WINTER IS COMING...

Here is us at Halloween! I forgot to post this photo last month but I think we look great, so here it is. It's been busy at the store these days, my hands and fingers are like steel now! so much felt, so little time! B's Birthday was great, we had a party at his brothers house/loft and there were yummy snacks and some beautiful but deadly Elderflower liqueur..discussing going to Florida again this winter, but going around my Birthday so that I could be on a boat in the Ocean for my 39th!! Happy December!

REMEMBER, REMEMBER...

I really don't feel like it has been that long since my last missive......and yet it's been a month. Happy Guy Fawkes Day everyone!! I bought a mask for the Occupy Toronto protest and so this morning took a picture of me in it for my Facebook status....funny how attached to anonymous it is now...when really I feel they are not just about government change, they are about world change/system change..did I mention I t-boned a car yesterday because the brakes on my bike finally gave up. I have a huge bruise on my leg where my seat gouged into it. I am not looking forward to riding the TTC this week, I frelling HATE it so much. Might spend the morning trying to figure out all the uses of Google+ because I think it's good, I'm just so used to FB and how it works. yuck. conditioned.....have a good day....

THINGS ARE AFOOT....

Hello! Thesr fall days are going quickly! trying to decide how to winterproof my home and my brain..it is going to be a cold one this year I think. I say that a lot! Grand plans are in the works..stay tuned for exciting changes about to happen!! Happy October everyone!

OCTOBER IS GRAND...

Things over here in Toronto have been busy! I forgot that in the fashion world there are two main seasons and the fall is in full swing...my fingers hurt regularly from blocking so much felt! I have been on the hunt for the perfect fall coat, this year I am determined not to freeze. Last winter I was wet and cold most of the time and I don't want a repeat!..still have grand plans for decorating my place, maybe this winter will be the time to paint and put up some shelves we shall see. Most times in the winter all I feel like doing is eating potatoes and having hot showers. October is such a great time of year though, I am excited about Halloween and pumpkin carving! Uploaded new photos of my cards to flickr as well as some sketches..see above...

ANOTHER WEDNESDAY......

Today promises to be lovely, the sun is shining, the air is clear, and I managed to take the garbage out in time for the truck. I am going to write letters, drink coffee and try and go outside. I am taking care of my friends garden and the prospect of sitting amongst the tomato plants and the teeny roses is is beckoning. Going to try and do some illustration today, see above for an example of my newest obsession...drawing ribbons!!! going to try and get a website going too....sigh so much to do! have a good day everyone!

AND SO......

Really enjoyed the cottage this long weekend, we went up on Wednesday night and came back on Sunday..the levee was awesome, lots of families and lots of sunshine and swimming! bbq, drinks, family time it was great. Except being attacked my mosquitos the size of cherry tomatoes!...I can't believe I have been here for a year already! I really dig Toronto, I am glad I moved..there is so much going on in this city, but I never feel pressure to catch something just because it might not come back around...there;s stuff all the time and lots of people doing them. it's exciting.

A WALKABOUT....

Getting inspired by all the heritage buildings in my neighborhood these days, found a book at the flea market all about cabbagetown. I am going to the Necropolis today the cemetery in Riverdale to take photos and bike around...

PLATONIC SOLIDS

Had a lovely night last night. Ate poutine, practiced drawing a dodecahedron and watched twilight. Every so often I get an image or design in my head and I need to research it draw it absorb it. And so it is with the geometry of Platonic Solids. I became aware of the dodecahedron when doing research into the golden ratio and the sacred geometry in art. Leonardo Davinci was particularly absorbed with this form in nature and in an alchemical sense. I think it is beautiful.

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/the-book-surgeon-15-pieces
WOW...just wow..

10 YEAR REUNION..

I can't believe this but 10 years after my trip to Europe I am going again! yay! I promised Italy I would be back, and it will be so. Milan. Maybe Greece, maybe Paris...we shall see. I had forgotten how much I miss the real world and different spaces. travel! hope springs eternal.

THE DAYS GO BY....

