A pretty, simple life

May 7 // Whistler, BC

I had a volunteer shift at WAG this morning and took Jericho to the river. He’s a sweet 3 year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback Shephard Cross that was recently surrendered by the family that originally adopted him because of a change in lifestyle. He’s wearing a second leash with a strap over his nose to keep him from pulling (which is helpful as he’s very strong and taller than me when he stands) but still allows him to chew sticks, thank goodness. More information about Jericho can be found at the shelter’s website.

May 5 // Squamish, BC

Mike’s writing an article for Mountain Life Magazine on microbreweries, so we headed down to the Howe Sound Brew Pub yesterday for the freshest pints I’ve ever tasted. After a short drive to the end of Galbraith Lane we stopped to see if we could spot the grey whale that recently made his way into the sound on a detour en route to Alaska. After a few minutes we saw the whale spout as the sun reflected off its back. A good day. I’m savouring a pint from one of the 1 litre glass bottles we brought home from the brewery as I write.

April 29 // Whistler, BC

I got the idea from Shannon over at machinemachine to brew my own tea this afternoon with ginger and mint in my french press. (Is there anything better than the smell of fresh mint?) I love the tea’s earthy and restorative quality and am looking forward to experimenting with additional fresh ingredients. We are moving into a new, more spacious place in the fall and I’m hoping to plant a small herb garden…

April 29 // Whistler, BC

There are certain things I do that tether me to my roots and make me feel like myself. Long walks in the woods, swimming in one of the many lakes surrounding my home in Whistler, drinking wine and reading books, riding my bike, and playing DJ while my husband cooks. There are certain habits that are the result of living what Socrates called an unexamined life; the distractions that are sometimes easier but never more meaningful, that do the bare minimum of drag me through the day while time rapidly passes by.

Unlike many other writers I’ve never kept a journal. With an compulsive eye for editing, I’ve found the idea anxiety producing and potentially embarrassing. However I’ve recently begun to think that tucking an ongoing roll of daily thoughts and activities into my page might actually help to accomplish the opposite: to calm me, to allow myself to produce free form writing and photos outside of the scope of my own criticism while functioning as an exercise in brevity, and to keep my little life focused and in perspective.

I hope you find some worthwhile thoughts here. -A