Dan took Kat and I down to the south end of the city for our walk today. There is still nature to be shared and we had a lovely time but it is sad what is happening to our greenspace in this city.
Hope you are having a beautiful day🦋
There is something special about Saturdays even if I am retired and even when Dan has to work weekends – although night shifts are never easy for him or me.
I have had my lunch so it is time to head outside to putter around the yard in my unflattering jumper. 🐿️🐦🌲🌻
Have a great rest of the weekend!
Yesterday morning, Kat and I finally made it to and around PATRICIA Park (not Princess Park as I mentioned in an earlier post🤦).
I love this little park. It is not particularly noteworthy. It is just a couple of acres of greenspace – grass, trees, a meandering gravel path, a rustic little bridge and one ball diamond. I seem to be one of very few people who loves it, as I am typically alone there with my dog.
I was so excited to make it to, and around, our little park. When I stopped working at the end of March, I would walk to the end of our block and back. I would return home gasping for air, heart pounding and exhausted. Yesterday (and again today) we went for a brisk hour long walk and I am good to go yet. I can not believe the difference three months has made!
Wishing all a very good day and a special weekend! 🌳
There are at least a dozen moments a day when I realize I am so absolutely happy to be retired. My favorite moment is when I walk out the door – any day, any time to enjoy my walk around our neighbourhood with Kat.
My favourite thing about our neighbourhood is the proliferation of trees. Trees do so much to dress up a neighbourhood and make it appear strong and healthy. I never get tired of the trees.
I have no idea how many trees we have in Regina – definitely thousands (several thousands). When settlers first came here there were zero trees – just flat land with a creek (Wascana Creek) sitting beside a pile of bones. (Which is why Regina was originally named ‘Pile of Bones’). I am not sure why the settlers thought this would be a good place to settle, much less be the capital city of Saskatchewan, but I am grateful that they were industrious enough to start planting the trees we enjoy today.
Since the snow melted a few weeks ago, Kat and I have resumed our daily walks around the neighbourhood. It was tough going for a while as neither Kat nor I were in great shape going in. After a few weeks at it we are starting to struggle less and enjoy it more.
Hopefully after a few more walks around this neighbourhood, we will both have the stamina to make it across Elphinstone to walk the paths that run through Princess Park. That is a nice area.
When Dan is on holidays we might even convince him to join us on a few hikes around Wascana Lake, the Wascana Trails outside of Regina and Evraz Park.
Have a great day – here is hoping everyone has the opportunity to get out to enjoy some nature and exercise this summer🌞
If you have heard of Regina, you have probably heard of the Saskatchewan Roughriders – our CFL football team. 🏈
Regina is widely known for the Rider pride that drives tens of thousands into Mosaic Stadium every year regardless of sun, rain, snow or hail. Fans are decked out in the team’s green and white, with many of the diehards sporting watermelon helmets.
Dan and I worked in the yard on Saturday. (Dan did most of the work but I am pretty sure that as his spouse I am entitled to half the credit.) Anyway, we decided to take a drive yesterday as a reward for all of ‘our’ effort.
We made it home to have a slice of the most amazing salted caramel cake. Dan went shopping on Saturday morning and he drove ten blocks out of his way to go to the Co-op to get it for me. It was so worth it!
Genie was not really upset or angry – she was just slightly indignant that her mother stole the cherry out of her milkshake (she got over it).
There are, however, a number of people in Saskatchewan who are truly angry and frustrated since our federal election last fall.
While I understand that they feel their livelihood and lifestyle is at stake, I do not agree with their attitude. Anger and frustration may give people the motivation to step up and take effective action in some situations but I do not see that happening here.
I just see a lot of angry, frustrated people. I see people call friends, family and neighbours derogatory names for not using their vote to support their cause. I see people being rude in service stations, banks and stores, elbowing their way past others or deliberately smashing their cart into someone else’s to pass them. I see people cutting others off in traffic and in parking lots. I see people on social media posting or sharing false ‘news’ to make ‘others’ look bad. I see people trash talking ‘others’ for being different. I just see way too much rude and ignorant behaviour and I see way too many who justify this behaviour because they are angry and frustrated.
I do not see how this type of behaviour helps anyone. I do not see how this encourages others to support our cause. I certainly do not see how this type of behaviour encourages other industries to look to Saskatchewan as a place to expand their businesses, which would help our economy to move forward.
We live in a province with a lot of potential. Our ancestors always worked together through difficult times and made it work – across our province and across our country. Now we are facing a time of economic versus environmental challenges in Saskatchewan and across Canada. We need to calm down and work together to resolve these issues – maturely and responsibly.
Tonight I watched the news with my husband. I generally avoid watching our news as it tends to focus on politicians, social issues that are never resolved and news that never happened. Our newscasters once interviewed a golfer who did not get hit by lightning during a storm. That was special. We also heard of Regina’s connection to the Concord that crashed years ago. Fyi – there was no connection. That was the story. 🙄
One of our news segments tonight was looking back at the top five news stories in Saskatchewan in 2019. I do not know who chose these stories but for what it is worth, here we go.
1. Fighting the federal carbon tax. For the record, our premier argues against anything the federal government proposes. Personally, if the carbon tax cost us anything this past year, it was not noticeable and we got a rebate of about $750.00 on our taxes last year to cover it. We spent it on a new patio set.
2. Federal Election. It was painful to watch but ultimately hardly newsworthy.
3. Saskatchewan farmers terrible season. I don’t remember a year when that one did not make the top five news stories for the year.
4. Regina Bypass Opens. Government spends billions to solve a problem that could have been solved with a couple of traffic lights – but it would not have been nearly as impressive. 🤷
5. Mac the Moose from Moose Jaw received a new rack to regain his title as tallest moose in the world after a moose sculpture from Norway took him down.
Personally, I would not have rated all, or probably any, of these stories as top newsmakers in 2019. Regardless, I do think these choices reveal something. In Saskatchewan we are blessed. We see news from around the globe – news of devastating floods, fires, famine and violence and it is unimaginable to us .
In Saskatchewan, we have social issues and there are personal tragedies that affect families and communities, but as a whole, we live in relative peace and security. That should be noted this year and every year – noted and appreciated.
We are seven months away from green grass, budding flowers, sprouting vegetables and leafing trees. Although our house is small, I have my areas of greenery to brighten our spirits through the long Saskatchewan winter.
Now that I am almost recovered from my outbreak of shingles, I will be returning to work tomorrow. I must make time one evening to work on my kitchen ivy. It is getting a little out of control and becoming a problem when I work at the sink.
I dusted my bamboo last night. Somehow there is always dusting to be done, even when we are six feet deep in snow. 🤷
Occasionally, we wake up to random blossoms to brighten our day.
