SWEETGRASS

'in the civil rights movement, white people were the help"

2012-01-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

An interesting perspective.

http://www.racialicious.com/2011/08/11/quoted-how-hollywood-and-the-help-screw-up-history/

art for heart- a fundraiser for Mosaic Rescue

2012-01-16T16:41:00.000-08:00

‘Art for Heart’ offers families a chance to forever capture the spirit of their pooches and aid animals in need.

Sunday, January 29th & Sunday, February 5th -Kimberly Denness-Thomas and Janet Land invite you and your pooch to Kim’s home studio in Victoria for a photographic portrait sitting of your dog/dogs.

Sittings cost $50.00 for a single dog, $75.00 for multiple furries and include a 20 minute photo shoot culminating in a cd of up to 12 images to print as you wish for Valentine’s Day and the knowledge that you are helping to save the life of a dog in need..

Monies raised from ‘Art for Heart” help Mosaic Rescue continue to rescue dogs from high kill shelters, treat their heart worm and any medical conditions that arise, and see them healthy and loved by a forever family.

For a further $50.00 you can pick your favourite image from the sitting and have it turned into a beautiful art piece -a 6x6in ceramic tile, mounted on a painted wood frame - A unique way of displaying your furry friend.

Kim Denness-Thomas is a photographer and theatre/vocal/television coach who has a passion for animals. She is excited to give back to Mosaic Rescue in honor of her own Mosaic “Saffron” formerly known as “Whitney”.

Click on link for examples of Kim’s animal photography http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweetgrassimages/show/ and
contact Janet Land at Mosaic Rescue to set up your pooch’s portrait session - info@mosaicrescue.ca

pet photography

2012-01-06T19:45:00.000-08:00

It begins.....you all knew it would happen, and you were right.

I will be creating pet photography art, for a fundraiser for Mosaic Dog rescue "Art for Heart".
more info to come, stay tuned.
meanwhile, an example of my animal photography.

http://www.flickr.com//photos/sweetgrassimages/show/

normal?

2012-01-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

And poof, just like that it is over. The holiday season, the reno's the drinking and festivities.....back to life, or something close to resembling it.

It was fast and furious, but in the end, regardless of the insane schedule we kept to get the downstairs reno done, we did indeed enjoy the holidays, our family, friends and time close to home with the furries.

Now the schedule picks up a new pace leading quickly into show season, and not having had the chance to catch much of a breath, this seems daunting today, but soon, this will all be 2012's normal.

What is normal anyway?
Normal is whatever it means to you in your life.

In our world, it means fur is a condiment, pawprints on the hardwood, scripts spewing out of printer, cats meowing their disapproval at their empty food bowls, dogs trying to figure out how to tell us they need to go out, friends in costumes and fancy bevvies, cars that mostly work, the security of family and friends in a crisis and the sense of humour to deal with it all as it comes.

2012, a new year, a new season and more of what is normal around here.

reno's OMG what were we thinking

2011-12-14T01:46:00.000-08:00

Yes it is the holiday season, but we have hardly noticed. We are up to our elbows in paint, and drywall dust and lighting fixtures....and....and..... ack, it is exhausting.
We are only doing a facelift, how do peeps live with this for months on end?

I will be glad to get my house and life back when the last paint brush is washed.
meantime there is a bath with my name on it.

Flame

2011-12-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

We have had Flame, our Tortie with tude feline for almost 19 years. She is Abby's kitten and we have known her since she was born in our home.
She is feisty and hissy, loves dogs, hates cats, hates anyone but us, but is really very loving in her own way.

I am writing about her as I realize she does not get mentioned enough in my posts or pics.

Today is the story of Flame and the Banana Cream Pie.

We were having a BBQ.
Invited many friends, potluck style to our home and were enjoying a hot sunny Victoria summer day back in the mid 1990's

One of our guests had brought a huge, I'm talking 4 inch high, home made banana cream pie and had placed it on our kitchen table, waiting to be served.

I was organizing things with Daiv, in and out of the kitchen, but , I had not seen a pair of flame coloured eyes, gazing longingly at this pie.
I had not seen 4 white socked paws, resting on the chair directly under said pie poised to pounce.
I had not seen the craze this pie had induced in our Flame...
I had not seen, until I walked into the kitchen and spied Flame, knee deep with all four paws IN the pie, face planted in the cream up to the tender furries in her ear.
I had not seen her passion for pie until it was too late.

I remember yelling "FLAAAAAAAAAAAAME NO" only to be met with a steely gaze, whipped cream globs dripping from her whiskers back onto the destroyed pie, looking at me as if to say -
"what, what are you looking at, nothing to see here" - as she gingerly stepped out of the pie, the way a cat walks in snow...step, flick, step flick, throwing dirty looks at me over her shoulder as she flicked pie and cream from one end of the kitchen to the other.

I have many more stories like this to share, stay tuned.
Flame is in all ways a really cat, who thinks she is a dog.

A David Giblin original watercolour for sale

2011-12-06T23:37:00.000-08:00

I told you to watch this space and tada...
Here is the first offering of David Giblin's latest work.

Framed and matted watercolour on Arches Art Paper- "White Lillies"
18 X 24 inches
$375.00
Just in time for the holidays

to view it for consideration: email seachild@shaw.ca

My talented hubby artist

2011-12-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

Many of you know I have a tremendously talented partner.
You may not know he has taken time away from his painting in order to teach art to youth on the Autism Spectrum for a few years. He is back at it however, brush in hand, serious focus in his eyes....staring that thoughtful gaze out into the world of light once more.

Some of his work is currently hanging in the homes of Julie Andrews ( yes I really do mean 'Mary Poppins' ), in the private collection of the Aanenson Family - owners of Old Dutch Potato Chips, in the private collection of Mark Jones Senior of Denver Colorado, in the private collection of Tom Curry amongst many others.

He has picked up the paint brush once more and is offering some of his recent pieces to the world.
I do like to toot a loud horn here as I think his work is exquisite and when you see the depth of colour /texture and atmosphere he achieves whilst using watercolour, I think you will agree.

here is a website showcasing some of his portraits ( including me, yup, "The Russian")
http://www.paintingsilove.com/artist/davidgiblin

If you are interested in commissioning a portrait, seeing more of his work or simply telling him how fabulous he is , you can reach him through seachild@shaw.ca

Potato Chip Sammich

2011-11-27T00:34:00.000-08:00

Okay I realize this harkens back to a childhood filled with food that could be reheated, popped from a can or toasted and truly does not offer anything nutritionally....but...sometimes a good old fashioned potato chip 'sammich' is the perfect food.

How do you make one you ask?
Well let me tell you, there is a right way and wrong way. The wrong way involves harder bread, margarine and flavoured chips. * shudders* just wrong on every level.

Here is the correct way.

1st -start with the freshest, squishiest, softest bread you can get. Nothing too crusty like a baguette. It should be at room temperature
(As I rarely eat bread I go for the Sesame White spongey bread and totally indulge.)

2nd -take out 2 pieces of said spongey bread and lay them down on a clean counter and butter them right to the edges
*real butter is necessary, chilled but not hard, don't skimp, this is the 'glue'

3rd -start the laying of the chips. :)
(I recommend Lays Classic Potato Chips, no trans-fats, no sulfites and nice and salty. )
overlap the flattest and biggest chips you can find, like laying tile on a roof, on one piece of bread only.
Lay chips right to the edge of the bread until you have about an inch of chips stacked
You don't want to rush this step, the integrity of the sammich depends on it

4th, and this is tricky!
- take other piece of bread and cover the chips gently creating a sammich.
Once in place with all corners lined up, SQUISH, without wiggling, with the palm of your hand, then SQUISH again.
This is where that soft bread and butter become glue and hold those slippery chips in place. Your sammich will have decreased in height by about 2/3 of an inch.

5th- carefully lift without tilting onto your plate and using a serrated knife, gently cut sammich in half.
( Do not cut before placing on plate..trust me, you will be sorry, especialy if those were the last chips in the bag.)

6th-Lift 1/2 sammich to your mouth, don't worry, some chips will fall it takes practice...... and take a big bite.....Noms!

Enjoy.

Dear world, we need your help with votes

2011-11-22T19:42:00.000-08:00

I am lucky enough to work with some amazing youth. Currently one of these groups http://www.mosaiclearning.org/ is in the running for some huge funding. But, it is based on using social media to drum up support and votes.

We are in the final 8 days to vote and you can vote everyday. No need for a big sign up, just an email addy and your vote can help these youth who are also Autism Spectrum, continue to express themselves artistically, for arts sake.

Come see them in A Midsummer Night's Dream this June.

Vote through the AvivaCommuntyFund.org for the Calling All Characters theatre program.

You can vote from anywhere in the world, so please help spread the word.
Thank you.

It is time

2011-11-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

Here is your chance after many requests for family, pet and individual sessions, and in time for the holidays.

I will be setting up mini sessions for families, pets and individual portraits.
I can go to you in your home environment or have you come to my studio set up.
Please email me for more details: seachild@shaw.ca

Mini session includes an 8X10 and 5X7 print plus a cd of 10 images. All for under $75.00.
Book before Dec 5th and have prints in time for gift giving

email: seachild@shaw.ca
examples of my style in this Facebbok public album, ofcourse I can customize anyway you like..
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150471356455664.413825.671140663&type=3

a new chapeaux

2011-11-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

I don't remember a time when hats were not a part of my life.
Big ones ( and my goodness there really were some ginormously brimmed hats ) leather ones, straw, felt, cloched, new, vintage, you name it. I have an extensive hat and hat box collection and I am very proud of it.

When I try on hats, I am always transported to images of women in days of yore, hands flitting to adjust their chapeau, adornments of ribbon, birds, feathers, hat stand brimming with possibilities.
Leaving the store with hat box in tow, how can one not adjust their gait,stand a little taller and walk in the footsteps of so many who have shared this tradition. Roberta's Hats is my Milliner of choice in town.

I love hats for all these reasons and because they keep my glasses from getting rain drops on them :)

A new hat..... an old custom.......timeless.

* hat stand art pic seen here by artist

It's the little things..

2011-11-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

It started innocently enough. A little powder to even out my skin, a light translucent powder that matches my skin tone..that is all I really wear daily, that and lipgloss.

I find a product I love. Stila Illuminating Powder. Seriously, I have weird coloured skin it seems because matching my tones without looking green, orange or yellow seems near impossible. I am sure I should have stock in cosmetic companies.

So I buy the powder from a little store on Johnson st.
I go back for more as it is the only place in town that sells.....really...THE ONLY PLACE.
I use it for a year or so and go back for a replacement but.........

The store is no more!!!!!!!!

I try so many powders and potions, counter ladies all over Victoria have my picture on their boards saying 'watch out...she is difficult' I have tried on so many. I settle on one.
I look sickly however in daylight, a yellow cast to my skin, people ask if I am feeling alright. I tell them it is just my make up.
I breakdown and find Stila online, but shipping is as much as it costs and it takes 5 weeks to get here ...sigh! I order it.

