ColdWater

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Mr. K has a show coming up at The ColdWater Gallery, which is located in cottage country. On the weekend he had to drive up and measure the large beautiful space, so the child folk and I tagged along.

The weather was gorgeous, so after an ice cream treat, we took a little trip over to Balm Beach. The lovely owner of the gallery gave us top secret directions to a special stretch of beach that was virtually unpopulated. Thank you Luba!

Sun, Sand and Water have got to be one of my favorite combos. Little feet loved it also.

Thanks for stopping by.

Western Party

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Big K and Little K were both born in February, thirteen days apart. We celebrate with one big bash and this year's 'theme' was a western party. The entire month before, I busied myself making sheriff badges, stuffed wooden ponies, decorations, games etc ... but on the day of their party the entire family had a horrible flu that kept big K out of school for an entire week and Mr. K sick for three weeks. The party was cancelled.

Last Friday, we checked the weather, decorated the backyard, gathered our friends and shouted a big 'SURPRISE' to two shocked little people.

After the big reveal, costumes were handed out - cowgirl/boy hats and bandannas.

At my request, Mr. K made a cardboard cutout of a sheriff and each cowpoke had his/her photo taken.

The ponies that I had laboured over were finally distributed but there was a hitch: to earn a deputy badge, the cowpoke had to successfully complete the pony riding obstacle course!

Badges were decorated and the games continued.

We played the ol' standby of pin the tail on the donkey and a new one - slimy bug toss.

Thankfully it was a gorgeous day, but the sun was really intense so we took cover under the umbrella and enjoyed some lunch. Due to the heat, I pre-scooped ice cream and served it in ice cream waffle bowls with sprinkles and chopped brownies instead of cake.

While the cowpokes ate, I hid plastic farm animals around the yard. I had doubles and told the deputies that I required their assistance. A robber had stolen half of my farm animals and I gave them each one and they had to find the match to the pair.

After all of the animals were returned to me, they deputies received medals of honor and fake money as a reward.

The night before I had set my studio up as a general store. Each child was given a loot bag and got to go 'shopping' with their money. I chose marbles, harmonicas, whistles, rubber snakes, gummy snakes, lollipops, jewelry, barrettes and other little treats for the shop. The deputies went wild!

The Western Party was a success, despite the four month delay! All the little cowpokes successfully kept the surprise secret and participated eagerly in all the activities. Even the Sheriffs had a ton of fun. Yee-haw!

This is my face on roughly four hours of sleep.

A generous 'thank you' to all of our cowpokes for joining in the festivities and helping to make amazing memories for our family.

Thanks for stopping by.

MJ R.I.P

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I'm not here to wax poetic on his death or discuss the controversial life lived by Michael Jackson.

I just have to say that Thriller was the soundtrack to an amazing part of my youth.

My first heart-pounding slow dance was to Human Nature.

The music of The Jackson Five are part of a regular rotation of songs the child folk and I dance to, and most recently big K performed to Micheal Jackson's version of Rockin' Robin in her dance finale.

This Jackson Five's Top of the Pops video was performed the year I was born.

Thank you for stopping by.

Outdoor Play Area: Part Four - Tout Finis!

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Before and After !
Click image to enlarge.

Ta Da!

Here is the before and after of the child folk's outdoor play area.

What began as a wild and enticingly dangerous corner of our garden with an open window well etc ... has finally become rock soup and worm rescue HQ!

I really had my heart set on making some kind of flowing canopy/tent top to the kitchen, but in the end decided to top it with wood and shingles. Only some of the miles of bunting I made was used to trim the top.

I purchased four colors of oilcloth, stitched them together and stapled them under the kitchen top both in the front and in the back. Besides looking mighty cute, they keep the rain out of the storage space.

I used the same oilcloth to make reversible cushions for the wee benches.

The chalkboard is simply a stretched canvas painted with chalkboard paint. Mr. K had an extra canvas stretcher and I covered it with an end scrap of oilcloth and drilled it into the top of the chalkboard to keep some of the rain off.

The child folk painted the art on the wall and I used some varathane to coat them.

The burners are simply drink coasters purchased at Ikea along with the other kitchen accessories.

The best part of the play space is that it gets used rain or shine. So far it has been a restaurant, a castle, a dungeon, a ramen street stand, a space ship, a school, and a home for poor souls captured by the evil dragon and forced to live on Virginia creeper leaves and pebble stew.

