My girl Mimi developed the cutest eating habit. No wonder she prefers tinned food over kibbles. A friend of mine was recently so fascinated when she saw Mimi doing this, she said I MUST upload a video to YouTube. Done.
She does make a bit of a mess sometimes—I wonder if she’d ever consider using utensils?
Here’s a little photo gallery of pictures I took today (click on the thumbnails to view them full-size). I hadn’t seen my collection of Christmas decorations in quite a few years, and took them out just in time for my dad and I to enjoy them on Christmas day. We had Cherry Clafoutis which was quite delicious, followed by a gift exchange and then quiet time chatting while I played around with some paint. I gave him a framed watercolour (you can see it here), and I got a giant bar of Swiss chocolate to satisfy my chocolate cravings for quite some time, along with a couple of great books; Barney’s Version by Mordecai Richler, a born and bred Mile Ender who had plenty of admirers and detractors alike and who often said that one of his goals was to write at least one book that would
be read after his death. I’m sure his wish has been fulfilled many times over since his passing in 2001. As it happens, I’ve never read him and wanted to discover his writing through this very book. I don’t know if he ever wished for movie rights too, but the soon-to-be released movie version is coming out in theatres, probably in a week or two. I also got Super Sad True Love Story which came out to glowing reviews this year. It’s written by Gary Shteyngart, another author I’ve been wanting to read for some time now.
Of course I couldn’t resist taking pictures of my kidz too. I dressed up Coco as the gift he’s truly been, since this was our very first Christmas together. He put up with our little impromptu session without grumbling although I wouldn’t say he had a ball exactly. Mimi refused to pose for me altogether, a very rare occurrence, and Ezra was just being his grumpy old self, an occurrence which is not rare in the least.
It’s been snowing for the past two days. Our first winter storm and certainly not the last. The first real snow is kind of magical, especially if you don’t have a car to dig out and drive around. Just walking around the neighbourhood in the crisp fresh air when the sidewalks have over six inches of snow and some snowbanks reach up to your waist is pretty exciting stuff. Coco’s obviously had plenty of experience with our Canadian winter over the years and seems to love it. I took him to a big field of virgin powder yesterday and though it was deeper than he is high, he was having a blast hop-running through it like a jack-rabbit, which made me laugh and laugh. Man’s best friend to be sure!
Here, a few quick snaps I took on my iPhone today during Coco’s afternoon walk. Click on the photos to view them full size.
It’s Thanksgiving here in Canada today and of course what better day to count one’s blessings? Here are just a few things for which I’m grateful right now:
My three kids, Ezra, Mimi and Coco who provide companionship and comfort.
Having my dad living just a few blocks away so I can call and say: I just made a batch of yummy cookies, but not feeling very well today so how about you come over for a quick tea and then I’ll send you home with homemade sweets?
The beautiful, sunny, blue-skyed, orange-leaved day we’re having.
The walk I had with Coco earlier who, when I take him off his leash in a large grassy area, like to run circles around me and make me laugh, and when I do, starts spinning like a top and barking with joy.
The smell of baking in the house. So homey.
Feeling well enough to believe that everything IS and WILL BE ok.
Having the desire to do things. Like walking outside, baking, making jewelry, volunteering, drawing and painting and yes, even blogging.
Again (yes I know I’m repeating myself, kinda) having Coco, Ezra and Mimi nearby who make me smile just because they exist.
LibraryThing and BookMooch, which provide me with hours of fun; to organize and re-organize my virtual library (an real obsession of late), read and write reviews, look at what other people are reading, continually expand my wishlist (now at just under 500 books) and trade books with other fellow readers.
My figure, which I’m finally happy with. I may not fit into my supper skinny jeans again, but I’m okay with that. Doesn’t hurt that just a few short walks a day helped shed a few unwanted pounds and stay that way even though I eat whatever I feel like and give in to temptation plenty.
Discovering that I CAN in fact keep plants alive, as long as they’re the sort who don’t mind being ignored for long periods of time (more about that in an upcoming
blog post).
