Gavin DeGraw - I don't want to be

I tried posting a video here, but it's showing up as unavailable .. but if you go to this link it's still accessible.

daring or crazy?

the VIEX

Our local exhibition is this weekend, and we went yesterday like we do every year. The girls love walking through the animal barns, playing the carnival games and riding a select few rides .. but for me, it's more then that. There's a homeshow with booths from local businesses, there's the 4-h stuff, and also the ribbon area where you can walk through and see all the winning selections of each division. My favourite of course is the photography. I picked up the club brochure again this year, but this time, I plan on attending a meeting or two or all, and learning more about this part-time hobby of mine. One of my most favourite pictures they had on display was this dragonfly. What perfect macro beauty!

And this photo shows just a few of the ones entered into the competition. Maybe I'll be confident enough to submit one of my own photos next year.

flippy

My sister, Faye, posted this on her blog. I couldn't help but play copycat and see how it defined me. I'd say a little off! I certainly do NOT like being center of attention, and the rest is crap too .. but maybe one day I'll be famous .. for what yet I have no idea.

What Your Flip Flops Say About You

You can't help but be a little vain... it's hard when you're so good looking! You love being the center of attention, and people love giving you attention. Your personality is outrageous, and you do what it takes to stand out. You have superstar appeal, even if you aren't a celebrity (yet). Your ideal warm weather place: Los Angeles

Take the test!

lucky me!

This very gorgeous and VERY pregnant friend is going to let me photograph her baby belly. She wasn't going to do maternity pictures until I offered, and I'm so thrilled she accepted. She's beautiful and I think she needs this time in her life documented with photos. And the best part .. for me .. is that little one in that belly, is a little girlie named Rachel. :) They've come up with the name already and I wonder why I like it so much. ;)

I found this on a blog I subscribe to, and it's something I'd like to focus more on so I'm sharing it here too.

The adventure of life is to learn.
The purpose of life is to grow.
The nature of life is to change.
The challenge of life is to overcome.
The essence of life is to care.
The opportunity of life is to serve.
The secret of life is to dare.
The spice of life is to befriend.
The beauty of life is to give.
The joy of life is to love.
by William Arthur Ward

my baby

Anyone that really knows me, knows how important my morning java is. There's no messing around with it because I know how I like it and I just want it hot and strong. I've always been very partial to my french coffee press, but lately it's disappointed me because by the time I reach the point of pouring a second cup .. it's gone cold and I have to microwave it .. which causes it to lose the fresh full aromatic taste. The past weeks, I've longed for a change, and then through some discussion, stumbled upon the fact that there is something on the market that will keep my coffee hot until I've consumed it. This pretty little stainless steel press makes me so happy, and fits right in with the rest of my stainless steel/silvery accents on my kitchen counter. I'm one very happy girl now. Nothing comes between me and my coffee! So thank you Starbucks .. tho I'll be steeping Tim's grounds .. but shhh.

a gentleman's dream

My niece, Jenn, who's visiting here in my town for the summer along with her adorable 9 month old son, and I went antiquing on Saturday. We visited a couple stores, and had lots of laughs, serious thoughts, and inquisitive looks over some of the things we saw.
Here's photos of one particular thing that caught our attention and drew fits of giggles and rolling of our eyes.
Yes .. it's a 'gentleman's peep show' from years gone by. We quite eagerly scrambled for a loonie to plunk into the machine, to appease our very millineum appetite, and discovered that pornography was quite mild in that era.

I mean, it's not like I didn't already know it would be .. but really the women weren't all that revealing with their lower parts .. mostly I'd classify it as topless. They were made up in a very Victorian style, in the hair and makeup department .. but the photos were very classy and so not the smut you see these days.

There were six photos that slowly slid by, as Jenn and I took turns viewing. And of course, I didn't think to take pictures until after the fact, but at least I have a memory of this little machine for life.

And this very he/she looking female photo topped the machine. I can't quite understand why it doesn't look quite right .. but if I can honestly say who I think of .. it would be Patrick Swayze in drag from the movie To Wong Foo. Please tell me I'm right! And you have to know how hard that is for me to say because I'm also a huge fan of Dirty Dancing, where he's oh so very sexy.

my summer shine

Here's a glimpse at our sunflower we're growing again this year. It's about the height of the mailbox now, and the girls and I practically can see it grow each day, that's how fast it's growing. I like that the stock is big as well .. because it's sturdy without being reinforced. I don't think we'll get sunflower seeds off it again this year .. but it's fun growing something, regardless.

wordless wednesday

It's only going to be partly wordless only because I have to explain some minor details. Like how I altered this baby all by myself! I used to be right into sewing .. even worked as a seamstress in junior high .. but NEVER altered a t-shirt before. Online it's called 't-shirt surgery' and I can totally see why. I was freaking out, hoping it would turn out, or I'd be out a very precious t-shirt to me. (read previous post to know why) What you can't see very well is the lacey trim I put on the bottom (after I shortened the t abit), and around the neckline and straps as well. Now I can't wait for the concert next week!

literature

I'm reading a biography book on Toller Cranston, the great Canadian figure skater of the 70's, and there's some enlightening words that have stuck with me.

Here's just one example.
"If you cannot understand my silences, how can you begin to understand my words?"

group-i-fied

I'm such a groupie .. a pathetic old groupie, but one none the less. I get all googly eyed like some star struck fan .. and I scream my face off and act all silly and it's all over one particular band. Of who you wonder? The answer would be Hedley .. a little band from the nearby town, Abbotsford. Jacob made himself famous on Canadian Idol, and when he unfairly didn't make the finals .. he went back to his band and made themselves a name in Canada. They're hotter then he could ever have been had he actually won CI .. but that seems to go without saying of alot of former idols. Chris Daughtry ring a bell?So all this to say, Hedley's returning to my town, to perform at the exhibition and I HAVE to go again. Last year I bought a t-shirt that I planned on performing surgery on to make it more flattering. I just pulled it from my top closet shelf, and have plans for Rachel'izing it a little. Hmm, I may post some before and after shots, if it turns out. And if it doesn't turn out .. you'll hear my cries, that I do guarantee.

vaca

My sister in law and I decided it would be great fun to hit the road and head for our provinces capital city (which happens to only be two hours south) and enjoy some girlie time. In tow with us were her four month old daughter, and my two girlies. Her parents live in the suburbs, so we had a place to stay, and two whole days to do what we liked.
Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, so the day we had planned our outdoor activities soon became a card playing morning.

I think we need to plan more of these girl outings. We had such fun!