Here comes Santa Claus

Well, we took Oliver to see ol' Santy and thought he would FREAK, but guess what? He LOVED Santa! And Santa loved him! He said that he was going to be extra kind to Oliver this year because he was such a good boy. Scooter didn't want to get off Santa's knee...what a kid.

Guilty Pleasures

You know what I'm talking about. A song that you get down with, but only in the privacy of your own home. (Note: Just because I like the song does not mean I condone the videos. eeek.) Good lord, here's two:

All Saints: Pure Shores
Kanye West: Stronger

songs to live by

I am one of those people who once they hear a song they like, will continue to listen to it over and over and over. Not just over and over, but over and over and over and over. (and over once more). I have a couple of those songs right now:

Metric's 'Help I'm Alive' -the accoustic version. Oh Emily Haines. You have such a sweet pure voice. And the lyrics-if I'm still alive/my regrets are few....hard to be soft, tough to be tender/come take my pulse the pace is on a runaway train/help i'm a live my heart keeps beatin' like a hammer.



One of my all time favourite albums for listening to over and over is Wincing the Night Away by the Shins. I've seen them twice and I purchased the album in actual album form. I used to have this amazing old school record player/stereo system, with the built in speakers and an 8 track player. Listening to the album on the record player helped to solidify its place in my heart. The album plays like a story. Right from the intro...the floating and watery keyboard..man. It's something else. Fave track? Most definitely Red Rabbits-even though they didn't play it at the show in Van in 2007. The ONE song they skipped off the album. Hmmph.(and they also don't have a video of it-so here is my 'the-world-is-ending-and-you-can-only-play-one-song' choice.

oliver ate a pickle

Just as it reads. Oliver at a pickle today. Man. He loved that pickle. Like, sucked on it until it was a cucumber again. Wish I had a picture. It happened at Montana's and I don't want anyone to know I went there, so I didn't pull out the camera. Just imagine a pickle where the smile is....

Let the Rumpus Begin!

If you like crafts, you'll like this. So good. You clearly need to have at least a bit of talent in the painting department, but come on...I LOVE THESE!

http://matsutakeblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/halloween-craft-1.html

Fall Days

A picture motif.

Working Girl

Very excited to announce that I landed a great gig working with a PR, Marketing and Artist Management company. Among the roster are blues legend Joe Murphy, Juno award-winning artist Garrett Mason, jewelry designer Donna Hiebert and Cory Bowles (Cory from Trailer Park Boys).

After meeting with Kelly (the owner of the company), I feel this is going to be a perfect fit. I can work from home, and when the need arises for me to head into the office (located in a downtown Halifax loft space!), I can bring Sir Oliver along! Already ot my first job-write a press release for an open house. Almost done. It feels AMAZING to be doing this again. I really do love to write...

The PR and Marketing internship officially starts tomorrow with a meeting in Bernard's office at 1:00 to go over my projects. I have my own office. How cool is that? I will also be in charge of ad sales for the AGNS magazine.

I can't believe how fortunate I am. In a new city, where ultimately I know nobody, and manage to land 2 dream jobs. Someone is smiling down on me...

Off for a studio visit to take pictures for a press kit!

Oliver updates

I haven't written about Sir Oliver in a while. Things are so busy over here now! Lots has happened though and the people must know!

On October 13th, Oliver got his first tooth. It's a great tooth. He likes it, and so do we. Yay tooth! Hard to get a picture of it as he NEVER sits still...but the elusive tooth picture will be snapped. You can bet on it.

Oliver is waving and even better, is giving high fives. LOL! It took me a bit, but I taught him and now demand high fives for every little accomplishment, ie) getting the banana from his try to his mouth, standing up, drinking water from his cup...

Oliver is potty trained now too. Kidding. Wouldn't that be nice though....

This morning, Scooter and I were having a dance and I tried a new song-I try to sing to him a bit more now too-he puts up with it the little dear. He actually sings too sometimes! Anyhow, the song I sang to him this morning was Ingrid Michaelson's 'The way I Am'...you probably know it from the Old Navy commercials a few years back. It is so beautiful. When I got to the part about 'I love you more than I could ever promise....' I started to cry. It came out of nowhere.. Uh oh, again...Not sure what it is, but to me it is the perfect song for a mother to sing to her child (I'll sew on patches to all you tear...) Oh Oliver, I love you so.

*I can't add the actual video for the song, but here it is with a silly picture attached.

Daniel Freytag.

Daniel Freytag's work is Delicious (capital intended). I NEED one. Christmas? Pllllleeeeaaassseeeee??????

