tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6614578383634094052024-03-13T17:44:33.824-05:00The Canadian ChroniclesOne Southern girl's perspective while living with one foot in Canada and one foot in the U.S.A.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.comBlogger482125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-70352566474737724162024-02-28T18:35:00.001-06:002024-03-02T13:48:01.694-06:00Random February Stuff<p>Remember in school when you had a month to write that paper and found yourself on the last couple of days scrambling to start and finish the paper? Don't even talk to me if you were the person who had the paper written one week after it was assigned, I can't even comprehend such a thing! Well, as February is near its end, I find that I have mulled over several blog topics during the month and managed to find dozens of ways <u>not</u> to bring any of them to completion. Last night, as I lie awake, my mind went through those poor never written blog posts. There is the one that goes through the playlist of my life. I see it as the musical score to the many stages of my life. Someday I really do hope to sit down and write that one. I am currently just gathering the songs, albums and artists...while not sleeping. There is the one I come up with a unique thought, finally, and write something eloquent and witty with great perspective. I reflected on some of my favorite posts and wonder how I was able to come up with those ideas and why my brain just doesn't feel as sharp as it did...8 or 10 years ago! Hmmm, maybe those 8 or 10 years have something to do with my fading sharpness. One more reason to put the fingers to the keyboard and write. But, alas, motivation is fleeting. I have found that I have also become very skilled at making excuses for just about everything, be it writing, playing good or bad golf, working out, cleaning my house, cooking, yard work...you know...all the "fun" stuff.</p><p>February was a good month; it usually is for us. It began in Park City, Utah with a glass of wine to celebrate the end of dry/damp January and to toast my ski <strike>bum</strike> obsessed husband who has taken his ski career to the next level. He was enjoying his season pass for a couple of weeks before I arrived, and he loved every minute of it. Since I am still retired from my illustrious ski career, spending a month in Park City does not appeal to me as much as it does to him, so we compromise, and I show up for a week of winter. My sister, Lee Ann, joined us since she loves the snow and visiting winter as much as I do. No, we really do enjoy it! We have however, transitioned from skiing to snowshoeing and still get to enjoy being out in the snow plus it gives us a chance to take in some of the views we grew to love. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7LX3OEKxaajdaZ-TqkLeFL0mre0zfBS_QtP-5GShLmK2c8ZSER6Dfe4ICQYZGOWANOyCFj-wPidiOiJCbXodxydMlJJYhnH5aeJyrgSKPx0kNF7QIuab-MfzQPIDuMfdDxyOgSRMB7LRg_pX-qUqj0012Qr6eYtLWC_RqnHvHwY9hzjQBy6b-K0E7K6e/s4000/20240204_124554.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7LX3OEKxaajdaZ-TqkLeFL0mre0zfBS_QtP-5GShLmK2c8ZSER6Dfe4ICQYZGOWANOyCFj-wPidiOiJCbXodxydMlJJYhnH5aeJyrgSKPx0kNF7QIuab-MfzQPIDuMfdDxyOgSRMB7LRg_pX-qUqj0012Qr6eYtLWC_RqnHvHwY9hzjQBy6b-K0E7K6e/w640-h480/20240204_124554.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I still like to sit at the bottom of the hill<br />and remember the days I was one of "them". <br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>From Park City we went to San Francisco to enjoy one of the gifts that comes along with being a grandparent, watching the grandchild while the parents go to an out-of-town wedding. One of the unfinished blogs for the month was started after our visit to San Francisco when I got home and was bursting with energy that comes with keeping up with a 3-year-old. <p></p><p>After raising 4 children and grandparenting 6 grandchildren past the age of 3, I have...in my "expert" opinion, decided that 3 must be one of the best ages in life. We spent a week with our 3-year-old grandson, and it was pure joy. It reminded me of the precious moments we spent with our other grandchildren at the same age. There is such joyful innocence in a 3-year-old! They are no longer "babies", so they talk, run, have developed tastes, have opinions, are soaking up life like sponges, and are more physically and mentally able to enjoy more grown-up activities like going to the zoo and eating sushi. I did not necessarily notice this every day when my own children were 3 because I lacked the perspective that comes with hindsight. Sure, there were moments of sweetness when my cup overflowed just watching them explore, play, smile, learn and grow but there were also moments I was just dog paddling to keep my head above the water and get through to the next day. Grandparents don't have the <strike>burden</strike> responsibility of raising grandchildren most of the time, we just get to enjoy them and say "yes" a lot more than "no"! The farther along in my grandparenting life I get, the more I appreciate this!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOiClpcjTi6UuNNNEB422xGRTsEIvFHtfPb-p1Sg-rStyxiRKRFKoGiS7hBcQ9SCtQZ7G_SWd38MTZi3mzaT5dl6AlWFMq-cmvc6qv-GR1AFvFJFkBaKehc0BUu52isk5KMa6nkQCz0YpRvuzUgZVkQGEWlyU3M-yrd1I1kaKRbk3VPo2I75ge_jbgyLW/s4000/20240211_104358.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOiClpcjTi6UuNNNEB422xGRTsEIvFHtfPb-p1Sg-rStyxiRKRFKoGiS7hBcQ9SCtQZ7G_SWd38MTZi3mzaT5dl6AlWFMq-cmvc6qv-GR1AFvFJFkBaKehc0BUu52isk5KMa6nkQCz0YpRvuzUgZVkQGEWlyU3M-yrd1I1kaKRbk3VPo2I75ge_jbgyLW/w300-h400/20240211_104358.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes, you may have a giant donut<br />if you are a good boy in church!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhO9FBkQ3p0i7ijpCF7YmFVYTKTwnJLlY4sfWA0l5uEJrOKArSKnqPtPgSE-zmZJbdeQpRHRkXWUGdo0cXyU7I3jddh9FkDnzNOdz2kgRSVoeQLDhPx6uVJTLVH6FJNgTAGDD3omCMTzxm_5vlF9V1WOuINrSHfWl5llOUShT5an-QVor3ZaYCeqKmjfs5/s4000/20240208_080309.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhO9FBkQ3p0i7ijpCF7YmFVYTKTwnJLlY4sfWA0l5uEJrOKArSKnqPtPgSE-zmZJbdeQpRHRkXWUGdo0cXyU7I3jddh9FkDnzNOdz2kgRSVoeQLDhPx6uVJTLVH6FJNgTAGDD3omCMTzxm_5vlF9V1WOuINrSHfWl5llOUShT5an-QVor3ZaYCeqKmjfs5/w480-h640/20240208_080309.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I just love following them on the way to "school".</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqK2kEwK_8Q7XV-SAHSXE8prBG1zmgHmb5IVG1s5iRTQQB1SOFDPCRR9uWhl_Ql09WaVDGR9pZZc5egnMuHslpmWw4WSgzbP6d_ed3ZDljgbmu4bi7XMtqXEDzk_2ulfuFmhc_f_bS50VL46OjwnSt6c-kBHj1gDMEKoamUVTfMFHrmZMMmLL6QGGPTHG-/s4000/20240210_161116.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqK2kEwK_8Q7XV-SAHSXE8prBG1zmgHmb5IVG1s5iRTQQB1SOFDPCRR9uWhl_Ql09WaVDGR9pZZc5egnMuHslpmWw4WSgzbP6d_ed3ZDljgbmu4bi7XMtqXEDzk_2ulfuFmhc_f_bS50VL46OjwnSt6c-kBHj1gDMEKoamUVTfMFHrmZMMmLL6QGGPTHG-/w480-h640/20240210_161116.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And I did my first Transformer! <br />"Gigi can you turn this monster into a truck?"<br />Only took me 3 days!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The joy and innocence was refreshing and inspiring. When you get older and are not around children as much you forget how precious it is!</span></div><p>Once we got back home it was Lent. This year Lent means no weekday drinking for me. It seemed to be a good behavior pattern in January so I decided to continue, call me crazy. You would think with all the time and energy I have in the evenings I would be writing a lot more...nope.</p><p>I have been doing a lot of walking while listening to books, reading books, working on my golf game and coming up with more creative excuses for my high score. So far, I have read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56449476-west-with-giraffes">West with Giraffes</a> (probably not for everyone but I really enjoyed the story!), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60060431-things-we-never-got-over?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=gKITh2FTE0&rank=1">Things We Never Got Over</a> (had no idea how racy this would be...didn't stop me though😉) and am working on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62873996-the-five-star-weekend?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_17">The Five Star Weekend</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19280861-the-way-my-way">The Way, My Way</a>. None of this can be considered fine literature but boy have I enjoyed them. </p><p>I have upped my daily mileage to prepare for another part of the Camino de Santiago. I said, the minute we finished our first one, that I would do it again in a heartbeat...so here we go. We plan to walk the Camino Ingles in April after Easter. It will be a road less traveled. We are walking with one of TJ's sisters and her husband. I am very much enjoying my daily walks and am adding miles hoping to be ready and able to enjoy the Way. San Francisco was great hill training, possibly the only hill training I will get since we live in Texas. So, either there is a giant carrot dangling in front of me to motivate me or it is whispering in my ear telling me to get up and get going so I can be safe and not sorry. We shall see.</p><p>So that was a lot of random February stuff. I will pray for inspiration in March during one of my many March miles. One final thought, if you have stayed with this hot mess this far, spring is in the air and you know what that means...<a href="https://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2021/02/hope-springs-eternal.html">only a few months until shore time</a>!!! Hang in there folks!</p><p> </p><br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-9020717271575250322024-01-30T22:48:00.000-06:002024-01-30T22:48:47.287-06:00Finding the Quiet<p>We made it! We survived January! Well.... one more day. As I have said many times here on the blog, January is not anyone's favorite month, especially mine. Just reference your social media...every vlogger, Instagrammer, Facebooker or friend has mentioned how much they don't love January. I am right there with them, most of the time. This year January had its definite downs, but it also had some ups. </p><p>Surprisingly, dry January was one of the ups! For the first time in a while, I really embraced not drinking. I found that towards the end of the month I wanted less and less to have that glass of wine and have really looked forward to my diet ginger ale at the end of the day. Party on, January! I admit a couple of "damp" weekends but for the most part, it was a great January tradition to continue in the future...or even next month.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNjsBvIV6mZcxv8TkZ1SLDNlOvLGNFiLWjvn0fzguYc_ORms4zwPvSw8kI0ZbvR1ccjx5RnS9Ev2Y0QJguONOCLYNSM8fnQ6uUgDI3srhYTW8v7DfPOA1Z5XcX-r43qZGalJD5mhOHoruemF3nsUPeOXLxe5h9tNFgufIhyxnMa2q2byGDICJJSAGBRF0/s4000/20240116_121010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNjsBvIV6mZcxv8TkZ1SLDNlOvLGNFiLWjvn0fzguYc_ORms4zwPvSw8kI0ZbvR1ccjx5RnS9Ev2Y0QJguONOCLYNSM8fnQ6uUgDI3srhYTW8v7DfPOA1Z5XcX-r43qZGalJD5mhOHoruemF3nsUPeOXLxe5h9tNFgufIhyxnMa2q2byGDICJJSAGBRF0/w480-h640/20240116_121010.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Instead of drinking I just did a puzzle about it!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We also experienced the usual things that make January a dreary and depressing month. There was the week of "real" winter and freezing temperatures. I see those of you up North rolling your eyes, but we do live in Texas! One night in the middle of the "freeze" I looked at TJ, from my spot under a blanket in front of the fire and exclaimed, "This is why old people move to Florida!". I have transitioned to the cold years. For what seemed like 10 years, I was always too hot, and I don't mean in the hubba-hubba way. Now I find myself checking the thermostat to see if my husband has turned down the temperature, because he has not yet reached the cold years. We don't really do winter very well here in Texas.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhFXb28LN0JEe4MMW8I3PozNIDAuoDLoX8INI5SUX0m3_cykFfW0-24ga7RGK76gG56-AyCIl2xJ2yx9r3ZFc3iu-ChuogU1sqcNIQSmBF28c8qFY6MClWEXbARxViDYvrLgwfzhlXnXoMwwc8wiEndKSMuwI9_DEScpT4iG1-IZpuzlaM4cuxl8i-8GE/s4000/20240113_130930.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhFXb28LN0JEe4MMW8I3PozNIDAuoDLoX8INI5SUX0m3_cykFfW0-24ga7RGK76gG56-AyCIl2xJ2yx9r3ZFc3iu-ChuogU1sqcNIQSmBF28c8qFY6MClWEXbARxViDYvrLgwfzhlXnXoMwwc8wiEndKSMuwI9_DEScpT4iG1-IZpuzlaM4cuxl8i-8GE/w480-h640/20240113_130930.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We "saved" the camelia bushes from the freeze. They were full of buds!<br />This seems to happen every year...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Then there was a week of solid rain. We have now almost caught up on our cumulative rain deficit in one month. Between the freeze and the rain my resolution to work diligently on improving my golf game was really challenged. For a change I have been home for 7 weeks! Aside from a few days in Baton Rouge for Christmas and a weekend in Dallas, I have been home, and I can't count those as "away" because I drove, and they were nearby. I figured in 7 weeks my golf game would be in much better shape. Sadly, it is not. Let's blame it on "winter conditions". </p><p>January provided me with much needed and appreciated down time. I know many complained about the slow pace, the dreary conditions, and the lack of alcohol but to quote one of my uncles, "Call me crazy, but I kinda like it!". I think January is a necessity. </p><p>The last few weeks have provided me with an opportunity to just be still. Another thing I actually like about January is the hibernation thing. I remember many years ago when the kids would go back to school after the holidays. We lived in Georgia at the time and winter would inevitably settle in, the dust of the holidays would settle and so would I... with a good book, a fire and a blanket. I remember feeling guilty for spending a few days just being still. Of course, back then "still" was a relative term since I had 4 kids under the age of 16 and at least 3 of them were involved in extracurriculars... the stillness only lasted so long. Another thing to consider is that there was no social media to distract me, so life was already easier to make still. </p><p>Lately there has been a recurring message sent to me from several different sources. I get a daily reflection sent to my email and the recent posts have recommended being in the quiet. Time to be quiet and listen. Sunday at church the homily focused on just being quiet and listening. There is quiet time spent alone with no distractions or quiet time outdoors. These are the times we open our minds to ideas, answers, more questions, and if we are lucky...clarity. Then there is the quiet time we leave in conversations. My kids would refer to this as The Dixon Pause. If we just listen and leave some space, there is no telling what we can find out about the other person. Sometimes it is so hard to do this! I am guilty of closing that space with what I think the person is going to say next or just answering for them. The magic happens when you leave some space and listen...and sometimes that is hard! I can remember having serious talks with my kids and having to fight the urge to fill in the spaces. Sure, sometimes I lost that fight but on occasion, I left some space it was inevitably filled with some good stuff. </p><p>Quiet is at a premium. We fill our days and nights with noise. Shoot, I seldom take a walk without listening to a book or a podcast. Before the availability of these on my device I listened to music, and I think it was probably a lot better for me. I thought many good thoughts while walking and listening to music. One good thing about cycling is that I don't listen to anything other than the traffic. This provides me with a lot of time with my own thoughts. Win win. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54K8Jq94Oah1i5xi3a1vCtQfW2eYCCJH1oMV8odkmdGBuGtf0tA5k7HI9bBtS1HI6H5mzf4Ju8g0t_QpwBBV7RupX7PdZc7Mg4XTOCQaJrbzv-7H4WzAh55ed0KsezNMsvTX4aTLGrqWdEve0FwWGQDuCERlQPhj4U_C1iOjZDAFTateqyXMNx88KUYet/s4000/20240110_114520.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54K8Jq94Oah1i5xi3a1vCtQfW2eYCCJH1oMV8odkmdGBuGtf0tA5k7HI9bBtS1HI6H5mzf4Ju8g0t_QpwBBV7RupX7PdZc7Mg4XTOCQaJrbzv-7H4WzAh55ed0KsezNMsvTX4aTLGrqWdEve0FwWGQDuCERlQPhj4U_C1iOjZDAFTateqyXMNx88KUYet/w480-h640/20240110_114520.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Quiet lives here. <br /> I have logged many miles over the years on this levee.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Cheers to January, the unappreciated month. If we just listen it is telling us to slow down and hear what it has to share with us. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-19795602359543653552024-01-12T21:06:00.004-06:002024-01-12T21:06:51.616-06:00Marketing, Marketing, Marketing<p>As I returned something to Amazon today, I had a thought...yeah, it happens now and then. Our easy return choice happens to be going to Whole Foods to return. Simple and quick...sorta!</p><p>There was a steady stream of people coming in and going out of the side entrance/exit with packages to return or ones they had picked up from Amazon. I thought to myself, "Amazon has created a gathering space!". There is a constant flow of people in and out and they (Whole Foods) have capitalized on the situation by setting the return space next to the ready-made food section and the bakery. They are no fools! "Come on in and return your package and while you are here, please buy some yummy cookies or maybe some delicious bread. We have also prepared some tasty soups, salads and main dishes for you to take away! You know you don't want to cook tonight!". This is what beckons you as you wait a couple of minutes to get your phone scanned, turn around and attempt to leave but get distracted.</p><p>After I quickly returned my goods, I just had to peruse the produce section of the store to see what they had that my much more affordable Kroger did not have. Well...I fell prey to the sample of clementines. I tasted one and they were delicious! Yes, I bought a bag of clementines that TJ and I will be eating until the end of the month! Once home I ate 2! and they were both just as good as the one in the store. Maybe I just needed some vitamin C!</p><p>Anyway...the genius who came up with Amazon return at Whole Foods should get a pat on the back because I not only appreciated the easy return process, I bought clementines and some yummy granola. And...I will probably be back next week...for more produce or to return more stuff from Amazon!</p><p> </p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-56664253535534888782023-12-16T17:01:00.001-06:002023-12-16T17:01:45.973-06:00"Someday" is Here<p> Apparently, everyone in the world is touring Christmas markets in Europe this year! It is really a thing now, at least for Americans...Europeans have been doing it forever, seemingly. We had the pleasure of visiting some markets at the end of November and first week of December. It was a trip that materialized on a dreary, lonely, afternoon and evening in September at the shore. I was experiencing the "end of summer blues", and said to TJ, "Remember that trip to Strasbourg we planned and had to cancel? Maybe it would be fun to visit and see the Christmas markets.". All I had to do was plant the seed and within a few hours he had purchased tickets and put the ball in my court. There was a time, or there were many times in our life, that the mere suggestion of a trip would have been met with sighs of, "someday". As a result of many air miles, a retired and restless husband, an empty nest and our desire to see and do... "Someday" is here! </p><p>Our trip began in Paris on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Turns out the Saturday after Thanksgiving is a great day to travel abroad because everyone in the states is home with their families. We celebrated Thanksgiving with our son in Kansas City, came home on Friday and left on Saturday. Yes, there were moments I said to myself and TJ, "Are we crazy? Why did we plan it this way?". One reason we planned this way was that nobody travels abroad on the weekend after Thanksgiving which meant our upgrade to the flat bed seats came through! "Someday" is definitely here.</p><p>Paris in November is gray and damp. BUT...it is still Paris! I really do love that city! I have been many times and will go again...any time. We stayed in the Montmartre area because our train to Strasbourg was leaving from Gare de l'Est and we wanted to be close by. Montmartre is an area we know a little but not a lot, so I scheduled a food tour for our arrival day. I like to have an activity on arrival day with someone to point me around and lead me in a direction, so I don't have to think. Perfect. We sampled many sweets, some wine and cheese, heard some interesting and tragic stories and met a new friend. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UxgmLvVO0ujpIh3zwPpzen31jadeuEF71-9dV8sOOghiBwsKAO-swnWywMHayZCZaFxVo5l-dkcpNWlJZiQPu6DUPdsC-HT6H7cQl0pWGcozUubxDLrRYsmNf5OTktE9rymi8O3S79Z5TORKstShAo_WzDXbkPmv0zg38PhAy-ZDniLkHzXnM3TAw0z_/s4032/20231126_183711.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UxgmLvVO0ujpIh3zwPpzen31jadeuEF71-9dV8sOOghiBwsKAO-swnWywMHayZCZaFxVo5l-dkcpNWlJZiQPu6DUPdsC-HT6H7cQl0pWGcozUubxDLrRYsmNf5OTktE9rymi8O3S79Z5TORKstShAo_WzDXbkPmv0zg38PhAy-ZDniLkHzXnM3TAw0z_/w480-h640/20231126_183711.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Macaron? Merci!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GRfeRrvpKBV8ImwUMluLxl9ng-kXCOk6CqdXlaeyIyPyw8xUtywvO-vfze4B-HNdwDDtsVeggWHI86m9kAuA9Q6a6ZgYWR4KyHhYDlqHJ8mXJ-837SVGx2gegKDbtPpSWOPLK7UWwDuCdhOf4AwEB_tWeBL-jTOc5QoF2JEa8ihpwFkPUS6gj_R7bnq2/s4032/20231126_171215.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GRfeRrvpKBV8ImwUMluLxl9ng-kXCOk6CqdXlaeyIyPyw8xUtywvO-vfze4B-HNdwDDtsVeggWHI86m9kAuA9Q6a6ZgYWR4KyHhYDlqHJ8mXJ-837SVGx2gegKDbtPpSWOPLK7UWwDuCdhOf4AwEB_tWeBL-jTOc5QoF2JEa8ihpwFkPUS6gj_R7bnq2/w480-h640/20231126_171215.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>So French! Oui, merci!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The next day was...wet. What to do in Paris in the cold rain/drizzle? I had heard that there are passages in Paris, covered walkways with shops and restaurants. I had never seen one before, so we set out the find the passages. What a great concept! The shops were so cute, and we stayed dry! We also toured the Pompidou Center and museum which we had only walked past and never toured before. Both great choices and when we were finished, the rain had disappeared. We had a lovely dinner, are there any others in Paris? Went to bed pleased with our choice to fly into Paris en route to Strasbourg. Paris is always a good idea!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin96Zwo1otdn1ZyWTa1R-piR0TG8D8ScOc4t4xYD3__mSKh2ZG2KF9GWh-gn2uHcgSb8KwUa6_3Ku_cNSeQxKaRYoFlswRoYiF1ngDGbHsqGG9yEKlP26pL1ChhHTZ6JwAOhMrHMa-e2TaJ97fHhd_m75Tg8R7n4MjXHxevrOIYix6j1fxw8D54E-MdIW1/s4032/20231127_101913.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin96Zwo1otdn1ZyWTa1R-piR0TG8D8ScOc4t4xYD3__mSKh2ZG2KF9GWh-gn2uHcgSb8KwUa6_3Ku_cNSeQxKaRYoFlswRoYiF1ngDGbHsqGG9yEKlP26pL1ChhHTZ6JwAOhMrHMa-e2TaJ97fHhd_m75Tg8R7n4MjXHxevrOIYix6j1fxw8D54E-MdIW1/w480-h640/20231127_101913.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A great way to stay dry in Paris!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The next morning, we walked to the, very close, train station and took a 2-hour train to Strasbourg. Train stations in Europe are so different than the ones in the states. They are so busy and many of them are just beautiful if you ask me. They are also very utilized. The Strasbourg station would prove to be a very lovely and unique building as well. We found our apartment, ate lunch in a very local place and commenced our Christmas marketing! The smells, the booths, the vibe, the food, the lights, the decorations! All of it together just makes your heart swell. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQwJgwrd7uTueuOezikIwlwWyEBHF1V1hMqNVtBGL6OVUTiZ-Pz8MR9BJU-dOraM65ZAHoWl1ssKS_Rm6AvoaVUy4IIUGXHg16WyvmNzGrceP7P_PNGpxvJe_vLDdsjDKQe6cywpiFeXvxBZHPiJe7onflTANHTOwCr1-vVW5jcKakpVdaTnWysMK6JWw/s4032/20231128_142419.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQwJgwrd7uTueuOezikIwlwWyEBHF1V1hMqNVtBGL6OVUTiZ-Pz8MR9BJU-dOraM65ZAHoWl1ssKS_Rm6AvoaVUy4IIUGXHg16WyvmNzGrceP7P_PNGpxvJe_vLDdsjDKQe6cywpiFeXvxBZHPiJe7onflTANHTOwCr1-vVW5jcKakpVdaTnWysMK6JWw/w480-h640/20231128_142419.jpg" width="480" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The markets below give a little perspective.<br />That Cathedral is huge!!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our routine had become explore the city in the morning, lunch someplace, walk/shop a bit and then go back to our accommodation until dark...which was 4 pm! Around 5 we would go back out, do more exploring, have dinner and then really walk around and marvel at the shops and the lights. This routine resulted in an average of about 15,000 steps a day! </p><p>As a coincidence, on our food tour in Paris, we met an interesting young woman from Australia and found out she would be in Strasbourg the same day we were. We invited her to meet us at the restaurant we had reservations at on our first night for dinner or even just a drink. I mean, we are older...maybe she wanted to hang with some younger people! We did not know if she would show or not. We did spend 3 hours together eating our way through Paris... why not? Well...she showed up! We proceeded to spend the whole night together, talking, eating, drinking and generally having fun. We ended the night...shutting down a Christmas market. Small world indeed. </p><p>We visited Colmar, France the next day and my oh my! For one, the sun was shining brightly for the first time since we left home. For another, Colmar is the cutest place on earth! We felt like we had been dropped into a fairy tale! This was probably the most perfect day of our trip. Sunny skies, market after market, buildings and streets decorated to the hilt, great food, and a very manageable size place to fully explore. I would go back!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK_waZBRvxTvb7d6mDyMPauNcgF8cbh9fOvHEmiBK_IhyoReYJYb7ZpsNI0O8NdYwK1UwhaTjb3edThrR4eli9y3HSGemxIl2wX8guz-9v-PJLautc7qpjt-C5chUqjkQHT4klO5uQMZDo1F92wY7vMBmynFOk7i_V7jgKThg4Bfbsnx_B7g2Ilqt16Mz/s4032/20231129_122342.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK_waZBRvxTvb7d6mDyMPauNcgF8cbh9fOvHEmiBK_IhyoReYJYb7ZpsNI0O8NdYwK1UwhaTjb3edThrR4eli9y3HSGemxIl2wX8guz-9v-PJLautc7qpjt-C5chUqjkQHT4klO5uQMZDo1F92wY7vMBmynFOk7i_V7jgKThg4Bfbsnx_B7g2Ilqt16Mz/w480-h640/20231129_122342.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Love the use of all red locks on the bridge!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaMnMK1PjAWKP1u3GDd0FBEGhiHw6oUZfkPKRzvDI3xDJS2YMB6qspmNNbTQxyOvnILepqh7tOHZ8H7ryYInKw_MSI6kp6ygSIce-QfvHtEFnflqYRQ08Zs0IfHr5XZsBFNGYp6ZC-8hKur4mIRsfsaCzRgEiFQwLiddE3pY-d5CIDH4e2L5qVIsrzhHJ/s4032/20231129_144400.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaMnMK1PjAWKP1u3GDd0FBEGhiHw6oUZfkPKRzvDI3xDJS2YMB6qspmNNbTQxyOvnILepqh7tOHZ8H7ryYInKw_MSI6kp6ygSIce-QfvHtEFnflqYRQ08Zs0IfHr5XZsBFNGYp6ZC-8hKur4mIRsfsaCzRgEiFQwLiddE3pY-d5CIDH4e2L5qVIsrzhHJ/w480-h640/20231129_144400.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Christmas, everywhere you look!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeXhrENiJGp6zbO-JXVLp91EeGtJUfQbUTjpb3hr5fpewh97cDejV6vglLA8hdYV_KgGCZarph4X9wEytBqnUu9b6sI2bUqA3JIjTnmNmqZT_iKiN_QkyF5pmrb9BmgDFqerTZvw48EqRSJprntuwtqPaVj2pV_WGMwCysFviXHI7yhQaz36iMSfJxuR0/s4032/20231129_122501.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeXhrENiJGp6zbO-JXVLp91EeGtJUfQbUTjpb3hr5fpewh97cDejV6vglLA8hdYV_KgGCZarph4X9wEytBqnUu9b6sI2bUqA3JIjTnmNmqZT_iKiN_QkyF5pmrb9BmgDFqerTZvw48EqRSJprntuwtqPaVj2pV_WGMwCysFviXHI7yhQaz36iMSfJxuR0/w480-h640/20231129_122501.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cute beyond words!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaZhV4tO7s18gRSRSjgzIsNdkoBEI1Q6iPltjfisxU7b5LEXl5vGkmbLxM36LjQSI8JMDWOh7Lolpsk8jeJr4CjNtEhT_mKyrMPvpIJi9t2F5H1X13pLXJN6YT0CfpI6Pf5qWUtXWvhxr79Y4XzjcDU5m9w9GV85v2o8DtaL3VtvmpS9M1RVABsOO8VKI/s4032/20231129_185238.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaZhV4tO7s18gRSRSjgzIsNdkoBEI1Q6iPltjfisxU7b5LEXl5vGkmbLxM36LjQSI8JMDWOh7Lolpsk8jeJr4CjNtEhT_mKyrMPvpIJi9t2F5H1X13pLXJN6YT0CfpI6Pf5qWUtXWvhxr79Y4XzjcDU5m9w9GV85v2o8DtaL3VtvmpS9M1RVABsOO8VKI/w480-h640/20231129_185238.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Welcome back to Strasbourg</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><p>Our next destination was Baden Baden. Why Baden Baden? It is on the way to Frankfurt, where our flight home was departing, smaller and famous for its thermal spas. We figured we would be chilled to the bone by this point in the trip and in need of some warming up. We were back to the winter gray skies and as we headed north it just got colder. Luckily, Baden Baden was charming, easy to navigate and a lovely place to spend a day and night. Yes, we did go to the spa, no, we did not opt for the "textile free" areas. We enjoyed every pool we could, inside and outside. What a luxury! Good thing our hotel was nearby, I was so relaxed when we left walking was a challenge. Of course the cold air woke us up pretty quickly. I cannot imagine how dark these towns are in the winter once all of the holiday decorations and lights are gone. They are so festive and alive during this season, but with sunset around 4 p.m. winter is very dark!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7CrE2BtF8DE8-OUWYBy8Y2rM20WURswJSjq7oz3QNCnxw095fjJkjCEhITimc6RDUgTwoZhtjEZ72-zg5HwE_fmzQ_H3zpvOqmBo-0nhug1ZWREnTdxncR27uAj2ubtqI0guhvf48PWkQ2l1920ZBgXaTstVTIfg1PqYxDSGDxl2mEvUlfrXM-bUGhKn/s3648/20231202_104919.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7CrE2BtF8DE8-OUWYBy8Y2rM20WURswJSjq7oz3QNCnxw095fjJkjCEhITimc6RDUgTwoZhtjEZ72-zg5HwE_fmzQ_H3zpvOqmBo-0nhug1ZWREnTdxncR27uAj2ubtqI0guhvf48PWkQ2l1920ZBgXaTstVTIfg1PqYxDSGDxl2mEvUlfrXM-bUGhKn/w480-h640/20231202_104919.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our only sprinkling of snow!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Our last day was spent in Frankfurt. It was definitely a place that snapped us back into reality. After spending time in places that felt like walking through a Christmas card, we were in the big city. Frankfurt is BIG! We could no longer just walk from place to place, although we tried and got to see the seedier side of the life in the big city. Let's just say the red light district in Frankfurt is not nearly as charming as it is in Amsterdam. Another reality check was the markets were shoulder to shoulder crowds and then we realized it was Saturday. We were definitely on vacation, we had no idea what day of the week it was until then. Everyone and their grandmother and their kids goes to the markets on Saturday. Yes, they were just as charming, but there were times I had to tell myself, "You survived Mardi Gras in New Orleans many times, you can do this too!". We managed to sample some food and found a happening wine bar and lucked out with a seat at a table, surrounded by people. Guess we were so old, compared to the general clientele, that they gave us a chair. You know...before we keeled over due to old age 😂<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7D21ms7XW-I44xwPSZLrtCtNZpCfajJakecjiaLj0OjkXY7krCiBRlVJQtgwUMuffdoiqDtdUryGkjWx4WcH_GSw5EIIrAnB3QGb9-br0Tpz4gfHSR0VenF2JF_XA0ojOHdpnMxMlX6T6pXSi5v7UA_x_DBER2ub2RRxekxPpNQFFwNqlL1IvbOiJ8D_/s4032/20231202_163232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7D21ms7XW-I44xwPSZLrtCtNZpCfajJakecjiaLj0OjkXY7krCiBRlVJQtgwUMuffdoiqDtdUryGkjWx4WcH_GSw5EIIrAnB3QGb9-br0Tpz4gfHSR0VenF2JF_XA0ojOHdpnMxMlX6T6pXSi5v7UA_x_DBER2ub2RRxekxPpNQFFwNqlL1IvbOiJ8D_/w480-h640/20231202_163232.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Absolutely loved this booth!