Precious Life

On June 17, 2018 By Widow BadassIn Good Times, Hmmm?, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors22 Comments

Happy Father’s Day, everyone!

Today is super hot. Since I was sick earlier this spring (here and here), I haven’t been able to get out on the kayak so I just had to get on the river today. Had to.

I opened my eyes, rolled out of bed, filled a Contigo cup with Earl Grey, got dressed and was pulling Smokey Robinson out of the shed in about 15 minutes flat. On the river by 7 am. While it was still relatively cool out.

Tiny island on the Mill Pond. Love the early morning stillness on the river.

I got as far as here, going against the current (slight, but still there):

Black Bridge Road. About 2 km from where I began.

Then I turned around and kicked off my sandals and relaxed, to sip my tea and let the current slowly, peacefully, take me back home.

This is the best way to spend a Sunday morning, without leaving town, that I know of.

I made a short video of my drift, so you could hear the riot of birdsong that was the soundtrack to my morning. But WordPress says it is too big of a media file to upload, so please check out my Facebook or Instagram (right hand side of ye olde blogge) if you want to view it. And turn the sound up please!

While I drifted, I kept thinking about a website I was directed to, in one of Alastair Humphrey‘s newsletters. I highly recommend you subscribe. His newsletters are full of interesting tidbits and links related to adventuring. After all, this life is our biggest adventure, isn’t it? And I am a huge fan of his coining of the term “micro-adventures”. I try to have micro-adventures whenever I can, for now…mega-adventures to come once I have more free time!

In one of his recent newsletters, Alastair shared this link – Your Life in Weeks – which he calls a terrifying firework up the bum to get on in life. So of course I had to click on it. Go ahead and check it out, I’ll wait.

It can be sobering to count out the weeks or months to a 90 year life span. And more sobering to realize that there is no guarantee one will even make it to then. But, I also think it is a great and necessary reminder that life is quite finite, and every week or month (or day or hour for that matter) that passes brings us closer to the end. It helps to remember this for better decision-making, I firmly believe.

And far from feeling morbid, it makes me feel so damn grateful instead – to be able to savour these happy moments like this morning on the river. I doubt I’ll be hauling a kayak down to the river when I’m 90. More likely my kids will be saying something like “Mom would have been 90 this year.” (I know my genetics ain’t the greatest…just sayin’).

I am so inspired by this graphic of a lifespan in weeks, I am going to translate this idea into a painting. But I will go by months (moons) instead. Something to hang up to remind me not to waste time or my precious life.

Do you find it comforting or terrifying to look at your life in this way?

Rock on,

The WB

SaveSave

May: Summer Weather is here! #ChangingSeasons

On May 28, 2018 By Widow BadassIn See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors20 Comments

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.

Of course, there were many turtles to be seen…

And off trail, things were blooming as well…

Meanwhile, back at Chez Badass it was finally warm enough to spend an evening on the patio…

The Changing Seasons is a monthly photo challenge hosted by Su Leslie, of Zimmerbitch.

Rock on,

The WB

SaveSave

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!

SaveSave

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

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

SaveSave

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

SaveSave

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

SaveSave

Q is for Quiet Nights under the Setting Sun, Moon and Stars #AtoZChallenge

On April 19, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, Good Times, The Great Outdoors6 Comments

Ahhh, those summer nights!

Heading for a nighttime canal cruise in Amsterdam

Sun setting at my sister’s place on Corry Lake

And further to yesterday’s post about spending time on the patio:

Looking forward to those summer nights on the patio, once again

Summer nights are the best, for just being. What are your favourite ways to spend a summer night?

Rock on,

The WB

SaveSave

K is for Kayaking #AtoZChallenge

On April 12, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, The Great Outdoors20 Comments

In the summer, I need to be near water. I want to be in it or on it. Luckily I live in a province blessed with, and bounded by rivers and lakes.

I live very close to water. Because of this I have invested in some watercraft, with which to get my butt onto the water. I briefly considered getting a canoe. But for stability and manoeuverability on relatively calm waters, a kayak can’t be beat, in my opinion. Behold my kayak collection:

Kayak Parking Only. My pink sit-on-top: “Pink Floyd”, ready to be wheeled down to the Speed River, with a mug of tea and a muffin for breakfast on the water.

“Smokey Robinson” – my sit-in kayak, along the banks of the Speed

Mizz J piloting “Al Green” – my 2-seater kayak. I don’t use this as much as I thought I would so I think I will sell it this spring.

I love to get out on the water, to get up close and personal to stuff like this:

And then there is always this, to look forward to:

Drifting back home on the Speed on a beautiful summer evening as the sun is beginning to set.

When I get onto the river with one of my kayaks on a warm summer’s day, it’s like I’ve gone on a mini-vacation. And I haven’t even left town.

Have you ever kayaked?

Rock on,

The WB

SaveSave

I is for Insects #AtoZChallenge

On April 10, 2018 By Widow BadassIn A2Z Challenge Post, The Great Outdoors16 Comments

Along with the summer, comes the bugs…the insects. (The bugs of summer are one reason I prefer Fall for a lot of outdoor activities.)

Insects are so necessary for survival on our planet…I know, I know. We’d all soon be dead if there were no bugs.

However, in the summer insects can also be big pains in the ass, and some are downright assholes.

Mosquitoes for one. Deer flies for another. But in my mind, there is only one true contender for the Summer Asshole Insect crown (if ever there was such a thing): the wasp.

There I was, exiting my building and minding my own business one morning last August when a wasp came out of nowhere and dive-bombed into my arm and stung me. A couple of days later my arm starting swelling and turning red around the sting.