Tag Archives: beach

getting ready for a new year!

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People have been asking and I have good news! My 2018 poster calendars are now READY for you! Some of you will keep one for yourself, others will get one to gift a special someone who makes your days brighter all year round, and the smart ones will  do both.  I hope everyone who hangs one of my year-at-a-glance calendars will feel joy each time they look to my bright designs.

Three designs again, one with words to inspire, though the others tell a story too.  All are ocean related.  The tea cups were photographed at a picnic with my daughter at a local beach (can you guess which shores we lazed upon?).  The octopus is entitled “Look at Me” and how can you not gaze upon her bright colours? The sea star was painted with hope and in honour of the purple sea stars that are struggling with Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (SSWS) along our coast.  How happy was I to notice what seemed like an increase in their numbers this summer on Gabriola! I was also lucky to go out to one of the survey sites in Tofino with Strawberry Isle Marine Research, where they have been getting local volunteers to help them monitor sea stars and SSWS.

2018 at a Glance 12x18 octopus LOOK AT ME

2018 at a Glance 12x18 sea star EVENING WALK2018 at a Glance 12x18 tea at the beach

Here’s hoping the days of 2018 will continue to be good ones for all of you AND all our ocean neighbours!  May the octopus remind you that many hands (arms) make light work (ask for help when you need it!) and also remind you to stay flexible in the year ahead.  May this sea star enjoying a night walk on the beach remind you to slow down in the coming year (and go to the beach more!).  May this tea party at the beach remind you to take time to celebrate each and every moment (use the “good stuff” just for any old day!).

As always, these 12 x 18 inch calendars are printed on 100% recycled paper, so they are big and bright and good for the earth!  Locals can order their calendars directly from me to avoid shipping.  Out of town orders,  please purchase yours in my etsy shop! Special discounts for bulk orders, so contact me if you want to get a bunch for everyone on your holiday gifting list! Don’t they look sweet rolled up with a ribbon?

waxing with the moon

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Sometimes it is hard to look on the bright side of things, sometimes I get a bit down and start thinking about all the challenges I face and forgetting how truly great my life is!  Especially when my family is going through uncertainty and change, especially when that is layered on a lack of sleep.  And a moon reaching for full tends to affect my sleep in a big way!  So this week there have been some hard moments….

…but yesterday I found (made) some time to go for a walk in the sun with a friend. We strolled along the sea and waded in to the refreshing water.  Toes on white shells, water sparkling with tiny fish, and so many birds soaring overhead.  I felt lighter as we chatted and shared our woes (as well as our blessings).  Lighter and with it came a brightening.  Yesterday I also found (made) time to do some painting.  This image of an eagle and a full moon is coming to light on the canvas, waxing like the nearly full moon that has been disturbing my sleep this week.  After yesterday I feel that I too am waxing like the moon…brightening…

Here’s hoping that I can keep finding this shift in perspective when I need it.  Maybe the full moon can become a beacon to remind me to lighten up (rather than something that usually just gets blamed for sleep issues).  It really is all about perspective….

moon and eagle in progresseagle moon in progress

beach school

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What does the first week of home schooling look like for us?  This year it looked like this……leaping into the first week of unschool - teaching Lucky some dance movesperfect perchbreaking in the new Nature Journalsince our kite is broken, she made her own!she draws sea stars by the seashoremore sand arta little sea anemone, a little biology lessondo training timehappy toes in the sanddancetelling me storiesbest buds

Most days last week you would have found us at the beach….I took my camera with me to capture some of the magic.  As you can see, the beach is perfect for learning.  This visit included dance, writing, art, kite flying (when your kite is broken, make one with your coat), dog training, story telling, marine biology, snuggles and so much JOY!  On the way home we even planned a new activity for this year’s learning plan and she started working on it right after lunch using photos from this very day (a playful scrapbook, all design and word choices are hers and I love to see how she is getting the vintage typewriter to help her out).

I love homeschooling, especially on magic days such as these.  I love September, especially when the sun shines like it has been.  There is a crispness in the air and a newness in our schedules that makes the coming season seem so full of possibility. Hope you too are enjoying this beauty-full time of year!

P.S. In case you are wondering where we were, this was Whalebone Beach.  Of course she decided it needed a whale….

whale spotted at whalebone beach

be in awe

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Today I am heading out to the beach to join a Young Naturalists group (kids and their parents) for some exploration and fun.  I know that they will be keen to share in the discovery that low tide brings.  I know that they will be in awe.  I know that I will hear many cries of “Look!”.  And I bet there will be laughter.  How lucky am I to have a job that invites such moments into my days!?

LOOK mary oliver P.S. this quote from Mary Oliver, so grateful for her words that leave me in awe!