Temporary Life/Travel
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Our Vimy Ridge Connection
The first time I heard of The Battle of Vimy Ridge was at my in-laws’ dining table. The family was sitting about after a delightful meal, with chairs pushed back and arms resting on full stomachs, when my father-in-law pulled out a small, worn, pine box. He spilled its contents onto the table. Three bullet shells rolled past empty wine glasses, along the pale green tablecloth becoming lodged under the edges of crumb-littered dessert plates. “These are the bullets that were extracted from my father – your grandfather – when he was wounded during World War I. Once was at the battle of Vimy Ridge.” He went on to share…
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So Long North Shore Homestead
My car is packed to capacity with necessities and belongings that help us feel settled in unfamiliar surroundings. I have office supplies, books and writing materials. I have favourite things including my stir-fry pan, pictures of the kids, candles and a fleece throw. At the end of each “temporary life” season, I wonder how I wound up with so much stuff to take home. Here I am, feeling a little cramped in the driver’s seat, waiting for my windshield to defrost so that I can take one final look at the view of Lesser Slave Lake. It’s the view I’ve enjoyed all summer. As excited as I feel to drive…
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Wildflower Colour Explosion
After three seasons in Slave Lake with The Consulant, I was beginning to think I’d seen all there is to see around here. I used to drive with my camera in the passenger seat beside me but I don’t anymore. Last weekend, I was regretting that I’d left it at home on a shelf under the coffee table. As I took my regular walk along Devonshire Beach Road, I noticed this great burst of colour that popped out after all the rain we’ve had lately. Was this something new? Is it possible that I’ve seen this wildflower display before and missed it? Maybe it’s just that these blossoms didn’t…
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The Family That Skis Together
Like all families, mine is not always at our best. All it takes is for one of us to show up a little grumpy and we all suffer. It could be due to stress at work, lack of sleep or simply hunger. I’ve learned not to set myself up for disappointment by attaching expectations to big events – just in case. You know how that goes. But, get us in the right setting, doing the right activity, at the right time and we are golden. A couple of weeks ago we experienced one of those times. Attitudes and conditions lined up for the making of a most memorable weekend. It…
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Distracted By Beauty III (Always Look Up)
This summer, I spent a lot of time looking up. Before I left for Slave Lake, I’d seen a painting while out for lunch with two of my sisters and my niece. It was hanging there, on a large partition that divides two sections at Van Gogh Grill and Bar. When my niece arrived she remarked that she found it kind of weird because all except about 1/10th of the scene was sky. That’s what I liked about it. It really caught my eye. I think the painter probably thought the sky was particularly beautiful that day and was inspired. It also reminded me of the previous two seasons I’d…
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Around Here (Slave Lake Edition)
Around here – Fog rests on the lake I see each morning, a late sunrise brightens only the treetops and bleaches the waves of Lesser Slave Lake to a glow, the caw of a lone crow echoes, and the humming bird feeder swings idle. When the sun shines on the tree out front it turns shocking yellow. Our sun umbrella is wrapped up tight, yet we hope for enough warmth to play golf one more time. A can of bear deterrent sits beside the vitamin D on the table beside the window, a healthy, young coyote trots along the edge of the tree stand and carries straight on to…
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Don’t Worry, There’s Plenty of Love in Crete
(Sequel to Can We Go Back to Where We Fell in Love and Fall Again?) Before I travelled to Greece for the first time, I met a Greek-Canadian named Gideon who said something like, “Once you’ve been to Greece, it will haunt you.” He was right. Greece has been calling me back ever since I set foot on the island of Crete in 1978. Finally, this April, I returned to Crete with The Consultant, in anticipation of all we remembered from back then – spontaneous Greek dancing, shop owners beckoning from their doorways, older gents sitting outside a kafenío with their Greek coffee and kombolói beads, rhythmically dispelling their worries.…
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Distracted by Beauty II (It’s Everywhere)
Beauty is everywhere. Just look. I recently stopped everything to watch this sunrise. I am reminded to slow down. Stop if I must. And notice. Somewhere between this little bug under the butter cup and the sun rising below these clouds. There you are. Stop. Look. Do you see it? See the original Distracted by Beauty post here. My blogging friend, Jan, over at Travel With the Strings posted this recently while I was working on Distracted by Beauty II. A nice serendipitous occurrence.
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Princess, Our Fifteen French Favourites and Me
Princess and I had great plans to post on my blog while in France. Despite our best intentions, we found ourselves too distracted by the experience to focus on writing. It was our last day together before we jotted down some ideas and agreed on our highlights. Then I left her to continue her travels with friends while I made my way back to Canada on my own. So now, at last, here are our thoughts and memories. The Trip From Princess’s Perspective – The thought of travelling with my parents has always excited me. Growing up hearing their stories about adventures they have had all over the world…
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Making BIG Memories
Oh, how I wish I’d followed through on plans for this one dream – to take a big trip with Mom – just the two of us. Over the years, we took a few little ones here and there but I wanted something adventurous with special bonding time. We’d even talked about what that trip would be – a Caribbean cruise. Time went by. Life got in the way. We never made it happen. Since I became a mom, I’ve carried that regret with me. Now I’ve waited long enough. My kids are starting their adult lives and I’m carrying the dream forward. Over the next few years, one of…