Pussywillow Postcard

Dear Sally, We interrupt this program for an official announcement: the pussywillows are out! Just like last year, the first personal sightings were in Vanderhoof. J & I stopped to see swans on the river and stretch out legs. We ended up discovering the pussy willows too. We cut a branch to bring home to her mom and…

sanctuary

sanc·tu·ar·y ˈsaNGk(t)SHəˌwerē/ noun 1. a place of refuge or safety. refuge, haven, harbour, oasis, shelter, retreat, hideaway 2. a nature reserve reserve, park, reserrvation, preserve.  “a bird sanctuary” 3.  a holy place; a temple or church. the inmost recess or holiest part of a temple or church. the part of  a church containing the high altar. I…

Feesh!

I’m writing this high on happiness and short on time. I need to fall asleep to be awake again in 5.5 hours. But I need to tell you – I went fishing. Not just off the dock. Real fishing. In a boat. Where all we did was fish. It was fun. Before I left, I…

Throw-Back Thursday or Fish Lake Friday?

Due to a Generator Failure, I was unable to post this on Thursday. Sooo we’ll just call it a “Flashback Friday” this time.   The smell of forest fires hangs in the air here, adding a  flavour of summers at home to our day here. It’s hot. And muggy. So, so muggy. The air is grey…

How the Days Begin

Mornings come early when you’re the cook. Summer solstice was yesterday and I still managed to greet each bookending sunrise in person. Some days I wake up even while the proverbial island ‘streetlight’ is still on. (The only light run by a darkness sensor.)    

A Day Off: Pulling a Roosevelt

  Back again? Still interested in the Day of Solo Exploration? Are you ready to enter with me into the dark woods of shifty shadows and skeletal trees, invisible strings, and deep padded moss the colour of jealousy ogre snot avacado-limes? I’ll warn you: There’s even an almost-surprise almost-attack by a creature of great size…

A Day Off: The Prelude

Big news: Recently, I had a day off! But I have to pause and say I wanted to start with the words “Friday, I had a day off.” Then I realized I have no idea if it was Friday or not because I hardly have a clue what day of the week today is, let…

A Charles Shultz Camping Trip: Part Two

Happiness is a smile in the morning. Happiness is the feeling of clean teeth. Happiness is chocolate milk on sale. Happiness is making memories. Happiness is sharing a swing set. Happiness is a day at the lake. Happiness is your best friend beside you. Happiness is your feet on the dash. Happiness is coming home.

A Charles Shultz Camping Trip

Happiness is… a camping trip. …a good pair of jeans. … a tent in the woods. …the smell of campfire smoke. …something warm when you’re cold. …reading out loud. Happiness is matching sleeping bags. Or maybe a good snuggle buddy. Happiness is gumboots and plaid. Happiness will be here tomorrow too. Come back for Part II.

Winter Camping

I went camping the other weekend. It kind of broke me. No, the -25degree weather didn’t shatter my bones or freeze my veins solid. It was something else. Something I’ve been missing…but let me explain.  My friend Kate came into work at 4:00pm on Friday afternoon. “Do you want to go on an adventure?” she asked….

Walkin’ at RockRidge

I like to go for walks at my parents’ place. Can you tell why? This place was made for exploring. There are always things to see. And there is good company to see them with! What a dog, that BellaBeast. I notice things, on my walks. Up North the trees are not so red, nor…

Photo Friday, on Mudnday.

Anybody else missing Photo Friday? I’ll bet you didn’t even notice it stopped ; ) Welcome to one of the things I did this summer when I wasn’t dedicating my time to Photo Fridays – Adventures in Mud! I thought it a fitting photo to share in lieu of our recent mud-hole adventure. This is…