Life Begins at Retirement!

Hmmmmm

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 17:16:00 +0000

Hi everyone - if anyone is out there :) I thought I should explain myself and my recent post of nothingness except for ripe wild garlic!

I was just messing around trying to remember how to access my photos, how to write a post etc. It's been about a year since I was active on this blog and I've forgotten a LOT! I'm not even sure that I'll be able to get this blog going again or if I might change it up a little, switch to Wordpress or whatever.

Those of you who are on Facebook know that I am keeping very BUSY with cycling, hiking, & I even did a virtual hike (the hiking was real, the location was the Ridgeway Trail but not really). My feet are getting a lot of miles since I'm not playing volleyball anymore. Not allowed due to covid.

So, what I'll do is keep you up to date with my decisions. I'm thinking about writing about the challenges of "aging" as that is something I've been struggling with...a lot. Figuring out how to move forward will be the biggest hurdle - once I have that sorted I can get back to writing and taking photos.

Talk soon.
PS I hope the challenges of Covid 19 haven't been too difficult for you and your families - I've missed everyone and think of you often. Just picking up my pen (laptop) is a major achievement and I feel encouraged to continue.

Let's see if I can post a picture:

I did it! This is a big old house in London, where I live, (the Canadian one!) and guess what is taught here???

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 17:13:00 +0000

I Love my Deck! Now if it Would only STOP raining!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 12:08:00 +0000

I'm a little naive when it comes to building projects - I had no idea cement would be involved in the making of my new deck.

I also didn't realize that my old cement steps in front of my patio doors would get

broken into a bunch of pieces and tossed away. But I am just fine with that. Over

the years many animal families (skunks, chipmunks, raccoons!) have lived in the hollow

area behind the cement steps. I'm not going to miss them!

Wasn't he a tidy worker? After each step of construction he would clear up the

area he'd been working in. Of course it was not a very big area so I suppose

he had to clear up to make room.

He thought my plan of maximizing the space made sense so he worked around the A/C but every other square inch went to the deck. The floor was raised by 8" so that the deck would meet the bottom of the fence. And a lot of old materials - flagstones, smaller bits of broken up concrete, stones and rocks were buried beneath the deck.

Et voila! It's wonderful!

I need to take more photos as I've bought a couple other chairs, a new lantern, new table cloth

etc. As it's currently sprinkling that won't be today...but soon.

Some of you may recognize my hanging chair - I had it at my trailer hanging from a tree and also

in PEI on a tree. I hung onto it in the hopes of using it again someday - and found out a month

or two ago that there are stands you can buy to hang the chair from!

So happy!

It's now my favourite reading spot :)

Doesn't it look great?

We've had a LOT of WEATHER lately, if you know what I mean...pretty much everything

you can think of except for snow...and that wouldn't surprise me much. Even tornado warnings.

It's been very unsettled with lots of events being cancelled unfortunately.

I haven't been hiking around Fanshawe Lake as much - just once this week - instead I've switched to my bike as I can't escape the bugs when I'm hiking but I'm a blur on my bike! ZOOM!

No flies on me! (or mosquitos)!!

Have you noticed the infestations of bugs lately in the news?

Las Vegas is full of grasshoppers, Orillia and North Bay (in Ontario) had literally billions

of shad flies descend upon them!

UGH!

The major news story at the moment in Canada is about the two teenage boys who are wanted in connection with three murders in British Columbia. They are on the run and were last seen in Northern Manitoba. This sort of thing doesn't happen too often here so the whole country is

caught up in this awful event. Hope they are found soon!

Keep cool everyone!

It's my favourite day of the year - The PRIDE Parade!!

The Deck has Begun!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 14:56:00 +0000

This is the way the deck used to look - pretty grim.

Nothing but clover and weeds would grow between the flagstones.

Nothing like sitting outside, reading a good book, surrounded by dirt.

Oh, and a small patch of myrtle which Lily

used to bury herself in.

Sorry Lily. You'll have to make do with potted plants!

The deck guy spent yesterday measuring and making

giant post holes. Not sure what he is working on at present though I can hear a

lot of whacking! I'm afraid to look! A big pile of wood was just delivered.

Hurrah! Progress!

Oh thank goodness....COLOUR! Saw these gorgeous fuchsia coloured

flowers on my most recent trek around Fanshawe Lake.

Wild Sweet William?

A feast for the eyes!

I am in love with this trail. New growth trees, old growth trees, turtles,

snakes, deer...21kms of great trails.

Isn't it lovely?

I could build me a wee cottage! Well, not me...but

somebody could build me a wee cottage.

Hope you're enjoying summer now that it is finally here. Around here we had a cold wet spring - it wasn't nice AT ALL and then it instantly became summer complete with blisteringly hot days and hot sticky nights. But I'm not complaining! I look forward to sitting on my deck soon (hope he's a fast worker) shaded by my huge maple trees...cool drink to hand....mystery novel to hand (because I have two hands!) and hopefully a nice breeze.

Fanshawe Lake Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 17:57:00 +0000

So the one day I don't go OUT into nature...nature comes to me! In the form of a fledgling
bluejay. I noticed Lilypad throwing herself against the screen patio door and went over to have
a look and there was a beautiful little bluejay. As sweet as Lilypad is she desperately wanted
to have a go at the fledgling. So I closed the glass door to the patio as well as I really thought
she was going to break the screen. It's ok Lilypad, I know you're just acting on instinct.