Well another wednesday rolls around..today I did the laundry and went for another walk on the Don. I like this walk, it is visually stimulating as well as being good exercise..wrote letters....drank coffee..all in all a good day off. I feel I am slowly finding myself again. Reconnecting with that inner voice is so important...have plans for a painting for the living room and going to pimp my cards out to shops in Toronto...sigh...work day today....fun later...

NEW ADVENTURES...

This weekend was so great! I went for a power walk along the Don River towards Cherry beach and the trail was awesome. I found the "lampost" too! The weather was great and I really worked up a sweat. I will definitely be doing it again. Sunday I had a great talk with my Mom, I cleaned the fencing in our back yard to get it ready to paint, I called 1-800-got junk and they came and took away all the stuff that was left in the back yard and the living room so now there is so much space!! I re-arranged the living room and put up a couple of new pictures. The back yard has so much potential, I wnt to get some Adanak chairs for sun-sitting and I don't know if it will happen this year but boxes for gardening and flowers..I would like to put Hasta's in there too so pretty and pointy...

As the days get warmer, I am more inspired to cook and to decorate. I suppose this is what they call spring fever. We will be getting the flooring for our living room soon which pleases me to no end. I am looking forward to the long hot summer nights with all three patio doors open so it feels we are sitting in the yard, the cool breeze caressing our legs as we sip some luscious cold beverage and take in an old movie or two....thinking of taking the lattice's off the doors for a better view and planting some hasta's for the shady part of the yard. They are such lovely arrow shaped plants! pleasing to the eye and low maintenance. I am looking forward to this week, as I will only be working three days because of the holiday on Friday, and on Wednesday I go from having black hair with bad gray roots to platinum white! can't wait...off to shop for the weeks groceries and to make some pineapple carrot muffins. cheers! Jeff.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON...

Sunday rolls around again and I find myself wishing I didn't have to go to work today! not that I usually work Sundays, but I feel I have things I need to do today that can't be done as efficiently during the week. Started cleaning the back yard up a bit to get ready for some nicer weather, and did a sketch of the layout to brainstorm some gardening ideas....I have decided I do like my new haircut, but can;t decide what to do with the roots, black hair dye doesn't stay in it for long anymore and it looks silly. I might try and grow out the roots long enough to go bleach blonde, but I am not sure. I have been a blue/black brunette for so long I don't know if I would suit it long term. We shall see.....

Another week done. I went to the Tim Burton exhibit at the TIFF on Wednesday, it was amazing! I was very impressed with all of the sketches and little pieces of paper with his ideas written down on them and what not. The Edward Scissorhands costume was there which was so lovely to look at up close!I never realized how much his movies and esthetic have influenced my own, I mean I always loved stripes and black and red together, but it's eerie, and now I can't tell which came first the chicken or the egg!ha ha ha.... I am feeling much better these days.I think the winter funk I was in is dissipating. I am feeling inspired to sketch and collect some new art supplies to keep it going. I am also dreaming of moving to France, so much so I have actually looked into taking French lessons. I did take french in school but being from BC I have never had a chance to speak it. I know the info is in my head and I think that it would come back to me with some encouragement. Going to make carrot cake today and relax with a good book.

BACK ON THE HORSE...(no I don't mean heroin)

So I am still here, even thought it's been a while. They say you should never apologize for being away from your blog repeatedly but hey, I'm sorry. I have had a hard winter. I think we only know these things in retrospect, when we are feeling better we then realize where we were coming from. I made it though, and it wasn't that dark I guess. It was my first winter away from home in quite a few years, and there was a lot of snow and cold cold cold! Been feeling good these days and I can smell spring right around the corner. My bike is going to go into the shop and I will be riding it to work soon. Drawing a bit, writing a bit, slowly coming out of my shell and remembering who I am and what I like.

NEW YEAR...NEW WORDS.....

Happy New Year! The Christmas season went off without a hitch this year. Technically it is my second Christmas in Toronto, having visited last year before the move but this year I have a house and we had a lovely tree! all silver and blue. It smelled so good. Just like the olden times (I used to say that when I was a kid)....We are going on a road trip to Florida!!! I will be posting pictures and notes while we are gone so stay tuned!