Still blushing

I feel like my colleagues and I were just given a lecture about the birds and the bees by the man who fixed our photocopier at work. There was a lot of talk about pressure, tugging, pulling, pushing, opening back doors, sliding things in, being patient, using gentle hands and watching for things sticking up. Who knew that boring office machines could be so sexy?

I think this picture shows the seduction of an office worker by our unassuming Casanova...

Taxidermist gone wild?

"According to Det. Suzanne Pinto, "a few sources" have told police they have recently found raccoon carcasses in the park. At least two of them were "deliberately posed," one "with his paws in front of him, holding a bouquet of flowers," one with dead squirrels around him.

This is part of an excerpt that appeared in an online article today in the Toronto Star.

For those of you that know me, you'll know that anything to do with raccoons captures my attention, mostly because I am maniacally afraid of them.

The thought of someone 'posing' dead raccoons is disturbing as hell. In my mind, I picture some freak placing the flowers and dead squirrels with a gleam in their eye like some mad painter. (Aiye - I just shivered)

For the complete story, visit: http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/448401

Dressing up is fun

The final countdown

We leave for Japan next week!!! (Whheeeeehoooo!) I cannot believe it's almost here! It seems like only yesterday that we were deliberating on whether to go!

J has planned yet, another, spectacular vacation for us. We'll be staying mainly in Osaka, deep in a Japanese suburb in a traditional Japanese house (complete with tatami mats!). It belongs to an aromatherapist who lives next door. We'll be venturing out to Nara - the home of various World Heritage sites such as Todaiji Temple, Horyuji Temple, and others including numerous Buddhist art and architecture classified as National Treasures and Important Cultural Asset. Nara is also known for their lovely ambassadors - the deer that roam free. We're also going to Kyoto to stay in a beautiful resort and Nagoya which is famous for the magestic Nagoya Castle crowned with two golden carp and built in 1612 (though, part of it was restored in 1959 after the fires of WWII). Of course, there will be places along the way that we'll discover...

J used to live there years ago (before we met) when he used to teach English. He still has many friends there and even organized to have some of the children he taught to write to H! He's excited to show us his old stomping grounds and for us to experience the culture, the hospitality and the craziness that is known as Japan!

I'm sooo excited!!! I'll bet I won't sleep a wink the night before!

[I'M GOING TO JAPAN!!!]

Who ordered the Chow Mein?

Lastnight, I had a dream that my hair was crunchy like chow mein noodles (and for some reason, I couldn't stop scrunching it).

Revisiting my former self

When I was younger, I used to write poem after poem, at the drop of the hat. It seemed that I had lots of material to draw from - of course, doesn't everyone during those ego-centric, angst-filled years? Most of my poems were fueled by puppy love or grief experienced through parental control. Sometimes, I would even whip up poems for friends to give to others. This was the case for a former friend who would send them to his girlfriend who was living overseas. People were often amazed that I could write them in such a short amount of time because (they claimed) what was written was so heartfelt and sweet that it didn't seem possible.

I continued to write poetry after I graduated from high school but somehow, along the way, I abandoned it. I had developed this mentality that 'real' poems didn't rhyme (and by 'real', I meant the kind of work that accomplished poets or writers would pen). I felt like I was too old to be pumping out these sugary sonnets and anyways, real poems aren't supposed to have such a predictable rhythym or be so sing-songy, right?

Anyway, fast forward years later...I'm sitting at work feigning busyness (sp?) by writing an entry to be pasted into my journal later on today when I'm overcome by the urge to write a poem. Let me tell you, it was a wonderful feeling to write something so meaningful and personal. And yes, it did rhyme but I felt that the message and words were still beautiful and perfect for what I was trying to say.

I forwarded a copy to J since the poem was meant for both he and I. He's my sounding board so I always know that I'll get an honest reaction from him. He loved it and sent me the sweetest message in response.

[I apologize for not posting it here but it's rather personal]

All this to say, it felt great to revisit my former self - the days when I would write recklessly and full of such emotion. I've just been bursting with ideas and feverishly writing them down.

