the weekend that was

I've developed this obnoxious tendency to feel really sorry for myself at the end of the weekend (more like the middle of the weekend, if I'm being totally honest) because these precious days off fly by. I get to Sunday night and though I know I've done lots over the weekend, it can feel like my To-Do list has just gotten longer. That's partly because my mind never stops. I'm always dreaming up new projects, being given a piece of amazing fabric or a ball of incredible yarn (thank you! don't stop!), or reading a promising weather forecast that makes me wish I had a weekday morning for a bike ride or coffee with friends. It also feels like my To-Do list just gets longer because I take on a lot. Thus, my resolution to simplify things this year.

This post is about reflection: realizing that I did lots this weekend, that I am rested and as ready as I ever will be for a fresh, full week of full-time work. After nine months at this job I'm starting to get better at enjoying my time off. And after a fun weekend with some weird Pacific Northwest weather, I was inspired to share some photos from the weekend that was...

A walk in the university endowment lands with Lola and Jeff early Saturday morning, snow (that never happens here), Lola looking sharp in her Vermont Flannel Company dog jacket, a grocery shopping trip to Bellingham, Washington (with a stop at Avenue Bread), and lush rainforest greenery still shining through the snow.

What did you get up to this weekend? Be sure to stop by tomorrow to check out a super fun New Year giveaway! (P.S. Lots more pics on Twitter and Instagram.)

a lola update

Hi friends, Lola had her surgery on Tuesday and is doing well. The vet found two abscesses in one of her front legs, likely a result of fluid on the joint...like tennis elbow, but for dogs. She's pretty wiped out and has a cast and a cone and some other gross stuff going on, but she's on the mend! Thanks to everyone who wished us well! And you can still make use of the FREE SHIPPING coupon code GOLOLAGO in the Sadie shop for one more week!

P.S. Isn't this photo of Lola in Powell River at Thanksgiving awesome? She's a beauty, although slightly zombie-like these days. 

a few new things...

I wanted to share with you some of the new things that I've been working on as I'm getting ready for holiday craft fairs and online shop updates. All of these pieces are available in the Sadie shop (don't forget to use coupon code: GOLOLAGO for free international shipping). Some of my new favourites stones are featured in these pieces: pink jasper, aquamarine, and tiny raw peacock ore nuggets. I've also been making more pieces using vintage chains and have been hammering lots of brass, much to the dismay of my neighbours, I'm sure.

If you're in Vancouver and can make it to Portobello West at the end of November or Got Craft? on the Drive on the first Sunday in December, I'll see you there! My next big project is making swag for the Got Craft? show. I'll share my project as it progresses...first I have to get the supplies in the mail! Have a great weekend, everyone. Lola has her surgery tomorrow. We really appreciate all of your encouraging comments!

a little lola fundraiser

Hi friends, just dropping in with a quick post to share some news. Lola (our seven year old staffie/border collie x) has to have surgery on Sunday on one of her front legs. We suspect an abscess got infected and now it needs to be fixed up so Lola can get back to her old (crazy) self. To help us deal, I'm offering free shipping in the Sadie shop with the coupon code GOLOLAGO until she's feeling better.

This is Lola's second surgery since we adopted her from the Cochrance SPCA in 2007. Her first was in the first month we had her when she brilliantly knocked out some teeth while playing in my parents' backyard. Do you have your own adopted pet? Tell me a little about them! And thanks for your well wishes this weekend while Lola's having her surgery. She's such a sad cone head right now.

master cleanse

Sometimes you have to get out of the city, head south to warmer, less rainy places. Sleep outside. Watch Hazel (the little dude at the top here with her favourite camping mug) go crazy for nearly 48 hours straight. Wash raccoon prints off of your car windshield. Hike for hours to see lakes and beaches. Make a fire. Use ketchup in the dark. Master cleanse your brain. Here are some highlights from our first day in Larabee State Park with Adam, Emily, Hazel, and Lola.

