whatcha readin'? {2016::book 15 - goal 12}

September 19, 2016 Arlene Giddings

i had no idea
what to expect from this book.
i had never heard of it,
i don't know even know
where my copy of the book came from...
i assume i grabbed it at a booksale.

i picked it up one afternoon
and
i could not put it back down.

i read the whole book,
no, i devoured the book
in an afternoon.

it is not a light, happy read.

it is sad and frustrating and infuriating
but so beautifully written.

this was a first novel for kathleen grissom
but i just realized that there is a second part
to this book that came out in april 2016...
note to self - look for "glory over everything"
(and speaking of new books coming out
i just found out alice hoffman has a new book
coming in november!!!)

5 out of 5 ♥♥♥♥♥'s (i considered putting 6 out of 5 ♥'s...that's how good it was.)

NEXT UP: 11-22-63 - STEPHEN KING

fable tearoom...my new island favorite place to be...

September 17, 2016 Arlene Giddings

this image really has nothing to do with this post
other than to say that i am still in love with my anniversary flowers
and i needed a photo for the start of this post...
:)

i had the chance to visit
the adorable and charming
fable tea room
in bedeque
on friday.

it is just as sweet and whimsical
as its name
would have you imagine.

and if you know me at all,
you know that i am a bit of a picky eater
(not really because i'm actually picky
but more because i am intensely fearful
of trying something new
and always tend to order the same thing)
{chicken fingers, if you must know...heh...}

obviously a tea room
would likely not have
chicken fingers and fries...

instead i had
a beautiful grilled cheese
(and yes, if you know me well,
you are probably thinking CHEESE!
you don't eat cheese! you won't even eat
cheesecake
because you insist you don't like cheese!)

i like melted cheese.

i hate the texture of not-melted cheese against my teeth.
i can't explain any better than that.
you should probably just accept that answer
and we'll move on.

so...the grilled cheese was literally
beautiful...please don't ask me what kind of
bread or what kind of cheese...
but i can tell you
that there were thin apple slices
IN THE GRILLED CHEESE
and i was like THAT IS THE BEST IDEA EVER!
so
damn
good.

and cucumber all thin and curly and pretty
with a flower on top
which my best-friend-partner-in-escapades ate
and i wished i was that brave
but instead i settled for cheering her on
and telling her i'm sure it must be edible.
well.
not sure but pretty sure.

ok but i haven't even told you about dessert yet.

my best-friend-partner-in-escapades (BFPIE for short)
always tries to make me eat things...
i can't tell you how long she has
tried
to make me eat cheesecake...
(it's just not going to happen, by the way)
(but please don't stop trying, it's cute when you make that annoyed face & sigh in exasperation)
anyway...she suggested the
blueberry bread pudding with pecan caramel sauce
and i was like
yeah, i'm totally with you RIGHT UP TO THE BREAD PUDDING part

i just couldn't wrap my head around that idea.
bread.
pudding.
my brain was picturing soggy mushy wonderbread
with some blueberries on top...
but we agreed to share one
and i cannot tell you
how wrong i was.

what i will tell you is that
i will never share one of those again...
i will eat the whole damn thing myself,
in fact, i might order two or three
and eat them all...
in one sitting
it was that good.

and it came in a teacup!!!!!!

seriously, this is a dessert
that i would have thought only lived in the imaginations
of lucy maud montgomery
and roald dahl
in the lands of raspberry cordial and
scrumdiddlyumptious bars...

i am totally smitten with this place.
they are open year round, by the way,
and do tea leaf readings and have lots
of interesting events coming up as well
like traditional full moon ceremonies
and guest chef nights...

and there are items for sale also...
cutest little displays of jewelry and stuffed owls
and full moon wishing powder...
and maybe, possibly, hopefully, someday
there may be some little robot cards of my own
in that mix...
(which is equally exciting and scary for me...
it would be my first time putting myself out there
in that type of work...big breath...you can do this)

and i apologize for the quality of the photos...
i had fully intended to bring my actual camera with me
but then was running late
and so only had my phone...
but the truth is
i wanted to take photos of EVERYTHING...
oh...and if you are going to go,
you should probably call about a reservation...
we didn't and we were just lucky to catch a table.
:)

but you should definitely go.
you'll love it, too.
i know it.
and eat the BREAD PUDDING!

