and the living is easy......

Doesn't this just say summer!
What a beautiful string of days we have had and it continues:)
Anyone interested in this? going, going, gone.....

first steps

These are the baby shoes of a friend of mine. We did a fun maternity shoot this morning and I have to say it was a blast! I have a maternity shoot lined up with another friend and am really looking forward to it:)
Will share later after "mom to be" has had a chance to see them:)

lost and found

Tree sketched on Antiparos....

I'd forgotten all about this. The start of a story I was going to write..... years ago! I remember had it all figured out in my head but reading this, I cannot remember what I had in mind. Wish I had jotted it down. I'd like to read the rest:) The quotations and formatting is all wrong, just ignore that:)

The sun kissed the ocean goodnight and quickly slipped beneath the indigo water. Barely able to keep her eyes open, Suzie sank deeper into the canvas chair and gratefully sipped some fresh lemonade. Her wet hair was damp and dripped pleasantly down her back. The last fifteen hours had just been spent on planes, boats and finally donkey, getting to this spot. Squinting at the dark water beyond her friend Anna’s balcony, she marveled at the amazing turn of events that had brought her to Greece again.

"Here's a towel, it is a bit small, but it is the best I can do right now, all the others are on the sailboat." Anna tossed it to Suzie, "I hope you enjoyed that shower, because once you're on the Athena, fresh water is precious and only the paying guests get the luxury of long showers!"

" I know" sighed Suzie, but it'll be worth it for the opportunity to visit Despotik Island and witness the festival of the Sleeping Madonna! Did you know that the festival is only held once every thirty-three years? Did you also know that statue is one of only a handful found and no one knows exactly how old she is!"

" No, I did not know that", said Anna, watching her pal with an amused smirk.
Suzie was enthralled with the strangest things.

"What I DO know is that you had better get to bed soon or you won't be up in time for our departure!"

"You're right of course, but I'm just too excited to sleep. I think I'll sit out here for a little while longer and I'll tell you all about her tomorrow"

"Tell me all about who?"

"The Sleeping Madonna!"

to be continued…..

Happy Canada Day!

143 years old, or should I say young? We are still a fledgling country. Lots of activities happening all over the city and province today. Might pop by the Halifax Public Gardens this afternoon to listen to a concert of 40's and 50's music. That bandstand could tell some stories I am sure.

Unacke House

A quickly purchased picnic. Chicken, brie & cranberry sandwiches, chocolate, clementines, interesting drinks and some "Argentinian Flame Grilled Steak" potato chips (really!). A wonderful location beside Martha Lake on the Uniacke Estate, makes for a great lunch. There are lots of gorgeous trails here and they are open year round.

After eating, we went for a tour through the house itself. One of my FAVOURITE places to visit. Built by Richard Uniacke in 1813. He was originally from Ireland and became the Attorney General of Nova Scotia. A big giant of a man at over 6 feet, he was considered to be a warm and likable person with progressive ideas.

He married Martha Bonner Delesdernier in May of 1775, the daughter of his employer, when she was only 12 years old!! She had her first child at age 14 and continued to have ten more! Four daughters and seven strapping sons. They lived in a large home on Argyle Street.
Sadly, Martha died after a long illness, on a cold February day, aged only 40. She and Richard did have a very happy marriage and he was devoted to her, remarrying five years after her death. It is said that he always spent the day of the anniversary of her death in quiet contemplation. Alas, Martha never got to live in this house:( She probably picnicked here with him, and maybe they had a small cottage to overnight in before it was constructed.

Loved this wee painting. Really exquisite. The house is full of the original furnishings and linens and dinner settings. The estate was left to his fourth son, a Minister who died without children in 1825 and then it passed on to other family members, the last of which was an old bachelor who left the entire house and contents to the Nova Scotia Government. ( thank-you!)

There were children and parties and good times in this house. Every room has at least two large windows letting the light flood in. There are also six large wood stoves and a giant one in the front hall. At the time they were very modern, just invented and visitors were curious to see them, most houses just had large fireplaces. They kept his home very warm and probably prevented it from burning down, a fate that many estates succumbed to.

