This collage of pictures was certainly fun to make!

One is done....Fleece Artist Merino. It feels like the softest cotton. 

Today the sun is shining. So far, this winter has been mild-ish and kind to us. I know the winter is just starting; but shhhhhh; maybe it will be gentle on us this year. I saw "Memoirs of a Geisha". The film progressed slowly which gave me lots of time to savour the scenery - the gardens, the costumes. The story; well yet another tale where women are commodities. I'm working on my sock, at the toe decreasing stage now, so soon I will have another picture. Business is slow (as is usual for this time of year) but that means The Boss is worried and a worried boss makes for walking-on-egg-shell-time. Any minute there is the threat of decreasing the paycheques for awhile. Shit! Just when I have myself on a budget that works and my run-away savings account is growing, the threat of being cut back looms overhead. OM. Om Mani Padme Om saidhttp://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=Om+Mani+Padme+Hum&meta= with index finger and thumb joined in a circle; of course :>).

Namaste

Thanks to the not so gentle urging of my techno-geek childhood friend (her word), I started this blog in February 2003. Way back then, in the dark ages, my blog was plain and boring. No colour, no photos. Only the "geeks" could manage that. Wow. Christine would be so excited to see all the blogs out there now - mine, my best friend's blog, her daughters' blogs, and so on. This photo was taken in September 2003, three months before Christine's sudden death. Cheers Christine.http://www.scripting.com/thea/Thea.html

Nifty Buttons "Stop Harper"

Isn't this an amazing photograph? It is not mine. I love how the photographer captured the transparency of the Dragonfly's wings on the Globe Thistle flower. I think it represents me - trying to be invisible on a prickly surface. Ooooo 

I just had to post this picture because....well....it puts me in a Zen place. Look into those eyes. Wowza. Ok, so maybe I should go back to knitting now. www.Naveen-Andrews.net

I finished the heel flap last night. In the early morning hours I shaped and turned the heel. Can you see how this tube is becoming a sock now? 

The oldest breed of sheep in North America. But would she be happy in my little backyard?  

Wow..I woke early this morning. I am NOT a morning person by any stretch. Perhaps it was the chance to have the house to myself for just a bit that tempted out of a nice warm flannel bed so early - 6:40 a.m. Bryan had left for Toronto, leaving sick Adam at home still sleeping after a rough day of gastro, Ryan still snoozing of course and enjoying the last few days off. I am selfish in that I do like to have the house to myself lots...or at least a space to myself where I won't be interrupted.

It is dangerously close to work time but I have done so much and eased gently into this day. I shaped the heel of my sock, turned the heel and now I'm onto to decreasing for the instep and the foot. I am in love with Merino sheep and the (tres expensive) wool they produce. I think this just may be the winter that I will have handknit socks entirely! Bliss.

This was the view from my (home) office window late this morning. Yes, this picture is in living colour! Amazing.  

Oh...what fun...I have Picasa now and I think I have the hang of blogging. Doesn't the site look so much more interesting folks? My sock - the ribbing is done and now I'm on to the plain part just before the heel preparation. I love this yarn and I'll say that again and again I'm sure.  

The skein is wound into a ball using my nifty skein holder and ball winder. Original names, no? I love these colours and the tight twisted rib. 

In the beginning there is a skein.  

What follows are just a few of my pictures taken in Newfoundland. My first holiday in 4 years and my very first holiday with my best friend. Nine wonderful happy days.
Latte

Waves at Cape Spear

Cape Spear

Deep

Bonavista ?Pasture?

St.John's Harbour

Ferryland

So I got to thinking about picture blogs and that made me remember I had a blog of my very own but the last time I was here....it wouldn't work for me...I couldn't get it to___________________well nevermind that, it is too complicated.

Leslie, I've downloaded just a few pictures to see if this works...let me know.

Let's sit here

Lovely deck

Leslie's Garden

Brilliant

Find the star we saw....

TIFF 05

Tea Time

lovely little snowdrops

Proof of spring

Ryan

Metal wings and broken leg

Flying over town

Sky and Snow

Ryan's Flying day

Ryan had a thrill today...........his flight-student buddy took him up for a flight, on this beautiful clear cold blue-sky day. Ryan got to fly...broken leg and all.

Japanese Garden

Some days you can almost feel spring hiding somewhere.....spring....thoughts to the garden. Check this garden out. I would like to try my hand at something like this.

.

Finch Ave. P.S. pals.....

