I grew up learning to embrace the outdoors regardless of the weather. I was reminded of this recently reading an article exploring the Scandinavian’s concept of cozy, or “koeslig”. Rather than dreading the cold short days, I understand Scandinavians look forward to the change of season as an opportunity to bundle up for winter play,
Read more
My Grandpa sent me a letter the summer of 1967 congratulating me on swimming all the way across King Edward Bay. I was 4 years old. He enclosed a dollar bill as a reward for my efforts. I still have the letter but was not so lucky (or smart) with the dollar and spent it
Read more
It’s hard to know what makes a garden special. As an enthusiastic amateur with a recreational love of gardening, I rely on how a garden makes me feel. They say that when memory fades, you may not remember the exact details of a conversation or experience, but you will likely remember how it made you
Read more
I’ve been making these burritos for so long I can’t remember how it started. But it’s stuck for as long as it has ’cause they are so darn good, so dang easy, high fibre (wow!), ridiculously economical, perfectly freezable, deliciously vegetarian and pack a real WOW! factor when served with a little flair. I always
Read more
One might assume that fitness professionals always and effortlessly skip to their own workouts, fueled with spinach salad and whistling a happy tune. Speaking from experience, I can assure you this is not always the case and that even though we “do” fitness for a living, it doesn’t mean it’s always easy for us to
Read more
The week before Christmas holidays, our entire school at Ridgeway Elementary in North Vancouver would congregate in the school gym to sing Christmas carols, sitting cross legged on the gritty, cold floor, vaguely uncomfortable against my bare legs (skirts or dresses were mandatory). With lyrics gripped in our hands our collective child’s voice was thunderous.
Read more
Every day I wash Dad’s wooden salad bowl and I remember him. Sometimes I have a little chat and tell him about the wonderful things that are happening and ache that he is not here to experience it: how proud he would be of his grandson, my joy of singing in the choir, our flourishing
Read more
What does one give their oncologist on their last appointment after perhaps the most important relationship spanning the most difficult time in one’s life? Last October I graduated from the standard 5 year period (what is the magic of 5 years?) of regular check ups all the while wondering if that odd pain or ache
Read more
It’s the small things done consistently that make the difference in life and the daily shopping experience on our fair isle is no exception. The island community rhythm makes this otherwise perfunctory task so much more than a mere money exchange of goods and services. It is the antithesis of what we experience in the
Read more
Part of our annual boat retreat in Desolation Sound entails finding just the right anchorages along the way. My captain has this fully in charge checking tides, winds, depths, stern line ties etc. It’s always perfect. And better still when said anchorage has a large, flat, oyster free perch that I can scratch out a
Read more
Hair is a big deal. Flip open any fashion magazine or stand amidst the acres of hair care products in any given drugstore and the reality of our obsession comes home in spades. When you are sick and lose your hair, the focus is painfully acute simply because you don’t have any. 5 years ago
Read more
Many moons ago while navigating a difficult time in life, I decided triathlon training was the way to anchor my spirits, expend my angst and stay as healthy and focused as possible in the eye of a personal storm. Looking back I realize it was a rather extreme choice, but the sport delivered the desired
Read more