Hayley + Allan

What a lovely couple of days enjoyed with a lovely couple of humans.

Hayley Barry is an extraordinary hand lettering artist from Provo, Utah whom I happened upon on Instagram about two years ago. I was immediately in awe of and inspired by her intricate and pristine works of word art.

A year ago, when it came time to revamp our Panic-Free Pricing book into an e-course, I suggested to my co-author, Becca, that we include Hayley as a guest contributor, sharing her wealth of knowledge on the subject of pricing for mural projects. She was a complete delight to work with, writing an entire chapter and providing amazing video to support her material.

This past August on Instagram, Hayley asked her audience where she should host her next Hand Lettering workshop. I (not so) jokingly sent her a message reply, “How about Ottawa, Canada!?”

You can imagine my squeals of delight when she replied, “I’d love to! If you can secure a minimum of 12 participants, I’ll come!”

After working out the details, and selling not only the minimum of 12 spots, but selling out all 25, Hayley booked flights for her and her husband Allan to spend the weekend in Ottawa, starting with our workshop Friday night. Not only was this to be Hayley + Allan’s first trip to Ottawa, but their first trip to Canada!

The anticipation of this weekend has been not unlike that leading up to Christmas morning. Waiting for them to arrive at the airport yesterday morning was like waiting for Santa! My heart was racing and my palms were sweaty! We all did a little happy dance upon first recognizing each other—them at the top of the escalator, me at the bottom. People must have thought we were long lost cousins, or completely bonkers!

After their overnight flights, Hayley + Allan were just about ready to ground themselves in their AirBnB, so we headed that way taking the scenic route, stopping along the way for quick hellos with a mutual friend, and a bite to eat in trendy Hintonburg. While they rested, I headed to ALE—Amberwood Lounge + Eatery—to set up. (Handy that I work there part-time as the Event Administrator!)

Hayley + Allan arrived with Becca at 4:30pm, followed by 16 of the 25 workshop participants for an early dinner. The workshop began at 6:30pm, and was jam-packed with hand lettering knowledge, tips, tricks, and techniques—sprinkled with Hayley’s charm and humour to keep everyone giggling.

By 9:30pm we were all exhausted and ready for bed. Becca drove Hayley + Allan home, and we confirmed plans to meet up this morning for a full day of Ottawa sights.

We started this morning at the National Art Gallery, followed by a stroll through the Byward Market, landing at The Aulde Dubliner for Hayley + Allan’s first taste of Poutine! We then visited The Original Giant Tiger, as a bit of a gag—before taking her calligraphy business full-time, Becca worked in the Interior Design department of GT, and had requested Hayley take a selfie, should one cross her path.

To rest our legs a bit, and take full advantage of the season, I drove my guests to Gatineau Park. We made it to Huron and Champlain Lookouts, where Fall Rhapsody did not disappoint!

Farewells were bid at about 5pm, as I left them at their AirBnB with suggestions for places to explore during the rest of their time here before heading home Monday morning.

Our bittersweet hugs goodbye felt so much more connected than our excited hugs hello. Time and memories shared brought the three of us closer together as friends, and Utah has officially been added to my wish list of travel destinations!

I have been reminding myself constantly of the magic in this entire experience—from admiring a young artist’s work, to saying hello, to collaborating on a project, to inviting her to travel to lead a workshop, to touring them around my beautiful city, to becoming friends.

Some people frown upon social media for the lack of connection and withdrawal it seemingly causes in real life relationships. And while I don’t necessarily disagree, I also see and embrace the opportunities it offers for connections I wouldn’t have imagined without it—real, intimate, authentic connections.

What a lovely couple of days enjoyed with a lovely couple of humans.

Wordless Wednesday | Cuba 2019

xox
Joanne

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this story. Feel free to leave a comment and let’s chat!

Hola!

Tomorrow at this time, Quinn, Jake, and I will be on our flight to Varadero, Cuba.

This trip is a promise I made to my boys way back in 2010—the last (and fourth) time I travelled to Cuba. I promised them the next time I went, it would be with them—just the three of us. They were nine and four then, now 18 and 13.

Quite honestly, even though I have wished a thousand times I could have taken them sooner, I think now is the perfect time. They are old enough to understand the value and opportunity of this adventure, and young enough to appreciate our time together (I trust I have raised them to always appreciate our time together 😉). I am so proud to be able to make this happen—so looking forward to the laughs we will have, and witnessing the wonder in their eyes as we tour though Havana, their amazement at the sights + scenes, and their appreciation for the local culture, and my love for the country and its people since my first visit in 1998.

