A wee story about Mother Nature... just a quick one.

Just a wee story, about nature in our own backyard.  Ms. Maddie and I have a morning routine, quite a ritual actually. It involves me getting up first and usually having to wake her up (gently). She then collectsTeddy in her mouth and comes to greet me.  Teddy's a very important part of this ritual; not sure what we'll do if he ever gets lost or totally destroyed (there's not much left now ::-)  Anyway, the usual ritual is, once awakened and after the usual morning greetings (including a back scratch and a bow) we three proceed to the back door where Teddy stays behind (as enticement to return) and M heads out to do her business. Once completed, she sprints (full speed) to the back door and leaps into the air, capturing Teddy in her mouth, before continuing back into the house and to her, still warm, bed for a little more sleep.  It's a bit weird, but it works. What can I say?

This morning was different.  Maddie woke me up barking, just before 7. Hmm, that's different.. so off I padded to see what was up.  I could tell by the curtain being slightly ajar, she'd been peeking out the sliding door at the back yard; so I did too.  Seeing nothing untoward I carried on as usual but not so Miss Maddie. Nope, her butt was planted firmly on the floor in the middle of the family room and she wasn't going anywhere. This was the first time in over 5 years, she hadn't raced me to the door.   

Not too many options here. I donned my warm, plaid, working jacket and slipped on my old but functional 'duck boots' and opened the back door carefully.  Nothing. I was about to step out and decided (being the survivor I am) I'd best be armed for the unknown... so I grabbed the umbrella  :-)  Trajectory's not great, but it gives me 2-3 extra feet of distance 😁  Anyway, I stepped out, into the yard quietly and stopped to assess.  No bloodied mess on the lawn, no gate swinging open in the wind, no skulking racoon, cat or squirrel... Then I saw it.

A hawk, about the size of a raven, sat quietly on the side fence, watching me watching him or her. It sat quietly until I took a few steps towards it, and then she or he flew to a part of the fence a little further away and then headed off to places unknown.  It was pretty neat. The air was still and there was no traffic or other noise.. just me and the hawk.  

Declaring the coast clear, I invited Maddie out to do her business and she complied.  All is well in the neighbourhood/ Ahhh, great start to the morning.

Blessings and Adventures

How does one prepare for a Camino? Great question, with an answer I wouldn't have known if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes and felt it in my heart. Stamina, energy, commitment, inner strength and gut determination all factor in. Weeks and months of physical training (working up to 15 and 20 km hikes), hours of research, dozens of conversations, miles of pavement pounded in the search for just the right pair of shoes… and more.  Everything you've ever done in preparation for an international trip and a bunch more…that's how you prepare.

 And then there's the backpack. Not  just any backpack  though. It has to fit well, be the right design for the trip and, above all else, it has to hold everything you will need for your journey and still come in at 10% of your body weight.  Some choose to ship their kit ahead of them, and that's their choice; but some choose to do the pilgrimage the 'old' way…and that is Kath.  She's left the country and is en route to Portugal via Ireland (where she will have a short visit with her cousins before flying to Porto).

We've agreed, for sanity's sake, to not set up a schedule for communication, but rather to stick with the old adage 'no news is good news'.  This will allow Kath to immerse herself in the experience itself and to follow whatever path she chooses … to its end.
We will stay loosely in touch; the hearts demand it.

Back at the 'ranch' life goes on. The orchids are blooming and Maddie's doing her shopping at Home Depot. All going well Maddie and I may enjoy some days aboard the good ship SSpirit. We shall see.

We hope you are all enjoying the departure of summer and have your sails set for the onset of Fall.   Until I write again, this is CJ signing off.  TTFN









Sent from my iPhone

Homeward bound…

We had a great sail heading home from our few days across from Ladysmith. Warm sun and a steady breeze provided a wonderful sail home. Photo credits to Kathy,,,,

>

It’s all about the toys…

> Some days it is. So here we are, anchored across from Ladysmith, and out come the new paddle board and Pup Plank. Yes two new skills in the works. Kathy is thrilled with her new paddle board and Maddie is turning into a diving and retrieving dog. All good fun!
>

Home and harvesting…

It's that time again…garlic harvest done…tick! And a pretty good harvest at that. Unfortunately the birds enjoyed ALL the blueberries and the raspberries never matured… oh well; such is life :-). Hope your gardens are all you hoped for and you're enjoying late summer. CJ