Cool Site!

Check it out! Here'a a new website for The Network of Eastern Ontario Artists and Artisans, found at www.artseo.ca. Lots of local artists I know are listed and many others neat folks are there too. To find my listing, click here.

You Are What You Eat

Here is the last book of the round robin art journal project which I was involved with. At the beginning of each month a new journal with a different theme arrived in the mail and it had to be completed and passed on by the end of that month. There were 14 participants so it has taken 14 months to make a full circle. This one was entitled "You Are What You Eat" and I did the history of the Caesar Salad and the Cobb Salad. Click to enlarge.

Just Below the Surface

As the snow recedes, you can see things starting to come to life. Especially since last year at this time we had a dump of 30 cm of snow, followed two days later by another 51 cm.


So it's especially exciting to see the day lilies start to shoot up through the wet ground in March.


Meanwhile where there's still snow, you can see visitors from the previous night. Check out these big feet: mine with a snowshoe hare's.

It's a Jungle Out There

There's a lot of wildlife out there this time of year. This is the first time I've seen the male cardinal all winter. The American Goldfinches who are buffy-coloured all winter are starting to moult and their summer yellow feathers are appearing.


And at night: The flying squirrel must have told a friend about the nighttime all-you-can-eat sunflower seed bar.


Love those flat tails! A third flyer jumped on top of the feeder and scared these two off it.


And the raccoon returned. He fell off the bird feeder so decided to attempt the suet block.

Carrot Cakes

I did this 8" carrot cake for a shared birthday this week. But since it was for a small crowd, I was asked if I could split the recipe in two and make a cake for the first group...


...followed by another group of ten celebrating the same birthdays but this time with carrot cake cupcakes.

Avocados and Walnuts

I dropped in on my friend Lis the other day. She has a way of making the most common thing look artful. Like this group of avocados throwing shadows from the sunny window they were ripening in.


Or this gorgeous blue bowl full to the brim with walnuts. That's the thing about having a blog. Instead of just thinking, "Wow, that's nice," now I pull out my camera, take a photo and post it.

The Ol' Ball and Chain

Winter gets a bad rap but for us, it's a time to be out in the woods, cutting it and communing with it too.


For instance, look at this odd couple I noticed while walking in the woods. Old tree and skinny new one entwined together look like strange bedfellows.


And this dry weed that looks like it's covered with mini-shooting stars.


Okay, so your heart does skip a beat when the first signs of spring appear like parsley growing under the snow...


...or the pussy willows that I call "almost pussy willows."


The cats who now spend most of their days perched in the unheated wood shed, catching a few rays.


And with warmer weather check out this snowball the formed from wet snow stuck between my snowshoe and the sole of my boot and then stuck to my shoelace.


Somehow it's a relief not to have to think of frozen pipes and shovelling out after a snowstorm. I guess winter really is the ol' ball and chain, eh?

Timid Raccoon

My friend Marlana posted a comment on my blog about how my nightly visit from a raccoon might inspire me to draw him. That reminded me of this raccoon which was actually one near Richard's garden that was dozing in the sun last fall but was trying to hide behind a leaf. Kind of silly but sweet.

Three Bakers & a Bike

The other day my friend Peggi and I made a quick trip into Ottawa and landed at a fabulous little spot called Three Bakers and a Bike. With such a terrific name, we just had to go inside.


The shelves and counters were just covered with sweet delicious treats. Cookies, scones and muffins of all sorts...


Peggi was intrigued by the baby pies.


I loved the look of these pop tarts. Best looking pop tarts I've ever seen.


Cupcakes have gained popularity over the years and this place had them in all flavours and sizes.


These mini ones for those who were making an effort to watch their waistline.


Something for everyone at this joint...even specially baked dog biscuits. I give this place two paws up!

Cool New Blog

My brother-in-law recently started his own blog. Click here to check out Barry Strauss's blog. Those interested in a historical perspective on every day occurrences will really get a kick out of it.

His new book The Spartacus War will be published on March 17. Congratulations Barry!

Another Night Visitor

Living in the countryside, there's always some sort of critter out there. By day it's colourful birds and red squirrels. By night it's flying squirrels, saw-whet owls and...


...a raccoon! This fellow was eating all the fallen seed from under the bird feeder. I don't like to encourage them but it was really cold outside, about -20C, so I kind of felt bad for this raccoon.


And I know they are destructive critters and can be pests but boy, is this guy ever cute.

Floral Thoughts

I've had spring and flowers on my mind lately. Here is a grouping of things I covered in pink coneflowers.


Then I moved on to daisies. He loves me...


...he loves me not...


...wouldn't a bouquet of daisies look nice in this daisy vase?


Then I switched to sunflowers and ladybugs.


And finally I had in mind where I live. Glengarry County is full of Scotch thistles and I thought these creamers might just work at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum gift shop when it opens this spring

Nature Journaling

Some of my sketches of recent visitors out my window.


Initially I thought it was a flying squirrel perched near the feeder until I cast my desk lamp out the window. Now that was a surprise!

Winter Feast

Yesterday, Richard and I were invited to a winter feast in the old, stone house of friends of ours. It was a sit-down, five course meal for 30, the table running right through the middle of their living room.


The appetizer was feta cheese, olive oil and herbs.


The soup was incredible. Carrot, pear, dill weed and hot chili peppers. It might have been -20C outside but that soup warmed up everyone in the room.


The salad had a delicious nutty flavoured oil splashed on its leaves and dried cranberries. It was served with earthy, warm bread served on long, wooden paddle-like servers.


Getting ready for the main event...the fish!


These 12 lb. wild Arctic char had been flown in from Nunavut in Northern Canada and were steamed in a large contraption on the old wood cookstove in the kitchen.


Look how tender that fish is.


Something caught my eye under the stove when I thought I glimpsed a tail. There was Pippin hoping for an offering to fall from above (and staying warm at the same time).


The Artic char was fantastic. Some of us even had second helpings.


And room for dessert, natch! Strawberries and liqueur on vanilla ice cream.


And since Pippin left the kitchen empty handed, I guess she figured she'd go fishing in one of the two aquariums and land a big one of her own.


Caught in the act. Who me?