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><p>We had a great time, better than expected actually! We were prepared for inclement weather and had mentally prepared for gloomy skies. I really had no idea that the night lights would provide so much joy though. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXGPsMKUvSYahtBJyzShdibrHHltW-lKcDn0yrEhdNZ6PF12OSxU5J6JzTWXQY6sxs6lHysfk6JgUCmo89N2tcs_xahyphenhyphents1yyM2jsAdMarGNxM6vXkrS_WxIYXAuz0xhuIu5QhBILv9DK8pHOTQU0UDE7WcSqgFEdwBlHZt0Olj9TUTrEbdhdwMdXMxY7/s1564/IMG_20231216_162405%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXGPsMKUvSYahtBJyzShdibrHHltW-lKcDn0yrEhdNZ6PF12OSxU5J6JzTWXQY6sxs6lHysfk6JgUCmo89N2tcs_xahyphenhyphents1yyM2jsAdMarGNxM6vXkrS_WxIYXAuz0xhuIu5QhBILv9DK8pHOTQU0UDE7WcSqgFEdwBlHZt0Olj9TUTrEbdhdwMdXMxY7/w640-h640/IMG_20231216_162405%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just some of the calories we consumed, happily, and tried to walk off on our trip.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Christmas came early to the two of us. As a result, Christmas may come a little late to our families! Playing catch up on the gifting and greeting this year...their gifts will arrive...someday!</p><p>Hope your holidays are as merry and bright as a European Christmas Market!</p><p><br /></p></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-64626094443780175412023-11-21T22:25:00.000-06:002023-11-21T22:25:04.628-06:00Giving Thanks<p>As I was riding my bike, I had plenty of time to think the other day. Used to be when I walked or ran, ah the good old days, I would come up with many of the topics I write about here. These days I find myself listening to a book or a podcast instead of letting my mind wander. Riding my bike, I don't listen to anything other than the cars approaching for safety reasons. I think I miss the days of just not listening to anything while walking or just listening to music and letting my mind wander. Anyway, my brain went immediately to the obvious, Thanksgiving is upon us and so I just started a mental list of things I am thankful for, not just in November, but always. Every November I consider writing a daily blurb about something I am thankful for and year after year by the end of the month I have written zero blurbs, in spite of thinking about them. Follow through is not my strong suite. So this is me, following through a bit and wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have many things in your life to be thankful for. And, this list may make it seem like life is just peachy all the time but rest assured, it is not and I am thankful for those not so wonderful times and things, because without them the good would not be possible. </p><p>I am thankful for:</p><p>My faith. My faith is my foundation, my compass, my joy, the place I go for comfort, a place to leave my fears, worries and troubles. I am thankful to have that in my life because without it I would be lost.</p><p>My family. I am lucky enough to be part of a loving and supportive family and to hopefully have created the same. My parents were two very special people who taught us right from wrong, and showed us how to love and live. I often wondered, when I was a child, why I was born into the family I was born to, in the place I was born, and in the time I was born. I had trouble sleeping when I was young, so I had a lot of time to think! But why am I the person I am, in this place and this time? I could have been born to different people, in a different country under very different circumstances. Of course, then I wouldn't be me. My family is a gift given to me. I have 4 great kids, 7 beautiful grandkids, 4 awesome siblings and countless extended family members who make life beautiful. </p><p>My husband. Again, I would not be the person I am without him in my life. He is loving, caring, someone who pushes me out of my comfort zone, supportive, occasionally annoying, a lot of fun, someone who makes me laugh, full of random hairbrained ideas, curious and seeking knowledge, and always game for whatever I want to do!</p><p>My health. As I was riding my bike enjoying the breeze and the nice fall day, I was very thankful to be moving. Having experienced a few setbacks with broken bones or that pesky ACL surgery I found myself immobilized, I vowed to never take my health for granted. Being humbled by injuries opened my eyes to what many people face every day. Through my recoveries I am so very thankful for the gift of my health and my body. It certainly isn't perfect, but it is the only one I have, and it is still working.</p><p>My friends. Many people have come into and gone out of my life. I have friends I learned from, friends who inspired me, friends who have supported me and who I have supported, friends I laughed with, cried with, traveled with, worked with, shared secrets with, argued with, gotten into mischief with, competed with, prayed with, and sat quietly together with and I am thankful for each and every one of them. They have all made my life rich.</p><p>My home. I am blessed to call two places home. Home is where I can just be me. Home is the everyday routine and stability. </p><p>Finally, I am thankful for all of my life experiences, the good the bad and the ugly. What a lot of living we have done and hopefully still have to do! </p><p>What are you most thankful for? </p><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-1141128901180847712023-10-23T22:14:00.004-05:002023-10-23T22:14:58.959-05:00Hello New York, It's Been a While<p> You have heard the saying, "be careful what you wish for, you may just get it", this fall is proving it to be true. There were times when I would have been thrilled at any opportunity to get out of town. Lately, all I have to do is wistfully mention a place I'd like to visit, and TJ has booked a flight in a couple of hours. Apparently, flight booking agent is his new retirement hobby. This can be a blessing and a curse. I think I need to be more calculating in the places I suggest...I've always wanted to visit New Zealand. He has now planned for us to be out of town for at least a long weekend every two weeks for the foreseeable future. We will be doing the "tour de children and grandchildren" until mid-December. Add in one recreational indulgence I merely suggested, and my <strike>travel agent</strike> husband booked, and our year is now going to be lived in two-week intervals. I would complain but then people might throw things at me. Maybe this will also give me some good stories to share in the upcoming months.</p><p>Last weekend...or the one before, we took a trip that had been in the making for a long time...like 50 years. It was TJ's 50th high school class reunion. I find it absolutely mind blowing that we are old enough to be going to 50th reunions for anything! I feel like I am only 50 myself! (oh, I wish!) If you recall, because I am sure you remember, <a href="https://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2013/10/back-to-school.html">his 40th reunion</a> was an inspiration for me to witness. I would say the guys picked right up where they left off 10 years ago. Attending an all-boys Catholic school in the 70's forged some strong relationships among some very good men. There were at least 50 - 60 attendees in my scientific guestimation. The appreciation these men have for each other, especially after 50 years, was palpable. Not only did they each take time out of their lives to attend, they also took time to speak to classmates whether they "hung out" in high school or not. Common themes in conversations were - 1. retirement...are you retired, when did you retire, how do you spend your time now? 2. Children and grandchildren 3. Travel 4. knees, hips, shoulders and general health 5. and the inevitable..."remember when you"...or "remember when we?". I tended to home in on the travel conversations and have concluded that we are certainly in the "see the world while you can" years. One of the more eye-opening parts of the weekend was the school tour, which we had planned to skip, but due to the rainy weather ended up attending. The level of technology in the school is amazing! The high school felt more like a university! I need to go back to high school! (not!!!) My hope is that today's students are able to forge the long-lasting friendships these men of years ago forged while living in our current instant and disposable society. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqnorTTN0UmMSB223IKaD_-z0EORtDX6PlnCh7hLzvj8pWIk63saU5aBR9lc52msymJWhcanWUnNvPcx1aSb0WZaO_keYpx9Ygpg5mUOT5Yhlrh8iGObWEAWpk6z98rm7V0J6mNrN02H3-YI0YOXTyUoHO9bQ-9OWJRZba0XIXLw_WUL7ekuVfgdsmMad/s4032/class%20reunion%20edit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="4032" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqnorTTN0UmMSB223IKaD_-z0EORtDX6PlnCh7hLzvj8pWIk63saU5aBR9lc52msymJWhcanWUnNvPcx1aSb0WZaO_keYpx9Ygpg5mUOT5Yhlrh8iGObWEAWpk6z98rm7V0J6mNrN02H3-YI0YOXTyUoHO9bQ-9OWJRZba0XIXLw_WUL7ekuVfgdsmMad/w640-h312/class%20reunion%20edit.jpg" width="640" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I give you the class of 1973<br />Archbishop Stepinac High School</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>While we were in a place that experiences Fall as a real season and not just a calendar change, we drove up to a lovely reservoir on Sunday and hiked, hoping to see some leaf color. The hike was lovely, the Fall color was just beginning. We bravely drove into Manhattan and returned our rental car. The next two days were spent getting in plenty of steps, eating great food, seeing and feeling all that New York can give and embracing it! The last time I was in NYC was December 2019, before the world changed so drastically. Previous to that trip we were frequent visitors and I really missed all that is the Big Apple. The energy in that city is something special. The entire weekend made me think about whether I am an introvert or an extrovert because I felt so alive being there. Those of you who know me might be saying to yourselves, "total extrovert". I would be inclined to agree with you. The way being with people brings me to life and feeds my energy level is the sign of a true extrovert. Upon closer examination, I wonder if while I do feel so much more alive after weekends like last weekend, I also look very much forward to coming home and just being. <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IsCuiMEUJOgkI1bwl1pwBfonRnzBv5-D-gUVssxEe_gAIzXne_DyZ1ogvxpgUFgcaLModeg_r6zYcfl_sL1f_5qkVlCCghVryOjTyN-1Z2rUfBrztZoffc-_p9n1ONeI7o9UAJtN2E8wh6YmM-yA29OwHz8JObkkTSiBK8Ridqx_UGji7Xv5QMB_7sjm/s4032/20231015_111315.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IsCuiMEUJOgkI1bwl1pwBfonRnzBv5-D-gUVssxEe_gAIzXne_DyZ1ogvxpgUFgcaLModeg_r6zYcfl_sL1f_5qkVlCCghVryOjTyN-1Z2rUfBrztZoffc-_p9n1ONeI7o9UAJtN2E8wh6YmM-yA29OwHz8JObkkTSiBK8Ridqx_UGji7Xv5QMB_7sjm/w640-h480/20231015_111315.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Teatown reservoir</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>This introverted extrovert personality sounds very much like our next few months. We are going to be traveling and enjoying the energy of being around so many wonderful people only to return to our home base and enjoy the peace of being "home" with our batteries fully charged. Too much of either can make me feel "off". I have noticed since we got home that I have felt great! The combination of all the socializing along with the energy of NYC brought me home feeling like myself. I also noticed it made social outings easier than they are after a week or more in my comfy routine life at home. I should remember this for the future...but will I?</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to New York. We only had 2 nights in the city and did not have any solid plans other than dinner reservations. I am sure there was a play we would have enjoyed, when is there not? There was probably any number of things we could have done but I just really wanted to walk around the city. On Sunday, after we returned our rental car, we walked from 37th Street down to SoHo and just took it all in! Sundays are such nice days to walk the city especially in nice fall weather. We stopped here and there, we sat in the park and watched, walked a little more, sat outside and had a glass of wine, continued and finally reached our restaurant. Our plan was to take a cab back but after dinner, but it was just so nice outside we decided to walk back and call a cab if our legs wore out, they did not. We stopped in a bar around the corner from our hotel to watch the end of the Astros vs. Rangers baseball game. The bar turned out to be an LSU bar! Go figure. We found our place. 19,000 steps later we slept very well!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ezGdVgsPjod8AJ4A6A2dxXL69ARjqbpCnVb7RclVHg0EIB9mcUy7K-ufuxPE1Mv0-PvCTbR-N1qCbuu8wUdOF9kVsuYTIYBZ-IcIKU59SarULNm9nn1O5jfRHdf8r-CExz1ToG_7mZTWqUy8d3SjTP66t5Kdgprve1OWkwmmOOau6B9zYuy8rhsdvtLo/s3648/20231015_194850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ezGdVgsPjod8AJ4A6A2dxXL69ARjqbpCnVb7RclVHg0EIB9mcUy7K-ufuxPE1Mv0-PvCTbR-N1qCbuu8wUdOF9kVsuYTIYBZ-IcIKU59SarULNm9nn1O5jfRHdf8r-CExz1ToG_7mZTWqUy8d3SjTP66t5Kdgprve1OWkwmmOOau6B9zYuy8rhsdvtLo/w300-h400/20231015_194850.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dos Caminos, a walk through the woods followed<br />by a walk through the city.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOBTY1OyE7dMId38DAEjfXNUIGQNUaf2Rddm089OZu2Rs0ybJ_GNasQIxF7ZS93KNuX0qSIG8tXf_wKTjOOp11Wzfm1_jeC0U1TKmF0rCUpZDlb_SKWQvv-YqNb8F2s5KsKdm4vE1B4UcRmBz2qTBlt-Zq43rNfUvsD8vEekOWKt2hU-l4ru-bT7rrbd7/s4032/20231015_205626.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOBTY1OyE7dMId38DAEjfXNUIGQNUaf2Rddm089OZu2Rs0ybJ_GNasQIxF7ZS93KNuX0qSIG8tXf_wKTjOOp11Wzfm1_jeC0U1TKmF0rCUpZDlb_SKWQvv-YqNb8F2s5KsKdm4vE1B4UcRmBz2qTBlt-Zq43rNfUvsD8vEekOWKt2hU-l4ru-bT7rrbd7/w300-h400/20231015_205626.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Watching the Astros surrounded by LSU swag in NYC.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>On Monday I did have a few items I wanted to check off my list. First, eat an authentic New York bagel for breakfast. We stood in line to get bagels at <a href="https://libertybagels.com/">Liberty Bagels,</a> and it was so worth it! The soft bagel sandwiched the most delicious schmear! We wisely chose to split one sesame bagel with lox and dill as we raced to our appointed entry hour at <a href="https://summitov.com/">The Summit</a>. I had seen this place mentioned in my researching and immediately knew I "had" to go! I was a bit worried TJ would not love it as much as I would, but he loved it too! How had I missed this place? We found out it has only been open for 2 years, that's how I missed it. Our eyes were treated to some of the most spectacular views NYC has to offer. What a creative, mind bending and beautiful immersive experience, not to mention a photographer's delight. We were also blessed with some chamber of commerce weather. If ever there was a day that makes one want to return to the city, this was the day. Lunch was at a random local deli and worthy. Next stop on my walking tour was Central Park to find<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somebody_Feed_Phil"> Phil Rosenthal's (Somebody Feed Phil)</a> park bench. We followed the directions and after a couple of tense moments spent questioning each other's intel, we decided to just walk a bit and found it immediately. We paid homage to Phil and Monica, took our selfie, tagged Phil and hoped he would say "hi" back. Love that guy! Then we pretended we had money and walked around the Upper West Side, shopped and enjoyed a glass of wine in a sidewalk cafe and watched people. The best part of the day came on our walk home after dinner. We passed a place named Keen's Chophouse. TJ stopped in his tracks. His father brought him to Keen's on his 10th birthday for dinner. We just had to go in and see if it was "that" Keen's. It was! This was the exclamation point at the end of a weekend walk down memory lane. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBveovrRt1HtvVl84qcajQ-Cgdy6tkxa6e5C-IakvUzrbv6GA3i-xNGsJ51ctJF6mwvYwkikvzLy0Yvq-Rj3dW4zOvPmV8aHkewQihvIx-ajrPyH1CE0YRa7Vc0ZGUGDAzHMXaz_nRX6veFv6sGYjoeWiL8s8l_5VdxYL53k0fXUuD6iqe0F6784PmYFk/s4032/20231016_111035.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBveovrRt1HtvVl84qcajQ-Cgdy6tkxa6e5C-IakvUzrbv6GA3i-xNGsJ51ctJF6mwvYwkikvzLy0Yvq-Rj3dW4zOvPmV8aHkewQihvIx-ajrPyH1CE0YRa7Vc0ZGUGDAzHMXaz_nRX6veFv6sGYjoeWiL8s8l_5VdxYL53k0fXUuD6iqe0F6784PmYFk/w640-h480/20231016_111035.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Summit was a visual treat!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdTd0IZgL4HfhkT8TsJCnUiac2T63DwlmaPfwQwZDiV2WYIAE4Z-ZFwbRxAEibiBF2nX3gAXKAqTowYn3Q8FpBZ84tMxdw94-YwDaDpHEXUxDzI4hDFG8uMRTJRQibMx1osxMdxAFK58mE9lk3oMXwanWbtdSJPC1f1oahI1RpXVJbrV-SseZuvJ3h0KP/s4032/20231016_113339-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdTd0IZgL4HfhkT8TsJCnUiac2T63DwlmaPfwQwZDiV2WYIAE4Z-ZFwbRxAEibiBF2nX3gAXKAqTowYn3Q8FpBZ84tMxdw94-YwDaDpHEXUxDzI4hDFG8uMRTJRQibMx1osxMdxAFK58mE9lk3oMXwanWbtdSJPC1f1oahI1RpXVJbrV-SseZuvJ3h0KP/w480-h640/20231016_113339-EDIT.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mind bending</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ6_4B_Y4cM6oxWKZHAxBS0Pyq5-wUoeesDL2A_X7AuUeeYfT-HXBvZUnZ86HY4nQqfH-QKti1eJRiNEY7y85L3x69JrZWkSNA-rJYFHGJodE3j6K82nliBHrq8G5yjVjRdGla2fiJstMLd2QxL09voC-P-RKpsm8U52mlPFYGy9Ej2RCRT4hDJR-EGQl/s3648/20231016_134032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ6_4B_Y4cM6oxWKZHAxBS0Pyq5-wUoeesDL2A_X7AuUeeYfT-HXBvZUnZ86HY4nQqfH-QKti1eJRiNEY7y85L3x69JrZWkSNA-rJYFHGJodE3j6K82nliBHrq8G5yjVjRdGla2fiJstMLd2QxL09voC-P-RKpsm8U52mlPFYGy9Ej2RCRT4hDJR-EGQl/w480-h640/20231016_134032.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Somebody Feed(s) Phil, I feed TJ!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVCS1gAyoXv3hTVXwrVcUjGt8UK37cet7HUuNvM1YFo9YxJ71Fbqyvik059QTiCiJ_Psj9YUkPKGGzDvR7rCxZEEI5FtPwac45TOGrDqQFJHrzqf2bTwAJTFG0IKg1c27ZiSkOQ3vPN8zdpa3ZabQqRNMY973XZTAMJJPb1JasvVtiQhDo1RAZpE72_D2/s4032/20231016_204925.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVCS1gAyoXv3hTVXwrVcUjGt8UK37cet7HUuNvM1YFo9YxJ71Fbqyvik059QTiCiJ_Psj9YUkPKGGzDvR7rCxZEEI5FtPwac45TOGrDqQFJHrzqf2bTwAJTFG0IKg1c27ZiSkOQ3vPN8zdpa3ZabQqRNMY973XZTAMJJPb1JasvVtiQhDo1RAZpE72_D2/w640-h480/20231016_204925.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You should zoom in on this one and see the names on the pipes! <br />TJ's Dad smoked a pipe too and I am sure he smoked his <br />when he brought 10-year-old TJ here for dinner.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMNjXscSKwwLZjE0KM1B2-NSOuteDHzBWM5gKWWDlHo7IcmrXx9F1b-4g9K7Bk2pIm5GwKlCdVdgzh0kAIXdCxfhESfI02pBYZrhD6mHs2qOmAdYlvhYYdCsAEeesW2Mad5eOSYhQiaHn0D8Y_cOUTmDjpv8gxC8Ta-xcpdfxJ77DJAoG2r3mgF6ChXbd/s4032/20231016_205105.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMNjXscSKwwLZjE0KM1B2-NSOuteDHzBWM5gKWWDlHo7IcmrXx9F1b-4g9K7Bk2pIm5GwKlCdVdgzh0kAIXdCxfhESfI02pBYZrhD6mHs2qOmAdYlvhYYdCsAEeesW2Mad5eOSYhQiaHn0D8Y_cOUTmDjpv8gxC8Ta-xcpdfxJ77DJAoG2r3mgF6ChXbd/w300-h400/20231016_205105.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Walking down memory lane.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>You would think nothing could top or even match NYC and most of the time you would be right. Now, I won't say this topped the city, but it did provide a gentler re-entry to suburban life. We were treated to an evening cruise down Buffalo Bayou in Houston the evening we returned home. I had low expectations for this, aside from the good friends who we would be spending time. Boy, was I surprised! The chamber of commerce weather followed us home and downtown Houston showed up! We were celebrating one of our good friends becoming a citizen of the United States. It was a good way to remind us that home really is a good place too. We need to explore our own city more like tourists sometimes!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VHYmom9GwjTFIeiIY1roiLTtsZNSPk6eYEZIflrYLq18w8ciWR2hY3YzbTldH4MVHzf3MOF8eqd5ZvwnvPAwfrS_daFFsbN_RTIBzUUA19HMx5ar6eO3cDIToW1xo6u8rNdIJYKiEIvyevOJ7UrUFPG4GhVSt8-_i4FJdm4mNsN4lWOWmYp-ome_py4-/s4032/20231017_180804.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VHYmom9GwjTFIeiIY1roiLTtsZNSPk6eYEZIflrYLq18w8ciWR2hY3YzbTldH4MVHzf3MOF8eqd5ZvwnvPAwfrS_daFFsbN_RTIBzUUA19HMx5ar6eO3cDIToW1xo6u8rNdIJYKiEIvyevOJ7UrUFPG4GhVSt8-_i4FJdm4mNsN4lWOWmYp-ome_py4-/w480-h640/20231017_180804.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Buffalo Bayou showing off.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyy6eIi4tew3HIoef-HY49-qhulXW61W1qwRLScmLvq9Ao70ip5T6kQgRPO8QdKlzb8ZzmnJkqb88qB5iuHgthTmokkUHNEyRTzEV3CNfsc5B5mvPgSJ5g5RoLh38B3ykSXAF1LQY3sJWOevhbWMDMUv_-fReD2C8Qn4qxtUUxyVFlp0r_OCfmuFE-Xq-f/s4032/20231017_182315.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyy6eIi4tew3HIoef-HY49-qhulXW61W1qwRLScmLvq9Ao70ip5T6kQgRPO8QdKlzb8ZzmnJkqb88qB5iuHgthTmokkUHNEyRTzEV3CNfsc5B5mvPgSJ5g5RoLh38B3ykSXAF1LQY3sJWOevhbWMDMUv_-fReD2C8Qn4qxtUUxyVFlp0r_OCfmuFE-Xq-f/w480-h640/20231017_182315.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Believe it or not...<br />this beautiful scene is the jail building.<br />The windows are only open at the very top section of each, and the rest of the window is fake...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5n6kfz1tbk3o0DCDqQplBmJ0O3iIwKegbWnhYvhjMXNegALitYHZAMG5hvNTikOxmln-ntA5d7GqmHBfS03cQ96EN3wRArGmCnO0VtosXi19pWTRBGzXg-XCrviogncSjz7J-lKtWNnfNIn8GuadG0DPpdcfgBeDYNLLcI4rMfsxer5jS9vKo26DeMSp/s4032/20231017_184514.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5n6kfz1tbk3o0DCDqQplBmJ0O3iIwKegbWnhYvhjMXNegALitYHZAMG5hvNTikOxmln-ntA5d7GqmHBfS03cQ96EN3wRArGmCnO0VtosXi19pWTRBGzXg-XCrviogncSjz7J-lKtWNnfNIn8GuadG0DPpdcfgBeDYNLLcI4rMfsxer5jS9vKo26DeMSp/w640-h480/20231017_184514.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Golden hour...over.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>While it is nice to go away, there's no place like home. Going away seems to charge my inner extrovert battery but coming home gives my introvert time to appreciate both the away and the home. I am very thankful for both! </div><div><br /></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-718786348804172272023-09-22T21:46:00.000-05:002023-09-22T21:46:13.788-05:00Farewell to My Life "Away"<p> This week is one of the most exhausting and bittersweet weeks of my year. This is the week we shut down our life at the farmhouse and prepare to fly south for the winter. I have chronicled this week many times over the years, and one would think after so many years doing this process it would get easier or that my mental state would be more prepared for what lies ahead, but alas, I am a slow learner. Add to the clean out the fridge, put everything away for the winter, pack up your suitcase, wash everything you can lay your eyes on frenzy that is on my "to do" list, we had to prepare for a hurricane! I think it was a blessing and a curse.</p><p>Hurricane Lee hit Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI last weekend. We all knew it was coming and hopefully everyone prepared as well as we did. Hopefully no one needed all of their preparations either. All last week I kept saying we were going to over prepare and hopefully it would all would work out. Well.. it actually did! The hurricane came and went and it was one of the more interesting and lovely hurricanes I have ever seen! Go figure!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIGjjfNKkeQhFMd6uOX11uoiboWxMEwpP3YxzfsdycfM-frOiWLyFDoo5Az_1_E7EbMxmuf8f0lRWb6u5p-pM1I8LLPgvHbmShTV4EBiqqHYqOqzoJXEmK9G8cwHNiEpGlAX6Sc0tkcwOl_fbS2gD-JzbJkXKdoLEe1b0PHQNCNOuJeWYvoLdAwI567k7/s4032/20230916_105025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIGjjfNKkeQhFMd6uOX11uoiboWxMEwpP3YxzfsdycfM-frOiWLyFDoo5Az_1_E7EbMxmuf8f0lRWb6u5p-pM1I8LLPgvHbmShTV4EBiqqHYqOqzoJXEmK9G8cwHNiEpGlAX6Sc0tkcwOl_fbS2gD-JzbJkXKdoLEe1b0PHQNCNOuJeWYvoLdAwI567k7/w640-h480/20230916_105025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Absolute favorite part of any hurricane I have ever seen!<br />I watched this rainbow move across the horizon for about 30 minutes!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFhGSFYfeHYpLCPkpf_hfxgX0qAks3z61bsyRBxxikAOBXBnNtEDdghF0W8iG8z3B-Y5mNwjlorhYR1p1txjdR_Juc1F6xjS7qnzYJC5DOYOmo2vzPH4tFZGE6WO60bTY4HlEwtXbLW8YpWbcTEqrCNfxLcfJp2RMpLU1LA57JMlqnO_j3-RzZTb72E3H/s4032/20230916_131216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFhGSFYfeHYpLCPkpf_hfxgX0qAks3z61bsyRBxxikAOBXBnNtEDdghF0W8iG8z3B-Y5mNwjlorhYR1p1txjdR_Juc1F6xjS7qnzYJC5DOYOmo2vzPH4tFZGE6WO60bTY4HlEwtXbLW8YpWbcTEqrCNfxLcfJp2RMpLU1LA57JMlqnO_j3-RzZTb72E3H/w480-h640/20230916_131216.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just had to go down at high tide to see just how high it was.</i><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Hurricane Lee came and went and left nothing but muddy yards and rain weary people in its wake. The past week has been dreary and downright depressing! September did not win me over this year. After what can only be described as a rainy summer, September has been more of the same. My brain works so much better in the sunshine! Add to the rain the cooler than usual temperatures and the mass evacuation for the hurricane and we were left with each other and the dreary gray sky in our final week and try as I might to get motivated to pack, clean and ready the house for our departure, I just kept dragging my feet. I did manage to get "some" stuff done and the hurricane prep helped get all the flying objects inside, but darn if the day before we leave...yet again...is like a friggin' marathon!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2gurHdlUPPZ_p5GjEPrdJpFNlkM3Cbx9DF9n9DfJg-kzrIxte62DOUXkYiTROVUk6gB7hK16-amxi3gQYm3x7MR63A1QU-JO5iS1iTO9IG9yQ2v4tlZsTgy1T8xjb4nhm9Aen2G4LCtPp-UDjAB3iASRFo4CnCemjy7OxtPIR5zI5n2E9569GgsQdq9R/s4032/20230921_154247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2gurHdlUPPZ_p5GjEPrdJpFNlkM3Cbx9DF9n9DfJg-kzrIxte62DOUXkYiTROVUk6gB7hK16-amxi3gQYm3x7MR63A1QU-JO5iS1iTO9IG9yQ2v4tlZsTgy1T8xjb4nhm9Aen2G4LCtPp-UDjAB3iASRFo4CnCemjy7OxtPIR5zI5n2E9569GgsQdq9R/w480-h640/20230921_154247.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of us got to power wash not one but 2 lawnmowers, run the <br />gas out of them and put them away for the season.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JSByxZA3MfMrt-QZ-hO54DJ4K8BCp0g16rnqJS-LCygJQsTpCK_KJlbR3FnrwG_dGH8JMBAJxBCSevx7n2yaBIfcEw7m8ps1dY60avlfxH4Pq1uYW5Snra-z3XgHsx4pCJGuaG3XK550ADCEf_AseXQ7fsN8RRFlDlEcGwuMNB_s6dk9DFwQdpA6BsEi/s4032/20230922_104240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JSByxZA3MfMrt-QZ-hO54DJ4K8BCp0g16rnqJS-LCygJQsTpCK_KJlbR3FnrwG_dGH8JMBAJxBCSevx7n2yaBIfcEw7m8ps1dY60avlfxH4Pq1uYW5Snra-z3XgHsx4pCJGuaG3XK550ADCEf_AseXQ7fsN8RRFlDlEcGwuMNB_s6dk9DFwQdpA6BsEi/w640-h480/20230922_104240.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The poor garden had to be cleaned up and we harvested most of the available produce.<br />Can I say how much I am going to miss eating super fresh, organic produce <br />every day?!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQyW_uNVXD3jn1u377lPG0Ysr-FYk9zAL0JUeS-YwFCySYUc3-WIxHMAydFZNRkoDhHlvZqLjE4mfvur11TAJTIQJpF3JcM5ovSrPD_v1OgZ6g-iY7oZ_TvlnzUg8-ROL66mG6TNl8CzhcbwxHOiRE6Loq6e_hgXKXh4LUKYxksBxw4DM1GgQEAP-hXsk/s4032/20230922_101323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQyW_uNVXD3jn1u377lPG0Ysr-FYk9zAL0JUeS-YwFCySYUc3-WIxHMAydFZNRkoDhHlvZqLjE4mfvur11TAJTIQJpF3JcM5ovSrPD_v1OgZ6g-iY7oZ_TvlnzUg8-ROL66mG6TNl8CzhcbwxHOiRE6Loq6e_hgXKXh4LUKYxksBxw4DM1GgQEAP-hXsk/w480-h640/20230922_101323.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Last but not least we had to empty all of the potted plants that<br />have provided us with so much joy as they <br />adorned our various decks and porches.<br />This truly is one of the hardest things I have to do every time we leave.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This week has provided me with many opportunities to reflect on what I will miss and what I won't miss when we leave. I will miss a lot for sure, but after spending a solitary week in the cool and gray I am very much looking forward to some sunshine. Of course, one week back home and I will be begging to come back to the coolness up here. Such a quandary...but alas, we must go home at some point.</p><p>Things I will miss...</p><p>-The garden! The thought of eating vegetables from the supermarket and not minutes old from the backyard is daunting. I swear every summer my body thanks me for eating organic vegetables. The vegetable from our garden taste so much better than anything I can buy at the store, and we get very spoiled. Meals are usually planned around what we just picked out of the garden. I have this, this and this...search a recipe and that's what we have for dinner! Easy. Add to the garden the brilliant flowers that we have up here and I am all in!</p><p>-Having people around who are happy to drop by or be dropped in on at a moment's notice. Until recently when everyone escaped the hurricane, there was any number of people who would drop by for dinner or invite us over for dinner. Back home it's just the two of us...every night it seems. There are no spontaneous gatherings.</p><p>-The light. The light up here is different. For some reason, maybe it is just my shore-colored goggles, but everything is more beautiful up here...especially when the sun is shining. The air is clearer, the greens are greener, the blues are bluer, and the air is clearer!</p><p>-The ease of life up here. There is no traffic. There are many open spaces. The population is sparse. The pace of life is a lot slower than the one at home. When I first arrive these are some of the things that drive me crazy, then after a couple of weeks, I have slipped into the easier pace of life up here and greatly appreciate it!</p><p>-No TV! I have not sat down and watched television since I left home. If I must confess, I really don't miss it 95% of the time. Then college football starts...or baseball season gets serious...and I feel very left out. Add to those things one...or two lonely, gray weeks and I find myself resorting to watching Seinfeld on my computer at night just to pass the time. Desperate times require desperate measures. I much prefer the nights when digital entertainment is the farthest thing from my mind!</p><p>Things I am looking forward to when I get home...</p><p>-My hair salon! Vanity of vanities! </p><p>-A nail salon...my poor neglected feet! More vanity.</p><p>-Eating out...within a couple of miles from my house!</p><p>-My golf club which is only 2 miles from my house and where I have made some very good friends.</p><p>-My car. We have one, very old truck, up here and two people living 20 miles away from the nearest golf club or grocery store with one truck is a challenge. The truck has been in the shop twice this summer resulting in no car...or borrowing cars. I miss my car, the one with the backup camera and the blind spot warning and the comfortable seats and the Bluetooth connection. That 2003 truck is nice and all but it is not my car! I miss my independence!</p><p>There is a short list of things I will miss and things I am looking forward to when I get home. Today has been a marathon and still it isn't all done. The leaving is a slow and painful tearing yourself away from the idyllic life we are privileged to live in the summer up here. Yes, I might complain about the details, but for 3 months of living in what can only be described as stepping back in time to a kinder, simpler life it is all worth it!</p><p>Until next summer, farewell to my home away from home. I sure wish I could channel you when I need you in my "real" life!</p><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-11989338543688762832023-09-06T16:20:00.004-05:002023-09-06T19:34:06.844-05:00Summer in Four Part HarmonyIt has been a challenge to write the last two months because I'm not sure how or even what to say. I have thought about it, I have journaled about it and yet I still don't have the right words. I have considered several short posts, but who am I kidding? I don't write short posts anymore. I have started and even titled a couple of posts only to leave them neglected...for weeks. Labor Day, the unofficial end to what has been an interesting summer, is now behind us. One I will remember forever, for many different reasons and forget much of for the same reasons. Maybe it can be explained in four sections.