56 - still hard at work

i have decided to extend my work(ing) getaway in the old stone house to focus on studying for my comps, which means that i am also extending the sale in the shop until the weekend. simply enter the coupon code FREEFALLSHIP during checkout to receive free shipping (domestic & international) on your order.

this Polaroid-inspired illustration by artist Amy Blackwell perfectly captures my surroundings as i am "hard at work," accompanied by either a cup of coffee or warm cup of tea and various other delicacies. i try to stay inspired by the little things to counter what often seems like the heaviness of my work, and Amy's work always inspires in a light-hearted way. i especially love her charming animal portraits, which are available along with the "Polaroid - Hard at Work" print in her lovely shop. 

images Copyright © Amy Blackwell

52 - hard at work

i am out of town on something of a work(ing) holiday, nestled in a quiet old stone house in a small town along the St. Lawrence River, where i will be spending the week studying for my upcoming PhD comprehensive exams. inspired by this lovely silkscreen print by Erin Dollar, which i am posting as both an illustration of the week ahead of me and as an artful reminder of the work i need to accomplish this week, my goal is to remain focused and "work hard." while i am always hard at work, steadily working days & nights and weekends, i am also constantly distracted at home by any number of things: nova lily and other art-making projects, playing house, wedding planning, blogging/reading blogs, snuggling with my kitty.... as September is quickly passing by and deadlines are fast approaching, i need to stay focused on my academic work so that i can get through this phase of my degree, return to my life with andrew, carry on with my research, and devote more time to my art.

so, it is time to crank out some serious work. and there is no other placed i'd rather be....

visit Erin's etsy shop for more artful goods. you can also find Erin on her blog.

30 - ruggedly beautiful Northern Ontario

i seem to have a habit of disappearing, unannounced, into the Canadian wilderness or to small town Ontario to visit andrew. i've done it again, this time to a Northern Ontario camp where i spent my childhood and we now visit yearly for a week or so-long vacation with my dad (by camp, i mean rustic log cabin in the woods, or what some might more commonly call a cottage. we Northern Ontarians, however, call them camps, not to be confused with youth summer camps or "camping"). my days were filled with fishing, lazing on the dock reading, swimming, taking saunas, stargazing, and relaxing in the fresh air, with no one else around or the buzz of city life to disturb us (although there were plenty, or should i say swarms, of mosquitoes!). the stars at night were simply incredible, and we were lucky enough to catch sight of the Northern Lights one night, which i haven't seen in years! the rugged wilderness up there and the lake's pristine beauty gets me every time. i'm pretty sure it's my favourite place on earth. coming back to the city after such a peaceful and relaxing getaway is always a shock, so please excuse my absence as i have been readjusting to city life and catching up on work.

a few of my favourite shots from the past few years. although this summer was the first time ever that we saw baby loons. so sweet!

17 - weekday getaway: wee trout lake & barron river, ontario

i spent the past week visiting Andrew, and we went camping at a gorgeous spot outside the northern boundaries of Algonquin Park, accessible only by 4x4. it was quiet, relaxing, and perfect in every way. there were absolutely no people around and we had the best two days of sunny, warm weather so far this spring. oh, and the bugs weren't out yet either! 

the above photos look out onto wee trout lake from our campsite in a shelterwood, where people have probably been camping for hundreds of years. even though logging has gone on in the area, with sustainable and responsible forest practices it seems relatively untouched. the eco-system in and around the small lake is so healthy and thriving, it's incredible! the sound of frogs feeding and birds calling at night was almost deafening, but also deeply therapeutic. we sat around the campire for hours, simply listening....

i should also introduce our trusty, fully-restored 1995 pathfinder, the best and most reliable bush vehicle ever,without whom we could not have accessed and enjoyed this wonderful piece of the world. she too enjoyed the sun and fresh air!

our modest tent, which i like to call the bear den! we slept with the fly off, watching the stars as we fell asleep. it's amazing to feel so exposed....

i was one happy camper!

some delightful spots along the barron river, including the most beautiful moss-covered trees:

we went on a walk through the most enchanting moss-covered forest stand i have ever seen. the ground was so soft and inviting i could have stayed forever! but instead, i happily collected a variety of pieces of moss and lichen, both for my natural history collection and art-making:

coral lichen (above)

finally, i want to share photographs of what happens to a tree when you lazily leave rope or cord (from hanging up a tarp or clothesline) tied around it:

because trees grow outwards, the rope basically strangles them as they continue to grow, slowing killing them. here, the rope is so embedded in the tree that it is now impossible to remove. unable to grow freely, this juvenile red maple will likely die within the next ten years. so please, always collect your cords before you break camp!