Gorgeous Autumn Weekend

Just back from a fantastic weekend in the Muskokas. Gorgeous leaves, weather about 20C, bright sun, shimmering lake...

...and a perfect spot to curl up after a big helping of Thanksgiving turkey and all the fixings.

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my Canadian friends: enjoy the turkey and pumpkin pie.

Abstract Thinking

I've been asked to paint parrots, fiddles, Cairn terriers and many, many cats. Then I was asked to paint an "abstract" mug. It turned out to be one of the toughest things I've ever had to do. I found it pretty frustrating and trashed my first effort. Then I decided to approach it like I do everything else. Research! This mug is a combination of influences and inspirations. The Kenneth Noland circles show I saw (many moons ago) at the Guggenheim in New York; the great Canadian abstract painter Claude Tousignant; and a friend who is one of the best I know at doing patterns, Carol and her fused glass platters.

Moo Plate

It is incredibly mild today and feels like spring with temperatures expected to hit 17C...a mini-heat wave, just in time for this weekend's Thanksgiving. A friend asked me to paint a cow plate to give as a wedding gift to a gal who loves cows. Doesn't it remind you of spring?

A Step Back in Time

I love old neon signs and this was one of my favourites. It advertised a neat little grocery and butcher shop in Vankleek Hill, Ontario. The shop was an old-fashioned version of a today's convenience stores, having bits and bobs of every sort of thing one might need. And the owner, Monsieur Methot was a butcher so all the meat was hand-cut and wrapped in brown paper (no styrofoam in sight).
One of my favourite features was the shop cat. You'd find him asleep under the vegetable display or perched beside the cash register. Unfortunately all are gone, sign included. The building now houses an accounting firm.

Puppy Dog ATCs

This is a series of artist trading cards I did entitled "I Love Dogs." I visited friends who had dogs and had them take a photo of me with their doggy because I really do love dogs. I've just always been a cat person.


The challenge for the latest issue of ATC Quarterly is "Puppy Dogs." Please create an ATC with this theme in the medium of your choice and e-mail it to me (hi-rez please) to: editor@atcquarterly.com or snail mail it to: ATC Quarterly, 19698 County Road 24, Dunvegan, ON K0C 1J0 Canada. Please include an SASE (or $1) if you want your ATC returned to you. Deadline is November 15, 2008.

Closing Time

The sage in my garden won't mind a light frost...


...but the eggplants aren't that keen, so into the house they come.


The farmers are putting their fields to bed for the season as well. The seagulls are pretty happy about it though, finding a nice meal hiding in the over-turned dirt.

Hockey Legend

The hockey season has begun and it reminds me of Ken Dryden: author, lawyer, politician, and incredible goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens. I have been a fan of his since I was a kid.


I had the opportunity to meet him a few years back (when these photos were taken) but this wasn't the first time we had talked. Our paths have crossed numerous times in the past...


...and I hope they do again. After all these years I'm still a big Ken Dryden fan.

Looking Back...

Yesterday's photo with Youpi reminded me that I had been photographed with him about 25 years ago, when he was the mascot for the Montreal Expos. Youpi has aged pretty well, eh?

Hockey Night in Canada

Richard got tickets for last night's game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins in a pre-season match up.


Having been a huge Habs fan my whole life I jumped at the chance!


We had terrific seats being only 8 rows from the ice, to the right of the blue line.


The Bell Centre boasts one of the largest video screens in the world.


Above our heads were the retired numbers of some fantastic players of years gone by. And a nod to all the Stanley Cups won by our beloved Canadiens, the winningest team in professional sport.


The crowd loves a good penalty given to the opposing team!


My favourite part? Having a good ol' chat with Youpi, the Canadiens' mascot (and former mascot of the now defunct baseball team the Montreal Expos.)


Go Habs go! (By the way, we won 3-1.)

Late Bloomers

October conjurs thoughts of orange leaves and dried cornstalks but check out these gorgeous colours I saw when I went into town yesterday.


The Black-eyed Susans were gigantic and really lovely.


When I got home later that day, I looked at my sad garden and spied a chocolate and pink gladiola in full bloom.



I've never had a glad bloom in October before. What a welcome visitor!

Ghost Walls

Ever noticed faded signs on old buildings? Here's one I saw in Vankleek Hill, Ontario for some sort of "Castoria." Lovely typography but I bet the product tasted pretty awful.
Footnote: My friend Olive emailed me and pointed out that "Castoria" was a brand of medicine (and not castor oil as I thought) so I did some research. On the site Forgotten New York I read the folowing: Charles H. Fletcher began selling his Castoria, a mild stomach remedy for children, in 1871. The medicine was heavily promoted on ads and billboards in the late 1800s and early part of the 20th Century, and evidently the paint used for the ads was of a very high grade, because several ads survive to this day all over town.
To see more walls with Castoria ads click on Forgotten New York.
Thanks Olive!

Fabulous Set of Dishes

I did this set of nasturtium-inspired dishes for a gal who's giving it to a friend for a combined Christmas/Birthday gift. Her favourite colours are orange and yellow so nasturtiums seemed like a natural choice.


Richard and I set up the table. (I even ironed a tablecloth for the occasion)! It's a 20 piece place setting for four, plus various servers.

A Peaceful Resting Place

I went to a celebration of my friend Lionel's life the other day. He passed away a few weeks ago. Last Thursday would have been his 91st birthday so it seemed fitting to hold a get-together with his friends on that special day.


His wife Susan set Lionel's ashes where we could sit around a peaceful rock circle and be with him. What a beautiful spot to spend eternity.