Accentuate the Positive

I am taking part in the Sketchbook Project again this year. Unlike last year, I knew what I was getting into when I signed up this time. That does't make it any less nerve-wracking. I am not an artist. I am baffled by concepts like perspective, depth, light and dimension, and I have no idea how to convey those elements in my work. 

As such, it would be very, very easy for me to concentrate on what I can't draw. Instead, I'm going to try to focus on what I can draw. You know, accentuate the positive and all that jazz. 

This is quite different from last year's Sketchbook. My lack of confidence, and a flippant comment to a friend, led to a lot of collage. Don't get me wrong. I loved the process and the results. I was actually sorry to send it away when the project was over. Fortunately, I can visit it here from time to time. 

I do wish I had written about the process of filling last year's sketchbook. I always intended to, but never managed to get around to it in spite of best intentions. I guess that's fitting, since I chose "Procrastination" as my theme. This year I'm going to try to share as I go. 

Though my artistic skills are limited, I'm finding inspiration everywhere. There are a surprising number of things out there that I can manage to re-create to some extent. 

For example, while doing laundry I realized that I could likely draw a passable rendition of the cats on my socks.

The inspiration.

My re-creation.

The socks are a gift from Hubby's aunt. I smile each time I wear them. There was a t-shirt too, but it didn't survive. Too bad. I bet I could draw those cats too!

Room With A View

An enormous fly buzzed around while I sat in bed finishing my coffee this morning. When I finally got annoyed enough, I got up, opened the curtains and the window, and tried shoo it outside. (You know that even when fuelled by coffee there's no chance of my catching or swatting a fly.)

This was the view that greeted me:

Beautiful. The fly did not appreciate the view. It took off in the other direction. Maybe it was just too cold for the fly, though you'd figure such a tubby creature would have enough fat stored to get it through the winter. Flies are like bears that way, right?

I'm glad I didn't miss this, so I'm grateful to the fly for that. I'm less enthused about its mysterious appearance and disappearance. It's kind of creepy to image that hummingbird-sized fly might be hiding somewhere in the house. 

Day of the Socks

Posting outfit photos and sharing them with the amazing, supportive community over at Patti's Visible Monday is a wonderful and educational experience. Through my participation I'm slowly discovering my style and learning to be OK with it.

When I think about how I clothe myself words like practical, comfortable and affordable come to mind. I'm beginning to add words like ethical, thrifted and local to my wardrobe vocabulary. 

My go-to weekend outfit is usually a variation of what you see below. Outerwear to suit the weather. Jeans. Footwear appropriate for walking, or lunching or shopping. 

Weekday clothing can be tricky. I'm supposed to appear professional at work, but that's a discussion for another post. Maybe. If I ever figure out just what exactly my employers mean by "professional".

Last Monday presented particular work-wardrobe challenges. A friend and I were meeting to see "Day of the Doctor" at the theatre. I knew I'd only have enough time after work to grab a quick bite to eat. An outfit change before the show was out of the question, but I knew wanted to showcase my...

...TARDIS socks!

What's a Whovian to do? Plan her work wardrobe around her TARDIS socks, that's what!

Oh, yeah! Sonic screwdriver!
3-D glasses!

OK, I didn't actually wear the socks to work. I wore tall black boots then switched them for the socks and booties later.

I didn't bring the sonic screwdriver to work either, though I might in the future. Having it at the theatre gave me the courage to ask the very tall young man in front of me to switch places with his much more moderately-sized date. Usually I'd be too shy and too darned Canadian to ask. The fact that the couple complied so easily leads me to believe in the magic of the sonic screwdriver.  Imagine how much easier my workdays would be if I had the power to get others to comply easily. And if they didn't I could always build a cabinet at them. 

Linking up with the ever-timeless Patti and the out-of-this-world crowd over at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday. Hope you'll stop by and check out the fun!

Perfectly Imperfect

This is what prompted the clutter-clearing a few weekends ago.

It's what I was making space for. 

It's scarred and flawed. 

It's definitely a survivor.

