White Lightning

New flash from a sweet thrift store - lookout!

Barbecued Bacon

Barbecued bacon - what else is there to say??!  Amazing!!  We have really discovered the full capabilities of Nigel's new BBQ this weekend, and that's a good thing :)

Cowboy Breakfast

I heat up last night's leftovers on the BBQ - potatoes, veggies, sausage - and add eggs cracked into it and salsa and avocado on top.

I like the BBQ breakkie!

The Shake

Just awesome.

Truck Ridin'

Time for a crew cab so the Princess doesn't have to cramp her style in the back of the truck anymore!  Nigel, Szirka and I head up to Lillooet and Gun Lake for a long weekend :)

Old Lady

The Hungarian Princess is starting to look like a dog not a puppy!

Kindergarten

Szikra has puppy class tonight which is outdoors at my old elementary school - Trafalgar school.  Both of us did kidergarten here!  Everything looks so much smaller than I remember...

Tuesday Movie Girlie Date Night

Mom and I go see a LOVE movie this Tuesday.  Movie girlie date night is fun!  And for the record, we thought the movie was good.

Re-Gifter

The basil plant which Julia gave me before our roommates disbanded which keeps on giving to me in turn.  This thing is going wild and I'm not even doing anything to it!!  It has become a staple in my cooking.  This is my kind of gardening :)

Pizza Dream

Tonight, the dream of the gluten-free cheeseless pizza pie is no longer a dream!  I do my best to create the pizza of my dreams, and it receives high acclaim by my co-consumers.  Success!  Next time will be even better!

And it goes fantastically with some Italian red.

July 25 - July 30

The blog takes a summer hiatus - just like everyone else in this town!

Mom and I ride our bikes out to Boyle Point Provincial Park on Sunday.  A beautiful day for a ride, warm enough to break a sweat and make mom desire ice cream on the way back.

Earthling with a Throttle

This is Moto-Marc to ground control ----
I'm rev-ving up the Veeessspa----
And I'm zooming in the most peculiar waa-hay----

I love Marc's stance in this photo.  He has this signature wide-footed, arms out, action stance.  You can't tell if he's going to flap is arms, try and wrestle with you or run off in a sprint. Either way, he's ready baby!

We rev up our Vespas, courtesy of my parents' friend and Denman resident Keith, and go for a cruise around the island.  Keith assures us that nobody goes for a 'scoot', they go for a 'cruise.

Beachside Shelter

The cottage on Denman Island that my parents have rented for 10 days.  My Aunt and I manage to make it up for friday night despite SEVERAL skews in the plan (flight delays, no reservation, almost missing the ferry, oh my!).  Hello, weekend - I'm ready.

4 on 1

My friend Sue brings her litter of 4 vizsla puppies over to my parent's yard to explore a new place and play with Ogre-sized Szikra.  Sue's puppies are 8 weeks younger, but only a third the size of Szikra.  They are "fresh" to the world.  Szikra doesn't mind and puts all her energy into trying to roughhouse with the young redheads - some of whom find the clunky, smashing movements of Szikra too scary and come running back to us.

Afterwards we sit on the deck and attempt to get a semi-good photo of some of the brood.  Nigel tries to contain the Squigglers on his lap and this was my best picture effort!

Peach Coloured Glasses

Sunday's surprise bouquet is still blooming and looking beautiful this morning.  Peach coloured roses - I like :)

Picnic Time

We tie the Hungarian Princess up at a safe distance so that her Spark won't send sand into our take out sushi dinner at Jericho Beach.  It worked!  We run around with her once we're done eating and make the sand fly.

The Newest Employee

Szikra is making waves at the office with her good looks and her affable personality.  Dogs are 'not allowed' at work, but she's allowed to come quasi-regularly.  We just have to skirt the watchful eyes of front desk security!!  With behavior like this, so far so good!

