the distance they have travelled

When I opened the car door, the smell of newly cut grass mixed with the fragrance of the vetch growing beside the road, welcomed me home from the city. I'd been to visit my brother for a few hours and while the visit was good, I was glad to be home. The dogs welcomed me with the news that they'd like to go outside for a walk in the field. I obliged.

My head was still spinning from the rat race, umm.. I mean the drive home, but soon birdsong and cicadas soothed my mind and the wonderful smells were an elixer. I saw what I think is a monarch catepiller on a tiny milkweed.

These are my mindful moments, and perhaps that is what makes them so wonderful. I notice what is around me and revel in every beauty. Worries and stresses leave my mind for a time.

This morning I was reading back to some blog posts from 2012 where I was writing about all the time I was spending on the treadmill and how fit I was feeling. Hum. That's sure not happening now, but I encouraged myself from all those years ago and got on for 20 minutes this morning. Can I make this a habit?

I dug out my old journal notes from 2012 and could see that I wasn't just on a treadmill kick, I was also well on my way to a decent weightloss. In 6 or so weeks I'd lost over 15 pounds... could I do that again? I'm back to that long ago starting point, maybe I just have to dig out my food log to use for menu planning. I could do this!

So with that in mind (and without the old food log), we just loaded some onions, celery, green pepper, green beans, garlic and hot peppers, along with some dried red beans, diced tomatoes and chicken broth into the instant pot for a healthy, diet friendly, supper.

Lets hope that my 'past' self can motivate my current self. It is sort of like one of those riddels where you write down what you'd say to your future self, only I did it without knowing that's what I was doing.... oh gosh! I'm going in circles.

"We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started.” 
~Henry Ward Beecher

on this day

entering Alberta - 2013

On this day, 5 years ago, we arrived in Medicine Hat, Alberta. We had our villetta with us, and the dogs in the back seat. I was excited beyond words - Alberta is the home of my heart and we were finally there. The buildup from so many days on the road had me so wound up I was practically exploding with excitement.

http://pursuitofidlepleasures.blogspot.com/2013/07/savouring-it-for-its-beauty.html

What a trip that was!

wild raspberries along the fenceline

This summer we don't have anything as exciting planned, instead we've had day after day of quiet pleasure. Carm has golfed 29 times so far. I've relaxed on the swing. It is a different kind of summer than our trek out west and our days at Presquile, but enjoyable as well.

There has been time to count my blessings and to realize that even though there are some challenges, I've got it pretty good.

How many pillows does it take to make a poodle comfortable?

"Though the road's been rocky it sure feels good to me.” 
~Bob Marley

walk with Nature

The pots on the deck are heavy with water... there has been no time to dry out since the epic rain a few days ago. Every day since has seen some showers, at times heavy.

The weather has been variable with some hot sun, so the pool is still swimable - I was in 3 times yesterday. It is such a treat to have a cool dunk during/after my pre-bedtime hot flash :-0

It was a beautiful afternoon yesterday, so I piled up the placemats, dishes, etc. by the door so we could eat outside. NOT. It poured right before supper. Pat was over and I know she likes eating outside; we were all disappointed.

There has been a glut (and I mean that in the most positive way possible) of zucchini here this week. I've been roasting it, along with some sundried tomatoes, cauliflower and red pepper, tossing it with feta, and sometimes some cooked sausage bits. Yesterday I added some baby tomatoes. It is enough for a one-dish supper. I love zucchini. I love my actifry which makes this whole thing easy.

I've been slightly discombobulated the last few days: sometimes I've got that pef: 'peaceful easy feeling' going on, and in a flash it will change over to a sickening anxiety that tightens at my chest and clenches my stomach, making me want to escape into a dark room. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to this rollercoaster. I just carry on, trying to distract myself from the topsy turvey misery.

A sure way to re-capture the pef is to step outside into Nature. Yesterday I was walking around the yard in wonderment after an afternoon shower. Everything was sparkling in the sun and there was something magical about the light - it was golden and bright. A butterfly flittted among the Queen Anne's Lace that bounded my path. It was one of those moments that you'd like to somehow capture in a jar, or on film, or at the very least in my memory.

Shopping is always a good diversion... here is my new $10 dress from liquidation. It will be perfect for dinner on our next cruise. No wrinkles and takes up hardly any room in the suitcase... now the shoes, that's another matter ;-)

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
~John Muir