feels like friday ...

another little 29 Black Street vignette

'Tis the season. The yard and gardens are erupting and blooming and fast filling up with every shade of green imaginable (my favourite continues this season to be that bright yellow citrus green that has become widely available at garden centres - they even have a citrus creeping (or trailing) jenny which I would love to have for window boxes and flower pots. Throughout our vast Queendom and acreage are found wonderful pops of saturated colours like these favourite narrow hot pink coral tulips of which I'm sure I've taken a hundred photos of in the last few days.

My back garden, which is very private and secluded feeling is absolutely filled with birds this time of year, the fledglings are all just about to spread their new wings and anxious parents flit from branch to branch tut-tutting and fretting all the while trying to coax their babies out of the nest. I fret and worry along with them, naturally keeping my eyes and ears on all the nests that I know of and stepping very carefully when out and about always watching where I'm walking. Thankfully the big fat, black velvet, 10 year old Nessie cat, my only outside cat, at this point in his life seems content to loll in the grass just watching and chattering at the birds.

I'm off to school this morning. I've missed a few weeks of my volunteering at the high school what with Poppytalk preparations and attempts to ensure another big paying job with Customer No Uno - which thankfully is now confirmed and in the works presently. My yard guys have disbanded (actually it happened only days after their new poster went up around the village - some dissension in the ranks, a petite power struggle ... I knew it was too good to be true ) so I'm down to une yard guy, a 12 year old with tons of enthusiasm, a high powered whipper snipper and a love of mowing. What more could a girl ask for ? He and I plan to tackle the back yard and garden beginning Friday after school and if all goes as planned (and of course you know Mama's definitely got a big ol' plan) I'll work outside most of this weekend with my new pal and yard guy. And maybe have my first of the season BBQ. The Thrill of les Grill the theme this week over at the Karmic Kitchen.

those Fears

sweet and tres handsome oliver - design assistant - dans his sunny cubicle

Ultimately we know deeply
that the other side of every fear
is freedom.

Marilyn Ferguson

Sometimes those Fears, who all seem to know each other and hang out together, will gang up and then they pile up together like some fancy cheer leading maneuver and form a wall, a wall of dread. I know in my head that Dread isn't real that's it's just an imaginary thing, a thing created completely in my mind, like the drawings that I do here each day at the teak topped desk. But in my heart Dread feels real, Dread feels like I'm about to go on stage. I also know that each of those individual Fears are all fairly small and likely quite easy to overcome - but when piled together they build this impenetrable fortress that always seems insurmountable. Just looking at them, tall and wavering, makes me feel tired and resigned so I bargain with them, I make concessions, I give in to them. I turn my back and I walk away from those Fears ... it feels like the easiest thing to do.

without darkness
Nothing comes to birth,
As without light
Nothing flowers.

May Sarton

And les leak report - I called the plumber (the one and only) early yesterday morning, left a detailed message and my phone number and have heard nothing back- which of course is not at all a surprise. I, on my own, have narrowed the problem down to my upstairs bath - wouldn't ya know it - the darn lands of bubbles and scent are givin' me grief. I must say I have enjoyed the last few days of water conservation, the pioneer like carting of water up and downstairs and filling buckets with rain water, of which there was plenty the last few days. I enjoyed the lesson, being reminded of yet another thing in our perfect lives that we totally take for granted. Running clean water at our finger tips, any time and as much as we can pour. I turned the water back on last evening and left it on through the night. I've used my upstairs bathroom sink and toilet with no leaking. I'm about to have a well deserved Tramp bath and we'll see ... I suspect the draining bath just may be the culprit. I do so love it when I leave Helpless Girl far behind me ... in the dust.

larger than a fact

pink parrot tulips in a pepto pink bathroom

It's raining and grey again today. I woke at 3:30am to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Sigh. Mama's been setting the coffee maker's timer in a darkened kitchen once again. I went downstairs, took the carafe off the heating element, turned the coffee maker to off and trundled back on up to bed. This morning's coffee has been heated in the microwave and it's still delicious. The windows are all open the air is still chilly, although this time of year I much prefer to use the word fresh and we hear nothing but the sounds of dripping drops and hundreds of assorted birds (some yet to be identified) singing this early morning here at 29 Black Street.

