Life is all about the simple things, like snowflakes. Anyone hoping to disagree with me need only to look at these beauties I snapped yesterday. As the tiny perfectly formed flakes were so softly landing on my cold head, I was crouched, my face within inches of the fence, my chilled fingers steadying the camera, my neighbours wondering what the heck I'm doing.  It seems to me that a snowflake rarely makes the journey all the way from the heavens down to our earthly plane unscathed, their majesty on display for all of us to enjoy, while we stomp all over them with our winter boots complaining of the weather. 

   I guess sometimes life is about having fun toys to express yourself, like this amazing camera. You would imagine to get macro shots like this I might need a huge camera with a fancy lens. These were taken with my beloved and trusty Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9, an eight year old model that is about the size of a deck of cards, and has been dropped a time or two. It has it's 'quirks' like sometimes it vibrates, which really make a picture like this tough. But it works, and the new cameras do not have great macro settings. If anyone does know of a currently for sale camera with a great macro setting that is not the size of a lunchbox, you must let me know, or gift it to me for being awesome. Trade for a picture? Or eternal gratefulness? 

I must read this Blog post tomorrow as I shovel an estimated shit-ton of snow, it seems we are under a snowfall warning. A forecast of -23 C for the weekend, which is getting pretty cold. I think I may invest in some wool underclothes this year.

   I love my dog... now. It wasn't always this way. Presently she is snoring so loud, (in the other room) I keep thinking the garbage truck is going by or my washing machine is off balance, and that is the best sound ever. She has the well deserved moniker  'Crazy Maggie' that after five years, she is finally growing out of. The house she came from was minus drywall and baseboards in places thanks to Maggie. She has a taste for leashes and has had the pleasure of sampling about twenty of them, same goes for mitts and of course, socks. In the middle of the night I wake to hear blankets being torn and shredded by a certain someone, locked in her cage, being all sad that she cannot sleep on the bed. Needless to say, we go through a lot of blankets, and dog beds. Our house always looks like the shadiest on the block, screen flapping in the wind because she just jumped through it, again. (She always saves it for when you begin to trust her again, you finally fixed the screen and there's something really good outside.) She can zero in on your most cherished wool blanket, (received as a wedding gift,) and eat holes in it on numerous occasions. Getting into serious trouble after each incident did not deter her, I had to hide it in the closet, never to be used again. Curiously she left the second hand shabby wool blankets untouched. She has thieved a pound of butter off the counter. She has knocked over a strangers small child.
   I would be lying if I said never have I had a moment of regret in taking this beast. I see people post that they would love love to have a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog (weird breed, I know) and I just laugh and laugh.  Oh, you will love them, just look at those eyes. It's your house, your clothes, your house guests that will suffer. It's all worth it though.

   Even worth the time she knocked me over at the knees, bolting right through me at mach one, sending me barreling down a snowy hill...
 

   I could go on all day!

 

   It's official, I have a problem.
    Below you will find a picture of a wooden spoon with my face burnt onto it. Oh yeah. This is something that I feel everyone should own, with their personal visage.

   The question begs to be asked, is the problem stemming from the fact that I like to place my mug on all manner of random articles, or the part where all wooden objects in my home are now under intense study, fearing for their safety.
   It is a good thing I don't live in a wood house, or maybe it's a bad thing…
   Maybe that's where it starts to get interesting, when crazy risks are taken, when you get such a fantastic yet ridiculous idea and you just go for it.
   Speaking of crazy ideas, I'm going to need one for the tile in my shower, it's almost time.


 
 
 

   So this year I'm going for it, I'm going to have two Christmas trees. (Who doesn't have two trees lying sound?)This has been a life goal of mine for quite some time. I mean, if one is good, two will be great! Perhaps I will add one more each year until there is one in each room! I always have too many decorations anyways and now I can have themes. Where to put two trees in a small house? Why on a table of course.
   I can already hear the naysayers telling me how silly of an idea this is because it will cause my tree to fall over. Well I have news for you, it falls over every year. My mischievous cat enjoys nothing more than leading the chase around and around the tree, three over zealous dogs careening behind in perfect order, from smallest to largest. At least this table arrangement minimizes the pet's enthusiastic display, as well as ensures the sparkly wrapped gifts are decorated in tinsel instead of pet hair. (No guarantees I guess.)
   Now just waiting for the special day, the perfect moment when I make hot chocolate and cookies, maybe a little rum, and put the decorations on the trees!

   New life question; is it possible to make refillable glitter cannon? I'm sure I would use it for every holiday, and I have needed it for every holiday that has already passed. Of course I need to make the chamber large enough to hold an entire Martha Stewart giant glitter container. Just give me time… and some compressed air… I will have to get back to you on that.
 
   Recently I discovered that there is a term for my 'affliction', it's called Pyrography- the art of decorating wood and other materials with burn marks. Turns out there are museums and magazines dedicated to it! Also interested to find out that my fancy designs are rudimentary in comparison to the amazing level of art that is out there. Some talented people have burned leather boots, rocking chairs, and guitars with fine strokes of a burning tool creating works that look practically painted.

I was inspired by the weather to create this simple snowflake motif, which may find it's way on to other random items in my house, rudimentary or not. 

Can't stop, won't stop, Pyrography is for me!

   Be Happy, seems like a simple enough concept, and I am on a quest. I have been on this quest for four years which, basically consists of consciously choosing the people, feelings, thoughts, and activities that make me happy. The opposite is also true, anything that makes me feel bad is also banished, so beware all of you Grumpsters out there.

   Feel like painting the house orange and yellow, go for it! Always wanted to try purple hair? Do you feel like you would be happier if only you could spend the day making a Lego dream house? Think drinking wine in bed on Sunday morning while playing video games will make you happy? You are now required to find out.
   I have to say that I am really liking this lifestyle, and I feel like I am happier.
   Here is the catch: it takes work. It doesn't just come to me, I don't just wake up happy, as Francis can attest. Much like people say that a happy marriage takes work, which I find to also be true. So the big question of the day, what's happening today to make myself happy?

   For starters, stay indoors... Maybe change that to stay warm, on account of the fact that it is so sparkly outside. Taking pictures does make me happy. Also Francis registered us for the upcoming YEG Giant Snow Fight and that makes me really happy. Possibly I need to bake some cookies, make some hot chocolate, and decorate? Happy Monday!
   The real truth, I can't seem to banish the dishes, laundry, or mopping of the floor. Sometimes it still happens when a sneaky pet pees on my clean socks, and I put them on. Today my front door was frozen shut and I had to pry it open to get out. However, when I take the time to make myself happy, those things i cannot banish don't seem to bother me so much.

 

   New holiday tradition! Advent calendars! Who's to say that as an adult I have to stop enjoying the excitement of one of the best holiday traditions? As a child, I always loved the anticipation of chocolate each morning, and enjoying be sugary treat in front of my sister, who ate all hers on the second day. (I think she still has a problem.) I am a believer that now that I am all grown up, the quality of treats should really be top notch.
   Also, I live with a trustworthy person, who would never steal my candy, so there's no fear of that, (Rachel…)
   Of course we will paint them, and glitter them. Oh yeah, and fill them. I'm pretty sure I can fit Lego Minifigures in there. I will post a picture post glitter.