A couple of years pass...I hear that Sephora, who do indeed carry Stila, is opening in town..... I wait.
I get excited...

it opens....after a year of waiting.
I am there day 2...
Stila????

Hello......Stila????

" Oh I am sorry, we are not carrying Stila at this location"

WHAT???????????
I try not to breakdown....it is only powder right?

I try their offerings for a replacement..

I get asked if I am feeling alright that evening........sigh!
I order online....AGAIN......

A year passes again...
Sephora whispers they may be bringing Stila this fall.
I try not to get excited.
I wait, let them get all their fall/winter stock...and then today.... I call.
I ask THE question " Do you carry Stila illuminating powder?"

I wait while they look......

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

I am so excited.

I know it may seem ridiculous to some and vain to others, and in the grand scheme of things it will not change the world, but I am sooooo excited and heading to the mall to pick up my makeup.

Stila......... Sephora......yay!

Saffron Monsoon speaks out for beagles everywhere

2011-11-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Saffron would like everyone to know a little bit about beagle rescue. Something we all hold very close to our hearts. This is Saffi doing what beagles should be doing, sniffing, running, being free.

Did you know that beagles are the most popular dog to use in labs and experiment on?
Did you know that some are bred solely for this purpose, in captivity and never see a garden, or even a human who is not wearing a mask?

There are organizations that are now working with these labs to try and rescue dogs who have been retired from testing and need homes, instead of euthenasia.
Working tirelessly, one step at a time until no dogs are being tested on.
The Beagle Freedom Project is one I support.

This video is beautiful, 2 dogs fresh out of their crate, their jail for the past years of their lives, taste freedom and grass for the first time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXcL_gt7L-A

let's work to end lab animal testing, beagles in particular from ever living in a crate for human experimentation again. It is a shameful, disgusting practice and is not necessary.

Sleep

2011-10-13T01:57:00.000-07:00

Sleep curls her fingers across my lashes
Teases and then is gone.
I watch late night tv instead.

Beagle Talk

2011-10-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, I might as well just acknowledge that all my posts are going to have something about the furries in them. I can't help it...they are our family, so I am fessing up and simply stating it so you all know what to expect.

That said...Saffi and Niko have been training together so we may safely let Saffi off her leash to run.
Today we went to our big park and let her go. It is so nerve wracking.....but she was amazing. I called " STOP"at one point as she was heading away fast, and she stopped immediately and sat down......from a distance , waited, I called to come, and she raced to me and sat down at my feet :).

I absolutely credit Connective training and what we are learning.
What a gift to see one flying beagle, ears straight out like rings, running circles around one big goofy sled dog, working to keep up.

Now we are home, they sit at the (now permanent ) beagle gates ( some of you refer to these as baby gates lol ) awaiting their dinners.

Saffi doing the Snoopy Dance'

stretch

2011-09-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

I stretch and yawn and find a sunbeam to warm my toes.

Furries piled in a heap close by.

Ah Friday!

mirror, mirror

2011-09-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

I am back and it is fall already...wow.

The summer was full of beach walks, shows, music, friends, and lots of lots time for beagle training and treats. This is one very food motivated puppy...lol

Saffi has been part of our family for 3 months now and we have done much learning together.

Saffron is a blossoming flower that reveals more of herself everyday and under the guidance of Michele Jarvis-Wonnacott at Connective Training, we are learning new ways to communicate with the furries we live with.
Saffi is working very hard on recall training and I am happy to report we had our first off leash at the beach day this past week.
Two dogs, running along the shore, ears up, tails in the air together. Joy is the only word that describes their state of being. How can one not feel joyful in response to that.

The idea that animals come into our lives for a reason is never more present than in our Saffron. I am seeing what a difference it makes in all our lives if I take 2 minutes to shake off the crazy energy I sometimes come home with before I walk in the door, breathe, and simply allow calm to take over.

She is the mirror that reminds me daily to choose joy each and everyday.

Such a beautiful sensitive soul.

We all should have such a responsive mirror to help us see ourselves more clearly.

A new Addition

2011-06-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

For the past 6 years we have had 2 dogs in our home.
Sage our wise old girl, husky/chow cross was an only dog until one day I met Niko at the SPCA and knew he was meant to be part of our family.

He and Sage truly loved each other and he looked to her for all guidance.
When she passed away at 17 yrs old, last October, Niko became lost and more and more depressed.
It was heart breaking to watch.

We had not considered a second dog, we were going to have a smaller furry family.....but.......
he just looked so sad unless he had company or a dog play date.

Therefore we started looking at rescues and getting used to the idea of another dog in our hearts and home.
It took a while to decide what type of dog this time. Two northern dogs in our house is A LOT of dog, and the poor cats and..and.....and.... so we considered a medium size breed. But which one?

We looked at rescues for a long time until one day we saw a little face looking at us from http://www.mosaicrescue.ca/index.htm.
A beagle- a bit of a hero- and she spoke to us. ( look at 'Whitney' in happy endings, that's our girl )

We began the process by sending in an application and arranging a home visit with the rescue.
I researched all aspects of the breed and the biggest thing I kept hearing- barking/howling and never let them off a leash.

That was a big deal for us, never?
The dream of watching two dogs flying down the beach together faded as we looked at other dog possibilities, but it always came back to this beagle who had our hearts.
We realized that running beach idea was possible..... a long leash it would be.

Whitney came for a meeting on Thursday, and it was love.
Friday she came to stay forever. Within an hour of being here she crashed on the couch and woke up, knowing she was home.

Daiv got the name game for her......and before we knew it Miss Saffron Monsoon aka 'Saffi' had wriggled her way into our hearts, onto Niko's paws, in his and our beds and we have not looked back. Almost immediately Niko's ears went back up from the depressed state they had been in and now he is trying to figure out how to be a big brother and give her guidance. A role he is not accustomed to but one he is learning.

Saffi is an absolute delight. She has an old wise face that breaks into youthful goofiness when she and Niko are playing and is the easiest dog to bring into our home I could have imagined.
Even the cats are chill with her and were from day one as evidenced by the first night on our bed with Saffi, Niko and Nessa the cat, curled up watching tv with us

Did you know that beagles are THE MOST EXPERIMENTED ON DOG IN LABS and even in vet schools for study?

Saving a beagle is a really important thing to do in our society these days.
Please read more about the use of beagles in labs here http://www.beaglefreedomproject.org/
There are some amazing people working to change this and Saffi will be a spokesperson for all beagles, blowing the whistle on this horrific practice and shining a light in dark places for animals.

There will be future Saffi and the furries, updates, but for now I will simply end this by saying we can't believe it has only been a week. it feels like she has always been home with us.
And the barking we were mildly concerned with? Nothing....barely a woof, and she stops when you simply say ' hush" She is an awesome dog and she and Niko are becoming fast friends.

RIP baby bunnies

2011-06-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

My apologies for not updating this sooner. Things got crazy busy with show season all of a sudden.

As we last checked in, the bunnies had a 10% chance of survival and we were hopeful but trying to be realistic.
In the end, 2 weeks of living life to the fullest, with love and full bellies saw our bunnies leave us quickly. Playing , hopping and happy one hour..and the next...gone :(

The best chance of survival includes at least 5 days of mom's milk and as we can not get close to replicating all the good things in it....we knew chances were small and tried to look at it as bunny hospice. Our bunnies were only two days old when Niko found them.

We really appreciate all the support we had with them. Thye brought a lot of joy while they were with us.

They are now bunny faeries in our garden.
In their honor, we bought a series of dragonfly garden lights to twinkle at dusk in the garden.

Hippity Hoppity- day 5 update

2011-05-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here we are, battling the odds of a survival rate of 10% for orphaned baby bunnies and so far ( touch wood) all 7 bunnies seem to be growing, thriving and learning to hop. ( anti jinx )

They are eating almost 3mls of their formula now at each feeding.
Daiv and I have developed some skills as well and we have got the feeding down from 90 minutes for seven bunnies to about 20 minutes. Adding a second syringe so we could each feed a bunny at the same time, made a lot of sense...too bad it took 4 days to think of it...lolololololool.

We have given them identifying names,( Smoke for the grey one, cow for the one that looks like a dairy cow etc.) but nothing permanent as every morning we make up trepidously, wondering how they fared and hoping all are okay.

Many sources of support for us, and now we are about to move them to a dog crate so they can jump about as they need safely.

A few pics for you to enjoy. Seriously, how could anyone have a bad day EVER, with baby bnnies to care for?

Baby Bunnies- Day 2

2011-05-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

We have made it through 2 days together and still have all 7 babies. Have I mentioned they are really really cute yet?
They seem to be about 6 or 7 days old. We are glad cause did you know baby bunnies need colostrum from their mama bunnies to survive? If they don't get that in the first days, their chances go way down.
( and the odds are not great to begin with )

What and how are we feeding you ask?

Well as the bunnies' mama has such rick milk, it is impossible to completely replace and why bunnies are so hard to bottle feed and have them survive.

We are feeding 1/2 goats milk, 1/2 KMR, then heat to body temp.
Add a little heavy cream, a dash of acidophilus and a little bit of colostrum.

Then we work from a teeny dropper syringe without the needle, and one bunny at a time, work the syringe into the side of cheek with bunny pointing down so it will not aspirate, and start plunging gently. Most by now have started suckling the end and this goes faster than it did yesterday when we were feeding a drop at a time.
They get fed 2 times a day, and the smaller ones that look like they need a little extra get a snack. Each feed is about 2.5 mls of formula, the snacks less.

Did I mention that bunnies 'pop' yet? They do.....hahahahhahahahahahhahaahah and it is freakin' adorable.
I think they must be working up to a hop one day, but right now, they sort of pop, and they can pop straight up in the air. We are feeding them low to the ground..lolol
They pop, have jiffle-bums, go cracker bunny, and I love when they shake their heads and sort of fall over..lol.
They are getting stronger, and are trying to climb out of their basket, but are in a BIG and deep tub inside a basket, so all is good for the moment. A few are just starting to show an opening in the corner of their eyes.

What on earth do we do when they start hopping.....yeesh!

More to come....

The Baby Bunnies Cometh

2011-05-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

Day 1-
Daiv and our 100 pound Alaskan Sled Dog, go to their regular jaunt, a big open field, for a run.

Niko then brings a teeny baby bunny to daiv, unharmed in a very gentle mouth ( he easily could have killed these bunnies and eaten them they are so tiny ) but instead, he takes Daiv to a nest of baby bunnies, alone and cold, above the ground, and makes sure Daiv knows they are there.

Daiv tells me about this when he gets home, worried about them but decides to take a wait and see approach.

Today he goes back as it is cold and raining and discovers several passed in the night ( fly free little ones ) and the remaining ones are freezing and looking distressed.
He brings them all home.......

