My mental health is strained this week. I am tired, irritable, and emotional. I lack focus and motivation. I am essentially on auto-pilot, just doing enough to get by. I have a couple of exciting activities this week but a part of me wants nothing to do with them. That part of me just wants … Continue reading I’ll be in the woods
I have the word "real" in quotations because aside from sleeping in my backyard a few weekends ago, Friday night was the first overnight hike of the season. The overnight low hovered around 5°C. My daughter and I have camped in November but this past weekend has been our earliest. I was just itching to … Continue reading Our First “Real” Overnight of the Season
Backcountry Women hosted their first Gear Swap and Sale last week and while I was not ready to part with my gear, which I have a lot of, I showcased three different water filters during a demonstration. I enjoy reading about and testing different gear options. I like being able to dive in deep into … Continue reading Filtering Water Out on the Trail
My husband began to make breakfast on Sunday while I looked out my living room window with my mind in a fog. I felt overwhelmed and anxious when I woke up. I brought my journal and coloured pens to the dining room table and wrote while I sipped coffee. Journaling eased the anxious thoughts. My … Continue reading Savoury Breakfast Cookies for the Trail
I finished setting up camp at 9 o'clock at a fine little spot not far from Flamingo Crossing, also known as my backyard. The overnight low on Saturday, March 23 was predicted to feel like -17°C. The ground was frozen and snow remained around my tent, making it difficult to stake the tent down. In … Continue reading Early Spring Camping
... and last week, I had cake that was made with Grand Marnier liqueur. Let's talk about the bottle of vodka first. I am not completely sure if it is still in my house or not. We had a large snow storm in January and the snow drifts on our street are quite intense due … Continue reading There is a bottle of vodka in my house (I think)
I am a member of Backcountry Women, an incredible group of women who explore the outdoors together and get up close and personal with the elements. We share experiences and knowledge to learn from one another in an environment that is supportive and non-competitive. The group encourages women to try new activities and forge new … Continue reading Swinging Ice Axes
I have a creative spark that runs deep inside of me. Letting my imagination guide me has been part of my core since I grasped my first crayon. My childhood was full of many glitter bombs and I am sure that some of that glitter is still floating around today. Glitter never fully goes away … Continue reading Painting Happy Little Trees
I made the decision three years ago to stop drinking alcohol. Valentine's Day is my anniversary and I have gifted myself something each year. My gift this year is to create more opportunities that I can say yes to. Removing alcohol and making my mental health a top priority has created space for me to … Continue reading Saying Yes to Loving Myself
A goal of mine for 2019 is to extend my daily use of reusable food containers into my trail life in order to cut down on the amount of disposable plastic that I take hiking and camping. It is quite sickening to see what our landfills and oceans look like. It also never fails that … Continue reading Disposable Plastic on the Trail – Stasher Bags Review
Wild Woman Wisdom 