Schnitzel, sushi and snow days

Jeff and I have recently been expanding our gastronomical horizons. Last week, we discovered a quaint restaurant that specializes in Czech-style schnitzels. Then last night we found a tasty all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant. It wasn’t a buffet; you choose off the menu what selections you want and in what quantity. And you can do that again and again for a maximum of two hours. We thought that part was interesting. Along with shopping malls, all-you-can-eat restaurants may very well lead to the demise of North American society.

But the best news of all is that I had my very first snow day of the school year today! For those of you not fortunate enough to live in a climate that offers such pleasures, ‘snow day’ refers to the cancellation of school due to extreme weather conditions. It is a day to be cherished, when hot chocolate is to be sipped, responsibilities temporarily forgotten, and pajamas are to be lingered in. Sadly, I was so excited that by the time I finished my I-got my-very-first-snow-day dance (to the tune of “cha cha cha cha CHA CHA”), that I couldn’t seem to get back to sleep.

Shopping Mall Culture

Most of my adult life ( I AM closer to thirty than 20 now), I have felt an uneasiness about shopping malls. Today, after three hours in the mall -longer than I have spent in a mall in a very long time- I discovered that being in a mall is actually an exercise in suspending reality. Once through the main entrance, all my senses were suddenly forced into turbo because of the excessive stimuli: the smells of the food court, bright lights, the many other reality-suspending citizens. All of a sudden, I forgot what I really came for, and was infused with a sense of need for so many other things. "Should I get a coffee? It smells so warm and cozy." "Wow! So many sales!" Cost became relative. For example, I reasoned, " That fleecy-lined wool toque was originally $29.99, and now it's only $19.99. That must be a good price..." It was in that moment that I remembered why I avoid malls: I become confused about what I need and what I want. (I have a box of warm wool toques in the closet.) I had hit a wall; after all the excitement of so many choices, so many deals, so many colours... I only wanted out. It was a feeling of disgust really. I knew of a reality beyond the walls of the mall where toques do not cost more than the dress pants I had just purchased, where a person recognizes that sometimes, you just don't need anything that you don't already have. I fear for all those who become lost in this shopping world where needs and wants become as mixed up as the smell from New York Fries and Orange Julius.

Back in Business

Life has been busy these last couple of months. I'm teaching French full-time at a small Christian elementary school, as well as an ESL class for New Canadians (adults) one night a week. Jeff is speaking a lot of weekends these days, as well as working on graphic design projects. But we’ve had some relaxing times: the African Lion Safari (err…in Canada), a chilly weekend camping with some friends and their youth group, our Friday night make-your-own-pizza tradition, some biking, and three Thanksgiving dinners. I don’t have time to post any photos now, but the ones of the monkey on our car, tearing off a sun visor, are quite comical.

PS Here are some photos after all.

Cornish hens at Thanksgiving


Jeff cutting onions for a a big batch of chili


A Monkey hanging off the rear wiper of our van at the African Lion Safari


The warning sign at the Safari (and my new policy for shopping malls... See the following post.)

Camping on the West Coast..

of Ontario, that is.



We finally got bikes! So last weekend we broke them in and camped again at MacGregor Point. We hadn't made reservations, but we arrived early and Jeff, with his boyish good looks and charm, convinced the park lady to give us a nice site. Today, Jeff biked to work for the first time. We’re very pleased with our new investment: for health and quality time.




This past weekend, we met up my old roommate from Bible school, Kathryne, and her husband, Paul. We camped at Presqu’ile which was lovely, though chilly, and about halfway between here and Ottawa, where they live. I don’t think we’ll make a habit of camping on the other side of Toronto, however. It took us double the time to drive home because of traffic. (But I already wrote a blog about the 401…) Yet it was worth it to spend time with them.

Jenny, Kathryne and Paul skipping rocks on Lake Ontario


Heating up some yummy chili on the beach

The Day-to-Day

Just so our blog doesn’t convey the message that all we do is vacation: The other day at the grocery store, I experienced a moral dilemma… There were huge lineups at all the checkouts, except the 1-8 Items Express Checkout. I had around a dozen items in my cart. But everyone else had mile-high shopping carts stocked up for the long weekend. So I quickly wheeled it to the Express Checkout. I even offered to let the older gentleman who arrived after me go first, since he only has a couple of items in his arms, though he declined. No dirty looks. Phew.

