sweet indigo life

What are your skies like today?

~Bottle of coke~photograph by gillian da silva

Things go better, when Coke and I, get together.  :)

I'm drinking an icy chilled Coke right now...albeit in the form of a slushie from the corner store.  It's hot, I'm bothered... so I thought, why not?

Some random randoms;

I'm loving the sound of birds chirping in the morning outside my window, something I didn't hear in the city due to high traffic.  They singsong me awake, and then in the evening, the happy buzz of insects chirping goes well with my evening tea.  Nature, it seems, has sought me out and found me.  :)

I am grocery listing for the upcoming week, we are vacationing by the lake and I mustn't forget marshmallows, or the children will completely freak out.  Cheese strings, check.  Cheesy popcorn, check.  Big fat hot dogs with mustard, check. :)

Remember the movie "Vanilla Skies"?  Well I was one of a few people who actually liked that film (I found it interesting, as far as psychological thrillers go), but the name was taken from a painting by Claude Monet. My skies look like that right now.  I'm wondering what your skies look like today?

I just love jelly beans.  Especially the Jelly Belly kind, and I like to eat them with my eyes closed and try to guess the flavour.  Any idea what my fave one is?  I adore this one.

Have a super beautiful day followed by a cosy happy sleep with vivid gorgeous vast and sweeping epic dreams. xo

Added random bonus;

14 years ago I was in the delivery room for a most beautiful moment, the birth of my nephew.  Well he now TOWERS over me, and is such a cute thing you could pinch his cheeks all week long.  HERE is the cake my brother and sister in law got him for his birthday...super cool, don't you think? Yes, that is his actual cake featured on the blog, "Cake it from me". Is she a genius, or what??

Have a most enjoyable weekend~!

Cherry Colas in the window at Suckers , on the Danforth 

Here's looking at you, kids.

I'm off to enjoy what's left of my weekend.  I'll putz about the house, make some new recipes, play with my kids.  I'll stop to smell the roses.  I'll clean up the yard.  I'll do laundry, sleep & watch movies.  Some yummy hot tea will factor in there somewhere. I'll also celebrate my nephew's birthday with family on Sunday! :)

Whatever you do, have the best weekend. Evah!

xo

Enjambement.

 

It's Sunday and I'm happy to be home putzing about doing what I do best. (My new bedroom windows allow the sun to tap me on the shoulder, waking me up.  It's a sweet view, with the golden light coming up over the houses on the street. I'm surprised to be up so early, as last night we saw Paul Potts in concert.  Not Pol Pot.  LOL!!! The Nessun Dorma's were weep worthy. But truly my fave of the evening was Caruso...love that song!)

So...today I'll eat toast, drink tea, flip through my book, fret about my hair (Thursday's appointment seems so very far away!), attempt more unpacking. 

I'll weed the yard, fuss over the kids, call my mum.

I'll make a dinner.  (After I go to the grocery store and spend so much more money than is necessary because when I shop I'm a chef!  I can go on T.V. and prepare culinary delights for the nation to envy and emulate! Taste buds will stop in their tracks! Faces will gaze upwards in praise singing...)  It'll likely be a simple meal.  Who am I kidding?  It will likely have an avocado in there somewhere! Oh I've also been told there is far too much food being thrown away.  We compost now, and well, let's just say our bin was overflowing this week!  Egg shells and tea bags baby.

I'll nip out with some excuse or other with my foot to the floor (pedal to the metal baby) and gun it to some pretty location, camera in hand, hoping, wishing and praying for the right light! The right subjects! The right mood! And right when I'm about to snap the perfect photo my cell phone will ring and it will be my sweet husband asking me to pick up milk, and "How much longer do you think you'll be?"

Whatever Sunday brings you, whether you are washing your car (windex those inside windows, it makes for better night driving), making spaghetti bolognaise, watching Amelie, painting your toenails, chatting with your friend on the phone about closet organizers & the benefits of aioli sauce on a salmon burger...or just napping on the couch with the dog curled up behind your knees....do it with L O V E.

