Reflections In The Afternoon

A Cat's Life

2012-01-22T23:37:00.003-08:00

"The smallest feline is a masterpiece"

- Leonardo da Vinci

Winter has been out in full force here in Canada and with many hours spent inside our cat Whiskers has been a wonderful source of company, keeping us all in good spirits with his humorous behavior and general adorableness.

This past Fall as the leaves were changing colour he enjoyed a climb up my favourite Maple Tree and the view around the yard.

The staircase provides endless hours of enjoyment for Whiskers and he manages to get himself in a variety of interesting poses especially if he has an audience.

After a cold visit outside in the snow we had this past week there is nothing like a nice warm-up in front of the fireplace.

This is another Fall photo where Whiskers simply had to be involved in the raking of leaves in the backyard...or at the very least share his expertise!

And of course after a long day of playing, eating and sleeping...what to do...of course some more sleeping!

"Cats are connoisseurs of comfort."

-James Herriot

Eaton's Christmas

2011-11-26T03:58:00.001-08:00

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. "

- Laura Ingalls Wilder

Early Eaton's Catalogue

Timothy Eaton

Delivery Horse for Eaton's

As Christmas approaches I am filled with memories of the small island community where I grew up. Having to access two ferries to get to the nearest town greatly limited our shopping and so as Christmas approached we would wait with great anticipation for the Christmas catalogues to arrive in the mail. A family favorite was The Timothy Eaton's Department Store Christmas catalogue, which has a rich tradition here in Canada. My brother and I would search through the pages with dreams of what Santa Claus might leave us on Christmas morning and admire the fancy clothing and festive decorations.

We would be glued to our television sets on the West Coast when the Eaton's Santa Claus Parade was broadcast from out East.

When we travelled to the closest small town to shop it was a highlight of the day to stop and look at the window displays at Eaton's department store. The Windows below are from larger Eaton's stores out East.

Eaton's Department Store, Toronto, Canada, Christmas Time

In 1999, Eaton's Departure Store went bankrupt and, like many other Canadians, I was sad to see their departure. Their store had a long tradition of providing excellent service and quality merchandise and for those of us living in rural communities their catologues were a welcome arrival each season.

Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things.

~Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal

Learning A New Craft

2011-04-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

For the last few months I have taken an interest in making jewellery and am thoroughly enjoying it. I have much to learn about metal gauges, bead sizes, making presentable wire loops and an assortment of other items.

Trinity Brass charms and pendants have quickly become one of my favourite suppliers. Their quality is excellent and the designs are as varied as they are beautiful.

I confess that perusing the assortment of beading supplies available at Etsy has quickly become one of my favourite late evening activities. The hardest part is actually making a decision about what to order and picturing how it will work with other beads.

The Possible's slow fuse is lit
By the Imagination.
~Emily Dickinson

Gillian

Stellar Jays

2010-05-07T20:09:00.004-07:00

A family of Stellar Jays have nested in our backyard which has given us considerable entertainment this spring. These photographs are of the babies who are just learning to fly and are not as fearful as their parents. The closest we could get to an adult is the silhouette at the top of this post. The adults have more blue than the babies and are quite beautiful with there fancy head plume. Our cat "Whiskers" has been mesmerized by them and we have tried our best to keep him away as he is a real hunter, much to my distress!

Anyway it is going to be a perfect weekend to enjoy the birds while I garden and sew.

Gillian

Creative Fun Over the Weekend

2010-04-24T20:43:00.001-07:00

Trust that little voice in your head that says "Wouldn't it be interesting if..." And then do it.

~Duane Michals, "More Joy of Photography"

Well I just finished my first attempt at working with transfers of vintage images. I made a quilted wall hanging and for my first attempt I was pleased how it turned out. What I would really like to do is make a tote bag with a transfer image on it, but I have not found any fabric which I feel is strong enough yet. I am going to spend some time visiting other blogs and see what kinds of fabrics people are using. One of my goals is to use some of my husband's art work and than transfer the image, but he needs to work on a smaller painting for that.

It needs some ironing and now on to other projects...

Gillian

Creativity

2010-04-14T22:57:00.002-07:00

Trust that little voice in your head that says "Wouldn't it be interesting if..." And then do it.

~Duane Micheals, "More Joy of Photography"

I spent this past weekend searching the local fabric stores for materials to make some wall hangings. My plan is for them to be a combination of vintage prints(transferred onto black fabric)which are applied to quilted fabric background. I wanted to make a strong contrast using a black background with bright coloured prints. The inspiration came from memories of a beautiful Bed and Breakfast my husband I went to about 15 years ago in Port Townsend, Washington. They have wonderful Historic Homes Tours there which I would highly recommend if you love antiques.

I wish I could include some photos here, but what really made an impression with me was the bathroom which had a black and white checkered floor, antique white bathtub with claw feet and a sink which was inlaid into an old dresser with a marble counter top. There were beautiful stain glass windows with rose patterns in them and the colours were white, deep rose, black and white. There were huge vases filled with locally grown Cosmos and bars of homemade lavender soaps in dishes. The walls were a combination of white on top and then a wall paper which was black with some rose in it. The dramatic colours used in that room, the beautiful furniture and carefully chosen accessories made for a memorable combination.

So now it's on to step two...putting it all together. Hopefully it will turn out well and I will share the results here.

Gillian

Reflections on Easter Weekend

2010-04-04T22:35:00.007-07:00

"Our life is an apprenticeship to the truth that around every circle another can be drawn; that there is no end in nature, but every end is a beginning, and under every deep a lower deep opens"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Despite the storming weather at times here in BC, Canada we have enjoyed a nice Easter weekend.

Chocolate Bunny cake for my sons.

Spring flowering Heather always looks lovely and is such an easy care plant in the garden.

Miniature Daffodils...one of my favourites!

Camilia "Debbie"

Beautiful Azalea I received as a gift.

My cat "Whiskers" who always finds the most interesting positions to sleep in.

"Every end is a new beginning"

Proverbs

Life is full of beginnings and endings. Saying goodbye to my dear dog, "Bailey" has been a sad ending, but I know he is in a better place now no longer suffering. On the other hand, last week I found work which is a new beginning and a great relief during this recession. One thing ends and another begins. Being alive means we have to experience them all.

I am hoping now that I can get back into reading all the wonderful blogs out there which I have not been able to do lately due to other responsibilities. At any rate, Blessing to you all this Easter Weekend...I hope you all had a relaxing holiday.

Gillian

Tribute to a Dear Friend

2010-03-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. "

(Anatole France)

My heart is breaking today as I had my dearest dog, "Bailey" put down. No amount of medicine could assist him with his suffering. He kept coming over to stand beside me...like he wanted me to do something for him and I felt so bad that I could not provide him with any relief. Today I sat beside him and petted his head while the vet put him to sleep and then I clipped some pieces of his beautiful coat to keep in a special place to remember him. The last few months caring for him has taken a great deal of time, but every minute of it was worth it to me. When I was on bedrest for 4 months with a difficult pregnancy he was there for me...with never a complaint.

Of all the animals I have had in my life, Bailey was the one with whom I had the most special bond which others could see when we were together. He had such a kind, sweet spirit, demonstrated true unconditional love and dedication to our family. We have all shed many tears today and feel lost without his joyful being in our midst. It is going to take a long time to get used to life without him.

"If there is a heaven, it's certain our animals are to be there. Their lives become so interwoven with our own, it would take more than an archangel to detangle them."

(Pam Brown)

"Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, Filling an emptiness we don't even know we have."

(Thom Jones)

"... what we have enjoyed, we can never lose ... all that we love deeply becomes a part of us."

(Helen Keller)

Grief is so painfully real, regardless of its origin. The love of, and attachment to, an animal friend can equal that of human relationships. Likewise, the loss of an animal can be just as devastating.”

(Rev. Joel L. Morgan)

I hope Bailey is in Heaven now, feeling light and joyful, chaising tennis balls and frisbees, hearding sheep...running and jumping in the sun and bathed in God's pure love. He was my very best friend and a member of our family and I am really going to miss him.

Gillian

Reflections on Snow

2010-01-30T20:26:00.000-08:00

~ Out of the bosom of the Air, Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken, Over the woodlands brown and bare, Over the harvest-fields forsaken, Silent, and soft, and slow Descends the snow. ~

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Since childhood I have been captivated by snow and have been collecting a varied selection of prints of snow landscapes. Snow to me has a way of taking the plain and transforming it into something beautiful under its soft white cover. I love the look of a blizzard of delicate flakes falling like soft white feathers from the sky and the radiant beauty of frost cloaked snow glistening like diamonds on a sunny, wintry day. I am intrigued by the appearance of snow on mountain tops and the striking contrast between grey jagged rocks and the deep blue water of lakes. I even take pleasure in the look of snow in towns, where mud-covered winter streets are transformed into something bright as though a new coat of paint has been applied.

Despite being now in my late 40's I have never lost the exciting feeling that I had as a child when those first flakes start falling. I associate snow with mittens and scarves, thick woolen sweaters and socks, hot chocolate, sledding parties, children's laughter, red cheeks and noses, roaring fireplaces and wet puddles by the door.

When I was a child my mother would send me out to fill a large roasting pan with fresh clean snow and then she would make special taffy which was then slowly poured into the pan and the result was a firm, but not crisp candy that we devoured down with such pleasure. She called it Snow Taffy and how I wish I had that recipe now to share with my children. It is similar to the taffy made from maple syrup, but more delicious in my memory.

This is one of my favourite poems by Robert Frost:

Stopping By The Woods on A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Just yesterday I came across, one of the most beautiful blogs I have ever seen, All Things Beautiful by Loreta which was made all the more enjoyable for me by the many recent photographs taken in the snow.
At last count, this blog has 527 followers, and after spending considerable time savouring the incredible photographs and appealing visual displays I can completely understand why.

Gillian

Simple Abundance

2010-01-26T12:03:00.000-08:00

"Simple pleasures are always the last refuge of the complex"

- Oscar Wilde

It is cold and damp outside today, but I am warm in my home with my dear dog and cat by my side. I have read so many posts recently of bloggers feeling the lack of energy and enthusiasm that seems common this time of year and it seemed like the perfect time to revisit a collection of books by Sarah Ban Breathnach, the "Simple Abundance" series she wrote.