January 30, 2005.....Leslie came from Owen Sound, Pam came from Milton to pick me up in Newmarket, and off we went to Wasaga Beach to visit Judy who was staying there with her mum. Lunch, lots of talking, looking into each other's faces for the little girl faces we once had, I guess. We found them! What fun that day was, remembering different kids, all the trouble we used to get into. Although we weren't really ever into trouble, well except for the 'hedge squishing incident', and even though they say I wasn't part of it - maybe I was - because I do remember that little hedge. I thought it was stupid to have such a little hedge. Auch, there is still time to straighten that incident out.

silver and ice

Freezing freezing freezing....and more snow; just as promised. I cacoon on days like these. I love nothing more than settling-in, cozy clothes, chocolate of course and some handiwork. Oh and a good flick.

I made some earrings today and feel like I really accomplished something. Sterling silver and crystals. They were diddley work but I like them!

meditate

the pioneer of "techno-geek" (Christine) Thea Partridge

Time has zipped by. First time I've been to my blog in 3 months. I've not been idle though....never idle....."won't be idle with dispair" (Jewel).

Let's see in one big long rambling sentence let me sum up the year.....many visits from my best pal, Leslie......Sarah McL concert, Tap Dogs, Dalhai Lama, Film Festival, Ryan off to school, Adam working with Bryan....ok too many things to be grateful for to list here.

I bought a sewing maching! Yup, finally did it. It is a small, light but powerful little Bernina machine. So far I'm loving it. Now, will this machine inspire me to get back at sewing, design? I sure hope so. My right brain is never quiet though. Beading has taken a lot of my focus this year, knitting again, painting and my favourite new craft last summer - mosaic. I'm impressed I didn't mosaic everything in sight.

I can't figure this blog out lately......I can't seem to add a picture, colour or link anymore. Hmphfff.

Namaste

L.

packed up for schol

I called this picture "Trickle Down" .....the beautiful autumn colours have started from the top down.
Trickle Down

It has been a very very long time...hasn't it? I'm drinking Bryan's red wine, feeling just fine, and wondering. I'm wondering about all sorts of things. Do you want the list? Well here it is anyway.

Things I am wondering about......by Leslie

• I'm wondering how all these nifty techno things came upon this site. Again. It has been a long time.
• I'm thinking how my friend Thea would just love these changes...not that she didn't know how to do all these things by herself...but she would be happy that simpletons, like myself, can make a page interesting.
• The purple was for Thea....Christine Thea Partridge who loved colour.
• I'm wondering what I am going to do now that my miracle drug Vioxx has been pulled? How will be I ever walk again without excruciating pain? Fuck! A heart attack they say....ok...I will not have a heart attack, and I will never be able to walk again pain-free....or I do walk pain-free (find the drug on the black market) and have half the number of years I would normally have....whatever that number be, before the BIG one gets me? Hmmmm which would you choose? The BIG one has to be better than a long suffering cancer death. Doesn't it?
• Perhaps too much wine you think? Nah.
• I just tried a link but I don't think it worked.http://www.jannarden.com. We'll see how this works out but man alive this is fun!
• Going to publish now and see if all these kwell things worked.

Namaste

It's May, the grasses are emerald green, the earth is moist and new shoots are coming up everywhere. Flowers are coming out one by one. The furniture is outside now; I'm still working on the lawn and a few changes around the garden.

Can't do too much because of my nasty knee(s).

Last weekend my best bud Leslie came for a visit. We went to see H.H. The Dalai Lama. What an absolutely wonderful event that was....just to be in the same room as him. He is "special". His message would save the world if all would listen. A wonderful childlike sense of humour he has.

I need to get back at sewing. I have a top to make that will go with my skirt. I want to bead.

My mosaic birdbath is almost ready to go outside. Just have to wait for the grout sealer to set...in 3 hours and it's ready for a test run!

It's spring.....absolutely beautiful.

Today I fertilized the lawn; the next chore is to top-dress and reseed to fill in all the "polka dots" left from Dunny Dog!

I love to see the new growth. Crocuses in fresh colours of purple, lavender, bright sunny yellow and cream. The snowdrops are wonderful little things - so fragile looking but they flower in March..sometimes under the snow! How wonderful is that?

Tomorrow is my birthday. *Ahem*.

I made a skirt...a skirt that will actually fit! I'm so happy. Tonight I was going to cut out a top, but alas its now 8:30 and I'm not in the mood to make a mess of something new. So I will surf the net for inspiration.

Tomorrow is my birthday. *Ahem*.

My sister-in-law survived her ordeal - brain surgery. Amazing and wonderful and I'm so very happy.

Namaste,

Spring continues to tease us with her presence.....snow, sunny, warm, rain, cold, windy and more snow.

But the trees are budding......a friend once said to me many, many, Marches ago (30 to be exact)..."look at the buds...in a few weeks they will be gone".

I'm in the process of trying to set up a better blog where I can add pictures and interesting things and change the way my home page looks. I do spend a lot of time reading the journals of other women and I want mine to look creative too!!!

I haven't any tech help for this task, so it may take sometime.

