Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
We are Whistler-bound this morning.
But understand that Kevin and I are not the get-up-at-5 am-keeners who are schussing down for Fresh Tracks…Truly, it sounds glorious, but really? That early? When does one do the journal musings whilst leisurely sipping one’s cappuccino? How does one find time to peruse the Globe and Mail?
Instead, we are here in Sechelt and doing the Winter-Schleppage. This means we are finding our winter gear in the bins in the basement, dusting off the stovetop cappuccino-maker, assembling little special items like fresh-picked rosemary from the front patio, and for Kevin, picking the exact right wine to go with our dinner.
A little backstory might put this in perspective. Years ago, when our son was 11-years old, we went on a camping trip down the Pacific Coast. We were somewhere in southern Washington when Cory came back from wandering the state park campsite. He saw all the other families roasting wieners, eating take-out burgers and munching potato chips.
He came back to our VW van with the portable pop-up picnic table, saw the clams steaming in wine, the roasting lamb chops on the barbeque, the wine glasses on the tablecloth, and looking at Kevin, he said, “We don’t camp like other people, do we Dad?”
“I guess not,” said Kevin. “Could you turn down the Vivaldi, please?”
There is something lovely about living with quality ingredients. And for those who might argue it is elitist, I would suggest that it is actually cheaper to eat real food than highly-processed Frankenfood and/or take out. And for us, cooking is our entertainment. Not to mention it is pretty darned healthy.
The food question aside, Whistler’s weather forecast looks perfect; chilly and all winter-wonderland-ish.
There will be blustery excursions, a couple of excellent meals and perhaps the odd glass of wine.
We won’t be up there long. Just long enough to get a good injection of what Canada is supposed to look like and to get in the right frame of mind…
Because up at Whistler, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Related articles:
- Blackcomb opens with 96-cm snow base(theprovince.com)
- Wandering Whistler, CAA Magazine
Love this! Your kind of camping is MY kind of camping!
Hey Gwen, glad you can relate. It is just so much more civilized that way, non?
Ah yes, your idea of “roughing it” sounds like mine 🙂 I hope you had fun!
Becca, in my world, roughing it always includes real dishes, cutlery and wine glasses. I think I would have liked the era of porters and trunks…
Coleen,
I’ve never been a big camper, but I like the sound of your family camping! You can invite me for a fireside dinner anytime. I totally agree with you about food. The closer to the earth, the fewer hands that have handled it, the better it is for you and for the earth. And most of the time it tastes better too (in the right hands, of course).
MA
Hey Miz Scott, consider yourself invited to the next fireside dinner 🙂
‘Closer to the earth’ – I like that.
Yes, food in the most natural state, as far removed from processing and plastic/styrofoam/wrappage, is always better, not just for our health but for the ultimate in pure taste.
Oh how I long for snow! It has been nothing but cold and dry here in south-central Alaska; there is about 1/2 inch of snow on the ground and another inch of hoarfrost. Yet last winter there were near-record amounts of the stuff in my town. You can never tell what it’s going to do I guess!
Mandy, that’s what I love about living near Whistler, we can just go to the snow when we want it. I like being able to decide if I want snow or not 🙂 Of course, the West Coast rain could let up any time soon…
We found that putting a slice of good crusty bread on a toasting stick and melting smoked gouda onto it over a fire was the perfect camp food, accompanied by a lovely glass of shiraz, of course.
Sharry, that sounds so very civilized. I am definitely trying that the next time I’m anywhere near a camp fire. Thanks for a great idea!
How wonderful it sounds! Can I come too? (Seriously, I will come in the wintertime sooner or later…how could I miss the charm of a Canadian Christmas?)
Lots of love to you and Kevin and … enjoy your lovely wine!
Baci, Vivien
Viven, it really is quite Christmasy up here. Whistler decorates everything with tons of little lights and it’s very pretty. You definitely need to come back for a Canadian Christmas!