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Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

As Summer Slips Away


As summer slips away, the days stay bright, but bittersweet with the knowledge that often accompanies goodbyes. An ending is about to take place, just on the doorstep, drawing ever nearer with each passing day, but with it also the possibility of renewal and change. So turn the seasons, so turn we all in the rhythms and undulations of life.




Like enjoying a magnificent symphony, I have appreciated the beauty and complexity of these past few months - the contrasts of industry and rest, the mad frantic chaos of social gatherings and the calm healing silence of solitary afternoons, the cool comfort of home and the warm embrace of the sun. Perhaps all of life is a study in contrasts and we simply strive to find balance in them all, alternating between extremes as notes on a scale and seeking the harmony that is often elusive but so incredibly satisfying when we get it *just* right.





















      



















This summer in particular has felt like a gift, for which I am utterly grateful. There's always a temptation, isn't there, to want to slow down the best moments of our lives? To prolong the harmony, to just sustain it just a little longer and then just a little more, basking in beauty and unwilling to let go? But this is not how time works, and we all know it. And rather than chafing against its inexorable progression, I am trying to do two things in these moments: to give thanks for all these evidences of grace, and to recognize, in their passing, that they are opportunities to look ahead to a time of unending harmony and beauty that will never fade.




In the meantime, may I savour this season's final, fleeting days. For every ending is a new beginning and in the right light, bittersweet is beautiful, too.



P.S. I know I'm verging into I might be tiptoeing close to purple prose territory here, but I felt rather poetic tonight and didn't want to do another "boring" summer update. So you're stuck with my rusty attempt at creative writing, instead! ;)

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Photo Update: Vacation Days 11-21

Since I have never been much good at keeping a journal (a sad fact for a writer, but there it is), I resolved this month to keep track of my vacation by taking at least one photo every day. This practice admittedly makes for lazy blogging, but has happily helped me remember in vivid detail much of what has transpired over the past ten days (an impressive feat for me at any time, let alone during a month of unstructured, unscheduled living, considering I routinely arrive at our Friday fellowship meeting unable to answer the classic, "How was your week?" with anything more than a blank stare and a hazy feeling of being busy but lacking concrete recollection of a single thing I have accomplished during said week). And so, without further ado or another long-winded aside, I present you with this photo update of the "middle third" of my vacation.

BBQ on the patio (July 11)
Quality time with out of town friends! (July 11)
Nothing says summer like being wrapped up in a blanket on the couch watching Netflix, LOL!  (July 12)
Homemade iced lemon mint courtesy of the lovely L (July 13)
The perfect low-key hangout day: swimming, movie night, nachos (July 13)
Summer treats - cooling off with an iced capp (July 15)
The requisite feet by the pool shot (July 15)
Friend dates ftw! Ending the best day ever with bubble tea! (July 16)
Because 48 goals didn't seem like enough, I added 2 more "official" goals and 8 "bonus" items, LOL! (July 18)
Milk and cookies :D (July 19)
Glorious late night sunsets (July 19)
Summer in a bowl (July 20)
Grow little buddy, grow! (July 21)
That light, those clouds (take 1)! (July 21)
That light, those clouds (take 2)! (July 21)




Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Thankfulness Project 3.0 + Yes, Another Pool Photo

Dramatic clouds about an hour before sunset

Sitting by (or, more often, but less photogenically, swimming in) the rooftop pool with condo towers rising to one side and church spires to the other as the final rays of sunlight transform the sky into a glowing backdrop, I have more than once this summer been powerfully reminded of how very much I have been given. God has provided this amazing place for us to live, and I still remember walking in the first day and thinking, "This apartment is amazing; I must never stop thanking God for it." That was over 8 years ago, and by God's grace I have been able to keep that promise. His provision has at times been miraculous and other times seemingly mundane, and through it all, I remain very aware of the privilege we have to live here. To have a comfortable home where we can extend hospitality to others (current record = 16 people in the living room), where we can sprawl out on the couch to unwind with Netflix (her) or the Food Network (him), where we can have a cool place to sleep in the summer so I don't end up with heat stroke (actually) - these are amazing comforts and gifts for which I am profoundly grateful. 

