Tuesday, October 16, 2012

baby baby on his way

Oh my! Looks like this expanded lady is about to burst! That's right! Our due date is one week away and in reality that means this little kid could come at any time now. We are excited, we are delighted, but we are first time parents-to-be, racked with nerves and misgivings. We have prepped our spaces, hung a giant giraffe head, notified all interested parties, and now all we can do is wait...

But while we have waited we have been treated to the kindest of folk and all their well wishes. Thank you friends and family for the love and support, the advice, the treats, the eats. We feel that much more prepared for all that you have done and we will never forget how awesome you all are!

not an adequate depiction of the current tum
Hugs and Kisses from a girl ready to explode!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Baby Attack

...and I'm back. Feeling a bit full in the belly because of my not so recently acquired passenger, Freddy (temp tum name), the freeloading little critter that I am working on growing. A very interesting thing, this being with child turns out to be. One minute you are up and rocking around town and the next you are down in the proverbial dumps, laying on your uncomfortable, woolen Ikea rug, just trying to work your way through a solid day's nausea. It may not surprise many folks that I am not the most gracious pregnant lady that ever did live... At this very moment I would say that I don't plan to do this again, but you never know, I could really enjoy nurturing and all of that (doubtful).

So will this blog turn into mommy matters?

...to be continued (after a much needed snack/nap break and at a time when I can actually answer that Q)...

Friday, March 23, 2012

Bloomin' Day



Okay, not quite a bloom, but yesterday they were twigs among faded bark shavings. Today they are flexin' their muscles, getting ready to make their mum proud... I suppose saying goodbye to winter isn't so bad.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

U P h o l s t e r

Some time ago over the summer I signed up to dabble in a field that has always been of keen interest to me: UPHOLSTERY! I learned so much from my classes yet there is so much still to learn! Here are some images of my first project, an abandoned chair from my former apartment in Buffalo, New York.

before - a chair and a cat
maybe the most fun - stripping the chair
staples AND rusty nails to be removed-grrr
restructuring the meat of it
working on welting
nearly there...
et, voila!  the chair is complete!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Floor 12 Times: a fledgling review

Toronto is a breath of fresh air. Bri Guy and I, together with a pair of our dear friends, visited one of our favorite neighborhoods, the Distillery District this past Saturday. After coming to this city for years, we only discovered this gem of an area when we decided to collect and peruse the Frommer's Travel Guides from all the cities we intend to visit and those we have already had plenty of adventures in. It is amazing how much information is packed into those little books! On this particular tryst we squeezed into what can only be described as the most adorable and authentic looking bakery ever (apologies go out to all other bakeries that I profess to love), the Brick Street Bakery, where I ogled the cookies, breads, and pastries like I had never even heard of sweets before! Of the delightful treats that I sampled (read: ate multiple whole portions of), I will say that the lemon poppy seed cookie is my new love! Move over Brian! It is positively magical, both beautiful to behold and delicious to devour. If you ever find yourself needing a little something yummy and lemony in Toronto, Ontario, this is the place to find it!

lemon & poppy love




Monday, February 13, 2012

Floor Twelve Times : Visit

one half of Pearl & Marmalade, Lee (Char) Dickerson ...

... her husband the chef, James Moore
Weekend with the Dickerson & Moore Duo. This city is a vast maze made soft and familiar with the sounds of close friends' laughter. We dined, we antiqued, we covered much ground. On foot through cutting, icy gusts, and on wheels alternating between sedan and sport utility, we four had a merry time in the inspiring neighborhoods of this charming metropolis...

Monday, February 6, 2012

Floor Twelve Times

Yay! I'm in my favorite of all cities, Toronto, Ontario! The weather is mild, the people are all wearing black wool coats (thank the heavens I thought to bring mine... heh heh), there are restaurants aplenty in my immediate neighborhood! The shopping - we'll see! The hotel - evil...

This morning the fire alarm goes off while I am mid shampoo in the blasted shower (and I can BARELY hear it, I'm actually thinking it is the alarm clock). When I had to force myself from the bathroom after standing there dripping wet, screaming "really?!" I knew I was in for some classic, dom-style mayhem to ensue, and sure enough... I threw on a hat, sopping wet hair partially covered, it took me just about forever to pick a pair of jeans, then to determine that I could survive without wearing socks inside of my shoes, and then to decide to throw on a jacket instead of just a sweater. Next, I stared out the window for a few before deciding that I really should leave the room and find the rest of the hotel guests and right about then I panicked (!) and realized that the building could actually be on fire - or something!! So naturally I went about finding my room key, grabbing my purse, loading it up with the essetials like my phone and chapstick (one could never feel safe without one's chapstick on hand). I thought about calling the spouse who was busy at work and asking him if he thought I should be concerned or not... At some point I made my way to the door and then I froze - should I grab more valuables? Just where are my wedding rings? Where are the keys to the monster rental car? Shouldn't I grab my camera and how about the GPS?? For serious, I probably stood there for about ten minutes until I heard something completely unintelligible coming from the hotel PA system about the stairs. Sooo... wait - can I take the stairs? Don't you always take the stairs in these emergency type scenarios? Or was that helpful staff member saying that there was a raging fire in the stairwell? Perhaps some noxious gas would be waiting for me in that steep, terrible confined space? UGH! Regardless, I went for the stairs.

