Galleries

• 

• 

Yesterday, a friend,

came by in the afternoon,

to drop off this oil painting,

she had made of my mom,

based on a photo,

I had taken,

it is a favourite of mine,

it really captures my mom,

as she was,

a reader,

it captures,

her spot in the living room,

in her apartment,

a place that is,

no longer.

Aside from the beauty,

of the painting,

what touches me most,

is that, eventhough,

I consider Reb a friend,

yesterday, was only,

the second time we met.

We have a few mutual friends,

but, mostly we connected,

as two women,

who love books, art, animals,

I admire Reb’s photography,

as well as her paintings.

Her eye for the beautiful ugly,

is amazing,

and her kindness is reflected,

in her portraiture,

you feel the empathy,

she has for people.

In these last eleven years or so,

of Facebook, of blogging,

I have ‘met’ such extraordinary,

folks,

some of which I might never meet.

Next time you hear someone,

bashing social media etc,

remember that along with,

the weirdos, trolls and cra crazies,

there are these incredible,

connections.

Reb lives in my neighbourhood,

we will have coffee, drink beer,

but, many kind people,

have helped me through tough times,

have made me laugh,

have stimulated my mind,

they don’t,

and yet, they are friends.

Merci la vie!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Later girls,

BB

• 

Good morning all.

I hope you are all well,

and chipper.

It’s a happy morning,

here in my beautiful ugly.

Last night the Montreal Canadiens,

won the semi final series,

against the Las Vegas Golden Knights,

and they are headed to the final,

of the Stanley Cup playoff!!

This is pretty significant,

in a hockey obsessed,

city, province, country.

The Canadiens,

haven’t made it to the final,

since 1993,

a significant dry spell,

of 28 years.

The Canadiens are also,

the greatest franchise in hockey history,

this isn’t a matter of opinion, it is a fact,

just as the New York Yankees,

are the winningest baseball franchise,

and,

the Boston Celtics the winningest basketball team.

the Habs,

as they are affectionately, known here in the city,

have won 24 Stanley Cups,

no one is even close behind,

and last night,

on June 24 th,

which is La Fete Nationale,

here in Quebec,

our guys,

made it to the finals,

the cup isn’t won yet!

But just the final is pretty,

freakin awesome.

I love hockey,

it is in my blood,

but, I have been down,

on professional hockey,

for a long time,

more about money,

than the game,

too hard and violent.

But, this team,

wow, what a scrappy team.

They were the underdogs,

against arch rivals Toronto,

but,

the Habs fought every inch,

of the way and beat the Leafs,

in 7 games.

They weren’t supposed to beat,

Winnipeg,

they swept them in 4.

The Golden Knights,

finished second overall,

the Habs finished 18 th,

and yet, they beat them too.

If you have watched hockey,

and love hockey,

you know,

that it is a team sport,

and that it’s about who wants it,

more.

The Canadiens,

with their veterans,

their kids,

their phenomenal goalie,

and their fans,

want it more.

They will either face,

the New York Islanders,

or The Tampa Bay Lightning,

my prediction is the Islanders,

they want it more,

either way it will be a helluvah series.

If you want to understand Montreal,

you have to understand hockey,

and what the Habs mean to us,

because love them or hate them,

they are a part of the city,

as important as the Mont-Royal.

We will be watching hockey in,

our air conditioned homes,

outside on our balconies,

in bars and restaurants.

It has been a hard year and a half,

but, things are better,

now,

on the way to normal,

and the Canadiens,

are in the final,

if that isn’t worth celebrating,

I don’t know what is!

Go Habs Go!!

Be well you all,

Later girls,

BB

Good morning all.

Hope the weather is beautiful,

wherever you are.

It has been a cool week,

here in my beautiful ugly.

Warm enough,

for shorts,

or capris.

For years,

I wouldn’t shave my legs,

my arm pits,

I am not very hairy,

and butches didn’t shave,

and since I never wore,

anything but,

jeans and pants,

it was hardly necessary.

Then a few years back,

I started wearing shorts.

