Hello, and welcome to Sunday Sundries … today I want to share some thoughts on the creative drive … personally, I can’t seem to stop it …

Last week I mentioned there had been some unhappy events in our family’s life … but I’m pleased to report things have improved greatly, and that is certainly the #1 thing I’m celebrating this week. One of our grandsons had been hurt in “boot camp” and received a concussion. I’m ever so thankful now that he’s doing fine … what a little trooper …

As well, my parents-in-law were in a devastating car accident, and although it’s been a life-altering event for them, they are progressing better than expected and we are all beyond grateful.

It’s been a busy week. We have 3 grandchildren visiting, which means lots of time spent boating and swimming, playing in the pool in the yard, and taking little road trips to country stores. We tend to do the same things every summer but it never gets old …

But here’s the thing. Even though I’ve been so busy, I couldn’t stop creating. Since I’m up early, and I made the most of that quiet time before the munchkins made their way upstairs looking for juice, and cereal, and toast.

A simple prompt of “white” on Instagram inspired me to gather up my chippy white enamelware, and before I knew it I was celebrating this charming kitchen staple of the past …

and then I noticed the Saskatoon berries were ready … oh my word … at least a week early (maybe two) … but time waits for no one and they had to be picked …

… and cooked …
… and made into pies …

I’m pretty amazed at how much I accomplished this past week. In fact, I’d have to say I went into a creative “overdrive”. I couldn’t not do it. As long as I was able to pick something, arrange something, and make something, everything else fell into place. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m tired. Most of the time my house is in a very creative mess, supper is sometimes late, and the laundry piles up.

Last night hubby was trying to wash something in the sink in the pantry, and I heard what I thought might be enamelware clattering to the floor (there’s barely room to move in there) and not a word was muttered by anyone. I heard him picking it up and next thing I knew he was back in the kitchen trying to help me get supper on the table. For all of this, and more … I celebrate.

Now I must wrap up this post (it’s almost 7:00am), and I’m quite sure I’ll soon be hearing small feet running up the stairs … small feet and and empty tummies …

So what are you celebrating? Do you have to create? I’d love to hear!

Hello, and welcome to Sunday Sundries! I’m here to ramble on about my week, it helps me be grateful and to “celebrate” all the small (and large) extraordinary moments in my life. Today I’m celebrating the beauty of a fading peony. I was trying to think why people are so gaga over these flowers … as a northerner, I can tell you. We have a very short growing season and extremely cold winters. The fact that such an exotic flower not only grows here, but actually thrives is nothing short of a miracle. I could not have explained it better than Canadian Gardening:

Herbaceous garden peonies boast all the attributes Canadian gardeners value: large, plentiful and easy to grow, many have sweetly fragrant flowers and are deer-resistant, drought-resistant and cast-iron hardy (to Zone 2). The plants are also substantial enough to be used on their own as a low hedge, with foliage that stays attractive for months (and makes great camouflage for ripening spring bulbs). Peonies are tremendously long-lived. Many a gardener can point to a treasured unnamed specimen passed along from the garden of a parent, grandparent or friend. Perhaps the only fault one can find with this paragon of perennials—besides the tendency for unstaked double-flower types to flop over in June thunderstorms—is that plants bloom just once a year, in early summer.

While I’m sad to say goodbye to these beauties, it’s OK … it’s time to move on … ( but it helps that I have preserved a few buds in the refrigerator to bring out later … tee hee).

Sunday Sundries is on Instagram. If you want to play along, simply use #sunday_sundries (don’t forget the underscore) and tag me @keepingwiththetimes. The following image has been embedded right from my IG account. To embed a post from Instagram on your blog:

1. Go to Instagram.com and log into your account.
2. Click the photo you want to embed.
3. Click on the three little dots in the lower left corner and choose Embed.
4. Copy the code and paste it into your blog post making sure to use the “text” or “html” editing window.
5. Here you can see my actual interactive IG photo complete with “likes” “comments” and you can even “follow” from here :)

Another day, another peony … joining #ByArrangement with @sarahnotes

A photo posted by Barb Brookbank (@keepingwiththetimes) on Jul 2, 2015 at 9:09am PDT

What else am I celebrating?

