Plant Babies

          This time of year always has me itching to grow something- to be out on our deck- digging in the dirt. While it's still to early to really do much of anything but sip a cuppa tea out there right now- inside on our window sill is a different story! So to begin with I have a couple of new plant babies that came home with me the other day- some beautiful baby succulents and a tiny- wee air plant.

           A little bit of fresh green is exactly what was needed to brighten up our space-some colour to offset all the grey happening outdoors! Not a lot of money needs to be spent to update or refresh a home- sometimes something as simple as a plant or fresh flowers is all that is needed until the larger picture can be addressed. We have some big plans for this Spring- for this space- I'm ever so excited thinking about paint colours and new bedding for all.

          We have lived in this apartment for just about four years now- moving here was like coming home- this is the space that our babies turned into kids- we have become part of a wonderful community. While we have always dreamed of moving to the country- to a home with space to roam - something transformative has happened over the past year or so. Our urge to stay put-  and put down roots here- have grown stronger- largely in part to our fantastic group of friends. And so a space that was supposed to be temporary is now looking more permanent- somewhere among the way this place has become our home!

       All this deep- introspection to say that until we have time to paint and fluff up this apartment my new plant babies will do the trick! A simple little splurge that came in at under ten dollars has brought me a modicum of joy- my new plant babies happily nestled into their new pots bring the promise of change into this temporary space- turning a bit more permanent!

Into The Woods

        Last week we had so many of our wonderful friends visiting us from out of town- we always love showing people a slice of our life in Vancouver- we really love being tourists in our own town. We go places we don't normally explore which can be a real treat. With our friends gone- either home or onto the next leg of their vacations- our little apartment was feeling very quiet- we all felt it- so we took the party outside as we tend to do.

        Continuing with the theme of "tourist in our own town" we decided to pay a visit to Stanley Park - we packed a picnic and our swim suits and really truly spent time enjoying the park. We started out with a visit to the newly refurbished Aquarium- the Littles were disappointed that some of their favourite bug displays were gone and the octopus was in hiding. From there we enjoyed a picnic in the shade- relaxing under a canopy of branches and enjoying the cool shade after the pressing crowds of the Aquarium. We had no where to go and nothing to do so we truly relaxed into our picnic.

           After a quick cool down in the water park we moved onto parts of the park we have never visited with the Littles- we hit the trails and hiked out to view Siwash Rock- which is a stellar part of our coast. The Littles had lots of explore and look at amongst the ancient trees with trunks so wide even a family of four fails to reach the circumference.

         One of my favourite things about Stanley Park and in fact Vancouver in general is that regardless of being a major city there are so many hidden pockets of quiet and nature. The trails of Stanley Park are cool with few hikers and few bikers- well off the beaten path so to speak- deserted enough to make us forget- if only for an hour- that we aren't in the middle of a busy city.

Away We Go

          This morning I am waking up once again in my old bed room in my parent's basement- it is so familiar- something I have done for almost twenty five years in this house. We are in the Okanagan for our annual family vacation - this trip is special in that we are here for over two weeks- and the Mr. is with us! As a family this is our first long Summer vacation together and we are loving every moment of it thus far.

       I have a hefty bucket list of fun things to tackle these next couple of weeks- most definitely lots of time spent at the lake in the sunshine- but also some quiet alone time laying in the shade and dreaming- lots of space for dreaming- and planning- imagining. Quiet time with space is something as a Mother and individual- need and crave- something that living in our small space I rarely get. I do my best planning out of projects when I have moments of quiet- otherwise these ideas just float about in the back of my mind- often getting crowed out by everyday things.

     So I am taking advantage of all this time we have- time as a family and time to myself. Looking forward to seeing so many dear old friends and of course seeing the cousins more than we possibly can imagine! When all is said and done these connections to our loved ones and to the land we love is really all we have- it's all that is really important- and these next two weeks are a bit like winning the lottery for me. And although love alone may not pay the bills it surely pays something even greater and for that I am ever so grateful!

Here We Stay

          May Long weekend is traditionally the start of Summer here in B.C. and to go along with the start of our warmest season it usually rains. So after a number of years getting rained out camping we decided to stick close to home this weekend and have a mini Staycation. It was a weekend of being lazy and eating tonnes of yummy, local- fresh food. Lots of coffee and lots of time spent outdoors- even though the for cast called for rain we all got a tiny bit sunburnt as the weather turned out to be pretty good!

