Imitation; the sincerest form of flattery...

Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery?
I am struggling with this today. 1: because I fear I have been one to imitate in the past and 2: because I am the one who has been imitated today.

Okay so when I say I have imitated before I am really referring to what I consider being inspired by others and moved to act myself. Primarily I have done this in my young blogging life where I am trying to create content that is interesting, and important to me. Often times I have been inspired by something I read or saw on anothers blog and have always linked back to that blog for reference. Is this imitation? Is it flattering?

Now as the one who was imitated I am trying to decide if I am flattered or frustrated.
As some of you may know I own an art gallery  (Silver Bridge Gallery) in the small town I call home up here in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. Two weeks ago I started a Christmas advertising campaign called '12 Saturdays Until Christmas'...it is something I did last year and am doing again. Each week on our Facebook page I post a gift idea from within our gallery which features original art and artisan made products. Just about everything in my gallery is handmade and it is my way of featuring the artists and artisans while possibly giving someone a light bulb moment for that hard to buy for individual. I digress...

I had a customer in the gallery late last week who was from an artists collective two hours north of us. We spoke about our businesses and I expressed a desire to go north and visit her in her business. As we discussed the importance of buying handmade I spoke about my little ad campaign and how it helped draw people in last year and I hoped it would do the same this year.


Here we are! 12 more Saturdays until Christmas...Time flies, so why not get ahead of the game?
Each week for the next 12 weeks, we will provide a gift idea for all the special people in your life.
This week we will start with wonderful jewelery by Adea Chung of Billy Would Designs.
Each unique piece is handmade using recycled and reclaimed hardwood.
Rescuing exotic hardwoods from various local woodworkers and factories
where the size of the wood is no longer usable for them.
Come in and see our selection of Necklaces and Earrings.
Silver Bridge Gallery...two rooms full of beautiful things.
Shop local...Save on gas!

 Following our exchange of information, I 'liked' her business on Facebook. I then logged into Facebook last night only to see a post from her business noting '10 more Saturdays until Christmas'. Now, by no means do I own the rights to this phrase, nor the idea , but I just felt it was a little obvious, and I felt a little sting when I read it. Kinda like a 'hey that was my idea' sting, a 'give credit where credit is due' sort of sting if you will.

11 Saturdays until Christmas...still lots of time, but why not get ahead this year!
This week we will focus on Potter Antje Gagne. Antje used to live in
Port Sydney and though she has moved to the Midland/Penatang area, we still claim her as local.
Antje's pottery has a refined rustic quality about it.
She creates amazing forms which are at once beautiful and functional.
From mirrors and birdhouses to vases and trivets to pie plates and serving bowls,
Antje has something for just about anyone on your list. Come in and see her great selection today.
Silver Bridge Gallery...two rooms full of beautiful things. Shop local...Save on gas!

It is of little consequence as her business is not competition for me, nor would it serve the same clientele so at the end of the day I have decided to be flattered that my idea is so good someone else decided to use it.

But it got me thinking and wondering am I causing a sting to someone else when I use their blog post as inspiration for my thoughts or opinions? I sincerely hope not. What do you think?

BTW...only 10 more Saturdays until Christmas. Please consider supporting your local merchants this Christmas, or choose to buy handmade, either way you will affect someones bottom line...and it won't be Wall Street's.

Thanksgiving...the Verdict

I figured I could not leave all 6 of you hanging (yes I only have 6 followers...but I'm new so it's okay). Thanksgiving as hosted by my 21 year old daughter was fabulous!

It was a bit hectic the night we arrived and my little girls (2.5 and almost 4) did not manage to fall asleep until midnight and even then it was a fitful night sleep with me lying on the floor with them rubbing backs and cheeks to lull them back to slumber...I was tired the next day. But we woke Sunday morning to a wonderful warm day with the sun shining. Jake and Caitlin worked out the timing of the meal and that was it for us until it was time to eat.

Caitlin set a beautiful table...as you recall she said prepare to be amazed...and amazed I was...sort of. To say I was amazed would imply that I had little faith in her abilities, which is not true. I knew she would do a great job and she did.

