Pre-pandemic I loved entertaining and having people stay over at our house; it is important that I create a cozy and comfortable space to make my guests feel at home. When we moved into our forever home the decor in our guestrooms have stayed pretty much the same as it had under the previous owners (in-laws). I can’t wait till the restrictions are lifted and I can have friends and family over to enjoy the new space I have created for them.
Paint: Palladian Blue (HC-144) from Benjamin Moore Bed: Sagstua bed frame in black from Ikea Linens: Chic Home Salvatore 10 piece comforter set in white from Bed Bath & Beyond
Chair & Ottoman: Strandmon armchair in dark green from Ikea Strandmon footstool in dark green from Ikea Art: “Misty Landscape” (Björksta) framed picture from Ikea Decor: Cactus Trio aka Själsligt from Ikea 8” Stockholm Bowl in gold colour brass from Ikea Dresser: 8 Drawer Hemnes Dresser in white from Ikea Bedside Table: 2 Drawer Hemnes Chest in white from Ikea Lamp: Lauters table lamp in ash and white from Ikea
Country life can seem like an idyllic paradise to some but for others it is a nightmare. I spent the first 18 years of my life living just outside Vancouver, then five years in Edmonton before buying a house in the “country-adjacent” town of Devon. But in 2015, I moved to the COUNTRY with my better half. Let’s just say there was a steep learning curve and there are some challenges to living “out in the boonies” but overall I have to say this was the best move of my life!
The best parts of living in the country…
1. Neighbours We live in my husband’s childhood home; that in itself is really cool. But, the neighbours and people in our community are amazing, they are kind, friendly and the mentality of helping each other out really rings true here. I feel safer here, simply because we know lots of people and we all depend on one another.
2. Summers The summers here are beautiful, everything is green and full of life. It is refreshing and being able to spend hours outside is great, with the birds chirping and the creek rushing. Our quality of life has definitely improved. I spend summer nights star gazing.
3. Activities My eyes have been opened to new fun and exciting activities. As well, the space we have allowed us to continue with beloved hobbies. From bird hunting in the fall, deer hunting in November, ice fishing at the lake nearby in the winter and gardening in the spring and summer or golfing on the front lawn; we are never not busy.
4. Peace & Quiet No sirens, car alarms, yelling, traffic. Restful.
5. Organic Food And this doesn’t come with a hefty price-tag from a grocery store. Being able to grow lots of our own fruits and vegetables gives us a sense of pride but also peace of mind that we aren’t eating pesticide-laced produce. We harvest our own meat in the form of goose, duck, moose, deer and fish. It reduces food costs, gets us off the couch and allows us to spend time together.
The drawbacks of living in the country…
1. Isolation I’ll admit it took a bit of getting used to being so far from family and friends. I find it most difficult to be here on my own when my husband is gone to work for weeks at a time (especially during winter but I will get to that next). Occasionally I miss the hustle and bustle of the city.
2. Winters The sheer amount of snow we get and the LONG driveway we have to clear is daunting. Luckily, my husband does this and our neighbour helps us out with his tractor but when I am on my own I feel overwhelmed. Plus, winter road conditions sometimes keep us more home bound than we would like.
3. Amenities Being so far out from the city in a small hamlet, we don’t have the amenities that I enjoyed in my youth and sometimes feel nostalgic for, like fancy restaurants, movie theaters or certain beloved stores. Plus, many places, for example Sears won’t service our area so when something breaks down it can be quite the mess around to find someone to come out. Oh, and the internet is pretty sketchy out here too!
4. Chores There is a lot that goes into the upkeep of our home and land; for example mowing acres and acres of grass, maintaining fencing, weeding, cutting trees (again, I am spoil my husband does this) and it is time consuming. It isn’t all play…mind you it isn’t all work but I wasn’t prepared for how long our to-do lists sometimes are. You can’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in.
5. Mosquitos & Wasps They can be INSANE…need I say more?? I spent a lot of time applying bug spray, Afterbite and ingesting Benadryl as well as swelling and itching. We have wasp traps up everywhere, bug zappers and a mosquito vacuum…It hardly made a dent. Sometimes it makes it hard to live an outdoor lifestyle or sit on the deck to enjoy the view.
I was gifted an awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.
I have been a bookworm from an early age; every time there was a Scholastic book order or book fair at school my mom overindulged me. I spent summers devouring book after book. Even now my husband and I have five full bookcases and books squirrelled away elsewhere. When I first thought about doing a blog post about my favourite books I felt a sense of panic…which ones should I choose? How many books are too many for a “short list”? I am not quite sure how I managed this, but I was able to pick four from my extensive collection.
Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie
I am an Agatha Christie superfan. I have ALL of her novels and I watch ALL of the television adaptations of them. This particular novel was the first of her’s that I read; and it got me hooked. The setting which is described in painstaking detail transports you to Iraq. Christie’s meticulous crafting of the character of her Belgian detective will excite and intrigue you. In this 1936 Hercule Poirot mystery, Amy Leatheran realizes that there is something malevolent happening at an archaeological dig to Dr. Leidner’s wife, Louise. Louise has become plagued by awful hallucinations while tensions mount between members of the group. It is up to Poirot to figure it all out and prevent further devastation.
