Bungalow'56

I Saw A Change In My Daughter

2013-03-25T10:18:00.003-06:00

The day wasn't going so well.

A misunderstanding meant Eldest missed out on seeing friends perform.

It wasn't anyone's fault, but still very disappointing.

It was a Saturday afternoon

and our nice spring weather had turned once again to winter.

When a few tears of frustration fell I told her for some reason it was meant to be.

What she was most upset about however,

was going to all the trouble of looking nice, with now,

no where to go except the dining room table to meet up with her homework.

I decided then, that despite the blizzardy weather, it was time to pull out my camera.

She looked so darn cute I told her we could at least do a photo shoot.

Something we hadn't done in a long while.

While the snow was too bright for her to look up for any length of time.

I loved the shots we got.

Eldest always makes taking beautiful photos easy.

Pictures always make the passing of time much clearer for me.

And when I looked at these I saw a change in my daughter.

She is saying goodbye to her younger self.

I see the adult she is becoming and I am so proud to be her mother.

And yet at the same time I can still see my little girl within.

It's the best of both worlds.

And I realize this is how it was meant to be.

I had always feared that growing up was about saying goodbye to my children,

but instead I've realized... it is about saying a continuing hello.

Can't wait for the years to come Eldest.

Love you.

xoxo,

Dana

What Maya Angelou Has Taught Me

2013-03-15T12:08:00.005-06:00

If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.

~Maya Angelou

I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers. It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at.

~Maya Angelou

We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives.

~Maya Angelou

Remember people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold --- but so does a hard-boiled egg.

~ Maya Angelou

Sometimes the people whom we've known for only a short amount of time have a bigger impact on us than those we've known forever.

~Maya Angelou

I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

~Maya Angelou

Any book that helps a child to form the habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.

~Maya Angelou

xoxo,
Dana

A Life Sentence

2013-03-08T10:35:00.001-07:00

She hates her glasses.
They are new.

She feels like a librarian.
With assignments up the wazoo.

Too much pressure.
So much work to do.

It doesn't matter what I say.
My words are few.

When the tests are written and essays done,
will the memory of grade 12 be only a blur?

Did we make a mistake?
This program for kids like her?

Her prison is real in every way.

It feels like a life sentence
plus one more day.

xoxo,
Dana

PS
The mountain of assignments and Essays that were all due within the same week have all been handed in, so yes there is in fact a light at the end of the tunnel!

...and it has also occurred to me that her Sylvia Plath essay may have affected me more than I realized :)

She Does Not "Listen" To Music!

2013-01-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

To truly understand our "experience" please play the following song as you continue reading:

Our Bungalow is always filled with music.
We have BOSE speakers attached to our computer and every song imaginable can be played.

Eldest has been taking a Spanish class in school for the past three years,
and because she speaks fluent french she has found it to be an easy transition.

Lately we have been finding some new music on our playlist
thanks in part to her Spanish teacher's recommendations.
The song above in particular is on repeat mode.
The song above in particular is on repeat mode.
The song above in particular in on repeat mode.

You're starting to understand our dilemna?

Of all my girls she, much like her grandpa, loves listening to music.
In fact she would correct me if she were here, as she has often proclaimed that:
she does not "listen" to music,
she "experiences" it.

The problem?

Over these past two weeks...

She has been allowing us....

to "experience" her music right along with her.

whether we want to or not.

xoxo,

PS Does anyone know what Siempre tu means?
I am inadvertently blurting this out to complete strangers...

Do Your Kids Ever Worry You?

2013-01-15T04:30:00.001-07:00

Do your kids ever worry you?

Lately I have to admit I'm finding my girl's newest past time to be a little disconcerting.

Walking past them in the Dining room I can't help but notice something is a little off.

They always seem to be in pain.

But I can't quite figure it out.

After grimacing grotesquely, they then let out peals of laughter.

When I walk in the room though, they look up innocently from their computer.

I always figured they were just watching a funny YouTube video

they saw on facebook.

But lately I've been thinking there is a little more to it than that.

Unfortunately I was right.

And I was finally able to capture the phenomenon on my DSLR.

Convulsions?

Ticks?

Full grand mal seizures?

Apparently not?

It's like a baby discovering themselves in the mirror for the first time.

But not quite as cute.

I guess all in all, I should just be thankful.

Thankful that they have found a harmless way to completely amuse themselves.

But honestly what ever happened to reading the funny papers?

Or watching America's Funniest Home Videos?

Or telling a good knock knock joke?

I just have to start rolling with the times I guess.

I'm just glad they're OK.

At least I think they're OK?

My kids are OK right?

xoxo,

Dana

They Didn't Make The Cut

2013-01-12T22:43:00.002-07:00

Somewhere in the middle of last year I put my camera down.

I'm not sure why?

I really enjoyed the ease of using my iPhone and editing with Instagram.

But when I tried to create a collage for our 2012 year,

I realized I wanted my pictures to be more than just a series of instagram moments.

I missed photography.

So on Jan 1st on the sly, I started a picture a day series on

Bungalow'56's facebook page.

The collage above is made up of my choices.

If you want to see the daily pictures as I take them you can find it by clicking HERE.

I've also started downloading them to my Photography link up above.

The most frustrating and hardest part about doing this kind of series,

is deciding which pictures to choose.

Some days it's a no brainer.

