a day in the life of

 Friday, August 8, 2025

For a little while I have been thinking I should document what a day in my world looks like lately! I hesitated thinking it could be a lackluster post to share.  The days have been flying by, they are ever-changing.  Even if for my own interest down the road, I picked Friday August 8th to be the day that I document.  I woke to the sound of wind and rain.  I looked out, it was dismal, dreary and dull. The plan was to document today, so I started documenting anyway.

On days like this, I like to turn on my fairy light tree. The bright twinkles and sparkles shed a little light and cheer on the start of a day that neither twinkles nor sparkles. Having my morning coffee with this view, is distracting from what is occurring beyond the picture window.

Curiosity kicked in as to what some of my previous August 8ths looked like.  This was my favourite and shows the trail to Wall Lake in Waterton Lakes National Park on August 8, 2023. In fact, I only looked at 2024 and 2023 and upon seeing this photo I did not look further back.  I instantly put a plan in place!  I will paint this!  Perfect thing to do on a dull and dreary day.

a sketched out plan

The outcome of that well laid plan!

The rain took a break that's when I put another plan in place. Today would be the first day I would walk without my crutch. I geared up for a wet walk leaving the sling hanging on the door.  Today would be the day my whole new titanium shoulder system along with an upper arm full of titanium too, would hang and swing freely.  

Instead of lacing up my sneakers, I laced up my hiking shoes with a plan to stick to paved walkways.  I cut the distance to cover in half so went for four kilometres. To hang and swing freely is an overstatement, I was very aware and conscious and in control of any movement which I kept to a minimal.

Physiotherapy is going well, I see improvement on a daily basis, even from morning to night.  As the therapist stated, I am to do the recovery exercises "thrice daily".  I have four locations in my home where  I move about to perform them.  This is my favourite spot because I use my hiking pole to assist with the movements.  Completing all the exercises three times a day and incorporating icing sessions totals up to three hours every day now that new exercises have been added to the routine. 

There was much to brighten up this August 8th.  Yesterday I received a card, a magazine and an Alexander Keith's IPA. The guy that gifted me the beer and card is a Bluenoser just like me!  This IPA beer is brewed on the waterfront in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The card says "much couch less ouch". I have moved on to not needing much couch time now.  Yet.....

.....I do make time for it! 

On this dull and dreary day, an escape from reality fits the bill!

With dinner over, cleanup completed, one more round of recovery exercises yet to accomplish in a little while, a little time was spent putting another plan in place for coming days.  These days, my watercolour painting supplies are readily at hand.

Where did the day go?  The rain since stopped, the sun has set, the wind died down, and the clouds began to clear. I could see the first star of the night appear right there in the centre. I was bundled up in my warm knitted socks, pants, three upper layers, the outer layer being a warm thick coat.  I sat, I stared, I wondered while my mind wandered. Time passed! Then.....

.....shortly after 11:00pm on this August 8, 2025 the Aurora Borealis began dancing across the sky! I was speechless as I watched her performance.  This was an absolutely amazing way for this day to conclude!  These are just two photographs of the dozens I took.  I stayed out on my deck  as the 8th turned over to the 9th. 

While putting this blog post together, 

I came to the conclusion this day was perfect is so many ways.  

focus: unintentionally and intentionally

Blogger friends old and new, from near and far, dropping in and leaving your comments brings a smile to my face. Your own stories are motivators and inspire me.  Many thanks for the joy you bring to all your fellow bloggers!

Since that day in May, I have been spending more time watercolour painting with a focus on sights that evoke a sense of something, hmmm some thing, what is that something!  What ever that something is, it makes me smile and most times promotes a deep sigh.  Intentionally that was the direction I picked for my paintings with the following three recent projects. What was unintentional was picking three of my photographs to replicate, which happened to be taken during three separate visits to Victoria, British Columbia.  