<div><br /></div><div>Part 1</div><div>After our return from Spain, we entered what I will refer to as the Roseanne Roseannadanna part of the summer, because "It just goes to show ya, it's always something!". Either it was the lawnmower that we had to repair not once but at least 3 times this summer for one reason or another, or you discover one missing shingle on your roof can cause a major flooding event in your attic that leaks down to the second floor through the doorways. Or you walk into your kitchen and discover your very old, very lame dishwasher is flowing all over the floor. So, like Roseanne Roseannadanna says, "It just goes to show ya, it's always something!". Life at the farmhouse is not all sunny skies, beautiful flowers and sunsets.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNb4ho4PJ6ONoiB6S4w7cfKDFeCSYAiP74qqrvAnkxIScULN4q4tmVtSBBe_jesNyQdZxDRQAOmUvfBsd8rmwIBHiIxVWfWIUJHeO5S8hoThSjkwqkQnTvg3qp26gKanduNgvjuVhsZWUaJaxWEFtnKku0R7y-wUiBsasDHCg1SttLe9C3yv48Nmno5OXG/s4032/20230703_145935.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNb4ho4PJ6ONoiB6S4w7cfKDFeCSYAiP74qqrvAnkxIScULN4q4tmVtSBBe_jesNyQdZxDRQAOmUvfBsd8rmwIBHiIxVWfWIUJHeO5S8hoThSjkwqkQnTvg3qp26gKanduNgvjuVhsZWUaJaxWEFtnKku0R7y-wUiBsasDHCg1SttLe9C3yv48Nmno5OXG/w640-h480/20230703_145935.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Super fun times in the attic catching rain.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyLUWCXpDO39BCaVIta4JFcxFTrSL3lnj0Fjz62ahIBNO9er5DZxtJieicj2YHhWvz7zmxNYVqlc12rGld8doJ6fx4v8GMZCUX2Py9sDdCF2kK88TeISDQMy1flyrwgOZOy_ZoZ6Xo4A1ZNou5M4rpChuNCZhqxoqXXbN4oXQOd1Bci0-gTt1PmyWM_i0/s4032/20230703_163051.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyLUWCXpDO39BCaVIta4JFcxFTrSL3lnj0Fjz62ahIBNO9er5DZxtJieicj2YHhWvz7zmxNYVqlc12rGld8doJ6fx4v8GMZCUX2Py9sDdCF2kK88TeISDQMy1flyrwgOZOy_ZoZ6Xo4A1ZNou5M4rpChuNCZhqxoqXXbN4oXQOd1Bci0-gTt1PmyWM_i0/w480-h640/20230703_163051.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How to get saturated insulation out of the attic and to the ground,<br />use a tarp and some creativity!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Once we said goodbye to Roseanne, we said hello to a short visit from a few rays of sunshine in the form of our daughter and her son and some actual sunshine! This may have been the beginning of the very short "real summer" when it was hot, humid and sunny. With my brand-new dishwasher, patched roof and operating lawnmower it felt like the tide had turned. There were beach days, grandson smiles, lots of playing and seeing life through the eyes of a sweet two-year-old. Little did I know these days would become the calm before the storm. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVLA459AnI4sl1MwG9PdwHzcuC0B0ZCRKaARr1Ym1sAgiSt2X2VEVNQKO5Z8ax-xIvjAB9rOMPYlaUxi0ZLzbBFBiNB1fsNalfVtuOgAkONV_xbAwn3ldzfw5upkVqVMeiZ4bQbdMIJgygcP2LP57Baxs7PaidkbIlAqzy032yOaV81rt5gFtVw8QzBOy/s1564/IMG_20230906_103621.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVLA459AnI4sl1MwG9PdwHzcuC0B0ZCRKaARr1Ym1sAgiSt2X2VEVNQKO5Z8ax-xIvjAB9rOMPYlaUxi0ZLzbBFBiNB1fsNalfVtuOgAkONV_xbAwn3ldzfw5upkVqVMeiZ4bQbdMIJgygcP2LP57Baxs7PaidkbIlAqzy032yOaV81rt5gFtVw8QzBOy/w640-h640/IMG_20230906_103621.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sweet memories!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3FN3629Sv3tmutFH8L6XkAWZh9VfU26yyre1kB7XNrDNNPRcL9UaiQVmwE1XfuM4H3E-bgmJ5_I5awRtUBEBCQqabSwy1c_PM5rDsFlybfuo1vZzYAbS1sZ4lmCD-WM4SXNuIcdfAH-QD9pIpfDtWQVlQ6J22F4bGRcu_hpZwh4fyNbcZs-SOhHfvN5Y/s4032/20230718_124447.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3FN3629Sv3tmutFH8L6XkAWZh9VfU26yyre1kB7XNrDNNPRcL9UaiQVmwE1XfuM4H3E-bgmJ5_I5awRtUBEBCQqabSwy1c_PM5rDsFlybfuo1vZzYAbS1sZ4lmCD-WM4SXNuIcdfAH-QD9pIpfDtWQVlQ6J22F4bGRcu_hpZwh4fyNbcZs-SOhHfvN5Y/w300-h400/20230718_124447.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He was "all in" on the beach!</i></td></tr></tbody></table>Part 2<br /><div>The day before they left, I got a phone call. It was that phone call we all knew was coming...someday... but never want to answer. "Mom is dying." A few phone calls later and one frantically packed bag in hand, I was on my way to Baton Rouge. When I arrived, Mom was being made comfortable in a hospice care facility and nearing the end of her life. My sister, my brother and I (My other 2 sisters had seen mom the previous weekend and said what they thought might be their goodbye then.) spent time with her holding her hand, talking to her, reading to her, praying, and just being with her for the next week until she finally passed on July 26, 2023. It was a privilege to be there with her for her final days. </div><div><br /></div><div>Watching someone in their final days, especially your mother, is profound. I will venture to say, you never really know...until it is your mom. Many of you have lost your mothers, and I sympathized with you, but I never understood so deeply what that experience was like...until it was <i>my</i> mom. Knowing that there was a person in my life who loved me unconditionally was subconsciously comforting, something I knew deep down and probably took for granted many times. Being a mother myself, I know that unconditional love because I feel it for my own children. It is a love like no other. Knowing she is gone brings it to light and leaves me feeling a bit lost or empty at times. She lived a good life, not without its challenges. She believed in God, the value of hard work, marriage, family, a well-coordinated wardrobe, and dessert. She always saw the best in us, even when we were not our best. Her face lit up when her family visited, especially in her later years. She was sweet and ever appreciative of the good things in her life. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBGLCDyUe5ij1MkfHbUp-aKllL7Wg_qbhfZEeGr13HE-OD7qurFWB7-JUxLMj86ofPxezUEBbMiYmtF1z4F04bApOHj1Hl1s-_UTURpyBXFSPSUWXKcgzautGwjqcOnHlAp-YiiSAlD5HZv9fgz3n1_0cDmjGJ5ZFyT1uV7pGSsphKu4NgrM257ZcM7IQ/s2807/20210828_125139%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2807" data-original-width="2220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBGLCDyUe5ij1MkfHbUp-aKllL7Wg_qbhfZEeGr13HE-OD7qurFWB7-JUxLMj86ofPxezUEBbMiYmtF1z4F04bApOHj1Hl1s-_UTURpyBXFSPSUWXKcgzautGwjqcOnHlAp-YiiSAlD5HZv9fgz3n1_0cDmjGJ5ZFyT1uV7pGSsphKu4NgrM257ZcM7IQ/w506-h640/20210828_125139%202.jpg" width="506" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Surrounded by her wardrobe and smiling at her cottage.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrfW_fjUDiPV_IjJclSsENhNoMrVZjs9WJuplC_5d4XbSyCYi3mBMCRcpiG20Vv73kiG8aLqckeOu3DS1OW8GtdGdiWVObNwgMvzHg1YENXpBKDyTJJFTLYGnNwf51E1izA8sp8BA6x3Nx3bdGX_KDnlx3pv6FIV7YV6_f-gBmKvlAnJBOHGVyYjScFLx/s2961/20210429_122200.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2961" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrfW_fjUDiPV_IjJclSsENhNoMrVZjs9WJuplC_5d4XbSyCYi3mBMCRcpiG20Vv73kiG8aLqckeOu3DS1OW8GtdGdiWVObNwgMvzHg1YENXpBKDyTJJFTLYGnNwf51E1izA8sp8BA6x3Nx3bdGX_KDnlx3pv6FIV7YV6_f-gBmKvlAnJBOHGVyYjScFLx/w424-h640/20210429_122200.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>She loved living in Louisiana.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7I5QjmsaceUaL_4ZkR37BmWty3yxG0llxi31IFjQyHaFtb9XPHVuH-A9Mx1PO1iilmi4fweLY4hjHkbT4eR9ODDzRdxn4vhW3KQ_Hu0yyEdkuQ1fPvfTtE_j-QepXMmM_wzYkLt6BcY8LgjQonCfPkuKFzBZHbu-3XLfnvdlrFRJzM2N9CjdQmUnK_bF/s4032/20210917_170559.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7I5QjmsaceUaL_4ZkR37BmWty3yxG0llxi31IFjQyHaFtb9XPHVuH-A9Mx1PO1iilmi4fweLY4hjHkbT4eR9ODDzRdxn4vhW3KQ_Hu0yyEdkuQ1fPvfTtE_j-QepXMmM_wzYkLt6BcY8LgjQonCfPkuKFzBZHbu-3XLfnvdlrFRJzM2N9CjdQmUnK_bF/w480-h640/20210917_170559.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>In her happy place!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>When I returned to the shore, I was different. I was in the same place, with the same people I am with every summer, doing the same things, but I was not quite all here. I am sure this is a normal experience. Grief or some form of it? I felt slightly detached. Maybe due to my own exclusion or to the fact that when someone dies, other people don't always know what to say around the ones who are grieving. I felt the same, or at least longed to feel the same, but I'm not the same. I just muddled through this part of the summer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Part 3</div><div>There was then the part of the summer that was busy, active, full of family and provided me with ways to focus on other things. I tried my best to enjoy where I was. I have trouble doing this because I always know there is something happening somewhere else that I am missing during this part of the summer. Yes, I am still 16 years old in some ways. I really need to accept that when at the shore, there is <i>always</i> something else happening somewhere and currently we are unable to be two places at once. My mantra has been, "enjoy where you are." The only problem is, I was never completely where I was. A little bit of me was missing. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzx2KpScREdgQnh3gNWnVnZTHjrT8rOcqSwQZaLrQABz-07LkbYtI6Cz8cmifwGV6YMohIWEhXi9SZsp9p5fQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div>Here is a video of this wonderful, full time at the shore!</div><div><br /></div><div>Part 4</div><div>The shore has slowed down now to a much smaller and quieter group. The families with children have gone home for school and work and the seasonal vacationers have gone back to their "real" lives. The colorful potted plants have been retired for the summer and the decks along the lane look starkly naked, the toys in the yards and on the beach are stored away until next year, the number of beach chairs on the beach has dwindled and the pull to sit on the beach is weakening. We are here for a few more weeks and I have mixed feelings about this time. Part of me embraces this time because I get to do the things I want to do and have put aside all summer. This time is a quiet, slower paced, and less scheduled. The weather this summer has been less than perfect...seemingly all over the continent! We were the ones who got the very wet, cooler than normal summer weather. As a result, I am embracing every sunny and remotely warm day like it was a newborn baby. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvuLBVu9nj9jyvbiZklh44-1rdEiARYjtUShSqJEJxFZoIbkk38YuylYwATeuMlN4HTNkg-uK_GVn9gidmyvp9TwtDLtqml2YK34nRWZlsmt76-0TrBTbmqpg7QJPMKCY7RzKGLb58UGW8K9jh6qzlZVKHQn5imOzmWwrBv8618CTZa7H5VtBtkptTeBU/s4032/20230903_163738.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvuLBVu9nj9jyvbiZklh44-1rdEiARYjtUShSqJEJxFZoIbkk38YuylYwATeuMlN4HTNkg-uK_GVn9gidmyvp9TwtDLtqml2YK34nRWZlsmt76-0TrBTbmqpg7QJPMKCY7RzKGLb58UGW8K9jh6qzlZVKHQn5imOzmWwrBv8618CTZa7H5VtBtkptTeBU/w640-h480/20230903_163738.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hoping there are more days like this left in our summer.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFog4JOafsv8h8LT1EwGDLUeYeTlUvaU6Vh2RKB6gR3IM59uogFl_2pOFcUfEvh1OFVd-zhXzgzxyv_TYCaTUuawKGEbhAAUMOCoPpHVGL9Dg-86bQRpeyKtiAbCwdR-ULyCNmI40gVZ3Dqj_RRXZFKLte25mJs39YvmakJd9j8c0y0G5oldEbG_uIeTR/s4032/20230904_200839.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFog4JOafsv8h8LT1EwGDLUeYeTlUvaU6Vh2RKB6gR3IM59uogFl_2pOFcUfEvh1OFVd-zhXzgzxyv_TYCaTUuawKGEbhAAUMOCoPpHVGL9Dg-86bQRpeyKtiAbCwdR-ULyCNmI40gVZ3Dqj_RRXZFKLte25mJs39YvmakJd9j8c0y0G5oldEbG_uIeTR/w640-h480/20230904_200839.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And hope to watch this show on repeat a few times!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I am taking this time to let it all sink in, all of the challenges and anxiety at the beginning of summer, the sorrow in the middle, the love of family and friends that followed and the peace and solitude of the end summer. Will I remember everything that happened this summer? Nope. Will I remember one thing and how it was a turning point, yes. Everything will go back to July 26, 2023, the day I joined so many in the world who have said that permanent earthly goodbye to both of their parents. Now I understand.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div> </div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-2889031240543727702023-06-21T08:39:00.002-05:002023-06-21T08:39:36.008-05:00Right Place, Right Time<p> We recently returned from our "escape the June gloom at the shore" trip. Not surprisingly, we returned to the same gloomy conditions we left and are wondering why we didn't take a longer trip! I could complain but then I look at the extreme heat wave back in Houston and think maybe another week of cool, wet weather isn't so bad after all! But one more week in southern Spain would have been even better! Aside from that first day when the rain in Spain fell mainly on us, things could not have been better!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmroc6HeNiNnDntCSrndDpTS7wX3rF5_T2GgCRopMNAmTebvuAXFLMMnja4r67MqUVM7EmxWAqREPdujDuN0Qserzu7O7HmC2iJ-wYqEh8J16U17OLizPLUa9MOCWetQXkmW-Yx3qab2HgFt8dLXCX07zRonibt4noPJg4zSl3bCtTqFufuvlv6bOGQ/s3024/20230608_141326.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmroc6HeNiNnDntCSrndDpTS7wX3rF5_T2GgCRopMNAmTebvuAXFLMMnja4r67MqUVM7EmxWAqREPdujDuN0Qserzu7O7HmC2iJ-wYqEh8J16U17OLizPLUa9MOCWetQXkmW-Yx3qab2HgFt8dLXCX07zRonibt4noPJg4zSl3bCtTqFufuvlv6bOGQ/w400-h400/20230608_141326.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Not the sunny escape we were expecting.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUObC89-8e8ycfh8izq8Aoetp3-JTZCdeQALDpioIA6nFwVraeIaHyxl_P__dErwXqtA3ckCj2x3HLWhedMV-6xD-srZWAqRv65tv76ZRdZ0vnZyEm7cQ4k3_q-LnbxFPHfxkU7dHoTaD2rR0tnJbzsuZPGE1AyaC7g3DQALtOS6hlsxiKDybhFucAEg/s3024/20230608_112423.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUObC89-8e8ycfh8izq8Aoetp3-JTZCdeQALDpioIA6nFwVraeIaHyxl_P__dErwXqtA3ckCj2x3HLWhedMV-6xD-srZWAqRv65tv76ZRdZ0vnZyEm7cQ4k3_q-LnbxFPHfxkU7dHoTaD2rR0tnJbzsuZPGE1AyaC7g3DQALtOS6hlsxiKDybhFucAEg/w400-h400/20230608_112423.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maybe they are smiling because <br />they get to wear those fantastic hot pink vestments!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ever since our oldest daughter did her semester abroad in the fall of 2000 and took a trip to Seville, it has been on my radar. She told me she just knew it was a place I would love and as I did my research, I was convinced it indeed was a place we should visit. So, when we planned our "escape the gloom" trip, Seville fit all of our requirements. It was warm, traditionally sunny, relatively inexpensive and offered a great mix of history, amazing architecture, great food and wine and did I mention sunshine?! Aside from day one, the weather was just what we were hoping for! The trip was even more than we hoped for, if you ask me!</p><p>We experienced a few "coincidences", or God winks, along our way. We took a tapas and history tour one evening in Seville, and all had to share private nods to each other, as our first stop was the very restaurant, we ate lunch earlier in the day. A place famous for its orange wine in Seville. On the same tour, our final stop was next door to the place we ate breakfast in and also had a nightcap the night before. We were so surprised that the choices we had made, randomly, in a city with hundreds of interesting and delicious places to eat were so close to those featured in the tour. The <a href="https://devourtours.com/?cnt=CA">tapas tour was really great</a>, our guide was one of the best I've ever had on a tour. Well done! Add to the interesting, witty and educational narrative delicious food and drinks and all of us were stuffed by the end of the tour.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGWiO39oOlDL5sVPP2te-D_TRwLIWYKfs_4sX3s_Bf9dbQfcEOhV7vpcxtujBwn9gGwY50JIJFR1vIQZe_ON8BrOjuKcr9qAVatOMAB49SZ22jX8srhMoGV82k0KbwNcok2PgV2NNwH91HLRte5ZIvJc1fy7GXfus9ByI1YFdc0totpgIaDkFSOvIfA/s4032/20230609_131240.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGWiO39oOlDL5sVPP2te-D_TRwLIWYKfs_4sX3s_Bf9dbQfcEOhV7vpcxtujBwn9gGwY50JIJFR1vIQZe_ON8BrOjuKcr9qAVatOMAB49SZ22jX8srhMoGV82k0KbwNcok2PgV2NNwH91HLRte5ZIvJc1fy7GXfus9ByI1YFdc0totpgIaDkFSOvIfA/w360-h640/20230609_131240.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lunch and orange wine</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e7rirToL7-3A8D_kgnCf9l14SDFoOFr8bHNENvhOIznUgrM9XWEpLpna1ipSFZboQw5onJN57Z1dSKfSw8w_GcgM2K_It5OJp72pQp9obyNETAaUHf-XwmNkz9idmGNB-8Pjz1Gby1IupfgPe5_4hHmJRSrRkARoYAP_DsLP9uGYS28rlVDpKWZY7w/s4032/20230609_191239.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e7rirToL7-3A8D_kgnCf9l14SDFoOFr8bHNENvhOIznUgrM9XWEpLpna1ipSFZboQw5onJN57Z1dSKfSw8w_GcgM2K_It5OJp72pQp9obyNETAaUHf-XwmNkz9idmGNB-8Pjz1Gby1IupfgPe5_4hHmJRSrRkARoYAP_DsLP9uGYS28rlVDpKWZY7w/w360-h640/20230609_191239.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tapas, a tour and orange wine.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In Seville, we heard many times about the huge processions during Holy Week where they carry large platforms or floats with various ornate sculptures mounted on them. It seems there are many of these processions during Holy Week and the men who carry these large, heavy platforms train for weeks before the processions. We had been told that the city would be celebrating First Communion that week and that was the reason the city was decorated with banners and flowers, plus, the Cathedral would be closed to the public for that time. We did try, several times, to tour the Cathedral but never got inside! One of our few wrong place, wrong time experiences on the trip. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidJxJA-bMh6aTJXQ0vEkTpNnk2pkKHd2DfQ3OB12Jt1Eqz11q_T6GDdeS4CC2lA1sLdDrwMrTxjfeicDEHYGoOp_k9ckFJPrict6g79D_slg-nUte-zEKiYjn7ixa6AHQ6-6bXVf4mYFS7yN1sx7pcEdhOKwfPYuNndR0ED7UcsQG8WDHaFqOIT96hpuy/s3024/20230607_214236.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidJxJA-bMh6aTJXQ0vEkTpNnk2pkKHd2DfQ3OB12Jt1Eqz11q_T6GDdeS4CC2lA1sLdDrwMrTxjfeicDEHYGoOp_k9ckFJPrict6g79D_slg-nUte-zEKiYjn7ixa6AHQ6-6bXVf4mYFS7yN1sx7pcEdhOKwfPYuNndR0ED7UcsQG8WDHaFqOIT96hpuy/w640-h640/20230607_214236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We walked past this earlier in the day and it was empty.<br />After dinner, it was hosting a free concert!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The artist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seraf%C3%ADn_Zubiri">Serafin Zubiri</a> was performing with the National Orchestra. The music was lovely, and the place was packed! A summer evening experience we don't get back home. </p><p>From Seville we drove down to Malaga which is on the coast. It seemed much more modern and cosmopolitan compared to Seville. I was really looking forward to seeing the blue water and the beach. I was not disappointed! The beach was calling our name as soon as we arrived. Yes, I even went in the water, and it was beautiful. Especially after the many miles we walked in Seville and the drive down to Malaga. Nothing like bobbing in the waves for a while to make you really feel like you are on vacation.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU6900Cp8Vb_sNB992L2ooevbLOO59P-zt1QhwH_NjZRF5ZIHRvt1D9RpcVJlF8AcHfN5ymYSp_2ijf4fwRGbA7mHIYrU6Z1Yv39x3aFkPcMsB6TsjqoDK5AxHRlmOEkj-eO6lptirmiwhQPhK9707Y-foXqYzqSJqdXgI4MLOYefELGI85FIK8w6DaX4/s4032/20230610_134728.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU6900Cp8Vb_sNB992L2ooevbLOO59P-zt1QhwH_NjZRF5ZIHRvt1D9RpcVJlF8AcHfN5ymYSp_2ijf4fwRGbA7mHIYrU6Z1Yv39x3aFkPcMsB6TsjqoDK5AxHRlmOEkj-eO6lptirmiwhQPhK9707Y-foXqYzqSJqdXgI4MLOYefELGI85FIK8w6DaX4/w360-h640/20230610_134728.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Plenty of pedestrian streets with tons of shopping!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOPCs9UfrSlDpLKqsP6vJb6X-WbJHinaWOMdG4JSmV5eytMWm5ybyNd4MHuO5zrVPE2G2YbK8yxVBJ8NWDAOR1gEyQ-iIZnUGD2KhrxnSsJRpPnmsvGtkptywFQ_BPSrsS4mov-AR66AJ9aBxZdhsY-Xql46UXm8JQvm0Xw4adcfxP7HhvQQg3W0S-1Yr/s4032/20230610_171231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOPCs9UfrSlDpLKqsP6vJb6X-WbJHinaWOMdG4JSmV5eytMWm5ybyNd4MHuO5zrVPE2G2YbK8yxVBJ8NWDAOR1gEyQ-iIZnUGD2KhrxnSsJRpPnmsvGtkptywFQ_BPSrsS4mov-AR66AJ9aBxZdhsY-Xql46UXm8JQvm0Xw4adcfxP7HhvQQg3W0S-1Yr/w640-h360/20230610_171231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We opted for the beach!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKk6z7u3dXZE_GcAJATDS3twhNE5BvujoPA2K8H4WKxIdwzyQhV8XqeKF5ZMyKJTjN81m2cM2yi56hQr2kJYzzAFkaAGF7QH2sOJoHvvqSPWQq4XPHvtpulwoNESSyFcF1IdpKW0PPTOjzw4FaKNJxCaCvgyS7yULt5QnaeSik8DoF6y_oyyh8CvN6zV2v/s4032/20230610_171812.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKk6z7u3dXZE_GcAJATDS3twhNE5BvujoPA2K8H4WKxIdwzyQhV8XqeKF5ZMyKJTjN81m2cM2yi56hQr2kJYzzAFkaAGF7QH2sOJoHvvqSPWQq4XPHvtpulwoNESSyFcF1IdpKW0PPTOjzw4FaKNJxCaCvgyS7yULt5QnaeSik8DoF6y_oyyh8CvN6zV2v/w640-h360/20230610_171812.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Along with a few other people!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The next morning we woke up early...for me...so we could hike to the top of the Alcazaba, an ancient palatial fortress that stands over the entire city. It was a steep hike but the view at the top, as usual, was worth it! It was Sunday morning, and I was having a bit of Catholic guilt because we were out hiking instead of going to Mass in the Cathedral next to our hotel. We hiked back down the mountain and our path took us near the Cathedral where I stopped to look at a couple of birds on the fountain and TJ went to see why there was a uniformed band near the church. It looked like a crowd was gathering and we went closer to check it out. There were police gathering and the crowd was growing, so we stood there waiting to see what the commotion was all about. We figured the band was going to play eventually.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7My2qx7oGuNFzIxfI_qbTcJbC0pb0vHdFzX6fG9hgod3M_rzGoxcVAHLMx2-C-xK-77xQn4o_GpIwSi6W50ytAuYBbBucTRxLQMW6MVfsIZlJXPr44KJDz1q4zzIl5M7idYf322B6xdmD-Y7y6lox1-RB7SgmoXuPRbN-a3pFT4cvZNphk7DMeGTKyrd2/s1616/DSC00448.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7My2qx7oGuNFzIxfI_qbTcJbC0pb0vHdFzX6fG9hgod3M_rzGoxcVAHLMx2-C-xK-77xQn4o_GpIwSi6W50ytAuYBbBucTRxLQMW6MVfsIZlJXPr44KJDz1q4zzIl5M7idYf322B6xdmD-Y7y6lox1-RB7SgmoXuPRbN-a3pFT4cvZNphk7DMeGTKyrd2/w640-h428/DSC00448.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Malaga from above.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfElkY1cOaZjMQ7ZBKstmUitspptNyDxGvEm4eraNQ0w-1eR6L07nGytr1Se8X2JMhmGLqiB8rRZEhaHQZAnjFsMwhf-w56MnGSbzZd2pH7IsqOllkpaCMy1ZaWbSUZNl0-L0PZ1HuC-CxsblyA4FuEvKQZZZvL4HOo3ZlcLHbcLixYsPI2nZu97C8KY9/s4032/20230611_091053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfElkY1cOaZjMQ7ZBKstmUitspptNyDxGvEm4eraNQ0w-1eR6L07nGytr1Se8X2JMhmGLqiB8rRZEhaHQZAnjFsMwhf-w56MnGSbzZd2pH7IsqOllkpaCMy1ZaWbSUZNl0-L0PZ1HuC-CxsblyA4FuEvKQZZZvL4HOo3ZlcLHbcLixYsPI2nZu97C8KY9/w640-h360/20230611_091053.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The bullfighting ring.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrtLU3FAJTRtPN372e-5MqhCTny_XsJ6UEJcHi3sdiR0OxIAA_VxVzmWL-Vi-R-TEWxU5lrQg7UvpuJiZUXVs59xtyBDXkZJ6bcJeZAZftVbx95lXau9oWBFDbYb8LWoKdBvprFZ0YdQ8F4Qer8aeUqzLmzExHtt5W3aNj7Z0zyD0HNpeBceW_4YhL6LZ/s1616/DSC00467.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrtLU3FAJTRtPN372e-5MqhCTny_XsJ6UEJcHi3sdiR0OxIAA_VxVzmWL-Vi-R-TEWxU5lrQg7UvpuJiZUXVs59xtyBDXkZJ6bcJeZAZftVbx95lXau9oWBFDbYb8LWoKdBvprFZ0YdQ8F4Qer8aeUqzLmzExHtt5W3aNj7Z0zyD0HNpeBceW_4YhL6LZ/w640-h428/DSC00467.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is what caught our attention.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As we waited for the band to play, the church doors opened, and people began to walk out. I figured Mass was over but then the candle holders and cross bearer walked out, and the church bells began to clang and we waited. We soon realized that today was the feast of Corpus Christi, and this was a huge procession celebrating the First Communion of all the children of the church. The band played, the church bells clanged, and all the precious children dressed in white processed out of the church. It was beautiful! As a Catholic, it was so moving to see how celebrated these children were on this special day of initiation in the Catholic church. There was a procession for over 30 minutes with the children first, then their families carrying banners and staffs, followed by one band and then the clergy and then the monstrance carrying the Blessed Sacrament on a huge platform of silver followed by yet another band. I was brought to tears. To witness such a beautiful tradition and see so many people celebrating these children was truly a blessing. There was a level of pageantry we never get to see and while that alone does not indicate any level of faith, the mere fact that so many people came together to celebrate these children and their First Communion made my heart swell. I felt the spirit in my heart. If we had not gone for that hike so early in the morning and not taken that path back to our hotel, we would not have seen this celebration. We were meant to be right where we were when we were. We watched the entire thing. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVRPNe-erqVjw5_pM_HHWXSQSqhceQ_m0kYIK6sIh6k5DYObnqlhQooHBSVoC-anbELVa1A8HB4InTe6T3vcTteZoHgOezVWeYs147sNQa_nsnh3ah9hxPjQDVz12I8nGvVVy4PYQIAr6A_pbK7cmHmwdheFt9YFpJwa_VWtXMacTfcdRpa1G7x64G6VA/s1616/DSC00471.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVRPNe-erqVjw5_pM_HHWXSQSqhceQ_m0kYIK6sIh6k5DYObnqlhQooHBSVoC-anbELVa1A8HB4InTe6T3vcTteZoHgOezVWeYs147sNQa_nsnh3ah9hxPjQDVz12I8nGvVVy4PYQIAr6A_pbK7cmHmwdheFt9YFpJwa_VWtXMacTfcdRpa1G7x64G6VA/w640-h428/DSC00471.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Some of the banners carried by the famili</i>es.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhhxMZuJ_GgAbzNS_v5vVgZC5s5ILq4LrUh9n6tPeSFy8jRw7ixa8ou9jZ7tuU7FC40bfXZu0YnKFDfijGo7bTlNHcqf8xK3PTggfeitJrbAmr024wdNr5U-ZYHC13-xUBwOeYXb5MWYMiFz68x1OF5OSi94JD8U3G4Uq0iGZG2NXJ_pnVDgE77E1R3Nn/s4032/20230611_103903.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhhxMZuJ_GgAbzNS_v5vVgZC5s5ILq4LrUh9n6tPeSFy8jRw7ixa8ou9jZ7tuU7FC40bfXZu0YnKFDfijGo7bTlNHcqf8xK3PTggfeitJrbAmr024wdNr5U-ZYHC13-xUBwOeYXb5MWYMiFz68x1OF5OSi94JD8U3G4Uq0iGZG2NXJ_pnVDgE77E1R3Nn/w360-h640/20230611_103903.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>They have got to be brother and sister...right?!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XuRaViV4Cw8" width="320" youtube-src-id="XuRaViV4Cw8"></iframe></div><br /><div> <i>This was the moment I teared up. Turn your sound on.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><p>The morning left me both physically and emotionally invigorated! Mind, body and soul taken care of all in a matter of hours. I had no expectations of Malaga other than the blue water and found myself wishing we were spending more time there. It was the one place I made no plans for on our trip, no tours, no dinner reservations ahead of time, not much research on what to do or see, we just went because it was supposed to be beachy and beautiful. It was so much more. </p><p>Next stop on the agenda was Granada. Granada, full of history, interesting neighborhoods, the Alhambra and free tapas! A few words about tapas. Every city treats it differently. Who knew? In Seville, you pay for tapas. Many items on the menu can be ordered as a meal or as tapas, which means a smaller portion of the same food. We wanted to try a lot of different foods, so we chose to order 2 or 3 meal size portions at dinner and shared them all and if there was something someone wanted in particular, we ordered the tapas size in Seville. Tapas did not seem to be a thing in Malaga. In Granada, which claims to be where tapas all began, if you order a drink, they bring you tapas for free. Order another drink, they bring more food and on and on. We embraced the tapas! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfhrTLbTSx02Rl9_Wsghwz-gLf5xPUOuNe9HOR2YTVh0b8SQ6YjtZy-sjfu1nStBZ1JHU2VRWP3sDiyAobhdA1bb7BJ0QvnU9R1aSwJHAppe7qB8hi9l0hh5ZZh7Qw2hPMEVhqhfA-c8IiEV2EcUtaShrbqENpBosQgQZ_0sWOBAKQDgSVghIOJptU4nn/s4032/20230611_185312.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfhrTLbTSx02Rl9_Wsghwz-gLf5xPUOuNe9HOR2YTVh0b8SQ6YjtZy-sjfu1nStBZ1JHU2VRWP3sDiyAobhdA1bb7BJ0QvnU9R1aSwJHAppe7qB8hi9l0hh5ZZh7Qw2hPMEVhqhfA-c8IiEV2EcUtaShrbqENpBosQgQZ_0sWOBAKQDgSVghIOJptU4nn/w360-h640/20230611_185312.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our own little patio at<br />our favorite tapas stop in Granada.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-nlXra4TUxkiV5FSy9fG97YPC6ZYkQ2GcqG9HuGHtITXbMdrGSMxksA3twY33JgEYId-sXzC8QFA9UsatEXz51m0CJtM0gVQsb5Z8U-IaMLPbBsRyr--2itRwlpjcTBZPpVNZmNlxk1_ZiTv1e-jnVKJ4SWL9vUbdlk1AAbzkwqoPV3xS_ZQ2E0EmA5W/s4032/20230611_193115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-nlXra4TUxkiV5FSy9fG97YPC6ZYkQ2GcqG9HuGHtITXbMdrGSMxksA3twY33JgEYId-sXzC8QFA9UsatEXz51m0CJtM0gVQsb5Z8U-IaMLPbBsRyr--2itRwlpjcTBZPpVNZmNlxk1_ZiTv1e-jnVKJ4SWL9vUbdlk1AAbzkwqoPV3xS_ZQ2E0EmA5W/w400-h225/20230611_193115.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If you go to Granada, go here!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The life in Granada is easy. I really liked Granada. Several different neighborhoods and vibes from upscale and busy, to easy and relaxed to traditional with flamenco and cave restaurants. The Alhambra stands on a mountain above the city and beyond it are the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is a beautiful city! Our hotel was across the street from the Cathedral, seems we have a thing for Cathedrals. It was a great location! Our first day was spend just wandering, exploring and testing the tapas theory. We also enjoyed paella! Yes, maybe we ate and drank a lot on this trip...but we did do a lot of walking every day too. One highlight from our first day was finding the Mirador San Nicholas. The perfect spot to soak in a little local culture and see the Alhambra in all of its glory.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEzwUy9WSrE-toD890TBlWgKi68p7Gm6hdgBeqTeShWnDefvHwh_pu4FiPAnqkrC3ss46Iyy5AWsOvPM0-KIeOiKIfSA3NaI_cndutpS83ZBXEWMaNBdTLbHzO7cpJTyHlIN0hFP2GD0Zbzm6wtMX4lLk7IR7WErakQ4i_2c-PKJWtwEZ1HxjOaGT07TC/s4032/20230611_195105.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEzwUy9WSrE-toD890TBlWgKi68p7Gm6hdgBeqTeShWnDefvHwh_pu4FiPAnqkrC3ss46Iyy5AWsOvPM0-KIeOiKIfSA3NaI_cndutpS83ZBXEWMaNBdTLbHzO7cpJTyHlIN0hFP2GD0Zbzm6wtMX4lLk7IR7WErakQ4i_2c-PKJWtwEZ1HxjOaGT07TC/w640-h360/20230611_195105.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>That is what I call a nice view!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOtViKm_aHltQWmxtUSVHkCYjQkmBo1KfO-1z7evZnhpZ57aRmAC20PeADwkQmpoOhbQn4-MZJCz1ddgb6aq2z8ZgZz-08u2y4MYSxweEaUg9mtc5Jd9QVLT1jt1b9nPpPL9U1S5OM_O4oUfPd_B0HfEFqdPOn_WoC59cWQvIy96e2QSNGCKNmXLwocl9/s3648/20230611_195724.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOtViKm_aHltQWmxtUSVHkCYjQkmBo1KfO-1z7evZnhpZ57aRmAC20PeADwkQmpoOhbQn4-MZJCz1ddgb6aq2z8ZgZz-08u2y4MYSxweEaUg9mtc5Jd9QVLT1jt1b9nPpPL9U1S5OM_O4oUfPd_B0HfEFqdPOn_WoC59cWQvIy96e2QSNGCKNmXLwocl9/w300-h400/20230611_195724.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They all endured my daily "team photos"!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHACLg7kZ8o_XQHVcYNXzZUvFYtOEZuECKoMqgCRcbtg2gl8UVJzlsi_YB3D3K8cU6fHILO2VcwcjTwM1bakH4cwl0F5jAauETVTDkI5wh1uBsvyuVBkSILG8PeHoQYsCl8rOEdRVJOC--RG6zMTeSxsVsIxxWWVilTXrUtvQQR2rM-YymZqEeEo-5zZN/s4032/20230611_212015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHACLg7kZ8o_XQHVcYNXzZUvFYtOEZuECKoMqgCRcbtg2gl8UVJzlsi_YB3D3K8cU6fHILO2VcwcjTwM1bakH4cwl0F5jAauETVTDkI5wh1uBsvyuVBkSILG8PeHoQYsCl8rOEdRVJOC--RG6zMTeSxsVsIxxWWVilTXrUtvQQR2rM-YymZqEeEo-5zZN/w640-h360/20230611_212015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>When in Spain...try the paella!