This will be my fifth trip to Cuba, and by all counts, the most special.
✨☀️👩‍👦‍👦💕

xox
Joanne

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this story. Feel free to leave a comment and let’s chat!

Time to shift.

Wow. What a year it has been. And not just the almost-year it’s been since my last post {sheepish grin 😏}, but 2019 so far. In January, I was completely fired up before and during my Thailand trip. Things settled down after my March women’s art retreat weekend, and have remained oddly quiet since.

This quiet stillness coincides with my recent “single” relationship status—something new for me. It’s been over six months since my five-year relationship ended, and I honestly cannot remember a time in my life when I was single for this long. At age 47, it’s an odd feeling. Sometimes I am refreshed and inspired by my new found “freedom”. Other times I am desperately lonely and longing for someone with whom to connect.

For the last twelve weeks, I participated in a business coaching program which included three 60-minute in-person energy healing sessions. I believe in the power of energy, so this portion of the program was the selling feature for me. Jessica was able to tap into my true energy and listen to messages I have been telling myself which simply aren’t true. Like “nobody loves me”, or “I will never amount to anything.” As quickly as she heard these messages, she was able to heal them. And, while the impact of her healing isn’t always felt right away, I can certainly sense a strong upward shift in my overall sense of self, empowerment, and trueness. It may take several months for a complete integration, though I can say with confidence, I am feeling so much lighter and brighter these days, and my energy is picking up for all things inspiring and creative.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have noticed my quiet. I currently have two accounts—@indetailcreative and @liveyourspiritnow, and have been drawn to share less creative work on inDetail, and more “this is me” on Live Your Spirit!, simply because that is what resonates with me these days—little snippets of my life in the hopes that my moments inspire others to take time to celebrate or time to be still.

Developing Live Your Spirit! has been on my “if you could do anything” agenda for ten years—helping people tap into their true selves, and find ways to shine through everyday moments, even the difficult ones. My belief is that through creative play—any kind of play—and joy, and pleasure, and laughter, and even tears, we can find our lost selves again, and nurture ourselves, and live the lives we were meant to, as light and loving creatures.

Here’s the thing… I haven’t been living my Spirit.

How can I possibly develop and share a program with the world, when I haven’t put myself through it? When I have not been honouring my own Spirit? Nurturing her, holding space for her to shine, and explore, and inspire myself. How can I truly guide others to this connection, when I have been feeling so disconnected myself? (Sidenote: You’ve gotta read Lost Connections, by Johann Hari)

Thanks to some very real friends (you know the kind that shake you out of your slump and let you cry on their shoulders, leaving mascara on their shirt?), and the power of energy healing, meditation, self-care, journaling…, I am in a shift phase. I feel it. I am feeling the urge to create, and share, and inspire myself, and the magical part? I’m giving myself permission to do all of this without needing it to answer the question, “How will this make money!? ” Whoa. Pressure off.

So my plan (notice I’m not using the word idea? I’m amazing at ideas—that’s never been a problem. It’s working the plan to make those ideas reality where I tend to fall short.) is to get #outofmyhead and #intotheworld. And I’m inviting you to come along.

My main Instagram account, @indetailcreative, will soon be rebranded as JoeGirl, and I will share stories, posts, and links to JoeGirlTV live streams and videos on Twitch and YouTube. I will be writing more here, and am sketching out thoughts for a “Live Your Spirit! with JoeGirl” podcast. Yes, lots of ideas, and for the first time in a long, long time, these ideas feel right. They feel strong and powerful. Like their time has come, and I am ready to embrace and implement them! I am finally ready to get out of my own way and make it happen—for me + for you.

It’s time to be JoeGirl.
It’s time to Live My Spirit!

It’s time to shift.

xox
Joanne

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this story. Feel free to leave a comment and let’s chat!

Oh, and by the way, none of the third-party links in this post are sponsored. I just really like them.

Joyful Living through Creative Play

I’ve been sitting on my front step since 6:40am—and it’s Sunday.

There are two reasons I might wake up early: 1) the anxiety over money, relationships, work is too much to bear, and I need to distract myself from the rumination my brain forces upon me by hauling my ass out of bed and doing something—anything, or 2) none of the aforementioned condition exists and I am enthusiastic about the day and all it has to offer—especially if I have a new project or idea.