Namaste,

Leslie

Hand is healed. February has gone. Valentine's Day has gone and we're all breathlessly awaiting spring.

Spring is coming.....little tiny pointy green shoots are emerging in my garden - crocuses and daffodils I think. The tiny snowdrops are ready to flower. God I love those delicate little brave souls.

On Friday the temperatures were 14C and by Sunday we had more snow. Such is the teasing that spring gives us.

My craft surge came to a halt with the surgery. But I did take in a lot of other fun stuff -- two Jann Arden concerts...yes that's right - two. I do like Jann as well as her music. B and I saw "The Hallow Crown"...very interesting, Vanessa Redgrave was the drawing card for us. I have tickets to see the Dalai Lama in April. That will be wonderful.

I'm just too tired right now to write anything profound...I want to bead again and may just go and attempt that now.

Namaste,

Leslie

Tomorrow is my surgery for carpal tunnel. The right hand this time, which will be tricky for a few weeks. I'm all set for 3 days of absolute total R & R afterwards. I'm taking Friday to Sunday and staying in my new flannel jammies, reading and watching movies.

My craft surge will have to be put on ice (along with my right hand) for a bit. I did manage to finish up some beaded bracelets and earrings before the surgery. And, I finished my fuzzy colourful scarf that I was knitting. I love it.

Most of my "real" work is caught up, except for journal entries..but I'll have to concentrate on those after the recuperation time.

We have had more snow this year than most years the entire season. There is a foot of fresh snow capping my bird bath.

Must remember to plant another globe cedar. The little birds love it. They appear to be snug and tight in there when the world gets stormy. Some days the little cedar looks like a tree decorated with birds...then some sort of danger is in the air...and about a dozen little chickadees pop themselves back inside the tree.

Next Thursday and Friday is my back-to-back Jann Arden concerts. I'm really looking forward to her positive reinforcement...oh yes...and her beautiful songs too.

Namaste,

Sunny and very cold today. No more snow, at least. I really need to get my butt in gear to get some YPC work done. But, I'm pulled in artistic directions instead. I want to work on my beaded jewelry, I want to stamp and play with paper. I have to work first!

Having said all that...... I'm off to work now.

I have just discovered a great site. I would like to be sharing this site with Thea. She would have loved this one. http://another.girlatplay.com

I'm still working on beading and I love it. I have a huge supply of beads, thanks to "Michaels" sale but I wasn't sure what else I needed. Once I got into the project I know now what all those other little bits of things that they sell are for. I must get some loops, crimp beads, filler beads, etc. There are some very good visuals of beaded necklaces on the above site. I initially was going to start with earrings but who would have thought they were the most difficult? I need to perfect manipulating the wires...practice!

Baby it's cold outside. -20C or less. Sunny though but very cold.

I need to work now - yes I do have a real job that takes up some of my time. But all I want to do is craft. Later today, once my work is done, I will bead some more.

Namaste

I've been quiet. Contemplating. Taking stock of my life. Perhaps losing someone is a message to do just that. T lived each day, full and colourful, kind and compassionate. How good is that? Wonderful I'd say.

Sometimes I pity us who are left with a memory...a good memory though. Who will nag me to write in this blog site? Who will urge me on to craft more, even if the work isn't good? Who will encourage me to take chances?

The memory of a good friend will. It's difficult because if I had not once again searched for T, I would not be experiencing the heartbreak that I am now. But...I would much rather have had the last year together and be heartbroken than not to have spent what little time we did together.

I miss the daily MSN "good mornings". I miss the blogger news. I miss everything. But that is life. We are born to die and what matters is what you did while you were here.

My friend did it all and I once told her how happy I was for her life now. She deserved it. She made it happen. She was positive and ever moving forward.

Quite admirable.

So now I am going to craft and I am going to journal. I've been saying that for a few weeks now but I will begin. Tonight I "organized" all my projects so everything is right and ready when the urge or time presents itself. That's half the fun, organizing everything in nifty little labeled Ikea boxes.

Winter - a time to create.

I've not written for such a long time.

Today my heart was broken.

I received news that T had died. It can't be?

My God I am so very thankful for the last 11 months when we got back in touch.

Goodbye my dear childhood friend.

I had the most wonderful dream last night, or early this morning. It was truly lovely.

My grandfather Jackson came to visit! Yes, there he was on my little flag stone path just about to step up on the porch. I couldn't believe my eyes. I laughed and cried and hugged him so tight and laughed some more. I kept saying is it really you grandpa and he laughed in that friendly cheerful laugh I still remember and said "yes Leslie Ann it is me dear".

I felt so good, I can't tell you how good I felt. I wonder what it means, this dream. It is not the first dream I've had when I see Grandpa Jackson but it is the first dream that we actually spoke and I touched him and hugged him.

After that....he went for a nap! What a kind and loving soul he was....still is.