We are now the foster parents for 7 baby bunnies, who are warmer after laying on rice socks, heated, and being wrapped in towels.
They have been fed KMR kitten formula from a dropper and are much happier than when they first arrived.

I will update their adventures here on this blog for you.
The cuteness is unbearable.

Musings on images

2011-04-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

Some of my favourite captures...posting here for your perusal as I wittle down to my top 5....hmmmmm.
comments/critique very welcome.

Please click on thumbnails for larger image...

day 13- pic of your favourite musician or band

2011-04-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

Favourite musician you ask?
One answer....only one.

STING

I HEART STING!!!!!!

If you had known my sidekick Cindy Loo Hoo and I in the 80s, you would know that every sign post in our hood had a green ink 'I heart Sting' on it.

You would know that 'Dream of the Blue Turtles' was my anthem album and 'If you Love the Russians too" my motto and we listened to it A LOT in Cindy's basement. I still listen to it ....on vinyl.

You would know I could only mumble the words " I think you guys are really hot" out loud when given the opportunity to talk to HIM face to face.
(Atleast that is how the pathetic sentence sounded in my head, what came out of my mouth through my hyperventilating body was more like ' I thkxsz youzea rawwly haaawwwttttttt' )

Gack, I still blush over the mortification of that one.

Sting let me down on one front though, he married someone else on horseback. I am still in therapy over that. How could he betray me?

Seriously...... I Heart Sting!

day 12- pic of your favourite memory

2011-04-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

This was easy and it all is around one thing.....the Volkswagon Van I grew up in.
( click on pics to see larger )

This is my mom 'Mumzie", me and our dog Sinja- circa 1972.

The sun would hit......and we would be gone.....every weekend from May to October camping in and around BC.

The van : a 1963 VW Van complete with purple psychedelic curtains in the windows.

You will notice in this next pic, a tent in the background to the right. When I became too long to sleep width wise in the van I got a pup tent.
I had to put it and tear it down by myself.
This came with a steep learning curve and a lot of frustrated young person moments screaming at tent pegs.

This van and those trips have a LOT of memories.

There was the time Sinja and her puppies ( about 10 weeks old ) came camping with us.

The puppies went exploring in the wee hours.... in the pouring rain.

I must have been about 6 running around Long Beach in the dark, chasing puppies.

I scooped them all up, soaking wet and tucked them deep into my sleeping bag to get dry and warm without alerting the parental units.

-then here was the time my folks sat around the fire in the rain after I had to gone to bed, ( in the tent I had haphazardly put up) and watched, giggling, as the tent filled up with water and then collapsed on me, sending me spluttering through the nylon disaster, in the dark, to find out what happened.
I was met with a lot of hysterical adults.....harumph, I did not think it was so amusing.

-then there was the time the van wouldn't start in the ferry lineup to Saltspring so Mumzie and Teresa ( best friend of Mumzie's ) used their charms to get a couple of hippy dudes to crawl under said van and wire together the appropriate wires so we weren't left behind...

then there was the time....well you get the idea...

so many memories...... such a great van. Oh the 70s!

day 11- pic of something you hate

2011-04-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

Oppression is the word I come to when I try to conjure up something that instills a feeling of hate inside of me.
Oppression, and all the ugliness, heartache, violence and turmoil that this word represents.

Instead of just a single image to illustrate this, as I think it is individual for all of us, even in the global aspect of the word...I would like to share a video of a beautiful performance art by Kseniya Simonovoa that arose out of an oppressed society to offer a little hope.

Truly breathtaking....
please click link below.

Link to Sandpainting

They grow......they like me, the really like me.

2011-04-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

...and the latest update is 4 healthy sprouting lotus ( loti? ) readying for transplant soon to the pond. Perhaps after the freezing nights get warmer though...Brrrrrrr......

The next group of 8 seeds to be happening asap.
Need a Lotus? Doesn't everyone? Talk to me.

Day 10- a pic of your most treasured item

2011-04-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

I must admit, at first it was difficult to pinpoint one item in particular.
I mean I treasure many things, both abstract and tangible:
-Daiv
- our planet, ( especially through the lens of my camera )
-friends and family
-the sunshine falling through cedars
-the vibrations of the past through the touch of old stones in far away places
-the sound of purring kitty on my shoulder
-a muddy dog with tongue hanging out after a really good run at the lake

I could go on and on but this is asking for one specific item so I will oblige.

There is one thing in my possession now, that I have cherished as long as I remember and it is that 1 thing I treasure above all else. It is what I would take out of a burning house, once Daiv and furries were safe...

It is a tiny Tea House.

It first made its home in my grandparents house.

Visiting, I would sit on the floor in front of the coffee table and be oh... so... careful.... the joy of all those moving mini shoji screens and removable parts, playing with it for hours.
It is a puzzlebox house - every single teeny piece comes apart...nary a nail.

I would imagine the people living inside, the worlds they came from. I think it was truly my first directing gig...the set, the scene, the players.
I was 4.

It is a piece of history that is tangible and shelters the remembrances of special times visiting Nan and Gramps, of being treated as a grown up with my lime cordial and peak freans, and being trusted to play with the Tea House. A time of wishes sent to the wishing well in back of their home, of playtimes "doing" Nan's hair while avoiding Ming, the cat.....the mean hissy cat.

After Nan and Grams were gone, I was asked what I wanted to remember them by......that question was easy. The teeny Tea House.

It is a truly treasured item that I am happy to now have in my home, on the mantel.
I still play with it and imagine the people who live there and remember being 4.....and in awe....of the Tea House

Day 9- a pic of the person who has got you through the most

2011-04-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

This is easy.....Mumzie .. In a word....she is the best Mumzie ever.

Houston we have lift off...

2011-04-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

I woke and wandered sleepy faced to the container holding my lotus seeds to change the water and hope for a miracle and what do my eyes behold?

A SPROUT.

I did not kill them.......
So excited. One green sprout, and at least one other with a green tip poking through promising to sprout soon.

6 days after scarifying them and placing them in water we have sprout lift off.

Things don't look good in lotus town

2011-04-01T21:32:00.001-07:00

Please send some love to my little lotus flower seeds.

There is a fuzzy layer around the outside of the pod, that I hear can spell death to seeds.
I will be changing water frequently and leaving under the light....but eeeekkkkk.
All paws are crossed.
The largest white tipped seed does have a sprout showing......so hopeful come on little dudes.

Day 8- Pic of my night...

2011-04-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

They did not request a specific night so I am going to add a picture I took atop Mt. Tolmie during the "super moon" event recently.

A gorgeous and clear night , albeit F-F-Freezing cold, high over the city.
David, Niko and I tromp around Victoria with my tripod and camera gear to capture the moon event.

I like this pic of the streets of Victoria, and the headlights of the cars buzzing past.

The Angry Birds..they come........

2011-03-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Ha ha ha ha ha ...so good. I had to share with all of you.
I still can not make it past level 12 dammit.

http://www.wsbt.com/sns-rooster-teeth-angry-birds-trailer-20110330,0,1208483.htmlstory

Day 7- pic of the person I do the most f*cked up things with...

2011-03-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

Hmmmmm I have had several days to think about this and it has different faces for different parts of my life, as I am sure it is for you as you reflect on some of the more ummmmm wacky antics in your pasts.

The one constant who, without fail, I find myself in the strangest situations with time and time again is my partner, David.

We can't leave the house together without something happening.
Perhaps a lost dog jumps in the open window of the car at a stop light, or a woman runs from a dangerous situation straight into Daiv, or we find a rodeo/carnival in the middle of Navajo Nation where such a thing really does not belong and bang, in comes a tornado ( see above pic ).

Whatever strangeness it involves, you can be sure, Daiv and I are in the thick of it.
I assure you we do not go looking for it, but somehow it finds us anyway *giggle*.

Do you have a good memory of the two of us I have not mentioned?
Write me and tell me all about it in the comments.

Everyone has someone in their lives like this...who is yours?

The Lotus.....step one- germination

2011-03-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

Can I grow my own water lotus and water lilies from seed?
Good freakin question. I know that the cost of these already potted at the nursery is astronomical, so I am endeavoring to try.

I researched and ordered some seeds through a reputable seller on ebay.

My seeds came with a handful of instructions that seem.......well......straight forward enough?

I am going to blog about these growing adventure in the hopes it could help others, that others can comment and help me, and that perhaps we can stick it to the man a bit over the cost of pond plants :)

The water lotus seeds came in these packages...

I am choosing two of each colour to start for a total of 12 plants. These seeds have a very long shelf life, so am hopeful for more in the future.

First it says you must scarify or cut into the hard outer shell of the pod.

Hmmm I tried a couple of things....

-exacto knife is recommended to nick the top, ummmm cut the seed in half 'oooops, sorry little lotus'

( notice the little white bit in front of the knife in pic )....

- a pair of small needle nose pliers and my fairy cheese grater ( so named as it was part of a teeny set of teeny baking utensils given to us by Bruno and Bruce for our Faery Wedding ) finally did the job.

Important to note that I needed to put the seed pod in the round wire cutter part, the needle nosed end simply worked as a great slingshot for the pod *rolls eyes*..

Once each little pod showed a sliver of white, like the inside of a coconut, I placed them in a see through container cleaned with just water ( no soap ) and added warm water to it.

Hmmmm a few are sinking, a few are floating...I have no idea what that means....

I need to change the water twice a day, or as it gets cloudy and keep it about 21 degrees celcius ( 70 for you American peeps )

I hope in 1-4 days, I will see the sprout of a little green stem...

meanwhile the red night flowering water lily tubers simply required being placed in a container of warm water....

Okay everyone.....GROW!!!!!

Day 6- pic of someone/thing who makes you laugh

2011-03-28T01:39:00.000-07:00

This question asked..."who/what makes you laugh?" makes one go tromping through memory lane.
Oh man...the memories....

I am blessed with a lot of wonderful people in my life. I know this and appreciate everyone so much for all the gifts they possess.

It is not hard however to pick the one person above all others who consistently makes me laugh messy giggles, hysterical guffaws, tears down face have to pee, kind of laughter that hurts your face, and that person is Kirstie.

She is simply one of the most shameless gigglers of all time with an infectious, mischevious spirit and the fun we have together is unlike any other. 'Trouble', is one way we have been described together.

Sadly, we can only get together every couple of years, from our far off worlds, and release some of the giggle steam that has been building. I would love to have a little of that every day.

This pic is Kirstie and I, moments after she convinced me to look in the fountain in Gijon and look for the invisible fish..
umm *SPLASH* is what I got instead.

In our current state of turmoil in the world...laugher could well prove to be our best ally.

Love you Kirstie...

DAy 5 - pic of something you love...

2011-03-27T00:49:00.000-07:00

I love crows.

From the classroom crow named Toby who hung out on a window ledge beside me in grade 6 begging lunch scraps, to the crow we rescued as a baby and hand fed with an eye dropper for three months
( every 90 minutes -yeesh) and who became our ' Indigo' staying with us for 8 years, to the mystical and magical stories of crows through the ages.

