Tara and Thyme

Pre-Conceived

2011-10-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Day Dreamer? Romantic? Control Freak?

Call it what you want, but I am the master of thinking about things before they happen and then feeling a sense of frustration? loss? sadness? when they do not pan out the way my mind had shaped them.
Sometimes I think the dream and anticipation of something is better then the reality as it has all the benefits of being anything you can imagine, without the truth of what it really is.

I have been doing this a lot lately and while the dreaming party is well, pretty dreamy - the reality part has me feeling kind of blue.

Would seem that just letting reality be real and keeping dreaming for bedtime might be a routine I should practice more.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Fall Flowers

2011-10-17T07:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend I got the chance to catch up with Mr. S as he lay in the lounge of their tour bus surrounding by their team/band mates and someone asked - is it fall at home? It hit me that Mr. S has been on the road for pretty much all of fall - from before it started to now, when the crisp mornings are showing signs that the frost is coming. He has missed the beautiful fall colours, those perfect days when there is a light chill in the air and the golden fall sun beams down and the amazing and cozy rainy days that makes staying snuggled up inside the perfect things to do.

So this week I wanted to post some of my photos from fall so that Mr. S and anyone else who is missing out can enjoy them.

First up are our fall flowers from Thanksgiving!
The local grocery store by the cottage has a pretty slim selection of flowers, so putting arrangements together for our celebrations can be a little tricky. But this year the options were perfect and I was able to pick up enough beautiful golden mums, cabbages and purples carnations for four arrangements and all for 20 bucks! A few weeks before for a family birthday party, Papa J has made me simple wood vases out of leftover timber and together, which worked perfectly for our thanksgiving table.

I just love these colours and textures together, and accented by a candle lit thanksgiving dinner, the cottage steamed up by delicious food and family packed all around, they could not have been more beautiful.

Happy, Sleepy, Friday

2011-10-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

By the time I crawled into bed last night I was so tired it hurt.
I was almost so tired that I couldn't sleep, but then as I started to fret about the injustice of my predicament I must have bored myself to sleep because my next moments wakefulness was to my alarm this morning.
Right now I feel like I can't bank enough hours of shut eye and going to bed late and getting up early is doing nothing to help that. Tonight won't be much of an improvement as I will be first stuffing myself with a belated Thanksgiving dinner and then playing a midnight curling match! Post game beers (which is really the only reason anyone is playing anyway) and I won't be hitting my pillow until the wee hours, only to wake again for an early am breakfast with a loved one.

But then the afternoon and evening are mine and I plan and spending as much of that time working in bed, hopefully with the cats snuggled close and a movie playing in the background ideally all accompanied by the soundtrack of rain falling outside.

So, happy weekend to you. I hope it is perfect and cozy.

Feathered Finds

2011-10-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

As a kid, Thanksgiving weekend at the cottage was always prime time to get "show and tell" ( I think some crazy schools call it share and care, or look at me brag or something along those lines) objects that you thought would blow away your friends (until you arrived at school to find that everyone had brought in a piece of birch bark) and enough nature supplies to get you through the fall season of crafting.

And as we get older, I find that bringing in a perfect yellow leaf or bull rush to my colleagues at work just doesn't have the same sense of accomplishment. Luckily my family is full of budding teachers and child care providers, so we still get to enjoy the hunt and know that some little kids are going to get to enjoy our finds.

This thanksgiving weekend we struck gold in the nature departure, which made me wish my kindergarten self could go back and show those kids with their birch bark my amazing feather and bird's nest. I hope that the delicacy of a birds nest never looses it wow as you look at each of the tiny strands wound together to create a home safe enough to cradle tiny eggs and then squawking babies. The only downer - it made me miss Mr. S terribly - he loves this stuff and I wish he could have seen it. Luckily for him, these items now sit proudly on the nature table at my Aunt's day care, so if he doesn't mind fighting off a million toddlers and exposing himself to the plethora of germs they love to share, he can still enjoy them when he gets home!

Fall Colours

2011-10-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

For those of us here in Ontario, the Thanksgiving weekend could not have been more beautiful.
The sun was shining bright and the days rose to temperatures reminiscent of the summer. I even managed to go for a very quick dip in the lake (literally in, dunk head, get the heck out!)
Thanksgiving weekend conversation with the family revolves around food (when it will be ready, hoping it is delicious, how delicious it was, when do we eat again, repeat) around the weather and the fall colours as the trees get ready for winter. This year we had lots to talk about as the trees that blanket our cottage and line the drive up north were truly stunning.
One of the trees that greets us as we exit the back of the cottage is a tall and skinny maple that always boasts the most beautiful yellow and this year was no exception. As a child i use to pick a leaf from the tree each year excited to share it back at school and each year it would wilt and brown before I even had the chance to get it back to our home in the city - a good lesson learned that this beauty, like so many things, are best enjoyed from a far, untouched and unaltered.

And speaking of colour, I spent my holiday Monday working all sorts of new colours into a certain part of our home. But since Mr. S reads this blog (at least he says he does) and I want this one to be a big surprise, I am going to save the reveal until he gets home in two weeks!

I hope you had a beautiful and colourful weekend.

Happy Long Weekend

2011-10-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

I'll take two of what she's having. Sweet relaxation.

Happy Friday!
This has been quite possibly one of the longest weeks ever - Monday's events seem impossible to have been only four days ago. I have already logged them in a place many months back - how does that happen?
I must say I have a very close eye on my clock, waiting for the five and two zeros to line up so that I can hit the road. First a stop at my parents so I can pile into the car and try to fight for space on the backseat with our family dog, who my parents love much more and support her stance on taking up three seats.
We will then make the drive up north with 50% of other city dwellers breaking free into cottage country to enjoy one last weekend before the door is locked and furniture tucked in for their winter of hibernation.
I must admit that while this hot sunny weather we are having has many people singing the praises of mother nature, I MUCH prefer a cold, dreary, wet thanksgiving where all you can do is snuggle by the fire, bake, eat and take quick trips outside to gather more wood.
I am kicking it back to the city a day early to hopefully skip the crazy traffic that comes at the end of a long weekend, but also so that I can enjoy my home. Snuggle with my cats and start some projects around the house!

So Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Eat lots and if beautiful hot sunny days are your thing, enjoy!

The View from our kitchen Window

2011-10-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

The view from our kitchen window goes right into our backyard. Depending on the season it extends all the way over a parking lot, beyond the tracks and into a wall of apartment buildings. And during the summer it stops at the tall trees in bloom and pack of squirrels grasping at the black berries our tree bears.
We have a very "urban" backyard - small, not at all private and neighbor to the subway tracks. But it is ours and we love it and from the moment we first saw it, before the home was ours, I started dreaming about how to transform it.
We were handed a blank slate, grass and no storage, no where to hide the garbage bins or protect our bikes. So VERY lucky for me, a birthday gift from Papa J was a personally designed and built shed. A few days off of work (and many more days invested by my father) and Papa J and I had it proudly standing. To accent it, some light landscaping; a few trees to look at as we stared out the window. Then the winter came, the snow fell and we put our backyard to rest for the season.

And then when spring warmed and wakened us up, phase two of the changes began.
A vegetable garden, more landscaping, new siding on the house, fresh patio stones and a beautiful pergola designed by Papa J and Mr. S. Our little postage stamp of grass has turned into a really cute extension of our home and I place I have enjoyed many evenings reading and hoping not to be knocked on the head by the ever falling berries.

Sadly, it seems like an entire colony of potato bugs and their extended family also really love our new backyard and have moved in and are slowly devouring every leaf in site. The only natural solutions I have read so far are to physically pick out each bug (totally awesome if you have 6 months to dedicate to this!), so if anyone has potato bug advice I am all ears!

Farewell Summer

2011-10-04T06:22:00.000-07:00

Fall has officially arrived here in Toronto and I am loving every minute of it. Cold cozy nights perfect for sleeping and cool rainy days that make it ok to sit inside at my desk all day.

That said, this summer was a wonderful one that is sad to bid farewell to. This Summer celebrated one year of happy home ownership, a trip out east, and many wonderful cottage weekends that were schedule around eating, more eating and a quick dip in the lake and some more eating. Last night I came across these two photos from the cottage - the first a glass ready for a crisp mint julep to be poured and enjoyed and the second, a birthday lunch desert of angel food cake, local strawberries and wild blueberries all tucked onto a layer of cream cheese filling and glazed with current jelly.

As we move onto a season (and Thanksgiving weekend) of pies, apple desserts and warm cozy foods, I wanted to enjoy one last look at these summer treats.

Farewell Summer and Hello Fall.

Our Latest Addition

2011-09-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

While I was on my blogging break, we brought home a new addition to our family - the very sweet Sophie!

Sophie actually came into our lives after I became focused on getting a really old dog - someone in their early teens (ie. senior human years) that needed a nice home to enjoy their final days outside of the Humane Society. An older dog seemed like a good fit for our busy lives and the perfect company for my solo days at home. Our new home is close to a beautiful big park, perfect for walks and plays and my office is dog friendly. All great, right? not quite.

Mr. S helped me see the reality of bringing a dog into our lives and unfortunately, now is just not the right time. So, we agreed that another cat, if we found the perfect one to compliment Maude's "distinct" tastes, was the way to go.

