For My Blogging Friends

This is a very busy time of the year for me, as I know it must be for you. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for gracing my pages, sharing your thoughts and letting me glimpse into your lives.

I feel blessed to have touched keyboards with you these last few months

and look forward to next year.

Due to many planned family get-togethers in the next few days, I will be travelling a lot.

 I don't know how often I will be able to post or visit your blogs.

 So, I would like to leave you with this until things slow down a bit.

May your Christmas be a joyous one!

Love Susan xo

Do You Wear a Scarf?

Now that the weather is getting colder and the temperatures are dropping fast, I've started wearing my hat, mittens and scarves. I came across this video today and find it both interesting and helpful.

Who knew there were so many creative ways to wear a scarf?

Have a wonderful day, my friends and wrap up warm!

A Simple Act of Kindness

 Everything's coming up roses!

My day started off as usual. I did my morning workout and went for a run. Feeling energized, I thought I'd finish up Christmas shopping.

The stores were choatic and crowded but, I did manage to finish. On my way home, I decided to stop by Tim Horton Donuts and grab a coffee. After joining the line of cars waiting to place an order, I fumbled in my change purse to find the correct change.

It was my turn  - "Can I have a medium coffee with double milk and no sugar."

My mind was preoccupied as I drove up to the takeout window. The young girl smiled and handed me my coffee. When I reached out to hand her the money, she said - "It's already been paid for."  Sitting dumbfounded, I asked  - "By who?"

I was pleasantly surprised when she told me that the man in the car in front of me told her that he'd pay for my order  too. I couldn't believe it, a perfect stranger - out of the goodness of his heart paid for my coffee. What a wonderful gesture of kindness!

It was impossible for me to follow and thank him personally as he had already turned on to the main road - but, I think he wanted it to happen that way. I can just imagine the smile on his face. Afterall, you can't do something so nice and not feel a little spark of happiness.

This man's simple act of kindness made my day and I plan to pay it forward!

Have a wonderful day, my friends!

Today is , , ,

"AMAZING!"

I feel fantastic!

To quote Ebenezer Scrooge,

"I am as light as a feather. I am as happy as an angel . . ."

I had a most wonderful day with my family yesterday and this video makes me feel even better!

 

Have a wonderful day, my friends! I'm off to run around the track a few times and breathe in the fresh air!

 

The Battle of the Bulge

Okay - It's time to get serious.

I can't be hiding in the bushes anymore. With my son's and daughter's weddings coming up, I have to do something about those unwanted pounds that are clinging to my body. My walks just don't seem to be doing it and there's no way I'm going to 'roll' down the aisle at their weddings. I'm going to walk with my head held high minus those clingy pounds.

I refused to be doomed to look like Jabba the Hutt. :))

No weight lose gimmicks or starvation diets for me. NOPE! I'm just going to start a vigorous training program. Eeeeck!

With the help and support of my children, my program has begun - bending, stretching, weight training, running, and collapsing from exhaustion,

Bending and stretching

Running - "Honest girls. My legs won't move anymore. Ugghh!"

My Daily Journal

Exercise - the rewards will be worth it and this pain and stiffness are only temporary. "Oh, ouch. My aching back!"
Okay, I survived the first day of vigorous training and lived to tell about it. Wish me luck, my friends. I have a long way to go.

All I could do was watch . . .

I have faced many emergency situations during my 40 years as a nurse - both at home and in the hospital but, never have I been faced with an emergency dealing with a duck - not until yesterday.

I felt helpless and didn't know what to do. What a terrible feeling to watch a helpless creature struggle to survive.

While strolling along the shore of Lake Ontario, I noticed a duck sitting very still on the ice covered water. At first, I thought it was sleeping but, that notion changed quickly when I saw him flutter his feathers and kick outward with his webbed foot. He appeared to be in distress. I stopped and watched. It became clear that he was stuck in the ice. I wondered how that could happen. He must have been sitting there for a long time to be frozen to the ice. The more he struggled, the more panicky I got. He was too far out for me to help plus, I would go through the thin ice if I tried. My only recourse was to call 'Animal Rescue.' I probably sounded like a maniac when I phoned but they reassured me that they would be there within the hour.

For what seemed a life time, I stayed by the shore and watched the poor duck try to free himself. Having never cared for a duck before, I didn't know how long it would take before he would succumb to hypothermia if at all. I internalized - if he collapses from exhaustion, I'll jump into the water and rescue him myself. Crazy I know - but, that was my frame of mind at the time. I paced a bit and mumbled to myself - then, 'it happened.'  He broke loose and waddled towards the open water. I felt so relieved. For approximately one hour, the duck worked to break loose and, voila - he was free.

I hope old man winter doesn't throw any more surprises my way.

