Family

Well this has been a very strange and busy couple of weeks. Our home has become a place where we come to drop off dirty laundry and re-pack before hitting the road. The pace has been frantic. I think this may have been the busiest summer of my life. I can feel fall creeping in and I am so excited to greet it at a more leisurely pace. I have some more stuff I want to say about things that have gone on over the summer but it is late and I am more then ready to sleep in my own bed. Tomorrow I promise!

Words Fail Me

I had a seriously rough day at work. Sometimes working at a hospital can be very hard. I came home to cry but looked at this picture I took at the family reunion and laughed instead. I hope this makes you crack a smile.

A little "splash" of colour.

I love this picture. I took it "down the shore" this July while we were visiting Cap Pele. I scooped the seaweed out of the surf because the colour was so amazing. The texture was pretty amazing too but that is pretty hard to convey in a photo. There is something about this lime ricky green always makes me feel energized and zesty. Hmmm zesty, what a weird adjective. But nonetheless that is how I feel. I would like to go right now and dip my toes in the cool Northumberland waters where this lovely piece of seaweed originated.

Saturday morning musing.

Looking at the weather forecast for Las Vegas this coming week, all high 30's low 40's which makes it even more absurd that this morning it was so cold here that the heat in the house automatically came on. It hasn't come on since March that I am aware of. I heard the familiar melody of the pipes tinkling and I thought that I was dreaming... Then they got louder. Environment Canada says it is currents 13 degrees Celsius outside. This is madness, I should be planing where to cool down with a swim not looking for my slippers... come to think of it I think I might go grab a sweater too...

okay, I am all kitted up. Slippers, hoodie, tea. It certainly would be a lovely fall day if it weren't August. Actually I might as well confess it now, I love this weather. The sky is blue, the air is crisp. If I could have this weather 10 months of the year I would be thrilled.
Plans continue to chug along for Vegas. I think it is actually easier when you doing something in a short time like this. Of course I would have liked to have more time to save some money but lets face it, I am not good with anticipation. When I have too long to think about things I stress out. Two weeks seems to be the perfect amount of time. It was extra good this past week because it gave me something to fixate on while Gil was out of town...again. Although the bad thing is that I have been spending money. This is turning into an expensive summer for the both of us. I have to hit Gil up for some cash again today. I swear one of these days I am going to get better with money. Likely when I am dead. Unless I win really big in Vegas, which is not totally 100% out of the realm of possibility. I mean, weirder thing HAVE happened. If that DOES happen then I am going to buy myself a pair of Jimmy Choo's and be very smart with the rest of my money. LOL, Jimmy Choo's. What would I do with a thousand dollar pair of shoes? I would be too scared to wear them out of the house. *sigh* A girl can dream.
Well, my in-laws are coming today, my father-in-law is going to lay me a new kitchen floor so I better start getting this house clean. As it turns out I really am a slob, when Gil is away the whole house goes to pot!
Have a great Saturday.

Rhéal - July 2009

I am deep in my bones tired tonight because I was up at 4am with Gil who was heading back out on the road. Believe it or not it gets easier with each trip away. I suppose that our impending trip to Las Vegas makes me more agreeable. Anyway I am off to have my blessed 8 hour coma but I wanted to share this picture before I start to drool on my pillow (or Gil's pillow as the case may be). This is my father in law. Okay so it is his toes but it tells you everything you need to know about the man and I why I love him so much. Sturdy, solid, fun, adventurous. This is by no stretch one of my best pictures but it elicits such strong feelings in me I just had to share.
Nighty night

Tulips, Spring 2009

I love tulips so much. There is something so magical about them. These ones were in the public gardens this spring. I had never seen anything like them with their double petals. They are beautiful!

My awesome news!

Okay I didn't take this picture, I confess. However in 12 days I will be able to take something like it for myself!! On Friday Gil was finally home from his extended trip to the States. Okay, it was only 4 days, but I swear it felt like an eternity. I was having a seriously great day anyway have good morning snuggles AND a drive to work. I knew I was going to see friends I have been missing that evening.We were heading into a long weekend. I was pretty as happy as I thought I could get. Then I got a call from Gil at work. He says, can you talk to my boss about getting a few days off?? He says his boss if feeling bad about all the time we are missing each other, his boss feels bad because he is sending him away again, this time to Las Vegas for a trade show. His boss says if I am free to go they will send me with him. On their dime! Oh yes you heard me correctly. I am going to Vegas for 5 days for FREE! I let him know I have to talk to my boss. The schedule has been pretty tricky lately, I don't want to leave her in a pinch. If she says she needs me, I can't go. So I page her... oh god, what if she says no? She calls me back, I explain the situation from her. Of course she says yes. She is s cool about it, how could she stand between me and a free trip tp Vegas. A FREE TRIP TO VEGAS! I call Gil back. I am elated, I can't breath. Within the hour plans are arranged to get me an expedited passport. The flight is booked. The hotel (Trump International!) is booked. I am on top of the world!! My hubby and I are going to Vegas together. We have never flown anywhere together. I know he is going to have to work some but who cares!? We are going to VEGAS!!

