winter beach - first of the year

I love the beach in winter time. It's so quiet you can hear yourself think. I swear I can feel my blood pressure drop and my heart beat slow down each time I come to this water. The first glimpse of it as you come through town still takes my breath away -- every time -- after all these years. It is so familiar to me now, but familiarity has not diminished its beauty. Knowing it so well only lets me love it better.

It was too snowy to come on New Year's Day this year, so today, January 24th, was my first beach visit of the year. A little late perhaps, but I did get there. I grabbed a coffee and an indulgent cinnamon bun and headed for the shore to commune.The tide was all the way in so this little river formed right across the beach all the way down to the water. It's not hard to get over, but with a full coffee in one hand and precious, cinnamon-y cargo in the other I decided settle on this side of it. Some local driftwood obliged and offered me a seat. With the tide so far in a little waterfall formed not five feet from where I sat. As I munched and sipped I had the sound of the waves coming home in one ear and the tinkling bells of the fall in the other. Could any garden seat be sweeter?
It was a perfect day for picking up interesting rocks.
And breathing deeply. And letting the wind dance in your hair.
It was a rather cold wind chasing away visitors. I didn't stay too long past the end of my coffee and walked back to my car shivering and smiling. Beach season has officially begun.

watching history

Did you watch today? Here on the west coast the inauguration happened early in the workday. We were given permission to stop work and watch so with 6 co-workers gathered around my computer we watched history unfold in Washington. What incredible thing to see. There must be so many who felt this day would never come. And now here we are, a day, perhaps a new country. Who knows what dreams may come?

stargate: atlantis wrap party

Much to the disappointment of fans everywhere, Stargate: Atlantis was canceled earlier this year making the fifth season the final installment. The fifth season hasn't even aired on cable in Canada yet but thanks to the wonders of a friend with Movie Central that hasn't got in our way. The final episode aired recently and we decided to have a little wrap party and watch it together. Monica came over with the tape and we had blue jello and lemon chicken to celebrate (Rodney would have been proud).

We also had chocolate covered strawberries -- no irony or hidden Atlantis reference there, they just taste good.I thought they did a good job with the final episodes, they brought their game up a little. I think the story lines have suffered this season. I was pleased to see them pick up a few threads from episodes past and was particularly touched with Carter's lines about renaming the Phoenix the General Hammond. There were "ahhs" all across the living room for that one. A fitting tribute I thought. [ For those who don't watch the show, shame on you, Don S. Davis who played General Hammond for many years on Stargate SG-1 passed away suddenly last year. Now you're in the know, go watch the show. ]

When we got to the part when Ronon is shot [I mean stabbed, thanks Coli :) ] I was almost out of my chair. Theses guys face certain death all the time on the show, but you know they're always going to get back up again. Here in the final episode I thought maybe they weren't kidding. By the end of the show, they had told a good story, so I was happy. You could tell that the writers have been taking full advantage of the end of show, all bets are off atmosphere. A few episodes back they cut off Sheppard's hand and I totally bought it. I figured they could green screen his hand for the final three shows. Any other point in the series I would have known that something was up, but this close to the end, it's all on the table.

There's going to be an Atlantis movie, or so they tell us, as they try to both keep us on board and pitch the new spin-off who's name I will not mention here. Yes, I'm sulking, I know, but I liked Atlantis and I wish they could have kept it around a little longer. They film right here in Vancouver and I never got a chance to causally swing by. (Although as any Vancouverite will tell you, you can follow the neon road signs as long as you like, you're never going to get past the corner where they park the first security guy. It's still fun to dream.)

I'm sure we'll gather to watch the movie when it comes out and cheer on John and Ronan, Rodney and Teyla and the others. And until then, there's always the bonus features on the DVDs.

ps. Mom, here's what the new haircut looks like (at least the curly version, it's fun straight too.)

happy birthday Corrina!

I can hardly believe that Corrina is turning 3 already, but it's true. Wasn't it just yesterday I was posting about her arrival? Dave put up a message on Facebook asking for little videos for Corrina so here's mine. It's the first take I did. The one I posted to Facebook is the second take where I tried to talk slower (cameras kinda freak me out). So this version has the speedy talking but the singing turned out better.

