When I started dreaming about quitting my day job to work with Leigh-Ann at Freckled Nest I knew that it would be more than I could imagine. More rewarding, more exciting and at times it’s also been more challenging.

The funny thing that I’ve found about owning a business is that many times I’ve found the most challenging thing I have to manage in my business is myself! That was especially true this summer when I found that it was hard to keep my focus on the big picture when there was so much that needed my attention from day to day. I needed to see the spaciousness of possibilities in the life I was creating, but I found it really hard to keep that wider perspective.

The fall has been such an energizing and inspring time in my world, and I’m so thankful to have found a balancing act that works better for me!  I’ve slowly stopped rushing to where the most urgent thing is and started thinking about what my idea week would look like, and then piecing out my days so I can work toward all different kinds of goals- big and small, urgent and slow burning.

It’s a great feeling to have found a way to balance my design work & supporting Freckled Nest’s team of designers- along with having time for family and friends again. Best of all I’ve been making more for myself & Jesse to connect and have fun together every week.

Next month I’ll be starting my second year as a full time creative- an owner and partner in Freckled Nest, and I feel like I’m starting to get a taste of what the next year will be like. It’s going to be a busy, positive & energized one that’s full of new discoveries and possibilities – along with a better balancing act – and I’m so excited to explore it day by day.

{image: from Thanksgiving, pre-hair dying :)}

September went by in a blur, and without blogging I missed writing, photography & sharing everything so much! It was fun to stay connected on twitter but tiny updates aren’t as satisfying as posting about the big picture, so this is what my September looked like…

Taking a break from blogging gave me back lots of time everyday  to work on client projects and work ahead on whatever I needed to. The weather was mostly gorgeous and warm, so I started walking to work while I still could. Because Jesse took some holiday time we got a chance to walk in together with the little dogs on the first day when there was just a little chill in the air. It was luxurious to take our time and sip coffee while walking through the city to the studio.

The only problem that followed?

Honestly, I get sick so easily!! I swear, if I lived in the Victorian times I wouldn’t have made it past childhood.

Thankfully I got into the doctor quickly, but only after a week of having no idea what was going on & why I couldn’t stop napping for hours on end! There’s nothing like having to take care of yourself to help you remember how to treat your body well and I’ve learned my lesson. The fun part about being sick was that my puppies wouldn’t leave me alone- all they wanted to do was cuddle me. Far be it from me to deprive them of their emotional needs :)

After about ten days I started feeling like myself again and got to start having a little fun again. Jesse and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary, work became so much more fun with all of my energy back, and Amber & I started going to concerts and having TV marathon nights together every week. It’s been really fun & balanced, and left me super charged with inspiration!

One of the highlights of September has been really lovely things arriving through the month. With Amber joining Freckled Nest we needed to get a desk for her, and when her teal desk arrived fit perfectly into our studio space. Not to mention that it matched Amber’s glasses perfectly! I think it was fated. I also ordered a set of beautiful plugs that I had so much trouble waiting for. After what seemed like forever they arrived just last week and are so gorgeous! One pair is gemstone- white and pearly, and one pair is black with white lace. They’re still a little too big for me, but I can’t wait until I can wear them. I also ordered a beautiful ring from Pretty Zoo that I can’t wait to see- having little things to look forward to is such a nice feeling :)

I didn’t mean for it to happen, but September was like a creative retreat. I had lots of time to rest and explore new inspiration, I had time dive into my favourite blogs and explore lots of new ones, and got to catch up with friends. Balance between work & life can be really hard to keep a hold of, especially when you’re the person who sets your hours, but I know I’m on the right track- and not only am I on the right track, I can stay on it.

How was your September?

Fill me in on what I missed!

Last night I was going through my kitchen garden and checking the growing my vegetables have been doing, when I realized that I wasn’t alone…

I don’t know much about caterpillars, but I wanted to research them to make sure they wouldn’t hurt my dill, register themselves as residents of our home on the census or turn into velociraptors. I did a quick google search which revealed that:

1) caterpillar identification technology online is advanced to the point of being quite amusing

2) if everything goes right, I might have two very beautiful butterflies in a little while!

image by Dr. PhotoMoto

They seem to be Black Swallowtail caterpillars, and until I can be sure I’m going to keep a close eye on my two guests and try to ensure they have a safe place to grow up and blow away. This kind of ordinary magic is the best in my books.

