Fun With Candlelight

Here are some pictures from my "Earth Hour" evening mentioned in a previous post. For the pictures with the candleholder, I was trying to capture the crackled glass shadow on the wall. Some of the pictures show it a little. The shadows were dancing with the flickering candlelight, and with the low light of candlelight, it was tricky to capture (hence the >100 pics I took!).

What Super Hero Am I?

What Super Hero am I? I went to a Super Hero party a couple weeks ago. I dressed up as a Super Hero and the picture below was my cape. After a few guesses, I will post my Super Hero name. Isn't the symbol cool, though? I found the picture and basically printed it off in black and white to change the colour composition from blue and white and coloured in the white parts my favourite colour - orange. It kind of goes with some nicknames I've had in the past, namely Speedy and most recently Spitfire. This picture is now posted on my office door at work.

Hint: look at the big 'W' on the design.

Super W_______ to the rescue!!!!

Mouse in the House - hey that could be a song!

It feels like a while since I've written a post. I seem to be busy most days of the week - at least in the way of having things to do. Yet, at the same time, nothing really new has happened. Yes, I've had a couple more interviews. Maybe something will turn up with one of them. I actually feel hopeful about the one, and it's exactly the number of hours I've been looking for. So ... hopefully. In the mean time, I plod on with whatever I've been doing and look for new opportunities. I also don't have pressing issues to discuss in my blog, so I'm not sure what to write. Today will be more of a 'day in the life of' post.

Today, I actually took time to pamper myself. I slept in until 10:30 or so. I laid in bed until 11. I went to a friend's for lunch. In the later afternoon, I did a conditioning hair treatment, took a nice, long, hot shower, and did a facial. :) It's been a long time since I've done that kind of thing. Not the shower part - that's regular. :) I was in comfy, cozy clothes ready to stay in the night when a friend invited me out to Galli's, a local pub, for an open jam. I didn't play or sing today, but I enjoyed the music and hanging out with a bunch of people I know and some I don't know.

I also realized I think there's a mouse in the house. I hope not, but there's some evidence. Not so far in the way of droppings, but I came across a bag of lentils that had a hole in it with a bunch of lentils that had spilled out. I also found some chocolate chips that took a bit of a walk. Last night, I heard some scratching, some little feet, some digging. It sounded like it was outside my office window. Maybe it came through the drier vent? I don't know. Today, I found some evidence. I don't like the thought of a mouse in the house. I want someone else to deal with it. Maybe it will make its way back outside on its own. Unrealistic, I know. But I can wish, right? I don't want to see it alive, and I don't want to see it dead in a trap. I guess, I'd rather see it alive than dead. Afterall, I used to work with mice in a lab. But they're clean mice. This one wouldn't be. And I don't like surprises in the way of living things like that. It's one thing to see it, knowing it is there. As in a cage, or something like that. It's another to see it come out of some corner unexpectedly. I also don't want to reach into my cupboards and then touch the thing. Or find some dead smelly mouse. Yeah. Just go away!

By the way, the drawing of the mouse was my first attempt to draw something using a computer mouse other than straight line things like arrows or box-like houses. Haha. A mouse for a mouse, not a mouse for a house. Ah, nevermind. It's almost 2 am. Not sure why I thought that was funny. Why am I still awake?

Divine Creativity

It has been a while since I've taken a few hours just to take pictures. I love being out in nature and I wanted to do some planning for my business so I decided to stop at Pearce Estate Park on my way home today.  I didn't do a lot of planning, but I did get some exercise in, wheeling along the paved paths and taking lots of pictures - more than 200! Taking pictures, for me, is a way I connect spiritually.  I notice the little details and appreciate what my Creator has made - the intricate details, the spectacular creativity, the beauty.  And I just 'am', taking it all in. Lately, I've been reading the book Making Your Dreams Your Destiny by Judy Rushfeldt that resonate with me that also link to the idea of creativity.  Here are a few quotes about creativity from the book:

"God is utterly, undeniably extravagant. Creativity is God's essence; he can't help being extravagant with it. He is creativity. And so are you - for divine creativity is woven into the fabric of your soul." p. 60

"Every great invention, every painting or musical composition, every child's finger painting splattered on the wall, every flair for artistic flower arrangements or love of beauty or romance, every warrior instinct to protect and defend loved ones, every entrepreneurial drive to start new business ventures, every creative act, from a toddler building a sandcastle to an architect designing the world's tallest skyscraper -- all these emanate from the divine creativity that is irrevocably stamped on our souls" (p. 31).