Other days I don't have anything I want to show you.

And then on others still, I have more than just one.

Then I realized that since this is my blog and this is my own 365 project,

I can make the rules.

I'm the rule maker.

I'm the big cheese!

I'm da boss!

What was I talking about?

I've decided to share the ones that didn't make the cut.

I wanted to include all of these on the project but couldn't because, well...

It's called "A Picture A Day" not "Several Hundred Pictures A Day."

or "She Couldn't Make Up Her Mind So You Pick A Picture A Day."

You get the picture.

I'm cheating with this one, it was before Jan 1st.

But then again I make the rules.

"Cousins"

"Learning To Skate"

"In The Passenger Seat"

"Baking"

"Freedom"

"Look up, look waaay up"

"Haircut"

"Ratatouille"

"Texting"

"A Long Haul"

"Cookies For Class"

There.

I feel much better, like everything is right with the world.

These pictures are my babies.

And as they say on "Lelo and Stitch"

Ohana.

Ohana means family.

And that means...

No one gets left behind or forgotten.

xoxo,

When I Knew... He Was The One

2013-01-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

I wasn't joking on my Monday's post when I wrote
that I didn't realize how much snow we had been getting.

Our winter started very early this year. Almost a whole month earlier than years past.

The Agronomist however has been very aware.

He is always closely monitoring the weather patterns (read: weather geek)
It's very sexy. I love when he talks precipitation.

It's the farmer in him.
He can't help it.

How many inches of rain, heat units, and the level of moisture in the soil
are all topics of conversation.
We know our weather here at the Bungalow.
The Weather Network is the most used link on our computer.

This winter, the snow has become a concern to the Agronomist.

Ever since completing our basement reno
and installing a beam that spans the the length of the new family room,

The Agronomist has been checking the load bearing wall upstairs and the rise of the floor.

It's making him nervous.

And when he gets nervous.

We all get nervous.

You see he really is a superhero.

He has nerves of steel.
Along with a special power.

I've secretly known his secret power over the past twenty years.

It was revealed to me by one of his room mates back in University.

He was in awe of The Agronomist when he told me the story:

He said it didn't matter how early the other three roommates woke up.

The snow had already been cleared from the walk.

It didn't matter how much snow or how often,

the Agronomist donned his gloves long before anyone knew it had even snowed,

and proceeded to quickly and quietly clear it.

He made sure that all who came and went could do so safely.

I knew this spoke volumes about his character.

He was a Northern Canadian Superhero.

Shovelling long walks with a single bound,

ensuring all those around him were out of harm's way.

He was someone you could rely on,
someone who thought about others before himself.

And someone... who looked really good in work gloves and a toque.

I secretly decided then and there he was the one for me.

No. really.

I did.

In a few months it will have been twenty years since we said " I do."

It wasn't until just recently while I watched the Agronomist
shovel the snow from our roof

that I realized how right I was about him.

To this day he is still scaling tall buildings to make sure his family is safe.
And he continues to be my Superhero.

I love watching him shovel.

It actually makes all the talk about weather worth it : )

Hmmm?

I wonder if there are insulated Superhero bodysuits?

With cold ratings down to -38 degrees celsius?

I think... I just figured out what to get him for our Anniversary.

xoxo,

An "Almost" Perfect Family Photo

2013-01-07T10:29:00.003-07:00

Every year we try to get an outdoor photo of our family around the holidays.
Last year we missed it.

For some reason they are always my favourite.
No one is primped and perfect.
It's just us.

This year's picture almost turned out perfectly.
It's funny I didn't realize how much snow we were getting that day?
Oh well. You get what you get.

And I for one?
Love it!

xoxo,

PS Here is an old post of one of our winter family photos from 2008. Where has the time gone?

Glimpses of 2012

2013-01-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

Life was good to us this year.

Our girls are growing up and the learning curve is steep.

With each year we gain a bit more wisdom...

Sometimes from our mistakes, and sometimes from the the things we do right : )

We are looking forward to all that is to come.

Many changes are on the horizon, and truthfully we feel completely unprepared.

But really... isn't that what makes life exciting?

2013 here we come!

xoxo,

A Teenager

2012-12-14T00:02:00.001-07:00

A few days before her birthday I was feeling all artsy fartsy
and coolish, so I decided to set my camera on monochrome.

I can't believe this is our very own 'little' Middlest.
She was turning 13 in a few days.
Somehow looking at these pictures made it very real.
She was growing up... and fast.

I have realized that at least with girls, save for 'Year #1',
'Year #13' comes in second, in terms of the most dramatic changes in your child.

Somehow little girls turn into young women.
And it happens, over the course of 12 months.

That being said,

I also believe the nature of a child remains constant from the day they were born.

The above picture may enlighten you as to why I didn't post

the coolish photo shoot with birthday wishes.

While they represent a part of her,

they somehow didn't quite seem to 'wholly' represent my Middlest.

So I went back over the year to take a closer look
at the last twelve months.

And here is what I found:
You know what they say? The more things change the more they stay the same.

There... now doesn't this look familiar?
Somehow I felt I was on the right track.

Notice the same expression and colour shirt?

I'm just thankful she's grown out of the habit of showing us her food...
at least most of the time anyway.

It has been a year of braces.
After having them off for a few years, it was time for phase two.

And a year of new glasses.