Perhaps, as an introverted homebody who usually prefers a night in to, well, pretty much anything else, it's easy for me to be thankful for these "comforts of home." Yet how easy it is for me to take so many other blessings for granted, be they little or big. The "Thankfulness Project" originally started as my answer to the celebrated concept of the "Life List." (Not that there's anything inherently wrong with a Life List, for the record!) I can't think of any better time to revive it than during my vacation month when I have been afforded so many quiet moments to remember that I have indeed been blessed beyond measure by the Giver of all good gifts.

xo,
K

P.S. The night I took this photo there was another resident enjoying the view from the terrace while I was swimming. He walked the entire perimeter of the pool deck, taking in the full panoramic vista from all sides, and after circling back to his starting point he could no longer contain his enthusiasm and joyfully exclaimed, "I think this is the nicest rooftop pool and patio in the whole of downtown! It's as if the entire city was built around us - and that view!" (Later on he came back with another gentleman, explaining to me that he just couldn't keep this view to himself and had to share it with his friend!) 




Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Happy October!

Am I the only one scratching my head as to how it's suddenly October 2013? I swear every year the days whiz by faster than the last...

Since I'm spending more time than I would like on the couch this week, recovering from late summer/early autumn cold #2, I thought the first of October (historically, my favourite month of the year!) would be a good time to bring you this delicious inspiration:

Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal from: Budget Bytes

'Tis the season for all things pumpkin-y, and I have a feeling this simple yet scrumptious-sounding (and looking!) recipe will be making it into the breakfast rotation next week. If I can even hold out that long. Happy October, friends!

xo,
Kate

P.S. Looking for more festive fall flavour ideas? Previous pumpkin-obsessed posts here and here.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Happy Things + Thankfulness Project 2.0

Last week was a doozie - just a lousy, lousy week that I would like to forget for so many reasons. However, in the spirit of being thankful for the many undeserved blessings God has given me, this week I will be posting about things that make me happy. (Sort of along the same lines as the Thankfulness Project posts I wrote a while back, which you long-time readers might remember.)

Tuesday's Happy Things:
1. Winning another free coffee from Tim Horton's. (So far I'm up to three free coffees and a donut!)
2. The stupendous lentil stew we made for dinner tonight! (It deserves its own post, which will be coming later this week.)
3. The high I get from a successful day's tutoring session. (It never gets old.)

Actually, speaking of the Thankfulness Project, I think it would be good to get back into the habit of publicly giving thanks for what I have been given. (I totally did not expect this post to take that direction when I started writing. But hey, why not?!) Let's do it!

As a reminder, here's my "mission statement" from a few years ago when I first set out to document on a regular basis the things for which I was thankful.

The Thankfulness Project

Normally, I am really big on the psychological boost of “fresh starts,” like the beginning of a week, month, year, new school term, etc. These dates somehow hold special promise for me, and can motivate me to success in all kinds of ways. On a “fresh start” day I have the confidence and the drive to develop better habits, work toward a specific goal, or just generally get it together. There’s just something inspirational about “the first day of” that brings balance to my life and speaks to my soul. Or something less cheesy and pop-psychological-sounding.

All that to say that when I was originally planning to start The Thankfulness Project on my blog, I fully intended to begin on July 4th (my first official day of vacation) and continue from there. But I didn’t, and tonight I decided to throw up my hands and forget about being tied down to a “fresh start day.” It is Wednesday night, and I am bringing you The Thankfulness Project. So there, psyche.

What it is
The Thankfulness Project is one way I’m trying to develop an attitude of gratitude. It’s my way of dwelling on the blessings in my life and giving thanks for all the good things, both small and ginormous, that God has given me.

What it is not
The Thankfulness Project is in no way grandiose or pretentious. I have always admired the ability of children to delight in the smallest things (an old cardboard box, a sticker that isn’t sticky anymore, a jangly set of keys) and I certainly hope that is a skill I have held on to. While the Thankfulness Project is certainly meant seriously on my part, that is not to say that every post is going to be deeply moving and profound. Some might be. I will certainly be giving thanks for some really major blessings. But I’ll also be thanking God for the little things that bring joy into my life.

When it will happen
Since I can only go against my personality so much, and we’re already starting in the middle of the week, toward the end of my vacation, and on a pretty random day in July, I must at least maintain some semblance of balance and symmetry by turning this into a weekly series. So you can expect a Thankfulness Project post on the blog every Wednesday.

