fun stuff 04/21/15

patience 

is not the

ability to wait,

but the ability to keep

a good attitude 

while waiting.

                         - john mayer

knitting:

thank you for being patient while i continue knitting this blanket.

it is actually bigger than it looks in the photo,

at least a foot longer than last week.

reading:
i've started celeste ng's everything i never told you.
i'm only a third of the way into the book but have already found ng's novel to be so beautifully written.
so far, the story is very tragic:  dealing with issues of unexplainable loss, unimaginable grief, family dysfunction and the inability of a family to truly know each other.

communication is the one particular thing i diligently and conscientiously work on when it comes to this little family of mine, so this book grabbed me just by its title.

she also delves into teen issues and mix race marriages so i know i'm going to love this book... even before finishing it.
i'll tell you more about it next week.

what are you knitting and/or reading?

care to share?

erica

xoxo

joining frontier dreams and small things

weekending

it was a beautiful weekend here in victoria, bc

the sun came out and warmed everyone up

and the beaches called us down to explore.

ian's mom is still in town,

so we let her lead the way.

this is a stretch of beach off of dallas road, 

facing washington's  olympic mountains.

it is wonderful having visitors from out of town

because with them, we get to see our little corner of the world with fresh eyes.

there is so much natural beauty here...(and admission is free)

so we don't mind playing tour guides over and over again.

since our guest likes to sleep in,

i was able to attend my early step aerobic classes

while ian went running with his buddies.

after a good morning cardio workout - we can meander as slow as we like 

to take in the beach, the ocean and the views.

it is so lovely to get to the beach...

the blues, the grays, the muted colours of the rocks and the ocean 

are so soothing and such a contrast from all the spring colours of the garden.

with the fine weather, 

we have been working hard in our backyard.

 it is delightful to get a break from all the pruning and mowing and weeding...

but all the work was worth it because we returned there to bbq our evenings away.

the victoria school board has a professional development day today,

our kiddies are home and

so our weekend continues...

for one more day !!!

erica

xoxo

joining karen

the tulip files

almost three hundred bulbs were planted last fall

and all of them have gloriously popped open over the weekend.

all are under surveillance....

because we have three resident deers 

in the neighbourhood!!!

harlow, 

while soaking up the warmth of the sun 

and enjoying the cushiony, freshly cut lawn,

is on daily deer patrol.

it's a tough job, but someone has to do it!!!

in return for all his hard work,

harlow has been getting extra grooming...

he really does enjoy all the brushing.

did you know that dog hair in your garden beds 

makes for excellent deer repellent?

erica

xoxo

skies of blue

i see skies of blue

and clouds of white,

bright blessed days

and dark sacred nights

and i think to myself

what a wonderful world.

             - louis armstrong

wishing you all a beautiful weekend !!!

erica

xoxo

moment 04/17/15

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

inspired by soulemama

don't stop believin...

if there is something that instantly puts me in a good mood,

it is listening to my children play music.

my daughter knows me well,

the minute she starts playing

she knows i'm smiling... 

if not on my face, definitely in my heart

journey's 'don't stop believin'

her latest, favourite piano score...

the melody is so sweeeeet

our piano is an ancient upright that

we purchased shortly after my daughter was born.

it needs annual tuning but all the work is worth it because it is capable of quite a range.

we are blessed because our little miss loves pounding on its' ivory keys.

we are doubly lucky because she practises without prompting, 

learning to play her pieces with emotion,

continually restarting when she makes an error.

all the while, 

my heart fills with glee !

erica

xoxo

thrifted threads: felt square scarf

welcome to 

'what i wore wednesday'

i'm linking up with lindsey  at the pleated poppy

for some fashion fun

while thrifting on the weekend,

i found the most beautiful and colourful scarf 

hanging on the toonie scarf rack

it was made of all these woolly felted squares 

(i'm really not quite sure of the material???)

and they were all crocheted together with black yarn.

it goes perfect with my favourite black wool sweater,

a hand me down from my littlest brother

and one that you've seen many times before.

the weather has turned cold and stormy during the past few days

i can't believe we were bare-feeting it just a week ago.

i actually don't mind...

because i get to wear this

beautiful piece of art !!!

happy humpday everyone!!!

erica

xoxo