Cranbrook — Page 4

Cranbrook Farmers Market

June 29, 2011 by Jenn

This weekend marked the opening day of the Cranbrook Farmer’s Market 2011 season! This year marks the third year that the market has been running, and it is getting bigger and better every year! There are tons of talented people that have come out of the woodwork to show off their creations, produce and general community spirit!

I have to say . . . IT’S ABOUT TIME CRANBROOK GOT SOME CULTURE and spirit! And uniqueness. (Cranbrook rant done.)

I have been going to this market for the last couple of years as a customer, but this year, Paul and I decided that we wanted to be a part of it! We brought JJ’s to the market! We did a couple of indoor markets in Windermere in the spring, but that paled in comparison to the number of people that came down 10th Ave this weekend! It was great people watching, and a great chance to get to catch up with people you haven’t seen in a while!

It was VERY different from the “other side”. I decided to do a pros/cons list for this (because I’m a dork)! When’s the last time you made a pros/cons list? Grade 4?

Pro: I didn’t spend any money. Con: I didn’t have time to leave my booth!

Pro: I didn’t have time to leave my booth! Con: I didn’t get to see all of the beautiful jewellery I kept hearing about.

Con: Our cupcake balloon flew away! Pro: A man CLIMBED a tree to get it out! I gave him free cupcakes. Thank you monkey-ability man, whoever, and wherever you are.

*Note, when putting a helium filled balloon away in a truck, make sure the windows are shut (not just the doors). Yep, that was me that did that, but I did try pretty hard to blame Paul for leaving the windows open. (That’s the balloon in the pic below….try to take your eyes of the two cuties selling cupcakes).

Pro: We are working out all the kinks in our booth set up. Con: We still have a lot of kinks. And scrapes. And scratches. On us, and the &#%^ gazebo. Poor Paul. I’m not my finest early in the morning.

Pro: My mom came to refill our change drawer when we ran out. Con: She brought like $20 in nickels.

Pro: I made a lot of cupcakes. See my cake fridge? Con: I didn’t get to eat any of them.

Pro: I have the greatest FREE labourer in the world! She is my cupcake expert equal. Con: We don’t get to talk because we’re too busy!

Pro: The market allowed me to FINALLY meet my first blog friend! Karen from Toronto Girl West! Con: I acted like a dork . . . and forgot how to talk. It was like meeting a celebrity! I can’t imagine what I would do if I met (uhhhh, insert current favourite star here…I can’t think of any as I have been in the kitchen too long!).

Despite my large dose of dork, I LOVED meeting Karen! Go and check out her blog, because she is an amazing. And what a photographer she is! I love her pictures, she’s always travelling, and she is so real! I love reading her blog because I totally relate to things that she is saying. Besides, we both like to workout, eat, and have small dogs!! How could be NOT love each other?

The market overall was a great success, for us at JJ’s and I hear from all the other booths as well. The organizers were great, right from the start, I loved their organization (it’s the teacher in me), and stickiness with rules (being the anal control freak that I am, of course I would love to follow the rules).

If you’re around Cranbrook this summer, please come and stop by our booth. We are alternating between the Cranbrook Market, and the Baynes Lake market throughout the summer. If you want to know specific dates as to where we are, shoot me an email and I will let you know! jenn@jjscustomcakery.com

Filed Under: Randomness Tagged With: Cranbrook, cranbrook farmers market, cupcakes, farmers market, market

Fortunate Friday

June 17, 2011 by Jenn

This weekend we are making our official public debut in Cranbrook! So fortunate, fortunate, fortunate!

We will be at the Taste of Cranbrook all day Saturday, June 18. Every third weekend in June, our little city of Cranbrook celebrates Sam Steele Days! It’s like a small version of the Calgary Stampede. But, without the chuck wagon races, bull riding, calf roping, horse races, fair rides, and millions of people. Basically, it’s nothing like the Calgary Stampede.

But, Cranbrook’s ole Sam Steele Days, DOES have World Gym’s Strongman competition (shout out to the fellow employees at WG!), fair FOOD (come to our booth!), a PARADE that still throws out candy, a KIDS parade where kids get to dress up themselves and their bikes, a Wiener Dog race (WTF?), and the adult favourite of the events . . . beer gardens!! Many good times have been had at those beer gardens back in the day by this girl . . . can’t recall much of it, but I know it was FUN!

I can’t wait to see the people and see the other vendors on Saturday! Next weekend (June 25 . . . Happy Birthday Bestest) we will be at the first Cranbrook Farmers Market of the 2011 Season! Whoot!

And in other news . . .

I am fortunate to live near to a bird sanctuary called Elizabeth Lake. These are some of the shots that Paul and I took when we were out one evening this week for a walk along the water. I felt like singing “Oh Canada” while we were handing out with these stunning Canadian Geese. Don’t you think the look very regal? I even saw a muskrat! I had no idea what one was . . . it looks like a cross between a wet rat and a beaver.

What are YOU looking at?

Any bird lovers know which kind of bird this one is?

I think I might be slowly starting to enjoy birds . . . they are not off my hated list just yet though. It will take MANY more walks through the sanctuary in order to erase the damage of the chicken coop as a child.

Amanda, Kristy (aka Bestest), Christy, Kristen, Me, Jill

I am also so very fortunate for my girls . . . we missed you Kimmie. Mwah! This was taken at my friend Kristen’s bridal shower last weekend.

Filed Under: Fortunate Fridays Tagged With: Cranbrook, sam steele days

Weekend Wonder

January 17, 2011 by Jenn

What a wonderful weekend it was! Friends, food, laughter, love.

Here in Cranbrook, we have been having crazy weather (yes, I’m onto the weather already in this post). At the beginning of last week, it was -25 C and by the end of the week, it was +6 C! What is going on? The beautiful snow that we got last week is gone . . . melted away to muck and ice. Not nice. Hopefully it straitens itself out soon.

