Hello October and goodbye September! September was abnormal in a good way. First, there was one week of hosting our relatives who visited us from Germany and the USA. Then another week of travelling to Vancouver Island, meeting friends, and sightseeing. The rest of September was about catching up, enjoying local events, and chipping away at home projects. Let me share my highlights and I invite you to tell me yours.
September 2019
Arts
I revisited some of my favourite outdoor public artworks while showing my relatives around Toronto. I also saw amazing Canadian Native artworks on Vancouver Island. Since September was full of fun times with our extended family, I chose to feature the Immigrant Family bronze sculpture by Tom Otterness in this post.
Blogging
I wrote four blog posts to wrap up August and to share some of my fun experiences in Toronto and Kingston. Just before I traveled to Vancouver Island, I received a message from Bree (3sistersabroad) who nominated my blog for the Leibster Award and the Sunshine Blogger Award. Thank you, Bree, for the nominations.
While on Vancouver Island, I met up with four blogger friends in Victoria and Parksville: Donna (Retirement Reflections), Sue (Sizzling towards Sixty and Beyond), Jude (Dr Sock Writes Here), and Ann (TheUnretired.life).
Beautiful smiles, stimulating conversations, good food, fun outdoor boardwalk, a tour of Qualicum Beach and Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, and more. Thanks, Donna, Sue, Jude, Ann, Richard (Donna’s husband) and Mike (Sue’s husband) for a wonderful weekend!
Books
I read just three books due to being “on the go” half of the month:
- The Life Lucy Knew by Karma Brown
- The Favourite Game by Leonard Cohen
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
Concert
I attended one wonderful concert titled Beginnings and performed by the Gryphon Trio (violin, cello, and piano). I cancelled a few concerts to spend more time with my relatives.
Family
Since it was my relatives’ first time to Toronto, at their request, the week was full with visits to the main attractions in Toronto. The weather was good so we had BBQs a few times and took them to a winery in the Niagara region and the mighty Niagara Falls as well.
Friendship
My friends and I did our catch-ups while we attended the Toronto Dragon Festival and the 35th annual Veg Food Festival. Who can resist a festival that says “Make Friends. Eat Food.”? It’s North America’s largest plant-based food festival with over 160 vendors and full programs for three consecutive days.
When I was in Victoria, I met up with a former colleague for lunch at the Flying Otter Grill restaurant. It was great to catch up with her while enjoying local fish and chips right by the waterfront.
Health
When I was at home, I completed my meditation and walk every day. Also got in three swimming sessions, four yoga classes, and ten strengthening workouts in the gym.
When I traveled to Vancouver Island, I was able to keep up my fitness routine except swimming. In Victoria, for example, Beacon Hill Park is a beautiful place for walking. I actually walked more every day when I was out sightseeing. For strengthening exercises, I used my resistance band and my body weight. For meditation and yoga, I practiced in the quiet space where I stayed.
Learning
I continued my daily French and Spanish lessons on Duolingo. I learned about the new-to-me artists, book authors, and their work. I learned new things from the four blogger friends and the international travelers I met on my trip.
Movies
I watched only one movie (Rocketman). The annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was on from September 5 to 15. I took my relatives to King Street where the red carpet for film celebrities and celebration zone was located. It was great to feel the energy and the buzz in the city from the festival attendees.
Travel
I travelled to Vancouver Island on Canada’s West Coast, about five hours by plane from Toronto. My itinerary included Victoria, Parksville, and Tofino. It was a wonderful trip. More details with photos to follow 🙂
Overall
September was full of fun activities and movements. I look forward to October when autumn colours are at their peak and we celebrate our Thanksgiving on October 12-14th long weekend.
How was your September? What good things happened? I’d love to hear your comments.
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Natalie the Explorer 
You sure can pack a lot of life into 30 days 🙂
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And we have 31 days in October, yippee 🙂
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Hi, Natalie – I wholeheartedly agree with Joanne — you sure know how to pack a lot of life into just thirty days. I am honoured to have been part of three of those days! 😀
Wishing you an Outstanding October! #MLSTL
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Thank you very much, Donna, for your time when I was in Victoria and Parksville and your warm wish for October. I just came across this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. Her words sum up how I try to live my days:“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Wishing you an Outstanding October, too!
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You had a wonderful September. Thanks for sharing it. #MLSTL
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Thank you, Patrick, for your comment. I greatly appreciate it.
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What a successful, wonderfully fun month. You have the best adventures. So glad you were able to meet Sue and Donna! And they you.
