The photos above were taken on August 31, 2003 at the
Kuskanook harbor at Kootenay Lake British Columbia

This summer with all of the record breaking unusually hot weather that we have been experiencing there are many fires both naturally occurring and man made burning in Southern British Columbia. It has become so serious that anyone caught on back roads or in the bush will face a six-month jail sentence or a ten-thousand-dollar fine.

On August 27, 2003 a lightning strike started a fire in the mountains by the Kuskanook boat launch at our beautiful Kootenay Lake which is about 12 miles from Creston. On August 30 my husband, my parents and I drove to Kuskanook to see the fire. I was surprised to see just how large the fire already was after such a short time, approximately 250 Hectares. Several helicopters were scooping water from Kootenay Lake and taking it to the blaze on the top of the mountain. They looked so small compared to all the smoke and flames. It seemed as if their efforts were in vain. They told us that they were actually achieving what they had set out to do.

The following day we returned only to see that the fire had traveled to the other side of the mountain and was threatening to come down the front of the mountain where, about a dozen or so homes are located. All residents in the area were on evacuation alert! The helicopters were picking up water about 50 feet from where we were it was really quite spectacular. Later that night you could see flames above the trees at the top of the mountain. I was amazed at how tall the flames were in comparison to the trees. We were all sure that it was going to travel down the front of the mountain to the homes below but luckily it never did.

Today September 4 the fire has grown to a monstrous 2000 plus hectares. It is slowly working its way across densely wooded backcountry towards the small village of Wynndel about 7 miles from Creston. It is such a huge fire that all the fire fighters can do is try to keep it from traveling to populated areas.

September 5, 2003 - The fire has worked its way to the homes in Kuskanook so everyone has been evacuated. My husband and I drove by there today and noticed that they were spraying water on all of the homes to try to save them!

There is also a large fire burning in the town of Cranbrook just 70 miles East of Creston. A friend of mine lives there. For the time being she has told me that their home is safe but her mother is on evacuation alert. There is also a very bad fire burning in the city of Kelowna, located about 250 miles West of Creston. Last year my husband and I were on holidays there. I saw on the news that the fire destroyed some of the places where we had driven. .

Sept 15, 2003 - The Kuskanook fire has grown to approximately 3500 hectares. However, due to cooler weather and periodic rain I understand the fire is not spreading as quickly. Residents at Kuskanook are back in their homes. It has been a rather eventful summer with all the unseasonably dry weather and high temperatures. I can say with all honesty that I welcome the cool rainy fall weather. My hopes are that we have a mild winter with lots of precipitation (Hopefully in the form of rain not snow. I don't like snow!) and that next summer won't be so dry!

I am so proud of all the hard working men and women who are fighting the fires and trying to keep us and our forests safe, my heart and prayers go out to them, they are true warriers!

On October 24, 2003 I held my first wine and cheese art exhibit at Park Studio Gallery (Owned and operated by Johanna and Tony Mulder) here in our beautiful little town of Creston. This was the first time that I have actually been able to display all my work to the public at once. The doors opened at 6:00 p.m. and the show went until about 9:30 p.m. Approximately eighty people attended and my work was well received. I had a great deal of fun and look forward to having more shows in the future.

Credit must be given where it is due so I would first like to thank everyone who attended my show for your support and encouragement and for making it an enjoyable evening. I would also like to thank Johanna (Queen Nefertiti) and Tony Mulder (King Ranses) for showing great Halloween spirit by wearing their Egyptian costumes and for providing me with a lovely place to display my art. Thanks to everyone who donated tasty food and drink to our delightful buffet table. Thanks Juhl for all your help you are an angel! Very special thanks to my wonderful husband David and my parents (Roy and Margaret Schmaltz) for helping me haul everything to the gallery and get it all set up, BIG JOB!!! I was a nervous wreck while I was getting everything ready for the show. I must admit that there were a couple of times that I wasn't the nicest person to be around so thank you David for being an awesome and patient husband and putting up with my hot Scorpio, artistic temperament. Thanks mom and dad for the tasty gourmet munchies and homemade port it was a nice addition to our buffet table. You spoil me rotten!!!

