“Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together”
The above wording could not be more on point. Last year was a year of transition, changes, & a whirlwind of unknowns. Last year I wrote "in these past few months, and upcoming months, I have been, and will be, under going big changes in my life". But I had no idea what those changes would be, & what they would mean. I underwent one major change before Earth Day last year, which included a sudden career path readjustment, & I knew that shortly after Earth Day I would be leaving behind a community I loved growing to be a part of during that year. I had no idea what I was moving to, and what was going to happen. I had no current work lined up that I was moving for, & was still on the job search trail with many applications floating around in the job search world. I had no idea which one would turn from application to work, & if amoungst those applications was a career path I would enjoy & follow.
To my pleasant surprise, & very good fortune, I ended up landing two amazing job opportunities last year. Both, to my enjoyment, were surrounded by agriculture. Though neither what a person would consider a "direct" agriculture job, but both being a perfect fit. I first got to work for a dream organization of Parks Canada, & enjoyed a job in "agriculture/history tourism". With one call on a sunny Friday afternoon while I unpacked my things in my new place I got word about the job. I was very excited,& thankful, lady. It was certainly a summer to remember, & working for Parks Canada will always be to me a "Job of a Lifetime". I would write more on it, but instead I encourage you to check out myprevious post on the amazing experience.
It would also be the summer that Fish Girl Photography grew from a solo operation, to a partnered one. My Shadow came into my life at the end of June, & has been at my side ever since. It has been amazing to have a hiking partner, & with my luck I even have a partner who loves plants as much as I do! We have many grand adventures together, & he has become the focus of many of my photographs. You can check out some of my favorite ones here. I am really excited for the upcoming year & all the adventures we are going to have together.
It would be during the summer, & during my job of a lifetime, I would get word about another big change in my life. I got word about another job application I sent out in the job seeking universe. I had been the successful applicant for a Range Agroloist job, & I would be moving to Dawson Creek come fall. The ultimate career path job was now mine, & I was excited to begin the job. Though, I was also sad because I knew I would miss my beloved home province of Saskatchewan. The knowledge of the move ahead had me dropping many things in favor of experiencing my favorite things in Saskatchewan. So began the experience of my "Last Saskatchewan Summer". Though I know it was not, & is currently not planned to be, my last Saskatchewan summer experience I knew I needed to make the most of the last time I would be a "Saskatchewan resident" for an indefinite amount of time. It lead to many great experiences this past summer, & will not be a summer I easily forget.
I was lucky to see so much of Saskatchewan's amazing beauty this past year. Right from the start of the year with my Walk for Wildlife, right through to the end of the year. The trips back home this year delivered beauty I was very lucky to experience in the trips that were, & will always, too short. In my Walk for Wildlife last year I was even lucky enough to spot a Wood Duck in Saskatchewan! They are an amazing bird, & I am glad I got the experience. Of course though, I can't forget to talk about the amazing landscape that I had moved into in Northeastern British Columbia. Dawson Creek, with it's strong agricultural ties, reminds me so much of my favorite places in Saskatchewan. Though, it has the extra ultra cool factor that when I travel an hour out of town I can see the Rocky Mountains & waterfalls! I know that I will have many amazing experiences in the upcoming year as I explore more of this beautiful, under appreciated, part of British Columbia.
Things have certainly changed in my life, & I do not yet know what all those changes will mean. I know I am excited to explore my options for starting my much talked, & dreamt, about farm here in Northeastern British Columbia in my coming future. I am extremely appreciative to everyone that has been in my life this past year that have filled me with knowledge. I am grateful to have a job that challenges me, along with letting me indulge in both my passions of conservation & agriculture at the same time. The opportunities that are ahead of me are great & I have the many people in my life to thank for that. My mind is excited, grateful, & ready. I am truly grateful for those that have been with me in the past & continue to teach me as I step into the future, even if some of that will occur at distance. The distance does have me scared, but I know I will be able to bridge the gap. I know I will miss Saskatchewan dearly this summer, but I am optimistic that Northeastern British Columbia, & the Peace District, will win over more pieces of my heart as I get to experience my first summer here.
As I close this blog, & review of my past year, I want to express a thank you to all the people that have been a part of my past, & to all those that will join in my journey forward.
Cheers to another year! Thank you for all your support in this past year, & upcoming support. Every like, comment, & follow, means the world.
Happy earth day! Happy #farmvoices, & best of luck in the upcoming year!
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As we all settle back into our routine after the holiday season I am sure you, like myself, are finding yourself back at work. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to tell you all about the amazing experience I had this summer. I got a call on a beautiful May Friday morning while I was moving my things to Regina, & not entirely sure where my summer was headed, that would change my direction entirely. I found myself employed with what will surely be remembered as the "Job of a Lifetime" for me. I started work with Parks Canada at the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site. It was absolutely one of the BEST ways I could have spent my time in my "Last Saskatchewan Summer".
As a lover of animals, there is absolutely no better job then getting to take care of animals & baby animals at that! I got a summer full of taking care of cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, a turkey, & of course the amazing Toby. Being the descendant of a Saskatchewan homesteader family one of the best experiences I got was learning how tough & resourceful, first hand in some ways, my fore-mothers had been. I have been blessed to have lived, & grown up, working the very homestead land my family had but I had never worked it like I worked at the Motherwell. Learning how to do it not only in 1912 ways, but in 1912 dress well that was a whole new eye opening experience. It truly gives one an appreciation for not only the new ways we have to do things, but also makes you wonder why we changed some? I truly to this day as I clean new stalls, wish I had the very handy wheelbarrows that I got to use at the Motherwell. Sure, the modern ones are "lighter" & have better wheels, but I truly miss being able to take the sides off the wheelbarrow that makes unloading & loading so much simpler.
