sweet indigo life

...and such is life. :)

The sweet little B has fallen asleep again.  She is recovering from tonsillitis, and yes, her tonsils are still very much a part of her.  The fever prevented her from having them out. Alas, the entire process will be repeated in a few weeks.  Or later, as I have booked a trip (yippppeeee!) to NYC! So as she snores, I'm making marks on a map of Manhattan and hoping that my traveling companions will like the sites I've chosen for us...

Cupcakes!

the Chelsea Market!

Castles!

Chemists!

and lastly but not leastly cafes!

I've been reading your blogs lately and must say, it is so nice that I have had the time to do that this week! Enjoy your weekend xo

From the van speakers this week (my fave cd): One Cell in the Sea, A Fine Frenzy 

Sea salt, organic ice cream & a two week hiatus

 

Sunday is here again and this time I am packing an overnight bag (Dora and Diego books, crayolas, a blue stuffed bear...), to take with me to the hospital.  Little Miss B is undergoing a tonsillectomy Monday morning.  This has consumed me this week {I'm worried sick}, along with drastically taking our dietary habits and plunging headfirst into unknown territories.  We now officially eat clean.  The whole family! 

So this week's shopping list resembles this:

goji berries

wheat germ

hummus

walnuts

spinach

sea salt

cilantro

swordfish

You get the idea :)

Let's not forget little Miss B:

popsicles

ice cream (organic, low fat)

jello

{Now look at that sweet face and keep her in your thoughts for Monday, please :)} UPDATE: Monday, April 27th

Little Miss B, or (the Divine Miss B!) has spiked a fever, so her surgery was cancelled.  That's right.  All that anxiety down the drain, and another round of antibiotics and pre-op assessments at a future date to-be-determined.  Perhaps there was some divine intervention? After all, she had all of YOU thinking of her.  For that we thank you.  It may have averted something...and we are taking the attitude that this happened for a reason.  Little Fever Girl is sleeping right now, she is wiped.  Thanks for your kind comments and love. xo

p.s. I guess the next two weeks off work will be all about looking after this beautiful little one, and doing some online retail therapy.  I have just the wall for this juicy Meyer Lemon. Someone stop me before I do serious damage. Then last but certainly not least, is a store I plan to actually walk into in June {yes, real bricks and mortar} recommended to me by the lovely Susanna Gordon, of Susanna's Sketchbook fame. 

Who am I kidding? I'm trying to get rid of stuff, not accumulate more!  (Maybe just the serious damage link.)  After all, a girl needs a fresh spring look. (Okay and John Derian but that's IT.)

K, I'm done now. :)

Adventures in thrifting, music, cooking & love~.

 

Thrifting+Me=Happiness & Joy!!!  Check out the sweet new Kodak Brownie Starflash {the superheroe of old cameras~!} I also picked up an old German SLR, in the original brown leather case.  For peanuts.  :)

I'm wiggling and skipping and jumping for JOY because two of my favourite acts have new albums (can I still say album or does that make me old?  don't answer that)  Bat for Lashes and Coconut Records.  If you ever hitch a ride and I pick you up you will be forced to listen to this, okay?  Natasha Khan is my style hero and I just LOVE her voice.  Listen and watch. Isn't that AWESOME?

My beloved sister in law (the perfect health nut) inspired me to eat clean.  So now I am eating flavourful spicy food that is as close to it's natural state as possible.  I'm addicted to this.  I'm a kitchen whiz!  And now my kids are off the frozen pizzas so I'm happy.  It requires organization in the kitchen, and planning, but it is all worth it.  Go see.

Love? Well love is...allowing your husband to joke about the breakout you are suffering due to the self-inflicted detoxing...

Julian: "Hey, uh, what's up with your face?" (sporting a grin)

Me: "Oh, I'm breaking out because of the eating clean thing." (slightly embarassed, looking away sheepishly)

Julian: "Did you watch the You Tube video of the lady from Britain? She sings really well.  Susan..."

Me: (tossing a towel at him) "Shut up you *ss.  You know it's Boyle."

So there you have it.  If he wasn't so funny, he'd be dead.

Enjoy your weekend kids~! xo

***

Bonus material; For a follow up while I was applying my makeup. Julian: "Gimme a G." (goiner)

Then, just before the giant hook came out and yanked him off stage....Julian: "NASA called babe.  They are short a planet."

I'm sew in love with you ♥

 

I wandered into the Singer sewing shop today after work, the owner Mike was just closing up for the day.  I asked him how long he had been in business here in our fair city.

"Since 1980.  But...Singer, is the oldest business in this city and has been here since 1830." He points to an aged and worn certificate with a silver seal on the bottom. I smile to think of how many bobbins that would amount to.

I love stumbling upon history under my own feet.  :)

I'll leave you with some images from my day today.  Check in with 'sea to sky' tomorrow for the latest diptych.

