Sunshine on my Shoulders Makes me Happy

It seems like forever since the sun was shining around here but today it finally is. Flood warnings are in effect though as the Thames River has received a ton of rain recently. Not to mention that white stuff. See? I'm not going to mention it!

Life has been chugging along satisfactorily. I would say my only problem (if this can be called a problem) is that I need a few more hours in each day to get done the many things I want to get done. I complain frequently that there are not enough hours in the day. Years ago, before retirement, I imagined that most of my time would be spent lounging around reading from a big pile of books.

What I didn't imagine, but should have, is how much time my other hobbies/sports & recreational activities would consume in a day. If I had then I might have fewer hobbies and more reading time. So the point of this is do I try to be more efficient with my time, ditch a few hobbies or try to make reading a priority?

Perhaps a combination of all three:

• I have ditched, sort of, a couple of hobbies - I'm never going to be an expert crocheter or spool knitter. Now that I've put my outdoor bike in storage I spend time at night riding my stationary bike (and watching Netflix) to make up for the hours I had been spending cycling outside. Instead of long hikes I walk 2km twice a week to volleyball and then try to find ONE sunny day each week for walking in the forest. I also play volleyball on Friday nights. Each day I do 30 minutes or a bit more of yoga and stretching. My back has been giving me fits but I find yoga really helps. If you ever have lower back pain the cobra pose (start with baby cobra) provides instant relief!

BABY Cobra

Cobra

• Time management is not one of my strong suits. Today is genealogy day and Wednesday is workshop day.  So far I've done zero genealogy today. I've read the paper, made a meal plan, had breakfast and gone grocery shopping. And I have to say that the sunshine is compelling me to go to the forest. **just checked the forecast and tomorrow looks like a really nice day so I will delay the walk until tomorrow after volleyball and today I will do research all afternoon. There, that's solved!

• I guess instead of complaining I should be happy (I am) that I have so many choices of "things to do"!  On the bright side I finished a book during all of the rain and am partway through three others (part of the problem!!! I need to stick to one book til it's done - it's just that others beckon me with their wonderful covers and promises of what's inside!!). I'm reading a lot about Scotland especially the Isle of Skye. I am trying to find more times throughout the day when I can pick up a book. It's pretty much my most favourite thing to do yet I keep putting it off. No more!! 

See ya!

Hah, just kidding! Sort of.....first yoga, then reading while eating lunch and then research! 

See ya! 

Exercise Regime

I like that word - "regime"; it makes my attempts to be physically fit seem more intensive and important than they really are. So far my regime includes playing volleyball for 2 hours 3 times a week. I've joined - now don't laugh! - the Huffn'Puff sports/activities club for those 55 and older! For a mere $70 a year I can play tennis, badminton, softball, darts, learn clogging, go swimming etc etc etc. There's something for everyone and for me it's volleyball. The first day I went I anticipated a bunch of feeble, white-haired 80 year olds limply tapping the ball into the net. I couldn't have been more wrong! While there was plenty of white hair these folks are in it to win it! Holy crap! There was spiking and over hand serves sizzling over the net! And lots of good-natured teasing - I am loving it!

The days I don't play v-ball I am attempting to get out for a good walk/hike. Today I timed it just right and arrived home just as a hard rain arrived. There's veggie chilli in the crockpot and nice soft olive ciabatta buns to go with it. A good day.

At first I noticed there wasn't a lot of colour in the woods today - but then as I looked more closely I found there is still some vibrant colour and beauty, even in November.

No one can sneak up on me today - the crispy crunchy leaves will give them away! (I also carry a heavy stick in case of attack!)

Lots of leaves down but still more hanging on in the trees.

Someone has been a busy beaver!

I'm all keyed up!

I saw the devil in this twisted limb - should I be worried?

 I much prefer the woods in the spring when there is so much to look forward to. However, today the stillness, although a bit grey, was very serene, very calm. A gradual settling down of birds and ducks, trees and bushes, preparing for the cold days ahead.

This large fungus projected out from a tree over my head like a streetlight.

And look at the brightness of these flowers - I guess no one told them summer was over!

Still some bursts of bight yellow here and there.

This short segment of the trail winds behind some houses whose occupants have imposed a little civility on the nearby forest.

An angel playing the ever popular wind chimes harp.

A bit of colour.

Milk pod explosion!

While not overly colourful, the shapes of nature in autumn have their own fragile beauty.

A spanish dancer :)

Berries for the winter birds.

Quiet trails.

I briefly saw a white-tailed buck - he had an impressive set of antlers but mostly showed me his white tail bobbing along a trail. I tried to catch up but lost him in a thicket. He never made a sound.

30x30 Challenge

Good morning!! The sun is trying to peek out which is a whole lot better than the forecast of rain. When I was in the forest yesterday I didn't feel the heaviness of the cloudy sky at all - so what does that say? More trees and bushes were in leafy bright green bloom and any day now the whole forest will totally transform into a leafy green wonderland. The trails will be harder to find (in some crowded sections) and the animals and birds will be harder to see but I love it. I love being enveloped by a huge green hug full of chirps and tweets!

Oh, and let's not forget the tree tapping woodpeckers!

Northern Flicker

That was the only bird I managed to get a photo of - a Northern Flicker who was so focussed on his job that he paid me no attention.  All the other birds I heard and saw briefly were a lot more shy - but I saw the usual blue jays, cardinals, robins, chickadees etc and the gold finches are back!! I also saw a wild turkey but boy did it ever move fast! I lost it before I could even get the camera turned on. Have you ever seen a wild turkey run? It's hilarious!

