Garden Party

I've been planning a garden party my whole life. I just never before had a garden. But, last week, to celebrate my five year wedding anniversary and one year of living in Dawson Creek, Mike and I had about 40 people in our backyard for a party. It was a lot of work, but a huge success. We had perfect Dawson Creek weather, as it was sunny without a single cloud and no wind, which meant that my shady backyard stayed warm until about 9:30 when it started to get dark out. We had little lanterns, tables with white tablecloths and candles, and little spots to eat set up throughout the garden. I got many compliments on the flowers and shrubs that I worked so hard on and it really paid off!

I spent most of the time running around being hostess, as usual, and then being surprised when people started to leave and I had barely sat down yet, but hey, that's what exhorters do at parties. Especially ones they organize themselves!

I had so many people tell me what a great time they had though, and it was nice to celebrate our anniversary with our new friends. We got some lovely cards and the coolest thing was that every time I was going to introduce two people to each other, I would see them already talking! The joys of a small town--everyone is connected somehow.

But, now it's two weeks of relaxation and no set plans until our trip to California. I've been writing a lot, and am planning on sending out two packets of poems today. I'm also trying to convince Mike to take me on a hike to Tumbler Ridge. There are apparently about 35 different hiking trails, most of them ending in a waterfall. I really want to do this one to Kinuseo Falls, which is actually taller than Niagara, just not as wide.

Well, it's time to stop procrastinating and type up those poems. Fingers crossed for me!

Here are some garden party pics:



Delicious food brought by my friends...




The backyard...








Friends, and their children!




The lights come on at the end of the night.

Five Years

Five years ago, on this Saturday of 2003, Mike and I got married. It was a semi-cloudy day, but still warm, with a little bit of rain. I was 19 and he was 20 and we had about 170 friends and family members packed into a very warm but lovely little church with a center aisle.

I remember getting ready with the girls and my mom and sisters in the morning, having them lace up my dress and telling me I looked beautiful.



I remember walking down the aisle after my bridesmaids, to the instrumental Celtic song I'd picked out when I was about 15, and which I'd had planned out and timed for years. I looked straight at Mike, but knew he would make me cry just looking at him, so I turned my gaze to all the family at the front pews, who were also making me cry.

I remember standing in the lovely green park having photos taken in front of the water and on the bridge, watching our wedding party laughing and taking silly shots.



I remember how wonderful it felt to stand in the middle of the reception hall, seeing my reflection in the sliding balcony door, the white twinkling lights, candle glow and that remarkable feeling when you walk across the room with your lovely white dress trailing behind.

I remember my first dance with Mike, and how half way through he pulled a disposable camera out of his pocket and took our traditional Mike and Sabring shot, of which we have dozens already, some perfectly angled, some accidentally looking up our noses...



And I remember all the past anniversaries, including fireworks at the Butchart Gardens, a concert, a night at a B&B, dinners in downtown Victoria, picnics at Beacon Hill Park, and even our quick lunch today at Mr. Mike's before Mike went to work.



It's been the best five years and I can't wait for the next five!

Pictures from home

In the past 10 months, I have been a complete airmiles freak, which recently paid off in a free flight to Vancouver. From there I walked on the ferry and had my mom pick me up for a week at home.


It was lovely--the weather was hot and sunny and I managed to visit all my family and squeeze in two trips to the best lake in the world, Sproat Lake, which was warm enough to swim in the crystal clear water and suntan on the beach! I was also able to visit with my good friend Melissa and Jenn at Rath Trevor beach, and on my last day made it to the Coombs market for a delicious lunch and then to nanaimo for some (okay, a LOT) of shopping. Let's just say that I made up for living in Dawson Creek for a year.


My nieces

I wish I had had my camera in Coombs, so that I could have shown a picture of the most delicious dessert ever. My mom and I each had a hazelnut ganache covered chocolate brownie. It was heaven. The consistency of cheesecake and it wasn't too rich and only about three bites big. Just perfect.

I also got my Nonna's recipe for spaghetti sauce which is very exciting. I will post it soon.

But, as trips tend to do, Saturday came quickly and I flew home after visiting my Dad in Van for a few hours. We went out to lunch and hit up the bookwarehouse before he and his girlfriend drove me to the airport. Isn't it crazy that I can fly home in only an hour and 25 minutes? If only it weren't so expensive I'd go all the time!

Well, here are some of the highlights, although I forgot to take a pic of me and my Mom...:(

Me and my little sis at Sproat Lake


Melissa and Jenn's little guys

First camping trip

I have a few posts that have been milling around in my head for some time now, but I haven't had the chance to post them. Well, I guess I better just start with one. On the Canada Day weekend Mike and I went on our first Northern camping trip, with our friends Chris and Chantal. Chris is another RCMP member, and Chantal teaches french like me. So, we had plenty in common and a carload of board games just in case.

We trecked out on the friday afternoon, literally about one hour after the last official school day ended for me. It was a rush to pack everything and be ready but so nice to go and relax on a lake for my first weekend of summer freedom. I'd said goodbye to all the kids, and toted all of my end of the year gifts home (the perks of being a grade one teacher :) and we set off toward Tumbler Ridge, which is about an hour and a half south of Dawson and is in a more mountain-like setting. We stopped just short of the town and pulled into Stony lake, thankfully claiming the last campsite.



The weather was perfect--sunny the entire time, and although we were very mosquito infested, we had a great time playing bocci ball, the Farming Game, and laying by the lake reading while our husbands explored the woods on a quad.



Chris and Chantal



Saying goodbye to the campsite on our last day