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The next day was ABC... Another Bloody Church, and the Alhambra. The Alhambra was amazing! After seeing two palatial fortresses, I wondered how special could a place be? I wondered if we'd seen one...or two...have we seen them all? Nope! The Alhambra is special! It is such a masterful mix of Islamic intricacy and detail merged with Christian influences. Luckily, the Christians kept much of the unbelievable details from the original Moorish designs. My mouth was agape. No picture will show just how inspiring this place actually is in person. The views from the fortress are expansive and the gardens are meticulous. When everything I read said expect to spend 3 hours here, I thought to myself, no way! We spent almost 3 hours and could have spent longer. Go figure! It was the perfect exclamation point at the end of our travels together. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5E_EIvbFgHEY0iTSsxa1t_OqN9Z64xTCACzePnZxXEgENqmWmX6O-n5wWyt_AWO2tm16LZSTA7LoAgW_OJj_WTqT5r2Q4k_dPhB2eyx71gYHU1nyJ-30m4Eh13BXQqJli-VVgb_LjT9Dr3PZExYgwIfkcEfdIGZLSJje0SeKK4f4lUmkwcBpqWzCWDGe/s4032/20230612_162133.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5E_EIvbFgHEY0iTSsxa1t_OqN9Z64xTCACzePnZxXEgENqmWmX6O-n5wWyt_AWO2tm16LZSTA7LoAgW_OJj_WTqT5r2Q4k_dPhB2eyx71gYHU1nyJ-30m4Eh13BXQqJli-VVgb_LjT9Dr3PZExYgwIfkcEfdIGZLSJje0SeKK4f4lUmkwcBpqWzCWDGe/w640-h360/20230612_162133.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of the views from the top.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGp2JJRzhQyc-D9EbPvnsezypkJlWWU3rs8iieckDvQKp2Fx0UAVq4S4CH6v8Vgp4WO721JktM98wAM9i41veVyBiV54OGuyGt7Y9KrOKbLx8NYPl3IaH2O4mc04BXUS5e6oZCymtJ65WRC5xxYdoY7h4RXAPfMGgauqE28xuxsoRRNDp3CErHlFx77Df/s4032/20230612_171304.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGp2JJRzhQyc-D9EbPvnsezypkJlWWU3rs8iieckDvQKp2Fx0UAVq4S4CH6v8Vgp4WO721JktM98wAM9i41veVyBiV54OGuyGt7Y9KrOKbLx8NYPl3IaH2O4mc04BXUS5e6oZCymtJ65WRC5xxYdoY7h4RXAPfMGgauqE28xuxsoRRNDp3CErHlFx77Df/w360-h640/20230612_171304.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I loved the tile work and colors inside! </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7pUqcVsVxkBYPuNlpgo-iOw49B8c-DEHwzY1mSlgkU4y3w7XOeapPOGsU7yrzFfjcxGuRAjcZ-4W-10btJRRRzfMJIifRYsnAdOSdeIeJZ4CZRGIT-5EduchQ7w6FA7GeYrZRGWBv6eZxgI1sWoUAcRftCHZ8pnvOF_MAFauAcXG25vjQ1RkQtggUb40/s4032/20230612_171726.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7pUqcVsVxkBYPuNlpgo-iOw49B8c-DEHwzY1mSlgkU4y3w7XOeapPOGsU7yrzFfjcxGuRAjcZ-4W-10btJRRRzfMJIifRYsnAdOSdeIeJZ4CZRGIT-5EduchQ7w6FA7GeYrZRGWBv6eZxgI1sWoUAcRftCHZ8pnvOF_MAFauAcXG25vjQ1RkQtggUb40/w360-h640/20230612_171726.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And the details!!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6q0wx0oFcNZB06PczXXfAcHGsvvedsK5nHj53gu-Tjk0HRT0Yrny6SeO4Ba6W5BKRLp_eY2yAFNTWmb59bbEj4sblK-5i9Qjr6C2hu2Nb15p-CK-juYZFSfA2cFF_uDO_EYXtMkIRMiThKIJoQTs50_iclxtp6RwCXI9Vssi-bYZHemBCGzMfGdxcPH-/s4032/20230612_172219.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6q0wx0oFcNZB06PczXXfAcHGsvvedsK5nHj53gu-Tjk0HRT0Yrny6SeO4Ba6W5BKRLp_eY2yAFNTWmb59bbEj4sblK-5i9Qjr6C2hu2Nb15p-CK-juYZFSfA2cFF_uDO_EYXtMkIRMiThKIJoQTs50_iclxtp6RwCXI9Vssi-bYZHemBCGzMfGdxcPH-/w360-h640/20230612_172219.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Peaceful and beautiful</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUirVcc-fhon8ZEPCZtRycWxd6NujSwnIBBle6oGIJUHq_cKxz77cG_HKBB-7ErDevKP54HYZ4BZjl1IoR_tdXtPrBdsSlKnNZcAuCtRKmZtY7brLx2rSiTR-293VwuFfrM2DMzcyTkxeZoSsQ-9VSGxu0vRIcsp4PD-v7oJG19hPEXe04Cfa-6wRVU-MO/s4032/20230612_174446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUirVcc-fhon8ZEPCZtRycWxd6NujSwnIBBle6oGIJUHq_cKxz77cG_HKBB-7ErDevKP54HYZ4BZjl1IoR_tdXtPrBdsSlKnNZcAuCtRKmZtY7brLx2rSiTR-293VwuFfrM2DMzcyTkxeZoSsQ-9VSGxu0vRIcsp4PD-v7oJG19hPEXe04Cfa-6wRVU-MO/w360-h640/20230612_174446.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IQwA9C2dMqLoFrABddSkekFkp_-ZUduvAAti0LAoUukUb8MJU5hz0UV-kQkQDFkb1K0sIX8549qeYflW3Rh0yIFHNEdRA5hdIgR2UULsSZwgCoIppkaJJEdx99t-soPinf_ie_2zQFI31P_z3332ueVO4ac68yJ9WuywoB-euhGf_dxpg0iGyDrxuqLE/s3648/20230612_174233.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IQwA9C2dMqLoFrABddSkekFkp_-ZUduvAAti0LAoUukUb8MJU5hz0UV-kQkQDFkb1K0sIX8549qeYflW3Rh0yIFHNEdRA5hdIgR2UULsSZwgCoIppkaJJEdx99t-soPinf_ie_2zQFI31P_z3332ueVO4ac68yJ9WuywoB-euhGf_dxpg0iGyDrxuqLE/w480-h640/20230612_174233.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One ceiling...photos cannot do it justice.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxaUR4x4jAKdOcbEjKLoY7ZtDbNwRIMW9cv-IXDDnNi5_s6bIskkhw7rnNGuoUMasO0uIu5pqdBisP7cWiGdkMLYbYAkpKcPe6DHw03VFSRNxvozZyt6TpTbtJOS-M3d7WEGTtuIsZW4SEHbB0yLzWZjf1LO_Zh6F7Sa75lTcaJfS8DZVICEvp1q5VcHb/s4032/20230612_180340.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxaUR4x4jAKdOcbEjKLoY7ZtDbNwRIMW9cv-IXDDnNi5_s6bIskkhw7rnNGuoUMasO0uIu5pqdBisP7cWiGdkMLYbYAkpKcPe6DHw03VFSRNxvozZyt6TpTbtJOS-M3d7WEGTtuIsZW4SEHbB0yLzWZjf1LO_Zh6F7Sa75lTcaJfS8DZVICEvp1q5VcHb/w640-h360/20230612_180340.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>For the outdoorsy types.<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Needless to say, southern Spain was exactly the right place to go to escape June gloom. There was nothing gloomy about Andalusia. I am so glad we were able to see these beautiful and amazing places. Every day was a feast for the senses. It would have been hard to not fall in love with Spain...again! <br /> <p></p></div><div><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-29690519634116987212023-06-06T07:27:00.000-05:002023-06-06T07:27:05.515-05:00Fickle June<p> The days leading up to our summer departure always find me with mixed emotions. After spring in Texas, which is usually one of the nicer seasons with plenty of golf and socializing, I find myself feeling very at home in my life. I am slow to change the status quo, just ask my husband, especially if I am enjoying the status quo. So, when we decided to head north earlier than usual, I had some hesitations. Why change if things are going well? But the other of us was ready for the summer migration, so north we go.</p><p>I spent a week packing up my life and saying goodbye to the luxuries I take for granted in Texas. Things like twice weekly garbage pickup, air conditioning, a grocery store less than 2 miles from my house, Oscar (our yard man), living my life on one floor instead of 3, my car, having my golf course less than 2 miles from the house, municipal (softened) water and sewage instead of a well and septic tank, fast reliable internet, television and being 5 hours away from my mom if needed. This last one becomes more important as life goes on. All of this runs through my head while I pack for the summer and wonder why we are going so early. And then we get here, we make that drive down those old familiar roads, I see the water for the first time, I smell the air and hug people who have been in my life forever...and I know. It does not hurt that we arrived on a day that looked like this...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGvR-NvYN6TkYzjiyuoVbRwnvGTBnjFB5XmtpnA-Gliajay-OicaPBm2WTcWyL3RHtiCN3qe7esejiWH6KGWerhwFGHb9M4lcTbvKPQwIgD08tK1U_LB7fPRaGm1u67nlG3Tzl94LmBNTJBBT-lRQtmkuHxHw9zdkUr6t3hxm5NaKlzioMKghpZMQzQ/s3024/20230601_120807.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGvR-NvYN6TkYzjiyuoVbRwnvGTBnjFB5XmtpnA-Gliajay-OicaPBm2WTcWyL3RHtiCN3qe7esejiWH6KGWerhwFGHb9M4lcTbvKPQwIgD08tK1U_LB7fPRaGm1u67nlG3Tzl94LmBNTJBBT-lRQtmkuHxHw9zdkUr6t3hxm5NaKlzioMKghpZMQzQ/w640-h640/20230601_120807.jpg" width="640" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Twice weekly trash pickup can't compare...beach for the win!!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As if karma was slapping me in my hesitant face, we arrived for two of the most beautiful days of the summer with unseasonably warm temperatures and perfectly blue skies. On day three reality set in. We experienced that high you get when you arrive and everything is perfect and you question why you had any doubts. I really got fooled! On day 3 it all came back to me. Early June at the shore is cold and wet. Those two 80-degree days were merely a mirage. This is how I remember early June...cold and wet. The good thing is that several trees fell down last year in a hurricane, and they are now firewood fueling our stove and keeping us cozy. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrk2f8daA-KawnG_MLVOFtfJ7ff1-fuFOPJo0n5Ib-rQhTGsIpH6PoLs1iNIQ6Y5NQEv_LErpDACzRYLiczW9A0j7OQvYd8JNX-xY40oRZtrtbbWy9uSzQ2tS5je8u3IYem5ZZhAvZMINYtq5aD-C7xZtCtSldoIWUgOklayTQdxx-Y40uEYs1AzCag/s3024/20230603_195201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrk2f8daA-KawnG_MLVOFtfJ7ff1-fuFOPJo0n5Ib-rQhTGsIpH6PoLs1iNIQ6Y5NQEv_LErpDACzRYLiczW9A0j7OQvYd8JNX-xY40oRZtrtbbWy9uSzQ2tS5je8u3IYem5ZZhAvZMINYtq5aD-C7xZtCtSldoIWUgOklayTQdxx-Y40uEYs1AzCag/w640-h640/20230603_195201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>From perfection to this in one night. <br />Oh June, how fickle you are!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This week we celebrated our 45th....45th!! anniversary. Wow! We have celebrated this day up here before, and still I remember that all those years ago this girl never would have imagined having the luxury of spending so much time up here. I love this place now, but I may have even loved it more back then. Back then I was an idealistic, romantic and summers at the shore were some of the most special and perfect times of my life. There was something so special about coming of age in the summers at the shore. I must say, there is also something special about growing older at the shore. I am not spending time pining over some summer crush while listening to love songs on the radio, I am a lot more comfortable in my current relationship that has stood the test of time, several relocations and 4 wonderful children! I can still listen to music and get sentimental...even on a cold, rainy day. Cue up some Gordon Lightfoot and toast the last 45 years and summers at the shore!</p><p>One thing I love most about my 45-year partner is that once again we each gave in a little and will both be getting our way. I reluctantly agreed to come up early this year, knowing how fickle June conditions are so he can plant the garden and do all the frontier man things he loves, and he agreed that we could leave for part of June and go somewhere warmer...and take a real vacation. Because believe me, life at the farmhouse is June is not a vacation! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd-TA-8xPMlnDCUojpMnsaNaJ_6V86-tb5Kg9IQYe0yodPKNdxB0SWQzsF0BOcEG-PMpEx30OQTMBBQXop3THjp1qQZwEDM-SaPTz3YHH0PhWcwNIDvnL5bOtk3C2BkbKSJn5P5_b1EUtslF8HRTqdzoffpOujlNn5sgaBzezw-7WN3saZud_cYo_VA/s2400/Screenshot_20230605_192833_AccuWeather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd-TA-8xPMlnDCUojpMnsaNaJ_6V86-tb5Kg9IQYe0yodPKNdxB0SWQzsF0BOcEG-PMpEx30OQTMBBQXop3THjp1qQZwEDM-SaPTz3YHH0PhWcwNIDvnL5bOtk3C2BkbKSJn5P5_b1EUtslF8HRTqdzoffpOujlNn5sgaBzezw-7WN3saZud_cYo_VA/w180-h400/Screenshot_20230605_192833_AccuWeather.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pretty sure we are not missing anything special here, <br />unless we grow feathers and start to quack!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Adios June gloom, please don't follow us!<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-65415509805310466562023-05-10T16:51:00.001-05:002023-05-10T16:58:39.579-05:00Infinite Browsing<p>Every once in a while, things fall into your lap and while they are there, they slap you in the face and wake you up. That happened to me today! I headed out for my daily walk, which is a day overdue because of the horrendous weather we have been having and chose...for some reason, to listen to a podcast. Usually, I listen to a book, but I just finished my book and I am in that "post great book mourning period", so I haven't chosen a new one yet. I browsed the podcasts that came up on my Spotify app and landed on <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/you-only-live-once-so-commit">The Happiness Lab - You Only Live Once episode</a>. I put in my earbuds and headed out on my damp, humid walk. My walk was not only just what I needed physically, but just what I needed mentally. </p><p>At the risk of repeating the entire podcast and misinterpreting it, I'll just encourage you to listen. There was so much there! It addressed many things I struggle with in my life, confirmed many of my thoughts, challenged others and most of all opened my eyes. It put into words things I am aware of, under the surface, but am not eloquent enough to express. It shed such a great perspective on behaviors we all fall victim to in our lives. If you have ever found yourself browsing the many choices on Netflix and still come up empty handed with what to watch or caught yourself running late because you were mindlessly scrolling through stupid reel after reel on Instagram or if you can't make a decision on what hotel, tour, restaurant, or just name anything you search on the internet, you might love this podcast. </p><p> After spending hours upon hours browsing through potential hotels, travel itineraries and tour options for an upcoming trip, this podcast made me stop in my steps and open my eyes. I was having trouble committing to where to stay, what to do and where to go because there were just too many choices. The fear of having "buyer's remorse" had me paralyzed. Plus, every reservation I made, I made sure it had free cancellations because...there could just be a better option! Failure to commit. By not completely committing to a choice I may be inadvertently sabotaging my choice. With so many choices right in front of me...how can I be sure I am making the right choice? </p><p>Find out the answer to this and other questions and give it a listen. Excuse me while I go confirm some reservations.</p><p> </p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-82097977371030239182023-04-06T20:17:00.000-05:002023-04-06T20:17:49.137-05:00Checking In One Year Later<p> Last year I was sitting on this same sofa, watching the same thing (The Masters) on tv under very different conditions. Earlier that day, I had my ACL replacement surgery and spent the better part of the next 3 - 6 months rehabbing. Today, I played golf, took a walk and feel thankfully very different than I did a year ago. I just read <a href="http://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-note-to-myself-in-april-2023.html">this post</a> from the day before my surgery and can say, yes, I am glad I did it, but it wasn't easy. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90fEET5ISWgD8iendqlr8g0zxFIk2mzhQ3K-4Q0RCOhMt6IB5uTYpoGZW_fFpOc90I9MvXMA7PKZ9gFewuYZvEQWKvTegeTZHNkKIDvap-Yt8ks0d58dq9a-RzA1YM_ipOYD1Ap03TzKPvVDR8z6gPfL9BmGb7zZNFRZ7vw9dOJqPBO3ndoft7IIZKA/s4032/20220406_110230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90fEET5ISWgD8iendqlr8g0zxFIk2mzhQ3K-4Q0RCOhMt6IB5uTYpoGZW_fFpOc90I9MvXMA7PKZ9gFewuYZvEQWKvTegeTZHNkKIDvap-Yt8ks0d58dq9a-RzA1YM_ipOYD1Ap03TzKPvVDR8z6gPfL9BmGb7zZNFRZ7vw9dOJqPBO3ndoft7IIZKA/w300-h400/20220406_110230.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>April 6, 2022<br />Not having fun here....</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AUpGQAh7amNG2OZMb178ozFA5soAtQgqBkvO5YwThK3eTsz6ghm6AhgCUFZGebrmPpTW0SQ20mQHHUnyevtQcmgxeMQqlMQSCPmMTtIkNSqC_gtwpBPPa1jv2yc-bNt-zSte3tF0fSmA8cdtYgTGURK7KWJGLmfp3VFIf8fyv5QUQlXBFEAxvqrbnw/s4032/20230406_180841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AUpGQAh7amNG2OZMb178ozFA5soAtQgqBkvO5YwThK3eTsz6ghm6AhgCUFZGebrmPpTW0SQ20mQHHUnyevtQcmgxeMQqlMQSCPmMTtIkNSqC_gtwpBPPa1jv2yc-bNt-zSte3tF0fSmA8cdtYgTGURK7KWJGLmfp3VFIf8fyv5QUQlXBFEAxvqrbnw/w225-h400/20230406_180841.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>April 6, 2023<br />So glad I can sit cross-legged again!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p> Reading the updates following the surgery I am amazed by myself. Many of us never stop and give ourselves time or permission to be amazed by the gift of our body's ability to heal. I am truly thankful. But honestly, when they told me it sometimes takes a whole year to recover, I was daunted and thought to myself, "a year seems like forever!". It was, but it also flew by. I look forward to this being but a distant memory!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV8TPTgYk-eQdi8mhbSBQTFpL-NuL5na02tfI7xYUEdgOmoeK-LAoS2Vrf3hUTAOg6BWxIdb_0-dX2aK8jt1EDGAwLcOwC9f_rhiPEC7v9NFW8-iY-nkAwSB8ibfqQCMUH0htCFmbMYZNRM8TjCQRFS5pE60p9mjLqSfW2OGMaEA3ahQuowUV5wE5cQ/s2400/Screenshot_20230406_170759_Withings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV8TPTgYk-eQdi8mhbSBQTFpL-NuL5na02tfI7xYUEdgOmoeK-LAoS2Vrf3hUTAOg6BWxIdb_0-dX2aK8jt1EDGAwLcOwC9f_rhiPEC7v9NFW8-iY-nkAwSB8ibfqQCMUH0htCFmbMYZNRM8TjCQRFS5pE60p9mjLqSfW2OGMaEA3ahQuowUV5wE5cQ/w288-h640/Screenshot_20230406_170759_Withings.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One year post surgery and while I still don't (never did) walk very fast, <br />I am faster than I was a year ago. <br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I played golf today and... well...my current handicap index is 20.0 and it was 17.5 a year ago before I went on the injured reserve list. Some things take longer to come back than others, I guess. I am making it my mission to get back below 20. Even if I "<i>have"</i> to play golf three times a week. </p><p>In other good news, next week we are going to finally take the second part of that trip we had to cancel last year. Our plan was to go to The Netherlands and tiptoe through the tulips before we walked the Portugues Camino de Santiago. We did the Camino last October, but there are no tulips in October. To say I am looking forward to this trip would be an understatement. Bring on the tulips and the canals of Amsterdam! </p><p>And HAPPY EASTER!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5cc724d8c013352e2208d4fc-1767/netherlands%20tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5cc724d8c013352e2208d4fc-1767/netherlands%20tulips.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These are the kind of photos that set us up for disappointment.<br />But then again, "maybe not" said the eternal optimist!</i><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-29282827922852785712023-03-22T20:23:00.003-05:002023-03-22T20:23:57.670-05:00The Box<p> There is a black box that has been sitting on my coffee table for a <strike>couple</strike> few months staring at me and mocking me every night as I do my best to avoid making eye contact with it while I avert my eyes to my computer or the television. I know the contents of the box but then again, I don't know them. The box has my name on it, and it contains the photos from my mother's house that my sisters, who tackled the huge task of emptying the house for sale, thought would hold a special place in my heart. We each got a special box of memories from thousands of photos in our parent's house when it was sold. I am not sure why I haven't looked in "the box" yet except that I knew I had to be in the right frame of mind to give it its due diligence. Finally, last week, I faced the past.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iU-YO-ZakLnsIBWyu-T9tsqYWXN7aGfTbZymLwjC6VXdKjLMifYti3WLfigdIIJ23QWeiGiyZh8jYP2JzJ0mRPLmosULSfJ7aISaNXnkBouBWBvwd96gVh2guqx-rYMnVQroEnUUGD3Xrf2PgzQRB_3jy-pEt0u5X5TgfjJ4XF82zeHOmwPRbQgMkw/s4032/20230316_163015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iU-YO-ZakLnsIBWyu-T9tsqYWXN7aGfTbZymLwjC6VXdKjLMifYti3WLfigdIIJ23QWeiGiyZh8jYP2JzJ0mRPLmosULSfJ7aISaNXnkBouBWBvwd96gVh2guqx-rYMnVQroEnUUGD3Xrf2PgzQRB_3jy-pEt0u5X5TgfjJ4XF82zeHOmwPRbQgMkw/w360-h640/20230316_163015.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My past lies inside.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>"The box" had photos of my parents, as babies, as children, as a young couple, as young parents, as grandparents and as great-grandparents. That is a lot for one box! There were photos of my dad's parents and some of their siblings together when they were the younger and at the shore. It is so interesting to see people, who were always "old" in my mind, when they were probably younger than I am now. Maybe that is why it took so long to open "the box", having to face the reality of time passing. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtG94zyXX34bYll4Cy_r1kmzvRq3bjKZNQPHexIz7RVYa2HsaV663B5A_yUuVkSQw6s3Vh1Tj8zUl_RuhkbbGA1gax6niEDhnE9cZzf86pB2GGjMudJpBCuYk03yhy8BE9AYE8CJFwYfeDLDVQgENtpBd9oMgrN7cCeejFe3HOoSY47eAhA0z_lTb_Q/s4032/20230316_164308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtG94zyXX34bYll4Cy_r1kmzvRq3bjKZNQPHexIz7RVYa2HsaV663B5A_yUuVkSQw6s3Vh1Tj8zUl_RuhkbbGA1gax6niEDhnE9cZzf86pB2GGjMudJpBCuYk03yhy8BE9AYE8CJFwYfeDLDVQgENtpBd9oMgrN7cCeejFe3HOoSY47eAhA0z_lTb_Q/w360-h640/20230316_164308.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The people we can thank for making "the shore"<br />such a large part of our lives!<br />My grandparents are the two on the right side.<br />My grandmother's sisters are the other women.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxdrb6O6NbB23Y2_KpHPBO1inDdrCRptD3PZuG8Vuwp9HDrMrrBo02N4Q3GjNYx-zTXQ2SGS4pVOGJhadk7W0gPOcZePj0zRSCsaiMe4fLKzCiwJ9lZ0iW1wBCzo_6swTB3M_8L2y8tjlSqkZB4Acuup2MOwvpAbkx5gGyPMpRSH90xpeuSihWJ1O9g/s4032/20230316_164400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxdrb6O6NbB23Y2_KpHPBO1inDdrCRptD3PZuG8Vuwp9HDrMrrBo02N4Q3GjNYx-zTXQ2SGS4pVOGJhadk7W0gPOcZePj0zRSCsaiMe4fLKzCiwJ9lZ0iW1wBCzo_6swTB3M_8L2y8tjlSqkZB4Acuup2MOwvpAbkx5gGyPMpRSH90xpeuSihWJ1O9g/w360-h640/20230316_164400.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>Among the photos in the "the box" were some I haven't seen in forever! In my mind, I remember what I looked like when I was in high school, but is that memory anywhere near what I really looked like? The reality upon seeing the photos is that maybe I looked better than I remember, which I am taking as a good thing. It is also a telling thing about the tricks our minds play on us. One of my sisters always says, enjoy where you are now because it is better than you think, and you will never be this young again! We never think we look good in photos, or is that just me? When in truth, we usually look better than we think. Must remember to embrace the "now".</p><p>Another thought about the walk down memory lane is that after finishing Daisy Jones and the Six, the 70's have been on my mind. The fashion and trends were epic! I started watching the mini-series and find myself fondly reliving that time and the music. The '70's had the best music, if I do say so myself! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLc7i26fQTSNXCxxP243yFK3beOoY9biU3u1rdIjGuHmUqyNnyrCu5VrdL1aBM3WCEdNFSY4VlcauJTVzRWN-gaijNIRjcDQipngGE_lehqsQeOk0nzo6Esun1dMOIir-kZuk3eYKXz6hup93Y9fdf2qZ-sKVNja6f6qiv7XAwOsTaa7Tf96r6VvDSg/s4032/20230316_164120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLc7i26fQTSNXCxxP243yFK3beOoY9biU3u1rdIjGuHmUqyNnyrCu5VrdL1aBM3WCEdNFSY4VlcauJTVzRWN-gaijNIRjcDQipngGE_lehqsQeOk0nzo6Esun1dMOIir-kZuk3eYKXz6hup93Y9fdf2qZ-sKVNja6f6qiv7XAwOsTaa7Tf96r6VvDSg/w360-h640/20230316_164120.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>18-year-old Lisa. She was so cute.<br /> I wish she would have known.<br />I loved that blouse!<br />I am sitting just like this as I write...a hundred years later.</i><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Who remembers sitting next to the telephone waiting for a certain someone to call? I am sure that is what I am doing here! So many hours spent on the phone!!! I am not a fan of talking on the phone now...go figure. <div><br /></div><div>I enjoyed the walk down memory lane in "the box". The photos were less than great quality, but they were of the time. There were even a few letters, remember them? Letters I wrote to my parents. I used to write letters! Now we just send a random email or a text message. Both of which will disappear soon enough, unless we are running for office and have something to hide. My mom saved everything! This was probably not seen as a positive thing when my sisters had to go through everything and get rid of most of it last year, but there are some things I am very glad she held on to and that my sisters thought well enough to save for me. Namely, my youth and my parents' youth. My house is full of photo albums, some of which may provide the same pleasure for my kids one day. It is also full of a lot of stuff that will provide them with frustration one day. And so, it goes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Like I said, "the box" took a certain frame of mind to delve into and maybe this blog takes the same frame of mind. Cue the "70's music...</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZJEg_Ba6KeQQtECF6cYfNY-TGDiJIzebgUVcaQu-g3Lk7-2_kEs4ABgOE3K2FKRUYLjtH0E3QoN0qr9CObcu-EZVYK4sESWyIwUkUzQFve417Oq9AU3g8P9TX36m8iXegvR7hCCFeQZSMwic2WCMO0NT2bxdACRU2aa6SsV71KlCqK9uM2WDC4ZMiw/s4032/20230316_164136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZJEg_Ba6KeQQtECF6cYfNY-TGDiJIzebgUVcaQu-g3Lk7-2_kEs4ABgOE3K2FKRUYLjtH0E3QoN0qr9CObcu-EZVYK4sESWyIwUkUzQFve417Oq9AU3g8P9TX36m8iXegvR7hCCFeQZSMwic2WCMO0NT2bxdACRU2aa6SsV71KlCqK9uM2WDC4ZMiw/w360-h640/20230316_164136.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Me and my first best friend!<br />What fashion icons...leggings and crop pants!</i><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-59611931289329702872023-01-30T15:25:00.000-06:002023-01-30T15:25:48.811-06:00Deep Thoughts on a Monday<p><br /></p><p>"Savor the moment but accept that it will pass."</p><p>"I was once what you are, you will become what I am."</p><p>I was on my daily walk yesterday listening to a book while I walked. Recently, I have embraced listening to books while walking. I usually have one print book going and at least one Audible book in progress. Before you ask, yes, sometimes I confuse them, especially when they have similar story lines like the last two did. Not doing that again! Another thing I have embraced are books about the Camino. I am listening to my third one...I just can't resist them. They are especially good to listen to while walking, I go a lot farther just imagining I am walking with the narrator back on the Camino and remembering the miles we put in every day. "I did it then, I can do it now" is the mantra that goes through my mind to make me go the extra mile now. </p><p>The quotes above were in the current book I am listening to, Steps Out of Time, by Katharine B Soper. Another woman in her late 50's who does the Camino...alone. She has a perspective I find admirable and makes me want to go back and do more of the Camino. Yesterday, on my walk/listen, she said two things that I actually had to stop, get out my phone, and write down so I would not forget them! As much as I tell myself, "Oh, I need to remember that", the chances of it actually happening are slim, so to my notes I must go. </p><p>The first quote that caught my attention was "I was once what you are, you will become what I am." Among its possible origins are a Roman epitaph or Horace, there are many out there. It rung so true to me as a member of that generation between our aging parents and our children who are now parents. I have a mother who is rather gracefully dealing with her loss of independence, loss of her spouse, and dementia and I wonder if this too will be my lot. I also have daughters with children, and they are dealing with all of those parenting issues that by the grace of God I managed to navigate my way through. There were days, weeks and months that were challenging, rewarding, exhausting and fun! I walked in those stylish shoes and wonder what my future shoes look like. Probably utilitarian, non-slip and comfortable...with a splash of pink. </p><p>The quote that made me really stop and think was the first quote. "Savor the moment but accept that it will pass." </p><p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #767676; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">savour</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #71777d; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> verb [ T ] UK (US </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #767676; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">savor</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #71777d; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">) uk / ˈseɪ.və r/ us / ˈseɪ.vɚ / to enjoy food or an experience slowly, in order to enjoy it as much as </span><span style="color: #71777d; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">possible.</span></span> </p><p>How many moments in our lives have we just stopped and savored? There have been countless moments that I wish would never have passed! Those perfect moments you want to have last forever...or at least for longer. I think this is why I love photography so much. It is capturing those moments for future reference. This quote made my walk so much more interesting as my mind wandered off to some of the most perfect moments of my life. I may have missed some of the book while my mind wandered. </p><p>Part of savoring the moment is being aware and present enough in the moment to stop and take it all in. Take in that moment when you enter a tunnel on one side of a mountain only to exit on the other side to the most exquisite view of the sea and the mountains in the distance. Savor that moment when the sun is setting, and it lights up the sky to the most incredible colors you can imagine. Savor the moment you gave birth, and you felt a love that was bigger than anything you ever thought possible. Savor the that feeling of accomplishing something you only dreamed was possible. Savor sitting around the table with people you love, laughing and sharing a delicious meal. </p><p>The hard part is the accepting that it will pass. That double edged sword. Time marches on and those moments only last...a moment. Before you know it, the sun has set and it is dark, that newborn baby is a confounding teenager, that accomplishment is diminished by the next goal and the meal is over and the dishes need to be done. But you had that moment! Savor them!</p><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-51974001650915002052023-01-27T21:22:00.000-06:002023-01-27T21:22:12.433-06:00Annual Reset<p> We are almost one month into 2023...how is it going out there? Welcome to January (<a href="https://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2013/01/part-of-plan.html">my favorite January post</a>!), or as I am referring to it, "my annual reset button". I don't necessarily make resolutions but occasionally I will assess the past year and where I am compared to where I was <a href="https://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-tale-of-two-seasons.html">last year</a>, or the <a href="http://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2021/01/condolences-and-congratulations.html">year before</a>, or maybe 5 years ago. But really...comparing to 5 years ago just reminds me how time is marching by! This year I have decided to make a few promises to myself, with the goal of self-improvement. Ugh! Self-improvement....so much work!</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uUo4z8jHED3Dx0NNOyaMwlEH8UYWgc61h89eQEmRDuQcfg06jFcPwsTM24qhOfIzpFyOZE2idelM1emrAxysrShwL9Si-VmKrYMNSC3b0JHO_Ab0gcnnmRnx_6o2XreunjF60zAkTwnqU45o0s2C4RxZcNhgF-XN2TxdZE7WI896fD801HZaVakEFg/s4032/20220201_135603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uUo4z8jHED3Dx0NNOyaMwlEH8UYWgc61h89eQEmRDuQcfg06jFcPwsTM24qhOfIzpFyOZE2idelM1emrAxysrShwL9Si-VmKrYMNSC3b0JHO_Ab0gcnnmRnx_6o2XreunjF60zAkTwnqU45o0s2C4RxZcNhgF-XN2TxdZE7WI896fD801HZaVakEFg/w480-h640/20220201_135603.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>January 2022<br />My "sweet rides"<br />before they were retired.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FCehfhBWiKJOd9bDYFacwogH4x2ifh6t8DPVFDPkPFoJYaKETS_U0OKJsuG-MTMQ-dyCDW3J6WeHeDIPw6m7pXEl98MyOdABynz9lqNRX_7vGPNQzsSqrirpYTMnZaiIQFR__mKH_XY7Ne69O-ab0mg5k2YjgCnpzntwEjzJdA1OSBun83g6CVTNzg/s3264/20210115_192918.