Doughnut Muffins with Raspberry Jam

I know I talk about the weather a lot, but when you live in a rainy place that is really impacted by weather, it is often on your mind. Today is a rainy day, and it truly feels like the first day of winter for us. Walking around our apartment this morning I was struck by how cool and dim the light was, and had to remind myself that this is what peak-light would be like for the next few months. Sigh. I mean, low-rainy light makes for some great picture conditions, but it is hard to wake up in and can be tough to get used to.

In other news, my mom and Aunt Janice have been having a glorious time in Italy, and so far have only been scammed once, which is great. They are having lots of lovely wine and gelato, so I am pretty thrilled for them. Super jealous, but thrilled also. It is also incredibly sunny and hot in Italy right now… so there’s that. Sigh. I want to travel soon!

Doughnutmuffins

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Fruit Pizza, like Momma Crocker makes it

Oh Vancouver and your fickle weather. Our summer seemed over a couple weeks ago as it started to cool off and the days became, almost suddenly, shorter. The fall feeling of sloth and the need to hunker down all cozy-like washed over me and while I was sad that we were losing our sunny mornings, I was happy for the coolness. THEN, well, then last week was a glorious burst of heat and sunshine again. I was caught unprepared because the mornings still felt like fall and I’d throw a sweater on to go to work, our office is cool, and then I’d leave the office in the evening and step out into a hot summer day.

But now we are back to fall. We are into day two of thick fog, though it only started in the afternoon yesterday. I like it, it is like a blanket over the city, tucking us in for a little nap. I mean, I am not going to like it come Monday when the fog-muted sun fails to wake me, but right now, on this quiet Sunday morning, I am digging it.

Looking back on summer, I am excited to share a childhood favourite of mine, that also happens to be an adult favourite too. The recipe was given to my mom by my wonderful Auntie Janice. She’s shared a few recipes with us that I will be using on here eventually, because they are all incredibly tasty (including a Grape Salad and a cheese ball that I distinctly remember being awesome).  Quick segue, my Aunt Janice and my mom are in Florence right now! Which is unthinkably exciting. They are having a lovely time, I got to speak with my mom yesterday. They are great friends and I am so happy that they are on this adventure together.

FruitPizza

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Blueberry Muffins, a birthday treat

This past week I had my 26th birthday and it was nothing short of lovely. For a birthday on a Wednesday (middle-of-the-week celebrating is never fun) I had a wonderful day. At work, my lovely co-workers took me for lunch and then I received four chocolate bars in the days following my birthday, who doesn’t love birthday boxing days!

I am also proud to say that I finally submitted our passport stuff so soon I can be as international as I want! I’ve aways had a passport, though this time I let it deeply expire. In the future I wont let it expire and I can do the simple renewal process! Thank goodness for the increasing fees that encouraged me to get on top of this before July 1st! Speaking of which, I hope everyone in Canada has great Canada Day plans, and all you readers in the states, well you still have some planning time for your big day!

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Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies — Toffee Apple option!

What a strange start to summer. I am having a hard time believing that my birthday is in just three days and that Canada Day is in just over a week. This summer has already started to fly by. Last week as I was climbing the stairs to my office I scoffed at the grocery store’s Canada Day window paintings. I thought to myself, “Fools! Canada Day is months away! There are holidays between now and then, what a strange thing to do!” It was only when I reached the second floor that I realized that we were already deep into June. Ooph that hit like a ton of bricks.

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Peanut Butter Cookies

I am certain I drove my colleagues crazy on Friday as I tirelessly watched and relayed the details of the Calgary/Southern Alberta floods. I watched as my old apartment building was surrounded, feeling relieved to know that our dear friends had finally evacuated. I saw the river waters swallow up some of my favourite areas of the city that I called home for 6 years and I thought of the incredible loss those communities are suffering. I hope that Calgary is able to recover quickly, together. I truly hope that they are able to host Stampede, in whatever form, to combat the already overwhelming loss of spirit and money resulting from this tragedy.

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