• Sleeping in … I slept in 3 days in a row (granted I was sick from a couple of hornet stings) but I’m still celebrating a great comfy bed, and a good healing sleep.
• My hubby who protected me from many more bites two days later when we discovered a hornet nest on our boat … I hid under a beach towel, shrieking my head off while he defended me with HALF a fly swatter … bwahaha … it’s true! My hubby my Hero! :)
• Rain … I will always celebrate rain.
• My country home, my country garden, and my country lifestyle. I’m never so happy as when I’m home.
• A laugh. A good laugh.

So what are you celebrating this week? Please share!

Hello, and welcome to Sunday Sundries! I’m here to ramble on about my week, it helps me be grateful and to “celebrate” all the small (and large) extraordinary moments in my life. I started this practice as a result of “My Word for 2015” and it has had such a positive influence on the way I’ve lived my life this year. One word.

I’m celebrating the Summer Solstice (June Solstice) which occurs in my part of the world on Sunday, June 21 at 10:39 am … now what’s not to celebrate about that!? 17:02:47 hours of daylight … how very amazing.

I took this photo on Friday afternoon. My second wave of lilacs are blooming (and oh yes! Amy reminded me that a second wave of lilacs is something to celebrate, thank you Amy), so I set a bouquet on the deck and sat back and waited. It wasn’t long until Mr. Swallowtail paid me a visit.

Now, I didn’t say sunlight … I said daylight … I took the following shot around 8:00 Friday night during a rainstorm … I used my 40mm fixed lens, 1/80s, f5.6, ISO 400.

But more importantly, how about that gorgeous little yellow teapot I found at One Man’s Treasure!? I tried to walk away, truly I did, but as usual I am ever so happy I didn’t! It reminds me of a yellow raincoat … or yellow rubber boots.

So what am I celebrating this week?

• Finding a bright yellow teapot and bringing it home.
• Lupines from a friend’s garden.
• A rainy night which immediately reminded me of that song from way back in 1975 “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbitt.
• I had the pleasure of being a guest blogger at Canadian Scrapbooker.
• All the fabulous opportunities that have come my way this year, the connections, the collaborations … I’m so blessed.
• A July and August with no big commitments … sigh … I just wanna play, ya know?
• Great new updates with Creative Cloud (yeah … geeky!)

Thank you so much for dropping by!

Hello, and welcome to Sunday Sundries!

I’m here to ramble on about my week, it helps me be grateful and to “celebrate” all the small extraordinary moments. Please feel free to share your moments, either in the comments or add a link from your blog, or IG, or Flickr account.

When I write this post, I’m forced to sit and really think about what’s been going on in my life.

While I’m grateful for every little blessing, it’s easy to forget them … like these wild Alberta roses blooming throughout our yard. We’re surrounded by trees and bush, and I watch through the windows as the seasons party on. Right now, the Belle of the Ball is Spring …

What else am I celebrating this week?

• a nap followed by a cup of tea
• rain without the storm part
• a day at the spa … as a gift
• I did something that scared me
• a long-awaited package arrived from across the ocean
• Alberta sunsets
• a 65th wedding anniversary and a family reunion
• a garden full of peonies ready to pop

Are you celebrating anything this week? Please share!

Hello, and welcome to Sunday Sundries (a rather unadvertised little linky party).

I’m here to ramble on about my week, it helps me be grateful and to “celebrate” all the small extraordinary moments. Please feel free to share your moments, either in the comments or add a link from your blog, or IG, or Flickr account.

The past couple of weeks I’ve been busily capturing all the beauty around me, from lilacs to pansies, to lavender, and everything in between …

… and recording and sharing it here … in my happy space …

What else am I celebrating this week?

• a road trip with hubby
• a steady gentle rain that helps to fill the lake, that brings life to the trees, lawns, and gardens, and fills my rain barrels to overflowing
• checking off projects one-by-one … so fulfilling
• working in a garden surrounded by lush green trees
• a new outdoor area carpet for the deck which instantly transformed it – such a simple thing …
• being featured on IG by several accounts
• even that robin that starts up around 3:30 am and doesn’t shut down until 9:30 pm … I think they have a new nest with babies …

So what are you celebrating? Are you starting your summer activities? Travel? Please share!

