walking on broken glass

a great rendition of annie lennox's 'walking on broken glass' by Vancouver's SAID THE WHALE.
The kids do a great job too!

modern day heroism, bacon jam and the ageless

HEROISM 
I'm reading 'Wild: From lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail' by Cheryl Strayed.
It's an inspiring story of lone bravery and hardship. 
Physical hardship.
It is not often, in our daily or weekly or monthly lives that we experience physical hardship.
Okay, okay...attending the gym for a hard workout, or cycling up a tough hill, or climbing a mountain. But all of these physical hardships usually have a specified amount of time that our brain and body agree to. 
Though just a few months ago, I thought I was fit enough to do the hike up to the Brunswick Mountain (1788m). The 2 friends I went with had accurately assessed their physical fitness and willpower. I had inaccurately done so and after 2 hrs. of steep switchbacks I was a human oven and agitated. I remember letting my face hit tree branches on the trail because they were soaked with dew. I also remember feeling like I didn't get a full breath for about 2 hours! When the trail ended and became, what I called "pizza pocket footholds in the side of the mountain" I declared I was "out". Fortunately, I didn't hike down alone. My friends decided to abandon it too because it was a very foggy day anyways - the view wouldn't have been there. Or so they said. Maybe they were being kind to me. 

To hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) it generally takes close to 5 or 6 months and runs from Mexico up to the border of Washington State and British Columbia Canada.

I can't imagine committing to a physically and mentally grueling trek like that for such a length of time.

Though I suppose my trek in Scotland will test my abilities but it will be no where near what the PCT is like.

BACON JAM
Round 2: due to high demand and one particularly enthusiastic friend, I'm making it again. 
If you've not tried it or made it, let me know. I'll give you the best recipe for it. 
Delicious on grilled cheese sandwiches or with scalloped potatoes.
Or, as my enthusiastic friend tell me: "on a spoon!"

THE AGELESS
I've come to know, momentarily, some very inspiring strangers. Strangers, because I only know them for a brief period time and don't really get to know them very well. They are the people I meet in my volunteer role at the Hospice. One such person, who I will call Pippa, is 95. She is so full of spirit, with bright eyes and such a positive outlook on life. I am bowled over at the appreciation she has for the everyday and it such an amazing lesson to be a part of. I've had someone say to me when I pressed the elevator button for the Hospice: "do you know what floor that is? do you know what happens there?"
Yes, I do. While there is sadness, fear and pain, there is always inspiration and the undeniable reality of what we all face: saying goodbye to this place.

locally feasting

http://feastvan.com/

feast and support a local cause

Eh! Oh :(

I'm starting to plan a walkabout in Scotland for early summer with my Aunt.

I'm getting excited already. First things first: hiking shoes. made in canada. fingers crossed.

Errrr nope!

Apparently, 85% of shoes in Canada are not made here.
I found this Globe and Mail article about a fellow who consumed only Canadian made products for one year. He devised a "classification system" for what made in Canada really means.

Here is the article.

Now what to do about those hiking boots....everything at MEC is pretty much Made in China. Groan.

I think the best I can opt for is something made in the USA - maybe Danner? About a third of their shoes are made in Portland.

Ontario

Windows at Toronto Union Station

Snow misted across a frozen swamp, Hanover, Ontario.

The lone tree

This piece of grass was bent in an interesting way.

More grasses bent

Milkweed

Kinghurst trail

old barn walls, Kinghurst

Kinghurst nature reserve. My dad and I climbed that hill in about 15mins. 

We were kind of disappointed it took so little time, but along the way we saw a lot of deer tracks and enjoyed a longer walk around the reserve. 

The sugar shack. I really hope the group that takes care of this land will restore this. I sent them an email urging them to do so (along with photos of the cracked foundation completely leaning in). I think that with restoration and historical placards, this could be a great draw to the area and I could see families enjoying a day out in nature!

kinghurst hike

http://www.ontarionature.org/protect/habitat/kinghurst_forest.php
Been hiking a lot since being home in Ontario. First three photos are from Kinghurst hunting and snowmobile trails and include an old farmhouse (walls are made with stones). Then went snowshoeing in the nature preserve, that includes a sugar shack (for making maple syrup).