A Day at the Museum

My friend Peggi and I went to the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa yesterday. We had been invited to the launch of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, a huge undertaking where breeding birds were recorded from 2001-2005. Peggi and I monitored the 10 km square in which we live (our names are in the front of the book as volunteers).
Before the launch we spent a few hours in the museum which is undergoing a major renovation. There is a dinosaur floor (wow!), a mammal floor and an entire floor on birds. Peggi took this shot of me pretending I was a seal. I was happy to get out of that hole before darkness fell, when the polar bears became 'live' (like in the movie "Night at the Museum"). Ha!

A Place to Sleep, Meow and Bark?

Cinnamon, Cookie and Nutmeg all found a warm spot to snooze in front of the fire yesterday.
A Place to Bark needs donations (deadline is tomorrow!) in order to get a grant of $50K to help save more dogs and cats. They only ask for a $10 donation and need it from lots of different people (unique visitors) to stay in the running. I hope you can help.
Visit A Place to Bark's website. (They accept PayPal and credit cards.)

Mid-Winter Days

Freezing rain, threatening skies...good day to stay in and draw.

Don't you just love the new banner on the blog? The talented Susan Williamson created it for me and I think it came out great. (I look pretty professional now, eh?) Thanks Susan!

Perfect End to a Perfect Day

Yesterday it was -3C and sunny. Richard and I spent the majority of it cutting and dragging wood which entails lots of time walking around in the woods. I love how the curious chickadees follow alongside you, flitting from tree to tree. I love walking along the snow-covered frozen brook and hearing it crack underfoot. I love the dazzling light and shadow play against the pine trees. And I really love the Bailey's Irish Cream, served with icicles as swizzle sticks, enjoyed in front of a roaring fire. A perfect day.

Sneak Peek: Technique in ATC Quarterly

Yesterday was our monthly ATC trade and my friends Carol and Elisabeth usually drive in from Montreal a little early so we can have lunch together. Yesterday I asked them to come even earlier so I could photograph Carol creating ATCs out of salt dough. She had traded ATCs made out of this dough in December and they were so popular I figured they'd be a good technique to show in the spring issue of ATC Quarterly. Carol demonstrated an easy, step-by-step process showing how to create these ATCs. The dough is cheap to make; the technique easy. I think you might want to give it a try. Full description and recipe will be featured in the next issue of ATC Quarterly, due out at the end of March 2008.

Cold, Bright Days

We've had 2 days of very cold (-22C) nights and very clear, sunny days. It's very pretty with all the snow and bright light. Kind of feels like you're driving around in a post card.

Free to a Good Home

Barney the barn cat, looking to move out of the barn and into a real home. (Name change optional.) Sweet natured. About 8-9 months old. Will have shots and be neutered. Bonus: extra thumbs. Free delivery available (within reason).

Working Cat #1

Over the years I've collected images of cats working in stores which I always found endearing. But these cats were workers, keeping mice at bay and wanting belly rubs. (Now that's serious work!)
Bogy was spotted "working" at the gargantuan Highway Books in Cobalt, (northern) Ontario.

Wild Animal ATCs

I had saved plastic bread tags (the thing that keeps the bread bag closed) in a jar for sometime and when I dumped them onto the counter, they kind of reminded me of a cat or dog nose. I was surprised at the variety of colours they were made out of and just had to make a set of ATCs of wild animals using these bread tags as their noses.

Weekend in the Woods

Richard and I spent the better part of the weekend pulling in wood he cut last weekend. It was pretty cold (-20C) but it wasn't too bad if you kept moving. The wood we are gathering now will heat us next winter. Folks around here say that wood actually heats you five ways: cutting, splitting, gathering, stacking, and burning.

Double Take

In the just plain weird department, I was coming out of the grocery store and looked up at this vehicle and for the briefest of moments, thought there was a stuffed bear in the drivers seat. Turned out to be a fuzzy seat warmer; the bear's head was a sort of head rest. Ah, the ways we try to keep warm here in Canada, eh?

Cairn Terrier Tile

A friend of mine has the cutest little Cairn Terrier named Emma. She asked if I could draw her likeness on a ceramic tile. I told her that I am not really a portrait artist but I could attempt to draw the breed (and not necessarily her dog!). She loved it.

Art Journal

I did this collage for our round robin art journal. This is for Jen's book entitled "Theatre of the Mind."

Snow Cat

We're expecting more of the white stuff tomorrow. Good thing too. I just booked my art show for April 13 so that means I'd better get cracking at the drawing board. And if I'm snowed in, all the better!