The reason I am talking about the weather, is that even though it is crazy right now, I got in an outside run . . . in January! It was fabulous. . . hard, but great. It is so much different running outside than on the treadmill. It just feels better. Fresh air, sunshine, mud, ice. I went out for about 25 minute run and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I even stopped in at my parents to say a quick hello . . . but really I just needed a break! The sun was out and shining beautifully . . . almost bright enough to disguise the muck and mud.

I love being outfitted in outdoor running gear. I love the layers, I love the gloves and I love that I stay warm the whole time! Sometimes when we’re out cross country skiing I get a little bit cold. I definitely don’t have that problem when I’m running! Sweat, sweat, sweat!

It’s back to the treadmill tomorrow morning! It will be Monday already?

Here are a couple of pictures I took while on the treadmill in the last couple of weeks.

This was the first time I had to enter my NEW age on the treadmill after my birthday this year. It was weird. I don't know why!

This is my 30 minute run last week! I felt victorious and proud that I finally did one for that long this year!

Filed Under: Cardio, Running Tagged With: Cranbrook, running, treadmill

Christmas Cardio

December 27, 2010 by Jenn

No, the words, Christmas and cardio, do NOT go together . . . but neither do Cookies, Cupcakes and Cardio!!! I’m going with it anyway . . . the point is to make them go together.

The gym is closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day! Panic! Seriously, I was worried that I would digress back into my lazy days of the not very distant past . . . ummm, 2 weeks ago.

It was my mission to get up and out for some calorie burning over these two days . . . and that I did!

My cousins were in town to celebrate the holidays with us this year, so Paul and I decided to take them out on some winter Kootenay adventures!

Christmas Day

First up . . . hike up to Big Tree in the Cranbrook Community Forest.

There’s Jeff coming out of the wilderness!

Climbing is cardio!

Ruby, Paul, Jeff and Katrina at Big Tree.

Sure is big!

Paul, Ruby and I at Big Tree.

We decided to continue about 5 minutes further along the trail to Windy Bluff.

Enjoying the view . . . and guided tour from Paul!

Katrina enjoying the snow . . .

. . . and the view.

Boxing Day

We headed out again the next day . . . to enjoy more truly redneck adventures!

“Let’s go shoot guns!”

No, not exactly cardio . . . unless you were in charge of throwing the skeets like I was!

Jeff’s first shot!

Katrina’s first shot!

A great time was had by all . . . especially Jeff who now claims that he is going to get a bunch of different licences so he can shoot things all the time. Oops. Created an obsession.

Filed Under: Cardio Tagged With: Cranbrook, cranbrook community forest

Walking Some More

November 14, 2010 by Jenn

This morning, Lisa, her mom Wendy, myself, Ruby and Angus went out again. It must be dog love…or at least we’re attempting arranged marriage for our dogs.

The route that we chose today was one of those “If I had known that we were going to go this way, I would have pretended to be sick…or washing my hair…or injured” basically, I would have done anything NOT to go if I had known that we were going to take the View Point Trail! The View Point is a lookout in the Cranbrook Community Forest.

Cranbrook Community Forest Map

Normally, I will ride my bike up this trail in the summer when I’m looking for a killer ride. The way up is long and a grind…it takes about an hour and a half to ride up, and you have to be extremely skilled to stay on your bike during the final 100 meters. If you stall…you’re done and have to walk the rest of the way up. I digress….just like this morning…I was doing anything I could to not have to go up the Viewpoint!

As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger”….and that is definitely how this morning was. It was great to get out, successfully get climb up the ViewPoint trail and …. get back down the other side!

Ruby and Angus at the top

Note: Remember to always bring water! Bring water even if you THINK you are only going on a little adventure, because it might turn into a BIG adventure…and you…and your dog…might get thirsty.

Hot, sweaty climb = freezing cold top. That's Cranbrook in the background behind Lisa and I.

And Note AGAIN: Wear layers that BREATHE!!! Oh lord is it uncomfortable when you can feel sweat dripping down your back…remember that you can always take off, but you can’t put on if you didn’t bring it!

Me at the top...FREEZING!...but admiring the view.

Filed Under: Cardio Tagged With: Cranbrook, cranbrook community forest, walking

Midget Dog Party

November 14, 2010 by Jenn

NO, I haven’t been vegging on the couch this weeked, enjoying my FOUR day holiday….I have been busy walking around the area….and, uh, shopping in the States….walking while shopping!! Walking is walking, right???

My friend Lisa is in town for the weekend, she’s staying with her mom who has a little dog Angus, sooo naturally, I wanted to take Ruby and Angus out for a walk…it’s not everyday that Ruby gets to get out with a BOY dog! I love taking Ruby out for a walk…as soon as she see’s that her leash is coming out, she gets so excited! It’s like Christmas for a dog…where will we go, what will we see, what will we smell, what will I get to pee on??? Get that leash on me!!! Christy was set to join us with her little dog, Stitch, as well, and to round out our walking group for the morning, our friend Kelli, who is allergic to the dogs! Of course they wanted to jump all over her the most!! Poor Kelli…..

Up Eager Hill

There is a beautiful short hike in the local Cranbrook area called Eager Hill. It’s a short drive (5 mins) east of town and it can take anywhere from 20 mins to 60 mins to get up the hill. It all depends on how fast or slow you want to go. With these ladies, we didn’t wait around for nothin’ and it took about 25 mins, and when I go up with my dad, it usually takes around 35-40. It’s a popular path in Cranbrook, and you can usually expect to see people out enjoying the mountain air, but not on this morning…it was just us, and our Midget Dog Party!