I’ve been away for what feels like a very long time.
Entertaining my visitors from Holland and playing tourist became a full time job. Now that my cousin has returned home, I’m vaguely feeling a bit at loose-ends.
It’s time to reassemble my normal routine, however I’m not really sure what that means to me right now. *Normal* over the past several weeks has been a mad flurry of daily activity.
From a wet, watery visit to Niagara Falls where I discovered my cousin’s delightfully wicked sense of humour …
… a giggly shopping trip at Kensington Market …
… to a step back in time at Black Creek Pioneer Village …
… and the unhappy find of a very tiny baby bird slowly frying in the sun on the hot pavement.
I have hundreds of photos that have captured the memories of our time together and the many new things that even I was experiencing for the first time.
As I look around me this morning, I see that my house needs cleaning and the weeds are running amok, appearing to have organized for a messy coup of the territory.
One thing I know for sure. *Normal* will include a return to my small corner of WordPress.
While it is true that I got a HUGE amount of stuff done in the past 6 weeks without the distraction of blogging, I miss the sharing, the story-telling, and the interaction with people I think of as friends.
I’m back … although it might take a while to find *normal* again.
Sounds like a great time, Joanne. On another note…..one big thing I’ve learned in the past couple years is that “normal” is never the norm! LOL. I look forward to your return on here….you have been missed!
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Thank you so much Torrie. I was thinking about you this afternoon. Are you back from your son’s graduation now?
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We are…he’s officially “hooded” and now I call him my DocSon. It was an eventful trip to say the least! I may have to take your suggestion and write up a few episodes, but right now I find I’ve come home with a little over 2500 pix to sort through and edit….OMG.
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Congratulations Mother-of-the-Doctor!!! I would imagine you are bursting with pride ❤
That is a formidable task to grind your way through 2500 pics. Can I suggest you write a "I'm back" post with a couple of teaser photos?
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Not a bad idea, my friend. I will see what I can do about that….
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Well, you have a better excuse than I do for not blogging.
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Sometimes life just gets in the way 😉
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It is always good to shake up your life, which is an “understatement”for all the adventures you get into, Joanne. 🙂 Big hugs for your sharing and welcome back. . . The
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The last couple of months have certainly been interesting – some good, some less so.
… but I am happy to be back 🙂
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I loved your alphabet posts which helped me to stay in touch and accountable! 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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I totally understand the many, many photos to work through. I was only in Atlanta for 3 days and came home with 300 photos! Yikes!
Glad you had such a great visit, and will look forward to hearing more about it.
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… and if you’re anything like me, it’s easy to purge the obviously bad ones, but I’m not so great about choosing between similar ones 🙂
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So true!
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Glad your back we missed you.
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Thank you. I appreciate that 🙂
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Missed you…wondered what happened to you. Is your family Dutch? Love the photo of Niagara Falls!!
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Thanks BF. Yes, my mother was Dutch. She emigrated to Canada after marrying my dad after WW2.
My mother’s family is from Hilversum.
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How cool. My ancestors are from the island of Texel. I went there a few years ago…it was like Roots, the book, me…going back to the origins. I can see why my ancestors left the place.
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You made me laugh in your last comment. Of course I had to look it up. That’s pretty far up there. The write-ups about their long beautiful beaches likely don’t measure up to Bali though 😉
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We wore sweaters and jackets, and the restaurant had tall glass all around the outside seating, to keep the 50mph winds (no, but harsh & cold) off us while dining. Right…Texel is no Bali. Hilversum is like 7km from Blaricum!!
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Now I really want to go back to the Netherlands and re-experience it. I’ve only been there once on my very first trip as a teenager and I was in awe of absolutely everything I saw. I wonder what my impression would be now?
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Oh…bringing back memories of my first trip to Amsterdam…when I was very young! Yeah, awe is the word. YOu’d probably still feel real good about being here if you visited now. Very cool vibes!!
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Well, I’ve sort of made a commitment to go back to visit my Dutch cousins, so I’ll have to add it to the list sooner as opposed to later.
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OK…on the list
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A work colleague is doing the Hawaiian Ironman. He is very excited.
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Sorry this was meant for next post and somehow it ended up here. Oh well.
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It IS very exciting – even for a spectator like I was – it’s the Big Kahuna of the Ironman world.
My congratulations to him. Just getting there is a big deal 🙂
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I need a break from the Southern Aussie Winter to see you back here with Canadian Summer pics. No time for blogging atm, but time to check others. Italy 10 weeks away. Excited and nervous at the same time. Good to see you back.
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Thanks Mick for the welcome back.
Ten weeks!! I’m excited for you too 🙂
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Welcome back, Joanne! I’m glad you had fun, quality time with family. It’s certainly more important than blogging, but I understand it’s a piece that’s hard to let go of for any length of time. I’m looking forward to the next post…in between the weeding and house cleaning.
