resurrection fern

true beauty

People are like stained-glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.  ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Hoping that the light shines in and all around you this weekend.

xo

m    

missing pieces stone in aqua

This stone will soon be on its way to England in the suitcase belonging to the aunt of Abigail Brown. It is part of a bird/stone exchange. Perhaps the bird will make its journey in her aunt's suitcase as well.  

 

   

                                 
         

This is the bird Abigail is making for me. Looks familiar doesn't it.

   

margie in wonderland

Playing with my new camera in the forest has made me feel more than a little like alice in wonderland. I was even tempted to do a little reading about the physics of bokeh but after a few articles I came to the realization that it is as imperfect and unpredictable as life itself.

 

Just incase you were wondering I have been working this week.

xo

m         

up close and personal with the birthday stone

I have been in a patchwork stone making sort of mood lately. These missing pieces stones are very labour intensive and quite finicky in getting them to fit together properly. I guess I have been up for the challenge. I appreciate working on one thing for a longer period of time rather than churning out more smaller items. The process has changed since I first started making them and I think they have become more artful along the way. Here is the stone I made for Rebekah's birthday. She really liked the piece that I screen printed in her favorite color, as well as all the liberty fabric circles.

 

                   

We serve wooden plates with stones and flowers on our porch.

Rebekah begins her journey to the east coast on saturday. She got a new camera for her birthday so hopefully I will be able to share some pictures of her new ocean life. Of course she will be beach combing for special things to send home to mom. 

 A gull flew overhead while I was watching my youngest daughter's soccer game this evening and just as the sun was setting low in the sky.  By the way have I told you how much I love my new camera.           

old camera, new camera

I finally did it. I moved outside my comfort point and shoot zone and got myself a new camera. I decided on a canon eos rebel XSi. At first I found it quite intimidating but soon after seeing my daughter Deborah take to it like a natural, I decided the best way to learn is to "play" with it.

I took loads of pictures over the last few days and I am having so much fun with it.

I want to show you some pictures from the old camera and then the new one. The main subjects here were the meadow hawk dragonflies in the marsh and a gorgeous argiope spider and its web. Difficult to compare these directly since the old camera shots were taken on less bright and less windy a day than today. Meadow hawk dragonflies are one of a small number of migrating dragonfly species in Ontario.

 

Those were the old sony camera. The next set were taken today with the new camera.

 

 

 

 
 

After work I went for a short walk in the forest with my new camera of course. 

I am smitten.

xo

m    

 

 

 

   

 

another celebration

This was a two in one porch celebration planned and orchestrated to precision by Tamara. We were celebrating Rebekah's birthday a few days early, as well as a little bon voyage party for her trip out east. My parts of the meal were to set the table, purchase the delicious ingredients, bake the birthday pie and I was a major part of the clean up crew. 

the menu

smoked salmon kettle chip bites

white and green asparagus goat cheese salad

crab cakes with lemon garlic aoli

grilled atlantic scallops accompanied by caramelized endives

baby greens salad 

assorted artisan cheeses with baguette slices

red and purple raspberry rhubarb pie with natural vanilla ice cream

If you think that sounds good just wait until you see the pictures Deborah took with my (our) new camera.

A birthday missing pieces stone for my big hearted daughter.

That last picture reminded me of thidwick the big hearted moose story by doctor seuss.

     

a very special day

your amazing journey is just beginning

xxoo

mom    

my daughter's view

My daughter grabbed the camera after dinner on the porch last night and here is her view of things.

She really like the color of the cap on the wine bottle.  I always love how she takes a "snail's view" of the flowers. 

Thanks so much deborah.           

a corner of the porch

I recently rearranged the porch, switching the table corner for the sitting corner. I like it very much and if I wasn't already spending almost all my home time out there, now I am looking for a spot to put a hammock so I can have a spot to take some cat naps. The t shirt rag rug is finished and has found a temporary home in the sitting corner.

        The difference between the top and bottom pictures is the light , evening and morning respectively. The porch table was literally turned into my creative office on the weekend. I also added a cushion to the love seat made from a bookhou tea towel.

By the way I started a little flickr group called everyone needs a little bookhou and would love if you have any suitable pics of bookhou products in your home if you would add them. The group is really amazing already.

another missing pieces stone for a special friend

Just finished it one the weekend and now it has set out on a long journey across the sea. 

It passed the rigorous cat inspection by both arwen and edgar ( by the way he is feeling almost perfect now and has been allowed outside again).

xo ( from the sky and I) and thanks so much for all your visits and kind words abut the purl bee tutorial.