• 121 Life Goals
    • 1. Read the Bible straight through
    • 8. Swim 1200 m
    • 9. Bike Across Canada
      • Photos (Cycling)
      • Supply List (Cycling)
      • Maps (Cycling)
    • 14. Graduate from College with a B.A. and B.Ed
    • 15. Get a Masters Degree
    • 21. Run a Marathon
    • 26. Get Married and Have Kids
    • 33. Canoe Down the Whole Mackenzie River
      • Photos (Mackenzie)
      • Mackenzie Journal
      • Canoe Trip Supply List
      • Maps of Mackenzie
    • 34. Sheer Sheep
    • 35. Take Cooking Classes
    • 50. Go Skydiving
    • 54. Get my Life Guarding Certification
    • 61. Learn Advanced Calculus & Analytic Geometry
    • 63. Win 25 Freecell Games in a Row
    • 64. Create and Upkeep a Website
    • 65. Learn to Make Ice-Cream
    • 74. Learn to Dive from a Diving Board
    • 79. Join a Peace Organization
    • 83. Go Sailing
    • 85. Go Snowboarding
    • 91. Go Skinny Dipping with my Wife
    • 92. Grow a Beard for One Year
    • 93. Shave Everyday for a Year
    • 94. Own Goats and Milk Them for What They are Worth
    • 102. Memorize a Book of the Bible
    • 108. Learn Spanish
    • 110. Do My Family Tree Back 10 Generations
    • 116. Keep a daily journal for five years
  • Films
    • Strength and Honour: Cycling Canada Coast to Coast (2006)
    • For What it’s Worth, Milk a Goat (2012)
  • Photographs
    • Fall 2017
    • Summer 2017
    • Spring 2017
    • Fall 2016
    • Summer 2016
    • Spring 2016
    • Fall 2015
    • Summer 2015
    • Spring 2015
    • Fall 2014
    • Summer 2014
    • Spring 2014
    • Fall 2013
    • Summer 2013
    • Spring 2013
      • South Africa (March 2013)
      • Malawi (April 2013)
    • Fall 2012
    • Summer 2012
    • Spring 2012
    • Fall 2011
    • Summer 2011
    • Spring 2011
    • Fall 2010
    • Summer 2010
    • Summer 2010
    • Spring 2010
    • Fall 2009
    • Summer 2009
    • Spring 2009
    • Fall 2008
    • Summer 2008
    • Spring 2008
      • Justin’s May 2008 Photos
    • Fall 2007
    • Summer 2007
    • Spring 2007
    • Fall 2006
    • Summer 2006
    • Spring 2006
    • Fall 2005
    • Summer 2005
    • Spring 2005
    • Fall 2004
    • Summer 2004
    • Spring 2004
    • Fall 2003
ZAAKISTAN

Author: admin

Satisfaction

April 25, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Productive days are just so satisfying. Woke up and Baked 4 loaves of BreadCracked a big batch of nuts (so Amber could make granola)Swapped my winter tires out on the carCalled my MomRacked a batch of beer from the primary to a carboyFolded LaundryCleared out a trailer full of pruned branchesCleaned a batch of records … [Read more…]

Posted in: Beer, Living on the Land Tagged: Living on the Land

Farewell Calgary – Part 2

January 14, 2026 by admin 3 Comments

I’ve remarked many times, I can’t call myself an Albertan, but I happily call myself a Calgarian. You can read Part 1 here. Children’s Hometown When we had children, Amber and I had the strong urge to nest: settle into a community and provide a warm environment for our little hatchlings. Blaise turned 3 a … [Read more…]

Posted in: Calgary, Education, Family, Fatherhood, Flashback, Politics

The Birds of My Neighbourhood (part 1)

January 6, 2026 by admin 1 Comment

Banking photos of new birds so that I can report 10 at a time. Common Redpoll Blue Jay Spotted Sandpiper Bald Eagle Great Blue Heron American Robin Black-Bellied Plover (juvenile) Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Evening Grosbeak Semipalmated Plover

Posted in: BIrds, Living on the Land, Maritimes, Nature

A Wide Ring in the Tree or Recap of The Year of the Snake

December 31, 2025 by admin 4 Comments

1 sec/day 2025 There have been other big years in my life, but all others pale in comparison to this year. I am more myself than I have been since maybe 1983. 2026 feels like it will be a rebuilding year and I’m ready for that.

