Dean Whachell was born Daniel William Wachell on July 27, 1959. He was the fourth child and third boy born to William Wachell and Rosalyn Hinz. He left us on March 18, 2023.

The invasive species, Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) is now starting to bloom in BC. Don’t let those cheery yellow blossoms fool you, this is one hearty invasive, as one plant can produce approximately 18,000 seeds that pop from pods in the summer heat.

Dan, a former resident of Coquitlam and the host of "Hello, Sunrise" on RTHK in Hong Kong interviewed me about the salmon return and Hoy Creek Hatchery, as well as the work we do at the Hoy - Scott Watershed Society.

I now own my mom’s pincushion which is from the 1950s at least. I have many memories of going to grab a pin for mom or putting one safely away here.

Born Mary Rosaline Florence Hintz on Dec. 23, 1933 in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan to George and Helene Hinz, she was the youngest sister to Theresa and Doreen.

This appeared in my Facebook Memories today. Had they not removed the Notes feature I could pull this up any time I like. I’ll be posting much of my writing here no, so they never get lost.

The Blower/Whachell Newsletter – September 2001

Oh how the times have changed! Mom's moved into her new home in Burnaby. This photo was taken on day two, and you can tell she was very tired from not sleeping well. Glad to report, she's settling in nicely.

I started volunteering with the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society in 2014. I’d moved into the area and came out to observe a salmon release in Hoy Creek.

I’ve been journaling since I was a young mother. I started in hopes to document my first pregnancy and it took off after that.

“Taking a walk under the stars or feeling the wind on your face may be all it takes for you to reconnect with nature. Remember, you are as much a part of nature as are the leaves on a tree or water bubbling in a brook."

My brother Dean has ALS. He's only a few years older than me, and he's been dealing with the dreaded disease for 9 years. I had no clue what it was at first, and when I read, "fatal, 2 - 4 years life expectancy," I cried for days.

“In a simple word, Robbin is a pioneer, just like her parents before her. Perhaps unbeknownst to many, she has been peripherally settling and cultivating a new home in the wilds of a new world for many years, while sustaining herself and her family at the same time within the conventional old world.”

Mom is now in a senior's home. She's been asking for several months, and a recent turn of events, and the progression of her dementia and short-term memory loss made for necessary quick decisions.

Environmental activist, fashion designer and artist Kuvan-Mills believes art and fashion impact our emotions and can move us to value our blue planet. Currently supporting the world’s leading direct-action ocean conservation organization, Sea Shepherd (Australia)…

Discovery of light and sound on my morning walk on Hoy Creek Trail, Coquitlam

The tree is decorated, the cookies are made, the gifts are wrapped; now all that’s left is to wish you a Merry Christmas!

I moved back to Canada from the Bahamas in late summer 2011; and before winter 2012, I moved my mother in with me.

It gets frustrating when I hear people make statements about others being 'pro-pipeline' or 'anti-pipeline', as it's not that cut and dry.

Sometimes people are not willing to forgive or work with you to make things right again. I have to accept that.

Our parents are aging, and their minds and bodies are changing. As we become seniors, we become more childlike. Our parents need us. It's payback time.