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10 Things to Build Resilience

February 27, 2022 by nancy Leave a Comment

  1.  Learn to relax – This thought sounds easier than it is.  My Dad gave me a reminder token which reads, “practice doing nothing is an artform”
  2. Practice thought awareness – My mind can be my greatest enemy.  I often struggle with making sure I treat myself the way a best friend would talk to you.  I try and practice positive thinking. 
  3. Choose your response –  Never respond when your angry.  I have done this in the past and it never works to your advantage.  I am now trying not to respond to things right away, trying to pause.  My Mom told me, “Don’t be angry”, I am trying to lighten up and not be so angry.  This has been a hard one for me.
  4. Clear your thoughts – I find going for a walk especially connecting with nature is a great way to clear the mind.
  5. Make Connections – Keep in touch with people that make you feel good about yourself.  Stay clear of negative people and negative influences.  I have let go of people that no longer fit in my life today.  I am realizing the old saying, “you are truly blessed if you have 1 true friend”.
  6. Should I take action to solve this fear – Understand fear and embrace it, name the fear.  Learning more about why I am fearful of something or someone helps.
  7. Make Everyday Meaningful – There is always something to be grateful for.  Start a gratitude list, always always there is something positive in a day!
  8. Remain Hopeful – Without hope we are nothing.  Hope keeps us going, always have hope in your future, I have found this to be most helpful in keeping going.
  9. Get to know yourself – Getting to know your strengths and weaknesses in your personality helps so much.  I try to embrace my weaknesses and try to find the positives in them.
  10. Be Present – I try to live in the now and in the day.  It is not always easy, but trying to stay present for yourself and others is a gift.  I try and stay off my phone when my children are talking to me.  I try and be more present with their day to day activities. I always ask them, “how their day went?”

 

Filed Under: Inspirational Moments, Travelling Thoughts Tagged With: 10 things, 10 tips, building, courage, resilience

Memories of Past Holidays!

December 8, 2021 by nancy 1 Comment

The Holidays are coming upon us and like many I am sitting her reflecting on this past year and what will the holidays be like this year. 

My parents both had the same type of lung cancer and passed within months of each other this year.  My Mom died on March 12th, 2021 and later my Dad on August 25th, 2021.  I was blessed to hold both of their hands when they took their last breath.

I had to keep as healthy as I could, (in a pandemic).  This included mind, body and spirit to deal with all of this on my own.  Sadly my Brother passed 15 years ago so I had to weather this storm with the help of friends and family.   Illness, and tragedies bring out the best and worst of people.  I have found out who could stand by me this year and who I had to leave behind.  This was a whole other lesson which presented itself this year.

As expected my life has been a rollercoaster of emotions.  One minute it seems I am laughing at something only I find funny, the next I am teary  over something silly, or angry at the weatherman on TV.

My kids and I moved into my parents house full time after my Mother died in March.  We had many wonderful days with my Dad and through all of our sadness we still managed to create a multitude of memories together and grew very close.  My Dad, kids and I watched many of his favorite gold tv series, business and survival shows along with our daily dose of nightly news. 

He loved the simple things in life, a bowl of hot oatmeal, coffee in the morning and talk of what was on the menu for lunch and dinner. He would always joke “lets see what the talking heads are saying today!” 

My Mom and I always marveled at how smart he and my Brother were.  We always said, “if we had a question about world events, your Dad or Brother would know the answer!”  My Mom was the entertainment queen, she had a knack about knowing about useless random entertainment information.  I really wished I could hear her talk to my Dad about some silly fact now.

She also knew the history of our family connections, better than my Dad and I.  We always joked, “what would we do without her, we will not know how extended family members are related to us or their names now.”  I now find myself  asking, “how am I related to them?” 

People have asked me how I found the strength to get through this past year?  When I look back I think often I was on autopilot going through the motions of sickness, doctors appointments, administering medications, cooking, and all of the caretaking duties. 

Each of their deaths was a very different experience, planning their funerals, selling my parents house, (they lived in the same house for 57 years), handling their estate matters whilst being a Mother to two young children.

It is funny how life can change in a heartbeat.  During the Covid-19 Pandemic I lost both part time jobs, however this gave me the gift of time.  Precious beautiful time to be with both my parents at the end of their lives. 