Does Santa Claus really exist? Well at the age of nine I was starting to have my doubts.

As far back as I can remember we have always opened our gifts on the night of Christmas Eve. I am not exactly sure why we never opened our gifts on Christmas morning. Mom would make a special dinner that night usually consisting of our favorite foods. After dinner we would have to clean everything up and do dishes. Well, you could imagine how difficult this was for a young child who was so excited to open their gifts!

On this one particular Christmas while we were living in Sparwood, my parents decided to get me a small television set for my room. Of course the TV was delivered to me via Santa Claus. By this time even though Christmas was still a very magical time for me I was starting to doubt the existence of Santa. In fact I remember we would tease kids in school who still believed in him. However, after the event that took place that cold blustery Christmas Eve night my belief in old Saint Nick was restored!

That evening we put on some Christmas music and started to open our gifts. My parents had arranged it so that my Uncle Wayne would leave my gift at the door, ring the doorbell and hide. So I hear the doorbell ring (as planned) and my folks say, "I wonder who that could be? Margaux, can you go and see whose at the door." I headed for the door with my parents not far behind me. I was just a few feet from the door when suddenly an icy gust of wind blew it open! I froze in my tracks filled with both excitement and fear. In the middle of the doorway I saw a beautifully wrapped package. My parents gave each other an odd look I tell you they authentically looked surprised. Dad said, " you better go and see who the package is for." I retrieved the package still very nervous. I looked at the label and it read to Margaux from Santa with love. By this time I was so excited I could barely contain myself. I took the package inside and opened it. Needless to say I was thrilled with my new TV set.

As I type this story I still get the same feeling that I had as a child that Christmas Eve so long ago. These kinds of memories bring such joy to my heart and make me thankful for the life that I have. On that night a little girl's belief was restored and the spirit of Christmas had spun its magic. May the spirit of Christmas be with all of you! Remember that magic exists because we believe in it. The world is truly a magical place!

On January 27, 2003 I was asked to be guest speaker for the Woman of Distinction Luncheon. Every year six different women in the community are asked to share stories about their lives, careers, or personal experiences. Many very interesting women, such as midwife Jane Blackmore and concert pianist Valerie Lloyd Watts, as well as many local business women have been guest speakers so I was very honored when they asked me to come and share my art and stories with them.

In the past I have talked to the students at Canyon School, the school on our local reservation, the boy scouts and the elementary school at the community where I lived in Idaho, about my art and visual impairment. This was the first time that I would be publicly speaking to adults so I was very nervous. Including my mom, fifty-four women attended the luncheon and my husband David came and took some photographs and gave me moral support. Thank you David, mom and Virginia (A very special woman) for being there.

I didn’t make any notes on what I would talk about I wanted it to be very improvisational; I spoke for about forty minutes. It was very important for me to talk about the experiences that I went through as a person with a severe visual impairment. I was really surprised at how many people didn’t realize that I was legally blind. I was also surprised at how emotional I became while I spoke. I didn’t know just how much some of my experiences were still bothering me, so it was good therapy for me to share them with everyone. I discussed the prejudice that I had to deal with in both school and at work. My speech was very to the point and I think that everyone was surprised at the amount of discrimination that I had to go through regarding my visual impairment. I also talked about the personal growth and strength that I gained from my experiences and how supportive my husband, family and friends have been over the years. I brought samples of my art and beadwork and explained how I draw and the type of visual aids that I use to do my work. I brought a picture of my Grandma Christina and explained how I got the name White Swallow Woman. I mentioned that I would be doing traditional dance with my sister Michelle this year I talked about the traditional dance costume that my mom and I will be working on. I remember dancing with my Grandma Christina at Pow Wows when I was a child but this will be the first time that I will be dancing in costume. I am very excited and very nervous. Glad that my sister Michelle will be dancing with me.

I think that everyone enjoyed my speech and my artwork. I also got to meet many of the ladies who attended the luncheon when I was finished. I hope that my stories will make a difference in their lives in some way. I, would also like to thank the ladies who asked me to be guest speaker at the Woman of Distinction luncheon, it was a great honor!