The fledgling seems to be in good shape and looks healthy. It just can't flutter very far, basically hopping around on the patio furniture. I looked up on the local London Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, called Salthaven, and this is what they had to say:

Fledglings - have proper feathers, can perch and may even be able to flutter short distances. These youngsters often leave the nest and sit on branches nearby, waiting for their parents to return with food. Unless they are in immediate danger, they should be left and observed from a distance. The parents usually come back within a short time. Keep cats away from the fledglings.

That means YOU Lilypad! While I watched an adult bluejay landed beside the fledgling and popped something in its mouth. So it wasn't going hungry. As I watch its flying skills seem to be improving and it is hopping and flying slightly higher distances. I wonder if it's better off inside my enclosed patio, where it is now, or whether I should place it outside the patio where it would be more vulnerable but possibly closer to its nest. I think it's best to continue to keep an eye on things - it's safe, it's being fed and it's growing stronger. If anything changes I'll call Salthaven and see what they recommend.

NATURE is so fascinating!!

$$$$$

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 17:59:00 +0000

Hello my neglected friends. I'm back to get caught up - lots has been happening, mostly good I'd say. First off - we are holding our own health-wise. Kazi has the first of her quarterly pap tests booked for July. We hope that her next four tests remain clear. She is changing jobs in a few weeks and hopes that it won't be as stressful as her current position. Anxiety is a b--ch!! As for me I have no complaints. Feeling strong, hiking a LOT! I would like to do an 8-10 day long distance walking trip to the UK but not sure if I can make it happen this year. A lot depends on Kazi's health and of course I want to be close by her just in case.

That's not to say I'm not spending any money - quite the opposite. I finally got my deck/patio project approved by my condo board - yippeeee! But cha-ching!! Wish I was a handy woman some days. But also know this is not a job for an amateur. At least not this one :) Actually it's not too complicated - there's an A/C unit to work around as well as a window well and the concrete steps. I've let "my guy" know that the project can go ahead - he's thinking around the first of July and it'll take two days to complete. Can't wait to put my patio furniture out on a level platform instead of wobbly flagstones.
Hopeful the chipmunks move on to the neighbour's yard while they're working in mine!

I've been doing a lot inside the house with lots more to do. Yes the spring cleaning will soon become "summer cleaning"! Things are not getting done in a BIG hurry because we've had SOOOOOOOOO much rain that whenever we get a decent day I am out on the trail hiking or biking. We have a lake on the outskirts of London called Fanshawe Lake and there is a trail all the way around it totalling 20kms. It takes me between 4 and 4.5 hours to hike all the way around. It's one of the nicest areas I've ever hiked and I'm so happy it's near me. I bought a yearly pass for only $25 which allows me to drive in, park and then hike the multiple trails as often as I want. A very good deal.

I don't know if you've ever seen something called "Privacy Pop-up" tents for sale in your facebook feed but as soon as I saw them I thought that's for me! I love love love sleeping in a tent and this design is great - your mattress goes inside and there are zippered openings on all sides. Luna and Lily love it too and nap in there. The only problem is I sleep more...is that a real problem? When I posted about it on facebook Carla said they'd got one for their youngest and she loves it and that it was good quality so that was the push I needed to go for it. I really look forward to going to bed now :)

That's not me LOL!

In addition I bought a new mattress and a new bed frame and new bedding - $$$$. (I decided in a conversation with one of my brothers that the retirement money I've been saving since I was in my 20's is for me to use now that I am retired - makes sense right? ) Not all of it at once obviously :)

I'll close with a few photos as usual:

There are hundreds of these bad boys!

Trillims are Ontario's provincial flower - the white ones
are more common than these beauties. Also come
in pale pink!

Sent this photo to my brother who has been in Ireland the last
three weeks - they've got nothing on us!
Green as green can be!

Gorgeous trails, a wee bit of mud here and there but not bad considering all the rain and flooding we've had.

Phlox is in bloom now.

Sunshine!!

and beautiful blue skies!

That path is calling to me!

Fanshawe Lake

More of Fanshawe Lake

Fisherman on the right side of the Thames during flood season.

Today I am thankful for a rainy day as I promised myself to get caught up on the blogs on the next rainy day. As long as it doesn't last for the next few days!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY...(and grandmother and great grandmother....)

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 12 May 2019 16:13:00 +0000

When my uncle Fred died a couple of years ago I took the opportunity to take pictures of photos
that were in an album made by a cousin. The page above shows my maternal grandmother and
grandfather. Ida Belle and Laurence Frederick Catton. He went off to fight in WWI already
carrying a bullet in his shoulder from shooting practise.
When he returned from the war they were very poor and sadly he died just
when my grandmother had given birth to their fourth child.
In spite of great poverty my grandmother raised four children single-handedly and
lived to be almost 94 years old.

Ida's mother, Lydia Jane, is shown above. She had good genes as well and lived
to be 104 outliving a couple of husbands.
She was very feisty despite losing her sight as she aged. No one
could tell her what she could or couldn't do.
I like to think that in addition to receiving her middle name that I also inherited
her feistiness.

My mother, Edith Jane, was very photogenic! This is the house she lived in as a girl. A well-to-do uncle
owned the house and allowed her, her mother and three brothers to live there. Those were the depression
years and money was scarce as were jobs.

