Time to Pause

After a few days of extreme heat and an exhausting day yesterday, I slumped in the chair with my coffee.  I didn’t even make it out to the porch this morning.  We have another appointment filled day and Ron wanted to get the grass cut before the rain comes.  I picked up my iPad and went to our emails.  I like to read the devotional that comes there every morning.  I wanted to grasp a new truth that God would give me to face the day.  Life has been busy and hard and we know that we aren’t alone.  Looking around we see families with problems, couples hurting from cancer diagnosis, grieving people…and so, what would today’s message for me be?

“Is your soul feeling empty or running low on joy today? Take some time to pause. Sit and stare at the radiant beauties of the Lord, and allow Him — all of who He is — to freshen and fill your soul.” From Proverbs 31 Ministries

Well, I think He nailed it.  I am feeling like I am running on empty.  So this morning I took a pause.  I am thankful for the coffee that Ron prepared for me and I am enjoying every sip as I put my thoughts down this morning.  We have to get ready to go soon but what better way to enjoy “the radiant beauties of the Lord” but to post a few good memories.

These two are what keep me going most days…yes, they like their meals made and laundry done 🫣 but it’s much more than that!  When one little turtle needs saving on a hot road, they jump into action.

Whether I need a sounding board, a good laugh or a new plan to be heard, this is where I call.  Spending time with these two is like a restart.  

My country cousins have become such great friends.  Adventures, music, games and lots of laughter!

I am so thankful to be living in the “Land of Lakes” region.  There is nothing more soothing than the calm waters.

And then there is Bon Echo…my happy place.  Yes, I have a few Happy Places but this one is packed full of good memories, great scenery and a wonderful beach.

I could go on and on but the time is slipping away.  I need to grab my second cup of coffee and get ready to go.  I haven’t had time to fully mention the many places that we have lived, the wonderful friends we have made, the great church family and the list continues…I guess that is all for another day when I need to sit and pause and know that life has a lot of good things.

Grade 8 Graduation 👩‍🎓

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we could not attend Emma’s graduation but we still wanted to share how much we love this girl!

Congratulations Emma! ❤️

She Did It!

Sarah came to live with us at the beginning of this semester.  

She has worked so hard at school and has done so well.  When we went early in the year, for teacher interviews, we heard such positive comments about her.  Her English teacher referred to her as a “model student” and moved her up from applied to academic.  Her Health teacher talked her into taking Biology next year even though Sarah had stated that she would never, ever take another science class again. She poured herself into assignments and prepared for tests. She wrote her last essay today which brings Grade 10 to a close.

We have been proud of all of her hard work.  We were excited that she received an award for putting in the effort.

She has been a blessing to us.  She has such a sensitive heart.  These six months have been full of school work, traveling, making new friends and keeping in contact with old ones. She enjoys the little moments and celebrates the bigger ones.

Way to go Sarah!  Nanny and Grandpa couldn’t be prouder of you.  Keep working hard.  Keep looking up!  Keep doing what you have been doing….❤️

Early Morning Paddle

When the heat keeps coming and you don’t want to stay inside all day, you get on the lake by 7:00 am.  That was Ron’s idea yesterday and I decided to drag myself out of bed to join him.  He put my coffee in a carry cup and we were off.

Even when we unloaded the canoe, we could feel the heat.  We slid the canoe into Sharbot Lake and I set up my breakfast table.  

There was a gentle breeze already as we paddled around an island.  A Blue Heron proudly stood at his post as we paddled by.  He stayed long enough for me to snap a picture of his stature like pose.  

The sound of the loon set my breathing just right.  Their haunting song which is sometimes called a yodel is one of my favourite sounds.  I should make it clear that I like the sound of a loon yodeling but for humans to do it, it just sounds loonie!

A little otter swam by and stuck his head out of the water watching us, curious to see who was disturbing his morning swim.  By the time we had canoed around the island, the heat was on us.  The sun had broke out and the humidity was high.  

I could see the beach ahead of us and we both knew today was going to be a swim day.  The water felt so good.  We dipped in the lake before we loaded the canoe and nice more after.

We got home just before 10:00 am and Sarah was still sleeping!

Today is another HOT one and Sarah has her last exam to write and then she is off for the summer.  What adventures will we have?

