Enjoy, Breathe, Smile

We have had a busy week with volunteering, meetings and appointments but today was totally free.  It was a beautiful warm day….warm enough for a motorcycle ride.  I packed a few snacks and even made tea to carry and we were off.  We arrived at Sharbot Lake beach and set up for lunch/tea time.  We were entertained by two people with their two dogs swimming.  We were not tempted to even feel the water but they didn’t seem to mind the temperature too much.

After our little picnic, we headed north to Bon Echo.  For some reason this is the place where I can breathe deeper, smile more and enjoy the moments that I am there.  We went for a walk along the water and of course to the narrows.

Strolling through the campgrounds, we checked out the yurts.  It is a pretty nice way to camp.  There were still some campers around but much quieter than the last time we were at the park.  We had another snack and finished the tea at the main beach before heading home.

I love these September days….enjoying the moments, breathing deeper and smiling more.

Shorter Days

Days are getting shorter…or so everyone says.  Actually the days still consist of 24 hours but it’s the sun that is getting lazy.  She gets up later and goes to bed early….that kind of sounds like me.  

Yesterday, we took advantage of a warmer day and went back to the bird sanctuary in Prince Edward County.  The birds were not in the migratory mood and so we didn’t add too many to our list.  

We walked around with our devices listening for songs while others strolled with their huge cameras to snap a picture.  It’s a pretty peaceful environment.  The scenery is beautiful.

The butterflies fluttered around us but for the most part the birds stayed quiet.

We walked along the shore and it was there that I did the dance.  The dance goes something like this…first I yell in a bit of a high pitch voice and do a quick step back.  The next move is to take about three high steps and do a fast turn around and go back in the direction that I came.  This usually leaves any walking partner a bit confused but I refer these moves to my snake dance.  I do not like snakes and even though I try to control my emotions when I see one my body requires me to do the “dance.”

Once my heart rate slowed down, I was able to once again enjoy the scenery but my eyes kept glancing towards the path ahead to make sure that I wouldn’t have to do my fancy moves again.

Today is a slower start…Ron has a board meeting and later and then we will go out for supper with the board.  Today is our granddaughter, Emma’s 14th birthday!

A Church Picnic

Today Ron and I went our separate ways.  He had to sing in Wilton and Sarah and I went to church in Napanee.  A church lunch was planned for after the service so I spent my morning in the kitchen helping with some preparations. It was nice working alongside some old and new friends.

After the final amen, the congregation flooded out the back door to the awaiting barbequed hamburgers and hot dogs.

The older crew set up their lawn chairs under the shade of a tree.  

The younger generation barely ate as they headed towards the bouncy castles.  Sarah watched along the sidelines as her three little companions raced from one toy to the next.  Finally she was called out.  Emerson challenged her to a race on the climbing wall.  They were harnessed in and given the count down and the race was on.  It was a close finish but Sarah won.

They then moved to another obstacle course where they had to climb up one side and slide down the other.  Sarah was an easy win the first time through.  On the second go she decided to go head first which ended more like first and Emerson pulled off the W.  

Before long the last call was made for the toys and the boys stood by with long faces until they watched in anticipation of the crumbling on the castles.  It is amazing watching how quickly disappointment can change to interest with the right persuasion of parents.

It was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

A Suspension Bridge!

After what seemed like a busy week for two retired grandparents, we had a day with nothing on the calendar.  Sarah strolled off to the bus and I cut Ron’s hair.  Once that was done, it was time to decide how we would fill the day.  The morning was cool so we decided the motorcycle would stay in the garage.  

It was looking like a windy day which meant canoeing was scratched off the list.  We decided to pack a lunch and go for a drive.  We first ended up in Havelock.  Ron’s aunt and uncle use to live there and we drove by their old house.  We then went to the grave yard to clean their stone.  Ron is very good to try and keep family monuments looking cared for.  From there, we drove to Campbelford to do a little walk.

The start of the trail was the hardest for me…I had to walk across a suspension bridge.  For those that know me well, bridges are not my thing.  

We started across and Ron held my hand and tried to walk the right speed (not too fast and definitely not too slow).  I didn’t look left or right and definitely not down.  Three quarters of the way, the wind seemed stronger.  There was a little sway and I felt a panic attack coming.  I couldn’t breathe and looked to the end of the bridge.  A few more steps and tears came.  Why do I get like this?  With only a couple of steps left to go, I thought I was going to be sick.  I finally felt like I could breathe when I stepped off the bridge.  

After a few good breaths, I was ready for our exploring through the trails.  We walked through a campground and came to the river and walked along the shaded path.  

It was a beautiful walk with lots of places to enjoy the views of the river, the lock and the gorge but every step I took I thought about having to cross over the bridge when the hike led us back to where we started.  

When our loop was completed the bridge was the last obstacle for me to do.  

Ron held my hand and we walked steadily across.  I was even able to glance down the River once and see what a beautiful place we were in.  I didn’t stop to take any pictures because I didn’t want the panic feeling to return.  When I made it to the other side I felt much better.  I stepped back to snap one picture.  

From there, we drove to the World’s Finest Chocolate Warehouse only to find a sign on the door to find their goods at a grocery store down town.  Since I had made it alive over the bridge I decided I deserved a treat so we went off to hunt down chocolate. It was disappointing that the warehouse had closed but we were not skunked.

After securing our chocolate stash, we drove down the highway and stopped at Empire Cheese.  For a girl that loves cheese almost as much as she dislikes bridges, I was a happy camper.  

The fridges were neatly lines with so many flavours of cheese.  I chose a couple bricks and Ron grabbed a bag of curd.  The curd did not disappoint.  The ‘squeakiness’ of each bite proved that we got the fresh stuff….so good!

We drove on to Deseronto to have a little visit with one of Ron’s relatives.  Ron had been into the Napanee graveyard where his family history is displayed across the stones.  His great grandparents’ stone had been laying on the ground.  Due to the ground settling over the years it left the monument in need of repair.  

Ron sent messages out to family members and a couple wanted to help with the maintenance and so while we were visiting in Deseronto, this family member gave Ron some money to help get the job done.

We got home after Sarah arrived and she was happy that we hadn’t forgotten about her in our travels.

So what does a retired couple do on a day when there is nothing scheduled….whatever they want (and sometimes things that they don’t want)!

First Day

Summer holidays are officially done and today began the fall routine.  Sarah started grade 11.  It’s hard to believe that she is now in her second half of high school.  

Our schedule of a relaxed start on the front porch was put aside.  We all had different directions to go so I prepared for the day.  First I began with lunch preparation.  Sarah chose a number of snacks for her day.  Ron had a sandwich and some other treats.  I packed a salad.

Next, I moved on the supper prep.  I threw a roast and some veggies in the slow cooker.  I knew that as it simmered through the day, we would walk into a rich aroma by the time we arrived home.

Finally, it was breakfast.  All three meal times taken care.

Sarah was off to school to begin her grade 11 year.

I went to the Christian School to volunteer.  Pam put me in the office, gave me some instructions and I worked through the day enjoying doing some office work.

Ron went north and kayaked at Kashwakamak.  It was a beautiful day to be on the lake.  We all ate our lunch at different locations.

We all met back for supper and yes, the smell was wonderful when we walked into the house and it was nice to have dinner ready after a busy day.