I spoke last month about making some changes and combining my blogs. I've done that to some extent, but because I still had a separate scrap/craft related blog I was finding it hard to keep on top of things and keep things balanced. This week I took the plunge and started a new blog on Typepad. I decided to make a clean break and start with a new platform. All the content from this blog has been imported there, which means I an taking my history with me, but still starting fresh.
I will also import all the craft content to the new spot over the next few days. I'm hoping the new place will be a balance of all the different aspects of my life, and maybe it will help me to achieve balance too? Maybe I'm asking for too much!
But I hope you will update your links and feeds to http://francineclouden.typepad.com/callaloo_soup/ and join me on this new portion of my blogging journey.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Aye, there's the rub
I have the same fight every morning: I never want to wake up. I lie there between dreams and awakening, fighting off the inevitable, convincing myself that yes, I can snuggle in deeper for another hour or so. But knowing that I really can't, that I certainly shouldn't. Usually the thought of a fresh cup of coffee (delivered to me in bed this morning) helps, and I throw off the covers, greet the yawning kitties and climb down the ladder.
And it occurs to me: maybe this morning fight is related to the night time fighting off of the inevitability of sleep? It seems that as much as I hate to wake up, I also hate to fall asleep and will rage against it, reading into the wee hours until my eyes finally surrender.
It's a vicious circle
And it occurs to me: maybe this morning fight is related to the night time fighting off of the inevitability of sleep? It seems that as much as I hate to wake up, I also hate to fall asleep and will rage against it, reading into the wee hours until my eyes finally surrender.
It's a vicious circle
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Getting Things Done
- I completed four projects yesterday. This included conceiving, executing and delivering an online class
- Thus proving that I can accomplish much more than I normally do in a day
- So I am planning the week ahead with this in mind
- I will apply Marci's "three things" system to my list everyday
- And focus
- And not beat myself up for not crossing everything off my list, but regroup and move on
Friday, June 13, 2008
What I've been up to
Well, it's been a crazy few weeks since getting back. I am trying very hard to get back into a routine, and I think I am almost there. I started a new Make a Thing a Day for a Month project, which has been taking up the majority of my time. So far most everything I have made this month is scrapbook related, but I plan to branch out soon. I spent the last few days selecting and saving some online sewing and craft tutorials, and my plan for the last two weeks of the month is to try a new thing (or three) each week.
Because the creativity has been flowing I came up with a couple new items for my etsy shop. Here's a sneak peek.
This weekend I will load the store up with more versions of these items, as well as some vintage goodies I've been hoarding!
The weather has been aiding and abetting me in my craft pursuits by being very bad. Cold, grey and rainy, exactly the kind of weather that keeps me inside and staying warm. Today looks promising, being bright and sunny, but I'm not convinced, I've been fooled before. Here's hoping that this time summer will stick!
I have of course been taking a bunch of photos, as well as trying some things in Photoshop.
We have no major plans for the weekend, but if the weather does hold, I think I will convince Lucas that we need to do some work in the backyard cleaning up our very neglected garden nook!
Because the creativity has been flowing I came up with a couple new items for my etsy shop. Here's a sneak peek.
This weekend I will load the store up with more versions of these items, as well as some vintage goodies I've been hoarding!The weather has been aiding and abetting me in my craft pursuits by being very bad. Cold, grey and rainy, exactly the kind of weather that keeps me inside and staying warm. Today looks promising, being bright and sunny, but I'm not convinced, I've been fooled before. Here's hoping that this time summer will stick!
I have of course been taking a bunch of photos, as well as trying some things in Photoshop.
We have no major plans for the weekend, but if the weather does hold, I think I will convince Lucas that we need to do some work in the backyard cleaning up our very neglected garden nook!
