September 28, 2016

Shannon
The curtains are up! Huge thank you to Jamie for finding them at VV and Justin for helping me get them actually up! I absolutely love how zany they are. I wonder if will take a long time to get used to not seeing out the window all the time. We'll see!

September 27, 2016

Jamie

Yesterday Chris and his friend Cynthia arrived from Curacao. The family got together for chat, hugs and some soup and sandwiches. It's just the start of a few weeks of family fun. It's going to be awesome!

Shannon
I noticed I tend to try and take the same kind of pictures a lot, so I have been trying to shake that up a bit ..and here is one of them. Normally I wouldn't included one with someone else in the background but it just kind of happened that way. Learning, learning.

September 26, 2016

Jamie

What a whirlwind of a time. We're getting ready for hosting Chris' arrival. Soup, sandwiches and banana bread on the way!

Shannon
My to do list was kind of crazy over the past few days, but I'm glad I made some time to do some art and glue stuff in my journal. Now to find time to *write* in it....

Suzie

The clock is ticking down to my big trip and I was acutely aware that this would be the last brunch I make for Reg and myself for a while. Poor guy is so sick and I'm taking astragalus like crazy so I don't get sick. Feeling a little emotional... It's hard to leave him behind.

September 23, 2016

Jamie

What a day I had yesterday! I went for my professional photo shoot with Helen Tansey. It was truly a wonderful experience. Helen was so real and cool and made me feel totally comfortable. The time flew by and I have a lot of hope that there will be some great photos!

Shannon
Another big book tackled! I'm happily surprized at home much I enjoyed (and understood) this one. Okay, I think I've been a bit book crazy. Might be time to get outside a bit.

September 22, 2016

Jamie

The cats were kind of hilarious today. The trouble makers managed to figure out that if they knocked the toy box off the counter, suddenly it's Christmas! 

Shannon
Whelp, I finished it. I can officially say that I don't know what the deal is with The Sound and The Fury. It was a slog to get through, the unconventional narrative style was confusing at best, and what I could make out of what was happening (which wasn't much), it was all depressing, sad, treating people badly, hopeless and expressed with a lot of derogatory language. There were some amazing transitions from clarity to completely confusing, and one tiny thread of a story I liked but the rest of it just grated me. I need some distance for today, but I'll eventually look up why it's A Big Deal and Important.

Suzie

I'm getting a little freaked out by how busy I am and how much I have to do before I leave so I of course made time to come up with three fictional characters that reminded me of me, LOL.

September 21, 2016

Jamie

I had a very full day yesterday! I was up at 5:30 to go to the gym. Came home and then headed out for my fall photo shoot at Fresh Collective. Had a wonderful time and left with two dresses! I decided to continue the shopping trend to see if I could get something for my photoshoot Thursday. I'm getting shots for my website, etc. I ended up getting just about my entire fall wardrobe! Then a trip to the post office, dinner and continuing to clear and clean here for tomorrow's autumn solstice - and family visits! I can say that I sure slept well, LOL!

Shannon
This may not look that excited, but it gets me all super happy! Today I worked on more Summer to Fall crossover stuff, and I picked my plates, bowls and glasses for the season and put everything else up, up and away! It instantly felt better. And it didn't take that long! So glad to have worked it in.

Suzie

I had a busy day of doing errands, making appointments... but I didn't actually have an appointment or a meeting which I do all week so I was happy to get a little breathing in and saw Reg out on the deck practicing guitar. So much to do before I leave on my trip but it is good to enjoy moments like this.

September 20, 2016

Jamie

After work we took one more trip out to look for a sofabed and this is the one we decided on. It seemed like the right balance of comfort, size and affordability. It's being delivered on Sunday!

Shannon
Okay, I know this is almost exactly the same as yesterdays picture but I had to share it anyways! I started my epic journey of reading/watching all of A Game of Thrones today, and I continued to enjoy having a reading nook to do so. It's not 100% comfortable, but so far it's my best spot for reading and taking notes at the same time (while having a tea too!). I think I just have to be careful how much time I spend at it at a time... like everything. Man, moderation wants to be my friend SO BAD and I keep resisting. Maybe it's time to take them up on their offer to play.

Suzie

Busy day with a meeting at the studio and then Reg and I went for a walk and had a mocha at Starbucks. It apparently is pumpkin season already!

September 19, 2016

Jamie

It continues to be incredibly busy around here both at work and in getting the house back together. Yesterday it was a joy to take a break and hang out with Shannon for some "free play" art day! I'm making another magazine journal and really looking forward to creating in it but I have to finish it first!

Suzie

The weekend was spent celebrating our anniversary which included a walk in a park near our place that we have not been to since we lived here back in 2001. We saw a pileated woodpecker!