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FCehfhBWiKJOd9bDYFacwogH4x2ifh6t8DPVFDPkPFoJYaKETS_U0OKJsuG-MTMQ-dyCDW3J6WeHeDIPw6m7pXEl98MyOdABynz9lqNRX_7vGPNQzsSqrirpYTMnZaiIQFR__mKH_XY7Ne69O-ab0mg5k2YjgCnpzntwEjzJdA1OSBun83g6CVTNzg/w480-h640/20210115_192918.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>January 2021<br /> Avoiding humanity and Covid and cuddling with newborn Aug</i>ie!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BiiVmA4FJ5hNc3cjY9jLh7Lffk4LY7sXgY85RePGjS9IWjRwEa4GAZH0Kxbepu3-B3sS5GSRRRfXYFDBe3Ya-mxSBwzibqu3iG1Z_fa1fhQYHIIt69tvPNigRbE7rY_7Jm5ZEzU0LMTKJv0dq49pwS5OivCY9owEOD1aOqdrN2IQe48tXZbN_3FfKw/s3264/20180116_134308.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BiiVmA4FJ5hNc3cjY9jLh7Lffk4LY7sXgY85RePGjS9IWjRwEa4GAZH0Kxbepu3-B3sS5GSRRRfXYFDBe3Ya-mxSBwzibqu3iG1Z_fa1fhQYHIIt69tvPNigRbE7rY_7Jm5ZEzU0LMTKJv0dq49pwS5OivCY9owEOD1aOqdrN2IQe48tXZbN_3FfKw/w640-h480/20180116_134308.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>5 years ago...I won't be doing this anymore...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0WCLHTZsa9wYeZ2UgXmh-J98lg0xtvKya15RAVghO-M8zKUQuxgOBy6vo3gMVe2XO3aVMUnJIrkMfbqSwZzYtN4JbKXP7qq6zxY_YBvaetd40G4sTCcq0FhHWgp8lODpqiYzAGA_WchujYFeXFent_84OUNInWhFsOx8UlIEJ3oieJMMHCU8YRirWA/s3264/20180118_134029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0WCLHTZsa9wYeZ2UgXmh-J98lg0xtvKya15RAVghO-M8zKUQuxgOBy6vo3gMVe2XO3aVMUnJIrkMfbqSwZzYtN4JbKXP7qq6zxY_YBvaetd40G4sTCcq0FhHWgp8lODpqiYzAGA_WchujYFeXFent_84OUNInWhFsOx8UlIEJ3oieJMMHCU8YRirWA/w480-h640/20180118_134029.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It was good while it lasted</i>! <br /><i>Obviously, January is a month for skiing!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>My first promise or pie-in-the-sky wish is to get healthier. A general goal which means eating healthier...or just less, drinking less, moving more and ultimately looking and feeling better. Not that I feel bad now but I ain't gettin' any younger...dammit. I need to keep the tires aired up, the engine tuned and take care of the interior and exterior, so I can outlive my warranty. </p><p>My other goal, which will probably be easier to accomplish, is to improve my golf game. My beloved golf game was cast aside and left on a ski slope to wither back in February. Life kind of got in the way of my golf game and it was seriously neglected in exchange for rehab, recovery, and travel. It became an afterthought instead of a priority. Poor golf game. Now that I have the time and the knees to golf again, I want to get back to where I was or even improve. A girl can hope!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlz19y4viRIcMB21jxKoRHVIqNjma6_JualcrDAj5jpIxtlvvT2rB2RYJV4P3ZgpJzYW-dZWEJ7zN9WVKbigyg6NGZJu4i50wR26G2oubJI5j5o8PL9CDKzehqW_H-U10of_LS13RFtq7-oU8Lu8ceGbc7oEg6KNsKUsqDCL-e8Co9RpysTHUs9Defw/s4032/20230101_153226.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlz19y4viRIcMB21jxKoRHVIqNjma6_JualcrDAj5jpIxtlvvT2rB2RYJV4P3ZgpJzYW-dZWEJ7zN9WVKbigyg6NGZJu4i50wR26G2oubJI5j5o8PL9CDKzehqW_H-U10of_LS13RFtq7-oU8Lu8ceGbc7oEg6KNsKUsqDCL-e8Co9RpysTHUs9Defw/w360-h640/20230101_153226.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hoping to make this drive several times a week!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It is almost the end of January, and I am happy to report that things are going well on all fronts. After a month or six of overindulgence in all things food and drink, I have cut back from my "no rules" consumption habits to some reasonable consumption practices. I was not ready to commit to dry January, so I am doing "damp" January (which I occasionally refer to as "grumpy humorless January"). But "damp" instead of "dry" has a better chance of becoming a practice that will be sustainable into the rest of the year. According to <a href="https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits-summary">Atomic Habits</a> (yes, I am also trying to improve my reading material), if I do 1% better every day or week, I will ultimately reach my potential. Stay tuned. </p><p>Improving my golf game is a much more fun (most days) endeavor! Spending 4 hours outside hitting a little white ball into a small hole, in the company of friends, is so much more fun than eating my vegetables and drinking water! I have already begun to see improvement...but it was not going to be hard to play better than I did last year! Low bar to hurdle there. I must say that I also enjoy playing in moderate to cool conditions a lot more than hot and humid ones, which makes January a great time to work on my game. This is a promise I should be able to keep for longer than a month! Just think, if I do 1% better every week where I could be. The math geeks out there are welcome to do the calculations on this one for me and let me know when I can expect to shoot in the 80's! I'll wait.</p><p>In other news, I am trying to figure out ways to perk up the blog, or maybe ways to wake up my writing. I realize just by writing this, that I really do enjoy writing and should do more of it just to exercise different parts of my brain. As with golf...and maybe healthy living, writing takes practice. I do have a few ideas but not quite the total vision yet. I guess now I have a project to work on when I am not golfing or deciding what healthy options I should make for dinner! Feel free to share recipes, blog topics or ways to make a 10-foot putt!</p><p>Happy 2023!</p><p> </p><br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-8266894213415876552022-12-29T21:11:00.000-06:002022-12-29T21:11:00.630-06:002022 The Good, the Bad and the Interesting<p> I must get to 20! As if creating my Christmas letter wasn't enough writing for this busy season, I noticed that there are only 19 posts this year on the blog, and I am not a fan of odd numbers...so one more post it is. How is everyone doing this holiday season? I, for one, feel like it is the first "real" Christmas season I have lived in many years. We attended more parties in one week this season than we attended in the past two years combined! Well, maybe there was a small gathering last year, but this year feels like we are celebrating together...for the first time in a while, and I like it! </p><p>One trivial holiday observation this year was that holiday parties required a change in wardrobe. Over the past two years I have gathered quite the athleisure wardrobe and have become very used to it. This year I actually had to wear "real" clothes. I missed real clothes! I have even reintroduced myself to many of the clothes in my closet. Those long idle "going out" clothes and shoes. Hello old friends...now let's see if you still fit and are still relatively in style. </p><p>Initially, I thought I would take the easy way out of a blog post and just show you the year in photos, kind of like the Life magazine or National Geographic "best of" yearly summaries without the professional writing and photography. I started out thinking I could just choose one photo of people and one of a place for each month. This proved to be impossible. I guess that means it really was a good year and when it wasn't good, it was interesting. I hope your year was one filled with good and interesting things. </p>January through mid-September was a roller coaster full of highs and lows. It began with TJ retiring and I think we both spent the next few months trying to figure out what to do with all of that new free time. Funny how a person works for over 40 years and the goal is to eventually not have to work anymore, except after 40 years, all you know how to do is work! Your identity is linked to that job and once the job is over you have to redefine yourself. Once he got to the shore, he had no problem happily filling all that time and owning his retirement!<div><br /><div>Here is a video (because if I posted each of them individually here it would take until next year for me to finish this post!) of the first 8 1/2 months of the year and how we filled some of our newly acquired free time! The good, the bad and the interesting. Turn on your sound for the soundtrack.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyzcFD8egNcB_JiS6am3T-1tJuWFnR6qQzlQR-XOaJVGlNQrksQ--M3K7dnR44Uif1nPB_Ookr3xHofShhqgg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div>Once we left the shore it was time to do exactly what we had hoped we would be doing in "retirement"!</div><div>We also took advantage of being "of sound mind and body" and used it before we lose it! The second half of the year was definitely more fun than the first half, at least for me! TJ may beg to differ, but I doubt it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dysoJ2FGY8ElfhA1JmfAqYrn_-1lDekL04tyRbRpGEwpYuyfg_cDFc4J7RknIzuXfquKiuuoTMSYZwFbxypQQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>Happy New Year to all of you! Thank you for reading and allowing me this guilty pleasure. When I reflect, 2022 was a pretty good year for us. I hope it was for you as well. We all have ups and downs; I hope between them things are still interesting! Looking forward to what lies ahead. May God bless you and your family.</div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-65093274830347473872022-11-17T22:40:00.000-06:002022-11-17T22:40:34.677-06:00Camino Final Chapter, A Walk with Ricky<p> It was our last day walking the Camino. Part of me, mostly my feet, wanted it to be over as fast as possible and part of me, the part that felt like it was finally experiencing the true spirit of the Camino, wanted it to go on a lot longer. So it was with mixed emotions that I headed out that morning. There may have also been another part of me, the part that was deflated when I saw yet another wet morning on the horizon, that was just "over it!". With dry socks tucked away in my backpack and the best attitude I could muster up; I headed out that morning for the final walk. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JxVVQyQxr9HgzIUJ8iggBUro2AIHooU3vNBmLZ5ft-jEZxcv2ZE9X-xQOoafzI1sJDLGmd795HRBQ4U6Fbjj4rUDda5gMsOVdU1uXv5a65-q_pGy2aj8SvO0LR_gT0I2CVNq0mvQgE8TzgVK22D790vZqL7LiLblobH9OStT8y_mG1pwEmJeVnp6WA/s4032/20221021_092338.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JxVVQyQxr9HgzIUJ8iggBUro2AIHooU3vNBmLZ5ft-jEZxcv2ZE9X-xQOoafzI1sJDLGmd795HRBQ4U6Fbjj4rUDda5gMsOVdU1uXv5a65-q_pGy2aj8SvO0LR_gT0I2CVNq0mvQgE8TzgVK22D790vZqL7LiLblobH9OStT8y_mG1pwEmJeVnp6WA/w360-h640/20221021_092338.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We wiped the mud of Pradron off our shoes and headed north.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYaJ8wIzfma6ZEFwprVmZLQ4XwabWVuKnBOkVZ7LQoNimpBvg4Wq-b96Ok5kgxQGyXaOCZt6__7ug2l00oajq8Q-n8xvJlTEAMdvAFG0yNFcqqeQWPsRGYNT44Pw2onCA6nm3a9ObF1vs--Suc3FJKfhOOcVbChXeeoOIyOIJugE6unMkdIA1oFKWCw/s4032/20221021_093543.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYaJ8wIzfma6ZEFwprVmZLQ4XwabWVuKnBOkVZ7LQoNimpBvg4Wq-b96Ok5kgxQGyXaOCZt6__7ug2l00oajq8Q-n8xvJlTEAMdvAFG0yNFcqqeQWPsRGYNT44Pw2onCA6nm3a9ObF1vs--Suc3FJKfhOOcVbChXeeoOIyOIJugE6unMkdIA1oFKWCw/w360-h640/20221021_093543.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Almost every church had a cemetery attached.<br />Staying close to God</i>.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Each day on the Camino, I chose a group or groups of people to dedicate my prayers to while walking. With so many disconnected hours spent walking, there was plenty of time to pray...and it is, at the base, a religious pilgrimage. There were some groups, like my kids, siblings and Mom who got daily prayers but then there were also groups of people I focused on. If you are reading this, I probably prayed for you at one point or another. This final day, I decided to pray for all of our family and friends who had passed away. Sometimes I would just remember things about them, sometimes I would see things and think about how much they would love those same sights. Sometimes I would pray for specific blessings for them. Sometimes I would pray to them to help me make it up the next hill, or to take the pain of my aching toes off my mind or to just give me strength to make it to the end. One prayer always led to another, and one thought always led to another. I was also enjoying being "unplugged". I had decided that while walking I would only use my phone as a camera. I put it on mute and many days I kept it on Airplane Mode to save battery and avoid the temptation of checking any communications. It led to a very peaceful time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-yThmrL-8sXPDw3Css5oHWpB9MV_H0yu6_ixJd2kouGCH75W-w_7VREk8N6Oy7dVBcUgnfv8GBADe_JAsH6VrqqEmcQV9LlABoLG3zAe1vTYO49FiIf57VDS0go1B79HnDAUKJ8xeKhs3Bw5L97EXNbFQz1t1DrhjcTanG-l_eO4hlfWKhcZHVsCYw/s4032/20221021_101853.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-yThmrL-8sXPDw3Css5oHWpB9MV_H0yu6_ixJd2kouGCH75W-w_7VREk8N6Oy7dVBcUgnfv8GBADe_JAsH6VrqqEmcQV9LlABoLG3zAe1vTYO49FiIf57VDS0go1B79HnDAUKJ8xeKhs3Bw5L97EXNbFQz1t1DrhjcTanG-l_eO4hlfWKhcZHVsCYw/w360-h640/20221021_101853.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Look! The rain stopped!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXwQ4gEEknPckSHrALxLyKRXNHFGq4S80QDxTK-Lp_Tze4tfzPLPzEWb76n2i5ZXwSxQ_4N8Yi9hY0sEApMWOFhB0bFtRE0frtaUSQ_-WArjOQNuP6oSLVPGfb3_X1tf2EGBzy7pPPBJb04vFJbPDejtZFol6F5Xf6SZ0l6mQzdpJWipknVAjCFV2xA/s4032/20221021_102309.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXwQ4gEEknPckSHrALxLyKRXNHFGq4S80QDxTK-Lp_Tze4tfzPLPzEWb76n2i5ZXwSxQ_4N8Yi9hY0sEApMWOFhB0bFtRE0frtaUSQ_-WArjOQNuP6oSLVPGfb3_X1tf2EGBzy7pPPBJb04vFJbPDejtZFol6F5Xf6SZ0l6mQzdpJWipknVAjCFV2xA/w360-h640/20221021_102309.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A peaceful walk</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRHi30CfGyGrUmYfM-17YVDY6VGrtaXCdRE20JbeHUGk1uWqKYKzGZzw3XsRjwmgxH82IdbUn5whE7suSaTBo1QUj2UqHmzm2gRpOE0smGO2UnTnugse0u4Qe-HkLpKuD5UwZhS6zehJrE1gXmPZc4J-4QUAiM86JwtQUTOQwOgsYbJnMBeNqypgc9A/s4032/20221021_105033.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRHi30CfGyGrUmYfM-17YVDY6VGrtaXCdRE20JbeHUGk1uWqKYKzGZzw3XsRjwmgxH82IdbUn5whE7suSaTBo1QUj2UqHmzm2gRpOE0smGO2UnTnugse0u4Qe-HkLpKuD5UwZhS6zehJrE1gXmPZc4J-4QUAiM86JwtQUTOQwOgsYbJnMBeNqypgc9A/w360-h640/20221021_105033.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A church next to our morning coffee/bathroom stop.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlCSw_p2ukJk_ACwhwcEWKVirS2sqj1EKO3anFtabVOyGNU56chkrPy_-5QaSrsg-GblSRivG8rlyYKPATFpB_ojsB7vO_tR56xNQnGdG5ANCE2uMvfT7NahSu1XWPKx4laPcT-h3C5voicKMl1MU2-n_YJD4Cwxtu9Hcd-rNmShrDgyZZBbomy2tSw/s4032/20221021_105113.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlCSw_p2ukJk_ACwhwcEWKVirS2sqj1EKO3anFtabVOyGNU56chkrPy_-5QaSrsg-GblSRivG8rlyYKPATFpB_ojsB7vO_tR56xNQnGdG5ANCE2uMvfT7NahSu1XWPKx4laPcT-h3C5voicKMl1MU2-n_YJD4Cwxtu9Hcd-rNmShrDgyZZBbomy2tSw/w360-h640/20221021_105113.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>So of course, we went inside!<br />A youth group was up front being told about the church.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>A little way out of this town the youth group caught up to us. It seemed that for the rest of the day we played cat and mouse with this group of teenagers. Either they were passing us, or we were passing them. Youth and energy abounded...and honestly, I was a little irritated if I must confess. Here I was being all contemplative and just trying to get through the day and these kids were just...having fun and being kids. How dare they! One funny story...at one point they said, "Buen Camino" to TJ who was passing them and the thing to do was to say it back, but TJ had not heard them because he had taken out his hearing aids due to the rain. I was a bit behind the group and saw one of the kids turn around to his friends and make a face and throw up his hands at TJ's ignoring them and they all snickered and joined in the mocking. I just had to come to his defense and told them, "He can't hear you", implying he was deaf or at least very hard of hearing, which he is, at which point they apologized. I knew they were good kids...or at least normal kids.<div><br /></div><div>One or two rain showers later, I passed one of the groups of kids and was trying to get far enough ahead of them to have some space when I heard the sound of someone listening to YouTube or TikTok on their phone. Up to this point, I had not heard anyone playing music or listening to anything out loud on the Camino. I am sure people listen to stuff on their ear pods, but no one played anything out loud. I thought to myself, "really?!" and kept walking. It continued and I tried to listen and figure out what it was. It sounded like comedy or a skit since there was a lot of talking then laughing. I figured the kids were watching a video or something...and I listened. It was in English; they were Spanish speaking. Hmmm. I listened more. It was Ricky Gervais! I thought to myself, "of all the irreverent things to listen to on the Camino... Ricky Gervais?!!". I also wondered how these Spanish speaking kids were listening to and understanding Ricky Gervais. Their English must be better than I thought. Then two guys, late 20's or early 30's passed me and I thought to myself, "Ah, it must be they who are disrespecting the Camino with their Ricky Gervais" and figured at least once they passed me up the irreverent comedy would be out of earshot. But it wasn't. Mind you, I like Ricky, but there is a time and place for everything. At that point, I decided to look at my phone for some reason. To my utter horror and mortification, on my muted-airplane-mode phone, was Ricky Gervais Live playing for all the Camino to hear!!! I have never pushed "stop" faster in my life! I wanted to crawl in a hole! OK God...message heard, loud and clear! "Judge not, lest ye be judged!" Talk about getting a smack down! It took Ricky Gervais in my pocket to get that message through my hard head. I immediately asked for forgiveness for throwing those kids and the two guys under my Ricky Gervais bus of judgement! </div><div><br /></div><div> I still am mystified by how Ricky Gervais Live started randomly playing, out loud... from my phone... in my pocket. Yes, I did watch his live show on Netflix...months ago. Why didn't my pocket play The Great British Baking Show instead? Just think of all the pocket punches that had to happen to get it to play again, I did, and it was mind boggling. I also need to give a disclaimer as to why it probably took me longer to figure out where the sound was coming from. I am deaf in my right ear. My phone was in my right pocket. I don't hear in stereo, I only hear from the left, which made me think Ricky was swearing and telling irreverent jokes from somewhere on my left side, not from my right pocket! Ugh...I was so mortified! I feel like I owe all of those people an apology. I sure hope God has a sense of humor too, because it really was funny in a slap your head kind of way. Needless to say, the rest of my day was spent walking in humility!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPj4hFvR6T-y0GXe3pjer3bCT4rM2lGXzQvwimfgvsAxDmeWOnr8GTDds_Zngy3APWvb2Puw7UeKln3Gitiuo5QICXJjMFqKoVWJeDQilLGq4ctinnEE15o6yu-puH-qbKO6syQM4Vym2dKrCNJPDnzt9jzMtojRJYKEtDaakkKhodj3CNAFI3d6VjA/s4032/20221021_151548.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPj4hFvR6T-y0GXe3pjer3bCT4rM2lGXzQvwimfgvsAxDmeWOnr8GTDds_Zngy3APWvb2Puw7UeKln3Gitiuo5QICXJjMFqKoVWJeDQilLGq4ctinnEE15o6yu-puH-qbKO6syQM4Vym2dKrCNJPDnzt9jzMtojRJYKEtDaakkKhodj3CNAFI3d6VjA/w360-h640/20221021_151548.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Only 4.7km left!!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIYQ2PJdfQvcbxm3SqYb1ZclkUe6LXMM29UorEv-xJJ8LBlcTytBDub3SkcOC28cfbW0qMYrbWcIue3yEw8VvQlY0XB6MppqK-4yZP8H4YK5RUCL3b_n2V4n-Z04RHFlanGraIiwc2m6ZrEhckLxQg3U01D0Z8BqCSmWI_R2D-urmxtspEAIX3hbukw/s4032/20221021_152029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIYQ2PJdfQvcbxm3SqYb1ZclkUe6LXMM29UorEv-xJJ8LBlcTytBDub3SkcOC28cfbW0qMYrbWcIue3yEw8VvQlY0XB6MppqK-4yZP8H4YK5RUCL3b_n2V4n-Z04RHFlanGraIiwc2m6ZrEhckLxQg3U01D0Z8BqCSmWI_R2D-urmxtspEAIX3hbukw/w360-h640/20221021_152029.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We were wishing they all looked like this!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Why is it that last bit seems like it takes the longest? We hit more rain, of course, and decided to stop for lunch with about 8 km to go. We were getting close! At lunch we aired out our soaked feet and put on our dry socks for the final trek. With our bellies full and our socks dry, we set off for the final leg. Less than 5km/3.1 miles to walk which I continued to equate with one of my easy morning walks. This perspective helped me along the Way because I knew I could walk that far at any time. It felt like it took forever. We could see our destination in the distance but first we had to walk through neighborhoods, parks, past schools and into the city. Once in the city the bottom dropped out and it poured! I mean, poured! So much for those dry socks we put on at lunch. We were soaked to the bone. We kept going dodging getting splashed by the passing buses and cars. City walking was very different than country walking.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_9dgFlwiHgA6nqVgYjXCpL4O8k68gguWXgQ6W4hxiUHI-Dik3ek56pPipTDX8B22675Kyd1r2I1kxGV06FldTU6nsQ7oGJ9Ox2V99Zbp26k8ycT880Bjn05wziAv-pmH7rl2PcMU36MpgD1fVJCWL1NEQFZ2oSvG0_TepzzG_2jp-BYGJao4HnEEzQ/s4032/20221021_154718.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_9dgFlwiHgA6nqVgYjXCpL4O8k68gguWXgQ6W4hxiUHI-Dik3ek56pPipTDX8B22675Kyd1r2I1kxGV06FldTU6nsQ7oGJ9Ox2V99Zbp26k8ycT880Bjn05wziAv-pmH7rl2PcMU36MpgD1fVJCWL1NEQFZ2oSvG0_TepzzG_2jp-BYGJao4HnEEzQ/w360-h640/20221021_154718.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The time we had to seek shelter in a doorway.<br />Nobody but us silly pilgrims on the road.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZKVgcel9-iwycgau9fxz-6n_eYvhrvh9QPj2zXalozWT74HnqCR8siQ0fa1nTpHrSexc8c2tnX1hoIayBZIIjqh783_xMv4DXxt9E6evZN6y7WnctzvU4JfZLaoBCyMpQQxlZdN3wnDWNUhzbRhDYmN4p7pnjxwJ25GBoxobWe4HoGUVEfI6zYn9JQ/s4032/20221021_161208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZKVgcel9-iwycgau9fxz-6n_eYvhrvh9QPj2zXalozWT74HnqCR8siQ0fa1nTpHrSexc8c2tnX1hoIayBZIIjqh783_xMv4DXxt9E6evZN6y7WnctzvU4JfZLaoBCyMpQQxlZdN3wnDWNUhzbRhDYmN4p7pnjxwJ25GBoxobWe4HoGUVEfI6zYn9JQ/w360-h640/20221021_161208.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Santiago de Compostela<br />Old Town....we must be getting close!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was with unexpected tears in my eyes that I entered the area in front of the Cathedral. I was overcome with emotion...and exhaustion. One of the other reasons for my tears was that for the entire day I felt very close to my dad, in prayers and thoughts. He had very limited physical abilities towards the end of his life and for some reason, my ability to do this Camino made me so thankful for my legs, my feet and my capable body. All things that he did not have at the end of his life, and I knew they were things he dearly missed. I carried him with me, because I could. This day definitely hit me with a few surprises!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Io_97IglGtIKnwPkmL2rvIhe3rq6BPukqv5ikog9y-jB4XtCg7ApYP8oAaclaFYHcAMeRVsaGdBdgZ5ydhaw0WK6emsJbvcpSd29eA6U_ZGzumPXwtSagR1_jSPZZrQb5i2sGBsWsxxABS4yDsxU-JwthLIgrz6LfxCcPizZvKW1j4xpIG-P7n1VPg/s4032/20221021_161541.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Io_97IglGtIKnwPkmL2rvIhe3rq6BPukqv5ikog9y-jB4XtCg7ApYP8oAaclaFYHcAMeRVsaGdBdgZ5ydhaw0WK6emsJbvcpSd29eA6U_ZGzumPXwtSagR1_jSPZZrQb5i2sGBsWsxxABS4yDsxU-JwthLIgrz6LfxCcPizZvKW1j4xpIG-P7n1VPg/w360-h640/20221021_161541.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Santiago Cathedral</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhI3npedup9jQr2ITCi8TtmjLTdLkp9nhZlhwtfrmapYKles-kE7V18J3dvvane2_jAhX-_-Ah0MRbJ6arJGbG-PhmMHLeaLjZkF604X1INGWaHqD6lAY7JABkom-jrPDDqszbWlUPhzUJ4TXoiDS06HgpUVHko4Y-RVXyBfURrJiDSN-6l8DrFHv7g/s1024/1%20Finish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhI3npedup9jQr2ITCi8TtmjLTdLkp9nhZlhwtfrmapYKles-kE7V18J3dvvane2_jAhX-_-Ah0MRbJ6arJGbG-PhmMHLeaLjZkF604X1INGWaHqD6lAY7JABkom-jrPDDqszbWlUPhzUJ4TXoiDS06HgpUVHko4Y-RVXyBfURrJiDSN-6l8DrFHv7g/w480-h640/1%20Finish.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We did it!!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table>Both our friends, Rick and Patty and we finished our Camino segment of 100 km. In all, we probably walked closer to 110 or 120 km, but who is counting? I am!!! We took the obligatory photos in front of the Cathedral and then made our way to the passport office to get <a href="https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrimage/the-compostela/">our Compostela</a>. I was so proud and regardless of the length of the line, I was going to get that piece of paper! Turns out, 4 people constitute a "group" and we got to skip the line and go to a "group" office which was much faster to get our certificates. I was chosen to fill out our information on the computer and the hardest part was choosing our professions...listed in Spanish. Basically, we are all retired but that was not a choice. Some choices were easy, "artista" which I assigned to Patty, "technical" which I assigned to TJ. Rick and I were not as easy. I clicked something with the word "professional" in the title...hope it wasn't wrestler! I have no idea what the Compostela office thinks my profession is! Something to do with "casa"...there was not a "mother of 4, wanna be photographer and golfer, loud player of irreverent humor on the Camino" choice. With our beautiful papers safely tucked away in their tubes, we proudly and with great relief, made our way to our hotel. <div><br /></div><div>Santiago is a place I would love to visit again. We only spent one night there and really enjoyed the old town shops and restaurants. We ate to our hearts content that night. After all, it had been a 20+ mile day, we earned it! Dinner was delicious! The next morning, we experienced the icing on the cake! We attended Mass at the Cathedral. We arrived an hour early! We had been told it was necessary to get a seat, and maybe it was. The Mass was lovely and the countries of all the pilgrims who had finished the previous day were named at one point in the Mass. It was touching. But...the reason for the crowd, and a most unique experience, was when they lit and swung the botafumeiro (incense burner) and sent it into motion. A once in a lifetime experience. Share the experience below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUAmIWgvrQ0" width="320" youtube-src-id="RUAmIWgvrQ0"></iframe></div><br /><div>Would I do it again? Yes. Rain and all! </div><div>Take aways from the Way.</div><div>-There is something so peaceful and contemplative about getting up every morning and knowing that all you have to do is walk until you get there.</div><div>- The Camino is the great equalizer. We are all just putting one foot in front of the other and hoping to get there.</div><div>-There is something to be said for extended quiet time spent in nature. </div><div>- I cannot say how thankful I am for the patience of my husband and for his help in my rehabilitation post-surgery and his encouragement along the way.</div><div>- I am also thankful for my body. It carried me through and amazed me this year. There were definitely times I thought this was not even a possibility. </div><div>-Spain is beautiful and the people are wonderful. Does not hurt that the prices were the most affordable of our entire trip. </div><div>-You will not melt. We were rained on more times than I can count on this trip. At the end of the day, you will not melt, and your shoes will eventually dry.</div><div>-The Camino is a microcosm of life. We are all on the same path, doing it differently and at our own pace, faced with our own obstacles and advantages. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am sure there are many more lessons that will make themselves obvious as time goes on. I knew the aching feet would be fleeting but the experience will last forever. It was a blessing and a privilege to walk the Way of St. James. </div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-61494308904983857742022-11-06T14:26:00.001-06:002022-11-06T14:26:17.927-06:00The Middle, Camino Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTYCDzaxAHSnVlMsd1RO6Sz5Pfit1-LaE_FzPofdYjfJsXAqjCPTN_AZDK3F1-4AKhosq7rQk_lfaY4sAwZhTG2AU7WrxjqS6626ROBYe_BA6Zvlj2q3tDBsvlMv8MNUUhEcAV_p9ARl-UsIfW8d1TXe76sa6qRU-9FvN5l8tGAoi-wg21qOOuh3qJQ/s3024/20221019_091828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTYCDzaxAHSnVlMsd1RO6Sz5Pfit1-LaE_FzPofdYjfJsXAqjCPTN_AZDK3F1-4AKhosq7rQk_lfaY4sAwZhTG2AU7WrxjqS6626ROBYe_BA6Zvlj2q3tDBsvlMv8MNUUhEcAV_p9ARl-UsIfW8d1TXe76sa6qRU-9FvN5l8tGAoi-wg21qOOuh3qJQ/w400-h400/20221019_091828.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Day 3 of our Camino was when we really started to feel the Camino spirit. We had spent the night in Pontevedre, an absolutely lovely town we had the pleasure of exploring between rain showers, rest time and meals. We were now in the rhythm of waking up, getting ready, packing our bags that had to be at the front desk by 8 a.m., eating breakfast and hitting the road. Apparently, hundreds of other pilgrims were also on the same schedule. We had our first experience of a mass exodus that morning as we all crossed the bridge and walked through the town and eventually spread out into the countryside. Sooo many pilgrims, of all ages, wearing various types of rain gear, carrying everything from all of their possessions for the entire Camino to the most minimal crossbody bag. We jockeyed into our comfortable position eventually...the middle. It turned out to be a pretty good day.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlniqUw7jLMgmLOrfTeD6fxEqjzIoJidxmgrV4qmJJ5N74eFkjtQ-wAVxIofmqyRlY0DQ1FDeRSNdwBwX0Ow7dokaStfD3VmWwS-TwjwBkeLe_tP114O6H6sAP0TqE1pttHOTfvilu9iMhlIl_r3aBdKL8ofGRZiBEquMMvFg5gxp81UIYEot4AXFSg/s2378/20221019_091744~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2378" data-original-width="2231" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlniqUw7jLMgmLOrfTeD6fxEqjzIoJidxmgrV4qmJJ5N74eFkjtQ-wAVxIofmqyRlY0DQ1FDeRSNdwBwX0Ow7dokaStfD3VmWwS-TwjwBkeLe_tP114O6H6sAP0TqE1pttHOTfvilu9iMhlIl_r3aBdKL8ofGRZiBEquMMvFg5gxp81UIYEot4AXFSg/w600-h640/20221019_091744~2.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Morning traffic on the Camino</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I found myself wondering where all of the pilgrims had been hiding. It did not seem like there were that many people in town...where were they all? By not staying in communal albergues, we did not see the crowds. One woman I chatted with said she had started the French Camino and bailed after she could never find a room because there were so many pilgrims on that path. She came down to Porto to do the Portugues Camino instead. She said she was pleased with her decision. I must say I have a lot of respect for the women who venture out on the Camino solo. I am not sure I could or even would do it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The day began dark and dreary. We had a bit of rain but not too bad, until the half hour drenching. Imagine getting rained on while it is already about 99% humidity and a bit warm. We were sweating on the inside of our rain gear and soaked on the outside. This was the day I was very thankful for the pair of dry socks in a ziploc bag in my backpack. I just knew walking in wet shoes and socks was going to result in blisters and I did not need blisters. My toes were already bruised from the constant walking. The good news is that about halfway through the day the weather improved dramatically! We were treated to some of the most scenic and beautiful paths of the entire Camino. We herded sheep! We talked to cows. We walked through grapevine arbors. For TJ and I it was one of our favorite days. I think our friends would not say the same. They were hurting. Between the sore feet, the hurting backs and hips from sleeping on rock hard beds not to mention the constant state of being wet from either sweat or rain, their stamina was waning. But we all did as you do on the Camino. We just put one foot in front of the other until you get to where you are going.