Hi All! A lot of good smiles this week, but I am going to concentrate on two. If you read my coffee post you may be able to guess, but I am going to go into more detail :) Sorry if this is longer than the usual smile post 🙂
The end of last week was very warm in New England, and hot for April. I was down on Cape Cod and took a couple of hours off work on Friday. What did I do with that time? I did my first paddle on the kayak for the year!
Funny, I have moved up in my weight routine in all exercises, but, wow, I could tell it has been six month since I was on a kayak! No, I wasn’t sore afterwards, but paddling against the tidal current when I started was a chore! But it was nice, and I soon hit the calmer water of Grand Cove.
The osprey are back and very active. I saw several and got a few photos, though none are good. That being said, I watched one osprey swoop the shore a few times. When it finally flew away I could see something in its talons. Looking at the photo and I see that it is carrying a bunch of large sticks for its nest – if you’ve seen an osprey nest, they are huge! Later I saw one with a fish.
Thinking fish, as I paddled, fish started jumping all over Grand Cove. I could see jumps approaching and looked into the water. For a moment I was surrounded by a large school of fish. It’s hard to see through the water, but they seemed around 2 feet (2/3 meter). Without think, I paddled and they scattered. I did see more jumping the rest of the time I was there and could hear the constant splash.
Near the end of my paddle I was trying to photograph a circling hawk. It had the bad habit of staying out of range ;) It was finally heading my way, but then I heard it crying, as it turned away. Why? I looked around an an eagle fly by! It didn’t pay the hawk any attention, but flew exactly over where the hawk had been when it was calling. Of course, this drove the hawk farther from me… I did get some photos of the eagle, but it fly almost right in front of the sun, so I’ll have to see if I can get any that aren’t all shadow.
It was a great time out on the water and I am so glad I was able to do it.
The second one is that after about six and half (6 1/2) months I got a haircut. I won’t go into detail, but my stylist was sick. I felt a little guilty making her work in September, so I waited until she was feeling better.
I will post three photos – the first is from March 31 and does a pretty good job of showing the length. The other two are from the day I received the haircut, giving before and after. My hair was much longer than it appeared in that before photo! Oh, a few more comments – the two weeks before photo was using my phones main camera, so it is “right way around”, ie, not mirrored. The other two are using the selfie camera so are mirror images. If you notice, my part changed sides. My stylist does this every time i go. I usually swap back, but have been changing with whatever she does. The after is back to normal.
Two weeks before:
Before:
After:
So those are my smiles for the week, my first kayak paddle of the year and gettign a hair cut after well over six months.
What made you smile?
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Come on, I’m sure you smiled at least once last week. Why don’t you share it? I hope you can join in!
Here is list of “rules” and guiding ideas. If you don’t have time to read it right now, just remember that this is an exercise to spread positivity. Don’t smile about the misfortune of others. Don’t smile in a way to excludes others. Make sure a 12 year old can read it.
To join in, write a post to share your smile and then leave a comment on this post with a link to your smile. Or, if you prefer, do a pingback to this post (pingback = have a link from your post to this one) (Note – pingbacks have been very inconsistent – please leave a comment :) ). You can post any time until next Sunday evening (to be simple, I will say midnight GMT, which is 7 PM Sunday for me). Note – I am no longer compiling the smiles into a weekly post as I used to – Sorry, I do not have time.
Trent's World (the Blog) 
Sounds like idyllic weather for the weekend! How lovely that you were able to get on the water again! I think no matter how much we train up, when we are matched with nature, we are apt to ache a little 😆
Have a good week ahead! at work and on the Cape.
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Thanks, it was nice to be able to get out. It’s a little cooler now and raining today, but good weather will arrive :) Luckily I wasn’t achy after paddling, but it took a lot more effort than expected! No matter how much we exercise a muscle, it isn’t the same as actually doing the activity. And, as you say, Mother Nature is always stronger…
Have a great week!
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What lovely smiles, Trent! Wow! You had all the bird drama during your kayak excursion. Really amazing! And your haircut looks good. Although, you don’t look bad with long hair either.
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Cape Cod is great place to see birds, and I am never disappointed, but I will admit that this was a great first paddle made better by all of the birds.
Thanks re: before and after the haircut :)
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Thanks for sharing this idea. I would love to Kayak years ago..but you love Kayaking. Anita
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I really love kayaking :) I get out on the water as much as possible. Thanks.
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I like your haircut, Trent :)
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Thanks!
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The haircut came out great and nice of you to give your hairstylist time – and winter is not a bad time to have long hair!
The time in the water sounds like so much fun!
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Thanks, Yvette. Yes, longer hair in the winter is better than in the summer – easier to manage.
Kayaking was a great time :)
Hope you have a wonderful week.
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It is off a to a nice and sunny start
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Rainy here, but still good…
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Reading your posts make me smile because your life is very different to mine.
Ruby made me smile but she is gone but I still feel her presence…. That makes me smile 🌞🌞
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Thanks, Willow :) I think my life is different than most people’s lives…
I’m very sorry about Ruby. My dogs (and cats) make me smile and it is very difficult when we lose them :( I hope you find more to smile about as you adjust to Ruby’s physical absence.
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Thank you Trent I am getting there 💜💜
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It must have been wonderful to get out in your kayak, Trent. It sounds like a beautiful day among the wildlife, though I’ll bet you could feel it in your arms, shoulders, and back. And nice haircut! :-D
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It was great to get out. Luckily no soreness, but I could feel it when I was paddling!
Thanks!
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Great post! Your description of kayaking and seeing the osprey and eagle was very vivid. I especially loved the photos of your haircut transformation. My question is, have you had any other outdoor adventures planned for this season?
Yoy E.
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Thanks! I do spend a lot of time outside all year. I will most likely be on the kayak at least 20 or 30 times before I put it away in November. I also do a lot of hiking and such, so, yep, plenty more outdoor adventures.
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