Back from Alberta

I've been off the grid since Thursday when Richard and I headed for a getaway to Alberta. It was fantastic! We flew to Calgary, rented a car and stayed in Canmore, about an hour or so west of Calgary, in the Rocky Mountains. We took day trips to Banff and Lake Louise, took tons of pictures, saw lots of wild animals and generally had a fantastic time.
In Calgary, we had lunch with a fellow I hadn't seen since Grade 6. He's living in Edmonton but serendipty was on our side, and he was in Calgary for a few days. Was FANTASTIC to see you George. Let's do it again! (And let's not wait another 35 years!!)

In Canmore and Banff, we talked to lots of people who told us about out-of-the-way places to visit. Richard and I saw lakes that were turquoise blue and remarkably, devoid of humans. Photos to follow. I haven't even pulled them off my camera yet so I've posted some pages from my travel journal. Tomorrow: photos!

Running Shoe Cake

Our last exercise class for the season was last night and we ended it with a little potluck snack and party. I brought the cake.

Having One of Those Days

My satellite is not communicating with my e-mail program. Or so I was told after 1.5 hours on the phone with the so-called "help" desk. We unravelled my e-mail, which couldn't send anything and put it back together so that I couldn't send or receive. I called my trusty computer guy who luckily, ran over here and reassembled my computer but we still couldn't send any mail. I got another satellite guy on the phone who immediately told computer guy that there was a problem. Now why couldn't they have told me that in the first place?
P.S. Am still having problems today. Nothing in the digital world is simple, is it?

Asparagus Platters

I've started painting my ceramic stuff again in an effort to build up inventory for a future show. These asparagus platters are really fun. They measure an ample 12.5" x 8.5" and would be perfect for a pile of freshly steamed asapargus. Yum!

Aunt Sylvia's 90th Birthday

Here's my aunt Sylvia as a wee baby in 1918 in Calgary, Alberta.

Here's my aunt 90 years later. Lookin' good, eh?

We celebrated Aunt Sylvia's 90th birthday last night in Ottawa at my cousin's home. Lots of food and family. Lots of fun. Happy birthday Aunt Syl!

Chocolate Cupcakes

I made cupcakes for the Glengarry Pioneer Museum potluck AGM which was held last night. They kind of look like the "Cupcake-a-day" artist trading cards I'm trading at our monthly session later on today.

The End of the Show

My art show gets taken down this weekend. Time flies, eh? But the good news is that someone bought the "Abandoned Truck" this week. I'm happy it'll have a good home.

Back to the Ceramics

Since my art show is done, I've started to paint china again. What fun! This set was commissioned by a gal I know at Curves who is giving it to her daughter for her birthday. Apparently Lyne is just crazy about teddy bears, so the dishes should be a hit.

Dots Still Needed!

The challenge for the centre spread in the summer issue of ATC Quarterly is "Polka Dots." Deadline is May 15th. We've gotten some fantastic cards but there's still room for a few more. Anyone out there inspired? E-mail me your dotty ATCs: editor@atcquarterly.com or snail mail them to me (with an SASE if you want them back)to: ATC Quarterly, 19698 County Road 24, Dunvegan, ON K0C 1J0 Canada.
Hope to hear from you!

Cupcake-A-Day ATCs

Not just a little vanilla or chocolate snack anymore, cupcakes are now baked in a myriad of flavours. There are some bake shops in big cities that sell ONLY cupcakes. And in the past few years there seems to be a trend of serving elegant tiers of cupcakes at weddings as the cake.
These artist trading cards are done using an old desk calendar...a cupcake-a-day was the original idea but I got a little carried away with the drawing and then adding stars and swirled rubberstamps in the background. Now you can hardly even see the original desk calendar.

Resting in the Sun

Some raking got done. Humidifier put away. Clothesline went up. But mostly sitting in the sun doing the Sunday Times crossword puzzle.

What a Gorgeous Weekend

Richard and I took out the lawn chairs and soaked in the sun. We're still feeling pretty lousy from the lingering cough and heavy chest syndrome from those colds we've been carrying around, so minimal yard work got done. We did manage to plant the pansies in the window boxes though. 24C in April? Unreal.

Spring is Popping Out All Over

My lawn looks so cute I can't stand it.

A few years back I planted crocuses in it and as the snow receeds, the crocuses pop up!

The Glengarry News

Well, I made the big time! Here's an article that ran in our local newspaper. Look out New York Times. (P.S. I really didn't sell everything at the show, but it sure sounds good, doesn't it? Just proves the old adage, don't believe everything you read.)
Click to enlarge.