The March Break

Ahhhh a week off work……..  all the time in the world……….rest..relax….get stuff done………….

I don’t go away at March break mostly ’cause I don’t have the money.  but also the hassle of driving or the airport hardly seems like a rest.  But, like the summer, it seems I have limitless time and energy to do things……but that will come crashing down when I realize there is a Hell’s Kitchen marathon on the food network and spend an entire day eating chips and watching a show I’ve already seen!!!!!!!!!

Each day I’m trying to do SOMETHING– a job that needs to be done.  I have the family over for Easter dinner, and it needs to be clean (so I can be proud of my crappy little house), but we don’t have a lot of room–so every place is going to be needed for entertaining.

So far, we set up a new bed in Jeremy’s room (a queen).  We moved the double/twin bunk upstairs into the “Guest” room.  Now if you stay over, you can make a “cave” or a “tent” to sleep in just like Jeremy used to every night.  (Me- Jeremy, why do you have to make a tent to sleep in? J- because its too bright out! Me- Jeremy, you live in the BASEMENT!!!)

Today is Laundry Mountain (seriously people, you could have the Olympics here!!!!) and putting up new smoke detectors upstairs and downstairs.  The Accura is filled in the trunk with crap we are taking to the Goodwill.  (My dream is to get rid of 1/3 of the crap in the house– I know this will never happen unless someone else throws the crap away when I am not looking– I like that plate, stuffed animal, nail polish etc)  I have good intentions, but very little follow through.  (See my blogs about diet and excercise).

Tomorrow I will be cleaning Nan’s while Phillip takes her to the hospital. I also want to reorganize the downstairs kitchen, wash the walls upstairs, get photos ready for my art display in May, put photos in the albums, clean out the closet in the guest room, plan the seating for Easter, and eat chips while laying on the couch!!!  Lots to do!!!!

My summer, so far

Two weeks without a post–I know I am sorry.  I have already been put in my place by my #1 Fan. So to her, and to you all–I apologize.

What have I been doing???  I will tell you some highlights.  I have gone to a BlueJays game,  Note that this is #19 –the Shortstop–MarcoScutaro    Jeremy went to driving school and I helped Megan buy a new camera before her 3 week trip to Ireland.   On Canada Day we went to mom and dad’s–’cause its what we do.  Phillip and I took Nan to the hospital.  Phillip files his EI claim, we went to the Beaches for a day and had pie in this cut little cafe, cute until we realized that all the pies have a layer of almonds (phillip is allergic), but all was well.  We did gardening outside. Since EQAO marking was out by the airport, I stayed with mom and dad for almost a week.  Meals were cooked for me and we watched “SPACE”.  My aunt was featured in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, so we went to Nathan Phillips Square to see her.  We wanted to steal two tiny Shi-tzu puppies in the stor, but we didn’t.  The next nan visit I was at, was the fastest EVER!!  Our lawn mower broke and the only place that will fix black and decker is in Toronto,  at this tiny, little repair shop like you’d see in the movies or in a Stephen King novel–so cool.  We visited the CN Tower with my cousin Gabe and his girlfriend Katie–both visiting from Florida.  I love my cousin of course, but Katie was great–and we share common interests like photographing  graffiti, and checking out the fixtures in all bathrooms.   Phillip and I spend hours talking to a NEW DISNEY CONVERT, a former co-worker who will be a current co-worker soon, just came back from a disney trip with her daughter and LOVED it.  She said to me “I get it, I know why you go back”.  Woo hoo, got another one.

That is all the photos to share (although there are more), and there have been many wonderful things not mentioned–dinners at the Tin Mill, and the Keg, visits with friends from St James, from high school, watching movies outside with best friends, baseball games in the park (just watching, not playing).  Visiting friends, adn seeing where they will be getting married (and where I am taking photos)

Now I have to get ready for a busy few days before our trip to Florida.  I promise to share more with you.

 

Almost Summer

I can’t believe that the school year is almost over, and that summer vacation is right around the corner.  I am ready for a break, but without the opressive heat, the year doesn’t seem nearing an end, yet.  Usually by now, the students are melted puddles of goo, and unable to learn anything.

We, are actually still working.  I have them convinced that “Learning is not for report cards, Learning is for Life!!!” and so far, they are buying it!!!  We are starting our third Shakespeare story : Twelfth Night!  They are really happy about it and fighting  over the parts.  (You got to be Oberon, you can’t be Orsino now)  But they are fighting over Shakespeare!!!  I love it!!! 

