Hiking Buffalo Pound

I love hiking!

Today a group of us went to Buffalo Pound and hiked +/-14kms.  What a gorgeous place to explore God's creation.

We met at 8:30am, and drove down in a caravan of 3 cars.  Once there we got on our gear and headed straight out on the trails.  Mosquitoes.   But we managed.  In the sun or wind they were not so noticeable.

After about 10 kms we took our lunch, by this time it was around 1:30pm.

We had a lot of fun - the conversation was great.  Lots of laughter.  One of the girls, Rachel, never met her before, had a great sense of humour and a gorgeously infectious laugh.

I'd like to come back a month from now and see the fall colours decorating the trees.

More Tennis

A month ago I wrote about my re-encounter with tennis in Penticton.

Since returning back to Saskatoon, I've done a bit of research on the tennis scene, and there are definitely some good possibilities of getting reengaged with the sport here.

The tennis world revolves around 2 places in town: Riverside, and Lakewood.  Riverside has 9 outdoor courts, whereas Lakewood has 6 indoor courts.  The problem is that in order to take advantage of all they offer, you have to get memberships in both, $250 a piece.  I'm not inclined to pay that much right now.  Maybe in the winter I'll feel different.

For now, though, I've joined a Monday night doubles league at Riverside.  We play from 7:30-10, co-ed, and I have to say that even though I prefer singles, playing doubles is helping me on a number of fronts, particularly fitness, positioning, and reading the play.  

I also enrolled in tennis lessons.  For the next 2 weeks I will be taking lessons twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  At $25 a pop, it seems a reasonable way for me to get back into it.  Tonight's my first lesson.

Potato Yield

I harvested a good half of my potatoes today.

I counted 22 potatoes.  Some of them XL - twice the size of a normal potato.  Potato plants are incredibly prolific: I planted 4 potato plants, and will yield in excess of 40 potatoes in 4 short months.

Ruth And Marty In Saskatoon

A month ago I wrote about the blessing of having a good friend in my life.

This month I'd like to write about two more friends who are very special to me, Ruth and Marty.  For the past week they have been visiting me here in Saskatoon - what a treat to have them here!

We've done a ton of stuff together over the last few days: cooking, going for walks, bbqs, lots of board games (!), watching tennis, a road trip to Regina, visiting a winery south of the city, and checking out various food joints.

The roots of our friendship go back a good 8 years.  Initially we played lots of soccer together - that's how we met.  After scrimmages we'd go out to the pub, and I noticed that I always had good conversations with both of them.  I appreciate their ability and interest in discussing not just ordinary topics of everyday life, but deeper topics too involving honest reflections relating to worldviews, geopolitics, faith, and the sciences.

I don't agree with them on everything, in fact, our points of view diverge on many fronts, but I find them both extremely open, gracious and engaging, three qualities that are must-haves in order for mutual learning and understanding to take place.  They are excellent conversation partners, and I always walk away enriched after one of our discussions.

Our friendship extends well beyond Canadian borders too, as I have the opportunity to visit them during the winter when they live in Mexico, and I'm in need of some hot weather.  Five of the last seven winters I have visited Mexico, and every time I've been there, they've been amazing hosts, offering me a place to lay my head, wonderful tours of Mexico City, and amazing meals.  Without fail, they've always offered superb hospitality.

One of our annual highlights the past few years has been attending the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis, held in Acapulco each year.  Our mutual interest in tennis has fostered further strengthening of friendship bonds, as we all love discussing the latest tennis news or gossip.

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures during their visit here this past week.  This may be something I regret in the future, as I think having people coming to visit me here from other places is always a milestone of sorts that ought to be remembered in pictures.

Lord, thank you for blessing me with friends the likes of Ruth and Marty.  Please pour your blessings upon them both, protecting them, leading and guiding them towards your loving embrace.  I pray this through Christ my Lord.  Amen.

Gardening - An Update

So we're over halfway of this year's gardening season. In fact, I got my first mini-harvests already, of beans and carrots, primarily, although I did harvest a few potatoes and zucchini too.

