Flickr Favourites: November 28, 2013

{Thanksgiving Cheer ~ The Paper Doll}


{Jay's of Regent Street advertisement ~ totallymystified}


{Furry Friends ~ hanthomas}


{Campanha publicitária Feno de Portugal ~ Biblioteca de Arte-Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian}


{B&W/Duotone Ads, 1953 ~ alsis35}


{Harvest ~ Georgia George}


{Fredric Varady ~ oldcarguy41}


{1940s Coca-Cola Thanksgiving advertisement ~ bergholm}


{Strand of flower fairy lights ~ Holly Pickering}


{Western Family, 1956 ~ alsis35}

{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on its title to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}


♥ ♥ ♥

Thanksgiving falls late in the month for my wonderful neighbours to the south (much as our own Thanksgiving did here in Canada last month, making an appearance on October 14th, the furthest into the year it can ever be, as it falls on the second Monday in October), less than a month away from Christmas. Though, like many I'm sure, my mind is already racing with thoughts of of gingerbread men, holiday card lists, tinsel decked trees and stockings hung by the chimney with care, right here and now, like those in the US, I'm stopping to give thanks and appreciate the bounty of autumn while this beautiful season is still here.

Faster than Santa taking off from the North Pole, it will be winter again, and while the weather here has already mimicked it numerous times over the past few weeks, there are still a few lingering elements of fall, not the least of which is the seasonal produce that is so celebrated today. I'm grateful for each late season apple, pumpkin, and pear, as well as those foods - hearty root vegetables, for example - of the coming season that are starting to appear once more. They all factor into my feasts - be they quick snacks or dinner for ten - that appear, generally piping hot from the oven - during the final days of November.

The palette outside is tinged with dampness and sallow light, it hasn't faded to the degree of late January, but it's a far cry from mid-September, and soon it will be all but hidden under a a duvet of thick Canadian snow. November, a month that I actually quite like, is dark, but not bleak. It turns ones thoughts to the long season of chilliness ahead, yet still finds ways to remind us periodically that it is, every last day of it, wholly a part of fall - and one that is a reason to be thankful unto itself.

From the bottom of my heart, my dear friends, I wish all those celebrating the togetherness, delicious riches, and beauty of Thanksgiving a truly resplendent holiday, and hope that one and all the world over enjoy a beautiful last few days of the final full month of autumn.

My week with Annie

Ok, technically eight, going on nine days, but I couldn't help taking the inspiration for this brief post's title from the similarly named 2011 film about Marilyn Monroe.

As I sit here in the early hours of the morning typing this (while perched on a stack of pillows in our en suite bathroom - a quiet little respite from the boundlessly curious and playful new pet in our midst), I am completely dog tired. This is only fitting given that reason for most of my exhaustion (above and beyond the usual severe fatigue I battle due to my chronic health problems) is our darling Miss Annie.

It's been a long time - perhaps more than a year - since the last time six days passed between posts here. Such was the case however, between this and my previous blog entry, in which I introduced you all to cuter-than-a-million buttons Annie. She is a joy and handful, a constant learning experience and a blessing beyond measure, and I am honestly still a touch in awe of the fact that we really do have a dog of our own at long last.

Much as we'd hoped (and planned, in a general sense) to get a dog for years, the actual act of bringing Annie into our lives happened on the spur of the moment, with no time to prepare. Though I'd always imagined getting a dog would prove challenging for me (from a health stand point), even I was caught off guard a bit by just how much these rambunctious, busy, activity filled days of early puppyhood would knock out of me.

Days - not "a day" - but multiple days are passing between when it seems I have even a brief moment to make it onto the computer, which is in rather stark contrast with the fact that, since early 2012, it's been rare for more than 48 hours to pass without me powering up the ol' laptop at least once.

Lest it seems like I'm bemoaning these past few days, let me assure you that I'm not. Though I do regret that I've missed keeping abreast with all of your blogs and the others I follow via my feedreader (as well as connecting with you through social media sites), I wouldn’t trade this wondrous time with Annie for all the doughnuts in Canada!

