When you feel like you’re being pulled under by chaos, it may be best to go with the flow. We’re still at the hubby’s parents for our annual summer vacation – and T is having a blast with his grandparents and vice versa. While T has made so many gains since last summer, his useContinue reading “Rushing Rivers Lead to Calm Waters”
Tag Archives: nature
Exploring Flowerpot Island and the Grotto at Beautiful Tobermory
We kicked off T’s summer with a camping weekend filled with nature at beautiful Tobermory. The highlight was Flowerpot Island at Fathom Five National Park, known for its rock formations, scenic caves and lighthouse. Our ferry ride to the Island on Sunday morning started with a tour of sunken shipwrecks along the Tobermory coast. TContinue reading “Exploring Flowerpot Island and the Grotto at Beautiful Tobermory”
Wildflower
What if we let the weeds grow freely? I thought about this from the perspective of parenting when I read this article about naturalists encouraging people not to mow lawns or pluck weeds, in an effort to encourage biodiversity. Biodiversity, it is argued, is good for everyone, including animals and endangered bees. Naturalists encourage usContinue reading “Wildflower”
Playing Sidekick to My Incredible Hulk
Our T has found a kindred spirit in a superhero with anger issues and the irony is not lost on me. Last week’s loan from the school library was a non-fiction book featuring the green Marvel superhero and we enjoyed reading it over several nights. I love that reading comics or books inspired by comicsContinue reading “Playing Sidekick to My Incredible Hulk”
Into the Unknown
Step by step, the unknown becomes known… Our adoption was finalized five years ago between Valentine’s and Family Day and is now always celebrated between these days. On this Family Day, we went for a morning hike at Hilton Falls Conservation Area. It was a beautiful sunny day and 1 degree compared to yesterday’s -12.Continue reading “Into the Unknown”
14 Days in India
It was an unforgettable trip across four cities and two states in a beautiful and spiritual country. As we lament another pandemic winter and the prospect of a return to virtual schooling after the holidays, I’m taking a detour from the daily grind and venturing back to November 2012. It’d be another 3.5 years beforeContinue reading “14 Days in India”
Golden Hour
Nature reminds us that magic exists before and right after the darkness. Golden hour refers to the hour after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is softer and redder compared to when it’s higher in the sky. Also called magic hour, it is a photographer and filmmaker’s dream. I first noticed this in aContinue reading “Golden Hour”
Swimming Upstream
Watching salmon migrate upstream was unexpectedly calming and relatable. The hubby, T and I spent this sunny but chilly Sunday exploring Port Hope, located an hour drive from home. This scenic town served as the filming location for the recent two-movie adaptation of Stephen King’s novel It. The town has a historic charm with itsContinue reading “Swimming Upstream”
Honey Harbour
If it’s bitter at the start, it’s sweeter in the end. I reflected on this during a two hour drive home from Honey Harbour, a scenic set of islands along Georgian Bay, where the hubby, T and I spent Saturday with my aunt and two cousins. We woke up early to ensure we arrived atContinue reading “Honey Harbour”
Low Tide
One great advice I’ve received about finding balance in life is a metaphor about tides. Tides are described as “the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, and the rotation of the Earth.” My colleague’s advice is deceptively simple butContinue reading “Low Tide”
Orenda: Nature’s Invisible Energy
I recently learned the word, Orenda, a spiritual energy believed by the Iroquois to exist in natural objects. Lately, I’ve been listening to the music of Ferry Corsten. His uplifting songs resonate with me during these challenging times. T is familiar with electronic trance music or as he calls them: songs with no words. ForContinue reading “Orenda: Nature’s Invisible Energy”
Resting Like Royalty
As Canada celebrates Victoria Day long weekend, the two queens in T’s life are focused on recharging. The hubby worked on the garden today. I didn’t even pretend to help. I love gardens, especially ones I don’t have to tend to! Instead, T and I went for a nice long hike at Rouge Park, anContinue reading “Resting Like Royalty”
Respite, Rainbow, Recharge
On the theme of R words, this week was about R&R. Rest and recuperation are especially important when raising kids with additional needs and endless energy like T. Our family has been going full speed for the last three months, with unexpected health issues and a return to virtual schooling on top of the regularContinue reading “Respite, Rainbow, Recharge”
A Change of Scenery
“You’d think we were going to Disneyland,” I thought after T got super excited when I told him we were visiting a different park last Sunday. Like everyone, we’re all feeling so restless about these “Which window am I going to look out of today?” days. So a change of scenery, even if it wasContinue reading “A Change of Scenery”
Dreaming Of Summer Roadtrips
For our first roadtrip with an 18-months-old T, we naively thought we’d do a 15-hour overnight drive to New Brunswick. After a day at work, we headed off at 8 pm. That was how the hubby and I used to roll. We did the long drive to his parents’ cottage overnight, taking turns, drinking lotsContinue reading “Dreaming Of Summer Roadtrips”
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”
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”
My Life With T 