Hibernate to or Hibernate from - Connie Inglis

To Hibernate (from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary):

1. to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state
2. to be or become inactive or dormant 

Do you ever feel the need or desire to hibernate from your writing--to become inactive and dormant?  With all the Christmas and New Year's activities this past month, I feel like the opposite has been true. While I love the holidays, I also do like returning to routine and writing calls me back like a long-lost friend.  However, it is also true that even in routine I get pulled in different directions and writing gets put on the back burner more often than I care to admit. And thus I must fight to be able to hibernate "to" writing rather than hibernate "from" writing. Is there anyone else out there that has this same dilemma?

Julia Cameron's book, The Right to Write, has some excellent thoughts and exercises for writers. I recently read the chapter entitled, "Loneliness" and felt it spoke to this "hibernation" subject. Here's a quote from the beginning of the chapter:

"So much has been written about the loneliness of the writer's lot that it feels like heresy to report the truth as I know it: in my experience, not writing is a lonely business. The minute I let myself write, everything else falls into balance. If I get a dose of writing in my day, then I can actually socialize with a clear conscience." 

Her words got me thinking--maybe my issue is that I'm NOT writing and thus easily pulled into other things, things that sometimes are of no value. Part of my problem is that I feel like I need a big chunk of time in order to write, which isn't true. Half an hour here, 15 minutes there. Even if it's just a quick writing exercise, it's still writing. When I've done this is the past, it rejuvenates and refreshes me and yet I seem to easily forget that. Needless to say, I am still working through all this. 

Cameron also goes on to say that writing is a "balm for loneliness"--that it connects us to ourselves and then to others. I would agree but I would also like to add to that. As a follower of Jesus, I also believe it connects us to God. He is our Creator and He created us to write. He put in us this desire, this need, this "gift" (If I may say) to write. So when we write, we are glorifying God and praising Him for the way He made us. 

THAT'S the right perspective--and THAT'S the way I need to view writing.

Beautiful Alberta - Ruth L. Snyder

 I feel blessed to live in the beautiful province of Alberta. Often our family vacations are spent in other provinces or south of the border. This summer we were able to explore three areas of Alberta which our children had never seen: Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, and the Eastern Irrigation District (Brooks area).

Columbia Icefields - View from the Visitor Centr

It's hard to describe the majesty and vastness of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. One lady cyclist I spoke with told me she has never seen such incredible beauty.  It is even difficult for a camera lens to capture the mountains, but that didn't keep me from trying!

Buses on the Glacier

We took advantage of a promotion from Brewsters, which allowed us to get a free child's ticket for each adult ticket. Our first adventure was a ride onto the glacier at the Columbia Icefields. The bus goes down a 32 degree slope to reach the glacier. A snow plow clears the road three times a day to keep it open for the buses. At the end of the tourist season, it only takes a day or so for the glacier to reclaim the road.

Beautiful Lake Louise

View from the parking lot of the gondola ride.

Elk sighted near Jasper

Big horn sheep spotted in Kananaskis Country

Moose in Kananaskis Country

Irrigation is the lifeline of Brooks and area

As we drove towards Brooks, we noticed many irrigation systems in use. I was startled to discover there are no natural water springs in this area. Every farm, city, town, business, etc. receives water from the Bow River through the Eastern Irrigation District infrastructure of pipes. (They have more pipelines than roads in this area!) The EID was first granted a license for water in 1910. Today they use the same amount of water per year that they used in 1910, but they are able to service three times the land area due to more efficient irrigation systems. Dinosaur Provincial Park is also in the EID. They have many interesting and educational experiences for families and individuals. This park is two hours south of Drumheller and has a similar land structure with fossil beds.

Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, just north of Brooks

Ruth L. Snyder

Check out Ruth's blog on education matters at www.trusteesnyder.blogspot.com.
Follow Ruth on Twitter @wwjdr