a little mini-stay-cation

July 3, 2022 Arlene Giddings

I have been off since last Thursday…
and I feel like I have made the most of those days.

Supper with the girls
at Island Stone Pub Wednesday night…
beach day with an old friend
Thursday in Cavendish
then supper on the boardwalk
at Poutine Plus where
I got to see some old friends
that always makes me happy
and an adorable little 3 year old came
and sat with us to eat her food…
then a walk on the Summerside boardwalk
to finish off the day…

Friday was Canada Day
and I was sunburned and
kinda missing how when the
kids were little
and we’d all spend Canada Day
together…
but I decided to do the
Homestead Trail in Cavendish
with the additional MacNeill Loop
so…10 kms.
I had a little rest/nap on one
of the benches partway through…
heh.

Friday night was fireworks
in Charlottetown…
which I think I might have sat
directly UNDERNEATH…
but still pretty enjoyable
plus I got to hear Fabulously Rich
and glad that I went
even if I went all by myself….

Saturday was trying out the new
car tent…which I love!
Attempting a walk but the
thunder rolled in
so spent some time at a beach
reading and eating fresh strawberries…
Saturday night, I went to the
movies all by myself to see
the new Minions movie in 3D…
and I am so glad I pushed out of
my comfort zone to do that.

Sunday was spent
early morning setting up
at the beach with
my little beach tent
and a radio
and a book…
some friends came by
and hung out for a bit
just before another
thunder storm rolled in…
I got the tent down literally
just - in - the - nick - of - time.

And I still have one day of vacation left :)

friday adventures are better with a friend!

August 18, 2019 Arlene Giddings

I don’t think it’s a secret that I usually do my
Friday adventures
solo…
not really for any reason, it’s just a thing I like to do.

But a really good friend of mine
was home from away a little while ago
and she bravely agreed to come along on a Friday adventure
with me…
I did warn her that there would be no map,
no plan and, also, no air conditioning in my car…heh…
AND she might have to sign a waiver…

Heehee. :)

We started with the most amazing, delicious
HOMEMADE raspberry flakie that was literally mouthwatering…
this photo does it NO justice at all but if you are interested
in buying some of these, let me know and I will
totally hook you up with my dealer…heehee

We decided to go west
because, honestly, that’s where most of the dairy bars are…
we stopped at wharves and beaches and lighthouses…
(&…all these photos are with my phone…so meh…but still had to share them…
heehee…what’s a blog post without photos?)

We went all the way to North Cape
to see the windmills….I had been there before
but I had never tried the trail before…
I wish we would have had more time to do the whole thing
because it was beautiful!
but…it was also looking like thunder
and I did NOT want to be around all that metal
if there was going to be lightning!

Our last stop was at
Southside Scoop Shack in O’Leary…
cause…
the best way to finish your day
is with ice cream…
I had the apple pie sundae
AND IT WAS SO GOOD

and the truth is
i did get us lost and, for a second, i thought
maybe we might be getting shot at
for trespassing on a beach
(skeet shooting close by, I think…or at least,
that’s what I told Ange…heehee)
and we had no air conditioning
but we did have a lot of laughs,
sang along to some loud 80’s music
and reconnected…
and the waiver was never mentioned again.
:)
all in all, a successful friday adventure!

lazy rainy sundaze...

August 5, 2018 Arlene Giddings

it has been a bit of a
rainy sunday...
the sun seems to be trying to
push its way out of the clouds now
but for most of the day,
i have found myself inside...
with extra time on my hands.

i haven't been doing any doodling.

at first, it was because, a while back,
i had some very strange dizzy spells...
or maybe vertigo...
kind of like hangover bed spins
but without the fun the night before.

eventually, they decreased in severity
but seemed to come back when i would
look down which meant
i couldn't write, doodle and even taking photos
with the big camera was difficult.

i did go to the doctor
but it was about 3 weeks after the worst of it...
she did some neurological tests
and everything seemed to be ok
although i was still getting dizzy quite often at the time.

but...long story short...
i seem to feel fine now!
but then
it was so sunny and warm outside
that i just couldn't seem to make myself
sit inside at the desk and play
until today...

so here's a little fairy.
:)
i feel a little rusty but also kind of excited to get back to
paper and pen and watercolors again.

also, i am playing along with an instagram challenge
that susannah conway has created
called #augustbreak
which has daily prompts...it's been a long time
since i have done one of these and so far,
i am really enjoying it!
if you are on instagram, check it out!

and...just a few photos from North Rustico...
my sister in law & her husband recently invited us to stay
at a cottage with them for a night or two...
which meant some early morning shots of flowers
(there were other photos taken but alcohol-driven-dance-offs
are not so pretty the next day...)

and...because today is today...
and this weighs heavy on my mind...
don't drink and drive.
call a cab, a friend, your mom, your friend's mom...
sleep on someone's couch, walk home, hitch a ride...
call your ex, your buddy, the next door neighbor, your mailman...
whatever...
just don't drink and drive.

(i like to remember her best on her birthday...
this day only makes me sad for what could have been...)