Jumping in Again

I am back after another long break from my blog. Things ground to a halt when I scared myself by trying to learn the craft of writing. Much better to stick with a blog format that I know and enjoy rather than overthinking the art of writing! All in good time.
My retirement journey while winter turned to summer has been interesting and thought provoking.  From birdwatching to searching for waterfalls in Hamilton, it has been fun too! A quote from Marcel Proust summarizes what I have learned on my journey to date:

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

Now that my career and  work no longer provide the structure that was the foundation for much of my adult life, I am developing new eyes and perspectives as I explore the world around me.

Brain Stimulation

I have trouble being focussed on on these bitterly cold days. My brain is lively so I am not bored and appreciate a real source of renewal with "Fridays with Friends" at the Art Gallery of Ontario. We enjoy lunch and conversation in the subdued and classy lounge in the Grange then head off on unplanned journeys through the galleries. I can rarely remember my way around so the sense of adventure and discovery is exciting. We move from the salon of Canadian Impressionists with dappled light, shadows on snow  and golden haired girls to huge, jarring sculptures of waste industrial iron. I love  everything from the shiny, bigger than life Michael Snow Walking Woman sculptures in the entrance to the enchanting curving staircase of Frank Gehry offering snapshots of the city at every turn. We travel together in the uncharted territory savouring a taste of everything, stopping only briefly to let the beauty seep in. This experience is definitely one of the luxuries of retirement. #ArtGalleryofOntario#AGO#retirement

Still thinking not writing!

I have not yet put any of my essay on "belonging" to paper, but have decided on the essay format not a short story for my first effort.  The exercise of writing this blog is providing some discipline and practice in the meantime. Now that I have left the world of work, I am seeing things with new eyes and feel cut adrift from any frame of reference. Sitting in a course on "The Art of the Essay",  I  realized that I am not accustomed to attending a lecture for nothing more than the sheer pleasure of learning something new. In the past,  I accumulated knowledge for repurposing in my work life more than anything else. Now I might be hoping to enliven my brain rather than reach a linear destination. The light sculpture pictured below by Dale Chiluly will be my inspiration.  

One of the ideas sparked by my lecture this week, was the use of a commonplace book  to organize all the scraps of ideas that I have been capturing as I explore the idea and art of writing. Wonder why  I have never heard of it before?

"Commonplace books (or commonplaces) are a way to compile  knowledge usually by writing information into books. Such books are essentially scrapbooks filled with items of every kind: recipes, quotes, letters, poems, tables of weights and measures, proverbs, prayers, legal formulas. Commonplaces are used by readers, writers, students, and scholars as an aid for remembering useful concepts or facts they have learned. Each commonplace book is unique to its creator's particular interests. "

Time to Embrace the Future

A whole world of possibilities is in front of me but I have a sense of confusion about what to choose. The luxury of unscheduled time has cut me loose from my moorings. My significant other said I am like a hot air balloon bobbing around in the wide blue sky without a tether. That is simultaneously exciting and terrifying.

Time for some focus so I am returning to this blog to chronicle my journey. One of my interests is to learn more about the art and practice of writing. Maybe actually do it rather than just think about it! Every source I have come across indicates that a writer needs to write every day. As in many other things in life...practice, practice, practice. I attended a writers group at the local library the other evening and we agreed to work on a piece that focusses on a sense of belonging. I am toying with some ideas and am not sure whether to use an essay or short story format. Maybe I will try both. Tomorrow....

Radium Hot Springs and Banff June 7

I was determined to try some natural mineral springs in the Rockies and was happy to take the long drive through Kooteny National Park to the hot springs at Radium. Very soothing and refreshing. The nearby town has the climate and feel of Kamloops with hoodoo hills and a Western vibe with a bit of Alpine flair thrown in. Saw a bear eating dandelions by the highway and an elk in Banff. Banff is overly crowded and seems quite built up including an indoor shopping mall!

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake June 6

The iconic Lake Louise is a very popular spot for tourists, us included. Beautiful varying colours of blue and green serene below the surrounding mountains. Tour bus us even this early in the season spilling put of the parking lot onto the roads below. The Chateau Lake Louise is classy and opulent and wonderful for people watching.

Nearby Moraine Lake is a more unspoiled spot with fewer visitors. Gives a real feeling of what these places were like years ago.

Jasper to Lake Louise June 5

No documentary or travelogue or magazine spread can ever replace for me  the reality of travel in person.  The total body experience of sight, sound, smell and how your brain integrates and relates it to your own past and mind maps is priceless. My eyeballs are sore every day from so much swivelling to look at all the things around me. 

A cruise on Maligne Lake just outside Jasper began the day. A woman discovered and surveyed the lake. Bravo Ms Shaeffer! 

Then the Athabasca Falls... So swift and powerful. 

A stop at the Columbia Icefields before we arrived at Lake Louise, remindedus of   the effects of global warming as the ice retreats further and further from the highway every year. 

Yellow Head Highway to Jasper June 4

The Fraser River, Mount Robson, the aerial tram in Jasper overlooking an amazing vista. Words are not adequate to describe the grandeur surrounding us. 