Hello, and Happy Sunday! Welcome to Sunday Sundries (a rather unadvertised little linky party).

I’m here to ramble on about my week, it helps me to be grateful and to “celebrate” all the small extraordinary moments.

This week I’m celebrating these beautiful tulips. Several years ago I planted and few bulbs, but only one ever came up. This year there were three blooms, three giant blooms (as big as my hand) and I seriously do not remember them being this delicious colour. How does that even happen?

The day I decided to pick them it had been raining, so those water droplets are for real … perfection …

Now they’ve completely fallen apart, and are laying in frilly little bits on the cabinet, and on the floor … I’ve just been walking by … not bothering to pick anything up because I hate to see them go … .

Other things/moments I’m celebrating:

• Walking with friends.
• A weekend that’s wide open … leaving me free to do whatever I like.
• The amazing warm, sunny weather we’re having, and are apparently going to have for quite a few more days.
• The explosion of growth around here: tiny flowers, the promise of bigger flowers, fresh new leaves on the trees, and green grass.
• Greenhouses! and all the amazing treasures they have. I have all my pots out and even some annuals planted in the garden.
• A day spent with hubby doing yard work and getting everything into tip-top shape.
• Spending a relaxing couple of hours out on the lake.

So, what are you celebrating this week? Please share!

Hello, and welcome to Sunday Sundries! A little informal link-up where I share what I’m celebrating this week, and invite you to share what you are celebrating.

Today I’m celebrating Mother’s Day, and I’d like to wish all Moms a Happy Day! Please enjoy my rose from Arizona …

Now we’re back home, and in full-on spring mode … this weekend we’ve been putting out the dock (mostly hubby), and gardening (mostly me). When I noticed some of my perennials were already starting to bloom, I had no choice but to weed the flower beds! Gah it happens fast!!

What else am I celebrating?

• Greenhouses! It’s the most exciting thing to walk into a greenhouse after a long winter.
• The abundance of beautiful plants and flowers … oh my …
• Planting herbs. There is nothing I love more than going to my little herb garden and snipping fragrant sprigs and leaves to add to dishes … it’s heavenly, actually.
• A freshly weeded flower bed.
• A hubby who will drop everything and rototill my garden.
• My daughters.
• Phone calls, and cards, and gifts on Mother’s day.

So, what are you celebrating this week?

Hello, and welcome to Sunday Sundries! A little informal link-up where I share what I’m celebrating this week and invite you to share what you are celebrating.

Yesterday we went on a little excursion to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park near Payson, AZ.

To quote the brochure:

Tucked away in a tiny valley surrounded by a forest of pine trees, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has been in the making for thousands of years. It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The bridge stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point.

A tiny creek flows over the top of the bridge …

… and water runs along between the rocks at the bottom—creating a cool and refreshing area to sit and take in the beautiful surroundings.

I can’t tell how much I enjoyed this road trip, even though there were a couple glitches … I mean, who forgets their running shoes when heading out, knowing full well there is going to be a bit of a hike involved? Perhaps the same person who’s been sick with a cold all week and has decided to blame her forgetfulness on a stuffy head?

Arghh … I’m celebrating the fact that my hubby decided to not get too irritated, and was really quite attentive. I did manage to take the entire the walk; flip-flops, headache, and sneezy nose aside … .

After a yummy lunch at Macky’s Grill in Payson we headed back home for a relaxing evening.

Today I’m not much worse for the wear, but I must get going … I have a pedicure I desperately need to get to!

So, are you celebrating anything this week?

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Sundries! A place where I share what I’m celebrating this week, and then invite you to share what you’re celebrating.

Of course most people will be celebrating Easter this weekend, and to all of you “Happy Easter” from me!

I had a most wonderful week last week at home, enjoying the sights and sounds of spring (let’s just forget that one blizzard we had … OK?)

I prefer to remember the warm, bright, sunny days; gathering pusssywillows, making wreaths, cleaning up flower pots, and getting the deck set up and ready for the new season.

