hosting mother's day + brunch = new room!

It's 10:00 on Sunday night and David and I are feeling particularly satisfied with our accomplishments of the day. We had my family over and we enjoyed pancakes (grandma's recipe), whipped cream and strawberries (a favourite of my mom's), dave's fabulous pouched eggs and sausages. yum. before breakfast dave and I tackled our old bedroom which had become one large dressing room and junk dump.

Leonard Cohen concert, April 30, 2009

Leonard Cohen played the MTS centre in Winnipeg, likely for the last time. Dave and I had tickets and were eagerly anticipating the concert. Mr Cohen did not disappoint. He was a class act, his voice was perfect, and the musicians and back up singers were simply phenomenal.

Although I don't have any pictures or video to share of the concert I thought I would post a link to the Juno awards when they were hosted in Winnipeg (I went with Tamara and Sheryl). kd lang covered Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah. (I read somewhere that although his song has been covered by many artists over the year, Cohen believes kd lang has covered it the best).

I think my top three concerts are (in no particular order): Leonard Cohen (2009), Neil Young (2008) and the Pixies in Saskatoon (2004). And I suppose I should add Depeche Mode who I saw in Calgary, the summer before grade 10. That was a big deal back then! I have been to many concerts over the years so I'm sure I could have several "best of" lists based on different criteria but I think at this moment, those are the top three. Reading over my shoulder Dave said Lollapalooza in 1992 would be at the top of his list (jealous, that would have been amazing). And that got me thinking about Pearl Jam in '93 at the long defunct SunFest in Gimli...okay I better stop while I'm ahead!

birthday boy

It was David's birthday on May 6th. He was on the train (and I was battling a particularly treacherous work week). He got home Thursday and was quite pleased to share that his colleagues marked the occasion by buying him an ice cream cake, signing a card and singing happy birthday while on the train back from Toronto. Apparently this never happens; birthdays come and go uncelebrated.

We had a fabulous birthday dinner tonight (grilled salmon and asparagus, parmesan and lemon risotto, cupcakes from the cupcakery in the village). Earlier today we went to Canadian Tire to pick up his gift: a garden cart. He is quite excited to cruise around with this cart in tow and pick up large rocks that he has noticed in the area. I think he should do this accompanied by a child or people may be concerned (he is becoming more eccentric each year, I must admit). We also picked up a new reel mower (the one that was found in the basement is just too heavy). The mower was 50% off so both felt completely justified in the purchase.

waiting for the garden season

I was late getting my tomato seeds planted but I think that's okay given that it's still snowing (okay it's sleet versus snow) and that we'll have a late gardening season this year. I planted my tomato seeds the third of April (san marzano, Manitoba, Italian heirloom and isis candy). I ordered all of my vegetable and flower seeds through Sage Garden Herbs. I've been to their nursery at least twice since they opened in April. The smell of a green house or nursery when you are anxious for warm weather is simply heavenly. I bought a grow light and have converted the upstairs kitchen into a mini garden area. In this picture you can see our tomato plants growing (the small seedlings in the back). The fuller larger plants are what I recently bought at Sage (slow blotting cilantro, super sweet chen basil, madrid blue lavender, julip mint, variegated basil). I also bought a tea tree plant and my goal is to create an infusion with the leaves for different purposes (e.g. natural cleaning product). I also bought lemon verbena, hot and spicy oregano, berggarten sage, purple bush basil and arp rosemary. I have spent some time considering my garden plot for this year and have decided that I will try to plant seeds strategically (i.e. companion planting). This will be topic of a future post.

Dave spent days cleaning the yard. Christoff came over and gave some love to our plum trees. Christoff also dropped off a dump truck load of wood chips (he is an Arborist by trade). I am not sure how I feel about that big pile of tree waste...Dave insists that he'll use it all up in our yard but I am quite skeptical...

uncle ernie's funeral

Mid April David took the train to Vancouver (training trip) took a ferry to the island and joined his parents and extended family to say good bye to his Uncle Ernie. His passing was expected (terminal cancer) but of course this did not, and does not, make it any easier. Although I didn't go I was left thinking about other loved ones who have been taken by this horrible disease, namely my Auntie Sheila and our dear friend Annie.