Lunch Run Greeter

This optimistic 4-legger was wagging hopefully at every person that walked into and out of Urban Fare at lunchtime today.  She was still going at it by the time I had cruised the store and come back out.  Shameless!

The Grossest Looking Mango

Tonight I cut into a mutant mango.  The pit (normally supposed to be hard - you can't cut into it) had bubbled out and morphed into some alien looking think with ridges that I was able to cut through.  Not what I was looking forward to at all!

I still ate most of the mango and it was fine, but I couldn't shake the creep factor of the alien fruit.

Hurry Hard!

Me and my corporate comrades try our hand channeling Cheryl Bernard at the Vancouver Curling Club tonight.  Turns out it's not as easy as it looks - but it's way more fun!  By far the best office event I've been to - and I managed at least one sweet shot...  But I've got my work cut out for me if I'm going to look good doing it like Cheryl.

Monday Movie Night

Monday night movie after dinner.  Couch time/tea time is good for starting your week.

Nordic Dominance

Ashley, Liz and I take a tour of Cypress's cross country vistas as representatives from the Environmental Services contingent of our office.  An unofficial, official work day out.  It's easy to look this good when you've got a sweet Nordic set-up!  It's worth mentioning that Liz (not pictured...) was rocking a 3-pin set up from 1970 with bamboo poles.  Unfortunately in this instance she is not as good at posing, so she did not make the photographic cut, although I'm sure she was the envy of many skiers today.  There's always room for improvement...

Peppermint Check-in

Afternoon tea on a Saturday with mom - how lovely!

Cherry Blossom Investigation

A closer inspection of this tree's foliage reveals some time and heat is required before the spring show begins. I like keeping tabs of the different streets around the city and when the blossoms bloom and whether they are more pink than white.  I prefer the whiter ones.  Some streets like 23rd and MacDonald where Trafalgar Elementary School is (the school I went to) have trees at one end that bloom before the other end of the street.  The trees also get progressively pinker or whiter in hue depending on what end of the street you're looking at.  Makes you wonder about soil chemistry and what it has to do with it...  A mystery.

Le Malecon

Pre-dinner stroll at Spanish Banks to soak up the early evening heat after work (newfound these days).  I can dig it :)

Big News!

EXTRA! EXTRA! This just in: My future puppy and 7 other siblings were born today!! Chaos will ensue 8 weeks from now when I take the 4-legger home (prepare for too many puppy shots on the blog).  EXCITED!!! EXCLAMATIONS!!! CHAOS!!!   :)

The Big Top

This week I was out at BCIT taking a course for work.  On my way home I stopped to check out the view of Cavalia's big top from Olympic Village.  Lots of Vancouver's typical crowd out walking their dogs, sipping their coffees and stretching their legs after a day at the office.

Breadmaker Magic

Time for another round of breakmaking... This is what you need to do when you're "sans gluten".  Tasty!

Patio Season!

Sun - skiing - patio - picnic table - tunes - beers - fantastic!  Nigel enjoys the first patio session of the season at Whistler.

Dinner Prep

I make a feast for some friends: rosemary plum sauce pork loin, balsamic reduction asparagus, greek-style potatoes, green salad with vinagrette and chocolate cake.  What a homemaker!

Musical Marinade

Dave serenades Nat and I at Whistler with his musical marinade - perfect :)

We're No Saints!

I'm not sure what else could possibly be going on in this photo if we tried!  Just doing our part to ring in St.Paddy's Day.

Liz, Elaine, Andrea, Adrienne, Nat. Yup.

Muse (a.k.a. The Strawberry Social)

Dainty Tara looks different again this week.  Her hair has taken on a more blondish hue and her face has changed shape a bit (to be more heart-like of course).  I she looks so serious because she's hungry and tired (who wouldn't be serious about that).  She is partially covered in her favorite dish which I attempted to feed her: pureed fresh strawberries.

Rock Out Walk Out

I got excited on my way home from work today...  There was more light in the afternoon because of the time change and I was feeling the spring weather.  iPod in and burning down the street the extra long way home just cuz it was nice to be out - why not?!!  I know how to entertain myself :) Summer is just around the corner!