I was so alive
I can only look back
longer than a legend
larger than a fact
oh I was so alive
I can only look back
and I was so afraid
and I have traveled so far
blaming the horizon
and shouting at the stars
oh I was so afraid
but I've come so far
oh I was so afraid
but I've come so far
and when it's all over
you won't know
just when your coming
from when you go
and maybe somebodies
gonna let you down
but you take your chances
if you only learn how
I was so alone
I was scattered and small
oh I was so alone
I was scattered and small

Amelia Curran (scroll down to listen & watch)



yep ! still wearing fleece and my security scarf, wink.

Amelia Curran - Newfoundland singer songwriter
a fairly recent repeat, yes ... but I do so love these words

crisis averted ?

love makes the world go round 2 - 8.5x11 collage, gouache & ink

I had a bit of an early morning household calamity yesterday. Sigh. Upon leaving the lands of bubbles and scent and after donning my fleece attire (yes I'm still getting away with my security blanket apparel) and going down stairs to the kitchen to get ready to leave for my walk with Miss D I heard the unmistakable sound of dripping water. Siiiiiggggghhhhh and a few expletives - now this girl feels most of the time like I'm hanging by a thread, that feeling in my chest and throat like I'm going to be going on stage in several hours. It's not that totally wild jacked up anxiousness that you'd feel if you were going on at any minute ... it's the dull, constant anxiety that never totally ramps up but also never seems to go away. The water was dripping from the ceiling underneath the upstairs bath in two places - a broken pipe ? a bad seal ? I wondered if it somehow was related to my draining bathtub although on further inspection (the water did not smell beautifully of Tramp or Blue Skies bubbles). Hmmmm. What to do? What to do? of course I called MLou at 1 800 Got Help ? - but she was out. So I put on my thinkin' cap, and my I'm-a Handy-Gal 'tude ... and sighed a bit more.

After filling as many large receptacles with water as I could (nearly 10) I went into the basement (my least favourite spot in this old house) and turned the water completely off. That'll get ya - ya #@??!!** drip. Yesterday was Sunday and today is Victoria Day here in Canada and thus a long holiday weekend. In these parts it's considered the unofficial beginning of summer and I didn't want to disturb the plumber guy Gordon on a holiday. I plan to call him after lunch today and I'll hope that it's something, some leaky plumbing thing, that's not too big a deal, 'cause ya know mama doesn't feel like she can handle too many big deals right now -now at this time when practically everything already feels like a huge deal. I guess I feel kinda fragile.

I had all this water business pretty much sorted out by 9am. And I managed to have a fairly productive Sunday working on thumbnail drawings for customer No Uno and then in the evening I made these two new collage pieces for my etsy shop while listening to tres loved Rex Murphy and Cross Country Check Up - Peter Loughheed the guest and much about Western Canada and specifically Alberta politics and issues and yet ... shouldda been pretty boring but I enjoyed listening. Lil' nerd girl that I can be.

Fingers crossed that they won't have to totally tear my ceiling apart.

grey, grey day and raining. hooray, hooray

and oh ! the sounds of birds in our gardens this early morning and guess what ? we have a male oriole an unusual guest and not a common backyard bird here in Nova Scotia (although apparently becoming more and more common). I've been plying him with big fat red globe grapes and nailing orange halves to the trees just so he'll be sure to stick around.



joshua - Lil' Art card collage - he's from So Cal.

magical

deer line - robin schwartz

When for too long I don't go deep enough
into the woods to see them, they begin to
enter my dreams. Yes, there they are, in the
pinewoods of my inner life. I want to live a life
full of modesty and praise. Each hoof of each
animal makes the sign of a heart as it touches
then lifts away from the ground. Unless you
believe that heaven is very near, how will you
find it ? Their eyes are pools in which one
would be content, on any summer afternoon,
to swim away through the door of the world.
Then, love and it's blessing. Then: heaven.