        One of the things I love about living in Vancouver is how possible it is to be car free- we really have only had a car for the past three years- before that it was all walking, public transit and car coop for us- having a car is a luxury. For the most part of our weekend we ditched the car and headed out by foot- we bussed over to the Trout Lake Farmers Market for a taste of the season on Saturday. Being on foot means experiencing the city in a way that you never could from a car- we walked the length of Commercial Drive- enjoying being a part of the neighbourhood for an afternoon.

        Sunday found us with an impromptu picnic lined up- this time we hopped in the car and headed over to the Kitsilano Farmers Market- all markets all weekend! Time spent catching up with dear cousin Laura and her wee family in the sunshine on blankets covered with market treats was the best way to spend the day. There is something magical that happens when the sunshine comes out in earnest for the start of Summer- people start to slow down- families take over green spaces and the city comes alive.



         Sitting here on Monday morning with the patio doors wide open it's comforting to hear the familiar sounds of the city waking up- sea gulls and yes even the traffic. Sometimes I think there is no comfort or relaxation to be found in the city-sometimes being here is tied to everyday life- which can be exhausting. But this weekend was a very different type of weekend- nothing special to do- no where amazing to go- just simple- easy and relaxing- in the city.

A Peek At Our Weekend

           This weekend was and wasn't completely perfect- the weather was flawless- our visit was fantastic but The Boy- well he had the stomach flu. So we did what we could to keep him comfortable and in between bouts of sickness the rest of the family had a quiet weekend enjoying the sunshine. Miss Lo thoroughly enjoyed having her Poppa's undivided attention- no brother or cousins to interfere- they went on an adventure just the two of them.

      My Mom and I had ample opportunity to visit- touring the garden and checking to see what is coming along- Peachland is several weeks behind Vancouver so while we have had our Spring bulbs blooming at the coast they are only just starting in the Okanagan. In patches along the side of the road my perennial favourite- Arnica- are starting to bloom- those bright yellow daisy type flowers- often called Black Eyed Susans. The lawn is full of shy violets. Sitting with my Mom in the sunshine on the back patio- sipping wine- listening to a neighbour's jam session- talking about my Grandma was the best part of my weekend.

         The Boy was upset that he had missed out on all the fun- being sick is no fun at all- he missed out on hot dogs and going to the park- he missed out on playing in the yard- OK well mostly he was sad that he missed out on digging in the dirt. We have plenty more of these weekends planned- school is almost over- it's almost time to hit the road.

        I think if having kids has taught me anything it's how to be flexible. We had planned on going up the valley to Vernon to visit the Mr.'s family on Saturday- but with The Boy literally out for the count and unable to move we just had to adapt our plan. Once he was feeling better we did manage to get a visit in with the Mr.'s Mom, Sister, Niece & Partner and our Great Niece- who is turning 1- nothing like a wee babe to make people smile!

       At any rate yesterday afternoon we reluctantly packed up the van and turned into the sun as we headed West towards the ocean- home. I know I have said it so often here but I belong to two places- my adopted city that I love so much- full of my life and friends- and the Okanagan- my home- full of my history- my family and the lake that holds my heart. The wonderful thing about trips like this is that either way I am always coming home.

Spelt Muffins

      With the arrival of warm weather I am also feeling the return to health for our entire family- while we haven't been too badly ill the persistent runny noses and coughing have left us all feeling a tad drained. I have finally returned to my regular yoga practice and have started running again- I'm feeling strong. With this feeling of good health it is only natural that I want to fill our tummies with good fuel- not too much sugar- but still something that passes as a treat- enter in this yummy Spelt muffin recipe that is our new go- to snack.

The Goods:

2 cups Spelt flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
A pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 cup Maple Syrup
4 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Vanilla

Alternatively add in

- 1 cup of diced apple
- 1 cup blue berries
-1 cup chocolate chips


The Deal:

-Set oven at 350 for baking- line muffin tins with paper cups or set up silicon baking cups
-Combine dry ingredients in one bowl
-Combine wet ingredients in another bowl- once well mixed add into dry mixture
-Once muffin mixture is well combined add in your choice of extras- blueberries are my favourite at this time of year!
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned on top

By The Window

Garden instructions for the coming weeks-propped on the sill

A jar or purple jump ups picked by grubby little boy hands

evidence of last week's visit from the Easter Bunny

so many generations of our family have sat in this highchair

always a latte when you need one

the light in my Mother's kitchen is amazing on any given day

Finding Our Way Home

      We are home- in our own home that is, by the sea, with a coffee shop downstairs, bathed in the soft neon lights of the city- constant buzz of traffic. Despite the lousy end to our vacation we had a fantastic week with the Littles getting to spend some very special one on one time with both sets of grandparents- that's what happens when everyone in the family gets sick- kids get passed around to who ever is well! I know that The Boy enjoyed his trip to Dairy Queen with his Opa and Miss Lo thoroughly enjoyed time spent outside with Poppa.

