catching my breath

September 16, 2025 Arlene Giddings

I spent this past weekend
at Steel Away Cottages in Grand Tracadie
and it was exactly
what my heart needed.

If you know me, you know I love heights…
so this was so fantastic.
There were two decks and the view was
INCREDIBLE.
I got up before sunrise both mornings
so that I could sit on the top deck
and watch the sun come up over the water.
I saw two eagles skimming the shore,
spent time in the barrel sauna
(also I WILL own a barrel sauna at some point in my life,
if I have to build it myself, haha),
explored beaches in Stanhope,
ate at Fin Folk which is ALWAYS amazing
and I had the sweetest server….

I would 100% recommend this
little island getaway…
😍

and then it was sunday and the week was over...

April 2, 2023 Arlene Giddings

but what a good week it was.

the truth is
sometimes
you get caught up in the
i SHOULD be
doing/wanting/buying/needing/completing
and you
kind of
forget
that you can be
perfectly happy
just
being.

i spent a lot of time
this weekend
just being…
reading in cars by the water,
eating sugary lemon filled doughnuts,
climbing rocks in the cold
on a quiet, barren beach,
binge watching a show that i have been hoarding,
playing with the camera on my phone,
singing loud and driving slow while convincing
myself NOT to try to try the dirt roads yet….
and mostly
just being by myself.

and it was a very good week.

Robin’s lemon filled doughnuts are my favorite.

jellybean got a little dirty…but it’s happy dirt… :)

and now i am finishing off the week
planning a new week
and drinking caramel drizzle coffee
with lots and lots and lots of hazelnut creamer…

happy april!! let’s see what kinda trouble we can find this month! :)
♥♥♥

a little mini-stay-cation

July 3, 2022 Arlene Giddings

I have been off since last Thursday…
and I feel like I have made the most of those days.

Supper with the girls
at Island Stone Pub Wednesday night…
beach day with an old friend
Thursday in Cavendish
then supper on the boardwalk
at Poutine Plus where
I got to see some old friends
that always makes me happy
and an adorable little 3 year old came
and sat with us to eat her food…
then a walk on the Summerside boardwalk
to finish off the day…

Friday was Canada Day
and I was sunburned and
kinda missing how when the
kids were little
and we’d all spend Canada Day
together…
but I decided to do the
Homestead Trail in Cavendish
with the additional MacNeill Loop
so…10 kms.
I had a little rest/nap on one
of the benches partway through…
heh.

Friday night was fireworks
in Charlottetown…
which I think I might have sat
directly UNDERNEATH…
but still pretty enjoyable
plus I got to hear Fabulously Rich
and glad that I went
even if I went all by myself….

Saturday was trying out the new
car tent…which I love!
Attempting a walk but the
thunder rolled in
so spent some time at a beach
reading and eating fresh strawberries…
Saturday night, I went to the
movies all by myself to see
the new Minions movie in 3D…
and I am so glad I pushed out of
my comfort zone to do that.

Sunday was spent
early morning setting up
at the beach with
my little beach tent
and a radio
and a book…
some friends came by
and hung out for a bit
just before another
thunder storm rolled in…
I got the tent down literally
just - in - the - nick - of - time.