Shooting the Breeze

I'm Back!

2008-06-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

Well here I am, finally.
I have been busy learning and growing as an artist and person.
What a year it has been.

We were able to take a wonderful trip to B.C. to celebrate our grandson's first birthday.

My husband has taken on a promotion in his work. I am so proud of him for all that he does.

I have enjoyed doing comissions and also just drawings of interest and challenge.

One portrait that was just for fun, was of my husband. His hair is now shorter and he is thinner but it still looks pretty much like he does now.

The other one I am posting here is of a hat and pair of mittens, these were to experience still life and texture.

The important thing about this picture is that it is of my fathers hunting toque and mittens. These are items that I had knitted for him and he wore always for the cold days and while hunting. They were on his dresser with his other hunting gear ready for another hunting season. Sadly, they will not be used as my Father has passed on and will never wear these again.

You may say that they are my inheritance, and a rich one at that. For the memories they invoke are intensely deep and joyous.

Spring is in the air!

2007-03-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

Another season has passed.

As we welcome spring it means we must say good bye to winter. It seems that there is always good and bad in everything or in this case every season. Sadly this winter the cold claimed the lives of about eight people in Saskatchewan alone. There were plenty of beautiful days as well as the deep bitter cold. The beauty of freshly fallen snow or the tingle of that morning nip in the air were certaintly wonderful.

Myself I think I would tire of the monotony of a moderate climate. I need to experience the highs and lows of all seasons to stimulate my physical and mental well being. It seems that my body depends on the changes to stay in shape.

Im always ready for the next season when it comes. God has promised us the seasons, how good to know that when I start longing for that nip in the air l can rest assured that it will soon be there for me to enjoy!

Enjoy the new season, what ever that may mean to you.
B.

2007-02-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

A useful gadget
Occasionally I will be posting reviews of products I believe to be useful. It is my intent to share my love for gadgets and to encourage you to incorporate them into your lives rather than just stuffing them into a cupboard.

Knowing the value of an item is more than knowing its retail price. The value comes in its usefulness, and more importantly its usefulness in your life.

Here is an item that I would love to own it is called the OQO02.
This is an astounding piece of technology that would fit quite nicely on my desktop, in my hand and in my life.

It measure a mere 5.6”(w) x 3.3”(h) x 1.0”(d) with a basic weight of under 1 pound.
Do not be thrown by its size or good looks, this gadget will definitely perform. It has the capability to be your desktop in your hand. Truly powerful enough to provide the performance I would need for all my personal and professional productivity anytime and anywhere. It is presently referred to as “the world’s smallest Windows Vista PC”

The viewing area is an enjoyable 5” with a native resolution of 800x840. The screen is WIDE VGALCD with active digitizer. The keyboard has some neat little features as well, with integrated backlighting, a track stick, and touch scroll capabilities. As an avid user of a PDA I can appreciate the details in this keyboard and the comfort of the design, these features will make using the item a pleasure I am sure.

Other features I think are great would be the storage capacity and the option for an external drive. With this amount of readily available space, there is little need for memory sticks, flash cards or other items as so often needed for portable work options.

It is always handy accessing the data on my PDA from my desktop and from my desktop to PDA with the ease of popping the PDA into its docking cradle. The OQO goes even further, when docked in its station it can actually be accessed using the desktop keyboard and while using the desktop monitor as well. Oh yes, and the optical drive can be used for reading and writing DVDs and CDs how handy is that, I have not managed those tasks with my handheld yet.

Special note: to the poster (Your loving husband) who asked, after reading my last post, "but what am I to do about birthdays and Christmas?" This would do just fine wink wink.

I love the design, the size and most of all the functionality, this is so powerful you don’t need anything else and yet it could be an addition and compliment to a desktop system. This gadget when used well, has the potential to increase the accessibility of all your documents, videos, pictures etc. that you have. Making life simple by providing true integrated portablity, how nice is that.

B.

Technology and Simple Living in the kitchen

2007-02-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

Technology and simple living, do they really belong together.
I think yes, if you define simple living as living functionally and efficiently in the world as it is today.
Some think of living off the grid and/or denying oneself of common conveniences as simple living. For them I guess that is true to their definition of the term. What I strive for is a simplified life. One where appliances, equipment and different aids are well used for their intended purposes.
It mystifies me how one kitchen needs so many appliances. Each appliance is touted as being the dream machine, that master of all. If that is so then why must we have another that does many of the same things. For example, think of how many kitchens have a food processor, handheld blender, counter blender and handheld mixer with removable beaters. Talk about redundancy. If this situation was assessed for ultimate functionality and to simplify the task at hand, the best and most universal of the bunch would be selected and the others donated to a needy cause. This would not only free up cupboard and counter space but would now simplify the steps needed to make something. Reach for the appliance and get going on the task at hand. No more rummaging and deciding on the tool of the moment, a quick selection from one or two and your set.
This process can be repeated over and over. Grills, griddles, meat machines, and grooved fry pans. Also with toasters, toaster ovens, combo toasters, bagel toasters etc.
Right down to knives, cutlery and glasses. What do we really need? What do we really use?

This is where I define simple living a little differently, keep the power, keep the eqipment as it can offer better functionality to our lives. No harm with appliances and gadgets, but lets just be reasonable when assessing what it is that we really need.

As the stress grows in our civilization it seems to be time to take things in hand. Time to take control of our lives rather than being controlled by our lifestyles.

Just some ramblings for thought
B.

Blog beginnings

2007-02-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

I guess it was only a matter of time before I stepped into the world of blogging.
Not sure why I dragged my feet on this one, I guess, perhaps, it is that I am just a little too shy to write something and put it out for any and all to read.

Reading blogs is a pastime I find to be enjoyable and even educational.
No doubt every topic, personality and situation has been written about in a blog somewhere.

Although these postings may not be of new topics or situations, I trust that you will at least find them enjoyable.

B.