Sunday, April 19, 2015

Well on the road to summer


Spring has arrived full force on Vancouver Island, trees are blossoming, leaves unfurling, and flowers that were tucked beneath the earth for winter have poked bravely through the soil and have majestically bloomed.  The Mason bees are buzzing and busy pollinating flitting flower to flower.  Today I watched birds dive and swirl in their airborne courtship.  


Along with spring comes the appearance of the species of elusive Canadian toes that were tucked into winter boots for 7 months.  Hello summer!

My ever hopeful apple tree valiantly blooming, I actually call my tree a mutant, it very seldom delivers apples despite there being several apple trees for pollination purposes in the nearby vicinity.  Here's hoping for even 3 or 4 apples.

 The weather has been stunning this weekend about 15C.  I love it when it warms up on the island, everything seems to come alive and everyone rushes outside vigorously engaging in life beyond their homes.  My favourite walking spot is a two minute jaunt from my house, its the Westsong walkway, it is a beautiful walkway that wraps around the harbour.  It is particularly lovely in the spring and summer.

My Floathome used to be moored over in the far marina.  It was a glorious 10 years living on board my little piece of heaven, maybe one day I will do it again.  I am actually thinking mobile tiny house, I'm used to living in small space and it was 750square feet of functional compact living perfection.  It was an eclectic lifestyle and I loved it. 
The marina owner turfed out the smaller homes like mine and sold water lot leases to big super floathomes. The marina owner effectively dismantled a lovely community in the name of "progress". Luckily though most people were able to move across the harbour, where it is a vibrant thriving community. Who knows maybe one day, I loved the eclectic lifestyle, it so suited me.

On a side note I had to step out of the last two teaching days of the novice course I started teaching last week. On Tuesday I was diagnosed with a mild case of shingles. I started medication early and was lucky it started working so quickly.  But I was told to rest and have spent the better part of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, sleeping pretty much around the clock, and I am happy to report that I am well on the mend.  Now my mission is to try and learn to manage stress better, as it is a trigger and I will be getting vaccinated as soon as I've been given the ok, I do not want to go here again.

Sunday morning I went down and cheered my students on with coffee and donuts before they did their MSAs.  My best friend Deb stepped into my teaching role, and I was happy because I was able to teach with the teacher who was my traffic instructor. Happy motorcyclists!  So the work begins to start doing Tai Chi chih again or looking at yoga and other stress managers.  

Looking forward to some time out on the bike for a little magic restorative helmet time. 



10 comments:

Conchscooter said...

Shingles give you new appreciation for good health, long may they stay away. I look back o life on the water and I think I am okay not going back to it. I surprise myself sometimes.

SonjaM said...

Be better soon, and meanwhile enjoy your surroundings. I could easily live on a houseboat like you did as long as there would be some protected parking for my two-wheeler ;-)

Trobairitz said...

Glad you are on the mend. Hopefully the mild weather and sunshine will help the de-stressing process.

Our home is 912 sq ft and it seems too large most days. I'd love to find a tiny house on a larger piece of land to keep pesky neighbors away.

Lynne Goebeler said...

Love your sandals! Life on a houseboat sounds wonderful and that it would suit you perfectly. I agree with Sonja, as long as there was secure parking for our bikes I could do it. Sorry about the shingles...I have a shingles vaccine on my to do list. Yoga really does help with stress, I can attest. Feel better!

Lynne Goebeler said...

Love your sandals! Life on a houseboat sounds wonderful and that it would suit you perfectly. I agree with Sonja, as long as there was secure parking for our bikes I could do it. Sorry about the shingles...I have a shingles vaccine on my to do list. Yoga really does help with stress, I can attest. Feel better!

Tripping Sister! said...

Nice pics, Dar. And Bob would have indeed loved that "toe shot". Have fun and the enjoy the sunny outdoors!

RichardM said...

I like the mobile, tiny house idea but it probably isn't very practical for me...

David Masse said...

Glad you're feeling better Dar!

The idea of living with less stuff is very appealing. We launched our kids and now the four bedroom house with all its contents feels like a huge weight.

Martha said...

I am also glad you are better!

Say, just how far away are those apple trees? And how old is your tree? And how's the soil where it grows?

Deb said...

Sorry for your shingles! Ouch!

I've scaled down my lifestyle to the bare minimum and it is so much more freeing. Go for it!

Anyway, happy spring, girlfriend!