lately

I haven't been in the mood for blogging or taking photographs lately. Do you ever feel that way? I can't really explain what it was, but I seem to be distracted by many other things, graduate school a, knitting and television programs to be specific. I think I'm ready to get back to taking photos though, fall colours are especially nice to capture.

Here's my trip

Hello! I've been back from my vacation since last week, and Toronto has gotten so hot while I was gone. It's almost as hot as LA here. I have my fans on and windows open 24/7, but I still had a hard time falling a sleep for the past couple of nights because of the heat!

I had a wonderful time in LA. This was the third time I went to LA, the first time was to visit Disney world when I was a kid, the second was when I lived and worked there as a summer intern, and this time I just got to spend time and catch up with dear friends. These photos are taken at Venice beach, one of my favourite places to hang out in LA.

I didn't take many photos in Vancouver this time at all, since I was too busy packing up my parent's house and trying to spend as much time as I could with families. My parents and brother were planning to move back to China, so visiting them was the main purpose of the trip. They left for Bejiing the day after I came back to Toronto and have since then settled down. Although it doesn't make too much difference having family across Canada or across the Pacific Ocean, but I do miss them a lot more these days. It's going to take Eric (my little bro) a little time to adjust to things in China again, but I think he will do just fine, he's such a sociable dude anyway.

I hope you are having a great week, I'm going to have a popsicle now!

this kind of light

My bedroom is usually dark, but on a sunny day, when the sun sets it has has this sort of a magic moment where a slit of sunshine sips through the door ajar.

We're nowhere close to the spring weather, as the freezing rain and grey sky continues here. There's hardly any signs of green, and I'm still bundled up in my winter jacket. I'd much rather have an April similar to our last spring. I've been spoiled.

Apartment hunting has filled most of my brains these days, finding something charming and affordable is not easy, but I guess everything great takes time to be discovered. I'm dreaming about the perfect home.

Film swap, anyone?

Beijing, 2010/09


Luminato Festival, Toronto, 2009/06

Bayfield, Ontario, 2009/09

I'm feeling rather nostalgic these days. A few things have been on my mind lately..

- Writing more letters/postcards to friends and families that are far away, since I just bought these amazing stamps from Jamie at the Love and Rummage Trunk Show.

- Thinking about reading this book

and

-Looking into my box of film photos, I'm feeling more nostalgic towards the old fashioned way of image making. I need to use film more often, and then put them all in an album that I could flip through.

***

When I develop my rolls of film, I always ask for a set of printed copy, just because I like holding onto a print better than looking at it on the screen.

Do you shoot film? Would you be interested in a film photo swap? I'd like to mail you some of my photos, and in return you can share me yours. I would love to see your side of the world arrive in my mailbox.

How does that sound?

If you're intrigued by the idea, feel free to leave me your email, and we'll disscus more.

white and fluffy

We took a walk in a suburb neighbourhood after a night of substantial snow fall.

I would make snow angels, but the snow was already melting.

Remember when you were a kid, you'd roll in the snow carelessly? The cold, the wetness, all of that didn't matter. What happened to that part of me?

I think I want to be a kid again, just for the winter fun.

ruffles and rain drops

I hope the rain can calm down Toronto a little bit.

hello,please.

I don't post these kind of things that often, but I feel the need this time.

We watched The Cove last night, a millions of different feelings rushed into me while I was watching it. I've realized that I need to do my part to help these lovely creatures that I love so much of.

Please, if you haven't seen the movie, watch it. The film crew has made a tremendous effort to bring the truth out to us.

We got to stop the horror still happening in Taiji.

You can visit the website, and sign the petition to help.
Spread the word too, our blogging community can do so much.

on the weekend and my forgetfulness

Thank you for all your comments from the last post, I'm so encouraged to take more film photos now! I love hearing from all of you.

The long weekend was very sunny but I only got some gray shots, because I forgot to put my charged battery back in my camera before I went out on Friday. I was really mad at myself.

p.s. A goat cheese tart recipe I tried over the weekend. Delicious, but took me half a day to find all the ingredients

p.p.s an epic 100 metre long photo

On Clouds and Things

In these gray days, I keep on seeing clouds.

Saturday, I took a stroll in Kensington Market, and came across this lovely storefront.

Can you see the clouds in the window?

Hotshot is having an exhibition on clouds, and rain drops, so lovely and whimsical, I was in love instantly.

Some clouds you could have, for your kitchen. here and here.

April is daffodil month.

I finally got these daffodils i ordered from work a couple of weeks ago as a support to the Canadian Cancer Society. Daffodils are such beautiful flowers which also embodies a sweet but subtle smell to it. They don't need much to blossom, just water and gravel. I guess for that reason Chinese people call them 水仙花 (Water Goddesses).

I can't wait till these to blossom..and bring a little bit more of spring into my apartment.

A couple of things on my mind..
- I must decide on a colour palette for the granny square blanket I've been wanting to work on.
- I need to pick out a fabric for the skirt I'll be working on in sewing class..I'm thinking a red or yellow gingahm?
- and..I gotta plan out my weekend with meaningful things!! Ideas?