July 1

A birthday for Canada, mine is in 4 days and a lot of mixed feelings.

June saw the overturning of Roe v Wade and a conceal carry gun law be enforced in the US.

Here in Canada we are still learning so much about the residential schools and the 60’s scoop.

I have been reading and doing my best to become an ally. It is really hard to wrap your head around where the world is right now, it’s hard to feel a part of it, hard to know where your community fits.

I feel like we need to trust each other again, see the good, believe in the good, random acts of kindness go a long way. Holding a door, offering a smile, showing some kind of acceptance of each other is something I want to celebrate other than the birth of this nation.

People are hurting as a nation and we are knee deep in climate change.

I spend my days looking for the helpers and doing my best to be one.

Fred Rogers said that, when you are in times of crisis look for the helpers.

Find a way to be one too, we are all in this together.

50

Yes, I am. I turned 50 on July 5th and you know what I love my birthday.

This year made me love it even more because the celebrations are stretching into the month and the outpouring of love has me feeling so grateful that when I am opening my eyes in the morning I speak gratitude before anything else. Try it, it will change everything and bring so much more to you to be grateful for.

I have a friend who I have been paddling with for over a year now, we met during the pandemic and started to paddle our kayaks together. Now we both have paddleboards and continue our adventures outside of English Bay.

Knowing that I love my birthday we planned an adventure. the location was a surprise and all I had to do was drive. So drive I did, and the reveal was incredible. As we passed Cultus lake she was wondering if I knew where we were going but because my geography is so terrible I didn’t so I said no. Then 30 minutes later we were in our camping spot, exploring and inflating our boards to get out on the lake. The glacier water is beautiful emerald green and perfect for a dip on a really hot day.

The second day found us hiking to Linden Lake, the journey up the mountain was arduous but getting to the top and taking another dip in the icy glacier water was worth it.

We have paddled in Stave Lake, Pitt Meadows and now Chilliwack Lake. Another bonus of this fabulous friend is she loves to plan menus and prepare the food, so her gift was an entire spread over 3 days including individual cakes for each of us to share on the big day. Complete with champaign too. Remember my gratitude, it goes above and beyond what I can express here. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I brought my film camera and 3 rolls of the new Kodak Colour Plus film I picked up from Beau Photo.

To everyone who made this birthday so damn special, thank you, thank you, thank you. I am over the moon with gratitude and so excited for this decade. Age is to be welcomed and celebrated ladies, not hidden or fibbed about.

So the next time you see me feel free to give me a hug. I am double vaccinated and welcome a big squeeze anytime.

Van Gogh, a day dream.

Have you been to see the Van Gogh exhibition yet?

It is meant to make you feel like you are in a daydream and if you ask me that is exactly what it felt like.

I stood slack-jawed for a while and it took about an hour before I realized that it was playing again and I was looking at the same work. I slipped into his world and was completely enveloped by the experience.

I have been celebrating a milestone birthday this week and it has been magic. I am feeling like I am living in my own personal day dream. My friends are making this new chapter for me one full of love, gratitude and connection. The one thing that has come out of this crazy time for me is learning the value of connection. Specifically the connections that serve you, and the ones you can serve in return.

So this blog post is celebrating this wonderful new chapter, with wonderful people in my life filling me up with love and nurturing this weird little beings creativity. Thank you, thank you, and once again I love you.

Stickers! From sticker Canada.

#StickerCanada reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in a collaboration.

Of course!

Their correspondence was quick, effective and easy. I ordered some 2”x2” square Art Paper Stickers (Uncoated). I choose the illustration I did because I wanted to print it square. I had previously done it as a circle, I like the square better. I like the texture of these stickers and would not hesitate to order more.

Thank you, Sticker Canada for reaching out and for the amazing collaboration. I look forward to using you again in the future for all of my sticker needs.