat, and to ALL the people and other beings with whom we share this planet, ...

"Earth Blessing" written by Jack Manno, Cindy's partner and published by the Syracuse Cultural Workers which is an amazing grassroots organization that prints & sells items for peace & justice http://syracuseculturalworkers.com/ or http://syracuseculturalworkers.com/poster-earth-blessing
(you can click on this picture to make it bigger so you can read it)

My wishes for ALL of you are captured in this "Earth Blessing" ... wishes for a truly happy, healthy, peaceful, and fun-filled year that finds you doing things that make your heart sing and your body & spirit rejoice.

Hugs 'n' Bugs & heaps of peace & love,

Teresa

aka "Sparkles in the Sun & Plays like the Wind (or "Spirals in the Wind")"