fun stuff : collecting scrap

since we are en route,

i thought that for this week i would share some pictures of my

scrap blanket collection.

i have had so much fun making these...

from collecting thrifted scrap yarn, 

thrifting and unravelling old scarves and sweaters 

and playing with colour combinations.

so far, i have given two away as gifts (a burgundy/rose/pink; an indigo blue/purple) 

and now wish that i had photographs of them.

oh well...now on to new colour combinations !!!

erica

xoxo

joining frontier dreams and small things

heat wave

nope...we haven't left yet!!!
but glad to announce that everyone is packed and ready to go....

the weekend was a hot one (victoria got a heat wave, which is very unusual)
so in between packing, i spent the days watering my thirsty garden.
i got lots of exercise in the early of the mornings,
spent the afternoons running around town getting trip necessities, returning library books,
and the evevings visiting with neighbours, knitting and finishing up season three of parenthood

late yesterday, we dropped harlow off at our friends...oh i miss him already!!!
but he was so excited to see their dog (we have a feeling that they are in love) and settled quite nicely beside her on the couch.

so we are off...

erica

xoxo

joining karen

summer mode

summer

hair gets lighter

skin gets darker

water gets warmer

drinks get colder

music gets louder

nights get longer

life gets better

                        - anonymous (pinterest)

yup... we are finally in summer mode around here.

exams are OVER...so my kids and i went for some celebratory ice cream cones.

as they licked their gelato treats, i could see all the stress and tension lift from their bodies (they both have worked so hard all year...)

we leave for holidays (i'll keep our destination a surprise for now) in a few days...

though i'm not too sure about my travel blogging capabilities at this point, 

there will be postcards for sure, 

i am still not finished packing (actually, i'm just starting...UGH!!!)

so i've decided to put all my powers of concentration to this dreaded task.

so come by later next week...

i'm sure by then we'll have lots to catch up on!!!

erica
xoxo

thrifted threads: blouie blouie blouie blouieeee

welcome to 'what i wore wednesday'

today, i'm linking up with lindsey and the ladies for some fashion fun

i've always been crazy for anything tie dye and batik

and you already know my weakness for indigo blues...

so you can imagine how thrilled i was to find this thrifted cotton top.

(in just my size!, for only $2.50!!)

the top is made of 100% rayon and the tag says hand wash or dry clean only

but it has already survived  several cold water machine washes... (bonus!!!)

i love its casualness and how well it pairs with my favourite denim pants and shorts.

but... have you noticed these blue bells?

 (they're my neighbour's from down the street)

i am stunned by their blueness every time i pass by...

can it get any bluer than that???

wishing you a very happy hump day !!!

erica

xoxo

fun stuff 06/23/15

nothing new...
same teal scrap blanket
same moby dick and 10 minutes a day of french

 it has been really busy around here 

with the ending of school and summer vacation plans just around the corner.

the blanket is growing for sure because it is what i grab whenever i need a break from all the craziness.  however, because it is getting too big, and won't fit into my suitcase, i am going to have to find something smaller to work on while on holidays.

as for moby dick ...even this abridged version is really testing my urge to skim and skip !!!

what are you knitting? reading?

care to share

erica

xoxo

joining frontier dreams and small things

weekending

summer is here and it was time to celebrate.

it was probably the busiest weekend ever...oooh, but so much fun!

fernfest

art stroll

friends' 25th year anniversary

fathers' day

women's world cup soccer (woot woot for canada)

summer solstice celebrations

yes... we took it all in and then some!!!

it was so lovely to take part in all the celebrations (all the napping in between helped)

there was so much music, dancing, potlucking and bbq-ing 

everywhere around our city.   

it was so energizing to see friends, family and neighbours, 
dressed in their colourful summer outfits, looking and feeling relaxed and happy.

now a brand new week...

the teens are almost finished with exams...my son writes one more provincial this week. 

after all is done, they are both inviting friends over for a backyard paper burning celebration.

with our summer holidays starting this friday, ian is wrapping up loose ends with work.

i have so much to accomplish this week (i really do not like packing...ugh!!!) 

but i'm feeling optimistic about getting through all of it.  

when i start to get overwhelmed, i repeat to myself

"breathe, erica.... breathe"

wishing you all a wonderful start to your week!!!

erica

xoxo

joining karen

fathers' day

                     old man take a look at my life

                     i'm a lot like you

                     i need someone to love me

                     the whole day through...

            - neil young

way before kids...during our numerous road trips, ian and i would listen to neil and sing along.  old man is one of my favourites...mostly because ian's voice harmonized beautifully with it.  he would belt out the tunes and then he would usually share a favourite memory of his father.

today...neil's harvest album is still a contender for the top of our listening pile (along side bruno mars, beyonce, walk off the earth)...our kids usually start smirking when their dad sings out the chorus but once in a while you will hear them join in.

with fathers' day coming tomorrow...i haven't been able to get these lyrics out of my head.  i think we may just take a little road trip...(maybe to his favourite fish and chips joint) and listen to him harmonize a little neil along the way.

wishing all those papas out there a wonderful fathers' day!!!

erica

xoxo

moment 06/19/15

a moment
a friday ritual, a single photo , 
no words, capturing a moment from the week
a simple, special, extraordinary moment
i want to pause, savour and 

remember.

erica

xoxo

walking the dog

harlow is one of those dogs

that requires a walk-about-town in order to do his business.

it's a blessing in many ways:

our yard is pristine (though our pockets are filled with doggy bags),

and everyone (mostly me) gets lots of fresh air and exercise.

