Friends are Fabulous!

This week I enjoyed some company other than close family. Really helps to have the support and a different perspective. I realize that I will need to get some more tea for visitors if this keeps up!

 At the three week mark now. I am truly living in the moment. The day consists of fresh Cuban coffee in the morning,  admiring the cardinals, finches and chickadees swooping around the feeders, 3 hours of exercise to stretch and strengthen then on to keeping up with the latest Netflix offerings. 

2 weeks after the big day

Time marches on and I know the saying, "Time heals all wounds" must be true. I am trying to do my part but I think that nature is the biggest player in this recovery process. My friends and family also have a major influence as they encourage me to persevere and keep my spirits up while  I get the new joint moving. Small victories like sitting on my couch and getting in to the front seat of a car are triumphs that I celebrate! But the most wonderful sign of things to come was the ability to use the walker to wander the aisles of Winners! Retail therapy always works. 

Monday morning

 Today feels like the first Monday of my retired life. The all consuming recovery from knee surgery has overshadowed everything else. Realizing that it was fear of pain and what it meant rather than pain itself that was blinding me to the future ahead, I now feel in charge of my destiny rather than at the mercy of my physical limitations. Giving meditation a try for the first time and of course Boogie Wonderland is a great tune to exercize by! Stretching to the groove! Hope there is good music at the hospital Physio today. 

Today is bright

Finally it feels like I can emerge from the focus on surgery and pain and take a look at the world around me. It is certainly more of an ordeal than I had anticipated however the support and help of family and friends is essential and keeps me going. Also great to have a daughter who is a nurse. Patient but firm. Just what I need. Back to the exercise routine!!

Renovation

Signing off for a few days as I make good use of advances in health care and our hospital system in Ontario as I have my knee replacement done. The thought is daunting but l look forward improved walking in the future. Modern medecine is amazing. Like the 350 year old oak tree in the picture below, we all need a bit of assistance as we age!

Montebello is Magic

Two days at the Fairmont Chateau Montebello, a log cabin hotel. Built as a private club in the 30's, it is reminiscent of the movies with Bing Crosby set in Maine that entranced me in my teen years. First dream come true was a sleigh ride behind a pair of small Clydesdale brothers with the jingle of bells as we travelled through the forests and bush.  It met every expectation!  

Warming up in front of the massive stone fireplace is another moment to be treasured. 

Today began with a swim in the pool then a walk to the national historic site of the Papineau Manor (built in 1850) nearby. Walking on crisp white snow under brilliant blue skies overlooking the Ottawa River almost made us oblivious to the minus 20 degree weather. 

A real point of interest was the grain house that looked like a lovely church.

Today is truly about relaxing in the moment. No past, no future, only now. 

Surrounded by history

A day spent at the Canadian Museum of History steeped in the stories of the Vikings and the First Nations people was mesmerizing. The building is magnificent and peaceful. 

I was surrounded by more children than I have seen in a long time. The young families filled the museum with excitement and lots of noise. Bright eyes taking in everything with patient parents in tow. It reminded me of the many times my mother took me and my three brothers to the Royal Ontario Museum. 

As we got older, she would drop us off with me in charge and I would try in vain to convince my brothers to leave the knights in armour section to look at the medieval dresses. Nice to be able to look at what I want now! It seems that even the Vikings were entranced with beads like I am. Can't wait to dive into my beads again soon. 

Day 2 of the New Year ended with a blues session at the Rainbow Bistro. Interesting crowd of middle aged folks and young blues hopefuls. Live music draws us all together. 

The New Year Begins

2016 is a new adventure. I have regained inspiration after a few months of focus on other things. I am no longer tied to the world of working to make a living. What kind of living lies ahead? 

A road trip on the first day of this new life is a good start. The snow in the cedars and slim white birches with rolling hills in the background provided a truely Canadian winter scene as we travelled the iconic highway 7 to Ottawa. The road of the pioneers cutting through the rocks that mark the end of arable land. The miners fared better than the farmers north of this road. A toast to the new year at the Chateau Laurier Hotel followed by a magical light show on the Parliament buildings was a perfect end to the day. 

The elegant Chateau Laurier Hotel

Light show on the   Parliament Buildings