[I'm back, Baby]

Shameless self-promo

I have some really exciting news to share! For the past week or so, I've been working on a little project which has just gone live today! (Yay!)

I'll have a regular feature (every Monday and Thursday) on blogTO called, What's Your Story? which will feature different profiles of people that I've approached on the streets of Toronto.

With 5 million people alone in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), you're bound to see some pretty interesting characters on a daily basis. There have been many times when I've seen people that were so intriguing that I've wanted to approach them and find out what their story was but was just too shy (or afraid) to ask. I've also always been a big fan of biographies, as well as blogs (such as The Clothes Project, NY Mag's Lookbook and Stil in Berlin) or publications (like Fruits or ME Magazine) that showcase a different cross section of humanity. I love getting to peek into the lives of others. Let's face it, there's something very fun about being a voyeur!

This curiosity about human nature (and just being plain nosy) is the motivation behind the series. It's also a great opportunity to get to know people that you might otherwise just pass by and I also get to write for a really cool blog!

It's been so much fun going up to complete strangers and telling them that I'm a contributor on blogTO. Basically, I have a list of questions that I ask and then I take a few photos (from different angles). For the most part, people have been really open to letting me interview them (some even grateful, in fact!). A few times, people have said no but that's to be expected (not everyone enjoys the paparazzi!). I've met some really wonderful people, so far, and all with such different stories! (I love it!)

Please feel free to check out the premiere of What's Your Story?.

P.S. Recommendations and comments below the article are welcome but please, don't make it personal or send me a note on the website. It should just be about the entry.

Just another Saturday in Toronto

I love this place!

(Can you guess which was my favorite part of the day?)

That's what I'm talking about!

Lee McQueen - Sir Alan's next apprentice. (I ♥ you!)

Yoshimi saves the day

There was a medical emergency on one of the subways this morning which affected travel on the University line. The platforms were jam-packed and people were getting all nasty and irate. I tuned out and used the extra time to dream about paper while I cranked the Flaming Lips on my iPod. (Favorite album: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots)
[Photo courtesy of Paris Breakfasts blog - Chocolate sardines!]

Where do I begin...

Today has been a really special day. This evening started off with a spontaneous dinner at Fresh on Bloor with the lovely Miss A (a former co-worker that I still keep in touch with). We had a nice time catching up over some delicious food & bevvies. (I had Simple on soba noodles with tempeh and a soy mocha mint espresso shake) From there, the real excitement began (no disrespect to Miss A, of course!).

I attended the Japanese Papermaking Demonstration at the Japanese Foundation which was part of the World Washi Summit. Three guest Japanese papermakers - Shinji Hayashi from Kurotani, Hiroshi Tamura from Kochi and Hiroaki Imai from Niigata - demonstrated their papermaking techniques and skills while Paul Denhoed, a Canadian artist and Japanese papermaking researcher, provided a play-by-play commentary. The demonstration also included a brief slide presentation about the process and ended with a Q&A with the audience.

Traditionally, women were the master papermakers as the process would begin in the winter while the men went out to do itinerant work. As the demand for papermaking grew - and consequently, the size (and weight) of the equipment - the roles began to shift between the sexes. The men would then do the actual papermaking while the women did the preparatory work.

It was an absolutely fascinating presentation. I learned so much about how washi paper is made from how the plant is processed, which part of it is used (and how this differs from Western papermaking), how it is cooked, 'beaten', processed, stored and dried. I was surprised to hear that some of the paper is stored in snow (yes, SNOW!) as it acts as a very effective and natural way to insulate and refrigerate the paper before it can be properly dried.

The demonstration was amazing. Each papermaker had their own technique which is exclusive to the region they're from. They made it look so easy! (Later, we would find out from an audience member that it wasn't as simple as it looked as he fumbled with the mould only to produce a white clumpy mess!) The papermakers shared the different paths they took to becoming papermakers (one was born into it) and also, the training available in Japan. Sadly, papermaking has become a dying tradition in Japan. Where there was once 1000 papermakers, there are now less than 350 in Japan.

