Tempest Storm is 21!

Actually she's 84. Born on February 29 in 1928! This video was taken in 2009. One of the oldest burlesque dancers around. Happy Birthday Tempest:)
While I was on Youtube I also found this! Dorothy Day Kloss  at 85, the oldest showgirl in Los Vegas. Really inspiring!

And this! Tao Porchon Lynch, a 92 year old yoga master.Wait until you see one of the poses she can do!

happy lists

Bleargh, I have been battling a sinus infection. I am finally winning but I hate not being 100% don't you? When I'm feeling like this I always have an urgent desire to clean up clutter, finally organize those photos, pare down my closet, go through my books and clear out , etc. etc...I think it's because I am lying around looking at all that stuff and being reminded that it should all be done and though I am not really doing anything else, I don't have the energy to tackle those tasks. Sheesh, and as soon as I feel better, off I go doing all the other things! Oh well. one day..

This picture was taken in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia. I was at the quaint Evangeline Motel Cafe  looking across to the old gas station. I always pop in anytime I am in the area for a cup of tea and some pie.They bake the best pies, with fresh valley fruit. Ah summer, not too far away now.

Here's a little list of a few things I enjoy... to cheer myself up and maybe get you thinking of yours:) I love these kind of lists, never ending...

* Being the first one awake in the morning and having the house to myself

* Being the last one up and having a wonderful breakfast waiting for me that I did not have to lift  a finger for.

* Purring cats

* Smiling dogs

* The sound of a cork popping (called "cloop")
* The smell of lilacs, basil, lily of the valley, ground coffee, salt spray, bacon cooking (as a new vegan, I STILL love it, might be the downfall of me yet), turkey roasting ( I know I know), the smell of pavement in the summer after a fresh rainfall, sheets after they've been dried outside on a windy sun filled day....
* New pens and paper and books
* Noticing something for the first time in a place I have been many times before and marveling that I never noticed it before. 
* The shock of cold when you first dip your bare foot into the Atlantic. Makes you come alive!

Ok that's enough for now, remembering things I like always puts me in a good frame of mind. You too?

My photography course starts tomorrow! Friday! Looking forward to it. You can join up too! Click HERE

Good value

Often the best things can be really inexpensive. I chew up paint brushes at a tremendous rate. It was something that never crossed my mind before I started painting. I guess I just figured that you had your brushes and used them forever:) Nope. These are from the dollar store and I love them. Sturdy and colourful, they are wee work horses.They came in a pack of  five I think. Of course there are some gorgeous brushes out there for a price but sometimes, less will do just fine.

Some things are free! This is a sunrise from the Seaport Market last month.  Beautiful! 

Don't forget...my  Sensational Snap Shot Society course starts on Friday. Only $45! Join us:)

Alice

This is my grandmother Alice, aged 19 in Scotland. She's the woman behind the name of this blog. Her eyes were dark pools, my daughter has inherited those dark eyes. My dad's eyes were the bluest of blue and mine are green. Alice had really long glossy hair and her mother instructed her to brush it one hundred times every night to keep it healthy and shiny. My grandmother used to brush my hair when I was a little girl and I loved it.
Sadly the picture is very creased now. I am thinking I should really start scanning some of my old pictures and putting them on a disk.

Photography E - Course

Now that I have your atttention......

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that my Sensational Snapshot Online Photography Course is starting up again on February 25th. 

Are you in a rut?
Do you need a bit of photo inspiration?
Don't know where to start?
Want to make some new friends?
Are you a beginner?
Looking for something to do in March? 
Need to escape the Winter doldrums?
Want to have some fun?

Join us on Feb 24th! Participants anywhere in the world are accepted. The more the merrier.


This is a fun and pressure free course that will help you get through those last vestiges of Winter and prime you for Spring! It is a course about "SEEING" what you are missing.. What makes an interesting picture and how to find it. There will not be much technical info imparted (there are a few tips in the mid-week check ins) because the main focus (ha, unintended pun) is on getting out there, in here, over yonder and anywhere you want with your camera by your side and snapping lots of pictures!

