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| My travel buddy hubby admiring the Carribean Sea at Punta Sur TAKEN: NOVEMBER 30th, 2026 |
Believe it or not, my travel
buddy hubby has worked for the same company (which was sold and only incurred a
name change) since he was fifteen years old. Something not many can admit,
including yours truly.
The reason I shared my husband’s
years of service is because he has earned a whooping six full weeks of vacation,
so when I changed jobs about five years ago, four weeks of vacation time was a
hard negotiation point in my selecting my employer.
Anyway, when the children left
the nest, we finally decided it was our turn to reap the rewards of our years
of hard-work. So, we took our first trip without our children in the winter of
2012.
After that amazing trip to Negril
Jamaica, we quickly embraced a sense of wanderlust that has increasingly grown
with each passport stamp since.
I guess you can say that I chose
the word I did today because so many people have opinions on the amount of
travel we get to enjoy – and I tend to feel obligated to explain how I budget and
execute our travel choices.
So many passive agressive comments, so many so many sarcastic "it much be nice" judgemental type remarks. Which is why we accept no one’s definition of how we should live our lives.
...Because we are quite capable of defining it for ourselves!
#yagottalaughaboutit
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| We haven't been everywhere ...But it's on the list! TAKEN: NOVEMBER 24th, 2025 |
I am the first admit that as I have aged I have become more set in my ways,
but I think that is because for the last five years I have worked remotely from a home office. By
this time last year, I no longer kept a workstation or desk space at the brick and mortor office that employs me.
That said, I have got a great gig. I have a
strict home office routine that allows me to run a doggie daycare, as well as meet
my deliverables; and ultimately earn above and beyond within a bonus structure I have in place.
That incentive has allowed us to
embrace our love of travel and collection of passport stamps.
As I prepare to hop another plane
to Bahamas for my birthday trip next week, there is one thing that I can confirm.
Because I work remotely, I rarely
want to leave the house.
Yet, at the drop of a hat… I cannot
wait to leave the country!
#yagottalaughaboutit
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| I have only one word.... STUNNING TAKEN: FEBRUARY 25th, 2026 |
For about the last decade, I have watch my first cousins' adventures from afar, as she traveled from Saskatchewan and rented a condo in Huatulco, Mexico. This year, we traveled with four of my first cousins and one of my aunts traveled to meet her for a week at the end of February.
The first outing she arranged was lunch by the ocean on La Bocana Beach. She told us that she really wanted us to see it.
Well, when lunch was finished (hubby had a fresh seafood dish) we sent those anxious to be on their way, simply because we didn’t just want to see it; we wanted to experience it.
The photo I am sharing is of us, walking in silence, appreciating just how lucky we are to experience each destination together. As you can see, the beach was absolutely pristine.
In the moment, I posted a story on my socials confirming that ‘my travel buddy hubby and I have been to a lot of different beaches, and this one is definitely one of the best.’
Muchas gracias beautiful Bocana, we love you. We will see you soon.
...Because we will definitely be back!
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| Decending on the beautiful beaches in Santa Maria, Hautulco, Mexico TAKEN: FEBRUARY 24th, 2026 |
As I began to prepare myself to take part in the April A-Z Challenge, I found it hard to believe I have been torturing myself every year since 2013. You know, the platform where I muse in my electronic journal about a letter a day for 26 days for the entire month of April...with Sunday's off for good behavior.
Well, this past February was the first time in almost a decade that my travel buddy hubby and I vacationed during the shortest month of a dreary Canadian winter. The last time was 2019 and we spent a week in Cuba.
This year we sent the last week of February in Huatulco, Mexico – situated on Oaxaca’s Pacific coast.
For those unfamiliar, the city is located where the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, which is approximately four hundred kilometers east of Acapulco.
We spent our week in a small boutique hotel that was, in every respect, wonderful.
The photo I am sharing comes from a tradition I have always embraced, which is to snap a picture as the plane begins its descent and we prepare for arrival; to which this photo does not do the plethora of area beaches justice.
There is always something special for us when we arrive in a new city. We research it to death before we leave yet arrive without a plan. Just a couple of free spirits packing in as much of the experience before we have to leave.
What I will say about any new adventure that excites us most…
It is that our arrival is merely the simple transport vessel for the boat load of fun that we always manage to have!
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| The 4pm darkness of January at the table. TAKEN: JANUARY 10th, 2026 |
For the last number of winters,
after the December holiday break, I always hunker down and have a jigsaw puzzle
on the go until I leave for my birthday trip in April. For my tenure, I park myself in front of our patio door to get as much natural light as possible.
I used to have a puzzle board that I would store under a bed when not in use. Then, in the first winter of lockdown, I dropped a whopping ten bucks at the Habitat for Humanity and bought myself an official puzzle table.
I generally head to our local Wal-Mart
when the puzzles come out for Christmas but this year the pickings were so slim
that I had to head to Amazon to find the stylized puzzles I enjoy doing.
As I have mentioned before, I
enjoy doing puzzles with vibrant colours that tend to focus on travel, food, or
pets.... No big surprises there on any front!
Anyway, this year, I only managed
to take on three. The last one will probably take me until the end of the
month, simply because I have been working weekends to stay caught up.
That said, I have decided to
share my 2026 collection thus far.
Once the third one (below) is completed,
the table will be moved back into the garage, and my furniture will returned to
being arranged accordingly.
Though the snow returned this week, words can’t express how glad I am to be at the tail end of winter this stinking winter. Or shall I tell you how I really feel?
Full disclosure: If I did, major profanity would definitely be involved!
#yagottalaughaboutit
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| 1st one finished. 750 pieces. Title: Dog Days of Summer TAKEN: JANUARY 31st, 2026 |
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| Look the snow is gone! 2nd one finished - 1000 pieces. Title: Wintery Night Bonfire TAKEN: MARCH 7th, 2026 |
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| Look, the snow is back! 3rd and final - 1000 pcs Title: Mountain Retreat TAKEN: MARCH 18th, 2026 |
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| Had an amazing cousin vaycay! TAKEN: FEBRUARY 27th, 2026 |
Like most reading this, I am sure you can relate when I share that my first
cousins were my very first friends.
I have fond memories of my
grandparents and my mom's different siblings’ homes being full when celebrating
birthdays and holidays. In a nutshell, we all had a close connection growing
up.
As we aged, and we have unexpectedly
lost those we never imagined would pass away so soon, we decided to try again
to plan an annual getaway. The messages started to flow in late September, for
a week away in February 2026 for Huatulco Mexico.
Now, we have tried numerous times over the years to get everyone on board; with no luck. My one cousin from Saskatchewan (in the green sundress) and I tried for the last decade to plan something and things would always fizzle out.
We've tried to organize a large home where we could all stay, all-inclusive vacations together, but nothing seemed to stick.
At the end of the day, vacationing takes disposable income and truly is a luxury item, so I totally understand how some wouldn't want to participate in a 'first cousin trip' and do their own family thing.
That said, it was something my cousin from Quebec mentioned (on the end in the red shirt) this time around that had my travel buddy hubby deciding to commit. He said, "I am tired only seeing my cousins at funerals!"
Of the thirty cousins I have on my mom's side, we have already lost six. The last passing was particularly hard for me, to which I penned My Favorite Cowboy in his honour.
As I look at the photo I am sharing (with two elsewhere on the 72 foot boat when the pic was snapped), there are so many others that I wish had made the trek.
I guess there will always be hope for next year.
Because Lord knows... I will be there with bells on!
Yesterday was the Family Day stautory holiday in Ontario and the weather and our selected activities didn't disappoint.
Since the kids left the nest, my travel buddy hubby and I have dedicated this holiday to our pups, renaming it Family Furbaby Day; though Goob did join us for a nice roast pork dinner.
A nice bonfire, smokies for lunch for our girls, combined with hundreds of pig, hut-hut, and frisbee throws throughout the afternoon.
A good time was had by all!
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| Hurry up Dad! TAKEN: FEBRUARY 16th, 2026 |
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| Waiting patiently. TAKEN: FEBRUARY 16th, 2026 |
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| Just chillin' with her pig. TAKEN: FEBRUARY 16th, 2026 |
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| Miya's hut-hut has seen better days. TAKEN: FEBRUARY 16th, 2026 |
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| One of the many frisbees they love. TAKEN: FEBRUARY 16th, 2026 |
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| Katie Kate showing her appreciation. TAKEN: FEBRUARY 16th, 2026 |
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| On high alert, heading to town! TAKEN: JAUNARY 31st, 2026 |
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| Enjoying the very first Fire & Ice Festival TAKEN: JANUARY 30th, 2016 |
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| Our struggle with outdoor doggie washroom conditions are real! TAKEN: JANUARY 22nd, 2026 |
Yesterday morning, the control panel on my 60V Greenworks electric snowblower, bit dust.
