july's month in pics

i used to be so good about taking pictures but i am finding myself getting a little off track. alas. here are a few of this month...some may be from repeat posts!

 Mark and I redeemed our cooking class gift that we received from Wendy and David at Christmas. We made Jamaican patties, Jerk Chicken and Johnny Cakes and so much more. Lots of fun and delicious eats!

We took a drive to the greenhouses and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the canola is with the dark clouds in the sky. 

First green onion cake of the summer at the Taste of Edmonton. I later went on to have about three or four...;)

 We went with Mark's mom and they had the candied bacon on a stick. So fun.

 Met up with the girlies after the K-days parade. Casey had to leave cause of work but I hung out with Jeaninne and little P.

Cheese!

Something Mark and I have really been enjoying is exploring the outskirts of our neighborhood. Especially the river valley on this side. The bugs can't keep us away!

Happy Anniversary to us! Delicious meal!

 Is it love or exasperation? Or a bit of both? tee hee

 Berg Lake Trail on the bridge right before Whitehorn

 Beautiful flowers, wild and all.

 Hottie! At Tabbagon falls.

love

Beautiful Berg Lake

A wonderful hike that I had on my bucket list is complete. Mark did it last year before our wedding and I remember feeling a tinge of jealousy as I had really wanted to do it. Well it came for me this weekend!

I was lucky enough to have some time off so we packed the car for an undetermined destination. Mark checked online the night before and it looked like the majority of hikes that we wanted were booked up (Berg Lake included). We got to Mt Robson and on a whim decided to check out if there were any cancellations. There weren't but they had spots reserved for walk ons! Yippee!

Camped in Mt Robson one night. Had a hot dog roast, drank a bit and snacked on sweets, saw critters. Loveliness.

 

The next day we were off. Not before my hiking boots started to fall apart. Luckily they could make one more round, but I think they have found their end on this trip. Any who, we saw gorgeous lakes. A stop at McKinney for a washroom break and under the shelter at Whitehorn for coldmeat sandwhiches. The only thing that annoyed me was the massive amount of bugs that seemed to be only attracted to us. Horseflies, deer flies and mosquitoes. Yuck! 

 
Once we left Whitehorn we made the ascent up to Emperor falls. Probably the hardest but there was a beautiful reward up top. Reason? Did I mention that it was 28 degrees and it was hot hot. At the top was an unbelievable waterfall. No bugs. And an amazing cold spray. Mark and I would just stand as close as we could and get sprayed (drenched) when the wind hit the fall in the right way. It was by far the biggest highlight I have ever had on a hike. Everything for me in that moment was perfect.

Next we trekked up to our campsite named after the waterfall, Emperor falls. We had a nice site with a bench and table. Right by the lake. We ate, played cards and read.

The next morning was a short trek to Berg lake where we had the view of the multiple glaciers. Took a day hike to Robson pass, and tobbaggon falls. Had a bit of a nap and played multiple games of crib where there was an undeniable winner. But she is ever so gracious and doesn't like to gloat. He he. Talked with quite a few hikers in the heated shelter (lovely when it started to rain).

We were potentially going to stay another night but because we aren't really the day hiker kind of people and it was a little rainy we took the 22km trip down. Left at 8 and got to the bottom at 3. Not going to lie. The last three km I was not in a happy place and contemplated the possibility of getting helicoptered out. A little ridiculous I know but the feet and hips were feeling quite a powerful burn. Good thing I have a good partner to cheer me on and keep me happy. When we saw the end I may have tempted a foot race but clearly Mark was the winner as I had nothing.

 

Then home again. Not before a stop in Jasper for famosa pizza. Yum. 

Fun times. 

Love

Work week over

It started off as a pretty rough work week. Nothing really in particular. I just was a bit over emotional, *wink wink*. 

But it really perked up near the end of the week. I managed to do a couple of firsts in my work and was kind of proud of myself overall. Also was pleasantly surprised again at the excellent teamwork that occurs in the profession I chose. It's one of a kind and am eternally grateful to all the help I receive. The understanding and compassion, the listening to my concerns and lead me in the direction to find answers help me so much in gaining confidence and understanding of the workings of my environment.

