The Bounty of Nature

I’m not sure about you, but I love picking wild berries. Saskatoons are my favourite, and right now is prime picking time.

We have several bushes of wild berries on our property, which aren’t the easiest to get to. I’m seriously considering relocating some of them into what I hope will become a small orchard. A couple days ago, I went down the road to a good spot that is easily accessible from the road. I was not disappointed, because I had picked almost a bucketful in less than an hour.

My Blue Heeler was quite excited to go with me, and he explored while I picked. I took him along for protection as well as company. I know he would do his best to ward off a black bear if it decided to go berry picking at the same time.

I’m very fortunate to live in an area where wild berries are bountiful. Once the saskatoons are done, the chokecherries will be ready for picking too. I’m going to try to get enough this year for chokecherry jelly. If I’m able to get more saskatoons this week, I will make a small batch of jam.

Our forecast doesn’t look promising for berry picking on the days I don’t work, which is a little disappointing. Today was a beautiful day, but by the time I was finished with yard work, I was too hot to go pick berries. Our weather has been a little unusual this summer; July is over half over and we have had rain almost every day.

I love living where we do, because nature provides us with berries, nuts and even mushrooms. I’m very careful with the latter, because aside from morels I honestly don’t know which are safe and which aren’t.

I found a small stand of hazelnut trees, but I think the squirrels will probably beat me to them like last year. I guess they have more rights to them than I do, because they have less resources than people.

I think for me, the best part of picking wild berries is going out and getting fresh air, plus knowing the berries I pick haven’t been sprayed with anything. Sure, I can go to the grocery store and buy frozen ones, but fresh are so much better.

Not only are they healthy, but I get a little exercise while I’m picking them too. And that is worth something to me.

Do you enjoy picking berries? If so, what’s your favourite?

Photo taken by me after cream and sugar were added to the bowl full of fresh berries. Yes, I know; probably not the healthiest, but oh so good!

Walking to Stay Healthy

I have to admit, when it comes to exercise I’m the last one to go full guns on a program.

That’s not to say I’m a couch potato, because I’m not. I like to keep busy with my writing, crafts, reading and puttering out in the yard. Since most of the things I do don’t involve strenuous exercise, I make a point to try to walk for at least half an hour each day.

I’m fortunate, because living in the country gives me plenty of opportunities to walk without having to worry about much traffic. The only time we have a lot of activity past our place is during spring and fall; seeding and harvest time.

I like walking on the gravel road, because it gives me the opportunity to see tracks. Usually it’s deer or moose tracks I see, but last Thursday I saw bear tracks. The deer and moose must consider our road their personal highway, and I suppose the bear did too.

Photo taken July 11/19 while out for my walk.

I like to take our dog along, but if I’m planning on walking more than half a mile one way I leave him home. He’s ten now, and I’m sure when he goes too far he aches like I do.

Instead of giving up my walking outside, I will be investing in bear bells. That should keep the wildlife at a safe distance. I prefer to walk outside, because the air is fresh, I can listen to the birds and I have plenty of choices regarding distance and direction. It’s much nicer than being on a treadmill and staring at the wall.

Walking to stay healthy doesn’t require much more than a good pair of shoes (which I need to replace as soon as possible), comfortable clothing and an optional walking partner. And, there’s less risk of injury than when running.

I will power walk sometimes, just to raise my heart rate. I like to keep a steady pace with the occasional burst thrown in. My bursts don’t usually involve jogging or running, because my knees and hips rebel. I will occasionally do squats at the turnaround point, but have to pay attention to what my knees tell me.

Walking is good for you and your health. Being able to enjoy an active life is also good for the mind. Something as simple and low impact as walking may not seem like much, but any activity is better than none. And, for those of us who are on the second half of a century, staying physically active is crucial for weight management. Plus, bone, muscle and mental health all benefit from regular exercise.

Walking for health is my choice, plus I have added in some resistance bands to my daily routine. The most important thing to remember is to start slow, and increase time, distance and intensity gradually. If you go full guns right off the top, you will not only risk injury but you may also become discouraged.

Do you have a regular exercise plan? If so, is it new or have you been doing it for some time?

5 Ways to Cut the Clutter

New logo designed 2019 on Canva by Diane Ziomek

I don’t know about you, but I like to keep things pretty simple. Easy on the eyes; nothing flashy. Those were my thoughts when I designed the logo for my blog. It’s just enough to catch the eye, yet not be overwhelming. And to me, simple also means downsizing and cutting the clutter.

The older I get, the more I realize I have “too much crap” as my significant other has pointed out to me. I hate to admit it, but he’s right. When I left home at sixteen, I really had nothing. Life happened, and now I have tons of craft supplies, books of all kinds (including at least eight boxes of kids books), board games, VHS movies, DVDs, clothes I don’t wear, electronics I don’t use and a bunch of things that don’t really fall into any specific category. It’s time to continue with the de-cluttering process.

I was doing alright until Mom got sick and had to be moved into a long-term care facility (which didn’t end up being too long-term at all). My mom had a LOT of stuff, and my sisters and I split it up between households as best as we could. We each have our share to distribute as we see fit, and my share consisted of the crafty side of things.

As I have been going through boxes and totes, I have come up with five ways that are helping me. I hope they will help you eliminate some of your clutter as well. And if you’re someone who doesn’t have any, you’re my hero! 🙂

  1. Keep only what you use. I know, this is a hard one to get a grasp on. I find myself with appliances and kitchen gadgets that I’ll need someday. If I went through my pantry, cupboards and drawers, I’m sure I could easily part with a lot of stuff. And that’s just in my kitchen.
  2. Label storage totes. As anyone who celebrates any holidays or lives in a climate like we do, there are always items that only get used a few days out of the year, but are too pricey to replace each year. By investing is some transparent totes and labels, you will see at a glance what you have stacked in your storage room. This method also works for the craft supplies creatives seem to accumulate. (Ahem!)
  3. If it doesn’t fit, toss it. This doesn’t mean you have to throw away items of clothing that don’t fit into the trash. There are plenty of organizations that will take donated clothing. If you blew your clothing budget on some higher end outfits, there’s always the option of selling online or via local Buy & Sell groups. When I went through my closet, I gave several bags to a local church. After Mom passed away, we did the same with her clothes.
  4. Sort and file. Although I think about receipts when I say this, it also applies to mail, magazines and anything else we bring into our homes. Whether it be groceries, toiletries or the ever-constant paperwork, it’s better to take a few moments to put everything in its place right away. I do admit, I tend to slack occasionally then spend a lot more time playing catch-up.
  5. Invest in shelving and storage units. Let’s face it, we have to keep some stuff. We need bedding, clothing, dishes, towels and all of the other things required for daily living. By creating a space for the necessities, then keeping those spaces organized, the clutter can easily be kept under control. Whether it’s bookshelves, storage bins or dividers in your closet, having an orderly system for your possessions will be beneficial.

I know it’s often easier said than done, but if we can part with the things we don’t use, we will soon enjoy a less cluttered home. And if you can make a few extra dollars by selling what you no longer need or use, your holiday or retirement fund will thank you for it.

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