Hiding From Snow

Well it snowed most of yesterday and late into the night, and there's more snow than you can poke a stick at out there now. I can just imagine what a mess it would be if all the snow that's fallen this winter hadn't periodically melted away before this, because it's back above my knees again without that. My cat is a little miffed that the snow has filled his little passage out on the terrace where he likes to hang out, but soon enough he'll have ample space to run and cavort.

 

Top - Can't remember

Skirt - Thrifted

Sandals - Thrifted

I'm going to be leaving Ottawa. Everything that's been happening in the last year or so has been hinting that my time here is done and I've finally made the decision. I gave my notice to my landlord, and I'll be moving back to my home town in two months or so. Sooner if I'm lucky. It was a really difficult decision, and there's a lot here I'm going to miss, but there's a lot there that I'm looking forward to as well. It's going to be wonderful being around my family again, instead of four and a half hours away.

I'm particularly looking forward to being near my grandmother again. She's a sweet woman and I haven't seen enough of her these last few years. Not to mention my friends, some of whom have wee baby daughters I'll get to see grow up now. But my plan is to attend college in the next city over - I'm still waiting on the official acceptance into the program, fingers crossed - and I'm looking forward to that. It's going to progress me further into the food industry and help me achieve my dream of eventually opening my own place. But today is another snow day, so I'm off to place so video games and drink too much coffee. Cheers!

Fruity

It's hovering just above freezing outside and it feels like Spring is on the way. Too bad it's still going to be months before winter's grip finally releases us and the weather starts to really warm up again. At times like these, I dress extra colourfully, to try and keep myself cheered up in this time of drab greys and whites and muddy browns out there. I guess my baking desires are along the same lines because I've been making strawberry tarts over the last few days.

T-shirt - Can't remember

Skirt - Gift from Heather

Shoes - Thrifted

I've had a lot of spare time on my hands - for reasons I won't go into because they're bumming me out right now - and I can only sit around playing video games for so long before I start going loopy. I cleaned the heck out of my apartment yesterday, which really needed doing. I don't know why I avoid it for so long, when it doesn't take that much time. Really it only takes about as long to clean this place, mopped floors and all, as it does to make a tart from scratch.

I made the mini tarts a few days ago and the full-sized tart this evening. Its recipe was from my Cordon Bleu pastry book. We saw the Chef make it during class but we didn't make it during our practical because it's so simple. I fought a little with the crust dough, and I'm not exactly certain why it was misbehaving, but it seems to have turned out well enough. I had some left-over dough and baked up a few mini tarts today too and the one I ate - with extra whipped cream - tasted just fine.

Not counting an apron, I baked dressed like this. I unfortunately managed to burn my right arm taking the tart crust from the oven but I'm getting used to having burns at some degree of healing somewhere on my arms or hands most of the time now. But now that my baking is done and the kitchen is all cleaned up, I think I'll crack a beer and go back to playing video games for a while. I hope you all had a good start to the week. Cheers!

New Arachnids

Some of you may be aware of my large collection of pets, but today I've made two new additions to my little zoo. I already have 8 tarantulas, but most of them are either adults or in the late stages of being a juvenile. It's been a long time since I've had little baby T's around. So today - with a lucky opportunity to have them dropped off for free from Tarantula Canada - I got two slings, baby tarantulas.

The top one is a Hapalopus sp. Colombia large aka Pumpkin patch tarantula. The bottom one is a Cyriocosmus elegans aka Trinidad dwarf tarantula. They're both less than 1/4" in size right now, but they'll grow to several inches in size. I'm so very happy to have these little ones under my care, they'll grow into beautiful adults. I hope you're all having a good weekend. Cheers!

Spread Thin

I'm working two jobs now - part-time at the restaurant and full time in the pastry department of a bakery - and so my spare time is spread pretty thin. As is my sanity. I'm still not exactly certain what I'm doing with myself or where my life is going or what's going on. I'm still settling into the bakery and I'm not certain whether or not I'm actually going to enjoy it there.

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Jeggings - Fancy Sox, by Hue

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

The work isn't what worries me, but the people. A lot of folks seem to be leaving recently, and most people I talk to haven't been there more than 6 months, even those in 'senior' positions, which is a little worrying. Especially since my first shift was pretty rocky, spent with the crankiest woman I've met in a long time. I've already had issues with management and I'm very wary. I really hope it all works out and that people don't ruin what seemed like it would be my dream job. It all just makes me doubly appreciative of the great crew I work with at the restaurant. I hope you're doing good and the month has treated you well. Cheers!

Still Clothed

It's been ages since I've bothered to take outfit photos, but it's also been ages since I've done more than just throw something on. Wearing the same thing over several days until I've deemed it dirty enough to wash has become a bit of a bad habit. I'm just really not leaving my apartment much, or doing anything that warrants actual outfits or worrying about being seen wearing the same thing. It's been a long time since I last wore this dress though, and maybe that's why I actually made the effort to document this actual outfit.

 Scarf - Gift from grandmother

Dress - Thrifted from Rebuilt Resources

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

It does have to be noted that the shoes didn't actually leave my apartment with the outfit. It's winter after all, and the only appropriate footwear at the moment are snow boots. But I couldn't possibly be sock-footed in the first outfit photo of the year. I feel wonderfully colourful in this too, especially with the royal blue scarf my grandmother got me for Christmas. The joyful colour kick is definitely welcome these days. I hope you are all having a good week. Cheers!

Too Good to be True

Well then. I had hoped to share the happy news of my being hired on as a bread baker at a bakery. Except they let me go before I'd even properly started working there. Which is really a shame because I enjoyed the work I did have a chance to do before they cut me. Ugh. Now my life is upside down all over again and I'm just trying to keep afloat. It's hard not to second-guess myself and blame myself for all the bad things happening, there's definitely nobody else responsible for this situation but me. I'm starting to go a little stir-crazy, and losing hope. I know things will work out eventually but that doesn't make this any easier or less stressful. And when it looks like this outside...



It's rather difficult to get myself out there. I like to walk my stress off, but who wants to go walk in the snowpocalypse?! Or the ensuing slushy hell that follows. I'm doubting my choices, my decisions, my actions, and there's nobody I can really turn to for solid advice in this kind of situation. I love my parents, but they're even worse at such matters than I am. It's times like these that I feel really bitter about being alone, it's so much harder when you don't have someone at your side. Oh well. I'll just have to press on, because there isn't any choice. Cheers...

Happy Guest Poster

It was originally posted a little while ago, but I've got a guest post up on the wonderful Katie's blog, Head Heart Health. It's just a little ditty about my journey from grumpy librarian to being a happy baker. I'd love if you would take the time and have a read; here it is. Cheers!