PS: What is normal? I have yet to find it, even though I keep calling its name. I’m pretty sure it’s hiding under the sea in Atlantis.
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I thought the new normal might include daily exercise without any excuses.
Then I got up this morning.
Nope, not gonna happen.
Maybe I’ll wait until they find Atlantis 😉
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Lol!😸
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Welcome back! Though, I’m giggling about the notion that being back in the WP spaces could make a person ‘normal.’ I’m actually on a bit of a blogging/social media break myself. That said, when your post popped into my inbox, I couldn’t at least pop in to say hello. I loved your stories and your photos. Thank you for sharing and for coming back. It’s not the same without you. Xo
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hahaha! Thank you 🙂 Perhaps for some of us, writing is what keeps the crazies at bay 😉
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Glad you had a great visit, got some extra things done and are now ‘back.’ 🙂
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Thank you! As this new day begins (I’m off to a slow start), my head is spinning from all the things I could and should be doing!! I guess I’m hitting the ground running.
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Good to hear you are glad to get back to blogging…. we have been away for a month, and I feel the same way…….I.enjoyed your photos……especially the Black Creek Pioneer Village, I don’t think we (in Australia) celebrate our history as well as you do.
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Isn’t that funny … I don’t think we do a good job of celebrating our history at all. When I look at how Europe has carefully preserved their’s and how Americans have practically made their historical figures super-heros, we pale in comparison.
On the other hand, I see something like this Pioneer Village that has been carefully preserved and informative, and it is a wow for me.
Thanks so much for your welcome back. Already I’m starting to feel like I’m slipping into a comfortable groove 🙂
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This is going to sound weird but I was kind of glad you were missing from WP for a while (given I knew you were busy with guests) because I’ve been a bit MIA myself and it made me feel better to not be the only one. 😛 Guess it will just be me from now on. Sigh. On the plus side, you won’t have much catch up reading to do in my case. 😉
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Yes, it was apparent that life has been a bit turbulent for you lately too. I hope it has started to settle down and your back issues have been resolved.
btw – mine haven’t and I’ll be back to the doctor today
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Oh no. 😦 Did they relocate your kidney?
My back pain went fairly quickly but the rib pain persists, darn it. I think it is slowly improving (I can now sleep on my side if I find the right spot) so I’ll see how things go.
Hope you get some answers from the doctor today. xxx
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I have seen some improvement – like my back tends to loosen up over the day and isn’t quite as spasm-y, but mornings aren’t fun.
Good luck with your rib. Do you have a good physio/ massage therapist/ chiro you trust? They are invaluable in helping recover from these types of injuries.
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Glad to hear there’s been some improvement. Hope it continues.
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Joanne welcome back! Today has turned out to be far from normal. Sending extra hugs and hoping you are surrounding by love and support.
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Just to add to the day’s emotion, it would have also been my mom’s 92nd birthday and it was the day we buried her 5 years ago.
Yes, yesterday was far from normal. Thanks for the hugs ❤
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Oh my goodness Joanne why is it these things must happen on the same day? I hope this morning finds you with a bit of sunshine coming in the window. I’m carrying you around in my heart today. xo
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In the doom and gloom of yesterday’s news, I wanted to share my son’s post today on FB …
Jordan Simard
9 hrs · Toronto ·
During the subway ride home after Saturday’s training ride, a woman was chatting to Dempsey and I about the ride and asked if we still needed donations. Using our names from our licence plates, she looked us up and just donated $200. She is a total stranger that we likely never would have seen again. Amidst all the heaviness in the news and on Facebook, I thought it important to share that little ray of sunshine. #lovenothate #f4lbr
This made me smile 🙂 There is still goodness and kindness in the world after all ❤
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Joanne I feel uplifted from having read this. Thank you so much for sharing it. It shows that if each one of us can spread some kindness and generosity it truly can make a difference. Xo
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That’s the truth 🙂
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Glad to hear you had a lovely time with your visiting family. Normal has a habit of sliding around and changing quite often, at least it does around here. I’m looking forward to your posts.
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Thanks Annie. You’re right … normal is a moving target.
I hope your normal is improving.
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Lovely to have you back 🙂
Normal is always relative. Do whatever you want, but for God’s sake, take pictures! 😉
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hahaha!! That was actually a bit of joke during my cousin’s visit. I kept insisting on taking their photo during the various activities we were doing saying that in the world of social media, if there is no picture it didn’t happen 🙂
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Haha! Kinda, yeah 😛
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Welcome back. Glad you’ve had fun with your guests.
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Thanks Su. I’ve missed all my friends here on WP 🙂
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I was about to check that I hadn’t accidentally unfollowed you or something. 🙂
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I’ve never been away for so long. I wondered if I would lose interest after such a long absence. Nope! I’m chomping at the bit 😉
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Yay; i’m very glad to hear it.
