The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

A Perfect Fall Day at Peggy’s Cove: Blogger Meet-Up Magic in Nova Scotia

Fall at Peggy’s Cove: breathtaking views, blogger adventures, and ocean sparkle. A perfect Maritime day.

Blogging, Friendship, Nova Scotia, Travel
Oct, 14, 2025
28 Comments

Cool Bloggers Walking Club: Week 1 Recap

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to fellow Canadians and anyone else celebrating today. Before I head to the airport to drop off SHU and Kae (*sob* — their visit was waaaaaaay too short), it’s time to…

Blogging, Cool Bloggers Walking Club, Exercise, Friendship, Habits
Oct, 13, 2025
39 Comments

A Fall Hike at Cape Split, Nova Scotia: Blogger Adventures, Beautiful Views + Cozy Vibes

I don’t usually post on the weekends, but I woke up in the middle of the night and could not get back to sleep, so I’m choosing to take that as a sign there…

Blogging, Friendship, Nova Scotia, Travel
Oct, 12, 2025
20 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 10 October

The first few days of this week just felt…weird. There have already been various school holidays, and schedules seem to be constantly in flux for one reason or another. John left on Monday for…

Reader Question: Is That Thrift Store Item Actually a Good Deal?

I recently got an email from Theresa in Texas (hi, Theresa!) who asked a great question:

“Please consider opining on how to determine if a price at a thrift store is a good deal. While…

Life
Oct, 09, 2025
27 Comments

Handwriting: Fading Art or Skill Worth Saving?

A few weeks ago I was reading a post from Daria and couldn’t help but notice that her daughter (Grade 2) has far neater printing than my son (Grade 5).

Indy went through the exact…