On a walk with the dog

In an especially grumpy mood one morning, I wanted to pull the covers over my head to shut out the world.  I heard a gentle yelp from Milo's room.  Darn!  He needed to go out!  Why didn't he know that was in a bad way?  Why couldn't he leave me alone?

Feeling even more down, I stumbled out of bed, dragged on my track pants and released him from his crate.  He jumped up on my leg and with his big, toothy grin looked me dead in the eye as if to say, 'Time to go for a walk".

Milo is a 6 year old Yorkipoo that we adopted 2 years ago.  Some call him a rescue and I suppose that is true:  He had languished in a Yorkie breeders compound after she had 'rescued' him from a less-than-good environment.  The day we visited he was one of two that we considered.  The other was a tiny Yorkie similar to Tia who had been with us for nearly 15 years.  Milo was disheveled, his hair was long and matted.  He followed me around the yard for the entire visit.  When I stopped, he stopped and sat beside me.  He came up to me on first calls and he sniffed approvingly.  I was drawn to him but it was that look in his eye:  Mischievous!  That did it.  I told Sally he was the one and a week later he was home.

'High energy' doesn't do justice to Milo.  He has an insatiable appetite for playing and at the mere mention of 'outside', he is up and ready to go. His favourite toy is his stuffed duck!  Playing tug of war with him is good for 15 minutes.

He's not fond of rain so on those soggy mornings we walk under a long covered breezeway at the front of our building.  He darts out to do his business and then wants to head back inside. 

And that's what he loves to do.  Sleep.  Then, all dogs like to do that.  He has favourite places of course with the main one being up on the sofa beside me while we 'watch TV'.  Because he and have similar bladder habits, we get along just fine.  

During the week our walks are shorter and limited to early morning before work and immediately after when I get home.  On the weekends though we get to stretch our legs with longer walks.  He's particularly fond of heading down to the Humber River where he can sniff and pee to his heart's content.

On those longer walks I'm inspired to take pictures.  Many of the 'Today's view' photos come from those walks.  The trees, the sun, the river...a true nature-lovers paradise just steps from the apartment.  Sally did a fine job finding this apartment complex.

My favourite thing about Milo is his fondness for squirrels.  True to his Yorkie heritage, he abhors them.  With his great eyesight, he'll spot one 50 feet away and slowly and stealthily approach.  At abuot 10 feet away, he lunges:  zero to full tilt in 3 bounds!  So far he has only managed to nip at the tail as the squirrel scurried up the tree...what will he do if he actually catches one!  No, I don't plan to find out.

On that grumpy morning once I'd pulled my coat and baseball cap on, Milo took me for the walk.  He knew.  

Until next time... 

A good soul

Finding a good home for Sally's quilting fabrics, supplies and sewing machines proved to be more of a challenge that her clothes.  And she was a clothes horse!  How many singlets can one person own?  Apparently a lot!  I had multiple false starts but after lots of tears, I found homes with two good souls.

First to go was her Pfaff quilting machine.  A high-end unit that she was so proud of when she finally bought it.  I didn't ask the price...I'd learned not to!  She did her usual due diligence and searched far and wide to get the best value.  In the end she chose a slightly used machine.  And with that, she created the masterpieces for family and friend.  I have two and cherish them dearly.  On cold, snowy wintry days with the fireplace on, I wrap up in the bigger one and it is so very peaceful!  

I got Facebook message from a young quilter who was looking to upgrade.  We exchanged a couple of messages, agreed on the price and day and time for pickup.  As she pulled up to the front of our apartment building and stepped out with her husband, I knew instantly that the Pfaff had found a good home.  

She told me her quilting story and I shared Sally's. All three of us were emotional...there was so much in common.  A good soul.   

The fabrics, equipment, supplies, books, another Pfaff sewing machine were next up.  I listed them on Facebook Marketplace and had a number of low-ball offers.  None felt right.  I came close with one quilter even agreeing to the sale but at the last minute I just couldn't pull the trigger.  I apologized and took the post down.

A week went by before I summoned the courage to try again.  This time I took out all the boxes of fabrics and supplies.  I laid them all out on the desk and floor of Sally's sewing room.  I was overwhelmed.  At the volume and quality.  Sally had amassed quite a collection.  I needed to find someone who would respect the collection and breathe new life into the fabrics.

That's the beauty of quilting.  It's a labour of love and once complete they take on a life of their own. I hoped I could find such a person.

Back on Facebook Marketplace I went this time with a lot of pictures and a video showing the entire collection.  I didn't expect a lot of interest and that proved correct.  But it didn't take long for a serious quilter to come forward.

Late on a Friday afternoon she reached out and after a few messages she seemed serious.  She lived 3 hours north of Toronto and I volunteered to meet her halfway, in Orillia, to complete the transaction.  She thanked me for that and something whispered that this was another good soul.  Her response to my answer of why I was selling all this 'stuff' was the clue...she took a moment to respond and it was gentle and understanding.

