28 February 2014

A Few Beginnings

Ok....just some random beginnings this week...

The Iditarod starts tomorrow...yipppeee.  No idea why I've always been fascinated with this race...don't know much about the details, the mushers, the winners history...but I'm impressed with the endurance and stamina.  Very cool.

I have decided that it's time I make some preserved lemons...why you ask...because I've been cooking Moroccan and they are found in a lot of dishes...yummy.  Also just wanted to see if i could.

And lastly....limoncello....yum.  Making my first batch.  Inspired by Kristin.   I did have a bunch of naked lemons that have now become lemon juice cubes.

All of things occur over time...but the wait is worth it.

27 February 2014

Under the Red Dress

Ok....so I'm going to go a little off book here to post about something that has had such a profound impact on me....Under the Red Dress Project. Before you just click on the link, know that the photos are beautiful and very vivid of a breast cancer survivor..they are nude.

Seems that we are regularly caught up in outward appearance...not only our own, "I can't go out looking like this." but what others look like...what people wear..brands, hair, make-up, physical fitness, features, boobs, bums, muscles....  We spend hours making ourselves look "presentable" to go out of the house because we care about how we are perceived based on how we are draped with our clothing, make-up and products...skin care products, hair products, tooth produces, hand products, nail products, coloured products, neutral products...everything we can think of to make the veneer look acceptable....better.

We don't show off what's underneath or inside.  We hide.  All of us have scars...physical and emotional. When I was 5 years old...I fell on a gravel driveway...I still wear the scar on my knee.  We all have them. Some, like my knee tattoo are easily dismissed or forgotten, but so many have other physical scars. Scars that prove we have survived an illness, a surgery or a procedure.  But no one knows about them because society doesn't like them.  Society doesn't like to see them...so we hide.  Let's not even talk about the scars that cannot be seen; the scars we carry inside.

The woman in the project photographs has survived a horrific disease and treatment, but the fact is...she survived.  Isn't that the key to all of this?  Isn't that what we should see in her?  We should be able to wear scars like medals, but that isn't ok, is it?  Imagine the compassion in a world that would allow us to see. Imagine how freeing.  Imagine having to actually find a way to "see" someones heart...their character rather than at the beautiful hair, face and dress.  I know there are so many in this world that do just that...they look at a person; really look at who a person is...but media doesn't like us that way.  Media even changes the shapes of beautiful women with no scars because that just isn't good enough either.  For those of you that are women reading this, you can relate.  You know the process.

I look at this woman and I see someone who is strong, courageous, beautiful both ways and most of all, is a survivor....whether she knows any of this or not.  Here's to her...to the people in this world who get up everyday and put the veneer on to try to be beautiful when they don't feel that way...to try to be beautiful when that is not what they see in the mirror.  And here is to the people who love her...who love us...with our scars, with our stories...without anything perfect.

24 February 2014

Infinite Circles

Ok....you asked for it and here it is....the Reversible Circles of Lace Pattern has been reconfigured to be an infinity scarf....Reversible Circles of Infinity....Enjoy!

21 February 2014

Spinning Teal

Ok...I told you I did some spinning at the beach....precisely a beautiful pound of BFL/Tussah in Teal thanks to Jan. 


16 February 2014

Evening

Ok....I discovered that the beach has it's own timeline.  I long for time away from work, mostly because I want a break from the schedule....from having to be somewhere at a certain time.  The beach can be this kind of place, but not completely....the beach has it's own schedule.  I found myself working toward sunset and oysters.  Now I know, not a taxing schedule...not something to dread, but a schedule none the less.  Although I have seen it a million times, each evening I sat (with my camera) waiting for the day to come to a close.  Waiting for the sun to dip into the horizon on the last leg of it's journey.  So beautiful.  So peaceful.  There we all were; friends and strangers...no matter where on the shore I was....gathered to watch this quiet decent.







13 February 2014

Just the Beach

Ok....just random shots of things I love here....wait....isn't much I don't like.  And yes, I read a lot, spun and knitted....lovely.



 
  

  



09 February 2014

And Finally, the Beach...Morning

Ok....not much I can say that would be better than the shots just speaking for themselves.  Each day brought something new and the sea was different.  Sometimes white caps and crashing waves...sometimes calm, no movement; a still water.  Some days were blue skies and sunny, while others were cloudy.  But each day brought with it promise in the sound and smell of the sea, the sand swept dunes and the adventure of the shoreline. 









06 February 2014

Seaside

Ok...so east of Destin is 30A...the old highway that takes you to all of the small sweet beach towns.  I love this drive and have to stop to shop, eat...check it all out.  Seaside is one of my favorites.  I make a point to get there to just enjoy the vibe.....oh, and the royal reds...yum!