And suns grow meek, and the meek suns grow brief, And the year smiles as it draws near its death. - William Cullen Bryant, October

Yup! October is hear and if it wasn't for the summer like temperatures and the need to mow the lawn; the need to fix the lawn mower because one of my first Bronze figures fell out of a tree and was run over by the mower resulting in an arm amputation and a mauled mower blade, and the request by the Peanut to bring out her slip and slide every day It would really feel like the wheel of the year was turning.

Thankfully there's some autumn love going on in the blogosphere starting with Mrs. B's 31 Days of Halloween. Last year I participated with a give-away during the celebrations on her blog. Up for grabs was my Ghost Moon photograph. It's one of my favourite photographs in my Etsy shop; it's just such a beautiful image with it's dark rich night sky, gossamer clouds and the man in the moon stepping outside of his moon home to go for a walk.

This year I decided to participate by doing a guest post on her blog and I'm so excited to a part of the fun again. I'll let you know when the guest post goes live. Maybe I'll even have a little something special posted here that day too to keep up with the celebration.

In the meantime the Peanut and I will be digging out the skeletons, ghosts and bats to adorn the house. We'll be headed out the door to collect some leaves for rubbings and to enjoy the hot autumn sunshine as it passes through the canopy of leaves above and reflects off the rushing water in the stream along side the path I stumbled upon a few days ago while on my after dinner walk. There's nothing like setting foot into a cool forest.

For those of you who are wondering about the husband's and my collaboration I'll post again on how things are going. to hold you over, here's a sneak peak at some of the newest pieces in our collection. In all honesty the photograph doesn't do these justice. I'll be spending time with the camera soon to try and capture the feeling of fire and ice that are embodied within each one.

And Away We Go!

We are once again hitting the road for a week long visit with the family. Other than that it's been a year since we've seen our family it is also My Grandma's 91st Birthday and we want to be there to help her celebrate it. She's a feisty lady and I always enjoy having a chat with her. This party will be the first one we've been to since I was carrying the Peanut on the inside. I plan on taking a photograph of the Peanut, her Auntie myself and my Mom together.

What this means is that we're busy getting ready to hit the airport and fly away and I'll be less available to post. Don't get me wrong, I'll post as much as I can but you'll be hearing from me less than normal until we're back home and wishing we'd gone to a nice tropical beach instead...

in a few words

Best Dance class ever, good friends, roast Lamb and apple pie. Breakfast at the Diner (the one featured in Fringe a few weeks ago), garden centre, English lavender, black earth, free bike. Morning snuggles, I love you to the carrot and back, Mothers day portrait, playground, walk past dream home, bus, outside painting, BBQ, Strawberries and Whipped Cream

Have a holly jolly....

This year we've decided to purchase all of our gifts for friends and family from local artisans and artists or on Etsy. In part it's because I'm now selling my photographs and other art on Etsy and I want to help promote the venue and other artists like myself. So it's in my karmic interest, what goes around comes around.

On another level I just want to be able to give gifts that can't be bought at the local mall. I want to be able to find something that just suits each person that I'm buying for. The great thing about a website like Etsy is that I can find something for everyone on my shopping list all unique and beautifully made.

I know it's sickeningly early to be talking about holiday shopping and gift giving. It seems like every year the holiday marketing starts earlier and earlier. Personally I don't like to think about it until at least after Remembrance Day if not later. However, I also like to have all my shopping done and over with before December, so that I can kick back and enjoy cookies and eggnog during the hectic rush and only have to shop if I really want to; not because I've still got two people to gift.

Also by the time December rolls around I'm so tired of holiday music I'm grumpy with and become anti-holiday in reaction. With a two year old that's just not where I want to be. It's the Mall Muzak that takes me 'round the bend, but I really like non-muzak holiday music especially the Pouges Fairytale of New York, The Raveonettes Christmas Song, the original Band Aid and Aimee Mann's version of You're A Mean One Mr Grinch. I could put those on repeat for weeks. I listen to them throughout the year. Speaking of which I think I'll play a little of it now...