In her book, "Simple Abundance: A Day Book for Comfort and Joy" she makes suggestions for how to enjoy each month which she calls, Joyful Simplicities. Here are a few for January and February:

- Write out your aspirations of your heart as you begin on the Simple Abundance Path
- Browse through gardening catalogues
- Force some spring bulbs such as paper whites, hyacinths and tulips
- Read Elizabeth Barrett Browning and then delight in "everyday most quiet need"
- Rent Out of Africa from the video store
- Make a batch of old-fashioned fudge for Valentine's day

A few of my own ideas are as follows:

- Go to a craft store or dollar store and invest in some stationary supplies, paper doilies, paints, rubber stamps, etc. and make some home made Valentines for friends and family
- Start a book club. I have one with a group of friends. We alternate homes, bake some delicious treats, brew hot coffee and tea and discuss the chapters we have read...it is one of my favourite times
- Revisit some cherished treasures - perhaps so old letters, family heirlooms or old photographs

- Bake and sugar cookies for Valentines Day and decorate with icing and Cinnamon hearts
- Start a gratitude journal...it's a great way to increase our awareness of how much we have to be thankful for. I used to work on this with clients when I worked in social services and it was amazing the positive effect this simple exercise had on their attitude. Sarah Ban Breathnach makes some suggestions at her website on how to start on this process of being more grateful.

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures"

~Thornton Wilder

A Castle in the Sky

2010-01-21T10:22:00.004-08:00

Castle in the Sky

There’s a place in my mind
No one knows where it hides
And my fantasy is flying
It’s a castle in the sky

It’s a world of our past
Where the legend still lasts
And the king wears the crown
But the magic spell is law

Take your sword and your shield
There’s a battle on the field
You’re a knight and you’re right
So with dragons now you’ll fight

And my fancy is flying
It’s a castle in the sky
Or there’s nothing out there
These are castles in the air

Fairytales live in me
Fables coming from my memory
Fantasy is not a crime
Find your castle in the sky

You’ve got the key
Of the kingdom of the clouds
Open the door
Leaving back your doubts

You’ve got the power
To live another childhood
So ride the wind
That leads you to the moon 'cause..."

Lyrics and Song by Dj Satom

This week I made a visit to one of my favourite places, Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, BC, Canada. The Castle was built by Robert Dunsmuir who, unfortunatley, died before it's completion in 1890. His wife Joan lived in the Castle with her children for several years and and after her death it was a military hospital and a college before being made into a museum. Joan's childfen sold of most of the grounds which would have been lovely to see.

Below is the most fascinating painting in the castle. It is an optical illusion because depending on where you stand the direction of the pillars change. I have no idea how the painter created this illusion but it is amazing to see in person.

The detail and rich colour of the staircase which travels up four floors it quite beautiful.

The Breakfast Room...

The castle if full of intricately detailed stain glass. The window below is my personal favourite.

This was the doorway out of the library...another display of the fine craftmanship of the builders.

More of the library...

The Drawing room was a very long room and is where the daughters which entertain their company.

The ceiling in the drawing room was hand painted.

The formal Dining Room...

The stain glass in this tower was so beatiful.

This is the beautiful tile work in the highest tower in the castle.

The two photos below are from The Smoking Room. I felt this would be a lovely place to curl up with a good book and hot cup of tea and not be disturbed.

"Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them"

Henry David Thoreau

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

2010-01-14T10:20:00.016-08:00

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me”

C.S. Lewis

It is another blustery day here in Canada, and after giving my dear Sheltie, "Bailey" a bath (much to his dismay) it seems like the perfect time to do a little reading by a warm fire. Right now I am reading a book on C.S. Lewis about his writing and his imagination. He had extraordinary imagination which created one of my favourite series of children's books, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe. Just like the Penvensie children, I am housebound today with this cold, damp weather.

I really like the wardrobe from the movie with its intricate carving and deep rich colour.

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Mr. Tumnus is my favourite Narnian...how lovely to drop round his home for tea and toast.

The picture below is one of my favourite from the movie. I love all the snow and the way the lamp comes out of the ground as though it were a growing tree and sits magically in the middle of the forest.

Aslan: To the glistening eastern sea, I give you Queen Lucy the Valiant. To the great western woods, King Edmund the Just. To the radiant southern sun, Queen Susan the Gentle. And to the clear northern skies, I give you King Peter the Magnificent. Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia. May your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the heavens.

Racheal Badeau

2010-01-07T19:09:00.002-08:00

I received this special Christmas tree ornament from a friend and wanted to share it with you. It was created by a very talented American artist Racheal Badeau.

I went searching for more or Rachael's work and found she has an Etsy Shop and a website Moosup Valley Designs.
Rachael makes a variety of items including prints, clocks, jewellery and wall plaques.

I think her work is quite beautiful with its detail and yet there is also a somewhat rustic look to it which is very appealing. When I look at her pieces it makes me think of one my favourite artist's Tasha Tudor and the kind of items that you might have found around her home. This is definitely an artist whose work I hope to own more of.

Gillian

Early Morning Inspiration

2010-01-05T11:29:00.012-08:00

Painting by Emma Malfory

"An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day."

-Henry David Thoreau

“Like dreams, small creeks grow into mighty rivers.”
- author unknown

"The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Some inspirational thoughts for the New Year.

Gillian

Reflections From a Canadian Christmas

2010-01-01T15:29:00.017-08:00

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."

~ Benjamin Franklin

New Years day seems a natural time to reflect upon the last year and especially the glorious Christmas I have enjoyed with my family. I am always a little sad to have the season over with, but alas, I think we would all start to get tired and put on too much weight from all the delicious meals and treats. At any rate, here are a few photos from the season to share. Below are two stockings filled with small gifts and treats from Saint Nicholas.

We also cut down a fresh tree every year and we all agreed that this year's tree was the widest we have ever had.

Below is a Christmas centerpiece I made this year. I also made some quilted gifts for friends. I enjoyed quilting again and hope to do some more in this coming year.

My old dog Bailey (a sheltie) still enjoys getting out to the snow.

I love this neigbour's tree and candy cane drive way

One evening I sat making paper snowflakes by candle light with one of my sons.

I found this red mailbox at a thrift shop and brought it home, filling it with miniature gifts and envelopes. It reminds of the Christmas cards when I was a child. Often they were of mailboxes with Christmas parcels and letters leaning out of them.I know for me Christmas if often a time I reminice over my childhood.

"Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!"

~ William Arthur Ward.

Victorian Christmas Cards

2009-12-17T18:44:00.007-08:00

Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wand'ring,
So fair to be seen.

Chorus

Love and joy come to you,
And to your wassail too,
And God bless you and send you a happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.

I love Victoria Christmas Cards and here are a few of my favourites:

I hope you enjoyed looking at them as much as I did.

Gillian

Images From A Canadian Thanksgiving

2009-10-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Attending the Pumpkins Festival with my children...

Enjoying the beauty of the Fall colours...

Baking sugar cookies....

Decorating...

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

~Thornton Wilder

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast for 12 family members yesterday complete with roasted turkey, freshly cooked cranberry sauce, and of course homemade pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Today, which is a statutory holiday here in Canada, we are enjoying a relaxing day at home by the fire (as the weather has turned quite cold. I hope you all enjoyed a nice weekend and for those of you in the United States, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving in November!

Gillian

Amazing Grace

2009-10-08T19:31:00.008-07:00

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent”

Victor Hugo

A friend sent me this link of IL Divo singing "Amazing Grace". Their rendition is so beautifully done that I had to share it. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did.

Gillian

Wayne Anderson Illustrator

2009-10-03T11:30:00.001-07:00

"The imagination is a powerful tool. An artist can use it to show others the world as he sees it and to bring others into his dream of what the world could be"

David R. Becker

The quote above makes me think with appreciation of all the gifted children's book illustrators who can take a child and make them dream of new possibilities in their life. With the cultivation of imagination, problems can be solved and goals can be made for the future.

I recently came across the work of Wayne Anderson while looking for new Children's books. I really admire his distinctive, detailed style which makes me think of Hobbits, fairies and other forest dwelling creatures.

I love the contrast the black background gives the illustration above.

This looks like a wonderful christmas book and one I think I will purchase.

I really love the picture above, especially the teeny tiny eyes peeping out at the very top!

You see things; and you say, "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"

George Bernard Shaw

I hope to purchase a book with some of Wayne Anderson's wonderful illustrations soon.

Gillian

The Gardener's Morning

2009-09-19T19:29:00.004-07:00

A poem that reflects my feelings precisely!

Gillian

The Gardener's Morning

The robin's song at daybreak
Is a clarion call to me.Get up and get out in the garden,
For the morning hours flee.

I cannot resist the summons,
What earnest gardener could?
For the golden hours of morning
Get into the gardener's blood.

The magic spell is upon me,
I'm glad that I did not wait;
For life's at its best in the morning,
As you pass through the garden gate.

- Howard Dolf

My husband and I admired this plant in someones garden and were given a cutting over 10 years ago. Today this "Rose of Sharon" is one of my favourites in our garden.

September

2009-09-11T09:41:00.008-07:00

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fears,our presence automatically liberates others."

-- Nelson Mandela

I came across the quote above by Nelson Mandela and thought it was quite meaningful and worth sharing.I have been so busy keeping my sons occupied over the summer that I have not been able to blog and spend time reading the other blogs I so enjoy. At any rate, the sun is shining here after several dark, rainy days and it's warmth feels good physically and mentally.

Below are some photos from my garden which is alive with birds, bees and flowers basking in the sun today - my earthly piece of Eden.

I am an animal lover and consider my pets an important part of my family. This is my dear dog Bailey who is now turning 11 years old and feeling his age. When I was on bed rest 10 years ago during my twin pregnancy, Bailey kept me such wonderful company and out of that time we developed a very close bond. Now it is my turn to take care of him and I do so with gratitude for all the happiness he brings to my life. Anyone who owns a dog knows about unconditional love because dogs are the masters of giving it.