Then I spent this weekend in the kitchen, making soup, chili, coffee cake, bread, beans and I can’t remember what else. Now that I will be working (I have a full-time teaching job at a small Christian School starting this fall), I’m trying to organize our meals in advance. Jeff went to the office to work on an extra design job this afternoon and I’m going to rev up the sewing machine to do some mending and hemming.

So we do have a regular life after all.

Return to Lake Huron

Our latest camping trip truly felt like a vacation even though we were only gone for 2 nights. The beach at MacGregor Point, our campground, was a little rocky and busy for our liking but we heard about a beautiful stretch of beach just down the road in Port Elgin, on Lake Huron. It was quite windy one day, so we had a blast frolicking in the ocean-like waves without worries of sea life nibbling on our toes. (Yes, Jeff frolicked, too!) Of interest is the fact that I forgot to pack the pump for our air mattress bed and, since our air compressor for the van tires didn’t fit, Jeff blew himself to dizziness - all in the name of a good night’s sleep!

Jeff happily blowing up our air mattress bed


Juicy steak grilled to perfection over an open flame


Jenny's always happier on a full stomach


Jeff got up close and personal for this shot






Would you believe it's actually a lake?

"The Clarification"

Some have been wondering if Jenny was telling the truth about her ability to do flips on the trampoline... Well, exclusive to Blogspot I have uploaded a TOP SECRET video to show whether or not she is still capable of such manouvers.



Ethan trying to be like his auntie Jenny! BUT watch him use his head as a spring board!!! LOL

Back to the Bay

Our visit "home" was loaded with family, seafood, ice cream and trips to the beach - all the things that east-coast vacations are made of. I rediscovered my childhood (and fading flexibility) on Ethan’s trampoline. But I can, with in-laws as my witnesses, still do flips, albeit with less gracefulness than earlier years. Jeff wasn’t too keen on the bouncing machine, so he and Ethan took a youthful spin on Dave’s 4-wheeler. We played frisbee on the beach with Jeff’s mom (who denies having ever played before despite her accurate passes) and hunted for smooth rocks on the beach (which Jeff’s mom will paint with Ethan). Betty even cooked us a turkey dinner! Boy, it’s great to be loved, eh?





Sonya BBQing some delicious shrimp, to go with the ribs


An unexpected hail storm



Lobster and crab legs with Jeff's mom



Frisbee on the beach




Note the giant lobster trap behind


3 years married this month!


Beach combing for the perfect rocks...



Ice cream, please!


Kipper Snacks with Cheese Whiz - Dave's fishing delicacy

Islands Apart

After our week at camp, we journeyed eastward. We spent a few restful days on Prince Edward Island with Jeff’s sister, her husband and our niece. It was lovely driving along the scenic country roads, with the distinctive red sand of the island, ocean views, potato fields, and lupins in bloom.

Katelyn reading to Uncle Jeff and Tracy (Mom)


Great Blue Heron (I think...)


A stroll on Cavendish Beach




Lupins by the sea


Roadside lupins

Back from Quebec and yonder

Jeff warned me early on that if we didn’t update our blog regularly, people would stop checking it. So after a month’s hiatus, I hope there remains a faithful few who still count us worthy of the mouse click and moments spent waiting for this page to load.

The first week of this month we spent at Camp Livingstone, near Montreal, where we worked 3 out of the past 4 summers. Jeff was the speaker for the chapel sessions and I was the “speaker’s wife”. Jeff did a great job, of course, and my noble position afforded me much time to catch up with old friends and enjoy the scenery. However, trying to squeeze into 6 days the fun campy activites that we usually spread over 7 weeks proved a challenge!

Some campers


Jeff talking to the teens in chapel


Enjoying 'mille feuilles' in the kitchen at night with Sam


Cool creature


Fun at the frog pond


Trisha at the waterfront