The turkey was cooked to perfection, the ham as well, fluffy mashed potatoes, the best candied carrots I've ever had and a wonderful new addition of panko breaded asparagus spears. Yum! Of course the meal was followed by dessert which as always was sublime with her fresh apple and pumpkin pies and whipped cream and ice cream. My waistline suffered, but my palette did not.

Apart from doing the dishes I did not lift a finger all day...it was wonderful!

It was one of the nicest Thanksgivings on record and Caitlin and her boyfriend Max proved to be wonderful hosts...so much so that Jake and I would like to make it a new tradition...what do you think Cait?

Monday saw us enjoying the Kitchener Oktoberfest/Thanksgiving Day parade which was amazing and kept the girls thoroughly entertained for almost two hours (and we left before the parade was over).

After that we headed on over to St. Jacobs to explore the village this time (you may recall we loved the market). It is a lovely little village and thanks to fellow blogger Lisa Roy who mentioned in a comment on my last St. Jacobs post that the Bakery there was a must see...oh we saw...we ate and we loved! My mouth waters at the memory.

Hope your Thanksgiving (if you celebrated) was as glorious as ours was.

Thanksgiving...

And so it is that as fall takes it's hold on us here at the top of the northern hemisphere, it is our Canadian Thanksgiving. This is truly my favorite time of year as I have posted about before. I love the changing colours, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the chance to wear the boots, leggings and warm knits that have been tucked away all summer. But what I love the most is the time for reflection that Thanksgiving brings.

via pinterest

This weekend we will be travelling as a family to stay at my oldest daughter Caitlin's apartment. She will be, at the fair age of 21, hosting her first family Thanksgiving. We came upon the idea when she and I were enjoying the St. Jacobs Market a couple of weeks ago...you can read about it here, and ever since she has been a ball of excitement at the idea of it all. Jake and I have been telling her not to get stressed over it, it is just us after all...and she insists she is not, and I believe her. So sweet is she, that  she even started a Pinterest board for Thanksgiving ideas. Her words to me last week were "prepare to be amazed". To say that we are proud and excited would be an understatement. I have been getting a play by play all week about her preparations, list making, grocery buying schedule etc.,  and with each call or Facebook message my smile grows just a bit bigger.
 

 

via Caitlin's pinterest


As my smile grows I reflect on how thankful I am that my daughter is growing up to be such a mature responsible young adult. She is thoughtful, caring, and funny and of all the paths that teenagers can travel down she went the right way. I am thankful that though for much of her life I was considered a 'single parent' I was not, as she and I had the love and support of my parents.

I can only hope that I can get it right with my two little girls who I am so thankful to have in my life. They bring me such joy each and every day with something as simple as a look or just the sound of their giggles. I am thankful that I still have the love and support of my parents who are part of my little girls lives on a daily basis...what would I do without them? 


my mom and dad at the 'X' 1966

  

I am thankful for the love, support, friendship, strength and humility of my husband. I wonder often where life would have taken me if I had not met him, and shudder to think of a life without him. He is my rock even though he gets tired of that every now and again. He makes my heart smile every day and what a joy that is.

I am thankful for wonderful friends too many to mention, and above all else thankful for my health and wellness.

I hope everyone out there whether celebrating Thanksgiving or not can take a moment to be thankful for someone or something in their lives.

Have a wonderful weekend! Happy Thanksgiving!

To Market To Market...

It's official...I'm in love...with the St. Jacobs Farmers Market that is!

This past weekend my daughter Caitlin and I had a girlie weekend. We don't very often have the chance to spend time just the two us anymore, so this was a rare treat. I headed to Kitchener where she lives and goes to school. Now that she is living in a proper apartment (i.e. no more student digs) with a spare room, I was able to spend a couple of nights. Upon my arrival I was greated with the most wonderful aroma of fresh baked apple pie...yes she bakes and she bakes really well...it was so beautiful, I wish I had taken a picture with her lattice top and all, but we cut into it before we thought about it's blog worthiness.