It's full of stories and secrets. It has history.

Wonderful things have been written at this desk. I know because I've read some of them.  The desk is a gift from their author.  Each time I look at it I am amazed by her generosity. 

And each time I look at the desk I discover something new. A mark, a dent, a trace of green paint. I can't walk past it without wanting to stop and write and dream and imagine. 

I'm so glad this desk has found its way to my home. I feel it's travelled far to get here. Oh, the stories we will tell!

Whatever-the-Weather Wear

Today is my birthday. Hubby and I celebrated with a wonderful weekend in Victoria. The weather was pretty typical. Sun, rain, wind, repeat. Sometimes it was all three at the same time. We even had a rainbow follow us home.

I realize now it didn't really matter what I packed. I spent most of the weekend looking like this:

The wind and rain started immediately after this shot..

Look closely. You can see the tree debris raining down on me.
And do you see that tail disappearing around the corner? Even the dogs have to dress for the weather here.

Not quite as dramatic as Sheila in the Travelling Yellow Skirt, but I couldn't resist posing at Craigdarroch Castle while we were in the neighbourhood.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I'm off to continue my celebrating over at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday. Go check out the party!

Clearing and Keeping

The clutter clearing continues. 

I unearthed an old journal from my teaching days yesterday. Those were angst-filled times for me, and I couldn't imagine ever wanting to re-read those pages. I considered tossing the journal until it fell open to the following entry from 1993: 

Nadine* told me an absolutely hysterical story at lunch today. She regretted the fact that she never writes these things down, so I'm doing it for her.

Thursday Nadine filled in in the SCC. She talked about happy and sad, then had the kids guess if she was making a happy or a sad face. Eventually the kids wanted to try making faces, so they took turns with Nakyla going last. Nakyla turned to the class with an emotionless expression on her face. The kids guessed happy, sad, happy, sad until they had to give up. When Nadine asked Nakyla "What are you?" Nakyla replied "A pineapple".

I had forgotten that story. Too funny.

I decided to keep the journal after all. 

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent. And me.*

Make Way!

When we were kids we'd make-believe that one of our small group was royalty. The rest would march around shouting "Make way for the Queen! Make way for the Queen!" I don't know which was more fun, the shouting or the temporary status upgrade to queen. 

Other than the marching and shouting, or waving and nodding if you were the elected monarch, I don't remember a purpose to this game. In retrospect, it might have been an excuse to march and shout. Whatever. The ultimate goal wasn't important.

It was easy. It was fun. It didn't matter who you were in your existence before the game. Child transformed to monarch. Parents, teachers, babysitters to subjects. What mattered was that important things were happening NOW and you needed to get the hell out of the way. 

This weekend has been a weekend of clutter-clearing to make way for new, long longed-for and possibly important things. It's hard. Everything involves a decision. I crave the simplicity of that childhood game as I work. That ability to clear my space with ease. 

Make way...make way...make way...

I mull over every single thing. Things I've attached memories to. Things that were once important, expensive, supposedly useful. Things that might still be useful. Things I might need. What if...? It's hard to forget previous existences.  To let go of the past and the possibilities and make a decision based on right NOW.  

There's guilt too. Things that are destined for the dump are particularly difficult. Can someone fix it? Use it? Can I get any more use out of it? There's a set of sheer curtains in a closet downstairs that were left by the previous owners. They are beyond use as curtains, yet there they sit. Might they be drop-cloths? Is there something I can use them for, that someone could use them for, that would keep them out of the dump? Is it worth the effort to store them any longer just in case?

Make way...make way...make way...

A lot of progress has been made. It feels like there's more to do. I'm trying be satisfied with what has been accomplished instead of worrying that I should do more. Sometimes it feels like I'm on a roll and it's good to keep working. Sometimes the anxiety to "finish" is paralysing. 

Sounds like there's more to clear than just the physical space. Let go of the goals, the guilt, the shoulds and the maybes. Mental and physical cobwebs be gone!

Make way...make way...make way...

Jeans!

