Sharing Food and Memories

War iyo la cuno, baa lagu nool yahay.
Communication and food are the things that one lives by.
-Somali Proverb

Ever wonder what makes the difference between living and life.  I was just reflecting on how when it comes right down to it what I do with my life in the space between bites is what makes it really living.  Sure we need food and the basics to survive but as I always said it  is not how much is on the table as who is around the table that really sustains us in the end.

Here, living on a group of Islands you really  are forced to think about what goes in your mouth and why. Food is not scarce but it is pricy and you don't take that for granted ....you buy what you need and you eat what you buy. So you better make the right choices. It was much the same in the Arctic and for a CFA (come from away) to walk into a food store and make loud proclamations on the cost of food or anything else here is just rude.

In the North, the traditional food is referred to as country food. That is food that you or someone you know fish or hunt for on the land.  Here in Haida Gwaii there is an abundance of fish, berries, deer and most households have a garden and or a small greenhouse. For the most part folks don't take food  for granted  especially if you hunt or someone you know does this for you. Jim had the good fortune to go out fishing with Sean and one of his friends last weekend and the pictures below are of the Salmon they caught.

This one was 30 lbs

For Sean and Jody, the community here on the misty isles are what sustains life too and this past Friday there was a group of  friends who came over to feed the soul with munchies and music.

The wee ones busied themselves with pirate ships indoors and climbing trees and racing about outdoors.

and more stories

while most traded stories and ideas

"no kidding it  was this big!"

Oh yes there was also Atari

I didn't know that there was still one in existence!

Later in the evening  after the wee ones had disappeared into dreamland the instruments came out and the group traded 8's late into the night. 

Hope you make room in your life this summer for some good food and friends to share your Journey too

Love and light 

Chris

Festival at the Edge of the Earth

On August 7th, the first weekend of our arrival on Haida Gwaii we attended the Festival at the Edge of the Earth ....No Kidding that is the real name of the festival here in Haida Gwaii. I must say I'm really charmed! It is nothing like Stanfest (apples and oranges ) I like them both and for different reasons.
To begin with this festival is very small and more up close and personal. The focus is on a family event and kids and parents of all ages mingled throughout the weekend.

The following entry will be about the festival goers and the Life around the festival as opposed to the entertainers ...which I will get to later . Above is Jim and our grandson Isadore on the first evening.

Because the event is small enough there are outhouses instead of port-a-potties ....thus we see !a competition for the best one and the winner is the one below ...the inside was quite lovely and it was sponsored by a local bakery.

As I mentioned before this is a family festival and the planning for it goes on all year with a lot of folks around the islands, giving input long before the festival weekend. I really got a kick out of this sign on the field .

 The lanterns in the lantern parade which takes place at 10:45 each night were made back in May and June.

There was a dancing area in front of the stage and people of all ages got up and shared the dance as you can see many dressed in carnival like costumes and celebrated creativity and music of the people.

During the day there were play areas for small children where there was a "Tickle Trunk" of costumes and the biggest sandbox along with craft activities for the "tween" set. There was also hula hoops and poi going all day long and after dark the more agile of the performers played with fire as we see below.  I got to try my hand at poi and I'm learning and all black and blue from the whacks I take in the process. (poi are an Indonesian invention I believe ...a ball on the end of a leather cord or in the case of the ones I have they are on a wee chain!)

Fire poi at night

Hoop fun

I want to close by letting all you who are kind enough to take the time to read my blog that I've been spending more time doing these days than reflecting on what I'm doing ...I wish I could say it is because I'm present and living in the moment but at the end of a day filled with a delightful two year old I don't have the will or patience to fight with blogger when it won't do what I feel it should.

Stay tuned I should be getting my stride soon.

Love and light

Chris

I have to share a link with the summer as it unfolded for our family.The newest addition was Tara's dog Sophie, a not so tiny St Bernard puppy who won her way into every heart this summer. Here she sits beneath the bentwood rocker,her favorite spot this summer...just trying to stay cool during Dog Days of Summer.She will soon be a resident of the small community of Qikatarjuik in the Eastern Arctic.

Getting to walk the sandy beach of Point Machaud with a group of good friends in June  was another highlight of the summer and I look forward to seeing these sands in the late fall

June also afforded me an opportunity to take in a workshop with this lovely group of Yoginies in the new yoga space in Fall River.

June ended and July began with the Stan Rogers folk festival and it turned out to be the first time in memory where there was no rain ...a time to fill your boots with the best music and folks you are likely to find; a time to renew friendships, and create memories that will warm you through the winter months.

This boat in the still waters at the mouth of the Milford Haven River as it opens into Chedabucto Bay was the last sight I saw as our car pulled out of Guysborough and pointed to the west.

We also bid farewell to Tara for another year as she heads to the Arctic once again with her three pooches after spending the month of July with us. What a wonderful time and opportunity to connect and nurture our spirits ....we were blessed.