Not only sick, but had 3 events to attend. This is my desk calendar for keeping track of exercise/step goals. “One Mile Walk ‘n Talks” are You Tube exercise videos I start my days with.
I almost never get sick so I’m not very good at recognizing OR dealing with it as it happens. And boy, did it happen to me! When I wrote about it here, I was thinking I was on the mend already.
First, it started off as a stomach bug which when it passed, lulled me into thinking I was better. Only to be struck down yet again, this time by a head/chest cold/flu. Whatever. I don’t really know if I was hit by 2 separate bugs or one extremely evil one.
I even had to be driven home from work one day because I was so dizzy that I was told I could not drive myself home. (I think this was a bad reaction to the cold medication I was taking, rather than the evil virus itself. It was embarrassing, to say the least.)
Anywho, this time I REALLY AM on the mend. Still coughing a bit, but ambulatory at last.
And, being ambulatory, I got myself out on my local trail this morning. So many lovely things to see. Behold:
I found these Ladyslipper Orchids for the first time last year and was so hoping I’d come across them again. Looks like it’s a colony and it’s growing. More flowers than last year. Squee!!!!The fungus among us.Woodpecker “sculptors” hard at work at one point…Forget Me NotsClump of Yellow Flag at riverside. Nature is the best gardener, doncha think?Close up of Blue Flag flowerNot sure what this is, and my Audubon guide was no help either. A type of dogwood, perhaps? Maybe not even a wild shrub, but a leftover from a previous homestead? (Addendum: According to the iNaturalist app (thanks Joanne!), this is a Mapleleaf Viburnum).Audubon says this is Common Barberry.Wild-type rose (?) planted in city garden. Smelled lovely. Captured on the way back from my walk.
So wonderful to be able to get out and ENJOY once again. Good health is so under-rated and taken for granted!
After the coldest and most dismal April that I can remember, May arrived with sun and blazing temps. And the long suffering spring flowers were finally able to bloom, on my favourite local trail.
Trout Lily TrioJack in the PulpitViolet in the woodsMarsh Marigolds in bloomWild strawberry blossoms
Of course, there were many turtles to be seen…
Turtles enjoying the sun at last
And off trail, things were blooming as well…
Tulips planted by the City
Meanwhile, back at Chez Badass it was finally warm enough to spend an evening on the patio…
The Badass Rooftop Patio at NightThose patio lanterns…
The Changing Seasons is a monthly photo challenge hosted by Su Leslie, of Zimmerbitch.
This long Victoria Day weekend I was supposed to be in Wasaga Beach, having a good time visiting with my friend at her lovely riverside home. While I did get up there, and we had a very nice Saturday evening taking in dinner and a movie, my Sunday was a nightmare. I started feeling queasy after breakfast and couldn’t get warm. I ached all over. I kept telling myself various stories – maybe it was something I ate, maybe it’s all in my mind, maybe it will pass….
Then my daughter Mizz J called to tell me how ill she was – possessing all of my symptoms PLUS more – and I knew I couldn’t live in denial any more. So, while the Tylenol was still enabling me to function, I packed up my overnight bag and made the 2 hour drive back home before I got even sicker. I had the heater going full blast; the sunshine streaming in through the car windows helped too.
When I pulled into my driveway, I texted both my friend and Mizz J that I had arrived home safely. Mizz J’s boyfriend came down to help me bring my stuff upstairs. Which I was so grateful for, because I found I had become as weak as a newborn kitten sometime during the drive home.
I took more Tylenol and crawled into bed, fully clothed, in an attempt to keep warm. Eventually I fell asleep. After several hours, I emerged for more drugs, and to see how Mizz J was faring. She was starting to feel better already, and told me that Dr. Google had diagnosed her as having the highly contagious Noro virus.
By 7:30pm I was back in bed again, and slept for 12 hours.
I think I am over the worst of it now. But I will be laying quite low today, even though today’s weather looks to be fabulous.
Everyone mothers someone, amiright? And everyone has a mother. So it’s a great day for everybody – enjoy!
This is my 3rd motherless mother’s day. I wrote about my first one here.
Mom, if you’re reading, I miss you and hope you are in a better place.
You’d be happy to see what I’ve done with my rooftop patio – I know you loved sitting out here, and now I’ve given it (with help) the spruce-up I’ve been imagining for weeks already. Behold:
View of newly fixed up patioSitting down view – Mizz J and her boyfriend helped me repaint my patio furniture last night. And IKEA helped with new colourful cushions, lanterns, and draperies.New for 2018 – a water feature!Kevin also helped craft these gorgeous Jasper tablecloth weights, symbolizing earth.More tablecloth weightsFire (fire pot, candle) and water!Wind feature (wind chime, created by Mizz J). Dragonfly plaque – my mom gave it to me, years ago.
