The Musonda's wedding

An experiment- now that I'm back to high-speed Internet I thought I should try to post a photo album rather than individual photos. We had an amazing long weekend and got to connect with friends from Zambia as our dear friend Sugar married a stunning Sophie on Saturday. Kieran (aka Mabvuto) flew in from Toronto & we had a blast with Sophie's incredibly warm & generous family & friends. I held onto the camera for most of the day so I'm sorry dear Priscilla that there are no photos of me*winning smile*

NB- if you click on the photo you should be able to see the photos within the album...feedback please*grin*

Sarah T's visit

Alvin & I were lucky enough to host one of our Canadian friends from Lusaka- Sarah T's first trip to the prairies- woot! As always we had a great visit with her reminiscing and sharing stories since the last time we were together.

Oftentimes when I'm taking photos I take them with people in mind- or I start constructing how I will phrase my sentences on the blog (weird I know). Sarah & I both had shirts made from Kutowa Designs (founded by my good friend / fashion designer / yoga instructor in Zambia). We are posing because a) I feel like a samurai when I wear the shirt & b) I miss yoga with Towani...a stretch? I'm not sure. We were going to wear them all day but it was perfect tanning weather so we bowed out.






























The weather was gorgeous so we set out to explore Edmonton's river valley on foot. A lovely passer-by snapped this before we headed up all those stairs.




















And at the top















More stairs...




















Alvin preparing the nshima (we had to cook Zambian with Sarah T around) & she thought the small size of the nshima stick was hilarious, comments Namukolo?




















And that's a wrap.

Belated Mother's Day

After so many years away it was much fun planning a Mother's Day get together. Here's the whole crew at a wildlife sanctuary in Devon- what a gorgeous day!

Tommy & Devo (I'm posting this especially for Uncle Emil- the photo made me think of him for one reason or another...)














Pop cracked me up, we just parked the car & he hopped right out binoculars up and looking for something exciting.















Mom & Pop on a glorious day

Delighted

That's just how I feel today- delighted. Every time I think of posting something up here I remember that I've forgotten to take photos. I could have shared photos of- the brief visit of my Uncle Walter, Claire's visit with baby Cruz, the perfect afternoon when Alaina brought me over a slurpee on the deck, or Dev's birthday celebration that involved way too much spaghetti & a quick game of "Mexican Train". For unemployed people we're keeping our schedules pretty loaded.

I've had a few quiet moments of reflection working this week for the ageing neighbours- what an opportunity Alvin & I are having right now. We were working side by side yesterday painting somebody's deck, hauling bark chips from the back yard to the truck the other day; and as I glance up to check on Alvin's progress I think- this is fun! Welcome back to Canada where there's something timeless and honest about good hard work; the smell of bark chips, freshly mowed lawn, pine needles (even those that pricked me through the gloves) and the sticky poplar pods that adhere to my shoes after every walk. It's a beautiful time of year to be spending time together and pitching in with the glories of spring cleaning.

Of course it's not all delightful. The uncertainty of unemployment, the relentless on-line applications and networking pressures are not what I would term fun. Or how I fell into a gopher hole yesterday walking down the hill to the bank. But all in all, today I'm just happy that connections are being made- work must be just around the corner now. I also l-o-v-e my new school course which is amazing since I've been struggling for about the past year with classes that I thought I would love & quite frankly didn't. I guess this has turned into an "ode to Friday"...and I can sign off for the weekend- woot!

Earning our keep

Have I mentioned how much fun I'm having being back in Edmonton? Alvin was helping out Pop with a big machine that aerates the lawn just the other day.















And today we awoke to snow- and lots of it. So we donned our warm clothes and started shoveling the drive...it's pretty hard to believe how quickly things can change overnight. At least the jacket & boots that Aunt Elena sent Alvin have had a test drive in this spring storm.














It was also great to see Candra over the weekend; we crashed her nephews second birthday party.





























Auntie Canj!

Starting to feel Canadian again

I've savoured some pieces of quintessential Canada in the last few days:

- the smell of poplars in Spring
- the sound of skates on ice
- finally being able to pitch in to family emergencies. We got the call Saturday evening that my dear ol' Gran was admitted to hospital in Saskatoon- I am so thankful that Tom & I were able to drive out there on Sunday to spend a few days with her. Gran's much better- back into her little apartment & I enjoyed a few beautiful walks in Saskatoon's river valley. After 5.5 years so far from home it is a wonderful feeling to be able to just sit with my Gran. Or my Aunt Martha. Or my folks.

Here are a couple photos from our first skate- Alvin hit ice for the first time last Friday & loved it. Looks like we might head out for another skate tomorrow- how wonderful! My friend Janet is teaching her friend Glen how to skate & invited us to join in- what a great idea, we four had such fun. And though nobody wanted photos on the blog I never made any promises*winning smile*

Thursday already?

It's amazing how fast the days are zipping by considering that Alvin & I really don't have much to do. We're not working yet and it's been a quiet week for callbacks...but somehow we're filling up the days- couldn't tell you what exactly we're doing though*grin*

We saw Tom & Dev throughout the whole weekend. Sunday was a highlight because Tom & Dev bought new patio furniture; thus we had to have pizza & beer (yum). And since the weather has been so gorgeous Dev put up the badminton net & we've had so much fun playing! I had to include a couple of candids.





