On July 10th, a very sweet lady passed away who impacted my life more than she ever knew. I only met Julie once. In September 2015, she attended my very first women’s art retreat weekend. Her energy was bright and buoyant, colourful and calm, happy and healing. She and I felt a kinship right away, as I know she did with many other guests that weekend, as did I. Julie and I remained in touch, albeit with decreasing frequency as her health was ailing.

In one of our earliest communications, Julie said to me, “Joanne, you are a healer.”

That single statement has affected me daily ever since, though it didn’t come as a complete surprise. People have been drawn to me for support, advice, respite, and cheering up since I was a child. I make people feel welcome, relaxed, listened to, comfortable.

What was most profound about Julie saying it to me, was that she, in fact, was a healer. Julie was an art therapist and teacher, and helped hundreds process pain and hurt through art and creative play. In Julie telling me I am a healer, she was encouraging me to give myself permission to keep doing what I was doing, and what I have felt for years is my purpose here on Earth.

Yesterday, I was inspired by another artist—Thank you, Universe—by way of Pinterest. You know artists, always wincing in anticipation of peoples’ reactions when they answer questions of, “What do you do for a living?” with “I’m an artist.” You may not always see the wince, but oh, it’s there.

I watched a few of Belinda’s videos, and WHAMMY, she hit the nail on the head for me a bunch of times. She speaks of having jobs to secure income (I have three, at last count). She speaks of friends and family encouraging her to get a real job. She speaks of feeling a complete lack of inspiration when she needs it most—for a commission, or an event, or to sell something, already! And when inspiration fails to ignite, she speaks of beating herself up, feeling inadequate, like a failure, like a fraud, like anything but an artist.

Belinda also speaks about healing though art, and she offers clients the space, time, and freedom to do so without judgement or fear.

It can cause such inner turmoil for us artists and creative healers. We often struggle to do for ourselves what we are meant to do for others. In my experience, it is in precisely those moments when I know I am affecting someone’s life, that I too heal. Seeing women around my studio table lighting up, and being inspired by my teachings, my experience, my story—heals me. It heals the wound that works so hard to convince me I’m not good enough.

Well, that’s garbage.

I am plenty good enough. Thank you, Julie and Belinda, for reminding me of that.

In the days ahead, I will be reworking and rewording my website to focus more on the healing powers of creative play, and the ways in which I will inspire joyful living though creative play. I will be more raw, more vulnerable, more forgiving, more open, more free.

Here I sit on my front step. The mid-Summer sun is warming my skin, even at this early hour. I’m sweating in all of my nooks and crannies, and am kinda wishing I had a Mojitio instead of this Matcha.

I am inspired.
This is why I was awake so early today.

Joanne
xox

Day One.

I returned to the gym today for the first time in… well, let’s say two years.

I cried when I arrived.

Not sure why. Perhaps emotional because, even though it has seen many changes since I left in 2012, it was the place I helped build in 2010. Perhaps because I know what I had accomplished in the past and I am afraid of failing. Perhaps because I am, deep down, super proud of myself for making this commitment. For whatever reason, the tears flowed—and I allowed them.

I picked myself up, received my circuit details, and went at it. Not hard, but enough.

Leg press, alternating dumbbell presses, standing rows, and a hanging obliques exercise called “Ski Jumps”, named way back in 2009 just for me :)

The weights weren’t high, or even particularly difficult, but I felt every rep. When the self-doubt creeped in, I closed my eyes, and just felt my body moving. I love that feeling. Push… pull… contract… expand… BREATHE.

Three rounds was a wonderful start. I’ll be back Thursday for Day Two.

Yes, I will be tight tomorrow—a feeling I have always loved, and often craved.

Proud.

With gratitude,
JoeGirl
xox

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

Returning to Health…

In 2009, I worked my way through a magnificent Body-Mind-Spirit transformation. I started the year at over 35% body fat and 163lbs, wearing a size L/12/14. Only changing what I ate, I managed to reach 138lbs by late May when I started training with the amazing Marshall Page​. At that point, I was still 32% body fat, and wearing a size M/8/10.

Strength training twice a week, and eating clean 80% of the time, in only a month I was down to a size 6. By October I was 127lbs and 22% body fat, wearing a size XS/S/2/4. I hadn’t been that size/shape since high school. I felt strong, healthy, vibrant + alive!

