Five years passed by in a blink of an eye. I had posted a video All About Truffle (Our Bunny) on Apr 16/13, and in the description box of that video, I wrote this: P.S. I haven't forgotten about Lulu... she will be starring in her own pet tag very soon!
It's true that I hadn't forgotten, but it's also true that I didn't get around to recording Lulu's video for nearly FIVE YEARS! Better late than never, right? Here are both videos for our furbabies. I've watched Truffle's video numerous times over the years, and it's lovely to have a central place to find some of his cute photos and video clips. It feels so good to finally check Lulu's video off the list, and now we'll be able to enjoy it for years to come. :)
Showing posts with label truffle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truffle. Show all posts
Friday, February 8, 2019
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Annual Family Portrait
The holiday season has officially come to a close. It was a fun and busy one this year! We spent a lot of time with family and friends, and the exhaustion from all the late nights is starting to set in. Today's post is going to be a short one, as I'm going to try to get some much needed rest. This year, hubby and I spent New Year's Eve with our family. We chatted and played games until the wee hours. When we got home, we rounded up Truffle and Lulu for our annual family portrait. I love this tradition! Happy new year, from our family to yours. :)
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Photo-a-Day
My annual goals have historically included a photo-a-day project of hubby and me. I decided to make this a goal a number of years ago, because I was finding that we weren't taking many photos together once we became serious camera enthusiasts. We were still taking tons of photos, but the images were typically of (or for) other people. We started devaluing the casual selfies from our phones and point-and-shoot cameras, preferring the perfectly exposed images from our DSLRs. I started the photo-a-day project in 2012, and it's been consistently on my goals list each year since. Eventually, the daily selfie became so entrenched in our routine that I felt comfortable taking it off my list of 2017 goals. That didn't mean we stopped though! I'm a little behind, but here are the photos we took together in 2017.
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Happy Halloween!
I hope you are all having a happy and safe Halloween! Hubby and I are spending the night at home with Truffle and Lulu. Our furbabies used to dress up, but we don't really make or buy them costumes anymore because... well... they absolutely hate it. Here are some photos from the archives, when we used to make more of an effort. First up is Truffle as Sidney Crosby. I made him this jersey. Hubby has a matching one (that's not homemade).
Truffle as Sidney Crosby again. The hat belongs to hubby. Truffle as the Year 2011. He hated this costume so much that he bit up the "2" before I could even put it on him.
Here is Truffle as a superhero. I made him a cape. I also put together a matching costume for myself.
Here is Lulu in a lion costume that I made her. It's a little furry vest that looks exactly like her own fur. The photo on the right is just her regular winter jacket. But it's kind of Halloween-y because it's got skulls all over it. Very scary, Lulu!
Now we've come to the real reason we don't dress Truffle or Lulu up for Halloween anymore. We suck at costumes. We actually did buy Lulu a few in a past (she's been a dinosaur, a reindeer, a Christmas tree, and Pikachu), but she's vicious when we try to put her in an outfit now so we dare not poke the bear. I'm not sure where those photos are so maybe I'll dig them up one day and share them in a future post. Trick or Treat!
Truffle as Sidney Crosby again. The hat belongs to hubby. Truffle as the Year 2011. He hated this costume so much that he bit up the "2" before I could even put it on him.
Here is Truffle as a superhero. I made him a cape. I also put together a matching costume for myself.
Here is Lulu in a lion costume that I made her. It's a little furry vest that looks exactly like her own fur. The photo on the right is just her regular winter jacket. But it's kind of Halloween-y because it's got skulls all over it. Very scary, Lulu!
Now we've come to the real reason we don't dress Truffle or Lulu up for Halloween anymore. We suck at costumes. We actually did buy Lulu a few in a past (she's been a dinosaur, a reindeer, a Christmas tree, and Pikachu), but she's vicious when we try to put her in an outfit now so we dare not poke the bear. I'm not sure where those photos are so maybe I'll dig them up one day and share them in a future post. Trick or Treat!