Many possibilities were explored,

but after many months of searching and searching aaaaand searching some more.

She finally found "the" pair.

After looking after a few double vision issues which you can read about by clicking here,

she also graduated to wearing contacts.

She decided two holes were better than one.

And that one hand is better than two.

Middlest is forging ahead to become a fashion icon.
She has become a fabulous nail artist.

I'm guessing possibly due to her ongoing addiction to Pinterest.

Her signature look however is a little unorthodox.
She only paints her left hand while leaving the right bare.

With just a few months to go before getting her braces off for good.
The transformation to teenagerdom will soon be complete.

This was a year of many sports.

Middlest is naturally fast and agile.

What I would have given for her talent when I was younger.

She played club Volleyball and participated in school track, basketball and soccer.

It was a year of many coaches.

Mom being one of them was a huge surprise to both of us.

After being invited to a summer Volleyball camp,

it has been decided.

Volleyball is her sport.

She loves playing it.

And she's good at it too.

For a good portion of her thirteenth year, Middlest did not want to be photographed.

Grandpa even enquired as to why Middlest was not getting her fair share of the Bungalow'56 posts.

Thankfully it seems this stage has passed.

And I for one couldn't be happier about it.

Middlest is a great sister.

She is also a great party planner.

She loves to decorate and make everything look great.

Both of her sisters have been happy recipients of her talents.

Over the past year,

Middlest has had much to celebrate.

She shows us in a very tangible way
how fortunate she feels to have been blessed with such amazing parents.

And sisters too.

We often find her spontaneously jumping for joy and we just smile at each other,
knowing she is thinking of us.

A highlight of her year was a wonderful trip to Hawaii.

She snorkled and sunbathed and was a true connoisseur of the island's shaved ice.

She is a friend you would love to have.
The life of the party.
Always up for a good laugh.

This year was the year of the iPod.
A lost iPod and a broken iPod.

And while we love and appreciate her wild and crazy side...

We also know there is a very thoughtful side to out Middlest.

Sometimes instead of 'being' the life of the party,
she likes to sit back, observe and wait before participating.

She is able to read people and has a with-it-ness far beyond her years.

People are drawn to Middlest and love being around her.
Good friends are found at every turn.

This is especially apparent when we are with family.
Cousins flock to her like bees to honey.
And why wouldn't they?

While her sisters may not be as enamoured for as much of the time.

We all have a happier day because Middlest is in it.

Now lets be clear.
Middlest is not a saint.
She can be bossy and quick tempered just like the rest of us.
Telling her sister in particular, what to do.

Yet she is quick to say sorry when she has messed up.

And is always finding her family to tell them she loves them before bed.

As I've said before, she is in the middle for a reason.
She is the glue that keeps us together.

She can be old beyond her years

yet still be my little girl and her sister's sidekick.

Most days I can't believe she is ours.
Thirteen years have flown by.
She has the world in her hands.
And I for one can't wait to see what she does with it.

Middlest, you are thirteen,

and I couldn't be more happy to be your mom.

A teenager.

The parenting books always warned us about this stage.

But I can't wait, if it's anything like your toddler, schoolage, tweener stages?

Then this is going to be a whole lot of fun.

We love you Middlest.

Thank goodness God saw fit to send you to us.

We often jump for joy too.

...because we are so thankful to have,

you.

xoxo,

(aka mom)

Ten

2012-11-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

This past week we celebrated two birthdays.

These two were born three years and four days apart.

It makes for a busy November.

I can't believe it, but ten years have come and gone.
Youngest has finally reached the double digits.

As a mom it is so interesting for me to watch my girls.

I was the eldest of four girls and now I get to see the dynamic from a whole new perspective.

Youngest has a tough gig.

Her whole life has been spent watching her sisters.

How they dress.

What they say.

What they do.

Trying to keep up.

And for awhile I was worried about this.

But this past year.

I've noticed a change.

She's coming into her own.

Figuring it all out.

She's no longer worried about following in the footsteps her sisters have made.

She's stepping out on her own, stepping off the path and blazing her own trail.

And I really like where she is going.

What I want to remember about her tenth year is this:

It has been filled with really good teachers.

She's become a Starbuck's Aficionado... loving caramel steamed milk.

She really learned how to skate and became a lover of many sports.
Her favourite pastime this summer was hitting the Volleyball around with her sister.
With all that backyard practicing she's going to be good when she is finally old enough to play.

She still has a hard time falling asleep at night

and sometimes just getting through the night.

She had braces for part of the year. . .

but now sports a spiffy retainer.

Only one has been lost so far.

Hopefully that will be it.

While her smile has changed, and the little gapped tooth grin is gone,

it still melts my heart.

Her love of all things furry has been taken to a whole new level.

I was told by her instructor that she was a natural in the saddle, much like her aunty.
There is one story I don't want her to forget.

It will be important to remember it
when life throws her disappointments along the way.

I want her to always remember what happened at horse camp.
I figure it's a good metaphor for life.

After the first day of lessons she was terribly disappointed.
She was in tears over her horse, which she thought was ugly,
"Tidy looks like dirt mom."
She was also afraid of him.
She didn't want to return the next day.
There were many tears.
"Could we please ask the instructors to give her another horse?"

Her friend Sydney was on a horse named Ribbons.
A beautiful little chestnut.
She wanted a horse like Ribbons.

