I am a rockhound, a searcher of rocks, a wade -in -the -water and pull up rock treasures person? Anyone else out there love walking along a beach and collecting rocks, so much so that your pockets sag? A glint of gold, silver, red, orange, green, blue or purple catches my eye and I have to pick it up. However, the best rocks are ones that are unusual or shaped like hearts! Recently at a beach on Lake Huron I came away with many heart-shaped rocks!!

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I have mentioned before that I keep a rock in ALL of my jacket and coat pockets. I guess it is like my own personal fidget toy. Some of my pocket rocks have been smoothed down by constant polishing from my thumb as a ground myself and rub the stone to feel calm, or to remind me that it came from the water or a beach, my calming place.

I leave rocks all over the house, on window ledges, in wooden bowls, in fancy cut glass dishes or just sitting on a shelf. I love looking at them! I have collected them from so many places, it is hard to remember them all.

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Our home is called “Rock’s End”, as rocks “end up here”. My gardens are decorated with large and unusual rocks, that have come from a beach or lake, from the family farm, from a neighbour’s yard, or from a landscaper. Wee plants are nestled up to many of these rocks, plants like Thyme, Hens and Chicks, and Violets.

I have rows of rocks lined up on my porch rail, and it often makes me think of Jewish cemeteries. When someone visits a grave in a Jewish cemetery, the tradition is that the visitor is to leave a stone on top of the gravestone. In the Jewish tradition leaving a stone shows respect, marks a visit, and symbolizes lasting remembrance. Stones are chosen for their durability and the idea that they will remain where they are placed, unlike flowers that fade quickly. This tradition serves as a tangible and enduring symbol of remembrance, indicating that someone has visited the grave, paying respects to the departed. It is a simple yet meaningful act that honours the enduring bond between the living and the deceased.

Maybe this is why I am so attracted to rocks and stones? There is this connection to the water and the earth. I grew up on a farm, and every year we had to “pick rocks” to remove them from the fields so the earth would be smooth for planting. Also, it kept the tractor from getting damaged by a large rock. I know however, my interest in rocks began way before I “had” to pick them up out of the field. As a little girl I would bring my rock treasures to my Mom, as a gift, as a jewel, as something rare!!

I am also a “rock skimmer” and I always have to find a few super, flat stones to try and skim off the water. There is great satisfaction when your skimmer makes 7-8 or more skips across the water! Pure talent!!

There are so many things that a person can collect, and I look at my fascination with rocks and my continuing accumulation of them. One can never have too many rocks!!! Besides, if I were to suddenly decide that collecting stones and rocks was not for me, I could simply return them to the earth or water, from whence they came!

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Thank you for visiting my Substack and reading yet another musing from the many stories I have to tell. My Subscription is Free, but do re-stack and pass it on.

So what is a wee holiday? In my life, it is a weekend away! Time spent driving with my Husband, taking the back roads, and enjoying the scenery along the way. Our destination this past weekend was to drive to Goderich ON to visit friends that were our neighbours and they had moved. We were missing them a lot, and what a better way to catch up, then a good old fashioned visit?

I had booked an Air B & B close to Lake Huron. There was a swimming pool and a most enjoyable patio. The bed was comfy and we got to meet the Host’s dog! Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes here in Ontario. Years ago, when my husband worked for a large hydro company, we lived with our three young daughters close to Lake Huron in another town. Our children were little, and for 3 years, I had sand in our van! The beach was often used, and swimming, snacks, ice cream and suntans were part of our summer.

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Now, back to our wee holiday. Enroute, we stopped at a very popular Mennonite restaurant called Anna Mae’s. Roasted chicken and freshly baked pies of all varieties are their specialties. I had to have pie! Driving Husband had a very large chicken lunch and had no room for pie. So, I ordered a slice of good old fashioned raisin pie. What a treat!!!! We also purchased some Honey as gifts.

We arrived at our Friend’s in good time. It was hugs all round. We had to wait for our Friend’s Husband to arrive home, so after a tour of their new home, we set out to walk to the village square to a local pub, Paddy O’Neils. Another couple that had also moved up to Goderich, had arranged to meet with us too. It was beautiful and sunny so we sat outside. We ordered drinks and started to catch up. It is amazing how in a short time, people can become acclimatized and familiar with their new home, if they only let themselves do so.

When Goderich Husband arrived we ordered dinner and had a great visit. There was a Night Market across from the pub and we visited that too. There was a vender selling their own gin, vodka and whiskey creations, so it did not take much convincing after a taste to buy a bottle of their Lemon Gin. Goderich wife bought an espresso flavoured vodka. I have since tried the gin at home, and it is fab!

Lake Huron is famous for it’s sunsets, so of course we had to go to the beach to catch that. I convinced Goderich Friend to have a swim with me first in the pool at our Air B & B. Oh that felt glorious!!! Then it was off to one of the many beaches to see the sunset. Of course Goderich Husband chose a very steep path to go down to get to the beach, and you know what that means??? We and to climb back up when we were done! Huff and puff!!

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We did not see the full show of the sunset on the Friday, but we still had Saturday to see it. We did walk in the sand and step into the water, which felt lovely on our hot feet. Also, I am a rockhound, and so we picked up stones and rocks. Found some heart shaped ones, unusually pretty ones and stones that were smooth and cool to the touch.These went home with me to decorate yet more spaces with found rocks. Our home is rightly named, “Rock’s End”, as rocks “end up here”! We all went back to our respective sleeping places after the sunset viewing and the rock collecting.

Saturday started off with breakfast at Steve and Mary’s Café. Funny, as Driving Husband is also Steve and I am Mary (Ann) so apropos that this was the café of choice. We all enjoyed a wonderful breakfast! The local Farmer’s Market was in full swing when we finished, so we wandered the square as Goderich Friends bought some produce. Have you ever had salty ice cream? Goderich has a huge salt mine. The Goderich Salt Mine in Ontario is the largest underground salt mine in the world, located 1,800 feet beneath Lake Huron. So a family has created a salty ice cream, including lactose free and gluten free. It was SO GOOD!!

As we were finishing up at the market, we headed into a few shops, including a men’s wear store called Winston’s Men’s Wear. They were having a big sale, and the store carried high end clothing. Winston was the store cat, but he has passed now. Driving Husband came out with 2 new pairs of pants and 3 shirts! Well done! He can use these for our “real holiday” in September/October when we will go to Scotland for 3 weeks with Goderich Friends!

We ended our afternoon with a cup of tea and chat about our up-and-coming fall trip to Scotland. Everyone needed a nap, but I decided I needed a swim!

