the view from here

I hadn't realized what I was really doing with my life until today.

Beside my driveway sits an old fence. Really old. Falling half-way down old. Painted a colour that the trim on this house hasn't been for many many many years (I'm guessing). The fence is being pushed in all directions from the living things growing beside it. Its being pulled in opposite directions by gravity. Its perilously perched on the border of our property, and mostly is just there these days for appearance's sake. Many times the subject of our fence has come up on conversations of 'what do we tackle next' at home. (Sadly for the fence) it always seems to end up at the bottom of the 'to do' pile.

Today it looks different to me. It looks like home. Like a place I have been spending my life on of late.

I've discovered I've become a fence sitter. In many ways. MANY ways.

I discovered a new blog today {insert sarcastic gasp!} and it hit me like a freight train. This woman writes for me. From the comfort of her Montreal home, she is writing for me. ABOUT ME. About my life's recent perspective.

From the perch of my rickety old falling down cozy looking fence.

And now I must read her blog to figure out what the hell I'm doing there. And if I have what it takes right now to get off. Or if I'll sit for a while longer and get off in baby steps.

All I know is the view from here is too comfy. Too staid. Too fixed. Need to get me some discomfort (the good kind), some passion, some variety.

Need to mix it up a bit. Hmph... cozy fence begone...

under the truck

hope to return soon. been fighting niggling illness on and off for almost two weeks now. blech!

on a roll

With this . And then I read my horoscope today:

'A creative project will start to come right today and you will be delighted to have something to show for your efforts. But don't stop there. Now you've got the momentum going you must keep it going. What's your next target?'

ooooh I LOVE IT when the planets align!

10-10-10

Yesterday I completed my second half marathon. Eight years and one day after the first. Walked it for the most part this time, but the effort was all the same. The aches and pains (and blisters) yesterday and today are evidence of the hard work, the fun, the comaraderie of my walking gals, and the incredible feeling that I did something I didn't think I would ever do again.

Cornered

Its Friday. Even when I'm feeling a bit funny on the inside, there is an added spring to my step when I fully awaken to the realization that its Friday. My favorite day of the week. The day of the week that may start off in regular getting-ready-for-school chaos, but ends in my favorite spot in the house.

And I think we may spark our first fire of fall tonight. With my fam. All cuddled together in my corner.

chillin.

cuddlin.

cause Dude, its Friday.

xxxx

The warmth of a vent

I've been holding out, but at long last, this morning I finally let the furnace do its thing. I let it run. For many months I've had the furnace set at 15 degrees celsuis, knowing it would take a MIGHTY cold morning for it to kick in... and well... this morning I decided that 17.5 degrees was a bit too chilly for my 5:45am rise.

So the fuel company will start making its money from us again. The anticipation of warmth blowing out the vents will punctuate our days. Our daughter will begin seeking the warmest vent to warm her bones.

But hey... its October 6th. I've held out, but now the chill of fall is here and I'm ready to welcome it.

A.D.D.

I think if I wasn't such a quiet kid, I would have gotten into a lot of trouble. Or maybe I wasn't really like this as a child, but as an adult, I think I definitely suffer from A.D.D. My attention to things isn't what it used to be, and with so many things I want to do/try, projects I want to tackle/complete, things I want to see, people I want to meet/know, I feel like there isn't enough time in this one lifetime to do it all.

Do you feel frustrated too?

What's a gal to do?

I know... FOCUS. Its hard though. Just get 'er started. Get 'er done. Hard to.

For instance, these are the things that interest me, but how do I prioritize? Where do I find the time, while not robbing my precious sleep?

this intrigues me
so does this
and this
and i'm now reading this and want to do it all in there
and this weighs on my mind
and then there's this too....

Not to mention the things I need to finish, attend to, love, honour and maintain.

Really now... I ask again... what's a gal to do?

fall crush

So perhaps after this post you are going to think I have a funny fetish. But its not funny, I assure you. It is love. Pure love.


I was introduced to the intoxicating taste of these beautiful little things about 8 years ago. And I've been in love ever since. They play hard to get. You can actually only get them a couple times of year, THIS time of year being the BEST time of year. And you can only get them in certain locations. And man oh man.... this fall they do not disappoint!

Smitten kitten. That's me.

Chanterelle heaven is where I'm at. I'm such a sucker for these woodsy shrooms, I absolutely drool over the thought of sauteing them gently with garlic and shallots in butter. Paired with egg noodles, and they are the most delectable seasonable dinner treat. I've not had them much in the last few years, unfortunately due to the cost - they are pricey at $9.99-$12.99 per pound, but this year I discovered friends of ours forage them and have NO problem sharing their finds with fellow chanterelle lovers! Yesterday the biggest bucket of the BIGGEST chanterelles I've ever seen landed in my house, and you cannot even begin to imagine how indebted I am to our friends.

They are scrumptous. They are meaty. They are delectable. And they are now yummily nestled somewhere in my very satisfied tummy.

some of my favorite things...

We didn't grow much in our garden at all this year, but it was so delicious to savour the taste of our only carrots and cuke tonight at dinner.

And honestly, I don't think anything makes me happier than these sights... such a common occurrence in our household - any time day or night. One could stop by at any moment and most likely see one or both boys doing this exact thing. Bliss for a mama.

Musing October...

The first of October. The rush of September has passed, and boy, it was a BUSY month! But now I feel more settled and centred and ready to have a fantastic month. I was so inspired {constantly, actually - so much so that I've developed quite the blog-crush} by this blog, that I've also decided that I'm going to make this a GREAT month for my family. Every day. Somehow. Celebrate everyday.

For the last two days I've been reorganizing my studio and finding my place there again. Had my regular group of croppers in there, and felt SUCH inspiration by what I was doing, and what they were doing, that I'm feeling my life-documentation mojo coming back. I was working on my Week in the Life project last night. First thing to report: never, NEVER tackle a project like this and NOT finish it soon after you begin it! I was lost for a bit, trying to determine which pictures are for which days, but I'm now back on track, and eager to finish up for my daylong workshop in two weeks.

Second thing to report ~ and the most important ~ I remember how it felt to document my life that week. It felt good. I felt inspired by MY OWN SELF. Which was a bit of an aha moment for me. I'm always searching for inspiration elsewhere, and who's kidding who, really. That is where we find a lot of inspiriation, is from others. But this mama actually found inspiration right in the seat where she was sitting. Moi. hmmm.... interesting idea to ponder.

And today I'm excited for two things... first is the fact that I can't wait to pick up this book from the library. My best friend introduced me to it this week, and I must say I'm very excited to leaf through the pages and becoming inspired to live. artfully. even just a bit.

So today I started by changing up the look of the blog a bit. Getting outside and photographing the change of the seasons - mushrooms are SO abundant in my yard this year. Embracing the month where we begin to retreat. cocoon. hold our loved ones tight while we cuddle up and watch a Friday night dvd.

Tonight (the second thing I'm looking forward to), however, we celebrate the birthday of a friend, and toast the culmination of our beautiful mosaic project with all the key people who worked so tirelessly on it. We're ready to bask in the glow of completion and put this baby to bed.

Happy Friday!