Let's do an update, shall we?

What is up, everyone! First and foremost, I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that we are in the year 2022.  So much happens in a calendar year, but I hope that this new year brings everyone much health, happiness, adventures, and more.

I know it's been a long while since you've seen any new content on my blog, which was never my intention when I restarted my blogging journey. To be frank, I have no real excuse other than life got busy and the pandemic has thrown me and everyone I know off their game. ​

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2021 definitely brought a lot of positivity to my neck of the woods:

• Life as a teacher ~ I continued to teach a hybrid program with an amazing group of 6 and 7th graders (see last post) until the end of June 2021.  I am so proud of all they accomplished and the adversities they overcame as they finished their year the best way they could.  I couldn't be prouder and I am happy that I too survived a very odd year of teaching both online and in the classroom.   September 2021 saw the return of in-class teaching with heightened awareness of hand washing, distancing, and the continued use of masks. Wearing a mask all day to teach in is hard, but I know it's what's best for us all. I am also back to teaching a full class of Grade 7 - a class full of energy and inquiring minds.  

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• Life as a fur mom ~ Loki Bear continued to keep me on my toes.  I am so happy that the teething phase is over, but I do admit I miss his cute little puppy face.  Why do dogs have to grow up so quickly? At the end of the summer, Loki went in for neutering.  I decided to wait until he was 1 year old to allow his growth plates and hormones to develop fully, the latter of which definitely did based on the frequency of things we was mounting.  Happy to report this behaviour stopped completely! Tikah continues to be the princess she knows how to be and I has grown to love her baby brother, even when he chews on her ears or jumps on her like a little lamb.  Never a dull moment over here.

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• Backyard transformation ~ I decided to give my backyard a facelift and turn it into an oasis!  For the past 5 years it was not really being used much, and I was determined to change that.  The yard was always wet, the grass barely grew, and it was lumpy.  So, a few of my neighbours and I had turf installed. I created a rock garden, and turned the porch into a lounge, complete with a wine barrel fire-pit.  What a change!  The dogs and I spent many hours soaking up the sun, listening to the soothing sounds of the water fountain, and even roasting a few marshmallows at the fire while drinking a glass of wine and listening to some tunes. Life is great!

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• Summer at the cabin ~ I was fortunate to be able to spend a few weeks at our families cabin in the Interior of our province.  Our cabin is new to us and needs some work, but I fell in love with it the moment I saw it.  It overlooks a wonderful lake, which is filled with Rainbow Trout and gets the perfect temperature in the summer to swim and paddle-board on.  I introduced the pups to my love of paddle-boarding and they loved it!  This melts my heart.  There is something so peaceful, relaxing, and serene about paddling as the sun sets, the fish jump, the loons call, and the lake reflects like a mirror. I am looking forward to spending some more time there in the Summer of 2022!

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• Thermomix ~ My sous-chef/kitchen assistant sure has continued to surpass all of my expectations! I have discovered some of the most amazing recipes from all over the world and have a huge list of recipes I still want to try as the weeks go on.  I am beyond excited to be able to continue sharing my passion for all things food and share my love for Thermomix with more lucky Canadians.  My business has continued to grow in 2021 and I am looking forward to what 2022 will bring.  If you would like to learn more, or you are interested in a personal cooking experience, please contact me.  

I guess life wouldn't be complete with a few downs as well:

• April 2021 definitely threw me a curveball.  I ended up getting sick right before Easter, which turned out to be severe gallstone attacks. I subsequently underwent emergency surgery to have my gallbladder removed.  Recovery took a little longer than I would have liked, but I am thankful for our Canadian Health Care system.  This was my 3rd surgery since the start of the pandemic, and hopefully the last!  Life without a gallbladder took some time to adjust to and still requires me to eat certain foods in moderation, such as caffein and rich fatty foods, but I am now healthy and not suffering from any major GI issues.  

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• Circus ~ It's been a year in which I wasn't really able to train on the flying trapeze as much as I would have liked to.  On top of my gallbladder issues, I've also spent a significant chunk of the year rehabbing my shoulder. My rotator cuff tendinitis kept flaring up to the point that I had to put a hold on flying to rest and strengthen it through regular physiotherapy treatments.  It's been a frustrating year to say the least, but I have made tremendous progress.  The plan moving forward is to keep working on my exercises and see my therapist on a more regular basis as prevention and ongoing maintenance.  And back up the rig I go to keep flying high!

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Now that 2022 is officially here, I am excited for what's to come!  Yes, we are still in a global pandemic and that we cannot control.  However, we can continue to control how we deal with adversity, overcome challenges, and approach life with a positive attitude.  

Stay safe and stay tuned, because I intent to provide you with more content as the year progresses.  Looking forward to sharing more in the world of Thermomix, puppy dogs, fitness, and life!