Four: Fruit, Flowers, Fabulous!

Yesterday (right): "Tomorrow's a special day, James.  You excited?"

Today (below): "Ugh, Too much excitement last night.  We need a nap." Or two or three...




I really tried hard to finish Paul's, but was just too tired.

But no matter, when he got back from work, we had our little celebration during one of James's sleeps. 

Turns out we both followed the "fruit and flower" theme.   

For me: A pretty flower card (and something silky --fabulous). 

For him: Dates!  Since we haven't really been able to have many [and likely won't for a while]). A flowery heart card (below, below), and that strip of yellow "modern floral" Qiana nylon work-in-progress (almost-fabulous, below).

And so we have it; not really that exciting tonight, but we are still here. 

Happy 4th anniversary, Bou!  Best Year Yet!

Paper and Cotton

I was much too full from tea to really eat anything for dinner, but it was the thought (and surprise) that counted. 

For our first year anniversary celebration dinner, Paul took me to The Creperie - the same place he took me for one of our first(-ish) dates.  Just like last time, we combed over the menu (checking possibly more intently for mistakes -- it has definitely been updated, but we still found some), and took probably a bit too long to order. 

Then we talked over dinner about practical things, how eventful a year it had been... what we want for the coming year... and silly things too.  I "joked" about creating a jar-filled-cinderblock wall just like restaurant. 

Back at home, Paul had another surprise for me: A present! 

The grey tissue paper carefully unpeeled to revealed a wooden-covered photo album with prints from our photo shoot.  He's so sweet. 

My gift for him was downstairs guarded by Coconut and House Hippo. 

 

(Left: A kind of sort of family portrait.) 

The chocolate bunnies were an extra...  So was the Butterdome... The actual gift was inside the butter dish: A gift certificate for a canvas print -- Because the canvas was likely cotton! 

Why is that important?  Because cotton is the first year anniversary gift.  But... isn't that paper? 

Without really talking about it, both of us had thought of giving each other anniversary presents based on the traditional list.  But just like our wedding, "traditional" turned out to be different things.  I'd used a "Traditional UK" list and he a "Traditional US" list. 

Oh, well, another thing we can laugh about!

Not so funny though, was Paul's computer troubles.  He tried turn on his laptop (for us to listen to something or find something...) before going to bed, but ended up getting a scary error screen.  Fingers crossed it's fixable. 

Anyway, the next day our bunny counterparts seem errily even more like us (left).  Mrs. Bun lists to her left due to a gammy foot just like me. 

No Foolin'

Blue Skies and Benzene Love

Where did the time go?  Yesterday was our first anniversary! 

Originally, we considered celebrating with a day trip outside of Edmonton.  But with my ankle in such a state, we ended up closer to home: The park area near the Valley Zoo. 

Down the hill (minor elevation that kept the parking lot out of view), we found a somewhat secluded area within a cove of bushes to hide from the wind.  We pretended we were alone and far away from the city.  (Though there was a party next to the picnic benches nearby...) 

Setting everything onto a blanket on the grass, we dug into our picnic (hamper/basket): Celery and carrot sticks, plenty of bread and cheese, deli meats and tomatoes... Paul tried smoked oysters for the first time and I think he liked them (though I finished the can-yum!) 

As we talked and relaxed, the wind brought some clouds and patches of sprinkles, but blue skies returned again and again.  And it was overall a nice day to be out in the fresh air.  (Yes, I'm sure there is a cheesy metaphor in there.) 

Back at the house, I laid out the ingredients for my surprise dinner (poisioning attempt), and taking one look at the beef and mushrooms, he guessed right.  Hm... must try harder next time.  On the plus side, it actually tasted like what it was supposed to be. 

Anyway, it certainly was a sweet anniversary.  And oh, that benzene love - check out the wrapping paper :D

Perfect with Pie, and Two Pots

"Ha! You may think I'm a hardhearted black sock, but underneath this dark woolly exterior is a naked pink foot." ~ Helena as sock puppet in Mirrormask

Feast was extra busy with an almost full showing of regular Feasters along with family members.  Now... were the family members forewarned?  

Wackiness began even before dinner was over and continued into the night.  First there were ponderances of a tuba-accordian jam session, then, perhaps because pie was a while away, the very cute baby started looking especially tasty...

And then, Paul and I unleashed our punny sentiments for Steph and Rem's "Perfect", iron and candy sixth anniversary. 

Who thought iron balls (below) would cause such a ruckus? 

When pie was introduced, it turned out to be an exercise in memory and navigation ("A slice from apple street and rubarb avenue, please.").  But all (yes, I tested all four) were delicious. 

Then, fully fuelled, we returned to being silly.  More photos of it here.

Today: Paul continued his battle with jetlag. 

He managed to stay awake by choosing a difficult dinner recipe which we worked on together. 

Not really realising it, the recipes we've been choosing from Jackie's cookbook have all been the one pot (of five difficulty level) variety.  Pork with Normandy Sauce, however, has two!  Yes, it was more complicated.  I also learned about shallots - like an onion and garlic combined (and what do you know:  it can be substituted with such).   It too was delicious. 

Afterwards, we watched Mirrormask.  As good as it was*, Paul still needed to crash mid-way through.  We'll just have to finish it tomorrow.

* I loved the visuals, which for some reason reminded me of Cirque du Soleil, and gladly recommend it. (In case you didn't guess, it's by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean.) 