September 18, 2016

Jamie

On Saturday we had a busy day! We popped out to a garage sale, I went to the gym and then we went on a massive hunt for a pull-out bed. We started at Avenue Road and Davenport, walked all the way to Queen & Yonge then over to Queen and Bathurst then up to College to stop for dinner. It's really tough to find a good fit the range of quality and price is huge. We definitely want people to feel comfortable when they stay, we want to be able to use the room the rest of the year and we only have so much in our budget - a familiar story! So far, this one is the favourite but in a nice navy blue (since we already have a red couch). 

Shannon
I was so excited to sit down and read King Lear, and oh my goodness, it was so good! I didn't realized that I had been reading so many of the Histories from Shakespeare, and that they totally aren't by bag but guess what: Tragedies are. YES. yes YES! It was dark and crazy and firey and weather-y and planet-y and just... wow. I was so impressed. This one was such a winner. And I mostly understood it (huzzah!), that might be because I went with reading the entire things aloud (hence the lemon tea), as a way to participate in the #Slowathon which encouraged reading for enjoyment and not the numbers. Of course, now that I've read it I can't wait to watch the Stratford production that's available over at the CBC site & app.

September 17, 2016

Jamie

It was the full moon on Friday and I could feel the overabundance of energy! I had a bit of a tough start to the day but then had an amazing time at the Studio Forum about 10 Verbs for Creative Living and then a great night out with Shannon - a trip to Value Village and to the pub - and then back to make my dreamboard, which I really, really love.

Suzie

Reg and I had a whirlwind of an anniversary but a slow pace throughout the day which was awesome. It started with us getting our hair cut at a geek hair salon. Turns out there was a pierogi place right next door which we went to for lunch. Amazing! Came back home and I took Reg's headshots. Then we went downtown for dinner at a French bistro cafe in one of my favourite areas of Vancouver. Absolutely amazing.

September 23, 2016

Suzie

Another crazy-busy day but ended up being quieter than originally thought. Helped as a TA at the studio and it went OK. Had a meeting afterwards where I took this photo. Came home to find out Reg was on a shoot so our plans for tonight were cancelled but I was relieved and binged on Grey's Anatomy. I really needed a night to veg.

September 16, 2016

Jamie

I had an amazing time last night speaking on a panel about Creativity, Passion & Entrepreneurship at Fresh Collective. The conversation was intriguing and inspiring and the women in the room really keen and focused on building something from their hearts. It meant a lot to me to be there. 

Shannon
I've been just itching to finish a book and today I finished two! Huzzah! Both with a spooky vibe, one was a Supernatural Tie-In (thanks, Suzie!) and the other is the books that the Witcher games are based on (and I read for my First Page video). Both were entertaining reads!

Suzie

Two nights in a row I didn't sleep because of anxiety about being a TA even though I didn't think I was nervous about it. Even my stomach was upset. But I went, I did it and it wasn't perfect and I didn't care. I helped as much as I could. While I was there I found out there was a copy of a newsletter that I wrote an article for at the studio! I was asked by a friend there and I think she left a copy for me there so that was pretty cool. It was also nice that so many people were happy to see me again. It really is a special place and I'm glad I am a part of it. Although I would really like to be able to sleep now!

September 15, 2016

Jamie

It was so great to get out to choir last night! We sang True Colours and it was just beautiful. I'm still leaving at break because of my Thursday morning workouts but I am always glad when I get there. Suzie, I hope we'll get a chance to go when you're here!

Shannon
I was seriously this close to posting yet *another* TV picture, but I couldn't do it. So.... let's go with a random :)

Suzie

On a subconscious level I must be nervous about the class on Thursday because I could not sleep last night. I decided to focus on making these butternut squash raviolis instead and it was a bit of a nightmare. Lots of screw ups to get to this point. At least it was delicious!

September 14, 2016

Shannon
It's totally feeling like summer finale week, and with another one with The Amazing Race Canada finishing up. Of course I won't say anything because I don't to spoil anything. It was nice to have some new to watch after a long day, which is always a bonus.

Suzie

Reg and I enjoyed the movies for cheap again by seeing Kubo and the Two Strings. It's by the people who did Coraline and it was amazing! I also had a meeting with my pottery teacher and we are getting our wedding rings resized. A very fun and productive day.

September 13, 2016

Jamie

It was nice to get back in the studio for a regular day!  My desk is super clear because I had to clear the way for a new hub.  Now I'm finding my way a bit, figuring out what should be where. The hub throws me off because I often take pictures in that corner. Time find a new spot this season!