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1nR0XEc3ewF4epoKAYE0OOvEUKsIKit3_4LxIfuiaFGeSwPoyZ1pzp1vf7ZEw3zG552q1Ec4EdNf66p-TUswWQhqI7lnf0g_-kUf3eWXkId_dHDR_VsIIDEWs8z-0WsEh6rkzNfjp3_h87i_E2GHjR562NWXWMOxdI3imzwmdWVcKf6TifJ06NlPxw/s3024/20221019_105934.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1nR0XEc3ewF4epoKAYE0OOvEUKsIKit3_4LxIfuiaFGeSwPoyZ1pzp1vf7ZEw3zG552q1Ec4EdNf66p-TUswWQhqI7lnf0g_-kUf3eWXkId_dHDR_VsIIDEWs8z-0WsEh6rkzNfjp3_h87i_E2GHjR562NWXWMOxdI3imzwmdWVcKf6TifJ06NlPxw/w640-h640/20221019_105934.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The muddy trail after the drenching rain.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVMH_cl-MLIkumjCNM2TRYdUOxWT9GcfrT63XYLLqfary_XEVy_r7gmaVew9-Fc86Xx8q44Mu7oZH1AaKkIRyyeWuyoebeBoDSqiUzoohf6CDWRwB21YnNPN353_CdvL4JH48GWQa-uJp9sRcqCa1cwrNyPwubxlKMpaksU2fwRkYs15xfz5eqmTibA/s3024/20221019_111133.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVMH_cl-MLIkumjCNM2TRYdUOxWT9GcfrT63XYLLqfary_XEVy_r7gmaVew9-Fc86Xx8q44Mu7oZH1AaKkIRyyeWuyoebeBoDSqiUzoohf6CDWRwB21YnNPN353_CdvL4JH48GWQa-uJp9sRcqCa1cwrNyPwubxlKMpaksU2fwRkYs15xfz5eqmTibA/w640-h640/20221019_111133.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of the stops along the way and the point I decided walking the Camino<br />is a lot like a day or a week skiing.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuzq4EJEAMQRZfN7nnk9KTmtu91B5qKV1hJY55PC3bjYE85-PDvk6ppYO2ttUiRxlqMto4UuBNrnm9IYsmIbtVJEDmBVts__6D_xGhtuNopRsjWEcPWelqw8eqyFJ-lGMhFGoo-EFqc_rRl9ZOylOSGcxsxGUEzYtcoWO6PIOBj7yF6si4DBrsZMoAA/s3024/20221019_121508.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuzq4EJEAMQRZfN7nnk9KTmtu91B5qKV1hJY55PC3bjYE85-PDvk6ppYO2ttUiRxlqMto4UuBNrnm9IYsmIbtVJEDmBVts__6D_xGhtuNopRsjWEcPWelqw8eqyFJ-lGMhFGoo-EFqc_rRl9ZOylOSGcxsxGUEzYtcoWO6PIOBj7yF6si4DBrsZMoAA/w640-h640/20221019_121508.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A stone cross along one of the flattest paths we walked.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMqsXRlde5wRAuzGqs6StIyOQvwAAmFsJzjes8LjJR-89nWFAg0zNpb4_OMpdXvSrmVVkj86QRhOxYM_eq5q2yjDuxSWQnYyNoEgx5vQUcLcF7EiKDBiK6LW39TWybf5Oa8OEFA18WfFI3c9LadZVY4Mv-U64eS3cvzcA9ojGTZFHlfrJtIouJ6oYKA/s3024/20221019_125951.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMqsXRlde5wRAuzGqs6StIyOQvwAAmFsJzjes8LjJR-89nWFAg0zNpb4_OMpdXvSrmVVkj86QRhOxYM_eq5q2yjDuxSWQnYyNoEgx5vQUcLcF7EiKDBiK6LW39TWybf5Oa8OEFA18WfFI3c9LadZVY4Mv-U64eS3cvzcA9ojGTZFHlfrJtIouJ6oYKA/w640-h640/20221019_125951.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of my favorite parts of the day, walking through grapevine arbors.<br />Oh...and the blue sky!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACh8YalCA5Iyzoy4RPcZGQskesdQM2oNmOD6jsPHzHOaaQTtmZEX4VdpnSBCR4bCVX5S9DY9zLGmngQGJ5rQ7xNZ1UrNR5xkEQgQ4lwkGVh4RhvtlUya8SiFz9tx9o96IrLa5aqB3xgHhs4uTy_xED6puIotbt5CgCoa5epiT3X7yrHwmNNXDbQLe4Q/s3024/20221019_130335.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACh8YalCA5Iyzoy4RPcZGQskesdQM2oNmOD6jsPHzHOaaQTtmZEX4VdpnSBCR4bCVX5S9DY9zLGmngQGJ5rQ7xNZ1UrNR5xkEQgQ4lwkGVh4RhvtlUya8SiFz9tx9o96IrLa5aqB3xgHhs4uTy_xED6puIotbt5CgCoa5epiT3X7yrHwmNNXDbQLe4Q/w640-h640/20221019_130335.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Herding sheep along the way!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The day ended in Caldas des Reis. We quickly found a place for lunch along the river and ordered to our heart's content. We were hungry! Again, we had to call a taxi to take us to our accommodations. The accommodations were amazing! Set along a river and top notch. There were not many people staying there, maybe 20. The rooms were lovely, and the beds were super comfortable for those of us who were suffering from the hard mattresses. The best thing was that there was a section of the river diverted onto the property and formed a waterfall into their pool. That beautiful cold water provided TJ and I with some much appreciated and needed ice therapy. At dinner that night we sat next to our new friends Maria and Juan from that morning in Pontevedra. We were making Camino friends as we chatted at the large table that night at dinner. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLDvuYDdhaeJL5CrCyOFVil45r8ejBEDPu3K0YVC0Sh0mCG4wDP6fs3BASwxZDmElTCb6ymCU1AEPe3ciTXeqpiUt8rkLT7iy8742u8qSldwXCyAoSLnWvBf8YLZh1xv2wyNOpF_cX7_yyBn7YE6OrksHICC-mVS4j7IuT4TeVOjm7Vd6dZ-QOxxsEA/s3024/20221019_161513.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLDvuYDdhaeJL5CrCyOFVil45r8ejBEDPu3K0YVC0Sh0mCG4wDP6fs3BASwxZDmElTCb6ymCU1AEPe3ciTXeqpiUt8rkLT7iy8742u8qSldwXCyAoSLnWvBf8YLZh1xv2wyNOpF_cX7_yyBn7YE6OrksHICC-mVS4j7IuT4TeVOjm7Vd6dZ-QOxxsEA/w640-h640/20221019_161513.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This was my favorite place along the way...<br />and the most comfortable bed!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7etwGqkhNVu7Ng7Yb__3o1yGqHATXVioiZSKOxc-nck0hW6jD25yf-CgiOcvA006jmGH6CRQmPpI0gLNqOImVU455yLIc32AsjM22M-HIbdhkV9HG7_Ip0UegRPqLHIArXw-I4TyeBkvgC_EtQdKoBHyBtUy1_hie68etfleg6jQo1DotEOPVahuDXg/s3024/20221019_164837.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7etwGqkhNVu7Ng7Yb__3o1yGqHATXVioiZSKOxc-nck0hW6jD25yf-CgiOcvA006jmGH6CRQmPpI0gLNqOImVU455yLIc32AsjM22M-HIbdhkV9HG7_Ip0UegRPqLHIArXw-I4TyeBkvgC_EtQdKoBHyBtUy1_hie68etfleg6jQo1DotEOPVahuDXg/w640-h640/20221019_164837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A river runs next to it...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsFoUvXJIpi7jtBSmOuVbkMz0OU95fedaJdcpy7wVlUmlJrDdwgfCSJnLA5oGJhulgdJpur5CVMY0UcYjsowSyj0w3blIOCeNcNSP1CKTGRCoKbGSL7FCT007Vp-jVE9ZqOP5xHgMp1wN8FkG3emaxEeN1SKyTDzDs_E6ExrPlDfPEr77JW6IKIBQZg/s3024/20221019_165038.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsFoUvXJIpi7jtBSmOuVbkMz0OU95fedaJdcpy7wVlUmlJrDdwgfCSJnLA5oGJhulgdJpur5CVMY0UcYjsowSyj0w3blIOCeNcNSP1CKTGRCoKbGSL7FCT007Vp-jVE9ZqOP5xHgMp1wN8FkG3emaxEeN1SKyTDzDs_E6ExrPlDfPEr77JW6IKIBQZg/w640-h640/20221019_165038.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And through it!<br />Yes, that is my husband under the falls...freezing!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePuc8Ido8Tb8IdAyqZLhJ6Z9XCjbjH0EQj2GdD8wPk8Xe9Y80-WxKwfSogKiaecjyuwxbLv0BlT0vmfpiThEN2u59FtDTAIoFanhU0Tm31_ca6DgZqlv4QzCXLE1KGFL52ETlJjy9lI3PPovglNTJrc8dcKBVKqdrB4LoDmLRtOPZVRtUDVBXYWsnHQ/s3024/20221019_165603.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePuc8Ido8Tb8IdAyqZLhJ6Z9XCjbjH0EQj2GdD8wPk8Xe9Y80-WxKwfSogKiaecjyuwxbLv0BlT0vmfpiThEN2u59FtDTAIoFanhU0Tm31_ca6DgZqlv4QzCXLE1KGFL52ETlJjy9lI3PPovglNTJrc8dcKBVKqdrB4LoDmLRtOPZVRtUDVBXYWsnHQ/w640-h640/20221019_165603.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And me, icing my aching knees and feet!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The next morning was...wet. I also began the day behind everyone. I woke up late (I'm blaming the comfortable bed), they were ready to go much earlier than I was, so I was scrambling to leave. This place is also the new home of one of my adapters due to my scrambling. I ended up spending the entire day...behind everyone and wet. I just never caught up. We left with the hordes of other fools/pilgrims who left early. The closer to Santiago de Compostella you get, the more pilgrims there seem to be. Also, most of the people staying in albergues leave early so they can make their next destination early enough to get a bed. Our beds were guaranteed on our Camino Light. I walked wearing my raincoat, which I was very thankful I packed and am vowing to burn once I get home because I have never gone on a trip and experienced more rain than this one....it must be cursed! I also wore a rain poncho over everything to cover my backpack and provide extra protection. It was brutal. We walked through a National Forest, up and down some steep, muddy trails. At one point it was so dark in the forest it seemed like night. It would have been very spooky if I had been alone, but there were many other pilgrims. I was very thankful once we got out of the forest. The forest and the challenging hills gave me plenty of opportunities to pray, because at the end of the day, I was wet, sore and struggling to keep up but in the grand scheme of life, these were mere transient inconveniences when so many others in our world suffer from permanent health challenges. I had nothing to whine about and just kept moving forward.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was a day we decided to stop for lunch along the way. We needed a break! We stopped at an aptly named lunch place, Buen Camino. I had to best Galacian soup ever! Warm with chorizo and kale? or cabbage? in a delicious broth! It again reminded me of lunch stops when we are skiing. Everyone burns a lot of energy in the morning skiing and battling the cold and then at lunch everyone piles into a restaurant for warm food to keep us going for the rest of the day. It was that same feeling except instead of cold we were wet! Similar level of exertion and exhaustion.</div><div><br /></div><div>After lunch we happened upon a woman who was part of a larger group that we had seen all along our Way and always greeted when we saw each other. She referred to us as her "Vigo friends". We walked with her for about an hour and she just talked and talked. I decided she was one of the reasons I made it through that day. Listening to her for an hour made the time fly by! Thank you "Vigo friend"! Before I knew it, the rain had subsided, and we were closing in on our destination for the night. Padron. Famous for Padron peppers which are served roasted with salt and are delicious.</div><div><br /></div><div>That night we had drinks and dinner with our new friends Maria and Juan and their friends from Australia, Steve and Cheryl. It was also Maria's birthday, so we celebrated together! Back in our rooms, our soaked shoes, socks and clothes were scattered around drying...we hoped! We all went to bed that night praying for better weather and in disbelief that tomorrow would be our last day! We might just be able to do this!</div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DzFD2M4qR-DavSmD2Er2gVD0Tbbv11vmY0lwTGV7gyO_jpOXvDdGz89MCyTgUmyKXLybC5qRWEODB2Ln-AdcyKfpw9rZh2IAsCCis74irNw-a61bAiSnOlC-BqyCK932WNcAUTQeSwywz5QQbcu3cv7nMIC1JmtCN8qp-9HwA04HJr03ABsE9Z7YWg/s3024/20221020_123319.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DzFD2M4qR-DavSmD2Er2gVD0Tbbv11vmY0lwTGV7gyO_jpOXvDdGz89MCyTgUmyKXLybC5qRWEODB2Ln-AdcyKfpw9rZh2IAsCCis74irNw-a61bAiSnOlC-BqyCK932WNcAUTQeSwywz5QQbcu3cv7nMIC1JmtCN8qp-9HwA04HJr03ABsE9Z7YWg/w640-h640/20221020_123319.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>At least 6 miles of this today.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRwpA0dpo3fH3C2IDiSTirAykkFu-g_RZ-EHKgJEd4P2mL88WCAsomH_NjTuNI8KPQ1SZ6MGXwr2FYZFA-aDqTfuyf77aZBbXcX1WSrgeRr1j9-SIgXFQ8Gn6bxyuDbI2KGVb4Jd5-wdTe_kNzqs3z2WNLRSVEUbNxXp5o4GgFMYOZXS9i0PNW2Ih6A/s4032/20221020_132156.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRwpA0dpo3fH3C2IDiSTirAykkFu-g_RZ-EHKgJEd4P2mL88WCAsomH_NjTuNI8KPQ1SZ6MGXwr2FYZFA-aDqTfuyf77aZBbXcX1WSrgeRr1j9-SIgXFQ8Gn6bxyuDbI2KGVb4Jd5-wdTe_kNzqs3z2WNLRSVEUbNxXp5o4GgFMYOZXS9i0PNW2Ih6A/w360-h640/20221020_132156.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And then prayers were answered at the end of the day!<br />The sun came out!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-RUl1hLyZzG5JBzaGnNWM53Xt0-PDzRSWohB83ja5IY6MOBfm2fopRUX9QiG2CYREF3IqzTkVgaFdKLGP2v6RIaX6M-gjQeCs7fYzKH2QRLqbGwN0Mz4EQ2nADoGCkrpZNvXJiaydpWbiD6ZxE0bDJDArT-8hbf0v7dlJKL9VJMR61lB5J4G5NyI4g/s4032/20221020_173812.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-RUl1hLyZzG5JBzaGnNWM53Xt0-PDzRSWohB83ja5IY6MOBfm2fopRUX9QiG2CYREF3IqzTkVgaFdKLGP2v6RIaX6M-gjQeCs7fYzKH2QRLqbGwN0Mz4EQ2nADoGCkrpZNvXJiaydpWbiD6ZxE0bDJDArT-8hbf0v7dlJKL9VJMR61lB5J4G5NyI4g/w225-h400/20221020_173812.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I hope they dry by morning!!!<br />This had become a nightly ritual.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-61285139582996400252022-10-31T17:46:00.001-05:002022-11-01T10:50:13.886-05:00The Camino Part 1The Camino de Santiago is different for everyone. We each go our own Way. Roughly 450 people finish the Camino each day! We were 4 of those pilgrims on October 21st! If you had told me in April or even in June that I would be able to walk every one of the 110 kilometers on our Camino, I would never have believed it possible. It was with incredible pride, awe and exhaustion that we trudged the final kilometers, in pouring rain, to the ultimate finish line at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella. If you asked me today, "Would you do it again?", in a heartbeat...yes! Here is why.<div><br /></div><div>We started, as so many do, full of energy, anticipation and curiosity. There may have also been a bit of trepidation wondering "can we do this?" Mind you, we chose to walk the last 100 km from Vigo, Spain to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The required distance you need to walk to get your Compostella. Let's just say we chose to do "Camino Light". We stayed in very nice accommodations, had a service move our bags from place to place and "only" did 100 km. Like I said, we each go our own Way. For the 4 of us, this was our Way and among our group there were still 4 different "ways". We did walk every step of the Way though.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fjsAhOT6t30Gu15s-EUIyYXtuSam1xiFy3GdGa6Iq7aJuSVvuNQbZ84z9PvoJLbebeIK2txTRZd2JXsG0P5e7UzvzYrACEUbqw3bK6cPfQLzZgllHA7CXNS-RP_aixORSs9C9m65anY1z2JpI0y2PRho2qVNa577apm38acsJjyR8SuijdysfCc7zw/s3648/20221017_084648.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fjsAhOT6t30Gu15s-EUIyYXtuSam1xiFy3GdGa6Iq7aJuSVvuNQbZ84z9PvoJLbebeIK2txTRZd2JXsG0P5e7UzvzYrACEUbqw3bK6cPfQLzZgllHA7CXNS-RP_aixORSs9C9m65anY1z2JpI0y2PRho2qVNa577apm38acsJjyR8SuijdysfCc7zw/w480-h640/20221017_084648.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We are ready to walk!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdfEE4akWLGIlEDMUg3R-cQkmn59CeGuaZPatce2EOn266hPrCl3kY-fUvh4lRJvQdrtXkb0qWcuOF_4mRMPN_z4cpmWlsfaqWPmdiPoxMN34eOzdD6Lw6-hvub7DAv_nSqwEcjGS0h680zQPMMdhh43sAgiEFDNfF4HicaaVwevb8w9Vyrh0Jl3ZvA/s3024/20221017_103824.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdfEE4akWLGIlEDMUg3R-cQkmn59CeGuaZPatce2EOn266hPrCl3kY-fUvh4lRJvQdrtXkb0qWcuOF_4mRMPN_z4cpmWlsfaqWPmdiPoxMN34eOzdD6Lw6-hvub7DAv_nSqwEcjGS0h680zQPMMdhh43sAgiEFDNfF4HicaaVwevb8w9Vyrh0Jl3ZvA/w640-h640/20221017_103824.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Only 96.4 more kilometers! Follow the yellow arrows!<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We headed out, dark and early (sunrise was at 8:45!), on day 1 to find the Camino. 1.2km, which felt at least like 2 km, up a long hill in Vigo we finally found our first yellow marker and the actual Camino. We also experience our first act of kindness on the Camino when a woman, who noticed we had passed the Camino, guided us back to the correct street! Thank you for saving us the extra steps! We happily marched along enjoying the path. The views were very nice, we watched Vigo move away from our view and it seemed we did circles around the unique bridge in the distance as it moved from in front of us to next to us to behind us. We would eventually drive over that same bridge on our way back after our Camino!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmQTiDNZ0ytTMyABgH_NSk8WbrUG__Max7uf0KiciG6YsHTprCMO2QzR64oFjS45mYgHK1mdXKMtciJXmqLF9vDfTLFILfIV0mGdEWnvx4hO5SZ5ZGXcJ8rxMu6ZPnZgapZB3a2tf7FdCumMlehElL-XwoXq1gZq8eXXDtEiIMteliwC_YRVMK-c_zw/s3024/20221017_112907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmQTiDNZ0ytTMyABgH_NSk8WbrUG__Max7uf0KiciG6YsHTprCMO2QzR64oFjS45mYgHK1mdXKMtciJXmqLF9vDfTLFILfIV0mGdEWnvx4hO5SZ5ZGXcJ8rxMu6ZPnZgapZB3a2tf7FdCumMlehElL-XwoXq1gZq8eXXDtEiIMteliwC_YRVMK-c_zw/w640-h640/20221017_112907.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The bridge to and from Vigo!<br />I personally prefer this view to the one driving over the bridge!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Day 1 was full of everything new. Walking through Spanish neighborhoods, observing the landscapes and all the gardens and seeing my first Horreos (the rectangular little grain houses with crosses above the door pictured above). We walked through the forest, we saw a waterfall, and we walked through countless small villages. It didn't seem like we saw all that many other pilgrims on our first day. I was really hoping for the communal feeling I had heard existed on the Camino. I wondered if being in a close group of 4 would isolate us from others. Initially, I felt like maybe it had but in hindsight I think we just hadn't gotten into the Camino yet. We were still wide eyed and new.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our first day was a long one...16 miles, roughly 25km! There were a lot of hills! Nothing like breaking in the feet and legs with a solid first day! We ended our day in Arcade, called a cab, per our instructions, which came and promptly drove us backwards about 3 miles to our accommodations for the night. The horror each of us experienced thinking of our trek back to that point was soon soothed when we found out they delivered us to our stopping point the next morning, whew!</div><div><br /></div><div>The accommodation package I chose was labeled, Country Cottages. If this was a country cottage, I can't imagine what a country castle looks like! We drove through a very rough area, up some barely paved roads, up a hill and when we entered the grounds my jaw dropped! Firstly, the grounds were vast and meticulously manicured, and the house/castle was huge! When we entered it reminded me of an old castle you would go to for one of those "who done it" mystery nights. Mr. Green, in the conservatory with the knife. So old and yet well kept. Definitely a wedding venue too!</div><div>We felt like we had won the lottery. That night at dinner, we met a group of Pilipino nurses, all from the US, who had gone to school together, many years ago. They were walking the Camino as well. Following an even lighter Camino way than we were! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLkd3id54NuMOs7C77sKrwCA6MTwVUBB9R7WoMxGtpJGcFRF4Fe5v6k4rYrejr2BKyvlip3eXdBas85yGVlcEE9VYBb2qxr5QabjcoCiJE7Nhm906wdM1g6pFvkq7xpUNeC0s4hnSjmpcKnekcrtuvOeclR75CcXBPKA-E2qtthg0KswIvpbuin-cmQ/s3024/20221017_155251.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLkd3id54NuMOs7C77sKrwCA6MTwVUBB9R7WoMxGtpJGcFRF4Fe5v6k4rYrejr2BKyvlip3eXdBas85yGVlcEE9VYBb2qxr5QabjcoCiJE7Nhm906wdM1g6pFvkq7xpUNeC0s4hnSjmpcKnekcrtuvOeclR75CcXBPKA-E2qtthg0KswIvpbuin-cmQ/w400-h400/20221017_155251.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A lovely view of the grounds from our room!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5A6lcSF4rB6j3_4NUjMEoU3QZsY9aUd4WnBaPTzIXY_42sfmPSTiDfqHMwNgmq6ArgCdycSZXvlfhq_FIIpc3c1_TeLAoFyX2-zT1UUfLuola7mCCSjKAGW6dD6WlJagYnXYCgVX7eRceZm4Cg_7u2tsRDPiEEIcnyc1j7fGIGxMJPGwNFIEE2xos6w/s3024/20221017_155126.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5A6lcSF4rB6j3_4NUjMEoU3QZsY9aUd4WnBaPTzIXY_42sfmPSTiDfqHMwNgmq6ArgCdycSZXvlfhq_FIIpc3c1_TeLAoFyX2-zT1UUfLuola7mCCSjKAGW6dD6WlJagYnXYCgVX7eRceZm4Cg_7u2tsRDPiEEIcnyc1j7fGIGxMJPGwNFIEE2xos6w/w400-h400/20221017_155126.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The entrance!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4JI8g3qh2hmd4JIBDHM0To1ch9J3ldPO5sCMDbG8VHoicLR_gEoe-l18wpZXB-R9J5nTHfr302aP9aaG91m2m1_bUnnygWzXYF5EsPCzUdEaIey4sKmF0Hc80rzXTNLdNi6aOQReO3BuSK6fC6n5F98zVeaSZI1thgd6lr02GmV1nybrB7oPn-6AbA/s3024/20221017_174308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4JI8g3qh2hmd4JIBDHM0To1ch9J3ldPO5sCMDbG8VHoicLR_gEoe-l18wpZXB-R9J5nTHfr302aP9aaG91m2m1_bUnnygWzXYF5EsPCzUdEaIey4sKmF0Hc80rzXTNLdNi6aOQReO3BuSK6fC6n5F98zVeaSZI1thgd6lr02GmV1nybrB7oPn-6AbA/w400-h400/20221017_174308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEYacAnLuNeHgH_0IwKC3EGryI5RGFiw2EaTLqaFWS7JCZYWQ13QIN1oEZlRzbNdxCkRIuGzMza0oJbMkEwi1-mG1im4B1bMOp0K9LmMN6i4W8WbEzgIZU3LOEsqDHrE2PgVXDXitGbvUHJoAZ4OFubiSvt-ulIsBpq6UPDCPRfzjyi8KA2B3zlREFQ/s3024/20221017_191228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEYacAnLuNeHgH_0IwKC3EGryI5RGFiw2EaTLqaFWS7JCZYWQ13QIN1oEZlRzbNdxCkRIuGzMza0oJbMkEwi1-mG1im4B1bMOp0K9LmMN6i4W8WbEzgIZU3LOEsqDHrE2PgVXDXitGbvUHJoAZ4OFubiSvt-ulIsBpq6UPDCPRfzjyi8KA2B3zlREFQ/w400-h400/20221017_191228.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDeUocaLgq_p4gujtZqxF2prkFtMVwSsL7PxSz7RvnbSIjvPXKyPk4eaMIy3-0XuRkowzgEmBZbxUx-qzGTQG3Sn091DGoZZHcd-5jTXEl-ebkDvL21oIADPUG8V0BskP6BohTBdTU7HfXavokfop5J5m-gfCCs39mIbmrZFdzY4NxkG8SyB1p-G56Q/s3024/20221017_175126.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDeUocaLgq_p4gujtZqxF2prkFtMVwSsL7PxSz7RvnbSIjvPXKyPk4eaMIy3-0XuRkowzgEmBZbxUx-qzGTQG3Sn091DGoZZHcd-5jTXEl-ebkDvL21oIADPUG8V0BskP6BohTBdTU7HfXavokfop5J5m-gfCCs39mIbmrZFdzY4NxkG8SyB1p-G56Q/w400-h400/20221017_175126.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wedding reception area</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We woke up the next morning with just as much motivation as the first morning. Plus, we knew this was a shorter day of walking. Surely it would be easier, right?! Nope! At least not for me. It was more fun, if one can possibly have fun while wearing a raincoat, perspiring underneath and starting to feel a few hot spots on my toes from the constant walking. I stayed positive, what else could I do? But every hill got harder and longer. There were a few bright spots along the Way. The bagpiper was the first! I could hear him around the corner and was thrilled when I saw him! Thank you, bagpiper! I bought my first Camino scallop shell from him. A little farther up the trail we came upon a fellow selling his wares, he also had water, which was much needed that warm, damp day. We counted two blessings before we got very far already. I think our biggest blessing that day was near the end of a bonus route we decided to take through the woods along a stream. The downside was that it added a few kilometers to our day, the good side was that near the end we found a great spot to sit, take off our shoes and soak our aching feet in some fresh cold water! It was heaven!</div><div><br /></div><div>We finally made it to Pontevedra not a moment before it began to rain! Once again, our accommodations were ancient and castle-like. The place hosted a mix of bedraggled pilgrims, sharply dressed business people and a smattering of tourists. This is where we started to see some of the same faces and began finding our Camino friends. It was my first encounter with Maria and Juan who were fresh off 37 days walking the Camino Frances and decided to do a week on the Portuguese Camino! She exclaimed in the elevator, "I love the Camino!". That is a lot of walking!</div><div><br /></div><div>We did make the mistake that day of skipping lunch on the trail and waiting until we reached our stopping point for the day. This meant lunch at 2:30 pm and some serious over ordering due to our level of hunger upon arrival. It also meant that we were not hungry at dinner, but we still needed to eat. We went to a tapas place, ordered a few tapas expecting tiny portions only to be shocked at the amount of food that landed on our table! We could not rise to the occasion. It was also the first place we got drenched in a rainstorm, which became the theme of the rest of our Camino. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_mrHRKIJqawvWVZcuVic_qpaX_oS1WzkPyzhgfRuEzN4EB3ez462zYv9ofV6LmK9fpsNcxeX1ZKvVjfTW6GFdfwuOmpTNtykGl-79ggH1LrFGHpVviJuFJ67-2qdfdZPQTwlIDVLYsV8qws1UjMykVFBq0H5fr0f_ooIj1L3D-bUgCb5VhcybUm_pg/s3024/20221018_092541.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_mrHRKIJqawvWVZcuVic_qpaX_oS1WzkPyzhgfRuEzN4EB3ez462zYv9ofV6LmK9fpsNcxeX1ZKvVjfTW6GFdfwuOmpTNtykGl-79ggH1LrFGHpVviJuFJ67-2qdfdZPQTwlIDVLYsV8qws1UjMykVFBq0H5fr0f_ooIj1L3D-bUgCb5VhcybUm_pg/w640-h640/20221018_092541.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I would follow this arrow anywhere!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59G57e9eDYt8RSnx-3XlY38vZb4HW_ha-mqaJYU3rexPUbCYhRcfkNG1RTrhV5d72MFqPvl9Y0YFZjusKIzYBp5J0rvy-yTYK_Mf3hkiM_ZlfX5uk0RV9XD6NY2l4KWhtW8nP7cjOtgslFeYGafkp-jyj6dbht7Y2YocAYEKMwFzXGNmhOQ6M8dQuIg/s3024/20221018_094921.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59G57e9eDYt8RSnx-3XlY38vZb4HW_ha-mqaJYU3rexPUbCYhRcfkNG1RTrhV5d72MFqPvl9Y0YFZjusKIzYBp5J0rvy-yTYK_Mf3hkiM_ZlfX5uk0RV9XD6NY2l4KWhtW8nP7cjOtgslFeYGafkp-jyj6dbht7Y2YocAYEKMwFzXGNmhOQ6M8dQuIg/w640-h640/20221018_094921.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Early morning full of hope and beauty!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFrPU0fQv5mMLsmCGOtMfHKpMY4fM-xtBGDBcEtVPUNO1zkAWZSDniQXH0gHOww64LlRwGysikoXniaLQRBu9JiOyWFq_iJbZzWh3Abgf4PCCPIBbmQhaUOIyJSSeqvPOT6aK81URwShI5YRH5Nkojv5TSW6xwDxMB6Q_t36VfwrhbIyOcBV_3Dr2qw/s3024/20221018_101611.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFrPU0fQv5mMLsmCGOtMfHKpMY4fM-xtBGDBcEtVPUNO1zkAWZSDniQXH0gHOww64LlRwGysikoXniaLQRBu9JiOyWFq_iJbZzWh3Abgf4PCCPIBbmQhaUOIyJSSeqvPOT6aK81URwShI5YRH5Nkojv5TSW6xwDxMB6Q_t36VfwrhbIyOcBV_3Dr2qw/w640-h640/20221018_101611.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adding his eucalyptus bark cross to the fence.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKUtY2gIxTqyhuYI9cFBJnJQP7KgdDiwSB8O8__j2XqivL_6rrO6iOcbk9ozDd9HBy8IaglMpGMKskB76YugbwtdIQOu0OcyKHjAurLyixY_mGUHe0bfFL8h4c-Kl6Dox9GC4UI6dOeVDROEVj2WPS_8YLy5_zid2HU7f75z0FfLJffuPRUCx3r_5SQ/s3024/20221018_102005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKUtY2gIxTqyhuYI9cFBJnJQP7KgdDiwSB8O8__j2XqivL_6rrO6iOcbk9ozDd9HBy8IaglMpGMKskB76YugbwtdIQOu0OcyKHjAurLyixY_mGUHe0bfFL8h4c-Kl6Dox9GC4UI6dOeVDROEVj2WPS_8YLy5_zid2HU7f75z0FfLJffuPRUCx3r_5SQ/w640-h640/20221018_102005.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The road was sometimes rocky...and uphill.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgooIkAPfLJwWKrDvetRT2iVoBbNdEIPLquJ0q2SCwU3_WhWJ_yPA18D-GLmVCvO364nc_IDd3Hlt7sw7ZpRdsxBhadg28Ia67HfdfcUtM_9SjFlRaEleZxkZg25JmA8zLyaM_5NpDF3w1UmFaECR3rr9FDRStbrTq8oIAKu3JW7o5Ee6Whh0ksUmsg/s3024/20221018_123748.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgooIkAPfLJwWKrDvetRT2iVoBbNdEIPLquJ0q2SCwU3_WhWJ_yPA18D-GLmVCvO364nc_IDd3Hlt7sw7ZpRdsxBhadg28Ia67HfdfcUtM_9SjFlRaEleZxkZg25JmA8zLyaM_5NpDF3w1UmFaECR3rr9FDRStbrTq8oIAKu3JW7o5Ee6Whh0ksUmsg/w640-h640/20221018_123748.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This felt sooo great!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6Ilt1S_UgOFTJ5fMbgPgYhUPMSX0iagzqk3dqgSdoc77Q1WPkFPcIxtlk2gx2yYKeiZo3ejvhVsdrOYLy8IEflIMfLebh22pVXB6UlFlP65ssdWLrN8YnSdz7cnIeZpYX-6eNZyDweNG4-ke7w0bp9qSgEo2qPygRdQBLiUHOIg8q0lVgG9pN2Gsgg/s3024/20221018_135453.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6Ilt1S_UgOFTJ5fMbgPgYhUPMSX0iagzqk3dqgSdoc77Q1WPkFPcIxtlk2gx2yYKeiZo3ejvhVsdrOYLy8IEflIMfLebh22pVXB6UlFlP65ssdWLrN8YnSdz7cnIeZpYX-6eNZyDweNG4-ke7w0bp9qSgEo2qPygRdQBLiUHOIg8q0lVgG9pN2Gsgg/w640-h640/20221018_135453.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Another "country cottage" in the middle of town!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMd1x7cVHW-J9RLYL3aDhx8n8YPnRt2a9nr01aEDYtfJYK7WfZYHleRY0cfe53hj8D-GFVZhUUNMtE8kW2Ml9ci49wb7JCBYS70GUDNf7hyK5fVds80vxVYiFhFEvJymZbVm7CrSsO_zfxy8RwsGYRqw-NPAZ4YMfkJIKif6S0tnEZMqQIs_NfvIkcw/s3024/20221018_192135.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMd1x7cVHW-J9RLYL3aDhx8n8YPnRt2a9nr01aEDYtfJYK7WfZYHleRY0cfe53hj8D-GFVZhUUNMtE8kW2Ml9ci49wb7JCBYS70GUDNf7hyK5fVds80vxVYiFhFEvJymZbVm7CrSsO_zfxy8RwsGYRqw-NPAZ4YMfkJIKif6S0tnEZMqQIs_NfvIkcw/w640-h640/20221018_192135.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finding a table under the awning! <br />Evening happy hour ritual!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I am pretty sure this was also the day at least 3 of us began to question whether our bodies were really ready for this commitment. Our toes were beaten and bruised. We were more than a little concerned about the weather forecast which showed nothing but rain on our horizon. Two days in and I was wondering where that great Camino experience was? I passed out moleskin and ibuprophen to everyone and we continued!<br /> </div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-49511821932402707302022-10-11T14:17:00.002-05:002022-10-11T17:10:35.618-05:00It Wasn't Supposed to be This Way<p> I am beginning to wonder where I actually live...and I think my friends and family are also beginning to wonder the same thing! This year has been a series of plans made, starts, stops, plans broken, plans re-made and a lot of mending along the way. You know what they say, "We plan,, and God laughs." He must be cracking up this year! I just hope the joke is over for the next month. <a href="http://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2022/02/"> That fateful fall on the ski slope in February</a> changed our year's plans which have resulted in a very busy Fall!</p><p>After our summer in Nova Scotia, TJ had planned a leaf peeping bike tour in Vermont for the group we fondly refer to as our <a href="https://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2012/03/names-have-been-changed-to-protect.html">Red Solo Cup friends</a>. Eight of us met in Vermont for an <a href="https://inntoinn.com/">Inn to Inn bike tour</a> covering over 100 miles in 4 days. One (TJ) out of the eight of us is a cyclist! No problem, right?! This was going to be the first real test for my knee to see just how strong and stable it really was. Turns out, it works just fine. I would say the trip was a great success. Eight people, between the ages of 60 and 70, rode bicycles over 100 miles, without incident or injury and had a great time doing it! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAs_841hnzK-SfXQW_MB3aq68K0zqkBiM5p1pa7-4c7JYrr2lB0Ubn7e6-r7q3Dhe97hLYnKMystyRh_iR1p5oKBqhTTizuwkC9sWkMHnpTNXa1Z4tRvII_szP9b3lhDflyMYZh9UlFfxBERyMwew-pC3jPWOYPRBRd4yKh4uvzcWsRBzqcq_SjMFXw/s1564/IMG_20221011_130053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAs_841hnzK-SfXQW_MB3aq68K0zqkBiM5p1pa7-4c7JYrr2lB0Ubn7e6-r7q3Dhe97hLYnKMystyRh_iR1p5oKBqhTTizuwkC9sWkMHnpTNXa1Z4tRvII_szP9b3lhDflyMYZh9UlFfxBERyMwew-pC3jPWOYPRBRd4yKh4uvzcWsRBzqcq_SjMFXw/w640-h640/IMG_20221011_130053.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Inns were charming, as were their hosts!</i><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We felt, at times, (or maybe it was just me) like we had been dropped into an episode of Gilmore Girls as we stayed in small towns that resembled Stars Hollow with their gazebos in the town squares and the white steeples framed by tree covered mountains. The main streets were quaint, and each town seemed so small that you just knew everyone knew their neighbors. It was like riding through a postcard some days. The leaf color was not at its peak yet when we started, but by the end of the week things were getting a lot brighter. <div>Here are a few scenes from along the road...</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdMPHEjhVVJuM7damtuTifjZCQDqj6xXSGhr4hcbdHd46C67b1rLXOBV_C9fjE-AN2WX-0RL0-K-M1qT0PyyRGNC-OVfwC9K8lD4CkgkqTEf1nhBfhqGNxn0NOYFfyMxFxHcB7FV4-D857-niyIhwo0SHfkLkH_QYgrb3ZI_cM2lspVKtVWlg_ZSEwA/s3024/20220925_163323.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdMPHEjhVVJuM7damtuTifjZCQDqj6xXSGhr4hcbdHd46C67b1rLXOBV_C9fjE-AN2WX-0RL0-K-M1qT0PyyRGNC-OVfwC9K8lD4CkgkqTEf1nhBfhqGNxn0NOYFfyMxFxHcB7FV4-D857-niyIhwo0SHfkLkH_QYgrb3ZI_cM2lspVKtVWlg_ZSEwA/w640-h640/20220925_163323.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Waterfall in Brandon, VT were it all began.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJokJ_6BNlgoNsxKJV2ec7qfrHxtY0ITUXyamvv0_I5ryhI_9I_hyLABOl8HhCLWRjQyQks_Kju5orLjM7uSTy1eEV38cBXB-S3B7t1JNPzqWzuGZs8y6Ff9pXYFGBCLh9aKLYiuP6mQGDp0-_8nrAUMBi6UsFAWlStZ1Cdfo6sH0UrzmCvt852Szyew/s3024/20220926_115243.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJokJ_6BNlgoNsxKJV2ec7qfrHxtY0ITUXyamvv0_I5ryhI_9I_hyLABOl8HhCLWRjQyQks_Kju5orLjM7uSTy1eEV38cBXB-S3B7t1JNPzqWzuGZs8y6Ff9pXYFGBCLh9aKLYiuP6mQGDp0-_8nrAUMBi6UsFAWlStZ1Cdfo6sH0UrzmCvt852Szyew/w640-h640/20220926_115243.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of the many covered bridges along the way.