just biss

Back on December 31, Jeff and I started our gratitude journal.  The initial goal was to capture 5 things we are thankful for, everyday.  So, far, Jeff has a total of 0 entries, but honestly, he doesn't need a constant reminder about positivity.  I am the one that lives with anxiety and depression.  It turns out that 5 can be pretty darn tricky to come up with each day.  Most day look pretty similar:

Stay positive and hug your wieners.

1) cuddle time with the wieners

2) a delicious meal

3) my amazing husband.

Numbers 4&5 can vary or can be absent all together.

Not Pretty

But this week has provided a couple of opportunities for gratitude.

Pretty!

1) I am thankful that we have house insurance.  The snow/ice misery that has been Halifax has created a very pretty effect on the house.  Beautiful ice formations have created a sculpted roof line punctuated with gorgeous icicles and f#@king ice damming.

Pretty!



Not Pretty.

2) I am thankful that we have the means to enjoy a concert from time to time. And, in particular, I am thankful that we decided on Dan Mangan + Blacksmith, who absolutely rocked the Rebbecca Cohen on February 18th.  It was the first night of their tour and they were full of nerves, which translated into manic energy and an edge of your seat performance.  Strobe lights and perfect seats, dead centre and directly in front of the soundboard, holy shit.  Also, this was Dan's second time at the Cohen. The first was as part of Halifax Pop Explosion a couple of years ago, playing with the symphony.  While a great show, I felt that it was a bit tentative. I've seen him use his voice to full effect, and with the symphony, I felt he was holding back.  The Cohen is also a room specifically designed for full sound, and this time he filled it.  The band keeps getting tighter and the addition of a trumpet gave more depth to some already deep sounds. A magnificent show.

Fancy pictures by Jeff...no heads in the way courtesy of someone's friend in the row in front of us not showing up.

2015 is here

I'm amazed at how fast 2014 passed. It was a year of ups and downs but it was, on balance, generally a pretty okay kind of year. As part of our rambunctious New Year's Eve of eating take out Thai food and watching season 9 of Supernatural on blu ray, Jeff and I started a new tradition. We've decided from here on, we're going to do a yearly journal entry for our year in review, focusing on the highlights of the year past, and jotting down some aspirations (not resolutions) for the year to come. We are then going to write down 5 positive things that happen to us everyday.

I think it will be a fun thing to look back on, even if we become a bit spotty in the reporting. I can be a dweller, the anxiety and OCD makes me mull and dissect negative happenings until I fall into a pit of despair. If I'm going to dwell, it may as well be on the positive things in our lives.

So, before we move forward, here are some of the highlights from 2014.

Seeing the always amazing Kathleen Edwards at the Dead of Winter festival. While she may now be a Quitter, her performance that night was beautiful and personal and she was wearing the most beautiful snugly looking sweater that almost had me jumping on stage just to hug her.

Visiting the Buckle Ark and practising my newly learnt crochet skills under the helpful eye of a bestie that I see far too little of...if only there were secret passages between our craft rooms!

Our Ottawa weekend for Folk Fest. The National were awesome, but The War on Drugs were one of the very best outdoor shows I have ever seen.

Hiking Duncan's Cove on Remembrance Day. It was spectacular, the weather was amazing, and the stillness of mind that it induced was well needed.

Christmas break hike - Kearney Lake

Christmas break hike - Crystal Crescent 

This Christmas break has been a good one too. Though Jeff and I would probably choose a different time of year for our annual vacation, he is required to take the time by his employer. We've been lucky enough to have had some beautiful weather, perfect for spoiling Finnegan with some extended off-leash walks.

Today, Jeff returns to work, and Monday I do the same. 2015 will begin in earnest, and every night we will reflect on the good in our lives.

Happy New Year from Fin and Batty!

Et tu, Brute?

I was in Ottawa for work this past week and early this week. It is always a full schedule with very little down time, but I do quite enjoy visits to our nation's capital. The city is super vibrant, embracing each season with gusto. Winterlude begets spring flowers, transitions to festival season, changes to fall colours and back again. The city is bursting with museums, music and food. I love to cook, and I really appreciate a well cooked meal. I know that I am not the simplest person to accommodate, give my many food special needs, but I've had some brilliant meals in Ottawa.

Some of my favourite spots to eat when visiting:Play - the menu is constantly shifting, masterfully incorporating new flavours and cutting edge, fresh, local ingredients. Whenever I sit down, I self identify as 'that' patron, the one with a million questions, the difficult diet and a self proclaimed foodie. Play actually embraces all of these things, and the staff know their shit. The wait staff do not hesitate to explain each dish, what's adjustable and what is off the table. I love the full engagement. Pricey, yes. Worth every penny, also yes.

Just look at it!!!

The Albion Rooms - go and order the Marcus Brutus right now. It's the best Cesar you've ever had, isn't it? It's a thing of beauty - normally I would quibble about the cucumber garnish (I'm a full on spicy bean girl), but since they use it as a base for a multi layered stack of in house made chorizo and pancetta, I really can't fault them. It's also all about the Walter's Cesar mix, delicious locally made blend of fresh tomatoes and New Brunswick clam juice. I could go on and on about it, but let it be known that the food is equally good!

The Zen Kitchen - this is a new find for me. It's a vegan and gluten free restaurant on the edge of Chinatown. This is vegan fine dining. The setting is upscale but welcoming...no patchouli, no speeches, just really good food. I had the polenta fries with the Zen Burger. It was Divine. Avocado, smoked mushrooms, fresh veggies and a gluten free onion ring. So so good.










Jeff recently got himself a new phone
with a fancy camera and fancy editing app. 
I am mightily jealous. 

Jeff came to join me at the end of my first week.  He was mightily excited by the Ottawa craft beer scene.  He declared their IPAs passable, but many of their more experimental ales exceptional.  We were also treated to fairly underwhelming weather, but it did not damper our enthusiasm for the Ottawa Folk Festival.  The highlight?  Without a doubt, The War on Drugs.








See you tomorrow for Just Bliss - Vintage Patterns!
xo
s.