One of the reasons we were visiting our Goderich Friends, was to celebrate Goderich Wife’s recent retirement. We drove to a beautiful little town called Bayfield, which was a “foo foo” place with designer shops and designer people. Lots of fancy cars, fancy clothes and prices that were most definitely out of our snack-bracket. But, it is fun to browse. We took Goderich Wife to the Goose and Gander for an amazing dinner. She had steak, and the other plates held pickerel, cod and ribs. Fancy drinks, celebratory shots and shared desserts made for a fantastic dinner! We ended by returning to the beautiful deck at our Air B & B and shared a bottle of Italian wine. Then, the sunset!!!

Our wee holiday still was not over yet on Sunday morning. Goderich Wife had us over to their house to eat crepes with fruit and Nutella or nut butter. Wow!!! Truly spoiled!!! Goderich Husband has a very unique job. He designs and sews boat covers, sail bag covers, upholsters new boat seat covers, and he has also made a golf cart cover, 2 harp covers with wheels and numerous other niche things. We went to have a look at his studio. He had just moved into a warehouse and was still in the process of setting parts of it up. Such an exciting job! His company is called Suncoast Canvas.

https://www.suncoastcanvas.ca/

We took one last visit to a beach, collected a few more rocks and walked in the water. One has to get as much of the lake as possible when there! Sadly, our wee holiday was over, and Driving Husband and I said our goodbyes, with lots more hugs and kisses. As you can tell from this article, that a wee holiday on a weekend can prove to be a fun packed holiday in 2 and 1/2 days. I can’t wait to see our Goderich Friends again soon, in 5 1/2 weeks when we all fly to Edinburgh for real!!! We have planned to take it a bit slower and relax more, and not have action-packed days each and every day. It is meant to offer a time of fun, exploration, and rest. Scotland, here we come! Aye!!!

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I have been thinking a lot lately about good old conversations. What has happened to just sitting down and catching up with a friend or family member, a colleague or someone you have not seen in ages?

I truly believe that cell phones have changed the nature of how we converse. It used to be that I could call up a friend, and have a great conversation on the phone, or arrange to meet and talk face-to-face. We have moved into a conversation world of brief texts, emojis, acronyms ( syl or wtf!) memes, and all sorts of social media input. I am not implying that one is not able to have a conversation by texting, but where is the level of social interaction taken us??!!

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There are people that I would LOVE to chat with, but they seem to be too busy or caught up in their own world of not making time. There are also people that I would love to hear how they are doing and what is interesting or new in their lives, but they claim they have “nothing to talk about, and will let me know when they do!” I have even been told that I am, “like an annoying sibling!” Pity the person that I should love and care about because we are related?!

Sure, I have a few people that I am able to have some great conversations with, but it means that we have taken the time and given to each other. By having a good chat, we are telling one another that “ I am making time for you, I am interested and care about you, and I love to share with you.”

I do understand that not all people are “conversation types”. My husband will avoid this if he can! But I have seen him bending an ear of one of his friends, or one of our daughters or Grands and he will have a great conversation with them. I have always been more social, and yes, genuinely interested in those I love and am close to. I have also had great conversations with a perfect stranger, and we both leave the interaction feeling affirmed.

So what are people avoiding I ask? Have we become a society of introverts, hiding behind our texts and social media, or, behind the busyness we create and are not able to find time to actually stop and have a good discussion? With anxiety and depression on the rise, one would think that talking to another person would feel good and allow one to feel recognized in a world they feel shuts them out or does not know them.

So I Googled, “Does Talking to Others Decrease Depression and Anxiety?

Yes, talking to others can significantly decrease depression and anxiety. Research indicates that engaging in social interactions, whether with friends, family, or strangers, can lead to a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety.

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These interactions can boost a person’s mood. Regular face-to-face conversations can reduce depression, reduce loneliness and decrease anxiety. To me this is a win-win and so very simple! If we engage in meaningful conversations, our social anxiety can be decreased and generally make us feel better about ourselves.

I do not know how your conversations look or sound, but I tend to find I laugh more, I gesture a lot and am deeply invested in the other person(s). Not having at least a couple conversations in my week makes me feel isolated and wanting to get out and find someone to chat with. Don’t get me wrong, since I have retired I do enjoy my quiet times to do the things I need to and to do things for myself and others. However, I do crave interaction and wholesome conversations.

We tend not to live in small communities anymore. It used to be we could talk over the driveway or the fence to a neighbour. More people tended to be at home, but today, everyone is so mobile and/or leaves home to go to work. Culturally our neighbourhoods have changed too, and so having easy conversations take some work and effort. People gather less often as well, and so scenarios that would allow for conversation are not present. I believe we need more gathering spaces, coffee shops, small parks, pubs cafés, that would help to encourage people to meet and converse.

Lastly I need to address the increasing number of people who have become estranged from one another, and conversations are non-existent, superficial and may be on a “you need to know” only basis. 1 in 2 adults is estranged from a family member. Here, conversation is emotionally fraught, and it makes talking to others and having real conversations, so much more important.

I pray that you are able to make time and space in your days, or in your life to connect with others. I would hate to see that conversations would happen only between AI bots, and really lack the sincerity, comfort and warmth of a real, human conversation!

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Our household is down to having only 1 cat at this time, Treble. She is a 14 year old Tortie. We adopted her and her Mama Ruby 13 years ago. They were tiny and scared, but clearly bonded to one another. Ruby passed away last fall at the age of 15. She was a sucky, cuddly girl, who loved to sleep above my head at night time, or just sleep on my chest! Treble has taken her place in the cuddly, sucky department, and I am ok with that.

We have always had indoor cats, as the alternative did not always have a good outcome. However, we have had a few escapees over the years, only to chase them back into the house. Well two years ago, Treble managed to get out the patio doors and we could not coax her back in. She was disoriented, scared and simply ran! She disappeared for 2 days, and I was quite beside myself! It rained, it was cold out and I was sure we would not see her again. However, my daughter managed to catch her beside the house. She was dehydrated, and had scraped up feet, and would not eat or drink. I took her to the Vet and he concluded that she had been narrowly hit by a car as she has skid marks on all four paws.

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Treble spent the next 10 days or so in the basement in a kitty bed, whereupon I hand fed her, and applied healing cream to her feet. Once recovered she came out of here hidey hole and was back upstairs as normal.

This past week however, gave me reason to take Treble once again to the Vet. I had been away for several days, and Treble sought me out immediately. when I returned home. She has quite the sing-song voice and has become very loud. I thought perhaps she was losing her hearing, but that is not the case. She just wishes to be heard.

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I was patting Treble as she loves me to do, and I noticed a huge bulge of a lump above her tail and onto her back. She also had a sore on her butt-cheek. I suspected she had an abscess. Weirdly, we do not have any other cats that she would tussle with, no real sharp things where she could get cut. Well, our Vet confirmed my suspicion, she had a massive, fist sized abscess, that needed to be drained. She barely let out a meow when he treated her. I think she was so relieved!

