sweet indigo life

Fortune cookies, postcards & wonderful old friends

I am greeting you from my desk on my day off.  Ahem.  (Pardon me, while I finish laughing....day off, that's a good one! lol!!!) Well, a day at home to do my "home" work.  Groceries in particular, which by the way, make me a little nutty anyways but in particular, when I return home to my new box of clementines that are going off (yes, I checked them, it was the bottom layer!) only to lay eyes on this gorgeous post full of fresh and delicious adventures...including a roadside orange purchase that would make any fruit lover envious.  I seriously don't get how they can make it all the way from Morocco to Canada and still be tasty.  It defies logic.  I should know better!

I am excited because a fortune from a fortune cookie from dinner the other night reads:

"A cheerful letter or message is on its way to you."

Really? Oh my!!! Could this be because I begged happiness & love in the form of a postcard from you the other day?  This could be exciting!! Can't wait.  Like I said before, I will post pictures and quotes from the postcards when they arrive in the New Year.  I want to then pass the torch to a willing participant, who in turn could do the same...you see?  How lovely this could be???

Lastly, but not leastly, my friend Steve from Greenleaf Wood Studios dropped off a gift I ordered the other day.  Steve and I reconnected through a social networking site and so technically have known each other for the better part of 30 years.  Steve is a generous person, funny & has many interests including his woodworking studio.  He is a married father of two gorgeous girls, and had more fun at DisneyWorld recently than they did, I'm sure.  (insert grin here!) So, that said, I paid Steve for the *secret Santa* gift I ordered through him, (because I like to support the handmade, people). Then surprise, he drops into my hand this, a gift for me;

It is heavy, green, and he made it himself (not sure what kind of wood it is), and a joy to write with.  It is my new favourite pen, and no, I won't be lending it out...sorry.  If you want your own one of a kind pen, or bowl, or pepper mill...visit Steve for yourself.  Thank you Steve, and Merry Christmas to you and your family! xo 

P.S. Steve blogs right here, he is a feel-good, wood turning, martial arts kind of guy.  He likes to swing a sword in his downtime.  Do pay him a holiday visit! Thanks and much love to you all.

Before I go, some gratitude:

1. Turkish delight and those who eat it!!

2. When I discover new blogs written by funny people!

3. The silhouette family generator! So much fun, thanks Randi xo

the world is my studio, winter blooms & colourful Sundays

 
First let me tell you that today is going to be wonderful. {Because I just decided that, actually.}

I am tidying up my studio space, and make it more functional for producing winter-magic-infused creations.  I like the word "studio". So many throw it around so loosely (myself included), and I've decided that is for the best really, for, like a soul, we all possess one.  When you create, that space thusly becomes your studio.  If you write; your desk is it.  If you paint; your easel is it.  If you shoot photographs; the world is it. You get what I mean! In the kitchen cooking? You're in your studio!

My actual studio space is a rather large and toy preoccupied unfinished basement.  But, to the artist, it is a blank canvas of possibility.  To me, that artist I just referenced, it will become multifunctional, an art space for my painting, photography and writing.  It will also serve as a home gym.  So if the muse tip-toes away, or my inspiration-well dries up...I need only to jump on the treadmill I asked Santa for.  So part of today's task is clearing space in case I've made it on to the Nice list. It is my hope to make it a functional space after today...

And now for a couple of random happy things: First, I was picking up supplies at the shop for my spa, when the woman suggested Moroccan Argan Oil for my hair.  I need it to keep my hair soft and smelling lovely. Happier than happy that it actually works.

Secondly, I am rather giddy because I discovered that my African Violets really found a new home, within my home. Yes, it took some serious work of the heart to find exactly where she needed to be, but beside the kitchen patio is it! There are now ten blooms, where for two years before she sat all green-with envy at the other blooming plants.  She has come into her own; as all of us do.  You can see her right here.

A short & sweet gratitude list today:

1. Blackest India ink.

2. Green & cranberry dressers made into "studio" furniture.

3. Blooming violets.

xo (click the hug and kiss for a sweet little video)

a song, a mantra & sparkly Christmas miracles

Sorry I'm late posting.  Life.  Gets. Ahead of me sometimes!!! LOL

My favourite song of all time.  Seriously.  EVER.
I could listen to it ten times a day. {I wouldn't care to open up a can of worms, and I love love LOVE John Lennon, but...Paul.  Well...has uber talent all his own, wouldn't you say? Yes, a Paul fan! In fact, it was Linda McCartney that put me on the path to being vegetarian before.  I am seriously considering it again.  I have her cookbooks.  Love her. Heather who? Seriously, even Paul can't replace her.}

May we all find the peace we seek. {Yes, all of us. ALL. Read them all.}

I called Julian at his new store tonight, to ask if he had a certain accessory for the snowman the kids built tonight.  We now have a beautiful new snowman complete with a carrot nose, and a corn cob pipe. (I shall photograph him and show you soon.  He is so cute.)