The Faces of Deer - Mary Oliver

from the June issue of O magazine p.29

animal totem deer
and tres cool

hey !

miss w. dixon in the park yesterday morning

hey ! there's a ship stuck in the harbour. Let's go check it out Miss D.

The park at the end of Black Street is about 50 steps from our front door, it's the big green space that runs along the edge of our little harbour. It's filled with mature shade trees, picnic tables and benches and the just opened for the season ice cream parlour is across the street. It's the most perfect place to sit on the grass with your best loved girl and watch the big ships come and go, the absolute best spot to rub and roll and grind your shaggy black body into green, green grass that smells of summer days or to watch the sun set each evening over the outer harbour and open water. We have a perfect view of this park and of the harbour from our second floor windows. Les office/studio and the Teak Topped Desk. This time of year when all of our windows are wide open, we hear the ships arriving much before we ever see them ... before they glide by our windows so close it feels like we could touch them.

Miss D's leg is slowly getting better. The lengths of our walks unfortunately have been severely curtailed. I'm so careful that she doesn't over do it - as dogs are so want to do. She needs a little help from me climbing the stairs but she's already putting a little weight on that foot and that's a very good sign.

The ship managed to float away on the highest tide later yesterday afternoon.


standing on the street in front of 29 Black Street - see the ship ?


come on Missy D ...

grey + tulips = happy

tulips from our front garden - recent Polaroids

Mint, rosemary and eucalyptus bubbles this morning • I know it's a strange quirk I have - but I feel happier today because it's a grey day, too much blue sky and sunshine gets me down. Dark stormy clouds across our little harbour are heading this way and it's there's rain in the forecast.I'm not sure why, but I do so love a grey and stormy day • I'm off to town this morning with a friend (she's driving of course) to do a few errands and shopping at the big fancy grocery store and then back this afternoon to the teak topped desk • There's a ship stuck in the harbour this early morning, actually I'm not sure it's stuck but it's not moving - it's just stopped in the water directly in front of my office studio windows, stopped in a place ships never stop. Miss D and I will be sure to investigate when we head out to the park shortly • I finally after many, many pages of thumbnails and wracking my petite creative noggin have assured another BIG project with customer No. Uno . oh phew !! - many, many frame drawings to come. Thank goodness • Our yard work is taken care of for another week or so. Sigh. I can spend a contented long weekend, with big cups of tea, listening to CBC radio and this amazing audio book while madly happily building that lil' Creative Empire of mine right here at the TTD.
Looks like a perfect weekend.

Happy weekend !

the ship is stuck and waitin' on high tide and I almost forgot - this weekend the ice cream parlour, steps from our front door, opens for the season. Sweet !

small glories

oliver and the yellow tulips

Surely I wasn't just trying to take a beautiful shot of a bouquet of yellow tulips from our garden, and surely any and every photograph could or would be vastly enhanced by the appearance of one Mr. Calico Love - of our Mr. I must try and appear in every photo that I can ... Smile.

A sweet man named Dennis came to mow my lawn yesterday. Hooray ! La Beast Rouge is currently at the small engine spa getting tuned up and having her tres beau red chassis spit and polished and when she returns we've agreed amicably to dial our relationship back to very occasional/casual terms. It hasn't been working for years now so we've finally decided to just be good friends. I will take her out every now and then to do some mild bush whacking and mulching of leaves (which she so loves to do) in our back 40 but she has officially retired from mowing "the big" lawns here at 29 Black Street as Dennis arrived with his own grey Beast.