I'm happy to say that Annie is joining me in the 30x30 nature challenge. The goal is to spend a minimum of 30 minutes in nature for 30 consecutive days. Here's more from David Suzuki's website...

"Evidence shows that being regularly immersed in a natural setting, like a park, wetland or woodlot, reduces blood pressure, anxiety and stress levels and boosts immunity. Simply having a view of nature leads to faster patient recovery times in hospitals and higher job satisfaction and increased concentration in office workers. Outdoor exercise increases energy levels and reduces anger, depression and obesity."

* So Anne in the Kitchen I think it's about moving through nature although I'm sure being surrounded by trees/plants and flowers in a garden would provide many benefits too!

If you're interested there is a good article from the National Geographic that explores nature's effect on our brains - it's fascinating! 

The end of my day was a lot noisier than the forest but very melodic :) A favourite band of mine has come back together to tour and played at the Music Hall where Kazi works as a bartender. The band is called Collective Soul and I still have some of their music that I purchased back in the 90's.......... on CASSETTE!! Time to visit iTunes again :)

Ed Roland - he can still hit the high notes!!

One of my students, a very bright girl with autism, was in love with Ed Roland while I was her teacher. Every day she'd ask me if I had phoned Ed yet (on her behalf) and we would go through our usual routine:
Her: have you called Ed yet?
Me: no, I haven't. Why haven't I?
Her: because he's married?
Me: yup, you got it!
(Maybe I should check - he could be divorced now for all I know!)

I thought this guy was pretty cute - turns out he's Ed's younger brother.

They have a new lead guitarist - he was amazing!

All in all it was a good day! Kazi put me on "the list" so I didn't have to pay to get in. It was disappointing, however, that there wasn't a lineup that I could walk to the front of - what is the point of having "power" if you don't get to use it? Oh well, I got free beer and free coat check and Kazi took me by the side of the stage where I had an excellent view, they played all of their #1 hits and it was FAB!!

Down the Forest Path

Lots of good news today: my nephew is off his respirator and breathing on his own. He has moved both sides of his upper body and has been placed in a full body halo brace while the affected vertebrae in his neck and back heal. They are beginning to wean him off the heavy sedatives he's been on so hopefully he'll wake up in the next few days to see his family gathered around him.

I have another nephew who lives in Toronto and he has offered his apartment to my sister, her ex and her son. So they are going to stay there for the next week or two AND it's only a 20 minute walk to the hospital. This will really help out financially AND give them a place to feel more at home in during the recovery process.

In my last post I had alluded to Michael being very busy recently. He's been working at our local pub and around our property. This past week he took me outside to show me something in the forest - he's created a wonderful meandering path through our forest ending up on the far north-west corner where he's cleared a spot for watching the sunset! It's like entering another world where the only sounds are the birds singing over our heads, chipmunks rustling in the undergrowth and the wind sighing through the tall trees. Huge banks of ferns, tumbled down trees, ancient stumps and the occasional piece of rusting farm machinery add to the mystery and stillness. It's a magical place.

While exploring "off the path" one day we discovered another little clearing which will be perfect for our little forest hut we want to build as a refuge for meditation (Michael), naps (me!) and the occasional sleepover (both of us!)  I'm so happy that Michael has turned a formerly inaccessible part of our property into such an inviting and peaceful sanctuary - thank you my dear!

I'll forgive you for speeding through the following photos - there are SO MANY of them - and these are only a small fraction of the shots I took! I am so taken with our "enchanted forest" it was hard not to include ALL of the photos but I couldn't do that to you!

 Michael created three entrances to the forest path - follow me around this clump of day lilies and we'll see if we can find our way in!

 There's the beginning of the path!

 It's ok, I won't let you get lost!

One of the many "fern gullies" along the path.

 The forest is filled with spruce, many types of birch, balsam fir, American beech and aspen.

 I love the filtered sunshine making its way through the trees to sparkle on the path.

 Looking up!

 Getting closer!

Hmmmmm...I wonder if those tires would fit my car!

 This tree has fallen over - did anyone hear it fall???

 A little "buddha" lichen :)

 Oops, there goes another tree! We'll have wood for our campfire for years and years! We'll also leave the larger trees that have fallen on the forest floor to become habitats for the small creatures that inhabit the woods.

 A majestic trunk hollowed out by the passage of time.

 I'm going to keep this branch - it's perfect for a walking stick - it looks like something Gandolph would use!

OK, back on the path!

I think we're almost there!

 There's the clearing!

 One lawn chair and a number of "found objects" decorate the space.

 "Tree Art"

 A lounge chair if you need a rest after your walk!

 More "tree art!" I love this piece of iron - it makes me think of "The Nightmare Before Christmas"

 A nice splash of cobalt blue!

 What the heck is this??

Looking in from the field.

Michael enjoying his creation.

 Taking a load off :)

Checking out the view.

Very spacious!

 A wreath! A roll of old barbwire being taken back by nature!

 Very idyllic I think..

 Our side table - yes, it's a little rusty but it works!

An ancient foosball table??

 There is beauty to be found everywhere!

 Another ancient machine - we found this one near the clearing where we're going to build our hut.

 Michael wrestling with a piece of machinery...

 and Michael wins!  He wants to have a garden and is using some found wood to border the garden area.

 There's a hole in my bucket...can you see the slightly battered FACE in ye olde bucket?
Doesn't our new space look peaceful?

 And now we can watch the sun set over the distant trees!  (We watch it rise from our front porch)

 Perfect!

An example of what a little "sweat equity" can provide - PRICELESS!! Thank you Michael - I love our new space <3