HOT! 🥵

We have had a cool spring and then the summer solstice arrived and wow, did summer do a jump start!!  We are currently in a heat warning with the air conditioner running non stop.  We noticed that in Pincher Creek the conditions are quite the opposite.

The forecast warned us that the heat was moving in so I snapped some pictures of my flowers before they wilt.

The gardens will need a good soaking tonight when I manage to step outside in the heat.

I miss being outside but I did get my steps in today by going on the treadmill.  Until you have experienced the Ontario humidity, it’s hard to explain.  One of my favourite places to be is sitting on our front porch, usually there is a gentle breeze but not today.

Our little Alberta Spruce is probably not enjoying this hot, humid weather but we will give him a good drink tonight.

Stay cool!  😎 

Roller Coaster vs The Swan Ride

Life is a roller coaster of ups and downs.  I hate roller coasters!  I haven’t ridden on too many but I have always wondered why people like them.  This is how I describe that horrible ride.  I would stand in line waiting and watching.  The line is long and usually it’s a hot day.  People around are describing the excitement and horror of what awaits at the front of the line.  I turn my eyes up and see the “lucky ones” that have made it onto the ride.  As it begins, people have the look of expectation, fear and bewilderment.  Slowly, the car goes on the track up the fake hill.  I wonder how safe really is that?  As the ride comes to the top, hands are thrown up in the air and the yelling begins.  Some yell from the thrill, some from terror and some because everyone else is doing it.  I look back down and realize that the line has moved forward and I’m getting closer to the thrill that I don’t want to experience.  Just before the stairs to climb to the starting point is the moment that I come to my senses.  Why would I put myself through that?  I don’t like having my stomach being thrown up to my mouth!  I don’t need to do that?  I turn out of the line and head to the swan ride.  The line is much shorter and the ride calmer.

Life happens around us.  I dislike those jolting moments where I feel terror and unrest.  I don’t seem to have control over the outcome and I feel like my emotions have been thrown around like the sudden turns and unexpected drops of the roller coaster.  🎢 I had a thought today while Ron and I were canoeing.  

I can’t control life around me but I can choose how I ride it.  What about instead of getting whip lash from the experience, I take the gentle ride.  I can’t promise that I won’t have those uncomfortable moments but what I would prefer to do is take the gentle approach.  Enjoy the good things.  Make good memories.

Since writing is like therapy to me, I will use my blog to share the happy moments of life.  I’ve noticed that even in the darkest days there are good times and memories to make and hold on to.

Here are a few from today…

Stay tune for more of life’s special moment…Swan Style! 

May Long Weekend

On Friday, I went into Napanee for a massage and then Judy, Mom and I went out for lunch.  We enjoyed a delicious meal at the Napanee Riverfront Restaurant.  We decided that the meal was so good that we should try the dessert too.  We walked out of there very satisfied.

I picked up Sarah and we headed to Kingston.  While I was out enjoying a meal and dropping our girl off in Kingston, Ron was having lunch with an old friend from Sharbot Lake and then he went to golf with the black flies.

We both arrived home in time to watch the Leafs play and were surprised that they lived to play a game 7.

Saturday morning we went to the Tamworth Big Breakfast.  

Each month the volunteers do a breakfast for a different cause.  All the food is donated, including REAL maple syrup and all the donations go to the designated charity, project or person in need.  This month was for the Canada Day celebrations.  Tamworth knows how to give and how to celebrate.

We received an invitation for supper from new friends at the church.  Judy and Barry (Judy is another cousin) also came for the evening.  The view from their home was beautiful.

After a nice dinner, we played a new game.  I’m unhappy to report that the men beat the ladies by a tiny little bit.

Sunday morning arrived and we were off to church.  I visited in the foyer while Ron was in a board meeting.  Yes, Ron is the newest member of the church board and I’m the one that forgot to ask for the car keys before he went into the meeting.

There was a little bit of excitement, much trepidation and a lot of uncertainty for the evening’s activity.  Game seven for the Leafs against the Panthers was scheduled for 7:30.  Ron had to go to a sing at 6:30.  Due to the conflict of scheduling, Ron went to the sing and I stayed with the tv.  It seemed to be what would work best.  Apparently the sing went well and game seven did not.

Picture taken from the video on YouTube 

Monday morning came and I was busy in the kitchen.   I made buns and cookies to take to the 50 Plus service and lunch scheduled for Tuesday.  I also made sour dough granola bars and sticky rhubarb pudding from our own rhubarb.

