Adventure!

I came across an interesting book recently - called "HumanKind." It's a study of "kindness" - a "hopeful history."

The early chapters question whether - left to our own devices - humans would be kind, or cruel - like the boys in the novel "Lord of the Flies."

Hunting for a real life account of shipwrecked teens to compare with the shipwrecked youths in Lord of the Flies, the author of Humankind came upon an old news story (from the 1960's) about of a group of Tongan teens, ages 13 to 15, who "borrowed" a sailboat - then were shipwrecked in a storm. The boat was washed ashore on an uninhabited island, where the boys lived for 15 months before being rescued.

Reading their story in Humankind - then watching (on YouTube) the 1960's documentary made after they were found - made my day! They did so well in compassion and empathy...

What an adventure!

Don't Get a Ticket!!

The toys look cute -parked on one side of the street...

Oh, oh!

The sign says "No Parking"!

Little by Little...

Our basement is slowly returning to what it was before...

Our large storage room is done. The floor has now been painted, but... paint takes time to dry (and to "cure")!

After this long weekend (Canadian Thanksgiving) - shelving units will be returned to the storage room and we will begin to think about moving things back in!!

But then, the rest of the basement will need to be completed!

It all takes time.... But we're on our way!

Thanksgiving

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving Day!

Terry and I had a traditional turkey dinner last week - at the Miller's Oven in Manotick.

As we walked to our car, we saw signs of preparation for winter -  like this chimney reconstruction on an old historic house.

Our house is also being restored after last July's basement flood.

We're hoping that it will be done by the end of the month... We're thankful for pleasant workers doing a good job!

So much to be thankful for!

Taro Plant Update

I got this TARO plant a few weeks ago, and I'm still trying to figure out the basics... 

How much water? How much sunlight?

One leaf was looking a little wrinkly... Does it need more water?!

Probably! - according to this online plant care article. I'm generally reluctant to keep soil moist at all times. I've killed more plants by OVER-watering them than by UNDER-watering them.

Bog garden beds?! This one may be an exception.

Silhouette Art?

I regularly take pictures of beautiful sunrises and sunsets while Terry drives.

Occasionally trees or buildings get in the way, creating a silhouette.

I like it! Maybe I could try painting them...

First the background sky... then, when that dries, dark shadows on top. Maybe on small greeting cards paper...

Or maybe something more complicated, like this college soccer field scene. (Or just use the sky and cut out the soccer field?)

So many possibilities!

A Little Problem

The past two months, I've had pain in my right leg. It's painful when walking - especially when doing stairs - but the severity fluctuates. I have no idea what caused it - no dramatic event that I can recall.

I went to physiotherapy for a few weeks, but it didn't seem to help.

A friend who had hip replacement surgery a few years ago (and now feels great) wonders if I might need the same. But when I asked "Dr. Google" about hip surgery pain, it appears that my pain is on the wrong side!

My daughter, who studied anatomy for her biomedical communications degree, suggests that it could be my IT band, a tendon that runs up and down the side of the leg. She then sent me a link to Alberta Health and some exercises they provide. 

So that's where I'm at now - exercising and alternating shoes. (Years ago, when I had a knee problem, my shoes were to blame!)

I hope it improves soon. I don't want to stop walking but it's no fun with pain in every step.

Two Seasons

Terry and I each divide the year into two seasons ...(but they aren't the same!)

(Mine also fluctuate more than his do!)

I divide my year into days and months when it's safe for me to walk outdoors - before the ice and snow arrive - and when it's not. 

We're currently in walking season - but that could change at any time, without warning. Any day, I could wake up and there you are!

So my walking season can begin as early as February (in good years) and end as early as mid-October. 

Terry's two seasons are PLANNED by the NFL Football league: football season and non-football season. 

Football season begins in September and ends in early February. For these five and a half months, every family plan depends on the timing of the game or games he NEEDS to watch. Absolutely nothing pre-empts that.

We often comment that it's significant that we met and got engaged in early spring, right after football season had ended. We got married 8 months later - at the beginning of football season. 

When Terry talked about having a TV at our wedding reception (so as not to miss an important game), I thought he was joking - but he wasn't! I didn't really know the man I was marrying!

Enjoying Octoberfest

Last weekend we enjoyed an "Octoberfest" meal at North Market restaurant in Almonte. 

