What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
I've been thinking a great deal about female friendships recently -- the ebb and flow, the inexplicable ties that bind, the diversity -- and how each relationship (despite its length or size) adds to who we become -- often without us realizing it. While reflecting on friendship, I began to notice this topic explored in… Continue reading Female Friendships in Life & Literature
If you have followed my past few posts, you know that for me, the month of August has focussed on friendship. As friends often go hand-in-hand with sharing meals together, this has led to many food-related photographs (yup, even more than usual). Here's a small sample of what this past month looked like under that… Continue reading What’s On Your Plate? The Friendship Edition.
Almost six years ago, when I pressed 'send' on my first blog post, I knew no one in the following photo (except for Richard and myself, of course). WordPress gave me no hint about the amazing friendships that were soon to develop. Blogging buddies and spouses (now simply called 'friends'), The Black Goose Inn, Parksville,… Continue reading What WordPress Neglected to Tell Me
Q: What happens when three bloggers (plus their spouses) get together? A: It's anything but silent! Below are pics of Janis (Retirementally Challenged), Kathy (Smart Living 365), me and our husbands spending a delightful afternoon on Protection Island (officially part of Nanaimo, BC). You can learn more about Protection Island here, here and here. Stay… Continue reading Silent Sunday: Protection Island
What what you do if you had all of the time in the world? Using the backdrop of our recent synchronistic camping adventure, Erica of Behind The Scenery, reflects brilliantly on this question. Be sure to watch her slide show with soul-inspiring music. It will immediately transport you to the calming beaches of Tofino, BC. See you there!
I have purchased only one documentary in my entire life.
“All The Time In The World” by filmmaker, Suzanne Crocker.
Winner of 22 Awards from around the world, including Most Popular Canadian Documentary at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2014.
Ocean life at Green Point Campground, West Coast Vancouver Island, May 2021
Suzanne Crocker and her husband take their three children, ages 10, 8 and 4 to live off the grid for nine months in the Yukon wilderness.
View original post 507 more words
Part One: In early April, Vancouver Island had its first blast of warm weather. Naturally, a (socially distanced) picnic celebration with my cohost was in order. Lunch with a View Here's what was on our plates: Fried Chicken, Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, Potato Salad and Potato Chips. For dessert we had Sargento Balanced Breaks (cheese,… Continue reading What’s On Your Plate for May? The Outdoors Edition.
During the early days of the pandemic shutdown, a few groups of friends of mine began a regular Zoom chat. More than five months later, these groups have remained strong. Some of these calls are centred around a focus question. This past Tuesday, the topic was: If the group of us were arriving (without our… Continue reading Welcome to a Virtual Dinner
What do you do when a blogging buddy comes to call? You gather together nearby blogging friends so that everyone can join in the fun. Cardboard cutouts of Zoom Buddies, who sadly could not make this trip, are also packed along! You go chasing waterfalls... Even when it's raining! You search for the famous Jack… Continue reading When a Blogging Buddy Comes to Call
Early on, in our time of social isolation, a couple of different groups of my friends and family began to check in on each other via video conferences. These have been incredibly powerful. With many friends and family members living so far away, I wonder why we hadn't done this as groups before? One of… Continue reading Soul-Soothing Activities
Over the holidays, I wanted to focus on presence. I took a month-long break from blogging and significantly reduced my time online. Although the first series of images suggests that my primary activity was dining, I revelled in quality time with family/friends and am grateful for our time together. Our youngest son flew home yesterday,… Continue reading Where Have I Been? Where Am I Going?
Retirement Reflections 