Nancy Jacobi is the brainchild behind the World Washi Summit. She first introduced Toronto to this beautiful and highly versatile paper via her store on Queen Street called, The Japanese Paper Place (now called, The Paper Place - I know it well). She encouraged the audience to support the washi industry by purchasing these lovely papers and provided the specific names produced by the guest papermakers.

Hiroshi Tamura gave such a heartfelt thank you, as a closing. He expressed his gratitude for being invited to the Summit to speak about his craft considering what he does has now reached a plateau in Japan and is slowly going by the wayside. He was surprised to learn how washi paper was so adored here in Canada and felt honored to be part of the summit. He spoke on behalf of all Japanese papermakers and felt very proud to be able to represent those not present. It brought tears to my eyes that he was so grateful and also, so passionate about his craft.

As I left the presentation, I had so many wonderful feelings & emotions running through me - inspiration, gratitude, respect, happiness - and I just wanted to run home and share them with my little family. It was a great feeling and a great evening. I cannot wait to report on the next event I attend during the World Washi Summit!








[As if it wasn't already an amazing day, I had a pile of paper goodness that was waiting for me when I got home! Thanks so much to my dear, dear penpal in KC for the box of wonderful goodies, to Joe for his gorgeous card (it freaked me out a bit, actually, since I was just admiring the very same print this afternoon on the web!!!) and to a new correspondent from Germany for the thoughtful letter!]

Gotta love Facebook

My grade 5 teacher just contacted me via Facebook! For a split second, I thought it was strange (creepy) but quickly remembered how fond I was of him. Mr. M was such a nice teacher and always wore a short-sleeved shirt with an overhead pen in his pocket.

I was just transported back to my younger self - the feathered hair gal, pre-braces, sporting a turquoise Fame jumpsuit in fleece. I wish I could go back in time and meet my younger self. She was so cute and funny. She was also very creative and always carried around a pad of paper and too many pens. She loved her friends and writing stories and talking on the phone. I would give her a great big hug but what would I say to her?

I would probably tell her that she was going to be alright, that she would have a really beautiful & amazing daughter and that she would fall in love with a wonderful, wonderful man someday. I would tell her to travel and see the world. I would also tell her to always keep writing and being creative and to not listen to her parents but follow her heart & passion when choosing her career. I would tell her to always have kindness in her heart, to be patient and trust herself. I would also tell her to love herself and be happy because she deserves it.

[Of course, there would be much (much!) more but ultimately, I wouldn't try to scare her to death because meeting me would probably be a shocker that would traumatize her for life to begin with. However, I would totally tell her to save some of those Tiger Beat and BOP magazines she was buying. It's a bitch to find those issues these days! I would warn her that the spiral Toni perm that she begged her mom for would take three whole years to grow out and to really think about it. I would also tell her that the ensemble she would love sooo much in junior high - wayfarer sunglasses, tight jeans, white top with black collar and the black jacket that snapped up on the side (à la Thriller fame) - was sooo not cool.]

Tea for two and two for tea

“[T]he tea-party, an extraordinary meal in that, being offered to persons that have already dined well, it supposes neither appetite nor thirst, and has no object but distraction, no basis but delicate enjoyment.” —Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste, 1825

Yesterday, H & I had a lovely little tea party complete with faux petit-fours, mini tea cups & saucers, champagne glass filled with ripe cherries, homemade banana muffins topped with toasted coconut, cookies and two types of tea (caramel rooibos which we received from Switzerland yesterday and peppermint). I lit candles and we had a really lovely time. My guest even arrived with a fancy outfit on - a pink leotard and a string of purple beads! (Just to clarify, 'H' refers to my little person and not my husband. Heh!) Before we began the party, we each put on a pair of gloves. Mine were long and black while H's were a sunny yellow.

[H really got into the spirit of things and talked with a British accent. Isn't she fun?!]

We love to have these wacky little parties every so often. This time, I even went so far as to make a fancy little invitation to invite my guest. I like to think that these precious moments will be remembered fondly when H grows up. (Either that or she'll remember what kind of a nut her Mom was/is!)

