tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27675260318275623012024-02-18T20:56:25.455-05:00And a Bowl of Oranges Too"...and the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses. Won't you stay, we'll put on the day and we'll talk in present tenses" ~joni mitchellkarmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-55888501985840770602021-03-24T17:01:00.012-04:002021-03-24T20:31:02.981-04:00 Five Minute Isolation Meditation<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is my five minute meditation after working virtually this morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is for people who say they cannot meditate.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8935b5e4-7fff-a10a-897c-a6730366066e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is to say that the point of meditation is not to empty the mind of thoughts.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although this may become a result over time, this is not the purpose.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thoughts are with us always. Sometimes, they are useful. Sometimes, they are not.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just focus on the breath. Conscious breathe in, Conscious breath out</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thoughts are always with us. Notice them. Label them. Let them go.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you wish to follow my meditation to see what I am talking about, it is written below, pretty much as it happened. Follow the instructions to breathe slowly as you read each line.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Names have been changed.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In through the nose. Out through the nose. Breath in. Breath out. Simple meditation. Begin.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe in. The cat is purring beside me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breath out. She’s stirring, gonna step on me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe in. Aw, she's nuzzled in so nice now.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breath out. She did this with Mom.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe in. I sure do miss Mom.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe out. This cat keeps me connected to her.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breath in. So many cute pets in our Google Meet this morning.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe out. I hope those kids are alright.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe in. I worry for some who we have not yet seen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe out. Especially Billy and Susie and maybe Elliot</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe in. I hope my own child is ok.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe out. I will call her later.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe in. When I get my results back.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe out. I sure hope they are negative.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe in: Why is it taking so long?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe out. Come back to the breath.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe in. Yes. Focus on the breath.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-e920d54a-7fff-267c-9a7b-004b53732e8e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. Yes, like that. You’ve got this.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. I wonder how Ash is doing? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. I wonder how everyone is doing?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Thoughts are there, yes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. Doesn’t mean they must be followed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. Breathe in kindness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Breathe out hope and compassion.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. Breathe in patience</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breath out. Let go.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. I’m so relaxed now</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Just breath</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. Label and let go</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Notice, “Thinking and Planning”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-f5b634db-7fff-8275-f382-adb095e032fd" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. Notice, “Judging”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Notice, “Worry and Fear”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. This is meditation…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Gratitude</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. Label and let go</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Notice and Name.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. So many rules.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Just be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. Just be</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out. Just be</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breathe out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Don’t Stop.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-3895452779414476362021-03-24T16:20:00.000-04:002021-03-24T16:20:38.971-04:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2XbfG9kn8VcoiGjgviTEH-mCtqdnz1kDJSiwTPpW18ROAP_zW2QKJPQYoG51WkTBtCW8x2_6_LVtJsXbDeWWgZLIgycqmisLE2-lwntxBuFEW3ygW76wvAlkkQyU3-BsclSW9qL_erI/s2048/blog+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="643" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2XbfG9kn8VcoiGjgviTEH-mCtqdnz1kDJSiwTPpW18ROAP_zW2QKJPQYoG51WkTBtCW8x2_6_LVtJsXbDeWWgZLIgycqmisLE2-lwntxBuFEW3ygW76wvAlkkQyU3-BsclSW9qL_erI/w482-h643/blog+post.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><p><br /></p> Tap, Tap, Tap... Is this thing still on? I think I'm coming back!!!!<br /><p></p>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-29000599610344050182015-11-01T09:49:00.000-05:002015-11-01T15:08:29.395-05:00Happy HalloweenI've more or less abandoned this poor blog. If only I had the time to revitalize it. Oh well Here is a pic of my darlin daughter and her costume that she made herself to be one of her most favourite things ever.<br />
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She fashioned the wings from wire coat hangers and coloured duct tape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixk9iHnbfI0XJPldSo8jUdw-GPwVI7yyiUKnER2YyTlcV0M05w_h8VjGFj-vMuVo-UXE6olr1mlLO1fIiLIYWGxY-ZSUM5rPHhGEulEYiwB97gHqkkPhaDZb6YWKuIMWjZ2ts7o_uIO5E/s1600/20151031_164756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixk9iHnbfI0XJPldSo8jUdw-GPwVI7yyiUKnER2YyTlcV0M05w_h8VjGFj-vMuVo-UXE6olr1mlLO1fIiLIYWGxY-ZSUM5rPHhGEulEYiwB97gHqkkPhaDZb6YWKuIMWjZ2ts7o_uIO5E/s320/20151031_164756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And she made the horns from tinfoil and wrapped them in duct tape.<br />
And the tail was made with duct tape.<br />
And the claws on the dollar store red gloves, made with duct tape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLconuBd0Fn1TedWMs9cnlJj6p0Mim81oZGMEQKuE09sHsLNv97qE2XIBx_0V2OTUGcw6WKZ1iRCo41Nh-OIe-RUBhwGpIgEu9oZ8ERRA8BoZuPDBN3RKmOPBm8PjvCUkb7ekASV9a7mQ/s1600/20151031_185533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLconuBd0Fn1TedWMs9cnlJj6p0Mim81oZGMEQKuE09sHsLNv97qE2XIBx_0V2OTUGcw6WKZ1iRCo41Nh-OIe-RUBhwGpIgEu9oZ8ERRA8BoZuPDBN3RKmOPBm8PjvCUkb7ekASV9a7mQ/s320/20151031_185533.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The wings needed a little reinforcing with a metal curtain rod, covered in duct tape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4tCljNj7XlDC7UakmK9fp7cNTcKdGr1W-0FUjRu81xe316fJytMl7WK9bMBdVwv-ebNifVIz_YLJhOEF5RoNRRT02W9XNt7S2aKIiecYXXjwavu117-JRyHxTUVE5oLVsAeFQd7Ms94/s1600/20151031_190005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4tCljNj7XlDC7UakmK9fp7cNTcKdGr1W-0FUjRu81xe316fJytMl7WK9bMBdVwv-ebNifVIz_YLJhOEF5RoNRRT02W9XNt7S2aKIiecYXXjwavu117-JRyHxTUVE5oLVsAeFQd7Ms94/s320/20151031_190005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She adapted a dollar store mask to accommodate her glasses and added snout and lower jaw with bristol board that she cut, coloured and decorated.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGwKHTArpNSt7kpFSsKOaMiHR58w0B0y-FNHqHA_y1metlxHYaDfFeRRFwqBuwQMX6pXGsd6PSmdyMxabbKa9u_ZgQ4hDc_vpH90QpyQUHFa9ROnSwBPi68wPj4IxXvBLC1fX7zQKp4A/s1600/20151031_193249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGwKHTArpNSt7kpFSsKOaMiHR58w0B0y-FNHqHA_y1metlxHYaDfFeRRFwqBuwQMX6pXGsd6PSmdyMxabbKa9u_ZgQ4hDc_vpH90QpyQUHFa9ROnSwBPi68wPj4IxXvBLC1fX7zQKp4A/s320/20151031_193249.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
And voila, the fiercest looking dragon in the land.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7cCsf_Q8KpJTfQipgRr7gMFNSLkIaHOCpGAYxo2OylYdXUaw-0Vx4LWeVBY4Xd6E6ZGcVlESlpcIpARUpskQ65gfuvJRlLislMRaPmQR274ruCb-QPmgy8t_q4rfdoCCBgP5cU33TzM/s1600/dragon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7cCsf_Q8KpJTfQipgRr7gMFNSLkIaHOCpGAYxo2OylYdXUaw-0Vx4LWeVBY4Xd6E6ZGcVlESlpcIpARUpskQ65gfuvJRlLislMRaPmQR274ruCb-QPmgy8t_q4rfdoCCBgP5cU33TzM/s320/dragon+1.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPxN5RhtyG43EYlex4UgjiMNOiRRhJOafEdI1GfB_qKm2555VZWcbOZkJWbd4QKWFfYfz4TuiPbRs0WL3PRXRi59ypHhvTAq-Ri3ft-EkC18v_GX7UanbJgmoM9XILpZ7rvP7eY_DAxg/s1600/dragon+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPxN5RhtyG43EYlex4UgjiMNOiRRhJOafEdI1GfB_qKm2555VZWcbOZkJWbd4QKWFfYfz4TuiPbRs0WL3PRXRi59ypHhvTAq-Ri3ft-EkC18v_GX7UanbJgmoM9XILpZ7rvP7eY_DAxg/s320/dragon+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMBL4stNr-gHIT2H8R9vK288qfw7kOiiuE8GGm7xkwmuZUQeMWjGPrgXWv9o-eLylId0cjD3vzcJYwQVkwIjOdgbAh1LFzAeDjjDqZZRZSGtuQWLQtZn05ZJw92uslG0WJQSuSelLQcs/s1600/20151031_193147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMBL4stNr-gHIT2H8R9vK288qfw7kOiiuE8GGm7xkwmuZUQeMWjGPrgXWv9o-eLylId0cjD3vzcJYwQVkwIjOdgbAh1LFzAeDjjDqZZRZSGtuQWLQtZn05ZJw92uslG0WJQSuSelLQcs/s320/20151031_193147.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm so proud of her and the great job she did.<br />
Happy Halloween!karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-60322684046981294412014-02-01T22:44:00.000-05:002014-02-01T22:44:47.092-05:00Snowy Day CreativityI am missing this blogging thing.
