Z is for Ziplining #AtoZChallenge

On April 30, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, Good Times, The Great Outdoors23 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!

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!

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Changing Seasons April 2018

On April 29, 2018April 29, 2018 By Widow BadassIn Artistic Endeavours, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors14 Comments

April has been a very tough month where I live.

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 15

Ice accumulation on my roof reflects the street light – April 15

Despite all of this, the flowers are still trying to bloom.

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 entrance

Spring waters rushing through the Elora Gorge

Admiring 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.

All this cold weather has one benefit – keeping me playing in the studio.

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.

Rock on,

The WB

Y is for Yawning #AtoZChallenge

On April 28, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, Good Times11 Comments

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

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X is for eXploring #AtoZChallenge

On April 27, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, Badassery, The Great Outdoors13 Comments

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

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W is for the Water #AtoZChallenge

On April 26, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, See the Beauty18 Comments

Taking photographs of water never gets old for me. It moves, it reflects, it attracts wildlife.

It is never the same twice. You can take a photo a day or an hour of a pond, lake or river and it will always be different from the one before.

Summer finds me near water, as I mentioned here, and with my camera or camera phone always handy. Here are some of my favourite shots taken, of water (that haven’t made it to Ye Olde Blogge as yet).

Rolled out of bed and ran straight to the dock to capture this one. On Corry Lake.

On a summer’s early morning walk in the Village.

Village Heron in the Mist. Blew the photo up so much, it looks like a painting instead of a photograph. I like that effect.

Looking back at San Francisco. Love the long shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge.

This summer no doubt I will be filling up my camera with yet more water scenes. Can’t wait!

What are your favourite subjects for photography?

Rock on,

The WB

V is for Vodka Drinks #AtoZChallenge

On April 25, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, Adventures in Food20 Comments

Having a favourite beer or cooler to bring to a summer barbecue or other social gathering is practically de riguer around here. I don’t much like coolers though, because I find them too sweet. Then, last summer, I discovered a cooler-type drink that is perfect for me. No sugar, but plenty of fizz and refreshing in flavour. I tried my first SoCIAL Lite, and I was hooked.

And so were many others apparently, because it was hard to find in stock at the liquor store. So, what’s poor badass widow to do? Well, I improvised.

Let’s call this Anti-SoCIAL Lite, shall we?

Not as convenient to take somewhere, but more than adequate for having people in, or enjoying alone on the patio (of course) with a good book. Hopefully this year, it will be easier to find the premixed version in stock, to take along when visiting. (Are you reading this, SoCIAL Lite?)

What is your favourite summer drink?

Rock on,

The WB

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U is for Uniform #AtoZChallenge

On April 24, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post15 Comments

Summertime, and the living’ is easy.

And nothing is easier than wearing a summer uniform.

I have 2 pairs of short loose-legged pants…not sure what the proper term is…culottes, cropped pants? Whatever. I love them. But they are old. At least 10 years old. And I anticipate they won’t last much longer and I don’t know where to find their replacements, in terms of quality and fabric.

Love these cropped pants. I also have an identical pair in black. They are both in the wash every week in the summer. Also note the Birks – part of the ~~year-round~~ summer uniform.

These pants travel like a dream. They can be hand washed in a hotel room sink, wrung out, and be dry and wrinkle-free in the morning. I once spent 2 weeks on the road in California, Oregon and Washington State with only these 2 pair of pants, 2 tops, a sweater, and a jean jacket.

They weren’t anything fancy or expensive when I picked them up at the mall. Not touted as some techno-marvel travel pants. Yet that’s exactly what they turned out to be.

I also love these Crocs sandals. I wear them until the tread is worn so thin they are absolutely ~~life-threatening~~ dangerous to wear on a slick surface.

My second pair of this type. Needs replacing this summer.

And that is the state that this current pair is in. I hope Crocs are still making them because I want to purchase pair #3 this summer.