Another tres exciting thing happened yesterday - I found my much loved cutting mat (which had gone missing for nearly three days) a tool right up there with my adored red mechanical pencil. This weekend while I was madly cutting and pasting, painting and drawing and getting ready for my poppytalk handmade table I misplaced my cutting mat. Sunday. Big sad face. 'Tis true - you don't know how much you love something until it's gone. How can I lose a cutting mat in my small and reasonably tidy organized studio office space ? I brooded. Honestly for two days I was sick with worry and spent far too many of my waking moments attempting to retrace my cutting steps and pondering with intensity Where on earth could it be ! Wed. morning I had just put a call in to St. Anthony - Patron Saint of Lost Things and the No. 1 item (with a bullet) on my to-do list became Find Cutting Mat ! It was driving me crazy, it was all I could think about and you must remember here in this little village I can't just run down to les Art Supply shop and pick up a replacement. And then I found it !! merci St. Anthony !! - tucked into the pages of a large vintage atlas that I had been perusing and snipping away at Saturday. Hooray ! It felt like I'd just found a $100. bill on the sidewalk.

Happiness truly is a fresh exacto blade and a self healing cutting mat. Swoon.

The moral of this story. Take very good care of your most valued tools
and don't forget to remind them, often, of how much you love them.

here we go again

8.5x11 gouache, ink collage

Love really does make the world go round.

I sold this piece yesterday. Day 2 of Poppytalk Handmade* - tres encouraging.
I realized I'd sold it late in the day, a day that had been one of those rollercoaster up and down and sideways days. Sigh.

The sun is just up and beginning to pour her early morning golden orange light on the far side of our little harbour, the birds have all been up for hours, the lobster boats are all gently trailing out into the strait on water that's as still as glass and the land of Tramp bubbles and scent is callin' me.

Here we go again.

Bless those yard guys.

* I love that when I open this page (the 29 black street table at poppytalk handmade) the overall feeling I instantly get is ... happy - phew !

yard guys

hallellujah - it's rainin' yard boys - Amen

And so what if their average age is 13. This crew of 5 is transforming my jungle like overgrown and wild property bit by bit, lil' red wagon full by lil' red wagon full. Mama's thrilled. I saw the hand drawn poster on the grocery store bulletin board Saturday and called the number that same day. Ajay's mom answered and I had an idea that her son might be a high school student looking for some extra money. Ajay himself called me back several hours later and I was instantly tres impressed with his confident, self assured, can-do spirit. He asked me at the end of the conversation Did my Mom tell you how old I am ? I replied No, how old are you ? He told me - 12. Hey ! Pas problem I replied. No age discrimination here at 29 Black Street 'cause Mama desperately needs some help.

They were here Sunday, after lunch for two hours - the full weekend crew of 5, avec their lil' red wagon to carry equipment - a high powered whipper snipper, rakes, etc. A petite swarm of boys bustled around my yard cleaning and weeding, raking and hauling dead branches and yard debris to the giant compost pile and mouse condominium that's been building in our back forest. Sigh. At one point I noticed through the window two of them racing toward my front door. Oh No I thought, my heart beginning to beat faster One of them has cut themselves or is hurt somehow. But no they just wanted to show me, and give to me for safe keeping, an unbroken Robin's egg that they'd found on the ground. Kind and sensitive yard boys - sigh - be still my heart. They proceeded to give me detailed instructions on how to care for this beautiful blue egg until they were ready to leave and they would then take the egg with them. I needed to warm the egg up first with warm (but not too warm) water and then make a nest of paper towels and place the nest under a lamp. I used my luxo lamp - which was perfect. While the egg was warming up in a small tupperware container filled with warm water I watched it closely, the egg was rocking ever so gently. I wondered if this was because of a heart beat and I so wished I had a wee stethoscope.

The boss man Ajay stopped by at lunch yesterday, on his bike, just to let me know that the crew would back that day as soon as school was out. And sure enough they showed up at 3:30 sharp ready to work. They already have big plans and visions for our big expanse of property. I heard Matt say that they were discussing at school what their afternoon plan of action would be when they arrived here at Black Street. I'm hoping that this Saturday I'll work outside with them for a bit and I'll make us a picnic lunch. Egg salad sandwiches wrapped up in waxed paper, chocolate chip cookies and some chocolate milk. All boys love chocolate milk. It's a big part of why I don't do as much yard work as I should - I'd so much rather have company while doing it.

