Walking Schedule

Our Ontario Health Plan doesn't only pay for all our medical bills - it focuses on prevention...

In my ongoing struggle to keep my blood sugar under control, I've been I've been referred to a Diabetes Clinic by my family doctor. Last week I met with an exercise therapist... who gave me a walking schedule!

Fortunately I've always enjoyed walking...

(Now - someone will be watching!!)

New Animal Neighbor

Numerous wild animals roam free in our neighborhood... Fortunately they're all relatively small: black squirrels, greyish-brown squirrels, skunks, raccoons, rabbits... Occasionally, even ducks.

About a year ago some tinier red squirrels - a new breed - showed up in our yard... Occasionally I see them, but so far they've been too fast for my camera to catch...

Then this year, I saw our first chipmunk! He was on the deck nibbling on a seed pod from one of the flowers.

He actually sat there long enough for me to take a few pictures.

Then he turned - and as I tried to take another... he disappeared!

New Bedtime Reading

I enjoy reading short reflections before going to bed... It's a peaceful way to fall asleep.

My most recent bedtime reading is an out-of-print book entitled A Rose Will Grow Anywhere: Renewing Your Confidence That God Works All Things Together For Good. It's one of the last books written by David A Redding, a Presbyterian minister whose book on prayer, Before You Call, I Will Answer, is one of my all-time favorites.

In this book, which could only be written after a long life, David Redding looks back on some of his experiences - amazed at how God's grace has appeared in the most unlikely places.

I'm enjoying it so much that I've ordered two more of his out-of-print books!

This one has already arrived... (It's a book of prayers.)

(Glad I've been able to find them online!)

September Breakfast

It's harvest time in Ontario...

My favorite breakfast these days is cottage cheese topped with a mound of fresh fruit - in this case, a peach and a pear.

It's a wonderful season for eating locally grown produce! So fresh! So delicious!

(I know someone in the city who has a pear tree - and other fruit trees - but I assume this fruit came from Southern Ontario's Niagara region.)

Rideau Canal Cruise?

For years, I've thought about taking a local river cruise - especially one that goes down the Rideau Canal. I'd love to experience a trip from Ottawa to Kingston (or vice versa), seeing the countryside from the water and going through all the canal locks.

Last week, while in Westport, we saw a boat that does Ontario waterways tours and spoke to a couple on the trip. They were loving it! The food was great - and of course, the weather was great, too. (Though you can't always count on that!)

Terry isn't enthusiastic about traveling on a boat for 5 days - so I may just sign up by myself for a five-day trip. It'll have to be next year, as this year's cruises are all booked up.

Frosh Week... at Algonquin College?!

Passing through Algonquin College one day last week, I encountered...

Play structures!

Freebies!

Was this part of the college Frosh Week celebrations?!

(I should have stuck around to see!)

Day Lilies, Second Blooming

I've heard that day lilies will bloom a second time, if their flowers are trimmed back in summer when they die... But I didn't really believe it could happen!

Then last week I saw these day lilies - in bloom...

... in a nearby shopping area!

Mine have simply gone to seed!!

(Lesson learned for next year!)