Weapon of Choice

If you're anything like me, you always carry a little pencil case filled with your favorite weapons. In my case (pardon the pun), fine point pens. I especially love the Uni-ball Elite series for their waterproof/fadeproof ink which comes in a nice range of colors but more importantly, for the beautiful lines it gives to my writing. (It's lovely, really)

You want smooth? How's this for the smoothness factor:


[I think I just shed a tear]

Happy scribbling, my friends. What's your weapon of choice?

Cancer Connections

Photosensitive has partnered up with the Canadian Cancer Society to present Cancer Connections - a traveling photo exhibit of black and white photography depicting how cancer affects the lives of so many Canadians. The national launch took place at Nathan Philips Square on May 20th, 2008, with almost 300 images. From there, it will be traveling around the country, growing as it goes. The grande finale exhibition will be in Ottawa in 2010 and will have 1000 images.

I'm so very proud of my cousin, AA, who has a photo in the exhibit. He's such a talented photographer, as well as a kind-hearted soul. His mother passed away from cervical cancer (at the age of 60). My uncle and grandma also passed away from cancer so this photo exhibit really means a lot to me.

If you are in the Toronto area, the exhibit will be here until June 9th. For more information about the exhibit, please visit

http://www.photosensitive.com/cc/

Collage a Day Challenge!

It was a dreary and rainy morning here in Toronto. I felt completely blah so I needed something to perk me up and keep me going. I started making little collages using found materials here at work that would normally make their way into the garbage (think: junk mail, envelopes, old boxes, etc.). Okay, so I used some stickies, too (they added some lovely color to my creations!). Anyway, it felt great to create something and break up the morning. In fact, over lunch, I decided that I would challenge myself by doing a collage a day! It may not necessarily take place here at work (though, it really did put some life into my morning!) but it would be nice to create something on a daily basis, just to keep the ol' creative juices flowing.

So, if any of you are up for it, please join me. Imagine the fun you could have (at work!). Heh heh.

Mike Lowery

As you know, I am a big fan of the Sketchbook Series by the website, Book By Its Cover. It's like peeking into someone's diary. (Love it!) Recently, Mike Lowery was featured on 5.9.08. Here is the little blurb they had about him:

Mike Lowery’s goal is to draw or write something in his journal every single day. If he misses a day, he said he has to do at least two pages. He’s been filling moleskins for the past three years with his adorable characters, fun drawings and little comics as you can see from the images below. Mike recently joined the Lilla Rogers team- an agency known for it’s eclectic talented illustrators (We at Also are actually working on a revamp of their site right now). Mike is also a graphic design and illustration teacher at an art college in DC. He lives just outside the city with his wife Rachel and his “ridiculously awesome daughter, Allister”. Check out Mike’s site to see more of his work- he posts entries from his journal almost every day. And be sure to catch his weekly comic in the dcist Thanks Mike!

I love his pictures. They're so much fun and brighten my day! (I have an affinity for keyboards, having been forced to take organ lessons for 8 years as a child, so his cute little drawings make me smile.) Here are some that were featured on the site. Hope they brighten your day, too!

Thinking with Type

If you're interested in typography, this book is a must-have! Written by Ellen Lupton, it's a wonderful resource for both the seasoned designer and the fresh novice. It's well-structured and well-written and provides a fantastic overview of typographic design in plain english.

For a look at some of the elements discussed in this book, please have a look at the amazing website that accompanies it at:

http://www.papress.com/other/thinkingwithtype/index.htm

World Washi Summit

[Press Release]

June 7 - 15 2008 Toronto and Environs

The World Washi Summit will be an international gathering to celebrate the quality craftsmanship and sustainability of washi, the paper that has been handcrafted by the Japanese for over 1400 years. Totally dedicated to washi, the Summit will be the first event of its type ever held and will feature the works of more than 100 international and Canadian artists whose talents bring the paper to life.

Principal guests of the Summit will be three of Japan’s talented papermakers performing demonstrations on how washi is actually made. They will meet face-to-face with the Summit artists and see first hand how washi has found new use in other lands. Other participants will include the curators who exhibit washi, its distributors, and the art-buying public eager to learn about it. The majority of events will be free.

