March 2017 by the Numbers

Why 'By the Numbers'?
While I'm much more concerned with quality as opposed to quantity, sometimes it's just fun to look back and reflect on what you've done in a specific window of time. Taking a look at what you've done often might be telling . . . here's to hoping that we engage in joyous activities regularly, and perhaps we can learn something from reflecting on how we've spent some of our time, and make changes if need be accordingly. The overall hope here is to celebrate the smaller joys in life, enjoying a measure of gratitude for the everyday and commonplace, as well as the rare and extraordinary.

March 2017 by the numbers:

- One sweet little pioneer and her Mom (that's me!) were thrilled to get to share in another wonderful school field trip together, this time to the Joseph Schneider Haus.

- 150 years of Canada ready to be celebrated with the arrival of our free 2017 Parks Canada Discovery Pass. 
You too can get yours at http://www.commandesparcs-parksorders.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=22953&urlLangId=-1&productId=524528

- One toast to the still surreal fact that the girls are old enough to stay on their own once in a while! M and I enjoyed a beautiful though chilly walk as we snuck out for Sunday morning coffees. 

- Two spoons and one incredible dessert. Affogato is quickly climbing towards the top of my list of favourite treats. The only reason I shared this amazing blend of ice cream doused with a shot of hot espresso is because I was already so full from dinner. Next time: dessert first!

- Two days of great racing for both of my little swimmers at the Waterloo Region Challenge Cup. Highlights included: Four never-before-swum races for E, and all P.B.s for her; Several P.B.s and a sought-after Ontario Festival qualifying time for H; and the simple fact that both of my girls were on the SAME pool deck, on the SAME day, at the SAME time - miracles never cease!

- Seven days in sunny Florida spent with my girlies and my parents.

- Two visits to the Manatee Viewing Centre in Apollo Beach were in order, as the girls so loved petting the stingrays at Cowshead Cove. Countless manatee were also spied in the shallow, warm waters of the bay, and this free attraction has definitely been added to the list of places to revisit during future trips to this area of Florida.

- Top Ten-voted beach in North America by numerous sources, Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, Florida boasts mile upon mile of deep, white powdery sand. Gorgeous! Fun stats: 2017 Travelers' Choice Trip Advisor Award results: Siesta Beach voted #1 U.S. beach; #5 on the best beach in the world list!

- Five of us attended a pre-season baseball game between the Grapefruit League's Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The stadium's vibe was much fun, and the scorching temperatures had us all ready to jump into the pool with our clothes on upon arriving back at the house!

- Four friends catching up over wine during a lovely gals' evening out.

- Tens of thousands of cans used and donated in the Food Bank's annual CANstruction event. We happily admired them all and voted on our favourites - what a great way to raise food and funds for a worthy cause!

- One fabulous sleepover visit with two dear friends whom we never see often enough, but with whom we always easily pick up just where we left off.

- Six years can make a big difference at times, and at other times, not so much!

- Two lovely pieces created by my littlest artist, who was inspired by Lawren Harris and Grandma Moses.

 - Three friends shared a great eve of dancing and catching up.

- Two Spring cups at Starbucks to sweeten the deal during a nearly ten km. walk with a good pal.

- Three cuties all set to see 'Beauty and the Beast' after many months of anticipation . . . I thoroughly enjoyed it, too!

- Twenty wonderful grade threes, including my own mighty mite, worked diligently with me as we sculpted with clay during several school visits this month. So much fun getting to be the volunteer Mom!

- Four of us put on these spiffy shoes and had a great time bowling, something I haven't done in years. Great family fun!

- Sixty minutes was all the time we had to find Great Aunt Gertrude's Gazillions and escape her house before the wrecking ball hit! The four of us - intrepid puzzlers that we are - had a fabulous time trying to break the codes and uncover the secrets as a team at the Ultimate Escape. This was our first-ever attempt at this kind of adventure, but will surely not be our last! 

- Two of my favourite people headed out for a ride together on my recommendation, and thoroughly enjoyed their time together before being ushered home by the rain.

- Several hours spent darning - yes, you read correctly, darning!! And I had a surprisingly good time doing it! Kind of refreshing to put my practically non-existent home-ec skills to use, and very satisfying to put a serious dent in the basket of holey socks and tights that has slowly but surely filled up over time. Waste not, want not!

