Life and Breath

After a spectacular week in Tofino where we feasted on scenery,  lots of time outside and much fun with people we love, this is the song we're feeling like singing this morning.

Amazing journey

The London Olympics start today. We will probably tune in a few times over the next two weeks to cheer Canadian athletes... but there is one American athlete I am really rooting for. The story of Lopez Lomong is nothing short of incredible.

Surfing

While surfing isn't on my agenda this week, Tofino is one of the best places on earth to hit the waves. Check out Rick Mercer's attempt at winter surfing- it's worth a giggle.

My view Wednesday

We're away this week with family to one of our favourite places:

Our view today is, therefore, pretty fantastic.  I'll share photos next week when we're back. 

Salmon #11 Pasta Salad

After making Cedar Plank Salmon, we had leftovers. Jeff and I usually divide leftovers up for our lunches, but with a few 30 degree days here, I seized the opportunity to try a salmon pasta salad recipe (any supper that does not require further heating up the house on a hot day is a good thing). It was really fresh and delicious- something will will definitely make next time we have leftover cooked salmon. 

a hybrid of recipes from Food Tastes Yummy, All Recipes and Simply Recipes

serves ~4 for main course

3 cups of cooked pasta
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cucumber, quartered and diced
1/2 cup of yellow bell pepper, diced
1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup of black olives

1 avocado, diced
1 salmon fillet, cooked through and flaked (about 1 cup)

Dressing:

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons sugar (or to taste)

salt & pepper

1/3 cup olive oil

2 Tablespoons of both fresh parsley and chives, finely chopped

Mix together dressing ingredients in a glass jar and set aside. Combine salad ingredients and toss with dressing to your taste (I used a little less than half). The leftover dressing will keep well in the fridge and is excellent on a simple tossed green salad. 

Dahl Haus

I recently met ceramic artist Heather Braun-Dahl. I've been a quiet fan of her work for a while... and with her launch of a series of beautiful watery blue and green pieces this year, I've become a louder fan. See what I mean?

Photographs by Curtis Hildebrand; all photos copyright dahlhaus studios, 2012

   

Check out more of her work at Dahl House Ceramics or this great video of her in action in her studio. You can purchase any of these 100% handmade items through Heather's Studio or Etsy Shop. If you would like to buy a present for me, I would welcome anything listed above (especially those bottle vases in any of the blue or green glazes). Beautiful. 

Arise!

Most hymns and worship songs are written in major keys- the bright happiness of a major key just works well for music that is meant to uplift and inspire. There are a few familiar hymns written in minor keys, and they always seem so interesting to me. The Advent hymn, O Come O Come Emmanuel, for example, is wonderfully contemplative and mysterious, all thanks to its minor key.

I Will Arise (and Go to Jesus) is one of the few hymns written in a minor key, but it's one that I always thought was a little bland and plodding... until I heard this arrangement. It's amazing how a slightly different setting (and faster tempo) can suddenly make the text of a hymn spring to life. Click on the song title below to hear it.

I Will Arise

Original hymn text by Joseph Hart, 1759 and music by William Walker, 1835

This version arranged by Kenneth Dake

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,

Weak and wounded, sick and sore, 

Jesus ready stands to save you,

Full of pity, love and power.

I will arise and go to Jesus,

He will embrace me in His arms; 

In the arms of my dear Savior, 

O there are ten thousand charms. 

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,

God’s free bounty glorify;

True belief and true repentance,

Every grace that brings you nigh.

Refrain

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,

Lost and ruined by the fall;

If you tarry till you’re better,

You will never come at all.

Refrain

Good fortune

This was in my fortune cookie a few weeks ago.

Tomorrow officially starts our two weeks of summer vacation, and a much anticipated visit from far-away family members we haven't seen in a long, long time. While tomorrow probably won't be productive for us in terms of practical or home-related projects, it probably will be productive in terms of relationships and fun. I can't think of a more wonderful place to be.