Earth, wind, water and fire – this badass patio has it all!
Looking forward to many days and nights enjoying my outdoor space this season, starting this afternoon with my family.
Wishing you a lovely Sunday, however you choose to spend it.
I’ve completed the A-Z Challenge every year since I’ve become a widow (and The Widow Badass), so this was #4.
This was the second time I used a theme to guide my posts. I had nothing in mind until the 11th hour, when I had a flash of A-Z inspiration and decided to have any readers of Ye Olde Blogge guess my theme from the subject matter of my posts. Each post followed the same general idea – an idea that could be summarized by the title of a popular song from when I was a kid. Every post was related to this particular song.
You know, like the game of adding “in bed” to any message found in a fortune cookie? Well, each of my posts could have “In the Summertime” added to it.
I thought that this could keep readers engaged and wanting to come back to read more, to solve the mystery! (I know I would have wanted to, if someone I was reading was doing this.) But what I couldn’t have guessed was how much fun it would be for me to do this.
I so enjoyed reading the comments from people suggesting song titles. People guessed some of “the contenders” – the songs that I was contemplating and almost chose for the challenge. People guessed songs that I loved and had forgotten about. People also guessed THE SONG, which thrilled me to no end. I really had no idea how this was going to go – I alternated between “it’ll be guessed the first post – I made it too easy” to “should I give hints if no gets it by the half-way mark?”
I think I’ll be doing this again – it was tremendous fun for me during a trying time. My summer-themed posts were the only thing that kept me going it seemed, some days.
Seriously, I think we had better weather overall in February than in April. See the proof, below:
February 25, 2018April 15, 2018 – Day 2 of the Ice Storm
Not only was April “the spring that never came to Ontario” (so depressing!), but I had a LOT going on at work.
Because of my work challenges, I did not get to visit other blogs from the A-Z participant list – I never even looked at the list once during the whole month. I did not link up my blog to any A-Z Challenge posts on Facebook or wherever for this reason. I could hardly promote my own posts in this way if I was not able to visit anybody else’s, I figured.
I do feel bad about that but there was nothing much I could have done about it – unless I wanted to forgo sleep. I’m looking forward to a time when I can give this challenge my full effort; however that may not be until I retire.
How do other bloggers do it? Did you participate? Did you manage to visit and comment on 10 blogs per day?
Congratulations, Karen! You win a new car….bragging rights!!!!
But Karen wasn’t the only one to guess this song. Both Susan and Joanne guessed it here.
I don’t know about you guys but I had TONS of fun with this challenge and having you guess at my theme. This may become an annual event!
There were great guesses! And you reminded me of so many songs that I’ve loved, and could have chosen for my theme as well.
I especially loved one of Joanne’s many guesses (and this song – I was a huge 3 Dog Night fan at one time):
In coming up with a song for the challenge, I almost chose “My Favourite Things”, Sarah’s (from Travels with Choppy) guess from my F post.
But I had summer on the brain, so the song had to be focused on that.
I also seriously thought about using this one, that Karen guessed on my L post:
Every time I hear this song, I am transported back to long summer days in the yard, playing with my sisters and hearing it coming from the radio in my dad’s man cave workshop attached to the garage.
(I kinda hate this clip though, with Nat King Cole singing to only white people. Where is everybody else, having “fun in the sun”, huh?)
I hope you all enjoyed the A-Z Challenge posts and guessing my theme as much I enjoyed writing them and reading your comments.
Sign indicating where ziplining takes place over the Elora Gorge. I love how the stick figure has it’s arm flung out confidently and joyously. I imagine it going “Wooohoooo!” Or maybe that’s just my interpretation. Others might interpret the figure signalling for help, in a panic. I prefer my version. 😉
The weekend after our horrible ice storm weekend, I made it out to Elora Gorge where – although the weather had warmed up a bit – there was still plenty of ice and snow on the ground.
I found signs posted for a fun summer activity in the Gorge – well, actually over the Gorge. This gorge:
Peeking through the trees at the Elora Gorge – April 22
Ziplining!
Start having fun a-this-a-way!
Doesn’t this look cool?
This is on my agenda for Summer 2018.
What about you? Have you ever ziplined? Would you?
Aaaaand, that’s a wrap for this year’s A-Z Challenge! Have you guessed my theme yet?
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s theme reveal!