When we met Sophie for the first time at the Humane Society it was pretty much love at first play. She was snuggly, playful and seemed to get along with all of the other cats she interacted with. Considering she spent the first 6 months of her life on the streets in downtown Toronto, she is amazingly well adjusted, sweet and loving of everything and everyone. She was ours and we brought her home to meet Maude.

It would seem that Maude does not quite see all of Sophie's amazing qualities, and as a result, we are still working through some territorial issues with her. That said, we have graduated to them being able to eat treats beside eachother (all battles can be put aside for the right combination of dried liver and tuna...) and even the occasional family hangout on the couch.

Despite the cat sibling issues we are working through, having Sophie in the house has added a whole lot of love and snuggling into our lives. She is happiest perched on your should or snuggled under your neck (or on your face if she can swing it), gives you kisses when you come home (I can hear the non-cat people gagging right now...) and follows you through each step of your day adding her sweet chirping commentary and inquisitive paws as you go.

And she keeps us up to date on all the latest headlines, which is pretty awesome.

Hello Again. And a list of good byes.

2011-09-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Again. You still out there?

The break from blogging was just what I needed, but now I am itching to get going again and hope that you still have an appetite to read it. Thanks for being so patient with me.

While this post is a Hello, it comes on a day of good byes. ugh.

Mr. S is kicking ass all over Europe and the states for the next two and a half months and I am going to miss him like crazy. I kissed him good bye at the subway entrance and right now the time until we smooch again feels like forever. That said, I couldn't be happier for him that the thing he loves has him touring the world with his best friends to boot! And, it gives me some time to get grounded, re-focus on a few things and (dare I say it...) get started on Christmas gifts.

And if Mr. S leaving was not enough, my sweet best S is moving to Vancouver (her flights departs less then an hour after Mr. S's) and I am not sure what I will do without her. S is one of those ladies who is up for anything, offers the perfect advice and is always calm and rational (two qualities I seriously lack). She is the best kind of friend you can ask for and I am going to miss her so much. That said, she has already started an amazing life for herself our west (and she doesn't even live there yet!) and I am so excited and proud of her for making the move.

Just a few days we said Sayonara to summer (which is cool because Fall rules, but man what a great summer it was) and Sibling J is hitting the road shortly, closing off a whole list of good byes! No one else leave please - ok? Or at least not until one of these things returns. Deal? Awesome.

And then tomorrow we will be saying good bye in a more final way to my lifelong neighbor and friend (showing all of us a thing or two about life, thriving until the age of 98!) who passed away this summer. Sibling J and I are doing the eulogy and right now I feel like I have too many memories and thoughts to put down into only a few words. She was someone I experienced life with (She was there to greet me the day I came home from the hospital) so telling stories about something that seems so second nature is not coming easily. I know the words will come and have my pen ready to record them as soon as they do. And if my words don't quite capture all the amazing that she was, I will do my best to live each day for the next forever trying to do that.

Aside from Today's good byes, the summer was a truly amazing one that had us traveling to the east coast of Canada, toasting the marriage of friends, enjoying the cottage and loving our home (and of course, constantly renovating it). Months of backlog and stories to share and hopefully many inspiring days ahead. I am so happy to be back.

xo Laurs

Pause

2011-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

I am officially pushing the "pause" button on this little blog.
The guilt of not keeping up with it over the last few weeks is too much and so I am going to take a quick, but official break. A few things for me to focus on and take care of - all exciting, but massively time consuming. And once completed I can't wait to press play and share my experiences with all of you.

xoxoxo L.

My Ma & Pa

2011-02-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

Today my mother signed an email "Ma, married for 37 years to Pops "
How cute is that? Just the ray of sunshine anyone needs on these final days of winter.

LOVE

2011-02-14T12:48:00.000-08:00

Sweet Miss Emma from our photo shoot last weekend

Happy Valentines Day my Loves!

I hope your day is full of hugs and kisses from loved ones. Our day has been amazing so far - sweet messages, champagne at work and a night of surprises ahead.

Muah!

Coffee and Tea

2011-01-31T04:00:00.000-08:00

A few moments from a sunny Sunday morning with the paper and some warm drinks.
I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

L.

Love

2011-01-29T15:58:00.000-08:00

Our little family has been put through the wringer on a few different levels over the last week (reason for my blogging absence), but amongst all the challenge we have only found a greater love for eachother.

Tough times are inevitable, but the way they are dealt is massively variable. And I share a life with a man who has experienced them with the absolute most integrity & grace for which I could not be more in love with him.

How wonderful is that? sigh.

Flower Friday

2011-01-21T06:30:00.000-08:00

A few months ago our good friends K&J tied the knot in a beautiful, emotional and partied filled evening. Shortly after their engagement when the party plans were kicking into high gear, K and I were chatting about wedding costs and how shocking some of the flower quotes were that she had received.

**Interlude**

I will pause here as I can sense a world of professional florist rolling their eyes, clenching their fists and wanting to bury every amateaur " we can do it ourselves" wannabe wedding flower designers (aka me!). So let me just say, your flowers are probably way better then mine and I am sure your prices are fair for what you do - you have my total admiration. In this case DIY was the way to go and it was the perfect celebration of my friend's special day

****

SO...

As you have now guessed I confidently stated to K that this was something we could tackle, and just like that I got to play florist. Aside from a little stress because I wanted these to be good and not just appreciated because they were homemade ("oh how sweet - she did it herself..."), the process was really smooth and we really had a blast doing it!

Thank you K&J for letting me act out one of my life dreams and be a part of your special day.

Ps. The photos are all done by Darryl and Vicky photography - really sweet people who take really sweet photos!

a sleeping dog

2011-01-20T07:59:00.000-08:00

As a little gift for your patience while I spruce things up around here, a photo of a sleeping dog. Taken this weekend at the cottage and makes me desperately want to run back and snuggle with him (or get a really old dog...more on that later).

xo. L

I'm at it again.

2011-01-19T17:30:00.000-08:00

Here we all go again; breaking "blogging rules" each second. I am once again changing the look of my little blog - this time with the intention for keeps.

Thanks for sticking with me through it.
xo L.

The Good Ol'Hockey Game

2011-01-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

What would be a Canadian cottage winter weekend be without hockey on a frozen lake?

A case of beer chilling in a snow bank set on the edge of the perfect pond hockey rink; piles of cleared away snow acting as the boards and shovels subbing in as goalies. The only thing missing was the sound of skate blades carving away, but those would have been drowned out by the cheering, slapping of hockey sticks together and on top of it all, the deafening blanket of snowy silence.

And after hours of play and layers shed, that distinct hockey smell steaming from gloves we all headed inside for a feast of fresh salads and sandwiches dipped into homemade soup and an afternoon of board games and warming ourselves by the fire.

A perfect winter weekend

2011-01-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

This weekend was spent with 18 friends, new and old, at my very good friend S's stunning family cottage. What a perfect winter weekend it was.
Hockey on a frozen lake - shovels for goalie sticks and layers peeled away as a good ol'Canadian hockey sweat began to form. Beers chilling in the snow beside the rink.
Food and more food as each person took turns feeding the others - crowded around the counter we indulged until perfectly stuffed full.
An afternoon of tea, knitting, reading and cozy naps on eachother's shoulders in front of a roaring fire and a soundly sleeping, snoring dog.
A 20ft. snow fort built on the foundation of a frozen lake to the soundtrack of old country music and the light of a candle.
18 people tucked around a single table, birch trees and ski polls our centerpiece and a steamy lasagna, fresh salad and overflowing glasses our meal.

So many photos to share, so I will do my best to post them all week.
Happy Monday!

Gear

2011-01-07T08:20:00.001-08:00

Over the last few months I have been taking my love of photography a titch bit further, and by request, having been shooting family, friends and most recently recording sessions!

The recording sessions are such a fun and overwhelmingly creative time as you are surrounded by people singing, playing, and working with sounds - all while they are kind enough to let me nerd out on taking photos and absorb as much of the amazing energy as possible. Another perk is that the recording studios and spaces are filled with so much beautiful gear (mics, knobs, buttons, strings, keys, lights), allowing for endless photo opportunities and inspiration.

My approach to date at these sessions has been to capture the mood and process of the recording and not so much posed, static images and so far, I would say I am happy with about a third of the shots I have come out with. So much to learn and experiment with and I am loving every minute of it and am so appreciative of the opportunities that have been offered to me!

Maude's Christmas Gift - Loyal Luxe

2011-01-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

At some point over the last 4 years Mr. S and I officially became cat people. I think Mr. S may have already been an official cat person before I met him, but our adoption of Maude sealed the deal. We are not just people who love their cat, but people who love and talk about and take photos of and fuss over their cat.
I would say it is something that crept up on us slowly until one night I realized that we had enjoyed an entire evening with our good friends speaking about our cats - how they jump, sleep, purr, eat, are moody - the usual.

(Note: I REALLY hope this is no indication of what kind of parent I will be to a human child. For some reason I have tons of patience for conversation about people's animals and not as much for conversation about people's babies... with the exception of a few...)

And being the good cat person that I now am, shopping for Maude during the holidays is as much a priority as the other loved ones in my life and this year's gift to her was a no brainier. I can't remember exactly where I came across Loyal Luxe, but one visit to their adorable website stocked full of Canadiana inspired homes and accessories for your cats and dogs had me ordering items for all of friends furry best friends.

We gifted Maude her new "Canadian Cabin for Fully Little Critters" and it was love at first site. She literally took one look at it and climbed right in. I have no idea what the love affair between cats and cardboard is, but man oh man does Maude love her new cabin.