I started shaving my legs,

regularly,

not just when I would wear,

a bathing suit,

twice every five years.

Most of the hair,

on my legs has worn off,

and the hair in my armpits,

stopped growing after,

surgery years ago.

Why am I telling you all this?

Two weeks ago,

I bought a safety razor,

some good shaving cream,

and blades.

It would seem that,

disposable razors,

are a major contributor,

to landfill plastic,

the razor blades,

from my safety razor,

I bring to,

the local barbershop,

and they recycle them.

Less plastic.

I was a little intimidated,

by using a safety razor,

scared I would cut myself,

that it would be harder,

to use.

It really isn’t,

the sharp blade,

does the work for you,

like all good tools

very little pressure,

is required.

It is a satisfying experience.

Funny,

when I was coming of age,

not shaving,

was a political statement,

and now, shaving and what you use,

has become a political,

albeit environmental,

statement.

I like having smooth legs,

it neither makes me girlie,

not that there is damn thing wrong with being girlie

nor impacts my butcheness,

I just like my legs,

smooth and soft.

Have a great one,

you all,

thanks for indulging me,

by reading my silly ramblings.

Later girls,

BB

Hello all, it has been,

nine months since my mom,

passed.

Recently it was her birthday,

the first one since she died.

That wasn’t an easy day,

but, it wasn’t as hard as I ,

expected.

I know my mother is at peace,

I know we said,

what needed to be said,

to each other,

we loved each other,

we said we loved each other.

I get teary eyed when,

I remember certain things,

when I talk about her,

but with the tears,

there is a smile,

I love my mother,

it isn’t past tense,

I always will,

I miss her,

I always will,

there are no regrets,

there is more joy at memory,

than sadness at loss.

In the last few months,

I have taken opportunities,

to change,

I have grown,

I am happy,

happier than I have been,

since,

the pandemic,

since my mom passed.

Last weekend,

I had lunch,

with a friend,

it was lovely,

it was so easy,

talking, eating,

discussing books,

sitting outside,

going to a local bookshop.

At one point,

I felt a lightness,

I had not felt,

in so long,

a Sunday afternoon,

with ease, spontaneity.

Throughout the pandemic,

the thing I missed most,

was spontaneity,

and on Sunday,

talking books in,

a sunbathed bookshop,

it had returned,

and I took,

a deep grateful breath,

smiled under my mask,

and thought to myself,

‘I feel, normal’

🙂

I am double dosed,

most people I have,

the most contact with are.

Bring on …normalcy.

Take care you all.

Later girls,

BB

Hello everyone,

I hope all is well with you.

It’s quite cool,

here in my beautiful ugly,

a lovely respite,

after a few days of intense heat.

Yesterday was a hard day.

It was my mom’s birthday.

the first since she passed away.

I miss her,

but, I feel her love all around me.

I can hear her saying,

‘do what you need to do, it’s your life’

It has been a year of change,

but, really all years,

are years of change,

change is inevitable,

just as the sun rises in the east,

change comes.

We age,

we grow,

we learn,

to understand,

our wants,

our needs,

better.

Some changes,

are imposed on us,

some we must,

make.

Every once in a while,

we come to the realisation,

an epiphany,

that what we thought we wanted,

we in fact don’t want.

We all, even those of us,

who are considered,

unconvential,

iconoclastic,

follow the wave,

the trends,

we allow ourselves to be,

convinced,

almost by osmosis,

that we want,

what we should want,

and then,

we wake up to the fact,

that we don’t.

That startles us,

it freaks us out a little,

but, the naked truth is there,

looking back at us,

it’s hard,

those realisations don’t,

only affect us,

they affect those around us,

sometimes they even hurt people.

If there is one thing,

I hate, it’s to hurt people,

to disappoint people,

but…

you can’t keep a barber,

who messes up your hair,

a doctor who doesn’t hear you,

or a relationship that isn’t,

what you need.

You need to move on,

you need to search,

for your best life,

you need to be true to you.

