Just because we could all use a little more français in our lives.
How much do I miss Paris? Ah!
Happy Friday, mes amis!
E xo
(Thanks to Beaux Mondes for sharing.)
Detours
1.26.2012
I wish I could say that I've been taking my down time seriously, but honestly, I barely have anything to show for the last two weeks. My mending pile hasn't budged, my crochet hasn't made it past the fourth row and my 2011 numbers remain uncrunched. In my defence, I did take four days to go to Ottawa, and I count that as an accomplishment, as we drove there during the first real snow storm this area has seen all winter. Drivers were cautious, the roads weren't properly plowed, and there was an accident every 10 kilometres it seemed. By the time we reached Kingston, a usual 3-hour drive, we had been driving for 7 hours! It was getting dark at that point and we were exhausted and frustrated, so we decided to drop anchor for the night and make the best of a messy situation.
That night we had an amazing dinner at Olivea, window-shopped along Princess St. and then stopped off at The Toucan for a night cap. On our walk home, suckers for old architecture, we found ourselves whispering and tip-toeing up to read plaques on private homes.
The next morning we woke up to complimentary breakfast in bed (!) and sunny skies. There wasn't much happening in town and were dissappointed that the Penitentiary Museum was closed, but we received a warm welcome at the Kingston Brewing Co. (Ontario's oldest brew pub and Canada's oldest wine-producing pub). The beer was tasty, the conversation was friendly and the decor was entertaining.
We also went on another self-guided architectural walking tour to find McIntosh Castle (of course) and some other stunning pieces of heritage. 134 Earl. St. was built in 1866 and was once inhabited by Sir John A. MacDonald. Can you even imagine living in these places? I bet they have tea time.... and ghosts.
When we hit the road again we were well-rested, the roads before us were clear and the snow-covered scenery was a tourist attraction in its own right. Our detour in Kingston was probably the best decision we could've made and just goes to show you there's something to the saying "it's the journey, not the destination."
That night we had an amazing dinner at Olivea, window-shopped along Princess St. and then stopped off at The Toucan for a night cap. On our walk home, suckers for old architecture, we found ourselves whispering and tip-toeing up to read plaques on private homes.
The next morning we woke up to complimentary breakfast in bed (!) and sunny skies. There wasn't much happening in town and were dissappointed that the Penitentiary Museum was closed, but we received a warm welcome at the Kingston Brewing Co. (Ontario's oldest brew pub and Canada's oldest wine-producing pub). The beer was tasty, the conversation was friendly and the decor was entertaining.
We also went on another self-guided architectural walking tour to find McIntosh Castle (of course) and some other stunning pieces of heritage. 134 Earl. St. was built in 1866 and was once inhabited by Sir John A. MacDonald. Can you even imagine living in these places? I bet they have tea time.... and ghosts.
When we hit the road again we were well-rested, the roads before us were clear and the snow-covered scenery was a tourist attraction in its own right. Our detour in Kingston was probably the best decision we could've made and just goes to show you there's something to the saying "it's the journey, not the destination."
Happy New Year!
1.12.2012
The holidays were very kind to Dear Edna this year. I've said it before, and I'll never stop saying it, thank you! It was crazy in the best way. But after two months of long hours hunched over a cutting table and sewing machine, creating 6 or 7 aprons a night, packing up all those orders, answering emails and blogging, and then waking up to a full day of copyediting and doing it all over again... this girl is seriously looking forward to some down time. That's probably not what a business owner is supposed to say. But it's the truth.
I used to dread this part of the year and all its depressing lack of sunlight, bone-chilling cold, and anti-social hibernation, but I think it's actually starting to become one of my favourites. After a season of go go go, it's a time when I can finally just stop and take a breath. It's a time when I can give the machine mentality a rest and give my ideas and creativity space to grow. It's a chance to get my ducks in a row. It's a time to relax, reflect, recharge and play. It's like recess for grownups. Haha!
It's also a time to plan. Now that I'm officially living in 2012 with the rest of you, I'm naturally setting some goals and intentions for the upcoming year. There are some truly excited things in store! I can't wait to share them with you, but in the meantime, I think I'll let them ruminate a little longer while I enjoy more of that glorious down time — I'm off tomorrow for a little four-day getaway to Ottawa and Kingston. Fingers are crossed that we don't get stuck in a snow storm halfway there. Snow or no snow, we'll be seeing this fine jokester performing live...
... and hilarity will ensue.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
E xo
P.S. That's my new calendar in the photo above. Isn't it pretty? It's from one of my favourite stationary companies, Rifle Paper Co., and I bought it in the fall, so I was pretty excited to finally put it up. I took it as a sign when I flipped to January and realized the colours matched perfectly with the art I already had on the wall. It's going to be a good year!
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