In October 2019, I frequented a long stretch of Dallas Road for every sunrise and sunset.  I was distracted by kite-surfers during this sunset stroll. With the Olympic Mountains of Washington as the backdrop, I was mesmerized by the sun setting on them paired with the surfers gliding across the water.  Between my passion for being near mountains, my love for the ocean and for that need for speed, I felt all the feels that bring on sighs and smiles.

In April of 2025, once again I aimed to stroll that long stretch along Dallas Road.  Mid morning, it was already quite warm so being near water helped with feeling cooler.  The spring flowers were in full bloom and created a nice bottom frame to go with the line of the Olympic Mountains off in the distance. I watched the Coho heading to Port Angeles,Washington.  I yearned to be on it, as I was in September of 2023. If and when things settle down with our neighbour, I will board that boat! The thoughts of being on water made me smile and sigh!

She's called the Duen!  I saw her sailing in all her glory on a beautiful breezy day while I walked that stretch of Dallas Road in September of 2023. I had seen it docked at Victoria Harbour but this was the first time I saw her out on the Salish Sea almost appearing dwarfed by those Olympic Mountains.  I could see people moving about on the tall ship. I wanted to be out there sailing those seas.  I smiled and sighed at the thought that one day I will make that happen!

my reference photos from three different trips to Victoria

 "I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied." Words are from Sea-Fever by John Masefield. I like some of the interpretations of his poem:  living life on one's own terms, life of freedom, various things bring comfort while at sea, a wandering lifestyle. A self diagnosis tells me I have sea fever!

from   ⛴  to   🐦

By completing a quick short survey, I was gifted a discount coupon to go towards another bird course through The Cornell Lab Bird Academy.  I was intentionally signing into their site with hopes sales were offered on courses I had not completed. No luck there though. Then, just like that, an email popped in from them.  The email came with an offer of a discount if I completed a survey.  Done like dinner! Fifteen minutes later, I signed up for this course which was on my to-do list.

I am working my way through it and learning so much.  

This could be my most favourite bird course so far.

from   🐦   to   🍺

Each day feels like graduation day one way or other.  Being off all medications, having my wits about me, and being sure on my feet, time came to savour an adult beverage and I was ready for it.  I intentionally picked this Radler knowing I liked the flavour but mostly because it was low in alcohol content. I needed to start somewhere and this fit the bill.  After our walk, then our lunch, my friend took me to the store to make the purchase then helped get the beers home and into my fridge.  A little later, time came to sip and savour!  I made it through a third of the tall can then felt satisfied and happy with this graduation. This pastime needs work, slowly yet surely! I am looking forward to many more daily graduations.

There I go again with "three" stories, this time it was unintentional!

that "rule of threes"

A heartfelt appreciation to you for your comments, messages, emails and cards.  For those of you who are climbing your own Everest, whether physically or mentally,  I hope you are experiencing the same level of heart-warming comfort and support that I have been receiving. As each day passes, I am getting closer and closer to the summit.  I sense with all the work, the summit will soon come into sight!

Rule of threes!

“A principle suggesting things arranged in threes are more satisfying, effective and memorable!”

When you take time to think about it, the "rule of threes" enters our lives in more ways than you realize.  At times it may be purposely included for one reason or another, yet most of the time it shows up unintentionally in your every day life.  In the past some of my blog titles have been "3 short stories" for no other reason than I had three stories to share.  Looking back, I preferred that title over "4 short stories" or "some short stories" or some other version of "short stories".  Today I am purposely sharing "3 short stories" to fit the bill of the "rule of threes" principle!

Ready!  Set!  Go!

Story #1

The comment left by Low Carb Team Member in my last post was so fitting. She said "concentrate on what you can do and enjoy doing it".  I am enjoying water-colour painting more than ever, I have been appreciating walking routes in my neighbourhood that I have not walked before and thirdly, each day I look forward to completing my three sets of ten rehabilitation exercises knowing they bring me one step closer to that summit.  In a couple of days, I will officially begin physiotherapy with a professional therapist.  