Pics by Smiler via iPhone
(I posted this image on the C365 blog as well, so I hope you’ll forgive me for the cross-posting… I figure the extra yammering makes it worth the double-take…)
Just so you know, I’ve not only been neglecting this blog, but I’ve also been staying away from createthreesixty5.com. That way, nobody gets jealous of me favouring the one over the other. Because let’s face it, doing anything at all these days is just too much work; I blame it on constant migraines and attendant low spirits. Excuses excuses, I know. Today is no exception and the throbbing pain is very much present but I somehow managed to get enough motivation to participate in Illustration Friday, something I hadn’t done in much too long. Every day I tell myself I’ll draw or paint something. This time I’m very proud that I actually followed through since I promised myself that by hook or by crook I would contribute something to IF this week.
I had every intention of illustrating this image with ink and watercolours, but since I started working on my submission at the very last minute, I thought it would be faster to do a photo-illustration on Photoshop instead. It wasn’t exactly a breeze since my knowledge of Photoshop is mostly limited to photo retouching and colour-correcting, but had I taken out my paints and brushes, I would have still been at it by the week-end, and I would have missed the boat on the Star Gazing theme, which would have been a shame. I think this theme especially inspired me because stargazing is something I very much miss doing—there are very few stars visible in the city, even on a clear night. To me, the idea of stargazing also evokes fresh country air, so altogether, it’s not a bad concept to be dwelling on.
Photo-Illustration and original pic by Smiler.
p.s. the title for this post is inspired by this song by Air. For more of my past IF submissions, click here.
This just in:
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Pics by Smiler
The only reason I was able to narrow down the selection to 1% of this shoot
is because I made another project with all the others I couldn’t edit out… find
it on createthreesixty5.com and feel free to share! :-)
Oh… and mum… enjoy! xoxo
Photos by Smiler
Aw man am I ever confused. I remember going to to my first Jewellery class on Saturday and then being completely exhausted when I got home. I decided to lie down on my comfy couch for a bit and maybe watch a movie but before I knew it I was out like a light. At some point I crawled into bed and continued sleeping well into Sunday. I vaguely recall getting up to eat a bowl of oatmeal on Sunday and seeing what a mess the kitchen was in thinking I’d get around to it on Monday by which point I should be well rested enough. My alarm rang this morning and I got up just long enough to make it back to the couch. There we many many confusing dreams and if it weren’t for Mimi’s repeated attempts at waking me (I think it was her walking all over my face that did it), then I’d still be fast asleep well into Tuesday by now, which quite honestly, at this point sounds like a pretty good idea. But. must. resist. the urge. Tomorrow is the fabric printing atelier day with the other mentally challenged people. Can’t hardly wait. I hate going there. But I promised myself I’d give it an honest try so go I must. That is, if I actually manage to get a decent night’s sleep after this latest little marathon of mine. Sheesh.
At some point in the past couple of days, Mimi decided she wanted to join Facebook and start making new friends. Who was I to stop her? As it is the poor thing only gets to hang out with Fritz and I and whatever guests happen to drop by my place every once in a while. Since I won’t let her go outside (for her own safety and my peace of mind), I figured Facebook was the next best option as a virtual playground. I’m not sure what she’s up to exactly, but all I do know is she’s been hogging the computer and that after only a couple of days she already has more friends that I do, among which (to name names) Christopher Hitchens. How she managed that, I guess I’ll never know for sure.
Mimi and I started a Facebook group called Not That Kind Of Bi. Essentially I’d like it to become a forum for people to exchange about mental health in general and bipolar disorder in particular in an open, relaxed setting. I want to do something about helping to lift the taboo because it concerns everyone in the end and Facebook is just the right kind of forum to do it in. If you’re not on Facebook yet, Not That Kind Of Bi. is yet another good reason to sign up.
Illustration by Smiler 2001(?)
The kitties sure do love their circle chair. My original concept. I’ll be working on it to make it more durable because the prefab ones are great but they get frayed pretty fast. Still, adds character. Mimi made me especially happy today when she showed a passion for hummus that I never knew she had. It made me smile wide to see her lapping it up like it was the best thing she had ever tasted. And I have to say this store-bought, hummus* was pretty yummy.
*by local company Fontaine Santé
Pics by Smiler
