Prairie Notes

/ Sandi Knight / Leave a comment

4″ x 5.5″ Blank Note Cards — $4.00 Currently selections from this series are available at Inspire Studio in Minnedosa, The Little Red Barn and Prairie Fusion Gift Shop in Portage la Prairie, or by contacting me.

What people are saying:

“You might think this is just a blank card, but to me, it’s a piece of art that you are sharing. Sandi has the ability to capture emotion with her unique perspective and frame of reference which inspires joy and happiness when you look at her cards.”

“I love giving a beautiful card with my own inspiring message on the inside. These are perfect for sending out to those you love for all special occasions.”

“Lovely, unique, high quality cards showcasing the beauty of the local landscape. A wonderful way to brighten some’s day, or to frame and keep.”

*Printed in Canada on FSC certified archival paper, manufactured responsibly with a reduced effect on the environment.

Whether on quiet country walks, in our farmyard or on a favourite trail, my camera is always close at hand. Documenting and sharing moments in time from our family farm in rural Manitoba is an integral part of my daily life. More images can be found on Instagram @sandiknight.

Florals

From our farmyard, the open prairies, rural roadsides and a friend’s garden, these captures represent the beauty and joy flowers of all kinds bring to my life.

“After the rain” ~ apple blossoms
“Lean on me” ~ sunlit tulips
“Slowly, softly, spring arrived” ~ Prairie Crocus
“Hello neighbour” ~ sunflower
“Spring on the prairies” ~ Prairie Crocus
“If I were a flower, I’d want to dance” ~ Cosmos
“Summer Party” ~ Coneflower
“Limelight” ~ Hydrangea
“Unexpected blossoms” ~ wild plum
“Roadside beauty” ~ Yellow Lady’s Slipper
“Small but mighty solar panel” ~ Prairie Crocus
“Grow your own way” ~ Black-eyed Susan Vine

Sunsets

I will never tire of praire sunsets. They breathe life into the sky and bring a calmness to my heart. I love the every changing skies, wide-open spaces and peacefulness of watching the stunning transformations at the end of day.

“Wheat dance at sunset’
“Beauty does not require perfection”
“Prairie Love’
“Sunset on history”
“Sunset magic”
“Simplicity”
“Prairie perspective”
“Colour outside the lines”
“You’re not alone”
“Hopper full of gold”
“Change is in the air”
“Prairie Silhouette”
“Unruly line-up”
“Canola catching the sun”
And the sky whispered, “Be still”
“Brilliance”
“Sky writer”
“Resilience”
“A dance with light”
“Endlesss possibilities”
“Twilight twirled her brush”
“Hope is on the horizon” ~ winter sunset

Birds and Butterflies

From endangered species like the Red-headed woodpecker to the common American Robin, our farmyard is visited by over 80 species of birds yearly. With milkweed abundant on our rural roadsides, monarch butterflies also find our area a welcoming habit which is enhanced by flowering native trees and a diversity of flowers in my garden. These are some of my favourite captures to date.

“Knock on wood” ~ Red-headed woodpecker
“Pause a moment” ~ Ruby-throated hummingbird
“Stopping by to say hello” ~ American Robin
“Land softly” ~ Monarch butterfly
“Move to your own beat” ~ Monarch
“Winged beauty”~ Monarch butterfly
“Believe you can” ~Ruby-throated hummingbird

Crops

Canola will always be the star of the show on the Canadian prairies, but wheat, alfalfa and sunflowers also make appearances on this card series.

“Dancing in the breeze” ~ canola
“Almost ready for harvest” ~ wheat
“Beauty and the Beast” ~ canola and mammatus clouds
“Blowin’ in the wind” ~ alfalfa blossoms
“Country roads are golden” ~ canola in bloom
“Always face the sun” ~ sunflowers

Autumn

The best season! Cool mornings, warm days, trees dressing into their vibrant hues, leaves letting go and dancing downward. From our farmyard, my favourite trails and parks these are a few on my most-loved captures.