Happy birthday little niece! I love you more than you know.

the physics of snow

As you may have heard, we've had a little snow around here. And the natives, myself in particular, are none too pleased about it. For those who think we whine about snow of no significance, I offer the following physics problem. How do you get a car that does not bend in and out of this?
As you can see, my designated parking spot is on the gravel beside the driveway, normally a lovely place to park. Until the neighbour piles the snow from his driveway up one side of your car and the landlord piles the snow from the their driveway up the other turning your parking spot into a parking alley with verrry tight proportions:The alley stretches right out the road so now to get in, or out, you have to make a 90 degree turn from the road into the parking alley. For reference, the bank on the left is about 2.5 feet high, passable in truck or decent 4x4 (too bad I drive a Sentra). But the bank on the other side is getting to be a little over 4 feet -- that's a full size snow shovel standing up right on in it's blade beside the pile.I've gotten in and out twice using both the driveway across the street, the landlord's and a shaky three-ish point turn technique. The first time it was a success, this morning after another 4-5 inches of really wet, really slushy snow I beached the car right across the road trying to get back in. Thank goodness for kind neighbours who needed to use the road and pushed me out. (I'd say "you're awesome dude in the van!" but he was driving a truck -- that one was for you Wall family :) As for passengers, I can only take really really skinny people, unless you want to wait in the street til I get out.After my valiant if unsuccessful attempt to drive to work today I must say I've felt a little vindicated to see three other cars get stuck on this street and even a truck having a hard time getting down it. I wonder if it's too late to learn a rain dance?

2009

Happy New Year! This time of year I'm always reminded of Anne Shirley's comment, "Tomorrow is a new day, with no mistakes in it." Here we stand at the opening of 2009, an entire year of flawless tomorrows all lined up and waiting for us. I don't know what 2009 will hold. I know of a few events that are expected but beyond that, only God knows. From down here it is a blank canvas as white and shadowless as the snow outside my window.

There's always talk of resolutions on this day, but I tend to shy away from that word. It's so steeped in disappointment and expectation that it seems doomed to fail. It's a shame really, because in addition to the idea of being resolved to do something, it also carries the idea of a solution, a problem resolved. I wonder if things would be different if we looked at it that way -- these are my solutions for 2009?

For me, rather than these weighty resolutions, I like to dream this time of year. What are my dreams for 2009, for myself, for my life, for the ones I love? There's far more scope in dreaming. One dream has already happened just last week -- Corrina sang. There was no guarantee of music in her life -- as far as I know the doctors don't know why some CO kids can hear it and others can't -- but she sang. And I thought of the jingle bells I bought her for her first Christmas, just weeks before we found out she was deaf. I remember crying when I realized that the bells would bring her no joy at all. There were just something shiny on a stick. But now. . . not only can she hear the bells, she can sing about them.

Another dream for 2009 is to start enjoying the SLR I bought myself last year. I am a little overwhelmed by it and a year of just staring at it hasn't helped much. There's a great quote from a knitting book I found a while back that says "Thing's I've learning from knitting: Projects get completed faster when you actually work on them, which is why the scarf I've been working on for two years has gotten no bigger, no matter how long I leave it in the basket." To this end I've signed up for a class run by one of the photography studios here in town. Whatever happens in 2009, perhaps I'll at least have better photos of it :)

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2009. What are your dreams for the year?

the Christmas post

I have been remiss in posting my Christmas Day photos, so here goes. The first one is actually from Christmas Eve, because really, is there a better day to read the Grinch? When you can get to the part about "Christmas is tomorrow, it's practically here" it really is! Growing up it was always my job to tire Dave out so he would sleep through the night. He never did. We'd often read stories together as part of the attempt and I thought of you little brother as I pulled this out that night. (And to this day, thanks to all the times we watched Muppets' Family Christmas every time I hear "Sleigh Ride" my brain still hears "there's a party at the house of Fozzie Bear. . . ") I never sleep that well the night before Christmas either. Too excited. I can't decide if I want to grow out of that someday or not.
Christmas morning I found this note on my doorstep:

It's an easy walk to Gord & Shannon's but it's a fair distance if you're shoveling. I was so touched that the three of them would do this for us. What a great gift to start the day with. It did snow ALL night so it was a little hard to see where the shoveling had happened, but as I walked through the snow my heart was light with the thought of what they had done and that definitely made the snow far less of an impediment.
This is my street Christmas morning. I don't know if I've ever been out walking on Christmas morning before but it was a beautiful way to start the day. It was quiet and peaceful and white and blanketed, as though all the trouble of the world had been muted for the morning. I know it was an illusion, but what a pretty deception. To give you an idea of how fast the snow was coming down. This picture was taken just outside my front door as I headed out.
And this is just a few minutes later outside Gord & Shannon's place (which is just 7 doors down and around the corner from ours.)

