My internet was on the fritz for a good 4 days since Sunday, so I didn't have a chance to write about the adventures of the weekend. Also, I feel a little guilty that I've portrayed Edmonton in such a beastly way in my post about bumpy snow riding.
So here's a post about the fabulous trip we took to Luminaria at the Devonian Botanical Gardens this past Sunday.
Raffaella also posted about this on her blog, and her photos are fab.
There was this excellent little reception in the Ozawa Pavillion. The cutest, sweetest Japanese hut. There was mulled wine and punch (I double fisted and took one of each) and little snacks like prosciutto wrapped melon and fancy crackers with brie and caramelized onion. Yummy.
And it was nice to see everybody with their shoes off and just enjoying the warmth of the occasion despite the bitter cold outside. I think it was definitely colder than -20/-4, especially with the wind.
There were paper lanterns everywhere.
When we finally went outisde to walk around the grounds there were these magic mime people covered in lights wandering the paths. One of them gave a shiny snowflake to Dexter. There was hot apple cider and it was divine even though I spilled it all over my new mittens and they are now stained. I suppose it's fine when the stains remind you of a happy time?
They also had fires in old dryer machine drums. Genius.
But the lights were stunning. Beautiful and magical!
Some kids, I'm assuming they were the kids of some of the volunteers, built this awesome snow fort! Seriously impressive.
Even though I'm at odds with the elements at times. I still do love snow. And I like living somewhere where I'm forced to be tough. Just wait for a while when we've had insane cold for a few months. When it's -5 people start going outside with only t-shirts on because we've all become acclimatized.
It's possible to go outside and have fun, and do things that make you feel happy and worry free like when you were a kid, even if it's cold out. These are the same feelings of fancy-free I have when bike riding, just replicated here in another form.
7 comments:
I needed this post, thank you. It is crazy cold here suddenly (-2 F right now, so about the same) and I have a hard time staying upbeat about it. Especially when we have to put boots on our dog to go take an outside break for himself. Despite that, in CA I would be in intense rains for days and couldn't go outside either, so I try to remind myself that and take advantage of hopefully these *short* winter months. Looks like a beautiful event!
Miss Sarah, you don't have to apologize for complaining about winter. Darn it, it's cold! It would be unnatural to actually like -20 weather. So, embrace your inner curmudgeon. Because you've earned it, baby!
My family will be spending Christmas in Edmonton, although way out in the burbs.
I have learned "sisu" living in the cold, and I do think it helps with more of life's challenges than just weather.
Though I think I want to visit the luminaria/feralitas in Sante Fe, though your photos are gorgeous.
Magical!
Hi Sarah. I just wanted to drop by to say that I really enjoy these posts on Edmonton. I live in Toronto and have never visited Alberta but your posts make me want to. It seems like there's a great community of artists there doing wonderful things.
Sigrid - I know. One of the reasons I really love Christmas (aside from the food and friends) is because it's all festive and cheerful. Gives me something to distract myself from the cold. When we get into Jan-Mar... man that is a ROUGH time.
Niki - Thanks for humouring me:) You'll get a white Christmas! Even if you're in the 'burbs, I'm sure you can venture to the river valley for a big walk, or watch lots of movies and shop at the mall:)
Charlotte - I think pretty lights in lanterns are pretty much impossible to go wrong with, cold or not!
Milady - Yes, I did think it was quite magical! When the mime people were coming around and giving Dexter his snowflake I told him it was a magical snowflake. It occurred to me that I shouldn't lie to my son so early... but whatever. "Magic" is one of those FUN lies.
Anon - Like any place, Edmonton has its challenges. We're really lucky to have a wonderful circle of friends and have seemed to tap into the fun things to do. So it's not so much the place as it is the people! If you ever visit Alberta, please come here and look me up. I'm not really sure how I translate from the blog to real life, but I like to think it's pretty accurate.
Absolutely gorgeous pictures of the luminaria! I've been enjoying your blog of the biking life!
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