Even worse, their service department confirmed the part's backordered, and they cannot offer a timeline for shipment. I automatically knew I would be back to manually shoveling snow.
Now, as I have written here before, at Old Bessie, our gas-powered beauty of age does the heavy lifting - but I am responsible to clear entrances, decks, and dog trails; that our old girl cannot access.
Well, just as my winter clearing lifeline went on hiatus, The Weather Network announced that we were to receive 40+cm of snow (about 16 inches for my American readers) forecasted to fall within 24 hours.
So, shovel in hand, I was dealing with the accumulation I had missed through the day last night until I was ready to go to bed, to ensure by morning we could open the back patio door, and that the dogs had a path at 6am.
By 6am this morning, Mother Nature added another 8+ inches fallen, which told me that we were only about half-way there before we might receive any reprieve.
Out went my travel buddy hubby with Bessie blowing in the dark, as I took shovels to the decks in my PJ pants. We worked our way of digging out from the accumulated snow and as the sun rose the blizzard continued.
Then our obvious problem hit. It was on my 9:30am break, where the dogs go to do their business.
Where the hell do they go?
All I can say is that from the photo I am sharing… their struggle was/is real.
Hope I can see their eyes peeping over the banks by this time tomorrow!
#yagottalaughaboutit
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| My beautiful Miya living her best life. TAKEN: JANUARY 12th, 2026 |
With 2026 officially under way, I am seriously committed to exercising more, losing weight, and living a healthier lifestyle. You see, for the first time in my life, I am feeling the effects of sitting in front of a computer ten hours a day; and not making myself a priority.
The first week was pretty brutal but I am extremely determined, so I persevered.
You have no idea how much crap you have hanging around in your system after the unnecessary holiday bingeing, but I feel that with those first seven days behind me, I am definitely on the right track.
For me, it is about a kilometer walk to the mailbox, so I started going daily, on the last doggie daycare break. The other thing I began doing was head down to the end of our cul-de-sac and back. For that, I take both pups.
Then, I drop off Katie Kate and Miya and I head toward town. She is much more laid back than the wee one and always stays focused on her surroundings. The other one, not so much, and I need to keep her out of harms way.
Anyway, on our way back from town, the orange hew in the distance lets us know we are getting close to home.
With only 42 days until I depart on my cousins trip to Hautulco Mexico, I know my personal goals won't be met by then.
Instead, the quest for my waist will hopefully have my goal within my sights before I leave for Bahamas for my birthday weekend.
Wish me (and my emotional support night walker) luck!
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| Winter have you feeling deflated? ...Not our beautiful Miya! TAKEN: JANUARY 6th, 2025 |
When Doggie Daycare took their lunch break this afternoon, the beautiful Miya pulled her old, deflated football (that we call the hut-hut) out of the toy box as her item to retrieve.
After her
tenth run, I held it up and realized how this raggedy old ‘thing’ truly symbolizes my general mood perfectly this time of year.
I know I always reference the weather this time of year, but when you don’t leave your house except to move snow, it tends to be a focal point. Moving snow since the beginning of the season led me to notice an overall loss in snow removal muscle mass over last season.
As a result, I decided to put an exercise plan in place so
that my day consists of something other than staring at multiple computer
screens and recess with my dogs three times a day; where all I do is stand in
one spot and throw their item of choice.
I am also in the midst of a cleanse. I have never done one
but did quite a bit of research prior to starting, hoping to increase my
overall energy. Once completed, I will transfer to a program called The Livy Method. I have done it before with great success, so I thought I would reignite
the enthusiasm that had me shed almost 18lbs while recalibrating my eating habits in 2023.
Which brings me to my original question. Does this winter have me feeling deflated?
Actually, it is kind of the opposite. Though I would like to think my stomach is flat (which would never leave any middle-aged woman feeling deflated), it seems my issue appears to be when I look in the mirror.
Because the simple truth is the as I spring into 2026, letter ‘L’ in the word flat...
Is definitely SILENT!
