Fish Slapping Revisited

"Traditional Fish Slapping" by Sharon

http://shaoron.deviantart.com/art/Fish-Slapping-39400204

Anime meets traditional Fish Slapping inspired by Monty7 Python
.......the flay rods gone a skew on the truddle!

Love That Surpasses Knowledge

Ephesians 3:14-21
A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

quick note to self............
Every family in heaven and on earth derives its name from the father (God)
Spirit of God provides power to the inner being
Christ dwells in our hearts
We need to be rooted and established in love
this Love surpasses knowledge

I have read a lot of scripture over the years and have heard countless sermons and lessons attempting to relate that scripture to my life. I try to read scripture first for the sake of reading and allowing the scripture to speak. I read it again trying to understand the heart of what is being said....the intent of the scripture. I ponder on how this relates to me and how I can use this information in my journey for the Lord. I keep a mental list of bold and underlined thoughts.....notes to self. I have found that not only does the list grow, but sometimes it appears to conflict. I have learned not to fear the conflict, for I know that in the will of God, there is no conflict.

I created a personal theology based on what I have read and what I have been told and or taught. This theology has been shifting and changing over the years, as my "note to self" list has been growing. I use the term progressive revelation. I am not ashamed in any way for my understanding, as it is a response to my desire to be in the will of God.

I have found that the more that things matter...the less they matter. The more I know...the less I know. The stronger I think I am...the weaker I actually become. The words I shout out loud are wrong and the ones I whisper are more often right.

I have often wondered how it is that we can all read the same thing and derive a differant understanding. I have often wondered how we can create hatred out of our differing understandings. We draw a line and proceed to divide the people between right and wrong.

Since love surpasses knowledge, I pledge here and now to always love first. If I am wrong and am sentenced to an eternity without God, then at least I have followed what I beleive to be Gods will for me..here and now.

Hunting and Gathering

We had a great weekend of hunting and gathering. It all began Saturday morning when Pierre decided to cut a few logs from our pile. Within minutes a neighbour arrived and said "Hey, I bet you would love to use my splitter! We sprang to attention and I ran over and shook his hand saying YES!!!!!! I went to his place and picked up the splitter and Sue, Pierre and I finished splitting all our wood. 

We were so excited to have the splitter, we decided to go and do some more gathering.

We know a place where Birch was cut and left to rot.

As part of the Pine thinning and care of the forest, someone was paid to cut all the non pine from the forest.

One mans waste is another mans treasure.

We went straight to work, cutting and splitting and stacking. 

We make a great team and our pile is growing!

After a hard, satisfying weekend of work, we sat down to a beautiful harvest meal.

We had moose from Sandy Falls, Potatoes from Field, Whitefish from Ear Falls, and Cabbage, Swiss Chard and Beans from our garden.....all things we hunted, gathered and harvested from this beautiful land.

Lord God

Thank you for your bountiful provisions.

Thank you for a good year and a great harvest.

Niijii and the Blue Glass Cup

Niijii loves the blue glass cup.

Morley Kakepetum - Native Artist

"Untitled" Copyright Morley Kakepetum 1993

Kakepetum, Morley, 1936-, (Thunder Bay Art Gallery)

I was gifted this painting by Morley Kakepetum by a friend of Debbies. When she heard of my interest in native art, she shared here collection with us. Deb got a Limited Edition print, also by Morley Kakepetum. Morley is well known in his geographic region and many of his paintings are on the wall at Cat Island Lodge near Ear Falls.

Cranberry Picking in Sturgeon Falls

Fresh picked cranberries in the pail

Surveying the Cranberry bog - Cranberries everywhere!

Washed and ready for juice and cranberry sauce

Last year we found the bog late in the season, after everyone had had their way. We ate what few we could find, and bought some from the farmer down the road. The flavour was so remarkable that we made a point of returning a few times this year to keep ahead of the rush. Deb and Sue picked enough for now. I think its a little early yet. A couple more weeks and it should be primetime!

Cheers to wild cranberries!

