outlaw@home

The Business of Being ME

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

First day back to school after the break, and already I'm going bonkers. I have to take "Business&Sales" followed by "Organizational Leadership Skills" with teachers who have a completely different outlook, approach and especially business ethics than I do. I want to grow things and feed people. I'm not naive and I'd like to make enough to live the life I've become accustomed to .. but money, sheer profit, is simply not my driving factor.
I was wondering how I'd ever make it in "business" so it was incredibly great to see this video when I got home...

..........it is still possible to be a pioneer!

I think the most important lesson I took from this video was: Know the rules, so you know how to break them! But also know which essential rules should never be broken. I might not enjoy these business classes, but I should (teaching quality is a whole 'nother debate LOL) be able to take away the fundamental rules of integrity and responsibility. Otherwise I'll just be making a list of what I disagree with, so that I have a list of what not to do WINK

The Hartleys (Craig as well) have been an inspiration to me for many years, the summer camp they ran, Centauri, was an absolute refuge to me allowing me to blossom into my true self. They also gave me a first taste of adventure and travelling when our theatre troupe toured Scotland! Just when I was starting to lose motivation in my idea of starting a small business, Julie was able to inspire me again -- thank you :)

Simply Your Style

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Its shaping up to be a great year for clean, classic, basics :)
For another great example check out J.Crew's 12 Essentials for 2012.

Back to Basics by inhabitingtrees featuring a cashmere v neck cardigan

Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0000

I never cease to be impressed by my blackberry's camera! Obviously, since the picture on the left is of my Torch being used as a camera, its clearly not taken with my Torch .. thank you @seannalexander! The one below, however, was a quick snap of the stunning sunset over Burlington GO Station this evening while I was waiting for the train into Hamilton. Since I got this "phone" which is really code for: picture, music, phone, pdf, email, research, blog, twitter, life device .. I've stoped having to haul around a bag full of electronics (camera, mp3 player, cellphone, laptop, binders, textbooks, daytimer, watch) but I've also become increasingly aware that I'd be screwed if I ever lost it! eep!

At the Dinner Table

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

So I'm officially an adult, wanna know how I know? I finally have a dining room table and I had a smokin' hot dinner guest! No more eating off my lap at my desk or on the couch, and one more thing checked off the bucketlist. Seriously! Brittany is a gorgeous local model from Niagara Falls who recently shot with Hamilton's exceptionally talented fashion photographer David Hirsh. And the table is pretty rad, it folds down to only about a foot across, but has two leaves that together can seat 4 people! We then headed off to the Envy Lounge where Enzo made us candy coloured martinis teehee

The (Healthier) Breakfast Flowchart by @eatingrules

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

http://www.eatingrules.com/2011/07/healthy-breakfast-ideas/

Cyclamen aka "Poor Man's Orchid"

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

I've never been a huge fan of Poinsettias, red is my least favourite colour and I think the plants themselves are overdone. So when it came time to choose our winter flowering greenhouse crops my choice was simple: anything but Poinsettias. I didn't know much about Cyclamen when I started but I've come to think they make better seasonal flowering plants than Poinsettias, which look out of place immediately after Christmas. If you're interested in the technical details of how we grew them, you can check out this post. After months of tending to and obsessing over strange upside down blooms .. I just couldn't help myself and brought home a few for myself! With fine heart shaped foliage and bright, unique flowers, these tuberous perennials bring fresh colour and cheer indoors during the dreary winter months. Perhaps the very earliest of spring blossoms, Cyclamen flower right through January, February and into March. Their native woodland habitat makes them perfect houseplants - the Victorians loved and cultivated them for their tolerance of indirect light and cool temperature. Cyclamen require little care: a moderately humid environment, do not like wet leaves and prefer to dry out between waterings.

Lake Simcoe

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Between Christmas and New Years I spent a magical frosty few days in our family friends' log cottage on Big Bay Point. We've been going there for years so I've come to love the place, but this year I spent most of my time in the Scandinavian-esque loft away from my annoying little brother. The open beam, peaked roof space has been beautifully updated with snowy white furniture that highlights the season outside and compliments the warm wood, accented by bright earth tones and matte metallics.

I've always enjoyed historical maps of places that I know and love. Its so interesting to see the history that's shaped these landscapes. Using the Canadian County Atlas Digital Project I found a map of Innisfil from 1880. I rotated, sharpened and cropped the map and I'll print / mount it the way you see below. Now I have a lovely piece of cartographic wall art that I can keep at home as a year-round reminder, or bring as a gift next time I visit the cottage!

