Art at the MoMA

While in New York, we had to check out the recently renovated Museum of Modern Art. One of the shows was performance artist Marina Abramović. I personally didn't want to spend much time sitting and staring at the artist, like some lucky soul was doing here, so spent much of my time on the fourth and fifth floors in the painting and sculpture section.


It was like visiting old friends; art I just love and usually only see in books. Like this Joseph Cornell...


...this Diego Rivera...


...Jasper Johns.


I just loved this Paul Klee kitty cat and bird.


MoMa encouraged photography, sans flash...


...and it was fun to catch all the people interacting with Matisse...


...and Mondrian.



Broadway Boogie Woogie, one of my faves, I hadn't seen since Grade 11.


Claes Oldenberg and his pastry. The best!


Picasso's classic Demoiselles d'Avignon...


...and Van Gogh's Starry Night. Wowza!


Jackson Pollock's classic abstract expressionist canvas...


...and hello Andy!

New York Weekend

My sister, sister-in-law and two nieces met in New York City this past weekend. What fun!


Here's my sister Marci and her daughter Sylvie in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


We went up to the roof to enjoy the view...


...and to see the odd bamboo sculpture up there.


We found a seat and and had a quick coffee.


After an afternoon of taking in art, we left and found ourselves in the middle of an Israel parade with tons of people in the street.


We bumped into a young man trying to sell us a subscription to an Israeili TV station.


We saw some lovely architecture...


...love that Flat Iron building!


Great weekend!

100 Things to Eat Before You Die #2

Morels. These are not the white, button mushrooms you grew up with. As far as mushrooms go, the ne plus ultra has to be the morel. If you can't pick them yourself, they are available at many farmers markets in spring. While they're pricey, it's really worth picking up a few.


The best and simplest way to taste all the mushroomy, earthy goodness? Simply fried in butter until they get a little bit crunchy around the edges.

Happy Victoria Day

Happy Victoria Day to all my Canadian friends. Summer has officially begun!

ATC Quarterly #19

Here's a sneak peek at the summer issue of ATC Quarterly. Don't you just love Dot Pizarro's adorable sock monkey that graces the cover? This issue will be in mailboxes soon so start checking them in a week or two.

Folk Art Signage

Sometimes the best thing about stopping at a chip stand is the signage. Check out this vintage folk art seen at Seguin's Patate in Cornwall, Ontario.

100 Things To Eat Before You Die #1

My sister Marci and I are constantly on the phone talking about food. She suggested I write about "100 Things to Eat Before You Die" and I thought it was a great idea. So here's the first entry.
Coffee. A good cup of regular, American-style coffee. Whether you take it black, with cream, with sugar, or both -- Canadians call that a "double-double" -- there's nothing like drinking a well roasted cup of very good coffee.

Footed Cake Stands

I love baking cakes and presenting them on raised cake plates and over the years I've collected quite a few of these plates. This blue stand was my mother's and she often put my birthday cake on it.


My friend Peter got me this Martha Stewart jadite cake stand which is perfect for an 8" layer cake.


Another friend got me this for a birthday a few years later. This one, with a glass top, is just right for a larger 10" cake.


I found this milk glass stand at an antique store on a trip to New Brunswick with my parents. It's small but perfect for tarts or a small cake.


This larger milk glass stand with embossed grapes was found at a yard sale, twelve or more years ago, when my parents and I did our weekly Saturday yard sale circuit.


And on Saturday, Richard and I were in Hawkesbury at their annual "free" garage sale day (the day they don't need to buy a permit) and I found this lovely hobnail Fenton stand with a ruffle. I can't wait to bake a cake. Quick. Someone have a birthday!

Morel Spotting

It's that time of year again...


...morel season, that is!


Our usual spot didn't disappoint...



...and in five minutes we had nabbed a good pound and a half of these delicious mushrooms.


Just a quick rinse and cut 'em in half...


...and then fry 'em up in a little butter. Oh, yum-oh!!

Café Connectionz

My friend Holly and I went to Cornwall the other day and we stopped at Café Connectionz for lunch. As it happens, my friend Christine was sitting outside in the sun having a cup of coffee. A pretty unassuming place from the outside...


...but inside it's full of tons of goodies.


The pastries looked incredible: cannolis...


...and date squares...


...and fudge, oh my!


What about these mini pecan tarts?


These mouse treats looked enticing. I wonder what was inside them? Mousse? (Ha!)


Holly settled on leek and potato soup. She says the soup at this place is the best in town.


I had a spinach quiche and salad. Good call. And the coffee was wonderful too. Next time, I think I'll try a pastry.

To see more about this place, here's the link: cafeconnectionz.com

Go Habs Go!

My favourite team in the world beat last year's Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, last night in game 7. Now onto either the Philadelphia Flyers or the Boston Bruins. Wowza!

Happy 18th Heidi

My friend Felice's daughter Heidi turned 18 yesterday. Felice wanted to make her a doll cake with a fancy dress to echo what Heidi's going to wear to prom. I offered to make it for her. Cute, eh?