Adventure in Borden Park

I think this next one looks like a beautiful elephant dinosaur cow. I love elephants and dinosaurs. And I really love cows. (It's actually called Gigi by Kouis Munan et al).

So...the bathroom building is pretty cool. It is a circle with a door on either end, and it is made up of these triangular mirrored panels. Lucas was slightly obsessed with these..."they are like a glass piece combined with a mirror!"

Okay Lucas, just stand still and...no, still. Don't move. Stop moving! Okay, now you don't have to smile. Don't smile, just keep your face neutral. No Lucas, I mean don't do anything with your face. No not like, no...stop moving! Just...don't...okay...

Even though he usually wants to leave right away, and doesn't listen, and isn't curious about what we're seeing usually (although the squirrels were quite exciting tonight) he is still - and always - my favourite adventure partner.

I wanted to do something after dinner on an otherwise empty Friday night, and I wanted it to cost $0. I know Lucas has been here Pokemon hunting before, but I haven't, and it's a big park so I figured even if we just wandered around for 20 minutes I would satisfy my goal. Turns out this place is awesome, the new pool looks amazing, and we didn't even make it all the way to the playground, so there is at least two reasons to come back.

The sky is hazy and the sun red due to the massive forest fires burning in southern BC. A few hours after we got home, it rained. It cooled the house, and made me think wet thoughts for the firefighters and the folks losing their homes out west.

Photos taken August 17, 2018
Borden Park, Edmonton

xo

FURTHER READING
A list of all the public art in Edmonton can be found here.

Explore #yeg...March 8...Part Two

Dan & I are taking full advantage of beating the "first-time" subscriber system with the ESO. That's the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Yes, I feel slightly bad about this, but I made a big donation last year to ease some of that guilt. I mean, make up for lost ticket money. Whatevs. They got bums in seats. Not the homeless kind of bums. The butt kind.

Gosh, what the hell kind of tangent was that?! My apologies Dear Reader. But really, what have you come to expect from me if not complete and utter chaotic randomness?

Lisa. Shuttup and get to the point. Please.

Okay, my point is this. Dan got a "First Time Subscriber Invitation" to a Saturday morning dress rehearsal of an upcoming performance. And it worked with our schedules. And there was the offer of coffee & pastries. So I made him RSVP.

And it was just plain amazeballs to sit in the Winspear Centre with about 40 other people and watch the Symphony play! No tuxedos & tails in sight. No busybody shushing me during the performance. Choice of (almost) any seat in the house. Space to stretch my legs. And I got to wear jeans!

There was a Guest Conductor, and he chatted and answered some questions after. He is a young gentleman from California and it was really awesome to listen to him talk about his inspiration for choosing the pieces he did, and some of the nuances about this particular performance.

We were treated to an extended percussion practice because there was a replacement timpanist! And holy doodle was the percussion ever AMAZING! They used every damn instrument available! They banged a gong then dipped it in to a bucket of water for pete's sake!!

At any rate, it was a lovely way to start the day. I highly recommend it! Too bad next year we have to be regular old subscribers, and each buy a ticket and pay full price! Gasp! #firstworldproblems

later loves

Explore #yeg...March 8...Part One

Saturday, March 8th

Alberta Art Gallery

Photographers: Lisa & Dan

This photo makes me giggle so much. Dan asked if I would like a photo of myself in the gallery, y'know, with some art. And this is what I get. My giant head blocking the art. And I cropped this photo down a lot. Just imagine all the beige background that I got rid of. I need to give BFF some lessons in subject placement. He's actually a really good sport, so I can't rag on him too much.

This was part of the large sculptural installation by artist...umm...Leslie? Nope, Lyndal Osbourne! There we go! This particular sculpture (mixed media piece?!) is called Tides and incorporates objects she has (obviously) collected from the beach. So there are twigs, and rocks, and barnacles, and garbage. But it's been beautifully arranged on these little tables, and it was quite compelling actually. I told Dan to take a photo of me in between the two piles that matched my outfit. Well...one out of two ain't bad. Ha!

