Yellow Plum Chia Seed Muffins

 

Today marks the fourth anniversary since my dad passed away.   It's hard to believe it's been four years since that call in the middle of the night.  In those first days when we were all in shock a dear friend stopped by for support.  She had lost her mom years before to cancer and the look in her eyes told me she knew what I was experiencing.  The loss of a parent is the club no one wants to join.  Meeting anyone who has lost their parent means skipping a whole bunch of small talk and a joining that only pain can create.  What my friend said in those early days still rings true for me.  In an effort to improve my mood she told me things would get better.  She said the instensity of loss wouldn't lessen, but the frequency that it occurred would.  Four years on, I couldn't agree more.

Poblanos stuffed with Romano Beans, Red Quinoa & Queso Fresco

 It's been a weird summer of weather for us, but this last week has been fantastic.  Warm sunny days and cool evenings for sleeping.  We've been dining outside as much as possible.  Jos is away at camp for the week with her best friend and I can't think of a better spot to be.  I was a die-hard camp goer as a kid.  It was the best week of the summer for me and eventually, my first job.  Working as a camp counsellor is a dream gig.  Sunshine, peers and little people who look up to you all day long- what's not to love?  It took a long time to get over the camp life, when I finally got a real job in my late teens.  If only life was as easy as summer camp.

Blueberry Chutney

Well, they did it. The four kids paddled, portaged and hiked their way through Killarney Park. I had my doubts whether they'd be able to do the whole trip without parent intervention, but they proved me wrong. On portages almost a kilometre long, they happily walked with heavy sacks and paddles in hand. On long stretches of lake, they sang, laughed and told stories to paddle their way to the next destination. Despite some cold temperatures and high winds on a couple days, the trip was a great success. We hiked to the summit of Silver Peak on an off day and the kids just marched on without complaint. It reminded me once again to never underestimate what any person can do.

Carrot Kohlrabi Asian Slaw

We're back from the wilderness and I'm craving raw fresh food.  Backpacking our food in was a lot of fun, but by day five, the fresh options are gone.  Dried fruits and veggies just can't shine a light to the taste of locally grown produce.  Coming home to a hot shower and a crisp salad was pure bliss.  A slaw of kohlrabi and carrots might sound a little dull, but this salad is anything but.  Crunchy and filling, it makes a perfect lunch for home or on the road.  Don likes his on a bed of lentils, to up the protein while I prefer it on it's own. 

Peach Zucchini High Fibre Muffins

We are heading out to the wilderness this week. Back to one of my favourite spots, we can hardly wait to unwind and enjoy the natural beauty Ontario has to offer. We have another family of four joining us and the kids will have their own canoe for the first time. I'm excited to see the four of them sorting out roles and responsibilities. It will be tough to bite my tongue but I'm aiming to let them work it out alone. Portaging the canoe will fall to the adults, but the rest of it will be theirs to facilitate.  I'm sure they will amaze me with their will power, strength and ability to have a good time.