Saturday morning we woke to a beautiful mild sunny day,quite opposite to what they were originally forcasting. We seized the day and decided on the short trip to St. Jacobs to explore thier farmers market...OMG! We were in heaven right from the word go. This market is huge with an outdoor flea market and both outdoor and indoor food vendors of all sorts. The colours, and scents were beautifully overwhelming.

Beautiful fruit and veggies and cabbage the size of your head...

Gorgeous fresh cut flowers perfect for the fall...

And a short break to catch our breath and enjoy an fresh made soft pretzel...

Absolutley divine!

We spent the better part of the morning at the market and probably could have spent more time, but we had lots we wanted to do. So we headed across to the antique mall which happens to be next to a TSC which is a hardware type store. For those who do not know, St. Jacobs is known for it's mennonite community. Seeing them in traditional clothing; ankle length dresses, and bonnets and dark trousers, and brimmed hats for the men was expected, as was seeing them travelling by horse and buggy, what I had not seen before was parking accommodations for the horse and buggy. This was at the hardware store, a fascinating and beautiful scene.

We spent another several hours in the antique mall enjoying the thrill of the hunt...and goofing around a bit as well.

We found a few treasures...I cannot share, as all mine are gifts for others. Needless to say we had a blast.
We left St. Jacobs and headed back into Kitchener for a lovely late lunch at Williams Fresh Cafe.

We then finished our day at Old Navy where they had a buy one get one 75% off...we did not come away empty handed.

Totally pooped, we came home, made pizza ate more pie and watched a couple of movies, the first was Everything Must Go with Will Ferrell but that movie was so depressing and without a point that we had to watch another so we could end our day on the high note it deserved. We decided on Just Go With It with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston. It was a light funny movie and was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Caitlin and I don't often get the chance to while away a day like that, and so it is that I chersih them when they happen. It was a wonderful day with a wonderful girl and I cannot wait to do it again!

I know it is now mid week but I hope you enjoyed your weekend past, or have wonderful plans for the weekend ahead!

Happy hump day all!

Busy Busy Busy....

Well it has been a bit since my last post and for that I do apologize.

Things have been a bit busy around here of late and I just have not had the chance to compile my thoughts into anything remotely understandable.

The biggest news 'round these parts is that Isobel started junior kindergarten this week.

Isobel Grace age 3-3/4 marched up to her school Tuesday morning fearlessly and with the greatest excitement. It did not matter to her that she is a full head shorter than her peers, she stood with the brightest smile. She looked up at me with wide brown eyes and asked 'can I go stand with the other children mommy?' and off she went. Jake and I hovered for a few moments and then realized that it would be better for us if we left...she was clearly fine. I made it around the corner before the tears came, as in the distance I could hear her roaring with the toy dinosaur she had found to play with.

When Jake and I returned home Lilah was waiting for us and looked at us and said 'my turn?'...poor thing. She is a bit confused by the whole thing, but I think she will come to enjoy her time without her older overbearing sister.

I impressed myself actually; the tears were short lived and I managed to not worry too much throughout the day. I was excited and anxious to go meet her at 3:15 and see how her day went. She was as excited at the end of the day as she had been at it's beginning, but a whole lot more tired...in fact she fell asleep in the stroller on the way home. After her brief nap she was eager to share everything...and I mean everything about her day. It was fun to hear her version of events and to listen to her tell us the same things over and over again because she was just so excited about it all.

I am still a little sad...she is still my baby...a little worried...she is still so tiny...but a lot happy that she is so eagerly going forward.

Hope you've all had a great week and wishing you the best of weekends!

I Love September...

I love fall...not that I dislike summer or anything, but I love the cool crisp and refreshing air after the heat and humidity of summer, just like we love spring and summer after the depths of the freezing cold of winter. However, autumn is by far my favorite season. I think of it as my New Year. I think it coincides with the whole back to school thing of years past. It was always a time to start fresh, and I still feel that way.

