Promising finds...

The sun has been out in all of her glory this past week and dare I say that it really feels like spring! Yipee! I think I count all of us on the coast here as some of the lucky ones since it seems that winter has bypassed us altogether. Except for the torrential rains, I believe the worst is over. I know it's only nearing the end of February but I think it's safe to say that.....hmmm...maybe I better not say anything yet. 

While out shopping for Tom's birthday boots, I had some good luck at the thrift stores...

Fabric was the name of the game...this pretty needle point runner caught my eye...

It still had the label on it from Belgium..I've been working on a new bag and I may incorporate this into it somehow.

A gorgeous velvet king size pillow case to use for.....not sure yet...but who could resist the feel of  it and the pretty knot buttons..

 

Some spring like flowery fabric that I might make a new apron with...

And this lovely fellow...heavy and missing some horns..

...must have been attatched to something because he has these little knob bits on the bottom of his feet. I liked how weathered he looks. I would love to make a hood ornament out of him for my van....

This is the sort of stuff I squirrel away for rainy days but  looks like I'll be out in the garden on the weekend worshipping that big, warm orb in the sky....getting some dirt under the nails and all.

Song for Friday....or retro Friday and how to be cool...

I always loved Bill Withers...when I found this video it just about sent me to the hairstylist to get an afro perm! Man these guys were probably the coolest cats in the '70's...especially that drummer.
I'll have what he's having!

"I was born a WHAT?!"

All these years I thought I was Griffins little brother...

 Separated at birth...

...as I got older, I started to realize some differences...

the fact that he didn't care for mouse guts as much as I did, or that his interest in birds was somewhat low.

Car rides were not exactly number one on my list of fun things to do...

and whats with the stick and water obsession?!

 

He does look a lot like his 'other' brother Frank...

I never really thought about the size difference...

 

But I do know we both love leftover steak for supper!

 And now I learn that I'm actually a whole other species!

But you know what?.....

I say....WHATEVER!

  

love + flowers + sushi...= a great day.

I bought these tulips for 'us' to celebrate Valentines day and Toms birthday, which is convieniently the day after...

As they opened, they became bigger and brighter and harder to resist taking photos....they are probably one of my favorite cut flowers and I admit that I have a hard time passing them by in the grocery store when they come out in gangs...

Then I started to play with their tones...

Meanwhile outside the little crocus' are coming up through the grass...

It was a lovely day and we found this viburnum bush loaded with a spring bouquet...

And to top it off....sushi for supper....Aahhh... the simple things in life!

All things red and right and wrong..

We are in the first stages of the 2010 Olympics and I must say that I am caught up in the whole thing. I wasn't planning on having a love affair with Canada but, once again she, has caught me off guard with her reds and whites.

There has been controversy since day one and honestly, I was leaning to the side of the nay sayers. The cost, the hype, the overblown need to promote Vancouver again and AGAIN. The needs of many others who are overlooked.. The homeless. The poor. The eliminated social programs. Its all there. While the cost of the games continues to rise and we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to truck in snow to the mountains, I give my head a shake. And so I have strong agreements with the protesters but I have much bigger disagreements with their choice of voicing those opinions. I don't believe in violent acts to make a point and it seems as though it is those people who get the publicity and therefore provide negative imaging for the media to take hold of.

But I am turning my eyes to other images right now. I think the Olympics are for the atheletes and this, we should keep in perspective. These talented, hardworking people have little funding and train hard for years to get that one chance at representing a love for sport and country.

There is a bit of a long standing joke about Canada and how we always seem to get so close to the top but never quite reach it..."...and another bronze for Canada.." or...." bumped down to 4th position...". But we are die hard fans for our countrymen and women...Hey, just ask any Toronto Maple Leaf  fan! They haven't won the cup since 1964 and STILL have the seats filled at every single home game!

So, yes, I am in love with Canada be it on the slopes, on the ice or standing in the crowd with my umbrella, praying for snow...

Go Canada Go!!