Tidy was big and liked to nudge Youngest with his head
which sometimes pushed her over.
There wasn't any other horse for her,
so dad went with her the next day and showed her how to show Tidy who was boss.
By the end of the week Youngest was pushing back and once
he knew he couldn't get away with his antics Tidy was as good as gold.

What she didn't know until a few days in
was that Tidy was a retired Rodeo champion,
A champion who could respond to the slightest nudge
and had a gait as smooth as silk.
Despite her first impression, she had one of the best horses in the stable.
By the fifth day she thought he was beautiful.

As for Ribbons?
She turned out to be an awfully naughty horse.

So Youngest even when it seems like life has given you a rotten horse
and you feel like quitting,
remember to just keep on riding.

With a little work and perseverance
ugly can sometimes become beautiful.

This was definitely one of the best lessons Youngest received in her tenth year.

Youngest also donated her hair to Locks of Love.

She made the difficult decision to cut her hair for cancer.

And even though she has received countless compliments on this new look;

she has missed her long hair from the moment she cut it and is growing it out again.

She proudly owns the title of the first in our family to fracture something.

After a great slide into base during a baseball game with cousins, she was in tears.

It tuned out to be a hairline fracture and four weeks of her tenth summer

was spent in a splint/cast.

She has become so responsible.

Trying things that I never thought she would.

Like her sisters before her, we loved watching her play soccer.

She played outdoor club for the first time.

This is one of my favourite pictures of the season.

She finally talked her mom and dad into a hamster this year.

But even so she constantly looks at the SPCA website for cats and dogs.

One of her favourite outings is going to Petland to see all of the animals.

Sometimes tears follow the visit because she isn't leaving with one.

She's still mama's girl.

And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Through my lens I can see her changing so quickly.

She will definitely be my favourite ten year old this year.

I see glimpses of the young woman she is becoming.

She is ten now.

No longer a little girl but a young lady.

Someone I can't wait to get to know better.

Love you Youngest!

xoxo,

(aka Mom)

Why I Haven't Been Blogging Or Taking Pictures

2012-11-15T13:43:00.002-07:00

*All Photos taken by Neal Fraser

This is one of the reasons why I haven't been blogging much.

We have been touring many gyms in our city and the surrounding communities.

The locations have usually been well lit and smelled somewhat of rubber and sweat.

The yelling and screaming tended to be constant and loud.

Middlest was at the heart of it.

It has been a lot of fun as the group of girls are truly wonderful and a little bit crazy.

Middlest has found her sport.

And she has been able to share it with her sister who has helped coach.

Middlest is in grade eight and has had the opportunity to be on an amazing team.

She has learned so much over the last year all wrapped up in a whole lot of fun.

We are so thankful for her coach and his approach to developing

not only skilled Volleyball players but also great sports(wo)men.

Tonight is the team's season wind up.

And while I won't miss the smell of rubber and sweat and the screaming;

I will miss cheering them on and seeing that look of determination.

The one that makes you believe she can do anything.

xoxo,

PS I have not only been a lazy blogger but also a lazy photographer.
All of these photo's were taken by number 12's dad.
With shot's like these you can see why my camera never left it's case!
Thanks Neal for some amazing photographs we will treasure forever.

Ten Reasons Why I Love The Agronomist

2012-11-06T11:52:00.005-07:00

Reason #1

Reason #2

Reason #3

Reason #4

Reason #5

Reason #6

Reason #7

Reason #8

Reason #9

Reason #10

xoxo,

It Wasn't Hard To See Her Go

2012-10-20T07:17:00.000-06:00

Eldest is on a plane right now.

We woke up at 5:30 so that she could catch the 7:00 am flight.

It wasn't hard to see her go.

Her dad is on the other side waiting for her.

The University is having it's open house this weekend.

A chance for seniors to take a closer look at all the programs.

Today she will walk around the campus that

both myself and The Agronomist attended.

I remember those days so fondly and vividly.

Just like my dad did when I was a kid.

And so it goes.

My dad attended University because his father before him

wanted something better for his kids.

My Opa was a market gardener in Holland.

Their world was bleak after the end of World War II.

He packed up his family of nine and headed for Canada.

A country of opportunity.

He was an optimist.

He was a dreamer.

I wish I had had a chance to know him.

My dad ended up attending University and becoming an Engineer.

It was not something that would have likely been possible in Holland.

At a young age kids were streamed and my father's fate

would have been decided at age 12.

He would not have been attending University.

To be honest even here in Canada, getting into University was not easy for him.

But it was... a possibility.

A few years of extra courses finally gave him what he needed to be accepted.

It allowed me to realize if you decide on something and work towards it?

Anything is possible.

And that is why I am so thrilled for Eldest today.

I hope she comes home with the knowledge that truly anything,

absolutely anything is possible for her.

Even though she doesn't quite know what it is yet.

Unwrapping the layers of giftwrap on the package

is just as much fun as finding out what is inside the box anyway.

Enjoy the giftwrap Eldest.

This is the part of your life that comes with a big beautiful bow.

And how exciting is that?

xoxo,

PS FYI despite the incredibly high cuteness factor,
this was not the outfit Eldest wore on the plane.
Instead she wore a neon head band, acid wash jeans and leg warmers.
I kid... she didn't wear the head band.

