Birthday Musings

Fifty years of Adulthood

My sister-in-law found the photo in the top left corner and gave it to us last week. It was taken half a century ago (!), a couple of years before we were married. It seems impossible that, as I celebrate another birthday today, my adult life has spanned five decades. Life has been good and for that, I am very grateful. There have been challenging moments, but I have been loved and well-supported through them all. I can't begin to name all the people;- family, co-workers, neighbours and friends who have helped me learn and mature over the years.  

Working in the hospital makes me grateful for good health as I see too many people from my generation who have medical, emotional and cognitive issues that impact their quality of life. I am thankful for each day knowing that even if I take the best possible care of myself, age will eventually take its toll. 

I found this prayer and it expresses my desire in the year ahead.

God of grace and truth, make me whole, 

a person of integrity who heals and makes peace. 

I pray for eyes that see what’s best in others, 

a graceful and candid mouth, 

hands that never twist but hold up truth, 

a heart that aims to encourage, 

and feet that pursue my neighbour’s best. 

 Amen

Of course, it is important to be able to laugh at myself and to find joy through the day.

We went for a walk in the bush today and my daughter took this picture of Raven and me on the trail. Somehow I am completely missing one lower limb and my Nordic walking poles give the impression that I really need a gait aid. And Raven decided at that moment that it was time to leave a deposit on the snow. 

Through the magic that is Facetime,

my grandchildren sang Happy Birthday with plenty of gusto and joy. And what is a birthday without cake. Yes, life is worth celebrating!

Winter Returns

Trumpeter Swan overwintering in Southern Ontario

The highlight of this weekend was SUNSHINE, an experience we have missed for several weeks as persistent clouds, fog, ice, rain and snow have been our rotating weather features. There is no way I can stay indoors on sunny days, even in sub-zero temperatures. 

Trumpeter Swan at rest

We drove to a park on the shore of Lake Ontario. Many waterbirds overwinter here but I haven't visited since the pandemic's beginning. In the past century, the Trumpeter Swan population in Ontario had dwindled severely and the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Group worked hard to restore the species. Their efforts have been successful and many swans overwinter in Southern Ontario. The birds in these pictures are accustomed to supplemental feeding during the winter from humans and are pretty tame compared to the skittish Trumpeter Swans on the Grand River closer to home.

Burlington Bay

The water in the bay was frozen near the shoreline but was open where the currents moved in deeper water. A few diving birds were close enough for photos. 

Golden-Eye Duck

Female Common Merganser (l) and an American Coot (r)

Horned Grebe

The other benefit of high-pressure weather is the ability to see the night sky. Apparently, a newly discovered comet, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) nicknamed the Green Comet will be visible until early February. Unfortunately, it rises past my bedtime today but will gradually rise earlier each night. I enjoyed seeing Neowise in the summer of 2020 and hope to see this winter comet on another clear night this month. In the meantime, I am glad we have returned to more seasonal temperatures and that the ground is brightened with new snow.

Raven enjoying a romp in the woods- (photo credit- The Becka)