<br />Who doesn't love a covered bridge!!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIAy4jhbJf4XJvujLmJiHgBSJxGef-n994ik08I4RmBRiXmYNhfcQb9B622XuhDF5Y1582tuqz0c9oJadn7gyLlhPApDNsPSwbv4jyetmV-_6azvUNZ_vctOj6NM2_m5RPtFKTu9wmbP6gw5iYy6mPOi0svyAi5xTy3H63MsqEJFUaebJUJPOs6W0Dw/s3024/20220926_141522.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIAy4jhbJf4XJvujLmJiHgBSJxGef-n994ik08I4RmBRiXmYNhfcQb9B622XuhDF5Y1582tuqz0c9oJadn7gyLlhPApDNsPSwbv4jyetmV-_6azvUNZ_vctOj6NM2_m5RPtFKTu9wmbP6gw5iYy6mPOi0svyAi5xTy3H63MsqEJFUaebJUJPOs6W0Dw/w640-h640/20220926_141522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Plenty of farm stands and country markets with pumpkins<br />and all things maple!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBRKsn9f6yr_I3ATyb-s6hIFNldsjYa94dve0xtfhH_Y7hugnZAdWJ0Y_ZyN0JEBBJK6I3vG4PhAdnQlP9_iTOKjVB-j_sZ0GSsZ5Z2C0yNPjgzJ9awQ46L3KWG-cANAix5zVXNUWcN0F74P9PJ8wsUv6yAZDO-GASrxYIVExSdRKOMTlpZg6iC4atQ/s3024/20220927_105440.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBRKsn9f6yr_I3ATyb-s6hIFNldsjYa94dve0xtfhH_Y7hugnZAdWJ0Y_ZyN0JEBBJK6I3vG4PhAdnQlP9_iTOKjVB-j_sZ0GSsZ5Z2C0yNPjgzJ9awQ46L3KWG-cANAix5zVXNUWcN0F74P9PJ8wsUv6yAZDO-GASrxYIVExSdRKOMTlpZg6iC4atQ/w640-h640/20220927_105440.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The British Fort at Crown Point, NY<br />1760</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Qnuuzf6wkbufxgzyJ8QwkCVvYH-5X4yzbq7IAzUGDlxlPjPMMj0uTKlBE0SdGdMs5-E8CM-fvuR-ezyApXQ5Znz0I6rsJIakv8A3sd4vaPwPI7tD7not_-muXgnfbBtEK6Gbs-xskaBby2D7YkG83-DbTmlTBv88woBM7kPEcD1I6Q6WyhoRFOTXKw/s3024/20220928_101116.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Qnuuzf6wkbufxgzyJ8QwkCVvYH-5X4yzbq7IAzUGDlxlPjPMMj0uTKlBE0SdGdMs5-E8CM-fvuR-ezyApXQ5Znz0I6rsJIakv8A3sd4vaPwPI7tD7not_-muXgnfbBtEK6Gbs-xskaBby2D7YkG83-DbTmlTBv88woBM7kPEcD1I6Q6WyhoRFOTXKw/w640-h640/20220928_101116.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Love the mountain in the distance poking out of the clouds!<br />The reason for one of my many, "Photo stop!" cries along the way.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXurxzjnZwJkvJmQ5sXBuFRPpagn4jDsSTkNMpMpf5Q6Cmo_YYuJjFRt38EdqpAbSNxpaKUobge2nhfYlTQVQleq8HY7e7SEZP-OKjciq6s7JeqFfBmGBWyoSD5vuD40kZm0MOqH_nXu-j9qMsC7furtd065BBgXEoNZbwIoTKsjPfwNYW3C3v5qHCQ/s3024/20220928_105032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXurxzjnZwJkvJmQ5sXBuFRPpagn4jDsSTkNMpMpf5Q6Cmo_YYuJjFRt38EdqpAbSNxpaKUobge2nhfYlTQVQleq8HY7e7SEZP-OKjciq6s7JeqFfBmGBWyoSD5vuD40kZm0MOqH_nXu-j9qMsC7furtd065BBgXEoNZbwIoTKsjPfwNYW3C3v5qHCQ/w640-h640/20220928_105032.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>White picket fences, lots of cemeteries and the occasional fall color!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjkgEsC_l-5W7RePAXOwan1cyKeB_9UfPGULDah-WX8IfkhgqhejnngJLUEtBRes0p4zjFY0TUkhPO2DYmg6ftAZWJtlqYrzXsZwKYQrUrodbzC4atximGLef3zBsH-Of_ZPZiv-DPbnpMMb4TMCw8hdaIIk5TecSSk-QxlTwvyvQMCV3q35lqbbvaw/s3024/20220928_140344.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjkgEsC_l-5W7RePAXOwan1cyKeB_9UfPGULDah-WX8IfkhgqhejnngJLUEtBRes0p4zjFY0TUkhPO2DYmg6ftAZWJtlqYrzXsZwKYQrUrodbzC4atximGLef3zBsH-Of_ZPZiv-DPbnpMMb4TMCw8hdaIIk5TecSSk-QxlTwvyvQMCV3q35lqbbvaw/w640-h640/20220928_140344.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If we saw one, we saw 20, tall white steeples.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9nDHcg1FMcnk6KE2n0t63MjkSn6XCJOoijKN1SemYXBZDguFltAD1g8rau3sNZTV3Y-_EJL1hgaRx_F14HFDPwZ_I-sNYoj3Mw802HVYh0Jtr4DFyuoaSelKnj9Puuw1-FwOo1D4Yu6xv1zjlzkaDKOml-vhEKqdg6suBg9GjXm2AZjJPYqXW4JBHg/s3024/20220929_152117.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9nDHcg1FMcnk6KE2n0t63MjkSn6XCJOoijKN1SemYXBZDguFltAD1g8rau3sNZTV3Y-_EJL1hgaRx_F14HFDPwZ_I-sNYoj3Mw802HVYh0Jtr4DFyuoaSelKnj9Puuw1-FwOo1D4Yu6xv1zjlzkaDKOml-vhEKqdg6suBg9GjXm2AZjJPYqXW4JBHg/w640-h640/20220929_152117.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Full circle back to Brandon, VT and one of the <br />cutest town squares!<br />Queue to town troubador!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9gsRUEAxoaqxfBlhTzSOg7WuuO8ri4kU-b3OMDF2SrgK91mDoaHlw2SSlBpWbjuuT6YfaNv2hOQfA4y3uKf42X4luxFp-PUiYvgwvSX6CsijC1LEH-xvJKY9pPNTu3FHdAqWISQ6HUNLjTVZSRiDhKzdhi4DEyaGWszuzkzKsEjzq1cnmjC9qzMFCA/s3024/20220930_121403.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9gsRUEAxoaqxfBlhTzSOg7WuuO8ri4kU-b3OMDF2SrgK91mDoaHlw2SSlBpWbjuuT6YfaNv2hOQfA4y3uKf42X4luxFp-PUiYvgwvSX6CsijC1LEH-xvJKY9pPNTu3FHdAqWISQ6HUNLjTVZSRiDhKzdhi4DEyaGWszuzkzKsEjzq1cnmjC9qzMFCA/w640-h640/20220930_121403.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>When in Vermont....</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTafgM8iJ6R1j5szf4qIp7symHDYJT0tw8NHvSbu4yN76tJclfud8KwNggESc8oXI_jx0DUd_NC814QARn5HthVcqOlSOsgl_bao9wp4WJu7kKDGeDZswbV4E-NMx089UM-gG5kfvSJFacEwZaGuJ1l8PonO2XM1_RdXl5Nm9W35ws1F485IeOXdJEgA/s3024/20220930_152544.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTafgM8iJ6R1j5szf4qIp7symHDYJT0tw8NHvSbu4yN76tJclfud8KwNggESc8oXI_jx0DUd_NC814QARn5HthVcqOlSOsgl_bao9wp4WJu7kKDGeDZswbV4E-NMx089UM-gG5kfvSJFacEwZaGuJ1l8PonO2XM1_RdXl5Nm9W35ws1F485IeOXdJEgA/w640-h640/20220930_152544.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is what we came for!<br />This, and a lot of great memories with some very good friends!<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Once we got back "home" to Houston we shifted gears very quickly and went to our niece's wedding in Virginia. This wedding has been on the books for a year, so we knew what we were getting into when we scheduled the bike trip so close to the wedding weekend. What we didn't know when we made these plans way back pre-Feb. 2nd, was that this wedding weekend would not be the end of our travel season but sandwiched between two trips that were originally scheduled 5 months apart instead of two weeks apart. God is still laughing. <div><br /></div><div>The wedding was full of family, fun, and lots of love! The bride and groom were glowing as they made the most of their special day. We do love a good party, so suffice it to say by the end of the weekend our voices were cracking from all of the talking and our feet were in desperate need of some ice therapy from all of the dancing. Weekend bonus- all seven Mahoney siblings were together at the wedding and all four of our children/adults were there too! It was a family frenzy!</div><div><br /></div><div>And now we are home, once again unpacking, only to repack. It wasn't supposed to be this way, but it is. We are finally taking the trip we planned to take last April...instead of having ACL surgery. Talk about delayed gratification. I must say planning this trip while doing all of my rehab gave me something to do, something to look forward to and a goal to work towards. It has served as a giant carrot dangling in front of me, motivating me to get out there and get stronger. I am not absolutely sure if I am there yet, I am praying for some adrenaline to kick in once we start! Next week, we will be on the Camino de Santiago, walking our way to Santiago de Compostela. No, we are not doing the entire Camino! We will walk the final 100 km of the Portuguese Camino into Santiago de Compostela. Shoot....if I can ride a bike 100 miles I should be able to walk 100 km...right? Stay tuned! <br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-76672308402417617932022-09-13T20:07:00.000-05:002022-09-13T20:07:05.095-05:00The Last Week...Already!<p> There are things we do up here that we never do at home! There are things we can't do, things we don't have to do, things we don't have the opportunity to do, things we don't need to do and things we wish we could do. Last week, as we moved probably the 12th and 13th mattresses of the summer I just had to laugh! There would never be a 3 month period in my "real" life that I would have moved 13 mattresses! It just happens to be the summer of the mattress! In the farmhouse alone we have moved 6 mattresses this summer. We have a lot of mattresses...plus the new one, which meant a bit of shuffling. In the cottage we moved in a new one, moved the old one to another bed and moved that one to the curb. We also helped friend(s) move 4 mattresses. It was a 13 mattress summer! We are all sleeping very soundly now...from moving so many mattresses! Unfortunately, my back is paying for moving so many mattresses. If it's not one thing, it's another!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aPOaGE4OBU29jCCKZhS5Qwdoh3bKZrVqzQ-gqViW2scMz3RfT4FfnWeqMNp0EfjqiHsceNam6ZLc_0HF9RuKLjFD7Id8Wfi5CYltsEOGPR9CJmD7JyhlErXKhSBUAL4dMhuJZgR72-fJNaMOP5m2S5qVl2fr3-R5bLqjX0bYyKy9bWPLZlYfHO8diQ/s3024/20220811_124441.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aPOaGE4OBU29jCCKZhS5Qwdoh3bKZrVqzQ-gqViW2scMz3RfT4FfnWeqMNp0EfjqiHsceNam6ZLc_0HF9RuKLjFD7Id8Wfi5CYltsEOGPR9CJmD7JyhlErXKhSBUAL4dMhuJZgR72-fJNaMOP5m2S5qVl2fr3-R5bLqjX0bYyKy9bWPLZlYfHO8diQ/w640-h640/20220811_124441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of many this summer.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Back home, at night, we have dinner and then usually watch tv. We used to go out occasionally...pre 2020, then we just stayed home and watched tv or stared at some other screen. Up here, we don't watch tv. We go out! We go out to other cottages and play games or just chat. If we stay home we are busy watching the sunset, which for most of the summer comes late and lasts a long time. Then we sit in the sunroom and talk. Sometimes we play cribbage while watching the sunset. Other nights, I catch up on my social media...because I don't do much of that during the day. I have not watched a show in months! Not complaining either, but don't ask me about anything on Netflix! I don't know. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewgLYZLN5MEY916INvj9WofYJsGQLvnvyeph1C2IPKb5vs6nuGorvbSYBvgZqI-4PVObpOtL7cjXN3HVTDXP1Evvop-xaf6ixQJRoe2is-FPUsj5l-tOyvl6xaV_zDzcLHLY9i5EzRAPEhoRzkQLVlrncq3D7ov3vgx2SopUgjFLylIH8xxuPrCjOKg/s3024/20220829_201400.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewgLYZLN5MEY916INvj9WofYJsGQLvnvyeph1C2IPKb5vs6nuGorvbSYBvgZqI-4PVObpOtL7cjXN3HVTDXP1Evvop-xaf6ixQJRoe2is-FPUsj5l-tOyvl6xaV_zDzcLHLY9i5EzRAPEhoRzkQLVlrncq3D7ov3vgx2SopUgjFLylIH8xxuPrCjOKg/w640-h640/20220829_201400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Netflix North</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>At home, we go out to dinner at least once a week and sometimes more often. In the two and a half months I have been up here, I have eaten dinner at a restaurant three times and had lunch out once. I have however, cooked A LOT! I might cook more at home if I had a huge garden out of my backdoor that produced mass quantities of food. Having so much produce is daunting at times. Dinner usually consists of whatever was picked that day or whatever is giving us an over abundance. Tonight we had stuffed peppers, because we had a lot of peppers! I must say the garden really spoils us, when we go home and bite into produce from the store that is weeks old instead of minutes old we can't help but be very disappointed. We also have dinner at other cottages. Communal eating is very common up here! When our extended families are here, in the busy part of the summer, we ate dinner with our kids and their families every night, as do many other extended families. Once our kids and their kids leave, the cousins pass the baton for cooking and cleaning until everyone has had their turn. This is one of the many things I love this about this place. Maybe I should have lived in a commune. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCQybuwIGniSwcXbQ3v1t6nX0Pe1J3-X5wRcwPaOXYgTrYTzw82wXr4Gcd8ZguvFx79cIPNnTsHMr4HpqUB0s6TkLhuAZMXrq_DeQkQ79ff4UFHSiM2oJMjsDOxz2eDSaqDUvknEVaVukmvIHWGFnaSqoMBMoLvOrqCBzn1EL_DKHxCcNpW3Kw05gjw/s3024/20220825_103749.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCQybuwIGniSwcXbQ3v1t6nX0Pe1J3-X5wRcwPaOXYgTrYTzw82wXr4Gcd8ZguvFx79cIPNnTsHMr4HpqUB0s6TkLhuAZMXrq_DeQkQ79ff4UFHSiM2oJMjsDOxz2eDSaqDUvknEVaVukmvIHWGFnaSqoMBMoLvOrqCBzn1EL_DKHxCcNpW3Kw05gjw/w640-h640/20220825_103749.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>TJ, the great provider, in his happy place!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>When was the last time you had dinner at home and then decided to just drop in on a friend or a neighbor? At 8:30 at night. It happens all the time up here. I love it when people just show up to visit after dinner and I love it when we are welcomed to do the same! I am starting to realize this is mostly a summer phenomena, as the days get shorter and the crowd is dwindling, drop-ins and drop-byes are less frequent. The darkness seems to already be keeping us inside. </p><p>Darkness...let's just consider darkness. Our dark sky allows us to see so many more stars than ever possible at home. Again, instead of tv, the night sky provides me with visual entertainment. I have had a good time experimenting with night photography. Although for every 10 photos I have taken, I have about one keeper, thank goodness for digital photography! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG9wc9k_VvCX9OqgnSGZ2IICdUnUdOKk5xLjR2A9IMVwP90e23ZK6tLmLgZLZI4Fkq4R_cXtLVJL2ulSL3hlPnv5mfC5m-occ_GQ_KPX1p7LpEwaXh5I1GmaUVWRTDC8nwmjZXpHJ35T-e-t9i3dQ3F3pvr9TkZ-Jea83BXkr9r6bAnuo5MUwwL0DKg/s1616/DSC09524.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG9wc9k_VvCX9OqgnSGZ2IICdUnUdOKk5xLjR2A9IMVwP90e23ZK6tLmLgZLZI4Fkq4R_cXtLVJL2ulSL3hlPnv5mfC5m-occ_GQ_KPX1p7LpEwaXh5I1GmaUVWRTDC8nwmjZXpHJ35T-e-t9i3dQ3F3pvr9TkZ-Jea83BXkr9r6bAnuo5MUwwL0DKg/w640-h428/DSC09524.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Billions and billions of stars!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQS_YCHz5wyi1Pf69gCt4KY9ixZdVWsOLpBtVXCAiOGdfpZ8UouA6KoFmwQOW9_1x-nui1q9-M9QqpgVM1JXudsNzOicnM_dGIjq7rAhcHLdvpg2F5Dy6fAjE8yM668kaT5iDuAsgk2_-gp7S2nRY5SK54U6zfZoXa4rDjgTS9YOoHa3pvWUizX3Qwg/s1616/DSC09585.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQS_YCHz5wyi1Pf69gCt4KY9ixZdVWsOLpBtVXCAiOGdfpZ8UouA6KoFmwQOW9_1x-nui1q9-M9QqpgVM1JXudsNzOicnM_dGIjq7rAhcHLdvpg2F5Dy6fAjE8yM668kaT5iDuAsgk2_-gp7S2nRY5SK54U6zfZoXa4rDjgTS9YOoHa3pvWUizX3Qwg/w640-h428/DSC09585.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And that one in a thousand photo!<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>While there is so much I love about this place there is a lot I love and miss back home. About this time every year, I watch the sun set farther and farther to the south and my inner migratory soul tells me it is time to go "home". TJ does not have as strong a pull to home as I do and so he will continue to live his retirement dream and stay a little bit longer. I will enjoy everything I love about this place for one more week and then this bird will fly south. The summer was a real treat! It was full of exactly what we love about summer up here. We were back...and it felt right! There were children who experienced the shore for the first time ever and I think they loved it! To see the love of the shore passed on the yet another generation is heartwarming! Our grandparents passed the love of this place on to our parents and them to us and we have continued the tradition and I sincerely hope some of them are the ones to pass it all on again! <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfObs-Ci_A1iCFFpP_8SobCSdDJ8_FXW6A6akiGc1LlfWW3DKg-gSJU_MlIb0k7uS7pe0EESqyel-yiiWwwJ_meopyWP6eW1K-3k2waW3BOF3LZhV0zY9tpHUPCwatEUIE4htDsT4wnnVBjH87YTEuGsNj5UBlGPTMxenqUIPP4K_HCo8C32FKWLxIw/s3024/20220901_120413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfObs-Ci_A1iCFFpP_8SobCSdDJ8_FXW6A6akiGc1LlfWW3DKg-gSJU_MlIb0k7uS7pe0EESqyel-yiiWwwJ_meopyWP6eW1K-3k2waW3BOF3LZhV0zY9tpHUPCwatEUIE4htDsT4wnnVBjH87YTEuGsNj5UBlGPTMxenqUIPP4K_HCo8C32FKWLxIw/w640-h640/20220901_120413.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I will miss this serene view on my daily walk!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><br /></div><div>With only 3 more days up here and countless tasks to check off the "to do" list before I go, I decided to mindfully enjoy the day as much as possible. I won't be walking along this country road with a view of the water for 9 more months, so I took an extra long walk today and soaked it all in. I won't have those super fresh vegetables for much longer so tonight we had squash, potatoes, peas and tomatoes, all from the garden. I won't have my favorite room in the world, my sunroom, for much longer so every time I sat down today I made sure to do it in here. I wonder if everyone experiences this last melancholy week. My head says to enjoy it for as long as I can but my heart already aches. "Parting is such sweet sorrow", said some famous British chap. How can one enjoy what they have and still feel a bit of sadness? We say goodbye to another summer at the shore. A summer that is now a unique part of history. While it did feel "normal", it wasn't quite there yet. There were still people we missed who couldn't make it up this year for one reason or another. Seems there is always a slightly different crowd every year. This isn't the easiest place to get to, which means everyone can't come every year. Each year is unique in some ways and the same in many ways, which is part of its allure. Au revoir, arrivederci, adios, so long, farewell...until we meet again.</div><div>These are a few of my favorite things....</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dfEEWamV-vQl7qdq-K9Ii59ivcmOkj4JjWqqqnrYsQTRF5Pre35A8f4a_SNe2C9EL2T34cTHY8XoCrDsxri0BVZqhgwOOus3JuQKe-VPCwnr8rFaXZdGAJax4iho_fDMuyBjJGZ9qnYUI8HT53rIZG76ybHAEP0eOKUxa1oN6Wv6he8fdcxR4jtI_g/s1564/IMG_20220913_211321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dfEEWamV-vQl7qdq-K9Ii59ivcmOkj4JjWqqqnrYsQTRF5Pre35A8f4a_SNe2C9EL2T34cTHY8XoCrDsxri0BVZqhgwOOus3JuQKe-VPCwnr8rFaXZdGAJax4iho_fDMuyBjJGZ9qnYUI8HT53rIZG76ybHAEP0eOKUxa1oN6Wv6he8fdcxR4jtI_g/w640-h640/IMG_20220913_211321.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Goodbye fresh bounty!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjZPX2q5vZ1y5isb1fYITUooHinGeY50klcC3eDSFycvaXQdw9cmDPiEQEGZLYTLbgEFzRvFZp__9ectgUY9pZ7Bd1ZbBQJOp67tiLqGTYZhxKstuce1b2PQXLaRqzBQgTKQRjS4AK2iFzfW3RYaKQpJYrcOaCKjbq-0Yr81N18cz5FB6RIOZ2_VYeg/s3024/20220911_133705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjZPX2q5vZ1y5isb1fYITUooHinGeY50klcC3eDSFycvaXQdw9cmDPiEQEGZLYTLbgEFzRvFZp__9ectgUY9pZ7Bd1ZbBQJOp67tiLqGTYZhxKstuce1b2PQXLaRqzBQgTKQRjS4AK2iFzfW3RYaKQpJYrcOaCKjbq-0Yr81N18cz5FB6RIOZ2_VYeg/w640-h640/20220911_133705.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Goodbye beautiful flower boxes</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RcMChuxWaG1RBMVtzPQozjlM3HkdH5PYG8xg7rQkKFAhLGhnH5GY78FF9J-N9_E5FMVPqTyUTDlK_U821aepA1kbw4BIH8BUi0qRwGGCTWF8VJiNJyVRBuInCdvqsznEZwDbvYezpL4_DNpca-I-3XaXVooeVFBb7rg9AbYuLp2sQuMqrE5gwsr1Tg/s3024/20220911_104049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RcMChuxWaG1RBMVtzPQozjlM3HkdH5PYG8xg7rQkKFAhLGhnH5GY78FF9J-N9_E5FMVPqTyUTDlK_U821aepA1kbw4BIH8BUi0qRwGGCTWF8VJiNJyVRBuInCdvqsznEZwDbvYezpL4_DNpca-I-3XaXVooeVFBb7rg9AbYuLp2sQuMqrE5gwsr1Tg/w640-h640/20220911_104049.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Goodbye scenic drive from Pugwash</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RcMChuxWaG1RBMVtzPQozjlM3HkdH5PYG8xg7rQkKFAhLGhnH5GY78FF9J-N9_E5FMVPqTyUTDlK_U821aepA1kbw4BIH8BUi0qRwGGCTWF8VJiNJyVRBuInCdvqsznEZwDbvYezpL4_DNpca-I-3XaXVooeVFBb7rg9AbYuLp2sQuMqrE5gwsr1Tg/s3024/20220911_104049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lAuWGujy_zsIQItgv6BPqDqlUhohA3lyjKXHsmgZqYed8_wjjoGVqVo8AEGni9OaflWyLPzhZIciutRkChoZ_JxPHisNMdgq428WGLamEyE-bLCYutiI9RPOteBmsKOyks6pS_Ar4IL5OYG9iIkFWttsiJD91P0uCnWw2tX2feRyR5eYGi1dzRmQ0g/s320/DSC09415.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">Goodbye cousins!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAROYAM51CCF41LuGJ1W6i0sxBE32cLT3KHybcBHJBQP9nNKZwvtYJgHUa6e5lr_rwqds0IXtFGS4EUuN673hnWIgsqxmMJLB2r22mMLuXi7O6nBNcgg85m1CvYU8eFw5ES-raw7-OxqpqGhpjRVwAc-rrApafGGHk-6IO5FbH4do7TYPSMtp5aOy-Yg/s3024/20220907_142437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAROYAM51CCF41LuGJ1W6i0sxBE32cLT3KHybcBHJBQP9nNKZwvtYJgHUa6e5lr_rwqds0IXtFGS4EUuN673hnWIgsqxmMJLB2r22mMLuXi7O6nBNcgg85m1CvYU8eFw5ES-raw7-OxqpqGhpjRVwAc-rrApafGGHk-6IO5FbH4do7TYPSMtp5aOy-Yg/w640-h640/20220907_142437.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Goodbye sandbar walks</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPJf_q4If3qDVl1AuNgAKxPKkgnpvqubTgUZ5M95gGPS0cRxJhTFEKoiWLji-CMmd9op8hLqLG5dVv1Zh8z7aBZcFMc0Wb0Hbz7r175ArDfiVNPj5r07OMMLEY7HKczsYBH-YMpMWzAI3lt6vyNa8JaPJVQysgNC6qKn6bouXAy6yOIXx-hiZydslhQ/s3024/20220903_102706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPJf_q4If3qDVl1AuNgAKxPKkgnpvqubTgUZ5M95gGPS0cRxJhTFEKoiWLji-CMmd9op8hLqLG5dVv1Zh8z7aBZcFMc0Wb0Hbz7r175ArDfiVNPj5r07OMMLEY7HKczsYBH-YMpMWzAI3lt6vyNa8JaPJVQysgNC6qKn6bouXAy6yOIXx-hiZydslhQ/w640-h640/20220903_102706.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Goodbye perfect beach days</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_JC49qeqaQcnl3Wr2zLLb2r3fw9UDZYjsEoxytWye0SdKI-oXWvxTIjy-EBWdrclXjyeBRm98AsvehbILdlMwzChKZ576TzvB-QWMjcM-taGueQ9r3qKPzFSooDjO3Zy2K-EujcRwZCMj0dRK6IlrgkA99uCufPXKp8y7KW_S8kVxW2s6qYjq0KA7A/s3024/20220830_133043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_JC49qeqaQcnl3Wr2zLLb2r3fw9UDZYjsEoxytWye0SdKI-oXWvxTIjy-EBWdrclXjyeBRm98AsvehbILdlMwzChKZ576TzvB-QWMjcM-taGueQ9r3qKPzFSooDjO3Zy2K-EujcRwZCMj0dRK6IlrgkA99uCufPXKp8y7KW_S8kVxW2s6qYjq0KA7A/w640-h640/20220830_133043.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Goodbye farmhouse</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVJFsngaumzfxCfnHBuwW023EMiJeKotjl819wi9jhqcw_vr88nzKYRPkrGPonLxYJqnM2utauXkemBocDqd8Ma_y8Hnsvk-6fXSnDo4xnmmICvpgez0YvZHz10dBw-tcqoDQa71HvyDCzlHKW9oY-lNkgBxSzzSafHI-pudUEe3Jxka_Whpf6Z6sSw/s3024/20220815_122355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVJFsngaumzfxCfnHBuwW023EMiJeKotjl819wi9jhqcw_vr88nzKYRPkrGPonLxYJqnM2utauXkemBocDqd8Ma_y8Hnsvk-6fXSnDo4xnmmICvpgez0YvZHz10dBw-tcqoDQa71HvyDCzlHKW9oY-lNkgBxSzzSafHI-pudUEe3Jxka_Whpf6Z6sSw/w640-h640/20220815_122355.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Goodbye Canada</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-71378217040595797762022-08-25T10:23:00.002-05:002022-08-25T17:28:08.909-05:00And Just Like That<p> The last time I slept in my house alone was on June 17th. Since then my life, and house, have been filled with one and then 3 more and then 3 more and then one more and then 3 more, until dinner on August 2nd, when we had all four kids and 5/6 grandchildren at the dinner table! The hoops that had to be jumped through for this happen were not insignificant. Turns out this is not an easy place to get to, especially this summer. Beginning on August 3rd, the house started to empty slowly and steadily until a couple of weeks ago, when TJ headed to Cape Breton and I was alone in my own house for the first time in 7 1/2 weeks. This may not seem like a big deal to many of you, but as one tired but happy Gigi, Mom and wife...I embraced this time. My battery needed some serious recharging. </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzX_On4srY7NXmMGTy8Gidylhu7eNrUr9QGuNdHA4UKXo4TZUM7-4FqwFOMJKRq0GoDIWQEW6Pf8Bwhw26Vn6RKxwLo_bvHFEFAxVyGngRUfOL9cDnXACUuz40B5qUiQfHdDhweYzHpFO9Yl0IDPn5HtVxPQBBU5fZGcScpE3vJiAdnY7Kr7gtHTVww/s2649/20220802_200224.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="2649" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzX_On4srY7NXmMGTy8Gidylhu7eNrUr9QGuNdHA4UKXo4TZUM7-4FqwFOMJKRq0GoDIWQEW6Pf8Bwhw26Vn6RKxwLo_bvHFEFAxVyGngRUfOL9cDnXACUuz40B5qUiQfHdDhweYzHpFO9Yl0IDPn5HtVxPQBBU5fZGcScpE3vJiAdnY7Kr7gtHTVww/w640-h588/20220802_200224.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The first time in 5 years all 4 kids have been at the shore...at the same time.<br />It was a brief overlap, but it happened!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Seems a theme of the summer, for my peer group, has been living life as a member of the "sandwich generation". Many of us still have living parents, some were here this summer, but lately fewer and fewer are able to make the trip. While I am not the caretaker of my mother, I do think about her daily and there is that constant concern...albeit from afar. Many of my peer group have much closer and "hands on" experiences with their parents. We also have grown kids who are married and now have families of their own. One of the reasons we shared this special place with our families is that we hoped some day they too would share it with their children. And now they have! What this translates into as far as shore life is we find ourselves being pulled in many directions. As if shore life didn't offer enough directions to be pulled in already!</p><p>One of the results of having our families here though is that for part of the summer, we are busier than a person should be...on vacation. Of course, at this point, those of us who spend months up here can hardly be considered "on vacation". We are just living life in a different location. (more on that subject in a later post) In the early weeks, we spend time with our friends and relatives for dinner and sit on the beach or porches at night and enjoy the quiet easy life. Once our families arrive, we all retreat to our own family vortexes. Our time is spent enjoying the days and nights with our kids and grandchildren. There just aren't enough hours in the day or energy to venture too far from the immediate family, especially when you only get to be with your immediate family two or three times a year! These are precious moments! Still, I can't help but want to hang out with everyone on the beach! We do have fleeting moments spent catching up with various people along the beach, but really when family is here, we are doing family time, as are all the other families.</p><p>So, when I found myself in my house, alone, with all the time I needed or wanted to go and make those outside connections, I retreated inside for a day or two instead. I just needed to let the dust settle (sweep it all up) and first connect with myself before I connected with anyone else. Transitions. Sometimes they take a day or two. Now we are back to the slower, steadier, part of the summer where hanging out with my cousins and our shore friends is routine. The summer definitely has several stages, as I have said before.</p><p>Lately, with the sun moving slowly across the horizon and the days getting noticeably shorter I find myself wondering how it all went by so fast! I am overwhelmingly thankful for the gift of being able to spend months up here again after one year away and last year only being here for a comparatively short time. It feels like "normal"! I have been able to see the many colors of the wildflowers from the purples and pinks of the lupins in June, to the hot pink flames of the fireweed in July to the white Queen Anne's Lace and now the yellow ragweed and gold wheat fields. Summer is brief and glorious up here! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiQ2X7x8qJ6xt7kcrNZ88UNzF6peTHwGhtWVYo6oAO5sURApftOQ_p7hU1njRi1BDxAIf1UwOGDbEZrClFu2ARCnJMTzna43e41LYtRq-W_ft_stCows_LDPReioJXjMzC75stbTgQ71K9UN8Ysz3hx9_z4OF2UGN6yLuMGa_2OzHa8f3J_zylwF4vA/s3024/20220621_122051.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiQ2X7x8qJ6xt7kcrNZ88UNzF6peTHwGhtWVYo6oAO5sURApftOQ_p7hU1njRi1BDxAIf1UwOGDbEZrClFu2ARCnJMTzna43e41LYtRq-W_ft_stCows_LDPReioJXjMzC75stbTgQ71K9UN8Ysz3hx9_z4OF2UGN6yLuMGa_2OzHa8f3J_zylwF4vA/w400-h400/20220621_122051.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>June</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsGFp_hrwaeLAcyRa6G8Ypv_dmh7hR6COcH_hGTdylm1tXHkR1dYU0HXpB4bCnBw9tHmzKeo_POAriQ2stRHgq4srSS-XGwWNxYvO7QmAANQTIWF52vF1wG4Irm4-iGXJaRSOFwASnZVTM9usbA4jhKIMN-f9O4LTGXqTUwuYHWFTfDjhhMlwMRkABA/s3024/20220804_204829.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsGFp_hrwaeLAcyRa6G8Ypv_dmh7hR6COcH_hGTdylm1tXHkR1dYU0HXpB4bCnBw9tHmzKeo_POAriQ2stRHgq4srSS-XGwWNxYvO7QmAANQTIWF52vF1wG4Irm4-iGXJaRSOFwASnZVTM9usbA4jhKIMN-f9O4LTGXqTUwuYHWFTfDjhhMlwMRkABA/w400-h400/20220804_204829.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>July into August</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiosm56L4l32fyA0sb1P77IGIsduBR25vDxVa6w5xonWhBWA6gVNWMQY4qpbr56klggxeH6yn85rM4bXJhWJivjGg8Hf5mWWthy_EHdu5deEyMU7IefZzJVNcgZhzloORfNxqN1QiYhBY_uAtzevqaSAYBCWZqLfriYu54ruVWejWia29XL_GQyDpNw/s3024/20220718_103615.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiosm56L4l32fyA0sb1P77IGIsduBR25vDxVa6w5xonWhBWA6gVNWMQY4qpbr56klggxeH6yn85rM4bXJhWJivjGg8Hf5mWWthy_EHdu5deEyMU7IefZzJVNcgZhzloORfNxqN1QiYhBY_uAtzevqaSAYBCWZqLfriYu54ruVWejWia29XL_GQyDpNw/w400-h400/20220718_103615.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>July</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUX7eXdbDUWjvtQwfQ4YdhoOekTVLsrBQPrjlbyZYJ8ERKxajwapwuQZfXM51TepVYv-HDR4Ca_QL7rhnfUeaPgyHd1NL7DgQ54S6Q2WUcJQDwRtCkcz3pcSAu08fdX_sksqwQX8we0Mj4e4W2wuhEpz-OQ0qO14HnZc7OZO18KM2nXyiW6pq5_pIlug/s3024/20220813_123933.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUX7eXdbDUWjvtQwfQ4YdhoOekTVLsrBQPrjlbyZYJ8ERKxajwapwuQZfXM51TepVYv-HDR4Ca_QL7rhnfUeaPgyHd1NL7DgQ54S6Q2WUcJQDwRtCkcz3pcSAu08fdX_sksqwQX8we0Mj4e4W2wuhEpz-OQ0qO14HnZc7OZO18KM2nXyiW6pq5_pIlug/w400-h400/20220813_123933.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>August</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWW86YA1H2le1eK--1g8WUqmqPTupnJmfs3stLPTb2KhNCPxaXZHSjP50c43i0fiXuc4mdnm3l16OF1KZe5V0nIIVNBaV3W0_HhCh4uteDCuJHK9jSCB7nqKHJvAEEqRcYW-NY-7WDVIuhkJlglhM7-WU2NvoBeiOoJX_PNAu9Lg4y_pCvaF6zlYTJZg/s3024/20220813_124652.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWW86YA1H2le1eK--1g8WUqmqPTupnJmfs3stLPTb2KhNCPxaXZHSjP50c43i0fiXuc4mdnm3l16OF1KZe5V0nIIVNBaV3W0_HhCh4uteDCuJHK9jSCB7nqKHJvAEEqRcYW-NY-7WDVIuhkJlglhM7-WU2NvoBeiOoJX_PNAu9Lg4y_pCvaF6zlYTJZg/w400-h400/20220813_124652.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>August...a hint of fall is in the air by now.<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The pattern of life at the shore follows the seasons. Early summer when nature is still waking up, the population gradually grows as well. Once July hits and summer is in full bloom, the sun shines from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. the shore crowd grows to maximum capacity and life is crammed full. In August, as the sun moves slowly across the horizon and daylight hours begin to shorten, people start to go back home to their real lives and the beach crowd gets older...because all the families with kids have to leave for school. I have missed this visible transition over the last couple of years. Seasons don't change as dramatically in the south. Life mimicking nature makes me feel very connected...possibly one of the things I love the most about this place. <div><br /></div><div>I still have high hopes of writing more, once I find myself with hours of time to spare. Fat chance! The ideas are there, plenty of photos to back up those ideas too. Inevitably doing other things and actually living the life I write about takes priority. There will be time...someday. For now I will just keep enjoying nature and watching the colors change.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDCggIrM99q0t8TKxON1czi3CeBN3KWuLIf2t8lGt-LGSX_uAlFmGCnDjhyu6lDmOxzrprXTjlztPJqHKyunuPakjggHTLT0fczeOyxKoJfN8XeMlzmcjLxEp9Dv2HnQ09JSlYEuPvT88tQzUoTRnReoHG0cirTWEyEq80DATLsLfmW03sp793_Rcfw/s3024/20220621_210916.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDCggIrM99q0t8TKxON1czi3CeBN3KWuLIf2t8lGt-LGSX_uAlFmGCnDjhyu6lDmOxzrprXTjlztPJqHKyunuPakjggHTLT0fczeOyxKoJfN8XeMlzmcjLxEp9Dv2HnQ09JSlYEuPvT88tQzUoTRnReoHG0cirTWEyEq80DATLsLfmW03sp793_Rcfw/w640-h640/20220621_210916.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>June 2022<br />About as far over the water as we get to see.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj1UkM3VjxIx3Fu-6X_cSe9TmPjG2vf12GhTgGPGZJ8VNUk_e1-efWLzc_Q1kWLsrlzjiBHOR4V2REMgphZjxVnmV4-PJ3fZ3qyC2vC3P-kiQIcLwVqeUp0oBuem3C4HZQ-pxF8HySST72akrSp_CAelSbGBSXAV8UesgR5w1cYTN7qOXpExYtcmueA/s3024/20220727_205410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj1UkM3VjxIx3Fu-6X_cSe9TmPjG2vf12GhTgGPGZJ8VNUk_e1-efWLzc_Q1kWLsrlzjiBHOR4V2REMgphZjxVnmV4-PJ3fZ3qyC2vC3P-kiQIcLwVqeUp0oBuem3C4HZQ-pxF8HySST72akrSp_CAelSbGBSXAV8UesgR5w1cYTN7qOXpExYtcmueA/w640-h640/20220727_205410.