A Calgary House Tour: Sister #2 Lives Here

2012-10-09T21:12:00.000-06:00

This past weekend we drove to Calgary.
We enjoyed Thanksgiving with the whole clan.
I once again enjoyed visiting with my sisters.

While I had a chance to show the pictures I took
of Organized Sister's house a few weeks back.

I never got around to giving you a tour of Youthful Sister's House.
You can find out a little more about her HERE.

She was more than happy to open her doors for you my readers.
She is till figuring out her space.
The decisions she and her husband have made so far?
Have been right on the money.

Both my sisters have beautiful homes.
With very different looks.

Youthful Sister and her husband have embraced a clean post modern inspired look.
That artwork is a photo printed on special metallic paper.
It looks amazing in person.

You would not believe how comfortable these Eames inspired chairs are.
In fact after visiting this past weekend,
I am trying to find a pair just like them for our own home.
I know I know,
I'm a copycat.
Whatevs.

This Stereo is a bonafide retro one, which they found completely restored.
The Macbook? It offers a nice modern contrast don't you think?

My sister picked out this pendant lamp for over her dining room table
against the advice of a decorator.

I am so glad she did.

The house is always filled with light and this pendant adds the perfect amount of sparkle.

Touches of green and yellow can be found throughout.
It's adds a great energy to the house.

Their nieces also fit nicely into the decor don't you think?

These chairs recline my friends.
Oh yes they do.

My sister and her husband have two boys.
The house is one that is lived in, while still looking beautiful.
It is not a "don't touch" house, if you know what I mean.

Sitting down for a cup of coffee and looking out at the beautiful front garden was really nice.

Especially when you're sitting under this lamp.

Green and yellow with grey walls.
It just works.

They drove to a city three hours away to sit on this couch
just to make sure it was comfortable before buying it.
Now that... is taking your tushee seriously.

What has been added to this nook since our visit this summer,
(which I forgot to take a picture of this past weekend)
is white wallpaper with silver circles.

It looks just like this: (Thank you internet images : )

She will be adding either a large circular mirror into the space or white shelves.
She hasn't decided yet.

Some more artwork.

And a herb chart my mother gave to each of her daughters.

Sunshine everywhere.

The kitchen was renovated just before they bought the house.
While not the look she would have chosen,
she makes it work.

A coffee table that is gorgeous and dangerous.
It has singlehandedly taken out most of my family's shins.
But we will forgive it, since it looks so crazy cool in the space.

My sisters all love to grow flowers.

It is a beautiful home both inside and out.

I can't wait to see how the house continues to evolve.

It was so beautiful I just couldn't help myself.
I laid down in the flower bed and called it a day.

Thank you sister for the lovely visits both this past summer and this past weekend.
We look forward to being able to return the hospitality.

xoxo,

I Wasn't A Good Parent Today

2012-10-04T10:16:00.003-06:00

I wasn't a good parent today.
I called Eldest a
"Princess"
And not in an endearing way.

She's on the go day and night.
A job plus homework
Midnight fire's burning too bright.

Why do I focus then
on the messy room?
The laundry piled up
When she'll be gone so soon?

I never thought I'd forget what
it was like.
To be worried about tomorrow's test
And if my hair looked just right.

Have I really gotten old?
When did it happen?
Please God don't let me be
The mom who no one listens to
Because it's obvious she just doesn't see.

I worry I coddle.
I still make her lunch.
She did do her laundry
A pact with her dad is my hunch.

Why didn't I say thank you?
Instead of responding to stress and huff.
Words leave lasting marks...
Sorry's often aren't enough.

So Eldest
I want you to know.
I don't think you are a "Princess"
Because there are things you've always shown:

You try your hardest.
You really care.
And when you're stressed you need assurance
From a mother who is fair.

"Parent In Training," a title that fits like a glove.
If you'd give me the chance for a do over I want to try again.

But this time ...With Love.

xoxo,

Mom

We Saw It On The Food Network And Decided To Go

2012-10-02T21:55:00.002-06:00

The Agronomist loves two things.

Hockey and The Food Network.
Somehow he has made the girls big fans of both.
He is the master of persuasion.
And he also controls the TV remote.

Why am I telling you this?
On a trip to Edmonton back in March,
we were all sitting in our hotel room watching the Canadian equivalent to
Diners Drive-ins and Dives.
The show is called:

You Gotta Eat Here with host John Catucci.

We were mesmerized with an amazing diner he was visiting.
We wondered out loud where it was.
At the end of the show he told us....
High River, Alberta!
Just outside of Calgary!
A mere hour and a half drive from the campsite we had already booked
for our Kananaskis camping trip!

We all looked at each other eagerly and yelled.
We Gotta Go!
We Gotta Eat There!

It was a done deal.

In a few short months we would be eating at Evelyn's Memory Lane Cafe.
We knew we were in for a treat when we checked out it's rating HERE on Urban Spoon.

After our hour and a half drive we walked in....
and it was everything we had hoped for.

A Pop Tates vibe we don't often find in Western Alberta.
Similar to a Johnny Rockets, but an authentic real deal mom and pop's diner.
We loved it.

I couldn't help it, I kept calling The Agronomist Reggie with his dark good looks.
I was secretly hoping he'd call me Josie.

Instead... he moved to another booth.

The individual juke boxes at each table were a huge hit.
Everyone was allowed to choose two songs.

