Hey there! I have been so busy crafting I can hardly believe it myself. Mostly I've been knitting. So far I have knitted a number of dishcloths, a scarf, a beanie hat and started a yoga mat bag. I've also deconstructed a men's t-shirt and made it girlie. Because I was in the mood to use older t-shirts that I love but don't find comfortable to wear in bed I made a funky infinite scarf as well. To say I've been inspired lately would be an understatement. I am very tired but excited about everything that it is possible to do.
Here are some photos of what I've been up to. One of these days I will remember to take pictures while I am doing a project then I can share with you how easy some of this is.

 First Dishcloth (this one lives at Mojo's now)

 So soft scarf. 

 Second Dishcloth

 Starting my first hat. 

 Hat finished (I do have a picture of \Philip wearing it, but he's not fond of the picture) 

 Yoga mat bag in the making. 

 Recycled a t-shirt and made this scarf. 

Recycled a men's t-shirt and made it girlie. 

It's been awhile..

So I thought I would write a post about something I am grateful for. It's a couple of  related somethings. They are all medically related.
I am thankful that finally my medicines are starting to reduce inflammation and therefore a lot of the pain. There is still discomfort but it's not nearly as bad as it could be. That my husband can give needles is something else to be thankful for. Thank you Philip!  One of these days I will have to learn how to give myself one. Oh joy!
I've been making it to all my doctors appointments. Normally, I am quite non-compliant, but that leads to poorer health.
I've been able to be more active and have relearned to ice skate. I am not figure skating but I am staying upright. The Vancouver area has seen some snow lately and I've been shovelling that for exercise as well. I've lost weight but find that when I take my medicine at night I want to eat everything I see. I'll have to watch that.
Lastly, I am thankful that I am now waiting on a phone call from the surgeon to remove the tumor on my inner elbow. It's benign  and  not dangerous at all but it hurts and I want it gone.
There you have it. It's all good.

Here I am at Mojo's. It's 9:25 am and I didn't sleep well last night. However, we have a meeting here at 2pm so I need to be here now. Mojo drove all the way to come get me in the morning for a meeting in the afternoon.
Why?
Because it is snowing. Yes, snowing. We don't know how much it will snow by afternoon and because he lives on a mountain it was a good idea to get here early.
I do not like snow. I detest it. Well, that isn't exactly true. Today it's fluffy and pretty and makes everything look clean and fresh. Everyone's yards are equalised and it's all good. The world is at peace. Right?
What I don't like is the cold that makes snow. I like rain in the winter but I don't like snow. I also don't like how it looks when it's melting. I don't like how it looks with salt or ice melt or whatever they put on the roads. I don't like how cold and icy it is so people put that fake salt down that burns the paws of my dogs. Poor guys.
I hate slipping on ice and snow.
I spent thirty seven years of my life in the land of ice and snow. It was snowy and freezing for more than half the year. It wouldn't be surprising to have snow in July or August. I've stood outside waiting for a bus and felt my toes freeze so much that they felt like they had fallen off and were bouncing around in my boot. Not many people know what it's like to feel like there is a chance you could die walking to the local convenience store for milk for your kid's breakfast but I do. Minus 40 is NOT fun. It's not fun in Fahrenheit or Celsius.
That's why I moved here where it is not supposed to snow. That's for the mountains...the REAL mountains (with peaks and stuff).
I want my rain back!!

                                                    Looks like the edge of the world is right after those houses. There aren't mountains out there. Or 4 more cities. 

                                                   Usually, you can see houses out this window.

Every once in awhile I am going to share posts with you from my old blog called

Sparrow in Paradise (one Witch's-almost everyday-musings on life)

 I will share them to show how much life changes or how much it stays the same...or just because I feel like it.

The following was posted January 12th, 2006. Six years ago. How times have changed. I bet they change even more in the next 2 or 3 years. In fact, I know they will. 

Enjoy. 

  Well, it's a new calendar year.I am waiting to see what happens. 

