My brother Gary sent me these images of my mom and dad and the obituary of my grandmother’s first husband (my grandfather was her second husband).
I stumbled across a blog the other day called Sea of Shoes. It was started five years ago by a 15-year old from Texas, Jane Aldridge. She has apparently become one of the most influential fashion bloggers going. A number of high fashion houses from around the world have started correspondence with her after seeing her blog, sending her gifts, collaborating with her on projects, etc. Chanel even loaned her one of their couture gowns to wear to a ball in Paris!
For me it isn’t about the labels or the high price tags, but rather the genuine, exquisite beauty of many of her clothes and accessories. I have no idea how she finances her habit (I have a hard enough time financing mine and there’s slim pickings as far as haute couture in my closet)! But check it out and let me know what you think.
A few of my favourites are here, here, here, here, here, the black jacket here and the one here. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Our own Chanel model, not looking very happy in her Yukon haute couture fashion.
Not sure where this originated, but it was in my ‘in box’ this morning and I had to share:
A guy is driving in the country and he sees a sign in front of a house: “Talking Dog For Sale”.
He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.
The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking labrador retriever sitting there.
‘You talk?’ he asks.
‘Yep,’ the labrador replies.
After the man recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says, ‘So, what’s your story?’
The lab looks up and says, ‘Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA.
In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.’
‘I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running. But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.’
‘I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.’
The man is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.
‘Ten dollars,’ the owner says.
‘Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?’
‘Because he’s a bullshitter. He’s never been out of the yard.’
If you could see
the journey whole
you might never
undertake it;
might never dare
the first step
that propels you
from the place
you have known
toward the place
you know not.
Call it
one of the mercies
of the road:
that we see it
only by stages
as it opens
before us,
as it comes into
our keeping
step by
single step.
There is nothing
for it
but to go
and by our going
take the vows
the pilgrim takes:
to be faithful to
the next step;
to rely on more
than the map;
to heed the signposts
of intuition and dream;
to follow the star
that only you
will recognize;
to keep an open eye
for the wonders that
attend the path;
to press on
beyond distractions
beyond fatigue
beyond what would
tempt you
from the way.
There are vows
that only you
will know;
the secret promises
for your particular path
and the new ones
you will need to make
when the road
is revealed
by turns
you could not
have foreseen.
Keep them, break them,
make them again:
each promise becomes
part of the path;
each choice creates
the road
that will take you
to the place
where at last
you will kneel
to offer the gift
most needed -
the gift that only you
can give -
before turning to go
home by
another way.Jan L. Richardson, The Painted Prayerbook
For the last couple of years, I have been trying to improve my very limited knowledge of wine. I’ve read several books, but to be honest, a lot of the material is pretty much Greek to me. They throw around terms like dry-farmed and clonal selection…am I the only person who doesn’t know what that means? They never explain.
However over the holidays I stumbled across a refreshingly different book. It’s called “Great Wine Made Simple” by Andrea Immer Robinson, and for the first time, I get it! She explains things very simply and clearly, and encourages taste testing along the way that really helps unlock the mysteries of this intriguing drink.
What’s brilliant too is that she includes what she calls a flavor map. The idea is that wines have different flavours depending on whether their grapes have been grown in a cool climate or a warm one. For instance here in Canada, a white wine will most likely have hints of apples or pears, and a red wine could taste of cranberries or red cherries. A wine from the Mediterranean – say for example from Southern France or Italy – would carry more the flavours of dark fruits like black cherries, peaches, blackberries, etc. Go for an Australian wine and you can expect to taste mangos, pineapples, papayas, bananas or figs (fruits that need a warm climate to grow).
What I find so helpful about this map is that I can now go into a liquor store or a restaurant and, just by knowing the wine’s region, I can pretty much know what I can expect from my wine (at least with regard to the flavours). That, plus knowing the general characteristics of the major grape varieties, means I’m much better armed in terms of taking the guesswork out of wine selection.
