Beauty in the Ordinary

This is not about being brilliant, or extraordinary, it's not about wanting to be famous, or making headlines, or trying to impress...this about sharing a 'gift' each day with the world...to lift the spirit of people when they read this blog, to show them the beauty in the ordinary.
"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." Raold Dahl

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Charge!

My grandpuppy, Miss D. and I
got caught in a battle while walking this morning.
It was a little embarrasing for proceedings to be halted
so she and I could be escorted off the battlefield.

Honestly, I really didn't see all those soldiers hiding in the bushes!

It did mean, however, I was able to get some shots of the 
Mohicans that were involved in the fighting.




There are over 1,000 participants here for this event.
Quite the family affair.


I think Daisy and I will be taking an alternative route tomorrow.



I want to be brilliant today!


Yes, today I want to be everything
I say I don't want to be in our profile J.
I want to be brilliant.
I want to be famous.
I want to make headlines.
I want to be extraordinary
I want to be clever
and
impress our friends.
So on this wonderful morning,
sitting here with coffee in hand
and little Molly on lap...
I'm going to be at least one of the above,
and I'll be back
just as soon as I can think of how!

Victoria

Friday, July 30, 2010

Too Much War

My little town is all a-buzz this weekend.





There are a whole bunch of would-be soldiers from the USA
camped out at Fort George.


People in period costume are hanging around town.





They've brought their horses,


their tents,


their lanterns


and flags.


And I'm told there's going to be a battle, today at 3 o'clock.

I have to say, I understand having a party,
getting dressed up,
the fun of being together.
But I don't get re-enacting an event when a lot of people died.

Isn't there enough war is this world without reliving all the old ones?
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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Plan B

I've been thinking lately, a lot, about
Plan B.



I think we all should have a

Plan B.

It doesn't mean second best,

it just means there are alternatives.

And those are always good things.

So, if life doesn't seem to be working out as specified in

Plan A.



Divert to Plan B.


Maybe that's where you were supposed to be all along?

After all, isn't variety the spice of life?

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Techno-Fun

Untitled
Fashion Trends & Styles - Polyvore

Kate Spade Sentiment
katespade.com



Here's my submission for the Kate Spade competition as featured at deliciously organized. The Polivore site is really fun to play around on.  Go on...give it a go!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Deja Vu all over again!

Vogue Russia

I saw this photo over at This is Glamorous.
Seriously Sis...could this not be you and me
circa 1971?
I so remember having those brown stockings!

V. Autumn!!!!!
Sorry J. I'm still here..........
and here.....

thinking of this........


Navdanya


While on the drive up to town yesterday to watch the final round of the Canadian Open, I listened to an intervew with Dr. Vandana Shiva of Navdanya in India on CBCs The Bottom Line.



She spoke of biodiversity farming, the failure of genetically modified crops to increase productivity and the necessity of seed keeping and nourishing the soil.

Over and over again in her interview, she made the point that we, the earth, and everything that grows in and upon it are so much more than the sum of our parts.

Man always seems to fail when we seek to analyze, separate and then meddle with that one part without considering the ramifications of its place in the whole.

Here are a few facts about Navdanya:


Navdanya is a network of seed keepers and organic producers spread across 16 states in India.

Navdanya has helped set up 54 community seed banks across the country, trained over 500,000 farmers in seed sovereignty, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture over the past two decades, and helped setup the largest direct marketing, fair trade organic network in the country.

Navdanya has also set up a learning center, Bija Vidyapeeth (School of the Seed) on its biodiversity conservation and organic farm in Doon Valley, Uttranchal, north India.

Navdanya is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. It has created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people's knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalisation and climate change.

Navdanya is a women centred movement for the protection of biological and cultural diversity.





"Industrial agriculture has not produced more food.  It has destroyed diverse sources of food, and it has stolen food from other species to bring larger quantities of specific commodities to the market using huge quantities of fossil fuels and water and toxic chemicals in the process."  Dr. Vandana Shiva

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Autumn!

I know the temperatures have been sweltering...



I know you are still dreaming about languid days on the beach...



The dog-days of summer are certainly here...

but,

look what's coming for Fall 2010


Camel coats...


beautiful, tailored trousers that sit on your waist!



pared, down chic

Are you like me...can you hardly wait?



images 3, 5 Vogue UK
image 4 Fashionising

Friday, July 23, 2010

V. Happy Birthday Darling J.

I GOT KIN

Plant
So that your heart
will grow

Love
So God will think,

'Ahhhhh,
I got kin in that body!
I should start inviting that soul over
For coffee and
Rolls."

Sing
Because this is a food
Our starving world
needs.

Laugh
Because that is the purest
Sound.
- Hafiz
Hi Miss Daisy so pleased to meet you.
love
Miss Molly!

V. Here she is...my darling new puppy! A little rescue pup, and on this first night home she cuddled up on her bed and slept until 6am. Gotta love her. And for all of you dog lovers out there you know what the love and companionship of a dog brings to your life.
It is an unconditional love, a relationship of faithfulness and protection.
Through the puppy days of finding your favourite shoes chewed, to stepping in little puddles on the floor and the sometime visits to the vet...it is all worth it. No matter how long you leave the house for your return is always met as if you had been gone on a year long trip around the world.
Walks together along the beach, watching them play with a stick, teaching us the enjoyment of being in the moment, and how little we need to be happy, their gifts to us are immeasurable.
So it's now Molly and Me...our journey together begins.




Thursday, July 22, 2010

My Grandpuppy



Jess and Nelson are off for two weeks to New York and London, so Miss Daisy is coming to stay with  her  grandmama!
We are going to have a party she and I!

OOOps!




Yes, yesterday I did the unforgivable...spilled an entire cup of tea on the keyboard...
but of Rudy's computer, not even mine...sigh...

So the whole day was taken up with running around, trying to find solutions.

We began believing a complete re-buy was the only answer.
But then found a separate, stand-alone keyboard we could connect to his lap top
while I ordered a replacement keyboard on the phone.

Initial solution would have meant thousands of dollars.
If this works, and I don't know why it shouldn't:

stand-alone keyboard = $30.00
replacement keyboard (including shipping from Texas) = $30.00

He was so understanding, he didn't even yell at me,
but no more tea-breaks in the office,
now he has to come and join me in the kitchen.



Lemonade made from a lemon of a day,  I think.


Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Love Knots

On this day, 36 years ago, Rudy and I tied the proverbial knot.



 I was visiting over at Sea Angels and saw this:


and the type face (not the content) reminded me of all the love-letters Rudy sent me, 
typed on his Underwood typewriter.

You see, I met Rudy when I visited Toronto in March 1973.
 I was living in England and he in Canada.
We spent five magical days together, 
at the end of which he told me we were getting married.

As I boarded the plane to fly home, he handed me a book of his poetry
and he said he was coming to England to get me.
And he did.
But emigrating can take some time, and in the meanwhile he wrote to me,
every day.

So now,  here we are...
 two daughters,
three continents,
six cities,
countless adventures,
...all these years later.

When I look at that typeface, my heart ties love knots in my chest.




and I realize time has no bearing where love is concerned.

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