A girl of 10 in Taiwan, Ru met with a deeply saddening disappointment of separation that was to impact her life. From a classroom of 45 students, classes of 5 were created, separating her from her wonderful friend. The only girl in a family with 4 brothers, she felt alone. Now she was alone again. There was no other opportunity to be with her friend again. The disconnection from her one girl friend so affected her, that she "..became quiet...", hardly speaking for the following 15 years. She wanted 'forever' - always to be with her friend - always to be connected.  "What is forever? Who can tell me that?" She wanted 'forever', 'no change'! She thought by doing certain deeds and acts that she would eventually be able to go 'somewhere' that would be 'forever'. At age 25, she became a nu... 02/02/2008

It was my first discussion of any length with Xhing Ru. We had previously greeted one another with 'O mi to fo' and hello many times. A cheery and wise woman, trained in Pureland Zen. At the end she related a marvelous parable. (speaking in her charming Taiwanese Mandarine dialect)   "I come here and go into a room. Ah, the room is nice, big, lots and lots of space! I like it! I stay here. Then everyday I go and bring one thing. In one month I have 30 things in the room. Now the room is small! I want a new room. I take a shower. Then I need a towel. So I get a towel. Then I want something to keep the towel in. In one year I have 365 things! This is the creation of desire." she said. "We only need few things."       The more we have, the more desire grows for more, and more is required t... 02/01/2008

  Located at 1370 Lawrence Avenue, Yitung Temple was founded in Kelowna in 1999. Sunday services are held at 10:30 Monday Meditation 7pm If you've never experienced a Buddhist service, you may have some questions. You do not need to be Buddhist or hold the beliefs There is no pressure whatever to be Buddhist or anything else The statues are not objects of worship, but symbols of the divine life in each of us Buddhism is a way of living, more than it is religion.     You are always welcome. When you arrive you may wish to ask for instruction to orient yourself. The following will  help you to know some customs:  The services are casual. Comfortable clothing (pants) is recommended for the meditation and bowing. Shoes are removed at the entrance. Bow when entering and leaving the sanctuary... 01/23/2008

(Master Zhing Ru has now moved on, taking the temple furniture with her. We miss her presence and gathering at this marvelous place.)   "No Talking is Talking?" Master Ru had me at her opening statement. All year she was not giving her teachings during the services at Yitung Temple. She is wonderful to listen to - her wisdom and beauty shines through her speaking dialect. I missed her  simply wise teachings.   My aha! came clearly at the opening celebration of the Chinese New Year Jan 20. Last year she spoke of silence. I didn't expect a year of it! But now I realize that was her intention! "No Teaching is Teaching" She wanted us to learn to empty ourselves. She explained how Buddha sat under the Bodhi Tree for six years in silence. At the end he realized we are all enlightened - the di... 01/22/2008

Jan 23, 2012 is the beginning of the two week celebration leading up to Chinese New Year. Many customs are practiced during this time, including preparations of cleaning and sweeping out, which Carole Provenzale details in her post on Chinese New Year. This period symbolizes the ultimate intention of de-cluttering home & work spaces for success.   Some of my own gift giving practices have evolved into symbolic gestures. I love the very meaningful symbols of practical intention.   During the 2 week period the Chinese have a custom of giving oranges when visiting friends and family. Just a brown paper bag will do - or better yet, use an earth friendly re-usable bag or container.    The oranges are symbols of a 'Sweet Life', involving health, love and prosperity. Eating them with mindful g... 01/20/2008

Tango at Church??? ...and what does Tai Chi have to do with Tango??  ..in church                    ...anyway? It's right across the street from where I live, but I don't generally attend the Unitarian Fellowship of Kelowna, except for special functions. Like today.   I previously blogged on how both Qi-gong and Argentine Tango, long time dreams of mine had come right to my front door - the church across the street. http://activerain.com/blogsview/132063/Argentine-Tango-in-Kelowna Entirely fitting for me, dancer and lover of dance, was this first celebration of the new year at the fellowship which they called in relating to the new year, 'Let It Be A Dance'. Aligned entirely with my own beliefs was the interpretation of dance as life itself. Hajime, Harold Naka, a Tai Chi Master and sel... 01/06/2008