      This week was a much needed break for me- time off to recharge my batteries, gather some new inspiration. I love that there are so many creative souls in my family to connect with- my parents each have something to offer in the form of their thoughts and opinions and both my nieces are very creative in their own way- yes baking your heart out is not only appreciated by, others it's also a fantastic creative outlet.  I will hold onto these connections and let them marinade for a bit, letting them seep into my work over the next few weeks.

      Yesterday was such a long and exhausting day- travelling usually is-  coming out of the town of Hope and rounding the corner to Chilliwack we were greeted by the most glorious sunset- we knew we were home! I was so happy to walk into a mostly tidy home and flop into my own bed last night- I slept for 13 hours. Today we are laying low- snuggling in our jammies again- eating left over snacks and treats packed up by our moms. I feel like today is sort of a do- over from yesterday as this is how we usually spend New Years day!

      I would like to say thank you to our family and friends for giving us a most magical week- my mom for well being my mom and everything she always does for us- even though she was sick too, my dad for the nature walks, bon fires and fun cooking times, my sister for listening to my hypochondriac worrying and my brother in law Kyle for making fun of everything! My sister in law Pia for an amazing Christmas Eve, our niece Kayla for making that night magical for our Littles, our niece Tanya for her yummy cupcakes, our brother in law for his creative tobogganing solutions. Thank you to my In Laws for taking care of our Littles when we were down with the flu- I know they had a great time with you! A big thank you to our friends- we miss you guys and I know we don't get a chance to see you often- the time spent with each of you over the holidays was really special! A very special thank you goes out to the Universe for cutting us some slack and giving us such a beautiful day with safe roads to travel!

   Tomorrow we are back to our regular routine- I have so much to share- loads of inspiration and goodies! My hands are itching to get into my studio- but first I have a mountain of clean laundry to get put away- clean being the operative word there! See you tomorrow friends!

Nesting

 

   
  As mentioned in yesterday's post I have that nesting feeling- the desire to refresh our space- infuse it with some newness and warmth for these coming months. Here's the deal- as the stay at home parent I spend a great deal of time with in these walls during the winter months. To make matters even more complicated as an artist I get bored easily and am in a constant state of re- invention- often this involves furniture moving. No furniture moving occurred this weekend but between my trip to Spruce Collective on Saturday with Lovely Cousin Laura and a brief trip to the States yesterday I managed to gather a few new treasures to freshen up our space.

      From Spruce Collective I purchased a cozy vintage wool rug with multiple shots of colour through out- this will prove ideal for what ever colour I end up painting our kitchen table. I totally admit I can envision this in the kitchen of my dreams- casually strewn out on barn board floors maybe in front of a porcelain farm house sink- a girl can dream right! Anyways back to reality- my other treasure from Spruce Collective was this funky little multi coloured globe- yes it has the U.S.S.R. on it and Nunavut is missing from Canada- our kids might get confused by that but I think it is a charming addition to their globe collection!

    Yesterday was another stormy day and so we hopped in the car and headed across the boarder- the only solid stops on our list were Trader Joe's and Target- now normally I am not a fan of big box stores but Target always has such great house wares! I scored myself this awesome Poison toss pillow which I think looks great in my favourite orange chair but The Boy claims he wants it for his bed- maybe we can share. Another fantastic find was this Smith & Hawking lantern- a solid hurricane vase surrounded in lovely "aged" wood- I was looking for something substantial for at our entrance way and this fits the bill!

      I have a few other projects up my sleeve to cozy up our space- some furniture painting and screen printing of fabric- and always more thrifting. I think this year we might also put up some curtains- this will be a big step for us- a move that suggests some permanence- if only temporarily! We are also starting to think about replacing our sofa- yes a big purchase, but as anyone who has sat on our couch in the past year or so can attest to it is much needed! Making a home out of a rental space can be a tricky thing but I feel bit by bit this place is starting to feel just like us!