So, after she was treated with antibiotics, an antibacterial cream and pain medication, and me, given a lofty bill, I took her home to recover. She does not fight me when I have to apply the cream or give her the pain meds. She continues to be snuggly, and we are back to our routines, albeit with a cat that has a rather large, open abscess hole to heal.

Treble loves her cat treats several times a day, she drinks plenty of water, and snacks like the elderly lady that she is. She has time on my lap every morning when I eat my breakfast. The Vet told me that if he could not treat her without a fight, he would have had to do surgery. Thank goodness we have such a lovely and cooperative kitty!

Treble has had to put up with the dog we had for a year, with a neighbour’s dog coming into the house, with our daughter’s two cats when they lived with us, when we would go away to travel, and now, the several injuries she has had. She truly lives up to the “cat with nine lives” but really, she has had it pretty good for a cat. I love her, and our house would be pretty quiet without her chatty calls, her snuggling little body and her cat hair. I believe she has many more lives ahead!!!

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For quite some time, my husband Steve and I have been re-visited dating. When we were younger, and before we were married, we went to the movies regularly, we went roller skating, went to house parties in the country, or hung out at one another’s homes. I had an 11 pm curfew and you could always depend upon my younger Sister to flash the lights in the porch when we pulled into the driveway after an evening out. My Mom would still be up too waiting to hear what we had been up to.

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Now motor ahead, going out whilst we were in University, was what was cheapest, and was on campus? After we were married, which was in our 3rd year of University, we walked a lot and dreamt about the home we wanted to have someday, how many kids we wanted, what we thought our careers would look like etc. We might grab an ice cream, or a coffee and very occasionally a burger.

When we finally had our family of 3 daughters, time was at a premium, as the girls had things they were involved in, we had our church commitments and community involvement. We might have people in for a dinner party or family come to visit. But, when the girls were old enough to be on their own, Steve and I chose one night in the week or every other week as “date night”. We would actually leave the house, maybe have a reservation for dinner, go see a movie without the girls, go to the Theatre in the City or simply go to our favourite Italian place and sit at the bar, share a pizza and drink a bottle of wine. 🍷 🍷 We loved those evenings.

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Well now, neither of us wants to be out too late in the evenings, and seeing as Steve takes Fridays off, we go for lunch and coffee after he has played pickleball and when I have walked my friend’s pups for their second walk. We have been to so many different places. The Butter & Cup has the best scones and tarts. The Copper Kettle Pub is always busy and a lovely drive to get there. Segovia makes great coffee and has yummy empanadas and we can walk there. That Italian Place has typical Italian offerings but you have to eat outside. City Side Cafè is more of a coffee and dessert place. Golden Grains has excellent Portuguese sandwiches and of course custard tarts! Tim Hortons is a fast food and coffee Cafè but if you want a donut, they’ve got them! Today we went to Peggy’s Place, a Cafè in an industrial area of our city. They had veggie pies and great fish and chips. These are only some of the places we have gone to, but our goal is to visit as many small cafés as we can in our city.

I love these dates as it is a great time to catch up with each other, to talk about current events and our families. The best part, besides spending time together. Is that when we get home, we can take a nap!😴

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However, I like to surround myself in simplicity. Feel good furniture. Home decor that makes me feel warm and at peace. Plants, that share their beauty with me. My home is full of eclectic gathered pieces, and only a few of them match. Put all together, and they create a blend of comfort and welcome.

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The things I use daily are readily at hand. At the present time, I am using Grindley Petal dishes, made between 1936-1954. They are sweet in their pastels of yellow, pink, green and blue. The dinner plates are smaller than most dishes, so they invite smaller portions at mealtime. I sometimes use the teacups and saucers, because, tea always tastes better from a teacup! The gravy boats serve as small bowls for side dishes.

I have named our home “Rock’s End” as rocks of all kinds end up here. I have giant rocks in the front gardens that have been dug out of a lake on holidays, and ones that come from an excavation across the street, and lastly, rocks that come from my Husband’s farm before it was all torn down to make way for a subdivision. I always bring back small rocks from places I visit and when we are on holiday. Shhh, I even have two pieces of terracotta from Pompeii Italy! Heart shaped rocks are always sought after and they line my window ledge and sit in bowls. Smooth round rocks are also a favourite as they feel so cool and smooth in one’s hand. I keep a rock in my purse and in one in every pocket of the jackets or coats I wear. They can solve a worry in a minute or just relax me while I am walking.

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We have a large Harvest Table that we inherited from my Husband’s Sister. It has some cracks and knots, and you can see where the nails went in to hold it together. There are also some large scrapes on the top, and I often wonder, what was someone doing on the top of this table? The legs of the table have been gently turned and are not ornate. They are turned enough to give the table it’s country farmhouse charm, yet service utility. We can comfortably seat 8 people at the table, but can also accommodate 10. A wooden card table has often been used at one end to fit our entire family or friends. I love seeing the bare wood, and running my hand along the smooth top. I fold my laundry on this table and I use it to do my writing at one end as I am doing now. It is just my Husband and I now living in our house, so I will often change up our seating so we can take in a different view. Sounds silly, but it is a simple shuffle that makes me happy!

I have Witch Balls hanging in different places in my home, as well as in the back garden on Shepherd’s Hooks. Witch balls, hollow glass spheres, often colourful, that were traditionally hung in windows to protect against malevolent forces. They are believed to attract and trap negative energy or spirits, ensuring the safety and well-being of the household. The practice of using witch balls originated in England and was later adopted in various cultures, including in Canada. Now, I am comfortable with the energies that flow through my house, and I believe that the people who enter my home and myself, project positive energy most of the time. I will admit, that there has been, overtime, some very negative karma and energy come into my home, but I try to keep them out! Maybe that energy was captured by the Witch Balls???

I often have calm, jazz playing on my TV. The cat goes to sleep with the sound on the sofa, and it keeps my inner self in a state of equilibrium. Simple, calming sounds to add to my day. I have a Prayer Podcast that I listen to daily, and it brings me to my calm centre. As I create this post, I take time to look around and just seeing one of my Grands in the back yard, watching the cat sleep, listening to the zen music and seeing the collections of things that make me happy, add to the simplicity which I described at the beginning of this post. Water waves and streams running are my other go to. We do not live by water, but when it is windy outside, the trees in the backyard, if I close my eyes, sound just like waves washing up against a shore!! I do not need chaos, or busyness in my life right now. I have chosen to embrace my elder age, my quiet life and will find opportunities to make it just so. This is not to say that I don’t have times where I must multitask and hurry along. That happens too, I am saying, I seek simplicity and will continue to invite those feelings and attributes into my life. I encourage you to do the same.

