Ecuador seems a distant memory, albeit a precious one! My blog now becomes more a personal journal or diary until wanderlust returns …. Far too often I am torn, wanting to remain in Canada with the familiarity, love and comfort of family around me and then, seemingly out of the blue, the lure of the open road surfaces, holding me in it’s grasp, enticing! Summer both abroad and on home ground has been fabulous so far …. posting some favourite pictures …. Aliana’s second birthday, both at her home and hiking in the Rockies at Mount Assiniboine, family time in Calgary for Brad’s 50th and Kelowna …. where it was great to have Kellie back in Canada and to meet her new beau, Jeff and his son Cy!! Aliana’s first walkabout in The Enchanted Forest was too much fun for Sarah and I !! ….. and aaaah, my other favourite Canadian hangout, the glorious West coast where Aliana showed her true Finnish roots and stole her grandmother’s heart once again, playing in the ocean sans lycra :)!!! …. Tim is back in form, winning and adding yet another club championship to his collection …. this year at Hamptonsl! … A visit to the coast is never complete unless I touch base with my dear friends Mickey and Gordon ….. a walk on Crescent Beach was so peaceful … we walked along in that quiet way that our lifelong friendship allows, savouring a stunningly beautiful sunset. Trite as it may sound, life truly is a wondrous, beautiful, precious gift …. I try to breathe it in slowly every day, lingering longer, savouring the moments.