Fall Again

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Alberta, beauty, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, creation, Diana Schwenk, fall, nature, peace, Tourist in my own city

There is treasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more.

Lord Byron

There is nothing quite as centering for me as nature, and one doesn’t have to travel to the middle of nowhere to see it. Nature, it seems, regardless of how we dispose of it, comes back again and again.

Below, photos I took last Sunday during my urban walk…

It’s fall again…

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

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Nature’s Lent

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Alberta, boredom, Calgary, changing seasons, choice, cycling, Diana Schwenk, Life's like that, living in the moment, longing, lonliness, reflection, rest, stillness, summer, waiting, winter

Winter makes me question all sorts of choices I’ve made. It passes slowly, each day seemingly the same as the one before. The alarm goes off while it’s still dark out. I drink coffee, shower, dress, get in my car and go to work. I come home, eat, watch some TV, go to bed, maybe read a chapter or two. The alarm goes off while it’s still dark out.

It’s a low time for me, a time when nature sleeps beneath the snow. I reflect on the past. I think about the things I could have, should have done differently. I mourn what is lost. I let go of things I can’t change, things that aren’t important. I re-prioritize. It’s a time when I feel as though something is missing. A time when I long for something else, when I long for summer.

But this year before the spring, in January and February when it felt like I could not take the dark, stillness and cold anymore, or the day-in, day-out sameness, it occurred to me that maybe that’s the way it’s meant to be. Maybe it’s what allows me to start again with a fresh perspective.

It’s nature’s lent. A time of rest and reflection and yes, a time of maddening boredom too. A time to long for the sun’s warmth, and yet, somehow, the perfect springboard to an all-the-more enjoyable summer.

And I do love summer. And this past Sunday’s afternoon bike ride was well worth the long wait!

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~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

Babbling Like An Idiot

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changing seasons, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, growing up, laughter, Life's like that, living in the moment, poetry, Spring

The other day I saw the following poem posted by my friend Ellen on Facebook. I knew immediately

that I would have to share it

here

with you.

Enjoy.

Spring

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

To what purpose, April, do you return again?

Beauty is not enough

You can no longer quiet me with the redness of little leaves opening stickily.

I know what I know.

The sun is hot on my neck as I observe the spikes of the crocus.

The smell of the earth is good.

It is apparent that there is no death.

But what does that signify?

Not only under ground are the brains of men eaten by maggots.

Life in itself is nothing, an empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.

It is not enough that yearly, down this hill, April comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

My Big-Girl-Snow-Pants

Tags

200 words, adapt, Alberta, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, cold, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, dress in layers, Life's like that, snow, winter

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.

Carl Reiner

Well it’s finally here.

I won’t be bringing a book, or note pad to go sit on a bench in the park to read or write while sipping a Grande half-sweet white chocolate mocha any day soon. And it will be months before I’ll be jumping on my bike to ride Calgary’s pathways.

There’s no more denying it.

There’s no more deciding not to wear socks, or not to dress in layers, or wear a warm coat. Winter is here and there’s nothing I can do about it. I just have to put on my big-girl-snow-pants, lean into the north wind, grit my teeth and plow through it. I don’t have a choice.

Yeah, yeah, I know some of you are excited about winter. You’ve been looking forward to sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, igloo building, icicle licking and whatever else you do in winter.

As for me… should you need me, I’ll be indoors, wrapped in a cozy blanket on my favourite chair, sipping hot chocolate and watching reruns of Island Life.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

How do you feel about winter?

I Wanted an iPad, But The Galaxy Tab S2 Works Great!

Tags

changing seasons, Diana Schwenk, fall, friends, Hump Day Chronicles, learning, living in the moment, photos, Purpose, work

“I want an iPad mini 4 for work,” I said to my boss one day after having decided to take the social media portion of my job up a level.

“Trouble is we have PCs at work and iPads aren’t that compatible with them,” he replied.  So my boss did a bit of research himself and sent me to talk to his contact, Adam at Memory Express.

Well between the two of them, they convinced me the Galaxy Tab S2 was the way to go and I am pretty impressed with it so far.

So here, for your viewing pleasure are some of the photos I’ve taken over the last little while. I’m still learning about, and experimenting with the Galaxy Tab and hopefully my skills will improve with time.

Here’s my friend Susan with her totally hippified car

I took this picture after Susan facilitated a workshop on trauma and addiction for me and my co-workers last week.

Jo’s bike

Cindy filling out the memory book

I took these two photos recently at a celebration of life event honouring my childhood friend Josee.

I met Michaela in Red Deer recently

On a walk with Elizabeth

selfie with visiting blogger, Elizabeth

Visiting friends in Olds

Annie visiting from Scotland

Blurry George visiting from Scotland

Catching up with Terri who was visiting from Winnipeg

 

I’ve traveled to meet with them, or they have traveled to meet with me. It’s been a catching up with others month!