This period has been a jumble of emotions, energy levels, new beginnings, and - snuggled together on the couch with the puppy – the late night watching of several fascinating (and wildly diverse) documentaries on Netflix, as a way to unwind after days that felt as though they possessed far more than 24 hours


{Plenty of affection - much like that given by this lovely 1950s stewardess towards the puppy she's holding - and vital bonding time has been the order of the day of late, both directed towards, and received from, our wonderful new dog. Image source.}


I know that for the next few weeks in particular, as Annie continues to grow (and especially prior to her next round of shots after which she can safely start going outside and coming in contact with other dogs, which means we - lacking a yard of our own - can safely begin exercising and potty training her outdoors), my usual computer time will likely be slashed.

That said, this morning, after close to nine days of almost no time spent online, I'm hitting the proverbial reset button, marking all unread feeds read, and (temporarily) streamlining my usual online activities in the hopes that I'll be better able to keep up with blog post writing here, feed reading/blog visiting, and to a much lesser extent, social media.

I suspect some days will be easier than others on that front, but I'll give it my best shot for sure - adorable puppy very much in tow every step of the way. And speaking of Annie, I truly want to thank each and every one of you who commented on my introduction post about her last week, as well as to all those who sent congrats and happy (and insightful) words my way via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email.

As the week barrels on, you'll be seeing other posts from me here (some of which were written earlier this month, prior to Annie's arrival) and I'll aim to visit each of you on a more regular basis again. I know I've not been out of the loop for very long, but I derive such joy from visiting and commenting on your blogs, that I miss it dearly when such is not possible even for a short amount of time.

As the night's gorgeous full moon is knocked from the horizon by a pale late March sunrise, and I try to blink away my exhaustion (I haven't slept yet tonight) just long enough to type these last few words, I can hear Annie going at it with one of her plush dog toys downstairs.

Her sweet little tail is thumping the floor, a youthful bark of enthusiasm directed at her plaything breaks the still morning air every now and then, and I cannot help be filled with such an immense sense of happiness that it feels like I could fit the whole world in the span of my smile - or at least just as big a puppy toy as Annie can get in her mouth. :)

Meet Annie, our adorable new puppy

This past Monday, our lives changed in an incredibly precious and wonderful way. Two days shy of the ninth anniversary of the day that we meet (March 20th), Tony and I welcomed a puppy into our family for the very first time.

We are both massive dog lovers and have dreamed of getting a puppy throughout our whole relationship. This week, in celebration of nine years together, we did just that.

Hailing from Delta (a part of the Metro Vancouver area down on the Lower Mainland), our darling new girl is named Annie - her name celebrating the fact that she's our anniversary gift to one another this year.

I cannot begin to put into words that joy that we're both feeling right now. It's incredible to have to new, darling bundle of puppy joy in the house (we found the listing for, and bought, her on the same day - Monday - so hence why I didn't post about this exciting chapter in our lives prior to the fact).




 Our sweet girl (seen above in an iPhone photo I took yesterday afternoon) is an almost nine week old American Bullador (a cross between an American Bulldog and a Labrador Retriever).

More than just a "gift" in the sense of something that one gives or receives, Annie is a beautiful blessing who will no doubt enrich our lives in countless ways. I love her to pieces and then some! It's hard not to have a few tears of happiness tumble out of my eyes each time I look at her for more than the quickest of moments.

Sweet, very well tempered, curious, playful, alert, intelligent, and healthy, she is so tremendously amazing that I still feel like I have to pinch myself to believe that she's real.

She is though, and as new puppies take a lot of time and energy, I've not been online since Monday (save for a few minutes yesterday - chiefly to write this post) and suspect that my presence will be pretty scare for the next little while.

I want to take a moment to thank you all very much for your blog comments this week - including on Monday's Ice Phone giveaway (which I just want to note, is not only for iPhone users - the Ice Phone is compatible with nearly all modern cell phones).

As many of you know, I always try my best to visit and comment on the blogs of those who super sweetly do the same for me, but I may be a touch behind on that front for the next little while these highly formative early puppyhood days are underway. Likewise blog posts here may appear a tiny bit less often just (I'd imagine) for the next few days.

It's fantastic to be able to share about Annie with all of you this morning - I've been so eager to do so since the moment we decided we were going to get her - and likewise to know that she'll be a part of this blog - as the newest Cangiano family member - from her on out (be sure to follow me on Instagram for the latest snaps of this super cute little girl).

Sending happy start of spring wishes - and countless new puppy kisses (and, goodness, is she a kisser!) to each and every one of you!