I love crows.

Day 4- pic of something you'd like to do again

2011-03-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

Again please?
Put me on a train anywhere in Europe and I am happy, happy, happy.
This pic was taken on a nightrain from Cologne to Prague.
I whiled away the hours catching up on postcards, listening to music and plotting my next adventure.

Earlier I had met some wonderful peeps who I shared a picnic with at the train station while waiting for our train as it was late - story about that in "Cueing Up" from 2009 http://sweetgrass-sweetgrass.blogspot.com/2009/11/cueing-up-orwill-this-line-ever-end.html
Every moment made a little sweeter by the smells, sounds, people, etc that you meet at train stations.

There is Simply no better way to travel, in my humble opinion, than on a train in Europe.

Again Please!

Day 3- pic of cast of favourite tv show

2011-03-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

Well this one is easy.
'Tiga Talk' of course.
I am including the cast and crew photo and yes it does include me :)
Not sure if this is breaking the rules of this 30 day thingy, but well...don't care. * giggle*

I have never been much of a rule follower :)
Click on pic to make bigger.

Curious about this television show? Check them out at http://tigatalk.com/

Day 2, pic of myself and Someone I have been closest to the longest

2011-03-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Cindy and I have been BFF since Grade 4 at Willows Elementary.
Many funny, dramatic and hand holding times through the years.

This pic is from a New Years Eve Party sometime in the early 90s at Daiv and my's old house.
I can hear her saying, as she looks upon this pic." Oh man, it hurts"

Love ya Miss Cindy Loo Hoo.

Day 1- 30 days

2011-03-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

15 facts about me..hmmmmmm....in no particular order

1- I like to sing really loudly and badly when I am alone
2- rain is not my friend and I do not wear gray well at all.
3- Diana Gabaldon is my guilty reading pleasure
4- I was walking at 7 months old, to the chagrin of my poor Mumzie
5- neither of my hyphened last names are my original last name
6- I am a gypsy that craves an anchor. A challenging contradiction
7- I do not fear death or dying, but bats????? Yup, I fear them
8- I have had to dress up in a bear costume over 30 times in my life and not all for the same job
9- Lemurs are my favourite animal in the world
10-This is me..I was Russian in a past life, painted by Daiv

11-I do not sing in the shower, but I hum when I brush my teeth
12-I am really very shy. I am just noisy to cover it up
13-wanted to be a vet and would 'borrow' neighborhood animals to practice bandage wraps in my room when I was little. I returned them :)
14-the first song I remember memorizing all the lyrics to was 'Hotel California' I think I was 6.
15-I often want to drop everything and simply travel the world taking photographs

30 days

2011-03-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

I am going to attempt to do this everyday for thirty days :) I encourage you to try it as well. A lovely way to capture memories through images.

day one . A picture of yourself with fifteen facts
day two . A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day three. A picture of the cast from your favorite show
day four. A picture of something you'd like to do again
day five. A picture of something you love
day six . A picture that makes you laugh
day seven . A picture of the person you do the most fucked up things with
day eight . A picture of your night
day nine . A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day ten . A picture of your most treasured item
day eleven . A picture of something you hate
day twelve . A picture of your favorite memory
day thirteen . A picture of your favorite band or artist
day fourteen. A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day fifteen . A picture of something you want to do before you die
day sixteen . A picture of someone who inspires you
day seventeen . A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day eighteen . A picture of your biggest insecurity
day nineteen . A picture and a letter
day twenty . A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day twenty one . A picture of something you wish you could forget
day twenty two . A picture of something you wish you were better at
day twenty three . A picture of your favorite book
day twenty four . A picture of something you wish you could change
day twenty five . A picture of your day
day twenty six . A picture of something that means a lot to you
day twenty seven . A picture of yourself and a family member
day twenty eight . A picture of something you're afraid of
day twenty nine . A picture that can always make you smile
day thirty . A picture of someone you miss

OHM?

2011-03-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

Kim attempts to meditate!

Chetna Tracy Boyd of Dancing Lotus Yoga http://www.dancinglotusyoga.com/ was giving a yoga workshop for Tumbleweeds Theatre last week and demystified what meditation is for me a little bit.

'Start with the breath, bring awareness back to the breath' she told us.

I could do that. I am a vocal coach for heavens sake, I teach people how to connect with their breath all the time, I can do that.

During this class I found that I was able to really achieve a place of stillness. The whole group aged 6-20 achieved this stillness. It was magic. Chetna is magic.
I wanted to bring it home really badly. I wanted to give meditation a shot.

I made my first real attempt to meditate this evening.
With all the upheaval in the wake of the quake in Japan and the Tsunami, the worries about the impact on each person's life there and its far reaching effects, and now the reactors...... I needed to find a way to still my energy, to get some sleep and some balance.

I made a conscience decision to sit and meditate.

I gathered up a couple of big comfy pillows and sat, fingers in the "ok" position on my knees and started to concentrate on my breath.

It went a little something like this;

Breathe in, Breathe out
Okay that is good, I am breathing

......my nose itches

*scratch*

ooops, breathe in, breath out

Breathe in, Breathe.....
why am I am holding my jaw so tight?
*Relax jaw...relax.....*

Breathe in, Breathe out
Breathe in, Breathe out.....

there is a hair on my eyelashes.....
* remove cat hair , scratch nose, shift sitting position*

Oh yeah breathing, wow it is easy to forget to concentrate on breathing. I wonder if everyone gets distracted like this when they meditate? Is this something that should simply happen? Am I doing it right, my foot is going to sleep....

holy crap....oops again

Breathe in, Breathe out.
Breathe in, Breathe out.
Breathe in, Breathe out. Cool I have rhythm....
Breathe....

What was that? Is the cat on the counter?
* listen*
'Nessa get down'

Okay, back to breathing- how long have I been at this anyway?

*exhale*
Breathe in, Breathe out.

I like this, it is a very peaceful feeling.

Breathing.....just breathing.

Who knew, so is this meditating?

I feel relaxed....
Daiv should try this, maybe mumzie would like this.
Is this what dogs do when they are sleeping with their eyes open and then they have those doggy dreams where they woof and snort and wiggle their paws like they are running in a field?.....

Crap, right....
Breathe in, Breathe out.

Why is it so hard to simply concentrate on breathing? This is ridiculous. Okay Kim, get with this, it is BREATHING for chritsake......
BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT DAMMIT!

Holding my jaw again...ugh...
* relax the jaw...
make a conscience choice to breathe a little deeper and try to send relaxing energy through my limbs.....
through my fingers....*

my hands are dry, I should put more moisturizer on them, maybe the creamsicle lotion, no smells too sweet for bedtime, keri lotion better...

OMG there I go again. This is crazy. I just want 30 seconds of nothing but breathing.

Brea....
Okay now I am just irritated.....not peaceful at all......
ugh.....
*open eyes and see big wet dog nose looking at me on the floor*

'What? You've never seen someone meditating Niko?'

He pokes me with his nose...
Sigh...seems a belly rub takes precedence over my meditation time for the moment.

Social Media, is it simply old fashioned correspondence?

2011-03-10T01:53:00.000-08:00

I recently began a wonderful book " The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society".
It has me musing over the past.

We often hear talk about the onslaught of social media- the texting, the private messages on FB , our status updates, group invites et al, as if this is somehow new and bad.
The degeneration of human to human contact, the faceless intimacies. " He broke up with me in a text"

The book I am currently reading....
( I still can NOT get on the reading books online, bandwagon. I like to smell the paper and feel the book in my hands. Books are friends to be revisited over and over not transiently fleeting across a screen to disappear into the air - but I digress ... :) )

The book I am currently reading has rekindled a nostalgia in me.
It occurs to me we have been here before.

I shift my thoughts back in time to elegant monogrammed calling cards being delivered to its intended by black and white clad butlers with white linens hanging off one arm.

Daily notes exchanged between BFF in stark white envelopes atop silver plates and crisp folds holding little snippets of a life.

Gentlemen declaring their undying love for their betrothed with delicately structured prose dancing across parchment.

Appointment cards marking the social status of a life, dance cards filled with potential partners.

A time when we spoke through the written word more eloquently and with more candor than society allowed face to face.

I think on these things and I wonder if we have come a sort of full circle.

Is texting the new calling card?

Do our status updates compare to those letters between friends we find so fascinating from Jane Austen's world?

Will the telephone be replaced by the texted/twittered/FB word and if so, what does that mean for our language in the future?

Will smilies take over from 'cordially yours' ?

Will texting become the new dance of the prose of intimacy?

I do not profess to understand all this and I can not even begin to imagine what comes next.
I do however think I will start paying closer attention to my texts and, iphone spelling allowing, re adopt the 'cordially yours' of yesteryear.

Cordially Yours;
Kimmee

Smell that? Me neither.

2011-02-26T19:51:00.000-08:00

When I find something I love I do have a tendency to shout about it from the rafters. I just get so damned excited.

Some of you will remember my discovery of fridge smarts by Tupperware and my demos of 3 week old, 'snap fresh' celery....lol
Today I am shouting out about the cleaning products from Norwex.

My samples were delivered to me by my friend Angela who also represents these products and that night
I cleaned my enormous bathroom mirror with a an antibacterial cloth, dampened with just water.
I was skeptical, really seriously skeptical, but in about 7 big swipes and a quick wipe over with the polishing cloth, no streaks, and crystal clear- sparkling.
Where was the struggle, the sweat?
Where was the endless futile wipes to clean this surface of lint and the overpowering smell of windex or vinegar?
Seriously, if cleaning could be this easy, I could become a convert and spend more time doing this....lollolol
My partner is also becoming a huge fan. The mop system is winning the battle of dust and hair with our furries. This is a REALLY big deal in our house.
I have not see a fur tumbleweed for a week. There is simply less dust. I am sold.

So I am sharing......cause..well.....these are worth it.
here are some reviews of the products...
http://www.healthiergreeneryou.com/news

and here is my friend's website
http://www.angelasellsnorwex.com/

I am having a gathering for demos etc, but if you are not a joiner type, try this on your own.
Fewer chemicals in our world, while maintaining clean environments is a good thing.

A great shopping site in Morrocco

2011-01-29T21:35:00.000-08:00

Okay, so you may know I really like traveling the world, and yet ..sigh... here I am stuck on my island perch.
Therefore I scan markets on the internet for groovy fair trade things and bring the world to me. Occasionally I find something I want to share.

http://www.frommoroccowithlove.com/

Is a place I have found and want to tell the world about. It is helping children receive an education, dental health, school supplies etc

Check out the site, read 'our story' and do a little scoping through their items.
I like this and the woman that started it.

Elevensies

2011-01-15T01:28:00.000-08:00

So this staying at home thing is wearing thin, and even though I have no energy to speak of, I can follow the cats about once in a while and catch their goofiness.
Nothing fancy, just a little moment in time when Harlo thinks it is time for elevensies and Nessa wonders why she was woken up from her nap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGNUWx6-T1A

Home sick but entertained

2011-01-13T21:22:00.001-08:00

I hate being sick. I always feel so defeated by my body.
However, once in awhile something comes along to make me laugh, even when feeling like a dark mud puddle....

