Doodling

Yup, that doodling that I do while at boring meetings, or during some phone calls helps. Research has demonstrated that doodling helps keep our mind focused during difficult situations. Now, if only I could draw wonderful creations there would be another bonus to this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7912671.stm

Buttons

For those of you who sew like me and have a sewing basket with a container full of buttons, here is a solution that might not take too much time and work:








http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/button-napkin-rings?lnc=bf89cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=cf_link&comments_page=1&rsc=comments_more


I do enjoy seeing what Martha will come up with next.
My sewing basket has many gems and sometimes, I do wonder if I will ever come up with ideas that will be viable and usable. Have fun with this.

Desserts

While I wait for heat to be turned on, I am going to catch up on my computing. Not sure if anyone missed my entries last week but here, I have completed two in a morning. Might even have more!

Last week, I went to Dessert Trends www.DessertTrends.ca with a friend and I must say that it is worth the visit. Dessert Trends at 154 Harbord Street is definitely a place to have a patisserie, get an event catered or a wedding cake. (We have been invited to a wedding this summer but it is not in Toronto so I will not recommend Dessert Trends for this particular wedding.)

The residents of Toronto know how to enjoy themselves and eating is one of life's pleasures. Visit Dessert Trends when you have a chance. Close to the Harbord bakery where you can pick up bagels at the same time. (mentioned the bakery awhile ago)

Yarn

Last week, while up north with Michael who is now busy consulting as well as working his regular job, I had time to explore. At the least the second day. The first evening, we arrived at 2:30 a.m.: yes you read correctly. We drove north at 11 p.m. (after orchestra and Michael's arrival home from Dallas) and this was during a snow storm and in the dark. It will be heavenly to return in a couple weeks and do the drive on an afternoon and arrive about 2:30 p.m. The first day, I woke up at 10:30 a.m., had a leisurely shower and managed to be dressed and ready for an early lunch by 11:30- now that's life.
On the second day, I got up a little earlier and after a relaxed breakfast, packed and checked out by 11 a.m. After, I checked e-mails before heading out to drive and explore. I also know where the public facilities in the hotel are and they are very nice.
One of the places that I found was Sheep Strings, a yarn store in Dwight. If you are a knitter and in the area, definitely worth a visit. The website for the place is www.sheepstrings.com.
Happy exploring and knitting.

Hi

My goodness, it has been over a week since I posted. I know how a friend elsewhere feels about not getting to the blog. Life is getting in the way and I have a number of responsibilities that I will not discuss right now that are taking priority. Don't know if having time for the blog means that I have time on my hands. Something to ponder.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do that the ones that did do." Mark Twain.
(Wonder if that applies to housework?)

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. there are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, require some of the same courage which a soldier needs. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Thoughts from the Perkolator- picked up in Muskoka last week. I was there for two days. )

Bruno Torf

Just as I was about to head to my music room to practise, I saw an e-mail from my aunt and it mentioned Bruno Torf and the fact that his art work had been damaged by the fire's in Australia. It is hard for us to picture and imagine what is happening in Australia as we deal with snow and now unusually warm weather- 1 degree above freezing. Those two degrees make all the difference between snow and ice on the ground and things continuing to melt. Hard to believe that we had many inches of snow on the ground just a short time ago. This is all easier to deal with than the destructive fires of Australia. We read about numbers of people killed and the destruction. It is all hard to believe at this distance. It is also hard to believe that so much beauty is being destroyed at the same time. I really hope that people have not helped this fire spread.

Enjoy Torf's work: http://www.brunosart.com/index.htm

Remember that people are creating beauty despite the destruction in the world.

Family Day!?!

Did you know that today was Family Day? Well you did as long as you are not a federal employee or live in certain provinces. Mail was delivered today and that is remarkable on a holiday when banks were closed. Interesting since Canadian banks are actually federal institutions. I don't begrudge them the holiday just find it interesting.
If you would like more information about this day, read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Day.
Happy Family Day!?!