<![CDATA[Shana Matthews - Shana\'s Place]]>

<![CDATA[Shana Matthews - Shana\'s Place]]>Tue, 13 Aug 2024 06:50:49 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Fifty Six]]>Tue, 28 Jun 2022 12:59:31 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/fifty-six
On this, my 56th birthday, I remember talking to my aunt one time at her house as I was looking at one of her photos on the wall. In the photo she was very young and very beautiful and and I remember her commenting that now she felt very old and very removed from that photo. She was still very beautiful but just different.
That's the pattern of life: from young to old. Getting old is certainly better than the alternative. Wrinkles, grey hair and the aches of an tired body are inevitable, although we try to hold them off as long as possible.
My 56th birthday is a special milestone. I was a few days shy of my 13th birthday when my dad passed away at the age of 56. Back then, when people said that 56 was very young, I thought 'that's plenty old enough.' But I guess that's what kids think.
Fifty-six isn’t old. Because for me, right now, I'm barely getting started.
Life moves along. It has its ups and downs. I have laughed and cried. People have come and gone, friends have entered and departed. Relationships have started and been broken. I went to college, became an RN, moved to a different country and back, had a child, worked hard, wrote a book, became a Girl Guide leader, started a small business, all the while moving forward as best I can, trying to be the best person I can be. Living life.
Little did I know that day trips with my guy, vacations, concerts with my daughter, movies, birthday meals with family, hanging out with friends, and running from a skunk down Queen St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake with my best friend, wasn't just living life.
I was making memories.
And memories are the best things to have as I get older, wrinkles or not.
]]><![CDATA[The Turquoise Workshop]]>Sun, 07 Nov 2021 02:09:09 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/the-turquoise-workshopSo, I have been making and selling jewellery for a while now. I have launched my new website.
TheTurquoiseWorkshop.com
so if you want some cool jewellery, then check it out.

]]><![CDATA[1432 km]]>Mon, 16 Nov 2020 05:05:03 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/1432-kmSince I started keeping track of my biking, I have ridden 1432 km.
I finished the virtual Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Then I biked the Great Ocean Road in Australia, then the Alps to Ocean in New Zealand.
Now I am doing the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.
At the same time, I am walking the Ring of Kerry in Ireland.
The app is really good for keeping track of everything.
I will have to take a couple photos of my medals when I hang them up!
]]><![CDATA[151 km]]>Mon, 20 Jul 2020 03:43:44 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/151-kmSo, I have biked 151km in the 2 past weeks.
For my Virtual Challenge, this is where I would be in Spain if I was really biking it.
It looks like a lonely road.

]]><![CDATA[My Virtual Mission & The Conqueror Event Series]]>Sun, 05 Jul 2020 17:30:22 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/my-virtual-mission-the-conqueror-event-series

So, the last 10 years or so, I have wanted to do the Camino de Santiago. Not walking though. I would rather bike it.
Time, money and fitness level at the moment would prevent me from doing it but I saw The Conqueror Event Series and thought I would try the Camino virtually.
So, today I sign up.
I downloaded the apps and I am ready to start tomorrow.
If you are interested: it is HERE.
There are other Challenges: Hadrian's Wall, Inca Trail, English Channel, Alps to Ocean, Great Ocean Road, Grand Canyon, Length of the UK, Route 66, The Appalachian Trail.
It looks like I picked one of the longer ones!
I start in virtual Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.

]]><![CDATA[54]]>Sun, 05 Jul 2020 16:58:46 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/54June 28 was my 54th birthday. It was a good day. I got a wonderful card and video from my daughter.
My Guy bought me a bearded dragon. I have wanted one for a while now.

Xena the bearded dragon. #Xenathebeardeddragon

My Guy and I went to watch the sunset- which I always like to do.

It was a really nice birthday-even through this Pandemic.
Cheers to 54!

]]><![CDATA[TogetherWeCanDoIt Cheer4HealthWorkers]]>Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:10:31 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/togetherwecandoit-cheer4healthworkersThe RNAO (Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario) is launching a #TogetherWeCanDoIt campaign.👏 NOW, more than ever -- we MUST inject positive energy to lift up the front-lines workers, as well as keep all of us going with long hours and long worries! This is why, beginning Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) and every evening thereafter – we ask you to cheer on the millions of health providers, social service and other essential front-line workers in Ontario, Canada, and around the world tackling #COVID-19. Step out onto your porch, balcony or open a window and make some noise in honour of our heroes who are working on our behalf. You can bang some pots and pans, you can sing a song🎤🥁, you can applaud👏, and yes – you can honk. 🎼🚗🚕
Remember 7:30 p.m. (EDT) sharp, everyday, until the fight against COVID-19 is over!
GET READY TO PARTICIPATE. Use the hashtags #TogetherWeCanDoIt 👏 #Cheer4HealthWorkers and tag @RNAO when sharing or Tweeting how you and your community are cheering on our front-line providers!

]]><![CDATA[MUSIC]]>Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:02:20 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/music1582697Before all the shut downs, I went to Toronto to see a Chalk Circle concert. It was great!

]]><![CDATA[Crash Test Dummies]]>Mon, 10 Feb 2020 05:52:13 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/crash-test-dummies

I went to see Crash Test Dummies in January! This time, I went by self. Nothing like sitting enjoying the music!

]]><![CDATA[54-40]]>Mon, 20 Jan 2020 23:05:16 GMThttp://www.shanamatthews.com/shanas-place/54-40To continue the concerts from 2019, my daughter and I went to see 54-40 on January 10. It was great.
Plus it is always great to hang out with my daughter.
#motherdaughterbonding

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