“Wander a while”
“Magic morning light”
“Whitemud River reflections”
“The Collection”
“Reach for the sky”
“Autumn Bliss”

The Lake

Our farm is near Lake Manitoba so a trip to it’s shores is always a welcome reprieve in the summer.

“Tranquil lakeside moments”
“Dog days of summer”

Winter

Oh the beauty of winter! Snow, hoarfrost and rimefrost magically transform the landscape. Harsh winds sculpt beautiful snowdrifts, and the light and skies are enchanting!

“Stardust”
“Drift away”
“Simple wishes”
“Winter Wonderland”
“Peaceful winter morning”
“Snowy sentinel”
“Let it snow’
“The best way to look is up”
“Wrapped in white”
“Country contrast’
“Welcome to Narnia”
“Beauty in every season”
“Beauty does not require perfection”
“Embracing winter’
“Unruly line-up”

Into the forest

/ Sandi Knight / 2 Comments

A potential prequel.

Three different paths. Three different journeys. Three different stories.

Yet here they were, at the same opening, at the same time.

Drawn here by some unknown force. Fate? Serendipity? A higher power?

It didn’t matter. They walked into the forest side-by-side. Quiet. Solemn. Disheartened. Each carrying their own burdens of sorrow, trauma and pain. The shadows of the trees seemed dark, daunting, almost frightening.

They could hear a stream in the distance, and instinctively knew, in that opening sunlight would be dancing on the water as it rippled downstream. They paused a moment but weren’t drawn there.

The trees were calling today. They chose to go deeper into the forest, single file as the path narrowed, the tips of branches brushing against their shoulders.

It led them to a clearing where worn tree stumps encircled a fire pit made of stones. It was time to stop. To light a fire. To be together in this sacred spot.

They sat, shared their stories, their truths, their hurts. Relinquished all pain into the smoke, watched it circle up, up into the tree tops and beyond…

For a long while they were still, quiet, reflective. Then the one with long, dark hair started to laugh — a contagious, joyful laugh. The others joined in. Feeling lighter. More complete. Free.

The dark-haired one suddenly leaned to the left, swung her feet to the side, one hand on her chair stump. She let the momentum carry her, twirled and began to dance.

How could the others not dance with her? Let joy flow through them? Celebrate — their new-found feelings, unlikely connection, each other and this healing circle?

Their secrets were safe here. Sunlight filtered through the trees. Laughter echoed through the woods.

Letting go…

/ Sandi Knight / 2 Comments

An acrostic story. (26 sentences. The first letter of each new line beginning in sequence with the letters of the alphabet)

Airborne at last, Zaida heard her girlfriends cheering as she finally gathered the courage to leap.  

Being there for her today, and over the past year, meant so much to Zaida. Cancer had been the unrelenting enemy and while the fight was difficult, there were bright moments along the way.

During her treatments and surgery her astounding friends — Taylor, Val and Jane — supported her with food, visits, phone calls, messages, housecleaning, yard work, chauffeuring duties and most importantly ~ laughter!

Even when she pushed them away in her darkest hours, they remained close by, giving her space but refusing to leave her alone in her battle. Friendships like that are a treasure. Giving up hadn’t been an option, and their support had been as important as her medical team’s efforts to reclaim her health and get her to Rocky Point today.

High above the treetops on this spectacular June evening, she released her fears, both of heights and cancer. It was exhilarating! Jumping off the platform hadn’t been easy, but wow, what a ride it was!

Keeping her eyes to the sky, she saw a bald eagle soaring high above — a symbol of strength and courage. Letting go of her tight grip on the rope, Zaida closed her eyes, put her faith in the harness, leaned back and flew upside down along the cable.

Memories of the past year dissipated as she embraced the moment, feeling the cool evening air rushing past her. Never before had she experienced this feeling of total abandon. Officially cancer-free and flying high above the gorgeous ravines of the Pembina Valley, she felt euphoric.

