October-ing.

A summing up.

This month I was:

Reading... Yes I was. Kathleen Norris. Madeleine L'Engle. Angie Smith. NONFICTION, people. Do you know how uncharacteristic this is??? Reading is my escape. It's not supposed to make me think. (Please don't judge me.) But, surprisingly, I've really enjoyed it all!!

Watching... Castle. NCIS. Downton Abbey. Season two is not nearly as good as the first season. I hate when that happens.

Cooking... Glorying in my crockpot. Oatmeal cooked overnight so as to be ready first thing in the morning... stews simmering all day long... so good.

Creating... I finished up the second round of pottery classes with a grand total of 15 thrown vessels, plus a stack of things that I made at home and brought in for firing/glazing. Can't wait til they're all done and can be brought home. Also, I have dusted off the sewing machine again... time to start sewing costumes.

Enjoying... a month of rather glorious weather. Yes there were some gloomy days, but on the whole we had a rather lovely month.

Celebrating... my birthday. I am now the answer to life, the universe, and everything. How bizarre is that?!

Teaching... a bit more reluctantly than last month. The novelty has worn off, and Ellie's a bit more whiny about things she doesn't like. I've been chanting our little mantra... "I am, I can, I ought, I will"... over and over and over again. "Oh, right", she says, and then we get on with it.

Thankful... for cozy woolen knits and knee-high socks. For food to eat. For a vehicle that runs well (even though it has no heat). For leaves that glow red against the evergreens, and roses that refuse to stop blooming. For my community of friends. For a cupboard full of different kinds of tea. For sunset skies and the croak of ravens.

picture this

 Beauty.
This morning.

happy day

Today I spent a happy time walking through one of the richest areas of Vancouver... oh the lovely old houses!!

I also got to spend a happy couple of hours with my sister, and with my nephew who is courageously fighting leukemia.

And when I got home, it was snowing. Oh, happy day!

2 days... busy busy busy

So much is getting done here... finally!... and I can't show you pics of any of it. I *knew* I shouldn't have let my family know I had a blog!!

But here's my present this year, half of it courtesy of Pioneer Woman and the photo editing contest that I won (I won!!! Seriously, I still can't believe it most of the time!).

A (gently used) Canon 40d... which, as one of my friends kindly pointed out to me, sounds like a bra size... and an 18-135 lens which I hope will turn out to be a good general-purpose one. Picking out a lens was the hardest part of the purchase - finding one with good reviews, that would cover most of my needs, and still be within my budget.

So, now I get to play with my camera... so many buttons and dials and unfamiliar features. It feels so good to have an SLR in my hands again!!

november day

These colours are SOOC*.

I love days like this.

And I'm always surprised by them at this time of year.

It startles me.

I forget that I don't need a jacket. Or sweater. Or long sleeves.

I had to shed several layers before we got back to the car.

*straight out of camera.

ie, no futzing about with enhancements or anything.

sweetness

Is there anything cuter than a little girl on her first day of ballet lessons?

What do you think?

busy as a bee

It felt very strange, not to be blogging the last couple of days.

Things have been very busy... I've been trying to get lots of things done outdoors while the weather is still nice.

I'm also hoping to have my new sewing room/area ready for pictures in a couple of days. Much progress has been made in the sorting/organizing/tossing/giving side of things. I didn't realize exactly how much fabric and yarn I actually own. And yet, when there is a project I want to do, I still don't have what I need. How does that work, do you think???

happiness

happiness

I figure that in spite of all the stress in my life right now, I should be able to find at least one thing a day that brings a bit of happiness, or something that I can be thankful for.

Today the postman came to the door with a large parcel that I had to sign for... it was this lovely vase, created by Tara Ackerman at Green Cycle Designs. I love the turquoise and white punched flowers all over it, and even more, I love that I can see the back of the magazine pages through the inside of the vase!!

And the 'squeeeee' factor here? I won this. Yes! Courtesy of the lovely ladies at the Bright Side Project, where the goal is to "bring sunshine every day with themed, daily giveaways."