i love circles

2007-01-13T07:24:00.000-08:00

I love my Musical Morons!

2007-01-13T07:22:00.000-08:00

My friend just got back from England and brought me back some of these goodies. Okay, I LOVE PENGUINS. Not just the bird but the chocolately type too. She also bought me prawn cocktail chips and they didn't quite make it into my blog. They were too yummy.

2007-01-13T07:20:00.000-08:00

I made this sparrow today. It's a stencil. It's going on the new skirt ....

2007-01-13T07:16:00.000-08:00

Here is the painting that I made for my friend. I'm quite pleased and so was she!!! If your not sure...it says too much ROCK for one hand.

2007-01-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

I have no idea how that black flower landed on Mike's newly bald shiny head.

2007-01-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

Here are the flowers I made. I used all recycled materials and thought they looked lovely together. I wanted to make flowers that were not typical flower colours.

2007-01-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone! Even though I had two weeks off, I seemed to goof it off quite well. I have been a little crafty the last few days and have made some cute flowers and a painting. I thought I would post them because I am proud of my work. This is one of my goals this year. I want to do more things that make me happy ex. experimenting with craftiness and lots of other things.

2006-12-17T17:26:00.000-08:00

A colleague of mine is going to Africa to work in an orphanage for a month. She is leaving today. She is going to teach art to these students. Speaking of art, this picture of an elephant was created by a student in my class. We made our own paper and then used pieces to form our own animal collages. I loved this one. It would be neat to go to Africa one of these days...I wonder if I would ever see a pink elephant, blue clouds, a polygon sun and triangular bushes....

2006-12-17T13:59:00.000-08:00

This is so funny. My friend told me about this and then I did a search to see if it actually exists and there is a company that makes these brand name t-shirts, underwear etc. etc. Spread the word...spread the rock!!!

2006-11-25T07:46:00.001-08:00

Here is the cutter! So soothing to the eye!

2006-11-25T07:46:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I like circles so much! I just purchased a circle cutter that can cut 3 different sizes of circles and circle decals for my classroom and/or house. What does this mean? Am I addicted to this symmetrical 2-dimensional, vertice-free, one sided shape?

2006-11-11T16:55:00.000-08:00

I don't think they drink martini's.

2006-11-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

I love the capybara. It makes me laugh. One of my student's did her project on it and I couldn't stop laughing...especially when another student said her brother resembled a capybara because he had a large head too!!

2006-10-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my birthday cake. It's was so fancy. I could barely eat it because I was filled to the brim so my good friends helped me.

2006-10-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

I had the best birthay on Friday the 13th! I had great food and great company. I love birthdays and the excitement that it brings. I am now the balanced age of 33 AKA Jesus age.

2006-08-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of the back. Just enough for wallet and keys other assorted items!!

2006-08-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the bag for my sister I made out of a black t-shirt and a green t-shirt. It's lovely.

2006-08-23T12:17:00.001-07:00

Here's the star pic...sorry.

2006-08-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy about my star shirt!! I love it, love it, love it. I went to tigre giant and purchased a couple of great cheap shirts and reconstructed it. I made this one and a butterfly one for my sister.

2006-08-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

When we were at Louisburg (an old french settlement that had been replicated) we were lucky to see a public humiliation. Yahoo! I love watching those things. Anyways, in the 1700s, if you did something like steal a bottle of wine, they would take you here and have you stand with a ring around your neck and people would hurl insults at you. Very interesting.

2006-08-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

I think it may have been a pilot whale once upon a time. Those seagulls in the background were like horses with wings. They were just waiting for us to leave so they could continue fighting over the whale.

2006-08-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my favourite pictures!. Here is one of many rocky boulder crossings we had to cross. It was a bit tricky when you stepped on a rocky rock. Just up a bit was a dead whale we found on the beach.

2006-08-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

It was fun to walk along the harbour front in Halifax. We were there during the Busker Festival and it was busy. I learned about the Halifax explosion in 1917 that demolished much of Halifax. Here is a little sculputure I whipped up in my spare time. (It was actually made by architecture students !)

2006-08-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

This is the beach we walked on that was close to our campsite. It was too too cold. As we were walking on the rocky beach (hard on the ole feet) this mass exodus of bugs rushed past us to devour new seaweed. I've never seen anything like it. It was like a cloud. You'd have to keep your mouth closed if you ran the other way.

2006-08-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

Cape Breton was beautiful. The seascape and clean brisk air was energizing.

2006-08-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

Mike and I just got back from Nova Scotia and had a fab trip. Here is one of my favourite pictures. The sunset was spectacular on our first night.

2006-07-31T07:30:00.001-07:00

Here is the artwork that I managed to create at the end of the night. So very very bad...

