Last 3600 seconds of wasp

Last 3600 seconds of wasp is a mesmerising art film by Zatorski and Zatorski, in which the dying minutes of a wasp's life are portrayed with a Philip Glass soundtrack.  We saw it at a Big Chill festival a few years back and it was probably the best thing at the festival that year for me.

 

This week I have been observing a few of these little creatures slowly shaking off their mortal coils as the seasonal changes continue.  They seem to favour our solarium for their resting place.  

 

Call me odd if you want (I know it) but I have a little collection of dead critters to which these will be added.  A few years back a lot of my paintings featured insects, and sometimes a dead wasp made its way into the composition.  When I had Beth and I stopped painting, looking back on my work I realised that much of my work was about death and decay; dead insects, decaying buildings, rotten fruit.  It all seemed a bit morbid, especially after this beautiful little life spirit entered my life, and it was all about beginnings and new life.  I am resolved to lighten up.  But I still find dying wasps fascinating, sorry.

Boo is aware of my making of an exception for wasps in our 'we do not kill things' mantra.  I don't remember ever being stung by one, but I see red when they are in close proximity, especially when they come near my daughter.  So I have to admit to a slight thrill that their kind is expiring, especially if I get to watch.  

Slowly, slowly catchy monkey

Sometimes it feels like a I can't get a thing done being a full time mama.  Of course, I am 'doing things' all the time: reading, guiding, comforting, inventing, encouraging, cleaning up;  the whole gamut of things under that fuzzy heading 'parenting'.  But the drive to 'get things done' has had to be tempered since I'm always 'doing something else' these days.  So 'things' are simmering away, to be chipped away at a little at a time, when the opportunity arises and no one is likely to scream as a result.

And so, the studio is slowly slowly being clothed in wallpaper,  thanks to helping hands from my Dad and brother to get me started.  A couple of pieces one day, a couple the next, and soon the proverbial monkey will be eating the banana.

Boo, the little poppet, amuses herself with a spot of sticking n scribbling whilst mama wonders if anyone will notice that it's not perfectly perpendicular.

 

Slowly, too, a little striped poncho is growing on my needles.

Things are happening.  Things are getting done.  Slowly.

Autumnal activities

It's all looking pretty seasonal at our front door....

We put together a wreath from our nature collection (ok the base was bought for a few bucks at Walmart, but most of it was found...

Those pumpkins are being carved in preparation for Saturday...

and here's the Daddy and the baby one already done.

We're all ready for you ghouls, ghosts, witches (err more likely fairies, princesses, supermen probably!)

  

A kitten for a Boo

With my brother in town, we headed out on a bit of a tourist trip yesterday, to have a wander around around Granville island and its colourful markets.

A staple of any visit to Granville island for us is the Kids Market, and the shop that specialises in puppets, especially the animal ones made by Folkmans.

Boo got her hand up an eagle

 

... a chipmunk...

 

... a mouse....

... a skunk...

...and a rabbit in a hat!

 

But the biggest hit of the day was the 'dress the kitten' mini sticker kit we picked up for a couple of bucks and kept the little lady busy for the rest of the day, and is still hanging in there although its adhesive qualities are now a little lacking.  I used to love paper cut out dolls with their little clothes, particularly those you coloured/painted yourself.  I remember having a very special box of them which I used to get out for great quiet play by myself, until the little tabs broke off and they had to be carefully repaired.  I seem to remember my collection including some that we found in my nan's house, from my mum's childhood, which were very special.  I don't think I'll rush out and buy any beautiful paper cut outs just yet though, judging by the short life of anything paperbased in the hands of the Boo!

 

And the rain stopped, the sun came out and Vancouver looked a whole lot more beautiful.

 

With rain forecast for at least the next six days, that is something to savour!

 

 

Looping the Lynn Fantastic

On Friday we bid farewell to the grandparents at Vancouver airport, but not before we had welcomed another visitor to our home city; my brother, en route back to Ontario from Shanghai where he had been for a business trip.  Family get togethers are infrequent these days, with two of us living on opposite sides of Canada, so this was rather special, albeit a snatched hour in a crowded airport.  

