audreycadyscanlan

Rocks. And more rocks.

On Friday morning at the crack of dawn, my husband dropped me off at the bridge at Swatara Gap (PA), the northernmost point (at that point) in my PA trek on the Appalachian Trail. I’ve hiked most of the AT in CT (save 6 miles) with my daughter Emma (a.k.a. “Fern”) and going southbound, I’veContinue reading “Rocks. And more rocks.”

not so fast…

About ten days ago, gearing up for my final “post surgical appointment” six months out, I developed a little bit of tenderness in my foot. Then I developed a bit of swelling. Then a lot of swelling. Hmmm. I’d been doing so well- back to walking in the morning at least three or four miles-Continue reading “not so fast…”

A Fellowship of Frailty

It would be great if I could promise that this is the final word on my recovery from surgery in November in these pages (it’s tiresome, isn’t it?) but since I’ve been told that the “full recovery” for my surgery of foot reconstruction can take up to a year, that’s not a promise that IContinue reading “A Fellowship of Frailty”

lessons in infirmity

Do you want to read a self-indulgent essay on how being consigned to three – four months in an orthopedic boot has changed my life? (PS, I’m only at the beginning of Week Three.) Do you really care about: (I care, but you shouldn’t.) Are you sick of my (I’m sick of it, and youContinue reading “lessons in infirmity”

sidelined

One week ago today, I had a procedure called an “adductoplasty.” In the world of podiatry, this procedure corrects a genetic deformity of the foot by re-positioning the bones of the first three metatarsals by “releasing” ligaments and inserting internal giant titanium staples around the bones in the mid-foot area to keep them from wandering.Continue reading “sidelined”

identity games

Vacation 2024. This year, like most years, I traveled on vacation with my husband to Maine to visit with family. Glenn and I saw children and grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins and a few old family friends. We went to take the seaside cure of inky waters and cerulean skies, to draw in theContinue reading “identity games”

Come away for a while

(Mark 6: 31a) I am lucky to have provision for an annual retreat in my letter of employment. For a few years now, I have used that time to go to the woods on backpacking excursions for nature is a good teacher and a quick-working antidote to the screens, conference rooms and phone calls thatContinue reading “Come away for a while”

a little bit feral

It’s that time of year. The kids next door to us went back to school today. Their photo on Facebook showed neatly pressed khakis, matching blue polo shirts and scrunchies, new lunch boxes, sneakers and backpacks. As they were headed out, full of promise and excitement for the new school year, I was still inContinue reading “a little bit feral”

Stuff for sale. Heartstrings included.

Since January- more than half a year ago- I’ve been working at it. I’ve been working with a new mindset, a new focus, a new direction. Unlike other New Year’s resolutions, this one has stuck, and more than halfway through the calendar year, I feel like I’ve embraced my new attitude of buying less, sifting andContinue reading “Stuff for sale. Heartstrings included.”

you are what you eat?

For a long time I’ve said that cooking is a spiritual practice for me. For a while- before it was cool and a real art form- I had a food blog (www.prayerkitchen.wordpress.com), now inactive. I’ve always loved sharing the different stories from my kitchen. Cooking is an important creative outlet for me. I love flavors fromContinue reading “you are what you eat?”