Rock on,
The WB
Can you guess my theme for this year’s A-Z Challenge? All of my A-Z posts this month will be tied into my theme, which is represented by the title of a song that was popular when I was a child. Can you figure it out as the days (and posts) go by? Leave your guesses (one per day only, please) in the comments. At the end of the challenge, I will reveal the theme. Have fun!
Spring is dragging its heels. And to add insult to injury, we had an ice storm that lasted 2 days in the middle of the month!
Watching the freezing rain accumulate on my patio table. April 15Ice accumulation on my roof reflects the street light – April 15
Despite all of this, the flowers are still trying to bloom.
Crocuses – April 21
And we took advantage of sunny weather and warmish temps on April 22, to get out for hike at the Elora Gorge. The icy ground made our walk treacherous at times. I had to grab my hiking pools out of the back of Edward II, for stability.
Interesting stone wall at trail entranceLots of ice on the ground – April 22Spring waters rushing through the Elora GorgeAdmiring a statue while enjoying a post-walk gelato in the spring sun – Elora
Today is sunny but still cool and with a bitter wind, to boot. I did get out for a short walk, however, and saw these beauties.
Daffodils – April 29
All this cold weather has one benefit – keeping me playing in the studio.
Tiny canvas – Seed of Life
Can’t say I’m sorry to see the back end of April. Hopefully May brings a return to warmer temperatures!
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge hosted by Su Leslie at Zimmerbitch.
The late, great Mizz Lucy, enjoying time outside in the summer. She was 9 years old in these photos.
There is just something about the warm weather that makes it more than OK to slow down and spend a lot of time doing nothing.
In olden days, they used to call it “enjoying time”.
Whatcha doing? Nothin’ much, just enjoying time.
Think about it. Not racing time or trying to beat time or fit more time into the day…just enjoying time.
Whatcha doing Mizz Lucy? Going in for DA LOVE and enjoying time.
Nothing but sitting and observing and enjoying life and simply being, instead of always doing. As I have mentioned before in this challenge, animals are great at this. We should all be more like our animals.
Keep going; don’t stop scratching my ears now!
And, if you start yawning and then find yourself drifting into a doze as the cicadas hum in the background, you, my friend, have officially reached the pinnacle of enjoying time: summer nirvana. Bonus points if you have a dog at your feet or a cat in your lap. Or a dog in your lap (but I hope it’s a small one, like Mizz Lucy…hehehe).
Let’s make a plan to enjoy time this summer.
Rock (and yawn) on,
The WB
Can you guess my theme for this year’s A-Z Challenge? All of my A-Z posts this month will be tied into my theme, which is represented by the title of a song that was popular when I was a child. Can you figure it out as the days (and posts) go by? Leave your guesses (one per day only, please) in the comments. At the end of the challenge, I will reveal the theme. Have fun!
It feels like I haven’t had a spontaneous adventure in a long, long time. The last one that sticks out in my memory is recalled here – way back when Ye Olde Blogge was known as The Next Year of My Life – on September 14, 2009. (Thank you dear Bloggie, for being my memory-in-chief!)
I veered from my plan to run home from work that day, to take an unknown (to me) trail I came across instead. I had an absolute blast and felt my most badass, wildest self that day. Until my husband-to-be came home and ragged on me for what seemed like hours when I told him, rapturously, of what I did and felt.
He thought I was being reckless and foolhardy. By exploring following the river home instead of taking the road?!? The river that runs through the village where I live?!? In broad daylight?!?
Well, I didn’t agree with him then, and I still don’t now. But, because I loved him and didn’t want to upset him, I stopped doing stuff like that. Then we got married, and continued to live in his Crazytown (which I became the de facto Mayor of); then he got sick and died and I became the CEO of Everything; then I spent the next 4 years cleaning up his mess and restoring the building he let slide into disrepair and creating a new life/home for myself. No time or energy for much of anything outside of that, really.
And now here we are and I am looking forward to bringing back more exploration and adventure to my life. Starting this summer.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but what I experienced on my little river trail exploration was a microadventure.
Author and speaker Alistair Humphreys has coined the phrase, and also written a good book about it. You can learn more about microadventures here.
Have you ever taken a microadventure? Does the idea hold any appeal?
Rock on,
The WB
Can you guess my theme for this year’s A-Z Challenge? All of my A-Z posts this month will be tied into my theme, which is represented by the title of a song that was popular when I was a child. Can you figure it out as the days (and posts) go by? Leave your guesses (one per day only, please) in the comments. At the end of the challenge, I will reveal the theme. Have fun!
