Bamboletta Blog

I try to live a ‘green’ lifestyle, always doing my best to be conscientious about my consumption. One place where I noticed a lot of senseless waste was in gift wrapping. Huge piles of paper, that if lucky, would at least end up in the recycling. For a long time I switched to wrapping with old newspapers. They did the trick, but I missed having cute prints to choose from. I do appreciate a well wrapped parcel… This is how I discovered vintage wrapping paper.

I climbed Cobble Hill today, our local hiking mountain. I do this hike quite frequently to get my regular (I’m exaggerating somewhat with the words ‘frequently’ and ‘regular’!) exercise in. It’s a pretty walk through the forest with lots of cedar, arbutus and fir towering above. The trails are well established with many to choose from, including bike trails. I like to take the harder ones up to the top where you’ll find two pretty views. One of them is on the backside, overlooking a beautiful farm and gorgeous pieces of property, some on the river I’d love to own. The other view in on the front, where you can overlook the small town ‘Cobble Hill’ and the ocean.

I love to come here to wind down after I’ve finished a day at the studio chatting and laughing and eating and lets not forget doll-making. I’m so lucky to work in such a beautiful shop with wonderful friends. It really is like my second home and when I come here, to the mountain, I realize how lucky I am to live where such a gorgeous natural landscape is never ending. How spoiled am I to be so fortunate!

Don’t forget to appreciate where YOU live!

Brandi

When I was a child I had a keen sense for stray cats.  Whether we were travelling, camping or just walking in our own neighbourhood I would come across a stray cat.  My desire to take the cats home was quite overwhelming but I was always met with a “No” from my mom.  I did have two cats, Tiger and Snowflake, so it wasn’t as if I was lacking in the department of feline love.  But somehow these strays spoke to me.  One of my childhood dreams was to have an animal shelter.  I have yet to fulfill that dream but over the years I have had the opportunity to bring home a couple of lost kitties.

Last Monday afternoon brought blazing Spring sunshine here in the Cowichan Valley, so my little family took a trip to Centennial Park in Duncan to soak in the rays. There’s a water park within the playground next to the community gardens and courts, so we brought our bathing suits and towels just in case the water had been turned on.

My cousin, her 2 year old, my aunt, my 5 year old Emily (and her Little Buddy ‘Diamonds’) and myself joined the rest of the local crowd. It turned our the park was dry , but there was enough bubbles and street chalk to keep us and the kids busy. The girls covered the sidewalk in floating rainbows and beautiful children’s art. I couldn’t resist either and left my signature flower in chalk among the collage.

At the end of the day we all went home for dinner with enough rosey cheeks and smiles to last the whole year through.

xo

Sarah

My bedside table is, most of the time filled with some random stuff. Some books, hand cream,  massage oil from Weleda (I love the brand) and some rescue cream. This week though, I had to add a few more little helpers…. those handy dandy things in times of a bad cold and crazy headache.
I never, well, allmost never, have a cold. I’m one of those lucky ones that gets away with just eating an extra orange and taking an extra vitamine C tablet and I will be good for another year. But not this week…. I have been sniffing and coughing, could hardly look out of my eyes and was not fun to hang out with at all….. but I worked hard to get better and wanted to share one of my old time favorite little tricks in times of a cold emergency. As soon as I feel my throat itch and breathing thru my nose becomes a problem, I grab a fresh onion, cut it open and place it on my bedside table. My parents taught me well. The onion will not solve the problem but will give you a great nights sleep since it keeps your airways open, and we all know, sleep is the best remedy.

Oh, and I will explain my toilet paper roll :), it’s a handy replacement for expensive tissue (since you need a lot when a REAL cold has hit you). Even at work I have to make sure my tissue replacement is close by 😉

Thamar