Internet Hair colour extravaganza. Have your say!!

"It's not even Spring!!" is what my Mom said when I told her I was thinking about colouring my hair.

True. It's December. There's no snow (although it is snowing now, and looks like it might keep coming) and I feel dull and drab. There's not really much a hair cut could do... plus it's nice to have it a bit longer so the ends peak out from under a toque. I'm not really going for the elf look my sister and I used to do, back in the day after chinese food buffet msg central.... Anyways, I'm bored and it's time for a change. Have your say in something (since apparently we can't do it politically). I'm curious. Help me out.

Mozart and Bizet...... like you've never heard before....

Why I like L'Occitane

Yesterday I had to go to L'Occitane to buy a few goodies. Most of their products contain only natural, if not organic, ingredients, so I had an interesting conversation with the sales woman about the advantages and disadvantages of using, and selling such products.

While we were chatting she gave me some samples for my mom to try, and asked me if my mom was about her age, mid 40's. Well, I'm not going to disclose that kind of information here, but I gave the woman the general age bracket so she could determine what might be best for her. She asked me if my mom had similar skin to mine, (she does) and then asked me what products I used. I told her, and then inquired if I should maybe consider using an anti-aging product.... she laughed out loud!!

With a slightly more serious look she then asked me if she could ask me how old I was.

"Thirty." I told her. It's the first time I've been asked since the decade changed for me, and it felt pretty good to say it, I must admit.

What followed felt even better.

"You're THIRTY???????" She responded, "Really????!!!! You have AMAZING skin. No wrinkles. NONE. You're really THIRTY?????? Just look at those pores- what pores!! You can't even see them. Thirty?!!"

Yes, but I was smiling like a little kid for hours after that encounter, and I must have looked like I was five the way I gleefully walked down the street swinging my bag full of goodies. Age really is only a number.... but since genetics do play a role...

Thanks for the amazing DNA, Mom!!

The power of books.

I've been reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I finished it this afternoon while I was on a break from teaching, enjoying a yummy drink at Starbucks. I had thought about re-reading it as soon as I finished, but I really want Jeremy to have a go at it, so I delved into his next book entitled A New Earth. I am loving it.

I have found these books to be an exceptional subway read. Nothing like a little spiritual enlightenment to make for a happy subway journey!! Today I managed to grab a seat on a packed subway, and had just pulled out my book, when I looked up to see the man who was standing directly in front of me was also reading A New Earth. We had a pleasant conversation about the book, and whether we were enjoying it (we both are). He is planning on re-reading it as soon as he has finished it too. Powerful books!! After a few minutes of happy conversation (and a number strange looks from the people around us wondering how two complete strangers could have such a pleasant exchange after a long day) we wished each other happy reading and continued on reading from where we had left off.

My stop came before his, and I wished him a good night and told him that I enjoyed our conversation. To this he replied, "Enjoy your life!"

"Thank you..... I will!" I responded as I started to leave. The doors closed behind me and with that sound came the realization- not "I will" but "I am!!!" In joy in my life.

new blog coming soon

These are exciting times, and exciting times require exciting blogs.
Coming soon to a computer screen near you.
more info to follow shortly.

ARGH!

I am love, love, loving playing in an Orchestra every week. Playing principal flute is just the icing on the cake.

I am also loving that Greg Patillo, THE amazing beat boxing flute player, is coming to Toronto to do a masterclass. HOWEVER I AM NOT LOVING THAT he'll be here on the same day and at the same time as my last orchestra rehearsal before our first concert October 17th.

ARGHHHHHHHHH!

Sunny Sunday Randomness

It's a sunny, beautiful day. Jeremy and I took advantage and went for a 2 hour walk through High Park, with 10o,000 other people, to take in the spectacular cherry tree blossoms.

We quickly decided to detour away from the massive crowds and walked past the pond, only to see a rookery of Double-Crested Cormorant's sunning themselves.... with the males clearly showing signs of spring with their showy wing flapping, 'pick me!!' behavior.