Ps. The people at Loyal Luxe are so wonderful and made sure that Maude's gift arrived in time for Christmas even though I ordered it way too late! Thank you again Loyal Luxe folks!

Welcome 2011

2011-01-03T18:46:00.001-08:00

If I could hold 2010 in the palm of my hand forever and ever, I think I would. Freeze it in time and sneak peeks at it through my fingers as I navigate the New Year of 2011 - catching little glimpses of the overwhelming happiness that it brought.

Just hours before we headed out to our New Year celebrations, I had a nostalgic sadness about seeing this year go. Nothing needs to top or compare to my 2010, it has been its own unique and most amazing set of days. It brought me the joy of one of my biggest life goals (our own home!), let me explore the world (here, here and here), experience the amazing celebration of our country and the world AND Mr. S at the 2010 Olympic Games, and be so fortunate to be surrounded by amazing loved ones who are achieving such greatness in their lives!

Thank you for following along and being such beautiful supporters of our journey this 2010!

Here's to 2011 - a year I can just feel will be packed full of joy, good health and happiness for all.

Free Range Crayons - soy wax, natural dye

2010-12-29T15:13:00.000-08:00

Mr. S and I are quickly becoming the only couple in his amazing circle of friends that have not yet embarked on parenthood. And the best part is that all of these friends are some of the best parents I have ever seen, which lays an amazing foundation of support should we ever decide to take the plunge into babies!
These friends are not only loving and lovely, but have a conscientious eye out for the well being of the environment and their babes. As a result, they challenge me in the best way possible to think of gifts that meet the needs of all interests involved. This year I was so excited about my idea to make soy based crayons tinted with all natural dyes. And to make it even more fun and fit the needs of little hands just learning to draw, I decided to make them egg shaped and continue the theme right into the packaging!

Our kitchen was transformed into an egg making factoring for a few days straight (wax, dye and egg cartons all over the place), but I think the result was well worth the work! And so far the little recipients seem quite egg-cited! wink! wink!

I also made a few extras so please leave a comment if you are interested!

A merry little christmas...

2010-12-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2010-12-25T04:19:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
However you celebrate, I hope you are surrounded by the magic of the season and love of friends and family.

Hugs and kisses,
Lauren

Last Minute Christmas Gift - DIY

2010-12-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Eve!
For those of you who need a quick and easy last minute gift, I thought I would post this little DIY for Snowflake birdseed cookies. Mr. S's family are big time bird lovers, so we whipped up these sweet little snowflakes for all the feathered friends in their lives.

Wild Bird Seed Cookies

(Makes approximately 2-3 dozen)

2 1/4 cups flour (wheat)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup honey
2/3 cup suet or lard
2 egg yolks
2/3 cup wild bird seed mix
2 egg whites

Instructions

Mix flour and baking powder together. Cut the suet or lard into the flour mixture until crumbly. Separate yolks from whites and set whites aside. Mix the honey with yolks then into the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Add the wild seed mix and kneed until smooth.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour or overnight.

On floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4" thickness. Cut out cookies with cookie cutters - we used Snowflakes!

Arrange cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and brush each cookie lightly with slightly beaten egg whites. Press more bird seed into the surface of each cookie. Cut a small hole into each cookie for hanging.

Bake 325° 12 - 15 minutes or until cookies harden. Cool and hang with yarn or wire.

These cookies actually smelled so good baking that I caught myself a few times almost taking a bite!

Ps. I was going to post my DIY for the children's gifts I made this year, but realized that some of the mom's read this and I don't want to blow the surprise - so I will post those photos as soon as Christmas has passed!

A Christmas first...

2010-12-22T15:28:00.000-08:00

I really don't know how it happened.

I turned around and there they were.
A Christmas First!
I may actually go to bed before 3am on Christmas eve.

My gifts are wrapped.

All (except for a minor few) are tucked away in their wrapping, just waiting to be opened by my loved ones. And the totally crazy part, I have never enjoyed the process more.

This year I simplified and refined what I was gifting and it has made the whole season such a joy.
I may complicate my life slightly and make a little homemade something for Mr. S and Sibling J, but even those would only add to my excitement for Christmas morning as I know how two whole days to get them completed!

So in the spirit of giving, I hereby volunteer my time to help you with your wrapping and last minute gifts! Just let me know how I can help and I am there!

Ps. Tomorrow I am going to reveal the gift I have created for all the sweet babes in our life and I am so excited about it!
Here is a little preview:

Cousins Christmas Song

2010-12-21T07:53:00.001-08:00

If you are lucky, you will never see this cd in a record store much less have your ears exposed to the song that is on it.

My family however are not so lucky as the cousins (and their loved ones) from my Ma's side decided to make use of our new basement recording studio and record a single to give to the family for Christmas!

We built up our courage to hit the mics with a little homemade pizza and a little too much red wine, and then let all our inhibitions go as we rocked out a slightly (VERY) off key, but pretty amazing version of jingle bells. My cousin who said at the end of the night "this is the best thing she has ever done....really!" wanted to also throw in a Mariah Carey esq. solo, which stills makes me laugh till I cry when I hear it. Only she can rhyme a christmas wish list of lulu lemons, Rebok EasyTones and an iPod touch and somehow not drop a beat (staying in tune is however another story..)

I put together a photo album of the night to go with the CD and we can't wait to give it to the family - poor things, they have no idea what is going to hit them.

DIY - Holiday Wood Pendants!

2010-12-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

Bringing a little joy to our new home! *

5 days people!! We are 5 days from Christmas Eve, which means things have kicked into high gear around our house in hopes of not being up all night finishing Christmas gifts**.

And to keep you all in the holiday spirit while you rush to meet your festive deadlines, I wanted to post my little DIY for a Holiday Wood Pendant banner I made for our house this year.
The home we bought is just shy of 100 years old and has a lot of dark wood accents that we really adore. So despite my recent interest in more modern lines and reflective tones, I couldn't fight the obvious pull to decorate our home more traditionally. So to match the theme and give a holla out to Mr. S's french roots, I made a Joyeux Noel banner for our home - easy (it took less then an hour to pull together) and a really sweet way to celebrate the season.

* Let's just clear the air right now, the photos in this post kind of stink - I was shooting in different lights and rushing to get this done. My apologies!

** This is absolutely going to happen to matter how hard I work this week! It is just who I am and I need to accept it.

Holiday Wood Pendants:

Step 1: Have someone who is capable with a saw (for me it was my Pa!) to cut you sweet little triangle, pendant shapes. Mine are approximately 4 inches.

Step 2: Take some seriously sticky tape (Mr. S's dad brought this stuff over one day and it will literally take the skin off your fingers!) and cover an area in the center making sure to stick it down as best as possible, especially around the edges.

Step 3: Draw on your desired letter or shape and cut away the excess tape

Step 4: With a cloth and your choice of stain (I used an oil based stain with no sheen) carefully cover you pendant, applying the stain directly over your taped on letter.

Step 5: Remove the tape and Voila! You have yourself a rustic and festive pendant.

To hang ours I put little eye hooks in the top of each and strung them alongside a garland. They are fairly heavy being wood and all, so make sure to use some strong string or wire.

Joyeux Noel!

Bright Lights

2010-12-18T13:35:00.001-08:00

Pretty much a photo representation of how Las Vegas makes me feel.

Again, I am here to apologize. Another blogger absence and I am sorry.
The good news about this absence is that I have pretty much been on assignment gathering great stuff to share with all of you here.
First stop - VEGAS! My yearly trip for work and to be honest one that I have a hard time getting excited about. For me, two days in Vegas is more then enough, so to spend 5 days there every year makes me stomach turn just a titch. However, this year Mr. S got to come so we hit the road both excited to have the time together cruising along the strip and relaxing at the hotel (oh ya - and working!).
Our first day there was pretty blissful as we sipped our drinks and giggled over the lack of rules about drinking in public, taking in all the flashing lights, trying our hand at the slots (penny slots only) and marveling at the overdone grandeur that is Las Vegas. Our goal was to see what the night life had to offer, but we found ourselves happily tucked into bed at 8pm the first night!

Luckily we have some great friends who really love Vegas and gave us a list of must see sites. Top of their list - Big Elvis! Argued by many to be one of the best Elvis impersonators, Big Elvis put on an amazing show and really made us feel like we were experience a true Las Vegas gem. And according to the cowboy I was sitting beside (did I mention it was rodeo week in Vegas? - cowboys EVERYWHERE), Big Elvis' mom use to work in a bar where to real Elvis performed and one thing may have lead to another....and voila, another BIG star is born!?

The work aspect of the trip is always entertaining as it is a travel show geared at selling a variety of luxury travel experiences to Travel Agents. To help sell their trips, many of the companies will set up fancy displays, give things out and do what they can to standout from everyone else. My favorite was an Australian tour company that brought an armadillo, BABY JOEY (who I got to hold and snacked on my hair), and a bunch of parrots! It took everything I had not to run out the front door with the Joey, he was amazingly cute and snuggly and sweet.

By the end of our time there we were happy to leave the flashing lights behind and head back to our home, which we love more and more everyday. While Vegas is maybe not our ideal vacation spot it was such a great few days together and a cheap/quick way to get married.

Just Kidding.
xo L.

Ps. I have a ton of Holiday DIYs to share with you this week - homemade wood holiday bunting, amazing kids gifts, my yearly cat toy project and lots more!