I thoroughly enjoyed creating my spring vignette, baking a poppyseed chiffon cake (more on that later), and setting a pretty table with my grandmother’s china. I also received some wonderful news about a project I’m working on, and I’m so grateful about that.

Now we’re back to our little condo in sunny Arizona and I’m preparing to enjoy an Easter brunch with our new friends in Fountain Hills.

So please, share what you’re celebrating this week. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Sundries! A little informal link-up where I share what I’m celebrating this week and invite you to share what you are celebrating.

We just got home from Arizona and I’m in transition … ummm … there’s a snowbank in my front yard … and OK, in my back yard as well …

But not to worry! It’s spring, and that snow is melting fast. The geese are standing on the lake (yes, I said standing) honking and jostling for position; going through that eternal spring ritual of mating and building nests. It’s really quite wonderful and worthy of celebration.

I haven’t had time to get any new shots together so I thought I’d share my scrapbook layout which I made whilst still in Arizona. I used the beautiful Desert Globemallow and a page from Flow magazine. I then photographed it, took it into Photoshop and added a photo of myself (taken 5 years ago).

I’m totally fascinated with the dimension in this layout. I’m a scrapper from a long ways back, and mostly digital, and while digital shadows seek to add dimension, they don’t come close to the real thing. I also edited this with kk_dreamlike:

So what else am I celebrating?

How about a beautiful package from Cristina Colli arriving all the way from the United Kingdom?!

I entered one of my dinner plate art images to her #12monthsofhappystills on Instagram and she picked it for her February’s favourite happy still (I’m still pretty chuffed about that :)).

I’ll be sharing more of this later …

So, are you celebrating anything this week? Please share!

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Sundries! Another week has flown by and I have much to celebrate.

It’s wildflower season in Arizona and one of my favourite flowers here is the Desert Marigold.

Growing abundantly along roadsides and in vacant, gravelly lots, they sway in the breeze and beckon with their bright open faces.

As I was carefully picking a handful of blooms, a lady in a car stopped and warned me to not walk further into the lot because it would be filled with snakes! LOTS of snakes, apparently … eek … .

Alrighty then … I won’t go there …

Do you not just love that beautiful artwork hanging in the background? It’s by Emily Winfield Martin and was included in a Flow Magazine (love that publication) and it’s a special treat when I find one.

Here’s what else I’m celebrating from last week:

• I reached 1000 followers on Instagram … I don’t know why that’s important, but its fun! and gah! there is so much inspiration to be found there …
• Having lunch with the hubs at Zinc Bistro in Kierland Common.
• Shopping at Anthropologie and finding a wonderful little cookbook with fascinating photography and an overload of inspiration.
• As I laid in bed that night I was visualizing a woman walking around that beautiful outdoor shopping centre, being with her husband, enjoying lunch on a patio, warm weather, browzing amazing upscale shops, and I felt so very grateful as I drifted off. That woman is truly blessed.
• Mornings at Mountainview coffee.
• Going to garage sales and finding treasures for peanuts. Hubby spied a tripod in a dusty corner of one garage. It turned out to be a Davis and Sanford, heavy-duty, professional style unit that rolls around on wheels! It’s the sturdiest tripod I’ve ever had and I love it.
• And last (but definitely not least) I’m celebrating my kind, caring friends at Digital Scrapper. It’s a long story, but for quite some time I’ve been struggling with writing tutorials. When I finally let them know my situation, and that I needed to bow out, I was greeted with nothing but empathy and support and I am now completely relieved of my obligations (at no small inconvenience to them I might add.) I could write a whole blog post about this and maybe I will, but not today.

I could continue, but I’m going to stop now! If you’re still here – thank you – and please feel free to share what you’re celebrating this week!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Welcome to Sunday Sundries! I have much to celebrate this week and I’m so happy you stopped by. If you have something to share, please feel free to add it to the link-up at the end of this post.

Today, I present my botanical collage. I recently discovered a beautiful IG feed by sarah_notes_._._._ in which she posts her most amazing and intricate collages filled with real flowers and all types of ephemera.