I've finally crawled cautiously onto the skinny-jean bandwagon. I first tried on a pair about three years ago, but didn't get them. I felt I was too old for skinny jeans. Obviously logic dictates that I buy a pair now, because I've gotten so much younger in the last three years. Whatever.

I'm glad I waited, as unlike the jeans I tried on years ago, these ones are Canadian-made. And I was able to get them locally at Be, where the sales staff is so much more helpful and friendly than the snooty woman in the big-city store last time around. Like shopping for jeans isn't traumatic enough without judgemental sales staff. Yeesh. 

These pictures were taken after a long day of driving, shopping and dining. The jeans were very comfortable, yet they didn't feel like they got baggy anywhere. Hooray!

Though they fit well everywhere else, the jeans were rather long. This usually frustrates me. I am capable of hemming pants; I just don't like to. As a result, items can linger for months, and sometimes years, waiting for me to alter them. This time I set aside the I-should-do-it-myself attitude and found a seamstress to shorten the jeans for me. Hallelujah! 

It's ridiculous how excited I am to finally let go of that mentality! I may have frightened the seamstress in my enthusiasm. Oops. 

Linking up with Patti and the fearless crew at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday. Fun!

Strange Dress Indeed

Another not-quite-black dress. This one is Bulgarian-made for a company called Apanage. (I don't know why the fact that it's Bulgarian-made amuses me so much.) Grey is much closer to black than the blue tunic I bought on the same day, so I guess it has that going for it. And like the blue tunic it's pyjama-day comfy.  Besides, it was a very thrifty find. Six dollars at Too Good to be Threw.  

It does have a couple of weird features. There's a shiny silver snap right at cleavage level. It won't stay hidden no matter how I drape the fabric at the neckline.  I know it's a tiny thing, but my cleavage doesn't need any help attracting attention. 

I'm also having issues with the cummerbund/sash/obi thing at the waist. It is firmly attached at both sides. That wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't finished so strangely in the back. 

I've tried folding the sash at the back, but that's one substantial seam. It doesn't hide well. That, and it doesn't stay put when I've folded it. I'm constantly adjusting the sash throughout the day.  My current solution is to cover it with a cardigan. It works. Sort of. I think it makes me look a bit schoolmarmy, and those days are so over for me. 

I suppose I could screw up my courage and remove the sash. And while I was at it I could adjust that very visible snap. I'm just not sure if my sewing skills are up to it. Not a big deal for a six dollar dress, but I made the mistake of googling "Apanage". I was hoping to find the correct way to "style" the sash. Instead I discovered what dresses from this company can go for. They seem to run about  £150. Gulp. I wonder how a likely expensive, Bulgarian-made dress from a German company ended up on the rack at the local thrift shop? 

Linking up with Patti and the conspicuous crew over at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday. Hope you'll head over to check out the fun!

There's a Scarf in My Vacuum, Dear Liza, Dear Liza...

I do not like housecleaning. Things never stay clean for any length of time. Floors that were spotless moments before seem to sprout dust bunnies while my back is turned. I think the small dust bunnies that have been cowering under my furniture feel safe to come out once the monstrous, frightening dust bunnies have been removed. That's my theory anyway.

Then there's the whole one-task-leading-to-infinite-tasks issue. There are times when I feel like poor Henry with his leaky bucket. Today was one of those days. 

I set out to vacuum the stairs. Before I even plugged in the vacuum,  I noticed that there were several jackets hanging in the hall that could go in the closet. Of course, there were some items in the closet that needed re-arranging before I could put the jackets away. Once that was done, and the jackets were safely stowed, I plugged in the vacuum to start on the stairs. As I approached the first step, I saw that the door mat needed cleaning, so I stopped to deal with that. The mail arrived while I was running the vacuum over the mat, so I stepped out to collect it. Since I was outside anyway, I grabbed a broom and swept up to avoid tracking grit in on the just-vacuumed mat. Then I vacuumed the stairs.