And last but not least, this amazing piece by Jill Stanton! It's so ME! I love all the little details on this grand scale. It looks almost like individual wall paper panels that have been applied on the three huge walls just beside the lobby. They usually use this space for weddings, and receptions, and the like. Unfortunately, by this point of the day I was getting light-headed and really needed to eat or else I would have loved to spend more time exploring all the creature and intricacies of this piece. Another time, perhaps...

Have you played the tourist in your own town lately?

What are you waiting for?!

later loves

Let's Celebrate Love!

Well, today is the Day of Love. What are your plans? Do they involve bon bons and rom coms? A romantic night out with your Handsome Dreamboat? Or a rowdy escapade with your single pals?

Our Kercher Family Tradition is to get some sushi and just hang out. Maybe watch a movie, eat a fun dessert. Sometimes we go for pizza. I spent a ridiculously long amount of some time going back through my archives this morning to find more Valentine's posts from years past and I can't. So much for documenting life on my blog. Geeze Lisa.

So come Monday I want to have a real life Valentine's Day Recap post (boy that sentence is going to mess with my search efforts next year...). But until then, here are all my hopes and dreams and possible plans for a successful V-Day 2014.

The Silver Skate Festival starts tonight. Might be fun to check out this weekend.

Speaking of skating, City Hall is hosting a Valentine's Day Disco Skate this evening. Might be fun to check out....BUT Metro Cinema is also showing Casablanca. 2 for 1 admission! Too many choices for this girl!!!

Today begins the Family Day long weekend, so there are loads of events around town celebrating that holiday as well. Like this one in Ambleside...it's work-related, so can I charge my miles? (wink)

I'm not really a fan of exchanging gifts on Valentine's Day, but this idea from Chapters might just make the cut. I do so love handmade do-dads.

Also, food. I need some heart-shaped, red, sugary, icing-y food. Like these pancakes. Or perhaps donuts are more your style. I found a heart-shaped cookie cutter and a gluten-free sugar cookie recipe I would like to try out.

And did I mention my favourite "Bees Knees" is coming to visit?! WHEEE!! I think we're going to drink beer and snuggle in my comfy bed. In addition to the forty-billion ideas I have been emailing her over the past day. Sorry...or am I?!

I have a long weekend policy ("long weekends are good for getting shit done, and lazing around"), so here's hoping I get a little bit of both in this weekend.

Did I already ask you about your plans?

Why haven't you answered yet?!

later loves

p.s. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

p.p.s. Dude's Duck Face is far superior to mine. I apologize to the Internet in advance for teaching him this, and for his mad skills. My bad.

Surrounded by Geeks

We fit right in.

1. We are both so happy to be here...well... Dude warmed up to the whole place once he started seeing all the TOYS and LEGO and STAR WARS! Goof...

2. Cosplay rocks my world. This lady played an amazing Jareth the Goblin King, from the movie Labrynth. She even had a man-bulge...now that's dedication. I took a photo of a really sweet Dalek boy, but poor kid sounded like he was sick and tired of having his photo taken all day. All the amazing costumes sure inspired me to try my hand at something next year! 3. It's bigger on the inside. Not really, but what a sweet perler-beaded TARDIS! There was so much creativity on display there, that my mind was fully buzzing by the time I got home!

4. Join the dark side. I didn't catch the exact price, but the light saber that Lucas is holding in the picture is in the range of $300 to $400! Needless to say, it did not come home with us! 5. Lego Man. Dude loved all the Lego the best. He plunked himself down under many a table to sort through bins and see what was available. Grandpa bought him a sweet Joker mini figure to take home.

We are all definitely on board to go again next year. My step-Dad - who bought us the tickets, THANKS AGAIN!! - wants to volunteer, and I am definitely going to dress up and see about getting in on a photo session or panel, or something. This was just a test run!

Done anything geeky lately?

later loves