Julie Bowles

Not only do we all love to get gifts, but we also want to be givers of gifts. Gifts come in many forms: cards, flowers, and packages wrapped and unwrapped. Random acts of kindness are also forms of gifts. When … Read more

A recent bike ride took me into new territory, but not so new that I hadn't been over it before. I had driven in the car that way many times, but had never ridden my bike. As I rode along, … Read more

You would think, after owning a boat for the past five years, that some things would become automatic, such as checking that the rope is secured to the anchor. Well, apparently not, as anchor number two departed from us today. … Read more

Our backyard has been going through a major transformation. Early this spring, we tilled the lawn in preparation for new sod. Gardens were made smaller, and we had a large hole dug to hold a new pond. Each week saw … Read more

Growing up, I always wanted to have a pair of blue jeans with the little tag that said "Levi's" on them. All my friends had them, and I wanted a pair also, but due to the cost of them and … Read more

When fireworks are displayed in our town on the Canada Day long weekend, they are set off from a barge across our lake, and we view them from our boat. On one recent occasion, my husband and the boys decided … Read more

Ten days ago, for the first time in more than a century, both the United States and Canada allowed a man to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. The event was televised during prime time, and as people tuned … Read more

There can be times in our walk as Christians when we feel like we are so very far from God, whether it is from our actions or lack of action, or just something that we are wading through in our … Read more

A recent trip to the United States took us through some very beautiful country. Some of our travels took us on very long and straight highways, with views of rivers and distant towns. Our favourite part, though, took us off … Read more

I am sure that by today's title, readers are thinking to themselves either "ughh" or "great". I am in the "ughh" camp when it comes to oatmeal. As we were growing up, mom tried all kinds of ways to get … Read more