Broken Finger

I have broken bones before and I recognize the sound that reverberates inside ones body when a bone breaks. As Pierre and I lifted the biggest bad ass hunk of wood, I fumbled and ended up pinching my peter pointer between the ring of wood and the tailgate of my truck. As the wood landed on my finger we both heard my finger go "CLICK" Pierre looked at me immediately and said oh oh. Yes, I was dumb enough to break my finger. I have broken fingers before. You go spend 12 hours at emerg, they take xrays and send you home with a little metal splint. I probably have a couple of them lying around here somewhere. At any rate, that was a week ago. My finger is beginning to heal. I do little range of motion exercises. It hurts like hell trying to play my guitar and I have to use different fingering. Also I am left handed and its my left peter pointer. I find it very difficult to write.

Last year I bought wood...cut..dryed and ready to burn. 2 bush cord cost me $650.00 and lasted the season, though we had to pace ourselves. This year I have been watching Kijiji for wood. I have found a few people who have cut down trees and need it all cleaned up. So far this year I have more than 2 bush cord and it cost me $200.00 for wood payment and $125.00 in woodsplitter rental....half the price and more wood! Oh and it also cost me a finger..teehee. I was thinking about buying a splitter, but at $50.00 a day rental it doesnt make sense. Splitters are $1200.00 and I can split a years worth of wood for a couple hundred dollars rental. That would be 6 years return on investment. I will continue to watch and perhaps I can find a used one for half that price.

Anyways, I must go...tooodle loo

Changing of the Seasons Ceremony 2011 Lake Obabika

Tents were lined up along the beach at Alex's place

Canoes were lined up at the Ceremony site

Alex beat the drum while the Sweetgrass was passed

People listened intently as Alex spoke and as the Eagle Feather was passed

Potluck buffet after the ceremony..nothing like a meal together!

Pierre admiring the Three Sisters

Debbie Treehugging

Spirit Rock Lake - A place of vision quest

The 4 travellers

Early morning mist rising from Lake Obabika

Deb paddling

Plans are ever evolving. We had planned to go in by ATV with our canoe racks. Pierre broke a rib and it didnt look like he would be able to take the ride. We got a call from Alex's daughter looking for a ride..so..plans evolved. We ended up just driving in by pickup truck. We brought paddles and life jackets  with us and borrowed a couple of canoes from Alex. 

There were about 60 people this year and the event was a great success. Pierre admitted that the experience brought tears to his eyes. He was almost embarrassed as he told us. Truth is, the first time I saw the sisters I cried too. There is something very cleansing about tears of gratitude,love and respect. As the Eagle feather was passed, we heard countless stories and expressions of gratitude and love. This little stand of Old Growth is sandwiched amongst some pretty intense logging. When Alex was a child, there was no such thing as the term "Old Growth" because it was all old growth. Now, we are down to our last few stands. Now we get to look at what we have done and what we have accomplished. We should reflect.

My personal belief is that there should be no more logging of Old Growth forest. We have already been poor stewards of our land by not even leaving a piddly 10% for our future generations. Shame on us. And now we stand poised to take more. The thought of this last reserve being sent of to China or the United States to make toothpicks makes me sick.

As I looked at all the people around me and recounted their stories, I cant help but feel a social responsibility. I must do my part to help protect what little we have left. Many of these people sat on picket lines, chained themselves to trees, formed human barriers across logging roads and much more. Many of these people were arrested for their desire to protect...The end result? A small portion of the forest was preserved. The protesters were right. The criminal records are a sham and just go to prove how important protest is in a peaceful democracy. Perhaps some day, I too will be called to make this sacrifice. When I get the call....I will respond..........

Changing of the Seasons Ceremony 2011 Lake Obabika

We are heading out to the annual Change of Seasons Ceremony on Lake Obabika. My daughter and Pierre have not seen the Old Growth stand yet and we are all excited. We plan on tenting on the beach and hiking the OG. We will likely stay a night at Emerald lake camp, before heading home....Frost on the grass last night. Indeed, changing of the seasons.

Little Woodpeckers

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/wild-birds/d-h/downy-woodpecker.html

Thats it!!!! I need to get netting for my windows. Birds are constantly crashing into our windows. I rush out and revive them..or not. The worst of them all is the little downy's.

