Day 1: Camp NaNoWriMo

Today is the first day of camp NaNoWriMo. My plan is to blog everyday and I made a list of questions as an outline to follow. Ugh. I’m not really happy with the questions as of today, so I will have to try to come with some different ones. I guess I can do some writing prompts or I can just ad-lib as I go. I’ll try that today!

I’m so happy we are now in April. Spring is here with some snow every once in a while. That is Alberta living. One way we know it is Spring, are the bees. We live across the street from a bee farm. They put the hives out around this time of year(a couple days ago). Within a half an hour some had made their way over here already. They like to hang out at out back deck where the sun shines the most. They are still sleepy and slow and are quite annoying. By the time it gets warmer out, they are usually gone and then back again in the Fall when it is getting cooler and they need out nice warm deck again.

Another way Spring showed it’s arrival was seeing a moose out in the field enjoying some grubs. Daisy, our horse, was pretty worked up. The moose wasn’t too far from her. We do have moose living in the our bushes but we don’t see them that much so it was so cool to see one this year. I hope we see more. I would love to see a baby moose.

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Spring mud. Not my favorite thing. We have three dogs. I was able to find something to block them from coming into the kitchen and just hang out in the porch until their feet are dry. I hate mopping the floor several times a day because of mud. I realize it’s part of season but like I said, with dogs…ANNOYING!

One thing I love about Spring is that it seems so new. The growth of new life, whether it’s the new grass coming up or buds on the trees to hearing the baby coyotes at night and seeing other baby wildlife if they dare show themselves. I’ve always seen Spring as a time for introspection for myself too. It’s kind of cool that at the start of this month the course I will be taking at Catching Your Breath Academy is called Serenity, Self-Care and Self-Compassion. Last month’s course was pretty heavy and it was called Taking the Gloves Off: Learning to Fight Fear, Shame and Guilt. I was triggered pretty bad through it but I made it through to the other side and achieved some pretty amazing feats because of it. Maybe someday I will share. New life reminds me of being good to myself, to be gentle with myself. If you are anything like me, I tend to me my own worse critic. I’m learning though to change my thoughts and to see the truth for what it is, rather than allow the recording in my head from things gone by to control me. It’s really hard work being intentional about healing. Some days you may find that you just can’t do it. I allow that now, without feeling guilty, but I don’t allow myself to live in it. So much of my time has been wasted with anxiety and depression. I choose healing and I choose it without medication. For me, that is what is best, otherwise I won’t work through my issues. I know myself pretty well.

All this to say, Spring is here and I’m very happy about it.

ttfn

Alexis

Time Alone Encourages Me To Listen To My Inner Voice: Steve Austin

It’s safe to say that…

Spring is here!  The trees are budding, the grass is turning green, the temperature yesterday got to 28 celsius ( 82 F ) and today is supposed to be warmer.  Last night we slept with the window open and I was woke up twice by the coyotes.  I’m pretty sure they were in our yard very close.  Duke went wild ( the feature picture is of Duke on my pillow trying to look out the window) and I could hear Massey wake up too.  It kind of freaked me out that they were so close.  I imagine once the cows are here, they won’t be around as much.  We will see.  Our first Spring and Summer here they were around and used to watch Duke and I out walking.  We would see them watching us and Duke would bark at them.  I got freaked out when the one barked and howled back at him.  Last Spring and Summer not so much.  I think we got Massey in the late Spring so he kept them at bay.  Now, this Spring we have shop cats.  Two of them, outside cats.  Wally figures that is why they are around ( and the fact that Dukey is a little dog).  We have to keep Massey on a rope because he has started wandering off.  His nose and taste pallets have taken him to the Tees Bees Farm right across the road from us.  So yeah, he has to be tied up now.

This is country life.  I love it, even with the coyotes.  I’ll just be happy they aren’t wolves!  We don’t get them around here.  Whew!

Have a super Friday friend!  I hope where you are the weather is sunny.  Somehow, a sunny day makes life just a tiny bit better.  I loves you!

Day 27: My Favorite Things About Spring

Ideally, I’m just happy winter is over.  🙂  By the time Spring comes it is time and I feel it, and I think most people do.  I don’t know how it is in places that don’t get snow in the winter, but there is definitely four seasons here in central Alberta, Canada though they have the tendency to interweave with each other at times.  I think the only month I have not seen snow here is July.

Spring. Renewal.  That’s what I like about Spring.  Renewal is something that happens every day but in Spring you can see it.  Birds coming back from the south, baby birds, baby wildlife ( I live in the country).  The time before the buds on the trees come and the grass turns green is pretty ugly.  It’s dirty and we need rain to wash it away so the new growth can come. Luckily, that ugly time usually isn’t too long.  Geese!  I love them.  At our other place just a few miles away I heard them once in a while but we are further into the country here so we hear them and see them.  They fly right over our house and we have a huge pond in the field where there go.  We don’t get too many in there.  Just 4 or 5 but I just love them.  This morning when I took Duke for a walk we were watching them.  I also love the ducks that go into that pond.  I love how they sound but they usually fly away so we have to be VERY quiet.  Not easy with a dog or two.  I have grown to love our outside birds and watching them and learning about them.  It is so cool when they babies join them.

One thing that bugs me about this time of year though is we live across the street from a bee farm.  Right now all the hives are laid out on the lawn waiting to be delivered to places around the countryside.  In the meantime, the bees think they should come here. When the sun is shining really bright you will find the bees at our back yard.  Tons of them.  UGH!  They aren’t there to sting but that many of them are so annoying never mind the fact that I have a kid who is allergic to stings.  Luckily, once they are delivered to their summer spot the rest of the time is fine, until late Fall.

There is something that affects a person psychologically when Spring comes too.  There is a feeling that Spring brings more than new life to the things around us, but perhaps us as well. There is hope when a new season arrives.  Hope that maybe we can move onto our next season as well, a rebirth that says, ” let’s try this again.”  I like that.  It’s a second chance.  I think that is my favorite thing about Spring…HOPE!  It reminds me of a sunset.  The end becomes the beginning and it is really sweet.  ❤

What is your favorite season?  Why?  Have a wonderful and blessed day.  Enjoy the renewal of not only a new season but a new day!!   I loves you!

 

Testing From My Phone

Sitting outside with these two: Massey and Duke.  It’s 1 degree Celsius out here according to my phone.  It seems warmer though.  Hubby is working, oldest boy gone for the weekend and youngest boy still sleeping.  It’s a beautiful peaceful morning…birds singing ( no frogs yet ).  Geese are making their way back.  I love living in the country.  Spring has sprung and I couldn’t be happier about that.

Creation sings and God dances.
Happy Sunday Friends.  I loves you!