Travel Tuesdays. A Byzantine Winter Festival

Holly and I decided to look for adventure in the great outdoors a few weekends ago.

It was a brave act. It's winter in Edmonton and you know what that means . . . snow and ice. 

Snow and ice is cold people! Some days it's really, really cold! Brrrr. And we are wimps. Winter wimps.

But, we pulled on our Big Girl panties (or in this case, long underwear) and headed out to the 'Deep Freeze . It was billed as a Byzantine Winter Festival and we were intrigued.

So you could join our little adventure, I made a video complete with marauding Vikings.

Enjoy.

Travel Tuesdays. A Winter Farmers Market

On Saturday Henry and I got up early and headed for the Old Strathcona Farmer's market.

Henry has been walking around in moccasins that are so well ventilated, more sock than sole touches the ground when he walks. He loves his moccasins though and as he bought them at the Farmer's Market we figured it was past time for another visit.

We went early so we could have breakfast and turn the outing into an adventure/date while we were at it.

Getting the chance to see green growing things was a good start to the day. . . .

Breakfast was fabulous and we lucked out and got too hear two amazing boys play the violin while we ate.

Strolling around after breakfast we noticed that many stall were empty and then. . . that the moccasin man's stall was occupied by someone else!

Bummer!

To top it off  when we got to the Happy Camel's stall they weren't there either! Whaaaat! No tzatziki or Za'taar flat bread???

Bummer!

I did, however stop to chat with this nice young woman who asked me if I was going  to the Byzantine Winter Festive the following weekend.

I had never heard of it. She urged me to go telling me it was the perfect place for a photographer. There are ice sculptures, fireworks, mummers. . . All manner of opportunities for interesting photos.

She called me an artist . . .

So that's where you will find Holly and I this Saturday.

Maybe it's time to see if I am. . .

If you live in the Edmonton area and want to go on a little adventure this weekend you might want to check out the Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival as well.

Travel Tuesdays Facebook page

Adventures in Edmonton. The Strathcona Farmers Market

Although Holly and I have been keeping our noses to the grindstone for the last month or so, we have managed to sneak in the odd adventure here and there.

A few weeks ago we visited the Old Strathcona Farmers Market to stock up on some delicious local food and indulge in breakfast from Toast Fine Catering.

I'm a very picky eater. As the daughter and granddaughter of European bakers how could I not be??

People. . . You have got to try this food!   It.Is.Fabulous.

Holly had never been to the Farmers Market and enjoyed the experience immensely and I thought we should share it with you.

An Adventure in Pictures . . .

Good food, beautiful goods, unique entertainment.

What more could you ask for?

Touring A Real Greenhouse.

While on my little adventure, my sister Tamara took me on a tour of one of their greenhouses.

I'm wondering if something like this would fit in the back yard . . . 

  How amazing would it be to get bags of cuttings in the mail!

 

 And have help from these lovely ladies . .

Or being able to put a few of these fantastic machines in the basement???

It was an amazing tour . . . Thanks Tam!

Stay tuned . . . This was only the tip of the iceberg, fantastic machine wise.

Getting Out Of The House. . . Vintage Inspiration

I have had a few busy days. . .at least they seemed busy to me. . .to you they would probably feel like  lovely, leisurely days. . . but it's been wonderful to realize that I have a little more oomph every day. . .

On Monday Henry decided to stay home with me rather than go hunting. ( I may possibly have been the teeenist bit cranky about the fact that he had already been gone for three days. . .)

I still can't drive and needed to pick up new, good quality paint brushes for a project I hope to get done before next week's bazaar (I have a table), so Henry agreed to drive me over just before lunch.

As we drove the sun hit my face and. . . I burst into tears.

Poor Henry reached over and took my hand. "I'm so sorry I upset you. . ."

"It's not you. At least. . . mostly not you. . ." I sobbed.

"This is the first time in a week I've stepped outside the house and now the sun is shining and I'm. just. so. h. h.  h. happy. . .!

As a result, once we were done, he decided to stop at home for Jada and my camera and head off to my favorite neighborhood for a walk.

It was fabulous! Slow. But fabulous!

We even went for a few groceries. I expected to be exhausted the next day but, no.
Holly and I walked a few blocks to Tim's for lunch and I got to feel the sun on my face again!

Which made me realize that I had better find a way to get outside regularly. It is harder than I knew to go from walking Jada for an hour most days to not going outside at all. (Unless it's really cold. Then I'm totally okay with staying inside.)

And I'm still not allowed to walk her so. . . I may just have to sneak out of the house to walk around the block once in a while.

Which I can. Because yesterday???  I was able to put both my socks and boots on. . . by myself!

Whoo hoo! Progress.

Now, lest you think that my friends have forgotten me in this regard I have to tell you that Joyce took me out for dinner two weeks ago and Nicole picked me up and brought me to two wonderful stores in the Highlands area the day after.

Of course, at the time I walked so slow I couldn't cross the street before the light changed.

The first time it happened I just thought we had crossed halfway thorough the light but, on the way back. . . well. . . It was quite clear that what I thought was a speedy shuffle was in reality not much more than a very slow mo shuffle.

Since I can't seem to go out without a camera in my hand. . .

I thought I would share my little adventures.

Apple Box Boutique

Chickies

I am so coming back in the spring!

And if I didn't think this lady likely costs $700 or more, I would totally get her. ( well, not really because I don't have any hundred's of dollars to spare, but, you know what I mean. ..)

I find her fascinating and she would probably get moved from room to room to room looking for the perfect spot to put her.

She might even live outside in the summer and inside in the winter.

I would  feel compelled to do something I am sure no real collector would do though.

Repaint her.

As Holly pointed out, with the paint peeling she looks as though her nose is missing. . . and who wants that???

Sigh. . .

I think I may have to go back and take some better pictures of her.

Even if I can't have her in person I can have her picture on the wall.

* maybe if I shoot her from another angle her nose will look a little better too. . .

Now I am off to bed.

Tomorrow is going to be another busy, fun day. (Don't ask about the state of my house though. . . sigh.)