I thought I would share it with you.
'Booba's New Shoes'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDxrfEeRYAk&feature=player_embedded

this 'cat vs printer' is also right up there....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSK1D3bZhRs&NR=1

2011-01-03T21:43:00.002-08:00

Chugs?????

2011-01-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

Okay....I just don't get it.
Once upon a time, there were purebreds and mutts.

The mutts were, and are, awesome dogs. The purebreds with their papers, and strict breeding requirements, could be pricey, but that is the way it was.

Now???????
Shorkey ( yorkie and schnauser X)
Chugs ( pug and chihuahua X )
labradoodle ( Okay I get this ....they have become a breed )
malti-poms ( pomeranian and maltese )
Shnoodles?
and one place offering....Cockapoo’s, Shih-tzu-poo’s, Yorkie-poo’s, Peke-a-poo’s. Pom-poo’s
ummmmmmm SAY IT WITH ME PEOPLE- mutts!

These are all going for serious dollars and it seems every 'Dog, Digger and Harry' are selling mutts for upwards of $500.00

Now don't get me wrong, you should be able to afford a dog, and paying for a puppy is part of that....but Come Onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Mutts are mutts.
I for one, would like to re-establish the importance of the word 'mutt' in our vocabulary and stop home breeders from procreating their pets as their own golden cash cow.

Rescue a dog from your local rescue...they do good work, you save a mutt, the money goes back to help them do more good things for animal kind.

It's a new year.

2011-01-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2011.

I am thinking back on the past year, and realizing that while happy and successful, there was not much breathing time. Therefore, 2011 will be the year of balance.

More time for friends and family, more time to spend on photography and music.....more balance.
I am saying this now so there is evidence and when show season hits, remind me I said this please :)

Now back to chasing frost on berries with my macro lens.

damn spammers

2010-12-31T16:03:00.000-08:00

Due to the inordinate amount of spammers leaving comments for nude pictures....I am limiting the ability to leave comments for a time...apologies, but it is getting ridiculous. Some of you may be able to leave comments....but anonymous posters will be unable to.

Thanks for understanding. I really do like hearing from you all, near and far.

quick fly by

2010-12-31T11:58:00.000-08:00

To wish you all a very Happy New Year.

I hope your holidays have been peaceful and full of friends and families.
Ours has been full of good friends and family, good food and great nog :)

I am excited to see what 2011 brings.

Can someone explain to me how this is okay?

2010-12-11T01:07:00.000-08:00

I am so frustrated and angry about this. I have written the following letter to local news hoping they will investigate further and encourage you to do so as well.

I mean...am I missing something here?

'Each Christmas, Thrifty Foods generously shares a bonus with their employees. Something that has been done for years.

Thrifty foods is also known for hiring adult workers with special needs, many of whom survive on disability pensions.

As I understand, a worker on a disability pension is encouraged to work and allowed to make up to $500.00 per month, above the amount they recieve on their pension cheque, without consequence.

Thrifty's is very good about ensuring hours are kept within this so as not to have people lose pension monies by working for them.

I have however discovered the bonus that Thrifty Foods gives to all of its employees - approximately $350.00- will be taken OFF the pension cheques of those workers who also receive a disability pension. These workers will not be allowed to have their bonus.

The workers with disabilities are being penalized because they have 'ostensibly' made more than $500.00 in a month even though it is a bonus and given as a gesture of goodwill.
A bonus like this says thank you.
It offers an opportunity to feel good about oneself, to feel connected to their larger community and it helps out people at a time of year when we all need a little extra.

I am outraged that the gov't is bound by such tight guidelines that a bonus may not be enjoyed by a person with disabilites, the same way an able bodied person could, and it screams of discrimination to me.'

The Cutest Rein-dog on the planet

2010-12-10T19:51:00.000-08:00

Niko loves to dress up and will smize and give me many poses when I pull out the camera..

Seriously cute dog!

After a hard day of chapeau modeling and herding cats..Niko takes a nap with his Ginger bread Teddy.

Dear Grinchy Feet

2010-12-09T01:57:00.000-08:00

I know you may find some humour in the timing of my foot disasters at holiday time, but I personally find them to be extremely troublesome and disruptive.

It is the holiday season once more.

Let's take a look at our history.

I know the time you made me trip over that crack in the cement right before a show went up, 2 weeks before Christmas and broke my foot, you thought you had me beat.

But I was too resilient.. A cane and a David and I got better fast.

You did not win. Christmas still came....you could not stop it or me.

And let's talk about that time you saw fit to send me hurling down a flight of stairs Christmas morning only to crack a tailbone and smash the presents I had worked so hard to make when I landed ( decoupage plant pots I was carrying )......

and yet, Christmas still came.

Then there was the time you tripped me over a small child's toy during rehearsals for Thomasina Sawyer, 2 weeks til opening.......sprained my ankle......but ...ha.....I kept going and got better.

and now? Now....you have plagued me with this achilles tendonitis thing.

Acute at first 2 years ago, just a tease for what was to come. You even had to throw the extra irony of delivering me this blow in Greece...."Achilles Tendonitis" ...in Greece...ha ha ha very funny!

...but.... the laugh was on you.....physiotherapy and a little rest and some Santa magic and once more Christmas could not be held up by your evil green ways Grinchy feet.

So today....you wave that gnarled toe at me and cause yet another flare up of your stupid tendonitis.

That is just mean oh heartless one.

You can huff and you can puff and you can turn yourself green....but Christmas WILL come once more...because you see...... I have something you will never understand......I've got the Who's down in Who ville cheering and singing! Music soothe the savage beast.

So there Green Grinchy Feet...you get one day, that is all.......rest from the bustle for one day...and then you are banished once more.

I WILL see Christmas on two feet..the bells, the singing, the joy.

The hot cocoa and fireside chats.

I am betting it will even come with snow!

So take that, I have some snow boots now and I am kicking your green ass to the curb!

Haul out the Holly....

2010-12-03T23:21:00.001-08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year..bedeck the halls and watch the magic the lights, the sleeping furries, and the fairies all bring to home and hearth for the holidays.

Sigh..... I heart the tree.

Breaking out with photography at craft fairs...come on down

2010-11-30T18:15:00.000-08:00

I am about to start selling some of my photographic images as art cards at local craft fairs thanks to the generosity of a couple of great cheerleaders of mine Issy and Bruno.

I wanted to mention if you are in town perhaps go and treat yourself and others this season and take in a couple of terrific fairs, with gift ideas for everyone and support handmade locally :)

Mosaic Learning Centre is at the Esquimalt Legion from 10:00-4:00 Saturday December 4th with monies going to help programs for children and youth with Autism, including theatre, art an music...

Bruno is seling some of his beautiful paintings and will share his table with my art cards.

and Royal Oak Middle School's craft fair is the same day, from 10:00am-3:00

Gothic Glass Studio ( Issy) is hosting the table and selling her beautiful stained glass and OOAK jewelry as well as some of my cards.

Have a look at her store on Etsy ( click on quoted title )

"Gothic Glass Studio"

The Perfect Picture of a Snowy Day

2010-11-26T23:19:00.000-08:00

Snow......sigh....I love Snow.

Niko and I set off to find a little snow paradise amongst the frost tipped trees and the ice surfing ducks at Beacon Hill park.

To TV in the living room or not to tv in the living room...

2010-11-26T21:31:00.001-08:00

Yes, this is the question du jour.

I hate the big black box in the main room of the house and so after some half a dozen years......we are trying out the box in the bedroom for a month ( and also to make room for the large Christmas tree in the main room..tee hee hee)

But I wonder as I write this.....

When did the art of conversation get replaced by by talking heads in a box?

When did family time, reading, music, crafts, kitting et al need to be replaced by this medium?

If the medium truly is the message....the message sucks and we are in trouble.

Well I for one, have had enough. Out, out I say damn box....fie fie my lord doth protest, but.....I have come out victorious.....for the moment.

SNOW

2010-11-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

I know I write about this every year, and here I am talking about the snow falling once more, but I can not help myself. It is all so exciting and beautiful. There is nothing as magical as the quiet of the world when the snow is falling.

My dog Niko could stand to learn that he is a snow dog however. Currently he is being shown up by two snow loving cats chasing snowballs on the deck, and the big Alsakan Husky? He is sleeping in his bed, suspicious of the white stuff.

He does not like his paws to be cold in the snow so we bought him some snow boots....lolol..a little videop for you all to enjoy..click on the title below.

The Snow Boots

A new frontier

2010-11-16T12:23:00.000-08:00

Well helloooooo.

I am back.

I know I have been away for awhile and I have missed you but want you to know I am back and more determined than ever to bring my conversations to you all here on this blog. I hope to hear from you, comments are always welcome and exchange of subscribers is a great way to find out what's cool in blogworld.

I have been a little busy, classes are in motion, plays in production and the house needs its usual attention.

We said goodbye to a wonderful friend in our 16 yr old dog "Sage" in October, and that saw me needing to recharge a bit before becoming wordy once more.

I will devote a post to Sage, so more on that to come.

Currently I am simply mad about my new macro extenders. I have a kenko macro extender tube that I purchased at Kerrisdale Cameras ( props to those guys...they rock ) and have been entranced with the teeny, curious and buglike ever since.

This is my latest, and if you know me even a little...you will know I really detest bees/wasps and spiders, yet I find myself, nose to wing with them these days as I oberve the beauty in their furry little legs and the formation of their wings.

It is not just bugs though....these roses take on a new beauty through this perspective and Niko's nose and eye have detail like I can't believe.

It is a whole new world in the teeny places we do not normally turn our gaze and I am loving it.

What teeny things do you all enjoy, and do you have any thoughts about what to turn the lens on?

Oh, there it is.....

2010-09-21T14:34:00.001-07:00

Shopping in my closet...that is how I am spending today.... shopping in my closet.

I have been saying farewell to my summer things, moving them to the back of the closet and drawers, and hello to fall and winter. I do love fall. The colours, the crunch, the mists.....

It is amazing when the seasons change and you begin to sort through the stuff tucked away at last winter, just what you will find.

That dark pink cardigan, tossed aside at the first blush of summer heat.

Cozy socks with the happy designs that make your Uggs fit perfectly. ( Say what you want fashionistas, I love my UGGS and Mumzie carried them all the way home from Australia for me.....how good is that? )

The sweaters, the big comfy, fabulous cozy sweaters that layer over everything with your boots.

All that and then the surprise "Oh there it is" when you find something at the bottom of an archeological laundry dig, waaaaaaay back in the corner of your closet. Those forgotten about items that complete your search. No need to go the mall........shop in your closet instead.

I send summer to those recessed corners...to be discovered once more at a time yet to be determined, and welcome my old friends...fall and winter, mix up a cup of cocoa and put on a pair of warm woolly socks.]