Gold and Wood

2010-11-23T10:56:00.001-08:00

Image from Terrain - can't you just smell that beautiful eucalyptus?

I have already started humming and hawing about our Christmas decor and I think I have settled on natural materials (primarily woods and leafy greens) and metallics (gold AND silver!)
Today I came across these beautiful decorations at Terrain and am doing my best not to click "buy".

I know for many people it is too early to start thinking about the holiday season, however decorations like these have me pretty excited!

Dreaming of a Sleepy Weekend...

2010-11-19T08:09:00.001-08:00

Sweet baby Emma, taking a nap after our fall photo shoot!

Happy Friday! If you are feeling anything like me, this day is a very welcome one.
My slightly grumpy mood and general lack of spunk has me convinced I could tuck myself away for a week straight and be a much better person for it. Seems the house work and busyness of the last few months is finally catching up me.

And as always, the change of seasons has me considering life, work and where I am headed. The New Year is going to bring about a lot of exciting things and A LOT of me time (Mr. S will be on the road for the rest of life) so I wanted to make sure I am inspired and doing work that fills not only a purpose but also the soul.

Today is hopefully going to be a good first step in that direction! Sharpen my pencils (and my mind while your at it), I am heading back to school and today I am going to enroll. Just a certificate course to accent my other schooling, but something I hope will give me a stepping stone to other areas and careers I want to pursue.

I hope you have a perfectly inspiring, restful and un-grumpy weekend - that is my plan!

I'm back - a two week update!

2010-11-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

Hi There! Yes, its me! And no, I have not been ignoring you - in fact I have been missing you and feeling really guilty about not keeping this little space updated.

The last two weeks have been jammed pack full of good times, productivity and a whole lot of busy, so here’s a quick run down of what’s been going on!

FYI - These are supposed to be meringue ghosts...sigh, better luck next year I hope!

This Halloween was extra special because it was the start of our own traditions at our own house! Growing up Halloween was a big deal (and still is). My dad and I would spend all year decorating the house and thinking of new themes and tricks to pull off. Although it was a bit sad not to be spending Halloween at my parent’s place, we had a blast decorating our own house and having a bunch of friends over. We were well stocked for the neighborhood kids to come by and ended up getting a whopping 7 kids - 4 of which lived in our block! We had so much candy leftover we would have been thrilled for the teenagers with no costumes to show up, but even they didn’t come.

We decided that if we are going to get so few kids each year, we might as well be the house that gives out the full candy bars!

After Halloween there was a slew of good news and fun events...

Olympic Fireworks from B's Balcony in Vancouver

My good friend B (you may remember her because she was in charge of running the Olympics - kind of a big deal) got a new job that she has been working so hard for! Yeah B!!!

Two of my favorite people (EB and Jeff) are expecting a baby in the coming weeks and we are so excited for them. And since these two are our favorites, we can only assume their baby will be our super favorite, which makes us pretty darn excited for this babes arrival!

My good friend S cut off all her hair - which is exciting because it is such a bold move and she looks amazing! So amazing in fact that she was the inspiration (I can only assume) for Emma Watson to chop hers off as well! They are pretty much twins now.

Perhaps the biggest reason why I have been MIA and the most exciting thing for us right now... We finished the basement renovations! (you were thinking I was going to say something like I am getting married or having a baby right? come on...you know me better!)

Old Newspapers found in the ceiling during the basement renos!

This is a day that I think we thought may never come. It is beautiful and warm and makes us all so happy! I will do a before and after post soon.

I promise to keep things better updated around here. Thanks for your patience!
xoxox L.

Leah Duncan

2010-11-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

Decorating our new home has become my full time job (when I am not doing the full time job that actually pays). I think, search, hunt and ponder endlessly the different design options for each of our rooms. And just when one room gets settled, I turn my attention to another. At this rate I will be decorating and re-decorating our home for the rest of my days and it is pretty darn exciting (and sometimes exhausting and daunting).

The room that is currently the object of my obsession is our living room. It is not a big space, is some what dark with a slightly odd shape - sounds pretty doesn't it? It is a great room, but has posed some design challenges - the biggest of which right now is finding curtains (apparently an impossible task) and great pillows - something formal but fun.

The other day my pillow dilemma was blissfully resolved when I came across Leah Duncan via etsy. Her color palate is just what we were looking for - fresh and light, but with strong yellow tones - the designs are formal enough for our living room space, but have such a fun flirty feel to them. We have two pillows and a few of her prints headed our way and I could not be more excited to see them in the space.

Now if only she made curtains....!

All Talk

2010-10-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

All talk, not so much action.

By the end of the day yesterday my jaw hurt from talking, stewing, fuming and contemplating.
I can be a whole lot of talk and not always a lot of action, and yesterday was no exception. So many absolutely out of this world perfect things in my life, but one that could be better and I think I am finally ready to start doing something about it.

I ran a million conversations through my head about what I would say to make them listen, how I would articulate my need for change - but nothing felt quite right. Nothing made my jaw loosen and my mind stop circling.

And then my mom responded to my cry for help by telling me to be quiet.
She wrote:

See if your jaw stops hurting and your mind turns to more interesting and fruitful topics, if the world looks differently and the old makes sense. Sometimes we need to observe for a time and then if a decision must be made, you can make it.

As soon as I read it my shoulders relaxed, my mind calmed and my jaw let it all go. For the next little while I am going to be the quiet observer in the situation that causes my frustration and be a woman of no talk and all action.

Wish me luck cause this ain't gonna be easy - I really like to talk.

A Weekend Photo Shoot

2010-10-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend Mr. S and I had the pleasure of heading back into high park, this time with my cousin and her husband to take photos of their amazing little girl! The weather was perfect and there was still just enough fall color to set the backdrop for a really fun and super cute photo shoot.

She is a really happy little girl, so we pretty much played our way through the park and I clicked away doing my best to capture all the sweet moments. It was the perfect way to spend our Saturday morning.

I hope you had a perfect Fall Weekend.

Fall Colors

2010-10-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Between the cottage and an amazing park just a 5min walk from our house, Mr. S and I have been able to enjoy so many beautiful fall colors. The colors this year seem to be so rich and varied - deep burnt oranges, bright sunny yellows, warm reds - I could stare at them for hours.

Last weekend after a big brunch of pierogies, cheese blintzes and borscht, window shopping and hand holding, we strolled into the park on the way back to our house and spent the next two hours wandering through. Staring at trees, taking way too many photos of the ducks and marveling at what it would be like to live in one of the homes that overlooks it all.

This weekend we will be heading back to the park to do a little photo shoot for my cousin's sweet little girl. It is the first time I have been asked specifically to take photos and I am pretty excited/nervous!

Happy Weekend!

puppy love

2010-10-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

I don't often post photos of my family, but I just downloaded my pictures from Thanksgiving and came across this one that I took of my Uncle and his sweet little dog Tucker and had to share. Are they not the cutest?

This sweet pup will lay like that all snuggled up for hours, but really only with my uncle who he absolutely adores. You don't need to put him on a leash as long as my Uncle is around because he is never more then a few steps away from my uncle's feet - they make such a cute little team.

Our Painting!

2010-10-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Despite this being a short week for us here in Canada, I feel like the days have just dragged on and on... and... on...

Before we break free into the weekend, I wanted to show off our amazing new painting! Ideally I would have posted a photo from its new home on our dining room wall, but that room has now been turned into a large closet storing everything from the basement while the renos are being finished so I didn't think a photo from there would do it justice. So instead I have posted below a sneak peak of one of my favorite parts of the painting - the little sheep and lambs. I can't believe how beautifully they were captured. And to remind you of the inspiration, I have also posted the original photo below!

The Original:

Sneak peek of the painting:

I hope you have a perfect weekend. Ours will be jam packed with a family dinner (just me and my parents), furniture shopping, the hunt for a new pair of jeans (ie. slow torture), a soccer game and some walks in the park near our house. xoxoxoxox

Palette

2010-10-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

Before I show you the final product based on that photo I sneak peeked to you last week, I wanted to share some shots I took of the different palettes the artists at the studio where we picked up our masterpiece were working off of. Each artist had their own method - one was clean and defined, with each color maintaining its original composition, free from the influences of others - and one was blended and blurred, a variety and shades and mixes strewn about.

These palettes are pieces of art in themselves, worthy of a spot on the wall next to the amazing paintings they create.

I can't wait to show you the painting that the palette below created for us - photos and the full story coming soon!

Sneak Peek and "Vacation" Day

2010-10-07T05:43:00.001-07:00

It is just after 9am, the coffee is brewing and I am wearing the oldest, don't worry if they get wrecked clothes I can find. A spinach omelette is cooking to give me as much strength for the day as possible. Strength for my kind of vacation - building and constructing with my dad!

There are about 30 sheets of drywall sitting out back ready to be carried inside and hung on the wall, putting together the shape of what is soon to be a studio for Mr. S and Sibling J. I have taken two days off from work (the first two days in a row in over a year) to get my hands dirty, learn how to hang dry wall and install pot lights and I have not felt this relaxed in a long time!

I will post photos of the work soon as well as the full story that goes with the photo above. The picture is one I took while in Italy and the easle belongs to a family friend who gave Mr. S and I a truly stunning gift!

Oh - And the Sun is finally shining after a few days straight of rain! This day rules!

Hide and Seek!

