Welcome to the weekend at the cottage! Here are a few things that have been happening around here lately, including some of what’s caught my eye out there on the internet. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in for some reading and browsing,
Walking: A Photo Journal
Walking is my escape, my meditation, my fitness program, and this is prime season for escaping into the beautiful park near my home. Usually I’m listening to a podcast while I march along, but sometimes I like to remove the earbuds and just let my thoughts drift along to the rhythm of my steps. Lately, I’ve taken to bringing a book and stopping at one of my favourite benches overlooking the water to read for a while. Regardless of what I’m listening to, thinking or reading, I like to keep my eyes open to the interesting things around me. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see that I often use the hashtag #notice; it’s a reminder to be open to the world around you and to really see what’s there to be seen. Here are some images from recent summer walks.
I’ve been doing a series on Instagram called #gnarly — photos of an ancient willow near the water’s edge. Think of all this tree must have witnessed over the decades.
And here are some things that caught my eye as I was walking along the pathways or sitting on a bench overlooking the river.
Around the Web
A Primer For Those Alone
I follow the blog Kitchen Vignettes and the most recent post made me catch my breath. The author, Aubergine, talked about how she had gone through a painful breakup and empowered herself by cooking and enjoying a feast for one for Valentine’s Day.
I can relate. Having gone through my own painful breakup nine months ago, I’m still working on the empowering myself part. On the outside, I’m sure I look strong and confident as I move my life forward, and I am those things, but not all the time. I guard my privacy (making this an uncomfortable topic to write about) and try to bring positivity to social media, but beneath what I present to the world I sometimes still feel dazed and struggle with loneliness. That said, all things considered, I am doing well, in no small part because I decided early on to focus on making gratitude and doing something productive part of every day. It’s been an easier goal to meet on some days than others, but that decision has made a hard journey less rocky than it might otherwise have been.
Aubergine shared a video called “How To Be Alone” (by film maker Andrea Dorfman and poet/singer/songwriter Tanya Davis) in her post. I find it touching, affirming and hope inspiring, and only wish I’d found it months earlier. It captivated me from its starting words:
If you are at first lonely, be patient.
It’s simply lovely, and I felt inspired to share it here in the hopes it will reach someone who needs to see it. I hope you can find five minutes to view it.
Recap
In case you missed any of my posts since the last edition of Urban Cottage Weekend, there’s definitely been a summer theme with Lemon Cucumber Infused Water, Strawberry Yogourt Smoothie Pops, and Grilled Corn Salsa. For a treat any time of year, check out this Pomegranate Coconut Meringue Bark. And finally, I started my Urban Cottage Bookshelf column with a review of Nigella Bites, featuring Apple & Blackberry Kuchen. I appreciate all the positive comments about the cookbook review, and will be running the next one soon.
