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.

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.’

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.

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

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

I haven’t given up on my dream or raising $1,500 for soles4souls.

Never again will I have to suffer the torment of teaching a teenager how to drive.

Life just keeps getting better and better!

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.

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.