Our room is on the 12th floor. I went slowly down, floor after floor (slowly because I was being cautious and sniffing for fumes or smoke). I had made it to the 3rd floor when it was announced that it was all just "a false alarm" and it was safe to return to my room. SIGH sigh grumble rumble. I took the elevator back up to my room. And you know, I never encountered another soul the entire time! Not a peep from anyone in the surrounding rooms... Not a one in the stairwell or in the halls. Maybe it was just me and my friendly emergency announcer inhabiting this space from the get go? Maybe everyone else got out of the building while I was still singing classic shower songs to my shampoo bottle microphone?!

Toronto, Ontario, CA



Thursday, January 26, 2012

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

winter freezes

What was it? The second snow of the year? Well I went out and documented the scene... I'll take whatever I can get! Next time I just need a romp around partner!


Thursday, January 12, 2012

"nature kids, they don't have no function"

..a line from an all time favorite of mine, Pavement. But, am I a nature kid?...

Sorel, Caribou  - Love
And it's raining today. Still warm out, still brown out, brown-out. Thought I'd put on my iron-clad weather protection boots that I can't promote enough (love you, Sorel Caribou, love you) and trudge around to the side of the house to do some gardening. Uh huh. Dressed in a rain coat, some mittens callin' for a muddying, and the beloved boots, I dragged on through the thicket and the muck wielding an extendable pair of hedge clippers, pruning sheers, a small rake, snow shovel, and the saddest iTunes playlist you could want on a dark January day. I hacked away at dead shrubs and the occasional, heartbreaking, premature, springy green growth that inhabits my little garden plot. I completely uprooted a plant that I have always loathed, one that spouse has always cherished for its evil, sun-blocking, "privacy" vines, threw its wild tendrils into a manic pile of downed, heavy branches and newly decimated ivy growth, and then stood back laughing at it while holding my hedge clippers high to the sky and bouncing up and down. I feel so accomplished. I say - take that, January! I mock you with every pinch of my sheers! No snow? No bugs! No reason not to garden.


Sunday, January 8, 2012

snow-less-ness

Good morning.

I believe my eyes, yes I do indeed, when I look out the windows and see what I only knew I'd see because I do check the forecast, but oh, I am so put off when my eyes blur from the overload of brownness and malnourished rot they spy on the snow-less ground. Not even a speck of ice today, not a puddle formed on the desperate and parched sidewalks. It is January and I used to think that the first month of the year meant I would indulge in a little seasonal shivering, layered in sweaters and wooly things, marching around in giant, weather proofed outer-gear. But now it seams that January is just a big ugly disappointment, a browned out let down! And a boo oo oo to that. I can only parade around in my favorite of earmuffs and my mountainous Sorrel boots, which sadly never get to proper use, when I am willing to look the fool in a light dusting of flakes and breezes worthy of springtime blooming! Maybe I should go back to bed... Can someone wake me around six to eight inches?

Sunday, January 1, 2012

and then it was 2012

Well, let's see... 2012 eh? I haven't even considered making a resolution. In fact, I am trying to recall if I made one last year or the year before that... I vaguely recollect yawning and being nearly bored to death watching the ball drop somewhere in between switching through the major networks and MTV. At some point I see myself tipping back the dregs of my champagne glass, thinking that I would like 2011 to be a happier, less stress filled year where the brand new spouse and I would smile more and poke and prod less, a year where the stars would align, in my favor, to put all things right, and a year in which I would be a bit less of a grouch grouch and more of a shimmering angel spreading love and kindness throughout my day...or I would at least not be quite so judgmental and pessimistic (those are the same thing right - an Angel, an Optimist?). And assuming that was my version of a New Year's resolution, just how did 2011 really stack up? Well, I feel like I grew much and learned a lot about myself. I have a year of marriage under my belt and things are actually looking more complicated by the day, but we did find a way to navigate through tricky moments. I managed to firmly close the door on some rueful sadness, to stand my ground where I needed to be firmly planted, and as for being more angelic - ahem - I would really need to survey some of my dear friends to accurately report on that one!

In the end, right up to 11:59 pm, I felt like the year whizzed right by and whatever happened, I am okay with it. So moving on and into the future, today I say, "Hello Twenty-Twelve! How do you do?" I have resolved to simply buckle in and take it as it comes!  -peace out-

The last dog attack of 2011. Gabby Dickerson Dog