Time Flies....

The new year started on the shore of Lake Huron with my trusted companion, Jackson. The wind, the waves, the crisp cold air, the sand underfoot…a perfect way to kick off 2022.

Now, almost a year later, time has flown by in an absolute blur. We’re warned that as we get older, time seems to go by more quickly, but my god, I didn’t expect it to feel like this!

These two love the snow and cold weather. They both had a challenging summer having been diagnosed with environmental asthma, thanks to the hot, dry, ragweed-filled summer months that we had. Never would I have thought I’d be buying a Costco membership for Reactine for my horses, but with Bruno taking 36 a day at one point (remembering he’s an almost 2000lb draft horse) and Lightning not far behind that total, it was the only option. All of the various treatments we tried, unfortunately, didn’t seem to help all that much, so I was so relieved when the cooler weather set in and their breathing returned to normal, their noses stopped running and we could back off the meds. They’re now back to being the wooly mammoths they turn into in the winter months and are as content as content can be.

I wandered through the field of lavender at Baroque Botanicals ,then back through the wheat field and forest trails and completed my visit with their beautiful Friesien horses and amazing owners. I look forward to their open house and it’s a favourite way to spend a summer day. They make the most luxurious products from their lavender and I swear by their facial oil, lip balm, candles and room spray. Honestly, all of their products are fantastic!

Jackson and I spent a very relaxing few days at a friend’s cottage by Parry Sound and it was just what the doctor ordered. Sun, reading, more sun, lounging on the dock, a few bevies and lots of time with the fur babe. I think he was just as sad as I was (if not possibly more) when it came time to say good-bye. Jacks is a whole other dog when he gets into the countryside. He’s almost always ‘on guard’ at our house, but when he gets outside the city limits, I can actually see him physically relax and he becomes so at ease. Warms my heart!

It was a year full of beauty, from that gorgeous bouquet from my friend, May Moon Flowers, to some absolutely stunning sunsets and finding my furry pots of gold at the end of that rainbow. I will always be amazed and absolutely appreciate the wonders of the outdoors and what it provides for us.

I look back on this year with gratitude and while it feels like it was just yesterday that I was standing on the shore of Lake Huron, ushering in 2022, at the same time, it feels like it was so long ago. From road trips with friends, to days at the farm or the Country House, encouraging myself to always take the back roads/scenic route (and finding your dream farm for sale but unfortunately not winning the lottery to be able to purchase it) and my ever evolving City Cottage, this year has been filled with many lessons and I’ve learned much more about myself for many reasons. I look at the little world I have formed around me and can’t help but smile and feel a sense of calm in this rather chaotic world. Cheers the the year that has passed and I look forward to the new year ahead. I have a really good feeling for what’s to come in 2023 and thank you to you all for coming along for the ride both in the past, today and in the future.

RR

A Mini Moment.....

I think we can all agree that the pace that we move at today can at times be overwhelming! Up at 5am, out the door by six, first conference call at 7:30am, meeting, another meeting, emails, phone calls, trying to leave work on time, go to the gym, get groceries, make dinner, do laundry, clean the house, climb into bed at 10:30pm....and repeat the next day.

I will admit, there are some days where I feel like I can't catch my breath, let alone take a few minutes for myself. I know how unhealthy that is and the irony of this is that I've spent most of my career helping others take care of themselves (insert here: do as I say, not as I do). I then refer back to one of my old blog posts about when on a flight, if something should occur, to put the oxygen mask on yourself before helping others. We MUST care for ourselves first and foremost....

As I was driving to the office the other morning with a dozen different thoughts running through my mind about the day ahead, the sunrise was absolutely beautiful!! So...I decided to pull over into a park, get out of my car with my coffee in hand, turn off those thoughts and just sit and truly enjoy that sunrise for a few minutes. That 'mini moment' not only got my day off to a great start, but refreshed my way of thinking about taking care of oneself.....

Let me explain.....

This guy is the master of taking a 'mini moment'! He had been out sniffing every square foot of the backyard as I was bqqing one night. Then...all of a sudden, he went up on the deck and just laid there, looking around and taking it all in. There...that was his mini moment. He went from 'full steam ahead' to utter peace and tranquility in a matter of a minute.  

Now, how can we do this? How can we take that moment to recoup our sanity, refocus and allow us those few moments to breathe?

