We're on a boat!

Wow, am I exhausted!!

The excitement of the wedding weekend is over!  This is the first moment I have really gotten to relax (and blog) in as long as I can remember (which isn't that long, because my brain is not running on all cylinders right now).  it's back to work tomorrow!

The wedding went splendidly... and I promise to share more about that when I get some pictures done, but for right now I want to share our after wedding boat ride with the Oxford family.  The Oxford's run a tour boat called "True North", which makes us fortunate enough to enjoy the sea during the charter's off time.  We sat sail on a windy Sunday night, with the whole family (including the grandchildren) and us.  We are honorary family, so it was all good!  The waves made fishing a little challenging, but made the ride so much fun.  Even standing up was a challenge.

It's amazing what beauty we can find in our own backyard.  It's times like these that make me love my home:

This lovely building behind me is the fish plant.  It's unattractive, the it smells pretty strong, but many Newfoundland communities have been built around them, and exist only because of them.

Our ride for the evening.

Cox's Cove from the water, on an angry looking day.

Bree enjoying the waves.

Cabins on Green Island... one of the islands that gives our bay its name.

A beautiful evening.

Nautical is so in right now... ever wonder where the red/navy colour combo comes from?

Jonny caught Bree a fish, which she is unsure of.

Green Island from a different angle

Heading back toward the Cove during sunset.  

Catching more fish before we call it a night and head for home.

Enjoying the cabin during an unexpected rain shower at the end of the ride.

Back to the wharf to dock.

Its amazing how much there is to do at home that we all look over- no matter where you live!!  Here is to fulfilling days and endless nights to come.

Tara

Not an Ordinary Fashion Post

Grey Sweater: McKinley . Down Vest: The North Face .  Yoga Pants: Aerie . Track Pants: MEC.
Navy T-Shirt: Cox's Cove Come Home Year Festival

Maine Hunting Boots: LL Bean

Acceseries- Headband: Lululemon . Socks: Smartwool . eye glasses: D&G

I read fashion blogs all the time.  I love sites like Kendi Everyday and jenloveskev and aspire to be as fashion smart and savvy as their writers.  When I do actually get to spend some time in public, i.e: at work or the grocery store, I am rarely a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl and I often opt for an awesome dress with lots of accessories, or something no one else in my small town would dream of hanging in their closet.  I once had a parent give me a pair of cowboy boots from Nevada because she figured I was stylish enough to wear them and they were getting no use at her home.

But, a lot of my activities calls for something a little more practical... and that's how a Friday evening finds me looking like this.  I don't usually post about clothing, but Jonny and I had some fun snapping these photos and I thought it would be funny to start with this unflattering outfit.  This is how I really look, this is how I am happiest- enjoying my husband, my pooch and the environment around me.  I am proud that I can wear heels and a dress one day and a down-filled vest and rubber boots the next.  I am proud to live my two-toned life of smart shopper/potential law student/city lover and cabin going/mud puddle jumping/country loving girl.  One day maybe I'll own a Luis Vuitton, but I promise you I will still wear my kamiks, long underwear and free t-shirts as well.

Life can bring with it so many adventures- I'm always going to make sure I have the gear to dress for each one!

Tara

New Neighbours

I am guilty of doing some major complaining about the place I live.  There are some very evident flaws with my situation... our house isn't new or sparkly.  Right now there is about two feet of spring mud in our driveway, our fridge is straight from the 1970s and we see just as many ATVs going down the road as we do actual vehicles.  That's just a few complaints.  Let's not even begin to address the lack of fresh produce, the lack of Starbucks and the non-lack of stray dogs.

But every now and then I have a day that makes me feel lucky.  Like an actual nice day when the sun hits our patio at exactly the right angle, or when I get a call to work and I can walk there in 2 minutes.  One of the major things I love is that my next door neighbour (who mows our lawn sometimes, and snow blows the driveway, and checks on the house when we're gone) owns a farm and it's right in my back yard.  There is something about rolling fields that just puts me at ease and makes me want to whip on an apron and make some apple pie.  What makes this even better is that the cows just had calves!! Yay!!  I liked the cows good enough before (Jonny and I used to go feed them some bread every now and then) but now there are two little guys to pet and watch.  Check them out:

Baby #1

Baby #2

The moms

And this little grouse, we won't let London know she missed him or she'll be sad!

Easter posts to come... I'm off to scam some supper from my parents!

Tara

Ice Fishing Derby Fun

Our winters here in Newfoundland are very long.  Right about now, in other places around the earth, people are getting excited as the first signs of spring come to town.  Here, we are half way through the winter, and are still preparing for the odd snow storm and bracing ourselves for the frosty mornings as we make our way to work.  

So, we have to do all we can to cope.  Some of us go down south; some of us just embrace it and find ways to have some fun in the snow.

Every year we have a Winter Carnival here in the Corner Brook area.  The carnival includes lots of fun things for the kiddies, like skating and sliding, talent shows, community breakfasts, snow mobile races, snow sculpture contests and.... the most fun of all this year... the ice fishing derby!!!

This year the derby was a whole family affair.  I'm not particularly fond of ice fishing but when you have about 150 people on the pond, and add in some hot chocolate and warm moose soup, it somehow becomes fun.  Snowshoeing to the pond with my grandmother was also an added bonus.  

Here is the view of the pond as we snowshoed away.  This pond, Larkin's pond, is one of my favourite places in the world.  Growing up, I spent many hours here with my friends, having fires, catching frogs and relaxing in the rubber dingy.

The eyeless derby mascot.

Here is Jonny.  He made me get up at 9:30 so we could drive to Cox's Cove and he could be there by the 11:00am start time.  He was very dedicated, unfortunately he didn't win (but he caught five fish)

Sister and Nicholas (my cousin).  One looking very bored and one looking very interested.

Mom, Adrianna and I.  Oh, and Danny down in the corner.

Am I more interested in the hot chocolate, or fishing?  I'm not really sure.  I fished for about the total of five minutes.

Measuring the catch.  The biggest fish caught is the winner of the derby.

Mom off by herself, chair and all.  She ended up winning third place!!! 

It was so nice to see all the kids outside enjoying the festivities.  Seeing children doing things like ice fishing always does my heart good.  I guess I'll always be a Newfoundlander at heart.

I can't wait until Spring, although I do have to admit crisp, sunny winter days like this always make me feel refreshed.  

I hope you are enjoying your winter,

Tara

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?