Mr. Wonderful

Some days just aren't as good as other days... But then your boyfriend comes over with a gorgeous, giant bouquet of flowers and makes you dinner :)

Sleepy Time

Szikra looks for a home to take a nap at Nigel's place.  The next best thing is a tipped over laundry basket.  She won't be able to do this for much longer...

Salmonberry, Suprise!

Luc gives Szikra her first Salmonberry surprise while we walk the Endowment Lands.  Tasty!

A Pittance

The cookie sheet upon the roasting pan of cherries that were pitted tonight.  Hands are stained red, the garbage is full of pits, and the cherry trees from Nigel's farm in Lillooet are only slightly less laden.  Cherry ____ here I come!

Red Butts

Szikra and her brother absolutely do not sit still for a picture when they are around one another.  There is play to be had, and tails to be wagged!

Folk Fest Prep

Pre-Jericho Park being trampled in the annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

The Nose Knows

This Nose knows it's time for bed.  Sweet dreams schnozzer.

Boot Greasin'

The Before (left) and the After (right) boot greasin' of my new kicks.  Aw, yeah - boots and I are gonna love each other for years to come :)

I picked these babies up in the U.S.A. when I got Szikra.  Yes, the dog and the boots match (it has become apparent that I have a thing for rusty coloured things).

Andrea 2-7 | Vancouver 1-2-5

We celebrate Andrea's birthday by having a picnic down at Kits beach.  A beautiful day!  We top it off by biking down to Stanley Park to take in Vancouver's 125th birthday free concert festivities.  Summer :)

Beef Knuckle for Your Teething?

I got Szikra some new things to chew on today...  The alternative is her going through my dirty laundry, shoes, or underwear basket to find something better than her toys that she's had long enough to get bored of.  I opt for THE knuckle.  This and a green ball with legs that squeaks and has an irregular bounce.  The guy at the store assures me it will last and that it's a popular item.

I also load up on a value pack of 'beef pizzle' chews.  Even Snoop Dogg will tell you that a dried up beef penis is wack shit.  [Insert unflattering joke about my female dog loving beef pizzle here].  When I tell the guy at the store that I didn't want to give her the chews at first because the idea is so gross he laughs and say that the grosser the item the more the dogs usually like it.  He also jokes that there are enough dried parts of animals in the store to put together a whole cow.  I thought that was pretty funny.

New Abode Dinner

Dinner in the new place is complete with babies, puppies and foreigners.  A great time!  Elaine, Luc, Kelly, Sara, Nigel, Camille, Tara.  Salmon feast cooked by the Aussies who accommodate the group's unbelievable amount of allergies/intolerances.  Success!

Brunch-fast

I meet Nigel, Kelly and Sara for brunch downtown on my lunch break.  Perfect after a concert the night before! We go to Cafe Medina on Beatty street, which is delicious but is very slow.  A good bite if you have no set schedule to keep.  The company, however, was exquisite :)

Toots!

Myself, Nigel, Nat, Sheena, Jeff, Mel, and Kelly and Sara witness Toots and the Maytals at the Commdore.  What a great venue - I've never seen a bad show here.  Extra great tonight that Kelly and Sara were able to get last minute door tickets.  Ya mon!

Post-dinner Walk

Mom and dad cook dinner tonight to celebrate the return of Kelly and Sara.  We take Szikra for a walk after dinner to help the digestion of our gluttony...  So happy to see these girls after 2 years!

The Aussies Are Here!

A visit from Kelly and Sara my Australian compatriots - finally! We haven't been together since a ski trip on my university spring break in 2009.  I cook up a feast to celebrate: cod with caper-butter sauce, bbq moose with soy-citrus-garlic marinade, bbq portabellas, asparagus and tomatoes, and some rice.  Cheers, big ears!!

You're a Tired One Mrs.Ginch

Szikra thinks my underwear basket is a good place to go to sleep as I putter around my room.  I allow it because she'll grow out of it soon anyways, so it won't last long.  Very funny though :)

Bird Day!

