My mom, sister and I at our family cottage in North Bay.

The vastness of blue Canadian skies still astounds me after all these years. I still can’t get over the shock of seeing a skyline that doesn’t have mountains in it.

Every time I come home, I develop a whole new appreciation for Canada. The old adage that you don’t really know what you’ve got until it’s gone is especially true in this case. I am always blown away by the sheer natural beauty of Canada, no matter the season. I miss Canada more with each year that goes by.

My days have been filled with long walks and bike rides in the fresh air, and every night I’ve climbed into bed and fallen asleep before my head even hits the pillow. It’s good to be home…

I’ve just spent the last week at our family cottage in North Bay with some of my most favorite people in the world: my mom and dad, my brother, my sister and her boyfriend; one of my dearest friends, Andrew Morgan, and two very special guests from the Jersey Channel Islands, (my traveling buddy and best girl friend) Claire Breen and her roommate, Hayley.

Drew, Hayley, Carrie, and Claire

This was our first full family get-together in a long time. I can’t remember the last time we were all up at the cottage together. It must have been before 2002, since that was the last time I was home for the summer.

Claire and Hayley fell in love with the Great White North’s style of summer vacationing by the lake. We lazed around, plowed through books, went for walks, sunbathed and ate an enormous amount of junk food (dill pickle chips mmm…) the entire week. It was bliss.

On Saturday, we threw a big party for my mom, who turned 61 this summer. You’d never know it to look at her! We cooked steaks on the barbecue, drank loads of good Canadian beer, dragged the karaoke machine out on the front porch, and serenaded the lake well into the evening. It was a perfect week.

This morning, we’re on our way to Toronto to visit some friends and do some sightseeing. I’m just as excited as the girls.  I haven’t been to Toronto for well over ten years and I”ll be seeing everything with fresh eyes.

I hope you’re all enjoying your summer, dear readers. I apologize for the lack of posting this summer, but life gets in the way every once in a while, and I’m busy enjoying every second of it.

At my brother’s house in North Bay, Ontario.