This is Gord & Shannon's where the main events took place. It looked beautiful walking up the drive that morning, fresh snow failing and the lights on the house and the lights from the tree shining through the window. The photo does it no justice at all, but I can still see it in my head, and trust me, it was lovely.
There were great gifts, and great people. We opened stockings early -- always a great tradition. I still have the red stocking I've had since I was a little kid. I noticed this year that the gold letters are barely hanging on by a thread. I think it might be time make myself a new one. I know we got these stockings when we came to Canada. I don't remember if we had stockings in England and they just didn't make the voyage. (Mom, when you read this can you let me know if we had them then? I'm not sure if stockings are a Canadian thing.)
I was trying to also get my shiny new snowflake pendant in this shot. It didn't work at all, but it's a great shot of me & Coli. Coli got Lululemon pants for Christmas and they're great pants, but I think she needs to stop wearing them for at least at couple of years. She looks far too grown up in them. Surely she's not *really* turning 13 in a couple of days. That must be someone else.
This is Sammy, Tracy & Hugo's youngest. And I know it's out of focus, but look at that face! Tell me you could let a little focus get in the way of sharing a smile like that. At this point in the day Sammy and Kendra were roaring at each other like lions using the stair railing in place of cages at the zoo. Hilarious. Tracy & Hugo braved the snow to come with Chrisaleen & Sammy and share Christmas. Yay for more faces! I remember when this little guy was born, seems like just yesterday.

It was a lovely Christmas. Lots of cousins & nieces to talk to and play with. (I may have lost Scum but I did win Carcasonne). There was delicious food and always a conversation happening somewhere. The snow came down all day. The kids spent hours playing in it and the grown-ups spent hours not playing in it. It truly was a celebration. And best of all is knowing that there will always be a place for me at the table.

the moon on the crest of the new fallen snow

Around here, that moon-on-the-snow looked something like this. Clearly we will be having a white Christmas this year. Maybe even the whit-est Christmas of all. Amanda and I were both quite shocked by the accumulation.

The stockings were hung. . . but we had to take them down to fill them.
There will be 17 of us for Christmas tomorrow, so in addition to being the white-est Christmas ever I think it will also be the biggest. Good times lie ahead. I got to video chat with Mark, Rachel, Kai, Mom & Dad in Australia this afternoon where it is already Christmas. Still trippy. I chatted with Janie, Dave & Corrina yesterday and Corrina sang "Jingle Bells" to me. What a great Christmas present.Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the spirit of Christmas find you wherever you are tonight. And if this Christmas is not quite what you were expecting, then consider these words from poet Ann Weems:

The Christmas Spirit
Is that hope
Which tenaciously clings
To the hearts of the faithful
And announces
In the face
Of any Herod the world can produce
And all the inn doors slammed in our faces
And all the dark nights of our souls
That with God

All things are possible,
That even now
Unto us
A child is born!
~ Ann Weems

Merry Christmas! May God bless us, every one.

boxes, little boxes

If you have little gifts that you don't want to get lost under the tree, try making these little boxes. They're very easy to make and just the right size to keep your treasures safe.
The template is available on Esty.com from A Little Hut. Five dollars gets you all four designs and the PDF is emailed to you the same day so you can get started right away. Because the PDF is saved to your computer, there's no limit to how many boxes you can make.
All you do is print the template directly on to your paper (I used regular construction paper) then follow the guidelines to fold and stick. I added a little glitter to mine because it's Christmas and everything that could sparkle should. If you haven't gone exploring on esty.com yet, I highly recommend it. It's billed as ebay for all things handmade and there are some beautiful, beautiful things on that site. Happy boxing!

best card ever + office party

This was the card that Dave & Janie sent out in 2006. I couldn't blog it back then because not all of the cards had arrived yet and I didn't want to ruin anyone's surprise. I kept mine and have it on the desk by my laptop where I can enjoy it at eye level. It has stood the test of time and is still genius. On the front is lovely tree paper (it says 'Celebrate together' if you're having trouble reading that). And then when you open it up..
It's a custom pop-up card! How cool is that? There's Janie & Dave decorating the tree and as the card opens the garland stretches into place. I have a long and abiding love of pop-ups to begin with, but pop-ups that look like people you know? Very cool. I think Dave's hand with the star is brilliant, so Seuss-ian. I'm pretty sure he said that the plaid on his shirt was hand drawn line by line. But that's very Dave, when it's his art, he lives in the details.
These are the guts of the card, all those working pieces. I wonder if I can video tape it so you get the full effect? A project for another evening.