DISCLAIMER: i do not proclaim to know how to write a review of anything
and have just realized this would probably seem like a very weird review
as most of it is about me and my food-quirks...
heh.
(hence the disclaimer).

#tbt (remember...you were forewarned)

August 25, 2016 Arlene Giddings

i told you.
i told you all
already
that my little girl
is getting ready to leave
the nest
and
i
am going to be
nothing
if not a blubbering
messy
anxiety-ridden
meltdown of a mess.

so don't look at me now
like you didn't think i would
start already...
like you thought maybe i would
hold it together
at least until
the end of august...

cause the deposit was just paid on the apartment.

and that means
she's really going.

and that...
that is all it takes, my friends.
feel free to avert your eyes
until at least november...
mid november at best.
maybe christmas.
i'll be fine by christmas.

the BIG "why not" list...

June 4, 2016 Arlene Giddings

i don't really have a bucket list.
but what i do have...
is a BIG why not list.
(and when I am feeling really rebellious,
it becomes the BIG why the hell not list :) )

i started this list a long time ago,
maybe 2009...
i shared it on my blog then
but since then
there have been some changes...
some things have been added
and some
have just been removed
as i have realized over time that
that maybe that thing is just not that important to me anymore.

and...
some things have been COMPLETED!

a few people have asked about my list
so i thought maybe i would share it again
since i recently updated it to include it in my
bullet journal.

what the list actually looks like right now in my bullet journal

i apologize in advance for the length of this list...

