~A Sunday's Ramblings~

(The outskirts of Crossfield today.)

Shades of grey hang full and heavy
Clinging to the hilltops...
Her ghost whips through the trees
Rushes across the open fields.
My ears shock at the sound of Catherine...
Searching out her Heathcliff.
She darts across my windshield...
Taps on the glass...
And then she's gone.

Today as I headed home from camping with my little minivan packed to the roof with coolers, dirty laundry, stinky wet dogs and kids...of course the first thing to come to mind would be Wuthering Heights. Today it is cold, and misty. The whole countryside was one stunningly moody palette ...of brooding skys...rolling green hills...golden bales of hay...shimmering black ponds. Flocks of birds dotted the skies...it all felt almost gothic.

So now I'm home...coolers empty and laundry started...a pot of soup simmering on the stove.
It was wonderful camping out at my in-laws. This was their annual end-of-summer party. There is much to say about it, but I think I'll just marinate in it for a little bit...:)

I am feeling pretty liberated. The past few weeks I've felt really creatively stagnant. Then I was visiting Denise's blog and saw her request for a recycling sign for her kitchen. I have been a fan of her blog since I first discovered what a blog was...and sent off a little email asking her if she'd like to do an art exchange for the sign. Happily she agreed, and here is what I came up with for her...
(Click to view larger)

In return, I've selected this lovely photo of hers. I can't wait to have it gracing my wall.

It was the perfect little joyful project to nudge me to get going again...and so I have. Last week, I also started designing wearable art for us 'big girls'. This is my first piece...with lots more to come...



Each piece is handpainted...embroidered and beaded...and machine washable.

(click for larger view)

I am planning on getting these in my etsy shop as soon as I figure out all the logistics of it. However...if anyone is interested in the meantime, just drop me an email. For now though, my easel awaits...or maybe I'll do a little karaoke with my daughter... I hope you are having a fantastic long weekend...and that it is all you are wanting it to be. :)

Peace...

~My Love Affair With...

(Lovely Soil. Google photo)

DIRT. Yes,dirt. Years ago, as a little girl I became simply smitten. Not in a Snoopy's-Pigpen-Character kind of way. Nope. It was a deeply-appreciating-the-wonders-of-our-world kind of way. Digging in the dirt revealed little earthworm 'families', and rare magical 'gems'...treasures to be sure.

I was completely enamoured with how nestling a little seed in the ground mysteriously brought it to life. Somehow, together with the assistance of the rain...the guidance of the sun...I am gifted with the sweet...

(Yesterday's crop)

the scrumptuous...

(Almost ready.)

the healing...

(Pretty Chamomile...perfect tea.)

the just plain beautiful...

(Perennial loveliness)

With all this beauty comes,well, even more beauty. The butterflies...bumblebees..dragonflies...and, just the other day a hummingbird! (It took my breath away, as I've never seen on before in real life.)

I have no doubt that my childhood romance with dirt will last the rest of my life...especially after discovering...THIS!

(Cob Cottage in Oregon. Photo:Natural Home Magazine)

While researching sustainable, enviromentally friendly home options for our near future, Jon and I came upon this enchanting cottage. We both took one look, and said,"That's it. That's us!"

Right out of a fairytale, this little abode was handcrafted out of cob. Cob is a concoction of sand, water, straw,and....clay(aka.....Dirt! :)

There are centuries old examples of cob buildings in Britain, and other parts of Europe. They are becoming more and more common in British Columbia, and the Pacific Northwest states. In fact, there are many places now where you go for workshops, and retreats to learn how to build them.

There are lots of benefits to using this building technique.
*Generally they are very inexpensive to build. (I've read 10.00 to 20.00 per square foot.)

*Highly energy efficient.

*Earth-friendly, because they are made of, well...earth(aka...yep, dirt.)

*Airy, and full of light

*Natural

*Very little construction know-how needed...

*and my favorite benefit...CREATIVE...WHIMSICAL...FREE-SPIRITED...Each one is a work of ART! You can make almost any shape...build in furniture...funky windows, and doorways...secret knooks...I'm telling you it's as endless as imagination...

Of which I have a rather large one. :) So now we go to see a financial planner...and my sketchbook will get fat on ideas...for our home...guest cottages...Jon's workshop...my yoga studio...gardens...and I live this moment by moment...until the time is right.