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Sawya and Gotcha
Eight years ago to the day, my friend and I popped into PJ's Pets at Yonge and Eglinton, and I fell in love. I saw a little grey bunny with a little pink nose and I couldn't leave the store. My friend wandered around, while I stared at the bunny for an hour. Hubby and I had looked into adding a bunny to our family, but after doing a lot of research, we decided a dog would be more suitable for our lifestyle. Yet I couldn't leave the store. Against my better judgement, and even though I knew the perils of purchasing an animal from a pet store, I put a $20 deposit down for the "Blue Netherland Dwarf." The pet store told me that she (yes, she) was too young to come home with me that day and asked if I could come back the next day (yes, the very next day). I reluctantly agreed, knowing I would worry all night but also thinking it would give me some time to explain myself to hubby. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, I couldn't imagine not having Truffle in our lives. He fills my heart with so much joy, and even though he's quite a mature rabbit now, he will always be my baby bunny. Also, I wish I had taken better photos that day.
The below photo on the left was taken in the pet store on Truffle's Sawya Day, and the below photo on the right was taken at home the next day on Truffle's Gotcha Day. Truffle came home with us on Halloween in the year 2010, around 6 months before we got Lulu. Over the years, Truffle has learned that we are his hoomans. He comes to us for pets, nudges our ankles with his nose when he wants attention, runs circles around us when he's excited, begs for food, and lies right next to us in the most vulnerable positions. It's truly something special to have a little creature, who is in every respect a prey animal, grow to trust you.
I recorded a video all about Truffle a few years ago, and I've embedded it below. In the description box of that video, I promised one "very soon" for Lulu--it's been a while (5 years!!!), so it's probably about time I record that. Happy Sawya Day, Truffle!
The below photo on the left was taken in the pet store on Truffle's Sawya Day, and the below photo on the right was taken at home the next day on Truffle's Gotcha Day. Truffle came home with us on Halloween in the year 2010, around 6 months before we got Lulu. Over the years, Truffle has learned that we are his hoomans. He comes to us for pets, nudges our ankles with his nose when he wants attention, runs circles around us when he's excited, begs for food, and lies right next to us in the most vulnerable positions. It's truly something special to have a little creature, who is in every respect a prey animal, grow to trust you.
I recorded a video all about Truffle a few years ago, and I've embedded it below. In the description box of that video, I promised one "very soon" for Lulu--it's been a while (5 years!!!), so it's probably about time I record that. Happy Sawya Day, Truffle!
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Ugly Bowls
I made two really ugly bowls today.
As part of Culture Days, I attended a pottery session at the Toronto Public Library, and we had some time near the end of the class to try hand-forming a bowl out of clay. The simple pretty bowl I was planning to make wasn't taking shape, so I decided to make a cute little bowl in the image of Lulu instead. Except it didn't turn out so cute. The tongue makes it extra special, no?
Truffle's bowl was fashioned quickly as an afterthought, and it's probably a little less ugly, but that's because I was out of clay (and time), so I couldn't make his eyes or nose.
As part of Culture Days, I attended a pottery session at the Toronto Public Library, and we had some time near the end of the class to try hand-forming a bowl out of clay. The simple pretty bowl I was planning to make wasn't taking shape, so I decided to make a cute little bowl in the image of Lulu instead. Except it didn't turn out so cute. The tongue makes it extra special, no?
Truffle's bowl was fashioned quickly as an afterthought, and it's probably a little less ugly, but that's because I was out of clay (and time), so I couldn't make his eyes or nose.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
101 in 1001
Today is a special day. Not only is it time for a new 101 in 1001 list, it's also Truffle's 8th birthday! I can't believe we've been lucky enough to have our wee bunny for almost a decade. Truffle is such a special boy, and he brings us so much happiness. Before I get into the 101 in 1001 list, I wanted to share a photo of Truffle on the day we brought him home. Look how tiny he was!