Most of the stories that I discussed can be found on the “Chat From The Brat” and “Living With A Visual Impairment” sections of my website. Proceeds from The Woman of Distinction Luncheons fund the “Children who witness violence and abuse” program at our local Community Resource Center. For anyone who require the services of or would like to learn more about the Community Resource Center here in Creston please call 428-5547.

Through out my childhood I have attended many pow wows they have always been a big part of my life. My parents and grandma Christina and I would sit under the big top and watch all the dancers go by dressed in their beautiful and colorful rigalia. On occasion my grandma would dance and I would hold her hand and dance with her, it was both frightening and exciting. The pow wows often went well into the evening so my parents would stay up and watch and grandma and I would go back to the tent trailer. I remember snuggling up beside her and smelling the crisp fresh night air with a hint of wood smoke. As I slowly drifted off to sleep the distant and rhythmic beating of the drums comforted me. Every time I go to a pow wow it rekindles these fond memories and I miss my grandma so much.

Every year from May 21st to the 23rd our beautiful little town of Creston hosts its annual Blossom Festival. During this time our local Kootenay Band Reservation has its annual pow wow. We always look forward to attending each year. However, this year was different and very special for me. Instead of going as a spectator I had the honor of attending this years pow wow as one of the dancers. What an incredible experience it was and to make it even more special my sister Michelle danced by my side. I did Traditional dance, which is what my grandma Christina did. A couple of months ago my mom and I started designing and working on my ribbon dress and leggings. I love black so that is the color that we chose. The red, black, white and yellow trim represents the four nations. I wore the black beaded moccasins that my grandma Christina made for me before she passed away. (I know she was there with me) I made a hairpiece with two (faux) Eagle feathers and real Eagle plumes (a gift) on it. The two feathers hanging downward represent that I am a married woman. I didn’t have time to make a medallion so I used one that my aunt Grace gave to me. My husband and I worked on my medicine bag together. My parents loaned me a beautiful knife and beaded sheath which matched my medicine bag. Unfortunately it doesn’t show up in the picture. My aunt Grace honored me by giving me a belt that my grandma Christina and her mom wore to do traditional dance. I understand that the belt is around one hundred years old. The leather is very worn and brittle but I used it the first day I danced in honor of the strong proud woman who danced with it before me. I will make a similar one for my rigalia and put the beautiful old belt on display in our home. When I am an old woman I am supposed to hand the belt down to someone in the family who will carry on the tradition.

The first day that I danced I was so nervous. I wanted to make sure that I did everything right. When grand entry started my legs didn’t want to work right my calves were actually burning and my knees felt like they wouldn’t bend. It is amazing how emotions can affect the body. After I did a couple of rounds I relaxed and it was much easier. Now that I look back it was actually kind of funny because there is really nothing to be afraid of. I was so glad that my sister was there with me, thanks Michelle! A few weeks before the pow wow I met this awesome Lakota woman named Beartwofeathers. I know that she was sent to me and that we were supposed to meet each other because, coincidentally, she did Lakota Traditional dance. She told me that she would be at the pow wow and would dance with me. She has a beautiful spirit and taught me so much in such a short time she has become a very dear friend. Thanks for dancing by my side “bear”! My dear friend Del and her husband traveled a long distance to see the pow wow, Del also danced with me; thank you it was such a great honor. My folks and friend Cara as well as many other people we know were all in the crowd watching. It was so incredible to share this experience with so many wonderful people.

For me dancing Traditional was such a moving and spiritual experience. To be honest I really didn’t think that it would touch me so deeply. When you have your rigalia on and move with the rhythm of the drums there is something very timeless and magical about the experience that touches your very soul. From this experience I have become a changed woman I have gone through a spiritual transition and there is no turning back. With out a doubt I know in the future I will be dancing at many more pow wows in the honor of the Great Spirit and all my relations.

Thanks to everyone who helped me and was there for me. Special thanks to you mom for making me the beautiful ribbon dress, I love you so much!