- Two of my very favourite people on the planet are growing up incredibly quickly! As so many parents, teachers, caregivers, grandparents, etc. do, I'm sure, I just gaze at them in wonder sometimes, awash in amazement at the wondrous little people they are.

- Two mugs of hot cocoa, with ten marshmallows apiece - these things matter! - for my little munchkins who trudged home amidst flurries on a Canadian spring day . . . 16 degrees and sunny on one day and negative temperatures with blustery winds on the next seems to be par for the course for us these days.

- Five days to share with one of my dearest friends is just around the corner as I get ready to head out to New Brunswick to visit her and her family - including a new baby girl! I can't wait! As I tend to do during my travels, I will be unplugged from my blog during this time and look forward to reconnecting upon my return.

I wish you all a fantastic month ahead, and hope that Spring's arrival is bringing you all many opportunities to savour those wondrously powerful joys that come in small, everyday moments.

Thought of the Week: Trying Something New & Celebrating my 50th Blog Post!

You are reading my 50th published blog post, and for that I am very grateful - thank you! I'll also admit that I'm rather proud of myself . . . about a year ago as some of my friends and colleagues were asking me about what this year might entail, several suggested that I should blog about it so they could see what I'm up to during my year off. My immediate personal reaction was to silently scoff at the idea, sloughing the thought off like so much dead skin during an exfoliation treatment. What did I know of blogging? The answer: Nothing. Nada. Zip. Actually, about as much as I know about exfoliation treatments. I'd never even read anyone else's blog at that point, let alone thought about setting up my own. Being a self-proclaimed technologically impaired individual who - here's the cherry on top of this no-way sundae - is often somewhat hesitant about sharing the details of her life with others, blogging was certainly not going to be a part of this year. The thought was actually laughable!

And then this year got underway and three things became more clear to me. The first was an answer to the question that so many had been asking me: What are your plans for this year? I just reminisced my way back to my very first blog post where I worked my way through the answer to that question on paper (okay, on the screen). Here's an excerpt:

Balancing B-G, Sept. 22, 2016:  "As my year off approached, a number of people asked me what my plans were; what did I intend to do? I noticed a slight feeling of unease in the face of these questions. After all, what WERE my intentions?? My mind flew to the 1980's music video of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" and the father's belligerant question "What d'you wanna do with yer life???" I realized, of course, that my friends and family were only being kind in their show of interest, but the questions seemed to put an air of expectation and pressure on how my year was to unfold and, more aptly, what it was to yield in the end. I knew I wanted to be more present for my family, my friends and myself. I certainly wanted to travel more often than usual, and on a more flexible schedule. I hoped to practice yoga more regularly, to write and read, and basically to do all of the delicious things that I usually wish I had more time for. In essence, I was seeking greater balance across all areas of my life. But was this far too self-indulgent a goal? Should I not be pursuing something of greater value, such as a further academic degree, or a very specific writing project (that classic novel, perhaps?). After stewing over these thoughts for a while, I realized that balance is a lofty and worthy goal. Aren't most of us seeking it? And while it's obvious that a healthier sense of balance will be more easily achieved upon the elimination of a major aspect of my life, namely my job, I hope to glean insights into how I can carry some longer-lasting solutions to the balance challenge forward through the rest of my lifetime . . . My goals for the year are to savour life, quite simply . . . the moment-by-moment journey in mindful, positive and hopeful living."
http://balancingb-g.blogspot.ca/search/label/About%20this%20year

So I knew I wanted to explore and experience a life of greater balance. Check. The second thing that became clear to me was that I really wanted to incorporate my love for writing into this year in a more formal manner than journaling and scrapbooking provide. While these options are a wonderful creative outlet for me, I felt that an audience of some kind would be nice to share some of my experiences and thoughts with. Connecting with people during this year was a priority, and if my writing could be the springboard for some dialogue and conversations, what a great opportunity for additional connections. But - and this was a big BUT - I did not want there to be any serious stress associated with this writing. As in, no deadlines, strict expectations or dictated topic guidelines. After all, escaping those kinds of demands was a large part of what this year was all about. I began looking at a few blogs and realized that they cover the spectrum in terms of format: while some offer daily advice or interest columns in a prescribed framework and on a very defined topic, others are more like online journals. And that's when I began to reconsider that whole blog thing. 