 

 

 

p.s. so happy happy! Going back to NYC very soon....! Tell me about YOUR summer holiday plans. 

p.s.s. This is so outta sight. 

Clarity~

 

I'm a bachelorette  for a few days.  So while the cat is away this mouse will;

• garden and plant frost-resistant pansies
• clean windows
• open said windows to let the air f l o w
• make dolls with her children, serious! with real clay!
• drag the summer bins out of the dreary bat-cave {basement}
• switch up the clothing and make lists of what we need
• drink a glass of red with two of my most favourite people, the cat's two sisters :)
• nurture my camera's ego by taking her out and showing her the world
• frame up some jewel toned prints to go into my new spa room of turquoise and gold

Visit Tara Bradford today for some inspiring, brave and beautiful images.  You may remember 'Fatima's Story'.  Fatima has a gallery of her work on Tara's blog. 

Whatever you do today, do it with gusto.  Get out and go do something!!! :)

He built me a room of turquoise and sand...

...and he saves his funniest one liners for bedtime, right when you are about to hit REM sleep.  He'll drop it on you and thank goodness you aren't drinking milk for if you were, it would shoot right out your nose.  Funny!  The man makes me laugh like NO ONE else.

And today he is having a birthday.  My afianced.  My love.  Happy Birthday Julian, my life is so much sweeter (and spicier) with you in it. Many joyous, happy returns! xoxo

A dedication for you on your birthday.  Crank it up shugs!

{p.s. I've kept this short and sweet to protect his privacy.  It's the same reason you don't see a lot of my children on here either.  K?}

Palm leaf cross.

I'll miss for the rest of my days the Easter tradition my late mother-in-law instilled in us, the palm leaf cross.

A simple thing.  A cross made from a palm leaf.  They were often made in the weeks leading up to Easter so that by the time we were given one, it was dry, and brown.

I still have the last one she gave me. 

For us tomorrow will hold fond memories as we gather our tiny family for brunch, and have our traditional Easter egg hunt.  Whatever your traditions, however you celebrate, enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!

For some extra fun, do see Miss. Vanessa's delightful egg pdf, print one off and make your own elfin eggs!  We did, and Miss. V linked our photos to her post.  Go see!  We had such fun.....Right HERE!

 

Look what this amazing TWELVE year old is doing with her camera. 

The light strengthened. The mornings came sooner.

 

  

 

Post title taken from a few small lines in my favourite childhood book, Charlotte's Web.  The book that my husband is currently reading to my eldest daughter.  I listen in while they read her new copy, which sounds hauntingly as emotive as the day I first picked it up to read when I was her age.

A tear will still form when I read that passage at the end; "Wilbur never forgot Charlotte.  Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart.  She was in a class by herself.  It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.  Charlotte was both."

While repairing a sock monkey for Olivia at the kitchen table today, she asked me how I knew to make a right choice.  I told her that I listen to my belly.  I told her if my belly hurts, or feels achy, that the choice is wrong.  That the belly is much smarter than the brain.  She immediately got it.

Like Charlotte's web, where encouragement and support came in the form of a single word woven into a web, sometimes it's the simplest of gestures that help another person out.  A simple explanation.  A tiny thoughtful word of encouragement.  Taking a moment out of the day to ponder thoughts and questions. 

And so we end our Good Friday, by listening to the loud and tangible thoughts and opinions of our bellies.  We make the right choices.

***

Wanting my wedding to happen that much sooner NOW.

Oh! I found the most beautiful photo collaboration blog, HERE.

~Photos by Gillian da Silva, taken today on Good Friday in my kitchen, and in the wood down by Crystal Beach near my home.

Running in the direction of love.

 

I encourage you to do the same.  Whatever that means for you.  I want to tell you (caringly, like a real-life friend would) to follow your heart.  To slay your dragons.  To take a chance and even if it means gettin' your heart trampled on {thank you, Alanis}, then go do it.  By all means.  

To me, running in the direction of love means trusting myself.  My decisions.  My intuition.  It also means pushing myself hard in the direction of my goals, my dreams. {Oh they are vast and sweeping.} I am dreaming big, these days.  I'm going to kick in the turbos.  Fire it up.  Get going.  Move! 

I have renewed hopes.  It all came by taking a small step and a huge leap of faith.  I trust you to do what is necessary in your own lives to make the changes you require, also.  I double dare you.  Here, put these blinders on...they will come in handy when roadblocks appear.  You see, nothing is to stand between you and your dream.  Next, take a step, and then another, and then another....

...see you soon. I'm off chasing my dreams.  Will post and visit as time permits.  I love you all. xo 

{If I owe you a phone call, a letter, an email, a twitter, a status update, or a thank you card...I'll get there.  My sincerest apologies. But this week, I'm first on my list.}