spt27feb14: new boots

spt27feb14: new boots, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

As those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter know already, I scored these brand new Bern Baby Bern Keen boots for almost a tenth of their regular price at my local Value Village this afternoon.
I.am.so.cool!
They are my size, black, adequate calf width, and no defects.
Just right for my increasingly itchy feet ... but more on this later.
Much later.

Today I finished my deadlines, including end-of-the-month invoicing. Only two tasks remain for tomorrow - maybe I'll get some painting in?
I think I might be easing into a workflow here.
And of course, Spring Break starts in just over two weeks :(
Just as I was getting used to seeing what I could manage Mon-Fri without overfilling my week.

What I would like to accomplish is 1. exercise and 2. art - I would dearly love to fit both of these into my workflow. So far I've been writing, writing, writing ... and being paid for it.
I must admit, it's a lovely feeling.
But I haven't done much in the way of exercise, or creative art, jewelry, making stuff.
I've taken steps.

For the exercise I've taken many, but not quite enough, steps. I now have a standing desk set up. If I need to pee (excuse the TMI) I walk up two flights of stairs to use the furthest bathroom. And today I took a brisk walk with a neighbour.
This also reminds me that I would like to add 'meeting with friends and going out more' to my 'what I'd like to accomplish' list.

And for the art, I've been taking lessons from the amazing Agata at the local arts centre (yes, where I used to work). I'm working in oils; I love it; Agata is an incredibly inspiring teacher.
For two hours each week I move colour around on a canvas.
Maybe I'll show you the results some day.

(as always) Stay tuned!

PS: I got new boots :)

wordless wednesday: ... and then there were blue skies

... and then there were blue skies, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

We're getting all of our winter at once?

http://ift.tt/1ci0c1y

pomo artsfest ... that is all

A huge thank you to all the performers, organisers, volunteers, staff and sponsors who made this happen. And a big hand to the audience for coming out to support the arts in Port Moody. What an incredible few days - bravo!

the snow arrives (at last)

the snow arrives (at last), originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

and now we are three, though one of us is too jet lagged to come out to play in the white stuff.

friday forte: i am the ice wizard

pro D day snow shoe day cypress day packed all my deadlines into three days to free this day though i still have work waiting for me. almost the end of solo parenting just the two of us almost we are three times ahead sick of the sight of each other can't get enough of each other mother son i am the ice wizard, he flourishes the wand I've told him not to eat so many of casts his enchantment mother son

spt 29feb14: thru a glass darkly

1. Facing a longer solo parenting stint than i expected and I'm annoyed it's messing with my plans. 2. I have no idea where you are btw. 3. I need to up the exercise dramatically. 4. I turned down a hike or whatnot in the sunshine with a good friend cos I was doing the internet equivalent of washing my hair (updating my website afmaxwell.com). 5. BalletBC were awesome this evening - get tickets immediately for Grace Symmetry. 6. My Wee Guy is awesome. 7. Another Pro D day wtf??? 8. Oils, since you ask.

wordless wednesday: i made this

yes, i made this website pomoartsfest.ca ArtsFest starts on Thursday - check out the full program ... on the website

sea anchor

pumpkin, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Speaking with a friend recently and finally submitting a piece of writing that was proving trickier than it first seemed, I finally realise how much negative thoughts hold you back.

The writing project wasn't tricky but somehow the words weren't flowing. I couldn't get a logical sequence going. I got stuck each time I looked at the text. So I did what I normally do and moved on to another project.

But the stuck piece clouded everything I tried to work on. So eventually I had to meet it head on, sit down for way longer than it deserved until I worked out what was missing. Then I sent it on its way and have competed a record amount of work since then.

It took up way to much headspace. Every time I thought about it my heart sank. Every time I tried not to think about it and get on with something new it crept into my thoughts, holding me back from progress like a sea anchor.

Then once I dealt with it, finished the project instead of pretending it wasn't there and avoiding it, I could think clearly again.

So I dealt with another sea anchor today, despatched it from my to do list and experienced the same relief. Instead of worrying away about solving a problem that want really mine in the first place I just did what I could and ticked it off my list. Sorted!

