August 31, 2017

Jamie

Despite Justin feeling a bit under the weather, we had a wonderful day celebrating his birthday. The weather was sublime and made it just perfect to go down to the beach for our traditional birthday breakfast! We relaxed all afternoon and then went out for a wonderful dinner at a restaurant we hadn't tried before. It was a great adventure! Then we went for a nice long walk and came home to the surprise of a cake! Shannon is an amazing cake fairy. It was the perfect way to end the perfect day!

Shannon
I know you both already saw this one Facebook, but I still wanted to share it here as it was a secret birthday bake! Apple Upside Down Cake! I totally thought I made it up, but turns out there are lots of recipes for it. It was fun to try something new, and I think it worked out okay. Fingers crossed!

Suzie

Was a busy day today. Went out and got more food and supplies and then instead of doing creative stuff like I told myself I would do I ended up washing the floors (not all of them) which wiped me out. I managed to do a little more photography for my jewelry launch next week (not a bad cell phone photo eh?) and make a couple more pieces. I also made bannock (wasn't stellar) from a cookbook I am reviewing. Resting tonight big time!

August 30, 2017

Shannon
It was so great to get together during stART! Thank you both for helping me talk through trying to figure out what I want to do for my TV re-watching, and I think I've realized I just want to do it. If it doesn't work out... too bad. But it won't work out if I don't even try! So I'm going to give it a go, stay focused on the fun and the opportunity to get articulate about stuff. Wish me luck!

Suzie

stART was awesome!!! I managed to run out of the house before hand and pick up ingredients at the market I could no longer live without including cumin. We haven't been grocery shopping in +3 weeks now and I needed to make my version of Rachael Ray's Veg-Head Three-Bean Chili. My nerves have been so bad I haven't been able to eat much meat and am so glad I made the chili. It was just perfect and I will have leftovers for dinner tomorrow which will be a nice break.

August 29, 2017

Shannon
I know there is a bit of face strain going on in this pic, but I was really hoping to snag a picture with these birds sitting RIGHT BEHIND me. City birds... they don't fear coming up close if they think they can get a snack!

Suzie

One more co-op application in the mail! I think that is the sixth one. Two more to go. Helped a friend with her social media but then a migraine hit. Super hot here right now and life has been a little too hard. Rested most of the day.

August 28, 2017

Jamie

Yesterday Justin and I did some major work around the house but I also managed to spend a bit of time painting little abstracts. It was a great balance to the day!

Shannon
I am absolutely loving the new spot I created for Morning Pages, journalling and doing art ! It is such a treat. I am sure I will share more on this week's stART!

Suzie

Getting down to the beach on Saturday was definitely the highlight of my weekend.

August 26, 2017

Jamie

I had to go to the doctor yesterday and so I decided to stop by IKEA. It was packed with people getting ready to send their kids off to university. I would say a lot of desks and comforters were purchased! I did get us some curtains and amazingly avoided being in a line-up for hours! After that long day I was glad to hang out at Shannon's for Friday Night!

Suzie

Been having a rough week so I took myself out to lunch and saw this on the way home. Made me think of Mom.

August 25, 2017

Jamie

This week I have been tucked in the studio working away on the fall season. I like to have a new image for each season, something that denotes this place and time. I also love to have a growing studio menagerie. Yesterday, I just decided to create an owl. I had so much fun first drawing and then getting this friendly soul into an online format, even sitting in the studio symbol. Shannon was kind enough to name him Hoo! Hi, Hoo!

Suzie

Had a great time talking to Shannon about TV today! Total highlight. Been feeling quite lost today so I focused on doing work on my book (cryptic photo above) and got through the Ridler Drink pages. Finally got that photoshoot done. Think I might be moving on from Montreal food stories to Toronto!

August 24, 2017

Jamie

I've been feeling more attuned to writing recently and remembering my love of poetry. I created a found poem from a page in that big old book I am drawing in, King Arthur's nights. The poem spoke straight to my heart.

Suzie

It was an errands kind of day from getting PC products to review to finally picking up the embroidery machine so I can UPS it back to Auntie Laima.

August 23, 2017

Suzie

I did manage to find Mom's coleslaw recipe on my iPad and I kind of got chocked up when I saw how many days ago Mom told me that recipe over the phone. I got to the studio to start working on the cover of my book but I wasn't happy with how it went. I ended up mostly hanging out in the pottery studio which feels much more like home.

August 22, 2017

Shannon
Although I didn't "see" the eclipse today, I still wanted to kinda mark the moment of it so.... here is what my Moon app looked like today! It's so wild when it's at 0% because you don't see the Moon at all!.