Late 2009, I certified as a personal trainer and founded JoeGirl Fitness. I worked with female clients in their homes, their workplace gyms, outdoors in playgrounds and in commercial fitness centres. In August 2010, Marshall and I opened Marshall’s, where I continued to train and work with clients every day.

Mid-2012, I left the gym to return full-time to my design business. I stopped moving. I became less careful with what I ate, I fell in love with my favourite bartender, Jamie​ (that’s a good thing!), and focussed more + more on my business and being creative through design + art—lots of sitting on my ever-widening arse.

My changing body has been on my mind since 2012. I know I have been distancing myself from a healthy state every week—my body aches, I’m wearing a size L/12 again, my joints hurt, everything involving effort is difficult (Carrying groceries… Hello!???)—and I’ve been beating myself up about it.

While in Florida, Grace and I were shopping for her Grade 8 graduation dress, and I caught my reflection in a 3-way mirror. Ouch. While I know being healthy + fit is about so much more than how we look, the me in the mirror told a story I needed to hear—loudly. I have gained weight. I have become sedentary. I have become lazy. I have not been taking care of myself. The scale back home—something I try to avoid—confirmed I have crept back up to 165lbs. Wow.

The good news? My reflection, highest weight ever without being pregnant, constant discomfort, and the smack-in-the-face has incentivized + motivated me in a big way to make a change—to commit to ME again.

I made an appointment with Marshall to resume training 2x a week. I’m going to try out this new thing called “Yoga” with Jamie’s Mum, and ideally go once a week. I have just returned from Farm Boy with a stack of clean foods that I LOVE, and am about to spend some time writing a set of powerful, heart-centred affirmations to keep my mindset strong + focussed when those moments of weakness sneak in. Oh, and I bought a FitBit ChargeHR to monitor my activity levels, heart rate, calories in/out, sleep quality and be a constant reminder to take care of ME.

As in 2009, this commitment isn’t about acquiring a bodybuilder physique. It’s about returning to health, strength, confidence + wellness. While I would love to see my 2009 body again, I am deliberately choosing to start fresh without comparing my pending results to those I experienced five years ago. What I accomplished then was nothing less than remarkable. I inspired many others to make positive changes in their lives, and I felt like I could do anything.

This time, I am aiming for strength, health, vitality + overall wellness. Whatever happens to the shape of my body will be a happy side-effect.

Here I go… I am so ready.

With gratitude,
JoeGirl
xox

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

Mavis Naturals

After mixing and using my own skincare products for well over a year now, and sharing my treats with friends and family, I am happy to announce the founding of Mavis Naturals!

Mavis Naturals creates deliciously natural, handcrafted skincare, made in small batches right here at home! Follow me in the development of the business, via my Mavis Naturals Facebook page or follow us on Twitter!

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

“Hey, JoeGirl! Can we go thrift shopping?”

Jamie and I are loving our weekly trips to local thrift shops. We scour the household items section for vintage Pyrex, FireKing, CorningWare, milkglass, hobnail glass, mini pitchers, and other vintage—or vintage inspired—items. Here’s the latest collection of fun finds. We may even offer some of our goodies up for sale on eBay…

We are on the lookout for a vintage/retro sofa and chair next!

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

JoeDesigns©… For Hire!

Most of you already know I have been a doodler my entire life, designing handmade greeting cards and, more recently, gifting custom illustrations to friends and family members who have purchased a new home, who have had a new baby, or who are celebrating a special birthday or milestone.

Many of my loved ones have been encouraging me to offer my illustrations for sale. So… in time for the holiday season, I present you with a sampling of my custom artwork. If you would like to gift a custom illustration to a loved one, I invite you to contact me so we can collaborate on your keepsake gift.

Here is some of my recent work, to inspire you to consider a custom illustration for your loved ones.

• Artwork is provided on heavy watercolour paper, as either a 5x7 or 8x10, and is shipped in an acid-free sleeve with a heavy card for protection. 
• May be matted and framed for an additional charge. 
• Commissions vary, based on complexity and size of the illustration, ranging from $45 for a 5x7 nameplate, to $250 for an 8x10 home illustration.

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

Video: Do Something Different!

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

30mins 07sec

Despite my best intentions to complete the CN Tower climb in 25mins or less, it was much tougher than I expected. My finish time was 30mins 7seconds. Actually, not too bad, considering I had to slow down several times for people ahead of me.