Trying something new can be a daunting prospect, especially when you intend to share that something with others, whether it's with one person or many. I know that I often tend to avoid technology in my life. And I'm aware that this is a two-fold decision. On one side I very consciously try to limit my entire family's interactions with technology. Yes, I am one of those people who has some very grave concerns about the effects technology is wreaking on us as individuals and as a society. I could surely write an entire post here - or an in-depth novel -  about my reservations concerning the proliferation of technology in our lives and what I and many researchers believe are some of the damaging consequences of this propagation to our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Yes, the word 'fear' might come up a few times in that novel of mine. And yes again, I might start to sound like a sci-fi doomsayer; I recognize that this is not a popular opinion. But on the other hand, I must also admit that my discomfort with embarking on projects of a technological nature likely have something to do with my complete ineptness when it comes to most things related to computers. There's a certain amount of vulnerability that's exposed when you venture out of your comfort zone, and oh-boy am I ever out of my comfort zone when dealing with technology.

These thoughts about stepping out of my comfort zone relate to the third thing that became clear to me as this year got underway: I wanted to learn some new things. And while I'm learning a great deal about myself, my family and friends and the world through some of my experiences, connections and travels this year, embarking on a quest to create and maintain a blog for the year provided a very clear learning goal. A trip to the Apple Store saw me purchasing a new MacBook Air. I did not want to be chained to a desktop computer for all of my writing during this year of explorations. So here was my first opportunity for learning: navigating this new piece of equipment, which even I will admit is quite user friendly . . . and yet I regularly manage to find a stumbling block here and there - thank goodness for tech support and handy 'help' features! Then came the rather lengthy lessons on blogging . . . and they continue to this day! I checked out other people's blogs, and then had to investigate blog providers. Set on keeping this endeavour free of monetary charge, I did have to wade through a few lines of fine print here and there, where upgrades and countless options can add on charges. Eventually I landed at this site, Blogger, and went with it. In hindsight, I probably should have spoken with some people who blog to get their advice and input. But eventually you just have to dive into some things, and so I did. Oh yes, there was initially much frustration - some of you who've been with me from this blog's birth may recall my premature launch issues, when I neglected to properly test the 'follow' and 'subscribe' features before putting things out there. Related problems cropped up again regarding leaving comments on my site. Sure, I could've put my head back in the sand and given up then and there, letting the embarrassment of my faux-pas put the brakes on the whole endeavour. Instead I came to terms with all of these issues as being a part of my learning process. And my have I learned - a lot! Plus I really enjoy this blogging journey, even more than I ever imagined I would.

So here's to those friends who first uttered the word "blog" when they asked me about this year. And here's to all of you who've supported me along the way to this 50th post by reading, commenting, providing I.T. support, or showing an interest in any way. I'm thankful to have tried something new. And here's to my next learning journey: an Additional Qualification course on Mathematics - taken online! - that I'm embarking on this spring. Here's to learning new things!

P.S. Please feel free to venture back through my older posts if you're newer to my blog. To help guide you there's a handy menu along the right-hand side margin where posts are sorted chronologically under the heading "Blog Archive", and there are also tabs running along the top of the screen by which I've sorted my posts by topic. When you come to the bottom of a screen, there's often the option to click on "Older posts" which will let you continue further into the history of my posts. I also published a post to try to help guide interested readers and/or wannabe followers through some of the grey areas of following this blog or commenting on a post. Here's a link to that post:

http://balancingb-g.blogspot.ca/2017/01/logistics-clearing-up-some-confusion.html

(I'm having trouble making these links active, and so you may need to copy and paste them into your browser if you're inclined to following them - sorry! Hmmm, at least I'm aware of my technological shortcomings, right?! Awareness has to count for something!)

My wonders: What was the last new thing you tried? How did you feel after trying it? Was it a positive experience? A learning experience? How did this experience make you feel about trying something new in the future? Is there anything new that you'd like to try right now? If so, what supports could be put in place to help you in trying?

Thought of the Week: The Art of Aging

Several years ago as "the Big 4-0" approached, I was cool, calm and collected about that impending birthday milestone. "You're only as old as you feel", was my preferred maxim when it came to age. I was healthy, active, generally happy and grateful for my lot in life. Forty was just a number, albeit one that had some of my friends quaking in their proverbial boots. Some were dreading the arrival of that decade that seems to represent mid-life, if we're fortunate. But not me. I welcomed forty, ready to embrace this time in my life which many describe as incredibly satisfying due to a keener sense of what it is you value and want in life. That wisdom which comes with experience was going to carry me along quite happily, thank you very much. A dear friend and I even jetted off to New York City for an extended weekend get-away to welcome in our forties, kicking off the new decade in our lives in fine fashion with a celebratory red carpet, so to speak.