You'd think that would be the end of the story, but nope. When I went to unplug the vacuum I noticed grit on the the chair by the outlet. I figured I'd vacuum that up while I was there. What I didn't notice was my black silk scarf hanging on the back of the black chair. Yep. I vacuumed it up. Shlurp! Gone! 

Yes, there was swearing.

*Insert chores involved in extricating a silk scarf from a vacuum here. I'm too tired to list them.* 

Fortunately, the scarf and the vacuum both survived. The scarf will need cleaning, but the canister of my vacuum is spotless. Like it was polished with a silk scarf or something. Funny, I hadn't intended to clean the inside of the vacuum today. 

Pyjama Day

I've been wishing for a simple black dress to layer under some closet orphans. This one from Miik looks just about right. Except for the price. And there's no one on the Island that sells Miik products. And I'm a terrible online shopper.

So, I hit some local shops to see if I could find a reasonable-for-me alternative. I checked the second-hand stores and be, a boutique that specializes in Canadian-designed, and made, clothing.

I didn't find a black dress, but I didn't go home empty handed. This tunic is by Ramonalisa. I tried it on at be, and initially left without it. It certainly isn't the black dress I was looking for. I felt I needed to stick to my mission. So much for my mission. I went back almost immediately to buy it. I love that it's Canadian-made from hemp and organic cotton. So very, very comfy. It's like wearing pyjamas in public. 

I'll have to be careful where I wear it. I put it on and was overwhelmed with the urge to go for a nap. 

Linking up with Patti and the hopefully more lively crowd over at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday. Head over check out the fun!

Confessions and Mushrooms

Let's start the day with some confessions, shall we? 

I have a poor sense of direction. I often struggle to find my way home from places I've managed to find my way to. This happens where there are roads, street signs and landmarks. I'm completely hopeless when "off road".

I'm not a big fan of spiders. At this time of year they become very visible, and this year there seems to be a whole heck of a lot more of them than normal. I've been told they are beneficial in many ways, but that knowledge has not seeped from my conscious awareness to the part of my brain that controls automatic and irrational reactions. 

I live in a place where there are cougars and bears. I have learned some basic "bear aware" strategies over the years, yet I have a sneaking suspicion that if I were confronted by one of these large, local mammals I'd panic. 

Hmmmm. Having read those last two confessions I'm beginning to wonder if the connection from the "knowledge" part of my brain to the "reaction" part of my brain is faulty. 

Because of these shortcomings, I'm particularly grateful when brave friends are willing to roam through the forest with sweat running down their necks, spiders dripping from their hat brims, and pine needles in their underwear, to forage for chanterelle mushrooms. I'm even more grateful when they share those mushrooms with me. 

Of course, the fact that chanterelles are delicious may also have something to do with my gratitude.  Thanks to our brave friends T and R we had a particularly awesome lunch last Sunday. 

I know it doesn't look like much. Blame my amateur photography skills. And my desire to sit down and eat!
 

Usually, when we are lucky enough to acquire chanterelles, we make pizza. Sadly, there wasn't time this week for pizza-making. Still, I'm particularly pleased with the meal we made with our gift of mushrooms. It satisfied on so many levels. 

First it was economical, as it allowed me to use up the ends of many items lingering in the fridge. The salad was leftover from dinner the night before, as was the home-made honey-mustard dressing. The sandwich allowed me to use the last bit of an onion and the remains of a wedge of cheese leftover from earlier meals.

The meal also included a number of locally grown and prepared ingredients. That always makes me happy. On our small plates we managed to squeeze in the following local stuff:

• Bread from Vassili's Denman Island Bakery
• Chanterelles (a gift from foraging friends T and R)
• Smoked salt from Vancouver Island Salt Co.
• Smoked Boerenkaas cheese from Natural Pastures
• Honey from Big D's Bees
• Sweet pepper from Fiesta Greenhouses
• Tomatoes from our garden
• Cucumber & onion from Sleeping Cougar Acres (gifts from L)
• Lettuce from Whole Hog Farm
• Garlic from our garden

In addition, the open-faced sandwich was much easier to prepare than pizza, and it came together quickly. Here's the recipe, if you can call it that.

