5 Pathways to Contentment

"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on."

 - Led Zeppelin

Pathway #1. The trail is marked. (And much remains to  be revealed.)

Pathway #2. The path that goes toward the light.

Pathway #3. The path that may be dark. (And we can see the forest for the trees.)

Pathway #4. The straight, wide way.

Pathway #5. Choice.

Happy Trails!

Spring Things

It's wet on the west coast. Cold, too. My peas are up and the beans are starting - but oh my! It's cold in the garden. I just returned from our home-away-from-home in sunny Scottsdale and it is spring in the desert, too. Different though. Very different. How? Glad you asked.

Sunny.
Dry.
Blue, blue sky.
Hot.

Did I mention sunny?

One of my favourite trees around the pool at our complex in Scottsdale. See that sky? Blue.

Lots to see and do, too. If you're inclined. Mostly, I was reclined - by the pool. Because it was hot. Did I mention hot?

Here we are on a tour of Taliesen West - Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home/studio/school.
See how everyone is clustered into that litlle wee patch of shade? Because it is hot. And sunny.
(The elegant looking woman in the white hat is my mother-in-law. How does she do it? Elegant in shorts and a shirt.)

Here is what we are all looking at. Taliesen West. See that sky? Still blue.

Of course it wasn't all fun and games. We had to paint the condo. Well, Painter-Don did. I was busy. By the pool.

Here's Painter-Don waving to all you blog readers. Is he sweating?
He should get by the pool! ....it's hot.

And did I mention sunny? It's sunny, too.

Here I am. By the pool. I can't figure out why I am so happy looking.
Oh yes. I'm by the pool. It's hot. And sunny.

ART: what are we fighting for?

Spent a happy hour this weekend moodling through a local art exhibit. "In Pursuit of Excellence" is an annual juried art exhibit featuring local artists, and this one had the added juiciness of featuring three paintings by my talented friend Diane Speirs.  Even better!

The Garibaldi Art Club: One of many local groups celebrating the arts this week.

I can really lose myself at an art show, drinking in the various subjects, themes and media, and --- invariably --- I end up buying a piece or two. Our home is filled with original work from local artists and work by artists from places we've visited. I can't say whether or not it is 'good' art, only that it is art that speaks to our hearts, and enriches our home. Each piece is personal, has its own story and its own place at our place.  

Here are a few tasty samples from the show...

Its BC Arts and Culture Week and artists and arts groups across the province are hosting events and celebrating the arts.  A video clip is making the rounds on the internet this week. The divine Kevin Spacey (yes, I DO have a crush on him!) making an eloquent and beautiful appeal to support arts funding in the US. In it, he refers to the following quote:


During the Second World War, Winston Churchill’s finance minister said Britain should cut arts funding to support the war effort. Churchill’s response: “Then what are we fighting for?”


Kevin, in the same piece says: "Countries go to war, but it is culture that unites us." *sigh* How can you not love him? 


So, here in my small corner of the world, hubby and I do our best to support local art, artists and cultural groups and events. We have a happy little time with it - make a home, feed our souls, dabble in music, painting, theatre. We write. He sings. I appreciate. And here's a little beauty we picked up this weekend to grace our home-away-from-home in Scottsdale. Culture unites us indeed. 

"Dancing Peppers" by Maple Ridge artist, Margaret Bale.
Now, proudly owned by us!

My challenge: How can you support the arts this week?
My tip: Visit www.theactmapleridge.org and see what's happening locally. Buy a ticket. Take a class. Purchase an artist's work...
Have fun!


Visit Diane Speirs here: Alouette Mountain Studio
You can view the video here: Kevin Spacey on the arts
Find out more about BC Arts and Cultural Week: BC Arts And Culture

Home is Where the Spa Is.

I love a spa.

I also love a good manicure, pedicure, body buff and facial.
Also candlelight.
Calming music.
Essential oils (geranium and lavender - yum!).
Fluffy towels.
Bubble bath.
A good book.
My nightie.
And space...

Five Steps to a Perfect Day Spa - without leaving home!