Forty arrived and all was well. Just a number, see. But like a snake that slithers down from a branch, pointing out the juicy apple just above its serpentine head with a nod, it lulled me into a false sense of security and invulnerability. And then forty showed me its true colours. As would a false friend who's kind to your face and deceitful when out of earshot, forty stabbed me in the back. And twisted the knife. 

I entered my forties with still three grandparents in my life. Goodness knows that I was utterly grateful for that fact and for the very close relationship that I'd always shared with them. Perhaps enhanced by the fact that I'm an only child, and that I was also an only grandchild on that side of my family, my Oma and Opa were truly like a second set of great parents to me as I grew up. I spent many a weekend at their home as a child, and associate so many good feelings with them: security, comfort, kindness and unconditional love. My own girls, H and E, have also grown up knowing that love from them. And while my logical brain knew that they'd have to disappear from my Earthly life one day, the emotional part is having a lot more trouble coming to grips with a world that doesn't have Oma and Opa in it. They've been constants in my life since day one. Now I have only one grandparent remaining. My Nanny's 91 and I'm thankful that she's going strong. What a good reminder this is to go visit her again soon and share as much quality time with her as I'm able.

When forty arrived my body was strong and I jumped into any physical activities that appealed. I ran most days and had completed a series of half-marathons in my late thirties. I competed in duathlons, and certainly didn't think twice about carrying luggage or helping a friend move some furniture. My body was dependable. And then my forty-year-old self put a Pyrex bowl of noodles into the fridge one day and my back gave out. This felt as though the lower shelf of my back dropped out of its position; like someone took out the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet and the system surrounding it went into spasm in its attempt to hold up the remaining structure. As my condition improved and then relapsed, I discovered that running was no longer a viable activity for me. Believe me, I did not give this up easily; I've been running for as long as I can remember, and both my physical and mental states thrived on it for much of my life - that is, until forty knocked at my door. 

The way I began to see it, I was left with two options: live a brittle life of fear and loss, clinging to what has been and lamenting all that is no more, or forge on, adapting to the new state of the union that is my life. Or as Andy Dufresne, played by actor Tim Robbins in one of my favourite movies, 'The Shawshank Redemption' more succinctly says, "I guess it comes down to a simple choice: get busy living or get busy dying." There's no doubt that I've spent some precious time floundering through the murky swamp of this thing called mid-life, though I'm hesitant to say that it's been wasted. While I don't dream of lending my thoughts anything near the grand or noble import as those of the famed Greek philosopher, Socrates apparently said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." I applaud these words, however, my cautionary addendum is that one can get stuck in the quagmire of the mind and miss out on the simple glory of experiencing the wonder of life through the senses.

So here I am, two years after forty bowled me over and I've learned a great deal about prioritizing and listening to my body. I'm ever-grateful for this physical entity that I'm in when we're having good days, and try to be just as grateful when it's not working optimally. I've swapped out some of my go-to physical activities for ones that now better suit my body and its limitations, devoting more time to yoga, swimming and walking and less to those whose impact is not currently positive. I've also learned to seek help when necessary, and would like to send out a huge shout-out of thanks to my talented friend A and her team at Embody Health Centre for their skills and care, as well as to the easy-going yoga practitioners and teachers at Fearless Heart Yoga Centre who provide a warm and comfortable space in which to practice. Above and beyond the physical care these teams provide, it's knowing that there are positive people in my world who are always there to support me that means the most.

At this moment when I look back on the past couple of years, my forties have been a time to transcend the labels and the boxes that we too often package ourselves into. We are, indeed, more than the sum of our parts, our strengths, weaknesses and individual traits. We tend to define ourselves using certain titles, accomplishments, roles and interests. My list might have read something like this at one time: mother, daughter, wife, granddaughter, teacher, runner, introvert, writer, vegetarian, friend, animal-lover, etc. When conditions or events alter those definitions it's easy to question who we are, how we should proceed, or why we're here. All valuable questions, surely, but not ones to get hung up on. I can't fully describe how I've come to see myself these days, but it's in a much broader scope than those labels imply. My sense of self seems to vibrate along an expanse of feelings, of the grand within the simple and the simple within the grand. I realize this may sound very nebulous, and I think that's part of why it's working for me: I prefer this sense of the unfixed and undefined. I feel that I'm allowing myself to float with the ebb and flow of life in a much more harmonious manner with this viewpoint as my anchor.