• lookout point over the pacific ocean and the san juan (southern gulf) islands •

• fragrance lake with lola and hazel •

• clayton beach tide pools •

• candlelit cheese plate •

I think I'm in love with fall camping and getting away for an entire weekend without computers, cell phones, television, and all that other distracting stuff. Now I'm dreaming of a fall camping road trip next year after Jeff is finished school. The cooler temperatures are just right for a long hike and evenings are nice and long for hours around the campfire. I hope you enjoyed your weekend, too. Is it very autumn-like where you are?

outtakes

This past Sunday Jeff, Emily, Ryan, Amanda, Lola, and Hazel and I went to Lighthouse Park in West Van to do a photoshoot with some new Sadie pieces. The weather was so beautiful, the dogs were pretty hyper, and the views were amazing. These are a few outtakes from our shoot. I can't wait to see what Ryan ends up having, as he was the true photographer of the day. And even Hazel modelled some jewelry. She can be seen wearing a pendulum necklace in the photo above. I'll share more soon!

fresh air: hornby island part two

The second part of our day on Hornby Island involved a hike (really more like a leisurely walk) at Helliwell Provincial Park. I had to share so many photos of the later half of our day because it was amazing. The hike starts with a nice forest approach that leads to insanely beautiful sweeping ocean views. Mountains and islands, green cliffs, and miles of ocean make it impossible to avoid stopping to take a photo every two steps. The trail leads around a point on the island and into an old growth Douglas Fir forest. Look at the size of some of those beauties. Do I recommend visiting Hornby Island? How could I not! We also found a deer skull (which we brought home) and finished with a really delicious meal and pint at the local pub while we waited for the ferry back to Denman. This was such a great day, I hope you don't mind me sharing so many of my photos. By the way, can anyone ID the flower near the top of this post? One more island vacation post to come tomorrow, thanks for taking the time to look, read and comment!

fresh air: hornby island part one

lola, jeff, sarah, jamie

The first full day of our island getaway we went to Hornby Island (from Denman, which is where we were staying). These photos are taken at Tribune Bay. The beach is really all sandstone rock formations, which we explored for a long while on this gorgeous sunny day. The tide pools were full of anemones, crabs, and starfish. We all touched some of the starfish, which was sort of thrilling for this East Coast born girl. Highlights of this part of the trip were basically all based around Lola, who scared me when she fell backwards (and in slow motion) down a crack between some of the rocks. What I couldn't see from my angle is that it was totally open on one side and she just walked right out. A few minutes later she had a live crab completely in her mouth and was going to eat it whole, I guess, until it either pinched her or all of us yelling made her drop it. Wait until you see what she did the next day! Dogs are crazy travel mates. Jamie made a great call on taking us to this place. We did so much on Hornby that I'm splitting the day into two posts, the next part will be published later today.

meet my friend and some of her friends

This is Lola, our border collie x, straight from the Cochrane SPCA in Alberta. We got Lola just about three and a half years ago. Since then, she's come along with us on many adventures, from Powell River, BC, to Portland, OR, and moved with us to Vancouver.

I've been spending a lot of time with Lola lately (and, well, always...) and we've really gotten to know each other. I think she has come so far from the orphaned dog that she was when we first adopted her. She can walk on a leash, play with other dogs, run around at the beach, and even manages to lay down in the car sometimes, rather than just running around in the back seat. Having Lola as a pet has never been easy, but it has always been rewarding. I think this might be the case with a lot of rescue dogs and I am a huge advocate for adopting animals. A man who runs a kennel that Lola used to go to in Alberta told us something that I'll never forget. He said, "When people have SPCA dogs I just tell them to never give up." How many times I've said that to myself I don't even know. 

Lola and her pal Bingo

Lola and her BFF Fergie, my mom's Westie

My mom always says that Lola is lucky we picked her. I think we're lucky we found her. Watching Lola's improvements has been so great over the years and since day one she has been a loving and loyal and totally crazy member of our family. I love her so much, think she's the most awesome dog in the world, and just wanted to tell you all a little more about her. We went on a two hour winter beach walk today with a friend and her dog, just a small example of the great things we do together. Lola dreams of being able to help out in the kitchen or drive someday. Her two favourite things are FOOD and CAR, I think her only real dislikes are lettuce and camping. In these photos she's with us in Deception Pass, WA, Powell River, BC, Vancouver, BC, and Mayne Island, BC, respectively. Do you have pets, too?

lomo monday

lola, deception pass, washington (2008): polaroid