Good morning, Monday! Hi Winter. That was a busy, but inspiring weekend. We were all over the place with all kinds of things. Family. Road trips. AND SNOW. That's more like it. I love snow. In the spirit of loving winter and feeling a boatload of gratitude for the goodness in my life - THIS IS A WEEK OF GIVING. I'm giving something away everyday. I like winter because I think when it's blisteringly cold outside - your heart gets warmer.
We decided to take seize the day on Saturday and get outside in the aftermath of our first big snowfall. It wasn't Pilot's first time in snow - but it was her first go at it ON WALKING-LEGS and a KIND-OF-COMPREHENDING BRAIN. We will chalk it up to the first real snow of the year (or a too recent visit to Maui) to say IT WAS REALLY CHILLY! It took us MUCH, MUCH LONGER to find our boots and outdoor gear than we ended up spending outside, but it was nothing short of scrapbook-worthy. (AND I MADE SURE TO GET A SHOT OF ME AND PILOT, too.) Pilot's stink-eye in that last shot has nothing to do with winter - THAT'S JUST HOW SHE LOOKS WHEN SHE LOOKS AT ME. Nice, I know. What a turd.
I love it when the snow sneaks up on us. As Dan would say - PUT YOUR BIKE AWAY!
I love two TOTALLY WINTER things about this picture: first, a snow-dumped pumpkin wink and second Crash freezing his junk off waiting for us to shovel the front walk so he can go inside and sit by the fire (he is NOT a fan of winter, but he IS a trooper if it means he gets a walk).
We spent Sunday on a road trip driving west of town to do some really important family things - share love with some young people and some old people. YOUNG: Dan's cousin Carleigh is a super-mom to almost two-years-old twin girls (with another one or two on the way in April). She's also a fantastically talented photographer which means there are ZERO pictures of HER because she's always the one behind the camera WHICH I KNOW A LOT OF MOMS CAN COMMISERATE WITH. It was due time for us to see their family and due time that someone took pictures of HER so her girls would know just how amazing (and beautiful) she is. SHE IS. So off we tromped through the cold forest on a photoshoot and ALL the little girls (Pilot included) were GREAT SPORTS. OLD: Dan's Grandpa Kaz is sick. He's a farmer - which means he's a TOUGH S.O.B (and I know this because MY grandpa is a farmer, too) - but, sometimes even the tough guys need a boost. We really wanted to see him in person to remind him just how many people love and adore him - and just how important it is that he keeps fighting. It was hard to see him feeling down. It was hard to leave him there feeling so bummed about life. It was hard to see it all happening knowing that I couldn't be there for my Baba last year when she was in the hospital (and then passed away) just days after Pilot was born. My heart was broken for Grandpa Kaz and especially his wife and soulmate Grandma Peggy.
It went so fast... All of a sudden we were home again to our warm beds.
[This last photo is for all the Canadian people that wrote in about my Starbuck's paintings calling me a traitor. Tim Horton's is a yummy coffee shop started by a hockey player named Tim Horton. It's a Canadian ICON. I drink Tim Horton's when I need a straightup GOOD COFFEE or an old-school hot chocolate. I drink Starbucks when I need a latte (their straight-up coffee is TOO STRONG and TOO BURNT tasting for me, but their lattes are better than Tim's. Just saying.]
What to expect from A WEEK OF GIVING: GIVING. I'll be drawing from the comments (so leave me some love) and posting randomly throughout the days with what's on deck. I'm not giving away cars or trips so don't get all freaky-deaky. I'm just making space and sharing love. I WILL ALSO HAVE A TIPLET TO POST THIS WEEK. Man, a lot of people sent me emails saying that they were only visiting this blog for the Tiplets and that I better start posting more or they would never be back. And to tell you the truth - that kind of STUNG so I waited a GOOD LONG TIME until all the haters were gone before I came up with a new one to share. HA.
Today: Pilot and I are off to a meeting at Botanical Paperworks this morning (oh, the new stuff is AWESOME and plantable and SO COOL - just ask Martha Stewart. I am not joking.). We are off to get more BPA-free Adiri bottles to replace the ones that I mucked up that now leak all over the place and MAKE ME FREAK OUT. We are in search of THESE design-friendly ECO-HEATERS (anybody know it they work or not - they're awfully stylish). I'm starting this book for book club (the author is from just around the corner from us). We are also going to a couple of Christmas gifts taken care of. HOW NICE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARSHA!
A WEEK OF GIVING PRIZE TODAY: Leave me a note with the best thing you were ever given - the stuff that TOUCHED YOUR HEART IN A BIG WAY - and FOUR PEOPLE WILL WIN A TINY ART PRINT OF THEIR CHOICE on me.
I think I just might stop at Timmie's today. Hello Monday. Hurray for snow. Let's GO!
