(First off, an apology to anyone from Ontario for any remarks I may make. Please remember it applies mostly to the Trans-Canada part of Ontario. I love other parts, like Ottawa).

Last time I promised you the rest of our travelling story. July has been insane for me and I’m a little late, but here I am at last, ‘bag and baggage,’ and ready to share the second (and hopefully final) instalment of our journey.

My sister and I arrived at our grandparents’ with deceitfully cheerful appearances and quickly discovered we were still quite sick, which definitely put a cramp in our style. We did, however, manage to visit a friend and family member or two, tour of our grandparents' town, and visit the most delightful bookshop ever (I wish I could work there, but I’d never have a cent left). I surprised the poor owner by asking for old books, and he finally asked if I was dyslexic, because apparently they find old books easier to read. I was also informed on how to remove book stickers from books with no problems but forgot the method, meaning I shall have to ask my sister and grandmother for it.

Because of our illness, we were not very helpful packing, and on moving day I was K.O. So the two great girls of twenty and twenty-two lay prone on the floor while the older folks emptied the entire house and made lunch in about 5 hours. You don’t know what feeling useless is until you’re curled up in a corner watching very brisk older ladies cleaning and packing and organizing while their husbands cheerfully fill a U-Haul to the max.

Also, saying no to the sour cream glazed Tim Hortons doughnut broke my heart and I haven’t recovered yet.

After a final flying visit to the bookshop and picking up more books, we were on our way, heralded into Saskatchewan by a torrential downpour. When we ventured out of the car for a break, I wore my grandfather’s hoodie and finally realized the hype… they’re sooo comfy!! I want one. Preferably five sizes too large.

that prairie sky tho…

Day 1 ended crashing in a tiny SK hotel and realizing once more how luxurious a real bed is. Day 2 opened up with a visit to Mac, the tallest moose in the world. (Beat ya, Norway).

We then visited a suspension bridge with our great-uncle and took a little hike through what he (a B.C. snob) insisted were the not-hills of Saskatchewan and we protested looked like the river heights of QC and made us homesick.

We stopped for lunch at Wolseley, the Town with the Swinging Bridge—quite a quaint, sweet little spot.

We came across the beginnings of the parade in honour of Cst. Patton, the RCMP officer murdered there last year. It tugged at the heart and made the situation much more real…

Day 3, I gave up on keeping a diary, and all my memories have no more dates, so I am reduced to random notes.

• Ontario is entirely too long and I am still sick of the scenery. It’s beautiful… and extremely boring. Somehow exactly the same in spite of all that twisting and turning and mounting and descending.
• I never envied a dog before until we stopped at a lake for a break and the lucky beggar got to go swimming. I was so jealous I could have swapped places with him for 0.5 seconds.
• We saw a Wayside Chapel and it almost made me cry because of how cute and sweet it was and the beautiful message on its door. <3
• We visited some falls, which was a delightful break, even if it just about froze my nose off… I was expecting summer weather but evidently Ontario has a mind of its own.

• We also visited the Terry Fox monument which DID make me cry because of his legacy. <33

• We saw Lake Superior and I fell in love all over again. <3 I made a heroic effort to go romantically wading through it and got everyone’s attention with my (female) Vikingesque howls of freezing pain.

• You don’t know how much you love your own people and language till you are separated from them. In SK I came across a couple from QC and was so happy to speak French to them. By Lake Superior, we crossed a young couple from near where I live, heading for exactly where we’d landed in AB. We had a nice time wishing each other safe travels and I missed my family extra hard after that. <3 And just outside QC, we stopped at a little Ontario town and there were a few francophones there and I cried listening to their broken English, missing my own people so. crazy. much.

• All fries are not created equal. QC fries are totally different from AB fries. And if you claim you’ve been “perfecting” poutine since 19-something, prepare for two indignant Québécois to emphatically denounce you to the mall at large. (sorry not sorry)
• I saw a moose for the first time in my life!!!…and I never want to see one around my car again.
• My great-uncle and I almost crashed into a fuel tanker and I didn’t realize why he was so scared until after and then it hit me I almost died. So I missed out on the “life flashing before my eyes” thing. #ihadgreatconfidenceinhisdriving
• Did I mention I adore Lake Superior? And beaches?? And waves???

• We also saw the big goose at Wawa and the Big Nickel in Sudbury (and I couldn’t spell nickel to save my life). Sudbury was the ugliest city I ever saw in my life. Montréal is a perfect bower in comparison...

• One hotel had a huge train model with the greatest details like a Coca-Cola ad board next to the rails and teensy-tiny people having a teensy-tiny wedding and the cutest little logging river… I’m in love with trains, y’all.
• My sister and I finally got well around day 5 (of 7!) of the trip and our first real meal was at Husky’s. I shall forever bless their food. It was amazingness. I had pork chops for the first time in my life. #delish
• I stayed at a small-town QC motel for the first time in my life and it had an English owner (hilarious) and the city was literally inches deep in rain and we were right next to the river and I seriously considered the possibility of waking up to a flood, à la Piglet. Instead, we woke up to discover the sweetest Chinese couple had moved out of the big room we occupied so we could have it, and took the smaller room next door… and lost the keys to their rental car. It got quite difficult and worrisome, and when they finally found it we cried happy tears, hugged all around, and wished them a pleasant trip through Canada. <3 I find it so beautiful how quickly we can have a deep care about strangers… and then it always saddens me to think how the parting is forever after those lovely experiences! But I like to think that the pleasant memories we made will last for a long time in many hearts. <3
• I bought another book at the store next to the storage unit where we unloaded the U-Haul. Overall, I came home with half a shelf’s worth of books to be packed up…

Well, this was far from being a humorous update, but I hope you enjoyed the little glimpse into our cross-country trip. I came away with more love than ever for my country, and a firm desire to make it even grander than it is!

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Query: Are you interested in seeing the links to the reviews I’ve posted on OFBL as well? Be sure to drop me a note if you are and would like me to include them in this round-up!

{ Book Spotlight }

“The Chronicles of Alice & Ivy” is a Victorian family saga featuring the lives of two sisters, Alice and Ivy, as they grow from childhood to adulthood. Perfect for fans of vintage novels and BBC dramas, this series confronts complex issues realistically - but in a hopeful, faith-centered way. One of the best indie-published series I've read. Click the titles below for my reviews.

The Dressmaker’s Secret || Ivy Introspective || Becoming Miss Knight

At Her Fingertips || Beyond Her Calling || A Prayer Unanswered

Query: Would you be interested in movie/TV show spotlights too? Let me know in your reply!

{ Fun Links }

~ In case you didn’t know, I started an Instagram page and an email newsletter sharing clean and Christian book deals + freebies.

~ I recently discover Taryn Harbridge’s music. I don’t recommend all of it, but a lot of them are super beautiful and relaxing, such as The Work of His Hand and This is my Father’s World.

~ I don’t personally know anything about the Young Writers’ community/ministry, but I’ve heard good things of them, and they are hosting a free online event August 15-16: "Young Writers Can Change The World" | Online Summit, ‘designed to help young writers break past low expectations and get on track to finishing projects they're proud of.’

{ QOTD }

Is there a fact about you people would be rather surprised to discover?

Whenever I mention that I love frogs and enjoy catching and holding them, people are always surprised, since I’m known for being terrified of spiders and bugs. I find snakes and lizards super cool though (I’d love to hold one!) and I do love mice… I would love to get to hold one of those too.