Lost in Ontario: A Week of Remote Work in the Country
This past week, Rikki and I spent the week working remotely from his mother and stepfather’s home and it was nothing short of amazing. We watched the animals while the parents ventured out West for a wedding and traded in our busy city lives for a more peaceful and relaxing way of living. City commutes were replaced by long drives in the country overlooking endless corn fields. Our normal (somewhat rushed) morning routine was replaced with sitting on the front porch sipping coffee and overlooking the front lawn where the morning dew covered the fresh green grass like a blanket. The sound of horses trotting from the nearby Mennonites reminded me that while we all work, there’s something to be said about a simpler way of living. It was pure bliss and just what I needed after a few busy months.
The cool morning air was a nice break from the hot and muggy summer weather we’ve been experiencing in the city. We decided to get a weekly gym membership as a way of continuing to keep healthy and our mental states in check. Mornings started with coffee, letting the dogs out and a nice country drive to the nearby gym in town.
After a good workout, we did the morning chores which involved feeding the chickens, ducks and goats. Something about this was humbling and it felt nice being responsible for the livelihood of these animals.
We also collected fresh eggs every night, and had them for breakfast the next morning. It doesn’t get fresher than that!
We enjoyed a few dips in the pool on warmer days to cool off.
I thoroughly enjoyed frolicking through the fields with the dogs and goats in search of puffball mushrooms. Much to our dismay, we had no luck finding any edible mushrooms but the long walks in the bush were still very enjoyable.
One thing I love about this part of the country is all the little flower stands from the local Mennonites. For a mere 5 dollars, one can get a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers, that are perfect for brightening up anyone’s day. Rikki’s sister Jessi brought us a beautiful bouquet in the beginning of the week which was nice to have in the house throughout the week. On our last day, we picked up a bouquet from the Mennonites down the street to bring home. A little piece of the country to remind us that life is all about balance and hitting the pause button every now and then. I’ll be reminded of that every time I look at these flowers this upcoming week.
We spent some quality time with some of Rikki’s family and visited with his father and stepmom one night for dinner and spent a relaxing evening on the front porch chatting. We also spent some time with Rikki’s sister and our niece and nephew which was nice. I am reminded every time I am around children that there is a paternal side to me that naturally comes out, and I probably got that from my mother who always cared so well for the children. It’s times like this that I think maybe kids can be a possibility for Rikki and I in the future. It’s definitely not off the table. Also, how adorable are these cuties!?!?
It's been nearly half a year since I last wrote a blog post. I felt like I needed a break and life also got too busy with other commitments. It’s great to be back to document my journey and share it with you all. This past week was the perfect way to start fresh and head into September with a little more clarity and a reminder that we all deserve a break from the day-to-day hustle. I’ve got some exciting things to share as we head into the fall, and I hope you will continue to get lost with me.
Are you a country mouse or city mouse? Comment below!