I reminisce one year ago today and I still had them both.  We were planning a special Christmas celebration as we knew their days were limited.  I remember decorating the fireplace mantel with decorations galore and beautiful twinkling lights for my Mom.  She sat on the chair directing me to place each light, decoration just so.  One of our favorite things about Christmas was filling the outdoor urns with greenery and the soft glow of white lights twinkling in the night.  She loved opening gifts too, my Daughter and I made special advent bags for each of my parent to open, they loved it.

Keeping with tradition I baked dozens of her Christmas squares, the ones with the green and pink icing, the peanut butter balls, Laura’s brownies and the butter tart squares. I learned her famous pie crust recipe and couldn’t stop baking pies, tarts and Mom’s secret crust leftover recipe.

Grateful for the time I had with my Mom, I learned many of her favorite recipes.  The one thing she told me was before she passed was, “feed your Dad well and he will be happy!”  She was so worried and rightfully so about what would happen to my Dad after she was gone.  I can still hear her saying, “What about Paul, what will he do?”  It was heartbreaking to witness the fragility of the human soul and to watch both my parents be robbed of their dignity with how cancer stole their health.

My Dad was a real trooper after Mom passed, he was so happy with all of her recipes I made him when she was gone. Near the end, it was difficult for him to swallow and eat certain things but I fed him till the very end his favorites, keeping my promise to my Mom!

I am ever so grateful I had started a family recipe book with many of my Mom’s recipes handwritten by her.  She would sit on the couch and watch me cook, and tell me a to add a little of this or a little of that.  She told me special things she did with her recipes, where to buy the best beef for ribs, how to thicken the gravy and more. 

Funny since they both passed, I haven’t made any of her recipes or done any baking.  I am sure once I feel like it again, it will bring back fond memories.

I created beautiful outdoor big winter greenery pots on her deck, she loved them.  She always made her own bows out of beautiful materials.   I used to laugh at them when I was younger, but now I cried when I put the on my greenery display and wreaths this year.  

I remember like it was yesterday standing outside on the deck in the cold asking her if this is here she wanted the pinecones, dogwood, holly or move it to the left a little.  I remember her appreciative beaming smile and her thumbs up! 

My Mom loved Christmas, like her Mother.  Her Mother lived all year for Christmas, last year sadly was the last year we put up my Grandmothers Christmas tree at my parents house.  It had broke when I took it down last year, I never told my Mom.  I knew in my heart that would be the last Christmas we would be having at their house.

Their beautiful house of 57 years sold this past November,  I wonder if the new family will be decorating the fireplace mantel or putting any outdoor lights up.  So many memories of Christmas’s gone by.

This year my family and I are going to be spending a different kind of Christmas.  We will be flying to the Caribbean in one week.  I thought it would be good to go somewhere completely different this year, the kids are excited.

It has been one year since I have made a blog post, if you have read this far I thank you.  I know my heart is filled with more thoughts, memories and stories to come, they say writing is therapeutic. 

Love you Mom & Dad I know you are with me every step of the way, miss you everyday…..Merry Christmas in Heaven!

 

Talk soon,

 

 

Nancy

Filed Under: Travelling Thoughts Tagged With: both parents died, cancer, caregiver, daughter remembering parents, death of parents, grief, heaven, Holidays, memories

How Many Days Till Spring?

January 22, 2020 by nancy 1 Comment

How many days till Spring?  The answer today is 20 days and counting, (  I found a website that actually counts for you, https://days.to/spring/2020.

Perhaps you are like me and just done with Winter?  I have had enough of cold, blowing snow, dark days and just BLAH days.

Don’t get me wrong I like the festivities of Christmas, the decorating the time spent with family and friends, but come January and February I am completely done with “Old Man Winter!”

I like to have fresh flowers in the house, especially this time of the year.  It is one of my guilty pleasures is keeping my house filled with flowers. 

I also like to add more warmth using comfy pillows, blankets and lighting.  I love to have candles all over and little strings of white lights all over the house.  I use the battery operated candles so I don’t have to worry about any mishaps.

I keep my white lights up well beyond the Christmas season, to bring cheer to the outside of the house. Some will disagree with this, but I love the twinkle in the snow at night.

Here is a little tune called “White Lights”, from a new band I have discovered.  Check out the link below to watch this great band.

White Lights by The Rural Alberta Advantage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRFf45knBo…

I really try to embrace all of the seasons since we are Canadian Eh!  However once January rolls around I know many others voice the same concerns about the length of our Winters.

So my top 10 tips for keeping positive in the darkness of the long days and nights!