Shannon
Whelp, last night was the finale of American Ninja Warrior. It was a really fun show to watch throughout the summer, and although it was dialed up to 11 the entire show I really loved the enthusiasm of the contestants and the fans. It has a huge community following, many of which create or train at their own ninja gyms. So many of the people involved as contestants are extremely positive and supportive, which was an element I wasn't expecting at all for a competition show. Fun times.

Suzie

I had a day on my own so I did lots of foodie stuff like make Reg's Mom's cookies, tried cooking squash in the Instant Pot... Was running out of things to write about. Got a ton done and am binging the latest season of SVU, will probably finish it tonight. I hope new TV starts soon, I can't take waiting much longer!

September 12, 2016

Jamie

What a treat for us to wrap up this weekend with dinner at Shannon's! Great conversation and delicious food is just a perfect way to spend a Sunday!

Shannon
It was lovely to have Jamie and Justin over for dinner last night! And they brought flowers :) I love them so much! So pretty! It's been really nice having people over for visits, and I can wait for Suzie to have her turn!!

Suzie

My weekend was quite quiet until Sunday when we drove down to the Stanley Park area and rented bikes to go around the seawall! We actually got a tandem bike but that was a disaster, there was no way I could make it work (which I feared) but I was determined to get around the damn wall so we brought it back and traded it in for two bikes instead. So glad we did. It was amazing. I haven't been on a bike in 16 years and with designated bike routes I don't have to worry about cars. It was one of the most freeing things I have done in a long time. I used to love riding a bike. I might just have to get one of my own.

September 11, 2016

Jamie

We woke up early Saturday morning, had breakfast at our hotel and then headed to the train station. Amazingly, the rain held off literally until we got on the train! We had a wonderful weekend enjoying Stratford and the theatre. This is a trip I hope we do again and again!

September 10, 2016

Jamie

We had an incredibly full day in Stratford today! We spent the morning finding treasures in gift shops, the afternoon at A Chorus Line and the evening at Macbeth! In between, we strolled along the Avon River and enjoyed the calm, the swans and the ducks.

September 9, 2016

Jamie

It's an amazing thing to wake up in the morning at home and then spend the evening watching theatre in a different city! We started our Stratford vacation with the worry of rain but had only one downpour while we were eating our lovely lunch in a little cafe. Afterwards we toured the downtown, found a cozy pub for dinner and then were enchanted by The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Perfect!

Shannon
Cat sitting time for me! I had a great time hanging out with the kitties and being a cat Auntie. It was pretty hard to get a picture of all three of them unless they were eating, so I went with 2 pics. Shibumi and Escher seem to be together a lot, and Scout kept me company a lot! It was so sweet to be able to hang out with them for a few days. They are such great cats!

Suzie

Maybe it's fitting that on the day we played Call of Cthulhu I had some serious dizzy spells going on. At first I thought it was hunger-related but even after lunch and with a lie down I was still dizzy. We went from serious darkness and rain to completely clear skies so that drastic change with the barometric pressure must have been the cause... Right???

September 8, 2016

Jamie

A good but incredibly busy day. It turns out I'll be writing my newsletter on the train back from our trip! And it looks like Scout things he's coming with us! Once he finds out Auntie Shannon is coming over to take care of them, he'll be happy to stay! It was great to see you both yesterday. ((hugs))

Shannon
Crazy long day! And I know it was a busy one as the sink was full of mugs but not many things I ate off of, lol. And... it's telling how tired I am that I wouldn't even think twice about posting a pic of sink full of dirty dishes! All in all, a good day though and great to chat on stART. We are being prolific and diverse these days! Go us!

Suzie

I had all these plans for "after stART" but it was pouring so hard, I got stuck at home which infuriates me. So, I made pizza. I have no food but it's amazing what you can do with yeast, Red River cereal, whole wheat and white flour when you're desperate. I gotta get some serious rain gear so I can go out any day and it not be a big deal. Need big bucks for that though so for now.... Pizza.

September 7, 2016

Jamie

Despite the heat and feeling so busy, it was good to get out yesterday and get a haircut! I went from having it as long as I've had it in years to as short as I've had it in years. Truthfully, a little black bob cut feels like me. 

Shannon
I'm continuing to try and treat September like a fresh start for good habits, and that includes art! I know I'll talk more art stuff on stART, but one of the things that was so nice (and helpful) to do was a chart of the colours in my watercolour palette... None of the dark ones were what I expected! This will be so handy the next time I pull them out to paint with them!

Suzie

Yes, that is a bone keychain. Turns out my RA specialist has a sense of humour. Back one last time for some advice, updates and more blood work to be done but that should be it for specialists until December. I had to reschedule the tummy doctor again, this time for an afternoon appointment.