I've been a Bad Bad Blogger...

Turning 60 is a LOT of WORK!! Yup, it's official, I'm starting a new decade. But as my sister said, "you'll always be the youngest!" Thank God for small mercies :)  During the month of May I did a "nature challenge", spending a minimum of 30 minutes for 30 consecutive days "in nature." My chosen spot is called Kilally Meadows and has become a very magical place for me. Watching the daily changes was fascinating as was the weather! I experienced everything from snow, strong winds to sultry humid days of +30c!! 

(I've started another challenge for the month of June - more on that in my next post! I might also show you some photos from my 60th birthday party if you're nice!)

I watched as trees came into bud, then blossomed into flowers - white, yellow and pink. In the past week the tropical weather has caused the vegetation to grow at least 2 feet! Trails are getting narrower as the plants fight for space.

One thing I came to appreciate about the forest is nothing really dies. A fallen tree (above) becomes a fertile environment for fungus, new plant life, birds and animals. Nothing is wasted.

I loved watching the "greening" of the area as first grass started to grow, trees unfurled their leaves and bushes and wild flowers sprang up literally overnight! When I started going to Kilally there was no colour at all - now I am overwhelmed with it all!

One of my next purchases will be books about wildlife and plant life in Ontario - I've learned a few new names of birds etc but there is so much to learn! I took a friend out with me about a week and a half ago - she said "I love how you talk to the plants!" I didn't even realize I did! Am I senile? I prefer to think I've "connected" with nature. I greet the birds and the rabbits and the toads and I tell the flowers how beautiful they are. It's spontaneous - I can't help myself.

Every day over the 30+ days spent in nature I wondered if I would see anything new - and I always did. Even on the final day I saw a swallowtail butterfly that I'd never seen before.

I continue to find new areas to explore, new birds, new plants. The diversity is astounding.

I would definitely recommend this challenge to everyone! Nature has a calming effect on the brain and I can say, without question, that I feel happier, more grounded (pun intended!) At one point I thought there were no ferns as I had observed for weeks and saw nary a one...until one day...a small treasure trove.

There are dozens of plants whose name are a mystery to me but feel I am on a quest of discovery.

Wild iris!!

 Lilacs!

I have a couple photos left to share for today - you may have seen them already if you're a friend on Facebook. When I was young my connection to nature was something I took for granted. I'm glad I've come full circle and have become reacquainted. It's the best thing we've got!!

Jane hanging out in the lilac tree :)

An even younger Jane hanging out in the same tree.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

What an incredible gift it was to be whisked away for a weekend to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Michael had never been there before so it was a treat for him too! I used to take Kazi there every summer from when she was four years old. As soon as she started to hear the Marineland commercials on TV we'd start to plan our annual pilgrimage. 
Who can forget this catchy (irritating after the 2nd or 3rd time hearing it!!) C'mon...sing along!







"Everyone loves a holiday,
watching the whales how they swim and play,
they jump in the air splash waves in your hair,
everyone loves Marineland,
Niagara Falls Ontario,
is always the fun place to go, 
see friends you miss a great big kiss,
everyone loves Marineland!"


After a fun-filled (exhausting) day at Marineland and seeing the sights we'd spend the night in a motel in Niagara Falls and then head to Niagara-on-the-Lake the next day. When she was little Kazi would swim in the huge fountain and because she was a highland dancer she loved visiting the Scottish and British stores but our most favorite store of all (sadly not there any longer) was the candy store that had every kind of candy made since the beginning of time!  So good!


Here are a few pictures of my adventure there with Michael:

It was cool and cloudy Friday - not much difference in colour between the sky and the water which is Lake Ontario.

Saturday the weather improved and eventually we were able to shed our sweaters and scarf. I'm going on record that the sun DID COME OUT!!
Just finished tasting some ice wine - VERY sweet! (Too sweet!)

No post of mine is complete without a picture of two of flowers and these poppies were just screaming out to be immortalized! I couldn't get
too good of a shot as they were on the other side of a fence but
the colour is just amazing.

This is the theatre where we saw "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" - some of you may remember the movie starring Elizabeth Tayler and Paul Newman which was based on the play by Tennessee Williams. We enjoyed it immensely!

This is our bed and breakfast and our hostess was Rosie, a fearless German woman who served us homemade waffles with homemade peach preserves and maple syrup and huge sausages - yum!
The second morning she served vegetable and ham omlettes, buns with preserves, marble cake, yogurt and fresh fruit - we certainly didn't starve!
Rosie is an avid gardener and her backyard was an oasis filled with flowers, a pond and waterfall, an arbour covered in wisteria (my #1 favourite flower) and cozy places to sit.

New friends met at the B and B - Beth and Marco
Great conversation!!

Hello to my American friends!  United States is on the other
side of the Niagara River!
A very hazy day!

We just happened to come across a group of little ones waiting to go
into a church for a First Communion?  (I'm guessing)
They were so precious I had to take a few photos!

And finally, just one of hundreds of vineyards surrounding Niagara-on-the-Lake.  This area is Canada's answer to Napa Valley!

That's it for today. I have much catching up to do on your blogs and...
I WILL CATCH UP!!
P.S. - notice how I'm not all sarcastic and flippant in today's post? A little mini-holiday can do one a world of good.  Any bets on how long my calm, cool and collected mood will last??

C'mon Baby.....Kindle Me!!

If I don't seem to be around much anymore blame my family. They Kindled me for my birthday - I actually jumped for joy!! (And my birthday is still 9 days away!! They must really love me!!)


I was planning to purchase one for myself when we moved east in 3 years because my favorite newspaper, "The National Post", isn't delivered to my remote farmhouse or surrounding area. Knowing that I can't live without my newspaper meant investing in a reader of some sort and having the paper delivered by "whispernet" - (doesn't that sound cool, kind of CIAish) at 5:45am each morning. Perfect!! That's the time I get up in the morning!! And I'll never have to go outside on a winter's morning and find an empty mailbox because the newspaper van couldn't get through the snowdrifts!!


Recently my nephew was showing me his Kindle (sounds kinky but it's not, Mark), and all of it's cool features and I thought to myself (though I may have said it out loud)..."wow, I want one of those!" This from an avid book fan, this from a person who said they could NEVER use a reader, that's just blasphemy!!  Well, I'm converted! 


I will always love to hold a book, but there is definitely a place in my life for a Kindle. 


On another note I am happy, actually overjoyed to report that finally, in it's third year, my lilac tree is going to bloom!!! 

Yay! I'm not a failure as a gardener after all!!