We will have weekly assignments and you can go at your own pace. If you have a busy week and cannot take pictures, you can still scout with your eyes and find those compositions. Take the pictures when you can:)
And the best thing is.......it is only $45. A bargain for six weeks of exercises and fun.

Any camera will do, even a  iphone. You need to be able to upload the snaps to your computer. but really even that is not necessary if you choose to just read and look and learn. 

Pop over here to REGISTER and learn more. You can pay with any credit card via Paypal and do not need a Paypal account to do so. Just follow the prompts. 

Random

A random picture for a random post. I quite like this photo actually, Julien's Cafe on Young Street. Everyone looks cozy and comfortable inside.

Thought I would pop in and say hi! I've had a busy week. Took an amazing finance course today all about income statements and cashflow and business projections. Sounds boring but I was enthralled. Good stuff to know. Wish I had taken it a few years ago. Ah well, always something to learn.

Did you see Madonna on the Superbowl? Lots of people hated it and others loved it. I am a fan of hers, as controversial as she is. She's been in business for 30 years and is STILL going strong. She was the Lady Gaga of my generation, has sold over 300 million albums and is the top selling female artist of all time, you need some kind of talent to accomplish that.  I really want to see her film W.E.   Oh yes, and today, the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show for the first time in 1964! 48 years ago!

Still eating veggies and doing my 30 minutes a day, yay me. Maybe yay you too?

Sunday Tea at Aimee's

Oooh don't we love going out to tea? Well, I do! This was an exra special tea, held by Aimee White for a group of strangers. Well, not really strangers, but this was the first time most of us have met in "real" life.  We've connected through our blogs, twitter and facebook but never face to face! Here is the lovely Aimee who made it happen.
What a cornocopia of delicious delights! Oh, and that first picture was a deliciously gorgeous little plate brought by Chara. Kelly brought tiny "banoffee" tarts. Bananas and homemade caramel sauce on tiny saltine based crusts topped with whippped cream mmmmmm.

Smoked salmon; egg; and cucumber sandwiches. Perfect tea bites. Too much food for me to mention in one post but it was ALL yummy.

Aimee even had some fresh lemon curd, clotted cream ( which she made herself! I'm so impressed) preserves and scones for us. Luscious.

We were invited to bring a special teacup if we wanted. This is a lovely Prince Edward Island cup brought by Sheena.

Aimee's house was the perfect place to mingle and chat. Open and airy. Unfortunately I had to leave earlier than I wanted to and did not get a chance to chat to as many women as I would have liked. There was no shortage of conversation, we all had so much in common and so many interesting stories. Bet that doesn't surprise.

Here is Aimee's famous bundt cake and my wee chocolate one in the background.

I would say the afternoon was a great success and I look forward to doing it again some time! Thanks Aimee! Here is the roll call. There were a few gals who could not make it but next time....
Aimee White of Food J'tAimee  Twitter:@Food_je_tAimee   Facebookpage

Allison Kincade of Allie's Changing Kitchen / Twitter: @changingkitchen 
Asheley Ramey of Asheley Eats / Twitter: AsheleyEats 
Chara of Love, Me Boutique / Twitter: @LoveMeBoutique / Facebook Page 
Kathy Jollymore of Eat Halifax / Twitter: @kathyjollimore / Facebook Page 
Kelly Neil of Kellyneil.com / Twitter: @baconandbaileys / Facebook Page  
Kim Stacey of Emma's Eatery / Twitter @eatfishcakes / Facebook Page 
Nancy Stapleton Adsum for Women & Children /Twitter:@adsumforwomen /Facebook Page 
Sheena Clark of Butter Versus Burpees / Twitter: B_versus_
Shelagh Duffett of Alice in Paris Loves Art and Tea  / Twitter: AliceinParis / Facebook Page

30 minutes

  
This is a great video ( 9 min)  explaining how all we need is 30 minutes a day of exercise. Eye opening stuff.This is day 3 for me. I decided to give it a go every day in February, 29 days, 26 to go! Want to join me? A few of my Facebook pals have decided to give it a whirl.  If you can't get out and walk, just set your kitchen timer and boogie in front of the TV.  March up and down the hall, stairs, move for 30 minutes. More is great but 30 minutes is the minimum I pledge to do every day this month!