On the Third Day of Spring

Fake Flowers at Michel's

There is no spring in Canada.  This winter has been unrelenting.  

Baby it's Cold Outside, has turned out to have been an event foreshadowing the epic winter which had befallen us.  I've never been more thankful for hats, gloves, scarves, boots and all things woolen and shearling.

On the second day of spring I awoke to a chill and upon taking a peek outside the window, there appeared to be a fresh blanket of snow on the ground.  While  beautiful to look at through the window, snow in mid-march is not exactly a welcome sight.  Only two days before in a full blown case of optimism, as a result of experiencing a slightly warmer day which I naturally, but, falsely believed signalled the end of our deep freeze I was in full pining/online shopping force in preparation for spring.

My hopes were considerably dampened when, we were hit by snow.  But, one mustn't give up, one must go on.  In an effort to recuperate from the shock of freshly laden snow I sought companionship.
On that second day of spring I was spending time with some friends when I was introduced to the magical properties of an Ethiopian snack: kolo. 

Coffee and kolo, a traditional Ethiopian pairing.

"Just take some of this and chew on it", were the  instructions I was given. With enthusiasm I took some of this grain mixture (typically barley, chickpeas and peanuts which have been roasted and spiced), and bit.

 I was rewarded with a wonderful crunch, and chewiness with a bit of a spicy kick.  Traditionally served with coffee and often accompanied by it's friend popcorn, kolo is part of the Ethopian culture, as sort of afternoon ritual.  After some conversation, coffee and kolo, I found my spirit restored.  Laden with provisions (a container of kolo), I made my way home through the under-belly of the Canadian spring 'frost'. 

Fueled by coffee, kolo and my impatient anticipation of spring, that night I dreamt of a bohemian life in the spice markets and bazaars of the world.  I dreamt of a sub-tropic world and a mishmash of cultures I have yet to visit and of a wanderlust I have never known.

X,

MWiktoria

Summer Dream'

The continuous and consistent snowfall has meant that this my little region of Canada has not only snow banks so high that we can not see past them, it has also meant that the yearning for summer (something from which I do not normally suffer) has placed itself within my heart.  I could tell you that I dream of sandy beaches on lone Islands yet undiscovered, but, that's not the kinda girl I am.

While I do appreciate the beach, the sun and the sand to a certain extent,  I am not naturally drawn to  beach culture.  However, the deeper and longer this deep-freeze holds on to us, I find that I yearn for all the things of summer beach and non-beach-like included.  So, I present to you my ode to summer.

1. Light Summer Dresses 'Bohemian Rhapsody' 2.  Beer Battered Cajun Fries 3. Hammock via Hamanica via Etsy 4. Alligator ring via Diamentdesigns via Etsy

1. Bohemian Rhapsody & 4, 2. Food 3. For My Travels 

1. For My Travels 2. Birthday 3. Salt Water Taffy 'Food' 4. Vacation in Spain

Here's hoping summer 2014 doesn't remain in the realm of dreams!

X,

MWiktoria

Sacré Cœur--Sacred Heart

"The heart has reasons that reason cannot know."

― Blaise Pascal, The Mind on Fire: A Faith for the Skeptical and Indifferent

Believe it or not, in my university days, I took a course called  Love and It's Myths.  A romantic and dreamer at heart, I foolishly thought that this course could answer some of the burning questions about the yearning  and preoccupation  humanity seems to have surrounding love.

The course had to do with love and my dreamer-eaque tendencies I assumed that I would be let in upon a closely guarded secret.  To my disappointment it had more to do with the professor's illegitimate progeny and otherwise unsavory indiscretions (stories which he thought made him a 'cool guy'), I had to keep the visible look of disdain off of my face.  Between the tales of 'conquests' and a heavy lean towards the philosophies of Pliny, Socrates and the like I was all loved out (reading a good majority of Greek philosophy is not my idea of a good time).

One thing that stuck with me from the course, was the myth of the first humans.  The story goes something like this...The God Zeus was doing god-like Zeus things going about his day when he noticed the first humans roaming around upon the earthly plane.  The humans which Zeus observed were not the humans which we believe ourselves to be.