The first time I saw her work, I was smitten. They are not just paper collages, but 3D collages of paper, with artfully placed objects.

I was so inspired, I decided to try my hand at this fascinating art form. I think it struck the collector/scrapper chord within me. It makes me think of  a scrapbook page somehow brought to life, and I believe this will be the beginning of many collage creation adventures.

I processed this image with kk_melancholy which adds a pink/mauve tone to images, and I like it with the tones in the paper, the flower petals, and the bulbs.

I believe my Gift from a Friend fits this collage category beautifully as well don’t you?

So what am I celebrating this week (other than my new-found love of 3D collage?)

Well, I’m living a creative life. That thought popped into my head the other morning and it was kind of like a revelation! No big expectations … I’m simply living a creative life …

• I create something every.single.day.
• The online community that has embraced, inspired, and encouraged me.
• Spring is on it’s way in my part of the world.
• I picked a bouquet of pussywillows.
• Spring bulbs, and the promise they hold.
• Light-filled days (and evenings).

kk_lightly

Now, what are you celebrating?

Welcome to Sunday Sundries! I have so much to celebrate this week and I’m so happy you stopped by!

Another busy and fulfilling (couple of weeks) have passed by and I’m forever grateful for all of it.

I finally got my postcards printed and ready to mail. I’m joining Kat Sloma and the Liberate Your Art postcard exchange this year.

Oh my … what a production … first of all I couldn’t decide where to get my images printed, and then I left it so late I finally had to print them myself. I adhered card stock to the back (as per the instructions on Kat’s blog) and I’m quite thrilled with the results.

This is where I thank hubby (thank you dear) for helping me get them printed … arghh … we just bought a new printer and it’s finicky and complicated and I could not get it to pull heavier paper through the feeder. I’ll spare you the boring details, but w(he) figured out a workaround for the time being. Next stop: post office (package expedited of course.)

I shot this image with VSCO, posted it on Instagram and tagged #liberateyourart @katsloma (lots of good stuff in there!)

What else am I celebrating?

• My birthday! I was showered with love, good wishes, gifts, dinners, and good times. Our whole family spent the weekend together. We went out for dinner for the big day – it was amazing and I have so very much to be grateful for.
• Everyone arrived safely despite terrible weather, which arrived at the worst possible moment. Freezing rain, fog, and snow blanketed our area at just the time they were on the road. Our youngest daughter and family had to pull over and spent the night in a hotel … we were sad but grateful at the same time … they were safe and it was all that mattered. My oldest daughter and her family got here just in time, although not without some harrowing moments.
• I wrapped up my tutorial for Digital Scrapper! Wooooot! is all I’m going to say …
• It’s late February, March is around the corner, and that brings thoughts of spring.
• We’re receiving over 10 hours of light/day now, which is really something to celebrate up here! We’re coming out of the dark …
• I have lots to look forward to – projects, classes, new opportunities … all good stuff.

Here’s a little selfie at my birthday party … lol!!

Lastly I just want to mention, if you are into iPhoneography, please join us for “app” happy wednesday, a weekly linky I host here on my blog. It’s lots of fun, easy, no pressure, and I always learn some new tidbit. Thank you to all of you who continue to participate.

So, what have you celebrated this week?

Welcome to Sunday Sundries! I have so much to celebrate this week and I’m so happy you stopped by! If you have something to share, please feel free to add it to the link-up at the end of this post!

A favourite place to visit whist on holidays in Arizona is Trader Joes. The flower selections are amazing and that’s what draws me in. After I make the difficult choice as to which one I’m going to take home with me, I head to the fruit and vegetable section (but more on that later).

There were so many orchids to choose from, the variety was endless! I picked this tiny white beauty, it stands no more than 18 inches tall, the smallest size and at only $7.00 I couldn’t pass it up.

There’s something so stately and pure about them. I would say they are the epitome of simplicity, but really they are probably anything but … .

They are complex plants, and it can take up to 5 years for a seedling to produce a flower (according to wikiHow). So today I celebrate the miracle that is an orchid.

I took this shot with my Nikon and edited in Lightroom. After the usual lens corrections and exposure adjustments I applied the preset kk_within to the first image. Then I copied all the settings (excluding the crop) and applied it to the second image – voila! Perfect match!