Use this idea to print maps of the places that mean most to you :)

2011 Year in Review

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Some of your favourites (as voted by unique pageloads) with a few that I love most thrown in the mix :)
..in reverse order starting with December 2011 and working back to last January..
Click on the images to go to the original post!

Remember...

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:30:00 +0000

Poinsettia Seasonal Planters

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Some inspiration from Creekside Greenhouses, in Jordan Station, ON. These seasonal planters feature poinsettias, but they are not the focal point, just nestled among lively multicoloured green houseplants / evergreens with frosty white variegation that will still brighten the winter season, long after Christmas has passed. Once the poinsettia loses its red bracts, the green leaves will continue to fill out the container.

Moo Poo Tea

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I met @greensoil on #gardenchat a few months ago, and as I've been seeking advice for my heirloom tomato research project her product Moo Poo Tea has been mentioned again and again! Her family has been using this manure tea on their historic Haven Seed Co farm since 1853 and selling it as an all-natural soil conditioner since 1924! Authentic Haven Brand’s Moo Poo Tea was originally sold to mid-size agricultural farms, but when the area around their own farm started to develop into housing and neighbourhoods, they started packaging in the cute little reusable "teabags" you see below and have been helping gardeners, landscapers as well farmers (and now greenhouse growers) ever since! Annie very kindly sent me a sample package which arrived today, it actually smelled pretty good -- like rich, earthy fields. We've started brewing them in a @CompostTeaGSI system provided by the research greenhouse and we'll keep you all posted how it goes! :)

Native Plants for Your Garden

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:56:00 +0000

Has anyone else seen this awesome little flip book put out by Toronto Region Conservation?

TRCA supports environmental stewards who care for the land and water resources through their positive environmental actions. They believe that a healthy watershed is the result of the efforts of all the landowners within it. The Healthy Yards Program provides watershed residents with the inspiration, information and tools required to create naturally beautiful lawns and gardens. Workshops, fact sheets and subsidized garden and lawn supplies ease the adoption of sustainable practices in private yards. TRCA encourages a set of sustainable behaviours carried out in private yards including: gardening with native plants, removing invasive exotic plants, landscaping for energy conservation, creating wildlife habitat, composting, conserving water, reducing the use of polluting equipment, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

I've got a little flipbook version of the Native Plants for Your Garden publication on some kind of handy waterproof paper, but you could easily print your own or read it online! Its got some lovely suggestions for the GTA and Southern Ontario.

Moroccan Decor

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Inspired by this Dover printable and this Moroccan Faux-Stained Glass Window DIY

Moroccan Inspired by inhabitingtrees on polyvore.com

(repost) farmers market roses

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I wrote this post last year, when I was less busy with school but I'm reposting it this year because I still read Karen's blog: ArtOfDoingStuff and I still always try to have flowers about the house :)

Thanks to Karen (@artofdoingstuff) my half dozen roses look twice as full as they usually would in this heirloom mason jar. I totally agree:

The biggest mistake I used to make when arranging roses was NOT cutting the stems enough. The same gene that makes us afraid to hammer nails into our walls, has been scientifically proven to be the same gene that instils terror when we attempt to chop off a rose stem. I think.

Following Karen's instructions,
I lopped off a whole lot of the stem (under running water is a good idea!), bound the bunch together with floral tape and gently nestled it into the mouth of the jar.

"Student Salad"

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I found this awesome recipe via FoodGawker and it was just perfect, because it conveniently works with the very few random ingredients I have on hand! :)

Apple Celery Salad

1 crisp red apple

3 stalks celery

1 tablespoon hulled unsalted sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

~ (I used Olys oil made from cereal and fruits)

1 tablespoon honey

pinch of salt

Wash and dice the apple. Wash and slice the celery. (They can be a little wet. The water makes the vinaigrette go a little further.) In a medium bowl, whisk cider vinegar, oil, honey and salt. (Measure the honey after the oil so it comes off the tablespoon more easily.) Add the apple, celery and sunflower seeds to the bowl and toss in the dressing. Best if refrigerated for an hour so the flavors can come together. The vinegar keeps the apples from turning brown, so don’t worry.

Handmade Card

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:38:00 +0000

I made this graduation card for a friend with stickers from the dollarstore on a blank card

no how to needed, I think the picture says it all

Let There Be Light! (and energy efficiency)

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:06:00 +0000

If, like me, you've lived in any number of older apartments you're likely no stranger to drafty, rattling wrinkled glass windows. While lovely, they're not energy efficient or very safe against break-ins -- all things you should consider as an apartment renter!