Also in this post -- the office party --
I feel like I've already blog these photos, but that's because I put them on Facebook and Mom & Dad, I know you can't see them there so these are for you. After several years of politely declining I decided to go to the our corporate party this year. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. I decided to go an get my hair done -- a brilliant idea when the alternative is 8 girls all trying to get ready in the only ladies' room in the building with decent lighting. They decided to have the party in town this year, cutting down on almost everyone's drive time so while there wasn't time to go home to change, it was really nice when the night came to an end. (And thank the Lord himself, the snow stayed away until the next day. Thank you!!!)
This is me with Angie & Kim, who sometimes go by their alter egos "Boo's parents". Boo, also known as their daughter Matia, is a bit of a legend. Kim suspects she has mad drumming skillz and while it's still a little early to tell, he's probably right.
This is Nicole, Sarah, Lynnette and myself all spiffed up and party-ready.
And here's Sarah and her husband John (who is also famous in our office -- he makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies. Sarah makes amazing butter tarts. We eat well around here.)
This is the group shot of our table. As I mentioned on Facebook, Kim said I could sit at the Asian table, being honorary Asian and all. Xie xie! [she-shay, which means 'thank you' for the uninitiated.] I just realized I could have worked one of my other Chinese phrases into the evening and missed my chance. A whole meal and I never once oh so causally mentioned "mung mung"? Maybe it's less cool if it's Taiwanese baby talk rather than Canto anyway.

looking very Christmas-y

It's looking very Christmas-y around here (and not just when I'm playing with the lights). Last weekend we headed off to a local tree farm to find a tree. Space in our place is limited so we carefully measured what little room we have and headed off with tape measure and specs in hand.

I learned quickly that I am terrible at judging sizes. We had agreed that a 3 foot tree was probably as big as we could go, but when we got to the farm the 3 foot trees were just so little. There were all little round balls with spindles on top. Barely trees at all. We trudged on in the rain, measuring a tree every row or two. I could feel my Christmas shrinking a little. And then, off to one side, I saw our tree. There he stood, a majestic 5 footer standing out in a crowd of rounded ankle-biters. If trees had to go to junior high, you know this is the one that would have been picked on. I thought he was beautiful. Kendra thought there was no way he was going to fit.
We got out the tape measure and sure enough our shapely tree was only 2.5 feet across, on the high end of our specs to be sure, but slender enough to squeeze in. I looked longing over at it with the gaze 5 year olds reserve for new puppies and knew that Christmas would be safe after all. The tree farm man cut him down, we loaded him in the truck and brought him home. Sure he's a little taller than we agreed to, but I think he's perfect. (And no, I have no idea either how this tree acquired a gender, he just did.) With the tree in place, Christmas could truly begin.

On Thursday night we headed back to Michael's for a cookie decorating class and learned a new technique that has been put to vigorous use this weekend, but that's another post.


I really liked the way the colors came out on these. Working with Royal icing gives you a lot of wiggle room to move the icing around so all sorts of intricate patterns are possible. A good time was had by all.

With the cookies decorated, it was time to head to Creative Nails to decorate myself a little. I stick to a classic French manicure most of the year, but Christmas calls for a little sparkle. Besides, around here, fancy nails are a Christmas tradition.
The tree is tucked in the corner this year and in the evening it throws these perfect shadows up against the wall. I have no idea how to photograph it properly, but you'll have to take my word for it, it's very pretty.
On Friday I took the day off to do Christmas-y things and in the morning Shannon came over to make snowmen and snowflakes (of the indoor variety). I finally got them all finished and strung up and I think they look rather festive. For some reason, they also make me think of IKEA although I'm really not sure why. They are very sparkly. I may do some more if I can find more of the little mirrors. The snowmen are still a work in progress.

It's crazy to think when we wake up tomorrow Christmas will be just 10 days away. What a lovely time of year.

have yourself a nerdy little christmas

It was time to get Christmas-y at the office and I decided to make a tree worthy of our team. Thus the nerd tree was born. I know, I know we prefer the term "Geek" but this just seems like a Nerd Tree to me. It is a badge I wear proudly. The tree has ornaments featuring some of our favorite apps.

There's the WordPress logo (and yes, I know I'm typing this in Blogger but we use WordPress exclusively at work):

And RSS....This was the only one that had to stay square. It just looked wrong in a circle. It was Kendra's idea to add the glitter on the edges of the ornaments. There are ornaments with the Java logo on them too but apparently I forgot to photograph them. Whoops.

I really liked the way the Basecamp logo turned out. I never noticed how much it looks like a snow globe. If you're not familiar with Basecamp they are the brains behind Project Path, a task management system so brilliantly simple and intuitive that our artsy team of writers and editors has embraced it. I have to admit getting into any task system was a hard sell for me, but now that I've seen what it can do I can honestly say that this product keeps our team sane.
In addition to the apps there are ornaments that celebrate two things that make everything we do possible. Apple (of course) and Starbucks.

For the garland I made a paper chain cut from pieces of an old Wired magazine. Wired is the best nerd magazine out there, and they also use really nice inks in their printing process. I knew I'd be able to find some great colours on their pages.

I think it turned out well. It was a hit at the office today. Have yourself a nerdy little Christmas! I know we will.