Creative works with washi by artists from Canada, South Africa, England, Scotland, USA, Chile, Japan, China, Finland, Iceland, and Mexico will be among those exhibited in some 35 galleries and venues in and around Toronto. The Japan Foundation will host an exhibition Washi over Time showing traditional uses and the migration of textile patterns onto paper (chiyogami).

Other events will include workshops by international guests on using washi, and demonstrations by artists, including stonecut printing by Inuit printmaker Kavavaow Mannomee; lectures on Life in a Papermaking Community and on Chiyogami: the UK's New Marbled Paper; a look at the collection of washi books in the ROM's East Asian Library; a fashion show and a washi bazaar at the Gladstone Hotel; and to cap off the week a Grand Review with artists, curators and papermakers.

The World Washi Summit is the brainchild of Nancy Jacobi, founder of The Japanese Paper Place. She first introduced washi to Canada in 1982 through her tiny store on Queen Street West. Since that introduction this renewable resource has become a central medium for thousands of artists in both Canada and abroad who appreciate its beauty, versatility and permanence. The JPP houses a vast collection of Japanese papers and fills daily orders to stores and artistic communities around the world.

For the Summit, The Japanese Paper Place has partnered with the Japan Foundation towards their common goals: to educate the art public on the practicality and the sustainability of Japanese papers, and above all to encourage Japanese papermakers in preserving an ancient craft that has become indispensible to discerning artists everywhere.

For current updates and scheduling, visit: www.worldwashisummit.com

Mmm...

I have the window open and my office has that 'just after the rain' smell. Mmm, I love that smell! It makes me just want to cozy up under a blanket and watch a movie or sit and write letters...

Y'know, I've often wondered if there isn't a job somewhere out there where a person just writes letters all day long. Doesn't that sound lovely? I often think of the days when being a scribe was revered. Apparently, this individual (male) was educated in the arts of writing and belonged to what was known as the 'middle class elite'. They used two types of writing, hieratic and hieroglyphics. In ancient Egypt, 'the task of recording history, expressing everyday and extraordinary happenings was the responsibility of the scribe' (courtesy of Kingtutshop).

Anyway, I've often dreamed of having some kind of job where I could just write letters and find beautiful paper to write on all day. Oh, and let's not forget the writing instruments - those lovely fine point nibs (or would I mix things up and use a gel?). Hmmm, I only wish these were the questions I had to ask myself during a workday! Of course, there would also be special considerations such as adornments - stickers, rubberstamps and handlettering. Why, there might even be any combination of these if I was feeling particularly playful and creative! Heh! Talking about it even makes me excited... the feel of the paper, choosing my weapon of choice and making it all pretty. Of course, it couldn't possibly even be sent out until some little surprises were enclosed. (I often do this for my penpals or any correspondence that I send out to people, really. I like to put bits of paper and maybe, some cool postcards/ad cards with interesting graphic design on it. I might even make a handmade card or throw in a piece of ephemera - if I can part with it, that is!)

Sigh. There has to be something out there that gives me the same rush as letter writing does...

[If you know of something out there, dear friends, please do not hesitate to contact me. I beg of you.]

Cake Love

I stumbled upon this website by virtue of googling for inspirational stories about people leaving their present jobs in search of something more:

www.cakelove.com

Warren Brown's story, in a nutshell, is about a man who chose to quit his law profession so that he could bake cakes.

And how did he find his passion, you ask? Warren tells about his journey on his website. Here is an excerpt:

How did I find my Passion?

How many ways can one find their passion? There are probably as many answers as there are ways to describe the flavors of your favorite food. I love orange foods. Butternut squash, carrots, yams, and oranges. I like their hearty nourishment, electric color, resilient texture, and piquant zest. Orange foods take the cake - to me. But it's probably different for you. And that's what finding a passion is all about: You.

Do you want to fast forward to the answer? Try not to. The best parts of life are in the roads traveled to get to your destination. That's where you struggle and that's where you laugh. Be in the moment and enjoy it. Taste life. Taste what interests you. Listen to yourself and the world around you. It's a slow and tedious process where being patient helps a lot. Take your time to be sure of what you want. Then work like hell to get it.