Any suggestions on where to get some light-weight, easy-care cropped pants for summer? What clothes/shoes make up a “summer uniform” for you?

Rock on,

The WB

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T is for Turtles #AtoZChallenge

On April 23, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors12 Comments

I regularly walk down to a trail in the Village that follows the Speed River all the way to another town.

In the summer, I also regularly encounter turtles on this walk. Many, many turtles.

Some are actually on the trail.

Head on (in?) view. Likely a female, heading off to lay eggs or coming back from the same.

But most of the turtles I see are sunning themselves on logs and branches in the water. On the river, or in a pond across the trail from the river.

Only 2 on this log. I have seen up to half a dozen crammed here at one time.

And there are lots of turtles to be seen under the water as well, if you stand still and focus on small movements on the surface.

I just love seeing these ancient-looking creatures on my walks. I usually stop counting at around 40.

Indigenous people believe the 13 moons of the lunar calendar are represented by the sections on the turtle’s shell.

I feel blessed to be living in such a turtle-rich area.

Is there a wild creature in your area that you just love to see each summer?

Rock on,

The WB

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S is for Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Boards #AtoZChallenge

On April 21, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, Good Times, The Great Outdoors16 Comments

Look at me go. Can performing advanced yoga poses on the SUP be far behind? (Actually, yes. Very far behind.)

A couple of summers ago, I got to try out a stand up paddle board, at my sister and her wife’s place. It was their neighbour’s, who very neighbourly offered it for use when she wasn’t at her cottage.

I thought I’d find myself falling off the board and sputtering in the lake after about 5 seconds but that never happened. I guess I have more innate balancing ability than suspected.

Ever since then, I’ve had a hankering to do more of this. I have my eye on an inflatable SUP that is getting great reviews, from Costco. But maybe not this year. Unless I can sell one of my kayaks. Because people are starting to talk. 😉

Have you ever tried stand up paddle boarding? Have you tried an inflatable board?

Rock on,

The WB

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R is for Road Trippin’ #AtoZChallenge

On April 20, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, Goals & Dreams, Good Times, Retirement, Roadtripping23 Comments

In the summer, I like to hit the road. Whether for a few hours, a day, or a weekend – the long, temperate days and good driving conditions make it a joy to range further afield.

I have plans for taking much longer road trips, once I am retired. I wrote about that here (during last year’s A-Z Challenge), and also here.

I am still thinking about this almost daily and flip-flopping between a trailer to pull behind me or a small RV (when I am not calculating how many nights’ stay in motel rooms would come close to the cost of either of these options – even second-hand). 😉

I am fortunate that my home is zoned commercial/residential, which means I can park a trailer or RV year-round on my property, even though I am in town – I checked with the by-law officer a few years ago.

My fantasy rig has me road tripping in full-on glamping style:

And the exterior looks something like this, on my fantasy trailer.

So far my pros and cons list for each type looks something like this:

Small trailer Pros

Roomier
Can leave at campsite while using vehicle to explore surrounding area
Better for extended stays somewhere

Small trailer Cons

Have to learn to tow
Entering/leaving my driveway will be difficult (incline, and on busy street)
Need bigger vehicle than I currently own, in order to tow even the tiniest trailer

Camping Van Pros

Can fit in regular parking space
Easier to drive and manoeuvre
Better for trips in which only planning to stay 1-2 nights max in each place
Can rent one to try out before I buy

Camping Van Cons

Now I have to own and maintain 2 motor vehicles
Have to pack up the campsite every time I need to go to town or do some local exploring
Less space to move around in

I’m currently leaning towards the camping van, as I envision my first few years of road trips will be more driving around than staying in one place. Perhaps I could pack a bike or an electric scooter, for local exploring.

No matter what I decide upon, once I am retired I can chase summer year-round….Canadian road-tripping in the summer, and heading south of the border in the winter.

What about you? Is road-tripping your thing too? Any thoughts or advice to share? What would you choose – a trailer or an RV?

Rock on,

The WB