It has been awhile

I have some catching up to do… like a full YEAR of catching up.

A new computer, a new year and a lack of a full time job means another attempt at blogging for me.  I have a full wedding's worth of things to post about.  For now, lets just recap the holiday season.

With me being the school music teacher this fall, Christmas was an extremely busy time for me- Christmas concerts and band performances.  I certainly had my fill of Christmas music during December.

Tip's Eve (the day before Christmas Eve) and Christmas Eve was spent at my parent's house and then We went back to our own house on Christmas day and spent some time with Jonathan's parents. Here are some pictures highlighting the event:

 

All Cozied Up for Christmas

Christmas Baking

Sleepy Setters

The Fireplace

A Festive Kitchen

Presents

Present Aftermath

Pretty tables

Family

I know it isn't over yet, as this is only New Years Eve, but I wanted to share now anyway.  I hope everyone had a safe a happy holiday!

Summer Engagement Photos

These were taken back in August, but are worth posting. Scott Grant, who owns Ronin Photography, was our photographer, and will be our photographer again for the wedding in July. We went to Prince Edward Park for the shoot and had a completly fun and relaxing time! Jonathan and I carried our bag of props (cushions, blanket, shoes, scrabble, pop bottles, etc.) as Scott took us through field and forest in search of an abandoned car wreck and perfect lighting. I wanted the photos to have a rustic vintage theme, and I think Scott did a fabulous job at protraying my vision!

Enjoy!

Snowshoe Therapy

One of my family's favorite things is a snowshoe after work. Of course, no one loves this more than London. Her nature runs have been far and few in between latly, due to a scare we received when she found her self caught in a fox snare (this was NOT a fun experience, but she didn't seem to mind too much) and the fact that she turns into a frozen puppy after being in the snow for ten minutes (Winters in England are not blessed with the snowfall we have here). Despite it all, it does our heart good to see her in her element, and to breathe some fresh air.

London loves treats, even in the woods!

Enjoying the fresh powder

Snowshoe Shot

Can't forget Jonny

The Aftermath. London was so iced over that we had to pour a warm bath for her when we got home. She loves the tub, and later that evening we found her standing in it waiting for us to fill it up again!

The Truth about Setters

Jonny and I thought carefully for years about the day we would finally become parents to a furry friend. We diligently researched our options and weighed the pros and cons of each breed, until we found the one that would fit perfectly with our idealistic lives. After hours of tedious calculations we came up with this: The English Setter. Of course, when we found London on a very nice man's website (search Anzil's Setters), all things technical melted away as her sad little frown and lopsidedly placed spots melted our hearts.

During the next 18 months we realized that you can't judge a dog by it's breed. While London fits wonderfully into our "less then idealistic" lives, we learned you can't always take what the American Kennel Club says as law. This is what I have learned from OUR English Setter:

1. English Setters are NOT mild shedders. On the contrary, my entire life has become consumed with dog hair. I eat dog hair, I sleep in dog hair, I wear dog hair and, from time to time, I breathe in dog hair. Maybe she will shed less when she's older, who knows, but for right now I just have to accept that everything black will be sort of white and everything white will be sort of black.

2. Enlish Setters are happiest when running in the wild

Here is a picture of London and Jonny doing what they both love best- hunting. She may look all nice and calm, posing for the camera, but notice the eyes. She's just waiting to make a great escape!
3. English Setters make the best napping companions, ever!
This is what happens every weekend morning when I get out of bed and London realizes Dad is staying home and sleeping in with her.
4. Toys do not stand a chance with an English Setter

No explanation needed! When she is determined, there is no stopping her.

5. English Setters NEED excercise, or they will make you pay!

6. English Setters like to bark at people walking passed the front lawn

7. English Setters are scared of lots of things- water, half open door ways, garbage cans, and the dark

8. English Setters love you unconditionally!
And I wouldn't trade mine for anything!

Why living on the West Coast of Newfoundland is Awesome!

I wanted to start on a positive note, though I have not yet decided if I am writing this to convince someone else, or myself, of the awesomness of this area. Countless days of mine are spent grieving for the sights and sounds of the city; the food, the rush and.. oh the shopping! Here, the world moves at a pace more suited to an earlier era, and life cannot be filled with frivolous entertainments. It is easy to forget the pleasures of living in "the country" when I scan facebook and see all my friends in new exotic places, going somewhere or seeing something new. Sometimes I even find myself associating coming back home with failure- that I have not broadened as a person because I have not broadened my horizons.

But then... the simplest of things remind me to appreciate and to take advantage of my chosen landscape. When I am able to laugh with my family, surround myself with nature, or watch the puppy run freely on the barrens, I am able to recognize the mesmorizing freedom that comes with sheding the metro maddness and immersing myself back into the heart of rural Newfoundland.

So what are the things I should always remember to appreciate? What are the things that make this place worthy of anyone's inhabitance (or vacation days)?


1. Marble Mountain



According to their website, Marble Mountain offers snow-sport enthusists 37 runs that accomodate all experience levels- all located in the snowiest part of Canada. As we like to say here "It's the best ski hill East of the Rockies". What it offers to anyone living here is the authority and invitation to become part of the popular "snowboarding/skiing" community- even if you have never ever set foot on Marble in your life. Here, you can wear your Volcom and Burton gear- even a local "Snot Rag", and instantaneously become part of something much bigger than yourself. When you tell people from the city (St. John's) you live on the West Coast, I can almost see their minds settling in on images of the Mountain- and you become something more in their eyes. It is something that we have that is all ours; that sets us apart, and we love to flaunt it. I used to ski but now I think I might be too afraid to start up again!





2. Gros Morne National Park






What Marble Mountain does for the Winters around here, Gros Morne does for the summer. You can hike, camp, swim, shop, learn, explore, be entertained or just drive by and take in the scenery that cannot be seen anywhere else on Earth (seriously). Gros Morne was even designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because there is a piece of the Earth's mantle that decided to join us up here on the crust and create the Tablelands (one of the coolest places EVER). I had the pleasure of working in Gros Morne for a summer, back when I was a wee student. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life! I hiked every trail in the park (except the back country). What I would give to be in that kind of shape again!

3. brewed Awakening

We do not have a starbucks, which I grieved over for months and months after moving back home. However, we do have the locally owned and operated Brewed Awakening which, in my opinion, makes a vanillia latte that is just as good as any stuffy starbucks latte (or better). The cafe also offers a great "artsy" atmosphere, which is another big community in the area thanks to our fine arts school.

4. The Back Trails

I simply say "the back trails" because there are endless reasons why I love them. There is snowmobiling, four-wheeling, hunting, fishing, berry picking, camping, hiking and snowshoing that can all be done on them. You havn't lived until you snowmobiled on the Louis Hills, or baked muffins with the wild blueberries you picked yourself.

5. Family

OK, this is a personal one, but really, where else on Earth could I have a hot Sunday dinner cooked for me by two sets of grandparents or two sets of parents. Where else on Earth could I have free dog sitter no matter when I feel like going on a road trip. Where else on Earth could I have a place to stay when Jonathan goes out of town, because I am too scared to stay alone! That's right, no where, because no matter how disgusted I get with this place it is probably still where I belong. My horizons haven't broadened, but my appreciation and love for all things outdoors, my family and sense of community certainly has. That has to count for something, right?