Embrace Life

Link Party | Favourite Things In My Town

As many of you know, the kids and I recently moved from our home on the lake. We have filled our days with packing, moving and unpacking. On Saturday, we decided to take a bit of a stroll through the new neighbourhood. My kids, affectionately, call it "The Ghetto":

It was a glorious day. Almost cloudless, a cool breeze and no humidity with the temperature about 25C - when we started out - 32C by the time we returned. A little after noon we left the house and headed toward Kerr Street.

I really enjoy late summer gardens - especially those that peek through white picket fences. This garden is filled with these beautiful cone flowers.

Make an offer! It was fun listening to the ladies haggling. Cole is interested in the ship on the table. He may have to head back next weekend and get it. Can't wait to hear him negotiate.

Doesn't every ghetto require a hemp store? Right next to the comic store. And I'm sure there is a tattoo place close!

I'm anxious to see what this space becomes when the fencing is pulled down. It looks very inviting so far.

If you like wood-fired pizza, and you happen to be in Kerr Village, this is the place to go. Fantastico Pizza is simply amazing - by all accounts. I continue living my cheese-free existence. The kids would eat here every night. Goodbye Gino's!

The Kerr Street Cafe is incredible. We decided ahead of time that we would head here for lunch. It was a fantastic choice! Great coffee. Lovely lunch. And they have rugby on their Twitter feed. What more can we ask for of a place?

Kerr Village is going through a revitalization and it is so fun to now be a part of it. For the last 14 years we have lived in Oakville, the area has been something of an eyesore - yes, even in the 'burbs there are "bad" areas. For me it has always been an area with some flavour: neat stores, colourful characters and interesting restaurants. An area a bit off-downtown. Perfect. I'm looking forward to the changes ahead.

I've driven by a few times but never had a chance to stop in to the Arts in the Square. I am always a sucker for a craft fair - I love the good ones. I know the intent is good. I'm sure this will be wonderful, in time.

Heading a bit north you run into the non-revitalized area. It is a bit of an eclectic walk. Full of personality and lead the kids to ask a ton of questions.

Yes, it does say "Pole Dancing". Cole was amazed and caught a pic on his BlackBerry and immediately had it posted on Facebook. It's a whole new world when Pole Dancing and Fitness are synonymous.

In the area there is one home, actual house, that is still standing. Most of Kerr Village is lined with businesses. This place is falling down upon itself. Sad, really. Though, I'm sure someone will turn it into something!

Over the past few years the only place I've visited on Kerr Street is Stoney's. The food is incredible! I meet girlfriends here for the occasional lunch and a lot of laughs. Now it is my "local" choice. Love it!

Time for a bit of a break. So nice to get a photo of my kids! Well, three out of four :)

In appreciation of our troops, the Kerr Village BIA has tied a yellow ribbon throughout the area. I had wondered what was going on and had a constant reminder of Tony Orlando and Dawn through the day. (I know, I'm dating myself!) The oak tree has been replaced with light standards, but the sentiment remains the same.

Um, yeah. Scared the crap out of me.

Chloe found a sugar cookie she couldn't resist at Elm Hill Cookies. What a gorgeous place!

The Hustler Board Shop is probably the store that has created the greatest number of arguments in our house. You know, imagine having the skateboard safety argument ... x4. Exhausting. No doubt, soon, someone will save up enough money to visit (and argue) again soon.

Almost home again, looking over at Oakville Arena. An institution in this town. It's scheduled to come down sometime soon. I really hope they just build another rink in it's place. Honouring the flavour of the building. The problem is that often, history is sacrificed in the name of progress. Sigh.

Home again.

What was missing from our little tour of the new 'hood?

The girl was off to another few hours of training at Metro. She and a couple of girlfriends have taken on the job of cashier. A real learning experience!

(Yes, I've noticed there is a spot on the lens, too. Ugh.)

That is but a small view of my favourite things in my town - our current portion of it. Of course, my most favourite things in my town are the young people who live in it with me. I really enjoyed this walk with them and exploring our new surroundings through their eyes.