the BIG "why not" list

Do 100 ideas for creativity by keri smith.
Read something of my own out loud in public. COMPLETE
Go to Cabot Trail again with my parents. (date is set for this! Sept 16, 2016)
Go to Disney with Stirling and kids...if they want to go, hahaha.
See a real 3D movie at an IMAX.
Build a studio (not just for photography but with good light).
Make a wedding topper out of fimo.
Have a gallery show at a different venue.
Be a part of a writing group. COMPLETE
Start a writing group in Summerside.
Take a writing class or workshop. COMPLETE
Take a creative writing class at UPEI.
Do ten tutorials about Photoshop.
Design my own business cards and logo.
Have something I have made in a shop.
Write a long story.
Drive a race car.
Drive to Moncton by myself. COMPLETE
Bungee jump
Do yoga regularly.
Try judo, tai chi or kickboxing.
Have one thing published somewhere.
Participate in a bridal show. COMPLETE
Start a real letter correspondence (a grown up way of saying i want a penpal!)
Participate in a Christmas craft fair.
Learn how to drive a standard.
Learn how to change a tire.
Have a photo published in a magazine.
Be interviewed.
Meet a blogger that i read in real life.
Make a quilt. (I may remove this one, I'm not sure it still holds interest for me)
Take a drawing class.
Try mixed media art (Kelly Rae).
Take a course in something.
Enter Island literary awards.
Choose a theme for one month (photo & words).
Make bread.
Make a large paper cut image.
Go to Italy.
See the Skydiggers. COMPLETE...TWICE!
Make my own salsa.
Grow sunflowers.
Reread all of Margaret Atwood.
Invite my parents over for supper.
Write a short story.
Take a sewing class.
Play scrabble.
Teach the kids how to play SCAT, play with my parents.
Find a job that I love ALL the time. COMPLETE
Go rock-climbing.
Ride a real roller-coaster.
Photograph all the churches & graveyards on PEI (this one may not make the list much longer either)
Own a hammock.
Build a tree-house.
Knit a robot.
Knit a sock monkey.
Make a blurb book of my blog.
Learn how to play one song on guitar.
Make peppermint bark.
Hand carve something from wood.
Write a letter to someone I am a fan of.
Do the second Simple Abundance book.
Hear Margaret Atwood read in person. COMPLETE!
Color every page in a coloring book - start to finish.
Try doing a latch rug kit.
Make cinnamon rolls.
Re-read Constance - Patricia Clapp
Try watercolor painting. COMPLETE
Play checkers.
Go to Ireland.
Plant a kitchen herb garden.
Make my own poetry/photography book.
Join a photography club.
Read all of the Harry Potter books.
Go to Scotland.
Read the Outlander series.
Make the 1001 ♥ shadowbox idea.
Go on a photo walk.
Go to Newfoundland.
Make a Halloween decoration out of paper mache.
Make a mushroom out of fimo.
Finish my Anne painting and post on Etsy. COMPLETE
Find Panmure Island.
Take photos of graveyard on trail.
Become a member of Women's Business Association.
Have a gallery show at Beanz.
Read War and Peace. started
Grow my hair long and tangly.
Journal every day for one month straight.
Write a kid's book.
Try karate.
Own a Mark camera.
Learn to crochet.
20 minute walk outside every day for a month.
Be debt-free.
Read and do "Writing Down the Bones" again.
Start and complete a 365 project of some sort.
Make apple butter.
Read at least one book on photography.
Own polka dot rain-boots. COMPLETE
Buy new docs. COMPLETE
Develop our forgotten rolls of film.
Buy a typewriter.
Plan an overnight escapade with 2 certain friends.
Go on a road trip with Stirling.
Attend a retreat (ideally...liz lamoreaux's)
Tree-go
Take a painting class with Suzanne O'Callaghan.
Act in a play. COMPLETE
Switch home movies to digital.
Learn to play the drums.
Add to my tattoo.
Get the dandelions to birds tattoo.
See the Redwood forest.
Get a new mailbox and cool house numbers.
Finish the house.
Buy a necklace from Liz Elayne
Make an inspiration board.
Take a photography class.
Finger-paint.
Bake a red velvet cake.
Learn how to cable knit.
Donate blood.
Go on a train ride.
Try a zip line. COMPLETE
Make a stop action movie.
Be in Artful Blogging.
Be in Where women create.
Do the "Drawing on the right side of your brain" book.
Make stamped metal jewelry.
Make meat pies.
Do an Alicia Burke class online.
Do a Mondo Beyondo class.
Make wonton soup.
Drive in a transfer truck.
Read all of LM Montgomery's books.
Hang glass bottles from a tree.
Move to the country.
Put some photos to music in a video.
Own a goat.
Knit a big comfy earth toned blanket for me.
Container garden. COMPLETE
Drive a snowmobile.
Sled down a giant hill.
Make caramel apples.
Go to a demolition derby.
Fly in a fast plane.
BE IN a demolition derby.
Make strawberry freezer jam.
Knit a dozen dishclothes.
Make a calendar out of photos.
Try Zumba.
Make my own pop up book.
Go to Canada's Wonderland.
Read and do Inner Excavation.
Drive a dirt bike.
Get my taxi driver licence
Shoot a month of sunsets
Go to Peggy's Cove
Get a little pug puppy friend for Pugsley
Shoot a month of sunrises.
Hike ALL the trails on PEI.
Go somewhere with zero gravity.
Go berry picking.
Hot air balloon ride.
Read the Robert Jordan series.
Watch a meteor shower.
See Blue Rodeo again.
Go to Niagara Falls.
Try flying trapeze lessons.
Raise chickens
Have a house with a sunroom.
Build a greenhouse.
Learn to meditate.
Read kids books to kids at a library.
Try glassblowing.
Go to Grand Manan.
See a murmuration for real.
Try mountain biking.
Make a coloring book.
Be a bingo caller.
Ride a mechanical bull.
Perform a wedding ceremony.
Segway
Go go-kart racing
Drive an ATV.
Own a jeep...orange...or purple.
Make an "all family" involved haunted house at halloween
Try horse back riding.
Do a big jigsaw puzzle

I warned you...it's a long list.
I just read something that talked about the Golden Rule of the bucket list
being not to focus
on completing the bucket list,
just the tasks that are on it...
but it's good to keep adding to it.

So I guess I'm doing it right, heeheehee.

And by sharing it, I'm throwing it out there to the universe.
Take a chance, see what happens.

all the things i didn't do...

May 14, 2016 Arlene Giddings

i had big plans when i got up this morning.
plans that involved
tackling the mountain of laundry
and cooking healthy food...
washing up a sink full of dirty dishes
and whipping the house
into a clean, uncluttered home.

none of that happened.