No one knows how much time he or she has to live this Earthly life. That very fact seems to lend weight to the argument that age is somewhat irrelevant. One popular adage instructs us to "live in the moment", and Alice Morse Earle is credited with saying, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." While I fully embrace the idea of living in the now mindfully and being fully present in your life, I also believe that we do ourselves a disservice by forgetting our past and not planning for the future. As a memory keeper of sorts for myself and my family, I love to reminisce and recall days, events and people gone by. We also risk repeating mistakes if we don't take some time to look at the past and learn from those errors that we may have made. And while I would agree that it's counterproductive to live in that fantasy world of "when", as in "when I (insert accomplishment), I'll feel happy/complete/satisfied", I also believe that the future exists as a beacon of hope, as a path of opportunity and so much possibility. This belief is surely tied up with the tears that come to my eyes so often when I watch children united in an endeavour, whether it's an organized production or carefree play - they represent a seemingly limitless spectrum of unknown potential. Yes, I strive to fully live in and appreciate the here and now, but I do reflect upon my past and enjoy planning for my future. As with so many things, it's all about balance.

And so I've forgiven forty for its less-than-stellar arrival. I'm embracing this time in my life when I feel a much greater sense of what I'm all about, with all of my quirks, foibles and flaws. I don't mind not knowing the names of 99% of Hollywood celebrities - I only recognize some who are also over 40 or those who are the offspring of the actors I watched in my younger days. I listen to the CBC when I'm on my own in the car. I'm generally more comfortable with speaking my truth. 

This life is, indeed, mysterious, like one of those 'Choose Your Own Adventure' stories that I remember delighting in reading as a child and which have seen a resurgence in recent publishing trends. Unlike those books, however, our choices in life aren't finite, nor are the outcomes. As life unfolds, we evolve, change and grow, and so the details of our adventures have the potential for so much more; the pages of our stories are written each day. Whatever your numeric age, I hope that you're enjoying your story more often than not, and that you're writing it with all of the wonder your adventure deserves. I'm ever-grateful that our stories have intersected.

My wonders: How have you embraced milestone birthdays throughout your life? Whether you approached them with excitement or dread, how did your expectations meet with reality? Where do you feel your feet planted today: in the past, present or future? Have you found a comfortable means of jumping along your life's timeline? 

March Fun with Family in Florida

A lovely extended March Break is now behind us, and we were lucky to share a perfect mix of adventures and relaxation. After traveling to Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport fully bundled in winter coats on the afternoon of March 7, we spent less than three hours in a plane and were breathing in the warmth of a Florida evening. Ahhh, the magic of human flight - yes, airplanes still absolutely amaze me, no matter how much reading I do about aerodynamics, thrust, lift and air pressure. My girls and I were fortunate enough to get to spend a week with my parents in Bradenton, Florida, where they've been wintering for the past two-and-a-half months. They've joined the flock of migratory snow birds this year, fully enjoying the change of climate and all of the perks that come with it. As did we for the week we spent with them! And while we happily anticipated the Florida sunshine, we were most excited about seeing my parents/Gramma and Grampa, whom we've missed during these past months.

Happy to have arrived at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

Our days down South were relaxed, to say the least. Even the preparation for this trip required the least amount of effort of any other travels I've embarked upon this year. For starters, heading to a relatively predictable warm climate made for easier prep. Our packing was also made stress-free knowing that we would be living in my parents' fully stocked home, complete with laundry facilities, and that we would also have stores nearby in case we forgot something. One suitcase was all it took, and we were off, more swimsuits in tow than anything else.

The whole trip felt as relaxed as snuggling up with a great book, which of course we also spent 
much time doing.

Along with my skin, my heart was warmed immediately as I watched my girls fling themselves into the arms of my parents' waiting embraces. Considering that we are lucky enough to see them very regularly when they are back at home, this winter without them living only a few short minutes away has definitely taken an adjustment. We were more than ready for a week of sun-filled adventures with them.

