May angels lead you in.

As we nearing the ten month mark of not having you here in our lives, I am struck by how much I still miss hearing your voice or your calls just to see how I am which used to come on a daily basis!

I thought it only fitting that tomorrow being Valentines day that I share a bit of love. You were one of the most beautiful, brave and positive people I have ever met, and you fought every one of your battles with dignity and strength!

I miss you Jacky Lesley Parker. At the best of times you were my rock.

You know we all loved you, and fought your cancer so bravely! I just wish you had won that one...

For all the mothers out there and for all the people who have lost your mothers… This Valentines day I’m sending you a little love and white light from across the ocean. It is never easy saying good bye to someone – and I’m told that it does get easier… so here’s to hoping!

The silver lining is welcoming Tristan into motherhood… May Kade be as lucky to have you in his life as we were to have mom.

Rest in peace JL Parker



Niagara... and more snow

HELLO NIAGARA FALLS

Tim Hortons and a snowstorm

That basically sums up my day at Niagara Falls. The idea was to leave Burlington early morning with the hope of beating all the tourists to the falls and get some magnificent pictures at the falls. I woke up to snowflakes moving in all directions outside my window – which I must say is a rather weird thing seeing rain falls straight down to the ground and snow… well it kinda floats in all directions (including upwards).

Finally pulling myself out of bed, into my car and finally on the highway I noticed the heavy mist and then more snow that I’ve seen here in Canada to date. So picture me on a highway, driving about 30km per hour through very thick snow. I wish I managed to get a picture of the snow ploughs that drive side by side to clear the highway – it really is something. Below is a picture of what they look like – now imagine min visibility and 3 of them driving next to each other clearing the whole highway as they drive.



That's a snow plough with its plough folded up - scary when its open on a road

  

Yes that is meant to be a road

 

Parking is not fun in the snow - you slip and slide everywhere

Arriving in Niagara - I went up to a friend of mines hotel suite - because apparently the view from up there was amazing. Snow stormed out, I was relieved to be out of the car - and this is what I saw



View 1: upon arrival to the hotel room



At this point I was thought they were joking that a massive waterfall was down there... because as far as I could tell - there was definitely nothing to see!



View 2: 10 minutes after arrival I took a second look and the snow started to clear

 

View 3: 30 minutes after arrival. Snow stopped and the falls were revealed:)

 Niagara is a strange place. I arrived in Niagara falls from the Clifton Hill entrance and I thought I had missed the turn off and gone to Disney world. There are 2 very big casino’s in Niagara and some crazy busy ‘Times Square’ wanna-be shops with crazy lights. To be completely honest - I wasn't very impressed with the feel of it. I was hoping for a natural wonder and it felt like man was trying to play 'Who can entertain the best' with God.

But with the snow out of the way and my snow boots on (hehe house mate had heels - epic fail!) we started our Niagara adventure...

 

 And I'd like to think god won this time!



Leaving our foot prints in the snow

 

 

   

 I figured I'd let the pictures speak for themselves! 

Canadians seem to love high towers - first the CN and now this one

 I cannot begin to describe how cold it was being next to those falls... so we headed for Canada's own - Tim Hortons... where I met Murray the Moose...

 

Interesting FACT: Tim Hortons sells nearly 3 millions cups of coffee A DAY! I asked a Canadian what their staple food was (which got a blank stare - staple diet must only be something people from a third world know about) and his response, after I had to explain that it was something the masses ate, was Tim Hortons coffee... Yes I was a little confused by that also!? Go figure...

So from the Falls we followed the river for a bit and came to the most beautiful gorge. I do have a thing for gorge's and if you ever have the opportunity definitely visit ORIBI GORGE in South Africa - the most beautiful place on earth! I lost my heart there - but I thought I'd just put a picture up of the Canadian version just for the memory!

We had heard that the Falls by day and the falls by night were a completely different experience - so we came back in the evening to have a look. It was spectacular. Although the vis wasn't as great as what we had had during the day - the sound of the Falls totally makes up for it at night. And yes - the Disney lights add a little romance to the great Niagara Falls - not to mention my all time favourite movie - "Beauty and the Beast" lights... wow!

It was still snowing, but I hope the pictures below give the Niagara Falls at night some justice.

 And that my friends... was another FABULOUS day in Canada! 



Horseshoe, snow and a whole lots of falling

 

Thanks mom for the awesome ski jacket and head band - it kept me nice and warm! Jacky is always with me:)



 

Horseshoe valley ski resort was our destination. Jambles and I were up at the crack of dawn and out of the house before sunrise to make our way to the one place we were sure we would find snow and I would finally be able to learn how to snow board.

I decided a lesson would be a good idea - and I'm very glad I signed up for that. Although our instructor was not the most useful person on earth - I learnt how to put my board on (great start), board ski (where one foot is in the board and the other slides the board in the direction you want to go - similar to skate boarding - but on a very slippery surface it caused many a fall for me) and how to get onto a snow lift. My problem with the snow lift was not getting onto it - but getting off - majority of the day was spent learning to get off the lift in a graceful and elegant manner. That, I can assure you I did not do - as I only managed to get off the lift 3 times the whole day without falling. Although I must admit - 3 of the falls were not my fault and I accidentally rode over one of my new found friends who fell straight off the lift (think cartoon when the two people run into each other and their legs keep running in the direction they were headed).

