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Patricia L. Atchison

YA Fiction & Non Fiction Author

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Patricia Atchison

“I’m Happy.”

May 10, 2018 By Patricia Atchison Leave a Comment

Happy… the emotion, state of feeling pleasure. Finally!

Yesterday I had the joy of joining the Universal Women’s Nurture Circle in Calgary, Alberta, led by Tina Thrussell (Shin Dao Institute, The Way of the Heart). The evening featured a self-care, Hand and Face Reflexology healing session by Sandra Catania (Reflexologist at Elan Family Wellness Centre).

We started the circle talking about why we chose to attend. Themes of community, learning and experiencing something new, being there for self, and searching for joy and happiness were some of the comments made. Every woman shone with true light and beauty, as each shared their heartfelt emotions. After the reflexology session where we worked on face and hands, we separated into two small circles, and within my circle, each woman was given a chance to speak when they received the ‘talking stick’. The idea is when the stick is passed to someone, they hold it, breathe, and allow whatever thought or idea they wish to share to be spoken without interruption, judgment or comment from others in the circle. [Read more…] about “I’m Happy.”

Filed Under: About Patricia, Newsletter Articles Tagged With: Being happy, finding self, happiness, women's nuture circle

Anna Linder ~ The Book Of Emotions – Completion Update

February 9, 2018 By Patricia Atchison Leave a Comment

Every now and then a project comes along which speaks to my heart and I know I must answer the call to write. The e-Book, The Book of Emotions, designed and compiled in 2017, by graphic designer, Anna Linder, shows Anna’s love of design and heart expression. She created the idea of an emotional directory and invited authors to participate in the, ‘how it feels to feel’, project by submitting works which reflected a journey of the definition of what an emotion felt like to them. While she completes the edits and final compilation of the project, I thought I would share the specific emotions (chapters) I wrote about.

If you would love to read the complete e-Book, sections can be downloaded at bookofemotions.annalinder.com/blog/ . If you would like to write a readers review, Anna would love to hear from you. [Read more…] about Anna Linder ~ The Book Of Emotions – Completion Update

Filed Under: Published Articles, The Book of Emotions Tagged With: Anna Linder the Book Of Emotions, fear, joy and courage, peace, the emotions of support

On Turning Sixty… My Honest Look At Aging

November 16, 2017 By Patricia Atchison 3 Comments

As I turn sixty and step into another decade of life, I find myself looking inward to see where I’m at in this moment in time. While I’m grateful to have ‘made it this long’, I know I am on the downward slope. I had a reading awhile back, where the psychic used cards to represent the decades of my life, laying down 8 cards (averaging one lives to be close to eighty). Being In my fifties, she removed 5 cards leaving three on the table. When I saw all those cards removed and 3 remaining, it left me with the feeling that time was slipping away. Now turning sixty, I can remove one more card. Now I’ve only 2 cards/decades left – twenty years if I am lucky (or maybe more – depending). It sure puts a different perspective on life. [Read more…] about On Turning Sixty… My Honest Look At Aging

Filed Under: About Patricia, Newsletter Articles Tagged With: Aging, Turning Sixty

Danceland at Manitou Beach

August 8, 2017 By Patricia Atchison 1 Comment

Gems can be found in the most unique places, and Danceland is one of them. Nestled in the valley of Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada, along the shores of Little Manitou Lake is a historical dance hall called Danceland, built in 1930.

Little Manitou Lake

When we decided to camp this summer in the area of Manitou Beach, it was for the opportunity to go swimming in the “Lake of the Healing Waters”. Little Manitou Lake was named years ago by the Cree First Nations People in reference to the Great Spirit. Legend says that when their people were afflicted with illness, they consumed and swam in the waters of the lake, and became healed overnight. It is the only lake in North America with properties similar to the Dead Sea in Jordan. Swimming in it was a truly a unique experience as the mineral salts kept me afloat, and it was hard to stand up while in the water. My body felt rejuvenated and so soft after my dip in the lake.

Horsetail embedded into sub flooring.

Due to the popularity of the lake, the area blossomed during the 1920’s and it became a tourist destination equivalent to the throngs of people who visited Banff, Alberta, Canada during the same time. The original Danceland was built before 1919, but was replaced in 1930 with the current structure. What makes the 13,000 square foot dance hall so unique is its 5000 square feet of maple tongue and groove flooring. But that’s not all. The hardwood floor was laid without any nails being used. Beneath the floor is two sub floors with rolls of horsetail wrapped in burlap and tightly wound with wire, with six inches diameter between them. These rolls run cross ways under the floor every four feet. It’s the six inches of horsetail, imported from Quebec, Canada, which gives the floor its spring. The top sub floor has stops so the floor only goes down one to one and a half inches. The cushioning of the horsetail brings it back up. Imagine if you will, that the amount of horsetail used added up to one train car full (circa 1930’s). [Read more…] about Danceland at Manitou Beach

Filed Under: Newsletter Articles, Nia Dance Movement Tagged With: Danceland Saskatchewan

Ode to the Abandoned Dog

June 13, 2017 By Patricia Atchison Leave a Comment

I wrote the following poem at a time that I was volunteering at the Cochrane & Area Humane Society. So many dogs come through shelters that for whatever reason are abandoned. The other day my husband and I were having a discussion about how the number of families that have animals has increased so much from when we were children. I remember living in the PMQ’s (Private Military Quarters), Currie Barracks area in Calgary (1970’s). Families would get dogs, but postings came around so often, and with the moves (most likely overseas) the animals would be left tied to the steps. Other families would take in the dogs, or they would become ‘pound puppies’. Recently, the phrase ‘looking for a fur-ever home’ has been coined to help people realize that acquiring a pet in their home is for the duration of it’s life.