<br />
<br />
Especially since discovering Pinterest. So many cool ideas out there.<br />
I have cool ideas too. I want to share them. I want to spend time
creating and taking pics and "pinning" my own great ideas. <br />
I look at these prolific "pinners" and wonder...<br />
<br />
<strong><em>how they do
it?</em></strong> <br />
<br />
How does one make the time to make and do so many wonderful
things; sew, cook, bake, craft, and then pin thousands of items to
dozens of boards and blog about it all? And of course they are all
mothers to at least four kids as well. Where do these super humans
come from????<br />
<br />
I am not super human and I seem to have
inherited the lazy gene. But still, I do have the desire to create,
it's just at a snail's pace that I do so.<br />
<br />
I have been thinking lately of starting
a new blog. <br />
One to blog solely about my work in kindergarten. <br />
About
the learning centres and the adventure I am on to implement play
based early learning through an inquiry stance in my classroom. <br />
I may
get around to starting that blog, but chances are...<br />
I won't. <br />
<br />
Today,
I have some unexplained burst of creative energy and am bursting with
ideas. <br />
This hasn't happened in some while and yet, I am skeptical
about the likely hood of this "burst" sticking around for long.<br />
<br />
Of my long and ever growing list of
things I want to do (work-wise), I have recently completed one; to
make a felt board. <br />
And since I have made a felt board, I now want to
make some more felt board stories. <br />
I have mostly felt shapes and flowers
and pumpkins and apples and such, but not many real stories for the
purpose of re-telling. <br />
We have recently been reading and retelling
Goldilocks and the Three Bears and so I decided to make the pieces for
this story. <br />
I am not done yet, but today I got a good start by
making the bears.<br />
<br />
It did take me a while. <br />
First, I
researched bear patterns online, google images and pinetrest pages to
find the style of bear I would like to utilize. <br />
I considered buying
(via Etsy) this one that I found by Jean at <a href="http://www.artfulparent.com/2008/09/marker-holders-and-felt-boards-in-my-etsy-shop.html" target="_blank">The Artful Parent</a>, until I discovered that it was no
longer for sale. <br />
And so, I used the image as my "pattern" after which to
fashion my own bears. <br />
I then spent considerable time drawing
(and erasing) the bears, attempting to get the sizing<strong> <em>just right</em>.</strong>
Then I cut them out and traced them onto the felt that I had bought last week.
<br />
Next, cut the bear shapes out of the felt. <br />
Searched the entire house for the googly eyes
that I know I bought a couple of weeks ago. <br />
Finally found them in a
pile of things in the Spare Oom/Office/Craft Room. <br />
Found some
fabric samples to make the clothes out of. Made and cut out the
bear's clothes. <br />
Hot glued it all together.<br />
And my finished product...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX4OfPO-_ZIkbZqnpP1mlMkpy4cVaWeAfI6P8Fj3sPLq5ev7zX43kk4IND2kDIHEp93zqVZou-ebMldZuJAMtT0iwbwcIFHe7YzZGF3hX0QFHeKPZ-jacrGNH0IZXB9zH2Z_PTqqu0l8/s1600/3+bears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX4OfPO-_ZIkbZqnpP1mlMkpy4cVaWeAfI6P8Fj3sPLq5ev7zX43kk4IND2kDIHEp93zqVZou-ebMldZuJAMtT0iwbwcIFHe7YzZGF3hX0QFHeKPZ-jacrGNH0IZXB9zH2Z_PTqqu0l8/s1600/3+bears.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The rest should be easy from here. Some bowls of porridge, a few chairs and beds. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Oh and Goldilocks, of course.<br />
</div>
karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-77317529509635302252013-11-16T17:39:00.001-05:002013-11-16T17:39:21.838-05:00Sesame Ginger Salad RollsGoing out tonight and taking these tasty little appetizers...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsTHb6UrEy9hu4Or_7M4yuk0IMeg8BI5An8tg34xP6MhBh2wpe2Xy1-PJTive8XHy1YNGtKHmhxSORXuiZ5YKV5O2wBmx23Bx1bgTMf63gy3XRbd8SdHAhNOqw1h2QuNfY_p-o4YCb-4/s1600/2013-11-16+17.22.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsTHb6UrEy9hu4Or_7M4yuk0IMeg8BI5An8tg34xP6MhBh2wpe2Xy1-PJTive8XHy1YNGtKHmhxSORXuiZ5YKV5O2wBmx23Bx1bgTMf63gy3XRbd8SdHAhNOqw1h2QuNfY_p-o4YCb-4/s320/2013-11-16+17.22.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Sesame ginger dressing over romaine lettuce, sweet onion, carrot, red pepper, celery, cucumber, avocado and pear all wrapped up in rice paper. The cilantro I used just for garnish and it is not inside the rolls as some people just don't like it. If you do like it you can stick a sprig into your wrap, all depends on how you roll!!karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-53617923418372999752013-10-05T23:50:00.001-04:002013-10-05T23:50:07.523-04:00Some Before and AftersThe house has kind of got away from me while I was off all summer long and now it is October and I need to get it back!!<br />
<br />
I did a huge desk tidy a couple of weeks ago.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKNqatI5F3R6CrYAsNWbKfVjS03bpg7iu_qUd2XfdZlSpuNPg5IRr3WLpB7vmriRVmB3LxFkoUDX2xzqnDK2lokBvc_aL9V-g_v5OoKyUEx13z5gQiU4E6teNbA-2aD5hxO_B2khLO-s/s1600/01+messy+desk+zone+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKNqatI5F3R6CrYAsNWbKfVjS03bpg7iu_qUd2XfdZlSpuNPg5IRr3WLpB7vmriRVmB3LxFkoUDX2xzqnDK2lokBvc_aL9V-g_v5OoKyUEx13z5gQiU4E6teNbA-2aD5hxO_B2khLO-s/s320/01+messy+desk+zone+before.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQSMG01VSOx67H6oTOmy_d7Vj91DOe9o-pXZqq-ikmhK-0fd6GyePKrlyuhDODAM5waznhIGFLhXxc3Kh1lIhkLnudWskRxMEipZyTES67senmRdEGiO6Qz_Jw8lENWzPCUWO-otPZbE/s1600/02+messy+desk+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQSMG01VSOx67H6oTOmy_d7Vj91DOe9o-pXZqq-ikmhK-0fd6GyePKrlyuhDODAM5waznhIGFLhXxc3Kh1lIhkLnudWskRxMEipZyTES67senmRdEGiO6Qz_Jw8lENWzPCUWO-otPZbE/s320/02+messy+desk+before.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwhWG4UYXnYJCDngBogqGN6wDf23OoR4mmz8kKzAN8k23fSyvcbT6r3YvXmUhbETCf3ld3enNYIwl0wQbb3jdppAhjBoRK3rrwbgYv73_yUDzf2Bv5qnzBCZBkIyLI-RQ5-u90T8dWI0/s1600/03+messy+desk+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwhWG4UYXnYJCDngBogqGN6wDf23OoR4mmz8kKzAN8k23fSyvcbT6r3YvXmUhbETCf3ld3enNYIwl0wQbb3jdppAhjBoRK3rrwbgYv73_yUDzf2Bv5qnzBCZBkIyLI-RQ5-u90T8dWI0/s320/03+messy+desk+after.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After</div>
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</div>
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And then a couple of weeks later it started to get out of control yet again:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImgjOWOQjPTPYR61QFwz-3Vzp8KAVoI3c8yRo_MQhvX2C-s-DUbM5fqqhQ7dpGoFPVDzaP4AkvRcJd2ktwpZkCh-oeLEVRo7PzkK1B-to-LNQN4b_7e7CvCK2F0NVW81OB98jy7Yk9qg/s1600/03+messy+desk+before+october+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImgjOWOQjPTPYR61QFwz-3Vzp8KAVoI3c8yRo_MQhvX2C-s-DUbM5fqqhQ7dpGoFPVDzaP4AkvRcJd2ktwpZkCh-oeLEVRo7PzkK1B-to-LNQN4b_7e7CvCK2F0NVW81OB98jy7Yk9qg/s320/03+messy+desk+before+october+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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Ugghhh</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j2ze79bH7mOoXoTOO1Sq2ljLMjIH7OtN602uAXPRCniv2rak6MR0lz3ZHc4E0KLENtNoPOf-Al87aOFAwhwBAa2FxLeJ67QfGaCoMQZjNHtTwZNB7ei1ReMiQ7HGdN4xEGzC-MU2Mq8/s1600/04+messy+desk+after.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j2ze79bH7mOoXoTOO1Sq2ljLMjIH7OtN602uAXPRCniv2rak6MR0lz3ZHc4E0KLENtNoPOf-Al87aOFAwhwBAa2FxLeJ67QfGaCoMQZjNHtTwZNB7ei1ReMiQ7HGdN4xEGzC-MU2Mq8/s320/04+messy+desk+after.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Much better (although grainy photo quality, flash not working)</div>
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</div>
