Autumn in Vancouver

For some reason I am having a really hard time adjusting to our new life in Vancouver.

I don't like the traffic both in vehicles and pedestrians or the extremely busy schedule we have had since our arrival.

I have been trying to find some peace, quiet and tranquility.

It has been very difficult. 

The one thing I have been enjoying is the beautiful fall colours and mild weather...

 

I have been struggling with the question...what do you do when you spend years working towards something and when you arrive it is not quite what you were expecting. I may be experiencing a little of the "be careful what you wish for" blessing/curse. 

For now, I am practicing patience, perseverance and tolerance.

I am trying to appreciate the beauty that is around me and I have been focusing on my studies. As I am reminded daily by signs all around campus, I am living in a "Place of Mind"...

I have experienced many changes to my lifestyle since I have been here both good and bad all of which take some getting used to...

I'm not sure what the next few years will bring, but I find myself repeatedly thinking about the saying: that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger...

I am hoping for the latter.

berry season

I was so happy to receive a phone call from my local organic farmer to tell me they had three flats of Raspberries ready for me! I have been waiting so patiently for the rain to stop (the okanagan has had the rainiest, coolest summer that I remember. We haven't even topped 30 degrees yet! I think this is mother nature's way of preparing me for my move to Vancouver). The berries finally managed to dry off long enough to be picked and I jumped and ran out the door as soon as I received the call.

We have been snacking on berries all week and it has been wonderful. I really try to buy a lot of fresh berries when they are in season. I feel so bad for my kids who do not have the pleasure of picking berries in the backyard. When I was growing up my granny had a large garden and every summer I used to pick strawberries and raspberries by the ice cream pail full and I could always eat as many as I wanted. We also had a large row of blackberry brambles running across the front of our property and I would do the same in late August with those. Even though we don't have our own, I try to recreate the excitement of berry season by buying as many flats as we can eat. My kids look forward to berry season every year and we all dream of the time when we can just step out into the backyard for our yearly fix.

All the berries around our house has also kicked off canning season! This week I have made over thirty jars of jam: strawberry, strawberry rhubarb, raspberry, raspberry strawberry cherry, and apricot. The smells coming from the kitchen have been amazing! I have frozen bags of rhubarb, strawberries and raspberries - cherries are coming later this week. I always feel so content looking at what I have stored away for winter.

I also surprised my kids with another treat from my childhood...while the two oldest were out with their grandma for the afternoon, I whipped up a double batch of granny's pyrahi (learn about granny's pyrahi here). I used the last of the strawberries for one batch and the first of the raspberries for the second...so good! I love being able to pass on a family tradition.

They taste of summer and happy childhood days.

I love berry season.



snow days

The snow is coming down heavily today...

The hubby has gone to work...

I am thinking about Nova Scotia and the winters we had there...

In winter most of the cute shops close down as everyone settles in for the winter. Any snow fall often results in school closures and/or road closures...on a heavy snowfall even the big box stores would close...but not here...out west we are a little tougher (or crazier)...we've taken long journeys through the rockies in weather much worse than any I saw in two years in Nova Scotia where my husband was once stuck in a road block for nearly fourteen hours with many others after the main highway was closed due to a few inches of snow.

Annoying at times...but also very peaceful. It was so nice to have an excuse to stay home and cuddle up with a good book and the family and read the day away...

so today...I am going to pretend I am in Nova Scotia and take a snow day...I'll just pretend my hubby is safe in his studio until he gets home from work...maybe it will snow all week-end! And just this once we can all pretend that we are back in Nova Scotia...we'll just ignore the strange looks we get when we tell people we took a "snow week-end"...do you think they will understand?

Spring in Nova Scotia

It has been almost two years since I moved to Nova Scotia from British Columbia. There have been many things I have really enjoyed about being here. Summertime in Nova Scotia is amazing ~ I love the beaches.

I am always amazed at how many times we can go to the beach on a beautiful day and be the only ones there! It's amazing! My kids have had so much freedom to run and play and have hermit crab races and I can relax a little not worrying about losing them in a crowd. I can wander a little on my own and look for sea glass or really cool shells.

Autumn is also amazing with a spectacular show of colours and pretty nice weather lasting until the end of October.

I am Canadian, so of course I expect winter. Winter here so far has been a little dull, not much going on for a Canadian who doesn't like hockey. Yes, a little strange I know...I don't drink beer and I don't like hockey...it's almost unpatriotic. But, winter has been great for learning, reading and spending time with the kids indoors. The winter weather is much milder than what I had heard it would be and is not anything worse than what I am used to....

But, spring is a different story. It is almost May... I have been looking at beautiful blogs with beautiful photos of spring for awhile now; beautiful flowers...even berries! This is what I stepped out to this morning...

Do you notice the lack of leaves? gray skies? ...

I miss leaves.

Usually at this time of year I am gathering bouquets of lilacs and awaiting the start of the organic CSA at the beginning of May I subscribed to with lots of delicious items from the garden. My yard was full of lilacs, tulips, narcissi, and violets galore....I must admit, I have been a little home sick...feeling a little like the weather...gray...

But, as I walked around my yard today I felt a ray of hope...

the leaves are coming!

a few tiny flowers are starting to bloom!

the first colour of the season has arrived!

and buds are preparing to bloom!

Spring may arrive late in Nova Scotia...but it is going to be amazing!

Happy Spring!