Banff and Stanley Glacier

The one thing that is definitely missing from the Edmonton skyline is the sight of mountains in the distance. It is the one thing that I've given up and that I miss moving from Calgary to Edmonton.

An adventure to Banff has been on my list all summer and I finally connected with my friends Dave and Amy to come out and visit them. The weather looked like it was going to be  lovely so we made plans for a Saturday afternoon hike after lunch with friends Bonnie and Curtis.

 Still waters in Banff as we go for a walk

We headed down Highway 93 on the way to Radium Hot Springs; Stanley Glacier is located in Kootenay National Park. Years ago I had camped near this trail - a forest fire had ripped through the area in the early 2000s. It still looks stark with grey. dead trees standing at attention.

The hike started off innocently enough - a graveled trail switching back higher and higher amongst the small shrubs, moss and flowers that are transitioning from summer to fall colours. We went from graveled trail to soft marsh-like trail as we a crossed rapidly running creek. The air grew colder as we passed further into the mountains and the trail grew rockier and the climb much steeper.

 Amy and Dave

 Fall colours on the hike

 Into the wild

 I'm betting this creek was glacier fed

Finally we were rewarded with the best view in the house - Stanley Glacier in the distance. We would've kept hiking the trail, wanting to get ever close to the elusive blue ice and snow but we had to admit we were beat and hungry and ready to head home.

What we came to see - Stanley Glacier (to your right)

 Enough time to sit, grab our breath, share an energy bar and head back down

It is always a peaceful experience when I go to the mountains and I thank Dave and Amy again for showing me a new corner of their backyard playground.

Five years later - Mount Royal University PR reunion

Sometimes it feels like we just graduated yesterday. In reality this summer marks five years since we crossed the stage at Mount Royal University (then College) with newly minted public relations degrees. Five years, many miles, job changes, life changes and all - we met in Calgary to celebrate.

Thank you so much to my classmate and good friend Andrea for helping organize a fantastic Saturday. While the Team Jim and Team Janice slow-pitch tournament never saw the light of day it was so fantastic to plan this event with you.

Thank you Lindsey, Elana, Kelsey, Sarah, Jason and Amanda for traveling many miles to get together. To the rest of the class who couldn't make it, your presence was truly missed. I hope we can all get together sometime in the near future.

To another five years and even more personal and professional success!

Amanda and Mat

Andrea, Jason and Amanda

Elana and Sarah

Kelsey and Lindsey

The two Andreas

Lindsey and Joshua

Mat, me and Will

Village of the Fringed

Fall is in the air in Edmonton. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting chillier and back to school signs are everywhere.

This city leaves the best for last when it comes to festivals (in my honest opinion). Last Thursday the Fringe Festival kicked off in Edmonton and we've been celebrating near record-breaking temperatures (+34 with the humidity today) along with greasy sweet food, buskers, street operas, plays and all things weird and on the fringe.

I spent the weekend Fringe'ing away with my good friend Leisa - she graduated high school with my sister and we used to hang out together when I lived in Calgary. We had two very full days of plays, street performers, streetcar rides, elephant ears, mini-donuts and all other things to delight the eyes, ears and taste buds.

One of the main characters in this play was my server the other night. A must see!

I'll be Fringe'ing all week as well (I scored tickets to some great plays - thanks @MarlowMoo) and already Leisa and I are scheming how we can either volunteer for the Fringe next year or plan a week of holidays so we can see all the plays we want to.

Buskers beat boxing and rapping

The ladies in yellow in the background have "Free Hugs" shirts on!

BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) - this was the Holy Trinity Church

Somehow Leisa ended up participating in this show

Our ride downtown was on this streetcar

Our ride back was on this beauty - a 1912 Edmonton original

I never tire of this view

This is probably my favourite time of year. One last kick at summer enjoyment before fall, school work and winter start to close in.

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!

Calgary Stampede turns 100!

This past weekend the Calgary Stampede turned 100 years old. In almost predictable fashion they celebrated with a big parade to kick off 10 days of rodeo action, cowboys, fried foods, sunshine and flapjacks. I'm a sucker for a good parade and enjoyed this year's immensely. This year was also the first time I got tickets to the rodeo. Here is just a smattering of all the things I enjoyed this weekend! Yeehaw!

Watched the parade with Camille & Denise

At the Infield Bar with Courtney

At Nashville North with Paisley and Chris

Me getting my Stampede on

These are my mom's cowboy boots - over 25 years old!

This band came from Denmark

This one was from Germany (impressive!)

Giant Red River cart

Ukrainian dancers

These Canadian soldiers got the loudest cheers of the day (for good reason)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Remember the movie "Cool Runnings"? Yup, it's the actual Jamaican bobsled!

My seats at the rodeo

Calliope music always makes me think of parades!

The Shriners funny planes

At the vintage tractor pull

Always my favourite - when the tanks whip a 360 on the parade route