Photo Op(eration)

In an effort to home-ify the apartment, I decided to put my loved ones faces on a wall! Nothing says "I love you" like a collage of memories, right? I originally got the collage idea from my friend Marley, who at some point over the last year posted a how-to article about hanging groups of photos easily using a paper templates. (Engage foreshadowing with the use of the word 'easy'. Check.)

So I planned out what photos I wanted to print. Turned out there were 27 of them. It was time to cull the memories! Awkward! Instead I decided to head to IKEA for all the chea... I mean modern style frames. Success! 17 frames for under 100$. (I assume that's a good deal. >>) 

Now that I had my number of pictures picked out, it was photo printing time! Back in AB, it was easiest to do a 1-hour photo print at the LDs (London Drugs) buuuuut there is no such thing in ON apparently. Luckily-ish there were instant kodak print machines at the grocery store that would serve their purpose. Only had one minor issue with one of my prints: The Matrix bled through. 

After writing dates and peoples names on the back of photos (cause I'm 98), I got all the photos in their frame homes. The article said to lay out the photos the way they will hang on the wall and trace their size and positions onto paper. Which I obviously kinda only did half of. Foreshadowing achieved! I laid out the pictures and then, working in lines, hung them up using the frame edges as spacers. Worked very well actually! Yay!

Now I have many a smiling face staring at me when I leave and come home. Miss all y'all. <3

Cheers!

-Andrea 

The Half-Assed Hobbyist

Rouge Park

April long weekend the BF and I and our friend Taylor went for a hike in Rouge Park, just east of Scarborough. It's a huge park and we will defs return to hike more trails (when it's less of a mud pie). 

I took some pictures of the sights and my people. Enjoy!

Picture a la BF!

-Andrea

The Half-Assed Hobbyist

Real Winter

So I've had to eat my words over the last couple weeks. Being Alberta born and raised I have always expected winter to start October 31st and end after May long weekend. I expect snow for Christmas and lots of it. I expect only negative degrees when I check my rude weather app. Toronto it seems does not get "real winter" as I'm used too, but it does get winter. 

I went out on one such occasion (when Winter decided to actually stick around) to take some pictures. Some turned out pretty good. I suppose winter is better late than never!

-Andrea

The Half-Assed Hobbyist

The Rivervalley

There is one aspect of Edmonton that I won't ever forget. Right outside of downtown core, the Rivervalley waits. 

I got to go on more than one walk on my vacation back home and each time I was blown away by the nature that sits right outside the concrete jungle. 

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. <3

-Andrea

The Half-Assed Hobbyist

Alberta: Fields and Friends and Family

I was born and raised in Alberta. I grew up travelling from prairie to hilly countryside to mountains. I vacationed everywhere: the Bad Lands, the Alberta mountain range, the Jasper and Banff provincial parks. Even though I will be gone for many years I know that I will be back to vacation in this beautifully diverse province again.

I will miss the city of Edmonton. Like many others, I bitch about the transit and weather and the fact that downtown closes at 4:30pm. But it's still a wonderful place to live and I've been lucky to grow up in such a wealthy place. 

I have decided that I will miss two things most about living in Alberta. (Other than my friends and family, of course.)

1. Big Alberta Sky
2. Delicious Alberta Beef

(Although, I'm sure that I'll miss having 5% tax more and more after we get to Ontario.)

Thank you to my Opa, who out of all the places in the world, he picked Edmonton to call home. It's been an amazing place to live and grow up.

I'll miss you Alberta. I hope to be back for Real Winter this Christmas. <3

-Andrea

The Half-Assed Hobbyist