Bailey is a "Blue Merle" Sheltie with a gentle personality and warmth that endears hims to all whom meet him.

Gillian

Pacific Coast Paradise

2009-07-31T00:02:00.006-07:00

“His house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking, best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.”

J.R. Tolkien

I had the good fortune this past week of visiting Filberg Lodge and Heritage Park in Comox, BC. The grounds and Lodge were donated to Comox by Bob and Florence Filberg who bought the property, originally as a summer house, but soon fell in love with it and decided to make it their full-time residence. Through years of hard work the Filberg's created a beautiful home and grounds and here are a few photographs to give you a glimpse of this island paradise.

You enter the garden below at the estate and in the middle is a lovely grape arbour which leads you to the walkway down to the family home. As we walked through the arbour hundreds of tiny green grapes hung overhead waiting to mature in the sun.

Unfortunately, this picture did not turn out as planned, but after leaving the arbour you can head off to another garden on your right or go straight ahead and walk down to where the family home is located on the waterfront.

These steps lead to the back of the home just off the road that winds around and ends up in the front of house. Everywhere there was beautiful stone work and dazzling flower beds.

The shingled building ahead is where you can purchase afternoon tea and enjoy the seaside view.

This is the outside of the family home facing the waterfront.

This is the living room which my pictures do no do justice to. The timber in the walls is "Pacific Yew" a wood I had not heard of before this visit. The mantlepiece of the fireplace is full of knots and has a rugged riply appearance. They went to great efforts to get this affect by leaving the wood in tide pool for 6 months.

This table in the living room had these wonderfully detailed tiles inlaid into it.

The Master Bedroom

The Dining Room

Off the Dining Room is where the family ate their breakfast. On the right wall was a little sliding door (difficult to make out in this photo) so meals could be passed through from the kitchen.

The main staircase to the second floor with steps made of railway ties and the post is a tree and one of it's branches was left to make the railing. The carpenter who built this home was a true craftsman!

A second floor bedroom with a fantastic ocean view and such a lovely window.

A few more shots of the beautiful garden.

I would love to read more on the Filberg Family and learn about their transformation of this property where so many items have a story. It is definately a place I plan to visit again!

Gillian

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it"

George Moore

A Burst of Spring Colours

2009-06-08T21:22:00.009-07:00

Take thy plastic spade,
It is thy pencil; take thy seeds, thy plants,
They are thy colours.

~William Mason, The English Garden, 1782

My garden is bursting with brilliant colours at the moment. June gardens are special because the lawns are still that crisp green and there is that freshness in the air that disappears as the summer progresses. I am enjoying every moment of it and still planting bedding plants I started from seeds, weeding, watering and all those other wonderful tasks that make gardening so special.

Beautiful peonies with their large blooms...

"Mary Rose" which is a personal favourite....

"Asoa" clematis which is not as radiant as usual this year due to a very long, cold winter...

"Snowball Viburnum" which is such an easy plant to care for and makes a lovely contrast in the garden with the other colours...

The beautiful small buds of an ornamental crab apple tree...

The soft pinks of a rhododendron...
.

The "Granny Savoie" rose named after my grandmother...

Weiglea profuse in red...

The open blossoms of the ornamental crab apple...a perfect and delicate colour combination...

Every day in an adventure when you garden. What will be in bloom tomorrow? What suprise awaits you? As the seasons progress and change so too does my garden. I hope you are enjoying your garden as well.:)

Gillian

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"

The Healing Touch of Nature

2009-05-22T00:24:00.001-07:00

Thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.

~e.e. cummings

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

~John Muir

Yesterday, I took a few minutes to sit out on my back deck and enjoy a cup of Earl Grey tea in warm morning sun. As I quietly sat there, I enjoyed the gentle breeze moving my neighbours wind chimes, the chatter of birds in their early morning banter, felt the warm sun on my face lulling me into a place of relaxation which has been far to absent lately, and I was reminded of the healing power of nature in my life.

Through challenging times I have often found myself seeking solace in gardens. Even as a young child, there was always something about nature which has brought an inner peace, slows my mind and brings fresh perpective to situations where needed. If food is the fuel of our body, then I believe that nature is the fuel of our minds which we need to find inner peace and clarity.

Nature is my medicine.

~Sara Moss-Wolfe

I hope that as the weekend approaches, fellow bloggers, that you too can find some time to connect back with nature whether it be in the countryside, a park, your backyard or even in the pots and containers on your deck. Taking this time to slow down will be well worth it. Enjoy your weekend!

Gillian

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.

~John Muir

The Sounds of a Spring Garden

2009-05-01T12:13:00.004-07:00

Spring would not be spring without bird songs. Francis M. Chapman

I love this Victorian Print by Richard Dole, entitled, "Teaching Birds to Sing". The elf in the picture is giving the attending birds their singing instructions.

The birds in my garden are alive with chatter the last two weeks and I am enjoying every moment of it. They seem to have a whole community out there and are very talkative and busy collecting materials for nests. My favourites are the Robins who seem to quite round this year!

Gillian

Recycling Vintage Treasures

2009-04-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

“See things as you would have them be instead of as they are.”

Robert Collier

Camelia's have short stems and I never seem to have a vase that really works well.

On one of my thrift store adventures lately this sugar bowl caught my eye with its beautiful design. It was very inexpensive as the lid was missing and I thought it might just make the perfect vase for my Camelia, "Debbie" with it's wide brim and short depth.

“Creativity is not the finding of a thing, but the making something out of it after it is found”

James Russell Lowell

I was pleased with how well it worked out and had more fun trying it out with these pretty gift bags as background accents.

Gillian

Mark Twain

2009-04-18T12:01:00.003-07:00

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

I have been frequenting the thrift shops lately and I found this old 1946 edition of the American classic, "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. The outside is a little weathered, but the inside is in good condition with wonderful black and white drawings and vintage illustrations.

American Literature was one of my favourite courses at University and so I have studied some of Mark Twain's (Samuel Clemens) writing. What stands out to me is his almost larger than life presence, lack of pretense and gift for using humour to tackle difficult issues. He wrote using the vernacular of the communities his stories took place in which resulted in his books being banned from some schools for several years. His honest and outspoken approach about how things really were for Afro-Americans in Mississippi has not always been appreciated. Yet, Twain was strong advocate for rights of many groups including Afro-Americans and women and became increasingly outspoken in later years about the injustices he saw around him.

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest"

Mark Twain

Mark Twain, was above all, an extremely talented story teller who did extensive lecturing and was able to entertain people just as well in person as he was through pages of his literary works like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

"Now he found out a new thing--namely, that to promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing."

From The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Mark Twain worked for several years as a steam boat pilot on the Mississippi River which was a high paying job at the time requiring a great deal of skill. He loved to frequent pubs and play billiards and his writing depicts his wide range of experiences.

The picture above is of Mark Twain's wife Olivia Landon Clemens whom he loved dearly. He took her death very hard. " Marriage--yes, it is the supreme felicity of life. I concede it. And it is also the supreme tragedy of life. The deeper the love the surer the tragedy. And the more disconsolately when it comes." - Letter from Mark Twain to Father Fitz-Simon.

I find there is something pleasurable about leafing through the pages of an old book and wondering about the other readers who have enjoyed it's pages...especially children. Many children and adults alike have enjoyed the wonderful stories written by Mark Twain, one of America's greatest writers.

Gillian

Easter Activities

2009-04-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

I have taken to going to thrift shops lately and have found some vintage items that I may put in an Etsy Shop if I can part with them. Below is this wonderful "Mrs. Rabbit" who is quite charming with her basket.

I could not resist these two eggs cups. When I had finished boiling eggs to colour for Easter I put two into the cups...all they need now is faces coloured on.

Easter decorating with gifts I have received over the years. I especially love this miniature rabbit my husband gave me as he is very floppy!

I always enjoying colouring Easter eggs with my young sons!

This is an Easter gift I made for my mother who lives in a nursing home.

Gillian

Easter Memories

2009-04-06T18:30:00.002-07:00

For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.

~Alice Freeman Palmer

I came across these vintage Easter cards today and thought I would share them. I particularly like the one with the juggling frog which is amusing and reminds me of what Easter was like when I was a child. Of course there was the fun of colouring Easter Eggs and then the excitement of the finding what the Easter Bunny had left in my basket, but I also remember going to our small rural church which would be filled with vases of Daffodils and Tulips and perhaps some Pussy Willows too! Afterwards there would be a gathering of relatives for tea and delicious treats at my Aunts while the children would play games such as Hide and Seek. For a young child it seemed like a special time.

Well pleaseth me the sweet time of Easter
That maketh the leaf and the flower come out.

~Bertran de Born

Gillian

Hatley Castle

2009-04-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

Henry David Thoreau

I recently visited the grounds Hatley Castle in Victoria, BC, Canada which is now part of of Royal Roads University. My pictures do not do the castle justice as winter has not completely passed and the gardens are only coming out in buds now. The Castle was the home of James Dunsmuir, the former Premier and Lieutenant Governor of BC who inherited a vast family fortune.

The Japanese garden, one of several at the Castle.

Below is the garden for playing croquet in.

These statue in the garden was really beautiful and must be more lovely when the garden is in bloom.

Like many castles, they even say the castle is haunted like this article in the Vancovuer Sun Discusses: "Haunted Castle Rocks Royal Roads University"

Good architecture is like a piece of beautifully composed music crystallized in space that elevates our spirits beyond the limitation of time.

- Tao Ho

I hope to make it back to Hatley Castle to visit the gardens when they are in bloom and to go on one of the tours of the inside which is supposed to be quite beautiful. Hatley Castle is now a popular site for weddings and it easy to understand why.

Gillian

Noelle

2009-03-09T23:50:00.001-07:00

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. "

~ Lewis B. Smedes

I saw this movie, Noelle, several times at the video store and felt compelled to
rent it, but for some reason kept putting off doing so until last week. It is wonderfully written story by David Wall, who also plays the lead character, Father Johnathan Keene. Father Keene is cold, bureaucratic and uncaring and appears to have no difficulty with his job which is to close down churches which are no longer financially viable. In the movie he is sent to close down a small church on Cape Cod where the priest is known to him from seminary school. What seemed like a routine closure for Father Keene, ends up being a turning point in his life and others.