2010-10-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

What a busy and exciting weekend it was! I am still trying to catch up on sleep and sort through the approx. 1000 photos I took. So while I get sorted and rested up, I thought I would share this really sweet photo from last week when Mr. S and I babysat for our friend's adorable little girl.

We thought that she was just going to be with us for about an hour, so Mr. S and I had about 1hrs worth of entertainment planned. Well, 1 hr turned into about 4, which is so nice for us because we love this little lady - but it did mean we quickly ran out of things to make this busy 1 year old forget that her parents weren't around. Anytime we thought she might be getting a little sad, we would find another sesame street video on youtube or go on a hunt for the cat (always a hit with the one year old crowd).

At one point Mr. S started a really sweet game of hide and seek where he hid behind the curtain and she tentatively found him. So cute and good for about 5mins of entertainment!

Pit

2010-09-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

After arriving to the cottage around 10pm on Friday night, our yawns and sleepy faces were telling that this was going to be an early evening; A glass of wine, small snack and then tucked into bed for amazing sleeps in the northern air. And then One glass of wine lead to two, the polish vodka was cracked and our favorite old cottage card game of Pit was brought out.

The sweet smell of must mixed with memories comes flooding out of these cards as they are dealt around and the trading begins. A simple game of trying to collect all one commodity (wheat, corn, etc) everyone trades at the same time, shouting over each other and trying to be the first to get the "corner on" whatever you are fighting to collect.

Points for the winner and deductions for whomever is cursed by the Bear and Bull market cards, hand after hand was dealt last Friday as everyone was convinced that just one more game was in order.

A quick glance at the clock between games reminded us that the night had now turned into the wee hours of the morning and our yawns and sleepy faces encouraged us off to bed. The Pit cards put away and the market closed on another perfect cottage evening with friends.

Golden Mushroom

2010-09-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Another dark and rainy day, sweaters wrapped snugly and rain boots clomping along - not even a week into the season and it is definitely feeling like Fall!

We spent a beautiful weekend at the cottage with great friends, eating, relaxing and playing cards into the wee hours of the morning. A fire constantly roaring in the fireplace to keep the chill off and something always cooking on the stove, keeping the windows all fogged up.

There has been a ton of rain up there this season so the property was covered in big meaty mushrooms. Some more charming then others, including this sweet little golden one that Mr. S found growing under a pine tree. I almost expected to see a little wooden door on the mushroom stem and a sweet critter peeking through to greet us.

More photos of the weekend and the card game that kept us up all night coming soon!

5 years...

2010-09-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend Mr. S and I celebrated 5 years of meeting at a little wine store at the end of my parent's street, going to one of Mr. S's show that evening and then chatting the night away and into the next morning. We pretty much haven't looked back and I couldn't be more grateful and totally smitten to have such an amazing, talented and beautiful man in my life.

I adore you Mr. S. Thank you for letting me hang out and be a part of your life - it rules!

Plywood Walls?

2010-09-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

Photos care of Country Home

Yesterday my Pa and Sibling J gutted our basement! Walls, ceiling, awkward cupboards - GONE!
After some moving of heaters vents, etc. to maximize the space we are going to rebuild it as a recording studio and everyone is super excited about it.

Because it is a basement space with little light, we have been having a lot of conversations about exploring alternatives to drywall to keep the space, warm, interesting and as bright as possible. So far the one option we can agree on is plywood!
I have some apprehensions about the space looking unfinished, but I think with the right grain and clever patterning (panels hung with the grains going in different directions, perhaps different stains) it could be really fun.

And, I also think it will be a nice compliment to the beautiful and raw pine floors that Sibling J and my Pa discovered during the demolition! Underneath a layer of particleboard and far too many layers of peel and stick tiles was gorgeous, untreated pine that we are going to sand, stain and bring back to life.

Tomorrow I will post some photos of the demo. Nothing more thrilling then a blank slate!

Soaring High

2010-09-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend on the way home from the cottage, we made a quick stop while still up north and were shocked by the site overhead. Hundreds of birds were flying around together; circling and soaring and creating a swarm of black dots against the increasing storm clouds that shortly after let open their flood gates.

Probably the most impressive part was that the majority of the birds were gorgeous hawks, swooping and diving with their wings stretched out far. The occasional flap now and then would send them high into the air - their decent a graceful free fall as they navigated the invisible roadways in the sky.

If it were not for the rain that sent us running back into the car, and my very strong fear of being pooped on (a fear based in fact as I have been pooped on so so many times) I could have stayed there and watched all afternoon. Just beautiful.

Carnival Rides

2010-09-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

Carnival rides are the backdrop to some of my favorite memories at the exhibition. From the moment you enter the grounds and their towering height and popping lights confirms that all is the same as every year before - same location, same designs and probably same people who make them go.
They transform an empty space into a yearly tradition and take you back in time to the first day you set foot on the grounds. Their retro design, colors and amazing signage; the way they click and clack as riders are flung into the sky and the constant hum of screams that can be heard from every corner of the park.

They are the perfect setting for one of my favorite days, and yet in my opinion anything that can pack up and leave on the back of a truck after two weeks should not be responsible for whirling and twirling you into the sky. The two just don't add up for me (portability + extreme heights ≠ Fun) and so I happily observe those daredevils that ride the Ferris Wheel from the safety of the fairway, roasted corn in hand.

Tiny Tom

2010-09-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

A day at the Toronto Exhibition would not be complete for Papa J and I without a visit to the Tiny Tom doughnut stand!

The charm of those sweet little dough balls plopping into the oil and frying right before your eyes has yet to wear off after 28 years of visiting. Each year we ponder how to sugar them and this year apple-cinnamon won out (I think it must be a sign of maturity because in previous years I opted for all 4 flavors mixed together).

And speaking of sweet things.... today is Papa J's Birthday!! To the best Dad anyone could ask for, Happy Happy Birthday!

A perfect long weekend!

2010-09-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

I am back at my desk today after a perfect four day long weekend. A long weekend that actually felt that way!
Starting with the yearly traditional of going to the Ex with my dad (Toronto's Exhibition/Fair) Friday was spent indulging in delicious and deep fried international flavors, spending far too many quarters on fair games and fighting our way through hoards of Jonas Brother's Fans (the concert ended just as we were leaving - worst timing ever!)
From there it was off to the cottage for a cozy weekend of fires, board games and delicious eats. The weather never got nice so there was no reason to leave the comfort of our cozy clothes and the roaring fire.
The weekend was capped with some work on my future craft/sewing room (eeeeek!) and a family party celebrating my little cousin heading off to school.

Perfection. I hope your weekend was as well.

More photos of all coming soon!

Wood Grain

2010-09-02T06:52:00.000-07:00

As a new home owner I am starting to see beauty in new things. The way the screen door now opens thanks to a shiny new hinge, the hum of an energy efficient washer that is actually drying my clothes (not destroying them), and how sacred a great paint brush for "cutting in" really is. Beautiful.
And don't get my started on building supplies - stunning!! A box of green galvanized screws, so uniform and symmetrical; a pile of freshly cut saw dust and the way wood grain flows across an uncut piece of plywood.

The piece of plywood in the photo above (used to build the new shed) reminded me of peacock feathers and wise owl eyes. It is like looking at clouds. What do you see?

PS. Wondering about Yesterday's mystery plant? Heather was right! It is a Double Purple Datura. Totally beautiful and totally toxic!! Apparently even a small bit of this plant will have you hallucinating and headed to the hospital.

A mystery in our Garden

2010-09-01T05:34:00.000-07:00

With the amazing help of Papa J, Mr. S and I have been slowly working away on the blank space that is our garden.To help with the transformation we made a stop at the local garden center to pick up a few new additions and came across this wee little plant - black bark, dark purple and waxy flowers and little pods resembling green walnuts. There was only one in the store and no one could name it.
We took that sweet little plant home with us that day and planted it safely into our new garden, but alas it still remains nameless. A lot of speculation about what it could be, but no definite answers.

Do you know what this is?

xo. L.

Pink Grapefruit Perrier

2010-08-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

I am not often one to lend my endorsement to brands on this lil'blog, but with the temperatures rocketing over 40 degrees celcius here, I thought it was the least I could do to let you know about what I think is the most refreshing drink ever. You may already know about it, but I just caught on and I am in love.

Pink Grapefruit Perrier. I like you a lot. Especially today!

A House, A Home

2010-08-26T03:49:00.000-07:00

This summer another birthday passed and it was absolutely one of the best ever. I am not really someone who puts that much emphasis on this day, but man oh man this year was a good one! So many beautiful gifts and kind birthday wishes.

In anticipation of a family celebration for all of the summer birthdays, my cousin emailed to ask what I wanted. Aside from gift cards to Home Depot, I want for nothing so I asked her for something homemade from her sweet little 18 month old babe. A tall order that she blew out of the water.

My cousin took two small canvases and blocked out with stick on letters a sweet message about our home, and then had her babe paint over it. Remove the letters and Voila! a beautiful piece of art that hangs proudly in our home.

Strawberry Tarts

2010-08-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

My family is all about tradition, right down to the dessert you get to enjoy on your birthday (forever and always, so you better be sure to really like it!) For my uncle Peter who's Birthday falls right at the start of Strawberry season, his birthday treat is strawberry pie - one of simplest of the pie family and in my opinion the most delicious.

The other night we hosted some friends for dinner and I needed a quick dessert to make after work, so I adapted the strawberry pie into tart form! Easy and Delicious.

