Aging on Vancouver Island

 As I near my 58th birthday, my body has been notifying me that I am aging. I had been having some painful issues with fibromyalgia, muscle and tendon pain, and joint pain, in my hips and legs. My left hip is definitely the trouble maker this fall as the seasons changed, It was the catalyst for it to all come together in this trifecta of pain. The fibromyalgia has settled for now, but I still have to work on the muscle and tendon pain in my left leg mostly, making it difficult to sit for any length of time on any surface. Then my hip was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis and there is damage on the top of the hip joint, likely in both hips, but the left is definitely the asshole this fall. 

So having to deal with this for the past couple of months has been disappointing as I was unable to go kayaking with my daughter, climb just about anything - steps are hell right now. We can go for flat land walks with not too much pain. I can walk the length of Ogden Point breakwater and back without issue. It hasn't impacted my sea glass hunting too much as I have a comfy cushion to sit on and dig and I am able to sit cross legged or with the left one over the right and it relieves that pressure. I just can't do those moves at work in an office chair without falling out of my chair, ha ha. 

I am following my daughter's passion for bird watching as much as I can. We go looking for shore birds most weekends and the migratory birds are starting to arrive from the north to winter here. We are heading out later this afternoon to do some bird watching. She is volunteering at a bird related event for the first half of the day, 

Backyard bird watching has also been picking up this week for the winter ahead. Because we don't see cold temperatures for very long, if at all, many birds have chosen to winter here on south Vancouver Island which makes for great winter birdwatching!

Gardening is another passion we share. She has a lovely vegetable and flower garden in a community garden near her house, and her mini patio succulents that do so well on that hot concrete mountain in the summer. I have a small patio as well and my fall garden still has lots of colour, and the birds are busy in the yard today, visiting my bird bath, seed tray or suet cake, or coming to sit right on the chair next to me like this little guy!

I am 35 days away from my trip to Costa Rica. I have never been there and am looking forward to visiting a new country with a long time friend. I expect to find lots of birds I have not seen before! And if I can be lucky enough to see one of those giant sea turtles, well that would make my trip!

The sea glass has been piling up here with so many jars full now, I have started to sort further so everything is ready for artmaking this fall. There will be plenty to choose from, that's for sure!

So many treasures. The dark glass is what is known as pirate glass, which is thick dark glass once used to transport alcohol safely on ships without refrigeration, and it was stolen often, hence the name pirate glass. 

I am looking forward to what the fall and winter storms will churn up for us to find on our beachcombing adventures.