And my ever understanding husband who listens and gives a twinkling laugh. Helping me not to take everything so seriously and perking me up. You are amazingly awesome!

Now the work week is over and we are off for a little mini vacation. Just driving and seeing where the car takes us!

Love

Happy anniversary to us!

I got spoiled.

Badly. 

I have a pretty cool husband. 

I go to work. 

And I come home to a wonderful surprise. 

He made me dinner. 

Not just any dinner. 

He recreated the dinner he made for me on one of our first dates. 

That is pretty spectacular. 

He also got me flowers. 

From the colours of our wedding. 

And similar styles of the wedding. 

And cupcakes may have been involved. 

One lucky wife. 

Happy one year my love. 

Thank you for another fabulous year of love and adventures. 

Positivity

Mark said something to me the other day that I truly appreciate and am doing my best to take to heart.  He said more over than not it is very easy for people to be negative, to complain and to see the bad. He admitted that he is a victim too. 

He thinks that is takes a great deal of skill but completely worthwhile to see the positivity in things. Lots of times people may get trapped in ruts with regards to their work and or school that they cannot get past those negative emotions to focus on the good that they are doing everyday. 

I like it when he says things like that to me. As I too can get stuck in the funk of life even when there are spectacular things around me. So I am going to practice a little positivity right now and tell you one positive aspect of my job, as I felt it today. 

I work shift work. And more often than not they are evening shifts. I don't mind evening shifts but I have noticed while mark works I don't see him for quite a few days. However while he is on summer holidays it had been fabulous. We get up. We hang out. We go do greenhouses, libraries, shopping or go to festivals when they are not crowded. When the sun is shining and the day is bright. I have to say, I find it very fantastic. 

Thanks for the positivity lesson hun!

Love

Familiness

I love family dinners.

It is one of my favorite things to do on a weekend evening.  

And it's a double bonus when you get to do it twice on a weekend. 

This weekend was one of my glorious weekends off. 

And not only did we have family dinner on Sunday evening. 

But we had a family lunch on Saturday afternoon. 

I love to be there. 

I love to listen to the going ons of everyone's days,

Weeks, months

I love to watch the interactions of people. 

Additional double bonus was seeing two special visitors.

All the way from Guelph. 

One that we have only seen once before. 

And my has he grown. 

He has become chatty. 

He likes to move around.  

He likes to play games. 

And he enjoys listening to his granny sing. 

Good times had these past two family dinners. 

Love

Musical madness

I love Anita.

There are many reasons that I do. 

One is that she enjoys musicals as much as me. 

She watched the movie les miserables 

and loved the story as much as I. 

She also agreed (and wanted to) see the play when it came to our city. 

She enjoyed getting dressed up like I. 

She knew fun facts that I didn't. 

She didn't get annoyed when I lip synced to the play. 

And she said it was one of her favourite musicals. 

And loved it as much as I. 

Not only that but she wants to follow the loveliness to the original city. 

And watch a lot of plays. 

Another adventure begins. 

What I did this week

We went from all this rain to all this hot. And I am loving it (and at times loving the air conditioning).

This week I managed to go for a long run and finally find the river valley. It took me about 6km to get there and I really only wanted to run 12 so I turned around to go back but I found it. One of my longer runs I may take the plunge and go farther. It was pretty nice. But you could feel all the heat off the vegetation. Yikes.

Mark has been busier than ever working on his landscaping and I have to say it is looking pretty fab. Very impressed. So much dirt is on our driveway right now and he mentioned the other day that roofers that are coming may need it.  Sooooo. The race is on. He he. 

We also had a chance to take some cooking lessons tonight. We got it as a Christmas gift from Mark's parents and redeemed it for a Caribbean cook off. Jerk chicken, kale, beef patties, and Johnny cakes. Anything but healthy and all delish. Loads of fun. 

Since we were in the downtown area we paid a visit to our old home and the parents. They weren't around when we got there initially so of course "we" had to say hi to the dog. And by "we" I mean Mark. And then "we" had to walk the dog. I think they were both very happy with the reunion. Had a little chat and some laughs with Wendy and David and back home again. 

Summers really are grand. 

Love