Fact or Fiction? Quiz at the ROM website

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Happy Canada Day!!

Have a safe and wonderfully happy Canada Day!

Cast your vote at 101 Things Canadians Should Know About Canada

my life or at least a fair imitation

Wishing only wounds the heart.

Oh, how deeply it does.

It's happening. I'm losing someone very dear to me.

Denial isn't working anymore.

I've never been much good at reality.

Sure ain't no Florence Nightingale...

If a cop calls you at home it's never good. I don't know why I didn't pick up on this when he identified himself. Uh, oh something not good is coming. Nope, not me. No clue.

My better half was struck by a car yesterday morning while on his way to work.

Thankfully he's OK. Well, if 'OK' can include a broken collar bone, painfully bruised ribs, injured hand and a twisted ankle.

When we finally got him home, I helped him upstairs to bed and tried to help him get as comfortable as possible. Frankly, I was reluctant to touch him anywhere because he was hurting so badly and you could tell. That scared me more than anything all morning.

I finally decided that I could touch his head. I leaned forward to give him a hug and speak quietly to him. He looked so uncomfortable and in pain. Finally, he said through gritted teeth, "Your leaning on my collar bone".

Florence Nightingale I'm not.

I'm determined to make friends ...

with my sewing machine. I've taken it back to the repair shop (sigh) and signed up for lessons at a local sewing business (or is that shop?). Dunno.

We simply trade baleful looks right now. I'm convinced my sewing machine no longer works because it's tired of working with an amateur. See! It's sooo judgemental, er temperamental. I do have to admit that I might be a challenge too. Especially when my better half asks "Should the machine sound that way when you sew?"

I'll keep you posted. You've been warned....

Doesn't this make you smile?

Isn't this wonderful? I was was enchanted by this sweet bunny wreath. It was created by the talented felt artist Odile Gova. She deservedly won first place in the The One of a Kind Easter Bunny Competition. There are much better photos of her creation on flickr.

p.s. Apologies for the poor photo. (Yes, I took photos at the show. My addled brain decided that it was OK in a common area but not in the booths. Huh? Thank goodness I was discrete! lol. The photo police is the last thing I needed.) I'm using the camera on my phone which is handy but not great quality.

Our camera recently went kaput. Anyone have a suggestion/recommendation for a new one?

Missed you too

“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the
unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience,
wait it out It's all about timing.”
~ Stacey Charter

Why is it possible to create the perfect blog entry in your head? Yet draw a complete blank when your fingers touch the keyboard. I had the perfect post to explain my recent absence.

It's apparent that I've been otherwise occupied given my lack of posts. Where have I been? I won't bore you will the specific details. Be grateful. Let's just say the last 12 months has been a tumultuous and unsettling experience.

I work at a computer all day and in recent weeks it was the very last thing I wanted to do when I finally had some free time. No blogging, no reading my favorite blogs, no local group participation (or very minimal) and not a whole lotta email either. So if I owe you an email, I'll be caught up soon.

I'm astonished that it has been almost two months since my last post. It doesn't seem that long.
I've spent the last couple of weeks catching up with my favorite blogs and friends. I've decided to adjust my priorities as they have gone wildly askew.

“Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself”
~ Jessye Norman

Believe me when I say that I have missed you too.

Buy a toddler an apple...at your own risk

I adore the yummy apples from the Bruce County company and they have become a 'must stop' when I go to the semi annual One of a Kind Sale.


I spent a blissful afternoon at the show today. I decided to purchase some apples as a special easter treat for my guys.

When I got home I let my little guy select the apple he wanted after dinner. I sliced it into pieces only to discover that he didn't like the caramelly, cinnamon goodness on the outside. He would only eat the apple, however, he had to take a bite out of every single slice. Don't you just love kids?

ESMUMA Assignment #22

This is our dollar store assignment/challenge for the upcoming meeting.

We are supposed to alter it. I can't say that I like it even a little. It's ugly. (Oddly some of my guy co-workers liked it!? lol.)

Several of us have been wondering what it is made of. I can confirm it is ceramic and the finish comes of very easily.

How do I know that it is ceramic? I accidently dropped it several times. OK, I admit it. The first time was an actual accident. The rest were experiments... The dang thing won't break - trust me! I finally cut it open.

I can't make the meeting but my assignment will!

Passerà anche questo

What a sweet kid!

I was listening to the news tonight and they had a segment on this sweet 6 year-old kid.

Six-year-old Jaclyn Holdsworth, of Pickering, is on a mission to raise money to buy animals and fill a stable in third-word countries. You can view the story at CTV (Title of video - Tom Hayes on a six-year-old girl's charitable cause)

This is her site if you'd like to support her.

What brings you joy?

Vicki posed this question on her blog. It made me think.

Then I was a little disturbed to realize I could immediately list what didn't bring me joy.

I'd say it's time for an attitude adjustment!

What brings me joy?

My son, my friends and family, a gentle snowfall, when the leaves change colour, a really good read and random acts of kindness.

"Most people hate the taste of beer to begin with. It is, however, a
prejudice that many people have been able to overcome."

