Self-discovery During Quarantine

Confession time, I'm pretty lazy. I can watch TV almost all day without it bothering me. (Lucky me, right?) Of course, I'm getting older, so my body doesn't appreciate sloth come sleep time. If I don't get some exercise, then I get leg twinges or aches, which sucks, but, at least, I know how to stave them off. (Exercise...how horrible.)

During our self-isolation, I discovered some things about myself that surprised me. I do not like audio books. (I'm sorry, was that a collective gasp? I know a lot of devotees.) I'd never have guessed, because I love books. Now, I can see the benefit if you're doing something else: driving, running, knitting etc, but I just doesn't work for me to sit and listen to someone (especially with the wrong voice) read me a story when I've nothing else to do. 

I do, however, enjoy an afternoon "beverage" and snack, probably more than I should. I'm also over the moon that we have the sun porch, as it gives us a window to the outside world and its happenings, even on a limited basis. We have a bevy of...unique...personages that frequent our downtown neighbourhood, so it keeps things interesting.

View from the sun porch

I've found that after an initial rush of "get things done", I've petered off. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow, right? Unless the sun is out and then our little garden calls, the dirty windows beg to be cleaned and fresh airs seduces us to wanton acts of being outside. (Another gasp?)

We still have to deal with this crap.

Speaking of going outside, shoes...shoes have become terrible. A month and a half in slippers and all of a sudden shoes are these horrible restrictive devices that make my feet hurt after being in them for more than half an hour. What's with that?

I'm sure there will be other things that come to light in the strange days of COVID-19. Have you had any epiphanies? 

The First Robin of Spring

Even in the craziest of times, small moments can creep in and give you a moment of hope. Ours came in the feathered lines of a little robin redbreast. I can think of no other symbol of spring that could be more welcome. She quite likes our lawn, as ours is one of the first to lose it's snow. She (I'm assuming, of course) finds comfort in our raised lawn, that keeps her away from the sidewalk and near the safety of our yet leafless bushes.

She looks quite like this one.

She comes every morning now, looking for worms and other treats. She particularly likes the sunshine. I'm afraid she's in for a bit of a nasty surprise, as we're in for a bit of snow over the next few days. I, for one, am glad she's here. It augers well for the coming spring and we are both looking forward to warmer temperatures and longer days. 

Here's to gardening, barbecues and the lifting of social distancing and the passing of this virus. The world continues to turn and we will find the sun.

UPDATE: It did, indeed snow, but it's mostly gone once again and the sun is out and shining. Happy Easter to all.

Life in the time of COVID

Okay kids, I know things seem scary. I know that governments calling for "social distancing" and "self-quarantine" give us the heebie-jeebies, but it's going to be okay. Humans aren't good at change, especially change forced upon us. We don't do well with authority, generally speaking.

So general truths: 

Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to battle the virus. I know, it seems too simple, but it's our best defense. Sing 'Twinkle Twinkle" or "Happy Birthday"...there's even an app to figure out how to use your favourite song to hit the required 20 seconds.

Social distancing works. It really does, but before it gets better, it will get worse. You'll hear about increases in hospitalizations and deaths, but staying apart will reduce "the curve" over the long haul. Don't despair. Being "in house" won't kill you, it might even be good for your relationships. It's better for the environment and your wallet.

We really need a time out. All the hatred, prejudice and malaise (thanks Rod for that particular word as a reminder) could use a reset.

Please keep in mind that this is a virus, no matter how nasty. It will come and it will go, (and come back again, heaven help us) but we will persevere. 

You don't need to horde toilet paper (or really anything, for that matter)...you just don't. Even if there isn't any on the shelf right now, there will be more.This virus doesn't have symptoms that would require a lot of toilet paper.

Think of others, especially those that are living off of CPP and OAS or other government benefits. They get paid once a month (March 27th, this month) and may not have the financial resources to shop before then, nor run around trying to find a store that has something they need on their shelves. 