Have a  lovely Sunday mon cheries!!!

p.s. Did you have to look up the post title? Perhaps you are a smarty pants and don't need to. (If so, good fa you!)

Do you know why

It is relevant

Here, now, for you to grow!

Wiser, stronger you will be

for using this in your _____ :) 

? {Lousy example, true!)

edit:

I'm sorry for the comment trouble guys.  It should be fixed now. :)

Flower picking.

A field of wild daisies near my home.

Thursday is upon us and that means a few things to me; It means I'll rise with the sun and pop off to work with a song, because the world keeps turning and people need us.  (Who needs you today? Cause that includes YOU.) It means I'll start a new book today.  I'll listen to this song a few times.  Cause I love it.

Does Thursday have a scent?  I think Thursday smells like naturally aged Indian sandalwood, with a hint of Moroccan rose. (It's got to smell good! . It's the day before Friday after all.)

Now some sharings (internet flower pickin's);

Want to watch a stylish old French film?  (Love her hair! She does too, combing it as much as she does.)

This is one expensive restaurant bill!

A place to exhibit your photography. Free.

Go have yourselves a joyous one, embrace those who embrace you, kiss those who kiss you, and praise those who need it.

xo

EDIT; I know the *new* Typepad has its niggles.  (Don't you love that word?) Anyway, I've become addicted to following.  Now I'm finding all these glorious writers and blogs...who knew?  What a pot-of-gold at the end of the rainbow! Go get your free profile...then you too can follow along.  Such fun! :)

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."

You talkin ta me?

 

This swan was originally slated to appear only in my flickr set, {solitary sister~}

But here is the swan, now part of the latest sea to sky collaborative sunday photo.

I went down to the lake, to snap photos of gulls with a rather large and fun lens I have, and the swan walked right up to me, the top of it's head at my navel.  I was a bit unnerved, but I figured I could outrun it if necessary.  :)  He was hungry as it turns out, he went for an abandoned mitten left lying on the beach.  Alas, I had no swan food on me.

Here's what is happening around here;

Currently I await some yummy chai applebutter I ordered from Marilyn. I shall put it on my favourite melba toast, and have it with hot Earl Grey.

Last night I dreamt I was cuddled up on Joe's couch watching a movie.  It was kind of like I lived there {except the t.v. is in the bedroom, so in my dream he had moved it out to the living room! I know this, because I've actually been there...remember?} Sadly, Joe has given up blogging for Lent.  We'll see him after Easter.  

Ever have lucid, realistic dreams that you could swear were real?  I do all the time.  I awoke at 3am in my own bed, not Joe's place.  It took me a minute to realize where I was.

Tonight I'm watching this movie I rented.  I shall let you know how it pans out, it looks promising.  Tomorrow, I'm watching this beautifully photographed one.

Splendid evening to you all.....xoxo Kisses and hugs! {keep those poems coming xo}

Love wears a thousand masks.

The photographer.

The photograph-ee.

The most photographed.

Apparent distinctions exist only in our minds.  For example, in the sky there is no distinction of east and west.  People create such distinctions and then believe them to be true.  We do the same in everyday life-making distinctions, such as "us" and "them", where none exist and then believing them to be real.  -Taro Gold, from Open your Mind, Open your Life

***

I dreamt once that I met Jesus.  He was wearing a black and white striped prisoners uniform.  He fell from a scaffolding and landed at my feet, whereby he pulled off his "face" to reveal a brilliant and glorious blinding light.  I realized he was telling me in the dream that we all have brilliant light within, and our "masks" are not to be believed.  I knew in my heart in an instant he was Jesus.  He told me to stop searching.  My light was within, just like everyone else's. 