While looking for light-hearted, cheerful, colourful painting tutorials, one popped up that grabbed my attention. It made me chuckle when I realized I was relating to a Male Mallard Duck.  Over the past while, I have come quite a distance. I no longer feel off balance, stressed, wobbly nor unsure of my footing while out & about.  The look on the Mallard's face says it all in the early days after having that accident and then having surgery.  I may do a Mallard painting showing an interpretation of my current out & about status.  

Story #2

A card I recently received has got to be one of the most unique styles I have ever come across.  All those little bumps are wildflower seeds. The idea is to tear apart the card into little pieces and plant the pieces.  I was not quite ready to part with the card, so I did ripe around the lovely words my friend wrote on the inside.  I had two small flower pots sitting in my basement that were perfect for this project.  I asked my sister for some of her dirt and now.....

.....I am patiently waiting for life to bloom. 

Story #3

"Concentrate on what you can do and enjoy doing it"!  I am going to be a little cocky by tooting my own horn and saying "I can paint"!  Just like they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is it also the case that "level of talent is in the belief of the performer"! 

I can paint! I enjoy painting! I shall paint!  

Numerous times since I began blogging, I referred to Highway 40 leading to and passing through Kananaskis as the highway "where life begins". While parts of my life are on hold right now, when I get the O.K. that it is go time, I will be gone!  One of the places I want to go to is "Highway 40 where life begins".  It will feel that I have a new leaf on life and I will get to begin it again. While sorting through, deleting and backing up photos on my iMac, I lingered long on the photos of water locations along that beautiful stretch of the "40".  I picked three of my favourite photos and created water-colour paintings of them.  I focused on photos that had rocky shores.  Not only could I relate to that Male Mallard Duck, this past while some days felt like rough rocky shores. 

painting #1  Barrier Lake

painting #2  Mount Lorette Ponds

painting #3  Upper Kananaskis Lake

my three reference photos

Believe!  Imagine!  Dream!

inspired by how the mind works

Thank You to all for dropping by my blog and leaving your lovely and inspiring comments! Down the road I will return to replying to each individual comment, yet for now I will go this route.   

I am not missing what I cannot do! I recently came to that realization. I like how the mind works. Without even having to play an intentional mind game, my mind is automatically focusing on what I am currently capable of doing, what is currently bringing me joy, and opening up to what I can potentially do in the very near future. All this is falling into my lap with no effort.  Yes, I like how the mind works and it is affording me inspiration to take full advantage!

📚

My new book arrived at just the right time! For a few mornings in a row, I whiled away an hour or so reading, sipping coffee, still in my pjs, out on the deck, in the very early morning heat. I had full intentions of one day learning how to make watercolour paints. I was not far into the book when I decided this craft was not for me. I continued reading and finished the book anyway.  It was still an enjoyable read with beautiful illustrations.  Deciding not to make my own watercolour paints was not the main take-away from this book. Words the author shared resinated with me and the timing is perfect as I follow this unwanted journey in life.   

🐚

Where does inspiration come from? In this case, it came from a card I received in snail mail from my "valley gal" pal.  It's a beautiful image but even more beautiful were her hand written words that filled the inside of the card.  I love seashells and I own quite a collection.  I remember where I collected them from.  Looking at this card, my mind drifted off to where this collection of shells might be sitting! 

I found them, if only in my mind!

🖌

My eyes have always been drawn to bright and cheerful yet that seems to be occurring more abundantly these days! Isn't it funny how the mind works! I was inspired by three tutorials to create this trio of watercolour paintings.  It was the bright light in the sky of each that caught my attention first then the cheerfulness of the bird in each sealed the deal to create my renditions. 

Oh how the mind works!  

While there is much I cannot do, oh wow there is so much more that I can do!  

marathon training

Thank you again everyone for the comments you left on my last blog post and for your emails and messages.  They brighten my day!  