So, what else am I celebrating this week? Small things …

• Finding the perfect pair of running shoes; last ones in my size, on sale, and inexpensive to begin with.
• Discovering a great thrift store … a perpetual garage sale!
• Finding the perfectly imperfect, wabi sabi, cutting board and knife for under $4.00!
• The farmers market where I found fresh, just-picked vegetables.
• Having my Linzer Cookies images accepted by Food Gawker. Every time one of my images is accepted, I do a little victory dance!
• My iPhone which I use to capture every day moments so that I don’t forget them.

If you are into iPhoneography, please join us for “app” happy wednesday, a weekly linky I host here on my blog. This week I’m going to be talking about VSCO … it will just be a bit because I’ve just started exploring … and I have a plan …

So, what have you celebrated this week?

Good Sunday Morning! Welcome to Sunday Sundries #2.

I’m here to ramble on about my week, it helps me to be grateful and to “celebrate” the small extraordinary moments …

So, yes … those aren’t evergreens in the following photo … we’re at our little Arizona get-away enjoying some warmer temps, and I was amazed at the wispy clouds that were painted across the sky. How beautiful!

• It’s been a busy week, with trips to Montreal and Phoenix kind of overlapping … whoa … travel wears me out, yesterday I felt pretty yucky, but I think I’m back on my feet today (and for that I’m grateful).
• I’ve found a good book … love that! It seems when we’re south of the border we have more time to do such things. At night the TV does not get turned on and we sit quietly and read …
• Today is just beginning, the hubs and I are on our second pot of coffee … talk about a lazy morning … I see a trip to Target in our future and a barbeque later … it’s all good!

So what little things have you celebrated this week? I’d love to know!

Hello, and Happy Sunday! Welcome to Sunday Sundries #1 (a rather unadvertised little linky party).

I’m here to ramble on about my week, it helps me to be grateful and to “celebrate” all the small extraordinary moments … even when it’s -30C. All these images were shot with my phone … the “keeper of the everyday” …

Last Sunday as we were eating lunch, I glanced out at our deck and was surprised to see this little fella visiting us! I was watching him through our glass door and managed to capture a shot with my phone. I posted it on IG and people were beyond fascinated … some couldn’t believe it was real! But it is definitely real. It’s a Short Tailed Weasel according to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. The tell-tale features are the size, the black tip on it’s tail (not shown here) and it’s white feet … the Long Tailed Weasel has brown feet! So cool! I made the photo dreamy with Focal Lab.

This photo is from the first Lemon Chiffon “shoot” for Food Photography Meets Still Life Photography … it didn’t make it to the presses … I ended up redoing both the cake, and the shoot because I didn’t like the light, or the background. It just wasn’t what I was envisioning.

• My blog’s been undergoing some updates … a new design and some behind-the-scenes improvements. I’m so grateful to have found Mitch … he knows what he’s doing and always gets the job done … he’s not cheap though … I’m grateful that hubby puts up with my blog obsession …
• On Friday, I had my hair cut and some dark brown “low-lights” added. I went to the salon with the intention of getting silver “high-lights” but my hairdresser talked me out of it, saying that it’s too hard to get silver colour – it may fry my hair and they eventually will turn yellowish. I’m so grateful she did, I love the results and I don’t look so wishy-washy, plus she gave me a great style. Small things, but happy things, and a lesson on keeping an open mind. I also got a manicure … so pampered and grateful.
• On Saturday I had a vision of a new way to arrange our office. It required a ton of work but luckily the hubs was on board, and together we made my vision materialize. It turned out awesome! It’s clean, organized, and much more convenient to work in.
• I took some steps toward making a dream of mine come true … not there yet … but closer …
• I’m taking part in “Liberate Your Art” with Kat Sloma, and I’m grateful that Kelly Kardos reminded me about it!
• I decided I need to make a note on my calendar each day, recording at least one small thing to celebrate. It’s so easy to forget things!

But that’s all for today. If you feel like visiting and sharing your week with us, please link up to my Sunday Sundries party!