Hum Drum

You'd think nothing much happened in our lives except me pointing the camera at the kids.

• Ella seemed to be my subject of choice this week: swimming , running, swinging, dressed up, and beachcombing.
  
• Bill and Sam were out this weekend, and we had a great time with them, but I didn't post any photos of those events yet. We even witnessed a rare collision of social worlds, having Bill's and Myron's crews hanging out together with satisfying results.
  
• We've been busily getting the place ready for sale, taking care of little fix-ups we had been neglecting. The emerging sales site is here -- Summerland townhouse for sale -- but we haven't "officially" listed yet (which, in a private sale seems to mean putting a sign on the lawn and advertising locally).
  
• After seeing my latest painting (done with the girls as part of a special "gallery show" game) qualifies me as a folk artist. I'm not sure what that means, but it was really fun to muck with paints in a more focused kind of way. Ivy's doll portrait was more impressive overall.

Bertram Creek Park

We escaped the heat on the weekend by seeking refuge at my folks' place in Kelowna. After a total feast on Saturday night, Dad had the genius idea to go for a swim at Bertram. It's an epic spot, and the sunset put on a show for our benefit. Walking back to the car past the spot we were married 10 years ago, Ivy played the role of minister: "I now pronounce you man and wife -- you may kiss the bride." A nice moment, and a bit bizarre to see our girls standing there with us...we don't feel any different than we did back then. Anyway, a few photos:

• Tannis and Mom H. solving the world's problems
  
• I took a bunch of shots of the dock and the sunset, because it kept changing in wonderful ways: earlier and later on when the colour really exploded
  
• Mom and Dad jumping off the picnic table on the dock like a couple of punks
  
• Grandma playing with the girls in paradise
  
• A couple more sunset shots: looking north toward the city, and west toward Peachland

Artist Malcolm

Another interesting result of my googling eidses last week was coming across a mention of an art show by Malcolm Eidse from earlier in spring. This was the only photo of his work, and it looks like fascinating stuff -- wish I could have seen it. From the gallery's blurb:

"In this installation, Eidse has created five objects based on Platonic solids, each with corresponding colour and sound. The viewer is encouraged to examine the relationships between the objects and the space itself. Just like ancient and contemporary scientists, Eidse believes that through our perception we can apprehend portions of a 'still' material substance which is, in reality, in constant motion."

He's always been super creative and introspective, so it's cool to see his vision coming alive like this. Mal's one of those people I feel quite connected to, but despite living close by, we've been terrible at maintaining our relationship. We used to at least hang out at Big White and ride together a couple of times each winter. I'll have to stop by the Bean Scene this summer and say hi.

Hot Hot Heat

I like the heat and going to the beach, but this is perhaps too hot.

Update: One of those nights last night where it was 21 degrees outside at 1:00am and 25 degrees inside. Then at 8:30 this morning, neither had changed.

Summerland Townhouse Almost for Sale

Emboldened by my good experience selling our extra camera on the blog, I'm furthering the experiment. So, the camera went for $225, and we're currently talking about selling our townhouse in Summerland, BC for about a thousand times that. It's not officially on the market yet and we're planning to attempt selling privately (at least initially).

So, get the word out, loyal readers -- all seven of you can help us with the process of passing this home on to another happy family. We're planning to rent in town for a while and then see what happens. I'll keep the updates coming as things progress.

Update: I've got the site mostly up. It may not be a professional real estate site, but I think it's looking pretty good so far. We've got a few things to finish up before putting the official word out next week.

Update: SOLD! On October 31, 2006, we signed the papers.

CFellows

We had a cool experience this week. I had e-mailed Christine Fellows about her coming out for the Summerland Folk Festival in a few weeks and she mentioned that they were also playing a show in Kelowna this Tuesday night. They didn't have a place to stay, so we got it set up so they could crash at Bill's. We had connected well with them in September, so it was great to hang out for a while in the morning -- smart, fun, happy folks. They loved Bill's place and seemed to enjoy having their own space for a bit. I so wished later that I had thought to ask Leanne to play her cello for the girls...next time, I suppose. Today I noticed that the CBC Radio 3 blog had a post about Christine and company as well.

Update: CF's new video gives you a great taste of her music and performance style.

"Vacation" Done

So, I'm back at work after a month off. The thesis research went well, but it's scary how much there still is to do. I feel a lot more focused now an have a clearer path. Overall, it was a glorious block of time -- spent piles of time with the kids, hit the beach all the time, visited with friends and enjoyed real summer.

We had a great weekend with Bill last week, and then Mark and Joel joined us this weekend for a super visit. The girls kept them busy at the beach a few times, and we hit Greata Ranch for some wine tasting and a picnic.

The less ideal times (studying inside, hot and tired and occasionally sick of the thesis) were made better by:

• numerous Slurpees
  
• taking off and going riding on my townie with Ivy on the trail-a-bike we borrowed from a friend. SO fun, and we already did a 12km ride around Giant's Head and across town together -- she loves it.
  
• Thom Yorke, Sarah Harmer, some fun punk and an assortment of indie tunes helped keep me tethered to the laptop

Ivy Gallery

A few recent pics of Ivy in action over the past week or so:

• conspiratorial conference with a new old friend
  
• swimming in the sparkling water
  
• playing on the patio at Greata Ranch Vineyards with Ella
  
• not really of Ivy specifically, but check out the pink princess joy contained in this scene

Ella Gallery

A few recent photos of our little character Ella:

• looking at the research station from the top of Giant's Head
  
• happily buried in the sand mermaid-style by Joel
  
• floating around at Powell Beach
  
• looking adventurous at the top of Giant's Head
  
• hangin' with her Mom 'n Sis at Barb's birthday bonfire

Drunken Teenager

Perhaps the funniest opening lines of any article ever published in The Messenger, devoted to the history of old classmate and friend Chris:

"Chris first appeared on Providence College and Seminary’s campus at Otterburne, MB, as a drunken teenager at Youth Encounter. Years later his first night on campus as a student included sitting in the back of a police car in Winnipeg."