Tomorrow should also be an exciting day- we've got a skating date! Weeeeee

One for Namukolo

Well yesterday was quite the day. It was finally warm enough to get out & start doing some yard work. It's springtime! Enjoying the variety of the four seasons has been something that I've been looking forward to sharing with Alvin since we planned to move back to Canada. And it finally feels like our first Spring- the green grass is starting to come up from under the rake- thrilling!














Otherwise Alvin & I hosted our first "nshima" night. We missed our dear friend Kolo who made our nshima nights both delicious and interesting with her endless tales of drama. Tommy & Dev graciously came over & enjoyed eating with their hands...we hope it will be the first of many lovely nshima nights.

It's snowing!

Mother nature is saying "Welcome back to Alberta"*muha ha ha ha*. Funnier still is the fact that when I ran at midday today it was about 15 degrees. It sure is glorious to be warm & cozy in the house sipping on some hot chocolate while the wind howls outside. What fun. We also got to try out the big winter jacket that Alvin's Aunt Elena so generously sent from Connecticut.






























Apart from this excitement today Alvin & I have been busy bees. We're networking, applying for jobs, keeping up with school requirements (and that's both of us now!), and took a road trip to Saskatoon to celebrate Easter with the family.
Here's my dear old Gran who's still happiest in the kitchen at 86 years. She an amazing person & it was grand to spend Easter weekend with her. (And yes, that's a wine bottle- chokecherry wine)!














Gran is even so with the times that the Coca-Cola she bought (especially for me & Alvin) were in the gold cans for Canada's Gold medals at the Olympics- how exciting.














Tom & Devo busy in the kitchen.














After the big feast the guys thought it would be a good idea to do some yard work while the food settled. We laughed our lungs out when cousin Allan forgot to close up the bag of his fancy sucking-up-leaves-machine & blew out all the leaves back onto the lawn.














Oh, & I turned a year older & was spoiled by friends & family alike! These flowers came from my dear hubby & from sweet Carly. THANKS!!!

Bloggers bloc

Hi all,

Two weeks away & why the silence? Lots of reasons I suppose.

- I did not access the Internet for the entire week post-work & pre-homecoming. It was great. We were sent off several times in style from friends & family in Lusaka

-And here we are one week into our return to the Motherland. What have we been doing to keep ourselves so busy? Adjusting to the cold (ha ha). Lots of sleeping, and surprisingly, lots of business. We've been to offices all over the city replacing drivers licenses, attaining Alvin's new Albertan paperwork, and even dropping off a few resumes. I have been to the library, read one of the books I borrowed & smile to think I've got countless books at my fingertips! My parents have hosted several dinners and we're feeling positive about everything. And I do have my school obligations at the back of my mind; nagging like a guilty conscience.

-After the Easter weekend in Saskatoon with my dear Gran we are set to have more structured next week. We need to start exercising*ha ha ha*

Happy Easter/ long weekend to all- here are a few snaps for my faithful readers (I've been fairly undecided on what I should do with my blog now that I'm back home...but Aunt Nada insisted I post something up here...so we'll see if I can shake the bloggers bloc I've been experiencing since being back home)

The girls from work took me out for lunch & it was such a great reminder about how many amazing friends I've made over the years in Lusaka.














Our dear Gabby. We had to get a photo because I'd had my hair done that day*tihi*















What would have been more appropriate than a farewell braai at the farm? We had a lovely afternoon with the family- lots of food, singing, laughing & dancing.
Alvin's whole family was up dancing to "kakabalika" - a song they chose to bid us farewell- saying that the sun shall shine everywhere. It was beautiful.
















Baby Mutale with me & my mother-in-law















Jackie, Bwembya & Ethel














Me with aunt Josie & Danny














Grandma & Aunt Jose














We laughed at Danny & a crying Mutale














If there's one thing I'll likely get sentimental about- it'll be this team. I will miss "my boys", my co-coaches, and the wonderful guys at the Youth Basketball League.

Last day of work

Well I can happily confess that I’m thrilled to be starting out on a new adventure with my hubby. I’m planning on taking the entire week next week off (from school) to savour what has been our life in Lusaka. The weekend is jam-packed with lunch dates, last yoga classes, the Youth League opening tournament and a braai at the farm. Alvin & I will make the most of our last couple days in Lusaka before gearing up for the long plane ride back to the Motherland.

And we’re off!

Doing the rounds

I've never enjoyed a weekend quite so much when I didn't get anything done- no school, no exercise...just a lot of visiting & cleaning out of the closets.

Here are some photos of the lovely people we were able to visit with over the weekend.

Saturday we visited Alvin's cousins' newborn Jamilia.

Here's Mumbi (the new mother) with her mum who was passing through Lusaka.

Then off to visit my lovely niece (who has not yet featured up here); Chisanga & her mum (my sister-in-law) Nina.

Here's Chichi with her Pop- the well-loved Kim who's reputation precedes him

Sunday we were off to the Longwe-Clarke house for Sunday lunch & croquet. And it was our luck that Jumali brought over Nawiti...who I've adopted as yet another niece. She had the cutest shoes that squeaked with each step she took. And she gives High 5's- priceless.

Here's Nawiti with her Grandpa, chef of the day Kolo & Al

Nawiti with her Grandma

And the first of several croquet matches- it was a wonderful afternoon despite the fact that I didn't win a game!

Aside: I am not brooding...it's just that the camera isn't usually pulled out until there are smiling babes. I'm still a proud Auntie Sarah to be sure*grin*