Hello everyone!

I just returned from an extended weekend getaway in Toronto. I will post all about my adventure tomorrow after I catch up on some Z's.

Until then...

Friday Fill-Ins #100!

Play along here

1. My stomach is all twisted up in knots.
2. Curry chicken is what I ate the most of on Thursday.
3. The yard is soggy and wet.
4. In a tropical paradise is where I'd rather be at any given time.
5. The smell of cinnamon and nutmeg reminds me of Christmas.
6. A cup of chi tea is what I need right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting some film developed, tomorrow my plans include possibly a hair cut and shopping and Sunday, I want to have a nice family dinner!

*Sending positive energy to Janet's Dad this weekend... Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Kreativ Blogger... Awww Shucks!

This award came from a fellow Canadian blogger who never fails to make me laugh. Thistle from Of Thistles and Maple Leaves, awarded me with this way back on the 11th of November and I'm just now getting around to it... sorry it took so long Thistle. If you have never been to her blog, you really should visit sometime - In fact, you can head on over right now, I'll wait...

(Oh, your back! What did I tell ya? Great blog eh!)

Along with this lovely award, she had some very nice things to say about Slightly Off Center that I would like to share:

"Jack at Slightly Off Center …Canadian and a gifted photographer, her pictures are an inspiration to me and of a quality that i can only aspire to…"

Awww, thank you so much Thistle...I do appreciate that :) I take a lot of photos, and I mean.... A ton! Now and again I'm bound to get a few keepers...

So now on to the next part... the rules:

♥ List 6 things that make you happy.
♥ Pass the award onto 6 Bloggers you consider to be Kreativ.
♥ Link to the blogger who gave you the award.
♥ Link to the blogs receiving the award.
♥ Notify the recipients.

6 things that make me happy

1. My family
2. The sound of kitty purring
   
3. The sun shining
4. A new roll of film
5. An upcoming (mini) trip to Toronto
   
6. Getting into the holiday spirit
   

I would like to pass this award along to to following blogs:

1. Yesterday, Today, Forever - For his Kreativ poetry
2. 1 Door Away From Heaven part II - For her Kreativ writing style
3. Blaze Danielle (A Crative Compilation) - Who has some very Kreativ Art
4. Windsweeping - Inspirational and A wonderfully Kreativ writer
5. Mommy Mania - 1 Canadian (living in the Us) + 2 kids = One very Kreativ blog
6. The Muse Asylum - Last but not least, another Kreativ Canadian blog

Now I'm off to spread the word around.

Wordless #20

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C.S Lewis Song

I haven't done this for a while, so here is a tune from my play-list for this Tuesday. Enjoy :)

Brooke Fraser
Lyrics

"The Moral Law tells us the tune we have to play: our instincts are merely the keys...
" C.S Lewis --Mere Christianity

Weekend Update

Phew! Now with all the birthdays over and finished with, things can go back to normal. I was spoiled, as usual, with some lovely birthday gifts... theater tickets, gift certificates for various shops, a ticket for the CN Tower, and hubby gave me a pro account on Flickr and spending money for my trip to Toronto next week - Yup, spoiled for sure!

We had approximately 30 centimeters of snowfall Friday night, leaving an unprepared city unable to keep up with the road clearing. Most of the city streets were impossible to drive on, and there wasn't much to do but stay home and cozy up. Hubby and I went out for a few pizza ingredients and made our own gourmet pizzas at home. Good food, good company and a good bottle of wine, what better way to spend a cold Saturday evening?

Sunday we took Baby Girl to the pet store so she could get some kitty toys and luxuries... this kitten is spoiled rotten already. The rest of the day was spent at home visiting with my brother, sister-in-law and my two nephews. And that pretty much sums up my weekend.

What did you do this weekend?

Baby It's Cold Outside

When I woke this morning and looked outside, it looked like a picture postcard. The sky was blue and the sun was sparkling off the 30 Centimeters of freshly fallen snow - just beautiful!

Hubby and I went out for a drive tonight to admire the winter wonderland. Some streets were still not cleared and it made for some interesting driving down the more narrow ones but we managed. I took a few photos from the car with my Fuji for you all to have a peek at.

{Wisdom comes with winters -Oscar Wilde}

1. Oxford Theater 2. Brunswick Street 3. Brunswick & Spring Garden
4. Hollis Street 5. Bishop Street 6. Barrington & South Street

Friday Fill-Ins #99

Play along here

1. The last band I saw live was Lenny Kravitz .
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is spending time with my family.
3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is usually finished the first week of December.
4. Thoughts of a cold and snowy winter fill my head after hearing the forecast for tonight.
5. I wish I could wear shorts and tanks all year long.
6. Bagpipes sound so beautiful and sorrowful, the sound makes my heart beat faster and I end up in tears.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending my birthday at home, tomorrow my plans include some shopping if I'm feeling better and Sunday, I want to tackle the clutter in the basement!

Have a wonderful weekend all...See you on Monday :)

Wordless #19

Baby Girl's 16th Birthday Present
(Finally after 10 years of begging for a cat)

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A Winter Prequel

Mother nature has given us a small taste of winter here in Halifax today. Wet snow covered rooftops and lawns this afternoon, leaving everything white a frosty looking. Despite being sick, I put on my woollens and headed outside for a few snap shots.

Birthday Week

That’s right folks, this week is birthday week here at my house. It kicks off with the youngest 16th birthday on Wednesday, my oldest daughters on Thursday and finally mine is on Friday. Most years I look forward to birthday week; three different kinds of cake, lots of pop-ins from friends and family and all the gifts, but this week I am just not feeling it. My body has been invaded, yet again, by another bug which has left me feeling totally achy and blah. This year there will be no home make cakes and the family dinner celebrations will have to be postponed - I hope the girls will understand.