Ordering was easy.
We had already decided what we wanted several months before when we had watched the show.

The waiting however, was a little longer than my two youngest could handle.
They went a little squirrelly.
Perhaps voices were raised.
I'm not at liberty to say.

Youngest knew she was going to have the homemade mac and cheese.
She gave it a two thumbs up.

The Agronomist and I ordered the Turkey sandwich,
which had been described as Thanksgiving dinner between two slices of bread.
Can you see the cranberry sauce in there?

I don't usually take photos of half eaten servings,
but I started eating before I remembered I was supposed to be a food photographer.
Bon Appetit will not be calling me anytime soon.
Thankfully I remembered to take a picture before it was all gone.

We just kept looking over by the stools at
all the amazing baked goods behind the window.
There was a constant stream of people coming in
for takeout and homemade ice cream.

People were starting to stare when I laid down on the floor to take this shot.
I kid...

But wouldn't you agree,
the almost same shot is more interesting from my feet's perspective?
Always, always take a few photos from a few inches off the floor.
You will never be disappointed.

Just a little photography tip thrown in because
I like to approach a post from every available angle, both figuratively and literally.

It's just how I roll,
which can also be taken figuratively or literally.
Especially after my meal at Evelyn's.

This was the last shot of the day just outside the cafe.
I can't quite remember what the problem was.
I think maybe she had asked if we could stay for supper too.

The answer, unfortunately was no.

If you ever get a chance to drive to High River; stop by Evelyn's.
Tell her Bungalow'56 sent you : )

We promise the peach pie will be worth it.

xoxo,
Dana

PS Youngest disagrees with the information in this post and would like to state for the record: It is the pumpkin pie that makes the visit worthwhile.

Chubby Legs...

2012-09-28T15:04:00.003-06:00

I pulled out my camera a few days ago for a cutie pie.

Remember "Project Baby?"

(If you're new to blogs you can click the coloured print and it will take you to the post.)

Well that little munchkin is almost a year old.

I can't wait to show all of the wonderful shots.

There is nothing like a pair of chubby legs to make the world a better place.

In fact I've decided to make that my very own motto.

You can read into that however you wish.

Here's to plaid making a come back.

Adios my friends.

There is a Volleyball game starting with my name on it.

Have a great weekend!

xoxo,

Money Shot Monday (On A Tuesday)

2012-09-25T07:55:00.001-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

I love Instagram.

You can find me at bungalow56 if you're not a follower yet.

The best part about it is...

I don't feel anxious any longer that I am missing those special moments.

Youngest loves facials.

She had been looking forward to using a facial packet

that had somehow made it's way into our bathroom and been hanging around for quite some time.

Middlest was at a birthday party and Eldest was working so it was just the two of us.

It's happening more and more these days.

She wanted a girl's night.

While I have never really been a pampering, make-upy kind of gal,

I have had a revelation.

I think I may need to rethink my need for facials.

Look at this girl's glow!

Alright so at age nine I probably glowed too.

But a mom can dream right?

There is just something about this shot that makes my mother's heart melt.

Posting A Money Shot Monday.... on a Tuesday : )

xoxo,

*Linking up today for Shannan's first Money Shot Monday at the always lovely

Flower Patch Farm Girl.

A Calgary House Tour... My Sister Lives Here

2012-09-20T20:59:00.001-06:00

This past summer during our holidays we managed to visit two of my three sisters

who both live in Calgary, Alberta.

I was in a picture taking mood and asked my Organized Sister Number 1
(see her pic here)

if it would be alright if I invited my readers on a tour of her house.

She said, "Sure come on in! But just take your shoes off first."

OK she didn't really say that.

We all wore our shoes inside.

I just staged this area a bit because I was pretending I was a

'Canadian House and Home' photographer.

My sis just recently updated everything.
This is a house in the suburbs and when they first found it
there were only a few houses on the market they could afford with bedrooms for all three kids.
She said it was the ugliest house on the block.

Well... it isn't anymore.

The loo is just around the corner.

The kitchen hasn't been touched.

She's still deciding what to do with all that wood.

The one thing I love about visiting her house,

is that it is just super comfortable.

Cushy area rugs to walk on, lots of pillows to hug and sink-in chairs and couches.

All the details make it a warm and inviting home.

There are vignettes throughout the house,

with items from their travels,

family heirlooms, like this needlepoint given to her by my Oma made by a great aunt;

along with favourite things my sister has picked up over the years.

I think though my favourite part of the house,

is just outside her patio doors.
With a large deck off the back

and a hot tub that is used all year round,

her backyard is a real oasis.

During the summer most meals are eaten outside on the deck.

It really is as beautiful as it seems.

Would you like to see upstairs?
You can just peek into the master bedroom which I forgot to photograph.

What eleven year old girl wouldn't love this bedroom?

Younger sister doesn't have it too shabby either.

And our nephew truly has a boy's room.

I love everything about it.

Now back downstairs,

and time to go.

Put on your shoes (even though they are your sisters and I just asked you to do this for the purpose of this house tour photograph).

I'm so glad you were able to visit.

We need to be on our way so as not to be too late....

For my ~~Inconsiderate~~ Youthful Sister Number 2's home tour.

Be sure to stop by next week when she opens her doors for a friendly cup of coffee.