I have a Brownie camera though not the same one my mother used for a lot of these photos. She
loved to pose and get her photo taken - I love this one with the old bike and newspaper-sized basket.

I see myself in this photo.

This is the house I grew up in.
Me and my mom. She was a great mom - always had good advice when I had a problem. In the 1990's she
was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, late onset. It wasn't long before dementia took her away from us in 2000, almost
20 years ago. But she is as alive to me now as she ever was and I feel her presence every day.

Here we all are...my two older sisters, my two older brothers and my handsome parents. This house didn't
have a furnace only an oil stove in the dining room to heat both floors. The girls' room had a wooden vent in the floor to allow heat to rise (not much haha! The linoleum was bitterly cold on the feet winter mornings!)
Eventually my dad excavated underneath the house raising it up and creating a basement.

Here's my mom and I in my dad's garden - he had quite the green thumb.

Mom - I'll keep cycling just like you did. One of these days
we'll meet up on the same road.
Love you Ma.

Things are Moving Along

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 20:38:00 +0000

Well it's a busy time of year in the land of birds and plants! And for us humans too as the warm weather means all the crap that was under the snow is now plain to see. I've raked and swept several times as the trees are loaded with buds that fall off the trees a bit at a time. Although I live in a condo complex the area is well treed with locusts, maples, cedars, spruce etc etc. When I first bought the place in 1994 the maples were little saplings - now at 80' tall they loom over the house providing lots of shade. I don't mind shade in the summer as I rarely have to use my A/C but all the sun-loving perennials I planted years ago of course didn't survive. Ah well, life changes frequently doesn't it?

I've been busy over at Kilally Meadows (I sometimes think I should change the name of my blog to Kilally Meadows as I practically live there!) I spotted a merlin on Sunday - that's a new raptor for me though while I can stand seeing ospreys with fish in their claws I do NOT want to watch the merlins ripping small birds apart! Ugh!

Mr. and Mrs. Osprey in their man-made nest! I
notice they've added a few more sticks to give it
the personal touch :)

Speaking of birds I had a fun encounter with a starling the other day - as my guidebook says they are very gregarious and while this one hopped around a bit it came quite close and I snapped a few good photos that are actually in focus for a change! Her beak was yellow which means she is breeding and boy she was sure happy about it!

I've never seen a bird smile before!

The meadows were flooded here and there after all the rain we had and I had to turn around at one point due to the trail being underwater. Not nearly so bad as last year though. I took my chances when out on my bike Monday cycling through a few flooded areas. I figured I'd be reckless as an elderly Japanese man told me it would only be up to my ankles - he was right though my socks got wet and that felt rather unpleasant! :(

Due to the flooding the marsh marigolds were blooming in places where they've never been seen (by me) before - I guess that is how plants spread and take over new environments.

Marsh Marigold

I've contacted a company to see how much it would cost to put a deck platform on my patio. I've tried several times to grow grass with no luck. So much stuff falls from the trees that I've swept out all the tiny gravel (pea gravel?) between the flagstones and there's just no dirt for the grass to hold onto. My patio water source is at my next door neighbour's house (my hose it at the front of my house) and her tap leaks so I've given up asking her to use her hose. Anyways...I think a deck will be really useful - you should see me try to find a reasonably flat spot to park my chairs and other outdoor furniture - due to the flagstones everything wibble wobbles!

After that gets done I'm thinking about getting Bathfitters in - they put in a new shower surround and new bathtub and give a lifetime guarantee. Should have done it years ago haha! I'm also working on spring cleaning though I noticed the dining room window is speckled again due to recent heavy rains. Drat. Spring cleaning is going to turn into summer cleaning and then fall cleaning...

I hope you're all doing well and in fine fettle with spring in the air finally. I open my doors and windows every chance I get to bring the fresh air inside. Sure perks a person up. Volleyball ends this Friday with an all-day tournament and then my routine will change a bit as I'll have more time for myself and will hike and cycle ending up at DQ afterwards :) (I did that on Monday already!!!)

Ok, time to think about supper. There...I've thought about it HAH!

Over and out.

Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:13:00 +0000

Thanks go out to my readers for recent uplifting comments.

I feel inspired to carry on and start posting again.

It feels wonderful to know

that although we don't talk face to face

(well, thankfully sometimes some of us do)

you are in my corner

and I am in yours.

Some of us have been posting and

commenting in the same family

of blogs for 8-10 years!

I think that's amazing and

I just want to say...

"I love you guys"!

This is a remark some of my family members,

including me,

make when we've tippled one too many

scotches :)

we get sappy and teary

but in a good way.

😁

Signs of Spring!!

The Ospreys are back!

Green - my favourite colour!

Leaves of an early spring wildflower - Trout Lily

The deer are loving the fresh new grass!

I don't like the smell of skunk cabbage
but I do love the colour and
the spirals!

Snowdrops

The wild snowdrops are much more vibrant than my domesticated ones.

Spring also brings out ladies who lunch :)
I was fortunate to meet three school friends in Hamilton
for a nice long catching up lunch.
I love these ladies!!!
Next time I need to wear heels!

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 12:52:00 +0000

Hello my friends. Thank you for the enquiries regarding my daughter. We hit a bit of a low point over the past couple of months and it's been hard to put pen to paper...so to speak. But we are very hopeful that the recent procedure she had done will put paid to pesky abnormal cells and she'll be enjoying full health soon. Well, soonish.