Here's a handy-dandy interactive questionnaire to determine if you possibly have COVID-19: https://covid19.thrive.health/. For the love of God, don't wander over to the local emergency only call the 811 lines if you are actually sick. Some reports say it starts with the "sniffles" and progresses very rapidly into a sore throat and coughing. ("Rapid" meaning in under a day.) 

It's going to get weird, things are going to feel completely abnormal, but it's going to be okay. Let's take care of each other. This is a huge social experiment where sacrifice of the individual (self-distancing, reduced income, change of lifestyle) comes at the greater good for the whole of humanity. We're good at this folks. We're good at working together. If we weren't we wouldn't be here. Give us a chance and just stay home. Mother Nature will thank you, your fellow humans will thank you and we will shine.

Don't forget to wash your hands and stay safe!

What's Afoot?

Walking is a good thing. I think most people can agree on that, even though the idea that we don't own a car seems impossible to comprehend for some folks out there. As we came home from the grocery store today, we couldn't help but discuss the benefits of being on foot. (Hence the blog title, please forgive the pun.) 

As we stroll through our neighbourhood, we get to meet the denizens, have a quick chat and get to know people, at least visually. We experienced the same when abroad, that flash of recognition from strangers that have seen us passing several times, the quick nod of camaraderie of fellow pedestrians. It's actually very pleasant. We're also pretty sure that if we disappear there will be plenty of people to track our whereabouts, should it become necessary. (Too many episodes of Forensic Files feeding my already grisly imagination, I'm sure.) You don't get that in a car, at least that we recall. Sure, you still get to talk with the store clerks and cashiers, but there's something a little special about being recognised, even so superficially, when you're out and about on the streets.

I guess we shouldn't downplay the health benefits of walking, but there's so much more to enjoy, when you get used to the process. It's a habit, really. We've gotten to the point where the thought of taking a vehicle seems inconvenient for most tasks: too costly, to time consuming, for the most part. And yes, we're still walking to do groceries, even in the dead of winter. Thankfully, we can pick and choose our day...the joy of retirement.

When was the last time you went out and roamed your neighbourhood, took the time to toddle over to a local business, or enjoy something new in the vicinity? It has helped us meet our neighbours and increase our social group, increases security in the 'hood and helps us get to know what's going on around town.

Having a car is a great benefit, you can go to far flung places easily, but, I guess what I'm trying to get at is at what cost? What are you missing on your "secret back road route" to get to point B? I know not everyone will embrace the no car culture, but maybe, once in a while, you might discover a gem nearby, if you take a wander around. 

Culinary Adventures

Cravings...they suck on so many levels. It's almost always something you don't have and require getting out of comfy clothes and "peopling". Ugh.

I was minding my own business, cruising through my Pinterest feed. (If you don't have Pinterest, just don't...it's a chronic time wasters, almost as bad as TikTok.) Anyhow, I digress. I'm scrolling through make-up tutorials, knitting patterns, cute animals and exotic travel locales, when I scroll to a post about gyoza. Yes, those delicious Japanese dumplings, with a tangy dipping sauce that is always so satisfying.  

Happy little dumplings just waiting for the fry pan

I'd already scoured the stores for pre-made gyoza, something we used to buy in Vancouver with some regularity and that I was excited to have available again. Alas, nothing. There's a few pot stickers and various dumplings, but no gyoza, specifically. Then comes that little post and it planted the craving in my little pea brain. A few days pass and I'm still thinking about them and I do a quick search to find a recipe. The ingredients are pretty basic and I decide to make some. Why not a restaurant? Peopling and budget. As I still don't have a rolling pin, I decided to try and buy pre-made dumpling wrappers. (Aka: skins, as I've discovered.) The two big grocery stores had nothing, nor did our beautiful little local grocer. Long story short, I found some skins at a Korean specialty store. (Phew...didn't want to make my own on my first go.)

Browning two sides with a steam in between

They really aren't that tricky, except the folding. There are tons of videos showing various techniques, but it is a learning process. (It also helps if you wrappers aren't too dry.)
 

