capturing december 18: stockings

Well, just one stocking in this case. But a felted, foxy stocking for baby's first Christmas.

capturing december 17: presents

Packages arriving from etsy sellers!

capturing december 16: outside christmas lights

capturing december 15: favourite holiday song

My favourite holiday song is one sung by my favourite musician.

capturing december 14: christmas tree

A fulsome Fraser fir.

capturing december 13: family

This is my mom applying coconut oil to baby J's cradle cap after a breastfeeding session. Keeping it real. Which is how family ought to be.

capturing december 12: a beautiful sight

I originally took a photo this morning of our outdoor evergreen and the fresh snowfall. A few hours later, I realized this warm pan of Pine Nut & Rosemary Brittle was far more beautiful. I love this time of year.

capturing december 11: green

capturing december 9: what I'm reading

Kate DiCamilo is an incredible writer who happens to mostly write children's books.

capturing december 8: ornament

I'd like to enjoy the ritual without getting too religious.

With the photo-a-day thing, I mean. What did you think I meant?

capturing december 7: bright

 Bright spot of the day was a very sweet opening for Katie Flindall's tree-house themed show at Impresario.

So bright, in fact, that one picture is not enough.

capturing december 6: shopping

A special, tiny-village, quilt shop-closing, pastry-eating shopping trip for Lesley's birthday. Just right. So right, in fact, that I missed posting yesterday. I'll try harder today.

Off in search of the "bright" thing.

capturing december 5: today's temperature

capturing december 4: joyous

We're still living with the flu over here, so here's a joyous shot of Jasper & I from last week at the Toronto Christmas Market. Photo by Kate Sheffield.

capturing december 3: red

capturing december 2: favourite holiday movie

Posted a day late due to yesterday's flu — but the flu also enabled me to watch Love Actually on Netflix, so it's all balanced out.

capturing december 1: my view today

let's do this: capturing december

With thanks and due to credit to Lianne, via Pinterest.

in the family way

That’s me these days. It’s obvious. Or maybe this belly has passed the point of obvious, and we’ve arrived at unavoidable. 

Either way, I’m happy to find myself in this place.


Those words, "the family way," have another meaning for me. I come from a big ol' family, and I’ve relied on their support for the whole of the journey that’s brought me here.


I’m reminded of all of this because I was recently at the centre of an old-fashioned ritual, one meant to welcome the new baby and celebrate my transition into this next phase of womanhood. We had delicious foods and bunting and crafts and multiple generations and blessingway beads and a lot of fun.

And now, with the first of a new generation on its way, I’m so grateful that we’re having this baby in the family way, knowing we have the support of a circle of wise women, and friends that are family, a couple of excited soon-to-be aunties and some truly great uncles. This babe is truly blessed already, and so am I.

 All photos by soon-to-be Auntie Em.

a settlement

Last week I attended a rural gathering of artful sorts with the intention of sharing poems about spring. Some were discovered, some were remembered, some were newly born.

This is what I was given, and this is what I brought:



Look, it’s spring. And last year’s loose dust has turned
into this soft willingness. The wind-flowers have come
up trembling, slowly the brackens are up-lifting their
curvaceous and pale bodies. The thrushes have come
home, none less than filled with mystery, sorrow,
happiness, music, ambition.

And I am walking out into all of this with nowhere to
go and no task undertaken but to turn the pages of
this beautiful world over and over, in the world of my mind.

* * *

Therefore, dark past,
I’m about to do it.
I’m about to forgive you
for everything.

—Mary Oliver, "A Settlement," from WHAT DO WE KNOW, Poems and Prose Poems

I've got a good excuse.

This blog is getting little love these days, but lots of other things in my life are getting all the attention they deserve.

Things like:

• Raising the Roof, and the Rent for Andy Frank - an all-star cast gathering for the benefit of a truly wonderful man.

•  I'm the voice behind the curtain at Borealis Records! Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.

• Things just keep on rolling at Roots Music Canada

• And of course, newly wedded bliss. 

Forgive me, won't you?