By Candle Light, July 2009

I know that it is a little "Amnesty International" but I like it. I feel a pervasive sense of calm when I look at it. Again I am playing with the macro but here I have started playing with some other settings like apertures and colour. The colour of this candle is so welcoming and warm just like where we were that night, Mo and Kevin's place. Although it was taken in the summer it feels like autumn to me.

Me and my shadow...

Here is a great example of one problem I encounter over and over again, I just can't get away from it, my shadow.
Craig told me early on to position myself so that I am not casting a shadow across my subject but time after time I ruin a great shot the same way.

Paw Paw March 2009

Oh my heart sings when I see this. I love this little paw. I love it's warm, dry Dorito smell. I love the way it prods at me when I am trying to sleep. I have such a warm feeling in my heart when I look at this picture. It makes me want to grab a kitty and snuggle. I think I will do that right now.

Boats August 2007

There is water in my blood and when I make a picture like this it is hard for my to deny. I don't know the first thing about sailing but boats and water are some of my favorite subjects. When I look at this picture I feel like the moment is bursting with possible adventure. This is just the calm before, this is the delicious anticipation. This means business.

Red Wine - October 2006

This was the beginning of my playing with macro phase, which of course I have not get out grown. The wine we are drinking is left over from our wedding as it is only a few weeks later. When I look at this picture I feel warm and nostalgic. It is certainly not my best shot ever but it was when I started to feel like I could really make a picture. Also it makes me crave Sunday afternoon, good cheese and red wine.

Public Gardens May 2009

Way back in May we had a stretch of fine weather. It was awesome. One day after work I wandered over to the Public Gardens with my trusting little Canon PowerShot A560 and started snap some pictures. There were lots of flowers, I love flowers. But on my way out of the gate I snapped this one and it turned out to be my favorite of the day I think. I love the colours, they make me feel energized. What do you think?

Cap Pele July 2008

It is hard for me to explain how I feel when I see this.
Breathless, graceful, proud, certain of my faith and relaxed all at the same time. Until I met Gil, until we began our routine treks to to the Acadian heartland, until I came to this shore I never had a place that truly felt like family, like home. It doesn't matter that half the time I don't understand a lick of what is being said to me. It doesn't matter that I can't trace a drop of my own heritage to these warm Northumberland shores. Here in this easy place with it's easy pace and profound beauty my soul has found a resting place.

I love today

Today was a good day. I have a headache now and the kitchen is a mess but I am still very happy.

Random...

Okay so I planted the herbs. They grew. In fact they are huge. Now what?
I am guessing there is some process to harvesting them. I know I should use them for cooking. Hmmm cooking, there is a good idea; we have been doing so little lately. Let’s face it we are lazy. Because we don’t do prep work, like say taking something out of the freezer to thaw the night before, we end up after work with no plan, a frozen hunk of chicken thighs and too hungry mean peoples. So we end up ordering in or running out and grabbing something. Which in the long run has to cost a lot more money, plus we end up throwing out a load of food every week. AND it is not as good for us. I would really like to change this behaviour. I think it can be done. I think that we both need to learn a little more self discipline, me especially since I often think that Gil is just going along to stop my bitchy hungry whinging. And the truth is I always feel better, happier, and healthier when we are eating at home. AND I actually enjoying being in the kitchen which is something I never thought I would say. I have a ton of recipes book marked on the computer that I am dying to try, really at the end of the day it is just a matter of motivation, why is that part so hard?
Why does living a healthy life seem so much like work to me? I mean it is not like this means I can never have a nice meal out, nor does it mean I can never have a glass of pop or some chips, it just means these things need to be done in moderation. Actually the pop thing is going pretty good. I am pleased on the account. We are both drinking a LOT more water. One of the 18 litre bottles for the cooler is averaging two weeks. That is 9 litres a week between the two of us or roughly 1.3 litres a day each, not counting what we drink out and about. Yay us! Actually back to the herbs for a moment I have read about people who make their own flavoured water by adding herbs to it, I might try that. With the mint, not the chives, ‘cause that just sounds gross.
Okay so what I need is a plan of action that doesn’t make my inner spoiled princess stomp her feet until she takes over. A plan that means we are using the groceries we buy but not waiting until 7:30 to eat when everyone has gotten cranky and mean. This is going to HAVE to include some meal planning. Flying by the seat of your pants is fun but usually where things tend to go awry. It also means I have to set aside some time each evening, half an hour or so where I do meal prep for the next day. LOTS of things can be done in advance. Things can be defrosted, chopped, boiled... you get the picture. Heck I have a great slow cooker, I really should be using that more.
Of course another part of this whole plan need to be having a clean kitchen to work in. A dirty kitchen is a huge deterrent and a convenient excuse for not getting down to business. In order to have a nice clean kitchen I have to stop fluttering and really start FLYing again (www.flylady.net) I was doing good for a long time but as so often happens with me I fell off and could not/would not pick myself up again. I don’t know why. It is such a good system and I am SOOOOOO happy when my house is clean. And I don’t mean pass a white glove test clean, I just mean things put away, not tripping over things, not embarrassed when people come over, not hunting for my underwear at 5:30am clean. And it is so easy when I follow the FLYlady. I know I will never live in a Martha Stewart house, that is just not me, and I probably wouldn’t want to, you would have to walk around on egg shells being careful not to disturb anything, but I would like a little Martha, a lot of FLYlady and a dose of Rachel Ray thrown in there. I think if I can find the right routine I can do this. Nix that if I can find the right routine and not get thrown off at the first bump. Because that is my real problem. I will be chugging along working a routine like a champ but when something disruptive comes along, like a cold or a new job or a house guest... ZAP! Bye bye routine. And then I just ... well I just don’t get back up. Who knows why?! Because god knows I am happier and easier to live with when I am on a routine, a schedule . Bumps come along, I have to learn to roll with them. That goes for my whole darn life. If you asked my loving husband what upsets me the very most he would tell you “the plan changing” then he would probably shudder and weep a lone tear. Because folks, the plan changes ALL THE TIME!!! Which means on a very regular basis I am totally thrown and don’t deal well. And poor Gil is often the focus of my frustration when that happens. It is so unfair to him. I know I am never going to be totally laid back and cool, I am just not made that way. I look at my eldest brother and I know that it is something that I must come by naturally because he hates it when the plan changes too. Of course he deals with it so much better. I need to take lessons from him. Geesh, talk about things I never thought I would say. I should point out at this point that this is also a man whose house is ALWAYS spotless. Always. I mean it. It is kind of sickening. Hey has stopped just shy of covering his furniture with plastic. (can you say OCD?) Yup I wish I could be more like him in lots of ways.
So where do I start? Well today I go back to the baby steps that the FLYlady taught me. That is best place to go back to. Also when the vegetable fairy comes I am going to harangue my awesome husband into making a meal plan with me. I can do this. I just need to take one baby step at a time. Wish me luck!