The final result

Anyhow, I pulled it off and they were delicious - even if I do say so, myself. Not every dumpling was perfectly folded. In truth, many looked like Franken-dumplings, but they tasted good. (Yay!) It was worth it and now I'm excited to try more types of dumplings like Korean steamed veggie dumplings and maybe a quick foray into some dim sum. Perhaps it's the lunar new year, but last night I made Vietnamese salad rolls with peanut dipping sauce. Gung hai (hay) fat choi!

This Old House

I gotta tell you...Ron gets a bee in his bonnet quite frequently. He's a bit like a British Bulldog that's bitten something and doesn't want to let go. He did it with the paneling on the sun porch, he's done it with numerous other things in the past.

I'll give him his due: it almost always pans out. The paneling came off the sun porch fairly easily and only a small part of the wood siding underneath needed repair. The porch looks so much better now that it's the same colour as the exterior of the house.

His newest "project" was to strip off the paint from the hinges, door knobs and locks that we have in the house. We noticed that they seem to be engraved or had some sort of filigree, but the detail was buried under 100 years of paint. He found a video that said all we really had to do was simmer the pieces in hot water and baking soda to get the majority of the paint off.

It can't be that simple, right? Well, actually it was. Sure we needed to pick out some tight spots and brush and scrub a bit, but the majority of the paint lifted right off. We're left with some pretty amazing hinges that strangely don't match...one side has one style and the other side has another. Quirky.

The set on our dining room door is stamped April 3 1877, Pat B. (Patent reference, or manufacturer? Not clear, but patents usually have a number assigned, no?) So, a bit of scrubbing with steel wool, sanding and rubbing with alcohol, some goo gone and a bit of mineral oil later and we have clean hinges of indeterminate metal type. We're pleased, and really, that's the payoff, right?

It's been a pretty cool exercise and no one else might notice, but we love the hardware!

When Winter Blows In

I have to admit, we had a pretty good October. Halloween came in with a bit of drizzle, wind and 18 degrees Celsius - at night...can't really complain. Then a week passed.

We woke up to snow, just starting to accumulate. It snowed all day. We kept the drapes closed and hunkered down, after our workout in the morning. By the end of the day, we had a good five centimetres of the white stuff. The next day the sun came out and we sat on the sun porch, enjoying a bevvie and +20 degrees. (That's the beauty of the sun porch...basically a green house.)

Then the snow melted, more or less, but the temperatures remained stubbornly low. We've now been flirting, on and off, with flurries and carpets of white and the blissful moments of sunshine. I have to say, that -3 and sunny (no wind) is way better than +3 and rainy. 

November seems to be stacking up as a kind month. Have we had snow? Yes, as mentioned. Have we had lots of snow? No...thank heavens! We've spent a few more afternoons on the sun porch and enjoyed some long strolls along the river and through new neighbourhoods. We've spent time with neighbours, enjoying good company and food. We've had highs and lows. There are challenges to every relocation, even when you come "home". We're past the six month mark, which is always a good milestone. (Kilometrestone sounds ridiculous...right?)

We've now put up the Christmas lights (as you can see) and are waiting for a "quintessential" evening snow photo. We're prepared to wait for another month (more, even, why rush?), if we must. Hope your holiday season is shaping up, that you're spending time with those you love, feeding your soul and opening hearts with joy.

Beautiful, Deceptive Autumn

It's kind of hard not to marvel at autumn, especially on the east coast. This is the time that people rhapsodize about the "change of seasons" or fully enjoying the "four seasons". It really has its perks.

Having lived in perennial spring for a while, we understand the time shifting ability of no seasons. When the days stay the same length and there is always something in bloom, time ceases to exist. Is is April? Is it November? We honestly couldn't tell you without keeping a sharp eye on the calendar. So, fall is a pretty impressive change. The colours are amazing, especially on days with deep blue skies and ample sunshine. The trees remind us that it's a good thing to go out looking fabulous.

The majesty of the season ALMOST makes you forget what's coming after. The key phrase being almost. We've weather stripped and insulated, sealed and layered all in an attempt to winterize this old house. We aren't ready, we know that, but we've done what we can. In the meantime, we'll enjoy the blazing colours of a year that is trying to grow old gracefully, with a bit of class and elan. We also know that it will likely end up giving up the ghost in a petulant tantrum of ice and snow, but that's what we signed up for, at least this year.

