Canada Week One Recap

It’s insane to me that I’ve already been home for over a week. I really don’t have much to show for said week becaused it’s flown by undetected. I’ve barely snapped a photo that wasn’t of a dog or cat.

I grew up in Vancouver, and lived there until I was 21. I consider Vancouver my hometown, however since I’ve left so has the majority of my family. My Mom now lives in a town with a population of around 3,500 just on the edge of the Rocky Mountains (Alberta side). Her sole reason for moving here was financial, this is where the money is/was in Canada.

She does well here, but by no means is it her “home”. Her sole focus here is work, which means she spends a lot of time there (and she has to) so if I want to spend time with her I pretty much have to be there as well.. which I have been since arriving. It’s been fun, but I’m tired of being dirty!! (She boards pets my Aunt grooms them)

This coming Saturday a friend of mine from the Netherlands is coming for a visit. He’ll be flying into Calgary and together we’ll make our way via car to Vancouver. We’ve planned a stay in Banff, Revelstoke, a couple nights in Vancouver, then off to the island for a getaway in Tofino before heading back to Vancouver for a few days before his flight home.  If only it were Peter it could be quite romantic! Speaking of my love, am missing him big time!

So, since I’ve been back I’ve been eating and playing with dogs. Doesn’t make for a very interesting blog post so I’ll leave you with a few photos.

Doc

Emma, Doc, Hailey, Bruno and Alex

Hailey and Emma

Bruno

Lucy, my Mom's dog and my soulmate!

Last night's dinner

I missed drinking out of Mason jars

and coffee mugs the size of my head

28th Birthday in Photo Format

Spicy Beef Nachos

Gratis Cocktail!

Birthday, creamy, chocolatey goodness. Sadly, I had to share.

Minty Goodness

Peter’s sister, Marieke is turning 29 tomorrow. Our birthdays are only 2 days apart.. but I’m one whole year YOUNGER!

Something she really loves are After Eight chocolates.. I’m sure you know them.

Mmmmmm

So, today I put my baking “skills” to use and went to work at making After Eight cookies.  After some careful searching I found the recipe I’d been looking for here : Click here for recipe

Next was the ever so fun hunt for ingredients. If you live (and cook) in the Netherlands, I’m sure you’ve been faced with the same problem.

When I lived in Amsterdam it was no problem, because there are plenty of “expat stores”, where for an ever so good price you can find almost anything you’d need. Now living in a small town doesn’t afford me these luxuries, so I made due. I was able to find the baking soda at the pharmacy (drogist) under the name “zuiveringszout”.

I didn’t have such luck with the chocolate chips, so settled for a big slab of pure chocolate. Luckily the recipe called for the chocolate to be melted anyways.

Half of the cookies turned out, so tomorrow I will show up to Marieke’s house with 12 beautiful cookies to celebrate her being one year older than me

I’ll let you know how they went down!

Homeward Bound

I did it! I finally booked my flight home!

Peter’s family actually went all in together as a birthday present and have decided to sponsor my trip home. That’s quite touching really.

I hope it’s not just because they want to get rid of me

I kid.

So, I leave quite quickly. I’m out of here July 18th and suddenly I find myself quite pressed for time and no ambition whatsoever because of this heat!

Next week is full of birthday stuff (myself and sis in law) as well as my friend is due for her 3rd on my very own bday (8th). On the 7th I’m going to go celebrate my bday with some Amsterdam friends, combined with doggy school and taking care of some things in the household.

I’ll be gone for a total of 6 weeks, which sounds like a huge chunk of time but I just know it will fly by.

I am really going to miss my boys though!