Our heat of about 10 people timed in at 6:35am. I was expecting to be able to “trot” up maybe 7 or 10 flights before needing a rest. Nope. Not a chance! After three flights, and maybe one minute, my quads were throbbing, and I was asking myself how I was ever going to reach the top—144 total flights of about 12 steps each flight.

So, I decided to take it slow. I needed to stop and rest about every 5–6 flights. I had the heart-power, but, surprisingly, my quads were seizing up. Then, I would catch my breath and trot up 3 flights, walk up another 3 or 4, then rest again. Before I knew it, I was at flight 50 (signs were posted every flight). Good Lord… only 1/3 of the way there.

Then, flight 100.

Keep in mind, this was a hand-free climb, so there wasn’t a drop of water to be had. The stairs (narrow metal utility stairs you would find in a fire escape) were dripping with sweat from the climbers before me. Lovely.

Then, flight 140.

Can you believe, at this point I wondered how I would possibly climb four… more… flights. UGH!

But, I did it. I timed out at 7:05am—30mins 07secs.

THEN… we had to climb another EIGHT flights of stairs to reach the elevator and observation floor. This staircase was different, and likely could not be included in the official climb due to safety reasons.

Holy Mackerel, I was SPENT! My climbing partner, Josh, was at the top waiting for me (his time was 16mins 34secs), cheering me on as I entered the main lobby area at the top. He walked me and my Jello legs over to the hydrating station, and we stepped outside to the observation deck to cool down. The sky was dark, the city alight. It was gorgeous. I did it! I was so proud!

Thank you for your support. It was a challenge, and an adventure, and I did it!

Joanne

PS: We proceeded to play 18-holes of golf that afternoon for a church tournament, then attend a fabulous house party that night, not back home until 2:30am! Needless to say, Sunday was a day of rest!

PPS: Much to my amazement, my legs did not seize up at all in the days following the climb. My right shoulder was sore however, from pulling myself up with the railing! :)

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

JoeGirl set to Climb the CN Tower!

On October 20th, I’m participating in 2012 Enbridge CN Tower Climb for United Way, and will be climbing 1,776 stairs to the top!

Help me reach my fundraising goal by sponsoring me in the Enbridge CN Tower Climb for United Way! Every dollar raised will go toward United Way Toronto which helps provide stability to community agencies and strengthens their capacity to serve our city—both today and into the future.

By sponsoring me, you can help create opportunities for a better life for everyone in our community. Of the pledges I gather, 100% of the funds will directly go to United Way Toronto, helping support a wide network of health and social service agencies serving our community.

If you would like to sponsor me, please click on the link below. Once you’ve made your donation using your credit card, you will receive an electronic tax receipt immediately. It’s fast, easy and secure to do!

Sponsor JoeGirl’s CN Tower Climb!

For more information on how you can participate in the 2012 Enbridge CN Tower Climb for United Way, too, please visit this page.

Thanks for your support!
Give. Volunteer. Act.

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

For 2012…

I have been contemplating these past few days on what my 2012 Daily Post will be. My Grateful Statements have been wonderful—though challenging at times—to write. What I set out to achieve was certainly accomplished within the first 30 posts. I had hoped my friends, family and followers on Facebook and this blog, would catch the wave and consider their own gratitude for things big and small. I had hoped they would share their gratitude with others as well, and so on… My heart danced when I would read somebody’s Facebook status update starting with the words, “I am so grateful that…”

In 2012 I am going to widen the scope to include all inspirations—what this blog was originally designed to capture and share. So for 365 days, I will not let my camera or notepad leave my side. I will be scouring both the soft-copy and hard-copy versions of this extraordinary world, and the people who populate it, for excerpts of creativity, spontaneity, design, wisdom, humour, beauty, flavour, joy—all things inspired and inspiring.

As always, you are encouraged to leave feedback and comments {please!}, and share with us what inspires you.

The purpose of all this? To open our eyes to beauty—inside + out. And to share.

Enjoy… and Happy New Year!

A little colour…

Cookies + Rainbows

Picture this: It’s 6:52am. Room still dark. Little boy in fuzzy jammies walks softly to my bedside. No “Good morning”, no “Can I come in your bed?” He leans in close and says to me, in a very sincere voice, “Cookies are better than rainbows. Cookies you can eat. Rainbows you can’t.” Sweet, sweet Jake.

What I’ve Learned…

What a learning curve I have been on for the last eighteen months… In January 2010, I made the mind-blowing, world-shifting, alarming decision to leave my marriage. Since then, I have seen more personal growth than in all of my adult years to date.