Without giving away the movie I will say that I founded it very moving and was impressed with the way it dealt with topics like shame and guilt which we so often avoid looking at. David Wall's wife is in the movie as is his daughter. David Wall and his wife sold their home on Cape Cod to finance the making of this movie. The acting is really well done, and they also put some humour into the movie which helps lighten up the serious issues it addresses.

Brennan Wall

Kerry Wall and David Wall

The music score in the movie is quite beautiful. I was hoping they sold a sound track, but have not been able to find one.

We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.

-- Dorothy Day

A movie worth seeing,

Gillian

Hope

2009-02-25T21:54:00.002-08:00

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul.
And sings the tune
Without the words,
and never stops at all.

- Emily Dickensen

I came across this beautiful YouTube video on Hope and had pass it on...we all need to pass on hope.

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Reflections on Rabbits

2009-02-02T11:15:00.005-08:00

"Feeding The Rabbits" by Frederick Morgan

Feeding the Rabbits is one of the prints I have in my home. I have always been very fond of rabbits (and hares) and had two as pets when I was a child growing up in the countryside. I am not sure exactly what it is about rabbits that makes me love them so much. They are of course quite beautiful, have fur like silk, have an endearing look that makes you want to hug them and they scamper about in such a gentle manner. They seem to have such a peaceful, relaxing quality to them which is a comfort to be around. Whatever the reason, here are a few of my favourite books and paintings featuring these wonderful creatures.

Pooh Bear stretched out a paw, and Rabbit pulled and pulled and pulled....

"0w!" cried Pooh. "You're hurting!"

"The fact is," said Rabbit, "you're stuck."

"It all comes," said Pooh crossly, "of not having front doors big enough."

"It all comes," said Rabbit sternly, "of eating too much. I thought at the time," said Rabbit, "only I didn't like to say anything," said Rabbit, "that one of us was eating too much," said Rabbit, "and I knew it wasn't me," he said.

I am a huge fan of illustrator Susan Wheeler and a line she produces called Holly Pond Hill which features rabbits. I frequently buy her cards, like the one above, and I also own one of her lovely books full of Easter prayers.

"Now, my dears,' said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, 'you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor."

Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

"Polar Hare" by John Audobon

"Feeding Time" by Alfred Barber

"Winter Blues" by Laurie Snow Hein

"The General" by Kay McDonagh

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"Alice and The White Rabbit" by John Tenniel

"Wild Rabbits II"

"Rabbits in Autumn" by Samuel Carter

"When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you've become real."

Rocking Horse, The Velveteen Rabbit

There is an area of wild rabbit dens not far from my home which my sons and I frequently drive by on our way home from school. We always take great delight in slowing down to see how many of the rabbits are out feeding on any given day. Small moments can bring great joy to a day!

Gillian

Role Model: Beatrix Potter

2009-01-17T12:14:00.011-08:00

"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverge in a wood, and I
Took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference"

— Robert Frost

I have just enjoyed watching "Miss Potter" again which is a favourite movie and makes me think of my favourite poem "The Road Less Travelled" by Robert Frost. I have such admiration for Beatrix Potter and her artisic and literary talents, but just as much for her courage to choose a path that was right for her and against the expectations for a woman of her time. It is easy to forget just how challenging it must have been for her to pursue her dreams and be met with resistance at almost every step. Yet, bravely she endured and I hope she felt satisfaction in the life she created for herself.

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away"

— Henry David Thoreau

She had a career and earned her own income, she chose to marry for love rather that status and station and she was a steward of the land, not soley motivated by making a profit. These, as well as her legacy of wonderful books, whose magical pages made my childhood more enjoyable, are why I admire her so much.

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us" ~St. Augustine

What would the world be like without people like Beatrix who chose a different path challenging the excepted thinking of her time and strove to remove limitations it created. May we all learn to celebrate our differences and realize the beauty and interest they bring to our world.

Gillian

Memories of Old and Dreams of New Beginnings

2009-01-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Another year has passed and must be put to bed like a sleepy child, but will not be forgotten. It's memories remain for me and my family - especially those from a lovely, although very "snowy", Christmas in Canada.

"Whisker enjoys the snow"

Dear old friend, "Bailey"

"Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past."

~Henry Ward Beecher

So may we all start 2009 with a fresh journal...waiting inpatiently to written upon. My fellow bloggers may this year bring you happy memories, wonderful opportunities and inner peace and love!

God bless you all,

Gillian

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T23:52:00.007-08:00

"Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts"

~Janice Maeditere

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Merry Christmas to all my fellow bloggers who have made my venture into this new medium a most enjoyable one. I wish you all a wonderful "Merry Christmas" and may the next year be filled with good health, love and happiness for you!

May God Bless You All!

Gillian

Curtis Publishing

2008-12-22T23:50:00.001-08:00

I came across this wonderful archive of vintage magazine covers from Country Gentlemen and The Saturday Evening Post at Curtis Publishing. I especially enjoyed looking through the December issues and reflecting on how Christmas was celebrated in days gone by.

Christmas is a time we cherish being with family and friends, but it is also a time when we enjoy reminiscing about Christmas in the past. A simple Christmas tree ornament or song on the radio can quickly take us back to another time, another Christmas and another memory. Every Christmas we have the opportunity to revisit these memories and reflect on the past before we welcome in another new year and move forward.

Gillian

Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us.

~Oscar Wilde, "The Importance of Being Earnest"

Christmas Books

2008-12-19T19:53:00.005-08:00

"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library"

~Jorge Luis Borges

I started collecting Christmas books when I was about 13 years old and my brother gave me the gift of an art book on Christmas by David Larkin. To this day it is one of my favourites.

Since then I have been adding to the collection with an assortment of books for children and adults, both fiction and nonfiction, and which I never tire of looking at each year.

Here are a few of the others in our family collection:

This book by Tolkien is one I would highly recommend. It is a collection of the letters Tolkien wrote each year to his sons, pretending he was Father Christmas and includes the wonderfully detailed drawings he did himself. After reading this book, you can only imagine what it must be like to have someone like Tolkien for a father...it gives a whole new dimension to bedtime stories!

This is one of my son's favourite stories which we have read dozens of times. I have never read a Jan Brett book that wasn't excellent and her unique style of illustration is so beautifully detailed that they all quickly become treasured keepsakes.

I received this book as a gift one year and I have since purchased Cleveland Amory's other books. If you love Christmas and cats and have a sense of humour then you will surely enjoy this highly entertaining book!

Every child should have the pleasure of owning "Mr Willowby's Christmas Tree", a true classic, and another favourite of my son's!

This interesting book, "Inventing Christmas" was a recent gift from my husband.

Last year I gave my husband this old edition of the Charles Dicken's Christmas Stories including the Christmas Carol which is a favourite of his and mine. It is not a first edition which would be out of my price range, but it has the pleasant feeling of a book cherished by someone from the past which adds to the enjoyment of reading from it.

This Christmas song book was another gift from by brother and it is full of vintage pictures and interesting information.

This lovely book gives you a glimpse of Christmas eve from the perspective of a cat. The beautiful illustrations leave me with appreciation for the warmth and comfort of home. It is one we enjoy reading every year!

"No book is really worth reading at that age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond"

~C. S. Lewis

Christmas, for me, is a lovely time read these treasured friends again!

Gillian

Getting the Christmas Tree

2008-12-14T23:51:00.003-08:00

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall"

~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

The smell of a freshly cut fir tree brings back so many pleasant memories for me especially of my rural upbringing. I have this somewhat foggy memory of being about five years old and my father and older brothers and sisters arriving back with a freshly cut fir tree from the woods adjacent to our home. Back then Christmas trees were cut done only a few days before Christmas and then my father made the same stand everyone else had which was four 2 by 4 pieces of wood nailed into the base.

I remember the excitement of their arrival and the bringing in of the Christmas tree into our large living room. From my perspective, as a young child, it seemed like a magical moment signaling that the Christmas season was truly here.

Times have changed and it is unlikely my sons will have the experience of going out into a real forest and cutting down a tree, but in it's place we have the family tradition of a yearly visit to a local Christmas tree farm. Despite the first snowfall of the year and colder than normal temperatures, yesterday we made our annual trip and had a fun time!

I started collecting Christmas Tree ornaments back when I was about thirteen years old and have quite a collection. Every year my sons receive a Christmas tree ornament in their stocking and every year I carefully put them away in boxes. When they go off as adults and have their own Christmas trees I will give them each a box with all their ornaments.

Each of these ornaments brings back special memories for me.

This is "Whiskers" about to pounce on a box of Christmas tree balls...a true Christmas kitten!

My sons have decided they want to make a star for the top of our tree so I will save a final photograph of my tree for another post. I hope that you all have as much fun getting and trimming your Christmas Tree. It's really all about making wonderful memories.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.

Gillian

A Sunday Autumn Walk

2008-10-27T02:44:00.004-07:00

Come and take an autumn walk with me...

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

~George Eliot

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

~George Cooper, "October's Party"

Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
Fluttering from the autumn tree.

Emily Bronte

There is nothing quite as beautiful or relaxing as a Sunday walk in autumn...enjoy this special season!

Gillian

The Great Debaters

2008-10-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

If you want to redefine your definition of courage then rent Denzel Washington's new movie, "The Great Debaters". The movie is based on the true story of Wiley College Debate Team (pictured above) from 1935 who met with great success despite the racial challenges of the time.

While watching this movie I was struck by what a contradictory time the characters lived in. Inside the walls of Wiley College the students are like those from any other college of the era. But outside safe havens like their all black school, they live in a completely different world of fear and subservience. Their daily frustration becomes the fuel for them each to push themselves to new levels of achievement.

