O ye.

Today, I made myself a reminiscent breakfast. Homemade hashbrowns with butter, onion, celery, paprika, oregano and basil. Lightly fried eggs, runny, with bright yellow yolks spilling into the potatoes once freed. Mayo on the side. This is a fairly time intensive breakfast, with potatoes being cut and boiled before they hit the hot pan and their vegetable accompaniment, but the time it takes is part of the luxury of this particular morning meal.

As I cut and cooked in my own kitchen, CBC on in the background, I thought about all the times I made this very breakfast in the kitchen at Atangard. Snippets of conversation and the sounds - footsteps on hardwood halls, doors opening and closing, yelled greetings and goodbyes and so much laughter - come back to me easily. But, more than that, the faces of all those breakfasts comes back. Mostly, I remember the smiles, all bathed in that yellow, windowless light, reflected off Ikea cupboards. They almost seem saintly, or at the very least, beautiful portraits in motion. Though I do not exclude myself from feelings of frustration in that same kitchen, I remember the warmth so much more; the conversations, encouragement and nourishment that I consistently found there. Time must be working its magic, because I can think about it now without feeling very sad and with more more thankfulness and joy than longing.

Into the very kitchen.

Marisa and Lisa, in "that atrium".

Tiff, Beth and Soph.

We leave for planting on Saturday. I am excited and eager for the season to begin, to see familiar faces and meet new ones. To help Tim. To learn a new job and role. To have energy for encouragement and cheer, which I struggle to find when being head cook. I am excited for it all.

Until next time,
Elizabeth

A Visit.

I flew back to Abbotsford earlier this month to conduct interviews for my research project. But, more importantly I got to hang with all the reasons it was so hard to leave the lower mainland. The combination of school and friend time made for a packed six days - but they were so lovely. It was so nice to sit with people, face to face or side by side. Talking on the phone is necessary and can be great when conducting long distance friendships, but there is nothing like bear hug/tight squeezes and eye contact.

Here are some pictures from my trip to the West Coast.

    

The ocean is still a major attraction for me, having grown up far away from one. A few of us stole away for a restful White Rock interlude the day before I came back to SK. It was a beautiful day. We walked the "boardwalk", had our first patio sesh of the season, soaked up some sun and (I) collected some rocks - indulging an impulse from childhood.

In addition to coming back to a familiar place, Atangard, I got to see a new place. A to-be familiar place. Tessa's house (a couple glimpses below)!