1) Had a really good time during my weekend in Shuswap. Spent most of Saturday on White Lake, sitting on a barge. I'd swim in the lake, dry off on the barge while reading my book, and swim in the lake. The drive back was loooonnnggggg. Construction, plus rain = argh. And I was a sleeping passenger so I had it easy!
2) Dating. I've gone out with several guys as of late, but the only thing I have to say about any of my recent dates has been - "It's fine." Fine. And I don't mean, woohoo, he's fine, I mean, it didn't suck. They were all nice, easy to talk to, seem okay. But...... Something lacks!
3) I baked like crazy last weekend and froze most of it for the housewarming/tea party I plan to have in late September. And before you mock my tea party, most of the invitees will be family members and it's an afternoon thing. There will be the odd beer, but mostly Coke and cookies. And the whole point of this point is the following recipe, so amazing! It's on the back of the hershey mini kisses bag. And apparently it's warmer in my apt than I thought because I just got out the bag of chocolate and it's slightly mushy.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
* HERSHEY'S Mini Kisses
* 1/2 cup shortening or butter
* 3/4 cup creamy Peanut Butter
* 1/3 cup granulated sugar
* 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1 egg
* 3 tablespoons milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* Granulated sugar (for rolling at end)
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. 2. Cream together shortening, peanut butter in large bowl, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. 3. Shape dough into 3/4 inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet. 4. Bake 5-6 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 9 dozen cookies.
4) Going camping again this weekend. Probably the last trip of the year. Should probably get organized tonight, but I sense I won't.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Two in a row
1) I saw my first real skunk today. I tried to get a picture, but it ran away, and I do know enough to know not to chase anything that has the potential to stink that bad.
2) I mentioned I joined a new gym. Got in a couple of good workouts and did weights yesterday. Apparently overdid it as the muscles connecting my arms to my body HURT and so do my quads. Turns out I lift my arms a lot at work. A lot.
3) My grandma is so cool. I really mean that. I love hanging out with her. Tonight, my family had dinner with her and she told the following story (it's about 1942, England, and my great-grandfather was a policeman): On Saturdays, my little sister Gwen and I would go into town to attend the village dance. After the dance, our two soldier friends would walk us home and it was just walking. No funny business! In fact, I think they were married, but they liked to dance. One night as we were walking home, Gwen whispered to me, "Father is behind that tree!" I looked over and there he was! My Father, the bobby, was on duty and following us home! That night when I got home, I wrote in my diary that Spy Number 1 had followed us. The next day, my diary disappeared and it was never returned.
She laughed so much as she recalled that story. I love hearing stories about her growing up, working during the war, living in London during the Blitz, meeting my grandfather, moving to Canada....
4) Weekend!
2) I mentioned I joined a new gym. Got in a couple of good workouts and did weights yesterday. Apparently overdid it as the muscles connecting my arms to my body HURT and so do my quads. Turns out I lift my arms a lot at work. A lot.
3) My grandma is so cool. I really mean that. I love hanging out with her. Tonight, my family had dinner with her and she told the following story (it's about 1942, England, and my great-grandfather was a policeman): On Saturdays, my little sister Gwen and I would go into town to attend the village dance. After the dance, our two soldier friends would walk us home and it was just walking. No funny business! In fact, I think they were married, but they liked to dance. One night as we were walking home, Gwen whispered to me, "Father is behind that tree!" I looked over and there he was! My Father, the bobby, was on duty and following us home! That night when I got home, I wrote in my diary that Spy Number 1 had followed us. The next day, my diary disappeared and it was never returned.
She laughed so much as she recalled that story. I love hearing stories about her growing up, working during the war, living in London during the Blitz, meeting my grandfather, moving to Canada....
4) Weekend!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Happy Move-iversary!
Wow, it's been one year to the day that I moved to Vancouver. It doesn't feel like a year, it feels like forever. My ten year hiatus in Edmonton is kind of dream sequence really.
So was this a good decision? Yes, clearly. I like my job (most days anyway!), I love love love my apartment, I like being near my family (dinner with Grandma tomorrow), and it's been great picking up where I left off with my high school girls. Am I 100% happy? Of course not. A certain something (someone) is lacking from my life, but this was the same situation in Edmonton (I'm working on it though, perhaps there will be good posts in the near future. Lots of "learning experiences" though. Although this will most likely only be a revelation to me, turns out I'm not at all attracted to guys like me, by which I mean techno/science geeks. If at any time on a date, I think "wow, we have a lot in common", it pretty much seems to mean he's doomed.). Am I happier than I was in Edmonton? Yes. I have trees and mountains and frequent hugs.
Do I miss Edmonton? No. Except sometimes I dream of the mall. And I do miss certain people and certain things. Post workout Booster Juice with Erin and Kim (Oh hey, I joined a new gym, more like WHC. Open late and only 2 blocks from work, so no more excuses.) Chats over tea at Cargo and James. Game nights at Lori and Rob's. Pool at BPs. Julio's nachos and margaritas. Anytime Jay tells me I missed pie night, I get wildly jealous - which is odd since I never went when I lived there. I think Edmonton people should roadtrip to Vancouver. I have a sofa bed!
This weekend is a big birthday party fest for 2 friends. I think I'll pretend it's an anniversary party for me!
So was this a good decision? Yes, clearly. I like my job (most days anyway!), I love love love my apartment, I like being near my family (dinner with Grandma tomorrow), and it's been great picking up where I left off with my high school girls. Am I 100% happy? Of course not. A certain something (someone) is lacking from my life, but this was the same situation in Edmonton (I'm working on it though, perhaps there will be good posts in the near future. Lots of "learning experiences" though. Although this will most likely only be a revelation to me, turns out I'm not at all attracted to guys like me, by which I mean techno/science geeks. If at any time on a date, I think "wow, we have a lot in common", it pretty much seems to mean he's doomed.). Am I happier than I was in Edmonton? Yes. I have trees and mountains and frequent hugs.