You know early Sunday morning I was on the big ol' hunt for Hope, I couldn't find her anywhere ... it's the funny thing about life - you just never know what's around that very next corner or what kinda crazy getup Hope's gonna be wearin' next.


I made them a proper poster to hang up around our little village

rock on

rock on ... and on ... and on ... and on

Rock On Lil' Art card - matted, ready to frame, gouache, ink, paper collage

Please check out the fantastic array of talented creative types over at Poppytalk's Handmade - May offering Paper Pops/Affordable Art of which I am humbly, thrilled to pieces, to be a part of.

No hot water this morning. Very sad face. I must be out of propane. Which means no bubbles & scent this early morning. No hot steaming face cloth to revise and refresh and wash away those glums. Ah hah ! (the light bulb suddenly appears atop her head) I'll boil the kettle, and fill a basin and I'll wash those glums the old fashioned way.

gotta run that darn empire isn't gonna build itself.

prayer

a tiny life No.5 - collage, ink & gouache - 8.5 x 11" *

there is no option but to look forward
with faith in goodness and beauty to come.
because the sorrows are always with us.
our job is to savor the little victories of light and grace;
the gift of a million greens,
fragrant honeysuckle on a cool wind
and the next deep breath of life.

chickory

I found this trail of words early this morning over at Chickory. Words so beautiful and perfect, words I want to feel. Sadness and Heartbreak found their way to her yet again and even still - she speaks to Hope. Hope hides from me but I know this morning I must continue to look for her. I'll look among the little victories of light and grace, or near the million greens that live just under the songs of birds ... because surely that is where I'll find her.

I'll look for Hope in the soft black velvet fur of a Nessie neck where if you scratch just so you'll hear the deep and instant rattly purrs of love and comfort. I'll listen to the charging, racing, clomping sounds of kittens Oliver & Gus making fun of their day and for a few seconds I'll smile and forget my hunt for Hope. I'll smell the wonderful earthy scent, a bit like corn husks, of Miss D's feet and I'll lie down next to her, listen to her breath, tell her I love her and she'll share her Hope with me. She always does.

merci chickory
merci mlou

* a tiny life No. 5 collage available in my etsy shop tomorrow

fleurs

fleurs chaud sketch

And you know what sketch means ... means this illustration didn't quite make the big cut. The big etsy cut (I'll chalk this one up to practice). I do like the pattern well enough - it's that darn colour way - choosing the right colour palette can make all the difference. There's potential here for sure, it's just not fully worked out.

I'm madly working this weekend toward getting my "stuff", my wares, ready to participate in Poppytalks' Handmade- Paper Pops which opens Monday. It's a juried thing which of course makes Mama proud that she was chosen to participate. You buy a virtual table - $60.00 and for an entire month your work is shown at Poppytalk Handmade (the best and most cool of all design blogs in my opinion) along with many other excellent artists and crafty people. A little write up about moi plus linkage to my etsy shop, my blog and to Hey ! does anyone want to buy a big ol' brick fixer upper by the Sea. It's fantastic Exposure !!! and gets those darn creative juices a flowin. It's another little rung on my steepish climb to Creative Empire Success ! So... lots more Lil' Art, collages and Lil' Paintings being created here at the Teak Topped Desk today and more tomorrow. I so dream of our new tiny life where this Creative Empire is my day job - in lands where there are no chain saws or bush whackers required.

I'm Thankin' Goodness for my wee Creative Empire what would I do without it ? and oh thank goodness for les Gang (Winnie Dixon, Nessie Ness, Oliver & the Lil' Man). 'Cause ya know ... I'm thinkin' ...

Love is what makes the world go round.

atlas

living room vignette avec Mr Calico Love & Miss D

beaming

hey there handsome

We are put on earth for a little space,
that we may learn to bear the beams of love

William Blake

Jake - my red dog in our red kitchen. Another Polaroid from the past found in a shoebox filled with photos in the crawlspace this past Saturday.