In cold conditions, an otherwise well insulated home loses heat through the windows as heat energy transfers from warmer to cooler areas. Radiation through the glass, air leaking from cracks, conduction through the frames and sashes are all ways that old windows lose heat and jack up your energy bill!

In my case, I got lucky and have great landlords who are a few at a time replacing my windows with energy efficient, tilt-opening and locking windows. I haven't always been so lucky, so here's some info I've found helpful in the past. ApartmentTherapy: 5 Ways to Insulate Your Windows for Winter and Office of Energy Efficiency tips for repairing or improving existing windows: start by assessing your situation.

I could have kept the charming old wrinkly glass windows. However .. I have way too many projects on the go!! My basement is full, my calendar is full, my brain is full so I said no! But if I had kept the old windows, here's a few ideas I like:

Curbly -- Salvaged Window Greenhouse and a different version of the same idea

Apartment Therapy -- Old Windows as Space Dividers

Shelterness -- Coffee Table from Window & Two Wooden Crates

Mythos Wald

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:53:00 +0000

The cinematography in this two-part German TV documentary is incredible!! Truly astounding macro angles, time lapses, slow & stop motion photography. Well worth the watch in HD, on par with anything from the BBC

tying my summer garden into the winter holidays

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:22:00 +0000

REPOST from last year --
I'm super busy with school, and anyways this wreath still hangs in my house!

The morning glories that grew all over my billboard and stairs left twisted vines and little seed globes, wrapped and twined and dried into a lovely almost rope-like structure. I tied the rope onto a wire circle as gently as possible so not to unwind the rope or dislodge the seeds. In the spring I can plant the wreath and a perfect circle of the morning glories will grow! The whole project should be done overtop of some kind of lid or plastic sheet so you can also save the seeds that fall off :)

nothing that a good cup of tea can't fix

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:41:00 +0000

After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world! As I wrote a few months ago in the hectic lead up to school I find there's something very gratifying in drinking a cup of tea. Now that I'm amidst the furor and overwhelming workload of research in a greenhouse, I rely on this immensely calming, soothing ritual. Maybe its all the English heritage in my blood, but a good cup of tea (or three) is an absolutely essential part of my day.

The entire British Empire was built on cups of tea ... and if you think I'm going to war without one, mate, you're mistaken." — Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you." ~ William Gladstone

On a daily basis I drink multiple cups of Orange Pekoe, with milk. If I run out of milk then my next choice is Earl Grey .. no sugar in either! When I get home and have a few minutes to think about it, my afternoon cup of tea is usually a loose tea -- blackcurrant black tea, orange ginger black tea, green tea or yerba mate <- these ones preferably from a market vendor I've known a long time. Later in the evening, especially when I'm taking a bath I drink fruit .. infusions? (its been debated whether I can call it tea when it contains no "tea") guava "tea", blueberry-pomegranate or jasmine white tea, hibiscus rosehip tisane any of which are also very lovely when poured directly into the bathtub :) Lastly -- as its that time of the year I have sachets of mulled apple cider spice and cinnamon sticks to stir with mmmMMmm
Even the Orwellians get tea: Tea is one of the main stays of civilization in this country,George Orwell wrote, along with this very particular recipe for "A Nice Cup of Tea"

Genderfluid

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:55:00 +0000

edit: this post was originally titled Two-Spirit / Genderfluid .. with some information from one of my commenters and after some reading I've changed it to Genderfluid as I'm not a First Nations person

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance (#TDOR) I'm only 24 and I've already lost one trans friend, personally, to bullying and physical violence. S/he's not dead yet, but s/he's so far down the rabbit hole of drug&alcohol abuse, that s/he might as well be. From the stories I hear, that's not atypical. I could talk about that, or other frightening, depressing, upsetting encounters I've had or read about. But, instead I'm going to honour them and all my GLBTQ friends who struggle daily by sharing my own story of gender id and some fun boi photos :) Personally I'd like to call it Transgender Day of Respect

I had a rough go of it, sure, who doesn't? I was bullied excessively in my single-gender school. But in my opinion - what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. I had really supportive parents - my mum shopped for my brother and I in the same section. For years and years, I wore his hand me downs. I went to a refuge of a summer camp called Centauri where it wasn't a problem that I was a prince one day and a princess the next.

