Rabbits in Our Neighborhood

I don't notice a lot of rabbits in our neighbourhood -  maybe because they're nocturnal - like skunks.

Or maybe because they blend into the background so well. Great camouflage! No flashy colours!

They also look different when they sit DOWN LOW (like the first picture) or UP HIGH (like the second one).

Our local rabbits - with their smallish upward-pointing ears - don't resemble this rabbit statue I came across in a store... Garden art.

The statue's ears are definitely much larger! 

I know there are lots of types of rabbits in different parts of the world. I wonder where this rabbit is from?!

Latest Walking Medals

I recently received this double-sided medal on completing my 2,052 km virtual walk along the coastal road in Vietnam. It took me a little over 5 months to do it.

My goal was 10,000 steps a day!

This time I also received a new pin that marks 5 challenges completed.

When I first started these virtual challenges, I wondered how motivating these physical tokens would be.

Turns out, they're very important. I need a tangible reminder of every virtual trip.

I think they are also significant for others - like my grandchildren.

The beautiful medals make it more real!

Living and Learning

We're never too old to stop learning from people - young and old.

A few weeks ago, I read an article about a 100-year-old man who had walked his first 5k race - with his children and grandchildren - at age 100! What an adventure that would have been! 

I then jotted down a comment he  made: "If it hasn't been done before, why wouldn't I try it?" That's something to think about... Do I have his indomitable spirit?! (And I'm not 100 yet!)

Then last week, I saw a story about another local centenarian - a woman who was celebrating her 106th birthday!

Her mother once told her that she wouldn't amount to much, she recalled... so she left home and joined the army. Eventually she became a code-breaker in the war.

But she did heed her mother's advice when she told her to eat 2 eggs a day to be healthy. It became a lifelong habit.

And she's still healthy at 106!

Hmmm... Maybe I need to eat more eggs!

Early Morning Sky...

We have reached the year's longest days...

The light of dawn arrives before 5 AM.

These photos were taken by my son at 5:15 AM - sunrise - as he rode the bus to work.

I hate to miss these "gifts" - but I slept through this one!

"I hope you didn't miss this beautiful sunrise," he texted me. "Here are some pictures, in case you did!"

Glad he thought to share!

Birthday Nostalgia

Birthdays have a way of churning up nostalgia from by-gone days - especially for parents!

(Were they ever really that young?! You know they were - but that was so long ago!!)

Today is a family birthday...

And I've been looking through old photos...

I came across this one - our first-born on her first visit to the farm at Upper Canada Village - a one-year-old fascinated by the horses and cows... I WANT TO TOUCH THEM!

And here she is, 8 or 9 summers later, on a  visit to Kelowna (where my parents seem over-dressed for summer weather in the Okanogan!)

And here - a cousins' get together... Was that on the same visit to Kelowna?!

Lots of great memories!

And happy birthday to the birthday girl!! 🎂🎉

Green World

Thanks to rain and hot weather, our yard is all green...

"Get a picture of that rabbit," Terry tells me. (He loves the gentle rabbits the way I enjoy the antics of squirrels!)

Another green development... the olive tree that I brought outdoors for the summer is growing NEW PALE green leaves... while the OLD DARK leaves now have brown tips and are beginning to drop.

Will the leaves become darker as summer passes?

While driving to Toronto a few weeks ago, I noticed that new leaves on trees along the highway were also pale green... 

I wonder what makes them darken over the course of the summer.

Fan Zone?!

My daughter's Toronto neighborhood is near a large soccer field.

An area has been blocked off for a "fan zone" - with grandstand seating, music, food - and large video screens for fans to watch the world cup.

At the mall where I do my 10,000 daily steps, they have also set up a "fan zone", with a sprawling sofa...

But I'm not sure the tiny TV screen will draw many serious fans! (Or is this small screen just a video game?!)

Labyrinth Exercise

For me, a labyrinth walk is peacefully meditative, as my body and mind churn up thoughts from my subconscious.

But a labyrinth can provide exercise, too! 

Within the bounds of its narrow path, a surprising number of steps - a long circuitous walk in a small area.

Perhaps even a joyful run!

Festival Fun

Last Saturday, my family attended another local festival - "Dickinson Days" in Manotick - named after the builder of the village flour mill.

There was music and food - and lots of crafts for sale.

As my son and I perused the bake table outside a local church next to the mill, it was hard to choose! 

We ended up buying rhubarb cake, chocolate chip cookies and beautifully iced cupcakes.

When we got home, we realized that the only mistake we made was NOT BUYING MORE!!

It was all so delicious!

Glad You're OK!

I enjoy watching my grandkids live active lives - doing handstands - and other things I never dared to do.

But - occasionally - there's an injury!

(And, fortunately, there are hospitals!)

So glad the wrist wasn't broken - only sprained.

So glad there was a hospital nearby.

Hope it all heals VERY, VERY QUICKLY!

(Thanks to your Mom for sharing these memories!)

Somewhere... I think I have a broken collarbone X-ray of your Dad's... He had three of those... Or was it a broken arm?!) 

Some memories you want to forget!

Future Sports Mascot?!

My granddaughter had a new acrobatic routine she wanted me to see...

Handstands - wearing part of her brother's Halloween costume...

There's a knack to keeping the head on straight!

Is this how team mascots begin their careers?!

New Virtual Walk

I recently completed my virtual coastal walk in Vietnam... 

And immediately moved to another coastal road - this one in eastern Australia.

I've never been to Australia - but one of my sons visited this area a few years back, during a time of severe forest fires. 

I'll have to ask him about his experience. From the satellite photo, I see that there are quite a few trees in this region.

It is always a fun to see a new part of the world - even virtually!

I expect this new walk to take about 6 months.

Plant Source

Wandering through our local IKEA store a few days ago, I was reminded that I purchased several of my house plants here.

My palm tree, which is outdoors for the first time this summer.

I've had it for at least five years. It needed some outdoor time to restore it. 

Also my peace lilies - on the top shelf above - which I purchased as one plant, quite a few years ago, then later divided into three.

Here they are currently, in three pots. They haven't bloomed much in recent years - and their leaves aren't as green. 

Unlike this very green chair!

I find green to be a relaxing colour. Maybe that's why I like green plants around our home!

Tupperware is Back...?

Terry and I were shopping in a mall we haven't been to all winter. There were a few surprises. One was this Tupperware store! 

Are they testing the waters with a pop-up shop?!

Definitely colourful!!