Hubby and I were in and out pretty much all day today, and we didn't get to spend as much time with Truffle as we would have liked. I must get back to paying attention to the birthday bunny, so I'm going to post my 101 in 1001 list as it currently stands. The list includes 51 items as of Sep 15/18, but I will be updating this blog post, so perhaps it will fill up eventually. I feel a lot more relaxed about the list this year. I even thought about not keeping track of the number completed, but the tracking aspect motivates me to refer to the list periodically so I'll continue with it. Without further ado, here are a few things I'd like to remember to do over the next 2.74 years!
Start Date: Sep 15/18
End Date: Jun 12/21
Last Modified: Nov 5/19
Completed: 29/101
1. Have date night with hubby once a month - Oct 13/18, Nov 17/18, Dec 22/18, Jan 13/19, Feb 15/19, Mar 23/19, Apr 27/19, May 23/19, Jun 23/19, Jul 7/19. Aug 8/19. Sep 1/19. Oct 13/19. 13/33.
2. Celebrate 10th anniversary with a tin or aluminum gift for hubby - we don't give gifts anymore but we celebrated!
3. Celebrate 11th anniversary with a steel gift for hubby.
4. Visit a corn maze.
5. Go trampolining - Aug 7/19.
6. Watch a drive-in movie.
7. Ride a hot air balloon.
8. Book a float to try a zero gravity/sensory deprivation experience.
9. Go axe throwing - Dec 28/18.
10. Blog the rest of my France 2013 photos (in progress).
11. Blog the rest of my Iceland 2018 photos (in progress).
12. Learn to draw on the computer or tablet (in progress).
13. Make energy balls - Apr/19.
14. Learn how to fix simple things in the home (in progress).
15. Attend a Vipassana silent meditation 10-day course - Dec 5/18 to Dec 16/18.
16. Go on a Habitat for Humanity Global Village trip to Cambodia, Mongolia, or New Zealand.
17. Take a trip by myself - Dec 5/18 to Dec 16/18.
18. Visit Australia and/or New Zealand.
19. Visit Portugal.
20. Visit Prince Edward County.
21. Write and maintain an ongoing favourites blog post (in progress).
22. Find a place to volunteer - Nov 2/18.
23. Go to at least three farmers' markets - Metro Hall. 1/3.
24. Cook at least one recipe from each of my cookbooks (in progress) - 0/13.
25. Go through my two unopened coffee table books.
26. Go to at least six free concerts.
27. Visit Naoshima.
28. Record at least six episodes for a podcast - 3/6.
29. Watch at least three Munk Debates. Is China a threat to the liberal international order? May 9/19. 1/3.
30. Read or listen to at least 50 books (does not include coffee table books) - 23/50.
34. Play frisbee at a park or on Centre Island.
35. Train myself to do the splits all three ways.
36. Visit at least one labyrinth in Toronto.
37. Change all my online passwords.
38. Get our wills drawn up.
39. Complete alterations on the two dresses on my list to shorten - Jul/19.
40. Reach my ideal makeup inventory numbers (in progress).
41. Reach my ideal clothing inventory numbers (in progress).
42. Go through Nina Garcia's 100 list and decide which items are appropriate in my ideal wardrobe.
43. Complete the 30-day plank challenge - November 2018.
44. Practice playing the flute every day for a month.
45. Sing a song every day for a month.
46. Colour every day for a month.
47. Draw every day for a month.
48. Complete the eat-at-home challenge for 30 days in 2018 - November.
49. Complete the eat-at-home challenge for 30 days in 2019 - 30 days leading to first day of spring.
50. Complete the eat-at-home challenge for 30 days in 2020.
51. Answer the 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind by Jun 12/21 and see if my responses have changed.
52. Learn how to draw graffiti art lettering.
53. Take a self defense class - Krav Maga (Oct/18).
54. Go to an Intuitives meet-up.
55. Learn scoring and special hands in Hong Kong Mahjong.56. Work or volunteer at a film festival. Hot Docs Festival - 2019.