Your Mother's Closet

A couple of weeks ago I started a vintage store on Etsy.com. Wow. So fun. I have 4 sales already and have had so many emails from people telling me they love what I have. I haven't had a lot of time lately to go searching for new items to add to the store, but there are a few neato books and some choice cowboy and Frye boots there.

I love wrapping up the purchases in my brown postal paper and tying them up with twine. I include hand-written cards and notes inside and I wan to start sending along old school candies too. There is a great little candy store here in Halifax called Sweet Jane's. (They have a bubble machine to lure you inside...)

I hope you'll stop by sometime or message me to tel me what you'd like me to search for. That's the fun part...

NOTE: Because I have been buying from etsy for 2 years now, I have had to keep my selling identity the same as my buying identity: 'lisadkehler'
I was featured on the handpicked items page after only 4 days open! Those are my boots in the top center...)

click here to visit me...
Your Mother's Closet

Mommy intern

Last Friday I was offered the position of PR and Marketing Intern at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. While I was joyous for the opportunity, I was panic-stricken at the thought of leaving Scooter (Oli's new nickname). I know I know. It is only 2 days a week for 5 hours a day. But add that to the French classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights (3 hours), and that is 13 hours now. (Not that I am counting)....

So long Marianne

Oh Leonard, this song is so incredible. Just heard it again this morning while listening to CBC Radio 2 Morning with Tom Allen. After watching this video of a live performance from the 70s, I was trying to figure out why he was so overcome with emotion. I discovered that 'Marianne' was Marianne Ihlen, a love of Cohen's who he met in Hydra in the 1950s. While at a supermarket one day, Cohen saw her and asked her to join him while sitting outside. Of course she joins him...

Once he returns to Montreal, he sends her a telegram which reads:
“Have house. All I need is my woman and her son. Love Leonard.” That's the stuff movies are made of, no?


NOTE:
If you don't listen to this morning show, you should. Here is a sample of today's line up:
Paulo Nutini
Alex Cuba
Hawksley Workman
Joni Mitchell
Leonard Cohen
Pete Yorn

You can stream it live too, for anyone in the US...here's a link!
http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/index.html

What's new pussycat?

With Fall comes the rise of new things (did you see what I did there? fall...rise...). Oliver starts Kindermusik on Thursday and I start French next Monday! Oli's Kindermusik class is called 'Feathers' and focuses on nature sounds and the musical poetry of Woody Guthrie. How sublime is that? He gets a shaker that is in the shape of a bird too. I wonder who will play with that more...

As for the French classes, I decided that while I am on parental leave, I may as well do something that will enhance my skills in the art world. To get into most MA programs you need to be capable in either German or French. My Dad spoke German but, unfortunately, never taught me! So after 10 years of painstakingly being taught French by those who could barely speak it themselves (merci beaucoup, BCI and MCI), I am attending the Alliance Francais with hopes of emerging a bilingual master!

Now we need to find something for Matt to do. Any suggestions?

Update: Jane Eyre

Well I finished the book. Epic.

The Helio Sequence

Me like a lot. Had the album for a long time, just never got down with it. Fantastic review of their newest album Keep Your Eyes Ahead here. Favorite track is 'Broken Afternoon'.

Charley Harper

image via bittenandbound

I really adore Charley Harper. A while back we bought his ABC book at Old Navy of all places. His paintings are so fascinating to Oliver (and his Mom and Dad). His geometrical renderings of wildlife encourage us to think of life in a whole new way. I choose to think of it is although we are all a puzzle. Pieces of the puzzle that all fit together.

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte. image via janeausteninvermont


Oh Jane Eyre. You constantly try to pull me away from my motherly responsibilities. You keep me from going to bed at a decent hour, just so I can get one more page in. You constantly distract Oliver from nursing as I am always trying to hold him and the book and turn pages.

Oh Jane Eyre. I am nervous that things just aren't going to work out for you!

Did I mention this is the first time I am reading this book? I can't believe it has taken me this long. It is INCREDIBLE and ABSORBING and ENCHANTING and FRUSTRATING. I can't remember reading a book where I actually got so excited when I read a conversation, that I immediately went back and read it again, but s.l.o.w.e.r. My enjoyment is enhanced ten fold by the fact that the copy I am reading is a small leather bound, originally a gift to Matthew's Mom in 1931. Shriek! I love it!

Can't wait to finish and see what that rascal Mr. Rochester has in store for our Jane.

Little Britain

We've been watching a lot of Little Britain around these parts. I am not sure if you are familiar with this show or not, but it is sketch comedy from France. No. I am kidding. It's British. And it's bloody hilarious. (Our personal favourites are Lou and Andy.)