Geesh who thought wondering what to do with my herbs would lead here? Gotta love my train of thought. Have a great day.

Yay!

Sitting here at 5pm on Friday afternoon, lapping up the sun, enjoying a beer and playing on my new laptop. Seriously, does life get any better than this?? Gilly is going to BBQ us some dinner. I have nothing on the go tonight except maybe putting some laundry away. I am a happy duckling. Actually I have basically nothing going on all weekend. Really this is the kind of weekend I live for. I will garden, I will putter around the house, I will play with my new toy guilt free. No one expects me to be anywhere at any given time. Yup. This is the life.

Shannon is home!

It has been a long busy week in my universe. Preparing for Shannon to arrive, waiting for Shannon to arrive, jumping up and down while Shannon arrived on a very late flight, on a week night. Getting by on 4 hours of sleep and then hosting a party for our new arrived guest. Of course we stayed up way late and imbibed much libation. I was feisty and tipsy. Then today we had a day packed with friends, brunching and shopping. We tried to stay awake tonight to watch a movie but I think Shannon was asleep before the opening credits were done rolling, poor darling, it must be rough to be all disjointed in time. Me, I am over tired of course, up much too late several nights in a row but I am so happy. Today we had brunch at the Celtic. It was me, Gil, Shannon, Aimee and John Boy and I felt total contentment.

Sugar High

Have you ever had so much sugar that you felt drunk? How about had a hangover from it the next day? This is basically where I am at the moment. Minus the spins thank god. But I am certainly feeling like there were foreign invaders in my blood steam last night. We had SO much fun. We hosted a S'mores night. A few weeks ago Aimee and I were making S'mores on the BBQ and we started thinking off all the silly and creative ways we could make S'more other then the traditional method. And thus the idea was born. We invited a bunch of friends and every one brought something to contribute. I have never seen more forms of sugar in one place out side of a candy store in my life. People got really creative and fun. The little kids had a blast and then ran in circles around the yard which was a good thing. Only two ate until they felt ill. The adults also had a ton of fun. Everyone got so creative with this. And the rain held off so we sat outside most of the night. We saw lots of people who we don't get to see nearly often enough including DOUG! who moved home to Hamilton six months ago but I haven't seen in a decade! (it is is very reassuring to know fyi that awesome people don't change in their awesomeness, they just get better)
The whole thing only lasted about six hours but I feel like we have great memories for a life time.
We loved it so much we are thinking about doing it again in August. Too bad I won't be able to eat sugar again until then...urg... the sugar hangover ....
Have a wonderful day every one.

Saturday chill out...

Someone asked me if I have big plans for the weekend and I said no and they said that is too bad. and I said NO WAY! It is awesome. I love that the plans for this weekend are totally minimal. Why are plans on the weekend so darned important? My week is spent running like a wild child from one important task to the next, I pretty much fall into a coma every night at 9:30 because I am exhausted. Why oh why do I need to do that to my weekend? Today I have talked on the phone for darn near two hours with a friend I haven't talked to in ages, drank two cup of tea, caught up on a blog I love to read, cleaned my belly button and been browbeaten into giving my cats gooshy food. Oh and I threw in a load of laundry, but that is not work, that is me totally gaga in love with my new washer and dryer. The laundry was pure hedonistic pleasure, clean laundry was just gravy. Why would I want to change anything about today?