more MAY moments

What I can control, I am controlling!  I get to decide how deep of a purple I want to paint the crocus.  I get to decide which stone I will place in my rockery.  I get to decide how many hours today I want to spend cross stitching.  I got to decide which city park we should stroll around.  Focusing on the little things in life these days is what keeps me optimistic and hopeful and in a positive frame of mind!  There are the times where my mind begins to venture down that dark road, I go a short distance before catching myself.  I then realize it's time to paint, cross-stitch, walk and do it all over again and again.  These "more MAY moments" show what hope and optimism and positivity look like for me!

This is how I acknowledge it is crocus season!  

one for the rockery, one on my deck, two for a friend

This sunflower is blooming! 

I accomplish only a couple of centimetres in an hour of timeframe.

The most challenging part I am yet to face, the beading!

I was delighted to share a couple of hours on this beautiful Wednesday walking around Ralph Klein Park with my sister.  It's been quite some time since we have been in each others company and it was easy to make the visit work in this wide open environmental space.  From the moment we met at the Park to the moment we stepped back into our vehicles at the end of our walk, we kept the distance yet held the love very close.  Package together the chatting, the views, the fresh air, the exercise, having someone close by and you get what I want more of my "MAY moments" to look like!  

Fullerton Loop & some of Bobcat May 5, 2020

Now that we are permitted to head to the mountains and set foot on Provincial Park terrain, it's time to start working at getting my mountain lungs and legs back!  It will take some work, I began with  a hike around Fullerton adding some of Bobcat onto that.   My hope for an early start on a weekday was that it would be quiet but who knows what you will encounter these days.  I got what I hoped for, it was only at me at the start and at the end it was only me and only one other.   

🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

"I'll hold you in my arms,

to feel the chance to live again!

I reach to you,

I surrender!"

looking through the trees over to what will be my high point 

a very frosty sparkly crystally morning

frosty fringe

While I began to feel alive even as I started to hike away from my car in the parking lot, it was being in the open, seeing the snow capped peaks and breathing in the real fresh mountain air that I truly felt my spirits lift.  I thought if I feel this way here, it will be absolutely amazing when I get to stand on a mountain summit again one day.

I veered off Fullerton and followed a single track trail to this opening.  

This was a good spot to just sit and give thanks for today.

the only wild life I saw along the trail other than a few deer 

It was time to descend and this was the view as I looked back before doing so.

This was a successful start to rejuvenating my mountain soul!

May Days

It will be a May like no other and I am curious to see what our city, our province, our country, our world will have to show for this month come the end of it!  Never has life been so ever changing.  I know what my future holds in store, for this morning only, even at that I may be pushing it.  There is no time like the present to live in the moment.  

I made the most of these May 2nd morning moments, actually hours catching the sun rise at Confluence Park and then exploring parts of the Park I had not been to before.  I discovered a treasure trove of crocuses.  The meadows and slopes were carpeted with them.  Stand alone blooms were prevalent and I invested loads of time appreciating them.  Then when I came upon a multitude of bouquets, I only had it in me to enjoy just a few.  I needed to cover my planned distance so quickly onward it was.   Only one morning of one very early May day and I like what I have to show for it.  

For this Saturday and Sunday my intentions were to stick around home and accomplish home stuff.  I failed at doing that both days.  With the Provincial Parks now open, I just could not wait nor let a beautiful Sunday morning go by and have nothing being "out & about" related to show for it.  I arrived at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park very, very early.  It does open at sunrise and we do know what time the sun rises these days.  It was such a pastellie (I made up that word)) shaded sunrise!  From experience, I knew where to head to find crocuses and sure enough they were there in abundance.  I got lost in every magical moment it took to cover ten kilometres.

The beat goes on...

...and it is feeling like a better beat!

Tuesday's forecast said "go girl get out there" so I heeded that advice and off I went to Fish Creek Park for an urban hike.  The sunshine, warm temperature, lovely scenery and exercise all contributed to an elevated level of feeling in a happier place within.   Today's route covered an area of the Park that I had not been before and I enjoyed not knowing what was around the corner or over the bridge or up the hill.  I am learning to "remember to breathe" even within our city limits!

With time on my hands, stones in my yard, paint in my basement, creativity in my mind and a heart full of hope, I passed many hours this past week laying my thoughts onto a rock canvas.  I thought about how much sunrise is my most favourite time of day and how many beautiful ones I got to witness these past couple of months.  I bought flowers for Easter to cheer me and my home up.  They are the prettiest though when you get to see them out in the wild.  I hope I will get to experience that this summer.  I have camping nights booked but will they go ahead!  Some of my best sleeps are in my tent out in the wilderness.  I am in need of some good long deep sleeps!  The many hours I passed painting these rocks was a wonderful distraction away from reality.

It's quite something how my mindset has made such a change!  I knew last night that I would hike up on Nose Hill today and I was so excited and looked forward to it like a child on Christmas Eve.  I have never been out the door so quick after getting out of bed as I was this morning.  It must have been my sixth sense that made me sense I was in for something spectacular!  April 30th on Nose Hill will go down in my books for witnessing the most crocuses ever.  It was a crocus fest! They were growing in areas up there that they have not grown before!  They were sprouting out of the middle of paths!  There were more bouquets of crocuses than I have ever seen.  I starting hiking at 5:56am and I was back at my car at 9:15am.  I love kicking off a day in this way!

April has been bitter sweet, more bitter than sweet.  

I wonder what May will bring!