Mad empire building continues.

the good & the bad

daffodils from the front garden

The good - they loved the house, He called yesterday and said they went home that night and talked about this ol' brick house into the evening. It's a gorgeous house he told me We love it. She was a hit, she did cast her spell and she cast it well. The gigantic jungle of a yard did not seem daunting to them. And they did love her. I keep telling myself this early morning ... things could be worse. I could be living in and trying to sell an ordinary house. A house with no charm and no spells to cast.

The bad - it's too big a project for them, they're nearing retirement age, they don't think they have the money or enough of the energy that might be required to fix her up like she really deserves. They said no, they did not make an offer. They apologized and thanked me for showing the house to them. I thanked them for being so open, and kind and I told him last night on the phone that they were the most perfect couple to be my first ever show my house people. I felt very grateful for the experience. I know I learned a lot from it. I now know that I can do it myself. Another horrible scary monster that I had created in my head could now be slain and instead - almost looked forward to. I'm the perfect person, I think, to show this big ol' beautiful house.

Last night was difficult. All those desperate feelings of being tapped in a life that I can't manage came flooding back. I am sad, my hopes are dashed, the wind has gone from my sails ... but only temporarily. This morning before I escape to the land of patchouli bubbles I remind myself that I live in a house that people love, when they look at the plot map they gasp with pleasure at the size of the property. Like owning your own little county smack in a village and 50 steps to the ocean. She's a gem, a big ol' diamond in the rough. I just need to find the right buyer (before winter s'il vous plait- just in case the Universe is listening).

I will sell this house ... I will be in the city by Christmas (M.Universe).

Last night instead of drowning my sorrows I watched the movie Milk - Sean Penn you are amazing and tres handsome. Even liberal girl moi was shocked to be reminded of the levels of intolerance, hatred and ignorance that existed here such a short time ago. Yeah ! Harvey. I'd like to see the documentary of his life The Times of Harvey Milk. A song from the soundtrack by Sly and the Family Stone.

omen

red wing blackbirds

Red wing blackbird and their animal totem meaning.

Omen - translation - good things come

Beautiful nature illustrations by John James Audubon. a collection of these gorgeous bird prints available in book form here. We had at least one pair of red winged blackbirds hanging out at the feeders in our back yard all day yesterday. They're not really a back garden bird their favourite haunt is perched high on bull rushes in a swampy area or atop sprigs of flowers in a wild overgrown meadow. I'm sure their visit yesterday was a good omen. A very vocal bird and impossible not to notice.Yesterday was warm and sunny, all the windows in this old house were wide open, and a gentle warm breeze followed us around from room to room the nonstop chatter and singing birds our musical accompaniment. Perfect. This old house looked as good as she ever has. My guests arrived promptly at 2pm and we first toured around inside and out and then sat for well over an hour having coffee and chatting at my kitchen table. I could tell that they loved all the same things that I love about this house. She does need some work, there's no question there but her bones ... oh her lovely bones, her big beautiful windows, her spacious rooms with high ceilings and the gorgeous light that fills them especially each evening's setting sunlight. Her character shone ... big and strong and beautiful as always.

Yesterday was a huge & wonderful hurdle for me (not to mention the three whirlwind days leading up to Mondays 2 pm appointment). And they were such a perfect couple to be my first Hey ! come look at my house people.

I'm totally exhausted this morning, I feel hung over and I don't drink. Miss D feels the same way - she's been out of sorts for days watching her Mama (or someone who looks a lot like her Mama) wielding a vacuum cleaner, bucket and mop for days, dusting and scrubbing and fussing and puttsing endlessly. Winnie tried her darnedest, with her worried furrowed brow and ears pushed forward look, to figure out what on earth is going on. She's leaving me ! is always her go-to response to any abnormality or disruption in our day to day life. So for the last few days she has trailed behind me, hobbling along on her mending foot, not allowing me out of her site for longer than 2 or 3 minutes at a time just in case I should forget to take her along with me wherever it is I might be going. As soon as they left yesterday she and I both breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed together on the sofa.

