first day of spring

First day of spring was beautiful here! I went around and checked our garden, pulled out a few weeds and dead branches. Along with cleaning the house in the afternoon, it really felt like spring, a new start, fresh and clean!
This little beetle was walking along the top of the pussy willow in our backyard. It was so shiny and a gorgeous colour, I had to run back in the house to grab my camera. Here is one of my favourite shots, cropped a little.

Happy Spring!

treasured letters

I started packing a little this weekend. I came across these letters. They are from my best friend. Even if we live an ocean apart and haven't seen each other in over a decade, I will always consider her my best friend.

We have known each other for 24 years. We went to school together for two years and became close friends then. I moved away and we kept our friendship alive with letters and later on with the internet. As much as I love the internet and being able to chat with her that way, these letters are treasured. They range from 1990 to the present day.

Merci mon amie.

a little gypsy...

I am packing again. We sold our house this past Monday, such a relief! Now we can focus on our new adventure, and first the packing and moving out of Ontario.

Every week, I take part of the 52 Fridays self-portrait challenge. I was a little late this week, only taking a photo today but I was out of ideas yesterday and I was busy packing.

As soon as I thought that, I knew what my photo was going to be. It had to have a box to show what I am in the middle of right now.

So I got in the box.

Which made me think..wow..I have been in this situation a lot. I could call myself an expert at packing and moving. As I was posting this photo on flickr and adding a description, I looked back on all my moves. I quickly went through in my head and guessed 17 moves, including this upcoming move, since I was born. A couple of hours later, I decided to write it out. I had missed some. Since I was born, I have moved 18 times (19 counting this coming one). I have lived in 4 different countries and at least 10 cities.

All that moving is fine, I like going on new adventures. I do feel like a little gypsy, never staying put very long. I have met so many wonderful people because of all the moving we have done. I wouldn't change anything.

But...I told myself that if I really love where I am going next, I will give myself a few years to really enjoy it.

Living by the ocean is one of my dream and it's coming true. Our next home doesn't have to be right on the ocean, I just would like to be close enough to hear it and smell it. To be able to go for a short walk or drive or bike ride and see it. Prince Edward Island will fulfill my dream and that is why I think I am going to love it.

freeplaylife challenge ~ weeks 8 & 9

The last two challenges of the freeplaylife challenge were not as fun as previous ones, but they did make an impact!

Week 8 was about "sorry", and more specifically stop saying "sorry" all the time. In her words, Tiffani explained:

"For this week only, I want you to drop it. Let it go. Stop feeling responsible for how other people take your actions, and stop assigning responsibility to others for how you feel. "
I’m not suggesting you don’t feel or empathize with the people around you, just be more creative about it. Be more honest with how you feel rather than assuming ownership of the way someone else has been affected. Oftentimes “I’m sorry” is used like a bomb in relationships when a scalpel would be better. It is overused by martyrs (“I’m so sorry!”) and selfish people (“Well I hope you’re sorry now!”) alike.
A lot of mental/emotional/spiritual energy can be cleared up when you allow yourself to feel different things about your actions without taking responsibility for someone else’s feelings about them."
We had three steps to get us started. First we needed to make a "stash" jar. Second we had to put $1 in the jar every time we used the word "sorry". Third, do this for one week.

Well, this challenge made for an interesting week last week. My husband was back after being away for over three weeks for work. We were very happy to be together but there were times when I found myself saying sorry. I am not one to apologize easily, so I thought this challenge would be so easy. Not so much! I found myself saying sorry for upsetting my husband's feelings often last week. I seemed to always be saying the wrong thing. Things were tense. I did learn to stop saying a quick half-felt sorry and instead I tried explaining myself better. This challenge brought to the surface more issues I thing than if I hadn't been aware of it. I believe it is a good thing though in the end. Communication in a marriage is so important, even after nearly 16 years!

My husband is now away again for work. This time apart will be even longer. We will be moving at the end of May and then, finally be re-united.

Week 9 is about cleaning out of closets! Here is how she put it:

"Each day, pick an area/drawer/closet/cabinet, and clean it out of one bag’s worth of stuff to throw away/give away/get out of your house. The size of the bag depends totally on you. It can be a ziploc baggie, or a gallon sized (or bigger!) trash bag. Just pick an area, pick a size bag, and get ‘er done! "

This challenge has perfect timing! We just sold our house and I started packing. Packing means I declutter at the same time. I have already gone through our cabinets in our bathrooms, getting rid of anything we don't use or that is expired (in the medicine box). The kids and I went through all the out-of-season clothes rubbermaid bins since this week had several spring-like days. We bagged anything that was too small or not-liked and put them in the car to drop off at the thrift store. Board games and puzzles were decluttered too, they will be donated as well. Moving helps with this, who wants to move something that won't be used?

The stash jar is supposed to receive 1 dollar for every bag/box that we clear. My jar has little pieces of papers. On them I wrote either "sorry $1" or "trash $1". I don't have disposable cash to put in the jar, but I still wanted to participate. So far, the jar has $16!

Project 366 ~ February 25 to March 8

I missed one day! My husband was home for a few days

this past week and the camera didn't see any action on one day!

I am really enjoying this project 366 and taking a photo every day.

Even while being at home, I am able to find something to photograph.

Pets are always good and mostly willing!