Ripe

I work hard, and when I get home, I don't always really feel like getting dressed up in a complex outfit. It's times like those that wonderfully simple frocks come to my rescue. This tie-dye dress has been in my wardrobe for several years now, and while it doesn't get tons of wear, I still love it. In a way, it symbolizes the beginning of my journey into who I am now.

 Dress - Purchased from After Shower Shop on Etsy

I actually wore this dress in one of my very first ever posts on this blog, back in September of 2010. It seems like a lifetime ago when I look back on it, even though it's been barely three years. I've changed a lot and come a long way.

My outward appearance is quite similar, but on the inside, I'm a whole new person. I was a little green sprout back then, and now I'm a thriving tree with leaves unfurled. Being in my mid-twenties, I'm still very young and have a lot of growing and changing to do yet. But being able to look back and see and feel my progress and growth is really nice.



The sun rises every morning, granting us a new day to do with as we please. It's up to us to use that time to our best advantage, to enjoy it, and this life we have under that sun. I used to struggle through my days, slogging through them like a chore, forever living for the horizon without any real goal or destination in mind. My days were slipping by unnoticed, wasted, when those days were exactly what living is all about. I'm doing my best not to waste any more sun rises, and to relish all the sunsets. I hope to enjoy so many more. Cheers!

All Stars

My best friend Becky and I went to a lovely little festival called All Stars last weekend. We live 6 hours apart now, but the festival just happened to be smack dab in the middle between us so we couldn't pass up the opportunity. I didn't really take any photos myself - except of mushrooms and slugs - so these aren't mine but ones I pilfered from others sharing their own of the event. I had a fantastic time and I'm glad we were able to come together for it!



We both seem to be pretty stealthy/unnoticed by photographers and I haven't seen a single photo of myself - not even in the background - and this below is the only shot of Becky I could find. She's really a smiley happy lady but we both get into our dancing-serious-face poses without realizing it. I love my Beckinoodle!

The vibe was cozy and intimate, with only a few hundred people in attendance. It was refreshing after having gone to some really big festivals in the last few years. I saw a few familiar faces, but this festival being further South into Ontario rather than North into Quebec, I didn't know too many people.



This is definitely a weekend I'll remember fondly in years to come. These are the moments I live for and the experiences I strive to live. I hope you all have good weekend. Cheers!

Solo Camping

I needed to recharge my batteries last weekend so I spent Saturday night out on a little solo camping trip. Camp grounds aren't my cup of tea, so I just found a little spot on public land by the shore of a lake and set myself up for a night. It was really nice, just me and nature. I swam and read in the sun and enjoyed a little evening fire. I hadn't been that relaxed and at ease in a long while.

It was so funny, the little fish in the lake would practically swarm me when I stood around in the shallows. They were really curious and would come check me out without fail no matter how many times I went back into the water.



As you can tell, I was more than a little taken with the view from my campsite. I really had the most gorgeous weather, although there were a lot of biting insects. My skin looks like a haphazard game of connect-the-dots. When I took the photo below, I just felt so happy and in my element - bugs not withstanding. I wish I could feel like that more often.

This weekend I'm heading to a festival where I'll be meeting up with my bestie Becky. We haven't seen each other since late April and I am so excited. It's going to be amazing dancing with her out in nature and just enjoying some lady time together. Fingers crossed the road trip goes well - I purchase a used vehicle last week and I'm still paranoid - and that we don't get rained out! Cheers!

Flash Bang

Bright colours are something I love, but I love them even more in the summer months. I know 'colour blocking' was a big thing a while back, and I don't know if it's still 'in' or not, but frankly, I don't care! I love this outfit. It felt bright and fun and I enjoyed wearing it.

Sunglasses - Walmart

T-shirt - Walmart clearance

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Clogs - Gift from my grandmother

I'm making spur of the moment plans to attend a festival with this weekend with a friend I haven't seen since way back in March. I'm really excited, both to see her, and for the weekend of great grooves and dancing that awaits us. This weather is perfect for it. I'm so excited!

I hadn't expect to be able to attend any festivals this year so this is a nice surprise. I'll be visiting another friend afterward too, since the festival will put me just a little over an hour away from them. I'm making the most of my 3-day weekend! Anyway, I hope you are all having a good start to the week. Cheers!

Pinky

I've not been buying much clothing this year, for various reasons, but this skirt haunted be since I saw it in the store weeks ago. While shopping for cheap work duds, its hot pink swishiness caught my eye, but at a full price of $16.00 I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Especially considering how many other skirts I currently own.

Glasses - Walmart

Top - Gift from Heather

Skirt - Walmart

Clogs - Gift from my grandmother

However, to my pleasant surprise, it was in clearance for just $5 when I was back in the store. So I snatched it up. I figured after four weeks of having seen it and it being on my mind almost daily, that it was really something I wanted and not just a passing whim. I'm glad I purchased it, even if I do usually frown upon clothes from Wally World. Either way, it was worth the five bucks. I hope you all have a great Friday! Cheers!

All's a Garden

I've actually been wearing some really cute outfits lately, but I've been too busy/lazy to take photos. My garden is getting plenty of attention though. I'm at the point where little wildlife is coming to live in and around the garden and that pleases me more than I can say. It was one of the things I'd been hoping for so it's wonderful that little creatures are making a home there now.



Toads are some of my favourite animals as it is, but itty bitty toadlets really take the cake. They're just so tiny and hoppy and cute! Perfect for eating all the little insects in my garden that might be harmful to my plants. My compost pile has been attracting other animals, mainly Northern Red-Belly snakes, my most favourite Ontario species of small snake. They're completely harmless and don't get much bigger than the one in my photo below.



They're another fantastic species to have in and around a garden because they mainly feed on slugs and small snails. I found this little fella living in the dirt directly inside my compost heap. There must be plenty of delicious things for it and its little snake friends in there because I've seen one almost every time I'm out there adding to my heap or turning the compost. I hope you are having a good week. Cheers!

Grow Garden Grow

I was very happy to find my very first red strawberry in my garden this Tuesday. All my tomato plants are covered in green tomatoes too, I'll be eating them soon enough. My potatoes are growing like mad and even the yellow beans, zucchinis and cucumbers are coming up well now. The only things that seem to be stunted and unchanged are my green pepper plants, but oh well! There's plenty of summer yet for them to grow bigger.



I'm really looking forward to my ornamental corn growing big and tall. The stalks already have gorgeous colours - I was surprised that even their roots share the purple tint. This whole next week is going to be hot and sunny, so as long as I keep my plant-children well watered, they should grow grow grow!

While I hadan inkling that I would really enjoy gardening, it brings me more joy and satisfaction that I had imagined. I love watching the plants grow and change and mature. Watering them in the evenings in a wonderful time for me to commune with them - and yes, I am one of those people who baby-talks to their plants. "That's it little pretties! Drink up! Grow big now!" I hope you are all having a good start to your July. Cheers!