Egad!

It's August 29. Which means my cousin turns 40 today. And in 3 short months, so does my brother. How can that be?! I'm not old enough to have a big brother who's 40!

It's been a crazy last few weeks: busy working, playing, meeting friends (new and old), teaching and spending time with Nermal. She continually amazes me. And demonstrates just how much love can change someone. In four short years, she's gone from a scared-y cat to uber cuddler. Still chatty and is always game to play. And really good at knowing when to just sit and be. I've learned a lot from her.

And summer just wooshed by! I have a good feeling about fall, though. And I'm fully equipped with a new pack that will serve double duty: day pack in summer and avalanche gear pack in winter. This weekend is going to be awesome: I'm heading out to hike in the meadows that hide under the snow in my winter wonderland.

And that's what I know today.

Blink and you miss it!

August, that is. Where did it go? How did it get to be the 21st of the month already?

Oh well. Things are looking up around here. My house is clean, my mat's made a comeback and Nerm is her usual entertaining self. Other things that have returned: drinks on the patio, healthy food and cooking.

Whirlwind July

Where did it go?! Hmmm...let's see...

-there was dinner with some friends and a friend who'd traveled from afar to partake in some Alberta fun
-there were some happy hours at Mikey's Juke Joint
-there was some walking in the woods and mountains around Canmore
-there may have also been some shopping when we went for lunch in Canmore
-there was some ice cream at Village Ice Cream, the marvelous new place within walking distance of my house (this is good, because it's more than 15 blocks each way)
-there was an amazing four days on Prince's Island listening to amazing music with friends. Chris Issak, Whitehorse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Gillian Welch, Mary Chapin Carpenter...good times.

And poof! Just like that, it's gone and we're already into August, which hopefully will bring more of the same.