Le Tour de Fleece

de France" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="193" height="193">Image via Wikipedia

Le Tour de Fleece


It's been a long time since I joined a fiber challenge but with having the month of July to myself I figured it would be fun.

My challenge to spin every day from July 4th to July 26th. I have lots and lots of fiber to spin.

Due to my foot injury and it's slow healing process, much of the spinning will be done with a spindle. Not a bad thing really. I enjoy my spindles.

Currently I'm working on a fleece to shawl project. The fleece is a grey/black icelandic that I purchased from a local farm a year ago. I'm doing a navajo ply then dying it with a red food colouring. So far it's looking pretty good. The pattern is Cold Mountain. Their picture show's this in lace weight but mine will be a bit heavier than that.

I'll let you know how I make out. Pictures to follow.


Following down my Diva path....

The Cozy Coaches, of The Raw Divas, have been working together since last December and are really excited to be presenting a new recipe book very, very soon. Details to follow!!

I'm doing well making sure that I take in more greens and more fresh fruit and veggies. This is always a bit of a struggle for me since I truly am a fan of all breads! lol I'm looking forward to the upcoming Body Enlightenment System that will start mid July. Click the banner at the top of my blog for more info. One of the benefits is that once you purchase the program you have it for life and are always invited back, free, for the live events. This July marks my first year anniversary with the BES! I am excited!!

For today I'm looking forward to getting into the pool but with the current rain it's not overly inviting.

Off to plan my afternoon and evening. Perhaps I need to wash some more fleece to prep for spinning! lol

Til again,
Doll

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]">

Calm, cool and collected!

Image by Telendro via Flickr

That's my mantra for the day. I'm sitting in my hotel room in Laval attempting to relax before dressing for the big gig tonight! Is it working? Slightly...I think.

I am calm. (working on this one)

I am cool. (air conditioning is working well)

I am collected. (all is ready to go)

Now, if yahoo and google maps could just give me the same results when I do a search of the venues I would be so very happy. Even my Blackberry gives me a different route. What's a gal to do?!

So I sit here, working on french lyrics and diction for tonight. I love playing for the choir and am honored that I am given the opportunity to also sing with them. So much fun!

The venue tonight is a local church. I'm looking forward to it as many churches have amazing accoustics.

As for Laval, haven't seen too much other than a few blocks from the hotel. We visited a wonderful grocery/bakery during lunch today where I was able to get a bag of ripe plums and are so sweet and juicy. Yummy!

I can see Mont Royal from our 7th story window. Not sure but we might venture into the city (Montreal) later tomorrow before heading for home. I figure it's been about 20 years since I've even been this close. Gee if I could wait until Tuesday I could go and see Stevie Wonder!! Montreal is a great place to be!!!

Well off to make myself beautiful for tonight!

Are you doing anything exciting this weekend?

Til again,
Doll

Summer is Comin' In!

Image via Wikipedia

Loudly sing Cuckoo!

Well depending on your neighbours possibly not too loudly! lol

June is definitely one of my favorite months. Not just because it's my birthday month but because of the great weather and the promise of summer. I absolutely love the water and wait for the pool to warm up to about 66F before I jump in. This week it's been sitting at 70F and so refreshing to swim laps. Much warmer than that and it's nice but...not as refreshing!







My food plan for this week is fairly simple; at least for me. I'm working on about 70% raw right now and it feels good for me. Isn't that what the whole diet and food process is all about? For me it's about balance and finding something that I really can stay with over the long haul. My staple right now is watermelon! The melons right now, although not yet local, are really sweet and wonderful. My only problem is being sure that I don't eat any after the dinner hour. All that water needs to go somewhere, right? I really do prefer sleeping through the night. lol

Off to plan my day. Make yours wonderful! I know mine will be.

Til again,
Doll

Take a look!!!

This is really exciting!! Only one week to go before:




I've signed up...come and join me!

Our new neighbour!

What a sweet little fellow! He stayed there while I took down the laundry.

Still struggling...looking for gigs!

