Down home vacation

Once I returned from Vermont I still had a week of vacation to look forward to and I headed home to the best place I could ever imagine vacationing - Saskatchewan.

First order of business on the vacation was sitting down for a visit over some fresh garden veggies with my brother and sister-in-law when I arrived home. It's so lovely to have all of my immediate family so close by.

The second order of business was the most important during summertime in Saskatchewan - going to a football game. I hadn't been to a Roughriders home game since Labour Day Classic in 2007 so I was thoroughly looking forward to the match-up between the Riders and the Hamilton Ti-Cats at Taylor Field. The score wasn't what I'd hoped for but I sure had a great time at the game with my parents. Thanks again mom and dad!

From football in Regina I headed back to Saskatoon to spend a few days with my little sister and her boyfriend. We talked, we shopped, we did lunch, we laughed - we did all the things sisters are supposed to do. Love my sister to death and I'm so glad we could hang out together. I even got to spend some time catching up with old friends from high school - we all used to work at the same restaurant together!

Finally from Saskatoon I headed back home to the farm and then into Prince Albert to visit my grandparents and play a few tunes on my violin with my grandfather. We wrapped the week by heading up to my parent's new lake property at Emma Lake. We enjoyed the long weekend between the trailer and out boating on the lake. THIS is the kind of vacation that I love taking!

Happy birthday Canada!

While a little belated the sentiment is still there. Canada, you turned 145 years old on July 1st and you continue to grow more and more beautiful with each passing year. I'm so fortunate to call you home.

Canada Day long weekend was about friends and family ~ time in Saskatoon with friends and then the remainder of the weekend on the farm with my family. I live a charmed life, this weekend convinced me of it completely.

Bonne fete Canada!

Snow? Nope. Poplar fluff is everywhere still.

The tiger lilies at home are HUGE!

Sod as far as the eye can see

Sassy loved to play bocce with Mom and I

Sassy thought the bocce balls were for her only!

Happy Father's Day dad

This weekend was Father's Day and there's no other place on the planet I wanted to be then back home in Saskatchewan to be with my dad.

The whole family got together, Mother Nature cooperated with gorgeous weather and we spent Saturday in the backyard, around the fire pit with dad's new bush pie makers, cooking, laughing and enjoying everyone's company.

Dad you're the best - always there when I need advice, to talk politics or for the best hugs. Being home with everyone was as close to a perfect weekend as I could ask.

 Bush pies!

 My bestie Sassy

The sun had this crazy halo going on

Nearly one year down....

...and only one more (ish) to go. Wrapping up my final paper for my winter semester class I can't help but think of how crazy this past academic year has been for me. I will be going back into the classroom in three short weeks for another three week intensive. By that point I will have completed six out of 10 required classes.

Bring on the next year ~ it may not be as heavily loaded with classes but I have research to conduct now. A project hopefully to present in August of 2013. All of a sudden I'm starting to feel behind!

Happy Easter friends far and wide, I hope you're spending it with family and friends. (It's been two years since I decided to learn the violin ~ best get practicing again)!

Sociable! 2012 Brier

It may have come up in conversation a few times on this blog over the last three years but I happen to love curling. I am a terrible curler when on the ice, but station me in front of the T.V. or at an actual game and I can see the strategy behind the shots being made.

The Brier (Canadian men's curling championships) were in Saskatoon this past week and it had been a while since I'd seen my family, so I drove home to catch some of the semi-final action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

My mother and I scored some rock star seating for all three games we attended. Friday and Saturday morning we were behind the Sociables (I want to join this band of merry women and men ~ they sure made curling a lot more fun for the fans during the games).

We watched great games between Manitoba and Ontario, Alberta and the Yukon/Northwest Territories and Manitoba and Alberta. We even got to catch up with the fifth for the Y/NWT team, Greg (we grew up together).

Even better was catching up with high school friends, family and friends from Calgary in The Patch after the games. There is one thing that curling culture knows....how to relax and unwind after the game! I had a fabulous weekend and I'm excited for next year ~ the Brier will be in Edmonton. I'll be getting my tickets!

Christmas 2011

To say that the last few weeks in December have been hectic is truly an understatement. I finished my COMM 505 class by the skin of my teeth (Dec. 18th we wrapped up), I moved physically to a new office space (Dec. 19 & 20th) but on December 21, none of that mattered as I headed back to Saskatchewan for the holidays.

Christmas was different this year and I can't quite put my finger on what made it so. There was just so much going on that quiet time with friends and family was appreciated so much more. Thank you to my wonderful family who always welcome me home with open arms no matter how long I've been away or how short my stay may be. You have always been there for me and it is YOU that I love spending the holidays with.

All the best everyone for a lovely holiday season and wishing you so much happiness, health and success in 2012.

Santa brought me a new bike!

My aunt and mom checking on the turkey

My cousin and grandfather playing the Irma Jean Waltz (named after my grandmother)

What a season

Last night I was able to watch the Saskatchewan Roughriders cap off their season in Edmonton. We haven't had the best season ~ finishing with a disappointing 5 wins and 13 losses. This coming from a team that has made the playoffs every year for nearly 10 years. No matter, I've stuck by them all season long and last night I wasn't disappointed.

Many thanks to my Twitter friend @rbfleming for giving me a ticket to last night's game. It was a chilly -6 Celsius at kick-off and I was wearing enough layers to make me feel like the abominable snowman. While we had already lost out of the playoffs the Riders played the game last night like they were still in contention ~ making the Eskimos work hard for the win. When it was all said and done Edmonton walked away with 23 points, we walked away with 20.

Thank you boys for a great run this season, and while some "fans" may have been disappointed I never was. Enjoy the off-season you've all worked so hard. I look forward to seeing you play again in 2012!