Suzie

You know, so many people I know attempted to try and photograph the eclipse today and I didn't even consider it. Instead I went through all the recipes I have including Mom's and Grandma's and nope, did not find the mushroom recipe anywhere. I also couldn't find Jamie's chicken recipe. They were in the same binder and I can not find it anywhere. I did however find that crab spread Mom used to make for parties and the soy sauce chicken I used to love. Thank you for keeping me company during that time. I was really having a hard time making myself do it and hanging out watching a movie together helped a lot.

August 21, 2017

Jamie

I can't believe that I didn't take a picture of the lovely dinner we had at Shannon's yesterday. What fun to eat green curry together and watch the newest Alien movie! Family dinners ftw :) In the afternoon Justin and I went to a few Open Houses in the neighbourhood and saw some very interesting properties. Including this odd little house built way back behind the others on the street. To quote Spock, "fascinating."

Suzie

I did have plans for the weekend but had to cancel them due to health problems on Friday night. As a result I spent most of it in bed but I did manage to do a photoshoot of my upcoming mermaid and nature jewelry launch for the fall. Only got through the pendants but that isn't bad. I thought the whole weekend was going to be a total write off!

August 20, 2017

Jamie

Justin and I had a wonderful Saturday together. We walked 10 miles!! We just headed down to the Beaches, had coffee, walked along the boardwalk, ran some errands and then went out for dinner. All of it, awesome. It was the perfect day to be down at the beach, clear but breezy and not too hot. The water is still high so it was pretty dramatic to walk out to the end of the pier. I even put my feet in the water, which I am surprised to say that I have never done!

August 18, 2017

Jamie

It's definitely hard going to the gym for 6:30. Then again, there are moments like this.

Suzie

Today I helped a friend set up her online accounts and that was pretty much all I was able to do. Missed National Thrifting Day and the VV sale but as you said Shannon, there will be other sales. This was a test photo for her instagram feed.

August 17, 2017

Jamie

Shannon and I had an epic day yesterday! I worked in the morning then we met up for lunch and then headed down to the passport office. We got our forms in and then went for coffee. Then we rather spontaneously (and maybe not so wisely) decided to walk over to the art store. It was a treat! I got a new sketchbook for a journal idea I have and want to try. Then I went to choir, where I took this rather weird picture, which is the shadow of a bike. We sang Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell.

Suzie

Today was a rest day because I did not cook lunch (partook in the 67 cent hamburgers for McD's bday) and I got two naps in but I also did laundry and wrote two posts. Hmm... Not sure I am resting right but life has been busy and I needed clothes!

August 16, 2017

Jamie

Yesterday I was so delighted to have a lunch date with my dear friend Annabel. We haven't seen one another for quite some time so it was such a treat! We also got very lucky because the minute we sat down, it started pouring. The minute we paid our bill, it stopped. Then I was able to walk to my next appointment and as soon as I arrived there, it rained again! What luck!

Shannon
A whopping 3 new books started in one day! I am loving Art and Fear big time, I have a feeling I will be flying through that one. It will also be really cool to read through the Osho Zen Tarot book front to back, I don't know if I've ever done that with a tarot card companion book.

Suzie

An incredibly long day complete with long walk in the hood (got zero sleep the night before), out to the hospital for an ultrasound of my heart (not what I was expecting) and then off to the movies. Tomorrow will be a rest and do laundry day.

August 15, 2017

Shannon

I had a blast recording stART together! This was a pre-show picture I took with the stack-o-books to be picked from. Thank you Suzie for making such awesome picks and Jamie to inspiring me to open one extra one with the chef guy on it! I had a great time unwrapping the books and I am so excited to dive into the stack!

Suzie

stART was definitely the highlight of my day! Love getting together and so honoured to pick Shannon's books and then get to see the video of the reveal later on too. Awesome. And Jamie, I absolutely adore that collage, white paint and Sharpie artwork you did in particular, it is just so amazing what you both have been up to!

Aug 14, 2017

Jamie

It was so great to have another Art Day! Time just flew as we created little abstract explorations. Quite a challenge - but it was one we were up for.

Shannon
Action shot of pre-Art Day! It was so much fun to try out doing abstract studies, and quite a challenge. So much thinking about something not looking like something. Or trying not to think. I think I was better with the not thinking technique!

Suzie

Got treated like gold when I went out to brunch with my friend Pepper to Deacon's Corner and had the best time hanging out with her. Reg and I also drove up Mount Seymour now that the air has cleared and it rained a little. Oh the mountain was so joyful for the rain, it smelled so happy, fresh and clean.