Let's get clear about this. There is debate in staging circles among stagers and designers, so what is the consumer to think?The consumer is left to decide what to choose from available criteria. Here is some clarification.Regulated staging certification doesn't exist. Program creators make up their own 'certifications' and standards. Staging programs consist of 2 - 10 days training, available to anyone - novices and designers alike. Designers study 2 - 5 years in trade schools, colleges and university programs. Decorators are often self-taught, with career based experience in a wide variety of interior fields. So what does the home seller look for?  Presentation for selling is the key.The most essential requirement is the knowledge of property presentation for effective, efficient and ... 12/09/2007

Thanks for allowing me to introduce you to Kelowna, the largest city in the Okanagan Valley in the Southern Interior of British Columbia.A couple of interesting web sites to look at are: http://www.investkelowna.com/ and http://www.seeyouinbc.ca/ I have lived here since 1992 and absolutely love it.  I was born in Edmonton, Alberta and even though Alberta has some great scenery and people I always say it's a great place to be from!  Kelowna and area (Okanagan Valley) has often been referred to as Canada's Palm Springs.  We are in the heart of BC's spectacular wine country. Okanagan Lake offers beautiful beaches and watersports, top ski resorts are located nearby, dozens of golf courses dot the valley, and all-season outdoor amenities include horseback riding, hiking, biking and sailing. ... 12/05/2007

There is the tendency in a hot market to believe that the market is 'bullish' enough to get the sale through. That is the old thinking. Sure it likely will, but at what cost? The cost will be the 'expected' lowering of the price. Why expect this negative phenomenon? Instead get proactive and expect faster profitable sale. It can be difficult for sellers to wrap their minds around the concept of spending a comparatively small amount on staging to set their property out front at the head of the pack to ensure quicker profitable sale. Instead of waiting out sale offers and sliding price.......stage right .... stage from the start ......sell for ALL it's worth!!!  http://www.living-spaces-design.com/staging.html 12/03/2007

Realtors, Stagers and Home SellersWho is home staging for? First who it isn't directly for is the seller and I will explain. It isn't directly for the stager's or realtor's benefits either. The direct benefit of staging should be focused on the buyer - your market. Who will be buying this home?  Staging is not all created equal. Unfortunately a lot of what we're seeing in staging is the typical contemporary interior, lacking focus on the most important goal of staging. The purpose of staging a home for sale is to create appeal that allows the potential buyers to 'see' themselves in any given property. If a home buyer visits a home that is staged too far out, above or below the standard of lifestyle and income, it isn't going to appeal to them. For example, if the neighborhood is middle ... 11/15/2007

These are the very basic real estate staging facts anywhere. Staging sells faster and for more. Period. Those sellers whose properties are staged benefit immensely. Sellers often choose to avoid improving sale-ability in what they see as a 'bullish' market.I am hearing from Sellers and Realtors alike here in with listings not moving on the market over 6 weeks. These are typically vacant unstaged listings that are being called about - or properties off the market awhile and re-listing. The sellers often sound anxious and a little agitated in the phone. They are reluctant before they even find out what they stand to gain. The realtors sound hesitant to commit themselves to recommending staging to the clientele."How much does staging cost?" is the typical opening question. I've learned tha... 11/15/2007

Regardless of the hot Real Estate market in Kelowna and Canada in general, it is foolhardy to overlook the fact of the competition. Everyone and their - cat - I dare say wants to, or has entered the frenzied foray. Very simply - start out right if you want top dollar AND  a quicker sale. Many of the calls I'm getting right now are from homesellers of vacant listings, and realtors who have waited through all reductions and into a loss or facing a loss. They're frantic, frustrated, now feeling that 'too late' sensation, knowing in retrospect what they should have done from the start . They're faced with taking the property off the market or selling at a loss now, OR potentially selling at a loss later - because they've now 'burned' through the potential buyers.The fact is you when you sta... 11/10/2007

 Continued from   http://activerain.com/blogsview/237146/Qigong-1-Moves-Energy You can very simply practice Qigong anytime - even a few minutes helps, but up to an hour is great. These are a few beginning steps: Stand with bare (or stocking) feet planted shoulder width apart and perform simultaneously the following for a few minutes. This alone can significantly move energy in the course of your work day. Closing your eyes and breathing calm connected breaths adds to the benefit of relaxing. Focus your mind inside - feel your body.  For 5 minutes: Start bouncing gently from the knees.  Shake your arms independently Bob your head gently In addition to the above waggle your hips in small movements from side to side until you have it all going on at once.. Next stop bouncing and roll your ... 10/21/2007