Dawg-wood

I came home today and Julia had a container with a branch of dogwood flowers in it.  How springy!

Day 5: The Return

Today was the return drive from Rossland.  3 skiing days of bliss and then the 8 hour drive back to reality... Except that I seem to go on a lot of sweet little trips lately!  I guess my reality is pretty good ;)

Sunday late afternoon view out my room after half re-organizing myself from the trip.

Day 4: Poochy's!

Day 4 was back to Red Mountain at Rossland.  Today was bluebird and we discovered a few of the old cabins situated around the hill.  This one was an old fire lookout over the town - I can only imagine it would be the best place to go to bed and wake up - especially if there was fresh snow!

Day 3: Ymir Hotel Apres

Meet the local boys!  This young stud ended up giving me his other needlepoint artwork after I expressed admiration over his crafting this piece (a likeness to the hotel where the bar was situated). Everybody should go to the Ymir Hotel at least once.  Various carvings and art pieces adorn the walls and look as old as the proprietor and the regular patrons.  Soundtrack to apres ski included 4 of this guys cronies playing the cowboy blues (fiddle, guitars, bass)- just awesome!!

This fantastic episode was preceeded by a day of slaying 20 cms of fresh snow at Nelson's Whitewater Mountain - just amazing.

Again, hard to pick just one picture!

Day 2: You've Been Tonked

Rossland's Red Mountain:  Oh my, what a great hill!  Fantastic fall lines, glade skiing and great mountain culture (did I mention limited crowds?).  When we rocked up to the lunch spot - a small high roofed lodge heated by a wood burning stove - they were blasting The Gospel.  Praise the Lord and can I get a Halleluja?!  We all threw our hands up and saw Elvis!!

The day ended with a homemade dinner, hot tub and a new card game: Tonk (courtesy of Dad).  Dad learned the game amongst the fishing friends - so no one really knows if he was making up the rules or not.  Either way there was lots of Tonk being worked into the discourse.  What are you tonking about?  Tonk you very much.  I'll tonk some more brownies please. You get the gist :)

Tough day to pick 1 picture... This is a good thing!

Day 1: Hit the Road, Jack!

We settle into the drive around Greenwood, BC. Gorgeous day to drive all the way to Rossland.  Car time: approx 8 hrs plus some time for snack stops, etc...

The Redo

A blunder!  I plum forgot to take a photo on this day, so this photo is from the very next morning (March 9).

Mom, Dad and I load up the car for the winter roadtrip: family ski trip to Rossland and Nelson.  Yee haa!!

Monday Afternoon Work Mission

Part II of work today involved trekking into Richmond to work the room at a BC government Environmental Assessment Office public open house for a project my company is involved in.  Since I couldn't exactly whip out the camera at the event I settled for capturing the bluebird early March sky on the way there.

Sunday Dinner

Ladies sunday night dinner hosted by Nat.  Sheena laughs either at someone or at what they're saying.  This is right before she gives me her best attempt at a pick-me-up-wink.  You had to be there!

Red Necks!

Clearly I'm enjoying myself :)

Nigel and I drove up the Squamish Valley to throw/destroy some clays and get some target practice. Wicked!!

Undercover Op

The sneaky underground way to avoid bad weather on the downtown portion of my home trek.

Pacify-cation

I am no match for Mom and Dad singing the baby beluga book.

I attempted to facilitate the first date night in 7 months, but after 40 minutes of upset hysteria - inducing 14 pukes and lots of red faced choking and heaving - I conceded defeat and made the call.  Date night was not to be if Tara had anything to say about it.  Baby 1 - Camille/Sunny/Adrienne 0.

There's still Round 2.

Down in the Corner

Even the corner of my room is interesting the minute before my camera turns into a pumpkin (if it hasn't had a photo taken that day)!!

Remnants of art classes, and a theme party where I dressed as an attendee of Carnival in Rio...

Bling-a-ling

Pimp my fedora!