The front hall was lit with whale oil lamps. A very expensive oil, but it burned brightly, slowly and had no soot. This is where the dancing was held and often dinner parties.

Richard's study and library and huge chair. Specially built for him. Here he read and considered the running of his estate, which comprised of hothouse, barns, dairy, ice house, billiards room, boat house, cattle, sheep, orchards, fields ... an idyllic retreat indeed.

The location of Uniacke House is halfway between Halifax and Windsor. Most of the gentry at the time had summer houses in Windsor but Richard, always one to buck the trend did not want to bother with an extra eight hours by carriage so built his home half way on the beautiful lake that reminded him of Ireland. He loved to watch the carriages travel back and forth to Halifax on the road in front of his estate and often had visitors popping by.
It really is a fantastic place to visit and I am sad that it is a place that not many people seem to visit any more. Sort of forgotten. There is also a wee tearoom downstairs. Great place to go for a hike and a day outside, even if you don't go inside the home. Only 40 minutes from Halifax.

illustrated

Just a bit of fun:) I have no idea if anyone might be interested in these but I am thinking of doing up a few different recipes as prints. I love illustrated recipes. This is available in my Etsy shop for $16. The image on Etsy is very low resolution, what you will get is closer to this image in sharpness. Maybe they would make good cards or postcards? I don't know, it is sort of off the wall. One of those crazy, spur of the moment things :)

monday showers

The rain is falling steadily outside my window this morning. That soft, really wet, soak everything kind of downpour. The Queen arrives today for a three day whirlwind tour. I think it is supposed to rain for the next few days. Ah well, nothing that a yellow sou'wester can't handle.

The picture above was taken at Uniacke House, a WONDERFUL somewhat forgotten, historic estate thirty minutes from Halifax. I will be posting about it soon. I've been visiting that place since I was a child.

Today I am making a plan. That is, I am planning on making a plan:)

Native Pride

Last night I went downtown to the Halifax Commons where a huge celebration of Aboriginal culture is taking place over the next few days. It is a Mawiomi-Powwow. I was tired after a busy day and was half thinking I wouldn't go BUT I am so glad I did!

The festival is Grand Chief Membertou 400 Last night Buffy Saint Marie gave a free concert. She's still a force to be reckoned with. There were lots of people out and about, it was a gorgeous evening with the setting sun as backdrop.

This was inside one of the teepees looking up to the sky.

Wonderful to see such beautiful costumes and pride in culture. I was enthralled. There were displays and talks and dancing and food sampling.

I chatted to these two guys for quite a while. The man on the right is Gary Knockwood from Indian Brook First Nation, N.S. He is also a member of the Mi'kmaq Grand Council which is considered to be the traditional (and original) government of the Mi'kmaw people and on the left, the chap is from Newfoundland.

I wish I had asked the man on the left his name..... he had one of the most extraordinary carved pieces of wood I've ever seen. It is a dancing stick, talking stick, prayer stick, medicine stick, holding special magic and meaning to the maker. It was made from one of the most difficult wood you can carve, full of knots and twists. A cluster of trees that grow together to support each other. (the symbolism starts with the choice of wood) You can see where an eagle feather has been inlaid into one of the knots. There were carved wolves heads, a sea turtle, native faces, it was topped with fish teeth, stylized hooks, had beads and tassels and a gorgeous eagle feather was tied to it.

Absolutely beautiful and very special.

Today there are dancing and drumming competitions, more music, lots to see and do and Mi’kmaq cuisine sampling, Mini venison burgers with blueberry preserve and crispy fried onions, Nova Scotia mussels steamed and drizzled with cider vinegar and nut oil, Wild mushroom caps stuffed with smoked salmon and mixed nuts. Concert by Shane Yellowbird tonight. Well worth a visit!

mmmm

Watched a story on the news this evening about this very useful site.
Fish and Chips Please Four pals have been visiting all the local fish and chip spots and rating them according to a list of criteria. So far, I agree with their ratings on the places I have sampled. There are a few I would like to try based on their recommendations. Putting the link on my sidebar for future reference:)

mini meditation

Need some space?
Stop for a second right now and become aware of your hands .
Look at them. Feel your back against the chair, how your spine is supporting you.
Breathe
........now carry on:)