Next!

midlife monday: fantastical bird

fantastical bird, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

I'm wondering if my true feathers will be on display soon. I seem to have been hiding the fantastical plumage of old for such a long time under dowdy and utilitarian feathers that let me blend.
Can I still dazzle, that's the question?
A few years ago I'd have questioned whether I ever dazzled at all, but now I'm more confident that yes, I am competent ... better than competent.
Instead of an abrupt turnaround, I seem to have tapped into the slow movement - not slow food, or slow craft but slow development, slow rebirth, slow realisation of past glory ... and I don't feel like I'm bragging about the glory bit. It's just a question of how you define glory.
And I feel I have been pretty glorious in my life so far ... on occasion ... a little more than sporadically ...
There's more to come too.

narnia?

narnia?, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Afternoon at Hollyburn, in the snow.

yesterday was choir day and game night

click the speaker symbol top left to hear the beautiful voices!

Valentine's day 2014

http://ift.tt/1gjtT6N

spt 13feb14: ready for my close up

thinking about things .... 1. sometimes all it needs is to print the piece out and make marks on the paper to get the text flowing 2. scientists operated nano motors inside cells for the first time ever this week - cool videos here 3. just above the knee is fine; higher doesn't feel so graceful these days 4. it's not just the money, it's the principle 5. distance makes the heart fonder though it's wreaking havoc with my hormones 6. chocolate is a poor substitute 7. yes - he is a complete arsehole and hasn't a fucking clue (you choose) 8. dressing up, putting on make up makes me feel awesome - even if all I'm doing is writing about listeria all day 9. turning up on the wrong day isn't all bad 10. snow?

wordless wednesday: clouds so low i needed to duck my head

art is everywhere: the wee guy's handprints in handmade paper

http://ift.tt/1lyP3iL

bc family day 2014

today we managed breakfast before noon, almost 2 hours of work for me, laundry, dishwasher, and an afternoon out in Fort Langley. snowmageddon? pah!

Sunday - this was Sunday

Sunday - this was Sunday, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

I like the way the inlet bends round, leading off into the distance past the headland in this shot. It's pulling the viewer into the image, promising something new or different or better just around the corner.



Today was a 'me and the Wee Guy' day. It was a very sweet day with something better around every corner.

We made art at the arts centre open day. He covers a blank sheet without a second thought, mixing colours and creating scenes. No analysis. No second guessing. Freedom pulling him around the corners of creativity. Lucky child!

We skated - skated our little legs off. Coming hard on the heels of yesterday's skate ski session on Cypress, this was INTENSE. And we lapped many corners - our butts will remind us of this tomorrow.



We checked out the ice on the inlet - at least two inches thick in sluggish areas. Yes, that's ice stretching off into the near distance in the pic above.



We spilled hot chocolate at Gallagher's but we also learned how to mop up the dribbles and drink from a big cup. Round every corner there's a new skill, a new moment of independence just waiting for a taker.



So although the weather is grey and gloomy, there's still enough optimism in the air.
And, if the Weather Channel is to be believed, snow. About bloody time.

horse

digital sketch with Sketchbook Ink

spt 6feb14: skiving

skiving, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

AWOL
There's not much snow about so far this season, but what there is at Hollyburn is in great condition thanks to some expert trails maintenance.
This time last year I was settling into a five-days-per-week post grad certificate, getting used to an early morning commute, classes all day, homework, extra childcare for the Wee Guy, having mr ebb at home to cope with the gaps ... I was busy.
Within a couple of months of the end of the classroom stuff I had not one but three jobs so whizz! the summer went by in another haze of non-stop on-the-go where's the next childcare? busy-ness.
We coped. I managed. I scheduled.
It was an experience. Was this what I wanted?
But this year, I'm developing the reputation of being a flake.
I'm not in school this semester.
I dropped one job before Christmas.
And with a great deal of soul-searching, I dropped out of another commitment just after Christmas.
Simply put, I cannot be everything.
I cannot do everything even though I thought I could.
Due to some changes with his work, mr ebb is no longer available for home work. He also has some decidedly last minute travel situations and business trips. Forward planning? In your dreams. But not his fault.
Meaning that it is mostly up to me to be around for the Wee Guy.
Meaning that working from home is best for me right now. So I can be around.
It cuts down on possibilities. It also cuts down on the stress.
I realise though that I've become one of those flakey mums I used to despise - you know, the ones who would call off at the last moment leaving everyone else in the lurch.
So right now I'm coping with having let someone down but also knowing that in the future I need to recognise, accept the limitations, which really aren't all that bad, but (working) life is definitely different this time around.
Being over-busy, and trying to schedule every aspect of family life, dealing with all the complications by pretending that a mum can work just like she did Before Child is nuts.
While other mums might be able to go back to a working life of old, this mum can't.
This mum won't.
Not yet.
Eventually.

PS: It's not all glum, honest!
PPS: Does this make any sense at all?

wordless wednesday: checkered

http://ift.tt/1itSYeX