Temporary.

I must be the worst blogger in the world.  I can't for the life of me pick up my camera.  

What's my problem?

I could blame it on being busy.

It would be true.  But it's more,

I guess it's just not pretty.  

I mean that literally, not metaphorically.

Moving is not cute,

it's messy and confusing

and when i've got wet dog hair stuck all over my hands i'm not going anywhere near my camera.

(i've constantly got dog hair on my hands at this point)

i've taken a few iphone pictures though, not many but some.

here is what i remember:

Shane made these kick-butt blue cheese burgers the other night.

Summer Bucket List

I believe I told you about our summer bucket list, it started back in June.

Here is where I tell you about it.

We managed to get most of it done!  

It was tonnes of fun, so this is how is happened!

In the days and weeks...

A busy week we've had, full of turmoil and upheaval.

Natasha left.  There was lunch, and brunch.  

And tears, if you promise not to tell anyone.

The house was turned upside down.  

Frantic packing, and feel-good purging.

Penticton

There were four of us in Penticton last weekend.

Shane, Tash, Dylan and me.

We burned our way through Manning Park on the crowsnest highway 

heading straight to the intense heat of the Okanagan.

We stopped along the way, at the fruit stand of Keromeos for taffy, thumbs up and cherries.

Over the weekend we swam three times

ate two picnic lunches

laughed our way through wine tastings

and spent a lot of money on said wines.

(+elephant island

upper bench

howling bluff)

yo.

Since last week:

my sisters came over for a fire. 

(actually they cleaned out my freezer of food, but they didn't know that)

we had croquettes. LOVE.

that is also why I fried these chips. 

yes!

Richmond Night Market

The night was hot and the traffic slow when we left for the Richmond night market.  We made our stops in three towns to pick up passengers and soon my little five seater car was full.  We rambunctiously made our way into Richmond and a full two hours after we left, we were there.  Food was eaten, crowds maneuvered and drinks had.  Planes dipped low on their decent, and the roar of  liftoff was oft heard.  Vendors cried in Cantonese or Mandrin,  (I'd have no idea which) hawking their food.  Lineups were conquered, music was blasted, and angry bird socks were nearly bought.  A night that was both delicious and fun.

Pictures on the iphone.

Eaten:

-hurricane potato

-coconut milk tea

-iced green tea

-spicy squid

-fish waffles

-deep fried cheesecake

-egg puffs

-japanese yam fries

-hotateyaki

-chow mein noodles

Hi Life.

Life in the garden is flourishing.  I did all my worrying (and replanting) in the early days, now the upkeep is minimal.  I fertilize with fish fertilizer once a month, tie tomato branches when they get heavy, water thoroughly and pick weeds biweekly (or so I aspire).  I also play matchmaker on occasion, pollinating squash, zucchini and pumpkin blossom.  We might get a few hybrids out of these vines yet (though I'll likely never know, since we're moving so soon.)

August 7

Three of us sped along the highway carelessly calling out directions as we passed our turnoff.  "No!" we both screamed.  In the most round-about way, with the maximum amount of left hand turns possible, we made it to the mountain.  Tash, Mom and I braved the Hope Lookout Trail, once again.  They don't call it Hope's Grouse Grind for nothing. (Thought I haven't done the Grouse Grind, and this hill isn't as steep as the one in Vancouver)  Our effort was worth it, the views are beautiful and the hike itself is gorgeous too.  After our sweat session we drove to Kawkawa Lake and stripped off our shirts before buoyantly jumping in.  The water was warm and refreshing, immediately agreeable and totally welcome.

Minter Gardens

This is just a few of the two hundred pictures I took this morning at Minter Gardens.  The weather was beautiful, sunny and not quite so hot as yesterday (33C!).  The gardens were mostly empty on this long weekend Monday, it was perfect.  I had the best partner too, Natasha loves flowers as much as me.  We had fun trying to give names to all the flowers, even though our vocabulary is not up to snuff.  The grounds were as beautiful as I remember and our slow saunter led to many exclamations of "I have to have that in my garden one day!"  For two beginner gardeners it was a treat.

Heat-wave

Today it was hot, but I wasn't complaining.  I plugged the fan in wherever I went, it followed me around like a puppy on a leash.  We ate pancakes for breakfast, it was 28 degrees.  Hot but delicious.  The sun settled on the windows, lighting the floor like little fires, not to be walked in.  I refused to close the curtains, I cringe in unnatural darkness.  The only time butter has ever been at room temperature and coconut oil was liquid in the jar, was today.

The plants were fertilized with fish fertilizer, I got some on my feet.  My feet stunk like fish.  I washed them carefully.  I snacked on banana chips and checked-in on instagram while my feet soaked.  Srcub scrub, luckily the bathroom is cool.  I drove to the store, there was sweat on my upper-lip.  I didn't complain.  I took pictures of the garden in the 12pm sun.  It was 33 degrees, it felt like 40 with the humidity.  I didn't complain, I enjoyed it in fact.  It'll be gone so soon, try to make me sweat, I dared.  


The neighbors left on vacation with the windows rolled up on their truck, darn their air conditioning, I thought.  If only my commute didn't take me on the highway where I had two options in the 33 degrees, one: roll windows up and die of heat exaustion, two: leave windows down and blast eardrums out with noise from air and trucks.  Option two always wins.  It was only when beads of sweat started dripping from my forearms I cursed the heat a little.  Only a little.


Work was insane.  Why no air conditioning for the old people? Especially the ones with dementia.  I took solace knowing tomorrow was the start of my weekend.

New Lens!

Finally!  After eight long days I finally have my new lens.  I'm so thrilled!  I settled, after much deliberation, on a 28mm 1.8 and so far I'm head over heels in love.  I can finally see! (and by that I mean, the field of vision is huge compared to my 50mm)

I could never get my whole couch in before!

100% in love