The procedure she had done is called LEEP which can be googled if you want the gory details. The doctor told her after it was performed that it had a 90% success rate so that is where the hopefulness comes in. She still has a year of continuous pap tests to go through before she will be declared free and clear. Every 3 months she'll have a pap test until such time as she has 4 clear tests in a row. Then she'll go to once a year.

Kazi is also doing battle with anxiety and depression resulting in going on short term disability. This has been a difficult struggle as resources around here, such as seeing qualified psychologists and therapists, are in such high demand these days as a whole generation of millennials try to get by on low-paying multiple jobs, many part-time and without benefits and without a hope in hell of ever owning a home or building up savings.

In other, happier news.... SPRING is on its way and we are enjoying a few warm and sunny days with lots of rain and a few snowflakes mixed in. I am doing a minimum of 20 minutes daily in nature to keep my own mood positive. This is my favourite time of year with the ospreys and other birds returning to my favourite spot, Kilally Meadows, along with many wildflowers and flowering trees. Just to keep my feet firmly planted I've started spring cleaning :) just for fun! I started with my dining room as it's an easy room to clean and hopefully by next spring I will have made it through the whole house!

I hope you are all doing well! My plan is to return soon to more frequent posting. Volleyball ends April 26 and I am looking forward to having more time on my hands for writing, genealogy and of course CYCLING!

Thanks for always being there, I appreciate it so much.

Not the Best News...

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 15:57:00 +0000

Since it has been 3 weeks since Kazi had the colposcopy treatment and we'd heard nothing back we felt that she was in the clear. However, she had a call from the hospital on Friday telling her she'd have to have another procedure on April 1st. More waiting...

As if that wasn't enough Kazi has also been suffering with anxiety and panic attacks for the past 3 weeks and is on short-term disability. Well, she's applied for short-term disability - we're waiting for the results of that application too. The saying "hurry up and wait" comes to mind.

So I haven't felt much like writing recently but thought I'd at least tell you why. My motivation for things that require "thinking" has evaporated for now. I think some good news would help me get my mojo back. Fingers crossed...

The Family Witch

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 13:48:00 +0000

Most of us have a skeleton or two tucked quietly away in a closet or attic. My mother discovered that in addition to the usual skeletons we also had a "witch" resting uneasily in an unmarked grave 25 miles south of Amesbury, Massachusetts. Susannah Martin is my 8th great-grandmother and was accused by a neighbour, William Sargent, of witchcraft in 1669 - at the height of the Salem witch hunt. Her husband, George Martin, sued Mr. Sargent of slander and the charges of witchcraft were dismissed. Unfortunately her husband,George, died in 1686 and a few years later Susannah was accused of witchcraft once more by several residents of the village of Salem, now called Danvers.

An official transcript of the court proceedings doesn't exist but a local Puritan minister kept an unofficial record of the proceedings (though I can only imagine he was rather biased against the defendants!) Here is some of what he recorded:

As soon as she came in, Marcy had fits (one of the accusers of Susannah)

Magistrate: Do you know this woman?
Abigail Williams saith it is goody Martin, she hath hurt me often.
Others by fits were hindered from speaking. (likely fits of hysteria!!)
Marcy Lewis pointed at her and fell into a little fit.
Ann Putnam threw her glove in a fit at her.

................ Susanna laughed ................

Magistrate: What! Do you laugh at it?
Martin: Well I may at such folly.
Mag: Is this folly? The hurt of persons?
Martin: I never hurt man or woman or child.
Marcy: She hath hurt me a great many times and pulls me down.

Then Martin laughed again.

(Her offences included causing a neighbour's oxen to drown themselves, calling another neighbour a liar and a thief, her spectre had followed a farm hand, she had bitten a man's hand, she had driven another man mad, and had been seen at "witch meetings". )

Marker of Susannah Martin's home

I can only imagine that Susannah's laughter at the events and accusations didn't help her case at all though I am proud that she stood up for herself and was defiant until the end.............................which involved a noose! She was hanged in 1692.

It took until 2001 (!!!) for an Act to be passed which amended a previous Act to include Susannah Martin's name and proclaim her innocence.

The wheels of justice do move slowly.

But gee genealogy is fun!

Rain, Freezing Rain, Ice Pellets, Snow, High Winds

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:30:00 +0000

I suppose I shouldn't complain about getting "winter weather" at this time of year but I don't think it's fair that we are on the receiving end of a "Colorado" low, a polar vortex from the "Arctic", an "Alberta Clipper" bringing high winds and snow squalls all day today...well you get the picture! Keep your own gol' darn weather to yourselves and stop sending it this way!

Sigh...no doubt y'all are getting your own fair share of crappy weather...but do we have to get it all at once? Spread it around Mother Nature - we don't need rain, freezing rain, snow, ice pellets, whiteouts and crazy winds all in one day! And now I think I need a cup of tea!

There, that's better... a cuppa fixes most things. On the one hand I don't mind a couple of guilt-free days when I stay inside, read a novel, work on genealogy, watch a couple extra episodes of "Shetland", cuddle with the cats and do some baking...BUT I do miss getting out to play volleyball or power walk on the indoor track at the BMO Centre. I tried to get to volleyball on Tuesday but first I had to clear the car of several inches of snow pellets. That wasn't so bad. But after going inside for 10 minutes I came back to the car to find the doors frozen shut due to freezing rain. There was so much freezing rain buildup that by suppertime I couldn't get the front door open! Help!!