Here's a lovely picture of my Asian lilly in full bloom.

I'm perhaps most proud of my basil!  Marco and I've tried it a number of times already on our pasta concoctions.

Daniela's Birthday

Today Daniela turns 34.

I sent her Greek coffee, along with a briki, a traditional Greek coffee pot used to make coffee on a stove top.

I think this is a good present.  During our time together first in Sudbury, then here in Saskatoon, I noticed that she gravitates towards eastern European and mediterranean culture in a number of ways, from manners of thinking and expressing herself, to food, drink, and clothing.

God of heaven and earth, I pray that you would accompany Daniela always, that you would encourage her and give her joy.  I pray these things through Christ my Lord, Amen.

Cochin

Yesterday on our way back from Meadow Lake we stopped in Cochin, a little town nestled between two lakes and at the bottom of a hill.  At the top of the hill was a lighthouse - of all things, in Saskatchewan! - with steps leading up to it from the parking lot below.

So we stopped, climbed up the 140-or-so steps and enjoyed the view from on top.  

We all look happy - I like both pics.

Meadow Lake: Day 2

Another day...another hike.  This time not as long, and not as scenic, but still great.

I slept well, mostly.  The sleeping pad I bought (to put underneath my sleeping bag) last summer is an inch thicker, and it works - I slept much better than I usually do when I go camping.

Good morning picture:

Campsite:

Hiking pictures:

Marco and company headed up the food department.  Is there anything better than grilled food?

In the evening things got a bit heated.  We started taking about the 2 topics everybody says you shouldn't talk about - politics and religion.

Energy and the environment.

Capitalism.

Faith in the public square.

Such great topics, worthy of discernment and discussion indeed.  Add a glass or two of wine, and you have all the ingredients necessary for an ... argument.

But it's necessary to have these "arguments" every now and again - iron sharpens iron.

I get a little bit tired of the argument that Christians are "blind sheep".  That argument may have held in the past, but today, Christians are anything but blind sheep.  We actually get a fuller education than the secular world offers, because simply speaking, we are taught both, the sciences and religion.  Secularists are blind in only paying attention to the empirical world.  They believe a priori that there's no need in studying faith-related matters, and are therefore completely ignorant of them.  So who's really blind here?

Camping @ Meadow Lake

I'm camping in Meadow Lake with Eric, Marco, Dorotea, and John for the long weekend.

Today we went on a 17km hike - it was perfect weather: slightly overcast, warm, and a breeze to keep the bugs away.

Good company, mostly.  Sometimes I get annoyed by people, more than I should...

A Friend ... Sticks Closer Than A Brother

Friendship is a precious thing, a gift from God.  And James (among other people) is just that, a gift.

"He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty." - Job 6:14

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." - Proverbs 17:17

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." - Proverbs 18:24

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." - John 15:15

"Peace be to you.  The friends greet you.  Greet the friends, each by name." - I John 1:15

He's been here for the past few days, attending a conference from his denomination.

While here, we've had some good conversations, mostly about theology.  Oh to have friends nearby with whom I could discuss these themes more regularly...

It's been interesting seeing him struggle with the issues of the days being discussed at the conference. He fears for the future of the church.

And yet, we need not fear, we need only to be faithful:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18

Memories

Fond memories of a great weekend trip to the Okanagan...

The Land Of Milk And Honey

So here is our latest family portrait.

The guy at the front right is not part of our family, he's Derek's friend.  I know I'm supposed to be gracious towards others, but my gosh, some people's kids...

The family is changing.  Tanis is pregnant.  The kids are no longer kids - except for one, they're all teens now.  Mom and dad are aging, slowly, and extremely gracefully.

I need to make this trip part of my annual routine.  Family.  The Okanagan.  Smoothies.  Lakes.  Wine.  Sun and heat.  BBQ.  Pool.  Ice cream.  And after this year...tennis.

