Forks over Knives

A picture of the beginnings of one of my green smoothies.
I plop in all sorts of things. Usually whatever I have in the fridge. Main component being kale or spinach or parsley or something green. I put in tomato, carrot, banana, berries, cuke, even a bit of broccoli sometimes! Whatever I have. I load it up and then enjoy my thick pureed drink. Since I started making my veggie drinks, I now get cravings for them!
I saw the documentary Forks Over Knives and was really intrigued with all the data. I am now incorporating more green and less animal, eventually no animal. There was also a special show on CNN called "The Last Heart Attack" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta that also promoted the benefits of a plant based no added oil diet . President Clinton was on and he is now, after all his heart problems following exactly that and has never felt better.

Actually there is a ton more that I would like to tell you about but I have to dash off to the market. Do you make green smoothies?

Mystery Woman

Did you miss me? My computer was struck down with a virus and had to visit the computer hospital. I still don't have my photo uploader software installed yet so this is picture of the Tangled Gardens gate from the archives.

Wolfville! That's where I was today. Mum and I drove up in the morning and we had a great day poking about and of course popped into our favourite antique haunt, The Red Barn in Port Williams. Four floors of fascinating stuff. I'll show you some pics in a day or so. I purchased a tiny daguerrotype picture of a young woman. I was transfixed by her hair.

Isn't it remarkable. Through the magic of scanning, I've reproduced her to a much much larger size and I can now see how young she is and pretty! Her eyes are lovely and she has a charming freckled face. We can even see a stray strand of hair on the left that has escaped her "do". The pink cheeks are added to the original picture which is only about 2 inches high, tiny really.. I was just thinking that maybe no one has seen her like this for maybe 100 years. I just happened to find her wee picture in a random pile. I would LOVE to know more about her but alas.....

In other news...my large whale painting in Mahone Bay Trilogy Gallery sold! Always exciting. Would love to know where it 's new home will be.

And....I've been asked to participate in Big Day Downtown again... a $100 VISA gift card was handed to me and a few other lucky bloggers at a lovely soiree held at The Middle Spoon last week. A place I will definitely visit again.This time the Big Day Downtown has to be something I've never done before so I am excited about exploring various possibilities and blogging about it. Maybe a tattoo???? Nah.
Here is what I did last time round. Halifax is such a great city! Read Part 1, 2 & 3

Oh and I just had a give away on my FACEBOOK ART page, so if you don't want to miss any future fun, pop over and "like" it:)

South Shore bound

Headed to Lunenburg this morning. I feel like I have hardly been with you guys in blogland lately. So busy. Oh and in other news....Monty has fleas :(

Paint brushes.....

Today is a smashingly beautiful day, complete with puffy clouds. The kind of day that makes me want to head the the shore, pack a picnic and road trip! Instead, I am getting ready for the market tomorrow:) This is a new 8 x 10 print I will have available there. $15.
Hope you have a fab weekend!

Siamese Sweetie

This is my latest wee painting. 8 x 8 on stretched canvas with painted 3/4"sides. For sale by me. Framed ( in a black floater frame) and ready to hang. $150 + $12 shipping. If you are interested send me an email:)

Monday stuff...

Gosh, I've not been very good about posting here as often as I used to. Busy days.
Also, everytime I go on a trip I take FAR too many pictures! It is a huge job to go through them and then share here so I tend to put it off for lack of time. The benefit of the old film cameras is that one was far more selective because of the cost. Now it is a free for all:) Fun on the snapping end for sure but a chore at the other. I like to crop and tidy my pics if they need it too.

Any minute now I'm off to the garage to get my rear brakes looked at. Terrible grating metal sound:( I had been planning on the market today but this plan has top priority. Bringing an umbrella for the rainy walk home. We've got a rainfall warning in effect. Good news for those with drying wells.

Speaking of walking home. I need it!! This last few weeks have been a bit of a food party. Too many summer goodies and market food. Oh that market food...................my friend Jenna had a lime extravaganza this weekend and I had altogether too many treats! Lime cupcakes infusd with lime curd, lime blueberry cheesecake cupcakes, lime pulled pork, sweet potato/ lime /chipotle salad, lime cream cheese cranberry squares....you get the picture.Smacking my lips just thinking about it.

Watched the finale of Masterchef Australia last night. What a fantastic show. Really the best cooking one out there. In Australia it is one of their most popular shows and is on 5 nights a week! Far more in depth and involved than the US one. Same premise though, start with 100 amateur cooks, winnow to 25 and then down to one winner! This year's winner deserved it. Awesome.
Best get on with it...have a great day.
P.S. Hi Sandy! Great to meet you finally!

Kingsbrae Gardens and Gallery

Day two in Saint Andrews started with a wonderful breakfast at the Kingsbrae Arms and a beautiful sunny day! We strolled over to the gardens to have a look before popping into the gallery.

Kingsbrae Garden is listed as one of the top five to see in Canada!

It covers 27 acres and was donated by John and Lucinda Flemer. The public garden opened in 1998.

There are more than 2,500 varieties of trees, shrubs and plants. So gorgeous.

There is even a small area with alpacas and goats. Meet "Liberty", a wee alpaca that was born on July 4th.

There are also many smaller gardens within Kingsbrae one I loved is called Scents and Sensitivities, which was created for blind people. In it are beautifully scented flowers and herbs. You are invited to stroke and smell and gently crush for scent. There are interesting plants like Lamb's Ear and spikey succulents that are wonderfully tactile. The garden is waist high, built on a horseshoe shaped wall so one only has to walk along it and touch and smell. Brilliant!

Open spaces and tons of sculpture everywhere. This fountain caught my attention!

And look at this creature high in the trees!

There were formal rose gardens and wild beds of colour. Orchards and demonstration gardens.

I LOVED this moose!

And of course how could I not take a picture of this wee whimsical doggie plunked next to a water hydrant

Finally we found ourselves at the cafe/gift shop and gallery. The reason for this trip!

Ta dah!

This Folk Art show will run until October 8th.

The other artists are Brian Allen Adams, Jantje Blokhuis Mulder, Beatrice McFadden, Maureen McIlwain, Holly McKay, and Maureen Newman.

Love the saying on the hooked rug ~Never Let Yesterday Use Up Today~ true...

Can you pick out mine?

Saint Andrews, Part 1