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Squirrels, those cute little fuzzy rodents, who can scurry up trees faster than a flea launching on a dog. Squirrels, with their cute little mousie faces and those runway-worthy tails? Squirrels, who can walk high wires with ease and chew through a rock-hard black walnut shell! Squirrels, who can leap straight up 4-5 feet from the ground, and hang on by their toes to your bird feeder. Circus material for sure!! So, why do they get such a bad rap?

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In the photo above and below, you can see one of our neighbourhood Black squirrels, resting on our porch swing. This is a favourite spot for them on a hot day to lay flat and cool off and have a wee “squirrel nap”. I do enjoy watching them play and chase each other, and to see young , new from the nest babies, rumble and tumble with each other. They are athletic beyond words and will drive our cat nuts when seen through the window.

Now, with all those compliments, squirrels are known to be pests too. After all, they are part of the rodent family, which in of itself may conjure up visions of rats, beavers or maybe even capybaras?! They can chew through a roof vent or find a hole large enough to get through, kind of like a mouse, if their head fits, they will fit, and get into your attic. We have had squirrels in our attic, as they left walnuts as proof. Had to use a reverse trap door to get them out! They carry fleas. One Summer, when my children were small, I rescued 4 baby squirrels, whose mama must have succumb to a nefarious end. My daughter told me there were things squirming in the grass. Oh indeed! They had fallen a long ways to the ground and when I scooped them up, I could see they were riddled with fleas. I de-fleaded them all by hand, and luckily we had a couple with an animal reserve who were happy to take them and raise them, which they did. They kept them in a room of their own, and when we took our girls some time later to visit and see their progress, they had really grown, and talk about being “squirrelly”!!!

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If you are a feeder of birds, and have squirrels, you may as well pack it in for the birds! Squirrel athletics are extremely well honed and they can empty a bird feeder in record time. I nearly knocked myself out one Winter, as I set off to scare the squirrels off our bird feeder. I slipped on our wet deck and boom, fell with adult force against the deck. My first thought was, did anyone see this happen? How embarrassing that would have been as I was in my pyjamas! And my second thought was, how hard did I hit my head? I lay there for what seemed like an eternity, and then dragged my sorry and stunned body into the house. I have to admit, that was the last time I chased squirrels from the feeder. They had won!

Needless to say, I do not feed squirrels, I mean birds any longer! I do have a bird bath where all critters can get a drink. We have a fenced yard and lots of trees offering many an opportunity for squirrels to practice their athletic skills. I must admit, I do find them very cute, and If one happens to get hit by a car on our street, I will scoop it up into a bag, and give it a proper farewell. They make me smile with their squirrelly antics, their cute little faces and the fact that they live outside and not in my house!!!

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I have the absolute best job for a retired person. I have the pleasure of walking my Friend’s two wee pups, twice a day! Rascal, a 12 year old Pom Chi and Tucker a 4 month old wired Jack! They are excited to see me when I go to get them and I am excited to see them! We can’t get out the door fast enough for the fun to begin.

I keep one dog’s leash in each hand and away we go on our twice daily sniffs. I believe in sniffy walks, as they can explore the world ahead of them, instead of making it a dutiful, pee, poop, back home affair. They love the fresh air as much as I do.

Our walks can be pretty exciting at times! Imagine the small-dog-big-dog complex when a large dog appears?? The barking starts with Rascal and then Tucker chimes right in. They can make quite a racket for two small dogs!!! Now if it is a small or familiar dog, well, the sniffing and dancing around is endless and happy. We have come close to a few birds and squirrels too, and wee Tucker is not quite sure what to make of that!!! Certain people set them off too, but what triggers that, I have no idea. Rascal loves to be patted by most people we meet, but Tucker, as much as he wants to meet people, he will warily run back to me, just in case!!

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Tucker likes to squat when he pees, but oh my, Rascal could join the circus with his high legged performance and his aim!!! I often think he is going to knock himself over with this tippy-toed talent! Rascal has certain things and places he insists on sniffing but Tucker is happy to hone in on his brother’s sniff points and find many of his own. I love when we get to the edge of the park. There is a slope downhill and every time, Tucker takes a very serious stance, prevues the great expanse of the park below, as if he is inspecting his Kingdom, and then we move on.

Both pups love to roll in the grass, but Tucker has this down to a fine art!!!

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Now, I have never seen Rascal pick anything up, other than a chicken bone, which I must say I had to pry out of his mouth, to fierce growling and a bite on the hand! Ouch! Tucker on the other hand eats goose poo, rabbit poo, dandelions, flower fluff from the Maple trees, wood chips, and fermented grass, to name a few things. He loves to carry as well. A favourite is his pinecone, which he picks up where last dropped, sod pieces, small sticks, tissue, fabric and even a pair of tights, which he was extremely proud of I might add!!!

Rascal is a skilled walker and never tugs, he stays. beside me, and tiptoes his way politely along. Tucker on the other hand, being the crazy wee pup that he is, will wildly want to race ahead and tug. I have learned a new technique from a fellow Substacker, to stop as soon as he tugs, count to five in my head and when Tucker has stilled, which he will, I quietly say “yes” and we move on. We had to do this many times today, but I can see he is learning fast!

I have learned that when we get back to their home after our walk, Tucker will start to attack Rascal just to be a stinker and annoy him. So now, I pick Tucker up as we get to the stoop, I unleash Rascal, and he gets to run to the top of the stairs, and announces at the top in a playful little stance, “I’m the King of this castle!!!”

Once inside, hopefully the Boys will take a drink of water, but they tend to be more focused on the little treats I give them before I leave. I leave Tucker settled in his crate and Rascal on his bed. Walkies over now, and I head home.

So if you are at a loss for something to do, ask to walk someone’s dogs. Hopefully you will get as much pleasure from doing that as I do!!! 🐾 🐾 Thanks for reading!!

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I am a person who has to touch things. I love the feel of a baby’s skin and their downy hair. I cannot resist asking to touch someone’s fuzzy or furry coat. I keep stones in every coat pocket so that I can rub them between my fingers as I walk and make them even smoother than they already are! A fetish you might say, not really.

I also like to be touched, and to hold hands, and I am a BIG hugger! There is something about the connection, the contact the feelings and emotions that come along with the actual contact. If I am upset about something, which to be honest does not happen often, I will rub my hands and fingers together and the smoothness and the motion usually calms me down.

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This need to have textured items is pervasive throughout our home. We have soft couch covers, afghans and quilts that make me want to cocoon. Perhaps this need to touch and have softness and textured items stems from a Mom who was a hugger and a snuggler? She could make me relax by rubbing my back or just holding on to me. We always had a cat to pat and I know my Mom liked to do that too. Feelings of softness, being safe and warm, and knowing that the touch was all done in love and caring.