And below are some fall shots I’ve taken in my neighbourhood over the last few weeks.

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~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

How’s fall treating you in your neck of the woods?

Red Bricks and Spring – Two of My Favourite Things

Tags

Alberta, bike, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, Diana Schwenk, happy, health, Hump Day Chronicles, laughter, life, living in the moment, outside, Spring, sunshine

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.

Margaret Atwood

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy – I love spring! It makes me so happy that if I were a dog, not only would I be wagging my tail, my whole back-end would be wagging.

In the spring, even when it’s overcast, like it was on Saturday, I want to be OUTSIDE!

So what? It’s overcast. Look at all the green leaves!

And pictures look sharper when it’s overcast, don’t you think?

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And then just when I’m thinking that it couldn’t get any better, Sunday brings with it the sun and now it’s flip-flop-summer-clothes-wearing-heaven!

So after I published my regularly scheduled DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES post. I headed outside to take it all in. And I’m so happy that if I were a cat I’d be purring so loud you’d think I was a tractor-trailer!

The red fake bike catches my eye!

Oh look at those bikes outside the Good Earth Café. It would be a GREAT spring day to ride a bike. Yes, a fine day to ride a bike. I WANT A BIKE!

Just around the corner I spotted Del and Doug, momentarily forgetting about bikes because I haven’t seen them in a long, long while.

After catching up with D & D I continued on down 11th Street to 13th Ave where I turned right and snapped this shot.

Carl Saffron Building

See those box looking things? I dream of convincing six strangers to stand on them one day, so I can take a picture of them. I think it would be cool, if they all do different poses, look in different directions – It would look like a 60s album cover!

I continued to 8th Street and turned left and then right on 11th Avenue.

I do love red brick with a touch of green!

The scent of blossoms here on 11th were intoxicating!

A wall mural of Calgary’s skyline

Flowers at City Hall

But the best part of the day, and oh this made me so happy that if I were a young foal I’d be kicking up my front, then hind legs and prancing all around the paddock, I bought a BIKE – a very cool bike!

And it WAS a very GOOD day for a BIKE ride!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

What do you like to do in the spring? Do you have a bike? Has it been warm where you live?

Fall in Calgary #NotTooShabby4October

Tags

Alberta, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, community, compassion, courage, Diana Schwenk, fall, Homelessness, Hump Day Chronicles, life, living in the moment, love, summer, Tourist in my own city, winter

Warm as summer on my skin but fall on the ground on 4th Street SW, Calgary AB Oct 10, 2015

Were it not for the leaves changing colour and the trees dropping their leaves, I’d have thought it was summer in Calgary on Saturday.

These are the fall days I hope for. These are the moments that make me forget we’ve already had snow.

These are the type of memories that carry me through the long and cold Canadian winter.

I hadn’t been out for a good walk in quite some time. As luck would have it, I had some errands to run and the weather was glorious.

I started out with a light jacket that almost immediately found itself tied around my waist.

A man passing in the other direction said to his companion, “Whoa, it feels good to be in the shade,” when he found temporary relief from the sun in the shadows of the tall buildings on 17th Avenue.

17th Avenue closed at 8th Street for the Thanksgiving weekend. The work needs to be done, but local businesses can’t be too happy about it.

After picking up most-delicious-looking pastries at Sourdough bakery and stashing them in my fridge so I could bring them with me the next day for Thanksgiving dinner, I headed downtown to run some more errands.

Volunteer, Heather agreed to pose for this picture – Thank you Heather!

Something was going on at the Lougheed House.

I went to investigate.

A temporary Firefighters museum was set up in honour of Fire Safety week.

Among other things, I learned that if a building is grounded, a lightning rod can be more dangerous, than helpful.

A photo of a photo of a firefighter…

A gas mask from the good ole days…

Old tools that kinda remind me of old dentistry tools I’ve seen…

At Central Memorial Park checking out the free book they gave me at the Firefighter’s museum. And YES, I’m wearing flip-flops!

After I’d completed my errands downtown I headed back home. It was so wonderful to feel the sun on my face and arms. I stopped often to shoot more pictures.

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The changing seasons remind me of the changes and transitions that happen in life.

Some are good, we welcome them and if we have any sense at all we enjoy them while they last.

Others test us, chill us to our very souls, make us wonder if we’ll be strong enough to get through them. But even these pass and leave us amazed at how strong we can be.  And if we have any sense at all, we learn from them and bring forth new growth.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

If you live in Calgary, did you get a chance to hang out outside this past weekend? What was the weather like in your city? What’s your favourite season?

What If Something Good Happens And I Miss It?