Denzel Washington directs the movie and plays the college professor who instructs the debate team. His interesting character has multiple faces including the demanding, and at times, harsh instructor, the passionate civil rights activist and the soft and caring husband. Denzel Washington has recently donated $1000,000 to get the debate team operating again at Wiley College.

If your looking for a good drama and an inspiring story then I recommend watching The Great Debaters. It's not light and a few of the scenes are quite graphic but necessary I believe for undertanding the harsh reality of the time. But it's a movie about overcoming adversity, gathering courage and about hope and leaves a lasting impression with you.

Gillian

Thanksgiving: Reflecting on What Really Matters

2008-10-11T19:10:00.006-07:00

Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.-- Henry Van Dyke

This is the Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, a North American holiday that takes it origin from the early American Pilgrims who wanted to give thanks to God for the bountiful harvest they had been blessed with.

Today most of us living in urban centres are so far removed from how the food we eat is grown that Thanksgiving has been transformed into a holiday about celebrating family. This is one holiday which does not involve purschasing gifts which is nice because with so much commercial pressure to consume and an environment unable to sustain this much longer, giving thanks for what we have is taking on greater importance.

For me personally, Thanksgiving is about connecting with family and friends, making people feel welcome and loved and sharing a delicious home cooked meal together. It's also about reaching out to others less fortunate and inviting them into our homes. My parents always tried to invite someone over for holiday dinners that they knew was on their own and over the years we had many people over to our home, who for a variety of reasons found themselves alone. When possible my husband and I have tried to do the same appreciating that holidays can be a challenging time for many people.

Thanksgiving also forces me personally to stop. Stop running errands...stop doing work at home for my job...stop dealing with the endless array of little tasks that seem to consume my life each week. Spending a day in my kitchen allows me to get some needed time to myself away from the bustle of a busy schedule and gives me the opportunity to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving reminds me of a wonderful play, "Our Town" by Thorton Wilder. It takes place at the turn of the 20Th century, in the small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, U.S.A. and reveals the struggle of everyday people. It's a play that really makes you take stock of what is important and taking the time to be thankful for all the blessings in our lives.

Masterpiece Theatre has produced a wonderful version of this play with Paul Newman that I would highly recommend watching. Sadly, Paul Newman just passed away recently, a respected actor who was known for his humility and thankfulness despite enormous Hollywood success.

The picture above depicts the Pilgrims celebrating Thanksgiving

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

The weekend awaits and I have been too consumed with work lately and am really looking forward to a relaxed weekend with family. To anyone reading this blog I wish you a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by. I am thankful for all my fellow bloggers who create such interesting posts which I look forward to reading each week!

Gillian

Suggestions for a Halloween or Fall Book

2008-10-01T22:43:00.002-07:00

I love to collect beautiful books for all the seasons and holidays of the year. I could say that I do this for solely for my children, but the reality is that I love children's books because of their inviting illustrations and their ability to transport me to another place and time.

They are all grouped together by occasion throughout bookshelves in our home and I enjoy pulling them out when each season roles around again. Many of them are children's books and some of them are for adults and they look really great displayed on my old player piano.

At the moment I am looking for a new book to purchase for Halloween and/or Fall and I thought perhaps someone out in the blogging world might have a suggestion for me? What's your favourite Halloween or Fall book? Please leave a suggestion, comment or link back to your blog with your ideas. Many thanks!

Below are a couple of my favourites illustrated by Meghan Lloyd whose work I think is quite beautiful.

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White is one I own and one of my favourite books to read to my sons in the Fall.

The Little Old Lady Who was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams we just took out from the Library and I think it is a wonderful Halloween story with a humorous ending.

Gillian

A New Feline Member of The Family

2008-09-26T18:27:00.008-07:00

I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family, named by my young sons, "Whiskers". Whiskers arrived last Friday evening from our local SPCA where he had unfortunately acquired a cold. He was three months old and was very quiet throughout the weekend with his sneezing and general appearance getting steadily worse. Monday morning I took him to the Vet who immediately put him on a course of antibiotics.

Two doses of antibiotics later, the kitten we had picked because of his quiet nature was "reborn" as a rebellious, energetic fellow who has terrorized my poor aging Sheltie Bailey, but somehow still managed to wrangle his way into our hearts.

The first time I took him outside he proceeded to run abruptly up our large Maple Tree, of course not thinking down the road as to how he would get down. There he sat precariously perched, stuck up the tree well beyond our reach and now feeling quite sorry for himself and this unfortunate turn of events.

None of our ladders would reach him so my husband had to climb the tree and rescue "Whiskers (second name, "Trouble")which resulted in a few scratches as the terrified kitten was afraid to come down.

The pictures below give you an idea of Whiskers love of playing. So far, other trials this week have included him wrestling a whole role of paper towel to the floor and covering it in Bailey's drinking water and by the far the worst was breaking into the cricket cage and letting 25 crickets loose into our house in the middle of the night and covering our bathroom in gravel. My sons have two pet fire belly toads and to my distress they eat crickets (I wished they picked some nice vegetarians like gold fish).

Having said all these negative things about Whiskers I need to let you know that I would not have it any other way. I think every child should have the good fortune of experiencing the fun and mayhem a young kitten can bring to a home. Look at all the stories we have to tell and were only in week one!

There is no more intrepid explorer than a kitten. ~Jules Champfleury

A kitten is the most irresistible comedian in the world. Its wide-open eyes gleam with wonder and mirth. It darts madly at nothing at all, and then, as though suddenly checked in the pursuit, prances sideways on its hind legs with ridiculous agility and zeal. ~Agnes Repplier

Gillian

Owning a Bookstore

2008-09-20T11:38:00.001-07:00

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."

— Walt Disney

I really enjoy watching the movie, "Youv'e Got Mail" with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. The story is about a women who owns her owns her own private bookstore who falls in love through the internet with a rich man who owns a chain of bookstores. I won't say anymore in case you have not seen the movie and plan to, but what I really liked most was Meg Ryan's character and the charming little children's bookstore, "The Shop Around The Corner" which she owned. The movie is certainly no academy award winner, but it was entertaining and it was the idea of owning that shop that was the most appealing and has resulted in me watching it several times.

I think it would be such a pleasure to read books to children like in the scene below:

Or arranging window and table displays of books. I do not have a picture, but in the movie I loved the way the little book store was decorated for Christmas.

And what I think would be the most enjoyable would be choosing and ordering the the stock of books. This past week I had the pleasure of accompanying my sons to a Scholastic Book Sale at their school. While I noted that some parents found this a chore, my sons and I were mutually happy to be there and stayed for 45 minutes. Here is one of the great books we purchased:

Here are a few children's books I think would be wonderful displayed in a bookstore window:

I know I watch movies for different purposes. Sometimes I want to learn about something, an event perhaps and sometimes I just simply want to be entertained. In this particular case watching "You've Got Mail" is my way of briefly imagining what it would be like to own a bookstore. It is the opportunity to live a dream vicariously through the characters of the movie and little escape which we all need now and then.

Gillian

“Wear the old coat and buy the new book.”
- Austin Phelps

Memories of a Day in September

2008-09-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

"A life without love is like a year without summer"

Proverb

The Wedding Morning 1882 by John Henry Frederick Bacon

This past week my husband and I quietly celebrated our 18Th wedding anniversary with our children. Our life has become very busy between careers and family responsibilites and it is rare that I even have the time to reflect back on our wedding 18 years ago...a number I cannot believe I am actually saying. But as my children grow older they are curious about all these events and through sharing recollections of that day and photographs with them I have the opportunity to remember this special time in my life.

My husband and I share an interest in history and so when we saw pictures of this heritage church we immediately agreed upon it. We wanted a small ceremony with just immediate family and our closest friends and this little church, full of history and charm was the perfect place.

This still life photograph was taken back then as a keepsake. I carefully laid out some of the items from that time that were meaningful to me and my husband took the photograph. With the aid of a scanner here it is 18 years later as crisp and clear as it was 18 years ago.

I had my wedding dress made from a Victorian pattern I found and decided on a soft shade of ivory to further add to the old fashioned feel. The seamstress who made this dress out of her home did a beautiful job which I was very grateful for.

How quickly that day seemed to go by. The ceremony, the reception, and the cutting of the cake I had decorated with fresh flowers.

My wedding bouquet with peach and ivory flowers.

Then it was off on our honeymoon and this painting, which I have long admired, seems fitting as my husband does wonderfully detailed paintings and drawings, amongst his many talents.

The Painter's Honeymoon, 1864 Frederick Leighton

My husband gave me these ivory and pink roses this week because he thought they had a vintage look. I think he made a beautiful choice.

Wedding Congratulations, Old-Fashioned Bride

There are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.

- I Corinthians 13:13

Gillian

Memories of Tasha Tudor

2008-08-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

— Mauriel Strode

I am so pleased to participate in this tribute to Tasha Tudor today, on what would have been her 93rd birthday. She was a gifted illustrator and author and an individualist who chose to follow a unique path.

Tasha Tudor made a conscious decision to live a life that was true to her values and beliefs. Despite her artistic success, she pursued a modest lifestyle in a rural homestead without many of the modern conveniences that most of us consider essentials. She did so with grace and poise and no outward appearance that she was experiencing any hardship or personal deprivation. On the contrary, one of the qualities I appreciate most about Tasha Tudor was her enthusiastic approach to life and ability to thoroughly enjoy the simplest of moments.

The enthusiasm that Tash Tudor felt for life comes across in her art work. Her illustrations, which are rich in detail and warmth have the ability to transform the words of a book into an enchanting place. Several of her beautifully illustrated books are in my own personal library and I hope to add to more to my collection in the future. Among my favourites are the illustrations she did of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgsen Burnet a story which seems so fitting for Tasha, an avid Gardner, to illustrate.

It is during the Christmas season that I think of Tasha Tudor the most. In the articles, books and documentaries I have seen on Tasha, she seemed to have a special affinity for this holiday and was the master at transforming it into a magical time as though seen through the eyes of child. It is a tradition in my family to read the version of the Night Before Christmas that is adorned with Tasha's wonderful illustrations.

Tasha enjoyed cooking and had even published a cookbook. Every Christmas she would hand cut gingerbread cookies of animals to hang on her Christmas Tree.