The back-story
Many of the personal blogs I frequent are great proponents of the “Life List” or “30 Before I’m 30” or “Top 63 Things I Want to Do Before I Die.” Basically these are lists of a person’s personal goals and desires, ranging from small & relatively insignificant items (ex. learn how to make chocolate cherry ice cream) to larger goals (ex. complete the Boston Marathon). Many of the lists I’ve read include practical entries, like “learn how to change a car tire” or “start buying only local produce,” and lots of people have very laudable and self-giving goals, too, such as “write a thank-you letter to my most influential teacher.”

The thing about these lists is that whatever lovely and noble goals the writer may have, everything invariably centres around me. What do I want to do/learn/create/experience/give? Don’t get me wrong, I have such a list as well. I want to learn CPR and basic first aid and rudimentary sewing and ancient Greek; I want to make weekly trips to the farmers’ market and bake my own bread and walk everyday and read a book-a-week next year; I want to make dinner for friends and make all my Christmas gifts from scratch and learn to live on less and tame my temper. But for all of those great desires, there’s still a lot of me me me floating around in those goals.

Thus, my answer to the “life list” was born. I don’t want to make a list of things to do before I die. Not that there’s anything inherently problematic with such a list. But to me, it puts the focus in the wrong place. Sure, it would be great to travel to Paris while I can still remember some French, and it would be lovely to have a house with a garden where I could grow my own veggies, but those things don’t really matter.

And so I’ll dream a little dream, and try to use my time and resources as best I can, and meanwhile, I will choose to give thanks for everything I have already been blessed with, so far above what I deserve. I hope my list of thanksgiving will uplift and encourage you.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Visual Food (B)log

In an attempt to stay motivated to eat healthy, whole, natural foods (in a world of highly processed "food" full of too many types of sugar to count, super cheap fast food on every corner, and an ever-growing number of unpronounceable ingredients in mainstream products), I've started a visual food diary to document everything I consume for the next little while. My hope is that this will not only be a faster/easier way to keep track of what I'm eating (and how much) than writing it down or logging it into an online calorie counter, but also act as a type of accountability to curb those indulgent desires that can easily go from "enjoying a once-in-a-while treat" to "let's eat macarons for lunch and have fried chicken for dinner" on a regular basis. Because nothing good happens when you visit Popeyes twice in one week and cram your face full of sugar.

You can check out my progress here, or go to the "visual food log" tab at the top of this blog, where there is a page with the permanent link to the site. And while you're at it, Erin's food blog (my inspiration) is totally fantastic and encouraging (yay, lots of veggies, complex carbs, and whole foods in general!!) and has much better photography, so you should take a look-see at hers as well. Plus, how awesome is the name "No Sneaky Snacks"?!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Happy Things (which somehow turned into a rant about shoe shopping)

As it's been well over a month since my last update, I think a Happy Post is quite overdue! Perhaps it's the proximity to American Thanksgiving (to be honest, more likely the cold-spell we've just stumbled into), but I feel quite overwhelmed with blessings at the moment. A thoroughly enjoyable, if often fleeting, experience!

In no particular order, many splendid (if somewhat superficial) reasons to be thankful:
                                                                              
1. My New "Riding" Boots ♥

Friends, you would not believe the extent to which I dislike hate LOATHE shoe-shopping. For one thing, my orthotics complicate everything, from shoe size (I'm truly a size 9-9 1/2, but have worn down to an 8 1/2 with no orthotics and up to an 11 with them- go figure!) to what styles I can even consider. Unless I'm in the market for a pair of  heels or dressy flats that I'll be wearing (uncomfortably, no doubt) for a few hours at someone's wedding or a special occasion where vanity trumps common sense, the selection of footwear I can reasonably consider (ie. orthotic-friendly) is immediately whittled down to a mere 2% of the products offered at any given store. Yes, 2% is an exact scientific figure; I checked.*

The sole must be wide enough to accommodate the orthotic, which, unlike my foot, is neither flexible nor squishy. There must be no elevated heel to speak of - we're talking less than 1/2 an inch. The toe must be wide enough not to squash my feet or wrinkle the toe-area of the orthotic. The entire "boot" part of the shoe must be large enough for the orthotic be completely inserted and lie flat. (You'd be surprised how many shoes that are supposedly in my size are too small and thus cause the heel of the orthotic to stick up). But! The shoe can't be too large or my foot will slip around and/or my heel will come up off the sole while walking. A definite no-no. In addition, the inner sole/"insert" must be thin enough to allow enough room for my foot to comfortably fit in the shoe once the addition of the orthotic is made (raising the height of my foot within the shoe and often causing the dreaded heel-coming-off-the-sole issue, or leaving too little room for my foot altogether). A removable inner sole is ideal, but most seem to be (annoyingly) glued down. In the past I have often bought a slightly too tight pair of shoes with an immovable insert and simply ripped the darn thing out at home (hoping it would make a clean break and not leave lots of little uneven bits stuck to the inside of the shoe). Hardly the stuff shoe-shopping dreams are made of.

