with feeling, spice it up, and tell her like it is

1  He sang with pure raw emotion. These two gentlemen provided music at the farmers market this afternoon.

2 The gardens were ready for a thinning so tonight we ate a salad full of fresh lettuce, spinach, arugula and nasturtiums; spicy.

3 The squirrel isn't too sure whether or not it's safe to eat from the bird feeder. He tries a few different routes then gets spooked and heads up to higher, safer territory and proceeds  to loudly scold the cat.

sun, phase one, and deliciousness

1 Today we sleep in and wake to glorious sunshine. Finally, finally we see the sun.
2 We all know that saying, it's never what it seems. Well today we definitely had one of those moments. A compost needs to be built behind the shop and in my mind it's a quick job of screwing together the pallets and viola easy peasy. However, the neighbours have a tree on their side that leans over the fence into our yard and is growing at a phenomenal pace, so it has to come down first. My guy loves chainsawing and it's not long before he's on the highest ladder, in his harness gear to cutting it down in  three stages. We fill the trailer with the branches and tomorrow I'll finish the clean up and then fingers crossed the compost shall be built!
3 Crustless quiche that is filled with mushrooms, spinach, onions, peppers, brocooli, eggs and cheeses....mmmmmm.

me and the mr, married 10 years today

morning, tea, and under the weather

1 We wake to a wet and dark morning. The storms are expected to burn off later in the day but for now it feels rather like winter.
2 Ginger tea that stings the throat but still soothes it.
3 This cold has me grounded so if you don't hear from me for a few days it's because I'm sleeping it off!

home again

Family

We spent the past few days with our son, his wife and two grandchildren. Is there anything more uplifting, loving and rejuvenating that having little ones around? Isabelle loves attention and this visit was no exception. She especially loves hiking with her Grampa. They get all dressed up and head out the front door, across the street and right up the mountain. Of course she has to stop for rocks, sticks, flowers and every other distraction. This one time he tells us he carried her up and down the mountain. She certainly had fun and still had energy to burn when they got home too. Kes of course is mister snugly. He was under the weather so much more snuggling was with his mom. He is mobile now so loves the chase me game and tickles too. Mom and Dad had lots to share and treated us to some delicious meals of chicken Parmesan and a sausage spaghetti. We're home now and it's back to reality. Nick and Sara are headed our way in 10 days and staying for 6 weeks. Not all with us but we'll take what we can get!

crazy man, deli treats, and vegetables

1 He's full of it today and that means he's acclimatizing to home. <3
2 At the deli we treat ourselves to mac and cheese with bacon and a giant turkey leg. We sit outside munching while the staff makes our turkey, feta,and spinach sausages.
3 It's time to replant in the greenhouse because our broccoli and cauliflower is ready for eating already! Seeing as it's only June perhaps we can plant something we've not had yet.

relaxed really?, a little humour, face it, and cookie

1 A trip to the dentist usually means stress inclusive of a racing heart and sweaty palms but today is different. So for some reason today's dental appointment was different. The assistant is lovely, pleasant and gives me a warm blanket for my legs. Sheesh, who wears a dress to the dentist?!  Part way through I noticed that my body wasn't tense, I was relaxed and it was so much easier.  I'm not sure what the tipping point was but I'm happy enough.
1a The assistant laughed when I told her I liked the sound of the high pitched drill. I think it's because it signals he's almost done!
2 We talk with the kids in China tonight and have so much fun laughing at our mutual silliness. Nick makes the most animated faces ever!
3 He really liked the chocolate chip cookies made with chickpeas. Not my favourite but then maybe that's a good thing because I won't eat any.

NO FLOUR, NO OIL, NO WHITE SUGAR
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups canned* chickpeas, well-rinsed and patted dry with a paper towel
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons (165 grams) natural peanut butter (can use PB2 from gym to make healthier, check your labels )
1/4 cup (80 grams) honey (agave would be amazing too!)
1 teaspoon baking powder**
a pinch of salt if your peanut butter doesn’t have salt in it
1/2 cup (90 grams) chocolate chips

* My can was a 400 gram can, 240 grams without the water, and I used all but a few tablespoons

** If you need grain-free baking powder, you can use 1 part cream of tartar + 1 part baking soda + 2 parts arrowroot.

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C.

Combine all the ingredients, except for the chocolate chips, in a food processor and process until very smooth. Make sure to scrape the sides and the top to get the little chunks of chickpeas and process again until they’re combined.

Put in the chocolate chips and stir it if you can, or pulse it once or twice. The mixture will be very thick and sticky.

With wet hands, form into 1 1/2″ balls. Place onto a piece of parchment paper. If you want them to look more like normal cookies, press down slightly on the balls. They don’t do much rising. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Yields about fourteen 1 1/2″ cookie dough ball

coach in training, whoosh, and awesomeness

1 I really enjoyed watching the online coaching session today. Interaction between coach and mom was so involved and multidimensional. I do my first session this Friday night.
2 The wind was taken out of my sails today and I am still standing.
3 Black Dog Alison Krauss Robert Plant

B&W

51, diy, and food!