Fortunately, on Sunday, I was able to get out for a walk in Kilally Meadows. It was hard walking due to last week's freezing rain but I had a walking stick which helped me out several times. So I was able to check on the beaver-ravaged tree and found out that the BEAVER WON! I was rooting for the tree but the ending was inevitable :(

It looks as though the tree is bending over in pain - no doubt it is!!

Can you see the alien face below?

How about now?

Or now?

Sorry I couldn't resist!

So how's the winter where you are?

I know that B.C., (British Columbia, Canada), is

getting record-breaking snowstorms...as they

are usually the TROPICS of Canada, even in the winter,

I'm not really feeling that bad :)

Be Careful out There!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 14:42:00 +0000

And by "out there" I mean the Cyber World; especially social media. I just went through a ten step program to make sure my laptop doesn't have a virus...so far so good. But I did change a bunch of passwords just in case anyone is trying to hack me - something I don't do nearly often enough.

The reason for this began at 5:30 this morning when my phone started sending me messages from Facebook Messenger ostensibly from my brother. A little hand waving in the air at me and messages saying (very briefly) "hello". Both of these are not behaviours that are usual for my brother, especially at 5:30am so I opened nothing and instead sent him an email letting him know what was going on and asking him why he was up so darned early as that isn't like him hee hee...and also I've never known him to limit himself to a one-word message LOL.... So far I haven't heard back from him (he probably really is still sleeping!)

Then I heard from my sister that they had received a message from my brother this morning asking for money from them to purchase I-tunes music for his niece!! My smart brother-in-law said what is your niece's name? Ummmm Clara? - nope, guess again :) Then "my brother" told my brother-in-law that he was on his way to Manila! That's news to me! Have a safe trip!!

So let this be a wee warning this Sunday morning....I've also had a couple other things happen online recently such as disgusting stuff in my spam folder! "SEND TO TRASH PEOPLE AND THEN EMPTY YOUR TRASH!"

I also encountered a charity that I became suspicious of...always go with your gut - if something seems hinky it probably is! I researched the charity, made sure it was Canadian as I was planning to donate $25.00Cdn per month. I do this with a couple of other charities and have had no issues. After taking the initial $25.00 they took an additional payment of $67.41. This was just a couple of days after taking the $25.00! I called them...you can imagine how that went. Right, not well. So I called Mastercard who is disputing it on my behalf. Fortunately I have a letter they sent through snail mail that referred to my monthly payment of $25.00 so will send that to Mastercard.

The final online problem I've encountered (yesterday) was when I was working on my Income Tax. I was informed on the Canadian federal government website that for the next few weeks certain parts of Cdn tax info (specifically "MY ACCOUNT" )won't be available online!! Come back in a couple of weeks everyone - like that won't bog down the system at all...groan..... I thought doing things online was supposed to be faster - I thought wrong! Sigh....

At least I haven't been hacked....yet!!

All is Well

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:41:00 +0000

My brochure said if I didn't hear back in seven to ten days I was to call my primary caregiver, so I did. I was told the results of my tests were good but I would have to have a yearly mammogram instead of every two years.

One of my sisters said I might want to look into thermograms instead of mammograms to reduce my exposure to radiation. Both procedures have their own substantial list of pros and cons so I find it all pretty confusing.

Do you have any knowledge about thermograms? I would appreciate any and all input.

Next up is Kazi's test on Feb 11. Hoping for good results for her as well.

We are finally having some wild and wooly winter weather - extreme cold thanks to the polar vortex and intense bands of snow due to an Alberta Clipper. Weather always comes from somewhere else! I don't really mind - the hard-working furnace is going to affect my heating bill but so far we haven't had a heat bill MORE THAN $57.00 so we're overdue And we've had maybe 8" of snow in total this year so I can't complain. I have a warm purring kitty on my lap and at least two dozen books to read - I don't think the snow will last THAT long though :) I've also made a breakthrough in my genealogy research so that will keep me busy while the snow flies this afternoon.

I bought some groceries yesterday knowing the snow was coming and have no need to leave the house. Usually when I'm all prepared like this the storm will pass to the north or south of us...time will tell....
Last time I was at Kilally it was -7c which was crispy but beautiful!

Who is that little guy - the Pillsbury Doughboy?

This tree may have toppled over since I was last there!

Geese huddling for warmth on a tiny wee island.

A perfect day!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 17:22:00 +0000

I meant to put these photos up for awhile but I keep forgetting because apparently once you turn 60ish a huge cache dump takes place and you can't remember stuff anymore. Anyhoo the photos below are the ones that made the final cut for my Scotland 2019 calendar. This is out of about 5,000 photos taken overall so you know they gotta be good! They are not in perfect order but I didn't think that mattered unless you were actually going to use the calendar. Just to be clear - the real calendars are in the right order though don't you just wish it was June now instead of January?

I wish I had the power to do something about that and maybe there's a way but I just can't remember! In case you notice yes there are 13 photos below; that's because the printer uses one for the front of the calendar - it's not that I've forgotten how to count...not yet anyways...!