I've gotta ton of CE work that needs to be done this week so I've made a deal with myself that I'm not going to think, ponder, wonder, question, ruminate, doubt anything to do with the selling of this old house for 2 weeks. I know these people will get back to me regardless of their decision. They have lots to think about ... this is no ordinary house and I think she just may have cast her spell on them.

finale

yesterday's early morning walk along the harbour's edge

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy;
for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life
before we can enter another.

Anatole France

Don't think for a second that I'm not afraid of all of this ... because I am. But I do take enormous comfort in knowing that I have loved and lived this ol' life with every ounce of my being. I hope my nearly two year old blog/photo journal is a testament of that love and appreciation. I know it is for me and I'm so grateful that I have this amazing record of our life here at 29 Black Street.

It's much easier to walk away, from somewhere, from someone when you know you have loved as much as is possible. To leave as the tide is turning is the secret.

I'm showing this old brick house this afternoon - for the first time. She looks gorgeous, big, bright and spacious. MLou warned don't get your hopes up too high we don't want to see them dashed and I remind her that whenever I buy a lottery ticket (which is very occasional) ... I always believe I'm gonna win.

What a weekend we've had. Of course with a special shout out to the team of 7 IMV's - I could not have done it without them. You go girl ! they cheer from somewhere nearby - remember I can't see them as they are invisible. Also, my sincerest apologies to M. Vacuum who is suffering, as we speak, in a state of exhaustion, disbelief and shock and she's resting up for this mornings finale. And last (but for sure not least) my indefatigable and never waning coach - always just a phone call away (if not pulling up curbside) - laden with love.

* IMV invisible mute valets

DS Sunday No.5

chien chaud - gourmet-ed up a bit

This week's theme - comfort food... Mama's gotta list a mile long of comfort foods.

Gourmet dogs yummo. Avec les plain potato chips. Heaven.

all beef wiener steamed
white hot dog bun with buttered sides & grilled in a frying pan (a must !)
thick smear of Dijon mustard
fried onions
slices of dill pickle
and delicious homemade *fruit chili sauce

* the best, easy to make condiment ever - from Austen over at Stripey Pebble

{vignettes}

little vignettes from yesterday

I don't think my home has ever felt so open, spacious, tidy and clutter free. It looks amazing. The second floor of this old brick house is basically spruced and ready for viewing . Today it's onto the first floor, sun porch and a little doodying up of our back garden. I'm so into this really, and am thoroughly enjoying the process - my only complaint is that everything always takes me so much longer than I originally anticipate and I find myself veering far off of me pre-destined schedule. Sigh. I'll have early tomorrow morning to do any little last minute things.

I find this process very much like styling an image to photograph. Which I love doing. I'm seeing my rooms like photos and editing, editing every last little thing that could take away from over all feel of light and space. With the addition of a few props (all things I love and have collected over the years) leaving just enough personality to evoke a feeling. The feeling that you live in a big ol' brick cottage just a short walk up from the harbour. With the windows all open yesterday I'd swear we lived in an aviary - our little backyard forest and garden is such a haven for birds they hang out there all day and sound incredible. Especially the finches who are the most wonderful, non stop, sing songey chatterboxes. They must be very social birds. And all the while a warm breeze off the water blows gently through the entire house. Sigh. I love her - this ol' brick house. She's been good to me.

I finally watched the Sex in the City movie last night. Shocking that it's taken me this long (especially to those who know me well and know how totally addicted I was to the series). I LOVED that show when it was first airing on HBO back in the day when for some freakish reason HBO was part of my cable here in this little seaside village and at a time when HBO was unavailable in Canada (shhhh ??) I so wanted to be Carrie Bradshaw, - and I guess I still do. Last night I cried and smiled and cried some more through the whole movie. I loved it, in fact I just may watch it again before it goes back to the library.

Al Green's cover of this amazing song is part of the soundtrack - I like the Bee Gee's version just as well.