I have come to know that the wines I like best are in-your-face reds from France, Italy, Spain, or South Africa. This book is helping me to understand why. By the way, that screaming you are hearing right about now is my oldest brother, who is very loyal to Canadian wines. Yes Gary, there are Canadian wines I love too, but there’s a whole world out there that I am having fun exploring.
Just on that, this book is encouraging me to wander outside my comfort zone and take another look at some of the wines I had earlier decided I didn’t like…things like dessert wines or Reislings, and reds from parts of the world I typically don’t focus on when buying wine.
Anyway, if you are at all interested in this subject and are looking for a starter book, I would say this is a winner.
I have no idea what it is about vintage shoes, but I truly am hooked. I found these shoes on etsy. The blue ones, I justified, would work perfectly with my blue 50s Christmas dress. The red ones…well, they are just little works of art. Both pairs were very inexpensive.
The woman I bought them from told me they had been stored in her grandmother’s closet for years. Apparently when going through a divorce, the grandmother’s lawyer advised her to buy lots of expensive shoes before she left the marriage. She took his advice. Sadly though, I don’t think they gave her much pleasure, because these shoes have not been worn outside, if at all. I think once they arrive in the mail I will smudge them to get rid of any negative energy.
From Saks Fifth Avenue
Nina shoes from Spain
As years go, it was a pretty darned good one. It did include some profound sadness. But it was also punctuated by celebrations, parties, visits with a friend on the west coast and visits with family and friends on the opposite end of the country.
There was dancing, yoga, an experiment in chicken farming, berry picking and garden growing. There was a graduation (one that I sometimes doubted would ever come!), and some rewarding work-related travel both within the Yukon and Outside.
There was a new addition to our family, and a side project that proved to be lots of fun.
Good on ya, 2011. Now let’s see what 2012 has in store.
- This little girl was rescued from a shelter in the Dominican Republic by the daughter of a co-worker. We are ‘trying her out’ to see if Joe can handle having her in the house (he’s allergic to cats and some dogs). So far he’s having mild symptoms, so we’ll see where things are at in a couple of days.
Joe and I were the only ones at yoga this morning! What a luxury to have a semi-private lesson. Our teacher took some photos of us.
Note to self: when pureeing split pea soup in the food processor, double check that all remnants of the ham bone are removed BEFORE beginning the blending process, unless you want to spend the next hour cleaning up hot pea soup from everything within a 30 foot radius of said food processor.
A Christmas story for you.
The product itself isn’t much to speak of. These purple shoes on ebay are not in good enough shape to consider buying. But I have to love the description that goes with them:
“When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandles, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit…”
- Jenny Joseph
Researchers have shown that vintage shoes can be highly addictive. A surprising fact – or perhaps not, when you remember your first pair.
You lived in those shoes. People compared you to Audrey Hepburn, Princess Grace. You smiled politely. Knew you were actually incomparable. Went right out and ordered a dozen or so more, just like it.
Somewhere in the world, there is a woman who owns just one such pair of shoes. Or so they say.
If so – if you must own just one pair of these wild couture wonders – they should be this pair. Deep, lovely purple Brazilian glove leather temptresses blessed with 3 1/2″ stiletto heels and over sized purple suede bows at the backs of the shoes.
Very 80s. Very one of a kind.
Very – well, you.
Here’s to purple, and purple shoes like these, and all of you purple addicts who make the world a prettier, brighter, more interesting place.
Made in Brazil. Found in Beverly Hills, home to more addicts per square mile than the catwalks in Milan.
Intervention may be called for.
Take away the credit cards.
OK, I promised to post the bits of my 50s party outfit for tonight’s staff Christmas do.
First the dress. I found this at the Sally Ann for five bucks! It’s not true vintage…the fabric is far too fresh. But it was made by someone who knows their way around a sewing maching, using a vintage pattern. They kept it authentic too…using a metal side zipper and ‘rope’ belt loops (unfortunately there was no belt with the dress and I couldn’t find one that was just right, but I think it looks fine without a belt too).