Friday, May 30, 2008
uuurghhhh
I'm back in France, but the reverse jet lag has kept me under wraps since I got in on Monday evening. I had a pretty horrible trip back, mainly due to having to spend the entire day Monday at Heathrow trying not to fall asleep before my flight. Then being tossed like a feather in the wind between London and Lyon. To make it worse the weather here sucks. Probably punishment for complaining about the heat in Barbados! I think I'll be back on track with life very soon though!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Some more eye candy
1. Jenny, 2. Zoe, 3. Ginger Lily, 4. Hi there!, 5. Cattle Wash, 6. evening walk, 7. fish out of water, 8. sunset over st. thomas, barbados, 9. Oistins at night, 10. purple, 11. curly, 12. mama's tea set, 13. This must be why they call it the Gold Coast, 14. on duty, 15. oh, orange!, 16. smile!, 17. join me for dinner?, 18. day is done, gone the sun, 19. my view, 20. relax, 21. desert rose, 22. me, 23. lunch is served!, 24. strange but cool
Things I forgot about life in Barbados
1. How freaking hot it is. Ok, obviously I expected it to be hot and I was looking forward to that, but it is SO hot! Not that I am complaining of course......
2. Being greeted everywhere you go. I love that about small islands, the acknowledgement that you are in the company of another human being, even if you may never see them again in your life.
3. The unwritten rules of the road: flashing your lights to call people out from side streets, and the short double toot of thanks in acknowledgement. Also drivers stopping to let pedestrians cross the road.
4. Being served at the gas stations, I keep wanting to get out and pump my gas!
5. Having your groceries packed at the cashier and then carried out to your car for you. I totally felt like a queen today after doing groceries! The down side of this though is all those plastic grocery bags! yikes!
6. How much in a rush everyone seems to be on the road. I don't know why the hurry, it's a small island, it doesn't take long to get anywhere!
7. The fact that it doesn't take long to get anywhere (unless there is traffic, which is more and more the case)
8. Guys on the street and just about everywhere making catcalls. Of course having just turned forty I have a new appreciation for this!
9. The words "above" and "below" when used to explain the location of a building. It doesn't mean "up" and "down", but rather "left" and "right". Or is that "right" and "left"?
10. How quickly the sun sets. I keep getting caught by surprise!
2. Being greeted everywhere you go. I love that about small islands, the acknowledgement that you are in the company of another human being, even if you may never see them again in your life.
3. The unwritten rules of the road: flashing your lights to call people out from side streets, and the short double toot of thanks in acknowledgement. Also drivers stopping to let pedestrians cross the road.
4. Being served at the gas stations, I keep wanting to get out and pump my gas!
5. Having your groceries packed at the cashier and then carried out to your car for you. I totally felt like a queen today after doing groceries! The down side of this though is all those plastic grocery bags! yikes!
6. How much in a rush everyone seems to be on the road. I don't know why the hurry, it's a small island, it doesn't take long to get anywhere!
7. The fact that it doesn't take long to get anywhere (unless there is traffic, which is more and more the case)
8. Guys on the street and just about everywhere making catcalls. Of course having just turned forty I have a new appreciation for this!
9. The words "above" and "below" when used to explain the location of a building. It doesn't mean "up" and "down", but rather "left" and "right". Or is that "right" and "left"?
10. How quickly the sun sets. I keep getting caught by surprise!
Friday, May 16, 2008
The story so far
Hiking, hanging out, eating A LOT, laughing, the doggies, the beach, tropical flowers and more!
