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Photo by Amy Treasure on Unsplash

Shortly after Easter this year I got a very bad concussion that left me on full bed rest for three weeks and semi bed rest for another 3 weeks. For the first three weeks after the diagnosis I was not allowed to use a computer or a phone. I could not even watch TV. I was only allowed to sleep or take a walk if I felt good. The first couple of weeks were hard. The following weeks were better as I learned how to pace myself. I realized that my body was quite adept at letting me know when it had had enough. And so I listened to me and surprisingly, I learned a lot about myself. 

For the first time in my life I was able to rest without guilt and it was wonderful. I unplugged and reconnected with nature and it made me incredibly happy. This enabled me to see ME for the first time in what seemed like forever and I started to understand what was missing in my life, what I needed and what I no longer needed. 

For a very long time I have equated my worth with being needed by others and so I have invested all my time and energy into taking care of people, whether it be on an emotional or professional level. But when you no longer have any energy to give you cannot do this and so you start to see things more clearly. You start to get to know yourself a little bit better and then you realize what YOU really need.  And as it turns out, I don't want to be needed by anyone anymore. I would like to take care of myself for a while now. I would like to be dedicated to myself and my well-being for a while. 

So if you can be patient and forgive my self-interest, check back in a couple of weeks and you will find my new website.

Looking forward to sharing a new life with you...

xo

Tracey

A feeling of Zen

In my opinion there is nothing more beautiful than a well landscaped yard. I love being in nature and feeling the energy of the trees and plants that surround me. I had really invested a lot of money in the landscaping of our previous home as the interior needed only cosmetic fixes and a new bathroom. My present house however, has eaten up all our money like the cookie monster eats cookies.

So now I have landscape envy...

Desiretoinspire.net posted about this company called weareconsidered.com and I immediately fell in love with this Cypress Falls residence.

Check out the lighting...

the pathway...

and the deck...

can you say love...

Strawberries & Vanilla Cream

I love having strawberries and vanilla whipped cream for desert but a low cal version of that desert is also good for breakfast. All you have to do is add the desired amount of strawberries to a bowl of plain greek yogurt and then add one tsp or tbsp (depending on how sweet you want it to be) of pure maple syrup and voila! Breakfast is served. 

Breakfast - In the above photo I have combined the following:

4 Medium strawberries, sliced. 

1/3 cup of Riviera plain set-style yogurt (Greek yogurt is fine)

1 tsp of pure maple syrup. 

If you're making desert for a bunch of people and you would like to have whipped cream here is the recipe:

Get 1 pint or 2 cups of strawberries.

Hull and then cut strawberries into chunks or slices and place in a bowl.

Add 2 tbsps or more of unrefined cane sugar - enough to cover all the berries. 

Let sit in the fridge for an hour or two. 

Get your whipped cream

Whip it up until very sturdy. 

Add 1 tsp of pure vanilla flavoring. 

Enjoy!! 

Intermiel in Saint-Eustache

Intermiel is a honey producer in Saint-Eustache, Quebec and I love to go there. Not only because it is relatively close to Montreal - about 45 minutes no traffic - but because the drive up is so lovely. All along the way you will find farmers selling their wares as well as apple orchards and another favorite place of mine, La Maison Lavande. 

Today I decided to go and stock up on beeswax supplies at Intermiel and lavender at La Maison Lavande and was happily surprised to see that Intermiel had completely renovated their boutique and learning spaces (this is a popular school field trip). Here are a few pics from my visit. 

Many different kinds of honey

Beeswax and beeswax candles

Many products made with their honey

The tasting area - YUM!

The different kinds of honey

The Candy bar

Checkout

This is a great place to bring your kids. You can taste the honey, learn how it's produced and walk away with some very interesting products without breaking the bank. Please click here for more info. 

Up-cycled wood patio surround

    Contemporary Patio by San Francisco Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Growsgreen Landscape Design

This patio surround is made entirely from up-cycled wood and has an artistic bent with it's uneven lengths. Although I might have opted for a more uniform color on the upper part, I like the fact that there are peep holes. They let you see some greenery and makes the wall less confining. 

If this deck/patio were mine, I would add a variety of tall and short grasses to the bottom half of the surround. Grasses would add an element of sound and Zen to the space. There is nothing more relaxing that hearing grasses waving in the wind and the symmetry of the evenly spaced tall and short grasses would give it a very uniform and zen look.  Add some soft candlelight on the table and you have all the ingredients for a very romantic evening. 

These are the grasses I have in my front garden. They only get the plumes in the Fall when the temperature drops but I can see them waving from inside my home and it's so beautiful. Very peaceful. 

xo Tracey  

A Re-purposed Steel Home

I love the idea of re-purposing construction materials. Given my long career in design I know firsthand how many perfectly good items get tossed aside. This story however is the exact opposite. It is the story of how metal broker S. J. Sherbanuk created his dream home out of old scrap.  

The home is situated in the town of Blue Mountains in Grey County, Ontario, and is comprised of a series of sheds made mainly of re-purposed steel. Each shed corresponds to a section of the house with the tallest tower housing the kitchen, bedroom and workout room. 

You wouldn't think that a steel structure would work well in a forest but although a bit unorthodox, the house seemingly fits right into the landscape nestled among the trees. I know I wouldn't have any trouble living there, how about you? Would you like to live in a re-purposed metal home surrounded by trees? 

For more photos and the complete story by dwell please click here.     

At the lake...

At first glance the cement pier seems to be suspended above the water. Then upon closer inspection the rocky bottom beneath the water appears and you realize that it's not. 

I love the water and I can see myself on this pier, soaking up the sun, reading a book and listening to the ducks. This picture reminds me of when I was in Lugano, Switzerland. There are beautiful lakes there surrounded by majestic mountains. It is so stunning that it takes your breath away. 

Happy Friday everyone! The weekend is here - time to dream...