~ Winston Churchill

No resolutions for me just another goal - Organize

Goal 7: Organize

Oh, it's a biggie. This work towards the completion of Goal 4.

I have to much 'stuff'. I'm lost in the mess. It is everywhere and I don't want to live this way any longer. So this year it's leaving our house.

This goal is so big it'll have to be divided up by area, items? I'm working on a detailed plan of attack.

Right now I'm focusing on these areas:
art supplies
clothes
books
toys

How do I measure this goal? The last thing I want to do is set my self up to fail. I will need to be consistent and follow through.

I'm going to start with 15 minutes a day. I'll keep you posted.

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide
forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.

~ Elizabeth Stone

No resolutions for me just another goal - calling card & blog banner

Goal 6: Calling card and blog banner

This fits nicely with my previous goal. I need a new banner. I have been admiring other custom banners for some time now. I have become more skilled at using Photoshop in the past year. These combined skills should help me easily accomplish this goal.

I really adore calling cards. I have simple little cards already but I want something fancy for 2008.

How do I measure this goal?

I'll have a new banner and some pretty new cards. I'll post a picture of the cards.

"True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their
worth and choice."

~ Samuel Johnston

No resolutions for me just another goal - HTML & CSS

Goal 5: Learn HTML & CSS

Most of what I know about computers has been self taught. I know a little about a lot of things but I am by no means an expert.

I'd like to be an expert in at least one computer related thing.

I'd like to teach myself more about HTML & CSS this year.

How do I measure this goal?

I'm not sure yet. I have a couple of books that I need to finish reading and complete all remaining assignments.

I think I'll take this advice

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

~ John F. Kennedy

No resolutions for me just another goal - personal sanctuary

Goal 4: Create a personal sanctuary

I need the space.

I live with four other people in a small house. As you can imagine it's gets a little crowded at times. Frankly, they are sick of my art supplies all over the house.

How do I measure this goal?

I'll post a picture of my space when it's complete

No resolutions for me just another goal - hand made birthday cards

Goal 3: Hand made birthday cards

This goal is pretty straight forward.

I want to make handmade birthday cards for all my friends. IRL and bloggy.

BUT I need to compile a birthday list for all my friends. I'm terrible I always forget birthdays - not this year! I'm going to write them down.

So if you'd like a birthday card from me, leave a comment with your name and month/day.

How do I measure this goal?
I'm sure you'll let me know! In fact I'm counting on it.

I wonder how many people secretly feel this way?

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares
enough to break them down.”

~ unknown

No resolutions for me just another goal - Make Art just for me

Goal 2: Make Art just for me

I think I suffer from performance anxiety.

I am a member of several local art groups. I am very fortunate to be part of these local groups. I greatly enjoy meeting, exchanging art and ideas with these talented ladies.

As much as I look forward to these meetings, they all fill me with anxiety as the date approaches.

Why? I'm not quite sure. Skill, expectation, self doubt, general cluelessness, social awkwardness. I'm pretty sure I'm kinda hard on myself too.

I have NEVER been made to feel unwelcome at any of these meetings, so I know the anxiety is self-inflicted. Maybe I just need a good therapist. lol.

How do I measure this goal?

I have been checking out challenge blogs as of late. Here are some that have caught my eye. If you have any to share, please leave a comment with the URL.

4x4 friday
gothic arches
mixed media mondays
think monday - think ATC
wednesday stamper

I'm going to choose a challenge and post at least one completed piece of art each week. (note to self: that's a total of 52). I may choose to do an 'expired' challenge instead of the current one because it's just for me. Right?

p.s. Is it significant to this entry that I capitalized the 'A' in art?

No resolutions for me

I don't make new year's resolutions anymore. I used to but I never kept them.

I decided to set some goals this year. Precise, attainable and written goals.

For the first seven days of January I am going to post a goal. I might post more but we'll start with seven.

Goal 1: Journal

A journal is defined as: a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use

I haven't kept a journal since I was a teenager.

My early journals weren't fancy and I loved writing each day. Choosing the right pen and ink colour, the right entry title, the right word and/or the right photo. It was my beloved sanctuary for my teenage angst.

Desecration and betrayal.

I've rarely written another personal journal entry since. If I did, I made sure it was promptly destroyed. In fact, I am quite surprised that I blog.

I kept buying journals though. I have accumulated quite a pile.

How do I measure this goal? The last thing I want to do is set my self up to fail. I will need to be consistent and follow through.

How many entries for 2008?
Once a month = 12
Once a week = 52
Once a day = 366

Those numbers don't seem so scary/impossible now that I've written them down.

I have a bit of a psychological block (OK a huge block) about writing anything personal down but I want to journal again. I already own these books and will use them as guides in my journaling adventure.

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy
Visual Chronicles
Journal Revolution
The Art of Personal Imagery
Kaleidoscope
Art Journals & Creative Healing

Does anyone have any other suggestions for books?

Wish me luck.

Happy New Year!

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put
words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity and its first
chapter is New Year's day.

~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce