Category Archives: Lifestyle

Berry sweet

Another wonderful aspect of living in Vancouver is the abundance of fresh, local berries here in summer.

Lately I have been taking great pleasure in buying blueberries by the scoop at the local grocers for $1.99lb. I have been buying more than I can eat but I just can’t help being a little greedy as I never get to buy berries in bulk like this back home in Australia.

This week we have discovered all of the blackberry bushes growing along the road, around parkland and the school oval where we go jogging. I have even found blackberries growing down the laneway that runs behind our apartment. Happy days! I can’t believe I hadn’t noticed the bushes before but I suspect that the berries have only just popped up as the weather has started to improve here. A lot of the berries are still green, but they are quickly ripening every day. When we found the first patch of blackberries, I was sure that someone was going to come along and pick them all before we would be back to enjoy some. Now that I’ve realised they are everywhere, I can relax as there are enough to go around for everyone wanting to enjoy a few while out and about.

Blackberries remind me of my childhood; my sister and I would dress in our long sleeve shirts and take buckets down to the paddock to pick the berries when they were in season. Mum would make all sorts of yummy treats with these berries – from jam and pies to ice-cream.

Blackberries were and still are my all time favourite berry so you can imagine the joy I am having at the moment walking down the street and being able to now stop and pick a couple to eat whenever I want!

Discovering something new, particularly something so simple that is right in front of you, is always a pleasure. It reminds me to keep my eyes, heart and mind open to receiving the next surprise from the universe!

So many berries to enjoy for breakfast and as a snack!

Grounds for Coffee…and cake!

Putting one cafe’s claim to fame to the test

This sign enticed me into the café

Strolling down Commercial Drive in East Van recently, I was looking for a cool place to park myself with a coffee and do some writing when I came across this sign on the sidewalk. I felt a pull to go in but ignored it (I think I was trying to be healthy) and continued walking up and down the length of Commercial Drive in search of my café for the day. After nearly an hour of walking, I ended back up at the sign and decided to go in and taste these cinnamon buns.

I’m glad I did. I’m not a cinnamon bun connoisseur by any means, in fact I can’t remember the last time I had one, but the ones at Grounds for Coffee are delicious! Made fresh on the premises, I ordered one with cream cheese icing along with a coffee and devoured the delicious treat in minutes…warm, soft, fresh and naughty – for $4.05, it was the perfect afternoon delight.

Americano and cinnamon bun with cream cheese icing

The coffee was also excellent and my senses appreciated the simple ambience and cinnamon-infused aroma of the café. With free Wi-Fi, I was able to sit down, relax and enjoy an hour to myself writing before heading to pick up my daughter.

I highly recommend this place and can’t stop thinking about that bun; I suspect I will be back here again for another one before too long.

https://groundsforcoffee.ca