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And that isn't even the half of it. Here was the mess of my dining room table:</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZy9Q1N0ifD7oF9rjyl4tXyZIp4L5nG0sMj0SRSAKX9FrRGLaEc9I99YU6g6qhomTkg_KRnDo-CbsWlW1ioTN0K0N_AxwvBUHxW5zrrwt5pOkWAmiX0KVeUBToZ54ShW4FYWjW_rmjhQ/s1600/dining+area+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZy9Q1N0ifD7oF9rjyl4tXyZIp4L5nG0sMj0SRSAKX9FrRGLaEc9I99YU6g6qhomTkg_KRnDo-CbsWlW1ioTN0K0N_AxwvBUHxW5zrrwt5pOkWAmiX0KVeUBToZ54ShW4FYWjW_rmjhQ/s320/dining+area+01.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wxNbb5mlqUkX61pKoF-pnfUZxXvfHvWrs1bCjPE17XfAgT8JcSY5i8sRq16NZj-tmh3YGIg82o3m3Lar_Q5M8HwhodijqFPbBK1f5-baFWQ84O7WmDfxphHclAorIxv0_IyfmvzNgQw/s1600/2013-09-08+22.52.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wxNbb5mlqUkX61pKoF-pnfUZxXvfHvWrs1bCjPE17XfAgT8JcSY5i8sRq16NZj-tmh3YGIg82o3m3Lar_Q5M8HwhodijqFPbBK1f5-baFWQ84O7WmDfxphHclAorIxv0_IyfmvzNgQw/s320/2013-09-08+22.52.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ok, that's it for now, will post a few more before/after shots later.</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-72369843994922914732013-01-28T20:39:00.003-05:002013-01-28T20:39:19.467-05:00Shiny Sink Makes Me Smile!!Okay, this for all the Flybabies out there! <br />
THIS, makes me smile.<br />
Thank you to ALL my cheerleaders (you know who you are!!)<br />
That is all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUvbGgSPlSK4qtiGSSb-X5TawmPx3zQEV08k8box9XksF1PecL1lrO7WoD4RZwA-uklwrf3ZiJbShhMCrp6TOTbw6WXxKI2JAdUaVKpMuMTWZzzBBQOzIevQ3-X0PDV3VtGMkb-9gb9I/s1600/shiny+sink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUvbGgSPlSK4qtiGSSb-X5TawmPx3zQEV08k8box9XksF1PecL1lrO7WoD4RZwA-uklwrf3ZiJbShhMCrp6TOTbw6WXxKI2JAdUaVKpMuMTWZzzBBQOzIevQ3-X0PDV3VtGMkb-9gb9I/s320/shiny+sink.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-76907398212323290142012-09-16T00:42:00.001-04:002012-09-16T01:06:43.168-04:00Hiatus Terminated<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've been busy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A wee bit overwhelmed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But in a good way.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have a new job.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am two weeks in.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Trying to fit everything </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Into each week</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Like a strategically packed suitcase</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The new early mornings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The learning and the planning</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The meals and the laundry </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The love and the laughter.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The singing and the Practice</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The board meetings and swimming lessons </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Dancing in the Rain</span></div>
karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-23824098568764924912012-06-20T12:37:00.002-04:002012-06-20T12:37:33.196-04:00Summer Solstice Commitments to Practice<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy Summer Solstice to all!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Wednesday seems to be my blogging day now, thanks to Jamie Ridler. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I may yet again reach a day when my posts consist of more than simply answering <a href="http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/wishcasting-wednesday-what-do-you-wish-for-this-summer" target="_blank">Jamie's Wishcasting Wednesday</a> query. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But for now, this is it. I have many ideas brewing, it just seems to be pinning down the time to tackle them!</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Today, the question is, <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">"What do you wish for this summer?"</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Although I will be working part-time throughout the summer, there are many things I wish to accomplish.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Mainly because the end of this summer marks the end of much of my free time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I will be starting a full-time job in September!! I am very excited about this new opportunity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am also trying not to panic at said loss of free time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So, I believe the most important thing for me to do is to become more efficient with my time and I plan on doing this over the summer by creating some<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: red;">schedules</span></span>, <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: lime;">menu plans</span> <span style="color: #8e7cc3;">and routines</span></span> to ease the transition for myself and my family.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I also have two weekdays off each week this summer and so I plan to make the most of those by spending precious time with my little girl, doing the things that she wants to be doing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This I know, will consist of much time </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">~swimming in the river</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">~a trip to Canada's Wonderland</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">~the Toronto Science Centre</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">~and the ROM</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Fortunately, these are things that I am totally into doing as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Especially the many days we will spend at the river :-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Blogger friend Christine Reed who writes <a href="http://www.girlonfiredance.com/2012/06/go-to-your-b-place.html" target="_blank">Girl On Fire</a> and <a href="http://monkeybrainsaspie.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Monkey Brains</a> prompted me today as well, with this question:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We are in the new moon (June's moon is the Strawberry moon) AND at the Summer Solstice. Seems like an auspicious time to commit to a new practice of growth and exploration. ♥ ♥ ♥ What practice do you need in your life?"</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The answer to this question is simple, although not new.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Music.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Again and again and again.</span></span><br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I keep needing to pull myself back to what I love.</span></span><br />
<br /><br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Blogger friend Pauline at <a href="http://legerillustrations.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">journal illustrations</a> reminded me today that:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">"Habit is about baby steps"</span></span><br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And she is right. That's why I'm starting small. </span></span><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'm committing to starting out with: </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">10 minutes each morning of guitar/singing practice</span></span></span><br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">(Why do I forget again and again how joyful this makes me?)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Also, reconnecting with my <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">morning pages practice</span> as that always encourages me to practice my passions. However, I'm going to be an "Artist's Way" Rebel and only do 10 minutes (gasp!)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And one more habit is to <span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">move this body,</span> through 10 minutes of walking or yoga which provides me with the energy necessary to fulfill my main practice of growth and exploration. Which of course is:<span style="color: orange;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>finding Joy through Music!</strong></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Time to renew my vows to "Commit". It is still, afterall, my word of the year! Oh how quickly I forget!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">What do you wish for this summer?