It was a belated celebration of Terry's and my 49th wedding anniversary. 

There were homemade perogies...

We all loved the German pasta (spaetzla) with mushroom sauce - a specialty of Bavaria (Munich).

Also the sausage... Maybe that's what everyone was sharing in the picture below. 

(There was a lot of sharing going on!)

Afterwards we had dessert at Hummingbird chocolate factory... ice cream or hot chocolate.

(Guess who LOVES ice cream but decided not to have any?!)

After all that delicious food, everyone was ready for a nap!

My Virtual Walk Continues...

My daily walking is taking me - virtually - along a coastal road in Australia. 

I love the satellite image of the area. The land - and ocean - are so beautiful!

I'm now 85% done!

At this stage of my walk, I'm already beginning to think about my NEXT virtual hike. 

(I know! Why don't I just focus on the present?!)

The Month That Was

This is my phenology calendar for the month of September 2026. Some use a phenology calendar is for noting nature - plants and animals they see any day, week or month. Mine has evolved into an illustrated daily weather journal - with  notes on how I spent my day.

Temperature-wise, the weather this past September was perfect. It stayed between 5 and 27 degrees Celsius (41 - 81 degrees F.) Not too hot and not too cold.

In the middle of the month, I took a brief trip to Toronto by train with my granddaughter. A lovely break!

Equinox also came and went: we now have more daily minutes of darkness than we have of daylight... That's a life changer, especially if you want to take a little walk after supper...

By 7 o'clock, it's getting dark. So I try to eat supper early if I plan to take a walk.

Feels Like Fall

The last few days of September were a rush - with the basement rebuild beginning. 

Now suddenly we're in October!

Leaves beginning to change colour.

Even to silver?! What kind of tree is that?!

In many ways, October is my favourite month of the year! It's so, so beautiful!

Then comes a bleak winter break - and then the outdoor growing season begins again!

Bringing in the Pots?!

I have a lot of indoor plants - and some inevitably end up outdoors in the summer.

Now that frost is just around the corner, I'm beginning to think about which ones to bring indoors again...

I often cut branches off the geraniums and put them in a vase of water until they grow roots. Then I plant them in soil, hoping they'll be ready to grow flowers by next spring.

I'd like to bring in the evergreen (that scrawny plant in the centre above). Some day it could become a tiny living Christmas tree...!

So many decisions to make before the inevitable first frost arrives! And then there's the second inevitable question: Where would I put them indoors?!

Permission to Read - Or Not!

I have always loved books. As a child, I regularly went to the public library to borrow the maximum number allowable. Then on weekends, I'd finish one children's novel on Saturday, another on Sunday. Another one or two would be my bedtime reading for the rest of the week.

Now, as a much older adult, I still read - but not as much. I like books that teach me things - which is why I enjoy the Botswana detective novels. (The Ladies No. 1 Detective Series) I've never lived in Botswana and I find it so interesting.

I tend to read slowly - so I buy most books I read. That way I don't have to finish them quickly. And I love a book with short chapters!

All this to say that these "rights" of readers really resonated with me when I came across them on the side of a "little library", reminding me that it's okay 

1. To not read
2. To skip pages or even chapters in a book
3. To not finish it
4. To re-read it 
5. To read anything
6. To mistake a book for real life
7. To read anywhere
8. To just dip into a book and not read it all
9. To read out loud or quietly

For those of us who tend to be compulsive about reading, this "permission slip" is a good reminder that there are many ways to enjoy reading.

Progress Begins

A few days ago, a team of four arrived to repair our basement walls that had been damaged by our July 1 flood.

The bottom 2 feet of all the walls had been removed to ensure that everything would dry after the flood - inside the walls and out.

The contractor estimated it would take about 2 WEEKS to complete this renovation... Does that translate into 10 WORKING days?!

They have to wait at times for things to dry - like plaster and paint... So they'll be back in a week.

I'm hoping all will be done by the end of October - but it may take longer than that!

The main thing is that we're moving in the right direction! Steps are being taken - however long it takes.

Really Satisfying Brunch

Often after church we go out for coffee with our son's family.

Last weekend, we tried a new coffer shop - Equator. I ordered a bacon and egg wrap. 

It was very good. Lots of egg - and cheese - as well as bits of bacon. Very satisfying.

(I wonder if I could replicate it at home!)