  1. Chocolate
  2. White lights, candles, outdoor lighting
  3. Getting out to local events 
  4. Comfy blankets and comfort foods, and Movies
  5. Books
  6. Nature Walks with My Kids
  7. Naps
  8. Laughter
  9. Fresh Flowers
  10. Listening to music

 

Talk soon ~

 

Nancy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Travelling Thoughts, Uncategorized

5 Things to do in Wellington County

September 24, 2019 by nancy Leave a Comment

WHAT GOING ON IN WELLINGTON COUNTY THIS WEEKEND?

 

  • Elora / Fergus Studio Tour:  September 28th/29th https://elorafergusstudiotour.com/

 

  • Stroms Farm & Bakery: Open Weekends September – Until October 31st http://www.strom.ca/

 

  • Harvest Home Festival:  September 29th https://www.wellington.ca/en/business/tr-harvesthomefestival.aspx

 

  • Culture Days Wellington County Events:  September 28th & 29th https://www.culturedays.ca/on

 

  • Fall Rural Romp:  September 28th https://www.wellington.ca/en/business/tr-fallruralromp.aspx

Filed Under: Adventures, Events, Travelling Thoughts

Summer Adventures In My BackYard

June 20, 2019 by nancy Leave a Comment

falls

Grand River

With the official kickoff of Summer happening tomorrow June 21st, many of us are busy planning our summer vacations.  What plans do you have this summer?  It is such a short season, and we have had alot of rain and not as warm as usual.

Some of us will be jumping on a plane and travelling to far away distant lands.  For others like myself, we will be staying around locally and discovering the many hidden “adventures in my backyard”.

Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to feel like you are in a far away land.  Often times just travelling around the neighbourhood can feel like a new escape.  It is all a mindset, or perhaps taking a different road on your daily commute.  We are so lucky to have so many beautiful places in this little part of the World.

Elora, Fergus, Elmira, St. Jacobs and Guelph are just a few of the great little Towns and Villages to go exploring this summer.  Pack a picnic, test out the local cuisine, farmers markets, jump in the local Lakes, or take in an event there are hundreds and watch the world go by.

Here are some great links to place in the area to discover, https://www.wellington.ca/en/business/EDVisitWellington.aspx.  Follow us this summer as we go exploring discovering new places and people this season!

Talk soon,

Nancy

Summer Trail Adventures

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Filed Under: Adventures, Travelling Thoughts, Wellington County Tagged With: blogger, Centre Wellington, farmers markets, travel, travelblogger, Wandering

This Girl would have been 101 Today!

May 16, 2019 by nancy 1 Comment

grandma

There are some benefits of social media, such as the memories feature on your Facebook.  While sipping my first coffee of the day I checked out my social media.  I am not so sure this is the best use of my time, or if it is the most beneficial way to start the day.  

I hear yoga is a great way to start the day with a little meditation.  It sounds good, but I am privy to my FB and checking out what’s going on in the world of my friends updates, and news updates.  I admit I am forgetful and don’t always know when someone’s Birthday is.  I like FB for that type of reminder.  

This morning this picture showed up of my Grandmother.  It was taken on May 16th, 2014, she had turned 96 that year.  She so wanted to join the 100-year-old club.  Sadly she didn’t make it.  However she did live 96 long years of life and today would have marked her 101 year Birthday!

Grandma I thought of you today and I remember when I snapped this picture of you above.  The silly Birthday hat, and colourful balloon and few little things to make you feel special.    Here are 50 thoughts I have today on your 101 Birthday.

  1. Happy Birthday Grandma
  2. Life is awesome
  3. We Miss You
  4. Love you
  5. Meaghan and Noah are getting so big
  6. The weather is finally getting better
  7. The birds are coming now
  8. I bet your squirrel will be coming soon to see you
  9. Do you want to play scrabble
  10. Did I say we miss you
  11. Your house you lived in for all those years has a young happy family in it now
  12. Miss those Christmas’s at your house
  13. Remember when we went swimming in the summer
  14. I loved your raspberries
  15. You were a great gardener
  16. I love your toastites
  17. Sandy was the best Dog ever
  18. I ll bet you miss going to Midland
  19. How did you have 5 kids, 5 years apart
  20. What was your greatest fear
  21. You never really liked a lot of affection, not kissy feely
  22. You always listened to every word when people spoke
  23. You were the best scrabble player 
  24. You love big
  25. You were so kind
  26. Big hearted person
  27. I remember your funky Nissan van
  28. Thanks for all the great memories with David and I
  29. You took my other Grandma places, she loved it
  30. Thanks for the “special Nancy, David, days”
  31. You would not believe your house now
  32. The Airport sold
  33. You loved a big lunch, it was your meal of the day
  34. How did you have so many kids
  35. You were the same age as me, when you had your last 2 kids
  36. I know I was your favourite oldest Granddaughter
  37. I am writing in the Guelph Today
  38. I bought a house finally
  39. We are so happy now, Meg, Noah and Me.
  40. Matt always talks so fondly of you.
  41. Mom and Dad are good
  42. I wish I could take you out a Rocky’s hotdog
  43. Len was your greatest love
  44. We loved you fiercely
  45. You kept the family together
  46. It is not the same without you
  47. How come you didn’t have more comfortable things
  48. Did you have a party when you went to Heaven
  49. I loved reading to you
  50. Simple Abundance