August 13, 2017

Shannon
A lot of the weekend I continued to enjoy participating in the Viewathon, including enjoying a Saturday Morning Cartoon Party! I chose to watch Jem and the Holograms, She-Ra and also took a crack at the animated Star Trek series. One of the great joys I've had during this was realizing I can watch an episode of something without overly planning and committing. I can just.... try stuff out! See if I like it! Enjoy it, or move on. It was really great to shake up my perspective. And of course watch a lot of awesome TV.

August 11, 2017

Shannon
I have been trying to figure out if I want to work in watercolours, and if so...which of my watercolours. As I was trying out one set I remembered I actually had tubes of paint somewhere..and even a palette! Today I put the two together to see if that is a way that will work for me. I did a test sheet and am not I'm not sure about it...I felt like the colours might not be as saturated as I'd like. I don't know if it was my technique, the paint, or maybe that they hadn't yet completely dried from the tube. I'm excited to make it work though, so I'm going to keep on working it.

Suzie

A very long and extremely hot day. Doctor's and then groceries. Oi. Too much! I think the secret syrup High Priestess agrees. That was too much Suzie. Oh and I did a photoshoot for Reg AND made dinner. Tomorrow's going to hurt.

August 10, 2017

Jamie

I am really enjoying have some time off. My heart and soul need it. Clearly they need a lot of journal time in coffee shops too, LOL! Today I had errands to do downtown so I made sure to stop and hang out at an old favourite haunt, Futures, and do a little writing too.

Shannon
Tiring day, but once I got the dones done it was nice to kick back and re-watch a favourite film for the Viewathon. I absolutely love The Losers and I've not watched it for quite a while, so it was great to enjoy it's awesomeness.

Suzie

Bit of a weird day. Had to rush out to get food before the guy came to fix the refrigerator. Rested off and on, like I did yesterday. The heat and smoke is really bad. Was on my own for the whole day. Feeling kind of rough. Supposed to cool down and maybe even rain in a few days. Can't come soon enough. Art studio is closed too and it really impacts my emotional health to not have a place to go to connect with people.

August 8, 2017

Shannon
It was so great to spend Art and Netflix time all together! I really enjoyed the movie and of course getting to hang out all together! And thank you both for helping me to do my Buddy Watching challenge for the Viewathon I'm participating in. I am SO excited to watch so much TV. Couch time for the win!

Suzie

Our long weekend was incredibly social and long, it actually started on Friday when I finally got to a diner I have been wanting to visit for forever and see some friends from Nova Scotia who where in Langley for a visit with family. Been going non-stop which is awesome but also means I had to cancel plans for tomorrow because I need a day in bed to recover. So awesome to hang out with you two on Monday as well!

August 7, 2017

Jamie

It was a very arty day yesterday! I love spending Sunday mornings reading, watching inspiring art videos and catching up on my classes. I am thoroughly enjoying Between Speech and Silence by Diane Culhane offered through Carla Sonheim. Shannon and I also got back to Art Day - yay!!! And worked on creating fun little books that will be full of animals! It was great to hang out, have fun and be inspired.

Shannon
I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of actual Art Day-ing save this image of the paint trying to become a blobimal all on it's own!

August 6, 2017

Jamie

I am so glad to have a bit of relaxed time on my schedule. I'm getting a bit of sleep and yesterday I took a bit of time to paint. This is a lesson from a class I am taking. I feel like it gave me a vehicle that works beautifully with my loves and imagination. I could make a million of these - and I just might.

Shannon
I did a spontaneous live stream of drawing out an Aesop's Fable. I still don't know how I feel about the video, or the result...but I did it!

August 4, 2017

Jamie

Well, it was Escher's turn to go to the vet and it was really challenging. He hid under the bed. He bolted under the mirror. He dashed behind the curtains. He was so scared. There was hissing. There was even growling and peeing. But nobody got hurt and we all made it to the vet. The good news is that he's doing very well in terms of his health and body condition. Yay! And when we came back we were amazed that after he ran out of the carrier and hid in the basement for about a minute, he went to the kitchen and lay down! He was totally fine the rest of the night! Thank goodness.

Shannon
Just a random what-I'm-reading pic. Not sure how Jason would feel about his company there...

Suzie

Leaving the hospital after the stress test. DONE!!! You know Mom was right, she did not want to do the stress test and it was hard, she would have suffered like the lady next to me did. It would have been too much for her. All this time I thought she should have done it but no, she was right.