It's been a really nice weekend. Lots of fun with lovely people, some of whom I hadn't seen for a while.

Friday night was Tyler and some of the gang from Indy who I don't see so much now that I no longer work there. I was especially stoked to see Gillian, who I hadn't seen at all since she went away to school. Everyone ended up coming back to my place for a little while to hang out and Gillian and I ended up sitting and having a great little chat. It was really nice.

Saturday I hung out with Seg, John and Dimitra. We played online for a while, but managed to get out and go tobogganing before the sun went down. We tried the hill at Grandview this time and it was soooo great! We basically went until we couldn't go anymore, and then took a few more runs anyway. We were pooched and hungry and went out for Chinese dinner, then ended up back at home where we met up online again, this time with Megan along. I had a lot of fun with those three; I have some fantastic plans in mind for us this summer if I can get everyone to go along.

Finally, today was lunch with my sister. We text here and there, but mostly I think we get caught up in our own lives, and let a lot of time pass before realizing how long it's been since we've seen one another. We went out for lunch today, which turned into a long walk and talk up and down Main Street. It was a great day for it, a little chilly, but the sun was out and things were melting and we were perfectly comfortable sitting out on the stoop in front of a store for ages (at least until a spider dangled himself down from the overhanging sign and scared us both away).

In the spirit of such a lovely weekend (and such great weather) here are some summery pictures to hold us over a bit. I'm so eager for the weather to turn warm again, so I can have many more wonderful weekends out and about with people I think are great.

I Think it Might Have Snowed Last Night.

I awoke this morning at twenty after six, to Seguin standing at the window, making an exclamation I won't repeat here. When I got up and looked out, this is what I saw.
There was something about this unexpected, super blanket of snow that made me want to rush out and snap a few pictures.

When I got outside at around six thirty, it was still snowing, but that hadn't stopped a few of my neighbours from going out to scope out the weather or walk their dogs.

The dogs loved it.

Shortly before eight, the snow stopped and the guys decided to go outside to see if they could get the truck unburied.

A number of others from the building were outside as well, shovelling and joking and trading news and stories about the snow; which roads were open, which weren't, whose vehicles were stuck where, what the weather forcast had to say about it all. Apparently, our mayor was on breakfast television this morning, and has declared a 'snow emergency.' Seems a little dramatic to me, but I haven't tried to drive anywhere, so what do I know?

After a while, a few people started a walk to the main road, to see if it had been plowed or not. I went along to take some more pictures.

This is where I want to be today. Inside. But it sounds like people are already starting to dig out of the mess. The plow has been by and the boys made it into work successfully. I might even make it into work myself by the afternoon. But it's been interesting. There's nothing like a snow day to bring everyone together a bit, be it the common joy at the beauty of it, or the shared drudgery of digging out or just a collective sense of awe at what mother nature can hit us with when she feels like it.

Nice Things

Today is a lazy day. I'm enjoying a weekend off, the first of many as I've got a great new job that has nice regular hours; so long shift work! Should be easier to spend regular time on jewellery and making beautiful things as well.

In the meantime, here are a few pictures of some nice things I've been enjoying.

The day before last, there was a brief but heavy rainstorm and then gorgeous, bright sunlight almost immediately afterward. The result was this rainbow that I could see from my living room window. It was pretty great, arcing all the way across the sky instead of just the little bits here or there I’m used to seeing. My neighbours kept arriving home as I stood in the parking lot snapping pictures, and they all had something nice to say about it.

Check this out. My African violet is blooming for the second time this season! Lucky or what? I don’t know what I’m doing right, but last year I got thirteen lovely blooms for a few weeks and then that was it. I thought that was good, so this is a nice surprise.

Here are Penelope and Loki. Penny made quite a mess with a role of paper towel someone left in the living room and then fell asleep at the scene of the crime. I had to take some pictures of course, so I got a few of Loki as well.

Penelope has grown so much since we first got her. First look at this....

....then this. Hard to believe it's the same precious kitty.

Anyway, I’m having some serious issues trying to write coherently, so I think I’m going to leave it at that. Thanks for looking!

Cows, Friends and Screaming Heads

A week ago, I enjoyed a great day with some of my friends from work. The sun was shining, the air was warm and the day just lasted and lasted.