2006-07-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

I had the best night last night!!! I was very excited because my friend Kim and I went to the SAW gallery to play BINGO. We listened to cool tunes and worked on Bad Art. I couldn't believe it but I actually won something. I was the first person to win BINGO and I won this cool DIY stencilling set for clothing. I can't believe it because this is something that I always wanted to do. The planets are aligned for me.

2006-07-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the drawers close up. If you are lucky you can read the genre.

2006-07-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

During the past couple of weeks, I have enjoyed getting back into painting. It's so relaxing for me. Here are some drawers that I painted. I organized all my cds and categorized all of them. I even painted the genre on each drawer. I love my cds.

2006-07-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

Well, two weeks ago I got dental implants. Basically, to insert fake teeth where I did not have teeth. I was born without them. All my life I wanted teeth of my own. Here is a picture of all the appliances that I have worn in the last 20 years of my life. It makes for a nice picture actually. I'm an orthodontist's dream come true. I probably paid for his trip to Cuba, Hawaii, Mexico,.....

2006-06-30T10:48:00.001-07:00

so creative

2006-06-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

School's out for the summer!! Here are pictures of my blackboard after my kids went crazy on the last day. I am glad it's summer and now I can RELAX.

2006-06-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

No more braces!!! I do however have to wear a splint for my teeth. It's just wierd. The things they come up with these days.

2006-06-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

YIPPEE!!! I got my braces off today!!!!!!!! I will not miss that yellowey, greenish, metalish hue on my teeth. Nor will I miss that rubbing of metal against my lip.

2006-04-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, if I ever got a tattoo I would get a butterfly lady like this one. It was so pretty. She rotated in the middle of a fountain. This isn't a great photo but it's better than nothing. It was a picture taken in the lobby of a ritzy hotel in Montreal. Very snazzy. The lady even had antennae!!

2006-04-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

Here I am enjoying a cup of coffee on St. Laurent enjoying the sunshine. It was a luxurious day because we had good luck and amazing food. Sushi for lunch and a hot chicken sandwich for dinner at Ben's Restaurant (known for smoked meat sandwiches).

2006-04-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to Montreal with my friend Karina. For lunch we went to I LOVE SUSHI! After eating here anyone would love sushi. It was truly amazing.

2006-03-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

Here is an old city bus that was parked near our hotel. We saw so many forms of transportation here. We saw cyclists, taxis, old cars from the 50s, limo ladas, horse and carriage, taxis made from old lemonade stands (they looks like a large lemon cut in half) and scooters. I found out that people in Cuba have difficulty if they want to travel from one city to another. They also can't leave the country. That may explain the huge wait to go through the passport control office in the airport. They ensure that no Cubans can leave the country. It's quite oppressive.

2006-03-19T16:57:00.000-08:00

This is just wierd. Mike and I rented scooters and visited the more touristy part of Varadero. We stopped by this museum where there were these old murals and these old animals on display. Parts of them were falling off and this 2 headed fish/shark thing? was very bizarre.

2006-03-19T11:58:00.000-08:00

The weather was beautiful everyday. The sun was intense and the water was gorgeous to swim in. It was very shallow with no jellyfishes or fish. We did find some cool shells. One day we took a paddleboat out and I burned my legs.

2006-03-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

In Varadero, we encountered these awesome little lizards who tails went into a curly cue when they were still. Their tails were yellow and cute. These lizards were everywhere.

2006-03-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

The next day we arrived at our next hotel in Varadero, the tourist area. Fortunately, our hotel was off the beaten track, quiet and almost deserted at times. It was amazing. At any given time during our stay, not more than 10 people could be found along the beach during the day. I couldn't believe it. It seemed the pool was the place to be....

2006-03-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

Another day we went to the Revolution museum which was eye opening, graphic and informative. The day before we went to see the Cuban Art Gallery. It was beautiful. There was a theme throughout much Cuban art that I noticed and it was of the mother suckling the young. It was prevalent in artisan work and in museums.

2006-03-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Once we entered the mountain, we saw caves and took a boat ride through to a lush opening where a delicious Cuban lunch awaited us with pork, beans, rice, fresh fruit and bread. Yummy.

2006-03-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

On the way to Vinales, we saw a cigar factory and then we proceeded to see the "sleeping elephant" mountains. They were breathtaking.

2006-03-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

Once at Vinales, we tried some freshed squeezed sugar cane juice (Cuban Viagra) with some rum. We then proceeded to enter the mountain. I this picture there is a man with a guitar singing at the entrance. Can you see him??

2006-03-19T11:35:00.000-08:00

The top of our hotel was a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Havana. Our hotel was Le Plaza a buiding close to 100 years old. It was lovely and with the rooftop we were able to see the city. We drank many Cuba Libres, Mojitos and Bucaneros here soaking up the warm air.