Ingredients:
- Small Tart Shells (if you make your own, you rule! please send me the recipe..!)
- Cream Cheese (I use almost fat free)
- Mint
- Strawberries
- Strawberry or Red Current JELLY!

Steps:

1. Bake Shells until golden brown

2. Add Chopped Mint to Cream Cheese and place a dollop in the bottow of the tart shell

3. Cram in as many beautiful Local Strawberries as possible

4. Melt approx. 1/2 cup of jelly on the stove and while still runny, pour over the strawberries - making sure they are covered, but don't create a pool or the tart shells will get too soft.

5. Sprinkle with a little more chopped mint and Enjoy!

Family Dinner

2010-08-23T04:53:00.000-07:00

Last night my family dined together for the first time in many many months, under the light of candles and in the comfort of our new home. There is such an ease in dining with my family as you know/are each others flow; food is served, wine poured and dishes cleaned without ever having to speak about these details.

My parents sat at the side of the table, an uncomfortable change at first having been so use to them finding their spots at the head - but as they explained, this is our home and those seats are ours in this space. We have definitely entered a new phase, with new conversations and so many exciting things going on - and yet, all still so familiar and the same (my favorite part).

At one point in the night I stepped outside to look in - to feel so fortunate for this dining room full of loved ones. We are very aware that as the new people on the street we have many people trying to take a peak in, and I couldn't be more proud that conversation and love over good food and candlelight is what they will see.

Construction Chic!

2010-08-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

It is not often (ever?) that I post photos of myself on this here little blog, but I thought this one would give you a good taste of the styles we have been rocking during the home renos!
As I mentioned earlier, our first task was to have the whole house re-wired which left us with 150 holes to be patched, sanded, patched and sanded again! That process had us and our new home totally covered in very fine white dust - brutal! So to help manage it we were rocking some pretty classy looks - I call this one country meets construction.

Happy Monday!

2010-08-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday Everyone!
Another weekend in the new house and I think we only fall more and more in love. Thanks again to all the help from friends, we finished painting the hallways - hooray - and only have two more bedrooms to get painted.
I have taken the day off of work to finish a little project with Papa J - building a shed in the backyard. Building, sawing, and hammering are absolutely my idea of a vacation so I can't wait to get it finished today - we only have the walls left to go up (building the foundation was the hard part) and then top it off with singles (probably my favorite thing to nail in!)

I hope your weekend was perfect and that your week is off to a good start.
MUAH!

Little Helper

2010-08-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

For anyone doing house renos like we are these days, I would strongly suggest getting yourself self great friends who make cute babies like this one! She makes painting and housework adorable and fun.

Ps. more to come soon...we are installing very bold wallpaper in the kitchen today. Wish us luck!

Happy. Tired.

2010-08-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

Happy.

Tired.

We are just a whole bundle of super happy and pretty darn tired in our new household. 150 holes patched and painted and a house that was once the color of "cream corn" from top to bottom, has a fresh coat of paint.
We sleep like Kings and feels like that luckiest darn people in the world to wake up in our new home each morning. About once an hour we hug and marvel and shake our heads in disbelief that this place is our home.

The dust is settling and most boxes are unpacked (or hidden in the basement) so I will be back to more regular posting and can't wait to show you our new space.

Happy Weekend.

Hole-y Moly

2010-07-22T12:28:00.001-07:00

Today our first house guests departed after a two week stay!
The team of electricians who have been working away since we took possession said good bye today and left us the parting gift of a home that is totally up to code and has about 100 holes in it!

When we first walked in and saw all the holes, it was pretty devastating. Our brand new piece of perfect looked like it had a disease as every room had between 5-10 holes in the walls and ceiling. To help us get over the shock and get started on the work, Papa J came home for a few days from vacation to teach us how to tackle the amazingly messy job of plastering, sanding, plastering, sanding and then painting. We are making really excellent progress and have become pretty decent plasterers in the process.
Tomorrow a team of friends has so kindly offered to come on over to put the first coat of paint on the walls and I can't wait.

Once everything is finished we are so excited to have many more house guests, and hopefully ones that do not leave any holes in our walls!

Our Welcome Home!

2010-07-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

When Mr. S and I unlocked the door for the first time last Friday and stepped through the doors of the home that was now official ours, the first thing we did was walk straight ahead and into the kitchen. The moment of officially walking into our home was so exciting and overwhelming that we both needed to sit, grab a bite to eat and toast each other with champagne before exploring this place we now call home. We laid out a small picnic of treats (lottery cards included; we have a mortgage after all) and sat in silence as we took it all in.

We have been so lucky with almost every twist and turn of this process, and one of our most fortunate moments has been the people we bought the home from. They were so welcoming and warm from the moment we met them just minutes after they accepted our offer, and have emailed us over the past few weeks sharing tips and insights into the home and neighborhood we are moving into. And when we walked through the door of our kitchen on that first day, we were greeted by a bottle of lovely champagne, two glasses and a two page note taking us from room to room with everything the previous owners could remember to share about the house; our little how to guide for our new home. It really doesn't get any better, more memorable or touching then that.

Our first week of ownership has been mainly enjoyed by a team of electricians who have really left their stamp on our home (photos to follow)...
Our goal is to move in there in the next two weeks and we could not be more excited.

Muah!

Jumping for Joy!

2010-07-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

At around 2:30pm today a single key was placed in our hands and we officially became homeowners. More photos of our first visit and celebration to come, but for now here we are jumping for joy in our new bedroom.

Man oh man, we are two happy, happy people!

Thank you!

2010-07-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

Sweet thank you tag from Rosalyn given after I bought these beauties

You are all so sweet and I can't thank you enough for the nice comments and congratulations about our new home. We are a day away from officially being home owners and it is the best feeling in the world. Thank you for sharing in our excitement!

Turn and Seal

2010-07-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

Today while washing my lunch dishes I noticed for the first time in three years these sweet engravings on our old sink plug; Turn and Seal.
Why is it that sometimes one misses the little details right until the moment it is time to say good bye?

Let's Get Packing!

2010-07-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

Last night our landlord sold her house. Phew! This means we can start living in it again, and by living in it I mean start packing it all up into carefully labeled boxes.
I think packing is a great way to see how different people truly are from one another. For me, the thought of packing and moving anything that we don't absolutely love and need is painful. Packing to me is the ultimate form of purging as I want to know that everything in the boxes are things I will be excited to see and use when the unpacking begins.

How to pack the boxes is also something I toy with as a lover of all things organization - by room? by type? by color? For now, I have been going with "by type" as it is hard to know exactly what room they will find their home in our new house. And I must admit that I have already packed and then unpacked and re-organized a box that I felt wasn't going to be fun to open on the other end ( insert groans and judgment here..!) What can I say?, organization brings me calm and in a time of see much exciting chaos, sometimes a well packed box brings me back to a good centered point.

Have you recently moved? How do you pack? Any tips or advice are much appreciated!
As you can see from the photos, not all of the members of our household are particularly helpful!

Welcome to...

2010-07-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

....the home of my dreams.

Some childhood daydreams may be of wedding day, babies or successful careers, but not mine. My dreams from a very young age were to find a man I adore and a home to call my own. And count me the happiest daydreamer in the world because both have come true and will be all the more real this Friday when Mr. S and I take possession of our very first home. Our excitement is so massive the whole thing almost doesn't seem real.

The keys will be ours; not borrowed or copied. The bills in our name and the porch all our own. No one else to share the backyard with or their ideas on how it should be sowed, and the address all ours (now if only I figure out how to remember the postal code!) A home that will be our future and our day to day.

The next week is going to be a busy one with final closing details to manage and the fact that we are currently living out of my parent's house as our landlord decided to sell her home and is hosting open houses this week! It feels little like we are playing a game of Musical Houses, but this time we already know who wins and it is the best feeling in the world.

O' Canada - I heart you!

2010-07-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

My heritage as Canadian is one I live proudly. I am a Canadian many generations back and this beautiful Country is one I truly adore. And to properly celebrate the big, diverse and accepting Canada that we love, Mr. S and I did some of our favorite things today, with only a titch of work mixed in.
Within just a few blocks of our home we enjoyed a stunning breakfast inspired by France, had a scoop of ice cream in little Italy, a Jamaican Roti at the farmers market and a dinner from China Town. How lucky are we to be exposed to so many cultures and diversity all tucked together under the blanket of being Canadian?! Happy Canada Day! I could not imagine a more perfect place to call home.

Ps. Speaking of homes. Tomorrow marks the one week count down to a very exciting time in our lives...

Progression of a Marigold - a photo essay

2010-06-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Father's Day Brunch

2010-06-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday. Hard to believe we are already back from the weekend and starting the weekday routine all over again.

Our weekend was wonderful, starting with a bbq Friday night and then Saturday a family birthday party with one of my favorite desserts - strawberry pie with sweet Ontario strawberries - yum!! And then Sunday we woke up to celebrate my Pa! The big old oak dining table was dragged out to the screened in porch and adorned with some sweet ferns and fallen branches to make a rustic, fatherly table center!
Breakfast started off with fresh fruit drizzled in honey and topped with mint.
And then for the main I served bbq roasted mini potatoes and maple syrup and cedar smoked back bacon, poached eggs and roasted red pepper sauce to top it all off!

Two dips in the lake and a few car rides later, here we are back at our desks. I hope you had a perfect weekend and that Monday did not arrive too quickly for you.

