the day after the garage sale hello

 Hi Adele,
 Nicole and I talked of many things in that short visit and today I was drawn to stuff that reminded me of our conversation.

We talked about “Decisions”... how while making them there is this, wrestling that goes on between your brain and your gut instinct.

And today leafing through the newspaper I found this

We talked about people and missing the group and friendships and hurt.

And today I was reminded of this piece of my writing, of not so long ago

Praying for courage to be me.

To live in harmony with different parts of myself.

Who have I become?

Hurt hurts

Hurts magnify

Magnify weakness

Weakness celebrates

Celebrates doubt

Doubt taints

Taints judgement

Judgement erodes

Erodes self

Self stresses

Stresses pressure

Pressure multiplies

Multiplies turmoil

Turmoil arrests

Arrests suppress

Suppress hurt

Hurt hurts

When will hurt heal?

Who am I becoming?

Hurts heal

Heal deep

Deep truths

Truths trigger

Trigger Love

Love unconditional

Unconditional giving

Giving Taking

Taking returning

Returning circles

Circles enable

Enable freedom

Freedom encircles

Encircles hurts

Hurts heal

We talked about finding work that pays $$$ and we wholeheartedly agreed that “purpose” had a far greater pull… I told her about this book, ‘The Fall of Freddie the Leaf’. Every Fall since they were little, I read it with my boys [now 18 and 15]… They humor me and I love it! It talks of many things, this time, most important for me is - trusting the unknown.

And today, I picked up the book and had such a fun time recording it on Garage band. All the time thinking of John Scully's detailed instructions at the Media literacy PDs. I want to work on it some more before I send it out.

I told Nicole about my sister who understands “restlessness” and how she invited me to breathe- just breathe - naming what I feel - then sending it out into the universe while thinking of other people feeling the same way.
Nicole gifted me this card

And today this card has found its place in my home.

We talked about how people say the weirdest things, that can knock the wind out of you in the moment. Yet, if you are willing to be aware, you realize, something within needs care. Questions led to more questions and we agreed that sometimes people, they just ask questions that are flawed. 

And today my Yoga instructor shared this quote 

Was today an example of synchronicity or was it God ordained?

garage sale hello

Hello again Adele!

Greetings from Melanie, Erica and Nicole!

Nicole has been doing a give away/garage sale today to clear out her old apartment of extra stuff.
Both Erica and Melanie dropped by at the exact moment that the first snow fall of the year occurred. We tried to take a photo of it outside but it had already past. So fleeting!
Erica took away with her Nicole's old 8 pound weights. And right this very second, as Nicole is typing on the computer, Melanie is sifting through the piles of things looking for treasures. She is going to take away some board games, Martini glasses and Nicole's old favourite bamboo and cloth lamp. Melanie says she takes up the challenge of trying to use all three at the same time. We spoke of you together and wanted to send you our love.

OX 

Melanie, Nicole and Erica  

walking in full colour

Dear Adele,
Cass hosted another arts and crafts evening. Many worthy shoes were painted. Mine are the multicoloured ones and Cass's are the red and yellow ones. I thought it might be fun to wear them while teaching.

We share with you this little spark of creativity today Adele. 

We honour the power of women gathering and creating together.

much love,

Nicole (and Cass too)

looking up 
looking in 
dreaming 
pause
looking up
looking in
thinking of 
you Adele 
with Joy
Michelle 

So lovely to see you today, Adele. Thanks for joining me for the fabulous Consecon Santa Claus Parade! It turned out comics couldn't compete with Santa and his handouts so I didn't have too many customers. I'll have to post my own doodles that I made to entice kids to make comics with me. Enjoy! xoxo Martha

musical sharing

Dear Adele,
I went to a concert today and took some photos to share with you.

I share just to offer a window into the world of what I am listening to these days. Only take a listen if you have time and would like the distraction.

beirut

The band Beirut is my happy-feel-good music.
An interesting fusion of eastern european brass band meets western modern melodies.

