a letter (to my dog)

I call this one 'Scout's headshot.' Anyone need a dog model?

{all photos taken by me on the island}

Dear Scout,

I was quite worried when I first got back to Vancouver that you wouldn't recognize me. After all, it had been 2 and half years, and I'm not really sure what a dog's long term memory is like. Sure enough, right at first you didn't seem to know who I was. You sniffed me and then trotted off to get more pats from my dad and my brother. But shortly thereafter you came back to me, and I'm pretty sure you knew me.

When we were younger, Mateo and I used to try to convince our dad to get a pet. A cat. A hamster. A fish. Anything! His answer was always the same: "Too much responsibility. No pets." Which is why we were all the more surprised when he called one day - I was in 1st year, Mateo was in high school - to say that he had bought a puppy.

Mateo and I jumped in the car and raced over to our dad's place, where we burst in so loudly that you immediately peed everywhere. You were this tiny ball of fluff and we loved you immediately.

More recently, I went to visit you and my dad on the island. You slept in my room and woke me up in the morning with slobbery dog kisses. I'm pretty sure you remember me. One day I wanted to go for a walk to a beautiful seaside park, but I didn't know how to get back to my dad's. He dropped us off at the park and said, "Just follow Scout back, she knows the way."

We started walking and right away I thought you were lost. I kept thinking that there was no way you would get us home, I mean, how would you even know that I wanted to get back to the house? But I kept following you, on the roads, through the trails and all the way to the house. Of course.

You are a smart cookie.

love,

that girl who lets you get away with anything because you're so damn cute

p.s. I realize that this post places me firmly in the camp of those-crazy-dog-people but I don't really care.

my (vancouver) life in iphone photos round 17

First of all, thanks so much for all your advice on my last post! It was funny, the general consensus seemed to be: bangs for winter, no bangs for summer. Words of wisdom indeed :) I still haven't chopped them but I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, here's some snaps from my phone...

my mom & I, my friend and her sweet baby girl

baby geese! I love them.

I found my childhood teddy bear: Winnie the Pooh. Reading in the sun.

Flowers. Friend and I post shopping trip.

Lilacs on my desk. Driving to the ferry, yay!

scenes from my dad's, under the bridge.

xx

bangs, yes or no?

I have a love/hate relationship with bangs (sorry aussies, I mean a fringe). I love the way they look on other people, so I want them too. But when I have bangs, they drive me nuts, never quite looking how I want them to. It also doesn't help that my hair is multi-coloured; that big blond streak in the front is natural and makes any attempt at a fringe look kind of funny.

And yet, I want a fringe again. I wear my hair up a lot and it gets pretty boring. I like how a fringe can make even a messy bun look cute. What say you?

Bangs...

Or no bangs?

Bangs...

Or no bangs?

Bangs...

Or... well you get the idea!

Cranberry Coffee Cake, just cause

Last night when I got home from yoga I wanted to make a cake. I also wanted for that cake to involve sour cream. Don't ask me why; but the stomach wants what the stomach wants so I obliged. If you too feel like making a cake (with sour cream) for no particular reason, give this recipe a shot:

Cranberry Coffee Cake

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups flour

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp almond extract

1 cup cranberries (I used dried)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (you could probably use any kind of nut)

GLAZE:

3/4 cup icing sugar

1 tsp almond extract

1 Tbsp warm water

Cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Sift dry ingredients together, then add to creamed mixture. Add sour cream and almond extract.

Place half the batter in a tin (I used a bundt tin cause I felt like it) then spoon the cranberries over this. Top with remaining batter and sprinkle nuts on top. Bake at 350 degrees fahrenheit for 45-55 minutes (mine was done at 45 minutes).

For the glaze, combine the 3 ingredients then drizzle over warm cake.

Yum, yum.

then & now

When I was on the island, one of my priorities was finding my old friend Katrina. We grew up together in east Vancouver and were the best of friends from kindergarten on. People often asked us if we were twins or sisters, and one halloween we even dressed up as siamese twins by wearing a huge sweater over the both of us.

Our parents are still close, though we hadn't seen each other in a while seeing as I live on the opposite side of the globe! I heard she was living on the island, but cell phone reception is dodgy and I didn't completely remember the spot where she's now living (we used to go there as kids).

As luck would have it though, I didn't need to worry. I was in a shop on Saturday morning when I saw Katrina talking to the cashier. I tapped her on the shoulder but it didn't quite click. I tapped her again and she spun around, this time, noticing who I was. She yelled "oh my god, what are you doing here?" before turning to the cashier and exclaiming, "she's in Australia!"

I sometimes think that one of the things I like about Sydney is that my friendships there are based on shared interests and values, whereas my friendships here are more about history. But I have to say that there is something so nourishing about spending time with people you've known since you were 4. In a few weeks I'll be going to LA to visit this lady, who I've also know since I was little, and I can't wait to reconnect!

from the island

For as long as I can remember, my family have visited one of the small gulf islands off the coast of Vancouver island. Over the years I've been there with my parents, my brother, old boyfriends, and friends, old and new.

Now when I go there, it's to visit my dad who has since made the island his home. But this being a long weekend, it seemed that everyone I knew was there at the same time! It was so wonderful to spend quiet time in the bush (as we would say in Australia), but also to reconnect with old, old friends.

Of course, it was also nice to hang out with my dad at his favourite cafe. He's so Canadian - always wearing some variation of jeans and flannel.

One of my oldest friends is also living on the island right now, with a cat and 4 chickens. This is one of her chickens.

There's something so refreshing about spending time with old friends, hearing their news and sharing yours.

side note: this is my favourite photo that I've taken on this trip home. It just screams pacific northwest to me.

I just read this post on the beautiful blog, Andrew and Carissa, and I kept thinking "yes! that's exactly how I feel about being home." I would have to say that the word grounded perfectly describes how I feel here.

island hopping

Yesterday I took the ferry to go and visit my dad, who lives on a gorgeous little island. I'm spending the weekend here reading, taking Scout for walks and visiting old friends.

I know I've been pretty absent in this space lately and I think I just have to run with it. Truth is, I've been very much craving quiet and space lately. More importantly, my damn camera is still broken (blergh!?!?!) so I don't have photos to share. Boo.

Anyway, to all my Canadian friends, happy long weekend!

and the winner is...

According to a random number generator, the winner of the Shabby Apple giveaway is...

Lucky #3, Mallorie Owens (from the sweet blog Home is With You)!

Congratulations Mallorie! I'll be emailing you asap...

what I did yesterday

For my Sydney friends who think the beaches in Vancouver can't compare ;)

p.s. these photos are filterless, isn't the sky amazing?