Thanks Organized Sis Number 1 for being such a great host!
We had a wonderful visit.

xoxo,

PS when my sister and her husband moved in, everything was painted light peach to match the stone work, and one lone tree was left to die in the front yard.
It really has been a transformation.

Money Shot Monday

2012-09-17T10:15:00.004-06:00

I was never allowed to dye my hair.

To be honest it never really interested me anyway.

I was happy to be a redhead.

No one I knew at school had the exact colour I did.

A childhood friend, Anne, had red hair too but we had slightly different shades.

I felt unique.

Then came along my daughter.

Her natural hair is beautiful.

An almost black brown.

Shiny and lustrous.

Yet she likes dying her hair.

And for some reason I'm OK with it.

I think it's because she leaves the top alone and just tinkers with the ends.

Her natural colouring frames her face and she still looks like her.

We took this shot on Friday.

This hair colour is temporary and fades out over time.

I wanted to capture it's brilliant hue before she washed it.

We were driving home after picking her up from work.

She worked Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

She was tired.
It's her last "three day" shift now that school is in.

I looked at her as we drove down our street and said,

"The light it really beautiful, perfect for a few shots."

She wasn't interested, "I have sooo much homework."

I told her I hadn't gotten a shot of her new colour and was hoping too
before she washed it.

She looked at me, sighed and said... "OK....five minutes.... max."

This was the money shot.

Worth a million bucks to me.

xoxo,

Summer Is Over

2012-09-12T15:04:00.002-06:00

Summer is over.
I just can't believe it.
I was trying to ignore it.

But I can't really because the girl's are back in school.
This will be their second week.
Eldest is in grade twelve. (She was not going to school until the next day)
I can't b.e.l.e.i.v.e. how young her mother looks...

The temperature for the next two nights will be dipping precariously close to freezing.
A mere four degrees lower and we're goners.
It may as well be Christmas.
If you ask Costco... it already is.

I'm still wearing flip flops though.
Why? Because I'm having a hard time saying goodbye to summer.
Besides even though it's close to freezing in the mornings,
by the afternoon you'd swear it was a beautiful summer's day.
The beauty of the north.

If you were following us on Instagram
you saw much of what we did over the last two and a half months.
Unlike Instagram though this post is not necessarily in chronological order.

Our big summer holiday was camping in the Rockies in Kananaskis.

We holiday"ed"it with the grizzlies!

no. really.

Grizzlies walking just a hundred yards from our trailer.

We went to the farm with the mice

We managed to complete one craft... twice.
It was way better than I expected so I will be sharing it with you later on down the blogging road.

We found a new way to do laundry.
Thank you Agronomist for installing my new state of the art dryer : )!
I have now found a new photography niche.
Post to come : )

Youngest rode horses.
We weren't able to buy her a horse so instead she had to settle for a hamster.

Middlest volleyballed.

Eldest got her license and worked full time.

We went to a wedding.

We celebrated a few birthdays.

We fished.

We went to an Agronomist family farm reunion.

We played baseball there.

No one on The Agronomist's side is competitive at all....

I managed to visit both my sister's in Calgary and took some great photos of their homes.
The tours have also been penciled in to my blogging calendar.

We ate at Evelyn's.
A little place we found out about on TV.
All I have to say is... peach pie.

We bought a new (first for us) patio set.

Good bye picnic table...sniff.

We are all grown up now.

The Agronomist planted a canola crop,

which his father-in-law inspected.

But the only thing that has been harvested so far?
Is tomatoes.

All in all,

It was a darn good summer.

xoxo,

A Haircut For Cancer.. Superhero Style

2012-08-15T20:53:00.002-06:00

Youngest's hair was long.

Very long.

She loved her long hair.

What she didn't love was brushing her hair.

Due largely to her arch enemy.... known to locals simply as... Tangles.

We had only a few days before we were off for our summer vacation.

A vacation that involved a lot of camping.

A vacation that would provide fewer shower options.

A vacation with many opportunities for her nemesis to rear it's ugly head.

We had been struggling with tangles for awhile.

Youngest wanted to cut her hair just a little bit, and then not a little bit.

Tears were shed over the daily indecision, and also the tangles.

When we realized Youngest's hair had become very long.

We realized a haircut could be become a wonderful act of service.

An act of service which would help other children who did not have hair.
So we walked to the hairdressers where she could make a difference.

When Youngest realized her contribution would help children suffering from cancer,

it became an easy decision.

One day before our vacation began, Youngest became our hero.

She wore a black cape.

She was nervous, but brave.

The hairdresser cut off more than she had expected.

It didn't help matters that she whispered this to her mentor who stepped in to check the damage.

But after some collaborating between the two stylists a wonderful cut emerged.

We didn't recognize her.

Who was that girl in the window?

Thankfully she loved it.

Especially since it meant the end to her nemesis.

Tangles became a thing of the past.

And a life without tangles... we have discovereed... is a very good life.

For everyone : )

After returning home from our vacation.

The hair was packaged and sent off to a hair restoration clinic.

A thank you note was sent a week later to let us know what would happen to the ponytail.

Youngest's hair was sent to their wig making factory in Europe,

where hers along with eight other donations would make a child without hair very happy.

Youngest is currently growing her long hair back.

We are hoping tangles will not become a part of her ever evolving look.

But if we do end up battling Tangles again?

We know there is always a way of defeating those nasty knots.