First snow of the season

Hope you enjoy the colours as much as we do. If you're in that springtime place we once inhabited, enjoy the magic timelessness of it and our autumn, from afar. If closer to home, perhaps a little winter prep might be in order, if you've been putting it off. For those on the very we(s)t  coast, crack out the galoshes and lights that mimic daylight. We'll all make it through. 

Is the Tide a Bore?

This is a little ancillary post to the Hopewell Rocks one. Moncton is situated on a tidal river, fed from the Bay of Fundy, where those great tide changes happen.

Once the tidal bore has passed, but the river is still filling up quickly!

Little did we know that twice a day the river gets flooded with ocean water that creates this thing called a tidal bore. For those not familiar with this, it's a single wave that is created by the pure volume of sea water coming through a narrow opening in the river.

The tidal bore that enters up the Petitcodiac River is strong enough for the brave to surf, which is pretty impressive. Where can you see this spectacle? From Tidal Bore park...simple and to the point, East Coast practicality, especially in naming things, is a beautiful thing. Pro tip: head down past the first couple viewing stations towards Dieppe to get the first view and to double down on the fun, stand on the pedestrian bridge and see the tidal bore and the feeder river fill up at the same time.

The things that surprised me the most was the sound, almost like a slow grinder milling up the coast line. I saw the bore before I heard it, but the sound was definitely unique and louder than one would anticipate.

Add this to your list of things to do in Moncton while here. There's an excellent schedule available at https://tidalboretimes.ca/ . The best times (so we've been advised) to see the bore is on the new moon, closely followed by the full moon. If you can hit it during a super moon, then all the better.

Lazy Days of Summer

Just when we thought it wouldn't come, summer arrived. The temperatures are pleasant, at least for us, with the occasional swell of humidity that whispers to us about afternoon naps and cold beverages on the front porch.

View from the front porch

We think we've seen the full extent of how our flower beds are shaping up. There have been a lot of pleasant surprises and very few disappointments. 

Corner of the house & stairs to the porch

We've figured out, for the most part, how to keep the house cool(ish) and are enjoying the space, the city and the process of settling in. Every time we think we've finally wrapped up the big expenditures, something else pops up, but this is how things roll.
 

Day lillies

 

So, here's to summer: the heat, the mosquitoes, ceiling fans and cold drinks! We're soaking it up as much as we can, before the autumn and winter come.

What Up, Moncton?

So, we've been living in a bit of a bubble, working on the house, trying to get our tenant settled in and the apartment ready for his family, so we really haven't been up to all that much. We did try to go to the car show, but they wanted $10 (per person!!!) for entry and we don't really like cars quite that much. We did get to participate in taco week, when we first arrived. The heck with Taco Tuesday! Let's do a whole 7 days! (There's still taco Tuesday regularly, too, so it's a win-win.)

Ron playing with the interactive art

Along the river

One of many handsome pheasants we've seen

 Moncton is a little hotbed of summer festivals. We've passed through the Highland Games (kilts and bagpipes galore!), Ribfest 2019, night craft markets, Canada Day celebrations, multiculturalism day and, this week, Festival Inspire, an art event that includes mural painting, art walks and music. 

A Stellar Jay deconstructing a spray can

Detail of a mural by the river

 Quirky mural in a parking lot

3D turtle made out of plastic waste

Yup, a Mr. Turtle pool as part of the garbage turtle

 There are a remarkable amount of murals around the city, so we were looking forward to seeing some in process. As today was an absolutely stellar weather day 25 Celsius, light breeze and clear skies, we grabbed our camera and headed out to survey some of the street art.

Very Vancouver-esque!

We already had some favourites and stumbled across some new things which we were quite taken with. 

A new addition for the festival

We hope you enjoy them as much as we did (and do). There are still new ones that we want to go see, so there might be another post with these little (okay, not so little) gems stashed all over the city, both in hidden corners and high traffic areas.