And yes, I know I am a total spaz. :)

Love to you...

~And So I'm Home????

(View from our campsite, Mirror Lake B.C.)

We had an absolutely beautiful ten days. I drank in so many shades of green and blue to the point of intoxication...There were so many wonderful times, I'm not sure where to begin...

In Idaho we met up with Jon's brother, Dan, and my sister-in-law Jane. They had rented an incredible house on lake Cocolalla...and brought quite a brood with them....My two little nieces...Jane's teenage niece and nephew...and two of the most wonderful women you could ever hope to share a glass (or two,or three...)of wine with. Anne (Jane's 77 year old mom) and Evelyn(Anne's older sister who is over visiting from Ireland). These two ladies...(Sorry, they prefer to be called 'recycled teenagers' :) are so full of love and life. I honestly can't remember when I'd laughed so hard...and at the same time been deeply moved. Evelyn at one point said we should all be so lucky to be as healthy and vital as she is at her age. I couldn't agree more...

The kids got in lots of boating with Uncle Dan...we hiked 2.5 miles to a secluded swimming hole...fished...picniced...napped...rode rollercoasters...and celebrated this little cutie's 11th birthday.

(Happy Birthday my little Sunshine Superman!)

I canoed for the first time in my life. I fell in love with it the minute my paddle cut through the water. On our last night there, Dylan and I took a moonlit canoe ride out across the lake. It was so beautiful...and a little surreal...certainly one of those magical moments that will stay with me.

(My parent's roundhouse near Balfour B.C.)

B.C. was as enchanting as ever... There are so many things that make the Kootenay's my favorite area. The mountains...lush green forests...the heat of the sun (we had 40 degrees celcius everyday.) and the cool of the lakes and streams...The quirky little homes perched upon seemingly impossible hills...historic towns preserved with such pride...bursting with colourful art and music...the people. My ever-so-hip sixteen year old rolled his eyes, and dubbed Kaslo 'Hippyville'...I will simply reiterate myself, and say that every molecule of me calls it home.

In the past I've felt pretty blue leaving here...but now I am just taking comfort in the fact that somewhere...out there right now there is a little patch of paradise waiting for me and my bearded 'mountain man'. :)



(secluded stream in Sandon B.C.)

So now I have a week home to settle in, and get ready for school. The kids start in a couple of weeks...and my yoga program starts in less than a month...

I'm going to take a little while to catch up on all of your wonderful blogs too...:)
xo

~Four More Sleeps...:)~

(Google photo of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho)

After I suffer a little seperation anxiety dropping my pups off at the kennel I'm going...

Over the rainbow
To dip my toes in this cool, clear water...
Play with my children...
Hike these trails...
Breathe deep as I contemplate...
And meditate...
On all that is...and all that will be...


(Google Photo Kootenay Lake near Kaslo B.C.)

Then I will be sliding down this rainbow...
Into a fairytale village...
To daydream with Jon about creating our eco-friendly retreat for ourselves...family and friends...someday...
To hike through the relics of a long abandoned mining ghost town...
To journey down into the depths of our earth...
To build sandcastles...and float on the crystal waters and stare at the sky...
To reconnect with this special place that always feels like we're coming home...
For someday that's just what it will be.

~Weekend Meme~

I'm having a pretty lazy Saturday putting off what I should be doing today...so in the true spirit of procrastination I decided to complete this meme I saw on Julochka's blog and listening to The Be Good Tanyas...


1. Your cell phone? None
2. Your significant other? Jon
3. Your hair? blonde
4. Your mother? creative
5. Your father? artistic
6. Your favorite thing? love
7. Your dream last night? magic
8. The room you're in? living
9. Your fear? FLYING
10. What you're not? high-maintenance
11. The last thing you did before logging on? laundry
12. Where did you grow up? British Columbia
13. Favourite drink? green tea
14. What are you wearing? tank top
15. Your TV? off
16. Your pet? Daisy
17. Your computer? hp
18. Favourite place? Oregon Coast
19. Your mood right now? cheerful
20. Missing someone? no
21. Something you're not wearing? shoes
22. Love someone? YES!
23. Your favorite color? green...any shade
24. Kids? three
25. Your life? blessed

Happy Weekend!! I think I'll go take a nap outside now...:)