My heart swells. An ocean cresting beneath my skin. The waters rise, then fall. White paper sails waltzing, cradled between sea and icing-dusted peaks.

British Columbia, I am home.  

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I spent my first weekend home with my brother, sister-in-law and adorable nephews in Whistler (while Michael tucked away in Parksville with his best friend Andrew.) Five months without these four is far too long…

The fam: Reuben, Mike, Jesse and Heidi in the village.

Jesse (in a bit of a foul mood) and I. Woah, those glasses are big.

The raddest couple.

The kissing monster about to attack my two favourite boys.

Jesse Fin and Heidi at the skate park. My two and four-year-old nephews were tearing it up on their bikes. 

Michael about to eat a plate-o-poutine for the chance to win a blackberry.

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A weekend well spent.

This Sunday my brother James and his wife Jocelyn came to visit. Michael and I spent the morning prepping for brunch and enjoying a brisk walk around Killarney Lake before picking J&J up from the ferry. While Michael and I cooked up bacon, omelets, bagels and a bodum of coffee, they explored the property. James loved the mini-orchard complete with leaning ladders, the stone fireplace, wooden bridge, brushed stainless and rough counter tops of the Cowper kitchen — a chef’s dream, he said.

After brunch we played Settlers and then went in search of Sicilian donkeys (!!) claimed to be raised at the farm up the road. We found some stray cats, but no donkeys.

Later James whipped us up a pot of butternut squash soup, flank steak, baked squash and risotto — topping it all off with home-canned peaches and vanilla ice cream. Oh the blessing of a brother/chef. ;)

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Jesse Fin Groot.

Yesterday I decided to cut out early, take advantage of the gorgeous Fall weather and my proximity to Whistler, and sped up the bumpy Sea-to-Sky to spend the afternoon with my adorable nephews, Jesse and Reuben. We picked out (what turned out to be a baking) pumpkin and played in the park while mom and dad got a mini-break.

I just adore my nephews. They are growing up far too fast.

Jesse, Reuben, and my big brother Mike.

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In other news,

• I may have landed a gig live-blogging for the JUNOS in Vancouver, March 26-29.
• And Michael is considering the Next Great Prime Ministership. Send him encouragement here.