Do I miss Edmonton? No. Except sometimes I dream of the mall. And I do miss certain people and certain things. Post workout Booster Juice with Erin and Kim (Oh hey, I joined a new gym, more like WHC. Open late and only 2 blocks from work, so no more excuses.) Chats over tea at Cargo and James. Game nights at Lori and Rob's. Pool at BPs. Julio's nachos and margaritas. Anytime Jay tells me I missed pie night, I get wildly jealous - which is odd since I never went when I lived there. I think Edmonton people should roadtrip to Vancouver. I have a sofa bed!
This weekend is a big birthday party fest for 2 friends. I think I'll pretend it's an anniversary party for me!
Friday, August 10, 2007
The Camping Post
My only excuse is that I was on vacation. Well for part of the last month anyway. To make up for it, a Friday post!
Edited entries from my camping journal
July 28 - Got to the campground early, but our site was ready anyway. Tents went up fast, but the tarp was difficult as the trees refuse to cooperate. After lunch, we explored the trails around the campsite for about an hour. Dad and I went for another walk in the afternoon through the interpretative area (with no signage) and the Trail of the Fallen Giants.
July 29 - Officially a family camping trip now as it rained. Walked from the campsite at Gold Creek to Lower Falls, wearing our rain ponchos. Basic trail, fairly popular, the falls were nice. Probably about 6.5K return. Back by lunch. Went for another afternoon walk with dad to the Tiarella Nature Trail, about 1.5 hours.
July 30 - Hike planned to Lake Beautiful today, starting at Mike Lake. First part of the trail called Incline Trail - 1.2K UP. And up and up... We then walked along fire access roads and short cuts through forest, including old growth. We got to the final turnoff to Lake Beautiful, after about 2.5 hours of hiking, to discover it was completely overgrown. We had lunch in a mosquito filled clearing (quickly!) and headed back. About 12K since we didn't go all the way up.
July 31 - Dad and I went kayaking in Alouette Lake in the morning. I had serious steering issues on the paddle out, and zigzagged my way along. It was way easier on the way back, even though it was into the wind and waves. Ended up with blisters on both hands! We walked back to camp via the Alouette Valley Trail and Menzies Trail. About 6K.
Aug 1 - Last full day. Did the East Canyon Trail from the Lower Falls parking lot to where it connected with Gold Creek. Very pretty. Had lunch on a rock/sand beach. Decided to go wading and discovered it's glacier fed! Managed to slowly work my way up to my knees over a 30 min period and it didn't seem so cold anymore. So I went swimming - for about 3 seconds. It was so cold, I practically forgot how to make my limbs work. Dried off in the sun and hiked back to a connecting trail (ie goat trail) that linked up with Lower Falls. Until today, had only seen a couple of people on the trails, but when we got to the Lower Falls trail, there were lots. We had only been spared them on the first day by the rain.
Had a really good trip. Couldn't believe how close to the city we were (about an hour from my parents' in light traffic), and yet it's all 80 year old forest. Beautiful.
So if this works, you should be able to click this link and see all my photos (44).
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11483&l=efe6b&id=551746582
Edited entries from my camping journal
July 28 - Got to the campground early, but our site was ready anyway. Tents went up fast, but the tarp was difficult as the trees refuse to cooperate. After lunch, we explored the trails around the campsite for about an hour. Dad and I went for another walk in the afternoon through the interpretative area (with no signage) and the Trail of the Fallen Giants.
July 29 - Officially a family camping trip now as it rained. Walked from the campsite at Gold Creek to Lower Falls, wearing our rain ponchos. Basic trail, fairly popular, the falls were nice. Probably about 6.5K return. Back by lunch. Went for another afternoon walk with dad to the Tiarella Nature Trail, about 1.5 hours.
July 30 - Hike planned to Lake Beautiful today, starting at Mike Lake. First part of the trail called Incline Trail - 1.2K UP. And up and up... We then walked along fire access roads and short cuts through forest, including old growth. We got to the final turnoff to Lake Beautiful, after about 2.5 hours of hiking, to discover it was completely overgrown. We had lunch in a mosquito filled clearing (quickly!) and headed back. About 12K since we didn't go all the way up.
July 31 - Dad and I went kayaking in Alouette Lake in the morning. I had serious steering issues on the paddle out, and zigzagged my way along. It was way easier on the way back, even though it was into the wind and waves. Ended up with blisters on both hands! We walked back to camp via the Alouette Valley Trail and Menzies Trail. About 6K.
Aug 1 - Last full day. Did the East Canyon Trail from the Lower Falls parking lot to where it connected with Gold Creek. Very pretty. Had lunch on a rock/sand beach. Decided to go wading and discovered it's glacier fed! Managed to slowly work my way up to my knees over a 30 min period and it didn't seem so cold anymore. So I went swimming - for about 3 seconds. It was so cold, I practically forgot how to make my limbs work. Dried off in the sun and hiked back to a connecting trail (ie goat trail) that linked up with Lower Falls. Until today, had only seen a couple of people on the trails, but when we got to the Lower Falls trail, there were lots. We had only been spared them on the first day by the rain.
Had a really good trip. Couldn't believe how close to the city we were (about an hour from my parents' in light traffic), and yet it's all 80 year old forest. Beautiful.
So if this works, you should be able to click this link and see all my photos (44).
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11
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