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Sue and Donna are lovely. September was an active and fun-filled month. Now on to October 🙂
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Hi Natalie, I loved that you managed to catch up with some blogging buddies – and now you’ve met Sue from across the world (isn’t she great?). Your month sounds like it was full of good things and lots of balance – which is the perfect combination.
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
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I’m glad to meet four blogging buddies in September. Everyone is caring, friendly, and fun to be with. Donna wrote about the importance of reaching out and I agreed with her. Thank you, Leanne, for hosting. Have a beautiful week!
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Love a wrap up post and this one especially as you got together with bloggers in real life. That is awesome.
Thank you for linking up for #LifeThisWeek. Next week’s optional prompt is 40/51 Share Your Snaps #8. 7/10/19. Do hope you join in too. Denyse.
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I’m glad I reached out to meet four blogging buddies IRL. All four are caring, friendly, and fun to be with. Thank you, Denyse, for hosting. Look forward to next week’s link-up.
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It was so good to see you meet up with ‘our’ Sue during your very busy month! Did you enjoy the movie Rocketman? #mlstl
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Hi Debbie: It was great to meet Sue IRL. I enjoyed the movie Rocketman. It gave me a glimpse into Elton John’s childhood and how he became famous.
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Wow, Natalie! You had another busy month. How fun to have relatives visit and meet up with friends. I’m so glad you finally got to meet some of the awesome bloggers you follow as well. I’ve only met up with Jude and Donna in the past. Amazing times. And, as always, I’m baffled you can keep up with your exercising, language learning, and meditation schedule while traveling!
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Hi Liesbet – Great to hear from you and am glad you had a good time in PEI. All the bloggers I met on Vancouver Island are friendly and fun to be with. When I travel on my own, I have less responsibilities than when I’m at home so there is no excuse not to keep up with my meditation, exercise, and language lessons 🙂
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Hi Natalie,
You had a jam-packed month, full of fun, health, and friendship. I’ve heard about those Vancouver Island blogger meet-ups…hope to meet all of you one day!
#MLSTL
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Thank you, Nancy, for your visit and comment. Vancouver Island is a beautiful part of Canada. Meeting up with bloggy friends there makes it extra fun and special. I hope we all meet one day, too.
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Make Friends, Eat Food – I’d go to that! I was more than a tad envious at your bloggy meet up with our Sue. I would have loved to be at that table. Vancouver Island seems to be the place to be. Another fabulous sounding month – thanks for sharing it with us, congratulations on your nomination (you deserve it) & let’s see where October takes us.
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Vancouver Island is a beautiful part of Canada. Meeting Sue and other bloggers who live on the island was really fun. Thank you, Jo, for your comment about my blog nomination. Have a wonderful October!
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That sounds like a great September. I only have small memories of Vancouver Island – mostly about the cold haha.
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Weather plays a part when we travel. I was prepared for the weather and had a great time on Vancouver Island. Thank you, Vanessa, for stopping by.
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You always pack so much into your months – I love that tag line, ‘Make friends, Eat Food’ – great advice!
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Thank you, Deb, for your comment. I followed the “Make Friends, Eat Food” advice a few times in September 🙂
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Thanks for sharing.
Regards Bernhard
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Thank you, Bernhard, for stopping by.
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So many achievements Natalie, you do so much each month! You’re an example to us all.
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Thank you, Gail, for your visit and kind comment. Hope you have a wonderful October.
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I like how you say “abnormal in a good way” Natalie:) The Immigrant Family sculpture is amazing! Interesting how clean, metal lines can display emotion. Congratulations on the nominations, Natalie. Well-deserved:) I loved Leonard Cohen and know most of his songs. I have not read any of his books. I have said before how your amazing energy jumps off the page🙂
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Hi Erica – I admire sculptors who can create something that evokes emotions from hard material like bronze. Thank you for your comment about my blog nominations. I haven’t been paying attention to blog awards and maybe I should learn more about them. I’m grateful for having a steady level of energy. I think my regular exercises and outdoor walking have something to do with it, plus taking breaks every couple of hours 🙂
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You definitely have a formula that works, Natalie. You are inspirational. You could write a book on this topic:)
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You’re so kind, Erica. When I was talking to Donna, she told me I should write a book. Maybe in my “slow go” years, I’d do an e-book, just to try something new, and not expect anyone to read it 🙂
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Natalie, it was lots of fun meeting with you (and Donna and Ann again) when you were visiting Vancouver Island in September. Walking along the Parksville Community Beach was nice even on one of our rainy fall mornings. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip here.
Jude
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Hi Jude – I treasure the time we had in Parksville. I’d have loved more time with all three of you to ask questions and listen to everyone’s answers. Thank you for meeting with me.
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