Next the crinoline. This is the only thing I bought that was new. Got it at a local shop that caters to dancers.
I needed a wrap. I looked and looked for something suitable in the local second hand shops, and the closest I came was a black wool shawl with rabbit fur pompoms. It had ugly lace trim, but that was easily remedied. After removing the trim I also cut it so it had more rounded lines. I think it works.
Now I needed some bling. The earrings were a Christmas present from Iris years ago; the rest came from second hand shops or ebay.
The purse was easy…my beaded Kelly bag I’ve had for years.
I waffled about the shoes. The ones I finally chose I’ve had for a long time, so they are comfortable enough for a night of dancing. They also have just a touch of bling. 
The piece de resistance was going to be a little cocktail hat I ordered from Etsy, but sadly it hasn’t arrived yet. Here’s the Etsy photo:
Putting this all together felt like doing a jigsaw puzzle. It was great fun. There are still a few things I’d like to add to really complete this…a little pair of black cotton short gloves, and a belt. But that will come.
I’ll try to post a photo of the finished product in a couple of hours, once I’m dressed.
It seems that over the last few months, this blog has taken a back seat to my Facebook page. I’m struggling to keep up with both and am wondering if this blog has outlasted its usefulness.
I’ll still post here from time to time, but if you really want to keep up with what’s going on in my life, please become my friend on Facebook.
The Christmas party season is upon us, and I’ve been scouring the local consignment and thrift stores for a dress to wear (I rarely buy anything new any more, especially if it’s a dress I’m only going to wear a couple of times). My search has turned up dozens of party frocks from the 1980s, with their exaggerated shoulder pads and their ten pounds of sequins. In spite of myself, I can’t help but love them. How can dresses like this not make you smile:
However I was looking for something more in the style of the late 40s or early 50s, and I think I’ve found it. I’m still building the outfit but I’ll post photos when it’s all together.
In spite of my advancing age, I still sometimes feel like I’m that little girl playing dress-up in my mother’s bedroom.
I love the children’s story The Stone Soup, in which a delicious soup is made thanks to a trickster, a pot, some water and a stone.
Photo from: http://www.closetcooking.com/2008/01/split-pea-soup.html
In my case this week-end, it was bone soup. Not only did I have a nice ham bone crying out to be used for soup, but I also had three chicken carcasses in the freezer that needed to be used up.
First I made a big pot of Italian chicken soup (roasting and adding some tomatoes I found at the back of the crisper gave it an extra boost of flavour). Next I cut off some of the ham from the bone (the meat will be used in a rice or pasta dish later this week) and threw the bone in a pot with all the regular fixings to make split pea soup.
That, along with some energy bars I made and some cheese bread Joe baked means we’ll have lots of ready-made food to keep us going this week. I love it when I’m organized enough to have a cooking day on the week-end. Makes life so much easier for the next several days.
Clever! Ted (the living, breathing one and the cuter one of the two) happens to be a good friend of mine. I see he’s been running a contest where people can send in their description of where they’d take Bobblehead Ted. Here’s my list:
If I were to receive a Bobblehead Ted I pledge to take him to Italy with me next year. Together we’d have great fun exploring the canals of Venice, the Blue Grotto at Capri, the ancient sites in Rome, and the glorious galleries of Florence. I’d even make sure he saw the REAL David, and not the fake one in the Piazza della Signoria.
If I were to receive a Bobblehead Ted I pledge to take him on my next Camino with me. I wouldn’t even make him walk…he could just sit on my back and enjoy the ride. One caveat: I’d have to restrict his intake of Spanish wine somewhat for fear he’d topple out of my pack and be lost to the Camino gods forever (hey Bobblehead, I’m just looking out for your welfare).
If I were to receive a Bobblehead Ted I pledge to take him to Sibelius Park in Toronto and tell him stories about ‘the good old days’ when his namesake and I used to lie there and watch the stars at night.
