Thank You

Above my desk is this picture

You know what they say about a picture being worth a 1000 words – this time it’s true !

My heart was back in Brisvegas yesterday on Aspros’s deck as she carried on the High Tea tradition.

This annual event in memory of Ma Ma gathers many of my closest friends into one place, so while my head was here in Vancouver my heart was many miles across the sea. An enormous thank you to Aspros for a job well done, to Granny Margaret for the lovely rug and Ari for the beautiful earrings – and to all who were able to be there. I miss you all madly xxxxx

Weekend wandering

Last weekend saw us venture west to Squamish – a bustling town half way between us and Whistler.

On the way we stopped at the iconic Shannon falls, 3rd highest falls in British Columbia (apparently they have been much used in location shots for movies and TV advertisements- who knew?)

Now that the ice and snow have melted further upstream we caught them at their most ferocious.

Next stop Squamish -where the most iconic building in the town is also its biggest public washroom – really says a lot about Canadians !!

We visited the local farmers markets where tomatoes, rhubarb and capsicum were in plentiful supply – in a few weeks time berry season will be in full swing and I can’t wait…….. My friend K has promised some raspberry picking and a jam making session – stay tuned xx

School year coming to a close….

As the academic year draws to a close the ferals are enjoying the last few weeks of school based activities.

B and Hazza played rugby all day in a  final jamboree against other Vancovuer schools and performed well. There was much sighing as we packed boots away and threw out well chewed mouth guards. Here are a few final shots of them in action …….

 

 

 

 

Miss B also went on a field trip to a bird banding station. Wish they had invited parents as she got up close and personal with hummingbirds – holding them gently in her hand whilst their tiny hearts beat against her palm …… She is becoming quite the photographer and happily shared these shots with me for blog purposes.

 

Four weeks left of school and then a whole summer full of adventures – can’t wait !

All grown up ……

My heart skipped a beat this week – Miss B attended her first dance…..

There was just a dab of barely there makeup, some hair straightening, a new dress and boys !!!!!

Think I am coping with the transition from moody tweenie to young (fingers crossed) lady better than her Dad…….

In other news – here are the boys on their way to school the other morning – seems the sun is too bright for these snow dazzled ferals !!!!

Adventures on the high seas – well almost …….

Now that the snow has melted and the sun has finally made an appearance I am looking for a spring/summer sport.

My ever resourceful friend K came to the rescue and enticed me to Deep Cove with the promise of a Honeys donut if I behaved.

And here I am – decked out in the latest kayak fashion – not sure that I needed the extra padding in the chest area but safety first !!!!!

What a glorious day on the water. Deep Cove is one of my favourite places in Vancouver and now I have a new appreciation for its beauty.

We stayed out for two hours of paddling – can’t wait to go back.

Happy Mom’s Day

Mothers Day is always bittersweet for me ……… This year away from familiar faces I admit I struggled a little as the day approached. Ferals made it all better with a beautiful home cooked breakfast – eggs poached by H and fruit basket by B.

 

S made this poem for me at school (as you can see he is going through a greek phase inspired by his love of the Percy Jackson series)……… For those of you with 40+ eyes – it says

Majestic like a bird

U can cook really good pavlova

Mum stitches my clothes when they are ripped

Marvelous like Aphrodite

You are strong like Zeues and Posiden

We spent a lazy Sunday at the beach – it was warm enough for ‘flip flops’ and for dipping toes in at the waters edge. Meanwhile back at home this very busy mother – our red robin in resident spent the day feeding and protecting her own brood of 3….. think I had the better day ! A belated Happy Mothers Day to all amazing mothers out there xxxx

Lazy Monday

After a frantic weekend of rugby wrap ups and trophy presentations – where S and his friend M ended up in the front seat of a police car ……..(it’s ok policeman was one of the Dads and S was the only one with enough front to ask ” can I have a go in the front seat?”) …….I was looking forward to a quiet Monday.

Spent the day hanging out with one of my favourite people……. It took a long time before Miss E would even smile at me or make eye contact but now we are firm friends. We spend lots of time in coffee shops and collecting sea glass and today with her Mum away we baked, painted and played. Seems I have a thing for short girls who like to cook and shop, now if I could just get her to drink gin and tonic with me !!!!!

My kind of book club

Since arriving in these distant parts I have been fortunate enough to be invited to join two book clubs.

One reminds of the one I left at home – lots of laughing, drinking, discussing (the shortcomings of spouses being the main topic) and a little bit of reading. The other takes their literature a little more seriously ………..

On Friday the serious club met. The book this month – ‘Mistress of Nothing’ – not a heavy read but it inspired the lady who picked it to arrange a cooking lesson based around the Egyptian food featured within the pages.

Here is a sample of what we cooked

• Warak Einab
• Tabouli Chicken Casserole
• Tahini sauce
• Hummus
• Rose Water cordial
• Egyptian Orange Cake

 

 

Now that is my idea of book club !!!!!!!!!

More of my stroll through East Vancouver

 

During my walk along Main St I found some great hidden away spots – like this gorgeous community garden tucked into the corner of a park (still getting used to how green everything is here)

and a few doors down from the Spool of Thread  I found Collage Collage - a dynamic children’s art space that also has a small gallery of limited edition prints by local artists …….. fell in love with this one

And for those wondering about my yardage purchases yesterday – here is a glimpse of what I purchased …….. completed projects to follow soon.

 

May …….

May has begun with warmer longer light filled days.

Knees and pale legs have appeared after a long hibernation in long pants.

It is almost warm enough for an after school ice cream treat and a new pair of ‘shades’.

 

This weeks Tuesday Adventure took me across the bridge to Main St in East Vancouver where I discovered the very lovely and inspiring  Spool of Thread (the Vancouver sewing lounge) – purchased some gorgeous yards of material and took these photos of their great interior.

This one is special for Hulme xxxx