tis time

May your days be merry and bright. To you and yours....and mine.
xoxo

jake

Breakfast has a new best friend, living upstairs from us. Meet Jake. I had a funny experience with him last week when he got excited and smashed his (giant) head straight into my face; leaving me with a massive, double-sided nose bleed that made me feel rather light-headed after about twenty solid minutes of red. Amazingly, I made it down to my suite without a single spot on my clothing or carpet. Yes, I'm a pro at tidy injuries. Wow, the blood was amazing.



I don't hold any ill feelings toward Jake for this accident, as it wasn't intentional. It also helps that his owners are probably the sweetest people I've met in a long time. They've all helped me feel more at home here, which I couldn't be more grateful for. Tomorrow marks one month of being here. I'm pretty happy. So happy, it's oozing out of my face.

Thanks, Jake.

dec

The toy rush is still on so I've been a bit distracted from doing much of the Christmas hooplah that I normally do. I guess I'm just not feeling it this year, yet. I can't tell. I did my best to remind myself to have some fun and make some wintery bits. Now if it'll just snow a bit..

nostalgia

A new robot. This was my Christmas Story.

more to come

It's difficult to put into words what I've been experiencing, these last few months. I have no idea what to say... Actually, I don't even know where I am (without a GPS) It's disorienting, yet curious. I'm petrified.

I came to a city I had never visited; to live in a place I had never seen, in a car packed with two weeks worth of stuff; to start a brand new job that I didn't even have time to think much about until I got there. I suppose you could call this a bit of an adventure. It has only just begun. *Adventure music.

After two weeks, I'm already learning to love this new place of mine. It's been totally overwhelming, but I'm incredibly grateful for what I have gained from the experience already. My mind is everywhere. Where am I?

mom collage

She makes me laugh.

adventure time

It looks to me like the winds have changed to the west, and I'm following it as soon as this week. It's different, it's new, and intimidating. I won't lie that I'm bordering on petrified. The good kind at least.. whatever that means. I love a good adventure.

With all that I've lost in this past year, I see so much to gain. I suppose I grew up learning how to cope with acceptance and change, that it seems like a second nature to figure it out for the moment and carry on. It was tough coming back to a place that I let go of such a long time ago. Its familiarity was welcoming, and provided me with a certain sense of nostalgia, but it didn't quite suit me anymore.

The greatest part of this adventure is that I'll be going to live on my own and do it at my own pace. So much is in my control, it's rather exhilarating to imagine. It's just me, my belongings and -of course- my greatest companion. I feel a little naive, maybe even selfish for doing so much to help satisfy my curiosity. All I know is that if I didn't try it now, I'd surely regret it. Selfishness is allowed. I highly recommend it, though it's not an easy thing to do.

What I would have done without my -old and new- friends and family after such a whirlwind of transition, is uncertain. I am grateful. A part of what makes leaving difficult is the bond that we have created in the time that I've been here. It was nice to catch up, to learn about one another all over again, to share and appreciate the things we once took for granted. I leave feeling so very fortunate to know such caring and wonderful people.

Thanks Winnipeg, it was great to get to know you all over again.

romano

Lou Romano is incredibly inspiring.

portrait

Colette Molloy, one of my greatest friends, took some fancy pictures of me yesterday. I feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends...who know how to make me look good.

autumn breakfast

Always discrete. Breakfast Jones loves this time of year.

jacko

come back, friend

During a lovely hoar frost, my camera decided to cop out on me. I'll need to take it in to get fixed, which has me feeling a bit nervous because I have been in a comfort zone for so many years. I'm not quite sure if I'm ready for change as of yet. I'm stubborn with gadgets, I suppose you could say..? or just stubborn in general. Yes, that's it.

Now if I can figure out where I left the lens cap...

bike fun

I think next year, I need to get myself a bike. 

button

I heart buttons... and of course tea.. and pretty black and white patterns..

snugstudio on etsy

fall sandwich

I took my camera for a walk today, to enjoy the cool fresh air and find some fancy bits for inspiration. I love this season for the colors and textures that come with it. If fall came in sandwich form, I would surely eat it. I don't know what that means... I love it, that's all.

There's a certain silence that comes with the chill in the air. I often encourage myself outdoors when it's like this simply for the sake of learning to deal with change, even if it requires more layers of socks and warm beverages to thaw out one's fingers. Did I mention how fun it was to see frost on the windows this morning? This, I know will wear out its welcome in time.

It has been confirmed, I love this season.

sketch shark

Sometimes this is what happens when I decide to keep a sketchbook.

sleep 101

He's a pro.

bfast

Doing what he does best.

carving miss sadie

I'm working for a Shih Tzu again; which is really such a treat. I got to meet the lovely Miss Sadie not too long after Breakfast arrived in the prairies. We shared a pleasant walk, some wine, and even some decent poop stories; which is typical for dog related conversation.