1. Take the space:
I chose my bedroom and bathroom to turn into a private sanctuary for one afternoon. 

Tidy up. Clear out the clutter. Close the blinds. Turn off the phone. Shut the door on the outer world and say hello to your inner world. Light a candle. The world can spare you for one afternoon. Hello.

Hello, inner world.

2. Pick a theme:
Choose a contemplative theme - and transform your space (in my case the edge of the tub) with beautiful objects you love to look at. The kind that make your eyes happy just to land on them. Add something to symbolize your theme.

Imagine Peace

3. Create the atmosphere:
Treat all your senses - sight, sound, smell. Select your favourite bubble bath or essential oils. Find some calming music, load it onto your iPad, iPod, or stereo. Let the music take you inward as you relax. Listen. You'll hear something remarkable. You.

I hear you. 

4. Assemble your supplies:
Check that you have everything you might need handy, so that you have no reason to break the spa-spell.  Fluffy towels. Check. Tea. Check. Manicure set. Check. Two uninterrupted hours. Check. Fluffy robe. Check. Favourite colour of nail polish. Check. Fluffy little cotton balls. Check. Book. (Checkbook not needed - you're home! It's free!)

Manicure-in-a-basket. Magic.

5. Indulge.
Thoroughly. Slowly. Completely. And don't emerge until you're done. See you in two hours. Maybe three.

See you later. Much later.

Something Beautiful Every Day

Hubby and I took an overnight trip up the North side of the Fraser River on the last weekend of January.  Usually a damp, murky time of year here in the Pacific Northwest, this one turned out to be unusually cold and clear. We were headed for the healing mineral pools of Harrison Hot Springs resort, so we couldn't have asked for more cooperative weather gods.

There is nothing quite as satisfying as steeping aching middle-aged bones in a steamy outdoor hot pool while the air around you is crisp and bright. Unless of course, it is following that with side-by-side massages (which, we did - of course!).

Following our self-care sojourn at the spa baths, we meandered homeward along icy side routes and were absolutely captivated by roadside waterfalls turned to ice, covering branches and bushes and clinging to the cliffsides. Such a rare and beautiful site in this part of BC, I just had to share it with you!

Icy fingers point us homeward

Ice whiskers on the granite

Crystal  branches and moss.

A Perfect Sunday: Visiting Fort Langley

On a recent weekend, my hubby promised me a blog-worthy outing that would allow me to indulge in some of my favourite idle pursuits. Walking, daydreaming, picture-taking...all at the contented slow-mo pace that suits me best when chores are done, work is tucked safely away for the weekend and the pantry is stocked with endless possibilities for meal-making. Yes, I'm talking Sunday. A sunny one at that!

So, on a beautiful October Sunday we crossed to South side of the Fraser River and meandered throught the countryside to the Salmon River Trail. A modest walk along the riverbank through grassy fields, scrubby bushes and cottonwoods that leads to historic Fort Langley. Fort Langley is a dreamy little village chock-a-block with heritage buildings, antique stores, tea shops, galleries and, of course, a 19th century fort - one of the first on the Canadian west coast.

On this particular Sunday, we didn't visit the fort itself (well worth a Sunday afternoon of it's own and a great spot to take visitors). Our first stop was at a roadside stand to buy some tiny sugar pumpkins. Oh, I love these pumpkins! So cute, so round, so jolly! They are my one weakness, and I emptied my wallet of loonies and bundled an armful into the car.

Our next stop was the Salmon River Trail, where we stood and watched the water snake toward the Fraser. A truly idyllic little waterway, and easy to imagine long-ago picnics on its banks or berry-picking children splashing among the bushes.

The trail took us to the banks of the Fraser - it forks around McMillan Island, and we followed the South Fork - greeting other couples, annoying the cyclists and generally dawdling and stopping to discuss and photograph whatever caught our imaginations.

A boat lazily navigates the Fraser.

The church on McMillan Island

Cottonwoods against the blue, blue, sky.