I own this lovely book about Tasha's personal celebration of the Christmas Season.

I like to think of Tasha in her rural home with devoted Corgies at her feet, warm fire on the hearth, painting with such thoughtfulness and care. She truly lived the life that she painted about with such warmth and detail. Tasha Tudor's art work and books will live on in tribute to her unique vision and talent.

Gillian

They are holding a Fall Vintage Clothing & Textile Auction of items that Tasha collected and many of these items are vintage dresses. I encourage you to visit the website and look through these collection while they are still available to see.

A New Beginning

2008-08-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy looking at this photograph of my grandparents as a young couple venturing out in the world.

My grandfather came to Canada in his late teens from Alsace region of France. There was considerable uncertainty in the region at the time and Canada would have presented the promise of a more secure future. I have oftened wondered what it must have been like for him to leave his homeland at such a young age and never see his parents again.

My grandfather loved to travel and in the early years of his marriage, with my grandmother by his side, they travelled and worked in various regions in the United States. Eventually they returned to Canada where they were able to secure some modestly priced property in exchange for their willingness to endure the hardship of secluded island living.

I know very little about about my grandfather because he died of a heart attack when my mother was only 13 years old. I do know he was an avid reader and because of his heart condition he would retire to bed early in the evening and read books and The National Geographic Digest, which he always subscribed to despite a scarcity of money)and which was considered an extravagance by others in their small community.

My mother fondly remembers sitting on his lap when she was about seven years old, with another brother close in age, and her father telling them fascinating stories of what life was like back in France. The influence of his homeland left it's mark on his island property where the orchards of nut trees and grape vines are still producing today.

My grandmother was a very petite women who worked extremely hard while raising 11 children which is a considerable accomplishment. Somehow she managed amongst all these responsibilities to grow a large garden, operate a store for a period of time and help organize a lending library for books through the larger library in town.

My mother said my grandmother particularly enjoyed knitting what is known as Indian Sweaters. She would take the wool from the sheep and spin it into yarn and then carefully knit these beautifully patterned sweaters. My Uncles, who fished with my grandfather, liked these sweaters because as well as providing great warmth, should they accidentally fall in the water, the fiber was very light weight and they could get to safety more easily.

My grandmother was a devout Roman Catholic and in a box of little mementos she saved during her lifetime were several scripture cards. I have included a few as the art work on them is quite lovely.

I imagine my grandmother took great comfort in these cards and her faith as she lost her husband and three of her children early in her life.

Perhaps one day I will travel to France to visit my grandfathers homeland which would be a lovely pilgrimage to make and a wonderful education for my sons.

Gillian

A Special Gift For You

2008-08-22T19:17:00.058-07:00

How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!~George Elliston

I have received two awards this summer which I now have the pleasure of passing onto some other bloggers who have inspired me. First I would like to thank Barb, at Stamplicity for the "Brilliante Weblog" Award.

By accepting this award, I have agreed to:

1. Display logo and link to who gave it
2. Nominate at least 7 blogs
3. Add links to those 7 blogs
4. Leave the nominees a message that they received the award

So here are some seven wonderful blogs that I would like to bestow this award to:
The House of Edward
Acornmoon
This is My Patch
BygoneBeauty
Priscilla's Cottage
Miss Maddie's
Sea Cottage
and a new blog for me called Moonlight and Hares.

I also received an award from Louise at This is my Patch which I was very pleased to receive. Thank you Louise!

The Blogging Friends Forever Rules are:

1. Only five people allowed.
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
3. One has to be someone new, or recently new to your blog, or live in another part of the world.
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the 'Blogging Friends Forever' award.

So here are five dear blogging friends I wish to give this award to. Their blogs have become a source of inspiration, education and enjoyment for me...especially in those late evening hours when my children are off to bed:

The Dutches
Stamplicity
Earthly Paradise
JellyBeanAngel
and Corners of My Mind.
Thank you Louise for this award and your name should be on this list also!

I really appreicate all the interesting and kind people I have met through blogging!

Gillian

Taking Sleeping Lessons from Cats

2008-08-18T23:01:00.020-07:00

I never heard of a cat who suffered from insomnia.

- Joseph Wood Krutch

I purchased this beautiful card for a friend today at a wonderful card shop I have recently found. As a person who sometimes experiences bouts of insomia, perhaps I should quite reading articles in magazines on how to improve the situation and look no further then to our feline friends. After all, have you ever met a cat who had trouble sleeping? Cats spend two thirds of their life sleeping which is a good portion and if they are house pets they usually spend the rest of time eating, grooming and finding ways to interfere with what you are doing. Now if a cat wrote rules for sleeping they would go something like this:

Guidelines for Quality Sleep as Recommended by a Cat:

1. Never, ever, entertain the thought of sleeping on an empty stomache
2. Always take the best spot of the bed or sofa...but only if the spot in front of the fireplace is not available. If you don't have a fireplace our sympathies go out to you!
3. Owners laps are an excellent place to sleep - especially if they are engaged in eating
4. Don't let sounds disturb you while sleeping, unless of course it is the sound of tuna being opened and then run as fast as you can to the kitchen, remembering to put on your most solumn face and mournful meow for begging
5. Open textbooks or office paperwork make for a lovely place to nap and your owner will really appreciate your interest in what they are doing
6. Stretching and contorting into as many positions as possible make sleeping all the more pleasurable...no point in being self-conscious
7. Try to never sleep alone...the company of another cat or owner is absolutely essential.
8. If bored, feign disinterest by pretending you are napping, but keep a slim eye on possible opportuntities for food or play...remember not to hit your tail repeatedly on the floor as they will know you are really just annoyed!

Cats have truly mastered the art of getting a good nights (and days) sleep!

Most beds sleep up to six cats. Ten cats without the owner

- Stephen Baker

The card above is by American Artist, Charles Wysocki, who has several more wonderful cat paintings.

Gillian

The Garden...A Painting in Progress

2008-08-17T22:25:00.002-07:00

Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas.

- Elizabeth Murray

Gardens are like paintings. Oil paintings that are not quite complete, but in continual progress. Just when you think you have it exactly the way you like it, you change your mind, the weather changes, one plant withers, while another bursts into bud and bloom, one plant grows a foot higher changing the whole look and so it becomes a work in progress...,never ever complete, but one that is a pleasure to experience!

So start with a splash of orange perhaps...

add a little blue...

maybe some pink...

The possibilities are as endless as your imagination and the work of your hands...

and though the colour palate will change with the seasons...

and the painting will change slightly day by day...

It will still be your creation...

unfolding each and every day...

...your garden is the canvas to your imagination...your work of art.

Gillian

Celebrate Tasha Tudor Day

2008-08-14T23:52:00.003-07:00

I came across this beautiful idea for a tribute to Tasha Tudor on her birthday this year (August 28th). For more information please visit Storybook Woods. I look forward to joining in this celebration of a unique and inspiring artist.

Gillian

The Bear With The Biggest Heart

2008-08-13T23:14:00.001-07:00

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever"-- Winnie the Pooh

He's a lovable round bear, who is kind and helpful, but manages to get in a few quandaries along the way. How I appreciate author A.A. Milne for writing about Winnie the Pooh and his amusing adventures in the One hundred Acre Wood.

The picture below is of Milne and his only child, Christopher, who the character of Christopher Robin is based upon in the books.

Below are Christopher's toys which became some of the characters of the Winnie The Pooh Stories.

"Winnie the Pooh" and "The House at Pooh Corner" are two books that every child (and adult too!) should have the good fortune of reading. A cannot think of any books that have made me laugh so much. One of my personal favourites is the chapter where Eeyore is having a particularly glum day and with help of his dear friend Pooh he discovers the reason...he has misplaced his tail!

Poohs sets off to discuss the matter with Owl who is certain to know how to find Eeyore's tail.

Pooh and Owl step outside to look at a sign and the following conversation ensues:

So they went outside. And Pooh looked at the knocker and the notice below and he looked at the bell-rope and the notice below it, and the more he looked at the bell-rope, the more he felt that he had seen something like it, somewhere else, sometime before.

"Handsome bell-rope, isn't it?" said Owl.
Pooh nodded
"It reminds me of something," he said, "but I can't think what. Where did you get it?"
" I just came across it in the Forest. It was hanging over a bush, and I thought at first somebody lived there, so I rang it, and nothing happened, and then I rang it again very loudly, and it came off in my hand, and as nobody seemed to want it, I took it home and..."
"Owl," said Pooh solemnly, "you made a mistake. Somebody did want it."
"Who?"
"Eeyore. My dear friend Eeyore. He was - he was fond of it."
"Fond of it?"
Attached to it," said Winnie-the-Pooh sadly.

The story my son's loved most was when Pooh and Piglet set out to trap a "Heffalump". Pooh and Piglet set a trap by placing one of Pooh's honey pots in a deep hole to trap the Heffalump. Unfortunately, Pooh's unquenchable hunger for honey gets the better of him and goes back to eat "just a little" of the honey. But one mouthful leads to another... and before he can stop himself his head is stuck inside the pot and he sets about thrashing in the hole attempting to remove it. Piglet sees Pooh in the hole with the stuck pot on his head and is terrified they have actually caught a Heffalump:

"Help, help!" cried Piglet, "a Heffalump, a horrible Heffalump!" and he scampered off as hard as he could still crying out, "Help, help, a Herrible Hoffalump! Hoff, Hoff, a Hellible Horralump! Hoff, Hoff a Hellible Horralump! Holl, Holl, a Hoffable Hellerump!" And he didn't stop crying and scampering until he got to Christopher Robin's House.

"Whatever's the matter, Piglet?" said Christopher Robin, who was just getting up.
"Heff," said Piglet, breathing so hard that he could hardly speak, "a Heff--a Heff--a Heffalump."

My one son would make me read the above excerpt over and over, laughing harder each time and then we would try to recite it...a very challenging tongue twister!

The books below were gift to my sons and from another Winnie the Pooh fan. Their warn appearance is a tribute to the hours of enjoyment they provided for the reader when he was a child. I certainly appreciate the gift to my sons and the pleasure they have brought to us all.