Sauted Chanterelle Mushrooms on Toast

• chanterelle mushrooms (as many as your friends are willing to part with)
• 1/4 medium onion - chopped
• 1 clove garlic - minced
• butter
• olive oil
• sea salt
• smoked salt
• bread - toasted
• cheese - sliced, grated, whatever.

Preheat broiler.

Clean and slice chanterelles.

Heat oil and butter in a frying pan.

Add onion and garlic.

Add chanterelles.

Add a small sprinkle of sea salt.

Cook until onions and garlic are translucent and mushrooms are tender.

Sprinkle with a wee bit of smoked salt. 

Top toast with mushroom mixture.

Top all that goodness with cheese.

Pop under the broiler until the cheese is melty, gooey and delicious.

Lastly, our lunch was darned yummy. Seriously, you need to find some brave friends willing share some chanterelles and try it yourself!

What I Did Last Summer: The Illustrated Lists

List the First

• Started a new job.

List the Second

• Headed to Ontario with Hubby days after starting the new job. (Thanks to good friends who don't mind getting up before the sun to take us to the airport.)

Hubby and I at the airport. Not too bad considering Hubby had to work all night the night before our trip. Neither of us got much sleep.

• Visited with his family and my family.
• Reunited with university friends and mosquitoes at a sweet waterside cottage. Who knew we had such cut-throat croquet players in our little group?
• Accompanied my niece on her first drive.
• Watched my nephew kick ass at karate practice.
• My niece and I were pretend judges at a fake karate tournament.
• Short overnight trip to London for....
• Pearl Jam concert!

On our way to the concert.
What a middle-aged woman wears to a rock concert when it's too hot to wear what she planned to wear. NYDJ capris courtesy of my Mom!
Note the woman in the background. See her striped dress? That's what cool, fashionable women wear to a rock concert. She looked great, and nowhere near as sweaty as I did. 

The morning after.
Note the new Pearl Jam t-shirt worn with white capris I borrowed from my sister.

List the Third

• Hubby and I returned to Vancouver Island with my niece and nephew. (As I mentioned in a previous post, it didn't rain at all here in the month of July. Sad news for farmers, gardeners and green lawns, but perfect for me. (Because it's all about me, isn't it?) This summer marked my niece and nephew's first trip to the island. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Though I'm sure they wouldn't have minded a couple of rainy, indoor days. At 16 and 13 years of age, they are rather attached to their electronics.) 
• Attack of the teen-aged berry thieves.
• Seals, starfish, sand dollars...
• Bunnies and deer and... a snake! Oh my!
• Evening walks around the neighbourhood.
• Classic Cruiser parade.

Vintage truck belongs to the local Canadian Tire.
I'll bill them for the advertising space. 

• Discovered Roosters really do have Teeth.  
• Was introduced to "Video Game High School".
• Introduced my niece and nephew to "Ghostbusters" "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Shaun of the Dead".
• Never did figure out the appeal of "Big Brother". 
• Discovered I don't mind "Amazing Race Canada". 
• Coombs, Cuckoo's and Goats on the Roof.

Look! A Goat! On a roof!

• Parksville Sandcastle Competition and a stroll on the beach.

• Fish Tacos! (Meh.) 
• Spaghetti Tacos! (Awesome!)
• Air-popped popcorn
• Pancakes and Tannadice Farms bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon.
• Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Mmmmm. More Tannadice Farms bacon.
• House elves! (I miss having teenagers to sweep my floors and wash my dishes.)
• Beachcombing at Kye Bay.

• Live crabs were wrestled.

• Gelato, gelato and more gelato at Benino Gelato.
• Hiked though the woods and down to the beach at Seal Bay.
• Walked the beach at Goose Spit.
• Lunched at the Filberg Park Tea House
• Saw "The Wolverine" ... Take it off Mr Jackman! 
• Walked the boardwalk and enjoyed the company of the whiskey jacks at Paradise Meadows.

Honest Mr. Conservation Officer. We weren't feeding the birds. They just flew onto our hands for no reason!