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This is Treble our cat, and she will seek me out simply to be patted. It is an acknowledgement of her presence and her coat shines with happiness. We have velvet chairs in our living room , a smooth old harvest table in the kitchen and bare pine floors that allow your feet to slide and they are smooth under your feet. We have a sunroom that when the sun shines in, the warm feeling on my skin is like being wrapped in a heated blanket.

What is weird, is that for a person who loves texture so much, and touching textured smooth and soft things, my Husband and one of my daughters are not touchers. In fact, certain textures on their skin upset them. They feel uncomfortable and sometimes actually hurt. If I have my arm around my husband and I start to tap or rub his skin, he will lift my hand away as the tapping upsets him. He and my daughter have highly sensitive skin, and perhaps the textures and being touched are an assault to them. Their bodies will go into overload, and they feel overstimulated. Me, I say bring it on!!

When I am out walking, and if I spot a patch of moss, I have to touch it. It is soft, and bumpy at the same time, but it makes me smile and sends endorphins to my brain that says, “Ohhh, that feels so nice!!!” When texture is combined with other senses like scent, sound, or movement, it can deepen our emotional responses, creating a more immersive experience. BINGO! That’s it for me!!! When I hug someone I often will comment on nice they smell. Wind chimes make me so happy as the sound evokes a memory of my childhood home. I love to dance too as it makes me feel so happy and gives me a sense of freedom. Perhaps this is why textures and feels are too much for some people as they are overwhelmed with the experience it creates. When I see people with sound cancelling headphones, I feel sad for them. I want to hear everything!

So please know that when I see a cat, or a dog, a furry coat, a soft blanket, a fuzzy leaf or a smooth surface, I am likely going to touch it. I can’t resit!

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There is something to be said about swinging, especially on my porch swing. I love the slow undulating feeling of the back and forth motion. The sun is usually on my shoulders and a double quilt at my back on bottom. My husband hung the swing just high enough that my short legs can push off the carpet on the porch floor. Then off I go again, legs in the air or tucked under the seat of the swing.

I have a Grand who swings in our backyard several times a day. Swinging is a wonderful regulator and can soothe one’s inner woes or simply calm you down. As a child I loved going to the park where the BIG swings were. I would pump my legs as much as I could to go higher and higher, so high sometimes the seat would buckle! Slowing down, I would jump off the swing seat in midair and land several meters in front of the swing on my feet on the grass. Sometimes, I would stand on the swing seat, as they were made from wood and feel like I was flying into the clouds. Hanging or flopping my belly on the swing seat was also fun.

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Does anyone remember “underdogs”? They were the best to get someone going, pushing them from behind and running forward under their seat at full arm’s length and then letting them go. My husband did this a little to forcefully to our youngest daughter when she was little and accidently pushed her right off the swing. She landed with a thud in the shavings below the swing, and turned around and got back on! We had sturdy kids!

My view from the porch swing is awesome! My neighbours have a beautiful forsythia bush and allowed me to cut a few twigs to enjoy. I can also look all the way down the porch and imagine the neighbours sitting with us in the warmer weather. The street is to my left and it offers endless entertainment!

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We have no grass on our front lawn but rather a perennial garden. I cleaned that all up last weekend and certainly look forward to looking at its progress as I swing into oblivion!

I believe everyone needs a swing, if only to chill out for a bit or to remind you to slow down. No underdogs however!!!

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I have not written a post in a while. Seems I have lots on my mind, yet my mind feels blank! Where have all my thoughts gone? It is like sitting on a bench, watching everything and everyone go by, yet I am not really on the bench, I am invisible. All these things are happening around me, and I wish I could put them into words, but, nothings happens???

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A lot has been going on. I was diagnosed with a broken foot and deteriorating cartilage in my foot, so needless to say, I had to wear a cast boot for weeks. Stump, stump! I shall see a foot Specialist at the end of this month. It has been raining a lot, and the skies are often gray. Never thought this affected me, but I am beginning to think it does. My husband needed oral surgery, ew! So he needed my attention. I have to re-home my crazy hairy Toddler Jazz, as my family are afraid of him and jump at his loud bark and find this overwhelming. He has nipped, and I can’t have him doing that! . I am going to miss him so much!!! We are great together. He leaves this weekend. My daughter’s brain cancer is back and she is going to need chemo treatments for a very long while. My friend is struggling, and I can only be there in a way that I feel is not helping her. My weekly Bible Study, which I love has ended. And, my eldest daughter and Grand are still estranged from us, and I let that get to me.

There are days I feel I am walking into a quiet abyss, and no one can hear me cry or scream, because nothing comes out of my mouth. I hide it, I keep it locked away and silent. I think about all the things that I listed above, but I feel ineffectual, and dragging, that I cannot help or change a damn thing. So, I stay in my house, look after the things I am expected to look after, walk my dog because otherwise I may not get outside. I run the necessary errands and blindly and quietly, show up where I am supposed to.

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I would not say I am depressed, just empty at the moment. My house will be so quiet when Jazz is gone. I know that I will have to make an effort to get myself outside after he leaves. I know that my life will receive a kick start once I get out into the gardens. Perhaps I shall have to start swimming again? I can read more, and nap less. I really need to make a point of having a “take myself to a café day” where I can read, think, people watch and have a great cappuccino.

I think that part of where the blank thoughts have come from is that I am on my own a lot, and perhaps getting out more will help. We tend to ruminate when we cannot get these thoughts out. They just spin around and no new stimulating information gets in. My mind has literally been a blank page. I think that later today, I shall try and make a list of some topics I would like to write about. I am not a fancy baker, and nor do I have fancy gardens. My pup is leaving, so he will no longer be a source of inspiration. My parents are gone, I am not out in the world saving dogs, or cats, and I no longer have a Thrift Store to write about. I do not have professional advice to give you, and I just had a birthday that has put me so close to 70! I think we all go through these slumps, and I am not known to be in the “slump pit” for very long.

Come on Jazz, it is time to go for our walk. It will make us both feel better!!!

I know I have followers out there. I would love to know what you are up to, and you may certainly leave comments here. Who knows, you my be my next source of inspiration!! Thanks for reading Mary Ann’s Musings.

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It is almost the end of March, the snow is mostly gone, and the cold mornings hang on just for the hell of it! I am truly ready now for some warmer weather, sunshine, warm rain and no more heavy coats!

I noticed that the snowdrops finally opened up in our back garden, but are bending with frost this morning! Oh dear! The sun will warm them up in an hour or so. It does not stop my pup Jazz from doing perimeter checks in the backyard as well as looking for squirrels! Little does he know that they are preparing their spring nests for babies that will soon be born.