I celebrate Canada Day by introducing Szikra to birds.  She's on it!!  She gets into it right away - success!  And so much fun to watch :)

Later on we go to a BBQ at Sheena and Jeff's.

E-rad

Elaine (E-rad) and I stop for salmonberry snacks while we walk Szikra in the Endowment Lands.  How awesome??!

International Food Court

The best place to eat on a lunch hour downtown - especially if you go before or after the rush.  Cheap and delicious :)

New Digs

Szikra is thrilled to have her own little corner of the kitchen to call her own.  She likes to be included :)

The Rearview

This baby has been a fixture not just on the Saturn's rearview, but the Topaz before it.  Much more faded and threadbare than its inaugural drive, it's seen a lot of miles.  During a roadtrip Joel and I took out to Bella Coola and the Queen Charlottes we had to implement a petting restriction of 3 times per day max (each).  All in the name of longevity!

Greek Days!

Kitsilano is abustle with patrons strolling Broadway between MacDonald and Blenheim.  It's the first time I've been able to go to Greek Days, which has been happening every summer since forever...  Good food to eat, people to watch and music/entertainment to be heard.  Luc and I stroll the scene and have the full experience by eating some street food :)

Luc N' Luke

Luc N' Luke N' me go out for some wings and drinks in the evening when we're all done our chores.  The Wolf and Hound is now 2 blocks away from my new house - perfect!

Moving Day

80% complete!

Fondue

Julia makes dinner complete with fondue dessert for Luc and I because she's nice like that :)  And it was delicious!

Puppy K

Lori shows off Rodin, Szikra's brother, at the end of our first puppy kindergarten class.  Out of 8 puppies, 3 are the vizslas from the same litter, which makes it quite chaotic!

Mutant Maple

Julia finds this maple leaf today that has something weird going on.  A type of rust?  Some sort of parasite?  The pattern is so streamlined.  It's bizarre.

Phasar.Itasca

Out on the daily dog walk we scope out this beauty of a camper van.  The Phasar!! Complete with compu-robo-tronic decals and a bodyline that would make the car from back to the future jealous.  Noice!

Beer Gut (No) Contest

Who has the biggest beer gut?  Clearly Michelle has been working on hers with much more diligence than Luc... Alright, maybe not - but they do the official measurements at the 3rd Annual Block Party for 1st Avenue between MacDonald and Stephens.  Fun!

It seems a third of the people that come are actually not from the street but live very close.  Technically I am not a resident of the street anymore either - but I still say I am when it comes to the block party ;)  Name tags denote the number of years you've lived on the street.  For Luc that's 24 years (minus some away time for school and travel) and for Michelle and her bump it's 4 months.

Goodbye House Potluck

The roommates are disbanding their peaceful co-existence at the end of the month.  We decide a last minute get together is in order.  The weather isn't fab, so we eat indoors and put the BBQ on the front lawn for easy access.  Cheers to a year of great roomies!

The Hangover

Vancouver nurses its collective hangover after giving away the Stanley Cup in Game 7 to Boston.  Riots downtown leave the city with a depressed vibe.  At least people got up the next morning to clean up the aftermath.  Nigel and I go for a walk on Spanish Banks where the tide is quite possibly the farthest out I've ever seen it - probably 2 km.

The Might-As-Wells

Luc is in charge of renovating my parents' upstairs bathroom from an olde-style toilet room and bath room into one merged super mega bathroom.  Maybe not giant per se, but it'll be bigger anyways.

My dad always says with renos you have to watch out for the "might-as-wells".  Well, if we're going to do this, we might as well go with the heated floors (you get the idea...).  If it gets to crazy, you just might as well get a second job to pay for it!

Mama Night Out!

Baby mama and puppy mama make a night of it and go and see Bridesmaids in the theatre, which was hilarious.  Later on we munch on an indoor picnic consisting of deli meat, rice cakes and wine while looking at YouTube videos.  Mama date night success!