Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night

Christmas has come and gone. 

At least we have heat, a roof over our heads, food in the fridge and our medication.  My darling son came and spent Friday with us which was a treat. He's maturing so much now. Every time I see him, his mental capacities have improved. His birthday is on Monday, 26 years old then.

I'm down with a cold I'm trying really hard to not let get any worse. I have COPD and a cold for me is not a good thing. Colds have a tendency of turning into something a lot worse through no fault of my own.  Let's hope I can stay our of the ER this year!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night

Christmas Crochet

Talk about last minute presents!!!

A 3 year old little girl who loves pink and snowflakes!

What to make?

Of course, a hat, scarf and mittens!

And which pattern to choose from?

Smoothfox's of course!

I used the easiest hat pattern ever.

Just follow this link and you too can enjoy making this super warm super easy hat.

Just check out the name LOL Brain Dead Easy Short Row Hat

Scroll down the right side of her blog and you will find the pattern listed under free patterns. The hat was amazingly easy to crochet. I added a white snowflake taken from the Sugar scarf motif so it looks like a snowflake landed on her cute little head. I also added an earflap piece that wraps around to the other ear giving extra warmth for her neck. The flap can be turned inside when it's not needed and still gives extra warmth over the ears.

I then decided to use another one of her patterns for the scarf.

The Sugar Scarf. Same deal as above, scroll down to the list of free patterns on the right side of her blog and you will find it listed under free patterns. I added a snowflake on both sides of the last snowflake on one end of the scarf. It makes it easier to pull through the open spaces between each snowflake. Makes the scarf adjustable and there's no chance of it falling off since it's joined. The scarf is long enough to be wrapped around her head twice and still be able to thread the last snowflake through an opening at the other end. She should be nice and cozy all winter :)

For the mittens, I designed my own pattern. I wasn't happy with the mitten patterns I'd found searching through the internet. They turned out quite cute, especially after I sewed on a downsized version of the Sugar scarf snowflake into the palm of each hand. That way she's always caught a snowflake.

Unfortunately, the only photos I have are of the hat and scarf modelled by my big baby doll. Still all looks very cute. 

And to finish off, I designed a crocheted kitty toy for her to have and take along wherever she goes. She loves kitties and this one will definitely be a favorite.! I used eyelash yarn together with the yarn I'd used for the kitty to crochet the tail. It turned out very cute and curly twirly. A little girl's dream come true.

My apologies for wonky photos and layout. Blogger decided it wasn't going to resize the photos or place them where I put them.

Washichu

washichu: the name given to white men by the Lakota people, also means greedy, those who take the best meat.

While listening to this talk, I cried, tears that would not stop falling, my heart breaking with each photo.

The stories vary but the people who came to north america on the big ships, settled here, grew families, took more and more land using treaties that weren't worth the paper they were written on considering how well they ignored these treaties.

So how much longer do these people have to live in abject poverty before they are given their rights, their lands, their pride and freedom? How much longer do they have to wait for what is rightfully theirs?

 

Sleigh Ride the Amigurumi way

Another video done by U900, the amigurumi ukulele duo. Watch the piano playing bear, even his foot taps to the beat! A lot of attention was paid to setting up each character for the stop motion filming.

Enjoy!

10 Years Ago Today

We had met on an online role playing community. He was a stealthy good looking thief, I was a half-elf ranger forever roaming, perpetually lost, wandering around Realms of Despair looking for something more to my life.

As usual, I wandered into an otherwise unexplored area of the main city which turned out to be thieves alley. And what resides there, the Thief Guild of course and at it's entrance, a handsome thief talking business with another thief. I excused myself for walking in on their conversation and walked away, but not without taking a good look at the handsome thieves bio. I sent him a message saying that I liked his bio. Within seconds of the message being sent, there standing next to me is the handsome thief. Gasp!

We introduced ourselves, and started talking about anything and everything and quickly discovered that we had a lot in common. Every day we met online, and the conversation kept going, days passed, weeks passed and still we talked about everything and anything and had now moved to finishing each other's sentences and knowing what the other was thinking before a word was uttered. A month went by, a second month went by and a third. The friendship kept growing as we became closer and closer. Then horror of horror, my handsome thief was losing internet access for an indefinite period of time. What to do, what to do! We turned to letter writing, not email, but actual pen and paper and envelopes and stamps. We corresponded the old fashioned way for at least six months with letters crossing paths on their way to Belgium and Canada. We talked on the phone, and lost track of time. Whopping phone bills, but it had become love. There is no price for true love and call it what you may; soul mates or kindred spirits, we were hooked.