My brother can be relied upon to be up for a good walk, and we have been missing out on a proper bit of clambering over rocks and roots recently as we have been going on 'toddler friendly walks', but Boo was amenable to going in the backpack this time, so we set out on the 'Lynn Loop'.  Conditions being just right (soggy after relentless rain in recent days), I found plenty of fungi along the way to marvel at, and once again felt vastly grateful for the opportunity we've had to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All bundled up for the beach

We have been enjoying the Autumnal colours around us, and bundled ourselves up for the visit to the beach, which Boo loves at any time of the year, though it did appear she was the only one stopping to play in the sand this time!

 

 

 

Hope you are enjoying a spot of nature in your life!

Lighting the Night... and the Freeway

Sorry to have been away for a whole week... there's been a whole lot going on here.  Grandaddy and Granny Hugger have been visiting from England, Dadda Boo has unfortunately been poorly, and yours truly has been focused upon a task, namely the attainment of a Canadian driving licence.  I've had an anxiety problem with driving for some years and coming to Canada where things are a whole lot different out there (no clutches though - should be a cinch hey?) and I had to take a dreaded 'test' to get a BC licence, has added to the issue.  Oh, and the screaming toddler in the back hasn't helped either.  After going into panics whenever I got behind the wheel for the first 18 months of residence in Canada, I decided enough was enough and I had to do it properly and get professional lessons.  Six lessons and a series of morning outings with Grandaddy Hugger later, I took my road test this morning and passed with little problem.  It has actually been a great blessing for me to 'relearn' the art of driving, now I know I will build my confidence and enjoy the freedom of getting about by car.   

Saturday night was our second time round to participate in 'Light the Night', a fundraising walk for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.  We did it for the first time last year after a close friend of mine lost her battle with Leukaemia in August 2008, at the age of 36.  Participants of the walk carry illuminated balloons on a walk along the seawall of Vancouver's Stanley Park as the sun sets.  Last year it was beautiful, the colours of the sunset over the sea were glorious, and we watched seals coming up and dipping down not far from the shore.  This year, the rainy city gave us all its got, as a torrential downpour drenched us to the core and we waded through the cascading torrents of water making their way off the seawall.  But we soldiered on and completed the walk, with a singing Boo in her plastic cocooned chariot.  I whipped out the camera in the rain a couple of times so I could have something to document our walk.

We've also had an outing to the UBC Museum of Anthropology, which I love for the contents and also the architecture by famed Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson.  It appeared he hadn't quite managed to ensure his building was watertight however (not a great idea in this city!), judging by the carefully placed series of grey plastic bins to catch the drips!  

 

And today, after the anxiety of the test had started to subside, we had a walk lakeside in Deer Lake Park, Burnaby.

So now, with my licence in hand, who knows where I can go?!

  

Giving Thanks

Today we are 'doing' Canadian Thanksgiving for the first time.  Last year Dadda Boo went to work, but this year he has taken the holiday, and my parents are visiting so it truly is time to give thanks for us all being together.  What a great holiday, time to celebrate the seasonal change, the harvest and family without all the commercial overkill of Christmas.  

Joining the masses of other families reaping the bounty of the season, yesterday we visited a pumpkin patch and apple orchard.  Not having done this before, we were quite unprepared for the scale of the pumpkin harvest.  The deliberations over the choosing of the most attractive specimens for the 'jack o lanterns' for the forthcoming Halloween shenanigans seems to be part and parcel of the family outing, and there were a number of different selections made before all were satisfied.  

 

What could be more seasonal than some shiny conkers atop a pumpkin?

Does no-one play 'conkers' in Canada?  Or collect them even?  Whenever we come across a Horse Chestnut tree, the ground around is thick with them, and we go home with pockets bulging.

 

 

Onto the apple orchard, and we select the finest Jonagold apples from the heavily laden boughs. In no time at all our 25lb bag is bulging, and we sample their juicy freshness. Absolutely scrumptious.  

Here's to pumpkin pie and all manner of appley goodness.

Happy Thanksgiving!