And all of the details above just deal with what shoes are available to pick from in the first place. Thankfully, by this point in my shoe-buying career, I can usually eliminate most of the unsuccessful candidates with no more than a brief glance, but there are still the inevitable "hopeful" try-ons that result in all manner of shoving, grunting, panting, leveraging, and otherwise clumsily attempting to insert orthotic and/or foot into the piece of prospective footwear, to no avail. It is at these moments that I especially hope there are no CCTV cameras watching my miserable attempts at that most basic of all human functions: putting on one's own shoes.

Secondly, shoe stores always seem to suffer from what I can only describe as an abominable lack of air circulation. Why it is that anyone considers 95 degrees a comfortable temperature for engaging in the aforementioned podiatric gymnastics is truly beyond my obviously meagre understanding. In an already somewhat claustrophobic environment (rows of shoes, floor-to ceiling!) or, in classier joints, an atmosphere designed to make a true spectacle of the fine art of trying on shoes (by placing one communal bench in the exact centre of a well-lit store for passers-by to gawk in shock and horror at the inelegant display of patrons trying to wrangle their way into a pair of boots), I cannot imagine whose bright idea it was to see how high the thermostat would go.

I always wonder, in a subconscious sort of way, about why I seem so reluctant to go shopping when it becomes apparent that I need a new pair of shoes. It only just dawned on me that my virtual inability to draw breath by the end of a visit to the shoe store could be an important factor! As I gratefully gasped in gallons of delightfully cold air after my recent foray into our local desert footwear selling establishment, the thought did occur that if I didn't emerge from each shopping expedition spluttering and red-faced, perhaps I would find the whole experience more enjoyable. Clearly, those controlling the thermostat have not had such an epiphany.

Wait, wasn't this supposed to be a post about things I'm happy about and thankful for?

(Oops.)

But wait! I can redeem this! Just when you had lost all hope that I could ever work up the courage to venture into a shoe store ever again, I found these (cue heavenly angel music):




Despite my innate disinclination to engage in the purchase of new articles of footwear, I have really, really wanted to get a new pair of tall boots for quite some time now (like, several years - no exaggeration). But due to the laundry list of obstacles above, I've had no such luck. Actually, I hadn't even bothered to look, really, because in addition to the usual assortment of problems, I figured anything I liked would be too expensive or two small anyways. (Despite not having overly large calves, mine are apparently too large to fit the shaft of most mainstream tall/riding boots, rendering most boots useless to me, even if they fit all other criteria.) Enter the "Zoey Riding Boot" in "Cognac," a simple yet stylish tall faux-leather boot in a right, warm brown tone that suited me perfectly, and fits perfectly pretty well. Yes, it's 2 sizes larger than I usually wear, but my orthotic slips in beautifully, as does my foot and leg, and after the first day wearing it I am thoroughly impressed with my purchase.

So, a very round-about way of saying: I love my new boots, and they are making me very happy! I am so thankful to have finally found an affordable, comfortable, attractive pair of boots. And when your shoe-shopping experiences are as dramatic as mine are, you do not take such things lightly! :)


2. Jamocha Almond Chocolate Cake + Peppermint Tea

Three weeks ago, Wilson and I dramatically changed the way we're eating. I have already safely lost almost 10 lbs over the course of those weeks (huzzah!), but this doesn't mean we have given up yummy food. In fact, every Sunday is a free day which is actually an important part of the diet (more on that later), and allows us to indulge (moderately, of course) in any food we fancy. So last night, after savouring my beloved avocado rolls at our go-to local sushi restaurant, I picked up a ridiculously decadent dessert on the way home. And, as chocolate pairs perfectly with peppermint tea, I brewed myself a cuppa and indulged with impunity. Ohhhh yeah!