Kamloops trails

A couple of relaxing days spent in the western style town of Kamloops. Set on the banks of the Thompson River, it clearly developed as a working location on the railway. It was hard to get close to the river in town but there were amazing views from the sandstone hills surrounding the valley where the original town was built. A drive through a First Nation on the other side of the river was magical with a sweet smell of sage brush and big horn sheep on the road!  Very warm temperatures but the winds were tremendous! 

The end of the blogging break

June is here and I am on vacation and inspiration has returned. The recent broken leg certainly cramped my style as they say. Moving on from that setback has brought me to Kamloops British Columbua after an amazing drive from Calgary through the the Rockies. Saw the train go through the spiral tunnel at Kicking Horse Pass. Iconic. What a marvel it is that the railway across Canada was ever completed however I know there was much human pain and loss of life along the way. 

Revelstoke was filled with masses of lupins and poppies and other spring flowers and was really hot after the drive through the mountains covered with snow at the top. There seemed to be an unusual number of Chinese restaurants for a town of about 7,000 people. Then Kamloops is really a desert with unusual sandstone cliffs beside the Thompson River. Brown sage brush covered hills surround the town. 

Snowy April

When the snow arrived the other day, there was a very despondent robin standing  still and hunched over as if wondering if he had come back to Toronto a bit too soon. The other birds crowded  around the bird feeders frantically grabbing seeds, perhaps thinking they had better stock up on food for the coming winter! Hang on my feathered friends. Surely spring is nigh.       

I will continue to entertain myself with morning coffee in front of the fire before digging into my growing stash of beads enjoying the distraction of creation. The felt beads made by my friend are very jolly and would brighten any day. 

March comes to an end

A brief blast of icy rain and wind  reminds me that the Canadian winter is not truly over yet. The snowdrops have faded and the tulip leaves are reaching out of the ground basking in the warmth of the sun. I enjoyed family connections over the Easter weekend and delicious new recipes. 

My creative spirit is beginning to flow again with new ideas for necklaces coming to fruition. Still hoping that the healing process of my knee speeds up so I can stop being distracted by it and focus on more of the things that I enjoy. 

Out and about

As interesting workshop on collage making at Scarborough Arts with my daughter after a tasty Thai meal at a newly discovered restaurant made for a perfect day recently. Fun to explore my neighbourhood now that retirement gives me the time to do so. Hidden gems around every corner. 

Visions for the future of Scarborough recorded by visitors to the gallery where the workshop  took place. 

It is exciting to be back at the Pan Am Sports Centre again with the spacious pools and the ultra modern excercise machines that will help to get my knee into top working form. The swimming is so soothing and makes me feel free as a bird, or do I mean fish!

Blue skies ahead

The rain and fog today were very reminiscent of the days I spent in England 30 years ago. Nice to have a blazing fire to relax in front of. 

It was very exciting to revisit the Pan Am Sports Center that I have not been to for months. I am looking forward to moving my rehab activities on the machines and in the pool to that fabulous venue next week. Getting out and about is good  for the spirits! Also, the jewellery making has resumed which is good for the soul!

Spring flowers

The snowman melted yesterday and I made the discovery of snowdrops in our spring garden today. What an exciting time lies ahead! 

I took a walk in the amazingly warm weather to the local library and renewed my card. Certainly need more stamina if I am to enjoy spring walks! The place was bustling with toddlers singing and folks on all the computers. I spent many happy hours entertaining myself at the library as a child and will perhaps do so again in retirement. 

Focus on Creativity

The creative juices are beginning to flow once again! I took on the challenge of setting up a Facebook page for Anam Cara Handcrafts, the newly formed  group with friends and family who are drawn to jewellery making and other such endeavours. In Gaelic, Anam Cara means " soul friend" or in my words, kindred spirit. We will use the site to share our activities and showcase our creations.

Check it out Anam Cara Handcrafts www.facebook.com/achandcrafts

I also took the plunge and joined the Scarborough Arts Council and am looking forward to discovering a local community of what should be interesting folks. It is in a unique old building on the edge of the Scarborough  bluffs with views of Lake Ontario for inspiration. 

Spring soon

The quality of the light is changing as spring is only 2 weeks away. Bright sunshine and blue skies are the norm as the finches who swarm the bird feeder begin to change colour back to brilliant yellow. A foreshadowing of summer days.

A Sunday mystery tour took us on the side roads  of Durham region with a stop over at Richters herbs where the warmth of the greenhouse released the fragrances of lavender, thyme and mint. 

The one and only snowman of the year won't last long in the sunshine!

Winter arrives in February

It looks like a winter wonderland with all the fresh snow outside my warm and cosy retreat. The birds are really enjoying the feeders now and keep me entertained as I sip my morning coffee. It will be harder for me to get about outside with my trusty walker but I have lots of help from my friends to keep me upright. 

 The annual Family day celebrations progressed regardless but very quietly with discussions of how to properly make a pot of tea! I entertain myself with baking cookies to have with the tea. The wild parties are on hold until the spring!

Getting by with a little help from my friends

Another friend came to stay for a couple of days and helped me experience more in life than the focus on the KNEE. A trip to a bead store always helps to brighten me up. Two bead stores even better! She encouraged me to walk outdoors today to the local mall for a toasted Western. How pleasant to get out after a month indoors. The jewellery making tools and materials are now all set up and we had fun experimenting with the jolly felt balls that she made. 

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.