His story gained quite a bit of press from the likes of The Washington Post, CNN, Oprah, Fox 5 Morning News and even lead to his own show on the Food Network called (wait for it), Sugar Rush. He's gone on to open two businesses - CakeLove (in five U.S. cities) and the Love Cafe, CakeLove's sister store.

It's a great story and one full of inspiration, not to mention, really sweet. (Okay, I couldn't resist!)

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Lastnight, I went to the 'This Is Not a Reading Series' event put on by Pages bookstore featuring best selling author, Barbara Kingsolver and husband, Steven L. Hopp. The presentation was based on the book, Vegetable, Animal, Miracle: A Year of Food Life and the couple's experiences in making the book.

If you aren't familiar with this gem, here is a blurb about it from the Pages website:

'ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE: A YEAR OF FOOD LIFE is Barbara Kingsolver’s bestselling memoir of a year of living and eating locally – paying very close attention to the provenance of everything that she and her family consumed. As Kingsolver says, “Our highest shopping goal was to get our food from so close to home, we’d know the person who grew it. Often that turned out to be ourselves as we learned to produce what we needed.” Beyond serving as a chronicle of the first year of the Kingsolver family’s ongoing experiment, Animal, Vegtable, Miracle is a call to arms. Kingsolver eviscerates the state of our food supply – from seeds controlled and patented by multinational corporations to a virtually two-crop system (corn and soybean) that leaves North Americans one pathogen away from massive famine. It’s also a rumination on the pleasures of growing and harvesting your own food. Above all, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a joy to read.'

The presentation was really wonderful. Barbara is such a lovely storyteller and very funny. Steven was also a great presenter and provided the back story to the book but was referred to the 'doom and gloom' part of the presentation as he was delegated to providing the statistics and academic portion of the presentation.

Prior to meeting, the couple had already been involved in gardening and this project was simply an extension of the way they were currently living as a family. The project began while their two daughters were 8 and 19, and the entire family was involved in the process that unfolded in the book (the youngest child even had her own little egg business!).

The couple offered anecdotes ranging from turkey husbandry (including a verrry interesting video clip - who knew?!) to their process of storing food for the winter; their community's support in facilitating the project to the involvement of petrochemicals in the food distribution chain. They talked about their journey in retraining themselves back to food culture and how they viewed food entitlement. Barbara commented on how strange it was to walk into a grocery store and see a kiwi. She felt that certain items (particularly, ones that were out of season but still being sold in the market) were now more of a luxury than something she was entitled to. The project changed their attitudes towards the food they ate and those who were responsible for producing them. People asked them what they missed the most during that year or more specifically, "Didn't you miss...?" They responded by saying it was a matter of changing their attitude towards items that weren't local to them and not seeing it as a loss but rather, as an opportunity to experience the foods near to them. People also questioned the flavouring of items and how they were able to address this. Steven answered by asking if they had ever tasted an item straight from the garden and by going on to say that if anyone ever has, then they would know that this is when an item was its most flavorful.

With regards to petrochemicals, Steven offered a simple solution and shocking solution: If every (U.S.) citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce the country's (in this case, the U.S.) by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week. (Shocking).

Of course, I'm missing many, many details of the thoughtful presentation that was given. If you're interested in learning more about their experiences, please feel free to read the book. I know I am.

Hello friends!

These past few weeks have been full of so many lovely events including the start of a new job, packing/purging (okay, not so lovely!), spending time with special visitors, moving into our new place and celebrating/partying for days! It's been really wonderful and now, we're having fun settling into our new home and anticipating our trip to Japan (five more weeks!).

J has been amazing with getting down to business when it comes to organizing our place. What a wonderful surprise to come home from work and see the mess cleared away and the semblance of a home in place. It's really starting to feel comfy. Thanks, J! xo

H has been extremely helpful, too, and loves the new surroundings! She's trying to set up a little school under her loft bed for her 'students' and has been busy setting up her space. It's really cute to see and to hear, as she's often reading to or teaching her class.