It was just a small group of us; Tyler and Cam, Dave and Laura, me. The first place we visited was a store, the Circling Hawks Centre in Burk's Falls. I've only ever been a few times, but if you're ever in the area, it's worth a visit. http://www.circlinghawkscentre.com/

It's one of those new agey sorts of stores filled with trinkets and instruments, jewellery and books, various religious articles for various religions and all kinds of things for your general spiritual well being. There's tons to look at and it smells great. There's a bird named Chester and a cat wandering the garden in the back, which is worth a look too. Lots of plants, flowers, a fountain, a big beautiful tee-pee and a small stone labyrinth. There's also an art gallery, but we didn't stay for too long as we had lots to see. I bought myself a gorgeous harmony ball necklace -- it tinkles and chimes quietly when I move--and then we were on our way.

Next, we went to Cameron's parents' farm to see the cows. Dave wanted to pet them; he and Laura had never really been up close to cows before. I spent a lot of time on a farm growing up, and I'm familar with a few different barnyard animals. But not cows. They're much larger and more intimidating up close than you expect! But with Cam's dad there, they were calm and gentle enough.

After visiting with Cam’s parents, we carried on to our main destination, which was the Screaming heads, also in Burk’s Falls. I’d been twice before with my Gramma, but it’s always worth going back. The artist, Peter Camani, owns a farm which has become an ongoing art project. His house is like a castle, peacocks roam freely, there are gorgeous gates and heavy walls and the fields are filled with concrete sculptures of large, white heads, eyes and mouths agape. We walked around and took pictures of the art, each other and the scenery in general, which was beautiful too. http://www.mmage.com/screamingheads/

After seeing the heads, Tyler suggested we check out my Grampa’s memorial park, which was nice as I had never been there. It turned out to be a simple little spot with pretty rapids running through it, which I thought was perfect for Grandpa. He always took us out for paddles in his canoe and went for a dip in the river behind his house pretty much every day. Being there probably would have made me think of him even if the spot hadn’t been dedicated to his memory.

We finished the day with pizza and a movie and a visit with Alex and Nicky, a pair of cute brother cats. We spent that time in a small town I used to pass through several times a week, but hardly ever visit anymore. Just being there on the steps of the pizza place made me feel very comfortable and homey and close to my roots, somehow. It was a nice feeling.

If there was one day all summer that gave me the ‘summer experience’ feeling I hope for every year, it was probably this one. Summer’s not over just yet, there’s time for more. But if this was it, I’ll be content.

Finished!

A while ago, I was commissioned to create a pair of wrist pieces as a gift for a couple who will be getting married in the Bahamas. The requirements were that the pieces were to be beaded and they were to include the pair's names, the date and the location. I was also told the bride's favourite colour was tiffany box blue.


The couple has since been given the pieces and I feel safe posting them for you all to see. So here they are!

Plans

So as far as travelling goes, I've been pretty much nowhere. As far North as Cochrane, as far South as Buffalo, as far East as Quebec city, as far West as, as what? What's West of here? I don't even know. South Hampton? Anyway, nowheres. My lovely lady Skye has been to Cuba and maybe some other places worth noting as well, but she's never been anywhere else in Canada.

We've had in our head for a while now this lovely trip we would take together somewhere, originally planned for somewhere Southern, somewhere hot. But as the weeks passed by and the time during which we must take this trip approached, it seemed less and less likely. What are we to do, we wondered? Are we going to book something or just let it slide? Then Skye comes up with a wonderful idea, smaller, doeable, and very, very fun. This February, we intend to take a mini road trip! A day in Montreal, a day in Quebec city, a day in Trois-Rivieres, another day in Montreal and finally, a day in Ottawa.

We have a decent idea of where we'll be staying each night and little to no clue of what we'll do in each city other than take lots of pictures and try and find the most fun and interesting ways to spend our time. It will be a bit of a whirlwind obviously, and lots of driving, but that's what a road trip is about, right? Hopefully the weather will be good. Hopefully we will both be granted the time off.

Pretty great, eh? Something to look forward to after Xmas.

In other news, happy December!

A Little Sunshine

Here's something fun and cute for the end of a gloomy November day.

Penelope had just woken up from a nap, and being the proud parent I am, I decided to take some pics while she was sleepy and still. Sleepy kitties yawn a lot apparently, so I got all these.

Pretty great, huh? I also saw this, which made me smile.

http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3001

Cheers!
Mir