What about you? What is the favourite thing in your town? Link up over here.

Cape Cod 2011 | The Pages

This year, I decided to create an all-digi photo-based album to celebrate our visit to Cape Cod this summer. Other than deciding on the size: 8.5"x11" and the occasional template: Cathy Zielske, of course; I let the photos determine the stories and the size.

Now that it's complete the album is made up of 40+ pages of photos + words. I'm not sure if I'm going to send it out and put in a bound book or maybe printed out and slipped into page protectors. I shall continue to mull. The "hard" part is done. Most of them you can see below:

There are a few pages of pure journaling. Each of the kids has a page of their own with their personal reflections on their time away and I have a couple as well. 

It is so nice to head back to some place so familiar each year. I'm sure if this was a once-only event the album would look much different, but as it is, so much has already been photographed and said in previous versions that this is a simple continuation of an experience we love.

(I can't believe I finished this post on August 3rd and completely forgot to publish it. I just found it in my Drafts folder! Eek!)

the current | nine

listening to the silence
eating healthy foods, well mostly
drinking perrier
wearing paint covered clothing
feeling overwhelmed but optimistic
wanting our house to sell!
needing routine, some ordinary days
thinking i am content to handle one day at a time
enjoying progress in the new house
wondering what i was waiting for
creating a brand new life
procrastinating is not part of my world
pondering my next project
loving my new outlook
anticipating good things ahead

idea discovered on this blog.

where is your current taking you?

12 of 12: August 2011

01. Emptying of dishes. A mundane but necessary first-thing-in-the-morning chore. Caden is so good at just getting to done.

02. Yesterday the cleaning team left the gas stove a mess. What a puzzle! The boys figured it out. Thank goodness.

03. Chloe enjoying a goofy moment laughing at her big brother.

04. Computer "roll-out" at school. The Moe is the new owner and thatmuchcloser to starting her life at Appleby.

05. Off to visit Dr. Bill for an adjustment.

06. Much happened in the meantime (Cole had his massage, I drove Chloe home, we went to the Appleby clinic, yada yada) but we were back at the chiropractor and the inevitable visit to Baskin Robbins.

07. Off to U-Haul to pick up some packing paper and tape.

08. Hello road. I am constantly driving up and down Lakeshore. Up. Down. All day long.

09. Looks like we're getting a visit from some nice boats in Bronte Harbour. Or, it's the invasion of the Pirates of Oakville. Whichever, fun to watch from the shore.

10. Cole put together a ton of boxes for filling. And they got filled!

11. We packed and the boys made Butter Chicken for dinner. Funny watching Cole as sous chef!

12. Our evening ended with a quick stacking of boxes and watching "Flashpoint". It's great having a network show with familiar landmarks and intersections.

Photo Walk | Join me?

What are you doing on October 1, 2011?

Hopefully you'll be joining me:

After waiting, on pins and needles, I was chosen to lead the Photo Walk for Oakville this year!

This is the fourth year that Scott Kelby, extraordinary photographer, author and Photoshop trainer has organized the Worldwide Photo Walk - a first for me. This walk takes place all over the world and is open to photographers of all levels of expertise: point-and-shoot camera enthusiasts are just as welcome as those with pro level cameras.

If you'd like to join in, sign up! There is room for 50 photographers, so invite a friend, too. Remember, this is for everyone.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be touring the area to see what there is to see and map out a route that is accessible to everyone and will take about 2 hours to complete. If you know of any "don't miss" spaces down by Town Square in Oakville, let me know and I'll add it to the route. I'm hoping to have few technical photographers join in. I like colour, composition and feel, I am not a technically proficient photographer, I just know what looks good :)

Now, I'm off to find a place to hang out after our walk ...

Don't forget ... sign up!

4 Simple Goals | August 2011

Last August, Elsie Flannigan posted a simple and doable challenge.