A few weeks ago, I realized that new neighbours have moved in up the street. I was walking the dogs with Jesse as the sun was beginning to set, and as we crossed the street onto our block I looked up to find a racoon had locked eyes with me. He was on the roof of a house, next to a racoon sized hole that led to the attic. His head lowered and he sunk down close to the roof he was perched on, watching me closely.

I yelped, moved sideways so fast I almost knocked Jesse into the street, and completely disoriented the dogs.

Living in a city that has two rivers running through it, I’ve always heard a lot about raccoons- mostly that they come out at night and they’re to be steered clear of- but I’ve also always thought that they’re incredibly cute and misunderstood. Seeing that little masked face in person was alarming initially, but after I got past being startled and had assured myself that the racoon was not going to leap off the roof and onto my head? After that point I was curious. The racoon was just quiet and stared at me, moving its head slowly as the dogs and I passed by.

After the first sighting, it was official: they’re here to stay! And more than that, they’ve become characters in my daily life.

In no time I had the family situation assessed: there was a lady racoon inside the house’s attic, and her escort was sitting guard outside. In the morning they sit on the roof together, lapping water of the eavestrough. In the afternoon one of them sleeps on the corner of the roof under a shady tree’s branches. In the early evening the gentleman racoon surveys the activity from the peak of the roof. As the weeks have passed they’ve been getting comfortable and relaxed, and when we go trundling by the house they barely blink.

Then last night I hit the jackpot of cute: the babies are starting to play outside!

So far it’s always been too dark to get photos, but they’re the size of this little guy and were tumbling around on the roof with each other while the mom and dad looked on. I’m going to plan our walks carefully for the next little while so we’re not on the same side of the street in case the parents get protective, but it’s been a sweet highlight in my day to see their little racoon family going about their business in their attic condo.

I’m glad that it’s not my attic that they’re living in, but I’m happy for our bandit neighbours. I think they’ll only stay until the river goes down and then they’ll be back to their normal lives, but in the mean time I hope they go undiscovered. For what it’s worth, their secret is safe with me.

Edit: If you’re having raccoon problems check out this great resource on humane ways to manage them and brush up on your facts! Special thanks to Jesse.Anne.O for the links.

{images: Berkley Illustration, Sharon Montrose, neonman}

We planted our garden late this year- but it’s in the ground and ready to become dinner soon. I love having fresh veggies to pick out of the backyard, and this year I’m trying some new plants- including kale and eggplant!

I wanted to show the progress so far, but I’ve never been able to get a picture that shows the garden all in one frame, and having lots of small photos makes it look more like I live on a small farm! I thought a fun way to show you around would be by making a quick video from right after we put the garden in…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uwzE2s1u2I

I can’t wait for everything to get growing so I can eat tomato + basil sandwiches! In the mean time? Waiting for the plants to grow is the perfect excuse to head to the farmer’s market for wild blueberries and fresh perogies.

Are you a farmer’s market person?

Our biggest just had it’s opening weekend! I love going early, before the rush when the whole place is all about bedhead hidden under ball caps, fresh coffee & great food. In my book those are the ingredients for a perfect weekend.

Today is my birthday, and I wanted to duck in and write a quick post before heading out to be with Jesse and my family today. Last year on this day I set some pretty big goals that would set the stage for my being able to quit my job and work on design, blogging and my creative passions full time. Looking back at that post is surreal- I wouldn’t have believed it if someone had told me this is where I would be a year later, and I’m so incredibly grateful for all of your support!

I love the idea of a birthday list and of setting my intentions for the year, and I’m excited to make it a tradition.

This year I will…

Be intentional with my attention. As I’ve been working on my time management I’ve been realizing how much impact what I pay attention to in my day to day life has on me! I can choose to focus on good or bad, on places of conflict or places where I can learn and grow, and on relationships that are one way or two way streets. I’m set on rooting myself in things that are positive and energize me, I think it will make every day a little better.

Give back the blog love! I’ve been making time every day to reply to comments and I’m excited to spend time exploring the blogs of the readers who comment here. I love getting to know everyone who reads my blog and to find new ways to build community here- I’m looking forward to finding some really neat ways to do that

Make sure the words “marriage” and “friendship” are verbs. I want to be active, reaching out, and invested in my marriage and friendships. Over the winter I was more than a little hermit-y and I’m excited to break out of that habit and give back to the people who are so important to me.

Find ways for Freckled Nest to make a big impact in helping people. I’m so proud that our company has the kind of heart that lets our clients trust us talk to us about everything from how to grow their businesses to their relationship troubles. I’m looking forward to finding more places for us to make a big difference in the lives of our clients, it’s so gratifying to be a part of.