This time of year is special to me as well because I married Jake 3 years ago today in fact...so yet another reason to relate September to a new beginning. On this day three years ago I married my best friend and how happy he made me that day and all the days since. Jake has proven to be a wonderful partner in life, love and parenthood, and there are days I can't imagine how I ever managed without him, and then I thank my lucky stars I no longer have to.

Yesterday was Labour Day here in Canada and as this is the day of the exodus from the cottage (we live in Muskoka aka Cottage Country) we thought it would be safe to close the Gallery and spend the day as a proper family. It was magnificent!

It was a cool gray day but it wasn't raining, and although we had our sights set on a 'do-nothing-jammy' kinda day, but after about two hours we were bored and decided a hike was in order. The girls still being little we needed to decide on somewhere short and not too difficult, so we drove to Wilson Falls here in Bracebridge and decided on the trail that goes over the falls and along the river. This was the first time we'd taken the girls along so we weren't sure what to expect but they were awesome; clamouring through the woods, over downed trees, gnarly roots and climbing up rocks, and occasionally sliding down small hills.



just to note that I do not make my children bring place mats with them...
but in this case that mat sticking out of Izzy's backpack is her map for our adventure ;)



It was not a long hike, but it was fun and the girls really enjoyed themselves. Hubby and I enjoyed as well.

Today Miss Izzy went to meet her teacher and see her new classroom...I am okay so far, but I cannot promise I will not collapse into tears next Tuesday when we take her to school and say goodbye. I'll keep you posted on that one.

Happy Tuesday all...and Happy new year if it feels that way to you too!

A Bee in My Bonnet...

So in my last post I talked about being aesthetically confused...if you want all the details, you can find them here, but the gist is that I like too many design styles and am having difficulty deciding on a direction for my home. No biggy really, but it has me feeling stopped in my tracks...in a holding pattern if you will, and I don't particularly enjoy that.

Anyhoo, the day after my post I woke with a bee in my bonnet and it has been there ever since. It is a good bee mind you...it has me moving again and making things happen, even if only little things. I realized that I have been waiting for my kids to get a bit older before I make my home what I really want it to be...which is silly really because my girls are good, and don't make a habit of ruining things (at least not on purpose) so keeping nice things at bay is not really a necessity at this point.

So in the last few days I finished the shoe rack for the front hall and put it in place finally managing to contain our ever growing shoe collection (we like shoes...my husband included).

this is an old shelf thingy that was in our barn when we bought the house...
cleaned it up,sanded it down and here it is!
(also please note the baseboard is yet to be completed...
those orange bits; left over bits of the shag carpet that was used as baseboard...yup real purdy)

I moved the leather ottoman up to my bedroom and put the coffee table back in place in the living room, and I moved all the toys including the kids bookshelf out of the living room and into the playroom...I am lucky to have a great playroom so why there were so many toys in the living room is beyond me.

I pulled an old Ikea occasional table out and put it in between my two armchairs (which will at some point be recovered...if anyone has a good diy slipcover guide I'd love to know it), placed a plant and some flowers on it and viola the room is starting to look like grown ups live here.I am still waiting on my new area rug which should be here next week. And then this room will really feel better.

these chairs have been around since my early childhood...
they were originally orange vinyl and were recovered about 25 years ago.

In addition to the above I went through all of the girl's clothes, packed away what is too small, shifted things from Izzy's drawers to Lilah's and figured out what Izzy may need for the fall and winter. I cleaned out the front hall closet as well, and put the spare room back together.  I have been a busy little bee.

I realized that this was all stuff I had intended to do all summer but kept putting off...well this was the last week of summer as it were and so I think that got me going as well. I even cooked a meal or two along the way (which is good since Jake normally does all the cooking around here), and did every stitch of laundry in the house and put it all away.

Slowly it is all coming together...not sure I will ever get to the point in my original inspiration board

...and no longer sure I want to, but so it is that design is an evolution.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend...it is a long one here in Canada! Off to enjoy it with the best family a girl could ask for...and the most patient husband...bless his heart.