We have a tree beside the house and there are 3 baby downy's....there used to be 4. Mother and father seem to have disappeared as we never see them. These 3 little youngsters are chatter boxes. They have been a joy to watch and every week, one of them crashes into the window. This morning one crashed pretty hard and I went running out. I picked him up and he was convulsing. I held him warm and reassured him. I brought him inside and my phone rang. I was talking on the line with a client on one hand and a dying woodpecker in the other. As I completed my call, he seemed to perk up a bit and struggle. I ran outside and put him in the crotch of his tree. His brother and sister had been calling and were somewhat frantic about it all. I went in side and next time I went to check, the downy had flown to the tree. They all sat and chatted at me as I stood under the tree lecturing them...jeesh.....I am going to Canadian Tire tonight to see if I can get some bird netting...this foolishness has to stop!

Shore Lunches

We ate shore lunches every day. Every morning, we would pack a cooler with supplies. Ussually, plates, utensils, can of beans, can of corn, an onion and some potatoes and oh yes....seasoned flour for the fish crisp.

The lake had several shore lunch spots. We pulled into this one just after another group of people. We asked them to keep their fire burning for us. After a morning of fishing, it was time to eat.

Deb cleaned the Walleye's while we did odd jobs in preparation.

Nice fillets ready to cook!

a nice big fry pan on an open fire. Deb is cooking the potatoes here.

what an awesome shore lunch! We ate lunches like this at several differant sites. Each site was more beautiful than the next. For the next few days, we tagged along with a group of 5 american guests and one of the guides. On the last day, we went on our own again. Fresh fish cooked on an open fire is quite an experience.

I decided when I get home, to gather up everything I need for shore lunches. We have a few good spots on our river that are boat access only. I ordered a big ass fry pan and it has arrived at the sport shop in Verner. We bought a new cooler, so the old one will become the shore lunch cooler. We are planning thanksgiving on the point. We are inviting many guests. If you would like to join us for thanksgiving shore lunch, please let me know. We will be serving whitefish, trout and walleye!

Sunflowers in Time for Frost

The sunflowers finally bloomed!!!...

just in time for frost.

Sue is gathering up all tender plants and bringing them indoors.

Evenings have been getting colder

and we are expecting 4 degrees tonight.

I doubt we will get frost

but its coming soon

My Ladies

My Ladies

This morning I am counting blessings

and giving thanks.

These are my ladies.

They make me feel whole

They help give me purpose.

They help define my life.

One is my daughter

and  One is my wife.

Thank You Lord

New Wheels

We were all set for the 22 hour drive to pick up our daughter at a remote fly in fishing lodge. Just 2 days before we were to leave, Wheatus, our Dodge Caravan, sighed its last breath. After a couple of attempts to revive him, the mechanic said..well I could try........I said NO! I want that nice white truck you have on the lot. He said lets make a deal. I said its a couple grand too high..he said, not any more. We shook hands and I drove away in a new to us pickup truck. Its a 2007 Chev Silverado. It was great to make the trip in a truck. It was very functional for us. It is nice to have a pickup again.

The Eagle Has Landed

Cameras just dont do justice. That little white speck is a Bald Eagle and other than my memory, its the only pic I got. The eagles knew we were fishing and waited for us. This Eagle picked up a fish scap from a shore lunch and fed it to its baby...and I use the term loosely. The baby eagle was as big as mom and dad. We saw at least a dozen bald eagles AND a beauty Golden Eagle. They feed off the scraps from the 4 operating fish camps. Ravens, SeaGulls, Eagle, grey Jays and vultures all take part in the feast. It was truly incredible to see such large and beautiful Raptor. One even tried to grab a fish right off the stringer!!!

Fun With Vegetables

I was downloading pictures from my camera, after an awesome fly-in fishing trip. My wife took these while I was in Toronto. I laughed and laughed. Small things amuse small minds I guess. When I was done laughing, Sue said....thats what we ate on our trip! I looked again and sure enough....roadside edibles. Fresh tomato sandwiches cant be beet (haha beat) oh and add some eggplant or cucumber and you have a meal fit for a king!

...away on vacation...

I can hardly believe it!!!
What a trip!!..I'll tell you all about it later....but for now...

Sues Monster

Debs Laker

Deb cooking shore lunch

Being Jesus to Our World

This is a clip from my Pastor. I belong to Crossings Community Church in Acton. It is 5.5 hours south of me. I am a member through Facebook and attend virtually through the internet. Once every 6 months or so, I attend physically. Last week I had the opportunity to hug my brothers and sisters.

This is today's message. This is the message I shall carry with me everywhere I go and to people I interact with.

Join me and go out and be Jesus to this world in a tangible real way.