Or maybe they stopped by to check out our shoes!

• Five fingers for all!
• Visited friendly farmers.
• A cougar sighting

• An almost bear sighting.

Photo courtesy of L at Sleeping Cougar Acres. The bear was wandering her property within hours of our leaving it. It left the above as evidence.

• Swam in the river. 
• Another swim in the river.
• Ran an earring sweatshop featuring child labourers in our dining room (after ages at the bead shop selecting materials).
• Set up the tent in the yard for a teen camp-out.
• Farmers' Market.
• Market Days.
• Korean food. Our treat, then theirs.
• Two trips to the chocolate shop. Or maybe three.
• Several trips to the art gallery.
• Jelly bean roulette. 
• Bedtime story!  Not quite like the old days, but close enough. 

List the Fourth

• Left Hubby to the peace and quiet and flew back to Ontario to return the teens to their rightful owners.
• Wrestled a seal head into my carry-on and a tayberry plant into my checked luggage. Both survived the trip. Wasn't sure if the teens would. The 4:30 am wake-up call was a bit rough for them. 
• A happy reuniting of the teens with their mother, their grand parents, their cat and their dishwasher. 

"You missed me? Did you go somewhere? Play with me."

• Discovered "A Very Potter Musical" and the sequel "A Very Potter Sequel".
• Winery visits, family visits, perch, broasted chicken, blueberries.
• Colasanti's! Remember when they sold plants?
• Started a container herb garden with my niece and nephew in spite of lack of plants at Colasanti's. 
• More air-popped popcorn.
• Shopping with my Mom.  
• Shopping with my sister and niece.
• Mario Party!
• Ratatoullie! The dish not the movie. Cooking with the teens is fun! (Until the big knives come out. Then I panic.)
• Steaks and summer sausage from local grass-fed cattle. Meet the meat.

List the Fifth

• Returned to Vancouver Island...eventually. Unplanned delays allowed for...
• Beer and snacks in Calgary.
• Really late arrival at Comox Airport.
• Barely awake reunion with Hubby.
• Back to work. I didn't quite forget everything while I was off gallivanting. 
• Hiking and movies and meals out and lazy weekends off.
• Labour Day Weekend wedding...
• ... which pretty much brings us to the present.

Wow! What lists! I'm particularly impressed with all we managed to cram into the two weeks with my niece and nephew. And there's so much more we could have done. Now that they know where to find us, I hope they come back and visit us again soon! 

Once Upon a September Day...

... a boy named Chris was born. Around about his 21st birthday the boy, by then a young man known as Monster, celebrated at his university's pub. Friends and strangers came to join the festivities. On that fateful night, one of his friends met one of the strangers over the foosball table. After a rousing victory the team mates danced and danced and agreed that they must see each other again...

...and again...

...and again...

Now, twenty-six years later, they still see each other on a daily basis. In fact, they got married and live happily ever after.

Happy 26th Anniversary to my wonderful Hubby. How fortunate that, when I was looking for a partner for that game, I found my partner for life.

And Happy Birthday to Chris. Thankfully we're not strangers any more!

Because Everyone Should Buy Their Jewellery at the Coffee Shop.

Summer here has been absolutely beautiful. We had no rain whatsoever in July, which is pretty amazing considering Vancouver Island is part of Canada's coastal rainforest. Of course August threw us some cold, wet weather to remind us of our geographical heritage. There were days that felt like winter, though in reality they merely seemed winter-like when compared to the heady, heated days of July.

Thankfully sunny skies prevailed for the last day of August, as Hubby and I had a wedding to attend. 

This was not the first wedding-related appearance for the dress and the shoes. They accompanied me to Memphis a few years ago for a cousin's wedding reception. Now there was some hot weather. The dress I wore to that ceremony was too soggy and clingy to wear to the reception, and not because I went for a dip in the baptismal pool, though the thought did cross my mind.

The necklace is new. Somehow wearing all black to a wedding ceremony didn't seem appropriate. At least that was my excuse for stopping for an Americano at a local coffee shop/gallery and leaving with jewellery. It's not like I'd been eyeing the necklace for months or anything. Ahem.

