A blog full of memories
Just a note to explain because a few people commented. It’s December again. I usually give my blog a make over in December. This year, I’m going to try a few new things (new features, new functions) so I’m reverting back to a simple theme with lots of whitespace for awhile as I try things …
It’s that time of year again Charlie Brown. I mean, “Can somebody tell me what Christmas is all about?” Well, I know what it is not about. It is certainly not about listening to the same old, same old music. The stuff you hear everywhere? On the radio? In the mall? At your company’s Christmas party? This …
No, not culottes…but short pants. I was hemming a pair of jeans today. I had two pair from earlier this year that were too long and this is the first time I have taken to hem them. They weren’t just a bit too long, they were more than five inches too long. I haven’t hemmed …
I made ratatouille last night. I’d been thinking about making it for over a month. But yesterday, I found a recipe in one of my Mum’s Prevention magazines. It looked quite easy. So I made it. Here are the ingredients: 3 tbsp olive oil 1 med yellow onion, peeled and chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced …
Because, when I’m talking to my oldest sister on the phone and we’re starting to look for Christmas presents for my parents and I open the browser window to start a search for an exercise bicycle and it defaults to cbc.ca as the home page and as I’m talking to my sister I scan the …
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. These are three words that have been in my vocabulary since my grade 3/4 class with Mrs. Bunker. We learned these three words as part of a national campaign I think–at least, that is what I remember. The year I left for university, I realized I could save money with that principle …
I ask my Dad: “What is the best practical joke you’ve played on someone?” He snorts. “Oh. There are so many!” Then he starts chuckling. “I think the best one was when I was driving your sister down to Olds College. We stopped in Fort McMurray to see my relatives. I phoned up my niece …
It was one of my friend’s (from elementary school) birthday yesterday. I thought about her as I wrote the date on some forms at the bank. And made a mental note to check when I got back to the computer. I was surprised to get an email from her later: Hi Jen, It’s my birthday today …
My dad flew down to Calgary last week to help me drive my car home to Whitehorse. He visited with my sister Nat and her family. Friday evening, they all went out for dinner. Dad was sitting at one end of the table. Nat, her sister-in-law and her mother-in-law (I think) were sitting at the …
My dad tells me: “I used to read you girls nursery rhymes.” I laugh: “Yeah. I remember your nursery rhymes!” We spend the next few minutes reciting the rhymes he taught us. Mary Mary quite contrary How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockell shells And one big F’ing onion! We snicker and …
Am republishing this story because my friend hadn’t read it yet. Originally published 26 December 2006. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My sibling, Redd, has been bugging me for over a year to post this story about hand sanitizer and outhouses. It is a fairly embarrassing story, but I thought–since it was on my list of things to do …
I am driving to the Yukon with my Dad. We have time to talk in the car. I ask him, “What made you laugh when we were kids?” He paused and thought for a moment. “Well, when Natoline was just starting school, she came home one day and said:” “We were learning about babies today. …
We went to a soirée des courges (Hallowe’en) at a friend’s house on Saturday night. I notice that Hallowe’en in Switzerland is refreshingly absent from the stores. Maybe the commercialism was refreshingly absent because we still showed up to a friend’s house for pumpkin soup. Cheese, wine, de la viande sechée–and pumpkin soup. Mmmmmm. Our …
A few weeks ago, I installed Tweet Deck on my computer. I search for fellow bloggers and social media fans and just interesting people in general. I have an ongoing search for Lausanne and Valais. One morning I see a tweet flutter by: “On to Lausanne by train today… http://bit.ly/aid14.” I wonder who is arriving …
“Can I bring you something?,” he asked on his way out the door. “I can’t think of anything.” “Are you sure?” I stop and think a moment. I’d bought a butternut squash at the market on Saturday because I’d wanted to make butternut squash soup. I have a favourite recipe from my Looney Spoons cookbook. …
This is going to be a bit of a lame post as I haven’t been writing lately. But I have been busy. I am trying to consolidate my life — one step at a time. Today, I am the proud owner of YukonJen.com — the domain name AND I host my site myself. Up until …
I can’t tell you how exhausted I am. As most of you know, I’ve been traveling–since May 15. Hard to move around all the time. Fun though. Family. Friends. Fun. Now I am back in Healdsburg at the moment. Collecting myself as I get ready for the next chapter of my life and I thought …
After a day exploring Zermatt and the Matterhorn, we arrive Thursday evening at Caprice du Temps, my friend’s family’s winery. The next day, they have their portes-ouvertes for their clients at their winery. His brother (the winemaker) pours the wine. His god-father mans the cheese under the heat. They explain, this meat – this viande …
I emailed my friend in Switzerland when I first bought my tickets to France. I can’t believe I just made this commitment, but I’ve just booked tickets to Paris. Arriving 01 June 2009 and leaving 30 June. My nephew is graduating 06 June in Juno Beach. My parents fly out of Frankfurt 09 June 2009. …
Vicky and her family (husband Pete, daughter Nadia, and son Alex) live in Sixt Sur Aft just north of Redon in Bretagne. I spent a week with them, catching up on sleep, rest, and life in general. We had a good laugh, great food, and a few outings. The day I arrived at Vicky’s, a …
After 48 hours or more of traveling from Calgary to France, I arrived in Caen on the train. I got off the train and saw my mum poking her head up and down searching for me in the arriving cars. MY PARENTS were expecting me on this particular train and were waiting on the platform. …
I headed on up to Red Deer to crash at my cousin’s and prepare for my European trip. I got to help her out with some wedding preparations –which I completely enjoyed. As we were creating her purple centerpieces for the tables at the reception, she looked at me and asked: “Jen, do you think …
Have been traveling for a bit–since May 15th actually. My friend from Yellowknife came down on her motorcycle and helped me pack up my studio in Healdsburg and we hoofed it all the way back to Alberta in my tiny car. Nothing really interesting along the way except , well…I liked Oregon. I particularly liked …