What I learned from this experience:
  I wouldn't make a good duck nurse. Hey, I don't even know how to do CPR on a beaked animal. :))

I'm so happy everything turned out okay.
Yesterday's adventure had a happy ending and I found a few more white hairs.

I took a few photos and put together this wee video.

Have a fun-filled day, my friends!

Lonely Socks

Why does it never fail that when I put two socks in the dryer, only one comes out? Where do the renegade socks go?

I know this strange phenomenon doesn't happen to me alone. I have witnessed, first hand, other people scratching their heads in wonderment.

Is there a sock conspiracy? Who's behind the missing socks - the government, sock gremlins, UFO encounters, an entity living in my dryer? I've even considered that there's a time warp vortex that opens up and devours vulnerable socks.

I thought about marching down main street with other bewildered people carrying signs - "Socks Unite" but, I had to refrain because I couldn't find a pair of socks to wear to the event.

Should I be scared?

Fess up, my friends. Someone out there must know something.

Mellow Rays of the Departing Sun

Sun Rays peeking through the Clouds

Check out Sky Watch for more images.

Young at Heart

As I get older, I'm faced with the common aches and pains, the infamous sagging concerns, and the annoying senior moments. Rather than focus on what I can no longer do - I've decided to look at the brighter side of life. Afterall, I have a great role model.

My biggest inspiration in life is my 82 year old mother and I truly hope I follow in her youthful footsteps. It has always been her dream to fly a plane but, being deaf in her right ear made it impossible for her to take to the sky.

Did I really say, 'impossible?' Let me rephrase that - other people thought it was impossible, but not my mother. At the age of 82, she learned to fly a plane despite her disability and got her wings. Yep - you're never too old to chase a dream and succeed.

What a blessing to have a mother so young at heart!

Just look at her fly!

Click image to enlarge.

Oh, by the way - did I mention that my elderly mother also rides a motorcycle and snowmobile? :))

"If wrinkles must be written upon our brow, let them not be written upon the heart; the spirit should not grow old."

Have an uplifting day, my friends!

Watery Wednesday - Majestic Wings

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."

Visit Watery Wednesday for more watery images.

In Living Colour

Old Man Winter is knocking at the door - but, there are still hints of colour peeking through.

I couldn't help but notice this red cardinal in the bird-feeder. It's colours were vibrant!

Visit Ruby Tuesday to see more.

Mother Nature preparing for Winter

Today I took a wee stroll through 'Bluffer's Park' and was amazed by what I saw. The once vibrant colours were gone. The 'stick season' (as I call it) is upon us. Mother Nature has shred her colourful cloak.


I noticed many small animals scurrying about looking for food - any morsel they could find to store for the winter months.


Several park visitors were tossing bread crumbs at the birds while, still others were leaving behind bits of food for the squirrels.

I came across this bird nimbling at some cat food left behind by a passer-by.


Yes indeed, all seemed well in the world today as seen by this young boy paying homage to 'Mother Nature.'


Have a wonderful day, my friends!

A Mother's Wish

I have another blog called, 'A Mother's Wish.'

Although my children left home years ago, I still can't get over these 'empty nest' feelings. They're both getting married soon and I'm so happy for them - but, I just can't seem to shake these moments of nostalgia. So, in an effort to move on, I started to blog about the earlier days. In essense, I've decided to rejoice in the fact that they've grown and are starting a history of their own.

I often wonder it's a normal feeling for a 60 year old woman to still be clinging to the yester-years.

My children then and now.

The Book I'm Reading

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on the first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the first sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

The book I'm reading is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

The first two lines of the story:

"Mae Mobley was born on a early Sunday morning in August 1960. A church baby we like to call it."

The first two lines didn't really grab me but, after hearing so much about the book, I had to continue. I also wondered if the editor missed correcting, 'a early' or was it purposely left that way.

Hello My Friends

I've been absent for a few years and have missed all of you.
A lot has happened since then that has kept me busy.

My son and daughter are both engaged and will be getting married in the near future to two wonderful people. Presently, I'm getting ready for Jen's wedding and helping her plan a destination wedding for May 6, 2012 - to take place in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We're all very excited! My son John, will also be getting married next winter and that too has me excited!


The blonde girl is my daughter, Jen and the big guy on the right is my son, John. They are celebrating together with their future spouses. Yep, there's love in the air in my little corner of the world!


The winter season seems to be here. It's snowing in Toronto, Canada and it's getting colder. I love the winter months - glistening blankets of snow, scenic views, and, did I mention - the cold weather? After the hot summer, I'm looking forward to the change.

I'm also still zipping around taking photos of everything in my path. This summer I came across a red fox while gardening. He seemed friendly enough. He just sat and watched me work. He even posed for a photo.


Well, I'm off for a wee while so until next time, have a wonderful day, my friends. I hope to visit your blogs real soon to see what you've been up to.

Love and warm hugsss, Susan xo