Time's passing

So my daughter woke from her nap yesterday in a bad mood. She didn't want to dress up she didn't want to be a ladybug anymore. What to do what to do? I asked her what she wanted to be; thinking there was a possibility that I could improvise. As luck would have it she wanted to be a ladybug punk princess.

So we had the Ladybug T-shirt, a princess skirt with pretty purple tights and an old necklace I'd gotten at Lilith Fair in '98. That's some good improvising.

We had a busy night: Trick or Treating at the Lonsdale Quay, Party at the JBCC, Dinner at Memphis Blues more trick or treating in the hood and a night walk in the Community Gardens.

All that and I've been able to keep up with posting new items to PeanutButterPie.etsy.com

I've started a new line in the shop of Artist Trading Cards.

Ecology Centre

Yesterday we went to the Lynn Valley Ecology Centre with our Sweet Pea group. The last time I'd been there was right after we'd moved here from Alberta. The park had changed a lot since. There's a snack bar/restaurant there now and we had lunch before heading over to the centre for some good ol' fashioned education.

I had visions of being able to take some excellent photographs that would be Etsy-worthy but with one thing and another I had few opportunities and all of them were filled with making sure The Peanut hadn't jumped off a cliff.

I did get the shot above for which I'm very grateful. I got lucky with the light and was at the right place at the right time. I'd like to go back and try for another when there's a sunny day.

As the program is geared to children 3 and up Miranda was one of the 5 who got to stay in the play area during the presentation. They had a lot of fun playing with animal toys, puppets, and other educational gew gaws and doo dads. Afterwards we went across the suspension bridge and I was able to take a few photographs.

Party Time

Party craft

Ladybug shirt

last minute prep

With the big toddler bash tomorrow we are as always feeling the crush. We started decorating last weekend much to The Peanut's joy. She likes to say hi to the Skelet (her word for skeleton) in the hallway and the Centerpeed in the kitchen doorway.

Her costume is all ready to go and we have the beverages ready to go. We cleaned house today and we'll be doing some extra baby-proofing for the really little ghouls who are coming. I've got apples ready for slicing, berries ready for hulling, rice crispies all squared and the ingredients ready for chocolate dipping sauce fortified with avocado and carrot purees.

Truly I am a domestic Goddess.

For the most part I've managed homemade costumes for The Peanut:


2006 we dressed her as a city mouse. We put her in jeans and her Depeche Mode hoodie and hooked her ears into a little skull cap. We celebrated by visiting Memphis Blues, the local BBQ place down the street.

2007 we made a cowboy fairy costume. We went to a few parties, one at out friend Olivia's and one at the community centre. Afterwards we went to Memphis Blues for dinner. (do you see a trend here?)

This year we picked up some red t-shirts and black felt and I'll be sewing polka dots onto the backs of them to make Ladybugs. I picked up some ladybug wings at the dollar store and we're all set. We're hosting the Hallowe'en party this year and we plan to do a little trick or treating this year, followed by a little BBQ.

I'll post pictures soon

There's a bird on your head

The Peanut's third thanksgiving, playing dinosaur and There's a bird on your head!

The Peanut's second Thanksgiving at the Hatchery

The Peanut's first Thanksgiving at the Hatchery

Today was spent doing one long stint of cooking and topped off with a bout of serious eating. It was a great thanksgiving. The only thing missing was our annual trip to the Salmon Hatchery up on Capilano Road.

We've gone there every year since The Peanut was born (two) and missed going this year because of a major nap-time melt down and some very moist weather. Autumn has settled in and the rain pants are coming out of the closet. This was a busy weekend, I officially started promoting my baby portrait business with two contacts so far from the 2008 Breast Feeding Challenge, plus my name on a poster listing me as a sponsor. We had a double celebration birthday party on Sunday for two friends. and turkey feast today.

Our friends David and Cheri came over to help us out with our groaning table. The Peanut had a blast with her Auntie Cheri and Uncle David, pleased to have a new person around to play There's A Bird on your Head.