Fun with Fungus

D. and I went on a great hike today and I seemed to be fixated on fungus. I have no clue what these are, but was drawn to take a few photos:

yellow frilly number

fungus or coral?

crimson clan

mango (slightly out of focus) loner

burnt orange beauties

Aren't they fun? I already have two mushroom identification guides on request at the library. I am such a nerd.

Local Summer Freebies Roundup

It's summer in the city and time for a roundup of local, frugal activities:

BOB FM's Movies on the Beach
Touring the city's beaches with a 24 foot inflatable screen, BOB FM once again offers free movies on selected Friday nights. The public gets to vote online and choose which movies will be screened. Friday July 11th is Summer Blockbuster night at Petrie Island in the East end - voting is still open. Check the BOB FM Web site for the full schedule.

Canada Day festivities (downtown)
I might be a little late with this one, but I couldn't leave it out. Take in some of the activities and great Canadian talent in and around the city - all for FREE! Whether it's the noon-hour show on Parliament Hill with the Snowbirds and 21-Gun Salute, the more mellow entertainment with a folksy flair at Major's Hill Park or the amazing fireworks display, Ottawa's definitely a happenin' place on Canada's birthday!

Centretown Movies
Held in Dundonald Park (corner of Somerset and Lyon), these pay-what-you-can movie nights are another fun, frugal way to enjoy a summer evening. What's neat about these is that proceeds from Saturday night screenings benefit Centretown Movies, Friday night screenings benefit the community organization that hosts the event. Movies start at 9pm.

Noon Under the Bridge
From July 24th to August 7th between noon and 1pm, there will be free music wafting up from under the Plaza Bridge (Elgin at Rideau/Wellington). Styles will range from classical to celtic to contemporary, with a bit of folk & blues thrown in for good measure. Not a bad way to spend a lunch hour non?

Orchestras in the Park
This is a series of four concerts presented by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the National Capital Commission. They take place from July 17th to the 20th at Lebreton Flats. If you've never been to the symphony, here's your chance to try it out for free - and no need for formalwear, just bring your lawn chair!

Et voilà, five fun frugal summer events in the nation's capital. 'Til the next roundup!

Minor Blog Changes

Just a quick note to let you know that I've made a few changes to the blog's content on the right-hand side:

• removed my list of Recent Movie Picks
• shuffled my Regular Reads to include The Simple Dollar and Wonderings & Wanderings (formerly Bohemian Creations)

I may make other changes, I may not. I'm toying with the idea of adding my current book picks, featuring specific articles or blogs, and redesigning my blog with a completely different look & feel. Opportunity to redefine my space in the blogosphere abounds.

A Cowgirl At Heart

I want these cowboy boots.

Inspired by a habit of buying magazines I’ve never heard of and a cover shot of Tom Selleck, I picked up the 15th anniversary issue of Cowboys & Indians, the “premier magazine of the West.”

Despite its questionable non-politically correct name, this is a quality magazine for high-rolling cowboys and cowgirls. With ads for high end hand-made jewelry, diamond-plated toe tips, and $11 million ranch properties the target audience is obvious. Who knew you could buy a pair of cowboy boots with turquoise, sterling silver and 18-karat gold accents for a mere $25000?

This magazine introduced me to a thriving sub-culture completely unbeknownst to me before this weekend. Being an East Coaster, except for a pair of Boulet cowboy boots I bought in 1991 (and have been hanging on to ever since), the West is foreign to me and known only through the movies.

Reading articles about history, Spanish colonialism and cowboy art makes me want to buy an Airstream and head to Montana (or Arizona, or Colorado!). And of course part of me loves the prospect of looking hot in a pair of tight jeans and Cherry Blossom boots. ; )

What a fun and enlightening discovery this magazine is turning out to be. I’m glad I picked it up.

Housecleaning: Momentum and Hope

My home is a mess. There's laundry to be done, a lawn to mow (break out the scythe!), and dog hair dustbunnies the size of a Chihuahua are floating around like tumbleweed. I do not feel at peace.

I am often abruptly overwhelmed by the state of my home. I hum along pleasantly until I encounter the foot-long dustbunny, the empty milk carton or the dirty plate that breaks this camel's back. When that happens, I am NOT a happy camper. Once the initial frustration subsides I usually go one of two ways: take action to address trigger spots, gaining hope and momentum in the process, or stick my head in the sand and sink into a domestic spiral of despair.

I've had my head in the sand for the past two weeks; it's time to come up for air.

Last night I broke out the 1973 Electrolux and tackled some of the floating bunnies. I found a home for housewarming gifts received a month ago, washed some clothes and cleared out the foyer. Not a particularly happenin' Saturday night (unless you count the rousing centipede incident - no doubt the insect was unearthed as I sucked up its nest of dust and dirt), but nonetheless a satisfying one.

Although I could still harvest the lawn and grind it into flour (for the discerning locavore only), things are looking up and sometimes that's all I need - a little momentum to give me hope.

Still Alive

Posts have been few & far between these past few, full weeks. I'm still alive; I'm just tired. I'll be back soon! Thank you for checking in.

Steph

Acadian Culture in the Capital

On Thursday, June 12th, 1755 (Web site is French), our own "Acadian Beatles", will be opening up Westfest and I can't wait! The evening will focus on Moncton NB's music scene with concerts by Marie-Jo Thério, Julie Doiron and of course, 1755. From the Artists link on the Westfest Web site: "Having an East Coaster play a tune by 1755 is akin to anyone of Irish descent playing a song by the Irish Rovers on St. Patrick's Day." They're not kidding.

The best news is that Westfest is entirely FREE! Come get a taste of good ol' Acadian culture; it should be a hopping good time!

Sweet Sweet Summer

I am intoxicated by the sweet smell of summer that greets me in the morning and soothes me before the night's slumber.

Sunday morning I spent over two blissful hours out on the deck, listening to the summer breeze rustling overhead leaves, drawing, reading, writing. Sunday afternoon was spent at a nearby park playing Travel Scrabble with D. An abundance of summer activities await: a June wedding, a family reunion, camping, outdoor music festivals, summer vacation, r&r and adventure.

Yup, sweet summer indeed.

Stayin' Cool

We're having our first heat wave. To help distract us from the humidity and the sweating, D. and I sat out on the shady side of our deck this afternoon with a cool drink and an engaging game of Travel Scrabble. How sweet is was.

A Creative Retreat

I am in a blissful stupor of creative contemplation.

For four days in September, I will be attending this amazing series of creative workshops at a lakeside retreat in New Hampshire. Superhero's enticing invitation to the Squam Art Workshops earlier this week prompted me to look into it more closely; between feelings of self-doubt and overwhelming moments of "this feels right", I decided to heed the latter and make it happen.

I strongly feel this is the step out of my comfort zone I've been ready to take for a while. It's the creative connection I craved earlier this year, and the creative retreat for which I stashed away a few vacation days, acting on faith that I would find one that fit budget, time and purpose.

Not only will I attend three fabulous all-day workshops, I will immerse myself into a creative community, sharing lodging and meals with a group of like-minded, amazingly creative women, some whose blogs I've been reading for the past few years.

There will be plenty of time for artistic insecurities and miscellaneous fears to surface between now and September; for now I will enjoy the giddy excitement that comes with stepping out of my comfort zone, the prospect of meeting some of the women whose blogs are listed under my Regular Reads, and the potential of expanding my creative capabilities. I. Can't. Wait.