When In Rome...

      Some days a person just has to give into the Universe and go with the flow- which is exactly what we did on Wednesday- a grey day turned bright by a bit of puddle splashing and nature observation. Of course there was also the accompanying toddler meltdown but that is what rests on the stoop are for- and the stroller! A random wander through the neighbourhood on our way home revealed loads of Spring goodness and enough puddles for optimal splashing.

     I love how Community Gardens bring neighbourhoods together- people express their creativity in a number of ways- this feel good message was found in a soon to be planted plot in Vancouver's West End- something we all need these days is a little bit of extra love! Bulbs planted last fall are up and are starting to bloom- adding pops of colour to these late winter days- the shy snowdrops are finishing off now and the daffodils are starting to show off.

      As an adult I find myself always pushing forward needing to get to the next place or activity- our children's natural inclination to stop and explore and check things out often results in a much slower pace than we would like. Some days though it needs to be done- my days right now are about getting from point a to point b with them- if it takes us an hour then so be it- when in Rome do as the Romans do! I think these Littles are onto something here- how else would we catch the fleeting last days of those snowdrops? Or see the Rhododendron's full buds just about to bloom? Or notice the bright pink petals scattered all over a set of stairs? When I slow myself down I see things I would have otherwise missed- I look through artist's eyes at the world again- enjoying all around me- yes even in the pouring rain!

      The rain it's self has changed from the cold driving mean rains of winter to a softer more gentler rain of Spring- the Robins are out looking for goodies and everything just feels lighter- perhaps it is the time change but I feel like my back is straighter and the mental fog is lifting.  That extra hour of daylight is really helped me out this week- although we are eating dinner later and I can't be bothered with the laundry- oh wait is that actually due to the time change or just because I'm super lazy?!
   

    Anyways if you need me this week or for that matter any clean underwear- tough beans- I am outside splashing in some puddles with my kiddos! How are you getting through these rainy days with your Littles? Are you more of an inside family or do you take it outside any chance you get? Also does anyone want to do my laundry?

The Story of Sunday

        February was put on the calender for one thing and one thing only- to give people and the earth a chance to rest- to relax and catch up on sleep- in my totally scientific opinion that is what February is for. That and Birthdays- but Birthday month is technically drawing to a close! Sunday in Vancouver this week was wet and the perfect day to spend indoors- relaxing. So the Mr. and I grabbed a second latte and settled in to watch the weekend news while the Littles played one of their favourite games and munched on P.B. & J sandis- a perfectly relaxing Sunday morning.

      While last weekend was all about connecting with friends and community this weekend was spent fairly close to home- just relaxing- not really doing anything at all. After lunch on Sunday we tried to get some fresh air with a walk through the neighbourhood and as you can see it was  pretty damp. The Littles went with the Mr. over to his office and I strolled home for some much needed quiet Momma time.

     Being kid free does not happen too often for me- I usually have at least one of them with me- so I took full advantage of the situation and stopped into a few favourite shops on my way home- Community Thrift is seriously the best thrift store in our neighbourhood- really well curated- fresh stuff all the time. I scored this adorable embroidered dresser scarf that I am going to sew up into a summer top for Miss Lo. There are two Community Thrifts- one of Cordova for men and one on Carrall St for women- they also carry a small selection of children's clothes- really unique and interesting finds.

     I also could not pass up the opportunity to stop in for a gander at our neighbourhood yarn shop- Wool Is Not Enough- between Carrall and Columbia on Cordova St. This shop is a super cool space and the owner is really an interesting lady to chat with- lets not even talk about the friendly cat who lives there and can often be seen chillin in the window display. I found some gorgeous linen and silk yarns that I am excited to try out in a project later this week- not your regular knitted item- stay tuned!

     Now this lovely chunky Merino wool will pair nicely with this over sized wood button (picked up on Saturday) - either I'm going to knit a cowl for me or another pom pom hat for Miss Lo. I think the successful domination over my tunic pattern last week has spurred me into creative mode- all I want to do is sew and make things!

    I am by nature a very quiet person- as in I like to be quiet and be in quiet- I enjoy meditating and just listening- I was so grateful for the opportunity to do just that for a few hours Sunday afternoon. A few hours to sit and sew- I didn't even turn the radio on- although I may have talked to myself a bit! I think like a baby my senses get over stimulated by the busyness around me and I can get out of sorts- a few hours of quiet is balm for the soul- the whir of the sewing machine and the rain outside was music enough for me- plotting and planning what to do with that wool!

Took A Walk in My Neighbourhood..

"This city is a ribcage: you are the heart"

    Sometimes we are so in this thing called life we forget to stop and look around. Coming to this space, thinking about what is worth putting here, and then the follow through - holds me accountable for being present, looking around and catching bits I may have other wise missed. Take today for example- a completely ordinary day- except for the colour of the bricks against a blue jacket, the brilliant yellow leaves on a rain slick street, the vrooming of a car speeding along an imaginary race track. 

    When you consider what is this crazy ride called life all about- it's these little things that matter most. More than a better apartment, more than better shoes, more than a clean house- in my opinion that is anyways. I realize we can't all live off of warm fuzzy feelings and someone has got to pay the bills- but man I would not miss these days of doing nothing for all the days of doing something! 

   
 I know my time with our Littles is short- as my sister is fond of saying " they are only this young right now". Tomorrow they will know something different, tomorrow they will be older- maybe they will tell you to stop being silly, maybe they will start colouring in the lines, maybe they will ask to borrow the car keys. It's all going too fast- I say put on the breaks I want to stop and look around a bit- I want this time right now to be forever.

