spring-sunday...

March 31, 2019 Arlene Giddings

i made a list
of all the things
that i needed to get done today…
not wanted…
needed.

things like
laundry
and kitty litter,
dishes
and the sweeping up never ending
furballs…

and had thought that if
i crossed everything off
my need-to-do
list, i would reward myself
with a drive with the camera
and maybe (most definitely)
a stop at the dairy bar.

well…i crossed everything off the stupid list
and i did get out for a drive
and the sun even made a few short appearances
while i was out so that was a nice surprise.

i ended up at this wharf/lighthouse
(as i often do)….
spring always brings me through st nicholas
where i grew up,
where all my best memories are still vivid
and driving through there
always stirs up
strong emotion…
happy and bittersweet/sad

and then to our beach…
(yes, yes, I know…it’s a public beach…)

where the sun started to set

and i remembered I hadn’t gotten my ice cream yet!
but as i got close to the dairy bar,
i realized there were 682 cars and 3 trucks and possibly a snowmobile
ahead of me so
i settled for the next best thing…
a happy meal with a new robot toy!

my “i kinda wanted ice cream but i’ll settle for a new member of the robot army” face.

all in all
a very good spring-sunday!
:)
(well, it would have been better with a sundae.)
sigh.

out and about...

June 23, 2018 Arlene Giddings

If you have been here before,
you know I like to try to get out and about
with my camera and some diet coke
every Friday...well...really...every chance I can get
when it's nice out, Friday or not.
I am definitely not limiting myself to Fridays
but they often work best.

A couple of weeks ago,
I had no plan in mind but wanted to
go on a trail.
I love trails...but have become slightly
nervous of coyotes after hearing a portion of a trail
that I have been on before had been closed
due to coyote behavior....
and I'm not going to lie....
my personality is naturally a little anxious
so this...well...it freaked me out a bit.

So I thought I would do the Cavendish Grove trail
because it seems to be pretty wide
and groomed and well traveled.
And I told myself coyotes don't go to Cavendish,
it's for the tourists.
I told myself coyotes don't go to the beach.
I told myself it would be ok.

And it was.
I walked part of the trail. I still haven't done the
"Homestead Trail" because I didn't bring any water,
or anything to eat, or most importantly, bug spray.
So I had to save that part for another day.

But I did stop at a bench that overlooked the dunes
and a shallow expanse of blue water.
There were ducks and geese just hanging out...
until suddenly, there was a loud ruckus
and everyone was flying and diving and quacking and honking
and I saw an eagle fly over the tops of the trees.

At least...I think it was an eagle. Hahaha.

It's funny how Cavendish Grove still reminds me
so strongly of Rainbow Valley.
It's a little bittersweet to visit that spot.
But, then, I am glad that at least we are still able to go there,
I am grateful for the park and trails it has been turned into.

i wanted to tell you....

June 9, 2018 Arlene Giddings

about the walk i took yesterday
after it rained
and the sun came out
and the light was all golden hour-y
and how i was just going to
take some photos in the yard
but then saw the tree across the street
with all its pretty in pink blossoms
but then...wait a minute, look at the entrance to the park
i'll just walk down that far...
but then i remembered there were lilacs
a little further
and two hours, one sundae and 237 photos later
i was fast walking
to get home before the june bugs
came out....

i was going to tell you about that today
and show you pictures
but...the sun is out...
and the camera battery
is charged
and i think i am just going to have to go
for a drive...
messy hair and all.

hello, saturday.
:)

tuesday truths at 10:30 pm....

May 29, 2018 Arlene Giddings

i should have done the dishes.
i should have changed the kitty litter.
i should have put some laundry in the machine.
i should have swept the tumbleweeds of cat fur
out of the corners of the living room.

but the sun was shining.

and the car was home.

and the gas tank was full.

so instead
i went looking for pretty light
and abandoned boats
and dirt roads...

and now my heart feels
satisfied and content
(but also can't wait to go again!)

tuesday truths...

May 1, 2018 Arlene Giddings

******
after using the same format
in my bullet journal for about the
past two years,
i have decided to make a change.
i need it to be
less formal
and more spur-of-the-moment.
it's a work in progress.
i'm still not really sure what i want to do with it
but the photo above is my
May cover page...
which i was pretty happy with....
because...

******
i love lilac season!
and it's almost here!!
the little lilac bush i planted
in the backyard last summer
has some bright green little buds on it
so yay!
i didn't kill it!
(yet)

******
i love the little signs of spring...
lighter jackets,
open windows (even if only for a short period of time),
sunshine waking me up
in the morning
and the day staying brighter
for so much longer...
i feel like i can breathe again.