Enjoy...and if you remember let me know which one you like the best! :)

Dollar Glen

The Quiraing - Isle of Skye

Isle of Iona - Inner Hebrides

Isle of Kerrera - Inner Hebrides

Glen Lyon

Fortingall, Glen Lyon

Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus

Black Cuillins - Isle of Skye

Fairy Glen near Uig, Isle of Skye

Black Cuillins - Loch Coruisk

Eilean Donan Castle - Kyle of Lochalsh

Song Sparrow

Isle of Staffa, Inner Hebrides

Well That Never Happens...

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 16:02:00 +0000

Well that never happens...almost never that is...!

Guess what?! I had a surplus in my budget at the end of December! In previous years I've usually been in the hole by a whole bunch! I'm not exactly sure why or how it happened but I'm certainly not complaining!

Below is my budget for December - not pretty is it?! I am a very messy budgeter but it works for me.
I don't feel motivated to go through it now item by item to figure how I ended up with a substantial surplus but I can make a few guesses.

I had an extra $150 in my December budget due to paying my property taxes over 10 months instead of 12 - I really appreciate that around Christmas. I end up with an extra $300 in total to put towards Christmas expenses.
Food expenses were lower mostly due to getting a half price turkey in November which I stored away along with some of the fixings. Usually I wait til the last minute to go food shopping for Christmas so getting some things in November really helped the December budget. As it was I still ended up over spending on food by $30 which was covered by my misc budget line
As far as decorating goes I didn't buy anything new. My only purchase was a $6 poinsettia for my neighbour and one for myself. I use an artificial tree.
I think the main reason for decreased spending in December was due to buying gifts while I was in Scotland: beautiful wool scarves were a big hit as were woollen toques and mittens and fingerless gloves, handmade soaps, books, bookmarks, jewellery, and of course - scotch! So in December I got Juno tickets for Kazi and I (Canadian Grammys), a few more books and that was about it. I also helped Kazi by paying off her phone bill and I created a 2019 calendar with some of my photos through a printing company called Vista. I also made a couple more charitable donations than I usually do.

So to all of you smug folks out there who shop and plan for Christmas beginning in January I now understand why!!! and I plan to do this from now on! On January 1st I was able to put $1500 into savings instead of the usual $1000. Only $500 more to go and I will have recouped all the money I spent (from savings accounts) last year on paying off my car and travel.

Oh the sun is shining so I'll soon be heading out to Kilally Meadows :) but one more thing...

FOOD!!

I recently tried a frittata recipe and we loved it. Besides being delicious I like that I can hide leftovers in it :) scraps of chicken or turkey, limp vegetables - pretty much anything goes. And it lasts us three meals so is very economical as well as yummy! Just top with shredded cheese and a dash or two of Frank's hot sauce (any dish that Kazi can top with Frank's is a good meal in her humble opinion 😋

Where Does the Time Go?

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 16:38:00 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. Here are a few highlights from my own holiday season...but first, a message from our sponsor - Kilally Meadows!

Winter Solstice - Dec. 21. The day of the
year that our shadow it at its longest! I will miss those
long legs as we reach the Summer Solstice!

had a Christmas week breakfast with a former colleague. Donated some "free coffees" to the homeless (the place we always go to for breakfast is a restaurant which hires only folks with disabilities) and has set up this program of buying coffees for those in need. And the food is fantastic!
went out to dinner at The Winebar with two girlfriends (they also serve food :)
spent hours and hours perfecting my Scotland calendar - will post the photos next time
finished reading several books - my favourite was "Scotland: The Genetic Journey." NOT as dry as it sounds! It was so good that I've also purchased "England: The Genetic Journey."
Went for several walks in Kilally Meadows - almost NO snow to be seen! (You know there is something wrong with the climate when you're surprised to see snow in January in CANADA!) Yup, a green Christmas and New Year again this year!
had two long visits with my brother and fellow traveller - Kim :) (One of the traditions we started when in Scotland was to have a wee dram of scotch and a couple of Hobnobs with a good cuppa after. So we've now added that tradition to our bi-monthly visits here at home! :)
Went to see two movies, with a third coming up this coming weekend. The first was "Will you ever Forgive Me?" with Melissa McCarthy in her first dramatic role. I loved it, my friend was luke-warm. Then on New Year's Eve we started a new tradition by going to a movie - when we went into the theatre it was 2018 and when we left it was 2019! That movie was "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Rami Malek playing Freddie Mercury. If he doesn't win an Oscar for that role it will be a disgrace! I give it five stars!! No, six!! The other movie we want to see is "The Green Book" with Ali Mahershala and Viggo Mortensen. The "Green Book" was a book created for African Americans to use when on holiday in the U.S. back in the 1960's. Only certain motels/hotels/restaurants etc would serve them and were listed in the book. Mahershala plays jazz musician Don Shirley and Mortensen plays his driver and bodyguard while on tour. It's getting RAVE reviews!
Spent Christmas Eve watching Christmas movies with Kazi and Christmas Day with Kazi and my brothers, sister-in-law, nephew, his wife and child. GOOD times. I also went for my 2nd annual Christmas walk in Kilally Meadows after Kazi and I opened gifts and had our traditional breakfast of peach pancakes. (I made them with whole wheat flour this year and I thought that improved the taste!)
Interspersed were a few games of volleyball and ball hockey, some baking and batch cooking and more reading and a bit of genealogical success tracking down my 4th great grandmother and father! Yay!
My only resolution is to READ more which should be easy as I've picked up about 20+ books the past few weeks from friends, brother, library, Amazon etc. (I also donated some thrift shop clothes when I was in Scotland to make room in my suitcase for the books I bought while there! )When I was planning my retirement I imagined myself lounging around all day with stacks of books around the house and nothing but time to read them all. (No bonbons please!) But it hasn't quite turned out that way as every time I pick up a book I feel guilty and think there is something more important I should be doing. BAH HUMBUG!!