"The same God who designed the splendours of the universe personally planned every little detail about you, including your physical characteristics, personality, talents, and -- most important -- your life purpose. He never planned for you to live in misery and failure; he planned for you to live with joy and purpose" (p. 37).

The author goes on to encourage readers to 'cultivate and express' (p. 60) creativity as this will nourish our hearts.

And a quote about change that's connected to nature, also from the same book:

"Though winter is indeed harsh and cold, it is also the time when the dead leaves are absorbed into the frozen soil, decaying and breaking down into minerals and other nutrients necessary to nourish new life in spring" (p. 83).

I haven't finished the book, but I am hoping to write more of a review at some point as there are other concepts and points that really jumped out at me.  When I first started reading the book, I thought it was pretty hokey.  The title alone made me think this would be some sort of cheesy "motivating" style of book. I picked it up again recently and thought it might actually be helpful since I'm trying to figure out where to go next in life. It's been quite helpful, actually, as there are some exercises to do and some reflection questions to consider. It's helped me realize what kinds of things make me happy which may help in figuring out what I will focus on in the next while.

And, now for the pictures I promised...

Using super macro mode, this is the fluff of the above dandelion. Look at the amazing creativity and detail that went into the creation of this flower that so many of us think of as a weed.

There was white cotton like fluff everywhere in the park. 

My version of 'Scream':

 
I found this little metal ball on a picnic table and thought it was kind of neat. Picture worthy, anyway! :)

And some rainbow pics taken after a thunder storm last week:

Below: With a wee bit of colour tweaking, I darkened the image and increased the saturation. Up close, you can actually see the raindrops too (you can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them).

A Moment of 'Christmas' - A second wind of Birthday

When I got home today, I found a package by my door. My excitement grew. I love packages. :) Well, as long as they are good packages - not some bomb or something. Not that I've experienced that and not that I plan to. But packages in the mail are always fun. But, after a brief moment, I double checked to make sure it was mine because my old roommate still gets stuff here. Sure enough it was mine.

No pictures today, folks (but apparently, I'm a "picture crazy" "ant" ;) Thanks B! LOL). I thought, after the fact, this story would have made a good picture . This time, you get to picture this on your own.

So here goes ... picture this...

I walk to my room to open the package. To sit and enjoy the experience. The bed is made. There are a few clothes lying on the bed. Ok, more than just a few, but not a big pile. I'm sitting on the bed, with a reddish - maroonish coloured long sleeve t-shirt on and a pair of jeans. My socks are brown with an orange flower on them. I'm sitting cross-legged. My hair has a couple clips in it, holding my hair back, almost in a half pony tail. Silvery clips with sequins. It is dreary-looking outside - it seems to be snowing. (Oops, I said the 's' word). Because it's darker outside, my bedroom light is on.

I am a little eager in opening the package. Afterall, by then I had read who it was from and knew it was a present for me. :D I remember a text message from my niece a few days ago asking me what my favourite colour was so I wondered what thing might be orange. :D Thanks K. :D At first I start with care. I snip a corner with a small scissor with orange handles (do you get a theme?), making sure not to cut any contents. Then, I stick my finger in the hole and rip. It is easy at first. Then there is some resistance, so I rip ... hard! In an eager fashion. And there is dust everywhere! It looks like a mouse nest. Seriously! Shredded recycled paper bits. And every time I reach into the package to take out another item, I get more dust all over me and the bed. As I pull out each item, I also am brought back to when I lived in Australia. Christmas in Australia.