Here’s what I have learned so far…

• That separation and divorce does not have to be nasty/bitter/angry/unjust/evil/dirty/disastrous, and it does not have to destroy your children.

• That the friends you thought would stand by you forever, might not. Because when you decide to change, it means they need to change too. And if they can’t put their feelings and opinions aside to accept your changes, you may lose them. It’s okay. New friends are waiting for you just around the corner. And maybe, just maybe, your old friends will come back someday, ready to embrace your choices and your new life.

• That those people who preach forgiveness and grace and “do unto others” just might turn out to be the people who throw judgment the hardest. Beware. Forgive them first.

• That it’s okay to want everything on your wish list. And if you focus on it hard enough, you will receive everything on your wish list. Let it come to you. Allow it to arrive. Don’t believe in “It’s too good to be true”. Embrace and enjoy…

• That the greater the leap the greater the reward. I have taken many risks this last year and a half, despite it being extremely uncharacteristic of me to do so. Opening a gym with a man I had known less than a year, but whose experience, knowledge, and love I trusted implicitly. Letting go of most of my design + publishing clients to better focus my energies on the gym, meaning uncertain income and less security, but a greater allowance for expansion of my managerial skills and organizational talents as I build this business–this life—from scratch.

• That my children will be better-than-okay because they know Mama and Dad, and all of their friends and family, love them unconditionally. Quinner brought home his best report card yet (nothing less than a B-), and Teej enjoyed a brilliant first year of Kindergarten. Despite how people warned me, my children have not suffered, and with continued love, respect and support they will have every opportunity to grow and flourish into fantastic men who respect happiness and choice.

• That friends after forty (or in my case, approaching forty) are fabulous. Women in their forties are brilliant, confident, secure and genuine. They come to you raw and ready to hear your story with no preconceived notions of who you should or shouldn’t be.

• That thought inspires action, and action inspires results. What you think about, you bring about. Design vision boards, write goal statements, put sticky notes everywhere, to reaffirm where you want to go, and what you want to achieve. It will happen, if you trust in your power to think. Spend 5–10 minutes each day—ideally as soon as you open your eyes in the morning, or after you close them at night—to focus your energy on your desires.

• That I can, should, and am entitled to do anything I want. If I want to write, I will write. If I want to design, I will design. That I am brilliant at all I attempt: colour work, illustration, bead jewelry, working with clients, organizing, planning, playing, writing, speaking, caring, parenting, being a good friend, loving.

• That life is what you make it.

Whoa…

I was recently inspired by friend and associate trainer Elsbeth Vaino to lift heavy again. My personal best for Deadlifts was 5 sets of 6 reps at 155lbs, just over a year ago.

Today, just for fun and after not training regularly for several weeks, I thought I’d see what I could do, even out of practice. Here it is… Nice.

Random photos…

…because my blog has been short on colour lately :)

JoeGirl Shoots!

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to try a few things I had never done. Actually, they aren’t just things I had never done, they are things I swore I would never do.

My new friends, C + J have some fabulous property in the woods. Scattered with wildflower gardens, secluded swing sets, whimsical birdhouses and ornaments, their landscape is also home to a firing target.

Before arriving to their camp, the suggestion had been made to me that we might try shooting and 4-wheeling. Inside, I cringed. Guns, shooting, hunting… no way. Never. Not me. However, in this, my time to do something different, I threw all previous judgment and concern out the window and decided to… bite the bullet. Har, har.

J was my firing coach. It took me about two minutes to even look at the rifle, and—because I was certain I would turn to ash upon doing so, like Voldemort in Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone—it took me another five to reach out and hold it.

All set. Positioned, hair tucked behind my ear, elbow up, targets pinned to the board. Ready. Aim. Fire! “Go again! Go until you run out of ammo!” Bam! Bam! Bam!

That groundhog didn’t have a chance… Wow. Beginner’s Luck? Nah… I’m just that good.

Next up was four-wheeling. J took me out to show me the trail. What a strange sensation to be able to drive over trees, boulders and through swamps (I swear this is where Shrek lives). We stopped for a beverage, then I hopped in the driver’s seat for the ride back.

Okay. THIS is fun. Once familiar with the amount of gas the beast required to make the obstacles, I was riding this bull moose like nobody’s business. I tore through the swamp, dousing myself and J with more mud than can be found on Joan River’s face.

What a brilliant adventure. Take every opportunity to Do Something Different.