With age - or some would say wisdom - comes moderation of youthful expectations. After heading to bed with my kids at 10:30 pm on New Years' Eve, I woke up hoping to live another 365 days in 2019. And as long as my loved ones are happy and healthy, life is good. #modestresolutions #moderationofyouthfulexpetations #liveanother365days #happyandhealthy #lifeisgood #normawalton #normajeanwalton

I am far too old to be cold. Bring on the funny looking hats, the huge snugly scarves, the extra layers of clothing that add 40 pounds, the fur lined gloves, the mukluks... Warmth in winter permits happiness. Fashion will return in the spring. #fashionisinhibernation #dressforthecold #warmthinwinter #funnylookingwinterclothing #lookingcool #toooldtobecold #funnylookinghats #hugesnuglyscarves #extralayersofclothing #furlinedgloves #mukluks #warmthinwinterfashionwillreturnint

I work in Muskoka a few days a month. It always amazes me how many Muskokans absolutely love winter. They snowmobile and ice fish and snowshoe and really relish snow. I wish I could feel that way. I keep thinking maybe I just need to buy down filled coats and furry mittens and big hats and waterproof pants and fuzzy boots and embrace it because it lasts so bloody long. So far, I have failed miserably at the endeavour. I always look forward to spring. I love love love lon

I love to eat...pretty much any type of food. But my favourite is my mom's cooking. I am a mediocre cook at best. I am able to put staples on the table for my kids but nothing is exceptional. My mom is a great cook. Her mom was a great cook. My children are always excited when Nana sends home food she has made for them. "We are going to eat some real food..." my youngest son will exclaim. Typically whatever she makes is devoured in one sitting. Nothing is better than mo

Kraft Dinner has been around since 1937. I was coming home from work late and my children were at home hungry. The three older ones know how to cook a few items so they can survive if I am not around, but that night no one wanted any of those things. So I am driving down the 400 talking my 9 year old daughter through the step by step process of how to make and serve Kraft Dinner. She did a brilliant job; no one was burned; and her siblings were fed. It is no wonder Kraft D

Growing up I loved the Western Fair. The smells emanating from the food tent. The odours from the animals. The Cobra and The Matterhorn. All the people milling about. The Markham Fair was our destination this afternoon. We rode about twelve rides, played about six games, and watched a few horses trot around the track. The carnies were unusual. There were lots of people enjoying the afternoon. As evening approached families like ours started to leave and teenagers and

We solved the mystery. Growing up I loved Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys' mysteries. Zig Zag Escape Rooms was able to replicate that experience but in a group setting. The kids and I had never experienced an escape room before. We had a blast...and we found Sven's gold and the deed for his property. Definitely a good way to spend an hour with people you like. #zipzagescaperooms #huntsville #nancydrew #hardyboys #escaperoom #normawalton #normajeanwalton

I recently ran into a former tenant of mine in Muskoka. He was involved with a successful and glamourous business; knew all the glitterati; angered the wrong rich American; was charged with fraud; became estranged from his long time business partner; lost all his money; and went to jail for a few years. Those events would break a lot of people. I was impressed they didn't break him. In speaking with him, I learned that he has been able to maintain his long standing marriage

There is no better place to be than Lake Muskoka in the summer. Sunday night I captured the shimmer of the sun off the lake while the kids fished. Last night I captured the sunset while they again...fished. It is midway through the summer and so far it has been hot, beautiful and fun-filled. How can you beat that? #lakemuskoka #summersmidpoint #lakemuskokainthesummer #shimmerofthesunoffthelake #sunset #fishing #hotbeautifulandfunfilled #normawalton #normajeanwalton

The 5K Foamfest has become a filthy and fun family tradition. This is our third year running (and walking) it and it keeps getting better each year. My boys ran with their cousin and their friend. All of them got muddy, stinky, wet, filthy and foamy on the 22 obstacles along the 5K course. I ran (walked) with my eldest daughter and my girlfriend, who exclaimed halfway through that her body was covered in stinky smelly muddy foam. That is exactly what we paid for. Our two