mornings

My mornings have started by stepping out the front door, into a virtual bowl of potpourie scented with lilac and honeysuckle. Some mornings I wander out with just a light sweater - this morning I put on my puffer coat! It's been blowing a gale for over 24 hours now! Yesterday though, I couldn't remember the last day that I had to put on a coat - how that can change in an instant! 

After a wander down the laneway to check out the apple blossoms (which are all gone now), I head back into the house for a coffee. I have been taking a detour to the back deck to check out all the little seedlings that we've planted.

I've been slowly dragging myself out of the pit I've been in… getting the garden planted and the deck outfitted with plants has given me a bit of a mental boost. Carm wrestled the plants from the living room and basement over a couple of days - some of those pots are big and heavy! The plants don’t look that great but a few weeks of real sunshine should perk them up. Last year I was pretty sure we should get new coleus, but all three plants made a miraculous recovery… I don't think that will happen this year so I'll keep my eyes open at the nursery!

Pat came for supper on Monday… she'll be back here for a week while we go to Kingston for the annual Ti Rally at the beginning of June. She'll take care of Grace and the plants. We've missed 2 years of the rally - 2024 because of my cancer surgery; in 2025 Mom was in the hospital. The dogs are out of practice being in social situations so it might be a bit challenging at times! I should be practicing ‘mat’ so they can sit outside with us without being a pain!

The trailer prep is going well but it seems as soon as I check something off my task list (hurrah for Google tasks), I add 2 more! Still, most of the work has been done… I did some cooking today, and there are a few odds and ends, but the important stuff is done. 

This morning I got up early so that I could get through the first part of my task list before my walk with June. So by 10:30 I'd made a rhubarb cake, airfried 3 blocks of tofu, made a giant pot of caramelised onions with red peppers & cherry tomatoes. When it started to ‘dry up’,  I tossed in some Thai basil and then put it in a few jars for the freezer. I'll be able to use it on pasta, with beans, or spread on naan for a pizza… After all of that I even managed to bath the dogs as well as a few other tasks! It was a busy day 😀 

The weather has been nice, but not particularly hot so pool use has been limited. We've been in a few times but it hasn't warmed up beyond 68F/20C… the other day when I went in it was 66F! That is a literal DIP, not swim! I did swim to the middle of the pool (not all the way across!), but then was out warming myself in the sun on my little deck chair.

Awesome!

“morning wander”

“lilacs”

“the grass is so green”

“fresh rhubarb”

“jars of rich tomato & peppers”

splash

Summer has been slowly creeping up on us… the other afternoon I was soaking in the tub and noticed for the first time this year the sun dappling through the leaves of the hawthorne tree just outside of the window. The greenish yellowish light brought on a ‘peaceful, easy feeling!’ I watched two bright yellow goldfinches flit around the purple cones of lilac flowers that brush up against the south window. It's weird though - I feel distanced from these sights as if it's happening on a screen and not real life.

And this afternoon, we had our first chilly dip into the pool for 2026 :-) The water was cold - just barely 68F/20C and very refreshing!

I've been dragging myself around mentally and physically for over a week now (or is it two weeks?)… every day is getting a bit easier, but I'm not running any marathons yet, nor am I even walking for an hour on the treadmill… I totally skipped 5 days last week and have now done a few 30 minute walks as I start to gear myself up. 

I think it's all a delayed jet lag reaction which triggered not only physical effects, but also my mood has been really crappy. I suppose it's the price that I have to pay for 8 fantastic nights in Rome! I think it's worth it!

Carm has been busy cutting grass and I've slowly been starting to get the camper ready for our trip to Kingston in a few weeks. I've only made the tiniest of starts but every little step is a step forward. When my brain is misbehaving, I find that I have to break down tasks into the smallest actions as anything else is just too overwhelming… 

Awesome!

“first swim of 2026!”

jet lag

It's been 2 weeks since we left on our adventure to Rome but only 5 days since we got back. The jet lag is still dragging me down but each day is a bit easier (or at least that's what I'm telling myself!). On our first full day back I'd had 3 strong coffees by 4:30 in my struggle to stay awake till evening… I'd woken up at 4am that morning which was weird, since I'd been waking up at 4 in Rome as well, but neither of them matched up with a time zone that I was actually in! My circadian rhythm is doing cartwheels!

We kept busy that first day doing loads and loads of laundry which felt good to get out of the way… The suitcases are waiting on the bed for me to fold up the clothes that we save for travel once they are fully dry. Not sure what our next destination will be!

The afternoons have been brutal. Thursday I could not stay awake during the day at all, and dozed on the sofa for much of the afternoon. I was like a comatose log…

Yesterday we met up with friends at the community centre in Trudie & Leo's neighbourhood. It was a small gathering, put together by Trudie's daughter Elenaor who is visiting from Australia. I was totally worn out by the time we got home… and in bed asleep by 8:30 pm! And I slept until past 7 this morning! I could have stayed asleep for the rest of the day but we had places to go and people to see!

Today we dropped into the funeral place where Carm's parents are buried for their annual Mother's Day lunch - it's a great time to catch up with his siblings! And then we dropped by Mom & Dad's to spend some time with Mom. No mice in cages for her this year!

Carm got the lawnmower fixed and running a few days ago - he was out cutting the grass the next day… and so it begins…

I haven't done any cooking since we've gotten back except to throw some tofu into the airfryer. Soup from the freezer fed us one night, just tofu another night, and sandwiches the last two nights! I treated myself to a big slice of whole grain sourdough bread with an avocado and egg salad piled on top. One night I sprinkled some pumpkin seeds on top, last night I splurged with 2 slices of proscuitto… both were delicious! Tonight I'll just have yogurt with some fruit and pumpkin seeds - it's honestly all I have energy for!

Awesome!

“sleeping in my own bed”

“a quiet morning”

“rays of sunshine breaking through the clouds”