Radically Retired

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  • Happiness Is … Cleaning Up the Back Burner

    Happiness Is … Cleaning Up the Back Burner

    For the past several months, I’ve back-burnered three of my favourite passions and pastimes.

    I don’t know why things got stuck on that back burner for so long. Maybe I needed a break. Maybe I was pushing myself too hard. Maybe I had too many irons in the fire. Maybe it was a combination of all of these.

    Whatever it was and whyever it was, by taking a break, I felt increasing boredom and unease. I need challenges to stay motivated and engaged in life.

    My first rescue from banishment was my guitar. I’ve been wanting to learn finger picking style because so much of the music I love lends itself to that. I had started lessons via a tabs and chords music app, but as soon as practice was required, I gave up and went back to perfecting French macarons.

    Recently, I achieved my mac goal, so I needed another to replace it.

    Over 100 yr old Parlour Guitar (the one my mom learned to play on) waiting patiently to be played again

    *Feature photo: A wood burning stove in one of the houses at our heritage village here in Weyburn*

  • Friday Freestyling … A Healthy Trade Off

    Friday Freestyling … A Healthy Trade Off

    Morning golden hour is the best time for me to catch photos.

    I’m a very early riser, so heading out just after the sun comes up isn’t a difficult feat.

    I don’t go out at that time regularly, but when I do, I’m always rewarded with peace, little to no vehicle traffic when crossing streets to get to my trails, and then that glorious, energizing, early morning sunlight.

    When the sunlight gently caresses the trees, the flowers, the river, and the walking paths, I have a hard time keeping up my walking pace because I want to stop and photograph every sun-kissed scene that catches my eye.

    Yes, the light is distracting from my purpose of walking for exercise. The stops to enjoy and try to capture on my phone camera what I’m seeing with my eyes, keep me grounded in the present and appreciative of the beauties in nature.

    I see that as a healthy trade-off.

  • Read My Sign … On the Way By

    Read My Sign … On the Way By

    Santa Rosa, NM 2023

  • Happiness Is … A Tomato Festival

    Happiness Is … A Tomato Festival

    On the August (Saskatchewan Day) long weekend, two of my sisters (the third one was feeling unwell, so unable to join us) and I attended the third annual Tomato Festival, sponsored by the Regina Farmers Market group.

    A pit stop before the event. We wore matching shirts decorated with tomatoes

    This was the first time any of us had attended the event and we decided it won’t be the last.

    There were over seventy vendors, most selling freshly picked garden produce. There were others with everything from jewelry made from silver spoons, to honey, to baking – if it was home made or hand made, it was there.

    One of many vendors selling the stars of the show
    My sis next in age to me
    My baby sis
    Moi – The eldest and the shortest

    One vendor had some cute signs for his produce:

    They were plump and sweet
    Some of his beans were in a crock pot

    The event was held in the stunning Queen Mary II Flower Gardens, adjacent to our province’s legislative building. Although I’ve been there many times, I’ve never had a photo of myself there. Now I do.

    The day was forecast to be extremely hot, so we were there when the festival opened and finished our shopping by the end of the morning.

    I purchased all of the ingredients I needed for the borscht (beet soup) that I make every summer for our mom. It’s her favourite soup, and we arrived home early enough for me to get the borscht made in my Instant Pot.

    A healthy haul
    Everything is washed and ready
    Chopped just the right size
    Borscht, accompanied by whole wheat sourdough bread that I also bought at Tomato Fest

    It was a “perfect in every way” kind of day.

  • Friday Freestyling … Reflection Perfection

    Friday Freestyling … Reflection Perfection

    On recent morning walks, there has been virtually zero wind. This is a rarity in these parts.

    Besides adding to the comfort and the peacefulness of my morning power walks, the reflections on the river have been outstanding.

  • Read My Sign … If You Can

    Read My Sign … If You Can

    Curacao 2013

  • Happiness Is … Achievement

    Happiness Is … Achievement

    After four years of learning and after making several hundred macarons, I came to a place where they were almost right.

    Through trial and error, I recently made a couple of tweaks to the process that solved everything.

    I was mixing my merengue too fast, and was stopping just short of correct macronage (mixing the merengue with the dry ingredients).

    My feature photo is of the batch I made with the technique adjustments.

    Macaron bakers are always in pursuit of four things: smooth shells, pretty feet, perfect texture (blend of slightly crispy shells and slightly chewy interior), and full shells (no hollows). Bingo! I got them all!

    After one day of maturing in fridge

    I’m completely happy with everything about these, and going forward, will apply what I’ve learned.

    As I’ve stated in previous posts, I have an ocd-ish personality. To finally get these right, frees up brain space to focus on something else.

    Hmmm … maybe my guitar?

  • Friday Freestyling … A Fave Sammy

    Friday Freestyling … A Fave Sammy

    Do you shorten the word sandwich to “sammy”?

    In favour of lazy lingo, we’ve done this for ages.

    What’s your fave sammy?

    Ours is the home-made BLT. We prefer home-made because we can be sure the bacon is thick cut, lower fat, and warm. There’s just something about this crunchy, soft, savoury, tart, warm and cold, combined meat and salad sandwich that satisfies so many sensory food experiences at the same time.

  • Read My Sign – Crazy is as Crazy Does

    Read My Sign – Crazy is as Crazy Does

    I smile every time we have an overnight stay in Mineral Wells, TX and read this sign.

  • Happiness Is … Earning Rewards

    Happiness Is … Earning Rewards

    I hinted at this in a previous post and it finally arrived last week!

    The Moment 240 mm mobile lens was yet another reward for myself.

    On May 11, I achieved three smoke-free years after an almost 54 year habit.

    Each year on my anniversary, I spoil myself with items from various wish lists. This year, it was the mobile phone camera gear list that got fulfilled.

    This lens works with the 4x native zoom in my iPhone and creates a true optical 8x zoom.

    The phone does have an 8x zoom, but it’s not a true optical zoom, so although great photos can be captured with that, there are a few issues with clarity – especially with birds and wildlife.

    After I’ve practiced more with this lens and my new mini tripod (if it’ll hold the weight of my phone with this lens attached), I’ll share a few photos in a future post.

    For size reference, here’s the lens in my hand:

    It’s well made and heavy, so a tripod (which I supplied from my wish list ahead of the arrival of the lens) is definitely needed.