</span><br />karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-85953731722562320562012-06-13T15:30:00.000-04:002012-06-13T15:30:21.775-04:00Belongings I Wish For<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thank goodness for Jamie Ridler! If it were not for her <a href="http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/wishcasting-wednesday-belonging" target="_blank">Wishcasting Wednesday</a> Challenges, I might not be blogging at all!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Today she asks "What belongings do you wish for? (remember when you were a kid and you allowed yourself to wish for things? Let yourself do that today!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Well, I just happen to love lists and usually have many on handy regarding any number of things, including, yes you may have guessed, belongings that I wish for!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In fact, on my fridge, as part of a vision board exercise, I have three mini posters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">They are titled "<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Do</span>", "<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Be</span>", and "<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Have</span>". The "<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Have</span>" poster consists of belongings and other "things" I'd like to have that are not actually belongings such as a neat and tidy home, a tribe of supportive friends and well manicured fingernails!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So I decided to adapt my "Have" list into a "Belongings I Wish For" list.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then I took a picture of it.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's kinda hard to read here so here is the list:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bookshelves (so books can live there instead of in boxes!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">New Pillows</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The perfect Hall Tree (to cut down clutter in the hallway)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bee's Wax Candles aplenty! (love the smell of these)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A radio for my kitchen (instead of streaming from my laptop which is using up precious bandwidth)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Wall hooks (for sweaters, jackets, bags and purses)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A Ukelele, just because</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">More Artwork (to decorate our walls)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">New Lamps for the bedroom</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">a Lamp above the island in the kitchen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Futon Frame for our Spare Oom (so guests will have a place to sleep)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Fluffy New Bath Sheets (you know, really big bath towels!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Fine Wines!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Shelving for all my teaching supplies (for ease of orginization)</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Just a few things that I wish for.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In visiting other participating blogs,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I tried to see if there was any common thread in our wishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The result?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Many people are wishing for new beds or mattresses or pillows</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Here's to a good night's sleep!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">What belongings do you wish for?</span>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-36574502226415093122012-05-16T11:15:00.000-04:002012-05-16T11:15:19.237-04:00Grow, Grow,Grow Little Seed<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It is Wednesday and while I haven't
participated in Jamie Ridler's <a href="http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/wishcasting-wednesday-how-do-you-wish-to-grow" target="_blank">Wishcasting Wednesday</a> in some time,
her question today has prompted me to write. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today Jamie asks;<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"How
do you wish to grow?"</span><br />
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I wish to grow in <strong><span style="color: purple;">confidence </span></strong></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to
disregard the naysayers </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(many of whom reside in my own head!) </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and do
what I was born to do </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">be who I was <strong><span style="color: red;">born to be</span></strong>. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I wish to grow in
<strong><span style="color: blue;">self discipline</span></strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> not allowing trivial activities steal time </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">from
soulful activities </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">which are most essential </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to my living my dreams
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(ah, see my previous post, </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Less screen time = More guitar time!) </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And
to make those essential activities a priority. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that means <strong><span style="color: orange;">significant
daily time and attention </span></strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">paid to my stories and songwriting, singing
and guitar.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would also like to grow some salad
greens.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And how is truly the question. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I kinda have a brown thumb.
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Any suggestions?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This question/post also prompts me to share a video of my friend Andrew Queen which features some of my favourite foods and friends!! My family loves his cd and it has made a great gift to others as well. <a href="http://vimeo.com/39000165" target="_blank">Andrew Queen:Just Down the Road</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How do you wish to grow?</span></div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-6299262033715212362012-05-15T12:57:00.000-04:002012-05-15T12:58:53.465-04:00My Screen Free Observations<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">During the week of April 30- May 6, I took the Screen-Free Week Challenge put out by the <a href="http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/index.html" target="_blank">Committee For a Commercial Free Childhood</a>. It was a very worthwhile endeavour and I do intend to write more about it. For now, here are a few of the things that struck me and of which I will elaborate on in the coming weeks.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">15 Screen-Free Week Observations</span></strong></span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I need to do more to prepare for
it next year.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I wanted to use this week as an
experiment for myself in self control.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was surprised that my husband
joined in. I thought he would resist more.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It amazed me how many people told
me they cannot live without t.v., even for one week.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I did however talk to more people
who thought it was a great idea.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I spent more time talking with my
daughter.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I danced with my daughter.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I helped her plan an "Art
Party" for her friends at the culmination of Scree-Free Week.
