Chuck

I spent the weekend in Edmonton.

This nearly blows my mind, because I lived there for years when I was a teenager, and honestly I cannot remember enjoying it in the least. It's nothing to do with the Calgary/Edmonton thing, but more likely with the move from Victoria to what I then considered the bowels of hell, and youth.

Anyway, when BF told me he and his sister had a wedding to shoot in Edmonton I wasn't what you'd call excited. He wanted me to come, so I took a day off of work and did so... thinking that the high point of the weekend would be stopping off at Olds Fiber Week (merchant mall, don't you know) on the way home.

Instead, I had a great time. On Friday night we went to the Legislature building to scope out locations for wedding photography (met his sister and her husband there). Even though I'd lived in Edmonton, I'd never taken the time to visit the Legislature before. Imagine that. It is really beautiful, and if you have the chance, you should have a walk around. There's a truly amazing wading pool and an ice cream vendor (you'd understand this reference if you knew how hot it was that day). The gardens are lovely.

Friday evening we went to an Indian buffet together, and had the pleasure (and, ok.. a little pain) of watching a whole lot of belly dancing students do their first public performance. My, my. You had to be there.

Saturday, BF and I had an early breakfast, and then went to the Bay to shop. He'd reconsidered his apparel for the wedding, and it was so darned hot out that it was clear that he was also going to need a hat. Later he left, and I walked from downtown to River City Yarns. I was hoping for STR, but there were only 2 lone skeins to be had, and the colourway made it pretty clear why they were still hanging around. I did buy some Fleece Artist/Handmaiden for Dida though (she looked after the dogs for us, and kept company with Mug as well)... merino/cashmere sock yarn, some silk, some seawool.. all as beautiful as you might imagine.

Man.. it was a long, hot, hot, hot walk. Did I mention hot? Phew. Great little store though.

On the way back to the hotel I stopped at a boardwalk market (where I bought a handmade monster stuffie for someone's Christmas present). I stumbled upon a gathering of bicycles in a nearby park. There were all kinds of sales, booths and events associated with that, and tons of people. By then I was about 90% melted, so I made my way back to the hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon knitting my magical cardi.

We did make it to Olds on Sunday.. stopped briefly at the merchant mall to visit with Sandra (Make One has a booth). We checked out fleeces that were up for silent auction, but were too early to bid.

It turned out to be a really great weekend; and I really think that Calgary could make an effort to revitalize the downtown area by having similar markets and events.

The high point of the weekend? Spending time alone with BF.

PS: It was hot. But then, I told you that already, didn't I? ;)