57. Make my own sauerkraut.
58. Watch a film at the Cinesphere - Jul/19.
59. Watch a show at the Planetarium.
60. Make steamed cake (e.g. mah lai goh).
61. Decorate my laptop.
62. Start a manifestation journal - Jan/19.
63. Keep a food journal for at least a week - Oct/18.
64. Log my dreams for a month.
65. Make my own yogurt.
66. Make sourdough bread.
67. Make kombucha - Jul/19.
68. Be an audience member at CityLine - Nov 7/18.
69. Remove the shoulder pads in my new-to-me camel coat - Oct/19.
70. Go skating at Nathan Phillips Square or The Bentway during regular work hours.
71. Serve at a Vipassana silent meditation 10-day course.
72. Volunteer at a food bank.
73. Create a vision board - Dec/18.
74. Make cornbread - Jan 28/19.
75. Make madeleines.
76. Determine my current optimal number of sleep hours - as of Apr/19, I seem to function best with 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.
77. Spend one complete winter in Toronto (no travelling) - 2018/19.
78. Take an archery lesson (indoor or outdoor).
79. Play darts.
80. Plan a staycation for hubby and me - Aug/19.
81. Make my own nut milk.
82. Make my own dry shampoo.
83. Make my own raw food for Lulu.
84. Learn to use GarageBand - I've picked up enough of the basics to do what I wanted to do (i.e., edit podcasts) - Feb/19.
85. Create at least three 30-day challenges - 1/3.
86. Complete the entire Konmari method of tidying up - Feb/19 to Mar/19.
87. Complete my 3000 piece puzzle.
88. Complete my 5000 piece puzzle.
89. Complete my 9000 piece puzzle.
90. Hold a fire ceremony.
91. Listen to the 5 books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series on Audible - 1/5.
92. Take a writing class. Introduction to the Art and Practice of Memoir Writing with Firefly Creative Writing Group and Toronto Public Library - Apr/19 to May/19.
93. Post a memoir a week for 52 weeks - 10/52.
94. Learn enough Chinese characters to read the cards mom sent me when I was 8 years old.
95. Take a tech class - Intro to Google Analytics.
96. Write every day for 30 days or complete some kind of writing challenge.
97. Participate in an open mic or improv class.
98. Watch and reflect on at least 20 films during the Hot Docs Festival or TIFF - Sep/19.
99. Create a short film.
100. Go knife throwing - Oct/19.
101. Self-publish a chapbook.
Hubby and I were in and out pretty much all day today, and we didn't get to spend as much time with Truffle as we would have liked. I must get back to paying attention to the birthday bunny, so I'm going to post my 101 in 1001 list as it currently stands. The list includes 51 items as of Sep 15/18, but I will be updating this blog post, so perhaps it will fill up eventually. I feel a lot more relaxed about the list this year. I even thought about not keeping track of the number completed, but the tracking aspect motivates me to refer to the list periodically so I'll continue with it. Without further ado, here are a few things I'd like to remember to do over the next 2.74 years!
Start Date: Sep 15/18
End Date: Jun 12/21
Last Modified: Nov 5/19
Completed: 29/101
1. Have date night with hubby once a month - Oct 13/18, Nov 17/18, Dec 22/18, Jan 13/19, Feb 15/19, Mar 23/19, Apr 27/19, May 23/19, Jun 23/19, Jul 7/19. Aug 8/19. Sep 1/19. Oct 13/19. 13/33.