Those of you who are near and dear to me know about my fall and struggles with my foot. So...being the brave little girl I am I finally went to the Dr and for xrays! Don't know anything yet. I have physio to go to as well but after the initial meeting I simply don't have the bucks to pay for that. So much for universal health care in Ontario eh? At least the Dr's appointment and xray was "free". I really do need an additional health care plan. That's next on the list along with increasing my income.

Anyone need some "live" entertainment for an upcoming garden party?? I'm good at soft music and can fade into the wood work of any indoor or outdoor party. lol Translates: I really am a performer but don't need to take centre stage.

Playing my portable piano doesn't put too much strain on my ankle which is a very good thing. Playing a baby grand would be much more pain-filled.

So if you need a great piano player just drop me an email. Will travel any where in the Ottawa/Eastern Ontario region. I take cash, cheque, and paypal! lol

Well, there you have it. Plain and simple. I need some money and am willing to work. lol Just don't put me weeding in the garden...foot wouldn't take that too well! See, I haven't lost my sense of humor!


I'm almost finished a shawl that was to be in a silent aution in May. Will post pictures asap!

Have a super week!
Til again,
Doll

Thanks to all my students for a great year!

Snow or Hail??

Difficult to tell what time of year it is. I simply could not believe that hail could fall like snow lol Thinking about how I was lounging by the pool yesterday afternoon; moving into the shade because I was too hot! Now really!

And now? Sky is blue; everything around here is beautiful and green. Life is growing and great!

Have a super day!

til again,
Doll

Loving the sunshine!

The day is chilly but beautiful! One of the things I love about spring is the warmer temps and few bugs...at least in my back yard. lol The pool is inviting but still way too cold.

Seems like I've been on a roller coaster ride with my food and exercise. For me there seems to be no real middle ground. I'm either all the way or next to nothing. What happened to taking things bit by bit. Is it really possible to move along on this journey without obsession? Or, is it just that I have such an obsessive personality? Inquiring minds NEED to know. How's that for obsession?!?

I think about food all the time. What I'm eating; not eating; what I'm cooking; not cooking and so on. Guess I could find something to replace the obsession with but not sure that's a good idea either. I'm know there's all sorts of therapy for this stuff. Oh wait, been there, done that! lol Goodness me!

So, I'll continue on my path. It zig-zags and goes up and down hills and vales (lots) but that's all part of life. Right?

Do you have a straight line map that you follow? Does your path lead you to where you wish to be?

If you have some ideas please share.

Til again,
Doll

Still here

Boy it's been a while since I've posted. Not that life has been busy on the contrary things have slowed somewhat.

I had a slight incident with my back steps. They broke, I fell through and off...not a pretty picture. Neither is my foot. It's a slow heal but coming along. The down side is that I had just started to get back into my cardio routines. UGH! The universe was telling me it was past time to sit for a while.

I've definitely rested but can't say that I enjoyed the time much though. lol Got to make the best of all things. Right?

It's a holiday weekend here in Canada. For my Canadian friends, do you have special plans this weekend??? The pool is open and I've been in it 2 times. Chilly, refreshing and so inviting. Now if the weather would co-operate. lol

til again,
Doll

Mailice in the Palace Choir Loft

Time to ....

Change! I need to change how I look at my food; how I feel about the food I eat. I definitely give too much power to my nourishment. I focus on what I will eat, what I'm going to eat, what I need to buy for each meal; what time I eat; sometimes I think about not eating....

Definitely an obsession! Definitely has far too much focus in my life. For the next few days my plan is to relax and NOT think about food. Possible? I believe so. I know it's something I must do. My poor eating habits have become a source of self destruction. NOT good! I am better and bigger than all of this.

I'm going to dig deep and find the strength I know is there.

There you have it...given a little push and the out come will be positive.

til again
Doll

My latest site!

Raw Food and Green Living

This is my latest site. Squidoo is pretty new for me and has some great features. Another great platform for networking and marketing. Lots of terrific information on just about any subject you can imagine. Just on over and let me know what you think.

til again,
Doll

It's Friday!

Enough said! Have a great weekend!!!

about Mondays!

The beginning is the most important part of the work.

-Plato

I'll also add the Monday is the most important part of the week. Well for some of us it is...others, not so much. I guess I really look at Monday as the beginning, the do-over for a new week; a fresh start!

