Stanley Park

How lucky are we that we have such a magnificent park right off of Vancouver's downtown. On a sunny day, it is just heavenly. It was really windy this day though, so it was a bit chilly, but we found a sheltered spot and had a lovely Smokie slathered in fried onions for lunch. With mustard... lots of mustard.

IT'S COLD!!!!!!

OK, the Rhododendrons are blooming. Cherry blossoms are out in full force. The Magnolia's have already bloomed, and the flowers are starting to fall off the tree. So WHY oh WHY is it still so cold? Global warming my ass! Here is poor Henry looking at me like," WHEN can we go to the park?" It snowed on Friday. This is Vancouver. We LOVE to brag about how we have the best weather in Canada. It NEVER snows here! And if it does, it melts in a day. Well, that's still mostly true, but who was laughing this weekend? Ontario! They had a beautiful, warm spring weekend back East. I guess they deserve it though... they had a truly wicked winter. I was there twice in the last 6 months, so I experienced it first hand!

Oil Painting Class

I'm taking an oil painting class. I was so inspired after seeing all the galleries in Scottsdale, that I finally decided to bite the bullet and just do it! Yes, I've been to art school, but I only did 2 years and never really took a painting class. Go figure.
The first painting is after our first class. The second is the finished painting, done in our second class. We'll be doing flowers next week, I can't wait! I'm no Leonardo da Vinci yet, but you have to start somewhere!

Creative frenzy!

I haven't posted any art for a loooooooong time! I've had a very creative couple of days. I haven't touched an art supply for probably over 3 months. No inspiration. I did start an oil painting class last Thursday though, so maybe doing that cleaned out the cobwebs in my head.

Maplewood Farm

I went to Maplewood Farm with my Mom and nephew "J" last week... There were about a dozen baby lambs that had just been born in the previous week. Too much cuteness! All J cared about was feeding the rabbits the carrots he brought. That was going fine until some little girls brought in some dandelions that they MUCH preferred. Who knew? He insisted on trying to force feed these poor bunnies, but they weren't having any of it.
I had to take the pics of the goats because I've always wanted a pet goat. I also used to want a pet seal and dolphin after watching Salty the Sealion and Flipper as a kid, but that's another story!

Spring is inching closer...

Is there anything more beautiful than a cherry blossom tree? You know Spring is almost upon us when the trees start to bud. We had one of our first warm, sunny days yesterday and it was glorious! Too bad I had a splitting headache that made me have to hide under the covers... I'm probably allergic to all the budding cherry blossom tress! They're worth it though, headache or not.

I am owned by a dog.

Shouldn't it be the other way around? I'm the one who bought him, but he turned the tables on me...Look at that face, he looks so innocent, but he knows how to manipulate me. I know what you're thinking, he's only a dog, he couldn't possibly know what he's doing... but trust me... he does!

It's gone baby gone...

I just happened to be walking down the pier yesterday, when they were in the last phase of tearing down this great old building. I know it's not much to look at, but it's part of what little heritage and history this area has left. At least they're keeping the other 3 buildings, I'd have had to raise hell if they tried to kill them all!

Winter in Phoenix...

is a heck of a lot nicer than winter in Vancouver. I came home to freezing rain, from sunny skies and 83 degree temps. This city as some fantastic art galleries, Mexican restaurants and there's a place called the Sugar Barrel that makes the BEST ice cream sundaes. Oh yum.

A leisurely Wednesday off...

I'm lucky. I get Wednesdays off now, and I LOVE it! It's my day to do whatever I want to... I can take the boy for a walk, make some art, or do this. Nothing. Sometimes that is my favourite thing to do. And Henry is always happy to oblige and keep me company. My dirty little secret is that I've been watching The Young and the Restless for 20 years. It used to be on at 5, so I could catch it when I got home from work. They changed it a few years ago, so now its on at 3, so I never, ever watch it anymore. Except on Wednesdays. Really, as with most soaps, you really only need to watch it once a week, and you'll still be in the loop. I'm not proud that I watch this... its just been a part of my life for so long, I'll probably never kick the habit. And that's OK! I'll just have to do more Sudoku puzzles to make up for it.

Family Hamper

Every year for the past 8 years, we've done a hamper for a needy family through North Shore Family Services. This is our hamper this year, and I was really happy with how it turned out! Henry liked it too.

Toronto has some great graffiti!

Henry sitting still, an unusual sight!

One of a Kind Show & Sale

As usual, we'll be doing the full 11 days at the show this year. we're BOOTH R32, so come by and see us if you're going to be there! The show runs from Nov. 22-Dec. 2.
It's a fantastic show, and I'm excited because we just found out the show will be coming to Vancouver next Christmas!

Windy Day

The Studio

I was experimenting at work a few weeks ago with my new camera... I took these with the macro feature, I think they turned out pretty well!
I'm afraid we have a mouse in the house, er, studio... I've found some "evidence" to suggest it, but still haven't seen the little rodent. I'd love to see what Henry would do if it ventured out during the day. Probably nothing, based on his actions on a recent walk with my mother in law. She said a garter snake crossed right over their path. Did this Australian Silky (bred to kill snakes) do anything? Nope! Didn't even notice it!

My studio...

I'm a jewellery designer. These (minus the monster pencil topper!) are some of my "tools of the trade". I got a new camera for my birthday, and have been having so much fun fooling around with it. These photos were taken with the macro feature. I just love the black and white... everything just looks, well, better in B+W, don't you think?

WOW! I haven't posted in a while.

It's been a busy summer, and I use the term summer loosely. The weather has been mostly crap, a couple of heat waves during the week, then clouds and drizzle on the weekend...

Here we were at the dog park a couple of weeks ago, on a nice sunny evening. This dog is MAD for this frisbee. He is almost embarassing when we first bring it out. The yipping and sqeaking noises that come out of him are quite bizarre, but once we throw it a few times, he gets tired and can't make the noise through the panting...

The Kootney's

This is a slideshow of our recent road trip through the Kootney's. Such a beautiful province we live in!

I...CAN'T...GET...THIS....SONG...

out of my head! And i LOVE it!
It's by a Swedish group called Peter Bjorn and John. Love it, love the video. Love love love! I've been whistling it all day!

But can you make me look like Gisele?

Last night I had a few of my friends and family over for a night of make up! One of my employee's is a make up artist, and this is something she does as a side... make up lessons. She also does weddings, graduations and special occasion make up.

I don't wear very much make up in general, but I've always wanted to have my make up done professionally. I told her to go crazy, do whatever she wanted... so she gave me an evening smoky eye look.

Check out her website...

www.http://www.patriciabanzigermakeupartist.com/

SAINTS Animal Rescue

This is an organization that gives me a renewed faith in human beings. SAINTS is an end-of-life sanctuary for senior and special needs animals that have nowhere else to go. How anyone could abandon a member of their family when they need them most is beyond me, but that's what a place like this is so needed!
Since they've opened in December of 2004, SAINTS has had over a hundred and fifty animals come in through it's doors. Forty-nine of them have been adopted into wonderful loving homes. Forty-two have passed away in loving care at SAINTS and the remaining 65 still call SAINTS their home.
I'm so glad there are pople like this in the world.
http://www.saintsrescue.ca/index.htm