I sure haven't been around here in a while! Looks like my last post was in May...it's February now, so it would appear that I'd given up on the house and the blog entirely. Well, let's just call it a sabbatical.
2013 wasn't without moments of joy, but the loss of many loved ones made for a sorrowful year. I didn't feel a lot of creative spark, or much desire to write, at least not about furniture and paint colours. I don't believe that any creative pursuit is frivolous, but for some reason any time I thought about posting to the blog, it felt somehow insensitive. Of course I know that those that I've lost would never want me to stop doing things I enjoy, but hey, I enjoyed watching TV and stress-eating, too.
The aforementioned moments of joy included spending time with my friends, family, pets and fella, reading
101 books and spending three weeks in Mexico. The traveling was like all traveling is for me, 70% "This is awesome!" and 30% "Why the f*cK do I keep doing this?" Okay, maybe 60/40. But it did kind of get me back into the swing of things, and being surrounded by beautiful colours, friendly people and incredible artwork never hurts. We spent some time in the jungle, rented an apartment in my favourite town and spent a few days in Mexico City (where I only got pickpocketed on the subway once!) Well, out of all the times I've been in Mexico City, once ain't bad, and the guy was a total PRO. I mean, talk about a craft.
I came home to my basement renovation (still ongoing!) My Uncle M has been working on it (with a least a
little help from us) any time he gets the chance. Of course, this means that everything that was in my basement has been in my living room (floor to ceiling, wall to wall) for 5 months. That's getting a bit old, but I'm happy it's getting done at all. This isn't a rec room type reno, more of a bonus-space spruce-up. Once we're done, my studio, C's office and the laundry will be down there. We stripped out all of the disgusting old insulation, and the ceiling coverings (that's a whole other post!) We've had the foundation fixed, 3 windows installed and M has rewired the entire basement, installed rigid insulation and is nearly finished framing. Once that's done, there's some plumbing to tackle, the stairs to repair, walls to put up, a floor to epoxy and an incredible amount of painting to do. So, hardly anything....
I can't wait to be able to show you before and after photos, but it'll have to wait til the 'After' occurs.
For now, here are some of my photos from Mexico, which will at least make
me feel a little better, after suffering through this painfully long Winnipeg winter.
 |
| Toucan |
 |
Guacamaya Rojas (Scarlet macaws) in Chiapas.
|
 |
Palenque Ruins, Chiapas
|
 |
Baby monkey!
|
 |
Resting mariposas at the Palenque ruins.
|
 |
Talavera house numbers from the Mexico City Artisans Market (one of my favourite shopping destinations...)
Although the numbers look black and blue, they're all blue.
|
 |
| Huichol skull, talavera skull and two amber skulls with articulated jaws. |
 |
| La Sirena nicho. |
 |
| Dia de los Muertos painting with clay skulls. |
 |
| Embroidered Otomi pillowcases. |
 |
Ink drawing.
|
 |
| Small beaded hummingbird. |
 |
| Guillermo y Lupita, my beaded lizards from Chiapas. |
 |
| My second favourite thing about Mexico City, the churros at Churreria el Moro. Best ever. And the hot chocolate is perfection in a mug. |
 |
| My very favourite thing in Mexico City, Frida Kahlo's house, Casa Azul. |
