in my corner...

...summer is officially here and that means so many, many good things:

...the weather is giving us beautiful warm days of sunshine sprinkled in with overcast days of shade and even a sprinkling or two of rain.



...our friends have returned and they have brought with them new little ones to love and admire.







...our school year is ending today and now we turn our attention to some serious outside play - bring it on!



...the garden has been planted and the veggies are growing, the flower pots are blooming and green is always our favourite colour.



...soccer season has ended for the summer, bike riding is a daily occurrence, we've made one trip to emergency so far and popsicles continue to make an appearance in the grocery cart.



...I am excited that mr. duckyhouse will officially be on holidays for almost all of July in which we will soak up his goodness with lots of play, beaching, day trips, and yes even some more renovations.





...I am picking up my camera again after a couple difficult months and realizing that it is through the lens that I am inspired to live a more grateful life.



...hoping your corner is filled with grateful memories too!

sisters

Somedays life seems extraordinarily peaceful in our home.


Sisters in the early stages of reading, cuddle together hoping to recognize a word or two from one of our very favourite books.



Working hard and trying to understand why the English language gets to break so many rules - naughty, naughty.

Wishing you a peaceful Monday, xxx

wip: block number 2

The second block in the free piece study was the good ol' log cabin.



Wonky and fun, I couldn't resist doing a little fussy cut to make sure that sweet little ghost is looking out the window. In hindsight it would have been cooler if he was just peeking out the window but that just dawned on me now while I type this and I don't think I will be picking stitches at this stage. Besides, learning to make it and appreciate the way it turns out seems to be a part of the process, you know letting the art-form take it's course.



I should get back at it, more blocks to be done. Happy Monday all, xxx.

go team go!

Our indoor soccer season to came to an end on Wednesday evening. Ben, also known as the B-meister, (yes I've admitted his real name on the internet now that my hubby's last movie announced all the kids' names in the credits thus making aliases a moot point) played indoor soccer all winter long. The season lasts October to March and they went all the way to the b-side finals, yay!



I wanted to make the day a little extra special and so cookies were in order for him and his team. We made sugar cookies and decorated them like soccer balls. Don't look to closely as my icing talents are not on par with martha & the like.  I need a lot more practice and while that is a good idea, it is not so good when watching your waist line - cookies with yummy icing need to be eaten afterall.





As for the game, I'm really proud of my soccer boy, he has improved so much over the year. He played a good game and even scored the final goal of the season. Congratulations Ben!

;

february 365

So okay, just off the top, taking photos for my 365 project are apparently much easier than uploading them (I'm hoping that I won't be this tardy for march). In the meantime here is a mosaic of february images and as always you can find the rest of my photos here.

;

In other news you might want to return in the next day, or so, because I dusted off my sewing machine and... well, you'll just have to check back to see what I'm working on.

Happy Monday, xxx

january re-cap

in pictures...

:: his other love ::



:: dear hipstamatic: i love you ::



:: started pride and prejudice ::



:: noticed how little things make me smile ::



:: bright colours make me feel so happy ::





:: thinking a lot about food ::







final notes: After 1 month of the 365 photo a day, I can honestly say that this is going to be a challenge. I've really gotten out of the habit of photo-journalling life and while I love the camera, I feel rusty behind the lens. Most days I'm not sure what I should take photos of, I find myself hoping the inspiration will just show itself as I go about my day. And certainly while the light is right, if you know what I mean ;) It's a bugger when the idea strikes and the sun has set. If you want to see more of my 365 set you can hop over here to view them. all for now, xxx.

the big picture

2:365


3:365


That's a lot of days and a lot of photos. I'm still going strong 12 days in, though I admit if I look to far in advance the task seems sort of daunting. How the heck am I going to feel that inspired? What am I going to photograph? All these questions are swirling in my head and then I stop and realize that this is really only going to work if I just take it one day at a time. Live in the moment. Enjoy the moment. Slow down and notice the mundane moments of my day and try to make sense of them through the lens.

4:365


5:365


Easier said then done, but I need the practice. I need to learn to live in the moment again. It's something I've forgotten how to do. Renovating requires a constant planning mode, a futuristic thinking and well, that's where I've been for the past two years. Thinking and planning, thinking about the next step, planning the next project, always ahead. Quite honestly, it's exhausting. It's a full time job and at the end of day I feel creatively empty.

6:365


Before we began this renovating adventure, I was good at the now. I was in the moment and in it with the kids too. If they needed me I was there, if they wanted to journey out we did it. Now they know a mumma who says more often then she likes: "not right now" or "maybe another day". My kids don't say it, but I will: "I'm not sure I even like that mumma". *sigh*

7:365


I know looking at the past is a huge big trap. It doesn't lend itself to making peace with todays struggles, it's a let down in general. I guess mostly I need to make peace with today, with the remainder of the work that lies ahead and the planning that will be required. Things are beginning to come together and for that I am so grateful. I won't always be stuck in this place and ultimately the changes we've made are for our family - the big picture. Yes, the big picture.

8:365


I'm not really that great at putting myself out there and right now I'm tempted to hit delete as I so often have during the summer months. I'm an inward processor and most of my thinking happens quietly, I like to suffer quietly too. But today I feel a bit melancholic and brave; I'm sharing it with you. Be gentle on me, this heart is tired.

9:365


:: all photos are from my 365 series, you can head over there to catch a brief write up on each photo ::

happy new year!

2011 is here and I wanted to start the year on the right foot with a blog post.  I am optimistic that it is going to be a great year and from my 2010 perspective, things can only look up.  Not that last year was all that bad but from a blogging standpoint the latter part of 2010 was very unproductive.  I made the quiet decision to put my blogging/creative life on hold back in May to tend to a few issues that were causing me a fair amount of stress.  I am hoping that my very long break will bring with it a fresh perspective, some new creativity and a renewed sense of purpose.

On the home front things are starting to fall into place with the renovation (BIG stressor #1).  We were scheduled to have things completed before Christmas, allowing me to start the year in a new studio space but it looks like it's going to take a wee bit longer; end of February at the latest, cross-fingers.  Mr. duckyhouse and I are both very tired of it all and spending a years worth of date nights in Home Depot is no fun!

Our current project has been refinishing the stairway/hallway & mudroom but we put it on hold during December as I was sick, so very sick.  I finally gave in after 24 days of it (being sick) and went to a walk in clinic on Dec 23rd, diagnosis: a sinus infection with a touch of bronchitis.  After that short visit to the doctor I walked away with a prescription for a $70 antibiotic, umm yeah, hefty price but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.  I’m feeling loads better as I write this and between you and me I blame the whole sick thing on the 13 hours of power sanding the staircase.  Yeesh.  No matter how well your sanding mask fits, you gotta know that dust is making it’s way into those sinus cavities.

With things more or less on hold creatively you won’t find any new quilts or nifty sewing going on these days.  I did manage to knit up a few items during my sick December for gifting and I started this quaint little felt kit with the sweetest woodland critters.  I’ll post the photos as soon as they are taken.
Speaking of photos, my camera has been pretty lonely for the past half a year.  I want to  alleviate that by taking part in a 365 (photo) project.  The goal is to take one photo a day to capture your life.  I miss taking photos, I miss the inspiration, I need to participate in this idea.

As for resolutions, I have none...well maybe just one.  I want to laugh more.  seriously.

How about you? How is your New Years shaping up? Any reflections or resolutions?