My Water Friends

In case you were wondering if your summer could get any more depressing, I'm here to tell you that "YES IT CAN~!"

Here is the reason why. It's a documentary called "The Cove" and the dolphins need your help. Please sign this petition endorsed by 'Heroes' Hayden Panettiere. She certainly proves to be a role model, if not a hero. A part of me doesn't want to witness this film. While the other part of me says that this is my passion: saving marine life. I don't know why I didn't study marine biology. I suppose attending a University on the Canadian Prairies played a major role in that decision. Anyhow, so what the filmmakers want you to know is that there is hunt on dolphins. These mammals are slaughtered in a cruel manner and sent to grocery markets in Japan and labeled as whale meat (like that's any better). What can you do? I don't know what we can do, but I can guarantee, we will do something.







If you need a reason to be a vegetarian, this just might be yours. *Steve* sent me this link and I sent him this in return. We reciprocate a lot in our marriage. "Sharkwater" is another film with a similar message. It involves the human 'need' for shark finning. Much the same as removing the tusks of an elephant. Senseless and inhumane.

With a box of tissues near by I can't bear the anger and frustration that this damage causes to our fellow living members of our planet. Please, please, please sign a petition. Write a letter. Do something. One action to save one living thing. The power of the e-signature can be mightier than the spear.

signed, the willow

"I've informed you to leave cause I can't stand to hear you breathe"

Oh, okay maybe those weren't the words of then bachelorette, Jillian Harris, on last night's last episode of the most dramatic rose ceremony show ever, 'The Bachelorette'! But the were the words written by this guy:

Who looks an awful lot like this guy (who happens to have the same first name):

And this guy? Well, he just might have the same first name as the other two dudes above. However, he had a run in with my dog this morning. I'm sure that Ed Robertson and Ed That-Proposed-To-The-Bachelorette do not smell like Ed Le Pew.

signed, the willow

We all SCREAM for ice cream makers

Occasionally (every day) I become obsessed with something. It usually shopping for something. Yesterday, I decided that I would obsess over this soft serve ice cream maker. All was well and figured out this morning with my new purchase. I checked the price and was ready to click this morning when....the item was no longer available. See above. I wish IKEA sold small appliances. I wish IKEA sold groceries and clothes. I miss you IKEA.

signed, the willow

Wave Babies are Lying on the Hardwood Floors

So another rainy day that looks like this.

While *Mila* poses with her air guitar as a rock star ("OOOO Yeah, she's a rock star") and requests me to sketch her in said pose with Mr. Sketch jumbo markers.

What I want you to know is that we packed these. Bathing suits. We have yet to wear them.

*Mila's* berry picking strawberry smocked H&M ditty.
I'm a sucker for the nautical thing. I must have sailed on a yacht in my previous life and drowned to come back and love all things navy and white, peppered with a fear of drowning.
I brought this chocolat-ay 2 piece from Old Navy.

Guess what, I have one in black as well.
This year I decided to go for something neon carrot and razzamatazz fuschia. Alas, it has made it only once out of the drawer for this picture.

Damn you summer! It's nearing the end of July and we can't find you. Give it up, BC is burning. Give them the rain and we'll take a couple burn sessions for them.

signed, the damp willow

Holy Etsy, Batman!

If I were to get married all over again (to *Steve* of course, Silly), I would order myself these great paper flowers from Paper Platypus. One because I love paper and two because I had gerbera daisies the first time around, so why not the second time around?

Nothing lies closer to my heart than feeding a bird and what better to feed a bird than a FRENCH FRY ~! Dazey Chic's Studio Mela is just what the doctor ordered if you're have a no-good crappy day like I am 9 times out of 10.

I think when I was born this ring was waiting to be made for moi. Original Hardware is hip and full of silver goods. If there was just one more word to squeeze right at the beginning of the title of this ring it would be "WILLOW's".

Numero Quattro: Lines and Dots. This Brazilian dude has got my heart written all over his artwork. Why can't I come up with stuff like this? Oh, yeah it's called a 5-year-old.