And me? I hope I'm contributing to our new home, somehow! :) It's always such an eye-opener when you start packing and purging your things (at least, for me it is since I'm a horrible packrat!). I managed to purge 10 large garbage bags of clothes (mostly mine and some of H's) plus a few outdated toys and books before we moved. Now, as we're getting things set up, I'm finding more items I can get rid of. Each time I move, I swear to myself I'll try to change my evil hoarding ways but still, no such luck! Thank goodness, J is a purger (though, his collection of books and records isn't what you'd call modest!).

So, that's what I've been up to these days. What about you? Hope you're well and happy! xo

PS A big thank you to those who came out and helped us move on Saturday! We were so grateful for the extra hands and especially, the muscles provided by A!

Hajimemashite

Nice to meet you, otouto.

Raw

I've been obsessing about raw food for the past week and lastnight, I made my first raw dinner! I made a delicious zucchini pasta with an alfredo sauce topped with black olives and sun dried tomatoes. It turned out really well and was easy to make. H was adventurous enough to give it a try but didn't take to it but J was thoroughly impressed.

Alfredo Sauce

About 3/4 cups pine nuts
squeeze a whole lime, to taste
Some cayenne powder, to taste (optional)
1 clove of garlic (or more, depending on palate)
3 - 5 tsp. of flax or olive oil
Pinch or two of sea salt
3/4 to 1 tbsp of nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan
Water

Blend all of the ingredients together adding water until desired creaminess.

I added the sauce to some zucchini which I had shredded into long strips and topped with sun dried tomatoes and black olives. DELICIOUS!

[The original recipe can be found at http://goneraw.com/recipes/1531-Creamy-Alfredo-Pasta-mmmmmmmmm-]

The olives and sun dried tomatoes definitely added a nice touch to the sauce. I also sprinkled dulse flakes to add a bit of flavour and color.

[For those of you that aren't familiar with dulse, it's a type of sea vegetable/weed. It can be used instead of salt and adds a nice flavour to meals]

Following dinner, I made a nice fruit bowl of sliced bananas, nectarines, a handful of blueberries, Goji berries, some agave and some ground flax. It was absolutely delicious and I had it again for breakfast!

I was worried that I had eaten too many raw foods yesterday but I felt great lastnight! I think I'll try adding more raw dishes to my diet, particularly at lunch time (as it only affects my eating). I'd like to see if there are any benefits to it since I've had a history of gastrointestinal sensitivity. Will keep you posted!

PS I had the leftovers from yesterday's meal and it tastes as good as it did yesterday, perhaps, even better! (The flavour of the sun dried tomatoes and juice from the olives have blended in nicely to the sauce.)

Happy coffee

I just had coffee and a delicious piece of chocolate with a dear friend. This picture reminded me of her. It also captures how I'm feeling.

[It was so great to see you, girl! I've missed you! I'm glad we're so close to each other, again! Have a wonderful afternoon! xo]

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting on a log in the middle of a forest when I asked J, "How did we get here?"

Our life has been taking us on some very interesting paths ever since we met and this weekend was no exception. Deep in the middle of nowhere, in the back roads of Ontario, we found ourselves breaking bread with some amazing people. We were invited to the summer home of a really lovely couple through yet another very wonderful couple. The grounds were spectacular - a work in progress - that included the beginning of an orchard, an expansive garden and a nice private body of water to swim in (and throw balls into for their furry companion). The summer home was a beautiful and cozy log cabin with a wood-burning stove and the perfect space for entertaining. Just a few feet away stood a two-storey sister cabin with a bedroom on the top floor and a sauna & shower on the main floor. Dare I say, it was a little slice of heaven...

We ate until we were practically unconscious (though, the free-flowing wine may have also been the culprit here!) and we talked until dark. It was such a good time. The little person also enjoyed it very much, especially in the presence of the four-legged lady of the house. The two were instant friends. I felt as though we were at a retreat. However, at one point, we had to check if there was a lock on the sauna door as we suddenly felt like an animal might after being fattened and overfed.

The hosts were such a special pair - down-to-earth and welcoming. We felt very privileged and grateful to spend time with them and see their beautiful space. The outside world seemed to disappear as we witnessed them work in their garden and explain their plans for the grounds. It felt as though we were back in time where people tended to their land and left their homes open. It was a great feeling.

Here is a peek at our lovely weekend...