Part of the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority (CCCA), Springwater Conservation Area is a lush and verdant spot to visit during the summer months. I have never visited the area during the spring, fall, or winter seasons, though I can imagine that the area offers up special wonders for each different time of year. My primary…
Author: marialegault
I spend my time hiking in nature and reading great novels.
Sea Jade by Phyllis A. Whitney
Whitney, Phyllis Ayame. (1964). Sea Jade. Fawcett Publications Inc.; Connecticut. As mentioned earlier this week, I have a weakness for gothic romances and often yearn for nothing more than to retreat to a quiet place to gorge myself on the world of mystery, suspense, and intrigue that they offer. Phyllis A. Whitney, dubbed “The Queen…
Stay Young and Get Muddy with the #30x30Challenge
As I have previously written on this blog, mud is a wonderful thing. It heralds the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures. It means that water is flowing into the ground, nourishing the plentiful plant and insect life beneath our feet. I love seeing mud for all of these reasons, but I also love the playful…
The Secret Woman by Victoria Holt
Holt, Victoria. (1970). The Secret Woman. William Collins Sons & Co Ltd.; Glasgow. It would be remiss of me not to cover the very great volume of books available in the genre of ‘gothic romance’, as I consider it to be one of the most relaxing forms of fiction. You always know what the plot…
May 1st – A Liminal Time Period
May marks a time of change for many people; I think that I do not stand alone when I say that it’s a transitional period. For Canadian academics, it marks the end of the busy winter study term and the beginning of the arguably more relaxed and cheerful summer term. People begin to look forward…
“A Man and His Cat are Soon Parted” – Phrases and Etymology are Fascinating
During the Easter weekend celebrations at my parent’s place, my partner was given a beer and instructed to walk the family cat so that she could enjoy the sunshine. It wasn’t long after this that the cat (an aging Siamese with a superiority complex) decided that she wanted to go back inside. And so it…
Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail – Cambridge, Ontario
For anyone who enjoys long, flat, relaxing hikes, this is the trail for you! The Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail is a total of 18 kilometers in length and offers excellent birding opportunities right along the Grand River. The trail is well-maintained for its length – thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Grand River…
Sphere by Michael Crichton
Crichton, Michael. (2011, 1987). Sphere. Ballantine Books; New York. My all-time favorite Michael Crichton novel is Timeline, a story about a group of history researchers who travel back in time. Sphere shares some of the same themes as Timeline – time travel is involved, along with a strong dash of psychological tension between team members….
An Addendum to “Hiking and Cycling Problems in Kitchener, Ontario”
Back in the very early days of this blog, I wrote an article outlining my concerns with the hiking and cycling infrastructure in Kitchener-Waterloo (read the full post here). My perspective did generate some negative feedback from my readership; the gist of my concerns being the unsafe conditions caused by multiple roadways dividing up the…
The Benefits of a Private Diary, from Productivity to Practice
I have long kept track of my lucid thoughts, feminine hysterics, and deepest fears in the form of a private diary. There is a little pile of random booklets and piles of paper stored away in a cardboard box somewhere in my childhood home which constitutes the first portion of this endeavour. More recently, a…
How I Graduated University Debt-Free (and you can, too)
I’m one of the lucky ones – after six years of university and an average yearly tuition of $7, 149 (total of $42, 894), I have graduated from my education without debt. In fact, I saved enough money to buy a car and put money into a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax-Free Savings…
The Death of the Road Trip?
Last week I had the opportunity to drive to London, Ontario, and visit the hiking trails, restaurants, and cultural spots in the area (respectively – Sifton Bog, Waldo’s on King, and the London Music Hall). I’ve been to London multiple times in the past to take in much of the same, with some variations, but the…
Maria Legault 