#yagottalaughaboutit
I don’t know about you but for this cat, 2025 flew by incredibly fast.
The Psychology Today website says it is because ‘time speeds up with increasing age because we have fewer new experiences and our perception is less vivid.’ Whatever, I call that therory total bullshit.
As this past year was
jampacked with a ton of new experiences that were carefully executed as well as financed thanks to
a hectic year at work; with a plethora of overtime worked and rewarding deadlines
met.
As we all prepare to raise a glass and get ready to welcome
a new year, I would like to wish all the best to you and your loved ones in 2026…
And thanks again for reading.
~ Rhondi
PS: As you reminisce with me electronically you can click links to the month of journal offerings (57 in total) and photos that you may have missed, or wish to revisit.
Remember, never one to shy away from being blunt, so keep your hands and feet in the ride at all times!
Most Unexpected Moment (centre) - The swift and unexpected passing of my mother in law. My husband called me when he was leaving work to tell me he was headed to meet the ambulance at the hospital, and less than eight hours later she was gone. Godspeed Angie, may you forever rest in peace.
(LINK TO REVIST: SHOCKINGLY, UNEXPECTED)
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| Finally finished trimming the tree. TAKEN: DECEMBER 13th, 2025 |
The Wednesday evening after we returned from Cancun, our highspeed internet went out. Just as we always do, my travel buddy hubby called his sister who lives in assisted living two streets away.
After confirming she was out too, I reminded her that she could create a mobile hotspot with her phone and she could run her Smart TV using that. It was at the point that she told us it wasn't an option, as she didn’t own one. The very next day my husband bought her a 43” streaming television for her bedroom.
Since our children finished post-secondary school, each year our pups buy gifts for those that wouldn’t necessarily buy that item for themselves. This year it was a new television, one year it was a laptop for a mother of one of the twins that was a shut-in from chemotherapy – the list is long.
That said, this will be the very first year that there will be no wrapped gifts under our tree, nor monitary gifts haning in the tree.
This year, 100% of our spending will be donated by Miya and Katie Kate to those in need. Gift cards for the grocery store, cellphone bill payments for the year, even the payment of streaming subscriptions.
I used to put cash in stockings in the tree but this year I have decided against that. As the money will be long gone by new years and bills will still keep coming in.
I guess that is why I cut off the base of my Christmas tree in the photo I am sharing.
For me the tree is all about the Christmas lights and how they make me feel. It has never been about what is under it.... And for the very first time, there will be nothing.
Not going to lie, taking that offical step feels great!
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| The girls were kind enough open a path on the stairs. TAKEN: DECEMBER 6th, 2025 |
When I posted November 2nd that we had closed the cottage down, what I neglected to mention was that short of converting the pups into Sherpas, there was no way to get all the items in our fridge up the hill in one haul. So, rather than making a second trip, we decided we would return the following weekend.
Short story long, we never made it back out. Time got the best if us and we left for Toronto on the afternoon of the 20th and flew out at 6am the morning of the 21st into Cancun.
Back in Toronto on the 29th, we drove home to Muskoka the morning of the 30th in freezing rain that turned into snow by nightfall; and the snow has not let up since.
As the next week unfurled, every day we discussed the urgency of the fact that we had to get back out there. Our main concern was that the fridge was still plugged in and sucking energy from the electrical panel.
Finally, this morning arrived and after a cup of coffee and a breakfast bagel, we loaded up the pups and headed on our fifteen minute drive. I still find it amazing how our pups react when we turn off the highway.
Back windows go down, and out the window their heads go. They know exactly what is waiting for them when we get there.
Even covered in a blanket of snow, it is one of my very favorite places on earth. Yet, as we plan for retirement, our plan is will be sold.
Just not sure if that it is what we really want to do. I guess time will ultimately tell what we decide... But we both know that clearing and climbing those stairs all winter in Muskoka is definately NOT an option.
Construct a two car garage with year round living space above at the top of the driveway?
Definately, maybe!
