Yurt--2011

This is a very rare site in Kazakhstan, today. We've been here for three years and this is the first time we've seen such an authentic use of a yurt. They're tents, obviously, but they have a rigid frame and their covering is made of felt. The family that lives in this one moves across the steppe with their sheep, pictured above, for weeks and months at a time. No electricity, no running water, cook outside on a fire, and enjoy the solitude of the steppe.  

Colgate's Miles for Smiles Run

This is a gang of our friends in the 2nd Annual Colgate 5km Run. It's a fundraiser for orphanages in Almaty. Quite successful and lots of fun, if only a little disorganised.  

Kyla and Cody--Summer 2011

The Poppy Fields

We drove 2 hours onto the steppe this past weekend in search of a legendary and ethereal poppy field. Poppies are quite a fragile flower and they have a bad repuation in this part of the world, but we had a great afternoon wandering around in a few acres of wild red-ness: if you want to draw attention, use red..it is often where the eye looks first. Red is the color of energy. It's associated with movement and excitement. People surrounded by red find their heart beating a little faster and often report feeling a bit out of breath.

Red is the ultimate cure for sadness. - Bill Blass

Painters use red like spice. - Derek Jarman

Red means go. V'

Red is the color most chosen by extroverts. -an introvert.

In the former U.S.S.R. (Kazakhstan), red means beautiful. The Bolsheviks used a red flag as their symbol when they overthrew the tsar in 1917. That is how red became the color of communism.

The Last Poet, by Juan A. Beigh

On news-stands now, across Canada. Hurry, before they're all sold! Ed Janzen (editor-publisher) of Canadian Stories based in Fergus, Ontario, risked his professional reputation by publishing a short story I wrote. No money, no fame, but if I inflate it a bit, it'll make my obituary a little less mundane. Special thanks to Jack Hodgins for 10 years of encouragement.  

May "Longweekend."

No: I didn't take these amazing pictures. Our good friend from Kamloops did--Judy Gray. We camped with Peter and Judy last weekend. It's good to hang out with Canadians.

The Kazakh Steppe

No trees, no traffic, no problem.