Commander Hadfield to Ground Control

Spring ice off Newfoundland, captured by Commander Chris Hadfield from the International Space Station. He has also captured the hearts of thousands during his current stint aboard the ISS  with his gorgeous photos, tweets, and facebook updates. Hadfield has given us a small glimpse of what life is like thousands of miles above the earth. Sharing random tidbits such as, yes, onions do make you cry in space too although tears float away instead of falling:) He is clever, funny, insightful and humble.

Chris and the two other astronaughts end their tour of duty tonight when their Soyuz spacecraft is set to land on the wide steppes of Kazakhstan at 10:31 p.m. ET. In Canada you can watch live coverage on CBC television starting at 3:50ET

 You HAVE to watch this link, recorded in the Space Station, it is Commander Hadfield singing a revised version of David Bowie's Space Oddity. Hauntingly beautiful !!

Happy Mother's Day....

Here in North America we are celebrating mothers today. Breakfast in bed, flowers, cards, gestures of affection and gratitude. I'm spending my day at the Halifax Seaport Market today. My usual weekend stint. I'm giving a shout out to all who nurture, moms or not!

“Why can’t you see I’m a cat,” said the cat,
“And that’s all I ever will be?
Why are you shocked when I roam out at night?
Why are you sad when I meow and I fight?
Why are you sick when I eat up a rat?
I’m a cat.”
“Why can’t you see I’m a kid,” said the kid.
“Why try to make me like you?
Why are you hurt when I don’t want to cuddle?
Why do you sigh when I splash through a puddle?
Why do you scream when I do what I did?
I’m a kid.”
“Why can’t you see I’m a mom,” said the mom.
“Why try to make me wise?
Why try to teach me the ways of the cat?
Why try to tell me that ‘kids are like that’?
Why try to make me be patient and calm?
I’m a mom.”

- Shel Silverstein

which way

I love reflections. The arrows make it interesting to me. Corner of Prince and Granville in Halifax.

I'll take fries with that, Ace Burger Co.

This little pub has been hanging around on the corner of North and Agricola for years and years. Gus's Pub and Grill, has recently been transformed into a burger joint called Ace Burger Co.

You walk through the well seasoned doors into a welcoming cozy and unpretentious room. 

At the front is a counter where you order your food.

The menu is written on the mirrored wall behind. The menu is simple, four kinds of burgers and hand cut fries. Poutine, salad, a giant cookie and apple pie are also available, haha

I had the veggie

I also had some delicious beer called Gus 65M ale, made by a local brewery down the street, Bridge Brewing Co.

Mmmm.The food is delivered to your table in a brown paper bag so you can take home or eat in.

And this is what was inside!! The best veggie burger I have had in this city! Juicy succulent and satisfying. My companions all had the jerk chicekn burgers which were deemed to be just as yummy.

This place has a really comfy relaxed atmosphere and I can hardly wait to go back again. Sometimes there is live music in the evenings.

Here you go....a table is is waiting for you!

Spring Fun

Hey! It's Spring and I'm running a bit of a promotion!
If you purchase anything from my etsy shop AliceinParis within the next five days.....( April 12th) Shipping is FREE AND......your name will be entered to win this wee original painted wooden plaque (3.25 x 5.25"), a fistful of postcards and a magnet. The COUPON CODE is yippee
Tadah!

Test post from iPhone!

Just seeing if this will work! Fingers crossed:). This a new painting of mine taken with iPhone  Black Rock Beach at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax. 30 x 24"

April Fool

Hey it is April 1st and I have been absent for quite a while. Thought I should pop in and say hello! I am an April Fool, this month always marks the end of winter for me. Hooray!
Love the sky in this picture, dramatic and moody, makes you feel something momentous is about to happen.

 I have fallen off the blogging wagon it seems. So strange when it is something I have done for so long and enjoyed. I've been really busy with my painting and various things....life, you know.....

 Facebook has become my current platform at the moment. It is quick and easy and I can do it from my iPhone. You can follow me there too if you'd like. ShelaghDuffett.art

February

I love this painting.It was part of my show in December but was sold. I do have prints of it in my etsy shop. Ah, serenity and escape. This is such a hard time of year for those of us in the Northern hemisphere. We are so ready for warmth, colour and light! Valentine's day is the turning point for me, from here on, things improve, days get brighter and and bit by bit it starts warming up. Hooray. Hope the sun is shining where you are:)

xoxoxo

 Happy Valentine's Day

Be good to yourself....

The Importance of Being Earnest

One of my very favourite plays is in production at Neptune Theatre right now. The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde was penned in 1895 and is still just as funny today as it was 117 years ago. It is a sparkling romantic farce poking fun at the silliness of social order and I enjoyed it immensely! Neptune's production does the play proud.

The language is the star of this play. Such brilliant wit and absolutely delightful wordiness that does not bore but entertains. I was in awe of the actors ability to memorize and spill the words out effortlessly and convincingly.
The cast worked beautifully together but the stars of the show for me, are Michael Therriault as the enthusiastic and enterprising Algernon, Chilina Kennedy and her adorable interpretation of self absorbed Cecily and Vanessa Walton-Bone brilliant as Lady Bracknell. Really everyone was terrific but these three shone for me.The smart set and costumes also provided a lovely glimpse of Victorian England

Oscar Wilde was one of the literary world's great writers who unfortunately died penniless at aged 46 in Paris after serving two years in prison on charges of being homosexual. It was on  the opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895 that the events that led to his downfall were set in motion. I wish he could have known what an impact his life and work would have on the world all these years after his death. 
This is a close up of his grave in Paris. Covered in lipstick kisses from members of both sexes it finally had to be covered by a glass shield to protect it.You can read the story about that here ( I have to admit my wee kiss is there too) He is famously known to have said on his deathbed
"My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One of us has got to go." Such a character.