Preparing to land, Zaida pulled herself upright, smiled broadly, letting out a ‘whoo-hoo’ as she coasted to the next platform. Quashing the trepidation and anxiety she had felt at the beginning was liberating.

Rocky Point Hy-Wire Adventures promised a “breath-taking outdoor thrill ride” and they did not disappoint. Sailing across the 1000-foot cable, 150 feet above the ground was indeed a thrill, and actually fun, yes fun!

Taylor had been right when she said if Zaida could beat cancer, she could conquer anything! Using this adventure to overcome her fears wasn’t as crazy as she thought.

Val’s wild shrieks now echoed across the valley as she was next to come across the zip-line. Watching her friend fly towards her, arms and legs outstretched at wide angles, Zaida laughed.

“X marks the spot, so outta my way!” Val hollered.

“You not only did it, you let go and hung upside down you show-off!” Val teased as she embraced Zaida.  

Zaida’s name meant, ‘fortunate one’ and she felt incredibly fortunate, and grateful — for her health, her family, her supportive friends, and this amazing, empowering experience.

The Lure of the Mountains

/ Sandi Knight / 2 Comments

A Postcard Story

Annapurna Base Camp — 2018

She stood in awe of the mountains towering around her, inhaling deeply the pure, crisp, cold air, wondering why it had taken her so long to get here.

She could hear the echos of those who had come before her, feel the spirits of those who never made it home, lost to the power of nature in this incredible landscape.

A place where beauty and harshness collide, where light and darkness create shadows of hope and fear, faith and uncertainty, power and helplessness. A place where time stood still, yet urged you to move forward — to follow your dreams, listen to the yearnings of your heart, use your gifts and your strengths to their full potential.

This moment was fleeting yet she knew it would stay with her forever. She now understood the lure of the mountains. Coming back would not be merely a dream, it would be her reality, her future. Of that she was certain.

Softness in the morning light

/ Sandi Knight / 10 Comments

There was a softness in the morning light. A feeling of calm, of peace, of hope.

Overnight, frost had painted the sleeping trees. The waking sun casually spashed soft pastels onto the canvas of clouds rolling by.

She abandoned her coffee, pulled on her boots and jacket, and opened the door. The air was crisp, refreshing — it helped clear the fog of the week’s heaviness from her mind.

She wandered through the yard, paused to watch the sunrise, admired the white crystals coating the landscape. How lucky she was to be surrounded by this beauty. To have calm envelope her, while the world seemed to swirl in chaos and uncertainty.

She raised her camera with hopes of capturing not only the view, but the feeling, the emotion of the moment. She couldn’t change the world, but maybe, just maybe, she could brighten someone’s day by sharing this soothing view. And if nothing else, she would be documenting the memory for herself. A photo to look back on, to recreate that feeling whenever she needed it.

The Homestead

/ Sandi Knight / 4 Comments

A Postcard Story

As she ran her fingers over the worn and weathered logs, she knew she had found the homestead — her grandmother’s birthplace. Sarah could feel the presence of her ancestors here. The roof log of the tool shed had collapsed, but the four walls stood proud among the trees and long grass. She admired the dovetail construction — such perfection, such strength.

To the west of the tool shed were remnants of the ice house. She imagined her grandmother running barefoot through the grass, sent to retrieve milk or butter from the cool building on a hot summer’s day.

Sarah wandered through the overgrown yard site. Large leaves and a tinge of red in bright green grass beckoned her back towards the road. Rhubarb! Was the garden once here? The house couldn’t have been far away.

She continued her search and found the stone foundation where the house once stood. It had been gone for so long, a victim to fire. A gust of wind, a long curtain and a coal-oil lamp. Destruction was swift, the effect devastating and life on this piece of land never the same. Tears welled up as she imagined the horror of that day.

For now, she needed to get to the task at hand. She had promised to take pictures. She had promised to bring back a stone from the foundation. She had promised she wouldn’t cry. But tears overtook her. She sat down, head in her hands and wept.