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| Our rooftop view from the Plaza Forum By The Sea TAKEN: NOVEMBER 28th, 2028 |
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| A view of blue from our balcony... Having a drink with my DAD! TAKEN: NOVEMBER 24th, 2025 |
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| Even Beatlejuice was blue! TAKEN: NOVEMBER 28th 2025 |
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| Lxchel protecting Punta Sur... As we overlook the Carribean Sea. TAKEN: NOVEMBER 25th, 2025 |
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| Our hotel with a hole in it from the ferry! TAKEN: NOVEMBER 25th, 2025 |
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| Stunning views of the Carribean Sea. TAKEN: NOVEMBER 25th, 2025 |
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| Our YouTube v-log lunch recommendation was excellent 12 out of 10! TAKEN: NOVEMBER 25th, 2025 |
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| Peace out summer of 2025 TAKEN: NOVEMBER 2nd, 2025 |
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| What a difference a couple of hours make. TAKEN: OCTOBER 31st, 2025 |
Anyway, just after lunch, I was on
the phone with a coworker, when I spun around in my swivel office chair and
declared, “holy cow, it’s snowing outside!”
Once again, it appears that we
left the cottage water on later than we should have.
For the record, I wanted to
winterize the weekend we rescued Stella, but my travel buddy hubby had other
ideas. We knew we had the leaves to process at the house in town last weekend but neither of
us factored in the Toronto Blue Jays and their run at a World Series title.
Our plan two weeks ago was that I
would head to the cottage at noon today so I could get it warmed up. We would enjoy
one last weekend with all our services before we shut the water off.
But midweek we decided the TV in town
trumped the one 10 kms away, and the winterization exercise had to wait until
Sunday morning.
So, this post is to recognize yet
another first for us at Orillia Lake in 2025.
Getting into the lake with a
torch to disconnect the water intake while it is snowing outside!
#yagottalaughaboutit
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| Our girl embracing an autumn adventure. TAKEN: OCTOBER 17th, 2025 |
After our epic day of burning on Saturday
September 27th, we spent the next few weekends in town.
With a Baker’s Dozen dining with
us for Thanksgiving, I had to steam clean our carpets the weekend before. A
week after our turkey coma subsided, we were back to the cottage to begin
shutting it down.
Because my travel buddy hubby cannot
bring his work truck home throughout the week, we swap at lunchtime which has
him picking up the car at home. In this instance, it had him taking the pups and
me to the cottage to get the place warm and where I would finish my workday.
As I headed down the stairs, my
immediate reaction was that someone had stolen Stella. As I sauntered toward the
dock, I discovered that she had simply escaped. Will the fall colour in bloom,
I thought she looked so pretty perched in our alcove, keeping our turtles
company.
Not wanting to try and rescue her
with the unconditional help of two pups, and a premonition that I would end up
in the lake, I decided to wait until the next morning to hunt for the hip waders.
The next morning the closing
ritual began. Up and out came the pedal boat and dock ladder, in came the ramp with Stella
safely perched for the winter. With it too windy to burn, we managed to work at
getting the cottage close ramped up.
With everything out and up the hill
and the only task left is to shut off the water, we are officially prepared for the end of
another cottage season.
...Which has been our 26th.
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| Stella is all settled for the winter. TAKEN: OCTOBER 18th, 2025 |
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| What a beautiful view! TAKEN: SEPTEMBER 27th, 2025 |
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| Wee Katie Kate supervising the disconnection in progress. TAKEN: JULY 1ST, 2025 |
The weekend before my mother-in-law
unexpectedly passed, my travel buddy hubby and his best cottage mate finally
coordinated the dissection of the last fallen tree (from the ice storm) stuck in our shoreline.
They had tried several times to
connect but as it would have it, day-to-day life got in the way; until finally
the morning arrived.
A couple of efforts in
July (one seen above) to remove the bulk of the tree from stump had my husband realizing that no
matter what he tried, this sucker was NOT going to float away. It would have to
be dismembered and removed to shore piece by piece.
With Stella (our floating picnic
table) anchored to aid with keeping the tools dry, and wee Katie Kate once again
was in supervision mode, the project began.
They landed in the water that
Saturday morning just past 10am, I served them lunch around noon, and the last
of the tools were slugged out of the water about 2pm. Words can’t describe how
blessed we are to have such great neighbours in he and his wife. They are truly amazing.
So, check their effort out... Below are just a few photos of the last of the water trees from hell that have literally consumed our time since opening the cottage in May of this year.
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| Assessing to start... With dogs in the mix. TAKEN: AUGUST 23rd, 2025 |
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| Turn out my Dad's antique saw worked best because of Katie Kate's help. TAKEN: AUGUST 23rd, 2025 |