The oddest things have been coming to mind this past while. I can no longer blame that on the strong medications as I have graduated off them. What came to mind this time was how this unwanted journey I am on, in a way, is very similar to my chosen journeys of running marathons just short of two decades ago. The time frame for training to run a marathon was about four months. Four months is the approximate time it will take to be recovered and fully back to ole me again. I am almost two weeks into this journey.  The marathon plan of attack started with short slow distances, gradually increasing speed and kilometres over the four months.  My recovery program is in the initial stages with few minimal exercises. That will soon change.  Since surgery, I have experienced no pain, only uncomfortableness. That’s the same with the marathon training, lots of uncomfortableness yet never an once of pain.  To run a full marathon, you have to be mentally strong. It’s a game of percentages 90% mental, 10% physical. The recovery journey I am on now has required me to dig deep mentally at times and I know it will continue to be that way over the weeks and months to come. I am a marathoner, I ran three marathons! 

When I was marathon training, I had a list of words and phrases that were my mantras. When I needed them, I whispered them. These days there are thoughts and words that occupy my mind at times.  A few of them describe how I felt while I was settled for a couple of hours painting this scene.  

You don’t just go out and run a marathon.  There is much to learn before hand and throughout the entire training program. Even finishing running the 42.2 kms, lessons are learned and also afterwards.  When I got into birding, I knew very little about owls.  When I began seeing them while “out & about”, I wanted to know more.  I did some homework, learned lots and I shared all that in this blog post. Back in January the time was not right for further learning.  Fast forward to now and the time was perfect to take the course called The Wonderful World of Owls. I completed the course and received my Certificate of Completion. When the time is right for being Out & About again and it’s Owl season, I will be using what I learned to enhance my Owl finding and viewing enjoyment. 

I used the last of my discount coupon codes for courses, so will wait for a sale before signing up for my next bird course.

I find it much easier to focus on detail rather than look at the big picture! When I was marathon training, I looked at one week at a time, even though the whole four month program was on paper right before my eyes. Looking too far ahead was too much and would become a blur. That being said, I could see marathon day very clearly.  I played out that day over and over in my mind. It was very vivid!  I could see myself crossing the finishing line with my arms raised in victory.  

During my recent stay at my sister’s home, I spent time in her yard just sitting. Just listening.  Just looking. Just watching.  Just watching the clematis grow.  I swear it grew right before my eyes. I snapped some shots with plans to create a watercolour painting. Well, it felt overwhelming to go straight to painting the final full photo. So, I started with paying attention to a small detailed section.  

then expanded a bit on that

and a little more

It did become blurry at times.

The full final painting is so crisp and clear.

I am taking each day as it comes. I have a some what clear vision of what tomorrow looks like but beyond that is too far to see.  Next week is not clear nor is next month.  But I will tell you, the vision I see of when I am fully recovered and back to ole me, is so very crystal clear! Patience and hard work will get me there!

finding the nice in the not so nice

This path I “accidentally” ended up on in life is not the nicest yet I have been seeking out nice and having success with finding it. I am now at my sister’s place after my stay at the hospital and being so very thankful for the exceptional care and compassion I received by all who took me under their wing.  Each and every person could not have been nicer! Now under my sister’s wing, it is nice to know she is right there with a healthy load of that care and compassion. There are many weeks ahead of me of down time which I have already added an upswing to, starting with the reminder not to judge a book by the cover!

Crows! I  completed the following course through the Cornell Lab Bird Academy.  I also received my finishers certificate. I have a new appreciation for crows, I see them in a different light, and I…..

…..painted one in a different light!  

You will see a crow’s true beautiful colours shine through

 if you open your eyes and ears and heart to them!

Dandelions! I assumed I could let the child within live again by painting a series of dandelions. 

As a kid I thought dandelions were so nice, especially when I held a bouquet of them to gift to my Mom.I have no idea why painting the many stages of this weed came to the forefront of my mind, could it be the strong medications talking again!

 These days I am appreciating even the insignificant little nice things!