Family

All during the three months of isolation I have been good. I, guiltily, have enjoyed myself at home with my animals and being able to be outside all day in my personal paradise. So I find it very strange that I am back to work and seeing lots of people again and now is the time that I am really missing my family.

Zoe was supposed to visit in March, my parents in May, Sandi and Laura in June and Brandon in July. I understood the reason for the solitude and managed to appreciate it, but now that my life is moving in a new, normal direction, I realize how much I missed. Add to that this week my daughter had a bit of a medical crisis (she is totally fine) but all I was able to do was talk to her over the phone, try to calm her down and provide sound advise from over 1400km away when what I really wanted was to hug her.

I feel like now I am trying to reconcile my soul and my heart and its proving to be a challenge. My soul is at home here, but my heart is with my children and my family. Don't get me wrong, I have no intention of moving back to Ontario right now, but it is the first time I have felt lonely. As soon as those Canadian borders relax...I will be one happy girl!

On the brighter side, the chickens are wonderful, making me smile constantly, the babies are growing and are becoming resigned to the fact that they will be held and cuddled every time I enter the coop. Dixie is wonderful. We are working on training again as a result of a very scary incident with her, cyclists, the highway and transport trucks! But she is learning quickly and eager to please. The garden is also wonderful. I have been eating fresh picked salads with strawberries all week.

Father’s Day

I want to wish my father and my brother a very happy Father’s Day. They are both incredible people who have shown me how a father should act, and treat the people in their lives. I am very lucky to have you both in my life.

Pond three hours later

Now that I am back to work I have returned to the weekend mode of “get as much work done in these 48 hours as possible”. This week I am off work today and tomorrow, so I still have 24 more hours to look forward to.

Pond before starting

Today was not horribly successful. I tried unsuccessfully to get my hand pump on an old well working. I tried to trim some grasses back only to realize I left them too long and they have become impenetrable. I did however get a good start clearing  the pond. It is overgrown (Just like everything else around here) and it was my plan to pull out the grasses, cattails and trees that have have overtaken it and create a swimming pond for Dixie. I built a little bridge and spent the  afternoon getting sunburnt. I was happy with my progress until I looked up and saw how big this pond it. I’ll need a canoe to get to the middle and  clear that area!!

Wildlife has continued to appear. There was a deer right up on the driveway. I managed to get some pictures of it as it stripped casually back to the forest. Baby blue jays and frogs made an appearance today. As well as my friend the hummingbird.

Blossoms

According to my parents, Barton Nova Scotia is behind about two weeks in its blossoms compared to Southern Ontario. This week is going to be a compilation of pictures of blossoms, beauties and pets that make me smile every day.

Back To Work

The time has come. I got the call to return to work tomorrow.  I do love my job. I love the people and the feeling of community at the YMCA. But I have loved this time off so much. I realize I have been very lucky. Living on this amazing property, I have been able to be outside everyday, working and playing. I know my mental state of mind would be very different if I still lived in Beamsville and had had to spend a majority of the last three months indoors. This is just another piece of proof that I made the right decision to move here.

I have been stressing for the past five days trying to accomplish as much as I can before I am relegated to weekend work. I have done a relatively good job but also reminded myself to step back, breathe, and look at how much farther ahead I am than if I had not been quarantined at home while we were finding our way through a pandemic.

I did receive some very exciting news about my job on Friday. I was hired a year ago as a part time membership sales and service (front desk). As the year progressed, I was taking on more and more duties and all the work I have done has been acknowledged. I will be returning tomorrow with a promotion to Director of Membership and The Before and After School Program. This long mouthful of a title means, for the first time in my over 30 years in the workforce, I will have the option of benefits! I feel like such an adult now!!

My heart is very sad for Dixie and the chickens who have been the real beneficiaries of this forced three month sabbatical. I will miss them almost as much as they will miss me. I think Dixie knows something is changing, she has stopped eating. I sat on the floor and hand fed her yesterday and today just to try and get something in her.

I am happy at the thought that as restrictions lift travel may resume and I may be able to have some visitors again!?