But maybe.....with the sun out today, I will keep handy a tank top...just in case.

Marcel the Shell

2010-09-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I like to post a little something to make us simply smile..this video is one of those... click on the words:

"Marcel the Shell"

to view a happy little film, it won't change the world, but it will leave it smiling.

Kimmee vs the rodeo

2010-09-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have been wanting to share the story of our Friday night in Chinle and the rodeo/pow wow/carnival/peyote chanting events that we were lucky enough to take in.

Let's set the scene a bit..

It is hot, dry and dusty. Lazy slow moving days through the canyon and the mystical energy there lead to lazy slow moving evenings along dirt roads.

Not much in the way of street lighting and certainly not much in the way of evening

entertainment to our modern world brains...but the sky

...man alive..the sky.

More than enough sky/star/sunset/lightening entertainment from the sky for us.

It makes you feel part of another time, sitting in that heat, surviving a day of 107 in a desert with the lizards.

Okay so we had air conditioning and a cooler, but really, the elements

are just so wild-westy and raw!

Now add to the scene a long, long drive through what appears to be nothing but a dirt road for about 12 miles and then peak out over the top of a hill and see........

a full on carnival, midway, corn dogs, cotton candy and the carnies that make it all so. Dusty, leather faced and weathered beyond even their younger recognition of themselves.

What a surreal scene.

Bright neon lights, sounds of screaming kids, the faces of parents looking up...up...way up at their kids on the rides flying through the air- the smells...man you don't expect to smell cotton candy and corn dogs out in the badlands of the desert where electricity is rare.

We survived the previous night's entertainment that involved a funnel cloud touching down around us, lightening and a long wet drive through the storm back to our motel although our visit only lasted about 10 minutes before the storm hit and no cotton candy.

Tonight I am here with another purpose.....(okay maybe two, must get my cotton candy) but really I am about to experience my first rodeo.

I am apprehensive. I am NOT a supporter of this kind of thing. I am not cool with the way animals are treated.

I am still reeling from the deaths of the horses at the Calgary Stampede...

but......this is Navajo land.

I see around me evidence of a different way of being with the animals.

Horsemen who speak gently and carry no crops or whips.

Cattle wranglers, not hurrying, gentling the cows along the paths, stopping when they stop, walking when they walk.

Horses running free across hundreds of miles of reservation.

There is a mutual relationship that is clearly different than what I would have expected at home at a rodeo. Cowboys seem humble, no machismo.

I am hopeful......okay, while here in the wild west of Navajo Nation, I will take in a bit of what it has to offer.

I immediately get cotton candy..OMG..could ever there be a more perfect food for a dry dusty mouth that has been feasting on fry bed and Navajo tacos already?

My taste buds smile...really, I can feel them. They Light up.

Daiv and I wander slowly through the scene.

The schedule of events in our hands thanks to the 'Navajo Times" paper.

4:00pm - Peyote chanting and elder dancing

7:00 Pow Wow grand entry

7:30 Rode, Woolly Riders, Rodeo begins

9:00 Live band, line dancing and square dancing.

Whew..a full evening.

I am most enthusiastic about the Pow Wow.

Many have welcomed us to this event and though we are a small...teeny.....( okay only the two of us were actually non Navajo for as far as we could see ) we did not feel like tourists.

Warm faces filled us in on what to expect, welcomed us, cleared benches, chatted about their music, asked for help draining rain water out of awnings..... we were in it, a part of it.

We discover there are generator issues and though already 6:30, nothing has begun.

Well dressed elders in their purple shirts and cowboy hats, wait to perform their chants, (they have been waiting since 4:00) the rodeo begins ( we think ) so we head to the ring.

...hmmm smaller than I thought and we sit down on the bleachers amongst reams of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, beautifully dressed women in jewel tone velvet skirts, hair pulled back and caught with petite point silver and turquoise and laden with the turquoise of protection around their necks, arms, fingers.

Men in their Stetson's, silver hat bands, turquoise and silver boleros, belt buckles, and squash blossom silver around their necks for protection.

The air is filled with excitement.

Trucks full of families circle the ring and back in all around us, circling us like a wagon train, tail gates down, lawn chairs on the deck of the trucks.

Then we hear the rodeo will not begin until 8:00 pm.

Hmmmm.........in the distance I can now hear the strains of chanting, the generator must be working, and in another area the sounds of drumming begins? The Pow Wow?

We walk about and stand in the centre of what can be no more than a football field size area and realize that everyone is going to happen at the same time right here

....the chanting, the grand entry, the rodeo and even the band seems to begin now.

We can actually turn in a full circle and take in everything at the same time, the midway, rodeo, pow wow, band , and chanting.

Craziness. a smorgasboard for the senses and a feeling of total happy chaos.

The air electric, the rodeo begins by introducing all the competitors.

Some excited parents fill me in on who their children, the "woolly riders" are.

There are the under 6 yr old group that ride sheep.

Okay...I can handle this....woolly, slow moving sheep..yup...

I take a deep breath as the first rider is announced and .........

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!

THESE TINY PEOPLE ARE RIDING BUCKING, WILD RAMS.

I can't freaking believe it....does no one see the danger here? I try to calm my childcare brain and just look at their skill. No one else seems alarmed.

I mean, these kids have been riding horses since they could walk, this is horse country.

One rider falls and is assisted by very attentive rodeo clowns to safety.

The second rider makes the required 4 seconds ( yes, only 4 seconds ...that is how rough these bronco bucking rams are )

....but the third little tiny cowboy comes out and gets his hand stuck under the ropes

...... he is dragged, half on and half off, head bouncing along the ground, for what feels an interminable amount of time.

The whole crowd is standing, holding their breath, not a sound.

EMTs are called when he is finally dropped, motionless to the ground and work on him for what feels like forever.

I never see a response by his little body to anything the EMTs do. No sound, crying, nothing.

They strap him to a board and take him away by helicopter.

I am beyond horrified, sick to the pit of my stomach...yet all around me, the crowd seem to be taking it in stride. They are announcing the next woolly rider.

I stand quickly and make my way through the stands....

My rodeo days are over.... my heart just can't take it.....not the violence of the ride, not the faces of the rams circling for an exit in the ring....nothing, and these were just the 6yr olds.

I had survived 6 minutes of actual rodeo time......!

We head to the Pow wow, thinking a little healing energy needs to be focused for that little boy.

The Pow Wow is visually spectacular, and though really shaken by what has happened, we try to just be present at this truly special place we have found ourselves.

The array of feathers, buckskin, colours......amazing, and the sounds.......such a high keening call.

Unfortunately it does not appear that the generator is working very well here and there is this odd sound, in and out of the speakers, creating a huge disconnect from the grand entry.

If everything wasn't happening at once, I have to think they would not need microphones in order to be heard over the rodeo/midway/chanting/band sound check...but I shove my director voice back down.

We stay awhile, breathing, trying to ignore the awful sound quality.

It is really magnificent, the cirlce of dancers in the setting sun with dust creating light patterns all around.

After awhile we move to take in some Peyote chanting.

The rest of the evening moves along well....a few people we have met by day in the canyon recognize us and we chat and this lighten our moods a bit more.

They laugh at my squeamishness to the rodeo....( really ) and affirm this stuff happens......all part of the deal.

We are encouraged to ask the EMTs about the little guy, so after a few hours of midway/chanting/ powwow/cotton candy/lemonade- we go back to the ring.

Daiv goes to the back and I stand for a moment, alone, amongst the wagon train of taillights and see horseback riders doing rope tricks though the fence.

COOOOOOOOOL. I can handle this... Horse riders and rope tricks....

I relax and to my dismay, a bucking bronco and his bareback rider appear.

Damn.... the horsemen are there for his safety....AAAUUUUUUUUGGGHHHHHHHH!

* hands over eyes*

Seeing this, an older gentlemen besides me giggles, and then fills me in on what we are watching.

He also mentions accidents happen rarely, and this is a very skilled group .

He encourages me to take in just a little, to peak out from between the fingers covering my eyes and watch.

I find myself actually enjoying this one a little...the skill level is amazing, and once more I see the connection the horse and rider have.

This man seems to know everyone in the ring and keeps me well informed about the 5 riders I watch.

Daiv comes back and tells me the little guy we saw fall should be fine.

Nothing broken, just bruised and inflamed and time will see him up on his feet again.

I feel much better. I exhale a looong breath.

Then Daiv tells me the two other accidents that happened since then were much worse , the EMT told him. Ugh! Then he tells me while he wa talking to the EMT a bull rushed the fence they were leaning against and the EMT jumped about 10ft in the air. OI!

At this moment, the rider everyone has been waiting for, the rider of the night, the hero, flies through the gate and enters the ring on a wild beast that is bucking madly, eyes rolling wild to everything around him. He is having no part of this thing, our hero, on his back.

I am trying to leave but am sort of trapped by stillness of the people watching.

He stays on the full 8 seconds, but something goes wrong......he can't get his hand out from the rope.... horsemen try to grab him but can't set him free, the announcer is calling/pleading for them to help him..he is dragged...dragged around half of the ring before landing on the ground.

I feel a horrible sense of dejavu.

Men are screaming for EMTs, crowd is one solid breathless block, not moving.......

I can't believe this is what the rodeo is...I just can't believe it.

The man beside is not giggling at me anymore and says it is not normally this bad.

He looks shaken. We all wait about 7 minutes.....and then......

the hero stands up.....

..he is alright

...he waves and walks out of the ring.

The crowd goes absolutely ballistic.......so happy.

I am so relieved but I can't get away from the ring fast enough.

I say goodbye to my new rodeo friend and explain my heart can't take it and he smiles a warm smile and understands.

Daiv and I leave the lights, the sounds, the wonderful chaos, the brutalness and take in the stillness of the desert night as we drive back along the looooong, dark, dusty road once more, changed in some way, some small barely perceivable way, but most definitely changed.

I know this must be really harsh to read, and it was really hard to witness, but I don't want that to be the only thing that resonates here.

There is something about this place, these people, even that rodeo that got inside me a little. The peaceful/violence of this land. This place that can literally take you out just like that. *snap* I don't think I am being overly dramatic here.....it really feels this way.

It is more than I can describe with words.

I am glad to have experienced the dark and the light of it.

To only feel the positive would have been to only experience the first layer. The energy here is so much deeper.

I know we have just touched the surface and really as a couple of west coast hippies from the world of ocean, how much can we truly understand of the Navajo land and desert where we were told there is only one Navajo word for water?

But..... I would like more please.

Thank you Record Executives...

2010-09-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

2010-09-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is worthy sharing.....

A response to Dr. Laura Schlesinger…

In keeping with Religion...

In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, written by a US man, and posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them:

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are

from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not

Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and

age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual

uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most

women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord -

Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I

smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he

should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to

do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a

lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees'

of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I

have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some

wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even

though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I

still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field,

as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester

blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the

trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just

burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-

laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan.