Ted and I played tennis again yesterday.  I feel like I'm rediscovering an old Love.

Ted and I also talked about buying a family property in Penticton.  It would serve as an annual vacation spot, and possibly, a future home for me!

Adrenaline

This afternoon Ted asked me if I wanted to play some tennis.  I said "No, I haven't played in years, I'm out of shape, plus I've got some lingering injuries."

Thirty minutes later we're out lakeside, on the court, hitting the ball going back and forth, and back and forth.

Hitting our hearts out.
Adrenaline.
The sweat.
Side-to-side shuffling.
That feeling, when you hit the ball right in the sweet spot.
The exhaustion afterwards.

It was almost a spiritual experience.

Penticton

At the Calgary Int'l Airport, on my way to Penticton.

I haven't gone on this trip the past 2 years so I'm really looking forward to reconnect with family.

Jesse Cook

Tonight Marco, Eric, Michelle and I went to see Jesse Cook at the Jazz Festival.  What a fantastic event.

We got to the Bess around 7, hung out and enjoying the scenery before taking in the concert at 9 and onwards.  Shortly after arriving, Marco, Eric and I were just kinda hanging out when low and behold, Jesse walked by.  I greeted him, and he didn't hesitate and stopped to talk to us.  I was so shocked I didn't know what to say.  The conversation didn't last long, but he did compliment me on my One World tour t-shirt before continuing on his way.

There were a number of things that I really liked about this concert.  One, it was outdoors - so pleasant to be out there, sitting in our lawn chairs; two, it didn't feel like I was just attending a concert, the whole place had a festival-like atmosphere; and three, there was dancing, lots of dancing - I spent most of the concert at the front, dancing my heart out.  It was great!

Niagara Falls

Today is our final day together.  It's been an adventure, to say the least - ups and downs.  I'm really not sure what to make of it all yet.

We got up reasonably early this morning and ate breakfast, together with our airbnb hosts.  By around 10am we were ready to get going on our planned day trip to Niagara.

What a gorgeous place.

The weather here the past few days has been hot and sunny - very nice.

We took the opportunity to take some pictures.  She's amazingly photogenic.

On our way back to London we stopped at a winery where I picked up a bottle of Riesling.  She's not really interested in wines, but she was a good sport nonetheless.  Upon our return to London early evening, we went to a Lebanese restaurant we'd been to a few nights ago, and had our fill of falafel.

We spent our last evening together in the indoor pool of our hosts.  Outside, a thunderstorm gathered, unleashing wind and rain simultaneously, and I couldn't help comparing it to the relational thunderstorm that I see on the horizon for us.

Tomorrow I get up pretty early and fly back to Saskatoon.  

A week from now Jesse Cook's in town, and a few days after that I'm flying to Penticton to be with family.  I'm looking forward to both.

Convocation Day

Here are two pictures of today's graduation.  It was a super hot day, and I was sort of a go-for, following her around campus, taking pictures of her at every turn.

The picture below is possibly the best picture I have of her.

I'm glad the day's done.

London

Today we spent much of the day preparing for tomorrow.  Graduating from UWO as a Dr is indeed an impressive accomplishment, and Daniela is revelling in it.  Sometimes I wonder if the reason I feel distanced from her is because I envy her intellect, academic accomplishments, and career dreams.  Am I the one distancing myself from her?

Below is a picture of her in front of one of the historical buildings on the UWO campus.  She's so proud and beautiful.

Below, the cathedral of London.

The weather here is hot, in the low 30s.  Hotter than the prairies.

Sunrise At YXE

Waiting for our flight to London this morning.  4:49am.

Walk By The River

Tonight Daniela and I went for a walk along the river in Saskatoon.  It was a lovely evening.  Warm.  Sunny.  And - no bugs!

The past 2+ weeks have been a mixed bag of wonderful and disappointing.

She's a dignified woman, but I don't honour her as such.  I take her for granted.

Tomorrow I fly to London with her, to accompany her on her convocation from UWO.