Now I want to hear about YOUR holidays :)

But first...a message from our sponsor, Lilypad...

Such a big chair for a wee little kitty!

Not Kazi TOO!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 19:41:00 +0000

Not fair. One in my wee family (me) needing more testing re lumps in the you know what's.
Now Kazi has had an abnormal result too with a recent pap test. She's nervous, who wouldn't be? She doesn't have a date yet for whatever they do next so she's anxiously glued to her phone. Hope she doesn't have to wait too long. My next lineup of tests is mid-January.

As if she didn't have enough to worry about entering into her 4th week of new job training. She's doing well though, she texted me a photo this morning of her most recent test and she got 62/62 correct!

Of course for stress I head out to the forest. Experts say that even looking at photos of nature can ease stress so here goes - if you have any stressors these days (with Christmas around the corner who doesn't?!) then have a look-see...

Textures

Look at that sky!!

Madonna

The Nightmare before Christmas!

Spring is upon us - my maple trees are in bud too! :(

So relieved to know that Satan loves me hahaha!

And yous too!

10 9 8 7 6 5.....

....4 3 2 1 blast-off!

This one didn't get away...

you're welcome...

Cats and Kilally

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 15:46:00 +0000

I just uploaded my latest set of photos from my camera to my laptop and I noticed that there are some very definite themes! Scenes of nature or scenes of Lily and Luna snuggling together like the very cozy and cute creatures that they are....sorta...guess I'll concentrate on the kitties for this post.

Here's Lily on her own...soaking up what heat is left once I turn the heating pad off...

Here's Lunaburger on her own..."hey, I want some of that heat too!"

Looks like a romantic moment... except they're sisters...

and Luna is twice as big as Lily...

Luna tries to smooth Lily's ruffled feathers with a good lickin'...

That's kinda nice... for a second or two...

Lily's really not sure about this... "I'm getting squeezed out!"

Lily's eyes are narrowing..."get offa my heating pad!"

"Ohhhhh c'mon" says Luna - "I did lick you afterall..."

"Well...let me think about it..."

"I'll give you a couple of licks but then you gotta go..."

Whap! The claws are coming out! Lily gets

bapped on the nose...

A few more baps and Luna it taken care of - "see ya sucker!"

Shortly thereafter Lily follows me to the dining room and

Luna absorbs the rest of the heat.

Learning to share is hard and makes even sisters grumpy!

Thongs....oops...THINGS... going on around here...

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 15:32:00 +0000

Although my favourite season is spring there is still beauty to be found in the colder seasons.

Especially if the sun is shining as it was last Friday - I don't think I've seen the sun since then -

COME BACK!!

I wasn't through with you yet!

Hungry baby birds?

A reindeer?

Had my mammogram followup meeting on Monday and learned I have a tiny mass

in each breast. Chance of it being cancerous

is 1-2%. I can handle that.

Looking at things logically (which is what I try do) my mother and one of my older sisters both had a number of benign cysts removed so I feel it's safe to assume I'll be the same.

It's hard to tell but things were really mucky in

Kilally Meadows on Friday and I need to whack all the dried mud

off of my boots after this post.

The next two are my favourites - the camera focussed

on the twigs and not on the sparkly river.

Pretty cool!

There's the river!

The nearby pond had a thin crust of ice -

- I love the way it looks!

Something alien about it...

closer...

Another creature in the woods.

So I will wait somewhat patiently for my next set of x-rays and

ultra sound which happen in mid-January.

I had my splinted finger x-rayed on Monday - better safe

than sorry. No news yet,

Too bad there's nothing exciting going on in the next six weeks

to take my mind off of thongs!

🎄🎅🎉

Typing while wearing this splint is a challenge - I have so many typos.

My Pocket Health

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 18:14:00 +0000

For those of you who live in Canada the website for accessing x-rays etc is
www.mypockethealth.com. Yes, this is a new service and I just found out about it when I went for my mammogram. The technician gave me a piece of paper with the info on it but I didn't sign up til I found out that the mammogram was abnormal. Then I thought I want to see what an abnormal result looks like and signed up on the website.

You need to create a login - user name and password and pay a ONE TIME $5.00 fee. Within about two minutes I was looking at my x-rays and reading the results and recommendations. I have a doctor's appointment on Nov. 26 and they have set up an app't for more tests and an ultrasound at a nearby hospital in mid-January.

I am concentrating on this bit of info:
"Most women will not need further testing beyond a special mammogram or ultrasound to find out their breast change is benign or a harmless variation of normal breast tissue."

I don't find I am dwelling on this "abnormal result" in fact, whenever it does come to mind it makes me think of "Young Frankenstein"!

Yuck yuck yuck!!

If it wasn't for bad luck...

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:43:00 +0000

.......I'd have no luck at all!