James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus,
Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia

PS (It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian)

Desert Magic

2010-08-19T23:06:00.000-07:00

I don't know how to put my finger on it, but there is an electrical magic to the area we have been traveling through.

We have been spending a lot of time on Navajo land, and perhaps it is a reflection of their spirit, but wow.......my spine hairs tingle a lot around here. We have been simply havinga wonderful time.

What have we been up to you ask?

Welll.. I am excited to tell you :)

Monday-

The Petrified Forest, and museum, and a crazy night in the historic Wigwam motel.

Tuesday

We set out for Gallup New Mexico.

We visited the Hubbel Trading post in Ganado. The air thick with the energy of the past, a trading post since the 1880s. The first of its kind in this entire area.

We also stopped at a variety of picture perfect places......the best up a dirt road ( we thought there were ruins called Wide Ruin, but it was simply the name of the area :) ...we travelled for quite a while. We like the road less travelled :)

Tuesday and Wednesday-

Finally we made it to Gallup, checked in to the Red Roof Motel and took in the old town on Route 66.

Ofcourse this involved a drive in diner, Richardson's Trading Post, El Rancho amongst others. We spent two nights here wandering the old streets appreciating the architecture and the echoes of those who came before, along route 66. All to the tune of the trains rolling by.

So good.

It is now Thursday.

We made it to Chinle to take in the Canyon de Chelly and thought that would be all before heading back to Flagstaff and our friends there.

Who new it is carnival, rodeo, pow wow week :)

We went to a carnival, country fair this eve ( before the mini tornado hit, thunder and lightning and a mad dash for the car ) and tomorrow brings more of the canyon by day, and the rodeo and pow wow in the evening.

Yayayayayayayyay..... I am beyond excited to be able to be present at a Navajo Pow wow. There will not be pics of this to share out of respect, but I will try to describe it well here.

Saturday returns us to the home of Rebecca and Paul and their furries for a few days of all Flag has to offer ( think dry thoughts everyone.......)

We just seem to sort of be in the right place at the right time ( touch wood ) at the moment...such a magical place to be.

How to Survive in the desert.....the girly girl guide.

2010-08-17T23:23:00.000-07:00

Okay.....so the desert offers up some challenges to us girls.

The heat, the dry air, the beating sun and the dust....there is a lot of dust.

Here are some of the things I have learned to help you survive this seemingly inhospitable dustbath.

do NOT leave your house, car, motel, what have you without your hat on.

Even if you think you are only stopping for 5 minutes. there is so much to see and it is easy to let 30 minutes go by in full sun and then........HOT HEAD is no fun.

"You can leave your hat on"

leave the polyester at home....you want cotton, cotton and more cotton. nough said?

the dust is your friend.

I know this may seem an odd thing to say but really, when staying for one or two nights in motels, baths and hot showers can be hard to come by ( or at least any with water pressure enough to remove the desert).

Embrace the dust on your body....spray a little bug spray and this will sort of shellac your dust onto your body and give you a really good tan without even trying :)

4- don't let them see you sweat

when the locals tell you TERRIBLE rattle snake/scorpion etc etc stories, keep a cool head

I know you will want to run screaming from the room, but just chill.

I have it on good authority those noisy snakes are more afraid of us than we are of them...at least that is what the girl who hung the dead rattle snake over the sign post after someone else killed it, told me.

Oh and if you hear a rattling noise....believe it and move away. They really are out there.

WATER...HYDRATE....WATER.....MORE PLEASE.

Pack your water everywhere..just like your hat and drink it.

If you are really lucky you will have a good friend who cleans up a cooler for you to use so you can keep cold water handy in the back seat, and your peanut butter granola bars will not melt into putridness.

Thanks Rebecca :)

6- Moisturizer.

The moisturizer you use at home will not be enough.....get a heavy cream, and use it often...the air sucks the moisture right out of you. Especially your feet, and in reference to tip #3...just mix it in to the soup already happening with the dust and the bug spray...its the desert..it's all good.

and finally....

7-Cool ranch chips taste different in the desert. I don't know why..maybe all the dust in your mouth......but they are different.

In all seriousness though.....the desert is freakin' amazing and you really should tromp around in it to really understand just how great it is, However you need to give it respect and never leave for a road trip/day trip etc, without your hat, water and comfy shoes.

Happy trails.

Day 5.......

2010-08-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday......

There is so much to take in here in this vast, vast...OMG...really freakin huge ( but in a good way) beautiful desert.

Our hosts have been amazing, a little like being guests in our own home, except for the whole desert thing, oh and much smaller dogs, and flashflood worries and well.... you get the idea. :) fonts of knowledge about all to see and do, as well as great company.

We hit the Grand Canyon on a weekend that offered all the national parks free access. To take advantage of this, we also had to prepare oursleves for the crowds...eeeekk the humanity.

It wasn't that bad and sooooo worth it. ( Okay it was pretty bad and the group of curiously attired, 60 yr. old umm something ladies that had to keep telling everyone "WE ARE HAVING THE MOST FUN EVER......REALLY THE MOST FUN, YOU JUST CAN'T IMAGINE...REALLY THE MOST FUN!!!!" I wanted to believe them, but cynical me think

s they were trying to convince themselves more )it was still worth it though.

We stopped at the Watchtower and took some pics, then had a really amazing lunch at the historical Mary Coulter designed, "El Torva", home to the

Harvey Girls in their day ( yes I thought about Judy Garland a lot ) Google Mary Coulter..what an incredible woman.

We scored a window seat looking out at the Grand canyon :) awesome.

The view came complete with the beautiful sunshine, a telescope and a cowboy sleeping under a tree in his chaps......sheer perfection.

We then hiked through the Tusayan ruins further down the canyon.

A very tucked away treasure deep in the forest of the Grand Canyon.

Daiv played flute to the ruins of homes (their Kivas) and there was no one else around at all.......bliss.

Our ride home took us to a series of

Navajo trading posts and Daiv and I spent a long time talking to a couple of really great Navajo artisans....so warm and talented - so excited to share their knowledge about all things Navajo.

Daiv has found the perfect turquoise bracelet and we heard about the rattle snake that visited the same spot on the Little Colorado River I was standing on that was killed and hung up over a fence post , just recently ( shudders ) I think she "Patricia" enjoyed telling me that one. She did share two huge glasses of sun tea while she told this story and it was freakin' delicious and we were thirsty.

I have also been ummmm shopping and have some truly spetacular jewelry, made on the Navajo Nation to bring home :)

The eve saw us all sitting out under the stars watching the meteor showers and talking over wine til the wee hours :).... really really realllllly good here! Look at this sunset...yup...every day!

2010-08-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

We are finally in the desert, on route 66, singing and laughing and stopping at all sorts of points of interest on our way to Flagstaff. First ten minutes on 66.

-tumbleweeds roll in front of us...

-radio plays wicked old 50s tunes

- I sing everytime we see a route marker... soooooooo gooooood!

We stopped for lunch at a place called the Last Stop cafe, it looked like it too....wow......classic diner/bar with double swinging saloon doors and met a family taveling from Venice, shared lunch with them and then back to the road....

This is daiv at a place called the Hackberry General Store......seriously cool, snapshot of time of route 66 memorabilia.....

Yup, this is me....feeling super coollllll...even though it is super hot, but a good 'dry furnace blast of heat', kind of hot..I like!

Awwwwww the open road....finally...all to ourselves.

"get your kicks on route 66"

Seriously...how cool is this place? Hackberry General Store...exactly what route 66 should look like.

WE continued to Flagstaff and settled in to a friend's place where we can daytrip around from for then next 4 days or so....

Today saw us at the Navajo Nation's Cameron trading Post looking for the perfect Turquoise.

We found some....tee hee..... must sleep now...more to come.

Tomorrow is the Grand Canyon...whooot!

vegas part 2

2010-08-13T23:24:00.001-07:00

The lights , the sounds, the water, the people...we felt a bit like hippy freaks in donald duck's brain.....but we did have some fun through the eve over fancy drinks and eavsdropping on long lamenting poker players nit doing very well.

The Bellagio glass ceiling

the strip at night..

We head out early in the morning as we want to get the Hoover dam.

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh

..finally open road and desert

...ummmmm open road????

ummmm???????

Apparently the security checks at the dam and road construction equalled lining up again...this time in a hot car...bumper to bumper.....I coasted, never touching the gas, only the break pedal, for an hour and a half through this new insanity. UNfreakinbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!

The dam was cool..but we did not stop. Route 66 here we come...

to be cont....

Vegas to Flagstaff

2010-08-13T23:12:00.000-07:00

We are here in Flagstaff enjoying the tremendous hospitality of our friends who lie in paradise on the outskirts of Flagstaff against the San Francisco Peaks.

The trip started out ineventfully...planes, all on time....line ups......Victoria was fine, Seattle kinda a nightmare, 90 minutes to get through.

We met a great guy on the plane who lives outside Vegas and we chatted the 2 hours away easilly.

We get to Vegas........

we go to rent the car......

we are lined up at hertz ( yet another lonnnnnnng line up ) and finally get to counter....nope...we reserved with advantage..doh!

Skedaddle to their desk and are totally icky smarmy man icked out in 30 seconds. He tries to upsell everything, gets pissed when we say no, too bad.

Finally get our xterra and hit the vegas strip to the Flamingo.

We walk into the classic Flamingo after much open jawed, holy shit, reaction to this crazy town and end up in a line up for 40 mintues before we finally get to our check in. OI!!!!!!

We were dingy dingied, beep beepit beeped out, so chilled in room and then went to Penn and teller.......OMG so great.

We did the strip at midnight, walking along taking it all in, including the water show at the Bellagio and all that jazz... the glass display there was also pretty fab... More to come on next blog...

On the road again....

2010-08-09T22:23:00.001-07:00

David and I are preparing to take off to parts unknown in Northern Arizona and New Mexico.

I will blog our Route 66 adventures here :)

Anyone have any good spots to check out in Northern Arizona they can recommend?

Hello blogworld

2010-08-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how long it has been.

Much has happened and I have been busier than I ever imagined.

Peter Pan took up the bulk of my life and I was so proud of everyone involved. It was fantastic.

I will catch my breath and come back and write a proper posty newsy thing.

Now perhpas you would like to tell me how you are spending your summer?

Hi!

2010-05-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

Just popping through to send out warm fuzzies to all.

It is a leetle bit crazy at the moment, but a happy crazy.

How are you?

Sun, baby ducks and all things springy.

2010-05-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

I love spring.

The sound of bees ( just the sound, please stay away from me ) buzzing in lavender, the sparkle of the rays on moving water, the colours blooming after winter-that hit of amazing green as buds newly open.

Beacon Hill Park is a beautiful old park on our waterfront and offers all this and more in abundance. A delicious way to pass an afternoon - add baby ducks, lazy turtles and herons and you have a perfect day.

I am back.......