If I were to receive a Bobblehead Ted I pledge to bring him back to the East Coast at least once so he could get reaquainted with his heritage and dip his toe into the Atlantic Ocean. Just imagine the joyous and emotional reunion there would be between Bobblehead and On the Go Ted!
And finally, if I were to receive a Bobblehead Ted I pledge to keep him happy by stocking my shelves and cupboards with all his necessities: an endless supply of single malt, an extensive vintage vinyl collection, and DVDs of all his favourite movies, including Clockwork Orange, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Casablanca. I’d even dig up an old copy of The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the 3-D version.
So Bobblehead, Bobblehead, please come live with me. I think it could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
It seems I am a rock star. Check it out!
By the way, it’s still not too late to donate to this good cause, if you’re so moved.
Photo credit: Lucca Hallex
My long time friend Lucca and I
Apples from the Saturday morning market
Yes, I realize I have been neglecting this blog terribly over the last several weeks. First it was The Sole Project, then my trip to Vancouver, and then a week in Nova Scotia. But that’s all behind me now and I’m back in the saddle.
My brother's dog Princess. She has no teeth, so there's nothing to keep her tongue in her mouth.
I'm cringing as I post this photo since it's such a horrible one of me (honest to God my thighs aren't that big in real life!) but I'm hoping your eyes will be drawn instead to the beautiful fall colours. The people beside me are my oldest brother and his youngest son.
Home sweet home.
That being said, it was a good week down in B.C. Once the conference started I didn’t have much time to play tourist, so I’m glad I had a few days ahead of that on Salt Spring Island. Here are a few quick pics.
Early morning light. Inspired by Lucca.
Tiny veggies
My shoe project, it turns out, is taking much more time than I had anticipated. However I’m nearing the end so hope to be back here in another week or so. In the meantime, please check out the latest at http://blessmysole.wordpress.com
I haven’t given up on my dream or raising $1,500 for soles4souls.
Never again will I have to have a big yellow and black ‘L’ on my vehicle (for those non-Yukoners reading this, the ‘L’ indicates the driver is just learning how to operate a vehicle).
Never again will I have to suffer the torment of teaching a teenager how to drive.
Life just keeps getting better and better!
I’m afraid I have been neglecting this blog lately. My shoe project is taking up all of my blogging time. Please do check it out and, if you’re at all able, make a small donation to a very good cause. This week-end, the shoe project is taking me to a goat farm! And no, I’m not going to tell you any more than that. You’re just going to have to visit the site and find out for yourself.
I was going to wait until the start of next month to launch this, but as the saying goes, there’s no time like the present.
Here’s what I’ve been working on lately: http://blessmysole.wordpress.com/
Please share this with as many of your friends and relatives as possible, and watch for my first set of shoes later on today.
It’s been a week-end of harvesting. Pulled the carrots and spent hours washing, slicing, blanching and freezing some of them. Still lots left to do. Put the ones still needing to be processed along side the boxes of harvested potatoes sitting in our garage.
Pulled the rest of the beets and pickled them, harvested the kohlrabi (not a lot so will just keep them in the fridge and slice them raw into salads), and picked a big bowl of tomatoes.
Pulled up the pea plants and shelled and shelled and shelled peas. Swore that next year I would only plant edible pod varieties…shelling peas takes forever! Some of them went into a creamed salmon dish I made last night and the rest I froze.
Picked more raspberries, but they didn’t last long, since they were my snack of choice throughout the day yesterday.
The dill and kale are now the only thing standing in the large garden. I have the red cabbages still to harvest in the smaller garden and maybe a few more raspberries, and that will be it.
Stripping the garden bare is always a sad time for me, but I take some comfort in knowing that we’ll be enjoying its spoils for some weeks still because of my freezing and pickling efforts.
I’m working on a new project. It’s a secret for now, but my new header gives you a tiny hint. More when I have all the pieces in place. Photo credit: http://hqgalerieboutique.blogspot.com
Peewee Herman
- I think Lady Gaga is in there somewhere.
- Rosie, what are they doing down there?
Don Cherry Blossom
These photos were taken from www.ayyy.com.