3. Call the Midwife

A recent, and instantly popular, BBC production being currently re-aired on PBS (Sundays at 8 pm, people!), Call the Midwife is actually a series based on the memoir of the same name by Jennifer Worth. After watching a really fantastic episode (I have high hopes for the whole season, based one the one episode I have seen), I was inspired to get the book from the library, and just finished it this evening. There's a bit of crude humour and some unfortunate sexual explicitness (truly unfortunate, given its exploitative circumstances), but overall it was a really wonderful read. From what I can tell, it seems that the TV adaptation is expertly cast (is anything the BBC does not expertly cast, though?!) and quite faithful to the published memoir. Chalk up another win for the good ole BBC!





4. SNOWFLAKES!!!

After suffering through an unusually long warm-spell (I think we had above seasonal temperatures for a steady 2-3 weeks!) during which time our air conditioners were still fully operative, the temperatures FINALLY took a nose-dive and it's now feeling a lot more like the end of November! In fact, there were even a few snowflakes in the air on Sunday, which made me very happy indeed. I know everyone will start complaining about the cold now, but I've been patiently waiting my turn, all through the rather warm spring, hot and humid summer, and extremely mild fall, and my exultation will not be curtailed. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

5. Christmas Music

Which naturally brings me to my last item: Christmas music! I've been finding it so hard to get into the mood for Christmas songs these days, which is strange considering I usually have to fight the urge to start singing "O Little Town" around the middle of October. But now that it's getting darker so much earlier, and there's truly a nip (if not a bite) in the air, I am all ready to curl up under a warm blanket with a steaming mug of cocoa in hand, and drift happily into a festive daze with the strains of Christmas carols echoing throughout the apartment. There is truly nothing like a wonderful Christmas melody to instantly put a smile on my face. Music is such a wonderful gift, and it's made even more wonderful when every bar, phrase, note, and word is in celebration of the Best Gift of All!



*Exception: New Balance, which is also known as The Best Shoe Store Humanity Has Ever Seen. Sadly, they only do runners, cross-trainers, and hiking/snow boots. They do them superbly, but to the exclusion of all other manner of footwear. Alas.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Pure Pumpkin Awesomeness

Just when I thought nothing could intensify my recent pumpkin-cravings, THIS HAPPENED.


Well, I guess we all know what I'm doing on Monday.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Afternoon Tea at the Windsor Arms

Ages ago, Wilson bought a voucher for us to have High Tea together, as it's something I've always wanted to do. I have hosted tea parties before (formal and informal), which is tons of fun, and have gone to a Victorian Tea Room (also a great experience), but this was my first time having High Tea with Wilson. Definitely something I'd love to do again! :) Here are some photo highlights of our lovely afternoon... Enjoy! xx

The gorgeous entrance to the Windsor Arms Hotel

This was the doorway into our section of the tea room. The curtains made it feel
really private and exclusive (although it was hardly exclusive if we were there!)

Afternoon Tea menu

The tables were set with crisp white linen, beautiful butterfly-patterned china edged in gold,
and individual strainers to keep the tea leaves from getting into the cups.
We each got to choose a loose leaf tea from their extensive menu for our own individual
 pots of tea - we tried passionfruit green tea and rose-scented earl grey. 


The spread: two kinds of scones (lemon and currant)
with devon cream and preserves, tiny sandwiches (which were
 yummy, if a little soggy), and an assortment of petit fours
Lemon scone with devon cream (YESSS!!!) and
house-made strawberry preserves (delish!)
My favourite bite: tiny grilled chicken
sandwich with citrus mayonnaise, granny
smith apple, Greek yogurt, and chives
My other favourite: goat cheese and caramelized shallot tart



Here, Wilson demonstrates the proper tea-sipping technique

Stuffed! (Our tea was surprisingly filling - in my case, I was already feeling full
before we finished the sandwiches. Must be all that liquid!!)



My Early Grey Tea with Roses was served in a rose-covered teapot, so sweet

Outside the hotel, after our luxurious High Tea experience

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Summer BBQ How-To

Want to know my secret for BBQ-ing success? Prepare as much as possible in advance. (In other words, think Boy Scouts!)


I suppose that is really my not very original tip for hosting any kind of dinner/gathering involving food. When I get my prep out of the way in the afternoon, I am much more calm before people come over, I'm much more considerate to my husband, and I have time to do last minute cleaning jobs (ex. vacuuming the kitchen floor after what seems like several pounds of dill fragments, chopped celery, bell pepper seeds, spices, and the like have fallen onto it over the course of cooking), clear the sink, change into something nice, and run a cool washcloth over my face.