Once we got into Fort Langley proper we browsed through gift shops, admired antiques and stopped to read plaques and markers. Time stretched in such a luxurious way on this particular afternoon that we were not surprised to find ourselves at the perfect time in the perfect place - teatime at Tracycakes! We stopped for tea, cranberry scones and cucumber sandwiches - Tracycakes is a sweet little cupcake house where our bill was presented on a silver tray accompanied by inspirational sayings for us to take home. Tea, cupcakes, and inspiration. My kind of place! (not to mention the very clever black & white decor).

Antiques and collectibles line the sidewalks.







A plaque commemorating...something. (It was really interesting at the time!)

 

A classy touch at Tracycakes.



Pumpkin, bench, pig.
  

Fully satisfied by our afternoon tea, we took to the other side of the main street, peeked in a few more windows, bought some cozy early Christmas pajamas for me and then wandered back along the trail to our waiting car. On the way home we spotted a shameless cranberry bog displaying its redness in the almost-twilight. I wasn't the only picture-taker gobsmacked by the scene.

Cranberries are a many-splendoured thing...

Patience on the bog...

We arrived home full of fresh air, happy weariness and Devon cream. Some time later, I snuggled into my new PJs, warmed up a most delicious mushroom tart and turned on an episode of Doc Martin. Our perfect Sunday turned into a perfectly contented Sunday night. All within twenty minutes of home. *Sigh*

Visit them online:

Historic Fort Langley
Tracycakes
Doc Martin on Wikipedia

A Salute to Summer: Gone but not Forgotten.

One of the ways I pursue happy idleness is messing around with technology. I have to admit that my curiosity about gadgets, apps and their technological possibilities far outweighs my skill. An ambition of my middle age, and one I am sure will take me well into old age, is to at least keep up! I said to my sister-in-law today that I will probably still be using my laptop in my 90's. She said I probably won't have one. I assumed she meant lap. But I digress.

In my work (which I promise not to focus on in this blog, hand over heart!) I advocate for social media and help my clients apply it to their work. I also love to play on Facebook and Twitter, and am a self-confessed Farmville addict.

Blogging is fun, too.

Lately, I have been moodling around with online video production programs. And, oh my! A new weakness. So my blog this week is a video tribute to summer, capturing some of my favourite elements of the season we are saying farewell to - at least here in the Northern Hemisphere - and celebrating summer food. In happy anticipation of the autumn and then the winter, I offer my Salute to Summertime.





With heartfelt thanks to the fine young folks at Animoto.
http://www.animoto.com/

Summer Holidays

Deeply enjoying my summer holidays with my hubby in the Comox Valley. Sun, sea, trees and an abundance of fresh food at our fingertips. Time with old friends, family and one another. Here are a few pictures and I will be back with my regular weekely blog in a few days.

Picnic spot at Kitty Coleman park

Our view

Fresh onions, destined for EVOO and the BBQ grill

The author at rest

Eat Play Snooze

Southwestern BC is in the midst of  a heat wave and I, for one, am enjoying sweltering it out in weather that reminds me of childhood summers. I come from the Kootenays where summers are hot, winters are snowy and spring and fall are seasons of their own. Even though I have lived most of my adult life at the West Coast, I have always found it a little unnatural to pack a  sweater around in summertime and to be chilly sitting outside on a midsummer night. So, I'm loving the heat and especially loving the summer lifestyle. The temperature in the Fraser Valley went up to a whopping 39 degrees on Sunday so we sought shelter under some big, leafy trees and enjoyed a breeze from the river and a potluck birthday picnic with friends. Here are some  summer scenes:

Time to eat: A big umbrella keeps the food shaded. A blanket buffet!

Potatoe Salad, BBQ chicken, hard-boiled eggs and pretty plates. Netting keeps the flies away.

Something to read...or perhaps nap.

My summer feet - dirty ones, just like the ones I had when I was a kid.

Some pretty summer feet - birthday girl and birthday presents.

Birthday cheesecake, hand made table(ground)cloth, summer roses in a jam jar.

This was a day of lingering contentment. Time spent with friends - talking, playing bocce, napping, reading newspapers and much good eating. Our theme: Eat, Play, Snooze.