In the same way some people say they've always known that they are straight/bisexual/lesbian/gay ... male/female/trans ... I've always known that I am none of those things, but identify with some aspects of each them. Some days I am a sexy woman, a girly girl, a butch, a tomboy, a metrosexual guy or most recently a leather boi. Why am I writing this? I think education / understanding is the key to ending genderphobia and gender-orientation based violence. One thing I'd like to help people understand is that (maybe just for me) gender identity is a gradient, and not always directly tied to sexual orientation.

I had a very hard time figuring this out because I felt so strongly that I had this male side that was attracted to gay/bi men and straight women. But that was always a struggle because I'm also an undeniably female, girly girl who's attracted to heterosexual men and lesbian/bi women. I never really wanted to become a male entirely to or be identified as a transexual but I often felt like a boy and wanted to present myself as one.

Once upon a time I thought I'd have to pick just one and stick with it eventually, or that to identify as male I would have to somehow transition. Now I think I'll be celebrating all those identities and exploring more. Some days I wake up feeling like one or the other, but most days its a blend. I've also learned that I don't have to be sure of my sexual orientation to be comfortable with my gender.

I'm not a transgendered person - I hate labels, but I prefer genderbender if you must. I am female and I have no plans otherwise but some part of me truly is a boy, and all aspects of me reject binary gender norms.

I don't feel gender or sexual orientation as a binary or even gradient - for me it really is fluid: you cannot step twice into the same stream I present myself how I feel inside, I don't wear these genders as a costume or a game. That being said, I have also been known to engage in Genderfuckery for entertainment purposes ;) :P when I do dress up - my character choices reflect the gender that I feel at that particular moment.

River Rock Bathroom Tile Fix

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:37:00 +0000

I don't know how many of you have experienced cracked bathroom tiles, but it sucks to stub a toe or slice your foot on them, plus dirt &dust, bobbypins&glitter and all such things get stuck in there. I originally had a mat over the tile but it tends to slide around, and I've got people coming to visit so I wanted something a bit more elegant, at least for the weekend! --inspired by a dry streambed we saw in our horticulture class this week :)

Step 1 -- clean the tub&tile! Punkupine is my awesome cleaning buddy :)
Step 2 -- awesome stickers from Dollarama! ($1.25)
Step 3 -- find cracks in tile
Step 4 -- cover cracks in tile with stickers!
Step 5 -- cover ALLL the cracks with LOTSsss of stickers! :) :)
BONUS -- I even got the cracks by the garbage can!

Groovy Gourmet

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:52:00 +0000

I ♥ @RedDryad cause she sends me links to awesomeness!
Today: these scrumptious sounding, all-natural, gourmet lollipops: Orange Blossom Thyme? Seriously? Sounds delectable, as do all the other flavours featured on the creator's website: Watermelon Pink Peppercorn, Grapefruit Rosemary .. Absinthe? Well .. I know what I want for Christmas .. a whole handful of Green Faerie Lollipops!! I absolutely adore candies that are both savoury & sweet :)

Spindle Tree

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:17:00 +0000

It sounds like something out of a fairytale, and looks just like it too! European Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaeus) was one of the trees we passed on a garden tour / field-trip in Niagara-on-the-Lake today. I've never taken much of a liking to Euonymus. I've had to prune the hollow shrubby bushes time and time again, I'm not a fan of things that are yellow-green variegated and I've never met one without scale. Until today I never knew they had a tree form, but this pink'n'orange effervescent little specimen certainly caught my attention :) Its not the sort of thing I'd plant as a focal point on its own, but I do love how it blends in with this whimsical setting -- as though Sleeping Beauty herself might come along at any moment, prick her finger and fall asleep on this bench. I should point out that although I'm told this tree is not problematic here in Ontario it is invasive in other areas. I do also want to commend my teacher Dena Sebastianelli-Gavin, as she maintains this landscape and was the one who brought us on the tour. Thanks Dena! As a bonus, I've included this antique botanical illustration (Flora von Deutschland, 1885) in a high enough resolution to print. If you are bored of your Botanical Print Clipboard, or didn't make one yet -- this print would be perfect! :)

ex-librīs free printables

noreply@blogger.com (inhabiting_trees) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I found these lovely black and white illustrations in this week's Dover Sampler. They're not a huge image size, but I think they'd make charming labels on mason jars and tupperware .. or maybe I'll print them as book plates! I also changed my twitter background courtesy of another one of the samples :) Want weekly samples sent straight to your email? [click here to join] !