A summer weekend

2010-06-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

I have been buzzing around the home and neighborhood today in a airy summer dress without a single chill or goose bump. Summer is here and I can't wait to enjoy it warmth at the cottage this weekend. As always, it promises to pumped full of family and food - like this summer salad I made from my market purchases this week - mustard greens, peppery radishes, and a perfectly ripe avocado. Yum!

And of course we will also be celebrating my Pa this weekend and I have a few yummy breakfast ideas and table decorations in mind...more on that next week!

Have a perfect weekend.

A break in the clouds

2010-06-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

There are times (all the time..) that in my mind I equate my work day to that of being a mom to a lot of little babies. And let just clear the air here, I have no clue what being a mom is like and especially not to a lot of little babies...this is just a reference point...let's carry on..
I feel like I spend my day feeding information to hungry clients. One after another after another. And then there is this brief moment while they are digesting it all that I have about 20mins to myself, before I know the process is going to start up again.

Today that moment hit just after lunch and decided it was the perfect time for a quick walk and lunch break. Googled the weather and the little sun on the website matched what I could see from the corner of the window.

Off I set, only about 15mins now before mouths needed to be fed again. 5 steps out of the door; the sky darkened. 1 block down; a sprinkle of rain...a handful of rain... a TOTAL DOWNPOUR!

I waited it out under a big maple tree and all the other walkers scrambled for cover. I was at the mercy of this downpour and it could not have been more perfect as the rain drowned out all sounds other then itself falling to the ground.

A break in the clouds and I snuck back to work. A break in the clouds that just kept breaking and now the sun is shining brightly just in time for another round of feedings!

Date Night

2010-06-15T04:32:00.000-07:00

A week ago I went on the best date of my life.

We dined at a restaurant recently re-opened just a stroll from my home. We ordered a bottle of wine and a special glass to pair with the cheese course which ended the meal - a meal that lasted hours and we never once felt rushed to leave the table. My date ordered the same thing twice it was so good. At one point, he slid into the bench beside me so we could be closer then the seat across the table allowed. We held hands, looked at each other over candlelight and ooh and ahhhd over amazing food and our luck for being together.

How lucky to have my best date ever 5 years into a relationship with the man I adore. Thank you Mr. S for the best date of my life.

Ps. Looking for the perfect date restaurant in Toronto? Ours was had at the recently re-opened Atlantic.

Pink Peonies

2010-06-14T04:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!
I hope you had a perfect weekend. Mine was filled of good food (smoked salmon on the bbq - smoked only because I accidentally started a small fire on the the inside of the bbq. Yikes, but Yummy!) and family (and a million mosquitoes...) up at the cottage.

Here's to a great start to the week full of pink peonies and issue free work days (a girl can dream...)

A Parade of Photos and happy weekend

2010-06-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

Before we head into the weekend, I wanted to share with you some photos from the two amazing parades that happened out our front door this past weekend!

With so much going on in this city that I love, it is hard to believe that you would ever have to leave... but with the cottage calling me and prep for the G20 meetings putting this sweet city into gridlock, I will be departing for the weekend to enjoy the lake, black flies and a lesson from Papa J on how to build a shed!

Have a perfect weekend full of parades, bright colors and community.

Soundtrack to a Cloudy Day

2010-06-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

It is another gray and drizzly day here and I have been blasting the tunes to keep myself from crawling right back into bed! Today's Sountrack to a Cloudy Day is: jónsi - go.

I am a huge Sigur Ros fan, so when the Jónsi solo record came out they pretty much had me at "its for sale". What I love about this record and Sigur Ros more broadly is that the songs feel epic. And just to be clear, I do not mean epic epic in the sense that this is the best song writing in the world or a band that will go down in history as a great. They are songs that start softly and climax and get huge and Burst and CELEBRATE. They evoke emotion in a superficial way that is almost better then what is felt in truth at the pinnacle of a moment.

I must admit that the lyrics and story are not always what I listen to this music for and while these are not lacking, it is the emotion that I come back for time and time again. And on this rainy day, they are making me feel sunny and excited! perfect.

A dash of chaos...

2010-06-09T13:54:00.001-07:00

I just went to get up from my desk for the first time in way too many hours and looked down to finally notice that today's outfit was an unfortunate pairing of two slightly different shades of athletic gray, in hoodie and jogging pant form. awful.
There is a towel from yesterday on the dining room chair, a single sock on the floor between the kitchen and dining room, a stack of laundry in the office (don't ask) and a stapler by the kitchen sink (obviously). My glasses are being held up by the camera, which is acting as a paperweight for my unopened mail. My cat is sleeping on an unfolded pile of laundry, which in my mind voids the fact that it was just washed.
Life has been so great recently that I have hardly noticed just how chaotic our house has become. A dash of chaos amongst so much good is kind of a relief...for about 10 more mins...

...excuse me; I must go organize!

Parade of Color

2010-06-08T05:43:00.000-07:00

Every year the church in our neighborhood celebrates their Saint with a beautiful parade. The highlight of the parade is always the intricate path they carefully layout; made up of colored wood chips which form different patterns and shapes!

The path stretches approximately 2 blocks long and takes the community all morning to lay out. On this day the sun was shining brightly and the colors were so vibrant and beautiful.

After the parade has been marched, the path is almost more beautiful as the space between colors and patterns have been blurred into one long mural. We feel so luck to be a part of a community where these amazing experiences march right past our door.

Parades and pancakes and so much more...

2010-06-07T18:33:00.000-07:00

A week? It can't have been...
I am sorry for disappearing for so long; life has just been so packed full of goodness that I rarely find myself with the time to sit down to reflect on it all.
Now things are a degree quieter and I can't wait to post about everything the passing days have brought to us - 2 parades, garden surprises, visits with sweet babes and homemade Belgian waffles (with vanilla whip cream to boot!); Market treats, seasonal vegetables and life changes galore!

Happy Monday!

Summer Snow

2010-05-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

While the rest of the city basks in this amazing heat wave we are enjoying, my little neighborhood is covered in snow! Thanks to a grand Willow Tree (I think...) about 4 blocks over, all of our lawns and gardens are just covered in this soft white fluff. Some places it is so thick that you can actually roll it into a strand that feels like roughly spun wool.
Such a lovely contrast of seasons to see these fall from the sky as people walk by in summer dresses and sandals.

Happy Weekend!

Summer Salsa

2010-05-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

By the end of this long weekend, I was a little bbq'd out. Summer nights and bbq'd dinners are so great, but 4 days straight of bbq'd food has one craving something fresh and simple and untouched by the grill.

Mr. S and I found the perfect solution for this with a really simple summer salsa, composed of grape tomatoes, lemon juice, olive oil (from my trip to Italy!), cilantro, salt and pepper.
We put everything together before dinner so the ingredients had time to meld (approx. 1hr) and by the time we dug into it with fresh crusty french bread, it was a refreshing and delicious success.

I think this will definitely be a staple on our summer menu for the summer!

Garden Party

2010-05-25T05:35:00.000-07:00

Our long weekend started last Thursday night, when the first of two sets of very good friends arrived to stay with us for the weekend. This couple arrived from the east with three live lobsters in tow and a selection of Propeller Beers and Pops from their local brewery - delicious!

Thursday night was a perfect summer's eve, so I hauled the dining room table outside into the garden and under a canopy of trees for our meal. By the time our friends had arrived, the sun was just fading and all the candles we had placed around the garden and on the table were glowing beautiful and making it such a magical setting.

We dined out there until the early hours of the morning, catching up and sharing stories. And when it was time for everyone to hit the sack, our friends were welcomed into their rooms with a little welcome basket we put together with local maps, magazines and the days paper; toiletries that are often forgotten, some sweets and a couple of lottery tickets (hoping they would win some cash to spend on their weekend in the city!)

This was just the first night of a wonderful weekend with friends, as the next day two more of our nearest and dearest arrived! More to come...

Happy Holiday Monday!

2010-05-24T04:48:00.000-07:00

I hope your holiday Monday (for those we get to celebrate this day off) is relaxing and beautiful and smells like lilacs.

BBQ'd Baby Eggplants

2010-05-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

Since this wave of beautiful weather has graced us with its sweet smelling air and sun kissed shoulders, Mr. S and I have been enjoying some wonderful meals on the BBQ.
The other night we tried out a few new items, including these sweet baby eggplants. I just love their vibrant purple color, which changed shades while they baked to be soft and delicious. We paired them with a soy/chili/garlic sauce which was a perfect contrast to their slightly bitter taste.

We have two sets of amazing friends visiting and staying with us this weekend, so there is sure to be many bbqs over the next couple of days - hooray!

Post No Bills - Flower Holders

2010-05-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

Today on my way to a downtown meeting I came across these sweet little flower holders that have been made out of posters glued along the walls of a construction site. Someone has ripped a corner strip of the posters, folded them over and stapled them back to the wall to create a cone shaped flower holder.

It is amazing how a flower looks all that much sweeter and alive set on the backdrop of chaos and propaganda.

fly, fly, away

2010-05-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

There is so much going on these days, and today I just do not want work to be one of them.
Do you ever just wish you could fly, fly away - not to avoid things or stay away too long, but just soar above it all for an hour or two?