Literal Videos

My soon-to-be-brother-in-law, sent me this link. Wow. Matt and I sat here laughing so hard. Literal videos. Amazing idea, and this one is done so well. Judge for yourselves....Thanks G.

Moms

It was just my Mom's 60th Birthday on the 26th! My sister planned an awesome surprise birthday party for her at my cousin Sarah's house. She says she will remember it forever. Seeing as I live allllll the way over here, and we couldn't make it, I sent a little care package with pictures and a card. I also wrote a little something for my sister to read out at at the party...Moms are great....:

Mom,

First off let me say how disappointed we are that we could not be there to celebrate this awesome day with you! For years you have been telling us to throw you a 'surprise' party for your 60th. And now while I am not sure how telling people to throw you a surprise party constitutes a surprise, Teri and Gratton have achieved this ( i hope) and kept you in the dark!

I wanted to take this opportunity to take a trip down a 31 year lane. Well, more like 30 as I really don't have the most vivid recollections from my first year here-I do hope you'll understand.

A lot of my memories from being a little girl in Boissevain are filled in or at least verified by the amazing photos we have. One in particular that is near and dear to me is the one of me on that silly plastic rocking horse. you have a stylin' afro and have your hands up in the air as if to catch me. I look like I am having the time of my life. So thank you for providing simple joys even at the tender age of 1.

Looking at still more photos I remember you made the most amazing cakes for my birthday each and every year. One in particular that stands out is the year that you made each guest at my party a GIANT rice krispie cake molded into the shape of their first initial.I got an email last year from a friend who was at that birthday party and still remembers how cool that was. You always made each birthday for Teri and I so special. Breakfast in bed, pool parties, special dinners, balloons everywhere and wonderful, thoughtful gifts.

Your decision to stay home until I started Kindergarten is also one that now I am a mother I recognize as a big sacrifice. Your job was me. And I thank you for that. I remember those little plastic Tupperware dishes filled with raisins and marshmallows. And I remember sticking said raisins and marshmallows in my nose while watching sesame street. HA! Bet you didn't know that....

The opportunities that you and Dad provided for both Ter and I are countless and no doubt contributed to the fine women we have turned out to be . hahaha. Band, voice lessons, piano lessons, gymnastics, ringette, baseball, camp, festival..the list goes on and on, and looking back I know how lucky we were to have those opportunities. The thing is you not only provided us with opportunities, but the freedom to explore them in our own way. At baseball I remember playing the outfield, and doing handstands while waiting for the batters to hit the ball. I would still somehow manage to catch it if it came my way though. Thanks for letting me express myself...upside down.

Now that I have Sir Oliver, I look back at my childhood and realize what an incredibly important role a mother plays. You not only give life, but sustain it. You not only hold us up but let us go, While I know the times where you let go I didn't always choose the path that you would have chosen for me, I do hope that regardless of the way I got here, you know I got here because you gave me the tools to one day find my way.

Happy 60th Birthday Mom and Grammy. Can't wait to see you in September...

Lisa

Happy Birthday Mom!

Pete Yo and Scar Jo

I really dig this song. The female vocalist? Scarlett Johansson. Wha??? I know! She actually has a fantasticly smokey old-school vibe and the duet with Pete Yorn is just lovely. I wonder what the rest of the album will sound like?

Here is a tiny sample, but you can see the whole video here.

Babies are becoming more and more talented with each generation. I could only do this at 2. Evolution baby.

I want a chicken.

painting by Mauro Malang Santos via Komikero Comics Journal

I stumbled across Omelet, and now really want a chicken. Fresh eggs?! Yum! Except for Matthew gets sick when he eats eggs. So maybe I won't get a chicken.

Hurricane Bill

image via cbc news

Matt and Oli ran to the store to fetch a pail of water...Seriously though, I know that hurricanes are dangerous and scary, but I am a teeny bit excited for gale force winds and torrential rains tomorrow. Something about storms....We have our survival kits ready with water, propane, candles, cash, avocados for Oliver, beer for Dad and wine for Mom.

As soon as I heard about waves that will swell to 2 meters in the storm surge, I thought...let's go to the harbour and watch. LOL! I blame my prairie upbringing for my lack of common sense concerning ocean-related activities....

I do want to mention that I am somewhat disappointed that my first hurricane is named Bill. Really? Bill? Is that all you could come up with? How bout Bartholomew, or Beelzebub, or Boris, the angry Russian hurricane. I don't know who is in charge of naming storms, but I'd like to get myself on that payroll...

*UPDATE: Found a link to a live webcam at Peggy's cove so you can watch too! (It's mostly fog today though...still beautiful.)
http://www.peggyscovewebcam.ca/live/

BEST EVER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD EVER EVER EVER

This is perhaps the best most wonderful video. Gosh babies are awesome.