Coppermine by Keith Ross Leckie
This book was recommended to me by a former student of mine who was participating in a book club. She thought it would be right up my alley because it tells the tale of North West Mounted Police officer Creed and his interpreter, a Copper Inuit McAndrew who spend a year traversing the titled Arctic region to investigate the disappearance of two Catholic priests in 1913 and their eventual trip to Edmonton. I fell in love with this novel and couldn’t put it down. This novel has something for everyone: it has adventure, mystery; the twists and turns keep you turning the pages. Coppermine is based on true events and as a former Edmontonian, I couldn’t help but enjoy reading about Edmonton in the 1910s.
On the Map: A Mind Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks by Simon Garfield
This is definitely a throwback but I read this book and I LOVED it; so it is always on my list of MUST READS. I saw this novel featured on the Colbert Report years ago and as a Social Studies teacher it really fascinated me and made me think about maps and the world in a different way. The author took me, “on a journey outlining the history of maps from the early explorers’ maps and the awe-inspiring medieval Mappa Mundi to Google Maps and the satellite renderings on our smartphones, [he] explores the unique way that maps relate and realign our history—and reflect the best and worst of what makes us human,” (Garfield, 2013). I look forward to reading some of his other works such as Timekeepers (2016), Our Hidden Lives (2004) and Just My Type (2010).
Sanditon by Jane Austen and Kate Riordan
Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors and I read all of her novels by the time I was in grade 8. Recently on a trip to Indigo I saw this book and I knew that I must have it. I had no idea that there was an unfinished manuscript. And, I am so thrilled that it was finished (and of course turned into a mini-series on Masterpiece). Sanditon is set during the Regency era, the plot follows the young and naive Charlotte as she navigates the new seaside resort of Sanditon.
This time last year I was in Sacrament for four days with my husband at the International Sportsman Expo at Cal Expo. We were supposed to attend again this year, but COVID-19 had other plans.
This incredible facility features eight buildings, lagoon, an entry bridge and outdoor brick plaza with a total of 58,870 square feet of indoor space. Our booth was located in the hunting section of building A. I couldn’t get over how many booths there were and how many people attended (I am told around 33,000 over the four days); at some points during the day you couldn’t see across the bridge to other building because of the wall of people. You could hear the murmur of the crowd getting louder as they approached and came up the stairs! It was my first time attending and working a show like this. We met some awesome people and heard their incredible hunting and fishing stories and of course sold a few hunts. I am sharing with you some helpful tips I learned as a vendor.
1. Comfortable shoes… Over the four days I stood for 33 hours. I realized that this was not a time to wear anything but runners or the dress shoes I wear to work as a teacher. I did rent a chair to sit in but I must say… when you stand you look approachable and ready to interact… potential clients seemed to talk more to people at the booths who were standing rather than those who were sitting.
2. Purell… I lost track of how many hands I shook… they probably number in the hundreds. Last year my husband ended up with a nasty cold. I was sure to have a lots of hand sanitizer nearby.
3. Treat basket… People love their treats… we found Werther’s were “the best candy around.” There were lots of kids as there was also a youth fair going on too. When the kids would come over to grab a treat we were able to engage their folks in a discussion about hunting in Alberta. Plus, it is an inexpensive gesture for the crowds.
4. Food/Snacks… If you think you are getting away from your booth for any length of time to get lunch or dinner or a snack you are sorely mistaken! You may be able to if you have someone working with with but you just can’t afford to step away and miss a sale. We stocked up on chips, granola bars and water from Walgreens. We also saved a TON of money since we didn’t pay for expensive concession food.
5. Deals… In addition to treats, people love deals! They definitely go for packages where you give them their bottom line… no additional costs and you also tell them how much of a deal it actually is.
6. Contact… It never hurts to have a sheet on your table and get your potential client’s information. Following up with them can yield additional sales to those you make at the show. Plus, it gives people a chance to shop around, organize their hunting group, get organized, come up with more focussed questions and make final decisions without feeling pressured to close the deal the day of. Making anecdotal notes about prospective clients after meeting them provides a nice introduction or segue when you call or email them.
7. Dressing up your booth… Trade show facilities will have vendors that you can get a wide variety of items to outfit your booth with. However, they are ridiculously expensive! For example for a basic (uncomfortable) chair was $70, a TV can run you $500 and we are just talking RENTALS! Bring as much of your own stuff you can or source your own items from rental places yourself -you save on the mark up! A must have is a TV though; it really pulled people in to our booth!
8. Booth location… The money you save on rentals use to buy a premium spot. We were the first booth as people came in and they STOPPED! And they also had to pass by on their way out.
9. Have a map… With a large expo centre we got asked a lot about where things were located. It is always nice to be able to assist guests.
I was gifted an awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.
I just love this Lace Trim Double V Tee from Ricki’s! It is a very versatile piece; it adds flair to my ‘everyday’ wardrobe AND I can wear it for more formal occasions too! The lace is so pretty. It has a relaxed hem and comes in different colours (misty rose, fog green and chilli pepper) and prints (pearl/black dot and floral).
