Yes, please

One thing about my new found frugality (or, at least, efforts to be frugal) is that it's a lot easier than I thought it would be. Especially when it came to shopping.

I have been making a conscious effort to only buy things that I absolutely adore and am 100% positive I will wear regularly. I've also started taking a lot more time to make the decision to buy something - I used to be a ridiculous impulse buyer! (And really, it still gets the best of me sometimes.)

However, I've started noticing recently that I now have to actually talk myself into buying things. On a recent shopping trip south of the border I only bought two things! Shoes that I really did need and a skirt that I absolutely adore. Well, and I split on a bag of chocolate covered potato chips, but I mean...come on. Of course I did. And then an item will come along that I don't need to think about for even a second to know that it is something that is meant for me to buy. Like, for instance, this stunning silk scarf from Fieldguided.

There is a summer sale happening in their shop right now - all Light as a feather scarves are 25% off! Go buy one for yourself, and then maybe that meteorite one for me as a thank you for turning you on to the sale ;)

Film Friday - Camp Life

A delayed post this week, as on Friday I was blissfully disconnected and camping with a fantastic group of people.

A shot from my first time at the best camping spot I've ever been to - morning coffee made on the fire. Does it get any better?

Film Friday - Festival!

For as long as I can remember, the Canada Day long weekend meant one thing in Hamilton - It's Your Festival!

Gage Park, a mere 10 minute walk from my house, hosts the anywhere-from-3-to-5-day festival that showcases the best in (through the years): tasty foods, rides, skeeball, jewelery with yin yangs, concert photos and bible quizes.

In other words, perfection.

It's Your Festival (along with Festival of Friends in August) were hands down the absolutely highlight of the summer for adolescent me.



This is actually a few years past adolescence - the summer I was 22 and just days before I chopped those dreadlocks off.

Film Friday

Yes, please.


 
 Photo by Monica, from ages ago on a Toronto shopping trip

You may find yourself living in a shotgun shack

My most recent obsession (aside from The Hunger Games and dollhouses**) - shotgun houses.


From Wikipedia:
The shotgun house is a narrow rectangular domestic residence, usually no more than 12 feet (3.5 m) wide, with doors at each end. It was the most popular style of house in the Southern United States from the end of the American Civil War (1861–65), through to the 1920s.

I listened to a super informative and entertaining (as always) Stuff You Should Know podcast all about shotgun houses. I had heard the term before, and have seen some (during my New Orleans trip) but didn't know exactly what they were. And I certainly didn't know any of their history.

The older I get the more modest my dreams become of the kind of house I would like to eventually own. Something like this would be just perfect.

**Expect to see some (hopefully) pretty amazing posts related to this topic soon!

Film Friday - Victoria Day

Photo from about 8 years back, driving the 15 up my camp. The May 24th long weekend was always the first time of the year we would head up, definitely going to be a little camp-sick this weekend.

BC Teachers

This morning I got up at the ungodly hour of 5:45 to stand in the cold rain for three hours. I did this as part of the current job action and BC teachers' withdrawal of services. For the next three days teachers all over BC are demonstrating (not picketing! we're not allowed to picket) in protest of illegal contract stripping and the punitive and damaging education legislation that the government is trying to pass.

Being relatively new to BC I was pretty clueless about the history between the union and the government out here. That's not so anymore!

I grew up in a fiercely pro-union family. My (very, very left) grandparents on my mum's side worked to set up unions at Westinghouse in Hamilton, among other places. During Mike Harris' time as premiere in Ontario my dad was on strike for 5 weeks. In grade 10 when my teachers were on strike my mum got us up early to go down with coffee and timbits to support them.

While the job action is frustrating (last week before my two week spring break - I was definitely hoping for a lot of work since I'll be without for a while) it's necessary.

And in an odd way, I am enjoying it. It's exciting! I'm out demonstrating and arguing for something I believe in deeply - something I've decided to dedicate my life's work to.
It also makes me feel closer to all my family members who share these beliefs (most of which aren't around anymore).

Unfortunately I did not get a photo of the adorable student who came out to support us this morning with a "We <3 our Teachers" sign, but I did come across these wonderful Life photos from Francis Miller.

Lake Central Stewardess Strike, 1958.













Dancing Teacher's Strike, 1949





(Maybe I should try introducing a conga line to the demonstration tomorrow?)

**ETA - On Wednesday March 7th and 2pm there will be a rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery in support of teachers. If you're free and want to support us, come on down!