I took a vow to myself that if I ever got in a position where I could do it, I would try to reverse the idea that farming is a subservient occupation - William Richard Motherwell
It was pretty neat to learn about William Richard Motherwell, his wife Catherine (Gillespie) & his daughter, as I dug around the house, listened to more experienced staff & went through some of the older books. I will say this, I am glad to know that even back in 1912 there were still young lady's who would rather be in the barn than washing dishes. It was very interesting to learn about how much Agriculture had evolved in the province of Saskatchewan, & whose hands were a part of that evolution. It was also really neat to talk to descendants of workers of Motherwell family that came to visit, & hear the stories they were told about the family. The type of people the Motherwell's were remembered to be, & how working for the Motherwell's influenced their family. One of my favorite, not nature or agriculture related, parts of the Motherwell site can be found in the house. On a wall you will find beautifully crafted First Nations bead work clothing that was gifted to the Motherwell's. The story behind that I would love to tell, but I think it would be better for you to explore the site & learn about them. SPOILER it has a good ending, & depending how you look at history a rather unique one.
The site has so many amazing spots & so many amazing stories to be told. Even working out in the garden & helping out with the aspects of "homesteader" life that I was more knowledgeable on I still learned many life skills. If you truly want to learn what it is like to live a homesteader life, well toss your tablet with the latest 10 Things list on how to be a "urban homesteader" & take up a summer at the Motherwell. The beautifully big garden, that also demonstrated summer fallow conditions, was a challenge as it was beautiful. Making sure everything had appropriate water during the dry days, & enough weeding to keep the weeds at bay... well my hands could have been lost out there (& some days they were). As an avid gardener I truly found it a treat that I could weed away stress while at work.
As the summer came to a close with fields ready to harvest, I think I may have just learned in the my last couple weeks how to pitch loose hay correctly.... I think. The people at the Motherwell Site were absolute pleasure to work with & I was finding myself very sad at the prospect of the fact this may be my only summer to get to work there. However, I don't think I cheered more to myself to see poppies bloom than the ones that bloomed on time for the Symphony Under the Sky event that was held at the end of summer. I have seen poppies come to bloom before, but these ones were extra special as they were ones blooming from seed from the actual Flanders Field. It was so neat to be connected to so much history in such an unique way that summer.
Hands down, this summer was one of the best experiences of my life. I highly suggest if you ever get the chance to work for Parks Canada to certainly JUMP at the opportunity. It is truly an unique experience, & you get to experience more than you thought you could in a summer. There are more stories, & favorite moments/spots, than can be shared in just one blog about my summer. I had an amazing time, & will be back often. Every time I look at historical photographs, or watch television/movies that depict the time period I am connected with a unique bond of knowledge that I'm forever thankful for. It will be the summer job I will NEVER forget, & with people who I am thankful to still have in my life. I hope this entices you to visit the site (I have added a map at the bottom of the page), & if you do find yourself there I hope you enjoy your time there as much as I did.
A moment in time separated by a year and over 1000kms... Last year at this exact same time I was taking a walk down a country road while listening to the song I'll Be Fine by Erick Macek. As the song played in my ears & I watched the sun set I had this calming moment of peace (top photo). I knew within my core that a chapter was closing with that setting sun. That my life was about to change in a way that I didn't know how. I just knew. Its like Mother Nature whispered it to me through the wind. Last night as I took my puppy for a walk down my favorite country road I watched the sun set in a glorious array of colors (bottom photo). I felt a piece of my soul fall into place & I knew I was "home". Two country roads. Two sunsets. Exactly a year apart. Over 1000kms & different latitudes apart. My life came full circle. A new chapter has begun & I can't wait to see where it takes me. "Colors they change in instant[...] My chapter is closing, something tells me that I may just like it; I know this is my time [...] I know I keep in mind that I may find a better a life a head this time; I don't know why but I hide my pride; still I wonder if I am losing my mind; or am I blind not to see the time; either way I know I will be fine" - Erick Macek, I'll Be Fine Hello Everyone!I know it has been a super long time since I have last posted, & that I truly need to clean out the cobwebs on the blog page. I want to apologize for my absence, & express a great amount of gratitude to those who have been patient enough to stick around the page. However, if you can remember back to when I discussed that big changes were coming my way I want to say they have come! I have spent the summer "off", without notice, to get everything in order and enjoy my last summer of being a Saskatchewan resident for an unknown amount of time. Yes, you read that right; I will no longer be a proud resident of my beloved home province of Saskatchewan. I have chosen to follow my other passions of agriculture and conservation. I have decided to take a risk and take on a new challenge in the most northern extent of the Boreal Plain/Aspen Parkland Prairies. I am looking forward to connecting to the agricultural community up here as I work my day job. I am also looking forward to connecting you with a truly unique gem of a place that many are unaware of. So as I take this next step, I hope you will continue to join me. I promise I will be back to visit in Saskatchewan... because my heart will always lie with those big beautiful living skies. Though I hope the place I share will steal your heart as it did mine so many years ago.
So, again thank you for sticking around as I went through this big change. Keep your eyes out as I will be blogging very soon about my "last Saskatchewan" summer, & my new home. Fish Girl is back, & ready to share! |
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