"My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places"-- Winnie the Pooh

Gillian

Warwick Goble

2008-08-09T20:09:00.015-07:00

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

~C.S. Lewis

It takes a special talent to produce illustrations which can make the pages of a fairy tale come alive for a child, but Victorian illustrator Warwick Goble was one artist who was gifted at doing so. He illustrated numerous children's books during his successful career including, Treasure Island, Beauty and The Beast and Cinderalla. Goble worked with water colours and the softness of his paintings produced a dream like quality, perfect suited for fairy tales.

I really wish I could have found out more about this talented artist whose illustrations have taken my imagination to so many wonderful places, but instead I would like to share some beautiful samples of his work.

"Goblins and Their Magic"

"Granonia and The Fox"

" Three Joyous Spirits Celebrating"

"Three Little Lambs"

"The Golden Ball"

"Dressing the Queen"

"Fairies at The Cradle"

"Dressing The Fairy"

"Deeper meaning resides in the fairy tales told me in my childhood than in any truth that is taught in life."

~Johann Christoph Friederich v. Schiller

A Celebration of September

2008-08-07T01:49:00.000-07:00

"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather
And autumn’s best of cheer."

- Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885

"Picking Apples a Farm Scene near Pryde's Bridge, Maine 1800"

I found this beautiful Giclee Print at art.com.

This is my late welcome to September! Unfortunately, my work has kept me far too busy lately and I have greatly missed this blogging world which I have come to enjoy so much.

I welcomed in September with a walk around my "Lake of Shining Waters" Anne of Green Gables) which was an enjoyable way to begin my favourite time of year.

I have become increasingly adept at deciphering the sounds of unseen creatures on my walks. There is the sudden crackling of twigs as a snake scurries off or the rat-a-tat-tat of a bird moving through the underbrush or my personal favourite, the "click, click, click" of a squirrel up a tree. I was very fortunate today, as a small brown squirrel ran across the path in front of me and then I stopped and we starred at each other, me on the path and he on a log for a minute. What a handsome fellow he was and as usual my mind wandered to Beatrix Potter and another of her delightful characters, Nutkin Squirrell.

But Nutkin was excessively impertinent in his manners. He bobbed up and down like a little red cherry, singing -
"Riddle me, riddle me, rot-tot-tote!
A little wee man in a red, red coat!
A staff in his hand, and a stone in his throat;
If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat."

Now this riddle is as old as the hills; Mr. Brown paid no attention whatever to Nutkin.
He shut his eyes obstinately and went to sleep.

This little brown squirrel reminds me of Nutkin as he had a lively curious look about him as he starred at me, but alas the voices of other walkers were heard and he dashed away as lightly as a feather in the wind. I hope to see him again.

I bundled my young sons off to school this week with their newly purchased notebooks, pencils and felt pens. Some parents are happy to see their children head back, but I always feel a little sad as is just seems like yesterday they were beginning kindergarten. For them it is the start of a new year and the wide range of new possibilities that I hope they enjoy!

At home, I am looking forward to the beautiful fall colours and choosing some new spring bulbs to plant in the garden. Enjoying Fall issues of magazines like Country Home, baking with delicious fall apples, bright orange pumpkins, bringing out my warm sweaters and clothing in rich fall hues, the sound of crickets in the the golden fields, enjoying hot tea on crisp Fall afternoons and all the other pleasures of this most wonderful season.

Gillian

Heritage Park Historical Village

2008-08-06T23:02:00.018-07:00

A Wonderful Visit to the Past!

The highlight of my recent vacation for me was spending the day at the Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. My husband, sister and sons all agreed it was a great place to visit, where we spent a fun filled day learning and the past. Unfortunately our camera battery died half way through I am greatly disappointed that I cannot share with you all the interesting interiors of the many houses and businesses we visited in the afternoon.

Our morning began with a tour of the whole park on the steam train, with our conductor explaining details as we circled the large area and different sections. Next stop was a tour of the lake on a stern wheeler boat, the S.S. Moyie which was a really neat experience and weather was just beautiful.

Then we had one of the best meals of our vacation at the Wainright Hotel. The interior of the hotel was beautifully restored and the food was excellent!

Then we walked about the streets and looked inside a series of buildings and homes including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Station where my sons and I were put in jail for fun and a visit to the local hospital, where a quick peruse of the surgical equipment made us all appreciate modern medicine! Each home had been carefully prepared and looked like you could expect the family to arrive home at any time.

Everywhere we went there were staff and volunteers dressed in authentic period clothing. They were all extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the history of each building and really made the experience enjoyable. The gentleman at the local print shop even printed us the daily newspaper on the spot as we watched.

Groups of staff and volunteers were spread through out the park. You could watch them having sack races, putting on a humorous skit in front of the drugstore or just stopping to have lunch as in the picture below which reminds me so much of Anne of Green Gables(a favourite book and Canadian Mini-Series).

We actually would have needed to go back to the park for another day to visit all the buildings there was so much to see. If I lived in Calgary I would be glad to volunteer at this park as I can't imagine a more wonderful place to spend the day!

Gillian

Refections on Gardening

2008-08-02T23:05:00.037-07:00

Take thy plastic spade,
It is thy pencil; take thy seeds, thy plants,
They are thy colours.

~William Mason, The English Garden, 1782

(My father building our greenhouse, around 1950)

"Young Gardener" by Hugh Munro

Nothing relaxes and restores me like spending time in my garden. From a very young age I loved gardening and was encouraged to pursue this interest. Although my mother certainly had an extensive knowledge of different plant varieties, it was my father who I spent considerable time with engaged in this activity.

In our country vegetable garden my father had fenced off what would be considered a significant sized area, by city standards, and this was my private garden area. Most of if was filled with strawberries, a delicious and easy crop for a beginning gardener and what was left was my area for experimentation, where I planted various flower seeds and discovered my personal favourites. My father would stop by occasionally and offer some advice, but allowed me enormous freedom in my little plot which I very much appreciated.

("Mary Rose" by David Austen, fragrant and easy to care for)

My father would work away in the large family garden, which I would help in sometimes, and I would work in mine. Though neither of us were big conversationalists there was something very comforting about these times.

We had to travel of our small Island to the city to get supplies on Saturdays and I would often accompany my father for the trip. In the spring and summer we would often stop at a garden center on the way home for a few supplies. During these outings I was introduced to many favourite flowers, including Cosmos which I still love to this day. We always seemed to leave with a few small items to take home and put in the glass greenhouse my father had carefully built and which was a rarity in our community.

My father is no longer living and our family home has been sold, but the influences of this time are still strong in my life today. Each morning one of the first things I enjoy upon arising is looking out at the garden...perhaps this is something only another avid gardener can understand. Thoughts race through my mind. "How is the weather today" or "The lavender is in bloom" or "The roses need pruning". In summer I always have to step out on to my wooden back deck and often sit down to just enjoy a few minutes soaking it all in. The freshness of the early morning dew and sounds of a light wind or bees bring a wave of contentment over me which starts the day off in just the right way.

I have never been successful at using other forms of relaxation such as meditation which so many seem to find helpful. For me, it the connection with nature in my garden which restores me and brings back a peaceful equilibrium. And my own spiritual beliefs lead me to believe that the best place to find and connect with God is through nature and the peace and quiet of a garden. A garden is truly a restorative place.

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"

Gillian

Making Magic for Children: Maggie Kneen

2008-07-30T21:55:00.028-07:00

"The best dreams happen when you are awake" ~ Cherie Gilderbloom

I have such admiration for all artists, but especially those who illustrate books for children. The ability to make the words of a story come alive for an appreciative child is such a special gift. Through the purchase of books for my own children and many trips to my local library I always enjoyed the diversity of wonderful illustrators there are, each with their own particular style. One of my personal favourites is British Illustrator Maggie Kneen whose work reminds me very much of Valerie Greeley.

I have purchased three of Maggie Kneen's richly detailed books for my sons and another for a gift. My two son's favourite was "The Lonely Scrarecrow" which we read many, many times, always marvelling at the lovely drawings. How often my sons have traced their little fingers across the embossed pictures following this beautiful story by Tim Preston about how we can misjudge people based on their physical appearance. Maggie's illustrations and Tim Preston's words take a serious subject matter and create a magical story where children can grasp an important concept.

Maggie's books make wonderful gifts as they are printed on thick paper and the embossed illustrations are a treasured keepsake for any library. I purchased "Two by Two", the story of Noah's Ark for a recent shower gift, where the theme was starting a library for a new baby which is such a great idea.

I found Maggie's website this week where I was she has an interesting biography and wonderful portofio of her work.I did not realize she had illustrated so many books and especially Christmas books which I like to collect.

I look forward to seeing more of the inspiring work of Maggie Kneen.

Gillian

"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast"
~Lewis Carroll

Why Beatrix Potter Wrote About Animals

2008-07-26T21:10:00.030-07:00

Beatrix Potter

A highlight of my recent vacation was a visit to the Calgary Zoo with my young sons. As I reviewed some of the photographs I thought of one of may favourite Children's book authors Beatrix Potter and why she may have chose animals as the focal point of her enchanting stories. Animals do not have to speak our language to tell a story. Their eyes and behavior manage to convey considerable information especially to any animal lover with an active imagination. Beatrix Potter's examination of the natural world allowed her to produce engrossing animal stories through her wonderful character development and beautiful illustrations.

One excellent example is "The Tale of Samuel Whiskers". The story finds poor Tom kitten, who continually gets into mischief much to his poor mother's worry, being caught by a very large rat, Samuel Whiskers and his industrious wife. They steal the ingredients from the larder to make pastry and attempt to roll poor Tom into a "Roly Poly Pudding Pie".

But lucky for Tom the brave Scottie Dog, John Joiner is called upon and saves Tom from a tragic ending in the nick of time.

And so it was thoughts of Beatrix Potter's wonderful stories which have inspired me to share a few photos from the Calgary Zoo, and one wild animal picture, which each have so much potential for character development...if only Beatrix were still here to expand on each one.