There are no distinctions.  Make no distinctions.  Open your heart, and turn your face to the sun.  A bright new future awaits.

xo

I needs me a little Hawaii~

Indigo Blue Bay.  No, actually it is formally known as Cook's Bay, as in Captain Cook.  No again, it is actually Kealakukua Bay.  The history of this little bay is fascinating.

This bay is known for it's breathtaking coral reefs, dolphin pods, and also the deathplace of Captain James Cook.  In 1778, Captain Cook was the first to have contact with the native Hawaiians.  

For me, this is a splendid piece of my own history, as this is the very island of which my sweetheart proposed to me.  The day I snapped this photo, we saw a family of dolphins swimming around our boat.  It was beautiful, surreal.

Today I needs me a little Hawaii.  While our tempetatures have been mild, the days have been rainy, and grey.  Nothing needs even to be specifically wrong in my life for me to feel a bit down, and sad.  Maybe worrying about my dad, hoping so much that his test results will be positive from this surgery he is recovering from, is draining me a bit.  Maybe worrying that I should worry less about the things I have no control over.  See, it all results in worry.  Crazy! 

In Hawaii, the days are long.  Yes, they are only 24 hours the same as ours.  But the tide pools have these little creatures living there, and when you stop to look at them, you extend your day by at least an hour.  Then when you breathe in the ocean air fully into your lungs, that will grant you at least another 40 minutes. 

Maybe the trick to extending the day, is to be in the moment of what you are doing.  Hmmm.

Now as I look around, at the boxes piled up to be sorted, the dishes that need washing, the plants that need watering...I am deciding just now that tomorrow I will do it all with my full attention. 

Right now all I feel like doing is sipping a hot cup of tea, and watching Annie Hall.

Yes, that is what I'll do.

Love to all my friends.

xo

A "divine" day yesterday at the Spa :)

Yesterday was fun.  Make that F-U-N! There were lights! Cameras!  Some action~! 

A star was here...Candice Olson! 

But, before we get to that let's clear up some old business. The honey roasted sunflower seeds for the salad are found at...drum roll please....Bulk Barn!  For you Canadian readers, this will be a no-brainer.  For American, Indian, Spanish, Moroccan and Parisienne bloggers, I cannot help you! Nor can I tell you where to find Kraft or Renee's salad dressings unless you live in Canada.  For those who are desperate, email me and we'll make the usual postal arrangements.  I'd hate to see you go without this salad! Okay, on to the good stuff...

Recognize these people? I'm not the only stah! (ha ha!!) in the picture. Look closely, Candice Olson and her team are giving me a massage! LOL

Okay, now for the moment I have you have been waiting for! Well, one of them anyways.  divine design with Candice Olson, including Candice Olson herself came by to film yesterday.  Yes, you heard me right.  Steven, their hardworking and totally stressed loveable design assistant was having his house renovated by the team.  They wanted him to relax, and get pampered.  They filmed him having some spa "moments".  A few waxing jokes later, they had what they needed and they left.  Poor Steven bless him! had to sit and listen to me drone on about all of you! (while I carried on with his spa treatments) and my blogging habits and my life.  I hope I didn't deter him from relaxing too much! But just as a precaution, I sent him home with spa treatment gift certificates to come in and catch me when I'm not starstruck!!

  Chico, the delightful, friendly and funny electrician on the show, (this one's for you Gemma!)

divine design with Candice Olson airs on HGTV, and W Network.  Those are Canadian channels guys.  Check the internet (such as You Tube) for alternative viewing options.  But you just know I'm going to let you all know when it airs, because, well I tell you all pretty much everything! And I'll feature a little snippet here for you too if I can.

Thank you Candice, you are a true star! It was a pleasure saying a few lines with you! Thank you lovely producer Catherine Swing, you are a doll! Thank you Steven, for choosing our little spa.  You guys made our year.  Corey the make up dude; make sure you get back to me about the wedding makeup thingie!  Don't forget!  I want to look like a STAH on my magical day baby.

xo