new work

Summer Solstice is a 16 x 20 painting of Peggy's Cove I did over the weekend, the original sold right away (hooray) but I do have prints available here. The new owner got to title it !

This is the first time I have ever referenced a photo for a composition and it was a fun project. I did deviate from the snapshot, four of the buildings were all grey so I spruced them up a bit. Couldn't help myself! Will be doing more, I certainly have enough photos to choose from.

Today it is bucketing down rain, looks nothing like these two sunny pictures. I need to get some work done and days like this are perfect for that. Hopefully I can keep myself away from a new book I just started to read. Seems to be all the rage. 50 Shades of Grey.  I'm only in a chapter but I have to say, the writing is not the greatest. ......must be something else in it people find riveting. I'll let you know:)

This 8 x 10 painting below is headed to Argentina! Wee Zorro and Lady Grey:) Prints available here

Summer Solstice

"One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky"

Point Pleasant Park

One of my favourite places in the city. Point Pleasant Park.  I used to come here often but after Hurricane Juan I was too upset with the damage to visit for a long time. Today after being cooped up inside at the market all weekend I had to do some "forest bathing":)

I have re-discovered this park again this last year. It is coming back to itself. Healing. This tree looked beautiful to me, like a totem or a surreal creature reaching for the sky.

This beautiful Copper Beech on Cable Road is one of my fave trees in the park. There are quite a few of them scattered throughout the forest. There is another up near the heather patch I must check on next time I am there.

Look closely and you will see a hidden Blue Jay.
Cable Road again. This is the nicest walk as far as I am concerned. It runs along the NorthWest Arm and late in the afternoon/early evening the light is beautiful. There are often sailboats gliding by and in the early morning the rowing teams are out on the still water. There was a little squirrel who raced ahead of me on this fence, stopping at each post until I came closer.

Not sure what this flowering tree was.(Edited: It is English Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna.Thanks Marian!)

Back up on the main road.into the park

We are so lucky to have this patch of green at the tip of our city!

Local Tasting Tours Halifax

Now that I have your attention.........  I want to tell you about Local Tasting Tours! A new business in town. Last week I went on the very first taste tour in Halifax and it was worth every delicious morsel! Basically, it is a 90 minute walk full of foodie stops and stories. The tour I participated in takes us along Barrington Street.

It starts at the Fish Shop at Pier 20 ( in the Halifax Seaport Market) and after a yummy repast of smoked salmon, breaded haddock tips and fries, we headed out the door. Next stop was Uncommon Grounds where we sampled seedy oatcakes and learned about buying local and the story behind their successful "uncommon" biz.

Emily Forrest, a friend of mine, is the owner and leader of Local Tasting Tours. She did a great job entertaining and informing us all along the way. There is more to the tour than I will write about here, after all I want some of it to be a surprise if you decide to enjoy it.

This tasy morsel was from Morris East where the chef came out and told us a bit about her story and food philosophy. There were about seven different things going on with that mouthful, I had it without the meat and was still delicious!

We stop in front of Government House for a wee snack of Rum Runners cake and learn the history of the place and share a few laughs at the stories told.

This tour is the perfect balance of walking eating and talking:)

We proceed along Barrington Street until we get to Ciboulette. There we had stinging nettle soup and their most wonderful signature biscuits. The chef served us herself and we discovered the serendipitous story of how she came to be there. The food eaten on this tour varies a wee bit depending on the day but it was ALL delicious and one leaves feeling very satisfied.

I recommend it! $25 per person and a fun relaxing way to spend an afternoon, meet some new people and learn a bit more about this terrific city. You book your tickets online or can call 902.818.9055

Audrey's Secret

This is Audrey. She has a friend that comes to visit several times a day. Taps on the window. Yes, a "gullfriend". Strange but true story. Audrey is a rescued cat who was found in an abandoned apartment with frost bitten ears. She now lives the good life with a kind, loving owner and an unusual pal. Audrey's Secret is now for sale in my etsy shop!

time travel

My grandmother Alice, my dad and my grandfather. 1930. Union Street, near Castlegate, Aberdeen, Scotland. This was taken by a street photographer. They would snap random pictures of passersby and hand them a card with info on where to pick up the photo (for a price)

My mum is moving and I came across a treasure trove of photos. Will be scanning them and sharing here, I am sure. I wonder who the dour faced little girl is in the foreground. I have a picture very similar to this one taken on the same street, many many years later, walking with my grandmother when I was a little girl. I remember the photographer sort of jumping out and snapping! This picture also makes me sad and mystified. That beautiful wee little boy died in my arms as an old man. Hard to wrap my head around this stuff sometimes. Photos are magic.

June 1

June! Glorious June:) Such a pretty month, everything is fresh and exciting.

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This 16 x20 painting is called The Red Door and can be purchased here or at the Halifax Seaport Farmer's Market on Saturday and Sundays.