Piece of Cake

Don't you just love this cake display? I saw it at Nate's Delicatessen in Ottawa a while back. I'd either like to paint it or alternately jump right in and curl up beside all the lovely sweet creations in there.

Art Show

Here's the flyer for the annual Art Sale I've done with fellow artists Holly Kelleher and Brenda Kennedy for the past five years. It is to be held in Dunvegan on November 30th from 1-4 p.m. If you're going to be in the area, let me know and I'll send you directions.

Artful Hay Bales

On my way to Hawkesbury yesterday to meet Richard for lunch, I spied these huge creations made out of hay bales. I guess they were Hallowe'en decorations for the Legault Greenhouses in front of which they sit.


Here's Batman. Hard to believe he's made out of big round hay bales, each weighing 500 pounds or more.


Superman is looking pretty tough too.


Looks like a woodland creature might have been digging in Superman's nether regions trying to find a winter home?

Snowy Woods

This colour pencil drawing I did entitled "First Snow" shows what it's going to look like out here in the country in a few weeks. It's just cold enough to snow a tiny bit and then melt later on in the day. But pretty soon it's NOT going to melt and the woods will be in a white, frosty blanket for four (or more) months.

More Stuff

Here are some newly painted ceramics: A nice sized leek platter.


A 10" lupin serving plate.


A pair of nice lupin vases.


I love this funny little cat and dog thingie. Would be fun in a little girl's room I think.


I really like the shape of this large cobalt blue cookie jar.


The Parmesan cheese shaker has a cheese-seeking mouse on the front of it...

...and a cat peeking around the back of it.

Montreal Jewelry and China Show

Carol and I each had our stuff set up at her place and it looked terrific!


My bright china and her colourful jewelry looked great against the black, batik backdrop.


The stuff really complemented each other I think.


Lots of visiting with old elementary school friends and high school and university buddies I hadn't seen in eons.


It was like a party for five hours. What a great day!
To see more pix, click here to see the album of photos on Facebook.

Happy Birthday Richard!

I made the silliest cake ever for Richard's birthday. A chocolate-mint flavoured mother hedgehog and her 10 chocolate-hazelnut babies.

Indian Summer

I'm not sure if it's politically correct to use that term anymore. How about "First People's Summer" or "Aboriginal Summer"? Whatever it's called, the weather has been heavenly this week. Yesterday and today a high of 17C. I pulled out one of the Adirondack chairs (that had been neatly tucked away for the season) and dragged it into the middle of the field and read a book.


You might recall my snow-covered clothesline from last week's storm. This week it's in use (with a tiny bit of snow that slid off the barn roof still hanging around on the side).

Geared up for Show

I did all sorts of little bowls and things with a simple dot and line pattern. Kind of fun.


This set would be perfect for a bowl of soup and a sandwich.


How about a soft-boiled egg in a ladybug egg cup?


I love the red winged blackbird on the cattails so did them on two different flower holders.

If you're near Montreal this Sunday, don't forget about the show I'm having with my friend Carol. E-mail me for directions!

Mini John Deere Tractor

At the hairdresser yesterday, I couldn't resist trying out the kiddy's chair.

Cats and Dogs

I love visiting my neighbour Velma. She has a house of interesting things, books and lots of loved animals.


Her cat Flurry likes to climb onto the wood cookstove to keep warm. And that stove was keeping the house (and the cat) warm.


Badger the cat was the subject of one of my china paintings a few weeks back.

Badger likes to play with Cyrus the dog. Cyrus is a Maremma Sheepdog from Italy. He's so good natured and sweet.

Speaking of dogs, don't forget to send in your ATC with a dog on it for the centrespread challenge of ATC Quarterly. Please e-mail me for more info at: editor@atcquarterly.com. Deadline: November 15.

Good Eats

In many places the snow has melted but since I live at the bottom of a hill, there's still plenty of snow here. My chard is almost covered with the white stuff.


Check out the footprints of a few hungry deer who enjoyed a snowy snack.


Meanwhile after a walk in the woods, Richard and I tucked into a pot of tea and a package of Square Milk Lunch Biscuits...


...all the way from St. John's, Newfoundland.


Don't you just love the packaging? Looks like I could have bought this in the 1950s or 60s. The packaging probably hasn't changed since then. Why tinker with perfection?

Happy Hallowe'en!

I didn't go out for Hallowe'en this year but did manage to dredge up this old photo from a party in the 80s. I think I was supposed to be a punk rocker or something. I was actually wearing my pink nightie, my black leather jacket with one sleep snapped off, and a pair of pink and black plaid stirrup pants. (I loved those pants...so 1980s!)


And being in the spirit of the day, I tried to dress Domino up as a cast member of Fiddler on the Roof but she just wasn't into it.

Happy Black Cat Day

In honour of Hallowe'en, I've decided to showcase some terrific black cats. Here's Fran's delightful cat Louis.


Originally from Scotland, this cat now lives across from the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan, Ontario and spends his days keeping the museum safe from mice.


This little guy is up for adoption at the local mill in Alexandria and was fast asleep in a makeshift bed.


Here's my Oreo, not entirely black but if she could trick or treat, I know she would.


My most senior cat, Domino, is 18-years old and is retired so she's likely not interested in trick or treating...or even hunting for mice!