Laycock Park from Confluence April 26, 2020

My intentions have been to stay away from city parks and pathways on Saturdays and Sundays to avoid the crowds that venture to them on these days.  When I woke this morning and checked to see what kind of morning it was going to be, I knew I needed to be out there.  Just go early while others are savouring a sleep-in Sunday.  I was gifted sweet treasures today that made being out at the crack of dawn worth it. 

On my "out & about" list was Laycock Park which is in my old stomping grounds neighbourhood.  It has been years since I laid foot or tire track in that Park and I read where developments and upgrades had taken place.  I could get there sans vehicle via Confluence Park.  I first enjoyed Confluence then headed on south to Laycock.  The sun was already up by the time I made it into the forest. 

the golden glow of early morning

only some trees in the forest took on the morning glow

I headed on down into the park bottom to hit the trail that leads to Laycock Park.

The morning was shaping up beautifully.  I noticed a few other people off in different directions who were far enough away that there was no need to even think about physical distancing.  They were probably thinking the same as me, beat the rush.

I passed on bringing my big camera today in favour of my taking my kayaking/running camera.  Because I no longer run and have not been kayaking, I forgot I even had this camera.  I am liking what it is producing.  

The golden glow is gone, the wind picked up and the puffy fluffy clouds are forming.  

I was intrigued how the clouds in this photograph looked like extensions of the branches.  

As I entered into Laycock Park, the area took on a whole different look than where I just was.  No coyotes down in this Park as they remain up on the Hill, this was the only wildlife I saw today.  It was not going anywhere soon and just watched me do my thing.

Back in the day I used to picnic here.

A few things did look different around here from when I frequented the place, yet there were areas where it looked like construction was taking place.  I found out later those areas have been like that for quite some time as the city must have run out of money or interest in finishing up the job.  There were grassy areas as seen in this photo that were nice to stroll around.

This little painted stone was placed in a rock bed.  I believe someone else might be missing their out of the city adventures.  I see a tent with an open door, a fire and the birds flying high above.  We will be out there again one day.  For now, let's be thankful we have the City Parks to escape to.

I was not expecting to spot my first crocus of the season today.  I will be heading back here as it appeared there was potential for more to pop up.  They are late sprouting this year with winter like conditions only going by the way side last week.  When I saw it I sighed!  I now knew today was going to be OK!

It was an 11 km walk this morning.  

living life lately looks like this

April 22nd was walk day.  It was also Earth Day, an overcast day and a day where Parks People were performing some kind of exercise.  It was a day too where coyote sightings were numerous.  The sunrise did not stand out nor did the landscape scenery.  I was though, intrigued by the Calgary Parks Contractor truck parked on Nose Hill and the two people with two dogs that exited the truck.  They wandered about and then stopped while the dogs barked and barked and barked.  Then back to the truck, they drove to another area on Nose Hill and did the same thing.  I found out from those in the know that they go to the coyote dens and the dogs bark to scare the coyotes away, to where, to the residential areas.  I had a few coyote sightings this morning and was able to capture photos of three of those.  The others were too fast on their feet.  The coyote sightings were scattered throughout this two hour walk and they were all heading in a northerly direction.  I enjoyed being one with the earth yet far from the coyotes on Earth Day 2020!     

Many hours have been spent already on this current cross-stitch project.  It surprises me when lifting my head after accomplishing only an inch worth of work, that so much time has passed.  If I got paid by the hour for this work, I would be a wealthy lady.  I do feel rich from the rewards of relaxation & escape that this craft pays me.

I have been preoccupied lately with what happened on the weekend in Nova Scotia!  While I have lived in Calgary for decades now, I still consider Nova Scotia home.  My thoughts and prayers are with my family and friends there and with everyone else.  I knew I had items displaying the province's tartan so went in search.  Yes I am a bluenoser through and through!   

April 23rd finally came!  We had been working to find a day and today was a good fit for both of us to be in each others company.  I needed to hear words of wisdom from the wise.  We discussed proper distancing and put a plan in place to make for a safe chat.  We visited on an open deck in her area with a far off view of the snow covered mountain peaks.  We donned our masks prior,  measured the correct distance then sat back and relaxed.   We enjoyed the view, the sun & warmth and each others company.  What was to be a wee visit turned into two hours.  I felt uplifted and rejuvenated after our visit.  Finding ways to lighten up a day for some one on the vulnerable side takes thought and preparation and we made it happen! 

 our view, the pond will be filled soon

It's Friday and a beautiful one at that!  I checked my "out & about" list to see where I might like to venture to this morning.  I picked a walk that begins at Bottomlands Park which is a city park, it's an easy drive from home and has parking.   Along the 13 kms route I passed by the Zoo which is closed, yet the path is close enough to see wildlife.  This route is a section of The Great Trail which includes the Nose Creek Pathway and the Bow River Pathway.  While I could see city centre, I was far enough away from it.  There were very few others out which made for easy social distancing, Saturday and Sunday though will be a different story.  A short portion of the path is close to a major road which was noisy but that was no big deal.  I left some of that behind when I went to the  river's edge to see the wild waves at Harvey Passage.   Feeling content, it was time to head on home and enjoy the balance of this gorgeous Friday!  

My mind is everywhere these days!  I can't believe we are on the verge of May already.  Time is flying.  I like to make the most of every day and I have always been that way.  I want to be able to have something to show for it.  Each day is precious and a gift.  Lately I have been so determined, like never before, to accomplish something good each and every day.  While loads of doors are closed these days, many doors have opened this past while and I am walking through them doing my best to see a positive on the other side.   While it has been challenging at times, and at times I don't know if I can make it happen,  yet even if only for two hours a day some days, I am trying to...