“You live WHERE?”
It’s the question I get from just about everybody when I tell them I’ve moved to Browning (a tiny little Indian reservation on the Canadian border). My parents were worried, my friends were dumbfounded, and the border guards still can’t seem to figure it out. Despite the many concerns, I have been healthy and happy and safe (minus the run-in with a thieving stray pug…story to follow at a later time).
I had been enjoying the mountains and being so close to two gorgeous national parks for 2 months before I finally convinced my family to come visit. I was delighted to show them around my new home. And hopefully the pictures will convince some more of you to pay a visit!
We started the trip off with a little hike up to Forum Lake in the incredible Waterton Lakes National Park. It was one neither Max nor I had done before and we didn’t quite realize the intensity before it was too late. But we all made it with no casualties other than tired, aching bones. And then we enjoyed victory wieners at Wieners of Waterton! Hands down best restaurant in the park. Before heading home for the night we ran over to Big Scoop (a little ice cream shop in Waterton) to look for Tiger ice cream. You see, I had been bragging and bragging to my sisters for 2 years that I had found the best ice cream in the world up in Canada and they were so excited to finally partake. No luck. For some reason, they had taken it off their menu! I couldn’t have been more disappointed. If you like black licorice, you would love tiger ice cream. It is a creamy orange ice cream with strips of black licorice running through it (like a tiger’s tail…but don’t be confused and call it “tiger tail ice cream” like Shelly does or you will be mocked-fair warning).
It’s the question I get from just about everybody when I tell them I’ve moved to Browning (a tiny little Indian reservation on the Canadian border). My parents were worried, my friends were dumbfounded, and the border guards still can’t seem to figure it out. Despite the many concerns, I have been healthy and happy and safe (minus the run-in with a thieving stray pug…story to follow at a later time).
I had been enjoying the mountains and being so close to two gorgeous national parks for 2 months before I finally convinced my family to come visit. I was delighted to show them around my new home. And hopefully the pictures will convince some more of you to pay a visit!
We started the trip off with a little hike up to Forum Lake in the incredible Waterton Lakes National Park. It was one neither Max nor I had done before and we didn’t quite realize the intensity before it was too late. But we all made it with no casualties other than tired, aching bones. And then we enjoyed victory wieners at Wieners of Waterton! Hands down best restaurant in the park. Before heading home for the night we ran over to Big Scoop (a little ice cream shop in Waterton) to look for Tiger ice cream. You see, I had been bragging and bragging to my sisters for 2 years that I had found the best ice cream in the world up in Canada and they were so excited to finally partake. No luck. For some reason, they had taken it off their menu! I couldn’t have been more disappointed. If you like black licorice, you would love tiger ice cream. It is a creamy orange ice cream with strips of black licorice running through it (like a tiger’s tail…but don’t be confused and call it “tiger tail ice cream” like Shelly does or you will be mocked-fair warning).
The next day we spent relaxing and exploring the Waterton townsite as well as the lakes with a little boat tour provided by our captains, Lorin and Wendy.
The last day we spent out on the lakes once again, but this time in Glacier National Park. We headed up to Many Glacier (on the East side of the park), with a picnic in tow and ready to catch lots of fishies. We got the boats in the water and to our delight, Wendy pulled out a carton of none other than Tiger ice cream! She is seriously the best. And no one was disappointed.
It was another lovely afternoon and we spent it (fruitlessly) fishing, chatting, and eating delicious food. The parents took the rowboat, Max and I and Shelly took the canoe, and Hannah proved her quick skills in learning how to kayak.
Max had just discovered that if he takes several continuous candid pictures of me that eventually I will get upset and then he can get really candid pictures of me. He attempted to get some of these “real” photos that afternoon, but mostly he just got pictures of me yelling at him to stop taking pictures and start helping me row. That’s as real as it gets.
It was so nice to have my family here and with the help of Lorin and Wendy I think we were able to show them what living up north is all about. It’s about really connecting with nature and appreciating the beauties that the Lord has blessed us with. It’s about spending time with family and friends in a way that is not possible over movies. It’s about pushing yourself to the limits to take in the views-and enjoying a scoop or two of tiger ice cream when you get home :)