2. Celebrate 10th anniversary with a tin or aluminum gift for hubby - we don't give gifts anymore but we celebrated!
3. Celebrate 11th anniversary with a steel gift for hubby.
4. Visit a corn maze.
5. Go trampolining - Aug 7/19.
6. Watch a drive-in movie.
7. Ride a hot air balloon.
8. Book a float to try a zero gravity/sensory deprivation experience.
9. Go axe throwing - Dec 28/18.
10. Blog the rest of my France 2013 photos (in progress).
11. Blog the rest of my Iceland 2018 photos (in progress).
12. Learn to draw on the computer or tablet (in progress).
13. Make energy balls - Apr/19.
14. Learn how to fix simple things in the home (in progress).
15. Attend a Vipassana silent meditation 10-day course - Dec 5/18 to Dec 16/18.
16. Go on a Habitat for Humanity Global Village trip to Cambodia, Mongolia, or New Zealand.
17. Take a trip by myself - Dec 5/18 to Dec 16/18.
18. Visit Australia and/or New Zealand.
19. Visit Portugal.
20. Visit Prince Edward County.
21. Write and maintain an ongoing favourites blog post (in progress).
22. Find a place to volunteer - Nov 2/18.
23. Go to at least three farmers' markets - Metro Hall. 1/3.
24. Cook at least one recipe from each of my cookbooks (in progress) - 0/13.
25. Go through my two unopened coffee table books.
26. Go to at least six free concerts.
27. Visit Naoshima.
28. Record at least six episodes for a podcast - 3/6.
29. Watch at least three Munk Debates. Is China a threat to the liberal international order? May 9/19. 1/3.
30. Read or listen to at least 50 books (does not include coffee table books) - 23/50.
- Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver
- Victory Lap Retirement by Mike Drak & Jonathan Chevreau
- A Tribe Called Bliss by Lori Harder
- The Little Book of Fika by Lynda Balslev
- Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
- You Are A Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
- How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free by Ernie J. Zelinski
- Courage to Create by Rollo May
- 10% Happier by Dan Harris
- Change Bites by Marissa S. Costonis
- The Three Box Solution: A Strategy for Leading Innovation by Vijay Govindarajan
- Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
- Ayurveda (Idiot's Guides) by Sahara Rose
- Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk
- Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
- #AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur's Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness by Gary Vaynerchuk
- Awareness by Anthony De Mello
- Let's talk podcasting: the essential guide to doing it right by Amanda Cupido
- Loonshots by Safi Bahcall (in progress)
- Modern Manners by Dorothea Johnson
- The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
- Invisible Essence: The Little Prince
- Free Solo
- Dal Puri Diaspora
- Pick of the Litter
- Pugly: A Pug's Life
- Finding Hygge
- The Game Changers
- nipawistamasowin: We Will Stand Up
- Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief
- Some American Feminists
- Havana, from on High
- The Wandering Chef
- Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story
- Biggest Little Farm
- The Push
- Ask Dr. Ruth
- Superpower Dogs
- The Day Don Died
- Life in Miniature
- Uncaged: A Stand-In Story
- And That is How the Rivers Came to Be
- Scenes from a Dry City
- That's My Jazz
- Take Me to Prom
- Autonomy
- Celebration
- Coppers
- Red Penguins
- And We Go Green
- Letter to the Editor
- Desert One
- The Kingmaker
- Bikram
- David Foster: Off the Record
- Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
- Try something new for 30 days - Matt Cutts
- Stop searching for your passion - Terri Trespicio
- My escape from North Korea - Hyeonseo Lee
- Don't strive to be famous, strive to be talented - Maisie Williams
- My No Spend Year - Michelle McGagh
- My Philosophy for a Happy Life - Sam Berns
- The Power of Vulnerability - Brene Brown
34. Play frisbee at a park or on Centre Island.
35. Train myself to do the splits all three ways.
36. Visit at least one labyrinth in Toronto.
37. Change all my online passwords.
38. Get our wills drawn up.
39. Complete alterations on the two dresses on my list to shorten - Jul/19.
40. Reach my ideal makeup inventory numbers (in progress).
41. Reach my ideal clothing inventory numbers (in progress).
42. Go through Nina Garcia's 100 list and decide which items are appropriate in my ideal wardrobe.
43. Complete the 30-day plank challenge - November 2018.
44. Practice playing the flute every day for a month.
45. Sing a song every day for a month.
46. Colour every day for a month.
47. Draw every day for a month.
48. Complete the eat-at-home challenge for 30 days in 2018 - November.
49. Complete the eat-at-home challenge for 30 days in 2019 - 30 days leading to first day of spring.
50. Complete the eat-at-home challenge for 30 days in 2020.
51. Answer the 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind by Jun 12/21 and see if my responses have changed.
52. Learn how to draw graffiti art lettering.
53. Take a self defense class - Krav Maga (Oct/18).
54. Go to an Intuitives meet-up.
55. Learn scoring and special hands in Hong Kong Mahjong.56. Work or volunteer at a film festival. Hot Docs Festival - 2019.