The good news came in the fall, my darling handsome thief wanted to meet me in person. Plans were laid out, flights reserved and the faithful day arrived, December 13th. The day I met my handsome thief for the first time at Dorval airport in Montreal. The flight landed in late afternoon. I had driven cross country from southern Ontario to be there in time. I was standing at the front of the welcoming crowd gathered at the exit for flight arrivals. Kept finding myself pushed further back by taller people until someone suggested I stand on their baggage trolley. So up I went, just to barely see over the shoulders of the people in front of me. So each time the doors opened, I would hop up to get a good view of the lines on the other side of the doors. After an hour of doing this, I was becoming worried that something had happened; that he'd missed his flight, or worse yet, that he'd gotten cold feet and cancelled at the last minute. I kept pushing back those awful thoughts because I knew he was near, I could feel it in my heart. So each time the doors opened, there I was doing the kangaroo hop to see my beloved thief. And finally! there he was at the back of a long line, he smiled when I waved at him when I'd hop up to see him better before the doors closed. And each time the doors opened, he was a little closer and finally, he was coming through the doors! My heart was beating so fast with anticipation, I jumped off the trolley, slipped under the cable keeping the crowd back and fell into his arms for the first of many many hugs. It felt like he was coming home after being away for a few months. Everything about him felt familiar. It felt so right, the way his arms went around me, feeling his breath against my forehead, the beating of his heart under my cheek. My darling thief was finally home.

We stayed in Montreal for a couple of days. It wasn't planned that way, but the airplane ride had jostled a kidney stone free and it was having a party of it's own coming down. So what is the first thing that any good canadian does to a newcomer to the country? Treat him to Timmy's of course LOL followed by pizza from Little Caesar. We also went to a grocery store and my darling's eyes just about popped out of his head, he'd never seen a huge grocery store like that before. Mind you, he'd never experienced snow either so to land in Montreal in December was quite the treat for him. He loved it and still does.

The drive back to southern Ontario was long and tiring. We stopped halfway just before Toronto for something to eat and I showed him on a map of Ontario how far we'd travelled. The distance was mind-boggling for him considering that Belgium fits in the Niagara Peninsula. He couldn't get over how much empty space there is and anyone who has driven the 401 length between Toronto and Kingston can vouch just how mind numbing that drive is. We finally got home late that night, and he got to meet my teenage son who instantly took a liking to my darling.

Happy anniversary my darling thief. 

Forever your Angel I'll be.

I love you forever and a day my beautiful green eyed man

Amigurumi Jingle Bells

This is so cute! and quite apt for most of Ontario... well except for Hamilton. We're 'still' without any of the white stuff. Just spoke with my Mom who is getting snow, sleet, freezing rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, ad nauseum. 

So, without further ado, Jingle Bells done with amigurumi characters, a Japanese band called U900.

A lot of attention was paid to setting up each character for the stop motion filming.

They have several songs which can all be found on Youtube. Enjoy! :)

30 foot lion creations for 2012 Olympics!

What a fantastic way of showing off crochet's versatility!

I would give anything to be able to walk under and around those gorgeous lions once completed.

East Midlands from Artists Taking the Lead on Vimeo.

Fun with crochet testing new patterns!

This is what I've been working on for the past couple of months. Several test crochets for a wonderful designer and some projects of my own. I cannot get over how much time as slipped away. We're already in the last month of 2010 and I have no clue where most of it went.

Lemony Lime Citrus Square 12 x 12

First, the test crochet projects for Smoothfoxlover aka Donna. This lady develops some of the prettiest crochet designs and I love love love testing them for her.

First up, I made the Lemony Lime Citrus Square 12 x 12, and you can find the details here in a previous post. The pattern is available free, just click on the name of the pattern above and it will take you to Smoothfox's blog.

Foxs Shape Shifter Blanket

The next project I tested was Foxs Shape Shifter blanket which is available for purchase. Simply follow the link by clicking on the pattern name. This was a great crochet project since I have 2 brand new nephews.