When I was in Australia, my family and my small group sent me my birthday presents by mail in boxes (one from each). I had fun pulling out each item, reading the notes and enjoying a laugh by remembering special times. Or smiling at memories or the thoughts that went into the notes and the presents. It was exciting. It was fun. And I also was alone. Not in a bad way. But I lived far away from family. So, there was a bit of nostalgia. A sense of missing my loved ones. And a sense of being loved, knowing they took the time to put something together to send to me. Back then, I was experiencing Christmas in summer time. No snow to be seen. Beautiful green trees like today. Maybe on a day similar to today - well, maybe not - a little hotter perhaps. :D Particularly becaue today, we have sleet, or dare I say the 's' word???

Back to today. The bearers of gifts know me well. They know I like chocolate. Dark chocolate in fact. I find 4 different kind of dark chocolate bars. One I am especially eager to taste - Cherry-Chilli-Chocolate. I am curious. I also find Clod Hoppers, Lindt chocolate, and fizzy Mini-Eggs - these should be interesting too. The orange thing is a bright orange stress ball with a happy face on it. :D There is also a book by a well-known inspirational speaker and a set of encouragement cards. And each of my nieces sent me a picture they drew together with a page of rainbow stickers. Their characters are so evident in the pictures, and I smile, remembering the good times with them. The card has one of my favourite verses, Phil. 1:3 - "I thank my God every time I remember you". It's a good verse when loved ones are far away. And it brings me back to the time I received a note from a friend with this verse inside. The good old days. The front of the card has a little chiding in it - "Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art" - chiding in that I'm aging but also beautiful, in that that aging is a beautiful thing - a work in progress, a wonderful piece of art. The card shows love, both in the card chosen and in the note inside. Thanks C for your thoughtfulness! Thank you all for everything!

With the final reach into the bag to make sure I got everything, I accidentally rip it further - I never knew a mail envelope could look so much like a mouse nest. Or the remains of one. I sit there laughing. My shoulders shaking. My laugh - according to my mom - like a tire rolling down the hill. The mouse nest is everywhere! I will need a vaccuum cleaner to clean up the mess. Then, I pick it up to close it, and accidentally puff more. How is this possible??? There are apparently 2 layers of mouse nest! So, now, it is sitting next to my garbage can. I plan to show the bag to my cousin when she arrives in a couple minutes. We seem to find similar things funny and she is not feeling very well - maybe a good laugh will do her some good. And, maybe we'll share a little chocolate while we watch a movie. In the mean time, I should find some supper. So I don't just eat chocolate for supper.

Have you ever noticed ...?

Have you ever noticed that when it rains, it appears as though the puddles are reaching up to catch the raindrops? There is this line that appears to connect before the drop splashes into the puddle. Maybe like a bolt of lightening. I tried to capture that with my little digital camera. The pictures are a little grainy and there is some glare, but here's what I'm talking about. Click on the pictures to see the details.

Having fun with my camera

I took these pictures while in Manitoba. I was using my 'fireworks' setting.

The 2-sided Mr. Strange ... by Kaia, Brittany and Patti

Once upon a time, there were 3 girls who wanted to carve a pumpkin. They didn't know where to find one.

Ashley, Abby and Ainsley had to find a pumpkin treasure map. Abby searched far and wide on the internet and found the map. Abby was sure she knew how to read the map and pointed the way.



So, off they went, in search of a perfect pumpkin. Sometimes they walked, sometimes they used 'The Train'. Ashley got so frustrated because there was no pumpkin in sight.




After a long, difficult trip over hills and valleys using 'The Train',






they found the perfect pumpkin. It was flat enough on the bottom that it wouldn't fall over when it was carved, big enough to carve it's 2-sided face (afterall, the pumpkin, of course, needs to be able to express its different moods), and round enough to look nice.


Ashley holding the pumpkin

The girls dug in with knives. They dug in with spoons to scoop out the mess. They sawed, they carved, they dug some more.





And, finally ... the finished product. The 2-sided Mr. Strange.




After all the hard work, they relaxed, dreaming of a day when they will go to Hawaii for more adventures.








More Pictures Of Mr. Strange ... inside and out.