A big ship is coming in - gliding by our studio window, completely lit up and golden from the just risen sun. Big sigh. I never tire of watching the ships come in.

look out May !

this early morning - les tidy office/studio - 1 room down 7 to go

Blue Skies bubbles are a pourin'. Mama's got another busy day ahead of her. I had my first cup of coffee this morning tucked into the nest with Bleet, Oliver and Winnie Dixon. Yes ! I helped her to hop up onto my very old and high bed sometime during the night. Things are getting back to normal around here, at least where she's concerned. She's begun to put a little weight on that foot already and has been for a few days now. All of us (except Gus Mr. Aloof - AWOL as usual - he has his own apartment somewhere in this old brick house) tucked into the nest, me with my coffee, my much loved Moleskin day planner and my current favourite pen creating my room by room to do list - mama so loves a list - it's a comfort thing. I will later retrieve my bright green hi-lighter from my now neat & tidy top right *TTDesk drawer and throughout this day I will take extreme pleasure in gradually watching that page in my day timer gradually turn green with strokes of hi-lighter.

I have Malcom Gladwell's new book Outliers (unabridged) to listen to on CD as I dust and sparkle and lots of my favourite CBC radio shows air on Saturday's & Sunday's. I'm feeling like this is going to be a great day !

Hey ! look out May ... 'cause I do believe ... we might just be on our way.



hey there sweet cheeks - Winnie Dixon in her den under the teak topped desk

*TTD - teak topped desk

A repeat video on this blog and les theme song for today

transition(s)

guest room looking out into the bright sunny hallway

Good morning May ... so long April.

I walked Miss D yesterday morning down into the park a little later than our usual time. The young rambunctious dog we meet every morning was being walked by his mother (not his usual dad). She and I stopped to chat. Oh yes we know of each other we agreed It's so nice to meet finally face to face ... person to person. She's an artist as well. The conversation carries on. Yes I nod I've been here 16 years but I've recently decided it's time to leave. Oh really ! she seems surprised My husband and I are looking for a house to buy she tells me. I live in the brick house on Black Street, you know the one with the tangled gardens Of course she knows my house, everyone knows my house - it is one of the most beautiful homes in this little village. How much was I asking ? I wasn't really prepared for that question but I blurted out a number that had been bouncing around (in there). When could they come by and see my house ? How about Monday ? Perfect we agreed.

So ... Mama's got three days to spit & polish. To do a little staging, a little hiding
(of cluttery stuff - thank goodness for big huge crawlspaces) and a lot of dusting, cleaning and vacuuming. Like a mother with a child about to have her first piano recital I want this big old beautiful girl to look her very best. I want the glorious light that fills this home to shine in through big windows that are sparkling. I want her vast spacious rooms and her lovely high ceilings to show off their grandness. I want her greatest potential to sing.

Last night Miss D and I sat in the park on the grassy hill down near the water. We sat beside a harbour sparkling and glistening under a setting sun and we listened to waves gently lapping at the sea wall. We both put our faces to the sun and we basked awhile. We soaked it all in. I thought to myself Oh my, what a chapter this one's been. What a life I've lived here in this little village, a life much bigger and richer than I could have ever imagined. Of course I have a lump in my throat. I love this house, my home, my haven and I have loved this life with my heart and soul. This old brick house once filled to the brim with such huge, big love and purpose now feels empty. These last few years have been filled with goodbyes. This is a big step I'm taking. I must be brave. I must be fearless. I'm readying myself for another goodbye ... I'm preparing to let go of this old life. This big ol' beautiful life I've lived here at 29 Black Street.

You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.

Kenny Rogers


Saturday past - pre-poof ! - and the oh so temporary illusion of tamed gardens

A friend of mine, Lou Lou (not sweet Lulu - Queen of All Things - who's yelling at us now from heaven) mentioned the book Transitions by William Bridges to me recently. Unfortunately it's not available at my library - it's on my amazon wish list.

The paintings above the doorway are by my great aunt Florence - not only was she an incredibly talented impressionistic painter of Nova Scotia landscapes she also was known for fine, exact medical illustrations at a time when cameras were not yet used to document surgeries. She worked closely with pioneer brain surgeon Wilder Penfield in Montreal. Another amazing woman in my family who unfortunately died while I was far too young to really appreciate her.