A Little Piece of Heaven...

Feeling very refreshed after an escape for a week away with my husband and our friends .   The great part about being off the grid is you FINALLY rest - no WiFi, no cell service.   Nothing robbed us of our peace, not even the car breaking down on the Coquihalla on the way to our destination.   Peace included fishing, reading, hiking, kicking around the lake in my husband's Belly Boat, tons of laughs, game playing and Hallelujah WRITING.   In April I attended a workshop with the amazing Canadian Writer Richard Wagamese and I loved that he said sometimes you have to acknowledge, "I got nothing."   He said when there is nothing get up move around do something and guess what you'll have SOMETHING.  He does not believe in writer's block.   I had a whole lot of NOTHING for a long time and so I have to bow to Richard's wisdom and admit the "block" was self imposed.  After days of enjoying our little piece of Heaven the words arrived.    

The following I wrote a couple of days ago trying to explain the inspiration of our surroundings which is very near Richard's home base (co-incidence, or not?)   

Friday June 10, 2016

There is a peace that surrounds us in the crystal quiet of nature.   The breathtaking beauty of the lake is like a meditation that embraces our unconscious.   The reflection of the sky and trees in the water mirrored so flawlessly you question where the lake ends and the sky begins.

The view so surreal it looks like a 3D textured painting.   The trees magnificent, their shades range from subtle moss, rich emerald to the deepest forest green.   The lake a brilliant turquoise, the result of the presence of limestone and is reminiscent of the ocean in the Caribbean.   

The music of the great outdoors ranges from the tender chirping and warbling of a variety of birds, the exotic song of the loon and the cries of eagles.   This time of year there is a night serenade from the orchestra of frogs that lulls us into a slumber.

Charming cows speckle the landscape at the entrance of the resort.   Other wildlife made brief appearances:   timid chipmunks scurrying across our campsite, skittish hares hopping past while on a hike and the brilliantly coloured hummingbirds rushing past always in a flash.   Hoof prints and bear scat do caution visitors to respect this is still the wild.   I can say the freshly caught trout cooked over the fire has ruined me for all other fish I am sure.  

The summer solstice so close we only experienced the diamond twinkling of the stars if we happened to wake up in the brief window of the wee hours when the sky was pitch black.   It is worth the trip just to gaze in wonder at the big Dipper.   The last night we were gifted with the perfect darkness and clarity to be dazzled by nature's sky gems. 

Any one of these facts would lure me back but the combination of them all guarantees my return.  The one absolute I take away with me after our week at the Lake is this - if there is a Heaven this is it.

P.S.  one slight exception to my Heaven FREAKING BUGS ...  the mosquitos and no-see-ums dined on me continuously!

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