The jacket/shrug thingy was new to me. I picked it up at a consignment shop the week before the wedding. As there was no telling what the weather would do, I thought I should have something to provide a bit of warmth should the weather prove uncooperative. I was really pleased with how well the thingy went with the dress. 

Hubby wore a black suit, white shirt and a red tie, so we made a handsome and coordinated couple. I even managed to wear the shoes through most of the day. Shocking considering that I never wear heels. I wasn't even lame the next day. In fact, on Sunday I was able to do the pub to pub walk without limping. In different shoes of course.

Linking up with Patti and the handsome and coordinated crew over at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday. Go check it out! 

Happy Canada Day!

Thanks to Hubby for humouring me and documenting my Canada-Day dress-up session. 

Happy Canada Day my friends! We had perfect weather here for celebrating our nation's birthday. Hot, dry with clear skies and a slight breeze. Mmmmm. Sadly, in spite of all the red and white in my wardrobe, I didn't have anything appropriate to wear to the festivities.

This outfit had potential. Red, white and cool. The dark dots along the skirt are coins that jingle when I walk. And we were walking. The jingling would have driven me mad, if the coins didn't fall off en route  I lost one just getting ready for pictures. Besides, I sound like an ice-cream truck when I wear it. Sounding like an ice-cream truck on a hot day when not actually having ice cream to share is just cruel.

Another outfit featuring the right colours, but oh, so the wrong team for a Canada Day celebration on Vancouver Island. I have been booed in the streets for wearing my Red Wings jersey here before. Not a wise choice in the land of Canucks. 

Besides, I'm not comfortable showing that much leg in public.

The cotton top in this outfit is cool and crisp, but the fabric of this dress is just too hot. I don't understand why they made a summer dress out of such sweat-inducing fabric. I also don't understand why I keep it in my wardrobe when it irritates me so. In spite of that, I was glad to have it for pictures today.

Did I mention we were walking to the festivities? Not in these shoes. I just about lost a heel just getting around the yard. And I can only hold my stomach in for so long! As much as I love how I look, this just wasn't a reasonable outfit for the day. 

All these fun options and no winners! Looks like I'll have to do some shopping before Canada Day rolls around again. 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Linking up with Patti and the stylish crew for Visible Monday over at Not Dead Yet Style. Stop by and check out the festivities. 

The Same, Yet Different

I have a new job!

Sort of.

It's the same job, but at a different location and on different days. One big bonus is that Hubby and I now have weekends off together for the first time since the late 1990's! That's how we managed that last-minute getaway for our anniversary. I found out about my new schedule on Monday, had my last day at my old job on Tuesday, started my new job on Wednesday, and ended up with an unplanned weekend off. The first of many. Woo hoo!

It's surprising how different everything feels in my new job. Different, and tiring. Though it's the same work, I'm finding that it requires a lot more thought at the new location. I have to pause every time I answer the phone and remember that I'm not longer at "West Branch". Yesterday, my whole morning was thrown off-kilter when I was asked for a hole-punch and I didn't know where to find it. OK, it wasn't just the hole-punch, but that was the first raindrop in what became a virtual storm of questions I didn't have the answers for. Exhausting.

The upside is that I'm learning a lot, and it looks like I'm going to have the opportunity to learn much more. I'm sure I'll find that exciting when I'm not so stinking tired!

In the mean time, things here at Elusive Onions may be a bit topsy-turvy and higgledy-piggledy as I adjust to my new schedule and my new location. I hope you'll stick around while I adapt. I have so much I want to share with you. After I've had a nap. 

Me Me on the Beach

Hubby and I were able to plan a last minute get-away for our anniversary weekend. I'm rather short on outfit photos as a result. The closest is this one of me on the beach:

I hope to be back next Monday with an actual outfit to share. Until then, a few more beach pictures courtesy of my wonderful Hubby.

Linking up with Patti and all the lovely women over at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday. Head on over and see what they're wearing.