Jump in! This year I want to say yes, take chances, be completely passionate and driven, find ways to lift up the people around me, to write authentically and be actively engaged in kindness. I want to wake up early and stay up late, and to take it all in.

No matter what happens in the coming year?
I have a feeling that it’s going to be an amazing ride.

Thanks for being a part of it with me!

We’ve been going through a cold snap- and of course this is at a time when more than anything I want to get my bike restored and start riding around the city, wearing skirts again & sitting outside on patios! I want spring to come so badly.

This week has been crazy- we’ve been having work finished on the house so we’re less likely to flood out in the spring, which has meant working from home while worker boys in boots tromping around the house, drilling holes in the basement floor and appointments with home inspectors.

I’m glad that we’re ready for whatever the prairie spring deals us now, and I’m ready for the next part of this year to start! But instead of being restless and stir crazy and putting the house up for sale like we almost did last winter, I made an etsy inspiration board because I’ve been behind on my Friday Finds :)

Tiny Woodland Terrarium Mush… WoodlandBelle $44.50	barquentine skirt, large, IN… Makool $128.00	three vintage textile bobbin… 5gardenias $19.50
Birds – 1-1.5 inch Circles,D… martora $2.50	Needle Felted Rabbit feltjar $15.00	DESK ORGANIZER Crafting Cind… lessandmore $57.00
Vintage Bee Print HighStreetVint… $10.50	Miss Charlotte – Yellow Flor… sunshineandcar… $14.00	Paris is a Feeling – 20×24 F… irenesuchocki $125.00
Luvli Lavender Organic Flowe… herbolution $1.30	Blue T i T Print – Fine Art … eastwitching $19.00	pair of vintage ceramic crea… ModishVintage $23.00
HEDGEHOG by DIMDI Original … dimdi $25.00	Dent Bud Vase PigeonToeCeram… $32.00	The Jade Taffeta Party Dress MelissaHartwic… $245.00

Discovery: inspiration boards are much less work than listing a house, and prettier too! ;)

Would someone who lives somewhere a little warmer mind if I came and slept on their couch for a little while? I’m a mean baker- I’m sure we could work something out.

Hope you’re having a beautiful Saturday!

Where I live, in Manitoba, today is Louis Riel day! I’m loving the long weekend & today Jesse and the puppies and I are hanging around the house. I’m in one of my comfiest dresses, eating a late breakfast and then tucking in for a day of design work. I love the sleepy, calm mornings that an extra day of weekend brings.

It’s the perfect excuse to put on another pot of coffee and leave the radio on all day, or to curl up in a sunbeam for the afternoon- even if I have my laptop with me. Tonight Jess and I are braving the cold to have dinner at a new pub we’re in love with called The Grove, and on a cold day it’s one of the few places I’ll dash out to! Until then? It’s slippers and coffee and sunshine.

Speaking of sunshine, I had to show off a new trick that the puppies invented!

We have a big rocking chair in the summer kitchen, and when Mal & Ash are cold and want to come they take a seat on it and keep an eye out for their humans. It keeps their paws warm and because they’re so little you can’t see them standing at the door, so the extra height is the perfect solution!

These little gentlemen are all kinds of clever :)

This Saturday morning I went down to get my coffee and was stopped dead in my tracks when I looked at my deck! Every now and then when it gets cold enough in the winter time you get to see a really cool thing happen: sublimation!

Do you remember your water cycle from high school science? Sublimation is when something goes from being a solid straight to being a gas- so in other words, the sun was at the perfect angle and I could actually see snow evaporating in the sunbeams!

I grabbed my camera and caught it for you, you can see a little bit of my breath too- but look for it happening by the brown building! Here’s a taste of what happens when it’s -32 °C / -26 °F in the prairies…

And the thing about writing me a postcard? I’m serious! I would love to actually get a note or a card from you, and I’ll write back to everyone who drops one in the mail!

Make sure you include your blog address if you have one so I can get to know you better :)

ps – I grabbed my old camera instead of my Flip, and the mic on it’s a bit broken so it gives me a lisp! Listen for my S’s lol :)

This weekend my mom and step dad tied the knot in our little family cabin in the middle of the snowy prairies. We had lots of fun and food, cuddled my mom’s puppies and laughed over champagne- it was a heartfelt and sweet start to their new lives together. I offered to play photographer for the day, and my mom was so beautiful that I had to share! Here’s a peek into their day…

Congratulations Roma & Bob!

ps – Your caterer’s personalized cheese plate is the highlight of my 2011 so far ;)