1. burnt, 2. Royalty, 3. Heliconia 1, 4. Caribbean Style, 5. sweet sugar cane!, 6. water, 7. the grotto, 8. heading into the gully, 9. local thistle, 10. farming, 11. Heliconia 2, 12. 19/365 - the neighbourhood, 13. 17/365 early morning, 14. through a mirror, 15. Brown's Beach 2, 16. lizann, 17. criss-crossing the sky, 18. boatyard, 19. Swash!, 20. Brown's beach 1, 21. ahhhhhhhh, 22. mellow yellow, 23. Sable, 24. 16/365 - This Old House, 25. 18/365 - gotta have it!, 26. pick me, love me, choose me!, 27. yachts, 28. Brown's beach again, 29. East Coast, 30. Cherry Tree Hill, 31. twinned, 32. the edge of succulence, 33. Starburst, 34. bright blooms, 35. pink!, 36. red bells
1. burnt, 2. Royalty, 3. Heliconia 1, 4. Caribbean Style, 5. sweet sugar cane!, 6. water, 7. the grotto, 8. heading into the gully, 9. local thistle, 10. farming, 11. Heliconia 2, 12. 19/365 - the neighbourhood, 13. 17/365 early morning, 14. through a mirror, 15. Brown's Beach 2, 16. lizann, 17. criss-crossing the sky, 18. boatyard, 19. Swash!, 20. Brown's beach 1, 21. ahhhhhhhh, 22. mellow yellow, 23. Sable, 24. 16/365 - This Old House, 25. 18/365 - gotta have it!, 26. pick me, love me, choose me!, 27. yachts, 28. Brown's beach again, 29. East Coast, 30. Cherry Tree Hill, 31. twinned, 32. the edge of succulence, 33. Starburst, 34. bright blooms, 35. pink!, 36. red bells
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Easy like Sunday Morning?
Every Sunday morning for as long as I can remember, the Barbados National Trust has led a hike around different areas of the island, as a way to educate people about the heritage of the island. The hike starts at 6:00 a.m., and when we were much younger my sister and I went every week with my Mum. Thanks to jetlag I was actually up to going yesterday, since I am waking up ridiculously early these days. The hike was held in St. Peter, one of the northern parishes, and started out at Farley Hill National Park.
The hikers are divided into four groups: Stop & Stare (i.e. slow pokes), Medium, Fast-Medium and Fast (a.k.a Grin & Bear it). My Mum and I, and our friend Lyndonna joined Stop & Stare. Of course. Although I have since renamed it Stop, Stare and Click because of course I had my camera along.
You can see some more photos here
But said camera got us into a bit of trouble at the end of the hike! I eventually ended up falling to the back of the group with all my stops to attend to the click part of the tour. Another hiker then came to me to ask about my camera since she was planning to buy one soon. As we chatted she and my Mum discovered they were both teachers so started to chat about that. As they were "licking their mouths" as we say (gossiping), we came to the top of the track through the cane fields and there was not a soul to be seen! We just assumed that we should go straight ahead, but to cut a long story short, after tramping around the fields for over an hour with no human in sight, we gave up, and retraced our steps back to the last main road we passed on. We weren't worried or scared, it's practically impossible to get lost in those fields, and we could see roads and civilised life off in the distance. Mostly we were just dang tired and hot and thirsty!
Once on the road we "poped' a ride with a passing Defense Force landrover, and they kindly drove us back to the starting point. We arrived back a good two hours late! We had a good laugh (in fact we're still laughing about it) and went off to Lyndonna's for brunch.
Quite the Mother's Day gift!!
The hikers are divided into four groups: Stop & Stare (i.e. slow pokes), Medium, Fast-Medium and Fast (a.k.a Grin & Bear it). My Mum and I, and our friend Lyndonna joined Stop & Stare. Of course. Although I have since renamed it Stop, Stare and Click because of course I had my camera along.
You can see some more photos here
But said camera got us into a bit of trouble at the end of the hike! I eventually ended up falling to the back of the group with all my stops to attend to the click part of the tour. Another hiker then came to me to ask about my camera since she was planning to buy one soon. As we chatted she and my Mum discovered they were both teachers so started to chat about that. As they were "licking their mouths" as we say (gossiping), we came to the top of the track through the cane fields and there was not a soul to be seen! We just assumed that we should go straight ahead, but to cut a long story short, after tramping around the fields for over an hour with no human in sight, we gave up, and retraced our steps back to the last main road we passed on. We weren't worried or scared, it's practically impossible to get lost in those fields, and we could see roads and civilised life off in the distance. Mostly we were just dang tired and hot and thirsty!
Once on the road we "poped' a ride with a passing Defense Force landrover, and they kindly drove us back to the starting point. We arrived back a good two hours late! We had a good laugh (in fact we're still laughing about it) and went off to Lyndonna's for brunch.
Quite the Mother's Day gift!!
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