Today I think I would fly to the west coast where my favorite ladies are on a road trip or maybe just a little bit north to the cottage to see how everything is un-thawing and coming to life. I would fly around to get my errands done quicker, free from the hustle and bustle of city streets and I might even squeeze in a quick flight down to NYC to pick up lunch for Mr. S at one of his favorite restaurants.

I am sure after a another cup of coffee I will feel much more grounded. I hope you had a lovely weekend and a are enjoying much less Flighty Monday then I!

Have a magical weekend

2010-05-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

What is it about this sweet little "weed" that is so magical? I think the little seeds look like umbrellas out of a Dr. Seuss book; ready to take flight with the perfect gust of wind.

Tonight Mr. S returns after 10 days away in one outfit (his luggage never arrived) and we will be celebrating his homecoming with fresh clothes and a cozy dinner in.

I hope you have a perfectly magical and cozy weekend.

Coffee Shop Office

2010-05-13T09:17:00.001-07:00

This morning I woke up to no internet. It stinks to be totally reliant on something - but alas, the internet is very much my day job and a big part of my life so life without it is liberating, but challenging.

After leaving a note for our landlord about the internet's choice to take the day off, I packed up the office and settled into my favorite local coffee shop - a perfect americano beside me, the CBC playing overhead and the regulars streaming in and out collecting their coffees for the commute to work.

I ordered another americano.

Once the traffic of commuters settled, the morning crowd with kids started to wander in - consuming the freshly baked croissants and chatting about day care options as their kids dropped crumbs on the benches and listed to the echo of their shrieks off the beautiful tin ceiling. Their shrieks were eventually quieted by the constant hum and rumble of construction outside as the workers all watched their one colleague dig a hole or saw through metal pipes.

I could have stayed their all day if my coffee buzz was not quite so high and my computer battery running low. Once I settled back at home I was shocked to see just how much work I had achieved at my coffee shop office. It was as though my eyes and ears were people watching while my brain just got to work! This has me considering taking my office on the road more often - but if I plan on making a day of it, I think I will have to switch to tea as I am pretty sure it will take me to dinner to lose this americano high.

Drip, Drip, Drop

2010-05-12T06:51:00.001-07:00

It feels as though rain has been dripping and dropping on us for a week now. I find these days chilly to the bone and really only suitable for curling up to a movie or snuggling under the covers with a book. And because of this I have been indulging in old movies to help me enjoy these gray days - Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany's, An American in Paris - ooh, they make my heart melt and make rainy days romantic and sweet.

Not only is the rain the perfect back drop to old movies, it has its obvious role in nature and judging from the green lushness going on in our garden, the plants are having a grand old time soaking up the moisture. Hopefully by the time it stops raining I will have decided what to do with the garden this year. Until then, you will find me under the covers scrolling through Martha Stewart magazines for inspiration and dreaming of cutting my hair off and going for a strong 'brow a la Audrey Hepburn .

Fly away chilly day

2010-05-11T04:42:00.000-07:00

Despite the chilly, fall-like weather we are experiencing our garden is still buzzing with the activity of spring. I have never been much for flies, but this one looks quite sweet tucked into the warmth of this little yellow flower in our garden.

Mother's Day Brunch

2010-05-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

It was a delicious celebration of my amazing mom! I hope you had a cozy and delicious weekend as well.

*Vegetable Eggs Benedict Recipe thanks to the always amazing Sprouted Kitchen!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

My mom rules and this fact only becomes more and more apparent the older I get. I adore this lady and am so thankful she is my Ma! Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Weekend

2010-05-07T04:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend is all about family, catching up with life and celebrating my Mom!
I hope you have a perfect weekend that feels like it lasts for a week.

L.

Party Decorations - Shades of Turquoise and Yellow

2010-05-06T05:02:00.000-07:00

Mr. S is a spring baby whose birthday falls just at that time in the year where the optimism of the season has you believing that you can be outside all day and night, but the honesty of the winter chill that keeps hanging on has you cuddled inside. And because this chill and a little cold rain stopped us from hosting the outdoor celebration we had hoped for, I wanted the decor inside to feel as cheery and springlike as possible.

The color scheme was dictated by a few things - desire to create the feeling of spring, options available at the balloon king and generally colors I am crushing on right now. I was however worried that our guests (Mr. S's nearest and dearest) would wonder just how well I knew their friend as they would definitely not describe him as a shades of turquoise and yellow kind guy.

For the streamers I went to an old faithful friend, The Balloon King at Bathurst and Dundas. I have been visiting this treasure stuck in the 70's since I was a kid and they never disappoint. It baffles my mind that they are still able to keep in stock decorations that were crafted at least 20 years ago and represent themes of many bad 80's parties gone by. That said, this place is a gold mine for streamers, amazing banners, letters and more paper cut outs for a Hawaiian party then a fraternity could house. I picked up a selection of turquoise and yellow streamers and banners in different shades and shapes for under 10 dollars.

The dashes of yellow came from lemons that I placed in clear cylinder vases and sweet little daffodils that we sent home with our guests as party favors.

Mr. S being the sweet man he is said he loved it and none of our guests seemed to question the color scheme and my understanding of the birthday boy! phew.

Lemon Glazed Cupcakes

2010-05-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Remember yesterday when I said I am all things lemon this spring? I wasn't kidding.
For Ms. S's celebration of getting older and more handsome, I decided some lemon glazed vanilla cupcakes were in order and they did not disappoint. There is something so refreshing about the simplicity of a glaze and the tangy zip of lemon zest sprinkled throughout.

To keep with the theme I dotted them with butter cream icing in a light greenish/turquoise and baked them in my favorite tulip cupcakes liners from Bake it Pretty.

And the nice thing about "fruit" glazes is that they are totally appropriate for breakfast the next morning... right?

A Lemon Toast!

2010-05-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

I am excited to share all of Mr. S's spring themed B-Day with you tomorrow and thought I would show you a quick preview of some of the drinks we had out for the party guests.

Last season I declared the drink of the summer to be the mint julep, but alas I did not have a single one. I think the sugar syrup scared me off.
This season I am loving all things yellow - including lemons - so my palate is leaning towards lemon based drinks - including a bottle of delicious Sorrentine Limoncello that I brought home from Italy. I am also excited to try other lemon combinations - rum? tequila?

When I am not in the mood for this summer's theme of lemon drinks, I have been known to knock down one that was introduced to us from one of best friends who hails from Poland. A little apple juice and bison vodka is refreshing and delicious!

A few birthday drinks were shared at Mr. S's birthday as we toasted another year of all being so lucky to known and adore him! Tomorrow, I will show you a few of the other treats we enjoyed and the decor.

Spring Time - A very busy life time!

2010-05-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

In springtime, the only pretty ring time
Birds sing, hey ding
A-ding, a-ding
Sweet lovers love the spring--
- Willy Wonka (c/o Shakespeare)

The spring time for us has meant 7 day work weeks, days that never end and of course, lots of warm spring walks hand in hand (when we can get away from our desks long enough). All the chaos of life and work has kept me from here and I have missed you. This week promises to bring a lighter life load and I can't wait to get back to blogging about all the excitement going on!

Here's just a taste:
Mr. S got older.. well we all did, but we celebrated his aging with a green and yellow party!
Kitchen remodel - sweet chalkboard labels for our jars
Planning this year's garden and trying to figure out where it will find its roots
Exploring and falling for new Toronto neighborhoods
Spring Soundtrack to Monday - two new ladies, two new favorite spring songs!

I will see you soon. Muah!

Neighbourhood Watch

2010-04-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Aside from bulbs bursting out of the ground, teens in sandles and t-shirts (despite the temps just breaking zero degrees) and patios bursting full of people quenching a thirst built up from hibernating all winter, a sure fire way to know spring is here over at our house is the change in behavior of our dear cat Maude.
It is as if Maude awoke at the first inkling of mother nature flipping the spring switch, turning back on all of her cat senses and behaviors. Running, stalking, whining, jumping, sleeeeeeping...we all of a sudden have a full fledged cat on our hands!

When not mastering the above behaviors, she spends her days at the back window (something that also seemed to disappear in her mind during winter) stalking all of the backyard visitors and acting as the neighbourhood watch. She ducks when birds fly close, cowers when a squirrel is too aggressive and jumps around, her tail her mood ring when other cats come by for a visit.

We are still working on teaching her to let us know if someone comes for a visit to check out and "borrow" our things (I am sure whoever took our BBQ last season is going to drop it off any day now...) but for now, she has mastered watching the comings and goings of our little backyard community... that is, when she is not asleep on the job!

Tune Up

2010-04-13T04:23:00.001-07:00

Last week I enjoyed my first big bike ride of the season. I rode on a perfect spring night to one of my favorite restaurants to have dinner with a friend who is so honest in who she is it melts my heart. Before heading out Mr. S oiled my chain, checked the tires and gave my little blue bicycle a good once over to ensure me a safe ride - and it worked. I sailed easily (well, as easily as this old bike sails) to and from a perfect dinner.

The next day while enjoying lunch in the garden under the warm blanket of another beautiful day, we were interrupted by the sound of "ssssssssssssssssssssssssssss," which lasted about 5 seconds and was followed by an amazing "KABOOOM." As we slowly emerged from the duck and cover position and wiped the dirt and debris from our faces, we realized that the explosion was in fact my back bike tire that had burst under the heat and old age.

Needless to say, my sweet blue bike was sent into the shop for a new tire and loving care. I am going to collect her today and can't wait to get my biking season officially started.

Happy Tuesday. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful one!