Musings of a Northern Girl

I grew up in Northern Ontario and I love it!  The landscape calls to me.  I love the ancient, worn down, gently rounded hills of the Canadian Shield, the dense forests of white pines, red maples, cedars and spruce and the rivers and lakes that are around every bend…

I live in a large city now, but I still feel like a northern girl.  I love to go camping, hiking and kayaking (provided it’s not on Lake Superior), but don’t go as often as I would like.  I must remedy that!

I love summer.  A hot sunny day is the best kind.  In my dictionary, hot is at least 25 degrees Celsius.  I’m not so fond of winter.  Winter sports just don’t do it for me as I don’t really like being cold. 

For the past 5 years I have been involved in something that I would have consider a “girly” hobby in the past, although I don’t consider myself to be a girly-girl.  I make jewelry.  I love making jewelry!  I love dreaming up designs and executing them.  I feel very proud when I learn new techniques.  I love working with metals and stones and artisan glass.  Shape and colour and texture are important.  And there is something very satisfying about having a concrete item at the end of the process.

I also have a full-time job.  I’m very fortunate that I really enjoy the work that I do.  I’m not so fond of my commute to and from work though, as it is a one hour bus ride each way.  Sadly, I can’t use that commuting time to read as I get motion sick if I do.  Instead, I usually spend that time creating jewelry designs in my mind…     

I have a great husband who is supportive, funny and kind.  And he reads the instruction manuals for things!  But shhh, don’t tell anyone… 

I have 2 cats.  Oreo has black ears, a black tail and a few black spots on his white coat.  Shadow is all black and follows me everywhere I go, which is how she got her name.  They’ve been with me for 12 years. 

Like many people, I find there just aren’t enough hours in the day.  Juggling the full-time job, the jewelry business, preparing meals and trying to keep the house in reasonable order can be a real challenge.  Plus finding time to spend with family and friends.  But I’m not ready to give any of it up (okay, maybe the housework), so I find a way to make it all work.