We took pictures of Magnolia trees in their full glory while we walked along one of my favourite streets in the city.

We were bad and got an iced americano (no sugar please!) from Starbucks, and then planned a feast of a dinner on our leisurely walk home, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and mushroom and asparagus risotto- I love this time of year!! Fresh asparagus is so good! We had a laugh when we got inside our little place and heard our neighbours blasting "The Log-Drivers Waltz" (click it for a refresher if you don't know what I'm talking about....) from their backyard... we were laughing a little less when we realized it was on loop, and has been repeating for the last half an hour... maybe I should pull out the piccolo.....

This pic doesn't really have much to do with the last paragraph, but it's from High Park too!!

This is what I should be doing!

Back!!

Well, hello!
I haven't seen you for awhile.
Has it really been 4 months? Really?
Ooops.

I fell off of the blogging bandwagon for a while it seems.

Well, you're probably wondering what I've been up to in all of this time.

Just a few things really.

1. Played a recital on 2 weeks notice in December, which was fabulously fun and wonderful.

2. Got engaged over Christmas to the man who makes the most delicious hummous I've ever had in my life. And that's not all- he cooks (and cooks deliciously), cleans, even does laundry. He is kind, funny, caring, knows tons of random facts, has a great record collection, and plays a mean tuba.

I know what you're thinking...... too late, he's mine!!

3. Went to MAUI. It IS as amazing as you think it would be. Every day is the most perfect summer day you can imagine. Bliss.

4. Played a recital last night (more than 2 weeks notice this time!!) to a great audience, and a bat who liked to sing along.

5. Have been teaching and practicing a ton. I love playing flute. I love loving to play flute. It is just great to feel this way again.


Well, it's short and sweet, and not very detailed, but I will try my best to fill you in on some little details about all of my adventures sometime soon. Hopefully sooner than 4 months!

In the Christmas Spirit!!!

This is AMAZING!!! You MUST follow the link to see this FABULOUS video!
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

The 12 Days of Christmas!!

Enjoy!!

A Brief Hiatus

Hello Everyone!
I just wanted to let you all know that I am taking a brief hiatus from blogging land for a little while.
As you may have noticed, I've been experimenting with some new looks for the blog, and I am planning to continue working on that. Hopefully this will mean that you will have a new and improved blog to see when I return.
Also in the works are a studio web page and personal web page. Ideally they will all be accessible from one fabulous page....... any ideas on how to do that, or on books that will teach me would be greatly appreciated!!! Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any suggestions about things you would like to see.

Life is busy here in this busy city, but I'm always so excited to come home from work to the comfort and coziness of our tiny little home. Currently I am preparing for a recital here in Toronto (less than 2 weeks to go!!) and for a performance in Banff. Of course, I'm usually up to some sort of project that doesn't include my flute, and currently that project is cooking classes! How fun!!!

See you soon!

Busy as a...... Flutist!! And more 'Fall Gifts'

I love my life as a musician. Right now it is exactly where I want to be. I have a full studio of fabulous students, with only a few available lesson slots left. And it's still September!! I've been practicing hard, preparing for 3 performances in November. I'm playing 2 full recitals in Ontario, and then I'll be performing in Canmore, Alberta, as part of the Vic Lewis Festival. Exciting!! I'm very much looking forward to it. The past couple years I've spent most of my practice time practicing technique- scales, scales, scales and more scales, and I have to say that it's pretty nice to feel that all that work is taking my playing to the next level. I LOVE playing my flute, and I am especially enjoying being able to play the more virtuostic technical passages with ease, and musicality. Love it.