I don't know the translation, but Qi is chi - energy. Cheegung is how it's pronounced, loosely anyway. While beneficially 'auspicious' to all ages, it is no accident whatever, that older people especially get into Qiging and Tai Chi. Qigong is a sort of primer or precursor to, and less structured than, Tai Chi.   In another post I related how I'd wanted to take Qigong because I'd heard it was good for women my 'age'. Being too tired and busy to go anywhere after a days work, I had somehow inadvertently 'intentioned' it right to my front door - classes across the street! http://activerain.com/blogsview/140730/Some-Things-Just-Come The instructor, Hajime' is a bit of a maverick master, whom I appreciate very much. He refers to himself a Zen dropout - or urban daoist! This very humble man ... 10/19/2007

 Clearing up some confusion about bar stool selection, they are in fact easier to select than regular dining chairs. One reason being that bar stool seats are not as deep, removing that concern. The second reason is simply that you are accounting for height that is relative to the counter or bar height and not leg length.So the biggest question that consumers most ask, then is - what are the appropriate heights? Kitchen counters are typically 36" high. Counter stools are 24" high to seat top.Bar height is usually 42" high. Bar stools are 30" high to the seat top.Heights can vary somewhat. Always measure before buying. Bar stools selection, styles and uses are more popular than ever for sheer convenient use of space as well as creating raised seating for best vantage point of a view. A b... 10/18/2007

Having worked in furniture retail and as an in-store designer, I have a fair understanding of how consumers, even some designers come unprepared for the task of choosing furniture.First have in mind what you likeDo not consult all your friends - only 1 or 2 you trust and those you live withDraw a floor plan to scale if you don't have oneInto a file folder with fabric and color samples take the plan shopping with youRemember to take your tape measure and use it to measure every piece you considerShop with the people you will be sharing the furniture withWith furniture measurements, see if they fit the plan of your roomI've seen even decorators screw up on this - make sure to allow for SPACE! For detailed tips and ideas on furniture selection, scale, form, elements of design:http://www.li... 10/18/2007

 Vacant homes can take the longest to sell. Consequently the original asking price can also depreciate considerably.  They are often taken off the market. The longer on the market, the less appealing property becomes and don't kid yourself, people remember! Potential buyers are not likely to come back once they have already viewed a property that they cannot see themselves in.Less than 10% of people can visualize spatially. They cannot see the end from the beginning. They will breeze through an vacant house so fast, because there is nothing stopping them! They need a reason to stop and say, "Oh, I like this reading corner", or "How nice, the living room is big enough for 2 seating areas!"63% of Buyers want a home that is ready to move into.An empty house offers little to ‘stop' for and ... 10/10/2007

 Sellers can be in too much of a hurry to list and show their properties. It is understandable to be concerned to get the sale underway, but what needs acceleration is completion of renovations first. The very thing you want - quick profitable sale will very possibly be undermined by showing prematurely. Your realtor may not tell you this, being in a hurry to get the sale going also.  63% of buyers are willing to pay more for move-in ready status. Most people do not want to be bothered with renovations and repairs.Less than 10% of all people are able to visualize rooms in their completed state. It makes it all the more difficult to see past clutter, incompletion and the chaos of work in progress.Buyers want to buy a nice home.They will be viewing with a critical mind, so you need to red... 10/10/2007

 Hundreds of runners ran past on my usual walk along the calm of the Okanagan Lake this morning. This is a charity run. Sunshine enhancing autumn colors, blue sky and lakefront scenery, the penetrating calm of the lake and the morning remain completely unhindered by the continual stream of runners along the stretch of Waterfront Park. Walking in the opposite direction I had the interesting viewpoint of seeing all the faces. Many were cool as a cucumber as they ran by. Others were visibly heat and exertion exhausted with bloated red wet faces and I worried a little for their well being. I know what that feels like. The most able runners of course took up the first three quarters of the race. At the end were the old, children and many that you could see were challenging their less fit abi... 10/07/2007

The wine industry in Kelowna began in th 1930's I believe, with really bad really cheap 'Calona Wine'. I am often surprised at how many from far and wide remember it! Commonly known as 'gut rot' it was particularly popular through the '50's and '60's  sold by the gallon jug!! We have come a long way since then with world class wineries and award winning wines of international acclaim.It is said that vines were initially introduced to the Okanagan by the pioneer Pandosy Missionary Oblate priests.Italian farming families who immigrated here in the pioneer days lay claim to being the 'first'. There is some disagreement as to which family was the first to import and grow the Italian vines, so I will leave that alone. Assuredly we are proud of their legacy.Modern wine production attracts vis... 10/03/2007