Rain

It's wet outside today. Cold, windy, and wet. I often find the rain soothing. Not today.

carrots, beets and squash?

I spent a wonderful afternoon outside in my garden today. This morning started out dark and dreary with gusts of heavy rain falling at times. I thought for sure this was going to be a curl up-in-my-favourite-sweats-and-read-a-book kind of day. And although I did do a bit of that I was also pleasantly surprised when the sun peeked out and the temperature seemed to rise by 10 degrees.

I have been meaning to clean out my vegetable gardens and figured today was the perfect day. I cleared out a lot of rotten tomatoes and old pumpkin vines. I dug up a lot of carrots (that will be used somehow in tonight's dinner), pondered what to do with my parsley that has grown a little bit out of control and dug out some beets. The beets I do hope to "pickle," perhaps with more than just vinegar ;)

As all of this clearing was going on I came across what looks to be a squash. I've never bought a squash or cooked a squash, I actually don't think I have ever even tried it, so I am very confused as to how this squash like vegetable began growing in my garden. Anyway, it was a fun little surprise, just not sure what to do with it.

I thought while I was outside and enjoying the fresh fall air, I should give Hannah a good brush. I took a lot of fur off of her. I then thought that maybe she could use a bit of a hair cut. Now, since I am not a hairdresser and have never cut dog fur before things got a little out of control I think. Not that it won't grow back or that her owners are coming back anytime soon, I just feel a wee bit guilty that it is going into winter and her coat just got 10 pounds lighter.

Simplicity

I spent some time today reflecting. I am reading this book called Less is More. We hear this all the time, but do we ever really apply it to our lives? We live in a society where we think we deserve the newest trends, gadgets, cars, and yes, even computers :( Do all of these things really make us happy? Maybe for a few minutes, or perhaps even a few weeks, but it wears off.

They define simplicity as this:

"Simplicity is a complex concept, but at the core is voluntary limitation of our outer wealth so that we can have greater inner wealth."

Our earth is so full of junk and stuff that was once treasured (probably for only a very short time) and is now left in a landfill. We have been blessed with such a beautiful earth, and I am feeling more and more guilty about what I fill my house with. Especially things made in China, where children are being paid peanuts to produce toxic goods. That is one reason I despise Dollar stores so much, but I won't get into that rant today.

Anyway, just my thoughts for the day! I am challenging myself to not buy anything else this week that will harm the earth.

getting lost

I love how getting away can bring on a such a new perspective on life. I spent this past weekend in Toronto with family, taking pictures, and exploring the city. It was a quick trip and every moment was spent on the go. It was so great to be able to wake up every morning, get dressed and walk out the door and grab a Starbucks. My last day there I woke up to a damp misty morning. It had rained heavily all night and I was expecting a cold west coast morning, surprisingly I was met with warm humidity and the hustle and bustle of a busy city life, far different than what I am used to. Everyone has a place to be. Nobody really knows anybody and everyone is in their own little world. What really struck me was how entwined I am in my little Auguston bubble. Like most people in my community, they are off to work and leaving their community to work or be with people from anywhere but there. I on the other hand do not do this on a daily basis. I know all of my neighbours, I walk to and from the school 3 times a day with the same people, I go to church in the same community as all of these people and I work from home and work mostly with people from my community. Honestly, I feel like I need out! There is such a big world out there and I want to be part of it. I'm not sure where these thoughts will lead me, probably not too far, but I do feel like a need a change, even if it's a small one. I used to take art classes every Wednesday night. I met many different people there from all over. Some older, some younger, all with such interesting stories. I find myself craving that, not necessarily art classes, but something. This is definitely a rambling post, but getting lost in a city like Toronto was nice, even for a few days. Here are some pics my mom took while I was there.

Leaving on a jet plane,

don't know when I'll be back again...okay, actually I'll be home Sunday afternoon, I just wanted to finish the line in the song.

Tomorrow morning I'm heading to Toronto for the weekend. I will be doing a couple of shoots as well as visiting family. As I get ready to leave I am feeling a mix of emotions.

* I am looking forward to getting lost in another city

* There are a few of you out there that I will really miss

* It will be great seeing my family

* Taking pictures in a different city is super fun!

* I like riding the subway

* I hope I'm not getting sick

* I hope I haven't forgotten anything

* Responsibilities? I'm traveling without kids, I have no responsibilities :)

* Life is good

peace out...

lj

Really?

Wow, I am not sure really where to begin this blog entry. I'll start with the fact that after nearly nine months of planning, a lovely Pig Roast is going to be held right across the street from my house in just over 24 hours. I've come to grips with it. Really I have. I mean why would watching a poor little pig spin helplessly on a stick over hot flames right in front of my house for hours on end be at all disturbing?

Okay, skip to another random fact about my life... trust me, this will all come together at the end.

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a book at the library on business. More specifically Starbucks. How Starbucks became so successful so quickly. Really, a very interesting book, with a lot of ideas to incorporate into my business, or anyone's business for that matter. So tonight I was going through my Twitter contacts and came across this article about how Starbucks is now un-cool. I was intrigued, so I clicked the link. (here's the link if you're interested) I thought it was kind of funny. I also noticed on the page a bunch of "ads." No not the kind of ads you're thinking... good clean ads. Or at least I thought. One of the ads said "Learn to Cook!" Well, that sounds good, I would love to learn to cook. So I clicked it. Okay, was so not prepared to see a 7 minute video on how to butcher a lamb. A.whole.lamb. AYKM??? Gross, and so uncalled for. BTW, I am not posting the link to the lamb video, if you want to see a carcass being cut up come to the pig roast on Sunday. Really, I'm not bitter :-)

Today...

Today I:

- dropped off BOTH kids at school

- had a long and difficult conversation with someone I love

- began designing a sample album for weddings

- placed an order with my lab

- burned and printed a dvd

- returned e-mails

- got a wonderful, unexpected phone call

- lit some candles and read a magazine

- was annoyed that the magazine I was reading had the super interesting article I really wanted to read torn out! (that's what I get for taking mags out of the library)

- cut the grass, weeded the garden, put away the outdoor furniture for the winter

- was totally grossed out by the high number of enormous spiders I came across while in the garden...ewwwww!

- talked with neighbours on the way home from school

- made banana muffins

- helped Elissa with homework

- did some laundry

- made dinner

- and now I am gearing myself up for a run, hoping to do 6 or 7 kms, although I feel like I am being blind-sided by a cold...yuck!