And it was a total blast!! More about that later.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I read <u><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Hunger Games</span></u> and started reading <u>Catching Fire</u></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I practiced more yoga.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I listened to more music.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I did not however, practice my
music... Big Hmmmm.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I didn't really miss facebook
except for my morning chats with my cousin and nearly daily
communication with a couple other friends.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I realised that I definitely wish
to spend less time "online" on a regular basis.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I notice that this is easier said
than done so I need a plan!</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"Matsu" or Pine Tree Cut Watermelon, prepared by my daughter for her Art Party</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrOYzZBvs_wBL8x9DHbi5YHBaL0Ljh4art3_xKgCc3KCA0snTidktrhPNWhJbsbOQTo8K5sTT32cPya26VW3ok2Dg75mtF5dShIhrQGPH2vSHyIJPMIG5u8kWNwYD60mNgFyH5dbaDFw/s1600/plasticine+art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrOYzZBvs_wBL8x9DHbi5YHBaL0Ljh4art3_xKgCc3KCA0snTidktrhPNWhJbsbOQTo8K5sTT32cPya26VW3ok2Dg75mtF5dShIhrQGPH2vSHyIJPMIG5u8kWNwYD60mNgFyH5dbaDFw/s320/plasticine+art.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Supplies ready for Plasticine art at the Art Party</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Any thoughts on being "less plugged-in"?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Please share!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-50081531162788240392012-05-04T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-04T08:00:07.085-04:00A Few of My Favourite Things<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just a wee short post today with a Few of My Favourite Things....</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpIlbQqJnpWlii_ZSSMs8wB-Bwf_8-d_pchyd1in4Pn3MD6lj9_rignUtcCoSY5lfzu7P_a3V7Vod6TY8NLA6xUzfML-4tbr7HfRATL6SbvcjFmGUKOXWpFSrhUSHJK9AOgrSwu4Mkmw/s1600/coloured+easter+eggs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpIlbQqJnpWlii_ZSSMs8wB-Bwf_8-d_pchyd1in4Pn3MD6lj9_rignUtcCoSY5lfzu7P_a3V7Vod6TY8NLA6xUzfML-4tbr7HfRATL6SbvcjFmGUKOXWpFSrhUSHJK9AOgrSwu4Mkmw/s320/coloured+easter+eggs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lovely Colourful Easter Eggs</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLzuAQuuIdBCEz-SB2Jt3ar83hLXU51SzT4fOi2xBF4_yDuvZ6gNsElmcWSVZFlKc6YtYhKkQV2UcCe4kLSPBUkda5zMUnZic-6Klct-NS7ejdC5HHn7izVYx4zRpyz9FjPzgiIcmxvQ/s1600/surprise+tea+and+treats+in+bed+for+my+daughter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLzuAQuuIdBCEz-SB2Jt3ar83hLXU51SzT4fOi2xBF4_yDuvZ6gNsElmcWSVZFlKc6YtYhKkQV2UcCe4kLSPBUkda5zMUnZic-6Klct-NS7ejdC5HHn7izVYx4zRpyz9FjPzgiIcmxvQ/s320/surprise+tea+and+treats+in+bed+for+my+daughter.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Surprise tea and treats in bed for my daughter</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB0ogfLeu7OpHjvsBmqOSKs1hlMlqilu7VQXsjpy0xwNo0q-GzKp3kLc3kYxeYj_asLHG2jBSHDdtEYvtIT7FP-5fEGKDwwroazh2A5kExF1gkNfLAuCPleRTgfQl5d_s0RT0NS8sLtA/s1600/favourite+tops.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB0ogfLeu7OpHjvsBmqOSKs1hlMlqilu7VQXsjpy0xwNo0q-GzKp3kLc3kYxeYj_asLHG2jBSHDdtEYvtIT7FP-5fEGKDwwroazh2A5kExF1gkNfLAuCPleRTgfQl5d_s0RT0NS8sLtA/s320/favourite+tops.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A few of my favourite tops!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not really great photograhpy, I know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But it gives a bit of an idea.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What are a Few of Your Favourite Things?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Do tell!!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-66396052864160314332012-05-02T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-02T08:00:05.086-04:00Some Yummy Dinners<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's not that I didn't do any menu
planning in the past month, it was just a bit sporadic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In fact I planned and cooked some
pretty amazing meals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Including:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Garlic Shrimp Caesar Salad wGarlic
Bread</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrIS7hYqjS85mkxQeb-x1-A74u4bFoO4dX6n_wHOlkApsfOWSuKjom-ikrE-l_TiJXUnP9OXRb9-yDkcTGgScCjzYUxzD_vnp7k6u1wW6_38UAKFbDqZB7qGaVSg0AS5vo2Y_1XBe6wk/s1600/Garlic+Shrimp+Caesar+Salad+wGarlic+Bread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrIS7hYqjS85mkxQeb-x1-A74u4bFoO4dX6n_wHOlkApsfOWSuKjom-ikrE-l_TiJXUnP9OXRb9-yDkcTGgScCjzYUxzD_vnp7k6u1wW6_38UAKFbDqZB7qGaVSg0AS5vo2Y_1XBe6wk/s320/Garlic+Shrimp+Caesar+Salad+wGarlic+Bread.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Chicken Fajhitas w/ Corn chips,
Guacamole and Kale Chips!!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxicj_4cfBW7GCvpxlqTHhohIeoflk7ru2YfU8TKvFuwaThRp6qlJimITQA-fZAExqGfbGMKlr00zXNPg65elvhh4PT8v5yzseS-cgw8fFqiVE2SL_B4UxtK00QSkfwiloOdqIa0637ys/s1600/Chicken+Fajhitas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxicj_4cfBW7GCvpxlqTHhohIeoflk7ru2YfU8TKvFuwaThRp6qlJimITQA-fZAExqGfbGMKlr00zXNPg65elvhh4PT8v5yzseS-cgw8fFqiVE2SL_B4UxtK00QSkfwiloOdqIa0637ys/s320/Chicken+Fajhitas.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beef Kabobs, Basmati Rice and Sesame
Green Beans</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbARjayhe6IDwVC4b9YBSZ6RPRWNx7d2RM3M4EDnYwLFRg6eNt-hbejyHc0rPand7tvaDvX6ZaN5TY8yRH7b0izNdZjPZyZtOyduthSwprqOn3U9npcDHUkVZRyza0V9EloA8FhPGrMKM/s1600/Beef+Kabobs+Basmati+Rice+and+Sesame+Green+Beens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbARjayhe6IDwVC4b9YBSZ6RPRWNx7d2RM3M4EDnYwLFRg6eNt-hbejyHc0rPand7tvaDvX6ZaN5TY8yRH7b0izNdZjPZyZtOyduthSwprqOn3U9npcDHUkVZRyza0V9EloA8FhPGrMKM/s320/Beef+Kabobs+Basmati+Rice+and+Sesame+Green+Beens.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All were very yummy indeed!</span></div>
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</div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-11596184632748452952012-04-30T06:00:00.000-04:002012-05-01T23:04:12.310-04:00Menu Plan for April 30-May 6 and Welcome to Screen-Free Week Challenge<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I fell off the blogging train a
month ago, I also fell off my oh so successful Menu Planning Train!
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I was doing so well! (in fact, I believe that is what one of my
last posts was all about. Guess I spoke too soon!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh well, I'm
getting back on track now!!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is my plan for this week:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<strong><span style="color: red;">Monday: BBQ Pork Ribs, Basmati Veggie
Rice, Asparagus</span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Tuesday: Shepherds Pie,
Spinach-Strawberry-Pecan Salad</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Wednesday: Huevos Rancheros, w/Roasted
Potatoes and Beet/Lentil Salad</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: lime; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Thursday: Butter Chicken w/Naan Bread, Green Beans & Carrots</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Friday: Leftovers and Soup (not sure
what kind yet)</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Saturday: Mediterranean Vegetable Pie,
Greek Salad</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Sunday: Garlic Shrimp Linguine With
Spinach</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">So, it is now <a href="http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/index.html" target="_blank">Screen-Free Week</a>. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I have been working up to this for a month now. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Even though I haven't been blogging, I have still spent a lot of time online. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Still reading some blogs.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">And still plenty of facebook, and e-mail, and youtube, and googling whatever.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Well, not this week.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I am completely offline (except at work).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">All leisure time will be unplugged.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I have been promoting this with my daughter's school, her Girl Guide unit, our local library </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">and at my place of work. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I have been doing this out of an interest I have in becoming less "plugged in". </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">The promotion of literacy, learning, physical and creative activities also combines nicely with my job as I work at a child and family resource centre.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">We do not have a tv in our house and haven't watched actual tv for seven and a half years now.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I like it that way :-)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">This post was scheduled.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">As are the rest of this week's posts.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I will be fully back next week!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-64247030495055205812012-04-29T14:12:00.000-04:002012-04-29T14:12:58.355-04:00I'm Back!!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well, I have one little job interview
with three days to prepare for, then two weeks of waiting to find out
if I got the job...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And my whole blogging life just falls away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sigh.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And just when I seemed to have a steady rhythm going. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">C'est la vie!
I'm back now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With a backlog of things to write about!
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Including, how I am going to continue
to blog in September when I start my full-time job!!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes, it's true. I will be going back
to work full-time in September. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am at the same time, excited and
apprehensive.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">More about that later.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Also, the timing of deciding to return
to blogging from a month off, comes at a bad time as I plan
to be participating in the <a href="http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/index.html"><span style="color: lime;"><strong>Screen-Free Week Challenge</strong></span></a> this week
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(April 30-May 6).</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fortunately, blogger is equipped with
that lovely feature of pre-scheduling your blog posts to appear on
the day and time you want them to!