This is what happens when you try to play volleyball like an 18 year old! The ball was being drilled over the net and I thought I could jump up and tip the ball right back to the other side!

Ummmm...NO! NO to the jumping and NO to the tipping. YES to excruciating pain like I've only felt once before...two years ago when I did the same bloody thing!

Most of the swelling is gone, and the colour is sort of getting back to normal.

As long as it is in the splint there's no pain. But it is stiff as a board right now and I don't look forward to discarding the splint and starting physio exercises. Right now it doesn't bend...at all.

On the bright side Kazi gets to do the dishes and take out the garbage. I did some batch cooking last week and also had several kinds of frozen leftovers so the food situation is OK for now.
Wow, it's like a rainbow of colours!

I really miss playing v-ball and ball hockey! I've had to replace my sports with riding my stationary bike and walking at Kilally Meadows, which is great as I haven't been to Kilally since September.

It's still there :) The sun came out for awhile and it was +4c so I ended up good and sweaty.

It was very enjoyable and I'll go back soon. I forgot how being out in the forest can help with depression.

Wish I could get Kazi to come with me - she would benefit from some forest bathing!

Still some green leaves to be found!

And the ducks were enjoying Meander Creek.

And finally...I haven't posted any photos of Luna and Lily for a long time so here they are...

Winter naps are the best, especially when the heating pad is still warm!

Luna is just yawning but she looks ferocious!

They both love this cozy spot and there have been a few tousles!

That's the news for now. I have a few errands to do in the neighbourhood so I'll walk and get some fresh air and exercise.

Fun Stuff...

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:05:00 +0000

....not really.

I got one of those follow up phone calls to schedule a doctor's app't after having a mammogram recently. After years of normal mammograms it was a bit of a shock though I know I shouldn't worry as it's likely nothing but still I worry.... after all, I AM my mother's daughter!

Recently I signed up for "My Pocket Health" which provides me with unlimited access to my medical imaging records online and goes back years and years. After a one time $5.00 fee I can actually look at and print any x-ray, MRI, ultrasound and mammogram (plus accompanying remarks, diagnosis and recommendations) I've ever had! What a great service! So I went online and had a look at my last mammogram. There are two issues: abnormal breast density (which is common) and focal asymmetry (which is also common). With abnormally high density, which shows up on the scan as white, it can prevent masses from being seen as they also show up white. White on white - who thought that was a good idea?

And the focal asymmetry could mean there is a mass but it can't be seen in a regular x-ray so I'll likely have to have an ultrasound or MRI after consulting with my doctor. What this all boils down to is there could be small lumps lurking around waiting to pounce that can't be seen.

Do I feel better knowing? YES! I'm one of those people who'd rather know than NOT know. I feel quite sure that after more imaging I'll be told there's nothing to worry about. I might have to have more frequent mammograms and I can live (literally) with that. Right now I don't feel any foreign masses invading my body - gotta stay positive!

Staffa

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:44:00 +0000

Getting to Staffa required a 20 minutes train ride from Taynuilt, where we were staying, a ferry to the Isle of Mull, a coach which took us from

one end of Mull to the other, a small boat which took us out into the Little Minch where

we were able to see the Isle of Skye where we'd been a few days prior, and a number of other

little islands, some inhabited, some not. Returning from Staff we went to Iona, another island

which has been a Christian pilgrimage destination for around 1500 years.

Then a ferry over to Mull, a coach back to the other side of Mull, another ferry to Oban, and a train to where we were staying in Taynuilt!

Phew!

We felt extremely lucky that we were able to do this island tour because for a couple of

days it was too windy and the water too rough.

And...as McVal told me after we returned to Canada Oban was flooded!

The Tesco where we had bought some scotch was under water.

Devastating!

So, we were fortunate to have missed the worst of the weather.

Here are a few amazing photos of the Isle of Staffa which is made up of thousands of basalt columns formed by intense pressure during the last ice age, and also

hot lava comes into it too along with other scientific/geological forces.

To learn more the Wikipedia link is below.

I'm no scientist!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffa

Fingal's Cave

Next time I go (heehee) I'll plan for August as we missed the puffins -
they leave the island to migrate at the end of August.

Looking deep into the cave.

It's hard to believe this is a natural phenomenon and
not man made. My brother was wearing a red coat but I
don't think that's him - I think he was wearing black pants.
Though in one selfie I took of myself he's in the background taking a photo!!

Natural seating area for people of all sizes!

There was a staircase providing access to the top of the wee island so I climbed
up and got some photos of cormorants, a common sea bird.

Looks like stacks of lumber.

Arriving on Staffa people start snapping right away!

Crazy beautiful!

You can see other islands in the background.
The guy waving is afraid he is going to be stranded - talk about isolated!

They didn't forget about us :)

My feet to show you how large the basalt columns were; and the most common shape
is the hexagon. Now there's science AND math!

The cave is like a gothic cathedral.

There are more caves than what I'm showing but we could
only access two of them - no doubt for conservations reasons.

They're like optical illusions!

Hard to tell what's up and what's down.

Spectacular!

The stairs to the top!

There are several channels that the water crashes through.

I really would like to return, not just to Staffa but the Isle of Skye, my favourite spot

and a number of other places we didn't have time for.

I would drive on Skye as it has a small population and few cars but I would NOT

drive on the busy roads again trying to navigate the roundabouts.

No thank you.