And …

that inevitably hurts someone,

it is the cruel reality,

of life, of love, of growth.

Be well, you all.

Later girls,

BB

• 

I am fascinated by the creative process.

How writers write,

how composers compose,

how designers design.

Everyone is different,

so too are their creative,

processes.

The photographs above,

are of Sid Mashburn,

and his vision board,

I don’t know if that is what Mr Mashburn calls it, probably not, he is a southern gentleman designer/retailer in Atlanta by way of Mississippi and New York(he hails from Mississippi and worked in New York, J Crew, Ralph Lauren etc) I am a fan of Sid’s- his style, his way of saying things, his style aphorisms , In music there is only one lead singer, your outfit should only have one as well, love Sid, but I digress

I have been making my home,

a home,

for a few weeks now.

I had this incredible canvas,

to start on,

gorgeous cream coloured walls.

literally, everything looks good on cream coloured walls,

natural hardwood floors,

incredible light,

good bones.

I sat with it for a few weeks,

watching the light,

learning the space.

Little by little I put stuff,

on the walls,

on Friday,

my bff,

helped me rearrange,

the living room.

I love it.

My hallway,

is long and narrow,

but the light is incredible,

it has bookcases,

and the walls are a gallery,

of sorts,

for things I love,

art made by artist friends,

photographs,

me in my bookstore,

my mom,

dogs playing poker,

an icon my grandfather framed,

in gorgeous oak.

things that bring me joy,

things that represent,

my family, my journey.

The living room,

will have a Tamara De Lempicka,

reproduction,

and urban photography,

that a close friend,

created.

There are two rooms,

my bedroom,

my office,

that wait for things.

The office,

is a largish room,

and there are things,

but the wall in front of my,

work table,

has nothing,

and I have been thinking,

I should create,

a vision board.

Things I find beautiful,

things that inspire me,

things I am passionate about,

things, people, I love.

Colour, beauty, quotes,

cats, bridges, trees,

quotes, by Thomas Merton,

Joan Didion,

Yogi Berra,

stuff like that,

what do you all think,

do my artist peeps use,

vision boards?

Do they help you?

Be well.

Later girls,

BB

Good morning all.

It is quite chilly,

here in,

my beautiful ugly.

Been a productive week.

Our last ,

Lunch & Learn delivery,

yesterday,

at work.

It is a ton of work,

mostly for my boss,

but, what a joy it is,

to deliver meals and treats,

to our seniors,

I love them.

We have had such,

varied,

interesting,

guests,

on the learn part,

from pharmacists,

to vicars,

from brain gym practicionners,

to laughter yoga gurus,

from painting to gardening,

fun and knowledge.

I will miss it,

fingers crossed we can,

make it work next year.

Today is Friday,

it’s sunny, but, definitely a jeans,

kind of day.

I am going to the farmer’s market,

fresh veggies and some herbs.

I plan on making some roast chicken,

with herbs and lemon,

for dinner tomorrow.

This morning I sat,

a coldish breeze,

blowing into my office,

some toast and a cup of tea.

It’s Friday, so no smoothie,

just to change it up a bit,

whole grain toast,

and,

the most delicious,

jam,

some fancy artisanal made in Quebec,

plum and black tea jam,

it is delicious,

sweet, slightly smoky,

a gift for my birthday,

my friend gave me,

a whole load of,

weird and wonderful,

jams,

luxurious,

fun,

push you out of your rut,

jams.

I am an adventurous eater,

I take risks,

I like new things,

not just for newness sake,

but, to keep life interesting,

I know what I like,

but, I like to push the boat out,

explore new waters,

so to speak.

I have a vast and open palate,

I thank my parents for that,

for exposing me to different flavours,

I was never one of those,

I don’t like it,

before even trying it kids.

I get that sometimes people,

have texture issues,

or whatever but,

it drives me nuts when people,

won’t even try.

Open your palate,

and it opens your mind.

I doubt that is true,

but, sometimes,

maybe even,

often,

I think openness begets,

openness,

of palate,

of mind,

of spirit,

spread your open wings,

and learn to fly.

