Jill Browne, from home and away

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Away: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

What a nice day to hang out with good friends doing nothing in particular.

It’s been a long time since I lived here. My Edmonton experience breaks into two periods. The first time, I was on my own, had just arrived in Alberta, didn’t know anything about anything, but had a job at a garden centre and that was all I really needed.

The old house where I rented a room and shared a kitchen and bathroom with two other women (strangers to me when I arrived) has long been torn down and a high-rise apartment put in its place. It’s probably just as well, because the nostalgia would be overwhelming.

I met one of the women years later at the wedding of a mutual friend, though of course I had no idea we had a friend in common. It’s that six degrees thing again.

Her secrets are still safe with me.

The day included a trip to Greenwood’s Books. Always a pleasant browse. I bought a book. I asked, “Do you have magazines?”

“No, sorry, we have no magazines.”

“Eighteen Bridges?”

“Except that one.”

Eighteen Bridges is a new Alberta-based Canadian literary mag. One of the two founders, Lynn Coady, is a friend. The magazine just won an award for best new mag of the year. If you support reading and literature in Canada, subscribe!

So, I bought a book and a magazine.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Maybe I just need to stop being friends with people on the west coast.

One has already got heirloom tomato plants sprouting in her outdoor greenhouse.

Another is blogging about daffodils and such like.

We aren’t.

Saturday, January 19, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Legally Blonde!

What could be better than seeing this fun musical with my law school buddies, and though two were missing, the other five of us ladies had a lovely time.

I of course embarrassed myself by being the loudest laugher in the room but hmmm I don’t think that’s something to worry about. After all, it was supposed to be a funny show, right? The Irish dancing scene brought me to tears.

A fantastic dinner in an old, beautiful Eaton’s kit house in Ramsey, courtesy of one of the gang. Lots of talk and laughter.

We missed our friends who couldn’t make it and look forward to a get together with all present.

Here are a few more pictures from 2011 so far.

Calgary's new Science Centre under construction. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Heading downtown, eastbound on Memorial just off Deerfoot. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

In the distance, the Bow Building being built. Mid-ground, footbridge over the LRT. Photo by Jill Browne, January 3, 2011, Calgary.

The shadow of a hawthorn tree, by Jill Browne. Calgary, February 13, 2011.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

That picture of the shadow of the hawthorn tree is from Sunday. Today I noticed the shadow again, but since we’ve had light fluffy snow all day, the branches’ shadows look twice as thick.

Wednesday is Breakfast With Suzanne Day!

Today: Cora’s in MacKenzie Town. Or maybe that was just MacKenzie. And maybe it’s McKenzie. Anyway, if you live in Calgary, you know what Mac or McKenzie is. The restaurant isn’t obvious but it’s in the same little corner on 130th just east of Deerfoot as The Keg.

The food today: Bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, blueberry crepes and a latte. Beans as an extra (for the protein, dear).

What we found out when it arrived is there was also toast and potatoes.

Enough food for a day, in other words.

Nice food. Atmosphere better than Ricky’s, not as relaxing as Over Easy, my current #1 pick. I think I prefer Nellie’s in the Loop to Cora’s for the #2 spot, but only by a whisker, and it’s only if we get the right table. For the food, Cora’s, for the atmosphere, Nellie’s, so take your pick.

We were at about plus 12 on the weekend. Minus 17 today with snow.

And unfortunately when I went for a grit refill, the box was empty. Oh no! May have to buy cat litter if we don’t get grit, for our sidewalk.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

I’m not sure how much imagination I have when it comes to finding a new breakfast spot every week but I’m going to need ideas by Wednesday morning, and the Wednesday after that, and the Wednesday after that, as long as we can manage.

Need suggestions.

Should serve breakfast, not just an early lunch.

Must have good coffee.

That’s about it.

Ideas? Please?

Thanks!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Yippee! Wednesday. It’s become my breakfast out with Suzanne day. The rule is, never the same place twice.

It’s going to be a hard rule to keep, because I’ve really liked a couple of the places.

Today: Over Easy on Edmonton Trail. Never been there before.

Decor is fun and relaxing, a sort of 50s meets Danish modern with a blackboard on the ceiling for good measure. Nice big front windows.

Delicious omelette with artichokes and other good stuff (not on the regular menu, it was the special). Good coffee.

Reasonable price. I am a bad reporter. Too lazy to pull out my receipt and have a look but in the neighbourhood of $11 sounds about right.

The food was good, the restaurant was not empty but not packed, just pleasantly humming.

Very friendly, attentive servers.

Liked it and that’s no yolk.

😉

Friday, January 21, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Ouch. Pain struck my family and we needed help.

Thanks all round, to:

Central Mountain Air for such care in the sky and on the ground;

Colleagues from work for so much personal support when needed most;

Panther Sports Medicine (Bonaventure) for being so accommodating with a desperately-needed appointment;

All the emergency staff , volunteers, and behind-the-scenes support at Rockyview for doing what we depend upon you for, but seldom notice until it’s our turn.

My friends!

Not fun but much better than other health crises I’ve dealt with.

Thanks so very much.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The weather: not bad.  Warm, sunny, pleasant.  I think it stayed below zero.

My friend and I are trying to not go to the same place twice for breakfast.

We’re also keeping an eye out for indy breakfast places, but it’s a little harder than you might think to find them.

Today, ended up at Ricky’s again, but not the exact same Ricky’s we went to before.  Pathetic way of saying we didn’t repeat ourselves, I know.

Must try harder.

A cool thing was that she played some of the songs from her CD for me, on her iPod.  Fantastic!