So for a BBQ such as the one we hosted last night, get that meat marinating the night before (or morning of, if like me you only remembered about the meat after climbing into bed). Chop veggies and soak wooden skewers (if using) in the afternoon, start your water simmering early so when you need it to boil you'll only wait a minute or two, throw utensils and other little items (paper towels, tin foil, etc.) into a canvas bag*, put your drinks, glasses and plates on a large tray**, and then relax while your husband gets an early start on grilling the veggies. When your guests arrive, grab your tray and escort them to the terrace, where you can chat and drink refreshing Luscious Watermelon iced tea while the meat starts sizzling behind you.

 
East Meets West Summer BBQ Menu
1 pitcher homemade watermelon iced tea, lightly sweetened with agave
Creamy dill pasta salad
Corn on the cob (with butter, salt, and pepper)
Veggie kebabs (green and yellow zucchini, grape tomatoes, rainbow bell peppers, red onion)
Marinated kalbi (beef short ribs)
Soya garlic chicken wings
Italian sausage
Homemade apple crumble (deliciously supplied by our guests!)

We usually opt for veggie skewers these days, as they're fun (and look impressive nice too :p) and are easier to maneuver on the grill than individual slices of peppers, zucchini, etc. We also tend to BBQ a lot of food at one time, especially if we're having friends over. To make sure we have enough time to cook everything and not end up eating at 9 pm or later (!!!), Wilson goes out to the BBQ about 20-30 minutes before our guests arrive to start cooking the veggies (which taste just fine if they're not piping hot). Once we're all together, it doesn't take too long for some meat to make an appearance and we can all get started with a well-rounded meal while any remaining meat (in Wilson's case, completely unnecessary yet crowd-pleasing Italian sausages) get their turn on the grill.
 
Then all that's left is to sit back, savour your meal (It does help if you don't get so carried away with the conversation that you forget to eat! Ahem, yes. No comment.), and enjoy the sun highlighting the clouds in princessy-pink as it sets behind you. Nothing beats a BBQ with great friends on a cool summer evening!


*Our condo life does not include a balcony or personal BBQ, but we're fortunate to have a lovely fourth-floor terrace that overlooks our neighbourhood (yes, massive construction site and all) and has plenty of shared BBQs and patio tables for our summer enjoyment.
**If, like us, you get a bonus rain shower towards the end of your dinner, the tray will make it so much easier to stack and pack everything quickly and make a beeline back to your apartment! :)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

From Florida to Flurries

To February. Wow, seriously? Over a month since my last post?!

To be fair, we were off in Florida and the Western Caribbean for a good chunk of January. I had intended to post a full vacation recap once we returned to snowy Toronto (which is, sadly, no longer snowy). Of course, I also intended to clean the apartment from top to bottom, fully unpack within a few days of coming home, organize my photos from the trip/order prints, and finish my book club novel. Three guesses as to how all that turned out...


But onwards and upwards, as one of my mom's friends always used to say. The trip? It was at once fabulous, not what I was expecting, tiring, and full of great moments and "firsts" that I will not soon forget. I actually feel like I learned a lot about myself over the two weeks we were away, and I think part of my delinquency in posting here about it all was because I was still processing everything. As for photos, I have only gone through about a third of the ones we took and I'm still waiting for some from the friends with whom we travelled, so once I get my act together (and carve out a few hours over the coming weeks) I will post a more extensive sample here and a link to the complete set on Facebook or Flickr. (As an aside, I wonder if I still remember my Flickr password...)

 
As wonderful as the trip was (two days in Miami, a day in Everglades City, a week-long Caribbean cruise, and four days in Orlando), and it was wonderful, I think both Wilson and I have a preference for shorter trips - both in distance and time. Two weeks is a fantastic break from the daily grind, but it's also a long time to be away from home, and by our last couple days in Orlando we were both happy at the thought of coming back.



So now it's business as usual around here, or as usual as life ever is for us! I have to confess there's a certain comfort of the normal weekly tasks that I need to do (cooking, laundry, workouts, church activities, etc.). But just give it a few months - I'm sure I'll be longing for the luxuries of room service, relaxing on the beach, and mid-afternoon naps in no time.