The little things,

are important,

they lead to the big things,

weird jam tastings,

lead to deciphering complex,

notions and ideas,

to paradigm shifts.

Be well you all.

Later girls,

BB

Good morning all.

A beautiful coolish May morning,

here in my beautiful ugly.

The sun is shinning,

the birds are singing,

the sounds of cars driving by,

it is the city,

there are always cars.

A long weekend,

halfway between,

productive and restful.

Gorgeous Victoria Day weekend.

I did lots of walking,

lots of reading,

went to an art exhibit,

and had a smoothie,

in lovely company.

Sat on a park bench,

looking up at the sky.

I’ve done a lot of resting,

my body and mind,

these three days.

After the move,

which was the culmination,

of months culling, giving, packing,

I got into my new place.

I am so happy here.

It has also made me wonder,

really wonder,

what the hell it is I want,

from my life?

I want peace,

I want growth,

I want to avoid,

drama,

I want to avoid,

upheavals,

they will happen,

of course,

that’s life,

too.

But, I want calm mornings,

with my smoothie,

looking out on the tree,

the flower beds bellow,

the cat asleep in his chair.

I want time to think,

I want time to read,

to get ready for my week,

planning, working, helping.

I want my life,

my choices,

shared with friends,

with people I love.

I want to do things,

because I want to,

I don’t mean not fulfill,

my responsiblities,

I am a responsible person,

but, they need to be mine,

not those of others.

I believe that is what I want.

Peace and quiet and open air,

apparently they wait for us,

somewhere.

Have a great week, you all.

Later girls,

BB

Hello everyone,

I hope all is well,

in your little corner,

of the universe.

I am well,

I am happy,

I am no longer in my,

early fifties,

well into my mid-fifties,

bordering on the late,

and you know,

I am absolutely good with that.

I have my new place,

I have been here,

three weeks,

and every day,

a little more of my,

personality appears,

in this lovely place,

with the buttercream walls,

the hardwood floors,

and the good bones.

Georgie also likes it,

more about birds and squirrels,

than good bones,

but, still…

My birthday, came and went,

it was lovely,

gifts, wishes, and lots of love.

The weather has been Summer like.

A few days of golden sun,

light blue hazy skies.

I haven’t written in a while,

things are good,

when things are weird,

or bad, I feel more compelled,

to write to blog,

but when things are good,

I am contented,

not ecstatic,

good and comfortable.

work is good,

life is good,

all is good.

I am content in,

my flat,

with the good bones.

Be well you all.

Later girls,

BB

Good morning all,

hope you are well,

and that life,

is being good,

to you.

I am super busy,

work,

setting up,

the new flat,

I am sitting with it,

a bit,

deciding,

where I want to,

put pictures,

art and such.

But,

my curtains are up,

I got my new vacuum,

things are functional,

and,

well on their way.

I haven’t felt this happy,

in years.

The other place was ok,

but, this place….

It’s like I was telling,

a dear friend,

the other day,

it’s like you were staying,

at a Motel 8,

perfectly ok,

perfectly utilitarian,

and now,

you are staying at,

the Sheraton,

it’s more,

in every way,

comfort, quiet,

peace and happiness.

I sleep like a baby,

my Georgie is happy,

watching birds,

being stimulated,

there are still boxes,

there are still many things,

I have no idea where,

to put,

but, so what,

the purge has been made,

the work has been done,

and now,

I slowly,

create the layers,

of cocoon,

happy sigh.

Have a great weekend,

you all,

Happy Mother’s Day,

to all the mothers out there.

My mother didn’t like,

Mother’s Day,

she thought it was,

contrived.

She said if you needed,

Mother’s Day to pay attention,

to your mom,

there was something,

wrong with your relationship.

I don’t quite see it that way,

I think Mother’s Day,

is a chance for an extra,

thank you, mom.

I will miss her on Sunday,

but, honestly,

I miss her everyday.

Be well, you all,

take care.

Later girls,

BB