st. john's days

As I've already said, it's been a few years since I've experienced summer in Newfoundland. I've been making plans to get out there and enjoy as much of it as much as possible. In less than two weeks are the St. John's Day celebrations, you know, to celebrate the birthday of our fair city. They've got lots of things going on to taste, see and do. If all goes well, my sisters and I are going to spend that weekend in town and we've made up a schedule to try and fit as much in as possible.

It's been forever since I've done something like that. In fact, I don't think I've ever sat down and planned my own sight seeing trip. In the past, sister trips downtown usually involved catching the bus with no set plan for the day and we've always enjoyed ourselves. When making plans with friends I'm usually the agreeable one, up for anything, which is great but usually leaves me trusting someone else to deal with the details. This is like a test run. It's in a place I've been to a few dozen times, but we'll be looking at it a little differently. This time around I'm kind of excited to have a plan of action, and to even have a little research already done in preparation.

What are we looking forward to doing, you may ask?

Well, we're hoping to catch a "spooky performance" held in the Newman Wine Vault, which has a pretty cool history. In the late 1600s, on its way to London, a Newman's ship was knocked far off its course by pirates and bad weather. They ended all the way over here in Newfoundland and because of the winter approaching, sought shelter in St. John's until the spring. When they returned to London with their cargo of wine, they discovered that the taste was improved. From then on, they continued to bring over their port to mature in the vaults in Newfoundland, and this wine proved to be very popular with the local pub goer and aristocracy alike. And to think I've walked past this place on numerous occasions without realizing it.

(source)

We want to go by Quidi Vidi Lake where there will be some races by crews from the Royal St. John's Regatta. I've always missed Regatta Day which is a big deal in August, so I'm guessing this will be a little sample of it. There'll be other things going on in the area while we're there too.

The Railway Coastal Museum is a possibility. Trains are cool.

We're definitely going to Cape Spear which, in case you didn't know is the most easterly point of North America. Haven't been there in years so it better be a nice day! It tends to get pretty cold around here. I want to visit the lighthouse and check out what they've got going on for the Whale Festival. Hoping to actually see some whales while we're there too.

I'm pretty excited to attend the free workshops going on at the Craft Council of NL Clay Studio. I've never been, and I haven't sculpted anything since the basket in grade eight art class. Wait, that's a lie. I once made an armless mermaid sculpture at a workshop when I went to Encounters with Canada back in the day. Anyways, it's a lot of fun. I should do it more often.

Again, if the weather's good, one night Janessa is having a bonfire for her birthday festivities. I'm looking forward to hotdogs and marshmallows and warming up by a blazing fire. Beach fires make it feel so much more like summer.

I happen to think this weekend trip will be a lot of fun.  There's a few more things we're hoping to squeeze in too, meals at some places my sisters have never been before, like the Duke or the Yellow Belly and some sort of musical entertainment. We'll include some bonding with Nan and go to church Sunday morning too.

Having something to look forward to makes the daily grind easier to manage. 


Also, bear with me, I'm testing out some new looks for my blog. With it being a new year and all, I want a new look to reflect it. It's a little on the plain side to me right now. I'll get it right eventually.

i've got a pocket, got a pocket full of sunshine

I just realized that for the last four years of my life I have had a trip to look forward to. I have been anticipating my escape of the mild summer that Newfoundland has to offer, into the embrace of the blazing heat of North Carolina instead. Seeing my friends discussing their upcoming return to Camp Walter Johnson is making me heartsick for it.

Now, I am facing a long summer here at home.

I don't have the unknown adventure and the new friends to meet awaiting me. I don't have crying or obnoxious kids to deal with for two months either (as much as I love them-I kept going back didn't I?!). I don't have the comfort of travelling back to the place that I know and have grown to love over these many years.

This also means that I have the opportunity to find new places to love.

Therefore, I have decided to take all the pocket change that I've daily received while working at Tim's and turn my "Tip Jar" into "Trip Jar". It will be money put towards anywhere I want to go in the future and I hope to add to it continually. Once I get a new summer job, that is.

The struggle.

Picture from here (aka most entertaining blog ever)

hey yall

Due to a site blocker I am unable to access blogs while I'm at camp. It's been frustrating, but it has helped me get over my blog addiction a little bit.

I've been having a pretty stressful summer to say the least. Exhaustion is at it's peak at all times. It hasn't been all bad, but let's just say ADD, bedwetting, pointless drama and lack of sleep amongst the children have made the last two weeks really draining. I only have ONE more week of camp counselling! Regardless of the bad, it's definitely bittersweet.

On Thursday, one of my sweetest little campers (Amya, above on the right) asked me "Miss Emily, are you going to be back next summer?" I had to say that I didn't think so, to which she said in a sad little voice, "Oh. Well I'm going to miss you!" My eyes started watering on the spot.

As hard as this summer has been in every way, when I have moments like that I melt to the floor and love my job.

I have enjoyed my weekend off though. I drove to Charlotte with Eli, met up with Chandler after he got off work, then we all drove to Columbia where the guys played a show with Jonas Sees In Color (hilarious guys with great energy on stage) and The Private Life of David Reed (who apparently told all their peeps not to show up till their set. Lame. We headed back to Chartown before they played anyway.) Got to see Blair, Lauren and Sara which was great.

Found some bathroom stall wisdom. I've been too lazy to edit these pictures. I'm sure you can tell ha.

Chandler was a great boyfriend and took me to the mall Friday afternoon to try and find a dress. It was unsuccessful, but this one from Anthropologie had the cutest fabric.

We saw Logan Sutton working at Yoforia, a self-serve frozen yogurt place and I got some later to try. Kind of what Elsie has been raving about the last couple of months where you can throw in random ingredients like fruit, nuts, chocolate.

I tried some cookie dough, forrero rocher and some vanilla been flavoured froyo with fruity pebbles and m&m's on top. It was dece, but I could mostly only taste the toppings, not so much the froyo. I started eating it before I took the picture so it's not so appetizing here.

I spent yesterday afternoon at Carowinds with a bunch of the camp staff.

It had to be the hottest day of the summer. I didn't get to ride the new Intimidator, but I'm sure I'll get a chance again some day. In the afternoon the weather changed to thunder and lightning and all the rides were shut down for about an hour.

Luckily it didn't pour down rain, or even rain a little where we were. Later that night I made Chocolate Chip Banana Coffee Cake (my favourite comfort food cake) at the house and Salim, Drew and Alexis came over to hang out for a bit.

Tonight is the staff banquet at CWJ. Hopefully it will be a fun night.

Well there's my life update. I'll be back once I'm off camp property.
Miss everyone back home a ton. xo

then and now.

Coming across the pictures from two years ago inspired me to take out the camera again today. It’s a beautiful afternoon, even though (as usual) the wind is a little chilly.

 Even though I’ve been a little sheltered here I’m thankful that I grew up in my small town, and that I got to live next to this beautiful view every single day. Having lived in the city for the last few years for university makes me realize how much I took/take this for granted.

I hope I’m lucky enough to live somewhere close to a body of water when I get settled. Even if it were a lake, or a river. I realize more than ever just how much the ocean is a part of me, how the gentle lapping to the crashing of the waves against the shore soothes my spirit. Listen to its rhythms under a full moon, surrounded by the stars and you’ll understand.