I've been striving to spend an hour a day outside in the fresh air. I feel it is beneficial in many ways and it is true that I always come inside feeling upbeat and feeling more refreshed somehow. And also grateful for the warmth of indoors and perhaps a cup of tea waiting for me.
How do I spend an hour outside? Usually our couple of walks take 20 -30 minutes each. By myself I collect twigs and tree bits for the fire and I also ramble about with my camera. Late afternoon yesterday I sat on a log in a sheltered area over where I usually see the barred owl and waited. It was bright still but the light perceptibly changed from white to blue as I sat there.
How quickly it changes to dusk, I thought. And no owl. But one fluffed up lonely mourning dove on a high branch kept me company the whole time.
SIL has made an amazing back yard rink and the three of them have been skating daily.
Our latest cake from daughter, a black and white with marshmallow frosting. YUM.
I took this test back in November...23 and Me, one of those ancestry tests.
My results are back and I'll share them when I have a chance to read all the material they've forwarded. As my sister has already extensively researched our family tree, I was more interested in the health component offered by this one. So far looking interesting.
I still have some of my Christmas/winter hangings up in the back hall. It seems like Christmas was such a mere blink in time and I want to enjoy them for a while longer.
As always happy to link with Not Afraid of Color and Paying Ready Attention.
24 comments :
I need to take up your idea of two 30 minute walks around my yard each day - what a great idea and so simple. The tripod looks fantastic! What a fun new thing to play with. I agree with your sentiment about having hobbies - I cannot imagine going through this sheltering without hobbies!
I too think it is good to get outside - even though I have the treadmill to walk inside almost every day if it is sunny outside or at least half way nice I take a walk or two outside also - it just makes me feel better. The virus is affecting all of us I think and we are mainly back to only going for groceries and doctor appointments although we have pretty much been doing that all year now - we will all be so glad when we can get vaccinated and feel safer. I like to leave some Christmas things out for awhile longer too - it is more festive and such a short while to leave the quilts out that we worked hard on makes us want to leave them out longer - we used to do an ice pond when I lived north as a child it was fun
Your outside areas look wonderful and that cake sure wouldn't last long here!
Now that is an awesome ice rink with lighting! So pretty with the snow and open branches. That cake looks so yummy. Have a piece for me.
Hi Jocelyn,
Love your blog header...so cute with all the animals and snowman. Your beautiful picture of the sky and trees is awesome...along with with morning dove. Wow, your own Ice Rink, what fun! Great looking tri-pod, I've always wanted one of those. The cake looks yummy! Love all your wall hangings. So Pretty. Have a great day!
Wow, what lovely pictures thanks to your fantastic tripod! How does one make an own ice rink? That's just so fabulous for the boy, especially under the circumstances. Looking forward to hearing about the results of your ancestry test. And you're doing the best thing going out for an hour a day! Wish I could get myself to stay our longer than 30 mins, but our village offers no woods or fields to cross. You are very lucky.
Andrea
I love being outside, too - no matter the time of year - and I can just picture you enjoying your property with your camera ready to capture something amazing! We heard an owl in our yard the other night. Too dark to see him, but loved hearing the hoots! That cake looks yummy, and what fun to have the skating rink right in your backyard. Glad you are staying safe!
So nice that you can enjoy time outside even in the winter season. I'm enjoy time outside here in our summer season, it's nice with a cuppa, some stitching or a book.
Lucky you with a Baker in the family, sending you those lovely cakes!
Depressing Covid reports indeed. Love your new tripod and especially that gorgeous cake!
Hi Jocelyn! Love, love, LOVE the backyard skating rink. What a fabulous idea and great for keeping up his hockey skills. That cake from your daughter looks yummy. That's nice that she is baking and able to give the wares to you. Keep up the good work on keeping safe. All your efforts will truly pay off in the end. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Your walks sound awesome. Usually by the time I am off work, the last thing i want to do is be outside. I should probably spend more time outside though. I don't blame you I would leave my quilts up longer too. An ice rink how fun. What a great idea.
