BRRRRR!

The weather has turned cold here on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.  I have been walking outside all summer on my lunch break at work.  It's a nice use of my lunch break, the fresh air and sunshine is rejuvenating.  With the arrival of the cold weather I have started walking at our local recreation centre.  It's quite nice, listening to the music and watching the public skaters below.

Today as I walked around the track, watching the skaters, I was once again impressed by the ease the elderly gentlemen skate.  So relaxed, so skilled. Their arms gently swaying in rhythm, their feet cross over each other as they round the corner.  I admire their skill.

I also observe the lady figure skating in the middle of the rink.  You can truly see her love of the sport as she glides and twirls about the ice.  Perhaps she's reminiscing of her younger years as a figure skater, she seems to be in a zone, a place of her own.

 I also relate to and sympathize with the middle aged man who fell and cleaned a good patch of ice with his buttocks.  That is my skill level.  Recently I was skating at a good pace, fell and slid a good 8 feet before slamming into the boards and skinning my knee.  I hobbled to the car that day.  The next time on skates I was a bit more cautious and timid.  Definitely not relaxed with my arms swaying.....  But non the less I enjoy skating whether it be alone or with my family.  It's great exercise and a great way to relax.  You're focused on your movements, giving your mind a break from thinking about the chores at home, the bills, the bookwork.....

Having a winter activity you enjoy helps the season move along quicker.  So far the winter has been easy on us, we've been lucky to have very little snow though I hear that is changing the end of this week.  We are already planning our camping trips for this spring and summer.  Just the discussion of summer vacations and activities made me a bit giddy today.  It's always nice to have something to look forward to, isn't it?  

'til next time, take care and have some fun!  Life's too short to work it away....

Name Change Alert!

I have been toying with a blog name change for quite some time.  Wild Apple Acres just didn't seem to work any more, it didn't inspire me.  It was too much about our property and too restricting.  I felt restricted to talking about only farm things.  Now I feel I can talk about general life.....as harried as it may be ;)

I hope you enjoy the changes.

What's been happening on our homestead

I haven't written in my blog for a long time.  I have started many posts, they remain drafts that I never completed and all start with that same sentence "I haven't written for a long time".  It's interesting to read over them, everything from my journey of weight loss, deciding to give up farming and gardening (which we have not done and probably won't)....  I have thought about writing often, obviously since I at least started new posts.  Reading back over my posts I'm reminded of the frustrations of the time.  I suppose that's one reason I didn't post them, they appear a bit too negative and full of emotion but I'm sure at the time it was a great way to release those feelings.  Perhaps I should start writing in my journal again.  Writing your thoughts down is a great release, seems to clear the mind and heart of negative and also helps remind you of the positive things.  And it's often sobering to read back over those words to see how far you have come and how things have changed.

I find myself engulfed in Christmas preparations these days.  Shopping, wrapping and baking goodies.  Trying to slow down and enjoy the moment.

We purchased skates for the family to keep us from hibernating this winter.  My husband and I are a bit rusty but impressed that we can still stay on the blades, our Son is just learning.....

We enjoyed a wonderful family holiday outing compliments of my employer.....

Christmas Baking under way.....

We turned our swimming pool platform into a fire pit area.  Bringing one of our favourite parts of camping home.....

We raised 6 pigs this year.  Seeing them "go" is very difficult for me.  I try to be tough and not think about it but the feeling of loss is one major reason I consider giving up farming as I wrote in one of my drafts.  My garden was also a huge flop this year which was very frustrating.....

That's a little update on what's happening on our little homestead.