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the big orange house
Summerside, PE
902-439-4562

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sweet sundays...

March 29, 2020 Arlene Giddings

I always love Sundays…
especially slow, quiet, sunny sundays.
Blue sky.
No wind.
Birds singing, snow melting..
sounds of spring.

It is a little hard to stay positive right now.
People are stressed out, people are scared.
It’s hard to avoid the news, the fear,
the negativity…
and every time I turn around there is a Facebook post
shaming people for this, judging people for that,
jumping to assumptions, snapping photos of people to shame online
without even knowing their story,
spreading anger, fear, outrage, panic, and hurtful, possibly harmful misinformation.

It’s hard to stay positive right now.

But I went for an hour long walk today
and yes, as I met people, we moved away from each other,
giving a wide berth to pass
but we also called out things like
”Beautiful day, eh?” and “Nice to see that sun!”

and then I came home and saw little purple flowers
growing in the front yard.

There was a bbq happening on the front deck
and the kids across the street played badminton
in the middle of the road. Our neighbors
washed their cars, people waved as they walked by
with their dogs and chickadees landed
right outside my window.

And I reminded myself that I have to stop letting
the manic-panic parts of the pandemic
get to me.
I can’t control how other people respond,
but I can control what I allow in,
what I allow myself to absorb
and I am choosing right now to find
stillness and sweetness in silence,
to sit in the sunny spot on the deck with a book…
to write in a journal, watch a good movie,
start seeds for my garden, check in with friends & family,
to not only find calm for myself but to try to be
a bright spot in someone else’s day if I can…
share a funny story,
talk about books i am loving,
post photos of pugs with snaggletooth smiles…

This is not at all what I meant to write here today.
But, honestly, I feel a little bit better now that I did.
I hope you do, too.
big virtual hugs, you. ♥
we got this.

In words, spring, pep talk Tags COVID, pandemic, just me talking, talking myself off the ledge, calm, spring fever
2 Comments

spring-sunday...

March 31, 2019 Arlene Giddings

i made a list
of all the things
that i needed to get done today…
not wanted…
needed.

things like
laundry
and kitty litter,
dishes
and the sweeping up never ending
furballs…

and had thought that if
i crossed everything off
my need-to-do
list, i would reward myself
with a drive with the camera
and maybe (most definitely)
a stop at the dairy bar.

well…i crossed everything off the stupid list
and i did get out for a drive
and the sun even made a few short appearances
while i was out so that was a nice surprise.

i ended up at this wharf/lighthouse
(as i often do)….
spring always brings me through st nicholas
where i grew up,
where all my best memories are still vivid
and driving through there
always stirs up
strong emotion…
happy and bittersweet/sad

and then to our beach…
(yes, yes, I know…it’s a public beach…)

where the sun started to set

and i remembered I hadn’t gotten my ice cream yet!
but as i got close to the dairy bar,
i realized there were 682 cars and 3 trucks and possibly a snowmobile
ahead of me so
i settled for the next best thing…
a happy meal with a new robot toy!

my “i kinda wanted ice cream but i’ll settle for a new member of the robot army” face.

all in all
a very good spring-sunday!
:)
(well, it would have been better with a sundae.)
sigh.

In i take pictures, island girl, she's so weird, spring, the adventure continues, words, unfold2019 Tags robots, dairy bar, ice cream, i wish i had ice cream, union corner
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out and about...

June 23, 2018 Arlene Giddings

If you have been here before,
you know I like to try to get out and about
with my camera and some diet coke
every Friday...well...really...every chance I can get
when it's nice out, Friday or not.
I am definitely not limiting myself to Fridays
but they often work best.

A couple of weeks ago,
I had no plan in mind but wanted to
go on a trail. 
I love trails...but have become slightly
nervous of coyotes after hearing a portion of a trail
that I have been on before had been closed
due to coyote behavior....
and I'm not going to lie....
my personality is naturally a little anxious
so this...well...it freaked me out a bit.

So I thought I would do the Cavendish Grove trail
because it seems to be pretty wide
and groomed and well traveled.
And I told myself coyotes don't go to Cavendish,
it's for the tourists.
I told myself coyotes don't go to the beach.
I told myself it would be ok.

And it was.
I walked part of the trail.  I still haven't done the
"Homestead Trail" because I didn't bring any water,
or anything to eat, or most importantly, bug spray.
So I had to save that part for another day.

But I did stop at a bench that overlooked the dunes
and a shallow expanse of blue water.
There were ducks and geese just hanging out...
until suddenly, there was a loud ruckus
and everyone was flying and diving and quacking and honking
and I saw an eagle fly over the tops of the trees.

At least...I think it was an eagle.  Hahaha.

It's funny how Cavendish Grove still reminds me
so strongly of Rainbow Valley. 
It's a little bittersweet to visit that spot.
But, then, I am glad that at least we are still able to go there,
I am grateful for the park and trails it has been turned into.

In grateful, 2018, embrace2018, i take pictures, island girl, spring Tags pei, cavendish grove, island girl, prince edward island, home, grateful
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i wanted to tell you....

June 9, 2018 Arlene Giddings

about the walk i took yesterday
after it rained
and the sun came out
and the light was all golden hour-y
and how i was just going to
take some photos in the yard
but then saw the tree across the street
with all its pretty in pink blossoms
but then...wait a minute, look at the entrance to the park
i'll just walk down that far...
but then i remembered there were lilacs
a little further
and two hours, one sundae and 237 photos later
i was fast walking
to get home before the june bugs
came out....

i was going to tell you about that today
and show you pictures
but...the sun is out...
and the camera battery
is charged
and i think i am just going to have to go
for a drive...
messy hair and all.

hello, saturday.
:)

In 2018, grateful, i take pictures, island girl, spring, whatcha doin' Tags lilacs, pei, spring, adventure 2018
Comment

tuesday truths at 10:30 pm....

May 29, 2018 Arlene Giddings

i should have done the dishes.
i should have changed the kitty litter.
i should have put some laundry in the machine.
i should have swept the tumbleweeds of cat fur
out of the corners of the living room.

but the sun was shining.

and the car was home.

and the gas tank was full.

so instead
i went looking for pretty light
and abandoned boats
and dirt roads...

and now my heart feels
satisfied and content
(but also can't wait to go again!)

In grateful, i take pictures, island girl, spring, tuesday truths Tags tuesday truth, i heart dirt roads, pei, adventures, pretty light, she takes pictures
1 Comment
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