My 4 Simple Goals, August edition, includes:

1. UPDATE. Which includes our address and contact information. My goal, by the end of the month, is to have 100% of all people and organizations who need to be notified, notified. So, if you want to know how to contact me, via snail mail, be sure to send an email to me at linarstudio.lc at gmail dot com so I can be sure to include everyone!
2. RESTART. I have not kept up with my healthy eating and moving initiative, started in April. I've been working on other parts of my health and I realize I've been a bit busy - plus it's been stinking HOT around here - but no more excuses! I have to get back at some kind of healthy routine. 
3. READ. Over the last month I've started to read again. Real, honest to goodness books. I love reading and realized that I had gotten away from my favourite pasttime by reading other things: web pages, blogs, magazines. I'd like to get back into the habit of reading books. My favourite genres are biographies and fiction - engaging fiction, not scary, gross, or agenda fiction, just a good story with great characters. Hard to find! If you have any recommendations, let me know! In the meatime, I've picked up two I hope to have finished by the end of the month.
4. LUNCH. For a very long time I stayed put, not venturing out very often. Recently, I've enjoyed spending some time at lunch with friends, new and old, and I plan to do that more. Nothing big and fancy, but sharing some stories and laughs while exploring new restaurants and interesting dishes will be a welcome addition to my ever evolving new life.

REWARD: I have been in such a state of "purge" lately that the idea of a material reward is something hard to consider! Oh, I know what I've always wanted to have - a big brass knocker for on my front door. THAT will be my reward.

What about you? Do you have a few activity oriented goals you'd like to meet? If so and you participate, let me know! I'd love to see what you have planned.

Reflections | July 2011

Are you getting tired of hearing that we were busy? Well, this month things did slow down ... a tad. The pace was a little different with more spontaneous days and complete lack of structure. I have to say, for a control freak like myself, it was a challenge!

Adding to the slower pace: our annual holiday in Cape Cod!

The kids really enjoyed the freedom the month had to offer with requests to go here, there and everywhere. Pushing boundaries and rules every minute of every day. With all that going on, we managed:

• Cole participated in the training camp for Rugby Ontario. He was chosen in the position of lock for the U14 team. Plans were quickly underway for tournaments in Ottawa and BC!
• Both Chloe and Caden needed to get new glasses. They look fabulous in their new frames! Even better? They can see.
• I finally got in with our naturopath with my blood test results. He switched things up a bit and things are all working together now. Feeling better every day.
• Passports were collected and consent papers were signed. We were all set for our annual drive to the seashore.
• Claire has re-joined rugby this year and she is enjoying herself.
• Caden is a hooker and a very aggressive rugby player. He really enjoys tackling! He's pretty good at is as he's had plenty of practice over the years with Cole as his teacher!
• There were a number of pool parties - planned and unplanned. Tons of fun! Thank you to our many friends with refreshing water in their yards.
• Cole managed to keep up a crazy pace of Rugby playing for his local Crusaders club as well as the Ontario Blues. He's being injured regularly, but he loves it. The worst injury was a questionable concussion right before we left on holiday. Good timing! Not.
• We took care of him with regular visits to the chiro and RMT. The boy has to find a sport that doesn't regularly turn him into a pretzel.
• Caden loves his hockey and has managed to run away with the penalty title at 3on3 over at Canlan. You just have to roll your eyes. He's so mild mannered off the ice - and off the pitch :)
• Chloe continues to sing up a storm. We're organizing singing and piano lessons in the fall. Any recommendations are welcome!
• I'm also looking for a math tutor, for all of them :) Confidence is key, right? They are good, but not confident, so I need someone to bolster that aspect. Recommendations?
• My very social teenagers are enjoying life as teenagers. There is a ton of drama, lots of questions, tons of laughter, some very off-colour and crude humour, more spontaneity than I can handle, and I now think I know every neighbourhood in Oakville! There really should be a gas subsidy for mothers of teens.
• Someone has to tell my kids that I really do not need to go onto match.com or any other type of coupling site. Really. (But they are so funny about getting me "out there" and dating. Cracks me up. They are so lovely and concerned and funny.)
• Caden took me by surprise suggesting his ideal change in my domestic situation - which made me react with an extreme "throw the baby out with the bathwater" knee-jerk response. I've now relaxed and realized he's only just eleven and he's entitled to his outlandish ideas. I, on the other hand, am not.
• Claire and her good friend Nikki headed into Toronto via the GO train to see Hugh Jackman in his one man show. They were overwhelmed with how wonderful it was - going on and on about how lovely he was - and how they were the youngest members of his audience! Gotta love girls that recognize good looks and talent no matter the age :)
• Disappointed that Cole was unable to attend the Mini Chowder Cup in Foxboro. We were 90 minutes away, with his equipment, but we didn't want to risk his "possible" concussion and turn it into a more serious issue. Lounging at the beach was better for his recovery than a hockey tournament.
• In order to not disrupt the seaside holiday of all my kids, I took Cole home early to make it to the rugby gams vs Lindsay then on to the Ottawa tournament. Often, due to Cole's athletic success - and previously, Claire's athletic success - sacrifices have had to be made. This time around, with much thanks to a helpful community, the only one disrupted was me!
• We received an impossibly low offer on our house. Insulting, really. What are people thinking? At least offer what we paid for the place!
• Our holiday was wonderful. HOT and sticky, and wonderful. So nice to see Grampy and Nanna in such a relaxed and low-key environment. Lazy days were spent at the beach; playing croquet on the lawn; learning to drive (Claire); learning to play pool; listening to new summer music; eating watermelon, ice cream and seafood; mall shopping (ugh); reading summer fluff; napping and lounging around. It was a bit too hot for a few things - tennis or go carting, but fun nonetheless!
• While away I was featured on the Simple Aussie Girls blog. So honoured!
• We were so happy my sister Beth and her family made it up early so we could have a BBQ with them before we had to leave for home.
• I am amazed at the number of people on the road talking, texting, even using their computers in their cars! And speeding. Sigh. Caden observed this behaviour and commented that it was only mums with kids in their vehicles that seemed to drive the speed limit with few distractions. (Little does he know how distracting the kids can be!)
• I participated in the Ali Edwards-lead A Week In The Life project and it's slowly being put together. I went 100% digi this year. LOVE the results! Now just have to find the right printer.
• It seemed much like the month-without-Cole with him being so involved in his rugby. The Ontario Blues U14 team did well in Lindsay then on to Ottawa for the U16 tournament to prepare them for the competition in British Columbia. All I know is there is a big difference between a U14 rugby player and a U16 rugby player - and that is usually around 40 pounds of muscle!
• The end of July has Cole (still) in British Columbia with his team. They are representing themselves well and Cole has fallen in love with BC.
• Much of our time is spent doing very little inside or outdoors, in order to keep the house spotless. The hot and humid was gone - and now it's back. So tired of summer!
• Upon our return we were right back into rugby. Oh, how I prefer the character of this sport to hockey. It is far more brutal but it is also far more honest. I'm thinking I'd love to see some of those SOBs from hockey try to survive a season of rugby - if they did, they'd no longer be SOBs, of that I'm sure.
• I also returned to some drama regarding the new abode. Turns out the sellers want to back out of the part of the deal that made it a deal. Holy smokes! Heaven and earth has now been moved and we're back on track. Though 15 days delayed. Some stress I just don't need.
• I am reading! Fiction! By chance, when walking through Barnes & Noble I found The Girl Who Chased the Moon and it was lovely, enchanting. Once done with it, I ran out and got Garden Spells and will be on the look out for any and all books by Sarah Addison Allen in the future!
• I may have lost a son for a couple of weeks, but Nikki has filled his spot and I still have four to look after, and I'm happy for it. She's a lovely girl.
• Chloe started private singing lessons with her OCC choir director, Janet. She loves it and I love that she has a passion for it.
• Through summer our Pub Nights are a bit few and far between, but the last evening of the month saw us over at the Abbey Arms. I haven't been there in 10+ years. It was good - as long as they can pour beer and wine it's a good pub experience, right?

And with July finished that brings us to August. We still have six weeks before the kids get back to the routine of school and I desperately miss having a routine! This summer has been far more hectic than most and I'm feeling a bit discombobulated. The kids are loving every minute of it with no structure to our days and the embrace of lazy!