1 It's R's birthday today and he's in good spirits. Two more days and he's home.
2 The mixture is vinegar, salt and dishwashing liquid. It is supposed to kill those pesky unwanted weeds. So far it's looking like it's working.
3 A meal dropped off by a friend. What  a nice surprise!

home to stay, fix me up, and over and out

1 He's coming home for a while this time. He's laid off and gonna be underfoot for a while. Yay!
2 Our chair is amazing. It's a recliner with heat and massage. Today both are turned on and working their magic on my body.
3 At first I was taken aback by her sharp tone and words but she has limited patience and it's showing. It isn't me, it's her. So, I kept a low profile, said little to nothing and plowed through the rest of the day. I'm grateful that the day is over now.

thursdays thoughts

1 It was a good day for getting out in the yard. The lupines are finished but also needed to be moved. The roots are huge and so are they. The garden now has more sun.
2 Tomatoes, cucumbers and cilantro make the transition to the one garden, while the other gets squash and lettuce.
3 Two dear neighbours bring me treats today. First file folders and a book then some new plants for the garden and then a burger combo is dropped off. Lovely.

statues, no way to stay dry, and water

1 The photographer uses real models to mimic classic sculptures. The real twist is the clothing he puts on them. Very unique.
http://www.featureshoot.com/2013/06/classic-statues-photographed-as-everyday-hipsters/
2 Our walking group heads out on a semi cloudy day for our weekly walk/hike. One km into the walk the skies open and we are hit with torrential rains. We all gather under trees and try to stay as dry as we can but that's impossible. Everyone is laughing as how silly we look.
3 The creek wasn't even noticeable on our way up but on the way down it's raging and almost covers the little bridge that we must cross. I suppose this is what is called a flash flood.

hide and seek, calling, and h20

1 It's summer but the rain continues. It's sporadic today and the sun teases us with little glimpses then runs and hides again.
2 Ravens call to each other in deep tones. They seem to like being farther from our home which is good seeing as they're so loud.
3 I find paperwork and the results are what we thought. We have great water and excellent water pressure too.

chirp, chirp, more, and now

1 The morning starts off with the usual suspects making noise, the bird at the seed feeder followed closely by the hummingbirds.
2 For some reason my morning cup of coffee is exceptionally tasty. It must be the fresh beans, hazelnut cream blend. It's rich and smooth and one cup just isn't enough.
3 It's all about being present. It's not always easy to do but always is the right thing to do.

another fundraiser, woohoo, and a lovely gift

1 The River Run is a fundraiser for the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Society. It's a 5km run through the woods and along the riverbanks. It's a small crowd this morning, maybe 200 people but lots of enthusiasm and laughter along the way.
2 Personal best today for the 5km. Now that is something to celebrate.
3 New friends give me a lovely gift of a coffee table book about Eagles and Owls. She says she is happy to give the book to me and that she thinks my photos are in the same league.

gone, forgotten, and oceanside

1 Before I know it the morning has disappeared and so has the warm sunshine.
2 Working outside in the chill means working just that must quicker. Soon the chill is forgotten.
3 A trip to the local beach nets some photos and sandy,wet feet.

the day, zip, and hunting

1 A quiet but productive day at work. I'm the only person in the office the entire day.
2 On my way home traffic is light and I'm home sooner than I expected.
3 Our cat has become quite the hunter so it's time to renew all of her shots. Last night she caught a rabbit, and this morning it's a squirrel. Not too shabby for an old gal of 14 who only weighs 5 pounds.

done, happiness, and teach me

1 It's official, the gutters are done and I did them! Crazy you say? Wobbly ladders on slopes with wood leveling them out, big blue rubber gloves, pail and clippers to cut back branches and me balancing it all. Kinda groovy getting a 'guy job' done.
2 My heart is full of good feelings from a wee bit of good news. All is well.
3 We have a computer tutorial and she's thrilled with all she's learned. You gotta love sharing knowledge.

lie down, change it up, and what's best

1 This migraine is slaying me and I spend time resting and being very still.
2 The hummingbirds are fussy today. Some are feasting and others fly up don't eat then fly away. Perhaps they aren't liking the new syrup, so it gets changed.
3 Work when it's photography doesn't feel much like work. It is perfect, passionate and pure joy.

at the beach, the girls, and app

1 Qualicum Beach is up island and the perfect spot for a walk today. The smell of the sea soothes my soul and rejuvenates my spirit.

2 We meet up for an early dinner and spend our time catching up and visiting. I still don't miss the job but it's fun spending time with the girls.
3 He calls and tells me about the new app he's found for his phone. It's what he needs and works perfectly.

slower, trails, and berries

1 A day of recovery means a slow day but not too slow.
2 Walking through the neighbourhood we see many trails but most lead nowhere.
3 There are a few bushes with fresh berries that are red and ripe. Looks like the bears will be coming to feast early this year.

Victoria Goddess Run - 5km

What a great day!
I arrived at the upper parking lot today with no idea of what to expect because I had never participated in a run event before. I met two other women in the same situation as me and voila, we formed an impromptu team! It turned out fantastic! We ran the 5 km as individuals but cheered for and supported each other! It made for the best day ever! Oh yes, the firemen at the finish line were divine! So a great run and new friends too.

lupins, peonies and tomorrows fun

1 The lupins are so big and heavy from the rains that they fall over snapping their stems.
2 The peonies are just opening and their brightness is so very welcome on yet another cold and damp day.
3 Saturday night and it's an early bedtime for me. I'm headed south island tomorrow and doing a 5km run for charity. Wish me luck!