Showing posts with label New Brunswick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Brunswick. Show all posts
The dawn of a new reality
Did you all like that one post I put up this summer? It was awesome, wasn't it? Yeah...
Well, I did write many more of them in my head, usually at 2 am, but obviously none of them made it into the computer. I even took photos specifically for blog posts, and then sort of shuddered at the thought of opening Photoshop and ran outside. And that is where I spent pretty much every day this summer - outside (see photos above)! With the boys, of course, and family either Out East or Out West - and yes I realize that my life is kind of ridiculous, and I am spoiled absolutely rotten. I thought I would throw together a few of the look-how-awesome-my-summer was shots into one big clump to get them out of the way. :)
My comeuppance has come this week, as both boys start full days at school. Suddenly I am none too fond of Mr. McGuinty and his full-day kindergarten (the very thing I was crossing my fingers for when I was a working mom paying for childcare). It's like the end of the most glorious, happy, unbelievably-amazing vacation - a two-year vacation at that.
Two years of being at my kids' every beck and call, of crafting, colouring, drawing, breaking up fights, kissing owies, twisting the chicken timer on the time-out spot, and developing an amazing respect for the phenomenon called 'quiet'.
Two years of days at the park (feeling incredibly guilty as I facebooked and instagrammed my brains out), listening to toy cars discuss red lights versus green lights, denying TV, and then binging on 10 episodes of Max and Ruby (usually with a chaser of Caillou).
Two years of tantrums at the grocery store, book store, cafe, halfway to the park, halfway to the car, in the car, outside the car, upstairs, downstairs, and especially on the time-out spot - many of them thrown by yours truly. Two years of spontaneous hugs, puzzles, stories, bike rides and snuggles.
You get the idea. It only hit me last week that days like these will now be confined to two months in the summer, if they still want to hang out with me that is. For the rest of the year I will have to make due with those fun hours around dinner and weekends, like regular folks. It was a tough realization to come to terms with, but being grateful for those two years really, actually (Cam's favourite word) did help. There some sobbing, gulping-for-air tears (all mine) last week to be sure.
But this week things seem to be shaking into some sort of new reality. I am trying to take it easy on myself and not demand that I find a job STAT (which is how I feel). I am happy to report that I am still gunning to do interior design, I will keep up with the marketing consulting, and the encaustic project is still a go.
So there you have it, my life in a nutshell. I am sure you really didn't need to read it, but for some reason I needed to write it! I seem to have been putting off blogging until I had all this stuff squared away, and now I hereby give myself permission to get back into it. :)
Strawberry-Picking in New Brunswick
I just returned from a month in New Brunswick and while I had the best of intentions of posting regular updates, I was too busy living them to even download them from my camera. These shots are from our first full day at Nana and Grampy's, at the very end of the strawberry-picking season. We drove (and ferried) over to the Kingston Peninsula to see what was left at Bates Landing. The berries were pretty picked-over, but the boys and Nana had fun, and I just soaked in the New Brunswick air and admired the view. I also ate a few strawberries. :)
It was the perfect beginning to the perfect holiday. :)
Labels:
family,
home,
New Brunswick,
summer
So much more...
This print immediately made me think of my last month in New Brunswick with my family. I had it all. I am a lucky lucky girl. xo
Print available at The Love Shop. Seen on Life as an Artistpreneur.
Thrifting in Saint John
Of course there was no way I could NOT visit the Value Village in Saint John. They had some amazing stuff there - so much of it I would have snapped up in Toronto, but my mom was with me and her enthusiasm was... underwhelming. :) However it was seniors day and she got me an extra 20% discount so she did make herself useful (plus she probably saved me from having to pay extra for an over-weight suitcase.) But how awesome is that huge brass seagull above?? SO awesome, that how awesome.
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| I kinda liked these quirky brass duck bookends too. They got an eye-roll from mom. |
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| How about this pretty hand-painted set? They would be great espresso cups. |
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| The amazing this about thrifting in SJ is finding local pottery like this lovely planter by Crimmins Pottery. Mum was more interested by these ones, although the top one had a crack, and we decided we didn't love the pattern on the vase below. The butter dish in not Crimmins, but rather another NB potter and it came home with me (it got the mum-stamp-of-approval). |
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| Seriously?? A piano? And not a bad looking fireplace screen beside it either... |
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| And forget antique stores - how about this antique sewing machine and table for $30 bones?? |
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| This silkscreen from Nova Scotia almost came home with me - I thought I could reframe it and really show it off. Yeah, probably should have nabbed that one. Ah well. |
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| This print of the Rothesay Netherwood School was tempting me as well, not because I went there, but more because it just reminds me of home. Again prettier in another simple black frame... |
I ended up with some costume jewellery and a pair of Crimmins candle sticks, plus the butter dish. Not too shabby! Plus it was fun to go with mum, despite my grumbling. She was that little voice on my shoulder, except standing beside me and up-ing the ante with frowns and eye-rolls. Not that she isn't also gifted at thrifting - in fact she picked up most of our beach toys from Value Village, and they were a huge hit, and I am super pleased with the butter dish. When we got home she showed by a beautiful bowl she had from the same potter. What do you say mumma, shall we hit the VV's in Toronto next visit? xo
Labels:
antiques,
mom,
New Brunswick,
pottery,
thifting
Pieces of Home
I have taken many photographs of my parent's beautiful home, but these are more like the little corners that are easily overlooked, the little bits that all together make a home unique - that make this home my parents'. I have no idea how they look to strangers... but to me they show my parent's great style and taste! And now I know why I like organic, wood-and-pottery-and-antiques interiors...
Labels:
family,
home,
New Brunswick,
photos,
summer
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