2 Scores in 1 Day!

Ok. Guess who's the proud new owner of a Dwell Studios Weekender Bag? Oh that's right...Sir Oliver the Small. Boo yah.

Annnnnddddd, 5 minutes after purchasing this awesome travel bag, I got a package from my Mom containing a Marimekko onesie! Holy crap! Love it!

As seen on their website:
"Marimekko’s vision is to be the most acclaimed print designer in the world and one of the most appealing design-based consumer brands. "

Yay Wednesdays!

Farewell John Hughes

(image courtesy NY Times)

Molly Ringwald, John Hughes, Anthony Michael Hall. These are names I grew up with. Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink. These are movies I loved.

It is strange how you can feel such sadness for a person you have never met. Although since the passing of my father, I feel a strange quiet sadness whenever I hear of anyone passing.

Speaking with a friend yesterday, the talented Mr. Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch, I discovered that there would be an article published in the NY Times written by Molly Ringwald about John Hughes' death. Max had been approached to illustrate said article. Poor fella had a raging fever, but managed to turn it out.

I awoke this morning very excited to see that he had indeed turned it out. The underlying theme for Ringwald's article was that John was like Peter Pan, in that he created a Neverland for the actors in his films. Her writing was just what I had expected it to be. Thoughtful, intimate, sentimental.

The picture that accompanied it was a charming example of MLHH's oeuvre. His signature characters are created with such a childlike passion: I can't imagine a more suitable artist to illustrate the words chosen to mourn the passing of a true cinematic great.

Barry Lyndon

If you ahven't seen Stanley Kubrick's, 'Barry Lyndon'. Go now. This scene is perhaps the best seduction scene of any movie ever....

jolly wolly doodle all the day

Jump.......jump........jump.......jump.....







jump.......

National Film Board Oldies but Goodies

Ok. As I was searching for a video to show Matty on youtube, I came across this old vignette. Bring back any memories?




How about this one? (I always thought it scandalous when the faces started kissing)

She fancies herself a photographer now....

Art imitates life. Who said that? All my years of art history education and I can't remember a damn thing. Andre Breton? Oops, Oscar Wilde. Weird. Here are some more of my dabbles.

Sonja Ahlers.

An artist that used to show at the gallery I managed in Vancouver has just crept back into my consciousness. As I was unpacking yet another box of books, I came across a catalogue from a show Sonja Ahlers had in Japan.

Sonja's art is near and dear to my heart. She creates these amazing Fierce Bunnies, one of which (Grandpa) is resting comfortably in Oliver's room. Sonja is one of those artists that you couldn't imagine being anything else. Her studio locations range from the Yukon, to the inside of a mushroom in Toronto. Everything she writes is brilliant and thoughtful, and her photographs are clean and crisp and bright. Oh and did I mention she shares my obsession with Heart?



I highly recommend reading her blog, scoping her art, and adoring her bunnies.




*Nestled inside the belly of each bunny is a lucky penny. About 5 months after I had received my bunny, I found out I was pregnant. I sent her an email and jokingly asked if they had fertility powers. She confirmed my suspicions.*

Flora II

I heard from my lil' cousin today! Yay! He lives in Korea and I never see him anymore which is very difficult for me. We were pretty good friends growing up and over the years my respect and admiration for him has grown exponentially. He's one of those guys that seems to k now a little about everything cool: photography, politics, philosophy, music. Yup, proud I am related.

Anyhow, what does this have to do with flora? Well, he said he'd like to see some more of my photos, so here are a few more. Miss you Matthew!*








*Yes, Matthew is the name of my cousin as well as my fiancee. That's how much I look up to my cousin. Kidding, that would be super weird.

Perfect Saturday

As promised, we strolled on down to the harbour on Saturday morning and it was THE most perfect day to photograph some of the ships. The fog was so dense that you could barely make out some of the ships!

When we first rolled up to the water we literally ran into the most perfect pirate in the world. My camera was tucked in its case so no photos. But picture Jack Sparrow costume with a dirty face and an even dirtier voice. He was fabulous.

Those fellas in the sailor suits are from the Russian ship that I pictured in my previous post. (the Kruzenshtern). This leads me to another topic: Russians. I am Russian, so keep that in mind....Looking at the pictures, I mentioned that I loved Russians. Yes an odd blanket statement. What I seem to like about all of the Russian I've ever met is that they are stoic. You never know if they are enjoying themselves or not. But that is precisely what intrigues me. During the parade yesterday, all of the other crews were yelling and playing drums and dancing, but the Ruskies were all bidness. (see picture below). They are riddles wrapped in enigmas. Oh yeah, and I love borscht.