We met Jett and his dad in Godfrey and got Sarah back.  She had a good weekend with friends and Jett’s family.  As we drove  she leaned up and gave me a gift for Mother’s Day (Nanny’s).  I opened the little box and cried.  It will be nice to carry around my beautiful grandchildren on a new keychain.

Ron is out cutting grass again as I type and Sarah went straight to her room.  Long weekends are great but sometimes more tiring than the regular routine.  

Enjoy The Moment

This morning started out with watching Sarah head to the bus.  She had a big day ahead of her.  Her health class were taking a field trip to the Nursing Lab at Queen’s University.

After a day of not feeling well, I was ready to be on the move.  I could have stayed home and cleaned and caught up on other things ….but, why?  We headed to Kingston.  We did a little shopping and then drove down Princess Street and found a parking spot.  We walked for a bit.  It has been a long time since we have walked downtown Kingston.  We strolled along the harbour.  

We decided to have lunch at a waterfront restaurant paid for by our son and daughter-in-law…Happy Mother’s Day to me.  The lunch was delicious and we enjoyed watching a man prepare his sailboat for the season.  A bride and groom walked by with a photographer.  It was a great place to people watch.

When in Kingston, you should always do a Costco run and so we did.  Food for all of us, a fan for Sarah and Ron picked up some roses for me.  Win, win!!

We got home just in time for Sarah to walk through the door.  She had lots of stories about the different labs that she had seen and experienced.  It had been a good day for her too.  

We thought we were done for the day and then a friend asked Sarah to go to youth.  Why stay home, when you can go?  Of course, all the cool kids get a ride to youth on a motorcycle, even if it is your grandpa driving.  

When Ron got back, it was my turn.  I decided to keep my phone in my pocket.  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so let me use the thousand words.  We drove north and soon game to Beaver Lake.  I smiled as I thought about living so close to a usable lake.  What does that mean?  Alberta has the most beautiful lakes but only the brave or those that like polar plunges swim in them.  Ontario lakes warm gradually over the spring and summer months, making swimming very enjoyable.  A few minutes more we were in the start of the Canadian Shield.  The landscape consists of spruce trees, lakes, swamps and rocks.  We reached number 7 highway and stopped for gas. We went east until the Arden road.   Big Clear Lake came into view as we travelled south.  Arden was where a lot of the Steele clan use to live and I still have a couple of relatives there now.  We passed familiar spots, a swimming place on the left, grandma’s house on the right.  Growing up, when we would visit Grandma,  it was interesting going into her front room where the town library was housed.  That might be where I learned to love books.  As we continued down the Arden road, we passed the community hall which hosted many Steele family reunions.  The next landmark is the cemetery where we have said goodbye to so many family members.  The road becomes curvy as we continue.  Pitt Road is to the left.  We spent a lot of time down that road through the years at my dad’s hunting camp that he owned with some uncles.  Looking down in the ditches along the ride where thousands of trilliums.  I was always told when I was young not to pick these special wild flowers as they won’t come back.  I’m glad to know that all of us kids listened because they are still doing well.  We continued our journey and soon came into the municipality of Stone Mills.  We passed cousin George’s house on the right.  We made it back to Tamworth.  It was a beautiful evening for a ride and a trip down memory lane.

42!

42 years of marriage.  It’s kind of crazy that we got here but I’m so glad that we did and we still like each other. 🥰. Life has been full of ups and downs but through it all Ron has been my constant.  He has sometimes been my hero, most of the time, my rock and always, my friend.  

Today we celebrated with a plumber coming to the house in the morning.  He kept Ron busy for a few hours while I crawled back into bed due to a cold.  I came around about lunch time and Ron made me a delicious meal of toast and tea.  

We needed to go into Napanee in the afternoon and so I medicated up and went for the drive.  We decided that for supper we should pick up Domino’s pizza because they too were celebrating their 42nd anniversary.  

It only makes sense.  

I tried to watch the hockey game but was falling asleep so I dragged myself up the stairs and made a neocitran.  While I am sipping on my warm lemon drink I decided to share our very exciting anniversary celebrations.

After 42 years of marriage, we have learned that it’s not about the celebrations but the memories through the years and we are continuing to try and make them.