we interrupt our regularly scheduled programing

So I have a friend, Patrick, who is an amazing chef and he has this great gig happening .... I am not certain how many readers I have here in Calgary and area, but I thought I would let you know about this. How many times have you been in a position where you need some rare ingredient, or want to know where you can buy organically raised beef, or discover a place that sells amazing knives...well, Patrick is organizing these fabulous food tours where you can learn all of those things and more. The tour is taking place here in the Calgary area on Sunday, April 11, 2010. To find out more information on the tour please visit Patrick's website at www.inter-course.ca. This link takes you directly to the information on the food tour.

I love the idea of a food tour around my own city - it amazes me how one can live in a city and never discover the great purveyors of fine ingredients that cater to foodies of all sorts.

so sorry, but it's like WARM here

Horribly late posting this week, but honestly, it was the most fantabulous day today. Warm, sunny - a sit-in-the garden-for-the-very first-time-this-year kind of day. I acquired a new toy and have been playing with it all afternoon - an old Hasselblad film camera. Ah! The agony of having to wait to get film developed. I have been working on my granny squares outside and my plants are starting to show. I love when mother nature obeys my commands :) Tencents sat outside with me and was in alert mode at every chirp from the birds - of course I don't actually think she would know what to do with a bird if it got near her. She is a bit scared of them!

I am savoring every second of this moment in the garden because here in our part of the world, it could very well dump snow next week and fall below zero.

Happy weekend all.

the antler debate

So....in our home minimalism rules...at least, that is the Babe's mantra. I definitely lean to the minimalist side when it comes to home decor as well, with mid-century modern being generally the direction I go. But, the core of my soul definitely sings the boho chic song. I love patchwork pillows, flea market finds, retro 40's and 50's 'stuff', old furniture mixed with new furniture. When I was single, my space most definitely reflected that side of me. For the past five years, I share the environment and Babe does get some say, and well, I am not allowed to put a fake antler-headed-deer thing on my dining room wall. I found this really cool, very fake deer head and the Babe put his foot down. No deer head in the dining room - apparently it looks too dead. I confess I already have a set of white resin antlers over the fireplace; but, one more deer-oriented item can't really hurt now, can it?

Oh well, to make myself feel better I ordered this little package of goodness. It's only a few inches high and in my view does not look dead, rather, it looks quite jolly :) ...and my granny circles are coming along nicely. I have almost 50 made - now I am learning how to put them together. And when that blanket is done it will take its rightful place in the family room.

Happy weekend all.

uh, did a week just go by?

I have been a very bad blogging friend this week - I barely had time to check out your blogs and leave comments. I have been breathing and dreaming work for almost the past two months. I have four major deadlines for four tomes replete with numbers, technical stats and other riveting information. You know your work becomes your life when you wake up stark-raving mad in the middle of night because you can't add a column of numbers in your sleep. I spend my days talking to three different lawyers about 'regulatory disclosure' all of whom tell me something different. I promise I will visit everyone this weekend.

In the meantime though look at how I have been de-stressing! Are those granny squares not the most scrumptious thing ever!! They are as addictive as making socks and oh - such instant gratification. I am enjoying making really small ones now. I figure if I make about 200+ I should have enough for one of those awesome granny square blankets.

So I leave you all with granny squares and flowers. Happy weekend.

when the world sings your songs

I had the best week - I was absolutely crazy busy at work; I came in to the office at 6:15 a.m., looked at my watch and it was 3:45 p.m. - time to go. I love days like that. I went out with a like-minded girlfriend for wine and macaroni and cheese last night and gossiped for hours - what bliss! And....now....this weekend....I am taking Monday off and I will polaroid my heart out all weekend (I just got film in the mail - happy days).

I am also feeling a little shy about saying this, but it's just too exciting to not share - I completed my first little, tiny photo book. I got it in the mail this past week and even though I just did it through Blurb, I can't stop looking at it. You can all see it here. I have it set up so you can see all the pages. I am thinking of doing a more substantial book that will pay homage to my polaroid addiction.

Happy weekend all.