a saturday in pictures

tracy's tiny tomatoes

foliage

best brownies

dog that won't sit still

sunday night dinner with strangers

{image via so sticky}

I learned about this incredible story from the brilliant blog, So Sticky. There is an amazing man named Jim who lives in Paris and hosts Sunday night dinners for strangers. Up to 60 people from all over the world join him at his home every Sunday for what sounds like a life-changing night of food, friendship and connections. You simply email or call him, and he'll add you to his guest list. The best part? He makes a point of learning everyone's names, where they're from and what they do, so that he can introduce everyone himself. Unreal. Read more about him and his incredible generosity and love for life here. Or, see him discuss it in his own words in the documentary, Paris Visite. How unbelievable would this be to attend?? If I'm ever in Paris...

nature will find a way

The Creative License by Danny Gregory continues to be an inspiring read. Here's a great quote that really resonated with me:

"In the end, you see, you can't really suppress your creative urge. As Jeff Goldblum says in Jurassic Park, nature will find a way.

Don't take it lying down, Our goal must be to channel that energy in a positive direction, to create happiness, appreciation, celebration, and joy instead.

How? By living in the now--by seeing the beauty of what is-- by choosing to make something special out of the way you fold your laundry, letter a shopping list, clean your plate. Celebrate your life now, as it unfolds. Turn away from judgment and negative theories about your worth, your potential, and your destiny. See what you already have. Create connections and conversations--make friends. Put a frame around your lunch. Put a spotlight in your toothbrush. Put a memory on a pedestal. Seize each day as it dawns. And make more of it. Soon, like the trees out my window, you'll find you can't help it."

Have a happy, creative day, my friends!

moments

You guys, I just watched this video and nearly lost it. I can't get over how simple and pure and beautiful and touching and brilliant it is. I think I want to watch it every day for the rest of my life. Tell me if you feel the same after watching it.

picking fruit & pie baking, oh my!

This post is a long time coming. A few weeks ago, I went fruit picking with OFRE (Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton.) Simple premise: volunteers pick fruit at the homes of folks who have fruit they want picked. Then, the rule of thirds: 1/3 to the home owner, 1/3 to the food bank and 1/3 to the volunteers. The night I went out was gorgeous. Perfect fruit picking weather. Also perfect ice cream eating weather. And maybe water sliding weather. But I digress. First we picked every apple from a tree in Mill Woods. Very odd notion to go into a stranger's backyard when they're not home, and within an hour have their tree picked clean!

Next we moved on to an area I don't really know, Silver Berry, to pick cherries. And I thought Summerside had no trees... wow, this place looked freaky. In fact, we thought we were at the wrong house. How could there be a mature Evans Cherry tree in this neighbourhood, anywhere? Well, we were gladly wrong. This tree was gorgeous, and in about 15 mins I had this amazing load of glorious bright red cherries. I've decided I need one of these trees. Even if I didn't eat a single cherry, the tree itself with all the fruit is beautiful! I did a little reading up on the Evans Cherry tree after another picker told me she used to live next to Dr. Evans, the "inventor." She told me he had a whole orchard of these in his backyard in Mill Woods. Before he moved, he planted them all along the back alley. She said her alley is now full of the trees. I'm thinking this is probably the best looking alley in the city!

So, picked fruit in hand, I enlisted the help of my dear mamma. Crafty in every way, she of course had baked a pie or two in her day. But not in several years, apparently, so we had fun muddling through parts of the project together! As expected, I also had to purchase some cute supplies for this endeavor. Completely un-needed and yet needed in every way. I got two of these. One in this great green, the other a mayflower blue. Come on! Now tell me, how you could resist the possibility of baking a pie in one of these? I rest my case. We peeled and sliced those little bitty apples for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably two hours. I swear I had a peeling injury; I couldn't believe how tedious that work was! The cherry pitting was much more fun and productive. Got a great tip to use a straw to poke them out. Genius! Although this would have been fun too!

I'd never eaten a homemade sour cherry pie before, let alone made one myself. We got three 6" pies out of my cherry haul and, dare I say, the pie was the best I've ever had. I've never experienced the whole process... picking, prepping and eating. I know that is what made it all the sweeter. We also made six small apple pies. Also super delicious, but somehow not as exciting or gorgeous enough to take pictures of! I highly recommend going picking if you've not done it. I will definitely get on it earlier next year and maybe go do some blueberries and saskatoons on a berry farm. How yummy and satisfying that would be!

books of creative inspiration

I think Creative Grab Bag by Ethan Bodnar looks like the most fun book ever. I'm feeling very creative lately and I think this would be an amazing book to fan those creative flames! Right now, I'm reading The Creative License by Danny Gregory. Loving it so much. I think it's going to get me drawing again, something I haven't done since high school art class probably.