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

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Many Hats

http://prettie-sweet.tumblr.com/post/40125651482


http://ensphere.tumblr.com/


"driving the highway today on the long haul up to town, I can't help but be fascinated by bumper-stickers and vanity plates...'one cat away from being the crazy cat-lady', 'mydadrox' and cut-outs of cute white skulls with bows in their hair.  I'm compelled to stare at the driver as we pass by.
A long-hard morning of doctors and hospitals as we navigate the uncharted waters of this young science called medicine.  The more we do this, the more I realize how much they don't know.
An indulgent, spontaneous lunch followed by a slightly disturbing visit with father-in-law.  Reassuring him all is okay as he takes his blood-pressure moment by moment. Husband hurriedly fixing the non-working front door.
Off to pick up daughter...she is treating us to an exotic dinner in a hip Toronto restaurant while we meet her new boyfriend.  Handsome, alarmingly charming, epic eye contact as we superficially discuss likes and dislikes.  I'm assessing, protective of my child's heart, all the while trying to store details of likes, dislikes...raisins, no, pastry, yes.
A long, late drive home through high-winds and steel-like raindrops beating on the car. I curl up in the passenger seat, semi-sleeping and recounting the day...life as a partner...life as a child...life as a parent." JP


http://prettie-sweet.tumblr.com/post/40125651482

http://ensphere.tumblr.com/




Tuesday, January 29, 2013

January 29, 2013

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ralphstewart/

"this living in the moment is not for whimps.  How do we not relive the dramas the scars on our hearts stand sentinel for?  How do we not tremble in the night for fear of an uncertain and insecure future?  Tiptoeing softly through each day, and as I climb into bed each night, smiling and silently applauding myself for making it through the great Today."
JP 
http://ensphere.tumblr.com/post/41791295906

Monday, January 28, 2013

Challenging Winter Weather...

Winter can sometimes equal cabin fever.  Today just might constitute one of those days. 



While not particularly cold, snow-freezing rain is falling, and it seems sunless.

What I find most trying at this time of year, is keeping the entry-way of my house clean and tidy.  Even with only two people in the house, the front hall is littered with boots and shoes and dirty salt/snowy puddles.  I seem to be continually mopping!  We've tried boot trays and mats, nothing seems to work.



My niece is beginning a course just south-of-the-border next week so will be spending a couple of days per week with me over the next few months to make the traveling back and forth a little easier.  She is bringing her dog Fritz with her...I can only imagine what mess snowy Fritz-marks are going to be like all over the house! Geeesh!



The forecast, however, over the next few days is for ever-increasing temperatures and rain, so with a bit of luck all this sloppy wet-stuff will wash away and we can greet February with longer days and a slow climb out of Winter and into Spring.

I guess the answer is just to stay in, stay cosy...



 and dream of Spring!


Friday, January 25, 2013

If I Were Organizing A Wedding Tomorrow...

It would be held here...


and the reception, here...


The wedding breakfast would look like this...


and the bonbonnieres would look like this...



Matron of Honour would wear this...


and Mother-of-the-Bride would wear this...


...and The Bride, The Bride!..would wear this...



The flowers would look like this...


the cake like this...


The photographs would be taken here...


and here...


the honeymoon would be here...




and the going-away-outfit would look like this...


So...if you are in need of a wedding-planner...
give me a call! LOL!






Style...

This?..


or this?...


This?..


or this?..



This?..


or this?..


This?..


or this?



This?..


or this?..


This?..


or this?..


This?..


or this?...


This?..


or this?..


I love it all!






Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Juicing...

It's the new year and everyone starts out trying to change things up and most often to revise our lifestyles in an effort to live more healthily.  We have been no exception to that this year...and our strategy has been to purchase one of these...

This, actually, is the exact one we purchased, and so far it is performing well.  Not the top of the line on the market, it's quite modestly priced, but from discussions with others, it's efficient and easy to clean.

So the idea has been to replace one to two meals per day with a juice composed of several different vegetable-fruit combinations in order to increase consumption and to loose a few holiday-gained pounds.  We've experimented with lots of different combinations and I'm finding that a base of celery, carrot and cucumber is my favourite. 

What I find most interesting is that so far (three weeks), I haven't tasted a juice I didn't like and I'm beginning to crave them over meals.



The idea behind juicing is to release the micronutrients from fruit and vegetables for quick absorption.  Ordinarily, you body has to work very hard to extract these super-nutrients from your food by chewing and digesting, so this method gives you a super-hit. The energy boost is amazing, and they are satisfying and filling.

I'm not suggesting that one gives up eating whole fruit and vegetables, we still need the fibre and other goodies from the whole food, but this is a great natural energy shot and  I'm finding it is a delicious way to educate one's palate away from processed food and back to a more natural way of eating.  By the way, not all the fibre is lost in juicing only the insoluble.



There is an interesting story on YouTube about an Australian, Joe Cross who came to the US to make a movie of himself traveling across the country while on a 60-day juice fast.  It's called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  I recommend watching it...it's inspiring.

I've found lots of juice recipes on line - have a look here and even lots of recipes on how to use the residual pulp to make muffins, soups, etc., because there is a lot leftover.



If you know anything about me from reading this blog, you know how much of a foodie I am, how much I love everything about food, so I am not advocating this as a complete substitute to eating meals.  But it can change your direction and as a addition to a meal plan.  I believe it to be astonishingly powerful both physically and psychologically.

Here's this morning's juice:



Kale, cucumber, pineapple, lemon, green apple...absolutely delicious, I'm beginning to believe part of the satisfaction comes from the gorgeous colours these drinks end up being. I'm looking at our basket of produce, sitting in the garage as the fridge is absolutely stuffed, and I'm thinking lunch is going to be beetroot, celery, asian pear, kale and lemon.

I can't wait for spring and summer and all the wonderful, local produce we are going to be able to access right in our own neighbourhoods, but for right now, thank goodness for Costco!


Sunday, January 20, 2013

january 20...

Today is my beautiful, darling, amazing sister Victoria's birthday.




...I love and miss you tons...

Happy Birthday V.

See you soon...I promise.


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