Getting Up The Steep Bits

It's Friday, June 3rd and I'm still lying in bed. This past few weeks/months have been so busy and just plain hectic its nice to have nothing on my schedule for today. (I'm sure by the end of my writing this blog I'll have filled my day with chores and errands.... drop off that invoice, stop in at Chapters, go swimming, pick up light for the Kobo, pick up the clothes on the floor, pack away winter clothes, work on exam... yes the exam that has dust on it from not being looked at for the past two months, begin packing for trip to the coast next week, groceries, bake muffins (healthy zero fat!), clean junk out of car... and on and on it rolls!)

Yesterday looked like today when I woke up so I decided to venture out on a long walk. Rather than driving I decided to walk to all my destinations and enjoy the warm June sunshine, the lilacs and apple blossoms. My sweet walk started off just fine but about 10 minutes into the walk I was traumatized. The street I was walking on is a 4 lane street with a meridian of grass in between the different traffic directions. There was a mother duck and her 7 or 8 little furry ducklings. The mother was able to hop up on the meridian but the little ones couldn't. No matter how hard they tried to jump up they couldn't get up. Of course the traffic was flying by so myself and another woman blocked the lane of traffic while we tried to get the ducklings up the meridian. One made it up and stuck to the mom who wandered over the meridian and continued across the road leaving the rest of her babies stuck on the other side. They were frantic, chirping and running about. They were in absolute panic that their mom wasn't with them.

(This is Google image but the ducks looked just like this.)

With the traffic stopped on both sides of the road and more people trying to help we did our best but unfortunately some didn't make it. Right in front of me as I reached out to save it one little duckling fell through the street drain grate. It just fell right through the slates as I reached out and couldn't catch him. I'm so, so sorry little duck. Then another did manage to make it up and over the meridian but even though it was obvious something was happening on the road with all the people out of their cars and traffic stopped there was one vehicle that didn't slow down and took the life of another little duck. We managed to get the rest to their mom but not all of them.

After all the people got back into their cars and on their bicycles and I was alone on the street I had a complete meltdown. I couldn't stop crying. Was it for the ducks or was it because so much emotion has been building over the past few weeks that losing the duck through the drain was the instigator to bring the emotion forward. I think yes to both. I was heartbroken to not be able to save all the ducks but life has been so busy that I haven't given myself time to process very much at all.

Usually when I walk I'm listening to something either music or audiobooks but yesterday I walked in silence. I realized after my meltdown over the ducks that I'm craving quiet and order. Lately, I've been very aware of how unorganized I am and I'm a girl who prefers straight lines with everything in its place. I'm not living that at all and I know it sounds frivolous and girly but my indicator of this massive unorganization hit me last weekend when I realized I'd misplaced three tubes of lipgloss. Then I couldn't find my health care card and then I was snapping at everyone one I came in contact with.

Today in my quiet and unplanned day I'm going to slowly ease my belongings into their proper place so I will know where they are up on retrieval. I'll probably also accomplish the list I wrote above as well. It's a rare rainy day today so I give myself permission to move slowly and mindfully.

Have a fabulous day and in honour of the little ducklings that had a difficult time getting up the steep part of the curb yesterday let's reach out to someone we know is having a hard time getting up the steep part in their life right now. All we ever need is a hand to bump us up and onward. 

Here is Alison's muffin recipe I'm making today!

2 cups All Bran
3/4 cup plain fat yogurt
2/3 cup dry milk powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 eggs
1 cup crushed pineapple or 2 small mashed bananas or 1/3 cup o.j. concentrate or 1 cup applesauce
3 pkgs sweetner (although I would use Agave instead of something chemical or Stevia or nothing if you use vanilla yogurt)

Mix all ingreds together well. Bake in muffin tins with paper liners (you can also use a non-stick spray rather than paper liners) at 350 for 20 -25mins.


 PS ~ To date my little blog has reached over 35 countries. Thank you for reading and spreading my words around the globe! Feel free to email me at laaradelain@yahoo.ca  I'd love to hear from you!