In the Woods with Lola!

And my Sunday morning yesterday was pretty great, too. I took Lola to the dog park - we really don't go often enough anymore - and she had a great time, as did I.
 

Hike from P12 to Western Cabin

I'm slowly getting back into hiking. Although I seem to feel tired all the time, and I am overweight (72.2 kg). But it feels good to get back into the woods.

Saturday morning, I went on a lovely early morning hike with Jivka and three other hikers.

It was a nice hike, really steep in the first part, but easy after that.

I hadn't been on that trail in a couple of years, so it felt good.

However, I was reminded that I am, sadly, fat.

I had never ever thought I would ever be a fat person. But I am.

Anyway, the hike was still great.

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8km Hike - Marie-Burger to Pink Lake

Sunday, May 19, 2019 marks the day I got back into hiking after a year or so hiatus.

I used to regularly lead big group hikes in Gatineau Park, but gaining a wonderful but busy full-time job, and then my mother's illness, took their toll and I pretty much stopped hiking. (This could lead to a whole other topic about the vital importance of self-care when providing care to others, but let's stick to the hike for now!)

So, anyway, I posted a hike to Pink Lake from Marie-Burger/Ch. de la Mine. It was supposed to be a 10km to 12 km hike, but since we had a small group, we collectively were willing to try new routes. Because I started from Marie-Burger instead of rue Quartz, we were very close to a small dirt trail the was a huge shortcut to trail #15. We took that, then the #15 to the #35, then most of the way around Pink Lake, til we got to a little trail off to the right. I did not know the trail, and had gotten a group lost around there once, but a member of our group was quite familiar with the trail, so we were willing to try it.

The trail led us back to the #25, from where we got to the paved trail #5, went left, back up to the #15, and then the shortcut back to the cars.

In total, is was just under 8 km.

It was a lovely hike, shorter than planned, but to be honest, I am not a fan of hiking on paved trails ;)

Here is the map that I think shows our route:

Create Routes or Search for a route from millions at MapMyRun

Just a journal

So, this blog has barely been hopping along.

In the past few years, I've dropped my creative hobbies, such as photography and scrapbooking. I don't go running anymore. I don't go hiking. I just don't do much of anything.

I admit, it's getting me down. And, it's part of the cycle - I am down, so I don't do anything.

And why am I blogging it here? I guess because nobody is reading this yet. And I used to use my last blog to look back on what I was doing and what was going on in my life at different times. It was a very handy journal!

Simply Delicious Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Last weekend I had a hankering for a hearty potato soup. I must have been missing some vitamin that is offered by potatoes, because this was a true craving.

I did some recipe searches, did some genius tweaks to my own taste, and came up with the perfect slow cooker potato soup. Except, actually, I realize I didn't want that much potato - so next batch, I will use only a third of the potatoes I used!

No pics - sorry - I ate the soup before taking the pic!

Ingredients:

• 5 slices of bacon, cut most of the fat off but not all.
• 4 cups of chicken broth (I used Knorr cubes)
• 3 lbs potatoes (about 3 really big potatoes, but actually, I would prefer a lot less potato)1 onion, diced (medium)
• 2 carrots
• 1 stalk of celery
• 1 cup of evaporated milk (or just use the whole small can)
• 2 or 3 tbs of corn starch

1. Dice the bacon nice and small; I actually did this while it was half-frozen. Fry til kind of crisp or to your liking.
2. Peel and cut the potatoes in small cubes (about 1 inch or so, or however you like it, but it should be small enough to be held on a spoon).
3. Peel and cut carrots small (I like them small)
4. Cut up the celery, small (again, I like it small)
5. Mix up the chicken stock if needed (since I use cubes)
6. Put everything except cornstarch and evaporated milk into the slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 hours (or 4 hours, depending on size of potatoes and your slow cooker). Anyway, cook until potatoes are super tender but not mushy.
7. When ready to thicken, mix the cornstarch with the evaporated milk, stir into the still-hot slow cooker with soup and stir until thickened. IF you want thicker, add a little more cornstarch, or mash up the soup a little to let the potato thicken the soup.
8. This was super tasty, I will make it again.

Amazing and Simple Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

After much research, I found a recipe online for slow cooker pepper steak, and it turned out amazing.

https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/crock-pot-pepper-steak-211958

I used two t-bone steaks that had been in the freezer for 6 months (I know, I know...).
One onion
1.5 green peppers that i had in the freezer
Mushrooms, sliced
Almost a full can of tomatoes (28 oz)
1 Knorr beef bouillon cube,
1 tbs of corn starch, plus one more later to thicken
1/4 cup of water
2 tbs of soya sauce

I cooked on high for 4 hours, to delicious perfection.

Journalling - digital vs. paper

Ok, so I've been asking myself this over and over, over the years.

Paper and Pen
I love writing in a real, tangible paper journal with a smooth gliding gel pen. I love going to the shop, looking over all the journals, and finally choosing just the right one. I have all my perfect, perfectly chosen journals lined up on my bookshelf. No, not one has been written in through til the end, but it is our right as writers and artists and expressionists, to change. And to feel more drawn to yet another perfect journal.

And after choosing the perfect journal, each and every time, it is time to start fresh with a new pen. So, off to select the nicest, bestest pen for my journalling journey.


Digital
On the other side of the journalling spectrum, is a digital journal. Gosh, there are soooo many ways, so many really great tools to help you keep a digital journal. Freebie tools include (but are not limited to):

• Microsoft OneNote 
• Google Keep 
• Word or LibreOffice Docs, or Google Docs

Journey app
Additionally, there are specific jounalling apps available like crazy. The one I've been using for a few years and am really, really happy with is Journey, available from iTunes and Google Play, available as a web-based journal, available on desktop or phone...

This has a nice, clean interface, it syncs across devices, allows photo uploads, tags your location, and is really just super organized and easy and fun to use.

I'm using the free version still, but a small fee will allow you to export as html and a few other perks.

The Result
 I will admit that writing on paper feels more therapeutic for me, I feel like I've really self-helped myself ;) But journalling is very personal, so it may be different for you.

And then, in reality, I am actually in front of a computer screen all day. I have my smart phone with all the handy apps on my person all day, every day. I do not have my paper journal (god, what a disaster if I were to lose it!). So, I often end up keeping my digital journal - it's more practical, I can do it while riding the train, or sitting in a cafe.

In the end, the best journal is the one you write! Yes, to write, to express, to create, to pontificate, to expel the demons that plague us, to cultivate gratitude, and finally to be just a little bit better in the end.

Whichever method you choose, my best suggestion is simply to choose the one you will do ;)