Ode to the Abandoned Dog
(Praise to the Shelter Volunteer)

They abandoned me
I know not why
Here I sit on my porch and cry.

The neighbours they just look
And shake their heads
Inside they go to their warm feather beds.

The day turns to night
I shiver and shiver
The moon comes out, but it’s just a sliver.

No need to bay
I’ve got their attention
It’s so cold out my cries reach perfection.

Men approach me
I’ve had enough
I bark and snarl as they grab me by the scruff.

I try to act tough
But as I’m tossed into a dark crate
I push my nose against the small grate.

Lights and strange noises
Pass before my eye
I shrink inside the shadows, afraid I might die.

My body bounces
In this small box
Suddenly the motion stops.

As the door opens
I try to escape
Rough hands stop me before I reach the gate.

I’m shoved into a small space
I struggle and claw
But it’s of no use, I close my jaw.

And then there’s this face…

Her touch is gentle
Her eyes are sad
I wag my tail a little; I don’t want her to be mad.

She pats my face, my ears,
My head
I nudge her hand as she leads me to a soft bed.

In front of me she places a bowl of water
I take a drink
I try not to think…

Of where my family is
And why they left me

Of who this lady is
And why she is so kind to me

Of where I am
And why I am here

For the moment
I feel safe
She’s brought me food now, I take a taste.

It’s good, crunchy
And yummy
I yawn, now I’ve got such a full tummy.

I lie down
And chew the corner of the nice fluffy bed
She sits beside me and holds my head.

My need to play and chase
For now will keep
As I drift off to sleep.

For now, I am still, for in this moment
The arms that hold me
Make me feel loved.

It is enough
I snuggle close
Trying to get the most

Of her warmth and comfort
I wag my tail
It flaps against the rail.

My new home is small and tall and different
From what I’ve known
But I am grateful for the love I’ve been shown.

I nestle deep
Into the bed
And lay down my very weary head.

© By Patricia L. Atchison
September 2012

 

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: poem about abandoned dog, Poem about shelter dogs

Weeds ~ What They Become

May 30, 2017 By Patricia Atchison Leave a Comment

“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” ~ A.A. Milne

I admit, I’m not much of a gardener. I do know the difference though between domestic weeds and flowers. I love dandelions and remember making flower crowns out of their yellow tops as a kid. Years ago, when we first moved out to our acreage in Water Valley (Alberta), all the foliage was wild and I couldn’t have told you the difference between a wild flower or a weed. Our first spring in the country brought an assortment of new growth and while I wanted an area close to the house that looked well pruned and dedicated to simply beautiful wild flowers, I was afraid to pick anything in case I discarded something of value.

So I let everything grow. I nurtured all plants allowing the stalks to reach new heights. Yes, there were plenty of weeds that joined the wildflowers as they sought the same sun and growth in the earth as their counterparts. I even let an area become taken over by thistles. I mean who wants to get pricked trying to get rid of the nasty things (and their roots grow deep and wide). But, as they grew (and they do grow tall), they began to grow buds, stunning purple flowers bloomed. With the blossoms, the plants attracted Monarch butterflies by the dozens. They fed on the thistle blooms and stayed for the majority of the summer.

We did eventually landscape that thistle patch which took over nearly most of the front of the house. It’s sad though because in our hurry to landscape, the Monarch butterflies also dwindled as they traveled away to find another food source.

Oxeye DaisyAnother patch of ‘flowers’ we let grown wild, where what we thought was a daisy. Beautiful tall stalks of lovely white daisies lined our driveway. We enjoyed them until one day our neighbours, who were environmental reclamation folks, took one look at our ‘daisy’ patch and cried that we shouldn’t be letting the Oxeye Daisy, an invasive weed, which is banned in several provinces take over our property! Unfortunately with this weed, if it spreads into pasture land, it can cause health concerns with cattle if they eat it. This was one weed we immediately pulled (it took months) off our property.

Weed are flowers too. They bring different colors to the landscape and even though they try to take over an area, they bring different life and joy with them. I became friends with the weeds, some were quite lovely when they bloomed. The universe is filled with beautiful bouquets of flowers. We try to eradicate the weeds that don’t fit with our norm of a landscaped society, but it’s not only humans who have a stake in the foliage that grows around. Many living creatures in nature need the life that the weeds offer, both above and below the soil.

I’m not so quick to disregard weeds anymore, I like to see how they grow and what they become. It’s amazing to see weeds blossom into something which attracts and sustains life to it.

Filed Under: Whimsical Stories Tagged With: Editorial about weeds, weeds vs flowers

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