    I didn't start off this post aiming to be all melancholy about how fast life is going and how big my kids are getting- I wanted to write about this really great roast beef sandwich I had from Big Lou's! Needless to say we had a fantastic walk today- complete with a mini photo shoot- trying to get a shot for the Holiday cards being mailed out soon. Apparently as you can see we are raising a couple of comedians- I think the photo below is the winner-  Grandma will be so proud!

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it"

Ferris Bueller

Calm Before the Storm

     Yesterday was the perfect day- crisp and cool but still warm enough, not to mention dry enough, to sit outside watching the Littles play while enjoying a latte. We walked the Sea Wall over to Olympic Village and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Snacks under the giant bird and then races along the benches- simple in the sunshine

   
    As with any fair day in Vancouver I was again struck by what an amazing place we live in- a few weeks of rain will help a person remember how beautiful their city actually is when not seen from under the brim of an umbrella! I feel yesterday was the calm before the storm- we will have a handful of sunny days over the next few months it is true- but I feel maybe yesterday was a final fair well to our all to brief summer. So while we were soaking it all in I captured as much of it as possible- there aren't really any words more necessary.

    It's Friday friends- boy did that week ever feel long! I think this weekend we are going to just chill out- my friend Lisa from Draw Me a Lion is going to be at Collage Collage 621 Kingsway this Sunday at 3pm-5pm to launch her new colouring mask book- if you are local be sure to check it out! I hope that where ever you are and whatever you are doing this weekend you sneak a handful of candy from that box stored above the fridge- you deserve it!

Took a Walk In My Neighbourhood....

      I will be the first to admit that I am a total Country Mouse who is sort of stalled living in the city- I don't want to use the word "stuck" because I am not stuck- I love my neighbourhood and I love my life here. That said I do dream of a life with my family in an place that is a little less populated- a life which involves a yard and lots of wide open spaces- but for now because of work we are here in the city.

        Today I was looking back through my posts from the summer- and oh what a summer we had! Lots of weekends away to places that gave us those wide open spaces- if only for a short time. I became aware of just how much travelling we did in the past three months- fleeing the city if you will, now that the threat of snow is imminent we are staying off the highway at least until Christmas- tucking back into the city that we really do love.

     Even though the sun is hiding out behind layers of grey clouds and fog we still take any break in the weather as a gift and head outside. When we were afforded a bit of sun recently we piled on the layers and made our way through Gastown and out to the pier at Canada Place- the cruise ships have all headed south for the winter but the pier was still teaming with locals  and a few straggling tourists seeking a few rays. There is loads to see and do out on the pier- Canada is in the throws of celebrating the War of 1812 and so we were able to enjoy several interpretive displays set up along the walkway.   Of course the under five crowd is never disappointed with watching the Sea Planes land and take off- that activity could go on for hours!

       The sidewalk of the pier has a variety of town and city names from across Canada inlaid into the stone- strangely enough one of the towns listed is Peachland- my hometown- seeing this nameplate makes this Country Mouse feel a little closer to home.

     Away from the hustle and bustle of Canada Place we step back into Gastown and now that most of the tourists have departed this neighbourhood can feel like living in another time. Cobblestone roads, brick buildings, Gaolers Muse- this is the neighbourhood where Vancouver got it's rough and tumble start. Living in Gastown is a bit like living in a separate city or town- you recognize the people that you meet when you're walking down the street.

     Until I can have my Organic B& B farmhouse on a few acres of land out in the middle of no where I will just have to tuck in and be content living in what I have fondly come to regard as one of the quirkiest postal codes in Vancouver. I have good neighbours, good shops, good restaurants and excellent coffee- yup it'll do!

     Friends it is Friday- This Saturday marks Canada's first Small Business Saturday- so get out and support your local small businesses! Locally this weekend also marks the end of the Farmer's Market season- we will be heading to the Kitsilano market on Sunday to stock up on basics like bags of onions and potatoes- plus all the garlic we will need to take us through cold & flu season! Wherever you are and what ever you are up to I hope your feet are warm and the sun is shining in your heart!

Took a walk in my neighbourhood...

        When ever I go for a walk in our neighbourhood I have The Junkie Song by The Be Good Tanyas running through my head. It's off their album Chinatown. I love that it starts out "took a walk in my neighbourhood, it was two in the morning, by the skytrain station" 

     I feel the Be Good Tanyas have walked down these streets before- in fact I am pretty sure they have- Hey wait don't they live around here?Anyways like them I know that behind the word junkie and homeless there is so much more- a person with a story. You can't live in this neighbourhood and not know that.

     Since moving to Vancouver 10 years ago I always felt something was lacking, a sense of community and acceptance where ever we lived. The Mr. and I tried several areas of town and even ventured out to the burbs for what felt like the longest year lease ever! It wasn't until we moved into one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Canada that I started feeling that sense of being welcome and accepted.

      It is with this soul-full song and this amazing feeling we explore our neighbourhood; the one where our children's friends live, the one where we meet people we know on the side walk, the one where we buy yarn for knitting and art supplies for creating, every day.The neighbourhood we are a part of. This neighbourhood of ours is changing every day, yoga studios are popping up, a posh baby store, a little less gritty but still beautiful.

     This is where Vancouver started, glimpses of the past abound- Gassy Jack is just up the street. And while Florists and boutiques are taking over the tourist shops and rug stores, a current of independence and freedom is easily paliable. A distinct creative spirit that is all encompassing and welcoming- I feel I have wondered long enough and have finally found my neighbourhood.