Happy Birthday, Canada!!

(All photos taken by my Dad and/or Mom.  May not be borrowed or pinned,)

Dear Canada,

Happy birthday!

Thank you for being such an amazing place 

to spend my childhood years.

Love you forever,

Garden Of Daisies

Pictured in this post:
Lake Louise,  Bow Lake,  Peyto Lake,  Moraine Lake, 
Banff,  Kamloops, Vancouver,  Cranbrook,  Hope-Princeton Hwy,  the Ogopogo (Kelowna)

Y Is For Yoho And Z Is For Zinnia

It's Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny Matlocks.  There are tons of fun posts to read here.
I'm squeezing Y and Z into one post.

First there is Y.
Y Is For Yoho National Park in British Columbia, Canada.

(My father's photos may not be borrowed or pinned)

Takakkaw Falls,  in Yoho National Park.  Our family camped here in the summers while I was growing up.

(this photo from the web)

I stood in the mist at the bottom of Takakkaw Falls and had the rainbow shine on my skin.  I will never forget that amazing experience.

(My father's photos may not be borrowed or pinned)

The Yoho River, a tributary of the Kicking Horse River.  (That is me in blue.)

(this photo from the web)

Emerald Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in Yoho National Park.

(this map from the web)

And then  Z.    

Z  is for Zinnias.  This is no surprise to anyone.  You knew I would use zinnias as my z word, didn't you?  Inside the house in a vase or outside in the garden, I just can not resist these happy, jewel toned blossoms!    One of my very favorite flowers!   

And that brings me to the end of the alphabet.   Thank you Jenny for hosting this fun alphabet meme!  I have met some really wonderful people, laughed a lot,  been moved to tears a few times and learned a few things along the way.  

 Hope you all have a wonderful week! 

V Is For Valley

It's Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny's!  

V is for Valley.  

Here are two favorites.

Valley of the Ten Peaks- 

Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta Canada.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

My sisters and I, on a family camping trip.

Garden Valley
 Sung by Irish songbird, Cara Dillon.  I love her voice.

O Is For Ogopogo

O is for the Ogopogo in the Okanagan. 

The Ogopogo is Nessie's Canadian Cousin,  an unidentified and elusive sea creature  living in Okanagan Lake, British Columbia.   There have been documented sightings of a "sea monster" here at this lake since 1872.  

 (This photo was taken by my Dad.  Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Three little girls climb up onto the Ogopogo statue in Kelowna. That's me in front, on the Ogopogo's snout, with two of my sisters up on his head.  (my 3rd sister had not yet been born.)  

This is the new Ogopogo statue.  (pic from the web)

Canada even put the Ogopogo on a stamp. (pic from the web)

The beautiful, semi-arid Okanagan region is known for it's vineyards, fruit orchards , summer and winter sports and tourism.  A really lovely vacation spot!  

 

(both of these pics from the web)

It's Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny's and we are celebrating the letter "O". 

(The first picture was taken by my Dad, the rest are from web.)

N Is For Nanaimo Bars

N is for Nanaimo Bars, a wonderful, triple layered, custard and chocolate cookie.    So yummy!     It is said that a housewife from the town of Nanaimo, British Columbia, submitted this bar cookie for publication in a cookbook.  It turned out to be a hit and put both the treat and the town on the map!

You may have seen these mentioned on TV during the 2010 Winter Olympics.   They are truly a favorite Canadian confection!

This recipe comes from my best friend, who is Canadian.  She makes them every year.  My son loves them!

(picture from the www)

NANAIMO BARS:

First Layer:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
5 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups graham crackers crumbs
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup walnuts
Mix butter, sugar, egg and cocoa,  Place over boiling water (double boiler) and stir until mixture looks like custard.    Remove from heat;  and add crumbs, coconut and nuts.   Press into buttered 9x9 pan.

Second Layer:
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons vanilla custard powder
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
Cream butter, custard powder, milk and sugar until smooth.  Spread on graham cracker base.   Chill for about 15 minutes.

Third Layer:
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate
1 tablespoon butter
Melt chocolate and butter over hot water (double boiler).  Spread over custard layer.

Chill.  Cut into squares.  (Keep refrigerated.)


My Notes:

I use Bird's Custard Powder.  You may substitute vanilla pudding if you can not find custard powder.

You may substitute any of your favorite nuts for the walnuts.

Use a hot knife to cut into squares, to keep the chocolate from cracking.

I have seen several variations on this recipe.  My sister adds 1 teaspoon of mint extract and 2 drops of green food coloring to the middle layer, to make it green at Christmas.


It's Alphabe-Thursday!  Join us over at Jenny's to see all the other N posts!

Other N news.... our naughty Natasha kitty decided to climb a tree in the back yard.  She did not know how to come down.  Mr. Garden had to get out the ladder and go up after her.  She kept climbing higher.  He climbed off the ladder and further up into the tree, while I  had visions of broken legs and backs.   Finally got them both down to safety.  I would have taken a picture, but I was too busy holding the ladder.

And for even more N, see yesterday's post about my niece.

E is for Eeeek! And Emerald Lake

E is for Eeeeek!   I have been so busy I almost didn't get this posted for Alphabe-Thursday.

E is for  Emerald Lake, in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, where our family used to hike and canoe during summer camping trips.  The color of the water is amazing.

This is a picture I took of my baby sister at Emerald Lake in  1969.    I was young and this was my first camera, and it is not a very clear picture.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Click on this link to see what Emerald Lake looks like today.  It has an amazing Lodge and the water is just as gorgeous as it ever was.

Join everyone over at Jenny's ABC's for all the other E posts.