When I was asked if I was interested in creating another banner for the blogging pup, I suggested a dabbling of sorts with different media. Something new to keep my hands busy, something challenging. I may even be wrinkling my brow a bit more than usual. This is a good thing.

I enjoyed taking sculpture in college, but haven't done much with it considering the amount of mess and dust which it creates. This, being smaller scale (using Sculpey) has minimal mess. I have a cup for my shavings, am whittling (yes, whittling) the figure with an exacto blade among other carving tools, and have yet to tamper with painting techniques to finish it off. So, yeah, I'm a tad nervous about the outcome, but am enjoying the process.

kick start

It's October, my favorite time of year; the season of change. Yes, it's time to put my crafty pants on. Let's kick it.

saturday: sleep in

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment. A simple, heart warming moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

exchange

Took my camera for a walk in Winnipeg's exchange district. There is some pretty cool stuff out there, underneath the grunge. 

sunshine

Don't let this sad display make you think that maybe things for Breakfast have been at all too rough. He has been completely spoiled with love, a basket of toys, piles of blankets to sleep in, an enormous yard, and three other dogs to run around with. Yes, he's quite popular; meeting new faces, and greeting ones that he's sniffed/licked/snorted in before. I don't think he has much to complain about, though I can see it's taking him some time to figure it out.

He decided to move his bed from across the kitchen - of where we're staying- to a little corner of the room that gets maybe a good hour or so of direct sunlight. It was heartwarming for me watch him pursue exactly what he needed in order to achieve that sense of comfort in what feels like "home" in his mind. He'll sit (and sulk) and wait ever so patiently for that moment to arrive, even if it's just for a sliver of time of what he's used to. 

It's things like this that make me shake my head in admiration at this little dog of mine who knows how to teach me such wonderful lessons without a single word. He's just so sweet, simple and incredibly funny. He is my sunshine. 

sandwiches are beautiful

When it comes to sandwiches (to switch to a happier topic) I have to admit that I have a bit of a soft spot. If you haven't already heard me talk with my mouth full about Chachi's sandwiches (and their crunchy pickles) I guess you haven't been around for too long. I may have mentioned them a few million times, at least in the world of spoken word. Seriously..

I don't know what it is that makes a good sandwich, in my mind, but I have a few favorites that are lurking in my hometown; which I'm more than happy to seek out and gorge upon, to figure out this mystery of what it is that has me saying "omafogud!" Maybe it isn't anything in particular, I just love a good sandwich. Who doesn't, really?

The reason I bring up this random subject is because I tried a new kind of sandwich yesterday that I'm still thinking about, today. It was a grilled eggplant at Baked Expectations, and omafogud... it hit the spot. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it, though it gives me an excuse to go back! Finding a volunteer to come with me next time shouldn't be too difficult. Mmm.... sandwiches.....

breathing

It's been so hard trying to put it into words where I'm at, and what is going on in my world. Really, it's hard to describe because this whole thing has been so disorienting and unbelievable. I ask myself quite often "where am I?" Even out loud. Why not? It's been a bit of a blur.

Some days it feels unbearable; the idea that I don't have a "home" anymore, a job, the ol' routine, the life I knew for so long. Sure, I have a roof over my head, but I'm tired of this lifestyle of starting from scratch and not knowing where I'm going or how long I'll stay. I've lived a very long and unstable lifestyle that I'm ready to put an end to it, on my own terms. It's necessary for me to have that control.

In all honesty, the home that I left behind didn't really feel like home -in the back of my mind- for a very long time. I guess somehow I knew that I wasn't going to be staying long, and so I didn't really allow myself to fully settle in, just to be prepared for the unexpected. Even if it may have been semi-expected, it was not at all easy when that day finally came. This is not a sob story nor am I even complaining. This is what comes with living; you change, you learn, you keep breathing. I figure if you're still breathing, you don't have much to complain about. Pick up, carry on.

I've let go of so many things in the last few months, it's really quite amazing. It wasn't easy, it still isn't, but it taught me a lot about who I am and what I'm capable of. I said goodbye to the things that were once so important to me, I didn't think I could ever live without them; the familiar faces and places, my seat in the front window, where I'd drink my tea, watch the neighbourhood, do my writing or stitchy-bits, listen to the sound of silence on the mornings to myself. I know I'll find another comfort zone of my very own like that, one day. It's frightening (and maybe even fun) not knowing where that place is yet.

Each day is different, and the emotions that come with them are amazing, sometimes simple, intense and/or even totally unexpected. I have no idea what I'm doing... for the moment, that's just fine. I'm breathing.

simple things

Some days I think about Tim's fuzzy feet and how much I miss him.

weeee!

Maybe I should make postcards?

bff

He makes me smile.

pretty little me

Sometimes a girl just needs a haircut to feel better during the tough times. Thank you Colette, for making me feel more like myself again. It's been a long time since I felt pretty.. 

oh deer

Another dead animal at the Museum of Man & Nature.. .

nom

I don't know if I should design postcards...