When it gets muddy, I hose it down.

Summer fun!

You can see the entire process here: part one, part two, part three .

Thank you for stopping by.

We're Off To See The Wizard ...

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Tonight is the night! The child folk's dance school presentation of The Wizard of Oz will be performed by munchkins and monkeys alike.

At the ripe ol' age of five, Big K is a veteran performer and is so excited to be a part of this wonderful show.

This is Little K's premier performance and despite the pre-show excitement I expect there will be a lot of little butterflies flapping around that tiny tummy.

I have had a busy week of costume resizing, dress rehearsals and such but will be back next week with some project wrap ups.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Thank you for stopping by

Departures

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I love film. I have a University Degree to prove it (ha!). I just can't stand sitting in a theatre to watch a film.

I like the atmosphere, and the popped corn - but these short (barely 5'3) legs can not sit for more than thirty minutes before they make me want to lose my mind.

But I will do it gosh darn it all - just to see this film: Okuribito (Departures is the title in English, however the translation is literally 'the one who sees you off').

As soon as Mr. K stops working for five minutes, I will take him and a box of tissues and I will sit and watch.




Thank you for stopping by.

Pancake Sunday

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Easy Pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour ( I use organic whole wheat)

2 tbl spoons white sugar

2 tbl spoons baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 egg beaten

1 cup milk

2 tbl spoons vegetable oil

Mix dry ingredients together and make a well in the center pour in wet ingredients.

Mix until smooth.

Cook.

Serve with Canadian Maple Syrup.

Eat.

Yum!

I like to add bananas, blueberries, or flax seeds to mix it up.

I always double the batch as we like to have them the next morning too.

Oh Happy Day!

Thanks for stopping by.

Brain Crush

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I have a crush - a brain crush. It's okay, Mr. K knows - he's cool with it.

I have had a huge crush on Malcolm Gladwell since the first time I picked up his #1 best seller The Tipping Point back in 2000. Since that time I have eagerly awaited each and every new publication. Gladwell, also a staff writer at The New Yorker, writes the type of books that once you are finished reading them - you want to turn back to page one and begin again.

His first book The Tipping Point

His second book Blink

His most recent book Outliers

Gladwell is also a fine speaker; you can watch his TED presentation "What we can learn from spaghetti sauce."

It is 18 minutes long - go watch it.

Gladwell's hair, by the way, is to credit for the basis of Blink. I think his fine locks ought to win a Booker prize for pure fictional genius.

Thanks for stopping by.

Brain image from medem.com.

Yuka Yamaguchi & The Plastic Monkey Shop

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Months ago I stumbled upon the fabulous art of Yuka Yamaguchi - a Japanese artist transplanted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I love the subtext in her clean, well-crafted images. I like that she takes it there: that she isn't afraid to put it all on the table.





i can wait




i didn't do it




Happy muscle knitting


To see more of Yamaguchi's prints and drawings, visit her Plastic Monkey Shop.


Thanks for stopping by.

How Ya Like Me Now?

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I was so eager to start up my blog a few months back that I didn't stress too much about the little knowledge I possessed regarding the layout how-to. I did, however, want to make it my own and I am finally translating my ideas on to the screen (with the help of the handsome Mr.K).

I have a lot of work to do in setting things up the way I want them to be, but the header has just been personalized ... how you likey?

Thanks for stopping by.

Meow!

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We Are All Household Pets in Plum

We Are All Household Pets in Boys on the Beach

We Are All Household Pets in Retro

We Are All Household Pets in Shore

I couldn't resist posting the new colours of prints in Mr. K's shop. They are available in individual cat 8.5x11" prints or these nine cat series. It's no surprise that I love the retro colours - but my favourite is the shore series ... it must be summer!

These are prints of an original oil painting Mr. K did of our blind bold cat Bochi. It's a tongue -n-cheek take on Warhol's Elvis, and I think it is hilarious. Fortunately, the child folk don't even know what a gun is and so don't really understand the image. They just think it's their tough blind kitty with an attitude.

Thanks for stopping by.

The Leather Handbag

The Truffle Handbag by Morelle

The ValhallaBrooklyn Handbags

The Pipishop Handbag

The LeatherStore handbags: The bow bag, The pleated tote and The frilly bag

The Annie Handbag


The leather handbag. I want one. Plain and simple. I have a vegan leather-like matt and nat bag that I love the design of, but am totally disappointed with the quality of. The trim on the handles came off right away and can't be repaired.