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, while there will be posts from me
this week, I will not actually be using my computer. Which means
that I will not be checking my comments until next week. So if you
happen to be reading my blog this week and want to leave me a
comment, please do, I will respond next week!!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Have a great week!!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-13454646039121917462012-03-29T06:00:00.011-04:002012-03-29T06:00:12.294-04:00Previous Post Update #3<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Word for 2012, <a href="http://andabowloforangestoo.blogspot.ca/2012_01_01_archive.html">Commit</a>. This is my progress on:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: lime; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Healthy Eating/Menu Planning:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now here is an area that I have been focusing on. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you've been reading, you will see that I have posted menus for the past 4 weeks and I have been trying to make healthier choices while doing so. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> made a delicious <a href="http://andabowloforangestoo.blogspot.ca/2012/03/menu-for-march-19-25.html">Grilled Chicken Salad</a>, a<a href="http://andabowloforangestoo.blogspot.ca/2012/03/friend-food-and-fun-illed-weekend.html"> Ginger-Beef Stir Fry</a>, <a href="http://andabowloforangestoo.blogspot.ca/2012/03/menu-for-week-of-march-5.html">Grilled Steelhead Trout</a> , <a href="http://andabowloforangestoo.blogspot.ca/2012/02/menu-for-this-week.html">Vegetarian Chilli Cheese Nachos</a>. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have also been making an effort to cut down on the potato chips and chocolate snacking!</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">AND</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;">Strengthening and Maintaining Relationships</span></strong>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is a tough one for me. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We moved to a new town in September of 2011.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We are about 1 ½ hours away from our old town and return there frequently to check on the house that we still own there. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have, on a couple of occasions met a friend for tea or lunch, but finding the time to spare and matching up schedules is a challenge. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, I have managed to send a few cards, letters and<a href="http://andabowloforangestoo.blogspot.ca/2012/02/th-lat-bls-laptop-blues.html"> valentines</a> , in my efforts to stay in touch. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am also encouraging and assisting my daughter to do the same. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I moved and changed schools in grade 5 just like her and I know how important it can be to maintain those friendships that she has established since kindergarten. I didn't and wish that I had.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The internet sure makes this an easier thing to do these days!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">How goes your progress on accomplishing things you've commited to or on living your Word for 2012?</span></div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-51961878163949998852012-03-28T06:00:00.006-04:002012-03-28T09:57:48.219-04:00Previous Post Update #2<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've been making some claims and promises here to accomplish a few things. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Time to honour accountability.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For my word for 2012, I chose Commit. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Go <a href="http://andabowloforangestoo.blogspot.ca/2012/01/my-word-for-2012.html">here</a> for a list of the things I wanted to commit to.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And this is my progress on: <span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Practice.</strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OOx5ZNq404ofDRaQvykuAo3eQ4PprmLZOzPOu2bSO68M_8-gX-Qo_JRgIl64hEZ-3fM0ITsdnnYGBjI-xFjz6zrWFoY-2nhEEO45hz9MXLaMIr31bFV4MRknq5IyhiD41LdOC2GJ-ow/s1600/my+instruments.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OOx5ZNq404ofDRaQvykuAo3eQ4PprmLZOzPOu2bSO68M_8-gX-Qo_JRgIl64hEZ-3fM0ITsdnnYGBjI-xFjz6zrWFoY-2nhEEO45hz9MXLaMIr31bFV4MRknq5IyhiD41LdOC2GJ-ow/s320/my+instruments.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I must say that I have been more dedicated to practising my guitar than ever before. Perhaps it's due to the fact that I received as a Christmas gift from my fabulous Fishguy, a beautiful new guitar. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That and well, I've actually been following through on my decision to Commit to Practice!</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am singing just about as much as always (in the shower, doing dishes, while practising guitar, in the car, hanging the laundry when I am at work...) and would like to take more voice lessons or join a singing ensemble.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, my financial situation is preventing me from doing any such thing that costs money. I need to look into some alternatives. Or get a full-time job (sigh!).</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
Yoga, well, I just haven't been putting very much effort into this commitment, I must admit.<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I mean I have been doing some yoga, here and there. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I even taught a couple of workshops for kids in Feb and March. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And sometimes in the evening when I'm puttering about the house, I just drop into a pose when the urge strikes me, depending on what feels tight and needs stretching. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But as far as a regular “practice” goes,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I think perhaps I need to try to start small, just 5-10 minutes in the morning.</span></div></span>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-55597840058276033542012-03-27T06:00:00.045-04:002012-03-27T06:00:07.953-04:00Previous Post Updates #1<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've been making some claims and promises here to accomplish a few things. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Time to honour accountability.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For my word for 2012, I chose Commit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Go h<a href="http://andabowloforangestoo.blogspot.ca/2012/01/my-word-for-2012.html">ere</a> for a list of the things I wanted to commit to.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And this is my progress on: </span><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Happiness.</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, here we are nearing the end of March and I can definitely say that overall, I have been a happier person .</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I find January and February to be such challenging months, both in maintaining emotional balance and functioning energy levels. However, with the practice of <a href="http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/">Julie Cameron's</a> morning pages in January (issued as a challenge for the month by <a href="http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/starting-your-year-with-morning-pages?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JamieRidlerStudios+%28Jamie+Ridler+Studios%29">Jamie Ridler</a>), I feel I gained a leg up on beating the winter blahs this year.</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Of course, I still experience the odd "down days", just noticeably fewer of them!</span></div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-64527824855448617922012-03-26T06:00:00.004-04:002012-03-26T06:00:08.594-04:00Menu, March 26-April 1<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm really getting into a groove now! This is my fifth week of menu planning!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Monday~ Shrimp Caesar Salad with Garlic Bread and Kale Chips</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Tuesday~Beef, Red Pepper and Onion Kabobs, Green Beans, Basmati Rice</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Wednesay~Broccoli Cheddar Quiche, Coconut Curry Dahl</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Thursday~Chicken Fajitas, Guacamole & Pita Chips</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: lime; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Friday~Help Yourself and Eat Up the Leftovers</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Saturday~Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Oven Fries and Baked Zucchini Sticks</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #f1c232;">Sunday~</span></strong><a href="http://food.chatelaine.com/Recipes/View/Honey-ginger-tofu"><strong><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #f1c232;">Honey-GingerTofu with Quinoa & Kale Pilaf</span></strong></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The tofu recipe is one I found in this month's Chatelaine and I'm looking forward to trying it out.</span>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-14451507692202887562012-03-23T10:51:00.000-04:002012-03-23T10:51:04.262-04:00Menu for March 19 -25.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gah! It's Friday and I neglected to post my menu for this week. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well, I can tell you that last week's menu was followed, more or less, with just a little bumping and substitution here and there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My girl had a friend over on Thursday night, so we picked up pizza for dinner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I knew this was going down so opted to have the beef stir fry the day before, instead of going out for dinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Sunday's dinner was one of my very favourites to have during the summer months. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's only March, but the weather has been so wonderfully warm, it felt like a little celebration was in order and so we had the Grilled Chicken Salad pictured here. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9pkXPt7YCOVkhYpeR4xuspt6RIcTKX5iaMe4k5JJzyQUwKxdmlylQubKcYfZ05W3qwA4vJJiAzjPx-eVTbrjCqv4bznlb4zEMe98rG4JnsHkgqMXl3P5kzxFf4asOlUJYECjS-d09BY/s1600/grilled+chicken+salad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9pkXPt7YCOVkhYpeR4xuspt6RIcTKX5iaMe4k5JJzyQUwKxdmlylQubKcYfZ05W3qwA4vJJiAzjPx-eVTbrjCqv4bznlb4zEMe98rG4JnsHkgqMXl3P5kzxFf4asOlUJYECjS-d09BY/s320/grilled+chicken+salad.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was alright, but nothing like in the summer when all of the vegetables are in season and local! (Well, maybe except for the avocado).</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This Week's Menu:</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Monday~ Burgers and Fries (we didn't end up eating out last week, so Fish Guy brought home Whimpy's!)</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Tuesday~ Black Bean, TVP and Rice Burritos; Sweet Potato Fries</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: lime;">Wednesday~ <a href="http://www.ontariobeans.on.ca/recipe_card.php?format=1&recipe=142">South-West Baked Bean Soup</a>, Chicken and Pork Fried Rice, Lemon Parmesan Brussels Sprouts</span></strong> </span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Thursday~ Shepherds Pie with a Greek Salad</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Friday~ Creamy Garlic Chicken Spaghetti with Broccoli and Parsnips, Large Caesar Salad</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Saturday~ BBQ Ribs, Brown Rice with Kale and Grilled Veggie Kabobs (peppers, mush, onion and zucchini)</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Sunday~ I still don't know yet!!</strong></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The South-West Baked Bean soup is a recipe I picked up at work. It's super easy and fast, but kinda bland and boring as is. I sauteed onions and celery to begin with before adding all the other ingredients and I also added some Frank's Red Hot Pepper sauce in place of the cayenne. It was prety good!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now I have to start thinking about the menu for the coming week. </span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Can hardly wait for the local asparagus to be available. The way the weather has been, I have a feelng I won't have to wait too long!</span>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-7256475536528256402012-03-20T11:40:00.000-04:002012-03-20T11:40:50.462-04:00These Are A Few of My Favourite Things, #2<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This past week has been so wonderful. The beautiful springy, unseasonable warm weather; my birthday, the March break. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Time again, to showcase a <strong><span style="color: purple;">Few of My Favourite Things</span></strong>.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KG5Q4eEsC1mO_B3zt2BQPHJyr-gxvFXrxbhFYa7OIWS5OOQJIAJ_aR04xSfRP8vXBOiGobCMv3kWDO8CZZq_J3l-VZXoPmtCCKlYw07jBfhzJB0Zt3vbmiTY_l_3Qwg8fHnYeNctcRY/s1600/laundry+line+march+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KG5Q4eEsC1mO_B3zt2BQPHJyr-gxvFXrxbhFYa7OIWS5OOQJIAJ_aR04xSfRP8vXBOiGobCMv3kWDO8CZZq_J3l-VZXoPmtCCKlYw07jBfhzJB0Zt3vbmiTY_l_3Qwg8fHnYeNctcRY/s320/laundry+line+march+12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I love hanging my clothes on the line to dry.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Since we do not use a dryer (except very occasionally, part of my eco-living commitment) I hang my clothes to dry, year round.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">During the winter, there are some days when hanging outside is possible, but for the most part I use drying racks within the house. So when the weather is as warm and sunny as it has been this week, I feel a bit of extra joy about being able to hang my clothes outside again... in March!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCLzjFVgo9iWr-5eZyfifZecdLnnblDUGj5-v6CsKQvt5OPiKk6dPCGSG3S4wl3Dlj7JtIT_UcAO5BON69WExblVtUikGfFtfq5jN-MSBPCfLaM_hRycALXwI3ozj7lLpFNCAq2Q_6G0/s1600/birthday+tulips.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCLzjFVgo9iWr-5eZyfifZecdLnnblDUGj5-v6CsKQvt5OPiKk6dPCGSG3S4wl3Dlj7JtIT_UcAO5BON69WExblVtUikGfFtfq5jN-MSBPCfLaM_hRycALXwI3ozj7lLpFNCAq2Q_6G0/s320/birthday+tulips.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My darling Fishguy brought me beautiful tulips on my birthday last week!! </span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was able to display them in my lovely <a href="http://www.aalto.com/">Aalto vase</a> from Finland, </span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">which was a gift from a very generous friend, while I was living there (95-96).</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZA1wMeIOY-0oNRQTK0C0hoCrVp5-W9up29GB2Sb6aGoONwX5hQzhqVKxrpjIyeGO0PEDJHjGUDXD7LiYPzr2azMbRBP3R4Fe76m71GpgD0dE41cZl-tPn3Cxs7NlN0xqdO4yrVHaeF0/s1600/pancake+breaky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZA1wMeIOY-0oNRQTK0C0hoCrVp5-W9up29GB2Sb6aGoONwX5hQzhqVKxrpjIyeGO0PEDJHjGUDXD7LiYPzr2azMbRBP3R4Fe76m71GpgD0dE41cZl-tPn3Cxs7NlN0xqdO4yrVHaeF0/s320/pancake+breaky.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My sweet little Sugar-Plum had a friend overnight during the March break, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and THEY made themselves pancakes for breakfast. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Pancakes with chocolate chips. Served with real, local maple syrup!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCxjO-36X0sfjvemDINWwI9GN8OmfdiJ6ynC3RoPZJzPnbwtfeB5Y27O6_dV4kPYAJ3XfvdjcOSjLPn6_njMt0BK-qdnm4A9FOdhpHXvHALBA-ZKlWpady4MrIjY_KuvUFCcN_Zwy1mU/s1600/tea+for+me.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCxjO-36X0sfjvemDINWwI9GN8OmfdiJ6ynC3RoPZJzPnbwtfeB5Y27O6_dV4kPYAJ3XfvdjcOSjLPn6_njMt0BK-qdnm4A9FOdhpHXvHALBA-ZKlWpady4MrIjY_KuvUFCcN_Zwy1mU/s320/tea+for+me.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They also made me some tea :-) </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Chocolate Spearmint Organic Tea from my friend's <a href="http://www.porcupinecreekfarm.ca/">Porcupine Creek Farm.</a> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In my favourite cute little teapot that I <strike>bought for $2 at a thrift shop</strike> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">got in my stocking for Christmas. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And one of my favourite little mugs which was a gift from my mother-in-law.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The art on the mug is by<a href="http://www.folkartcanada.ca/EC_ML.html"> Maud Lewis</a>.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I love how the tulips made their way into three out of four photos!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Hope you enjoyed this weeks edition of These Are a Few of my Favourite Things!</span></div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-23130352390040685492012-03-18T16:21:00.000-04:002012-03-18T16:21:14.266-04:00Black Bean Soup Recipe<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last weekend, I made a black bean and tomato soup. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had been craving one for some time and when I want to make something like that, when I haven't ever made it before, I will often google search for recipes and then look at about four or five recipes that look good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then I just pick and choose a little from this recipe and a little from that till I get what I think will be what I am looking for. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I found some good basic steps and ingredients <a href="http://allrecipes.com/video/535/quick-and-easy-black-bean-soup/detail.aspx?prop24=PN_1.1.1_TP.Quick-and-Easy">here</a>, <a href="http://www.simplysoups.com/SoupRecipes/BlackBeanSoup/BlackBeanVegetableSoup.htm">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.rd.com/food/healthy-roasted-tomato-and-black-bean-soup-recipe/">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is what I came up with for my own version of this soup.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2 cans black beans, rinsed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 ½ -2 cups vegetable broth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">6-8 Roma tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 onion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 celery stalk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2-4 cloves of garlic, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">½ -1 tsp cumin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">½ -1 tsp chili powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">½ -1 tsp oregano or mixed Italian seasoning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Juice from one lime</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">chopped green onions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">half an avocado, diced</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Okay so the biggest step is roasting the tomatoes.Slice them into quarters lengthwise. Also cut up onion and celery (I cut into large chunks so they wouldn't burn when roasting) Toss, in 2 tbsp of olive oil a sprinkle of salt and the oregano/Italian seasoning. Roast for about 30 minutes @ 350, then add the garlic in and roast for another 20-25 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once roasted, add vegetable stock to the pan to scrape up all the roasty bits. Then, transfer it all to a large soup pot. Here I used my handy dandy Cuisinart stainless steel hand blender, using just a few pulses to blend things up a bit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then I added the rinsed cans of beans. I've cooked kidney beans and navy beans from dry, but I have yet to try black beans. Comes down to saving time really, when I use the canned variety.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Add in the spices and mash about half of the beans (or use the blender).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bring to a boil and then lower to simmering for about 20-30 minutes, adjusting salt, spice and thickness (by adding more water or veg stock) as needed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Serve in bowls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I offered the lime juice, green onions and avocado on the side to add</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> as desired. I also think it would be nice with the bacon, but was serving a vegetarian guest. Sour cream and cilantro would be nice additions to top it off with as well. Perhaps I'll try that next time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yummy! I loved this soup and will make it again soon!</span>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-50480232776057106402012-03-18T12:36:00.000-04:002012-03-18T12:36:00.775-04:0022 Things<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lists!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh, I do love to make a list. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And I just found another great opportunity to make one!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Angie, over at<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></strong></span><a href="http://arichmondwritemehappy.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Write Me Happy</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> has issued a creative challenge called </span><a href="http://arichmondwritemehappy.blogspot.ca/p/22-things.html"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>22 Things</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, which is a means to accomplish BIG things through small steps.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> <br />