Outsideof box draw by Cris of skeletal dropkick. Mugs for Tina & her fiancee Stef

The humans which Zeus observed had two heads, two lips, two noses, four eyes, eight limbs.  Zeus watching the humans noticed that they were intelligent, and industrious.  Fearing the worst; the humans may one day over power him, Zeus had an ingenious plan.  He would separate the whole into two halves, each searching for their other half for all time: soul-mates.  This is the philosophical explanation for our yearning finding that individual to whom we may say 'you complete me', which is considered to be the ultimate expression of oneness or love.

1. To Be Quoted 2. Duane Michels

There are other instances of love, friendship, familial and the like which are our first introductions to the idea (if one is so lucky) which gives our souls & hearts if one pays attention which is a glimpse of how love between soul mates should express itself.

 Creatives (i.e. poets, artists, writers and musicians), have tried to capture the magic & mystery of love throughout time. The majority of people within the world in their own way are fascinated and in search of the kind of love that makes time stand still.  Very few of us are lucky enough to encounter it, and if we are so lucky to hold on to it and give it a snowball's chance in hell.  I mention this with complete sincerity and with the greatest respect for that 'crazy little thing called love'.

Valentine's day, comes around every year and it is meant to be wholly representative or is the day where we should that special somebody our love.  While cheesy and ostentatious, inherently I have no big moral reason to bash valentines day...my one I guess issue with it (even taking into consideration all of those appropriately placed chocolate options and 3 foot teddy bears one readily sees in the shops, at least in North America), it is it seems insincere.  To me, it just seems that when you love somebody, and I mean head over heels, butterflies in your stomach L.O.V. E baby, you show them in little ways every day, perhaps even being unaware that you're doing it.  To me (and I could be wrong), true love, happens in the quiet moments of life, in the little looks, gestures and sweet nothings of the every day. In the original incarnation the day of St Valentinus latin (if you're a history nerd),the premise of St. Valentine's day was based within the idea of courtly love.  An expression of love through admiration of one's beloved, often from afar.

On this St. Valentine's day, I leave you with a quote from one of my favourite films, the romantic that I am 'Meet Joe Black'. About what else but LOVE.

Happy St. Valentine's Day

XO,

MWiktoria

Good Morning Orchid!: Mid-Week Inspiration

 Good Morning Handsome & Beautiful,

I woke up this morning to find my orchid, which has been surely but steadily growing buds for the past several weeks was in full bloom *fingers crossed*  In all honesty I was thisclose to re-potting it, Orchid's roots look it its gonna get 'cha...Albeit at an incredibly slow and measured pace.  I feel for my orchid friend.  Here it is all feeling good about itself and it doesn't have enough room to keep all its roots inside the pot.

Alas, all of the sites or the information which I have been able to get my hands on has all "strongly suggested" that it not be re-potted until it is fully done is bloom cycle, or in this case re-bloom cycle.  So if it has nine buds and the first two bloomed...and the the buds are all different sizes, the only thing to think is that I hope my orchid friend holds out for that long...but it must be happy I mean its re-blooming right?

The last time it was in bloom was eight months ago, so its kinda the last thing I'd really expected it to do though I kept watering it, not icing it (maybe that's the key) to these ice orchids.  The urban myth about orchids or all of the "talk" is that they're really super difficult to grow?  Is there any truth in that I wonder. 

1.Good Morning Handsome Mug 2. Ice Orchid 3. Good Morning Beautiful Mug 4. Revlon ColourBurst Lipgloss

Not being a morning person, the mugs 'Good Morning Handsome'  and 'Good Morning Beautiful' would certainly not make me one of those I'm so happy to be alive on this glorious morning!!! types but I certainly think they would encourage and inspire me to start the day, with perhaps a little bit more pep in my step.  But then again I am writing this post coffee, so maybe is coffee which really deserves the credit.

After coffee, sometimes tea, depending on my mood, given enough liquid courage (coffee/tea not alcohol, just to be clear) I will put on my 'war paint'.  As of late that has included 'Revlon's ColorBurst Lipgloss' in Papaya, which was either discontinued or limited edition, so you can imagine how excited I was I discovered these in my mail box.  Ebay is a wonderful treasure trove where wonderful beings live who have access to things that a supposedly discontinued (they're like squirrels for the winter, though in this case men named Stephen. You should pay him a visit on Ebay, I'm sure he'd super appreciate it. 