Foxs Mulberry Bush 12 x 12

Following the blanket, I tested this lovely square called Foxs Mulberry Bush 12 x 12 square. It's available free on her site, simply click on the pattern name and it will take you to her lovely site. Look around and explore all the gorgeous patterns listed on the right. Some are free, some are for purchase only, but definitely affordable.

Foxs Neapolitan Ice Cream 12 x 12

For my next test crochet came the Neapolitan Ice cream 12 x 12 square, again, it was a pleasure to crochet! It's available from Donna's etsy shop or her Ravelry shop, both links are on her blog, just follow the link by clicking on the pattern name.

Foxs Daisy Four Patch 12 x 12

The next test crochet was a lot of fun since I ended up making enough for a cushion. The square is called Foxs Daisy Four Patch 12 x 12. It is quite versatile as it has different sizes depending on where you stop crocheting the squares. You can make four  5 x 5 squares, assemble them, complete a few rounds around the 4 conjoined squares, and you get a very nice 12 x 12. Or you can keep crocheting until your squares are 6 x 6 or continue for a  7 x 7. So many ways to use these and you can get rid of a lot of odds and ends of yarn you would otherwise have sitting in your stash for eons. Each centre piece only takes a very small amount of yarn and you can vary the color of those to make the daisies. Great pattern and lots of fun to make. 

Foxs Nonagon Blanket

This was followed by Foxs Nonagon Blanket test crochet. Another pleasure to create and you can keep going past the last row of the pattern and create a super huge blanket. The pattern makes a very nice conveniently sized blanket to be used in strollers and car seats. Great for using up various colors as well. This pattern is available to purchase by clicking the pattern name. 

Foxs Diagonal Box Stitch square 6 x

Then it was Foxs Diagonal Box Stitch square. I had a lot of fun making this square. Once you learn the pattern, it's easy to do as a take along on the bus, car, waiting at Dr's offices, etc. The pattern is available free, just click on the link that will take you to her blog where you can download the pattern. Another great stashbuster for using up all those odds and ends of cotton and acrylic. So many things that can be made using this base pattern!

Foxs Spiral Blanket Nbr 2

Then it was the turn for a couple of blankets. The first one is Foxs Spiral blanket Nbr 2 Very simple pattern and once the spiral is established, one that can be made in a few evenings while watching a movie. I used 2 strands of baby yarn for the white and love how soft and cushy it feels. The pattern is available for purchase via Donna's site, simply click on the name of the pattern that will take you directly to her blog. The second blanket has not been released yet.

 

Foxs Pineapple Scarf

The next project to test was a lovely scarf named Foxs Pineapple Scarf. I used a blend of mohair and acrylic to make my version and it turned out beautiful. I had just enough yarn to make a quick hat to go with it. Lots of fun to make in a couple of evenings. This has become my go to scarf pattern for quick gifts with the versatility it has using different yarns. The pattern is available for purchase by simply following the above link by clicking on the pattern name.

And last but by no means least is Foxs Cutie Pie Flower 6 x 6 square. One of the cutest squares I've tested so far. Easy and fast to make. I can see this becoming part of a variety of items like a scarf, blanket, bag, vest. The pattern is available for purchase by clicking on the above link.

Foxs Cutie Pie Flower 6 x 6

There are a few more projects currently being tested and will post about these when they are released. I highly recommend Donna's patterns to anyone looking for quality and well designed crochet items as well as easy to follow patterns with no hoops to jump through. Take a look through her blog, you won't regret it. She is a prolific designer so there's always something new on her blog.

I have some of my own crochet projects that I completed while doing the test crocheting. I'll post about those another day since my head is killing me right now. But Enjoy the photos and go visit Donna's blog!

Bell Canada woes

A couple of years ago I received a call from a Bell Canada marketing call centre representative. I don't remember what the offer was at the time but I know I said No Thank you in no uncertain terms. A couple of weeks later, my phone bill comes in and I've got new charges on it. I call Bell customer service to ask why these services are showing up on my bill and they inform me that I requested the services. ... which was pure bs.

I asked the rep if I gave my authorization password and she answers, what password? So she goes through and sees in past calls that I had password protected my phone accounts so they couldn't be tampered with. And sure enough, my password had not been given. So everything went back to what it was and I was happy.