Workers at the Zoo were trying to get this Porcupine into an animal carrier to take her to a different area of the Zoo. They had no trouble getting her in as she came right over ... perhaps to hear the latest news?

This black bear started out lying on his belly, but rolled over as he had a "terrible itch" and gave the appearance to us all that he was aware of and thoroughly enjoying our presence. Without a doubt he was the favourite part of my visit!

I cannot even remember what the name of this interesting looking creature, but I believe he is some type of exotic pig. I thought he looked quite sad, but shortly after I saw him playing with a large ball that was hung at the end of a rope.

My husband took this photograph along the roadside at Roger's Pass in British Columbia. There were several holes in this area and a family of Gophers was living there where we saw other members either peeking their heads out or staying close to holes further away. This particular fellow was making a very loud and continual clicking sound, warning his family members that it was not safe to come out. He appeared to take his job very seriously and I thought he was a noble looking fellow...perhaps a soldier!

This creature was by far the most comical looking to me. The hair on the top of his head was curly and I pictured him as being some type of judge, very serious about all that goes on! A dark sinister lawyer.

And finally this beautiful tiger chose to lie right beside the fence although he has a large area to choose sleeping spots in. He did not appear to be really tired, but seemed more bored then anything else...entertain me please if you don't mind!

The illustration above is from another Beatrix Potter favourite, "The Tailor of Gloucester". Hopefully you enjoy reading this post as much as Beatrix's dear mouse enjoyed reading her newspaper while resting from sewing.

Gillian

The Canadian Rockies

2008-07-24T00:58:00.014-07:00

The Village of Banff and Lake Louise are two places I really enjoyed visiting in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the province of Alberta. Banff National Park was the first National Park in Canada and was developed because of it's beauty and potential value in helping to promote the railway service. Below are two vintage posters from a series by Canadian Pacific Railway that are available at allposters.com.

The following photos are of Lake Louise, which is ranked as one of the most beautiful Lakes in North America and after seeing it in person I understand why. The water, is the most unusual colour of blue which my pictures do not adequately reflect. The lake is glacier fed, and the the silt from the glacier has resulted in the beautiful colour. It is very cold at Lake Louise and the lake can have ice of it for 10 months of the year.

For me there is something very special about Lake Louise that I cannot adequatley put into words. When you look out onto the lake, surrounded by the dark green mountains which frame the glacier in the distance it almost appears like you are looking at a painting.

The Chateau Lake Louise sits behind the lake and has beautiful grounds which were a pleasure to walk through with lovely landscaping and interesting birds.

The village of Banff is completely surrounded by the Rocky Mountains which add to the charm of this small town. It is very commercial, catering to the wealthy, but is still well worth seeing. As well as being a sking destination, the village also has the Banff School of the Arts and there are many beautiful little galleries located there.

The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is quite striking nestled in amongst the fir trees of the Rocky Mountains. In front of the hotel is a large bank with the Bow River falls below. I wanted to buy a print of the hotel in snow because it looked so beautiful, but they were very expensive. Instead I have included a picture I found at google images because it looks so lovely in the snow.

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon the verdant green
hills is the most perfect refreshment"

- Jane Austen

A Holiday Retreat

2008-07-11T17:30:00.002-07:00

I am off tomorrow on a holiday to Alberta with my family and hope to return with some nice photos.

Gillian

Garden Retreat

2008-07-07T23:08:00.010-07:00

In our busy modern world with rapid change and at times information overload it is important that we have a means to find some relaxation. For me, my garden, is my retreat where I go to rejuvenate from a busy life.

I take so much pleasure in a daily walk around my garden to see what new changes have taken place. A new blossom delicately unfolding, a glossy red ladybug on a green leaf or the scent of lavender in the breeze breaths peace into my world.

I have always thought that God or Mother Nature is the ulimate gardener. A simple rose bud opening is truly a masterpiece of art.

"Nothing is more the child of art than a garden."

-- Sir Walter Scott

Our culture tells us we must have matching coloured outfits and furniture, yet Nature's palette know no such boundaries and creates such beauty.

Take thy plastic spade,
It is thy pencil; take thy seeds, thy plants,
They are thy colours.

~William Mason, The English Garden, 1782\

I love to sit on my deck and just watch the Robins, that have made a home in my garden, go about their daily work in such a lively and elegant manner. A break for a cup of tea and a few pages from a favourite book are so much more enjoyable while sitting admist my summer garden.

I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day.
~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace

Tomorrow is another day and I look forward to the new surprises awaiting me in my garden.

Gillian

Emma

2008-07-06T00:58:00.011-07:00

“The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” – Leonard da Vinci

(Her first days with us)

"Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet." ~Colette

My thoughts today are on cats and their importance in my life and the life of many other cat lovers out there. My dear cat and beloved friend of 15 years had to be put down today due to declining health. 15 years ago I went to the local animal shelter and fell in love with a tiny little Calico kitten with the large eyes and scarcely audible meows, and that was barely old enough to be on her own.

From the beginning she slept with me on my bed and I have often thought that she viewed me as her mother. She had the most silkly fur and I had been told by the vet it was the kind of fur usually found on Angora rabbits. She was long and lean and graceful and of course had the usual idiosyncrocies that many cats do.

I had a seven foot palm tree which she took about eight months to completely chew down to the ground. Either she really liked the taste of it or greatly disapproved of our decorating. There was the attempt at bonsai that ended abruptly as the small tree was to be found daily beside the pot, roots up. After the third brutal attack the tree could no longer be revived so bonsai was abandoned as a unsuitable hobby for my husband. Also there was the period when we used to come home from work and the pictures (some were very large) would all be crooked on the wall and my husband said the Emma must be doing it and I said she that she was far too small and this was not possible. Well one day I caught her in the act of moving them with her paws…do you think perhaps she did not approve of the way we had hung them?

I always thought she was a very studious as she had always taken great interest in the university courses I have taken over the years. I would end up in the bedroom studying and she would always come in and sit her bottom right in the middle of the textbook I was trying to read or in the binder I was trying to write in. I would politely try to remove her and then she would end up right back on the book at which point I would usually relent and use it as an excuse to take a break …perhaps that was her real motive.

(Emma in the last year)

I have always heard it said that cats are antisocial, and that has not been my experience with Emma. Wherever I have been, inside our outside my house, she has been there. If I was reading in the living room she would be right there. If I was having a bath she would come and sit on the edge of the tub, flicking her tale gently and staring into the watery depths. If I was cleaning the boys’ room she would come and sit on the window sill watching me work and keeping track of the activities in our back yard.

Her companionship, especially in the seven long years before the arrival of my sons has been greatly appreciated. Some people would say she was just a pet, but I would say she was a dear friend and valued member of our family. My young sons struggle with her loss today and I have told them she is in heaven now where she is most likely chasing butterflies and feeling young and spry again, no longer suffering as she was in the last few months. She is no doubt, making heaven a brighter place, in the same manner she did to our home.

Gillian

"Who hath a better friend than a cat?" ~ William Hardwin

(Her final resting place, a private spot under our Maple Tree)

"What greater gift than the love of a cat?" ~ Charles Dickens

Arte y Pico Award

2008-07-02T03:27:00.006-07:00

"The 'Arte y Pico' award was created and to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and their talents, whether it be writing, artwork in all media's. When you receive this award it is considered a 'special honor'. Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to at least 5 others."

I received this lovely award from a “kindred Spirit” “The Dutches” whose blog is a continual source of inspiration for me and I am very pleased to share this award with five others who have also inspired me:

To Barb at “Stamplicity” who creates beautiful pictures which are each so unique and seem to tell their own story! Thank you!

To Margaret at “Earthly Paradise” who continually amazes me with her extensive knowledge of art and history and gift for writing such interesting posts which enrich our lives. Thank you!

To Valerie at “Acornmoon” whose wonderful artwork, rich in detail, colour and celebration of nature is a reminder of how much beauty surrounds us. Thank you!

To Louise at “This is My Patch” who is a gifted photographer whose blog is like taking a walk in a wonderful garden…Thank you!

And to Fairmaiden at "The Sea Cottage", for creating a blog that is a beautiful retreat in my busy week. I appreciate her charming country decorating, artwork, memorable quotes and interesting posts which reflect on life. Thank you!

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom" Marcel Proust

Gillian

Bailey Zimmerman

2008-06-29T18:22:00.006-07:00

I really enjoy looking at photographs and magazine layouts and so the world of blogging has really been a wonderful way for me to pursue this interest. This past week I just came across the work of Bailey Zimmerman, whose blog is full of beautiful photographs and I have asked her if I could share a few at my blog in introduction to her blog.

The photograph below really appeals to me as I have always thought that moss was beautiful and I have never understood why most people in Canada go to such lengths to rid their gardens of it. Besides loving the wonderful rich green colours, it also conjures up in my imagination places that creatures like, hobbits and fairies might live.

I really like the way Bailey has laid her work out mixing different images together.

I am a new photographer myself who is just trying to learn the basics of digital photography and so I can really appreciate the skill that goes into taking great photographs. If you would like to see more of Bailey's wonderful work you can visit her blog where I particularly enjoyed her pictures of Butchard Gardens and of Point Ellice House. Her photographs look really striking against the black background she has chosen.

Gillian

"Granny Savoie Rose"

2008-06-25T20:23:00.017-07:00

I only have a few faded memories of my Grandmother left because she died when I was only seven years old. I do, however, have this lovely rose bush to remind me of her which would bloom vigorously each year on the porch entryway to her small home. It has since been propagated and named after my Grandmother ("Granny Savoie Rose")and you can purchase it at the Old Rose Nursery on Hornby Island BC in Canada. It is my understanding that they tried to research what kind of rose it is, but were unable to find a match to any other known variety and it is a mystery where my Grandmother got it from.

This year none of my roses are doing well due to one of the coldest and wettest springs we have experienced for a long time. However, nothing seems to hinder my Grandmother's rose which, as these pictures will verify, is still flourishing and drooping with blooms.

"God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December." - J. M. Barrie

"A single rose can be my garden...a single friend, my world" - Leo Buscaglia

Gillian