The Montreal Visit Adventure!

I was really lucky to have my exams finish on the 11th of December, some students don't finish their exams until the 22nd. Bronwyn and Dad came up to the big-poutine city for a retrieval visit. They launched away from Guelph in the wee hours of the morning and arrived close to lunch. While my dad slept in my comfy bed, Bronwyn and I hit the town. I bought her a disposable-film camera so she could take her own pictures of the adventure. We took the Metro to the Pie-IX Station and did the Biodome tour.

Posing in the Biodome, St.Laurent Exhibit.

Amazonian Fish, and the instant camera!

Bronwyn Outside the Olympic Stadium.

After the Biodome, we headed back on the Metro and went back home to my apartment. Bronwyn, my dad and I then went out for dinner downtown at a retro diner style restaurant. They ordered poutine, and I had a salad for starters. My dad ordered a massive smoked meat sand which, Bronwyn had a little burger and I had a vegetable primavera. It was a welcome change from my cheap college meals.

Posing in an alley-way... her idea.

In the Apple Store!

Our dinner at the diner: Nickel's Restaurant.

Driving home in the early morning!

Cottage Life!

Sorry, It's been so long. I haven't been on my computer or watched a lot of TV recently, the weather has been to good! The family has been super busy as well, from sports, the dog, the cottage and friends. Recently we spent a week up at my uncle Alain's sister's (Frances Lajeuness) cottage. I drove up on a Saturday with my grandma and aunt Cheryl. They even let me drive a couple kilometres on the cottage roads. It was funny to see the line of cars behind me, even if I was going to speed limit.

We arrived all in one piece and had a nice quiet evening and rainy day with Paula, Alain and Malin, before Mark, Tamara, (cousins) Emma, Brooke, Joel and puppy Claira arrived. They bring lots of fun, and there was always lots to do when they were around! I went on a boat tour with all the kids, and Emma and I caught up down by the dock. There was also so much food, it was hard to believe that water was the only thing we really ran out of all week.

The next day we all made bets on when my family would arrive. Based on the "normal" family, if they departed around 11-11:30am they would arrive around 4-4:30. Therefor I bet they would arrive at 6:30, with Aidan and Bronwyn being car-sick victims and Scamp needing breaks, and everybody getting hungry. The bets filled in from around 5:30 to 7:15pm. To every one's delight, the Sweeney-Rogers family rolled in at around 8:30pm.

The rest of the week was spent in half chaos and half gloriously sunny weather, enjoying good-eats, warm water, water sports, a little fishing, a trip to the island and camping out under attack of raccoons. We even had an outing to the dump to see some bears, and my dad and I enjoyed an evening canoe paddle around Little Kenisis Lake.

Gone to the Goats!

Bronwyn and I spent last Sunday on a local food adventure. We went out to St. Ignatius Farms in the north end of Guelph, where they were hosting an open house and The Guelph Wellington Local Food Festival. The hot topic around Guelph these days is Local Organic Produce. We always take for grant it what is in season in our local area. It's not like a grocery store where you can just walk in and get apples, berries and carrots year round. Not only does it help local farms, thus stimulating local economy but you get to enjoy top-of-the line organic vegetables, grains, cheeses, fruit, meat and fibres. Ever since Headwaters this has always been on my mind, to think more consciously about where are food comes from, it's environmental impact and the quality of taste, colour and texture. Sure, it's a slow and inconvenient way of preparing meals sometimes, but I love the idea of slowing down and going back to the old way of life and respecting the nature of small scale farming and the organic processes. I love food, and what is better than going out on a hot, muggy Sunday to enjoy it. One thing in particular that is fresh right now is garlic scapes! The tender beginnings of the garlic flower bud, found in the curl of the plant, sweet and 10x stronger than garlic its self, you chop it up like a fine herb and use a small amount in stir-fry, marinades, roasts, sauces, preserves and soups. After listening to some local folk music, enjoying some rhubarb lemonade and playing with hula-hoops, we drove to a local goat farm in Arthur. There Bronwyn and I met several cute goats with personalities, learned how they gather milk, made cheeses, spreads, ice cream, yogurt and meats. We also met two dogs, pigs, chickens and a pony. Bronwyn loved every minute and is always asking "Can we get a goat for the backyard?" She and her friend Sol, fell in love with a goat named "Thor" who they climbed around in the barn with. I loved two baby boys named: Baby New and Baby Poo, they followed me around trying to suck on my figures.