Filed Under: Travelling Thoughts Tagged With: blog, blogger, Grandma, grandma turning 101, missing you, wanderingwellingtoncounty

The Lovely SMILING Crossguard Mary-Ellen!

April 18, 2019 by nancy Leave a Comment

cross

I like to watch people from a distance.  Having watched this crossing guard at my children’s school for the past few years at J.D. Hogarth Public School in Fergus.  I have always thought this women must really enjoy her job. 

Mary-Ellen is that kind of person who always has a smile on her face.  You know those kind of people who are always so cheerful no matter what the weather is doing.  I see her standing in the rain or snow in the early morning hours and she is always bright and cheerful despite the weather.  I have watched her and she seems to have that natural ability to chat with others and always has something kind to say when you see her.

I had more of a chance to chat with her recently while waiting in line a the local post office.  While tapping my toes trying to wait patiently for the elderly women in front of me, I turned to the lady behind me who was staring patiently out the window with a smile.

The lady behind me in the line was certainly recognizable with her bright yellow jacket on and her infectious smile.  Like many others to pass time we began to chat about the weather and she mentioned she “had that cold going around”.   She said “she didn’t want to get out of bed that morning, but always feels better when she puts her smile on and gets going!”  

When asked if she wakes up like that she chuckled and said, “she has been asked that question often before.”  Mary-Ellen said,  “No I have to remind myself you can go thru life either smiling or frowning.  She said, “she chooses to smile!”

She said she “loves her job, and loves working outside”.  I told her how much I appreciated her happy disposition and that she just puts a smile on my face every time I see her. 

Well time didn’t permit me that morning to take care of my business in the post office that morning, but I was sure glad I had bumped into “My favorite crossing guard” as she just made my day, as I needed a reminder on how I could choose to smile or not thru-out my day!

I had asked her when she would be dressing up again and she said, “Oh, I am sure I will be getting the bunny ears out for Easter, the kids love them!”  As you can see in the photo, today was the day she wore the bunny ears. 

Thanks for always making my day brighter Mary-Ellen and keeping our kids safe!

Talk soon~

Nancy

Filed Under: Travelling Thoughts Tagged With: children, crossing guards, easter, happy thoughts, Kids, little things, safety, school, schools, simple things, smiles, wandering wellington county

Creating

March 26, 2019 by nancy Leave a Comment

art

  • Thomas Merton. “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

The colours in this piece of art I created remind me of water.  Maybe it is the Pisces in me?  Whenever I am painting or decorating my house I seem to be drawn to these colours.

I find solace in different types of art forms.  It always amazes me when people create amazing things with their hands.  I don’t consider myself an artist but really enjoy creating things with my hands.  I imagine a builder has that same feeling.  Or a potter, weaver, painter, when they are in the midst of a project.  I simply cannot image what the feeling of someone wanting to purchase your art would be like! 

When I create things with my hands I sometimes have that moment when time seems to stand still.  It seems like all the world stops and you are just in the moment.  That doesn’t happen very often for this girl, my mind always seems to be in thinking mode.  Perhaps you understand that feeling?

Or perhaps you know that feeling of gardening and getting your fingernails dirty and watching your tomatoes grow.  Maybe you’re a writer and you have a story inside you.  Company is coming over and you pull out your recipe book and are inspired to prepare a meal for family.  Creating comes in many forms and it is a gift to cherish when it appears.  

This was one of the best workshops I attended.  It was just me, the instructor Beth and those beautiful colours with an afternoon of creating!

Spring is a great time to start a new project.  What will you create?