I would like to invest in a good quality, buttery-soft genuine leather handbag and I love to support the designers without the big labels. Which do you like?


Thanks for stopping by.

Tag - I'm It!

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'Getting to know you ... getting to know all about you...' Alyssa tagged me - so here we go!

What is your current obsession? Drawing pigs.

What is your weirdest obsession? Definitely washing out and saving large tin cans for some unknown future craft project. Yeah, I know ... weird.

What are you wearing today? Grey Puma's, old jeans, O'Neil T-shirt

What's for dinner? Amazingly simplistic lentil soup, steamed spinach, and rice

What would you eat for your last meal? The most decadent chocolate cake in the world!

What's the last thing you bought? Fresh cut lemon-yellow flowers for the art tour.

What are you listening to right now? I like to mix it up: Culture Reject, Snoop Dog, Hayden, Ohbijou, City and Colour, Otis Redding, Santogold ...

What is your favorite ice-cream flavour? French Vanilla

What do you think of the person who tagged you? Talented, Gorgeous, Underrated -Merci Alyssa from the incredible BrooklynRehab.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? Ocean side, beach front property ...

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Back to Darjeeling, India for an amazing cuppa tea, the view, and some much needed serenity.

Which language do you want to learn? I would love to speak Italian and Spanish, but need to speak Japanese fluently to understand my child folk's secrets.

Who do you want to meet right now? I'd love to have a beer and a bazillion laughs with Bobby Lee from Mad Tv.

What is your favorite colour? Heather gray to wear - robin's egg to see.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? I'm a hat gal - so my hats.

What's your favourite magazine? Kateigaho: A Japanese publication that is stunningly beautiful that my hubby has to painstakingly translate for me. The international version is mediocre.

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on? Kiva donations/loans - a la micro finance.

Favorite designer? I love John Galliano's haute couture for Christian Dior, but would probably have problems fitting into the swings at the park. I love the swagger of Coco Chanel (the woman not the label) and the ease of Calvin Klein ( the label not the man).

Do you admire any one's style? Small Ant Productions founder and owner, my BFF Lindsay. Piksi and Ingrid Bergman

Describe your personal style? I think style/ fashion is like a fingerprint. I would say I am a little bit geek and a little bit chic. I like to mix it up, be comfortable, and punch it up with a unique accessory. Since becoming a SAHM, I am happy to walk out of the house wearing anything not covered in cat hair - just keeping it real.

What are you going to do after this? Host a play date, make lunch and help to craft rock pets for little people.

What are your favourite movies? Born into Brothels a must see for anyone who doubts the transformative power of creativity - and anyone with a beating heart.
Borat - anti-pc hilarity
Finding Forrester, Shakespeare in Love, Good Will Hunting - feel-good films

What's your favourite fruit? The almighty blueberry!

What inspires you? People who live with passion and go for it.

What is your dream job? I studied Theatre and International Development so naturally I would love to act in high quality amazing indie films whilst saving the world! I am still working on a cape that enables me to fly. For my part-time gig I would be well paid for painting, prop-styling, and dancing in my family room.

What is stopping you? That dang cape design!

Favorite Quote: "Chance favors the prepared mind." Ansel Adams

The rules :1. Respond and rework; answer the question on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people.
I'm tagging: jessjamesjakes, our little love nest, inchmark, makingitlovely, howaboutorange, lovelydesign


Thanks for stopping by

Family of Friends

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This is what is left of a most scrumptious coconut cake that 'Aunty Cathy' sent home with us Sunday evening. Mr. K participated in the art tour this weekend in which he hauls most of his paintings and prints from his studio to our home and hosts an open house Fri, Sat, and Sun. The house becomes a gallery unfit for the children, so I packed up the child folk and went for a weekend sleep-over to Aunty Cathy's.

'Losing family helps us to find our family. Not necessarily the family that is our blood, but the family that may become our blood.'

This is a quote from one of my favourite films, Finding Forrester, in part because it describes my experience so succinctly. I have one sister who lives in the U.S. and to whom I am very close and miss deeply. I have two more 'sisters' who have become my blood. 'Aunty Cathy' is one of them. I met her when I was ten and we have been related ever since. We had a wonderful weekend with her and her family and I am grateful to have her in my life.

Thank you for stopping by.

Aside: Due to the open house art tour I have had no time for the play area. Hope to post something soon, however.