2010-05-11T00:49:00.001-07:00

Hello agin.

Sadly it seems my 365 days of gratitude chalenge has been lost in Peter Pan show crazy but let me just say, I am extremely grateful for a few things with a common theme these days.

1- my friends...I am so lucky to be surrounded with bright, creative, inspiring people everyday. You all know who you are and you are all fabulous to the millionth degree.

2-My Daiv....for all the reasons that make me crazy and want to strangle him and those that make me love him...

3-my family...they are a pretty eclectic bunch of lively, supportive and caring people.

Mumzie tops the list however as my greatest cheerleader :)

Without the people on this list, life as I know it would be in shades of grey.

Instead I live a rainbow. What a wonderful thing.

To Europe or not to Europe

2010-04-22T00:27:00.000-07:00

This is my question.

Coming off my 2 months in Europe, I knew I would return one day to continue to soak up all the world has to offer.

I now have been planning a trip with Daiv to spend 3 weeks this summer ( short I know, but what can ya do when trying to get time off together) see Amsterdam and Spain with a stop in London and Norwich.

However, there is the big airline issue over a frothy ash.

I see airlines starting to take off once more, but am wondering if the travel goddess may be pointing us towards a road trip closer to home this summer.... Daiv says Arizona and the painted desert and turquoise/silver artistry?

Hmmm ponder ponder..........what think you all?

day 45 give or take a few in between...

2010-04-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

I would just like to take a moment and thank John Fluevog for continuing to make such artful and fabulous footware so I could finally have a pair of my own.

In honor of the furries, a little night music...

2010-04-04T20:36:00.000-07:00

It occurs to me that animals should have their own theme songs.

Looking at my gang, I have come up with the following for your listening pleasure...

What would your furries' be?

click on their names for youtube links....

Nessa and she would wear ear wing dread locks

Harlo and she would wear a man's tuxedo jacket, and nothing else.

Flame and she would wear flak jacket and helmut, in red however...

Sage and she would wear.."

ummm nothing thanks....no collars, no leashes..don't fence me in man!"

Niko and he would wear a bandana and a English cap

Snickers has a home...

2010-04-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all for networking and helping to find this fantastic kitty a loving home.

Snickers, needs a home....yours?

2010-04-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

***Please help 'Snickers' find his home. Currently being fostered with friends who found him on their new doorstep, abandoned by previous homeowners.

Short hair male kitty white with orange splotches......adorable. We are not sure if he has been neutered.

He is fully litterbox faithful.

Young, about 7-9 months or so, great age to bond with people.

Ridiculously, friendly, gentle and playful, a real joy. He has an untraceable tattoo in one ear. Healthy no obvious sign of fleas.

He is not scared of dogs in the

neighborhood, curious about other cats, extremely social, not fussy about food, eats well.

Would love to be indoor/outdoor I believe, but could adapt to anything.

He says..

" Hi, I am Snickers....

I am really adorable and

would love a warm home and a lap to call my own. I started with a family but it seems they moved out of my house and left me behind.

I don't know why, but I am looking forward to meeting you and starting fresh.

I have a really cute and inquisitve pink nose and wide happy golden eyes

I have never been caught spraying and love to chase all manner of things and get rubs and love.

I like being scooped and cuddled and am also happy to just hang.

I will entertain you and

make you giggle and smile. Would you consider bringing me home and helping get over the feelings of abandonment with your love?

I don't have much baggage"

Contact me through the comments section to meet and adopt Snickers:

Hi, day ??????

2010-03-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

I can not believe we are looking April in the face all of a sudden. I mean wasn't it just Christmas a blink ago?

I am truly enjoying the early blooming season however. Yay for happy daffodils, pussywillows and magnolia blossoms.

My grateful thought for the day is the happiness felt when sharing it with friends. Share the laughter, the smiles, it simply feels good :)....now pass it on :)

day 44 Daiv and Harlo

2010-03-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe this little pussycat only found us a year ago.

She and Daiv have become very tight as you can see, and she continues to show us her goofy, silly and wonderful self, while hanging with her BFF, Nessa.

I am very thankful Harlo came into our world and lightened the mood in our house even further with her hunour.

Day 43 ( a little late ..lol )

2010-03-08T02:04:00.000-08:00

It truly appears that my 365 days of Gratitude can not possibly be consecutive days.

However, even though time may pass between posts, I think about this everyday..that counts right?

Today after a busy couple of weeks of show prep, audition prep and performance,

I am grateful that fairies and dragons can co exist in my garden, spreading a little magic through the hollows.

day 42-comments

2010-02-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone for dropping by and leaving comments. It is thrilling to see that someone has read and taken the time to offer their thoughts.

Today......whoot....grateful to you!

Day 41- the Ocean

2010-02-22T00:10:00.001-08:00

Really, it is hard to feel anything but happy and grateful to live on Vancouver Island on a day like this.

Pictures say it all..glorious.

Day 40-Sunshine and Daffodils

2010-02-20T01:25:00.000-08:00

Sun beaming bold,

yellow

daffodil bright.

I say a quiet thank you to the sky.

day39- Hair-Vagina Monologues

2010-02-18T01:43:00.000-08:00

I have been directing theatre for a long time.

I always knew that directing was what I wanted to do, what I longed to do- but I also really love acting.

For me, the hardest part of acting is not being a part of the whole creative vision within the process.

It is like being one piece of a puzzle when you don't have all the puzzle pieces in front of you and trying to find out how you fit.

Directing gives you the whole box of puzzle pieces to play with.

The result of this is I do very little acting these days unless something really calls to me.

A show " The Vagina Monologues" is one that called loudly.

I started by simply auditioning, not knowing anyone involved and soon found myself not only performing, but ass't directing and participating as an acting coach.

All those beautiful pieces of the puzzle shared amongst us.

It was a life changing experience. The people involved, the words, the stories shared with such honesty....

I could go on and on, it was magic.

But that was two years ago...why am I writing this as part of my gratitude series today?

Recently it was brought to my attention that the youtube clip of my performance has been seen by over 22,000 people in the last year.

HOLY CRAP.

22,000 PEOPLE! tuning into to me, acting.......unbelievable.

Thank you to Sarah Kramer for posting it a year ago and wow, thank you to all the people who have watched this and beenopen to this amazing work by Eve Ensler.

For someone who considers herself a director first and an actress only something I visit, the validation you all have given me as an actress is amazing, and so graciously recieved.

I am so heartfully proud to have been able to be a part of this, to have the work carry forward through the likes of Youtube and to be involved in a global movement fighting to end all violence against women and children, forever.

Click on this sentence to view video if you wish...

day 38- Sun and Flowers

2010-02-17T01:57:00.000-08:00

It is warm, really lovely.

I ventured outside today and noticed little crocus, snowdrops and even daffodils, starting their journey to springtime bloom.

This while the east is under record setting snow falls.

I even heard a few lawnmowers *laughs*.

We are a little more laid back about the growing grass, the lawnmower is still under winter wrappings.

I do like snow, but I am pretty happy about the sun.

Thank you Sun, for, shining down so warmly.

( My snow dance continues however, I can't help it, one good fall before the sun is here to stay )

Flowers and sunshine....a good day.

day 37- VDay

2010-02-16T01:23:00.001-08:00

Thank you Daiv :)

The Olympic perspective from the east side...

2010-02-11T11:57:00.000-08:00

This is not mine, but it is so eloquently photographed and narrated that I wanted to share.

Please click on the this sentence and read through the 7 pictures.

day 36- hedgehogs

2010-02-11T02:07:00.000-08:00

While wallowing in my noisy frustration about Canada's overspending on this months Olympics, ( this involves status updates on FB of disgust, protests on the legislature lawn and yelling at the TV frequently ) I am grateful that something as creamy, hazelnutty-fabulous as a hedgehog exists to help wash away my angst.

Mmmmmmmm.......thanks for the Vday prezzie Mumzie.

day 35- Water

2010-02-08T02:52:00.001-08:00

I am reminded today, after a conversation with friends about their bevvies of choice, that water is something not everyone can appreciate direct from their tap.

Indeed many walk miles upon miles to a watering hole, less than sanitary and fill up a bucket of this life giving fluid for the day.

We are lucky. This does not get said enough.

I love water and drink a good 3-4 large glasses a day. I pour it straight from my tap into my glass. The taste... clean, full and crisp. I do not drink pop, or most preprocessed juices.

Don't know why, never have really.

Water and fresh juice made with that same water.

Simply nothing else compares.

I am grateful to the water that I reach for in my own kitchen.

( I am also grateful to a fellow photographer who gave me the inspiratation for this photo )

day 34, Micha

2010-02-07T00:52:00.000-08:00

Thank you Micha.

This post of yours made me smile the smile that was most needed.

Mary Tyler Moore Theme song...

day 33- Frnge

2010-02-04T22:19:00.000-08:00

I am sci-fi geek sometimes and tonight is no exception.

This little show "Fringe" is what makes my Thursday complete.

Is it the alternate universe, the science of improbability or simply the dark and creepy locales?

I think perhaps a culmination of all, but I love this show and am grateful I was home in time, (with a warm fire burning and timbits) to take in yet another parallel Universe extravaganza.

day 228, 29, 30 and 31- no guilt gratitude

2010-02-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

It has been some days since my last post and I realized I was feeling guilty that I hadn't found the time to make it here and post. That won't do, it seriously hampers the ability to be in the moment and to be acknowledging what is in front of you.

I have now shaken my head, given myself a little talking to and remembered that finding something to be thankful for is not necessarily a spectator sport. *smile* and the reason these last few days will remain quiet-without guilt.

For today however, I turn my thoughts to the female artists that have come before, and to whom I am full of gratitude.

Just take a moment and think about what it must have been like for the women in theatre before the the early 1900s. What they must have struggled with to free their art.

Isadora Duncan, Sarah Bernhardt, and even back further with female writers, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, George Sands et al.

Without those passionate and determined women, blasting through stereotypes and obstacles, life as we know it in the arts would look much more grim.

One of these women truly speaks to me and has for years. Sarah Bernhardt, one of the leading ladies of theatre, and whom Mucha used as his muse to paint allowing greater exposure for Sarah and her art.

I was lucky enough to wander through a museum of Mucha's works in Prague and brought home a beautiful silk of a painting of Sarah Bernhardt as she appeared for Tosca.

It hangs beside my bed, shining on as a reminder to how far women in the arts have come.

day 27 of 365 days of gratitude- JD Salinger

2010-01-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

It seems appropriate that a moment should be taken to reflect upon J.D. Salinger and what he has given the world.

I am forever grateful to the characters I have met, the worlds explored and introspection provoked thanks to the talents of this author.

No picture today, rather I look to you to form a picture in your mind's eye of a character of Salinger's that has left their impression upon you and to share it, if you wish, in the comments.

I like this quote a lot and am sad I will never be able to call him up and have a chat about his latest novel now.

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it." - J.D. Salinger

Thank you JD Salinger......RIP