So, here is my list. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The one that came right off the top of my head with out any editing or shuffling of order of importance or anything like that.</span></div><ol><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Move a little bit more each day (stretch, walk, dance)</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Listen to music more often</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Practice my guitar, daily</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Drink more water</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Do my vocal training exercises more often</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sign up for voice lessons</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Organize my songs into folders (computer)/binders (hard copy)</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Finish putting together another copy of a children's book I wrote into 12x12 scrapbook</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mail a minimum of 3 cards per week</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Make cards weekly, set aside an hour or two on Sundays</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Take better care of my fingernails</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Book an appointment for a pedicure (use christmas gift certificate!)</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Make one date per week with a friend for lunch or tea</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Start blogging more about music</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Start blogging some recipes</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Work on making a scrapbook again.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Start recording songs and story readings for a gift for a special little girl</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Have more family outings (weekly)</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Be more physically active as a family</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Join a choir</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Find a songwriters group to join</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Play with clay (plasticine)</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Get a new journal<br />
I added that last one in because, I was making the list in my journal and had reached the last page!</span></div></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Afterwards, I got looking at my list and I started judging it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wanting to tweak it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Change it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Make it more appealing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(Why is spending time with my family so low on the list? How could I neglect 'practicing with my brother for our planned open mic night?' I didn't include any steps to finding a new full time job, which should be a priority for me right now in order to pay the bills).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> <br />
And then, I went blog surfing. I went to visit Pauline at<strong><span style="color: blue;"> </span></strong></span><a href="http://legerillustrations.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>journal illustrations and musings</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> and read<strong> </strong></span><a href="http://legerillustrations.blogspot.ca/2012/03/one-of-secrets-of-happy-life-is.html"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>this lovely post</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>.</strong> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I could see a similarity in her description of resisting the urge to change what she didn't like about her painting and just let it be and become what it will. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I then decided to leave my list alone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It is what it is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It came to me in that order for whatever reason and I'm not going to judge it, or change it, or add to it right now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I think sometimes I just try to do to much at once. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I'll stick with this list a while and see where it takes me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Thanks Pauline!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> <br />
Oh, and then, I ate some chocolate!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdwWKMcU-cQj4V4te065apsvpLJajWKh4rjFDyxouP0OaH37Kulpyei_GpFcj2b83IdR6tmXn9F45sRDM5ccmY3h3ezzd2s82KCVE4t4_W-N5bEtnfJOJEWUbIOth_E0UqjnqvegjTBc/s1600/chocolate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdwWKMcU-cQj4V4te065apsvpLJajWKh4rjFDyxouP0OaH37Kulpyei_GpFcj2b83IdR6tmXn9F45sRDM5ccmY3h3ezzd2s82KCVE4t4_W-N5bEtnfJOJEWUbIOth_E0UqjnqvegjTBc/s320/chocolate.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767526031827562301.post-70689138131939187152012-03-12T12:51:00.004-04:002012-03-12T13:19:43.113-04:00A Friend, Food and Fun-Filled Weekend, Also, Menu for March 12-18<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt2EBjxh2ByqQb5sGiYeq9RmF9YDCvAZmjmNY32Lc7nQOi-Rt2jJih4yIwrFtwQOvGx3X37GtKLqcj-ojlF5hvCPydNtbjWu6scRv_-KW395b7CZdQIkSkI5kAYSJ0hISsUpW7lHrnNE/s1600/geeky+luncheon.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719057524943836194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt2EBjxh2ByqQb5sGiYeq9RmF9YDCvAZmjmNY32Lc7nQOi-Rt2jJih4yIwrFtwQOvGx3X37GtKLqcj-ojlF5hvCPydNtbjWu6scRv_-KW395b7CZdQIkSkI5kAYSJ0hISsUpW7lHrnNE/s400/geeky+luncheon.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Lunch on Saturday<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Last week's menu was another success. I did make a couple changes however. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I made a black bean and roasted tomato soup to go with the quiche on Friday. </span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And instead of sun brown rice and roasted veggies with the trout on Saturday, my wonderful husband made a veggie stir fry with Asian eggplant, zucchini, onions, beet greens, celery and peppers (red, green and yellow!) and served that over bean noodles, yummy! </span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">He also made a little saucy side dish of okra with tomatoes!<br /></div></span><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I might mention that my husband was a chef in a previous life for about a dozen years.<br />I might also mention that we had an old friend visiting us this weekend and this is a friend who appreciates good food and also enjoys cooking. </div></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I might also mention that this friend came bearing abundant gifts of fine wine, cheese, bread, tea and chocolate!!! (Now that's a good friend indeed!)<br /></div></span><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We enjoyed a lovely lunch on Saturday (see photo above) of seafood salad, bread, cheese, strawberries and champagne! We ate this while geeking out on our computers. It was a trial; we decided to play a game of scrabble via facebook, while in the same room. It was fun!<br /></div></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sunday, it was just me and hubby for dinner as our little Sugar-Plum is still visiting at Grandma's with her cousin. We ate leftovers of everything! Which leaves the Beef Ginger Stir-Fry available for this week's menu.<br /></div></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I expect this week to be a bit crazy as it is the March Break and our days are in a bit of flux, trying to solidify plans with friends for playdates and get-togethers and outings. </span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, it's also my birthday on Wednesday.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So as always, the menu is open and subject to change.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Monday~ still finishing up left overs, Bean Soup, Trout and Noodles.<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Tuesday~ Turkey Gumbo with Crusty Rolls<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>Wednesday~Birthday dinner out<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>Thursday~Ginger-Beef Stir fry over sun brown Rice (vegg incl: onions, peppers, celery, carrots, asian eggplant, zucchini, garlic, ginger)<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Friday~Beet and Lentil Salad, Roasted Potatoes, Carrots and Parsnips<br /></strong></span><strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Saturday~ Dinner out again (more birthday celebration!)<br /></span><span style="color:#3333ff;">Sunday~ Large Caesar Salad w/ BBQ Chicken and Pasta</span></strong></span> </div>karmacoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04832984359018096777noreply@blogger.com1