Friday Fill-Ins #98

Play along


1. Please feel free to add your comments to Slightly Off-Center.
2. When I am brewing a pot of maple roasted coffee, I can't help sniffing it occasionally.
3. My favorite thing to cook is a big country breakfast.
4. Warm, gooey comfort food is something I can't get enough of. Mmmm, Piping-hot macaroni and cheese, chewy chocolate chip cookies warm from the oven or a big mound of fluffy white mashed potatoes with a pool of melted butter dripping down the side...
5. That's the thing I love most about the colder months, there is always a new recipe to try.
6. Sometimes my husband will do something so bizarre it always makes me think to myself, what the heck?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a date with my sofa and tv, tomorrow my plans include going downtown to watch the Parade of Lights and Sunday, I want to clean the house from top to bottom!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend

Wordless #18

November 12th Moon

There was a gorgeous Moon Corona tonight,
this photo doesn't do it justice
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Lest We Forget

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan conflict and during peacekeeping missions...
(read more)

Friday Fill-Ins #97

Play Along


1. My blueprint for success includes is non existent... should I be worried I don't have blueprint??? Oh great! Something to obsess over this weekend .
2. Mars Bars, Sourpatch Kids, Gummy Bears was the last candy I ate. (had a lot of left over Halloween candy)
3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is ANEW Clinical from Avon. I've been using it since last December - lovin' it!
4. Walking in the rain can be good therapy.
5. I'd like to tell you about a dream I had the other night...I was soaring through the heavens in a beautiful balloon...
6.Diversity is my strongest characteristic.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to working on my blueprint, tomorrow my plans include obsessing and Sunday, I want to have some ideas put on paper!

Have a safe and pleasant weekend friends! xoxo

Raining Awards

Two in one week - I’m speechless!

Thistle from Of Thistles and Maple Leaves has honoured me with this award today - Thank you! Thistle is a fellow Canadian blogger who lives on the opposite coast... head on over for a visit, you won't be sorry.

Here are the rules that go with this award…

• List six things that make you happy
• Pass the award on to 5 other bloggers
• Link back to the person who gave you the award
• Link to the people you are passing it on to and leave them a comment to let them know

Ok, so I will do the list first. This part will be easy, there are lots of things these days that make me happy.

1. My family
2. Going for a drive and just enjoying the scenery
3. Cozying up on a cold winters night
4. Listening to music that suits my mood
5. Discovering something new and exciting
6. New online friends

Now to pass on this lovely award:

Emily's Muse - A breath of fresh air
Only A Movie - Who speaks her mind (she tells it like it is)
Madeleine's Book Blog - Go browse her 2008 read list
Fond of Snape - Fantastic photographer (she also hosts Friday Fill-Ins)
Just Add Color - A new discovery

Wordless #17

Sea of Stars



Sea Stars (Original Photo)

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Ladybird, Ladybird

I have had to remove several of these cute little beetles from my house this week. The Ladybird naturally finds places to hold up in the winter, and I suppose a warm house is an ideal location. I found this one in my bedroom this morning begging to be photographed. In Italy, it is said by some that if a ladybird flies into one's bedroom, it is considered good luck.

Three things

that made me smile today

I was so excited to receive this award today. How in the world did I get this you ask? I got it from, Don't Worry it's Only a Movie, her blog is so fun to visit - I like browsing her library to get ideas for my next read. Thank you Movie!

Here are the rules:

1. The award can be displayed on the recipient's blog.
2. Add a link to the person from who you received the award.
3. Nominate up to seven other blogs.
4. Add their links to your blog.
5. Send a message to each of those you awarded to tell them about the award.

And my nominees are...
Larry at Yesterday, Today, Forever, Shadow at 1 Door Away From Heaven part II, and JayJay at It's Crazy Isn't It?.

The second thing that made me smile today came in a package from the postman. Yup, my Brownie has arrived, doesn't it look fabulous? It's all loaded up with film and ready to take some fantastic shots.

And finally, the whole family was home for a meal tonight. Priss, The Boy, Baby Girl, Hubby and myself, all sat around the table enjoying a good meal, wonderful conversation and great company - good times!

House of Scorpio

Let confusion be the design
and all my thoughts go,
swallowed by desire: recess
from promises in
the November of your arms.
Release from the rose: broken
reeds, strawpale,
through which, from easy
branches that mock the blood
a few leaves fall. There
the mind is cradled,
stripped also and returned
to the ground, a trivial
and momentary clatter. Sleep
and be brought down, and so
condone the world, eased of
the jagged sky and all
its petty imageries, flying
birds, its fogs and windy
phalanxes . . .
- William Carlos Williams, Design for November

---

Astrological Signs: Scorpio, Sagittarius.
Spirits: Banshees and other beings who carry messages between worlds.
Herbs: Ginger, hops, wormwood, hussop, patchouli, mugwort, nutmeg, star anise.
Colors: Black, white, purple.
Flowers: White lily, dahlia, chrysanthemum.
Scents: Rosemary, dragons blood, lilac, pine, wisteria.
Stones: Topaz, obsidian, onyx, Apache tear.
Trees: Pine, cypress, yew, elder.
Animals: Bat, wolf, sow, dog, snake (although this seems a little illogical as most snakes tend to begin going into winter hibernation around about this time of the year).
Birds: Owls, raven, falcon.
(from Mystical World Wide Web)


Ps. November is my birth month, as well as my two girls birth month.