Overdue Post #1 - Our Trip to Kelowna

Hey Humble Readers!

I'm planning on doing a few posts that are long overdue, starting with the most recent and working backwards.  I want to get these posts finished and out there, so that I have them to remember. 
So, the trip last week was fabulous and far too short.  We flew out on Friday, the 4th, and Ginny is an airplane super star!  Granted it's a short flight, only about an hour, but she slept the whole way there and back with nary a peep out of her.  When the plane took off I was praying that the pressure changes wouldn't hurt her ears too much, and all she did was suck on my finger.  Not even a whimper.

My mom met us at the airport, along with Zman (my former-foster-step-nephew) who is the sweetest 16 year old boy out there.  He was so excited to meet his new little cousin.  He wanted to take her out of the car seat right away, but we talked him into waiting until we got home.  Sadly, I didn't get any pics of the two of them together, and we didn't see him again while we were out there.  But he was just so into holding her and making her smile, it was awesome.

The week was a lot of visiting and going out for brunches and lunches with family.  These pics are from brunch when Ginevra met my Grandma & Grandpa F (Dad's parents). 

Mama & Ginny havin' brunch

Great-Grandma Dodo & Ginny

Great-Grandpa Won & Ginny (don't listen to his tall tales baby girl)

Papa & Ginny

When my parents moved a couple of years ago, they got rid of all the baby stuff they had from when Oscar & Felix (my sister's kids) were wee, so we had to improvise where Ginny would sleep.  The laundry basket worked double duty as a bed and as a bouncy chair (when padded with a pillow). 

Maxin' and relaxin'

My mom threw a little baby shower for us, so that more people could get to meet Ginevra.  It was just a little get together, but everyone was so generous and so incredibly taken with Ginny.  My favourite moment was when my cousins D & H met her.  I came into the family when they were preschoolers, and now they're all grown up and ooh-ing over my little girl. 

Ginny and her cousin D

Mom and Dad babysat one evening so that my Beloved and I could go out.  We had a nice casual dinner and went to a movie (the Kings Speech - totally rocked!!!).  For the first hour that we were away from her, I felt a little panicky, even though I knew that she would be just fine with my parents.  After that, I seemed to be able to mellow out and enjoy myself.

Ginny with Auntie J, and cousins D & H

Mom and I cooked a ton of good food together, something that I miss tremendously.  We made ribs & chicken in our homemade bbq sauce, I taught her how to make my chicken curry with quinoa and she showed me a great new cake recipe.  We drank some really good wine.  Man I miss having her close by.

Overall, it was a quick and uneventful trip, but I'm so glad that we got to go.  I know some day they'll live closer to us, but for now we have to cherish the brief times we get to spend together.

We're Outta Here

Hey Humble Readers...

I really shouldn't be blogging just now, as I have laundry, dishes, and packing to do... not to mention a baby to bathe!  But I just wanted to pop on and let you all know that we'll be away until February 13th.  I hope you all have a great week, and when I get back I have pics and video to post of Ginevra's baptism. 

Can I tell you how excited I am for our wee girl to meet my grandparents?  Yippee!

Be good, stay safe, and have a smurftastic week!

Blog Challenge Day 9: A Photo I Took

Happy Friday Humble Readers!

Today's assignment is to share a picture that I took... the thing is, almost all the pics I post on here are pics that I took. 

So, in going through my pics, I decided to show you a couple of my favourites from our trip to K-town this past summer.

Grey Monk WInery
Looking North from the Deck

Grey Monk Winery
Looking South from the Deck

I have no idea of the name of this mountain!
Taken from the Trans Canada Hwy - Heading East

I love my home town.  So beautiful!

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: A Grouchy Hobbit Lives Here

Good Evening Humble Readers...

It's been a trying evening, but now I am home, in my pyjamas, cuddled up on the couch with my Beloved, my puter, and America's Got Talent.  (Does anyone else thing that it's hugely ironic that none of the AGT judges are American by birth?)

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It has been raining cats and dogs here for the last two days.  Yesterday we had tornado warnings to the south of us, today we had wind gusts up to 90km.  We've gotten 130mm of rain in 36 hours.  It's cold too.  We went from upper 20s and low 30s (that's celcius folks... and damn hot!) down to 7 this morning.  Brrrr!

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I have 8 very itchy mosquito bites!  I am trying very hard not to scratch.

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Today was busy from the get go... I had a chiro appointment, then a Dr B appointment (another good bp day).  Then home for an hour or so, then off to work.  And because it's raining buckets it was pretty busy.  And the second half of my shift was full of big and small irritations that made me very Very grouchy. 

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And because I was cranky, all I really wanted when I got home was a slice of the chocolate cake that I made last week... if you haven't checked out the recipe yet, you MUST... only to remember that we polished it off a couple of days ago.  Bummer!  I'm going to have to make it again for my Beloved's birthday next month.

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I am facing a quandry, Humble Readers.  In the next month, three of my favourite authors are releasing new titles (one is already out, actually).  Part of me wants to stock up before we go on vacation, so that I have stuff to read, but most of me knows that I'm going to be staying up late most nights talking to my mom and not doing a whole lot of reading while we are out there. 

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And speaking of vacation... I am so excited to be going 'home' for a week!  I haven't been home for two and a half years (far too long considering it's only a 9 hour drive) and I miss my mountains soooo much!  Not to mention my family!  And on the list of must do's for while we are in K-town... a trip to Wr.ap Zo.ne for a Leaning Tower of Pesto!  Yummy!

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If you've made it this far through this tedious whiny post... you deserve a gold medal!  Hobbit points all around!

Show & Tell: My Hometown

Good evening humble readers!

I have been just a little homesick lately. I miss my folks, and I miss my hometown. So, I thought I would share a bit about it with you.

It's not the town where I was born. I lived there through high school, and again after I left my 'chosen field' (that field that I spent my college money on). Of everywhere I've lived, I have spent the largest amount of time there.

It's the largest city in central British Columbia, an oasis in the middle of a true Canadian desert. Lake Okanagan is ridiculously long (not like I know how long... but I know it goes on forever) and rather skinny. It even has it's own lake monster, Ogopogo, who I happen to actually believe in... at least I believe there's something big down in the depths of that lake.

There are some pretty beaches and gorgeous mountain views. There are still all kinds of cherry and apple orchards on the hills around town, and some of the best wine in the world is made in the valley. A few years ago, there were some incredible wild fires and more than a third of the population of the city was evacuated (my family included).

This time of year the cherry blossoms have faded and the apple blossoms are just starting. The lilacs in my parents old front yard are probably done blooming now. In less than a month it will be getting really, REALLY hot there. It's not unheard of for it to get above 40 degrees Celsius (that's about 104 for my friends south of the 49th parallel) in July and August.

I love my home... this home I've made with my Beloved... I just wish there was a way that I could have it, my job, his job, and my hometown all at the same time.

Ok, so now that I've wallowed just a little, I think you should head on over to Mel's place and check out what the rest of the class is showing this week.