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...a glimpse into life on Vancouver Island, needle felting, photography, food, gardening, etcetera...etcetera
"Happiness always looks small when you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and at once you learn how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky

Friday, January 11, 2013

Song for Friday...creepin' in

I feel as if January has crept in on me and this song came
to mind while I was thinking about it.
The holidays are over but lifes celebrations will continue
every precious day of the year.
May this year bring peace, love, light and happiness.
Have a great weekend all!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Mother of the Bride...

Yes that would be me!
How exciting when my daughter asked me to go wedding dress shopping with her!
Something I've never really done, except for my own dress which was of a more casual affair.
So we made our way down to Queen St West, where all the cool shops are.
This is Cabaret.
Fantastic vintage clothing from the 1900's through to the 70's and custom designed and fitted new wedding dresses.
It was like walking onto an Audrey Hepburn movie set.
Not only were the clothes exquisite but the accessories were to die for as well.
Hats and shoes and bags of beautiful taste and design...
(if only I could fit into this little number!!)
There were things for the gents as well...
Lederhosen anyone??
Love the squirrel tie.
The shop keeper was the most friendly and helpful guy and
made us feel welcome. No snobbishness here.
High end products without the stuffiness or pretentiousness of what I expected from a bridal shop.
So into the little boudoir dressing room went Aja...
...and then...
Out she came!
...a few little adjustments...then look how pretty!!
Look at those sweet little polka dot shoes, handmade in Italy!
Dress #2...
 This was really cute but I liked the first one with the organza skirt.
Aja liked the first one as well.
But to me it really didn't matter since I was clouded over with emotion to see
how excited and happy she is.
The wedding isn't until the fall so she still has time to look around some more.
But like I said, when all is said and done, she'll be the
prettiest bride I've ever seen because she's
my baby girl...my one and only...
love you sweetie!
 
 
 


Sunday, January 6, 2013

To market, to market....

Toronto is often called the City of Neighbourhoods.
One of the oldest and most well known is the area called
Kensington Market.
My grandmother used to take me here as a child and I was always intrigued
by the vast array of culture and food.
During the 1920's and 1930's it was home to a very large
Jewish community where there were many shops reminiscent
of markets in their homeland.
Post war after the Jewish community moved to more affluent areas of Toronto,
the area became a melting pot of immigrants from Spain, the Caribbean, East Asia,
Central America, Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Vietnam and Chile.
In the '60's plans to demolish the Victorian era row houses and shops were
halted by newly elected mayor David Crombie.
Thank goodness for this!
It has morphed from it's immigrant roots, through the hippie era and now
hosts a plethora of shops, eateries, homes, cafes, pubs yet has
still kept it's charm (somewhat) and it's original function as a market.
Although there is so much more going on here in the summer,
we took a stroll through it one day and found delightful images...
Around the corner from Kensington Market is Spadina Avenue.
Seems like the most streetcar lines in the city run along here...
 


And there you have it... a little glimpse into the 'hood.