Today I get another one of those calls that the marketing person on the other end isn't answering my questions and keeps going back to the point that I've won a new cellphone free of charge with no s&h. This is the 12th day in a row that they call and I keep saying no, I don't want it. So today after the call, I called Bell Customer service and asked how to stop these marketing calls without losing my Bell service calls in case of interruption of service, advance warnings, etc... Well, now they actually have a do not call list specifically for marketing calls! Guess who's numbers are on that list now!!?!!!

I wonder if Mr. Alexander Graham Bell would have invented the telephone if he had known what uses it would be turned to. The telephone is one of these inventions that has completely taken over our lives. Between the cell phones and the home phones, you are never disconnected. So making sure that marketing calls do not encroach on my life, I added my phone numbers to the National Do Not Call List. I can vouch for this program, it works and very well. The only calls that come through now are the ones for political party announcements which if they showed a number I'd report it to the do not call list. I'll make my own choices thank you.

Clean up and clear out

Today I spent cleaning up my file folder. Why? Because we had a bit of a scare with our old computer. We thought she had breathed her last on Friday night. But, with much canned air, patience, a bit of poking here and some prodding there, replaced the 2nd drive that had croaked a few months ago with the one from my computer who had croaked last year, we managed to get the old girl up and running again.

And since most of the files I do have I want to keep, I went through everything, pitched what wasn't needed anymore and copied the whole lot over to the new drive as a back up to the back up. Yeah i know, a bit fanatical? Well, if I don't do this, some of the things I would lose that are near and dear to my heart are photos, a print of the last conversation i had with my sister over MSN before she passed away last year, more photos of my children, friends, places we've been, family, our life and I can't forget Gambit!

The print of the convo with my sister really made me sit back when I read through it. If' we'd only known... I'm sure that talking about our respective work would not have been at the top of our convo list. Discussing our children, husbands, old memories, our Dad, at least featured in the convo. Rereading it now, just I don't quite know how to explain it, but it feels like she's with me. i can hear her voice in my mind as we're talking and laughing about our lives. I miss her.

At least now, I know what i have, and where it's stored. Yeah for scares I guess LOL

 I had to add this one today. As I read it, I realised how anyone who is OCD about having everything in it's place must feel when they can't fix the letters for OCD :P.... right hon? :P

Lest we forget - Proud to be a free Canadian

Thank you

And the heavens rejoiced!

I finally have a family Doctor!!! 

6 years, multiple waiting lists, and uncounted phone calls canvassing for one and I finally get one using Healthcare Connect.

And I wasn't expecting anything to happen so quick either. When I registered with the service yesterday, I was told to not expect an answer for a while if I even got an answer. Nothing new there since it's all I've been told in the past. The phone rings this morning and it's the local placement agent for Healthcare connect who tells me she's found a doctor for me! The last place I thought to look; the french canadian health services! duh!

So after going through the 30 minute intake interview (in french) over the phone, I have an appointment for December 14th at 1:45!!!! Bloody amazing, my jaw just about hit the floor.

I'm still in shock, can't quite believe it. Almost too good to be true so I keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming or hallucinating LOL

I wish to thank my darling daughter for sending me all the doctor names via email (couldn't access the website from here) I don't have to do any more calls! I also wish to thank my darling soulsister for encouraging me and just holding me up at times through this whole mess.

Now to figure out what the next step is so we're not on the street by December.

More phone calls to make. But I still need to hear from the neurologist before I can proceed to the next step. If I jump the gun so to speak, I may end up landing on the wrong spot.

If you know anyone who has serious health problems, lives in Ontario, has a valid health card and doesn't have a family doctor, pass on the information to call Healthcare Connect. I was seriously sceptical when I called them yesterday, but after today's response, I'm sold! Registration is only a phone call away 1-800-445-1822. My days of relying on walk-in clinics are finally over!

The Mom (Mum) Song

My darling daughter sent me this clip from Youtube. I laughed by the time it was done. Sooo true :)

And my daughter tells me she doesn't remember many lectures from me. I told her my lectures were done without screaming since she listened so well I didn't have to keep repeating myself. Mind you, her brother made up for that in spades  LOL

So without further ado, for your listening pleasure, The Mom Song.

We've all been there, we've all done this. Sit back and have a good laugh. The singer is amazing btw :)

What Inspires Me to Create

I've been rather busy these past weeks creating and developing patterns. This morning I'm checking out blogs and someone made a post about what inspires her. I started thinking about it and discovered that it's rather a difficult question to answer.... at least for me it is.