It involves the simple donning of a black Superhero cape.

xoxo

PS: Just in case you happen to have your very own Superhero... here is a link to several Canadian donation addresses: Kids For Cancer Hair Donation

She's Seventeen

2012-07-25T14:16:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~

I knew it would happen.

In fact I think I may have planned it.

As soon as I announced I wasn't blogging this summer

my little inner voice woke up.

It sounded a little like this...

Wha? Hey? But but? Whadabout this? and that? and this and that?
Who are you kidding? Pfft... taking the summer off, my foot.

Thankfully I didn't completely lose my mind
and I've been taking pictures like a crazy woman.

So to be honest I'm feeling a little chatty.

So many wonderful memories are being made this summer.

~~~~~~~~~~

Seventeen

We celebrated Eldest's seventeenth birthday a few days ago.

And even as I write this it just about knocks the breath out of me.

I know she is seventeen.

She is definitely seventeen.

But how in the @$## can she be seventeen?
I mean I knew they grew up?
She's been living in our house for heavens sake.
I've been participating in the whole shebang.
I wasn't aware however that I wouldn't be in charge of the speed
in which they were allowed to do it.
Dang.

Wish someone would have warned me.
.... oh yeah they did.
Every mother I passed in the street would wistfully say...
Enjoy it
It goes by so fast.
And now my baby is holding babies.

And I want to stop time.
Not really... but sort of.
Hard to explain really.
I just want to have the moments stamped a little stronger in my memory bank.
So in a frantic try, I'm taking pictures.

So this is my memory page.
My Eldest' turned seventeen memory page.

She is working full time.
She started a running program.
She is learning how to longboard.
She worked really hard at school this year.
She is smart.
She is kind.

She has a boyfriend.
His name is Andrew Garfield.
She has his picture on her wall.
I really like him.
Her dad is OK with it.

She is deciding whether or not to dye her hair lighter or go darker.
For now it's a compromise.
She loves Urban Outfitters.
She listens to vinyl records on her portable record player in her bedroom.

She's a girly girl.
She's a tomboy.

She can shop like the best of them.
And she loves a good deal.
She loves fashion and music.
In that order.

She loves dressing up.
We need to get rid of some of her shoes.
She has to curl her eyelashes so that they don't hit her glasses.

She has toe issues.
She recently diagnosed herself with Misophonia.
I've told her to get over it... quickly.

She's messy.
She's grumpy.
She's happy.

This year she stretched her ears.
This year she also stopped stretching her ears.
One of these things has made me very happy.

Bangs yes?

Bangs no?

Around and around she will forever go.

She texts.

She drinks coffee.
She prefers tea.

She wonders what she should study after high school.

She loves family.

She doesn't yet know what she will do.

She wants to travel.

She wants to study.

She is smart.

She is impatient.

She wants answers.

She passed her drivers.

She wants to buy a car.

Her mom drives her crazy.

She drives her mom crazy.

It's a win win situation.

She knows God has a plan for her.
She's a good listener.
She's a good sister.
She's a good daughter.
She is ours.

She's seventeen.

Love you G.

Smoothies You'd Swear Were Milkshakes! Berry And Chocolate!

2012-07-13T10:20:00.000-06:00

When I come across something exceptional

I don't feel right unless I let the world know.

So this is my good Samaritan act for the week:

Two recipes for summer drinks you will swear were from a cool, hip, big city bistro.

One that you have to wear sunglasses to drink,

because you'd just feel out of place if you didn't.

You know the place.

We usually make our berry smoothie with yogurt but we were out,

so this recipe from allrecipes.com was a new one for us.

We really liked it!

It has more of a milkshake taste which in our humble opinion is always a good thing.

We also live near a coffee shop which serves THE BEST Frozen Hot Chocolate.

The girl's are always hoping to get one, especially now that it's summer.

But I don't happen to have hundreds of dollars a month

to spend on specialty summer drinks.

So the answer is usually no.

I'm a mean mom I know.

So Youngest decided, after her great succes with the Berry Smoothie,

to find a frozen hot chocolate recipe.

And she did.

Middlest wasn't buying it though.

It looked waaay too simple and wouldn't taste anything like the one

she yearned for just a hop skip and a jump away.

I'm happy to say Youngest proved her wrong.

The recipe below from Food.com was probably better than any cold chocolate drink we've every had.

So the next time you're out grocery shopping,

stock up on bagged ice my friends,

because once you try these two m~~ilkshakes~~ smoothies,

you will be running out before you know it.

Happy Summer Slurping!

xoxo,

PS I'm always happy to come and taste test these if you ever need a second opinion : )

Berry Smoothie

1 cup milk

1 cup frozen berries (we used a mango berry mix)

3 Tbsp sugar (we used honey cuz we were too lazy to get the sugar out of the trailer)

1 cup ice cubes

Place the milk, berries and sugar in a blender; cover and process until smooth.

Add ice cubes, cover and process until smooth.

Chill Out Frozen Hot Chocolate

6 oz (3/4 cup) milk

1/2 cup hot cocoa mix (we used Rolo Carnation)

1 1/2 cups ice cubes

whipped cream (optional)

additional hot cocoa mix (optional)

Pour the milk into the blender, add cocoa mix, add ice cubes, blend thoroughly until mixture is finely crushed and slushy. If you have a smallish blender, use smaller crushed ice for better results.