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!

Happy Leap Day!

Professional Figure skater Carol Lynne w. 3/4 lb. flashlights embedded in the boots of her skates to chart the designs of her skating movements in New York Ice Show "Off to Ice."

Photos by Gjon Mili, 1945

恭禧發財 - Gong Hey Fat Choy !

Yes, I'm a week late.

Today was the Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver though, and of course, again, I forgot to go.
Possibly for the best, it was a lousy rainy day. But, still. Yargh.

But annoyance aside, here's to a happy and prosperous Year of the Dragon.
Last week I got to read a few books to students about the new year traditions and even got a couple red envelopes (no money though, just candy - fine by me).

Found these photos in the life archive from 1954. Photographer:Joseph Scherschel


Men building up a fire in front of an altar durng the Chinese New Year celebrations.


Men gambling at a game of Mah-Jong durng the Chinese New Year celebrations.


Children fold origami money during the Chinese New Year celebrations.




The Chen family children receiving lucky money after dinner, during Chinese New Year.

Film Friday - Squamish

Trees, a lake, sun and my fantastic friend Steph.

Camping in the summer in Squamish.

Whoa

Totally blown away by these cross-stitched ads by Inge Jacobsen.



Talk about inspiring - time to pull out my embroidery thread.

Film Friday - Double exposure

When I got my Canon A-1, one feature I was especially excited about was its ability to do double exposures. Ever since I learned about how to do them (around 12? 13?) I've loved them. Gimmicky? Maybe, but I do love a good gimmick.

I really didn't expect this one to turn out - but oh how it did! Campfire and beautiful full moon from our Squamish camping weekend.

Vancouvaversary

January 10th is an important date for me, for two reasons now.

First, it's the date I took a pretty big step and moved from Hamilton to Vancouver some 4 years ago.
The past 4 years have seen a LOT happen - good and bad. It took me a good while to get settled out here and find my footing. I am happy to say that at this point in my Vancouver life I'm pretty dang pleased. I still miss Hamilton like crazy, and all my family and friends. But I have settled in a neighbourhood that I love and within a group of friends whom I adore.


Back in 2008, Wreck Beach in November (much less nakedness)


Statues and blossoms at English Bay, visiting with Calypso in 2010


Houses in Mount Pleasant, taken summer 2011

The newest significance to January 10th is that it's the date, one year ago today, that this little bundle of joy entered out lives.



Miss Minnie Pearl has grown from a wrinkly ball of crazy into a very sturdy, still wrinkly, lovely little dog. This is a photo from an amazing camping trip in the summer, which I'm pretty positive she absolutely adored. Afterward Adam and I both noticed a definite change in her, in that she was much more receptive to what we said. I think she was pretty grateful for the mini vacation.

And I can speak for both Adam and myself, that we are both extremely grateful for all of the hilarity, cuddles and snorts (sooooo many snorts) that Minnie has added to our lives.




Minnie stealing focus from the always-lovely Caitlin and Tony.

New Year, new goals..

Photo by Caitlin, at her lovely place

I spent my New Years Eve with a lovely group of people in a lovely place.
I made the banner above, after being inspired by this post.

The new year has never been a huge deal for me, I've always been more influenced by the school year and looked at September as more of the 'fresh start' time of the year. That being said, I do usually make a few resolutions, usually of the "just be more healthy" variety. This year, though, I did come up with a couple rather specific things, and I have a feeling the specificity will make them easier to stick to.

Again along the healthy line, I've resolved to cook fish at least once a week and to do a veggie dinner once a week as well (as a lover of alliteration I was thinking of a "Meatless Monday" theme). Tonight I did pan fried tilapia and yesterday it was roasted veggie sandwiches with sunchoke purree (on homemade bread no less!) so I'm off to a good start already.

Though I adore a good restaurant meal, I do cook a lot at home and those meals are generally pretty healthful. They may contain some indulgences like duck fat and such, but hey...that's still better than all that processed crap, right? ;) A more general resolution, which I guess is ongoing, is just to keep up with the home cooking with whole foods.

I also want to get on my "swimming regularly" goal from my 29 Before 30, and tomorrow my plan is to march on over to the pool and sign up.

I hope everyone out there has had a good start to 2012, and if you've made any resolutions - all the best with them!