Tags

200 words, Alberta, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Fear, happy, joy, living in the moment, winter, worry

“You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” ~ Jonathan Safran Foer

A shorts-wearing Canadian, Calgary, Alberta – Jan. 24, 2015

Today it’s supposed to be 16c, that’s 61f!

I haven’t been outside yet, but just the thought of going outside on a warm January 25th lifts my spirits several rungs up the ladder!

I get so excited about warmer temperatures.

I’m not the only one, yesterday it was 10c/50f and some of my countrymen even wore shorts.

It occurs to me that in not one, but two previous posts, I have been bracing myself for  I-can’t-feel-my-feet-and-hands-my-lips-are-frozen-to-my-teeth-and-it-hurts-my-lungs-to-inhale-the-air kind of days; worrying about something that hasn’t even happened.

I wonder how often I do that in everyday life.

They say that 90% of the things we worry about never come to pass.

How often do I worry about imagined future sadness and failure and strive to protect myself from it? And when I do so, how often does it rob me of joy in the now?

Do you find yourself doing the same thing?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

If you need me, you know where to find me; outside and happy in the NOW

Fall Out My Window

Tags

changing seasons, Diana Schwenk, fall, going with the flow, happy, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, letting go, life, living in the moment, sad, summer

Not ‘fall‘ or ‘jump’ out of my window.

But fall, the season, as seen from my window.

I’ve read so many posts from a handful of you recently about letting go.

Letting go of the outcomes.

Letting go of the things I cannot control.

Going with the flow.

Riding the wave and enjoying the scenery.

So although the end of summer has caused me sadness in the past. Perhaps even had me momentarily thinking about jumping out of my window, I’m gracefully easing into fall this year.

Looking back, it was a great summer.

We had lots of good weather and I spent a great deal of time outside.

Looking forward, I anticipate a good fall.

Discovering ways to enjoy the outdoors, dressing as required to stay warm.

Living in the moment.

Below, some pictures I took on the first day of fall and a bonus end-of-summer creatively crazed selfie in poor light….

 

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

Looking back, how was your summer? Looking forward, what are you anticipating?

The Big News And A Trip To Sandy Beach

Tags

Alberta, Calgary, changing seasons, construction, daughters, Diana Schwenk, family, growing up, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, kids, love, Relationships, Sandy Beach, summer, Tourist in my own city, Urban Living, wedding

Lately, when my daughter visits she writes something on my whiteboard and I write something back..

THEY SHOWED UP LATE ON FRIDAY NIGHT.  Michaela had to work that day so she and Josh, Michaela’s boyfriend, didn’t hit the road until dinner time.

Wainwright is a good 5-hour drive to Calgary. They were understandably tired when they finally got here.

THE BIG NEWS

They had big news for me. They were going to tell me together on this visit. But Michaela couldn’t keep it in that long. She called me a few days earlier to tell me.

Even when she was a little girl, Michaela could not wait to share things. If she bought a present or made a gift for me, she could not wait for Christmas, or Mother’s Day, or my birthday to give it to me. It drove her nuts and she would beg me to let her give it to me early.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the big news…

THEY’RE GETTING MARRIED!!!

Yup, that’s right, my little girl is getting married. They’ve already picked a date; May 9th.

And while they were here they bought their shoes for the big day.

For Him

For Her

 I’m not even kidding!

The colour scheme for the wedding is BLACK, RED and Silver.

And yes she will be wearing a traditional white dress.

And oh they WILL BE getting red laces for Josh’s shoes.

When I asked about Michaela’s white laces, she said it’s ok because she’s wearing a white dress and would I please wear a red dress…

No problem – heck, can I wear converse too? It’s actually a cute idea!

Here we were talking about their wedding and I was struck with the realization that my little girl wasn’t a little girl anymore.

~

A TRIP TO SANDY BEACH

It was so hot in my little apartment and I suggested we drive to Sandy Beach, a spot Michaela and I used to visit when she was a little girl. I figured we could find a cool, shady spot to relax and talk or read. 

So with blanket and books in hand we headed out.

Stormy sky – Sandy Beach

Sitting on the shore – Sandy Beach

Rocks on a bench. I know, I found it odd too…

The whole park is still under construction because of last year’s flood.

Rafter lazily floating by…

Ominous sky

Well the plan was a good one, but the weather wasn’t cooperating.

We were there for only 30 minutes when the winds picked up and the sky began to ever so lightly drizzle rain on us.

We packed up our gear and headed to My Favourite Ice Cream Shop.

Ahh, such great memories of sitting outside eating ice cream with my little girl…

As soon as we got our ice cream it began to rain hard – so much for sitting on the bench!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

Is it hard for you to wait for a specific day to share news or give a gift?

What do you think of wearing converse shoes with a wedding dress?

What’s your favourite ice cream flavor?