Rest Assured I'm still here

 Albeit tired in a way I can not describe well but I will try.

November was a quiet month with very little going on and was just what I needed after such a busy summer. I am still feeling off but that may have been because I had what I think was a mini-stroke just at the end of November then December brought GD#3 back full-time.

The shakes are steadily getting worse and the headaches are back. It has been awhile since I felt so tense and afraid. It could just be a stress headache but I keep coming back to the massive one I had the night before I got checked out for the stroke. It frightens me but it shouldn't I used to get them a lot last winter, it's because our radiators blow warm, dry air and it dries me out. The thing is even drinking water does not seem to help much. My guess is that I am very dehydrated from the heaters, with the added stress of Christmas and GD#3, all of which add up to "I don't feel so good".

Add the mini-stroke stuff and winter arriving and you have a lot of contributing factors. I need to get an MRI done on Friday Dec 6 at 7:45 pm E if you want to come. Before that I am going to my doctor, maybe he can explain what is going on with my body if it's something besides old age.

Does anyone read Doctor besides E that is? I recognize some of it though the degenerative disc disease was a bit startling, I knew about the shoulder I just didn't know what it was called. Not sure what the third thing is but I think it may be important as I think it has to do with my heart.

Degenerative disc disease is mild at C4-5, moderate at C5-6 and C6-7.

 

Apophyseal joint osteoarthritis is severe and left sided.

The left A1 is hypoplastic but opacified. Otherwise, arteries at the circle-of-Willis and major branches are normal

Day 5 & 6 - Dreamers Writing Farm

 

Located in peaceful Hepworth, Ontario, Dreamers Writing Farm is a tranquil hideaway offering a blend of glamping and classic lodging. Enjoy nature’s beauty with the Bruce Trail nearby and the charm of Sauble Beach just a short drive away. Discover whimsy in Wiarton, home to the famous groundhog, Wiarton Willie. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure or creative solitude, Dreamers Writing Farm is the perfect sanctuary for your getaway.

outside the studio

outdoor shower

outdoor sink

We didn't do any exploring except on the grounds because I was still in pain from the fall the day before. It is a beautiful place and given its location I would live there full time except that it isn't long term housing.

living area

full kitchen

murphy bed

I got up early and walked the grounds. I started by going to the dock, the water was very low so that wasn't great but I could feel the relaxation the place would provide in the warmer weather. On the way back to the main path I passed the animal pen, they were just waking up.

path to the pond

brothers grimm

a spice girl

I continued along the path towards the secret garden. I peeped into a couple of the tent cabins they were great for the solo traveler who likes spending time outdoors but I'm glad we went for the studio, I liked having indoor plumbing and a full kitchen.

a yellow brick path

one of the tents

sign post to the garden

I loved the garden wall and I sent a call via the wind phone. I went through the door to Narnia and would have stayed awhile but I wanted to get back before E woke up.

Quotes along path

door to narnia

the garden wall

When E got up we went for a walk together and I showed him the pond and the garden wall. As we explored further we found the summer kitchen and bought some coffee for the Kurig in the studio. We also gathered some windfall apples and took them over to the Goat pen to feed to the animals.

I spent the rest of that day writing and the next as well. During the evening we watched some Halloween movies and just relaxed. The next day we headed to Wasaga Beach and the final few days of the week.

My Birthday Trip- Day 4

Today is Ferry Day! I am not talking a ferry like the one in Toronto, this ship was huge! I guess it would have to be to hold 18 wheeler's plus dozens of other cars.

The Chi-Cheemaun runs between South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island and Tobermory on Bruce Peninsula. It moves passengers and their vehicles between the above two points a few times a day. 

 

E got a business call when we were leaving the Ferry and he got pissy cause he's on vacation and still they called him. Anyway that meant that he left the ferry and the Port too quickly for me to speak about what we were supposed to do next or rather what I wanted to do first. After he calmed down a bit I asked him if we could go back and get tickets to take a ride on a glass bottom boat.

We turned back and found the Blue Heron company that did the tours. We booked a tour instead of the explorer tour but that was because I was in pain after a fall during the morning. While we were waiting for the ferry we went for a walk to see a lighthouse and I decided to be a bit of a smart ass. While E was looking for a proper path I cut across the stone beach. I lifted my head for a second to see how far the light house was and got tripped by a rock.

Look at this beach

on the Ferry

The rock that tripped me

Then when I headed back to the boardwalk, I figured I would climb up to it using a pile of rock beside it. It worked ok but I wasn't balanced properly so I went of the other side of the boardwalk and landed on my back. Two falls in two minutes, least that's what it felt like, caused me a bit of pain the rest of the day.

 When we turned around and got the tickets, then headed back to the Harbour. We had to wait a bit for the boat to arrive so we explored the harbour and explored a couple of the shops attached. I found a lovely little bag set that reminded me of the maiden, mother, crone and it was purple so perfect for me. Once we were underway, there was a lot to see thus the gallery below.

check it out one last thing here before we move onto the Dreamers Writing Farm where we spent the next couple of days.

 

The Dreamers Writing Farm turned out to be the perfect place for me to feel like I could write though for the most part I stuck with the Travel book. The Studio was worth the extra money since it included Wifi and a full kitchen.

If it wasn't so far from home I would love to go every year.

My Birthday Trip- Day 3

 We started early because we needed to get to the Preserve before dark as absolutely no white light is allowed and that includes car lights.

We stopped at the Anishnabe Trading Store, where I met this fellow. From the outside it didn't look that big but inside it was huge.  As you can see behind him there is a lot of stuff.

We also stopped at the Iroquois Cultural Centre. Being in there was deeply moving like being in a holy place. I didn't get any pictures because it felt wrong to do so.

We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls. The climb down wasn't too bad but the walk back up was murder on my lungs. This was taken about half-way down I think.

I had planned to sleep in one of these but I'm glad we changed our mind, the teepee doesn't have a floor. Instead we stayed in a bunkie. 

Two rooms and no heat, also no running water or indoor toilet so we had to use a outhouse. That wouldn't have been so bad but the outhouses were set 25 yards or so from the bunkie. Not fun when you know you are gonna need to go out in the middle of the night.

What follows is a small Gallery of what we saw that night. I understand the lights were so bright they could be seen in Peterborough but to be so close... nothing compares.

I hope you can see these images it was beautiful because we were in a slight bowl and it surrounded us and arched over us so beautifully.

I went out to use the outhouse around 2 am and I wish I had brought my phone with me because the sky was breathe taking. The clouds had moved on and the northern lights had gone back to sleep, the sky was like blue-black velvet set with millions of tiny lights. 

Like this but because of where the Bunkie was the stars made a bowl overhead. I really wish I had gotten a photo.

I am glad we brought extra blankets there was frost in the morning and the night was cold even though we were fully dressed under the blankets.

The next day we swore to each other that we would travel earlier in the year, the night was cold and there was nobody else near us. While I'm usually a fan of that but I wished I had someone besides E to share the wonders of the night with it was that wondrous.