Disclaimer: This is only remotely funny if you knew Chris way back in the day, witnessed his total transformation into upstanding citizen and youth outreach worker...and if you've ever read anything in the Messenger.

World Cup Note

Penalty kicks are truly the stupidest way to determine the winner in the biggest game of the biggest tournament in the biggest sport in the world. They might as well switch to arm wrestling or board games to settle the tie. At the very least, why not take the kick from 30 yards out to give the goalies a chance? *

* My experience of watching parts of three games this year surely qualifies me to identify and fix deficiencies in a sport I haven't played since high school.

Going Straight

Perhaps a bit of wisdom about change from Modest Mouse's wonderful Third Planet:

"The universe is shaped exactly like the earth
If you go straight long enough you'll end up where you were"

Rainbows, Beaches and Friends

After a crazy rainbow season ended 12 days ago, we've had blasting heat. Beach every day, and the pictures are all looking the same, so I won't bother posting them. Today we were down at the beach with the Duecks again, and wandered over to Shaughnessy's for supper just as an intense thunderstorm was starting up. Tons of lightning, thunder shaking the house, and an enormous dump of rain, which already felt like a miracle after the dry heat. Anyway, thought I'd catch up with a hodgepodge post of photos and events from the last week or so:

• I forgot to write last week that we had been back to Orofino, the straw-bale winery in Cawston. We picked up some early (expensive!) cherries and raspberries, had a picnic down by the Similkameen river, and enjoyed some wine beside the vineyard. As nice as it all was, we were kind of tense and just a bit off all day, with the girls not being at all accommodating. Can't all be perfect, right? And Cawston seemed kind of desolate overall, despite its beautiful valley.
  
• Celebrated the Summer Solstice with the Hildebrands and had a wiener roast at the beach
  
• Tan caught my best catch of the evening while I was playing frisbee with Myron in the park last week
  
• My folks took us out to The Gasthaus in Peachland, one of our favourite eateries in the valley -- got this shot of Ivy and Grandma
  
• One evening we wandered in the ornamental gardens, where nearly everything is blooming -- I loved these grasses and dramatic flowers on the hens 'n chicks.
  
• Judging by this shot, is Tannis in danger of contracting baby fever? We are smitten by little Sloane so far.

Birthday Sister

Ella was not the center of attention this week as Ivy turned five, but she handled it pretty well. At times we may have overcompensated a bit, trying to make sure she felt special too. Anyway, a few pics in her honour:

• brave at the top of the slide
  
• playing by the totem pole in Peachland
  
• showing off her blue eyes
  
• warming up with Ivy after a long swim

Scroll Alert

More photos added to Ivy's birthday post below...

Here's the Girl I Love So Much

Tannis and I figure we'll celebrate our 10th anniversary properly in the next few months. The official day was yesterday (thanks to sweetheart Esther for remembering and calling), but it was sort of lost in the shuffle of Ivy's birthday celebrations. We had a decent day anyway, spending a chunk of the afternoon at the beach and hanging out with Barb later. Even caught the Penticton fireworks from a distant point last night -- every year they blast those things off for us.

10 years ago, we had only been living in the Okanagan for a few months (still crashing with my parents), we were hoping for sunshine, and 70 of our friends and family were arriving from everywhere....all to see me and my best friend get married. It's really been a fantastic decade. I think often of my brother-in-law Chad's wise, simple advice for marital success: "you've just gotta marry the right person." Well said!

Local Web Tour

Maybe I've already mentioned this recently, but I love the web. I love it even more when friends keep blogs -- for the first couple of years of this headspacej experiment, I always wished that more would. How else would I get to see:

• Steve and Tom in matching plaid
  
• A rare glimpse inside RP's business
  
• Classic Greg on a classic beach cruiser
  
• Old friend Jer Plett at Jim's wedding -- I would have loved to be sitting at that table
  
• And finally, although we get to see Baby Sloane in person, it was pretty cool seeing the photos pop up online

I know this blogging thing isn't for everyone, and perhaps it even opens us up for mockery at times, but for people like me who love to feel even a little bit connected to distant friends, this experience is nifty.

Back to March

Seeing Greg's excellent post this morning about their trip out to the Okanagan in March reminded me that I
had promised to add some photos once I got them developed (no digital at that point). So, consider the promise kept.

One thing that strikes me when I look at these photos is how brown and drab everything is. We had such a weird, long spring that seemed to last at least four months. Meanwhile, judging by the stuff we were doing (sitting on the beach), it looks like we were trying to will summer into existence.

It was sunny enough to lounge on the grass in the gardens. We enjoyed many conversations -- lots of rich stuff about lifestyle balance, purpose, friendship and family. They had just returned from a reflective trip to the other side of the world, then spent a week hanging out with good friends in Vancouver, so there was lots of great food for thought.

Greg was loving The Elite. I agree, it is legit. If I remember correctly, I was getting hungry enough to be low-blood-sugar grouchy, but we had a great time. It was tough to send them off from there, knowing that it would be a long time before we'd see them again.