Sunday Drive: Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows

Now that we've got a ride, I went on a Sunday drive today, heading out to see some of the surrounding areas that have been previously inconvenient to visit.

Today I went east to see the nearby communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. I started by walking around the Maple Ridge Town Centre area and touring some of the nearby housing developments. After stopping at Firefly, one of my favourite wine/beer stores in the area (the best selection I know of), I returned a bit west, but before crossing the Pitt Bridge, turned north.



This region is mostly agricultural land, going all the way to the base of the mountains.



This is Pitt Lake, at the very top. From here on north, it's pretty much all mountains.

Another Recital

Our little Maestro had another performance this week. I was working from home Friday and thus was able to nip over to her school to catch her class giving a performance using recorders. (Front row, second from left.)


The second (of three performances) was a vocal from the first graders ...


And then a hip hop dance by one of the older classes.

Tidbits

Reading this blog must be like waiting for the bus. Nothing comes for a long while, then there's three in a row.

Part of this is because I'm naturally lazy, but part is because I've been holding back, going, well, I could write about this, but it's not that interesting. But at any rate we've had a paltry few tidbits of interest this past week.

Car

Last weekend we rejoined the driving classes after a haitus of about a year and a half. A while back Margo and I agreed that, once our savings reached a certain level, we'd buy a car, even though we don't really need one. Neither of us drive to work/school, and we only have about one or two trips a week where a car would be nice. But on the other hand, we've hardly left the city since moving here, and there's lots of lower BC that we haven't explored. And having a car makes errands much more convenient for Margo, especially in bad weather.

We ended up with an '09 Hyundai Accent, the GL trim with the power locks and such you'd expect. It was the newest car that fit our budget - Hyundais depreciate faster than comparable models, and as a result we were able to get it at a price about 3/5ths of a 2010 (new) model. It's basic, cheap, and economical. And Hyndais are much more dependable than they used to be. It's silver (ok) and automatic (ick, but Margo's preference). I have yet to really drive it; I've only taken it round the block to help Margo unload groceries. It was also the first time I've paid cash for a vehicle, so it's nice to remain debt free (which, living in Vancouver, can be quite a challenge).

Pink Shirt Day

Wednesday was Pink Shirt Day, a nationwide campaign to stop bullying. Sarah's school, and I'm guessing most or all other Canadian schools, take bullying quite seriously. Anyway, this year Sarah made her own shirt, and I snagged a photo before she went to school.


Recital

Today was another recital at the local music academy where Sarah and Margo have piano lessons. Again, Margo declined to perform (these are mostly for kids). Sarah performed a ditty with strong forte/piano dynamics entitled Grumpy Old Troll. She threatened to dedicate it to her father. I threatened to heckle her. Neither happened.


I couldn't get an autofocus lock quickly enough for her bow.


I registered for lessons next Fall, so all three of us will be attending at the same time. But since I'm already a master of the keys, I'll be honing my axe shredding instead. There shall be none more metal.

Spring has Sprung

So out came the barbecue.

At Sarah's request, we had hamburgers for the first barbecue of the season. I made them with melted Swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms and onions.

Mike didn't like the idea at all.

He just picked at his food

S

Sarah wasn't that into it either

Sarah took a photo of the cook

Easter Sunday

Although Sarah may no longer believe in the Easter Bunny, she is still a big believer in Easter BASKETS, and she was not disappointed Easter morning...

She enjoyed the usual assortment of chocolate and jellybeans and marshmallow eggs, plus a book and a couple of bubble bath packets.

Later she helped me prepare Easter Dinner. This year we had leg of lamb (from a local farm, roasted with rosemary and garlic and served with homemade mint sauce), asparagus and new potatoes. For dessert we had strawberries with a yogurt and sour cream sauce.

It was all delicious, but now I have a bunch of frozen roast lamb that I need to figure out how to use up. I am thinking Shepard's Pie, Lamb curry and Lamb Slices with Coriander Raita in Pita bread and would welcome any other suggestions!

R.I.P. Santa Claus, Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy

Well, a rite of passage took place in our household today. Sarah sat me down this afternoon and asked me to tell her, honestly, whether Santa Claus was real. So I told her. She wasn't too shocked I think, though perhaps a bit sad that such a fantastic being wasn't real. Later in the day, she thanked me for being a good Santa to her and noted that last year, she got a bit suspicious when one of the presents from Santa was wrapped in paper identical to a roll of paper in the wrapping paper bin. She also opined that next year she should get to partake of the cookies left out for Santa on Christmas Eve.