suzette roberts

// Balancing Bits...

{my sister, Gi, giving Daddy an at-home hair salon experience :)}

 

Congrats! (again) to the Toronto Raptors; #KyleLowry! - he was ready to go from the get-go! :) Well done! Wrapping up the work week with a few little moments that continue to bring a gentle softness to my days and weeks... quiet tucked-away lunches outdoors in the sun included-- just the way I like it (with our lower humidity temps). Weather-perfect. And happy Father's Day to our dads on Sunday. :) Music from the week and more after the jump. Have a relaxing weekend. ~xx

// Dad Days: The Unexpected, Loss, & New Beginnings

{Dad & me in more recent times: having a breakfast moment (left) on vacation; i always look forward to sleeping in, skipping breakfast, and making it in time for lunch together; but Daddy is an early bird even on holidays, and he wanted us to have all the meals together; hence, i was up way early @7 a.m. on this day with some very hazy moments; thanks Daddy!; (and right) enjoying a quiet at-home birthday celebration in his party glasses; he loved these quiet at-home evenings with all his girls}

 

My dad and I have been having so much unexpected, needed time-out and quiet fun these past weeks with having lived in two different countries for so many, many years, that without any thought I stepped away from my after-hours blogging hobby three weeks ago to revel in his comforting and playful spirit energy. My daddy passed away last month and although there was a sudden and heightened sense of what was actually happening in late March, we were still looking forward to celebrating his next milestone decade this year with an extended summer trip to Jamaica seeing his brighter appearance, disposition, and chatting a lot more early April... He's usually quite the serious and studious type, so it's been great travelling these casual, unscheduled moments with him. I never know what to expect next... He always liked fun surprizes, and sure is dishing it out in varietal style these days. I never guessed that our 12:50 a.m. sugared lemon zest crossing flash when he actually peacefully passed in his hospital bed (unknown to me at that time as I had just stepped out of the shower much later than usual that night, with attending to some paperwork his doctors had just requested), would begin a whole new way of communicating on the daily. So I slowed down (deliberately), and cut back for a few to catch all these little spirit connections, as just us...

 

More behind-the-scenes and out-of-the-business-suit casuals Daddy and I shared in and with each other, after the jump... Thank you so very much everyone. ~xox

// Have a Beautiful Easter and Passover.~

{almost there; gluten-free no-bake homemade key lime cheesecake with fresh whipped cream; same recipe as here (scroll down), just substituted the lemon juice for lime juice; welcome home Gi!}

 

Happy early long weekend. I hope you had a good week and are just as ready as we are for our holiday weekend ahead. Nothing wild planned this side. We are looking forward to the extra downtime and catching up with each other as usual, with some quiet on the home front thingamajigs. And for lunar lovers, tomorrow at 7:12 a.m. EDT you can 'look up' to see a full pink moon(!), if awake. :) Music and a few recent behind-the-scenes snaps to close our week. Have a lovely one with all things cozy. ~xx

// Bye bye Winter, You've been Very Gracious. :)

{early edition spring bloom lily; she's a-coming}

Winter sure came (this side North), and even in our tropical Caribbean where many nights lighter blankets were layered on our beds, and usually fully open windows were half-way there or less to break most of the chill from our mountain breeze. We are indeed grateful with experiencing a healthy season, work we continue to enjoy that have also treated us well, and being able to catch up with family and close friends each week, in some way. Our sidewalks were always cleared, and shovelled walk paths created for easy access to board our trains and streetcars. It continues to take a caring hands-on village, and for that we have much to be thankful for... Wrapping up the last official weekend of winter with this lovely, and a few behind-the-scenes, after the jump... Thanks everybody, and have a soothing one. ~xx

// Have a Loving Family Day Weekend.~

{rustic-style homemade french fries; it started in a dream weeks ago...}

 

... where I was once again on a ship cruising the Atlantic with my last Grade 3 group. All my kids were enjoying fries: some had just one fry in hand, some two, others a few, and one or two an entire bucket. It made me laugh, but it also made me feel really good inside to see them sharing their golden goods and having a grand time with each other in casual style while taking in the majestic blue... #life #love #heartful Happy Valentine's(!) afternoon and/ or evening wherever you are in the world. Have a sweet one, and have a very loving long weekend. Happy Family Day to you and yours! More after the jump... ~xx

// Everything And The Kitchen Sink

{what could happen when you show up later than planned for family dinner; almost missed out on our sample slices; my sister Jan's dead-on perfect holiday fruit and rum cake; she nails it(!) every year}

 

It's been a hazy week all-round with commuting (our deeper freeze and its after-effects, and then some), and when having your own helicopter sounds like a very good idea for those roof touchdown moments. And since we are forced to go at a slower pace whether we're in the mood for it or not, we will yield to it like good people with another weekend of light reading, movies, naps, and things ready-made. 'Love it! Have a warm and fluffy weekend. A few trending signs of the times after the jump...  ~xx