I also want summer break to be here soon, because working is interfering with my other plans– I need to be out in the garden, out for bike rides (but my bike is broken, and riding too long hurts my “special places”) and doing exciting things.  We have planned: BBQ’s, going to Centre Island and riding around (anybody know how to fix a bike?), going to the big Toronto art show, marking EQAO, picnic’s and then going to FLORIDA!!!

why would anyone want to stay here in school????  Blah

On a nice day …..

Hmmm  well today,

• I pulled out all of my photos that are printed/framed for the ARTFEST (Still need Megan to tell me what to bring)
• I cleaned the van (still not vacuumed, but hey)
• did a ton of gardening (with Jeremy’s help) –weeds pulled, grass cut front and back
• went to Walmart– $80 for damn printer ink
• printed a couple  more photos for a “Portrait” album
• hung a load of laundry up
• defrosted shrimp
• showered

Now I have to make dinner before we go and see a play tonight!  All in all a good day!!!!

Upcoming Art Show

I need stress to get anything done.

Next weekend is my art show in the park.  (Saturday May 23, Esplanade Park in Pickering, Behind City Hall–Which is across from the Pickering Town Centre,  Outdoors, no admission, 11-5pm— contact me for more information)

I haven’t even thought about what I need, what photos I have printed, framed etc.  I know I don’t have enough cards made.  I have amazing Ottawa photos that haven’t even been to Costco yet, they are on my SD card still.  I don’t know how to set up the tables, I don’t know where the tent is ……… and Phillip, who is one my biggest fans, fiercest supporters and strongest stuff-lifter, will be IN VANCOUVER and not even around to help.

The other problem is that the “gallery” is still full of costumes and props from Cinderella.  (Fairies didn’t clean it for me) and the Dryer is not working so it will be hard to clean the costumes before I store them.  So to get ready for the artshow, I have to take peasant blouses and knicker pants to the laundromat.  Hmmmmm…. my life is weird.

I always feel stupid at these shows.  I am very proud  of my photography, and I love it when people make a comment, or enjoy a piece of my work.  But to stand there like on display makes me feel like an idiot.  More than once, I have said I should just stay home and let Phillip, mom and Megan work the booth for me, because they can talk about me and my work so much easier than I can talk for myself.

Grrrrrr…… so much to do and running out of time… I guess I should get started.

Art Supplies

I love art time with my class!!! 

 I love the supplies!!!!!  Watercolour paints, stacks of construction paper, wax crayons and pastels.  Oh, how I love pastels!!! 

Today we are using chalk pastels to make “The Earth” on a paper plate (since its Earth Day).  I demonstrated that the water can be made with blending all the different blue colours and the land will use the greens and browns.  I love how smudgy the pastels look and the way the colours blend.

I wish I could really sketch and use the supplies the way artists can.  The colours just mesmerize me and make me dream of being a “real” artist. 

I guess being the Queen in a room of eight year olds will have to do today!!!!

A Missed Opportunity

Last week I missed a chance to take a fantastic photo, and now, even a week later I am still thinking about it.

I was driving east on Rossland, almost at AllSaints and there is a farm on the north side of the road.  It has an old barn and usually a cow or two in the field.  Very picturesque.  Well last Friday the area around there was filled with fog–So much fog that I was concerned driving.  (I’m a nervous driver–blog for another day).  I looked over at the field and the fog had covered it so beautifully.  The two cows looked posed, like they were waiting for me.  The fog washed over the barn, and the cows and the field.  I always have my camera in my purse, and my thought was STOP!!!  That is so perfect.

But, I didn’t.  There was traffic behind me (in the only eastbound lane), and people were waiting at the restaurant for me.  I couldn’t think fast enough to pull over and then look like a weenie and walk back with my camera.  Oh, well, I thought, the fog is thick, it will still be there in a couple hours–Wrong!  As I drove back past the field, the fog had burned off and the cows had moved on.  The field and barn are still beautiful and I still want to shoot the area, but in my heart I know that I missed a magical moment!!!

The World in a Rose

The beauty of a rose is unmatched

The soft layers of petals unfolding, opening, telling us their secrets, leading us into a world unknown, a world unlike the harsh one that we live in, a world apart.

There we would be safe, protected and warm, free to be ourselves, without care and worry, without judgements, without chaos and self-doubt.

There we would dream and create and love, we would sing and dance the music in our hearts.

Safe and beautiful in a rose.