Category Archives: art & travel.
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LAKE LOUISE.
24/11/2014It’s been quite sometime since I shared many of our personal photos here on this blog. Adam and I are nearly 10 months into this parenthood journey. It has been a pretty rad ride, so far. I never knew how much I’d love being a mum until I was thrown right into it. Life has been so fun, so exhausting and so incredibly fulfilling since we became a family of three back in January. I’ve learned a lot about babies and a lot about myself. My time management, productivity and ability to run on broken sleep has increased to levels I never knew possible. I love having a built-in adventure buddy always willing to tag along…and pose for the camera, of course.
A couple weeks ago – after the snow but before the freeze – Morris and I took a day trip out to Lake Louise to take in the sights. I’ve never seen this iconic lake looking quite as stunning as it did this day. Coincidentally, this was the day I began to get big, consistent smiles from Baby Mo for the camera…I think he’s going to love winter! If you ask me, I’d say we had a pretty great day together. It’s got me even more excited for all the little outings we’ve got ahead of us as he grows up and becomes more interactive.
Anyhow, here is a bit of mum spam mixed in with some really beautiful scenic shots of our amazing backyard. I hope everyone is enjoying this first little bit of the winter season!
Though I haven’t been sharing much around here, doesn’t mean I haven’t been snapping away like a crazy mumma…lots [& lots & lots] more of our adventures here and here!
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ISLAND TRIP
12/09/2013Adam & I headed west for a little camping getaway on Vancouver Island last week. We met up with a whole bunch of his family as well as many great old friends from our days in Victoria. It’s such a beautiful part of the world, we spent a good chunk of our driving time [...and believe me, there was a good chunk of time to be had in the car...] scheming how we could relocate back to Victoria…while not giving up the mountain town life here in Canmore that we missed so much back when we lived on the Island.
Baby D visits the West Coast!
Bushwhacking…
…in search of wild mushrooms!
Mushroom hunter.
What a haul of beautiful chanterelles. Dinner was so tasty that night.
The Driemel family takes their wood pile very seriously.
Adam’s getting pretty good with the camera these days. And he’s also become very devoted to hauling it around when I’d rather leave it behind to have a free hand. So…lots of photos of myself from this trip! [Which I think will be pretty cool for little Baby D to see once he or she is all grown up.]
We had only one day in Victoria, we made the best of it.
A huge oyster dinner at an old Victoria favorite, Ferris’.
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A WEEK IN SWEDEN.
20/05/2013On my way home from Italia, I decided to zip up to Sweden to visit some family. My great grandparents immigrated to Canada many, many years ago so the family in that part of the world is many generations removed. However, my aunt has made several trips to this part of the world over the years which have kept our ties strong. Our Swedish roots have always been enthusiastically celebrated, especially during the holiday season, this is a trip I have been excited to do for several years. I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity for this visit this part of my heritage.
The hospitality extended by all of the family was unrivalled. I had only met a small handful of these relatives while visiting Canada when I was much younger, but each one welcomed me into their home with open arms. Furthermore, everyone was so kind to speak English to me…in their own country. Us English speaking travellers are so fortunate.
I hope you’ve enjoyed following along for my little European adventure. I’m so excited to continue exploring, there is so much more to see. But in the meantime, I am refreshed, inspired and ready to dive into the craziness of wedding season!
Thank you EVERYONE!
Of course I loved the red houses dotting the Swedish countryside. It is no coincidence that they are all red, I was interested to learn the history.
This was the home where my great grandmother Svea was born and raised. It is still in the family. As a girl who grew up in a home and yard that my parents built from the ground up, there is so much family history in the Hajom area.
When my great-grandparents left their home in Hajom, they departed on a boat from this pier on Lake Lygnern. And then they got on a train. And finally a ship across the Atlantic. What a journey! A few years back the community held a fundraiser and locals could purchase engraved planks. The Svenson family gifted one to my aunt Marian who has always been fascinated with the story.
These giant cinnamon buns are a signature cafe offering in the Haga neighbourhood of Gothenburg.
Svea is my middle name [after my great-grandmother who I've mentioned a couple times earlier in this post] …the name was everywhere in Gothenburg!
These white flowers are a sign of spring in Sweden. Usually they just blanket the entire fields. Many people mentioned that 2013 has been the longest, coldest winter…everyone is ready for spring! I hope the fields have finally bloomed!
Lots of very old family photos!
These ones are of my grandma and her siblings taken on a trip to the Rockies many moons ago and then sent back to a family member in Sweden. Like myself, my grandma just loves the mountains and has always told me happy stories of family trips to Banff!
I got to visit an amazing textile factory.
Filip and I didn’t speak the same language [he hasn't started learning English in school yet...and me, well unfortunately I certainly don't speak much Swedish] but he wanted to show me the fort he and several friends have built over the past few years. No help from parents, very impressive!
And lastly, my very lovely hosts! Dan and his son Sven-Ove will be spending 5 weeks in Canada and USA this summer, I can not wait to have them visit us in Canmore!
Behind the scenes of the entire trip can be found on Instagram: #juliesveagoesabroad