After an hour - our instructor left us half way up a hill, where I nearly made very good friends with a nearby oak (and not the human slang kind)



I spent majority of my day on the bunny slope (the very little red line on the far right of the above picture - also referred to as "Low Rider" and I'm still trying to figure out if that means its for children only) which is smaller than a green run by far and looked like a war zone with bodies sprawled all the way down the slight slant (mostly kids under the age of 5 who made me look like an incompetent giant falling down and around their play pen - embarrassing to say the least) . But it felt safe and every fall felt soft in comparison to the wipe outs I felt on the green slopes later in the day.

  

Early morning - Jambles and I hitting the slopes



It was a beautiful day out  on the slopes. Jambles called my squatting down the green slopes the Mexican shuffle - thanks Jambles. I have never had such a thigh work out - but was happy for it. Luckily I had my fellow South African counter part there to make fun of me on the slopes. 



Warm and Dry

For you Dax - you asked for a picture to see my face ;) Hehe...  

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After a bail  - landed on my ass again - not so dry anymore.

Ooooh its not quite wake boarding, in fact as I discovered today - its far from. I spent more time face in the snow with snow down my jacket and snow trousers (I know I also thought it would keep out the snow).

I ate snow a lot during the day - literally. I have never fallen over so many times in one day. Most of the big bails say my shirt (which was underneath my ski jacket) with ice and snow. I started judging my falls by the amount of ice I could get into places which should not feel cold and how sore my muscles got that I didn't even know existed.

By the end of the day I had wet gloves, a wet top, wet tights, wet everything! But it was completely worth it!

 

Tired but happy and ready for home



Luckily I can laugh at myself and was easily entertained but my lack of ability to stay on my feet - and if you're ever in the mood to learn how to snow board - I suggest you bring your sense of humour with you - its not for sissies! Bring on Ellicottville Ski weekend away lined up for next weekend - I'm ready!

I think I've fallen in love with Kindfood

  

I was not expecting a day like today. I woke up and decided to "Raine-Check" with friends who were going out missioning and have a Raine day in Burlington. Not that I was sad but because I wanted to bond with my new city, and every Saturday night before this one I had been flirting with Toronto and decided I needed a change. And boy am I glad I did.

Now I know this is my travel blog and I'm not really a foodie - but bare with me as I tell you all about Kindfood.

Upon arriving in Burlington, out apartment block was generous enough to give us a "how to" pack on Burlington and an advert in one of the guides caught my eye about a Gluten-free Vegan Bakery, Kindfood, with the caption 'Voted "Best Cupcakes" and "Best Brownies"', which immediately made me think that someone had paid the editor off of the 'Burlington Visitors Guide'... so with my snow boots on - I decided to try it for myself...

So with a statement like that - I really had my doubts - its was practically free of everything that I always thought made food yummy (and I was curiously wondering how it would be possible to make "Best Brownies" with none of those ingredients in them)...



Just looking at this picture makes me want more 



WOW!!!! So like a stalker tourist I was standing in the queue to order and saw the cupcakes and decided to be 'one of those people' and photograph as much as possible.

I ordered a red velvet cupcake (red velvet anything being my favourite) and I was certainly not let down. In fact I think "Best Cupcake" doesn't quite capture how good their cupcakes really are.

With my order (completely forgetting I was in a gluten free vegan bakery) I tried to order a cup of coffee... EPIC fail but also a very Raine thing to do. As they didn't have coffee (which is very bad for you by the way) - I ordered the 'Peace tea' - which was also very yummy and delicious.

Now I'm not a vegan (I'm not even vegetarian as I am the daughter of a chicken farmer and basically reared on meat), but being inside that cafe/ bakery made me insanely happy. I always thought of vegans as stiff people who were afraid of living due to having to wait for their veggies to die before they could eat them. But I am really glad that I was sorely mistaken. Being inside Kindfood was like my soul had come home to rest and that food here was made here like food was meant to be made. Not only did they play upbeat music but the cupcake and tea were so delicious, I stayed for lunch also. I even met a few of the clientele and waiters... It was a very fun filled day indeed.

I ordered the vegan version of a BLT called a BLAT. Bread was completely gluten free - Meat-free B.acon (say what?), L.ettuce, A.vocado and T.omato, with thinly sliced carrots & veganaise (need the recipe for that). 

The meat free bacon was a crunchy smoked something (not totally sure what it was - but I'm not a foodie so please forgive me) and tasted so much better than bacon and left me feeling really great after eating it. All their veggies were so fresh that they reminded me of the salads Crazy Caz used to make for me by picking the ingredients straight from her garden.

The best part about today's whole adventure is that they offer cooking courses. So I'm signing myself up for the very next one available and hope to learn a lot about some great vegan cooking to make for you all back home when I get back (one day down the line in the future that is).

So if you're ever in the Burlington area - or just want to come visit me in the Burlington area (while I'm still living here) seriously consider popping in for lunch or a cupcake or both! I would very seriously recommend it!

P.S. dad I might come home a vegan... Just saying!