I've always worked with textiles in one form or another over the years. And as a norm, what gets the old brain brewing and stewing is a need. Much like the idiom, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention". For me the Necessity has always been replaced by Desperation. When I can't find something I really need, my brain produces an answer to the problem.

This is why I initially taught myself 

• crochet: I needed a shawl
• machine sewing: I needed clothing
• knitting: (had to relearn)  my premature son needed a hat
• hand stitching: I didn't have a sewing machine
• embroidery: I wanted to give my grandmother a handkerchief with blue birds on it
• painting: I wanted to express what I saw and felt in colors
• pattern making: I needed a cocoon for my premature son

Today I can use any and all of the above skills I developed at a time when I was desperately seeking an answer to whatever problem presented itself. 

I've also found over the years that I also require a certain level of urgency or stress to get the brain stewing and brewing. If those 2 ingredients are lacking, nothing I attempt to create works.

As for the creativity, I try different ways of viewing what I need an answer to from different angles. A different viewpoint, not necessarily of a different point of view. 

What inspires you to create?

Quick Update: My darling daughter's visit!

I know I promised I'd post photos from my daughter's visit and I have full intentions to do that, just not quite yet. I need to go through all the photos and pick which ones I want to use. I also realised to my dismay that I did not take very many photos and too much video. Bleh! Maybe I can get my darling husband to (not sure how it's done) grab photos from the videos. So I will be back soon with photos!

I do have a few that I did get with my camera.

These are the hot pads, dishcloths and coasters along with a super cute dish washing liquid bottle cover up. The dishcloths have already graduated from the kitchen to the bathroom. She absolutely loves how nice they feel. She was also super happy with the coasters since she'd been looking for some.

Dish cloths, Coasters & Hot Pads

The Caribbean Topper, from the back.

The Caribbean topper that I finished back in August. She finally got to model it! It's an absolute perfect fit! and she loves the buttons I made. One set was used to close the front and one set went to tailor the back. Very pretty.

The Caribbean Topper. A perfect fit!

A super cute jacket I found @ a 2nd hand store

This really cute black velveteen top with a frilled bottom was also a huge success. I came across it at a 2nd hand store and just could not walk away without it. I am so glad I did get it. I was worried it might not have fit but it's a perfect tailor made fit.

Blown up doily throw

Not even quite sure what to call it LOL a top, a short dress, a jacket... I guess it all depends how and where you wear it. So many possibilities and knowing my darling daughter, she will try every mix :)

Blown up doily wrap

She also knew she was getting a nice throw but this was the first time she'd seen it. As you can see by the huge grin, she's loving it. This pattern came from Crochet Soiree, I blew up the Starlight doily into a fantastic looking throw or wrap depending on the mood. Gorgeous color for her too!

She also received some very original cosplay hats. Photos will eventually come to my blog once I publish the patterns.

There were a few more items that again, I won't be posting photos until they are published.

And last but not least, an awesome piece of news. Most of you know I was recently diagnosed with FMS. I did my best to keep up with the chores and errands but as the months went by, things just piled up and I couldn't keep up. I'm still figuring out how to pace myself! My darling daughter after discussing it with her husband has told me she will be coming over to help me every 4 to 6 weeks! That to me is the absolutely bestest news I could have received. Thanks to my beautiful darling daughter :)

Happy Birthday to my darling daughter!!!

My dear sweet little baby girl. 

How the years have flown

Time has gone by

You have grown

But always young

You are always near

In my heart

In my thoughts

You never stray far

A breath of fresh air

A gift that I am proud of

You my daughter have my heart and my everlasting love

May this day of your birth bring you happiness

Love always,

Mom

Cat bus compliments of a fantastic movie: My Neighbor Totoro

Did I forget to say "I LOVE Mondays!"

Yes ladies and gents. Another Monday has come and gone.

My sister soul came to town and we had fun! Well, after this lady forgot where we were to meet that is.... I blame the fibromyalgia also known as fibrofog. We've decided that I'm writing on my hand where we're going to meet next time LOL

We got to show off our projects from the past few weeks. Gave feedback and intelligent suggestions :) and shared knowledge. That to me is my favorite part; sharing the knowledge we've gathered over the years.

I can't put up photos of my finished projects yet since a certain young lady is coming over on Wednesday! 