I’ve been going through old stories trying to re-ignite my creative writing. This one was inspired by a visit to my great-grandparent’s homestead near Willowbrook, Saskatchewan in August 2010.

Tending to Farmers’ Mental Health

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“I better understand now that tending to my own self and my own mental health is equally as important as tending to the fields.”

This farmer’s statement is a powerful testament to the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program (MFWP) shared in the Spring 2023 issue of CAA magazine.

After accessing the free, confidential, one-on-one counselling offered through the MFWP the farmer expressed, “A true highlight of the 2022 growing season for me was finding out about and using the counselling services provided by MFWP. Not only was it encouraging to hear that such a program exists, my sessions with Kim provided me with valuable perspective and insight towards how my own mental health is connected to the health of my farm.”

The unsolicited feedback was valuable confirmation for the MFWP board that they were providing a useful and needed service.

This impactful program was created by farmers for farmers to offer a safe, flexible way to get help. Why? They understand the many challenges that come with farming. They know how difficult it can be to know where to turn for help when stress on the farm begins to feel overwhelming.

A 2021 survey of farmer mental health found 76 per cent of farmers said they were currently experiencing moderate or high perceived stress. Suicide ideation was twice as high in farmers compared to the general population.

Research has found three main reasons to explain why many farmers do not seek the support they need: a lack of accessibility to mental health supports and services, mental health stigma in the agricultural community and a lack of anonymity.

The MFWP has addressed these three concerns. Improving mental health, increasing accessibility to support and decreasing stigma are their pillars to achieve the goal of safe, strong, healthy farm families.

Since March 1, 2022 they have offered free, one-on-one, short term counselling to farmers and their immediate family members. This year, the non-profit organization would like to raise funds to support 160 Manitoba farm families, and increase awareness about the program with industry, farmers and health care professionals.

Currently four counsellors, all with an understanding of agriculture, are available — during the day, evenings or on weekends to accommodate farmers’ unique schedules. It can be in person, by telephone or video chat depending on preference.

With spring arriving late in Manitoba this year, anxiety and stress are already starting to build in the ag community. Whether it be the stress of farming, or any other life circumstance impacting mental health and wellness, having the MFWP available to farmers and their families in our province is invaluable.

Appointments can be booked online here or by using this QR code.

If you would like to support this much-needed service, donations can be e-transferred to info@manitobafarmerwellness.ca or mailed to:

Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, 7 Kingswood Crescent, La Salle, MB, R0A 0A1

Click here for more information or call 1-204-232-0574

If you, or some you know, are in crisis, please visit your local emergency department or call 911.

24/7 support can be found by calling:

Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern Support Services
1-866-367-3276

Manitoba Suicide Prevention & Support Line
1-877-435-7170

Klinic Crisis Line
1-888-322-3019

More support/crisis services can be found here.

Sandi’s Salsa

/ Sandi Knight / Leave a comment

Garden tomatoes are ripening and soon the saucy scent of simmering salsa will be wafting from my kitchen. For those of you who’ve asked, here’s the recipe!

Salsa was my very first venture into canning. The initial result was decent, but my husband said, “It’s good, but not as good as Donald’s.”

Donald was a teammate in rec hockey. When it was snack night, the other players always counted on Donald bringing his salsa. One fall, I asked if would share his recipe. He didn’t really have one, but gave me some direction, “Blanche and peel tomatoes until the pot is full.” Okay, how big a pot? “5 quarts, I think.”

He offered some rough guesstimates on the amount of peppers, onion and celery, and said he’d often add some oregano and basil. My garden herbs are usually past their prime by the time I make salsa and I found it didn’t really make a difference, so I omit them.

I did my best to follow his guidance, added more peppers and onions to get the ratio I preferred, and this is the result.

You can do the same thing here. Adjust the recipe to your taste, or what you have on hand, and make it your own!