Around the Coach House we are in the process of switching into fall mode. The straggly summer plants have been replaced by gloriously huge mums and there's a new mat at the front door to greet all of my students. Although I have to admit that the mat makes me pretty happy every time I come home too!! It could have something to do with my love of birds, and the fact that the new mat has a super cute Chickadee on it!!
As you can see in the above photo, there have also been more instances of 'fall gifts' around the Coach House. I found a perfect peanut, still in it's shell, nestled in with the petunia's yesterday. And today, when I went out to photograph the mat, I found this: Right outside our front door!! I'm pretty convinced that it is the same white bellied grey squirrel who is leaving all of the goodies, as I heard him rustling in the tree behind me while I was taking the pictures!

I will never be a hand model.

It's funny how we discover things. I have just discovered that I will never, ever be a hand model. No Palmolive commercials are in my future. I do NOT have photogenic hands. They look quite nice, at least I think so, in person. But in a picture? NOT AT ALL. However, I digress. Let's see what even made me decide to attempt taking a picture of my hands.

How is it that in the past 28 years, being quite a girly girl, I have not ever had a French manicure? I've had a normal manicure on the very rare occasion (re. weddings), but I just don't function like a normal person when I'm wearing nail polish. I can't look in my purse for fear of denting the polish, and then there's the matter of trying to undo, or do up a zipper, without chipping anything. Don't even think about gardening, cooking or cleaning. Even while wearing rubber gloves I have managed to mangle a manicure. It seems that no matter how hard I try, the nails look fabulous for a hour, and then I bash my hand into something and the glamour is destroyed.

Yesterday, while celebrating the last few days of my friends single life, we decided it would be fun to get manicures. Knowing that my nails would need to stay beautiful for over 2 days until the wedding, I decided to forgo the usual red, or dark polish in favour of something...... lighter. And behold!! A lovely French Manicure!
So far so good, and it's almost been 24 hours. Keep you fingers crossed I can make it another 24!! (And yes, I do have a thumb, it just didn't photograph well).

Fall Gifts

I know that Fall is just around the corner, but it sure doesn't feel like it with the 33 degree weather we are having today! Still, the animals know that the seasons are starting to change. The first big flock of geese flew over our little coach house this morning while we were drinking our coffee and listening to the radio. Then, on Jeremy's way out the door to work, we discovered this present left in our plant, presumably left by the cute, grey, white bellied squirrel that quickly scrambled up the tree when the door opened.
"Hee, hee". Jeremy and I laughed about this seemingly random storage place for an apple. Imagine my surprise when I went down to do some laundry later on and discovered this at the bottom of our front steps!
I especially love the little nibble marks on the top left corner. I am even more amused at the scene pictured in my mind, of the little squirrel dragging along this massive loaf of french bread, so pleased with his bounty. I'll be giggling about that all day while I'm cleaning house. I'll just have to make sure the image doesn't pop into my mind while we're playing cards tonight. It is not a good thing to immediately follow an "I'm all in" with uncontrolled giggles!!

A reading adventure!!

Instead of reading the newspaper, or watching the news every morning, I allow myself a few minutes to peruse the latest happenings in the lives of the people who write my very favourite blogs. (Look for an new side column with links in the near future)

This morning I was thrilled, having just finished reading a book, to find a post on a blog I frequent inviting readers to enjoy a book, all together. I love the idea of all of us readers/writers/bloggers reading and enjoying a book at the same time. I've often thought about joining a book club to experience the joy of reading a book at the same time as someone else. To be able to discuss our thoughts, our feelings. I'm so excited to finally do it!!

Such a clear picture comes to mind- It's late at night, the house is quiet. A window is open to allow the crisp, fall air to gently blow in. Beside the window, I am reading by the light of a solitary lamp, wrapped in my favourite throw. My cup of tea is just about empty. Glancing at the clock, I discover it is way past my bedtime. I get up, but instead of crossing the room to my bed, I head to the kitchen and put on the kettle for a fresh pot of tea. It's going to be a little while yet before sleep beckons.

If any of you want to join me, I encourage you to check out this fabulous blog, Tales from Pixie Wood, not only for the invite, but also to discover all of the fabulous adventures in housekeeping, recipes, inspiring posts, and great writing. Enjoy. I hope some of you decide to join us.