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Welcome back – missed your posts!
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Awww – that’s so nice to say 🙂
I’ve really missed being here and I’m happy to be back.
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Good to see you back. I thought of you the day before yesterday, wondering how things were going. In July, I’ll get a visitor … my first since I came here 🙂
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There’s the initial excitement and anticipation of your guests arriving and then the mad dash of activity while they’re here.
Now … there’s the funny void after it’s all over.
I hope you have as much fun with your guests as I had with mine 🙂
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Welcome back, you were missed! It’s funny how we don’t recognize routines until they are disrupted. I love to have guests but love it also (maybe even more?) when they move on.
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That’s a really good point Janis. Prior to this visit, I wouldn’t have said I had a routine, but clearly I did.
It’s good to be back, and even nicer that I was missed ❤
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Welcome back- -normal is always relative!
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hahaha!! It certainly is relative – even within our own lives from month to month 🙂
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Welcome back! Who needs a clean house – what a waste of energy!
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I know!! When I first retired, I thought my house would be always clean and spotless. HA! It’s never been messier … the best indication I can think of that I have more important things to do 😉
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Lovely to have you back my friend. Looks like you had a wonderful visit with your relatives & packed in a ton of sightseeing!
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Thanks Lynn … and this morning I was back on my bike as well – although with the winds we’ve been having lately, I opted for an indoors spin.
It’s nice to be back and I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone again 🙂
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Perhaps we can arrange to ride together soon!
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I’d like that 🙂
Do you still have Fridays off?
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Yes I do!
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Then let’s put a stake in the ground and make a date. I’d love for you to introduce me to the waterfront trail in your area.
What Friday might work for you?
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Sounds great! I will email you some dates!
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Welcome back!
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Thanks Nancy 🙂
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Welcome back! 🙂
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Thanks Ruth. This is the longest absence I’ve ever had and I’ve really missed being here on WP.
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Well I guess you’ve definitely been living up to your blog name! 🙂
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hahaha! Good point!! 😀
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Since moving and gaining a garden, then having visitors myself and more next week I don’t know what normal is any more! Blog time is reduced and I have even more things to blog about! Oh, well, I guess there will be plenty of indoor time come the winter months… nice to see you back Jo 🙂
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Isn’t that the irony of it?! So much to talk about, but no time!
You’re right, there will be plenty of quiet days ahead during the cold of winter. In meantime, there are more adventures ahead 🙂
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Duh. My fingers are dancing all by themselves. Look forward to your pictures–lots of them–and stories too. 😀
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Thanks 🙂 With the summer still stretching out ahead of us, I expect – and hope – there will be more adventures and stories to tell 🙂
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I look forward to them, Joanne. 😀
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Wonderful to see you. What is normal anyway? Doesn’t it change from time to time so we don’t get bored? 😀 😀 😀
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So true. I would be bored if things were always the same! However, I am looking forward to re-settling into my WP routine 🙂
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I’m sure your routine is already working itself out. 🙂
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If an afternoon nap today counts, so far I like this new routine 😉
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Welcome back- sounds like there’s some great stories to be told about the time you spent with your family. The Pioneer village sounds awesome!
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Thanks 🙂 I’m embarrassed to say I had never been the Pioneer village before in spite of living here over 30 years.
It was my cousin’s suggestion and although I had misgivings, I was enthralled! SO. MANY. PICTURES!! 🙂
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“Normal???” now you are really scaring me.
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hahahaha!! I promise I won’t veer too far into the *normal* realm 😀
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Normal is overrated anyway. Welcome back.
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Thanks Dan. I’d be the first to admit that too much ‘normal’ is boring.
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I’m so glaf you had such a great visit with those guys, but it’s nice to have you ‘back’ 😉
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Thanks Meg. So many stories to tell, I’m not even sure where to start.
I only hope that Peter and Yvonne had as much fun as I did … although I know they went home tired 🙂
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Tired is good 🙂 I’ve learned that you need to leave wanting more – tired, but wanting more.
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It’s definitely a good tired 🙂
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I join you in your sentiments about missing blogging friends. Happy to see “normal” is etching it’s way back into your life landscape. Those those Mad Days can be wearing, they do create lovely memories.
I’m not quite back to normal yet, working on the last part of the chapter called “my sisters life”. Lots of learning and new discoveries but looking forward to a day when it’s finis.
And why is it the weeds have to revolt so quickly when the grounds are left unattended? Is there no compassion for a girl who has other needs? Grrr!
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hahaha!! Clearly we were meant to be rich, with staff to take care of the mundane details like housekeeping and gardening 😉
There had to have been a mix-up someplace.
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Oh, I have felt that for a long time, now!
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