Talk soon ~

Nancy

download

Filed Under: Travelling Thoughts

A Walk in the Park

January 8, 2019 by nancy Leave a Comment

pic11

 

One of my favorite things to do is take a walk in the park.  Anytime I am feeling life’s stresses or wanting to just take a few moments to remember what is really important, I love to walk around my favorite park in Guelph.  Riverside Park is my park, it is the Park I grew up in, it is the park I like to watch bridge to-bridge as my father calls it.  

I always love to think of the various conversations that take place on one of the many park benches I walk by.  I love the park in all seasons, with Winter just upon us, I love the stillness and the quietness of the image of this lonely park bench set amongst the river bank. 

When I take time just to spend 30 minutes in nature, I always feel better for doing so.  Why is so hard to get going sometimes, I often spend more time thinking of doing something rather than doing it at times.  This happens often on weekends when my paper arrives at its doorstep, coffee in hand and I plan my day.  My plans always include a little walk or two but often the day floats into night and I am still on the couch serving the internet or changing the channels on the TV.  

Why is so hard to get outside in the Winter weather at times when you know you will feel better after a little stroll around the block.  I put pressure on myself at times when the wind is howling and the snow is blowing to get outside for a little fresh air, as I know I will feel better for even the most basic of steps in the Winter months.  Clearing the car of snow, and oh the drag of shovelling can be overwhelming at times.

I am already counting down the days till Spring but know that we must first endure the quiet and stillness of the Winter.  Maybe just maybe I can be OK with not being so hard on myself this time of year to get outside more.  As it just looks so much prettier from inside.  The snow glistening on the fence, or the kids building a snowman.  

I have some gift cards for the ski hill which I know the kids and I would really have fun at.  I just have to find the courage to get outside and get going on those days when it just seems simpler to stay inside.  I used to ski but have not been in many years, and last year I had promised my Mother I would take the kids downhill skiing this season.  I guess I still have a few more months to accomplish this task.  Or maybe I could make it a fun outing rather than a task.  I guess it is all how you look at things.

Winter I LOVE YOU, I WILL EMBRACE THIS SEASON!

 

“When you change the way you look at things…. the things you look at change.” ~ Wayne Dyer

 

Talk soon~

 

Nancy

Filed Under: Travelling Thoughts, Uncategorized Tagged With: cabin fever, Riverside Park, skiiing, snow, walks, Wandering, wandering wellington county, winter embrace

2019 Goals

January 2, 2019 by nancy Leave a Comment

 

2019 Goals for the New Year

The New Year is here, it is January 2nd, with just a few days into the year.  I have been silently thinking of some goals for the New Year.  Since I am not one for setting New Years Resolutions I thought it would be a good idea to perhaps jot a few of my plans for the New Year.

1. More Contentment

I want to be more contented with my everyday activities. I want to feel more grateful, and be happy for what I have in my life today, rather than scrambling around trying to fill that emptiness or that void in the soul with more stuff. I am not sure how or what I will do but this is just something I am throwing out there into the universe. I was reminded of this statement when my favorite New Years Eve host Anderson Cooper said he wanted more contentment.

2. Get more Active and Fit

I am turning a certain age this year, and really want to focus on getting more fit and more active. Mmmmm… that late night gobble of that 3 pack of Lindor last night may need to be kept out of sight. Trying to fall asleep last night, tossing and turning I remembered that I had a small red 3 pack of those delicious Lindor chocolates which where in my stocking at Christmas. I slowly devoured all 3, I did my best to melt each one slowly in my mouth to make that feeling of late night chocolate last longer. Mission accomplished I know don’t have any chocolate left in my room, now I have to actually walk downstairs to get a bite. This will allow me to become more active as stairs are a good way to get some cardio in.

3. Read More Books

I really want to read more books. I have a bad case of staring at my phone too much, looking up useless information and causing endless google searches which amount in a whole lot of wasted time. I want to delve into more books which are sitting in my box just waiting for me to take me out of myself and transport me to another world. That is the power of books and I am so grateful when I find a good book as it is such a great escape from reality.

These are my TOP 3 GOALS……….. What are yours for the 2019 Year ahead?

Talk soon,

 

 

Nancy

2019 Goals for the New Year

2019 Goals for the New Year

Filed Under: Travelling Thoughts Tagged With: 2019, adventures, Goals for the New Year, News Years, Possiblities, wandering wellington county

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Meet Nancy

Wandering Wellington County developed from Nancy incorporating all her passions into one - travelling, writing & building connections within the community.

Nancy lives, works and plays in Wellington County along with her "little people". If you have an event or story you would like to share we would love to connect.

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