This was the morning view from the cottage we rented on Bark Lake near Algonquin Park just over a week ago. It was so beautiful. Gorgeous surroundings and very private. Paul, our two daughters, Keara and Nicole and new puppy Loki, had a wonderful time and the week went by way too fast.

There was no internet or tv, so we had a lot of very valuable, and much needed family time. Paul travels a lot and Keara and Nicole now live in Toronto, so having that week together was wonderful! It was just like old times when the girls were little and we would rent a cottage during the summer.

It was fun having our new little doggie (not so little, almost 50 lbs at 5 mos) Loki with us too. He went in water for the first time - I was so proud when after two days he decided to venture further than his chest and started to dog paddle. LOL

Here is Loki waiting on Monday morning to greet Paul, Keara and a friend of her's Andrea (who came up for 2 days), on return from their morning fishing
expedition. Not much was caught that day, but a couple of days later Paul caught a couple big fish that we had for dinner that night....nothing better than
fresh fish!



I was concerned before we left that I would follow old patterns/habits and fall into my previous 'vacation-eating' mindset, however I surprised myself. I did eat some foods that are no longer part of my day to day diet (like fresh bakery honey buns), but for the first time in many years, I stayed mindful of what I was eating and how much. I didn't deprive myself, I enjoyed what I ate but I watched my portions and amazingly when I weighed in the Monday after we got back I was down a lb! To know that I had achieved that control while
away, was a pretty awesome feeling.

The chaos? Nothing major or earth-shattering, just a lot of little things that
seemed to crop up in multiples each day since we have been back. One on one, everything is manageable, however when bunched together repeatedly,
it becomes rather chaotic. Suffice it to say that I sure am glad that we had
that week away!