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Looking out my kitchen window and seeing the sun shining on the houses across the street, awakens my soul and makes me smile. It reminds me of the warmer days to come where I can rest in my swing on the porch and take in the neighbourhood happenings and ponder and think. Does this walk into a new season excite everyone? Is it only me who sees the garden potential of my perennial front yard? Is it only me who is excited by the the prep that needs to be done to free the garden of its winter detritus? The hydrangeas need to be pruned, old leaves raked up and twigs and bark from our maple tree and garbage that has blown in needs to be picked out.

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We (my daughter and I) moved a bunch of perennials at the end of last summer, hoping to fill in some spaces that were ruined by dogs, thinking our garden was a pee or poop spot!! Some of our plants withered and died, so splitting some hardier ones and replanting made sense. We also could not resist purchasing a few new plants, as the nursery always draws us in during the late days of spring.

As I get older, the days fly by! I am sure you have heard or felt this before? Easter is right around the corner, a time when death is overcome by resurrection. Well, our gardens do the same thing each year. The plants seem to “die” when really they go into winter mode, and are “born again” in the spring. It is miraculous to watch and experience. April is just around the corner, the “opening” month, when trees and flowers open up their leaves and blooms. April is “spring” and “renewal”, the season’s resurrection!

I feel blessed to be able to witness these changes, to have my birthday in April and to feel renewed myself, on a day such as today. Welcome spring. Nice to see you again.

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Thanks for reading Mary Ann’s Musings. I write about things that happen in my life, stories that have been sitting on my mind’s shelf, needing to be put into type.

If you enjoy reading my thoughts and stories, send me a message or leave a comment. It is most encouraging to someone like me, a novice writer, just needing to get my thoughts out there. Happy Spring!

This is our beautiful wee Tortie cat Treble. Her Mama, Ruby died last fall, and I know that she misses her a lot. Treble is approximately 13 years old. One is never quite sure when you rescue a pet, how old they actually are unless they were present at their birth! Ruby used to sleep above my head at night on my pillow. She would gently purr and snuggle in. Treble has taken over this special sleeping routine, and purrs and squeaks up a storm and often sleeps on my hair and rests her head on my face!!! Oh, and do not forget the dough she kneads out of the pillow and sometimes my hair!!

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Almost a year ago, we rescued a wild and crazy Hairy Toddler of a pup whom we named Jazz! Unlike our previous pup Percy, who adored the cats and vice versa, I am not sure Jazz knew much about what a cat was and just assumed because it moved, he had to chase it!! Needless to say, Treble moved up stairs to the attic closet area, and has a serene and private feline space equipped with a Squashmallow bed ( super soft and looks like a Koala) a litter box, scratching post, water fountain and food dispenser. Now if that is not being treated like Royalty, I don’t know what is!!??

Back to the Hairy Toddler. Jazz loves to follow me everywhere, including upstairs to my bedroom. He has come upon Treble several times, lounging on our bed mid-afternoon, and barking, hissing and scratching was heard from the bedroom realm, as Jazz was in pursuit. I rescued the poor kitty the first time, and she managed to escape the next. However today, as Jazz now knows to check for said kitty on the bed, a major fist-a-cuffs ensued!! I thought, well, maybe they will just sort this out like two good pets and finally become friends?? NOT!! I went upstairs and I could see that the “attack” had started on the bed but continued up to the wee kitty’s sacred space and she was whapping the heck out of Jazz’s face, which he seemed to think was fun!! He was so excited that he clearly had busted a gland over this whole thing and I had to grab him and rinse him off!!! Pee-ew!

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Jazz showed his usual remorse with the “so sorry Mom look” and has sought refuge in his private bed space to recover. I have the distinct feeling that these two are never going to become or are not meant to be Friends. So, I will continue to show love and attention to them separately. I will also remind Jazz that Treble is a good Kitty, if only he could learn to leave her alone!!?? Bwahahaha! What’s that chance of that?? We had to get a Westie Bichon mix, always curious and ready to go!!!

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It is a perfect Winter day here today. Fresh snow from yesterday covers all the dirty slush and snow, the temperature is just below zero, and the sun is shining bright! Standing on my back deck earlier, I almost wanted to find a deck chair and basque in the sun’s warmth. Instead, after a lovely, hot cup of tea in my sunroom, I took my Wunder Pup Jazz out for a walk. He Loves the snow!!! The sunshine also made him happy as we dashed off to the park to plow through the marvellous flakes on the ground!

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If there is water in the ground, or a bare sidewalk rimmed with snow, Jazz will always move onto the snow. For a southern pup from Texas, he certainly surprised us with his love of Winter!!! He also seeks out piles of leaves as they have the most delicious smells for him. I on the other hand can’t wait to get onto the trail in the park, where the sun is shining brightly. I stand for a few moments, face drawn to the celestial face of the sun, and I literally soak up a few rays. It feels so good, especially when the Winter was dark, snowy and cold. I whisper a wee thanks to my Creator for sharing a few sunny rays with me! The snow on the ground in the park is blinding as the sun blazes upon it, but that certainly does not stop us!

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I suppose that my love of the sunshine, explains why I love Summer so much. I know that the sun can shine anytime of year, but in the Summer, it is the best!! As I have gotten older I have resorted to using sunscreen on my face daily, and I also use it on my body in the Summer. A habit that I am thankful to have accepted.

I so look forward to Spring and Summer when my Wunder Pup Jazz and I can sit on the porch swing and soak up a few rays. It just makes me feel good, makes me warm, calms my inner being and relaxes my body. I have never been one to travel to sunny climes for Winter holidays, because I would rather anticipate the coming of the warmer weather, and accept the sun’s invitation to sit a while. As one of my favourite singers John Denver sang, “sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy!” It really does!!

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Ever since I was a little Girl, I always wanted to wear some sort of jewelry. It could have been a plastic bubble gum machine ring, a string with a button for a necklace, or an odd earring from my Mom. I thought that it was an essential item to wear! I figured that wonderful necklace would grab someone’s attention, but at the least, it would make me look pretty.

Those of you who have followed my posts, know that I was adopted. At that time, when my parents got me, they had to appear before a Judge after some time, to prove that the adoption was going well and sign papers to finalize the adoption. I was 18 months by then. So, my Mom dressed me up in a pretty dress, with a slip, I had my wee purse full of my treasures, some of which was jewelry, and off we went to see the Judge. As my Mom was talking to the judge, I asked him if he like my new dress, and he responded in kind. I asked him also if he would like to see my new slip, which I promptly showed him, to much laughter. My Mom was dying at that point as she was hoping I would not show him my new panties!!?? Nope, instead I dumped the contents of my purse on his desk to show him my jewelry and treasures. I had to show them to someone!! Whew!! He told my Mom that it appeared all was going well with the adoption, he smiled and the papers were signed.

