Backyard

Our yard is an adult space (think manicured bushes, pebble walkways and a slate patio, and no grass), so making our large two level patio as baby friendly as possible for Tom this summer. is a priority. Sure we have two lovely playgrounds (including one with an outdoor pool!) within 5 minutes walking distance of our home (yay for living in an urban neighbourhood)!, but we also want Tom to enjoy being closer to home occasionally.

The upper level of our deck, which is accessible by patio doors from our kitchen, will be the perfect space for the boy to play while we bbq, so we're going to buy a wooden gate system to make the space safe and outfit the deck with some weather resistant foam mats to prevent splinters and bumps.

I'd also like to hang a swing from the upper level of the patio so that it is accessible on the lower level (I love this baby swing!) and to buy a standing hammock for us to take naps in the shade together. This bench would also be the perfect cheerful addition to our space.

When Tom's older, I hope he has a tree house (but that's a plan for a larger home and a bigger yard). Do you dream about making changes to your outdoor living space now that you have a child?

Bird Feeder

Do you like to bird watch? We often see many varieties perched on our deck outside out kitchen window. These homes look like the perfect place to welcome Blue Jays and Robins. After all, birds appreciate modern design too, no?

Walks

With a climate very similar to Scandinavia, I find myself bundling Thomas up in his snowsuit and foot muff, and taking him on long walks in his stroller in the cold at least a few afternoons a week as is so common there. We do a figure eight of our neighbourhood (which allows us to come home quickly at the halfway point if necessary), and end with a break at a local lunch stop. The whole venture takes us about one and a half hours. It's perfect!

How do you spend chilly days?

The one and only time Thomas has ever slept through the night was after a long night walk in the cold. I swear there's something to the Finnish Department of Labour's recommendation to let your babies nap outside in their pram. Our super cozy stroller seems like the perfect place to snooze. It also takes the social pressure off me that I'm feeling as Thomas loves to nap in his stroller outside, but hates to nap in his crib.

Picnic

Two blocks from our house is the Victorian-style urban park, Bannerman Park complete with a playground, public swimming pool, baseball diamond and lots of places to set out a blanket under a tree for a picnic. It is actually the oldest park in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a child, my grandmother (who lived literally across the street from our current house for more than 30 years) would take me and my cousins to that very park while caring for us while our parents were at work. I've bookmarked the same walk I took as a child with her as a regular routine for our son and me once he makes an appearance. This chevron picnic basket seems the perfect DIY to stash in the carriage to use to enjoy a mid-afternoon snack in Bannerman Park. Photo and DIY instructions via Twig and Thistle.

Deck

This deck makes me excited for painting projects and summer and bbqs on our patio. Don't you love how the railing is accented in red? I think this might have to be a summer DIY project on Circular. Image source unknown.

Back Pack

As a former Girl Guide, I love this Scout back pack. Wouldn't it be perfect for day hikes? I'd love to fill one up with a thermos of pink lemonade and container of trail mix. Image via Duluth Pack.

Sailing

I'm thinking that next summer's pursuit should be sailing lessons! Image via bigsnit.

Cottage

Now, if only the window was above the sink, this would be our dream summer home (and it looks a lot like our current bedroom)! Found via Emma's Blogg via Poppy Talk. Photo by Anette Aberg for Hus Och Hem. I think even a little ramshackle cabin like this one could be made beautiful with these design touches.

Solair

On the occasion of Canada Day, a day I associate with backyard BBQ and potlucks, I'm excited to note, after writing about them a year ago, that two turquoise Solair chairs are on there way to our humble abode and we're ever so please to adopt them. Our newly stocked cocktail bar, complete with Hpnotiq, Chambord Liquor and Luxardo Limoncello, is sure to solidify many leisurely evenings spent laughing together on our stone patio. Thanks to Studio Pazo for shipping them to our far away island. Image via Apartment Therapy.

Birdfeeder

Though St. John's experienced a massive snowstorm on Friday, today the earth thawed, the streets ran wild with water, and the snow receded from our stoop. It's only February, but talk of the clocks moving ahead, crocuses peeking their heads from the muddy earth, and lighter jackets has me excited for spring and summer. This fantastic birdfeeder only intensifies the excitement I experience when thinking of sparrows, and blue jays, and robins flying from our lilac tree to our maple tree to our cherry tree. Birdfeeder available from DWR.

Sunsets

I have a confession: I have never stayed up all night to watch the sun rise. I know it is a quintessential adolescent thing to do; movies are chocked full of scenes of youth partying all night, watching the sun rise from a hill top and then sneaking in the back door to hopefully avoid tipping the parents off that you didn't come home the night before.