 As I'm sure you've noticed by now, I have a bit of an interest in things made of clay as of late, which was addressed in this post here. 

In an effort to ensure I do not further amass more mugs, please save me from myself and pick up the above mentioned mugs, both of them in whichever combination you choose, swipe on some Papaya Lipgloss and perhaps try your hand at taking care of an ice orchid, if you'd like.  Hope to see you on the other side of mid-week.

X,

MWiktoria

Salute to the Resolute!

Resolutions are funny things.  They seem to be a by product of the holiday frenzy which goes on from approximately mid-autumn to early winter, depending of course upon your view of when the holiday season begins.

For the majority of stores in North America, it is the very minute after Halloween signifies the beginning of the "holiday season".  Having once worked retail, by the time Christmas eve rolled around, the songs of Christmas were always present from the moment I woke up in the morning, to the moment I went to sleep...The soundtrack of my day, always there humming in the background was my experience of the holiday season working retail.  While the holidays may be a very special, exciting and comforting time for many people, the holidays are also filled with stress, anxiety and a fear of failure (that's right  ladies & gents I see the fear in your eyes).

There an old joke, maybe it's a saying and it goes something like this "There are only 364 days until Christimas"... Organization, they say, is key with this oh so ostentatious of holidays, with the highly organized amongst us, it is rumored, start collecting for the next holiday season... shortly there after xmas/new years/the holidays...akin to squirrels hoarding nuts to sustain them to the long cold, unforgiving winter.  For the rest of us, oh not so organized squirrels, we may see an item here or there, which we would consider, but we think we have time and so we wait...and wait...and wait. If done correctly, this will impart upon us a frenzy of stress, anxiety, and fear on the collective consciousness of all those who choose to take part within the madness of the holiday season.  We have been forewarned all of our adult lives about the consequences of procrastination, particularly in the form of the fairy tale with its idealized landscapes and all of its characters encompassing a level of extremely high morality normally not seen within everyday life, many of us falter.

 What can I say?  Life Happens.  We try our best, each and every one of us.  By the time we reach the end of the holiday season January 2nd  in most cases, we have taken our stress and exhaustion out on our minds, and bodies. The majority of us make it through, relatively unscathed and we can, if we so choose to ignore the fact  that we only have 364 days to go...until, you know.  In an ideal situation we would all give ourselves a long break from the tyranny of lists and responsibility, but as odd as it may seem, we turn up the stress to an almost unbearable level and we become concerned with setting ourselves resolutions for the new year.

The more I look around the more I notice that we are determined to punish ourselves for eating too much, drinking too much for having too much self indulgent fun over the holiday season (gluttony most likely being a by product of all the stress we had experienced).  As a collective, most of us would agree that a good number of people in society promise to diet, exercise, and get rid of all of their bad habits.

  I've never been one for resolutions. I realized very early on that if I tell myself I cannot absolutely do something, it's the only thing I want to do.  The resolution, whichever one it may be, well, it'll  sit there, tapping me on the skull until I give in. I find it curious that a new year (2014) which is supposed to signify new beginnings seems to be a continuation of the stress of the holiday season.

 I admire the conviction with which all of us want change, positive change, and change that could sky-rocket our lives into a life which we may not have been otherwise unable to imagine.  It's inspiring to know that so many of us believe that we are capable of escaping our current circumstance(s); our want to work for something greater. The resolutions the majority of us make in January set many of us up to fail because they are ultimatums.  Many of them are phrased in very black"(I will not) or white (I will) extremes, without leaving room for the reality of living within a human body within less than an idealized fairytale-esque reality.

Akin to the xmas music slowly but surely becoming part of my daily existence, I feel that in order to achieve, anything, let alone the resolutions we set for ourselves, we must be somewhat ready for the change (if only on a subconscious level), and it must be something we work at each day.  So this is me telling you to take it easy and give yourselves a break. Let your minds and bodies pause for a moment, consider that which you really need.  Consider whether jumping upon the band-wagon of new years resolutions suits your individual reality, instead of the collective reality set before you.

If you're one of those individuals who decided to make resolutions for 2014, you're a much stronger person than I, and I wish you all the best in achieving them.  Resolutions can be the first stepping stones to realizing change in your life.  The key is to not let them morph into boulders which will drown you.

X,

MWiktoria