the long stretch

It's been an awefully long time since my last post. It's amazing how school makes time fly. Reading week came and went, and now I'm about to plunge into the final six-week stretch of my first year of archival studies. And it will be no picnic: piles of reading, group presentations, term papers, irritating small assignments. So it's a good thing I'm posting now, because you probably won't hear from me again until it's all over.

I've had a series of "stupid" moments this week - you know, the kind that make you look like you have the intellect of Homer Simpson? Yeah.

On the bright side, I found out that I will be doing an internship at the Archives of Ontario (in Toronto) this summer, which will be really good, I think (hope!). So there's that.

Other things to look forward to:

1. a new Innocence Mission album this month
2. finishing knitting knee socks for my sister (soon, Adrienne, soon!)
3. bridal showers for Niki (I've been concocting some new designs for toilet paper wedding dresses!)
4. paska at Easter (toasted with butter is best!)
5. daffodils and tulips (I am currently enjoying crocuses and snow drops)

My New Hobby

Here are some photos of my sister and I dogsledding in Whistler this Christmas. As you can see, Adrienne is "mushing."


Here's the view from the sled, where we were down wind from the dogs - as you can imagine, the smell was pretty bad!

Even more pictures...

It seems like all I ever post now is pictures. It is a bit lazy, I know, but I'm a busy student now. These are all from Niki and Jason's engagement party a few weeks ago.

Niki and Melissa

Candid Niki

Sarah and Niki signing

Sarah - she's so cute!

The happy couple

Melissa, Niki, et moi.

I hope nobody minds that I'm posting pictures of them without their permission! I guess I'll find out..

I've been meaning to post some pictures of my new neighbourhood, but haven't got around to it until now. So here's a glimpse into my new life as a Vancouverite:

A Fifteen-minute walk away from home is Spanish Banks.








































This is my street.



















The view from my bedroom window (sometimes it's tricky to tell what the weather is!).





















So I live in what is pretty much the most beautiful neighbourhood in the Lower Mainland (probably in the Country), even if the photos don't do it justice. And I don't HAVE to go to Starbucks for coffee, (I mean, I can if I want since there are about five on campus and two in my immediate neighbourhood) since there are at least ten other coffee options just around the corner!

I love Vancouver.

Higher Education

Yes I know. It's purple (aubergine, actually). You're jealous, aren't you Niki? Well, I just learned how to change the colour on my blog for school!

Good to know that grad school is good for something.

Guess Who?

An amazing prize is available to the first person who can guess the true identities of the following "floating heads"!

Standing on Guard

Happy Canada Day everyone!

Here are some shots of Niki and Hadrienne and I on our nation's Birthday.





Niki and I walking along False Creek...













to (very crowded) Granville Island...














chilling in Vanier Park...










Niki losing her battle with the shade...














the ocean at our feet...and strollers and kids and dogs.




That was a good day.








(Photos courtesy of meine Schwester)