Category: Life

just the 2 of us

Posted on Posted in food, Kids, Life, P.E.I

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Sosi and Paul have been crazy about biking the Confederation Trail (or the Trail, as we call it) this summer. He usually takes her after supper to give me some time to myself.

She is unstoppable, and usually returns bragging of fox sightings, of how beautiful golden time (golden hour) is and of biking all the way to the airport!

The other night we headed out just the two of us for the first time.  I couldn’t believe how peaceful and beautiful it was… and how close it is to where we live! I haven’t biked much since we moved here, and I’m realizing how much I miss it. I used to boot all over Vancouver with Sosi on the back of my bike. It’s quite something now to look over beside me and see her little smiling face.

We didn’t see any foxes, but we did spot some bushes full of gigantic rosehips and stopped to pick them. Our mother daughter adventured continued on the next day when we decided to make jam from them. We used the recipe for Rose hip Jam from “Apples for Jam“. I didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out pretty good.

I love when Sosi and I have alone time like this together. Such wonderful and unexpected things always come out of it.

where did summer go?

Posted on Posted in Kids, Life1 Comment

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I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that my little girl is starting school in little more than a week. She’s growing up so fast… it’s breaking my heart. She’s even started not wanting to hug me as much anymore,

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thank goodness I have this little one who I can hug as much as my heart desires.

off island adventures

Posted on Posted in Life

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Usually when we take a trip to Halifax it’s pretty much centered around eating at places we can’t eat here and shopping for things that we can’t get here. This time we decided to try and actually see some of the sights. I came back without any cute new clothes but we did see some lovely things and had some much needed family fun time.

a week with norete

Posted on Posted in Life3 Comments

She hasn’t even been here a week and look at all she has done. The woman is a force of nature.

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She has cooked,

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and baked,

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(she even arrived with a box of freshly picked  B.C cherries from their tree)

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she has sewn matching princess dresses (with some help),

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purchased a new addtion to our family (Bello, the fish),

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and she’s gone and sewn me this completely amazing skirt (that I have been dreaming of sewing for soo long… but never had the time… or brain power to tackle, DW I still have your pattern btw, heh heh…) .

*The skirt is designed by Martha at UN , from the winter 2008 issue of Stitch. *

Everyone should have a mother-in-law like this.

papa’s pasta

Posted on Posted in food, Life, P.E.I1 Comment

chantrelles

I blew my budget at the Farmer’s market this week buying chanterelle mushrooms. Whenever I see chanterelles I think of my sister-in-law’s father. Every summer he would go into the woods to his top secret location (man, I wish I had found out where) to pick chantrelles to sell to restuarants.

Papa, as we called him, made us feel so welcome when we moved here. Sosi instantly feel in love with him and was quickly adopted in with his real grandchildren. He cooked dinner every Sunday and carted it all over to Nancy’s (2 blocks over) for us all to eat, bringing the whole family together.

He passed away 2 summers ago, and is sorely missed. Last summer I stopped in my tracks when I saw chanterelles at our local market, I knew I had to buy them… and our little tradition was born. I think Papa would approve.

These beautiful little mushrooms are insanely delicious. All I do is sauté them in some olive oil and garlic, add some heavy cream and parmesan then toss with pasta.

enjoying…

Posted on Posted in Barnfaces, food, Kids, Life, P.E.I1 Comment

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Having 3 generations together,

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a trip to one of my favourite places on the island for an afternoon tea.. just me and my mom,

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barns right on main street,

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strawberry tarts,

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moments like these.

pad thai and lobster anyone?

Posted on Posted in food, Life, P.E.I2 Comments

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I was asked a few weeks ago to contribute some inspirational table setting pictures to the Cafe Mom site. This one was taken the day before the deadline with a babe in my arms and much surrounding craziness.  I need to get back to photographing meals, I love these photos.

sunbeams and haircuts

Posted on Posted in Kids, Life1 Comment

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Sosi is very attached to her  hair, it is long and on most days very tangled. I love it long, but hate the daily battles for combing, hair clips and washing. I’ve been trying to gently persuade her to get a little trim for ages, with no luck.