Those crazy things are my three.  Gratitude mulitiplies your blessings, you need only to be grateful in order to cultivate more to be grateful for. It is a lovely equation.

Like last night, when folding laundry, and vaccumming (sp?), I felt so happy to be able to do those things.  I love my home.  My home makes me so happy.  It is like our nest.  So fluffing and folding gives me pleasure.  You see?  Every so often I'd look out the window at our new snowman.  He glowed in the snowy night.  (An aura only a mom can see, due to him being given his spirit by the children, right?)

I looked about while doing laundry, I saw a book of portraits, inscribed by a good friend.  I saw a wall hanging, created by a good friend.  I saw two beautifully nautical and perfect Sanibel seashells, given to me by a good friend.  It would seem, I'm surrounded by them.  (Good friends, that is. Thank God.)

If you have but one friend or twelve, I hope you are grateful for them.  Treat them like gold. They deserve it.

(Likewise, so do YOU.)

Today's gratitude is really random, but that is okay.  Life is too sometimes. xo

Sugar animation; inspiration in *white*

Today is whimsical and wonderful white!  I'm inspired by many things, many people.  True hearts prevail out there it would seem.  So a small *white* tribute to those dear souls.  This first photo is inspired by this incredible sand animation artist. 

I am fascinated by animation of all kinds.  But, as an amateur photographer it makes me feel like an ant on the mountain of technology that is available now.  Click here to see why.

The reason behind all the white here today is a *colour week* project. My world is a flurry of white dotted here, and there...

 
 
  


Please join in the festival of colour this week over at n o d d y b o o m. See you tomorrow, with my favourite, yellow. Enjoy all this day has to offer you! xo

The latitudes of my equinox.

Happy Autumnal Equinox!! The nights and days are equal for a wee spell.  Then the nights reign heavily for six months.  Oh, the upheaval of Mercury gone retro is lightening up now...we'll soon get our messages straight again.  (The last few weeks has been insane for communications.)

I am hoping to accomplish the following this week:

• take a fun shot for Bench Monday! not like this, but I'll show you this anyways-as it sums up where I'd like to lay my head for the next-up in the bullet list...
• get some much desired SLEEP
• walk briskly to clear my head
• read the rest of Oliver Twist
• smile much
• increase my energy somehow
• watch a chick flick or two, I need a good cry!! (things have been even-Steven for awhile, and that is very boring, I need to FEEL)
• read all of your blogs, yes ALL of  your BLOGS!
• figure out some work related issues, yuck!
• bounce around on the beds like a ten  year old with my kids

Maybe I'll go to the lake, and get an ice cream cone before the weather gets too cold...oh and I'll shop for sweaters and boots.  Yes.  I love fall. OH!!! A recipe.  This is so inspired by the lovely chef Christina over at Soul Aperture.  I just couldn't resist it, and am telling you it is a major must in place of mashed potatoes.  So yummy!  So, fall!!!

xox

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??

Our tasty Sunday.

Lamb chops, in light oil and mint.  So melt-in-your-mouth.

A double skewer of pork souvlaki.  Big squeeze of tzatziki sauce. :)

Roasted corn dripping with hot spicy butter and hot peppers.

A tasty way to spend a Sunday.

xoxo

Don't let go.

Cherish beauty in all cultures.~*

Out
Of a great need
We are all holding hands
And climbing.
Not loving is a letting go.
Listen,
The terrain around here
Is
Far too
Dangerous
For
That.
 ~Hafiz~

Journey to an exotic land~(you aren't daydreaming)

 

~daydreaming~ by gillian da silva

I want to tell you about an exciting journey.  Do you enjoy travel? Photography? Adventure? Then read on because this applies to you.

This journey is to a most exotic land with a dead sea, a vast Arabian desert, and souks loaded with ceramics, embroidery, jewellery and other handicrafts. 

A place almost as old as time itself.  An ancient place that you could journey to on a photographic safari! Yes YOU!! 

Journey to Jordan, is a photographic safari to Jordan happening March 1-March 8, 2010.  This event has been organized and facilitated in it's entirety by Tara Bradford (Paris Parfait) and Alessandra  de Sousa (Gypsy Girls Guide).

Journey to Jordan will take us on a magic carpet ride through the highlights of an ancient land, with photography instruction led by Jordan's premier photographer Zohrab.

Space is limited, therefore I recommend you sign up for this chance of a lifetime opportunity as soon as you can.  Please visit the Journey to Jordan website for sign up and all other pertinent information-and I'll see you in Jordan in the spring! (Note to self: must practice, practice, practice my landscape photography skills.)

Can you just imagine how very amazing and beautiful this land is going to be? (Insert back flips here.)

***A million *Thank you's* to Tara and Alex for putting together this trip of a lifetime. xoxo

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. :)