I have had the good fortune in my life to do a fair bit of traveling both domestically and internationally. Some highlights from my passport include England, Scotland, Wales, Mexico, California, Washington, Nevada, Dominican Republic, France and Italy. There are still many places left on my bucket list such as Germany, Hungary and Greece. I thought that I would share with you some of my favourite travel memories from France and Italy.
This trip was very different than any I had taken before because it was a school trip with my students in March/April 2015. It was an incredible experience to be able to share this experience with them; especially considering that for some it was either their first time on a plane or their first time travelling outside Canada.
As a Social Studies and Art teacher this was the ultimate chance to bring history to life. Being so young they were up for the fast paced adventure and were hungry to explore every inch of these countries. We spent three days in France and the balance of the trip in Italy. Going through the thousand photos I took; I reluctantly narrowed them down for this post. It would have been very easy to write about every second of the trip as it is still fresh in my mind, even though it was three years ago.
Louvre I definitely need to go back; it is said that The Louvre, “…is so big that it is humanly impossible to see all the museum has to offer in one visit. [However, if you ever have 100 days to spare, you could probably squeeze in every piece of art, but you could only spend 30 seconds on each piece,” (The List Love, May 12, 2015). Half an afternoon was NOT enough, however I tried to my best to see as much as I possibly could.
Eiffel Tower We walked everywhere on this trip; we excitedly accepted the challenge to walk up the 669 stairs of the Eiffel Tower to take in the breathtaking views of the city. Unfortunately we were unable to talk the elevator to the very top because of time constraints.
Palace of Versailles I was most excited about this stop on the tour because of the historical significance of one of the world’s largest palaces. Versailles of course is a symbol of the power and corruption of the absolute monarchy of France; and for me the French Revolution is my favourite part of Social 20. I was eager to walk the extensive gardens, see the fountains and to marvel at the Hall of Mirrors where the Treaty of Versailles was signed to end The Great War.
Florence: Duomo & Uffizi Gallery The Eiffel Tower and the Spanish Steps were not the only stairs we climbed. We climbed over 400 steps to reach the top of the Campanile of the Florence Cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo. I had longed to see this since teaching my Social 8 class about the architectural feats of this Cathedral in our Renaissance unit. After our guided walking tour of this fabulous city and learning about the Medici family; we had some free time; I spent mine with a few students exploring the Uffizi Gallery and for me it was just as wonderful as the Louvre.
Rome: Colosseum & Vatican City “Rome will exist as long as the Coliseum does; when the Coliseum falls, so will Rome; when Rome falls, so will the world.” I never quite understood this quote until I took in the Coliseum in all is greatness.
In addition to being home to the Pope the Vatican was a trove of iconic art and architecture that I was so honoured to have seen.
Venice From the Doge’s Palace to Basilica di San Marco to the Grand Canal to Rialto Bridge to the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista; Venice did not disappoint.
We also spent time in Sorrento, Pompeii and Capri; and MANY other places along the way. I look forward to sharing them with you in another post.
I was gifted an awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.
In the spirit of eating better which is inextricably linked to my New Year’s Resolution to take better care of myself, I would like to share one of my favourite salad recipes with you that features wild game meat. I have done this recipe with whitetail deer, mule deer and moose; feel free to substitute with whatever you have on hand; even beef. I’m going to test this out with duck and goose next season. The best part of this recipe is that it works really well as a ‘day after meal,’ if you have left over steak. I prefer the meat to be cold however, it is equally tasty warm.
*To satisfy my craving for this salad during the winter months when I can’t barbecue, I sear the steak on the stove and finish it in the oven and a lightly pan fry the sweet potatoes/asparagus.
Ingredients… 1 lb. Sweet Potatoes (¼ inch slices) 1 tbsp. Water 1 tbsp. Steak Spice 1 lb. Deer/Moose Steak 1/2- 1 lb. Asparagus 3 tbsps AND 1/3 cup Balsamic Dressing 4 cups Romaine Lettuce (chopped) 3/4 cup Cherry/Grape Tomatoes (halved) 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
Directions…
1. On a microwave-safe plate lay the slices of sweet potatoes down (don’t double layer!); sprinkle them with the water. I cover them and microwave them on high for 2-3 minutes; they should be tender-crisp.
2. Rub the steak spice on your deer/moose steak. Cook your meat on the grill to your desired internal temperature. For medium-rare that is about 4 minutes per side on a medium-high heat. Let the meat rest for approximately 7-10 minutes; on a cutting board, covered in foil. Once rested, slice your steak; about 1/4 inch slices.
3. Reduce the barbecue heat to medium. Put your asparagus and sweet potatoes on and brush them with the 3 tbsp. of balsamic dressing; these will cook fast so pay attention, approximately 3-4 minutes. When they are browned and tender take them off the heat and allow them to cool. Once the asparagus is cool enough to handle cut it into 1 inch chunks.
4. In a large bowl combine the sweet potatoes, asparagus, steak, lettuce, tomatoes and toss. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