Posted in: Flashback, ZR

Lombardy / Emilia-Romagna / Liguria / Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur / Piemonte

December 27, 2025 by admin 1 Comment

A 25th anniversary for being married together is worth celebrating! Our planned trip to Europe was postponed prior to my father’s passing and our move to the east coast. When we started planning our trip over a year ago, a summer in Europe became less appealing: hot, expensive and crowded. As teachers though, we are … [Read more…]

Posted in: Art, Beer, Family, Fatherhood, Film, Food, Math, Music, Nature, Sports, Travel Tagged: Cars, Cinema, Egypt, France, Italy, Markets, Marriage, Mediterranean, Radiohead, Soccer, Travel, wine

Farewell Calgary (part 1)

December 20, 2025 by admin 3 Comments

Losing my father earlier this year has brought grief into my life. I discussed the complexity of this in an earlier post. There is also a grief that has been welling up in me since we decided to move across the continent. As I say goodbye to my dear home and city, this is a … [Read more…]

Posted in: Beer, Calgary, Christianity, Cohousing, Family, Film, Music, Uncategorized Tagged: Calgary, Canadiana, Christianity, Farewell

I was blind, but now I see (or Amazing Grace)

December 16, 2025 by admin 2 Comments

I had a profoundly moving experience this past weekend at church. On my second visit to the Moncton Central United Church in as many months back in September, I noticed a Union Jack hanging on the right wall of the sanctuary. This disappointed me as I had seen one prominently displayed at the Shediac United … [Read more…]

Posted in: Canadiana, Christianity, Maritimes Tagged: Canadiana, Christianity

Nuts

August 31, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Around 20 years ago, my father began planting nut trees. He knew that it would take more than a decade (sometimes two) before they would begin producing fruit. He planted a row of 4 and then added more over the years. Now there are about a dozen of them. The two largest ones are gorgeous, … [Read more…]

Posted in: Family, Food, Nature, ZR Tagged: Living on the Land, Orchard, Papa, Patience

Papa

August 23, 2025 by admin 4 Comments

Today my father would have turned 75. I have been working through a kaleidoscope of grief for the past 7 months – brief bright pangs of loss, doubt, anger, gratefulness and laughter. This is the last photo I have of him and me. We had inadvertently worn the same outfit. Amber thought it was pretty … [Read more…]

Posted in: Family, Fatherhood, Living on the Land, ZR Tagged: Birthdays, Grief, Living on the Land, Papa

Cycling the Entire New Brunswick East Coast

July 12, 2024 by admin Leave a Comment

***Photos by Amber Robichaud, Tey Steenbergen, Zaak Robichaud*** Another trek for the books is complete: Cycle the entire east coast of New Brunswick. I did this with my long time friend, Tey and Amber supporting us from the comfort of cafes, parks, info centres, and thrift stores. She definitely earned the leisurely week after a … [Read more…]

Posted in: Canadiana, Family, Nature, Sports, Travel, ZR
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Recent Posts

  • Satisfaction
  • Farewell Calgary – Part 2
  • The Birds of My Neighbourhood (part 1)
  • A Wide Ring in the Tree or Recap of The Year of the Snake
  • Lombardy / Emilia-Romagna / Liguria / Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur / Piemonte

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  • Debby Allan on Farewell Calgary – Part 2
  • admin on Farewell Calgary – Part 2
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  • Amber on The Birds of My Neighbourhood (part 1)

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