When I was 9 years old, I wanted my ears pierced. Now at that time, one did not go to Claires or to a Tattoo and piercing shop. Either your family doctor would pierce them, or Mom would use self piercer earrings and do it. So, off to the jewellers to buy self piercers! I remember standing in our living room on a gloomy November afternoon, waiting for my Mom to shove those earrings through my earlobes! She was nervous and I was super excited! So with a cork behind my ear, she pushed the first one through! Whoa! It bled like crazy!! Mom was mortified that she had somehow maimed her little girl, and I excitedly was telling her to pierce the other one, which she managed to do. When the deed was done, I hurriedly asked if I could go to my friend Charity to show her. Permanent jewelry!!

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Now don’t get me wrong. I am not a Boho, large and bangled, heavy stone wearer of jewelry, although I do own a few larger pieces. I prefer silver and precious stones as opposed to actual jewels. I have seen the Crown Jewels in London, and cannot imagine the weight of wearing such creations, let alone the cost. I love costume jewelry, and also some personal pieces that have meaning behind them. I wear a Friendship necklace all the time, that I have also given the same to a couple of my closest Friends, and a stainless steel bar that says, “Live with Intention”. I have that statement tattooed on my back as well!!

I like to wear things that match my attire, I love beaded Indigenous earrings that show off my Metis background, and I simply love handmade pieces that I have picked up in so many places. I have many silver rings with precious stones, and earrings galore. Bracelets also figure into my wardrobe. I do not believe it is a vanity thing, but more of a colourful and playful sense of who I am. My jewelry makes a statement about who I am, someone who is not afraid to make a statement!!!

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Since that initial ear piercing, I have had more earrings put into my ears, often at the same time as one of my daughters did. I have a number of tattoos (9) and they are like my jewelry too, except I wear them all the time. I know that as I continue to age, I shall likely pare down the number of pieces I own. My Grands have already started to go through and take some for themselves.

What may I share from this, aside from the fact that I love to play dress-up daily???

Go have fun! Buy jewelry from Artisans, wear precious stones, be bold, and make a personal statement. It’s not too late!!!

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How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

1806 –1861

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

People have talked about love since the beginning of time. The word “love” was first used in Old English as “lufu” around the year 825. It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *leubʰ-, meaning “to care” or “to desire”. The term has evolved over time, but its origins can be traced back to this early form in Old English.

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Today, love gets used in so many ways. Saying “I love you” tells someone you care for them or desire them. “I love chocolate”, merely states the the wonderful taste that chocolate has and that it makes you feel good! Some people live “for the love of money”, indicating a lust to be rich and prosper. The idiom, “for the love of Pete” is used to express annoyance, exasperation or disbelief. Love often gets used merely to express how we like something a lot, such as , “ I love to travel!” Spirituality brings people to say things like, “ I love God,” someone we cannot even see.

However the LOVE I wish to focus on is the love of another, namely my partner and husband in my life. We have been together for 50 years, and married for 47 years. That is a long time and a LOT OF LOVE! Now do not get me wrong, our love has grown over the years, it has changed and it has most certainly been shown in so many different ways. When we first met, love was giggles and whispers, gentle and discreet touches, holding hands and kissing. Love was shown by the many phone calls and dates, laughing out loud and being silly. Intimacy, our ultimate expression of love was, well how shall I put this, always on our minds and secretly sought after.

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After we got married, our love was still a top priority, but work was a reality, looking after our home and our car, and being social when we could. Love in the greatest sense of the word, produced three beautiful daughters. Now we had three lovelies to share our love with as well, and so our love evolved. Quiet loving times for just the two of us were fewer for sure, and interspersed with our family responsibilities, work, pets, friends, basically, our life!!

Now move forward to today. We have been empty-nesters for quite some time. We have our three fantastic daughters, we have 5 amazing Grands, a loyal son-in-law and I have been finally, really retired since January 2026. Our life is quieter and it is just the two of us, our dog and our cat. My Husband still works because he choses to and he loves his job. Our daughters are close by, but they have their own lives, and we see them when we can. I am home, and am thriving on the “me time” as well as looking after our home. I participate in a Bible study, I walk our dog, I am part of a Book Club, I do the shopping and the cleaning, and I am LOVING my life. As for my Husband, who has always been the quietly demonstrative type, our love is here, ever present.

An un-called for look, a smile, a gentle hug and a request for a cuddle, continues to demonstrate that we continue to love one another. We always hold hands when we can, we do some things together, our faith leads us in the same direction, we have a relaxed approach to our life, instead of the harried and fleeting life we had when our Girls were small, but that is not to say love no longer exists sometimes. My Husband has never been a Valentine’s Day, romantic type of guy, and sadly, I had to adjust to this. So I put up a few feel-good decorations and make sure that hugs, kisses and “I love you’s” continue to be made.

I shall never stop loving this Man who has stuck by me, worked hard for me and our family, shared a spiritual faith journey, adjusted to my quirks, allowed me to speak my mind, even when we disagree. We have some dreams that we share together, and some are very different, but that is ok. Love accepts that. Love is not perfect. Love is real. Love is us. Love binds us together. So on Saturday February 14th, I shall say to my Husband, “Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you!!”

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It is snowing here again, as you can see the new, fluffy layer on the dirty road snow. I was walking with Jazz, and I have passed this crane many times. In fact, it is located right beside where our store was located Downtown. Condominiums are being built, and I must say, we need some affordable housing in our city.

However, I was moved to take some photos of the crane, as it reminded me of teaching my Grade 2 classes all about Simple Machines. We would learn about all the Simple machines, that they are mechanical devices that modify motion and force to perform work. They are the simplest mechanisms known and can increase force while reducing load displacement. The six types of simple machines include:

• Lever: A rigid bar that pivots around a fulcrum.

• Pulley: A wheel on an axle designed to support movement and change direction of force.

• Inclined Plane: A flat surface tilted at an angle to help lift objects.

• Wedge: A device that tapers to a thin edge to separate objects.

• Screw: An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder.

• Wheel and Axle: A circular object that rotates around a central axis.
  These machines help simplify complex tasks in everyday life

After identifying them all, finding everyday examples of them and experimenting with designing one of each, the class was usually challenged, in a small group, to choose one of the simple machines, and design and create their own machine, with their choice of building materials. I would see ladders, hand drills, teeter totters, small cars, wheelbarrows, a swing, a knife and cheese, a well with a bucket and ultimately, a group would build a crane. Bonus kuddos to that group as the crane includes several simple machines!!

It is amazing how many things we use on a daily basis, that at the heart of what they are, is a basic simple machine. Our bodies become parts of simple machine technology when we use a hammer, bread and cheese can be cut with a knife, our cars and trucks have wheels, ramps are used at the end of sidewalks, and the list can go on. I am amazed how fascinated I am when I stare at that crane. It was erected in a single day, and when it was up and they tested it and voila, the levers, the pulley and the wheels and axels displayed their great form.