And yes Sammsis you can tease her some more LOL She can take it although I'm sure she's getting close to blowing up like a helium balloon from sheer anticipation LOL

Let's say the pile is growing since I added your presents to the list :) And I'm nooo'ttt telling!

We had lunch at the persian restaurant again, Delicious as always! Absolutely love the stewed eggplant and the chicken and mushrooms in yogurt sauce and the mound of delicious rice with mung beans! and the fresh green salad with tomatoes & cucumbers. A very healthy meal and low glycemic as well. That's always a bonus! I had to bring some back home for hubby, he loves it just as much as I do! I honestly think that if this was the only food we could have for the rest of our lives, we'd be happy. Toss in some fresh fruit, water, and we'd be set :)

I also ran by the Vietnamese market to pick up some much needed meat. Came home with a 10 lbs bag of onions for a whopping $1.99! Some beautiful local fresh broccoli heads for .99 a lb.  Baby cucumbers a dozen came to less than $2. A double handful of fresh picked spinach for .99.  Picked up a bag of longans at 1.99 a lbs. Those are some of the best fruits I've ever eaten. They are not too sweet, full of vitamins and easy to take along with you for snacking. Got some humongous deboned, deskinned chicken breasts, 3 breasts large enough to be turned into 7 meals! and the cost, $12.50. Also got extra lean beef mince at a $1.99 a lb., a pork loin for $12.63 that will be turned into 5 maybe 6 meals and 20 chicken wings for $5.75. The chicken wings will be used for Karen's special by request dish, my curried chicken wings! for her birthday celebration when she's here.

Then on Wednesday my darling daughter is coming with me to get the staples at No Frills. The stuff I only get once a month, sometimes longer between trips. It's a long trip, requires 2 buses to get there and with the fibro, I'm not too courageous stepping out on my own these days. So this will be perfect. We come home and it will be present opening time! and yes, I will take photos :) and hopefully a movie or two. 

It should be a really fun day and I'm really looking forward to it. Can you tell!?! :)

Progress Report

No worries folks, I'm still here.

I haven't posted much about anything I've been knitting/crocheting in the last few weeks and there's a very good reason for that. My dearest daughter's birthday is the 26th and I didn't want her to see what I've been up to. I know she reads my blog faithfully so I had to be quiet ;)

But soon I will be able to post photos since she will be getting her gifts on Wednesday! And I'll make sure to take photos of her with what I've been doing :) So until then, Mum's the word!

Oh and since I have photos, here's some gratuitous kitty porn and some cute stuff and funny stuff too!

Now tell me, who can resist that?

Just one of those things...

I agree with her, who's got a problem? uh? uh? not me! LOL

His favorite perch in the summer

Doesn't he just look as comfy as a cat can be?

PS. I can hardly wait to see the look on her face!

Dirty Jobs - Mike Rowe, my hero!

I'm sure most of you have turned on the TV and caught a Discovery Channel favorite, Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe. The talk he gave for TED tv presents an insight on those "dirty" jobs that will make you think and reevaluate the importance of those jobs.

There are times that you may think he is poking fun at the jobs, but judging from this talk, he has learned a lot about the importance of those jobs that we'd rather not think of.

Kirby's Epic Yarn

My husband emailed this link to me and told me to make sure to watch it.

OMG This is the perfect Wii game for anyone who does crafts, knits or crochets!

If you haven't seen this game yet, watch the video. It lasts 20 minutes but I can guarantee that by the time you're done watching, you'll want to run out and buy this game for hours of endless fun!

Note *some of the language from the two adult male players can be a bit colourful... as in, there's the odd swear word because they can't believe how much fun they are having collecting beads, unravelling yarn monsters, unzipping buildings, gathering fabric and swimming through fabric water. They actually sqweed with joy when one of them would get a piece of yarn furniture for their house! LOL And Kirby is irresistible all made out of yarn, he looks squishy and bouncy.

What you need to know about toxics in your cosmetic products

Earlier this year, the David Suzuki Foundation invited Canadians to pull back the shower curtain and participate in an online survey about toxic ingredients in common personal care products like soaps, shampoos and cosmetics. Here are the key findings from the survey and recommendations for cleaning up these products and strengthening Canada's laws to better protect human health and the environment.

I am so glad I don't use makeup!

The few things I do use like shampoo, deodorant, mouthwash, hand cream, body mist, body wash are all exempt of the dirty dozen. Thank goodness for Yves Rocher!