Next month: an autumn picnic - featuring sweaters, campstoves and barnesgirl's percolated coffee!

The Pleasure of Picnics

Not wanting these lazy summer afternoons to pass us by, hubby and I have been practicing our picnics by lunching in the backyard. I think there is a certain art to the spontaneous picnic. Partly, it is just being willing to move outside and sit on the grass instead of on patio furniture and partly it is having picnic accessories on hand to make it easy.  Here are my eight tips for the perfect backyard picnic.


1. Have a really great and sturdy basket handy, so you can pile things out of your fridge and into the basket.

The view from under our magnolia tree

2. Use real plates and cutlery, I like real glassware, too and little plates with french sayings on them - after all you have a sturdy basket!

3. Use cloth linens - the cuter, the better - cotton or linen with embroidered fruits and veggies on them do nicely. I also use odd linens that I buy in second-hand stores for picnics.

4. Bring a really great picnicky looking blanket, preferably scratchy wool. (ours comes from Wales and can endure almost anything).

5. Set up under a tree so the food can be in the shade and gazing upward with a full tummy is dreamy, leafy pleasure.

6. Keep the food simple - bread, sliced sausage or cooked chicken, pickles, sliced cucumbers, cheeses (and grainy mustard for a gourmet flourish). Berries for dessert.

7. Bring a jug of lemonade.

8. Share your feast with the love of your life. Berries taste better hand-fed, and even the most mundane conversation becomes poetry in the shade of  a magnolia tree!

Browsing through Books: Summer Reads

In a few weeks, hubby and I will be setting off for a week of holidays - these will be during the dog days of summer and we are hoping to enjoy long, slow days of reading, walking, cycling and - of course - cooking, canning and eating. We will be housesitting for friends who have an acreage, near the seaside. Our lucky friends are touring France and we will look after their garden and rabbits and spend our days beachcombing, picnicking and visting local farms and market stalls to check out the fresh produce, cheese, fruit and seafood.

(I started out to blog about books and ended up on food. How does that happen?) Anyway I am gathering up my summer reads so I will have a good stock of books beside me on the deck, at the beach, and on the bedside table. My picks:  The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger (a period novel is a must-have!), The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner (a kind of travel book, involving the search for happiness - for some reason, I love to read travel books when I'm on holiday - and I do love vicarious epiphanies!), The Tenth Muse, My Life in Food by Judith Jones - a memoir (about food, food-writing, Julia! - say no more) and Immunity to Change by Kegan and Lahey - (yes, this is a work-related book. I am heading to Harvard for a coaching conference in September and have signed up for a workshop with the author: Very Excited and Want to Be Prepared.)

I'd love to hear what you are reading this summer! Sign up with a google account and follow my blog and we can share book recommendations. Book club starts again the fall!

Sunday Lunch in the Garden

In one of my previous posts, I described a near-perfect Saturday. That Saturday was followed by a near-perfect Sunday.

Hubby and I were invited for Sunday Lunch in the Garden with my friend Cie, and her somewhat demanding, yet hopelessly endearing sheepdog Pheobe (or is that hopelessly demanding and somewhat endearing? I'm never sure with Pheobes).

Cie is a kindred spirit. Devoted to farm fresh local food, a creative cook, and an avid collector of delightful "stuff", she also has an innate sense of comfortable living and a unique personal style. Needless to say I love being invited to her place and she is always top of my list for local catering and pot lucks.

Lunch in her garden  is not just a treat for the tastebuds.  I love gardens - (they're my one weakness) - and this garden features lovely greenery and sweet growing things, along with items that Cie has collected, artfully displayed to maximize both their use and their beauty - I just love that, too.

In addition to shared views on politics, food and community life, we share a delight in old china, family heirlooms and fabulous finds, so between the conversation, the delicious organic food and the real silver, I was in lunch heaven. Hubby seemed pretty happy, too. Cie kindly tuned the radio to the final World Cup Soccer game.

Bliss among the teacups.