New Year’s Eve 2019, I played Snakes and Ladders with T. I said that along the way, we’ll encounter things that lift us up (ladders) or slide us back (snakes), but we keep going till we reach the end. Little did I realize the foreshadowing of 2020! The wonderful thing about a new year isContinue reading “Thank You and Goodbye 2020”
Category Archives: outdoors
Adventure in the Philippines
During these cold and dark pandemic days, I long for and fantasize about travel. Since travel is not an option, it’s been fun to look back at travels of the past. Over 10 years ago, long before T entered our lives, the hubby and I went on an amazing three-week vacation to the Philippines. IContinue reading “Adventure in the Philippines”
Enjoying A Last Burst of Summer
We took advantage of an unusually warm weekend and soaked up the sun and outdoors. The weather forecast gave me the will to get through what felt like a long week and it looked even better as the weekend came upon us! Early November is an interesting time as Autumn gives us one last burstContinue reading “Enjoying A Last Burst of Summer”
Finding Fitness and Wellbeing In Lockdown
The days are getting shorter and I think even more about wellness as we look ahead to the pandemic winter ahead. A recent poll reported that 1 in 4 Canadians reported their mental health is worse now than in the first wave of the pandemic. One thing I’ve missed a lot during this pandemic isContinue reading “Finding Fitness and Wellbeing In Lockdown”
Taking Time Off To Recharge
Every year, I take the short work week after Thanksgiving off as “me time.” This year, I was practically crawling towards it. As with everyone who is trying to just get through these challenging pandemic times, my 2020 batteries have been burnt to a crisp. One doesn’t realize how exhausted they are until they haveContinue reading “Taking Time Off To Recharge”
Family Day Trip to Enjoy the Beauty of Fall
It’s Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and our family enjoyed a scenic Saturday afternoon outing in nature. We had planned to leave the house by 9 to maximize our day. T and I woke up at 10 and the hubby an hour later. By the time we left the house, it was Noon. But long weekends areContinue reading “Family Day Trip to Enjoy the Beauty of Fall”
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn
It’s the first Fall weekend and we enjoyed a Saturday afternoon hike at Rouge Urban National Park, a wonderful oasis nearby our home. We were blessed with a last blast of summer weather, so we all wore t-shirts and shorts with the added benefit of no bugs or sweltering heat. It seems like everyone inContinue reading “Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn”
Nature and the Passage of Time
Trees tell the story of time. Standing on the rocky Georgian Bay shore scanning the tree line, I see hints of red, yellow and orange. The autumn chill is in the air. Labour Day is the last blast of summer vacation before school starts. This year, school is starting a week late to give schoolsContinue reading “Nature and the Passage of Time”
Swimming in a Secluded Spot at Painting-Like Killarney
We spent Friday at Killarney Provincial Park, where every corner looks like a painting with its smooth red rock facade and Georgian Bay backdrop. Our friends and I have been wanting to camp here for years but sites always sell out. It took a pandemic to get the hubby, T and I here – sansContinue reading “Swimming in a Secluded Spot at Painting-Like Killarney”
Finding the Roaring Spirit of Adventure in Thunder Bay
We arrived in Thunder Bay close to 10 on Sunday evening. T screamed, “Why does it look like this? Where’s the thunder?!” The scenic adventures that unfolded over the following three days of our Summer 2020 family roadtrip more than made up for his initial lack of enthusiasm. First stop on Monday: Beautiful Kakabeka Falls,Continue reading “Finding the Roaring Spirit of Adventure in Thunder Bay”
Family Roadtrip to Explore Northern Ontario
We were determined not to let the pandemic take away our summer tradition – the family roadtrip. In August, we always take two weeks off to visit the hubby’s parents in New Brunswick, two provinces East of Ontario, and add a detour. This year, we hoped to visit New Hamsphire. It goes without saying theContinue reading “Family Roadtrip to Explore Northern Ontario”
Family Weekend Roadtrip to Breathtaking Killbear Park
The last four months of lockdown – working, schooling, parenting – have been so hard but also creatively and emotionally rewarding. But the hubby and I are beyond burned out. So we took T for a recharge in nature with a short but sweet family roadtrip – three hours from home – to scenic ParryContinue reading “Family Weekend Roadtrip to Breathtaking Killbear Park”
A Rejuvenating First Nature Hike Since Lockdown
A family of swans, Canadian geese, ducks, and a deer feeding from afar. My family basked in a feast of nature this afternoon, our first outing since lockdown began three months ago. It was a beautiful Saturday. Sunny and a comfortably cool 16 degrees for t-shirt and shorts. A steady breeze. We headed for LyndeContinue reading “A Rejuvenating First Nature Hike Since Lockdown”
My Life With T 