2 more.....

Okay, let's add just 2 more choices into the mix.

7.
8.

If you prefer both arms showing.....

Let's call these choices number 5 and 6....

I've ruled out these choices for now. Please feel free to let me know about choices 7, 8, 1, 2, 3 or 4!

Thanks for all of your input so far!!!

Press Shots.....

I was in need of some press shots, and needed them very, very quickly- and cheaply. Enter Jeremy with our digital camera, me spending much more time to get ready then I like, and an afternoon hiking around High Park in search of a great shot. The following four are the ones we liked the best.... what do you think? 1, 2, 3 or 4?

1.

2.

3.
4.

Mr. Pomeranian

As I was taking the subway (almost a month ago now, how time flies) I had quite an entertaining experience. I was standing at the end of the platform looking towards where the train would be coming from, when my eyes were suddenly distracted from their task. Newly arriving on the platform was a very tall, bearded man pushing a blue pram. This wasn't too out of the ordinary in itself, but the fact that he was surrounded by at least 10 little pomeranian dogs barking and yapping made for quite the scene.

They were quite well behaved for little dogs with more attitude than would seem possible. Travelling together in their little pack, free of the restrictions of leashes, they happily bounced along the platform, freely barking at whomever caught their attention. I myself was deemed special enough for a bark by the leader of their pack. He came right up to my leg, gave me a little bark of a greeting, then strutted back to his gang. By this point, Mr. Pomeranian himself had pushed his blue pram close enough to me that I could discreetly peer inside.

Imagine my surprise when I saw, not a little baby or toddler, but another 4 or 5 little pomeranians all sitting together. Prim and proper as pomeranians could be, carefully viewing the goings on of the rest of their pack from their prime pram position in life. It was about this point when the subway came roaring into the station, and all of the little dogs clustered like small children against the back wall, until the subway had reached a full and complete stop. Alas, when we boarded the train I was one car ahead of Mr. Pomeranian and his crew- although I can imagine that the ride that ensued was as equally entertaining as the waiting time on the platform.

On writing comments on blogs.

Why do I read blogs? The blogs I frequent most often are usually those of my friends, and most of them live hundreds, if not thousands of kilometers away from me. Blogs are a great way for us to keep up with what is happening in eachothers lives. I read the blogs of a few people I don't know personally because I enjoy the way they write, and the recipes or other interesting things they write about.

Do I leave comments? Sure, on my friends blogs I absolutely do. Do I leave comments on other blogs? Yes, if I am feeling particularily inspired about something they wrote. Do I anonomously leave comments which attack the writer? Never. If I feel strongly about something I write my name. Blogs can often lead to an interesting dialogue between the author and readers. That is what makes writing a blog so interesting!!!

It has been interesting to see what readers leave comments about. I guess I'm fairly lucky that most of the comments I receive are generally positive and encouraging. So, I was quite surprised to read a comment correcting my grammar in a less than kind way. I'll let you know right now that I am not a "dumbass" thank you very much. I do appreciate the correction- infact I had intended on fixing it shortly after I published that post, but alas, my full, busy, fabulous life got in the way and my little grammatical mistake fell by the wayside. Oops. Little did I know that someone would take such offense- I'm so sorry to have caused you such anger!! I do appreciate the thought though. You're absolutely right that I wouldn't want someone to read my bio and think I was a "dumbass". But then again, I did begin each sentence of it with a capital letter, so it can't be that bad. I was kind of hoping that those reading it would just enjoy reading a short story instead of a list of pretentious facts that most people don't really understand or appreciate anyways.

For those of you who care to read the comment being discussed, you can view it here. What do you think? Personally, I'm quite happy to have the odd imperfection. Especially if it means that my life is so interesting and fabulous that I don't have the time or desire to read other's blogs with the sole intent on correcting their grammar and calling them "dumbasses".