Discovering New Places

We discovered an Ecological reserve/ Conservation area about 45 minutes from our house: La Forêt LaBlanche.

We followed trail #3: le ouaouaron (the bullfrog)

The forest has six well-identified and well-maintained trails (with benches and picnic tables on route).

The 2.4 km loop was a rocky terrain, but flat around the two lakes. There were informative panels along the way, describing the trees, the vegetation, the birds, etc. encountered. Forêt-la-Blanche has one of the oldest growth forests in Eastern Canada and some of the trees did look like they were 400 years old!

We had a great time and, for the most part of our walk, we had the forest to ourselves.

Whirling leaves

Jumping in the forest

It was Simon's b-day on that day, so it was extra special!

Snacks kept Margot going.

Us

Margot got a free ride near the end of our hike

Ready, Set, Go!

Last weekend (Thanksgiving), Margot ran her very first race! It was a 1km, named "The Turkey Trot". Well, she did more than trotting! She ran her heart out.

Pre-race

Her two biggest feats:
-Running all by herself (without a parent)
-Running the entire 1km course (and not walking)

The annual event was Fall Colours, which hosts many different races (from marathons to 1km) every Thanksgiving Sunday. The 1km course is around the Cumberland Village (a pioneer village).

Warming up.
The sky cleared up.

Simon ran the 5km. He did quite well (!) and came in 7th place (out of 289). Apparently, the 5km course was quite hilly, albeit beautiful with the colourful leaves.

Simon passing those slow pokes!

Approaching the finish line. Only 100 meters to go!

Overall, it was a lovely morning filled with smiles and good cheer!

The racers: father and daughter

Margot ran 1km in 6.01 minutes!
Here she is enjoying her well-earned granola bar.

I Dance on Thursdays

It's about time that I write about my extra-curricular activity, since it's been going on for about a month. Every Thursday evenings, from 7:30-8:45pm, you can find me in my Beginner Contemporary Dance class at The School of Dance.

We're a group of 10 students, all beginners and all ages. No show offs there! It's a welcoming energy.
The facilities are beautiful, the teacher is fabulous and the percussionist who accompanies us is very talented. Live music and dance go hand in hand.

This is a beginner's class, so we're not doing anything too fancy…yet.
A few side stretches, pliés, dégagés, relevés, chassés, spine work, jumps (fun!), turns (deceivingly confusing!) , travelling across the room, leaping over imaginary puddles.

But, above all, it's so much fun! Time flies! I feel rejuvenated and youthful (extra youthful!). Dance is liberating!
I concentrate so much to follow the teacher and the beats. It's such a different way of thinking and moving. I also need to trust that my body has "marked" the steps or mini-choreography. There are no breaks. It's work from the moment we step into the studio.

I'm sorry to inform everyone that there won't be a performance… :)

A Season of Appreciation

I am having a sumptuous (yes, I know!) morning. Fall is in the air. Simon and Margot are spending father-daughter quality time out of the house. I just finished an inspiring yoga class with the insightful Elena Bower (on yogaglo)  I chose the 60 minutes"Welcoming Fall" class.  The pace was slower than I'm used to, ah! but what delight it gave me! A few restorative poses, then lunges, a creative sun flow, beautiful openings and time… Time to listen to one's breath. Time to sit still. Time to absorb Elena's guiding words. Time to plant the seeds for this new season.

I associate fall as a go-go-go season. After a "slacking" summer, it's time to get back on track; time for a routine; time to actively get things done. However, fall is really about starting to slow down; to look more inwards; to notice; to ground; to start tapping into your creativity juices. To pause and to smile :)

Fall is a rich season. I find it difficult to slow down when it's a time of year that is usually quite energetic for me (mostly because I'm back in the swing of things). Also, when the weather is beautiful, I appreciate it twice as more and itch to spend time outside, dreading the forth coming winter (how long will it be this year?).

Enjoying our morning hike

Here's our seasonal Family Manifesto:

We went Apple Picking this weekend.

Great snap of Margot's missing tooth!

No bushels this year. You are given a bag (you choose the size) to fill.

We were a bit late in the apple picking season
(we usually go the 3rd weekend of Sept.) and
we were limited in the choice of apples. Cortland it was!

"This is the best day ever!!!" Margot exclaimed at the apple orchard
(eating an apple-flavoured hot dog made it extra special!)

Bite into fall! Enjoy the sunshine and the crisp air. Get out there and explore! But also take moments to connect to yourself and your loved ones; to take it easy; to appreciate.

32:57

This morning, I ran a 5km race. Run for the Animals (Ottawa Humane Society race).
My time: 32:57.

I did it! Soaked from head to toe!

Awesome!
I really didn't think I was going to beat my last timed race (in May), but I did!
It was a rainy morning (as you can tell from the pics).

i'm a bit unsure about this race... hum...

The course was covered with puddles and there was a downpour a few minutes after I reached the finish line. I was drenched by the end of it.

My 7-week training for this race had lots of ups and downs, mostly due to the hot days, a cold and our visit to Toronto. During these last few things I didn't even want to run the race anymore...

However, despite my hesitation this morning (especially when seeing all that rain!), this race went better than expected. I'm proud that I ran the entire course. I'm also proud that I beat my time (this wasn't really planned). Both my watch and my iPod failed me (what are the odds??!) and I had no idea on how I was doing for time and no music to keep me going.

Margot signed up to run the 1km Kid's Run, but it was cancelled due to the weather. Boo! Here she is, all geared up to go:

Go Jays Go!

Last weekend, we visited TO. The big city.
Our primary reason for the visit was to meet our new niece, Lily.

First pic of the three cousins together!

Margot really liked Lily's little feet.

We also tagged on a visit to a Blue Jays game, the team of the year! The Jays are on fire this baseball season!

Before we headed into the stadium, we had to fuel up with street vendor hot dogs (they are double the price in the stadium). Yummy!

Our Blue Jays gang: Nathalie, Margot, Simon, me, Jonathan

The stadium was brimming with electricity. They won 10-4 with 3 home runs. It was an exciting game!!

 

We also had a nice little picnic on the beach in the city: The Scarborough Bluff.

Jumping in the waves

Overall, it was a fun-filled Labour Day long weekend. Summer is coming to an end...

La maternelle!

First day of Kindergarden.

It's going to be a fun year!