I walked into the barn one evening after a great session with the Big Guy. My time with him is supposed to be my escape, a time for me to focus on nothing but building my relationship with this amazing 1000lb creature. But....for some reason, I found myself distracted that night. I was actually angry with myself that I had allowed outside distractions to seep into our time together. As I walked down the aisle, the horses poked their heads out of their stalls and I just had to snap this photo....I had distracted them from their dinner and I'm sure every single one of them hoped I had a  wee treat to share with them (a mini moment for them). I then realized, I had spent an incredible hour with LTN and it had been full of fantastic mini moments and I should be grateful for that! Yes, at times, some outside thoughts and distractions creeped in...but...I'm human...that will happen.... and what mattered most was that time with him, those moments of pure contentedness and tranquility like the one below....

I can assure you that at the moment I snapped this photo, I was only thinking what a beautiful evening it was, how gorgeous my guy looked as the sun set behind him and how grateful I was to be in that moment....and that's enough. I'm sure that in the 5 minutes of him munching grass, I had many other 'outside' thoughts enter my mind, but at this moment, my only thought was pure enjoyment of the moment. My mini moment....

Whatever you're doing...find those mini moments just for you. Enjoy them, immerse yourself in them (if only for a minute), allow them to re-energize you...and.... if you're like me and have a passion for photography, capture a few of them so you 'have them' as a reminder to take that time for you. 

RR

A Weekend in the Country - Part Deux

The Friday and Saturday of the April long weekend involved running errands, decorating for Spring and some relaxation. 

After all that, a sunny Sunday meant only one thing...ROAD TRIP TO THE LAKE!!!

Mom, Charlie and I hopped in the truck (Char is never one to miss a good road trip, especially one that MAY include swimming - this one didn't as the lake was much too cold) and off to the lake we went. We started in Kincardine, along Lake Huron, and I just couldn't wait to put my feet in the sand!! As you can see, Charlie had his leash on and he was none too happy about that, but as you can also see, there are still chunks of ice in the water! Last thing we needed was a hypothermic pooch!!

How great did it feel to finally be able to wear flip flops and have our toes....and tail.....in the sand!?!

It wouldn't be a trip to the lake without ice cream!! An Oreo Blizzard for myself, ice cream cone for Charlie and a pineapple sundae for Mom! Feels like Summer has officially started (well....almost!).

Back into the truck for a drive along the shore..... So many new homes and 'cottages' have gone up over the past 5-10 years....The one above is one of my favourites on the drive between Kincardine and Point Clark.

The colours this time of year are unlike any other! You will rarely see the water this turquoise-blue in the summer. I can't get over how much ice there still was (and snow for that matter). It really was a perfect picture taking day!!

We then got on the road and headed home :(

Such a great day and so bittersweet to leave the water behind.... 

We arrived home to this sunset...Just stunning! The perfect end to the perfect day!

Monday morning arrived (last day of the long weekend) and I headed back to the city as I wanted to get my yard work done and the deck/patio set up!

As I got to the end of my parent's sideroad, this happened as the sun was rising....I absolutely had to get out and capture how incredibly beautiful it was! 

It was such a lovely Spring weekend in the country..... It completely re-energized me and as always, made me realize how lucky I am to live a Bucolic Lifestyle......

BB

Evening Walks....

When I moved into my 'cottage', little did I know what an amazing neighbourhood I was moving into! The wonderful people, the atmosphere.....It truly does 'feel' the most like home of all the places I have lived in quite some time.

Another fantastic thing about this neighbourhood is the green space it has within it and these spaces are a favourite for Charlie and I. They not only allow us to stretch our legs and escape from the city(while still being in the city) for a while, but they also allow for beautiful scenes like these....

As much as I appreciate and love getting out in my 'own back yard', I cannot wait for summer to arrive and to be able to get back to the lake, walk in the sand along the shore and enjoy sunsets like this..... Come on Spring (and Summer)!

RR

My Happy Place - Part 2

I introduced you to Lake Louise (the ski resort) in one of my earlier posts this month...A very happy place for me indeed! Now, onto Part 2 of my time there....at the Chateau!

We packed up our skis and headed to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise  

The drive up to the resort was stunning...the sun was shining, the snow covered mountains, trees with branches laden with fluffy white snow....Winter at its best!

We arrived to the quintessential Lake view......I could have stood there for hours, taking it all in and just enjoying 'being'..

We walked around and had a chance to see the beautiful ice sculptures that had been done for the "Ice Magic Festival" and in honour of the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

We then went inside, found a table with a view in the bar/lounge, and said 'cheers' to an amazing day!

It was the kind of day that I didn't want to end...ever...but, as they say, all good things must come to an end. It was time to get on the road and wind our way through mountain ranges back to Calgary.

Talk about the perfect end to the perfect day....I could get used to this view! Sunset over the Rockies...

My trips out West always bring a kind of happiness and level of contentment that cannot be put into words..... I hope that you are able to travel,visit or even live in a place that allows you to experience these indescribable feelings too....We all deserve that level of bliss!

RR