Snow in October

Albeit the last day of October, it is still strange to see snow so early.

Wendy weds Joel

On October 3, 2010, my dear friend Wendy married her sweetheart Joel. I went to the wedding solo and it was one of the best Toronto weekends in awhile. It was full of reminiscing and laughter, with those familiar faces and places from the my pre-Ottawa days.

Plane ticket prices were around the $600 mark so I tried to save money by taking the Greyhound. The last time I did that was probably 4 years ago. It wasn't the fastest but I remember it being not that bad. As soon as I stepped into the bus station I realized that my memory sucks! That, or I had lower standards as a student. hehehe. I get this funny "I'm home!" feeling as soon as the bus drives into the downtown core. During undergrad I had walked by that Dundas/Bay corner so many times. Ah, the stinky smell of downtown.

Breaking all traditions, Wendy surprised and sang to Joel as she walked down the aisle. Hats off to you, Wends! I can't think of a more creative and genuine (and did I say brave?) expression from a bride to groom. From every e-mail to the Skype rehearsals and even her bachelorette party, it was so obvious that Wendy's focus was not on herself or even just the wedding day. She was just so chill about everything. That girl is a rare gem.

After the crazy dancing (I NEVER dance but I did this time!) we headed out to Nuit Blanche. Was I tired? DEAD TIRED. But when I'm around the SO sisters and my own, they have the ability to make me do ridiculous things and act completely foolish. Winnie and I came home at around 4am and the rest of the group braved on till sunrise.

We even made it to church although someone was basically 'listening' with her eyes shut and mouth opened. I loved how my sister picked me up from the bus station and my parents dropped me off. We had time to stop by the Tim Horton's by Ryerson. I once ran in to grab coffee even though I was 10min late for an exam.

What a weekend - a new couple and some old memories. Loved it! Photos of the weekend on Flickr.

Prince Edward County - Part 1

After a few weeks of busyness, we decided to abandon the regular routine for a weekend get-away. If you're a frequent user of the 401 Kingston/Belleville corridor, you've probably seen the Prince Edward County sign (lady holding the abundant basket). We have in fact passed the sign many times, plus E recommended it (she knows all the great food places), so we drove westward towards 'The County'.

Firstly I have to say driving (better yet, sitting next to the driver) in the Fall is amazing. We opted for the slightly longer but more scenic route, curving along the edge of Lake Ontario. What surprised me was the different types of fields, one right next to another. Lush green alternating with corn fields, one covered with wildflowers, and yet another filled with bare trees. I also realized how magnificent my eyes are compared with my camera equipment. The photos are nowhere close to the actual depth and the intricate subtlety in colours we saw.

I was impressed with The County's use of technology. Their tourism site has set up different types of interactive maps on google maps. I know, it's not rocket science, but it's pretty sweet that someone else has already done the work for me! One restaurant had its own app, and many of the little stores were using laptops as opposed to cash registers.

Food was great. Not great for a small town, but just plain great. Will expand further in the next post (here), but my tummy was happy on this trip. Happy tummy = Happy Jenny.

To conclude I will borrow K's saying: "Good food, great company, awesome trip!". So corny but true.

These photos have not been edited. The leaves and the clouds are really that crazy.

Just a Beautiful Sunday

I was looking forward to this weekend all week. It's been awhile since I've had a stay-in weekend dedicated to chores and projects, so I had a fair list of to-dos for today. But after the drive to and from Smiths Falls, the clouds and dueling blue/grey sky called me outward bound. I didn't want to be caught in the rain since I don't have a proper waterproof camera bag but I didn't want to drive. Where to go...?
I hopped onto Kel's folding bike, did a few laps around our visitors parking area to make sure the bike wasn't going to collapse, and went on with my nature adventure!
My legs were working hard and a few hours later I arrived at a remote location where I was at one with nature.
Wow it was so worth it to bike for all those hours!
ACTUALLY....this is just a 5min bike ride away from home. My building is behind those in the background. Photography can be deceiving, no?
Lots of people were feeding the ducks, swans and geese. I must have been seriously distracted by the gorgeous light, because when I look at the close-up shots of these birds now I'm getting nervous.
Honestly I was out for about 2 hours and I probably stopped for 20-30 minutes to take pictures and just enjoy the sounds and sight of a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
Did I accomplish what I had set out to do this weekend? Nope, not even close.

But I can honestly say it has been time well spent.   I hope you have a chance to check out your neighbourhood and discover something new and beautiful.

The Amazing Mer Bleue

As the NCC suggests, Mer Bleue is truly amazing. One of my favourite destinations in Ottawa, this bog is only 20 minutes from home. The trails are nice but my favourite feature is the boardwalk. Unlike regular trails where you're surrounded by tall trees, the boardwalk allows visitors to experience nature in the open air. The entire boardwalk is only 1.5km so it is ideal for children or anyone who has difficulty with longer trails.

Highlights from today's visit include: introducing Solomon to Mer Bleue for the first time, bird feeding/watching, and falling into the bog. Don't worry, all 5 toes on my left foot are intact.

Click here for more photos of this magical place.