Anniversary the Fifth

Was late getting to Rem and Steph's (having made a short stop at John's barbeque and swing dance party first), but was still surprised Paul was already there (with a banged-up hand).  He had called before telling me he was delayed - he was having trouble getting his new couch into the house.*  Turns out, he eventually stopped trying and the couch is now in the garage.  Regardless, he was happy to be there.

Our first and last love...is self love...

And I was happy too!  It was Rem and Steph's 5th - the wood - anniversary!  Many people stopped in to enjoy the company and re-staging of the wonderful wedding cake / dessert (DIY sundaes). 

(Right: Yay!  Five years!) 

It had taken me a while to decide what to put in the large wooden cigar / snake oil box (my yard sale / off-the-lawn find).  Paul suggested a cat, so I obliged with a Ding-Dong keychain (left), with other wooden goods, and a dash of fortune cookies. 

The time is right to make new friends...

The couple shared their fortune cookies and we all had a laugh.  I was happy to see that Paul had gotten the hang of it (he had bitten into his first like an apple). 

(Right: The Chin!) 

(Left: Per Paul, only slightly slower to load than Windows IE)

* I immediately had images of Dirk Gently's couch issues in my head (followed by the Friends episode...). Though, what I remembered wouldn't have helped (taking down a wall or waiting for a dimensional shift to happen)

The story goes...

"Mom was the most beautiful woman in the village." Theresa says at dinner. Dad, Angela, Patrick, Carl and the kids were here too.

She continues, "Every one's mom is beautiful, but ours really was." As Mom shook her head smiling, Theresa started listing all the women in the village (of course I have no clue about these people) and started dissecting their looks. I was shocked: she was being literal! And kind of shallow...

Next she asks, "So how did Mom end up with Dad FIFTY YEARS ago?"
Mom, not waiting a beat, "He wasn't bad looking when he had all his teeth."


Fifty years. Happy Golden Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I'm a little embarrassed to say I was caught by surprise. Angela had called me at work about two weeks ago: "I think it's Mom and Dad's 50th this year". I said "No, we just had their 40th a little while back. I have pictures. I'll check them and let you know tomorrow."


Here is what I found:

Photos from 1998 and a colour copy of their wedding certificate I had made at Staples.


It really has been ten years since that celebration. At that time, Celina was barely two, and Kevin didn't even exist yet. I had just graduated from high school...


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What does one get one's parents who have been married for 50 years?


The sites say gold. Our answer: A nice dinner at a restaurant of their choice. And a really, really big television.


The television is to arrive in two weeks. The dinner, we had tonight, at "Ah-Chin's Kitchen". I had my very first winter melon soup (cooked in a winter melon). The spectacle that the winter melon was, made me pull out my camera. Here it is - Patrick is on the right, and "hiding" behind is Angela. For some reason, I wasn't encouraged to (and didn't think to) take any photos of Mom and Dad. The feeling I got from them was as though they thought fifty years was no big deal at all.

Fruit Flower Fringe

"Would you please make it look like a bunch of flowers?" The lady at Sobey's Urban Fresh stared for a second; Beth stood by ready to explain. It was Rem & Steph's 4th anniversary (the fruit & flowers anniversary) and I was determined to bring something special. The venus flytraps didn't look in season (and may send the wrong message), so pineapple it was!



Once there, we all enjoyed the recreation of their "make your own sundae" wedding cake. Talk turned to anniversary gifts, the seeming bias towards women... and the unbias of leather. The answer: Yes. Year 3 (Traditional), or Year 9 (Modern). Or really, any/every year.
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My Fringe volunteer shifts started this weekend. Most volunteers were dressed for the Hawaiian theme and the weather cooperated nicely (plus 30s, phew!). In my mind, everything had to work around my must sees "Maggie Now! Part 3: Claude" and "Maggie Now! Part 4: I'll Bury Youse All", even the running around involved with my Front of House duties. Anything else was a bonus.



Bonus 1: Off-shift and finding food, see Erik in line for a show. Waited with him for a while and was convinced to join. The one-man show "Sev" is about love, loyalty, an over-active imagination, pursuance of dreams, and working at Seven Eleven. It was a little difficult to follow during the quiet parts where he played both protaganist and love interest, but he was amazing at timing. Impressive were all the slow-motion takes: experiencing the moment of an old lady counting out exact change, and dramatic fight scenes and explosions. Wow those explosions. And the B Scene Studios location had air conditioning.




Bonus 2: Also in the "True Fringe Spirit" of choosing a show last minute, I managed to get a ticket to Wooster Sauce. This one-man show featured the amazing actor from (last year's) Underneath the Lintel playing out two of Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster stories. Fiancee Lady Florence Craye, she with the "won-der-ful profile" (I would foolishly attempt to imitate with official Fringe Portrait Photographer Frank Grisdale's photography skills and airbrushing), also made an appearance. I enjoyed myself thoroughly even though the second floor of the Strathcona library was very crowded and hot.


Bonus 3, 4 and 5: On duty I see Krystal and Julie lined up for a show. We chat and I find out there is another Minou! After Maggie 3, I spy Chris & Shannon next to the gazebo stage. The three of us enjoy "My Heart Will Go On" Be Arthurs style.



And Maggie Now! Parts 3 and 4? Lovely and touching as expected. I laughed, I cried, I got really frustrated with Claude. It was good. Now that I've seen them all, I'm allowed to read the book.

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Returned home Sunday night and immediately noticed the tree looked strange (did Mom and Dad actually decide to prune in this heat?). While staring up at its flat top, I see a falling star in the sky. And then there was another! I made a racket so that Mom and Dad would come out and look too. But when they make it outside there were no more. I still made a wish.