Your new tripod looks terrific. If you are doing outdoor photography with a tripod to any extent it is really important to have a strong, sturdy unit. Many is the time I have seen a flimsy tripod blown over in the wind. I hate to think of the damage caused to expensive photographic equipment. I am sure your new unit will serve you well.
That cake looks incredible - and it's chocolate so what's not to like!! I would like to do the DNA test through Ancestry sometime but I've heard so many conflicting reports so haven't coughed up the money (yet!).
I simply don't understand people and why they won't follow the rules and requirements. Then they whine and complain that the virus isn't going away - well, who is mostly at fault for that? Certainly not our beleaguered government - either federally or provincially. They're doing the best the can under circumstances no one could ever have predicted.
That tripod looks interesting . Oh how I wish that virus would soon be a thing of the past.
It's been quite a time.
That cozy is cute. Yay for walks! The snow turned to rain, so we didn't get out today. How fun to have a backyard skating rink (although I tend to skate on my ankles). That cake looks lovely. yum! Lots of good stuff this week. :-)
Yes, we are also staying put except I do go out groceries and my husband gets food take outs from the local restaurants and wine from the liquor store. While they've expanded the age range for vaccine eligibility so we are now included, the vaccine supply is so limited that it will be months before they get to us. I did go get a haircut today, but it's just my hairdresser and she works from home with a mostly older clientele so I feel safe there. I even walked there which is less than 10 minutes away. I think you should keep your Christmas wall hangings up as long as they bring you joy. Besides the one on the far left is snowmen, so in my book, they can stay out all winter. Have a warm weekend.
Pat
I love your wall of pretty quilts; I'd leave them up too. What an amazing thing to make a skating rink in the back yard! I admire you for walking outside twice a day, and I'd want a piece of that cake with my hot tea. ;)
Hello Jocelyn! I love your winter wall hangings and seeing the skating rink your SIL's family is using. We have a number of families that do that here too. That marshmallow cake looked AWESOME! I loved your photo of the morning dove. My husband got me a special tripod for my camera years ago (he's an engineer too). The tripod lasted longer than the camera. What kind of camera do you use? Regarding the pandemic, it's just awful here too. Brad has to work but the guys there get tested all the time and wear the masks. Keeping you both in my prayers and hope we all get the vaccine soon!
ancestry test??? Cannot wait to hear. LOVE marshmallow frosting and that cup is adorable. I'm not handling our political times well... feel very frightened so I'm not myself, sorry about not visiting enough and leaving comments. You know I love your posts and pics
LeeAnna
What a great post! Birds, Christmas Wall Hangings, and that yummy looking cake. Please have another piece for me.
We also are staying away from people - unless it is a doctor or a have to! I am very concerned about taking the vaccine. I am one of those people 1 in a million type that would probably have a bad time with it. Eventually there will no longer be a host for the virus to jump around.
It is very interesting to me that all of a sudden no one has the Flu!!!!! When 60 million usually get it... Think they may be mixing things up!
Keep on getting out - it really starts my day on a good footing!
Hugs
Love your rea cozy, do you have an embroidery machine? sled "dog" kitties is so cute! Collecting twigs for the fireplace means you have a real fireplace/stove! Ah, the sweet scent of sap and evergreens is so missed here in the desert. The wind storm that sunk an old boat in Anacortes, WA and downed trees through out much of western WA did no damage here, as trees are scarce except along the creeks and in some yards.
Its surprising how a little time in nature can restore the mind. I love seeing your snowy vistas....so different from my own. Your tripod is a wonderful gift! Very cute little hockey player there. That cake looks delicious! I think there seems to be people everywhere that just don't take Covid seriously....beggars belief...not sure what WOULD convince them! As you say...thank goodness for home and crestive pursuits x
What a great ice skate rink. It must be so much fun to have this in your yard. I wish our winters were like the ones we had when I was a kid. We skated at the canals and rivers every year. Yesterday we had the first snowflakes in about two years.... like a quarter of an inch wich is already gone...
Sorry to hear things are bad in your country too. People just don't seem to understand this virus is killing people.
Take care and enjoy the little things while keeping in quarantaine.
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