Check out one of their songs here:
https://youtu.be/PermEZ18IXg
Lots of playful contemporary dance in that video.

I think this next song is my favourite though. This video is a unique one-shot live version:
https://youtu.be/hq2s0AhdFE4






I ran into Lise Beaudry and her partner. Did you know Lise? She has a nine year child now. (Lise took credit in the conversation for having sent John to LTTA. John, you can decide if she gets the  commission for that find.) She loved the concert and said not to mind her puffy eyes as she had wept all the way though. Some happy-feel-good music also makes you cry. Such is life.












Can you see the accordion player in the background in the right hand photo?

My favourite performer was the drummer. He just had a great big grin on his face for the whole show. It made a real difference to have that kind of positive spirit driving the beat for the whole ensemble. Quite a metaphor for other group collaborations!

Towards the end of the show fans threw rose petals and flowers on the stage.

stromae

And while I'm sharing, I saw a concert by another favourite artist recently. Stromae is big time famous in Europe but just starting to get known in English North America. He sings in French and is from Belgium.

Here is one of his hit songs that I keep playing over and over:
https://youtu.be/oiKj0Z_Xnjc
It's about a son trying to reach out and understand his distant father. There's a line in that song that says, "Everyone knows how to make babies, but no one knows how to make fathers." The dancing in this video is grand fun. I like it a lot.

And here is another favourite. I adore the videography in this one. I'm sure it took a lot of work to make it look so simple and free. It's a love song to one of his early musical influences, Evora Cesaria, from St. Vincent.
https://youtu.be/rO1VDCZh_Ko




Just sharing that joy of music today Adele. Thinking of you.
Nicole

peacock angel

A peacock angel to watch over you. 

Love, Ellen.

cloud bird

thinking of you today

kind wishes from Nicole

Greetings Adele,

More creative interactions with educators over the past few days.  Last week I was with Martha at Sagonaska School introducing the digital media arts program to some new and some returning teachers. I am always so impressed with the calibre of the staff at that school and how they are willing to take a leap with you. It is a privilege and pleasure to work with people who take creative risks and work outside of their comfort zones.

Today I am in Calgary working with more teachers on the DMA project. We started at an art gallery at the University of Calgary where the collages and assemblages of Robert Moppett are on display. Every sort of object, text and painting style is used in the art work. 

 Viewing the works in the gallery really inspired the teachers to look at art and creativity in a new way. Their next task was to try to make their own assemblage with provided images and objects. They rose to the occasion and made some really exciting pieces and spoke articulately about their process of collaborating and creating (the real purpose of the activity). I feel lucky to be in the company of such enthusiastic educators. There is hope for the next generation of teachers and students if they educational system can be filled with people such as these.

Good wishes and hugs to you,

John

a message from Adele

I look regularly at the blog and am forever in awe of the creativity of this group of people.  You bring light to a situation that could be quite defeating and I’m not sure that you are truly aware of the gift that you have given me.  

During treatment there is always talk of the cancer journey, which can be a rather tiresome reference.  It is definitely a journey but one that is filled with detours and sometimes roadblocks.  Depending on the timing, the detour could be a landslide or a little creek to cross. 

All of you have made this journey so much easier to bear.  

My thanks for the support is unending.  

Hi Adele,

Well it's Halloween and time for creative family time.  So the blended extended family had a theme this year.  Voyageurs!  We dressed up and the almost three year old was given a small paddle to carry - what could possibly go wrong with this plan?  Fortunately the allure of candy and practicing the awkward phrase thank-you was his prime concern.  Also insisting on striding forth on foot rather than availing himself of the often repeated offer of a seat in the wagon disguised as a canoe.  We were a big hit on the street.  One mother was very delighted as she is French Canadian from Winnipeg and when her 10 year old was 18 months they'd done something very similar.  Pictures had to be taken to show her husband who was probably out with the 10 year old collecting goodies. Next year the plan is to recycle the costumes and learn a few voyageur songs - oh yes and traffic different streets in case anyone remembers us! Apparently there was a little altering of the picture to make it look older.