Shops at Don Mills

There is a beautiful new outdoor mall at the "Shops of Don Millls" on Don Mills and Lawrence. It is a true outdoor mall reminiscent of the outdoor California malls. I love it! It will be interesting to see how it works out in the winter but for summer it sure is great. Little terraces, fountains, all shops outside. Go have a look. One of my favourite stores is there now as the first one in Canada: Anthropology. Two additional Canadian locations are Yorkville Avenue and one in Edmonton. There is also a fantastic bookstore. Just beautiful, called McNally Robinson. I'd say a really new and refreshing change and alternative to all the indoor malls that are all the same....

More elliptical trainer....

OK, while I enjoyed being muscle woman, I now am an annoyed muscle woman.... The thing clonks and it drives me crazy. Otherwise it works great. So, we are waiting for a pick up truck and a friend to help return it in one piece to Costco. I am not taking it apart again!!!! I will get another one and hopefully no clonking. Keep your fingers crossed. At least my bruises healed before I sustain the next ones, hahaha.

Ted Kennedy

Today I spent a good part of the day watching Ted Kennedy's funeral. In my view quite an amazing person with many good intiatives to support the less fortunate people and the low profile people in this world. In addition, the Kennedy family is the closest thing to a royal family in the US, and his death appears to mark the end of an era. Very impressive.

Japan

I have always wanted to go to Japan. It intrigues me as a country and as a culture. I love Japanese food, Japanes paper, Japanese fabric and the sound of the Japanese language. I am not sure why, it just does. Well...., it so happens that I have been asked to join a Japanese trades mission by the Ministry of Research and Innovation, in light of my professional role and expertise. So I am joining them for a week. Isn't that fun?! I must say, whle it will be tiring and very busy, it will also be a great opportunity. I am so fortunate :)

This photograph is from :http://www.phototravels.net/kyoto/geisha-p/geisha-kyoto-p-002.html

Audiobooks

I have become hooked on audio books, especially when I am driving. Funny enough, I often end up listening to ones I also read previously. It is so different when you listen versus reading. It leaves me with such a different impression. I just finished Ann-Marie McDonalds, Fall on your knees and am now listening to A thousan splendid suns, another excellent book by Khalid Hosseini. Audible.com is a great website for audiobooks. Here is the link:

www.audible.com

The muscle woman

I have to tell you a funny story. I got an eliptical trainer at Costco and 4 guys helped to put it in my SUV. It weiges 250 lbs. When I got home, I decided to at least see if I could get it out of the SUV and then John, due home in the evening, could help me move it inside. Well, let's just say that when I had it at the edge of the truck and it tilted, I realized that perhaps I was not as strong as the 4 people combined.... However, there was no way to put it back. So then I thought, what if I open the box and take some stuff out. As soon as I opened the box, the total shape and support dissappeared and so I had a real challenge on my hands. (several bruises to prove it!) A lot of shoving, pushing and sweating helped to take those pieces I could lift inside. The final piece, at least 200 lbs, was a problem. I found some funny wheely things amidst John's stuff and managed to get them under the heavy big piece and with more sweating, shoving and pushing and an hour and a half late I managed to get it inside. Then it had to be assembled. Another 4 hours later and 3 screws missing and John came home to find the entire piece together as if nothing happened. (other than me being exhausted, in no need of exercise for the day, and a big grin on my face.) I am the muscle woman :)

I GOT ONE!

I have been looking for a vintage mannequin for a while so I can use it to try out my jewelry on it and test to see what it looks like. I found one today! After spending the morning at Marissa's garage sale I drove to Black Pug antiques on Queen street in Parkdale and Daisuke, the owner, had one. I am happy. It is not really vintage but that's ok. It serves the purpose. See how pretty the necklace looks when you display it on the mannequin. http://www.blackpugdmk.com/blog/blog.html

Family woes

Today I went out for dinner with some friends and they were so kind! Birthday presents and they paid for my dinner. That was not waht I epxpected and it was fun. We chatted about family woes that some of us are experiencing and the fact that it sometimes creates situations you don't really want or choose to be part of and yet are drawn into. It is sad really, as some of it is just not worth it and such a waste of valuable time. It creates stress, heartache and often irreconcilable differences. Life is just too short and too precious for most of these things. I too am experiencing some of these woes I didn't choose and my thoughts drifted to friendship. Friends are so important play a big role in our lives. As I drove home I realized how fortunate I am to have such great friends. You are my family and my life is better becaue you are in it. Thanks so much!

Mango Lassi

I have a new obsession: Mango Lassi. Have you ever had one? It is a drink of yoghurt with mango pureed through it. High in calcium, fiber and vitamin C among other things. I use frozen mango to make it a really refeshing drink. Try it, all you need is a blender, plain yoghurt and mango. DELICIOUS!!! Here is an example recipe: http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/05/mango-lassi-recipe.html

Art and Soul Retreat 2010

Well, it's here. the Arts and Soul event in Las Vegas in February 2010. It looks pretty good! We will also be going to Europe next year so tough choices to make!
Take a look:
http://www.artandsoulretreat.com/lv-2010-workshops.php

Brighton

We went to Brighton near Prince Edward County for a few days where my sister has a cottage on lake Ontario. We toured around, went swimming, read saw a stockcart race and had a great time. Here are some pictures.

One order done!

If you recall, someone ordered a large number of fused silver necklaces. They are finally done and turned out great! I am on a roll, so if you want one, now is the time.

I am like a machine now, ...:)

New Look...

Every year on the August long weekend at our cottage we attend a theme party. This has been a custom for the past 25 years and so it is time you see how we change for a night. The them for this year was punk. A trip to Value village and voila!!

Meet our little family....

Windfarms

Yesterday when we drove back from Hope Bay, where we spent a week, we passed through the Shelburne area. If you didn't know, this is the area where there are a large number of windturbines to generate more than 10% of Canada's winde energy capacity, making it the largerst in the country. When you fly out west you have a great view of them! There is a lot of controversy surrounding the windfarms, with some worried about effect on health. These are not clearly supported by documented evidence. On the other hand the environmental benefits are excellent. Here is a link to a website with some more in formation if you are interested. http://ecopolitology.org/2008/11/10/canadas-largest-wind-farm-goes-live-but-country-lags-behind/