Then I had a lightbulb go off, why not make it an offer she can’t refuse? Double haircuts with her favourite little buddy by one of her favourites of all my friends (who is conveniently obsessed with hair… she used to come and wash and blow dry my hair when I broke my arm). Bingo … one very sucessful hair cut, and 2 very happy girls.

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bye pop

Posted on Posted in Life, P.E.I2 Comments

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You know how even though you might love some guests, when they leave you feel kind of relieved to have your space back? Then there are others who when they leave, they leave behind a big empty space. That’s the kind of guest my dad is. He’s quiet and you hardly notice him when he’s here, but when he leaves we really miss him.

We don’t have long to be sad though, Nana arrives on Friday for a week! Busy times in these parts.

we got Pop!

Posted on Posted in Kids, Life, P.E.I1 Comment

One of the best things to come out of moving here to P.E.I, is that we get to see much more of my parents. My dad has made it a yearly tradition to drive down at the end of June with their neighbour who has summered on P.E.I for the last 40 years. This means we get to spend a good week with Pop all to ourselves (don’t have to share him with my mom!). This week is greatly looked forward to and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

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happy summer!

Posted on Posted in Life1 Comment

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Is there anything better than eating lunch is your swimsuit? I think not… especially that swimsuit.

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Looks like summer is finally here!  Sosi’s all done with school for the year. We’re still ironing some things out  in order for me to find some time to work (time seems to evaporate when she’s around), but  life just feels so much better when we’re all together.

Hope you are all having a happy start to summer too.

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marimekko hand-me-down

Posted on Posted in Kids, Life

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Last week a very special pacakge arrived in the mail. My dear friend Mia’s mom kindly sent us some of Mia’s childhood hats. There were 2 tams that will fit Ila perfectly next winter and this beautiful Marimekko sunhat. I don’t know who is more in love with it, me or Sosi. I can’t thank June enough for sharing these with us.

As if the hats weren’t enough, she also snuck in this adorable picture of Mia wearing the hat. I can’t stop looking at it! The hat, the expression, the costumes… This might be the best picture ever.

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weekend visit

Posted on Posted in Comics, Life, P.E.I3 Comments

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Two of the things I miss most about Vancouver were in Charlottetown this weekend. Our dear friends Josué and Anastasia came for a quick visit. I was totally unprepared for the amount of happiness I would feel seeing them again… it was a great weekend.

There have been ups and downs, but I know deep (deep) down moving to Charlottetown was the right decision for us. When people ask if I miss Vancouver or wish to move back, I always answer that I just wish I could convince all my friends to just move out here. I’m not a person with lots of friends… but the ones I have I hold close to my heart. It’s hard to live far from so many people I’m so crazy about.

I don’t think I convinced these two to move here, but I think they will definitely be back for more visits and there was even talk of house swaps. So we might be able to actually work out a visit back to Vancouver soonish. (!!)

P.S We also got to meet up for coffee with Eric Dyck who was here visiting from Moncton… even got featured in his comic!

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sweethearts

Posted on Posted in Comics, Life, small fancy

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This week’s Small Fancy theme is “sweethearts”. Mine was inspired by my recent walks with Sosi. We’ve been collecting leaves on our way to and from school. We cut out little hearts in them with our finger nails. She then leaves them on the door steps of our neighbours.

I think this week is my favourite match of Mia’s and my drawings.

sunshine sweater

Posted on Posted in crafting, Life2 Comments

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(photo taken by Sosi)

Summer is still being a bit elusive in these parts. So I’m very happy to have my “Swinging Stipes Cardigan” sweater finally finished.  Not only is it super warm and cozy (I don’t ever want to take it off) but it is impossible to be grumpy about freezing cold weather at the end of May while wearing this colour. I love it.

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(photo also taken by Sosi with my phone, during a super fun afternoon spent on the town with her this weekend.)

Oh, and french fries help with grumpiness too.