This year feels like it is going to be different.
I don't make resolutions but I am going to have a different sort of a year. I just had my evaluation done at work and I have a few goals there. There are some courses that my boss has recommended and I am looking forward to taking. One is on theory and one will be related to relaxation. The relaxation one will further my goals towards my magickal life. The theory will be interesting at the least.
Also, I have interviewed with a High Priestess to become part of a Circle (Coven). I haven't had that closeness in the Craft for about two years. I really miss the group in Edmonton and am really psyched about continuing the path with another group. It is one that I have been watching for the almost two years I have been here. I should know by tomorrow night or Saturday morning. Then I will tell my very good friend. I hope he is okay with it and knows it doesn't necessarily mean I don't want to cirlce with him. Sometimes we will...but I need a "family".
I've got goals to improve my home so that the family will feel even more like it is a sanctuary. I'd like it to be more organised. I am NOT a great housekeeper so that is an astronomical goal...LOL.
Philip's parents sent us some Holiday money from Ireland and we purchased a huge aquarium with the money. Already, we have 7 fish in the tank. There were 8 but one of the guppy females already died. Jake really likes the guppy family. He thinks it's great that the one male needs at least two females or one will die. Haha, what a way to teach children about polyamory, huh?
We are hoping to get some gourami, angelfish, and a few sharks, but this is a tester tank right now. In fact the kids have named the fish..Tester 1, Tester 2, Tester 3, Testercle (lol) and so on.
Anyhoo, yep, it is 2006 and I feel that this year is one that will change my life.
I hope that yours will be as good as I feel mine is going to be. 

Just a catch up day.

Today we are a week into the New Year. So far I have ice skated twice after not being on skates for over 20 years. I can already see improvement however yesterday I could only skate for half an hour. My right foot was throbbing so bad I had to get the skates off. I'll try again next Sunday.
I've had the ultrasound for my elbow and am still waiting on any word. They may not think it's serious but I do. I am too limited in strength and it hurts a lot.
February is going to be a very busy month for me. It is all religious and a lot of it I am not going to talk about here. However, it does include a ritual that we will be doing in an interesting way. More on that later. In February I am going to San Jose for Pantheacon. I love that conference. It is the right mixture of conference and festival and it is so much fun. Mojo and I get to meet some of the people that listen to our show and meet the authors that we read as well as some of the musicians that we listen to. There is a HUGE room with all kinds of vendors with so many wonderful wares that we don't find here.
In September three members of our family are returning to Ireland. I loved it the last time we went and this time we are going to be able to travel around a bit more as we will be there 6 whole days longer.
As soon as I return from Ireland with Philip and Jake I will be jetting off to San Francisco with Mojo for Pagan Podkin Supermoot 3. That too will be fun and we will get to see again/meet for the first time other podcasters and listeners.
That really is our favourite part of magickal travelling. Meeting listeners and getting to know a little bit about them is a lot of fun and just makes that relationship better. We are more able to speak directly to the listener when we know some of them.
That's about it for now. Thanks for dropping by.

Me visiting snow the only way I like it. On a mountain where I have to go to it. It does not need to come to me. This coincidently is where I saw a bear last year. 

So you say you're from Alberta...

When's the last time you skated? This is a question I sometimes ask myself. Everyone from Alberta can skate. Right?
Today I went to the local rink and laced up the skate. Put on a helmet. And stuck to the boards for about 10 min. Then I skated. Like a 4 year old, but I skated. It's been about 30 years since I was on the ice. I had two surgeries in my teens and the doctor told me to NOT skate or ski again. Did I listen? For 30 years I did but no more. That was fun!

                                           Obviously, I am in the grey coat. With a brain bucket. I like my brain.
Philip went too! It was his very first time ice skating. There isn't a lot of ice skating in Ireland. He did really good and would like to go back.

                                                    Right after this he put a helmet on. He likes his brain too.

2012...so far, so good.

I woke up! 

I woke up without a hangover! How? I didn't drink anything alcohol last night. It was a quiet evening and I was in the covers by 12:10 am. I wanted to go to bed earlier but it wasn't going to happen when I started to see fireworks from my living room window. I can see parts of 5 different cities from my window. My house is on a big hill surrounded by mountains. I can see a little bit of Surrey, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Burnaby, and of course New Westminster. The hills were lighting up with splashes of gorgeous colour for about an hour starting at 11:45pm. After Midnight I listened to them from my warm cosy bed. 

I am not sure you can see any fireworks in this picture but that is the view from my living room window. Looking towards Port Coquitlam. 

I slept like a log all night not even waking up for a drink of water. 

When I woke up this morning I wandered into the living room. The blinds were still open and I almost fell to my knees with the amazing sight that I saw. It was clear and I was able to see sharp snow covered mountains peeking up from the more rounded ones in front of them. I took pictures with my iphone. I don't know if they can even give a slight glimpse of the divine gorgeousity that I experienced this morning. I truly hope that you can see some of it. 

                                          Fall on Your Knees! Looking towards Coquitlam.

                                           Looking towards Port Coquitlam (which is different than Coquitlam).

                                           Looking towards Burnaby (and probably Port Moody as well). 

                                           One of the views towards Surrey. ( I am not sure but I think you can see my eldest Son's apartment building). 

Ciao for now! Happy New Year!! 

I may blog later about magic.