Click the above link to see all the information gathered. I believe this one since it is from the Dr. Suzuki Foundation. If it was any other organization, I would take the results with a large grain of sand. Dr. Suzuki doesn't stand to gain or lose anything by showing these results since he has no vested interest in the making of beauty products unlike let's say a funded private company study.  There, you never quite know if they are being honest or representing the "needed" results so women will buy the products thinking they are safe.

School kills creativity

A friend pointed this talk out to me. I watched, I laughed, I nodded in agreement.

I always believed that children should be allowed to express their creativity freely as long as it doesn't put anyone or themselves in danger.

I remember when my daughter was in kindergarten, the teacher pointing out to me that she was not using the "right" colours in her pictures. She showed me the picture and I didn't see anything wrong with it and said as much. She pointed to a beautiful sky filled with green clouds, a teal lake, blue trees with yellow trunks and orange grass. That all those were not "proper" colors. I asked her what she thought were proper colors and she responded in the expected manner, blue sky, green grass, blah blah.. so I asked her "what if this is the colours she sees?" are we supposed to retrain her brain to see only those colors in relation to the object? To me that is killing creativity at it's most fundamental. 

What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving Canadian style!

Every year, I look back and see what has been good, what has been bad and what I've learned since the last Thanksgiving. This year is no different than other years except that I learned to appreciate a lot more than in previous years.

These are the things I'm thankful for:

My darling husband
A man who suffers daily from kidney stone pain. He does his best to remain cheerful and to be here for me despite the pain and exhaustion. I have only to look at my loving man when I think I can't stand another day of pain and know that I can carry on.

My loving daughter
Despite the stumbling blocks that life has handed my beautiful daughter, she always as a smile and a hug for everyone, to help everyone around her and make others feel better. She works hard every day, has some days that are tough to go through, but knows who to turn to for strength.

My son who moves to the beat of a different drummer.
He may have been born with severe developmental delays but with each passing day, he is maturing and seeing the world through his eyes makes me appreciate what I have.

My sistersoul
Who has a shoulder and a strong arm for me when I need it the most. For her understanding, her quiet strength, her wisdom. For the laughter that she brings into my life and brightens my day. For a second chance at having a sister to love and cherish. And I dearly hope she knows I am here for her as well.

The people in my life.
From each one I gather wisdom, experience, support and strength. They touch my life in small and big ways that I may not realise at the time but become part of me.

Gambit
For always knowing when I need a purring kitty cheer up on my lap or a bump on my leg asking to be picked up and loved. For those beautiful green eyes, full of love and trust.

My health, be such as it is.
I get reminded daily that life is to be appreciated, that family and friends do matter. That caring about each other should always be first on the list of things to do.

The ability to walk
You only realise how much it means to be able to walk when you find that you can't take another step because you're racked with pain.

The soft breezes, the warm autumn days that make me hurt less.

A good night's sleep.

A pain free day.

My hands
I use to knit and crochet and make someone else's day brighter with the things I create.

That I can share a smile irregardless...

On that note, I ask you my readers and friends, What are you thankful for this year?

Aristotle had it right

Define friend....

So many ways to explain what a friend is but I still think Aristotle had it right on the git go.

Aristotle's definition: A true friend is one soul in two bodies.

And in this case I struck gold! I am truly blessed.

 

Up until I read this quote, I always struggled with the definition of friend. So many people interpret the word friend in so many ways. 

My definition of a friend has always been someone who:

 

- answers the phone whatever the time may be and is prepared to listen.

- will laugh and cry with you. 
- will always believe in you, even when you don't believe in yourself.
- will always bring out the best in you.
- will always be honest, even if it hurts.
- will not need an explanation as he/she will always understand.
- is willing to share their time with you.
- accepts you as you are.
- is willing to reach out to you, instead of you always having to do the reaching out.
- will not judge you.

I like how Wikipedia defines friend.

Soulmate: the name given to someone who is considered the ultimate, true, and eternal half of the other's soul, in which the two are now and forever meant to be together.

Spiritual friendship: the Buddhist ideal of kalyana-mitra, that is a relationship between friends with a common interest, though one person may have more knowledge and experience than the other. The relationship is the responsibility of both friends and both bring something to it.

Some would say many more things quantify friendship, but I still say Aristotle had it right.