Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015: The Year in Review

Another year come and gone, hey? Well, it's been a delightful year... Much of 2015 was spent getting my business off the ground; however, plenty of fun was interspersed.

In July, we took our first family vacation ever as adults - a cruise from Anchorage, Alaska to Vancouver, BC to celebrate my dad’s 75th and my brother-in-law’s 40th birthdays. The highlight for me was Nugget Falls that fell nearby to Mendenhall Glacier, which was a short drive from Juneau. A walk through the woods took you a sandbar very close to the base of the falls. I was in awe being that close to something so powerful and beautiful!

In August, I attended church camp in Hungry Horse, Montana with my friend Korin. As we were just outside Glacier National Park, it was easy to explore a few different areas of it. The highlight here for me was a mountaintop meadow walk. I have seen many pictures of wildflower meadows in the mountains, and it was a special memory-making experience to walk through that setting.

In December, I finally attended the Dickens’ Festival in Carlyle. It was their 13th annual festival but my first time attending after wanting to go for years! My friend Patti and I went and enjoyed the shopping, period costumes and great food!

Although my year was delightful, it was not overly profitable. I began working full-time again in mid-December – filling a maternity leave for a year at the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan. Hopefully I'll catch on fairly quickly.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

It's 12/12/15 - the 3rd anniversary of my blog!

Happy 3rd Anniversary to my blog! It's been a successful year of crossing things off my '40 Things & More' list. I think I'll celebrate by adding some more items!

The '40 Things & More' List!

1. Go snowshoeing.
2. Serve a meal in a soup kitchen.
3. Eat something I've never tried before.
4. Visit a town in Saskatchewan that I've never been to before.
5. Plan my dream 40th birthday trip.
6. Start running again.
7. Visit a US state I haven't been to before.
8. Read a classic novel.
9. Create and complete a scrapbook for one of the trips I've taken in my 30s.
10. Do up a will.
11. Complete one of my cross-stitch projects.
12. Go kayaking.
13. Get my website business off the ground.
14. Take a self-defense class/course.
15. Go horseback riding.
16. Visit a museum or historic site in Saskatchewan that I haven't been to before.
17. Give blood regularly.
18. Attend a Victorian Tea.
19. Ride my bike in the city.
20. Stop and smell the flowers at a garden I haven't been to before.
21. Try an activity that's new to me.
22. Walk a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that I haven't been on before.
23. Learn more about my family history.
24. Visit a park in Regina I haven't been to before.
25. Participate in a fundraiser that involves a physical activity.
26. Simplify some area of my life that needs simplifying.
27. Learn how to change a tire on a vehicle.
28. Explore Regina's backyard - see what's just outside the city limits.
29. Learn more about Canadian history.
30. Visit a natural site in Saskatchewan I haven't been to before.
31. Learn to play the guitar.
32. Visit a Canadian National Park I haven't been to before.
33. Climb Wascana Hill in Douglas Park and watch a sunset.
34. Visit the observatory at the Science Centre.
35. Attend Mosaic - a multicultural festival held annually.
36. Play my first solo concert on the bells.
37. Attend an outdoor movie event.
38. Go fly a kite!
39. Play a mini golf course I haven't been on before.
40. Go on dream 40th birthday trip!
41. Attend a Regina Red Sox baseball game.
42. Visit Saskatchewan's only lighthouse.
43. Run a 5K.
44. Visit the Great Sandhills in Saskatchewan.
45. Visit a Canadian province or territory I haven't been to before.
46. Attend the annual kite festival in Swift Current.

47. Visit a major US city I haven't been to before.
48. Watch a sunrise.
49. Try another activity that's new to me.

50. It's a surprise (even to me!) - I'll know it when the opportunity presents itself.
51. Take a ballroom dancing class.
52. Watch an old black & white movie I haven't seen before.
53. Experience a WARM birthday!
54. Experience a WARM Christmas! (not necessarily in the same year as the previous item)
55. Attend the annual Dickens' Village Festival in Carlyle.
56. See the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
57. Visit the east coast of Canada.
58. Jump out of an airplane! (in tandem, of course!)
59. Experience a 4th of July in the United States.
60. Visit a US National Park I haven't been to before.
61. Write a book.
62. Watch the Rose Bowl Parade in person.
63. Attend a spring training baseball game.
64. Buy something at an auction.
65. Drive part of Route 66.
66. Attend the tulip festival in Ottawa.
67. See the Great Wall of China.
68. Visit Disneyland or Disney World.
69. See a lavender field in bloom.
70. Attend a ballet.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

#55 - Attend the Annual Dickens' Village Festival in Carlyle

Attending this festival has been on my to-do list for many years and yesterday it finally happened! One of my website clients is the woman who heads up Women on the Go Tours (day trips by bus across southern Saskatchewan), so I knew who to talk to in order to get a seat. And, turns out Charles Dickens is the favourite author of one of my friends (Patti) - perfect!

We boarded the bus, sat back and enjoyed being chauffeured to Carlyle. Our first stop upon arrival was for High Tea. We donned hats, chose a seat and enjoyed the delectable treats (including Christmas pudding) set before us.

It was an unseasonably warm day, so we were able to easily wander all over the town and see the sights. Many local business owners dressed in traditional costumes - we even met Scrooge and Father Christmas!
  
 
We shopped til we dropped all afternoon, ate outside (smoked turkey drumstick anyone?) and stayed warm by a fire, and then were treated to a light parade.

 
Our last stop of the evening was to attend the annual production of A Christmas Carol. Each year, the play is rewritten, acted and produced by locals.


The day was fun, the town went all out to decorate and act the part, and I am so glad I finally got to experience the annual Dickens' Festival - in it's 13th year!

What are you doing the first weekend in December? Maybe you should go to Carlyle!