And last but not least this sweet birdies DIY dress kit from LittleFishInABigPond. I love the shop name too. I think I know a few little fishies in big ponds, and I may be one of them.

signed, the willow

What a Weepy Willow Day

Today, too many sad things have come to light. First of all, the rain keeps falling with no end in sight. We've had about 3 sunny days out of the past 21 days while on vacation.

Then this happened. How dare someone take a child off this planet and do what they did to her. I don't want to know what they did to her. It's just so horrifying. The whole drama has been unfolding in our province and country day after day. We're so exposed to it that we find ourselves looking at trash in our woods so differently. I'm so sorry that a little girl has been taken from her family, that obviously loved her, and treated like trash in the woods. No one deserves this.

We lost a member of my (hometown) community today and she was familiar to my family. She'll be missed and didn't need to suffer through a bad disease like she did.

Then, Adam Yauch gets diagnosed with cancer. You may know him as MCA or Nathaniel Hornblower from the Beastie Boys.

weeping, the willow

My Bunny will live in a castle from IKEA

*Steve-o*! Start the construction for the bunny cage! Be warned, parts will be acquired from IKEA and we all know what that means ?!?! (It means a major bender for me, as in 'shopping at IKEA bender')

source: Design Sponge from Design Curiosities

signed, the willow

Happy Birthday Huntsville Bono (formerly known as PA)

Huntsville Bono is also known as my brother. We'll call him *Rod* here, as we all go by our middle names (except Steve - he has no middle name).

My brother and I fought like cats and well, he just put up with my shenanigans. In fact, he tolerated me for so long that he now picks fights with his stronger daughter. I'm sure they just arm wrestle over chocolate bars and she doesn't nit pick him for breathing, eating or living quite the way I did.

Although you never believed I cared one iota about you, Huntsville Bono or PA, I did. A great deal. To the point that I sickened all my friends with the idolizing I did of my brother the best hockey player ever known to mankind. Because you were that great of a hockey player and those who play with you know that you are still great! I'm so sorry that I was such a bratty little sister with such a hate-my-brother-mood-disorder. You really were a nice big brother to me and I'm sorry I didn't realize that until we were adults. Huntsville Bono, you make a great husband to your sweet wife and a great dad to your lovely kids. You are doing a great job! I love you Huntsville Bono. Happy Birthday!

signed, Huntsville Bono's baby sister

When we see the sun again

I will get down on my knees and kiss the ground.

signed, the willow

When Summer Finally Arrives, I promise to take off this parka

Hayley, who is 13 (making her 91 in human years), is both blind and deaf. What fun to see her walk past an axe.

While the beach is still covered up in water, why not have a glass of wine while roasting marshmallows over the hibachi!

You can see the lake through the trees. You can probably see our reflection in the picture too, since we keep taking pictures of the outdoors from inside since it's only +9 outside.
(all photos come from *Mila's* camera)

signed, the willow

It's a long long way back home

Look around and you shall see
things of familiarity.

A mirror that I painted for someone sweet.
With a Shakespeare quote that can't be beat.

Jars of pencils, count them up.

Sharpened, focused and dark in cup

Ladies in frocks with skirts that spin

Look down upon girls who want to win.

See the bridge through the fog?

Probably not, go walk your dog.

Hair of blonde. Hair of gray.

We've missed these locks from so far away.

Pathetic rhyme time ends with purple lupines.

That silver yoga ball? Smokey the ball. Smell her. She's ain't cute.

This is just one of the last remaining merry-go-rounds left in North America. The other two are located downtown Sioux Lookout.


More vacation notes to come.

signed, the willow

Housepaint Deux

I'm sorry that I saved this for you until it closed, but hey "I'm having a vacation". My vacation is far from Toronto's ROM (that would be the Royal Ontario Museum) and the exhibit I'm exhibiting is "Housepaint 2". Tent City existed in Toronto until 2002 when it's inhabitants were evicted (with no warning). So five talented artists got together and created "houses" constructed of their canvasses which they painted in memory of the Tent City residents.

housepaint

What does this have to do with my blog? Pretty much nothing as I write about my material wants and needs. But I have a soft spot for someone who has no choice in home. I value the statement that these artists have made and the contribution that the ROM has made to make it possible.

signed, the willow