Somehow, I would not want to be the crane operator, as its a LONG climb up to his/her daily job. I am guessing at least, that the crane cab is heated, so working out in the cold like their colleagues is the bonus!!

What is it about icicles that my eyes are always drawn to them in the Winter? Beautiful spikes of frozen, drippy water, that look fierce hanging from someone’s eavestrough. I would avoid standing under icicles like these, for fear i would get impaled!!! As a child I searched for them and broke them off, with great satisfaction I might add, and would inspect it, enjoy the feel of the cold and wet melt in my hands, and then very carefully, I would taste it and bite a piece off! I was even known to take one home and try to preserve it a snow pile or even in the freezer!

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I know that when I see icicles like the ones in the photo, the attic is not insulated so well, the ventilation in the attic is poor, or the water from the snowfall has nowhere to go, but down! The water that flows down re-freezes and you get these beautiful icicles.

I loved when we would find a huge number of reachable icicles and we could incorporate them into the snow forts we were building, or pretend that they were swords and initiate an epic sword fight! It explains why my childhood bedroom in the attic was SOOOOO freezing in the Winter and so HOTTTT in the Summer. The insulation was minimal at best.

We got nearly 50cm of snow on Sunday, and the snow piles and the icicles are those of a child’s dreams! Just imagine the amazing tunnel one could build in the pile in front of this gray house???? It is like totally a quinzhee in the making!!!My Grandson made one last Winter as part of an Outdoor Ed course. He loved making it and crawling inside. So much so, he asked his family to come and check it out!

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The joy on their faces says it all! Sadly I do not see kids digging in the snowbanks much anymore. Snow at school becomes territorial, with kids “stealing snowballs, ice blocks and actual snow!” Maybe I could convince my Grands to tunnel in our backyard where there exists a massive pile of snow on our deck. We would have to go looking for icicles too to decorate it or make a guarded entrance of spikes!!! Ooooo! I can already see it!

Be careful if you try to lick an icicle from a low hanging location. One never knows if a neighbourhood dog has actually visited, or the location has rust or a bad tasting plant or tree at the other end! My experience?? Just saying!!!!

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Hope you are having some Winter fun?? Feel free to comment with your photos.

How often do you find yourself searching for a word, in the middle of a conversation, and it’s just not there??? Immediately my brain goes searching, quickly thinking about what I have just said or what the conversation is about, and I either come up with the word, ask, or move on, only to blurt the word out later!? If it is a name, I go through the alphabet in my mind, and usually come up with the name. It is a most frustrating phenomenon, in that I have always been really good at remembering names!! However, I eventually get there, and breathe a sigh of, finally!!

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Exercising our brains and our voices is so important at the midlife stage of life I am in. Dementia is certainly not kicking in yet, I don’t think??? When we think of our voice, we think about times when we are silent, or use whispers. In school kids are often told to “use their inside voice”, as if it is that drastically changed from the out-of-doors to the inside!? How often are we told to “Shhh” or “it would be better left unsaid?” I love words so much that I subscribe to Word Dailies just to learn new words or congratulate myself for knowing it already! (Everyone needs a pat on the back once in a while, right?)

I have a picture of a large Ginkgo leaf on my bathroom wall, and I placed it there on purpose. A neighbour has a Ginkgo tree on their lawn, and for the life of me, I could never remember the name of that damn tree. So, now when I get up everyday, I see the picture and say “Ginkgo” to myself, and I know my day is off to a good start!!

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Words and our voices have ways of reminding us just how important it is to use them. We even create ways to make up for or control how we use them, like “use your inside voice”, “Tip-of-the-tongue”, “some timers”, “maybe better left unsaid”, “your thoughts”, saying “um”, “read my lips” etc… So, that is one of the reasons I love to read, and subscribe to Word of the Day, participate in a Book Club and a Bible Study, so my vocabulary stays sharp and interesting. At my age, I still want to be heard, I still want to sound like I have interesting ideas, and I want to be able to know what to say! I also continue to try and find reasons to be part of conversations, because being quiet for too long, settles my brain cells, and then they have to work all the harder! I also try to have conversations with my kids and Grands, because they are a wealth of great vocabulary, that is often new to me. Reading the news, researching information and topics, all help towards keeping that tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon at bay. Just saying!

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I would love to hear from you and to find out if this affects you too? Maybe we can create our own “Word of the Day”? Salutations!

Hello Substack Friends!!! I have missed you! For those of you who read my posts, you might remember that my husband and I owned a not-for-profit thrift store called Journey Thrift? Well, in true local City style where I live, our street location for the store will be closed for the next 3 years, due to condos being built next door. We had no warning, no compensation, no discussion. So, car and foot traffic went down significantly, the City also did not enrol any foreign students at our downtown Algoma University, so no student customers, and our downtown, due to construction that has been ongoing for the last several years, it is basically a “ghost town”. So just paying our bills and rent and not sending funds to the charity we supported was a no go. Our doors permanently closed on Wednesday December 31, 2025. Sad for our many Volunteers and Customers and for the Charity we helped as well as the disenfranchised and homeless in our downtown. We had the best thrift store in town!!!

Now that is all said, and after the BIG clean-up of the store, and not having to spend 8 to 10 hours a day on my feet, I am relieved and happy to finally be retiring!! My official retirement from teaching was in 2013, but as often happens, stuff got in the way and filled the teaching gap. Babysitting Grands, volunteering, doing things at our church, helping my kids, losing a daughter and Grand to estrangement, supporting a daughter who lives with brain cancer, building her a house attached to ours as well as working at our store, there was NO retirement actually happening! But now, it is true and the reality is, I am done and officially retired!!!

The big question now is, “what will I do?” Well that is pretty easy for me. I need a massive rest, which has been forced upon me at this time as I tore my left knee MCL cleaning up at the store! Oye! I don’t even remember doing that??!! I want to make time to read more, do my daily meditations, walk my dog, have coffee with friends, with whom I shall also start a Book Club, and cook and garden. In the Fall a month-long trip to Scotland is planned with two of our close Friends, so, as you can see, a real retirement!!

I love that today we are snowed in. Winter came and then it got warm for a bit and everything melted, but it is back with a vengeance today. Over 30 cm has fallen, it is -14*C with a windchill of -25*C and schools and many places are closed. Sitting by my fireplace with a resting dog is like heaven served on a silver platter.

Just thinking about the quiet and the snow gently falling outside, the relaxing music I have been playing and having or rather making the time for me, has such a different ring to it. I was always helping others, filling in, rushing about and doing work at the store, actual thoughts of this real retirement was a blur. Surely I will get days where things are busy, but then I can say, I did them by choice.

So, here I go. I am off and reading!!! The best part of this, I feel no guilt or need to be doing anything else!! Winter is still here. Snow day, yay!!!