Sunday is a work day for me; it's my day of worship but as a church musician it's also what I do to pay the rent. Monday is my day of rest. I relax, take care of me and re-group my thoughts, goals and inspiration.

Starting each week is easy. The sun goes down then rises once again. The alarm goes off; I throw open the curtains and let the light come in. I'm awake. Well, at least some might say so.

Beginning is putting one foot in front of the other. Have you seen the movie "Awakenings"? The are times in the story when one or more of the characters completely stop moving. Usually just a little nudge from someone and they're ok and off again. The beginning is like this. Sometimes it's just the nudge to get going is all that is needed. Once you have the momentum it's easy to keep at it.

ie once the dishes are washed and put away isn't it easier to look at the counter and clean it off as well? Just doing the one thing leads to another. Or, looking through your mail..often just opening up one piece leads to looking through another and so on. I'm sure you get my meaning.

For me there is nothing worse than in-activity or in-action. Without the motion...perpetual or otherwise I just find it difficult to get started.

Have you ever felt like this??? If you have felt like this what helped you to get going again? Please share your thoughts.


Til again,
Doll

Happy Easter!

Wishing all a super, wonderful day!!

Here it's cold but bright and sunny. The sunshine is deceptive. I took a stroll out the back door and decided after 2 or 3 minutes that being in cotton sleeves and birks(baretoes) is not the way to go today!

So, I'm back inside and making an attempt at creativity.

I have re-affirmed my goal to a healthier lifestyle and to lose the abundance of added weight on my body. This has been a long time coming. In one year I've gone up, down and back up again. I'm the kind of person who needs direction and drive!

Ok, so I have the road map I want to use. It's a combination of different food plans and exercise programs that I am putting together to fit my needs and busy life. Now all I need is the drive and determination. Perhaps it's not about discipline but of habit like many others have told me.

I am creating my life over and over again. With new routines (habits) I see myself completing my goal feeling healthy, happy and perhaps a little sexy? Well...that's not really for me to decide. lol

Life for me is all about balance. This is what I need and desire and so will create!

We celebrate Easter, a time of hope and reassurance of greatness ahead. Like the butterfly who emerges out of the cocoon after a long winters nap so will I. Watch out world as this caterpillar is about to grow wings!

New Favorite Song

My new favorite performing group: CELTIC THUNDER I don't think there are any of their songs that I don't like. Actually it's been a long time since I've really felt drawn to a specific group. Go figure! Music touches me deeply and Celtic Thunder more so than any I've heard lately. Enjoy! Let me know what you think.

A Bird Without Wings Lyrics

Like a bird without wings
That longs to be flying
Like a motherless child
Left lonely and crying
Like a song without words
Like a world without music
I wouldn't know what to do
I'd be lost without you
Watching over me

full lyrics

more lyrics

Spring has sprung!

Time to get those lingering toxins from winter, bad eating habits, pollution and stress OUT of your body to

make room for more energy and vitality!

Sign up for the 6-Week Deep Tissue Detox before bikini season hits!

Bright and Early

Well, definitely early for me but bright? Well if you can call the whiteness of the snow as being bright. Enough already!! I'm done with winter, snow, heavy coats, boots etc. I feel really sorry for the poor robins. They've been singing but don't sound too cheery this morning.

On to my journey....

This winter has been tough. I've had no focus and definitely no self control. I read somewhere that it's not about discipline as much as it is about habits. Both can be broken. Mine are and desperately in need of a mechanic. I make a plan; tweak it til it fits then on to the next step. I purchase the appropriate food and make sure both Nick and I know what's on deck each day. I decide which days I'm off to the pool and which days I do some activity at home.

All looks good on paper, right? Well it is a good, no, a great plan. Then guess what? Nothing. Like most people my Monday starts off with a bang, all things going accordingly. Tuesday...less so and well, you know the rest of the story. All of which begins again the following Monday.

Getting frustrated and desperate here. I need additional motivation. (she cries out to the universe since of course the universe is awake this early in the day lol) Ok, so I can cut the drama but really friends something needs to happen. I need a wake-up call...literally!!!

Ideas, comments, help...please let me know your best thoughts on this.

Off to do what I do...

til again,
Doll