57. Make my own sauerkraut.
58. Watch a film at the Cinesphere - Jul/19.
59. Watch a show at the Planetarium.
60. Make steamed cake (e.g. mah lai goh).
61. Decorate my laptop.
62. Start a manifestation journal - Jan/19.
63. Keep a food journal for at least a week - Oct/18.
64. Log my dreams for a month.
65. Make my own yogurt.
66. Make sourdough bread.
67. Make kombucha - Jul/19.
68. Be an audience member at CityLine - Nov 7/18.
69. Remove the shoulder pads in my new-to-me camel coat - Oct/19.
70. Go skating at Nathan Phillips Square or The Bentway during regular work hours.
71. Serve at a Vipassana silent meditation 10-day course.
72. Volunteer at a food bank.
73. Create a vision board - Dec/18.
74. Make cornbread - Jan 28/19.
75. Make madeleines.
76. Determine my current optimal number of sleep hours - as of Apr/19, I seem to function best with 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.
77. Spend one complete winter in Toronto (no travelling) - 2018/19.
78. Take an archery lesson (indoor or outdoor).
79. Play darts.
80. Plan a staycation for hubby and me - Aug/19.
81. Make my own nut milk.
82. Make my own dry shampoo.
83. Make my own raw food for Lulu.
84. Learn to use GarageBand - I've picked up enough of the basics to do what I wanted to do (i.e., edit podcasts) - Feb/19.
85. Create at least three 30-day challenges - 1/3.
86. Complete the entire Konmari method of tidying up - Feb/19 to Mar/19.
87. Complete my 3000 piece puzzle.
88. Complete my 5000 piece puzzle.
89. Complete my 9000 piece puzzle.
90. Hold a fire ceremony.
91. Listen to the 5 books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series on Audible - 1/5.
92. Take a writing class. Introduction to the Art and Practice of Memoir Writing with Firefly Creative Writing Group and Toronto Public Library - Apr/19 to May/19.
93. Post a memoir a week for 52 weeks - 10/52.
94. Learn enough Chinese characters to read the cards mom sent me when I was 8 years old.
95. Take a tech class - Intro to Google Analytics.
96. Write every day for 30 days or complete some kind of writing challenge.
97. Participate in an open mic or improv class.
98. Watch and reflect on at least 20 films during the Hot Docs Festival or TIFF - Sep/19.
99. Create a short film.
100. Go knife throwing - Oct/19.
101. Self-publish a chapbook.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Truffle's Eyes
Some of you may know that Truffle sleeps with his eyes open. When he was a baby bunny, he was super happy and trusting, and he would sleep with his eyes closed. Then we got Lulu, and he hasn't closed his eyes since. He'll still sleep comfortably, all sprawled out with his feet behind him, or curled up in a ball beside me. Sometimes, he'll squint his eyes in a relaxed stupor, but they are never closed. Imagine my surprise when I saw him sleeping today. In his litter box of all places. With his eyes firmly shut.
I was worried about him, because it was so out of character. I whispered, "Truffle, are you ok?" and he opened his eyes briefly. He looked a little annoyed.
He closed his eyes again, went back to sleep for a short while, and woke up as his normal self. Truffle's turning 8 years old on Sep 15th and that's rather mature for a Netherland Dwarf. We've started to notice some different behaviour, so we watch him closely, but he is still very active, drinks a ton of water, and eats pretty much non-stop. He's also the sweetest boy ever and will come to me repeatedly to beg for head rubs.
I was worried about him, because it was so out of character. I whispered, "Truffle, are you ok?" and he opened his eyes briefly. He looked a little annoyed.
He closed his eyes again, went back to sleep for a short while, and woke up as his normal self. Truffle's turning 8 years old on Sep 15th and that's rather mature for a Netherland Dwarf. We've started to notice some different behaviour, so we watch him closely, but he is still very active, drinks a ton of water, and eats pretty much non-stop. He's also the sweetest boy ever and will come to me repeatedly to beg for head rubs.
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