harlow's need forces me out of my self-centeredness 

and i discover that even when the weather does not look so beautiful outside, 

it actually is quite pleasant...once you are in it.

with the sunny days stretching well past nine p.m.

our evening walks have become more adventuresome 

and something i really look forward to.

we've been visiting many of the beautiful walking destinations of victoria.

a couple of evenings ago...we reached ogden point breakwater

the inside of the breakwater showcases the unity wall

an artistic interpretation of the history of the esquimalt and songhees nations.

the evening was perfect...

warm breeze,

beautiful scenery,

friendly people,

and a happy dog with his waggly tail!!!

erica

xoxo

thrifted threads: fern green

welcome to 'what i wore' wednesday

when i link up with lindsey and the ladies for some fashion fun

it has been dry...dry...dry around here

i think the last time we had rain was sometime in april

so everything is turning into that shade of dehydrated blonde.

but luckily, with good shade and watering, the ferns at finerty are thriving!!!

this ferny green cotton shirt 

was a thrifted find from a few months ago.

it is so soft and comfortable to wear.

we have the most wonderful thrift shop in town

because every time (never mind what day or which hour) i drop in

they seem to have most clothing on a half price sale.

i tend to visit the shop once every two weeks,

 to look for scrap yarn, or colourful sweaters that i can unravel for yarn,

but i always find things (like this top) that i can't resist buying.

i don't mind...the thrift shop falls under beacon community services

and all proceeds go to funding

crossing guards, parenting programs, out of the rain youth shelter, 

and the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (fasd) program

yup...all of us here in the west coast are hoping for rain.

if we don't get any soon,

our water bills will skyrocket 

if we want to see any green !!!

erica

xoxo

fun stuff 06/16/15

the teal scrap blanket is still on the needles.

i think i'm past the half way mark.

the ocean breeze cools our evenings down quite a bit, 

so knitting a blanket is still a pleasure around here !!

 i'm still working and struggling through this 

illustrated and abridged version of moby dick.  

gosh...melville can be pedantic at times !!!

but i am determined to get through it....

i've also picked up a wonderful french conversation workbook...

june is a very busy month around here...but ten minutes a day is doable 

what are you knitting? reading?

care to share?

erica

xoxo

joining frontier dreams and small things

barnacling

in between studying for exams,

it was another weekend by the ocean for us

breathing in the ocean air,

checking out the tidal pools,

writing messages in the sand,

watching tourists disembark their cruise ships.

now...wow...it's monday,

with renewed energy and a fresh outlook 

i welcome this brand new week and all the gifts it brings.

hello monday !!!

hello barnacles...don't you just love their textured existence?  i could stare and study them forever

hello exams...i definitely have an artist and a dancer in my house.   while studying for their exams, my teens reverted to their favourite pastime not only to release some stress but also to help process all the information they were cramming into their heads.  while one danced away her anxieties, the other doodled and sketched till his pencils were nubs.

hello sugar detox...i'm still at it and feeling great (but i did consume a lot of watermelon this weekend)

hello parenthood...thanks to tracey, i'm hooked...i've started season one and so far, i am impressed at how they are handling and writing the whole autism spectrum into the tv series.  

hello watering can...there is no need to lift weights at the gym,  i've been hauling water to keep my plants alive during this unending drought.  i just checked the weather forecast and there is still no rain in sight

bonjour, parlez vous francais?  i've been working on improving my conversational french...the resources available at the library are extensive - after much browsing, i found one called french in 10 minutes a day.  however, experts still insist that immersion is the best way to learn.

hello friends.... have you finished that cup of coffee/ tea yet?  are you ready to welcome this brand new beautiful week?  i hope you all have a wonderful start !!!

erica

xoxo

playdate

how do you 

make a perfect scene 

even more beautiful?

add some beautiful spirits into the mix!!!

 it was a perfect day for a picnic,

and a perfect picnic (even if nobody brought utensils) 

was what we had ...

all our teens were home studying hard for their upcoming exams

while we took in the views and the beautiful weather.

parents need play dates too!!!

erica

xoxo

simple saturday

wake up

coffee

write short blog post

walk the dog

breakfast

workout

shower

lunch

farmers market

walk the dog (and kids)

read

laugh

knit

dinner

walk the dog

sleep

happy saturday sweet friends !!

erica

xoxo

fame

(fame) 

i'm gonna live forever

i'm gonna learn how to fly 

(high)

i feel it coming together

people will see me and cry...

               - irene cara

bravo to the junior musical team !!!

such wonderful performances by everyone !!!

erica

zozo

me time...

                      we need women

                      who are 

                      so strong they can be gentle,

                      so educated they can be humble.

                      so fierce they can be compassionate,

                      so passionate they can be rational,

                      and so disciplined they can be free.

                                - kavita ramdas

i've been flying solo for the last three days...
and i feel like my wings are about to collapse.
but ian is back from the mainland...and i feel like i can breath deeply again

i was volunteering at the cridge centre for the family yesterday.
working with women, most of them are young mothers flying solo all the time
and they are TIRED and i honestly don't know how/where they find the strength to endure.

today i get some me time...i will get some exercise, i will visit with friends and enjoy unhurried conversation,  i will sip slowly and enjoy my extra hot, non fat, no foam soy green tea latte,  i will visit the library and browse, i will putter so softly (soft enough so i can hear the background music playing) while i work to tame the chaos of my kitchen, i will paint my toenails and admire them between pages of my book.

it is going to be a lovely day!!!

erica

xoxo