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>July 2022, the sun is making its move to the left over the land.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSIa5T0DHS7A413ceOy71IC4vNPp5kFK5xrnzdiEiY6LGs0XALLPxEzBz5GZDu2JVeAijngW4y8d9VgL39XXGfqDmn5CHzliPHK0agU50x-HjpL7dBYiGkyh9WRTW3KInq9H0qHJYvkAtVceUaqqKXkkppx46d3-LVoVD_MkyeXeJrO6pjkzEEmewdg/s3024/20220815_201904.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSIa5T0DHS7A413ceOy71IC4vNPp5kFK5xrnzdiEiY6LGs0XALLPxEzBz5GZDu2JVeAijngW4y8d9VgL39XXGfqDmn5CHzliPHK0agU50x-HjpL7dBYiGkyh9WRTW3KInq9H0qHJYvkAtVceUaqqKXkkppx46d3-LVoVD_MkyeXeJrO6pjkzEEmewdg/w640-h640/20220815_201904.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>August 2022<br />Moving farther and farther along the horizon....<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>One more sign of time marching on.....the garden!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4dV9WXxGOu66BfXrbnGt9T-yrdxwhXNwnJ3ExItkUQfbnVRa84Sx9Tcsltly7raPeUQ3N4Puq3KeX2ogRnfkd56qF3sC6INA-Q16zE-FoFT4pjLfmshg-Y_Srs8YffZI4egyyW5DEGyb0zS9URxgJ3ZTYtBb8G5kTnTaxx6iyJ-qNlN3Ed4TPlBfqw/s1616/DSC09021.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4dV9WXxGOu66BfXrbnGt9T-yrdxwhXNwnJ3ExItkUQfbnVRa84Sx9Tcsltly7raPeUQ3N4Puq3KeX2ogRnfkd56qF3sC6INA-Q16zE-FoFT4pjLfmshg-Y_Srs8YffZI4egyyW5DEGyb0zS9URxgJ3ZTYtBb8G5kTnTaxx6iyJ-qNlN3Ed4TPlBfqw/w640-h428/DSC09021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>June 2022 garden of possibilities</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKOQjhSnify1FJl9dQqGx07qYqKbKH2eJ_jujLtDMF3BAw34zpB63Fyg4HOzY3JtRs-7rlXzWMT1lR3iIRz8zpWB-h1GhYZoZfuWMEUCceZ1k6KX6dxI19NCYx3fiw6HXYAkFwp6zftcRZ53B4Ua2skY5A0ldo1FZTNc3NP8JLyvfyZDt2hQ9nkfwEQ/s3024/20220728_115453.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKOQjhSnify1FJl9dQqGx07qYqKbKH2eJ_jujLtDMF3BAw34zpB63Fyg4HOzY3JtRs-7rlXzWMT1lR3iIRz8zpWB-h1GhYZoZfuWMEUCceZ1k6KX6dxI19NCYx3fiw6HXYAkFwp6zftcRZ53B4Ua2skY5A0ldo1FZTNc3NP8JLyvfyZDt2hQ9nkfwEQ/w640-h640/20220728_115453.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>July garden is starting to pop</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLcI2L_OPkc_lXxTdcxJkgWUcPh0iWEXhQPYfe_4nuTxeKL_80_TAf3tw4Jt895qqkyE3FGW32nRxd4w3r9y4b8_Pr_MizhfMlDas5btTZ6nEVv7ukPJBnvcAV4Jso1DWfCPau7XiMAja23QBmymhV4QPEfwSt0s7SbjyBcBgy3HD1tM3qpnvBhmuLg/s3024/20220825_103807.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLcI2L_OPkc_lXxTdcxJkgWUcPh0iWEXhQPYfe_4nuTxeKL_80_TAf3tw4Jt895qqkyE3FGW32nRxd4w3r9y4b8_Pr_MizhfMlDas5btTZ6nEVv7ukPJBnvcAV4Jso1DWfCPau7XiMAja23QBmymhV4QPEfwSt0s7SbjyBcBgy3HD1tM3qpnvBhmuLg/w640-h640/20220825_103807.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>August garden! We need more people to help eat!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AJ0ZCxrAxUOt4UOx2q08D31jtFj9P-zZ1He5SKyhMVb_sLMEGSOcCI0F6A8Sz6NHWg73LvMHrXcEbhG5fSJvmQqW77qHUfYlSlDQliVlaVkQaqeNDMw4-AaWD0bp_nEUdx7M23OzLArv5WfecZizYKx3VkamOal86nS8VZjq7sooASgGJiQpflmLJg/s3024/20220823_112020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AJ0ZCxrAxUOt4UOx2q08D31jtFj9P-zZ1He5SKyhMVb_sLMEGSOcCI0F6A8Sz6NHWg73LvMHrXcEbhG5fSJvmQqW77qHUfYlSlDQliVlaVkQaqeNDMw4-AaWD0bp_nEUdx7M23OzLArv5WfecZizYKx3VkamOal86nS8VZjq7sooASgGJiQpflmLJg/w400-h400/20220823_112020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I just love this!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>And just like that, only 3 more weeks left up here. It happens every time! Enjoy these final few days of summer, we certainly will!</div><div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-34036594250243004042022-07-24T19:39:00.002-05:002022-07-24T19:39:50.616-05:00The Better Part<p>A little Sunday reflection from last week for everyone. </p><p>It happened again! Last night I went to bed very tired and expected to fall right to sleep. It had been a beautiful day here at the shore. As it happens somedays, I crammed a bit too much into the day and had a moment of exhaustion made worse by hunger and this combination may or may not have resulted in a less than hospitable environment. Like I said, I went to bed expecting to fall right to sleep but my brain had too much to process and would not allow it. I ran through every possible issue, solution, situation, scenario, expectation, emotion...real and perceived and came up with no answers, only more questions. I tried everything to try to fall asleep and quiet the gerbil in my brain. I tried praying, I tried meditating, I tried tossing and turning, I tried and tried to turn it off with no success. This is not unfamiliar territory at this point in the summer at the shore. I seem to have difficulty combining the things I think I should do with the things I want to do and this results in me not sleeping because I am convinced there is a way to have my cake and eat it too, because in my mind everyone else is doing this with ease. </p><p>After my restless night we went to church this morning. As I walked into the church I suddenly thought to myself, "I bet this is the Martha and Mary Sunday". The minute the priest started talking I knew I was right. The gospel was indeed about <a href="https://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2012/03/art-of-being.html">Martha and Mary</a>. After seriously considering not going to church and just catching up on my sleep, I knew there was a reason I was there. It was like every word spoken was an answer to my prayer. The perspective I was missing. The calm for my soul. This reading has meant different things to me at different times in my life, as I am sure it has to many people. There were times in my life that were far more carefree and there was not as much "stuff that needed to be done" to keep me from what I thought was the better part. Then there were the years when the "stuff that needed to be done" was overwhelming and I became resentful that others were not helping and were all enjoying the better part...in my mind's eye. There is a fine line between doing what needs to be done and enjoying the better part. The better part, in the reading, is quiet time spend in reflection with God. There were times I mistakenly figured the better part was just sitting around in conversation having a good time, which I am always up for! But today, it hit me that the better part may be those quiet moments that feed us and give us the bandwidth, so to speak, to find that balance between the things we ought to do and the things we want to do. </p><p>Life at the shore always perplexes me. I so much want to do it all! I want to work around the farmhouse and fix it up and enjoy the yard and share it with everyone. I also want to take walks, sit on the beach, read books, visit with every single person within a 3 mile radius, share meals with friends and family. I want quiet time to "just be"....and social time with laughter and/or thoughtful conversations. Inevitably, I struggle with finding the time to take care of the need for clean clothes, a clean house and cooked meals and the want of social time spent on the beach, the golf course or with friends and family at night. Maybe the answer is in the better part which can provide the balance and perspective I really need to enjoy all parts of life here and maybe even help me sleep at night.</p><p>And for your viewing enjoyment, a few photos from the week of trying to embrace the better part!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSTJXsYwx2K_bjc3UtmZHrXQCJkzcdMEeefeAr4uHIELhiHU274mAKRYZhL5h_PJGBiEbJp3b2HcBTcrngZ9Y1qvYYdB1NkKdC6ndasZtlEK2pqHrx_dcKwnT7r5MqS3p_m9HK9D5zeTA8uBxafEg482WMa1mpJ-qBDWqAwAuJ3gyhuZnUx0pyJv1Ng/s3024/20220718_093134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSTJXsYwx2K_bjc3UtmZHrXQCJkzcdMEeefeAr4uHIELhiHU274mAKRYZhL5h_PJGBiEbJp3b2HcBTcrngZ9Y1qvYYdB1NkKdC6ndasZtlEK2pqHrx_dcKwnT7r5MqS3p_m9HK9D5zeTA8uBxafEg482WMa1mpJ-qBDWqAwAuJ3gyhuZnUx0pyJv1Ng/w400-h400/20220718_093134.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What happens when you tell Augie we are going in the truck...<br />wasting no time!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QBrVXISHP7Ra2xcKffvGpjJjj3aW_FYIwkLfa3mh5oCPlXE_UNrPEEZmnS-zE6gP5lwfZfWOgKnWzq7YWN_Sc3vJf8xyjs8iqrMjreFdSMPi9Eb4OM42-Vbbpw6ceBlMnizpQa8rggvNgALLGHuTikKnvA2WYf5FfSAiICCmdySxEAC0io2MEot4hA/s3024/20220718_201832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QBrVXISHP7Ra2xcKffvGpjJjj3aW_FYIwkLfa3mh5oCPlXE_UNrPEEZmnS-zE6gP5lwfZfWOgKnWzq7YWN_Sc3vJf8xyjs8iqrMjreFdSMPi9Eb4OM42-Vbbpw6ceBlMnizpQa8rggvNgALLGHuTikKnvA2WYf5FfSAiICCmdySxEAC0io2MEot4hA/w400-h400/20220718_201832.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Paella by chef Chris!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFQY4L0WkT3Rb2OQfOMDGsnRwPLypu_KfpkFTyFP-109iMROEnJIe17LeY-8tv7bDVTksoReFY027ZA9M35HTKu8OEWfp0DX_uF3PwAhzw9uNS3QRUZ7KedxwmuhVV5X6UnVU3EnO-UDtiTNDQgg-qD4UtAYqmYtcR5FyiA-g_MUcaCpcaNBK5Bh3tw/s3024/20220720_083917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFQY4L0WkT3Rb2OQfOMDGsnRwPLypu_KfpkFTyFP-109iMROEnJIe17LeY-8tv7bDVTksoReFY027ZA9M35HTKu8OEWfp0DX_uF3PwAhzw9uNS3QRUZ7KedxwmuhVV5X6UnVU3EnO-UDtiTNDQgg-qD4UtAYqmYtcR5FyiA-g_MUcaCpcaNBK5Bh3tw/w400-h400/20220720_083917.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Morning quiet time and sunlit tomatoes</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbYz9g3VZZdmyYNtjNhrZNYXJAvneIICJ4sM_wozBdMmRGfZBurmzQwbYXZ2kADbhyRAQ5EY1GyFmW3vxeZEd3n5yY6DRDqwSwn1fjr8xfoF1NqBU_1XW2xiB0Y09E0fHqoq4Nj8ZTWm4a_D8a_ne17JbvNX_nuUEZJkwBiSR_fyQCOky2IAF5q4QsA/s3024/20220720_174951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbYz9g3VZZdmyYNtjNhrZNYXJAvneIICJ4sM_wozBdMmRGfZBurmzQwbYXZ2kADbhyRAQ5EY1GyFmW3vxeZEd3n5yY6DRDqwSwn1fjr8xfoF1NqBU_1XW2xiB0Y09E0fHqoq4Nj8ZTWm4a_D8a_ne17JbvNX_nuUEZJkwBiSR_fyQCOky2IAF5q4QsA/w400-h400/20220720_174951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One super happy mom with her water baby!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eOPSE00gGgOmo8qboXubXOqlO324uxB7Z7AmxYdO0CVeKbg7wcINS1UAC5FgcWwI0IfD-bH8g4gy3MkgxklqFp8-KSFelI1esfwiOqCgbDRuSfyJaBHgk9RMV1vXFi4X-e3Y1ae9w7_z_bCektfYykdvFpf2VTxmEpL5EDIfgx1WRMjl2ijgigUQDg/s1616/DSC09177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eOPSE00gGgOmo8qboXubXOqlO324uxB7Z7AmxYdO0CVeKbg7wcINS1UAC5FgcWwI0IfD-bH8g4gy3MkgxklqFp8-KSFelI1esfwiOqCgbDRuSfyJaBHgk9RMV1vXFi4X-e3Y1ae9w7_z_bCektfYykdvFpf2VTxmEpL5EDIfgx1WRMjl2ijgigUQDg/w400-h268/DSC09177.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Augie really loves his storage tub bathtub!<br />Necessity is the mother of invention!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLN-Qf75HWQ1euD6u_a3yMJHg7j97du_8FVgg2a1jcRkLvXdDSXZL0fPVpBGbCUNTqltz5XuNFAGOmFzT7XdytiWss3ef5qRvgg9a5f7deXS3Z_Dpl6DcKlmafZltzEJtLHU9ud9UuWrj9bdtVnFo-pIcPIu3UTsUd0JqksNQhn1GqMzO3WZUEjVA1A/s1616/DSC09180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLN-Qf75HWQ1euD6u_a3yMJHg7j97du_8FVgg2a1jcRkLvXdDSXZL0fPVpBGbCUNTqltz5XuNFAGOmFzT7XdytiWss3ef5qRvgg9a5f7deXS3Z_Dpl6DcKlmafZltzEJtLHU9ud9UuWrj9bdtVnFo-pIcPIu3UTsUd0JqksNQhn1GqMzO3WZUEjVA1A/w400-h268/DSC09180.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sheer joy!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWQkbsilmZl-5cbwl8pH_VBv_9QqmemDz2ObGEC2GWZpUZRMCqCPkxGGQ_5rjRse4nMYavLLamidVx6BD1_Ls1bhtaliiz4k_sUh77grkDmz3j9HOCRvvpkdTTj-lkdOhS3ZXVxoKW2YEBIe-J56Wha2wScqeygIIMwBnu75PxDxrSEmdGxB_PEktuA/s3024/20220721_102938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWQkbsilmZl-5cbwl8pH_VBv_9QqmemDz2ObGEC2GWZpUZRMCqCPkxGGQ_5rjRse4nMYavLLamidVx6BD1_Ls1bhtaliiz4k_sUh77grkDmz3j9HOCRvvpkdTTj-lkdOhS3ZXVxoKW2YEBIe-J56Wha2wScqeygIIMwBnu75PxDxrSEmdGxB_PEktuA/w400-h400/20220721_102938.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Picked some lettuce!!!<br />Yes, it is delicious!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRitQ7dzIuWdnYszLIjLIASC7Byyzlh-9oYHAuZ4dpVv-bBGXnjlsFSwUYCs2mr3nJ2OqMNmy9TLhwOZtOLSx0uehhZgzSnbDGrS3UIN3vibzFRf0k6JxPcHLQsIhEi6E39HBuLMntuizAzspYZmgsQSkiY0-Ib4OFQrnyfACef0ME0v_nS8yEzxqADA/s3024/20220722_180101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRitQ7dzIuWdnYszLIjLIASC7Byyzlh-9oYHAuZ4dpVv-bBGXnjlsFSwUYCs2mr3nJ2OqMNmy9TLhwOZtOLSx0uehhZgzSnbDGrS3UIN3vibzFRf0k6JxPcHLQsIhEi6E39HBuLMntuizAzspYZmgsQSkiY0-Ib4OFQrnyfACef0ME0v_nS8yEzxqADA/w400-h400/20220722_180101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Built a rocking chair and have enjoyed several evenings rocking on the deck.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxNFQvjO-IVyJDXC0Cc_dqmYIvL-ugo5sdHBu2tY7F61jldQI5H1pXkKBdwTlecJN10mduJYg4q2ocAigzB0mOnFisx2PPxIn6xIYevso1DyW75R4t2-SG8h_9GagClSM_mRQOXKjbU05wu8JNAn9sMhl_IVViEtKFcPVRdKJ4TjHnvJxfUGsrU5tIg/s3024/20220722_204922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxNFQvjO-IVyJDXC0Cc_dqmYIvL-ugo5sdHBu2tY7F61jldQI5H1pXkKBdwTlecJN10mduJYg4q2ocAigzB0mOnFisx2PPxIn6xIYevso1DyW75R4t2-SG8h_9GagClSM_mRQOXKjbU05wu8JNAn9sMhl_IVViEtKFcPVRdKJ4TjHnvJxfUGsrU5tIg/w400-h400/20220722_204922.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just love the clothes on the line after a day on the beach!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rs-nI4nIWws5woau4X49ldunR-CRReS3eWoc_JNJGxI1azk0aCSzmUVGFzqUdZb5WkkFWKdmpGO7__TNsW6QiApA0gbsVb5ldU3_0ilZdyn5wB-K_hWt-GtQhfRVkhpxsj7py7ayuV7dF8YyLiwcFZ9uahgqfi4Xn1uuaXvrpPRTM2OLP1-nlJgl8A/s3024/20220723_103543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rs-nI4nIWws5woau4X49ldunR-CRReS3eWoc_JNJGxI1azk0aCSzmUVGFzqUdZb5WkkFWKdmpGO7__TNsW6QiApA0gbsVb5ldU3_0ilZdyn5wB-K_hWt-GtQhfRVkhpxsj7py7ayuV7dF8YyLiwcFZ9uahgqfi4Xn1uuaXvrpPRTM2OLP1-nlJgl8A/w400-h400/20220723_103543.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Farmer's Market side trip bonus!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V87NW-kU-TUUU_dbn7fRaz6cGGL1GG6SucCrhfOLjH0d1tChm10WZ22Ia79T1IfgwfZUxBxmKgSW8I-y3aLy_uskI815YghkgJtRk7QBlBLh0D_9WhgGzSqAAte-l3m_xRtKl3s_OUH-inukFcgAhzeQMaJi2EqFf1MSjYdWkkTT24k4zwMf5PPDNw/s3024/20220724_094458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V87NW-kU-TUUU_dbn7fRaz6cGGL1GG6SucCrhfOLjH0d1tChm10WZ22Ia79T1IfgwfZUxBxmKgSW8I-y3aLy_uskI815YghkgJtRk7QBlBLh0D_9WhgGzSqAAte-l3m_xRtKl3s_OUH-inukFcgAhzeQMaJi2EqFf1MSjYdWkkTT24k4zwMf5PPDNw/w400-h400/20220724_094458.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>More grandchildren arrive and the water games continue.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2ZYs10deLSEP7hi4zRxMUGt2ObEBDDtTI1OV5N42mrUGzwKWjaPW_Z8f6sM4GMhLQNsVwdSdYpfgIQPM2VR2SrkMFxBJi7RQziLLQsYaAKCXos66OQz5IvQ9Hv17ZkSzx8sWhUWIgyzVWJtB3Ljot-Qqjz8Q4ee39f387IRZKuHHItRePyKuahb9MQ/s3024/20220724_095317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2ZYs10deLSEP7hi4zRxMUGt2ObEBDDtTI1OV5N42mrUGzwKWjaPW_Z8f6sM4GMhLQNsVwdSdYpfgIQPM2VR2SrkMFxBJi7RQziLLQsYaAKCXos66OQz5IvQ9Hv17ZkSzx8sWhUWIgyzVWJtB3Ljot-Qqjz8Q4ee39f387IRZKuHHItRePyKuahb9MQ/w400-h400/20220724_095317.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Picking berries in the yard.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-23439968082666124642022-07-06T15:24:00.002-05:002022-07-06T15:31:46.995-05:00The Next Stage <p> Celebrating a significant (at least to me) birthday recently, plus my mother moving to an assisted living home, has really thrown me for a loop. Most of the time it is easy for me to ignore my age, I am only as old as I feel and most days, <a href="http://lisascanadianchronicles.blogspot.com/2022/04/week-1-acl-surgery-recovery.html">until recently</a>, I feel pretty good=young. I didn't have to deal with daily reminders of my numeric age until I had to sign up for Medicare and renew my 10 year old driver's license in June. Now, every time I open my wallet I see 65 year old Lisa staring back at me instead of 55 year old Lisa, who was very tan, a bit thinner with fewer "experience" lines and chins. My new photo, thanks to the new technology, is many shades of gray and makes me look like a faded version of myself which only serves to remind me that maybe I <i>am</i> becoming a faded version of myself. "Damn, I hate you, new driver's license!" Add to this the almost daily mail I now receive from Social Security and I am finding it harder and harder to deny my age, try as I may.</p><p>All of my peers have either lost their parents or if they are still alive, are now dealing with care for them in one sense or another. As our parents get closer to the end of life it makes us also come face to face with our own mortality. Not trying to be morbid here, it is a fact of life. For so much of our lives, if we are healthy and barring any tragedies, the natural end of life seems in the distant future. For me, I never gave it too much consideration until recently. A few things have moved it forward in my consciousness. First, the death of my father, second my mother's health and her recent move and lastly, coming to the shore this year and realizing my generation has moved up in the pecking order of the circle of life. </p><p>One of the blessings of the shore is the presence of several generations every summer. Currently, I can count 4, maybe more, generations being represented here. We grew up spending our summers surrounded by people of all ages. It is part of what makes this place so special. Our lives back home are not usually spent with such a broad spectrum of people. We tend to spend most of our time with people in our same stage of life with the occasional visit from a grandparent or an aunt or uncle. This summer, I am noticing there are fewer and fewer of my parent's generation showing up at the shore and it is eye opening. For the last 20 years those aunts and uncles have been staples here at the shore. They were our foundation in this place, the reason we all love this place and return year after year is because they loved this place and brought us year after year. They started some of the very traditions that we love so much! We have passed this down to our children and now some of them are passing it along to their children. Suddenly, we have become the older aunts and uncles....YIKES! </p><p>Being one of the "older" aunts and uncles is a blessing and a curse. A curse...because obviously we are the next to "age out"....but not for a long time! The good news is that currently, the blessings outweigh the curses. The blessings are that we now have the freedom to spend months at a time here and don't have to rely on a few vacation weeks. Every week is suddenly a vacation! Being at the younger end of the older generation gives us many years to enjoy our new role. I consider that my parents enjoyed 20 years of summers with their siblings and cousins at the shore after my dad retired. If I think about how long 20 years really is, I have a long time to enjoy this phase of life! Another blessing is being able to watch as the next generations pass through some of the next phases. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXYkPqgNp6-SBUWVmCnYqREapkC_Oim8XVczj1IG8u4Kuy8zHT8QPYLG9kvvsBniowcxDKopqTBHoegxIBy6BfNmptH9ceDrRMHvRC352TdJyo2HOjjasAzRYvWtpItUR7PcpjXhEygB6pmY1z8SjVDdhmHptihunlZKalwfNlbO4lObcMvX1RHAt7w/s3024/20220706_135231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXYkPqgNp6-SBUWVmCnYqREapkC_Oim8XVczj1IG8u4Kuy8zHT8QPYLG9kvvsBniowcxDKopqTBHoegxIBy6BfNmptH9ceDrRMHvRC352TdJyo2HOjjasAzRYvWtpItUR7PcpjXhEygB6pmY1z8SjVDdhmHptihunlZKalwfNlbO4lObcMvX1RHAt7w/w640-h640/20220706_135231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rainy days at the shore mean different things to different ages!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There is lot of perspective that can be gained as we get older. For example, rainy days. As a child, rainy days up here were spent playing countless card games, tromping around in the rain wearing our boots and raincoats, driving our parents crazy because we were bored. As young adults and teenagers we spent many a rainy day sleeping in, playing cards or games, and socializing, eating plenty of junk food. As a young parent of children, rainy days felt endless. Stuck in the small cottage, feeling alone and isolated with restless children thinking of ways to keep them entertained and not go nuts in the process. Dealing with wet clothes and enduring a noise level that would have benefitted by the invention of noise cancelling headphones! Add to the mix the teenagers who seemed to consume all of the food in the building and rainy days were never my favorite. But I was a lot younger...so there was that! As the nest emptied rainy days provided me with a much needed "day off". A day off from the sun on the beach, a day off to read, a day off to do things around the house and catch up. A day to sit and visit people one on one. A good rainy day has also resulted in the writing of more than one memorable skits over the years. Retirement rainy days mean a restless husband instead of restless children! (almost the same thing, only slightly quieter). </p><p>The point is, as I sit here on this rainy day, I think back to the many stages of my life up here and realize maybe the grass wasn't greener on the other side, maybe it was all green...just different shades of green that I didn't see yet. So, I will try to embrace this new stage of life at the shore and make the very most of the next 20 years, even if my driver's license does look like some old lady with a double chin.</p><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-661457838363409405.post-49044922052336251702022-06-23T21:29:00.001-05:002022-06-25T07:49:25.266-05:00I Feel Like Me Again<p> After two days at the shore I feel like I had my first "real" day here. The trip took forever this year, thanks to labor shortages at airports and increased travel by all of humanity this summer. I did enjoy watching the U.S. Open in the Maple Leaf Lounge during my layover in Toronto...all of the Open! I made it to the farmhouse by 4a.m., a mere 16 hours after leaving my home in Houston, I was finally in bed at 5! I realized the last time I went to bed at 5 a.m. at the shore was after the annual barn party one year when my friend and I, after a long night of dancing, drinking, and socializing, sat out on the deck at the cottage, high on life, and watched the sunrise. It was an epic night...in a different way...and a lot more fun than being delayed for 7 hours in an airport. Needless to say, on my first day here I felt similar to the one after the barn-party-sunrise night without the hours of fun and the hangover. Oh to be young again! </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYDHUeGYpMFWMrKchdSTO-U3Hat0RIPMJJR2XUsUlPupGTLeEoYLR5VF_A9bj-G5tG4lAi5Kg_JVXc2qKQRdg10H_GJEmtdpS1IGPMFv6zA3aKGnJLxaQcAoX3Etb1FUDl5ix51H_5R1nkT_dp7yhkn9-nPH9435Pht4j9jxF_sKKkcPdwXO9S4IzzA/s3024/20220618_162552.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYDHUeGYpMFWMrKchdSTO-U3Hat0RIPMJJR2XUsUlPupGTLeEoYLR5VF_A9bj-G5tG4lAi5Kg_JVXc2qKQRdg10H_GJEmtdpS1IGPMFv6zA3aKGnJLxaQcAoX3Etb1FUDl5ix51H_5R1nkT_dp7yhkn9-nPH9435Pht4j9jxF_sKKkcPdwXO9S4IzzA/w640-h640/20220618_162552.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My sweet set up for 5 quality hours in the Toronto airport.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajpB49endxC_Aq78tx5r4tpB6Ix7IoN3wp615trnjoZ9Sd-QNuP8Y0IlKxlo-1z_QnZCfkXa5F5yZI41rWUCQwEKhkkDICTrkhovDJgyTA0gtOVJsX8CnGEUzUk3LkqoYu8jtpgFuNNN1QBrz_8YcIbDbbrvtcBEG9Wvtc21WjkzpB_Bq-QGTMdniDQ/s3024/20220619_110829.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajpB49endxC_Aq78tx5r4tpB6Ix7IoN3wp615trnjoZ9Sd-QNuP8Y0IlKxlo-1z_QnZCfkXa5F5yZI41rWUCQwEKhkkDICTrkhovDJgyTA0gtOVJsX8CnGEUzUk3LkqoYu8jtpgFuNNN1QBrz_8YcIbDbbrvtcBEG9Wvtc21WjkzpB_Bq-QGTMdniDQ/w640-h640/20220619_110829.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Waking up to this....totally worth it!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Even if I did feel a bit "rode hard and put up wet", waking up to sunshine and this view kept me going all day until I could finally go to bed at a normal time and reset my internal clock. I enjoyed walking around the property discovering what TJ had planted and where he planted it all. He got here a month ago and has been living his best life! One of his goals for retirement was always to come up here early, plant his garden and build whatever he decides is his project of the summer and not have to split time between the home office and the great outdoors. His garden is a huge undertaking, beginning from seeds in coffee cups or seed trays and then finally graduating to the garden. After being idle for 3 summers, the garden needed a good tilling! Let's hope that dirt has been rejuvenated and is extremely fertile for this year's crops. I also enjoyed seeing all of the flowers that are blooming right now. My peonies are the size of my fist and bigger! They are very prolific too! Might have something to do with the fertilizer the gardener put on them! What a novel concept. I spent the day marveling at the lushness and bright colors of everything. Quite the departure from Houston, where it was 100 degrees for several consecutive days and had not rained in a month, lush and green is not exactly how you would describe it. My eyes were alive!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eB5Finy27kqM9FTAZm-5rj_ifgDZY0PwXX8k7AKSfTAJRAuJKH-tbMbAM1ZZ_tZXu7BI1YdoZhmOVTQhKuVltqKfnxDMctwfuuzq6Hwmh5JHrj1j_G6sKIMTtCDrsZK4TneqiJZ2x3I-5FdFeRUhSl3NGV-uGMTeaqe0ZhKiakh_HKNbw6ByDcRNXw/s1616/DSC09019.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eB5Finy27kqM9FTAZm-5rj_ifgDZY0PwXX8k7AKSfTAJRAuJKH-tbMbAM1ZZ_tZXu7BI1YdoZhmOVTQhKuVltqKfnxDMctwfuuzq6Hwmh5JHrj1j_G6sKIMTtCDrsZK4TneqiJZ2x3I-5FdFeRUhSl3NGV-uGMTeaqe0ZhKiakh_HKNbw6ByDcRNXw/w428-h640/DSC09019.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I can't even count the number of blooms on these plants!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Another observation after the first day or two is one that we both have every time we arrive. I have said it before, and I will say it again, "life is a lot more physical here and everything takes longer". I know it, I remember it, but it catches me every single time! My house here is a lot bigger, a lot older and sits on a lot more land than my one at home. Add to that the fact that it is 25 miles from the nearest town, not an easy 2 miles like at home. I am forced, by nature, to slow down, prioritize, breath and take my time.</p><p>The last 3 months have taken a toll on me and I feel like coming up here is breathing life into my beaten body and soul. This is the final piece of my therapy... mental and physical. I never knew how much I needed this until I got here. Being here makes me realize how hard I have been working to make my life bearable, my body heal and my attitude positive. It was work, and I did it...but being here surrounded by people I know and love, with the promise of better things to come throughout the summer in the place that just breathing in the air makes my heart dance is just what the doctor ordered after the last 3 months! I am pretty sure the last straw of the surgery, recovery, summer heat and humidity trifecta was getting Covid weeks before my departure. Can I just say the last thing I needed after all those days spent on the couch recovering from knee surgery was being alone in my house for 2 weeks with Covid!? Just when the knee was getting better it was such a smack down! Let's just say "I am over it!" and I feel like I can finally move on.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3C-3Yj812KsiFNWsb-S5aW5eCZDSUk4z3XQ1ds5kHEBsUc9-xFUszSEEBOGi3d2TxqA6R8cj6gHhG1RdmcqZazSofBzabsmrx2R-8vnGt26sgWcXrwjeRApL_Rcb_99htzx-SZhSvZQtMO_mg7db3wqINrmB6NkomaZa_Yn9ykm6BZxAG4hv-e-oEQ/s3024/20220622_190233.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3C-3Yj812KsiFNWsb-S5aW5eCZDSUk4z3XQ1ds5kHEBsUc9-xFUszSEEBOGi3d2TxqA6R8cj6gHhG1RdmcqZazSofBzabsmrx2R-8vnGt26sgWcXrwjeRApL_Rcb_99htzx-SZhSvZQtMO_mg7db3wqINrmB6NkomaZa_Yn9ykm6BZxAG4hv-e-oEQ/w640-h640/20220622_190233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I love all of the potential in this photo!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> As I strolled around the yard yesterday, everywhere I looked I saw potential. I love having hope...maybe it is the optimist in me. The garden is full of baby plants promising many good meals with friends and family. I look at the idle swing set and see the grandkids playing and laughing. I look at TJ building the new deck and see morning coffee/tea time, evening barbeques and a staging area for s'mores at late night bonfires. I see many plants growing fast enough that you can almost see it happen with the promise of beautiful flowers in the coming months. The colors are so vivid they take my breath away. For people who live here, maybe it is just the way life is. For me, coming from Houston where the colors are not nearly as vivid and the seasons are not nearly as profound, this is a sensory treat!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs6ilHP30BRw06P9Q7a-z_Q4gartWP3QlggQd2mmqHAw0D1ByPHrFw_kO6cQ_yNzznsHYLdDNCDMZWNheCeQpB5CGmzNvy6mi2hazMtwVCr4QmvHZqfGcqroUTY2BsDmpB5_OX7j7UyRKtbf7pfF6__UNxtHnubXtfcc8gmEFJ_6UiEsxs5ckekCRKg/s1616/DSC09021.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs6ilHP30BRw06P9Q7a-z_Q4gartWP3QlggQd2mmqHAw0D1ByPHrFw_kO6cQ_yNzznsHYLdDNCDMZWNheCeQpB5CGmzNvy6mi2hazMtwVCr4QmvHZqfGcqroUTY2BsDmpB5_OX7j7UyRKtbf7pfF6__UNxtHnubXtfcc8gmEFJ_6UiEsxs5ckekCRKg/w640-h428/DSC09021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Potential food and play!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniCbTSriCe0vNqUAJaMFlmOmKIrfI6FgKjq7kuzWLiVyEql-2Ogp_CCJ4aac7aiq2rAyL0vk5zKmsfdFKNa_maOkcJ7dP1hz3X6_cNU5mO_8akUQVBhaLm-sMYOj4tFEpraIbmZemiM2Lu2ehTsguYP6d_W0VZJljsLvjY19qCN3aJFQhhrUYvYQfGQ/s1616/DSC09023.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniCbTSriCe0vNqUAJaMFlmOmKIrfI6FgKjq7kuzWLiVyEql-2Ogp_CCJ4aac7aiq2rAyL0vk5zKmsfdFKNa_maOkcJ7dP1hz3X6_cNU5mO_8akUQVBhaLm-sMYOj4tFEpraIbmZemiM2Lu2ehTsguYP6d_W0VZJljsLvjY19qCN3aJFQhhrUYvYQfGQ/w400-h268/DSC09023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Future salad!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRIf7FtnuF5fV2MuRgq94EV01jqNNYapX1XlzrEa7N39HqZ_wgXVR0YPCLX-zdJvtnKUFZrNEKN6OsKMm_OGKkbZB1CQW8QSogu2laiQijOcO-TvrP-Anq_ploNDlebAbFZ0168qmVEA70UCjb7h00SN2iAzGn308-xD8rhMDqc2zdHPuA_LH9mf1mA/s1616/DSC09025.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRIf7FtnuF5fV2MuRgq94EV01jqNNYapX1XlzrEa7N39HqZ_wgXVR0YPCLX-zdJvtnKUFZrNEKN6OsKMm_OGKkbZB1CQW8QSogu2laiQijOcO-TvrP-Anq_ploNDlebAbFZ0168qmVEA70UCjb7h00SN2iAzGn308-xD8rhMDqc2zdHPuA_LH9mf1mA/w400-h268/DSC09025.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Potatoes under construction</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Today was a turning point. I played golf again! It has been 3 months since I played golf. I knew golf was a big part of my life but never realized how big. When you play 2 or 3 times a week, and most of your friends are "golf" friends, golf is a big part of your life. Having it taken away left me scrambling for ways to spend my days. I was not very creative, I confess. I did not write my book, edit and organize all of my photos, read several books or cure cancer. I did watch an obscene amount of TV and eat way more calories than I burned when I was not playing golf. Happy to report those behaviors are now changing. I hit that first drive on the first hole today and my mind and body jumped for joy! Nothing hurt, the ball went straight...and far!!! After my inaugural 9 holes I came home and mowed the grass and all was right with the world. I had a day when I felt like I was me again. It has been a long time since I have felt like me! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xaux5tzk6TDdyABbCTVLKIhDLxlPcZaV8i-wsGxSCcEAzUHa6jUxT1DZMvCh7zwlCVucaXCo-V2f5FGHaU9cQi-2h7znWzo_LqgHcf_vXwyohct4bN4T9ulMXV8Jfbox7UBpDMXZeXgBsXGqrP0_pbK2ixhhaO3tltqB8z_-nskfXpxhdtOMAOfSzA/s1616/DSC09046.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xaux5tzk6TDdyABbCTVLKIhDLxlPcZaV8i-wsGxSCcEAzUHa6jUxT1DZMvCh7zwlCVucaXCo-V2f5FGHaU9cQi-2h7znWzo_LqgHcf_vXwyohct4bN4T9ulMXV8Jfbox7UBpDMXZeXgBsXGqrP0_pbK2ixhhaO3tltqB8z_-nskfXpxhdtOMAOfSzA/w640-h428/DSC09046.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And one more sunset because, why not?!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00715231723354023082noreply@blogger.com2