As I drove into the parking lot of the plaza just off Highway 11 in Orillia, I spotted her and her husband right away.  We chatted about quilting as me moved all the boxes out of the Volvo...it was packed to the hilt!

Then once done, the three of us standing in the parking lot, she dropped it:  Both she and her husband had lost their spouses.  Truly speechless and with tears streaming down my face, they shared their stories.  I shared mine.  What a release...relief actually...I don't get to speak about Sally with people who have been through the experience often.  

She runs a quilting retreat in cottage country and will use the fabrics for future quilting fabrics.  She is sending the sewing machine and fabrics and supplies she doesn't use up to a an organization for Native Women (sewers and quilters) in the Thunder Bay area. I asked her to send me photos of any quilts that are made with the fabrics. I look forward to seeing the results.  

People talk about a person's soul and how it lives on.  From one good soul to two others, Sally would be pleased.

Until next time...

One more Santorini sunset

I love sunrises.  Sally preferred sunsets.  She converted me on our vacation to Santorini while sitting on our edge-of-the-caldera  hotel terrace drinking red wine and eating cheese and olives!  

Sally shared with me that one of her dream travel destinations was visiting Greece. I was happy to put that trip together...I love traveling and visiting new places and the adventure begins on my way to the airport.  We planned 10 days in Greece, 6 in Santorini and 4 in Athens.  We could have spent it all in Santorini taking in the spectacular sunsets.  

I had collected a ton of frequent flyer miles and had enough for First Class from Toronto to Athens.  Top deck of the Jumbo both ways.  The highlight of the outbound leg was that we got to sleep with Sophia Lauren.  Yes, that Sophia Loren.  She came onboard just before the doors closed and took her seat two rows behind us.  Sidebar...she was fully put together when she came onboard and looked exactly the same 9 hours later after the all night flight. It's a mystery how she did that...she didn't have any handlers with her.  I digress...

The ferry ride from Piraeus Port in Athens to Santorini usually takes hours.  I booked us on a high-speed catamaran ferry and that reduced the sea time significantly.  It was a blast standing on the bow of the boat with the wind blasting in our faces.  The boarding experience was also a hoot:  Our travel agency had warned us that we'd have to scramble to board since the boarding system was simply a mad dash once boarding time was announced. We joined the crowd!

The white washed buildings that top the Santorini cliffs like confection on top of a cake rose up out of the mid-morning Aegean brilliance.  It was magical.  We made the wise choice to take a taxi to our hotel in Fira and that was the wise choice given the situation with the overcrowded buses that had to navigate the switchback from the pier up the side of the vertical caldera.

We had chosen a small hotel at the south end of Fira that had the lovely name back then of 'Madame Rita'.  There was no 'madame' and none of the staff was named Rita.  It didn't matter.  We were in Santorini.  On the edge of the Caldera with a Terrace to ourselves.  That first evening was our first Santorini sunset.  It was to be like that every day of our time in Fira.

Many years have passed since that dream vacation. What I'd give for one more Santorini sunset....

I can't go back but I have the memories...and those grow stronger every day.

Until next time...

A smoking runner

We have a new running event.  It's called, 'The 100M Smoking Dash'.  If you haven't heard of it yet, brace yourself for summer 2024 at the next Olympics.  They have scheduled it for right after the 4 x 100M Relay and it's meant to close out the Track and Field events.  I can't wait!

The 100M sprint is an anaerobic event.  Aerobic efficiency is not as important as power.  The Sprinters transition to the Smoking Dash without stress.  And they don't have to change their diet or training program...they only have to add smoking for the duration of the event, around 10 seconds.

The tricky part are the Smoking Dash rules.  Runners must get into the starter blocks with their cigarette already lit.  They have to keep it firmly in their mouths from the crack of the starter's pistol until they hit the finish line.  They cannot touch the cigarette with any body parts and the cigarette must be lit when they cross the finish line.  If the cigarette falls out while they are sprinting, they are automatically disqualified.  After the race the race judge will measure the remaining cigarette to ensure that more than 50% remains.  If not, again, immediate disqualification.

Another unique of the Smoking Dash is that there will be sponsors.  The sprinters will wear the colours of the companies that manufacture the cigarettes they smoke while competing.  They will also have to smoke their sponsor's cigarettes at the medal ceremony.  

The Smoking Dash is going to make for great television!

In case you haven't figured it out yet, this is all a fabrication.  It was triggered when I saw a gentleman running to catch a bus last week with a cigarette dangling from his lips.  I've never smoked. It's not a habit I learned to love.  I've never experienced nicotine addition...or withdrawal. I'm a long-time runner and need maximum oxygen efficiency to run comfortably.  Thus...I don't smoke.   

But this guy...he had form.  He made the 25 metres to the bus look effortless.  I had to give him props!

No, there is no smoking running event.  But I bet it would be a hit!

Until next time...