2006-03-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

Most balconies are falling off or pose as a serious danger if stepped on. Everyday is laundry in Havana. When walking around without a mission, we were often befriended by "guides" who take you to a bar for mojitos, chat you up, and give you info on the city ...for a price. Many were nice but after awhile it was bothersome.

2006-03-19T11:28:00.000-08:00

At this marker,I bought some artwork from a lady and I was told that it is illegal to buy from her at the market. She then told us to head to our hotel and she said she will follow us take our money away from the market. It's illegal according to this government. Many people make money under the table like this lady. The government controls all money here, especially the tourist convertible pesos that we used.

2006-03-19T11:24:00.001-08:00

I bought a b

2006-03-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Havan and noticed this beautiful sunset. There is a lot to see in this heritage city. Many buildings are eroded or disintegrating. They were beautiful many hundreds of years ago but now they are decrepit. Here is a tourist hotel on the left and an older building on the right.

2006-03-10T18:02:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I 'm going to be in Havana tomorrow night!!!! This is very exciting....

2006-03-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am actually proud of myself for this one. The University of Ottawa keeps sending me crap in the mail because I am an "alumni". I feel like I can never get rid of them...it's like I'm attached...like this guy. So I am sending them a picture of a marionnette-man who is like a U of O alumni. I want to cut those strings from the U of O. I am sending this picture back to them in one of those awesome business reply envelopes. This is fun... I am attached to someone else's business and need to remove all ties!!!! I hope they get the message.

2006-02-26T17:43:00.000-08:00

I love my sock monkey! This Saturday my friends and I went to Spins and Needles. This event is brilliant because you can make crafts while you listen to awesome music and drink wine. It was so awesome. I decided I would make this sock monkey instead of a duct tape purse. I made my monkey and realized that I couldn't put it in my bag ...so I had to hold on to it at the bus stop. I knew someone would have to comment on it. As I was waiting (after midnight) downtown Ottawa on Bank Street with my friend Kim, this 8 feet tall scary very high drag queen (maybe?) thought I was holding a dead dog. She/he then He/she then tried to take it away from me jokingly. I then got very protective of this monkey and said I made it for someone dear to me (Mike). So now, my monkey is safe at home. Phew.

2006-02-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

This picture makes me laugh! Yesterday, Mike and I were venting our frustration with all the companies who send us their junk mail. Fortunately for us, they send a business reply envelope. Mike and I usually end up sending them back something boring like a flyer. In this case we are sending 8 paper cut-out babies. We are sending these 8 babies to a company who was advertising lawn care. We have named these eight babies names of things that are enemies to grass such as "grubs" and "weeds". I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the office of the person who opens this lovely envelope! What a lovely delivery!

2006-02-15T17:11:00.000-08:00

I had the best Valentine's Day!!! Mike and I went out to "Horn of Africa" (our favourite Ethiopian restaurant) and after we walked around to see what was left of the ice sculptures. Also, three of my students (boys) presented me with a handmade bouquet of tissue flowers in a 3-D heart vase with a card. I sure am a lucky gal!!

2006-02-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

When I get my braces off, I want to wear a shirt that says "Yippee I got my braces off today!".

2006-02-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

Today I remembered a t-shirt that my friend told me about. I wonder who thought of this idea....I also wonder if they think braces are sexy too....

2006-02-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

Okay...here's that hat.... I also wonder what it is made of. I looks nothing like the hat Melanie made me.

2006-02-06T17:39:00.000-08:00

My friend Melanie made me a black hat with green beads. I love it. I thought I would do a search for girls with black hats to see if I could find a hat close to the one Melanie made for me...but no luck. I did find this one from the Victorian era and thought it was amazing!. I wonder how much it weighs....

2006-02-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

This week my friend Chloe and I went to see Jordan Knight at Zaphod's. He was the older kid in The New Kids on the Block. I never liked them when they first came out but we I saw him this week my heart went a flutter!

2006-01-22T09:50:00.001-08:00

I had a little too much wine last night. Sometimes when it is cold I remember drinking a fine chianti in Florence, Italy.....

i love circles: January 2006

2006-01-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

i love circles: January 2006

I went cross country skiing today and it was beautiful. I wish I brought my camera....ugh... It was so fun and dark and quiet. Mike saw an owl.

Another message

2006-01-19T17:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, it worked. Very funny. One of my students today asked me this when I asked him to finish a workbook, " Ms. E, do I get paid to finish this work?". I told him he gets fifty bucks.
I work with very funny kids who are so deeply immersed in their own micro-world that when they emerge they say the darndest things.

my first posting

2006-01-19T17:38:00.000-08:00

So this is it...my first post. I'm going to see if this works.