Celebration

After some quiet days to catch up on sleep (and figure out what day of the week it is), the mood has turned celebratory with two important family graduations in our extended family this week. Jeff and I also passed an important milestone when I officially received word this afternoon that my thesis proposal was successfully accepted (without revision- Hooray!). This means I have successfully completed all coursework for my master's degree.... and now become a much freer thesis student.

It also means that I can no longer ignore the fact that my garden REALLY needs to be weeded....

100 mile diet

In March, I wrote about the adventure Jeff and I are embarking on this year in our support of a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) initiative. Our weekly vegetable box began while I was in Victoria for my 3-week term on campus, so Jeff was left to find creative uses for the mounds of green onions, green garlic, spring greens and mesculun mix that we received. The first week I was home, I dove into the veggies before taking a picture. Here's how they looked last week and this week.

Our lovely farmer Kelly keeps apologizing for how small the boxes are right now, but it's been a good transition for us into the CSA system. Both weeks, we received radishes, green onions, green garlic, herbs, beet greens and kale. Last week, we were pretty excited about the new potatoes and this week, the pint of strawberries was polished off in record time because they were out-of-this-world fantastic. This week's box also had bunches of arugula and swiss chard.

I have to admit that until last summer, I had not cooked much with hearty greens. This week, I sautéed the beet greens, chard and kale with a bit of olive oil, garlic and mushrooms until just done, then splashed in a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar (as adapted from a recipe on one of my favourite food blogs). It was DELISH.



My challenge seems to be with the green garlic (the larger onion-type things in the above photo on the right). I have been adding them into cooked things (sauces, a frittata, soup) because the greens are a little tough. Does anyone have any other ideas or advice to share?

Done

With late-night submissions last night, this semester, its integrated final paper AND my thesis proposal are all done.  And since the four courses I took this term are the last ones before starting my thesis work, I can now officially say that I have finished all of the course work for my MA.

Done.  Done.  Done.

Hooray!

Stress management

I have been writing 18 hours a day for the past 4 days... and while I think I'm on track to meet tomorrow's midnight submission deadline, I will admit that stress is present.

Jeff taped a great solution to the back of my office door.

Study break

Life is pretty focused right now- my thesis proposal is due June 26 and that's what I'm doing morning, noon and night.  I find that to keep a clear head, breaks are a good thing- I run around outside, throw in laundry,comb my hair or read the news.   Mid June is one of my favourite times of year because it's when Royal Ascot happens. This year was the 300th anniversary of this world famous event. While most people tune in to watch the horses, I watch birds of a different feather...

Royal Ascot 2011 from S Unger on Vimeo.

There are 34 hats within this slideshow that I would actually (seriously) wear.... what about you?

Three week whirlwind

I survived another three week term of dorm living and 8am walks to class. Being on campus this year at Royal Roads University was better than last year, maybe because I knew what to expect. The weather was also beautiful and it was SO good to see school friends again. Don't get me wrong- it was still a TON of work and I came home absolutely exhausted (and extremely happy to be away from the noisy and stinky peacocks). It was however, much more enjoyable than last year and for this, I am grateful.

I got home to a garden in bloom and a husband who was very happy to have me back. Indeed- it has been SO good to be home.

School fun

One the other students in my MA program is a Candian Forces Sea King helicopter crew member. The final weekend of school, he arranged a group of us to go on base in Victoria for a tour. Jeff came to visit me for the weekend and was pretty excited about this "field trip"- I think he could have stayed in the hanger all day! Even I have to admit- seeing this little piece of Canadian history was very cool.

Home

Since I've been away from home pretty much since the long weekend in May, it has been a little odd getting used to being back here again.  That being said... it's really good to be home.

It seems that after a month of rain here, I brought some Saskatchewan sunshine back with me and finally kick-started summer. Let's hope it continues!

It takes a village

I am on the home stretch of what has been an academically gruelling 3 weeks on campus at Royal Roads University in Victoria. The good news is that I think I have figured out how to approach and design my thesis research... but it took numerous lectures, stakeholder analysis diagrams, logic models, and research methodology experiments to get there. My brain is completely full and to be honest, I would like nothing more right now than to sleep for a week.

Jeff came to visit last weekend.  Having him here always makes things better but he surpried me by bringing a week's worth of wonderful (and yummy) food.

My dear husband and my very favourite mum-in-law probably deserve this degree as much as I do by now. It certainly wouldn't be happening without all the support they just keep sending my way. You two are VERY appreciated and I am so thankful for how you went out of your way to make this week so much easier for me to survive. You are both THE BEST.

I am a little sad to be leaving some of my school friends because the bonds we have developed through this journey are incredibly meaningful. However, I also can't wait to get home.

Only two more sleeps... but who's counting....

Still here

After a 6 week blogging hiatus, I wanted to check back in and share some of our adventures.

In the past 6 weeks we have:

driven down the Florida Keys

trekked through the the Everglades

enjoyed a relaxing boat ride

explored the Eastern Caribbean

and seen some of the best sunsets we have ever seen. After returning home from vacation, we ushered in spring,

and celebrated Easter with several egg hunts- including this one that left Jeff searching for a Lindt chocolate bunny in the living room for several hours (look up at the ceiling fan!)

We puttered away at our bathroom renovation (photos coming soon) and tried maintain some of the relaxed pace of vacation as we returned to the rhythm of school, work, business trips and.... life.

I am now back at Royal Roads University in Victoria for 3 weeks, completing the second residency term of my master's degree. It has been another very busy (and tiring and brain-overloaded!) stint on campus but the weather has been glorious and I have made it a priority to make it outside more than last year.

Italian Gardens beside Hatley Castle

Garden angel

Giant poppies beside Hatley Castle

Italian Gardens

Some of the wildlife

Japanese Garden

Japanese garden

All of these adventures probably require more words and images to do them justice... and I'll do my best when I get back home. Once I get my thesis proposal submitted at the end of June, I'll be back here on a more regular basis.