I am certainly not rebellious. I have however, taken early morning flights (think 5 am departure times to attend conferences and travel to visit friends) and have seen the sun rise while on a plane. Given my sleep and work schedule though, it seems more realistic to pencil in plans to watch the sun set rather than rise.

I relish sunsets. As Edmonton is quite far north, the sun hasn't been setting until after 9 pm lately. Last night, my mom and I caught a stunning sunset that washed the high rises of downtown in a flaming orange light. The sky was streaked with pinks, reds and oranges. The skyscrapers looked something like this:

Photo via Eyebex.

I am making myself a promise to pay more attention to sunsets. They're a beautiful facet of life on the prairie. I would love to watch a sunset over the glacier in Banff National Park at Glacier View Inn or on a hot air balloon. Sunsets will have to make up for the fact that I still haven't seen the Northern Lights.

Road Trip

This week Greg and I have decided to plunge head first into planning our summer vacation. Our plan is to take a road trip from Edmonton to Vancouver Island. Greg grew up in Qualicum Beach and Victoria, so I am looking forward to checking out the places where he spent his early years.

As for specifics, we know the dates (June 26-July 12), definite pit stops (Calgary, Radium Hot Springs, Vancouver) and must-have meal locations (Shima on Denman in Vancouver for sushi and Bibo in Nelson to check out Culina's BC sister). We're mixing camping with hotels like the Empress in Victoria and on-the-beach hospitality suites like The Captain's Inn in Qualicum. I'm hoping to take in some hiking and campfires, the Calgary Stampede and Canada Day in Vancouver with the Robson Street festival and fireworks in Burrard Inlet. I'd also like to head to Seattle for a day trip if possible. Beyond these broad strokes, we're still in the planning phase.

Image via Sasuke GR.

Mountains

A long weekend in the fantastic Jasper National Park requires no wordy recap; instead, here is our photo diary of Victoria Day Weekend 2009.

Jasper

Greg and I are off early tomorrow morning on an impromptu road trip to Jasper for the long weekend. We debated tents and backpacks and coolers and Coleman stoves; the low temps and possible flurries made a hotel more attractive. A fire ban banished dreams of teaching Greg to love marshmallows. We'll have a fantastic time nonetheless relaxing at the hot springs, drinking in the mountain air, taking day hikes and eating delicious dinners.

Merry wishes for a happy and safe long weekend.

Image via Ynusfogan Jack.

Marshmallow

After catching a glimpse of a campfire on television two nights ago, I got a mad craving for warm marshmallows. The last time I roasted a marshmallow was while relaxing with friends at Emily Murphy Park on one of the last warm afternoons of last fall. However, I cannot remember the last time I made s'mores. There was a time in high school when they were a camping staple. At Ranger camp, my friends and I perfected the art of s'mores and spider dogs. As Greg and I have begun to collect camping gear, I'm sure there will be plenty of campfires, Coleman stove dinners and marshmallows this summer.

In looking forward, I'd like to test my hand at homemade marshmallows. Greg dislikes marshmallows (how that is possible I'm not sure), but perhaps he'd like them better if he knew they were void of mystery ingredients. These marshmallows will make a perfect accompaniment to Something to Sing About and hot chocolate in a blue enamel mug. Here the recipe I plan to try courtesy of the Food Network.

Homemade Marshmallows

3 packages of unflavoured gelatin

1 cup ice cold water

1.5 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup icing sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

Butter on wax paper

Place the gelatin in a bowl along with 1/2 cup cold water.

In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup cold water, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium high heat, cover and allow to cool for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 7-8 minutes until the mixture is 240 degrees F (use a candy thermometer clipped to the side of the saucepan). Once the mixture is 240 degrees, remove it immediately from the heat.

Mix the bowl of gelatin with a hand mixer on a low speed. While mixing, slowly pour the hot sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin. Once the sugar syrup has been added, increase the speed to high. Continue to whip until the mixture is very thick and lukewarm, which will take 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla in during the last minute of whipping.

Combine the icing sugar and corn starch in a small bowl. Lightly cover a 9x13 baking sheet with butter. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and move around to completely coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the remaining mixture to the bowl for later use.

When ready, pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a lightly oiled spatula for spreading evenly into the pan. Dust the top with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares using a pizza wheel dusted with the icing mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining mixture, using additional if necessary. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Image via Dolifelici.