I know this is a lot of chopping, and yes, you can use a food processor if your really want, but it’s not what I recommend. I prefer to have the veggies more intact in my salsa. Chop according to the size and consistency you prefer.

It does take time, but if you put on a good playlist or podcast, pour a beverage of choice and/or enlist someone to help, the time goes by fast. And trust me, the results are worth it!

This recipe has received rave reviews from friends and family. It’s made its way into many care packages and is often a gift when we’re invited out to dinner. One set of friends actually hides it when their adult kids come over to visit so they don’t have to share!

It’s been called, “Perfection in a jar” and “The best salsa ever!” Rave reviews to be sure! I may be a missing secret ingredient though, because I never did manage to get quite as good as Donald’s!

Main Ingredients:

  • 12 cups peeled & chopped fresh tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons pickling salt
  • 4 cups chopped onions
  • 2 cups chopped celery
  • 4 cups chopped peppers (8 to 12 seeded & chopped jalapeno peppers plus enough green, red or yellow peppers to make 4 cups in total)
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
  • 1 1/2 cups pickling vinegar
  • 1 — 156 ml can tomato paste
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Directions:

Set a standard, 5-quart, colander in a large bowl. Peel and chop tomatoes until colander is heaping full (about 12 cups). Sprinkle with 2 tbsp pickling salt and set aside to drain while you prepare your other vegetables.

Chop onions, celery, peppers and garlic. Check the colander of tomatoes, if there’s a large amount of juice in the bowl, remove 1 to 1 1/2 cups and set aside. (See note below.*)

Combine chopped tomatoes, remaining juice, celery, onions, spices and vinegar in a 5-quart dutch oven or large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes.

Add chopped peppers and garlic. Simmer another 20 to 30 minutes. Add tomato paste to thicken. Stir well and simmer another 5 to 10 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars and process in hot water bath for 15 minutes. Set on a cooling rack for 24 hours.

Enjoy with your favourite corn chips, on tacos, nachos, burgers, baked potatoes, in omelettes or soups — wherever you want a bit of zip and a taste of summer from the garden!

*Note: The amount of liquid will depend on the the variety of tomatoes you’re using. If you’re using all roma tomatoes (they are fleshier with less juice) this likely isn’t necessary, but I use a mix of varieties from my garden. Setting the excess juice aside prevents a watery salsa and reduces boiling time. You can always add more back in at the end to get your desired consistency. I freeze the leftover juice to add to soups in the winter.

You will rise

/ Sandi Knight / 4 Comments

“With an Open Heart” by Marlies Soltys

You will rise

You will rise 

To the girl at the window —
heart filled with fear, tears streaming down your face.
This is not your fault.

You did nothing wrong.
It’s not your responsibility, not yours to fix.
You will be okay.

Yes, you will remember…
But this will not haunt you, nor define you.
You will heal, you will rise.

You will find solace and peace
with the animals in the pasture and the barn,
in nature, in books, in running.

The outdoors will soothe you.
Your imagination, your creativity, your spirit,
will not be deterred.

You will chart your own course,
with guidance and encouragement from others —
who see, who care, who will help.

You will be determined —
forge ahead with enthusiasm, go through doors
you never imagined opening for you.

Your path will wind,
take you unexpected places, bring new opportunities,
and you will always try, always learn.

Yes, you will stumble —
falter, make mistakes and struggle,
but you will rise and keep moving ahead.

You will build a circle,
of friends, colleagues and strong women
who inspire you, see you and lift you up.

They will accept you —
just as you are, for who, and for all that you are.
They will have your back, in good times and bad.

With them you’re safe —
to express joy, wonder, happiness,
but also sadness and despair.

They will stand by you,
encourage you to share your gifts, your talents
— to shine your light.

In time, you will believe
you are worthy — of acceptance, of celebration,
of love and self-love.

To the girl at the window —
you will find your way past the fear, past the tears.
You will heal, and you will rise.

Sandi Knight © 2021