Much of our time in Bradenton was spent relaxing at the lovely home my parents have rented. We played games together, swam in the pool and soaked in the hot tub, went for neighbourhood walks, enjoyed movie evenings, and of course chilled out with books. The girls learned how to play chess, and E also took up knitting, a skill she's been wanting to learn from Gramma for some time. Enjoying this kind of schedule, at times our vacation had an element of being away at a cottage, albeit with a tropical slant. With my Mom cooking some of our very favourite dishes - chicken corn chowder for the girls, Kaesespaetzle for me - and my Dad pointing out and naming all of the birds, our trip was also lent a strong feeling of coming home.

I was ever so grateful to greet each morning by doing yoga poolside, listening to the birds welcoming the new day as they flocked in and around the lake backing onto the property. In addition to the myriad of birdlife in the area, including herons, egrets, ibis, cormorants, sandhill cranes, pelicans and roseate spoonbills, this lake was also home to gators, turtles and otters, which we were excited to spot now and then.

Majestic Great Blue Heron

Just keeping an eye on Great Blue.

We were all so excited to see this otter, and were ecstatic when two more were spotted
running back into the forest.

In and amongst these relaxing hours were peppered daily outings. Florida's Gulf Coast boasts beautiful beaches, and we visited a few, including Siesta Key Beach (also called Siesta Beach), regularly voted by a variety of sources as one of the top ten beaches in North America. Miles upon miles of powdery white sand met us, soft and silky under our bare feet, and countless colourful umbrellas dotted the shoreline where fellow beachgoers sought shade. E happily splashed in the water as we meandered our way along the shore, so grateful for this perfect beach day we'd been granted. We also visited Coquina Beach, saw Bradenton and Cortez Beaches during our trip, and enjoyed the 1.5 mile park known as the Riverwalk that spans downtown Bradenton, 

Miles of powdery white sand at Siesta Key Beach.

'Parabolic Dishes', one of numerous outdoor art features along Bradenton's Riverwalk.

Family Fun Zone overlooking the Manatee River.

Another favourite destination was the Manatee Viewing Centre in Apollo Beach, a wonderful (and free!) attraction featuring an education centre, butterfly garden, a mangrove swamp, stingray touch tank, and shallow waters where we were able to view a variety of marine life forms, including manatees, tarpin, and entertaining jumping fish. The canal running along this centre has been designated a manatee sanctuary. It provides these wonderfully gentle and endangered animals with a warm-water refuge during times when the temperatures of the surrounding bodies of water dip too low for the temperature-sensitive creatures. We saw a great many manatee moving with slow ease in the estuary, H noting that they looked rather like floating potatoes, which indeed they do. Without a doubt the girls' favourite spot was Cowshead Cove, the stingray touch pool. The gracefully gliding rays truly seemed to enjoy our gentle touch, regularly approaching us and turning back for repeated glide-by visits! Especially nice about this centre is that, other than the stingrays, all of the creatures were in their natural environments, free to come and go as they pleased. I highly recommend a visit to this excellent centre if you are ever in the Tampa area of Florida - H and E enjoyed it so much that we went twice!

Sting ray popping up to say Hello!

Manatee!

Florida in the spring time also represents baseball's preseason training time, and my Dad organized an afternoon outing for us all to go see a game featuring the Baltimore Orioles, who train in Sarasota, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, whose preseason training home is Bradenton. As both are considered preseason "local" teams, the stadium was nearly full and the vibe in the air was tinged with excitement. As Murphy's Law would have it, we went on the hottest day of our trip, and so a jump into the pool - in our clothes! - helped us to cool down afterwards, as of course did some ice cream.

Practically personalized ice cream!

The best part of our time away really boiled down to being together with family. As M decided to forego taking this time off from work and stayed at home, we did miss him a great deal (and Tricksie cat, too!), which made returning home easier. And knowing that my parents will be returning home in just a few weeks made our goodbyes less sorrowful, too. Having stayed at their Florida home and explored the surrounding areas, I so appreciate now being able to envision where they are. When we catch up through texts and phone calls, I can truly picture what they've been up to, what the creatures they tell me about look like, and where their adventures have taken them. 

Spring has now officially sprung and new adventures await us all. May yours be positively memorable, heartwarming and joy-filled. Happy Spring!

My wonders: Have you ever visited Florida's Gulf Coast, and if so, what were some of your trip's highlights? What is one of your favourite beaches to visit, and why? If you live in a location that boasts cold winters, can you imagine being a "snow bird", migrating South for the winter months? Or do you enjoy all that nature's four seasons have to offer?