happy birthday

a weekend away
to salmon arm,
brought this girl
to come stay with us.

photo credit - Saige McCann

she is adorable,
and adventurous,
and earthy,
and fun to be with.
she rarely wears shoes -
so this of course
is perfect for her.

photo credit - Saige McCann

she is quite the expert.
it has inspired me
to possibly put one
in my yard -
just to practice
balancing on it -
not necessarily walking -
but that may come.
she also
collected things -
to make tea.

which was was lovely
to look at -
and tasted mildly
pretty -
if pretty were a taste -
and sweet -
because of the sugar
of course.
i love how she
just DOES stuff -
she has a curious mind
and doesn't seem to
care about conforming
to this world.
happy birthday,
dear alanna.

a cursed blessing

these are
my honeys
reading glasses.

he has many pair -
all around
the house,
the cars,
on his person.
he can't seem to function
without them
anymore.
he is frustrated,
with the fact
that he is getting older,
that his body is not the way it once was,
that he NEEDS these glasses
to see.
i need to wear them
sometimes too.
when i am doing
fine needlework,
or small art pieces.
or reading tiny medicine labels.
i once used them
to look at myself,
up close,
in the mirror!
don't try this!
there may be a good reason
our eyesight starts to fail
as we age.
because russ can't
see all my wrinkles,
and random whiskers,
and large pores.
and grey roots -
he still thinks
i am as beautiful
as the day we met.
curse for him,
blessing for me.

the lilacs

don't blink -
or you will miss them.
i wish
they lasted longer.
but, right now
i will take
the scent that
has filled my kitchen.

a good day

today just
smells
like a
good day.

a fun gift

on friday
i received my covert robin gift.
it came all the way
from ontario -
which is my
old stomping grounds.
it is some lovely-ness
from nerissa.
she made me
a wonderful 3 way clutch purse,
and an envelope bag,
and a sweet little necklace.
this girl has some
serious sewing skills!
i especially love
the lining fabric
in the envelope bag.
and the necklace and the clutch
just happened
to match my outfit
perfectly that day.
thank you so much nerissa!
you can check out
her skills over here.

a new friend

i am
usually
quite
shy.
i really am
an introvert.
but,
blogging has been
good for me.
i've put myself 'out there' -
a little bit.
and people really are friendly.
i made a new friend last week.
i contacted Geninne -
a fellow blogger,
and artist.
i offered her some feathers
that i had -
because i noticed
she collected them.
and she
offered me
one of her
lovely little watercolor prints.
isn't it adorable?
i love getting mail.
thank you Geninne!

a girls night

last weekend
a bunch of my
best girls.
went out to paint ceramics.
i had done this before,
but never came away
with anything useful.
so, i wanted to go -
to be with the girls,
and to spend some
time with saige.
but, wasn't super excited.
i'm glad i went -
i found a great sushi plate to paint.
and saige did a bowl.
i figured out a pattern to do -
right away.
(no creative block)
even more exciting -
that saige seemed to really enjoy herself.
(no creative block for her either) -
and she did an amazing job -
and everyone said so.
it is a wonderful thing to see -
her confidence building.
here is our creations before firing....

 

and after.

a country

happy Canada day!!
y'all
i feel so blessed
to live in this country.

jasper-banff

a smell

it smells like spring.

 

a book

well it doesn't seem
like just any book.
chapter by chapter -
i am brought to tears.
i need this book.
i am learning -
to notice &
be thankful.
i often chide koen -
for being too slow,
when i should be
learning from him -
to take my time -
to feel,
to notice,
to enjoy,
and to see.
i don't know
if i can ever be thankful
for dirty dishes.
but,
i am willing -
to learn,
and stretch,
and grow.

a sunshine-y week

is it really january?
this past week
has been
so sunny,
and crisp,
and frosty.
with a bit of
the white stuff thrown in the mix. 
it's my favorite kind of weather.
i get all inspired
and motivated -
to do
happy,
sunshine-y
things.
donkey (that is our dogs nickname)
has been enjoying it too.
i am thankful
for these days.