Spruce Collective and a Really Great Sandwich

     We all knew it was coming- the rain- what feels already like a never ending amount of rain- it's like Mother Nature is getting caught up for those forty plus days we had glorious sunshine. It was abrupt and sudden but we are adapting- and part of that adapting is starting to nest in for the winter. Retreating or hibernating snugging up our homes for the long months we are about to spend inside!

     It was with this is mind that my Lovely Cousin Laura and I headed out in an epic downpour on Saturday to check out a new home interiors store out in the suburb of Abbotsford. Spruce Collective opened it's doors a few weeks ago and judging the amount of traffic in their on Saturday I would say they have hit the nail on the head! This store is a wonderful collaboration between five friends who obviously share a passion for collecting and design. 

     Filled with a collection of lovely treasures- mostly vintage, a fantastic line of jewelry, and tonnes of great pillows, cards, candles and lets not forget the CeCe Caldwell paints! It was difficult to pare down my purchases and I will most definitely be heading back for some of the amazing paint- after four years of kid abuse our dinning table could do with a lick of this self- priming paint. 

     The ladies of Spruce Collective have put together beautiful little vignettes everywhere you look- the vintage crib piled with amazing pillows- yes! The antique cupboard with beautiful dresses- the fantastic chairs snugged up beside a pile of books. These gals have the art of display down to a science and it doesn't stop at the front of the store- The Workshop is a little room off the back of the shop that is chock a block full of vintage props and available to rent out for photo shoots- when we were there a lucky bride and groom came in from the weather to capture their day in style.

    

  

       We could not leave Abbotsford with out exploring around a bit- we caught the last few minutes of a very soggy Farmer's Market and checked out the local thrift store, then onto Birkeland Brother's Yarn- where I got tonnes of information on a new project( more on the later). After the extensive drive out to the Valley followed by all that retail therapy Lovely Cousin Laura and I were feeling a bit peckish and headed up the street to grab a bite at the Roasted Grape- I had a the most delish roast beef sandwich. Having never really explored Abbotsford I have say I was pleasantly surprised- the downtown area is really quaint- good shopping and tasty restaurants- plus there is free parking! 

     Today has dawned all soggy and grey- more rain is predicted for this afternoon. It feels like the perfect excuse to tuck in and play with my new goodies acquired over the weekend. I am going to bring out all my warm blankets and pillows that have been away all summer- put the flannels sheets on the beds and really just start nesting into this space where we will be spending more and more time in the coming months. Check in through out the week to see my progress- I will share my treasures from Spruce Collective as well as a fun project!

Thanksgiving Part II

       Sunday was Thanksgiving Part II- after a great breakfast in Vernon we loaded into our truck and headed down the highway to Momo and Poppa's house. The weather was still in fine shape and we knew my Mom had loads of fun outdoor activities planned. We were not disappointed- once the cousins showed up the festivities got under way- pumpkin crafts of all sorts- we decorated mini jack o lanterns, made magnets and coloured till their hearts content.

     We really could not have asked for better weather and we spent almost the entire afternoon outdoors running and exploring. Those pumpkins that the kids planted back in May? Well they are ready for Halloween- I counted about 30 in total- which is pretty good when I consider the handful of seeds that were planted!

      Of course lets not forget about the food- because Thanksgiving really is all about the food! My Dad is the king of the BBQ- and so of course we had a BBQ turkey- plus all the usual suspects- stuffing with bacon, brussel sprouts with bacon, mashed potatoes and not to forget my sister's delectable green bean casserole. And then there was the pie- I think Pumpkin pie is in fact my favourite of all pies- with whipped cream of course!

     In the bottom corner of my parents yard they have several fruit trees- and so more apple picking happened on a much smaller scale than that of the day before but none the less fun! Led by my mom all four Littles followed like rats to the Pied Piper- they have been watching these apples all summer and finally got to eat them!

     There are so many thing that we take from this weekend- aside from a few extra pounds- the giggles and laughter, the slightly sunburned noses, the apples and leftovers our Moms packed up for us. Most of all I think we bring home a sense of belonging- this is where we come to retreat when life gets to be too much. Home is where we can just be ourselves among people who wont let us get away with anything less. Our kids believe that they have two homes- one in the city and one in the Okanagan and they would not be wrong- they always believe no matter which way we are travelling that we are going home- and for that I am Thankful!